第19章

"Itisonlyherwishifwelivetogether。Shewasplanningitwhenshedied。"

"Ican’tfollow——because——toshareyourlife？DidyouknowI

calledherelastSundayweek？"

"Yes。ButthenIonlyknewhalf。Ithoughtyouweremyfather’sson。"

Stephen’sangerandbewildermentwereincreasing。Hestuttered。

"What——what’stheoddsifyoudid？"

"Ihatedmyfather，"saidRickie。"Ilovedmymother。"Andneverhadthephrasesseemedsodestituteofmeaning。

"LastSundayweek，"interruptedStephen，hisvoicesuddenlyrising，"Icametocallonyou。Notasthisorthat’sson。Nottofallonyourneck。Nortolivehere。Nor——damnyourdirtylittlemind！ImeanttosayIdidn’tcomeformoney。Sorry。Sorry。I

simplycameasIwas，andIhaven’talteredsince。"

"Yes——yetourmother——formeshehasrisenfromthedeadsincethen——IknowIwaswrong——"

"AndwheredoIcomein？"Hekickedthehassock。"Ihaven’trisenfromthedead。Ihaven’talteredsincelastSundayweek。I’m——"Hestutteredagain。Hecouldnotquiteexplainwhathewas。"ThemantowardsAndover——afterall，hewashavingprinciples。Butyou’ve—

—"Hisvoicebroke。"Imindit——I’m——Idon’talter——blackguardoneweek——liveherethenext——Ikeeptooneortheother——you’vehurtsomethingmostbadlyinmethatIdidn’tknowwasthere。"

"Don’tletustalk，"saidRickie。"Itgetsworseeveryminute。

Simplysayyouforgiveme;shakehands，andhavedonewithit。"

"ThatIwon’t。ThatIcouldn’t。Infact，Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。"

ThenRickiebegananewappeal——nottopity，fornowhewasinnomoodtowhimper。Forallitspathos，therewassomethingheroicinthismeeting。"Iwarnyoutostopherewithme，Stephen。Nooneelseintheworldwilllookafteryou。AsfarasIknow，youhaveneverbeenreallyunhappyyetorsuffered，asyoushoulddo，fromyourfaults。Lastnightyounearlykilledyourselfwithdrink。

NevermindwhyI’mwillingtocureyou。Iamwilling，andIwarnyoutogivemethechance。Forgivemeornot，asyouchoose。I

careforotherthingsmore。"

Stephenlookedathimatlast，faintlyapproving。Theofferwasridiculous，butitdidtreathimasaman。

"Letmetellyouofafaultofmine，andhowIwaspunishedforit，"continuedRickie。"TwoyearsagoIbehavedbadlytoyou，upattheRings。No，evenafewdaysbeforethat。Wewentforaride，andIthoughttoomuchofothermatters，anddidnottrytounderstandyou。ThencametheRings，andintheevening，whenyoucalleduptomemostkindly，Ineveranswered。Buttheridewasthebeginning。EversincethenIhavetakentheworldatsecond—hand。Ihavebotheredlessandlesstolookitintheface——untilnotonlyyou，buteveryoneelsehasturnedunreal。

NeverAnsell:hekeptaway，andsomehowsavedhimself。Buteveryoneelse。DoyourememberinoneofTonyFailing’sbooks，’Castbitterbreaduponthewaters，andaftermanydaysitreallydoescomebacktoyou’？Thishadbeentrueofmylife;itwillbeequallytrueofadrunkard’s，andIwarnyoutostopwithme。"

"Ican’tstopafterthatcheque，"saidStephenmoregently。"ButIdoremembertheride。Iwasabitboredmyself。"

Agnes，whohadnotbeenseeingtothebreakfast，chosethismomenttocallfromthepassage。"Ofcoursehecan’tstop，"sheexclaimed。"Forbetterorworse，it’ssettled。We’venoneofusalteredsincelastSundayweek。"

"Thereyou’reright，Mrs。Elliot！"heshouted，startingoutofthetemperatepast。"Wehaven’taltered。"WitharareflashofinsightheturnedonRickie。"Iseeyourgame。Youdon’tcareaboutMEdrinking，ortoshakeMYhand。It’ssomeoneelseyouwanttocure——asitwere，thatoldphotograph。Youtalktome，butallthetimeyoulookatthephotograph。"Hesnatcheditup。

"I’vemyownideasofgoodmanners，andtolookfriendsbetweentheeyesisoneofthem;andthis"——hetorethephotographacross"andthis"——hetoreitagain——"andthese——"Heflungthepiecesattheman，whohadsunkintoachair。"Formypart，I’moff。"

ThenRickiewasheroicnolonger。Turningroundinhischair，hecoveredhisface。Themanwasright。Hedidnotlovehim，evenashehadneverhatedhim。Ineitherpassionhehaddegradedhimtobeasymbolforthevanishedpast。Themanwasright，andwouldhavebeenlovable。Helongedtobebackridingoverthosewindyfields，tobebackinthosemysticcircles，beneathpuresky。

Thentheycouldhavewatchedandhelpedandtaughteachother，untilthewordwasareality，andthepastnotatornphotograph，butDemeterthegoddessrejoicinginthespring。Ah，ifhehadseizedthosehighopportunities！Fortheyledtothehighestofall，thesymbolicmoment，which，ifamanaccepts，hehasacceptedlife。

ThevoiceofAgnes，whichhadluredhimthen（"Formysake，"shehadwhispered），pealedoverhimnowintriumph。Abruptlyitbrokeintosobsthathadtheeffectofrain。Hestartedup。TheangerhaddiedoutofStephen’sface，notforasubtlereasonbutbecauseherewasawoman，nearhim，andunhappy。

Shetriedtoapologize，andbroughtonafreshburstoftears。

Somethinghadupsether。Theyheardherlockingthedoorofherroom。Fromthatmomenttheirintercoursewaschanged。

"Whydoesshekeepcryingtoday？"musedRickie，asifhespoketosomemutualfriend。

"Icanmakeaguess，"saidStephen，andhisheavyfaceflushed。

"Didyouinsulther？"heaskedfeebly。

"Butwho’sGerald？"

Rickieraisedhishandtohismouth。

"Shelookedatmeasifsheknewme，andthengasps’Gerald，’andstartedcrying。"

"Geraldisthenameofsomeonesheonceknew。"

"SoIthought。"Therewasalongsilence，inwhichtheycouldhearapiteousgulpingcough。"Whereishenow？"askedStephen。

"Dead。"

"Andthenyou——？"

Rickienodded。

"Bad，thissortofthing。"

"Ididn’tknowofthisparticularthing。Sheactedasifshehadforgottenhim。Perhapsshehad，andyouwokehimup。Therearequeertricksintheworld。Sheisoverstrained。Shehasprobablybeenplottingeversinceyouburstinlastnight。"

"Againstme？"

"Yes。"

Stephenstoodirresolute。"Isupposeyouandshepulledtogether？"Hesaidatlast。

"Getawayfromus，man！Imindlosingyou。Yetit’saswellyoudon’tstop。"

"Oh，THAT’Soutofthequestion，"saidStephen，brushinghiscap。

"Ifyou’veguessedanything，I’dbeobligedifyoudidn’tmentionit。I’venorighttoask，butI’dbeobliged。"

Henodded，andwalkedslowlyalongthelandinganddownthestairs。Rickieaccompaniedhim，andevenopenedthefrontdoor。

ItwasasifAgneshadabsorbedthepassionoutofbothofthem。

Thesuburbwasnowwrappedinacloud，notofitsownmaking。

Sighaftersighpassedalongitsstreetstobreakagainstdrippingwalls。Theschool，thehouseswerehidden，andallcivilizationseemedinabeyance。Onlythesimplestsounds，thesimplestdesiresemerged。Theyagreedthatthisweatherwasstrangeaftersuchasunset。

"That’sacollie，"saidStephen，listening。

"Iwishyou’dhavesomebreakfastbeforestarting。"

"Nofood，thanks。Butyouknow"Hepaused。"It’sallbeenamuddle，andI’venoobjectiontoyourcomingalongwithme。"

Theclouddescendedlower。

"Comewithmeasaman，"saidStephen，alreadyoutinthemist。

"Notasabrother;whocareswhatpeopledidyearsback？We’realivetogether，andtherestiscant。HereamI，Rickie，andthereareyou，afairwreck。They’venouseforyouhere，——neverhadany，ifthetruthwasknown，——andthey’veonlymadeyoubeastly。Thishouse，sotospeak，hastherot。It’scommon—sensethatyoushouldcome。"

"Stephen，waitaminute。Whatdoyoumean？"

"Wait’swhatwewon’tdo，"saidStephenatthegate。

"Imustask——"

Hedidwaitforaminute，andsobswereheard，faint，hopeless，vindictive。Thenhetrudgedaway，andRickiesoonlosthiscolourandhisform。Butavoicepersisted，saying，"Come，Idomeanit。

Come;Iwilltakecareofyou，Icanmanageyou。"

Thewordswerekind;yetitwasnotfortheirsakethatRickieplungedintotheimpalpablecloud。Inthevoicehehadfoundasurerguarantee。Habitsandsexmaychangewiththenewgeneration，featuresmayalterwiththeplayofaprivatepassion，butavoiceisapartfromthese。Itliesnearertotheracialessenceandperhapstothedivine;itcan，atallevents，overleaponegrave。

XXXII

Mr。Pembrokedidnotreceiveaclearaccountofwhathadhappenedwhenhereturnedfortheinterval。Hissister——hetoldherfrankly——wasconcealingsomethingfromhim。Shecouldmakenoreply。Hadshegonemad，shewondered。Hithertoshehadpretendedtoloveherhusband。Whychoosesuchamomentforthetruth？

"ButIunderstandRickie’sposition，"hetoldher。"Itisanunbalancedposition，yetIunderstandit;Inoteditsapproachwhilehewasill。Heimagineshimselfhisbrother’skeeper。

Thereforewemustmakeconcessions。Wemustnegotiate。"ThenegotiationswerestillprogressinginNovember，themonthduringwhichthisstorydrawstoitsclose。

"Iunderstandhisposition，"hethentoldher。"Itisbothweakanddefiant。HeisstillwiththoseAnsells。Readthisletter，whichthanksmeforhislittlestories。Wesentthemlastmonth，youremember——suchofthemaswecouldfind。Itseemsthathefillsuphistimebywriting:hehasalreadywrittenabook。"

Sheonlygavehimhalfherattention，forabeautifulwreathhadjustarrivedfromtheflorist’s。Shewastakingituptothecemetery:todayherchildhadbeendeadayear。

"Ontheotherhand，hehasalteredhiswill。Fortunately，hecannotaltermuch。ButIfearthatwhatisnotsettledonyou，willgo。ShouldIreadwhatIwroteonthispoint，andalsomyminutesoftheinterviewwitholdMr。Ansell，andthecopyofmycorrespondencewithStephenWonham？"

Butherflywasannounced。Whileheputthewreathinforher，sheranforamomentupstairs。Afewtearshadcometohereyes。

Ascandalousdivorcewouldhavebeenmorebearablethanthiswithdrawal。Peopleasked，"Whydidherhusbandleaveher？"andtheanswercame，"Oh，nothingparticular;heonlycouldn’tstandher;sheliedandtaughthimtolie;shekepthimfromtheworkthatsuitedhim，fromhisfriends，fromhisbrother，——inaword，shetriedtorunhim，whichamanwon’tpardon。"Afewtears;notmany。Toher，lifenevershoweditselfasaclassicdrama，inwhich，bytryingtoadvanceourfortunes，weshatterthem。ShehadturnedStephenoutofWiltshire，andhefelllikeathunderboltonSawstonandonherself。IntryingtogainMrs。

Failing’smoneyshehadprobablylostmoneywhichwouldhavebeenherown。Butironyisasubtleteacher，andshewasnotthewomantolearnfromsuchlessonsasthese。Hersufferingwasmoredirect。Threemenhadwrongedher;thereforeshehatedthem，and，ifshecould，woulddothemharm。

"Thesenegotiationsarequiteuseless，"shetoldHerbertwhenshecamedownstairs。"Wehadmuchbetterbideourtime。TellmejustaboutStephenWonham，though。"

Hedrewherintothestudyagain。"WonhamisorwasinScotland，learningtofarmwithconnectionsoftheAnsells:Ibelievethemoneyistogotowardssettinghimup。Apparentlyheisahardworker。Healsodrinks！"

Shenoddedandsmiled。"Morethanhedid？"

"Myinformant，Mr。Tilliard——oh，Ioughtnottohavementionedhisname。HeisoneofthebettersortofRickie’sCambridgefriends，andhasbeendreadfullygrievedatthecollapse，buthedoesnotwanttobemixedupinit。ThisautumnhewasupintheLowlands，closeby，andverykindlymadeafewunobtrusiveinquiriesforme。Themanisbecominganhabitualdrunkard。"

Shesmiledagain。Stephenhadevokedhersecret，andshehatedhimmoreforthatthanforanythingelsethathehaddone。Thepoiseofhisshouldersthatmorning——itwasnomore——hadrecalledGerald。

Ifonlyshehadnotbeensotired！Hehadremindedherofthegreatestthingshehadknown，andtohercloudymindthisseemeddegradation。Shehadturnedtohimastoherlover;withalook，whichamanofhistypeunderstood，shehadaskedforhispity;

foroneterriblemomentshehaddesiredtobeheldinhisarms。

EvenHerbertwassurprisedwhenshesaid，"I’mgladhedrinks。I

hopehe’llkillhimself。Amanlikethatoughtnevertohavebeenborn。"

"Perhapsthesinsoftheparentsarevisitedonthechildren，"

saidHerbert，takinghertothecarriage。"Yetitisnotforustodecide。"

"Ifeelsurehewillbepunished。Whatrighthashe——"Shebrokeoff。Whatrighthadhetoourcommonhumanity？Itwasahardlessonforanyonetolearn。ForAgnesitwasimpossible。

Stephenwasillicit，abnormal，worsethanamandiseased。Yetshehadturnedtohim:hehaddrawnoutthetruth。

"Mydear，don’tcry，"saidherbrother，drawingupthewindows。

"IhavegreathopesofMr。Tilliard——theSiltshavewritten——Mrs。

Failingwilldowhatshecan——"

Asshedrovetothecemetery，herbitternessturnedagainstAnsell，whohadkeptherhusbandaliveinthedaysafterStephen’sexpulsion。Ifhehadnotbeenthere，Rickiewouldhaverenouncedhismotherandhisbrotherandalltheouterworld，troublingnoone。Themystic，inherentinhim，wouldhaveprevailed。SoAnsellhimselfhadtoldher。AndAnsell，too，hadshelteredthefugitivesandgiventhemmoney，andsavedthemfromtheludicrouschecksthatsooftenstopyoungmen。Butwhenshereachedthecemetery，andstoodbesidethetinygrave，allherbitterness，allherhatredwereturnedagainstRickie。

"Buthe’llcomebackintheend，"shethought。"Awifehasonlytowait。Whatarehisfriendsbesideme？Theytoowillmarry。I

haveonlytowait。Hisbook，likeallthathehasdone，willfail。Hisbrotherisdrinkinghimselfaway。PooraimlessRickie！

Ihaveonlytokeepcivil。Hewillcomebackintheend。"

Shehadmoved，andfoundherselfclosetothegraveofGerald。

Theflowersshehadplantedafterhisdeathweredead，andshehadnotlikedtorenewthem。Therelaytheathlete，andhisdustwasasthelittlechild’swhomshehadbroughtintotheworldwithsuchhope，withsuchpain。

XXXIII

ThatsamedayRickie，feelingneitherpoornoraimless，lefttheAnsells’foranight’svisittoCadover。Hisaunthadinvitedhim——why，hecouldnotthink，norcouldhethinkwhyheshouldrefusetheinvitation。Shecouldnotannoyhimnow，andhewasnotvindictive。InthedellnearMadingleyhehadcried，"Ihatenoone，"inhisignorance。Now，withfullknowledge，hehatednooneagain。Theweatherwaspleasant，thecountyattractive，andhewasreadyforalittlechange。

MaudandStewartsawhimoff。Stephen，whowasdownfortheholiday，hadbeenleftwithhischinontheluncheontable。Hehadwantedtocomealso。Rickiepointedoutthatyoucannotvisitwhereyouhavebrokenthewindows。Therewasanargument——theregenerallywas——andnowtheyoungmanhadturnedsulky。

"Lethimdowhathelikes，"saidAnsell。"Heknowsmorethanwedo。Heknowseverything。"

"Ishetogetdrunk？"Rickieasked。

"Mostcertainly。"

"Andtogowhereheisn’tasked？"

Maud，thoughlikingalittlespiritinaman，declaredthistobeimpossible。

"Well，Iwishyoujoy！"Rickiecalled，asthetrainmovedaway。

"Hemeansmischiefthisevening。Hetoldmepiouslythathefeltitbeatingup。Good—bye！"

"Butwe’llwaitforyoutopass，"theycried。FortheSalisburytrainalwaysbackedoutofthestationandthenreturned，andtheAnsellfamily，includingStewart，tookanincrediblepleasureinseeingitdothis。

Thecarriagewasempty。Rickiesettledhimselfdownforhislittlejourney。Firsthelookedatthecolouredphotographs。Thenhereadthedirectionsforobtainingluncheon—baskets，andfeltthetextureofthecushions。Throughthewindowsasignal—boxinterestedhim。Thenhesawtheuglylittletownthatwasnowhishome，andupitschiefstreettheAnsells’memorablefacade。Thespiritofagenialcomedydweltthere。Itwassoabsurd，sokindly。Thehousewasdividedagainstitselfandyetstood。

Metaphysics，commerce，socialaspirations——alllivedtogetherinharmony。Mr。Ansellhaddonemuch，butonewastemptedtobelieveinamorecapriciouspower——thepowerthatabstainsfrom"nipping。""Onenipsorisnipped，andneverknowsbeforehand，"quotedRickie，andopenedthepoemsofShelley，amanlessfoolishthanyousupposed。Howpleasantitwastoread！

Ifbusinessworriedhim，ifStephenwasnoisyorAnsellperverse，therestillremainedthisparadiseofbooks。Itseemedasifhehadreadnothingfortwoyears。

Thenthetrainstoppedfortheshunting，andheheardprotestsfromminorofficialswhowereworkingontheline。Theycomplainedthatsomeonewhodidn’toughtto，hadmountedonthefootboardofthecarriage。Stephen’sfaceappeared，convulsedwithlaughter。Withtheactionofaswimmerhedivedinthroughtheopenwindow，andfellcomfortablyonRickie’sluggageandRickie。Hedeclareditwasthefinestjokeeverknown。Rickiewasnotsosure。"You’llberunovernext，"hesaid。"Whatdidyoudothatfor？"

"I’mcomingwithyou，"hegiggled，rollingallthathecouldontothedustyfloor。

"Now，Stephen，thisistoobad。Getup。Wewentintothewholequestionyesterday。"

"Iknow;andIsettledwewouldn’tgointoitagain，spoilingmyholiday。"

"Well，it’sexecrabletaste。"

NowhewaswavingtotheAnsells，andshowingthemapieceofsoap:itwasallhisluggage，andeventhatheabandoned，forheflungitatStewart’sloftybrow。

"Ican’tthinkwhatyou’vedoneitfor。YouknowhowstronglyI

felt。"

Stephenrepliedthatheshouldstopinthevillage;meetRickieatthelodgegates;thatkindofthing。

"It’sexecrabletaste，"herepeated，tryingtokeepgrave。

"Well，youdidallyoucould，"heexclaimedwithsuddensympathy。

"LeavingmetalkingtooldAnsell，youmighthavethoughtyou’dgotyourway。I’veasmuchtasteasmostchaps，but，hangit！

yourauntisn’ttheGermanEmperor。Shedoesn’townWiltshire。"

"Youass！"sputteredRickie，whohadtakentolaughatnonsenseagain。

"No，sheisn’t，"herepeated，blowingakissoutofthewindowtomaidens。"Why，westartedforWiltshireonthewetmorning！"

"WhenStewartfoundusatSawstonrailwaystation？"Hesmiledhappily。"Ineverthoughtweshouldpullthrough。"

"Well，weDIDN’T。Weneverdidwhatwemeant。It’snonsensethatIcouldn’thavemanagedyoualone。I’veanotion。Slipoutafteryourdinnerthisevening，andwe’llgetthunderingtighttogether。"

"I’veanotionIwon’t。"

"It’ddoyounoendofgood。You’llgettoknowpeople——

shepherds，carters——"Hewavedhisarmsvaguely，indicatingdemocracy。"Thenyou’llsing。"

"Andthen？"

"Plop。"

"Precisely。"

"ButI’llcatchyou，"promisedStephen。"Weshallcarryyouupthehilltobed。Inthemorningyouwake，haveyourrowwitholdEm’ly，shekicksyouout，wemeet——we’llmeetattheRings！"Hedancedupanddownthecarriage。Someoneinthenextcarriagepunchedatthepartition，andwhenthishappens，allladswithmettleknowthattheymustpunchthepartitionback。

"Thankyou。I’veanotionIwon’t，"saidRickiewhenthenoisehadsubsided——subsidedforamomentonly，forthefollowingconversationtookplacetoanaccompanimentofdustandbangs。

"ExceptasregardstheRings。Wewillmeetthere。"

"ThenI’llgettightbymyself。"

"No，youwon’t。"

"Yes，Iwill。Isworetodosomethingspecialthisevening。I

feellikeit。"

"Inthatcase，Igetoutatthenextstation。"Hewaslaughing，butquitedetermined。Stephenhadgrowntoodictatorialoflate。

TheAnsellsspoilthim。"It’sbadenoughhavingyouthereatall。

Havingyoutheredrunkisimpossible。I’dsoonernotvisitmyauntthanthink，whenIsatwithher，thatyou’redowninthevillageteachingherlabourerstobeasbeastlyasyourself。Goifyouwill。Butnotwithme。"

"Whyshouldn’tIhaveagoodtimewhileI’myoung，ifIdon’tharmanyone？"saidStephendefiantly。

"Needwediscussself。"

"Oh，IcanstopmyselfanyminuteIchoose。Ijustsay’Iwon’t’

toyouoranyotherfool，andIdon’t。"

Rickieknewthattheboastwastrue。Hecontinued，"ThereisalsoathingcalledMorality。YoumaylearnintheBible，andalsofromtheGreeks，thatyourbodyisatemple。"

"Soyousaidinyourlongestletter。"

"ProbablyIwrotelikeaprig，forthereasonthatIhaveneverbeentemptedinthisway;butsurelyitiswrongthatyourbodyshouldescapeyou。"

"Idon’tfollow，"heretorted，punching。

"Itisn’tright，evenforalittletime，toforgetthatyouexist。"

"Isupposeyou’veneverbeentemptedtogotosleep？"

Justthenthetrainpassedthroughacoppiceinwhichthegreyundergrowthlookednomorealivethanfirewood。Yeteverytwiginitwaswaitingforthespring。Rickieknewthattheanalogywasfalse，butargumentconfusedhim，andhegaveupthislineofattackalso。

"Dobemorecarefuloverlife。Ifyourbodyescapesyouinonething，whynotinmore？Amanwillhaveothertemptations。"

"Youmeanwomen，"saidStephenquietly，pausingforamomentinthisgame。"Butthat’sabsolutelydifferent。Thatwouldbeharmingsomeoneelse。"

"Isthattheonlythingthatkeepsyoustraight？"

"Whatelseshould？"AndhelookednotintoRickie，butpasthim，withthewonderingeyesofachild。Rickienodded，andreferredhimselftothewindow。

Heobservedthatthecountrywassmootherandmoreplastic。Thewoodshadgone，andunderapale—blueskylongcontoursofearthwereflowing，andmerging，risingalittletobearsomecoronalofbeeches，partingalittletodisclosesomegreenvalley，wherecottagesstoodunderelmsorbesidetranslucentwaters。ItwasWiltshireatlast。Thetrainhadenteredthechalk。Atlastitslackenedatawaysideplatform。Withoutspeakingheopenedthedoor。

"What’sthatfor？"

"Togoback。"

Stephenhadforgottenthethreat。Hesaidthatthiswasnotplayingthegame。

"Surely！"

"Ican’thaveyougoingback。"

"Promisetobehavedecentlythen。"

Hewasseizedandpulledawayfromthedoor。

"WechangeatSalisbury，"heremarked。"Thereisanhourtowait。Youwillfindmetroublesome。"

"Itisn’tfair，"explodedStephen。"It’salowdowntrick。HowcanIletyougoback？"

"Promise，then。"

"Oh，yes，yes，yes。Y。M。C。A。Butforthisoccasiononly。"

"No，no。Fortherestofyourholiday。"

"Yes，yes。Verywell。Ipromise。"

"Fortherestofyourlife？"

SomehowitpleasedhimthatStephenshouldbanghimcrosslywithhiselbowandsay，"No。Getout。You’vegonetoofar。"Sohadthetrain。Theporterattheendofthewaysideplatformslammedthedoor，andtheyproceededtowardSalisburythroughtheslowlymodulatingdowns。Rickiepretendedtoread。Overthebookhewatchedhisbrother’sface，andwonderedhowbadtempercouldbeconsistentwithamindsoradiant。Inspiteofhisobstinacyandconceit，Stephenwasaneasypersontolivewith。Heneverfidgetedornursedhiddengrievances，orindulgedinashoddypride。ThoughhespentRickie’smoneyasslowlyashecould，heaskedforitwithoutapology:"Youmustputitdownagainstme，"