answered.
"
No
,
thank
you
.
I
am
afraid
,
after
the
things
you
have
said
to
me
,
I
should
hardly
be
able
graciously
to
accept
hospitality
at
your
hands
;
and
rather
than
accept
it
ungraciously
,
I
will
not
accept
it
at
all
.
"
And
he
turned
on
his
heel
and
left
her
.
As
she
watched
his
retreating
figure
,
one
spasm
of
remorse
shot
through
Elisabeth
's
heart
;
but
it
was
speedily
stifled
by
the
recollection
that
,
for
the
first
time
in
her
life
,
Christopher
had
failed
her
,
and
had
shown
her
plainly
that
there
were
,
in
his
eyes
,
more
important
matters
than
Miss
Elisabeth
Farringdon
and
her
whims
and
fancies
.
And
what
woman
,
worthy
of
the
name
,
could
extend
mercy
to
a
man
who
had
openly
displayed
so
flagrant
a
want
of
taste
and
discernment
as
this
?
Certainly
not
Elisabeth
,
nor
any
other
fashioned
after
her
pattern
.
She
felt
that
she
had
as
much
right
to
be
angry
as
had
the
prophet
,
when
Almighty
Wisdom
saw
fit
to
save
the
great
city
in
which
he
was
not
particularly
interested
,
and
to
destroy
the
gourd
in
which
he
was
.
And
so
,
probably
,
she
had
.
For
several
days
after
this
she
kept
clear
of
Christopher
,
nursing
her
anger
in
her
heart
;
and
he
was
so
hurt
and
sore
from
the
lashing
which
her
tongue
had
given
him
,
that
he
felt
no
inclination
to
come
within
the
radius
of
that
tongue
's
bitterness
again
.
But
one
day
,
when
Elisabeth
was
sitting
on
the
floor
of
the
Moat
House
drawing-room
,
playing
with
the
baby
and
discussing
new
gowns
with
Felicia
between
times
,
Alan
came
in
and
remarked
—
"
It
was
wise
of
you
to
give
up
your
excursion
to
Coulson
's
circus
last
week
,
Elisabeth
;
as
it
has
turned
out
it
was
chiefly
a
scare
,
and
the
case
was
greatly
exaggerated
;
but
it
might
have
made
you
feel
uncomfortable
if
you
had
gone
.
I
suppose
you
saw
the
notice
of
the
outbreak
in
that
morning
's
paper
,
and
so
gave
it
up
at
the
last
moment
.
"
Elisabeth
ceased
from
her
free
translation
of
the
baby
's
gurglings
and
her
laudable
endeavours
suitably
to
reply
to
the
same
,
and
gave
her
whole
attention
to
the
baby
's
father
.
"
I
do
n't
know
what
you
mean
.
What
scare
and
what
outbreak
are
you
talking
about
?
"
"
Did
n't
you
see
,
"
replied
Alan
,
"
that
there
was
an
outbreak
of
cholera
at
Coulson
's
circus
,
and
a
frightful
scare
all
through
Burlingham
in
consequence
?
Of
course
the
newspapers
greatly
exaggerated
the
danger
,
and
so
increased
the
scare
;
and
I
do
n't
know
that
I
blame
them
for
that
.
I
am
not
sure
that
the
sensational
way
in
which
the
press
announces
possible
dangers
to
the
community
is
not
a
safeguard
for
the
community
at
large
.
To
be
alive
to
a
danger
is
nine
times
out
of
ten
to
avoid
a
danger
;
and
it
is
far
better
to
be
more
frightened
than
hurt
than
to
be
more
hurt
than
frightened
—
certainly
for
communities
if
not
for
individuals
.
"
"
But
tell
me
about
it
.
I
never
saw
any
account
in
the
papers
;
and
I
'm
glad
I
did
n't
,
for
it
would
have
frightened
me
out
of
my
wits
.
"
"
It
broke
out
among
a
troupe
of
acrobats
who
had
just
come
straight
from
the
South
of
France
,
and
evidently
brought
the
infection
with
them
.
They
were
at
once
isolated
,
and
such
prompt
and
efficient
measures
were
taken
to
prevent
the
spread
of
the
disease
,
that
there
have
been
no
more
cases
,
either
in
the
circus
or
in
the
town
.
Now
,
I
should
imagine
,
all
danger
of
its
spreading
is
practically
over
;
but
,
of
course
,
it
made
everybody
in
the
neighbourhood
,
and
everybody
who
had
been
to
the
circus
,
very
nervous
and
uncomfortable
for
a
few
days
.
The
local
authorities
,
however
,
omitted
no
possible
precaution
which
should
assist
them
in
stamping
out
the
epidemic
,
should
those
few
cases
have
started
an
epidemic
—
which
was
,
of
course
,
possible
,
though
hardly
likely
.
"
And
then
Alan
proceeded
to
expound
his
views
on
the
matter
of
sanitary
authorities
in
general
and
of
those
of
Burlingham
in
particular
,
to
which
Felicia
listened
with
absorbing
attention
and
Elisabeth
did
not
listen
at
all
.
Soon
after
this
she
took
her
leave
;
and
all
along
the
homeward
walk
through
Badgering
Woods
she
was
conscious
of
feeling
ashamed
of
herself
—
a
very
rare
sensation
with
Elisabeth
,
and
by
no
means
an
agreeable
one
.
She
was
by
nature
so
self-reliant
and
so
irresponsible
that
she
seldom
regretted
anything
that
she
had
done
;
if
she
had
acted
wisely
,
all
was
well
;
and
if
she
had
not
acted
wisely
,
it
was
over
and
done
with
,
and
what
was
the
use
of
bothering
any
more
about
it
?
This
was
her
usual
point
of
view
,
and
it
proved
as
a
rule
a
most
comfortable
one
.
But
now
she
could
not
fail
to
see
that
she
had
been
in
the
wrong
—
hopelessly
and
flagrantly
in
the
wrong
—
and
that
she
had
behaved
abominably
to
Christopher
into
the
bargain
.
She
had
to
climb
down
,
as
other
ruling
powers
have
had
to
climb
down
before
now
;
and
the
act
of
climbing
down
is
neither
a
becoming
nor
an
exhilarating
form
of
exercise
to
ruling
powers
.
But
at
the
back
of
her
humble
contrition
there
was
a
feeling
of
gladness
in
the
knowledge
that
Christopher
had
not
really
failed
her
after
all
,
and
that
her
kingdom
was
still
her
own
as
it
had
been
in
her
childish
days
;
and
there
was
also
a
nobler
feeling
of
higher
joy
in
the
consciousness
that
—
quite
apart
from
his
attitude
toward
her
—
Christopher
was
still
the
Christopher
that
she
had
always
in
her
inmost
soul
believed
him
to
be
;
that
she
was
not
wrong
in
the
idea
she
had
formed
of
him
long
ago
.
It
is
very
human
to
be
glad
on
our
own
account
when
people
are
as
fond
of
us
as
we
expected
them
to
be
;
but
it
is
divine
to
be
glad
,
solely
for
their
sakes
,
when
they
act
up
to
their
own
ideals
,
quite
apart
from
us
.
And
there
was
a
touch
of
divinity
in
Elisabeth
's
gladness
just
then
,
though
the
rest
of
her
was
extremely
human
—
and
feminine
at
that
.
On
her
way
home
she
encountered
Caleb
Bateson
going
back
to
work
after
dinner
,
and
she
told
him
to
ask
Mr.
Thornley
to
come
up
to
the
Willows
that
afternoon
,
as
she
wanted
to
see
him
.
She
preferred
to
send
a
verbal
message
,
as
by
so
doing
she
postponed
for
a
few
hours
that
climbing-down
process
which
she
so
much
disliked
;
although
it
is
frequently
easier
to
climb
down
by
means
of
one
's
pen
than
by
means
of
one
's
tongue
.
Christopher
felt
no
pleasure
in
receiving
her
message
.
He
was
not
angry
with
her
,
although
he
marvelled
at
the
unreasonableness
and
injustice
of
a
sex
that
thinks
more
of
a
day
's
pleasure
than
a
life
's
devotion
;
he
did
not
know
that
it
was
over
the
life
's
devotion
and
not
the
day
's
pleasure
that
Elisabeth
had
fought
so
hard
that
day
;
but
his
encounter
with
her
had
strangely
tired
him
,
and
taken
the
zest
out
of
his
life
,
and
he
had
no
appetite
for
any
more
of
such
disastrous
and
inglorious
warfare
.
But
he
obeyed
her
mandate
all
the
same
,
having
learned
the
important
political
lesson
that
the
fact
of
a
Government
's
being
in
the
wrong
is
no
excuse
for
not
obeying
the
orders
of
that
Government
;
and
he
waited
for
her
in
the
drawing-room
at
the
Willows
,
looking
out
toward
the
sunset
and
wondering
how
hard
upon
him
Elisabeth
was
going
to
be
.
And
his
thoughts
were
so
full
of
her
that
he
did
not
hear
her
come
into
the
room
until
she
clasped
both
her
hands
round
his
arm
and
looked
up
into
his
gloomy
face
,
saying
—
"
Oh
!
Chris
,
I
'm
so
dreadfully
ashamed
of
myself
.
"
The
clouds
were
dispelled
at
once
,
and
Christopher
smiled
as
he
had
not
smiled
for
a
week
.
"
Never
mind
,
"
he
said
,
patting
the
hands
that
were
on
his
arm
;
"
it
's
all
right
.
"
But
Elisabeth
,
having
set
out
upon
the
descent
,
was
prepared
to
climb
down
handsomely
.
"
It
is
n't
all
right
;
it
's
all
wrong
.
I
was
simply
fiendish
to
you
,
and
I
shall
never
forgive
myself
—
never
.
"
"
Oh
,
yes
;
you
will
.
And
for
goodness
'
sake
do
n't
worry
over
it
.
I
'm
glad
you
have
found
out
that
I
was
n't
quite
the
selfish
brute
that
I
seemed
;
and
that
's
the
end
of
the
matter
.
"
"
Dear
me
!
no
;
it
is
n't
.
It
is
only
the
beginning
.
I
want
to
tell
you
how
dreadfully
sorry
I
am
,
and
to
ask
you
to
forgive
me
.
"
"
I
've
nothing
to
forgive
.
"
"
Yes
,
you
have
;
lots
.
"
And
Elisabeth
was
nearer
the
mark
than
Christopher
.
"
I
have
n't
.
Of
course
you
were
angry
with
me
when
I
seemed
so
disagreeable
and
unkind
;
any
girl
would
have
been
,
"
replied
Chris
,
forgetting
how
very
unreasonable
her
anger
had
seemed
only
five
minutes
ago
.
But
five
minutes
can
make
such
a
difference
—
sometimes
.
Elisabeth
cheerfully
caught
at
this
straw
of
comfort
;
she
was
always
ready
to
take
a
lenient
view
of
her
own
shortcomings
.
If
Christopher
had
been
wise
he
would
not
have
encouraged
such
leniency
;
but
who
is
wise
and
in
love
at
the
same
time
?
"
Of
course
it
did
seem
rather
unkind
of
you
,
"
she
admitted
;
"
you
see
,
I
thought
you
had
thrown
me
over
just
for
the
sake
of
some
tiresome
business
arrangement
,
and
that
you
did
n't
care
about
me
and
my
disappointment
a
bit
.
"
A
little
quiver
crept
into
Christopher
's
voice
.
"
I
think
you
might
have
known
me
better
than
that
.
"
"
Yes
,
I
might
;
in
fact
,
I
ought
to
have
done
,
"
agreed
Elisabeth
with
some
truth
.
"
But
why
did
n't
you
tell
me
the
real
reason
?
"
"
Because
I
thought
it
might
worry
and
frighten
you
.
Not
that
there
really
was
anything
to
be
frightened
about
,
"
Christopher
hastened
to
add
;
"
but
you
might
have
imagined
things
,
and
been
upset
;
you
have
such
a
tremendous
imagination
,
you
know
.
"
"
I
'm
afraid
I
have
;
and
it
sometimes
imagines
vain
things
at
your
expense
,
Chris
dear
.
"
"
How
did
you
find
me
out
?
"
Chris
asked
.
"
Alan
told
me
about
the
cholera
scare
at
Burlingham
,
and
I
guessed
the
rest
.
"
"
Then
Alan
was
an
ass
.
What
business
had
he
to
go
frightening
you
,
I
should
like
to
know
,
with
a
lot
of
fiction
that
is
just
trumped
up
to
sell
the
papers
?
"
"
But
,
Chris
,
I
want
you
to
understand
how
sorry
I
am
that
I
was
so
vile
to
you
.
I
really
was
vile
,
was
n't
I
?
"
Elisabeth
was
the
type
of
woman
for
whom
the
confessional
will
always
have
its
fascinations
.
"
You
were
distinctly
down
on
me
,
I
must
confess
;
but
you
need
n't
worry
about
that
now
.
"
"
And
you
quite
forgive
me
?
"
"
As
I
said
before
,
I
've
nothing
to
forgive
.
You
were
perfectly
right
to
be
annoyed
with
a
man
who
appeared
to
be
so
careless
and
inconsiderate
;
but
I
'm
glad
you
've
found
out
that
I
was
n't
quite
as
selfish
as
you
thought
.
"
Elisabeth
stroked
his
coat
sleeve
affectionately
.
"
You
are
not
selfish
at
all
,
Chris
;
you
're
simply
the
nicest
,
thoughtfullest
,
most
unselfish
person
in
the
world
;
and
I
'm
utterly
wretched
because
I
was
so
unkind
to
you
.
"
"
Do
n't
be
wretched
,
there
's
a
dear
!
Your
wretchedness
is
the
one
thing
I
ca
n't
and
wo
n't
stand
;
so
please
leave
off
at
once
.
"
To
Christopher
remorse
for
wrong
done
would
always
be
an
agony
;
he
had
yet
to
learn
that
to
some
temperaments
,
whereof
Elisabeth
's
was
one
,
it
partook
of
the
nature
of
a
luxury
—
the
sort
of
luxury
which
tempts
one
to
pay
half
a
guinea
to
be
allowed
to
swell
up
one
's
eyes
and
redden
one
's
nose
over
imaginary
woes
in
a
London
theatre
.
"
Did
you
mind
very
much
when
I
was
so
cross
?
"
Elisabeth
asked
thoughtfully
.
Christopher
was
torn
between
a
loyal
wish
to
do
homage
to
his
idol
and
a
laudable
desire
to
save
that
idol
pain
.
"
Of
course
I
minded
pretty
considerably
;
but
why
bother
about
that
now
?
"
"
Because
it
interests
me
immensely
.
I
often
think
that
your
only
fault
is
that
you
do
n't
mind
things
enough
;
and
so
,
naturally
,
I
want
to
find
out
how
great
your
minding
capacity
is
.
"
"
I
see
.
Your
powers
of
scientific
research
are
indeed
remarkable
;
but
did
it
never
strike
you
that
even
vivisection
might
be
carried
too
far
—
too
far
for
the
comfort
of
the
vivisected
,
I
mean
;
not
for
the
enjoyment
of
the
vivisector
?
"
"
It
is
awfully
good
for
people
to
feel
things
,
"
persisted
Elisabeth
.
"
Is
it
?
Well
,
I
suppose
it
is
good
—
in
fact
,
necessary
—
for
some
poor
beggars
to
have
their
arms
or
legs
cut
off
;
but
you
ca
n't
expect
me
to
be
consumed
with
envy
of
the
same
?
"
"
Please
tell
me
how
much
you
minded
,
"
Elisabeth
coaxed
.
"
I
ca
n't
tell
you
;
and
I
would
n't
if
I
could
.
If
I
were
a
rabbit
that
had
been
cut
into
living
pieces
to
satisfy
the
scientific
yearnings
of
a
learned
professor
,
do
you
think
I
would
leave
behind
me
—
for
my
executors
to
publish
and
make
large
fortunes
thereby
—
confidential
letters
and
private
diaries
accurately
describing
all
the
tortures
I
had
endured
,
for
the
recreation
of
the
reading
public
in
general
and
the
said
professor
in
particular
?
Not
I
.
"
"
I
should
.
I
should
leave
a
full
,
true
,
and
particular
account
of
all
that
I
had
suffered
,
and
exactly
how
much
it
hurt
.
It
would
interest
the
professor
most
tremendously
.
"
Christopher
shook
his
head
.
"
Oh
,
dear
!
no
;
it
would
n't
.
"
"
Why
not
?
"
"
Because
I
should
have
knocked
his
brains
out
long
before
that
for
having
dared
to
hurt
you
at
all
.
"
MISS
FARRINGDON
'S
WILL
Time
speeds
on
his
relentless
track
,
And
,
though
we
beg
on
bended
knees
,
No
prophet
's
hand
for
us
puts
back
The
shadow
ten
degrees
.
During
the
following
winter
Miss
Farringdon
gave
unmistakable
signs
of
that
process
known
as
"
breaking-up
.
"
She
had
fought
a
good
fight
for
many
years
,
and
the
time
was
fast
coming
for
her
to
lay
down
her
arms
and
receive
her
reward
.
Elisabeth
,
with
her
usual
light-heartedness
,
did
not
see
the
Shadow
stealing
nearer
day
by
day
;
but
Christopher
was
more
accustomed
to
shadows
than
she
was
—
his
path
had
lain
chiefly
among
them
—
and
he
knew
what
was
coming
,
and
longed
passionately
and
in
vain
to
shield
Elisabeth
from
the
inevitable
.
He
had
played
the
part
of
Providence
to
her
in
one
matter
:
he
had
stood
between
her
and
himself
,
and
had
prevented
her
from
drinking
of
that
mingled
cup
of
sweetness
and
bitterness
which
men
call
Love
,
thinking
that
she
would
be
a
happier
woman
if
she
left
untasted
the
only
form
of
the
beverage
which
he
was
able
to
offer
her
.
And
possibly
he
was
right
;
that
she
would
be
also
a
better
woman
in
consequence
,
was
quite
another
and
more
doubtful
side
of
the
question
.
But
now
the
part
of
Elisabeth
's
Providence
was
no
longer
cast
for
Christopher
to
play
;
he
might
prevent
Love
with
his
sorrows
from
coming
nigh
her
dwelling
,
but
Death
defied
his
protecting
arm
.
It
was
good
for
Elisabeth
to
be
afflicted
,
although
Christopher
would
willingly
have
died
to
save
her
a
moment
's
pain
;
and
it
is
a
blessed
thing
for
us
after
all
that
Perfect
Wisdom
and
Almighty
Power
are
one
.
As
usual
Elisabeth
was
so
busy
straining
her
eyes
after
the
ideal
that
the
real
escaped
her
notice
;
and
it
was
therefore
a
great
shock
to
her
when
her
Cousin
Maria
went
to
sleep
one
night
in
a
land
whose
stones
are
of
iron
,
and
awoke
next
morning
in
a
country
whose
pavements
are
of
gold
.
For
a
time
the
girl
was
completely
stunned
by
the
blow
;
and
during
that
period
Christopher
was
very
good
to
her
.
Afterward
—
when
he
and
she
had
drifted
far
apart
—
Elisabeth
sometimes
recalled
Christopher
's
sheltering
care
during
the
first
dark
days
of
her
loneliness
;
and
she
never
did
so
without
remembering
the
words
,
"
As
the
mountains
are
round
about
Jerusalem
"
;
they
seemed
to
express
all
that
he
was
to
her
just
then
.
When
Maria
Farringdon
's
will
was
read
,
it
was
found
that
she
had
left
to
her
cousin
and
adopted
daughter
,
Elisabeth
,
an
annuity
of
five
hundred
a
year
;
also
the
income
from
the
Osierfield
and
the
Willows
until
such
time
as
the
real
owner
of
these
estates
should
be
found
.
The
rest
of
her
property
—
together
with
the
Osierfield
and
the
Willows
—
she
bequeathed
upon
trust
for
the
eldest
living
son
,
if
any
,
of
her
late
cousin
George
Farringdon
;
and
she
appointed
Richard
Smallwood
and
his
nephew
to
be
her
trustees
and
executors
.
The
trustees
were
required
to
ascertain
whether
George
Farringdon
had
left
any
son
,
and
whether
that
son
was
still
alive
;
but
if
,
at
the
expiration
of
ten
years
from
the
death
of
the
testator
,
no
such
son
could
be
discovered
,
the
whole
of
Miss
Farringdon
's
estate
was
to
become
the
absolute
property
of
Elisabeth
.
As
since
the
making
of
this
will
Richard
had
lost
his
faculties
,
the
whole
responsibility
of
finding
the
lost
heir
and
of
looking
after
the
temporary
heiress
devolved
upon
Christopher
's
shoulders
.
"
And
how
is
Mr.
Bateson
to-day
?
"
asked
Mrs.
Hankey
of
Mr.
Bateson
's
better-half
,
one
Sunday
morning
not
long
after
Miss
Farringdon
's
death
.
"
Thank
you
,
Mrs.
Hankey
,
he
is
but
middling
,
I
'm
sorry
to
say
—
very
middling
—
very
middling
,
indeed
.
"
"
That
's
a
bad
hearing
.
But
I
'm
not
surprised
;
I
felt
sure
as
something
was
wrong
when
I
did
n't
see
him
in
chapel
this
morning
.
I
says
to
myself
,
when
the
first
hymn
was
given
out
and
him
not
there
,
'
Eh
,
dear
!
'
I
says
,
'
I
'm
afraid
there
's
trouble
in
store
for
Mrs.
Bateson
.
'
It
seemed
so
strange
to
see
you
all
alone
in
the
pew
,
that
for
a
minute
or
two
it
quite
gave
me
the
creeps
.
What
's
amiss
with
him
?
"
"
Rheumatism
in
the
legs
.
He
could
hardly
get
out
of
bed
this
morning
he
was
so
stiff
.
"
"
Eh
,
dear
!
that
's
a
bad
thing
—
and
particularly
at
his
time
of
life
.
I
lost
a
beautiful
hen
only
yesterday
from
rheumatism
in
the
legs
;
one
of
the
best
sitters
I
ever
had
.
You
remember
her
?
—
the
speckled
one
that
I
got
from
Tetleigh
,
four
years
ago
come
Michaelmas
.
But
that
's
the
way
in
this
world
;
the
most
missed
are
the
first
taken
.
"
"
I
wonder
if
that
's
Miss
Elisabeth
there
,
"
said
Mrs.
Bateson
,
catching
sight
of
a
dark-robed
figure
in
the
distance
.
"
I
notice
she
's
taken
to
go
to
church
regular
now
Miss
Farringdon
is
n't
here
to
look
after
her
.
How
true
it
is
,
'
When
the
cat
's
away
the
mice
will
play
!
'
"
Worship
according
to
the
methods
of
that
branch
of
the
Church
Militant
established
in
these
kingdoms
was
regarded
by
Mrs.
Bateson
as
a
form
of
recreation
—
harmless
,
undoubtedly
,
but
still
recreation
.
Mrs.
Hankey
shook
her
head
.
"
No
—
that
is
n't
her
;
she
ca
n't
be
out
of
church
yet
.
They
do
n't
go
in
till
eleven
.
"
And
she
shook
her
head
disapprovingly
.
"
Eleven
's
too
late
,
to
my
thinking
,
"
agreed
Mrs.
Bateson
.
"
So
it
is
;
you
never
spoke
a
truer
word
,
Mrs.
Bateson
.
Half-past
ten
is
the
Lord
's
time
—
or
so
it
used
to
be
when
I
was
a
girl
.
"
"
And
a
very
good
time
too
!
Gives
you
the
chance
of
getting
home
and
seeing
to
the
dinner
properly
after
chapel
.
At
least
,
that
is
to
say
,
if
the
minister
leaves
off
when
he
's
finished
,
which
is
more
than
you
can
say
of
all
of
them
;
if
he
does
n't
,
there
's
a
bit
of
a
scrimmage
to
get
the
dinner
cooked
in
time
even
now
,
unless
you
go
out
before
the
last
hymn
.
And
I
never
hold
with
that
somehow
;
it
seems
like
skimping
the
Lord
's
material
,
as
you
may
say
.
"
"
So
it
does
.
It
looks
as
if
the
cares
of
this
world
and
the
deceitfulness
of
riches
had
choked
the
good
seed
in
a
body
's
heart
.
"
"
In
which
case
it
looks
what
it
is
not
,
"
said
Mrs.
Bateson
;
"
for
nine
times
out
of
ten
it
means
nothing
worse
than
wanting
to
cook
the
potatoes
,
so
as
the
master
sha'
n't
have
no
cause
for
grumbling
,
and
to
boil
the
rice
so
as
it
sha'
n't
swell
in
the
children
's
insides
.
But
that
's
the
way
with
things
;
folks
never
turn
out
to
be
as
bad
as
you
thought
they
were
when
you
get
to
know
their
whys
and
their
wherefores
;
and
many
a
poor
soul
as
is
put
down
as
worldly
is
really
only
anxious
to
make
things
pleasant
for
the
master
and
the
children
.
"
"
Miss
Elisabeth
's
mourning
is
handsome
,
I
do
n't
deny
,
"
said
Mrs.
Hankey
,
reverting
to
a
more
interesting
subject
than
false
judgments
in
the
abstract
;
"
but
she
do
n't
look
well
in
it
—
those
pale
folks
never
do
justice
to
good
mourning
,
in
my
opinion
.
It
seems
almost
a
pity
to
waste
it
on
them
.
"
"
Oh
!
I
do
n't
hold
with
you
there
.
I
think
I
never
saw
anybody
look
more
genteel
than
Miss
Elisabeth
does
now
,
bless
her
!
And
the
jet
trimming
on
her
Sunday
frock
is
something
beautiful
.
"
"
Eh
!
there
's
nothing
like
a
bit
of
jet
for
setting
off
crape
and
bringing
the
full
meaning
out
of
it
,
as
you
may
say
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Hankey
,
in
mollified
tones
.
"
I
do
n't
think
as
you
can
do
full
justice
to
crape
till
you
put
some
jet
again
'
it
.
It
's
wonderful
how
a
bit
of
good
mourning
helps
folks
to
bear
their
sorrows
;
and
for
sure
they
want
it
in
a
world
so
full
of
care
as
this
.
"
"
They
do
;
there
's
no
doubt
about
that
.
But
I
ca
n't
help
wishing
as
Miss
Elisabeth
had
got
some
bugles
on
that
best
dress
of
hers
;
there
's
nothing
quite
comes
up
to
bugles
,
to
my
mind
.
"
"
There
ai
n't
;
they
give
such
a
finish
,
as
one
may
say
,
being
so
rich-looking
.
But
for
my
part
I
think
Miss
Elisabeth
has
been
a
bit
short
with
the
crape
,
considering
that
Miss
Farringdon
was
father
and
mother
and
what-not
to
her
.
Now
supposing
she
'd
had
a
crape
mantle
with
handsome
bugle
fringe
for
Sundays
;
that
's
what
I
should
have
called
paying
proper
respect
to
the
departed
;
instead
of
a
short
jacket
with
ordinary
braid
on
it
,
that
you
might
wear
for
a
great-uncle
as
had
n't
left
you
a
penny
.
"
"
Well
,
Mrs.
Hankey
,
folks
may
do
what
they
like
with
their
own
,
and
it
's
not
for
such
as
us
to
sit
in
judgment
on
our
betters
;
but
I
do
n't
think
as
Miss
Farringdon
's
will
gave
her
any
claim
to
a
crape
mantle
with
a
bugle
fringe
;
I
do
n't
indeed
.
"
"
Well
,
to
be
sure
,
but
you
do
speak
strong
on
the
subject
!
"
"
And
I
feel
strong
,
too
,
"
replied
Mrs.
Bateson
,
waxing
more
indignant
.
"
There
's
dear
Miss
Elisabeth
has
been
like
an
own
daughter
to
Miss
Farringdon
ever
since
she
was
a
baby
,
and
yet
Miss
Farringdon
leaves
her
fortune
over
Miss
Elisabeth
's
head
to
some
good-for-nothing
young
man
that
nobody
knows
for
certain
ever
was
born
.
I
've
no
patience
with
such
ways
!
"
"
It
does
seem
a
bit
hard
on
Miss
Elisabeth
,
I
must
admit
,
her
being
Miss
Farringdon
's
adopted
child
.
But
,
as
I
've
said
before
,
there
's
nothing
like
a
will
for
making
a
thorough
to-do
.
"
"
It
's
having
been
engaged
to
Mr.
George
all
them
years
ago
that
set
her
up
to
it
.
It
's
wonderful
how
folks
often
turn
to
their
old
lovers
when
it
comes
to
will
time
.
"
Mrs.
Hankey
looked
incredulous
.
"
Well
,
that
beats
me
,
I
'm
fain
to
confess
.
I
know
if
the
Lord
had
seen
fit
to
stop
me
from
keeping
company
with
Hankey
,
not
a
brass
farthing
would
he
ever
have
had
from
me
.
I
'd
sooner
have
left
my
savings
to
charity
.
"
"
Do
n't
say
that
,
Mrs.
Hankey
;
it
always
seems
so
lonely
to
leave
money
to
charity
,
as
if
you
was
nothing
better
than
a
foundling
.
But
how
did
you
enjoy
the
sermon
this
morning
?
"
"
I
thought
that
part
about
the
punishment
of
the
wicked
was
something
beautiful
.
But
,
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
I
've
lost
all
pleasure
in
Mr.
Sneyd
's
discourses
since
I
heard
as
he
wished
to
introduce
the
reading
of
the
Commandments
into
East
Lane
Chapel
.
What
's
the
good
of
fine
preaching
,
if
a
minister
's
private
life
is
n't
up
to
his
sermon
,
I
should
like
to
know
?
"
Mrs.
Bateson
,
however
,
had
broad
views
on
some
matters
.
"
I
do
n't
see
much
harm
in
reading
the
Commandments
,
"
she
said
.
Mrs.
Hankey
looked
shocked
at
her
friend
's
laxity
.
"
It
is
the
thin
end
of
the
wedge
,
Mrs.
Bateson
,
and
you
ought
to
know
it
.
Mark
my
words
,
it
's
forms
and
ceremonies
such
as
this
that
tempts
our
young
folks
away
from
the
chapels
to
the
churches
,
like
Miss
Elisabeth
and
Master
Christopher
there
.
They
did
n't
read
no
Commandments
in
our
chapel
as
long
as
Miss
Farringdon
was
alive
;
I
should
have
liked
to
see
the
minister
as
would
have
dared
to
suggest
such
a
thing
.
She
would
n't
stand
Ritualism
,
poor
Miss
Farringdon
would
n't
.
"
"
Here
we
are
at
home
,
"
said
Mrs.
Bateson
,
stopping
at
her
own
door
;
"
I
must
go
in
and
see
how
the
master
's
getting
on
.
"
"
And
I
hope
you
'll
find
him
better
,
Mrs.
Bateson
,
I
only
hope
so
;
but
you
never
know
how
things
are
going
to
turn
out
when
folks
begin
to
sicken
—
especially
at
Mr.
Bateson
's
age
.
And
he
has
n't
been
looking
himself
for
a
long
time
.
I
says
to
Hankey
only
a
few
weeks
ago
,
'
Hankey
,
'
says
I
,
'
it
seems
to
me
as
if
the
Lord
was
thinking
on
Mr.
Bateson
;
I
hope
I
may
be
mistaken
,
but
that
's
how
it
appears
to
me
.
'
And
so
it
did
.
"
On
the
afternoon
of
that
very
Sunday
Christopher
took
Elisabeth
for
a
walk
in
Badgering
Woods
.
The
winter
was
departing
,
and
a
faint
pink
flush
on
the
bare
trees
heralded
the
coming
of
spring
;
and
Elisabeth
,
being
made
of
material
which
is
warranted
not
to
fret
for
long
,
began
to
feel
that
life
was
not
altogether
dark
,
and
that
it
was
just
possible
she
might
—
at
the
end
of
many
years
—
actually
enjoy
things
again
.
Further
,
Christopher
suited
her
perfectly
—
how
perfectly
she
did
not
know
as
yet
—
and
she
spent
much
time
with
him
just
then
.
Those
of
us
who
have
ever
guessed
the
acrostics
in
a
weekly
paper
,
have
learned
that
sometimes
we
find
a
solution
to
one
of
the
lights
,
and
say
,
"
This
will
do
,
if
nothing
better
turns
up
before
post-time
on
Monday
"
;
and
at
other
times
we
chance
upon
an
answer
which
we
know
at
once
,
without
further
research
,
to
be
indisputably
the
right
one
.
It
is
so
with
other
things
than
acrostics
:
there
are
friends
whom
we
feel
will
do
very
well
for
us
if
nobody
—
or
until
somebody
—
better
turns
up
;
and
there
are
others
whom
we
know
to
be
just
the
right
people
for
the
particular
needs
of
our
souls
at
that
time
.
They
are
the
right
answers
to
the
questions
which
have
been
perplexing
us
—
the
correct
solutions
to
the
problems
over
which
we
have
been
puzzling
our
brains
.
So
it
was
with
Elisabeth
:
Christopher
was
the
correct
answer
to
life
's
current
acrostic
;
and
as
long
as
she
was
with
Christopher
she
was
content
.
"
Do
n't
you
get
very
tired
of
people
who
have
never
found
the
fourth
dimension
?
"
she
asked
him
,
as
they
sat
upon
a
stile
in
Badgering
Woods
.
"
What
do
you
mean
by
the
fourth
dimension
?
There
are
length
and
breadth
and
thickness
,
and
what
comes
next
?
"
Christopher
was
pleased
to
find
Elisabeth
facing
life
's
abstract
problems
again
;
it
proved
that
she
was
no
longer
overpowered
by
its
concrete
ones
.
"
I
do
n't
know
what
its
name
is
,
"
she
replied
,
looking
dreamily
through
the
leafless
trees
;
"
perhaps
eternity
would
do
as
well
as
any
other
.
But
I
mean
the
dimension
which
comes
after
length
and
breadth
and
thickness
,
and
beyond
them
,
and
all
round
them
,
and
which
makes
them
seem
quite
different
,
and
much
less
important
.
"
"
I
think
I
know
what
you
are
driving
at
.
You
mean
a
new
way
of
looking
at
things
and
of
measuring
them
—
a
way
which
makes
things
which
ordinary
people
call
small
,
large
;
and
things
which
ordinary
people
call
large
,
small
.
"
"
Yes
.
People
who
have
never
been
in
the
fourth
dimension
bore
me
,
do
you
know
?
I
daresay
it
would
bore
squares
to
talk
to
straight
lines
,
and
cubes
to
talk
to
squares
;
there
would
be
so
many
things
the
one
would
understand
and
the
other
would
n't
.
The
line
would
n't
know
what
the
square
meant
by
the
word
across
,
and
the
square
would
n't
know
what
the
cube
meant
by
the
word
above
;
and
in
the
same
way
the
three-dimension
people
do
n't
know
what
we
are
talking
about
when
we
use
such
words
as
religion
and
art
and
love
.
"
"
They
think
we
are
talking
about
going
regularly
to
church
,
and
supporting
picture-galleries
,
and
making
brilliant
matches
,
"
suggested
Christopher
.
"
Yes
;
that
's
exactly
what
they
do
think
;
and
it
makes
talking
to
them
so
difficult
,
and
so
dull
.
"
"
When
you
use
the
word
happiness
they
imagine
you
are
referring
to
an
income
of
four
or
five
thousand
a
year
;
and
by
success
they
mean
the
permission
to
stand
in
the
backwater
of
a
fashionable
London
evening
party
,
looking
at
the
mighty
and
noble
,
and
pretending
afterward
that
they
have
spoken
to
the
same
.
"
"
They
do
n't
speak
our
language
or
think
our
thoughts
,
"
Elisabeth
said
;
"
and
the
music
of
their
whole
lives
is
of
a
different
order
from
that
of
the
lives
of
the
fourth-dimension
people
.
"
"
Distinctly
so
;
all
the
difference
between
a
Sonata
of
Beethoven
and
a
song
out
of
a
pantomime
.
"
"
I
have
n't
much
patience
with
the
three-dimension
people
;
have
you
?
"
asked
Elisabeth
.
"
No
—
I
'm
afraid
not
;
but
I
've
a
good
deal
of
pity
for
them
.
They
miss
so
much
.
I
always
fancy
that
people
who
call
pictures
pretty
and
music
sweet
must
have
a
dreary
time
of
it
all
round
.
But
we
'd
better
be
getting
on
,
do
n't
you
think
?
It
is
rather
chilly
sitting
out-of-doors
,
and
I
do
n't
want
you
to
catch
cold
.
You
do
n't
feel
cold
,
do
you
?
"
And
Christopher
's
face
grew
quite
anxious
.
"
Not
at
all
.
"
"
You
do
n't
seem
to
me
to
have
enough
furbelows
and
things
round
your
neck
to
keep
you
warm
,
"
continued
he
;
"
let
me
tie
it
up
tighter
,
somehow
.
"
And
while
he
turned
up
the
fur
collar
of
her
coat
and
hooked
the
highest
hook
and
eye
,
Elisabeth
thought
how
nice
it
was
to
be
petted
and
taken
care
of
;
and
as
she
walked
homeward
by
Christopher
's
side
,
she
felt
like
a
good
little
girl
again
.
Even
reigning
monarchs
now
and
then
like
to
have
their
ermine
tucked
round
them
,
and
to
be
patted
on
their
crowns
by
a
protecting
hand
.
As
the
weeks
rolled
on
and
the
spring
drew
nearer
,
Elisabeth
gradually
took
up
the
thread
of
human
interest
again
.
Fortunately
for
her
she
was
very
busy
with
plans
for
the
benefit
of
the
work-people
at
the
Osierfield
.
She
started
a
dispensary
;
she
opened
an
institute
;
she
inaugurated
courses
of
lectures
and
entertainments
for
keeping
the
young
men
out
of
the
public-houses
in
the
evenings
;
she
gave
to
the
Wesleyan
Conference
a
House
of
Rest
—
a
sweet
little
house
,
looking
over
the
fields
toward
the
sunset
—
where
tired
ministers
might
come
and
live
at
ease
for
a
time
to
regain
health
and
strength
;
and
in
Sedgehill
Church
she
put
up
a
beautiful
east
window
to
the
memory
of
Maria
Farringdon
,
and
for
a
sign-post
to
all
such
pilgrims
as
were
in
need
of
one
,
as
the
east
window
in
St.
Peter
's
had
once
been
a
sign-post
to
herself
showing
her
the
way
to
Zion
.
In
all
these
undertakings
Christopher
was
her
right
hand
;
and
while
Elisabeth
planned
and
paid
for
them
,
he
carefully
carried
them
out
—
the
hardest
part
of
the
business
,
and
the
least
effective
one
.
When
Elisabeth
had
set
afoot
all
these
improvements
for
the
benefit
of
her
work-people
,
she
turned
her
attention
to
the
improving
of
herself
;
and
she
informed
Christopher
that
she
had
decided
to
go
up
to
London
,
and
fulfil
the
desire
of
her
heart
by
studying
art
at
the
Slade
School
.
"
But
you
can
not
live
by
yourself
in
London
,
"
Christopher
objected
;
"
you
are
all
right
here
,
because
you
have
the
Tremaines
and
other
people
to
look
after
you
;
but
in
town
you
would
be
terribly
lonely
;
and
,
besides
,
I
do
n't
approve
of
girls
living
in
London
by
themselves
.
"
"
I
sha'
n't
be
by
myself
.
There
is
a
house
where
some
of
the
Slade
pupils
live
together
,
and
I
shall
go
there
for
every
term
,
and
come
down
here
for
the
vacation
.
It
will
be
just
like
going
back
to
school
again
.
I
shall
adore
it
!
"
Christopher
did
not
like
the
idea
at
all
.
"
Are
you
sure
you
will
be
comfortable
,
and
that
they
will
take
proper
care
of
you
?
"
"
Of
course
they
will
.
Grace
Cobham
will
be
there
at
the
same
time
—
an
old
schoolfellow
to
whom
I
used
to
be
devoted
at
Fox
How
—
and
she
and
I
will
chum
together
.
I
have
n't
seen
her
for
ages
,
as
she
has
been
scouring
Europe
with
her
family
;
but
now
she
has
settled
down
in
England
,
and
is
going
in
for
art
.
"
Christopher
still
looked
doubtful
.
"
It
would
make
me
miserable
to
think
that
you
were
n't
properly
looked
after
and
taken
care
of
,
Elisabeth
.
"
"
Well
,
I
shall
be
.
And
if
I
'm
not
,
I
shall
still
have
you
to
fall
back
upon
.
"
"
But
you
wo
n't
have
me
to
fall
back
upon
;
that
is
just
the
point
.
If
you
would
,
I
should
n't
worry
about
you
so
much
;
but
it
cuts
me
to
the
heart
to
leave
you
among
strangers
.
Still
,
the
Tremaines
will
be
here
,
and
I
shall
ask
them
to
look
after
you
;
and
I
daresay
they
will
do
so
all
right
,
though
not
as
efficiently
as
I
should
.
"
Elisabeth
grew
rather
pale
;
that
there
would
ever
come
a
day
when
Christopher
would
not
be
there
to
fall
back
upon
was
a
contingency
which
until
now
had
never
occurred
to
her
.
"
Whatever
are
you
talking
about
,
Chris
?
Why
sha'
n't
you
be
here
when
I
go
up
to
the
Slade
?
"
"
Because
I
am
going
to
Australia
.
"
"
To
Australia
?
What
on
earth
for
?
"
It
seemed
to
Elisabeth
as
if
the
earth
beneath
her
feet
had
suddenly
decided
to
reverse
its
customary
revolution
,
and
to
transpose
its
poles
.
"
To
see
if
I
can
find
George
Farringdon
's
son
,
of
course
.
"
"
I
thought
he
had
been
advertised
for
in
both
English
and
Australian
papers
,
and
had
failed
to
answer
the
advertisements
.
"
"
So
he
has
.
"
"
Then
why
bother
any
more
about
him
?
"
suggested
Elisabeth
.
"
Because
I
must
.
If
advertisement
fails
,
I
must
see
what
personal
search
will
do
.
"
Elisabeth
's
lip
trembled
;
she
felt
that
a
hemisphere
uninhabited
by
Christopher
would
be
a
very
dreary
hemisphere
indeed
.
"
Oh
!
Chris
dear
,
you
need
n't
go
yourself
,
"
she
coaxed
;
"
I
simply
can
not
spare
you
,
and
that
's
the
long
and
the
short
of
it
.
"
Christopher
hardened
his
heart
.
He
had
seen
the
quiver
of
Elisabeth
's
lip
,
and
it
had
almost
proved
too
strong
for
him
.
"
Hang
it
all
!
I
must
go
;
there
is
nothing
else
to
be
done
.
"
Elisabeth
's
eyes
filled
with
tears
.
"
Please
do
n't
,
Chris
.
It
is
horrid
of
you
to
want
to
go
and
leave
me
when
I
'm
so
lonely
and
have
n't
got
anybody
in
the
world
but
you
!
"
"
I
do
n't
want
to
go
,
Betty
;
I
hate
the
mere
idea
of
going
.
I
'd
give
a
thousand
pounds
,
if
I
could
,
to
stop
away
.
But
I
ca
n't
see
that
I
have
any
alternative
.
Miss
Farringdon
left
it
to
me
,
as
her
trustee
,
to
find
her
heir
and
give
up
the
property
to
him
;
and
,
as
a
man
of
honour
,
I
do
n't
see
how
I
can
leave
any
stone
unturned
until
I
have
fulfilled
the
charge
which
she
laid
upon
me
.
"
"
Oh
!
Chris
,
do
n't
go
.
I
ca
n't
spare
you
.
"
And
Elisabeth
stretched
out
two
pleading
hands
toward
him
.
Christopher
turned
away
from
her
.
"
I
say
,
Betty
,
please
do
n't
cry
,
"
and
his
voice
shook
;
"
it
makes
it
so
much
harder
for
me
;
and
it
is
hard
enough
as
it
is
—
confoundedly
hard
!
"
"
Then
why
do
it
?
"
"
Because
I
must
.
"
"
I
do
n't
see
that
;
it
is
pure
Quixotism
.
"
"
I
wish
to
goodness
I
could
think
that
;
but
I
ca
n't
.
It
appears
to
me
a
question
about
which
there
could
not
be
two
opinions
.
"
The
tears
dried
on
Elisabeth
's
lashes
.
The
old
feeling
of
being
at
war
with
Christopher
,
which
had
laid
dormant
for
so
long
,
now
woke
up
again
in
her
heart
,
and
inclined
her
to
defy
rather
than
to
plead
.
If
he
cared
for
duty
more
than
for
her
,
he
did
not
care
for
her
much
,
she
said
to
herself
;
and
she
was
far
too
proud
a
woman
ever
to
care
for
a
man
—
even
in
the
way
of
friendship
—
who
obviously
did
not
care
for
her
.
Still
,
she
condescended
to
further
argument
.
"
If
you
really
liked
me
and
were
my
friend
,
"
she
said
,
"
not
only
would
n't
you
wish
to
go
away
and
leave
me
,
but
you
would
want
me
to
have
the
money
,
instead
of
rushing
all
over
the
world
in
order
to
give
it
to
some
tiresome
young
man
you
'd
never
heard
of
six
months
ago
.
"
"
Do
n't
you
understand
that
it
is
just
because
I
like
you
and
am
your
friend
,
that
I
ca
n't
bear
you
to
profit
by
anything
which
has
a
shade
of
dishonour
connected
with
it
?
If
I
cared
for
you
less
I
should
be
less
particular
.
"
"
That
's
nonsense
!
But
your
conscience
and
your
sense
of
honour
always
were
bugbears
,
Christopher
,
and
always
will
be
.
They
bored
me
as
a
child
,
and
they
bore
me
now
.
"
Christopher
winced
;
the
nightmare
of
his
life
had
been
the
terror
of
boring
Elisabeth
,
for
he
was
wise
enough
to
know
that
a
woman
may
love
a
man
with
whom
she
is
angry
,
but
never
one
by
whom
she
is
bored
.
"
It
is
just
like
you
,
"
Elisabeth
continued
,
tossing
her
head
,
"
to
be
so
busy
saving
your
own
soul
and
laying
up
for
yourself
a
nice
little
nest-egg
in
heaven
,
that
you
have
n't
time
to
consider
other
people
and
their
interests
and
feelings
.
"
"
I
think
you
do
me
an
injustice
,
"
replied
Christopher
quietly
.
He
was
puzzled
to
find
Elisabeth
so
bitter
against
him
on
a
mere
question
of
money
,
as
she
was
usually
a
most
unworldly
young
person
;
again
he
did
not
understand
that
she
was
not
really
fighting
over
the
matter
at
issue
,
but
over
the
fact
that
he
had
put
something
before
his
friendship
for
her
.
Once
she
had
quarrelled
with
him
because
he
seemed
to
think
more
of
his
business
than
of
her
;
now
she
was
quarrelling
with
him
because
he
thought
more
of
his
duty
than
of
her
;
for
the
truth
that
he
could
not
have
loved
her
so
much
had
he
not
loved
honour
more
,
had
not
as
yet
been
revealed
to
Elisabeth
.
"
I
do
n't
want
to
be
money-grubbing
,
"
she
went
on
,
"
or
to
cling
on
to
things
to
which
I
have
no
right
;
though
,
of
course
,
it
will
be
rather
poor
fun
for
me
to
have
to
give
up
all
this
,
"
and
she
waved
her
hand
in
a
sweep
,
supposed
to
include
the
Willows
and
the
Osierfield
and
all
that
appertained
thereto
,
"
and
to
drudge
along
at
the
rate
of
five
hundred
a
year
,
with
yesterday
's
dinner
and
last
year
's
dress
warmed
up
again
to
feed
and
clothe
me
.
But
I
ask
you
to
consider
whether
the
work-people
at
the
Osierfield
are
n't
happier
under
my
régime
,
than
under
the
rule
of
some
good-for-nothing
young
man
,
who
will
probably
spend
all
his
income
upon
himself
,
and
go
to
the
dogs
as
his
father
did
before
him
.
"
Christopher
was
cut
to
the
quick
;
Elisabeth
had
hit
the
nail
on
the
head
.
After
all
,
it
was
not
his
own
interests
that
he
felt
bound
to
sacrifice
to
the
claims
of
honour
,
but
hers
;
and
it
was
this
consideration
that
made
him
feel
the
sacrifice
almost
beyond
his
power
.
He
knew
that
it
was
his
duty
to
do
everything
he
could
to
fulfil
the
conditions
of
Miss
Farringdon
's
will
;
he
also
knew
that
he
was
compelled
to
do
this
at
Elisabeth
's
expense
and
not
at
his
own
;
and
the
twofold
knowledge
well-nigh
broke
his
heart
.
His
misery
was
augmented
by
his
perception
of
how
completely
Elisabeth
misunderstood
him
,
and
of
how
little
of
the
truth
all
those
years
of
silent
devotion
had
conveyed
to
her
mind
;
and
his
face
was
white
with
pain
as
he
answered
—
"
There
is
no
need
for
you
to
say
such
things
as
that
to
me
,
Elisabeth
;
you
know
as
well
as
I
do
that
I
would
give
my
life
to
save
you
from
sorrow
and
to
ensure
your
happiness
;
but
I
can
not
be
guilty
of
a
shabby
trick
even
for
this
.
Ca
n't
you
see
that
the
very
fact
that
I
care
for
you
so
much
,
makes
it
all
the
more
impossible
for
me
to
do
anything
shady
in
your
name
?
"
"
Bosh
!
"
rudely
exclaimed
Elisabeth
.
"
As
for
the
work-people
,
"
he
went
on
,
ignoring
her
interruption
,
"
of
course
no
one
will
ever
do
as
much
for
them
as
you
are
doing
.
But
that
is
n't
the
question
.
The
fact
that
one
man
would
make
a
better
use
of
money
than
another
would
n't
justify
me
in
robbing
Peter
to
increase
Paul
's
munificence
.
Now
would
it
?
"
"
That
's
perfectly
different
.
It
is
all
right
for
you
to
go
on
advertising
for
that
Farringdon
man
in
agony
columns
,
and
I
should
n't
be
so
silly
as
to
make
a
fuss
about
giving
up
the
money
if
he
turned
up
.
You
know
that
well
enough
.
But
it
does
seem
to
me
to
be
over-conscientious
and
hyper-disagreeable
on
your
part
to
go
off
to
Australia
—
just
when
I
am
so
lonely
and
want
you
so
much
—
in
search
of
the
man
who
is
to
turn
me
out
of
my
kingdom
and
reign
in
my
stead
.
I
ca
n't
think
how
you
can
want
to
do
such
a
thing
!
"
Elisabeth
was
fighting
desperately
hard
;
the
full
power
of
her
strong
will
was
bent
upon
making
Christopher
do
what
she
wished
and
stay
with
her
in
England
;
not
only
because
she
needed
him
,
but
because
she
felt
that
this
was
a
Hastings
or
Waterloo
between
them
,
and
that
if
she
lost
this
battle
,
her
ancient
supremacy
was
gone
forever
.
"
I
do
n't
want
to
go
and
do
it
,
heaven
knows
!
I
hate
and
loathe
doing
anything
which
you
do
n't
wish
me
to
do
.
But
there
is
no
question
of
wanting
in
the
matter
,
as
far
as
I
can
see
.
It
is
a
simple
question
between
right
and
wrong
—
between
honour
and
dishonour
—
and
so
I
really
have
no
alternative
.
"
"
Then
you
have
made
up
your
mind
to
go
out
to
Australia
and
turn
up
every
stone
in
order
to
find
this
George
Farringdon
's
son
?
"
"
I
do
n't
see
how
I
can
help
it
.
"
"
And
you
do
n't
care
what
becomes
of
me
?
"
"
More
than
I
care
for
anything
else
in
the
world
,
Elisabeth
.
Need
you
ask
?
"
For
one
wild
moment
Christopher
felt
that
he
must
tell
Elisabeth
how
passionately
he
would
woo
her
,
should
she
lose
her
fortune
;
and
how
he
would
spend
his
life
and
his
income
in
trying
to
make
her
happy
,
should
George
Farringdon
's
son
be
found
and
she
cease
to
be
one
of
the
greatest
heiresses
in
the
Midlands
.
But
he
held
himself
back
by
the
bitter
knowledge
of
how
cruelly
appearances
were
against
him
.
He
had
made
up
his
mind
to
do
the
right
thing
at
all
costs
;
at
least
,
he
had
not
exactly
made
up
his
mind
—
he
saw
the
straight
path
,
and
the
possibility
of
taking
any
other
never
occurred
to
him
.
But
if
he
succeeded
in
this
hateful
and
(
to
a
man
of
his
type
)
inevitable
quest
,
he
would
not
only
sacrifice
Elisabeth
's
interests
,
he
would
also
further
his
own
by
making
it
possible
for
him
to
ask
her
to
marry
him
—
a
thing
which
he
felt
he
could
never
do
as
long
as
she
was
one
of
the
wealthiest
women
in
Mershire
,
and
he
was
only
the
manager
of
her
works
.
Duty
is
never
so
difficult
to
certain
men
as
when
it
wears
the
garb
and
carries
with
it
the
rewards
of
self-interest
;
others
,
on
the
contrary
,
find
that
a
joint-stock
company
,
composed
of
the
Right
and
the
Profitable
,
supplies
its
passengers
with
a
most
satisfactory
permanent
way
whereby
to
travel
through
life
.
There
is
no
doubt
that
these
latter
have
by
far
the
more
comfortable
journey
;
but
whether
they
are
equally
contented
when
they
have
reached
that
journey
's
end
,
none
of
them
have
as
yet
returned
to
tell
us
.
"
If
somebody
must
go
to
Australia
after
that
tiresome
young
man
,
why
need
it
be
you
?
"
Elisabeth
persisted
.
"
Ca
n't
you
send
somebody
else
in
your
place
?
"
"
I
am
afraid
I
could
n't
trust
anybody
else
to
sift
the
matter
as
thoroughly
as
I
should
.
I
really
must
go
,
Betty
.
Please
do
n't
make
it
too
hard
for
me
.
"
"
Do
you
mean
you
will
still
go
,
even
though
I
beg
you
not
?
"
"
I
am
afraid
I
must
.
"
Elisabeth
rose
from
her
seat
and
drew
herself
up
to
her
full
height
,
as
became
a
dethroned
and
offended
queen
.
"
Then
that
is
the
end
of
the
matter
as
far
as
I
am
concerned
,
and
it
is
a
waste
of
time
to
discuss
it
further
;
but
I
must
confess
that
there
is
nothing
in
the
world
I
hate
so
much
as
a
prig
,
"
she
said
,
as
she
swept
out
of
the
room
.
It
was
her
final
shot
,
and
it
told
.
She
could
hardly
have
selected
one
more
admirably
calculated
to
wound
,
and
it
went
straight
through
Christopher
's
heart
.
It
was
now
obvious
that
she
did
not
love
him
,
and
never
could
have
loved
him
,
he
assured
himself
,
or
she
would
not
have
misjudged
him
so
cruelly
,
or
said
such
hard
things
to
him
.
He
did
not
realize
that
an
angry
woman
says
not
what
she
thinks
,
but
what
she
thinks
will
most
hurt
the
man
with
whom
she
is
angry
.
He
also
did
not
realize
—
what
man
does
?
—
how
difficult
it
is
for
any
woman
to
believe
that
a
man
can
care
for
her
and
disagree
with
her
at
the
same
time
,
even
though
the
disagreement
be
upon
a
purely
impersonal
question
.
Naturally
,
when
the
question
happens
to
be
personal
,
the
strain
on
feminine
faith
is
still
greater
—
in
the
majority
of
cases
too
great
to
be
borne
.
Thus
Christopher
and
Elisabeth
came
to
the
parting
of
the
ways
.
She
said
to
herself
,
"
He
does
n't
love
me
because
he
wo
n't
do
what
I
want
,
regardless
of
his
own
ideas
of
duty
.
"
And
he
said
to
himself
,
"
If
I
fail
to
do
what
I
consider
is
my
duty
,
I
am
unworthy
—
or
,
rather
,
more
unworthy
than
I
am
in
any
case
—
to
love
her
.
"
Thus
they
moved
along
parallel
lines
;
and
parallel
lines
never
meet
—
except
in
infinity
.
"
THE
DAUGHTERS
OF
PHILIP
"
In
the
market-place
alone
Stood
the
statue
carved
in
stone
,
Watching
children
round
her
feet
Playing
marbles
in
the
street
:
When
she
tried
to
join
their
play
They
in
terror
fled
away
.
Christopher
went
to
Australia
in
search
of
George
Farringdon
's
son
,
and
Elisabeth
stayed
in
England
and
cherished
bitter
thoughts
in
her
heart
concerning
him
.
That
imagination
of
hers
—
which
was
always
prone
to
lead
her
astray
—
bore
most
terribly
false
witness
against
Christopher
just
then
.
It
portrayed
him
as
a
hard
,
self-righteous
man
,
ready
to
sacrifice
the
rest
of
mankind
to
the
Moloch
of
what
he
considered
to
be
his
own
particular
duty
and
spiritual
welfare
,
and
utterly
indifferent
as
to
how
severe
was
the
suffering
entailed
on
the
victims
of
this
sacrifice
.
And
,
as
Christopher
was
not
at
hand
to
refute
the
charges
of
Elisabeth
's
libellous
fancy
by
his
own
tender
and
unselfish
personality
,
the
accuser
took
advantage
of
his
absence
to
blacken
him
more
and
more
.
It
was
all
in
a
piece
with
the
rest
of
his
character
,
she
said
to
herself
;
he
had
always
been
cold
and
hard
and
self-contained
.
When
his
house
had
been
left
unto
him
desolate
by
the
stroke
which
changed
his
uncle
from
a
wise
and
kindly
companion
into
a
helpless
and
peevish
child
,
she
had
longed
to
help
and
comfort
him
with
her
sympathy
;
and
he
had
thrown
it
back
in
her
face
.
He
was
too
proud
and
too
superior
to
care
for
human
affection
,
she
supposed
;
and
now
he
felt
no
hesitation
in
first
forsaking
her
,
and
then
reducing
her
to
poverty
,
if
only
by
so
doing
he
could
set
himself
still
more
firmly
on
the
pedestal
of
his
own
virtue
.
So
did
Elisabeth
's
imagination
traduce
Christopher
;
and
Elisabeth
listened
and
believed
.
At
first
she
was
haunted
by
memories
of
how
good
he
had
been
to
her
when
her
cousin
Maria
died
,
and
many
a
time
before
;
and
she
used
to
dream
about
him
at
night
with
so
much
of
the
old
trust
and
affection
that
it
took
all
the
day
to
stamp
out
the
fragrance
of
tenderness
which
her
dreams
had
left
behind
.
But
after
a
time
these
dreams
and
memories
grew
fewer
and
less
distinct
,
and
she
persuaded
herself
that
Christopher
had
never
been
the
true
and
devoted
friend
she
had
once
imagined
him
to
be
,
but
that
the
kind
and
affectionate
Chris
of
olden
days
had
been
merely
a
creature
of
her
own
invention
.
There
was
no
one
to
plead
his
cause
for
him
,
as
he
was
far
away
,
and
appearances
were
on
the
side
of
his
accuser
;
so
he
was
tried
in
the
court
of
Elisabeth
's
merciless
young
judgment
,
and
sentenced
to
life-long
banishment
from
the
circle
of
her
interests
and
affections
.
She
forgot
how
he
had
comforted
her
in
the
day
of
her
adversity
.
If
he
had
allowed
her
to
comfort
him
,
she
would
have
remembered
it
forever
;
but
he
had
not
;
and
in
this
world
men
must
be
prepared
to
take
the
consequences
of
their
own
mistakes
,
even
though
those
mistakes
be
made
through
excess
of
devotion
to
another
person
.
In
certain
cases
it
may
be
necessary
to
pluck
out
the
right
eye
and
cut
off
the
right
hand
;
but
there
is
no
foundation
for
supposing
that
the
operation
will
be
any
the
less
painful
because
of
the
righteous
motive
inducing
it
.
And
so
Christopher
Thornley
learned
by
bitter
experience
,
when
,
after
many
days
,
he
returned
from
a
fruitless
search
for
the
missing
heir
,
to
find
the
countenance
of
Elisabeth
utterly
changed
toward
him
.
She
was
quite
civil
to
him
—
quite
polite
;
