er own
particular interests. It is surprising to see how people will live side
by side in solitude, even in danger, in distant settlements, in the
mining districts of the West, in up-country stations in India, on board
ship, even, for months and years, without knowing anything of each
other's previous history; whereas in the crowded centres of civilisation
and society the first questions are "Where does he come from?" "What are
his antecedents?" "What has he done in the world?" And unless a man can
answer such inquiries to the general satisfaction he is likely to be
heavily handicapped in the social race. But in more primitive situations
men are ruled by more primitive feelings of mutual respect; it is
considered that a man should not be pressed to speak of things he shows
no desire to discuss and that, provided he does not interfere with his
neighbour's wellbeing, his past life is nobody's business. One may feel
curiosity concerning him, but under no circumstances is one justified in
asking questions.

For these reasons, although Mr. Juxon's arrival and instalment in the
Hall were regarded with satisfaction by the little circle at
Billingsfield, while he himself was at once received into intimacy and
treated with cordial friendliness, he nevertheless represented in the
minds of all an unsolved enigma. And to the squire the existence of one
of the circle was at least as problematical as his own life could seem to
any of them. The more he saw of Mrs. Goddard, the more he wondered at her
and speculated about her and the less he dared to ask her any questions.
But he understood from Mr. Ambrose's manner, that the vicar at least was
in possession of her secret, and he inferred from what he was able to
judge about the vicar's character that the latter was not a man to extend
his friendship to any one who did not deserve it. Whatever Mrs. Goddard's
story was, he felt sure that her troubles had not been caused by her own
misconduct. She was in every respect what he called a good woman. Of
course, too, she was a widow; the way in which she spoke of her husband
implied that, on those rare occasions when she spoke of him at all.
Charles James Juxon was a gentleman, whatever course of life he had
followed before settling in the country, and he did not feel that he
should be justified in asking questions about Mrs. Goddard of the vicar.
Besides, as time went on and he found his own interest in her increasing,
he began to nourish th