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In the essentials he
had changed so little since the days when as a youth of twenty
spending his vacations at the rectory he used to give the lonely
girl at the manor so much pleasure by coming up to her school-room
tea; and when it proved possible to dispose of her governess's
chaperonage and be by themselves, what delightful times they used to
have, sitting on the hearth-rug, roasting chestnuts and discussing
the many subjects which were of mutual interest. Jane could still
remember the painful pleasure of turning hot chestnuts on the bars
with her fingers, and how she hastened to do them herself, lest he
should be burned. She had always secretly liked and admired his
hands, with the brown thin fingers, so delicate in their touch and
yet full of such gentle strength. She used to love watching them
while he sharpened her pencils or drew wonderful diagrams in her
exercise books; thinking how in years to come, when he performed
important operations, human lives would depend upon their skill and
dexterity.


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