e had
insisted that he must go because of his promise to Gilbert.

"Do you care for Gilbert more than you care for me?" she had asked,
making him wonder at the casual way in which she spoke Gilbert's name.
It seemed incredible, listening to her, that Gilbert had been her
lover....

"It's hardly the same thing," he replied.

Then, after more pleading and anger, she had given in.

"Very well," she said, "I won't ask you again, and don't let's talk
about it any more. Well enjoy to-day anyhow!"

The taxi-cab carried them swiftly to Hampstead.

"Well get out at the Spaniards' Road," he said, "and walk across the
Heath. It's beautiful now!"

"All right," she answered.

They did as he said, and walked about the Heath for nearly an hour. The
fresh smell of spring exhilarated them, and they sat for a little while
on a seat which was perched on rising ground so that they were able to
see far beyond the common. Young bracken fronds were thrusting their
curled heads upwards through the old brown growth; and the buds on the
blackened boughs were bursting from their cases and offering delicate
green leaves to the sunlight; and the yellow whins shone like little
golden stars on their spiky stems. Henry's capacity for sensuous
enjoyment was fully employed, and he would willingly have sat there
until dusk, drawing his breath in with as much luxurious feeling as a
woman has when she puts new linen on her limbs. He would have liked to
strip and bathe his naked body in the Highgate Ponds or run with bare
feet over the wet grass ... but Cecily was tired of the Heath.

"Isn't it time we got some tea?" she said, getting up and looking about
her as if she were searching for a tea-shop.

"I suppose it is," he answered reluctantly, and he rose too. "We go this
way," he said, moving in the direction of Jack Straw's Castle. "Let's
come back to the Heath," he added, "after we've had tea!"

"But why?" she asked.

"Oh, because it's so beautiful."

"I thought it was getting chilly," she objected.

5

"I don't see why you want to go to Ireland," she exclaimed, as she
handed a cup of tea to him.

"I've told you why," he said.

"Oh, but that isn't a reason. And why does Gilbert want to go? He isn't
Irish."

"I suppose!..."

"It's so absurd to go rushing about like this. I should have thought
Gilbert would want to stay in town now that his play is on. Is it a
success? I haven't looked at the papers, but then I never do. I can't