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'Of the thunder； I mean；' he said； 'not of myself。'
She must turn to him now。 'I think it is going to rain；' she
remarked for the sake of saying something。
He could not conceal his surprise and admiration of her face and
bearing。 He said courteously； 'It may possibly not rain before you
reach the House； if you are going there？'
'Yes； I am；'
'May I walk up with you？ It is lonely under the trees。'
'No。' Fearing his courtesy arose from a belief that he was
addressing a woman of higher station than was hers； she added； 'I am
Miss Aldclyffe's companion。 I don't mind the loneliness。'
'O； Miss Aldclyffe's companion。 Then will you be kind enough to
take a subscription to her？ She sent to me this afternoon to ask me
to become a subscriber to her Society； and I was out。 Of course
I'll subscribe if she wishes it。 I take a great interest in the
Society。'
'Miss Aldclyffe will be glad to hear that； I know。'
'Yes； let me seewhat Society did she say it was？ I am afraid I
haven't enough money in my pocket； and yet it would be a
satisfaction to her to have practical proof of my willingness。 I'll
get it； and be out in one minute。'
He entered the house and was at her side again within the time he
had named。 'This is it；' he said pleasantly。
She held up her hand。 The soft tips of his fingers brushed the palm
of her glove as he placed the money within it。 She wondered why his
fingers should have touched her。
'I think after all；' he continued； 'that the rain is upon us； and
will drench you before you reach the House。 Yes： see there。'
He pointed to a round wet spot as large as a nasturtium leaf； which
had suddenly appeared upon the white surface of the step。
'You had better come into the porch。 It is not nearly night yet。
The clouds make it seem later than it really is。'
Heavy drops of rain； followed immediately by a forked flash of
lightning and sharp rattling thunder compelled her； willingly or no；
to accept his invitation。 She ascended the steps； stood beside him
just within the porch； and for the first time obtained a series of
short views of his person； as they waited there in silence。
He was an extremely handsome man； well…formed； and well…dressed； of
an age which seemed to be two or three years less than thirty。 The
most striking point in his appearance was the wonderful； almost
preternatural； clearness of his complexion。 There was not a blemish
or speck of any kind to mar the smoothness of its surface or the
beauty of its hue。 Next； his forehead was square and broad； his
brows straight and firm； his eyes penetrating and clear。 By
collecting the round of expressions they gave forth； a person who
theorized on such matters would have imbibed the notion that their
owner was of a nature to kick against the pricks； the last man in
the world to put up with a position because it seemed to be his
destiny to do so； one who took upon himself to resist fate with the
vindictive determination of a Theomachist。 Eyes and forehead both
would have expressed keenness of intellect too severely to be
pleasing； had their force not been counteracted by the lines and
tone of the lips。 These were full and luscious to a surprising
degree； possessing a woman…like softness of curve； and a ruby
redness so intense； as to testify strongly to much susceptibility of
heart where feminine beauty was concerneda susceptibility that
might require all the ballast of brain with which he had previously
been credited to confine within reasonable channels。
His manner was rather elegant than good： his speech well…finished
and unconstrained。
The pause in their discourse； which had been caused by the peal of
thunder was unbroken by either for a minute or two； during which the
ears of both seemed to be absently following the low roar of the
waterfall as it became gradually rivalled by the increasing rush of
rain upon the trees and herbage of the grove。 After her short looks
at him； Cytherea had turned her head towards the avenue for a while；
and now； glancing back again for an instant； she discovered that his
eyes were engaged in a steady； though delicate； regard of her face
and form。
At this moment； by reason of the narrowness of the porch； their
dresses touched； and remained in contact。
His clothes are something exterior to every man； but to a woman her
dress is part of her body。 Its motions are all present to her
intelligence if not to her eyes； no man knows how his coat…tails
swing。 By the slightest hyperbole it may be said that her dress has
sensation。 Crease but the very Ultima Thule of fringe or flounce；
and it hurts her as much as pinching her。 Delicate antennae； or
feelers； bristle on every outlying frill。 Go to the uppermost： she
is there； tread on the lowest： the fair creature is there almost
before you。
Thus the touch of clothes； which was nothing to Manston； sent a
thrill through Cytherea； seeing； moreover； that he was of the nature
of a mysterious stranger。 She looked out again at the storm； but
still felt him。 At last to escape the sensation she moved away；
though by so doing it was necessary to advance a little into the
rain。
'Look； the rain is coming into the porch upon you；' he said。 'Step
inside the door。'
Cytherea hesitated。
'Perfectly safe； I assure you；' he added； laughing； and holding the
door open。 'You shall see what a state of disorganization I am in
boxes on boxes； furniture； straw； crockery； in every form of
transposition。 An old woman is in the back quarters somewhere；
beginning to put things to rights。 。 。 。 You know the inside of the
house； I dare say？'
'I have never been in。'
'O well； come along。 Here； you see； they have made a door through；
here； they have put a partition dividing the old hall into two； one
part is now my parlour； there they have put a plaster ceiling；
hiding the old chestnut…carved roof because it was too high and
would have been chilly for me； you see； being the original hall； it
was open right up to the top； and here the lord of the manor and his
retainers used to meet and be merry by the light from the monstrous
fire which shone out from that monstrous fire…place； now narrowed to
a mere nothing for my grate； though you can see the old outline
still。 I almost wish I could have had it in its original state。'
'With more romance and less comfort。'
'Yes； exactly。 Well； perhaps the wish is not deep…seated。 You will
see how the things are tumbled in anyhow； packing…cases and all。
The only piece of ornamental furniture yet unpacked is this one。'
'An organ？'
'Yes； an organ。 I made it myself； except the pipes。 I opened the
case this afternoon to commence soothing myself at once。 It is not
a very large one； but quite big enough for a private house。 You
play； I dare say？'
'The piano。 I am not at all used to an organ。'
'You would soon acquire the touch for an organ； though it would
spoil your touch for the piano。 Not that that matters a great deal。
A piano isn't much as an instrument。'
'It is the fashion to say so now。 I think it is quite good enough。'
'That isn't altogether a right sentiment about things being good
enough。'
'Nono。 What I mean is； that the men who despise pianos do it as a
rule from their teeth； merely for fashion's sake； because cleverer
men have said it before themnot from the experience of their
ears。'
Now Cytherea all at once broke into a blush at the consciousness of
a great snub she had been guilty of in her eagerness to explain
herself。 He charitably expressed by a look that he did not in the
least mind her blunder； if it were one； and this attitude forced him
into a position of mental superiority which vexed her。
'I play for my private amusement only；' he said。 'I have never
learned scientifically。 All I know is what I taught myself。'
The thunder； lightning； and rain had now increased to a terrific
force。 The clouds； from which darts； forks； zigzags； and balls of
fire continually sprang； did not appear to be more than a hundred
yards above their heads； and every now and then a flash and a peal
made gaps in the steward's descriptions。 He went towards the organ；
in the midst of a volley which seemed to shake the aged house from
foundations to chimney。
'You are not going to play now； are you？' said Cytherea uneasily。
'O yes。 Why not now？' he said。 'You can't go home； and therefore
we may as well be amused； if you don't mind sitting on this box。
The few chairs I have unpacked are in the other room。'
Without waiting to see whether she sat down or not； he turned to the
organ and began extemporizing a harmony which meandered through
every variety of expression of which the instrument was capable。
Presently he ceased and began searching for some music…book。
'What a splendid flash！' he said； as the lightning again shone in
through the mullioned window； which； of a proportion to suit the
whole extent of the original hall； was much too large for the
present room。 The thunder pealed again。 Cytherea； in spite of
herself； was frightened； not only at the weather； but at the general
unearthly weirdness which seemed to surround her there。
'I wish Ithe lightn