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too difficult for a girl； and led him further into the wood；
pausing every now and then at some particularly beautiful or
familiar combination of the trees。 She had known the wood between
Summer Street and Windy Corner ever since she could walk alone；
she had played at losing Freddy in it； when Freddy was a
purple…faced baby； and though she had been to Italy； it had lost
none of its charm。
Presently they came to a little clearing among the pinesanother
tiny green alp； solitary this time； and holding in its bosom a
shallow pool。
She exclamed； 〃The Sacred Lake！〃
〃Why do you call it that？〃
〃I can't remember why。 I suppose it comes out of some book。 It's
only a puddle now； but you see that stream going through it？
Well； a good deal of water comes down after heavy rains； and
can't get away at once； and the pool becomes quite large and
beautiful。 Then Freddy used to bathe there。 He is very fond of
it。〃
〃And you？〃
He meant； 〃Are you fond of it？〃 But she answered dreamily； 〃I
bathed here； too； till I was found out。 Then there was a row。〃
At another time he might have been shocked； for he had depths of
prudishness within him。 But now？ with his momentary cult of the
fresh air； he was delighted at her admirable simplicity。 He
looked at her as she stood by the pool's edge。 She was got up
smart； as she phrased it； and she reminded him of some brilliant
flower that has no leaves of its own； but blooms abruptly out of
a world of green。
〃Who found you out？〃
〃Charlotte；〃 she murmured。 〃She was stopping with us。 Charlotte
Charlotte。〃
〃Poor girl！〃
She smiled gravely。 A certain scheme； from which hitherto he had
shrank； now appeared practical。
〃Lucy！〃
〃Yes； I suppose we ought to be going；〃 was her reply。
〃Lucy； I want to ask something of you that I have never asked
before。〃
At the serious note in his voice she stepped frankly and kindly
towards him。
〃What； Cecil？〃
〃Hitherto nevernot even that day on the lawn when you agreed to
marry me〃
He became self…conscious and kept glancing round to see if they
were observed。 His courage had gone。
〃Yes？〃
〃Up to now I have never kissed you。〃
She was as scarlet as if he had put the thing most indelicately。
〃Nomore you have；〃 she stammered。
〃Then I ask youmay I now？〃
〃Of course； you may； Cecil。 You might before。 I can't run at you；
you know。〃
At that supreme moment he was conscious of nothing but
absurdities。 Her reply was inadequate。 She gave such a
business…like lift to her veil。 As he approached her he found
time to wish that he could recoil。 As he touched her； his gold
pince…nez became dislodged and was flattened between them。
Such was the embrace。 He considered； with truth； that it had been
a failure。 Passion should believe itself irresistible。 It should
forget civility and consideration and all the other curses of a
refined nature。 Above all； it should never ask for leave where
there is a right of way。 Why could he not do as any labourer or
navvynay； as any young man behind the counter would have
done？ He recast the scene。 Lucy was standing flowerlike by the
water； he rushed up and took her in his arms； she rebuked him；
permitted him and revered him ever after for his manliness。 For
he believed that women revere men for their manliness。
They left the pool in silence； after this one salutation。 He
waited for her to make some remark which should show him her
inmost thoughts。 At last she spoke； and with fitting gravity。
〃Emerson was the name； not Harris。〃
〃What name？〃
〃The old man's。〃
〃What old man？〃
〃That old man I told you about。 The one Mr。 Eager was so unkind
to。〃
He could not know that this was the most intimate conversation
they had ever had。
Chapter X： Cecil as a Humourist
The society out of which Cecil proposed to rescue Lucy was
perhaps no very splendid affair； yet it was more splendid than
her antecedents entitled her to。 Her father； a prosperous local
solicitor； had built Windy Corner； as a speculation at the time
the district was opening up； and； falling in love with his own
creation； had ended by living there himself。 Soon after his
marriage the social atmosphere began to alter。 Other houses were
built on the brow of that steep southern slope and others； again；
among the pine…trees behind； and northward on the chalk barrier
of the downs。 Most of these houses were larger than Windy Corner；
and were filled by people who came； not from the district； but
from London； and who mistook the Honeychurches for the remnants
of an indigenous aristocracy。 He was inclined to be frightened；
but his wife accepted the situation without either pride or
humility。 〃I cannot think what people are doing；〃 she would say；
〃but it is extremely fortunate for the children。〃 She called
everywhere； her calls were returned with enthusiasm； and by the
time people found out that she was not exactly of their milieu；
they liked her； and it did not seem to matter。 When Mr。
Honeychurch died； he had the satisfactionwhich few honest
solicitors despiseof leaving his family rooted in the best
society obtainable。
The best obtainable。 Certainly many of the immigrants were rather
dull； and Lucy realized this more vividly since her return from
Italy。 Hitherto she had accepted their ideals without questioning
their kindly affluence； their inexplosive religion； their
dislike of paper…bags； orange…peel； and broken bottles。 A Radical
out and out； she learnt to speak with horror of Suburbia。 Life；
so far as she troubled to conceive it； was a circle of rich；
pleasant people； with identical interests and identical foes。
In this circle； one thought； married； and died。 Outside it were
poverty and vulgarity for ever trying to enter； just as the
London fog tries to enter the pine…woods pouring through the gaps
in the northern hills。 But； in Italy； where any one who chooses
may warm himself in equality； as in the sun； this conception of
life vanished。 Her senses expanded； she felt that there was no
one whom she might not get to like； that social barriers were
irremovable； doubtless； but not particularly high。 You jump over
them just as you jump into a peasant's olive…yard in the
Apennines； and he is glad to see you。 She returned with new eyes。
So did Cecil； but Italy had quickened Cecil； not to tolerance；
but to irritation。 He saw that the local society was narrow； but；
instead of saying； 〃Does that very much matter？〃 he rebelled； and
tried to substitute for it the society he called broad。 He did
not realize that Lucy had consecrated her environment by the
thousand little civilities that create a tenderness in time； and
that though her eyes saw its defects； her heart refused to
despise it entirely。 Nor did he realize a more important point
that if she was too great for this society； she was too great for
all society； and had reached the stage where personal intercourse
would alone satisfy her。 A rebel she was； but not of the kind he
understooda rebel who desired； not a wider dwelling…room； but
equality beside the man she loved。 For Italy was offering her the
most priceless of all possessionsher own soul。
Playing bumble…puppy with Minnie Beebe； niece to the rector； and
aged thirteenan ancient and most honourable game； which
consists in striking tennis…balls high into the air； so that they
fall over the net and immoderately bounce； some hit Mrs。
Honeychurch； others are lost。 The sentence is confused； but the
better illustrates Lucy's state of mind； for she was trying to
talk to Mr。 Beebe at the same time。
〃Oh； it has been such a nuisancefirst he； then theyno one
knowing what they wanted； and every one so tiresome。〃
〃But they really are coming now；〃 said Mr。 Beebe。 〃I wrote to
Miss Teresa a few days agoshe was wondering how often the
butcher called； and my reply of once a month must have impressed
her favourably。 They are coming。 I heard from them this morning。
〃I shall hate those Miss Alans！〃 Mrs。 Honeychurch cried。 〃Just
because they're old and silly one's expected to say 'How sweet！'
I hate their 'if'…ing and 'but'…ing and 'and'…ing。 And poor Lucy
serve her rightworn to a shadow。〃
Mr。 Beebe watched the shadow springing and shouting over the
tennis…court。 Cecil was absentone did not play bumble…puppy
when he was there。
〃Well； if they are coming No； Minnie； not Saturn。〃 Saturn was a
tennis…ball whose skin was partially unsewn。 When in motion his
orb was encircled by a ring。 〃If they are coming； Sir Harry will
let them move in before the twenty…ninth； and he will cross out
the clause about whitewashing the ceilings； because it made them
nervous； and put in the fair wear and tear one。That doesn't
count。 I told you not Saturn。〃
〃Saturn's all right for bumble…puppy；〃 cried Freddy； joining
them。 〃Minnie； don't yo