ated a
stimulus. Had I cast aside the reserves, I should have told him plainly
that in my judgment the emotional basis for his appeal was lacking in
her. Emotions existed, but not in that direction; that was more what I
had wanted to say, but, not feeling at liberty to adduce evidence, I had
lost myself in generalities. My poor modicum of truth stopped at the
dictum that to Jenny Jenny would seem an exceptional person; I had at
least come near to putting it in the hazardous and unorthodox form that
everybody might have a right, on sufficient occasion, so to treat
himself. And he himself judge of the sufficiency of the occasion? That
amounts to anarchy--as Alison, of course, perceived, and, had we pursued
the argument, I must have found myself in a very tight place.

I was shaking my head over my own controversial incompetence--with,
perhaps, a furtive saving plea that it was very hard to tell all one's
thoughts to an ecclesiastic--when I was suddenly brought back to more
tangible matters; perhaps also to my modicum of truth--that Jenny would
seem to Jenny an exceptional person. In short, on turning the next
corner, I all but ran into Mr. Nelson Powers.

He looked as greasily insinuating as ever. He also appeared to be more
prosperous than when I had last seen him. He looked, so to say,
established--as if he had a right to be where he was, not so much as if
he were "trying it on"--with eyes open for kicks or the police. He was
strolling about the streets of Catsford quite with the air of belonging
to it.

He did not recognize me, or would not. He was almost by me when I
stopped him.

"Mr. Powers? Surely it is? What brings you to Catsford?"

"Mr. Austin? Yes! Well, now, how do you do, sir? I'm glad to meet you
again. I was unlucky in missing that dinner--well, never mind! But
you've heard? Miss Driver has mentioned my appointment?"

"I've heard nothing of any appointment."

"Ah, perhaps I'm premature in mentioning it. I'll say good afternoon,
Mr. Austin."

I seemed to have nothing to say to him. I was rather bewildered; I
thought that we had really seen the end of Powers.

He stretched out his hand, and took hold of mine, depriving me of all
initiative in the matter.

"Miss Driver will speak in her own time, sir. I--I should only like to
say, sir, that I--I recognize the change in Miss Driver's position. One
learns wisdom, Mr. Austin. Good afternoon, sir." He pressed my hand--he
was wearing gloves and I was n