or four of his professionshe made me occasionally gasp and stare。
He couldn't help forgetting； or rather couldn't know； how little； in
another and drier clime； I had ever sat in the school in which he was
master； and he promoted me as at a jump to a sense of its penetralia。
My trepidations； however； were delightful； they were just what I had
hoped for； and their only fault was that they passed away too
quickly； since I found that for the main points I was essentially； I
was quite constitutionally； on Mark Ambient's 〃side。〃 This was the
taken stand of the artist to whom every manifestation of human energy
was a thrilling spectacle and who felt for ever the desire to resolve
his experience of life into a literary form。 On that high head of
the passion for form the attempt at perfection； the quest for which
was to his mind the real search for the holy grailhe said the most
interesting； the most inspiring things。 He mixed with them a
thousand illustrations from his own life； from other lives he had
known； from history and fiction； and above all from the annals of the
time that was dear to him beyond all periods； the Italian cinque…
cento。 It came to me thus that in his books he had uttered but half
his thought； and that what he had kept back from motives I deplored
when I made them out laterwas the finer and braver part。 It was
his fate to make a great many still more 〃prepared〃 people than me
not inconsiderably wince； but there was no grain of bravado in his
ripest things （I've always maintained it； though often contradicted）；
and at bottom the poor fellow； disinterested to his finger…tips and
regarding imperfection not only as an aesthetic but quite also as a
social crime； had an extreme dread of scandal。 There are critics who
regret that having gone so far he didn't go further； but I regret
nothingputting aside two or three of the motives I just mentioned
since he arrived at a noble rarity and I don't see how you can go
beyond that。 The hours I spent in his studythis first one and the
few that followed it； they were not； after all； so numerousseem to
glow； as I look back on them； with a tone that is partly that of the
brown old room； rich； under the shaded candle…light where we sat and
smoked； with the dusky delicate bindings of valuable books； partly
that of his voice； of which I still catch the echo； charged with the
fancies and figures that came at his command。 When we went back to
the drawing…room we found Miss Ambient alone in possession and prompt
to mention that her sister…in…law had a quarter of an hour before
been called by the nurse to see the child； who appeared rather
unwella little feverish。
〃Feverish！ how in the world comes he to be feverish？〃 Ambient asked。
〃He was perfectly right this afternoon。〃
〃Beatrice says you walked him about too muchyou almost killed him。〃
〃Beatrice must be very happyshe has an opportunity to triumph！〃
said my friend with a bright bitterness which was all I could have
wished it。
〃Surely not if the child's ill；〃 I ventured to remark by way of
pleading for Mrs。 Ambient。
〃My dear fellow； you aren't marriedyou don't know the nature of
wives！〃 my host returned with spirit。
I tried to match it。 〃Possibly not； but I know the nature of
mothers。〃
〃Beatrice is perfect as a mother；〃 sighed Miss Ambient quite
tremendously and with her fingers interlaced on her embroidered
knees。
〃I shall go up and see my boy；〃 her brother went on。〃 Do you suppose
he's asleep？〃
〃Beatrice won't let you see him； dear〃as to which our young lady
looked at me； though addressing our companion。
〃Do you call that being perfect as a mother？〃 Ambient asked。
〃Yes； from her point of view。〃
〃Damn her point of view！〃 cried the author of 〃Beltraffio。〃 And he
left the room； after which we heard him ascend the stairs。
I sat there for some ten minutes with Miss Ambient； and we naturally
had some exchange of remarks； which began； I think； by my asking her
what the point of view of her sister…in…law could be。
〃Oh it's so very odd。 But we're so very odd altogether。 Don't you
find us awfully unlike others of our class？which indeed mostly； in
England； is awful。 We've lived so much abroad。 I adore 'abroad。'
Have you people like us in America？〃
〃You're not all alike； you interesting threeor； counting Dolcino；
foursurely； surely； so that I don't think I understand your
question。 We've no one like your brotherI may go so far as that。〃
〃You've probably more persons like his wife；〃 Miss Ambient desolately
smiled。
〃I can tell you that better when you've told me about her point of
view。〃
〃Oh yesoh yes。 Well；〃 said my entertainer； 〃she doesn't like his
ideas。 She doesn't like them for the child。 She thinks them
undesirable。〃
Being quite fresh from the contemplation of some of Mark Ambient's
arcana I was particularly in a position to appreciate this
announcement。 But the effect of it was to make me； after staring a
moment； burst into laughter which I instantly checked when I
remembered the indisposed child above and the possibility of parents
nervously or fussily anxious。
〃What has that infant to do with ideas？〃 I asked。 〃Surely he can't
tell one from another。 Has he read his father's novels？〃
〃He's very precocious and very sensitive； and his mother thinks she
can't begin to guard him too early。〃 Miss Ambient's head drooped a
little to one side and her eyes fixed themselves on futurity。 Then
of a sudden came a strange alteration； her face lighted to an effect
more joyless than any gloom； to that indeed of a conscious insincere
grimace； and she added 〃When one has children what one writes becomes
a great responsibility。〃
〃Children are terrible critics；〃 I prosaically answered。 〃I'm really
glad I haven't any。〃
〃Do you also write； then？ And in the same style as my brother？ And
do you like that style？ And do people appreciate it in America？ I
don't write； but I think I feel。〃 To these and various other
inquiries and observations my young lady treated me till we heard her
brother's step in the hall again and Mark Ambient reappeared。 He was
so flushed and grave that I supposed he had seen something
symptomatic in the condition of his child。 His sister apparently had
another idea； she gazed at him from afaras if he had been a burning
ship on the horizonand simply murmured 〃Poor old Mark！〃
〃I hope you're not anxious；〃 I as promptly pronounced。
〃No； but I'm disappointed。 She won't let me in。 She has locked the
door； and I'm afraid to make a noise。〃 I daresay there might have
been a touch of the ridiculous in such a confession； but I liked my
new friend so much that it took nothing for me from his dignity。
〃She tells mefrom behind the doorthat she'll let me know if he's
worse。〃
〃It's very good of her；〃 said Miss Ambient with a hollow sound。
I had exchanged a glance with Mark in which it's possible he read
that my pity for him was untinged with contempt； though I scarce know
why he should have cared； and as his sister soon afterward got up and
took her bedroom candlestick he proposed we should go back to his
study。 We sat there till after midnight； he put himself into his
slippers and an old velvet jacket； he lighted an ancient pipe； but he
talked considerably less than before。 There were longish pauses in
our communion； but they only made me feel we had advanced in
intimacy。 They helped me further to understand my friend's personal
situation and to imagine it by no means the happiest possible。 When
his face was quiet it was vaguely troubled； showing； to my increase
of interestif that was all that was wanted！that for him too life
was the same struggle it had been for so many another man of genius。
At last I prepared to leave him； and then； to my ineffable joy； he
gave me some of the sheets of his forthcoming bookwhich； though
unfinished； he had indulged in the luxury； so dear to writers of
deliberation； of having 〃set up；〃 from chapter to chapter； as he
advanced。 These early pages； the premices； in the language of
letters； of that new fruit of his imagination； I should take to my
room and look over at my leisure。 I was in the act of leaving him
when the door of the study noiselessly opened and Mrs。 Ambient stood
before us。 She observed us a moment； her candle in her hand； and
then said to her husband that as she supposed he hadn't gone to bed
she had come down to let him know Dolcino was more quiet and would
probably be better in the morning。 Mark Ambient made no reply； he
simply slipped past her in the doorway； as if for fear she might
seize him in his passage； and bounded upstairs to judge for himself
of his child's condition。 She looked so frankly discomfited that I
for a moment believed her about to give him chase。 But she resigned
herself with a sigh and her eyes turned； ruefully and without a ray；
to the lamplit room where various books at which I had been looking
were pulled out of their places on the shelves and the fumes of
tobacco hung in mid…air。 I bade her good…night and then； without
intention； by a kind of fatality； a perversity that had already made
me address her overmuch on that question of her husband's powers； I
alluded to the precious proof…sheets with which Ambient had entrusted
me and which I nursed there under my arm。 〃They're the opening
chapters of his new book；〃 I said。 〃Fancy my satisfaction at being
allowed to carry them to my room！〃
She turned away； leaving me to take my candlestick from the table in
the hall； but before we separated； thinking it apparently a good
occasion to let me know once for all since I was beginning； it would
seem； to be quite 〃thick〃 with my hostthat there was no fitness in
my appealing to her for sympathy in such a case； before we separated；
I say； she remarked to me with her quick fine well…bred inveterate
curtness： 〃I daresay you attribute to me ideas I haven't got。 I
don't take that sort of interest in my husband's proof…sheets。 I
consider his writings most objectionable！〃
CHAPTER III
I had an odd colloquy the next morning with Miss Ambient； whom I
found strolling in the garden before breakfast。 The whole place
looked as fresh and trim； amid