Before the regular closing hour of the office the two articled pupils had left and were walking side by side through Bloomsbury. They skirted the oval garden of Bedford Square, which, lying off the main track to the northern termini, and with nothing baser in it than a consulate¹ or so, took precedence in austerity and selectness over Russell Square, which had consented to receive a grand hotel or 'modern caravanserai' and a shorthand school. Indeed the aspect of Bedford Square, where the great institution of the basement and area still flourished in perfection, and wealthy menials with traditional manners lived sensually in caves beneath the spacious², calm salons³ of their employers and dupes,—the aspect of Bedford Square gave the illusion that evolution was not, and that Bloomsbury and the whole impressive structure of British society could never change. Still, from a more dubious⁴ Bloomsbury, demure⁵ creatures with inviting⁶, indiscreet eyes were already traversing the prim⁷ flags of Bedford Square on their way to the evening's hard diplomacy⁸. Mr. Lucas made quiet remarks about their qualities, but George did not respond.