Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/245

 several. I never was a bit looked after in that way. I can at all events imagine situations for myself beyond any in fiction — above all in our poor bête English. Some good poetry, if there is such a thing nowadays, and some memoirs and histories and books of facts."

"You shall be served. Your taste agrees with my own."

She was silent a moment, looking at him. Then suddenly, "Tell me something about Mr. Hudson," she exclaimed. "You 're very, very great friends?"

"Oh yes," said Rowland; "we 're very, very great friends."

"Tell me about him. Allons! Begin."

"Where shall I begin? You know him for yourself."

"No, I don't know him; I don't find him so easy to know. Since he has finished my bust and begun to come here disinterestedly, he has grown a great talker. He says very fine things; but does he mean all he says?"

"Few of us do that."

"You do, I imagine. You ought to know, for he tells me you discovered him." Rowland was silent, and Christina continued: " Do you consider him very, very, very clever?"

"Very, very, very."

"His talent's really distinguished?"

"So it seems to me."

"In short, he 's a great genius?"

"Yes, call him a great genius."

"And you found him vegetating in a little village 211