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lilies and for the rest of that dinner which I thought was never
coming to an end； practically I saw her no more。 Only I noted as
she passed out that although not tall； she was rounded and
graceful in shape and that her hands were peculiarly delicate。
Afterwards in the drawing…room her father； with whom I had
talked at the table； introduced me to her； saying：
〃My daughter is the real archaeologist； Mr。 Arbuthnot； and I
think if you ask her； she may be able to help you。〃
Then he bustled away to speak to some of his important guests；
from whom I think he was seeking political information。
〃My father exaggerates；〃 she said in a soft and very
sympathetic voice； 〃but perhaps〃and she motioned me to a seat
at her side。
Then we talked of the places and things that I more
particularly desired to see and； well； the end of it was that I
went back to my hotel in love with Natalie； and as she afterwards
confessed； she went to bed in love with me。
It was a curious business； more like meeting a very old friend
from whom one had been separated by circumstances for a score of
years or so than anything else。 We were； so to speak； intimate
from the first； we knew all about each other； although here and
there was something new； something different which we could not
remember； lines of thought； veins of memory which we did not
possess in common。 On one point I am absolutely clear： it was not
solely the everyday and ancient appeal of woman to man and man to
woman which drew us together； though doubtless this had its part
in our attachment as under our human conditions it must do；
seeing that it is Nature's bait to ensure the continuance of the
race。 It was something more； something quite beyond that
elementary impulse。
At any rate we loved； and one evening in the shelter of the
solemn walls of the great Coliseum at Rome； which at that hour
were shut to all except ourselves； we confessed our love。 I
really think we must have chosen the spot by tacit but mutual
consent because we felt it to be fitting。 It was so old； so
impregnated with every human experience； from the direst crime of
the tyrant who thought himself a god； to the sublimest sacrifice
of the martyr who already was half a god； with every vice and
virtue also which lies between these extremes； that it seemed to
be the most fitting altar whereon to offer our hearts and all
that caused them to beat； each to the other。
So Natalie and I were betrothed within a month of our first
meeting。 Within three we were married； for what was there to
prevent or delay？ Naturally Sir Alfred was delighted； seeing that
he possessed but small private resources and I was able to make
ample provision for his daughter who had hitherto shown herself
somewhat difficult in this business of matrimony and now was
bordering on her twenty…seventh year。 Everybody was delighted；
everything went smoothly as a sledge sliding down a slope of
frozen snow and the mists of time hid whatever might be at the
end of that slope。 Probably a plain； at the worst the upward rise
of ordinary life。
That is what we thought； if we thought at all。 Certainly we
never dreamed of a precipice。 Why should we； who were young； by
comparison； quite healthy and very rich？ Who thinks of precipices
under such circumstances； when disaster seems to be eliminated
and death is yet a long way off？
And yet we ought to have done so； because we should have known
that smooth surfaces without impediment to the runners often end
in something of the kind。
I am bound to say that when we returned home to Fulcombe； where
of course we met with a great reception； including the ringing
（out of tune） of the new peal of bells that I had given to the
church； Bastin made haste to point this out。
〃Your wife seems a very nice and beautiful lady； Arbuthnot；〃 he
reflected aloud after dinner； when Mrs。 Bastin； glowering as
usual； though what at I do not know； had been escorted from the
room by Natalie； 〃and really； when I come to think of it； you are
an unusually fortunate person。 You possess a great deal of money；
much more than you have any right to； which you seem to have done
very little to earn and do not spend quite as I should like you
to do； and this nice property； that ought to be owned by a great
number of people； as； according to the views you express； I
should have thought you would acknowledge； and everything else
that a man can want。 It is very strange that you should be so
favoured and not because of any particular merits of your own
which one can see。 However； I have no doubt it will all come even
in the end and you will get your share of troubles； like others。
Perhaps Mrs。 Arbuthnot will have no children as there is so much
for them to take。 Or perhaps you will lose all your money and
have to work for your living； which might be good for you。 Or；〃
he added； still thinking aloud after his fashion； 〃perhaps she
will die youngshe has that kind of face； although； of course； I
hope she won't；〃 he added； waking up。
I do not know why； but his wandering words struck me cold； the
proverbial funeral bell at the marriage feast was nothing to
them。 I suppose it was because in a flash of intuition I knew
that they would come true and that he was an appointed Cassandra。
Perhaps this uncanny knowledge overcame my natural indignation at
such super…gaucherie of which no one but Bastin could have been
capable； and even prevented me from replying at all； so that I
merely sat still and looked at him。
But Bickley did reply with some vigour。
〃Forgive me for saying so； Bastin；〃 he said； bristling all over
as it were； 〃but your remarks； which may or may not be in
accordance with the principles of your religion； seem to me to be
in singularly bad taste。 They would have turned the stomachs of a
gathering of early Christians； who appear to have been the worst
mannered people in the world； and at any decent heathen feast
your neck would have been wrung as that of a bird of ill omen。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Bastin blankly。 〃I only said what I thought to be
the truth。 The truth is better than what you call good taste。〃
〃Then I will say what I think also to be the truth；〃 replied
Bickley； growing furious。 〃It is that you use your Christianity
as a cloak for bad manners。 It teaches consideration and sympathy
for others of which you seem to have none。 Moreover； since you
talk of the death of people's wives； I will tell you something
about your own； as a doctor； which I can do as I never attended
her。 It is highly probable； in my opinion； that she will die
before Mrs。 Arbuthnot； who is quite a healthy person with a good
prospect of life。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Bastin。 〃If so； it will be God's will and I
shall not complain〃 （here Bickley snorted）； 〃though I do not see
what you can know about it。 But why should you cast reflections
on the early Christians who were people of strong principle
living in rough times； and had to wage war against an established
devil…worship？ I know you are angry because they smashed up the
statues of Venus and so forth； but had I been in their place I
should have done the same。〃
〃Of course you would； who doubts it？ But as for the early
Christians and their iconoclastic performanceswell； curse them；
that's all！〃 and he sprang up and left the room。
I followed him。
Let it not be supposed from the above scene that there was any
ill…feeling between Bastin and Bickley。 On the contrary they were
much attached to each other； and this kind of quarrel meant no
more than the strong expression of their individual views to
which they were accustomed from their college days。 For instance
Bastin was always talking about the early Christians and
missionaries； while Bickley loathed both； the early Christians
because of the destruction which they had wrought in Egypt；
Italy； Greece and elsewhere； of all that was beautiful； and the
missionaries because； as he said； they were degrading and
spoiling the native races and by inducing them to wear clothes；
rendering them liable to disease。 Bastin would answer that their
souls were more important than their bodies； to which Bickley
replied that as there was no such thing as a soul except in the
stupid imagination of priests； he differed entirely on the point。
As it was quite impossible for either to convince the other；
there the conversation would end； or drift into something in
which they were mutually interested； such as natural history and
the hygiene of the neighbourhood。
Here I may state that Bickley's keen professional eye was not
mistaken when he diagnosed Mrs。 Bastin's state of health as
dangerous。 As a matter of fact she was suffering from heart
disease that a doctor can often recognise by the colour of the
lips； etc。； which brought about her death under the following
circumstances：
Her husband attended some ecclesiastical function