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〃So had I；〃 I sympathised； and took her hand。 〃Suddenly I have
remembered。〃
She remained quite still。 〃There is so much to be done；〃 I said；
almost apologetically。
She looked long away from me across the lagoon and at last sighed；
like one who has drunk deeply； and turned to me。
〃I suppose one ought not to be so happy；〃 she said。 〃Everything has
been so beautiful and so simple and splendid。 And clean。 It has
been just With Youthe time of my life。 It's a pity such things
must end。 But the world is calling you； dear。 。 。 。 I ought not to
have forgotten it。 I thought you were restingand thinking。 But
if you are rested。Would you like us to start to…morrow？〃
She looked at once so fragile and so devoted that on the spur of the
moment I relented； and we stayed in Venice four more days。
CHAPTER THE FOURTH
THE HOUSE IN WESTMINSTER
1
Margaret had already taken a little house in Radnor Square；
Westminster； before our marriage； a house that seemed particularly
adaptable to our needs as public…spirited efficients； it had been
very pleasantly painted and papered under Margaret's instructions；
white paint and clean open purples and green predominating； and now
we set to work at once upon the interesting business of arranging
andwith our Venetian glass as a beginningfurnishing it。 We had
been fairly fortunate with our wedding presents； and for the most
part it was open to us to choose just exactly what we would have and
just precisely where we would put it。
Margaret had a sense of form and colour altogether superior to mine；
and so quite apart from the fact that it was her money equipped us；
I stood aside from all these matters and obeyed her summons to a
consultation only to endorse her judgment very readily。 Until
everything was settled I went every day to my old rooms in Vincent
Square and worked at a series of papers that were originally
intended for the FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW； the papers that afterwards
became my fourth book； 〃New Aspects of Liberalism。〃
I still remember as delightful most of the circumstances of getting
into 79； Radnor Square。 The thin flavour of indecision about
Margaret disappeared altogether in a shop； she had the precisest
ideas of what she wanted； and the devices of the salesman did not
sway her。 It was very pleasant to find her taking things out of my
hands with a certain masterfulness； and showing the distinctest
determination to make a house in which I should be able to work in
that great project of 〃doing something for the world。〃
〃And I do want to make things pretty about us；〃 she said。 〃You
don't think it wrong to have things pretty？〃
〃I want them so。〃
〃Altiora has things hard。〃
〃Altiora；〃 I answered； 〃takes a pride in standing ugly and
uncomfortable things。 But I don't see that they help her。 Anyhow
they won't help me。〃
So Margaret went to the best shops and got everything very simple
and very good。 She bought some pictures very well indeed； there was
a little Sussex landscape； full of wind and sunshine； by Nicholson；
for my study； that hit my taste far better than if I had gone out to
get some such expression for myself。
〃We will buy a picture just now and then；〃 she said； 〃sometimes
when we see one。〃
I would come back through the January mire or fog from Vincent
Square to the door of 79； and reach it at last with a quite childish
appreciation of the fact that its solid Georgian proportions and its
fine brass furnishings belonged to MY home； I would use my latchkey
and discover Margaret in the warm…lit； spacious hall with a
partially opened packing…case； fatigued but happy； or go up to have
tea with her out of the right tea things； 〃come at last；〃 or be told
to notice what was fresh there。 It wasn't simply that I had never
had a house before； but I had really never been； except in the most
transitory way； in any house that was nearly so delightful as mine
promised to be。 Everything was fresh and bright； and softly and
harmoniously toned。 Downstairs we had a green dining…room with
gleaming silver； dark oak； and English colour…prints； above was a
large drawing…room that could be made still larger by throwing open
folding doors； and it was all carefully done in greys and blues； for
the most part with real Sheraton supplemented by Sheraton so
skilfully imitated by an expert Margaret had discovered as to be
indistinguishable except to a minute scrutiny。 And for me； above
this and next to my bedroom； there was a roomy study； with specially
thick stair…carpet outside and thick carpets in the bedroom overhead
and a big old desk for me to sit at and work between fire and
window； and another desk specially made for me by that expert if I
chose to stand and write； and open bookshelves and bookcases and
every sort of convenient fitting。 There were electric heaters
beside the open fire； and everything was put for me to make tea at
any timeelectric kettle； infuser； biscuits and fresh butter； so
that I could get up and work at any hour of the day or night。 I
could do no work in this apartment for a long time； I was so
interested in the perfection of its arrangements。 And when I
brought in my books and papers from Vincent Square； Margaret seized
upon all the really shabby volumes and had them re…bound in a fine
official…looking leather。
I can remember sitting down at that desk and looking round me and
feeling with a queer effect of surprise that after all even a place
in the Cabinet； though infinitely remote； was nevertheless in the
same large world with these fine and quietly expensive things。
On the same floor Margaret had a 〃den；〃 a very neat and pretty den
with good colour…prints of Botticellis and Carpaccios； and there was
a third apartment for sectarial purposes should the necessity for
them arise； with a severe…looking desk equipped with patent files。
And Margaret would come flitting into the room to me； or appear
noiselessly standing； a tall gracefully drooping form； in the wide
open doorway。 〃Is everything right； dear？〃 she would ask。
〃Come in；〃 I would say； 〃I'm sorting out papers。〃
She would come to the hearthrug。
〃I mustn't disturb you；〃 she would remark。
〃I'm not busy yet。〃
〃Things are getting into order。 Then we must make out a time…table
as the Baileys do； and BEGIN！〃
Altiora came in to see us once or twice； and a number of serious
young wives known to Altiora called and were shown over the house；
and discussed its arrangements with Margaret。 They were all
tremendously keen on efficient arrangements。
〃A little pretty；〃 said Altiora； with the faintest disapproval；
〃still〃
It was clear she thought we should grow out of that。 From the day
of our return we found other people's houses open to us and eager
for us。 We went out of London for week…ends and dined out； and
began discussing our projects for reciprocating these hospitalities。
As a single man unattached； I had had a wide and miscellaneous
social range； but now I found myself falling into place in a set。
For a time I acquiesced in this。 I went very little to my clubs；
the Climax and the National Liberal； and participated in no bachelor
dinners at all。 For a time； too； I dropped out of the garrulous
literary and journalistic circles I had frequented。 I put up for
the Reform； not so much for the use of the club as a sign of serious
and substantial political standing。 I didn't go up to Cambridge； I
remember； for nearly a year； so occupied was I with my new
adjustments。
The people we found ourselves among at this time were people； to put
it roughly； of the Parliamentary candidate class； or people already
actually placed in the political world。 They ranged between very
considerable wealth and such a hard； bare independence