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time had brought； and if this manner began to operate on the spot；
at such a juncture in her history； perhaps in the other days too it
had meant just as little or as much … a mere mechanical charity；
with the difference now that she was satisfied； ready to give but
in want of nothing。 Oh she was satisfied … and why shouldn't she
be？ Why shouldn't she have been surprised at his coming the first
day … for all the good she had ever got from him？ As the lady
continued to hold her attention Paul turned from her with a strange
irritation in his complicated artistic soul and a sort of
disinterested disappointment。 She was so happy that it was almost
stupid … a disproof of the extraordinary intelligence he had
formerly found in her。 Didn't she know how bad St。 George could
be； hadn't she recognised the awful thinness …？ If she didn't she
was nothing； and if she did why such an insolence of serenity？
This question expired as our young man's eyes settled at last on
the genius who had advised him in a great crisis。 St。 George was
still before the chimney…piece； but now he was alone … fixed；
waiting； as if he meant to stop after every one … and he met the
clouded gaze of the young friend so troubled as to the degree of
his right （the right his resentment would have enjoyed） to regard
himself as a victim。 Somehow the ravage of the question was
checked by the Master's radiance。 It was as fine in its way as
Marian Fancourt's； it denoted the happy human being； but also it
represented to Paul Overt that the author of 〃Shadowmere〃 had now
definitely ceased to count … ceased to count as a writer。 As he
smiled a welcome across the place he was almost banal； was almost
smug。 Paul fancied that for a moment he hesitated to make a
movement； as if for all the world he HAD his bad conscience； then
they had already met in the middle of the room and had shaken hands
… expressively； cordially on St。 George's part。 With which they
had passed back together to where the elder man had been standing；
while St。 George said： 〃I hope you're never going away again。
I've been dining here； the General told me。〃 He was handsome； he
was young； he looked as if he had still a great fund of life。 He
bent the friendliest； most unconfessing eyes on his disciple of a
couple of years before； asked him about everything； his health； his
plans； his late occupations； the new book。 〃When will it be out …
soon； soon； I hope？ Splendid； eh？ That's right； you're a comfort；
you're a luxury！ I've read you all over again these last six
months。〃 Paul waited to see if he would tell him what the General
had told him in the afternoon and what Miss Fancourt； verbally at
least； of course hadn't。 But as it didn't come out he at last put
the question。
〃Is it true； the great news I hear … that you're to be married？〃
〃Ah you have heard it then？〃
〃Didn't the General tell you？〃 Paul asked。
The Master's face was wonderful。 〃Tell me what？〃
〃That he mentioned it to me this afternoon？〃
〃My dear fellow； I don't remember。 We've been in the midst of
people。 I'm sorry； in that case； that I lose the pleasure； myself；
of announcing to you a fact that touches me so nearly。 It IS a
fact； strange as it may appear。 It has only just become one。
Isn't it ridiculous？〃 St。 George made this speech without
confusion； but on the other hand； so far as our friend could judge；
without latent impudence。 It struck his interlocutor that； to talk
so comfortably and coolly； he must simply have forgotten what had
passed between them。 His next words； however； showed he hadn't；
and they produced； as an appeal to Paul's own memory； an effect
which would have been ludicrous if it hadn't been cruel。 〃Do you
recall the talk we had at my house that night； into which Miss
Fancourt's name entered？ I've often thought of it since。〃
〃Yes； no wonder you said what you did〃 … Paul was careful to meet
his eyes。
〃In the light of the present occasion？ Ah but there was no light
then。 How could I have foreseen this hour？〃
〃Didn't you think it probable？〃
〃Upon my honour； no；〃 said Henry St。 George。 〃Certainly I owe you
that assurance。 Think how my situation has changed。〃
〃I see … I see；〃 our young man murmured。
His companion went on as if； now that the subject had been
broached； he was； as a person of imagination and tact； quite ready
to give every satisfaction … being both by his genius and his
method so able to enter into everything another might feel。 〃But
it's not only that； for honestly； at my age； I never dreamed … a
widower with big boys and with so little else！ It has turned out
differently from anything one could have dreamed； and I'm fortunate
beyond all measure。 She has been so free； and yet she consents。
Better than any one else perhaps … for I remember how you liked her
before you went away； and how she liked you … you can intelligently
congratulate me。〃
〃She has been so free！〃 Those words made a great impression on
Paul Overt； and he almost writhed under that irony in them as to
which it so little mattered whether it was designed or casual。 Of
course she had been free； and appreciably perhaps by his own act；
for wasn't the Master's allusion to her having liked him a part of
the irony too？ 〃I thought that by your theory you disapproved of a
writer's marrying。〃
〃Surely … surely。 But you don't call me a writer？〃
〃You ought to be ashamed；〃 said Paul。
〃Ashamed of marrying again？〃
〃I won't say that … but ashamed of your reasons。〃
The elder man beautifully smiled。 〃You must let me judge of them；
my good friend。〃
〃Yes； why not？ For you judged wonderfully of mine。〃
The tone of these words appeared suddenly； for St。 George； to
suggest the unsuspected。 He stared as if divining a bitterness。
〃Don't you think I've been straight？〃
〃You might have told me at the time perhaps。〃
〃My dear fellow； when I say I couldn't pierce futurity …！〃
〃I mean afterwards。〃
The Master wondered。 〃After my wife's death？〃
〃When this idea came to you。〃
〃Ah never； never！ I wanted to save you； rare and precious as you
are。〃
Poor Overt looked hard at him。 〃Are you marrying Miss Fancourt to
save me？〃
〃Not absolutely； but it adds to the pleasure。 I shall be the
making of you；〃 St。 George smiled。 〃I was greatly struck； after
our talk； with the brave devoted way you quitted the country； and
still more perhaps with your force of character in remaining
abroad。 You're very strong … you're wonderfully strong。〃
Paul tried to sound his shining eyes； the strange thing was that he
seemed sincere … not a mocking fiend。 He turned away； and as he
did so heard the Master say something about his giving them all the
proof； being the joy of his old age。 He faced him again； taking
another look。 〃Do you mean to say you've stopped writing？〃
〃My dear fellow； of course I have。 It's too l