CHAPTER X

scienceofHeraldry,neverfailedtoexciteherlaughter.Shewantedtoknoweverything,eventhekindofcakewhichtheoldladysuppliedontheseoccasionsandtheirsummerexcursionstochurchesintheneighborhoodofLondonforthepurposeoftakingrubbingsofthebrassesbecamemostimportantfestivals,fromtheinterestshetookinthem.Insixmonthssheknewmoreabouthisoddfriendsandhobbiesthanhisownbrothersandsistersknew,afterlivingwithhimallhislifeandRalphfoundthisverypleasant,thoughdisordering,forhisownviewofhimselfhadalwaysbeenprofoundlyserious. CertainlyitwasverypleasanttobewithMaryDatchetandtobecome,directlythedoorwasshut,quiteadifferentsortofperson,eccentricandlovable,withscarcelyanylikenesstotheselfmostpeopleknew.Hebecamelessserious,andratherlessdictatorialathome,forhewasapttohearMarylaughingathim,andtellinghim,asshewasfondofdoing,thatheknewnothingatallaboutanything.Shemadehim,also,takeaninterestinpublicquestions,forwhichshehadanaturallikingandwasinprocessofturninghimfromTorytoRadical,afteracourseofpublicmeetings,whichbeganbyboringhimacutely,andendedbyexcitinghimevenmorethantheyexcitedher. Buthewasreservedwhenideasstartedupinhismind,hedividedthemautomaticallyintothosehecoulddiscusswithMary,andthosehemustkeepforhimself.Sheknewthisanditinterestedher,forshewasaccustomedtofindyoungmenveryreadytotalkaboutthemselves,andhadcometolistentothemasonelistenstochildren,withoutanythoughtofherself.ButwithRalph,shehadverylittleofthismaternalfeeling,and,inconsequence,amuchkeenersenseofherownindividuality. LateoneafternoonRalphsteppedalongtheStrandtoaninterviewwithalawyeruponbusiness.Theafternoonlightwasalmostover,andalreadystreamsofgreenishandyellowishartificiallightwerebeingpouredintoanatmospherewhich,incountrylanes,wouldnowhavebeensoftwiththesmokeofwoodfiresandonbothsidesoftheroadtheshopwindowswerefullofsparklingchainsandhighlypolishedleathercases,whichstooduponshelvesmadeofthickplate-glass.NoneofthesedifferentobjectswasseenseparatelybyDenham,butfromallofthemhedrewanimpressionofstirandcheerfulness.ThusitcameaboutthathesawKatharineHilberycomingtowardshim,andlookedstraightather,asifshewereonlyanillustrationoftheargumentthatwasgoingforwardinhismind.Inthisspirithenoticedtherathersetexpressioninhereyes,andtheslight,half-consciousmovementofherlips,which,togetherwithherheightandthedistinctionofherdress,madeherlookasifthescurryingcrowdimpededher,andherdirectionweredifferentfromtheirs.Henoticedthiscalmlybutsuddenly,ashepassedher,hishandsandkneesbegantotremble,andhisheartbeatpainfully.Shedidnotseehim,andwentonrepeatingtoherselfsomelineswhichhadstucktohermemory:“It’slifethatmatters,nothingbutlife—theprocessofdiscovering—theeverlastingandperpetualprocess,notthediscoveryitselfatall.”Thusoccupied,shedidnotseeDenham,andhehadnotthecouragetostopher.ButimmediatelythewholesceneintheStrandworethatcuriouslookoforderandpurposewhichisimpartedtothemostheterogeneousthingswhenmusicsoundsandsopleasantwasthisimpressionthathewasverygladthathehadnotstoppedher,afterall.Itgrewslowlyfainter,butlasteduntilhestoodoutsidethebarrister’schambers. Whenhisinterviewwiththebarristerwasover,itwastoolatetogobacktotheoffice.HissightofKatharinehadputhimqueerlyoutoftuneforadomesticevening.Whereshouldhego?TowalkthroughthestreetsofLondonuntilhecametoKatharine’shouse,tolookupatthewindowsandfancyherwithin,seemedtohimpossibleforamomentandthenherejectedtheplanalmostwithablushas