through sandy deserts under a tropical sun to find the
source of some river or the haunt of some fly； she figured
him living by the labor of his hands in some city slum； the
victim of one of those terrible theories of right and wrong
which were current at the time； she figured him prisoner
for life in the house of a woman who had seduced him by
her misfortunes。 Half proudly； and wholly anxiously； she
framed such thoughts； as they sat； late at night； talking
together over the gasstove in Ralph’s bedroom。
It is likely that Ralph would not have recognized his
own dream of a future in the forecasts which disturbed
his sister’s peace of mind。 Certainly； if any one of them
had been put before him he would have rejected it with a
laugh； as the sort of life that held no attractions for him。
He could not have said how it was that he had put these
absurd notions into his sister’s head。 Indeed； he prided
himself upon being well broken into a life of hard work；
about which he had no sort of illusions。 His vision of his
own future； unlike many such forecasts； could have been
made public at any moment without a blush； he attributed
to himself a strong brain； and conferred on himself
a seat in the House of mons at the age of fifty； a
moderate fortune； and； with luck； an unimportant office
in a Liberal Government。 There was nothing extravagant
in a forecast of that kind； and certainly nothing dishonorable。
Nevertheless； as his sister guessed； it needed all
Ralph’s strength of will； together with the pressure of
circumstances； to keep his feet moving in the path which
led that way。 It needed； in particular； a constant repetition
of a phrase to the effect that he shared the mon
fate； found it best of all； and wished for no other； and by
repeating such phrases he acquired punctuality and habits
of work； and could very plausibly demonstrate that to
be a clerk in a solicitor’s office was the best of all possible
lives； and that other ambitions were vain。
But； like all beliefs not genuinely held； this one depended
very much upon the amount of acceptance it received
from other people； and in private； when the pressure
of public opinion was removed； Ralph let himself
swing very rapidly away from his actual circumstances
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upon strange voyages which； indeed； he would have been
ashamed to describe。 In these dreams； of course； he figured
in noble and romantic parts； but selfglorification
was not the only motive of them。 They gave outlet to
some spirit which found no work to do in real life； for；
with the pessimism which his lot forced upon him； Ralph
had made up his mind that there was no use for what；
contemptuously enough； he called dreams； in the world
which we inhabit。 It sometimes seemed to him that this
spirit was the most valuable possession he had； he thought
that by means of it he could set flowering waste tracts of
the earth； cure many ills； or raise up beauty where none
now existed； it was； too； a fierce and potent spirit which
would devour the dusty books and parchments on the
office wall with one lick of its tongue； and leave him in a
minute standing in nakedness； if he gave way to it。 His
endeavor； for many years； had been to control the spirit；
and at the age of twentynine he thought he could pride
himself upon a life rigidly divided into the hours of work
and those of dreams； the two lived side by side without
harming each other。 As a matter of fact； this effort at
discipline had been helped by the interests of a difficult
profession； but the old conclusion to which Ralph had
e when he left college still held sway in his mind；
and tinged his views with the melancholy belief that life
for most people pels the exercise of the lower gifts
and wastes the precious ones； until it forces us to agree
that there is little virtue； as well as little profit； in what
once seemed to us the noblest part of our inheritance。
Denham was not altogether popular either in his office
or among his family。 He was too positive； at this stage of
his career； as to what was right and what wrong； too
proud of his selfcontrol； and； as is natural in the case of
persons not altogether happy or well suited in their conditions；
too apt to prove the folly of contentment； if he
found any one who confessed to that weakness。 In the
office his rather ostentatious efficiency annoyed those
who took their own work more lightly； and； if they foretold
his advancement； it was not altogether sympathetically。
Indeed； he appeared to be rather a hard and self
sufficient young man； with a queer temper； and manners
that were unpromisingly abrupt； who was consumed
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with a desire to get on in the world； which was natural；
these critics thought； in a man of no means； but not
engaging。
The young men in the office had a perfect right to these
opinions； because Denham showed no particular desire
for their friendship。 He liked them well enough； but shut
them up in that partment of life which was devoted
to work。 Hitherto； indeed； he had found little difficulty
in arranging his life as methodically as he arranged his
expenditure； but about this time he began to encounter
experiences which were not so easy to classify。 Mary
Datchet had begun this confusion two years ago by bursting
into laughter at some remark of his； almost the first
time they met。 She could not explain why it was。 She
thought him quite astonishingly odd。 When he knew her
well enough to tell her how he spent Monday and Wednesday
and Saturday； she was still more amused； she laughed
till he laughed； too； without knowing why。 It seemed to
her very odd that he should know as much about breeding
bulldogs as any man in England； that he had a collection
of wild flowers found near London； and his weekly
visit to old Miss Trotter at Ealing； who was an authority
upon the science of Heraldry； never failed to excite her
laughter。 She wanted to know everything； even the kind of
cake which the old lady supplied on these occasions； and
their summer excursions to churches in the neighborhood
of London for the purpose of taking rubbings of the brasses
became most important festivals； from the interest she
took in them。 In six months she knew more about his odd
friends and hobbies than his own brothers and sisters knew；
after living with him all his life； and Ralph found this very
pleasant； though disordering； for his own view of himself
had always been profoundly serious。
Certainly it was very pleasant to be with Mary Datchet
and to bee； directly the door was shut； quite a different
sort of person； eccentric and lovable； with scarcely any
likeness to the self most people knew。 He became less
serious； and rather less dictatorial at home； for he was apt
to hear Mary laughing at him； and telling him； as she was
fond of doing； that he knew nothing at all about anything。
She made him； also； take an interest in public questions；
for which she had a natural liking； and was in process of
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turning hi