第15章

Thusmusinghelaydowntosleep，feelingdiseasedinbodyandsoul。Itwasnowonderthatthenightwasthemostterriblehehadeverknown。HerevisitedCambridge，andhisnamewasagreyghostoverthedoor。Thenthererecurredthevoiceofagentleshadowywoman，Mrs。Aberdeen，"Itdoesn’tseemhardlyright。"

Thosehadbeenherwords，heronlycomplaintagainstthemysteriesofchangeanddeath。Shebowedherheadandlabouredtomakeher"gentlemen"comfortable。Shewaslabouringstill。AshelayinbedheaskedGodtogranthimherwisdom;thathemightkeepsorrowwithinduebounds;thathemightabstainfromextremehatredandenvyofStephen。Itwasseldomthatheprayedsodefinitely，orventuredtoobtrudehisprivatewishes。Religionwastohimaservice，amysticcommunionwithgood;notameansofgettingwhathewantedontheearth。Buttonight，throughsuffering，hewashumbled，andbecamelikeMrs。Aberdeen。

Hourafterhourheawaitedsleepandtriedtoendurethefacesthatfrothedinthegloom——hisaunt’s，hisfather’s，and，worstofall，thetriumphantfaceofhisbrother。Oncehestruckatit，andawoke，havinghurthishandonthewall。Thenheprayedhystericallyforpardonandrest。

Yetagaindidheawake，andfromamoremysteriousdream。Heheardhismothercrying。Shewascryingquitedistinctlyinthedarkenedroom。Hewhispered，"Nevermind，mydarling，nevermind，"andavoiceechoed，"Nevermind——comeaway——letthemdieout——letthemdieout。"Helitacandle，andtheroomwasempty。Then，hurryingtothewindow，hesawabovemeanhousesthefrostygloriesofOrion。

Henceforwardhedeteriorates。Letthosewhocensurehimsuggestwhatheshoulddo。Hehaslosttheworkthatheloved，hisfriends，andhischild。Heremainedconscientiousanddecent，butthespiritualpartofhimproceededtowardsruin。

XXIV

Thecomingmonths，thoughfullofdegradationandanxiety，weretobringhimnothingsoterribleasthatnight。Itwasthecrisisofthisagony。Hewasanoutcastandafailure。Buthewasnotagainforcedtocontemplatethesefactssoclearly。Vardenleftinthemorning，carryingthefatalletterwithhim。Thewholehousewasrelieved。Thegoodangelwaswiththeboysagain，orelse（asHerbertpreferredtothink）theyhadlearntalesson，andweremorehumaneinconsequence。Atallevents，thedisastroustermconcludedquietly。

IntheChristmasholidaysthetwomastersmadeanabortiveattempttovisitItaly，andatEastertherewastalkofacruiseintheAegean。Herbertactuallywent，andenjoyedAthensandDelphi。TheElliotspaidafewvisitstogetherinEngland。TheyreturnedtoSawstonabouttendaysbeforeschoolopened，tofindthatWiddringtonwasagainstoppingwiththeJacksons。

Intercoursewaspainful，forthetwofamilieswerescarcelyonspeakingterms;nordidthetriumphantscaffoldingsofthenewboarding—housemakethingseasier。（Thepartyofprogresshadcarriedtheday。）Widdringtonwasbynaturetouchy，butonthisoccasionherefusedtotakeoffence，andoftendroppedintoseethem。Hismannerwasfriendlybutcritical。Theyagreedhewasanuisance。ThenAgnesleft，veryabruptly，toseeMrs。Failing，andwhileshewasawayRickiehadalittlestealthyintercourse。

Herabsence，convenientasitwas，puzzledhim。Mrs。Silt，halfgoose，halfstormy—petrel，hadrecentlypaidaflyingvisittoCadover，andthencehadflown，withoutaninvitation，toSawston。

Generallyshewasnotawelcomeguest。OnthisoccasionAgneshadwelcomedher，and——soRickiethought——hadmadeherpromisenottotellhimsomethingthatsheknew。Theladieshadtalkedmysteriously。"Mr。Siltwouldbeonewithyouthere，"saidMrs。

Silt。Couldtherebeanyconnectionbetweenthetwovisits？

Agnes’sletterstoldhimnothing:theyneverdid。Shewastooclumsyortoocautioustoexpressherselfonpaper。AdrivetoStonehenge;ananthemintheCathedral;AuntEmily’slove。AndwhenhemetheratWaterloohelearntnothing（iftherewasanythingtolearn）fromherface。

"Howdidyouenjoyyourself？"

"Thoroughly。"

"Wereyouandshealone？"

"Sometimes。Sometimesotherpeople。"

"WillUncleTony’sEssaysbepublished？"

Hereshewasmorecommunicative。Thebookwasatlastinproof。

AuntEmilyhadwrittenacharmingintroduction;butshewassoidle，sheneverfinishedthingsoff。

TheygotintoanomnibusfortheArmyandNavyStores:shewantedtodosomeshoppingbeforegoingdowntoSawston。

"DidyoureadanyoftheEssays？"

"Everyone。Delightful。Couldn’tputthemdown。Nowandthenhespoiltthembystatistics——butyoushouldreadhisdescriptionsofNature。Heagreeswithyou:saysthehillsandtreesarealive！AuntEmilycalledyouhisspiritualheir，whichIthoughtniceofher。Webothsolamentedthatyouhavestoppedwriting。"

ShequotedfragmentsoftheEssaysastheywentupintheStores’

lift。

"Whatelsedidyoutalkabout？"

"I’vetoldyouallmynews。Nowforyours。Let’shaveteafirst。"

Theysatdowninthecorridoramidladiesineverystageoffatigue——haggardladies，scarletladies，ladieswithparcelsthattwistedfromeveryfingerlikejointsofmeat。Gentlemenwerescarcer，butallwereofthesub—fashionabletype，towhichRickiehimselfnowbelonged。

"Ihaven’tdoneanything，"hesaidfeebly。"Ate，read，beenrudetotradespeople，talkedtoWiddrington。Herbertarrivedthismorning。HehasbroughtamostbeautifulphotographoftheParthenon。"

"Mr。Widdrington？"

"Yes。"

"Whatdidyoutalkabout？"

Shemighthaveheardeveryword。Itwasonlythefeelingofpleasurethathewishedtoconceal。Evenwhenwelovepeople，wedesiretokeepsomecornersecretfromthem，howeversmall:itisahumanright:itispersonality。Shebegantocross—questionhim，buttheywereinterrupted。Ayoungladyatanadjacenttablesuddenlyroseandcried，"Yes，itisyou。Ithoughtsofromyourwalk。"ItwasMaudAnsell。

"Oh，docomeandjoinus！"hecried。"Letmeintroducemywife。"

Maudbowedquitestiffly，butAgnes，takingitforill—breeding，wasnotoffended。

"ThenIwillcome！"shecontinuedinshrill，pleasanttones，adroitlypoisingherteathingsoneitherhand，andtransferringthemtotheElliots’table。"Whyhaven’tyouevercometous，pray？"

"Ithinkyoudidn’taskme！"

"Youweren’ttobeasked。"Shesprawledforwardwithawaggingfinger。Buthereyeshadthehonestyofherbrother’s。"Don’tyourememberthedayyouleftus？Fathersaid，’Now，Mr。Elliot——’Ordidhecallyou’Elliot’？Howonedoesforget。Anyhow，fathersaidyouweren’ttowaitforaninvitation，andyousaid，’No，Iwon’t。’Oursisafair—sizedhouse，"——sheturnedsomewhathaughtilytoAgnes，——"andthesecondspareroom，onaccountofaharpthathangsonthewall，isalwaysreservedforStewart’sfriends。"

"HowisMr。Ansell，yourbrother？"

Maud’sfacefell。"Hadn’tyouheard？"shesaidinawe—strucktones。

"No。"

"Hehasn’tgothisfellowship。It’sthesecondtimehe’sfailed。

Thatmeanshewillnevergetone。Hewillneverbeadon，norliveinCambridgeandthat，aswehadhoped。"

"Oh，poor，poorfellow！"saidMrs。Elliotwitharemorsethatwassincere，thoughhercongratulationswouldnothavebeen。"Iamsoverysorry。"

ButMaudturnedtoRickie。"Mr。Elliot，youmightknow。Tellme。

WhatiswrongwithStewart’sphilosophy？Whatoughthetoputin，ortoalter，soastosucceed？"

Agnes，whoknewbetterthanthis，smiled。

"Idon’tknow，"saidRickiesadly。Theywerenoneofthemsoclever，afterall。

"Hegel，"shecontinuedvindictively。"Theysayhe’sreadtoomuchHegel。Buttheynevertellhimwhattoreadinstead。Theirownstuffybooks，Isuppose。Lookhere——no，that’sthe’Windsor。’"

Afteralittlegropingsheproducedacopyof"Mind，"andhandeditroundasifitwasageologicalspecimen。"Insidethatthere’saparagraphwrittenaboutsomethingStewart’swrittenaboutbefore，andthereitsayshe’sreadtoomuchHegel，anditseemsnowthatthat’sbeenthetroubleallalong。"Hervoicetrembled。

"Icallitmostunfair，andthefellowship’sgonetoamanwhohascountedthepetalsonananemone。"

Rickiehadnoinclinationtosmile。

"IwishStewarthadtriedOxfordinstead。"

"Idon’twishit！"

"Yousaythat，"shecontinuedhotly，"andthenyounevercometoseehim，thoughyouknewyouwerenottowaitforaninvitation。"

"Ifitcomestothat，MissAnsell，"retortedRickie，inthelaughingtonesthatoneadoptsonsuchoccasions，"Stewartwon’tcometome，thoughhehashadaninvitation。"

"Yes，"chimedinAgnes，"weaskMr。Ansellagainandagain，andhewillhavenoneofus。"

Maudlookedatherwithaflashingeye。"Mybrotherisaverypeculiarperson，andweladiescan’tunderstandhim。ButIknowonething，andthat’sthathehasareasonallroundforwhathedoes。Lookhere，Imustbegettingon。Waiter！Wai—ai—aiter！

Bill，please。Separately，ofcourse。CalltheArmyandNavycheap！Iknowbetter！"

"Howdoesthedraperydepartmentcompare？"saidAgnessweetly。

Thegirlgaveasharpchokingsound，gatheredupherparcels，andleftthem。Rickiewastoomuchdisgustedwithhiswifetospeak。

"Appallingperson！"shegasped。"Itwasnaughtyofme，butI

couldn’thelpit。Whatadreadfulfateforacleverman！Tofailinlifecompletely，andthentobethrownbackonafamilylikethat！"

"MaudisasnobandaPhilistine。But，inhercase，somethingemerges。"

Sheglancedathim，butproceededinhersuavesttones，"DoletusmakeonegreatunitedattempttogetMr。AnselltoSawston。"

"No。"

"Whatachangeablefriendyouare！Whenwewereengagedyouwerealwaystalkingabouthim。"

"Wouldyoufinishyourtea，andthenwewillbuythelinoleumforthecubicles。"

Butshereturnedtothesubjectagain，notonlyonthatdaybutthroughouttheterm。CouldnothingbedoneforpoorMr。Ansell？

Itseemedthatshecouldnotrestuntilallthathehadoncehelddearwashumiliated。Inthisshestrayedoutsidehernature:shewasunpractica1。Andthosewhostrayoutsidetheirnatureinvitedisaster。Rickie，goadedbyher，wrotetohisfriendagain。Theletterwasinallwaysunlikehisoldself。Anselldidnotanswerit。ButhedidwritetoMr。Jackson，withwhomhewasnotacquainted。

"DearMr。Jackson，——

IunderstandfromWiddringtonthatyouhavealargehouse。I

wouldliketotellyouhowconvenientitwouldbeformetocomeandstopinit。Junesuitsmebest。——

Yourstruly，StewartAnsellTowhichMr。JacksonrepliedthatnotonlyinJunebutduringthewholeyearhishousewasatthedisposalofMr。Ansellandofanyonewhoresembledhim。

ButAgnescontinuedherlife，cheerfullybeatingtime。She，too，knewthathermarriagewasafailure，andinhersparemomentsregrettedit。Shewishedthatherhusbandwashandsomer，moresuccessful，moredictatorial。Butshewouldthink，"No，no;onemustn’tgrumble。Itcan’tbehelped。"Ansellwaswronginsup—

posingshemighteverleaveRickie。Spiritualapathypreventedher。Norwouldsheeverbetemptedbyajollierman。Herecriticismwouldwillinglyalteritstone。ForAgnesalsohashertragedy。Shebelongedtothetype——notnecessarilyanelevatedone——thatlovesonceandonceonly。HerloveforGeraldhadnotbeenanoblepassion:noimaginationtransfiguredit。Butsuchasitwas，itsprangtoembracehim，andhecarrieditawaywithhimwhenhedied。Lesamoursguisuivrentsontmoinsinvoluntaires:

byaneffortofthewillshehadwarmedherselfforRickie。

Sheisnotconsciousofhertragedy，andthereforeonlythegodsneedweepatit。Butitisfairtorememberthathithertoshemovesasonefromwhomtheinnerlifehasbeenwithdrawn。

XXV

"Iamafraid，"saidAgnes，unfoldingaletterthatshehadreceivedinthemorning，"thatthingsgofarfromsatisfactorilyatCadover。"

Thethreewerealoneatsupper。ItwastheJuneofRickie’ssecondyearatSawston。

"Indeed？"saidHerbert，whotookafriendlyinterest。"Inwhatway？

"DoyourememberustalkingofStephen——StephenWonham，whobyanoddcoincidence——"

"Yes。WhowrotelastyeartothatmiserablefailureVarden。I

do。"

"Itisabouthim。"

"Ididnotlikethetoneofhisletter。"

Agneshadmadeherfirstmove。Shewaitedforherhusbandtoreplytoit。Buthe，thoughfullofapainfulcuriosity，wouldnotspeak。Shemovedagain。

"Idon’tthink，Herbert，thatAuntEmily，muchasIlikeher，isthekindofpersontobringayoungmanup。Atalleventstheresultshavebeendisastrousthistime。"

"Whathashappened？"

"Atangleofthings。"Sheloweredhervoice。"Drink。"

"Dear！Really！WasMrs。Failingfondofhim？"

"Sheusedtobe。ShelethimliveatCadovereversincehewasalittleboy。Naturallythatcannotcontinue。"

Rickieneverspoke。

"Andnowhehastakentobeviolentandrude，"shewenton。

"Inshort，abeggaronhorseback。Whoishe？Hashegotrelatives？"

"Shehasalwaysbeenbothfatherandmothertohim。Nowitmustallcometoanend。Iblameher——andsheblamesherself——fornotbeingsevereenough。Hehasgrownupwithoutfixedprinciples。Hehasalwaysfollowedhisinclinations，andoneknowstheresultofthat"

Herbertassented。"TomeMrs。Failing’scourseisperfectlyplain。Shehasacertainresponsibility。Shemustpaytheyouth’spassagetooneofthecolonies，starthimhandsomelyinsomebusiness，andthenbreakoffallcommunications。"

"Howfunny！Itisexactlywhatsheisgoingtodo。"

"Ishallthenconsiderthatshehasbehavedinathoroughlyhonourablemanner。"Heheldouthisplateforgooseberries。"HislettertoVardenwasneitherhelpfulnorsympathetic，and，ifwrittenatall，itoughttohavebeenboth。Iamnotintheleastsurprisedtolearnthathehasturnedoutbadly。Whenyouwritenext，wouldyoutellherhowsorryIam？"

"IndeedIwill。Twoyearsago，whenshewasalreadyalittleanxious，shedidsowishyoucouldundertakehim。

"Icouldnotalteragrownman。"Butinhishearthethoughthecould，andsmiledathissisteramiably。"Terrible，isn’tit？"heremarkedtoRickie。Rickie，whowastryingnottomindanything，assented。Andanonlookerwouldhavesupposedthemadispassionatetrio，whoweresorrybothforMrs。Failingandforthebeggarwhowouldbestrideherhorses’backsnolonger。AnewtopicwasintroducedbythearrivaloftheeveningpostHerberttookupalltheletters，asheoftendid。

"Jackson？"heexclaimed。"Whatdoesthefellowwant？"Heread，andhistonewasmollified，"’DearMr。Pembroke，——Couldyou，Mrs。

Elliot，andMr。ElliotcometosupperwithusonSaturdaynext？I

shouldnotmerelybepleased，Ishouldbegrateful。MywifeiswritingformallytoMrs。Elliot’——（Here，Agnes，takeyourletter），——butIventuretowriteaswell，andtoaddmymoreuncouthentreaties。’——Anolive—branch。Itistime！But（ridiculousperson！）doeshethinkthatwecanleavetheHousedesertedandallgooutpleasuringintermtime？——Rickie，aletterforyou。"

"Mine’stheformalinvitation，"saidAgnes。"Howveryodd！Mr。

Ansellwillbethere。Surelyweaskedhimhere！DidyouknowheknewtheJacksons？"

"Thismakesrefusalverydifficult，"saidHerbert，whowasanxioustoaccept。"Atallevents，Rickieoughttogo。"

"Idonotwanttogo，"saidRickie，slowlyopeninghisownletter。"AsAgnessays，Ansellhasrefusedtocometous。I

cannotputmyselfoutforhim。"

"Who’syoursfrom？"shedemanded。

"Mrs。Silt，"repliedHerbert，whohadseenthehandwriting。

"Itrustshedoesnotwanttopayusavisitthisterm，withtheexaminationsimpendingandallthemachineryatfullpressure。

Though，Rickie，youwillhavetoaccepttheJacksons’

invitation。"

"Icannotpossiblygo。Ihavebeentoorude;withWiddringtonwealwaysmeethere。I’llstopwiththeboys——"Hisvoicecaughtsuddenly。HehadopenedMrs。Silt’sletter。

"TheSiltsarenotill，Ihope？"

"No。But，Isay，"——helookedathiswife，——"Idothinkthisisgoingtoofar。Really，Agnes。"

"Whathashappened？"

"Itisgoingtoofar，"herepeated。Hewasnervinghimselfforanotherbattle。"Icannotstandthissortofthing。Therearelimits。"

Helaidtheletterdown。ItwasHerbertwhopickeditup，andread:"AuntEmilyhasjustwrittentous。Wearesogladthathertroublesareover，inspiteoftheexpense。Itneverdoestoliveapartfromone’sownrelativessomuchasshehasdoneuptonow。

HegoesnextSaturdaytoCanada。Whatyoutoldherabouthimjustturnedthescale。Shehasaskedus——"

"No，it’stoomuch，"heinterrupted。"WhatItoldher——toldherabouthim——no，Iwillhaveitoutatlast。Agnes！"

"Yes？"saidhiswife，raisinghereyesfromMrs。Jackson’sformalinvitation。

"It’syou——it’syou。Inevermentionedhimtoher。Why，I’veneverseenherorwrittentohersince。Iaccuseyou。"

ThenHerbertoverborehim，andhecollapsed。Hewasaskedwhathemeant。Whywashesoexcited？Ofwhatdidheaccusehiswife。

Eachtimehespokemorefeebly，andbeforelongthebrotherandsisterwerelaughingathim。Hefeltbewildered，likeaboywhoknowsthatheisrightbutcannotputhiscasecorrectly。Herepeated，"I’venevermentionedhimtoher。It’salibel。Neverinmylife。"Andtheycried，"MydearRickie，whatanabsurdfuss！"Thenhisbraincleared。Hiseyefellontheletterthathiswifehadreceivedfromhisaunt，andhereopenedthebattle。

"Agnes，givemethatletter，ifyouplease。"

"Mrs。Jackson’s？"

"Myaunt’s。"

Sheputherhandonit，andlookedathimdoubtfully。Shesawthatshehadfailedtobullyhim。

"Myaunt’sletter，"herepeated，risingtohisfeetandbendingoverthetabletowardsher。

"Why，dear？"

"Yes，whyindeed？"echoedHerbert。HetoohadbulliedRickie，butfromapurermotive:hehadtriedtostampoutadissensionbetweenhusbandandwife。Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadintervened。

"Theletter。Forthisreason:itwillshowmewhatyouhavedone。

IbelieveyouhaveruinedStephen。youhaveworkedatitfortwoyears。Youhaveputwordsintomymouthto’turnthescale’

againsthim。HegoestoCanada——andalltheworldthinksitisowingtome。AsIsaidbefore——Iadviseyoutostopsmiling——youhavegonealittletoofar。"

Theywereallontheirfeetnow，standingroundthelittletable。

Agnessaidnothing，butthefingersofherdelicatehandtightenedupontheletter。Whenherhusbandsnatchedatitsheresisted，andwiththeeffectofaharlequinadeeverythingwentonthefloor——lamb，mintsauce，gooseberries，lemonade，whisky。

Atoncetheywereswampedindomesticities。Sherangthebellfortheservant，criesarose，dusterswerebrought，brokencrockery（aweddingpresent）pickedupfromthecarpet;whilehestoodwrathfullyatthewindow，regardingtheobscuredsun’sdecline。

"IMUSTseeherletter，"herepeated，whentheagitationwasover。Hewastooangrytobedivertedfromhispurpose。Onlyslightemotionsarethwartedbyaninterludeoffarce。

"I’vehadenoughofthisquarrelling，"sheretorted。"YouknowthattheSiltsareinaccurate。Ithinkyoumighthavegivenmethebenefitofthedoubt。Ifyouwillknow——haveyouforgottenthatrideyoutookwithhim。？"

"I——"hewasagainbewildered。"TheridewhereIdreamt——"

"Theridewhereyouturnedbackbecauseyoucouldnotlistentoadisgracefulpoem？"

"Idon’tunderstand。"

"ThepoemwasAuntEmily。Hereadittoyouandastraysoldier。

Afterwardsyoutoldme。Yousaid，’Reallyitisshocking，hisingratitude。Sheoughttoknowaboutit’Shedoesknow，andI

shouldbegladofanapology。"

Hehadsaidsomethingofthesortinafitofirritation。Mrs。

Siltwasright——hehadhelpedtoturnthescale。

"WhateverIsaid，youknewwhatImeant。YouknewI’dsoonercutmytongueoutthanhaveitusedagainsthim。Eventhen。"Hesighed。Hadheruinedhisbrother？Acurioustendernesscameoverhim，andpassedwhenherememberedhisowndeadchild。"Wehaveruinedhim，then。Haveyouanyobjectionto’we’？Wehavedisinheritedhim。"

"Idecideagainstyou，"interposedHerbert。"Ihavenowheardbothsidesofthisdeplorableaffair。Youaretalkingmostcriminalnonsense。’Disinherit！’Sentimentaltwaddle。It’sbeencleartomefromthefirstthatMrs。FailinghasbeenimposeduponbytheWonhamman，apersonwithnolegalclaimonher，andanyonewhoexposeshimperformsapublicduty——"

"——Andgetsmoney。"

"Money？"Hewasalwaysuneasyattheword。"Whomentionedmoney？"

"Justunderstandme，Herbert，andofwhatitisthatIaccusemywife。"Tearscameintohiseyes。"ItisnotthatIliketheWonhamman，orthinkthatheisn’tadrunkardandworse。He’stooawfulineveryway。Butheoughttohavemyaunt’smoney，becausehe’slivedallhislifewithher，andishernephewasmuchasI

am。Yousee，myfatherwentwrong。"Hestopped，amazedathimself。Howeasyithadbeentosay！Hewaswitheringup:thepowertocareaboutthisstupidsecrethaddied。

WhenHerbertunderstood，hisfirstthoughtwasforDunwoodHouse。

"WhyhaveIneverbeentold？"washisfirstremark。

"Wesettledtotellnoone，"saidAgnes。"Rickie，inhisanxietytoprovemealiar，hasbrokenhispromise。"

"Ioughttohavebeentold，"saidHerbert，hisangerincreasing。

"HadIknown，Icouldhaveavertedthisdeplorablescene。"

"Letmeconcludeit，"saidRickie，againcollapsingandleavingthedining—room。HisimpulsewastogostraighttoCadoverandmakeabusiness—likestatementofthepositiontoStephen。Thenthemanwouldbearmed，andperhapsfightthetwowomensuccessfully，Butheresistedtheimpulse。Whyshouldhehelponepowerofevilagainstanother？Letthemgointertwinedtodestruction。Toenrichhisbrotherwouldbeasbadasenrichinghimself。Iftheiraunt’smoneyeverdidcometohim，hewouldrefusetoacceptit。Thatwastheeasiestandmostdignifiedcourse。Hetroubledhimselfnolongerwithjusticeorpity，andthenextdayheaskedhiswife’spardonforhisbehaviour。

Inthedining—roomtheconversationcontinued。Agnes，withoutmuchdifficulty，gainedherbrotherasanally。Sheacknowledgedthatshehadbeenwronginnottellinghim，andhethendeclaredthatshehadbeenrightoneveryotherpoint。Sheslurredalittleovertheincidentofhertreachery，forHerbertwassometimesclearsightedoverdetails，thougheasilymuddledinageneralsurvey。Mrs。Failinghadhadplentyofdirectcausesofcomplaint，andshedweltonthese。Shedealt，too，ontheveryhandsomewayinwhichtheyoungman，"thoughheknewnothing，hadneveraskedtoknow，"wasbeingtreatedbyhisaunt。

"’Handsome’istheword，"saidHerbert。"Ihopenotindulgently。

Hedoesnotdeserveindulgence。"

Andsheknewthathe，likeherself，couldremembermoney，andthatitlentanacknowledgedhalotohercause。

"Itisnotasavourysubject，"hecontinued，withsuddenstiffness。"IunderstandwhyRickieissohysterical。

Myimpulse"——helaidhishandonhershoulder——"istoabandonitatonce。ButifIamtobeofanyusetoyou，Imusthearitall。

Therearemomentswhenwemustlookfactsintheface。"

Shedidnotshrinkfromthesubjectasmuchashethought，asmuchassheherselfcouldhavewished。Twoyearsbefore，ithadfilledherwithaphysicalloathing。Butbynowshehadaccustomedherselftoit。

"Iamafraid，Bertieboy，thereisnothingelsetobear，Ihavetriedtofindoutagainandagain，butAuntEmilywillnottellme。Isupposeitisnatural。ShewantstoshieldtheElliotname。

Sheonlytoldusinafitoftemper;thenweallagreedtokeepittoourselves;thenRickieagainmismanagedher，andeversinceshehasrefusedtoletusknowanydetails。"

"Amostunsatisfactoryposition。"

"SoIfeel。"Shesatdownagainwithasigh。Mrs。Failinghadbeenagreattrialtoherorderlymind。"Sheisanoddwoman。Sheisalwayslaughing。Sheactuallyfindsitamusingthatweknownomore。"