" I agree with you," he said, looking up at Lady
Waynefleete; " it is deplorable. I wish to goodness
now that I had seen it before it was printed, as I
might have saved poor Midwood from giving him-
self away so badly. It is not fair to himself or his
own reputation to print stuff like this."

"I am afraid I am profoundly uninterested in
Mr. Midwood's reputation," said Lady Waynefleete,



288 WHEN THE TIDE TURNS

" but I am interested in you and in what people
think of you, and it is for your sake that I am con-
cerned about this. I wish it had not happened."

The idea of its connection with him had not oc-
curred to Rupert before, and he brushed it aside
now. " I hardly think that anybody will think more
or less about my drawing because Midwood is foolish
enough to include stuff like this in his work."

" I am not so sure," she said gravely. " The
whole thing looks to me very serious. You won't
mind my saying that I think some of the poems are
quite disgraceful, and that the book should never
have been published. I am horrified to think that
you are associated with it. Just read these poems
through, and I think you will agree with me. Stay
here for a few minutes while I go and speak to the
housekeeper."

When she had gone, Eupert sat down with a sigh,
and read the " Syrian Songs " through from begin-
ning to end. The impression they produced upon
him was a singular one. He was first charmed, then
interested, then disappointed, then rather revolted,
and then, perhaps for the first time in his life, thor-
oughly shocked. He had never before realized to
what a limit the technical perfection of art could
be pushed in its association with rank perversity.
