Elgar was amusing. His
self-importance visibly increased. He spoke with more gravity; whatever
step he took was seriously considered; if he read a newspaper, it was
with an air of sober reflection.

"This is the turning-point in his life," Cecily said to her aunt. "He
seems to me several years older; don't you notice it? I am quite sure
that as soon as things are in order again he will begin to work."

And the prophecy seemed to find fulfilment. Not many days after their
taking possession of the English home, Reuben declared a project that
his mind had been forming. It was not, to be sure, thoroughly
fashioned; its limits must necessarily be indeterminate until fixed by
long and serious study; but what he had in view was to write a history
of the English mind in its relation to Puritanism.

"I have a notion, Ciss, that this is the one thing into which I can
throw all my energies. The one need of my intellectual life is to deal
a savage blow at the influences which ruined all my early years. You
can't look at the matter quite as I do; you don't know the fierce
hatred with which I am moved when I look back. If I am to do literary
work at all, it must be on some subject which deeply concerns me--me
myself, as an individual. I feel sure that my bent isn't to fiction; I
am not objective enough. But I enjoy the study of history, and I have a
good deal of acuteness. If I'm not mistaken, I can make a brilliant
book, a book that will excite hatred and make my name known."

They were sitting in the library, late at night. As usual when he was
stirred, Reuben paced up and down the room and gesticulated.

"Do you mean it to be a big book!" Cecily asked, after reflection.

"Not very big. I should have French models before me, rather than
English."

"It would take you a long time to prepare."

"Two or three years, perhaps. But what does that matter? I shall work a
good deal at the British Museum. It will oblige me to be away from you
a good deal, but--"

"You mustn't trouble about that. I have my own work. If your mornings
are regularly occupied, I shall be able to make flied plans of study
there are so many things I want to work at."

"Capital! It's high time we came to that. And then, you know, you might
be able to give me substantial help--reading, making notes, and so
on--if you cared to."

Cecily smiled.

"Yes, if I care to.--But hasn't the subject been dealt with already?"

"Oh, of course, in all sorts of ways.