'I suppose one ought to be able to. The turrets in the distance are
fine. But no, it wouldn't make a picture. The landscape painter never
will be able to do much with London. He'll have to live in the
country, and if he can't afford to do that he'd better turn it up.'

'Elsie Laurence and Cissy Clive are going to France soon. They say
that's the only place to study. In the summer they're going to a place
called Barbizon, near Fontainebleau. I was thinking of going with
them.'

'Were you? I wish I were going. Especially to Barbizon. The country
would suit me.'

Mildred longed to say, 'I shall be glad if you'll let me lend you the
money,' but she didn't dare. At the end of a long silence, Ralph said:

'I think we'd better be going on. It must be nearly ten.'




V.


As the spring advanced they spent more and more time in the park. They
learnt to know it in its slightest aspects; they anticipated each bend
of the lake's bank; they looked out for the tall trees at the end of
the island, and often thought of the tree that leaned until its lower
leaves swept the water's edge. Close to this tree was their favourite
seat. And, as they sat by the water's edge in the vaporous afternoons,