feminine； active； and dazzling； something emphatically 〃above 〃 him； cast into his company by a kindly fate。 His chief idea； at the outset； as you know； had been to live up to her level； by pretending to be more exceptional； more wealthy； better educated； and； above all； better born than he was。 His knowledge of the feminine mind was almost entirely derived from the young ladies he had met in business； and in that class （as in military society and among gentlemen's servants） the good old tradition of a brutal social exclusiveness is still religiously preserved。 He had an almost intolerable dread of her thinking him a I bounder。' Later he began to perceive the distinction of her idiosyncracies。 Coupled with a magnificent want of experience was a splendid enthusiasm for abstract views of the most advanced description； and her strength of conviction completely carried Hoopdriver away。 She was going to Live her Own Life； with emphasis； and Mr。 Hoopdriver was profoundly stirred to similar resolves。 So soon as he grasped the tenor of her views； he perceived that he himself had thought as much from his earliest years。 〃Of course；〃 he remarked； in a flash of sexual pride； 〃a man is freer than a woman。 End in the Colonies； y'know； there isn't half the Conventionality you find in society in this country。〃
He made one or two essays in the display of unconventionality； and was quite unaware that he impressed her as a narrow…minded person。 He suppressed the habits of years and made no proposal to go to church。 He discussed church…going in a liberal spirit。 〃It's jest a habit；〃 he said； 〃jest a custom。 I don't see what good it does you at all； really。〃 And he made a lot of excellent jokes at the chimney…pot hat； jokes he had read in the Globe 'turnovers' on that subject。 But he showed his gentle breeding by keeping his gloves on all through the Sunday's ride； and ostentatiously throwing away more than half a cigarette when they passed a church whose congregation was gathering for afternoon service。 He cautiously avoided literary topics； except by way of compliment； seeing that she was presently to be writing books。
It was on Jessie's initiative that they attended service in the old…fashioned gallery of Blandford church。 Jessie's conscience； I may perhaps tell you； was now suffering the severest twinges。 She perceived clearly that things were not working out quite along the lines she had designed…。 She had read her Olive Schreiner and George Egerton； and so forth； with all the want of perfect comprehension of one who is still emotionally a girl。 She knew the thing to do was to have a flat and to go to the British Museum and write leading articles for the daily p；tpers until something better came along。 If Bechamel （detestable person） had kept his promises； instead of behaving with unspeakable horridness； all would have been well。 Now her only hope was that liberal…minded woman； Miss Mergle； who； a year ago； had sent her out； highly educated； into the world。 Miss Mergle had told her at parting to live fearlessly and truly； and had further given her a volume of Emerson's Essays and Motley's 〃Dutch Republic；〃 to help her through the rapids of adolescence。
Jessie's feelings for her stepmother's household at Surbiton amounted to an active detestation。 There are no graver or more solemn women in the world than these clever girls whose scholastic advancement has retarded their feminine coquetry。 In spite of the advanced tone of 'Thomas Plantagenet's' antimarital novel； Jessie had speedily seen through that amiable woman's amiable defences。 The variety of pose necessitated by the corps of 'Men' annoyed her to an altogether unreasonable degree。 To return to this life of ridiculous unrealityunconditional capitulation to 'Conventionality' was an exasperating prospect。 Yet what else was there to do？ You will understand； therefore； that at times she was moody （and Mr。 Hoopdriver respectfully silent and attentive） and at times inclined to eloquent denunciation of the existing order of things。 She was a Socialist； Hoopdriver learnt； and he gave a vague intimation that he went further； intending； thereby； no less than the horrors of anarchism。 He would have owned up to the destruction of the Winter Palace indeed； had he had the faintest idea where the Winter Palace was； and had his assurance amounted to certainty that the Winter Palace was destroyed。 He agreed with her cordially that the position of women was intolerable； but checked himself on the' verge of the proposition that a girl ought not to expect a fellow to hand down boxes for her when he was getting the 'swap' from a customer。 It was Jessie's preoccupation with her own perplexities； no doubt； that delayed the unveiling of Mr。 Hoopdriver all through Saturday and Sunday。 Once or twice； however； there were incidents that put him about terriblyeven questions that savoured of suspicion。
On Sunday night； for no conceivable reason； an unwonted wakefulness came upon him。 Unaccountably he realised he was a contemptible liar； All through the small hours of Monday he reviewed the tale of his falsehoods； and when he tried to turn his mind from that； the financial problem suddenly rose upon him。 He heard two o'clock strike； and three。 It is odd how unhappy some of us are at times； when we are at our happiest。
XXXIV
〃Good morning； Madam；〃 said Hoopdriver； as Jessie came into the breakfast room of the Golden Pheasant on Monday morning； and he smiled； bowed； rubbed his hands together； and pulled out a chair for her； and rubbed his hands again。
She stopped abruptly； with a puzzled expression on her face。 〃Where HAVE I seen that before？〃 she said。
〃The chair？〃 said Hoopdriver； flushing。
〃Nothe attitude。〃
She came forward and shook hands with him； looking the while curiously into his face。 〃AndMadam？〃
〃It's a habit；〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver； guiltily。 〃A bad habit。 Calling ladies Madam。 You must put it down to our colonial roughness。 Out there up countryy'knowthe ladiesso rarewe call 'em all Madam。〃
〃You HAVE some funny habits； brother Chris；〃 said Jessie。 〃Before you sell your diamond shares and go into society； as you say； and stand for ParliamentWhat a fine thing it is to be a man！you must cure yourself。 That habit of bowing as you do； and rubbing your hands； and looking expectant。〃
〃It's a habit。〃
〃I know。 But I don't think it a good one。 You don't mind my telling you？〃
〃Not a bit。 I'm grateful。〃
〃I'm blessed or afflicted with a trick of observation；〃 said Jessie； looking at the breakfast table。 Mr。 Hoopdriver put his hand to his moustache and then； thinking this might be another habit； checked his arm and stuck his hand into his pocket。 He felt juiced awkward； to use his private formula。 Jessie's eye wandered to the armchair； where a piece of binding was loose； and； possibly to carry out her theory of an observant disposition； she turned and asked him for a pin。
Mr。 Hoopdriver's hand fluttered instinctively to his lappel； and there； planted by habit； were a couple of stray pins he had impounded。
〃What an odd place to put pins！〃 exclaimed Jessie； taking it。
〃It's 'andy；〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver。 〃I saw a chap in a shop do it once。〃
〃You must have a careful disposition；〃 she said； over her shoulder； kneeling down to the chair。
〃In the centre of Africaup country； that isone learns to value pins；〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver； after a perceptible pause。 〃There weren't over many pins in Africa。 They don't lie about on the ground there。〃 His face was now in a fine； red glow。 Where would the draper break out next？ He thrust his hands into his coat pockets； then took one out again； furtively removed the second pin and dropped it behind him gently。 It fell with a loud 'ping' on the fender。 Happily she made no remark； being preoccupied with the binding of the chair。
Mr。 Hoopdriver； instead of sitting down； went up to the table and stood against it； with his finger…tips upon the cloth。 They were keeping breakfast a tremendous time。 He took up his rolled serviette looked closely and scrutinisingly at the ring； then put his hand under the fold of the napkin and examined the texture； and put the thing down again。 Then he had a vague impulse to finger his hollow wisdom toothhappily checked。 He suddenly discovered he was standing as if the table was a counter； and sat down forthwith。 He drummed with his hand on the table。 He felt dreadfully hot and self…conscious。
〃Breakfast is late；〃 said Jessie； standing up。
〃Isn't it？〃
Conversation was slack。 Jessie wanted to know the distance to Ringwood。 Then silence fell again。
Mr。 Hoopdriver； very uncomfortable and studying an easy bearing； looked again at the breakfast things and then idly lifted the corner of the tablecloth on the ends of his fingers； and regarded it。 〃Fifteen three；〃 he thought； privately。
〃Why do you do that？〃 said Jessie。
〃WHAT？〃 said Hoopdriver； dropping the tablecloth convulsively。
〃Look at the cloth like that。 I saw you do it yesterday； too。〃
Mr。 Hoopdriver's face became quite a bright red。 He began pulling his moustache nervously。 〃I know；〃 he said。 〃I know。 It's a queer habit； I know。 But out there； you know； there's native servants； you know； andit's a queer thing to talk aboutbut one has to look at things to see； don't y'know； whether they're quite clean or not。 It's got to be a habit。〃
〃How odd！〃 said Jessie。
〃Isn't it？〃 mumbled Hoopdriver。
〃If I were a Sherlock Holmes；〃 said Jessie； 〃I suppose I could have told you were a colonial from little things like that。 But anyhow； I guessed it； didn't I？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Hoopdriver； in a melancholy tone； 〃you guessed it。〃
Why not seize the opportunity for a neat confession； and add； 〃unhappily in this case you guessed wrong。〃 Did she suspect？ Then； at the psychological moment； the girl bumped the door open with her tray and brought in the coffee and scrambled eggs。
〃I am rather lucky with my intuitions； sometimes；〃 said Jessie。
Remorse that had been accumulating in his mind for two days surged to the top of his mind。 What a shabby liar he was！
And； besides； he must sooner or later； inevitably； give himself away。
XXXV
Mr。 Hoopdriver helped the eggs and then； instead of beginning； sat with his cheek on his hand； watching