hundreds of circles, most of which meet others at
some point of their circumference.

My doctor in Dorking was a bachelor. I did not attend any church.
There literally was no person in that district with whom I held any
social intercourse whatever. And then, by chance, and in a single day,
I became acquainted with many of the socially superior sort of people
in my neighbourhood.

Arncliffe's chief leader writer on the _Advocate_ staff was a man
called Ernest Lane, who, after winning considerable distinction at
Oxford, falsified cynical anticipations by winning a good deal more
distinction in the world outside the university. It was known that he
had been invited to submit himself to the electors of a constituency
in one of the Home counties, and his work while secretary to a
prominent statesman had earned him a high reputation in political
circles. His book on greater British legislation and administration
added greatly to this reputation, and his friends were rather
surprised when Lane showed that he intended to stick to the writer's
life rather than enter parliament, or accept any political
appointment. Without having become very intimate, Lane and myself had
been distinctly upon good and friendly terms during my time in the
_Advocate_ office, and he had visited me three or four times in my
retreat in Dorking. Lane thought well of my work, and he was the only
man I knew whose political conversation and views had interested me.
It was not without some pleasure, therefore, that I read a letter
received from him in which he said he was coming to see me.

'It appears to be a case of Mohammed coming to the mountain,' this
letter said; 'and, if you will put me up, I should like to spend
Saturday and Sunday nights at your place. I think you will receive an
invitation to Sir George and Lady Barthrop's garden-party on Saturday
next, and if so I hope you will accept, and go there with me. The fact
is, one of my sisters is about to marry Arnold Barthrop, the younger
of the three sons, and the whole tribe of us are supposed to be there
this week-end. I am not keen on these big house-parties, and would far
sooner have the opportunity of seeing something of you if you would
care to have me; but I have promised to attend the garden-party, and
to bring you if I can. Some of the Barthrop's Dorking friends are
rather interesting people, so it will be just as well for you, my dear
hermit, to make their acquaintance.'

Of course, I