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held him high for a long moment； kissing him several times。
I had lost no time in observing that the child； not more than seven
years old； was extraordinarily beautiful。 He had the face of an
angelthe eyes； the hair； the smile of innocence； the more than
mortal bloom。 There was something that deeply touched； that almost
alarmed； in his beauty； composed； one would have said； of elements
too fine and pure for the breath of this world。 When I spoke to him
and he came and held out his hand and smiled at me I felt a sudden
strange pity for himquite as if he had been an orphan or a
changeling or stamped with some social stigma。 It was impossible to
be in fact more exempt from these misfortunes； and yet； as one kissed
him； it was hard to keep from murmuring all tenderly 〃Poor little
devil！〃 though why one should have applied this epithet to a living
cherub is more than I can say。 Afterwards indeed I knew a trifle
better； I grasped the truth of his being too fair to live； wondering
at the same time that his parents shouldn't have guessed it and have
been in proportionate grief and despair。 For myself I had no doubt
of his evanescence； having already more than once caught in the fact
the particular infant charm that's as good as a death…warrant。
The lady who had been sitting with Mrs。 Ambient was a jolly ruddy
personage in velveteen and limp feathers； whom I guessed to be the
vicar's wifeour hostess didn't introduce meand who immediately
began to talk to Ambient about chrysanthemums。 This was a safe
subject； and yet there was a certain surprise for me in seeing the
author of 〃Beltraffio〃 even in such superficial communion with the
Church of England。 His writings implied so much detachment from that
institution； expressed a view of life so profane； as it were； so
independent and so little likely in general to be thought edifying；
that I should have expected to find him an object of horror to vicars
and their ladiesof horror repaid on his own part by any amount of
effortless derision。 This proved how little I knew as yet of the
English people and their extraordinary talent for keeping up their
forms； as well as of some of the mysteries of Mark Ambient's hearth
and home。 I found afterwards that he had； in his study； between
nervous laughs and free cigar…puffs； some wonderful comparisons for
his clerical neighbours； but meanwhile the chrysanthemums were a
source of harmony； he and the vicaress were equally attached to them；
and I was surprised at the knowledge they exhibited of this
interesting plant。 The lady's visit； however； had presumably been
long； and she presently rose for departure and kissed Mrs。 Ambient。
Mark started to walk with her to the gate of the grounds； holding
Dolcino by the hand。
〃Stay with me； darling；〃 Mrs。 Ambient said to the boy； who had
surrendered himself to his father。
Mark paid no attention to the summons but Dolcino turned and looked
at her in shy appeal； 〃Can't I go with papa？〃
〃Not when I ask you to stay with me。〃
〃But please don't ask me； mamma；〃 said the child in his small clear
new voice。
〃I must ask you when I want you。 Come to me； dearest。〃 And Mrs。
Ambient； who had seated herself again； held out her long slender
slightly too osseous hands。
Her husband stopped； his back turned to her； but without releasing
the child。 He was still talking to the vicaress； but this good lady；
I think； had lost the thread of her attention。 She looked at Mrs。
Ambient and at Dolcino； and then looked at me； smiling in a highly
amused cheerful manner and almost to a grimace。
〃Papa；〃 said the child； 〃mamma wants me not to go with you。〃
〃He's very tiredhe has run about all day。 He ought to be quiet
till he goes to bed。 Otherwise he won't sleep。〃 These declarations
fell successively and very distinctly from Mrs。 Ambient's lips。
Her husband； still without turning round； bent over the boy and
looked at him in silence。 The vicaress gave a genial irrelevant
laugh and observed that he was a precious little pet。 〃Let him
choose；〃 said Mark Ambient。 〃My dear little boy； will you go with me
or will you stay with your mother？〃
〃Oh it's a shame！〃 cried the vicar's lady with increased hilarity。
〃Papa； I don't think I can choose；〃 the child answered； making his
voice very low and confidential。 〃But I've been a great deal with
mamma to…day；〃 he then added。
〃And very little with papa！ My dear fellow； I think you HAVE
chosen！〃 On which Mark Ambient walked off with his son； accompanied
by re…echoing but inarticulate comments from my fellow…visitor。
His wife had seated herself again； and her fixed eyes； bent on the
ground； expressed for a few moments so much mute agitation that
anything I could think of to say would be but a false note。 Yet she
none the less quickly recovered herself； to express the sufficiently
civil hope that I didn't mind having had to walk from the station。 I
reassured her on this point； and she went on： 〃We've got a thing
that might have gone for you； but my husband wouldn't order it。〃
After which and another longish pause； broken only by my plea that
the pleasure of a walk with our friend would have been quite what I
would have chosen； she found for reply： 〃I believe the Americans
walk very little。〃
〃Yes； we always run；〃 I laughingly allowed。
She looked at me seriously； yet with an absence in her pretty eyes。
〃I suppose your distances are so great。〃
〃Yes； but we break our marches！ I can't tell you the pleasure to me
of finding myself here；〃 I added。 〃I've the greatest admiration for
Mr。 Ambient。〃
〃He'll like that。 He likes being admired。〃
〃He must have a very happy life； then。 He has many worshippers。〃
〃Oh yes； I've seen some of them；〃 she dropped； looking away； very far
from me； rather as if such a vision were before her at the moment。
It seemed to indicate； her tone； that the sight was scarcely
edifying； and I guessed her quickly enough to be in no great
intellectual sympathy with the author of 〃Beltraffio。〃 I thought the
fact strange； but somehow； in the glow of my own enthusiasm； didn't
think it important it only made me wish rather to emphasise that
homage。
〃For me； you know；〃 I returneddoubtless with a due suffisance
〃he's quite the greatest of living writers。〃
〃Of course I can't judge。 Of course he's very clever；〃 she said with
a patient cheer。
〃He's nothing less than supreme； Mrs。 Ambient！ There are pages in
each of his books of a perfection classing them with the greatest
things。 Accordingly for me to see him in this familiar way； in his
habit as he lives； and apparently to find the man as delightful as
the artistwell； I can't tell you how much too good to be true it
seems and how great a privilege I think it。〃 I knew I was gushing；
but I couldn't help it； and what I said was a good deal less than
what I felt。 I was by no means sure I should dare to say even so
much as this to the master himself； and there was a kind of rapture
in speaking it out to his wife which was not affected by the fact
that； as a wife； she appeared peculiar。 She listened to me with her
face grave again and her lips a little compressed； listened as