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nt had not occurred at the Palace of the Caesars； but at Pompeii； on an occasion when they had been present there at an important find。
He accepted her amendments； he enjoyed her corrections； though the moral of them was； she pointed out； that he REALLY didn't remember the least thing about her； and he only felt it as a drawback that when all was made strictly historic there didn't appear much of anything left。 They lingered together still； she neglecting her officefor from the moment he was so clever she had no proper right to himand both neglecting the house； just waiting as to see if a memory or two more wouldn't again breathe on them。 It hadn't taken them many minutes； after all； to put down on the table； like the cards of a pack； those that constituted their respective hands； only what came out was that the pack was unfortunately not perfect… …that the past； invoked； invited； encouraged； could give them； naturally； no more than it had。 It had made them anciently meet her at twenty； him at twenty…five； but nothing was so strange； they seemed to say to each other； as that； while so occupied； it hadn't done a little more for them。 They looked at each other as with the feeling of an occasion missed； the present would have been so much better if the other； in the far distance； in the foreign land； hadn't been so stupidly meagre。 There weren't； apparently； all counted； more than a dozen little old things that had succeeded in coming to pass between them； trivialities of youth； simplicities of freshness； stupidities of ignorance； small possible germs； but too deeply buriedtoo deeply （didn't it seem？） to sprout after so many years。 Marcher could only feel he ought to have rendered her some servicesaved her from a capsized boat in the bay or at least recovered her dressing…bag； filched from her cab in the streets of Naples by a lazzarone with a stiletto。 Or it would have been nice if he could have been taken with fever all alone at his hotel； and she could have come to look after him； to write to his people； to drive him out in convalescence。 THEN they would be in possession of the something or other that their actual show seemed to lack。 It yet somehow presented itself； this show； as too good to be spoiled； so that they were reduced for a few minutes more to wondering a little helplessly whysince they seemed to know a certain number of the same peopletheir reunion had been so long averted。 They didn't use that name for it； but their delay from minute to minute to join the others was a kind of confession that they didn't quite want it to be a failure。 Their attempted supposition of reasons for their not having met but showed how little they knew of each other。 There came in fact a moment when Marcher felt a positive pang。 It was vain to pretend she was an old friend； for all the communities were wanting； in spite of which it was as an old friend that he saw she would have suited him。 He had new ones enoughwas surrounded with them for instance on the stage of the other house； as a new one he probably wouldn't have so much as noticed her。 He would have liked to invent something； get her to make…believe with him that some passage of a romantic or critical kind HAD originally occurred。 He was really almost reaching out in imaginationas against timefor something that would do； and saying to himself that if it didn't come this sketch of a fresh start would show for quite awkwardly bungled。 They would separate； and now for no second or no third chance。 They would have tried and not succeeded。 Then it was； just at the turn； as he afterwards made it out to himself； that； everything else failing； she herself decided to take up the case and； as it were； save the situation。 He felt as soon as she spoke that she had been consciously keeping back what she said and hoping to get on without it； a scruple in her that immensely touched him when； by the end of three or four minutes more； he was able to measure it。 What she brought out； at any rate； quite cleared the air and supplied the linkthe link it was so odd he should frivolously have managed to lose。
〃You know you told me something I've never forgotten and that again and again has made me think of you since； it was that tremendously hot day when we went to Sorrento； across the bay； for the breeze。 What I allude to was what you said to me； on the way back； as we sat under the awning of the boat enjoying the cool。 Have you forgotten？〃
He had forgotten； and was even more surprised than ashamed。 But the great thing was that he saw in this no vulgar reminder of any 〃sweet〃 speech。 The vanity of women had long memories； but she was making no claim on him of a compliment or a mistake。 With another woman； a totally different one； he might have feared the recall possibly even some imbecile 〃offer。〃 So； in having to say that he had indeed forgotten； he was conscious rather of a loss than of a gain； he already saw an interest in the matter of her mention。 〃I try to thinkbut I give it up。 Yet I remember the Sorrento day。〃
〃I'm not very sure you do；〃 May Bartram after a moment said； 〃and I'm not very sure I ought to want you to。 It's dreadful to bring a person back at any time to what he was ten years before。 If you've lived away from it；〃 she smiled； 〃so much the better。〃
〃Ah if YOU haven't why should I？〃 he asked。
〃Lived away； you mean； from what I myself was？〃
〃From what I was。 I was of course an ass；〃 Marcher went on； 〃but I would rather know from you just the sort of ass I was thanfrom the moment you have something in your mindnot know anything。〃
Still； however； she hesitated。 〃But if you've completely ceased to be that sort？〃
〃Why I can then all the more bear to know。 Besides； perhaps I haven't。〃
〃Perhaps。 Yet if you haven't；〃 she added； 〃I should suppose you'd remember。 Not indeed that I in the least connect with my impression the invidious name you use。 If I had only thought you foolish；〃 she explained； 〃the thing I speak of wouldn't so have remained with me。 It was about yourself。〃 She waited as if it might come to him； but as； only meeting her eyes in wonder； he gave no sign； she burnt her ships。 〃Has it ever happened？〃
Then it was that； while he continued to stare； a light broke for him and the blood slowly came to his face； which began to burn with recognition。
〃Do you mean I told you？〃 But he faltered； lest what came to him shouldn't be right； lest he should only give himself away。
〃It was something about yourself that it was natural one shouldn't forgetthat is if one remembered you at all。 That's why I ask you；〃 she smiled； 〃if the thing you then spoke of has ever come to pass？〃
Oh then he saw； but he was lost in wonder and found himself embarrassed。 This； he also saw； made her sorry for him； as if her allusion had been a mistake。 It took him but a moment； however； to feel it hadn't been； much as it had been a surprise。 After the first little shock of it her knowledge on the contrary began； even if rather strangely； to taste sweet to him。 She was the only other person in the world then who would have it； and she had had it all these years； while the fact of his having so breathed his secret had unaccountably fad