toan
end
.
When
Sunday
came
,
Yule
inquired
of
his
daughter
if
she
had
any
engagement
for
the
afternoon
.
'
Yes
,
I
have
,
'
she
replied
,
with
an
effort
to
disguise
her
embarrassment
.
'
I
'm
sorry
.
I
thought
of
asking
you
to
come
with
me
to
Quarmby
's
.
Shall
you
be
away
through
the
evening
?
'
'
Till
about
nine
o'clock
,
I
think
.
'
'
Ah
!
Never
mind
,
never
mind
.
'
He
tried
to
dismiss
the
matter
as
if
it
were
of
no
moment
,
but
Marian
saw
the
shadow
that
passed
over
his
countenance
.
This
was
just
after
breakfast
.
For
the
remainder
of
the
morning
she
did
not
meet
him
,
and
at
the
mid-day
dinner
he
was
silent
,
though
he
brought
no
book
to
the
table
with
him
,
as
he
was
wont
to
do
when
in
his
dark
moods
.
Marian
talked
with
her
mother
,
doing
her
best
to
preserve
the
appearance
of
cheerfulness
which
was
natural
since
the
change
in
Yule
's
demeanour
.
She
chanced
to
meet
her
father
in
the
passage
just
as
she
was
going
out
.
He
smiled
(
it
was
more
like
a
grin
of
pain
)
and
nodded
,
but
said
nothing
.
When
the
front
door
closed
,
he
went
into
the
parlour
.
Mrs.
Yule
was
reading
,
or
,
at
all
events
,
turning
over
a
volume
of
an
illustrated
magazine
.
'
Where
do
you
suppose
she
has
gone
?
'
he
asked
,
in
a
voice
which
was
only
distant
,
not
offensive
.
'
To
the
Miss
Milvains
,
I
believe
,
'
Mrs.
Yule
answered
,
looking
aside
.
'
Did
she
tell
you
so
?
'
'
No
.
We
do
n't
talk
about
it
.
'
He
seated
himself
on
the
corner
of
a
chair
and
bent
forward
,
his
chin
in
his
hand
.
'
Has
she
said
anything
to
you
about
the
review
?
'
'
Not
a
word
.
'
She
glanced
at
him
timidly
,
and
turned
a
few
pages
of
her
book
.
'
I
wanted
her
to
come
to
Quarmby
's
,
because
there
'll
be
a
man
there
who
is
anxious
that
Jedwood
should
start
a
magazine
,
and
it
would
be
useful
for
her
to
hear
practical
opinions
.
There
'd
be
no
harm
if
you
just
spoke
to
her
about
it
now
and
then
.
Of
course
if
she
has
made
up
her
mind
to
refuse
me
it
's
no
use
troubling
myself
any
more
.
I
should
think
you
might
find
out
what
's
really
going
on
.
'
Only
dire
stress
of
circumstances
could
have
brought
Alfred
Yule
to
make
distinct
appeal
for
his
wife
's
help
.
There
was
no
underhand
plotting
between
them
to
influence
their
daughter
;
Mrs.
Yule
had
as
much
desire
for
the
happiness
of
her
husband
as
for
that
of
Marian
,
but
she
felt
powerless
to
effect
anything
on
either
side
.
'
If
ever
she
says
anything
,
I
'll
let
you
know
.
'
'
But
it
seems
to
me
that
you
have
a
right
to
question
her
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
do
that
,
Alfred
.
'
'
Unfortunately
,
there
are
a
good
many
things
you
ca
n't
do
.
'
With
that
remark
,
familiar
to
his
wife
in
substance
,
though
the
tone
of
it
was
less
caustic
than
usual
,
he
rose
and
sauntered
from
the
room
.
He
spent
a
gloomy
hour
in
the
study
,
then
went
off
to
join
the
literary
circle
at
Mr.
Quarmby
's
.
CHAPTER
XXIV
JASPER
'S
MAGNANIMITY
Occasionally
Milvain
met
his
sisters
as
they
came
out
of
church
on
Sunday
morning
,
and
walked
home
to
have
dinner
with
them
.
He
did
so
to-day
,
though
the
sky
was
cheerless
and
a
strong
north-west
wind
made
it
anything
but
agreeable
to
wait
about
in
open
spaces
.
'
Are
you
going
to
Mrs.
Wright
's
this
afternoon
?
'
he
asked
,
as
they
went
on
together
.
'
I
thought
of
going
,
'
replied
Maud
.
'
Marian
will
be
with
Dora
.
'
'
You
ought
both
to
go
.
You
must
n't
neglect
that
woman
.
'
He
said
nothing
more
just
then
,
but
when
presently
he
was
alone
with
Dora
in
the
sitting-room
for
a
few
minutes
,
he
turned
with
a
peculiar
smile
and
remarked
quietly
:
'
I
think
you
had
better
go
with
Maud
this
afternoon
.
'
'
But
I
ca
n't
.
I
expect
Marian
at
three
.
'
'
That
's
just
why
I
want
you
to
go
.
'
She
looked
her
surprise
.
'
I
want
to
have
a
talk
with
Marian
.
We
'll
manage
it
in
this
way
.
At
a
quarter
to
three
you
two
shall
start
,
and
as
you
go
out
you
can
tell
the
landlady
that
if
Miss
Yule
comes
she
is
to
wait
for
you
,
as
you
wo
n't
be
long
.
She
'll
come
upstairs
,
and
I
shall
be
there
.
You
see
?
'
Dora
turned
half
away
,
disturbed
a
little
,
but
not
displeased
.
'
And
what
about
Miss
Rupert
?
'
she
asked
.
'
Oh
,
Miss
Rupert
may
go
to
Jericho
for
all
I
care
.
I
'm
in
a
magnanimous
mood
.
'
'
Very
,
I
've
no
doubt
.
'
'
Well
,
you
'll
do
this
?
One
of
the
results
of
poverty
,
you
see
;
one
ca
n't
even
have
a
private
conversation
with
a
friend
without
plotting
to
get
the
use
of
a
room
.
But
there
shall
be
an
end
of
this
state
of
things
.
'
He
nodded
significantly
.
Thereupon
Dora
left
the
room
to
speak
with
her
sister
.
The
device
was
put
into
execution
,
and
Jasper
saw
his
sisters
depart
knowing
that
they
were
not
likely
to
return
for
some
three
hours
.
He
seated
himself
comfortably
by
the
fire
and
mused
.
Five
minutes
had
hardly
gone
by
when
he
looked
at
his
watch
,
thinking
Marian
must
be
unpunctual
.
He
was
nervous
,
though
he
had
believed
himself
secure
against
such
weakness
.
His
presence
here
with
the
purpose
he
had
in
his
mind
seemed
to
him
distinctly
a
concession
to
impulses
he
ought
to
have
controlled
;
but
to
this
resolve
he
had
come
,
and
it
was
now
too
late
to
recommence
the
arguments
with
himself
.
Too
late
?
Well
,
not
strictly
so
;
he
had
committed
himself
to
nothing
;
up
to
the
last
moment
of
freedom
he
could
always
—
That
was
doubtless
Marian
's
knock
at
the
front
door
.
He
jumped
up
,
walked
the
length
of
the
room
,
sat
down
on
another
chair
,
returned
to
his
former
seat
.
Then
the
door
opened
and
Marian
came
in
.
She
was
not
surprised
;
the
landlady
had
mentioned
to
her
that
Mr.
Milvain
was
upstairs
,
waiting
the
return
of
his
sisters
.
'
I
am
to
make
Dora
's
excuses
,
'
Jasper
said
.
'
She
begged
you
would
forgive
her
—
that
you
would
wait
.
'
'
Oh
yes
.
'
'
And
you
were
to
be
sure
to
take
off
your
hat
,
'
he
added
in
a
laughing
tone
;
'
and
to
let
me
put
your
umbrella
in
the
corner
—
like
that
.
'
He
had
always
admired
the
shape
of
Marian
's
head
,
and
the
beauty
of
her
short
,
soft
,
curly
hair
.
As
he
watched
her
uncovering
it
,
he
was
pleased
with
the
grace
of
her
arms
and
the
pliancy
of
her
slight
figure
.
'
Which
is
usually
your
chair
?
'
'
I
'm
sure
I
do
n't
know
.
'
'
When
one
goes
to
see
a
friend
frequently
,
one
gets
into
regular
habits
in
these
matters
.
In
Biffen
's
garret
I
used
to
have
the
most
uncomfortable
chair
it
was
ever
my
lot
to
sit
upon
;
still
,
I
came
to
feel
an
affection
for
it
.
At
Reardon
's
I
always
had
what
was
supposed
to
be
the
most
luxurious
seat
,
but
it
was
too
small
for
me
,
and
I
eyed
it
resentfully
on
sitting
down
and
rising
.
'
'
Have
you
any
news
about
the
Reardons
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
am
told
that
Reardon
has
had
the
offer
of
a
secretaryship
to
a
boys
'
home
,
or
something
of
the
kind
,
at
Croydon
.
But
I
suppose
there
'll
be
no
need
for
him
to
think
of
that
now
.
'
'
Surely
not
!
'
'
Oh
,
there
's
no
saying
.
'
'
Why
should
he
do
work
of
that
kind
now
?
'
'
Perhaps
his
wife
will
tell
him
that
she
wants
her
money
all
for
herself
.
'
Marian
laughed
.
It
was
very
rarely
that
Jasper
had
heard
her
laugh
at
all
,
and
never
so
spontaneously
as
this
.
He
liked
the
music
.
'
You
have
n't
a
very
good
opinion
of
Mrs.
Reardon
,
'
she
said
.
'
She
is
a
difficult
person
to
judge
.
I
never
disliked
her
,
by
any
means
;
but
she
was
decidedly
out
of
place
as
the
wife
of
a
struggling
author
.
Perhaps
I
have
been
a
little
prejudiced
against
her
since
Reardon
quarrelled
with
me
on
her
account
.
'
Marian
was
astonished
at
this
unlooked-for
explanation
of
the
rupture
between
Milvain
and
his
friend
.
That
they
had
not
seen
each
other
for
some
months
she
knew
from
Jasper
himself
,
but
no
definite
cause
had
been
assigned
.
'
I
may
as
well
let
you
know
all
about
it
,
'
Milvain
continued
,
seeing
that
he
had
disconcerted
the
girl
,
as
he
meant
to
.
'
I
met
Reardon
not
long
after
they
had
parted
,
and
he
charged
me
with
being
in
great
part
the
cause
of
his
troubles
.
'
The
listener
did
not
raise
her
eyes
.
'
You
would
never
imagine
what
my
fault
was
.
Reardon
declared
that
the
tone
of
my
conversation
had
been
morally
injurious
to
his
wife
.
He
said
I
was
always
glorifying
wordly
success
,
and
that
this
had
made
her
discontented
with
her
lot
.
Sounds
rather
ludicrous
,
do
n't
you
think
?
'
'
It
was
very
strange
.
'
'
Reardon
was
in
desperate
earnest
,
poor
fellow
.
And
,
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
I
fear
there
may
have
been
something
in
his
complaint
.
I
told
him
at
once
that
I
should
henceforth
keep
away
from
Mrs.
Edmund
Yule
's
;
and
so
I
have
done
,
with
the
result
,
of
course
,
that
they
suppose
I
condemn
Mrs.
Reardon
's
behaviour
.
The
affair
was
a
nuisance
,
but
I
had
no
choice
,
I
think
.
'
'
You
say
that
perhaps
your
talk
really
was
harmful
to
her
?
'
'
It
may
have
been
,
though
such
a
danger
never
occurred
to
me
.
'
'
Then
Amy
must
be
very
weak-minded
.
'
'
To
be
influenced
by
such
a
paltry
fellow
?
'
'
To
be
influenced
by
anyone
in
such
a
way
.
'
'
You
think
the
worse
of
me
for
this
story
?
'
Jasper
asked
.
'
I
do
n't
quite
understand
it
.
How
did
you
talk
to
her
?
'
'
As
I
talk
to
everyone
.
You
have
heard
me
say
the
same
things
many
a
time
.
I
simply
declare
my
opinion
that
the
end
of
literary
work
—
unless
one
is
a
man
of
genius
—
is
to
secure
comfort
and
repute
.
This
does
n't
seem
to
me
very
scandalous
.
But
Mrs.
Reardon
was
perhaps
too
urgent
in
repeating
such
views
to
her
husband
.
She
saw
that
in
my
case
they
were
likely
to
have
solid
results
,
and
it
was
a
misery
to
her
that
Reardon
could
n't
or
would
n't
work
in
the
same
practical
way
.
'
'
It
was
very
unfortunate
.
'
'
And
you
are
inclined
to
blame
me
?
'
'
No
;
because
I
am
so
sure
that
you
only
spoke
in
the
way
natural
to
you
,
without
a
thought
of
such
consequences
.
'
Jasper
smiled
.
'
That
's
precisely
the
truth
.
Nearly
all
men
who
have
their
way
to
make
think
as
I
do
,
but
most
feel
obliged
to
adopt
a
false
tone
,
to
talk
about
literary
conscientiousness
,
and
so
on
.
I
simply
say
what
I
think
,
with
no
pretences
.
I
should
like
to
be
conscientious
,
but
it
's
a
luxury
I
ca
n't
afford
.
I
've
told
you
all
this
often
enough
,
you
know
.
'
'
Yes
.
'
'
But
it
has
n't
been
morally
injurious
to
you
,
'
he
said
with
a
laugh
.
'
Not
at
all
.
Still
I
do
n't
like
it
.
'
Jasper
was
startled
.
He
gazed
at
her
.
Ought
he
,
then
,
to
have
dealt
with
her
less
frankly
?
Had
he
been
mistaken
in
thinking
that
the
unusual
openness
of
his
talk
was
attractive
to
her
?
She
spoke
with
quite
unaccustomed
decision
;
indeed
,
he
had
noticed
from
her
entrance
that
there
was
something
unfamiliar
in
her
way
of
conversing
.
She
was
so
much
more
self-possessed
than
of
wont
,
and
did
not
seem
to
treat
him
with
the
same
deference
,
the
same
subdual
of
her
own
personality
.
'
You
do
n't
like
it
?
'
he
repeated
calmly
.
'
It
has
become
rather
tiresome
to
you
?
'
'
I
feel
sorry
that
you
should
always
represent
yourself
in
an
unfavourable
light
.
'
He
was
an
acute
man
,
but
the
self-confidence
with
which
he
had
entered
upon
this
dialogue
,
his
conviction
that
he
had
but
to
speak
when
he
wished
to
receive
assurance
of
Marian
's
devotion
,
prevented
him
from
understanding
the
tone
of
independence
she
had
suddenly
adopted
.
With
more
modesty
he
would
have
felt
more
subtly
at
this
juncture
,
would
have
divined
that
the
girl
had
an
exquisite
pleasure
in
drawing
back
now
that
she
saw
him
approaching
her
with
unmistakable
purpose
,
that
she
wished
to
be
wooed
in
less
off-hand
fashion
before
confessing
what
was
in
her
heart
.
For
the
moment
he
was
disconcerted
.
Those
last
words
of
hers
had
a
slight
tone
of
superiority
,
the
last
thing
he
would
have
expected
upon
her
lips
.
'
Yet
I
surely
have
n't
always
appeared
so
—
to
you
?
'
he
said
.
'
No
,
not
always
.
'
'
But
you
are
in
doubt
concerning
the
real
man
?
'
'
I
'm
not
sure
that
I
understand
you
.
You
say
that
you
do
really
think
as
you
speak
.
'
'
So
I
do
.
I
think
that
there
is
no
choice
for
a
man
who
ca
n't
bear
poverty
.
I
have
never
said
,
though
,
that
I
had
pleasure
in
mean
necessities
;
I
accept
them
because
I
ca
n't
help
it
.
'
It
was
a
delight
to
Marian
to
observe
the
anxiety
with
which
he
turned
to
self-defence
.
Never
in
her
life
had
she
felt
this
joy
of
holding
a
position
of
command
.
It
was
nothing
to
her
that
Jasper
valued
her
more
because
of
her
money
;
impossible
for
it
to
be
otherwise
.
Satisfied
that
he
did
value
her
,
to
begin
with
,
for
her
own
sake
,
she
was
very
willing
to
accept
money
as
her
ally
in
the
winning
of
his
love
.
He
scarcely
loved
her
yet
,
as
she
understood
the
feeling
,
but
she
perceived
her
power
over
him
,
and
passion
taught
her
how
to
exert
it
.
'
But
you
resign
yourself
very
cheerfully
to
the
necessity
,
'
she
said
,
looking
at
him
with
merely
intellectual
eyes
.
'
You
had
rather
I
lamented
my
fate
in
not
being
able
to
devote
myself
to
nobly
unremunerative
work
?
'
There
was
a
note
of
irony
here
.
It
caused
her
a
tremor
,
but
she
held
her
position
.
'
That
you
never
do
so
would
make
one
think
—
but
I
wo
n't
speak
unkindly
.
'
'
That
I
neither
care
for
good
work
nor
am
capable
of
it
,
'
Jasper
finished
her
sentence
.
'
I
should
n't
have
thought
it
would
make
you
think
so
.
'
Instead
of
replying
she
turned
her
look
towards
the
door
.
There
was
a
footstep
on
the
stairs
,
but
it
passed
.
'
I
thought
it
might
be
Dora
,
'
she
said
.
'
She
wo
n't
be
here
for
another
couple
of
hours
at
least
,
'
replied
Jasper
with
a
slight
smile
.
'
But
you
said
—
?
'
'
I
sent
her
to
Mrs.
Boston
Wright
's
that
I
might
have
an
opportunity
of
talking
to
you
.
Will
you
forgive
the
stratagem
?
'
Marian
resumed
her
former
attitude
the
faintest
smile
having
about
her
lips
.
'
I
'm
glad
there
's
plenty
of
time
,
'
he
continued
.
'
I
begin
to
suspect
that
you
have
been
misunderstanding
me
of
late
.
I
must
set
that
right
.
'
'
I
do
n't
think
I
have
misunderstood
you
.
'
'
That
may
mean
something
very
disagreeable
.
I
know
that
some
people
whom
I
esteem
have
a
very
poor
opinion
of
me
,
but
I
ca
n't
allow
you
to
be
one
of
them
.
What
do
I
seem
to
you
?
What
is
the
result
on
your
mind
of
all
our
conversations
?
'
'
I
have
already
told
you
.
'
'
Not
seriously
.
Do
you
believe
I
am
capable
of
generous
feeling
?
'
'
To
say
no
,
would
be
to
put
you
in
the
lowest
class
of
men
,
and
that
a
very
small
one
.
'
'
Good
!
Then
I
am
not
among
the
basest
.
But
that
does
n't
give
me
very
distinguished
claims
upon
your
consideration
.
Whatever
I
am
,
I
aim
high
in
some
of
my
ambitions
.
'
'
Which
of
them
?
'
'
For
instance
,
I
have
been
daring
enough
to
hope
that
you
might
love
me
.
'
Marian
delayed
for
a
moment
,
then
said
quietly
:
'
Why
do
you
call
that
daring
?
'
'
Because
I
have
enough
of
old-fashioned
thought
to
believe
that
a
woman
who
is
worthy
of
a
man
's
love
is
higher
than
he
,
and
condescends
in
giving
herself
to
him
.
'
His
voice
was
not
convincing
;
the
phrase
did
not
sound
natural
on
his
lips
.
It
was
not
thus
that
she
had
hoped
to
hear
him
speak
.
Whilst
he
expressed
himself
thus
conventionally
he
did
not
love
her
as
she
desired
to
be
loved
.
'
I
do
n't
hold
that
view
,
'
she
said
.
'
It
does
n't
surprise
me
.
You
are
very
reserved
on
all
subjects
,
and
we
have
never
spoken
of
this
,
but
of
course
I
know
that
your
thought
is
never
commonplace
.
Hold
what
view
you
like
of
woman
's
position
,
that
does
n't
affect
mine
.
'
'
Is
yours
commonplace
,
then
?
'
'
Desperately
.
Love
is
a
very
old
and
common
thing
,
and
I
believe
I
love
you
in
the
old
and
common
way
.
I
think
you
beautiful
,
you
seem
to
me
womanly
in
the
best
sense
,
full
of
charm
and
sweetness
.
I
know
myself
a
coarse
being
in
comparison
.
All
this
has
been
felt
and
said
in
the
same
way
by
men
infinite
in
variety
.
Must
I
find
some
new
expression
before
you
can
believe
me
?
Marian
kept
silence
.
'
I
know
what
you
are
thinking
,
'
he
said
.
'
The
thought
is
as
inevitable
as
my
consciousness
of
it
.
'
For
an
instant
she
looked
at
him
.
'
Yes
,
you
look
the
thought
.
Why
have
I
not
spoken
to
you
in
this
way
before
?
Why
have
I
waited
until
you
are
obliged
to
suspect
my
sincerity
?
'
'
My
thought
is
not
so
easily
read
,
then
,
'
said
Marian
.
'
To
be
sure
it
has
n't
a
gross
form
,
but
I
know
you
wish
—
whatever
your
real
feeling
towards
me
—
that
I
had
spoken
a
fortnight
ago
.
You
would
wish
that
of
any
man
in
my
position
,
merely
because
it
is
painful
to
you
to
see
a
possible
insincerity
.
Well
,
I
am
not
insincere
.
I
have
thought
of
you
as
of
no
other
woman
for
some
time
.
But
—
yes
,
you
shall
have
the
plain
,
coarse
truth
,
which
is
good
in
its
way
,
no
doubt
.
I
was
afraid
to
say
that
I
loved
you
.
You
do
n't
flinch
;
so
far
,
so
good
.
Now
what
harm
is
there
in
this
confession
?
In
the
common
course
of
things
I
should
n't
be
in
a
position
to
marry
for
perhaps
three
or
four
years
,
and
even
then
marriage
would
mean
difficulties
,
restraints
,
obstacles
.
I
have
always
dreaded
the
thought
of
marriage
with
a
poor
income
.
You
remember
?
Love
in
a
hut
,
with
water
and
a
crust
,
Is
—
Love
forgive
us
!
—
cinders
,
ashes
,
dust
.
You
know
that
is
true
.
'
'
Not
always
,
I
dare
say
.
'
'
But
for
the
vast
majority
of
mortals
.
There
's
the
instance
of
the
Reardons
.
They
were
in
love
with
each
other
,
if
ever
two
people
were
;
but
poverty
ruined
everything
.
I
am
not
in
the
confidence
of
either
of
them
,
but
I
feel
sure
each
has
wished
the
other
dead
.
What
else
was
to
be
expected
?
Should
I
have
dared
to
take
a
wife
in
my
present
circumstances
—
a
wife
as
poor
as
myself
?
'
'
You
will
be
in
a
much
better
position
before
long
,
'
said
Marian
.
'
If
you
loved
me
,
why
should
you
have
been
afraid
to
ask
me
to
have
confidence
in
your
future
?
'
'
It
's
all
so
uncertain
.
It
may
be
another
ten
years
before
I
can
count
on
an
income
of
five
or
six
hundred
pounds
—
if
I
have
to
struggle
on
in
the
common
way
.
'
'
But
tell
me
,
what
is
your
aim
in
life
?
What
do
you
understand
by
success
?
'
'
Yes
,
I
will
tell
you
.
My
aim
is
to
have
easy
command
of
all
the
pleasures
desired
by
a
cultivated
man
.
I
want
to
live
among
beautiful
things
,
and
never
to
be
troubled
by
a
thought
of
vulgar
difficulties
.
I
want
to
travel
and
enrich
my
mind
in
foreign
countries
.
I
want
to
associate
on
equal
terms
with
refined
and
interesting
people
.
I
want
to
be
known
,
to
be
familiarly
referred
to
,
to
feel
when
I
enter
a
room
that
people
regard
me
with
some
curiosity
.
'
He
looked
steadily
at
her
with
bright
eyes
.
'
And
that
's
all
?
'
asked
Marian
.
'
That
is
very
much
.
Perhaps
you
do
n't
know
how
I
suffer
in
feeling
myself
at
a
disadvantage
.
My
instincts
are
strongly
social
,
yet
I
ca
n't
be
at
my
ease
in
society
,
simply
because
I
ca
n't
do
justice
to
myself
.
Want
of
money
makes
me
the
inferior
of
the
people
I
talk
with
,
though
I
might
be
superior
to
them
in
most
things
.
I
am
ignorant
in
many
ways
,
and
merely
because
I
am
poor
.
Imagine
my
never
having
been
out
of
England
!
It
shames
me
when
people
talk
familiarly
of
the
Continent
.
So
with
regard
to
all
manner
of
amusements
and
pursuits
at
home
.
Impossible
for
me
to
appear
among
my
acquaintances
at
the
theatre
,
at
concerts
.
I
am
perpetually
at
a
disadvantage
;
I
have
n't
fair
play
.
Suppose
me
possessed
of
money
enough
to
live
a
full
and
active
life
for
the
next
five
years
;
why
,
at
the
end
of
that
time
my
position
would
be
secure
.
To
him
that
hath
shall
be
given
—
you
know
how
universally
true
that
is
.
'
'
And
yet
,
'
came
in
a
low
voice
from
Marian
,
'
you
say
that
you
love
me
.
'
'
You
mean
that
I
speak
as
if
no
such
thing
as
love
existed
.
But
you
asked
me
what
I
understood
by
success
.
I
am
speaking
of
worldly
things
.
Now
suppose
I
had
said
to
you
:
My
one
aim
and
desire
in
life
is
to
win
your
love
.
Could
you
have
believed
me
?
Such
phrases
are
always
untrue
;
I
do
n't
know
how
it
can
give
anyone
pleasure
to
hear
them
.
But
if
I
say
to
you
:
All
the
satisfactions
I
have
described
would
be
immensely
heightened
if
they
were
shared
with
a
woman
who
loved
me
—
there
is
the
simple
truth
.
'
Marian
's
heart
sank
.
She
did
not
want
truth
such
as
this
;
she
would
have
preferred
that
he
should
utter
the
poor
,
common
falsehoods
.
Hungry
for
passionate
love
,
she
heard
with
a
sense
of
desolation
all
this
calm
reasoning
.
That
Jasper
was
of
cold
temperament
she
had
often
feared
;
yet
there
was
always
the
consoling
thought
that
she
did
not
see
with
perfect
clearness
into
his
nature
.
Now
and
then
had
come
a
flash
,
a
hint
of
possibilities
.
She
had
looked
forward
with
trembling
eagerness
to
some
sudden
revelation
;
but
it
seemed
as
if
he
knew
no
word
of
the
language
which
would
have
called
such
joyous
response
from
her
expectant
soul
.
'
We
have
talked
for
a
long
time
,
'
she
said
,
turning
her
head
as
if
his
last
words
were
of
no
significance
.
'
As
Dora
is
not
coming
,
I
think
I
will
go
now
.
'
She
rose
,
and
went
towards
the
chair
on
which
lay
her
out-of-door
things
.
At
once
Jasper
stepped
to
her
side
.
'
You
will
go
without
giving
me
any
answer
?
'
'
Answer
?
To
what
?
'
'
Will
you
be
my
wife
?
'
'
It
is
too
soon
to
ask
me
that
.
'
'
Too
soon
?
Have
n't
you
known
for
months
that
I
thought
of
you
with
far
more
than
friendliness
?
'
'
How
was
it
possible
I
should
know
that
?
You
have
explained
to
me
why
you
would
not
let
your
real
feelings
be
understood
.
'
The
reproach
was
merited
,
and
not
easy
to
be
outfaced
.
He
turned
away
for
an
instant
,
then
with
a
sudden
movement
caught
both
her
hands
.
'
Whatever
I
have
done
or
said
or
thought
in
the
past
,
that
is
of
no
account
now
.
I
love
you
,
Marian
.
I
want
you
to
be
my
wife
.
I
have
never
seen
any
other
girl
who
impressed
me
as
you
did
from
the
first
.
If
I
had
been
weak
enough
to
try
to
win
anyone
but
you
,
I
should
have
known
that
I
had
turned
aside
from
the
path
of
my
true
happiness
.
Let
us
forget
for
a
moment
all
our
circumstances
.
I
hold
your
hands
,
and
look
into
your
face
,
and
say
that
I
love
you
.
Whatever
answer
you
give
,
I
love
you
!
'
Till
now
her
heart
had
only
fluttered
a
little
;
it
was
a
great
part
of
her
distress
that
the
love
she
had
so
long
nurtured
seemed
shrinking
together
into
some
far
corner
of
her
being
whilst
she
listened
to
the
discourses
which
prefaced
Jasper
's
declaration
.
She
was
nervous
,
painfully
self-conscious
,
touched
with
maidenly
shame
,
but
could
not
abandon
herself
to
that
delicious
emotion
which
ought
to
have
been
the
fulfilment
of
all
her
secret
imaginings
.
Now
at
length
there
began
a
throbbing
in
her
bosom
.
Keeping
her
face
averted
,
her
eyes
cast
down
,
she
waited
for
a
repetition
of
the
note
that
was
in
that
last
'
I
love
you
.
'
She
felt
a
change
in
the
hands
that
held
hers
—
a
warmth
,
a
moist
softness
;
it
caused
a
shock
through
her
veins
.
He
was
trying
to
draw
her
nearer
,
but
she
kept
at
full
arm
's
length
and
looked
irresponsive
.
'
Marian
?
'
She
wished
to
answer
,
but
a
spirit
of
perversity
held
her
tongue
.
'
Marian
,
do
n't
you
love
me
?
Or
have
I
offended
you
by
my
way
of
speaking
?
'
Persisting
,
she
at
length
withdrew
her
hands
.
Jasper
's
face
expressed
something
like
dismay
.
'
You
have
not
offended
me
,
'
she
said
.
'
But
I
am
not
sure
that
you
do
n't
deceive
yourself
in
thinking
,
for
the
moment
,
that
I
am
necessary
to
your
happiness
.
'
The
emotional
current
which
had
passed
from
her
flesh
to
his
whilst
their
hands
were
linked
made
him
incapable
of
standing
aloof
from
her
.
He
saw
that
her
face
and
neck
were
warmer
hued
,
and
her
beauty
became
more
desirable
to
him
than
ever
yet
.
'
You
are
more
to
me
than
anything
else
in
the
compass
of
life
!
'
he
exclaimed
,
again
pressing
forward
.
'
I
think
of
nothing
but
you
—
you
yourself
—
my
beautiful
,
gentle
,
thoughtful
Marian
!
'
His
arm
captured
her
,
and
she
did
not
resist
.
A
sob
,
then
a
strange
little
laugh
,
betrayed
the
passion
that
was
at
length
unfolded
in
her
.
'
You
do
love
me
,
Marian
?
'
'
I
love
you
.
'
And
there
followed
the
antiphony
of
ardour
that
finds
its
first
utterance
—
a
subdued
music
,
often
interrupted
,
ever
returning
upon
the
same
rich
note
.
Marian
closed
her
eyes
and
abandoned
herself
to
the
luxury
of
the
dream
.
It
was
her
first
complete
escape
from
the
world
of
intellectual
routine
,
her
first
taste
of
life
.
All
the
pedantry
of
her
daily
toil
slipped
away
like
a
cumbrous
garment
;
she
was
clad
only
in
her
womanhood
.
Once
or
twice
a
shudder
of
strange
self-consciousness
went
through
her
,
and
she
felt
guilty
,
immodest
;
but
upon
that
sensation
followed
a
surge
of
passionate
joy
,
obliterating
memory
and
forethought
.
'
How
shall
I
see
you
?
'
Jasper
asked
at
length
.
'
Where
can
we
meet
?
'
It
was
a
difficulty
.
The
season
no
longer
allowed
lingerings
under
the
open
sky
,
but
Marian
could
not
go
to
his
lodings
,
and
it
seemed
impossible
for
him
to
visit
her
at
her
home
.
'
Will
your
father
persist
in
unfriendliness
to
me
?
'
She
was
only
just
beginning
to
reflect
on
all
that
was
involved
in
this
new
relation
.
'
I
have
no
hope
that
he
will
change
,
'
she
said
sadly
.
'
He
will
refuse
to
countenance
your
marriage
?
'
'
I
shall
disappoint
him
and
grieve
him
bitterly
.
He
has
asked
me
to
use
my
money
in
starting
a
new
review
.
'
'
Which
he
is
to
edit
?
'
'
Yes
.
Do
you
think
there
would
be
any
hope
of
its
success
?
'
Jasper
shook
his
head
.
'
Your
father
is
not
the
man
for
that
,
Marian
.
I
do
n't
say
it
disrespectfully
;
I
mean
that
he
does
n't
seem
to
me
to
have
that
kind
of
aptitude
.
It
would
be
a
disastrous
speculation
.
'
'
I
felt
that
.
Of
course
I
ca
n't
think
of
it
now
.
'
She
smiled
,
raising
her
face
to
his
.
'
Do
n't
trouble
,
'
said
Jasper
.
'
Wait
a
little
,
till
I
have
made
myself
independent
of
Fadge
and
a
few
other
men
,
and
your
father
shall
see
how
heartily
I
wish
to
be
of
use
to
him
.
He
will
miss
your
help
,
I
'm
afraid
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
shall
feel
it
a
cruelty
when
I
have
to
leave
him
.
He
has
only
just
told
me
that
his
sight
is
beginning
to
fail
.
Oh
,
why
did
n't
his
brother
leave
him
a
little
money
?
It
was
such
unkindness
!
Surely
he
had
a
much
better
right
than
Amy
,
or
than
myself
either
.
But
literature
has
been
a
curse
to
father
all
his
life
.
My
uncle
hated
it
,
and
I
suppose
that
was
why
he
left
father
nothing
.
'
'
But
how
am
I
to
see
you
often
?
That
's
the
first
question
.
I
know
what
I
shall
do
.
I
must
take
new
lodgings
,
for
the
girls
and
myself
,
all
in
the
same
house
.
We
must
have
two
sitting-rooms
;
then
you
will
come
to
my
room
without
any
difficulty
.
These
astonishing
proprieties
are
so
easily
satisfied
after
all
.
'
'
You
will
really
do
that
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
shall
go
and
look
for
rooms
tomorrow
.
Then
when
you
come
you
can
always
ask
for
Maud
or
Dora
,
you
know
.
They
will
be
very
glad
of
a
change
to
more
respectable
quarters
.
'
'
I
wo
n't
stay
to
see
them
now
,
Jasper
,
'
said
Marian
,
her
thoughts
turning
to
the
girls
.
'
Very
well
.
You
are
safe
for
another
hour
,
but
to
make
certain
you
shall
go
at
a
quarter
to
five
.
Your
mother
wo
n't
be
against
us
?
'
'
Poor
mother
—
no.
But
she
wo
n't
dare
to
justify
me
before
father
.
'
'
I
feel
as
if
I
should
play
a
mean
part
in
leaving
it
to
you
to
tell
your
father
.
Marian
,
I
will
brave
it
out
and
go
and
see
him
.
'
'
Oh
,
it
would
be
better
not
to
.
'
'
Then
I
will
write
to
him
—
such
a
letter
as
he
ca
n't
possibly
take
in
ill
part
.
'
Marian
pondered
this
proposal
.
'
You
shall
do
that
,
Jasper
,
if
you
are
willing
.
But
not
yet
;
presently
.
'
'
You
do
n't
wish
him
to
know
at
once
?
'
'
We
had
better
wait
a
little
.
You
know
,
'
she
added
laughing
,
'
that
my
legacy
is
only
in
name
mine
as
yet
.
The
will
has
n't
been
proved
.
And
then
the
money
will
have
to
be
realised
.
'
She
informed
him
of
the
details
;
Jasper
listened
with
his
eyes
on
the
ground
.
They
were
now
sitting
on
chairs
drawn
close
to
each
other
.
It
was
with
a
sense
of
relief
that
Jasper
had
passed
from
dithyrambs
to
conversation
on
practical
points
;
Marian
's
excited
sensitiveness
could
not
but
observe
this
,
and
she
kept
watching
the
motions
of
his
countenance
.
At
length
he
even
let
go
her
hand
.
'
You
would
prefer
,
'
he
said
reflectively
,
'
that
nothing
should
be
said
to
your
father
until
that
business
is
finished
?
'
'
If
you
consent
to
it
.
'
'
Oh
,
I
have
no
doubt
it
's
as
well
.
'
Her
little
phrase
of
self-subjection
,
and
its
tremulous
tone
,
called
for
another
answer
than
this
.
Jasper
fell
again
into
thought
,
and
clearly
it
was
thought
of
practical
things
.
'
I
think
I
must
go
now
,
Jasper
,
'
she
said
.
'
Must
you
?
Well
,
if
you
had
rather
.
'
He
rose
,
though
she
was
still
seated
.
Marian
moved
a
few
steps
away
,
but
turned
and
approached
him
again
.
'
Do
you
really
love
me
?
'
she
asked
,
taking
one
of
his
hands
and
folding
it
between
her
own
.
'
I
do
indeed
love
you
,
Marian
.
Are
you
still
doubtful
?
'
'
You
're
not
sorry
that
I
must
go
?
'
'
But
I
am
,
dearest
.
I
wish
we
could
sit
here
undisturbed
all
through
the
evening
.
'
Her
touch
had
the
same
effect
as
before
.
His
blood
warmed
again
,
and
he
pressed
her
to
his
side
,
stroking
her
hair
and
kissing
her
forehead
.
'
Are
you
sorry
I
wear
my
hair
short
?
'
she
asked
,
longing
for
more
praise
than
he
had
bestowed
on
her
.
'
Sorry
?
It
is
perfect
.
Everything
else
seems
vulgar
compared
with
this
way
of
yours
.
How
strange
you
would
look
with
plaits
and
that
kind
of
thing
!
'
'
I
am
so
glad
it
pleases
you
.
'
'
There
is
nothing
in
you
that
does
n't
please
me
,
my
thoughtful
girl
.
'
'
You
called
me
that
before
.
Do
I
seem
so
very
thoughtful
?
'
'
So
grave
,
and
sweetly
reserved
,
and
with
eyes
so
full
of
meaning
.
'
She
quivered
with
delight
,
her
face
hidden
against
his
breast
.
'
I
seem
to
be
new-born
,
Jasper
.
Everything
in
the
world
is
new
to
me
,
and
I
am
strange
to
myself
.
I
have
never
known
an
hour
of
happiness
till
now
,
and
I
ca
n't
believe
yet
that
it
has
come
to
me
.
'
She
at
length
attired
herself
,
and
they
left
the
house
together
,
of
course
not
unobserved
by
the
landlady
.
Jasper
walked
about
half
the
way
to
St.
Paul
's
Crescent
.
It
was
arranged
that
he
should
address
a
letter
for
her
to
the
care
of
his
sisters
;
but
in
a
day
or
two
the
change
of
lodgings
would
be
effected
.
When
they
had
parted
,
Marian
looked
back
.
But
Jasper
was
walking
quickly
away
,
his
head
bent
,
in
profound
meditation
.
END
OF
THE
SECOND
VOLUME
.
VOL.
III
.
CHAPTER
XXV
A
FRUITLESS
MEETING
Refuge
from
despair
is
often
found
in
the
passion
of
self-pity
and
that
spirit
of
obstinate
resistance
which
it
engenders
.
In
certain
natures
the
extreme
of
self-pity
is
intolerable
,
and
leads
to
self-destruction
;
but
there
are
less
fortunate
beings
whom
the
vehemence
of
their
revolt
against
fate
strengthens
to
endure
in
suffering
.
These
latter
are
rather
imaginative
than
passionate
;
the
stages
of
their
woe
impress
them
as
the
acts
of
a
drama
,
which
they
cannot
bring
themselves
to
cut
short
,
so
various
are
the
possibilities
of
its
dark
motive
.
The
intellectual
man
who
kills
himself
is
most
often
brought
to
that
decision
by
conviction
of
his
insignificance
;
self-pity
merges
in
self-scorn
,
and
the
humiliated
soul
is
intolerant
of
existence
.
He
who
survives
under
like
conditions
does
so
because
misery
magnifies
him
in
his
own
estimate
.
It
was
by
force
of
commiserating
his
own
lot
that
Edwin
Reardon
continued
to
live
through
the
first
month
after
his
parting
from
Amy
.
Once
or
twice
a
week
,
sometimes
early
in
the
evening
,
sometimes
at
midnight
or
later
,
he
haunted
the
street
at
Westbourne
Park
where
his
wife
was
dwelling
,
and
on
each
occasion
he
returned
to
his
garret
with
a
fortified
sense
of
the
injustice
to
which
he
was
submitted
,
of
revolt
against
the
circumstances
which
had
driven
him
into
outer
darkness
,
of
bitterness
against
his
wife
for
saving
her
own
comfort
rather
than
share
his
downfall
.
At
times
he
was
not
far
from
that
state
of
sheer
distraction
which
Mrs.
Edmund
Yule
preferred
to
suppose
that
he
had
reached
.
An
extraordinary
arrogance
now
and
then
possessed
him
;
he
stood
amid
his
poor
surroundings
with
the
sensations
of
an
outraged
exile
,
and
laughed
aloud
in
furious
contempt
of
all
who
censured
or
pitied
him
.
On
hearing
from
Jasper
Milvain
that
Amy
had
fallen
ill
,
or
at
all
events
was
suffering
in
health
from
what
she
had
gone
through
,
he
felt
a
momentary
pang
which
all
but
determined
him
to
hasten
to
her
side
.
The
reaction
was
a
feeling
of
distinct
pleasure
that
she
had
her
share
of
pain
,
and
even
a
hope
that
her
illness
might
become
grave
;
he
pictured
himself
summoned
to
her
sick-chamber
,
imagined
her
begging
his
forgiveness
.
But
it
was
not
merely
,
nor
in
great
part
,
a
malicious
satisfaction
;
he
succeeded
in
believing
that
Amy
suffered
because
she
still
had
a
remnant
of
love
for
him
.
As
the
days
went
by
and
he
heard
nothing
,
disappointment
and
resentment
occupied
him
.
At
length
he
ceased
to
haunt
the
neighbourhood
.
His
desires
grew
sullen
;
he
became
fixed
in
the
resolve
to
hold
entirely
apart
and
doggedly
await
the
issue
.
At
the
end
of
each
month
he
sent
half
the
money
he
had
received
from
Carter
,
simply
enclosing
postal
orders
in
an
envelope
addressed
to
his
wife
.
The
first
two
remittances
were
in
no
way
acknowleged
;
the
third
brought
a
short
note
from
Amy
:
'
As
you
continue
to
send
these
sums
of
money
,
I
had
perhaps
better
let
you
know
that
I
cannot
use
them
for
any
purposes
of
my
own
.
Perhaps
a
sense
of
duty
leads
you
to
make
this
sacrifice
,
but
I
am
afraid
it
is
more
likely
that
you
wish
to
remind
me
every
month
that
you
are
undergoing
privations
,
and
to
pain
me
in
this
way
.
What
you
have
sent
I
have
deposited
in
the
Post
Office
Savings
'
Bank
in
Willie
's
name
,
and
I
shall
continue
to
do
so
.
—
A
.
R
.
'
For
a
day
or
two
Reardon
persevered
in
an
intention
of
not
replying
,
but
the
desire
to
utter
his
turbid
feelings
became
in
the
end
too
strong
.
He
wrote
:
'
I
regard
it
as
quite
natural
that
you
should
put
the
worst
interpretation
on
whatever
I
do
.
As
for
my
privations
,
I
think
very
little
of
them
;
they
are
a
trifle
in
comparison
with
the
thought
that
I
am
forsaken
just
because
my
pocket
is
empty
.
And
I
am
far
indeed
from
thinking
that
you
can
be
pained
by
whatever
I
may
undergo
;
that
would
suppose
some
generosity
in
your
nature
.
'
This
was
no
sooner
posted
than
he
would
gladly
have
recalled
it
.
He
knew
that
it
was
undignified
,
that
it
contained
as
many
falsehoods
as
lines
,
and
he
was
ashamed
of
himself
for
having
written
so
.
But
he
could
not
pen
a
letter
of
retractation
,
and
there
remained
with
him
a
new
cause
of
exasperated
wretchedness
.
Excepting
the
people
with
whom
he
came
in
contact
at
the
hospital
,
he
had
no
society
but
that
of
Biffen
.
The
realist
visited
him
once
a
week
,
and
this
friendship
grew
closer
than
it
had
been
in
the
time
of
Reardon
's
prosperity
.
Biffen
was
a
man
of
so
much
natural
delicacy
,
that
there
was
a
pleasure
in
imparting
to
him
the
details
of
private
sorrow
;
though
profoundly
sympathetic
,
he
did
his
best
to
oppose
Reardon
's
harsher
judgments
of
Amy
,
and
herein
he
gave
his
friend
a
satisfaction
which
might
not
be
avowed
.
'
I
really
do
not
see
,
'
he
exclaimed
,
as
they
sat
in
the
garret
one
night
of
midsummer
,
'
how
your
wife
could
have
acted
otherwise
.
Of
course
I
am
quite
unable
to
judge
the
attitude
of
her
mind
,
but
I
think
,
I
ca
n't
help
thinking
,
from
what
I
knew
of
her
,
that
there
has
been
strictly
a
misunderstanding
between
you
.
It
was
a
hard
and
miserable
thing
that
she
should
have
to
leave
you
for
a
time
,
and
you
could
n't
face
the
necessity
in
a
just
spirit
.
Do
n't
you
think
there
's
some
truth
in
this
way
of
looking
at
it
?
'
'
As
a
woman
,
it
was
her
part
to
soften
the
hateful
necessity
;
she
made
it
worse
.
'
'
I
'm
not
sure
that
you
do
n't
demand
too
much
of
her
.
Unhappily
,
I
know
little
or
nothing
of
delicately-bred
women
,
but
I
have
a
suspicion
that
one
ought
n't
to
expect
heroism
in
them
,
any
more
than
in
the
women
of
the
lower
classes
.
I
think
of
women
as
creatures
to
be
protected
.
Is
a
man
justified
in
asking
them
to
be
stronger
than
himself
?
'
'
Of
course
,
'
replied
Reardon
,
'
there
's
no
use
in
demanding
more
than
a
character
is
capable
of
.
But
I
believed
her
of
finer
stuff
.
My
bitterness
comes
of
the
disappointment
.
'
'
I
suppose
there
were
faults
of
temper
on
both
sides
,
and
you
saw
at
last
only
each
other
's
weaknesses
.
'
'
I
saw
the
truth
,
which
had
always
been
disguised
from
me
.
'
Biffen
persisted
in
looking
doubtful
,
and
in
secret
Reardon
thanked
him
for
it
.
As
the
realist
progressed
with
his
novel
,
'
Mr
.
Bailey
,
Grocer
,
'
he
read
the
chapters
to
Reardon
,
not
only
for
his
own
satisfaction
,
but
in
great
part
because
he
hoped
that
this
example
of
productivity
might
in
the
end
encourage
the
listener
to
resume
his
own
literary
tasks
.
Reardon
found
much
to
criticise
in
his
friend
's
work
;
it
was
noteworthy
that
he
objected
and
condemned
with
much
less
hesitation
than
in
his
better
days
,
for
sensitive
reticence
is
one
of
the
virtues
wont
to
be
assailed
by
suffering
,
at
all
events
in
the
weaker
natures
.
Biffen
purposely
urged
these
discussions
as
far
as
possible
,
and
doubtless
they
benefited
Reardon
for
the
time
;
but
the
defeated
novelist
could
not
be
induced
to
undertake
another
practical
illustration
of
his
own
views
.
Occasionally
he
had
an
impulse
to
plan
a
story
,
but
an
hour
's
turning
it
over
in
his
mind
sufficed
to
disgust
him
.
His
ideas
seemed
barren
,
vapid
;
it
would
have
been
impossible
for
him
to
write
half
a
dozen
pages
,
and
the
mere
thought
of
a
whole
book
overcame
him
with
the
dread
of
insurmountable
difficulties
,
immeasurable
toil
.
In
time
,
however
,
he
was
able
to
read
.
He
had
a
pleasure
in
contemplating
the
little
collection
of
sterling
books
that
alone
remained
to
him
from
his
library
;
the
sight
of
many
volumes
would
have
been
a
weariness
,
but
these
few
—
when
he
was
again
able
to
think
of
books
at
all
—
were
as
friendly
countenances
.
He
could
not
read
continuously
,
but
sometimes
he
opened
his
Shakspeare
,
for
instance
,
and
dreamed
over
a
page
or
two
.
From
such
glimpses
there
remained
in
his
head
a
line
or
a
short
passage
,
which
he
kept
repeating
to
himself
wherever
he
went
;
generally
some
example
of
sweet
or
sonorous
metre
which
had
a
soothing
effect
upon
him
.
With
odd
result
on
one
occasion
.
He
was
walking
in
one
of
the
back
streets
of
Islington
,
and
stopped
idly
to
gaze
into
the
window
of
some
small
shop
.
Standing
thus
,
he
forgot
himself
,
and
presently
recited
aloud
:
'
Cæsar
,
'
tis
his
schoolmaster
:
An
argument
that
he
is
pluck
'd
,
when
hither
He
sends
so
poor
a
pinion
of
his
wing
,
Which
had
superflous
kings
for
messengers
Not
many
moons
gone
by
.
'
The
last
two
lines
he
uttered
a
second
time
,
enjoying
their
magnificent
sound
,
and
then
was
brought
back
to
consciousness
by
the
loud
mocking
laugh
of
two
men
standing
close
by
,
who
evidently
looked
upon
him
as
a
strayed
lunatic
.
He
kept
one
suit
of
clothes
for
his
hours
of
attendance
at
the
hospital
;
it
was
still
decent
,
and
with
much
care
would
remain
so
for
a
long
time
.
That
which
he
wore
at
home
and
in
his
street
wanderings
declared
poverty
at
every
point
;
it
had
been
discarded
before
he
left
the
old
abode
.
In
his
present
state
of
mind
he
cared
nothing
how
disreputable
he
looked
to
passers-by
.
These
seedy
habiliments
were
the
token
of
his
degradation
,
and
at
times
he
regarded
them
(
happening
to
see
himself
in
a
shop
mirror
)
with
pleasurable
contempt
.
The
same
spirit
often
led
him
for
a
meal
to
the
poorest
of
eating-houses
,
places
where
he
rubbed
elbows
with
ragged
creatures
who
had
somehow
obtained
the
price
of
a
cup
of
coffee
and
a
slice
of
bread
and
butter
.
He
liked
to
contrast
himself
with
these
comrades
in
misfortune
.
'
This
is
the
rate
at
which
the
world
esteems
me
;
I
am
worth
no
better
provision
than
this
.
'
Or
else
,
instead
of
emphasising
the
contrast
,
he
defiantly
took
a
place
among
the
miserables
of
the
nether
world
,
and
nursed
hatred
of
all
who
were
well-to-do
.
One
of
these
he
desired
to
regard
with
gratitude
,
but
found
it
difficult
to
support
that
feeling
.
Carter
,
the
vivacious
,
though
at
first
perfectly
unembarrassed
in
his
relations
with
the
City
Road
clerk
,
gradually
exhibited
a
change
of
demeanour
.
Reardon
occasionally
found
the
young
man
's
eye
fixed
upon
him
with
a
singular
expression
,
and
the
secretary
's
talk
,
though
still
as
a
rule
genial
,
was
wont
to
suffer
curious
interruptions
,
during
which
he
seemed
to
be
musing
on
something
Reardon
had
said
,
or
on
some
point
of
his
behaviour
.
The
explanation
of
this
was
that
Carter
had
begun
to
think
there
might
be
a
foundation
for
Mrs.
Yule
's
hypothesis
—
that
the
novelist
was
not
altogether
in
his
sound
senses
.
At
first
he
scouted
the
idea
,
but
as
time
went
on
it
seemed
to
him
that
Reardon
's
countenance
certainly
had
a
gaunt
wildness
which
suggested
disagreeable
things
.
Especially
did
he
remark
this
after
his
return
from
an
August
holiday
in
Norway
.
On
coming
for
the
first
time
to
the
City
Road
branch
he
sat
down
and
began
to
favour
Reardon
with
a
lively
description
of
how
he
had
enjoyed
himself
abroad
;
it
never
occurred
to
him
that
such
talk
was
not
likely
to
enspirit
the
man
who
had
passed
his
August
between
the
garret
and
the
hospital
,
but
he
observed
before
long
that
his
listener
was
glancing
hither
and
thither
in
rather
a
strange
way
.
'
You
have
n't
been
ill
since
I
saw
you
?
'
he
inquired
.
'
Oh
no
!
'
'
But
you
look
as
if
you
might
have
been
.
I
say
,
we
must
manage
for
you
to
have
a
fortnight
off
,
you
know
,
this
month
.
'
'
I
have
no
wish
for
it
,
'
said
Reardon
.
'
I
'll
imagine
I
have
been
to
Norway
.
It
has
done
me
good
to
hear
of
your
holiday
.
'
'
I
'm
glad
of
that
;
but
it
is
n't
quite
the
same
thing
,
you
know
,
as
having
a
run
somewhere
yourself
.
'
'
Oh
,
much
better
!
To
enjoy
myself
may
be
mere
selfishness
,
but
to
enjoy
another
's
enjoyment
is
the
purest
satisfaction
,
good
for
body
and
soul
.
I
am
cultivating
altruism
.
'
'
What
's
that
?
'
'
A
highly
rarefied
form
of
happiness
.
The
curious
thing
about
it
is
that
it
wo
n't
grow
unless
you
have
just
twice
as
much
faith
in
it
as
is
required
for
assent
to
the
Athanasian
Creed
.
'
'
Oh
!
'
Carter
went
away
more
than
puzzled
.
He
told
his
wife
that
evening
that
Reardon
had
been
talking
to
him
in
the
most
extraordinary
fashion
,
no
understanding
a
word
he
said
.
All
this
time
he
was
on
the
look-out
for
employment
that
would
be
more
suitable
to
his
unfortunate
clerk
.
Whether
slightly
demented
or
not
,
Reardon
gave
no
sign
of
inability
to
discharge
his
duties
;
he
was
conscientious
as
ever
,
and
might
,
unless
he
changed
greatly
,
be
relied
upon
in
positions
of
more
responsibility
than
his
present
one
.
And
at
length
,
early
in
October
,
there
came
to
the
secretary
's
knowledge
an
opportunity
with
which
he
lost
no
time
in
acquainting
Reardon
.
The
latter
repaired
that
evening
to
Clipstone
Street
,
and
climbed
to
Biffen
's
chamber
.
He
entered
with
a
cheerful
look
,
and
exclaimed
:
'
I
have
just
invented
a
riddle
;
see
if
you
can
guess
it
.
Why
is
a
London
lodging-house
like
the
human
body
?
'
Biffen
looked
with
some
concern
at
his
friend
,
so
unwonted
was
a
sally
of
this
kind
.
'
Why
is
a
London
lodging-house
—
?
Have
n't
the
least
idea
.
'
'
Because
the
brains
are
always
at
the
top
.
Not
bad
,
I
think
,
eh
?
'
'
Well
,
no
;
it
'll
pass
.
Distinctly
professional
though
.
The
general
public
would
fail
to
see
the
point
,
I
'm
afraid
.
But
what
has
come
to
you
?
'
'
Good
tidings
.
Carter
has
offered
me
a
place
which
will
be
a
decided
improvement
.
A
house
found
—
or
rooms
,
at
all
events
—
and
salary
a
hundred
and
fifty
a
year
.
'
'
By
Plutus
!
That
's
good
hearing
.
Some
duties
attached
,
I
suppose
?
'
'
I
'm
afraid
that
was
inevitable
,
as
things
go
.
It
's
the
secretaryship
of
a
home
for
destitute
boys
at
Croydon
.
The
post
is
far
from
a
sinecure
,
Carter
assures
me
.
There
's
great
deal
of
purely
secretarial
work
,
and
there
's
a
great
deal
of
practical
work
,
some
of
it
rather
rough
,
I
fancy
.
It
seems
doubtful
whether
I
am
exactly
the
man
.
The
present
holder
is
a
burly
fellow
over
six
feet
high
,
delighting
in
gymnastics
,
and
rather
fond
of
a
fight
now
and
then
when
opportunity
offers
.
But
he
is
departing
at
Christmas
—
going
somewhere
as
a
missionary
;
and
I
can
have
the
place
if
I
choose
.
'
'
As
I
suppose
you
do
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
shall
try
it
,
decidedly
.
'
Biffen
waited
a
little
,
then
asked
:
'
I
suppose
your
wife
will
go
with
you
?
'
'
There
's
no
saying
.
'
Reardon
tried
to
answer
indifferently
,
but
it
could
be
seen
that
he
was
agitated
between
hopes
and
fears
.
'
You
'll
ask
her
,
at
all
events
?
'
'
Oh
yes
,
'
was
the
half-absent
reply
.
'
But
surely
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
she
'll
come
.
A
hundred
and
fifty
a
year
,
without
rent
to
pay
.
Why
,
that
's
affluence
!
'
'
The
rooms
I
might
occupy
are
in
the
home
itself
.
Amy
wo
n't
take
very
readily
to
a
dwelling
of
that
kind
.
And
Croydon
is
n't
the
most
inviting
locality
.
'
'
Close
to
delightful
country
.
'
'
Yes
,
yes
;
but
Amy
does
n't
care
about
that
.
'
'
You
misjudge
her
,
Reardon
.
You
are
too
harsh
.
I
implore
you
not
to
lose
the
chance
of
setting
all
right
again
!
If
only
you
could
be
put
into
my
position
for
a
moment
,
and
then
be
offered
the
companionship
of
such
a
wife
as
yours
!
'
Reardon
listened
with
a
face
of
lowering
excitement
.
'
I
should
be
perfectly
within
my
rights
,
'
he
said
sternly
,
'
if
I
merely
told
her
when
I
have
taken
the
position
,
and
let
her
ask
me
to
take
her
back
—
if
she
wishes
.
'
'
You
have
changed
a
great
deal
this
last
year
,
'
replied
Biffen
,
shaking
his
head
,
'
a
great
deal
.
I
hope
to
see
you
your
old
self
again
before
long
.
I
should
have
declared
it
impossible
for
you
to
become
so
rugged
.
Go
and
see
your
wife
,
there
's
a
good
fellow
.
'
'
No
;
I
shall
write
to
her
.
'
'
Go
and
see
her
,
I
beg
you
!
No
good
ever
came
of
letter-writing
between
two
people
who
have
misunderstood
each
other
.
Go
to
Westbourne
Park
to-morrow
.
And
be
reasonable
;
be
more
than
reasonable
.
The
happiness
of
your
life
depends
on
what
you
do
now
.
Be
content
to
forget
whatever
wrong
has
been
done
you
.
To
think
that
a
man
should
need
persuading
to
win
back
such
a
wife
!
'
In
truth
,
there
needed
little
persuasion
.
Perverseness
,
one
of
the
forms
or
issues
of
self-pity
,
made
him
strive
against
his
desire
,
and
caused
him
to
adopt
a
tone
of
acerbity
in
excess
of
what
he
felt
;
but
already
he
had
made
up
his
mind
to
see
Amy
.
Even
if
this
excuse
had
not
presented
itself
,
he
must
very
soon
have
yielded
to
the
longing
for
a
sight
of
his
wife
's
face
which
day
by
day
increased
among
all
the
conflicting
passions
of
which
he
was
the
victim
.
A
month
or
two
ago
,
when
the
summer
sunshine
made
his
confinement
to
the
streets
a
daily
torture
,
he
convinced
himself
that
there
remained
in
him
no
trace
of
his
love
for
Amy
;
there
were
moments
when
he
thought
of
her
with
repugnance
,
as
a
cold
,
selfish
woman
,
who
had
feigned
affection
