church bells clanged distantly. Sybil turned towards her husband.
' A year ago—just a year ago,' she said, ' we sat here like this. I always remember that day as a day of pause before I started on adventures. Oh, Charlie, on what tiny things life and happiness depend! Just as a bullet may pass within an inch of your head, and not touch you, when another inch would have killed you, so the smallest incident may turn the whole course of things. For, do you know, if I had not been in Mrs. Emsworth's room when Mr. Bilton came in, I believe I should have married him.'
' Well, then you see that had just got to happen,' said Charlie, smiling at her.
' I suppose so. Do you know I am very happy to-day.'
' Why particularly?'
' Ah, one never knows the reason for happiness. If one knows the reason, one is only pleased. Ah! there is the train coming out of the cutting. What was it we settled it said?'
' You thought “ Utility ”; I thought “ Brutalité.” They sound very much alike.'
There was a pause; the train rumbled itself away into the distance, and its diminuendo grew overscored again with the sounds of summer.
' I met Mr. Bilton again the other night,' said Sybil. ' He wished me every happiness. I felt rather inclined to send the wish back, like Bertie with Mrs. Emsworth's wedding-present. He didn't please me, somehow. I don't trust him. Charlie, he is extraordinarily like you.'
' Many thanks.'
' You old darling! Do you know, I believe it was that which made me first—first cast a favourable eye on him.'
' And what made you firmly remove that favourable eye?'
' I have told you. Then I came back to England and
