Amidst such influences acquaintance is soon made between the few persons so thrown together, but each is apt to regard such new acquaintance merely as bearing upon his or her own particular interests.

It is surprising to see how people will live side by side in solitude, even in danger, in distant settlements, in the mining districts of the West, in up-country stations in India, on board ship, even, for months and years, without knowing anything of each other's previous history; whereas in the crowded centres of civilisation and society the first questions are "Where does he come from ?" "What are his antecedents ?" "What has he done in the world ?" And unless a man can answer such inquiries to the general satisfaction he is likely to be heavily handicapped in the social race.

But in more primitive situations men are ruled by more primitive feelings of mutual respect; it is considered that a man should not be pressed to speak of things he shows no desire to discuss and that, provided he does not interfere with his neighbour's wellbeing, his past life is nobody's business.

One may feel curiosity concerning him, but under no circumstances is one justified in asking questions.
For these reasons, although Mr.Juxon's arrival and instalment in the Hall were regarded with satisfaction by the little circle at Billingsfield, while he himself was at once received into intimacy and treated with cordial friendliness, he nevertheless represented in the minds of all an unsolved enigma.

And to the squire the existence of one of the circle was at least as problematical as his own life could seem to any of them.