"So it was he, then?" said George, without being really surprised, for he was aware that all the celebrated master's pupils fell in love with him in spite of his grey hairs. "And did you love him most," asked George, "of all the men you had come across?" "Strange, isn't it? but it's a fact all the same." "Did he know it?" "I think so." They had arrived at an open space with a small garden ... that was only scantily lighted. At the back there towered a church with a reddish glow. As though drawn to a quieter place they wandered on under dark softly-waving branches. "And what actually was there between you, if it is not a rude question?" Anna was silent, and that moment George felt that everything was possible--even that Anna should have been that man's mistress. But underneath the disquiet which he felt at that thought the desire arose gently and unconsciously to hear his fear confirmed. For if Anna had already belonged to some one else before she became his, the adventure could proceed as lightly and irresponsibly as possible. "I will tell you the whole story," said Anna at last. "It is really not so awful." "Well?" asked George, strangely excited. "Once, after the lesson," Anna began hesitatingly, "he gallantly helped me into my jacket. And then suddenly he drew me to him, took me in his arms and kissed me." "And you...?" "I ... I was quite intoxicated." "Intoxicated?..." "Yes, it was something indescribable. He kissed me on the forehead and the hair, and then he took my hand and murmured all sorts of things that I didn't hear properly...." "And...." "And then ... then voices came near, he let go my hand and it was all over." "All over?" "Yes, over ... of course it was all over." "I certainly don't think it such a matter of course. You saw him again, no doubt." "Of course, I still went on learning with him." "And...?" "I tell you it was over ... absolutely ... as though it had never happened." George was surprised that he should feel reassured. "And he never tried again?" he asked. "Never. It would have been so ridiculous, and as he was very clever he knew that quite well himself. It is quite true that up to then I had been very much in love with him, but after this episode he was nothing more to me than my old teacher. In some way he seemed even older than he really was. I don't know if you can really understand what I mean. It was as though he had spent all the remains of his youth in that moment."