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第4章

the lesson of the master-第4章

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expression of gaiety excited; he made out; very much the private

protest of a person sitting gratefully in the twilight when the

lamp is brought in too soon。  His second reflexion was that; though

generally averse to the flagrant use of ingratiating arts by a man

of age 〃making up〃 to a pretty girl; he was not in this case too

painfully affected:  which seemed to prove either that St。 George

had a light hand or the air of being younger than he was; or else

that Miss Fancourt's own manner somehow made everything right。



Overt walked with her into the gallery; and they strolled to the

end of it; looking at the pictures; the cabinets; the charming

vista; which harmonised with the prospect of the summer afternoon;

resembling it by a long brightness; with great divans and old

chairs that figured hours of rest。  Such a place as that had the

added merit of giving those who came into it plenty to talk about。

Miss Fancourt sat down with her new acquaintance on a flowered

sofa; the cushions of which; very numerous; were tight ancient

cubes of many sizes; and presently said:  〃I'm so glad to have a

chance to thank you。〃



〃To thank me … ?〃  He had to wonder。



〃I liked your book so much。  I think it splendid。〃



She sat there smiling at him; and he never asked himself which book

she meant; for after all he had written three or four。  That seemed

a vulgar detail; and he wasn't even gratified by the idea of the

pleasure she told him … her handsome bright face told him … he had

given her。  The feeling she appealed to; or at any rate the feeling

she excited; was something larger; something that had little to do

with any quickened pulsation of his own vanity。  It was responsive

admiration of the life she embodied; the young purity and richness

of which appeared to imply that real success was to resemble THAT;

to live; to bloom; to present the perfection of a fine type; not to

have hammered out headachy fancies with a bent back at an ink…

stained table。  While her grey eyes rested on him … there was a

wideish space between these; and the division of her rich…coloured

hair; so thick that it ventured to be smooth; made a free arch

above them … he was almost ashamed of that exercise of the pen

which it was her present inclination to commend。  He was conscious

he should have liked better to please her in some other way。  The

lines of her face were those of a woman grown; but the child

lingered on in her complexion and in the sweetness of her mouth。

Above all she was natural … that was indubitable now; more natural

than he had supposed at first; perhaps on account of her aesthetic

toggery; which was conventionally unconventional; suggesting what

he might have called a tortuous spontaneity。  He had feared that

sort of thing in other cases; and his fears had been justified;

for; though he was an artist to the essence; the modern reactionary

nymph; with the brambles of the woodland caught in her folds and a

look as if the satyrs had toyed with her hair; made him shrink not

as a man of starch and patent leather; but as a man potentially

himself a poet or even a faun。  The girl was really more candid

than her costume; and the best proof of it was her supposing her

liberal character suited by any uniform。  This was a fallacy; since

if she was draped as a pessimist he was sure she liked the taste of

life。  He thanked her for her appreciation … aware at the same time

that he didn't appear to thank her enough and that she might think

him ungracious。  He was afraid she would ask him to explain

something he had written; and he always winced at that … perhaps

too timidly … for to his own ear the explanation of a work of art

sounded fatuous。  But he liked her so much as to feel a confidence

that in the long run he should be able to show her he wasn't rudely

evasive。  Moreover she surely wasn't quick to take offence; wasn't

irritable; she could be trusted to wait。  So when he said to her;

〃Ah don't talk of anything I've done; don't talk of it HERE;

there's another man in the house who's the actuality!〃 … when he

uttered this short sincere protest it was with the sense that she

would see in the words neither mock humility nor the impatience of

a successful man bored with praise。



〃You mean Mr。 St。 George … isn't he delightful?〃



Paul Overt met her eyes; which had a cool morning…light that would

have half…broken his heart if he hadn't been so young。  〃Alas I

don't know him。  I only admire him at a distance。〃



〃Oh you must know him … he wants so to talk to you;〃 returned Miss

Fancourt; who evidently had the habit of saying the things that; by

her quick calculation; would give people pleasure。  Paul saw how

she would always calculate on everything's being simple between

others。



〃I shouldn't have supposed he knew anything about me;〃 he

professed。



〃He does then … everything。  And if he didn't I should be able to

tell him。〃



〃To tell him everything?〃 our friend smiled。



〃You talk just like the people in your book!〃 she answered。



〃Then they must all talk alike。〃



She thought a moment; not a bit disconcerted。  〃Well; it must be so

difficult。  Mr。 St。 George tells me it IS … terribly。  I've tried

too … and I find it so。  I've tried to write a novel。〃



〃Mr。 St。 George oughtn't to discourage you;〃 Paul went so far as to

say。



〃You do much more … when you wear that expression。〃



〃Well; after all; why try to be an artist?〃 the young man pursued。

〃It's so poor … so poor!〃



〃I don't know what you mean;〃 said Miss Fancourt; who looked grave。



〃I mean as compared with being a person of action … as living your

works。〃



〃But what's art but an intense life … if it be real?〃 she asked。

〃I think it's the only one … everything else is so clumsy!〃  Her

companion laughed; and she brought out with her charming serenity

what next struck her。  〃It's so interesting to meet so many

celebrated people。〃



〃So I should think … but surely it isn't new to you。〃



〃Why I've never seen any one … any one:  living always in Asia。〃



The way she talked of Asia somehow enchanted him。  〃But doesn't

that continent swarm with great figures?  Haven't you administered

provinces in India and had captive rajahs and tributary princes

chained to your car?〃



It was as if she didn't care even SHOULD he amuse himself at her

cost。  〃I was with my father; after I left school to go out there。

It was delightful being with him … we're alone together in the

world; he and I … but there was none of the society I like best。

One never heard of a picture … never of a book; except bad ones。〃



〃Never of a picture?  Why; wasn't all life a picture?〃



She looked over the delightful place where they sat。  〃Nothing to

compare to this。  I adore England!〃 she cried。



It fairly stirred in him the sacred chord。  〃Ah of course I don't

deny that we must do something with her; poor old dear; yet。〃



〃She hasn't been touched; really;〃 said the girl。



〃Did Mr。 St。 George say that?〃



There was a small and; as he felt; harmless spark of irony in his

question; which; however; she answered very simply; not noticing

the insinuation。  〃Yes; he says England hasn't been touched … not

considering all there is;〃 she went on eagerly。  〃He's so

interesting about our country。  To listen to him makes one want so

to do something。〃



〃It would make ME want to;〃 said Paul Overt; feeling strongly; on

the instant; the suggestion of what she said and that of the

emotion with which she said it; and well aware of what an

incentive; on St。 George's lips; such a speech might be。



〃Oh you … as if you hadn't!  I should like so to hear you talk

together;〃 she added ardently。



〃That's very genial of you; but he'd have it all his own way。  I'm

prostrate before him。〃



She had an air of earnestness。  〃Do you think then he's so

perfect?〃



〃Far from it。  Some of his later books seem to me of a qu

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