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〃I'm afraid you consider then that I am。〃
〃No； I don't〃 … she spoke it rather shortly。 And then she added：
〃He understands … understands everything。〃
The young man was on the point of saying jocosely： 〃And I don't …
is that it？〃 But these words； in time； changed themselves to
others slightly less trivial： 〃Do you suppose he understands his
wife？〃
Miss Fancourt made no direct answer； but after a moment's
hesitation put it： 〃Isn't she charming？〃
〃Not in the least！〃
〃Here he comes。 Now you must know him；〃 she went on。 A small
group of visitors had gathered at the other end of the gallery and
had been there overtaken by Henry St。 George； who strolled in from
a neighbouring room。 He stood near them a moment； not falling into
the talk but taking up an old miniature from a table and vaguely
regarding it。 At the end of a minute he became aware of Miss
Fancourt and her companion in the distance； whereupon； laying down
his miniature； he approached them with the same procrastinating
air； his hands in his pockets and his eyes turned； right and left；
to the pictures。 The gallery was so long that this transit took
some little time； especially as there was a moment when he stopped
to admire the fine Gainsborough。 〃He says Mrs。 St。 George has been
the making of him；〃 the girl continued in a voice slightly lowered。
〃Ah he's often obscure！〃 Paul laughed。
〃Obscure？〃 she repeated as if she heard it for the first time。 Her
eyes rested on her other friend； and it wasn't lost upon Paul that
they appeared to send out great shafts of softness。 〃He's going to
speak to us！〃 she fondly breathed。 There was a sort of rapture in
her voice； and our friend was startled。 〃Bless my soul； does she
care for him like THAT？ … is she in love with him？〃 he mentally
enquired。 〃Didn't I tell you he was eager？〃 she had meanwhile
asked of him。
〃It's eagerness dissimulated；〃 the young man returned as the
subject of their observation lingered before his Gainsborough。 〃He
edges toward us shyly。 Does he mean that she saved him by burning
that book？〃
〃That book？ what book did she burn？〃 The girl quickly turned her
face to him。
〃Hasn't he told you then？〃
〃Not a word。〃
〃Then he doesn't tell you everything！〃 Paul had guessed that she
pretty much supposed he did。 The great man had now resumed his
course and come nearer； in spite of which his more qualified
admirer risked a profane observation： 〃St。 George and the Dragon
is what the anecdote suggests！〃
His companion； however； didn't hear it； she smiled at the dragon's
adversary。 〃He IS eager … he is！〃 she insisted。
〃Eager for you … yes。〃
But meanwhile she had called out： 〃I'm sure you want to know Mr。
Overt。 You'll be great friends； and it will always be delightful
to me to remember I was here when you first met and that I had
something to do with it。〃
There was a freshness of intention in the words that carried them
off； nevertheless our young man was sorry for Henry St。 George； as
he was sorry at any time for any person publicly invited to be
responsive and delightful。 He would have been so touched to
believe that a man he deeply admired should care a straw for him
that he wouldn't play with such a presumption if it were possibly
vain。 In a single glance of the eye of the pardonable Master he
read … having the sort of divination that belonged to his talent …
that this personage had ever a store of friendly patience； which
was part of his rich outfit； but was versed in no printed page of a
rising scribbler。 There was even a relief； a simplification； in
that： liking him so much already for what he had done； how could
one have liked him any more for a perception which must at the best
have been vague？ Paul Overt got up； trying to show his compassion；
but at the same instant he found himself encompassed by St。
George's happy personal art … a manner of which it was the essence
to conjure away false positions。 It all took place in a moment。
Paul was conscious that he knew him now； conscious of his handshake
and of the very quality of his hand； of his face； seen nearer and
consequently seen better； of a general fraternising assurance； and
in particular of the circumstance that St。 George didn't dislike
him （as yet at least） for being imposed by a charming but too
gushing girl； attractive enough without such danglers。 No
irritation at any rate was reflected in the voice with which he
questioned Miss Fancourt as to some project of a walk … a general
walk of the company round the park。 He had soon said something to
Paul about a talk … 〃We must have a tremendous lot of talk； there
are so many things； aren't there？〃 … but our friend could see this
idea wouldn't in the present case take very immediate effect。 All
the same he was extremely happy； even after the matter of the walk
had been settled … the three presently passed back to the other
part of the gallery； where it was discussed with several members of
the party； even when； after they had all gone out together； he
found himself for half an hour conjoined with Mrs。 St。 George。 Her
husband had taken the advance with Miss Fancourt； and this pair
were quite out of sight。 It was the prettiest of rambles for a
summer afternoon … a grassy circuit； of immense extent； skirting
the limit of the park within。 The park was completely surrounded
by its old mottled but perfect red wall； which； all the way on
their left； constituted in itself an object of interest。 Mrs。 St。
George mentioned to him the surprising number of acres thus
enclosed； together with numerous other facts relating to the
property and the family； and the family's other properties： she
couldn't too strongly urge on him the importance of seeing their
other houses。 She ran over the names of these and rang the changes
on them with the facility of practice； making them appear an almost
endless list。 She had received Paul Overt very amiably on his
breaking ground with her by the mention of his joy in having just
made her husband's acquaintance； and struck him as so alert and so
accommodating a little woman that he was rather ashamed of his MOT
about her to Miss Fancourt； though he reflected that a hundred
other people； on a hundred occasions； would have been sure to make
it。 He got on with Ms。 St。 George； in short； better than he
expected； but this didn't prevent her suddenly becoming aware that
she was faint with fatigue and must take her way back to the house
by the shortest cut。 She professed that she hadn't the strength of
a kitten and was a miserable wreck； a character he had been too
preoccupied to discern in her while he wondered in what sense she
could be held to have been the making of her husband。 He had
arrived at a glimmering of the answer when she announced that she
must leave him； though this perception was of course provisional。
While he was in the very act of placing himself at he