whenit
seemed
her
interest
to
do
so
,
but
brutally
declared
her
true
self
when
there
was
no
longer
anything
to
be
hoped
from
him
.
That
was
the
self-deception
of
misery
.
Love
,
even
passion
,
was
still
alive
in
the
depths
of
his
being
;
the
animation
with
which
he
sped
to
his
friend
as
soon
as
a
new
hope
had
risen
was
the
best
proof
of
his
feeling
.
He
went
home
and
wrote
to
Amy
.
'
I
have
a
reason
for
wishing
to
see
you
.
Will
you
have
the
kindness
to
appoint
an
hour
on
Sunday
morning
when
I
can
speak
with
you
in
private
?
It
must
be
understood
that
I
shall
see
no
one
else
.
'
She
would
receive
this
by
the
first
post
to-morrow
,
Saturday
,
and
doubtless
would
let
him
hear
in
reply
some
time
in
the
afternoon
.
Impatience
allowed
him
little
sleep
,
and
the
next
day
was
a
long
weariness
of
waiting
.
The
evening
he
would
have
to
spend
at
the
hospital
;
if
there
came
no
reply
before
the
time
of
his
leaving
home
,
he
knew
not
how
he
should
compel
himself
to
the
ordinary
routine
of
work
.
Yet
the
hour
came
,
and
he
had
heard
nothing
.
He
was
tempted
to
go
at
once
to
Westbourne
Park
,
but
reason
prevailed
with
him
.
When
he
again
entered
the
house
,
having
walked
at
his
utmost
speed
from
the
City
Road
,
the
letter
lay
waiting
for
him
;
it
had
been
pushed
beneath
his
door
,
and
when
he
struck
a
match
he
found
that
one
of
his
feet
was
upon
the
white
envelope
.
Amy
wrote
that
she
would
be
at
home
at
eleven
to-morrow
morning
.
Not
another
word
.
In
all
probability
she
knew
of
the
offer
that
had
been
made
to
him
;
Mrs.
Carter
would
have
told
her
.
Was
it
of
good
or
of
ill
omen
that
she
wrote
only
these
half-dozen
words
?
Half
through
the
night
he
plagued
himself
with
suppositions
,
now
thinking
that
her
brevity
promised
a
welcome
,
now
that
she
wished
to
warn
him
against
expecting
anything
but
a
cold
,
offended
demeanour
.
At
seven
he
was
dressed
;
two
hours
and
a
half
had
to
be
killed
before
he
could
start
on
his
walk
westward
.
He
would
have
wandered
about
the
streets
,
but
it
rained
.
He
had
made
himself
as
decent
as
possible
in
appearance
,
but
he
must
necessarily
seem
an
odd
Sunday
visitor
at
a
house
such
as
Mrs.
Yule
's
.
His
soft
felt
hat
,
never
brushed
for
months
,
was
a
greyish
green
,
and
stained
round
the
band
with
perspiration
.
His
necktie
was
discoloured
and
worn
.
Coat
and
waistcoat
might
pass
muster
,
but
of
the
trousers
the
less
said
the
better
.
One
of
his
boots
was
patched
,
and
both
were
all
but
heelless
.
Very
well
;
let
her
see
him
thus
.
Let
her
understand
what
it
meant
to
live
on
twelve
and
sixpence
a
week
.
Though
it
was
cold
and
wet
he
could
not
put
on
his
overcoat
.
Three
years
ago
it
had
been
a
fairly
good
ulster
;
at
present
,
the
edges
of
the
sleeves
were
frayed
,
two
buttons
were
missing
,
and
the
original
hue
of
the
cloth
was
indeterminable
.
At
half-past
nine
he
set
out
and
struggled
with
his
shabby
umbrella
against
wind
and
rain
.
Down
Pentonville
Hill
,
up
Euston
Road
,
all
along
Marylebone
Road
,
then
north-westwards
towards
the
point
of
his
destination
.
It
was
a
good
six
miles
from
the
one
house
to
the
other
,
but
he
arrived
before
the
appointed
time
,
and
had
to
stray
about
until
the
cessation
of
bell-clanging
and
the
striking
of
clocks
told
him
it
was
eleven
.
Then
he
presented
himself
at
the
familiar
door
.
On
his
asking
for
Mrs.
Reardon
,
he
was
at
once
admitted
and
let
up
to
the
drawing-room
;
the
servant
did
not
ask
his
name
.
Then
he
waited
for
a
minute
or
two
,
feeling
himself
a
squalid
wretch
amid
the
dainty
furniture
.
The
door
opened
.
Amy
,
in
a
simple
but
very
becoming
dress
,
approached
to
within
a
yard
of
him
;
after
the
first
glance
she
had
averted
her
eyes
,
and
she
did
not
offer
to
shake
hands
.
He
saw
that
his
muddy
and
shapeless
boots
drew
her
attention
.
'
Do
you
know
why
I
have
come
?
'
he
asked
.
He
meant
the
tone
to
be
conciliatory
,
but
he
could
not
command
his
voice
,
and
it
sounded
rough
,
hostile
.
'
I
think
so
,
'
Amy
answered
,
seating
herself
gracefully
.
She
would
have
spoken
with
less
dignity
but
for
that
accent
of
his
.
'
The
Carters
have
told
you
?
'
'
Yes
;
I
have
heard
about
it
.
'
There
was
no
promise
in
her
manner
.
She
kept
her
face
turned
away
,
and
Reardon
saw
its
beautiful
profile
,
hard
and
cold
as
though
in
marble
.
'
It
does
n't
interest
you
at
all
?
'
'
I
am
glad
to
hear
that
a
better
prospect
offers
for
you
.
'
He
did
not
sit
down
,
and
was
holding
his
rusty
hat
behind
his
back
.
'
You
speak
as
if
it
in
no
way
concerned
yourself
.
Is
that
what
you
wish
me
to
understand
?
'
'
Wo
n't
it
be
better
if
you
tell
me
why
you
have
come
here
?
As
you
are
resolved
to
find
offence
in
whatever
I
say
,
I
prefer
to
keep
silence
.
Please
to
let
me
know
why
you
have
asked
to
see
me
.
'
Reardon
turned
abruptly
as
if
to
leave
her
,
but
checked
himself
at
a
little
distance
.
Both
had
come
to
this
meeting
prepared
for
a
renewal
of
amity
,
but
in
these
first
few
moments
each
was
so
disagreeably
impressed
by
the
look
and
language
of
the
other
that
a
revulsion
of
feeling
undid
all
the
more
hopeful
effects
of
their
long
severance
.
On
entering
,
Amy
had
meant
to
offer
her
hand
,
but
the
unexpected
meanness
of
Reardon
's
aspect
shocked
and
restrained
her
.
All
but
every
woman
would
have
experienced
that
shrinking
from
the
livery
of
poverty
.
Amy
had
but
to
reflect
,
and
she
understood
that
her
husband
could
in
no
wise
help
this
shabbiness
;
when
he
parted
from
her
his
wardrobe
was
already
in
a
long-suffering
condition
,
and
how
was
he
to
have
purchased
new
garments
since
then
?
None
the
less
such
attire
degraded
him
in
her
eyes
;
it
symbolized
the
melancholy
decline
which
he
had
suffered
intellectually
.
On
Reardon
his
wife
's
elegance
had
the
same
repellent
effect
,
though
this
would
not
have
been
the
case
but
for
the
expression
of
her
countenance
.
Had
it
been
possible
for
them
to
remain
together
during
the
first
five
minutes
without
exchange
of
words
,
sympathies
might
have
prevailed
on
both
sides
;
the
first
speech
uttered
would
most
likely
have
harmonized
with
their
gentler
thoughts
.
But
the
mischief
was
done
so
speedily
.
A
man
must
indeed
be
graciously
endowed
if
his
personal
apperance
can
defy
the
disadvantage
of
cheap
modern
clothing
worn
into
shapelessness
.
Reardon
had
no
such
remarkable
physique
,
and
it
was
not
wonderful
that
his
wife
felt
ashamed
of
him
.
Strictly
ashamed
;
he
seemed
to
her
a
social
inferior
;
the
impression
was
so
strong
that
it
resisted
all
memory
of
his
spiritual
qualities
.
She
might
have
anticipated
this
state
of
things
,
and
have
armed
herself
to
encounter
it
,
but
somehow
she
had
not
done
so
.
For
more
than
five
months
she
had
been
living
among
people
who
dressed
well
;
the
contrast
was
too
suddenly
forced
upon
her
.
She
was
especially
susceptible
in
such
matters
,
and
had
become
none
the
less
so
under
the
demoralizing
influence
of
her
misfortunes
.
True
,
she
soon
began
to
feel
ashamed
of
her
shame
,
but
that
could
not
annihilate
the
natural
feeling
and
its
results
.
'
I
do
n't
love
him
.
I
ca
n't
love
him
.
'
Thus
she
spoke
to
herself
,
with
immutable
decision
.
She
had
been
doubtful
till
now
,
but
all
doubt
was
at
an
end
.
Had
Reardon
been
practical
man
enough
to
procure
by
hook
or
by
crook
a
decent
suit
of
clothes
for
this
interview
,
that
ridiculous
trifle
might
have
made
all
the
difference
in
what
was
to
result
.
He
turned
again
,
and
spoke
with
the
harshness
of
a
man
who
feels
that
he
is
despised
,
and
is
determined
to
show
an
equal
contempt
.
'
I
came
to
ask
you
what
you
propose
to
do
in
case
I
go
to
Croydon
.
'
'
I
have
no
proposal
to
make
whatever
.
'
'
That
means
,
then
,
that
you
are
content
to
go
on
living
here
?
'
'
If
I
have
no
choice
,
I
must
make
myself
content
.
'
'
But
you
have
a
choice
.
'
'
None
has
yet
been
offered
me
.
'
'
Then
I
offer
it
now
,
'
said
Reardon
,
speaking
less
aggressively
.
'
I
shall
have
a
dwelling
rent
free
,
and
a
hundred
and
fifty
pounds
a
year
—
perhaps
it
would
be
more
in
keeping
with
my
station
if
I
say
that
I
shall
have
something
less
than
three
pounds
a
week
.
You
can
either
accept
from
me
half
this
money
,
as
up
to
now
,
or
come
and
take
your
place
again
as
my
wife
.
Please
to
decide
what
you
will
do
.
'
'
I
will
let
you
know
by
letter
in
a
few
days
.
'
It
seemed
impossible
to
her
to
say
she
would
return
,
yet
a
refusal
to
do
so
involved
nothing
less
than
separation
for
the
rest
of
their
lives
.
Postponement
of
decision
was
her
only
resource
.
'
I
must
know
at
once
,
'
said
Reardon
.
I
ca
n't
answer
at
once
.
'
'
If
you
do
n't
,
I
shall
understand
you
to
mean
that
you
refuse
to
come
to
me
.
You
know
the
circumstances
;
there
is
no
reason
why
you
should
consult
with
anyone
else
.
You
can
answer
me
immediately
if
you
will
.
'
'
I
do
n't
wish
to
answer
you
immediately
,
'
Amy
replied
,
paling
slightly
.
'
Then
that
decides
it
.
When
I
leave
you
we
are
strangers
to
each
other
.
'
Amy
made
a
rapid
study
of
his
countenance
.
She
had
never
entertained
for
a
moment
the
supposition
that
his
wits
were
unsettled
,
but
none
the
less
the
constant
recurrence
of
that
idea
in
her
mother
's
talk
had
subtly
influenced
her
against
her
husband
.
It
had
confirmed
her
in
thinking
that
his
behaviour
was
inexcusable
.
And
now
it
seemed
to
her
that
anyone
might
be
justified
in
holding
him
demented
,
so
reckless
was
his
utterance
.
It
was
difficult
to
know
him
as
the
man
who
had
loved
her
so
devotedly
,
who
was
incapable
of
an
unkind
word
or
look
.
'
If
that
is
what
you
prefer
,
'
she
said
,
'
there
must
be
a
formal
separation
.
I
ca
n't
trust
my
future
to
your
caprice
.
'
'
You
mean
it
must
be
put
into
the
hands
of
a
lawyer
.
'
'
Yes
,
I
do
.
'
'
That
will
be
the
best
,
no
doubt
.
'
'
Very
well
;
I
will
speak
with
my
friends
about
it
.
'
'
Your
friends
!
'
he
exclaimed
bitterly
.
'
But
for
those
friends
of
yours
this
would
never
have
happened
.
I
wish
you
had
been
alone
in
the
world
and
penniless
.
'
'
A
kind
wish
,
all
things
considered
.
'
'
Yes
,
it
is
a
kind
wish
.
Then
your
marriage
with
me
would
have
been
binding
;
you
would
have
known
that
my
lot
was
yours
,
and
the
knowledge
would
have
helped
yours
,
weakness
.
I
begin
to
see
how
much
right
there
is
on
the
side
of
those
people
who
would
keep
women
in
subjection
.
You
have
been
allowed
to
act
with
independence
,
and
the
result
is
that
you
have
ruined
my
life
and
debased
your
own
.
If
I
had
been
strong
enough
to
treat
you
as
a
child
,
and
bid
you
follow
me
wherever
my
own
fortunes
led
,
it
would
have
been
as
much
better
for
you
as
for
me
.
I
was
weak
,
and
I
suffer
as
all
weak
people
do
.
'
'
You
think
it
was
my
duty
to
share
such
a
home
as
you
have
at
present
?
'
'
You
know
it
was
.
And
if
the
choice
had
lain
between
that
and
earning
your
own
livelihood
you
would
have
thought
that
even
such
a
poor
home
might
be
made
tolerable
.
There
were
possibilities
in
you
of
better
things
than
will
ever
come
out
now
.
'
There
followed
a
silence
.
Amy
sat
with
her
eyes
gloomily
fixed
on
the
carpet
;
Reardon
looked
about
the
room
,
but
saw
nothing
.
He
had
thrown
his
hat
into
a
chair
,
and
his
fingers
worked
nervously
together
behind
his
back
.
'
Will
you
tell
me
,
'
he
said
at
length
,
'
how
your
position
is
regarded
by
these
friends
of
yours
?
I
do
n't
mean
your
mother
and
brother
,
but
the
people
who
come
to
this
house
.
'
'
I
have
not
asked
such
people
for
their
opinion
.
'
'
Still
,
I
suppose
some
sort
of
explanation
has
been
necessary
in
your
intercourse
with
them
.
How
have
you
represented
your
relations
with
me
?
'
'
I
ca
n't
see
that
that
concerns
you
.
'
'
In
a
manner
it
does
.
Certainly
it
matters
very
little
to
me
how
I
am
thought
of
by
people
of
this
kind
,
but
one
does
n't
like
to
be
reviled
without
cause
.
Have
you
allowed
it
to
be
supposed
that
I
have
made
life
with
me
intolerable
for
you
?
'
'
No
,
I
have
not
.
You
insult
me
by
asking
the
question
,
but
as
you
do
n't
seem
to
understand
feelings
of
that
kind
I
may
as
well
answer
you
simply
.
'
'
Then
have
you
told
them
the
truth
?
That
I
became
so
poor
you
could
n't
live
with
me
?
'
'
I
have
never
said
that
in
so
many
words
,
but
no
doubt
it
is
understood
.
It
must
be
known
also
that
you
refused
to
take
the
step
which
might
have
helped
you
out
of
your
difficulties
.
'
'
What
step
?
'
She
reminded
him
of
his
intention
to
spend
half
a
year
in
working
at
the
seaside
.
'
I
had
utterly
forgotten
it
,
'
he
returned
with
a
mocking
laugh
.
'
That
shows
how
ridiculous
such
a
thing
would
have
been
.
'
'
You
are
doing
no
literary
work
at
all
?
'
Amy
asked
.
'
Do
you
imagine
that
I
have
the
peace
of
mind
necessary
for
anything
of
that
sort
?
'
This
was
in
a
changed
voice
.
It
reminded
her
so
strongly
of
her
husband
before
his
disasters
that
she
could
not
frame
a
reply
.
'
Do
you
think
I
am
able
to
occupy
myself
with
the
affairs
of
imaginary
people
?
'
'
I
did
n't
necessarily
mean
fiction
.
'
'
That
I
can
forget
myself
,
then
,
in
the
study
of
literature
?
—
I
wonder
whether
you
really
think
of
me
like
that
.
How
,
in
Heaven
's
name
,
do
you
suppose
I
spend
my
leisure
time
?
'
She
made
no
answer
.
'
Do
you
think
I
take
this
calamity
as
light-
heartedly
as
you
do
,
Amy
?
'
'
I
am
far
from
taking
it
light-heartedly
.
'
'
Yet
you
are
in
good
health
.
I
see
no
sign
that
you
have
suffered
.
'
She
kept
silence
.
Her
suffering
had
been
slight
enough
,
and
chiefly
due
to
considerations
of
social
propriety
;
but
she
would
not
avow
this
,
and
did
not
like
to
make
admission
of
it
to
herself
.
Before
her
friends
she
frequently
affected
to
conceal
a
profound
sorrow
;
but
so
long
as
her
child
was
left
to
her
she
was
in
no
danger
of
falling
a
victim
to
sentimental
troubles
.
'
And
certainly
I
ca
n't
believe
it
,
'
he
continued
,
'
now
you
declare
your
wish
to
be
formally
separated
from
me
.
'
'
I
have
declared
no
such
wish
.
'
'
Indeed
you
have
.
If
you
can
hesitate
a
moment
about
returning
to
me
when
difficulties
are
at
an
end
,
that
tells
me
you
would
prefer
final
separation
.
'
'
I
hesitate
for
this
reason
,
'
Amy
said
after
reflecting
.
'
You
are
so
very
greatly
changed
from
what
you
used
to
be
,
that
I
think
it
doubtful
if
I
could
live
with
you
.
'
'
Changed
?
—
Yes
,
that
is
true
I
am
afraid
.
But
how
do
you
think
this
change
will
affect
my
behaviour
to
you
?
'
'
Remember
how
you
have
been
speaking
to
me
.
'
'
And
you
think
I
should
treat
you
brutally
if
you
came
into
my
power
?
'
'
Not
brutally
,
in
the
ordinary
sense
of
the
word
.
But
with
faults
of
temper
which
I
could
n't
bear
.
I
have
my
own
faults
.
I
ca
n't
behave
as
meekly
as
some
women
can
.
'
It
was
a
small
concession
,
but
Reardon
made
much
of
it
.
'
Did
my
faults
of
temper
give
you
any
trouble
during
the
first
year
of
our
married
life
?
'
he
asked
gently
.
'
No
,
'
she
admitted
.
'
They
began
to
afflict
you
when
I
was
so
hard
driven
by
difficulties
that
I
needed
all
your
sympathy
,
all
your
forbearance
.
Did
I
receive
much
of
either
from
you
,
Amy
?
'
'
I
think
you
did
—
until
you
demanded
impossible
things
of
me
.
'
'
It
was
always
in
your
power
to
rule
me
.
What
pained
me
worst
,
and
hardened
me
against
you
,
was
that
I
saw
you
did
n't
care
to
exert
your
influence
.
There
was
never
a
time
when
I
could
have
resisted
a
word
of
yours
spoken
out
of
your
love
for
me
.
But
even
then
,
I
am
afraid
,
you
no
longer
loved
me
,
and
now
—
'
He
broke
off
,
and
stood
watching
her
face
.
'
Have
you
any
love
for
me
left
?
'
burst
from
his
lips
,
as
if
the
words
all
but
choked
him
in
the
utterance
.
Amy
tried
to
shape
some
evasive
answer
,
but
could
say
nothing
.
'
Is
there
ever
so
small
a
hope
that
I
might
win
some
love
from
you
again
?
'
'
If
you
wish
me
to
come
and
live
with
you
when
you
go
to
Croydon
I
will
do
so
.
'
'
But
that
is
not
answering
me
,
Amy
.
'
'
It
's
all
I
can
say
.
'
'
Then
you
mean
that
you
would
sacrifice
yourself
out
of
—
what
?
Out
of
pity
for
me
,
let
us
say
.
'
'
Do
you
wish
to
see
Willie
?
'
asked
Amy
,
instead
of
replying
.
'
No
.
It
is
you
I
have
come
to
see
.
The
child
is
nothing
to
me
,
compared
with
you
.
It
is
you
,
who
loved
me
,
who
became
my
wife
—
you
only
I
care
about
.
Tell
me
you
will
try
to
be
as
you
used
to
be
.
Give
me
only
that
hope
,
Amy
;
I
will
ask
nothing
except
that
,
now
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
say
anything
except
that
I
will
come
to
Croydon
if
you
wish
it
.
'
'
And
reproach
me
always
because
you
have
to
live
in
such
a
place
,
away
from
your
friends
,
without
a
hope
of
the
social
success
which
was
your
dearest
ambition
?
'
Her
practical
denial
that
she
loved
him
wrung
this
taunt
from
his
anguished
heart
.
He
repented
the
words
as
soon
as
they
were
spoken
.
'
What
is
the
good
?
'
exclaimed
Amy
in
irritation
,
rising
and
moving
away
from
him
.
'
How
can
I
pretend
that
I
look
forward
to
such
a
life
with
any
hope
?
'
He
stood
in
mute
misery
,
inwardly
cursing
himself
and
his
fate
.
'
I
have
said
I
will
come
,
'
she
continued
,
her
voice
shaken
with
nervous
tension
.
'
Ask
me
or
not
,
as
you
please
,
when
you
are
ready
to
go
there
.
I
ca
n't
talk
about
it
.
'
'
I
shall
not
ask
you
,
'
he
replied
.
'
I
will
have
no
woman
slave
dragging
out
a
weary
life
with
me
.
Either
you
are
my
willing
wife
,
or
you
are
nothing
to
me
.
'
'
I
am
married
to
you
,
and
that
ca
n't
be
undone
.
I
repeat
that
I
sha
n't
refuse
to
obey
you
.
I
shall
say
no
more
.
'
She
moved
to
a
distance
,
and
there
seated
herself
,
half
turned
from
him
.
'
I
shall
never
ask
you
to
come
,
'
said
Reardon
,
breaking
a
short
silence
.
'
If
our
married
his
is
ever
to
begin
again
in
must
be
of
your
seeking
.
Come
to
me
of
your
own
will
,
and
I
shall
never
reject
you
.
But
I
will
die
in
utter
loneliness
rather
than
ask
you
again
.
'
He
lingered
a
few
moments
,
watching
her
;
she
did
not
move
.
Then
he
took
his
hat
,
went
in
silence
from
the
room
,
and
left
the
house
.
It
rained
harder
than
before
.
As
no
trains
were
running
at
this
hour
,
he
walked
in
the
direction
where
he
would
be
likely
to
meet
with
an
omnibus
.
But
it
was
a
long
time
before
one
passed
which
was
any
use
to
him
.
When
he
reached
home
he
was
in
cheerless
plight
enough
;
to
make
things
pleasanter
,
one
of
his
boots
had
let
in
water
abundantly
.
'
The
first
sore
throat
of
the
season
,
no
doubt
,
'
he
muttered
to
himself
.
Nor
was
he
disappointed
.
By
Tuesday
the
cold
had
firm
grip
of
him
.
A
day
or
two
of
influenza
or
sore
throat
always
made
him
so
weak
that
with
difficulty
he
supported
the
least
physical
exertion
;
but
at
present
he
must
go
to
his
work
at
the
hospital
.
Why
stay
at
home
?
To
what
purpose
spare
himself
?
It
was
not
as
if
life
had
any
promise
for
him
.
He
was
a
machine
for
earning
so
much
money
a
week
,
and
would
at
least
give
faithful
work
for
his
wages
until
the
day
of
final
breakdown
.
But
,
midway
in
the
week
,
Carter
discovered
how
ill
his
clerk
was
.
'
You
ought
to
be
in
bed
,
my
dear
fellow
,
with
gruel
and
mustard
plasters
and
all
the
rest
of
it
.
Go
home
and
take
care
of
yourself
—
I
insist
upon
it
.
'
Before
leaving
the
office
,
Reardon
wrote
a
few
lines
to
Biffen
,
whom
he
had
visited
on
the
Monday
.
'
Come
and
see
me
if
you
can
.
I
am
down
with
a
bad
cold
,
and
have
to
keep
in
for
the
rest
of
the
week
.
All
the
same
,
I
feel
far
more
cheerful
.
Bring
a
new
chapter
of
your
exhilarating
romance
.
'
CHAPTER
XXVI
MARRIED
WOMAN
'S
PROPERTY
On
her
return
from
church
that
Sunday
Mrs.
Edmund
Yule
was
anxious
to
learn
the
result
of
the
meeting
between
Amy
and
her
husband
.
She
hoped
fervently
that
Amy
's
anomalous
position
would
come
to
an
end
now
that
Reardon
had
the
offer
of
something
better
than
a
mere
clerkship
.
John
Yule
never
ceased
to
grumble
at
his
sister
's
permanence
in
the
house
,
especially
since
he
had
learnt
that
the
money
sent
by
Reardon
each
month
was
not
made
use
of
;
why
it
should
not
be
applied
for
household
expenses
passed
his
understanding
.
'
It
seems
to
me
,
'
he
remarked
several
times
,
'
that
the
fellow
only
does
his
bare
duty
in
sending
it
.
What
is
it
to
anyone
else
whether
he
lives
on
twelve
shillings
a
week
or
twelve
pence
?
It
is
his
business
to
support
his
wife
;
if
he
ca
n't
do
that
,
to
contribute
as
much
to
her
support
as
possible
.
Amy
's
scruples
are
all
very
fine
,
if
she
could
afford
them
;
it
's
very
nice
to
pay
for
your
delicacies
of
feeling
out
of
other
people
's
pockets
.
'
'
There
'll
have
to
be
a
formal
separation
,
'
was
the
startling
announcement
with
which
Amy
answered
her
mother
's
inquiry
as
to
what
had
passed
.
'
A
separation
?
But
,
my
dear
—
!
'
Mrs.
Yule
could
not
express
her
disappointment
and
dismay
.
'
We
could
n't
live
together
;
it
's
no
use
trying
.
'
'
But
at
your
age
,
Amy
!
How
can
you
think
of
anything
so
shocking
?
And
then
,
you
know
it
will
be
impossible
for
him
to
make
you
a
sufficient
allowance
.
'
'
I
shall
have
to
live
as
well
as
I
can
on
the
seventy-five
pounds
a
year
.
If
you
ca
n't
afford
to
let
me
stay
with
you
for
that
,
I
must
go
into
cheap
lodgings
in
the
country
,
like
poor
Mrs.
Butcher
did
.
'
This
was
wild
talking
for
Amy
.
The
interview
had
upset
her
,
and
for
the
rest
of
the
day
she
kept
apart
in
her
own
room
.
On
the
morrow
Mrs.
Yule
succeeded
in
eliciting
a
clear
account
of
the
conversation
which
had
ended
so
hopelessly
.
'
I
would
rather
spend
the
rest
of
my
days
in
the
workhouse
than
beg
him
to
take
me
back
,
'
was
Amy
's
final
comment
,
uttered
with
the
earnestness
which
her
mother
understood
but
too
well
.
'
But
you
are
willing
to
go
back
,
dear
?
'
'
I
told
him
so
.
'
'
Then
you
must
leave
this
to
me
.
The
Carters
will
let
us
know
how
things
go
on
,
and
when
it
seems
to
be
time
I
must
see
Edwin
myself
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
allow
that
.
Anything
you
could
say
on
your
own
account
would
be
useless
,
and
there
is
nothing
to
say
from
me
.
'
Mrs.
Yule
kept
her
own
counsel
.
She
had
a
full
month
before
her
during
which
to
consider
the
situation
,
but
it
was
clear
to
her
that
these
young
people
must
be
brought
together
again
.
Her
estimate
of
Reardon
's
mental
condition
had
undergone
a
sudden
change
from
the
moment
when
she
heard
that
a
respectable
post
was
within
his
reach
;
she
decided
that
he
was
'
strange
,
'
but
then
all
men
of
literary
talent
had
marked
singularities
,
and
doubtless
she
had
been
too
hasty
in
interpreting
the
peculiar
features
natural
to
a
character
such
as
his
.
A
few
days
later
arrived
the
news
of
their
relative
's
death
at
Wattleborough
.
This
threw
Mrs.
Yule
into
a
commotion
.
At
first
she
decided
to
accompany
her
son
and
be
present
at
the
funeral
;
after
changing
her
mind
twenty
times
,
she
determined
not
to
go
.
John
must
send
or
bring
back
the
news
as
soon
as
possible
.
That
it
would
be
of
a
nature
sensibly
to
affect
her
own
position
,
if
not
that
of
her
children
,
she
had
little
doubt
;
her
husband
had
been
the
favourite
brother
of
the
deceased
,
and
on
that
account
there
was
no
saying
how
handsome
a
legacy
she
might
receive
.
She
dreamt
of
houses
in
South
Kensington
,
of
social
ambitions
gratified
even
thus
late
.
On
the
morning
after
the
funeral
came
a
postcard
announcing
John
's
return
by
a
certain
train
,
but
no
scrap
of
news
was
added
.
'
Just
like
that
irritating
boy
!
We
must
go
to
the
station
to
meet
him
.
You
'll
come
,
wo
n't
you
,
Amy
?
'
Amy
readily
consented
,
for
she
too
had
hopes
,
though
circumstances
blurred
them
.
Mother
and
daughter
were
walking
about
the
platform
half
an
hour
before
the
train
was
due
;
their
agitation
would
have
been
manifest
to
anyone
observing
them
.
When
at
length
the
train
rolled
in
and
John
was
discovered
,
they
pressed
eagerly
upon
him
.
'
Do
n't
you
excite
yourself
,
'
he
said
gruffly
to
his
mother
.
'
There
's
no
reason
whatever
.
'
Mrs.
Yule
glanced
in
dismay
at
Amy
.
They
followed
John
to
a
cab
,
and
took
places
with
him
.
'
Now
do
n't
be
provoking
,
Jack
.
Just
tell
us
at
once
.
'
'
By
all
means
.
You
have
n't
a
penny
.
'
'
I
have
n't
?
You
are
joking
,
ridiculous
boy
!
'
'
Never
felt
less
disposed
to
,
I
assure
you
.
'
After
staring
out
of
the
window
for
a
minute
or
two
,
he
at
length
informed
Amy
of
the
extent
to
which
she
profited
by
her
uncle
's
decease
,
then
made
known
what
was
bequeathed
to
himself
.
His
temper
grew
worse
every
moment
,
and
he
replied
savagely
to
each
successive
question
concerning
the
other
items
of
the
will
.
'
What
have
you
to
grumble
about
?
'
asked
Amy
,
whose
face
was
exultant
notwithstanding
the
drawbacks
attaching
to
her
good
fortune
.
'
If
Uncle
Alfred
receives
nothing
at
all
,
and
mother
has
nothing
,
you
ought
to
think
yourself
very
lucky
.
'
'
It
's
very
easy
for
you
to
say
that
,
with
your
ten
thousand
.
'
'
But
is
it
her
own
?
'
asked
Mrs.
Yule
.
'
Is
it
for
her
separate
use
?
'
'
Of
course
it
is
.
She
gets
the
benefit
of
last
year
's
Married
Woman
's
Property
Act
.
The
will
was
executed
in
January
this
year
,
and
I
dare
say
the
old
curmudgeon
destroyed
a
former
one
.
'
'
What
a
splendid
Act
of
Parliament
that
is
!
'
cried
Amy.'The
only
one
worth
anything
that
I
ever
heard
of
.
'
'
But
my
dear
—
'
began
her
mother
,
in
a
tone
of
protest
.
However
,
she
reserved
her
comment
for
a
more
fitting
time
and
place
,
and
merely
said
:
'
I
wonder
whether
he
had
heard
what
has
been
going
on
?
'
'
Do
you
think
he
would
have
altered
his
will
if
he
had
?
'
asked
Amy
with
a
smile
of
security
.
'
Why
the
deuce
he
should
have
left
you
so
much
in
any
case
is
more
than
I
can
understand
,
'
growled
her
brother.'What
's
the
use
to
me
of
a
paltry
thousand
or
two
?
It
is
n't
enough
to
invest
;
is
n't
enough
to
do
anything
with
.
'
'
You
may
depend
upon
it
your
cousin
Marian
thinks
her
five
thousand
good
for
something
,
'
said
Mrs.
Yule.'Who
was
at
the
funeral
?
Do
n't
be
so
surly
,
Jack
;
tell
us
all
about
it
.
I
'm
sure
if
anyone
has
cause
to
be
ill-tempered
it
's
poor
me
.
'
Thus
they
talked
,
amid
the
rattle
of
the
cabwheels
.
By
when
they
reached
home
silence
had
fallen
upon
them
,
and
each
one
was
sufficiently
occupied
with
private
thoughts
.
Mrs.
Yule
's
servants
had
a
terrible
time
of
it
for
the
next
few
days
.
Too
affectionate
to
turn
her
ill-temper
against
John
and
Amy
,
she
relieved
herself
by
severity
to
the
domestic
slaves
,
as
an
English
matron
is
of
course
justified
in
doing
.
Her
daughter
's
position
caused
her
even
more
concern
than
before
;
she
constantly
lamented
to
herself
:
'
Oh
,
why
did
n't
he
die
before
she
was
married
!
'
—
in
which
case
Amy
would
never
have
dreamt
of
wedding
a
penniless
author
.
Amy
declined
to
discuss
the
new
aspect
of
things
until
twenty-four
hours
after
John
's
return
;
then
she
said
:
'
I
shall
do
nothing
whatever
until
the
money
is
paid
to
me
.
And
what
I
shall
do
then
I
do
n't
know
.
'
'
You
are
sure
to
hear
from
Edwin
,
'
opined
Mrs.
Yule
.
'
I
think
not
.
He
is
n't
the
kind
of
man
to
behave
in
that
way
.
'
'
Then
I
suppose
you
are
bound
to
take
the
first
step
?
'
'
That
I
shall
never
do
.
'
She
said
so
,
but
the
sudden
happiness
of
finding
herself
wealthy
was
not
without
its
softening
effect
on
Amy
's
feelings
.
Generous
impulses
alternated
with
moods
of
discontent
.
The
thought
of
her
husband
in
his
squalid
lodgings
tempted
her
to
forget
injuries
and
disillusions
,
and
to
play
the
part
of
a
generous
wife
.
It
would
be
possible
now
for
them
to
go
abroad
and
spend
a
year
or
two
in
healthful
travel
;
the
result
in
Reardon
's
case
might
be
wonderful
.
He
might
recover
all
the
energy
of
his
imagination
,
and
resume
his
literary
career
from
the
point
he
had
reached
at
the
time
of
his
marriage
.
On
the
other
hand
,
was
it
not
more
likely
that
he
would
lapse
into
a
life
of
scholarly
self-indulgence
,
such
as
he
had
often
told
her
was
his
ideal
?
In
that
event
,
what
tedium
and
regret
lay
before
her
!
Ten
thousand
pounds
sounded
well
,
but
what
did
it
represent
in
reality
?
A
poor
four
hundred
a
year
,
perhaps
;
mere
decency
of
obscure
existence
,
unless
her
husband
could
glorify
it
by
winning
fame
.
If
he
did
nothing
,
she
would
be
the
wife
of
a
man
who
had
failed
in
literature
.
She
would
not
be
able
to
take
a
place
in
society
.
Life
would
be
supported
without
struggle
;
nothing
more
to
be
hoped
.
This
view
of
the
future
possessed
her
strongly
when
,
on
the
second
day
,
she
went
to
communicate
her
news
to
Mrs.
Carter
.
This
amiable
lady
had
now
become
what
she
always
desired
to
be
,
Amy
's
intimate
friend
;
they
saw
each
other
very
frequently
,
and
conversed
of
most
things
with
much
frankness
.
It
was
between
eleven
and
twelve
in
the
morning
when
Amy
paid
her
visit
,
and
she
found
Mrs.
Carter
on
the
point
of
going
out
.
'
I
was
coming
to
see
you
,
'
cried
Edith
.
'
Why
have
n't
you
let
me
know
of
what
has
happened
?
'
'
You
have
heard
,
I
suppose
?
'
'
Albert
heard
from
your
brother
.
'
'
I
supposed
he
would
.
And
I
have
n't
felt
in
the
mood
for
talking
about
it
,
even
with
you
.
'
They
went
into
Mrs.
Carter
's
boudoir
,
a
tiny
room
full
of
such
pretty
things
as
can
be
purchased
nowadays
by
anyone
who
has
a
few
shillings
to
spare
,
and
tolerable
taste
either
of
their
own
or
at
second-hand
.
Had
she
been
left
to
her
instincts
,
Edith
would
have
surrounded
herself
with
objects
representing
a
much
earlier
stage
of
artistic
development
;
but
she
was
quick
to
imitate
what
fashion
declared
becoming
.
Her
husband
regarded
her
as
a
remarkable
authority
in
all
matters
of
personal
or
domestic
ornamentation
.
'
And
what
are
you
going
to
do
?
'
she
inquired
,
examining
Amy
from
head
to
foot
,
as
if
she
thought
that
the
inheritance
of
so
substantial
a
sum
must
have
produced
visible
changes
in
her
friend
.
'
I
am
going
to
do
nothing
.
'
'
But
surely
you
're
not
in
low
spirits
?
'
'
What
have
I
to
rejoice
about
?
'
They
talked
for
a
while
before
Amy
brought
herself
to
utter
what
she
was
thinking
.
'
Is
n't
it
a
most
ridiculous
thing
that
married
people
who
both
wish
to
separate
ca
n't
do
so
and
be
quite
free
again
?
'
'
I
suppose
it
would
lead
to
all
sorts
of
troubles
—
do
n't
you
think
?
'
'
So
people
say
about
every
new
step
in
civilisation
.
What
would
have
been
thought
twenty
years
ago
of
a
proposal
to
make
all
married
women
independent
of
their
husbands
in
money
matters
?
All
sorts
of
absurd
dangers
were
foreseen
,
no
doubt
.
And
it
's
the
same
now
about
divorce
.
In
America
people
can
get
divorced
if
they
do
n't
suit
each
other
—
at
all
events
in
some
of
the
States
—
and
does
any
harm
come
of
it
?
Just
the
opposite
I
should
think
.
'
Edith
mused
.
Such
speculations
were
daring
,
but
she
had
grown
accustomed
to
think
of
Amy
as
an'advanced
'
woman
,
and
liked
to
imitate
her
in
this
respect
.
'
It
does
seem
reasonable
,
'
she
murmured
.
'
The
law
ought
to
encourage
such
separations
,
instead
of
forbidding
them
,
'
Amy
pursued
.
'
If
a
husband
and
wife
find
that
they
have
made
a
mistake
,
what
useless
cruelty
it
is
to
condemn
them
to
suffer
the
consequences
for
the
whole
of
their
lives
!
'
'
I
suppose
it
's
to
make
people
careful
,
'
said
Edith
with
a
laugh
.
'
If
so
,
we
know
that
it
has
always
failed
,
and
always
will
fail
;
so
the
sooner
such
a
profitless
law
is
altered
the
better
.
Is
n't
there
some
society
for
getting
that
kind
of
reform
?
I
would
subscribe
fifty
pounds
a
year
to
help
it
.
Would
n't
you
?
'
Yes
,
if
I
had
it
to
spare
,
'
replied
the
other
.
Then
they
both
laughed
,
but
Edith
the
more
naturally
.
'
Not
on
my
own
account
,
you
know
,
'
she
added
.
'
It
's
because
women
who
are
happily
married
ca
n't
and
wo
n't
understand
the
position
of
those
who
are
not
that
there
's
so
much
difficulty
in
reforming
marriage
laws
.
'
'
But
I
understand
you
,
Amy
,
and
I
grieve
about
you
.
What
you
are
to
do
I
ca
n't
think
.
'
'
Oh
,
it
's
easy
to
see
what
I
shall
do
.
Of
course
I
have
no
choice
really
.
And
I
ought
to
have
a
choice
;
that
's
the
hardship
and
the
wrong
of
it
.
Perhaps
if
I
had
,
I
should
find
a
sort
of
pleasure
in
sacrificing
myself
.
'
There
were
some
new
novels
on
the
table
;
Amy
took
up
a
volume
presently
,
and
glanced
over
a
page
or
two
.
'
I
do
n't
know
how
you
can
go
on
reading
that
sort
of
stuff
,
book
after
book
,
'
she
exclaimed
.
'
Oh
,
but
people
say
this
last
novel
of
Markland
's
is
one
of
his
best
.
'
'
Best
or
worst
,
novels
are
all
the
same
.
Nothing
but
love
,
love
,
love
;
what
silly
nonsense
it
is
!
Why
do
n't
people
write
about
the
really
important
things
of
life
?
Some
of
the
French
novelists
do
;
several
of
Balzac
's
,
for
instance
.
I
have
just
been
reading
his
"
Cousin
Pons
,
"
a
terrible
book
,
but
I
enjoyed
it
ever
so
much
because
it
was
nothing
like
a
love
story
.
What
rubbish
is
printed
about
love
!
'
'
I
get
rather
tired
of
it
sometimes
,
'
admitted
Edith
with
amusement
.
'
I
should
hope
you
do
,
indeed
.
What
downright
lies
are
accepted
as
indisputable
!
That
about
love
being
a
woman
's
whole
life
;
who
believes
it
really
?
Love
is
the
most
insignificant
thing
in
most
women
's
lives
.
It
occupies
a
few
months
,
possibly
a
year
or
two
,
and
even
then
I
doubt
if
it
is
often
the
first
consideration
.
'
Edith
held
her
head
aside
,
and
pondered
smilingly
.
'
I
'm
sure
there
's
a
great
opportunity
for
some
clever
novelist
who
will
never
write
about
love
at
all
.
'
'
But
then
it
does
come
into
life
.
'
'
Yes
,
for
a
month
or
two
,
as
I
say
.
Think
of
the
biographies
of
men
and
women
;
how
many
pages
are
devoted
to
their
love
affairs
?
Compare
those
books
with
novels
which
profess
to
be
biographies
,
and
you
see
how
false
such
pictures
are
.
Think
of
the
very
words
"
novel
,
"
"
romance
"
—
what
do
they
mean
but
exaggeration
of
one
bit
of
life
?
'
'
That
may
be
true
.
But
why
do
people
find
the
subject
so
interesting
?
'
'
Because
there
is
so
little
love
in
real
life
.
That
's
the
truth
of
it
.
Why
do
poor
people
care
only
for
stories
about
the
rich
?
The
same
principle
.
'
'
How
clever
you
are
,
Amy
!
'
'
Am
I
?
It
's
very
nice
to
be
told
so
.
Perhaps
I
have
some
cleverness
of
a
kind
;
but
what
use
is
it
to
me
?
My
life
is
being
wasted
.
I
ought
to
have
a
place
in
the
society
of
clever
people
.
I
was
never
meant
to
live
quietly
in
the
background
.
Oh
,
if
I
had
n't
been
in
such
a
hurry
,
and
so
inexperienced
!
'
'
Oh
,
I
wanted
to
ask
you
,
'
said
Edith
,
soon
after
this.'Do
you
wish
Albert
to
say
anything
about
you
—
at
the
hospital
?
'
'
There
's
no
reason
why
he
should
n't
.
'
'
You
wo
n't
even
write
to
say
—
?
'
'
I
shall
do
nothing
.
'
Since
the
parting
from
her
husband
,
there
had
proceeded
in
Amy
a
noticeable
maturing
of
intellect
.
Probably
the
one
thing
was
a
consequence
of
the
other
.
During
that
last
year
in
the
flat
her
mind
was
held
captive
by
material
cares
,
and
this
arrest
of
her
natural
development
doubtless
had
much
to
do
with
the
appearance
of
acerbity
in
a
character
which
had
displayed
so
much
sweetness
,
so
much
womanly
grace
.
Moreover
,
it
was
arrest
at
a
critical
point
.
When
she
fell
in
love
with
Edwin
Reardon
her
mind
had
still
to
undergo
the
culture
of
circumstances
;
though
a
woman
in
years
she
had
seen
nothing
of
life
but
a
few
phases
of
artificial
society
,
and
her
education
had
not
progressed
beyond
the
final
school-girl
stage
.
Submitting
herself
to
Reardon
's
influence
,
she
passed
through
what
was
a
highly
useful
training
of
the
intellect
;
but
with
the
result
that
she
became
clearly
conscious
of
the
divergence
between
herself
and
her
husband
.
In
endeavouring
to
imbue
her
with
his
own
literary
tastes
,
Reardon
instructed
Amy
as
to
the
natural
tendencies
of
her
mind
,
which
till
then
she
had
not
clearly
understood
.
When
she
ceased
to
read
with
the
eyes
of
passion
,
most
of
the
things
which
were
Reardon
's
supreme
interests
lost
their
value
for
her
.
A
sound
intelligence
enabled
her
to
think
and
feel
in
many
directions
,
but
the
special
line
of
her
growth
lay
apart
from
that
in
which
the
novelist
and
classical
scholar
had
directed
her
.
When
she
found
herself
alone
and
independent
,
her
mind
acted
like
a
spring
when
pressure
is
removed
.
After
a
few
weeks
of
désoeuvrement
she
obeyed
the
impulse
to
occupy
herself
with
a
kind
of
reading
alien
to
Reardon
's
sympathies
.
The
solid
periodicals
attracted
her
,
and
especially
those
articles
which
dealt
with
themes
of
social
science
.
Anything
that
savoured
of
newness
and
boldness
in
philosophic
thought
had
a
charm
for
her
palate
.
She
read
a
good
deal
of
that
kind
of
literature
which
may
be
defined
as
specialism
popularised
;
writing
which
addresses
itself
to
educated
,
but
not
strictly
studious
,
persons
,
and
which
forms
the
reservoir
of
conversation
for
society
above
the
sphere
of
turf
and
west-endism
.
Thus
,
for
instance
,
though
she
could
not
undertake
the
volumes
of
Herbert
Spencer
,
she
was
intelligently
acquainted
with
the
tenor
of
their
contents
;
and
though
she
had
never
opened
one
of
Darwin
's
books
,
her
knowledge
of
his
main
theories
and
illustrations
was
respectable
.
She
was
becoming
a
typical
woman
of
the
new
time
,
the
woman
who
has
developed
concurrently
with
journalistic
enterprise
.
Not
many
days
after
that
conversation
with
Edith
Carter
,
she
had
occasion
to
visit
Mudie
's
,
for
the
new
number
of
some
periodical
which
contained
an
appetising
title
.
As
it
was
a
sunny
and
warm
day
she
walked
to
New
Oxford
Street
from
the
nearest
Metropolitan
station
.
Whilst
waiting
at
the
library
counter
,
she
heard
a
familiar
voice
in
her
proximity
;
it
was
that
of
Jasper
Milvain
,
who
stood
talking
with
a
middle-aged
lady
.
As
Amy
turned
to
look
at
him
his
eye
met
hers
;
clearly
he
had
been
aware
of
her
.
The
review
she
desired
was
handed
to
her
;
she
moved
aside
,
and
turned
over
the
pages
.
Then
Milvain
walked
up
.
He
was
armed
cap-à-pie
in
the
fashions
of
suave
society
;
no
Bohemianism
of
garb
or
person
,
for
Jasper
knew
he
could
not
afford
that
kind
of
economy
.
On
her
part
,
Amy
was
much
better
dressed
than
usual
,
a
costume
suited
to
her
position
of
bereaved
heiress
.
'
What
a
time
since
we
met
!
'
said
Jasper
,
taking
her
delicately
gloved
hand
and
looking
into
her
face
with
his
most
effective
smile
.
'
And
why
?
'
asked
Amy
.
'
Indeed
,
I
hardly
know
.
I
hope
Mrs.
Yule
is
well
?
'
'
Quite
,
thank
you
.
'
It
seemed
as
if
he
would
draw
back
to
let
her
pass
,
and
so
make
an
end
of
the
colloquy
.
But
Amy
,
though
she
moved
forward
,
added
a
remark
:
'
I
do
n't
see
your
name
in
any
of
this
month
's
magazines
.
'
'
I
have
nothing
signed
this
month
.
A
short
review
in
The
Current
,
that
's
all
.
'
'
But
I
suppose
you
write
as
much
as
ever
?
'
'
Yes
;
but
chiefly
in
weekly
papers
just
now
.
You
do
n't
see
the
Will-o'-the-Wisp
?
'
'
Oh
yes
.
And
I
think
I
can
generally
recognise
your
hand
.
'
They
issued
from
the
library
.
'
Which
way
are
you
going
?
'
Jasper
inquired
,
with
something
more
of
the
old
freedom
.
'
I
walked
from
Gower
Street
station
,
and
I
think
,
as
it
's
so
fine
,
I
shall
walk
back
again
.
'
He
accompanied
her
.
They
turned
up
Museum
Street
,
and
Amy
,
after
a
short
silence
,
made
inquiry
concerning
his
sisters
.
'
I
am
sorry
I
saw
them
only
once
,
but
no
doubt
you
thought
it
better
to
let
the
acquaintance
end
there
.
'
'
I
really
did
n't
think
of
it
in
that
way
at
all
,
'
Jasper
replied
.
'
We
naturally
understood
it
so
,
when
you
even
ceased
to
call
,
yourself
.
'
'
But
do
n't
you
feel
that
there
would
have
been
a
good
deal
of
awkwardness
in
my
coming
to
Mrs.
Yule
's
?
'
'
Seeing
that
you
looked
at
things
from
my
husband
's
point
of
view
?
'
'
Oh
,
that
's
a
mistake
!
I
have
only
seen
your
husband
once
since
he
went
to
Islington
.
'
Amy
gave
him
a
look
of
surprise
.
'
You
are
not
on
friendly
terms
with
him
?
'
'
Well
,
we
have
drifted
apart
.
For
some
reason
he
seemed
to
think
that
my
companionship
was
not
very
profitable
.
So
it
was
better
,
on
the
whole
,
that
I
should
see
neither
you
nor
him
.
'
Amy
was
wondering
whether
he
had
heard
of
her
legacy
.
He
might
have
been
informed
by
a
Wattleborough
correspondent
,
even
if
no
one
in
London
had
told
him
.
'
Do
your
sisters
keep
up
their
friendship
with
my
cousin
Marian
?
'
she
asked
,
quitting
the
previous
difficult
topic
.
'
Oh
yes
!
'
He
smiled.'They
see
a
great
deal
of
each
other
.
'
'
Then
of
course
you
have
heard
of
my
uncle
's
death
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
hope
all
your
difficulties
are
now
at
an
end
.
'
Amy
delayed
a
moment
,
then
said
:
'
I
hope
so
,
'
without
any
emphasis
.
'
Do
you
think
of
spending
this
winter
abroad
?
'
It
was
the
nearest
he
could
come
to
a
question
concerning
the
future
of
Amy
and
her
husband
.
'
Everything
is
still
quite
uncertain
.
But
tell
me
something
about
our
old
acquaintances
.
How
does
Mr.
Biffen
get
on
?
'
'
I
scarcely
ever
see
him
,
but
I
think
he
pegs
away
at
an
interminable
novel
,
which
no
one
will
publish
when
it
's
done
.
Whelpdale
I
meet
occasionally
.
'
He
talked
of
the
latter
's
projects
and
achievements
in
a
lively
strain
.
'
Your
own
prospects
continue
to
brighten
,
no
doubt
,
'
said
Amy
.
'
I
really
think
they
do
.
Things
go
fairly
well
.
And
I
have
lately
received
a
promise
of
very
valuable
help
.
'
'
From
whom
?
'
'
A
relative
of
yours
.
'
Amy
turned
to
interrogate
him
with
a
look
.
'
A
relative
?
You
mean
—
?
'
'
Yes
;
Marian
.
'
They
were
passing
Bedford
Square
.
Amy
glanced
at
the
trees
,
now
almost
bare
of
foliage
;
then
her
eyes
met
Jasper
's
,
and
she
smiled
significantly
.
'
I
should
have
thought
your
aim
would
have
been
far
more
ambitious
,
'
she
said
,
with
distinct
utterance
.
'
Marian
and
I
have
been
engaged
for
some
time
—
practically
.
'
'
Indeed
?
I
remember
now
how
you
once
spoke
of
her
.
And
you
will
be
married
soon
?
'
'
Probably
before
the
end
of
the
year
.
I
see
that
you
are
criticising
my
motives
.
I
am
quite
prepared
for
that
in
everyone
who
knows
me
and
the
circumstances
.
But
you
must
remember
that
I
could
n't
foresee
anything
of
this
kind
.
It
enables
us
to
marry
sooner
,
that
's
all
.
'
'
I
am
sure
your
motives
are
unassailable
,
'
replied
Amy
,
still
with
a
smile.'I
imagined
that
you
would
n't
marry
for
years
,
and
then
some
distinguished
person
.
This
throws
new
light
upon
your
character
.
'
'
You
thought
me
so
desperately
scheming
and
cold-blooded
?
'
'
Oh
dear
no
!
But
—
well
,
to
be
sure
,
I
ca
n't
say
that
I
know
Marian
.
I
have
n't
seen
her
for
years
and
years
.
She
may
be
admirably
suited
to
you
.
'
'
Depend
upon
it
,
I
think
so
.
'
'
She
's
likely
to
shine
in
society
?
She
is
a
brilliant
girl
,
full
of
tact
and
insight
?
'
'
Scarcely
all
that
,
perhaps
.
'
He
looked
dubiously
at
his
companion
.
'
Then
you
have
abandoned
your
old
ambitions
?
'
Amy
pursued
.
'
Not
a
bit
of
it
.
I
am
on
the
way
to
achieve
them
.
'
'
And
Marian
is
the
ideal
wife
to
assist
you
?
'
'
From
one
point
of
view
,
yes
.
Pray
,
why
all
this
ironic
questioning
?
'
'
Not
ironic
at
all
.
'
'
It
sounded
very
much
like
it
,
and
I
know
from
of
old
that
you
have
a
tendency
that
way
.
'
'
The
news
surprised
me
a
little
,
I
confess
.
But
I
see
that
I
am
in
danger
of
offending
you
.
'
'
Let
us
wait
another
five
years
,
and
then
I
will
ask
your
opinion
as
to
the
success
of
my
mariage
.
I
do
n't
take
a
step
of
this
kind
without
maturely
considering
it
.
Have
I
made
many
blunders
as
yet
?
'
'
As
yet
,
not
that
I
know
of
.
'
'
Do
I
impress
you
as
one
likely
to
commit
follies
?
'
'
I
had
rather
wait
a
little
before
answering
that
.
'
'
That
is
to
say
,
you
prefer
to
prophesy
after
the
event
.
Very
well
,
we
shall
see
.
'
In
the
length
of
Gower
Street
they
talked
of
several
other
things
less
personal
.
By
degrees
the
tone
of
their
conversation
had
become
what
it
was
used
to
be
,
now
and
then
almost
confidential
.
'
You
are
still
at
the
same
lodgings
?
'
asked
Amy
,
as
they
drew
near
to
the
railway
station
.
'
I
moved
yesterday
,
so
that
the
girls
and
I
could
be
under
the
same
roof
—
until
the
next
change
.
'
'
You
will
let
us
know
when
that
takes
place
?
'
He
promised
,
and
with
exchange
of
smiles
which
were
something
like
a
challenge
they
took
leave
of
each
other
.
CHAPTER
XXVII
THE
LONELY
MAN
A
touch
of
congestion
in
the
right
lung
was
a
warning
to
Reardon
that
his
half-year
of
insufficient
food
and
general
waste
of
strength
would
make
the
coming
winter
a
hard
time
for
him
,
worse
probably
than
the
last
.
Biffen
,
responding
in
person
to
the
summons
,
found
him
in
bed
,
waited
upon
by
a
gaunt
,
dry
,
sententious
woman
of
sixty
—
not
the
landlady
,
but
a
lodger
who
was
glad
to
earn
one
meal
a
day
by
any
means
that
offered
.
'
It
would
n't
be
very
nice
to
die
here
,
would
it
?
'
said
the
sufferer
,
with
a
laugh
which
was
cut
short
by
a
cough
.
'
One
would
like
a
comfortable
room
,
at
least
.
Why
,
I
do
n't
know
.
I
dreamt
last
night
that
I
was
in
a
ship
that
had
struck
something
and
was
going
down
;
and
it
was
n't
the
thought
of
death
that
most
disturbed
me
,
but
a
horror
of
being
plunged
in
the
icy
water
.
In
fact
,
I
have
had
just
the
same
feeling
on
shipboard
.
I
remember
waking
up
midway
between
Corfu
and
Brindisi
,
on
that
shaky
tub
of
a
Greek
boat
;
we
were
rolling
a
good
deal
,
and
I
heard
a
sort
of
alarmed
rush
and
shouting
up
on
deck
.
It
was
so
warm
and
comfortable
in
the
berth
,
and
I
thought
with
intolerable
horror
of
the
possibility
of
sousing
into
the
black
depths
.
'
'
Do
n't
talk
,
my
boy
,
'
advised
Biffen.'Let
me
read
you
the
new
chapter
of
"
Mr.
Bailey
.
"
It
may
induce
a
refreshing
slumber
.
'
Reardon
was
away
from
his
duties
for
a
week
;
he
returned
to
them
with
a
feeling
of
extreme
shakiness
,
an
indisposition
to
exert
himself
,
and
a
complete
disregard
of
the
course
that
events
were
taking
.
It
was
fortunate
that
he
had
kept
aside
that
small
store
of
money
designed
for
emergencies
;
he
was
able
to
draw
on
it
now
to
pay
his
doctor
,
and
provide
himself
with
better
nourishment
than
usual
.
He
purchased
new
boots
,
too
,
and
some
articles
of
warm
clothing
of
which
he
stood
in
need
—
an
alarming
outlay
.
A
change
had
come
over
him
;
he
was
no
longer
rendered
miserable
by
thoughts
of
Amy
—
seldom
,
indeed
,
turned
his
mind
to
her
at
all
.
His
secretaryship
at
Croydon
was
a
haven
within
view
;
the
income
of
seventy-five
pounds
(
the
other
half
to
go
to
his
wife
)
would
support
him
luxuriously
,
and
for
anything
beyond
that
he
seemed
to
care
little
.
Next
Sunday
he
was
to
go
over
to
Croydon
and
see
the
institution
.
One
evening
of
calm
weather
he
made
his
way
to
Clipstone
Street
and
greeted
his
friend
with
more
show
of
light-heartedness
than
he
had
been
capable
of
for
at
least
two
years
.
'
I
have
been
as
nearly
as
possible
a
happy
man
all
to-day
,
'
he
said
,
when
his
pipe
was
well
lit.'Partly
the
sunshine
,
I
suppose
.
There
's
no
saying
if
the
mood
will
last
,
but
if
it
does
all
is
well
with
me
.
I
regret
nothing
and
wish
for
nothing
.
'
'
A
morbid
state
of
mind
,
'
was
Biffen
's
opinion
.
'
No
doubt
of
that
,
but
I
am
content
to
be
indebted
to
morbidness
.
One
must
have
a
rest
from
misery
somehow
.
Another
kind
of
man
would
have
taken
to
drinking
;
that
has
tempted
me
now
and
then
,
I
assure
you
.
But
I
could
n't
afford
it
.
Did
you
ever
feel
tempted
to
drink
merely
for
the
sake
of
forgetting
trouble
?
'
'
Often
enough
.
I
have
done
it
.
I
