ded this
portion of the episode as master's business.

"When was that?--let me see," Edwin foolishly blurted out.

"Oh! Some years ago. Two or three--perhaps four."

"I'm afraid we didn't," said Edwin, smiling.

"Oh!" said Hilda slowly. "I think they made a great fuss of it in
London." She relented somewhat. "I don't really know much about it.
But the other day I happened to be reading the new history of printing,
you know--Cranswick's, isn't it?"

"Oh yes!" Edwin concurred, though he had never heard of Cranswick's new
history of printing either.

He knew that he was not emerging creditably from this portion of the
episode. But he did not care. The whole of his body went hot and then
cold as his mind presented the simple question: "Why had she been
reading the history of printing?" Could the reason be any other than
her interest in himself? Or was she a prodigy among young women, who
read histories of everything in addition to being passionate about
verse? He said that it was ridiculous to suppose that she would read a
history of printing solely from interest in himself. Nevertheless he
was madly happy for a few moments, and as it were staggered with joy.
He decided to read a history of printing at once.

Big James came to the end of his expositions of the craft. The stove
was dying out, and the steam-boiler cold. Big James regretted that the
larger machines could not be seen in action, and that the place was
getting chilly. Edwin began to name various objects that were lying
about, with their functions, but it was evident that the interest of the
workshop was now nearly exhausted. Big James suggested that if Miss
could make it convenient to call, say, on the next afternoon, she could
see the large new Columbia in motion. Edwin seized the idea and
beautified it. And on this he wavered towards the door, and she
followed, and Big James in dignity bowed them forth to the elevated
porch, and began to rewind his flowing apron once more. They pattered
down the dark steps (now protected with felt roofing) and ran across six
feet of exposed yard into what had once been Mrs Nixon's holy kitchen.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOUR.

After glancing at sundry minor workshops in delicious propinquity and
solitude, they mounted to the first floor, where there was an
account-book ruling and binding shop: the site of the old sitting-room
and the girls' bedroom.