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had a house before； but I had really never been； except in the most
transitory way； in any house that was nearly so delightful as mine
promised to be。 Everything was fresh and bright； and softly and
harmoniously toned。 Downstairs we had a green dining…room with
gleaming silver； dark oak； and English colour…prints； above was a
large drawing…room that could be made still larger by throwing open
folding doors； and it was all carefully done in greys and blues； for
the most part with real Sheraton supplemented by Sheraton so
skilfully imitated by an expert Margaret had discovered as to be
indistinguishable except to a minute scrutiny。 And for me； above
this and next to my bedroom； there was a roomy study； with specially
thick stair…carpet outside and thick carpets in the bedroom overhead
and a big old desk for me to sit at and work between fire and
window； and another desk specially made for me by that expert if I
chose to stand and write； and open bookshelves and bookcases and
every sort of convenient fitting。 There were electric heaters
beside the open fire； and everything was put for me to make tea at
any timeelectric kettle； infuser； biscuits and fresh butter； so
that I could get up and work at any hour of the day or night。 I
could do no work in this apartment for a long time； I was so
interested in the perfection of its arrangements。 And when I
brought in my books and papers from Vincent Square； Margaret seized
upon all the really shabby volumes and had them re…bound in a fine
official…looking leather。
I can remember sitting down at that desk and looking round me and
feeling with a queer effect of surprise that after all even a place
in the Cabinet； though infinitely remote； was nevertheless in the
same large world with these fine and quietly expensive things。
On the same floor Margaret had a 〃den；〃 a very neat and pretty den
with good colour…prints of Botticellis and Carpaccios； and there was
a third apartment for sectarial purposes should the necessity for
them arise； with a severe…looking desk equipped with patent files。
And Margaret would come flitting into the room to me； or appear
noiselessly standing； a tall gracefully drooping form； in the wide
open doorway。 〃Is everything right； dear？〃 she would ask。
〃Come in；〃 I would say； 〃I'm sorting out papers。〃
She would come to the hearthrug。
〃I mustn't disturb you；〃 she would remark。
〃I'm not busy yet。〃
〃Things are getting into order。 Then we must make out a time…table
as the Baileys do； and BEGIN！〃
Altiora came in to see us once or twice； and a number of serious
young wives known to Altiora called and were shown over the house；
and discussed its arrangements with Margaret。 They were all
tremendously keen on efficient arrangements。
〃A little pretty；〃 said Altiora； with the faintest disapproval；
〃still〃
It was clear she thought we should grow out of that。 From the day
of our return we found other people's houses open to us and eager
for us。 We went out of London for week…ends and dined out； and
began discussing our projects for reciprocating these hospitalities。
As a single man unattached； I had had a wide and miscellaneous
social range； but now I found myself falling into place in a set。
For a time I acquiesced in this。 I went very little to my clubs；
the Climax and the National Liberal； and participated in no bachelor
dinners at all。 For a time； too； I dropped out of the garrulous
literary and journalistic circles I had frequented。 I put up for
the Reform； not so much for the use of the club as a sign of serious
and substantial political standing。 I didn't go up to Cambridge； I
remember； for nearly a year； so occupied was I with my new
adjustments。
The people we found ourselves among at this time were people； to put
it roughly； of the Parliamentary candidate class； or people already
actually placed in the political world。 They ranged between very
considerable wealth and such a hard； bare independence as old
Willersley and the sister who kept house for him possessed。 There
were quite a number of young couples like ourselves； a little
younger and more artless； or a little older and more established。
Among the younger men I had a sort of distinction because of my
Cambridge reputation and my writing； and because； unlike them； I was
an adventurer and had won and married my way into their circles
instead of being naturally there。 They couldn't quite reckon upon
what I should do； they felt I had reserves of experience and
incalculable traditions。 Close to us were the Cramptons； Willie
Crampton； who has since been Postmaster…General； rich and very
important in Rockshire； and his younger brother Edward； who has
specialised in history and become one of those unimaginative men of
letters who are the glory of latter…day England。 Then there was
Lewis； further towards Kensington； where his cousins the Solomons
and the Hartsteins lived； a brilliant representative of his race；
able； industrious and invariably uninspired； with a wife a little in
revolt against the racial tradition of feminine servitude and
inclined to the suffragette point of view； and Bunting Harblow； an
old blue； and with an erratic disposition well under the control of
the able little cousin he had married。 I had known all these men；
but now （with Altiora floating angelically in benediction） they
opened their hearts to me and took me into their order。 They were
all like myself； prospective Liberal candidates； with a feeling that
the period of wandering in the wilderness of opposition was drawing
near its close。 They were all tremendously keen upon social and
political service； and all greatly under the sway of the ideal of a
simple； strenuous life； a life finding its satisfactions in
political achievements and distinctions。 The young wives were as
keen about it as the young husbands； Margaret most of all； and I
whatever elements in me didn't march with the attitudes and habits
of this set were very much in the background during that time。
We would give little dinners and have evening gatherings at which
everything was very simple and very good； with a slight but
perceptible austerity； and there was more good fruit and flowers and
less perhaps in the way of savouries； patties and entrees than was
customary。 Sherry we banished； and Marsala and liqueurs； and there
was always good home…made lemonade available。 No men waited； but
very expert parlourmaids。 Our meat was usually Welsh muttonI
don't know why； unless that mountains have ever been the last refuge
of the severer virtues。 And we talked politics and books and ideas
and Bernard Shaw （who was a department by himself and supposed in
those days to be ethically sound at bottom）； and mingled with the
intellectualsI myself was； as it were； a promoted intellectual。
The Cramptons had a ten