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of his voice had made someone laugh uneasily； the subject was
changed。
All divorce was against his convictions； but in a blurred way he
admitted that there were cases where release was unavoidable。 He was
not a man to ask for confidences； or expect them to be given him。 He
himself had never confided his spiritual struggles to any living
creature； and the unspiritual struggle had little interest for
Miltoun。 He was ready at any moment to stake his life on the
perfection of the idol he had set up within his soul； as simply and
straightforwardly as he would have placed his body in front of her to
shield her from harm。
The same fanaticism； which looked on his passion as a flower by
itself； entirely apart from its suitability to the social garden； was
also the driving force which sent him up to London to declare his
intention to his father before he spoke to Mrs。 Noel。 The thing
should be done simply； and in right order。 For he had the kind of
moral courage found in those who live retired within the shell of
their own aspirations。 Yet it was not perhaps so much active moral
courage as indifference to what others thought or did； coming from
his inbred resistance to the appreciation of what they felt。
That peculiar smile of the old Tudor Cardinalwhich had in it
invincible self…reliance； and a sort of spiritual sneerplayed over
his face when he speculated on his father's reception of the coming
news； and very soon he ceased to think of it at all； burying himself
in the work he had brought with him for the journey。 For he had in
high degree the faculty； so essential to public life； of switching
off his whole attention from one subject to another。
On arriving at Paddington he drove straight to Valleys House。
This large dwelling with its pillared portico； seemed to wear an air
of faint surprise that； at the height of the season； it was not more
inhabited。 Three servants relieved Miltoun of his little luggage；
and having washed； and learned that his father would be dining in； he
went for a walk； taking his way towards his rooms in the Temple。 His
long figure； somewhat carelessly garbed； attracted the usual
attention； of which he was as usual unaware。 Strolling along； he
meditated deeply on a London； an England； different from this
flatulent hurly…burly； this 'omniuin gatherum'； this great discordant
symphony of sharps and flats。 A London； an England； kempt and self…
respecting； swept and garnished of slums； and plutocrats；
advertisement； and jerry…building； of sensationalism； vulgarity；
vice； and unemployment。 An England where each man should know his
place； and never change it； but serve in it loyally in his own caste。
Where every man； from nobleman to labourer； should be an oligarch by
faith； and a gentleman by practice。 An England so steel…bright and
efficient that the very sight should suffice to impose peace。 An
England whose soul should be stoical and fine with the stoicism and
fineness of each soul amongst her many million souls； where the town
should have its creed and the country its creed； and there should be
contentment and no complaining in her streets。
And as he walked down the Strand； a little ragged boy cheeped out
between his legs：
〃Bloodee discoveree in a BankGrite sensytion！ Pi…er！〃
Miltoun paid no heed to that saying； yet； with it； the wind that
blows where man lives； the careless； wonderful； unordered wind； had
dispersed his austere and formal vision。 Great was that windthe
myriad aspiration of men and women； the praying of the uncounted
multitude to the goddess of Sensationof Chance； and Change。 A
flowing from heart to heart； from lip to lip； as in Spring the
wistful air wanders through a wood； imparting to every bush and tree
the secrets of fresh life； the passionate resolve to grow； and
becomeno matter what！ A sighing； as eternal as the old murmuring
of the sea； as little to be hushed； as prone to swell into sudden
roaring！
Miltoun held on through the traffic； not looking overmuch at the
present forms of the thousands he passed； but seeing with the eyes of
faith the forms he desired to see。 Near St。 Paul's he stopped in
front of an old book…shop。 His grave； pallid； not unhandsome face；
was well…known to William Rimall； its small proprietor； who at once
brought out his latest acquisitiona Mores 'Utopia。' That particular
edition （he assured Miltoun） was quite unprocurablehe had never
sold but one other copy； which had been literally； crumbling away。
This copy was in even better condition。 It could hardly last another
twenty yearsa genuine book； a bargain。 There wasn't so much
movement in More as there had been a little time back。
Miltoun opened the tome； and a small book…louse who had been sleeping
on the word 'Tranibore；' began to make its way slowly towards the
very centre of the volume。
〃I see it's genuine；〃 said Miltoun。
〃It's not to read； my lord；〃 the little man warned him： 〃Hardly safe
to turn the pages。 As I was sayingI've not had a better piece this
year。 I haven't really！〃
〃Shrewd old dreamer；〃 muttered Miltoun； 〃the Socialists haven't got
beyond him； even now。〃
The little man's eyes blinked； as though apologizing for the views of
Thomas More。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃I suppose he was one of them。 I forget if your
lordship's very strong on politics？〃
Miltoun smiled。
〃I want to see an England； Rimall； something like the England of
Mores dream。 But my machinery will be different。 I shall begin at
the top。〃
The little man nodded。
〃Quite so； quite so；〃 he said； 〃we shall come to that； I dare say。〃
〃We must； Rimall。〃 And Miltoun turned the page。
The little man's face quivered。
〃I don't think；〃 he said； 〃that book's quite strong enough for you；
my lord； with your taste for reading。 Now I've a most curious old
volume hereon Chinese temples。 It's rarebut not too old。 You
can peruse it thoroughly。 It's what I call a book to browse on just
suit your palate。 Funny principle they built those things on；〃 he
added； opening the volume at an engraving； 〃in layers。 We don't
build like that in England。〃
Miltoun looked up sharply； the little man's face wore no signs of
understanding。
〃Unfortunately we don't； Rimall；〃 he said； 〃we ought to； and we
shall。 I'll take this book。〃
Placing his finger on the print of the pagoda； he added： 〃A good
symbol。〃
The little bookseller's eye strayed down the temple to the secret
price mark。
〃Exactly； my lord；〃 he said； 〃I thought it'd be your fancy。 The
price to you will be twenty…seven and six。〃
Miltoun； pocketing the bargain； walked out。 He made his way into the
Temple； left the book at his Chambers； and passed on down to the bank
of Mother Thames。 The Sun was loving her passionately that
afternoon； he had kissed her into warmth and light and colour。 And
all the buildings along her banks； as far as the towers at
Westminster； seemed to be smiling。 It was a great sight for the eyes
of a lover。 And another vision came haunting Miltoun； of a soft…eyed
woman with a low voice； bending amongst her flowers。 Nothing would
be complete without her； no work bear fruit； no scheme could have
full me