第20章

hewouldsay。Intime——itwasstillveryvague——hewouldrentorpurchaseafarm。Thereisnoformulainwhichwemaysumupdecentpeople。SoAnsellhadpreached，andhadofcourseproceededtoofferaformula:"Theymustbeserious，theymustbetruthful。"Seriousnotinthesenseofglum;buttheymustbeconvincedthatourlifeisastateofsomeimportance，andourearthnotaplacetobeattimeon。OfsomuchStephenwasconvinced:heshoweditinhiswork，inhisplay，inhisself—respect，andaboveall——thoughthefactishardtoface—inhissacredpassionforalcohol。Drink，today，isanunlovelything。BetweenusandtheheightsofCithaerontheriverofsinnowflows。Yetthecriesstillcallfromthemountain，andgrantedamanhasrespondedtothem，itisbetterherespondwiththecandouroftheGreek。

"IshallstopattheThompsons’now，"saidthedisappointedreveller。"Prayers。"

Rickiedidnotpresshistriumph，butitwasahappymoment，partlybecauseofthetriumph，partlybecausehewassurethathisbrothermustcareforhim。Stephenwastooselfishtogiveupanypleasurewithoutgravereasons。HewascertainthathehadbeenrighttodisentanglehimselffromSawston，andtoignorethethreatsandtearsthatstilltemptedhimtoreturn。Heretherewasrealworkforhimtodo。Moreover，thoughhesoughtnoreward，ithadcome。Hishealthwasbetter，hisbrainsound，hislifewashedclean，notbythewatersofsentiment，butbytheeffortsofafellow—man。Stephenwasmanfirst，brotherafterwards。Hereinlayhisbrutalityandalsohisvirtue。"Lookmeintheface。Don’thangonmeclothesthatdon’tbelong——asyoudidonyourwife，givinghersaint’srobes，whereasshewassimplyawomanofherownsort，whoneededcarefulwatching。Tearupthephotographs。HereamI，andthereareyou。Therestiscant。"Therestwasnotcant，andperhapsStephenwouldconfessasmuchintime。ButRickieneededatonic，andaman，notabrother，mustholdittohislips。

"Iseetheoldspire，"hecalled，andthenadded，"Idon’tmindseeingitagain。"

"Noonedoes，asfarasIknow。Peoplehavecomefromtheothersideoftheworldtoseeitagain。"

"Piouspeople。ButIdon’tholdwithbishops。"Hewasyoungenoughtobeuneasy。Thecathedral，afountofsuperstition，mustfindnoplaceinhislife。Attheageoftwentyhehadsettledthings。

"I’vegotmyownphilosophy，"heoncetoldAnsell，"andIdon’tcareastrawaboutyours。"Ansell’smirthhadannoyedhimnotalittle。Anditwasstrangethatonesosettledshouldfeelhisheartleapupatthesightofanoldspire。"Iregarditasapublicbuilding，"hetoldRickie，whoagreed。"It’suseful，too，asalandmark。"Hisattitudetodaywasdefensive。ItwaspartofasubtlechangethatRickiehadnotedinhimsincehisreturnfromScotland。Hisfacegavehintsofanewmaturity。"YoucanseetheoldspirefromtheRidgeway，"hesaid，suddenlylayingahandonRickie’sknee，"beforerainasclearlyasanytelegraphpost。"

"HowfaristheRidgeway？"

"Seventeenmiles。"

"Whichdirection？"

"North，naturally。NorthagainfromthatyouseeDevizes，thevaleofPewsey，andtheotherdowns。AlsotowardsBath。Itissomethingofaview。YououghttogetontheRidgeway。"

"Ishouldn’thavetimeforthat。"

"OrBeaconHill。Orlet’sdoStonehenge。"

"Ifit’sfine，IsuggesttheRings。"

"Itwillbefine。"Thenhemurmuredthenamesofvillages。

"Iwishyoucouldlivehere，"saidRickiekindly。"Ibelieveyoulovetheseparticularacresmorethanthewholeworld。"

Stephenrepliedthatthiswasnotthecase:hewasonlyusedtothem。Hewishedtheyweredrivingout，insteadofwaitingfortheCadchurchtrain。

TheyhadadvancedintoSalisbury，andthecathedral，apublicbuilding，wasgreyagainstatendersky。Rickiesuggestedthat，whilewaitingforthetrain，theyshouldvisitit。Hespokeoftheincomparablenorthporch。

"I’veneverbeeninsideit，andIneverwill。Sorrytoshockyou，Rickie，butImusttellyouplainly。I’manatheist。Idon’tbelieveinanything。"

"Ido，"saidRickie。

"Whenamandies，it’sasifhe’sneverbeen，"heasserted。ThetraindrewupinSalisburystation。Herealittleincidenttookplacewhichcausedthemtoaltertheirplans。

Theyfoundoutsidethestationatrapdrivenbyasmallboy，whohadcomeinfromCadfordtofetchsomewire—netting。"That’lldous，"saidStephen，andcalledtotheboy，"IfIpayyourrailway—ticketback，andifIgiveyousixpenceaswell，willyouletusdrivebackinthetrap？"Theboysaidno。"Itwillbeallright，"saidRickie。"IamMrs。Failing’snephew。"Theboyshookhishead。"AndyouknowMr。Wonham？"Theboycouldn’tsayhedidn’t。"Thenwhat’syourobjection？Why？Whatisit？Whynot？"

ButStephenleantagainstthetime—tablesandspokeofothermatters。

Presentlytheboysaid，"Didyousayyou’dpaymyrailway—ticketback，Mr。Wonham？"

"Yes，"saidabystander。"Didn’tyouhearhim？"

"Iheardhimrightenough。"

NowStephenlaidhishandonthesplash—board，saying，"WhatI

want，though，isthistraphereofyours，see，todriveinbackmyself;"andashespokethebystanderfollowedhimincanon，"Whathewants，though，isthattheretrapofyours，see，todrivehisselfbackin。"

"I’venoobjection，"saidtheboy，asifdeeplyoffended。Foratimehesatmotionless，andthengotdown，remarking，"Iwon’trobyouofyoursixpence。"

"Sillylittlefool，"snappedRickie，astheydrovethroughthetown。

Stephenlookedsurprised。"What’swrongwiththeboy？Hehadtothinkitover。Noonehadaskedhimtodosuchathingbefore。

Nexttimehe’dletushavethetrapquickenough。"

"Notifhehaddriveninforacabbageinsteadofwire—netting。"

"Heneverwoulddriveinforacabbage。"

Rickieshuffledhisfeet。Buthisirritationpassed。Hesawthatthelittleincidenthadbeenaquietchallengetothecivilizationthathehadknown。"Organize。""Systematize。""Fillupeverymoment，""Induceespritdecorps。"Hereviewedthewatchwordsofthelasttwoyears，andfoundthattheyignoredpersonalcontest，personaltruces，personallove。ByfollowingthemSawstonSchoolhadlostitsquietusefulnessandbecomeafrothysea，whereinplungedDunwoodHouse，thatunnecessaryship。

Humbled，heturnedtoStephenandsaid，"No，you’reright。

Nothingiswrongwiththeboy。Hewashonestlythinkingitout。"

ButStephenhadforgottentheincident，orelsehewasnotinclinedtotalkaboutit。Hisassertivefitwasover。

ThedirectroadfromSalisburytoCadoverisextremelydull。Thecity——whichGodintendedtokeepbytheriver;didshenotmovethere，beingthirsty，inthereignofWilliamRufus？——thecityhadstrayedoutofherownplain，climbedupherslopes，andtumbledovertheminuglycataractsofbrick。Thecataractsarestillshort，anddoubtlesstheymeetorcreatesomecommercialneed。Butinsteadoflookingtowardsthecathedral，asallthecityshould，theylookoutwardsatapaganentrenchment，asthecityshouldnot。Theyneglectthepoiseoftheearth，andthesentimentsshehasdecreed。Theyarethemodernspirit。

Throughthemtheroaddescendsintoanunobtrusivecountrywhere，nevertheless，thepoweroftheearthgrowsstronger。Streamsdodivide。Distancesdostillexist。Itiseasiertoknowthemeninyourvalleythanthosewholiveinthenext，acrossawasteofdown。Itiseasiertoknowmenwell。Thecountryisnotparadise，andcanshowthevicesthatgrieveagoodmaneverywhere。Butthereisroominit，andleisure。

"Isuppose，"saidRickieasthetwilightfell，"thiskindofthingisgoingonalloverEngland。"Perhapshemeantthattownsareafterallexcrescences，greyfluxions，wheremen，hurryingtofindoneanother，havelostthemselves。Buthegotnoresponse，andexpectednone。Turningroundinhisseat，hewatchedthewintersunslideoutofaquietsky。Thehorizonwasprimrose，andtheearthagainstitgavemomentaryhintsofpurple。Allfaded:nopageantwouldconcludethegraciousday，andwhenheturnedeastwardthenightwasalreadyestablished。

"Thoseverlands——"saidStephen，scarcelyabovehisbreath。

"Whatareverlands？"

Hepointedatthedusk，andsaid，"Ournameforakindoffield。"

Thenhedrovehiswhipintoitssocket，andseemedtoswallowsomething。Rickie，straininghiseyesforverlands，couldonlyseeatumblingwildernessofbrown。

"Aretheremanylocalwords？"

"Therehavebeen。"

"Isupposetheydieout。"

Theconversationturnedcuriously。Inthetoneofonewhoreplies，hesaid，"IexpectthatsometimeorotherIshallmarry。"

"Iexpectyouwill，"saidRickie，andwonderedalittlewhythereplyseemednotabrupt。"WouldweseetheRingsinthedaytimefromhere？"

"（Wedoseethem。）ButMrs。Failingoncesaidnodecentwomanwouldhaveme。"

"Didyouagreetothat？"

"Drivealittle，willyou？"

Thehorsewentslowlyforwardintothewilderness，thatturnedfrombrowntoblack。Thenaluminousglimmersurroundedthem，andtheairgrewcooler:theroadwasdescendingbetweenparapetsofchalk。

"But，Rickie，mightn’tIfindagirl——naturallynotrefined——andbehappywithherinmyownway？IwouldtellherstraightIwasnothingmuch——faithful，ofcourse，butthatsheshouldneverhaveallmythoughts。Outofnodisrespecttoher，butbecauseallone’sthoughtscan’tbelongtoanysingleperson。"

Whilehespokeeventheroadvanished，andinvisiblewatercamegurglingthroughthewheel—spokes。Thehorsehadchosentheford。

"Youcan’townpeople。Atleastafellowcan’t。Itmaybedifferentforapoet。（Letthehorsedrink。）AndIwanttomarrysomeone，anddon’tyetknowwhosheis，whichapoetagainwilltellyouisdisgusting。Doesitdisgustyou？Beingnothingmuch，surelyI’dbettergogently。Forit’ssomethingratheroutsidethatmakesonemarry，ifyoufollowme:notexactlyoneself。

（Don’thurrythehorse。）Wewanttomarry，andyet——Ican’texplain。IfancyI’llgowading:thisisourstream。"

Romanticloveisgreaterthanthis。Therearemenandwomen——weknowitfromhistory——whohavebeenbornintotheworldforeachother，andfornooneelse，whohaveaccomplishedthelongestjourneylockedineachother’sarms。Butromanticloveisalsothecodeofmodernmorals，and，forthisreason，popular。Eternalunion，eternalownership——thesearetemptingbaitsfortheaverageman。Heswallowsthem，willnotconfesshismistake，and——perhapstocoverit——cries"dirtycynic"atsuchamanasStephen。

Rickiewatchedtheblackearthunitetotheblacksky。Buttheskyoverheadgrewclearer，andinittwinkledthePloughandthecentralstars。Hethoughtofhisbrother’sfutureandofhisownpast，andofhowmuchtruthmightlieinthatantithesisofAnsell’s:"Amanwantstolovemankind，awomanwantstoloveoneman。"Atallevents，heandhiswifehadillustratedit，andperhapstheconflict，sotragicintheirowncase，waselsewherethesaltoftheworld。MeanwhileStephencalledfromthewaterformatches:therewassometrickwithpaperwhichMr。Failinghadshowedhim，andwhichhewouldshowRickienow，insteadoftalkingnonsense。Bendingdown，heilluminatedthedimpledsurfaceoftheford。"Quiteacurrent。"hesaid，andhisfaceflickeredoutinthedarkness。"Yes，givemetheloosepaper，quick！Crumpleitintoaball。"

Rickieobeyed，thoughintentonthetransfiguredface。Hebelievedthatanewspiritdweltthere，expellingthecruditiesofyouth。Hesawsteadiereyes，andthesignofmanhoodsetlikeabarofgolduponsteadierlips。Somefacesareknitbybeauty，orbyintellect，orbyagreatpassion:hadStephen’swaitedforthetouchoftheyears？

Buttheyplayedasboyswhocontinuedthenonsenseoftherailwaycarriage。Thepapercaughtfirefromthematch，andspreadintoaroseofflame。"Nowgentlywithme，"saidStephen，andtheylaiditflowerlikeonthestream。Gravelandtremulousweedsleaptintosight，andthentheflowersailedintodeepwater，andupleaptthetwoarchesofabridge。"It’llstrike！"theycried;

"no，itwon’t;it’schosentheleft，"andonearchbecameafairytunnel，droppingdiamonds。ThenitvanishedforRickie;butStephen，whokneltinthewater，declaredthatitwasstillafloat，farthroughthearch，burningasifitwouldburnforever。

XXXIV

ThecarriagethatMrs。FailinghadsenttomeethernephewreturnedfromCadchurchstationempty。Shewaspreparingforasolitarydinnerwhenhesomehowarrived，fullofapologies，butmoresedatethanshehadexpected。Shecuthisexplanationsshort。"Nevermindhowyougothere。Youarehere，andIamquitepleasedtoseeyou。"Hechangedhisclothesandtheyproceededtothedining—room。

Therewasabrightfire，butthecurtainswerenotdrawn。Mr。

Failinghadbelievedthatwindowswiththenightbehindaremorebeautifulthananypictures，andhiswidowhadkepttothecustom。Itwasbraveofhertopersevere，lumpsofchalkhavingcomeoutofthenightlastJune。Forsomeobscurereason——notsoobscuretoRickie——shehadpreservedthemasmementoesofanepisode。Seeingtheminarowonthemantelpiece，heexpectedthattheirfirsttopicwouldbeStephen。Buttheynevermentionedhim，thoughhewaslatentinallthattheysaid。

ItwasofMr。Failingthattheyspoke。TheEssayshadbeenasuccess。Shewasreallypleased。Thebookwasbroughtinatherrequest，andbetweenthecoursesshereaditaloudtohernephew，inhersoftyetunsympatheticvoice。Thenshesentforthepressnotices——afterallnoonedespisesthem——andreadtheircommentsonherintroduction。Shewieldedagracefulpen，wasapt，adequate，suggestive，indispensable，unnecessary。Sothemealpassedpleasantlyaway，fornoonecouldsowellcombinetheformalwiththeunconventional，anditonlyseemedcharmingwhenpaperslitteredherstatelytable。

"Mymanwroteverynicely，"sheobserved。"Now，youreadmesomethingoutofhimthatyoulike。Read’TheTruePatriot。’"

Hetookthebookandfound:"Letusloveoneanother。Letourchildren，physicalandspiritual，loveoneanother。Itisallthatwecando。Perhapstheearthwillneglectourlove。Perhapsshewillconfirmit，andsuffersomerallying—point，spire，mound，forthenewgeneratonstocherish。"

"Hewrotethatwhenhewasyoung。Lateronhedoubtedwhetherwehadbetterloveoneanother，orwhethertheearthwillconfirmanything。Hediedamostunhappyman。"

Hecouldnothelpsaying，"Notknowingthattheearthhadconfirmedhim。"

"Hasshe？Itisquitepossible。Wemeetsoseldominthesedays，sheandI。Doyouseemuchoftheearth？"

"Alittle。"

"Doyouexpectthatshewillconfirmyou？"

"Itisquitepossible。"

"Bewareofher，Rickie，Ithink。"

"Ithinknot。"

"Bewareofher，surely。Goingbacktoherreallyisgoingback——

throwingawaytheartificialitywhich（thoughyouyoungpeoplewon’tconfessit）istheonlygoodthinginlife。Don’tpretendyouaresimple。OnceIpretended。Don’tpretendthatyoucareforanythingbutforclevertalksuchasthis，andforbooks。"

"Thetalk，"saidLeightonafterwards，"certainlywasclever。Butitmeantsomething，allthesame。"Heheardnomore，forhismistresstoldhimtoretire。

"Andmynephew，thisbeingso，makeupyourquarrelwithyourwife。"Shestretchedoutherhandtohimwithrealfeeling。"Itiseasiernowthanitwillbelater。Poorlady，shehaswrittentomefoolishlyandoften，but，onthewhole，Isidewithheragainstyou。Shewouldgrantyouallthatyoufoughtfor——allthepeople，allthetheories。Ihaveit，inherwriting，thatshewillneverinterferewithyourlifeagain。"

"Shecannothelpinterfering，"saidRickie，withhiseyesontheblackwindows。"Shedespisesme。Besides，Idonotloveher。"

"Iknow，mydear。Norsheyou。Iamnotbeingsentimental。Isayoncemore，bewareoftheearth。Weareconventionalpeople，andconventions——ifyouwillbutseeit——aremajesticintheirway，andwillclaimusintheend。Wedonotliveforgreatpassionsorforgreatmemories，orforanythinggreat。"

Hethrewuphishead。"Wedo。"

"Nowlistentome。Iamseriousandfriendlytonight，asyoumusthaveobserved。Ihaveaskedyouherepartlytoamusemyself——youbelongtomyMarchPast——butalsotogiveyougoodadvice。Therehasbeenavolcano——aphenomenonwhichItoooncegreatlyadmired。Theeruptionisover。Lettheconventionsdotheirworknow，andcleartherubbishaway。Myageisfifty—nine，andItellyousolemnlythattheimportantthingsinlifearelittlethings，andthatpeoplearenotimportantatall。Gobacktoyourwife。"

Helookedather，andwasfilledwithpity。Heknewthathewouldneverbefrightenedofheragain。Onlybecauseshewasseriousandfriendlydidhetroublehimselftoreply。"ThereisonelittlefactIshouldliketotellyou，asconfutingyourtheory。

Theideaofastory——alongstory——hadbeeninmyheadforayear。Asadreamtoamusemyself——thekindofamusementyouwouldrecommendforthefuture。Ishouldhavehadtimetowriteit，butthepeopleroundmecolouredmylife，andsoitneverseemedworthwhile。Forthestoryisnotlikelytopay。Thencamethevolcano。AfewdaysafteritwasoverIlayinbedlookingoutuponaworldofrubbish。TwomenIknow——oneintellectual，theotherverymuchthereverse——burstintotheroom。Theysaid，’Whathappenedtoyourshortstories？Theyweren’tgood，butwherearethey？Whyhaveyoustoppedwriting？Whyhaven’tyoubeentoItaly？Youmustwrite。Youmustgo。Becausetowrite，togo，isyou。"Well，Ihavewritten，andyesterdaywesentthelongstoryoutonitsrounds。Themendonotlikeit，fordifferentreasons。ButitmatteredverymuchtothemthatIshouldwriteit，andsoitgotwritten。AsItoldyou，thisisonlyonefact;

otherfacts，Itrust，havehappenedinthelastfivemonths。ButImentionittoprovethatpeopleareimportant，andtherefore，howevermuchitinconveniencesmywife，Iwillnotgobacktoher。"

"AndItaly？"askedMrs。Failing。

Thisquestionheavoided。Italymustwait。Nowthathehadthetime，hehadnotthemoney。

"Orwhatisthelongstoryabout，then？"

"Aboutamanandawomanwhomeetandarehappy。"

"Somewhatofatourdeforce，Iconclude。"

Hefrowned。"Inliteratureweneedn’tintrudeourownlimitations。I’mnotsosillyastothinkthatallmarriagesturnoutlikemine。Mycharacteristoblameforourcatastrophe，notmarriage。"

"Mydear，Itoohavemarried;marriageistoblame。"

Buthereagainheseemedtoknowbetter。

"Well，"shesaid，leavingthetableandmovingwithherdesserttothemantelpiece，"soyouareabandoningmarriageandtakingtoliterature。Andarehappy。"

"Yes。"

"Because，asweusedtosayatCambridge，thecowisthere。Theworldisrealagain。Thisisaroom，thatawindow，outsideisthenight"

"Goon。"

Hepointedtothefloor。"Thedayisstraightbelow，shiningthroughotherwindowsintootherrooms。"

"Youareveryodd，"shesaidafterapause，"andIdonotlikeyouatall。Thereyousit，eatingmybiscuits，andallthetimeyouknowthattheearthisround。Whotaughtyou？Iamgoingtobednow，andallthenight，youtellme，youandIandthebiscuitsgoplungingeastwards，untilwereachthesun。Butbreakfastwillbeatnineasusual。Good—night。"

Sherangthebelltwice，andhermaidcamewithhercandleandherwalking—stick:itwasherhabitoflatetogotoherroomassoonasdinnerwasover，forshehadnoonetositupwith。

Rickiewasimpressedbyherloneliness，andalsobythemixtureinherofinsightandobtuseness。Shewassoquick，soclear—headed，soimaginativeeven。Butallthesame，shehadforgottenwhatpeoplewerelike。Findinglifedull，shehaddroppedliesintoit，asachemistdropsanewelementintoasolution，hopingthatlifewouldtherebysparkleorturnsomebeautifulcolour。Shelovedtomisleadothers，andintheendherprivateviewoffalseandtruewasobscured，andshemisledherself。HowshemusthaveenjoyedtheirerrorsoverStephen！Butherownerrorhadbeengreater，inasmuchasitwasspiritualentirely。

Leightoncameinwithsomecoffee。Feelingitunnecessarytolightthedrawing—roomlampforonesmallyoungman，hepersuadedRickietosayhepreferredthedining—room。SoRickiesatdownbythefireplayingwithoneofthelumpsofchalk。Histhoughtswentbacktotheford，fromwhichtheyhadscarcelywandered。

Stillheheardthehorseinthedarkdrinking，stillhesawthemysticrose，andthetunneldroppingdiamonds。Hehaddrivenawayalone，believingtheearthhadconfirmedhim。Hestoodbehindthingsatlast，andknewthatconventionsarenotmajestic，andthattheywillnotclaimusintheend。

Ashemused，thechalkslippedfromhisfingers，andfellonthecoffee—cup，whichbroke。Thechina，saidLeighton，wasexpensive。

Hebelieveditwasimpossibletomatchitnow。Eachcupwasdifferent。Itwasaharlequinset。Thesaucer，withoutthecup，wasthereforeuseless。WouldMr。ElliotpleaseexplaintoMrs。

Failinghowithappened。

Rickiepromisedhewouldexplain。

HehadleftStephenpreparingtobathe，andhadheardhimworkingup—streamlikeananimal，splashingintheshallows，breathingheavilyasheswamthepools;attimesreedssnapped，orclodsofearthwerepulledin。BythefireheremembereditwasagainNovember。"Shouldyoulikeawalk？"heaskedLeighton，andtoldhimwhostoppedinthevillagetonight。Leightonwaspleased。Atnineo’clockthetwoyoungmenleftthehouse，underaskythatwasstillonlybrightinthezenith。"Itwillraintomorrow，"

Leightonsaid。

"Mybrothersays，finetomorrow。"

"Finetomorrow，"Leightonechoed。

"Nowwhichdoyoumean？"askedRickie，laughing。

Sincetheplumesofthefir—treestouchedoverthedrive，onlyaverylittlelightpenetrated。Itwascleareroutsidethelodgegate，andbubblesofair，whichWiltshireseemedtohavetravelledfromanimmensedistance，brokegentlyandseparatelyonhisface。Theypausedonthebridge。Heaskedwhetherthelittlefishandthebrightgreenweedswereherenowaswellasinthesummer。Thefootmanhadnotnoticed。Overthebridgetheycametothecross—roads，ofwhichoneledtoSalisburyandtheotherupthroughthestringofvillagestotherailwaystation。

TheroadinfrontwasonlytheRomanroad，theonethatwentontothedowns。Turningtotheleft，theywereinCadford。

"HewillbewiththeThompsons，"saidRickie，lookingupatdarkeaves。"Perhapshe’sinbedalready。"

"PerhapshewillbeatTheAntelope。"

"No。TonightheiswiththeThompsons。"

"WiththeThompsons。"Afteradozenpaceshesaid，"TheThompsonshavegoneaway。"

"Where？Why？"

"TheywereturnedoutbyMr。Wilbrahamonaccountofourbrokenwindows。"

"Areyousure？"

"Fivefamilieswereturnedout。"

"That’sbadforStephen，"saidRickie，afterapause。"Hewaslookingforward——oh，it’smonstrousinanycase！"

"ButtheThompsonshavegonetoLondon，"saidLeighton。"Why，thatfamily——theysayit’sbeeninthevalleyhundredsofyears，andnevergotbeyondshepherding。TovariouspartsofLondon。"

"LetustryTheAntelope，then。"

"LetustryTheAntelope。"

Theinnlayupinthevillage。Rickiehastenedhispace。Thistyrannywasmonstrous。Somemenoftheageofundergraduateshadbrokenwindows，andthereforetheyandtheirfamiliesweretoberuined。Thefoolswhogovernusfinditeasiertobesevere。Itsavesthemtroubletosay，"Theinnocentmustsufferwiththeguilty。"Itevengivesthemathrillofpride。Againstallthiswickednonsense，againsttheWilbrahamsandPembrokeswhotrytoruleourworldStephenwouldfighttillhedied。Stephenwasahero。Hewasalawtohimself，andrightly。Hewasgreatenoughtodespiseoursmallmoralities。Hewasattaininglove。Thiseve—

ningRickiecaughtAnsell’senthusiasm，andfeltitworthwhiletosacrificeeverythingforsuchaman。

"TheAntelope，"saidLeighton。"Thoselightsunderthegreatestelm。"

"Wouldyoupleaseaskifhe’sthere，andifhe’dcomeforaturnwithme。Idon’tthinkI’llgoin。"