Connie retorted that, as for parties, Oxford, had seemed to her in the summer term the most gay and giddy place she had ever been in, and that she had always understood that in the October and Lent terms people dined out every night.

“But all the same—­one can think a little here,” she said slowly.

“You didn’t care a bit about that when you first came!” cried Nora.  “You despised us because we weren’t soldiers, or diplomats, or politicians.  You thought we were a little priggish, provincial world where nothing mattered.  You were sorry for us because we had only books and ideas!”

“I wasn’t!” said Connie indignantly.  “Only I didn’t think Oxford was everything—­and it isn’t!  Nora!”—­she looked round the Oxford street with a sudden ardour, her eyes running over the groups of undergraduates hurrying back to hall—­“do you think these English boys could ever—­well, fight—­and die—­for what you call ideas—­for their country—­as Otto Radowitz could die for Poland?”

“Try them!” The reply rang out defiantly.  Connie laughed.

“They’ll never have the chance.  Who’ll ever attack England?  If we had only something—­something splendid, and not too far away!—­to look back upon, as the Italians look back on Garibaldi—­or to long and to suffer for, as the Poles long and suffer for Poland!”

“We shall some day!” said Nora hopefully.  “Mr. Sorell says every nation gets its turn to fight for its life.  I suppose Otto Radowitz has been talking Poland to you?”

“He talks it—­and he lives it,” said Connie, with emphasis.  “It’s marvellous!—­it shames one.”

Nora shrugged her shoulders.

“But what can he do—­with his poor hand!  You know Mr. Sorell has taken a cottage for him at Boar’s Hill—­above Hinksey?”

Yes, Connie knew.  She seemed suddenly on her guard.

“But he can’t live alone?” said Nora.  “Who on earth’s going to look after him?”

Connie hesitated.  Down a side street she perceived the stately front of Marmion, and at the same moment a tall man emerging from the dusk crossed the street and entered the Marmion gate.  Her heart leapt.  No!  Absurd!  He and Otto had not arrived yet.  But already the Oxford dark, and the beautiful Oxford distances were peopled for her with visions and prophecies of hope.  The old and famous city, that had seen so much youth bloom and pass, spoke magic things to her with its wise, friendly voice.

Aloud, she said—­

“You haven’t heard?  Mr. Falloden’s going to live with him.”

Nora stopped in stupefaction.

“What?”

Connie repeated the information—­adding—­

“I dare say Mr. Sorell didn’t speak of it to you, because—­he hates it.”

“I suppose it’s just a theatrical coup,” said Nora, passionately, as they walked on—­“to impress the public.”

“It isn’t!—­it isn’t anything of the kind.  And Otto had only to say no.”