第9章

"ForGod\'ssake，youknow，don\'tgetBerrymanonhishorse!"growledthelittlefatmansuddenly。

Berrymanreturnedhisvolumetotheshelfandtookanotherdown。

Therewassomethingalmostgodlikeinhissarcasticabsent-

mindedness。

"Imagineamanwritingthatstuff，"hesaid，"ifhe\'deverbeenatEton!Whatdowewanttoknowaboutthatsortofthing？Awritershouldbeasportsmanandagentleman"；andagainhelookeddownoverhischinatShelton，asthoughexpectinghimtocontrovertthesentiment。

"Don\'tyou——"beganthelatter。

ButBerryman\'sattentionhadwanderedtothewall。

"Ireallydon\'tcare，"saidhe，"toknowwhatawomanfeelswhensheisgoingtothedogs；itdoesn\'tinterestme。"

ThevoiceofTrimmermadethingspleasant:

"Questionofmoralstandards，that，andnothingmore。"

Hehadstretchedhislegslikecompasses，——andthewayhegraspedhisgown-wingsseemedtoturnhimtoapairofscales。Hisloweringsmileembracedtheroom，deprecatingstrongexpressions。"Afterall，"heseemedtosay，"wearemenoftheworld；weknowthere\'snotverymuchinanything。Thisisthemodernspirit；whynotgiveitalookin？"

"DoIunderstandyoutosay，Berryman，thatyoudon\'tenjoyaspicybook？"askedWasherwithhissmile；andatthisquestionthelittlefatmansniggered，blinkingtempestuously，asiftosay，"Nothingpleasanter，don\'tyouknow，beforeahotfireincoldweather。"

Berrymanpaidnoattentiontotheimpertinentinquiry，continuingtodipintohisvolumeandwalkupanddown。

"I\'venothingtosay，"heremarked，stoppingbeforeShelton，andlookingdown，asifatlastawareofhim，"tothosewhotalkofbeingjustifiedthroughArt。Icallaspadeaspade。"

Sheltondidnotanswer，becausehecouldnottellwhetherBerrymanwasaddressinghimorsocietyatlarge。AndBerrymanwenton:

"Dowewanttoknowaboutthefeelingsofamiddle-classwomanwithatasteforvice？Tellmethepointofit。Nomanwhowasinthehabitoftakingbathswouldchoosesuchasubject。"

"Youcometothequestionof-ah-subjects，"thevoiceofTrimmergeniallybuzzedhehadgatheredhisgarmentstightacrosshisback-

"mydearfellow，Art，properlyapplied，justifiesallsubjects。"

"ForArt，"squeakedBerryman，puttingbackhissecondvolumeandtakingdownathird，"youhaveHomer，Cervantes，Shakespeare，Ossian；

forgarbage，anumberofunwashedgentlemen。"

Therewasalaugh；Sheltonglancedroundatallinturn。WiththeexceptionofCrocker，whowashalfasleepandsmilingidiotically，theywore，oneandall，alookasifbynochancecouldtheyconsideranysubjectfittomovetheirhearts；asif，oneandall，theyweresoprofoundlyanchoredontheseaoflifethatwavescouldonlyseemimpertinent。ItmayhavebeensomeglimmerinthisglanceofShelton\'sthatbroughtTrimmeroncemoretotherescuewithhiscompromisingair。

"TheFrench，"saidhe，"havequiteadifferentstandardfromourselvesinliterature，justastheyhaveadifferentstandardinregardtohonour。Allthisispurelyartificial。"

Whathe，meant，however，Sheltonfounditdifficulttotell。

"Honour，"saidWasher，"\'l\'honneur，dieEhre\'duelling，unfaithfulwives——"

Hewasclearlygoingtoaddtothis，butitwaslost；forthelittlefatman，takingthemeerschaumwithtremblingfingers，andholdingitwithintwoinchesofhischin，murmured:

"Youfellows，Berryman\'sawf\'lystrongonhonour。"

Heblinkedtwice，andputthemeerschaumbackbetweenhislips。

Withoutreturningthethirdvolumetoitsshelf，Berrymantookdownafourth；withchestexpanded，heappearedabouttousethebooksasdumb-bells。

"Quiteso，"saidTrimmer；"thechangefromduellingtolawcourtsisprofoundly——"

Whetherheweregoingtosay"significant"or"insignificant，"inShelton\'sestimatehedidnotknowhimself。FortunatelyBerrymanbrokein:

"Lawcourtsornot，whenamanrunsawaywithawifeofmine，Ishallpunchhishead!"

"Come，come!"saidTurner，spasmodicallygraspinghistwowings。

Sheltonhadagleamofinspiration。"Ifyourwifedeceivedyou，"hethought，lookingatTrimmer\'seyes，"you\'dkeepitquiet，andholditoverher。"

Washerpassedhishandoverhispalechaps:hissmilehadneverwavered；helookedlikeoneforeverlostinthemakingofanepigram。

Thepunchingtheoriststretchedhisbody，holdingthebookslevelwithhisshoulders，asthoughtostonehishearerswithhispointofview。Hisfacegrewpaler，hisfineeyesfiner，hislipsironical。

Almostpainfulwasthiscombinationofthe"strong"manandthestudentwhowasboundtogotopiecesifyouhithimasmartblow。

"Asforforgivingfaithlesswives，"hesaid，"andallthatsortofthing，Idon\'tbelieveinsentiment。"

Thewordswerehigh-pitchedandsarcastic。Sheltonlookedhastilyaround。Alltheirfaceswerecomplacent。Hegrewred，andsuddenlyremarked，inasoft；clearvoice:

"Isee!"

Hewasconsciousthathehadneverbeforemadeanimpressionofthissort，andthatheneverwouldagain。Thecoldhostilityflashingoutallroundwasmostenlightening；itinstantlygavewaytothepolite，satiricalindulgencepeculiartohighly-cultivatedmen。Crockerrosenervously；heseemedscared，andwasobviouslyrelievedwhenShelton，followinghisexample，graspedthelittlefatman\'shand，whosaidgood-nightinavoiceshakenbytobacco。

"Whoareyourunshavenfriends？"heheardasthedoorwasclosedbehindthem。

CHAPTERXIX

ANINCIDENT

"Eleveno\'clock，"saidCrocker，astheywentoutofcollege。"I

don\'tfeelsleepy；shallwestrollalongthe\'High\'abit？"

Sheltonassented；hewastoobusythinkingofhisencounterwiththedonstoheedthesorenessofhisfeet。This，too，wasthelastdayofhistravels，forhehadnotalteredhisintentionofwaitingatOxfordtillJuly。

"Wecallthisplacetheheartofknowledge，"hesaid，passingagreatbuildingthatpresided，whiteandsilent，overdarkness；"itseemstomeaslittlethat，asSocietyistheheartoftruegentility。"

Crocker\'sanswerwasagrunt；hewaslookingatthestars，calculatingpossiblyinhowlonghecouldwalktoheaven。

"No，"proceededShelton；"we\'vetoomuchcommon-senseupheretostrainourminds。Weknowwhenit\'stimetostop。WepileupnewsofPapiasandalltheverbsin\'ui\'butasfornewsoflifeorofoneself!Realseekersafterknowledgeareadifferentsort。Theyfightinthedark——noquartergiven。Wedon\'tgrowthatsortuphere。"

"Howjollythelimessmell!"saidCrocker。

Hehadhaltedoppositeagarden，andtakenholdofSheltonbyabuttonofhiscoat。Hiseyes，likeadog\'s，staredwistfully。Itseemedasthoughhewishedtospeak，butfearedtogiveoffence。

"Theytellyou，"pursuedShelton，"thatwelearntobegentlemenuphere。Welearnthatbetterthroughoneincidentthatstirsourheartsthanwelearnithereinallthetimewe\'reup。"

"Hum!"mutteredCrocker，twistingatthebutton；"thosefellowswhoseemedthebestsortsupherehaveturnedoutthebestsortsafterwards。"

"Ihopenot，"saidSheltongloomily；"IwasasnobwhenIwasuphere。IbelievedallIwastold，anythingthatmadethingspleasant；

my"set"werenothingbut——"

Crockersmiledinthedarkness；hehadbeentoo"cranky"tobelongtoShelton\'s"set。"

"Youneverweremuchlikeyour\'set，\'oldchap，"hesaid。

Sheltonturnedaway，sniffingtheperfumeofthelimes。Imageswerethrongingthroughhismind。Thefacesofhisoldfriendsstrangelymixedwiththoseofpeoplehehadlatelymet——thegirlinthetrain，Ferrand，theladywiththeshort，round，powderedface，thelittlebarber；others，too，andfloating，mysterious，——connectedwiththemall，Antonia\'sface。Thescentofthelime-treesdriftedathimwithitsmagicsweetness。Fromthestreetbehind，thefootstepsofthepassers-bysoundedmuffled，yetexact，andonthebreezewasbornethestrain:"Forhe\'sajollygoodfellow!

Forhe\'sajollygoodfellow!Forhe\'sajollygoodfe-ellow!Andsosayallofus!"

"Ah!"hesaid，"theyweregoodchaps。"

"Iusedtothink，"saidCrockerdreamily，"thatsomeofthemhadtoomuchside。"

AndSheltonlaughed。

"Thethingsickensme，"saidhe，"thewholesnobbish，selfishbusiness。Theplacesickensme，linedwithcotton-wool-madesobeastlycomfortable。"

Crockershookhishead。

"It\'sasplendidoldplace，"hesaid，hiseyesfasteningatlastonShelton\'sboots。"Youknow，oldchap，"hestammered，"Ithinkyou——

yououghttotakecare!"

"Takecare？Whatof？"

Crockerpressedhisarmconvulsively。

"Don\'tbewaxy，oldboy，"hesaid；"Imeanthatyouseemsomehow——tobe——tobelosingyourself。"

"Losingmyself!Findingmyself，youmean!"

Crockerdidnotanswer；hisfacewasdisappointed。Ofwhatexactlywashethinking？InShelton\'shearttherewasabitterpleasureinknowingthathisfriendwasuncomfortableonhisaccount，asortofcontempt，asortofaching。Crockerbrokethesilence。

"IthinkIshalldoabitmorewalkingto-night，"hesaid；"Ifeelveryfit。Don\'tyoureallymeantocomeanyfurtherwithme，Bird？"

Andtherewasanxietyinhisvoice，asthoughSheltonwereindangerofmissingsomethinggood。Thelatter\'sfeethadinstantlybeguntoacheandburn。

"No!"？hesaid；"youknowwhatI\'mstayingherefor。"

Crockernodded。

"Shelivesnearhere。Well，then，I\'llsaygood-bye。Ishouldliketodoanothertenmilesto-night。"

"Mydearfellow，you\'retiredandlame。"

Crockerchuckled。

"No，"hesaid；"Iwanttogeton。SeeyouinLondon。Good-bye!"

and，grippingShelton\'shand，heturnedandlimpedaway。

Sheltoncalledafterhim:"Don\'tbeanidiot:You\'llonlyknockyourselfup。"

ButthesoleanswerwasthepalemoonofCrocker\'sfacescrewedroundtowardshiminthedarkness，andthewavingofhisstick。

Sheltonstrolledslowlyon；leaningoverthebridge，hewatchedtheoilygleamoflamps，onthedarkwaterunderneaththetrees。Hefeltrelieved，yetsorry。Histhoughtswererandom，curious，halfmutinous，halfsweet。Thatafternoonfiveyearsago，whenhehadwalkedbackfromtheriverwithAntoniaacrosstheChristchurchmeadows，wasvividtohismind；thescentofthatafternoonhadneverdiedawayfromhim-thearomaofhislove。Soonshewouldbehiswife——hiswife!Thefacesofthedonssprangupbeforehim。Theyhadwives，perhaps。Fat，lean，satirical，andcompromising——whatwasitthatthroughdiversitytheyhadincommon？Culturedintolerance!……Honour!……Aqueersubjecttodiscuss。Honour!Thehonourthatmadeafuss，andclaimeditsrights!AndSheltonsmiled。

"Asifman\'shonoursufferedwhenhe\'sinjured!"Andslowlyhewalkedalongtheechoing，emptystreettohisroomattheBishop\'sHead。Nextmorninghereceivedthefollowingwire:

ThirtymileslefteighteenhoursheelbadbutgoingstrongCROCKER

HepassedafortnightattheBishop\'sHead，waitingfortheendofhisprobation，andtheendseemedlongincoming。TobesonearAntonia，andasfarasifheliveduponanotherplanet，wasworsethanever。Eachdayhetookascullingskiff，andpulleddowntonearHolmOaks，onthechanceofherbeingontheriver；butthehousewastwomilesoff，andthechancebutslender。Shenevercame。

Afterspendingtheafternoonslikethishewouldreturn，pullinghardagainstthestream，withaqueerfeelingofrelief，dineheartily，andfalladreamingoverhiscigar。Eachmorningheawokeinanexcitedmood，devouredhisletterifhehadone，andsatdowntowritetoher。Theselettersofhiswerethemostamazingportionofthatfortnight。Theywereremarkableforfailingtoexpressanysingleoneofhisrealthoughts，buttheywerefullofsentimentswhichwerenotwhathewastrulyfeeling；andwhenhesethimselftoanalyse，hehadsuchmomentsofdeliriumthathewasscared，andshocked，andquiteunabletowriteanything。Hemadethediscoverythatnotwohumanbeingsevertelleachotherwhattheyreallyfeel，except，perhaps，insituationswithwhichhecouldnotconnectAntonia\'sice-blueeyesandbrilliantsmile。Alltheworldwastooengagedinplanningdecency。

Absorbedbylongings，hebutvaguelyrealisedtheturmoilofCommemoration，whichhadgathereditshundredsfortheirannualcureofsalmonmayonnaiseandcheapchampagne。InpreparationforhisvisittoHolmOaksheshavedhisbeardandhadsomeclothessentdownfromLondon。WiththemwasforwardedaletterfromFerrand，whichranasfollows:

IMPERIALPEACOCKHOTEL，FOLKESTONE，June20。

MYDEARSIR，Forgivemefornothavingwrittentoyoubefore，butIhavebeensobotheredthatIhavefeltnotasteforwriting；whenIhavethetime，Ihavesomecuriousstoriestotellyou。OnceagainIhaveencounteredthatdemonofmisfortunewhichdogsmyfootsteps。Beingoccupiedalldayandnearlyallnightuponbusinesswhichbringsmeaheapofworriesandnexttonoprofit，Ihavenochancetolookaftermythings。Thieveshaveenteredmyroom，stoleneverything，andleftmeanemptybox。Iamonceagainalmostwithoutclothes，andknownotwheretoturntomakethatfigurenecessaryforthefulfilmentofmyduties。Yousee，Iamnotlucky。Sincecomingtoyourcountry，thesolepieceoffortuneIhavehadwastotumbleonamanlikeyou。

Excusemefornotwritingmoreatthismoment。Hopingthatyouareingoodhealth，andinaffectionatelypressingyourhand，Iam，AlwaysyourdevotedLOUISFERRAND。

UponreadingthisletterSheltonhadoncemoreasenseofbeingexploited，ofwhichhewasashamed；hesatdownimmediatelyandwrotethefollowingreply:

BISHOPSHEADHOTEL，OXFORD，June25。

MYDEARFERRAND，Iamgrievedtohearofyourmisfortunes。Iwasmuchhopingthatyouhadmadeabetterstart。IencloseyouPostOfficeOrdersforfourpounds。Alwaysgladtohearfromyou。

Yourssincerely，RICHARDSHELTON。

Heposteditwiththesatisfactionthatamanfeelswhonoblyshakesoffhisresponsibilities。

ThreedaysbeforeJulyhemetwithoneofthosedisturbingincidentswhichbefallnopersonswhoattendquietlytotheir，propertyandreputation。

Thenightwasunbearablyhot，andhehadwanderedoutwithhiscigar；

awomancamesidlingupandspoketohim。Heperceivedhertobeoneofthosemadebymenintomediumsfortheirpleasure，tofeelsympathywithwhomwassentimental。Herfacewasflushed，herwhisperhoarse；shehadnoattractionsbutthecurvesofatawdryfigure。Sheltonwasrepelledbyherproprietarytone，byherblowzyface，andbythescentofpatchouli。Hertouchonhisarmstartledhim，sendingashiverthroughhismarrow；healmostleapedaside，andwalkedthefaster。Butherbreathingasshefollowedsoundedlaboured；itsuddenlyseemedpitifulthatawomanshouldbepantingafterhimlikethat。

"TheleastIcando，"hethought，"istospeaktoher。"Hestopped，and，withamixtureofhardnessandcompassion，said，"It\'simpossible。"

Inspiteofhersmile，hesawbyherdisappointedeyesthatsheacceptedtheimpossibility。

"I\'msorry，"hesaid。

Shemutteredsomething。Sheltonshookhishead。

"I\'msorry，"hesaidoncemore。"Good-night。"

Thewomanbitherlowerlip。

"Good-night，"sheanswereddully。

Atthecornerofthestreetheturnedhishead。Thewomanwashurryinguneasily；apolicemancomingfrombehindhadcaughtherbythearm。

Hisheartbegantobeat。"Heavens!"hethought，"whatshallIdonow？"Hisfirstimpulsewastowalkaway，andthinknomoreaboutit——toact，indeed，likeanyaveragelydecentmanwhodidnotcaretobeconcernedinsuchaffairs。

Heretracedhissteps，however，andhaltedhalfadozenpacesfromtheirfigures。

"Askthegentleman!Hespoketome，"shewassayinginherbrassyvoice，throughtheemphasisofwhichSheltoncoulddetectherfear。

"That\'sallright，"returnedthepoliceman，"weknowallaboutthat。"

"You——police!"criedthewomantearfully；"I\'vegottogetmyliving，haven\'tI，thesameasyou？"

Sheltonhesitated，then，catchingtheexpressioninherfrightenedface，steppedforward。Thepolicemanturned，andatthesightofhispale，heavyjowl，cutbythecheek-strap，andthebullyingeyes，hefeltbothhateandfear，asifbroughtfacetofacewithallthathedespisedandloathed，yetstrangelydreaded。Thecoldcertaintyoflawandorderupholdingthestrong，treadingunderfoottheweak，thesmugfrontofmeannessthatonlythepurestspiritsmayattack，seemedtobefacinghim。Andtheoddthingwas，thismanwasonlycarryingouthisduty。Sheltonmoistenedhislips。

"You\'renotgoingtochargeher？"

"Aren\'tI？"returnedthepoliceman。

"Lookhere；constable，you\'remakingamistake。"

Thepolicemantookouthisnote-book。

"Oh，I\'mmakingamistake？I\'lltakeyournameandaddress，please；wehavetoreportthesethings。"

"Byallmeans，"saidShelton，angrilygivingit。"Ispoketoherfirst。"

"Perhapsyou\'llcomeuptothecourttomorrowmorning，andrepeatthat，"repliedthepoliceman，withincivility。

Sheltonlookedathimwithalltheforceathiscommand。

"Youhadbetterbecareful，constable，"hesaid；butintheactofutteringthesewordshethoughthowpitiabletheysounded。

"We\'renottobetrifledwith，"returnedthepolicemaninathreateningvoice。

Sheltoncouldthinkofnothingbuttorepeat:

"Youhadbetterbecareful，constable。"

"You\'reagentleman，"repliedthepoliceman。"I\'monlyapoliceman。

You\'vegottheriches，I\'vegotthepower。"

Graspingthewoman\'sarm，hebegantomovealongwithher。

Sheltonturned，andwalkedaway。

HewenttoGrinnings\'Club，andflunghimselfdownuponasofa。Hisfeelingwasnotoneofpityforthewoman，norofpeculiarangerwiththepoliceman，butratherofdissatisfactionwithhimself。

"WhatoughtItohavedone？"hethought，"thebeggarwaswithinhisrights。"

Hestaredatthepicturesonthewall，andatideofdisgustsurgedupinhim。

"Oneorotherofus，"hereflected，"wemakethesewomenwhattheyare。Andwhenwe\'vemadethem，wecan\'tdowithoutthem；wedon\'twantto；butwegivethemnoproperhomes，sothatthey\'rereducedtoprowlaboutthestreets，andthenwerunthemin。Ha!that\'sgood——

that\'sexcellent!Werunthemin!Andherewesitandcarp。Butwhatdowedo？Nothing!Oursystemisthemosthighlymoralknown。

Wegetthebenefitwithoutsoilingeventhehemofourphylacteries——

thewomenaretheonlyonesthatsuffer。Andwhyshouldn\'tthey——

inferiorthings？"

Helitacigarette，andorderedthewaitertobringadrink。

"I\'llgototheCourt，"hethought；butsuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatthecasewouldgetintothelocalpapers。Thepresswouldnevermisssonicealittlebitofscandal——"Gentlemanv。Policeman!"

AndhehadavisionofAntonia\'sfather，aneighbouringandconscientiousmagistrate，solemnlyreadingthis。Someone，atallevents，wasboundtoseehisnameandmakeapointofmentioningittoogoodtobemissed!Andsuddenlyhesawwithhorrorthattohelpthewomanhewouldhavetoassertagainthathehadspokentoherfirst。"ImustgototheCourt!"hekeptthinking，asiftoassurehimselfthathewasnotacoward。

Helayawakehalfthenightworryingoverthisdilemma。

"ButIdidn\'tspeaktoherfirst，"hetoldhimself；"Ishallonlybetellingalie，andthey\'llmakemeswearit，too!"

Hetriedtopersuadehimselfthatthiswasagainsthisprinciples，butatthebottomofhisheartheknewthathewouldnotobjecttotellingsuchalieifonlyguaranteedimmunefromconsequences；itappearedtohim，indeed，butobvioushumanity。

"ButwhyshouldIsuffer？"hethought；"I\'vedonenothing。It\'sneitherreasonablenorjust。"

Hehatedtheunhappywomanwhowascausinghimthesehorrorsofuncertainty。Wheneverhedecidedonewayorother，thepoliceman\'sface，withitstyrannicalandmuddyeyes，rosebeforehimlikeanightmare，andforcedhimtoanoppositeconviction。Hefellasleepatlastwiththefulldeterminationtogoandseewhathappened。

Hewokewithasenseofodddisturbance。"Icandonogoodbygoing，"hethought，remembering，aidlyingverystill；"they\'recertaintobelievethepoliceman；Ishallonlyblackenmyselffornothing；"andthecombatbeganagainwithinhim，butwithfarlessfury。Itwasnotwhatotherpeoplethought，noteventheriskofperjurythatmattered(allthishemadequiteclear)——itwasAntonia。

Itwasnotfairtohertoputhimselfinsuchafalseposition；infact，notdecent。

Hebreakfasted。IntheroomweresomeAmericans，andthefaceofoneyounggirlremindedhimalittleofAntonia。Fainterandfaintergrewtheincident；itseemedtohaveitsrightproportions。

Twohourslater，lookingattheclock，hefoundthatitwaslunch-

time。Hehadnotgone，hadnotcommittedperjury；buthewrotetoadailypaper，pointingoutthedangerrunbythecommunityfromthepowerwhichabeliefintheirinfallibilityplacesinthehandsofthepolice——how，sincetheyaretheswornabettorsofrightandjustice，theirwordisalmostnecessarilytakentobegospel；howoneandalltheyhangtogether，frommingledinterestandespritdecorps。Wasitnot，hesaid，reasonabletosupposethatamongstthousandsofhumanbeingsinvestedwithsuchopportunitiestherewouldbefoundbullieswhowouldtakeadvantageofthem，andrisetodistinctionintheserviceuponthehelplessnessoftheunfortunateandthecowardiceofpeoplewithanythingtolose？Thosewhohadintheirhandsthesacreddutiesofselectingapracticallyirresponsiblebodyofmenwerebound，forthesakeoffreedomandhumanity，toexercisethosedutieswiththeutmostcareandthoroughness……

Howevertrue，noneofthishelpedhimtothinkanybetterofhimselfatheart，andhewashauntedbythefeelingthatastoutandhonestbitofperjurywasworthmorethanalettertoadailypaper。

Heneversawhisletterprinted，containing，asitdid，thegermsofanunpalatabletruth。

Intheafternoonhehiredahorse，andgallopedonPortMeadow。Thestrainofhisindecisionover，hefeltlikeamanrecoveringfromanillness，andhecarefullyabstainedfromlookingatthelocalpapers。

Therewasthatwithinhim，however，whichresentedtheworstingofhischivalry。

CHAPTERXX

HOLMOAKS

HolmOaksstoodbackbutlittlefromtheroad——anoldmanor-house，notsetupondisplay，butdwellingclosetoitsbarns，stables，andwalledgardens，likeagoodmother；long，flat-roofed，red，ithadQueenAnnewindows，onwhosewhite-frameddiamondpanesthesunbeamsglinted。

Infrontofitafringeofelms，ofalltreesthetreeofmostestablishedprinciple，borderedthestretchofturfbetweenthegraveldriveandroad；andtheseelmswerethehomesofrooksofallbirdsthemostconventional。Ahugeaspen——impressionablecreature——

shiveredandshookbeyond，apologisingforappearanceamongsuchimperturbablesurroundings。Itwasfrequentedbyacuckoo，whocameonceayeartohootattherulesoflife，butseldommadelongstay；

forboysthrewstonesatit，exasperatedbytheabsenceofitsmorals。

Thevillagewhichclusteredinthediphadnotyetlostitsdreadofmotor-cars。Aboutthisgroupofflat-facedcottageswithgabledroofsthescentofhay，manure，androsesclungcontinually；justnowtheodourofthelimestroubleditsservilesturdiness。Beyondthedip，again，asquare-toweredchurchkeptwithingreywallstherecordofthevillageflock，births，deaths，andmarriages——eventhebirthsofbastards，eventhedeathsofsuicides——andseemedtostretchahandinvisibleabovetheheadsofcommonfolktograsptheforgersofthemanor-house。Decentanddiscreet，thetworoofscaughttheeyetotheexclusionofallmeanerdwellings，seemingtohavejoinedinaconspiracytokeepthemoutofsight。

TheJulysunhadburnedhisfaceallthewayfromOxford，yetpalewasSheltonwhenhewalkedupthedriveandrangthebell。

"Mrs。Dennantathome，Dobson？"heaskedofthegravebutler，who，oldservantthathewas，stillworecolouredtrousers(foritwasnotyettwelveo\'clock，andheregardedcolouredtrousersuptonoonasasacreddistinctionbetweenthefootmenandhimself)。

"Mrs。Dennant，"repliedthispersonage，raisinghisroundandhairlessface，whileonhismouthappearedthatapologeticpoutwhichcomesoflivingwithgoodfamilies——"Mrs。Dennanthasgoneintothevillage，sir；butMissAntoniaisinthemorning-room。"

Sheltoncrossedthepanelled，low-roofedhall，throughwhosefarsidethelawnwasvisible，avisionofserenity。Hemountedsixwide，shallowsteps，andstopped。Frombehindacloseddoortherecamethesoundofscales，andhestood，apreytohisemotions，thenotesminglinginhisearswiththebeatingofhisheart。Hesoftlyturnedthehandle，afixedsmileonhislips。

Antoniawasatthepiano；herheadwasbobbingtothemovementsofherfingers，andpressingdownthepedalswereherslimmonotonouslymovingfeet。Shehadbeenplayingtennis，foraracquetandhertam-

o\'-shanterwereflungdown，andshewasdressedinablueskirtandcreamyblouse，fittingcollarlessaboutherthroat。Herfacewasflushed，andworealittlefrown；andasherfingersracedalongthekeys，herneckswayed，andthesilkclungandshiveredonherarms。

Shelton\'seyesfastenedonthesilent，countinglips，onthefairhairaboutherforehead，thedarkereyebrowsslantingdowntowardsthenose，theundimpledcheekswiththefaintfinger-marksbeneaththeice-blueeyes，thesoftly-poutingandundimpledchin，thewholeremote，sweet，suntouched，glacialface。

Sheturnedherhead，and，springingup，cried:

"Dick!Whatfun!"Shegavehimbothherhands，buthersmilingfacesaidveryplainly，"Oh；don\'tletusbesentimental!"

"Aren\'tyougladtoseeme？"mutteredShelton。

"Gladtoseeyou!Youarefunny，Dick!——asifyoudidn\'tknow!

Why，you\'veshavedyourbeard!MotherandSybilhavegoneintothevillagetoseeoldMrs。Hopkins。Shallwegoout？Theaandtheboysareplayingtennis。It\'ssojollythatyou\'vecome!"Shecaughtupthetam-o\'-shanter，andpinnedittoherhair。AlmostastallasShelton，shelookedtaller，witharmsraisedandloosesleevesquiveringlikewingstothemovementsofherfingers。"Wemighthaveagamebeforelunch；youcanhavemyotherracquet。"

"I\'vegotnothings，"saidSheltonblankly。

Hercalmglanceranoverhim。

"YoucanhavesomeofoldBernard\'s；he\'sgotanyamount。I\'llwaitforyou。"Sheswungherracquet，lookedatShelton，cried，"Bequick!"andvanished。

Sheltonranup-stairs，anddressedintheundecidedwayofmenassumingotherpeople\'sclothes。Shewasinthehallwhenhedescended，hummingatuneandproddingathershoe；hersmileshowedallherpearlyupperteeth。Hecaughtholdofhersleeveandwhispered:

"Antonia!"

Thecolourrushedintohercheeks；shelookedbackacrosshershoulder。

"Comealong，oldDick!"shecried；and，flingingopentheglassdoor，ranintothegarden。

Sheltonfollowed。

Thetennis-groundwasdividedbytallnettingfromapaddock。Aholmoaktreeshadedonecorner，anditsthickdarkfoliagegaveanunexpecteddepthtothegreensmoothnessofthescene。AsSheltonandAntoniacarneup，BernardDennantstoppedandcordiallygraspedShelton\'shand。FromthefarsideofthenetThea，inashortishskirt，tossedbackherstraightfairhair，and，wardingoffthesun，camestrollinguptothem。Theumpire，asmallboyoftwelve，waslyingonhisstomach，squealingandticklingacollie。Sheltonbentandpulledhishair。

"Hallo，Toddles!youyoungruffian!"

OneandalltheystoodroundShelton，andtherewasafrankandpitilessinquiryintheireyes，intheangleoftheirnosessomethingchaffinganddistrustful，asthoughabouthimweresomesubtlepoignantscentexcitingcuriosityanddisapproval。

Whenthesettswereover，andthegirlsrestinginthedoublehammockunderneaththeholmoak，SheltonwentwithBernardtothepaddocktohuntforthelostballs。

"Isay，oldchap，"saidhisoldschool-fellow，smilingdryly，"you\'reinforawiggingfromtheMater。"

"Awigging？"murmuredShelton。

"Idon\'tknowmuchaboutit，butfromsomethingsheletdropitseemsyou\'vebeensayingsomequeerthingsinyourletterstoAntonia"；andagainhelookedatSheltonwithhisdrysmile。

"Queerthings？"saidthelatterangrily。"Whatd\'youmean？"

"Oh，don\'taskme。TheMaterthinksshe\'sinabadway——unsettled，orwhatd\'youcallat。You\'vebeentellingherthatthingsarenotwhattheyseem。That\'sbad，youknow"；andstillsmilingheshookhishead。

Sheltondroppedhiseyes。

"Well，theyaren\'t!"hesaid。

"Oh，that\'sallright!Butdon\'tbringyourphilosophydownhere，oldchap。"

"Philosophy!"saidShelton，puzzled。

"Leaveusasacredprejudiceortwo。"

"Sacred!Nothing\'ssacred，except——"ButSheltondidnotfinishhisremark。"Idon\'tunderstand，"hesaid。

"Ideals，thatsortofthing!You\'vebeendivingdownbelowthelineof\'practicalpolitics，\'that\'saboutthesizeofit，myboy"；and，stoopingsuddenly，hepickedupthelastball。"ThereistheMater!"

SheltonsawMrs。Dennantcomingdownthelawnwithherseconddaughter，Sybil。

Bythetimetheyreachedtheholmoakthethreegirlshaddepartedtowardsthehouse，walkingarminarm，andMrs。Dennantwasstandingtherealone，inagreydress，talkingtoanundergardener。Herhands，casedintangauntlets，heldabasketwhichwardedoffthebeardedgardenerfromtheseverebutamplelinesofheruseful-lookingskirt。Thecollie，erectuponhishaunches，lookedattheirtwofaces，prickinghisearsinhisendeavourtoappreciatehowoneofthesetwobipedsdifferedfromtheother。

"Thankyou；that\'lldo，Bunyan。Ah，Dick!Charmin\'toseeyouhere，atlast!"

InhisintercoursewithMrs。Dennant，Sheltonneverfailedtomarkthetypicalnatureofherpersonality。Italwaysseemedtohimthathehadmetsomanyotherladieslikeher。Hefeltthatherundoubtablequalityhadanon-individualflavour，asifstandingforherclass。Shethoughtthatstandingforherselfwasnotthething；

yetshewasfullofcharacter。Tall，withnoseatriflebeaked，long，slopingchin，andanassured，benevolentmouth，showing，perhaps，toomanyteeth——thoughthin，shewasnotunsubstantial。Heraccentinspeakingshowedherheritage；itwasakindofdrawlwhichdisregardedvulgarmeritssuchastone；leanedonsomesyllables，anddespisedthefinal\'g\'——thepeculiaraccent，infact，ofaristocracy，addingitsdeliberatejoystolife。

Sheltonknewthatshehadmanyinterests；shewasneverreallyidle，fromthetime(7A。M。)whenhermaidbroughtheralittlechinapotofteawithasinglebiscuitandherpetdog，Tops，tilleleveno\'clockatnight，whenshelightedawaxcandleinasilvercandlestick，andwiththisinonehand，andintheotheranewnovel，or，betterstill，oneofthosecharmingvolumeswrittenbygreatpeopleaboutthestillgreaterpeopletheyhavemet，shesaidgood-

nighttoherchildrenandherguests。No!Whatwithphotography，thepresidencyofalocalleague，visitingtherich，superintendingallthepoor，gardening，reading，keepingallherideassotidythatnoforeignnotionsmightstrayin，shewasneveridle。Theinformationshecollectedfromthesesourceswasbothvastandvaried，butsheneverletitflavourheropinions，whichlackedsauce，andweredrawnfromsomesortofdishintowhich，withallherclass，shedippedherfingers。

Helikedher。Noonecouldhelplikingher。Shewaskind，andofsuchgoodquality，withasuggestionaboutherofthin，excellent，andusefulchina；andshewasscented，too——notwithverbena，violets，orthoseessenceswhichwomenlove，butwithnothing，asifshehadtakenstandagainstallmeretricity。Inherintercoursewithpersonsnot"quitethething"(sheexceptedthevicarfromthiscategory，thoughhisfatherhaddealtinhaberdashery)，herrefinement，gently，unobtrusively，andwithgreatpracticalgoodsense，seemedcontinuallytomurmur，"Iam，andyou——well，areyou，don\'tyouknow？"Buttherewasnoself-consciousnessaboutthisattitude，forshewasreallynotacommonwoman。Shesimplycouldnothelpit；allherpeoplehaddonethis。Theirnursesbreathedabovethemintheircradlessomethingthat，inhaledintotheirsystems，everafterwardspreventedthemfromtakinggood，clearbreaths。Andhermanner!Ah!hermanner——itconcealedtheinnerwomansoastoleavedoubtofherexistence!

Sheltonlistenedtothekindlybrisknesswithwhichshedweltupontheunder-gardener。

"PoorBunyan!helosthiswifesixmonthsago，andwasquitecheerfuljustatfirst，butnowhe\'sreallytoodistressin\'。I\'vedoneallIcantorousehim；it\'ssomelancholytoseehimmopin\'。And，mydearDick，thewayhemanglesthenewrose-trees!I\'mafraidhe\'sgoin\'mad；Ishallhavetosendhimaway；poorfellow!"

ItwasclearthatshesympathisedwithBunyan，or，rather，believedhimentitledtoamodicumofwholesomegrief，thelossofwivesbeingacanonisedandlegal，sorrow。Butexcesses!Odear，no!

"I\'vetoldhimIshallraisehiswages，"shesighed。"Heusedtobesuchasplendidgardener!Thatremindsme，mydearDick；Iwanttohaveatalkwithyou。Shallwegointolunch？"

Consultingthememorandum-bookinwhichshehadbeennotingthecaseofMrs。Hopkins，sheslightlyprecededSheltontothehouse。

ItwassomewhatlatethatafternoonwhenSheltonhadhis"wigging"；

nordiditseemtohim，hypnotisedbythemomentaryabsenceofAntonia，suchaveryseriousaffair。

"Now，Dick，"theHonourableMrs。Dennantsaid，inherdecisivedrawl，"Idon\'tthinkit\'srighttoputideasintoAntonia\'shead。"

"Ideas!"murmuredSheltoninconfusion。

"Weallknow，"continuedMrs。Dennant，"thatthingsarenotalwayswhattheyoughttobe。"

Sheltonlookedather；shewasseatedatherwriting-table，addressinginherlarge，freewritingadinnerinvitationtoabishop。Therewasnotthefaintesttraceofawkwardnessabouther，yetSheltoncouldnothelpacertainsenseofshock。Ifshe——she——

didnotthinkthingswerewhattheyoughttobe——inabadwaythingsmustbeindeed!

"Things!"hemuttered。

Mrs。Dennantlookedathimfirmlybutkindlywiththeeyesthatwouldremindhimofahare\'s。

"Sheshowedmesomeofyourletters，youknow。Well，it\'snotabitofusedenyin\'，mydearDick，thatyou\'vebeenthinkin\'toomuchlately。"

Sheltonperceivedthathehaddoneheraninjustice；shehandled"things"asshehandledunder-gardeners——putthemawaywhentheyshowedsignsofrunningtoextremes。

"Ican\'thelpthat，I\'mafraid，"heanswered。

"Mydearboy!you\'llnevergetonthatway。Now，Iwantyoutopromisemeyouwon\'ttalktoAntoniaaboutthosesortofthings。"

Sheltonraisedhiseyebrows。

"Oh，youknowwhatImean!"

HesawthattopressMrs。Dennanttosaywhatshemeantby"things"

wouldreallyhurthersenseofform；itwouldbecrueltoforceherthusbelowthesurface!

Hethereforesaid，"Quiteso!"

Tohisextremesurprise，flushingthepeculiararidpatheticflushofwomenpasttheirprime，shedrawledout:

"Aboutthepoor——andcriminals——andmarriages——therewasthatwedding，don\'tyouknow？"

Sheltonbowedhishead。Motherhoodhadbeentoostrongforher；inhermaternalfluttershehadcommittedthesolecismoftouchinginsomanywordson"things。"

"Doesn\'tshereallyseethefun，"hethought，"inonemandiningoutofgoldandanotherdininginthegutter；orintwomarriedpeoplelivingontogetherinperfectdiscord\'pourencourageslesautres\'，orinworshippingJesusChristandclaimingallherrightsatthesametime；orindespisingforeignersbecausetheyareforeigners；orinwar；orinanythingthatisfunny？"Buthedidheracertainamountofjusticebyrecognisingthatthiswasnatural，sinceherwholelifehadbeenpassedintryingnottoseethefuninallthesethings。

ButAntoniastoodsmilinginthedoorway。Brilliantandgayshelooked，yetresentful，asifsheknewtheyhadbeentalkingofher。

ShesatdownbyShelton\'sside，andbeganaskinghimabouttheyouthfulforeignerwhomhehadspokenof；andhereyesmadehimdoubtwhethershe，too，sawthefunthatlayinonehumanbeingpatronisingothers。