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There was something in this that went against the grain of the
childless Colonel。 He had never adopted； nor been adopted by
anyone himself。 There was a certain lack about a man who had been
adopted； of reasonable guaranteehe was like a non…vintage wine；
or a horse without a pedigree； you could not quite rely on what he
might do； having no tradition in his blood。 His appearance； too；
and manner somehow lent colour to this distrust。 A touch of the
tar…brush somewhere； and a stubborn； silent； pushing fellow。 Why
on earth had Olive ever married him！ But then women were such
kittle cattle； poor things！ and old Lindsay； with his vestments and
his views on obedience； must have been a Tartar as a father； poor
old chap！ Besides； Cramier； no doubt； was what most women would
call good…looking； more taking to the eye than such a quiet fellow
as young Lennan； whose features were rather anyhow； though pleasant
enough； and with a nice smilethe sort of young man one could not
help liking； and who certainly would never hurt a fly！ And
suddenly there came the thought： Why should he not go to young
Lennan and put it to him straight？ That he was in love with Olive？
Not quitebut the way to do it would come to him。 He brooded long
over this idea； and spoke of it to Mrs。 Ercott； while shaving； the
next morning。 Her answer： 〃My dear John； bosh！〃 removed his last
doubt。
Without saying where he was going； he strolled out the moment after
breakfastand took a train to Beaulieu。 At the young man's hotel
he sent in his card； and was told that this Monsieur had already
gone out for the day。 His mood of marching straight up to the guns
thus checked； he was left pensive and distraught。 Not having seen
Beaulieu （they spoke of it then as a coming place）； he made his way
up an incline。 That whole hillside was covered with rose…trees。
Thousands of these flowers were starring the lower air； and the
strewn petals of blown and fallen roses covered the light soil。
The Colonel put his nose to blossoms here and there； but they had
little scent； as if they knew that the season was already over。 A
few blue…bloused peasants were still busy among them。 And suddenly
he came on young Lennan himself； sitting on a stone and dabbing
away with his fingers at a lump of putty stuff。 The Colonel
hesitated。 Apart from obvious reasons for discomfiture； he had
that feeling towards Art common to so many of his caste。 It was
not work； of course； but it was very clevera mystery to him how
anyone could do it！ On seeing him； Lennan had risen； dropping his
handkerchief over what he was modellingbut not before the Colonel
had received a dim impression of something familiar。 The young man
was very redthe Colonel； too； was conscious suddenly of the heat。
He held out his hand。
〃Nice quiet place this；〃 he stammered； 〃never seen it before。 I
called at your hotel。〃
Now that he had his chance； he was completely at a loss。 The sight
of the face emerging from that lump of 'putty stuff' had quite
unnerved him。 The notion of this young man working at it up here
all by himself； just because he was away an hour or two from the
original； touched him。 How on earth to say what he had come to
say？ It was altogether different from what he had thought。 And it
suddenly flashed through himDolly was right！ She's always right
hang it！
〃You're busy；〃 he said； 〃I mustn't interrupt you。〃
〃Not at all； sir。 It was awfully good of you to look me up。〃
The Colonel stared。 There was something about young Lennan that he
had not noticed before； a 'Don't take liberties with me！' look that
made things difficult。 But still he lingered； staring wistfully at
the young man； who stood waiting with such politeness。 Then a safe
question shot into his mind：
〃Ah！ And when do you go back to England？ We're off on Tuesday。〃
While he spoke； a puff of wind lifted the handkerchief from the
modelled face。 Would the young fellow put it back？ He did not。
And the Colonel thought：
〃It would have been bad form。 He knew I wouldn't take advantage。
Yes！ He's a gentleman！〃
Lifting his hand to the salute； he said： 〃Well； I must be getting
back。 See you at dinner perhaps？〃 And turning on his heel he
marched away。
The remembrance of that face in the 'putty stuff' up there by the
side of the road accompanied him home。 It was badit was serious！
And the sense that he counted for nothing in all of it grew and
grew in him。 He told no one of where he had been。 。 。 。
When the Colonel turned with ceremony and left him； Lennan sat down
again on the flat stone； took up his 'putty stuff；' and presently
effaced that image。 He sat still a long time； to all appearance
watching the little blue butterflies playing round the red and
tawny roses。 Then his fingers began to work； feverishly shaping a
head； not of a man； not of a beast； but a sort of horned； heavy
mingling of the two。 There was something frenetic in the movement
of those rather short； blunt…ended fingers； as though they were
strangling the thing they were creating。
VIII
In those days； such as had served their country travelled； as
befitted Spartans； in ordinary first…class carriages； and woke in
the morning at La Roche or some strange…sounding place； for paler
coffee and the pale brioche。 So it was with Colonel and Mrs。
Ercott and their niece； accompanied by books they did not read；
viands they did not eat； and one somnolent Irishman returning from
the East。 In the disposition of legs there was the usual
difficulty； no one quite liking to put them up； and all ultimately
doing so； save Olive。 More than once during that night the
Colonel； lying on the seat opposite； awoke and saw her sitting；
withdrawn into her corner； with eyes still open。 Staring at that
little head which he admired so much； upright and unmoving； in its
dark straw toque against the cushion； he would become suddenly
alert。 Kicking the Irishman slightly in the effort； he would slip
his legs down； bend across to her in the darkness； and； conscious
of a faint fragrance as of violets； whisper huskily： 〃Anything I
can do for you； my dear？〃 When she had smiled and shaken her head；
he would retreat； and after holding his breath to see if Dolly were
asleep； would restore his feet； slightly kicking the Irishman。
After one such expedition； for full ten minutes he remained awake；
wondering at her tireless immobility。 For indeed she was spending
this night entranced； with the feeling that Lennan was beside her；
holding her hand in his。 She seemed actually to feel the touch of
his finger against the tiny patch of her bare palm where the glove
opened。 It was wonderful； this uncanny communion in the dark
rushing nightshe would not have slept for worlds！ Never before
had she felt so close to him； not even when he had kissed her that
once under the olives； nor even when at the concert yesterday his
arm pressed hers； and his voice whispered words she heard so
thirstily。 And that golden fortnight passed and passed through her
on an endless band of reminiscence。 Its memories were like
flowers； such scent and warmth and colour in them； and of all； none
perhaps quit