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elief that it was not all done by hand … in a word； the inspiration。
In quest of this fading light I went abroad； in the augustan manner； laden with the apparatus of my trade； for two years' refreshment among alien styles。 I did not go to Europe； her treasures were safe； too safe； swaddled in expert care； obscured by reverence。 Europe could wait。 There would be a time for Europe； I thought； all too soon the days would e when I should need a man at my side to put up my easel and carry my paints； when I could not venture more than an hour's journey from a good hotel； when I should need soft breezes and mellow sunshine all day long； then I would take my old eyes to Germany and Italy。 Now while I had the strength I would go to the wild lands where man had deserted his post and the jungle was creeping back to its old strongholds。
Accordingly； by slow but not easy stages； I travelled through Mexico and Central America in a world which had all I needed； and the change from parkland and hall should have quickened me and set me right with myself。 I sought inspiration among gutted palaces and cloisters embowered in weed； derelict churches where the vampire…bats hung in the dome like dry seed…pods and only the ants were ceaselessly astir tunnelling in the rich stalls； cities where no road led； and mausoleums where a single； agued family of Indians sheltered from the rains。 There in great labour； sickness； and occasionally in some danger； I made the first drawings for Ryder's Latin America。 Every few weeks I came to rest； finding myself once more in the zone of trade or tourism； recuperated； set up my studio； transcribed my sketches； anxiously packed the plete canvases； dispatched them to my New York agent； and then set out again； with my small retinue； into the wastes。
I was in no great pains to keep in touch with England。 I followed local advice for my itinerary and had no settled route； so that much of my mail never reached me； and the rest accumulated until there was more than could be read at a sitting。 I used to stuff a bundle of letters into my bag and read them when I felt inclined； which was in circumstances so incongruous swinging in my hammock； under the net； by the light of a storm…lantern； drifting down river； amidships in the canoe； with the boys astern of me lazily keeping our nose out of the bank； with the dark water keeping pace with us； in the green shade； with the great trees towering above us and the monkeys screeching in the sunlight； high overhead among the flowers on the roof of the forest； on the veranda of a hospitable ranch； where the ice and the dice clicked； and a tiger cat played with its chain on the mown grass … that they seemed voices so distant as to be meaningless； their matter passed clean through the mind； and out leaving no mark； like the facts about themselves which fellow travellers distribute so freely in American railway trains。
But despite this isolation and this long sojourn in a strange world； I remained unchanged； still a small part of myself pretending to be whole。 I discarded the experiences of those two years with my tropical kit and returned to New York as I had set out。 I had a fine haul … eleven paintings and fifty odd drawings and when eventually I exhibited them in London； the art critics many of whom hitherto had been patronizing in tone； as my success invited； acclaimed a new and richer note in my work。 Mr Ryder； the most respected of them wrote； rises like a fresh young trout to the hypodermic injection of a new culture and discloses a powerful facet in the vista of his potentialities。。。。By focusing the frankly traditional battery of his elegance and erudition on the maelstrom of barbarism； Mr Ryder has at last found himself。
Grateful words； but； alas； not true by a long chalk。 My wife； who crossed to New York to meet me and saw the fruits of our separation displayed in my agent's office； summed the thing up better by saying： 'Of course； I can see they're perfectly brilliant and really rather beautiful in a sinister way； but somehow I don't feel they are quite you。'
In Europe my wife was sometimes taken for an American because of her dapper and jaunty way of dressing； and the curiously hygienic quality of her prettiness； in America she assumed an English softness and reticence。 She arrived a day or two before me； and was on the pier when my ship docked。
'It has been a long time；' she said fondly when we met。
She had not joined the expedition； she explained to our friends that the country was unsuitable and she had her son at home。 There was also a daughter now； she remarked； and it came back to me that there had been talk of this before I started； as an additional reason for her staying behind。 There had been some mention of it； too； in her letters。
'I don't believe you read my letters；' she said that night； when at last； late； after a dinner party and some hours at a cabaret； we found ourselves alone in our hotel bedroom。
'Some went astray。 I remember distinctly your telling me that the daffodils in the orchard were a dream； that the nursery…maid was a jewel； that the Regency four…poster was a find； but frankly I do not remember hearing that your new baby was called Caroline'。 Why did you call it that？'
'After Charles； of course。'
'I made Bertha Van Halt godmother。 I thought she was safe for a good present。 What do you think she gave？'
'Bertha Van Halt is a well…known trap。 What？'
'A fifteen shilling book…token。 Now that Johnjohn has a panion … '
'Who？'
'Your son； darling。 You haven't forgotten him； too？'
'For Christ's sake；' I said； 'why do you call him that？'
'It's the name he invented for himself。 Don't you think it sweet？ Now that Johnjohn has a panion I think we'd better not have any more for some time； don't you？'
'Just as you please。'
'Johnjohn talks of you such a lot。 He prays every night for your safe return。'
She talked in this way while she undressed with an effort to appear at ease； then she sat at the dressing table； ran a b through her hair； and with her bare back towards me； looking at herself in the glass； said： 'Shall I put my face to bed？'
It was a famili