第12章

Eachyearbegrewmoremoral，moreefficient，morelearned，moregenial。Sohowcouldhefailtobemoreloving？Hedidnotspeaktohimselfasfollows，becauseheneverspoketohimself;butthefollowingnotionsmovedintherecessesofhismind:"Itisnotthefireofyouth。ButIamnotsurethatIapproveofthefireofyouth。Lookatmysister！Onceshehassuffered，twiceshehasbeenmostimprudent，andputmetogreatinconveniencebesides，forifshewasstoppingwithmeshewouldhavedonethehousekeeping。Irathersuspectthatitisanobler，riperemotionthatIamlayingatthefeetofMrs。Orr。"Itnevertookhimlongtogetmuddled，ortoreversecauseandeffect。Inashorttimehebelievedthathehadbeenpiningforyears，andonlywaitingforthisgoodfortunetoasktheladytoshareitwithhim。

Mrs。Orrwasquiet，clever，kindly，capable，andamusingandtheywereoldacquaintances。Altogetheritwasnotsurprisingthatheshouldaskhertobehiswife，norverysurprisingthatsheshouldrefuse。Butsherefusedwithaviolencethatalarmedthemboth。Heleftherhousedeclaringthathehadbeeninsulted，andshe，assoonasheleft，passedfromdisgustintotears。

Hewasmuchannoyed。TherewasacertainMissHerritonwho，thoughfarinferiortoMrs。Orr，wouldhavedoneinsteadofher。

Butnowitwasimpossible。HecouldnotgoofferinghimselfaboutSawston。Havingengagedamatronwhohadthereputationforbeingbrightandmotherly，hemovedintoDunwoodHouseandopenedtheMichaelmasterm。Everythingwentwrong。Thecookleft;theboyshadadiseasecalledroseola;Agnes，whowasstilldrunkwithherengagement，wasofnoassistance，butkeptflyinguptoLondontopushRickie’sfortunes;and，tocrowneverything，thematronwastoobrightandnotmotherlyenough:sheneglectedthelittleboysandwasoverattentivetothebigones。Sheleftabruptly，andthevoiceofMrs。Jacksonarose，prophesyingdisaster。

Shouldheavertitbytakingorders？Parentsdonotdemandthatahouse—mastershouldbeaclergyman，yetitreassuresthemwhenheis。Andhewouldhavetotakeorderssometime，ifhehopedforaschoolofhisown。Hisreligiousconvictionswerereadytohand，buthespentseveraluncomfortabledayshuntinguphisreligiousenthusiasms。ItwasnotunlikehisattempttomarryMrs。Orr。Buthispietywasmoregenuine，andthistimehenevercametothepoint。HissenseofdecencyforbadehimhurryingintoaChurchthathereverenced。Moreover，hethoughtofanothersolution:

AgnesmustmarryRickieintheChristmasholidays，andtheymustcome，bothofthem，toSawston，sheashousekeeper，heasassistant—master。Thegirlwasagoodworkerwhenonceshewassettleddown;andasforRickie，hecouldeasilybefittedinsomewhereintheschool。Hewasnotagoodclassic，butgoodenoughtotaketheLowerFifth。Hewasnoathlete，butboysmightprofitablynotethathewasaperfectgentlemanallthesame。Hehadnoexperience，buthewouldgainit。Hehadnodecision，buthecouldsimulateit。"Aboveall，"thoughtMr。Pembroke，"itwillbesomethingregularforhimtodo。"Ofcoursethiswasnot"aboveall。"DunwoodHouseheldthatposition。ButMr。Pembrokesooncametothinkthatitwas，andbelievedthathewasplanningforRickie，justashehadbelievedhewaspiningforMrs。Orr。

Agnes，whenshegotbackfromthelunchinSoho，wastoldoftheplan。Sherefusedtogiveanyopinionuntilshehadseenherlover。Atelegramwassenttohim，andnextmorninghearrived。

Hewasverysusceptibletotheweather，andperhapsitwasunfortunatethatthemorningwasfoggy。HistrainhadbeenstoppedoutsideSawstonStation，andtherehehadsatforhalfanhour，listeningtotheunrealnoisesthatcamefromtheline，andwatchingtheshadowyfiguresthatworkedthere。Thegaswasalightinthegreatdrawing—room，andinitsdepressingraysheandAgnesgreetedeachother，anddiscussedthemostmomentousquestionoftheirlives。Theywantedtobemarried:therewasnodoubtofthat。Theywantedit，bothofthem，dreadfully。Butshouldtheymarryontheseterms？

"I’dneverthoughtofsuchathing，yousee。WhenthescholasticagenciessentmecircularsaftertheTripos，Itorethemupatonce。"

"Therearetheholidays，"saidAgnes。"Youwouldhavethreemonthsintheyeartoyourself，andyoucoulddoyourwritingthen。"

"Butwho’llreadwhatI’vewritten？"andhetoldherabouttheeditorofthe"Holborn。"

Shebecameextremelygrave。Atthebottomofherheartshehadalwaysmistrustedthelittlestories，andnowpeoplewhoknewagreedwithher。HowcouldRickie，oranyone，makealivingbypretendingthatGreekgodswerealive，orthatyoungladiescouldvanishintotrees？Asparklingsocietytale，fullofverveandpathos，wouldhavebeenanotherthing，andtheeditormighthavebeenconvincedbyit。

"Butwhatdoeshemean？"Rickiewassaying。"Whatdoeshemeanbylife？"

"Iknowwhathemeans，butIcan’texactlyexplain。Yououghttoseelife，Rickie。Ithinkhe’srightthere。AndMr。Tilliardwasrightwhenhesaidoneoughtn’ttobeacademic。"

Hestoodinthetwilightthatfellfromthewindow，sheinthetwilightofthegas。"IwonderwhatAnsellwouldsay，"hemurmured。

"Oh，poorMr。Ansell！"

Hewassomewhatsurprised。WhywasAnsellpoor？Itwasthefirsttimetheepithethadbeenappliedtohim。

"Buttochangetheconversation，"saidAgnes。

"Ifwedidmarry，wemightgettoItalyatEasterandescapethishorriblefog。"

"Yes。Perhapsthere——"Perhapslifewouldbethere。HethoughtofRenan，whodeclaresthatontheAcropolisatAthensbeautyandwisdomdoexist，reallyexist，asexternalpowers。Hedidnotaspiretobeautyorwisdom，butheprayedtobedeliveredfromtheshadowofunrealitythathadbeguntodarkentheworld。Foritwasasifsomepowerhadpronouncedagainsthim——asif，bysomeheedlessaction，hehadoffendedanOlympiangod。Likemanyanother，hewonderedwhetherthegodmightbeappeasedbywork——

harduncongenialwork。Perhapshehadnotworkedhardenough，orhadenjoyedhisworktoomuch，andforthatreasontheshadowwasfalling。

"——Andaboveall，aschoolmasterhaswonderfulopportunitiesfordoinggood;onemustn’tforgetthat。"

Todogood！Forwhatotherreasonarewehere？Letusgiveupourrefinedsensations，andourcomforts，andourart，iftherebywecanmakeotherpeoplehappierandbetter。Thewomanhelovedhadurgedhimtodogood！Withavehemencethatsurprisedher，heexclaimed，"I’lldoit。"

"Thinkitover，"shecautioned，thoughshewasgreatlypleased。

"No;Ithinkoverthingstoomuch。"

Theroomgrewbrighter。Aboy’slaughterfloatedin，anditseemedtohimthatpeoplewereasimportantandvividastheyhadbeensixmonthsbefore。ThenhewasatCambridge，idlingintheparsleymeadows，andweavingperishablegarlandsoutofflowers。

NowhewasatSawston，preparingtoworkabeneficentmachine。

Nomanworksfornothing，andRickietrustedthattohimalsobenefitsmightaccrue;thathiswoundmighthealashelaboured，andhiseyesrecapturetheHolyGrail。

XVII

InpracticalmattersMr。Pembrokewasoftenagenerousman。HeofferedRickieagoodsalary，andinsistedonpayingAgnesaswell。Andashehousedthemfornothing，andasRickiewouldalsohaveasalaryfromtheschool，themoneyquestiondisappeared——ifnotforever，atalleventsforthepresent。

"Icanworkyouin，"hesaid。"Leaveallthattome，andinafewdaysyoushallhearfromtheheadmaster。

Heshallcreateavacancy。Andoncein，westandorfalltogether。Iamresolvedonthat。"

Rickiedidnotliketheideaofbeing"workedin，"buthewasdeterminedtoraisenodifficulties。Itissoeasytoberefinedandhigh—mindedwhenwehavenothingtodo。Buttheactive，usefulmancannotbeequallyparticular。Rickie’sprogrammeinvolvedachangeinvaluesaswellasachangeofoccupation。

"Adoptafranklyintellectualattitude，"Mr。Pembrokecontinued。

"Idonotadviseyouatpresenteventoprofessanyinterestinathleticsororganization。Whentheheadmasterwrites，hewillprobablyaskwhetheryouareanall—roundman。Boldlysayno。A

bold’no’isattimesthebest。Takeyourstanduponclassicsandgeneralculture。"

Classics！AsecondintheTripos。Generalculture。AsmatteringofEnglishLiterature，andlessthanasmatteringofFrench。

"Thatishowwebegin。Thenwegetyoualittlepost——saythatoflibrarian。Andsoon，untilyouareindispensable。"

Rickielaughed;theheadmasterwrote，thereplywassatisfactory，andinduecoursethenewlifebegan。

Sawstonwasalreadyfamiliartohim。Butheknewitasanamateur，andunderanofficialgazeitgroupeditselfafresh。Theschool，ablandGothicbuilding，nowshowedasafortressoflearning，whoseoutworksweretheboarding—houses。Thosestragglingroadswerefullofthehousesoftheparentsoftheday—boys。Theseshopswereinbounds，thoseout。HowoftenhadhepassedDunwoodHouse！Hehadonceconfuseditwithitsrival，CedarView。Nowhewastolivethere——perhapsformanyyears。Ontheleftoftheentrancealargesaffrondrawing—room，fullofcosycornersanddumpychairs:heretheparentswouldbereceived。Ontherightoftheentranceastudy，whichhesharedwithHerbert:heretheboyswouldbecaned——hehopednotoften。

Inthehallaframedcertificatepraisingthedrains，thebustofHermes，andacarvedteakmonkeyholdingoutasalver。SomeofthefurniturehadcomefromShelthorpe，somehadbeenboughtfromMr。Annison，someofitwasnew。Butthroughoutherecognizedacertaindecisionofarrangement。Nothinginthehousewasaccidental，ortheremerelyforitsownsake。HecontrasteditwithhisroomatCambridge，whichhadbeenajumbleofthingsthatheloveddearlyandofthingsthathedidnotloveatall。

NowthesealsohadcometoDunwoodHouse，andhadbeendistributedwhereeachwasseemly——SirPercivaltothedrawing—room，thephotographofStockholmtothepassage，hischair，hisinkpot，andtheportraitofhismothertothestudy。

AndthenhecontrasteditwiththeAnsells’house，towhichtheirresoluteill—tastehadgivenunity。Hewasextremelysensitivetotheinsideofahouse，holdingitanorganismthatexpressedthethoughts，consciousandsubconscious，ofitsinmates。Hewasequallysensitivetoplaces。HewouldcompareCambridgewithSawston，andeitherwithathirdtypeofexistence，towhich，forwantofabettername，hegavethenameof"Wiltshire。"

Itmustnotbethoughtthatheisgoingtowastehistime。Thesecontrastsandcomparisonsnevertookhimlong，andheneverindulgedinthemuntiltheseriousbusinessofthedaywasover。

And，astimepassed，heneverindulgedinthematall。

TheschoolreturnedattheendofJanuary，beforehehadbeensettledinaweek。Hishealthhadimproved，butnotgreatly，andhewasnervousattheprospectofconfrontingtheassembledhouse。Alldaylongcabshadbeendrivingup，fullofboysinbowlerhatstoobigforthem;andAgneshadbeensuperintendingthenumberingofthesaidhats，andtheplacingofthemincupboards，sincetheywouldnotbewantedtilltheendoftheterm。Eachboyhad，orshouldhavehad，abag，sothatheneednotunpackhisboxtillthemorrow，Oneboyhadonlyabrown—paperparcel，tiedwithhairystring，andRickieheardthefirmpleasantvoicesay，"Butyou’llbringabagnextterm，"andthesubmissive，"Yes，Mrs。Elliot，"ofthereply。Inthepassageheranagainsttheheadboy，whowasalarminglylikeanundergraduate。Theylookedateachothersuspiciously，andparted。Twominuteslaterheranintoanotherboy，andthenintoanother，andbegantowonderwhethertheyweredoingitonpurpose，andifso，whetherheoughttomind。Asthedayworeon，thenoisesgrewlouder—trampingsoffeet，breakdowns，jollylittlesquawks——andthecubicleswereassigned，andthebagsunpacked，andthebathingarrangementspostedup，andHerbertkeptonsaying，"Allthisisinformal——allthisisinformal。Weshallmeetthehouseateightfifteen。"

Andso，ateightten，Rickieputonhiscapandgown，——hithertosymbolsofpupilage，nowtobesymbolsofdignity，——theverycapandgownthatWiddringtonhadsorecentlyhunguponthecollegefountain。Herbert，similarlyattired，waswaitingforhimintheirprivatedining—room，wherealsosatAgnes，ravenouslydevouringscrambledeggs。"Butyou’llwearyourhoods，"shecried。Herbertconsidered，andthemsaidshewasquiteright。Hefetchedhiswhitesilk，Rickiethefragmentofrabbit’swoolthatmarksthedegreeofB。A。Thusattired，theyproceededthroughthebaizedoor。Theywerealittlelate，andtheboys，whoweremarshalledinthepreparationroom，weregettinguproarious。One，forgettinghowfarhisvoicecarried，shouted，"Cave！HerecomestheWhelk。"Andanotheryoungdevilyelled，"TheWhelk’sbroughtapetwithhim！"

"Youmustn’tmind，"saidHerbertkindly。"Wemastersmakeapointofnevermindingnicknames——unless，ofcourse，theyareappliedopenly，inwhichcaseathousandlinesisnottoomuch。"Rickieassented，andtheyenteredthepreparationroomjustastheprefectshadestablishedorder。

HereHerberttookhisseatonahigh—leggedchair，whileRickie，likeaqueen—consort，satnearhimonachairwithsomewhatshorterlegs。Eachchairhadadeskattachedtoit，andHerbertflungupthelidofhis，andthenlookedroundthepreparationroomwithaquickfrown，asifthecontentshadsurprisedhim。SoimpressedwasRickiethathepeepedsideways，butcouldonlyseealittleblotting—paperinthedesk。Thenhenoticedthattheboyswereimpressedtoo。Theirchatterceased。Theyattended。

Theroomwasalmostfull。Theprefects，insteadoflollingdisdainfullyinthebackrow，wererangedlikecouncillorsbeneaththecentralthrone。ThiswasaninnovationofMr。

Pembroke’s。Carruthers，theheadboy，satinthemiddle，withhisarmroundLloyd。ItwasLloydwhohadmadethematrontoobright:

henearlylosthiscoloursinconsequence。Thesetwoweregrownup。BesidethemsatTewson，asaintlychildinthespectacles，whohadrisentothisheightbyreasonofhisimmenselearning。

He，liketheothers，wasaschoolprefect。Thehouseprefects，aninferiorbrand，werebeyond，andbehindcametheindistinguishablemany。Thefacesalllookedalikeasyet——exceptthefaceofoneboy，whowasinclinedtocry。

"School，"saidMr。Pembroke，slowlyclosingthelidofthedesk，——"schoolistheworldinminiature。"Thenhepaused，asamanwellmaywhohasmadesucharemark。Itisnot，however，theintentionofthisworktoquoteanopeningaddress。Rickie，atallevents，refusedtobecritical:Herbert’sexperiencewasfargreaterthanhis，andhemusttakehistonefromhim。Norcouldanyonecriticizetheexhortationstobepatriotic，athletic，learned，andreligious，thatflowedlikeafour—partfuguefromMr。Pembroke’smouth。Hewasapractisedspeaker——thatistosay，heheldhisaudience’sattention。Hetoldthemthatthisterm，thesecondofhisreign，wasTHEtermforDunwoodHouse;thatitbehoovedeveryboytolabourduringitforhishouse’shonour，and，throughthehouse，forthehonouroftheschool。Takingawiderrange，hespokeofEngland，orratherofGreatBritain，andofhercontinentalfoes。Portraitsofempire—buildershungonthewall，andhepointedtothem。Hequotedimperialpoets。HeshowedhowpatriotismhadbroadenedsincethedaysofShakespeare，who，forallhisgenius，couldonlywriteofhiscountryas——

"ThisfortressbuiltbynatureforherselfAgainstinfectionandthehandofwar，Thishazybreedofmen，thislittleworld，Thispreciousstonesetinthesilversea。"

AnditseemedthatonlyashortladderlaybetweenthepreparationroomandtheAnglo—Saxonhegemonyoftheglobe。Thenhepaused，andinthesilencecame"sob，sob，sob，"fromalittleboy，whowasregrettingavillainGuildfordandhismother’shalfacreofgarden。

Theproceedingterminatedwiththebroaderpatriotismoftheschoolanthem，recentlycomposedbytheorganist。Wordsandtunewerestillamatterfortaste，anditwasMr。Pembroke（andheonlybecausehehadthemusic）whogavetherightintonationto"Perisheachlaggard！LetitnotbesaidThatSawstonsuchwithinherwallshathbred。"

"Come，come，"hesaidpleasantly，astheyendedwithharmoniesinthestyleofRichardStrauss。"Thiswillneverdo。Wemustgrapplewiththeanthemthisterm——you’reastunefulas——asday—boys！"

Heartylaughter，andthenthewholehousefiledpastthemandshookhands。

"Buthowdiditimpressyou？"Herbertasked，assoonastheywerebackintheirownpart。Agneshadprovidedthemwithatrayoffood:themealswerestillanyhow，andshehadtoflyatoncetoseeaftertheboys。

"Ilikedthelookofthem。"

"Imeantrather，howdidthehouseimpressyouasahouse？"

"Idon’tthinkIthought，"saidRickierathernervously。"Itisnoteasytocatchthespiritofathingatonce。Ionlysawaroomfulofboys。"

"MydearRickie，don’tbesodiffident。Youareperfectlyright。

Youonlydidseearoomfulofboys。Asyetthere’snothingelsetosee。Thehouse，liketheschool，lackstradition。LookatWinchester。LookatthetraditionalrivalrybetweenEtonandHarrow。Traditionisofincalculableimportance，ifaschoolistohaveanystatus。WhyshouldSawstonbewithout？"

"Yes。Traditionisofincalculablevalue。AndIenvythoseschoolsthathaveanaturalconnectionwiththepast。OfcourseSawstonhasapast，thoughnotofthekindthatyouquitewant。

Thesonsofpoortradesmenwenttoitatfirst。Sowouldn’titstraditionsbemorelikelytolingerintheCommercialSchool？"heconcludednervously。

"Youhaveagreatdealtolearn——averygreatdeal。Listentome。

WhyhasSawstonnotraditions？"Hisround，ratherfoolish，faceassumedtheexpressionofaconspirator。Bendingoverthemutton，hewhispered，"Icantellyouwhy。Owingtotheday—boys。Howcantraditionsflourishinsuchsoil？Picturetheday—boy’slife——athomeformeals，athomeforpreparation，athomeforsleep，runninghomewitheveryfanciedwrong。Thereareday—boysinyourclass，and，markmywords，theywillgiveyoutentimesasmuchtroubleastheboarders，late，slovenly，stoppingawayattheslightestpretext。Andthenthelettersfromtheparents！’Whyhasmyboynotbeenmovedthisterm？’’Whyhasmyboybeenmovedthisterm？’’Iamadissenter，anddonotwishmyboytosubscribetotheschoolmission。’’Canyouletmyboyoffearlytowaterthegarden？’RememberthatIhavebeenaday—boyhouse—master，andtriedtoinfusesomeespritdecorpsintothem。

Itispracticallyimpossible。Theycomeasunits，andunitstheyremain。Worse。Theyinfecttheboarders。Theirpestilential，critical，discontentedattitudeisspreadingovertheschool。IfIhadmyownway——"

Hestoppedsomewhatabruptly。

"Wasthatwhyyoulaughedattheirsinging？"

"Notatall。Notatall。Itisnotmyhabittosetonesectionoftheschoolagainsttheother。"

Afteralittletheywenttherounds。Theboyswereinbednow。

"Good—night！"calledHerbert，standinginthecorridorofthecubicles，andfrombehindeachofthegreencurtainscamethesoundofavoicereplying，"Good—night，sir！""Good—night，"heobservedintoeachdormitory。

Thenhewenttotheswitchinthepassageandplungedthewholehouseintodarkness。Rickielingeredbehindhim，strangelyimpressed。InthemorningthoseboyshadbeenscatteredoverEngland，leadingtheirownlives。Now，forthreemonths，theymustchangeeverything——seenewfaces，acceptnewideals。They，likehimself，mustenterabeneficentmachine，andlearnthevalueofespritdecorps。Goodluckattendthem——goodluckandahappyrelease。Forhisheartwouldhavethemnotinthesecubiclesanddormitories，buteachinhisowndearhome，amongstfacesandthingsthatheknew。

Nextmorning，afterchapel，hemadetheacquaintanceofhisclass。Towardsthathefeltverydifferently。Espritdecorpswasnotexpectedofit。ItwassimplytwodozenboyswhoweregatheredtogetherforthepurposeoflearningLatin。Hisdutiesanddifficultieswouldnotliehere。Hewasnotrequiredtoprovideitwithanatmosphere。Theschemeofworkwasalreadymappedout，andhestartedgailyuponfamiliarwords——

"Pan，oviumcustos，tuasitibiMaenalacuraeAdsis，OTegaee，favens。"

"Doyouthinkthatbeautiful？"heasked，andreceivedthehonestanswer，"No，sir;Idon’tthinkIdo。"HemetHerbertinhighspiritsinthequadrangleduringtheinterval。ButHerbertthoughthisenthusiasmratheramateurish，andcautionedhim。

"Youmusttakecaretheydon’tgetoutofhand。Iapproveofalivelyteacher，butdisciplinemustbeestablishedfirst。"

"Ifeltmyselfalearner，notateacher。IfI’mwrongoverapoint，ordon’tknow，Imeantotellthematonce。"

Herbertshookhishead。

"It’sdifferentifIwasreallyascholar。ButIcan’tposeasone，canI？Iknowmuchmorethantheboys，butIknowverylittle。Surelythehonestthingistobemyselftothem。Letthemacceptorrefusemeasthat。That’stheonlyattitudeweshallanyofusprofitbyintheend。"

Mr。Pembrokewassilent。Thenheobserved，"Thereis，asyousay，ahigherattitudeandalowerattitude。Yethere，assooften，cannotwefindagoldenmeanbetweenthem？"

"What’sthat？"saidadreamyvoice。Theyturnedandsawatall，spectacledman，whogreetedthenewcomerkindly，andtookholdofhisarm。"What’sthataboutthegoldenmean？"

"Mr。Jackson——Mr。Elliot:Mr。Elliot——Mr。Jackson，"saidHerbert，whodidnotseemquitepleased。"Rickie，haveyouamomenttospareme？"

Butthehumanistspoketotheyoungmanaboutthegoldenmeanandthepinchbeckmean，adding，"YouknowtheGreeksaren’tbroadchurchclergymen。Theyreallyaren’t，inspiteofmuchconflictingevidence。BoyswillregardSophoclesasakindofenlightenedbishop，andsomethingtellsmethattheyarewrong。"

"Mr。Jacksonisaclassicalenthusiast，"saidHerbert。"Hemakesthepastlive。Iwanttotalktoyouaboutthehumdrumpresent。"

"AndIamwarninghimagainstthehumdrumpast。"That’sanotherpoint，Mr。Elliot。ImpressonyourclassthatmanyGreeksandmostRomanswerefrightfullystupid，andiftheydisbelieveyou，readCtesiphonwiththem，orValeriusFlaccus。Whateveristhatnoise？"

"Itcomesfromyourclass—room，Ithink，"snappedtheothermaster。

"Soitdoes。Ah，yes。IexpecttheyareputtingyourlittleTewsonintothewaste—paperbasket。"

"Ialwayslockmyclass—roomintheinterval——"

"Yes？"

"——andcarrythekeyinmypocket。"

"Ah。But，Mr。Elliot，IamacousinofWiddrington’s。Hewrotetomeaboutyou。Iamsoglad。Willyou，firstofall，cometosuppernextSunday？"

"Iamafraid，"putinHerbert，"thatwepoorhousemastersmustdenyourselvesfestivitiesintermtime。"

"Butmayn’thecomeonce，justonce？"

"May，mydearJackson！Mybrother—in—lawisnotababy。Hedecidesforhimself。"

Rickienaturallyrefused。Assoonastheywereoutofhearing，Herbertsaid，"Thisisalittleunfortunate。WhoisMr。

Widdrington？"

"IknewhimatCambridge。"

"Letmeexplainhowwestand，"hecontinued，afterapause。

"Jacksonistheworstofthereactionarieshere，whileI——whyshouldIconcealit？——havethrowninmylotwiththepartyofprogress。Youwillseehowwesufferfromhimatthemasters’

meetings。Hehasnotalentfororganization，andyetheisalwaysinflictinghisideasonothers。Itwaslikehisimpertinencetodictatetoyouwhatauthorsyoushouldread，andmeanwhilethesixth—formroomlikeabear—garden，andaschoolprefectbeingputintothewaste—paperbasket。MygoodRickie，there’snothingtosmileat。Howistheschooltogoonwithamanlikethat？Itwouldbeacaseof’quickmarch，’ifitwasnotforhisbrilliantintellect。That’swhyIsayit’salittleunfortunate。Youwillhaveverylittleincommon，youandhe。"

Rickiedidnotanswer。HewasveryfondofWiddrington，whowasaquaint，sensitiveperson。AndhecouldnothelpbeingattractedbyMr。Jackson，whosewelcomecontrastedpleasantlywiththeofficialbreezinessofhisothercolleagues。Hewondered，too，whetheritissoveryreactionarytocontemplatetheantique。

"ItistruethatIvoteConservative，"pursuedMr。Pembroke，apparentlyconfrontingsomeobjector。"Butwhy？BecausetheConservatives，ratherthantheLiberals，standforprogress。Onemustnotbemisledbycatch—words。"

"Didn’tyouwanttoaskmesomething？"

"Ah，yes。YoufoundaboyinyourformcalledVarden？"

"Varden？Yes;thereis。"

"Droponhimheavily。Hehasbrokenthestatutesoftheschool。

Heisattendingasaday—boy。Thestatutesprovidethataboymustresidewithhisparentsorguardians。Hedoesneither。Itmustbestopped。Youmusttelltheheadmaster。"

"Wheredoestheboylive？"

"AtacertainMrs。Orr’s，whohasnoconnectionwiththeschoolofanykind。Itmustbestopped。Hemusteitherenteraboarding—houseorgo。"

"ButwhyshouldItell？"saidRickie。Herememberedtheboy，anunattractivepersonwithprotrudingears，"Itisthebusinessofhishouse—master。"

"House—master——exactly。Herewecomebackagain。Whoisnowtheday—boys’house—master？Jacksononceagain——asifanythingwasJackson’sbusiness！Ihandedthehousebacklastterminamostflourishingcondition。Ithasalreadygonetorackandruinforthesecondtime。ToreturntoVarden。Ihaveunearthedaput—upjob。Mrs。JacksonandMrs。Orrarefriends。Doyousee？Itallworksround。"

"Isee。Itdoes——ormight。"

"Theheadmasterwillneversanctionitwhenit’sputtohimplainly。"

"ButwhyshouldIputit？"saidRickie，twistingtheribbonsofhisgownroundhisfingers。

"Becauseyou’retheboy’sform—master。"

"Isthatareason？"

"Ofcourseitis。"

"Ionlywonderedwhether——"Hedidnotliketosaythathewonderedwhetherheneeddoithisfirstmorning。

"Bysomemeansorotheryoumustfindout——ofcourseyouknowalready，butyoumustfindoutfromtheboy。Iknow——Ihaveit！

Where’shishealthcertificate？"

"Hehadforgottenit。"

"Justlikethem。Well，whenhebringsit，itwillbesignedbyMrs。Orr，andyoumustlookatitandsay，’Orr——Orr——Mrs。

Orr？’orsomethingtothateffect，andthenthewholethingwillcomenaturallyout。"

Thebellrang，andtheywentinforthehourofschoolthatconcludedthemorning。Vardenbroughthishealthcertificate——apompousdocumentassertingthathehadnotsufferedfromroseolaorkindredailmentsintheholidays——andforalongtimeRickiesatwithitbeforehim，spreadopenuponhisdesk。Hedidnotquitelikethejob。Itsuggestedintrigue，andhehadcometoSawstonnottointriguebuttolabour。DoubtlessHerbertwasright，andMr。JacksonandMrs。Orrwerewrong。Butwhycouldtheynothaveitoutamongthemselves？Thenhethought，"Iamacoward，andthat’swhyI’mraisingtheseobjections，"calledtheboyuptohim，anditdidallcomeoutnaturally，moreorless。

HithertoVardenhadlivedwithhismother;butshehadleftSawstonatChristmas，andnowhewouldlivewithMrs。Orr。"Mr。

Jackson，sir，saiditwouldbeallright。"

"Yes，yes，"saidRickie;"quiteso。"HerememberedHerbert’sdictum:"Mastersmustpresentaunitedfront。Iftheydonot——thedeluge。"Hesenttheboybacktohisseat，andafterschooltookthecompromisinghealthcertificatetotheheadmaster。Theheadmasterwasatthattimeeasilyexcitedbyabreachoftheconstitution。"Parentsorguardians，"hereputed——"parentsorguardians，"andflewwiththosewordsonhislipstoMr。Jackson。