delightful. He would have been so touched to believe that a man he
deeply admired should care a straw for him that he wouldn't play with
such a presumption if it were possibly vain. In a single glance of the
eye of the pardonable Master he read--having the sort of divination that
belonged to his talent--that this personage had ever a store of friendly
patience, which was part of his rich outfit, but was versed in no printed
page of a rising scribbler. There was even a relief, a simplification,
in that: liking him so much already for what he had done, how could one
have liked him any more for a perception which must at the best have been
vague? Paul Overt got up, trying to show his compassion, but at the same
instant he found himself encompassed by St. George's happy personal art--a
manner of which it was the essence to conjure away false positions. It
all took place in a moment. Paul was conscious that he knew him now,
conscious of his handshake and of the very quality of his hand; of his
face, seen nearer and consequently seen better, of a general fraternising
assurance, and in particular of the circumstance that St. George didn't
dislike him (as yet at least) for being imposed by a charming but too
gushing girl, attractive enough without such danglers. No irritation at
any rate was reflected in the voice with which he questioned Miss
Fancourt as to some project of a walk--a general walk of the company
round the park. He had soon said something to Paul about a talk--"We
must have a tremendous lot of talk; there are so many things, aren't
there?"--but our friend could see this idea wouldn't in the present case
take very immediate effect. All the same he was extremely happy, even
after the matter of the walk had been settled--the three presently passed
back to the other part of the gallery, where it was discussed with
several members of the party; even when, after they had all gone out
together, he found himself for half an hour conjoined with Mrs. St.
George. Her husband had taken the advance with Miss Fancourt, and this
pair were quite out of sight. It was the prettiest of rambles for a