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〃The bother is this；〃 began Freddy。
Then he took up his work again； too shy to say what the bother
was。 Mrs。 Honeychurch went back to the window。
〃Freddy； you must come。 There they still are！〃
〃I don't see you ought to go peeping like that。〃
〃Peeping like that！ Can't I look out of my own window？〃
But she returned to the writing…table； observing； as she passed
her son； 〃Still page 322？〃 Freddy snorted； and turned over two
leaves。 For a brief space they were silent。 Close by； beyond the
curtains； the gentle murmur of a long conversation had never
ceased。
〃The bother is this： I have put my foot in it with Cecil most
awfully。〃 He gave a nervous gulp。 〃Not content with 'permission'；
which I did givethat is to say； I said； 'I don't mind'well；
not content with that； he wanted to know whether I wasn't off my
head with joy。 He practically put it like this： Wasn't it a
splendid thing for Lucy and for Windy Corner generally if he
married her？ And he would have an answerhe said it would
strengthen his hand。〃
〃I hope you gave a careful answer； dear。〃
〃I answered 'No'〃 said the boy； grinding his teeth。 〃There！ Fly
into a stew！ I can't help ithad to say it。 I had to say no。 He
ought never to have asked me。〃
〃Ridiculous child！〃 cried his mother。 〃You think you're so holy
and truthful； but really it's only abominable conceit。 Do you
suppose that a man like Cecil would take the slightest notice of
anything you say？ I hope he boxed your ears。 How dare you say
no？〃
〃Oh； do keep quiet； mother！ I had to say no when I couldn't say
yes。 I tried to laugh as if I didn't mean what I said； and； as
Cecil laughed too； and went away； it may be all right。 But I feel
my foot's in it。 Oh； do keep quiet； though； and let a man do some
work。〃
〃No；〃 said Mrs。 Honeychurch； with the air of one who has
considered the subject； 〃I shall not keep quiet。 You know all
that has passed between them in Rome； you know why he is down
here； and yet you deliberately insult him； and try to turn him
out of my house。〃
〃Not a bit！〃 he pleaded。 〃I only let out I didn't like him。 I
don't hate him； but I don't like him。 What I mind is that he'll
tell Lucy。〃
He glanced at the curtains dismally。
〃Well； I like him；〃 said Mrs。 Honeychurch。 〃I know his mother；
he's good； he's clever； he's rich； he's well connectedOh； you
needn't kick the piano！ He's well connectedI'll say it again if
you like： he's well connected。〃 She paused； as if rehearsing her
eulogy； but her face remained dissatisfied。 She added： 〃And he
has beautiful manners。〃
〃I liked him till just now。 I suppose it's having him spoiling
Lucy's first week at home； and it's also something that Mr。 Beebe
said； not knowing。〃
〃Mr。 Beebe？〃 said his mother； trying to conceal her interest。 〃I
don't see how Mr。 Beebe comes in。〃
〃You know Mr。 Beebe's funny way； when you never quite know what
he means。 He said： 'Mr。 Vyse is an ideal bachelor。' I was very
cute； I asked him what he meant。 He said 'Oh； he's like me
better detached。' I couldn't make him say any more； but it set me
thinking。 Since Cecil has come after Lucy he hasn't been so
pleasant； at leastI can't explain。〃
〃You never can； dear。 But I can。 You are jealous of Cecil because
he may stop Lucy knitting you silk ties。〃
The explanation seemed plausible； and Freddy tried to accept it。
But at the back of his brain there lurked a dim mistrust。 Cecil
praised one too much for being athletic。 Was that it？ Cecil made
one talk in one's own way。 This tired one。 Was that it？ And Cecil
was the kind of fellow who would never wear another fellow's cap。
Unaware of his own profundity； Freddy checked himself。 He must be
jealous； or he would not dislike a man for such foolish reasons。
〃Will this do？〃 called his mother。 〃'Dear Mrs。 Vyse；Cecil has
just asked my permission about it； and I should be delighted if
Lucy wishes it。' Then I put in at the top； 'and I have told Lucy
so。' I must write the letter out again'and I have told Lucy so。
But Lucy seems very uncertain； and in these days young people
must decide for themselves。' I said that because I didn't want
Mrs。 Vyse to think us old…fashioned。 She goes in for lectures
and improving her mind； and all the time a thick layer of flue
under the beds； and the maid's dirty thumb…marks where you turn
on the electric light。 She keeps that flat abominably〃
〃Suppose Lucy marries Cecil； would she live in a flat； or in the
country？〃
〃Don't interrupt so foolishly。 Where was I？ Oh yes'Young people
must decide for themselves。 I know that Lucy likes your son；
because she tells me everything； and she wrote to me from Rome
when he asked her first。' No； I'll cross that last bit outit
looks patronizing。 I'll stop at 'because she tells me
everything。' Or shall I cross that out； too？〃
〃Cross it out； too；〃 said Freddy。
Mrs。 Honeychurch left it in。
〃Then the whole thing runs： 'Dear Mrs。 Vyse。Cecil has just
asked my permission about it； and I should be delighted if Lucy
wishes it； and I have told Lucy so。 But Lucy seems very
uncertain； and in these days young people must decide for
themselves。 I know that Lucy likes your son； because she tells me
everything。 But I do not know'〃
〃Look out！〃 cried Freddy。
The curtains parted。
Cecil's first movement was one of irritation。 He couldn't bear
the Honeychurch habit of sitting in the dark to save the
furniture。 Instinctively he give the curtains a twitch； and sent
them swinging down their poles。 Light entered。 There was revealed
a terrace； such as is owned by many villas with trees each side
of it； and on it a little rustic seat； and two flower…beds。 But
it was transfigured by the view beyond； for Windy Corner was
built on the range that overlooks the Sussex Weald。 Lucy； who was
in the little seat； seemed on the edge of a green magic carpet
which hovered in the air above the tremulous world。
Cecil entered。
Appearing thus late in the story； Cecil must be at once
described。 He was medieval。 Like a Gothic statue。 Tall and
refined； with shoulders that seemed braced square by an effort of
the will； and a head that was tilted a little higher than the
usual level of vision； he resembled those fastidious saints who
guard the portals of a French cathedral。 Well educated； well
endowed； and not deficient physically； he remained in the grip of
a certain devil whom the modern world knows as self…consciousness；
and whom the medieval； with dimmer vision； worshipped as asceticism。
A Gothic statue implies celibacy； just as a Greek statue implies
fruition； and perhaps this was what Mr。 Beebe meant。 And Freddy；
who ignored history and art； perhaps meant the same when he failed
to imagine Cecil wearing another fellow's cap。
Mrs。 Honeychurch left her letter on the writing table and moved
towards her young acquaintance。
〃Oh； Cecil！〃 she exclaimed〃oh； Cecil； do tell me！〃
〃I promessi sposi；〃 said he。
They stared at him anxiously。
〃She has accepted me；〃 he said； and the sound of the thing in
English made him flush and smile with pleasure； and look more
human。
〃I am so glad；〃 said Mrs。 Honeychurch； while Freddy proffered a
hand that was yellow with chemicals。 They wished that they also
knew Italian； for our phrases of approval and of amazement are so
connected with little occasions that we fear to use them on great
ones。 We are obliged to become vaguely poetic； or to take refuge
in Scriptural reminiscences。
〃Welcome as one of the family！〃 said Mrs。 Honeychurch； waving her
hand at the furniture。 〃This is indeed a joyous day！ I feel sure
that you will make our dear Lucy happy。〃
〃I hope so；〃 replied the young man； shifting his eyes to the
ceiling。
〃We mothers〃 simpered Mrs。 Honeychurch； and then realized that
she was affected； sentimental； bombasticall the things she
hated most。 Why could she not be Freddy； who stood stiff in the
middle of the room； looking very cross and almost handsome？
〃I say； Lucy！〃 called Cecil； for conversation seemed to flag。
Lucy rose from the seat。 She moved across the lawn and smiled in
at them； just as if she was going to ask them to play tennis。
Then she saw her brother's face。 Her lips parted； and she took
him in her arms。 He said； 〃Steady on！〃
〃Not a kiss for me？〃 asked her mother。
Lucy kissed her also。
〃Would you take them into the garden and tell Mrs。 Honeychurch
all about it？〃 Cecil suggested。 〃And I'd stop here and tell my
mother。〃
〃We go with Lucy？〃 said Freddy； as if taking orders。
〃Yes； you go with Lucy。〃
They passed into the sunlight。 Cecil watched them cross the
terrace； and descend out of sight by the steps。 They would
descendhe knew their wayspast the shrubbery； and past the
tennis…lawn and the dahlia…bed； until they reached the kitchen
garden； and there； in the presence of the