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           henevernoticedthings,orhadcontactwithhissurroundings.InherroomhedidglancevaguelyroundatthefineGermanreproductionsofRenoirandCezanne.

           ’It’sverypleasantuphere,’hesaid,withhisqueersmile,asifithurthimtosmile,showinghisteeth.’Youarewisetogetuptothetop.’

           ’Yes,Ithinkso,’shesaid.

           Herroomwastheonlygay,modernoneinthehouse,theonlyspotinWragbywhereherpersonalitywasatallrevealed.Cliffordhadneverseenit,andsheaskedveryfewpeopleup.

           NowsheandMichaelissitonoppositesidesofthefireandtalked.Sheaskedhimabouthimself,hismotherandfather,hisbrothers...otherpeoplewerealwayssomethingofawondertoher,andwhenhersympathywasawakenedshewasquitedevoidofclassfeeling.Michaelistalkedfranklyabouthimself,quitefrankly,withoutaffectation,simplyrevealinghisbitter,indifferent,stray-dog’ssoul,thenshowingagleamofrevengefulprideinhissuccess.

           ’Butwhyareyousuchalonelybird?’Connieaskedhim;andagainhelookedather,withhisfull,searching,hazellook.

           ’Somebirdsarethatway,’hereplied.Then,withatouchoffamiliarirony:’but,lookhere,whataboutyourself?Aren’tyoubywayofbeingalonelybirdyourself?’Connie,alittlestartled,thoughtaboutitforafewmoments,andthenshesaid:’Onlyinaway!Notaltogether,likeyou!’

           ’AmIaltogetheralonelybird?’heasked,withhisqueergrinofasmile,asifhehadtoothache;itwassowry,andhiseyesweresoperfectlyunchanginglymelancholy,orstoical,ordisillusionedorafraid.