Watersprings

ld escapes from a familiar garden into great vague woodlands. There was his talk with Mrs. Graves first-that had opened up for him a new region, indeed, of the mind and soul, and had revealed to

track. How extraordinarily lovely, simple, sweet, the girl had seemed to him in the dim room, in the faint light; and how fearless and frank she had been! He was conscious only of something adorable, whic

n forwarded to him, and went to the library. A few min

ng or fishing, the keeper will come in and take your orders. She thinks you might like to ask J

ill be round here and I will ask him. I know he would like

iling, "she always approves of

f you could suggest some books for us to read? I read a good deal to Mrs. Graves, and I am afraid we get rather into a groo

e; I don't read as much as I ought; but if you will tell me the sort of things you care about, and wh

pt you," said Miss Merry. "B

a-tete was of the nature of a romantic adventure to the little lady. He was surprised, when they came

. Graves likes LONG books; she says she likes to get at a subject quietly-that the

bject. I can tell you some good historical books, and some books of literary criticism and biography. I can't do much about poetry or novels; and philosophy, science, and t

shamefacedly withdrew. Howard said: "Perhaps that will do to go on with-we

state of hig

," he said, as the door close

ing out a li

!-but now," he went on, "here I am-I hurried back the moment breakfast was over. I have been horribly bored-a lawn-tennis party yesterday, the females much to the fo

id Howard; "you accuse me of flirting to be

t of the things that people do are excuses for doing something else! But never mind that! I said I had got to get back to be coached; I said that one of our dons was

talk to him; but mind, on one condition-work in the mornin

. I haven't had time to pump Maud yet about you, but, by George, I'm going to pump you about her an

u go and get some books, and we will set

, "Look here, I have arranged it all. Shooting to-day, and you can have father's gun; he hardly ever uses it, and I hav

uick and apt, and at the end, Jack said, "Now if I could only do this every day at Cambridge, I should so

er work by himself, and attacked his own p

ked what they had arranged for the afternoon. Howard told h

out destroying life, there are such excellent reasons for not eating anything, or wearing anything, or even crossing the lawn! I have long believed that plants are conscious, but we have got to exist somehow at each other's expense. Instinct is the only guide f

oward had been recommending, but Mrs.

mall place like this we all know a great deal more about each other than we suspect each other of knowing. What a comfort that we have tongues that we can hold! It wouldn't be possible to live, if we knew that all the absurdities we pride ourselves on co

t it is quite a pleasure to meet them and to think how infernal the

ovement can still entertain me. One can never be thankful enough for really grotesque people. But

g it. Oh, well, we mustn't get solemn over it; that's the mischief! But I mustn'

. "I don't like to see people mean and spiteful.

said Howard. "Come on, Jack, you sh

errets, and was accompanied by a boy with a spade and a line and a

ted, but you come to plenty of sense last of all. I admit it is last, but it's there. It's no joke facing him if there's a row! he doesn't say much then, and that makes it awful. He has

ay tell you plainly I liked him very much

about Maud

seemed like laying hands on something sacred and secluded. So he said, "Really, I don't know as yet-I o

hem. I'll be bound she has taken the length of your foot. What

on't have you spoiling my impressions. Just

d said, "All right! I won't give her away. I see you

elow, and the shooting began. The rabbits bolted well, and Howard experienced a lively satisfaction, quite out of proportion, he felt, to the circumstances, a

abroad up at Beaufort. You shall have all the credit and more

ular swing, and when you have got it, it's difficult to mi

for a long time in silence, a peculiar quality of peace and contentment enveloped his spirit. It was all so old, so settled, so quiet, that all sense of retrospect and prospect passed from his mind. He was just glad to be alive and alert, glad of his friendly companion, robust and strong. A few pictures passed before his mind, but he was glad just to let his eyes wander over the scene, the steep turf ramparts, the close-set

ord, how I dangle about here; it isn't good for my health. Bu

n obsequiousnes

d Jack. "I can't call you by your Christian name

es naturally,

the Dons. The Dons rather encourage it, because it makes them feel youthful and bucks them up. The men are just as bad about Christian names. Gratters on getting your Christia

; she greeted Howard very pleasantly, but there was a touch of embarrassment cr

e," said Maud to Howard. "He al

ing me that one should call people by whatever name seems natural. Y

ias gets made. You must not begin to make your womankind uncomfortable in pu

have. My father says one mustn't seethe the kid in it

urself?" said Mrs

did," said Howard,

to do primeval things, eat under-done beef, sleep in their clothes, drink t

was," said Howard. "I

perfect duffer beside him; he shot four-fifths of the ba

s. Graves, "but are there eno

l or two! Now, Maud, come on-ten o'clock, to-m

and work in the morning, Jack," said Mrs. Graves;

e of the open air. They dined together quietly;

she said, "very nice-

wn way, sure enough; but he isn't pert-he comes to heel, and he remember

hed, and said, "

w light to me. I do not think I fully understand, but I feel that there is something very

for that; an aim is quite on a lower level. There's no aim in the big things. A man do

ts, and they just did not care for anything else in the world. All the rest of life was just a passing of time, a framework to the

It doesn't matter what life you live-it is how you live it. Life is only the cup for the liquor which must else be spilled. I can only use an old phrase-it is being 'in the spirit': when you ask whether it is a special gift, of course some people have it m

count for that

eremony, music-it has become so specialised in the hands of priests who have a great institution to support, that dust is thrown in people's eyes-and just as they begin to think they perceive the secret, they are surrounded by tiresome dogmatists saying, 'It is this and that-it is this doctrine, that tradition.' Well, that sort of religion IS a very special accomplishment-eccl

over-ride all human combinations by simply disregarding them; it was not a social reform, and still less a political reform; it was a new spirit, and it was meant to create a new ki

nst real religion, because religion is above and apart from all institutions. Christ said, 'When

ot a Christian

dising the forces of the world-at least so I think. It's very difficult. Christ said that we should bestow our goods upon the poor; but if I were to divide my goods to-morrow among my neighbours, they would be only injured by it-it would not be Christ

ve you could,

sometimes think that the only good I get from money is cleanliness-and that is only a question of habit! The real point is to be in life, to watch life, to love it, to live it; to be in direct relations with everyone, not to be superior, not to be KIND-that implies superiority. I just plod along, believing, fearing, hoping, loving, glad to live while I may, not afraid to die when I must. The only detachment worth having is the de