just read. He began looking for it. He thought he would send it to her, asking her opinion; then he would get an answer, and see her handwriting. You don't know a woman until you have had a letter from her. But no--what a fool he would look! Besides he was going to see her tonight. It was about time to get ready.... Knowing subconsciously that he had made some slight favourable impression--at any rate that he hadn't repelled or bored her--he dressed with all the anxiety, joy and thrills of excitement of a boy of twenty; and no boy of twenty can ever feel these things as keenly or half as elaborately as a man nearly twice that age, since all the added experiences, disillusions, practice, knowledge and life of the additional years help to form a part of the same emotion, making it infinitely deeper, and all the stronger because so much more _averti_ and conscious of itself. He seemed so nervous while dressing that Soames, the valet, to whom he was a hero, ventured respectfully to hope there was nothing wrong. 'No. I'm all right,' said Aylmer. 'I'm never ill. I think, Soames, I shall probably die of middle age.' He went out laughing, leaving the valet smiling coldly out of politeness. * * * * * Soames never understood any kind of jest. He took himself and everyone else seriously. But he already knew perfectly well that his master had fallen in love last night, and he disapproved very strongly. He thought all that sort of thing ought to be put a stop to. CHAPTER VIII Archie's Essay 'Mrs Ottley,' said Miss Townsend,' do you mind looking at this essay of Archie's? I really don't know what to think of it. I think it shows talent, except the spelling. But it's _very_ naughty of him to have written what is at the end.' Edith took the paper and read: 'TRAYS OF CHARACTER trays of character will always show threw how ever much you may polish it up trays of character will always show threw the grane of the wood. A burd will keep on singing because he wants to and they can't help doing what it wants this is instinkt. and it is the same with trays of charicter. having thus shown my theory that trays of carocter will always show threw in spite of all trubble and in any circemstances whatever I will conclude Archibald Bruce Ottley please t.o.' On the other side of the paper was written very neatly, still in Archie's writing: '3 LINDEN MANSIONS, CADOGAN SQUARE, KNIGHTSBRIDGE. _Second Floor_ 1. Mr Bruce Ottley (FO) 2. Mrs Bruce Ottley 3. Master Archibald Bruce Ottley 4. Little _beast_ 5. Mary Johnson housemaid 6. Miss Thrupp Cook 7. Marie maid 8. Dorothy Margaret Miss Townsend governess 9. Ellen Maud Parrot nurse.' 'Do you see?' said Miss Townsend. 'It's his way of slyly calling poor Dilly a beast, because he's angry with her. Isn't it a shame? What shall I do?' Both of them laughed and enjoyed it. 'Archie, what is the meaning of this? Why did you make this census of your home?' Edith asked him gently.