THE
PROFESSOR
by
Currer
Bell
London
:
Smith
,
Elder
+
co.
,
15
Waterloo
Place
1857
PREFACE
.
This
little
book
was
written
before
either
“
Jane
Eyre
”
or
“
Shirley
,
”
and
yet
no
indulgence
can
be
solicited
for
it
on
the
plea
of
a
first
attempt
.
A
first
attempt
it
certainly
was
not
,
as
the
pen
which
wrote
it
had
been
previously
worn
a
good
deal
in
a
practice
of
some
years
.
I
had
not
indeed
published
anything
before
I
commenced
“
The
Professor
,
”
but
in
many
a
crude
effort
,
destroyed
almost
as
soon
as
composed
,
I
had
got
over
any
such
taste
as
I
might
once
have
had
for
ornamented
and
redundant
composition
,
and
come
to
prefer
what
was
plain
and
homely
.
At
the
same
time
I
had
adopted
a
set
of
principles
on
the
subject
of
incident
,
etc.
,
such
as
would
be
generally
approved
in
theory
,
but
the
result
of
which
,
when
carried
out
into
practice
,
often
procures
for
an
author
more
surprise
than
pleasure
.
I
said
to
myself
that
my
hero
should
work
his
way
through
life
as
I
had
seen
real
living
men
work
theirs
—
that
he
should
never
get
a
shilling
he
had
not
earned
—
that
no
sudden
turns
should
lift
him
in
a
moment
to
wealth
and
high
station
;
that
whatever
small
competency
he
might
gain
,
should
be
won
by
the
sweat
of
his
brow
;
that
,
before
he
could
find
so
much
as
an
arbour
to
sit
down
in
,
he
should
master
at
least
half
the
ascent
of
“
the
Hill
of
Difficulty
;
”
that
he
should
not
even
marry
a
beautiful
girl
or
a
lady
of
rank
.
As
Adam’s
son
he
should
share
Adam’s
doom
,
and
drain
throughout
life
a
mixed
and
moderate
cup
of
enjoyment
.
In
the
sequel
,
however
,
I
find
that
publishers
in
general
scarcely
approved
of
this
system
,
but
would
have
liked
something
more
imaginative
and
poetical
—
something
more
consonant
with
a
highly
wrought
fancy
,
with
a
taste
for
pathos
,
with
sentiments
more
tender
,
elevated
,
unworldly
.
Indeed
,
until
an
author
has
tried
to
dispose
of
a
manuscript
of
this
kind
,
he
can
never
know
what
stores
of
romance
and
sensibility
lie
hidden
in
breasts
he
would
not
have
suspected
of
casketing
such
treasures
.
Men
in
business
are
usually
thought
to
prefer
the
real
;
on
trial
the
idea
will
be
often
found
fallacious
:
a
passionate
preference
for
the
wild
,
wonderful
,
and
thrilling
—
the
strange
,
startling
,
and
harrowing
—
agitates
divers
souls
that
show
a
calm
and
sober
surface
.
Such
being
the
case
,
the
reader
will
comprehend
that
to
have
reached
him
in
the
form
of
a
printed
book
,
this
brief
narrative
must
have
gone
through
some
struggles
—
which
indeed
it
has
.
And
after
all
,
its
worst
struggle
and
strongest
ordeal
is
yet
to
come
but
it
takes
comfort
—
subdues
fear
—
leans
on
the
staff
of
a
moderate
expectation
—
and
mutters
under
its
breath
,
while
lifting
its
eye
to
that
of
the
public
,
“
He
that
is
low
need
fear
no
fall
.
”
CURRER
BELL
.
The
foregoing
preface
was
written
by
my
wife
with
a
view
to
the
publication
of
“
The
Professor
,
”
shortly
after
the
appearance
of
“
Shirley
.
”
Being
dissuaded
from
her
intention
,
the
authoress
made
some
use
of
the
materials
in
a
subsequent
work
—
“
Villette
.
”
As
,
however
,
these
two
stories
are
in
most
respects
unlike
,
it
has
been
represented
to
me
that
I
ought
not
to
withhold
“
The
Professor
”
from
the
public
.
I
have
therefore
consented
to
its
publication
.
A
.
B
.
NICHOLLS
Haworth
Parsonage
,
September
22nd
,
1856.
CHAPTER
I
.
INTRODUCTORY
.
THE
other
day
,
in
looking
over
my
papers
,
I
found
in
my
desk
the
following
copy
of
a
letter
,
sent
by
me
a
year
since
to
an
old
school
acquaintance
:
—
“
DEAR
CHARLES
,
“
I
think
when
you
and
I
were
at
Eton
together
,
we
were
neither
of
us
what
could
be
called
popular
characters
:
you
were
a
sarcastic
,
observant
,
shrewd
,
cold-blooded
creature
;
my
own
portrait
I
will
not
attempt
to
draw
,
but
I
cannot
recollect
that
it
was
a
strikingly
attractive
one
—
can
you
?
What
animal
magnetism
drew
thee
and
me
together
I
know
not
;
certainly
I
never
experienced
anything
of
the
Pylades
and
Orestes
sentiment
for
you
,
and
I
have
reason
to
believe
that
you
,
on
your
part
,
were
equally
free
from
all
romantic
regard
to
me
.
Still
,
out
of
school
hours
we
walked
and
talked
continually
together
;
when
the
theme
of
conversation
was
our
companions
or
our
masters
we
understood
each
other
,
and
when
I
recurred
to
some
sentiment
of
affection
,
some
vague
love
of
an
excellent
or
beautiful
object
,
whether
in
animate
or
inanimate
nature
,
your
sardonic
coldness
did
not
move
me
.
I
felt
myself
superior
to
that
check
then
as
I
do
now
.
“
It
is
a
long
time
since
I
wrote
to
you
,
and
a
still
longer
time
since
I
saw
you
.
Chancing
to
take
up
a
newspaper
of
your
county
the
other
day
,
my
eye
fell
upon
your
name
.
I
began
to
think
of
old
times
;
to
run
over
the
events
which
have
transpired
since
we
separated
;
and
I
sat
down
and
commenced
this
letter
.
What
you
have
been
doing
I
know
not
;
but
you
shall
hear
,
if
you
choose
to
listen
,
how
the
world
has
wagged
with
me
.
“
First
,
after
leaving
Eton
,
I
had
an
interview
with
my
maternal
uncles
,
Lord
Tynedale
and
the
Hon.
John
Seacombe
.
They
asked
me
if
I
would
enter
the
Church
,
and
my
uncle
the
nobleman
offered
me
the
living
of
Seacombe
,
which
is
in
his
gift
,
if
I
would
;
then
my
other
uncle
,
Mr.
Seacombe
,
hinted
that
when
I
became
rector
of
Seacombe-cum-Scaife
,
I
might
perhaps
be
allowed
to
take
,
as
mistress
of
my
house
and
head
of
my
parish
,
one
of
my
six
cousins
,
his
daughters
,
all
of
whom
I
greatly
dislike
.
“
I
declined
both
the
Church
and
matrimony
.
A
good
clergyman
is
a
good
thing
,
but
I
should
have
made
a
very
bad
one
.
As
to
the
wife
—
oh
how
like
a
night-mare
is
the
thought
of
being
bound
for
life
to
one
of
my
cousins
!
No
doubt
they
are
accomplished
and
pretty
;
but
not
an
accomplishment
,
not
a
charm
of
theirs
,
touches
a
chord
in
my
bosom
.
To
think
of
passing
the
winter
evenings
by
the
parlour
fire-side
of
Seacombe
Rectory
alone
with
one
of
them
—
for
instance
,
the
large
and
well-modelled
statue
,
Sarah
—
no
;
I
should
be
a
bad
husband
,
under
such
circumstances
,
as
well
as
a
bad
clergyman
.
“
When
I
had
declined
my
uncles’
offers
they
asked
me
‘what
I
intended
to
do
?
’
I
said
I
should
reflect
.
They
reminded
me
that
I
had
no
fortune
,
and
no
expectation
of
any
,
and
,
after
a
considerable
pause
,
Lord
Tynedale
demanded
sternly
,
‘Whether
I
had
thoughts
of
following
my
father’s
steps
and
engaging
in
trade
?
’
Now
,
I
had
had
no
thoughts
of
the
sort
.
I
do
not
think
that
my
turn
of
mind
qualifies
me
to
make
a
good
tradesman
;
my
taste
,
my
ambition
does
not
lie
in
that
way
;
but
such
was
the
scorn
expressed
in
Lord
Tynedale’s
countenance
as
he
pronounced
the
word
trade
—
such
the
contemptuous
sarcasm
of
his
tone
—
that
I
was
instantly
decided
.
My
father
was
but
a
name
to
me
,
yet
that
name
I
did
not
like
to
hear
mentioned
with
a
sneer
to
my
very
face
.
I
answered
then
,
with
haste
and
warmth
,
‘I
cannot
do
better
than
follow
in
my
father’s
steps
;
yes
,
I
will
be
a
tradesman.’
My
uncles
did
not
remonstrate
;
they
and
I
parted
with
mutual
disgust
.
In
reviewing
this
transaction
,
I
find
that
I
was
quite
right
to
shake
off
the
burden
of
Tynedale’s
patronage
,
but
a
fool
to
offer
my
shoulders
instantly
for
the
reception
of
another
burden
—
one
which
might
be
more
intolerable
,
and
which
certainly
was
yet
untried
.
“
I
wrote
instantly
to
Edward
—
you
know
Edward
—
my
only
brother
,
ten
years
my
senior
,
married
to
a
rich
mill-owner’s
daughter
,
and
now
possessor
of
the
mill
and
business
which
was
my
father’s
before
he
failed
.
You
are
aware
that
my
father
—
once
reckoned
a
Croesus
of
wealth
—
became
bankrupt
a
short
time
previous
to
his
death
,
and
that
my
mother
lived
in
destitution
for
some
six
months
after
him
,
unhelped
by
her
aristocratical
brothers
,
whom
she
had
mortally
offended
by
her
union
with
Crimsworth
,
the
—
—
shire
manufacturer
.
At
the
end
of
the
six
months
she
brought
me
into
the
world
,
and
then
herself
left
it
without
,
I
should
think
,
much
regret
,
as
it
contained
little
hope
or
comfort
for
her
.
“
My
father’s
relations
took
charge
of
Edward
,
as
they
did
of
me
,
till
I
was
nine
years
old
.
At
that
period
it
chanced
that
the
representation
of
an
important
borough
in
our
county
fell
vacant
;
Mr.
Seacombe
stood
for
it
.
My
uncle
Crimsworth
,
an
astute
mercantile
man
,
took
the
opportunity
of
writing
a
fierce
letter
to
the
candidate
,
stating
that
if
he
and
Lord
Tynedale
did
not
consent
to
do
something
towards
the
support
of
their
sister’s
orphan
children
,
he
would
expose
their
relentless
and
malignant
conduct
towards
that
sister
,
and
do
his
best
to
turn
the
circumstances
against
Mr.
Seacombe’s
election
.
That
gentleman
and
Lord
T
.
knew
well
enough
that
the
Crimsworths
were
an
unscrupulous
and
determined
race
;
they
knew
also
that
they
had
influence
in
the
borough
of
X
—
—
;
and
,
making
a
virtue
of
necessity
,
they
consented
to
defray
the
expenses
of
my
education
.
I
was
sent
to
Eton
,
where
I
remained
ten
years
,
during
which
space
of
time
Edward
and
I
never
met
.
He
,
when
he
grew
up
,
entered
into
trade
,
and
pursued
his
calling
with
such
diligence
,
ability
,
and
success
,
that
now
,
in
his
thirtieth
year
,
he
was
fast
making
a
fortune
.
Of
this
I
was
apprised
by
the
occasional
short
letters
I
received
from
him
,
some
three
or
four
times
a
year
;
which
said
letters
never
concluded
without
some
expression
of
determined
enmity
against
the
house
of
Seacombe
,
and
some
reproach
to
me
for
living
,
as
he
said
,
on
the
bounty
of
that
house
.
At
first
,
while
still
in
boyhood
,
I
could
not
understand
why
,
as
I
had
no
parents
,
I
should
not
be
indebted
to
my
uncles
Tynedale
and
Seacombe
for
my
education
;
but
as
I
grew
up
,
and
heard
by
degrees
of
the
persevering
hostility
,
the
hatred
till
death
evinced
by
them
against
my
father
—
of
the
sufferings
of
my
mother
—
of
all
the
wrongs
,
in
short
,
of
our
house
—
then
did
I
conceive
shame
of
the
dependence
in
which
I
lived
,
and
form
a
resolution
no
more
to
take
bread
from
hands
which
had
refused
to
minister
to
the
necessities
of
my
dying
mother
.
It
was
by
these
feelings
I
was
influenced
when
I
refused
the
Rectory
of
Seacombe
,
and
the
union
with
one
of
my
patrician
cousins
.
“
An
irreparable
breach
thus
being
effected
between
my
uncles
and
myself
,
I
wrote
to
Edward
;
told
him
what
had
occurred
,
and
informed
him
of
my
intention
to
follow
his
steps
and
be
a
tradesman
.
I
asked
,
moreover
,
if
he
could
give
me
employment
.
His
answer
expressed
no
approbation
of
my
conduct
,
but
he
said
I
might
come
down
to
—
—
shire
,
if
I
liked
,
and
he
would
‘see
what
could
be
done
in
the
way
of
furnishing
me
with
work.’
I
repressed
all
—
even
mental
comment
on
his
note
—
packed
my
trunk
and
carpet-bag
,
and
started
for
the
North
directly
.
“
After
two
days’
travelling
(
railroads
were
not
then
in
existence
)
I
arrived
,
one
wet
October
afternoon
,
in
the
town
of
X
—
—
.
I
had
always
understood
that
Edward
lived
in
this
town
,
but
on
inquiry
I
found
that
it
was
only
Mr.
Crimsworth’s
mill
and
warehouse
which
were
situated
in
the
smoky
atmosphere
of
Bigben
Close
;
his
residence
lay
four
miles
out
,
in
the
country
.
“
It
was
late
in
the
evening
when
I
alighted
at
the
gates
of
the
habitation
designated
to
me
as
my
brother’s
.
As
I
advanced
up
the
avenue
,
I
could
see
through
the
shades
of
twilight
,
and
the
dark
gloomy
mists
which
deepened
those
shades
,
that
the
house
was
large
,
and
the
grounds
surrounding
it
sufficiently
spacious
.
I
paused
a
moment
on
the
lawn
in
front
,
and
leaning
my
back
against
a
tall
tree
which
rose
in
the
centre
,
I
gazed
with
interest
on
the
exterior
of
Crimsworth
Hall
.
“
Edward
is
rich
,
”
thought
I
to
myself
.
‘I
believed
him
to
be
doing
well
—
but
I
did
not
know
he
was
master
of
a
mansion
like
this.’
Cutting
short
all
marvelling
;
speculation
,
conjecture
,
etc.
,
I
advanced
to
the
front
door
and
rang
.
A
man-servant
opened
it
—
I
announced
myself
—
he
relieved
me
of
my
wet
cloak
and
carpet-bag
,
and
ushered
me
into
a
room
furnished
as
a
library
,
where
there
was
a
bright
fire
and
candles
burning
on
the
table
;
he
informed
me
that
his
master
was
not
yet
returned
from
X
—
—
market
,
but
that
he
would
certainly
be
at
home
in
the
course
of
half
an
hour
.
“
Being
left
to
myself
,
I
took
the
stuffed
easy
chair
,
covered
with
red
morocco
,
which
stood
by
the
fireside
,
and
while
my
eyes
watched
the
flames
dart
from
the
glowing
coals
,
and
the
cinders
fall
at
intervals
on
the
hearth
,
my
mind
busied
itself
in
conjectures
concerning
the
meeting
about
to
take
place
.
Amidst
much
that
was
doubtful
in
the
subject
of
these
conjectures
,
there
was
one
thing
tolerably
certain
—
I
was
in
no
danger
of
encountering
severe
disappointment
;
from
this
,
the
moderation
of
my
expectations
guaranteed
me
.
I
anticipated
no
overflowings
of
fraternal
tenderness
;
Edward’s
letters
had
always
been
such
as
to
prevent
the
engendering
or
harbouring
of
delusions
of
this
sort
.
Still
,
as
I
sat
awaiting
his
arrival
,
I
felt
eager
—
very
eager
—
I
cannot
tell
you
why
;
my
hand
,
so
utterly
a
stranger
to
the
grasp
of
a
kindred
hand
,
clenched
itself
to
repress
the
tremor
with
which
impatience
would
fain
have
shaken
it
.
“
I
thought
of
my
uncles
;
and
as
I
was
engaged
in
wondering
whether
Edward’s
indifference
would
equal
the
cold
disdain
I
had
always
experienced
from
them
,
I
heard
the
avenue
gates
open
:
wheels
approached
the
house
;
Mr.
Crimsworth
was
arrived
;
and
after
the
lapse
of
some
minutes
,
and
a
brief
dialogue
between
himself
and
his
servant
in
the
hall
,
his
tread
drew
near
the
library
door
—
that
tread
alone
announced
the
master
of
the
house
.
“
I
still
retained
some
confused
recollection
of
Edward
as
he
was
ten
years
ago
—
a
tall
,
wiry
,
raw
youth
;
now
,
as
I
rose
from
my
seat
and
turned
towards
the
library
door
,
I
saw
a
fine-looking
and
powerful
man
,
light-complexioned
,
well-made
,
and
of
athletic
proportions
;
the
first
glance
made
me
aware
of
an
air
of
promptitude
and
sharpness
,
shown
as
well
in
his
movements
as
in
his
port
,
his
eye
,
and
the
general
expression
of
his
face
.
He
greeted
me
with
brevity
,
and
,
in
the
moment
of
shaking
hands
,
scanned
me
from
head
to
foot
;
he
took
his
seat
in
the
morocco
covered
arm-chair
,
and
motioned
me
to
another
seat
.
“
‘I
expected
you
would
have
called
at
the
counting-house
in
the
Close
,
’
said
he
;
and
his
voice
,
I
noticed
,
had
an
abrupt
accent
,
probably
habitual
to
him
;
he
spoke
also
with
a
guttural
northern
tone
,
which
sounded
harsh
in
my
ears
,
accustomed
to
the
silvery
utterance
of
the
South
.
“
‘The
landlord
of
the
inn
,
where
the
coach
stopped
,
directed
me
here
,
’
said
I
.
‘I
doubted
at
first
the
accuracy
of
his
information
,
not
being
aware
that
you
had
such
a
residence
as
this.’
“
‘Oh
,
it
is
all
right
!
’
he
replied
,
‘only
I
was
kept
half
an
hour
behind
time
,
waiting
for
you
—
that
is
all
.
I
thought
you
must
be
coming
by
the
eight
o’clock
coach.’
“
I
expressed
regret
that
he
had
had
to
wait
;
he
made
no
answer
,
but
stirred
the
fire
,
as
if
to
cover
a
movement
of
impatience
;
then
he
scanned
me
again
.
“
I
felt
an
inward
satisfaction
that
I
had
not
,
in
the
first
moment
of
meeting
,
betrayed
any
warmth
,
any
enthusiasm
;
that
I
had
saluted
this
man
with
a
quiet
and
steady
phlegm
.
“
‘Have
you
quite
broken
with
Tynedale
and
Seacombe
?
’
he
asked
hastily
.
“
‘I
do
not
think
I
shall
have
any
further
communication
with
them
;
my
refusal
of
their
proposals
will
,
I
fancy
,
operate
as
a
barrier
against
all
future
intercourse.’
“
‘Why
,
’
said
he
,
‘I
may
as
well
remind
you
at
the
very
outset
of
our
connection
,
that
“
no
man
can
serve
two
masters
.
”
Acquaintance
with
Lord
Tynedale
will
be
incompatible
with
assistance
from
me.’
There
was
a
kind
of
gratuitous
menace
in
his
eye
as
he
looked
at
me
in
finishing
this
observation
.
“
Feeling
no
disposition
to
reply
to
him
,
I
contented
myself
with
an
inward
speculation
on
the
differences
which
exist
in
the
constitution
of
men’s
minds
.
I
do
not
know
what
inference
Mr.
Crimsworth
drew
from
my
silence
—
whether
he
considered
it
a
symptom
of
contumacity
or
an
evidence
of
my
being
cowed
by
his
peremptory
manner
.
After
a
long
and
hard
stare
at
me
,
he
rose
sharply
from
his
seat
.
“
‘To-morrow
,
’
said
he
,
‘I
shall
call
your
attention
to
some
other
points
;
but
now
it
is
supper
time
,
and
Mrs.
Crimsworth
is
probably
waiting
;
will
you
come
?
’
“
He
strode
from
the
room
,
and
I
followed
.
In
crossing
the
hall
,
I
wondered
what
Mrs.
Crimsworth
might
be
.
‘Is
she
,
’
thought
I
,
‘as
alien
to
what
I
like
as
Tynedale
,
Seacombe
,
the
Misses
Seacombe
—
as
the
affectionate
relative
now
striding
before
me
?
or
is
she
better
than
these
?
Shall
I
,
in
conversing
with
her
,
feel
free
to
show
something
of
my
real
nature
;
or
—
’
Further
conjectures
were
arrested
by
my
entrance
into
the
dining-room
.
“
A
lamp
,
burning
under
a
shade
of
ground-glass
,
showed
a
handsome
apartment
,
wainscoted
with
oak
;
supper
was
laid
on
the
table
;
by
the
fire-place
,
standing
as
if
waiting
our
entrance
,
appeared
a
lady
;
she
was
young
,
tall
,
and
well
shaped
;
her
dress
was
handsome
and
fashionable
:
so
much
my
first
glance
sufficed
to
ascertain
.
A
gay
salutation
passed
between
her
and
Mr.
Crimsworth
;
she
chid
him
,
half
playfully
,
half
poutingly
,
for
being
late
;
her
voice
(
I
always
take
voices
into
the
account
in
judging
of
character
)
was
lively
—
it
indicated
,
I
thought
,
good
animal
spirits
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
soon
checked
her
animated
scolding
with
a
kiss
—
a
kiss
that
still
told
of
the
bridegroom
(
they
had
not
yet
been
married
a
year
)
;
she
took
her
seat
at
the
supper-table
in
first-rate
spirits
.
Perceiving
me
,
she
begged
my
pardon
for
not
noticing
me
before
,
and
then
shook
hands
with
me
,
as
ladies
do
when
a
flow
of
good-humour
disposes
them
to
be
cheerful
to
all
,
even
the
most
indifferent
of
their
acquaintance
.
It
was
now
further
obvious
to
me
that
she
had
a
good
complexion
,
and
features
sufficiently
marked
but
agreeable
;
her
hair
was
red
—
quite
red
.
She
and
Edward
talked
much
,
always
in
a
vein
of
playful
contention
;
she
was
vexed
,
or
pretended
to
be
vexed
,
that
he
had
that
day
driven
a
vicious
horse
in
the
gig
,
and
he
made
light
of
her
fears
.
Sometimes
she
appealed
to
me
.
“
‘Now
,
Mr.
William
,
isn’t
it
absurd
in
Edward
to
talk
so
?
He
says
he
will
drive
Jack
,
and
no
other
horse
,
and
the
brute
has
thrown
him
twice
already
.
“
She
spoke
with
a
kind
of
lisp
,
not
disagreeable
,
but
childish
.
I
soon
saw
also
that
there
was
more
than
girlish
—
a
somewhat
infantine
expression
in
her
by
no
means
small
features
;
this
lisp
and
expression
were
,
I
have
no
doubt
,
a
charm
in
Edward’s
eyes
,
and
would
be
so
to
those
of
most
men
,
but
they
were
not
to
mine
.
I
sought
her
eye
,
desirous
to
read
there
the
intelligence
which
I
could
not
discern
in
her
face
or
hear
in
her
conversation
;
it
was
merry
,
rather
small
;
by
turns
I
saw
vivacity
,
vanity
,
coquetry
,
look
out
through
its
irid
,
but
I
watched
in
vain
for
a
glimpse
of
soul
.
I
am
no
Oriental
;
white
necks
,
carmine
lips
and
cheeks
,
clusters
of
bright
curls
,
do
not
suffice
for
me
without
that
Promethean
spark
which
will
live
after
the
roses
and
lilies
are
faded
,
the
burnished
hair
grown
grey
.
In
sunshine
,
in
prosperity
,
the
flowers
are
very
well
;
but
how
many
wet
days
are
there
in
life
—
November
seasons
of
disaster
,
when
a
man’s
hearth
and
home
would
be
cold
indeed
,
without
the
clear
,
cheering
gleam
of
intellect
.
“
Having
perused
the
fair
page
of
Mrs.
Crimsworth’s
face
,
a
deep
,
involuntary
sigh
announced
my
disappointment
;
she
took
it
as
a
homage
to
her
beauty
,
and
Edward
,
who
was
evidently
proud
of
his
rich
and
handsome
young
wife
,
threw
on
me
a
glance
—
half
ridicule
,
half
ire
.
“
I
turned
from
them
both
,
and
gazing
wearily
round
the
room
,
I
saw
two
pictures
set
in
the
oak
panelling
—
one
on
each
side
the
mantel-piece
.
Ceasing
to
take
part
in
the
bantering
conversation
that
flowed
on
between
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Crimsworth
,
I
bent
my
thoughts
to
the
examination
of
these
pictures
.
They
were
portraits
—
a
lady
and
a
gentleman
,
both
costumed
in
the
fashion
of
twenty
years
ago
.
The
gentleman
was
in
the
shade
.
I
could
not
see
him
well
.
The
lady
had
the
benefit
of
a
full
beam
from
the
softly
shaded
lamp
.
I
presently
recognised
her
;
I
had
seen
this
picture
before
in
childhood
;
it
was
my
mother
;
that
and
the
companion
picture
being
the
only
heir-looms
saved
out
of
the
sale
of
my
father’s
property
.
“
The
face
,
I
remembered
,
had
pleased
me
as
a
boy
,
but
then
I
did
not
understand
it
;
now
I
knew
how
rare
that
class
of
face
is
in
the
world
,
and
I
appreciated
keenly
its
thoughtful
,
yet
gentle
expression
.
The
serious
grey
eye
possessed
for
me
a
strong
charm
,
as
did
certain
lines
in
the
features
indicative
of
most
true
and
tender
feeling
.
I
was
sorry
it
was
only
a
picture
.
“
I
soon
left
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Crimsworth
to
themselves
;
a
servant
conducted
me
to
my
bed-room
;
in
closing
my
chamber-door
,
I
shut
out
all
intruders
—
you
,
Charles
,
as
well
as
the
rest
.
“
Good-bye
for
the
present
,
“
WILLIAM
CRIMSWORTH
.
”
To
this
letter
I
never
got
an
answer
;
before
my
old
friend
received
it
,
he
had
accepted
a
Government
appointment
in
one
of
the
colonies
,
and
was
already
on
his
way
to
the
scene
of
his
official
labours
.
What
has
become
of
him
since
,
I
know
not
.
The
leisure
time
I
have
at
command
,
and
which
I
intended
to
employ
for
his
private
benefit
,
I
shall
now
dedicate
to
that
of
the
public
at
large
.
My
narrative
is
not
exciting
,
and
above
all
,
not
marvellous
;
but
it
may
interest
some
individuals
,
who
,
having
toiled
in
the
same
vocation
as
myself
,
will
find
in
my
experience
frequent
reflections
of
their
own
.
The
above
letter
will
serve
as
an
introduction
.
I
now
proceed
.
CHAPTER
II
.
A
FINE
October
morning
succeeded
to
the
foggy
evening
that
had
witnessed
my
first
introduction
to
Crimsworth
Hall
.
I
was
early
up
and
walking
in
the
large
park-like
meadow
surrounding
the
house
.
The
autumn
sun
,
rising
over
the
—
—
shire
hills
,
disclosed
a
pleasant
country
;
woods
brown
and
mellow
varied
the
fields
from
which
the
harvest
had
been
lately
carried
;
a
river
,
gliding
between
the
woods
,
caught
on
its
surface
the
somewhat
cold
gleam
of
the
October
sun
and
sky
;
at
frequent
intervals
along
the
banks
of
the
river
,
tall
,
cylindrical
chimneys
,
almost
like
slender
round
towers
,
indicated
the
factories
which
the
trees
half
concealed
;
here
and
there
mansions
,
similar
to
Crimsworth
Hall
,
occupied
agreeable
sites
on
the
hill-side
;
the
country
wore
,
on
the
whole
,
a
cheerful
,
active
,
fertile
look
.
Steam
,
trade
,
machinery
had
long
banished
from
it
all
romance
and
seclusion
.
At
a
distance
of
five
miles
,
a
valley
,
opening
between
the
low
hills
,
held
in
its
cups
the
great
town
of
X
—
—
.
A
dense
,
permanent
vapour
brooded
over
this
locality
—
there
lay
Edward’s
“
Concern
.
”
I
forced
my
eye
to
scrutinize
this
prospect
,
I
forced
my
mind
to
dwell
on
it
for
a
time
,
and
when
I
found
that
it
communicated
no
pleasurable
emotion
to
my
heart
—
that
it
stirred
in
me
none
of
the
hopes
a
man
ought
to
feel
,
when
he
sees
laid
before
him
the
scene
of
his
life’s
career
—
I
said
to
myself
,
“
William
,
you
are
a
rebel
against
circumstances
;
you
are
a
fool
,
and
know
not
what
you
want
;
you
have
chosen
trade
and
you
shall
be
a
tradesman
.
Look
!
”
I
continued
mentally
—
“
Look
at
the
sooty
smoke
in
that
hollow
,
and
know
that
there
is
your
post
!
There
you
cannot
dream
,
you
cannot
speculate
and
theorize
—
there
you
shall
out
and
work
!
”
Thus
self-schooled
,
I
returned
to
the
house
.
My
brother
was
in
the
breakfast-room
.
I
met
him
collectedly
—
I
could
not
meet
him
cheerfully
;
he
was
standing
on
the
rug
,
his
back
to
the
fire
—
how
much
did
I
read
in
the
expression
of
his
eye
as
my
glance
encountered
his
,
when
I
advanced
to
bid
him
good
morning
;
how
much
that
was
contradictory
to
my
nature
!
He
said
“
Good
morning
”
abruptly
and
nodded
,
and
then
he
snatched
,
rather
than
took
,
a
newspaper
from
the
table
,
and
began
to
read
it
with
the
air
of
a
master
who
seizes
a
pretext
to
escape
the
bore
of
conversing
with
an
underling
.
It
was
well
I
had
taken
a
resolution
to
endure
for
a
time
,
or
his
manner
would
have
gone
far
to
render
insupportable
the
disgust
I
had
just
been
endeavouring
to
subdue
.
I
looked
at
him
:
I
measured
his
robust
frame
and
powerful
proportions
;
I
saw
my
own
reflection
in
the
mirror
over
the
mantel-piece
;
I
amused
myself
with
comparing
the
two
pictures
.
In
face
I
resembled
him
,
though
I
was
not
so
handsome
;
my
features
were
less
regular
;
I
had
a
darker
eye
,
and
a
broader
brow
—
in
form
I
was
greatly
inferior
—
thinner
,
slighter
,
not
so
tall
.
As
an
animal
,
Edward
excelled
me
far
;
should
he
prove
as
paramount
in
mind
as
in
person
I
must
be
a
slave
—
for
I
must
expect
from
him
no
lion-like
generosity
to
one
weaker
than
himself
;
his
cold
,
avaricious
eye
,
his
stern
,
forbidding
manner
told
me
he
would
not
spare
.
Had
I
then
force
of
mind
to
cope
with
him
?
I
did
not
know
;
I
had
never
been
tried
.
Mrs.
Crimsworth’s
entrance
diverted
my
thoughts
for
a
moment
.
She
looked
well
,
dressed
in
white
,
her
face
and
her
attire
shining
in
morning
and
bridal
freshness
.
I
addressed
her
with
the
degree
of
ease
her
last
night’s
careless
gaiety
seemed
to
warrant
,
but
she
replied
with
coolness
and
restraint
:
her
husband
had
tutored
her
;
she
was
not
to
be
too
familiar
with
his
clerk
.
As
soon
as
breakfast
was
over
Mr.
Crimsworth
intimated
to
me
that
they
were
bringing
the
gig
round
to
the
door
,
and
that
in
five
minutes
he
should
expect
me
to
be
ready
to
go
down
with
him
to
X
—
—
.
I
did
not
keep
him
waiting
;
we
were
soon
dashing
at
a
rapid
rate
along
the
road
.
The
horse
he
drove
was
the
same
vicious
animal
about
which
Mrs.
Crimsworth
had
expressed
her
fears
the
night
before
.
Once
or
twice
Jack
seemed
disposed
to
turn
restive
,
but
a
vigorous
and
determined
application
of
the
whip
from
the
ruthless
hand
of
his
master
soon
compelled
him
to
submission
,
and
Edward’s
dilated
nostril
expressed
his
triumph
in
the
result
of
the
contest
;
he
scarcely
spoke
to
me
during
the
whole
of
the
brief
drive
,
only
opening
his
lips
at
intervals
to
damn
his
horse
.
X
—
—
was
all
stir
and
bustle
when
we
entered
it
;
we
left
the
clean
streets
where
there
were
dwelling-houses
and
shops
,
churches
,
and
public
buildings
;
we
left
all
these
,
and
turned
down
to
a
region
of
mills
and
warehouses
;
thence
we
passed
through
two
massive
gates
into
a
great
paved
yard
,
and
we
were
in
Bigben
Close
,
and
the
mill
was
before
us
,
vomiting
soot
from
its
long
chimney
,
and
quivering
through
its
thick
brick
walls
with
the
commotion
of
its
iron
bowels
.
Workpeople
were
passing
to
and
fro
;
a
waggon
was
being
laden
with
pieces
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
looked
from
side
to
side
,
and
seemed
at
one
glance
to
comprehend
all
that
was
going
on
;
he
alighted
,
and
leaving
his
horse
and
gig
to
the
care
of
a
man
who
hastened
to
take
the
reins
from
his
hand
,
he
bid
me
follow
him
to
the
counting-house
.
We
entered
it
;
a
very
different
place
from
the
parlours
of
Crimsworth
Hall
—
a
place
for
business
,
with
a
bare
,
planked
floor
,
a
safe
,
two
high
desks
and
stools
,
and
some
chairs
.
A
person
was
seated
at
one
of
the
desks
,
who
took
off
his
square
cap
when
Mr.
Crimsworth
entered
,
and
in
an
instant
was
again
absorbed
in
his
occupation
of
writing
or
calculating
—
I
know
not
which
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
,
having
removed
his
mackintosh
,
sat
down
by
the
fire
.
I
remained
standing
near
the
hearth
;
he
said
presently
—
“
Steighton
,
you
may
leave
the
room
;
I
have
some
business
to
transact
with
this
gentleman
.
Come
back
when
you
hear
the
bell
.
”
The
individual
at
the
desk
rose
and
departed
,
closing
the
door
as
he
went
out
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
stirred
the
fire
,
then
folded
his
arms
,
and
sat
a
moment
thinking
,
his
lips
compressed
,
his
brow
knit
.
I
had
nothing
to
do
but
to
watch
him
—
how
well
his
features
were
cut
!
what
a
handsome
man
he
was
!
Whence
,
then
,
came
that
air
of
contraction
—
that
narrow
and
hard
aspect
on
his
forehead
,
in
all
his
lineaments
?
Turning
to
me
he
began
abruptly
:
“
You
are
come
down
to
—
—
shire
to
learn
to
be
a
tradesman
?
”
“
Yes
,
I
am
.
”
“
Have
you
made
up
your
mind
on
the
point
?
Let
me
know
that
at
once
.
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Well
,
I
am
not
bound
to
help
you
,
but
I
have
a
place
here
vacant
,
if
you
are
qualified
for
it
.
I
will
take
you
on
trial
.
What
can
you
do
?
Do
you
know
anything
besides
that
useless
trash
of
college
learning
—
Greek
,
Latin
,
and
so
forth
?
”
“
I
have
studied
mathematics
.
”
“
Stuff
!
I
dare
say
you
have
.
”
“
I
can
read
and
write
French
and
German
.
”
“
Hum
!
”
He
reflected
a
moment
,
then
opening
a
drawer
in
a
desk
near
him
took
out
a
letter
,
and
gave
it
to
me
.
“
Can
you
read
that
?
”
he
asked
.
It
was
a
German
commercial
letter
;
I
translated
it
;
I
could
not
tell
whether
he
was
gratified
or
not
—
his
countenance
remained
fixed
.
“
It
is
well
,
”
he
said
,
after
a
pause
,
“
that
you
are
acquainted
with
something
useful
,
something
that
may
enable
you
to
earn
your
board
and
lodging
:
since
you
know
French
and
German
,
I
will
take
you
as
second
clerk
to
manage
the
foreign
correspondence
of
the
house
.
I
shall
give
you
a
good
salary
—
90l
.
a
year
—
and
now
,
”
he
continued
,
raising
his
voice
,
“
hear
once
for
all
what
I
have
to
say
about
our
relationship
,
and
all
that
sort
of
humbug
!
I
must
have
no
nonsense
on
that
point
;
it
would
never
suit
me
.
I
shall
excuse
you
nothing
on
the
plea
of
being
my
brother
;
if
I
find
you
stupid
,
negligent
,
dissipated
,
idle
,
or
possessed
of
any
faults
detrimental
to
the
interests
of
the
house
,
I
shall
dismiss
you
as
I
would
any
other
clerk
.
Ninety
pounds
a
year
are
good
wages
,
and
I
expect
to
have
the
full
value
of
my
money
out
of
you
;
remember
,
too
,
that
things
are
on
a
practical
footing
in
my
establishment
—
business-like
habits
,
feelings
,
and
ideas
,
suit
me
best
.
Do
you
understand
?
”
“
Partly
,
”
I
replied
.
“
I
suppose
you
mean
that
I
am
to
do
my
work
for
my
wages
;
not
to
expect
favour
from
you
,
and
not
to
depend
on
you
for
any
help
but
what
I
earn
;
that
suits
me
exactly
,
and
on
these
terms
I
will
consent
to
be
your
clerk
.
”
I
turned
on
my
heel
,
and
walked
to
the
window
;
this
time
I
did
not
consult
his
face
to
learn
his
opinion
:
what
it
was
I
do
not
know
,
nor
did
I
then
care
.
After
a
silence
of
some
minutes
he
recommenced
:
—
“
You
perhaps
expect
to
be
accommodated
with
apartments
at
Crimsworth
Hall
,
and
to
go
and
come
with
me
in
the
gig
.
I
wish
you
,
however
,
to
be
aware
that
such
an
arrangement
would
be
quite
inconvenient
to
me
.
I
like
to
have
the
seat
in
my
gig
at
liberty
for
any
gentleman
whom
for
business
reasons
I
may
wish
to
take
down
to
the
hall
for
a
night
or
so
.
You
will
seek
out
lodgings
in
X
—
—
.
”
Quitting
the
window
,
I
walked
back
to
the
hearth
.
“
Of
course
I
shall
seek
out
lodgings
in
X
—
—
,
”
I
answered
.
“
It
would
not
suit
me
either
to
lodge
at
Crimsworth
Hall
.
”
My
tone
was
quiet
.
I
always
speak
quietly
.
Yet
Mr.
Crimsworth’s
blue
eye
became
incensed
;
he
took
his
revenge
rather
oddly
.
Turning
to
me
he
said
bluntly
—
“
You
are
poor
enough
,
I
suppose
;
how
do
you
expect
to
live
till
your
quarter’s
salary
becomes
due
?
”
“
I
shall
get
on
,
”
said
I
.
“
How
do
you
expect
to
live
?
”
he
repeated
in
a
louder
voice
.
“
As
I
can
,
Mr.
Crimsworth
.
”
“
Get
into
debt
at
your
peril
!
that’s
all
,
”
he
answered
.
“
For
aught
I
know
you
may
have
extravagant
aristocratic
habits
:
if
you
have
,
drop
them
;
I
tolerate
nothing
of
the
sort
here
,
and
I
will
never
give
you
a
shilling
extra
,
whatever
liabilities
you
may
incur
—
mind
that
.
”
“
Yes
,
Mr.
Crimsworth
,
you
will
find
I
have
a
good
memory
.
”
I
said
no
more
.
I
did
not
think
the
time
was
come
for
much
parley
.
I
had
an
instinctive
feeling
that
it
would
be
folly
to
let
one’s
temper
effervesce
often
with
such
a
man
as
Edward
.
I
said
to
myself
,
“
I
will
place
my
cup
under
this
continual
dropping
;
it
shall
stand
there
still
and
steady
;
when
full
,
it
will
run
over
of
itself
—
meantime
patience
.
Two
things
are
certain
.
I
am
capable
of
performing
the
work
Mr.
Crimsworth
has
set
me
;
I
can
earn
my
wages
conscientiously
,
and
those
wages
are
sufficient
to
enable
me
to
live
.
As
to
the
fact
of
my
brother
assuming
towards
me
the
bearing
of
a
proud
,
harsh
master
,
the
fault
is
his
,
not
mine
;
and
shall
his
injustice
,
his
bad
feeling
,
turn
me
at
once
aside
from
the
path
I
have
chosen
?
No
;
at
least
,
ere
I
deviate
,
I
will
advance
far
enough
to
see
whither
my
career
tends
.
As
yet
I
am
only
pressing
in
at
the
entrance
—
a
strait
gate
enough
;
it
ought
to
have
a
good
terminus
.
”
While
I
thus
reasoned
,
Mr.
Crimsworth
rang
a
bell
;
his
first
clerk
,
the
individual
dismissed
previously
to
our
conference
,
re-entered
.
“
Mr.
Steighton
,
”
said
he
,
“
show
Mr.
William
the
letters
from
Voss
,
Brothers
,
and
give
him
English
copies
of
the
answers
;
he
will
translate
them
.
”
Mr.
Steighton
,
a
man
of
about
thirty-five
,
with
a
face
at
once
sly
and
heavy
,
hastened
to
execute
this
order
;
he
laid
the
letters
on
the
desk
,
and
I
was
soon
seated
at
it
,
and
engaged
in
rendering
the
English
answers
into
German
.
A
sentiment
of
keen
pleasure
accompanied
this
first
effort
to
earn
my
own
living
—
a
sentiment
neither
poisoned
nor
weakened
by
the
presence
of
the
taskmaster
,
who
stood
and
watched
me
for
some
time
as
I
wrote
.
I
thought
he
was
trying
to
read
my
character
,
but
I
felt
as
secure
against
his
scrutiny
as
if
I
had
had
on
a
casque
with
the
visor
down
—
or
rather
I
showed
him
my
countenance
with
the
confidence
that
one
would
show
an
unlearned
man
a
letter
written
in
Greek
;
he
might
see
lines
,
and
trace
characters
,
but
he
could
make
nothing
of
them
;
my
nature
was
not
his
nature
,
and
its
signs
were
to
him
like
the
words
of
an
unknown
tongue
.
Ere
long
he
turned
away
abruptly
,
as
if
baffled
,
and
left
the
counting-house
;
he
returned
to
it
but
twice
in
the
course
of
that
day
;
each
time
he
mixed
and
swallowed
a
glass
of
brandy-and-water
,
the
materials
for
making
which
he
extracted
from
a
cupboard
on
one
side
of
the
fireplace
;
having
glanced
at
my
translations
—
he
could
read
both
French
and
German
—
he
went
out
again
in
silence
.
CHAPTER
III
.
I
SERVED
Edward
as
his
second
clerk
faithfully
,
punctually
,
diligently
.
What
was
given
me
to
do
I
had
the
power
and
the
determination
to
do
well
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
watched
sharply
for
defects
,
but
found
none
;
he
set
Timothy
Steighton
,
his
favourite
and
head
man
,
to
watch
also
.
Tim
was
baffled
;
I
was
as
exact
as
himself
,
and
quicker
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
made
inquiries
as
to
how
I
lived
,
whether
I
got
into
debt
—
no
,
my
accounts
with
my
landlady
were
always
straight
.
I
had
hired
small
lodgings
,
which
I
contrived
to
pay
for
out
of
a
slender
fund
—
the
accumulated
savings
of
my
Eton
pocket-money
;
for
as
it
had
ever
been
abhorrent
to
my
nature
to
ask
pecuniary
assistance
,
I
had
early
acquired
habits
of
self-denying
economy
;
husbanding
my
monthly
allowance
with
anxious
care
,
in
order
to
obviate
the
danger
of
being
forced
,
in
some
moment
of
future
exigency
,
to
beg
additional
aid
.
I
remember
many
called
me
miser
at
the
time
,
and
I
used
to
couple
the
reproach
with
this
consolation
—
better
to
be
misunderstood
now
than
repulsed
hereafter
.
At
this
day
I
had
my
reward
;
I
had
had
it
before
,
when
on
parting
with
my
irritated
uncles
one
of
them
threw
down
on
the
table
before
me
a
5l
.
note
,
which
I
was
able
to
leave
there
,
saying
that
my
travelling
expenses
were
already
provided
for
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
employed
Tim
to
find
out
whether
my
landlady
had
any
complaint
to
make
on
the
score
of
my
morals
;
she
answered
that
she
believed
I
was
a
very
religious
man
,
and
asked
Tim
,
in
her
turn
,
if
he
thought
I
had
any
intention
of
going
into
the
Church
some
day
;
for
,
she
said
,
she
had
had
young
curates
to
lodge
in
her
house
who
were
nothing
equal
to
me
for
steadiness
and
quietness
.
Tim
was
“
a
religious
man
”
himself
;
indeed
,
he
was
“
a
joined
Methodist
,
”
which
did
not
(
be
it
understood
)
prevent
him
from
being
at
the
same
time
an
engrained
rascal
,
and
he
came
away
much
posed
at
hearing
this
account
of
my
piety
.
Having
imparted
it
to
Mr.
Crimsworth
,
that
gentleman
,
who
himself
frequented
no
place
of
worship
,
and
owned
no
God
but
Mammon
,
turned
the
information
into
a
weapon
of
attack
against
the
equability
of
my
temper
.
He
commenced
a
series
of
covert
sneers
,
of
which
I
did
not
at
first
perceive
the
drift
,
till
my
landlady
happened
to
relate
the
conversation
she
had
had
with
Mr.
Steighton
;
this
enlightened
me
;
afterwards
I
came
to
the
counting-house
prepared
,
and
managed
to
receive
the
millowner’s
blasphemous
sarcasms
,
when
next
levelled
at
me
,
on
a
buckler
of
impenetrable
indifference
.
Ere
long
he
tired
of
wasting
his
ammunition
on
a
statue
,
but
he
did
not
throw
away
the
shafts
—
he
only
kept
them
quiet
in
his
quiver
.
Once
during
my
clerkship
I
had
an
invitation
to
Crimsworth
Hall
;
it
was
on
the
occasion
of
a
large
party
given
in
honour
of
the
master’s
birthday
;
he
had
always
been
accustomed
to
invite
his
clerks
on
similar
anniversaries
,
and
could
not
well
pass
me
over
;
I
was
,
however
,
kept
strictly
in
the
background
.
Mrs.
Crimsworth
,
elegantly
dressed
in
satin
and
lace
,
blooming
in
youth
and
health
,
vouchsafed
me
no
more
notice
than
was
expressed
by
a
distant
move
;
Crimsworth
,
of
course
,
never
spoke
to
me
;
I
was
introduced
to
none
of
the
band
of
young
ladies
,
who
,
enveloped
in
silvery
clouds
of
white
gauze
and
muslin
,
sat
in
array
against
me
on
the
opposite
side
of
a
long
and
large
room
;
in
fact
,
I
was
fairly
isolated
,
and
could
but
contemplate
the
shining
ones
from
afar
,
and
when
weary
of
such
a
dazzling
scene
,
turn
for
a
change
to
the
consideration
of
the
carpet
pattern
.
Mr.
Crimsworth
,
standing
on
the
rug
,
his
elbow
supported
by
the
marble
mantelpiece
,
and
about
him
a
group
of
very
pretty
girls
,
with
whom
he
conversed
gaily
—
Mr.
Crimsworth
,
thus
placed
,
glanced
at
me
;
I
looked
weary
,
solitary
,
kept
down
like
some
desolate
tutor
or
governess
;
he
was
satisfied
.
Dancing
began
;
I
should
have
liked
well
enough
to
be
introduced
to
some
pleasing
and
intelligent
girl
,
and
to
have
freedom
and
opportunity
to
show
that
I
could
both
feel
and
communicate
the
pleasure
of
social
intercourse
—
that
I
was
not
,
in
short
,
a
block
,
or
a
piece
of
furniture
,
but
an
acting
,
thinking
,
sentient
man
.
Many
smiling
faces
and
graceful
figures
glided
past
me
,
but
the
smiles
were
lavished
on
other
eyes
,
the
figures
sustained
by
other
hands
than
mine
.
I
turned
away
tantalized
,
left
the
dancers
,
and
wandered
into
the
oak-panelled
dining-room
.
No
fibre
of
sympathy
united
me
to
any
living
thing
in
this
house
;
I
looked
for
and
found
my
mother’s
picture
.
I
took
a
wax
taper
from
a
stand
,
and
held
it
up
.
I
gazed
long
,
earnestly
;
my
heart
grew
to
the
image
.
My
mother
,
I
perceived
,
had
bequeathed
to
me
much
of
her
features
and
countenance
—
her
forehead
,
her
eyes
,
her
complexion
.
No
regular
beauty
pleases
egotistical
human
beings
so
much
as
a
softened
and
refined
likeness
of
themselves
;
for
this
reason
,
fathers
regard
with
complacency
the
lineaments
of
their
daughters’
faces
,
where
frequently
their
own
similitude
is
found
flatteringly
associated
with
softness
of
hue
and
delicacy
of
outline
.
I
was
just
wondering
how
that
picture
,
to
me
so
interesting
,
would
strike
an
impartial
spectator
,
when
a
voice
close
behind
me
pronounced
the
words
—
“
Humph
!
there’s
some
sense
in
that
face
.
”
I
turned
;
at
my
elbow
stood
a
tall
man
,
young
,
though
probably
five
or
six
years
older
than
I
—
in
other
respects
of
an
appearance
the
opposite
to
common
place
;
though
just
now
,
as
I
am
not
disposed
to
paint
his
portrait
in
detail
,
the
reader
must
be
content
with
the
silhouette
I
have
just
thrown
off
;
it
was
all
I
myself
saw
of
him
for
the
moment
:
I
did
not
investigate
the
colour
of
his
eyebrows
,
nor
of
his
eyes
either
;
I
saw
his
stature
,
and
the
outline
of
his
shape
;
I
saw
,
too
,
his
fastidious-looking
retroussé
nose
;
these
observations
,
few
in
number
,
and
general
in
character
(
the
last
excepted
)
,
sufficed
,
for
they
enabled
me
to
recognize
him
.
“
Good
evening
,
Mr.
Hunsden
,
”
muttered
I
with
a
bow
,
and
then
,
like
a
shy
noodle
as
I
was
,
I
began
moving
away
—
and
why
?
Simply
because
Mr.
Hunsden
was
a
manufacturer
and
a
millowner
,
and
I
was
only
a
clerk
,
and
my
instinct
propelled
me
from
my
superior
.
I
had
frequently
seen
Hunsden
in
Bigben
Close
,
where
he
came
almost
weekly
to
transact
business
with
Mr.
Crimsworth
,
but
I
had
never
spoken
to
him
,
nor
he
to
me
,
and
I
owed
him
a
sort
of
involuntary
grudge
,
because
he
had
more
than
once
been
the
tacit
witness
of
insults
offered
by
Edward
to
me
.
I
had
the
conviction
that
he
could
only
regard
me
as
a
poor-spirited
slave
,
wherefore
I
now
went
about
to
shun
his
presence
and
eschew
his
conversation
.
“
Where
are
you
going
?
”
asked
he
,
as
I
edged
off
sideways
.
I
had
already
noticed
that
Mr.
Hunsden
indulged
in
abrupt
forms
of
speech
,
and
I
perversely
said
to
myself
—
“
He
thinks
he
may
speak
as
he
likes
to
a
poor
clerk
;
but
my
mood
is
not
,
perhaps
,
so
supple
as
he
deems
it
,
and
his
rough
freedom
pleases
me
not
at
all
.
”
I
made
some
slight
reply
,
rather
indifferent
than
courteous
,
and
continued
to
move
away
.
He
coolly
planted
himself
in
my
path
.
“
Stay
here
awhile
,
”
said
he
:
“
it
is
so
hot
in
the
dancing-room
;
besides
,
you
don’t
dance
;
you
have
not
had
a
partner
to-night
.
”
He
was
right
,
and
as
he
spoke
neither
his
look
,
tone
,
nor
manner
displeased
me
;
my
amour-propre
was
propitiated
;
he
had
not
addressed
me
out
of
condescension
,
but
because
,
having
repaired
to
the
cool
dining-room
for
refreshment
,
he
now
wanted
some
one
to
talk
to
,
by
way
of
temporary
amusement
.
I
hate
to
be
condescended
to
,
but
I
like
well
enough
to
oblige
;
I
stayed
.
“
That
is
a
good
picture
,
”
he
continued
,
recurring
to
the
portrait
.
“
Do
you
consider
the
face
pretty
?
”
I
asked
.
“
Pretty
!
no
—
how
can
it
be
pretty
,
with
sunk
eyes
and
hollow
cheeks
?
but
it
is
peculiar
;
it
seems
to
think
.
You
could
have
a
talk
with
that
woman
,
if
she
were
alive
,
on
other
subjects
than
dress
,
visiting
,
and
compliments
.
”
I
agreed
with
him
,
but
did
not
say
so
.
He
went
on
.
“
Not
that
I
admire
a
head
of
that
sort
;
it
wants
character
and
force
;
there’s
too
much
of
the
sen-si-tive
(
so
he
articulated
it
,
curling
his
lip
at
the
same
time
)
in
that
mouth
;
besides
,
there
is
Aristocrat
written
on
the
brow
and
defined
in
the
figure
;
I
hate
your
aristocrats
.
”
“
You
think
,
then
,
Mr.
Hunsden
,
that
patrician
descent
may
be
read
in
a
distinctive
cast
of
form
and
features
?
”
“
Patrician
descent
be
hanged
!
Who
doubts
that
your
lordlings
may
have
their
‘distinctive
cast
of
form
and
features’
as
much
as
we
—
—
shire
tradesmen
have
ours
?
But
which
is
the
best
?
Not
theirs
assuredly
.
As
to
their
women
,
it
is
a
little
different
:
they
cultivate
beauty
from
childhood
upwards
,
and
may
by
care
and
training
attain
to
a
certain
degree
of
excellence
in
that
point
,
just
like
the
oriental
odalisques
.
Yet
even
this
superiority
is
doubtful
.
Compare
the
figure
in
that
frame
with
Mrs.
Edward
Crimsworth
—
which
is
the
finer
animal
?
”
I
replied
quietly
:
“
Compare
yourself
and
Mr.
Edward
Crimsworth
,
Mr
Hunsden
.
”
“
Oh
,
Crimsworth
is
better
filled
up
than
I
am
,
I
know
besides
he
has
a
straight
nose
,
arched
eyebrows
,
and
all
that
;
but
these
advantages
—
if
they
are
advantages
—
he
did
not
inherit
from
his
mother
,
the
patrician
,
but
from
his
father
,
old
Crimsworth
,
who
,
my
father
says
,
was
as
veritable
a
—
—
shire
blue-dyer
as
ever
put
indigo
in
a
vat
yet
withal
the
handsomest
man
in
the
three
Ridings
.
It
is
you
,
William
,
who
are
the
aristocrat
of
your
family
,
and
you
are
not
as
fine
a
fellow
as
your
plebeian
brother
by
long
chalk
.
”
There
was
something
in
Mr.
Hunsden’s
point-blank
mode
of
speech
which
rather
pleased
me
than
otherwise
because
it
set
me
at
my
ease
.
I
continued
the
conversation
with
a
degree
of
interest
.
“
How
do
you
happen
to
know
that
I
am
Mr.
Crimsworth’s
brother
?
I
thought
you
and
everybody
else
looked
upon
me
only
in
the
light
of
a
poor
clerk
.
”
“
Well
,
and
so
we
do
;
and
what
are
you
but
a
poor
clerk
?
You
do
Crimsworth’s
work
,
and
he
gives
you
wages
—
shabby
wages
they
are
,
too
.
”
I
was
silent
.
Hunsden’s
language
now
bordered
on
the
impertinent
,
still
his
manner
did
not
offend
me
in
the
least
—
it
only
piqued
my
curiosity
;
I
wanted
him
to
go
on
,
which
he
did
in
a
little
while
.
“
This
world
is
an
absurd
one
,
”
said
he
.
“
Why
so
,
Mr.
Hunsden
?
”
“
I
wonder
you
should
ask
:
you
are
yourself
a
strong
proof
of
the
absurdity
I
allude
to
.
”
I
was
determined
he
should
explain
himself
of
his
own
accord
,
without
my
pressing
him
so
to
do
—
so
I
resumed
my
silence
.
“
Is
it
your
intention
to
become
a
tradesman
?
”
he
inquired
presently
.
“
It
was
my
serious
intention
three
months
ago
.
”
“
Humph
!
the
more
fool
you
—
you
look
like
a
tradesman
!
What
a
practical
business-like
face
you
have
!
”
“
My
face
is
as
the
Lord
made
it
,
Mr.
Hunsden
.
”
“
The
Lord
never
made
either
your
face
or
head
for
X
—
—
What
good
can
your
bumps
of
ideality
,
comparison
,
self-esteem
,
conscientiousness
,
do
you
here
?
But
if
you
like
Bigben
Close
,
stay
there
;
it’s
your
own
affair
,
not
mine
.
”
“
Perhaps
I
have
no
choice
.
”
“
Well
,
I
care
nought
about
it
—
it
will
make
little
difference
to
me
what
you
do
or
where
you
go
;
but
I’m
cool
now
—
I
want
to
dance
again
;
and
I
see
such
a
fine
girl
sitting
in
the
corner
of
the
sofa
there
by
her
mamma
;
see
if
I
don’t
get
her
for
a
partner
in
a
jiffy
!
There’s
Waddy
—
Sam
Waddy
making
up
to
her
;
won’t
I
cut
him
out
?
”
And
Mr.
Hunsden
strode
away
.
I
watched
him
through
the
open
folding-doors
;
he
outstripped
Waddy
,
applied
for
the
hand
of
the
fine
girl
,
and
led
her
off
triumphant
.
She
was
a
tall
,
well-made
,
full-formed
,
dashingly-dressed
young
woman
,
much
in
the
style
of
Mrs.
E
.
Crimsworth
;
Hunsden
whirled
her
through
the
waltz
with
spirit
;
he
kept
at
her
side
during
the
remainder
of
the
evening
,
and
I
read
in
her
animated
and
gratified
countenance
that
he
succeeded
in
making
himself
perfectly
agreeable
.
The
mamma
too
(
a
stout
person
in
a
turban
—
Mrs.
Lupton
by
name
)
looked
well
pleased
;
prophetic
visions
probably
flattered
her
inward
eye
.
The
Hunsdens
were
of
an
old
stem
;
and
scornful
as
Yorke
(
such
was
my
late
interlocutor’s
name
)
professed
to
be
of
the
advantages
of
birth
,
in
his
secret
heart
he
well
knew
and
fully
appreciated
the
distinction
his
ancient
,
if
not
high
lineage
conferred
on
him
in
a
mushroom-place
like
X
—
—
,
concerning
whose
inhabitants
it
was
proverbially
said
,
that
not
one
in
a
thousand
knew
his
own
grandfather
.
Moreover
the
Hunsdens
,
once
rich
,
were
still
independent
;
and
report
affirmed
that
Yorke
bade
fair
,
by
his
success
in
business
,
to
restore
to
pristine
prosperity
the
partially
decayed
fortunes
of
his
house
.
These
circumstances
considered
,
Mrs.
Lupton’s
broad
face
might
well
wear
a
smile
of
complacency
as
she
contemplated
the
heir
of
Hunsden
Wood
occupied
in
paying
assiduous
court
to
her
darling
Sarah
Martha
.
I
,
however
,
whose
observations
being
less
anxious
,
were
likely
to
be
more
accurate
,
soon
saw
that
the
grounds
for
maternal
self-congratulation
were
slight
indeed
;
the
gentleman
appeared
to
me
much
more
desirous
of
making
,
than
susceptible
of
receiving
an
impression
.
I
know
not
what
it
was
in
Mr.
Hunsden
that
,
as
I
watched
him
(
I
had
nothing
better
to
do
)
,
suggested
to
me
,
every
now
and
then
,
the
idea
of
a
foreigner
.
In
form
and
features
he
might
be
pronounced
English
,
though
even
there
one
caught
a
dash
of
something
Gallic
;
but
he
had
no
English
shyness
:
he
had
learnt
somewhere
,
somehow
,
the
art
of
setting
himself
quite
at
his
ease
,
and
of
allowing
no
insular
timidity
to
intervene
as
a
barrier
between
him
and
his
convenience
or
pleasure
.
Refinement
he
did
not
affect
,
yet
vulgar
he
could
not
be
called
;
he
was
not
odd
—
no
quiz
—
yet
he
resembled
no
one
else
I
had
ever
seen
before
;
his
general
bearing
intimated
complete
,
sovereign
satisfaction
with
himself
;
yet
,
at
times
,
an
indescribable
shade
passed
like
an
eclipse
over
his
countenance
,
and
seemed
to
me
like
the
sign
of
a
sudden
and
strong
inward
doubt
of
himself
,
his
words
and
actions
an
energetic
