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'So？' thought Hilary。 'Shall I go out and warn the fellow to clear off； or shall I wait to see what happens when she goes away？'
He determined on the latter course。 Presently she came out； walking with her peculiar gait； youthful and pretty； but too matter…of…fact； and yet； as it were； too purposeless to be a lady's。 She looked back at Hilary's window； and turned uphill。
Hilary took his hat and stick and waited。 In half a minute Hughs came out from under cover of the railings and followed。 Then Hilary； too； set forth。
There is left in every man something of the primeval love of stalking。 The delicate Hilary； in cooler blood； would have revolted at the notion of dogging people's footsteps。 He now experienced the holy pleasures of the chase。 Certain that Hughs was really following the girl； he had but to keep him in sight and remain unseen。 This was not hard for a man given to mountain…climbing； almost the only sport left to one who thought it immoral to hurt anybody but himself。
Taking advantage of shop…windows； omnibuses； passers…by； and other bits of cover； he prosecuted the chase up the steepy heights of Campden Hill。 But soon a nearly fatal check occurred； for； chancing to take his eyes off Hughs； he saw the little model returning on her tracks。 Ready enough in physical emergencies； Hilary sprang into a passing omnibus。 He saw her stopping before the window of a picture…
shop。 From the expression of her face and figure； she evidently had no idea that she was being followed； but stood with a sort of slack… lipped wonder； lost in admiration of a well…known print。 Hilary had often wondered who could possibly admire that picturehe now knew。 It was obvious that the girl's aesthetic sense was deeply touched。
While this was passing through his mind； he caught sight of Hughs lurking outside a public…house。 The dark man's face was sullen and dejected； and looked as if he suffered。 Hilary felt a sort of pity for him。
The omnibus leaped forward； and he sat down smartly almost on a lady's lap。 This was the lap of Mrs。 Tallents Smallpeace； who greeted him with a warm； quiet smile； and made a little room。
〃Your sister…in…law has just been to see me； Mr。 Dallison。 She's such a dear…so interested in everything。 I tried to get her to come on to my meeting with me。〃
Raising his hat； Hilary frowned。 For once his delicacy was at fault。 He said：
〃Ah； yes！ Excuse me！〃 and got out。
Mrs。 Tallents Smallpeace looked after him； and then glanced round the omnibus。 His conduct was very like the conduct of a man who had got in to keep an assignation with a lady； and found that lady sitting next his aunt。 She was unable to see a soul who seemed to foster this view； and sat thinking that he was 〃rather attractive。〃 Suddenly her dark busy eyes lighted on the figure of the little model strolling along again。
'Oh！' she thought。 'Ah！ Yes； really！ How very interesting！'
Hilary； to avoid meeting the girl point…blank； had turned up a by… street； and； finding a convenient corner； waited。 He was puzzled。 If this man were persecuting her with his attentions； why had he not gone across when she was standing at the picture…shop？
She passed across the opening of the by…street； still walking in the slack way of one who takes the pleasures of the streets。 She passed from view； Hilary strained his eyes to see if Hughs were following。 He waited several minutes。 The man did not appear。 The chase was over！ And suddenly it flashed across him that Hughs had merely dogged her to see that she had no assignation with anybody。 They had both been playing the same game！ He flushed up in that shady little street； in which he was the only person to be seen。 Cecilia was right！ It was a sordid business。 A man more in touch with facts than Hilary would have had some mental pigeonhole into which to put an incident like this； but； being by profession concerned mainly with ideas and thoughts； he did not quite know where he was。 The habit of his mind precluded him from thinking very definitely on any subject except his literary workprecluded him especially in a matter of this sort； so inextricably entwined with that delicate； dim question； the impact of class on class。
Pondering deeply； he ascended the leafy lane that leads between high railings from Notting Hill to Kensington。
It was so far from traffic that every tree on either side was loud with the Spring songs of birds； the scent of running sap came forth shyly as the sun sank low。 Strange peace； strange feeling of old Mother Earth up there above the town； wild tunes； and the quiet sight of clouds。 Man in this lane might rest his troubled thoughts； and for a while trust the goodness of the Scheme that gave him birth； the beauty of each day； that laughs or broods itself into night。 Some budding lilacs exhaled a scent of lemons； a sandy cat on the coping of a garden wall was basking in the setting sun。
In the centre of the lane a row of elm…trees displayed their gnarled； knotted roots。 Human beings were seated there； whose matted hair clung round their tired faces。 Their gaunt limbs were clothed in rags； each had a stick； and some sort of dirty bundle tied to it。 They were asleep。 On a bench beyond； two toothless old women sat； moving their eyes from side to side； and a crimson…faced woman was snoring。 Under the next tree a Cockney youth and his girl were sitting side by side…pale young things； with loose mouths； and hollow cheeks； and restless eyes。 Their arms were enlaced； they were silent。 A little farther on two young men in working clothes were looking straight before them； with desperately tired faces。 They； too； were silent。
On the last bench of all Hilary came on the little model； seated slackly by herself。
CHAPTER X
THE TROUSSEAU
This the first time these two had each other at large； was clearly not a comfortable event for either of them。 The girl blushed； and hastily got off her seat。 Hilary； who raised his hat and frowned； sat down on it。
〃Don't get up；〃 he said； 〃I want to talk to you。〃
The little model obediently resumed her seat。 A silence followed。 She had on the old brown skirt and knitted jersey； the old blue…green tam…o'…shanter cap； and there were marks of weariness beneath her eyes。
At last Hilary remarked： 〃How are you getting on？〃
The little model looked at her feet。
〃Pretty well； thank you； Mr。 Dallison。〃
〃I came to see you yesterday。〃
She slid a look at him which might have meant nothing or meant much； so perfect its shy stolidity。
〃I was out；〃 she said； 〃sitting to Miss Boyle。〃
〃So you have some work？〃
〃It's finished now。〃
〃Then you're only getting the two shillings a day from Mr。 Stone？〃
She nodded。
〃H'm！〃
The unexpected fervour of this grunt seemed to animate the little model。
〃Three and sixpence for my rent； and breakfast costs threepence nearlyonly bread…and…butterthat's five and two； and washing's always at least tenpencethat's six； and little things last week was a shillingeven when I don't take busesseven； that leaves five shillings for my dinners。 Mr。 Stone always gives me tea。 It's my clothes worries me。〃 She tucked her feet farther beneath t