inate beauty of Casti, and his
diffident, shyly graceful manners, were more noticeable than usual.
Waymark inspected his visitor closely and directly; the latter only
ventured upon one or two quick side glances. Yet the results were, on
the whole, mutually satisfactory.

Julian's eyes glistened at the sight of two goodly bookcases, reaching
from floor to ceiling. There were, too, pictures of other than the
lodging-house type; engraved heads of the great in art and science, and
a few reproductions in pencil or chalk of known subjects, perchance
their possessor's own work. On the table lay traces of literary
occupation, sheets of manuscript, open books, and the like. On another
table stood a tray, with cups and saucers. A kettle was boiling on the
fire.

Waymark helped the conversation by offering a cup of coffee, which he
himself made.

"You smoke, I hope?" he asked, reaching some cigars from the
mantelpiece.

Julian shook his head, with a smile.

"No? How on earth do you support existence?--At all events, you don't,
as the railway-carriage phrase has it, object to smoking?"

"Not at all. I like the scent, but was never tempted to go further."

Waymark filled his pipe, and made himself conformable in a low
cane-bottom chair, which had stood folded-up against the wall. Talk
began to range over very various topics, Waymark leading the way, his
visitor only gradually venturing to take the initiative. Theatres were
mentioned, but Julian knew little of them; recent books, but with these
he had small acquaintance; politics, but in these he had clearly no
interest.

"That's a point of contact, at all events," exclaimed Waymark. "I
detest the very name of Parliament, and could as soon read Todhunter on
Conic Sections as the reports of a debate. Perhaps you're a
mathematician?" This with a smile.

"By no means," was the reply. "In fact," Casti went on, "I'm afraid you
begin to think my interests are very narrow indeed. My opportunities
have been small. I left a very ordinary school at fourteen, and what
knowledge I have since got has come from my own efforts. I am sure the
profit from our intercourse would be entirely on my side. I have the
wish to go in for many things, however,--"

"Oh," broke in the other, "don't suppose that I am a scholar in any
sense of the word, or a man of more than average culture. My own
regular education came to an end pretty much at the same age, and only
a certain stubbornness has force