下载辰思小说免费APP
ItwassevenandmorewhenSheltonreturned，fromhiswalk；afewheatdropshadsplashedtheleaves，butthestormhadnotyetbroken。
Inbroodingsilencetheworldseemedpentbeneaththepurplefirmament。
ByrapidwalkingintheheatSheltonhadgotridofhisdespondency。
Hefeltlikeonewhoistoseehismistressafterlongestrangement。
He，bathed，and，straighteninghistie-ends，stoodsmilingattheglass。Hisfear，unhappiness，anddoubtsseemedlikeanevildream；
howmuchworseoffwouldhenothavebeen，haditallbeentrue？
Itwasdinner-partynight，andwhenhereachedthedrawing-roomtheguestsweretherealready，chatteringofthecomingstorm。Antoniawasnotyetdown，andSheltonstoodbythepianowaitingforherentry。Redfaces，spotlessshirt-fronts，whitearms；andfreshly-
twistedhairwereallaroundhim。Someonehandedhimaclovecarnation，and，asheheldittohisnose，Antoniacamein，breathless，asthoughshehadrusheddown-stairs，Hercheekswerepalenolonger；herhandkeptstealingtoherthroat。Theflamesofthecomingstormseemedtohavecaughtfirewithinher，tobescorchingherinherwhitefrock；shepassedhimclose，andherfragrancewhippedhissenses。
Shehadneverseemedtohimsolovely。
NeveragainwillSheltonbreathetheperfumeofmelonsandpineappleswithoutastrangeemotion。FromwherehesatatdinnerhecouldnotseeAntonia，butamidstthechatteringofvoices，theclinkofglassandsilver，thesightsandsoundsandscentsoffeasting，hethoughthowhewouldgotoherandsaythatnothingmatteredbutherlove。
Hedrankthefrosted，pale-goldliquidofchampagneasifithadbeenwater。
Thewindowsstoodwideopenintheheat；thegardenlayinthick，softshadow，wherethepitchyshapesoftreescouldbediscerned。
Therewasnotabreathofairtofanthecandle-flamesabovetheflowers；buttwolargemoths，fearfuloftheheavydark，flewinandwheeledbetweenthelightsoverthediners\'heads。Onefellscorchedintoadishoffruit，andwasremoved；theother，eludingalltheswishofnapkinsandtheeffortsofthefootmen，continuedtomakesoft，flutteringrushestillSheltonroseandcaughtitinhishand。
Hetookittothewindowandthrewitoutintothedarkness，andhenoticedthattheairwasthickandtepidtohisface。AtasignfromMr。Dennantthemuslincurtainswerethendrawnacrossthewindows，andingratitude，perhaps，forthisprotection，thisfilmybarrierbetweenthemandthemuffledthreatsofNature，everyonebrokeoutintalk。Itwassuchanightascomesinsummerafterperfectweather，frighteninginitsheat，andsilence，whichwasbrokenbythedistantthundertravellinglowalongthegroundlikethemutteringofalldarkplacesontheearth——suchanightasseems，byverybreathlessness，tosmotherlife，andwithitsfatefulthreatstojustifyman\'scowardice。
Theladiesroseatlast。Thecircleoftherosewooddining-table，whichhadnocloth，strewnwithflowersandsilvergilt，hadalikenesstosomeautumnpoolwhosebrowndepthsofoilywatergleamunderthesunsetwithredandyellowleaves；aboveitthesmokeofcigaretteswasclinging，likeamisttowaterwhenthesungoesdown。
SheltonbecameinvolvedinargumentwithhisneighbourontheEnglishcharacter。
"InEnglandwe\'vemislaidtherecipeoflife，"hesaid。"Pleasure\'salostart。Wedon\'tgetdrunk，we\'reashamedoflove，andastobeauty，we\'velosttheeyefor\'it。Inexchangewehavegotmoney，butwhat\'sthegoodofmoneywhenwedon\'tknowhowtospendit？"
Excitedbyhisneighbour\'ssmile，headded:"Astothought，wethinksomuchofwhatourneighboursthinkthatweneverthinkatall……
Haveyoueverwatchedaforeignerwhenhe\'slisteningtoanEnglishman？We\'reinthehabitofdespisingforeigners；thescornwehaveforthemisnothingtothescorntheyhaveforus。Andtheyareright!Lookatourtaste!Whatisthegoodofowningrichesifwedon\'tknowhowtousethem？"
"That\'srathernewtome，"hisneighboursaid。"Theremaybesomethinginit……DidyouseethatcaseinthepaperstheotherdayofoldHornblower，wholeftthe1820portthatfetchedaguineaabottle？Whenthepurchaser——poorfeller!——cametodrinkithefoundelevenbottlesoutoftwelvecompletelyullaged——ha!ha!Well，there\'snothingwrongwiththis"；andhedrainedhisglass。
"No，"answeredShelton。
Whentheyrosetojointheladies，heslippedoutonthelawn。
Atoncehewasenvelopedinabathofheat。Aheavyodour，sensual，sinister，wasintheair，asfromasuddenfloweringofamorousshrubs。Hestoodanddrankitinwithgreedynostrils。Puttinghishanddown，hefeltthegrass；itwasdry，andchargedwithelectricity。Thenhesaw，paleandcandescentintheblackness，threeorfourgreatlilies，theauthorsofthatperfume。Theblossomsseemedtoberisingathimthroughthedarkness；asthoughputtinguptheirfacestobekissed。Hestraightenedhimselfabruptlyandwentin。
TheguestswereleavingwhenShelton，whowaswatching；sawAntoniaslipthroughthedrawing-roomwindow。Hecouldfollowthewhiteglimmerofherfrockacrossthelawn，butlostitintheshadowofthetrees；castingahastylooktoseethathewasnotobserved，hetooslippedout。Theblacknessandtheheatwerestiflinghetookgreatbreathsofitasifitwerethepurestmountainair，and，treadingsoftlyonthegrass，stoleontowardstheholmoak。Hislipsweredry，，hisheartbeatpainfully。Themutterofthedistantthunderhadquiteceased；wavesofhotaircamewheelinginhisface，andintheirmidstasuddenrushofcold。Hethought，"Thestormiscomingnow!"andstoleontowardsthetree。Shewaslyinginthehammock，herfigureawhiteblurin，theheartofthetree\'sshadow，rockinggentlytoalittlecreakingofthebranch。Sheltonheldhisbreath；shehadnotheardhim。Hecreptupclosebehindthetrunktillhestoodintouchofher。"Imustn\'tstartleher，"hethought。
"Antonia!"
Therewasafaintstirinthehammock，butnoanswer。Hestoodoverher，buteventhenhecouldnotseeherface；heonly，hadasenseofsomethingbreathingandalivewithinayardofhim——ofsomethingwarmandsoft。Hewhisperedagain，"Antonia!"butagaintherecamenoanswer，andasortoffearandfrenzyseizedonhim。Hecouldnolongerhearherbreathe；thecreakingofthebranchhadceased。Whatwaspassinginthatsilent，livingcreaturetheresoclose？Andthenheheardagainthesoundofbreathing，quickandscared，liketheflutteringofabird；inamomenthewasstaringinthedarkatanemptyhammock。
Hestayedbesidetheemptyhammocktillhecouldbearuncertaintynolonger。Butashecrossedthelawntheskywasrentfromendtoendbyjaggedlightning，rainspatteredhimfromheadtofoot，andwithadeafeningcrackthethunderbroke。
Hesoughtthesmoking-room，but，recoilingatthedoor，wenttohisownroom，andthrewhimselfdownonthebed。Thethundergroanedandsputteredinlongvolleys；thelightningshowedhimtheshapesofthingswithintheroom，withaweirddistinctnessthatrentfromthemalllikenesstothepurposetheyweremadefor，bereavedthemofutility，oftheirmatter-of-factness，presentedthemasskeletons，abstractions，withindecencyintheirappearance，likethenakednervesandsinewsofalegpreservedin，spirit。Thesoundoftherainagainstthehousestunnedhispowerofthinking，herosetoshuthiswindows；then，returningtohisbed，threwhimselfdownagain。
Hestayedtheretillthestormwasover，inakindofstupor；butwhentheboomoftheretreatingthundergreweveryminutelessdistinct，herose。Thenforthefirsttimehesawsomethingwhiteclosebythedoor。
Itwasanote:
Ihavemadeamistake。Pleaseforgiveme，andgoaway——ANTONIA。
CHAPTERXXXII
WILDERNESS
Whenhehadreadthisnote，Sheltonputitdownbesidehissleeve-
linksonhisdressingtable，staredinthemirrorathimself，andlaughed。Buthislipssoonstoppedhimlaughing；hethrewhimselfuponhisbedandpressedhisfaceintothepillows。Helaytherehalf-dressedthroughoutthenight，andwhenherose，soonafterdawn，hehadnotmadehismindupwhattodo。TheonlythingheknewforcertainwasthathemustnotmeetAntonia。
Atlasthepennedthefollowing:
Ihavehadasleeplessnightwithtoothache，andthinkitbesttorunuptothedentistatonce。Ifatoothmustcomeout，thesoonerthebetter。
HeaddressedittoMrs。Dennant，andleftitonhistable。Afterdoingthishethrewhimselfoncemoreuponhisbed，andthistimefellintoadoze。
Hewokewithastart，dressed，andlethimselfquietlyout。ThelikenessofhisgoingtothatofFerrandstruckhim。"Bothoutcastsnow，"hethought。
Hetrampedontillnoonwithoutknowingorcaringwherehewent；
then，enteringafield，threwhimselfdownunderthehedge，andfellasleep。
Hewasawakenedbyawhirr。Acoveyofpartridges，withwingsglisteninginthesun，werestragglingoutacrosstheadjoiningfieldofmustard。Theysoonsettledintheold-maidishwayofpartridges，andbegantocalluponeachother。
Somecattlehadapproachedhiminhissleep，andabeautifulbaycow，withherheadturnedsideways，wassnuffingathimgently，exhalingherpeculiarsweetness。Shewasasfineinlegsandcoatasanyrace-horse。Shedribbledatthecornersofherblack，moistlips；
hereyewassoftandcynical。Breathingthevaguesweetnessofthemustard-field，rubbingdrygrasp-stalksinhisfingers，Sheltonhadamoment\'shappiness——thehappinessofsunandsky，oftheeternalquiet，anduntoldmovementsofthefields。Whycouldnothumanbeingslettheirtroublesbeasthiscowleftthefliesthatclungabouthereyes？Hedozedagain，andwokeupwithalaugh，forthiswaswhathedreamed:
Hefanciedhewasinaroom，atoncethehallanddrawing-roomofsomecountryhouse。Inthecentreofthisroomaladystood，whowaslookinginahand-glassatherface。Beyondadoororwindowcouldbeseenagardenwitharowofstatues，andthroughthisdoorpeoplepassedwithoutapparentobject。
SuddenlySheltonsawhismotheradvancingtotheladywiththehand-
glass，whomnowherecognisedasMrs。Foliot。But，ashelooked，hismotherchangedtoMrs。Dennant，andbeganspeakinginavoicethatwasasortofabstractofrefinement。"Jefaisdelaphilosophic，"
itsaid；"Itaketheindividualforwhatshe\'sworth。Idonotcondemn；aboveall，onemusthavespirit!"Theladywiththemirrorcontinuedlookingintheglass；and，thoughhecouldnotseeherface，hecouldseeitsimage-pale，withgreenisheyes，andasmilelikescornitself。Then，byaswifttransition，hewaswalkinginthegardentalkingtoMrs。Dennant。
Itwasfromthistalkthatheawokewithlaughter。"But，"shehadbeensaying，"Dick，I\'vealwaysbeenaccustomedtobelievewhatIwastold。ItwassounkindofhertoscornmejustbecauseIhappentobesecond-hand。"AndhervoiceawakenedShelton\'spity；itwaslikeafrightenedchild\'s。"Idon\'tknowwhatIshalldoifIhavetoformopinionsformyself。Iwasn\'tbroughtuptoit。I\'vealwayshadthemniceandsecondhand。HowamItogotowork？Onemustbelievewhatotherpeopledo；notthatIthinkmuchofotherpeople，but，youdoknowwhatitis——onefeelssomuchmorecomfortable，"andherskirtsrustled。"But，Dick，whateverhappens"——hervoiceentreated——"doletAntoniagetherjudgmentssecondhand。Nevermindforme——ifImustformopinionsformyself，Imust——butdon\'tlether；anyoldopinionssolongastheyareold。It\'sdreadfultohavetothinkoutnewonesforoneself。"Andheawoke。HisdreamhadhadinittheelementcalledArt，for，initsgrossabsurdity，Mrs。Dennanthadsaidthingsthatshowedhersoulmorefullythananythingshewouldhavesaidinlife。
"No，"saidavoicequiteclose，behindthehedge，"notmanyFrenchmen，thanktheLord!AfewcoveysofHungariansoverfromtheDuke\'s。SirJames，somepie？"
Sheltonraisedhimselfwithdrowsycuriosity——stillhalfasleep——andappliedhisfacetoagapinthehigh，thickosiersofthehedge。
Fourmenwereseatedoncamp-stoolsroundafolding-table，onwhichwasapieandotherthingstoeat。Agame-cart，well-adornedwithbirdsandhares，stoodatashortdistance；thetailsofsomedogswereseenmovinghumbly，andavaletopeningbottles。Sheltonhadforgottenthatitwas"thefirst。"Thehostwasasoldierlyandfreckledman；anoldermansatnexthim，square-jawed，withanabsent-lookingeyeandsharpenednose；nexthim，again，therewasabeardedpersonwhomtheyseemedtocalltheCommodore；inthefourth，tohisalarm，SheltonrecognisedthegentlemancalledMabbey。Itwasreallynomatterforsurprisetomeethimmilesfromhisownplace，forhewasoneofthosewhowanderwithavaletandtwogunsfromthetwelfthofAugusttotheendofJanuary，andarethensupposedtogotoMonteCarloortosleepuntilthetwelfthofAugustcomesagain。
Hewasspeaking。
"Didyouhearwhatabagwemadeonthetwelfth，SirJames？"
"Ah!yes；whatwasthat？Haveyousoldyourbayhorse，Glennie？"
Sheltonhadnotdecidedwhetherornotosneakaway，whentheCommodore\'sthickvoicebegan:
"MymantellshmethatMrs。Foliot——haw——haslamedherArab。Doesshemeantocomeoutcubbing？"
Sheltonobservedthesmilethatcameonalltheirfaces。"Foliot\'spayingforhisgoodtimenow；whatadonkeytogetcaught!"itseemedtosay。Heturnedhisbackandshuthiseyes。
"Cubbing？"repliedGlennie；"hardly。"
"Nevercouldsheeanythingwonderfulinherlooks，"wentontheCommodore；"soquiet，youneverknewthatshewasintheroom。I
remembersayin\'toheronce，"Mrs。Lutheran，nowwhatdoyoulikebeshtinalltheworld？andwhatdoyouthinksheanswered？\'Music!\'
Haw!"
ThevoiceofMabbeysaid:
"Hewasalwaysadarkhorse，Foliot:It\'salwaysthedarkhorsesthatgetletinforthiskindofthing"；andtherewasasoundasthoughhelickedhislips。
"Theysay，"saidthevoiceofthehost，"henevergivesyoubackagreetingnow。Queerfish；theysaythatshe\'sdevotedtohim。"
Comingsocloselyonhismeetingwiththislady，andonthedreamfromwhichhehadawakened，thisconversationmesmerisedthelistenerbehindthehedge。
"Ifhegivesuphishuntin\'andhisshootin\'，Idon\'tseewhatthedeucehe\'lldo；he\'sresignedhisclubs；astohischanceofParliament——"saidthevoiceofMabbey。
"Thousandpities，"saidSirJames；"still，heknewwhattoexpect。"
"Veryqueerfellows，thoseFoliots，"saidtheCommodore。"Therewashisfather:he\'dalwaysrathertalktoanyscarecrowhecameacrossthantoyouorme。Wonderwhathe\'lldowithallhishorses；I
shouldlikethatchestnutofhis。"
"Youcan\'ttellwhatafellow\'lldo，"saidthevoiceofMabbey——
"taketodrinkorwritin\'books。OldCharlieWaynecametogazin\'atstars，andtwiceaweekheusedtogoandpaddleroundinWhitechapel，teachin\'pothooks——"
"Glennie，"saidSirJames，"what\'sbecomeofSmollett，youroldkeeper？"
"Obligedtogetridofhim。"Sheltontriedagaintoclosehisears，butagainhelistened。"Gettingabittooold；lostmealotofeggslastseason。"
"Ah!"saidtheCommodore，"whentheyonceshbegintoloseeggsh"
"Asamatteroffact，hisson——yourememberhim，SirJames，heusedtoloadforyou？——gotagirlintotrouble；whenherpeoplegaveherthechuckoldSmollettookherin；beastlyscandalitmade，too。ThegirlrefusedtomarrySmollett，andoldSmollettbackedherup。
Naturally，theparsonandthevillagecutuprough；mywifeofferedtogetherintooneofthosereformatorywhat-d\'you-call-\'ems，buttheoldfellowsaidsheshouldn\'tgoifshedidn\'twantto。Badbusinessaltogether；puthimquiteoffhisstroke。Ionlygotfivehundredpheasantslastyearinsteadofeight。"
Therewasasilence。Sheltonagainpeepedthroughthehedge。Allwereeatingpie。
"InWarwickshire，"saidtheCommodore，"theyalwaysmarry——haw——andlivereshpectableeverafter。"
"Quiteso，"remarkedthehost；"itwasabittoothick，herrefusingtomarryhim。Shesaidhetookadvantageofher。"
"She\'ssorrybythistime，"saidSirJames；"luckyescapeforyoungSmollett。Queer，theobstinacyofsomeoftheseoldfellows!"
"Whatarewedoingafterlunch？"askedtheCommodore。
"Thenextfield，"saidthehost，"ispasture。Welineupalongthehedge，anddrivethatmustardtowardstheroots；thereoughttobeagoodfewbirds。"
"Sheltonrose，and，crouching，stolesoftlytothegate:
"Onthetwelfth，shootin\'intwoparties，"followedthevoiceofMabbeyfromthedistance。
Whetherfromhiswalkorfromhissleeplessnight，Sheltonseemedtoacheineverylimb；buthecontinuedhistrampalongtheroad。Hewasnonearertodecidingwhattodo。ItwaslateintheafternoonwhenhereachedMaidenhead，and，afterbreakingfast，gotintoaLondontrainandwenttosleep。Atteno\'clockthateveninghewalkedintoSt。James\'sParkandtheresatdown。
Thelamplightdappledthroughthetiredfoliageontothesebencheswhichhaverestedmanyvagrants。Darknesshasceasedtobethelawfulcloakoftheunhappy；butMotherNightwassoftandmoonless，andmanhadnotdespoiledherofhercomfort，quite。
Sheltonwasnotaloneupontheseat，foratthefarendwassittingayounggirlwithared，round，sullenface；andbeyond，andfurtherstill，weredimbenchesanddimfiguressittingonthem，asthoughlife\'sinstitutionshadshotthemoutinanendlesslineofrubbish。
"Ah!"thoughtShelton，inthedreamywayoftiredpeople；"theinstitutionsareallright；it\'sthespiritthat\'sall——"
"Wrong？"saidavoicebehindhim；"why，ofcourse!You\'vetakenthewrongturn，oldman。"
Hesawapoliceman，witharedfaceshiningthroughthedarkness，talkingtoastrangeoldfigurelikesomeagedanddishevelledbird。
"Thankyou，constable，"theoldmansaid，"asI\'vecomewrongI\'lltakearest。"Chewinghisgums，heseemedtofeartotakethelibertyofsittingdown。
Sheltonmaderoom，andtheoldfellowtookthevacantplace。
"You\'llexcuseme，sir，I\'msure，"hesaidinshakytones，andsnatchingathisbatteredhat；"Iseeyouwasagentleman"——andlovinglyhedweltupontheword——"wouldn\'tdisturbyoufortheworld。I\'mnotusedtobeingoutatnight，andtheseatsdogetsofull。Oldagemustleanonsomething；you\'llexcuseme，sir，I\'msure。"
"Ofcourse，"saidSheltongently。
"I\'marespectableoldman，really，"saidhisneighbour；"Inevertookalibertyinmylife。Butatmyage，sir，yougetnervous；
standin\'aboutthestreetsasIbeenthislastweek，an\'sleepin\'inthemdoss-houses——Oh，they\'redreadfulroughplaces——adreadfulroughlotthere!Yes，"theoldmansaidagain，asSheltonturnedtolookathim，struckbytherealself-pityinhisvoice，"dreadfulroughplaces!"
Amovementofhishead，whichgrewonalean，pluckednecklikethatofanoldfowl，hadbroughthisfaceintothelight。Itwaslong，andruntoseed，andhadalarge，rednose；itsthin，colourlesslipsweretwistedsidewaysandapart，showinghissemi-toothlessmouth；
andhiseyeshadthatagedlookofeyesinwhichallcolourrunsintoathinrimroundtheiris；andoverthemkeptcomingfilmslikethefilmsoverparrots\'eyes。Hewas，orshouldhavebeen，clean-shaven。
Hishair——forhehadtakenoffhishatwasthickandlank，ofdustycolour，asfarascouldbeseen，withoutaspeckofgrey，andpartedverybeautifullyjustaboutthemiddle。
"Icanputupwiththat，"hesaidagain。"Ineverinterfereswithnobody，andnobodydon\'tinterferewithme；butwhatfrightensme"——
hisvoicegrewsteady，asiftooterrifiedtoshake，isneverknowin\'
daytodaywhat\'stobecomeofyer。Oh，that\'adreadful，thatis!"
"Itmustbe，"answeredShelton。
"Ah!itis，"theoldmansaid；"andthewintercumin\'on。Ineverwasmuchusedtoopenair，bein\'indomesticserviceallmylife；butIdon\'tmindthatsolongasIcanseemywaytoearnalivin\'。
Well，thankGod!I\'vegotajobatlast"；andhisvoicegrewcheerfulsuddenly。"Sellin\'papersisnotwhatIbeenaccustomedto；
buttheWestminister，theytellmethat\'soneofthemostrespectableoftheevenin\'papers——infact，Iknowitis。SonowI\'msuretogeton；Itryhard。"
"Howdidyougetthejob？"askedShelton。
"I\'vegotmycharacter，"theoldfellowsaid，makingagesturewithaskinnyhandtowardshischest，asifitweretherehekepthischaracter。
"ThankGod，nobodycan\'ttakethataway!Ineverpartsfromthat"；
andfumbling，heproducedapacket，holdingfirstonepapertothelight，andthenanother，andhelookedanxiouslyatShelton。"InthathousewhereIbeensleepin\'they\'renothonest；they\'vestolenaparcelofmythings——alovelyshirtan\'apairofbeautifulglovesagentlemangavemeforholdin\'ofhishorse。Now，wouldn\'tyouprosecute\'em，sir？"
"Itdependsonwhatyoucanprove。"
"Iknowtheyhad\'em。Amanmuststandupforhisrights；that\'sonlyproper。Ican\'taffordtolosebeautifulthingslikethem。I
thinkIoughttoprosecute，now，don\'tyou，sir？"
Sheltonrestrainedasmile。
"There!"saidtheoldman，smoothingoutapieceofpapershakily，"that\'sSirGeorge!"andhiswitheredfinger-tipstrembledonthemiddleofthepage:\'JoshuaCreed，inmyservicefiveyearsasbutler，duringwhichtimeIhavefoundhimallthataservantshouldbe。\'Andthis\'ere\'——hefumbledwithanother——"this\'ere\'sLadyGlengow:\'JoshuaCreed——\'IthoughtI\'dlikeyoutoread\'emsinceyou\'vebeensokind。"
"Willyouhaveapipe？"
"Thankye，sir，"repliedtheagedbutler，fillinghisclayfromShelton\'spouch；then，takingafronttoothbetweenhisfingerandhisthumb，hebegantofeelittenderly，workingittoandfrowithasortofmelancholypride。
"Myteeth\'sa-comin\'out，"hesaid；"butIenjoysprettygoodhealthforamanofmyage。"
"Howoldisthat？"
"Seventy-two!Barrin\'mycough，andmyrupture，andthis\'ereaffliction"——hepassedhishandoverhisface——"I\'venothingtocomplainof；everybodyhassomethink，itseems。I\'mawonderformyage，Ithink。"
Shelton，forallhispity，wouldhavegivenmuchtolaugh。
"Seventy-two!"hesaid；"yes，agreatage。Yourememberthecountrywhenitwasverydifferenttowhatitisnow？"
"Ah!"saidtheoldbutler，"therewasgentrythen；Irememberthemdrivin\'downtoNewmarket(mynativeplace，sir)withtheirownhorses。Therewasn\'tsomucho\'theseheremiddleclassesthen。
Therewasmore，too，whatyoumightcallthemilko\'humankindnessinpeoplethen——noneo\'themamalgamatedstores，everymankeepin\'
hisownlittleshop；notsoeagertocuthisneighbour\'sthroat，asyoumightsay。Andthenlookatthepriceofbread!Odear!why，itisn\'taquarterwhatitwas!"
"Andarepeoplehappiernowthantheywerethen？"askedShelton。
Theoldbutlersuckedhispipe。
"No，"heanswered，shakinghisoldhead；"they\'velostthecontentedspirit。Iseepeoplerunnin\'hereandrunnin\'there，readin\'books，findin\'thingsout；theyain\'tnotsoself-contentedastheywere。"
"Isthatpossible？"thoughtShelton。
"No，"repeatedtheoldman，againsuckingathispipe，andthistimeblowingoutalotofsmoke；"Idon\'tseeasmuchhappinessabout，notthesamelookonthefaces。\'Tisn\'tlikely。Seethese\'eremotor-
cars，too；theysay\'orsesisgoin\'out"；and，asifdumbfoundedathisownconclusion，hesatsilentforsometime，engagedinthelightingandrelightingofhispipe。
Thegirlatthefarendstirred，clearedherthroat，andsettleddownagain；hermovementdisengagedascentoffrowsyclothes。Thepolicemanhadapproachedandscrutinisedtheseill-assortedfaces；
hisglancewasjoviallycontemptuoustillhenoticedShelton，andthenwasmodifiedbycuriosity。
"There\'sgoodmeninthepolice，"theagedbutlersaid，whenthepolicemanhadpassedon——"there\'sgoodmeninthepolice，asgoodmenasyoucansee，andthere\'sthemthattreatsyoulikethedirt——
adreadfullowclassofman。Ohdear，yes!whentheyseeyoudownintheworld，theythinktheycanspeaktoyouastheylike；Idon\'tgivethemnochancetoworryme；Ikeepsmyselftomyself，andspeakciviltoalltheworld。Youhavetoholdthecandletothem；for，ohdear!ifthey\'recrossed——someofthem——they\'readreadfulunscrup\'louslotofmen!"
"Areyougoingtospendthenighthere？"
"It\'sniceandwarmto-night，"repliedtheagedbutler。"IsaidtothemanatthatlowplaceIsaid:\'Don\'tyoueverspeaktomeagain，\'
Isaid，\'don\'tyoucomenearme!\'Straightforwardandhonest\'sbeenmymottoallmylife；Idon\'twanttohavenothingtosaytothemlowfellows"——hemadeanannihilatinggesture——"afterthewaytheytreatedme，takin\'mythingslikethat。TomorrowIshallgetaroomforthreeshillin\'saweek，don\'tyouthinkso，sir？Well，thenI
shallbeallright。I\'mnotafraidnow；themindatrest。SolongasIrankeepmyself，that\'sallIwant。Ishalldofirst-rate，I
think"；andhestaredatShelton，butthelookinhiseyesandthehalf-scaredoptimismofhisvoiceconvincedthelatterthathelivedindread。"SolongasIcankeepmyself，"hesaidagain，"Isha\'n\'tneednoworkhousenorloserespectability。"
"No，"thoughtShelton；andforsometimesatwithoutaword。"Whenyoucan；"hesaidatlast，"comeandseeme；here\'smycard。"
Theagedbutlerbecameconsciouswithajerk，forhewasnodding。
"Thankye，sir；Iwill，"hesaid，withpitifulalacrity。"DownbyBelgravia？Oh，Iknowitwell；IliveddowninthempartswithagentlemanofthenameofBateson——perhapsyouknewhim；he\'sdeadnow——theHonourableBateson。Thankye，sir；I\'llbesuretocome"；
and，snatchingathisbatteredhat，hetoilsomelysecretedShelton\'scardamongsthischaracter。Aminutelaterhebeganagaintonod。
Thepolicemanpassedasecondtime；hisgazeseemedtosay，"Now，what\'satoffdoingonthatseatwiththosetworotters？"AndSheltoncaughthiseye。
"Ah!"hethought；"exactly!Youdon\'tknowwhattomakeofme——amanofmypositionsittinghere!Poordevil!tospendyourdaysinspyingonyourfellow-creatures!Poordevil!Butyoudon\'tknowthatyou\'reapoordevil，andsoyou\'renotone。"
Themanonthenextbenchsneezed——ashrillanddisapprovingsneeze。
Thepolicemanpassedagain，and，seeingthatthelowercreatureswerebothdozing，hespoketoShelton:
"Notverysafeonthese\'erebenches，sir，"hesaid；"youneverknowwhoyoumaybesittin\'nextto。IfIwereyou，sir，Ishouldbegettin\'on——ifyou\'renotgoin\'tospendthenighthere，thatis"；
andhelaughed，asatanadmirablejoke。
Sheltonlookedathim，anditchedtosay，"Whyshouldn\'tI？"butitstruckhimthatitwouldsoundveryodd。"Besides，"hethought，"I
shallonlycatchacold"；and，withoutspeaking，helefttheseat，andwentalongtowardshisrooms。
CHAPTERXXXIII
THEEND
Hereachedhisroomsatmidnightsoexhaustedthat，withoutwaitingtolightup，hedroppedintoachair。Thecurtainsandblindshadbeenremovedforcleaning，andthetallwindowsadmittedthenight\'sstaringgaze。Sheltonfixedhiseyesonthatoutsidedarkness，asonelostmanmightfixhiseyesuponanother。
Anunaired，dustyodourclungabouttheroom，but，likesomeGod-sentwhiffofgrassorflowerswaftedtoonesometimesinthestreets，aperfumecametohim，thespicefromthewitheredclovecarnationstillclinging，tohisbutton-hole；andhesuddenlyawokefromhis。
queertrance。Therewasadecisiontobemade。Herosetolightacandle；thedustwasthickoneverythinghetouched。"Ugh!"hethought，"howwretched!"andthelonelinessthathadseizedhimonthestoneseatatHolmOaksthedaybeforereturnedwithfearfulforce。
Onhistable，heapedwithoutorder，wereapileofbillsandcirculars。Heopenedthem，tearingattheircoverswiththerandomhasteofmenbackfromtheirholidays。Asinglelongenvelopewasplacedapart。
MYDEARDICK[heread]，Iencloseyouherewiththereviseddraftofyourmarriagesettlement。
Itisnowshipshape。Returnitbeforetheendoftheweek，andI
willhaveitengrossedforsignature。IgotoScotlandnextWednesdayforamonth；shallbebackingoodtimeforyourwedding。
Mylovetoyourmotherwhenyouseeher。
Your-affectionateuncle，EDMUNDPARAMOR。
Sheltonsmiledandtookoutthedraft。
"ThisIndenturemadethe____dayof190_，betweenRichardParamorShelton——"
Heputitdownandsankbackinhischair，thechairinwhichtheforeignvagranthadbeenwonttositonmorningswhenhecametopreachphilosophy。
Hedidnotstaytherelong，butinsheerunhappinessgotup，and，takinghiscandle，roamedabouttheroom，fingeringthings，andgazinginthemirrorathisface，whichseemedtohimrepulsiveinitswretchedness。Hewentatlastintothehallandopenedthedoor，togodownstairsagainintothestreet；butthesuddencertaintythat，instreetorhouse，intownorcountry，hewouldhavetotakehistroublewithhim，madehimshutitto。Hefeltintheletter-
box，drewforthaletter，andwiththishewentbacktothesitting-
room。
ItwasfromAntonia。Andsuchwashisexcitementthathewasforcedtotakethreeturnsbetweenthewindowandthewallbeforehecouldread；then，withaheartbeatingsothathecouldhardlyholdthepaper，hebegan:
Iwaswrongtoaskyoutogoaway。Iseenowthatitwasbreakingmypromise，andIdidn\'tmeantodothat。Idon\'tknowwhythingshavecometobesodifferent。YouneverthinkasIdoaboutanything。
IhadbettertellyouthatthatletterofMonsieurFerrand\'stomotherwasimpudent。Ofcourseyoudidn\'tknowwhatwasinit；butwhenProfessorBraynewasaskingyouabouthimatbreakfast，Ifeltthatyoubelievedthathewasrightandwewerewrong，andIcan\'tunderstandit。Andthenintheafternoon，whenthatwomanhurtherhorse，itwasallasifyouwereonherside。Howcanyoufeellikethat？
Imustsaythis，becauseIdon\'tthinkIoughttohaveaskedyoutogoaway，andIwantyoutobelievethatIwillkeepmypromise，orI
shouldfeelthatyouandeverybodyelsehadarighttocondemnme。
Iwasawakealllastnight，andhaveabadheadachethismorning。I
can\'twriteanymore。
ANTONIA。
Hisfirstsensationwasasortofstupefactionofreliefthathadinitanelementofanger。Hewasreprieved!Shewouldnotbreakherpromise；sheconsideredherselfbound!Inthemidstoftheexaltationofthisthoughthesmiled，andthatsmilewasstrange。
Hereaditthroughagain，and，likeajudge，begantoweighwhatshehadwritten，herthoughtswhenshewaswriting，thefactswhichhadleduptothis。
Thevagrant\'sfarewelldocumenthaddonethebusiness。Truetohisfatalgiftofdivestingthingsofclothing，Ferrandhadnotvanishedwithoutshowinguphispatroninhispropercolours；eventoSheltonthosecoloursweremadeplain。Antoniahadfeltherloverwasatraitor。Soundinghishearteveninhisstressofindecision，Sheltonknewthatthiswastrue。
"Thenintheafternoon，whenthatwomanhurtherhorse-"Thatwoman!
"Itwasasifyouwereonherside!"
Hesawtoowellhermind，itsclearrigidity，itsintuitiveperceptionofthatwithwhichitwasnotsafetosympathise，itsinstinctforself-preservation，itsspontaneouscontemptforthosewithoutthatinstinct。Andshehadwrittenthesewordsconsideringherselfboundtohim——amanofsentiment，ofrebellioussympathies，ofuntidinessofprinciple!Herewastheanswertothequestionhehadaskedallday:"Howhavethingscometosuchapass？"andhebegantofeelcompassionforher。
Poorchild!Shecouldnotjilthim；therewassomethingvulgarintheword!NevershoulditbesaidthatAntoniaDennanthadaccentedhimandthrownhimover。Noladydidthesethings!Theywereimpossible!Atthebottomofhishearthehadaqueer，unconscioussympathywith，thisimpossibility。
Onceagainhereadtheletter，whichseemednowimpregnatedwithfreshmeaning，andtheangerwhichhadmingledwithhisfirstsensationofreliefdetacheditselfandgrewinforce。Inthatlettertherewassomethingtyrannous，adenialofhisrighttohaveaseparatepointofview。Itwaslikeafingerpointedathimasanunsoundperson。Inmarryingherhewouldbemarryingnotonlyher，butherclass——hisclass。Shewouldbetherealwaystomakehimlookonherandonhimself，andallthepeoplethattheyknewandallthethingstheydid，complacently；shewouldbetheretomakehimfeelhimselfsuperiortoeveryonewhoselifewascastinothermoralmoulds。Tofeelhimselfsuperior，notblatantly，notconsciously，butwithsubconsciousrighteousness。
Buthisanger，whichwasliketheparoxysmthattwodaysbeforehadmadehimmutterattheConnoisseur，"Ihateyourd——dsuperiority，"
struckhimallatonceasimpotentandludicrous。Whatwasthegoodofbeingangry？Hewasonthepointoflosingher!Andtheanguishofthatthought，reactingonhisanger，intensifieditthreefold。
Shewassocertainofherself，sosuperiortoheremotions，tohernaturalimpulses——superiortoherverylongingtobefreefromhim。
Ofthatfact，atallevents，Sheltonhadnolongeranydoubt。Itwasbeyondargument。Shedidnotreallylovehim；shewantedtobefreeofhim!
AphotographhunginhisbedroomatHolmOaksofagrouproundthehalldoor；theHonourableCharlottePenguin，Mrs。Dennant，LadyBonington，Halidome，Mr。Dennant，andthestained-glassman——allwerethere；andontheleft-handside，lookingstraightinfrontofher，Antonia。Herfaceinitsyouthfulness，morethanallthoseothers，expressedtheirpointofview:Behindthosecalmyoungeyeslayaworldofsafetyandtradition。"Iamnotasothersare，"theyseemedtosay。
AndfromthatphotographMr。andMrs。Dennantsingledthemselvesout；
hecouldseetheirfacesastheytalked——theirfaceswithapeculiaranduneasylookonthem；andhecouldheartheirvoices，stilldecisive，butalittleacid，asiftheyhadbeenquarrelling:
"He\'smadeadonkeyofhimself!"
"Ah!it\'stoodistressin\'!"
They，too，thoughthimunsound，anddidn\'twanthim；buttosavethesituationtheywouldbegladtokeephim。Shedidn\'twanthim，butsherefusedtoloseherrighttosay，"Commonergirlsmaybreaktheirpromises；Iwillnot!"Hesatdownatthetablebetweenthecandles，coveringhisface。Hisgriefandangergrewandgrewwithinhim。Ifshewouldnotfreeherself，thedutywasonhim!Shewasreadywithoutlovetomarryhim，asasacrificetoheridealofwhatsheoughttobe!
Butshehadn\'t，afterall，themonopolyofpride!
Asifshestoodbeforehim，hecouldseetheshadowsunderneathhereyesthathehaddreamedofkissing，theeagermovementsofherlips。
Forseveralminutesheremained，notmovinghandorlimb。Thenoncemorehisangerblazed。Shewasgoingtosacrificeherselfand——him!
Allhismanhoodscoffedatsuchasenselesssacrifice。Thatwasnotexactlywhathewanted!
Hewenttothebureau，tookapieceofpaperandanenvelope，andwroteasfollows:
Thereneverwas，isnot，andneverwouldhavebeenanyquestionofbeingboundbetweenus。Irefusetotradeonanysuchthing。Youareabsolutelyfree。Ourengagementisatanendbymutualconsent。
RICHARDSHELTON。
Hesealedit，and，sittingwithhishandsbetweenhisknees，helethisforeheaddrooplowerandlowertothetable，tillitrestedonhismarriagesettlement。Andhehadafeelingofrelief，likeonewhodropsexhaustedathisjourney\'send。
