the fortunate, settled, normal person. Seen at a
foreign table d hote, he suggested but one thing:
"In what perfection England produces them! " He
had kind, safe eyes, and a voice which, for all its
clean fulness, told, in a manner, the happy history
of its having never had once to raise itself. Life
had met him so, half-way, and had turned round so
to walk with him, placing a hand in his arm and
fondly leaving him to choose the pace. Those who
knew him a little said, " How he does dress!"
those "who knew him better said, " How does he?"
The one stray gleam of comedy just now in his
daughter's eyes was the funny feeling he momentar
ily made her have of being herself " looked up " by
him in sordid lodgings. For a minute after he came
in it was as if the place were her own and he the visi
tor with susceptibilities. He gave you funny feel
ings, he had indescribable arts, that quite turned the
tables: that had been always how he came to see
her mother so long as her mother would see him.
He came from places they had often not known
about, but he patronised Lexham Gardens. Kate's
only actual expression of impatience, however, was
"I'm glad you re so much better!"

"I'm not so much better, my dear I'm exceed
ingly unwell; the proof of which is, precisely, that
I ve been out to the chemist's that beastly fellow
at the corner." So Mr. Croy showed he could
qualify the humble hand that assuaged him. " I'm
taking something he has made up for me. It's just

[[9]]

p008 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p009w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p010

v?