child； and no sooner had I observed this than I became aware his wife
had simultaneously vanished。 It happened that Miss Ambient and I；
both at the same moment； saw the tail of her dress whisk out of a
doorway； an incident that led the young lady to smile at me as if I
now knew all the secrets of the Ambients。 I passed with her into the
garden and we sat down on a dear old bench that rested against the
west wall of the house。 It was a perfect spot for the middle period
of a Sunday in June； and its felicity seemed to come partly from an
antique sun…dial which； rising in front of us and forming the centre
of a small intricate parterre； measured the moments ever so slowly
and made them safe for leisure and talk。 The garden bloomed in the
suffused afternoon； the tall beeches stood still for an example； and；
behind and above us； a rose tree of many seasons； clinging to the
faded grain of the brick； expressed the whole character of the scene
in a familiar exquisite smell。 It struck me as a place to offer
genius every favour and sanctionnot to bristle with challenges and
checks。 Miss Ambient asked me if I had enjoyed my walk with her
brother and whether we had talked of many things。
〃Well； of most things；〃 I freely allowed； though I remembered we
hadn't talked of Miss Ambient。
〃And don't you think some of his theories are very peculiar？〃
〃Oh I guess I agree with them all。〃 I was very particular； for Miss
Ambient's entertainment； to guess。
〃Do you think art's everything？〃 she put to me in a moment。
〃In art； of course I do！〃
〃And do you think beauty's everything？〃
〃Everything's a big word； which I think we should use as little as
possible。 But how can we not want beauty？〃
〃Ah there you are！〃 she sighed； though I didn't quite know what she
meant by it。 〃Of course it's difficult for a woman to judge how far
to go；〃 she went on。 〃I adore everything that gives a charm to life。
I'm intensely sensitive to form。 But sometimes I draw backdon't
you see what I mean？I don't quite see where I shall be landed。 I
only want to be quiet； after all；〃 Miss Ambient continued as if she
had long been baffled of this modest desire。 〃And one must be good；
at any rate； must not one？〃 she pursued with a dubious quaveran
intimation apparently that what I might say one way or the other
would settle it for her。 It was difficult for me to be very original
in reply； and I'm afraid I repaid her confidence with an unblushing
platitude。 I remember； moreover； attaching to it an inquiry； equally
destitute of freshness and still more wanting perhaps in tact； as to
whether she didn't mean to go to church； since that was an obvious
way of being good。 She made answer that she had performed this duty
in the morning； and that for her； of Sunday afternoons； supreme
virtue consisted in answering the week's letters。 Then suddenly and
without transition she brought out： 〃It's quite a mistake about
Dolcino's being better。 I've seen him and he's not at all right。〃
I wondered； and somehow I think I scarcely believed。 〃Surely his
mother would know； wouldn't she？〃
She appeared for a moment to be counting the leaves on one of the
great beeches。 〃As regards most matters one can easily say what； in
a given situation； my sister…in…law will； or would； do。 But in the
present case there are strange elements at work。〃
〃Strange elements？ Do you mean in the constitution of the child？〃
〃No； I mean in my sister…in…law's feelings。〃
〃Elements of affection of course； elements of anxiety；〃 I concurred。
〃But why do you call them strange？〃
She repeated my words。 〃Elements of affection； elements of anxiety。
She's very anxious。〃
Miss Ambient put me indescribably ill at ease； she almost scared me；
and I wished she would go and write her letters。 〃His father will
have seen him now；〃 I said； 〃and if he's not satisfied he will send
for the doctor。〃
〃The doctor ought to have been here this morning；〃 she promptly
returned。 〃He lives only two miles away。〃
I reflected that all this was very possibly but a part of the general
tragedy of Miss Ambient's view of things； yet I asked her why she
hadn't urged that view on her sister…in…law。 She answered me with a
smile of extraordinary significance and observed that I must have
very little idea of her 〃peculiar〃 relations with Beatrice； but I
must do her the justice that she re…enforced this a little by the
plea that any distinguishable alarm of Mark's was ground enough for a
difference of his wife's。 He was always nervous about the child； and
as they were predestined by nature to take opposite views； the only
thing for the mother was to cultivate a false optimism。 In Mark's
absence and that of his betrayed fear she would have been less easy。
I remembered what he had said to me about their dealings with their
sonthat between them they'd probably put an end to him； but I
didn't repeat this to Miss Ambient： the less so that just then her
brother emerged from the house； carrying the boy in his arms。 Close
behind him moved his wife； grave and pale； the little sick face was
turned over Ambient's shoulder and toward the mother。 We rose to
receive the group； and as they came near us Dolcino twisted himself
about。 His enchanting eyes showed me a smile of recognition； in
which； for the moment； I should have taken a due degree of comfort。
Miss Ambient； however； received another impression； and I make haste
to say that her quick sensibility； which visibly went out to the
child； argues that in spite of her affectations she might have been
of some human use。 〃It won't do at allit won't do at all；〃 she
said to me under her breath。 〃I shall speak to Mark about the
Doctor。〃
Her small nephew was rather white； but the main difference I saw in
him was that he was even more beautiful than the day before。 He had
been dressed in his festal garmentsa velvet suit and a crimson
sashand he looked like a little invalid prince too young to know
condescension and smiling familiarly on his subjects。
〃Put him down； Mark； he's not a bit at his ease；〃 Mrs。 Ambient said。
〃Should you like to stand on your feet； my boy？〃 his father asked。
He made a motion that quickly responded。 〃Oh yes； I'm remarkably
well。〃
Mark placed him on the ground； he had shining pointed shoes with
enormous bows。 〃Are you happy now； Mr。 Ambient？〃
〃Oh yes； I'm particularly happy；〃 Dolcino replied。 But the words
were scarce out of his mouth when his mother caught him up and； in a
moment； holding him on her knees； took her place on the bench where
Miss Ambient and I had been sitting。 This young lady said something
to her brother； in consequence of which the two wandered away into
the garden together。
CHAPTER IV
I remained with Mrs。 Ambient； but as a servant had brought out a
couple of chairs I wasn't obliged to seat myself beside her。 Our
conversation failed of ease； and I； for my part； felt there would be
a shade of hypocrisy in my now trying to make myself agreeable to the
partner of my friend's existence。 I didn't dislike herI rather
admired her； but I was aware that I differed from her inexpressibly。
Then I suspected； what I afterwards definitely knew and have already
intimated； that the poor lady felt small taste for her husband's so
undisguised disciple； and this of course was not encouraging。 She
thought me an obtrusive and designing； even perhaps a depraved； young
man whom a perverse Providence had dropped upon their quiet lawn to
flatter his worst tendencies。 She did me the honour to say to Miss
Ambient； who repeated the speech； that she didn't know when she had
seen their companion take such a fancy to a visitor； and she measured
apparently my evil influence by Mark's appreciation of my society。 I
had a consciousness； not oppressive but quite sufficient； of all
this； though I must say that if it chilled my flow of small…talk it
yet didn't prevent my thinking the beautiful mother and beautiful
child； interlaced there against their background of roses； a picture
such as I doubtless shouldn't soon see again。 I was free； I
supposed； to go into the house and write letters； to sit in the
drawing…room； to repair to my own apartment and take a nap； but the
only use I made of my freedom was to linger still in my chair and say
to myself that the light hand of Sir Joshua might have painted Mark
Ambient's wife and son。 I found myself looking perpetually at the
latter small mortal； who looked constantly back at me； and that was
enough to detain me。 With these vaguely…amused eyes he smiled； and I
felt it an absolute impossibility to abandon a child with such an
expression。 His attention never strayed； it attached itself to my
face as if among all the small incipient things of his nature
throbbed a desire to say something to me。 If I could have taken him
on my own knee he perhaps would have managed to say it； but it would
have been a critical matter to ask his mother to give him up； and it
has remained a constant regret for me that on that strange Sunday
afternoon I didn't even for a moment hold Dolcino in my arms。 He had
said he felt remarkably well and was especially happy； but though
peace may have been with him as he pillowed his charming head on his
mother's breast； dropping his little crimson silk legs from her lap；
I somehow didn't think security was。 He made no attempt to walk
about； he was content to swing his legs softly and strike one as
languid and angelic。
Mark returned to us with his sister； and Miss Ambient； repeating her
mention of the claims of her correspondence； passed into the house。
Mark came and stood in front of his wife； looking down at the child；
who immediately took hold of his hand and kept it while he stayed。
〃I think Mackintosh ought to see him；〃 he said； 〃I think I'll walk
over and fetch him。〃
〃That's Gwendolen's idea； I suppose；〃 Mrs。 Ambient replied very
sweetly。
〃It's not such an out…of…the…way idea when one's child's ill；〃 he
returned。
〃I'm not ill； papa； I'm much better now；〃 sounded in the boy's silver
pipe。
〃Is that the truth； or are you only saying it to be agreeable？
You've a great idea of being agreeable； you know。〃
The child seemed