"I am glad you think so. It is obvious that definite plans must be postponed until she is well and strong." "You would be able to go down and see her." "Occasionally, as my duties permit, oh yes. It is a very pleasant place and I have friends in Bournemouth who would visit her." "She ought to be longing to go" said Miriam on her strange sudden smile. It had come from somewhere; the atmosphere was easier; suddenly in the room with her was the sense of bluebells, a wood blue with bluebells, and dim roofs, roofs in a town ... sur les toits ... and books; people reading books under them. Mr. Taunton smiled too. "Unfortunately that is not so" he said leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs comfortably. 2 "You know" he said turning his blue gaze from the fire to Miriam's face, "I have never been so worried in my life as I have during the last ten days. It's upsetting my winter's work. It is altogether too difficult and impossible. I cannot see any possible adjustment. You see I cannot possibly be continually interrupted and in such--strange ways. She came here yesterday afternoon with a list of complaints about her landlady. I _really_ cannot attend to these things. She sends me _telegrams_. Only this morning there was a telegram. Come at once. Difficulty with chemist. Of course it was impossible for me to leave my work at a moment's notice. This afternoon I called. It seems that she was under the impression that there had been some insolence ... it absorbs so much _time_ to enter into long explanations with regard to all these people. I cannot do it. That is what it comes to. I cannot do it." _Ah._ You've lost your temper; like anyone else. You want to shelve it. Anyone would. But being a man you want to shelve it on to a woman. You don't care who hears the long tales as long as you don't.... "Have you seen her doctor?" "No. I think just now he is out of town." "_Really?_ Are you sure?" "You think I should see him." "Certainly." "I will do so on the first opportunity. That is the next step. Meantime I will write provisionally to Bournemouth." "Oh, she must go to Bournemouth anyhow; that's settled." "Perhaps her medical man may help there." "He won't make her do anything she doesn't mean to do." "I see you are a reader of character." "I don't think I am. I always begin by idealising people." "Do you indeed?" "Yes, always; and then they grow smaller and smaller." "Is that your invariable experience of humanity?'" "I don't think I'm an altruist." "I think one must have one's heroes." "In life or in books?" "In both perhaps--one has them certainly in books--in records. Do you know this book?" Miriam sceptically accepted the bulky volume he took down from the book-crowded mantelshelf.