I've
had
the
ill-luck
to
be
the
finder
of
these
things
in
the
Debarrys
'
Park
.
Most
likely
they
belong
to
one
of
the
family
at
the
Manor
,
or
to
some
grandee
who
is
staying
there
.
I
hate
having
anything
to
do
with
such
people
.
They
'll
think
me
a
poor
rascal
,
and
offer
me
money
.
You
are
a
known
man
,
and
I
thought
you
would
be
kind
enough
to
relieve
me
by
taking
charge
of
these
things
,
and
writing
to
Debarry
,
not
mentioning
me
,
and
asking
him
to
send
some
one
for
them
.
I
found
them
on
the
grass
in
the
park
this
evening
about
half-past
seven
,
in
the
corner
we
cross
going
to
Sproxton
.
"
"
Stay
,
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
"
this
little
book
is
open
;
we
may
venture
to
look
in
it
for
some
sign
of
ownership
.
There
be
others
who
possess
property
,
and
might
be
crossing
that
end
of
the
park
,
besides
the
Debarrys
.
"
As
he
lifted
the
note-book
close
to
his
eyes
,
the
chain
again
slipped
out
.
He
arrested
it
and
held
it
in
his
hand
,
while
he
examined
some
writing
,
which
appeared
to
be
a
name
on
the
inner
leather
.
He
looked
long
,
as
if
he
were
trying
to
decipher
something
that
was
partly
rubbed
out
;
and
his
hands
began
to
tremble
noticeably
.
He
made
a
movement
in
an
agitated
manner
,
as
if
he
were
going
to
examine
the
chain
and
seals
,
which
he
held
in
his
hand
.
But
he
checked
himself
,
closed
his
hand
again
,
and
rested
it
on
the
table
,
while
with
the
other
hand
he
pressed
the
sides
of
the
note-book
together
.
Felix
observed
his
agitation
,
and
was
much
surprised
;
but
with
a
delicacy
of
which
he
was
capable
under
all
his
abruptness
,
he
said
,
"
You
are
overcome
with
fatigue
,
sir
.
I
was
thoughtless
to
tease
you
with
these
matters
at
the
end
of
Sunday
,
when
you
have
been
preaching
three
sermons
.
"
Mr
Lyon
did
not
speak
for
a
few
moments
,
but
at
last
he
said
,
"
It
is
true
.
I
am
overcome
.
It
was
a
name
I
saw
—
a
name
that
called
up
a
past
sorrow
.
Fear
not
;
I
will
do
what
is
needful
with
these
things
.
You
may
trust
them
to
me
.
"
With
trembling
fingers
he
replaced
the
chain
,
and
tied
both
the
large
pocket-book
and
the
note-book
in
his
handkerchief
.
He
was
evidently
making
a
great
effort
over
himself
.
But
when
he
had
gathered
the
knot
of
the
handkerchief
in
his
hand
,
he
said
,
"
Give
me
your
arm
to
the
door
,
my
friend
.
I
feel
ill.
Doubtless
I
am
over-wearied
.
"
The
door
was
already
open
,
and
Lyddy
was
watching
for
her
master
's
return
.
Felix
therefore
said
Good-night
and
passed
on
,
sure
that
this
was
what
Mr
Lyon
would
prefer
.
The
minister
's
supper
of
warm
porridge
was
ready
by
the
kitchen-fire
,
where
he
always
took
it
on
a
Sunday
evening
,
and
afterwards
smoked
his
weekly
pipe
up
the
broad
chimney
—
the
one
great
relaxation
he
allowed
himself
.
Smoking
,
he
considered
,
was
a
recreation
of
the
travailed
spirit
,
which
,
if
indulged
in
,
might
endear
this
world
to
us
by
the
ignoble
bonds
of
mere
sensuous
ease
.
Daily
smoking
might
be
lawful
,
but
it
was
not
expedient
.
And
in
this
Esther
concurred
with
a
doctrinal
eagerness
that
was
unusual
in
her
.
It
was
her
habit
to
go
to
her
own
room
,
professedly
to
bed
,
very
early
on
Sundays
—
immediately
on
her
return
from
chapel
—
that
she
might
avoid
her
father
's
pipe
.
But
this
evening
she
had
remained
at
home
,
under
a
true
plea
of
not
feeling
well
;
and
when
she
heard
him
enter
,
she
ran
out
of
the
parlour
to
meet
him
.
"
Father
,
you
are
ill
,
"
she
said
,
as
he
tottered
to
the
wicker-bottomed
arm-chair
,
while
Lyddy
stood
by
,
shaking
her
head
.
"
No
,
my
dear
,
"
he
answered
feebly
,
as
she
took
off
his
hat
and
looked
in
his
face
inquiringly
;
"
I
am
weary
.
"
"
Let
me
lay
these
things
down
for
you
,
"
said
Esther
,
touching
the
bundle
in
the
handkerchief
.
"
No
;
they
are
matters
which
I
have
to
examine
,
"
he
said
,
laying
them
on
the
table
,
and
putting
his
arm
across
them
.
"
Go
you
to
bed
,
Lyddy
.
"
"
Not
me
,
sir
.
If
ever
a
man
looked
as
if
he
was
struck
with
death
,
it
's
you
,
this
very
night
as
here
is
.
"
"
Nonsense
,
Lyddy
,
"
said
Esther
,
angrily
.
"
Go
to
bed
when
my
father
desires
it
.
I
will
stay
with
him
.
"
Lyddy
was
electrified
by
surprise
at
this
new
behaviour
of
Miss
Esther
's
.
She
took
her
candle
silently
and
went
.
"
Go
you
too
,
my
dear
,
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
tenderly
,
giving
his
hand
to
Esther
,
when
Lyddy
was
gone
.
"
It
is
your
wont
to
go
early
.
Why
are
you
up
?
"
"
Let
me
lift
your
porridge
from
before
the
fire
,
and
stay
with
you
,
father
.
You
think
I
'm
so
naughty
that
I
do
n't
like
doing
anything
for
you
,
"
said
Esther
,
smiling
rather
sadly
at
him
.
"
Child
,
what
has
happened
?
you
have
become
the
image
of
your
mother
to-night
,
"
said
the
minister
,
in
a
loud
whisper
.
The
tears
came
and
relieved
him
,
while
Esther
,
who
had
stooped
to
lift
the
porridge
from
the
fender
,
paused
on
one
knee
and
looked
up
at
him
.
"
She
was
very
good
to
you
?
"
asked
Esther
,
softly
.
"
Yes
,
dear
.
She
did
not
reject
my
affection
.
She
thought
not
scorn
of
my
love
.
She
would
have
forgiven
me
,
if
I
had
erred
against
her
,
from
very
tenderness
.
Could
you
forgive
me
,
child
?
"
"
Father
,
I
have
not
been
good
to
you
;
but
I
will
be
,
I
will
be
,
"
said
Esther
,
laying
her
head
on
his
knee
.
He
kissed
her
head
.
"
Go
to
bed
,
my
dear
;
I
would
be
alone
.
"
When
Esther
was
lying
down
that
night
,
she
felt
as
if
the
little
incidents
between
herself
and
her
father
on
this
Sunday
had
made
it
an
epoch
.
Very
slight
words
and
deeds
may
have
a
sacramental
efficacy
,
if
we
can
cast
our
self-love
behind
us
,
in
order
to
say
or
do
them
.
And
it
has
been
well
believed
through
many
ages
that
the
beginning
of
compunction
is
the
beginning
of
a
new
life
;
that
the
mind
which
sees
itself
blameless
may
be
called
dead
in
trespasses
—
in
trespasses
on
the
love
of
others
,
in
trespasses
on
their
weakness
,
in
trespasses
on
all
those
great
claims
which
are
the
image
of
our
own
need
.
But
Esther
persisted
in
assuring
herself
that
she
was
not
bending
to
any
criticism
from
Felix
.
She
was
full
of
resentment
against
his
rudeness
,
and
yet
more
against
his
too
harsh
conception
of
her
character
.
She
was
determined
to
keep
as
much
at
a
distance
from
him
as
possible
.
CHAPTER
XIV
.
This
man
's
metallic
;
at
a
sudden
blow
His
soul
rings
hard
.
I
cannot
lay
my
palm
,
Trembling
with
life
,
upon
that
jointed
brass
.
I
shudder
at
the
cold
unanswering
touch
;
But
if
it
press
me
in
response
,
I
'm
bruised
.
The
next
morning
,
when
the
Debarrys
,
including
the
Rector
,
who
had
ridden
over
to
the
Manor
early
,
were
still
seated
at
breakfast
,
Christian
came
in
with
a
letter
,
saying
that
it
had
been
brought
by
a
man
employed
at
the
chapel
in
Malthouse
Yard
,
who
had
been
ordered
by
the
minister
to
use
all
speed
and
care
in
the
delivery
.
The
letter
was
addressed
to
Sir
Maximus
.
"
Stay
,
Christian
,
it
may
possibly
refer
to
the
lost
pocket-book
,
"
said
Philip
Debarry
,
who
was
beginning
to
feel
rather
sorry
for
his
factotum
,
as
a
reaction
from
previous
suspicions
and
indignation
.
Sir
Maximus
opened
the
letter
and
felt
for
his
glasses
,
but
then
said
,
"
Here
,
you
read
it
,
Phil
:
the
man
writes
a
hand
like
small
print
.
"
Philip
cast
his
eyes
over
it
,
and
then
read
aloud
in
a
tone
of
satisfaction
:
—
Sir
,
—
I
send
this
letter
to
apprise
you
that
I
have
now
in
my
possession
certain
articles
,
which
,
last
evening
,
at
about
half-past
seven
o'clock
,
were
found
lying
on
the
grass
at
the
western
extremity
of
your
park
.
The
articles
are
—
1
°
,
a
well-filled
pocket-book
,
of
brown
leather
,
fastened
with
a
black
ribbon
and
with
a
seal
of
red
wax
;
2
°
,
a
small
note-book
,
covered
with
gilded
vellum
,
whereof
the
clasp
was
burst
,
and
from
out
whereof
had
partly
escaped
a
small
gold
chain
,
with
seals
and
a
locket
attached
,
the
locket
bearing
on
the
back
a
device
,
and
round
the
face
a
female
name
.
Wherefore
I
request
that
you
will
further
my
effort
to
place
these
articles
in
the
right
hands
,
by
ascertaining
whether
any
person
within
your
walls
claims
them
as
his
property
,
and
by
sending
that
person
to
me
(
if
such
be
found
)
;
for
I
will
on
no
account
let
them
pass
from
my
care
save
into
that
of
one
who
,
declaring
himself
to
be
the
owner
,
can
state
to
me
what
is
the
impression
on
the
seal
,
and
what
the
device
and
name
upon
the
locket
.
I
am
,
Sir
,
Yours
to
command
in
all
right
dealing
,
RUFUS
LYON
.
Malthouse
Yard
,
Oct.
3
,
1832.
"
Well
done
,
old
Lyon
,
"
said
the
Rector
;
"
I
did
n't
think
that
any
composition
of
his
would
ever
give
me
so
much
pleasure
.
"
"
What
an
old
fox
it
is
!
"
said
Sir
Maximus
.
"
Why
could
n't
he
send
the
things
to
me
at
once
along
with
the
letter
?
"
"
No
,
no
,
Max
;
he
uses
a
justifiable
caution
,
"
said
the
Rector
,
a
refined
and
rather
severe
likeness
of
his
brother
,
with
a
ring
of
fearlessness
and
decision
in
his
voice
which
startled
all
flaccid
men
and
unruly
boys
.
"
What
are
you
going
to
do
,
Phil
?
"
he
added
,
seeing
his
nephew
rise
.
"
To
write
,
of
course
.
Those
other
matters
are
yours
,
I
suppose
?
"
said
Mr
Debarry
,
looking
at
Christian
.
"
Yes
,
sir
.
"
"
I
shall
send
you
with
a
letter
to
the
preacher
.
You
can
describe
your
own
property
.
And
the
seal
,
uncle
—
was
it
your
coat-of-arms
?
"
"
No
,
it
was
this
head
of
Achilles
.
Here
,
I
can
take
it
off
the
ring
,
and
you
can
carry
it
,
Christian
.
But
do
n't
lose
that
,
for
I
've
had
it
ever
since
eighteen
hundred
.
I
should
like
to
send
my
compliments
with
it
,
"
the
Rector
went
on
,
looking
at
his
brother
,
"
and
beg
that
since
he
has
so
much
wise
caution
at
command
,
he
would
exercise
a
little
in
more
public
matters
,
instead
of
making
himself
a
firebrand
in
my
parish
,
and
teaching
hucksters
and
tape-weavers
that
it
's
their
business
to
dictate
to
statesmen
.
"
"
How
did
Dissenters
,
and
Methodists
,
and
Quakers
,
and
people
of
that
sort
first
come
up
,
uncle
?
"
said
Miss
Selina
,
a
radiant
girl
of
twenty
,
who
had
given
much
time
to
the
harp
.
"
Dear
me
,
Selina
,
"
said
her
elder
sister
,
Harriet
,
whose
forte
was
general
knowledge
,
"
do
n't
you
remember
'
Woodstock
'
?
They
were
in
Cromwell
's
time
.
"
"
O
!
Holdenough
,
and
those
people
?
Yes
;
but
they
preached
in
the
churches
;
they
had
no
chapels
.
Tell
me
,
uncle
Gus
;
I
like
to
be
wise
,
"
said
Selina
,
looking
up
at
the
face
which
was
smiling
down
on
her
with
a
sort
of
severe
benignity
.
"
Phil
says
I
'm
an
ignorant
puss
.
"
"
The
seeds
of
Nonconformity
were
sown
at
the
Reformation
,
my
dear
,
when
some
obstinate
men
made
scruples
about
surplices
and
the
place
of
the
communion-table
,
and
other
trifles
of
that
sort
.
But
the
Quakers
came
up
about
Cromwell
's
time
,
and
the
Methodists
only
in
the
last
century
.
The
first
Methodists
were
regular
clergymen
,
the
more
's
the
pity
.
"
"
But
all
those
wrong
things
—
why
did
n't
government
put
them
down
?
"
"
Ah
,
to
be
sure
,
"
fell
in
Sir
Maximus
,
in
a
cordial
tone
of
corroboration
.
"
Because
error
is
often
strong
,
and
government
is
often
weak
,
my
dear
.
Well
,
Phil
,
have
you
finished
your
letter
?
"
"
Yes
,
I
will
read
it
to
you
,
"
said
Philip
,
turning
and
leaning
over
the
back
of
his
chair
with
the
letter
in
his
hand
.
There
is
a
portrait
of
Mr
Philip
Debarry
still
to
be
seen
at
Treby
Manor
,
and
a
very
fine
bust
of
him
at
Rome
,
where
he
died
fifteen
years
later
,
a
convert
to
Catholicism
.
His
face
would
have
been
plain
but
for
the
exquisite
setting
of
his
hazel
eyes
,
which
fascinated
even
the
dogs
of
the
household
.
The
other
features
,
though
slight
and
irregular
,
were
redeemed
from
triviality
by
the
stamp
of
gravity
and
intellectual
preoccupation
in
his
face
and
bearing
.
As
he
read
aloud
,
his
voice
was
what
his
uncle
's
might
have
been
if
it
had
been
modulated
by
delicate
health
and
a
visitation
of
self-doubt
.
Sir
,
—
In
reply
to
the
letter
with
which
you
have
favoured
me
this
morning
,
I
beg
to
state
that
the
articles
you
describe
were
lost
from
the
pocket
of
my
servant
,
who
is
the
bearer
of
this
letter
to
you
,
and
is
the
claimant
of
the
vellum
note-book
and
the
gold
chain
.
The
large
leathern
pocket-book
is
my
own
property
,
and
the
impression
on
the
wax
,
a
helmeted
head
of
Achilles
,
was
made
by
my
uncle
,
the
Rev.
Augustus
Debarry
,
who
allows
me
to
forward
his
seal
to
you
in
proof
that
I
am
not
making
a
mistaken
claim
.
I
feel
myself
under
deep
obligation
to
you
,
sir
,
for
the
care
and
trouble
you
have
taken
in
order
to
restore
to
its
right
owner
a
piece
of
property
which
happens
to
be
of
particular
importance
to
me
.
And
I
shall
consider
myself
doubly
fortunate
if
at
any
time
you
can
point
out
to
me
some
method
by
which
I
may
procure
you
as
lively
a
satisfaction
as
I
am
now
feeling
,
in
that
full
and
speedy
relief
from
anxiety
which
I
owe
to
your
considerate
conduct
.
I
remain
,
Sir
,
your
obliged
and
faithful
servant
,
PHILIP
DEBARRY
.
"
You
know
best
,
Phil
,
of
course
,
"
said
Sir
Maximus
,
pushing
his
plate
from
him
,
by
way
of
interjection
.
"
But
it
seems
to
me
you
exaggerate
preposterously
every
little
service
a
man
happens
to
do
for
you
.
Why
should
you
make
a
general
offer
of
that
sort
?
How
do
you
know
what
he
will
be
asking
you
to
do
?
Stuff
and
nonsense
!
Tell
Willis
to
send
him
a
few
head
of
game
.
You
should
think
twice
before
you
give
a
blank
cheque
of
that
sort
to
one
of
these
quibbling
,
meddlesome
Radicals
.
"
"
You
are
afraid
of
my
committing
myself
to
'
the
bottomless
perjury
of
an
et
cetera
,
'
"
said
Philip
,
smiling
,
as
he
turned
to
fold
his
letter
.
"
But
I
think
I
am
not
doing
any
mischief
;
at
all
events
I
could
not
be
content
to
say
less
.
And
I
have
a
notion
that
he
would
regard
a
present
of
game
just
now
as
an
insult
.
I
should
,
in
his
place
.
"
"
Yes
,
yes
,
you
;
but
you
do
n't
make
yourself
a
measure
of
Dissenting
preachers
,
I
hope
,
"
said
Sir
Maximus
,
rather
wrathfully
.
"
What
do
you
say
,
Gus
?
"
"
Phil
is
right
,
"
said
the
Rector
,
in
an
absolute
tone
.
"
I
would
not
deal
with
a
Dissenter
,
or
put
profits
into
the
pocket
of
a
Radical
which
I
might
put
into
the
pocket
of
a
good
Churchman
and
a
quiet
subject
.
But
if
the
greatest
scoundrel
in
the
world
made
way
for
me
,
or
picked
my
hat
up
,
I
would
thank
him
.
So
would
you
,
Max
.
"
"
Pooh
!
I
did
n't
mean
that
one
should
n't
behave
like
a
gentleman
,
"
said
Sir
Maximus
,
in
some
vexation
.
He
had
great
pride
in
his
son
's
superiority
even
to
himself
;
but
he
did
not
enjoy
having
his
own
opinion
argued
down
as
it
always
was
,
and
did
not
quite
trust
the
dim
vision
opened
by
Phil
's
new
words
and
new
notions
.
He
could
only
submit
in
silence
while
the
letter
was
delivered
to
Christian
,
with
the
order
to
start
for
Malthouse
Yard
immediately
.
Meanwhile
,
in
that
somewhat
dim
locality
the
possible
claimant
of
the
note-book
and
the
chain
was
thought
of
and
expected
with
palpitating
agitation
.
Mr
Lyon
was
seated
in
his
study
,
looking
haggard
and
already
aged
from
a
sleepless
night
.
He
was
so
afraid
lest
his
emotion
should
deprive
him
of
the
presence
of
mind
necessary
to
the
due
attention
to
particulars
in
the
coming
interview
,
that
he
continued
to
occupy
his
sight
and
touch
with
the
objects
which
had
stirred
the
depths
,
not
only
of
memory
,
but
of
dread
.
Once
again
he
unlocked
a
small
box
which
stood
beside
his
desk
,
and
took
from
it
a
little
oval
locket
,
and
compared
this
with
one
which
hung
with
the
seals
on
the
stray
gold
chain
.
There
was
the
same
device
in
enamel
on
the
back
of
both
:
clasped
hands
surrounded
with
blue
flowers
.
Both
had
round
the
face
a
name
in
gold
italics
on
a
blue
ground
:
the
name
on
the
locket
taken
from
the
drawer
was
Maurice
;
the
name
on
the
locket
which
hung
with
the
seals
was
Annette
,
and
within
the
circle
of
this
name
there
was
a
lover
's
knot
of
light-brown
hair
,
which
matched
a
curl
that
lay
in
the
box
.
The
hair
in
the
locket
which
bore
the
name
of
Maurice
was
of
a
very
dark
brown
,
and
before
returning
it
to
the
drawer
Mr
Lyon
noted
the
colour
and
quality
of
this
hair
more
carefully
than
ever
.
Then
he
recurred
to
the
note-book
:
undoubtedly
there
had
been
something
,
probably
a
third
name
,
beyond
the
names
Maurice
Christian
,
which
had
themselves
been
rubbed
and
slightly
smeared
as
if
by
accident
;
and
from
the
very
first
examination
in
the
vestry
,
Mr
Lyon
could
not
prevent
himself
from
transferring
the
mental
image
of
the
third
name
in
faint
lines
to
the
rubbed
leather
.
The
leaves
of
the
note-book
seemed
to
have
been
recently
inserted
;
they
were
of
fresh
white
paper
,
and
only
bore
some
abbreviations
in
pencil
with
a
notation
of
small
sums
.
Nothing
could
be
gathered
from
the
comparison
of
the
writing
in
the
book
with
that
of
the
yellow
letters
which
lay
in
the
box
:
the
smeared
name
had
been
carefully
printed
,
and
so
bore
no
resemblance
to
the
signature
of
those
letters
;
and
the
pencil
abbreviations
and
figures
had
been
made
too
hurriedly
to
bear
any
decisive
witness
.
"
I
will
ask
him
to
write
—
to
write
a
description
of
the
locket
,
"
had
been
one
of
Mr
Lyon
's
thoughts
;
but
he
faltered
in
that
intention
.
His
power
of
fulfilling
it
must
depend
on
what
he
saw
in
this
visitor
,
of
whose
coming
he
had
a
horrible
dread
,
at
the
very
time
he
was
writing
to
demand
it
.
In
that
demand
he
was
obeying
the
voice
of
his
rigid
conscience
,
which
had
never
left
him
perfectly
at
rest
under
his
one
act
of
deception
—
the
concealment
from
Esther
that
he
was
not
her
natural
father
,
the
assertion
of
a
false
claim
upon
her
.
"
Let
my
path
be
henceforth
simple
,
"
he
had
said
to
himself
in
the
anguish
of
that
night
;
"
let
me
seek
to
know
what
is
,
and
if
possible
to
declare
it
.
"
If
he
was
really
going
to
find
himself
face
to
face
with
the
man
who
had
been
Annette
's
husband
,
and
who
was
Esther
's
father
—
if
that
wandering
of
his
from
the
light
had
brought
the
punishment
of
a
blind
sacrilege
as
the
issue
of
a
conscious
transgression
,
—
he
prayed
that
he
might
be
able
to
accept
all
consequences
of
pain
to
himself
.
But
he
saw
other
possibilities
concerning
the
claimant
of
the
book
and
chain
.
His
ignorance
and
suspicions
as
to
the
history
and
character
of
Annette
's
husband
made
it
credible
that
he
had
laid
a
plan
for
convincing
her
of
his
death
as
a
means
of
freeing
himself
from
a
burthensome
tie
;
but
it
seemed
equally
probable
that
he
was
really
dead
,
and
that
these
articles
of
property
had
been
a
bequest
,
or
a
payment
,
or
even
a
sale
,
to
their
present
owner
.
Indeed
,
in
all
these
years
there
was
no
knowing
into
how
many
hands
such
pretty
trifles
might
have
passed
.
And
the
claimant
might
,
after
all
,
have
no
connection
with
the
Debarrys
;
he
might
not
come
on
this
day
or
the
next
.
There
might
be
more
time
left
for
reflection
and
prayer
.
All
these
possibilities
,
which
would
remove
the
pressing
need
for
difficult
action
,
Mr
Lyon
represented
to
himself
,
but
he
had
no
effective
belief
in
them
;
his
belief
went
with
his
strongest
feeling
,
and
in
these
moments
his
strongest
feeling
was
dread
.
He
trembled
under
the
weight
that
seemed
already
added
to
his
own
sin
;
he
felt
himself
already
confronted
by
Annette
's
husband
and
Esther
's
father
.
Perhaps
the
father
was
a
gentleman
on
a
visit
to
the
Debarrys
.
There
was
no
hindering
the
pang
with
which
the
old
man
said
to
himself
,
"
The
child
will
not
be
sorry
to
leave
this
poor
home
,
and
I
shall
be
guilty
in
her
sight
.
"
He
was
walking
about
among
the
rows
of
books
when
there
came
a
loud
rap
at
the
outer
door
.
The
rap
shook
him
so
that
he
sank
into
his
chair
,
feeling
almost
powerless
.
Lyddy
presented
herself
.
"
Here
's
ever
such
a
fine
man
from
the
Manor
wants
to
see
you
,
sir
.
Dear
heart
,
dear
heart
!
shall
I
tell
him
you
're
too
bad
to
see
him
?
"
"
Show
him
up
,
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
making
an
effort
to
rally
.
When
Christian
appeared
,
the
minister
half
rose
,
leaning
on
an
arm
of
his
chair
,
and
said
,
"
Be
seated
,
sir
,
"
seeing
nothing
but
that
a
tall
man
was
entering
.
"
I
've
brought
you
a
letter
from
Mr
Debarry
,
"
said
Christian
,
in
an
off-hand
manner
.
This
rusty
little
man
,
in
his
dismal
chamber
,
seemed
to
the
Ulysses
of
the
steward
's
room
a
pitiable
sort
of
human
curiosity
,
to
whom
a
man
of
the
world
would
speak
rather
loudly
,
in
accommodation
to
an
eccentricity
which
was
likely
to
be
accompanied
with
deafness
.
One
cannot
be
eminent
in
everything
;
and
if
Mr
Christian
had
dispersed
his
faculties
in
study
that
would
have
enabled
him
to
share
unconventional
points
of
view
,
he
might
have
worn
a
mistaken
kind
of
boot
,
and
been
less
competent
to
win
at
écarté
,
or
at
betting
,
or
in
any
other
contest
suitable
to
a
person
of
figure
.
As
he
seated
himself
,
Mr
Lyon
opened
the
letter
,
and
held
it
close
to
his
eyes
,
so
that
his
face
was
hidden
.
But
at
the
word
"
servant
"
he
could
not
avoid
starting
,
and
looking
off
the
letter
towards
the
bearer
.
Christian
,
knowing
what
was
in
the
letter
,
conjectured
that
the
old
man
was
amazed
to
learn
that
so
distinguished-looking
a
personage
was
a
servant
;
he
leaned
forward
with
his
elbows
on
his
knees
,
balanced
his
cane
on
his
fingers
,
and
began
a
whispering
whistle
.
The
minister
checked
himself
,
finished
the
reading
of
the
letter
,
and
then
slowly
and
nervously
put
on
his
spectacles
to
survey
this
man
,
between
whose
fate
and
his
own
there
might
be
a
terrible
collision
.
The
word
"
servant
"
had
been
a
fresh
caution
to
him
.
He
must
do
nothing
rashly
.
Esther
's
lot
was
deeply
concerned
.
"
Here
is
the
seal
mentioned
in
the
letter
,
"
said
Christian
.
Mr
Lyon
drew
the
pocket-book
from
his
desk
,
and
,
after
comparing
the
seal
with
the
impression
,
said
,
"
It
is
right
,
sir
:
I
deliver
the
pocket-book
to
you
.
"
He
held
it
out
with
the
seal
,
and
Christian
rose
to
take
them
,
saying
,
carelessly
,
"
The
other
things
—
the
chain
and
the
little
book
—
are
mine
.
"
"
Your
name
then
is
—
"
"
Maurice
Christian
.
"
A
spasm
shot
through
Mr
Lyon
.
It
had
seemed
possible
that
he
might
hear
another
name
,
and
be
freed
from
the
worse
half
of
his
anxiety
.
His
next
words
were
not
wisely
chosen
,
but
escaped
him
impulsively
.
"
And
you
have
no
other
name
?
"
"
What
do
you
mean
?
"
said
Christian
,
sharply
.
"
Be
so
good
as
to
reseat
yourself
.
"
Christian
did
not
comply
.
"
I
'm
rather
in
a
hurry
,
sir
,
"
he
said
,
recovering
his
coolness
.
"
If
it
suits
you
to
restore
to
me
those
small
articles
of
mine
,
I
shall
be
glad
;
but
I
would
rather
leave
them
behind
than
be
detained
.
"
He
had
reflected
that
the
minister
was
simply
a
punctilious
old
bore
.
The
question
meant
nothing
else
.
But
Mr
Lyon
had
wrought
himself
up
to
the
task
of
finding
out
,
then
and
there
,
if
possible
,
whether
or
not
this
were
Annette
's
husband
.
How
could
he
lay
himself
and
his
sin
before
God
if
he
wilfully
declined
to
learn
the
truth
?
"
Nay
,
sir
,
I
will
not
detain
you
unreasonably
,
"
he
said
,
in
a
firmer
tone
than
before
.
"
How
long
have
these
articles
been
your
property
?
"
"
Oh
,
for
more
than
twenty
years
,
"
said
Christian
,
carelessly
.
He
was
not
altogether
easy
under
the
minister
's
persistence
,
but
for
that
very
reason
he
showed
no
more
impatience
.
"
You
have
been
in
France
and
in
Germany
?
"
"
I
have
been
in
most
countries
on
the
Continent
.
"
"
Be
so
good
as
to
write
me
your
name
,
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
dipping
a
pen
in
the
ink
,
and
holding
it
out
with
a
piece
of
paper
.
Christian
was
much
surprised
,
but
not
now
greatly
alarmed
.
In
his
rapid
conjectures
as
to
the
explanation
of
the
minister
's
curiosity
,
he
had
alighted
on
one
which
might
carry
advantage
rather
than
inconvenience
.
But
he
was
not
going
to
commit
himself
.
"
Before
I
oblige
you
there
,
sir
,
"
he
said
,
laying
down
the
pen
,
and
looking
straight
at
Mr
Lyon
,
"
I
must
know
exactly
the
reasons
you
have
for
putting
these
questions
to
me
.
You
are
a
stranger
to
me
—
an
excellent
person
,
I
daresay
—
but
I
have
no
concern
about
you
farther
than
to
get
from
you
those
small
articles
.
Do
you
still
doubt
that
they
are
mine
?
You
wished
,
I
think
,
that
I
should
tell
you
what
the
locket
is
like
.
It
has
a
pair
of
hands
and
blue
flowers
on
one
side
,
and
the
name
Annette
round
the
hair
on
the
other
side
.
That
is
all
I
have
to
say
.
If
you
wish
for
anything
more
from
me
,
you
will
be
good
enough
to
tell
me
why
you
wish
it
.
Now
then
,
sir
,
what
is
your
concern
with
me
?
"
The
cool
stare
,
the
hard
challenging
voice
,
with
which
these
words
were
uttered
,
made
them
fall
like
the
beating
cutting
chill
of
heavy
hail
on
Mr
Lyon
.
He
sank
back
in
his
chair
in
utter
irresolution
and
helplessness
.
How
was
it
possible
to
lay
bare
the
sad
and
sacred
past
in
answer
to
such
a
call
as
this
?
The
dread
with
which
he
had
thought
of
this
man
's
coming
,
the
strongly-confirmed
suspicion
that
he
was
really
Annette
's
husband
,
intensified
the
antipathy
created
by
his
gestures
and
glances
.
The
sensitive
little
minister
knew
instinctively
that
words
which
would
cost
him
efforts
as
painful
as
the
obedient
footsteps
of
a
wounded
bleeding
hound
that
wills
a
foreseen
throe
,
would
fall
on
this
man
as
the
pressure
of
tender
fingers
falls
on
a
brazen
glove
.
And
Esther
—
if
this
man
was
her
father
—
every
additional
word
might
help
to
bring
down
irrevocable
,
perhaps
cruel
,
consequences
on
her
.
A
thick
mist
seemed
to
have
fallen
where
Mr
Lyon
was
looking
for
the
track
of
duty
:
the
difficult
question
,
how
far
he
was
to
care
for
consequences
in
seeking
and
avowing
the
truth
,
seemed
anew
obscured
.
All
these
things
,
like
the
vision
of
a
coming
calamity
,
were
compressed
into
a
moment
of
consciousness
.
Nothing
could
be
done
to-day
;
everything
must
be
deferred
.
He
answered
Christian
in
a
low
apologetic
tone
.
"
It
is
true
,
sir
;
you
have
told
me
all
I
can
demand
.
I
have
no
sufficient
reason
for
detaining
your
property
further
.
"
He
handed
the
note-book
and
chain
to
Christian
,
who
had
been
observing
him
narrowly
,
and
now
said
,
in
a
tone
of
indifference
,
as
he
pocketed
the
articles
,
"
Very
good
,
sir
.
I
wish
you
a
good-morning
.
"
"
Good-morning
,
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
feeling
,
while
the
door
closed
behind
his
guest
,
that
mixture
of
uneasiness
and
relief
which
all
procrastination
of
difficulty
produces
in
minds
capable
of
strong
forecast
.
The
work
was
still
to
be
done
.
He
had
still
before
him
the
task
of
learning
everything
that
could
be
learned
about
this
man
's
relation
to
himself
and
Esther
.
Christian
,
as
he
made
his
way
back
along
Malthouse
Lane
,
was
thinking
,
"
This
old
fellow
has
got
some
secret
in
his
head
.
It
's
not
likely
he
can
know
anything
about
me
;
it
must
be
about
Bycliffe
.
But
Bycliffe
was
a
gentleman
:
how
should
he
ever
have
had
anything
to
do
with
such
a
seedy
old
ranter
as
that
?
"
END
OF
THE
FIRST
VOLUME
.
VOL.
II
.
CHAPTER
XV
.
And
doubt
shall
be
as
lead
upon
the
feet
Of
thy
most
anxious
will
.
Mr
Lyon
was
careful
to
look
in
at
Felix
as
soon
as
possible
after
Christian
's
departure
,
to
tell
him
that
his
trust
was
discharged
.
During
the
rest
of
the
day
he
was
somewhat
relieved
from
agitating
reflections
by
the
necessity
of
attending
to
his
ministerial
duties
,
the
rebuke
of
rebellious
singers
being
one
of
them
;
and
on
his
return
from
the
Monday
evening
prayer-meeting
he
was
so
overcome
with
weariness
that
he
went
to
bed
without
taking
note
of
any
objects
in
his
study
.
But
when
he
rose
the
next
morning
,
his
mind
,
once
more
eagerly
active
,
was
arrested
by
Philip
Debarry
's
letter
,
which
still
lay
open
on
his
desk
,
and
was
arrested
by
precisely
that
portion
which
had
been
unheeded
the
day
before
:
—
"
I
shall
consider
myself
doubly
fortunate
if
at
any
time
you
can
point
out
to
me
some
method
by
which
I
may
procure
you
as
lively
a
satisfaction
as
I
am
now
feeling
,
in
that
full
and
speedy
relief
from
anxiety
which
I
owe
to
your
considerate
conduct
.
"
To
understand
how
these
words
could
carry
the
suggestion
they
actually
had
for
the
minister
in
a
crisis
of
peculiar
personal
anxiety
and
struggle
,
we
must
bear
in
mind
that
for
many
years
he
had
walked
through
life
with
the
sense
of
having
for
a
space
been
unfaithful
to
what
he
esteemed
the
highest
trust
ever
committed
to
man
—
the
ministerial
vocation
.
In
a
mind
of
any
nobleness
,
a
lapse
into
transgression
against
an
object
still
regarded
as
supreme
,
issues
in
a
new
and
purer
devotedness
,
chastised
by
humility
and
watched
over
by
a
passionate
regret
.
So
it
was
with
that
ardent
spirit
which
animated
the
little
body
of
Rufus
Lyon
.
Once
in
his
life
he
had
been
blinded
,
deafened
,
hurried
along
by
rebellious
impulse
;
he
had
gone
astray
after
his
own
desires
,
and
had
let
the
fire
die
out
on
the
altar
;
and
as
the
true
penitent
,
hating
his
self-besotted
error
,
asks
from
all
coming
life
duty
instead
of
joy
,
and
service
instead
of
ease
,
so
Rufus
was
perpetually
on
the
watch
lest
he
should
ever
again
postpone
to
some
private
affection
a
great
public
opportunity
which
to
him
was
equivalent
to
a
command
.
Now
here
was
an
opportunity
brought
by
a
combination
of
that
unexpected
incalculable
kind
which
might
be
regarded
as
the
Divine
emphasis
invoking
especial
attention
to
trivial
events
—
an
opportunity
of
securing
what
Rufus
Lyon
had
often
wished
for
as
a
means
of
honouring
truth
,
and
exhibiting
error
in
the
character
of
a
stammering
,
halting
,
short-breathed
usurper
of
office
and
dignity
.
What
was
more
exasperating
to
a
zealous
preacher
,
with
whom
copious
speech
was
not
a
difficulty
but
a
relief
—
who
never
lacked
argument
,
but
only
combatants
and
listeners
—
than
to
reflect
that
there
were
thousands
on
thousands
of
pulpits
in
this
kingdom
,
supplied
with
handsome
sounding-boards
,
and
occupying
an
advantageous
position
in
buildings
far
larger
than
the
chapel
in
Malthouse
Yard
—
buildings
sure
to
be
places
of
resort
,
even
as
the
markets
were
,
if
only
from
habit
and
interest
;
and
that
these
pulpits
were
filled
,
or
rather
made
vacuous
,
by
men
whose
privileged
education
in
the
ancient
centres
of
instruction
issued
in
twenty
minutes
'
formal
reading
of
tepid
exhortation
or
probably
infirm
deductions
from
premises
based
on
rotten
scaffolding
?
And
it
is
in
the
nature
of
exasperation
gradually
to
concentrate
itself
.
The
sincere
antipathy
of
a
dog
towards
cats
in
general
,
necessarily
takes
the
form
of
indignant
barking
at
the
neighbour
's
black
cat
which
makes
daily
trespass
;
the
bark
at
imagined
cats
,
though
a
frequent
exercise
of
the
canine
mind
,
is
yet
comparatively
feeble
.
Mr
Lyon
's
sarcasm
was
not
without
an
edge
when
he
dilated
in
general
on
an
elaborate
education
for
teachers
which
issued
in
the
minimum
of
teaching
,
but
it
found
a
whetstone
in
the
particular
example
of
that
bad
system
known
as
the
Rector
of
Treby
Magna
.
There
was
nothing
positive
to
be
said
against
the
Rev.
Augustus
Debarry
;
his
life
could
not
be
pronounced
blameworthy
except
for
its
negatives
.
And
the
good
Rufus
was
too
pure-minded
not
to
be
glad
of
that
.
He
had
no
delight
in
vice
as
discrediting
wicked
opponents
;
he
shrank
from
dwelling
on
the
images
of
cruelty
or
of
grossness
,
and
his
indignation
was
habitually
inspired
only
by
those
moral
and
intellectual
mistakes
which
darken
the
soul
but
do
not
injure
or
degrade
the
temple
of
the
body
.
If
the
Rector
had
been
a
less
respectable
man
,
Rufus
would
have
more
reluctantly
made
him
an
object
of
antagonism
;
but
as
an
incarnation
of
soul-destroying
error
,
dissociated
from
those
baser
sins
which
have
no
good
repute
even
with
the
worldly
,
it
would
be
an
argumentative
luxury
to
get
into
close
quarters
with
him
,
and
fight
with
a
dialectic
short-sowrd
in
the
eyes
of
the
Treby
world
(
sending
also
a
written
account
thereof
to
the
chief
organs
of
Dissenting
opinion
)
.
Vice
was
essentially
stupid
—
a
deaf
and
eyeless
monster
,
insusceptible
to
demonstration
:
the
Spirit
might
work
on
it
by
unseen
ways
,
and
the
unstudied
sallies
of
sermons
were
often
as
the
arrows
which
pierced
and
awakened
the
brutified
conscience
;
but
illuminated
thought
,
finely-dividing
speech
,
were
the
choicer
weapons
of
the
Divine
armoury
,
which
whoso
could
wield
must
be
careful
not
to
leave
idle
.
Here
,
then
,
was
the
longed-for
opportunity
.
Here
was
an
engagement
—
an
expression
of
a
strong
wish
—
on
the
part
of
Philip
Debarry
,
if
it
were
in
his
power
,
to
procure
a
satisfaction
to
Rufus
Lyon
.
How
had
that
man
of
God
and
exemplary
Independent
minister
,
Mr
Ainsworth
,
of
persecuted
sanctity
,
conducted
himself
when
a
similar
occasion
had
befallen
him
at
Amsterdam
?
He
had
thought
of
nothing
but
the
glory
of
the
highest
cause
,
and
had
converted
the
offer
of
recompense
into
a
public
debate
with
a
Jew
on
the
chief
mysteries
of
the
faith
.
Here
was
a
model
:
the
case
was
nothing
short
of
a
heavenly
indication
,
and
he
,
Rufus
Lyon
,
would
seize
the
occasion
to
demand
a
public
debate
with
the
Rector
on
the
Constitution
of
the
true
Church
.
What
if
he
were
inwardly
torn
by
doubt
and
anxiety
concerning
his
own
private
relations
and
the
facts
of
his
past
life
?
That
danger
of
absorption
within
the
narrow
bounds
of
self
only
urged
him
the
more
towards
action
which
had
a
wider
bearing
,
and
might
tell
on
the
welfare
of
England
at
large
.
It
was
decided
.
Before
the
minister
went
down
to
his
breakfast
that
morning
he
had
written
the
following
letter
to
Mr
Philip
Debarry
:
—
Sir
,
—
Referring
to
your
letter
of
yesterday
,
I
find
the
following
words
:
"
I
shall
consider
myself
doubly
fortunate
if
at
any
time
you
can
point
out
to
me
some
method
by
which
I
may
procure
you
as
lively
a
satisfaction
as
I
am
now
feeling
,
in
that
full
and
speedy
relief
from
anxiety
which
I
owe
to
your
considerate
conduct
.
"
I
am
not
unaware
,
sir
,
that
,
in
the
usage
of
the
world
,
there
are
words
of
courtesy
(
so
called
)
which
are
understood
,
by
those
amongst
whom
they
are
current
,
to
have
no
precise
meaning
,
and
to
constitute
no
bond
or
obligation
.
I
will
not
now
insist
that
this
is
an
abuse
of
language
,
wherein
our
fallible
nature
requires
the
strictest
safeguards
against
laxity
and
misapplication
,
for
I
do
not
apprehend
that
in
writing
the
words
I
have
above
quoted
,
you
were
open
to
the
reproach
of
using
phrases
which
,
while
seeming
to
carry
a
specific
meaning
,
were
really
no
more
than
what
is
called
a
polite
form
.
I
believe
,
sir
,
that
you
used
these
words
advisedly
,
sincerely
,
and
with
an
honourable
intention
of
acting
on
them
as
a
pledge
,
should
such
action
be
demanded
.
No
other
supposition
on
my
part
would
correspond
to
the
character
you
bear
as
a
young
man
who
aspires
(
albeit
mistakenly
)
to
engraft
the
finest
fruits
of
public
virtue
on
a
creed
and
institutions
,
whereof
the
sap
is
composed
rather
of
human
self-seeking
than
of
everlasting
truth
.
Wherefore
I
act
on
this
my
belief
in
the
integrity
of
your
written
word
;
and
I
beg
you
to
procure
for
me
(
as
it
is
doubtless
in
your
power
)
that
I
may
be
allowed
a
public
discussion
with
your
near
relative
,
the
Rector
of
this
parish
,
the
Reverned
Augustus
Debarry
,
to
be
held
in
the
large
room
of
the
Free
School
,
or
in
the
Assembly
Room
of
the
Marquis
of
Granby
,
these
being
the
largest
covered
spaces
at
our
command
.
For
I
presume
he
would
neither
allow
me
to
speak
within
his
church
,
nor
would
consent
himself
to
speak
within
my
chapel
;
and
the
probable
inclemency
of
the
approaching
season
forbids
an
assured
expectation
that
we
could
discourse
in
the
open
air
.
The
subjects
I
desire
to
discuss
are
,
—
first
,
the
Constitution
of
the
true
Church
;
and
,
secondly
,
the
bearing
thereupon
of
the
English
Reformation
.
Confidently
expecting
that
you
will
comply
with
this
request
,
which
is
the
sequence
of
your
expressed
desire
,
I
remain
,
sir
,
yours
,
with
the
respect
offered
to
a
sincere
withstander
,
RUFUS
LYON
.
Malthouse
Yard
.
After
writing
this
letter
,
the
good
Rufus
felt
that
serenity
and
elevation
of
mind
which
is
infallibly
brought
by
a
preoccupation
with
the
wider
relations
of
things
.
Already
he
was
beginning
to
sketch
the
course
his
argument
might
most
judiciously
take
in
the
coming
debate
;
his
thoughts
were
running
into
sentences
,
and
marking
off
careful
exceptions
in
parentheses
;
and
he
had
come
down
and
seated
himself
at
the
breakfast-table
quite
automatically
,
without
expectation
of
toast
or
coffee
,
when
Esther
's
voice
and
touch
recalled
him
to
an
inward
debate
of
another
kind
,
in
which
he
felt
himself
much
weaker
.
Again
there
arose
before
him
the
image
of
that
cool
,
hard-eyed
,
worldly
man
,
who
might
be
this
dear
child
's
father
,
and
one
against
whose
rights
he
had
himself
grievously
offended
.
Always
as
the
image
recurred
to
him
Mr
Lyon
's
heart
sent
forth
a
prayer
for
guidance
,
but
no
definite
guidance
had
yet
made
itself
visible
for
him
.
It
could
not
be
guidance
—
it
was
a
temptation
—
that
said
,
"
Let
the
matter
rest
:
seek
to
know
no
more
;
know
only
what
is
thrust
upon
you
.
"
The
remembrance
that
in
his
time
of
wandering
he
had
wilfully
remained
in
ignorance
of
facts
which
he
might
have
inquired
after
,
deepened
the
impression
that
it
was
now
an
imperative
duty
to
seek
the
fullest
attainable
knowledge
.
And
the
inquiry
might
possibly
issue
in
a
blessed
repose
,
by
putting
a
negative
on
all
his
suspicions
.
But
the
more
vividly
all
the
circumstances
became
present
to
him
,
the
more
unfit
he
felt
himself
to
set
about
any
investigation
concerning
this
man
who
called
himself
Maurice
Christian
.
He
could
seek
no
confidant
or
helper
among
"
the
brethren
;
"
he
was
obliged
to
admit
to
himself
that
the
members
of
his
church
,
with
whom
he
hoped
to
go
to
heaven
,
were
not
easy
to
converse
with
on
earth
touching
the
deeper
secrets
of
his
experience
,
and
were
still
less
able
to
advise
him
as
to
the
wisest
procedure
,
in
a
case
of
high
delicacy
,
with
a
worldling
who
had
a
carefully-trimmed
whisker
and
a
fashionable
costume
.
For
the
first
time
in
his
life
it
occurred
to
the
minister
that
he
should
be
glad
of
an
adviser
who
had
more
worldly
than
spiritual
experience
,
and
that
it
might
not
be
inconsistent
with
his
principles
to
seek
some
light
from
one
who
had
studied
human
law
.
But
it
was
a
thought
to
be
paused
upon
,
and
not
followed
out
rashly
;
some
other
guidance
might
intervene
.
Esther
noticed
that
her
father
was
in
a
fit
of
abstraction
,
that
he
seemed
to
swallow
his
coffee
and
toast
quite
unconsciously
,
and
that
he
vented
from
time
to
time
a
low
guttural
interjection
,
which
was
habitual
with
him
when
he
was
absorbed
by
an
inward
discussion
.
She
did
not
disturb
him
by
remarks
,
and
only
wondered
whether
anything
unusual
had
occurred
on
Sunday
evening
.
But
at
last
she
thought
it
needful
to
say
,
"
You
recollect
what
I
told
you
yesterday
,
father
?
"
"
Nay
,
child
;
what
?
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
rousing
himself
.
"
That
Mr
Jermyn
asked
me
if
you
would
probably
be
at
home
this
morning
before
one
o'clock
.
"
Esther
was
surprised
to
see
her
father
start
and
change
colour
as
if
he
had
been
shaken
by
some
sudden
collision
before
he
answered
,
"
Assuredly
;
I
do
not
intend
to
move
from
my
study
after
I
have
once
been
out
to
give
this
letter
to
Zachary
.
"
"
Shall
I
tell
Lyddy
to
take
him
up
at
once
to
your
study
if
he
comes
?
If
not
,
I
shall
have
to
stay
in
my
own
room
,
because
I
shall
be
at
home
all
this
morning
,
and
it
is
rather
cold
now
to
sit
without
a
fire
.
"
"
Yes
,
my
dear
,
let
him
come
up
to
me
;
unless
,
indeed
,
he
should
bring
a
second
person
,
which
might
happen
,
seeing
that
in
all
likelihood
he
is
coming
,
as
hitherto
,
on
electioneering
business
.
And
I
could
not
well
accommodate
two
visitors
up-stairs
.
"
While
Mr
Lyon
went
out
to
Zachary
,
the
pewopener
,
to
give
him
a
second
time
the
commission
of
carrying
a
letter
to
Treby
Manor
,
Esther
gave
her
injunction
to
Lyddy
that
if
one
gentleman
came
he
was
to
be
shown
up-stairs
—
if
two
,
they
were
to
be
shown
into
the
parlour
.
But
she
had
to
resolve
various
questions
before
Lyddy
clearly
saw
what
was
expected
of
her
,
—
as
that
,
"
if
it
was
the
gentleman
as
came
on
Thursday
in
the
pepper-and-salt
coat
,
was
he
to
be
shown
up-stairs
?
And
the
gentleman
from
the
Manor
yesterday
as
went
out
whistling
—
had
Miss
Esther
heard
about
him
?
There
seemed
no
end
of
these
great
folks
coming
to
Malthouse
Yard
since
there
was
talk
of
the
election
;
but
they
might
be
poor
lost
creatures
the
most
of
'
em
.
"
Whereupon
Lyddy
shook
her
head
and
groaned
,
under
an
edifying
despair
as
to
the
future
lot
of
gentlemen
callers
.
Esther
always
avoided
asking
questions
of
Lyddy
,
who
found
an
answer
as
she
found
a
key
,
by
pouring
out
a
pocketful
of
miscellanies
.
But
she
had
remarked
so
many
indications
that
something
had
happened
to
cause
her
father
unusual
excitement
and
mental
preoccupation
,
that
she
could
not
help
connecting
with
them
the
fact
of
this
visit
from
the
Manor
,
which
he
had
not
mentioned
to
her
.
She
sat
down
in
the
dull
parlour
and
took
up
her
netting
;
for
since
Sunday
she
had
felt
unable
to
read
when
she
was
alone
,
being
obliged
,
in
spite
of
herself
,
to
think
of
Felix
Holt
—
to
imagine
what
he
would
like
her
to
be
,
and
what
sort
of
views
he
took
of
life
so
as
to
make
it
seem
valuable
in
the
absence
of
all
elegance
,
luxury
,
gaiety
,
or
romance
.
Had
he
yet
reflected
that
he
had
behaved
very
rudely
to
her
on
Sunday
?
Perhaps
not
.
Perhaps
he
had
dismissed
her
from
his
mind
with
contempt
.
And
at
that
thought
Esther
's
eyes
smarted
unpleasantly
.
She
was
fond
of
netting
,
because
it
showed
to
advantage
both
her
hand
and
her
foot
;
and
across
this
image
of
Felix
Holt
's
indifference
and
contempt
there
passed
the
vaguer
image
of
a
possible
somebody
who
would
admire
her
hands
and
feet
,
and
delight
in
looking
at
their
beauty
,
and
long
,
yet
not
dare
,
to
kiss
them
.
Life
would
be
much
easier
in
the
presence
of
such
a
love
.
But
it
was
precisely
this
longing
after
her
own
satisfaction
that
Felix
had
reproached
her
with
.
Did
he
want
her
to
be
heroic
?
That
seemed
impossible
without
some
great
occasion
.
Her
life
was
a
heap
of
fragments
,
and
so
were
her
thoughts
:
some
great
energy
was
needed
to
bind
them
together
.
Esther
was
beginning
to
lose
her
complacency
at
her
own
wit
and
criticism
;
to
lose
the
sense
of
superiority
in
an
awakening
need
for
reliance
on
one
whose
vision
was
wider
,
whose
nature
was
purer
and
stronger
than
her
own
.
But
then
,
she
said
to
herself
,
that
"
one
"
must
be
tender
to
her
,
not
rude
and
predominating
in
his
manners
.
A
man
with
any
chivalry
in
him
could
never
adopt
a
scolding
tone
towards
a
woman
—
that
is
,
towards
a
charming
woman
.
But
Felix
had
no
chivalry
in
him
.
He
loved
lecturing
and
opinion
too
well
ever
to
love
any
woman
.
In
this
way
Esther
strove
to
see
that
Felix
was
thoroughly
in
the
wrong
—
at
least
,
if
he
did
not
come
again
expressly
to
show
that
he
was
sorry
.
CHAPTER
XVI
.
These
men
have
no
votes
.
Why
should
I
court
them
?
No
votes
,
but
power
.
What
!
over
charities
?
No
,
over
brains
;
which
disturbs
the
canvass
.
In
a
natural
state
of
things
the
average
price
of
a
vote
at
paddlebrook
is
nine-and-sixpence
,
throwing
the
fifty-pound
tenants
,
who
cost
nothing
,
into
the
divisor
.
But
these
talking
men
cause
an
artificial
rise
of
prices
.
The
expected
important
knock
at
the
door
came
about
twelve
o'clock
,
and
Esther
could
hear
that
there
were
two
visitors
.
Immediately
the
parlour
door
was
opened
and
the
shaggy-haired
,
cravatless
image
of
Felix
Holt
,
which
was
just
then
full
in
the
mirror
of
Esther
's
mind
,
was
displaced
by
the
highly-contrasted
appearance
of
a
personage
whose
name
she
guessed
before
Mr
Jermyn
had
announced
it
.
The
perfect
morning
costume
of
that
day
differed
much
from
our
present
ideal
:
it
was
essential
that
a
gentleman
's
chin
should
be
well
propped
,
that
his
collar
should
have
a
voluminous
roll
,
that
his
waistcoat
should
imply
much
discrimination
,
and
that
his
buttons
should
be
arranged
in
a
manner
which
would
now
expose
him
to
general
contempt
.
And
it
must
not
be
forgotten
that
at
the
distant
period
when
Treby
Magna
first
knew
the
excitements
of
an
election
,
there
existed
many
other
anomalies
now
obsolete
,
besides
short-waisted
coats
and
broad
stiffeners
.
But
we
have
some
notions
of
beauty
and
fitness
which
withstand
the
centuries
;
and
quite
irrespective
of
dates
,
it
would
be
pronounced
that
at
the
age
of
thirty-four
Harold
Transome
was
a
striking
and
handsome
man
.
He
was
one
of
those
people
,
as
Denner
had
remarked
,
to
whose
presence
in
the
room
you
could
not
be
indifferent
:
if
you
do
not
hate
or
dread
them
,
you
must
find
the
touch
of
their
hands
,
nay
,
their
very
shadows
,
agreeable
.
Esther
felt
a
pleasure
quite
new
to
her
as
she
saw
his
finely-embrowned
face
and
full
bright
eyes
turned
towards
her
with
an
air
of
deference
by
which
gallantry
must
commend
itself
to
a
refined
woman
who
is
not
absolutely
free
from
vanity
.
Harold
Transome
regarded
women
as
slight
things
,
but
he
was
fond
of
slight
things
in
the
intervals
of
business
;
and
he
held
it
among
the
chief
arts
of
life
to
keep
these
pleasant
diversions
within
such
bounds
that
they
should
never
interfere
with
the
course
of
his
serious
ambition
.
Esther
was
perfectly
aware
,
as
he
took
a
chair
near
her
,
that
he
was
under
some
admiring
surprise
at
her
appearance
and
manner
.
How
could
it
be
otherwise
?
She
believed
that
in
the
eyes
of
a
highbred
man
no
young
lady
in
Treby
could
equal
her
:
she
felt
a
glow
of
delight
at
the
sense
that
she
was
being
looked
at
.
"
My
father
expected
you
,
"
she
said
to
Mr
Jermyn
.
"
I
delivered
your
letter
to
him
yesterday
.
He
will
be
down
immediately
.
"
She
disentangled
her
foot
from
her
netting
and
wound
it
up
.
"
I
hope
you
are
not
going
to
let
us
disturb
you
,
"
said
Harold
,
noticing
her
action
.
"
We
come
to
discuss
election
affairs
,
and
we
particularly
desire
to
interest
the
ladies
.
"
"
I
have
no
interest
with
any
one
who
is
not
already
on
the
right
side
,
"
said
Esther
,
smiling
.
"
I
am
happy
to
see
at
least
that
you
wear
the
Liberal
colours
.
"
"
I
fear
I
must
confess
that
it
is
more
from
love
of
blue
than
from
love
of
Liberalism
.
Yellow
opinions
could
only
have
brunettes
on
their
side
.
"
Esther
spoke
with
her
usual
pretty
fluency
,
but
she
had
no
sooner
uttered
the
words
than
she
thought
how
angry
they
would
have
made
Felix
.
"
If
my
cause
is
to
be
recommended
by
the
becomingness
of
my
colours
,
then
I
am
sure
you
are
acting
in
my
interest
by
wearing
them
.
"
Esther
rose
to
leave
the
room
.
"
Must
you
really
go
?
"
said
Harold
,
preparing
to
open
the
door
for
her
.
"
Yes
;
I
have
an
engagement
—
a
lesson
at
halfpast
twelve
,
"
said
Esther
,
bowing
and
floating
out
like
a
blue-robed
Naïad
,
but
not
without
a
suffused
blush
as
she
passed
through
the
doorway
.
It
was
a
pity
the
room
was
so
small
,
Harold
Transome
thought
:
this
girl
ought
to
walk
in
a
house
where
there
were
halls
and
corridors
.
But
he
had
soon
dismissed
this
chance
preoccupation
with
Esther
;
for
before
the
door
was
closed
again
Mr
Lyon
had
entered
,
and
Harold
was
entirely
bent
on
what
had
been
the
object
of
his
visit
.
The
minister
,
thought
no
elector
himself
,
had
considerable
influence
over
Liberal
electors
,
and
it
was
the
part
of
wisdom
in
a
candidate
to
cement
all
political
adhesion
by
a
little
personal
regard
,
if
possible
.
Garstin
was
a
harsh
and
wiry
fellow
;
he
seemed
to
suggest
that
sour
whey
,
which
some
say
was
the
original
meaning
of
Whig
in
the
Scottish
,
and
it
might
assist
the
theoretic
advantages
of
Radicalism
if
it
could
be
associated
with
a
more
generous
presence
.
What
would
conciliate
the
personal
regard
of
old
Mr
Lyon
became
a
curious
problem
to
Harold
,
now
the
little
man
made
his
appearance
.
But
canvassing
makes
a
gentleman
acquainted
with
many
strange
animals
,
together
with
the
ways
of
catching
and
taming
them
;
and
thus
the
knowledge
of
natural
history
advances
amongst
the
aristocracy
and
the
wealthy
commoners
of
our
land
.
"
I
am
very
glad
to
have
secured
this
opportunity
of
making
your
personal
acquaintance
,
Mr
Lyon
,
"
said
Harold
,
putting
out
his
hand
to
the
minister
when
Jermyn
had
mentioned
his
name
.
"
I
am
to
address
the
electors
here
,
in
the
Market-Place
,
tomorrow
;
and
I
should
have
been
sorry
to
do
so
without
first
paying
my
respects
privately
to
my
chief
friends
,
as
there
may
be
points
on
which
they
particularly
wish
me
to
explain
myself
.
"
"
You
speak
civilly
,
sir
,
and
reasonably
,
"
said
Mr
Lyon
,
with
a
vague
shortsighted
gaze
,
in
which
a
candidate
's
appearance
evidently
went
for
nothing
.
"
Pray
be
seated
,
gentlemen
.
It
is
my
habit
to
stand
.
"
He
placed
himself
at
a
right
angle
with
his
visitors
,
his
worn
look
of
intellectual
eagerness
,
slight
frame
,
and
rusty
attire
,
making
an
odd
contrast
with
their
flourishing
persons
,
unblemished
costume
,
and
comfortable
freedom
from
excitement
.
The
group
was
fairly
typical
of
the
difference
between
the
men
who
are
animated
by
ideas
and
the
men
who
are
expected
to
apply
them
.
Then
he
drew
forth
his
spectacles
,
and
began
to
rub
them
with
the
thin
end
of
his
coat-tail
.
He
was
inwardly
exercising
great
self-mastery
—
suppressing
the
thought
of
his
personal
needs
,
which
Jermyn
's
presence
tended
to
suggest
,
in
order
that
he
might
be
equal
to
the
larger
duties
of
this
occasion
.
"
I
am
aware
—
Mr
Jermyn
has
told
me
,
"
said
Harold
,
"
what
good
service
you
have
done
me
already
,
Mr
Lyon
.
The
fact
is
,
a
man
of
intellect
like
you
was
especially
needed
in
my
case
.
