‘This is my mother,’ he said.  ’Mr. Egremont, mother; you’ll be glad to see him.’

The old lady regarded Walter with courteous curiosity, and bowed to him.  A few friendly words were exchanged, then Egremont said to Grail: 

’If you hadn’t been in, I should have left a message, asking you to meet me to-morrow afternoon.’

Mrs. Grail was about to leave the room; Egremont begged her to remain.

’It’s only a piece of news concerning our library scheme.  I think I’ve found a building that will suit us.  Do you know a school in Brook Street, connected with a Wesleyan Chapel somewhere about here?’

Gilbert said that he knew it; his mother also murmured recognition.

’It’ll be to let at the end of next quarter:  they’re building themselves a larger place.  I heard about it this afternoon, and as I was told that evening classes are held there, I thought I’d come and have a look at the place to-night.  At last it is something like what we want.  Could you meet me there, say at three, to-morrow afternoon, so that we could see it together in daylight—­if daylight be granted us?’

Grail expressed his readiness.

‘You were reading,’ Waiter went on, with a glance at the table.  ’I mustn’t waste your time.’

He rose, but Gilbert said: 

’I should be glad if you could stay a few minutes.  Perhaps you haven’t time?’

‘Oh yes.  What are you busy with?’

Half an hour’s talk followed, of course mainly of books.  Egremont looked over the volumes on the shelves; those who love such topics will know how readily gossip spun itself from that centre.  He was pleased with Grail’s home; it was very much as he had liked to picture it since he had known that Gilbert lived with his mother.  Mrs. Grail sat and listened to all that was said, a placid smile on her smooth face.  At length Egremont declared that he was consuming his friend’s evening.

‘Perhaps you’ll let me come some other night?’ he said, as he took up his hat.  ’I know very few people indeed who care to talk of these things in the way I like.’

Gilbert came back from the door with a look of pleasure.

‘Now, isn’t he a fine fellow, mother?  I’m so glad you’ve seen him.’

‘He seems a very pleasant young man indeed,’ Mrs. Grail replied.  ’He’s not quite the picture I’d made of him, but his way of speaking makes you like him from the very first.’

‘I never heard him say a word yet that didn’t sound genuine,’ Gilbert added.  ’He speaks what he thinks, and you won’t find many men who make you feel that.  And he has a mind; I wish you could hear one of his lectures; he speaks in just the same easy running way, and constantly says things one would be glad to remember.  They don’t understand him, Bower, and Bunce, and the others; they don’t feel his words as they ought to.  I’m afraid he’ll only have two or three when he begins again.’