第16章

"Theyareanoddfamily。"

"Theyareindeed。"

Herbert，withunusualsweetness，bentdownandkissedher。

Shethankedhim。

Theirtendernesssoonpassed。Theyexchangeditwithavertedeyes。Itembarrassedthem。Therearemomentsforallofuswhenweseemobligedtospeakinanewunprofitabletongue。Onemightfancyaseraph，vexedwithournormallanguage，whotouchesthepioustoblasphemy，theblasphemoustopiety。Theseraphpasses，andweproceedunaltered——conscious，however，thatwehavenotbeenourselves，andthatwemayfailinthisfunctionyetagain。

SoAgnesandHerbert，astheyproceededtodiscusstheJackson’ssupper—party，hadanuneasymemoryofspiritualdeserts，spiritualstreams。

XXVI

PoorMr。AnsellwasactuallysittinginthegardenofDunwoodHouse。ItwasSundaymorning。Theairwasfullofroastingbeef。

Thesoundofamanlyhymn，takenveryfast，floatedovertheroadfromtheschoolchapel。Hefrowned，forhewasreadingabook，theEssaysofAnthonyEustaceFailing。

Hewashereonaccountofthisbook——atleastsohetoldhimself。

Ithadjustbeenpublished，andtheJacksonsweresurethatMr。

Elliotwouldhaveacopy。Forabookonemaygoanywhere。ItwouldnothavebeenlogicaltoenterDunwoodHouseforthepurposeofseeingRickie，whenRickiehadnotcometosupperyesterdaytoseehim。HewasatSawstontoassurehimselfofhisfriend’sgrave。Withquieteyeshehadintendedtoviewthesods，withunfalteringfingerstoinscribetheepitaph。Loveremained。

Butinhighmattershewaspractical。Heknewthatitwouldbeuselesstorevealit。

"Morning！"saidavoicebehindhim。

Hesawnoreasontoreplytothissuperfluousstatement，andwentonwithhisreading。

"Morning！"saidthevoiceagain。

AsfortheEssays，thethoughtwassomewhatold—fashioned，andhepickedmanyholesinit;norwasheanythingbutboredbytheprospectofthebrotherhoodofman。However，Mr。Failingstucktohisguns，suchastheywere，andfiredfromthemseveralgoodremarks。Verynotablewashisdistinctionbetweencoarsenessandvulgarity（coarseness，revealingsomething;vulgarity，concealingsomething），andhisavowedpreferenceforcoarseness。Vulgarity，tohim，hadbeentheprimalcurse，theshoddyreticencethatpreventsmanopeninghishearttoman，thepowerthatmakesagainstequality。Fromitsprangallthethingsthathehated——

classshibboleths，ladies，lidies，thegamelaws，theConservativeparty——allthethingsthataccentthedivergenciesratherthanthesimilaritiesinhumannature。Whereascoarseness——

ButatthispointHerbertPembrokehadscrawledwithabluepencil:"Childish。Onereadsnofurther。"

"Morning！"repeatedthevoice。

Ansellreadfurther，forherewasthebookofamanwhohadtried，howeverunsuccessfully，topracticewhathepreached。Mrs。

Failing，inherIntroduction，describedwithdelicateironyhisdifficultiesasalandlord;butshedidnotrecordtheloveinwhichhisnamewasheld。Norcouldherironytouchhimwhenhecried:"Attainthepracticalthroughtheunpractical。Thereisnootherroad。"Ansellwasinclinedtothinkthattheunpracticalisitsownreward，butherespectedthosewhoattemptedtojourneybeyondit。Wemustallofusgooverthemountains。Thereiscertainlynootherroad。

"Nicemorning！"saidthevoice。

Itwasnotanicemorning，soAnsellfeltboundtospeak。Heanswered:"No。Why？"Aclodofearthimmediatelystruckhimontheback。Heturnedroundindignantly，forhehatedphysicalrudeness。Asquaremanofruddyaspectwaspacingthegravelpath，hishandsdeepinhispockets。Hewasveryangry。Thenhesawthattheclodofearthnourishedabluelobelia，andthatawoundofcorrespondingsizeappearedonthepie—shapedbed。Hewasnotsoangry。"Iexpecttheywillmindit，"hereflected。

Lastnight，attheJacksons’，Agneshaddisplayedabriskpitythatmadehimwishtowringherneck。Maudehadnotexaggerated。

Mr。Pembrokehadpatronizedthroughasorrowfulvoiceandlargeroundeyes。Tillhemetthesepeoplehehadneverbeentoldthathiscareerwasafailure。Apparentlyitwas。Theywouldneverhavebeenciviltohimifithadbeenasuccess，iftheyortheirshadanythingtofearfromhim。

InmanywaysAnsellwasaconceitedman;buthewasneverproudofbeingright。HehadforeseenRickie’scatastrophefromthefirst，butderivedfromthisnoconsolation。Inmanywayshewaspedantic;buthispedantrylayclosetothevineyardsoflife——

farcloserthanthatfetichExperienceoftheinnumerabletea—

cups。Hehadagreatmanyfactstolearn，andbeforehediedhelearntasuitablequantity。Butheneverforgotthattheholinessoftheheart’simaginationcanaloneclassifythesefacts——canalonedecidewhichisanexception，whichanexample。"Howunpracticalitallis！"ThatwashiscommentonDunwoodHouse。

"Howunbusiness—like！Theylivetogetherwithoutlove。Theyworkwithoutconviction。Theyseekmoneywithoutrequiringit。

Theydie，andnothingwillhavehappened，eitherforthemselvesorforothers。"Itisacommentthattheacademicmindwilloftenmakewhenfirstconfrontedwiththeworld。

Buthewasbecomingillogical。Theclodofearthhaddisturbedhim。Brushingthedirtoffhisback，hereturnedtothebook。

Whatacuriousaffairwastheessayon"Gaps"！Solitude，star—crowned，pacingthefieldsofEngland，hasadialoguewithSeclusion。He，poorlittleman，livesinthechoicestscenery——

amongrocks，forests，emeraldlawns，azurelakes。Tokeeppeopleouthehasbuiltroundhisdomainahighwall，onwhichisgravenhismotto——"Proculesteprofani。"Buthecannotenjoyhimself。

HisonlypleasureisinmockingtheabsentProfane。Theyareinhismindnightandday。Theirblemishesandstupiditiesformthesubjectofhisgreatpoem，"IntheHeartofNature。"ThenSolitudetellshimthatsoitalwayswillbeuntilhemakesagapinthewall，andpermitshisseclusiontobethesportofcircumstance。Heobeys。TheProfaneinvadehim;butforshortintervalstheywanderelsewhere，andduringthoseintervalstheheartofNatureisrevealedtohim。

ThisdialoguehadreallybeensuggestedtoMr。Failingbyatalkwithhisbrother—in—law。ItalsotouchedAnsell。Helookedatthemanwhohadthrowntheclod，andwasnowpacingwithobviousyouthandimpudenceuponthelawn。"ShallIimprovemysoulathisexpense？"hethought。"IsupposeIhadbetter。"Infriendlytonesheremarked，"WereyouwaitingforMr。Pembroke？"

"No，"saidtheyoungman。"Why？"

Ansell，afteramoment’sadmiration，flungtheEssaysathim。

Theyhithimintheback。Thenextmomenthelayonhisownbackinthelobeliapie。

"Butithurts！"hegasped，inthetonesofapuzzledcivilization。"Whatyoudohurts！"Fortheyoungmanwasnickinghimovertheshinswiththerimofthebookcover。"Littlebrute—

ee——ow！"

"ThensayPax！"

SomethingrevoltedinAnsell。WhyshouldhesayPax？Freeinghishand，hecaughtthelittlebruteunderthechin，andwasagainknockedintothelobeliasbyablowonthemouth。

"SayPax！"herepeated，pressingthephilosopher’sskullintothemould;andheadded，withananxietythatwassomehownotoffensive，"Idoadviseyou。You’dreallybetter。"

Ansellswallowedalittleblood。Hetriedtomove，andhecouldnot。Helookedcarefullyintotheyoungman’seyesandintothepalmofhisrighthand，whichatpresentswungunclenched，andhesaid"Pax！"

"Shakehands！"saidtheother，helpinghimup。TherewasnothingAnsellloathedsomuchastheheartyBritisher;butheshookhands，andtheystaredateachotherawkwardly。Withcivilmurmurstheypickedthelittleblueflowersoffeachother’sclothes。Ansellwastryingtorememberwhytheyhadquarrelled，andtheyoungmanwaswonderingwhyhehadnotguardedhischinproperly。Inthedistanceahymnswungoff——

"Fightthegood。Fightwith。Allthy。Might。"

Theywouldbeacrossfromthechapelsoon。

"Yourbook，sir？"

"Thankyou，sir——yes。"

"Why！"criedtheyoungman——"why，it’s’WhatWeWant’！Atleastthebinding’sexactlythesame。"

"It’scalled’Essays，’"saidAnsell。

"Thenthat’sit。Mrs。Failing，yousee，shewouldn’tca11itthat，becausethreeW’s，yousee，inarow，shesaid，arevulgar，andsoundlikeTolstoy，ifyou’veheardofhim。"

Ansellconfessedtoanacquaintance，andthensaid，"Doyouthink’WhatWeWant’vulgar？"Hewasnotatallinterested，buthedesiredtoescapefromtheatmosphereofpugilisticcourtesy，morepainfultohimthanblowsthemselves。

"ItISthesamebook，"saidtheother——"sametitle，samebinding。"Heweigheditlikeabrickinhismuddyhands。

"Openittoseeiftheinsidecorresponds，"saidAnsell，swallowingalaughandalittlemorebloodwithit。

Withaliberalallowanceofthumb—marks，heturnedthepagesoverandread，"’theruralsilencethatisnotapoet’sluxurybutapracticalneedforallmen。’Yes，itisthesamebook。"Smilingpleasantlyoverthediscovery，hehandeditbacktotheowner。

"Andisittrue？"

"Ibegyourpardon？"

"Isittruethatruralsilenceisapracticalneed？"

"Don’taskme！"

"Haveyouevertriedit？"

"What？"

"Ruralsilence。"

"Afieldwithnonoiseinit，Isupposeyoumean。Idon’tunderstand。"

Ansellsmiled，butaslightfireintheman’seyecheckedhim。

Afterall，thiswasapersonwhocouldknockonedown。Moreover，therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldbeteased。Hehaditinhimtoretort"No。Why？"Hewasnotstupidinessentials。Hewasirritable——inAnsell’seyesafrequentsignofgrace。Sittingdownontheupturnedseat，heremarked，"Ilikethebookinmanyways。Idon’tthink’WhatWeWant’wouldhavebeenavulgartitle。ButIdon’tintendtospoilmyselfonthechanceofmendingtheworld，whichiswhatthecreedamountsto。NoramI

keenonruralsilences。"

"Curse！"hesaidthoughtfully，suckingatanemptypipe。

"Tobacco？"

"Please。"

"Rickie’sisinvariably——filthy。"

"WhosaysIknowRickie？"

"Well，youknowhisaunt。It’sapossiblelink。BegentlewithRickie。Don’tknockhimdownifhedoesn’tthinkit’sanicemorning。"

Theotherwassilent。

"Doyouknowhimwell？"

"Kindof。"Hewasnotinclinedtotalk。Thewishtosmokewasveryviolentinhim，andAnsellnoticedhowhegazedatthewreathsthatascendedfrombowlandstem，andhow，whenthestemwasinhismouth，hebitit。Hegavetheideaofananimalwithjustenoughsoultocontemplateitsownbliss。Unitedwithrefinement，suchatypewascommoninGreece。Itisnotcommontoday，andAnsellwassurprisedtofinditinafriendofRickie’s。Rickie，ifhecouldeven"kindofknow"suchacreature，mustbestirringinhisgrave。

"Doyouknowhiswifetoo？"

"Ohyes。InawayIknowAgnes。Butthankyouforthistobacco。

LastnightInearlydied。Ihavenomoney。"

"Takethewholepouch——do。"

Afteramoment’shesitationhedid。"Fightthegood"hadscarcelyended，soquicklyhadtheirintimacygrown。

"Isupposeyou’reafriendofRickie’s？"

Ansellwastemptedtoreply，"Idon’tknowhimatall。"Butitseemednomomentfortheseverertruths，sohesaid，"IknewhimwellatCambridge，butIhaveseenverylittleofhimsince。"

"Isittruethathisbabywaslame？"

"Ibelieveso。"

Histeethclosedonhispipe。Chapelwasover。Theorganistwasprancingthroughthevoluntary，andthefirstrippleofboyshadalreadyreachedDunwoodHouse。Inafewminutesthemasterswouldbeheretoo，andAnsell，whowasbecominginterested，hurriedtheconversationforward。

"Haveyoucomefar？"

"FromWiltshire。DoyouknowWiltshire？"Andforthefirsttimetherecameintohisfacetheshadowofasentiment，thepassingtributetosomemystery。"It’sagoodcountry。IliveinoneofthefinestvalleysoutofSalisburyPlain。Imean，Ilived。"

"HaveyoubeendismissedfromCadover，withoutapennyinyourpocket？"

Hewasalarmedatthis。Suchknowledgeseemedsimplydiabolical。

Ansellexplainedthatifhisbootswerechalky，ifhisclotheshadobviouslybeensleptin，ifheknewMrs。Failing，ifheknewWiltshire，andifhecouldbuynotobacco——thenthedeductionwaspossible。"Youdojustattend，"hemurmured。

Thehousewasfillingwithboys，andAnsellsaw，tohisregret，theheadofAgnesoverthethuyiahedgethatseparatedthesmallfrontgardenfromthesidelawnwherehewassitting。AfterafewminutesitwasfollowedbytheheadsofRickieandMr。Pembroke。

Alltheheadswereturnedtheotherway。Buttheywouldfindhiscardinthehall，andifthemanhadleftanymessagetheywouldfindthattoo。"Whatareyou？"hedemanded。"Whoareyou——yourname——Idon’tcareaboutthat。Butitinterestsmetoclasspeople，anduptonowIhavefailedwithyou。"

"I——"Hestopped。Ansellreflectedthatthereareworseanswers。

"Ireallydon’tknowwhatIam。UsedtothinkIwassomethingspecial，butstrikesmenowIfeelmuchlikeotherchaps。Usedtolookdownonthelabourers。UsedtotakeforgrantedIwasagentleman，butreallyIdon’tknowwhereIdobelong。"

"Onebelongstotheplaceonesleepsinandtothepeopleoneeatswith。"

"AsoftenasnotIsleepoutofdoorsandeatbymyself，sothatdoesn’tgetyouanyfurther。"

Asilence，akintopoetry，invadedAnsell。Wasitonlyaposetolikethisman，orwashereallywonderful？Hewasnotromantic，forRomanceisafigurewithoutstretchedhands，yearningfortheunattainable。CertainfiguresoftheGreeks，towhomwecontinuallyreturn，suggestedhimalittle。Oneexpectednothingofhim——nopurityofphrasenorswiftedgedthought。Yettheconvictiongrewthathehadbeenbacksomewhere——backtosometableofthegods，spreadinafieldwherethereisnonoise，andthathebelongedforevertotheguestswithwhomhehadeaten。

Meanwhilehewassimpleandfrank，andwhathecouldtellhewouldtelltoanyone。Hehadnotthesuburbanreticence。Ansellaskedhim，"WhydidMrs。FailingturnyououtofCadover？I

shouldliketohearthattoo。"

"Becauseshewastiredofme。Because，again，Icouldn’tkeepquietoverthefarmhands。Iaskyou，isitright？"Hebecameincoherent。Ansellcaught，"Andtheygrowold——theydon’tplaygames——itendstheycan’tplay。"Anillustrationemerged。"Takeakitten——ifyoufoolaboutwithher，shegoesonplayingwellintoacat。"

"ButMrs。Failingmindednomicebeingcaught。"

"Mice？"saidtheyoungmanblankly。"WhatIwasgoingtosayis，thatsomeonewasjealousofmybeingatCadover。I’llmentionnonames，butIfancyitwasMrs。Silt。I’msorryforherifitwas。

Anyhow，shesetMrs。Failingagainstme。Itcameonthetopofotherthings——andoutIwent。"

"WhatdidMrs。Silt，whosenameIdon’tmention，say？"

Helookedguilty。"Idon’tknow。Easyenoughtofindsomethingtosay。Thepointisthatshesaidsomething。Youknow，Mr。——Idon’tknowyourname，mine’sWonham，butI’mmoregratefulthanIcanputitoverthistobacco。Imean，yououghttoknowthereisanothersidetothisquarrel。It’swrong，butit’sthere。"

Anselltoldhimnottobeuneasy:heladalreadyguessedthattheremightbeanotherside。ButhecouldnotmakeoutwhyMr。

Wonhamshouldhavecomestraightfromtheaunttothenephew。

Theywerenowsittingontheupturnedseat。"WhatWeWant，"agooddealshattered，laybetweenthem。

"Onaccountofabove—mentionedreasons，therewasarow。Idon’tknow——youcanguessthestyleofthing。Shewantedtotreatmetothecolonies，andhaduptheparsontotalksoft—sawderandmakeoutthataboundlesscontinentwastheplaceforaladlikeme。Isaid，’Ican’trunuptotheRingswithoutgettingtired，norgallopahorseoutofthisviewwithouttiringit，sowhatisthepointofaboundlesscontinent？’ThenIsawthatshewasfrightenedofme，andbluffedabitmore，andintheendIwasnipped。Shecaughtme——justlikeher！whenIhadnothingonbutflannels，andwascomingintothehouse，havinglickedtheCadchurchteam。Shestoodupinthedoorwaybetweenthosestonepilastersandsaid，’No！Neveragain！’andbehindherwasWilbraham，whomItriedtoturnout，andthegardener，andpooroldLeighton，whohatesbeinghurt。Shesaid，’There’sahundredpoundsforyouattheLondonbank，andasmuchmoreinDecember。

Go！’Isaid，’Keepyour——money，andtellmewhosesonIam。’I

didn’tcarereally。Ionlysaiditontheoff—chanceofhurtingher。Sureenough，shecaughtontothedoorhandle（beinglame）

andsaid，’Ican’t——Ipromised——Idon’treallywantto，’andWilbrahamdidstare。Then——she’sveryqueer——sheburstoutlaughing，andwentforthepacketafterall，andweheardherlaughthroughthewindowasshegotit。Sherolleditatmedownthesteps，andshesays，’Aleafoutoftheeternalcomedyforyou，Stephen，’orsomethingofthatsort。IopeneditasIwalkeddownthedrive，shelaughingalwaysandcatchingontothehandleofthefrontdoor。Ofcourseitwasn’tcomicatall。Butdowninthevillagetherewerebothcricketteams，alreadyalittletight，andthemadplumbershouting’RightsofMan！’TheyknewI

wasturnedout。Wedidhavearow，andkeptituptoo。Theydaren’ttouchWilbraham’swindows，butthereisn’tmuchglassleftupatCadover。Whenyoustart，it’sworthgoingon，butintheendIhadtocut。Theysubscribedabobhereandabobthere，andtheseareFleaThompson’sSundays。IsentalinetoLeightonnottoforwardmyownthings:Idon’tfancythem。Theyaren’treallymine。"Hedidnotmentionhisgreatsymbolicact，performed，itistobefeared，whenhewasratherdrunkandthefriendlypolicemanwaslookingtheotherway。Hehadcastallhisflannelsintothelittlemillpond，andthenwadedhimselfthroughthedarkcoldwatertothenewclothesontheotherside。Someonehadflunghispipeandhispacketafterhim。Thepackethadfallenshort。ForthisreasonitwaswetwhenhehandedittoAnsell，andinkthathadbeendryfortwenty—threeyearshadbeguntorunagain。

"Iwonderedifyou’rerightaboutthehundredpounds，"saidAnsellgravely。"Itispleasanttobeproud，butitisunpleasanttodieinthenightthroughnothavinganytobacco。"

"ButI’mnotproud。LookhowI’vetakenyourpouch！Thehundredpoundswas——well，can’tyouseeyourself，itwasquitedifferent？

Itwas，sotospeak，inconvenientformetotakethehundredpounds。OrlookagainhowItookashillingfromaboywhoearnsnineboba—week！ProvesprettyconclusivelyI’mnotproud。"

Ansellsawitwasuselesstoargue。Heperceived，beneaththeslatternlyuseofwords，theman，buttonedupinthem，justashisbodywasbuttonedupinashoddysuit，——andhewonderedmorethaneverthatsuchamanshouldknowtheElliots。Helookedattheface，whichwasfrank，proud，andbeautiful，iftruthisbeauty。Ofmercyortactsuchafaceknewlittle。Itmightbecoarse，butithadinitnothingvulgarorwantonlycruel。"MayI

readthesepapers？"hesaid。

"Ofcourse。Ohyes;didn’tIsay？I’mRickie’shalf—brother，comeheretotellhimthenews。Hedoesn’tknow。Thereitis，putshortlyforyou。Iwassaying，though，thatIboltedinthedark，sleptintherifle—buttsaboveSalisbury，theshedswheretheykeepthecardboardmen，youknow，neverlockedupastheyoughttobe。Iturnedthewholeplaceupsidedowntoteachthem。"

"Hereisyourpacketagain，"saidAnsell。"Thankyou。Howinteresting！"HerosefromtheseatandturnedtowardsDunwoodHouse。Helookedatthebow—windows，thecheappicturesquegables，theterracottadragonsclawingadirtysky。HelistenedtotheclinkofplatesandtothevoiceofMr。Pembroketakingoneofhisinnumerableroll—calls。Helookedatthebedoflobelias。Howinteresting！Whatelsewastheretosay？

"Onemustbethesonofsomeone，"remarkedStephen。Andthatwasallhehadtosay。Tohimthosenamesonthemoistenedpaperweremereantiquities。Hewasneitherproudofthemnorashamed。Amanmusthaveparents，orhecannotenterthedelightfulworld。A

man，ifhehasabrother，mayreasonablyvisithim，fortheymayhaveinterestsincommon。Hecontinuedhisnarrative，howinthenighthehadheardtheclocks，howatdaybreak，insteadofenteringthecity，hehadstruckeastwardtosavemoney，——whileAnsellstilllookedatthehouseandfoundthatallhisimaginationandknowledgecouldleadhimnofartherthanthis:

howinteresting！

"——Andwhatdoyouthinkofthatforaholyhorror？"

"Forawhat？"saidAnsell，histhoughtsfaraway。

"ThismanIamtellingyouabout，whogavemealifttowardsAndover，whosaidIwasablotonGod’searth。"

Oneo’clockstruck。Itwasstrangethatneitherofthemhadhadanysummonsfromthehouse。

"HesaidIoughttobeashamedofmyself。Hesaid，’I’llnotbethemeansofbringingshametoanhonestgentlemanandlady。’I

toldhimnottobeafool。IsaidIknewwhatIwasabout。RickieandAgnesareproperlyeducated，whichleadspeopletolookatthingsstraight，andnotgoscreamingaboutblots。Amanlikeme，withjustalittlereadingatoddhours——I’vegotsofar，andRickiehasbeenthroughCambridge。"

"AndMrs。Elliot？"

"Oh，shewon’tmind，andItoldthemanso;buthekeptonsaying，’I’llnotbethemeansofbringingshametoanhonestgentlemanandlady，’untilIgotoutofhisrottencart。"HiseyewatchedthemanaNonconformist，drivingawayoverGod’searth。

"Icaughtthetrainbyrunning。IgottoWaterlooat——"

Heretheparlour—maidflutteredtowardsthem，WouldMr。Wonhamcomein？Mrs。Elliotwouldbegladtoseehimnow。

"Mrs。Elliot？"criedAnsell。"NotMr。Elliot？"

"It’sallthesame，"saidStephen，andmovedtowardsthehouse。

"Yousee，Ionlyleftmyname。Theydon’tknowwhyI’vecome。"

"PerhapsMr。Elliotseesmemeanwhile？"

Theparlour—maidlookedblank。Mr。Elliothadnotsaidso。HehadbeenwithMrs。ElliotandMr。Pembrokeinthestudy。Nowthegentlemenhadgoneupstairs。

"Allright，Icanwait。"Afterall，RickiewastreatinghimashehadtreatedRickie，asoneinthegrave，towhomitisfutiletomakeanylovingmotion。Goneupstairs——tobrushhishairfordinner！Theironyofthesituationappealedtohimstrongly。ItremindedhimoftheGreekDrama，wheretheactorsknowsolittleandthespectatorssomuch。

"But，bythebye，"hecalledafterStephen，"IthinkIoughttotellyou——don’t——"

"Whatisit？"

"Don’t——"Thenhewassilent。Hehadbeentemptedtoexplaineverything，totellthefellowhowthingsstood，thathemustavoidthisifhewantedtoattainthat;thathemustbreakthenewstoRickiegently;thathemusthaveatleastonebattleroyalwithAgnes。Butitwascontrarytohisownspirittocoachpeople:heheldthehumansoultobeaverydelicatething，whichcanreceiveeternaldamagefromalittlepatronage。Stephenmustgointothehousesimplyashimself，forthusalonewouldheremainthere。

"Ioughttoknockmypipeout？Wasthatit？""Bynomeans。Goin，yourpipeandyou。"

Hehesitated，tornbetweenproprietyanddesire。Thenhefollowedtheparlour—maidintothehousesmoking。Asheenteredthedinner—bellrang，andtherewasthesoundofrushingfeet，whichdiedawayintoshufflingandsilence。Throughthewindowoftheboys’dining—hallcamethecolourlessvoiceofRickie—

"’Benedictusbenedicat。’"

Ansellpreparedhimselftowitnessthesecondactofthedrama;

forgettingthatallthisworld，andnotpartofit，isastage。

XXVII

Theparlour—maidtookMr。Wonhamtothestudy。Hehadbeeninthedrawing—roombefore，buthadgotbored，andsohadstrolledoutintothegarden。Nowhewasinbetterspirits，asamanoughttobewhohasknockeddownaman。Ashepassedthroughthehallhesparredattheteakmonkey，andhunghiscaponthebustofHermes。AndhegreetedMrs。Elliotwithapleasantclapoflaughter。"Oh，I’vecomewiththemosttremendousnews！"hecried。

Shebowed，butdidnotshakehands，whichrathersurprisedhim。

Buthenevertroubledover"details。"Heseldomwatchedpeople，andneverthoughtthattheywerewatchinghim。Norcouldheguesshowmuchitmeanttoherthatheshouldenterherpresencesmok—

ing。HadshenotsaidonceatCadover，"Oh，pleasesmoke;Ilovethesmellofapipe"？

"Wouldyousitdown？Exactlythere，please。"Sheplacedhimatalargetable，oppositeaninkpotandapadofblotting—paper。

"Willyoutellyour’tremendousnews’tome？Mybrotherandmyhusbandaregivingtheboystheirdinner。"

"Ah！"saidStephen，whohadhadneithertimenormoneyforbreakfastinLondon。

"Itoldthemnottowaitforme。"

Sohecametothepointatonce。Hetrustedthishandsomewoman。