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celebrated her return by giving an afternoon reception at short
notice； with the clear intention of letting every one out into the
garden if the weather held。
The Seddons had a big old farmhouse modified to modern ideas of
comfort on the road out towards Misterton； with an orchard that had
been rather pleasantly subdued from use to ornament。 It had rich
blossoming cherry and apple trees。 Large patches of grass full of
nodding yellow trumpets had been left amidst the not too precisely
mown grass； which was as it were grass path with an occasional lapse
into lawn or glade。 And Margaret； hatless； with the fair hair above
her thin； delicately pink face very simply done； came to meet our
rather too consciously dressed party；we had come in the motor four
strong； with my aunt in grey silk。 Margaret wore a soft flowing
flowered blue dress of diaphanous material； all unconnected with the
fashion and tied with pretty ribbons； like a slenderer； unbountiful
Primavera。
It was one of those May days that ape the light and heat of summer；
and I remember disconnectedly quite a number of brightly lit figures
and groups walking about； and a white gate between orchard and
garden and a large lawn with an oak tree and a red Georgian house
with a verandah and open French windows； through which the tea
drinking had come out upon the moss…edged flagstones even as Mrs。
Seddon had planned。
The party was almost entirely feminine except for a little curate
with a large head； a good voice and a radiant manner； who was
obviously attracted by Margaret； and two or three young husbands
still sufficiently addicted to their wives to accompany them。 One
of them I recall as a quite romantic figure with abundant blond
curly hair on which was poised a grey felt hat encircled by a
refined black band。 He wore； moreover； a loose rich shot silk tie
of red and purple； a long frock coat； grey trousers and brown shoes；
and presently he removed his hat and carried it in one hand。 There
were two tennis…playing youths besides myself。 There was also one
father with three daughters in anxious control； a father of the old
school scarcely half broken in； reluctant； rebellious and
consciously and conscientiously 〃reet Staffordshire。〃 The daughters
were all alert to suppress the possible plungings； the undesirable
humorous impulses of this almost feral guest。 They nipped his very
gestures in the bud。 The rest of the people were mainly mothers
with daughtersdaughters of all ages； and a scattering of aunts；
and there was a tendency to clotting； parties kept together and
regarded parties suspiciously。 Mr。 Seddon was in hiding； I think；
all the time； though not formally absent。
Matters centred upon the tea in the long room of the French windows；
where four trim maids went to and fro busily between the house and
the clumps of people seated or standing before it； and tennis and
croquet were intermittently visible and audible beyond a bank of
rockwork rich with the spikes and cups and bells of high spring。
Mrs。 Seddon presided at the tea urn； and Margaret partly assisted
and partly talked to me and my cousin SibylGertrude had found a
disused and faded initial and was partnering him at tennis in a
state of gentle revivalwhile their mother exercised a divided
chaperonage from a seat near Mrs。 Seddon。 The little curate；
stirring a partially empty cup of tea； mingled with our party； and
preluded； I remember； every observation he made by a vigorous
resumption of stirring。
We talked of Cambridge； and Margaret kept us to it。 The curate was
a Selwyn man and had taken a pass degree in theology； but Margaret
had come to Gaylord's lecturers in Trinity for a term before her
breakdown； and understood these differences。 She had the eagerness
of an exile to hear the old familiar names of places and
personalities。 We capped familiar anecdotes and were enthusiastic
about Kings' Chapel and the Backs； and the curate； addressing
himself more particularly to Sibyl； told a long confused story
illustrative of his disposition to reckless devilry （of a pure…
minded kindly sort） about upsetting two canoes quite needlessly on
the way to Grantchester。
I can still see Margaret as I saw her that afternoon； see her fresh
fair face； with the little obliquity of the upper lip； and her brow
always slightly knitted； and her manner as of one breathlessly shy
but determined。 She had rather open blue eyes； and she spoke in an
even musical voice with the gentlest of stresses and the ghost of a
lisp。 And it was true； she gathered； that Cambridge still existed。
〃I went to Grantchester；〃 she said； 〃last year； and had tea under
the apple…blossom。 I didn't think then I should have to come down。〃
（It was that started the curate upon his anecdote。）
〃I've seen a lot of pictures； and learnt a lot about themat the
Pitti and the Brera；the Brera is wonderfulwonderful places；but
it isn't like real study；〃 she was saying presently。 。 。 。 〃We
bought bales of photographs；〃 she said。
I thought the bales a little out of keeping。
But fair…haired and quite simply and yet graciously and fancifully
dressed； talking of art and beautiful things and a beautiful land；
and with so much manifest regret for learning denied； she seemed a
different kind of being altogether from my smart； hard； high…
coloured； black…haired and resolutely hatted cousin； she seemed
translucent beside Gertrude。 Even the little twist and droop of her
slender body was a grace to me。
I liked her from the moment I saw her； and set myself to interest
and please her as well as I knew how。
We recalled a case of ragging that had rustled the shrubs of
Newnham； and then Chris Robinson's visithe had given a talk to
Bennett Hall alsoand our impression of him。
〃He disappointed me； too；〃 said Margaret。
I was moved to tell Margaret something of my own views in the matter
of social progress； and she listenedoh！ with a kind of urged
attention； and her brow a little more knitted； very earnestly。 The
little curate desisted from the appendices and refuse heaps and
general debris of his story； and made himself look very alert and
intelligent。
〃We did a lot of that when I was up in the eighties；〃 he said。 〃I'm
glad Imperialism hasn't swamped you fellows altogether。〃
Gertrude； looking bright and confident； came to join our talk from
the shrubbery； the initial； a little flushed and evidently in a
state of refreshed relationship； came with her； and a cheerful lady
in pink and more particularly distinguished by a pink bonnet joined
our little group。 Gertrude had been sipping admiration and was not
disposed to play a passive part in the talk。
〃Socialism！〃 she cried； catching the word。 〃It's well Pa isn't
here。 He has Fits when people talk of socialism。 Fits！〃
The initial laughed in a general kind of way。
The curate said there was socialism AND socialism； and looked at
Margaret to gauge whether he had been too bold in this utterance。
But she was all； he perceived； for broad…mindness； and he stirred
himself （and incidentally his tea） to still more liberality of
expression。 He said the state of the poor was appalling； simply
appalling； that there were times when he wanted to shatter the whole
system； 〃only；〃 he said； turning to me appealingly； 〃What have we
got to put in its place？〃
〃The thing that exists is always the more evident alternative；〃 I
said。
The little curate looked at it for a moment。 〃Precisely；〃 he said
explosively； and turned stirring and with his head a little on one
side； to hear what Margaret was saying。
Margaret was saying； with a swift blush and an effect of daring；
that she had no doubt she was a socialist。
〃And wearing a gold chain！〃 said Gertrude； 〃And drinking out of
eggshell！ I like that！