Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/79

 'But I shall tax your patience no longer. I'm going to be a sculptor. I'm going to Rome to work at that. So now there! I won't bid you good-bye just yet; I shall see you again. But I bid good-bye here with enthusiasm to these four detested walls—to this living tomb! I didn't know till now how I hated the place! My compliments to Mr. Spooner, and my thanks for all you've not made of me!"

"I'm glad to know you're to see Mr. Striker again," Rowland answered, correcting a primary inclination to show himself as taking this report for an amusing burlesque of the facts. "You certainly owe him a respectful farewell, even if he has not understood you. I confess you rather strike me at moments as a little of a hard sum. There's another person," he presently added, "whose opinion as to your new career I should like to hear. What does your friend Miss Garland think?"

Hudson looked at him keenly, with a slight change of colour. Then with a conscious smile, "What makes you suppose she thinks anything?" he asked.

"Because, though I saw her but for a moment yesterday, she struck me, just in that moment, as a decidedly positive quantity, and I'm sure she has opinions."

The smile on Roderick's mobile face turned dim. "Oh, she thinks what I think!" he answered.

Before the two young men separated Rowland attempted to give as harmonious a shape as possible to his companion's future. "I've launched you, as I may say," he said, "and I feel as if I ought to see you into port. I'm older than you and know 45