sunsetof
life
he
should
find
a
refuge
in
some
corner
of
her
palace
.
Imogene
was
only
a
child
when
Waldershare
first
became
a
lodger
.
She
used
to
bring
his
breakfast
to
his
drawing-room
and
arrange
his
table
.
He
encountered
her
one
day
,
and
he
requested
her
to
remain
,
and
always
preside
over
his
meal
.
He
fell
in
love
with
her
name
,
and
wrote
her
a
series
of
sonnets
,
idealising
her
past
,
panegyrising
her
present
,
and
prophetic
of
her
future
life
.
Imogene
,
who
was
neither
shy
nor
obtrusive
,
was
calm
amid
all
his
vagaries
,
humoured
his
fancies
,
even
when
she
did
not
understand
them
,
and
read
his
verses
as
she
would
a
foreign
language
which
she
was
determined
to
master
.
Her
culture
,
according
to
Waldershare
,
was
to
be
carried
on
chiefly
by
conversations
.
She
was
not
to
read
,
or
at
least
not
to
read
much
,
until
her
taste
was
formed
and
she
had
acquired
the
due
share
of
previous
knowledge
necessary
to
profitable
study
.
As
Waldershare
was
eloquent
,
brilliant
,
and
witty
,
Imogene
listened
to
him
with
wondering
interest
and
amusement
,
even
when
she
found
some
difficulty
in
following
him
;
but
her
apprehension
was
so
quick
and
her
tact
so
fine
,
that
her
progress
,
though
she
was
almost
unconscious
of
it
,
was
remarkable
.
Sometimes
in
the
evening
,
while
the
others
were
smoking
together
or
playing
whist
,
Waldershare
and
Imogene
,
sitting
apart
,
were
engaged
in
apparently
the
most
interesting
converse
.
It
was
impossible
not
to
observe
the
animation
and
earnestness
of
Waldershare
,
and
the
great
attention
with
which
his
companion
responded
to
his
representations
.
Yet
all
this
time
he
was
only
giving
her
a
lecture
on
Madame
de
Sevigne
.
Waldershare
used
to
take
Imogene
to
the
National
Gallery
and
Hampton
Court
,
and
other
delightful
scenes
of
popular
education
,
but
of
late
Mrs.
Rodney
had
informed
her
sister
that
she
was
no
longer
young
enough
to
permit
these
expeditions
.
Imogene
accepted
the
announcement
without
a
murmur
,
but
it
occasioned
Waldershare
several
sonnets
of
heartrending
remonstrance
.
Imogene
continued
,
however
,
to
make
his
breakfast
,
and
kept
his
Parliamentary
papers
in
order
,
which
he
never
could
manage
,
but
the
mysteries
of
which
Imogene
mastered
with
feminine
quickness
and
precision
.
Whenever
Waldershare
was
away
he
always
maintained
a
constant
correspondence
with
Imogene
.
In
this
he
communicated
everything
to
her
without
the
slightest
reserve
;
describing
everything
he
saw
,
almost
everything
he
heard
,
pages
teeming
with
anecdotes
of
a
world
of
which
she
could
know
nothing
—
the
secrets
of
courts
and
coteries
,
memoirs
of
princes
and
ministers
,
of
dandies
and
dames
of
fashion
.
“
If
anything
happens
to
me
,
”
Waldershare
would
say
to
Imogene
,
“
this
correspondence
may
be
worth
thousands
to
you
,
and
when
it
is
published
it
will
connect
your
name
with
mine
,
and
assist
my
grand
idea
of
your
becoming
‘a
great
woman.’
”
“
But
I
do
not
know
Mr.
Vigo
,
”
whispered
Endymion
to
Imogene
.
“
But
you
have
met
him
here
,
and
you
went
together
to
Epsom
.
It
is
enough
.
He
is
going
to
ask
you
to
dine
with
him
on
Saturday
.
We
shall
be
there
,
and
Mr.
Waldershare
is
going
.
He
has
a
beautiful
place
,
and
it
will
be
very
pleasant
.
”
And
exactly
as
Imogene
had
anticipated
,
Mr.
Vigo
,
in
the
course
of
the
evening
,
did
ask
Endymion
to
do
him
the
honour
of
being
his
guest
.
The
villa
of
Mr.
Vigo
was
on
the
banks
of
the
Thames
,
and
had
once
belonged
to
a
noble
customer
.
The
Palladian
mansion
contained
a
suite
of
chambers
of
majestic
dimensions
—
lofty
ceilings
,
rich
cornices
,
and
vast
windows
of
plate
glass
;
the
gardens
were
rich
with
the
products
of
conservatories
which
Mr.
Vigo
had
raised
with
every
modern
improvement
,
and
a
group
of
stately
cedars
supported
the
dignity
of
the
scene
and
gave
to
it
a
name
.
Beyond
,
a
winding
walk
encircled
a
large
field
which
Mr.
Vigo
called
the
park
,
and
which
sparkled
with
gold
and
silver
pheasants
,
and
the
keeper
lived
in
a
newly-raised
habitation
at
the
extreme
end
,
which
took
the
form
of
a
Swiss
cottage
.
The
Rodney
family
,
accompanied
by
Mr.
Waldershare
and
Endymion
,
went
to
the
Cedars
by
water
.
It
was
a
delightful
afternoon
of
June
,
the
river
warm
and
still
,
and
the
soft
,
fitful
western
breeze
occasionally
rich
with
the
perfume
of
the
gardens
of
Putney
and
Chiswick
.
Waldershare
talked
the
whole
way
.
It
was
a
rhapsody
of
fancy
,
fun
,
knowledge
,
anecdote
,
brilliant
badinage
—
even
passionate
seriousness
.
Sometimes
he
recited
poetry
,
and
his
voice
was
musical
;
and
,
then
,
when
he
had
attuned
his
companions
to
a
sentimental
pitch
,
he
would
break
into
mockery
,
and
touch
with
delicate
satire
every
mood
of
human
feeling
.
Endymion
listened
to
him
in
silence
and
admiration
.
He
had
never
heard
Waldershare
talk
before
,
and
he
had
never
heard
anybody
like
him
.
All
this
time
,
what
was
now
,
and
ever
,
remarkable
in
Waldershare
were
his
manners
.
They
were
finished
,
even
to
courtliness
.
Affable
and
winning
,
he
was
never
familiar
.
He
always
addressed
Sylvia
as
if
she
were
one
of
those
duchesses
round
whom
he
used
to
linger
.
He
would
bow
deferentially
to
her
remarks
,
and
elicit
from
some
of
her
casual
observations
an
acute
or
graceful
meaning
,
of
which
she
herself
was
by
no
means
conscious
.
The
bow
of
Waldershare
was
a
study
.
Its
grace
and
ceremony
must
have
been
organic
;
for
there
was
no
traditionary
type
in
existence
from
which
he
could
have
derived
or
inherited
it
.
He
certainly
addressed
Imogene
and
spoke
to
her
by
her
Christian
name
;
but
this
was
partly
because
he
was
in
love
with
the
name
,
and
partly
because
he
would
persist
in
still
treating
her
as
a
child
.
But
his
manner
to
her
always
was
that
of
tender
respect
.
She
was
almost
as
silent
as
Endymion
during
their
voyage
,
but
not
less
attentive
to
her
friend
.
Mr.
Rodney
was
generally
silent
,
and
never
opened
his
mouth
on
this
occasion
except
in
answer
to
an
inquiry
from
his
wife
as
to
whom
a
villa
might
belong
,
and
it
seemed
always
that
he
knew
every
villa
,
and
every
one
to
whom
they
belonged
.
The
sisters
were
in
demi-toilette
,
which
seemed
artless
,
though
in
fact
it
was
profoundly
devised
.
Sylvia
was
the
only
person
who
really
understood
the
meaning
of
“
simplex
munditiis
,
”
and
this
was
one
of
the
secrets
of
her
success
.
There
were
some
ladies
,
on
the
lawn
of
the
Cedars
when
they
arrived
,
not
exactly
of
their
school
,
and
who
were
finely
and
fully
dressed
.
Mrs.
Gamme
was
the
wife
of
a
sporting
attorney
of
Mr.
Vigo
,
and
who
also
,
having
a
villa
at
hand
,
was
looked
upon
as
a
country
neighbour
.
Mrs.
Gamme
was
universally
recognised
to
be
a
fine
woman
,
and
she
dressed
up
to
her
reputation
.
She
was
a
famous
whist-player
at
high
points
,
and
dealt
the
cards
with
hands
covered
with
diamond
rings
.
Another
country
neighbour
was
the
chief
partner
in
the
celebrated
firm
of
Hooghley
,
Dacca
,
and
Co.
,
dealers
in
Indian
and
other
shawls
.
Mr.
Hooghley
had
married
a
celebrated
actress
,
and
was
proud
and
a
little
jealous
of
his
wife
.
Mrs.
Hooghley
had
always
an
opportunity
at
the
Cedars
of
meeting
some
friends
in
her
former
profession
,
for
Mr.
Vigo
liked
to
be
surrounded
by
genius
and
art
.
“
I
must
have
talent
,
”
he
would
exclaim
,
as
he
looked
round
at
the
amusing
and
motley
multitude
assembled
at
his
splendid
entertainments
.
And
to-day
upon
his
lawn
might
be
observed
the
first
tenor
of
the
opera
and
a
prima-donna
who
had
just
arrived
,
several
celebrated
members
of
the
English
stage
of
both
sexes
,
artists
of
great
reputation
,
whose
principal
works
already
adorned
the
well-selected
walls
of
the
Cedars
,
a
danseuse
or
two
of
celebrity
,
some
literary
men
,
as
Mr.
Vigo
styled
them
,
who
were
chiefly
brethren
of
the
political
press
,
and
more
than
one
member
of
either
House
of
Parliament
.
Just
as
the
party
were
preparing
to
leave
the
lawn
and
enter
the
dining-room
arrived
,
breathless
and
glowing
,
the
young
earl
who
had
driven
the
Rodneys
to
the
Derby
.
“
A
shaver
,
my
dear
Vigo
!
Only
returned
to
town
this
afternoon
,
and
found
your
invitation
.
How
fortunate
!
”
And
then
he
looked
around
,
and
recognising
Mrs.
Rodney
,
was
immediately
at
her
side
.
“
I
must
have
the
honour
of
taking
you
into
dinner
.
I
got
your
note
,
but
only
by
this
morning’s
post
.
”
The
dinner
was
a
banquet
,
—
a
choice
bouquet
before
every
guest
,
turtle
and
venison
and
piles
of
whitebait
,
and
pine-apples
of
prodigious
size
,
and
bunches
of
grapes
that
had
gained
prizes
.
The
champagne
seemed
to
flow
in
fountains
,
and
was
only
interrupted
that
the
guests
might
quaff
Burgundy
or
taste
Tokay
.
But
what
was
more
delightful
than
all
was
the
enjoyment
of
all
present
,
and
especially
of
their
host
.
That
is
a
rare
sight
.
Banquets
are
not
rare
,
nor
choice
guests
,
nor
gracious
hosts
;
but
when
do
we
ever
see
a
person
enjoy
anything
?
But
these
gay
children
of
art
and
whim
,
and
successful
labour
and
happy
speculation
,
some
of
them
very
rich
and
some
of
them
without
a
sou
,
seemed
only
to
think
of
the
festive
hour
and
all
its
joys
.
Neither
wealth
nor
poverty
brought
them
cares
.
Every
face
sparkled
,
every
word
seemed
witty
,
and
every
sound
seemed
sweet
.
A
band
played
upon
the
lawn
during
the
dinner
,
and
were
succeeded
,
when
the
dessert
commenced
,
by
strange
choruses
from
singers
of
some
foreign
land
,
who
for
the
first
time
aired
their
picturesque
costumes
on
the
banks
of
the
Thames
.
When
the
ladies
had
withdrawn
to
the
saloon
,
the
first
comic
singer
of
the
age
excelled
himself
;
and
when
they
rejoined
their
fair
friends
,
the
primo-tenore
and
the
prima-donna
gave
them
a
grand
scene
,
succeeded
by
the
English
performers
in
a
favourite
scene
from
a
famous
farce
.
Then
Mrs.
Gamme
had
an
opportunity
of
dealing
with
her
diamond
rings
,
and
the
rest
danced
—
a
waltz
of
whirling
grace
,
or
merry
cotillon
of
jocund
bouquets
.
“
Well
,
Clarence
,
”
said
Waldershare
to
the
young
earl
,
as
they
stood
for
a
moment
apart
,
“
was
I
right
?
”
“
By
Jove
!
yes
.
It
is
the
only
life
.
You
were
quite
right
.
We
should
indeed
be
fools
to
sacrifice
ourselves
to
the
conventional
.
”
The
Rodney
party
returned
home
in
the
drag
of
the
last
speaker
.
They
were
the
last
to
retire
,
as
Mr.
Vigo
wished
for
one
cigar
with
his
noble
friend
.
As
he
bade
farewell
,
and
cordially
,
to
Endymion
,
he
said
,
“
Call
on
me
to-morrow
morning
in
Burlington
Street
in
your
way
to
your
office
.
Do
not
mind
the
hour
.
I
am
an
early
bird
.
”
CHAPTER
XXIII
“
It
is
no
favour
,
”
said
Mr.
Vigo
;
“
it
is
not
even
an
act
of
friendliness
;
it
is
a
freak
,
and
it
is
my
freak
;
the
favour
,
if
there
be
one
,
is
conferred
by
you
.
”
“
But
I
really
do
not
know
what
to
say
,
”
said
Endymion
,
hesitating
and
confused
.
“
I
am
not
a
classical
scholar
,
”
said
Mr.
Vigo
,
“
but
there
are
two
things
which
I
think
I
understand
—
men
and
horses
.
I
like
to
back
them
both
when
I
think
they
ought
to
win
.
”
“
But
I
am
scarcely
a
man
,
”
said
Endymion
,
rather
piteously
,
“
and
I
sometimes
think
I
shall
never
win
anything
.
”
“
That
is
my
affair
,
”
replied
Mr.
Vigo
;
“
you
are
a
yearling
,
and
I
have
formed
my
judgment
as
to
your
capacity
.
What
I
wish
to
do
in
your
case
is
what
I
have
done
in
others
,
and
some
memorable
ones
.
Dress
does
not
make
a
man
,
but
it
often
makes
a
successful
one
.
The
most
precious
stone
,
you
know
,
must
be
cut
and
polished
.
I
shall
enter
your
name
in
my
books
for
an
unlimited
credit
,
and
no
account
to
be
settled
till
you
are
a
privy
councillor
.
I
do
not
limit
the
credit
,
because
you
are
a
man
of
sense
and
a
gentleman
,
and
will
not
abuse
it
.
But
be
quite
as
careful
not
to
stint
yourself
as
not
to
be
needlessly
extravagant
.
In
the
first
instance
,
you
would
be
interfering
with
my
experiment
,
and
that
would
not
be
fair
.
”
This
conversation
took
place
in
Mr.
Vigo’s
counting-house
the
morning
after
the
entertainment
at
his
villa
.
Endymion
called
upon
Mr.
Vigo
in
his
way
to
his
office
,
as
he
had
been
requested
to
do
,
and
Mr.
Vigo
had
expressed
his
wishes
and
intentions
with
regard
to
Endymion
,
as
intimated
in
the
preceding
remarks
.
“
I
have
known
many
an
heiress
lost
by
her
suitor
being
ill-dressed
,
”
said
Mr.
Vigo
.
“
You
must
dress
according
to
your
age
,
your
pursuits
,
your
object
in
life
;
you
must
dress
too
,
in
some
cases
,
according
to
your
set
.
In
youth
a
little
fancy
is
rather
expected
,
but
if
political
life
be
your
object
,
it
should
be
avoided
,
at
least
after
one-and-twenty
.
I
am
dressing
two
brothers
now
,
men
of
considerable
position
;
one
is
a
mere
man
of
pleasure
,
the
other
will
probably
be
a
minister
of
state
.
They
are
as
like
as
two
peas
,
but
were
I
to
dress
the
dandy
and
the
minister
the
same
,
it
would
be
bad
taste
—
it
would
be
ridiculous
.
No
man
gives
me
the
trouble
which
Lord
Eglantine
does
;
he
has
not
made
up
his
mind
whether
he
will
be
a
great
poet
or
prime
minister
.
‘You
must
choose
,
my
lord
,
’
I
tell
him
.
‘I
cannot
send
you
out
looking
like
Lord
Byron
if
you
mean
to
be
a
Canning
or
a
Pitt.’
I
have
dressed
a
great
many
of
our
statesmen
and
orators
,
and
I
always
dressed
them
according
to
their
style
and
the
nature
of
their
duties
.
What
all
men
should
avoid
is
the
‘shabby
genteel.’
No
man
ever
gets
over
it
.
I
will
save
you
from
that
.
You
had
better
be
in
rags
.
”
CHAPTER
XXIV
When
the
twins
had
separated
,
they
had
resolved
on
a
system
of
communication
which
had
been
,
at
least
on
the
part
of
Myra
,
scrupulously
maintained
.
They
were
to
interchange
letters
every
week
,
and
each
letter
was
to
assume
,
if
possible
,
the
shape
of
a
journal
,
so
that
when
they
again
met
no
portion
of
the
interval
should
be
a
blank
in
their
past
lives
.
There
were
few
incidents
in
the
existence
of
Myra
;
a
book
,
a
walk
,
a
visit
to
the
rectory
,
were
among
the
chief
.
The
occupations
of
their
father
were
unchanged
,
and
his
health
seemed
sustained
,
but
that
of
her
mother
was
not
satisfactory
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
had
never
rallied
since
the
last
discomfiture
of
her
political
hopes
,
and
had
never
resumed
her
previous
tenour
of
life
.
She
was
secluded
,
her
spirits
uncertain
,
moods
of
depression
succeeded
by
fits
of
unaccountable
excitement
,
and
,
on
the
whole
,
Myra
feared
a
general
and
chronic
disturbance
of
her
nervous
system
.
His
sister
prepared
Endymion
for
encountering
a
great
change
in
their
parent
when
he
returned
home
.
Myra
,
however
,
never
expatiated
on
the
affairs
of
Hurstley
.
Her
annals
in
this
respect
were
somewhat
dry
.
She
fulfilled
her
promise
of
recording
them
,
but
no
more
.
Her
pen
was
fuller
and
more
eloquent
in
her
comments
on
the
life
of
her
brother
,
and
of
the
new
characters
with
whom
he
had
become
acquainted
.
She
delighted
to
hear
about
Mr.
Jawett
,
and
especially
about
Mr.
St.
Barbe
,
and
was
much
pleased
that
he
had
been
to
the
Derby
,
though
she
did
not
exactly
collect
who
were
his
companions
.
Did
he
go
with
that
kind
Mr.
Trenchant
?
It
would
seem
that
Endymion’s
account
of
the
Rodney
family
had
been
limited
to
vague
though
earnest
acknowledgments
of
their
great
civility
and
attention
,
which
added
much
to
the
comfort
of
his
life
.
Impelled
by
some
of
these
grateful
though
general
remarks
,
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
in
a
paroxysm
of
stately
gratitude
,
had
sent
a
missive
to
Sylvia
,
such
as
a
sovereign
might
address
to
a
deserving
subject
,
at
the
same
time
acknowledging
and
commending
her
duteous
services
.
Such
was
the
old
domestic
superstition
of
the
Rodneys
,
that
,
with
all
their
worldliness
,
they
treasured
this
effusion
as
if
it
had
really
emanated
from
the
centre
of
power
and
courtly
favour
.
Myra
,
in
her
anticipation
of
speedily
meeting
her
brother
,
was
doomed
to
disappointment
.
She
had
counted
on
Endymion
obtaining
some
holidays
in
the
usual
recess
,
but
in
consequence
of
having
so
recently
joined
the
office
,
Endymion
was
retained
for
summer
and
autumnal
work
,
and
not
until
Christmas
was
there
any
prospect
of
his
returning
home
.
The
interval
between
midsummer
and
that
period
,
though
not
devoid
of
seasons
of
monotony
and
loneliness
,
passed
in
a
way
not
altogether
unprofitable
to
Endymion
.
Waldershare
,
who
had
begun
to
notice
him
,
seemed
to
become
interested
in
his
career
.
Waldershare
knew
all
about
his
historic
ancestor
,
Endymion
Carey
.
The
bubbling
imagination
of
Waldershare
clustered
with
a
sort
of
wild
fascination
round
a
living
link
with
the
age
of
the
cavaliers
.
He
had
some
Stuart
blood
in
his
veins
,
and
his
ancestors
had
fallen
at
Edgehill
and
Marston
Moor
.
Waldershare
,
whose
fancies
alternated
between
Stafford
and
St.
Just
,
Archbishop
Laud
and
the
Goddess
of
Reason
,
reverted
for
the
moment
to
his
visions
on
the
banks
of
the
Cam
,
and
the
brilliant
rhapsodies
of
his
boyhood
.
His
converse
with
Nigel
Penruddock
had
prepared
Endymion
in
some
degree
for
these
mysteries
,
and
perhaps
it
was
because
Waldershare
found
that
Endymion
was
by
no
means
ill-informed
on
these
matters
,
and
therefore
there
was
less
opportunity
of
dazzling
and
moulding
him
,
which
was
a
passion
with
Waldershare
,
that
he
soon
quitted
the
Great
Rebellion
for
pastures
new
,
and
impressed
upon
his
pupil
that
all
that
had
occurred
before
the
French
Revolution
was
ancient
history
.
The
French
Revolution
had
introduced
the
cosmopolitan
principle
into
human
affairs
instead
of
the
national
,
and
no
public
man
could
succeed
who
did
not
comprehend
and
acknowledge
that
truth
.
Waldershare
lent
Endymion
books
,
and
books
with
which
otherwise
he
would
not
have
become
acquainted
.
Unconsciously
to
himself
,
the
talk
of
Waldershare
,
teeming
with
knowledge
,
and
fancy
,
and
playfulness
,
and
airy
sarcasm
of
life
,
taught
him
something
of
the
art
of
conversation
—
to
be
prompt
without
being
stubborn
,
to
refute
without
argument
,
and
to
clothe
grave
matters
in
a
motley
garb
.
But
in
August
Waldershare
disappeared
,
and
at
the
beginning
of
September
,
even
the
Rodneys
had
gone
to
Margate
.
St.
Barbe
was
the
only
clerk
left
in
Endymion’s
room
.
They
dined
together
almost
every
day
,
and
went
on
the
top
of
an
omnibus
to
many
a
suburban
paradise
.
“
I
tell
you
what
,
”
said
St.
Barbe
,
as
they
were
watching
one
day
together
the
humours
of
the
world
in
the
crowded
tea-garden
and
bustling
bowling-green
of
Canonbury
Tavern
;
“
a
fellow
might
get
a
good
chapter
out
of
this
scene
.
I
could
do
it
,
but
I
will
not
.
What
is
the
use
of
lavishing
one’s
brains
on
an
ungrateful
world
?
Why
,
if
that
fellow
Gushy
were
to
write
a
description
of
this
place
,
which
he
would
do
like
a
penny-a-liner
drunk
with
ginger
beer
,
every
countess
in
Mayfair
would
be
reading
him
,
not
knowing
,
the
idiot
,
whether
she
ought
to
smile
or
shed
tears
,
and
sending
him
cards
with
‘at
home’
upon
them
as
large
as
life
.
Oh
!
it
is
disgusting
!
absolutely
disgusting
.
It
is
a
nefarious
world
,
sir
.
You
will
find
it
out
some
day
.
I
am
as
much
robbed
by
that
fellow
Gushy
as
men
are
on
the
highway
.
He
is
appropriating
my
income
,
and
the
income
of
thousands
of
honest
fellows
.
And
then
he
pretends
he
is
writing
for
the
people
!
The
people
!
What
does
he
know
about
the
people
?
Annals
of
the
New
Cut
and
Saffron
Hill
.
He
thinks
he
will
frighten
some
lord
,
who
will
ask
him
to
dinner
.
And
that
he
calls
Progress
.
I
hardly
know
which
is
the
worst
class
in
this
country
—
the
aristocracy
,
the
middle
class
,
or
what
they
call
the
people
.
I
hate
them
all
.
”
About
the
fall
of
the
leaf
the
offices
were
all
filled
again
,
and
among
the
rest
Trenchard
returned
.
“
His
brother
has
been
ill
,
”
said
St.
Barbe
.
“
They
say
that
Trenchard
is
very
fond
of
him
.
Fond
of
a
brother
who
keeps
him
out
of
four
thousand
pounds
per
annum
!
What
will
man
not
say
?
And
yet
I
could
not
go
and
congratulate
Trenchard
on
his
brother’s
death
.
It
would
be
‘bad
taste.’
Trenchard
would
perhaps
never
speak
to
me
again
,
though
he
had
been
lying
awake
all
night
chuckling
over
the
event
.
And
Gushy
takes
an
amiable
view
of
this
world
of
hypocrisy
and
plunder
.
And
that
is
why
Gushy
is
so
popular
!
”
There
was
one
incident
at
the
beginning
of
November
,
which
eventually
exercised
no
mean
influence
on
the
life
of
Endymion
.
Trenchard
offered
one
evening
to
introduce
him
as
a
guest
to
a
celebrated
debating
society
,
of
which
Trenchard
was
a
distinguished
member
.
This
society
had
grown
out
of
the
Union
at
Cambridge
,
and
was
originally
intended
to
have
been
a
metropolitan
branch
of
that
famous
association
.
But
in
process
of
time
it
was
found
that
such
a
constitution
was
too
limited
to
ensure
those
numbers
and
that
variety
of
mind
desirable
in
such
an
institution
.
It
was
therefore
opened
to
the
whole
world
duly
qualified
.
The
predominant
element
,
however
,
for
a
long
time
consisted
of
Cambridge
men
.
This
society
used
to
meet
in
a
large
room
,
fitted
up
as
much
like
the
House
of
Commons
as
possible
,
and
which
was
in
Freemason’s
Tavern
,
in
Great
Queen
Street
.
Some
hundred
and
fifty
members
were
present
when
Endymion
paid
his
first
visit
there
,
and
the
scene
to
Endymion
was
novel
and
deeply
interesting
.
Though
only
a
guest
,
he
was
permitted
to
sit
in
the
body
of
the
chamber
,
by
the
side
of
Trenchard
,
who
kindly
gave
him
some
information
,
as
the
proceedings
advanced
,
as
to
the
principal
personages
who
took
part
in
them
.
The
question
to-night
was
,
whether
the
decapitation
of
Charles
the
First
were
a
justifiable
act
,
and
the
debate
was
opened
in
the
affirmative
by
a
young
man
with
a
singularly
sunny
face
and
a
voice
of
music
.
His
statement
was
clear
and
calm
.
Though
nothing
could
be
more
uncompromising
than
his
opinions
,
it
seemed
that
nothing
could
be
fairer
than
his
facts
.
“
That
is
Hortensius
,
”
said
Trenchard
;
“
he
will
be
called
this
term
.
They
say
he
did
nothing
at
the
university
,
and
is
too
idle
to
do
anything
at
the
bar
;
but
I
think
highly
of
him
.
You
should
hear
him
in
reply
.
”
The
opening
speech
was
seconded
by
a
very
young
man
,
in
a
most
artificial
style
,
remarkable
for
its
superfluity
of
intended
sarcasm
,
which
was
delivered
in
a
highly
elaborate
tone
,
so
that
the
speaker
seemed
severe
without
being
keen
.
“
‘Tis
the
new
Cambridge
style
,
”
whispered
Trenchard
,
“
but
it
will
not
go
down
here
.
”
The
question
having
been
launched
,
Spruce
arose
,
a
very
neat
speaker
;
a
little
too
mechanical
,
but
plausible
.
Endymion
was
astonished
at
the
dexterous
turns
in
his
own
favour
which
he
gave
to
many
of
the
statements
of
Hortensius
,
and
how
he
mangled
and
massacred
the
seconder
,
who
had
made
a
mistake
in
a
date
.
“
He
is
the
Tory
leader
,
”
said
Trenchard
.
“
There
are
not
twenty
Tories
in
our
Union
,
but
we
always
listen
to
him
.
He
is
sharp
,
Jawett
will
answer
him
.
”
And
,
accordingly
,
that
great
man
rose
.
Jawett
,
in
dulcet
tones
of
philanthropy
,
intimated
that
he
was
not
opposed
to
the
decapitation
of
kings
;
on
the
contrary
,
if
there
were
no
other
way
of
getting
rid
of
them
,
he
would
have
recourse
to
such
a
method
.
But
he
did
not
think
the
case
before
them
was
justifiable
.
“
Always
crotchety
,
”
whispered
Trenchard
.
Jawett
thought
the
whole
conception
of
the
opening
speech
erroneous
.
It
proceeded
on
the
assumption
that
the
execution
of
Charles
was
the
act
of
the
people
;
on
the
contrary
,
it
was
an
intrigue
of
Cromwell
,
who
was
the
only
person
who
profited
by
it
.
Cromwell
was
vindicated
and
panegyrised
in
a
flaming
speech
by
Montreal
,
who
took
this
opportunity
of
denouncing
alike
kings
and
bishops
,
Church
and
State
,
with
powerful
invective
,
terminating
his
address
by
the
expression
of
an
earnest
hope
that
he
might
be
spared
to
witness
the
inevitable
Commonwealth
of
England
.
“
He
only
lost
his
election
for
Rattleton
by
ten
votes
,
”
said
Trenchard
.
“
We
call
him
the
Lord
Protector
,
and
his
friends
here
think
he
will
be
so
.
”
The
debate
was
concluded
,
after
another
hour
,
by
Hortensius
,
and
Endymion
was
struck
by
the
contrast
between
his
first
and
second
manner
.
Safe
from
reply
,
and
reckless
in
his
security
,
it
is
not
easy
to
describe
the
audacity
of
his
retorts
,
or
the
tumult
of
his
eloquence
.
Rapid
,
sarcastic
,
humorous
,
picturesque
,
impassioned
,
he
seemed
to
carry
everything
before
him
,
and
to
resemble
his
former
self
in
nothing
but
the
music
of
his
voice
,
which
lent
melody
to
scorn
,
and
sometimes
reached
the
depth
of
pathos
.
Endymion
walked
home
with
Mr.
Trenchard
,
and
in
a
musing
mood
.
“
I
should
not
care
how
lazy
I
was
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
if
I
could
speak
like
Hortensius
.
”
CHAPTER
XXV
The
snow
was
falling
about
the
time
when
the
Swindon
coach
,
in
which
Endymion
was
a
passenger
,
was
expected
at
Hurstley
,
and
the
snow
had
been
falling
all
day
.
Nothing
had
been
more
dreary
than
the
outward
world
,
or
less
entitled
to
the
merry
epithet
which
is
the
privilege
of
the
season
.
The
gardener
had
been
despatched
to
the
village
inn
,
where
the
coach
stopped
,
with
a
lantern
and
cloaks
and
umbrellas
.
Within
the
house
the
huge
blocks
of
smouldering
beech
sent
forth
a
hospitable
heat
,
and
,
whenever
there
was
a
sound
,
Myra
threw
cones
on
the
inflamed
mass
,
that
Endymion
might
be
welcomed
with
a
blaze
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
who
had
appeared
to-day
,
though
late
,
and
had
been
very
nervous
and
excited
,
broke
down
half
an
hour
before
her
son
could
arrive
,
and
,
murmuring
that
she
would
reappear
,
had
retired
.
Her
husband
was
apparently
reading
,
but
his
eye
wandered
and
his
mind
was
absent
from
the
volume
.
The
dogs
barked
,
Mr.
Ferrars
threw
down
his
book
,
Myra
forgot
her
cones
;
the
door
burst
open
,
and
she
was
in
her
brother’s
arms
.
“
And
where
is
mamma
?
”
said
Endymion
,
after
he
had
greeted
his
father
.
“
She
will
be
here
directly
,
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
.
“
You
are
late
,
and
the
suspense
of
your
arrival
a
little
agitated
her
.
”
Three
quarters
of
a
year
had
elapsed
since
the
twins
had
parted
,
and
they
were
at
that
period
of
life
when
such
an
interval
often
produces
no
slight
changes
in
personal
appearance
.
Endymion
,
always
tall
for
his
years
,
had
considerably
grown
;
his
air
,
and
manner
,
and
dress
were
distinguished
.
But
three
quarters
of
a
year
had
produced
a
still
greater
effect
upon
his
sister
.
He
had
left
her
a
beautiful
girl
:
her
beauty
was
not
less
striking
,
but
it
was
now
the
beauty
of
a
woman
.
Her
mien
was
radiant
but
commanding
,
and
her
brow
,
always
remarkable
,
was
singularly
impressive
.
They
stood
in
animated
converse
before
the
fire
,
Endymion
between
his
father
and
his
sister
and
retaining
of
each
a
hand
,
when
Mr.
Ferrars
nodded
to
Myra
and
said
,
“
I
think
now
;
”
and
Myra
,
not
reluctantly
,
but
not
with
happy
eagerness
,
left
the
room
.
“
She
is
gone
for
your
poor
mother
,
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
;
“
we
are
uneasy
about
her
,
my
dear
boy
.
”
Myra
was
some
time
away
,
and
when
she
returned
,
she
was
alone
.
“
She
says
she
must
see
him
first
in
her
room
,
”
said
Myra
,
in
a
low
voice
,
to
her
father
;
“
but
that
will
never
do
;
you
or
I
must
go
with
him
.
”
“
You
had
better
go
,
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
.
She
took
her
brother’s
hand
and
led
him
away
.
“
I
go
with
you
,
to
prevent
dreadful
scenes
,
”
said
his
sister
on
the
staircase
.
“
Try
to
behave
just
as
in
old
times
,
and
as
if
you
saw
no
change
.
”
Myra
went
into
the
chamber
first
,
to
give
to
her
mother
,
if
possible
,
the
keynote
of
the
interview
,
and
of
which
she
had
already
furnished
the
prelude
.
“
We
are
all
so
happy
to
see
Endymion
again
,
dear
mamma
.
Papa
is
quite
gay
.
”
And
then
when
Endymion
,
answering
his
sister’s
beckon
,
entered
,
Mrs.
Ferrars
rushed
forward
with
a
sort
of
laugh
,
and
cried
out
,
“
Oh
!
I
am
so
happy
to
see
you
again
,
my
child
.
I
feel
quite
gay
.
”
He
embraced
her
,
but
he
could
not
believe
it
was
his
mother
.
A
visage
at
once
haggard
and
bloated
had
supplanted
that
soft
and
rich
countenance
which
had
captivated
so
many
.
A
robe
concealed
her
attenuated
frame
;
but
the
lustrous
eyes
were
bleared
and
bloodshot
,
and
the
accents
of
the
voice
,
which
used
to
be
at
once
melodious
and
a
little
drawling
,
hoarse
,
harsh
,
and
hurried
.
She
never
stopped
talking
;
but
it
was
all
in
one
key
,
and
that
the
prescribed
one
—
her
happiness
at
his
arrival
,
the
universal
gaiety
it
had
produced
,
and
the
merry
Christmas
they
were
to
keep
.
After
a
time
she
began
to
recur
to
the
past
,
and
to
sigh
;
but
instantly
Myra
interfered
with
“
You
know
,
mamma
,
you
are
to
dine
downstairs
to-day
,
and
you
will
hardly
have
time
to
dress
;
”
and
she
motioned
to
Endymion
to
retire
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
kept
the
dinner
waiting
a
long
time
,
and
,
when
she
entered
the
room
,
it
was
evident
that
she
was
painfully
excited
.
She
had
a
cap
on
,
and
had
used
some
rouge
.
“
Endymion
must
take
me
in
to
dinner
,
”
she
hurriedly
exclaimed
as
she
entered
,
and
then
grasped
her
son’s
arm
.
It
seemed
a
happy
and
even
a
merry
dinner
,
and
yet
there
was
something
about
it
forced
and
constrained
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
talked
a
great
deal
,
and
Endymion
told
them
a
great
many
anecdotes
of
those
men
and
things
which
most
interested
them
,
and
Myra
seemed
to
be
absorbed
in
his
remarks
and
narratives
,
and
his
mother
would
drink
his
health
more
than
once
,
when
suddenly
she
went
into
hysterics
,
and
all
was
anarchy
.
Mr.
Ferrars
looked
distressed
and
infinitely
sad
;
and
Myra
,
putting
her
arm
round
her
mother
,
and
whispering
words
of
calm
or
comfort
,
managed
to
lead
her
out
of
the
room
,
and
neither
of
them
returned
.
“
Poor
creature
!
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
,
with
a
sigh
.
“
Seeing
you
has
been
too
much
for
her
.
”
The
next
morning
Endymion
and
his
sister
paid
a
visit
to
the
rectory
,
and
there
they
met
Nigel
,
who
was
passing
his
Christmas
at
home
.
This
was
a
happy
meeting
.
The
rector
had
written
an
essay
on
squirrels
,
and
showed
them
a
glass
containing
that
sportive
little
animal
in
all
its
frolic
forms
.
Farmer
Thornberry
had
ordered
a
path
to
be
cleared
on
the
green
from
the
hall
to
the
rectory
;
and
“
that
is
all
,
”
said
Mrs.
Penruddock
,
“
we
have
to
walk
upon
,
except
the
high
road
.
The
snow
has
drifted
to
such
a
degree
that
it
is
impossible
to
get
to
the
Chase
.
I
went
out
the
day
before
yesterday
with
Carlo
as
a
guide
.
When
I
did
not
clearly
make
out
my
way
,
I
sent
him
forward
,
and
sometimes
I
could
only
see
his
black
head
emerging
from
the
snow
.
So
I
had
to
retreat
.
”
Mrs.
Ferrars
did
not
appear
this
day
.
Endymion
visited
her
in
her
room
.
He
found
her
flighty
and
incoherent
.
She
seemed
to
think
that
he
had
returned
permanently
to
Hurstley
,
and
said
she
never
had
any
good
opinion
of
the
scheme
of
his
leaving
them
.
If
it
had
been
the
Foreign
Office
,
as
was
promised
,
and
his
father
had
been
in
the
Cabinet
,
which
was
his
right
,
it
might
have
been
all
very
well
.
But
,
if
he
were
to
leave
home
,
he
ought
to
have
gone
into
the
Guards
,
and
it
was
not
too
late
.
And
then
they
might
live
in
a
small
house
in
town
,
and
look
after
him
.
There
were
small
houses
in
Wilton
Crescent
,
which
would
do
very
well
.
Besides
,
she
herself
wanted
change
of
air
.
Hurstley
did
not
agree
with
her
.
She
had
no
appetite
.
She
never
was
well
except
in
London
,
or
Wimbledon
.
She
wished
that
,
as
Endymion
was
here
,
he
would
speak
to
his
father
on
the
subject
.
She
saw
no
reason
why
they
should
not
live
at
their
place
at
Wimbledon
as
well
as
here
.
It
was
not
so
large
a
house
,
and
,
therefore
,
would
not
be
so
expensive
.
Endymion’s
holiday
was
only
to
last
a
week
,
and
Myra
seemed
jealous
of
his
sparing
any
portion
of
it
to
Nigel
;
yet
the
rector’s
son
was
sedulous
in
his
endeavours
to
enjoy
the
society
of
his
former
companion
.
There
seemed
some
reason
for
his
calling
at
the
hall
every
day
.
Mr.
Ferrars
broke
through
his
habits
,
and
invited
Nigel
to
dine
with
them
;
and
after
dinner
,
saying
that
he
would
visit
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
who
was
unwell
,
left
them
alone
.
It
was
the
only
time
they
had
yet
been
alone
.
Endymion
found
that
there
was
no
change
in
the
feelings
and
views
of
Nigel
respecting
Church
matters
,
except
that
his
sentiments
and
opinions
were
more
assured
,
and
,
if
possible
,
more
advanced
.
He
would
not
tolerate
any
reference
to
the
state
of
the
nation
;
it
was
the
state
of
the
Church
which
engrossed
his
being
.
No
government
was
endurable
that
was
not
divine
.
The
Church
was
divine
,
and
on
that
he
took
his
stand
.
Nigel
was
to
take
his
degree
next
term
,
and
orders
as
soon
as
possible
.
He
looked
forward
with
confidence
,
after
doubtless
a
period
of
disturbance
,
confusion
,
probably
violence
,
and
even
anarchy
,
to
the
establishment
of
an
ecclesiastical
polity
that
would
be
catholic
throughout
the
realm
.
Endymion
just
intimated
the
very
contrary
opinions
that
Jawett
held
upon
these
matters
,
and
mentioned
,
though
not
as
an
adherent
,
some
of
the
cosmopolitan
sentiments
of
Waldershare
.
“
The
Church
is
cosmopolitan
,
”
said
Nigel
;
“
the
only
practicable
means
by
which
you
can
attain
to
identity
of
motive
and
action
.
”
Then
they
rejoined
Myra
,
but
Nigel
soon
returned
to
the
absorbing
theme
.
His
powers
had
much
developed
since
he
and
Endymion
used
to
wander
together
over
Hurstley
Chase
.
He
had
great
eloquence
,
his
views
were
startling
and
commanding
,
and
his
expressions
forcible
and
picturesque
.
All
was
heightened
,
too
,
by
his
striking
personal
appearance
and
the
beauty
of
his
voice
.
He
seemed
something
between
a
young
prophet
and
an
inquisitor
;
a
remarkable
blending
of
enthusiasm
and
self-control
.
A
person
more
experienced
in
human
nature
than
Endymion
might
have
observed
,
that
all
this
time
,
while
Nigel
was
to
all
appearance
chiefly
addressing
himself
to
Endymion
,
he
was
,
in
fact
,
endeavouring
to
impress
his
sister
.
Endymion
knew
,
from
the
correspondence
of
Myra
,
that
Nigel
had
been
,
especially
in
the
summer
,
much
at
Hurstley
;
and
when
he
was
alone
with
his
sister
,
he
could
not
help
remarking
,
“
Nigel
is
as
strong
as
ever
in
his
views
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
she
replied
;
“
he
is
very
clever
and
very
good-looking
.
It
is
a
pity
he
is
going
into
the
Church
.
I
do
not
like
clergymen
.
”
On
the
third
day
of
the
visit
,
Mrs.
Ferrars
was
announced
to
be
unwell
,
and
in
the
evening
very
unwell
;
and
Mr.
Ferrars
sent
to
the
nearest
medical
man
,
and
he
was
distant
,
to
attend
her
.
The
medical
man
did
not
arrive
until
past
midnight
,
and
,
after
visiting
his
patient
,
looked
grave
.
She
had
fever
,
but
of
what
character
it
was
difficult
to
decide
.
The
medical
man
had
brought
some
remedies
with
him
,
and
he
stayed
the
night
at
the
hall
.
It
was
a
night
of
anxiety
and
alarm
,
and
the
household
did
not
retire
until
nearly
the
break
of
dawn
.
The
next
day
it
seemed
that
the
whole
of
the
Penruddock
family
were
in
the
house
.
Mrs.
Penruddock
insisted
on
nursing
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
and
her
husband
looked
as
if
he
thought
he
might
be
wanted
.
It
was
unreasonable
that
Nigel
should
be
left
alone
.
His
presence
,
always
pleasing
,
was
a
relief
to
an
anxious
family
,
and
who
were
beginning
to
get
alarmed
.
The
fever
did
not
subside
.
On
the
contrary
,
it
increased
,
and
there
were
other
dangerous
symptoms
.
There
was
a
physician
of
fame
at
Oxford
,
whom
Nigel
wished
they
would
call
in
.
Matters
were
too
pressing
to
wait
for
the
posts
,
and
too
complicated
to
trust
to
an
ordinary
messenger
.
Nigel
,
who
was
always
well
mounted
,
was
in
his
saddle
in
an
instant
.
He
seemed
to
be
all
resource
,
consolation
,
and
energy
:
“
If
I
am
fortunate
,
he
will
be
here
in
four
hours
;
at
all
events
,
I
will
not
return
alone
.
”
Four
terrible
hours
were
these
:
Mr.
Ferrars
,
restless
and
sad
,
and
listening
with
a
vacant
air
or
an
absent
look
to
the
kind
and
unceasing
talk
of
the
rector
;
Myra
,
silent
in
her
mother’s
chamber
;
and
Endymion
,
wandering
about
alone
with
his
eyes
full
of
tears
.
This
was
the
Merrie
Christmas
he
had
talked
of
,
and
this
his
long-looked-for
holiday
.
He
could
think
of
nothing
but
his
mother’s
kindness
;
and
the
days
gone
by
,
when
she
was
so
bright
and
happy
,
came
back
to
him
with
painful
vividness
.
It
seemed
to
him
that
he
belonged
to
a
doomed
and
unhappy
family
.
Youth
and
its
unconscious
mood
had
hitherto
driven
this
thought
from
his
mind
;
but
it
occurred
to
him
now
,
and
would
not
be
driven
away
.
Nigel
was
fortunate
.
Before
sunset
he
returned
to
Hurstley
in
a
postchaise
with
the
Oxford
physician
,
whom
he
had
furnished
with
an
able
and
accurate
diagnosis
of
the
case
.
All
that
art
could
devise
,
and
all
that
devotion
could
suggest
,
were
lavished
on
the
sufferer
,
but
in
vain
;
and
four
days
afterwards
,
the
last
day
of
Endymion’s
long-awaited
holiday
,
Mr.
Ferrars
closed
for
ever
the
eyes
of
that
brilliant
being
,
who
,
with
some
weaknesses
,
but
many
noble
qualities
,
had
shared
with
no
unequal
spirit
the
splendour
and
the
adversity
of
his
existence
.
CHAPTER
XXVI
Nigel
took
a
high
degree
and
obtained
first-class
honours
.
He
was
ordained
by
the
bishop
of
the
diocese
as
soon
after
as
possible
.
His
companions
,
who
looked
up
to
him
with
every
expectation
of
his
eminence
and
influence
,
were
disappointed
,
however
,
in
the
course
of
life
on
which
he
decided
.
It
was
different
from
that
which
he
had
led
them
to
suppose
it
would
be
.
They
had
counted
on
his
becoming
a
resident
light
of
the
University
,
filling
its
highest
offices
,
and
ultimately
reaching
the
loftiest
stations
in
the
Church
.
Instead
of
that
he
announced
that
he
had
resolved
to
become
a
curate
to
his
father
,
and
that
he
was
about
to
bury
himself
in
the
solitude
of
Hurstley
.
It
was
in
the
early
summer
following
the
death
of
Mrs.
Ferrars
that
he
settled
there
.
He
was
frequently
at
the
hall
,
and
became
intimate
with
Mr.
Ferrars
.
Notwithstanding
the
difference
of
age
,
there
was
between
them
a
sympathy
of
knowledge
and
thought
.
In
spite
of
his
decided
mind
,
Nigel
listened
to
Mr.
Ferrars
with
deference
,
soliciting
his
judgment
,
and
hanging
,
as
it
were
,
on
his
accents
of
wise
experience
and
refined
taste
.
So
Nigel
became
a
favourite
with
Mr.
Ferrars
;
for
there
are
few
things
more
flattering
than
the
graceful
submission
of
an
accomplished
intellect
,
and
,
when
accompanied
by
youth
,
the
spell
is
sometimes
fascinating
.
The
death
of
his
wife
seemed
to
have
been
a
great
blow
to
Mr.
Ferrars
.
The
expression
of
his
careworn
,
yet
still
handsome
,
countenance
became
,
if
possible
,
more
saddened
.
It
was
with
difficulty
that
his
daughter
could
induce
him
to
take
exercise
,
and
he
had
lost
altogether
that
seeming
interest
in
their
outer
world
which
once
at
least
he
affected
to
feel
.
Myra
,
though
ever
content
to
be
alone
,
had
given
up
herself
much
to
her
father
since
his
great
sorrow
;
but
she
felt
that
her
efforts
to
distract
him
from
his
broodings
were
not
eminently
successful
,
and
she
hailed
with
a
feeling
of
relief
the
establishment
of
Nigel
in
the
parish
,
and
the
consequent
intimacy
that
arose
between
him
and
her
father
.
Nigel
and
Myra
were
necessarily
under
these
circumstances
thrown
much
together
.
As
time
advanced
he
passed
his
evenings
generally
at
the
hall
,
for
he
was
a
proficient
in
the
only
game
which
interested
Mr.
Ferrars
,
and
that
was
chess
.
Reading
and
writing
all
day
,
Mr.
Ferrars
required
some
remission
of
attention
,
and
his
relaxation
was
chess
.
Before
the
games
,
and
between
the
games
,
and
during
delightful
tea-time
,
and
for
the
happy
quarter
of
an
hour
which
ensued
when
the
chief
employment
of
the
evening
ceased
,
Nigel
appealed
much
to
Myra
,
and
endeavoured
to
draw
out
her
mind
and
feelings
.
He
lent
her
books
,
and
books
that
favoured
,
indirectly
at
least
,
his
own
peculiar
views
—
volumes
of
divine
poesy
that
had
none
of
the
twang
of
psalmody
,
tales
of
tender
and
sometimes
wild
and
brilliant
fancy
,
but
ever
full
of
symbolic
truth
.
Chess-playing
requires
complete
abstraction
,
and
Nigel
,
though
he
was
a
double
first
,
occasionally
lost
a
game
from
a
lapse
in
that
condensed
attention
that
secures
triumph
.
The
fact
is
,
he
was
too
frequently
thinking
of
something
else
besides
the
moves
on
the
board
,
and
his
ear
was
engaged
while
his
eye
wandered
,
if
Myra
chanced
to
rise
from
her
seat
or
make
the
slightest
observation
.
The
woods
were
beginning
to
assume
the
first
fair
livery
of
autumn
,
when
it
is
beautiful
without
decay
.
The
lime
and
the
larch
had
not
yet
dropped
a
golden
leaf
,
and
the
burnished
beeches
flamed
in
the
sun
.
Every
now
and
then
an
occasional
oak
or
elm
rose
,
still
as
full
of
deep
green
foliage
as
if
it
were
midsummer
;
while
the
dark
verdure
of
the
pines
sprang
up
with
effective
contrast
amid
the
gleaming
and
resplendent
chestnuts
.
There
was
a
glade
at
Hurstley
,
bounded
on
each
side
with
masses
of
yew
,
their
dark
green
forms
now
studded
with
crimson
berries
.
Myra
was
walking
one
morning
in
this
glade
when
she
met
Nigel
,
who
was
on
one
of
his
daily
pilgrimages
,
and
he
turned
round
and
walked
by
her
side
.
“
I
am
sure
I
cannot
give
you
news
of
your
brother
,
”
he
said
,
“
but
I
have
had
a
letter
this
morning
from
Endymion
.
He
seems
to
take
great
interest
in
his
debating
club
.
”
“
I
am
so
glad
he
has
become
a
member
of
it
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
That
kind
Mr.
Trenchard
,
whom
I
shall
never
see
to
thank
him
for
all
his
goodness
to
Endymion
,
proposed
him
.
It
occupies
his
evenings
twice
a
week
,
and
then
it
gives
him
subjects
to
think
of
and
read
up
in
the
interval
.
”
“
Yes
;
it
is
a
good
thing
,
”
said
Nigel
moodily
;
“
and
if
he
is
destined
for
public
life
,
which
perhaps
he
may
be
,
no
contemptible
discipline
.
”
“
Dear
boy
!
”
said
Myra
,
with
a
sigh
.
“
I
do
not
see
what
public
life
he
is
destined
to
,
except
slaving
at
a
desk
.
But
sometimes
one
has
dreams
.
”
“
Yes
;
we
all
have
dreams
,
”
said
Nigel
,
with
an
air
of
abstraction
.
“
It
is
impossible
to
resist
the
fascination
of
a
fine
autumnal
morn
,
”
said
Myra
;
“
but
give
me
the
long
days
of
summer
and
its
rich
leafy
joys
.
I
like
to
wander
about
,
and
dine
at
nine
o’clock
.
”
“
Delightful
,
doubtless
,
with
a
sympathising
companion
.
”
“
Endymion
was
such
a
charming
companion
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
But
he
has
left
us
,
”
said
Nigel
;
“
and
you
are
alone
.
”
“
I
am
alone
,
”
said
Myra
;
“
but
I
am
used
to
solitude
,
and
I
can
think
of
him
.
”
“
Would
I
were
Endymion
,
”
said
Nigel
,
“
to
be
thought
of
by
you
!
”
Myra
looked
at
him
with
something
of
a
stare
;
but
he
continued
—
“
All
seasons
would
be
to
me
fascination
,
were
I
only
by
your
side
.
Yes
;
I
can
no
longer
repress
the
irresistible
confusion
of
my
love
.
I
am
here
,
and
I
am
here
only
,
because
I
love
you
.
I
quitted
Oxford
and
all
its
pride
that
I
might
have
the
occasional
delight
of
being
your
companion
.
I
was
not
presumptuous
in
my
thoughts
,
and
believed
that
would
content
me
;
but
I
can
no
longer
resist
the
consummate
spell
,
and
I
offer
you
my
heart
and
my
life
.
”
“
I
am
amazed
;
I
am
a
little
overwhelmed
,
”
said
Myra
.
“
Pardon
me
,
dear
Mr.
Penruddock
—
dear
Nigel
—
you
speak
of
things
of
which
I
have
not
thought
.
”
“
Think
of
them
!
I
implore
you
to
think
of
them
,
and
now
!
”
“
We
are
a
fallen
family
,
”
said
Myra
,
“
perhaps
a
doomed
one
.
We
are
not
people
to
connect
yourself
with
.
You
have
witnessed
some
of
our
sorrows
,
and
soothed
them
.
I
shall
be
ever
grateful
to
you
for
the
past
.
But
I
sometimes
feel
our
cup
is
not
yet
full
,
and
I
have
long
resolved
to
bear
my
cross
alone
.
But
,
irrespective
of
all
other
considerations
,
I
can
never
leave
my
father
.
”
“
I
have
spoken
to
your
father
,
”
said
Nigel
,
“
and
he
approved
my
suit
.
”
“
While
my
father
lives
I
shall
not
quit
him
,
”
said
Myra
;
“
but
,
let
me
not
mislead
you
,
I
do
not
live
for
my
father
—
I
live
for
another
.
”
“
For
another
?
”
inquired
Nigel
,
with
anxiety
.
“
For
one
you
know
.
My
life
is
devoted
to
Endymion
.
There
is
a
mystic
bond
between
us
,
originating
,
perhaps
,
in
the
circumstance
of
our
birth
;
for
we
are
twins
.
I
never
mean
to
embarrass
him
with
a
sister’s
love
,
and
perhaps
hereafter
may
see
less
of
him
even
than
I
see
now
;
but
I
shall
be
in
the
world
,
whatever
be
my
lot
,
high
or
low
—
the
active
,
stirring
world
—
working
for
him
,
thinking
only
of
him
.
Yes
;
moulding
events
and
circumstances
in
his
favour
;
”
and
she
spoke
with
fiery
animation
.
“
I
have
brought
myself
,
by
long
meditation
,
to
the
conviction
that
a
human
being
with
a
settled
purpose
must
accomplish
it
,
and
that
nothing
can
resist
a
will
that
will
stake
even
existence
for
its
fulfilment
.
”
CHAPTER
XXVII
Endymion
had
returned
to
his
labours
,
after
the
death
of
his
mother
,
much
dispirited
.
Though
young
and
hopeful
,
his
tender
heart
could
not
be
insensible
to
the
tragic
end
.
There
is
anguish
in
the
recollection
that
we
have
not
adequately
appreciated
the
affection
of
those
whom
we
have
loved
and
lost
.
It
tortured
him
to
feel
that
he
had
often
accepted
with
carelessness
or
indifference
the
homage
of
a
heart
that
had
been
to
him
ever
faithful
in
its
multiplied
devotion
.
Then
,
though
he
was
not
of
a
melancholy
and
brooding
nature
,
in
this
moment
of
bereavement
he
could
not
drive
from
his
mind
the
consciousness
that
there
had
long
been
hanging
over
his
home
a
dark
lot
,
as
it
were
,
of
progressive
adversity
.
His
family
seemed
always
sinking
,
and
he
felt
conscious
how
the
sanguine
spirit
of
his
mother
had
sustained
them
in
their
trials
.
His
father
had
already
made
him
the
depositary
of
his
hopeless
cares
;
and
if
anything
happened
to
that
father
,
old
and
worn
out
before
his
time
,
what
would
become
of
Myra
?
Nigel
,
who
in
their
great
calamity
seemed
to
have
thought
of
everything
,
and
to
have
done
everything
,
had
written
to
the
chief
of
his
office
,
and
also
to
Mr.
Trenchard
,
explaining
the
cause
of
the
absence
of
Endymion
from
his
duties
.
There
were
no
explanations
,
therefore
,
necessary
when
he
reappeared
;
no
complaints
,
but
only
sympathy
and
general
kindness
.
In
Warwick
Street
there
was
unaffected
sorrow
;
Sylvia
wept
and
went
into
the
prettiest
mourning
for
her
patroness
,
and
Mr.
Rodney
wore
a
crape
on
his
hat
.
“
I
never
saw
her
,
”
said
Imogene
,
“
but
I
am
told
she
was
heavenly
.
”
Waldershare
was
very
kind
to
Endymion
,
and
used
to
take
him
to
the
House
of
Commons
on
interesting
evenings
,
and
,
if
he
succeeded
in
getting
Endymion
a
place
under
the
gallery
,
would
come
and
talk
to
him
in
the
course
of
the
night
,
and
sometimes
introduce
him
to
the
mysteries
of
Bellamy’s
,
where
Endymion
had
the
satisfaction
of
partaking
of
a
steak
in
the
presence
of
statesmen
and
senators
.
“
You
are
in
the
precincts
of
public
life
,
”
said
Waldershare
;
“
and
if
you
ever
enter
it
,
which
I
think
you
will
,
”
he
would
add
thoughtfully
,
“
it
will
be
interesting
for
you
to
remember
that
you
have
seen
these
characters
,
many
of
whom
will
then
have
passed
away
.
Like
the
shades
of
a
magic
lantern
,
”
he
added
,
with
something
between
a
sigh
and
a
smile
.
“
One
of
my
constituents
sent
me
a
homily
this
morning
,
the
burthen
of
which
was
,
I
never
thought
of
death
.
The
idiot
!
I
never
think
of
anything
else
.
It
is
my
weakness
.
One
should
never
think
of
death
.
One
should
think
of
life
.
That
is
real
piety
.
”
This
spring
and
summer
were
passed
tranquilly
by
Endymion
,
but
not
unprofitably
.
He
never
went
to
any
place
of
public
amusement
,
and
,
cherishing
his
sorrow
,
declined
those
slight
openings
to
social
life
which
occasionally
offered
themselves
even
to
him
;
but
he
attended
his
debating
club
with
regularity
,
and
,
though
silent
,
studied
every
subject
which
was
brought
before
it
.
It
interested
him
to
compare
their
sayings
and
doings
with
those
of
the
House
of
Commons
,
and
he
found
advantage
in
the
critical
comparison
.
Though
not
in
what
is
styled
society
,
his
mind
did
not
rust
from
the
want
of
intelligent
companions
.
The
clear
perception
,
accurate
knowledge
,
and
unerring
judgment
of
Trenchard
,
the
fantastic
cynicism
of
St.
Barbe
,
and
all
the
stores
of
the
exuberant
and
imaginative
Waldershare
,
were
brought
to
bear
on
a
young
and
plastic
intelligence
,
gifted
with
a
quick
though
not
a
too
profound
sensibility
which
soon
ripened
into
tact
,
and
which
,
after
due
discrimination
,
was
tenacious
of
beneficial
impressions
.
In
the
autumn
,
Endymion
returned
home
for
a
long
visit
and
a
happy
one
.
He
found
Nigel
settled
at
Hurstley
,
and
almost
domesticated
at
the
hall
;
his
father
more
cheerful
than
his
sister’s
earlier
letters
had
led
him
to
suppose
;
and
she
herself
so
delighted
by
the
constant
companionship
of
her
brother
that
she
seemed
to
have
resumed
all
her
original
pride
of
life
.
Nearly
two
years’
acquaintance
,
however
limited
,
with
the
world
,
had
already
exercised
a
ripening
influence
over
Endymion
.
Nigel
soon
perceived
this
,
though
,
with
a
native
tact
which
circumstances
had
developed
,
Endymion
avoided
obtruding
his
new
conclusions
upon
his
former
instructor
.
But
that
deep
and
eager
spirit
,
unwilling
ever
to
let
a
votary
escape
,
and
absorbed
intellectually
by
one
vast
idea
,
would
not
be
baffled
.
Nigel
had
not
renounced
the
early
view
of
Endymion
taking
orders
,
and
spoke
of
his
London
life
as
an
incident
which
,
with
his
youth
,
he
might
in
time
only
look
upon
as
an
episode
in
his
existence
.
“
I
trust
I
shall
ever
be
a
devoted
son
of
the
Church
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
but
I
confess
I
feel
no
predisposition
to
take
orders
,
even
if
I
had
the
opportunity
,
which
probably
I
never
shall
have
.
If
I
were
to
choose
my
career
it
would
be
public
life
.
I
am
on
the
last
step
of
the
ladder
,
and
I
do
not
suppose
that
I
can
ever
be
anything
but
a
drudge
.
But
even
that
would
interest
me
.
It
brings
one
in
contact
with
those
who
are
playing
the
great
game
.
One
at
least
fancies
one
comprehends
something
of
the
government
of
mankind
.
Mr.
Waldershare
takes
me
often
to
the
House
of
Commons
,
and
I
must
say
,
I
am
passionately
fond
of
it
.
”
After
Endymion’s
return
to
London
that
scene
occurred
between
Nigel
and
Myra
,
in
the
glade
at
Hurstley
,
which
we
have
noticed
in
the
preceding
chapter
.
In
the
evening
of
that
day
Nigel
did
not
pay
his
accustomed
visit
to
the
hall
,
and
the
father
and
the
daughter
were
alone
.
Then
it
was
,
notwithstanding
evident
agitation
,
and
even
with
some
degree
of
solemnity
,
that
Mr.
Ferrars
broke
to
his
daughter
that
there
was
a
subject
on
which
he
wished
seriously
to
confer
with
her
.
“
Is
it
about
Nigel
?
”
she
inquired
with
calmness
