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he was not so desperately set upon seeing Lamps now； but he bore the
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disappointment。 Nor did he so wholly devote himself to his severe
application to the study of Mugby Junction as to neglect exercise。 On the
contrary； he took a walk every day； and always the same walk。 But the
weather turned cold and wet again； and the window was never open。
III
At length； after a lapse of some days； there came another streak of
fine bright hardy autumn weather。 It was a Saturday。 The window was
open； and the children were gone。 Not surprising； this； for he had
patiently watched and waited at the corner until they WERE gone。
〃Good…day；〃 he said to the face； absolutely getting his hat clear off his
head this time。
〃Good…day to you； sir。〃
〃I am glad you have a fine sky again to look at。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 It is kind if you。〃
〃You are an invalid； I fear？〃
〃No； sir。 I have very good health。〃
〃But are you not always lying down？〃
〃Oh yes； I am always lying down； because I cannot sit up！ But I am
not an invalid。〃
The laughing eyes seemed highly to enjoy his great mistake。
〃Would you mind taking the trouble to come in； sir？ There is a
beautiful view from this window。 And you would see that I am not at all
illbeing so good as to care。〃
It was said to help him； as he stood irresolute； but evidently desiring to
enter； with his diffident hand on the latch of the garden…gate。 It did help
him； and he went in。
The room up…stairs was a very clean white room with a low roof。 Its
only inmate lay on a couch that brought her face to a level with the
window。 The couch was white too； and her simple dress or wrapper
being light blue； like the band around her hair； she had an ethereal look；
and a fanciful appearance of lying among clouds。 He felt that she
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instinctively perceived him to be by habit a downcast taciturn man； it was
another help to him to have established that understanding so easily； and
got it over。
There was an awkward constraint upon him； nevertheless； as he
touched her hand； and took a chair at the side of her couch。
〃I see now；〃 he began； not at all fluently； 〃how you occupy your hand。
Only seeing you from the path outside； I thought you were playing upon
something。〃
She was engaged in very nimbly and dexterously making lace。 A
lace… pillow lay upon her breast； and the quick movements and changes of
her hands upon it； as she worked； had given them the action he had
misinterpreted。
〃That is curious；〃 she answered with a bright smile。 〃For I often
fancy； myself； that I play tunes while I am at work。〃
〃Have you any musical knowledge？〃
She shook her head。
〃I think I could pick out tunes； if I had any instrument； which could be
made as handy to me as my lace…pillow。 But I dare say I deceive myself。
At all events； I shall never know。〃
〃You have a musical voice。 Excuse me； I have heard you sing。〃
〃With the children？〃 she answered； slightly colouring。 〃Oh yes。 I
sing with the dear children； if it can be called singing。〃
Barbox Brothers glanced at the two small forms in the room； and
hazarded the speculation that she was fond of children； and that she was
learned in new systems of teaching them？
〃Very fond of them；〃 she said； shaking her head again； 〃but I know
nothing of teaching； beyond the interest I have in it； and the pleasure it
gives me when they learn。 Perhaps your overhearing my little scholars
sing some of their lessons has led you so far astray as to think me a grand
teacher？ Ah！ I thought so！ No； I have only read and been told about
that system。 It seemed so pretty and pleasant； and to treat them so like
the merry Robins they are； that I took up with it in my little way。 You
don't need to be told what a very little way mine is； sir；〃 she added with a
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glance at the small forms and round the room。
All this time her hands were busy at her lace…pillow。 As they still
continued so； and as there was a kind of substitute for conversation in the
click and play of its pegs； Barbox Brothers took the opportunity of
observing her。 He guessed her to be thirty。 The charm of her
transparent face and large bright brown eyes was； not that they were
passively resigned； but that they were actively and thoroughly cheerful。
Even her busy hands； which of their own thinness alone might have
besought compassion； plied their task with a gay courage that made mere
compassion an unjustifiable assumption of superiority； and an
impertinence。
He saw her eyes in the act of rising towards his； and he directed his
towards the prospect； saying： 〃Beautiful； indeed！〃
〃Most beautiful； sir。 I have sometimes had a fancy that I would like
to sit up； for once； only to try how it looks to an erect head。 But what a
foolish fancy that would be to encourage！ It cannot look more lovely to
any one than it does to me。〃
Her eyes were turned to it； as she spoke； with most delighted
admiration and enjoyment。 There was not a trace in it of any sense of
deprivation。
〃And those threads of railway； with their puffs of smoke and steam
changing places so fast； make it so lively for me；〃 she went on。 〃I think
of the number of people who can go where they wish； on their business； or
their pleasure； I remember that the puffs make signs to me that they are
actually going while I look； and that enlivens the prospect with abundance
of company； if I want company。 There is the great Junction； too。 I don't
see it under the foot of the hill； but I can very often hear it； a