Andthisspreadingusurpationoftheworldwassodexterouslyperformed——aproteus——hundredsofbanks，companies，syndicates，maskedtheCouncil’soperations——thatitwasalreadyfaradvancedbeforecommonmensuspectedthetyrannythathadcome。
TheCouncilneverhesitated，neverfaltered。Meansofcommunication，land，buildings，governments，municipalities，theterritorialcompaniesofthetropics，everyhumanenterprise，itgatheredgreedily。Anditdrilledandmarshalleditsmen，itsrailwaypolice，itsroadwaypolice，itshouseguards，anddrainandcableguards，itshostsofland—workers。Theirunionsitdidnotfight，butitunderminedandbetrayedandboughtthem。Itboughttheworldatlast。And，finally，itsculminatingstrokewastheintroductionofflying。
WhentheCouncil，inconflictwiththeworkersinsomeofitshugemonopolies，didsomethingflagrantlyillegalandthatwithouteventheordinarycivilityofbribery，theoldLaw，alarmedfortheprofitsofitscomplaisance，lookedaboutitforweapons。Buttherewerenomorearmies，nofightingnavies；theageofPeacehad’come。TheonlypossiblewarshipswerethegreatsteamvesselsoftheCouncil’sNavigationTrust。Thepoliceforcestheycontrolled；thepoliceoftherailways，oftheships，oftheiragriculturalestates，theirtime—keepersandorder—keepers，outnumberedtheneglectedlittleforcesoftheoldcountryandmunicipalorganisationstentoone。Andtheyproducedflyingmachines。ThereweremenalivestillwhocouldrememberthelastgreatdebateintheLondonHouseofCommons——thelegalparty，thepartyagainsttheCouncilwasinaminority，butitmadeadesperatefight——andhowthememberscamecrowdingoutupontheterracetoseethesegreatunfamiliarwingedshapescirclingquietlyoverhead。TheCouncilhadsoaredtoitspower。Thelastshamofademocracythathadpermittedunlimitedirresponsiblepropertywasatanend。
WithinonehundredandfiftyyearsofGraham’sfallingasleep，hisCouncilhadthrownoffitsdisguisesandruledopenly，supremeinhisname。Electionshadbecomeacheerfulformality，aseptennialfolly，anancientunmeaningcustom；asocialParliamentasinefectualastheconvocationoftheEstablishedChurchinVictoriantimesassemblednowandthen；
andalegitimateKingofEngland，disinherited，drunkenandwitless，playedfoolishlyinasecond—ratemusic—hall。Sothemagnificentdreamofthenineteenthcentury，thenobleprojectofuniversalindividuallibertyanduniversalhappiness，touchedbyadiseaseofhonour，crippledbyasuperstitionofabsoluteproperty，crippledbythereligiousfeudsthathadrobbedthecommoncitizensofeducation，robbedmenofstandardsofconduct，andbroughtthesanctionsofmoralitytouttercontempt，hadworkeditselfoutinthefaceofinventionandignobleenterprise，firsttoawarringplutocracy，andfinallytotheruleofasupremeplutocrat。HisCouncilatlasthadceasedeventotroubletohaveitsdecreesendorsedbytheconstitutionalauthorities，andheamotionless，sunken，yellow—skinnedfigurehadlain，neitherdeadnorliving，recognisablyandimmediatelyMasteroftheEarth。Andawokeatlasttofindhimself——Masterofthatinheritance！Awoketostandunderthecloudlessemptyskyandgazedownuponthegreatnessofhisdominion。
Towhatendhadheawakened？Wasthiscity，thishiveofhopelesstoilers，thefinalrefutationofhisancienthopes？Orwasthefireofliberty，thefirethathadblazedandwanedintheyearsofhispastlife，stillsmoulderingbelowthere？Hethoughtofthestirandimpulseofthesongoftherevolution。Wasthatsongmerelythetrickofademagogue，tobeforgottenwhenitspurposewasserved？Wasthehopethatstillstirredwithinhimonlythememoryofabandonedthings，thevestigeofacreedoutworn？Orhaditawidermeaning，animportinterwovenwiththedestinyofman？
Towhatendhadheawakened，whatwasthereforhimtodo？Humanitywasspreadbelowhimlikeamap。
Hethoughtofthemillionsandmillionsofhumanityfollowingeachotherunceasinglyforeveroutofthedarknessofnon—existenceintothedarknessofdeath。
Towhatend？Aimtheremustbe，butittranscendedhispowerofthought。Hesawforthefirsttimeclearlyhisowninfinitelittleness，sawstarkandterriblethetragiccontrastofhumanstrengthandthecravingofthehumanheart。Forthatlittlewhileheknewhimselfforthepettyaccidenthewas，andknewtherewiththegreatnessofhisdesire。Andsuddenlyhislittlenesswasintolerable，hisaspirationwasintolerable，andtherecametohimanirresistibleimpulsetopray。Andheprayed。Heprayedvague，incoherent，contradictorythings，hissoulstrainedupthroughtimeandspaceandallthefleetingmultitudinousconfusionofbeing，towardssomething——hescarcelyknewwhat——
towardssomethingthatcouldcomprehendhisstrivingandendure。
Amanandawomanwerefarbelowonaroofspacetothesouthwardenjoyingthefreshnessofthemorningair。ThemanhadbroughtoutaperspectiveglasstospyupontheCouncilHouseandhewasshowingherhowtouseit。Presentlytheircuriositywassatisfied，theycouldseenotracesofbloodshedfromtheirposition，andafterasurveyoftheemptyskyshecameroundtothecrow’snest。Andthereshesawtwolittleblackfigures，sosmallitwashardtobelievetheyweremen，onewhowatchedandonewhogesticulatedwithhandsoutstretchedtothesilentemptinessofHeaven。
Shehandedtheglasstotheman。Helookedandexclaimed：
\"IbelieveitistheMaster。Yes。Iamsure。ItistheMaster！\"
Heloweredtheglassandlookedather。\"Wavinghishandsaboutalmostasifhewaspraying。Iwonderwhatheisupto。Worshippingthesun？Thereweren’tParsesinthiscountryinhistime，werethere？\"
Helookedagain。\"He’sstoppeditnow。Itwasachanceattitude，Isuppose。\"Heputdowntheglassandbecamemeditative。\"Hewon’thaveanythingtodobutenjoyhimself——justenjoyhimself。Ostrogwillbosstheshowofcourse。Ostrogwillhaveto，becauseofleepingalltheseLabourerfoolsinbounds。Themandtheirsong！Andgotitallbysleeping，deareyes——justsleeping。It’sawonderfulworld。\"
CHAPTERXV
PROMINENTPEOPLE
ThestateapartmentsoftheWindVaneKeeperwouldhaveseemedastonishinglyintricatetoGrahamhadheenteredthemfreshfromhisnineteenthcenturylife，butalreadyhewasgrowingaccustomedtothescaleofthenewtime。Theycanscarcelybedescribedashallsandrooms，seeingthatacomplicatedsystemofarches，bridges，passagesandgalleriesdividedandunitedeverypartofthegreatspace。Hecameoutthroughoneofthenowfamiliarslidingpanelsupona。
plateauoflandingattheheadofaflightofverybroadandgentlesteps，withmenandwomenfarmorebrilliantlydressedthananyhehadhithertoseenascendinganddescending。Fromthispositionhelookeddownavistaofintricateornamentinlustrelesswhiteandmauveandpurple，spannedbybridgesthatseemedwroughtofporcelainandfiligree，andterminatingfaroffinacloudymysteryofperforatedscreens。
Glancingupward，hesawtierabovetierofascendinggallerieswithfaceslookingdownuponhim。Theairwasfullofthebabbleofinnumerablevoicesandofamusicthatdescendedfromabove，agayandexhilaratingmusicwhosesourceheneverdiscovered。
Thecentralaislewasthickwithpeople，butbynomeansuncomfortablycrowded；altogetherthatassemblymusthavenumberedmanythousands。Theywerebrilliantly，evenfantasticallydressed，themenasfancifullyasthewomen，forthesoberinginfluenceofthePuritanconceptionofdignityuponmasculinedresshadlongsincepassedaway。Thehairofthemen，too，thoughitwasrarelywornlong，wascommonlycurledinamannerthatsuggestedthebarber，andbaldnesshadvanishedfromtheearth。Frizzystraight—cutmassesthatwouldhavecharmedRossettiabounded，andonegentleman，whowaspointedouttoGrahamunderthemysterioustitleofan\"amorist\"，worehishairintwobecomingplaitsalaMarguerite。Thepigtailwasinevidence；itwouldseemthatcitizensofChineseextractionwerenolongerashamedoftheirrace。Therewaslittleuniformityoffashionapparentintheformsofclothingworn。Themoreshapelymendisplayedtheirsymmetryintrunkhose，andherewerepuffsandslashes，andthereacloakandtherearobe。ThefashionsofthedaysofLeotheTenthwereperhapstheprevailinginfluence，buttheaestheticconceptionsofthefareastwerealsopatent。Masculineembonpoint，which，inVictoriantimes，wouldhavebeensubjectedtothetightlybuttonedperils，theruthlessexaggerationoftight—leggedtight—armedeveningdress，nowformedbutthebasisofawealthofdignityanddroopingfolds。
Gracefulslendernessabounded’also。ToGraham，atypicallystiffmanfromatypicallystiffperiod，notonlydidthesemenseemaltogethertoogracefulinperson，butaltogethertooexpressiveintheirvividlyexpressivefaces。Theygesticulated，theyexpressedsurprise，interest，amusement，aboveall，theyexpressedtheemotionsexcitedintheirmindsbytheladiesaboutthemwithastonishingfrankness。Evenatthefirstglanceitwasevidentthatwomenwereinagreatmajority。
Theladiesinthecompanyofthesegentlemendisplayedindress，bearingandmanneralike，lessemphasisandmoreintricacy。Someaffectedaclassicalsimplicityofrobingandsubtletyoffold，afterthefashionoftheFirstFrenchEmpire，andflashedconqueringarmsandshouldersasGrahampassed。
Othershadclosely—fittingdresseswithoutseamorbeltatthewaist，sometimeswithlongfoldsfallingfromtheshoulders。Thedelightfulconfidencesofeveningdresshadnotbeendiminishedbythepassageoftwocenturies。
Everyone’smovementsseemedgraceful。GrahamremarkedtoLincolnthathesawmenasRaphael’scartoonswalking，andLincolntoldhimthattheattainmentofanappropriatesetofgestureswaspartofeveryrichperson’seducation。TheMaster’sentrywasgreetedwithasortoftitteringapplause，butthesepeopleshowedtheirdistinguishedmannersbynotcrowdinguponhimnorannoyinghimbyanypersistentscrutiny，ashedescendedthestepstowardstheflooroftheaisle。
HehadalreadylearntfromLincolnthattheseweretheleadersofexistingLondonsociety；almosteverypersontherethatnightwaseitherapowerfulofficialortheimmediateconnexionofapowerfulofficial。
ManyhadreturnedfromtheEuropeanPleasureCitiesexpresslytowelcomehim。Theaeronauticauthorities，whosedefectionhadplayedapartintheoverthrowoftheCouncilonlysecondtoGraham’swereveryprominent，andso，too，wastheWindVaneControl。
AmongstotherstherewereseveralofthemoreprominentofficersoftheFoodTrust；thecontrolleroftheEuropeanPiggerieshadaparticularlymelancholyandinterestingcountenanceandadaintilycynicalmanner。AbishopinfullcanonicalspassedathwartGraham’svision，conversingwithagentlemandressedexactlylikethetraditionalChaucer，includingeventhelaurelwreath。
\"Whoisthat？\"heaskedalmostinvoluntarily\"TheBishopofLondon，\"saidLincoln。
\"No——theother，Imean。\"
\"PoetLaureate。\"
\"Youstill？\"
\"Hedoesn’tmakepoetry，ofcourse。He’sacousinofWotton——oneoftheCouncillors。Buthe’soneoftheRedRoseRoyalists——adelightfulclub——andtheykeepupthetraditionofthesethings。\"
\"AsanotoldmetherewasaKing。\"
\"TheKingdoesn’tbelong。Theyhadtoexpelhim。
It’stheStuartblood，Isuppose；butreally——\"
\"Toomuch？\"
\"Fartoomuch。\"
Grahamdidnotquitefollowallthis，butitseemedpartofthegeneralinversionofthenewage。Hebowedcondescendinglytohisfirstintroduction。Itwasevidentthatsubtledistinctionsofclassprevailedeveninthisassembly，thatonlytoasmallproportionoftheguests，toaninnergroup，didLincolnconsideritappropriatetointroducehim。ThisfirstintroductionwastheMasterAeronaut，amanwhosesuntannedfacecontrastedoddlywiththedelicatecomplexionsabouthim。JustatpresenthiscriticaldefectionfromtheCouncilmadehimaveryimportantpersonindeed。
Hismannercontrastedveryfavourably，accordingtoGraham’sideas，withthegeneralbearing。Hemadeafewcommonplaceremarks，assurancesofloyaltyandfrankinquiriesabouttheMaster’shealth。
Hismannerwasbreezy，hisaccentlackedtheeasystaccatooflatter—dayEnglish。HemadeitadmirablycleartoGrahamthathewasabluff\"aerialdog\"———heusedthatphrase——thattherewasnononsenseabouthim，thathewasathoroughlymanlyfellowandold—fashionedatthat，thathedidn’tprofesstoknowmuch，andthatwhathedidnotknowwasnotworthknowingHemadeamanlybow，ostentatiouslyfreefromobsequiousnessandpassed。
\"Iamgladtoseethattypeendures，\"saidGraham\"Phonographsandkinematographs，\"saidLincoln，alittlespitefully。\"Hehasstudiedfromthelife。\"
Grahamglancedattheburlyformagain。Itwasoddlyreminiscent。
\"Asamatteroffactweboughthim，\"saidLincoln。
\"Partly。AndpartlyhewasafraidofOstrogEverythingrestedwithhim。\"
HeturnedsharplytointroducetheSurveyor—GeneralofthePublicSchoolTrust。Thispersonwasawillowyfigureinablue—greyacademicgown，hebeameddownuponGrahamthrough__pince—nez__ofaVictorianpattern，andillustratedhisremarksbygesturesofabeautifullymanicuredhand。Grahamwasimmediatelyinterestedinthisgentleman’sfunctions，andaskedhimanumberofsingularlydirectquestions。
TheSurveyor—GeneralseemedquietlyamusedattheMaster’sfundamentalbluntness。HewasalittlevagueastothemonopolyofeducationhisCompanypossessed；itwasdonebycontractwiththesyndicatethatranthenumerousLondonMunicipalities，buthewaxedenthusiasticovereducationalprogresssincetheVictoriantimes。\"WehaveconqueredCram，\"hesaid，\"completelyconqueredCram——thereisnotanexaminationleftintheworld。Aren’tyouglad？\"
\"Howdoyougettheworkdone？\"askedGraham。
\"Wemakeitattractive——asattractiveaspossible。
Andifitdoesnotattractthen——weletitgo。Wecoveranimmensefield。\"
Heproceededtodetails，andtheyhadalengthyconversation。TheSurveyor—GeneralmentionedthenamesofPestalozziandFroebelwithprofoundrespect，althoughhedisplayednointimacywiththeirepoch—makingworks。GrahamlearntthatUniversityExtensionstillexistedinamodifiedform。\"Thereisacertaintypeofgirl，forexample，\"saidtheSurveyor—
General，dilatingwithasenseofhisusefulness，\"withaperfectpassionforseverestudies——whentheyarenottoodifficultyouknow。Wecaterforthembythethousand。Atthismoment，\"hesaidwithaNapoleonictouch，\"nearlyfivehundredphonographsarelecturingindifferentpartsofLondonontheinfluenceexercisedbyPlatoandSwiftontheloveaffairsofShelley，Hazlitt，andBurns。Andafterwardstheywriteessaysonthelectures，andthenamesinorderofmeritareputinconspicuousplaces。Youseehowyourlittlegermhasgrown？Theilliteratemiddle—classofyourdayshasquitepassedaway。\"
\"Aboutthepublicelementaryschools，\"saidGraham。\"Doyoucontrolthem？\"
TheSurveyor—Generaldid，\"entirely。\"Now，Graham，inhislaterdemocraticdays，hadtakenakeeninterestintheseandhisquestioningquickened。Certaincasualphrasesthathadfallenfromtheoldmanwithwhomhehadtalkedinthedarknessrecurredtohim。TheSurveyor—General，ineffect，endorsedtheoldman’swords。\"WehaveabolishedCram，\"hesaid，aphraseGrahamwasbeginningtointerpretastheabolitionofallsustainedwork。TheSurveyor—
Generalbecamesentimental。\"Wetryandmaketheelementaryschoolsverypleasantforthelittlechildren。Theywillhavetoworksosoon。Justafewsimpleprinciples——obedience——industry。\"
\"Youteachthemverylittle？\"
\"Whyshouldwe？Itonlyleadstotroubleanddiscontent。
Weamusethem。Evenasitis——therearetroubles——agitations。Wherethelabourersgettheideas，onecannottell。Theytelloneanother。Therearesocialisticdreams——anarchyeven！Agitatorswillgettoworkamongthem。Itakeit——Ihavealwaystakenit——thatmyforemostdutyistofightagainstpopulardiscontent。Whyshouldpeoplebemadeunhappy？\"
\"Iwonder，\"saidGrahamthoughtfully。\"ButthereareagreatmanythingsIwanttoknow。\"
Lincoln，whohadstoodwatchingGraham’sfacethroughouttheconversation，intervened。\"Thereareothers，\"hesaidinanundertone。
TheSurveyor—Generalofschoolsgesticulatedhim—
selfaway。\"Perhaps，\"saidLincoln，interceptingacasualglance，\"youwouldliketoknowsomeoftheseladies？\"
ThedaughteroftheManagerofthePiggeriesoftheEuropeanFoodTrustwasaparticularlycharminglittlepersonwithredhairandanimatedblueeyes。
Lincolnlefthimawhiletoconversewithher，andshedisplayedherselfasquiteanenthusiastforthe\"dearoldtimes，\"asshecalledthem，thathadseenthebeginningofhistrance。Asshetalkedshesmiled，andhereyessmiledinamannerthatdemandedreciprocity。
\"Ihavetried，\"shesaid，\"countlesstimes——toimaginethoseoldromanticdays。Andtoyoutheyarememories。Howstrangeandcrowdedtheworldmustseemtoyou！Ihaveseenphotographsandpicturesoftheoldtimes，thelittleisolatedhousesbuiltofbricksmadeoutofburntmudandallblackwithsootfromyourfires，therailwaybridges，thesimpleadvertisements，thesolemnsavagePuritanicalmeninstrangeblackcoatsandthosetallhatsoftheirs，ironrailwaytrainsonironbridgesoverhead，horsesandcattle，andevendogsrunninghalfwildaboutthestreets。Andsuddenly，youhavecomeintothis！\"
\"Intothis，\"saidGraham。
\"Outofyourlife——outofallthatwasfamiliar。\"
\"Theoldlifewasnotahappyone，\"saidGraham。
\"Idonotregretthat。\"
Shelookedathimquickly。Therewasabriefpause。
Shesighedencouragingly。\"No？\"
\"No，\"saidGraham。\"Itwasalittlelife——andunmeaning。Butthis——。Wethoughttheworldcomplexandcrowdedandcivilisedenough。YetIsee——althoughinthisworldIambarelyfourdaysold——
lookingbackonmyowntime，thatitwasaqueer，barbarictime——themerebeginningofthisneworder。
Themerebeginningofthisneworder。YouwillfindithardtounderstandhowlittleIknow。\"
\"Youmayaskmewhatyoulike，\"shesaid，smilingathim。
\"Thentellmewhothesepeopleare。I’mstillverymuchinthedarkaboutthem。It’spuzzling。ArethereanyGenerals？\"
\"Meninhatsandfeathers？\"
\"Ofcoursenot。No。Isupposetheyarethemenwhocontrolthegreatpublicbusinesses。Whoisthatdistinguishedlookingman？\"
\"That？He’samostimportantofficer。ThatisMorden。HeismanagingdirectoroftheAntibiliousPillCompany。Ihaveheardthathisworkerssometimesturnoutamyriadmyriadpillsadayinthetwenty—fourhours。Fancyamyriadmyriad！\"
\"Amyriadmyriad。Nowonderhelooksproud，\"
saidGraham。\"Pills！Whatawonderfultimeitis！
Thatmaninpurple？\"
\"Heisnotquiteoneoftheinnercircle，youknow。
Butwelikehim。Heisreallycleverandveryamusing。
HeisoneoftheheadsoftheMedicalFacultyofourLondonUniversity。Allmedicalmen，youknow，areshareholdersintheMedicalFacultyCompany，andwearthatpurple。Youhavetobe——tobequalified。
Butofcourse，peoplewhoarepaid’byfeesfordoingsomething——\"Shesmiledawaythesocialpretensionsofallsuchpeople。
\"Areanyofyourgreatartistsorauthorshere？\"
\"Noauthors。Theyaremostlysuchqueerpeople——
andsopreoccupiedaboutthemselves。Andtheyquarrelsodreadfully！Theywillfight，someofthem，forprecedenceonstaircases！Dreadfulisn’tit？ButI
thinkWraysbury，thefashionablecapillotomist，ishere。FromCapri。\"
\"Capillotomist，\"saidGraham。\"Ah！Iremember。
Anartist！Whynot？\"
\"Wehavetocultivatehim，\"shesaidapologetically。
\"Ourheadsareinhishands。\"Shesmiled。
Grahamhesitatedattheinvitedcompliment，buthisglancewasexpressive。\"Havetheartsgrownwiththerestofcivilisedthings？\"hesaid。\"Whoareyourgreatpainters？\"
Shelookedathimdoubtfully。Thenlaughed。
\"Foramoment，\"shesaid，\"Ithoughtyoumeant——\"
Shelaughedagain。\"Youmean，ofcourse，thosegoodmenyouusedtothinksomuchofbecausetheycouldcovergreatspacesofcanvaswithoil—colours？
Greatoblongs。Andpeopleusedtoputthethingsingiltframesandhangthemupinrowsintheirsquarerooms。Wehaven’tany。Peoplegrewtiredofthatsortofthing。\"
\"ButwhatdidyouthinkImeant？\"
Sheputafingersignificantlyonacheekwhoseglowwasabovesuspicion，andsmiledandlookedveryarchandprettyandinviting。\"Andhere，\"andsheindicatedhereyelid。
Grahamhadanadventurousmoment。ThenagrotesquememoryofapicturehehadsomewhereseenofUncleTobyandtheWidowflashedacrosshismind。Anarchaicshamecameuponhim。Hebecameacutelyawarethathewasvisibletoagreatnumberofinterestedpeople。\"Isee，\"heremarkedinadequately。Heturnedawkwardlyawayfromher，fascinatingfacility。Helookedabouthimtomeetanumberofeyesthatimmediatelyoccupiedthemselveswithotherthings。Possiblyhecolouredalittle。
\"Whoisthattalkingwiththeladyinsaffron？\"heasked，avoidinghereyes。
ThepersoninquestionhelearntwasoneofthegreatorganisersoftheAmericantheatresjustfreshfromagiganticproductionatMexico。HisfaceremindedGrahamofabustofCaligula。AnotherstrikinglookingmanwastheBlackLabourMaster。
Thephraseatthetimemadenodeepimpression，butafterwardsitrecurred；——theBlackLabourMaster？
Thelittlelady，innodegreeembarrassed，pointedouttohimacharminglittlewomanasoneofthesubsidiarywivesoftheAnglicanBishopofLondon。Sheaddedencomiumsontheepiscopalcourage——hithertotherehadbeenaruleofclericalmonogamy——\"neitheranaturalnoranexpedientconditionofthings。Whyshouldthenaturaldevelopmentoftheaffectionsbedwarfedandrestrictedbecauseamanisapriest？\"
\"And，byethebye，\"sheadded，\"areyouanAnglican？\"Grahamwasonthevergeofhesitatinginquiriesaboutthestatusofa\"subsidiarywife，\"
apparentlyaneuphemisticphrase，whenLincoln’sreturnbrokeoffthisverysuggestiveandinterestingconversation。
Theycrossedtheaisletowhereatallmanincrimson，andtwocharmingpersonsinBurmesecostume（asitseemedtohim）awaitedhimdiffidently。
Fromtheircivilitieshepassedtootherpresentations。
Inalittlewhilehismultitudinousimpressionsbegantoorganisethemselvesintoageneraleffect。AtfirsttheglitterofthegatheringhadraisedallthedemocratinGraham；hehadfelthostileandsatirical。Butitisnotinhumannaturetoresistanatmosphereofcourteousregard。Soonthemusic，thelight，theplayofcolours，theshiningarmsandshouldersabouthim，thetouchofhands，thetransientinterestofsmilingfaces，thefrothingsoundofskillfullymodulatedvoices，theatmosphereofcompliment，interestandrespect，hadwoventogetherintoafabricofindisputablepleasure。
Grahamforatimeforgothisspaciousresolutions。
Hegavewayinsensiblytotheintoxicationofmepositionthatwasconcededhim，hismannerbecamelessconscious，moreconvincinglyregal，hisfeetwalkedassuredly，theblackrobefellwithabolderfoldandprideennobledhisvoice。Afterallthiswasabrilliantinterestingworld。
Hisglancewentapprovinglyovertheshiftingcoloursofthepeople，itrestedhereandthereinkindlycriticismuponaface。Presentlyitoccurredtohimthatheowedsomeapologytothecharminglittlepersonwiththeredhairandblueeyes。Hefeltguiltyofaclumsysnub。Itwasnotprincelytoignoreheradvances，evenifhispolicynecessitatedtheirrejection。
Hewonderedifheshouldseeheragain。Andsuddenlyalittlethingtouchedalltheglamourofthisbrilliantgatheringandchangeditsquality。
Helookedupandsawpassingacrossabridgeofporcelainandlookingdownuponhim，afacethatwasalmostimmediatelyhidden，thefaceofthegirlhehadseenovernightinthelittleroombeyondthetheatreafterhisescapefromtheCouncil。Andshewaslookingwithmuchthesameexpressionofcuriousexpectation，ofuncertainintentness，uponhisproceedings。
Forthemomenthedidnotrememberwhenhehadseenher，andthenwithrecognitioncameavaguememoryofthestirringemotionsoftheirfirstencounter。Butthedancingwebofmelodyabouthimkepttheairofthatgreatmarchingsongfromhismemory。
Theladytowhomhewastalkingrepeatedherremark，andGrahamrecalledhimselftothequasiregalflirtationuponwhichhewasengaged。
Butfromthatmomentavaguerestlessness，afeelingthatgrewtodissatisfaction，cameintohismind。
