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ghts。
That same night； after working at a Report on the present Laws of Bankruptcy； which he was then drawing up； Stephen entered the joint apartment with excessive caution； having first made all his dispositions； and； stealing to the bed； slipped into it。 He lay there； offering himself congratulations that he had not awakened Cecilia； and Cecilia； who was wide awake； knew by his unwonted carefulness that he had come to some conclusion which he did not wish to impart to her。 Devoured； therefore； by disquiet； she lay sleepless till the clock struck two。
The conclusion to which Stephen had come was this： Having twice gone through the factsHilary's corporeal separation from Bianca （communicated to him by Cecilia）； cause unknowable； Hilary's interest in the little model； cause unknown； her known poverty； her employment by Mr。 Stone； her tenancy of Mrs。 Hughs' room； the latter's outburst to Cecilia； Hughs' threat； and； finally； the girl's pretty clothes he had summed it up as just a common 〃plant；〃 to which his brother's possibly innocent； but in any case imprudent； conduct had laid him open。 It was a man's affair。 He resolutely tried to look on the whole thing as unworthy of attention； to feel that nothing would occur。 He failed dismally； for three reasons。 First； his inherent love of regularity； of having everything in proper order； secondly； his ingrained mistrust of and aversion from Bianca； thirdly； his unavowed conviction； for all his wish to be sympathetic to them； that the lower classes always wanted something out of you。 It was a question of how much they would want； and whether it were wise to give them anything。 He decided that it would not be wise at all。 What then？ Impossible to say。 It worried him。 He had a natural horror of any sort of scandal； and he was very fond of Hilary。 If only he knew the attitude Bianca would take up！ He could not even guess it。
Thus； on that Saturday afternoon； the 4th of May； he felt for once such a positive aversion from the reading of reviews； as men will feel from their usual occupations when their nerves have been disturbed。 He stayed late at Chambers； and came straight home outside an omnibus。
The tide of life was flowing in the town。 The streets were awash with wave on wave of humanity； sucked into a thousand crossing currents。 Here men and women were streaming out from the meeting of a religious congress； there streaming in at the gates of some social function； like bright water confined within long shelves of rock and dyed with myriad scales of shifting colour； they thronged Rotten Row； and along the closed shop…fronts were woven into an inextricable network of little human runlets。 And everywhere amongst this sea of men and women could be seen their shadows； meandering like streaks of grey slime stirred up from the lower depths by some huge； never… ceasing finger。 The innumerable roar of that human sea climbed out above the roofs and trees； and somewhere in illimitable space blended； and slowly reached the meeting…point of sound and silence that Heart where Life； leaving its little forms and barriers； clasps Death； and from that clasp springs forth new…formed； within new barriers。
Above this crowd of his fellow…creatures； Stephen drove； and the same Spring wind which had made the elm…trees talk； whispered to him； and tried to tell him of the million flowers it had fertilised； the million leaves uncurled； the million ripples it had awakened on the sea； of the million flying shadows flung by it across the Downs； and how into men's hearts its scent had driven a million longings and sweet pains。
It was but moderately successful； for Stephen； like all men of culture and neat habits； took Nature only at those moments when he had gone out to take her； and of her wild heart he had a secret fear。
On his own doorstep he encountered Hilary coming out。
〃I ran across Thyme and Martin in the Gardens；〃 the latter said。 〃Thyme brought me back to lunch； and here I've been ever since。〃
〃Did she bring our young Sanitist in too？〃 asked Stephen dubiously。
〃No；〃 said Hilary。
〃Good！ That young man gets on my nerves。〃 Taking his elder brother by the arm； he added： 〃Will you come in again； old boy； or shall we go for a stroll？〃
〃A stroll；〃 said Hilary。
Though different enough； perhaps because they were so different； these two brothers had the real affection for each other which depends on something deeper and more elementary than a similarity of sentiments； and is permanent because unconnected with the reasoning powers。
It depended on the countless times they had kissed and wrestled as tiny boys； slept in small beds alongside； refused…to 〃tell〃 about each other； and even now and then taken up the burden of each other's peccadilloes。 They might get irritated or tired of being in each other's company； but it would have been impossible for either to have been disloyal to the other in any circumstances； because of that traditional loyalty which went back to their cribs。
Preceded by Miranda； they walked along the flower walk towards the Park； talking of indifferent things； though in his heart each knew well enough what was in the other's。
Stephen broke through the hedge。
〃Cis has been telling me；〃 he said； 〃that this man Hughs is making trouble of some sort。〃
Hilary nodded。
Stephen glanced a little anxiously at his brother's face； it struck him as looking different； neither so gentle nor so impersonal as usual。
〃He's a ruffian； isn't he？〃
〃I can't tell you；〃 Hilary answered。 〃Probably not。〃
〃He must be； old chap；〃 murmured Stephen。 Then； with a friendly pressure of his brother's arm； he added： 〃Look here； old boy； can I be of any use？〃
〃In what？〃 asked Hilary。
Stephen took a hasty mental view of his position； he had been in danger of letting Hilary see that he suspected him。 Frowning slightly； and with some colour in his clean…shaven face； he said：
〃Of course； there's nothing in it。〃
〃In what？〃 said Hilary again。
〃In what this ruffian says。〃
〃No；〃 said Hilary； 〃there's nothing in it； though what there may be if people give me credit for what there isn't； is another thing。〃
Stephen digested this remark； which hurt him。 He saw that his suspicions had been fathomed； and this injured his opinion of his own diplomacy。
〃You mustn't lose your head； old man；〃 he said at last。
They were crossing the bridge over the Serpentine。 On the bright waters； below； young clerks were sculling their inamoratas up and down； the ripples set free by their oars gleamed beneath the sun； and ducks swam lazily along the banks。 Hilary leaned over。
〃Look here； Stephen； I take an interest in this childshe's a helpless sort of little creature； and she seems to have put herself under my protection。 I can't help that。 But that's all。 Do you understand？〃
This speech produced a queer turmoil in Stephen； as though his brother had accused him of a petty view of things。 Feeling that he must justify himself somehow； he began：
〃Oh； of course I understand； old boy！ But don't think； anyway； that I should care a damnI mean as far as I'm concernedeven if you had gone as far as ever you liked； considering what you have to put