ofour
fellow-creatures
,
even
in
the
passing
relations
of
an
hotel
,
we
miss
the
accustomed
face
,
the
vacant
place
at
table
raises
a
regret
.
”
I
expressed
my
sense
of
indebtedness
for
these
polite
observations
.
But
Mr.
Perry
bad
returned
to
his
agitated
survey
of
the
lake
.
“
Excuse
me
,
”
he
exclaimed
.
“
I
think
I
perceive
them
.
”
He
climbed
upon
the
cross-bar
ironwork
of
rails
with
surprising
agility
,
and
gave
forth
a
really
portentous
howl
.
“
Coming
in
that
direction
you
must
have
seen
them
in
passing
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
in
the
steamer
,
”
he
said
,
turning
suddenly
and
almost
angrily
upon
me
,
after
waiting
vainly
for
some
response
to
this
terrible
noise
.
“
Did
you
not
recognise
them
?
”
“
Who
and
what
are
they
?
”
I
ventured
to
inquire
.
“
Constantine
Leversedge
has
taken
my
daughter
out
boating
.
”
—
Mr
.
Perry
descended
dejectedly
from
his
perch
.
—
“
No
,
I
was
in
error
.
I
did
not
perceive
them
,
nor
evidently
did
you
.
”
He
removed
his
hat
and
wiped
his
forehead
.
I
may
mention
that
Mr.
Perry
invariably
wore
a
tall
hat
at
this
period
,
and
black
clothes
.
After
which
ceremony
he
somewhat
recovered
his
equanimity
.
“
No
,
no
,
”
he
cried
,
“
we
must
school
ourselves
,
we
must
school
ourselves
—
To
wait
and
hope
,
and
still
to
hope
and
wait
,
Last
lesson
learned
by
man
of
heaven
directed
fate
.
But
I
am
not
among
the
pessimists
,
Mr.
Hammond
.
I
can
look
forward
,
I
am
thankful
to
say
,
and
look
up
.
”
All
of
which
unquestionably
was
very
praiseworthy
on
the
part
of
Mr.
Perry
;
but
a
little
too
large
,
so
it
struck
me
,
for
the
immediate
situation
.
I
pointed
out
that
the
young
people
were
in
no
danger
,
that
disaster
was
wholly
improbable
,
the
sky
being
absolutely
clear
,
the
water
as
smooth
as
a
millpond
.
“
Ah
,
you
misconceive
me
,
”
Mr.
Perry
rejoined
.
—
He
carried
his
head
on
one
side
,
and
nodded
sagely
,
looking
up
from
under
his
eyebrows
.
—
“
You
misconceive
me
.
I
fear
other
dangers
than
material
ones
just
now
,
—
a
father
's
anxieties
,
natural
and
not
I
think
condemnable
where
the
future
of
so
dear
an
object
as
an
only
daughter
is
concerned
.
Frankly
,
then
,
—
for
in
speaking
to
you
I
speak
to
a
man
of
the
world
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
—
our
charming
friends
,
Mrs.
Septimus
Mertyns
and
Mr.
Gerrard
,
have
called
.
They
are
actually
here
,
they
are
indoors
with
Mamma
.
And
it
annoys
me
,
”
he
said
,
“
I
cannot
disguise
from
myself
that
it
annoys
me
profoundly
,
my
daughter
should
not
be
at
home
to
receive
them
.
Constantine
shows
himself
inconsiderate
in
detaining
her
so
long
.
I
thought
it
probable
our
friends
would
visit
us
this
afternoon
,
and
I
gave
him
a
pretty
broad
hint
on
the
subject
.
I
regret
to
say
so
—
but
you
must
have
observed
it
yourself
,
Mr.
Hammond
—
Constantine
Leversedge
is
obtuse
,
unhappily
obtuse
;
he
is
insufficiently
sensible
of
his
social
privileges
.
Having
been
deprived
of
intellectual
advantages
,
and
the
enjoyment
of
intercourse
with
persons
of
superior
gifts
and
position
for
so
long
,
I
should
have
expected
him
to
prize
these
things
highly
.
But
unfortunately
it
is
not
so
.
He
displays
,
is
displaying
at
this
moment
,
in
my
opinion
,
a
lamentable
indifference
to
an
opportunity
of
cultivating
a
most
valuable
acquaintance
.
I
hoped
he
had
taken
my
hint
.
He
assured
me
he
would
return
soon
after
five
.
Unless
I
am
very
much
mistaken
,
six
will
be
striking
almost
immediately
.
”
Evidently
this
was
serious
.
So
I
tried
to
appease
Mr.
Perry
by
remarking
that
,
considering
how
exquisite
a
companion
he
possessed
,
Leversedge
's
conduct
was
more
than
comprehensible
,
excusable
,
almost
justifiable
.
For
is
not
unpunctuality
,
as
I
pointed
out
,
the
natural
prerogative
of
happy
lovers
?
For
them
time
has
ceased
.
Eternity
enfolds
them
.
How
,
then
,
can
they
be
expected
to
remember
that
wholly
mechanical
contrivance
,
the
clock
?
And
,
to
pass
from
the
general
to
the
particular
,
was
it
altogether
inconceivable
that
even
Mrs.
Mertyns
might
,
at
a
push
,
recall
faint
memories
of
a
period
when
to
linger
with
the
great
Septimus
beyond
the
appointed
time
had
been
bliss
?
Was
Perry
himself
,
indeed
,
entirely
guiltless
under
this
head
?
For
had
he
never
,
in
the
dear
dead
past
,
toyed
with
Mrs.
Perry
,
—
pretty
,
pretty
picture
!
—
oblivious
of
the
fleet-footed
hours
,
which
,
as
the
poets
so
insistently
remind
us
,
“
will
not
stay
”
?
“
Ah
yes
,
the
young
will
be
young
,
will
be
young
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
”
he
admitted
.
“
It
therefore
is
incumbent
upon
those
who
,
like
Mamma
and
myself
,
have
reached
what
I
may
term
the
watershed
of
our
terrestrial
existence
,
to
watch
attentively
and
prevent
the
commission
of
thoughtless
indiscretion
on
the
part
of
our
youthful
relatives
.
Keep
a
sharp
look-out
on
our
green
apples
,
our
green
apples
,
ah
ha
!
—
eh
?
And
society
is
not
to
be
trifled
with
.
Not
—
but
,
excuse
me
,
this
time
I
do
perceive
them
.
”
A
rowing-boat
,
containing
two
persons
,
rounded
the
nose
of
the
stone
breakwater
which
protects
the
bathing-place
and
little
harbour
on
the
right
of
the
garden
.
And
my
companion
,
uttering
ejaculations
of
uncontrollable
satisfaction
,
chased
off
the
steamboat
pier
and
trotted
along
the
path
at
the
bottom
of
the
hotel
grounds
to
meet
it
.
The
breakwater
,
I
may
mention
,
runs
back
in
a
low
,
broad-topped
stone
wall
,
enclosing
two
sides
of
a
triangular
piece
of
ground
planted
with
close
rows
of
plane
trees
.
The
hotel
boatman
's
house
stands
at
one
corner
.
The
men
dry
their
nets
here
,
and
the
boats
are
hauled
up
for
repairs
.
It
is
a
nice
,
moist
,
shady
place
,
commanding
an
entrancing
view
,
where
the
gnat
trumpets
by
day
and
by
night
,
and
the
midge
actively
investigates
all
pasturage
afforded
by
the
human
loiterer
.
As
for
me
,
I
never
run
;
should
not
,
I
imagine
,
were
it
even
to
clasp
to
my
heart
a
potentially
eloping
daughter
—
which
thing
,
heaven
,
in
its
mercy
,
eternally
forbid
!
So
I
followed
Mr.
Perry
,
in
all
the
calm
dignity
of
the
non-parental
mind
,
along
the
lake
path
under
quivering
balsam-poplars
and
charmingly
pendent
willows
,
arriving
at
the
place
of
gnats
only
in
time
to
see
his
lop-sided
,
little
,
black
figure
and
the
tall
,
cream-coloured
one
of
the
fair
Charlotte
speeding
away
,
through
sunshine
and
shadow
,
in
the
direction
of
the
hotel
and
social
distinction
.
Verily
,
the
ways
of
Providence
are
not
equal
!
I
had
returned
from
Evian
in
a
depressed
frame
of
mind
,
as
I
have
already
recorded
.
I
had
started
for
that
agreeably
mundane
little
watering-place
in
a
somewhat
Byronic
humour
,
determined
to
do
a
trifle
of
living
on
my
own
account
.
But
the
humour
had
not
lasted
.
With
me
it
rarely
does
.
Once
on
the
spot
,
a
spirit
of
pallid
Platonism
invaded
me
,
chilling
to
death
all
possibility
of
drama
.
It
really
was
rather
provoking
,
for
I
love
drama
;
and
the
position
had
been
worthy
of
one
of
those
French
comedies
from
which
the
heart
must
be
extracted
,
during
the
process
of
adaptation
for
the
English
stage
,
if
young
maidens
are
to
be
spared
anxiety
when
taking
members
of
the
elder
generation
to
the
theatre
.
I
had
planned
it
all
so
nicely
,
yet
nothing
had
come
of
it
.
And
now
,
directly
I
returned
to
this
innocent
locality
,
to
these
commonplace
,
not
to
say
rather
common
,
people
,
I
found
that
,
in
full
play
which
I
had
vainly
sought
across
the
water
.
Mr.
Perry
's
conversation
had
given
me
food
for
thought
.
While
one
glance
at
Leversedge
assured
me
that
for
him
the
wheels
had
been
going
round
during
my
absence
,
going
round
to
some
purpose
.
CHAPTER
V
HE
had
just
beached
the
boat
,
a
gaudy
emerald-green
and
buff
affair
with
scarlet
cushions
to
it
,
and
stood
in
the
shifting
angular
shadow
of
the
plane
trees
,
watching
the
receding
figure
of
the
lady
of
his
affections
and
that
of
his
prospective
father-in-law
.
As
they
passed
out
of
sight
,
behind
a
belt
of
flowering
shrubs
in
the
garden
,
Leversedge
half
shut
his
eyes
and
threw
back
his
head
.
Then
his
chin
dropped
on
his
chest
,
and
he
stared
vacantly
at
a
pair
of
swans
sailing
about
the
clear
water
of
the
little
harbour
,
just
back
of
the
row
of
gaily
painted
boats
—
which
creaked
and
bumped
together
as
the
slight
wash
from
the
beat
of
the
birds
'
black
paddles
took
them
.
A
good
many
of
us
,
I
suppose
,
as
we
get
on
in
life
,
have
a
face
our
friends
do
not
know
,
though
our
looking-glasses
do
,
when
doors
are
shut
and
the
room
is
empty
.
That
is
the
face
of
our
naked
self
,
and
therefore
it
is
somewhat
indecent
for
any
but
ourselves
to
behold
it
.
Leversedge
believed
himself
to
be
alone
,
he
had
let
slip
appearances
,
and
I
beheld
the
face
of
his
naked
self
.
It
was
very
interesting
;
but
,
as
things
naked
often
will
,
it
gave
me
a
shock
.
Not
that
there
was
anything
evil
in
it
.
It
held
no
revelation
of
cleverly
veiled
iniquities
,
no
trace
either
of
fox
or
satyr
.
The
man
's
self
bare
was
,
like
the
man
's
self
clothed
,
cleanly
,
sober
,
and
—
on
its
own
lines
—
not
undignified
.
If
sin
was
about
,
one
judged
him
more
likely
to
be
sinned
against
than
sinning
;
which
,
so
the
authorities
assure
us
,
“
is
far
better
.
”
But
,
in
his
case
,
even
the
farthest
better
was
still
but
a
poor
best
.
For
Leversedge
looked
hunted
,
looked
tormented
;
looked
as
people
will
look
after
a
disaster
at
sea
,
or
a
heavy
shock
of
earthquake
;
looked
as
those
are
reported
to
look
who
have
seen
a
ghost
.
Of
course
we
all
join
in
denying
the
existence
of
the
supernatural
and
relegating
it
to
the
,
at
present
somewhat
over-populated
,
country
of
Exploded
Ideas
;
or
only
in
permitting
its
existence
in
the
form
of
some
derangement
of
nerve
ganglia
or
of
the
intestines
.
The
pill
,
to
put
it
concisely
,
has
superseded
the
prayer
—
to
the
great
advantage
of
the
vender
of
patent
medicines
,
whose
advertisement-boards
have
so
gracefully
usurped
the
station
of
the
wayside
cross
in
modern
English
landscape
.
I
mention
this
in
self-defence
.
For
Leversedge
certainly
did
look
as
though
,
in
pre-scientific
phrase
,
he
had
seen
a
ghost
;
and
no
one
knows
better
than
I
do
,
I
need
hardly
say
,
that
ghosts
,
like
miracles
,
“
do
not
happen
.
”
Therefore
Leversedge
's
body
must
clearly
have
been
playing
some
fool
's
trick
on
Leversedge
's
brain
;
and
Leversedge
,
in
being
taken
in
and
so
harassed
by
such
trickery
was
clearly
guilty
of
a
grave
scientific
misdemeanour
.
Demonstrably
it
was
my
place
to
be
angry
with
him
,
to
convince
him
of
foolishness
.
But
I
did
none
of
these
things
.
I
own
to
it
with
contrition
,
I
was
horribly
sorry
for
him
—
that
was
all
.
And
only
the
more
sorry
,
when
,
suddenly
awakening
to
the
fact
of
my
presence
,
he
gripped
himself
,
left
off
contemplating
the
swans
,
accosted
me
with
as
much
nonchalance
as
he
could
muster
(
not
being
a
very
accomplished
actor
)
;
while
an
almost
defiant
inquiry
as
to
how
much
of
the
face
of
his
naked
self
I
had
beheld
haunted
his
eyes
.
“
Oh
,
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Hammond
;
I
did
n't
see
you
,
”
he
said
.
“
We
've
been
having
a
very
jolly
time
out
on
the
water
.
It
really
is
a
glorious
afternoon
.
But
the
sunshine
's
rather
dazzling
.
It
strikes
right
up
in
your
face
off
the
surface
of
the
lake
in
a
blinding
sort
of
way
.
Well
,
what
have
you
been
doing
?
Been
amusing
yourself
over
there
?
”
“
With
the
wisest
moderation
,
”
I
replied
.
“
My
joys
during
the
last
two
days
have
had
nothing
bacchanalian
about
them
.
I
have
lost
a
little
money
,
I
have
gained
a
little
experience
,
since
we
parted
.
And
so
have
you
,
I
fancy
,
my
dear
fellow
.
”
“
Why
?
I
've
lost
no
money
,
”
Leversedge
said
rather
quickly
.
“
No
,
but
you
have
lost
flesh
,
which
always
implies
a
deepening
of
experience
.
”
Leversedge
seemed
startled
.
Then
,
after
a
moment
's
pause
,
he
exclaimed
inconsequently
—
“
Why
,
you
do
n't
mean
to
say
it
shows
as
much
as
that
!
”
“
I
only
mean
to
say
that
you
are
looking
a
good
deal
out
of
sorts
.
”
“
You
see
too
much
,
Hammond
.
”
He
spoke
shortly
,
but
recovered
himself
almost
at
once
.
“
I
'm
hardly
the
person
to
accuse
others
of
seeing
too
much
,
though
.
”
“
So
I
feared
,
”
I
said
.
“
I
have
had
a
hell
of
a
time
with
—
with
that
blasted
dog
”
—
Leversedge
flung
away
from
me
savagely
.
“
Oh
,
it
's
humiliating
!
”
he
cried
.
“
I
tell
you
I
'm
ashamed
,
downright
ashamed
of
myself
.
I
ca
n't
hold
my
tongue
—
I
want
to
talk
about
it
.
I
want
to
tell
somebody
.
I
am
as
full
of
my
own
symptoms
and
sensations
as
some
hysterical
girl
.
I
ca
n't
keep
them
to
myself
.
Oh
!
it
's
humiliating
;
I
tell
you
it
's
degrading
to
one
's
manhood
.
”
He
turned
and
stood
quietly
by
me
again
,
and
again
I
beheld
the
face
of
his
naked
self
.
“
I
do
n't
know
what
to
do
for
the
best
,
”
he
said
.
“
I
want
advice
—
advice
;
I
,
who
have
never
asked
advice
of
any
living
soul
,
but
just
shoved
along
by
myself
and
kept
my
own
counsel
,
ever
since
—
when
I
was
a
little
chap
of
eleven
,
after
my
mother
died
—
my
father
chucked
me
into
the
rough
and
tumble
of
Harrow
to
sink
or
swim
as
I
could
.
And
I
have
swum
after
a
fashion
—
that
's
just
why
it
's
so
rough
on
one
.
If
you
're
going
to
smash
up
,
upon
my
word
I
believe
it
's
best
to
do
it
early
,
before
you
have
grown
to
believe
in
yourself
.
You
have
n't
so
far
to
fall
,
so
it
hurts
less
.
But
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Hammond
,
”
he
added
civilly
,
changing
his
tone
.
“
I
have
no
earthly
claim
on
your
patience
and
kindness
,
and
I
must
be
boring
you
frightfully
.
”
“
Boring
me
?
”
I
cried
.
“
Ye
gods
!
is
one
bored
watching
in
the
operating
theatre
?
Is
one
bored
when
seeing
a
man
hanged
?
”
Leversedge
smiled
grimly
.
Perhaps
my
words
evoked
some
recollection
.
“
No
,
”
he
replied
.
“
There
are
nicer
occupations
;
but
I
grant
you
you
are
not
much
bored
,
as
a
rule
,
when
a
man
's
being
hung
.
”
We
moved
away
and
sat
down
on
the
top
of
the
wall
together
,
and
I
confessed
Leversedge
—
smoking
all
the
while
,
which
I
fear
was
far
from
the
orthodox
attitude
of
a
confessor
.
But
it
was
agitating
work
,
and
I
needed
support
of
some
kind
.
“
You
see
,
the
thing
's
growing
worse
,
”
he
said
,
—
“
not
merely
more
frequent
in
coming
,
but
different
;
it
is
developing
—
that
's
what
knocks
me
about
so
.
It
does
n't
stop
where
it
did
.
The
brute
is
materialising
itself
—
that
's
the
word
,
is
n't
it
?
—
more
and
more
.
”
—
He
drew
his
heels
up
on
to
the
coping
,
and
bowed
himself
together
,
clasping
his
bands
round
his
knees
.
—
“
When
I
was
sitting
with
the
Perrys
the
other
evening
,
it
curled
itself
up
on
my
lap
.
And
I
could
not
play
the
fool
before
them
,
you
know
,
by
blaspheming
at
it
and
making
a
scene
.
I
had
to
sit
still
.
”
—
He
leant
forward
,
resting
his
chin
upon
his
knees
,
and
spoke
very
steadily
.
—
“
And
I
tell
you
I
felt
all
the
shape
of
it
—
its
shoulder
,
the
crinkled
turn
of
its
ribs
—
it
must
be
horribly
thin
—
and
its
left
fore
and
hind
leg
pressing
down
on
me
as
it
lay
on
them
,
as
plain
as
I
feel
my
fingers
holding
each
other
just
now
.
It
was
all
cold
and
damp
,
and
—
and
it
smelt
,
Hammond
,
and
that
was
unspeakably
filthy
.
You
know
how
a
mangy
cur
can
smell
.
”
“
This
is
bad
,
”
I
said
.
Leversedge
raised
his
head
slowly
and
looked
at
me
.
“
I
believe
you
.
It
is
bad
—
just
as
bad
as
bad
can
be
.
”
He
rested
his
chin
on
his
knees
again
.
—
“
And
the
beast
has
taken
a
fancy
to
my
bedroom
,
unfortunately
.
Last
night
,
as
soon
as
I
put
the
candles
out
,
I
saw
the
eyes
down
by
the
side
of
the
bed
and
they
made
a
rush
.
I
heaved
a
book
at
them
which
I
had
been
reading
.
It
was
Vanity
Fair
.
I
'm
awfully
fond
of
Vanity
Fair
.
Poor
little
Becky
,
I
always
want
to
give
her
her
five
thousand
a
year
to
‘be
good
on.’
Oh
dear
me
!
—
Well
,
they
wriggled
down
again
;
the
beast
was
knocked
backwards
on
to
the
floor
,
you
understand
.
But
in
a
minute
it
made
another
rush
,
and
came
up
across
the
counterpane
,
and
settled
itself
against
the
pillow
,
those
eyes
staring
bang
into
mine
.
”
Leversedge
put
his
feet
to
the
ground
and
,
turning
away
,
leaned
his
elbows
on
the
low
wall
.
His
hat
was
off
,
and
he
held
his
head
back
.
I
saw
,
against
the
wide
heavenly
blue
expanse
of
the
lake
,
his
face
in
profile
,
his
pointed
beard
,
and
the
rather
long
line
of
his
bare
throat
—
in
which
the
apple
moved
sharply
as
he
swallowed
once
or
twice
.
He
was
fine-looking
,
but
too
colourless
and
worn
for
health
—
the
Elizabethan
adventurer
still
,
but
the
adventurer
who
has
touched
the
limit
of
success
,
who
is
beginning
to
make
acquaintance
with
the
side
of
adventure
which
deals
in
sickness
,
in
prison
,
in
the
failure
of
hope
,
in
foreknowledge
of
death
.
“
I
swore
at
it
,
but
it
did
not
move
.
I
could
not
bring
myself
to
touch
it
,
so
we
stayed
like
that
some
time
.
”
—
He
paused
and
swallowed
again
.
—
“
At
last
I
turned
over
on
the
other
side
,
and
it
came
and
scratched
at
my
back
,
between
the
shoulders
,
as
if
it
was
digging
out
a
rabbit
.
And
then
—
why
,
then
I
began
to
pray
,
Hammond
.
If
there
's
a
devil
,
there
must
be
a
God
somewhere
too
,
I
suppose
,
if
it
's
only
to
balance
things
;
and
I
thought
perhaps
He
might
happen
to
hear
.
It
did
leave
off
scratching
,
but
it
turned
round
and
round
,
and
snuggled
into
the
small
of
my
back
and
lay
there
against
me
like
a
lump
of
ice
.
It
chilled
me
clean
through
.
I
could
n't
stand
it
,
so
I
lighted
the
candles
again
,
and
walked
up
and
down
till
that
blessed
sun
arose
and
it
was
day
.
”
For
a
minute
or
two
I
smoked
in
silence
,
and
Leversedge
stared
across
the
lake
.
The
grisly
night
of
which
he
told
me
and
this
radiant
evening
were
in
curious
contrast
.
At
last
he
said
—
“
Hammond
,
what
on
earth
am
I
to
do
?
”
“
About
about
?
”
I
asked
,
for
I
knew
he
had
not
finished
his
confession
yet
.
“
About
my
engagement
—
about
Charlotte
Perry
,
”
he
answered
rather
hoarsely
.
“
Ah
!
That
comes
into
it
.
”
He
looked
up
at
me
.
—
“
Of
course
that
comes
into
it
.
Why
,
that
's
the
heart
of
it
.
Do
you
suppose
I
should
care
a
twopenny-damn
about
it
but
for
that
?
”
“
I
am
afraid
I
should
care
a
very
immense
amount
,
my
dear
fellow
,
”
I
said
,
“
quite
entirely
apart
from
that
.
”
Leversedge
straightened
himself
up
.
“
No
,
you
would
n't
,
though
,
not
if
you
were
in
my
place
.
You
see
,
this
engagement
of
mine
is
an
old
story
.
It
's
worked
right
into
the
very
stuff
of
my
life
.
And
,
it
may
sound
queer
,
”
—
he
smiled
rather
sadly
,
-
“
but
perhaps
you
are
never
really
more
dependent
upon
a
woman
than
when
you
are
a
few
thousand
miles
away
from
her
.
You
see
,
when
you
are
knocking
about
in
countries
where
there
is
not
much
public
opinion
to
reckon
with
you
are
liable
to
be
tempted
to
live
a
bit
loosely
;
and
then
her
face
comes
before
you
at
all
sorts
of
odd
times
,
and
her
letters
come
.
And
you
spend
hours
planning
what
you
and
she
will
do
together
when
the
parting
is
over
and
you
get
back
.
The
thought
of
her
is
the
sweetness
of
your
life
,
and
the
salt
of
it
too
—
it
's
what
makes
the
work
worth
while
.
You
see
other
women
,
nice
women
some
of
them
,
—
dear
women
,
for
a
lot
of
women
are
nice
and
dear
,
—
and
they
're
good
to
you
sometimes
;
but
they
are
n't
in
it
,
they
do
n't
count
one
bit
.
You
want
her
,
just
her
and
no
one
else
;
and
you
're
ambitious
for
her
,
you
slave
and
pile
up
money
for
her
,
you
want
to
give
her
just
all
there
is
to
have
.
And
—
and
,
in
fact
,
”
Leversedge
said
,
looking
full
at
me
,
“
I
love
her
,
Hammond
.
I
love
her
.
I
suppose
I
'm
a
selfish
coward
,
but
it
's
worse
than
death
—
oh
!
my
God
,
it
's
unutterable
misery
to
think
of
giving
her
up
.
”
His
voice
had
grown
thick
.
He
did
not
wait
for
my
answer
,
but
walked
away
beside
the
breakwater
water
—
his
figure
long
and
white
under
the
cool
green
shade
of
the
plane
trees
.
I
like
lovers
.
Their
antics
rarely
irritate
me
.
Even
at
their
worst
they
are
idiots
to
whom
I
offer
myself
quite
willingly
as
an
asylum
,
and
invite
,
with
open
arms
,
to
drivel
on
my
breast
;
while
,
at
their
best
,
they
ravish
my
soul
with
satisfaction
.
In
spirit
I
build
temples
to
them
,
and
worship
prostrate
,
my
frivolous
head
in
the
dust
.
I
had
erected
a
quite
imposing
temple
to
Leversedge
by
the
time
he
returned
;
for
it
appeared
to
me
that
,
in
him
,
Providence
granted
me
acquaintance
with
a
lover
of
a
rather
heroic
type
.
If
the
Beloved
was
as
fine
as
the
Lover
,
I
had
hope
.
In
that
case
I
snapped
my
fingers
at
the
diabolic
dog
.
For
if
Charlotte
Perry
was
what
her
lover
imagined
her
,
if
she
was
worthy
of
his
love
,
I
did
not
fear
but
that
she
could
stay
the
plague
under
which
he
suffered
.
But
was
she
worthy
?
Was
it
probable
the
paternal
rat
and
maternal
clock-moon
could
between
them
produce
offspring
of
an
heroic
stamp
?
To
believe
they
could
was
,
I
own
,
a
tax
on
my
faith
.
But
,
as
in
law
the
accused
is
held
innocent
till
proved
guilty
,
so
I
would
assume
Miss
Perry
to
be
a
heroine
till
she
was
clearly
proved
to
be
otherwise
,
and
therefore
I
said
to
Leversedge
—
“
Has
it
occurred
to
you
,
my
good
friend
,
that
you
are
treating
this
matter
rather
high-handedly
,
and
that
the
young
lady
in
question
might
be
anything
thing
but
grateful
to
you
for
—
as
you
put
it
—
giving
her
up
?
”
“
I
only
want
to
spare
her
.
”
“
Quite
so
.
But
as
we
may
,
I
suppose
,
take
for
granted
a
degree
of
affection
on
her
side
,
it
remains
an
open
question
whether
you
will
spare
her
by
retiring
from
the
situation
.
”
“
Ah
!
if
I
thought
she
cared
like
that
,
”
Leversedge
said
softly
.
“
Of
course
,
”
I
cried
,
“
she
cares
like
that
.
”
Nothing
is
sweeter
than
assurance
on
the
part
of
others
,
when
one
's
own
confidence
grows
somewhat
weak
.
Leversedge
threw
back
his
bead
and
smiled
.
Without
doubt
he
was
very
much
in
love
.
“
And
yet
,
I
do
n't
know
,
”
he
said
after
a
moment
.
“
For
the
more
she
cares
the
more
likely
I
should
be
to
bring
my
curse
on
her
.
It
is
too
hideous
to
contemplate
.
Think
,
Hammond
,
if
later
,
if
afterwards
,
as
the
reward
of
her
faithfulness
,
as
the
payment
of
her
great
goodness
in
giving
herself
to
me
—
she
—
she
came
to
see
and
feel
that
loathsome
beast
herself
?
”
But
here
cries
from
the
direction
of
the
hotel
broke
in
upon
the
solemnity
of
our
interview
,
and
Mr.
Perry
bore
down
upon
us
at
a
double
.
“
Make
a
clean
breast
of
it
,
”
I
said
hurriedly
.
“
Trust
her
—
tell
her
.
That
is
my
advice
,
since
you
have
done
me
the
kindness
to
ask
it
.
Tell
her
everything
.
Let
her
decide
.
”
CHAPTER
VI
“
CONSTANTINE
,
”
he
called
.
“
Où
est
il
?
savez-vous
où
il
est
—
Monsieur
Leversedge
?
”
Now
,
I
am
,
I
trust
,
the
last
person
in
the
world
to
be
guilty
of
an
impertinence
towards
my
elders
;
but
,
as
Mr.
Perry
pursued
his
active
way
towards
us
,
the
word
pecky
rose
unbidden
to
my
lips
.
His
expression
denoted
desire
for
some
object
on
which
to
wreak
a
measure
of
vengeance
.
A
cherry
,
perhaps
,
would
do
;
perhaps
a
worm
or
fly
;
possibly
—
for
have
not
even
doves
,
under
stress
of
emotion
,
been
known
to
use
their
tender
beaks
upon
their
fellow-doves
?
—
possibly
he
coveted
a
human
victim
.
At
sight
of
me
,
however
,
I
observed
him
make
an
effort
to
summon
a
more
genial
aspect
,
and
overlay
his
evident
irascibility
with
a
varnish
of
playfulness
.
He
shook
his
finger
waggishly
at
me
;
and
my
heart
fell
.
Could
this
,
indeed
,
be
a
father
of
heroic
children
?
“
Ah
ha
!
I
see
,
I
see
!
”
he
exclaimed
.
“
The
mystery
touches
on
explanation
.
‘This
is
the
cause
,
the
cause
,
my
soul.’
Hence
Constantine
plays
truant
.
When
you
two
young
gentlemen
get
together
there
is
no
hope
of
you
.
”
He
turned
to
Leversedge
,
and
as
he
did
so
the
spirit
of
peckiness
resumed
full
sway
.
“
We
have
been
expecting
you
,
”
he
cried
.
“
Charlotte
has
been
visibly
disturbed
by
your
absence
.
”
“
Oh
,
has
she
?
I
'm
sure
I
am
very
sorry
,
”
Leversedge
said
.
“
I
understood
some
friends
of
yours
were
there
,
and
—
”
“
Precisely
,
”
returned
Mr.
Perry
quite
excitedly
.
“
That
is
the
point
.
Friends
of
ours
are
here
.
Mr.
Percy
Gerrard
and
Mrs.
Septimus
Mertyns
are
kindly
calling
upon
us
.
Most
talented
person
,
I
am
sure
,
Mrs.
Mertyns
,
—
an
advantage
,
Constantine
,
as
I
was
saying
recently
to
Mr.
Hammond
,
a
positive
advantage
for
one
whom
,
like
yourself
,
I
may
call
a
débutant
in
the
London
world
,
to
have
the
entrée
of
her
charming
house
.
”
During
the
progress
of
this
somewhat
confused
exordium
,
Leversedge
's
vaguely-distracted
brow
had
gathered
into
a
quite
definite
frown
.
He
was
bothered
,
annoyed
,
and
,
for
once
,
did
not
try
to
conceal
the
fact
.
“
I
have
not
the
honour
of
knowing
Mrs.
Mertyns
,
”
he
said
.
“
Precisely
,
”
cried
Mr.
Perry
again
.
“
That
,
as
I
remark
,
is
the
point
.
Charlotte
perceived
this
was
a
most
favourable
opportunity
for
effecting
the
introduction
.
She
is
very
thoughtful
,
very
—
dear
girl
,
”
—
here
he
smiled
in
a
really
kingly
manner
,
—
“
very
wise
;
she
notes
,
and
never
undervalues
,
a
social
opportunity
.
For
which
I
commend
her
.
Indifference
in
social
matters
is
,
rightly
understood
,
but
the
mask
of
ignorance
—
Ignorance
,
that
churlish
sin
,
Which
,
seeking
to
cloak
others
,
shows
itself
Still
basest
born
of
all
.
”
“
Dear
me
!
”
murmured
Leversedge
,
lifting
his
shoulders
,
as
he
drew
a
long
breath
.
“
Charlotte
took
for
granted
you
would
follow
us
up
from
the
boat
immediately
.
When
she
found
you
did
not
do
so
,
she
was
disappointed
,
I
had
almost
said
pained
;
for
she
recognised
your
mistake
.
Mamma
,
remarking
her
disappointment
—
affection
lends
wings
to
perception
,
Mr.
Hammond
—
interrupting
me
in
the
midst
of
a
most
interesting
conversation
with
Mr.
Gerrard
upon
the
deepening
of
the
conservative
sentiment
among
the
educated
artisans
of
our
great
commercial
centres
,
whispered
to
me
to
come
and
tell
you
.
And
here
I
am
;
—
me
voilà
,
as
I
may
say
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
here
I
am
.
”
“
Yes
,
you
are
very
sensibly
here
,
Mr.
Perry
:
and
it
is
,
as
always
,
a
happiness
to
be
in
your
company
,
”
I
replied
,
with
effusion
.
I
had
an
idea
Leversedge
intended
revolt
.
I
wanted
to
give
him
time
to
mature
that
excellent
intention
.
Mr.
Perry
glanced
at
me
sharply
;
then
he
again
addressed
our
companion
.
“
Well
,
Constantine
,
I
have
delivered
myself
of
my
mission
.
Why
this
delay
?
”
“
Because
”
—
Leversedge
spoke
very
slowly
—
“
I
will
explain
why
to
Charlotte
later
,
and
she
will
understand
,
”
—
he
paused
,
—
“
yes
,
she
'll
understand
;
because
I
do
n't
,
to
tell
the
truth
,
feel
very
much
inclined
to
go
and
see
these
people
just
now
.
I
—
I
am
not
in
the
humour
.
”
“
But
—
but
—
this
is
unheard
of
,
”
cried
Mr.
Perry
.
“
Not
inclined
,
—
this
is
incredible
.
Not
inclined
,
—
this
is
insanity
.
”
“
Oh
no
,
it
is
n't
;
it
is
disinclination
,
”
Leversedge
replied
,
pushing
his
hands
down
into
the
pockets
of
his
boating
coat
and
smiling
wearily
.
“
Nothing
worse
than
disinclination
.
Not
insanity
,
not
just
yet
,
—
at
least
,
I
believe
not
.
”
“
I
fail
to
grasp
your
meaning
.
”
Mr.
Perry
looked
vicious
.
“
Oh
,
it
's
very
simple
.
As
I
say
,
I
will
explain
to
Charlotte
;
she
'll
understand
.
”
—
Leversedge
repeated
the
phrase
more
as
one
who
needs
,
than
as
one
who
has
,
a
conviction
of
the
truth
of
that
which
he
asserts
.
—
“
We
will
leave
it
all
in
her
hands
.
It
may
be
better
in
the
longrun
for
me
not
to
know
these
people
at
all
.
”
At
this
rejoinder
Perry
père
lost
himself
utterly
for
the
moment
,
and
,
in
the
excess
of
his
irritation
,
literally
danced
round
his
future
son-in-law
.
“
Not
to
know
them
?
But
do
n't
you
recognise
that
it
is
absolutely
incumbent
upon
you
to
know
my
daughter
's
very
cultivated
and
interesting
circle
of
friends
?
It
is
your
duty
,
and
I
may
add
your
privilege
,
to
pay
them
all
possible
attention
.
What
are
you
thinking
of
?
Pray
,
who
have
you
to
look
to
but
them
?
Who
have
you
to
push
you
socially
?
Why
,
yours
and
my
daughter
's
future
happiness
is
wholly
dependent
upon
their
attitude
towards
you
—
upon
their
receiving
you
,
taking
you
up
,
and
putting
you
through
,
in
short
.
”
I
ought
to
have
gone
away
and
left
the
combatants
.
I
admit
that
I
ought
.
But
the
natural
man
is
strong
in
me
,
and
curiosity
is
strong
in
the
natural
man
.
I
was
tempted
,
and
I
fell
;
that
is
,
I
stayed
—
stayed
to
see
Leversedge
clasp
his
hands
behind
him
,
and
bow
slightly
from
the
waist
.
“
So
our
happiness
is
dependent
upon
Charlotte
's
friends
taking
us
up
and
putting
us
through
,
is
it
?
”
he
answered
calmly
.
“
Well
,
I
own
the
matter
had
not
occurred
to
me
in
that
light
.
I
hoped
our
happiness
drew
a
little
more
water
than
that
.
But
I
may
be
wrong
,
of
course
,
Mr.
Perry
,
and
you
may
be
right
.
I
shall
know
more
about
it
when
I
have
explained
things
to
Charlotte
;
and
if
I
find
a
strict
observance
of
social
duties
will
secure
our
happiness
,
you
may
be
very
certain
I
shall
do
my
best
to
observe
them
.
—
Ah
!
”
he
added
,
“
here
she
is
.
”
His
face
went
very
pale
,
but
his
eyes
were
clear
and
steady
and
his
jaw
set
.
Morally
,
the
small
battle
had
braced
him
.
Miss
Perry
's
cheeks
appeared
charmingly
flushed
,
her
abundant
hair
slightly
disordered
.
The
drawing
together
of
her
lips
suggested
a
sense
of
injury
,
an
inclination
to
tears
.
She
was
extremely
pretty
,
as
she
halted
at
the
edge
of
the
shadow
thrown
by
the
plane
trees
,
a
radiant
perspective
of
wooded
shore
bathed
in
golden
sunshine
and
the
fair
expanse
of
the
azure
lake
behind
her
,
the
white
swans
floating
motionless
,
the
gaily-painted
boats
.
“
Ah
,
Constantine
,
”
she
exclaimed
in
tones
of
plaintive
reproach
,
“
what
cause
you
have
given
me
for
vexation
!
”
Leversedge
stepped
out
into
the
sunshine
towards
her
.
“
No
,
”
she
said
,
raising
her
hands
,
“
repentance
comes
too
late
.
They
have
gone
.
It
is
useless
now
,
and
I
wanted
you
so
greatly
to
see
them
.
”
“
Look
here
,
my
dearest
child
,
I
am
glad
they
are
gone
,
for
I
want
greatly
to
see
you
.
”
There
was
a
certain
air
of
mastery
about
Leversedge
just
then
,
which
was
not
to
be
gainsaid
.
Without
the
smallest
apology
,
he
put
his
arm
round
the
young
lady
's
shoulders
and
drew
her
aside
.
Miss
Perry
looked
startled
.
She
was
I
imagine
,
unaccustomed
to
such
practical
declarations
of
affection
in
public
.
“
Never
mind
your
friends
;
they
wo
n't
break
their
hearts
at
not
seeing
me
.
They
'll
keep
.
Let
's
sit
down
on
the
wall
over
there
.
I
've
a
whole
lot
to
tell
you
.
I
ought
to
have
told
you
before
,
but
I
shirked
it
.
”
“
Constantine
!
”
the
girl
murmured
.
Her
expression
was
strange
.
The
dewy
eyes
were
frightened
,
the
rest
of
her
face
sharpened
into
resemblance
of
the
paternal
rat
.
Leversedge
must
have
seen
the
fright
,
for
I
heard
him
speak
soothingly
.
I
trusted
he
did
not
see
the
rat
.
“
Come
,
come
,
my
dear
sir
,
”
I
cried
,
“
in
this
delightful
idyll
you
and
I
clearly
have
no
part
.
Let
us
remove
ourselves
with
all
possible
despatch
.
”
I
ventured
to
let
my
hand
rest
upon
the
sleeve
of
Mr.
Perry
's
ill-brushed
coat
.
“
I
am
amazed
at
the
events
of
the
last
quarter
of
an
hour
,
”
he
said
severely
as
he
walked
away
.
“
I
may
go
further
,
—
I
may
employ
the
term
dumfoundered
.
The
anxieties
of
a
parent
are
cruel
,
Mr.
Hammond
.
The
pelican
strips
from
her
breast
feathers
wherewith
to
line
the
nest
for
her
young
;
and
then
the
young
,
in
the
most
unexpected
manner
—
I
am
sure
sometimes
most
unexpected
—
get
out
of
the
nest
and
fly
away
.
That
is
how
Mamma
and
myself
feel
just
now
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
I
assure
you
we
do
.
”
Mr.
Perry
drew
up
suddenly
,
took
out
his
handkerchief
,
and
wiped
his
head
well
round
.
“
I
am
at
sea
,
”
he
cried
.
“
I
give
you
my
word
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
I
am
completely
at
sea
.
”
“
Never
fear
,
”
I
returned
cheerfully
;
“
if
I
have
the
honour
of
knowing
you
truly
,
you
are
one
of
those
elect
souls
who
are
very
safe
to
come
into
port
at
last
.
”
Mr.
Perry
eyed
me
shrewdly
,
and
then
decided
to
take
the
speech
in
good
part
;
so
told
me
it
reminded
him
of
a
capital
story
of
the
late
Earl
of
Beaconsfield
and
a
deputation
of
shipowners
from
Cardiff
,
which
story
he
proceeded
to
tell
me
,
as
we
strolled
towards
the
hotel
,
at
the
fullest
of
full
length
.
PHASE
SECOND
CHAPTER
I
THE
next
day
,
as
far
as
I
remember
,
passed
without
incident
until
evening
.
I
hold
there
is
but
one
irremediable
evil
in
life
,
that
of
growing
tired
of
oneself
.
I
therefore
avoid
it
with
great
care
,
and
,
to
that
end
,
entirely
refuse
to
grow
accustomed
to
my
own
idiosyncrasies
.
I
let
my
characteristics
take
me
by
surprise
.
I
am
journalier
to
myself
,
scorning
stereotyped
habits
as
I
would
scorn
to
wear
a
livery
.
I
dread
to
be
consistent
as
I
would
dread
paralysis
.
Quite
the
last
person
of
my
acquaintance
with
whom
I
would
ever
risk
being
familiar
is
myself
;
and
so
I
study
earnestly
to
cultivate
a
various
mind
,
and
give
my
good
qualities
the
slip
equally
with
my
bad
ones
.
To
take
a
minor
example
.
I
am
naturally
gregarious
.
The
manners
and
customs
of
my
fellow-mortals
afford
me
permanent
entertainment
.
Consequently
I
woo
solitude
,
and
often
seek
a
hermit
hour
.
I
sought
one
,
unsuccessfully
,
on
the
evening
in
question
.
It
was
damp
out
of
doors
,
and
the
more
lively
members
of
the
community
had
gathered
in
the
hall
,
the
more
serious
in
the
salle
de
conversation
,
after
dinner
.
A
mixed
multitude
in
both
cases
,
splitting
itself
up
,
as
such
multitudes
invariably
do
,
into
cliques
and
coteries
,
that
jealously
guard
their
own
frontiers
,
while
casting
glances
of
mingled
desire
and
distrust
upon
those
of
their
neighbours
.
At
one
end
of
the
hall
,
a
would-be
prima-donna
,
of
transatlantic
extraction
,
reigned
over
the
American
section
of
the
community
,
supported
by
an
elegant
and
obedient
mother
who
had
kept
her
figure
,
a
good-tempered
and
obedient
French
composer
who
had
lost
his
,
and
a
disobedient
French
poodle
who
had
followed
suit
.
At
the
other
end
,
a
venerable
Russian
poet
,
blessed
with
fine
head
and
silvery
beard
,
a
man
of
really
apostolic
aspect
—
he
,
for
cause
unknown
,
by
the
way
,
invariably
wore
brown
kid
,
cut-fingered
gloves
—
presided
over
a
court
of
three
beautiful
daughters
;
a
fierce
,
spare
young
woman
in
a
scarlet
silk
blouse
—
her
wardrobe
appeared
limited
—
whose
black
hair
hung
in
a
thick
pigtail
,
tied
with
scarlet
ribbons
,
down
her
back
to
below
her
knees
;
and
two
young
men
,
also
Russian
,
of
debilitated
physique
and
excited
bearing
.
The
interspaces
were
filled
in
by
English
—
English
,
prickly
or
patronising
,
nervously
dumb
or
nervously
boisterous
;
few
,
if
any
of
them
,
quite
at
their
ease
.
For
it
must
be
conceded
that
the
number
of
our
dear
country-men
and
women
who
possess
the
gentle
art
of
living
gracefully
in
public
is
lamentably
small
.
Persons
who
,
in
the
security
of
their
moist
island
homes
,
are
well-bred
and
really
quite
delightful
,
become
as
awkward
as
chased
hens
in
an
hotel
.
Most
English
are
born
with
their
feet
glued
to
little
round
green
stands
,
like
the
ladies
and
gentlemen
of
Noah
's
Ark.
To
see
them
unglued
—
as
in
foreign
travel
—
is
to
see
them
at
a
disadvantage
.
For
the
stand
is
as
necessary
to
their
self-respect
as
their
decent
petticoats
and
irreproachable
trousers
.
In
the
hall
everyone
talked
.
The
debilitated
Russian
young
men
did
more
.
They
waved
their
arms
and
shouted
;
while
the
spare
young
woman
alternately
hissed
and
purred
at
them
,
and
waved
,
not
her
arms
only
,
but
her
whole
lithe
body
.
This
displeased
the
poodle
—
it
was
very
disquieting
—
and
caused
him
to
bark
,
which
caused
his
mistress
to
slap
him
.
During
the
process
she
explained
exactly
why
she
slapped
him
to
her
mother
and
all
her
friends
;
who
on
their
part
continued
chattering
volubly
to
her
and
her
mother
,
and
the
poodle
,
and
each
other
,
and
the
French
composer
.
The
latter
laughed
good-temperedly
,
with
raised
eyebrows
,
puffed
at
his
cigar
,
furtively
consoled
the
poodle
,
and
tapped
out
airs
from
his
coming
opera
upon
the
floor
with
the
heel
of
his
boot
.
In
the
salon
the
style
was
different
.
A
retired
Deputy
Surgeon-General
of
the
Madras
Army
,
seated
upon
a
gilded
lounge
upholstered
in
crimson
and
yellow
(
the
furniture
of
the
salon
was
slightly
loud
)
,
held
forth
to
an
elderly
and
respectable
audience
upon
the
clear
connection
between
Mr.
Gladstone
and
the
“
little
horn
”
in
the
Book
of
the
Prophet
Daniel
,
the
iniquities
of
the
Opium
Traffic
,
and
the
unfulfilled
predictions
in
Revelations
.
Good
Mrs.
Perry
was
a
member
of
his
congregation
.
She
sat
under
the
full
glare
of
the
gas
chandelier
.
She
was
rubicund
.
She
was
beaming
.
Yet
she
appeared
to
me
worried
.
Presumably
Mr.
Gladstone
and
the
“
little
horn
”
were
too
much
for
her
.
In
that
she
surely
did
not
stand
alone
.
Mr.
Gladstone
and
the
“
little
horn
,
”
whether
taken
singly
or
in
connection
,
have
been
too
much
for
many
persons
before
now
.
Realising
this
,
I
ventured
to
disregard
the
signs
the
kind
creature
made
to
me
—
her
pointings
to
and
pattings
of
a
vacant
golden
seat
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
exegetical
Deputy
Surgeon-General
.
I
hurriedly
crossed
the
room
,
and
let
myself
out
by
one
of
the
glass
doors
on
to
the
long
wide
verandah
.
The
change
from
the
heat
and
noise
and
glare
within
was
rather
startling
.
A
wet
wind
lashed
through
the
balsam
poplars
bordering
the
lake
,
swept
over
the
garden
,
and
tormented
the
banks
of
shrubbery
on
either
side
the
large
lawn
.
The
leaves
of
the
pyramidal
magnolias
upon
the
terrace
slapped
together
,
and
the
great
odorous
blossoms
swayed
ghostly
in
the
half
light
.
Flights
of
ragged
cloud
,
fringed
with
watery
yellow
where
they
crossed
the
moon
,
fled
across
the
sky
.
Gleams
of
white
foam
and
a
hoarseness
of
breaking
waves
came
from
the
shore
.
In
a
spirit
of
economy
the
lamps
upon
the
terrace
and
the
verandah
had
been
left
unlighted
.
Only
a
tawny
brightness
from
the
doors
and
windows
of
the
salon
lay
in
broad
stripes
along
the
marble
pavement
,
and
touched
the
edges
of
the
descending
steps
.
We
writers
of
little
verses
are
addicted
to
exaggerating
the
moral
and
emotional
significance
of
Nature
's
moods
,
no
doubt
.
The
night
struck
me
as
full
of
inarticulate
complaint
,
turbulent
and
distressed
—
a
night
to
make
one
think
of
lost
youth
,
and
dead
loves
;
and
of
that
most
inconveniently
haunting
of
beings
,
the
still
living
woman
whom
—
almost
certainly
—
one
ought
to
have
married
.
—
I
often
think
of
her
,
for
I
have
a
tender
heart
,
and
she
was
really
very
charming
.
—
I
thought
of
her
now
as
I
stood
on
the
wind-swept
verandah
.
A
long
trail
of
scarlet
,
trumpet-flowered
honeysuckle
had
torn
away
from
its
fastenings
,
and
beat
against
the
ironwork
just
above
my
head
.
And
here
observe
the
advantages
of
cultivating
a
various
mind
!
In
a
few
seconds
I
was
enjoying
all
the
pensive
satisfactions
of
self-reproach
.
For
I
ought
to
have
married
her
.
Unquestionably
I
ought
.
It
is
true
when
I
proposed
she
refused
me
.
But
that
is
a
detail
.
I
had
delayed
;
I
had
shilly-shallied
.
I
had
been
seen
in
equivocal
company
,
and
a
considerate
friend
had
not
been
wanting
to
report
that
damaging
incident
.
And
then
I
had
been
too
ready
to
take
“
No
”
for
an
answer
.
Decline
to
take
“
No
,
”
oh
my
brothers
,
wholly
decline
to
take
it
,
and
in
the
end
the
woman
will
invariably
say
“
Yes
.
”
—
Here
modesty
intervened
,
inquiring
,
“
What
,
invariably
?
”
And
I
replied
,
“
Yes
,
always
,
invariably
,
”
refusing
to
permit
officious
modesty
thus
to
put
out
the
purifying
fires
of
self-reproach
.
CHAPTER
II
BUT
just
then
a
deprecating
voice
,
worthy
to
be
that
of
modesty
incarnate
,
gently
addressed
me
.
—
“
Mr
.
Hammond
,
I
hesitate
to
interrupt
you
,
for
I
have
watched
you
and
I
see
you
are
thinking
.
I
fancy
you
are
regretting
.
And
so
I
hesitate
.
”
Charlotte
Perry
had
approached
from
somewhere
in
the
surrounding
dimness
.
She
stood
on
my
right
,
between
me
and
the
steps
,
and
her
appearance
was
arresting
.
She
had
swathed
herself
in
an
Indian
shawl
,
which
framed
her
face
,
was
drawn
closely
about
her
shoulders
and
folded
arms
,
draping
her
whole
figure
and
almost
concealing
even
the
skirt
of
her
dress
.
This
shawl
was
an
exquisite
thing
—
one
of
Leversedge
's
many
costly
gifts
.
In
colour
violet
,
it
was
stiffened
at
the
border
with
delicate
gold
and
silver
threads
and
arabesques
worked
in
many-coloured
silks
.
The
warm
light
from
the
windows
behind
us
touched
these
rich
colours
in
places
,
touched
the
girl
's
profile
and
the
soft
brown
hair
about
her
forehead
.
The
result
was
eminently
picturesque
.
Charlotte
Perry
looked
quite
delightfully
pretty
;
and
had
Leversedge
not
possessed
prior
claims
,
I
really
could
have
found
it
in
my
heart
—
but
then
fortunately
Leversedge
did
possess
them
.
I
remembered
this
;
yet
I
hold
a
man
a
fool
who
,
be
his
sentiments
ever
so
honourable
,
omits
to
let
a
woman
know
when
he
finds
her
pleasant
to
look
upon
.
“
Hesitate
no
longer
,
my
dear
young
lady
,
”
I
therefore
answered
.
“
Interruptions
,
when
they
appear
in
so
charming
a
form
,
believe
me
,
are
never
unwelcome
.
”
Miss
Perry
gazed
at
me
for
a
moment
,
and
her
dewy
eyes
were
very
bright
.
—
“
I
wonder
,
”
she
said
softly
,
“
are
you
ever
in
earnest
?
Are
you
ever
serious
?
”
“
I
am
profoundly
serious
in
my
welcome
of
this
particular
interruption
.
”
The
girl
drew
her
breath
with
a
little
sob
.
“
Can
—
can
one
trust
you
,
I
wonder
?
”
she
said
.
“
Try
me
,
”
I
cried
,
—
“
try
me
.
Such
as
I
am
you
shall
not
,
I
warrant
you
,
find
me
wanting
.
”
Still
Miss
Perry
drew
her
breath
somewhat
sobbingly
.
She
leaned
her
shrouded
head
against
the
iron
pillar
of
the
verandah
.
The
leaves
and
scarlet
flowers
of
the
honeysuckle
clustered
around
it
.
I
regretted
the
half
dark
,
for
I
merely
received
an
impression
,
and
the
picture
must
have
been
worthy
to
be
seen
clearly
.
Just
then
I
heard
a
distinct
grunt
.
Various
animals
grunt
;
my
knowledge
of
natural
history
,
though
by
no
means
profound
,
carries
me
as
far
as
that
.
But
only
one
human
being
of
my
acquaintance
produces
—
whether
voluntarily
or
involuntarily
I
know
not
—
that
unengaging
sound
.
A
rather
squat
black
person
passed
slowly
down
the
farther
side
of
the
marble
steps
.
“
Percy
Gerrard
!
”
I
exclaimed
.
“
Where
has
the
great
man
been
hiding
the
light
of
his
countenance
?
I
did
not
know
he
was
here
.
”
“
I
am
in
trouble
,
”
Miss
Perry
murmured
,
disregarding
my
remark
.
—
“
I
am
in
great
trouble
.
”
She
clasped
her
hands
,
and
the
shawl
fell
in
loose
folds
about
her
.
—
“
You
know
my
parents
,
Mr.
Hammond
.
You
know
their
devotion
to
me
?
Of
course
you
know
it
,
and
have
probably
smiled
at
it
.
”
“
Heaven
forbid
!
”
I
murmured
.
“
Ah
,
but
you
have
.
For
is
it
not
obviously
exaggerated
—
an
affection
blinding
to
the
critical
faculty
?
They
have
no
measure
.
No
one
realises
more
keenly
than
I
do
that
their
misplaced
admiration
makes
both
me
and
themselves
absurd
.
”
—
Miss
Perry
's
tone
expressed
the
tenderest
apology
,
the
most
appeasing
humility
.
—
“
They
cannot
help
it
,
I
suppose
,
”
she
said
gently
.
“
But
their
attitude
does
not
fail
to
distress
and
embarrass
me
greatly
,
all
the
same
.
Do
not
imagine
that
I
undervalue
their
goodness
to
me
.
It
is
beautiful
,
but
,
alas
!
it
is
impeding
.
I
cannot
be
quite
frank
with
them
.
I
cannot
dare
to
risk
causing
them
pain
.
”
She
swung
aside
with
a
really
fine
movement
.
As
she
did
so
the
light
from
the
salon
window
fell
full
on
her
face
;
I
saw
that
her
eyes
overflowed
with
tears
.
“
And
I
am
in
pain
,
”
she
cried
softly
.
“
I
suffer
,
ah
!
I
suffer
.
I
am
cruelly
perplexed
.
For
I
fail
to
see
where
duty
—
the
high
duty
which
compels
acquiescence
,
and
dignifies
self-surrender
—
truly
lies
.
”
I
am
very
alive
to
sentiment
.
This
was
touching
and
I
was
touched
.
Yet
in
the
girl
's
speech
and
action
was
there
not
just
a
hint
,
a
remote
hint
,
of
Perry
père
in
his
noblest
manner
?
I
therefore
hardened
my
heart
slightly
,
determining
to
test
the
fair
sufferer
and
bring
her
to
book
.
“
Leversedge
has
spoken
to
you
,
”
I
said
.
“
Yes
,
that
is
part
of
the
pain
;
but
not
in
the
way
you
no
doubt
imagine
,
Mr.
Hammond
.
If
my
parents
knew
all
that
he
has
told
me
,
they
would
certainly
require
us
to
part
.
They
would
think
only
of
me
.
Therefore
they
must
not
know
.
”
And
I
,
hearing
this
,
repented
of
my
late
suspicion
in
mental
sackcloth
and
ashes
.
“
That
is
well
,
”
I
said
,
—
“
very
well
.
”
“
Is
it
?
”
—
Miss
Perry
smiled
upon
me
.
I
divined
more
than
saw
the
working
of
her
singularly
captivating
mouth
.
—
“
How
little
men
know
of
women
,
after
all
!
How
easily
they
mistake
that
which
will
attract
and
that
which
will
repulse
us
!
I
should
have
expected
Constantine
to
mistake
;
but
you
,
Mr.
Hammond
,
are
different
.
From
you
I
should
have
hoped
for
a
more
subtle
judgment
.
Understand
,
this
strange
story
of
Constantine
's
has
no
terror
for
me
.
”
“
The
gods
be
praised
for
that
,
”
I
murmured
.
“
Leversedge
is
not
born
under
so
very
unlucky
a
star
,
after
all
.
”
The
girl
leaned
her
head
against
the
iron
pillar
,
clustered
with
honeysuckle
,
again
.
The
wind
took
her
hair
,
blowing
it
back
over
the
embroidered
edge
of
the
shawl
.
Her
eyes
were
astonishingly
bright
.
“
No
,
it
has
no
terror
for
me
,
”
she
repeated
.
“
If
this
curse
is
laid
upon
him
,
it
is
clearly
my
office
to
share
it
,
to
shield
him
,
to
sustain
him
in
these
dark
seasons
and
places
of
his
existence
.
And
so
,
far
from
repulsing
,
it
attracts
me
.
It
supplies
the
touch
of
mystery
which
was
lacking
.
It
dignifies
what
was
otherwise
commonplace
.
It
wraps
us
—
him
and
me
—
about
with
a
peculiar
atmosphere
.
”
As
she
spoke
,
she
pressed
her
head
in
among
the
leaves
and
flowers
and
drew
the
folds
of
her
shawl
tighter
about
her
with
an
odd
action
as
of
physical
enjoyment
.
Charlotte
Perry
had
never
appeared
to
me
so
perfectly
natural
as
at
this
moment
.
Her
deprecatory
manner
had
vanished
.
She
glowed
,
so
to
speak
.
She
was
positively
seductive
,
but
she
was
also
a
little
displeasing
.
“
If
Constantine
knew
how
to
use
it
,
”
she
continued
,
“
it
might
be
tremendous
and
splendid
.
He
might
make
an
immense
success
,
an
immense
reputation
.
He
would
be
received
anywhere
on
the
strength
of
it
.
Ah
!
what
a
superb
opportunity
some
men
would
find
in
this
!
To
have
your
legend
thus
ready
to
hand
,
and
,
if
properly
treated
,
such
a
legend
!
You
might
dominate
society
.
”
The
girl
let
her
hands
fall
at
her
sides
dejectedly
.
“
But
he
has
no
idea
how
to
use
it
—
no
more
idea
than
a
child
.
The
opportunity
will
be
wasted
.
He
does
not
rise
to
it
in
the
very
least
.
I
have
tried
to
inspire
him
,
tried
to
show
him
how
unique
and
therefore
precious
a
fate
has
befallen
him
;
but
I
cannot
develop
any
enthusiasm
in
him
.
I
cannot
,
cannot
make
him
see
.
”
“
No
,
”
I
agreed
;
“
that
,
I
am
afraid
,
is
a
point
of
view
which
will
never
commend
itself
to
Leversedge
.
I
fear
you
will
never
make
him
see
.
”
Miss
Perry
looked
at
me
sharply
—
as
her
father
might
have
looked
.
Then
she
bent
her
head
,
put
her
hands
over
her
eyes
,
moved
a
couple
of
paces
to
the
right
hurriedly
,
while
the
wind
—
lending
itself
sympathetically
to
the
situation
—
caught
her
shawl
and
blew
it
up
and
outward
into
a
great
arc
of
dusky
colour
,
against
which
her
light
dress
,
her
slightly
bowed
figure
,
her
arms
bare
to
the
elbow
,
were
revealed
.
“
Ah
!
”
she
cried
,
“
I
am
very
unfortunate
.
I
have
given
you
a
wrong
impression
—
you
,
Antony
Hammond
,
the
last
person
I
would
have
misjudge
my
motives
.
”
The
hypercritical
might
have
called
all
this
artificial
and
theatrical
perhaps
.
I
can
never
find
it
in
my
heart
to
be
hypercritical
where
a
thing
is
really
well
done
;
and
,
without
question
,
this
was
beautifully
done
.
The
personal
note
,
too
,
in
the
young
lady
's
outcry
I
found
comforting
to
my
little
sprig
of
private
vanity
.
So
,
naturally
I
protested
vehemently
against
all
possibility
of
misjudging
her
motives
.
But
Miss
Perry
refused
to
listen
.
She
stood
before
me
clutching
one
corner
of
her
shawl
,
letting
the
rest
of
it
lie
heaped
about
her
feet
on
the
wet
marble
pavement
,
while
she
addressed
me
with
lips
trembling
from
emotion
.
“
