New
Grub
Street
:
A
Novel
:
By
George
Gissing
...
In
Three
Volumes
:
Second
Edition
VOL.
I
.
CHAPTER
I
A
MAN
OF
HIS
DAY
As
the
Milvains
sat
down
to
breakfast
the
clock
of
Wattleborough
parish
church
struck
eight
;
it
was
two
miles
away
,
but
the
strokes
were
borne
very
distinctly
on
the
west
wind
this
autumn
morning
.
Jasper
,
listening
before
he
cracked
an
egg
,
remarked
with
cheerfulness
:
'
There
's
a
man
being
hanged
in
London
at
this
moment
.
'
'
Surely
it
is
n't
necessary
to
let
us
know
that
,
'
said
his
sister
Maud
,
coldly
.
'
And
in
such
a
tone
,
too
!
'
protested
his
sister
Dora
.
'
Who
is
it
?
'
inquired
Mrs.
Milvain
,
looking
at
her
son
with
pained
forehead
.
'
I
do
n't
know
.
It
happened
to
catch
my
eye
in
the
paper
yesterday
that
someone
was
to
be
hanged
at
Newgate
this
morning
.
There
's
a
certain
satisfaction
in
reflecting
that
it
is
not
oneself
.
'
'
That
's
your
selfish
way
of
looking
at
things
,
'
said
Maud
.
'
Well
,
'
returned
Jasper
,
'
seeing
that
the
fact
came
into
my
head
,
what
better
use
could
I
make
of
it
?
I
could
curse
the
brutality
of
an
age
that
sanctioned
such
things
;
or
I
could
grow
doleful
over
the
misery
of
the
poor
—
fellow
.
But
those
emotions
would
be
as
little
profitable
to
others
as
to
myself
.
It
just
happened
that
I
saw
the
thing
in
a
light
of
consolation
.
Things
are
bad
with
me
,
but
not
so
bad
as
that
.
I
might
be
going
out
between
Jack
Ketch
and
the
Chaplain
to
be
hanged
;
instead
of
that
,
I
am
eating
a
really
fresh
egg
,
and
very
excellent
buttered
toast
,
with
coffee
as
good
as
can
be
reasonably
expected
in
this
part
of
the
world
.
—
(
Do
try
boiling
the
milk
,
mother
.
)
—
The
tone
in
which
I
spoke
was
spontaneous
;
being
so
,
it
needs
no
justification
.
'
He
was
a
young
man
of
five-and-twenty
,
well
built
,
though
a
trifle
meagre
,
and
of
pale
complexion
.
He
had
hair
that
was
very
nearly
black
,
and
a
clean-shaven
face
,
best
described
,
perhaps
,
as
of
bureaucratic
type
.
The
clothes
he
wore
were
of
expensive
material
,
but
had
seen
a
good
deal
of
service
.
His
stand-up
collar
curled
over
at
the
corners
,
and
his
necktie
was
lilac-sprigged
.
Of
the
two
sisters
,
Dora
,
aged
twenty
,
was
the
more
like
him
in
visage
,
but
she
spoke
with
a
gentleness
which
seemed
to
indicate
a
different
character
.
Maud
,
who
was
twenty-two
,
had
bold
,
handsome
features
,
and
very
beautiful
hair
of
russet
tinge
;
hers
was
not
a
face
that
readily
smiled
.
Their
mother
had
the
look
and
manners
of
an
invalid
,
though
she
sat
at
table
in
the
ordinary
way
.
All
were
dressed
as
ladies
,
though
very
simply
.
The
room
,
which
looked
upon
a
small
patch
of
garden
,
was
furnished
with
old-fashioned
comfort
,
only
one
or
two
objects
suggesting
the
decorative
spirit
of
1882.
'
A
man
who
comes
to
be
hanged
,
'
pursued
Jasper
,
impartially
,
'
has
the
satisfaction
of
knowing
that
he
has
brought
society
to
its
last
resource
.
He
is
a
man
of
such
fatal
importance
that
nothing
will
serve
against
him
but
the
supreme
effort
of
law
.
In
a
way
,
you
know
,
that
is
success
.
'
'
In
a
way
,
'
repeated
Maud
,
scornfully
.
'
Suppose
we
talk
of
something
else
,
'
suggested
Dora
,
who
seemed
to
fear
a
conflict
between
her
sister
and
Jasper
.
Almost
at
the
same
moment
a
diversion
was
afforded
by
the
arrival
of
the
post
.
There
was
a
letter
for
Mrs.
Milvain
,
a
letter
and
newspaper
for
her
son
.
Whilst
the
girls
and
their
mother
talked
of
unimportant
news
communicated
by
the
one
correspondent
,
Jasper
read
the
missive
addressed
to
himself
.
'
This
is
from
Reardon
,
'
he
remarked
to
the
younger
girl
.
'
Things
are
going
badly
with
him
.
He
is
just
the
kind
of
fellow
to
end
by
poisoning
or
shooting
himself
.
'
'
But
why
?
'
'
Ca
n't
get
anything
done
;
and
begins
to
be
sore
troubled
on
his
wife
's
account
.
'
'
Is
he
ill
?
'
'
Overworked
,
I
suppose
.
But
it
's
just
what
I
foresaw
.
He
is
n't
the
kind
of
man
to
keep
up
literary
production
as
a
paying
business
.
In
favourable
circumstances
he
might
write
a
fairly
good
book
once
every
two
or
three
years
.
The
failure
of
his
last
depressed
him
,
and
now
he
is
struggling
hopelessly
to
get
another
done
before
the
winter
season
.
Those
people
will
come
to
grief
.
'
'
The
enjoyment
with
which
he
anticipates
it
!
'
murmured
Maud
,
looking
at
her
mother
.
'
Not
at
all
,
'
said
Jasper
.
'
It
's
true
I
envied
the
fellow
,
because
he
persuaded
a
handsome
girl
to
believe
in
him
and
share
his
risks
,
but
I
shall
be
very
sorry
if
he
goes
to
the
—
to
the
dogs
.
He
's
my
one
serious
friend
.
But
it
irritates
me
to
see
a
man
making
such
large
demands
upon
fortune
.
One
must
be
more
modest
—
as
I
am
.
Because
one
book
had
a
sort
of
success
he
imagined
his
struggles
were
over
.
He
got
a
hundred
pounds
for
"
On
Neutral
Ground
,
"
and
at
once
counted
on
a
continuance
of
payments
in
geometrical
proportion
.
I
hinted
to
him
that
he
could
n't
keep
it
up
,
and
he
smiled
with
tolerance
,
no
doubt
thinking
"
He
judges
me
by
himself
.
"
But
I
did
n't
do
anything
of
the
kind
.
—
(
Toast
,
please
,
Dora
.
)
—
I
'm
a
stronger
man
than
Reardon
;
I
can
keep
my
eyes
open
,
and
wait
.
'
'
Is
his
wife
the
kind
of
person
to
grumble
?
'
asked
Mrs.
Milvain
.
'
Well
,
yes
,
I
suspect
that
she
is
.
The
girl
was
n't
content
to
go
into
modest
rooms
—
they
must
furnish
a
flat
.
I
rather
wonder
he
did
n't
start
a
carriage
for
her
.
Well
,
his
next
book
brought
only
another
hundred
,
and
now
,
even
if
he
finishes
this
one
,
it
's
very
doubtful
if
he
'll
get
as
much
.
"
The
Optimist
"
was
practically
a
failure
.
'
'
Mr
.
Yule
may
leave
them
some
money
,
'
said
Dora
.
'
Yes
.
But
he
may
live
another
ten
years
,
and
he
would
see
them
both
in
Marylebone
Workhouse
before
he
advanced
sixpence
,
or
I
'm
much
mistaken
in
him
.
Her
mother
has
only
just
enough
to
live
upon
;
ca
n't
possibly
help
them
.
Her
brother
would
n't
give
or
lend
twopence
halfpenny
.
'
'
Has
Mr.
Reardon
no
relatives
?
'
asked
Maud
.
'
I
never
heard
him
make
mention
of
a
single
one
.
No
,
he
has
done
the
fatal
thing
.
A
man
in
his
position
,
if
he
marry
at
all
,
must
take
either
a
work-girl
or
an
heiress
,
and
in
many
ways
the
work-girl
is
preferable
.
'
'
How
can
you
say
that
?
'
asked
Dora
.
'
You
never
cease
talking
about
the
advantages
of
money
.
'
'
Oh
,
I
do
n't
mean
that
for
me
the
work-girl
would
be
preferable
;
by
no
means
;
but
for
a
man
like
Reardon
.
He
is
absurd
enough
to
be
conscientious
,
likes
to
be
called
an
'
artist
,
'
and
so
on
.
He
might
possibly
earn
a
hundred
and
fifty
a
year
if
his
mind
were
at
rest
,
and
that
would
be
enough
if
he
had
married
a
decent
little
dressmaker
.
He
would
n't
desire
superfluities
,
and
the
quality
of
his
work
would
be
its
own
reward
.
As
it
is
,
he
's
ruined
.
'
'
And
I
repeat
,
'
said
Maud
,
'
that
you
enjoy
the
prospect
.
'
'
Nothing
of
the
kind
.
If
I
seem
to
speak
exultantly
it
's
only
because
my
intellect
enjoys
the
clear
perception
of
a
fact
.
—
A
little
marmalade
,
Dora
;
the
home-made
,
please
.
'
'
But
this
is
very
sad
,
Jasper
,
'
said
Mrs.
Milvain
,
in
her
half-absent
way
.
'
I
suppose
they
ca
n't
even
go
for
a
holiday
?
'
'
Quite
out
of
the
question
.
'
'
Not
even
if
you
invited
them
to
come
here
for
a
week
?
'
'
Now
,
mother
,
'
urged
Maud
,
'
that
's
impossible
,
you
know
very
well
.
'
'
I
thought
we
might
make
an
effort
,
dear
.
A
holiday
might
mean
everything
to
him
.
'
'
No
,
no
,
'
fell
from
Jasper
,
thoughtfully
.
'
I
do
n't
think
you
'd
get
along
very
well
with
Mrs.
Reardon
;
and
then
,
if
her
uncle
is
coming
to
Mr.
Yule
's
,
you
know
,
that
would
be
awkward
.
'
'
I
suppose
it
would
;
though
those
people
would
only
stay
a
day
or
two
,
Miss
Harrow
said
.
'
'
Why
ca
n't
Mr.
Yule
make
them
friends
,
those
two
lots
of
people
?
'
asked
Dora
.
'
You
say
he
's
on
good
terms
with
both
.
'
'
I
suppose
he
thinks
it
's
no
business
of
his
.
'
Jasper
mused
over
the
letter
from
his
friend
.
'
Ten
years
hence
,
'
he
said
,
'
if
Reardon
is
still
alive
,
I
shall
be
lending
him
five-pound
notes
.
'
A
smile
of
irony
rose
to
Maud
's
lips
.
Dora
laughed
.
'
To
be
sure
!
To
be
sure
!
'
exclaimed
their
brother
.
'
You
have
no
faith
.
But
just
understand
the
difference
between
a
man
like
Reardon
and
a
man
like
me
.
He
is
the
old
type
of
unpractical
artist
;
I
am
the
literary
man
of
1882.
He
wo
n't
make
concessions
,
or
rather
,
he
ca
n't
make
them
;
he
ca
n't
supply
the
market
.
I
—
well
,
you
may
say
that
at
present
I
do
nothing
;
but
that
's
a
great
mistake
,
I
am
learning
my
business
.
Literature
nowadays
is
a
trade
.
Putting
aside
men
of
genius
,
who
may
succeed
by
mere
cosmic
force
,
your
successful
man
of
letters
is
your
skilful
tradesman
.
He
thinks
first
and
foremost
of
the
markets
;
when
one
kind
of
goods
begins
to
go
off
slackly
,
he
is
ready
with
something
new
and
appetising
.
He
knows
perfectly
all
the
possible
sources
of
income
.
Whatever
he
has
to
sell
he
'll
get
payment
for
it
from
all
sorts
of
various
quarters
;
none
of
your
unpractical
selling
for
a
lump
sum
to
a
middleman
who
will
make
six
distinct
profits
.
Now
,
look
you
:
if
I
had
been
in
Reardon
's
place
,
I
'd
have
made
four
hundred
at
least
out
of
"
The
Optimist
"
;
I
should
have
gone
shrewdly
to
work
with
magazines
and
newspapers
and
foreign
publishers
,
and
—
all
sorts
of
people
.
Reardon
ca
n't
do
that
kind
of
thing
,
he
's
behind
his
age
;
he
sells
a
manuscript
as
if
he
lived
in
Sam
Johnson
's
Grub
Street
.
But
our
Grub
Street
of
to-day
is
quite
a
different
place
:
it
is
supplied
with
telegraphic
communication
,
it
knows
what
literary
fare
is
in
demand
in
every
part
of
the
world
,
its
inhabitants
are
men
of
business
,
however
seedy
.
'
'
It
sounds
ignoble
,
'
said
Maud
.
'
I
have
nothing
to
do
with
that
,
my
dear
girl
.
Now
,
as
I
tell
you
,
I
am
slowly
,
but
surely
,
learning
the
business
.
My
line
wo
n't
be
novels
;
I
have
failed
in
that
direction
,
I
'm
not
cut
out
for
the
work
.
It
's
a
pity
,
of
course
;
there
's
a
great
deal
of
money
in
it
.
But
I
have
plenty
of
scope
.
In
ten
years
,
I
repeat
,
I
shall
be
making
my
thousand
a
year
.
'
'
I
do
n't
remember
that
you
stated
the
exact
sum
before
,
'
Maud
observed
.
'
Let
it
pass
.
And
to
those
who
have
shall
be
given
.
When
I
have
a
decent
income
of
my
own
,
I
shall
marry
a
woman
with
an
income
somewhat
larger
,
so
that
casualties
may
be
provided
for
.
'
Dora
exclaimed
,
laughing
:
'
It
would
amuse
me
very
much
if
the
Reardons
got
a
lot
of
money
at
Mr.
Yule
's
death
—
and
that
ca
n't
be
ten
years
off
,
I
'm
sure
.
'
'
I
do
n't
see
that
there
's
any
chance
of
their
getting
much
,
'
replied
Jasper
,
meditatively
.
'
Mrs
.
Reardon
is
only
his
niece
.
The
man
's
brother
and
sister
will
have
the
first
helping
,
I
suppose
.
And
then
,
if
it
comes
to
the
second
generation
,
the
literary
Yule
has
a
daughter
,
and
by
her
being
invited
here
I
should
think
she
's
the
favourite
niece
.
No
,
no
;
depend
upon
it
they
wo
n't
get
anything
at
all
.
'
Having
finished
his
breakfast
,
he
leaned
back
and
began
to
unfold
the
London
paper
that
had
come
by
post
.
'
Had
Mr.
Reardon
any
hopes
of
that
kind
at
the
time
of
his
marriage
,
do
you
think
?
'
inquired
Mrs.
Milvain
.
'
Reardon
?
Good
heavens
,
no
!
Would
he
were
capable
of
such
forethought
!
'
In
a
few
minutes
Jasper
was
left
alone
in
the
room
.
When
the
servant
came
to
clear
the
table
he
strolled
slowly
away
,
humming
a
tune
.
The
house
was
pleasantly
situated
by
the
roadside
in
a
little
village
named
Finden
.
Opposite
stood
the
church
,
a
plain
,
low
,
square-towered
building
.
As
it
was
cattle-market
to-day
in
the
town
of
Wattleborough
,
droves
of
beasts
and
sheep
occasionally
went
by
,
or
the
rattle
of
a
grazier
's
cart
sounded
for
a
moment
.
On
ordinary
days
the
road
saw
few
vehicles
,
and
pedestrians
were
rare
.
Mrs.
Milvain
and
her
daughters
had
lived
here
for
the
last
seven
years
,
since
the
death
of
the
father
,
who
was
a
veterinary
surgeon
.
The
widow
enjoyed
an
annuity
of
two
hundred
and
forty
pounds
,
terminable
with
her
life
;
the
children
had
nothing
of
their
own
.
Maud
acted
irregularly
as
a
teacher
of
music
;
Dora
had
an
engagement
as
visiting
governess
in
a
Wattle-borough
family
.
Twice
a
year
,
as
a
rule
,
Jasper
came
down
from
London
to
spend
a
fortnight
with
them
;
to-day
marked
the
middle
of
his
autumn
visit
,
and
the
strained
relations
between
him
and
his
sisters
which
invariably
made
the
second
week
rather
trying
for
all
in
the
house
had
already
become
noticeable
.
In
the
course
of
the
morning
Jasper
had
half
an
hour
's
private
talk
with
his
mother
,
after
which
he
set
off
to
roam
in
the
sunshine
.
Shortly
after
he
had
left
the
house
,
Maud
,
her
domestic
duties
dismissed
for
the
time
,
came
into
the
parlour
where
Mrs.
Milvain
was
reclining
on
the
sofa
.
'
Jasper
wants
more
money
,
'
said
the
mother
,
when
Maud
had
sat
in
meditation
for
a
few
minutes
.
'
Of
course
.
I
knew
that
.
I
hope
you
told
him
he
could
n't
have
it
.
'
'
I
really
did
n't
know
what
to
say
,
'
returned
Mrs.
Milvain
,
in
a
feeble
tone
of
worry
.
'
Then
you
must
leave
the
matter
to
me
,
that
's
all
.
There
's
no
money
for
him
,
and
there
's
an
end
of
it
.
'
Maud
set
her
features
in
sullen
determination
.
There
was
a
brief
silence
.
'
What
's
he
to
do
,
Maud
?
'
'
To
do
?
How
do
other
people
do
?
What
do
Dora
and
I
do
?
'
'
You
do
n't
earn
enough
for
your
support
,
my
dear
.
'
'
Oh
,
well
!
'
broke
from
the
girl
.
'
Of
course
if
you
grudge
us
our
food
and
lodging
—
'
'
Do
n't
be
so
quick-tempered
.
You
know
very
well
I
am
far
from
grudging
you
anything
,
dear
.
But
I
only
meant
to
say
that
Jasper
does
earn
something
,
you
know
.
'
'
It
's
a
disgraceful
thing
that
he
does
n't
earn
as
much
as
he
needs
.
We
are
sacrificed
to
him
,
as
we
always
have
been
.
Why
should
we
be
pinching
and
stinting
to
keep
him
in
idleness
?
'
'
But
you
really
ca
n't
call
it
idleness
,
Maud
.
He
is
studying
his
profession
.
'
'
Pray
call
it
trade
;
he
prefers
it
.
How
do
I
know
that
he
's
studying
anything
?
What
does
he
mean
by
"
studying
"
?
And
to
hear
him
speak
scornfully
of
his
friend
Mr.
Reardon
,
who
seems
to
work
hard
all
through
the
year
!
It
's
disgusting
,
mother
.
At
this
rate
,
he
will
never
earn
his
own
living
.
Who
has
n't
seen
or
heard
of
such
men
?
If
we
had
another
hundred
a
year
,
I
would
say
nothing
.
But
we
ca
n't
live
on
what
he
leaves
us
,
and
I
'm
not
going
to
let
you
try
.
I
shall
tell
Jasper
plainly
that
he
's
got
to
work
for
his
own
support
.
'
Another
silence
,
and
a
longer
one
.
Mrs.
Milvain
furtively
wiped
a
tear
from
her
cheek
.
'
It
seems
very
cruel
to
refuse
,
'
she
said
at
length
,
'
when
another
year
may
give
him
the
opportunity
he
's
waiting
for
.
'
'
Opportunity
?
What
does
he
mean
by
his
opportunity
?
'
'
He
says
that
it
always
comes
,
if
a
man
knows
how
to
wait
.
'
'
And
the
people
who
support
him
may
starve
meanwhile
!
Now
just
think
a
bit
,
mother
.
Suppose
anything
were
to
happen
to
you
,
what
becomes
of
Dora
and
me
?
And
what
becomes
of
Jasper
,
too
?
It
's
the
truest
kindness
to
him
to
compel
him
to
earn
a
living
.
He
gets
more
and
more
incapable
of
it
.
'
'
You
ca
n't
say
that
,
Maud
.
He
earns
a
little
more
each
year
.
But
for
that
,
I
should
have
my
doubts
.
he
has
made
thirty
pounds
already
this
year
,
and
he
only
made
about
twenty-five
the
whole
of
last
.
We
must
be
fair
to
him
,
you
know
.
I
ca
n't
help
feeling
that
he
knows
what
he
's
about
.
And
if
he
does
succeed
,
he
'll
pay
us
all
back
.
'
Maud
began
to
gnaw
her
fingers
,
a
disagreeable
habit
she
had
in
privacy
.
'
Then
why
does
n't
he
live
more
economically
?
'
'
I
really
do
n't
see
how
he
can
live
on
less
than
a
hundred
and
fifty
a
year
.
London
,
you
know
—
'
'
The
cheapest
place
in
the
world
.
'
'
Nonsense
,
Maud
!
'
'
But
I
know
what
I
'm
saying
.
I
've
read
quite
enough
about
such
things
.
He
might
live
very
well
indeed
on
thirty
shillings
a
week
,
even
buying
his
clothes
out
of
it
.
'
'
But
he
has
told
us
so
often
that
it
's
no
use
to
him
to
live
like
that
.
He
is
obliged
to
go
to
places
where
he
must
spend
a
little
,
or
he
makes
no
progress
.
'
'
Well
,
all
I
can
say
is
,
'
exclaimed
the
girl
impatiently
,
'
it
's
very
lucky
for
him
that
he
's
got
a
mother
who
willingly
sacrifices
her
daughters
to
him
.
'
'
That
's
how
you
always
break
out
.
You
do
n't
care
what
unkindness
you
say
!
'
'
It
's
a
simple
truth
.
'
'
Dora
never
speaks
like
that
.
'
'
Because
she
's
afraid
to
be
honest
.
'
'
No
,
because
she
has
too
much
love
for
her
mother
.
I
ca
n't
bear
to
talk
to
you
,
Maud
.
The
older
I
get
,
and
the
weaker
I
get
,
the
more
unfeeling
you
are
to
me
.
'
Scenes
of
this
kind
were
no
uncommon
thing
.
The
clash
of
tempers
lasted
for
several
minutes
,
then
Maud
flung
out
of
the
room
.
An
hour
later
,
at
dinner-time
,
she
was
rather
more
caustic
in
her
remarks
than
usual
,
but
this
was
the
only
sign
that
remained
of
the
stormy
mood
.
Jasper
renewed
the
breakfast-table
conversation
.
'
Look
here
,
'
he
began
,
'
why
do
n't
you
girls
write
something
?
I
'm
convinced
you
could
make
money
if
you
tried
.
There
's
a
tremendous
sale
for
religious
stories
;
why
not
patch
one
together
?
I
am
quite
serious
.
'
'
Why
do
n't
you
do
it
yourself
?
'
retorted
Maud
.
'
I
ca
n't
manage
stories
,
as
I
have
told
you
;
but
I
think
you
could
.
In
your
place
,
I
'd
make
a
speciality
of
Sunday-school
prize-books
;
you
know
the
kind
of
thing
I
mean
.
They
sell
like
hot
cakes
.
And
there
's
so
deuced
little
enterprise
in
the
business
.
If
you
'd
give
your
mind
to
it
,
you
might
make
hundreds
a
year
.
'
'
Better
say
"
abandon
your
mind
to
it
.
"
'
'
Why
,
there
you
are
!
You
're
a
sharp
enough
girl
.
You
can
quote
as
well
as
anyone
I
know
.
'
'
And
please
,
why
am
I
to
take
up
an
inferior
kind
of
work
?
'
'
Inferior
?
Oh
,
if
you
can
be
a
George
Eliot
,
begin
at
the
earliest
opportunity
.
I
merely
suggested
what
seemed
practicable
.
But
I
do
n't
think
you
have
genius
,
Maud
.
People
have
got
that
ancient
prejudice
so
firmly
rooted
in
their
heads
—
that
one
must
n't
write
save
at
the
dictation
of
the
Holy
Spirit
.
I
tell
you
,
writing
is
a
business
.
Get
together
half
a
dozen
fair
specimens
of
the
Sunday-school
prize
;
study
them
;
discover
the
essential
points
of
such
composition
;
hit
upon
new
attractions
;
then
go
to
work
methodically
,
so
many
pages
a
day
.
There
's
no
question
of
the
divine
afflatus
;
that
belongs
to
another
sphere
of
life
.
We
talk
of
literature
as
a
trade
,
not
of
Homer
,
Dante
,
and
Shakspeare
.
If
I
could
only
get
that
into
poor
Reardon
's
head
.
He
thinks
me
a
gross
beast
,
often
enough
.
What
the
devil
—
I
mean
what
on
earth
is
there
in
typography
to
make
everything
it
deals
with
sacred
?
I
do
n't
advocate
the
propagation
of
vicious
literature
;
I
speak
only
of
good
,
coarse
,
marketable
stuff
for
the
world
's
vulgar
.
You
just
give
it
a
thought
.
Maud
;
talk
it
over
with
Dora
.
'
He
resumed
presently
:
'
I
maintain
that
we
people
of
brains
are
justified
in
supplying
the
mob
with
the
food
it
likes
.
We
are
not
geniuses
,
and
if
we
sit
down
in
a
spirit
of
long-eared
gravity
we
shall
produce
only
commonplace
stuff
.
Let
us
use
our
wits
to
earn
money
,
and
make
the
best
we
can
of
our
lives
.
If
only
I
had
the
skill
,
I
would
produce
novels
out-trashing
the
trashiest
that
ever
sold
fifty
thousand
copies
.
But
it
needs
skill
,
mind
you
;
and
to
deny
it
is
a
gross
error
of
the
literary
pedants
.
To
please
the
vulgar
you
must
,
one
way
or
another
,
incarnate
the
genius
of
vulgarity
.
For
my
own
part
,
I
sha
n't
be
able
to
address
the
bulkiest
multitude
;
my
talent
does
n't
lend
itself
to
that
form
.
I
shall
write
for
the
upper
middle-class
of
intellect
,
the
people
who
like
to
feel
that
what
they
are
reading
has
some
special
cleverness
,
but
who
ca
n't
distinguish
between
stones
and
paste
.
That
's
why
I
'm
so
slow
in
warming
to
the
work
.
Every
month
I
feel
surer
of
myself
,
however
.
That
last
thing
of
mine
in
The
West
End
distinctly
hit
the
mark
;
it
was
n't
too
flashy
,
it
was
n't
too
solid
.
I
heard
fellows
speak
of
it
in
the
train
.
'
Mrs.
Milvain
kept
glancing
at
Maud
,
with
eyes
which
desired
her
attention
to
these
utterances
.
None
the
less
,
half
an
hour
after
dinner
,
Jasper
found
himself
encountered
by
his
sister
in
the
garden
,
on
her
face
a
look
which
warned
him
of
what
was
coming
.
'
I
want
you
to
tell
me
something
,
Jasper
.
How
much
longer
shall
you
look
to
mother
for
support
?
I
mean
it
literally
;
let
me
have
an
idea
of
how
much
longer
it
will
be
.
'
He
looked
away
,
and
reflected
.
'
To
leave
a
margin
,
'
was
his
reply
,
'
let
us
say
twelve
months
.
'
'
Better
say
your
favourite
"
ten
years
"
at
once
.
'
'
No
.
I
speak
by
the
card
.
In
twelve
months
'
time
,
if
not
before
,
I
shall
begin
to
pay
my
debts
.
My
dear
girl
,
I
have
the
honour
to
be
a
tolerably
long-headed
individual
.
I
know
what
I
'm
about
.
'
'
And
let
us
suppose
mother
were
to
die
within
half
a
year
?
'
'
I
should
make
shift
to
do
very
well
.
'
'
You
?
And
please
—
what
of
Dora
and
me
?
'
'
You
would
write
Sunday-school
prizes
.
'
Maud
turned
away
and
left
him
.
He
knocked
the
dust
out
of
the
pipe
he
had
been
smoking
,
and
again
set
off
for
a
stroll
along
the
lanes
.
On
his
countenance
was
just
a
trace
of
solicitude
,
but
for
the
most
part
he
wore
a
thoughtful
smile
.
Now
and
then
he
stroked
his
smoothly-shaven
jaws
with
thumb
and
fingers
.
Occasionally
he
became
observant
of
wayside
details
—
of
the
colour
of
a
maple
leaf
,
the
shape
of
a
tall
thistle
,
the
consistency
of
a
fungus
.
At
the
few
people
who
passed
he
looked
keenly
,
surveying
them
from
head
to
foot
.
On
turning
,
at
the
limit
of
his
walk
,
he
found
himself
almost
face
to
face
with
two
persons
,
who
were
coming
along
in
silent
companionship
;
their
appearance
interested
him
.
The
one
was
a
man
of
fifty
,
grizzled
,
hard
featured
,
slightly
bowed
in
the
shoulders
;
he
were
a
grey
felt
hat
with
a
broad
brim
,
and
a
decent
suit
of
broad-cloth
.
With
him
was
a
girl
of
perhaps
two-and-twenty
,
in
a
slate-coloured
dress
with
very
little
ornament
,
and
a
yellow
straw
hat
of
the
shape
originally
appropriated
to
males
;
her
dark
hair
was
cut
short
,
and
lay
in
innumerable
crisp
curls
.
Father
and
daughter
,
obviously
.
The
girl
,
to
a
casual
eye
,
was
neither
pretty
nor
beautiful
,
but
she
had
a
grave
and
impressive
face
,
with
a
complexion
of
ivory
tone
;
her
walk
was
gracefully
modest
,
and
she
seemed
to
be
enjoying
the
country
air
.
Jasper
mused
concerning
them
.
When
he
had
walked
a
few
yards
,
he
looked
back
;
at
the
same
moment
the
unknown
man
also
turned
his
head
.
'
Where
the
deuce
have
I
seen
them
—
him
and
the
girl
too
?
'
Milvain
asked
himself
.
And
before
he
reached
home
the
recollection
he
sought
flashed
upon
his
mind
.
'
The
Museum
Reading-room
,
of
course
!
'
CHAPTER
II
THE
HOUSE
OF
YULE
'
I
think
,
'
said
Jasper
,
as
he
entered
the
room
where
his
mother
and
Maud
were
busy
with
plain
needlework
,
'
I
must
have
met
Alfred
Yule
and
his
daughter
.
'
'
How
did
you
recognise
them
?
'
Mrs.
Milvain
inquired
.
'
I
passed
an
old
buffer
and
a
pale-faced
girl
whom
I
know
by
sight
at
the
British
Museum
.
It
was
n't
near
Yule
's
house
,
but
they
were
taking
a
walk
.
'
'
They
may
have
come
already
.
When
Miss
Harrow
was
here
last
,
she
said
"
in
about
a
fortnight
.
"
'
'
No
mistaking
them
for
people
of
these
parts
,
even
if
I
had
n't
remembered
their
faces
.
Both
of
them
are
obvious
dwellers
in
the
valley
of
the
shadow
of
books
.
'
'
Is
Miss
Yule
such
a
fright
then
?
'
asked
Maud
.
'
A
fright
!
Not
at
all
.
A
good
example
of
the
modern
literary
girl
.
I
suppose
you
have
the
oddest
old-fashioned
ideas
of
such
people
.
No
,
I
rather
liked
the
look
of
her
.
Simpatica
,
I
should
think
,
as
that
ass
Whelpdale
would
say
.
A
very
delicate
,
pure
complexion
,
though
morbid
;
nice
eyes
;
figure
not
spoilt
yet
.
But
of
course
I
may
be
wrong
about
their
identity
.
'
Later
in
the
afternoon
Jasper
's
conjecture
was
rendered
a
certainty
.
Maud
had
walked
to
Wattleborough
,
where
she
would
meet
Dora
on
the
latter
's
return
from
her
teaching
,
and
Mrs.
Milvain
sat
alone
,
in
a
mood
of
depression
;
there
was
a
ring
at
the
door-bell
,
and
the
servant
admitted
Miss
Harrow
.
This
lady
acted
as
housekeeper
to
Mr.
John
Yule
,
a
wealthy
resident
in
this
neighbourhood
;
she
was
the
sister
of
his
deceased
wife
—
a
thin
,
soft-speaking
,
kindly
woman
of
forty-five
.
The
greater
part
of
her
life
she
had
spent
as
a
governess
;
her
position
now
was
more
agreeable
,
and
the
removal
of
her
anxiety
about
the
future
had
developed
qualities
of
cheerfulness
which
formerly
no
one
would
have
suspected
her
to
possess
.
The
acquaintance
between
Mrs.
Milvain
and
her
was
only
of
twelve
months
'
standing
;
prior
to
that
,
Mr.
Yule
had
inhabited
a
house
at
the
end
of
Wattleborough
remote
from
Finden
.
'
Our
London
visitors
came
yesterday
,
'
she
began
by
saying
.
Mrs.
Milvain
mentioned
her
son
's
encounter
an
hour
or
two
ago
.
'
No
doubt
it
was
they
,
'
said
the
visitor
.
'
Mrs
.
Yule
has
n't
come
;
I
hardly
expected
she
would
,
you
know
.
So
very
unfortunate
when
there
are
difficulties
of
that
kind
,
is
n't
it
?
'
She
smiled
confidentially
.
'
The
poor
girl
must
feel
it
,
'
said
Mrs.
Milvain
.
'
I
'm
afraid
she
does
.
Of
course
it
narrows
the
circle
of
her
friends
at
home
.
She
's
a
sweet
girl
,
and
I
should
so
like
you
to
meet
her
.
Do
come
and
have
tea
with
us
to-morrow
afternoon
,
will
you
?
Or
would
it
be
too
much
for
you
just
now
?
'
'
Will
you
let
the
girls
call
?
And
then
perhaps
Miss
Yule
will
be
so
good
as
to
come
and
see
me
?
'
'
I
wonder
whether
Mr.
Milvain
would
like
to
meet
her
father
?
I
have
thought
that
perhaps
it
might
be
some
advantage
to
him
.
Alfred
is
so
closely
connected
with
literary
people
,
you
know
.
'
'
I
feel
sure
he
would
be
glad
,
'
replied
Mrs.
Milvain
.
'
But
—
what
of
Jasper
's
friendship
with
Mrs.
Edmund
Yule
and
the
Reardons
?
Might
n't
it
be
a
little
awkward
?
'
'
Oh
,
I
do
n't
think
so
,
unless
he
himself
felt
it
so
.
There
would
be
no
need
to
mention
that
,
I
should
say
.
And
,
really
,
it
would
be
so
much
better
if
those
estrangements
came
to
an
end
.
John
makes
no
scruple
of
speaking
freely
about
everyone
,
and
I
do
n't
think
Alfred
regards
Mrs.
Edmund
with
any
serious
unkindness
.
If
Mr.
Milvain
would
walk
over
with
the
young
ladies
to-morrow
,
it
would
be
very
pleasant
.
'
'
Then
I
think
I
may
promise
that
he
will
.
I
'm
sure
I
do
n't
know
where
he
is
at
this
moment
.
We
do
n't
see
very
much
of
him
,
except
at
meals
.
'
'
He
wo
n't
be
with
you
much
longer
,
I
suppose
?
'
'
Perhaps
a
week
.
'
Before
Miss
Harrow
's
departure
Maud
and
Dora
reached
home
.
They
were
curious
to
see
the
young
lady
from
the
valley
of
the
shadow
of
books
,
and
gladly
accepted
the
invitation
offered
them
.
They
set
out
on
the
following
afternoon
in
their
brother
's
company
.
It
was
only
a
quarter
of
an
hour
's
walk
to
Mr.
Yule
's
habitation
,
a
small
house
in
a
large
garden
.
Jasper
was
coming
hither
for
the
first
time
;
his
sisters
now
and
then
visited
Miss
Harrow
,
but
very
rarely
saw
Mr.
Yule
himself
,
who
made
no
secret
of
the
fact
that
he
cared
little
for
female
society
.
In
Wattleborough
and
the
neighbourhood
opinions
varied
greatly
as
to
this
gentleman
's
character
,
but
women
seldom
spoke
very
favourably
of
him
.
Miss
Harrow
was
reticent
concerning
her
brother-in-law
;
no
one
,
however
,
had
any
reason
to
believe
that
she
found
life
under
his
roof
disagreeable
.
That
she
lived
with
him
at
all
was
of
course
occasionally
matter
for
comment
,
certain
Wattleborough
ladies
having
their
doubts
regarding
the
position
of
a
deceased
wife
's
sister
under
such
circumstances
;
but
no
one
was
seriously
exercised
about
the
relations
between
this
sober
lady
of
forty-five
and
a
man
of
sixty-three
in
broken
health
.
A
word
of
the
family
history
.
John
,
Alfred
,
and
Edmund
Yule
were
the
sons
of
a
Wattleborough
stationer
.
Each
was
well
educated
,
up
to
the
age
of
seventeen
,
at
the
town
's
grammar
school
.
The
eldest
,
who
was
a
hot-headed
lad
,
but
showed
capacities
for
business
,
worked
at
first
with
his
father
,
endeavouring
to
add
a
bookselling
department
to
the
trade
in
stationery
;
but
the
life
of
home
was
not
much
to
his
taste
,
and
at
one-
and-twenty
he
obtained
a
clerk
's
place
in
the
office
of
a
London
newspaper
.
Three
years
after
,
his
father
died
,
and
the
small
patrimony
which
fell
to
him
he
used
in
making
himself
practically
acquainted
with
the
details
of
paper
manufacture
,
his
aim
being
to
establish
himself
in
partnership
with
an
acquaintance
who
had
started
a
small
paper-mill
in
Hertfordshire
.
His
speculation
succeeded
,
and
as
years
went
on
he
became
a
thriving
manufacturer
.
His
brother
Alfred
,
in
the
meantime
,
had
drifted
from
work
at
a
London
bookseller
's
into
the
modern
Grub
Street
,
his
adventures
in
which
region
will
concern
us
hereafter
.
Edmund
carried
on
the
Wattleborough
business
,
but
with
small
success
.
Between
him
and
his
eldest
brother
existed
a
good
deal
of
affection
,
and
in
the
end
John
offered
him
a
share
in
his
flourishing
paper-works
;
whereupon
Edmund
married
,
deeming
himself
well
established
for
life
.
But
John
's
temper
was
a
difficult
one
;
Edmund
and
he
quarrelled
,
parted
;
and
when
the
younger
died
,
aged
about
forty
,
he
left
but
moderate
provision
for
his
widow
and
two
children
.
Only
when
he
had
reached
middle
age
did
John
marry
;
the
experiment
could
not
be
called
successful
,
and
Mrs.
Yule
died
three
years
later
,
childless
.
At
fifty-four
John
Yule
retired
from
active
business
;
he
came
back
to
the
scenes
of
his
early
life
,
and
began
to
take
an
important
part
in
the
municipal
affairs
of
Wattleborough
.
He
was
then
a
remarkably
robust
man
,
fond
of
out-
of-door
exercise
;
he
made
it
one
of
his
chief
efforts
to
encourage
the
local
Volunteer
movement
,
the
cricket
and
football
clubs
,
public
sports
of
every
kind
,
showing
no
sympathy
whatever
with
those
persons
who
wished
to
establish
free
libraries
,
lectures
,
and
the
like
.
At
his
own
expense
he
built
for
the
Volunteers
a
handsome
drill-shed
;
he
founded
a
public
gymnasium
;
and
finally
he
allowed
it
to
be
rumoured
that
he
was
going
to
present
the
town
with
a
park
.
But
by
presuming
too
far
upon
the
bodily
vigour
which
prompted
these
activities
,
he
passed
of
a
sudden
into
the
state
of
a
confirmed
invalid
.
On
an
autumn
expedition
in
the
Hebrides
,
he
slept
one
night
under
the
open
sky
,
with
the
result
that
he
had
an
all
but
fatal
attack
of
rheumatic
fever
.
After
that
,
though
the
direction
of
his
interests
was
unchanged
,
he
could
no
longer
set
the
example
to
Wattleborough
youth
of
muscular
manliness
.
The
infliction
did
not
improve
his
temper
;
for
the
next
year
or
two
he
was
constantly
at
warfare
with
one
or
other
of
his
colleagues
and
friends
,
ill
brooking
that
the
familiar
control
of
various
local
interests
should
fall
out
of
his
hands
.
But
before
long
he
appeared
to
resign
himself
to
his
fate
,
and
at
present
Wattleborough
saw
little
of
him
.
It
seemed
likely
that
he
might
still
found
the
park
which
was
to
bear
his
name
;
but
perhaps
it
would
only
be
done
in
consequence
of
directions
in
his
will
.
It
was
believed
that
he
could
not
live
much
longer
.
With
his
kinsfolk
he
held
very
little
communication
.
Alfred
Yule
,
a
battered
man
of
letters
,
had
visited
Wattleborough
only
twice
(
including
the
present
occasion
)
since
John
's
return
hither
.
Mrs.
Edmund
Yule
,
with
her
daughter
—
now
Mrs.
Reardon
—
had
been
only
once
,
three
years
ago
.
These
two
families
,
as
you
have
heard
,
were
not
on
terms
of
amity
with
each
other
,
owing
to
difficulties
between
Mrs.
Alfred
and
Mrs.
Edmund
;
but
John
seemed
to
regard
both
impartially
.
Perhaps
the
only
real
warmth
of
feeling
he
had
ever
known
was
bestowed
upon
Edmund
,
and
Miss
Harrow
had
remarked
that
he
spoke
with
somewhat
more
interest
of
Edmund
's
daughter
,
Amy
,
than
of
Alfred
's
daughter
,
Marian
.
But
it
was
doubtful
whether
the
sudden
disappearance
from
the
earth
of
all
his
relatives
would
greatly
have
troubled
him
.
He
lived
a
life
of
curious
self-absorption
,
reading
newspapers
(
little
else
)
,
and
talking
with
old
friends
who
had
stuck
to
him
in
spite
of
his
irascibility
.
Miss
Harrow
received
her
visitors
in
a
small
and
soberly
furnished
drawing-room
.
She
was
nervous
,
probably
because
of
Jasper
Milvain
,
whom
she
had
met
but
once
—
last
spring
—
and
who
on
that
occasion
had
struck
her
as
an
alarmingly
modern
young
man
.
In
the
shadow
of
a
window-curtain
sat
a
slight
,
simply-dressed
girl
,
whose
short
curly
hair
and
thoughtful
countenance
Jasper
again
recognised
.
When
it
was
his
turn
to
be
presented
to
Miss
Yule
,
he
saw
that
she
doubted
for
an
instant
whether
or
not
to
give
her
hand
;
yet
she
decided
to
do
so
,
and
there
was
something
very
pleasant
to
him
in
its
warm
softness
.
She
smiled
with
a
slight
embarrassment
,
meeting
his
look
only
for
a
second
.
'
I
have
seen
you
several
times
,
Miss
Yule
,
'
he
said
in
a
friendly
way
,
'
though
without
knowing
your
name
.
It
was
under
the
great
dome
.
'
She
laughed
,
readily
understanding
his
phrase
.
'
I
am
there
very
often
,
'
was
her
reply
.
'
What
great
dome
?
'
asked
Miss
Harrow
,
with
surprise
.
'
That
of
the
British
Museum
Reading-room
,
'
explained
Jasper
;
'
known
to
some
of
us
as
the
valley
of
the
shadow
of
books
.
People
who
often
work
there
necessarily
get
to
know
each
other
by
sight
.
In
the
same
way
I
knew
Miss
Yule
's
father
when
I
happened
to
pass
him
in
the
road
yesterday
.
'
The
three
girls
began
to
converse
together
,
perforce
of
trivialities
.
Marian
Yule
spoke
in
rather
slow
tones
,
thoughtfully
,
gently
;
she
had
linked
her
fingers
,
and
laid
her
hands
,
palms
downwards
,
upon
her
lap
—
a
nervous
action
.
Her
accent
was
pure
,
unpretentious
;
and
she
used
none
of
the
fashionable
turns
of
speech
which
would
have
suggested
the
habit
of
intercourse
with
distinctly
metropolitan
society
.
'
You
must
wonder
how
we
exist
in
this
out-
of-the-way
place
,
'
remarked
Maud
.
'
Rather
,
I
envy
you
,
'
Marian
answered
,
with
a
slight
emphasis
.
The
door
opened
,
and
Alfred
Yule
presented
himself
.
He
was
tall
,
and
his
head
seemed
a
disproportionate
culmination
to
his
meagre
body
,
it
was
so
large
and
massively
featured
.
Intellect
and
uncertainty
of
temper
were
equally
marked
upon
his
visage
;
his
brows
were
knitted
in
a
permanent
expression
of
severity
.
He
had
thin
,
smooth
hair
,
grizzled
whiskers
,
a
shaven
chin
.
In
the
multitudinous
wrinkles
of
his
face
lay
a
history
of
laborious
and
stormy
life
;
one
readily
divined
in
him
a
struggling
and
embittered
man
.
Though
he
looked
older
than
his
years
,
he
had
by
no
means
the
appearance
of
being
beyond
the
ripeness
of
his
mental
vigour
.
'
It
pleases
me
to
meet
you
,
Mr.
Milvain
,
'
he
said
,
as
he
stretched
out
his
bony
hand
.
'
Your
name
reminds
me
of
a
paper
in
The
Wayside
a
month
or
two
ago
,
which
you
will
perhaps
allow
a
veteran
to
say
was
not
ill
done
.
'
'
I
am
grateful
to
you
for
noticing
it
,
'
replied
Jasper
.
There
was
positively
a
touch
of
visible
warmth
upon
his
cheek
.
The
allusion
had
come
so
unexpectedly
that
it
caused
him
keen
pleasure
.
Mr.
Yule
seated
himself
awkwardly
,
crossed
his
legs
,
and
began
to
stroke
the
back
of
his
left
hand
,
which
lay
on
his
knee
.
He
seemed
to
have
nothing
more
to
say
at
present
,
and
allowed
Miss
Harrow
and
the
girls
to
support
conversation
.
Jasper
listened
with
a
smile
for
a
minute
or
two
,
then
he
addressed
the
veteran
.
'
Have
you
seen
The
Study
this
week
,
Mr.
Yule
?
'
'
Yes
.
'
'
Did
you
notice
that
it
contains
a
very
favourable
review
of
a
novel
which
was
tremendously
abused
in
the
same
columns
three
weeks
ago
?
'
Mr.
Yule
started
,
but
Jasper
could
perceive
at
once
that
his
emotion
was
not
disagreeable
.
'
You
do
n't
say
so
?
'
'
Yes
.
The
novel
is
Miss
Hawk
's
"
On
the
Boards
.
"
How
will
the
editor
get
out
of
this
?
'
'
H
'm
!
Of
course
Mr.
Fadge
is
not
immediately
responsible
;
but
it
'll
be
unpleasant
for
him
,
decidedly
unpleasant
,
'
He
smiled
grimly
.
'
You
hear
this
,
Marian
?
'
'
How
is
it
explained
,
father
?
'
'
May
be
accident
,
of
course
;
but
—
well
,
there
's
no
knowing
.
I
think
it
very
likely
this
will
be
the
end
of
Mr.
Fadge
's
tenure
of
office
.
Rackett
,
the
proprietor
,
only
wants
a
plausible
excuse
for
making
a
change
.
The
paper
has
been
going
downhill
for
the
last
year
;
I
know
of
two
publishing
houses
who
have
withdrawn
their
advertising
from
it
,
and
who
never
send
their
books
for
review
.
Everyone
foresaw
that
kind
of
thing
from
the
day
Mr.
Fadge
became
editor
.
The
tone
of
his
paragraphs
has
been
detestable
.
Two
reviews
of
the
same
novel
,
eh
?
And
diametrically
opposed
?
Ha
!
ha
!
'
Gradually
he
had
passed
from
quiet
appreciation
of
the
joke
to
undisguised
mirth
and
pleasure
.
His
utterance
of
the
name
'
Mr
.
Fadge
'
sufficiently
intimated
that
he
had
some
cause
of
personal
discontent
with
the
editor
of
The
Study
.
'
The
author
,
'
remarked
Milvain
,
'
ought
to
make
a
good
thing
out
of
this
.
'
'
Will
,
no
doubt
.
Ought
to
write
at
once
to
the
papers
,
calling
attention
to
this
sample
of
critical
impartiality
.
Ha
!
ha
!
'
He
rose
and
went
to
the
window
,
where
for
several
minutes
he
stood
gazing
at
vacancy
,
the
same
grim
smile
still
on
his
face
.
Jasper
in
the
meantime
amused
the
ladies
(
his
sisters
had
heard
him
on
this
subject
already
)
with
a
description
of
the
two
antagonistic
notices
.
But
he
did
not
trust
himself
to
express
so
freely
as
he
had
done
at
home
his
opinion
of
reviewing
in
general
;
it
was
more
than
probable
that
both
Yule
and
his
daughter
did
a
good
deal
of
such
work
.
'
Suppose
we
go
into
the
garden
,
'
suggested
Miss
Harrow
,
presently
.
'
It
seems
a
shame
to
sit
indoors
on
such
a
lovely
afternoon
.
'
Hitherto
there
had
been
no
mention
of
the
master
of
the
house
.
But
Mr.
Yule
now
remarked
to
Jasper
:
'
My
brother
would
he
glad
if
you
would
come
and
have
a
word
with
him
.
He
is
n't
quite
well
enough
to
leave
his
room
to-day
.
'
So
,
as
the
ladies
went
gardenwards
,
Jasper
followed
the
man
of
letters
upstairs
to
a
room
on
the
first
floor
.
Here
,
in
a
deep
cane
chair
,
which
was
placed
by
the
open
window
,
sat
John
Yule
.
He
was
completely
dressed
,
save
that
instead
of
coat
he
wore
a
dressing-gown
.
The
facial
likeness
between
him
and
his
brother
was
very
strong
,
but
John
's
would
universally
have
been
judged
the
finer
countenance
;
illness
not
withstanding
,
he
had
a
complexion
which
contrasted
in
its
pure
colour
with
Alfred
's
parchmenty
skin
,
and
there
was
more
finish
about
his
features
.
His
abundant
hair
was
reddish
,
his
long
moustache
and
trimmed
beard
a
lighter
shade
of
the
same
hue
.
'
So
you
too
are
in
league
with
the
doctors
,
'
was
his
bluff
greeting
,
as
he
held
a
hand
to
the
young
man
and
inspected
him
with
a
look
of
slighting
good-nature
.
'
Well
,
that
certainly
is
one
way
of
regarding
the
literary
profession
,
'
admitted
Jasper
,
who
had
heard
enough
of
John
's
way
of
thinking
to
understand
the
remark
.
'
A
young
fellow
with
all
the
world
before
him
,
too
.
Hang
it
,
Mr.
Milvain
,
is
there
no
less
pernicious
work
you
can
turn
your
hand
to
?
'
'
I
'm
afraid
not
,
Mr.
Yule
.
After
all
,
you
know
,
you
must
be
held
in
a
measure
responsible
for
my
depravity
.
'
'
How
's
that
?
'
'
I
understand
that
you
have
devoted
most
of
your
life
to
the
making
of
paper
.
If
that
article
were
not
so
cheap
and
so
abundant
,
people
would
n't
have
so
much
temptation
to
scribble
.
'
Alfred
Yule
uttered
a
short
laugh
.
'
I
think
you
are
cornered
,
John
.
'
'
I
wish
,
'
answered
John
,
'
that
you
were
both
condemned
to
write
on
such
paper
as
I
chiefly
made
;
it
was
a
special
kind
of
whitey-brown
,
used
by
shopkeepers
.
'
He
chuckled
inwardly
,
and
at
the
same
time
reached
out
for
a
box
of
cigarettes
on
a
table
near
him
.
His
brother
and
Jasper
each
took
one
as
he
offered
them
,
and
began
to
smoke
.
'
'
You
would
like
to
see
literary
production
come
entirely
to
an
end
?
'
said
Milvain
.
'
I
should
like
to
see
the
business
of
literature
abolished
.
'
'
There
's
a
distinction
,
of
course
.
But
,
on
the
whole
,
I
should
say
that
even
the
business
serves
a
good
purpose
.
'
'
What
purpose
?
'
'
It
helps
to
spread
civilisation
.
'
'
Civilisation
!
'
exclaimed
John
,
scornfully
.
'
What
do
you
mean
by
civilisation
?
Do
you
call
it
civilising
men
to
make
them
weak
,
flabby
creatures
,
with
ruined
eyes
and
dyspeptic
stomachs
?
Who
is
it
that
reads
most
of
the
stuff
that
's
poured
out
daily
by
the
ton
from
the
printing-press
?
Just
the
men
and
women
who
ought
to
spend
their
leisure
hours
in
open-air
exercise
;
the
people
who
earn
their
bread
by
sedentary
pursuits
,
and
who
need
to
live
as
soon
as
they
are
free
from
the
desk
or
the
counter
,
not
to
moon
over
small
print
.
Your
Board
schools
,
your
popular
press
,
your
spread
of
education
!
Machinery
for
ruining
the
country
,
that
's
what
I
call
it
.
'
'
You
have
done
a
good
deal
,
I
think
,
to
counteract
those
influences
in
Wattleborough
.
'
'
I
hope
so
;
and
if
only
I
had
kept
the
use
of
my
limbs
I
'd
have
done
a
good
deal
more
.
I
have
an
idea
of
offering
substantial
prizes
to
men
and
women
engaged
in
sedentary
work
who
take
an
oath
to
abstain
from
all
reading
,
and
keep
it
for
a
certain
number
of
years
.
There
's
a
good
deal
more
need
for
that
than
for
abstinence
from
strong
liquor
.
If
I
could
have
had
my
way
I
would
have
revived
prize-fighting
.
'
His
brother
laughed
with
contemptuous
impatience
.
'
You
would
doubtless
like
to
see
military
conscription
introduced
into
England
?
'
said
Jasper
.
'
Of
course
I
should
!
You
talk
of
civilising
;
there
's
no
such
way
of
civilising
the
masses
of
the
people
as
by
fixed
military
service
.
Before
mental
training
must
come
training
of
the
body
.
Go
about
the
Continent
,
and
see
the
effect
of
military
service
on
loutish
peasants
and
the
lowest
classes
of
town
population
.
Do
you
know
why
it
is
n't
even
more
successful
?
Because
the
damnable
education
movement
interferes
.
If
Germany
would
shut
up
her
schools
and
universities
for
the
next
quarter
of
a
century
and
go
ahead
like
blazes
with
military
training
there
'd
be
a
nation
such
as
the
world
has
never
seen
.
After
that
,
they
might
begin
a
little
book-teaching
again
—
say
an
hour
and
a
half
a
day
for
everyone
above
nine
years
old
.
Do
you
suppose
,
Mr.
Milvain
,
that
society
is
going
to
be
reformed
by
you
people
who
write
for
money
?
Why
,
you
are
the
very
first
class
that
will
be
swept
from
the
face
of
the
earth
as
soon
as
the
reformation
really
begins
!
'
Alfred
puffed
at
his
cigarette
.
His
thoughts
were
occupied
with
Mr.
Fadge
and
The
Study
.
He
was
considering
whether
he
could
aid
in
bringing
public
contempt
upon
that
literary
organ
and
its
editor
.
Milvain
listened
to
the
elder
man
's
diatribe
with
much
amusement
.
'
You
,
now
,
'
pursued
John
,
'
what
do
you
write
about
?
'
'
Nothing
in
particular
.
I
make
a
saleable
page
or
two
out
of
whatever
strikes
my
fancy
.
'
'
Exactly
!
You
do
n't
even
pretend
that
you
've
got
anything
to
say
.
You
live
by
inducing
people
to
give
themselves
mental
indigestion
—
and
bodily
,
too
,
for
that
matter
.
'
'
Do
you
know
,
Mr.
Yule
,
that
you
have
suggested
a
capital
idea
to
me
?
If
I
were
to
take
up
your
views
,
I
think
it
is
n't
at
all
unlikely
that
I
might
make
a
good
thing
of
writing
against
writing
.
It
should
be
my
literary
specialty
to
rail
against
literature
.
The
reading
public
should
pay
me
for
telling
them
that
they
ought
n't
to
read
.
I
must
think
it
over
.
'
'
Carlyle
has
anticipated
you
,
'
threw
in
Alfred
.
'
Yes
,
but
in
an
antiquated
way
.
I
would
base
my
polemic
on
the
newest
philosophy
.
'
He
developed
the
idea
facetiously
,
whilst
John
regarded
him
as
he
might
have
watched
a
performing
monkey
.
'
There
again
!
your
new
philosophy
!
'
exclaimed
the
invalid
.
'
Why
,
it
is
n't
even
wholesome
stuff
,
the
kind
of
reading
that
most
of
you
force
on
the
public
.
Now
there
's
the
man
who
has
married
one
of
my
nieces
—
poor
lass
!
Reardon
,
his
name
is
.
You
know
him
,
I
dare
say
.
Just
for
curiosity
I
had
a
look
at
one
of
his
books
;
it
was
called
"
The
Optimist
.
"
Of
all
the
morbid
trash
I
ever
saw
,
that
beat
everything
.
I
thought
of
writing
him
a
letter
,
advising
a
couple
of
antibilious
pills
before
bed-time
for
a
few
weeks
.
'
Jasper
glanced
at
Alfred
Yule
,
who
wore
a
look
of
indifference
.
'
That
man
deserves
penal
servitude
,
in
my
opinion
,
'
pursued
John
.
'
I
'm
not
sure
that
it
is
n't
my
duty
to
offer
him
a
couple
of
hundred
a
year
on
condition
that
he
writes
no
more
.
'
Milvain
,
with
a
clear
vision
of
his
friend
in
London
,
burst
into
laughter
.
But
at
that
point
Alfred
rose
from
his
chair
.
'
Shall
we
rejoin
the
ladies
?
'
he
said
,
with
a
certain
pedantry
of
phrase
and
manner
which
often
characterised
him
.
'
Think
over
your
ways
whilst
you
're
still
young
,
'
said
John
as
he
shook
hands
with
his
visitor
.
'
Your
brother
speaks
quite
seriously
,
I
suppose
?
'
Jasper
remarked
when
he
was
in
the
garden
with
John
.
'
I
think
so
.
It
's
amusing
now
and
then
,
but
gets
rather
tiresome
when
you
hear
it
often
.
By-the-by
,
you
are
not
personally
acquainted
with
Mr.
Fadge
?
'
'
I
did
n't
even
know
his
name
until
you
mentioned
it
.
'
'
The
most
malicious
man
in
the
literary
world
.
There
's
no
uncharitableness
in
feeling
a
certain
pleasure
when
he
gets
into
a
scrape
.
I
could
tell
you
incredible
stories
about
him
;
but
that
kind
of
thing
is
probably
as
little
to
your
taste
as
it
is
to
mine
.
'
Miss
Harrow
and
her
companions
,
having
caught
sight
of
the
pair
,
came
towards
them
.
Tea
was
to
be
brought
out
into
the
garden
.
'
So
you
can
sit
with
us
and
smoke
,
if
you
like
,
'
said
Miss
Harrow
to
Alfred
.
'
You
are
never
quite
at
your
ease
,
I
think
,
without
a
pipe
.
'
But
the
man
of
letters
was
too
preoccupied
for
society
.
In
a
few
minutes
he
begged
that
the
ladies
would
excuse
his
withdrawing
;
he
had
two
or
three
letters
to
write
before
post-time
,
which
was
early
at
Finden
.
Jasper
,
relieved
by
the
veteran
's
departure
,
began
at
once
to
make
himself
very
agreeable
company
.
When
he
chose
to
lay
aside
the
topic
of
his
own
difficulties
and
ambitions
,
he
could
converse
with
a
spontaneous
gaiety
which
readily
won
the
good-will
of
listeners
.
Naturally
he
addressed
himself
very
often
to
Marian
Yule
,
whose
attention
complimented
him
.
She
said
little
,
and
evidently
was
at
no
time
a
free
talker
,
but
the
smile
on
her
face
indicated
a
mood
of
quiet
enjoyment
.
When
her
eyes
wandered
,
it
was
to
rest
on
the
beauties
of
the
garden
,
the
moving
patches
of
golden
sunshine
,
the
forms
of
gleaming
cloud
.
Jasper
liked
to
observe
her
as
she
turned
her
head
:
there
seemed
to
him
a
particular
grace
in
the
movement
;
her
head
and
neck
were
admirably
formed
,
and
the
short
hair
drew
attention
to
this
.
It
was
agreed
that
Miss
Harrow
and
Marian
should
come
on
the
second
day
after
to
have
tea
with
the
Milvains
.
And
when
Jasper
took
leave
of
Alfred
Yule
,
the
latter
expressed
a
wish
that
they
might
have
a
walk
together
one
of
these
mornings
.
CHAPTER
III
HOLIDAY
Jasper
's
favourite
walk
led
him
to
a
spot
distant
perhaps
a
mile
and
a
half
from
home
.
From
a
tract
of
common
he
turned
into
a
short
lane
which
crossed
the
Great
Western
railway
,
and
thence
by
a
stile
into
certain
meadows
forming
a
compact
little
valley
.
One
recommendation
of
this
retreat
was
that
it
lay
sheltered
from
all
winds
;
to
Jasper
a
wind
was
objectionable
.
Along
the
bottom
ran
a
clear
,
shallow
stream
,
overhung
with
elder
and
hawthorn
