第3章

Hedidnotcatchcold，butwhilehewasouthismotherdied。Sheonlysurvivedherhusbandelevendays，acoincidencewhichwasrecordedontheirtombstone。

Such，insubstance，wasthestorywhichRickietoldhisfriendsastheystoodtogetherintheshelterofthedell。Thegreenbankattheentrancehidtheroadandtheworld，andnow，asinspring，theycouldseenothingbutsnow—whiterampartsandtheevergreenfoliageofthefirs。Onlyfromtimetotimewouldabeechleafflutterinfromthewoodsabove，tocommentonthewaningyear，andthewarmthandradianceofthesunwouldvanishbehindapassingcloud。

Aboutthegreatcoathedidnottellthem，forhecouldnothavespokenofitwithouttears。

III

Mr。Ansell，aprovincialdraperofmoderateprosperity，oughtbyrightstohavebeenclassednotwiththecow，butwiththosephenomenathatarenotreallythere。Buthisson，withpardonableillogicality，exceptedhim。Heneversuspectedthathisfathermightbethesubjectiveproductofadiseasedimagination。Fromhisearliestyearshehadtakenhimforgranted，asamostundeniableandlovablefact。Tobebornonethingandgrowupanother——Ansellhadaccomplishedthiswithoutweakeningoneofthetiesthatboundhimtohishome。Theroomsabovetheshopstillseemedascomfortable，thegardenbehinditasgracious，astheyhadseemedfifteenyearsbefore，whenhewouldsitbehindMissAppleblossom’scentralthrone，andshe，likesomeallegoricalfigure，wouldsendthechangeandreceiptedbillsspinningawayfromherinlittleboxwoodballs。Atfirsttheyoungmanhadattributedthesehappyrelationstohisowntact。

Butintimeheperceivedthatthetactwasallonthesideofhisfather。Mr。Ansellwasnotmerelyamanofsomeeducation;hehadwhatnoeducationcanbring——thepowerofdetectingwhatisimportant。Likemanyfathers，hehadsparednoexpenseoverhisboy，——hehadborrowedmoneytostarthimatarapaciousandfashionableprivateschool;hehadsenthimtotutors;hehadsenthimtoCambridge。Butheknewthatallthiswasnottheimportantthing。Theimportantthingwasfreedom。Theboymustusehiseducationashechose，andifhepaidhisfatherbackitwouldcertainlynotbeinhisowncoin。SowhenStewartsaid，"AtCambridge，canIreadfortheMoralScienceTripos？"Mr。Ansellhadonlyreplied，"Thisphilosophy——doyousaythatitliesbehindeverything？"

"Yes，Ithinkso。Ittriestodiscoverwhatisgoodandtrue。"

"Then，myboy，youhadbetterreadasmuchofitasyoucan。"

Andayearlater:"I’dliketotakeupthisphilosophyseriously，butIdon’tfeeljustified。"

"Whynot？"

"Becauseitbringsinnoreturn。IthinkI’magreatphilosopher，butthenallphilosophersthinkthat，thoughtheydon’tdaretosayso。But，howevergreatIam。Ishan’tearnmoney。PerhapsI

shan’teverbeabletokeepmyself。Ishan’tevengetagoodsocialposition。You’veonlytosayoneword，andI’llworkfortheCivilService。I’mgoodenoughtogetinhigh。"

Mr。Anselllikedmoneyandsocialposition。Butheknewthatthereisamoreimportantthing，andreplied，"Youmusttakeupthisphilosophyseriously，Ithink。"

"Anotherthing——therearethegirls。"

"ThereisenoughmoneynowtogetMaryandMaudasgoodhusbandsastheydeserve。"AndMaryandMaudtookthesameview。

ItwasinthisplebeianhouseholdthatRickiespentpartoftheChristmasvacation。Hisownhome，suchasitwas，waswiththeSilts，needycousinsofhisfather’s，andcombinedtoapeculiardegreetherestrictionsofhospitalitywiththediscomfortsofaboarding—house。SuchpleasureashehadoutsideCambridgewasinthehomesofhisfriends，anditwasaparticularjoyandhonourtovisitAnsell，who，thoughasfreefromsocialsnobbishnessasmostofuswillevermanagetobe，wasrathercarefulwhenhedroveuptothefacadeofhisshop。

"Ilikeournewlettering，"hesaidthoughtfully。Thewords"StewartAnsell"wererepeatedagainandagainalongtheHighStreet——curlygoldlettersthatseemedtofloatintanksofglazedchocolate。

"Rather！"saidRickie。ButhewonderedwhetheroneofthebondsthatkepttheAnsellfamilyunitedmightnotbetheircompleteabsenceoftaste——asurerbondbyfarthantheidentityofit。

Andhewonderedthisagainwhenhesatatteaoppositealongrowofcrayons——Stewartasababy，Stewartasasmallboywithlargefeet，Stewartasalargerboywithsmallerfeet，Maryreadingabookwhoseleaveswereasthickaseiderdowns。Andyetagaindidhewonderitwhenhewokewithagaspinthenighttofindaharpinluminouspaintthrobbingandgloweringathimfromtheadjacentwall。"Watchandpray"waswrittenontheharp，anduntilRickiehungatoweloverittheexhortationwaspartiallysuccessful。

Itwasaveryhappyvisit。MissAppleblosssom——whonowactedashousekeeper——hadmethimbefore，duringhernever—forgottenexpeditiontoCambridge，andheradmirationofUniversitylifewasasshrillandasgenuinenowasithadbeenthen。Thegirlsatfirstwerealittleaggressive，foronhisarrivalhehadbeentired，andMaudhadtakenitforhaughtiness，andsaidhewaslookingdownonthem。Butthispassed。Theydidnotfallinlovewithhim，norhewiththem，butamorningwasspentverypleasantlyinsnow—ballinginthebackgarden。AnsellwasratherdifferenttowhathewasinCambridge，buttoRickienotlessattractive。Andtherewasacuriouscharminthehumoftheshop，whichswelledintoaroarifoneopenedthepartitiondooronamarket—day。

"Listentoyourmoney！"saidRickie。"IwishIcouldhearmine。I

wishmymoneywasalive。"

"Idon’tunderstand。"

"Mine’sdeadmoney。It’scometomethroughaboutsixdeadpeople——silently。"

"Gettingalittlesmallerandalittlemorerespectableeachtime，onaccountofthedeath—duties。"

"Itneededtogetrespectable。"

"Why？Didyourpeople，too，oncekeepashop？"

"Oh，notasbadasthat！Theyonlyswindled。AboutahundredyearsagoanElliotdidsomethingshadyandfoundedthefortunesofourhouse。"

"Ineverknewanyonesorelentlesstohisancestors。Youmakeupforyoursoapinesstowardstheliving。"

"You’dberelentlessifyou’dheardtheSilts，asIhave，talkabout’afortune，smallperhaps，butunsoiledbytrade！’OfcourseAuntEmilyisratherdifferent。Oh，goodnessme！I’veforgottenmyaunt。Shelivesnotsofar。Ishallhavetocallonher。"

AccordinglyhewrotetoMrs。Failing，andsaidheshouldliketopayhisrespects。HetoldherabouttheAnsells，andsowordedtheletterthatshemightreasonablyhavesentaninvitationtohisfriend。

Sherepliedthatshewaslookingforwardtotheirtete—a—tete。

"Youmustn’tgoroundbythetrains，"saidMr。Ansell。"ItmeanschangingatSalisbury。Bytheroadit’snogreatway。StewartshalldriveyouoverSalisburyPlain，andfetchyoutoo。"

"There’stoomuchsnow，"saidAnsell。

"Thenthegirlsshalltakeyouintheirsledge。"

"ThatIwill，"saidMaud，whowasnotunwillingtoseetheinsideofCadover。ButRickiewentroundbythetrains。

"Wehaveallmissedyou，"saidAnsell，whenhereturned。"Thereisageneralfeelingthatyouarenonuisance，andhadbetterstoptilltheendofthevac。"

Thishecouldnotdo。HewasboundforChristmastotheSilts——

"asaREALguest，"Mrs。Silthadwritten，underliningtheword"real"twice。AndafterChristmashemustgotothePembrokes。

"Thesearenoreasons。Theonlyrealreasonfordoingathingisbecauseyouwanttodoit。Ithinkthetalkabout’engagements’

iscant。"

"Ithinkperhapsitis，"saidRickie。Buthewent。Neverhadtheturkeybeensoathletic，ortheplum—puddingtiedintoitsclothsotightly。Yetheknewthatboththesesymbolsofhilarityhadcostmoney，anditwenttohisheartwhenMr。Siltsaidinahungryvoice，"Haveyouthoughtatallofwhatyouwanttobe？

No？Well，whyshouldyou？Youhavenoneedtobeanything。"Andatdessert:"IwonderwhoCadovergoesto？Iexpectmoneywillfollowmoney。Italwaysdoes。"ItwaswithaguiltyfeelingofreliefthatheleftforthePembrokes’。

ThePembrokeslivedinanadjacentsuburb，orrather"sububurb，"——thetractcalledSawston，celebratedforitspublicschool。Theirstyleoflife，however，wasnotparticularlysuburban。TheirhousewassmallanditsnamewasShelthorpe，butithadanairaboutitwhichsuggestedacertainamountofmoneyandacertainamountoftaste。Thereweredecentwater—coloursinthedrawing—room。Madonnasofacknowledgedmerithunguponthestairs。AreplicaoftheHermesofPraxiteles——ofcourseonlythebust——stoodinthehallwitharealpalmbehindit。Agnes，inherslap—dashway，wasagoodhousekeeper，andkepttheprettythingswelldusted。ItwasshewhoinsistedonthestripofbrownhollandthatleddiagonallyfromthefrontdoortothedoorofHerbert’sstudy:boys’grubbyfeetshouldnotgotreadingonherIndiansquare。Itwasshewhoalwayscleanedthepicture—framesandwashedthebustandtheleavesofthepalm。Inshort，ifahousecouldspeak——andsometimesitdoesspeakmoreclearlythanthepeoplewholiveinit——thehouseofthePembrokeswouldhavesaid，"Iamnotquitelikeotherhouses，yetIamperfectlycomfortable。Icontainworksofartandamicroscopeandbooks。

ButIdonotliveforanyofthesethingsorsufferthemtodisarrangeme。Iliveformyselfandforthegreaterhousesthatshallcomeafterme。Yetinmeneitherthecryofmoneynorthecryformoneyshalleverbeheard。"

Mr。Pembrokewasatthestation。Hedidbetterasahostthanasaguest，andwelcomedtheyoungmanwithrealfriendliness。

"Wewereallcoming，butGeraldhasstrainedhisankleslightly，andwantstokeepquiet，asheisplayingnextweekinamatch。

And，needlesstosay，thatexplainstheabsenceofmysister。"

"GeraldDawes？"

"Yes;he’swithus。I’msogladyou’llmeetagain。"

"SoamI，"saidRickiewithextremeawkwardness。"Doesherememberme？"

"Vividly。"

VividalsowasRickie’sremembranceofhim。

"Asplendidfellow，"assertedMr。Pembroke。

"IhopethatAgnesiswell。"

"Thankyou，yes;sheiswell。AndIthinkyou’relookingmorelikeotherpeopleyourself。"

"I’vebeenhavingaverygoodtimewithafriend。"

"Indeed。That’sright。Whowasthat？"

Rickiehadayoungman’sreticence。Hegenerallyspokeof"afriend，""apersonIknow，""aplaceIwasat。"Whenthebookoflifeisopening，ourreadingsaresecret，andweareunwillingtogivechapterandverse。Mr。Pembroke，whowashalfwaythroughthevolume，andhadskippedorforgottentheearlierpages，couldnotunderstandRickie’shesitation，norwhywithsuchawkwardnessheshouldpronouncetheharmlessdissyllable"Ansell。"

"Ansell？Wasn’tthatthepleasantfellowwhoaskedustolunch？"

"No。ThatwasAnderson，whokeepsbelow。Youdidn’tseeAnsell。

TheoneswhocametobreakfastwereTilliardandHornblower。"

"Ofcourse。AndsincethenyouhavebeenwiththeSilts。Howarethey？"

"Verywell，thankyou。Theywanttoberememberedtoyou。"

ThePembrokeshadformerlylivedneartheElliots，andhadshowngreatkindnesstoRickiewhenhisparentsdied。Theywerethusratherinthepositionoffamilyfriends。

"Pleaserememberuswhenyouwrite。"Headded，almostroguishly，"TheSiltsarekindnessitself。Allthesame，itmustbejustalittle——dull，wethought，andwethoughtthatyoumightlikeachange。Andofcoursewearedelightedtohaveyoubesides。Thatgoeswithoutsaying。"

"It’sverygoodofyou，"saidRickie，whohadacceptedtheinvitationbecausehefeltheoughtto。

"Notabit。Andyoumustn’texpectustobeotherwisethanquietontheholidays。Thereisalibraryofasort，asyouknow，andyouwillfindGeraldasplendidfellow。"

"Willtheybemarriedsoon？"

"Ohno！"whisperedMr。Pembroke，shuttinghiseyes，asifRickiehadmadesometerriblefauxpas。"Itwillbeaverylongengagement。Hemustmakehiswayfirst。Ihaveseensuchendlessmiseryresultfrompeoplemarryingbeforetheyhavemadetheirway。"

"Yes。Thatisso，"saidRickiedespondently，thinkingoftheSilts。

"It’sasadunpalatabletruth，"saidMr。Pembroke，thinkingthatthedespondencymightbepersonal，"butonemustacceptit。MysisterandGerald，Iamthankfultosay，haveacceptedit，thoughnaturallyithasbeenalittlepill。"

Theircablurchedroundthecornerashespoke，andthetwopatientscameinsight。Agneswasleaningoverthecreosotedgarden—gate，andbehindhertherestoodayoungmanwhohadthefigureofaGreekathleteandthefaceofanEnglishone。Hewasfairandcleanshaven，andhiscolourlesshairwascutrathershort。Thesunwasinhiseyes，andthey，likehismouth，seemedscarcelymorethanslitsinhishealthyskin。Justwherehebegantobebeautifultheclothesstarted。Roundhisneckwentanup—and—downcollarandamauve—and—goldtie，andtherestofhislimbswerehiddenbyagreyloungesuit，carefullycreasedintherightplaces。

"Lovely！Lovely！"criedAgnes，bangingonthegate，"Yourtrainmusthavebeentotheminute。"

"Hullo！"saidtheathlete，andvomitedwiththegreetingacloudoftobacco—smoke。Itmusthavebeenimprisonedinhismouthsometime，fornopipewasvisible。

"Hullo！"returnedRickie，laughingviolently。Theyshookhands。

"Whereareyougoing，Rickie？"askedAgnes。"Youaren’tgrubby。

Whydon’tyoustop？Gerald，getthelargewicker—chair。Herberthasletters，butwecansitheretilllunch。It’slikespring。"

ThegardenofShelthorpewasnearlyallinfrontanunusualandpleasantarrangement。Thefrontgateandtheservants’entrancewerebothattheside，andintheremainingspacethegardenerhadcontrivedalittlelawnwhereonecouldsitconcealedfromtheroadbyafence，fromtheneighbourbyafence，fromthehousebyatree，andfromthepathbyabush。

"Thisisthelovers’bower，"observedAgnes，sittingdownonthebench。Rickiestoodbyhertillthechairarrived。

"Areyousmokingbeforelunch？"askedMr。Dawes。

"No，thankyou。Ihardlyeversmoke。"

"Novices。Aren’tyouatCambridgenow？"

"Yes。"

"What’syourcollege？"

Rickietoldhim。

"DoyouknowCarruthers？"

"Rather！"

"ImeanA。P。Carruthers，whogothissockerblue。"

"Rather！He’ssecretarytothecollegemusicalsociety。"

"A。P。Carruthers？"

"Yes。"

Mr。Dawesseemedoffended。Hetappedonhisteeth，andremarkedthattheweatherbadnobusinesstobesowarminwinter。

"ButitwasfiendishbeforeChristmas，"saidAgnes。

Hefrowned，andasked，"DoyouknowamancalledGerrish？"

"No。"

"Ah。"

"DoyouknowJames？"

"Neverheardofhim。"

"He’smyyeartoo。Hegotablueforhockeyhissecondterm。"

"Iknownothingaboutthe’Varsity。"

Rickiewincedattheabbreviation"’Varsity。"Itwasatthattimetheproperthingtospeakof"theUniversity。"

"Ihaven’tthetime，"pursuedMr。Dawes。

"No，no，"saidRickiepolitely。

"IhadthechanceofbeinganUndergrad，myself，and，byJove，I’mthankfulIdidn’t！"

"Why？"askedAgnes，fortherewasapause。

"Putsyoubackinyourprofession。Menwhogotherefirst，beforetheArmy，starthopelesslybehind。ThesamewiththeStockExchangeorPainting。Iknowmeninboth，andthey’venevercaughtupthetimetheylostinthe’Varsity——unless，ofcourse，youturnparson。"

"IloveCambridge，"saidshe。"Allthosegloriousbuildings，andeveryonesohappyandrunninginandoutofeachother’sroomsalldaylong。"

"ThatmightmakeanUndergradhappy，butIbegleavetostateitwouldn’tme。Ihaven’tfouryearstothrowawayforthesakeofbeingcalleda’VarsitymanandhobnobbingwithLords。"

Rickiewaspreparedtofindhisoldschoolfellowungrammaticalandbumptious，buthewasnotpreparedtofindhimpeevish。

Athletes，hebelieved，weresimple，straightforwardpeople，cruelandbrutalifyoulike，butneverpetty。Theyknockedyoudownandhurtyou，andthenwentontheirwayrejoicing。Forthis，Rickiethought，thereissomethingtobesaid:hehadescapedthesinofdespisingthephysicallystrong——asinagainstwhichthephysicallyweakmustguard。ButherewasDawesreturningagainandagaintothesubjectoftheUniversity，fulloftransparentjealousyandpettyspite，nagging，nagging，nagging，likeamaidenladywhohasnotbeeninvitedtoatea—party。Rickiewonderedwhether，afterall，Ansellandtheextremistsmightnotberight，andbodilybeautyandstrengthbesignsofthesoul’sdamnation。

HeglancedatAgnes。Shewaswritingdownsomeorderingsforthetradespeopleonapieceofpaper。Herhandsomefacewasintentonthework。ThebenchonwhichsheandGeraldweresittinghadnoback，butshesatasstraightasadart。He，thoughstrongenoughtositstraight，didnottakethetrouble。

"Whydon’ttheytalktoeachother？"thoughtRickie。

"Gerald，givethispapertothecook。"

"Icangiveittotheotherslavey，can’tI？"

"She’dbedressing。"

"Well，there’sHerbert。"

"He’sbusy。Oh，youknowwherethekitchenis。Takeittothecook。"

Hedisappearedslowlybehindthetree。

"Whatdoyouthinkofhim？"sheimmediatelyasked。Hemurmuredcivilly。

"Hashechangedsincehewasaschoolboy？"

"Inaway。"

"Dotellmeallabouthim。Whywon’tyou？"

ShemighthaveseenaflashofhorrorpassoverRickie’sface。

Thehorrordisappeared，for，thankGod，hewasnowaman，whomcivilizationprotects。ButheandGeraldhadmet，asitwere，behindthescenes，beforeourdecorousdramaopens，andtheretheelderboyhaddonethingstohim——absurdthings，notworthchroniclingseparately。Anapple—piebedisnothing;pinches，kicks，boxedears，twistedarms，pulledhair，ghostsatnight，inkybooks，befouledphotographs，amounttoverylittlebythemselves。Butletthembeunitedandcontinuous，andyouhaveahellthatnogrown—updevilcandevise。BetweenRickieandGeraldtherelayashadowthatdarkenslifemoreoftenthanwesuppose。

Thebullyandhisvictimneverquiteforgettheirfirstrelations。Theymeetinclubsandcountryhouses，andclaponeanotherontheback;butinboththememoryisgreenofamorestrenuousday，whentheywereboystogether。

Hetriedtosay，"Hewastherightkindofboy，andIwasthewrongkind。"ButCambridgewouldnotlethimsmooththesituationoverbyself—belittlement。Ifhehadbeenthewrongkindofboy，Geraldhadbeenaworsekind。Hemurmured，"Wearedifferent，very，"andMissPembroke，perhapssuspectingsomething，askednomore。ButshekepttothesubjectofMr。Dawes，humorouslydepreciatingherloveranddiscussinghimwithoutreverence。

Rickielaughed，butfeltuncomfortable。Whenpeoplewereengaged，hefeltthattheyshouldbeoutsidecriticism。Yetherehewascriticizing。Hecouldnothelpit。Hewasdraggedin。

"Ihopehisankleisbetter。"

"Neverwasbad。He’salwaysfussingoversomething。"

"Heplaysnextweekinamatch，IthinkHerbertsays。"

"Idaresayhedoes。"

"Shallwebegoing？"

"Praygoifyoulike。Ishallstopathome。I’vehadenoughofcoldfeet。"

Itwasallverycolourlessandodd。

Geraldreturned，saying，"Ican’tstandyourcook。What’sshewanttoaskmequestionsfor？Ican’tstandtalkingtoservants。

Isay，’IfIspeaktoyou，wellandgood’——andit’sanotherthingbesidesifshewerepretty。"

"Well，Ihopeouruglycookwillhavelunchreadyinaminute，"

saidAgnes。"We’refrightfullyunpunctualthismorning，andI

daren’tsayanything，becauseitwasthesameyesterday，andifI

complainagaintheymightleave。PoorRickiemustbestarved。"

"Why，theSiltsgavemeallthesesandwichesandI’venevereatenthem。Theyalwaysstuffone。"

"Andyouthoughtyou’dbetter，eh？"saidMr。Dawes，"incaseyouweren’tstuffedhere。"

MissPembroke，whohouse—keptsomewhateconomically，lookedannoyed。

ThevoiceofMr。Pembrokewasnowheardcallingfromthehouse，"Frederick！Frederick！Mydearboy，pardonme。ItwasanimportantletterabouttheChurchDefence，otherwise——。Comeinandseeyourroom。"

Hewasgladtoquitthelittlelawn。Hehadlearnttoomuchthere。Itwasdreadful:theydidnotloveeachother。

Moredreadfuleventhanthecaseofhisfatherandmother，forthey，untiltheymarried，hadgotonprettywell。Butthismanwasalreadyrudeandbrutalandcold:hewasstilltheschoolbullywhotwistedupthearmsoflittleboys，andranpinsintothematchapel，andstrucktheminthestomachwhentheywereswingingonthehorizontalbar。PoorAgnes;whyeverhadshedoneit？Oughtnotsomebodytointerfere？

Hehadforgottenhissandwiches，andwentbacktogetthem。

GeraldandAgneswerelockedineachother’sarms。

Heonlylookedforamoment，butthesightburntintohisbrain。

Theman’sgripwasthestronger。Hehaddrawnthewomanontohisknee，waspressingher，withallhisstrength，againsthim。

Alreadyherhandsslippedoffhim，andshewhispered，"Don’tyouhurt——"Herfacehadnoexpression。Itstaredattheintruderandneversawhim。Thenherloverkissedit，andimmediatelyitshonewithmysteriousbeauty，likesomestar。

Rickielimpedawaywithoutthesandwiches，crimsonandafraid。Hethought，"Dosuchthingsactuallyhappen？"andheseemedtobelookingdowncolouredvalleys。Brightertheyglowed，tillgodsofpureflamewereborninthem，andthenhewaslookingatpinnaclesofvirginsnow。WhileMr。Pembroketalked，theriotoffairimagesincreased。

Theyinvadedhisbeingandlitlampsatunsuspectedshrines。

Theirorchestracommencedinthatsuburbanhouse，wherehehadtostandasideforthemaidtocarryintheluncheon。Musicflowedpasthimlikeariver。Hestoodatthespringsofcreationandheardtheprimevalmonotony。Thenanobscureinstrumentgaveoutalittlephrase。

Therivercontinuedunheeding。ThephrasewasrepeatedandalistenermightknowitwasafragmentoftheTuneoftunes。

Noblerinstrumentsacceptedit，theclarionetprotected，thebrassencouraged，anditrosetothesurfacetothewhisperofviolins。InfullunisonwasLoveborn，flameoftheflame，flushingthedarkriverbeneathhimandthevirginsnowsabove。

Hiswingswereinfinite，hisyoutheternal;thesunwasajewelonhisfingerashepasseditinbenedictionovertheworld。

Creation，nolongermonotonous，acclaimedhim，inwideningmelody，inbrighterradiances。WasLoveacolumnoffire？Washeatorrentofsong？Washegreaterthaneither——thetouchofamanonawoman？

ItwasthemerestaccidentthatRickiehadnotbeendisgusted。

Butthishecouldnotknow。

Mr。Pembroke，whenhecalledthetwodawdlersintolunch，wasawareofahandonhisarmandavoicethatmurmured，"Don’t——

theymaybehappy。"

Hestared，andstruckthegong。Toitsmusictheyapproached，priestandhighpriestess。

"Rickie，canIgivethesesandwichestothebootboy？"saidtheone。"Hewouldlovethem。"

"Thegong！Bequick！Thegong！"

"Areyousmokingbeforelunch？"saidtheother。

Buttheyhadgotintoheaven，andnothingcouldgetthemoutofit。Othersmightthinkthemsurlyorprosaic。Heknew。Hecouldremembereverywordtheyspoke。Hewouldtreasureeverymotion，everyglanceofeither，andsointimetocome，whenthegatesofheavenhadshut，somefaintradiance，someechoofwisdommightremainwithhimoutside。