“You don’t dislike the smoke?”

“If I did, I should say so.”

Having removed her outer garments one by one, she rose and took them into the inner room.  On reappearing, she went to the sitting-room door and turned the key in the lock.

“Could you let me have some more books to read?” she asked.

“I have brought one, thinking you might be ready for it.”

It was “Jane Eyre.”  She glanced over the pages eagerly.

“I don’t know how it is,” she said, “I have grown so hungry for reading of late.  Till just now I never cared for it.  When I was a child and went to school, I didn’t like my lessons.  Still I learned a good deal, for a little girl, and it has stayed by me.  And oh, it seems so long ago!  Never mind, perhaps I will tell you all about that some day.”

They were together for an hour or so.  Waymark, uneasily watching his companion’s every movement, rose as soon as she gave sign of weariness, and Ida did not seek to detain him.

“I shall think much of you,” he said.

“The less the better,” was Ida’s reply.

For his comfort, yes,—­Waymark thought, as he walked homewards.  Ida had already a dangerous hold upon him; she possessed his senses, and set him on fire with passionate imaginings.  Here, as on every hand, his cursed poverty closed against him the possibilities of happiness.  That she should ever come to love him, seemed very unlikely; the alliance between them could only be a mere caprice on her part, such as girls of her kind are very subject to; he might perhaps fill up her intervals of tedium, but would have no share in her real life.  And the thought of that life fevered him with jealousy.  She might say what she liked about never having known love, but it was of course impossible that she should not have a preference among her lovers.  And to think of the chances before such a girl, so blessed with rare beauty and endless charms.  In the natural order of events she would become the mistress of some rich man; might even, as at times happens, be rescued by marriage; in either case, their acquaintance must cease.  And, indeed, what right had he to endeavour to gain her love having nothing but mere beggarly devotion to offer her in return?  He had not even the excuse of one who could offer her married life in easy circumstances,—­ supposing that to be an improvement on her present position.  Would it not be better at once to break off these impossible relations?  How often he had promised himself, in moments of clear thought, never again to enter on a course which would obviously involve him in futile suffering.  Why had he not now the strength to obey his reason, and continue to possess his soul in the calm of which he had enjoyed a brief taste?