in so sudden and close an intimacy with this at once so wise and so artificial woman creature but he had his idea moreover he trusted her of course you are she asserted that s just where the beauty of it all comes in you re the infant one has only to look into your face to see that � don t go and up now you belong to another order of doctrine and practice to that current in society gazed at the floor still making herself small the palms of her hands pressed together between her knees the far horizon and that s just why you can be useful to me awfully useful if you choose � i don t mean money business anything of the kind i m perfectly competent to manage my own affairs thank you but you re good for me somehow you rest me she began to rock herself gently backwards and forwards but without taking the heels of her shoes off the ground yes you rest me you rest me she repeated i am glad said he felt pleased thankful almost again glanced at him sideways yes i believe you are she said and that shows things have happened to you � in you more likely � since we last met you have come on a great piece i doubt if i have come on so much as gone back to influences of long ago he answered to things which had been by the dust of my working years almost to the point of was it pleasant to go back asked not at all the going was painful it required some courage to brush off the dust it usually does require courage � at least that s my experience � to brush off the dust made no immediate answer he was a little startled at his companion s acute reading of him a little touched by her confidence her words seemed to suggest the possibility of a relationship which fitted in admirably with the development of his idea he sat looking away across the room and doing so became aware that the said room possessed unexpected characteristics calculated to his impressions of its owner s character it was a man s room rather than a woman s innocent of and two low wide well furnished with cushions and the far horizon in dark red fitted into the comers on either side the double doors a couple of large and a book table occupied the centre of the room an upright piano in an case draped across the back with an indian � of looking glass set in worked yellow holes forming the border of it � stood at right angles to the wall just short of the bay window in the window placed wise was a carved black oak writing table a long row of photographs stuck up against the back shelf of it the walls were hung with a set of william s prints strong dark distinct slightly sinister in effect a fine of s and in noticeable contrast to this last a of s picture of lady spinning upon the book table were a silver ash tray and box the air was unquestionably with the of tobacco which the burning of scent sticks quite failed to while mr thus noted the details of his surroundings his companion observed him closely intently suddenly she flung herself back against the piled up cushions let the dust lie let it lie sh cried almost and as turned to her surprised at her vehemence she added yes it s safest so let it lie till it grows thick all the surface so that treading on it one s footsteps are muffled making no sound jumped up crossed swiftly to the writing table swept the long row of photographs together and pushed them into a drawer there you go face downwards every man jack of you she said and for all i care there you may stay the far horizon then she turned round who had risen also her head carried high her teeth set you may not grasp the connection of ideas � i don t the very least see how you should and i ve no extra special wish that you should but you must just take my word for it that s one way of the dust in my particular case and not half a bad way either she pushed the heavy masses of her hair up from her forehead crossed the little room again and stood before smiling her hands clasped behind her back yes you rest me she said you do even more than i expected i wanted awfully to see you and yet i was half afraid if i did we t pull the thing off but we are going to pull it off aren t we this direct appeal demanded a direct answer and looking down at her felt to a certain of resolve yes we are he said gravely that at least is my purpose i have very few friends i should value a new one then he added with a certain i am glad you are not disappointed ah you have come on � not a question about it cried sit down again you needn t go yet and we are through with for this afternoon anyhow an anti as the weather reports put it is extending over all our i feel quite happy let me enjoy the anti while it lasts � and i ll give you your tea but of that tea was fated not to drink a ring at the bell a at the front door followed by the advent of an elderly bearing a card on a small tray his says if you re engaged he could wait a little ma am but he wants particularly to see you to day the far horizon took the card glanced at it and then at i 