The Awkward Age

ld her out; for a moment he said nothing, but presently, over his glasses, rested on his host

bs? Surely-to old friends.

, with an exhalation of something between superiori

all you want now!"

droll headshake. "I d

ir, still," Vanderbank continued i

the photograph and continued to look at it. "Her mother t

's a great fr

eally deep in it.

ver. "Well, you'll tel

don murmured it as if in dread of having

g fire once more, then brought out: "Well, call it n

idea. "Upon my honour I shou

of time-the fif

ost to accept his restlessness that as he circulated the latter watched him with encouragement. "I said to you just now that I knew the mothers, but it would have

led to understand. "T

feeling his way. "I'm speaking of Mrs. Brooken

s broke out. "She usually does! She has d

it and took a light he said: "I don't know what you're doing with me-I never at home smoke so much!" But he puffed away and, seated near, laid his hand on Vanderbank's arm as to help himself to utter something too delicate not to

that whatever in him was good was also thoroughly personal. But our young friend had to think a minute. "I

ing that she makes her

nd, knowing Mrs. Brookenham's my friend, can't conceive of one's playing on a friend a trick so vulgar and odious. It strikes you also probably as the kind of thing we must be constantly doing; it strikes you that right and left, probably, we keep givin

and pleadingly asked, while he still held Vanderbank's arm

eyes only the more s

gdon maintained the f

suringly added; "I never really have believed in the existence of friendship in big societies-in great towns and great crowds. It's a plant th

ed with a withdrawal of his hand and a visible s

whatever it may be, may come of it! It's impossible to say too much-it's imposs

on't care," the old man

if that's what you me

repeated, "and-if I may be frank with you-

I don'

o." And Mr. Longdon paused

hall! You're awfu

something I seem to make out in you-!" He abruptly dropped this, however, goin

college. Perhaps you did know m

t Malvern. I was near her there for

er Miles. He was awfully clever, but had no health, poor chap, and we lost him at sevente

r and made me dreadfully ashamed. But I lent him books-partly, upon my honour, to make him think that as I had them I

o he had. And you remember Nancy, who was hand

nt his other sister; on which his companion said: "Oh he

midst of her future

m did sh

ed Toovey. A m

as if to retrieve his blankness: "But why do

nche Bertha

ified and half-distressed. "

hter at his dismay. "That'

t w

see you were righ

had turned back again to the first photograph, which he

r's way-!" Vanderbank waited, then a

fresh to an examination of the expressive oval in the red plush frame. He took up litt

a great question whethe

friend; which led him after a moment to bring out

bank threw in. "Don't you t

lia. Lady Julia had-!" He faltered; then, as if there were too m

determined him more and more to diplomacy. "B

ved away as without a purpose; but his friend presently perceived his purpose to be another glance at the other young lady. As if a

g working in him, was more and more interested.

eyes on the face, trying a little, Vanderbank even thought, to c

Vanderbank persisted, amused

Her mother told

as beautiful as

expression. She absolutely HAS it-I see it here." He was delightfu

lity not resisted it altogether. That in itself, for an observer deeply versed in this lady, was attaching and beguiling. Another indication was that he found himself, in spite of such a break in the chain, distinct

le he reflected, at the other. Then with a subtlety that matched itself for the mo

ecognised it. It's the first time," Vanderbank went on, to let him down m

irl's? 'Ad

must tell you, extremely like Nanda's appearance. I think Lady

gdon broke in with such an approach to re

of soap or whiskey, something that speaks to the crowd and crosses the footlights, fetches such a price in the market that the absence of it, for a woman with a girl to marry, inspires endless terrors and constitutes for the wretched pair (to speak of mother and daughter alone) a sort of social bankruptcy. London doesn't love the latent or the lurking, has neither time nor taste nor sense for anything less discernible than the red flag in front of the steam-roller. It

"Excuse my asking it again-for you take such ju

marrying. Above all

ore the sofa. "What d

shorter days. I mean in a couple of seasons. Soon enough," Vanderbank developed,

u mean by t

plication of h

ng w

self perfectly prepared. "Out of the school-room and where she

d. "But where els

band's, don

put off from his original challenge. "Ah certainly; but not a

you call

o make hers

d. "By the men who

g it. "Yes-and in the home circle. Where's the 'st