Man and Maid

"Oh! no--Lots of their souls are not vulgar, only their environment has

caused their outward self-expression to seem so. Once you get below the

pompous bourgeoisie in France, for instance, the more delightful you

find the spirit, and I expect it is the same in England. It is the

pretentious aspiring would-bes who are vulgar--and Germany seems filled

with them," "You know it well?"

"Yes, pretty well."

"If it is not a frightfully impertinent question--how old are you

really, Miss Sharp--?" I felt that she could not be only twenty-three

after this conversation.

She smiled--the second smile I have seen--.

"On the twentieth of October I shall be twenty-four."

"Where on earth did you learn all your philosophy of life in the time!"

"It is life which teaches us everything--if we are not half

asleep--especially if it is difficult--."

"And the stupid people are like me--not liking to learn any lessons and

kicking against the pricks--.", "Yes--."

"I would try to learn anything you would teach me though, Miss Sharp."

"Why?"

"Because I have confidence in you"--I did not add--because I loved her

voice and respected her character and----.

"Thank you"--she said.

"Will you teach me?"

"What?"

"How not to be a rotter--."

"A man knows that himself--."

"How to learn serenity then?"

"That would be difficult."

"Am I so impossible?"

"I cannot say--but."

"But--what?"

"One would have to begin from the beginning--."

"Well?"

"And I have not time--."

I looked at her as she said this--there was in the tone a faint echo of

regret, so I wanted to see the expression of her mouth--It told me

nothing.

I could not get anything further out of her, because the waiters came in

and out after this rather frequently, changing the courses--and so I did

not have any success.

After lunch I suggested as it had cleared up that we should go at least

as far as the parterre, and sit under the shadow of the terrace--the

flower beds are full of beans now--their ancient glories departed. Miss

Sharp followed my bath chair,--and with extreme diligence kept me to the

re-arranging of the first chapter. For an hour I watched her darling

small face whenever I could. A sense of peace was upon me. We were

certainly on the first rung of the ladder of friendship--and

presently--presently--If only I could keep from annoying her in any way!