The  Lady  Elizabeth  Maideley  had  the  faculty  of  making  the  very  least  of  the  guests  feel  that  they  mattered .sx   

A  new  world  suddenly  opened  to  her .sx   Her  short  stay  at  Eastbourne  with  the  Mayhews  had  been  different .sx   That  had  given  her  an  insight  into  a  world  from  which  , through  all  her  enjoyment  , she  had  felt  at  times  strangely  apart  , but  to  which  she  had  been  at  the  same  time  curiously  attracted .sx   Here  she  had  the  sense  , not  of  dropping  into  a  new  world  , but  rather  of  becoming  suddenly  conscious  of  a  world  which  was  intimately  her  own  , and  which  had  always  been  about  her .sx   There  was  a  sense  of  camaraderie  which  she  had  not  realised  before .sx   She  was  delightfully  surprised  also  at  the  esteem  in  which  her  father  was  evidently  held .sx   To  her  he  was  the  greatest  man  she  had  known  -  she  did  not  know  of  the  wider  recognition  given  him  by  the  world  outside .sx   

'What  , a  son  of  Richard  Meredith  the  philosopher,'  she  heard  a  distinguished  Bishop  who  was  staying  at  Maideley  hall  say  to  their  hostess  as  she  was  sitting  watching  Jim  play  , waiting  for  her  own  set  -  '  I  must  speak  to  him .sx   His  father  and  I  were  at  Oxford  together .sx   He  is  a  man  -  taller  than  most  men  of  his  time .sx   I  knew  his  home  was  in  the  West  somewhere  , but  didn't  know  it  was  just  here .sx '  

'He  lives  a  very  secluded  life .sx   His  wife  is  not  strong .sx   Now  the  young  people  are  growing  up  and'  -  catching  sight  of  Margaret  -  'this  is  his  daughter .sx   We  are  quite  near  neighbours  , you  know,'  she  added  smiling .sx   

Margaret  found  herself  talking  to  the  Bishop .sx   

His  eyes  were  kindly  and  alert  , set  in  an  austere  face .sx   He  was  keenly  interested  , and  wanted  to  know  all  she  could  tell  him  of  her  father .sx   Margaret  talked  to  him  of  that  best-loved  man  until  lady  Elizabeth  brought  Jim  over .sx   

'I  must  call  and  see  him .sx   Tell  him  I  shall  come  while  I  am  here .sx   I  am  staying  another  week .sx   Maideley  and  I  are  old  friends  , you  know'  said  the  Bishop  , as  she  went  to  take  her  place  on  the  tennis-court .sx   

It  was  very  many  years  before  Margaret  saw  the  Bishop  again .sx   Next  week  when  he  called  she  had  gone  out  into  the  fields  , seeking  blindly  to  realise  the  sudden  crumbling  of  the  buildings  she  had  dreamed  , and  to  understand  the  significance  of  the  things  which  her  father  was  saying  to  his  old  friend  in  his  study .sx   

'A  very  charming  girl  -  your  sister,'  said  the  Bishop  to  Jim  , 'very  charming .sx '  

Others  near  who  heard  the  Bishop  , and  knew  him  to  be  sparing  in  praise  and  critical  of  the  youth  of  his  generation  , directed  their  attention  more  closely  to  Margaret  , so  that  she  found  herself  that  afternoon  suddenly  stepping  into  recognition  by  the  elders  in  a  way  unknown  before .sx   She  was  no  longer  a  schoolgirl .sx   Young  womanhood  was  finding  her  a  place  amongst  the  grownups  of  her  time .sx   She  accepted  it  with  alacrity .sx   Here  were  also  wells  of  knowledge .sx   She  would  taste  them  all .sx   Life  was  to  be  sampled  in  all  its  phases  , and  , as  yet  , little  of  the  unpleasantness  of  this  sampling  seemed  to  have  reached  her .sx   
A  further  surprise  awaited  her  as  she  stepped  off  the  tennis-court  after  her  set  was  finished  and  made  her  way  to  the  tea-tables  under  the  trees .sx   

'If  you'll  just  sit  there  , Miss  Meredith,'  drawled  a  voice  at  her  elbow  , 'I'll  bring  you  a  cup  of  tea .sx '  

Margaret  turned  sharply .sx   The  voice  was  familiar .sx   

Peter  Thorpe  smiled  slowly  into  her  face .sx   

'You  are  surprised  to  see  me,'  he  remarked .sx   

'I  am,'  she  replied  , holding  out  her  hand .sx   'This  place  and  Eastbourne  seem  so  far  apart  somehow .sx '  

He  pointed  to  some  low  chairs  near  by .sx   

'I'll  bring  tea  here,'  he  said .sx   'It's  cool  and  quiet .sx '  

In  a  moment  he  returned  with  tea  and  cakes .sx   

'London  is  not  far  from  anywhere  , and  that  is  my  hunting-ground,'  he  continued .sx   'Eastbourne  was  only  an  accident .sx   I'm  staying  here  for  a  few  days .sx   Lady  Elizabeth  is  my  godmother  and  a  sort  of  distant  relation .sx   She  takes  a  maternal  interest  in  me .sx '  

He  spoke  with  an  air  of  being  amused  with  himself .sx   'And  you ?sx '  he  said .sx   'Eastbourne  was  only  an  accident  with  you  , wasn't  it ?sx '  

She  hesitated .sx   'Accident'  seemed  scarcely  the  word .sx   'In  a  way  perhaps  -  yes,'  she  assented .sx   'A  lovely  accident .sx   Everything  was  so  new .sx   You  see  , it  was  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  had  ever  been  away  like  that .sx   I  had  never  been  inside  any  hotel .sx   And  the  Mayhews  are  such  dears .sx '  

'You  live  near  here ?sx '  he  enquired .sx   

'Three  miles  away  , across  the  fields .sx   It  is  longer  by  road .sx '  

'Of  course  , London  cannot  be  compared  with  a  place  like  this,'  he  said  after  a  moment's  pause  , deliberately  , as  if  in  the  simple  statement  he  threw  out  a  challenge .sx   

'I  haven't  much  knowledge  of  London  at  any  time,'  replied  Margaret .sx   'My  visit  to  the  Mayhews  last  month  was  my  first  experience  of  it  , and  then  , of  course  , I  touched  only  its  fringe .sx   I  was  only  there  about  a  week  before  I  went  to  Eastbourne .sx   At  present  this'  -  pointing  to  the  stretch  of  country  beyond  -  '  is  the  known .sx   London  is  the  unknown  ; I  suppose  that  is  partly  the  attraction .sx '  

Peter  Thorpe  looked  at  her  meditatively  a  moment .sx   

'Yes  , he  replied .sx   'That  is  so  , I  suppose  , with  most  things .sx   It  is  a  pity  , isn't  it ?sx '  

'What ?sx '  

'That  we  should  always  be  so  anxious  to  know .sx   Knowledge  is  disappointing .sx   It's  a  pity  we're  not  content .sx '  

Margaret's  grey  eyes  deepened  in  colour .sx   Curiously  , this  man  kindled  resentment .sx   Curiously  , too  , he  attracted .sx   

'Content  with  ignorance ?sx   I  think  that's  despicable .sx '  There  was  scorn  in  her  voice .sx   Thorpe  smiled .sx   

'Most  things  , most  people  , lose  their  attraction  when  they  are  known  , he  said  quietly .sx   'It's  best  to  keep  the  gilt  on  our  gingerbread .sx   Only  , of  course  , none  of  us  do .sx   We're  too  inquisitive .sx   We  ache  to  take  off  our  pretty  covers  -  only  to  discover  the  gingerbread  is  sawdust .sx '  

Margaret  was  silent  for  a  moment .sx   

'I  don't  think  life  is  like  that,'  she  said  at  length .sx   'I  believe  it  is  beautiful  at  the  core .sx   More  beautiful  , always  , than  on  the  outside .sx   You  are  not  talking  of  -  real  knowledge .sx '  

Yet  even  as  she  spoke  , away  back  in  the  regions  of  her  mind  , she  heard  the  faint  echo  of  a  doubt  , and  this  echo  made  her  words  all  the  more  emphatic .sx   It  was  all  so  vague  , so  indefinite  , so  mixed  up  with  childish  questionings  suppressed  , that  it  was  just  enough  to  incite  her  , the  more  insistently  , to  cling  to  the  belief  which  she  held .sx   

'You  are  happy  to  be  able  to  think  so,'  he  said  , watching  her  closely  , still  with  his  disconcerting  smile .sx   'But  then  you  know  you  are  ignorant .sx   Yours  is  the  glamour  of  ignorance .sx   The  gingerbread  is  still  gilded  for  you .sx '  

Margaret  flushed .sx   His  tone  provoked  her .sx   She  spoke  evenly  , with  a  suspicion  of  pedantry .sx   

'I  think  your  metaphor  altogether  inappropriate .sx   To  being  with  , it  is  silly  to  compare  life  with  a  cake  -  to  a  sweet  thing  that  you  eat  , that  you  can  crumble  , that  you  can  give  to  dogs .sx   It's  absurd .sx '  

As  she  spoke  Margaret  wondered  at  her  own  audacity .sx   Peter  Thorpe  stood  as  a  light  in  the  world  of  literature  which  she  was  striving  to  enter .sx   His  books  had  something  great  in  them  -  and  she  was  calling  his  metaphors  'silly !sx '  A  subconscious  fear  that  he  was  attacking  something  fundamental  to  her  peace  gave  edge  perhaps  to  his  words .sx   

Thorpe  looked  amused .sx   He  was  enjoying  himself .sx   His  knowledge  of  women  during  recent  years  had  lain  in  other  ways .sx   

'Perhaps  you  can  supply  a  better  one,'  he  said .sx   'I'm  not  wedded  to  it .sx   I  just  threw  out  a  common  phrase  , and  common  phrases  are  apt  to  hold  truth .sx   Doesn't  it  hold  truth  , after  all ?sx '  He  questioned  indolently  , leaning  back  in  his  chair  and  looking  at  Margaret .sx   'Don't  we  eat  life  -  don't  we  use  the  lives  of  men  and  women  for  our  own  purposes ?sx   For  our  own  flattering ?sx   Look  out  on  the  world  of  men  as  we  really  are  , everywhere .sx   Men  of  commerce  , of  finance  ; men  who  buy  and  sell  and  make  bargains  ; men  who  write  books  and  plays  -  all  growing  fat  by  feeding  on  the  credulity  , the  weakness  , the  inefficiencies  , the  sins  , or  the  fits  of  their  neighbours .sx   They  are  putting  their  teeth  into  , not  only  life  but  lives  , every  day .sx   With  enjoyment  , too  , for  a  time  , as  a  schoolboy  with  his  cake .sx   But  it  crumbles  -  there's  your  second  objection .sx   Always  the  mouthful  you  expected .sx   On  the  floor  , on  your  plate  , in  your  fingers  , at  your  very  lips  some  is  spilt  , is  wasted .sx   And  generally  the  nicest  bit  of  icing  falls  into  the  dust .sx   And  don't  the  dogs  often  get  these  choicest  leavings ?sx   Don't  we  flaunt  our  carelessness  of  life  -  our  own  and  others ?sx   We  have  no  sense  of  proportion  , no  idea  of  good  or  evil .sx   The  plate  which  we  carelessly  or  deliberately  put  for  the  dogs  sometimes  holds  the  fruitiest  slices .sx   The  beast  gets  them .sx   And  there's  your  third  objection .sx   But  I'd  like  to  know  your  metaphor  of  life ?sx '  

Thorpe  had  been  speaking  slowing  between  sips  of  tea .sx   He  had  kept  his  eyes  on  Margaret's  expressive  face  and  with  a  negligent  interest .sx   Thought  had  chased  thought  quickly  -  she  did  not  agree .sx   He  could  see  that .sx   But  she  was  interested  , and  her  quick  impulse  to  anger  had  gone .sx   

'Mine ?sx '  she  said  in  response .sx   'I  don't  think  I  have  one  ; it's  not  definite  enough  to  put  into  words  anyhow .sx   I  only  know  I  think  it  is  everything  yours  is  not  ; somehow  lasting  ; and  beautiful  ; and  full  of  mystery .sx   That  , of  course  , is  the  attraction .sx   I  think,'  she  added  slowly  after  a  moment's  pause  , 'that  I'm  rather  sorry  for  you  if  you  really  believe  what  you've  been  saying .sx   Somehow  I  don't  think  you  do .sx   I  think  you've  just  been  talking .sx '  

Peter  Thorpe  lifted  his  eyebrows .sx   To  be  put  in  his  place  by  a  girl  just  out  of  the  schoolroom  was  a  novel  experience .sx   Before  he  could  reply  Lady  Elizabeth  came  up .sx   

'Now  , Peter  , I  want  another  man .sx   They're  coming  in  crowds  around  the  tea-tables  , and  I  want  you  to  exert  yourself .sx   Come  and  help  me  with  the  tea .sx   Come  , Margaret  -  a  small  dose  of  my  godson  goes  a  long  way .sx   There  are  some  people  here  , I  want  to  introduce  you,'  and  her  hostess  took  Margaret  by  the  arm  and  led  her  into  a  little  group  on  the  lawn .sx   

Margaret  felt  wonderfully  at  home  , in  spite  of  the  strange  faces .sx   Her  first  shyness  had  worn  off .sx   She  was  happy  and  interested .sx   People  noticed  her .sx   

'Not  exactly  beautiful  -  distinguished  looking  , perhaps .sx '  

'A  little  more  colour  , and  absolutely  lovely .sx '  

'A  curiously  intense  face  -  a  face  to  remember .sx '  

Margaret  did  not  hear  them  , but  she  responded  to  the  atmosphere  of  friendliness  and  interest .sx   It  was  a  day  to  look  back  upon  as  empty  of  care  , full  of  an  inconsequent  gladness .sx   Even  Peter  Thorpe's  pessimism  did  not  really  trouble  her .sx   There  were  some  people  , she  told  herself  , whom  she  must  not  take  too  seriously .sx   Mr.  Thorpe  was  one  of  them .sx   She  must  get  used  to  people  who  did  not  mean  exactly  what  they  said .sx   

There  was  the  walk  home  afterwards  over  the  hills  and  fields .sx   Thorpe  went  part  way  with  them  , and  he  and  Margaret  fell  a  little  behind  the  other  two .sx   The  evening  was  mellow  and  tender  , and  for  a  brief  half-hour  some  of  Peter  Thorpe's  cynicism  seemed  to  disappear .sx   Margaret  , quick  in  response  to  nature's  moods  , felt  that  evening  as  if  the  Earth  had  opened  wide  arms  to  embrace  her  , and  the  man  at  her  side  in  that  hour  was  not  alien .sx   She  was  conscious  of  harmony  ; half  conscious  too  of  a  feeling  of  surprise  that  for  once  Mr.  Thorpe  stuck  no  note  of  discord .sx   At  Eastbourne  he  often  had  ; that  afternoon  he  had  done  his  best .sx   This  evening  was  the  mantle  of  Earth's  beneficence  has  fallen  over  everything  , and  he  had  not  escaped  it .sx   

They  gave  themselves  up  to  the  hour  and  its  beauty .sx