〃There you hit it。 But answer me this question： Isn't a social conscience； broadly speaking； the result of comfort and security？〃
Martin shrugged his shoulders。
〃And doesn't comfort also destroy the power of action？〃
Again Martin shrugged。
〃Then； if those who have the social conscience and can see what is wrong have lost their power of action； how can you say there is any light at the end of this dark passage？〃
Martin took his pipe out； filled it； and pressed the filling with his thumb。
〃There is light；〃 he said at last； 〃in spite of all invertebrates。 Good…bye！ I've wasted enough time；〃 and he abruptly strode away。
〃And in spite of myopia？〃 muttered Hilary。
A few minutes later； coming out from Messrs。 Rose and Thorn's； where he had gone to buy tobacco； he came suddenly on the little model； evidently waiting。
〃I was at the funeral；〃 she； said； and her face added plainly： 'I've followed you。' Uninvited； she walked on at his side。
'This is not the same girl；' he thought； 'that I sent away five days ago。 She has lost something； gained something。 I don't know her。'
There seemed such a stubborn purpose in her face and manner。 It was like the look in a dog's eyes that says： 'Master； you thought to shut me up away from you； I know now what that is like。 Do what you will； I mean in future to be near you。'
This look； by its simplicity； frightened one to whom the primitive was strange。 Desiring to free himself of his companion； yet not knowing how； Hilary sat down in Kensington Gardens on the first bench they came to。 The little model sat down beside him。 The quiet siege laid to him by this girl was quite uncanny。 It was as though someone were binding him with toy threads； swelling slowly into rope before his eyes。 In this fear of Hilary's there was at first much irritation。 His fastidiousness and sense of the ridiculous were roused。 What did this little creature with whom he had no thoughts and no ideas in common； whose spirit and his could never hope to meet； think that she could get from him？ Was she trying to weave a spell over him too； with her mute； stubborn adoration？ Was she trying to change his protective weakness for her to another sort of weakness？ He turned and looked； she dropped her eyes at once； and sat still as a stone figure。
As in her spirit； so in her body； she was different； her limbs looked freer； rounder； her breath seemed stirring her more deeply； like a flower of early June she was opening before his very eyes。 This； though it gave him pleasure； also added to his fear。 The strange silence； in its utter naturalnessfor what could he talk about with her？brought home to him more vividly than anything before； the barriers of class。 All he thought of was how not to be ridiculous！ She was inviting him in some strange； unconscious； subtle way to treat her as a woman； as though in spirit she had linked her round young arms about his neck； and through her half…closed lips were whispering the eternal call of sex to sex。 And he； a middle…aged and cultivated man； conscious of everything； could not even speak for fear of breaking through his shell of delicacy。 He hardly breathed； disturbed to his very depths by the young figure sitting by his side； and by the dread of showing that disturbance。
Beside the cultivated plant the self…sown poppy rears itself； round the stem of a smooth tree the honeysuckle twines； to a trim wall the ivy clings。
In her new…found form and purpose this girl had gained a strange； still power； she no longer felt it mattered whether he spoke or looked at her； her instinct； piercing through his shell； was certain of the throbbing of his pulses； the sweet poison in his blood。
The perception of this still power； more than all else； brought fear to Hilary。 He need not speak； she would not care！ He need not even look at her； she had but to sit there silent； motionless； with the breath of youth coming through her parted lips； and the light of youth stealing through her half…closed eyes。
And abruptly he got up and walked away。
CHAPTER XXXI
SWAN SONG
The new wine； if it does not break the old bottle； after fierce effervescence seethes and bubbles quietly。
It was so in Mr。 Stone's old bottle； hour by hour and day by day； throughout the month。 A pinker； robuster look came back to his cheeks； his blue eyes； fixed on distance； had in them more light； his knees regained their powers； he bathed； and； all unknown to him； for he only saw the waters he cleaved with his ineffably slow stroke； Hilary and Martin； on alternate weeks； and keeping at a proper distance； for fear he should see them doing him a service； attended at that function in case Mr。 Stone should again remain too long seated at the bottom of the Serpentine。 Each morning after his cocoa and porridge he could be heard sweeping out his room with extraordinary vigour； and as ten o'clock came near anyone who listened would remark a sound of air escaping； as he moved up and down on his toes in preparation for the labours of the day。 No letters； of course； nor any newspapers disturbed the supreme and perfect self…containment of this life devoted to Fraternityno letters； partly because he lacked a known address； partly because for years he had not answered them； and with regard to newspapers； once a month he went to a Public Library； and could be seen with the last four numbers of two weekly reviews before him； making himself acquainted with the habits of those days； and moving his lips as though in prayer。 At ten each morning anyone in the corridor outside his room was startled by the whirr of an alarum clock； perfect silence followed； then rose a sound of shuffling； whistling； rustling； broken by sharply muttered words； soon from this turbid lake of sound the articulate； thin fluting of an old man's voice streamed forth。 This； alternating with the squeak of a quill pen； went on till the alarum clock once more went off。 Then he who stood outside could smell that Mr。 Stone would shortly eat； if； stimulated by that scent； he entered； he might see the author of the 〃Book of Universal Brotherhood〃 with a baked potato in one hand and a cup of hot milk in the other； on the table； too； the ruined forms of eggs； tomatoes； oranges； bananas； figs； prunes； cheese； and honeycomb； which had passed into other forms already； together with a loaf of wholemeal bread。 Mr。 Stone would presently emerge in his cottage… woven tweeds； and old hat of green…black felt； or； if wet； in a long coat of yellow gaberdine； and sou'wester cap of the same material； but always with a little osier fruit…bag in his hand。 Thus equipped； he walked down to Rose and Thorn's； entered； and to the first man he saw handed the osier fruit…bag； some coins； and a little book containing seven leaves； headed 〃Food： Monday； Tuesday； Wednesday；〃 and so forth。 He then stood looking through the pickles in some jar or other at things beyond； with one hand held out； fingers upwards； awaiting the return of his little osier fruit…bag。 Feeling。 presently that it had been restored to him； he would turn and walk out of the shop。 Behind his back； on the face of the department； the same protecting smile always rose。 Long habit had perfected it。 All now felt that； though so very different from themselves； this aged customer was dependent on them。 By not one single farthing or one pale slip of cheese would they have defrauded him for all the treasures of the moon； and any new salesman who laughed at that old client was promptly told to 〃shut his head。〃
Mr。 Stone's frail form； bent somewhat to one side by the increased gravamen of the osier bag； was now seen moving homewards。 He arrived perhaps ten minutes before the three o'clock alarum； and soon passing through preliminary chaos； the articulate； thin fluting of his voice streamed forth again； broken by the squeaking and spluttering of his quill。
But towards four o'clock signs of cerebral excitement became visible； his lips would cease to utter sounds； his pen to squeak。 His face； with a flushed forehead； would appear at the open window。 As soon as the little model came in sighther eyes fixed； not on his window； but on Hilary'she turned his back； evidently waiting for her to enter by the door。 His first words were uttered in a tranquil voice： 〃I have several pages。 I have placed your chair。 Are you ready？ Follow！〃
Except for that strange tranquillity of voice and the disappearance of the flush on his brow； there was no sign of the rejuvenescence that she brought； of such refreshment as steals on the traveller who sits down beneath a lime…tree toward the end of along day's journey； no sign of the mysterious comfort distilled into his veins by the sight of her moody young face； her young； soft limbs。 So from some stimulant men very near their end will draw energy； watching； as it were； a shape beckoning them forward； till suddenly it disappears in darkness。
In the quarter of an hour sacred to their tea and conversation he never noticed that she was always listening for sounds beyond； it was enough that in her presence he felt singleness of purpose strong within him。
When she had gone； moving languidly； moodily away； her eyes darting about for signs of Hilary； Mr。