minutes.
Mr.
Baker
wo
n't
mind
.
'
It
was
a
very
small
room
,
with
a
ceiling
so
low
that
the
tall
lodger
could
only
just
stand
upright
with
safety
;
perhaps
three
inches
intervened
between
his
head
and
the
plaster
,
which
was
cracked
,
grimy
,
cobwebby
.
A
small
scrap
of
weedy
carpet
lay
in
front
of
the
fireplace
;
elsewhere
the
chinky
boards
were
unconcealed
.
The
furniture
consisted
of
a
round
table
,
which
kept
such
imperfect
balance
on
its
central
support
that
the
lamp
entrusted
to
it
looked
in
a
dangerous
position
,
of
three
small
cane-bottomed
chairs
,
a
small
wash-hand-stand
with
sundry
rude
appurtenances
,
and
a
chair-bedstead
which
the
tenant
opened
at
the
hour
of
repose
and
spread
with
certain
primitive
trappings
at
present
kept
in
a
cupboard
.
There
was
no
bookcase
,
but
a
few
hundred
battered
volumes
were
arranged
some
on
the
floor
and
some
on
a
rough
chest
.
The
weather
was
too
characteristic
of
an
English
spring
to
make
an
empty
grate
agreeable
to
the
eye
,
but
Biffen
held
it
an
axiom
that
fires
were
unseasonable
after
the
first
of
May
.
The
individual
referred
to
as
Mr.
Baker
,
who
sat
at
the
table
in
the
attitude
of
a
student
,
was
a
robust
,
hard-featured
,
black-haired
young
man
of
two-or
three-and-twenty
;
judging
from
his
weather-beaten
cheeks
and
huge
hands
,
as
well
as
from
the
garb
he
wore
,
one
would
have
presumed
that
study
was
not
his
normal
occupation
.
There
was
something
of
the
riverside
about
him
;
he
might
be
a
dockman
,
or
even
a
bargeman
.
He
looked
intelligent
,
however
,
and
bore
himself
with
much
modesty
.
'
Now
do
endeavour
to
write
in
shorter
sentences
,
'
said
Biffen
,
who
sat
down
by
him
and
resumed
the
lesson
,
Reardon
having
taken
up
a
volume
.
'
This
is
n't
bad
—
it
is
n't
bad
at
all
,
I
assure
you
;
but
you
have
put
all
you
had
to
say
into
three
appalling
periods
,
whereas
you
ought
to
have
made
about
a
dozen
.
'
'
There
it
is
,
sir
;
there
it
is
!
'
exclaimed
the
man
,
smoothing
his
wiry
hair
.
'
I
ca
n't
break
it
up
.
The
thoughts
come
in
a
lump
,
if
I
may
say
so
.
To
break
it
up
—
there
's
the
art
of
compersition
.
'
Reardon
could
not
refrain
from
a
glance
at
the
speaker
,
and
Biffen
,
whose
manner
was
very
grave
and
kindly
,
turned
to
his
friend
with
an
explanation
of
the
difficulties
with
which
the
student
was
struggling
.
'
Mr
.
Baker
is
preparing
for
the
examination
of
the
Outdoor
Customs
Department
.
One
of
the
subjects
is
English
composition
,
and
really
,
you
know
,
that
is
n't
quite
such
a
simple
matter
as
some
people
think
.
'
Baker
beamed
upon
the
visitor
with
a
homely
,
good-natured
smile
.
'
I
can
make
headway
with
the
other
things
,
sir
,
'
he
said
,
striking
the
table
lightly
with
his
clenched
fist
.
'
There
's
handwriting
,
there
's
orthography
,
there
's
arithmetic
;
I
'm
not
afraid
of
one
of
'
em
,
as
Mr.
Biffen
'
ll
tell
you
,
sir
.
But
when
it
comes
to
compersition
,
that
brings
out
the
sweat
on
my
forehead
,
I
do
assure
you
.
'
'
You
're
not
the
only
man
in
that
case
,
Mr.
Baker
,
'
replied
Reardon
.
'
It
's
thought
a
tough
job
in
general
,
is
it
,
sir
?
'
'
It
is
indeed
.
'
'
Two
hundred
marks
for
compersition
,
'
continued
the
man
.
'
Now
how
many
would
they
have
given
me
for
this
bit
of
a
try
,
Mr.
Biffen
?
'
'
Well
,
well
;
I
ca
n't
exactly
say
.
But
you
improve
;
you
improve
,
decidedly
.
Peg
away
for
another
week
or
two
.
'
'
Oh
,
do
n't
fear
me
,
sir
!
I
'm
not
easily
beaten
when
I
've
set
my
mind
on
a
thing
,
and
I
'll
break
up
the
compersition
yet
,
see
if
I
do
n't
!
'
Again
his
fist
descended
upon
the
table
in
a
way
that
reminded
one
of
the
steam-hammer
cracking
a
nut
.
The
lesson
proceeded
for
about
ten
minutes
,
Reardon
,
under
pretence
of
reading
,
following
it
with
as
much
amusement
as
anything
could
excite
in
him
nowadays
.
At
length
Mr.
Baker
stood
up
,
collected
his
papers
and
books
,
and
seemed
about
to
depart
;
but
,
after
certain
uneasy
movements
and
glances
,
he
said
to
Biffen
in
a
subdued
voice
:
'
Perhaps
I
might
speak
to
you
outside
the
door
a
minute
,
sir
?
'
He
and
the
teacher
went
out
,
the
door
closed
,
and
Reardon
heard
sounds
of
muffled
conversation
.
In
a
minute
or
two
a
heavy
footstep
descended
the
stairs
,
and
Biffen
re
entered
the
room
.
'
Now
that
's
a
good
,
honest
fellow
,
'
he
said
,
in
an
amused
tone
.
'
It
's
my
pay-night
,
but
he
did
n't
like
to
fork
out
money
before
you
.
A
very
unusual
delicacy
in
a
man
of
that
standing
.
He
pays
me
sixpence
for
an
hour
's
lesson
;
that
brings
me
two
shillings
a
week
.
I
sometimes
feel
a
little
ashamed
to
take
his
money
,
but
then
the
fact
is
he
's
a
good
deal
better
off
than
I
am
.
'
'
Will
he
get
a
place
in
the
Customs
,
do
you
think
?
'
'
Oh
,
I
've
no
doubt
of
it
.
If
it
seemed
unlikely
,
I
should
have
told
him
so
before
this
.
To
be
sure
,
that
's
a
point
I
have
often
to
consider
,
and
once
or
twice
my
delicacy
has
asserted
itself
at
the
expense
of
my
pocket
.
There
was
a
poor
consumptive
lad
came
to
me
not
long
ago
and
wanted
Latin
lessons
;
talked
about
going
in
for
the
London
Matric
.
,
on
his
way
to
the
pulpit
.
I
could
n't
stand
it
.
After
a
lesson
or
two
I
told
him
his
cough
was
too
bad
,
and
he
had
no
right
to
study
until
he
got
into
better
health
;
that
was
better
,
I
think
,
than
saying
plainly
he
had
no
chance
on
earth
.
But
the
food
I
bought
with
his
money
was
choking
me
.
Oh
yes
,
Baker
will
make
his
way
right
enough
.
A
good
,
modest
fellow
.
You
noticed
how
respectfully
he
spoke
to
me
?
It
does
n't
make
any
difference
to
him
that
I
live
in
a
garret
like
this
;
I
'm
a
man
of
education
,
and
he
can
separate
this
fact
from
my
surroundings
.
'
'
Biffen
,
why
do
n't
you
get
some
decent
position
?
Surely
you
might
.
'
'
What
position
?
No
school
would
take
me
;
I
have
neither
credentials
nor
conventional
clothing
.
For
the
same
reason
I
could
n't
get
a
private
tutorship
in
rich
family
.
No
,
no
;
it
's
all
right
.
I
keep
myself
alive
,
and
I
get
on
with
my
work
.
—
By-the-by
,
I
've
decided
to
write
a
book
called
"
Mr.
Bailey
,
Grocer
.
"
'
'
What
's
the
idea
?
'
'
An
objectionable
word
,
that
.
Better
say
:
"
What
's
the
reality
?
"
Well
,
Mr.
Bailey
is
a
grocer
in
a
little
street
by
here
.
I
have
dealt
with
him
for
a
long
time
,
and
as
he
's
a
talkative
fellow
I
've
come
to
know
a
good
deal
about
him
and
his
history
.
He
's
fond
of
talking
about
the
struggle
he
had
in
his
first
year
of
business
.
He
had
no
money
of
his
own
,
but
he
married
a
woman
who
had
saved
forty-five
pounds
out
of
a
cat's-meat
business
.
You
should
see
that
woman
!
A
big
,
coarse
,
squinting
creature
;
at
the
time
of
the
marriage
she
was
a
widow
and
forty-two
years
old
.
Now
I
'm
going
to
tell
the
true
story
of
Mr.
Bailey
's
marriage
and
of
his
progress
as
a
grocer
.
It
'll
be
a
great
book
—
a
great
book
!
'
He
walked
up
and
down
the
room
,
fervid
with
his
conception
.
'
There
'll
be
nothing
bestial
in
it
,
you
know
.
The
decently
ignoble
—
as
I
've
so
often
said
.
The
thing
'll
take
me
a
year
at
least
.
I
shall
do
it
slowly
,
lovingly
.
One
volume
,
of
course
;
the
length
of
the
ordinary
French
novel
.
There
's
something
fine
in
the
title
,
do
n't
you
think
?
"
Mr.
Bailey
,
Grocer
"
!
'
'
I
envy
you
,
old
fellow
,
'
said
Reardon
,
sighing
.
'
You
have
the
right
fire
in
you
;
you
have
zeal
and
energy
.
Well
,
what
do
you
think
I
have
decided
to
do
?
'
'
I
should
like
to
hear
.
'
Reardon
gave
an
account
of
his
project
.
The
other
listened
gravely
,
seated
across
a
chair
with
his
arms
on
the
back
.
'
Your
wife
is
in
agreement
with
this
?
'
'
Oh
yes
.
'
He
could
not
bring
himself
to
say
that
Amy
had
suggested
it
.
'
She
has
great
hopes
that
the
change
will
be
just
what
I
need
.
'
'
I
should
say
so
too
—
if
you
were
going
to
rest
.
But
if
you
have
to
set
to
work
at
once
it
seems
to
me
very
doubtful
.
'
'
Never
mind
.
For
Heaven
's
sake
do
n't
discourage
me
!
If
this
fails
I
think
—
upon
my
soul
,
I
think
I
shall
kill
myself
.
'
'
Pooh
!
'
exclaimed
Biffen
,
gently
.
'
With
a
wife
like
yours
?
'
'
Just
because
of
that
.
'
'
No
,
no
;
there
'll
be
some
way
out
of
it
.
By-the-by
,
I
passed
Mrs.
Reardon
this
morning
,
but
she
did
n't
see
me
.
It
was
in
Tottenham
Court
Road
,
and
Milvain
was
with
her
.
I
felt
myself
too
seedy
in
appearance
to
stop
and
speak
.
'
'
In
Tottenham
Court
Road
?
'
That
was
not
the
detail
of
the
story
which
chiefly
held
Reardon
's
attention
,
yet
he
did
not
purposely
make
a
misleading
remark
.
His
mind
involuntarily
played
this
trick
.
'
I
only
saw
them
just
as
they
were
passing
,
'
pursued
Biffen
.
'
Oh
,
I
knew
I
had
something
to
tell
you
!
Have
you
heard
that
Whelpdale
is
going
to
be
married
?
'
Reardon
shook
his
head
in
a
preoccupied
way
.
'
I
had
a
note
from
him
this
morning
,
telling
me
.
He
asked
me
to
look
him
up
to-night
,
and
he
'd
let
me
know
all
about
it
.
Let
's
go
together
,
shall
we
?
'
'
I
do
n't
feel
much
in
the
humour
for
Whelpdale
.
I
'll
walk
with
you
,
and
go
on
home
.
'
'
No
,
no
;
come
and
see
him
.
It
'll
do
you
good
to
talk
a
little
.
—
But
I
must
positively
eat
a
mouthful
before
we
go
.
I
'm
afraid
you
wo
n't
care
to
join
?
'
He
opened
his
cupboard
,
and
brought
out
a
loaf
of
bread
and
a
saucer
of
dripping
,
with
salt
and
pepper
.
'
Better
dripping
this
than
I
've
had
for
a
long
time
.
I
get
it
at
Mr.
Bailey
's
—
that
is
n't
his
real
name
,
of
course
.
He
assures
me
it
comes
from
a
large
hotel
where
his
wife
's
sister
is
a
kitchenmaid
,
and
that
it
's
perfectly
pure
;
they
very
often
mix
flour
with
it
,
you
know
,
and
perhaps
more
obnoxious
things
that
an
economical
man
does
n't
care
to
reflect
upon
.
Now
,
with
a
little
pepper
and
salt
,
this
bread
and
dripping
is
as
appetising
food
as
I
know
.
I
often
make
a
dinner
of
it
.
'
'
I
have
done
the
same
myself
before
now
.
Do
you
ever
buy
pease-pudding
?
'
'
I
should
think
so
!
I
get
magnificent
pennyworths
at
a
shop
in
Cleveland
Street
,
of
a
very
rich
quality
indeed
.
Excellent
faggots
they
have
there
,
too
.
I
'll
give
you
a
supper
of
them
some
night
before
you
go
.
'
Biffen
rose
to
enthusiasm
in
the
contemplation
of
these
dainties
.
He
ate
his
bread
and
dripping
with
knife
and
fork
;
this
always
made
the
fare
seem
more
substantial
.
'
Is
it
very
cold
out
?
'
he
asked
,
rising
from
the
table
.
'
Need
I
put
my
overcoat
on
?
'
This
overcoat
,
purchased
second-hand
three
years
ago
,
hung
on
a
door-nail
.
Comparative
ease
of
circumstances
had
restored
to
the
realist
his
ordinary
indoor
garment
—
a
morning
coat
of
the
cloth
called
diagonal
,
rather
large
for
him
,
but
in
better
preservation
than
the
other
articles
of
his
attire
.
Reardon
judging
the
overcoat
necessary
,
his
freind
carefully
brushed
it
and
drew
it
on
with
a
caution
which
probably
had
reference
to
starting
seams
.
Then
he
put
into
the
pocket
his
pipe
,
his
pouch
,
his
tobacco-stopper
,
and
his
matches
,
murmuring
to
himself
a
Greek
iambic
line
which
had
come
into
his
head
apropos
of
nothing
obvious
.
'
Go
out
,
'
he
said
,
'
and
then
I
'll
extinguish
the
lamp
.
Mind
the
second
step
down
,
as
usual
.
'
They
issued
into
Clipstone
Street
,
turned
northward
,
crossed
Euston
Road
,
and
came
into
Albany
Street
,
where
,
in
a
house
of
decent
exterior
,
Mr.
Whelpdale
had
his
present
abode
.
A
girl
who
opened
the
door
requested
them
to
walk
up
to
the
topmost
storey
.
A
cheery
voice
called
to
them
from
within
the
room
at
which
they
knocked
.
This
lodging
spoke
more
distinctly
of
civilisation
than
that
inhabited
by
Biffen
;
it
contained
the
minimum
supply
of
furniture
needed
to
give
it
somewhat
the
appearance
of
a
study
,
but
the
articles
were
in
good
condition
.
One
end
of
the
room
was
concealed
by
a
chintz
curtain
;
scrutiny
would
have
discovered
behind
the
draping
the
essential
equipments
of
a
bedchamber
.
Mr.
Whelpdale
sat
by
the
fire
,
smoking
a
cigar
.
He
was
a
plain-featured
but
graceful
and
refined-looking
man
of
thirty
,
with
wavy
chestnut
hair
and
a
trimmed
beard
which
became
him
well
.
At
present
he
wore
a
dressing-gown
and
was
without
collar
.
'
Welcome
,
gents
both
!
'
he
cried
facetiously
.
'
Ages
since
I
saw
you
,
Reardon
.
I
've
been
reading
your
new
book
.
Uncommonly
good
things
in
it
here
and
there
—
uncommonly
good
.
'
Whelpdale
had
the
weakness
of
being
unable
to
tell
a
disagreeable
truth
,
and
a
tendency
to
flattery
which
had
always
made
Reardon
rather
uncomfortable
in
his
society
.
Though
there
was
no
need
whatever
of
his
mentioning
'
Margaret
Home
,
'
he
preferred
to
frame
smooth
fictions
rather
than
keep
a
silence
which
might
be
construed
as
unfavourable
criticism
.
'
In
the
last
volume
,
'
he
went
on
,
'
I
think
there
are
one
or
two
things
as
good
as
you
ever
did
;
I
do
indeed
.
'
Reardon
made
no
acknowledgment
of
these
remarks
.
They
irritated
him
,
for
he
knew
their
insincerity
.
Biffen
,
understanding
his
friend
's
silence
,
struck
in
on
another
subject
.
'
Who
is
this
lady
of
whom
you
write
to
me
?
'
'
Ah
,
quite
a
story
!
I
'm
going
to
be
married
,
Reardon
.
A
serious
marriage
.
Light
your
pipes
,
and
I
'll
tell
you
all
about
it
.
Startled
you
,
I
suppose
,
Biffen
?
Unlikely
news
,
eh
?
Some
people
would
call
it
a
rash
step
,
I
dare
say
.
We
shall
just
take
another
room
in
this
house
,
that
's
all
.
I
think
I
can
count
upon
an
income
of
a
couple
of
guineas
a
week
,
and
I
have
plans
without
end
that
are
pretty
sure
to
bring
in
coin
.
'
Reardon
did
not
care
to
smoke
,
but
Biffen
lit
his
pipe
and
waited
with
grave
interest
for
the
romantic
narrative
.
Whenever
he
heard
of
a
poor
man
's
persuading
a
woman
to
share
his
poverty
he
was
eager
of
details
;
perchance
he
himself
might
yet
have
that
heavenly
good
fortune
.
'
Well
,
'
began
Whelpdale
,
crossing
his
legs
and
watching
a
wreath
he
had
just
puffed
from
the
cigar
,
'
you
know
all
about
my
literary
advisership
.
The
business
goes
on
reasonably
well
.
I
'm
going
to
extend
it
in
ways
I
'll
explain
to
you
presently
.
About
six
weeks
ago
I
received
a
letter
from
a
lady
who
referred
to
my
advertisements
,
and
said
she
had
the
manuscript
of
a
novel
which
she
would
like
to
offer
for
my
opinion
.
Two
publishers
had
refused
it
,
but
one
with
complimentary
phrases
,
and
she
hoped
it
might
n't
be
impossible
to
put
the
thing
into
acceptable
shape
.
Of
course
I
wrote
optimistically
,
and
the
manuscript
was
sent
to
me
.
Well
,
it
was
n't
actually
bad
—
by
Jove
!
you
should
have
seen
some
of
things
I
have
been
asked
to
recommend
to
publishers
!
It
was
n't
hopelessly
bad
by
any
means
,
and
I
gave
serious
thought
to
it
.
After
exchange
of
several
letters
I
asked
the
authoress
to
come
and
see
me
,
that
we
might
save
postage-stamps
and
talk
things
over
.
She
had
n't
given
me
her
address
:
I
had
to
direct
to
a
stationer
's
in
Bayswater
.
She
agreed
to
come
,
and
did
come
.
I
had
formed
a
sort
of
idea
,
but
of
course
I
was
quite
wrong
.
Imagine
my
excitement
when
there
came
in
a
very
beautiful
girl
,
a
tremendously
interesting
girl
,
about
one-and-twenty
—
just
the
kind
of
girl
that
most
strongly
appeals
to
me
;
dark
,
pale
,
rather
consumptive-looking
,
slender
—
no
,
there
's
no
describing
her
;
there
really
is
n't
!
You
must
wait
till
you
see
her
.
'
'
I
hope
the
consumption
was
only
a
figure
of
speech
,
'
remarked
Biffen
in
his
grave
way
.
'
Oh
,
there
's
nothing
serious
the
matter
,
I
think
.
A
slight
cough
,
poor
girl
—
'
'
The
deuce
!
'
interjected
Reardon
.
'
Oh
,
nothing
,
nothing
!
It
'll
be
all
right
.
Well
,
now
,
of
course
we
talked
over
thestory
—
in
good
earnest
,
you
know
.
Little
by
little
I
induced
her
to
speak
of
herself
—
this
,
after
she
'd
come
two
or
three
times
—
and
she
told
me
lamentable
things
.
She
was
absolutely
alone
in
London
,
and
had
n't
had
sufficient
food
for
weeks
;
had
sold
all
she
could
of
her
clothing
;
and
so
on
.
Her
home
was
in
Birmingham
;
she
had
been
driven
away
by
the
brutality
of
a
stepmother
;
a
friend
lent
her
a
few
pounds
,
and
she
came
to
London
with
an
unfinished
novel
.
Well
,
you
know
,
this
kind
of
thing
would
be
enough
to
make
me
soft-hearted
to
any
girl
,
let
alone
one
who
,
to
begin
with
,
was
absolutely
my
ideal
.
When
she
began
to
express
a
fear
that
I
was
giving
too
much
time
to
her
,
that
she
would
n't
be
able
to
pay
my
fees
,
and
so
on
,
I
could
restrain
myself
no
longer
.
On
the
spot
I
asked
her
to
marry
me
.
I
did
n't
practise
any
deception
,
mind
.
I
told
her
I
was
a
poor
devil
who
had
failed
as
a
realistic
novelist
and
was
earning
bread
in
haphazard
ways
;
and
I
explained
frankly
that
I
thought
we
might
carry
on
various
kinds
of
business
together
:
she
might
go
on
with
her
novel-writing
,
and
—
so
on
.
But
she
was
frightened
;
I
had
been
too
abrupt
.
That
's
a
fault
of
mine
,
you
know
;
but
I
was
so
confoundedly
afraid
of
losing
her
.
And
I
told
her
as
much
,
plainly
.
'
Biffen
smiled
.
'
This
would
be
exciting
,
'
he
said
,
'
if
we
did
n't
know
the
end
of
the
story
.
'
'
Yes
.
Pity
I
did
n't
keep
it
a
secret
.
Well
,
she
would
n't
say
yes
,
but
I
could
see
that
she
did
n't
absolutely
say
no.
"
In
any
case
,
"
I
said
,
"
you
'll
let
me
see
you
often
?
Fees
be
hanged
!
I
'll
work
day
and
night
for
you
.
I
'll
do
my
utmost
to
get
your
novel
accepted
.
"
And
I
implored
her
to
let
me
lend
her
a
little
money
.
It
was
very
difficult
to
persuade
her
,
but
at
last
she
accepted
a
few
shillings
.
I
could
see
in
her
face
that
she
was
hungry
.
Just
imagine
!
A
beautiful
girl
absolutely
hungry
;
it
drove
me
frantic
!
But
that
was
a
great
point
gained
.
After
that
we
saw
each
other
almost
every
day
,
and
at
last
—
she
consented
!
Did
indeed
!
I
can
hardly
believe
it
yet
.
We
shall
be
married
in
a
fortnight
's
time
.
'
'
I
congratulate
you
,
'
said
Reardon
.
'
So
do
I
,
'
sighed
Biffen
.
'
The
day
before
yesterday
she
went
to
Birmingham
to
see
her
father
and
tell
him
all
about
the
affair
.
I
agreed
with
her
it
was
as
well
;
the
old
fellow
is
n't
badly
off
,
and
he
may
forgive
her
for
running
away
,
though
he
's
under
his
wife
's
thumb
,
it
appears
.
I
had
a
note
yesterday
.
She
had
gone
to
a
friend
's
house
for
the
first
day
.
I
hoped
to
have
heard
again
this
morning
—
must
to-morrow
,
in
any
case
.
I
live
,
as
you
may
imagine
,
in
wild
excitement
.
Of
course
,
if
the
old
man
stumps
up
a
wedding-present
,
all
the
better
.
But
I
do
n't
care
;
we
'll
make
a
living
somehow
.
What
do
you
think
I
'm
writing
just
now
?
An
author
's
Guide
.
You
know
the
kind
of
thing
;
they
sell
splendidly
.
Of
course
I
shall
make
it
a
good
advertisement
of
my
business
.
Then
I
have
a
splendid
idea
.
I
'm
going
to
advertise
:
"
Novel-writing
taught
in
ten
lessons
!
"
What
do
you
think
of
that
?
No
swindle
;
not
a
bit
of
it
.
I
am
quite
capable
of
giving
the
ordinary
man
or
woman
ten
very
useful
lessons
.
I
've
been
working
out
the
scheme
;
it
would
amuse
you
vastly
,
Reardon
.
The
first
leson
deals
with
the
question
of
subjects
,
local
colour
—
that
kind
of
thing
.
I
gravely
advise
people
,
if
they
possibly
can
,
to
write
of
the
wealthy
middle
class
;
that
's
the
popular
subject
,
you
know
.
Lords
and
ladies
are
all
very
well
,
but
the
real
thing
to
take
is
a
story
about
people
who
have
no
titles
,
but
live
in
good
Philistine
style
.
I
urge
study
of
horsey
matters
especially
;
that
's
very
important
.
You
must
be
well
up
,
too
,
in
military
grades
,
know
about
Sandhurst
,
and
so
on
.
Boating
is
an
important
topic
.
You
see
?
Oh
,
I
shall
make
a
great
thing
of
this
.
I
shall
teach
my
wife
carefully
,
and
then
let
her
advertise
lessons
to
girls
;
they
'll
prefer
coming
to
a
woman
,
you
know
.
'
Biffen
leant
back
and
laughed
noisily
.
'
How
much
shall
you
charge
for
the
course
?
'
asked
Reardon
.
'
That
'll
depend
.
I
sha
n't
refuse
a
guinea
or
two
;
but
some
people
may
be
made
to
pay
five
,
perhaps
.
'
Someone
knocked
at
the
door
,
and
a
voice
said
:
'
A
letter
for
you
,
Mr.
Whelpdale
.
'
He
started
up
,
and
came
back
into
the
room
with
face
illuminated
.
'
Yes
,
it
's
from
Birmingham
;
posted
this
morning
.
Look
what
an
exquisite
hand
she
writes
!
'
He
tore
open
the
envelope
.
In
delicacy
Reardon
and
Biffen
averted
their
eyes
.
There
was
silence
for
a
minute
,
then
a
strange
ejaculation
from
Whelpdale
caused
his
friends
to
look
up
at
him
.
He
had
gone
pale
,
and
was
frowning
at
the
sheets
of
paper
which
trembled
in
his
hand
.
'
No
bad
news
,
I
hope
?
'
Biffen
ventured
to
say
.
Whelpdale
let
himself
sink
into
a
chair
.
'
Now
if
this
is
n't
too
bad
!
'
he
exclaimed
in
a
thick
voice
.
'
If
this
is
n't
monstrously
unkind
!
I
never
heard
anything
so
gross
as
this
—
never
!
'
The
two
waited
,
trying
not
to
smile
.
'
She
writes
—
that
she
has
met
an
old
lover
—
in
Birmingham
—
that
it
was
with
him
she
had
quarrelled
—
not
with
her
father
at
all
—
that
she
ran
away
to
annoy
him
and
frighten
him
—
that
she
has
made
it
up
again
,
and
they
're
going
to
be
married
!
'
He
let
the
sheet
fall
,
and
looked
so
utterly
woebegone
that
his
friends
at
once
exerted
themselves
to
offer
such
consolation
as
the
case
admitted
of
.
Reardon
thought
better
of
Whelpdale
for
this
emotion
;
he
had
not
believed
him
capable
of
it
.
'
It
is
n't
a
case
of
vulgar
cheating
!
'
cried
the
forsaken
one
presently
.
'
Do
n't
go
away
thinking
that
.
She
writes
in
real
distress
and
penitence
—
she
does
indeed
.
Oh
,
the
devil
!
Why
did
I
let
her
go
to
Birmingham
?
A
fortnight
more
,
and
I
should
have
had
her
safe
.
But
it
's
just
like
my
luck
.
Do
you
know
that
this
is
the
third
time
I
've
been
engaged
to
be
married
?
—
no
,
by
Jove
,
the
fourth
!
And
every
time
the
girl
has
got
out
of
it
at
the
last
moment
.
What
an
unlucky
beast
I
am
!
A
girl
who
was
positively
my
ideal
!
I
have
n't
even
a
photograph
of
her
to
show
you
;
but
you
'd
be
astonished
at
her
face
.
Why
,
in
the
devil
's
name
,
did
I
let
her
go
to
Birmingham
?
'
The
visitors
had
risen
.
They
felt
uncomfortable
,
for
it
seemed
as
if
Whelpdale
might
find
vent
for
his
distress
in
tears
.
'
We
had
better
leave
you
,
'
suggested
Biffen
.
'
It
's
very
hard
—
it
is
indeed
.
'
'
Look
here
!
Read
the
letter
for
yourselves
!
Do
!
'
They
declined
,
and
begged
him
not
to
insist
.
'
But
I
want
you
to
see
what
kind
of
girl
she
is
.
It
is
n't
a
case
of
farcical
deceiving
—
not
a
bit
of
it
!
She
implores
me
to
forgive
her
,
and
blames
herself
no
end
.
Just
my
luck
!
The
third
—
no
,
the
fourth
time
,
by
Jove
!
Never
was
such
an
unlucky
fellow
with
women
.
It
's
because
I
'm
so
damnably
poor
;
that
's
it
,
of
course
!
'
Reardon
and
his
companion
succeeded
at
length
in
getting
away
,
though
not
till
they
had
heard
the
virtues
and
beauty
of
the
vanished
girl
described
again
and
again
in
much
detail
.
Both
were
in
a
state
of
depression
as
they
left
the
house
.
'
What
think
you
of
this
story
?
'
asked
Biffen
.
'
Is
this
possible
in
a
woman
of
any
merit
?
'
'
Anything
is
possible
in
a
woman
,
'
Reardon
replied
,
harshly
.
They
walked
in
silence
as
far
as
Portland
Road
Station
.
There
,
with
an
assurance
that
he
would
come
to
a
garret-supper
before
leaving
London
,
Reardon
parted
from
his
friend
and
turned
westward
.
As
soon
as
he
had
entered
,
Amy
's
voice
called
to
him
.
'
Here
's
a
letter
from
Jedwood
,
Edwin
!
'
He
stepped
into
the
study
.
'
It
came
just
,
after
you
went
out
,
and
it
has
been
all
I
could
do
to
resist
the
temptation
to
open
it
.
'
'
Why
should
n't
you
have
opened
it
?
'
said
her
husband
,
carelessly
.
He
tried
to
do
so
himself
,
but
his
shaking
hand
thwarted
him
at
first
.
Succeeding
at
length
,
he
found
a
letter
in
the
publisher
's
own
writing
,
and
the
first
word
that
caught
his
attention
was
'
regret
.
'
With
an
angry
effort
to
command
himself
he
ran
through
the
communication
,
then
held
it
out
to
Amy
.
She
read
,
and
her
countenance
fell
.
Mr.
Jedwood
regretted
that
the
story
offered
to
him
did
not
seem
likely
to
please
that
particular
public
to
whom
his
series
of
one-volume
novels
made
appeal
.
He
hoped
it
would
be
understood
that
,
in
declining
,
he
by
no
means
expressed
an
adverse
judgment
on
the
story
itself
,
etc.
'
It
does
n't
surprise
me
,
'
said
Reardon
.
'
I
believe
he
is
quite
right
.
The
thing
is
too
empty
to
please
the
better
kind
of
readers
,
yet
not
vulgar
enough
to
please
the
worse
.
'
'
But
you
'll
try
someone
else
?
'
'
I
do
n't
think
it
's
much
use
.
'
They
sat
opposite
each
other
,
and
kept
silence
.
Jedwood
's
letter
slipped
from
Amy
's
lap
to
the
ground
.
'
So
,
'
said
Reardon
,
presently
,
'
I
do
n't
see
how
our
plan
is
to
be
carried
out
.
'
'
Oh
,
it
must
be
!
'
'
But
how
?
'
'
You
'll
get
seven
or
eight
pounds
from
The
Wayside
.
And
—
had
n't
we
better
sell
the
furniture
,
instead
of
—
'
His
look
checked
her
.
'
It
seems
to
me
,
Amy
,
that
your
one
desire
is
to
get
away
from
me
,
on
whatever
terms
.
'
'
Do
n't
begin
that
over
again
!
'
she
exclaimed
,
fretfully
.
'
If
we
do
n't
believe
what
I
say
—
'
They
were
both
in
a
state
of
intolerable
nervous
tension
.
Their
voices
quivered
,
and
their
eyes
had
an
unnatural
brightness
.
'
If
we
sell
the
furniture
,
'
pursued
Reardon
,
'
that
means
you
'll
never
come
back
to
me
.
You
wish
to
save
yourself
and
the
child
from
the
hard
life
that
seems
to
be
before
us
.
'
'
Yes
,
I
do
;
but
not
by
deserting
you
.
I
want
you
to
go
and
work
for
us
all
,
so
that
we
may
live
more
happily
before
long
.
Oh
,
how
wretched
this
is
!
'
She
burst
into
hysterical
weeping
.
But
Reardon
,
instead
of
attempting
to
soothe
her
,
went
into
the
next
room
,
where
he
sat
for
a
long
time
in
the
dark
.
When
he
returned
Amy
was
calm
again
;
her
face
expressed
a
cold
misery
.
'
Where
did
you
go
this
morning
?
'
he
asked
,
as
if
wishing
to
talk
of
common
things
.
'
I
told
you
.
I
went
to
buy
those
things
for
Willie
.
'
'
Oh
yes
.
'
There
was
a
silence
.
'
Biffen
passed
you
in
Tottenham
Court
Road
,
'
he
added
.
'
I
did
n't
see
him
.
'
'
No
;
he
said
you
did
n't
.
'
'
Perhaps
,
'
said
Amy
,
'
it
was
just
when
I
was
speaking
to
Mr.
Milvain
.
'
'
You
met
Milvain
?
'
'
Yes
.
'
'
Why
did
n't
you
tell
me
?
'
'
I
'm
sure
I
do
n't
know
.
I
ca
n't
mention
every
trifle
that
happens
.
'
'
No
,
of
course
not
.
'
Amy
closed
her
eyes
,
as
if
in
weariness
,
and
for
a
minute
or
two
Reardon
observed
her
countenance
.
'
So
you
think
we
had
better
sell
the
furniture
?
'
'
I
shall
say
nothing
more
about
it
.
You
must
do
as
seems
best
to
you
,
Edwin
.
'
'
Are
you
going
to
see
your
mother
tomorrow
?
'
'
Yes
.
I
thought
you
would
like
to
come
too
.
'
'
No
;
there
's
no
good
in
my
going
.
'
He
again
rose
,
and
that
night
they
talked
no
more
of
their
difficulties
,
though
on
the
morrow
(
Sunday
)
it
would
be
necessary
to
decide
their
course
in
every
detail
.
CHAPTER
XVII
THE
PARTING
Amy
did
not
go
to
church
.
Before
her
marriage
she
had
done
so
as
a
mere
matter
of
course
,
accompanying
her
mother
,
but
Reardon
's
attitude
with
regard
to
the
popular
religion
speedily
became
her
own
;
she
let
the
subject
lapse
from
her
mind
,
and
cared
neither
to
defend
nor
to
attack
where
dogma
was
concerned
.
She
had
no
sympathies
with
mysticism
;
her
nature
was
strongly
practical
,
with
something
of
zeal
for
intellectual
attainment
superadded
.
This
Sunday
morning
she
was
very
busy
with
domestic
minutiæ
.
Reardon
noticed
what
looked
like
preparations
for
packing
,
and
being
as
little
disposed
for
conversation
as
his
wife
,
he
went
out
and
walked
for
a
couple
of
hours
in
the
Hampstead
region
.
Dinner
over
,
Amy
at
once
made
ready
for
her
journey
to
Westbourne
Park
.
'
Then
you
wo
n't
come
?
'
she
said
to
her
husband
.
'
No
.
I
shall
see
your
mother
before
I
go
away
,
but
I
do
n't
care
to
till
you
have
settled
everything
.
'
It
was
half
a
year
since
he
had
met
Mrs.
Yule
.
she
never
came
to
their
dwelling
,
and
Reardon
could
not
bring
himself
to
visit
her
.
'
You
had
very
much
rather
we
did
n't
sell
the
furniture
?
'
Amy
asked
.
'
Ask
your
mother
's
opinion
.
That
shall
decide
.
'
'
There
'll
be
the
expense
of
moving
it
,
you
know
.
Unless
money
comes
from
The
Wayside
,
you
'll
only
have
two
or
three
pounds
left
.
'
Reardon
made
no
reply
.
He
was
overcome
by
the
bitterness
of
shame
.
'
I
shall
say
,
then
,
'
pursued
Amy
,
who
spoke
with
averted
face
,
'
that
I
am
to
go
there
for
good
on
Tuesday
?
I
mean
,
of
course
,
for
the
summer
months
.
'
'
I
suppose
so
.
'
Then
he
turned
suddenly
upon
her
.
'
Do
you
really
imagine
that
at
the
end
of
the
summer
I
shall
be
a
rich
man
?
What
do
you
mean
by
talking
in
this
way
?
If
the
furniture
is
sold
to
supply
me
with
a
few
pounds
for
the
present
,
what
prospect
is
there
that
I
shall
be
able
to
buy
new
?
'
'
How
can
we
look
forward
at
all
?
'
replied
Amy
.
'
It
has
come
to
the
question
of
how
we
are
to
subsist
.
I
thought
you
would
rather
get
money
in
this
way
than
borrow
of
mother
—
when
she
has
the
expense
of
keeping
me
and
Willie
.
'
'
You
are
right
,
'
muttered
Reardon
.
'
Do
as
you
think
best
.
'
Amy
was
in
her
most
practical
mood
,
and
would
not
linger
for
purposeless
talk
.
A
few
minutes
,
and
Reardon
was
left
alone
.
He
stood
before
his
bookshelves
and
began
to
pick
out
the
volumes
which
he
would
take
away
with
him
.
Just
a
few
,
the
indispensable
companions
of
a
bookish
man
who
still
clings
to
life
—
his
Homer
,
his
Shakespeare
—
The
rest
must
be
sold
.
He
would
get
rid
of
them
to-morrow
morning
.
All
together
they
might
bring
him
a
couple
of
sovereigns
.
Then
his
clothing
.
Amy
had
fulfilled
all
the
domestic
duties
of
a
wife
;
his
wardrobe
was
in
as
good
a
state
as
circumstances
allowed
.
But
there
was
no
object
in
burdening
himself
with
winter
garments
,
for
,
if
he
lived
through
the
summer
at
all
,
he
would
be
able
to
repurchase
such
few
poor
things
as
were
needful
;
at
present
he
could
only
think
of
how
to
get
together
a
few
coins
.
So
he
made
a
heap
of
such
things
as
might
be
sold
.
The
furniture
?
If
it
must
go
,
the
price
could
scarcely
be
more
than
ten
or
twelve
pounds
;
well
,
perhaps
fifteen
.
To
be
sure
,
in
this
way
his
summer
's
living
would
be
abundantly
provided
for
.
He
thought
of
Biffen
enviously
.
Biffen
,
if
need
be
,
could
support
life
on
three
or
four
shillings
a
week
,
happy
in
the
thought
that
no
mortal
had
a
claim
upon
him
.
If
he
starved
to
death
—
well
,
many
another
lonely
man
has
come
to
that
end
.
If
he
preferred
to
kill
himself
,
who
would
be
distressed
?
Spoilt
child
of
fortune
!
The
bells
of
ST.
Marylebone
began
to
clang
for
afternoon
service
.
In
the
idleness
of
dull
pain
his
thoughts
followed
their
summons
,
and
he
marvelled
that
there
were
people
who
could
imagine
it
a
duty
or
find
it
a
solace
to
go
and
sit
in
that
twilight
church
and
listen
to
the
droning
of
prayers
.
He
thought
of
the
wretched
millions
of
mankind
to
whom
life
is
so
barren
that
they
must
needs
believe
in
a
recompense
beyond
the
grave
.
For
that
he
neither
looked
nor
longed
.
The
bitterness
of
his
lot
was
that
this
world
might
be
a
sufficing
paradise
to
him
if
only
he
could
clutch
a
poor
little
share
of
current
coin
.
He
had
won
the
world
's
greatest
prize
—
a
woman
's
love
—
but
could
not
retain
it
because
his
pockets
were
empty
.
That
he
should
fail
to
make
a
great
name
,
this
was
grievous
disappointment
to
Amy
,
but
this
alone
would
not
have
estranged
her
.
It
was
the
dread
and
shame
of
penury
that
made
her
heart
cold
to
him
.
And
he
could
not
in
his
conscience
scorn
her
for
being
thus
affected
by
the
vulgar
circumstances
of
life
;
only
a
few
supreme
natures
stand
unshaken
under
such
a
trial
,
and
though
his
love
of
Amy
was
still
passionate
,
he
knew
that
her
place
was
among
a
certain
class
of
women
,
and
not
on
the
isolated
pinnacle
where
he
had
at
first
visioned
her
.
It
was
entirely
natural
that
she
shrank
at
the
test
of
squalid
suffering
.
A
little
money
,
and
he
could
have
rested
secure
in
her
love
,
for
then
he
would
have
been
able
to
keep
ever
before
her
the
best
qualities
of
his
heart
and
brain
.
Upon
him
,
too
,
penury
had
its
debasing
effect
;
as
he
now
presented
himself
he
was
not
a
man
to
be
admired
or
loved
.
It
was
all
simple
and
intelligible
enough
—
a
situation
that
would
be
misread
only
by
shallow
idealism
.
Worst
of
all
,
she
was
attracted
by
Jasper
Milvain
's
energy
and
promise
of
success
.
He
had
no
ignoble
suspicions
of
Amy
,
but
it
was
impossible
for
him
not
to
see
that
she
habitually
contrasted
the
young
journalist
,
who
laughingly
made
his
way
among
men
,
with
her
grave
,
dispirited
husband
,
who
was
not
even
capable
of
holding
such
position
as
he
had
gained
.
She
enjoyed
Milvain
's
conversation
,
it
put
her
into
a
good
humour
;
she
liked
him
personally
,
and
there
could
be
no
doubt
that
she
had
observed
a
jealous
tendency
in
Reardon
's
attitude
to
his
former
friend
—
always
a
harmful
suggestion
to
a
woman
.
Formerly
she
had
appreciated
her
husband
's
superiority
;
she
had
smiled
at
Milvain
's
commoner
stamp
of
mind
and
character
.
But
tedious
repetition
of
failure
had
outwearied
her
,
and
now
she
saw
Milvain
in
the
sunshine
of
progress
,
dwelt
upon
the
worldly
advantages
of
gifts
and
a
temperament
such
as
his
.
Again
,
simple
and
intelligible
enough
.
Living
apart
from
her
husband
,
she
could
not
be
expected
to
forswear
society
,
and
doubtless
she
would
see
Milvain
pretty
often
.
He
called
occasionally
at
Mrs.
Yule
's
,
and
would
not
do
so
less
often
when
he
knew
that
Amy
was
to
be
met
there
.
There
would
be
chance
encounters
like
that
of
yesterday
,
of
which
she
had
chosen
to
keep
silence
.
A
dark
fear
began
to
shadow
him
.
In
yielding
thus
passively
to
stress
of
circumstances
,
was
he
not
exposing
his
wife
to
a
danger
which
outweighed
all
the
ills
of
poverty
?
As
one
to
whom
she
was
inestimably
dear
,
was
he
right
in
allowing
her
to
leave
him
,
if
only
for
a
few
months
?
He
knew
very
well
that
a
man
of
strong
character
would
never
have
entertained
this
project
.
He
had
got
into
the
way
of
thinking
of
himself
as
too
weak
to
struggle
against
the
obstacles
on
which
Amy
insisted
,
and
of
looking
for
safety
in
retreat
;
but
what
was
to
be
the
end
of
this
weakness
if
the
summer
did
not
at
all
advance
him
?
He
knew
better
than
Amy
could
how
unlikely
it
was
that
he
should
recover
the
energies
of
his
mind
in
so
short
a
time
and
under
such
circumstances
;
only
the
feeble
man
's
temptation
to
postpone
effort
had
made
him
consent
to
this
step
,
and
now
that
he
was
all
but
beyond
turning
back
,
the
perils
of
which
he
had
thought
too
little
forced
themselves
upon
his
mind
.
He
rose
in
anguish
,
and
stood
looking
about
him
as
if
aid
might
somewhere
be
visible
.
Presently
there
was
a
knock
at
the
front
door
,
and
on
opening
he
beheld
the
vivacious
Mr.
Carter
.
This
gentleman
had
only
made
two
or
three
calls
here
since
Reardon
's
marriage
;
his
appearance
was
a
surprise
.
'
I
hear
you
are
leaving
town
for
a
time
,
'
he
exclaimed
.
'
Edith
told
me
yesterday
,
so
I
thought
I
'd
look
you
up
.
'
He
was
in
spring
costume
,
and
exhaled
fresh
odours
.
The
contrast
between
his
prosperous
animation
and
Reardon
's
broken-spirited
quietness
could
not
have
been
more
striking
.
'
Going
away
for
your
health
,
they
tell
me
.
You
've
been
working
too
hard
,
you
know
.
You
must
n't
overdo
it
.
And
where
do
you
think
of
going
to
?
'
'
It
is
n't
at
all
certain
that
I
shall
go
,
'
Reardon
replied
.
'
I
thought
of
a
few
weeks
—
somewhere
at
the
seaside
.
'
'
I
advise
you
to
go
north
,
'
went
on
Carter
cheerily
.
'
You
want
a
tonic
,
you
know
.
Get
up
into
Scotland
and
do
some
boating
and
fishing
—
that
kind
of
thing
.
You
'd
come
back
a
new
man
.
Edith
and
I
had
a
turn
up
there
last
year
,
you
know
;
it
did
me
heaps
of
good
.
'
'
Oh
,
I
do
n't
think
I
should
go
so
far
as
that
.
'
'
But
that
's
just
what
you
want
—
a
regular
change
,
something
bracing
.
You
do
n't
look
at
all
well
,
that
's
the
fact
.
A
winter
in
London
tries
any
man
—
it
does
me
,
I
know
.
I
've
been
seedy
myself
these
last
few
weeks
.
Edith
wants
me
to
take
her
over
to
Paris
at
the
end
of
this
month
,
and
I
think
it
is
n't
a
bad
idea
;
but
I
'm
so
confoundedly
busy
.
In
the
autumn
we
shall
go
to
Norway
,
I
think
;
it
seems
to
be
the
right
thing
to
do
nowadays
.
Why
should
n't
you
have
a
run
over
to
Norway
?
They
say
it
can
be
done
very
cheaply
;
the
steamers
take
you
for
next
to
nothing
.
'
He
talked
on
with
the
joyous
satisfaction
of
a
man
whose
income
is
assured
,
and
whose
future
teems
with
a
succession
of
lively
holidays
.
Reardon
could
make
no
answer
to
such
suggestions
;
he
sat
with
a
fixed
smile
on
his
face
.
'
Have
you
heard
,
'
said
Carter
,
presently
,
'
that
we
're
opening
a
branch
of
the
hospital
in
the
City
Road
?
'
'
No
;
I
had
n't
heard
of
it
.
'
'
It
'll
only
be
for
out-patients
.
Open
three
mornings
and
three
evenings
alternately
.
'
'
Who
'll
represent
you
there
?
'
'
I
shall
look
in
now
and
then
,
of
course
;
there
'll
be
a
clerk
,
like
at
the
old
place
.
'
He
talked
of
the
matter
in
detail
—
of
the
doctors
who
would
attend
,
and
of
certain
new
arrangements
to
be
tried
.
'
Have
you
engaged
the
clerk
?
'
Reardon
asked
.
'
Not
yet
.
I
think
I
know
a
man
who
'll
suit
me
,
though
.
'
'
You
would
n't
be
disposed
to
give
me
the
chance
?
'
Reardon
spoke
huskily
,
and
ended
with
a
broken
laugh
.
'
You
're
rather
above
my
figure
nowadays
,
old
man
!
'
exclaimed
Carter
,
joining
in
what
he
considered
the
jest
.
'
Shall
you
pay
a
pound
a
week
?
'
'
Twenty-five
shillings
.
It
'll
have
to
be
a
man
who
can
be
trusted
to
take
money
from
the
paying
patients
.
'
'
Well
,
I
am
serious
.
Will
you
give
me
the
place
?
'
Carter
gazed
at
him
,
and
checked
another
laugh
.
'
What
the
deuce
do
you
mean
?
'
'
The
fact
is
,
'
Reardon
replied
,
'
I
want
variety
of
occupation
.
I
ca
n't
stick
at
writing
for
more
than
a
month
or
two
at
a
time
.
It
's
because
I
have
tried
to
do
so
that
—
well
,
practically
,
I
have
broken
down
.
If
you
will
give
me
this
clerkship
,
it
will
relieve
me
from
the
necessity
of
perpetually
writing
novels
;
I
shall
be
better
for
it
in
every
way
.
You
know
that
I
'm
equal
to
the
job
;
you
can
trust
me
;
and
I
dare
say
I
shall
be
more
useful
than
most
clerks
you
could
get
.
'
It
was
done
,
most
happily
done
,
on
the
first
impulse
.
A
minute
more
of
pause
,
and
he
could
not
have
faced
the
humiliation
.
His
face
burned
,
his
tongue
was
parched
.
'
I
'm
floored
!
'
cried
Carter
.
'
I
should
n't
have
thought
—
but
of
course
,
if
you
really
want
it
.
I
can
hardly
believe
yet
that
you
're
serious
,
Reardon
.
'
'
Why
not
?
Will
you
promise
me
the
work
?
'
'
Well
,
yes
.
'
'
When
shall
I
have
to
begin
?
'
'
The
place
'
ll
be
opened
to-morrow
week
.
But
how
about
your
holiday
?
'
'
Oh
,
let
that
stand
over
.
It
'll
be
holiday
enough
to
occupy
myself
in
a
new
way
.
An
old
way
,
too
;
I
shall
enjoy
it
.
'
He
laughed
merrily
,
relieved
beyond
measure
at
having
come
to
what
seemed
an
end
of
his
difficulties
.
For
half
an
hour
they
continued
to
talk
over
the
affair
.
'
Well
,
it
's
a
comical
idea
,
'
said
Carter
,
as
he
took
his
leave
,
'
but
you
know
your
own
business
best
.
'
When
Amy
returned
,
Reardon
allowed
her
to
put
the
child
to
bed
before
he
sought
any
conversation
.
She
came
at
length
and
sat
down
in
the
study
.
'
Mother
advises
us
not
to
sell
the
furniture
,
'
were
her
first
words
.
'
I
'm
glad
of
that
,
as
I
had
quite
made
up
my
mind
not
to
.
'
There
was
a
change
in
his
way
of
speaking
which
she
at
once
noticed
.
'
Have
you
thought
of
something
?
'
'
Yes
.
Carter
has
been
here
,
and
he
happened
to
mention
that
they
're
opening
an
outpatient
department
of
the
hospital
,
in
the
City
Road
.
He
'll
want
someone
to
help
him
there
.
I
asked
for
the
post
,
and
he
promised
it
me
.
'
The
last
words
were
hurried
,
though
he
had
resolved
to
speak
with
deliberation
.
No
more
feebleness
;
he
had
taken
a
decision
,
and
would
act
upon
it
as
became
a
responsible
man
.
'
The
post
?
'
said
Amy
.
'
What
post
?
'
'
In
plain
English
,
the
clerkship
.
It
'll
be
the
same
work
as
I
used
to
have
—
registering
patients
,
receiving
their
"
letters
,
"
and
so
on
.
The
pay
is
to
be
five-and-twenty
shillings
a
week
.
'
Amy
sat
upright
and
looked
steadily
at
him
.
'
Is
this
a
joke
?
'
'
Far
from
it
,
dear
.
It
's
a
blessed
deliverance
.
'
'
You
have
asked
Mr.
Carter
to
take
you
back
as
a
clerk
?
'
'
I
have
.
'
'
And
you
propose
that
we
shall
live
on
twenty-five
shillings
a
week
?
'
'
Oh
no
!
I
shall
be
engaged
only
three
mornings
in
the
week
and
three
evenings
.
In
my
free
time
I
shall
do
literary
work
,
and
no
doubt
I
can
earn
fifty
pounds
a
year
by
it
—
if
I
have
your
sympathy
to
help
me
.
To-morrow
I
shall
go
and
look
for
rooms
some
distance
from
here
;
in
Islington
,
I
think
.
We
have
been
living
far
beyond
our
means
;
that
must
come
to
an
end
.
We
'll
have
no
more
keeping
up
of
sham
appearances
.
If
I
can
make
my
way
in
literature
,
well
and
good
;
in
that
case
our
position
and
prospects
will
of
course
change
.
But
for
the
present
we
are
poor
people
,
and
must
live
in
a
poor
way
.
If
our
friends
like
to
come
and
see
us
,
they
must
put
aside
all
snobbishness
,
and
take
us
as
we
are
.
If
they
prefer
not
to
come
,
there
'll
be
an
excuse
in
our
remoteness
.
'
Amy
was
stroking
the
back
of
her
hand
.
After
a
long
silence
,
she
said
in
a
very
quiet
,
but
very
resolute
tone
:
'
I
shall
not
consent
to
this
.
'
'
In
that
case
,
Amy
,
I
must
do
without
your
consent
.
The
rooms
will
be
taken
,
and
our
furniture
transferred
to
them
.
'
'
To
me
that
will
make
no
difference
,
'
returned
his
wife
,
in
the
same
voice
as
before
.
'
I
have
decided
—
as
you
told
me
to
—
to
go
with
Willie
to
mother
's
next
Tuesday
.
You
,
of
course
,
must
do
as
you
please
.
I
should
have
thought
a
summer
at
the
seaside
would
have
been
more
helpful
to
you
;
but
if
you
prefer
to
live
in
Islington
—
'
Reardon
approached
her
,
and
laid
a
hand
on
her
shoulder
.
'
Amy
,
are
you
my
wife
,
or
not
?
'
'
I
am
certainly
not
the
wife
of
a
clerk
who
is
paid
so
much
a
week
.
'
He
had
foreseen
a
struggle
,
but
without
certainty
of
the
form
Amy
's
opposition
would
take
.
For
himself
,
he
meant
to
be
gently
resolute
,
calmly
regardless
of
protest
.
But
in
a
man
to
whom
such
self-assertion
is
a
matter
of
conscious
effort
,
tremor
of
the
nerves
will
always
interfere
with
the
line
of
conduct
he
has
conceived
in
advance
.
Already
Reardon
had
spoken
with
far
more
bluntness
than
he
proposed
;
involuntarily
,
his
voice
slipped
from
earnest
determination
to
the
note
of
absolutism
,
and
,
as
is
wont
to
be
the
case
,
the
sound
of
these
strange
tones
instigated
him
to
further
utterances
of
the
same
kind
.
He
lost
control
of
himself
;
Amy
's
last
reply
went
through
him
like
an
electric
shock
,
and
for
the
moment
he
was
a
mere
husband
defied
by
his
wife
,
the
male
stung
to
exertion
of
his
brute
force
against
the
physically
weaker
sex
.
'
However
you
regard
me
,
you
will
do
what
I
think
fit
.
I
shall
not
argue
with
you
.
If
I
choose
to
take
lodgings
in
Whitechapel
,
there
you
will
come
and
live
.
'
He
met
Amy
's
full
look
,
and
was
conscious
of
that
in
it
which
corresponded
to
his
own
brutality
.
She
had
become
suddenly
a
much
older
woman
;
her
cheeks
were
tight
drawn
into
thinness
,
her
lips
were
bloodlessly
hard
,
there
was
an
unknown
furrow
along
her
forehead
,
and
she
glared
like
the
animal
that
defends
itself
with
tooth
and
claw
.
'
Do
as
you
think
fit
?
Indeed
!
'
Could
Amy
's
voice
sound
like
that
?
Great
Heaven
!
With
just
such
accent
he
had
heard
a
wrangling
woman
retort
upon
her
husband
at
the
street
corner
.
Is
there
then
no
essential
difference
between
a
woman
of
this
world
and
one
of
that
?
Does
the
same
nature
lie
beneath
such
unlike
surfaces
?
He
had
but
to
do
one
thing
:
to
seize
her
by
the
arm
,
drag
her
up
from
the
chair
,
dash
her
back
again
with
all
his
force
—
there
,
the
transformation
would
be
complete
,
they
would
stand
towards
each
other
on
the
natural
footing
.
With
an
added
curse
perhaps
—
Instead
of
that
,
he
choked
,
struggled
for
breath
,
and
shed
tears
.
Amy
turned
scornfully
away
from
him
.
Blows
and
a
curse
would
have
overawed
her
,
at
all
events
for
the
moment
;
she
would
have
felt
:
'
Yes
,
he
is
a
man
,
and
I
have
put
my
destiny
into
his
hands
.
'
His
tears
moved
her
to
a
feeling
cruelly
exultant
;
they
were
the
sign
of
her
superiority
.
It
was
she
who
should
have
wept
,
and
never
in
her
life
had
she
been
further
from
such
display
of
weakness
.
This
could
not
be
the
end
,
however
,
and
she
had
no
wish
to
terminate
the
scene
.
They
stood
for
a
minute
without
regarding
each
other
,
then
Reardon
faced
to
her
.
'
You
refuse
to
live
with
me
,
then
?
'
'
Yes
,
if
this
is
the
kind
of
life
you
offer
me
.
'
'
You
would
be
more
ashamed
to
share
your
husband
's
misfortunes
than
to
declare
to
everyone
that
you
had
deserted
him
?
'
'
I
shall
"
declare
to
everyone
"
the
simple
truth
.
You
have
the
opportunity
of
making
one
more
effort
to
save
us
from
degradation
.
You
refuse
to
take
the
trouble
;
you
prefer
to
drag
me
down
into
a
lower
rank
of
life
.
I
ca
n't
and
wo
n't
consent
to
that
.
The
disgrace
is
yours
;
it
's
fortunate
for
me
that
I
have
a
decent
home
to
go
to
.
'
'
Fortunate
for
you
!
—
you
make
yourself
unutterably
contemptible
.
I
have
done
nothing
that
justifies
you
in
leaving
me
.
It
is
for
me
to
judge
what
I
can
do
and
what
I
ca
n't
.
A
good
woman
would
see
no
degradation
in
what
I
ask
of
you
.
But
to
run
away
from
me
just
because
I
am
poorer
than
you
ever
thought
I
should
be
—
'
He
was
incoherent
.
A
thousand
passionate
things
that
he
wished
to
say
clashed
together
in
his
mind
and
confused
his
speech
.
Defeated
in
the
attempt
to
act
like
a
strong
man
,
he
could
not
yet
recover
standing-ground
,
knew
not
how
to
tone
his
utterances
.
'
Yes
,
of
course
,
that
's
how
you
will
put
it
,
'
said
Amy
.
'
That
's
how
you
will
represent
me
to
your
friends
.
My
friends
will
see
it
in
a
different
light
.
'
'
They
will
regard
you
as
a
martyr
?
'
'
No
one
shall
make
a
martyr
of
me
,
you
may
be
sure
.
I
was
unfortunate
enough
to
marry
a
man
who
had
no
delicacy
,
no
regard
for
my
feelings
.
—
I
am
not
the
first
woman
who
has
made
a
mistake
of
this
kind
.
'
'
No
delicacy
?
No
regard
for
your
feelings
?
—
Have
I
always
utterly
misunderstood
you
?
Or
has
poverty
changed
you
to
a
woman
I
ca
n't
recognise
?
