hadnever
before
realized
that
she
had
been
without
full
sympathy
in
this
direction
.
She
awoke
to
a
strange
retrospective
sense
of
solitude
,
feeling
a
new
pity
for
the
eager
little
child
of
years
ago
,
who
had
wandered
up
to
the
garret
,
late
at
night
,
to
watch
the
moonlight
spread
its
white
shroud
over
the
hills
.
With
every
moment
spent
in
the
society
of
Valeria
Du
Prel
,
new
and
clearer
light
seemed
to
Hadria
,
to
be
thrown
upon
all
the
problems
of
existence
;
not
by
any
means
only
through
what
Miss
Du
Prel
directly
said
,
but
by
what
she
implied
,
by
what
she
took
for
granted
,
by
what
she
omitted
to
say
.
“
It
seems
like
a
home-coming
from
long
exile
,
”
Hadria
wrote
to
her
sister
.
“
I
have
been
looking
through
a
sort
of
mist
,
or
as
one
looks
at
one
's
surroundings
before
quite
waking
.
Now
everything
stands
out
sharp
and
cut
,
as
objects
do
in
the
clear
air
of
the
South
.
Ah
me
,
the
South
!
Miss
Du
Prel
has
spent
much
of
her
life
there
,
and
my
inborn
smouldering
passion
for
it
,
is
set
flaming
by
her
descriptions
!
You
remember
that
brief
little
fortnight
that
we
spent
with
mother
and
father
in
Italy
?
I
seem
now
to
be
again
under
the
spell
of
the
languorous
airs
,
the
cloudless
blue
,
the
white
palaces
,
the
grey
olive
groves
,
and
the
art
,
the
art
!
Oh
,
Algitha
,
I
must
go
to
the
South
soon
,
soon
,
or
I
shall
die
of
home
sickness
!
Miss
Du
Prel
says
that
this
is
only
one
side
of
me
breaking
out
:
that
I
am
northern
at
heart
.
I
think
it
is
true
,
but
meanwhile
the
thought
of
the
South
possesses
me
.
I
confess
I
think
mother
had
some
cause
to
be
alarmed
when
she
saw
Miss
Du
Prel
,
if
she
wants
to
keep
us
in
a
chastened
mood
,
at
home
.
It
seems
as
if
all
of
me
were
in
high
carnival
.
Life
is
raised
to
a
higher
power
.
I
feel
nearly
omnipotent
.
Epics
and
operas
are
child
's
play
to
me
!
It
is
true
I
have
produced
comparatively
few
;
but
,
oh
,
those
that
are
to
come
!
I
feel
fit
for
anything
,
from
pitch-and-toss
to
manslaughter
.
I
think
of
the
two
,
I
rather
lean
to
the
manslaughter
.
Oh
,
I
do
n't
mean
it
in
the
facetious
sense
!
that
would
be
a
terrible
downfall
from
my
present
altitudes
.
To
such
devices
the
usual
wretched
girl
,
who
has
never
drawn
rebellious
breath
,
or
listened
to
the
discourses
of
Valeria
Du
Prel
,
has
to
turn
for
a
living
,
or
to
keep
ennui
at
bay
.
But
I
,
no
,
the
inimical
sex
may
possess
their
souls
in
peace
,
as
far
as
I
am
concerned
.
They
might
retort
that
they
never
had
felt
nervous
,
but
a
letter
has
the
same
advantage
as
the
pulpit
:
the
adversary
can
never
get
up
and
contradict
.
“
That
ridiculous
adversary
,
Harold
Wilkins
,
is
staying
again
at
Drumgarren
,
and
I
hear
from
Mrs.
Gordon
that
he
thinks
it
very
strange
that
I
should
see
so
much
of
so
extraordinary
a
person
as
Miss
Du
Prel
!
Opinions
differ
of
course
;
I
think
it
very
strange
that
the
Gordons
should
see
so
much
of
so
ordinary
a
person
as
Mr.
Wilkins
.
Everybody
makes
much
of
him
here
,
and
,
alas
!
all
the
girls
run
after
him
,
and
even
fall
in
love
with
him
;
why
,
I
ca
n't
conceive
.
For
if
driven
by
dire
compulsion
of
fate
,
to
bend
one
's
thoughts
upon
some
prosaic
example
of
that
prosaic
sex
,
why
not
choose
one
of
the
many
far
more
attractive
candidates
available
—
the
Gordons
,
the
McKenzies
,
and
so
forth
?
When
I
go
to
tennis
parties
with
mother
—
they
are
still
playing
upon
the
asphalte
courts
—
and
see
the
little
dramas
that
go
on
,
the
jealousies
and
excitements
,
and
general
much-ado-about-nothing
,
I
can
scarcely
believe
that
Miss
Du
Prel
really
belongs
to
the
same
planet
as
ours
.
But
I
do
n't
feel
so
contemptuous
as
I
did
;
it
is
so
pitiful
.
Out
of
my
great
wealth
I
can
afford
to
be
more
generous
.
“
And
when
I
see
those
wretched
girls
fluttering
round
Mr.
Wilkins
,
I
no
longer
turn
up
my
‘aughty
nose’
(
as
old
Mrs.
Brooks
used
to
say
)
.
I
only
think
to
myself
,
‘Heavens
and
earth
!
what
an
aching
,
empty
life
those
young
women
must
lead
,
if
they
are
actually
reduced
for
interest
and
amusement
to
the
utterances
of
Mr.
Wilkins
!
’
They
would
have
the
pull
of
one
though
,
if
the
utterances
of
Mr.
Wilkins
were
the
only
utterances
to
be
heard
!
Perish
the
thought
of
such
beggary
!
”
The
talks
with
Valeria
Du
Prel
grew
more
intimate
,
and
more
deeply
interesting
to
Hadria
,
every
day
.
Miss
Du
Prel
used
often
to
look
at
her
companion
in
amazement
.
“
Where
did
you
come
from
?
”
she
exclaimed
on
one
occasion
.
“
One
would
suppose
you
had
lived
several
lives
;
you
seem
to
know
things
in
such
a
subtle
,
intimate
fashion
!
”
She
used
to
ponder
over
the
problem
,
wondering
what
Professor
Fortescue
would
say
to
it
.
There
appeared
to
be
more
here
than
mere
heredity
could
account
for
.
But
science
had
never
solved
this
problem
;
originality
seemed
always
to
enter
upon
its
career
,
uncaused
and
unaccountable
.
It
was
ever
a
miraculous
phenomenon
.
The
Professor
had
always
said
so
.
Still
the
heritage
was
rich
enough
,
in
this
case
.
Heredity
might
have
some
discoverable
part
in
the
apparent
marvel
.
Each
member
of
the
Fullerton
family
had
unusual
ability
of
some
kind
.
Their
knowledge
of
science
,
and
their
familiarity
with
the
problems
of
philosophy
,
had
often
astonished
Miss
Du
Prel
.
Hadria
's
accounts
of
the
Preposterous
Society
made
her
laugh
and
exclaim
at
the
same
moment
.
She
gave
an
envious
sigh
at
the
picture
of
the
eager
little
group
,
with
their
warmth
of
affection
for
one
another
,
and
their
vivid
interests
.
Miss
Du
Prel
,
with
all
her
sadness
,
was
youthful
in
spirit
.
Hadria
found
her
far
younger
than
many
girls
of
her
own
age
.
This
set
her
thinking
.
She
observed
how
rigid
most
people
become
in
a
few
years
,
and
how
the
personality
grows
wooden
,
in
the
daily
repetition
of
the
same
actions
and
the
same
ideas
.
This
stiffening
process
had
been
attributed
to
the
malice
of
Time
;
but
now
Hadria
began
to
believe
that
narrow
and
ungenerous
thought
lay
at
the
root
of
the
calamity
.
The
entire
life
of
the
little
world
in
which
she
had
grown
up
,
on
all
its
sides
,
in
all
its
ideals
and
sentiments
,
stood
before
her
,
as
if
some
great
painter
had
made
a
picture
of
it
.
She
had
never
before
been
able
to
stand
so
completely
apart
from
the
surroundings
of
her
childhood
.
And
she
was
able
to
do
so
now
,
not
because
Miss
Du
Prel
discoursed
about
it
,
but
because
Hadria
's
point
of
view
had
shifted
sympathetically
to
the
point
of
view
of
her
companion
,
through
the
instinctive
desire
to
see
how
these
familiar
things
would
look
to
alien
eyes
.
That
which
had
seemed
merely
prosaic
and
dreary
,
became
characteristic
;
the
very
things
which
she
had
taken
most
for
granted
were
exactly
those
which
turned
out
to
be
the
significant
and
idiomatic
facts
.
These
had
made
permanent
inroads
into
the
mind
and
character
.
It
was
with
these
that
Hadria
would
have
to
reckon
all
her
days
,
under
whatever
conditions
she
might
hereafter
be
placed
.
Daily
surroundings
were
not
merely
pleasant
or
unpleasant
facts
,
otherwise
of
no
importance
;
they
were
the
very
material
and
substance
of
character
;
the
push
and
impetus
,
or
the
let
and
hindrance
;
the
guardians
or
the
assassins
of
the
soul
.
CHAPTER
VII
.
MISS
DU
PREL
had
promised
to
allow
Hadria
to
drive
her
to
Darachanarvan
,
a
little
town
on
the
banks
of
the
river
,
about
seven
miles
across
country
.
Hadria
was
in
high
spirits
,
as
they
trundled
along
the
white
roads
with
the
wind
in
their
faces
,
the
hills
and
the
blue
sky
spread
out
before
them
,
the
pleasant
sound
of
the
wheels
and
the
trotting
of
the
pony
setting
their
thoughts
to
rhythm
.
The
trees
were
all
shedding
their
last
yellow
leaves
,
and
the
air
was
full
of
those
faded
memories
of
better
days
,
whirling
in
wild
companies
across
the
road
,
rushing
upward
on
the
breast
of
some
vagabond
gust
,
drifting
,
spinning
,
shuddering
along
the
roadside
,
to
lie
there
at
last
,
quiet
,
among
a
host
of
brothers
,
with
little
passing
tremors
,
as
if
(
said
Valeria
)
they
were
silently
sobbing
because
of
their
banishment
from
their
kingdom
of
the
air
.
Miss
Du
Prel
,
though
she
enjoyed
the
beauty
of
the
day
and
the
scenery
,
seemed
sad
of
mood
.
“
This
weather
recalls
so
many
autumns
,
”
she
said
.
“
It
reminds
me
too
vividly
of
wonderful
days
,
whose
like
I
shall
never
see
again
,
and
friends
,
many
of
whom
are
dead
,
and
many
lost
sight
of
in
this
inexorable
coming
and
going
of
people
and
things
,
this
inexorable
change
that
goes
on
for
ever
.
I
feel
as
if
I
should
go
mad
at
times
,
because
it
will
not
stop
,
either
in
myself
or
others
.
”
“
Ah
,
that
is
a
dreadful
thought
!
”
“
It
comes
to
me
so
insistently
,
perhaps
,
because
of
my
roving
life
,
”
she
said
.
She
paused
for
a
moment
,
and
then
she
fell
into
one
of
her
exalted
moods
,
when
she
seemed
to
lose
consciousness
of
the
ordinary
conditions
around
her
,
or
rather
to
pierce
deeper
into
their
significance
and
beauty
.
Her
speech
would
,
at
such
times
,
become
rhythmic
and
picturesque
;
she
evidently
saw
vivid
images
before
her
,
in
which
her
ideas
embodied
themselves
.
“
Most
people
who
live
always
in
one
place
see
the
changes
creeping
on
so
gradually
that
they
scarcely
feel
them
,
but
with
me
this
universal
flux
displays
itself
pitilessly
,
I
cannot
escape
.
Go
where
I
will
,
there
is
something
to
measure
the
changes
by
.
A
shoal
of
yellow
leaves
whispers
to
me
of
seasons
long
ago
,
and
the
old
past
days
,
with
their
own
intimate
character
that
nothing
ever
repeats
,
flash
before
me
again
with
the
vividness
of
yesterday
;
and
a
flight
of
birds
—
ah
!
if
I
could
express
what
they
recall
!
The
dead
years
pass
again
in
a
great
procession
,
a
motley
company
—
some
like
emperors
,
crowned
and
richly
dowered
,
with
the
sound
of
trumpets
and
the
tramping
of
many
obsequious
feet
;
and
others
like
beggars
,
despoiled
and
hungry
,
trudging
along
a
dusty
high
road
,
or
like
grey
pilgrims
bound
,
with
bleeding
feet
,
for
a
far-off
shrine
.
”
They
entered
a
little
beech-wood
,
whose
leaves
made
a
light
of
their
own
,
strange
and
mystical
.
“
Yours
must
have
been
a
wonderful
life
!
”
said
Hadria
.
“
Yes
,
I
have
seen
and
felt
many
things
,
”
answered
Miss
Du
Prel
,
stirred
by
the
intoxication
of
the
motion
and
the
wind
and
the
sunlight
,
“
life
has
been
to
me
a
series
of
intense
emotions
,
as
it
will
be
to
you
,
I
fear
—
”
“
You
fear
?
”
said
Hadria
.
“
Yes
;
for
that
means
suffering
.
If
you
feel
,
you
are
at
the
mercy
of
all
things
.
Every
wind
that
blows
uses
you
as
an
Æolian
harp
.
”
“
That
must
be
charming
,
at
least
for
those
who
live
in
your
neighbourhood
,
”
said
Hadria
.
“
No
;
for
often
the
harp
rings
false
.
Its
strings
get
loosened
;
one
hangs
slack
and
jars
,
and
where
then
is
your
harmony
?
”
“
One
would
run
the
risk
of
many
things
rather
than
let
one
's
strings
lie
dumb
,
”
said
Hadria
.
“
What
a
dangerous
temperament
you
have
!
”
cried
Valeria
,
looking
round
at
the
glowing
face
beside
her
.
“
I
must
take
my
risks
,
”
said
Hadria
.
“
I
doubt
if
you
know
what
risks
there
are
.
”
“
Then
I
must
find
out
,
”
she
answered
.
“
One
plays
with
fire
so
recklessly
before
one
has
been
burnt
.
”
Hadria
was
silent
.
The
words
sounded
ominous
.
“
Will
can
do
so
much
,
”
she
said
at
length
.
“
Do
you
believe
in
the
power
of
the
human
will
to
break
the
back
of
circumstance
?
”
“
Oh
,
yes
;
but
the
effort
expended
in
breaking
its
back
sometimes
leaves
one
prone
,
with
a
victory
that
arrives
ironically
too
late
.
However
I
do
n't
wish
to
discourage
you
.
There
is
no
doubt
that
human
will
has
triumphed
over
everything
—
but
death
.
”
Again
the
sound
of
the
pony
's
hoofs
sounded
through
the
silence
,
in
a
cheerful
trot
upon
the
white
roads
.
They
were
traversing
an
open
,
breezy
country
,
chequered
with
wooded
hollows
,
where
generally
a
village
sought
shelter
from
the
winds
.
And
these
patches
of
foliage
were
golden
and
red
in
the
meditative
autumn
sunshine
,
which
seemed
as
if
it
were
a
little
sad
at
the
thought
of
parting
with
the
old
earth
for
the
coming
winter
.
“
I
think
the
impossible
lesson
to
learn
would
be
renouncement
,
”
said
Hadria
.
“
I
cannot
conceive
how
anyone
could
say
to
himself
,
while
he
had
longings
and
life
still
in
him
,
‘I
will
give
up
this
that
I
might
have
learnt
;
I
will
stop
short
here
where
I
might
press
forward
;
I
will
allow
this
or
that
to
curtail
me
and
rob
me
of
my
possible
experience.’
”
“
Well
,
I
confess
that
has
been
my
feeling
too
,
though
I
admire
the
spirit
that
can
renounce
.
”
“
Admire
?
Oh
,
yes
,
perhaps
;
though
I
am
not
so
sure
that
the
submissive
nature
has
not
been
too
much
glorified
—
in
theory
.
Nobody
pays
much
attention
to
it
in
practice
,
by
the
way
.
”
Miss
Du
Prel
laughed
.
“
What
an
observant
young
woman
you
are
.
”
“
Renunciation
is
always
preached
to
girls
,
you
know
,
”
said
Hadria
—
“
preached
to
them
when
as
yet
they
have
nothing
more
than
a
rattle
and
a
rag-doll
to
renounce
.
And
later
,
when
they
set
about
the
business
of
their
life
,
and
resign
their
liberty
,
their
talents
,
their
health
,
their
opportunity
,
their
beauty
(
if
they
have
it
)
,
then
people
gradually
fall
away
from
the
despoiled
and
obedient
being
,
and
flock
round
the
still
unchastened
creature
who
retains
what
the
gods
have
given
her
,
and
asks
for
more
.
”
“
I
fear
you
are
indeed
a
still
unchastened
creature
!
”
“
Certainly
;
there
is
no
encouragement
to
chasten
oneself
.
People
do
n't
stand
by
the
docile
members
of
Society
.
They
commend
their
saints
,
but
they
drink
to
their
sinners
.
”
Miss
Du
Prel
smiled
.
“
It
is
true
,
”
she
admitted
.
“
A
woman
must
not
renounce
too
much
if
she
desires
to
retain
her
influence
.
”
“
Pas
trop
de
zèle
,
”
Hadria
quoted
.
“
There
is
something
truly
unmanageable
about
you
,
my
dear
!
”
cried
Valeria
,
much
amused
.
“
Well
,
I
too
have
had
just
that
sort
of
instinct
,
just
that
imperious
demand
,
just
that
impatience
of
restraint
.
I
too
regarded
myself
and
my
powers
as
mine
to
use
as
I
would
,
responsible
only
to
my
own
conscience
.
I
decided
to
have
freedom
though
the
heavens
should
fall
.
I
was
unfitted
by
temperament
to
face
the
world
,
but
I
was
equally
unfitted
to
pay
the
price
for
protection
—
the
blackmail
that
society
levies
on
a
woman
:
surrender
of
body
and
of
soul
.
What
could
one
expect
,
in
such
a
case
,
but
disaster
?
I
often
envy
now
the
simple-minded
woman
who
pays
her
price
and
has
her
reward
—
such
as
it
is
.
”
“
Ah
!
such
as
it
is
!
”
echoed
Hadria
.
“
Who
was
it
said
,
the
other
day
,
that
she
thought
a
wise
woman
always
took
things
as
they
were
,
and
made
the
best
of
them
?
”
“
Some
dull
spirit
.
”
“
And
yet
a
practical
spirit
.
”
“
I
am
quite
sure
,
”
said
Hadria
,
“
that
the
stokers
of
hell
are
practical
spirits
.
”
“
Your
mother
must
have
had
her
work
cut
out
for
her
when
she
undertook
to
bring
you
up
,
”
exclaimed
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
So
she
always
insinuates
,
”
replied
Hadria
demurely
.
They
were
spinning
down
hill
now
,
into
a
warm
bit
of
country
watered
by
the
river
,
and
Hadria
drew
rein
.
The
spot
was
so
pleasant
that
they
alighted
,
tied
the
pony
to
a
tree
,
and
wandered
over
the
grass
to
the
river
's
edge
.
Hadria
picked
her
way
from
stone
to
slippery
stone
,
into
the
middle
of
the
river
,
where
there
was
comparatively
safe
standing
room
.
Here
she
was
suddenly
inspired
to
execute
the
steps
of
a
reel
,
while
Valeria
stood
dismayed
on
the
bank
,
expecting
every
moment
,
to
see
the
dance
end
in
the
realms
of
the
trout
.
But
Hadria
kept
her
footing
,
and
continued
to
step
it
with
much
solemnity
.
Meanwhile
,
two
young
men
on
horseback
were
coming
down
the
road
;
but
as
a
group
of
trees
hid
it
from
the
river
at
this
point
,
they
were
not
noticed
.
The
horsemen
stopped
suddenly
when
they
cleared
the
group
of
trees
.
The
figure
of
a
young
woman
in
mid-stream
,
dancing
a
reel
with
extreme
energy
and
correctness
,
and
without
a
smile
,
was
sufficiently
surprising
to
arrest
them
.
“
As
I
thought
,
”
exclaimed
Hadria
,
“
it
is
Harold
Wilkins
!
”
“
I
shall
be
glad
to
see
this
conquering
hero
,
”
said
Valeria
.
Hadria
,
who
had
known
the
young
man
since
her
childhood
,
waited
calmly
as
he
turned
his
horse
's
head
towards
the
river
,
and
advanced
across
the
grass
,
raising
his
hat
.
“
Good
morning
,
Miss
Fullerton
.
”
“
Good
morning
,
”
Hadria
returned
,
from
her
rock
.
“
You
seem
to
be
having
rather
an
agreeable
time
of
it
.
”
“
Very
.
Are
you
fond
of
dancing
?
”
Mr.
Wilkins
was
noted
,
far
and
wide
,
for
his
dancing
,
and
the
question
was
wounding
.
He
was
tall
and
loosely
built
,
with
brown
expressionless
eyes
,
dark
hair
,
a
pink
complexion
,
shelving
forehead
,
and
a
weak
yet
obstinate
mouth
.
His
companion
also
was
tall
and
dark
,
but
his
face
was
pale
,
his
forehead
broad
and
high
,
and
a
black
moustache
covered
his
upper
lip
.
He
had
raised
his
hat
gracefully
on
finding
that
the
dancer
in
mid-stream
was
an
acquaintance
of
his
companion
,
and
he
shewed
great
self-possession
in
appearing
to
regard
the
dancing
of
reels
in
these
circumstances
,
as
an
incident
that
might
naturally
be
expected
.
Not
a
sign
of
surprise
betrayed
itself
in
the
face
,
not
even
a
glimmer
of
curiosity
.
Hadria
was
so
tickled
by
this
finished
behaviour
under
difficulties
,
that
she
took
her
cue
from
it
,
and
decided
to
treat
the
matter
in
the
same
polished
spirit
.
She
too
would
take
it
all
decorously
for
granted
.
Mr.
Wilkins
introduced
his
friend
:
Mr.
Hubert
Temperley
.
Hadria
bowed
gracefully
in
reply
to
Mr.
Temperley
's
salute
.
“
Do
n't
you
feel
a
little
cramped
out
there
?
”
asked
Mr.
Wilkins
.
“
Dear
me
,
no
,
”
cried
Hadria
in
mock
surprise
.
“
What
could
induce
you
to
suppose
I
would
come
out
here
if
I
felt
cramped
?
”
“
Are
you
—
are
you
thinking
of
coming
on
shore
?
Can
I
help
you
?
”
“
Thank
you
,
”
replied
Hadria
.
“
This
is
a
merely
temporary
resting-place
.
We
ought
to
be
getting
on
;
we
have
some
miles
yet
to
drive
,
”
and
she
hurried
her
friend
away
.
They
were
conducted
to
the
pony-cart
by
the
cavaliers
,
who
raised
their
hats
,
as
the
ladies
drove
off
at
a
merry
pace
,
bowing
their
farewells
.
“
The
eternal
riddle
!
”
Temperley
exclaimed
,
as
they
turned
the
corner
of
the
road
.
“
What
is
the
eternal
riddle
?
”
Harold
Wilkins
enquired
.
“
Woman
,
woman
!
”
Temperley
replied
,
a
little
impatiently
.
He
had
not
found
young
Wilkins
quick
to
catch
his
meaning
during
the
two
hours
'
ride
,
and
it
occurred
to
him
that
Miss
Fullerton
would
have
been
a
more
interesting
companion
.
He
made
a
good
many
enquiries
about
her
and
her
family
,
on
the
way
back
to
Drumgarren
.
“
We
are
inviited
to
tennis
at
their
house
,
for
next
Tuesday
,
”
said
Harold
,
“
so
you
will
have
a
chance
of
pursuing
the
acquaintance
.
For
my
part
,
I
do
n't
admire
that
sort
of
girl
.
”
“
Do
n't
you
?
I
am
attracted
by
originality
.
I
like
a
woman
to
have
something
in
her
.
”
“
Depends
on
what
it
is
.
I
hate
a
girl
to
have
a
lot
of
silly
ideas
.
”
“
Perhaps
you
prefer
her
to
have
but
one
,
”
said
Temperley
,
“
that
one
being
that
Mr.
Harold
Wilkins
is
a
charming
fellow
.
”
“
Nothing
of
the
kind
,
”
cried
Harold
.
“
I
ca
n't
help
it
if
girls
run
after
me
;
it
's
a
great
bore
.
”
Temperley
laughed
.
“
You
,
like
Achilles
,
are
pursued
by
ten
thousand
girls
.
I
deeply
sympathize
,
though
it
is
not
an
inconvenience
that
has
troubled
me
,
even
in
my
palmiest
days
.
”
“
Why
,
how
old
are
you
?
Surely
you
are
not
going
to
talk
as
if
those
days
were
over
?
”
“
Oh
,
I
am
moderately
palmly
still
!
”
Temperley
admitted
.
“
Still
,
the
hour
approaches
when
the
assaults
of
time
will
become
more
disastrous
.
”
“
You
and
Hadria
Fullerton
ought
to
get
on
well
together
,
for
she
is
very
musical
,
”
said
Harold
Wilkins
.
“
Ah
!
”
cried
Temperley
with
new
interest
.
“
I
could
have
almost
told
that
from
her
face
.
Does
she
play
well
?
”
“
Well
,
I
suppose
so
.
She
plays
things
without
any
tune
that
bore
one
to
death
,
but
I
daresay
you
would
admire
it
.
She
composes
too
,
I
am
told
.
”
“
Really
?
Dear
me
,
I
must
make
a
point
of
having
a
talk
with
her
,
on
the
earliest
opportunity
.
”
Meanwhile
,
the
occupants
of
the
pony-cart
had
arrived
at
Darachanarvan
,
where
they
were
to
put
up
the
pony
and
have
luncheon
.
It
was
a
prosaic
little
Scottish
town
,
with
only
a
beautiful
survival
,
here
and
there
,
from
the
past
.
After
luncheon
,
they
wandered
down
to
the
banks
of
the
river
,
and
watched
the
trout
and
the
running
water
.
Hadria
had
long
been
wishing
to
find
out
what
her
oracle
thought
about
certain
burning
questions
on
which
the
sisters
held
such
strong
,
and
such
unpopular
sentiments
,
but
just
because
the
feeling
was
so
keen
,
it
was
difficult
to
broach
the
subject
.
An
opportunity
came
when
Miss
Du
Prel
spoke
of
her
past
.
Hadria
was
able
to
read
between
the
lines
.
When
a
mere
girl
,
Miss
Du
Prel
had
been
thrown
on
the
world
—
brilliant
,
handsome
,
impulsive
,
generous
—
to
pass
through
a
fiery
ordeal
,
and
to
emerge
with
aspirations
as
high
as
ever
,
but
with
her
radiant
hopes
burnt
out
.
But
she
did
not
dwell
on
this
side
of
the
picture
;
she
emphasized
rather
,
the
possibility
of
holding
on
through
storm
and
stress
to
the
truth
that
is
born
in
one
;
to
belief
in
“
the
noblest
and
wildest
hopes
(
if
you
like
to
call
them
so
)
that
ever
thrilled
generous
hearts
.
”
But
she
gave
no
encouragement
to
certain
of
her
companion
's
most
vehement
sentiments
.
She
seemed
to
yearn
for
exactly
that
side
of
life
from
which
the
younger
shrank
with
so
much
horror
.
She
saw
it
under
an
entirely
different
aspect
.
Hadria
felt
thrown
back
on
herself
,
lonely
once
more
.
“
You
have
seen
Mrs.
Gordon
,
”
she
said
at
length
,
“
what
do
you
think
of
her
?
”
“
Nothing
;
she
does
not
inspire
thought
.
”
“
Yet
once
she
was
a
person
,
not
a
thing
.
”
“
,
If
a
woman
ca
n't
keep
her
head
above
water
in
Mrs.
Gordon
's
position
,
she
must
be
a
feeble
sort
of
person
.
”
“
I
should
not
dare
to
say
that
,
until
I
had
been
put
through
the
mill
myself
,
and
come
out
unpulverised
.
”
Miss
Du
Prel
failed
to
see
what
there
was
so
very
dreadful
in
Mrs.
Gordon
's
lot
.
She
had
,
perhaps
,
rather
more
children
than
was
necessary
,
but
otherwise
—
“
Oh
,
Miss
Du
Prel
,
”
cried
Hadria
,
“
you
might
be
a
mere
man
!
That
is
just
what
my
brothers
say
.
”
“
I
do
n't
understand
what
you
mean
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
Do
explain
.
”
“
Do
you
actually
—
you
of
all
people
—
not
recognize
and
hate
the
idea
that
lies
so
obviously
at
the
root
of
all
the
life
that
is
swarming
round
us
—
?
”
Valeria
studied
her
companion
's
excited
face
.
“
Are
you
in
revolt
against
the
very
basis
of
existence
?
”
she
asked
curiously
.
“
No
:
at
least
...
but
this
is
not
what
I
am
driving
at
exactly
,
”
replied
Hadria
,
turning
uneasily
away
from
the
close
scrutiny
.
“
Do
n't
you
know
—
oh
,
do
n't
you
see
—
how
many
women
secretly
hate
,
and
shrink
from
this
brutal
domestic
idea
that
fashions
their
fate
for
them
?
”
Miss
Du
Prel
's
interest
quickened
.
“
Nothing
strikes
me
so
much
as
the
tamely
acquiescent
spirit
of
the
average
woman
,
and
I
doubt
if
you
would
find
another
woman
in
England
to
describe
the
domestic
existence
as
you
do
.
”
“
Perhaps
not
;
tradition
prevents
them
from
using
bad
language
,
but
they
feel
,
they
feel
.
”
“
Young
girls
perhaps
,
brought
up
very
ignorantly
,
find
life
a
little
scaring
at
first
,
but
they
soon
settle
down
into
happy
wives
and
mothers
.
”
“
As
the
fibre
grows
coarser
,
”
assented
Hadria
.
“
No
;
as
the
affections
awaken
,
and
the
instincts
that
hold
society
together
,
come
into
play
.
I
have
revolted
myself
from
the
conditions
of
life
,
but
it
is
a
hopeless
business
—
beating
one
's
wings
against
the
bars
.
”
“
The
bars
are
,
half
of
them
,
of
human
construction
,
”
said
Hadria
,
“
and
against
those
one
may
surely
be
allowed
to
beat
.
”
“
Of
human
construction
?
”
“
I
mean
that
prejudice
,
rather
than
instinct
,
has
built
up
the
system
that
Mrs.
Gordon
so
amiably
represents
.
”
“
Prejudice
has
perhaps
taken
advantage
of
instinct
to
establish
a
somewhat
tyrannical
tradition
,
”
Miss
Du
Prel
admitted
,
“
but
instinct
is
at
the
bottom
of
it
.
There
is
,
of
course
,
in
our
society
,
no
latitude
for
variety
of
type
;
that
is
the
fault
of
so
many
institutions
.
”
“
The
ordinary
domestic
idea
may
have
been
suitable
when
women
were
emerging
from
the
condition
of
simple
animals
,
”
said
Hadria
,
“
but
now
it
seems
to
me
to
be
out
of
date
.
”
“
It
can
never
be
entirely
out
of
date
,
dear
Hadria
.
Nature
has
asked
of
women
a
great
and
hard
service
,
but
she
has
given
them
the
maternal
instinct
and
its
joys
,
in
compensation
for
the
burden
of
this
task
,
which
would
otherwise
be
intolerable
and
impossible
.
It
can
only
be
undertaken
at
the
instigation
of
some
stupendous
impetus
,
that
blinds
the
victim
to
the
nature
of
her
mission
.
It
must
be
a
sort
of
obsession
;
an
intense
personal
instinct
,
amounting
to
madness
.
Nature
,
being
determined
to
be
well
served
in
this
direction
,
has
supplied
the
necessary
monomania
,
and
the
domestic
idea
,
as
you
call
it
,
grows
up
round
this
central
fact
.
”
Hadria
moved
restlessly
to
and
fro
by
the
river
bank
.
“
One
presumes
to
look
upon
oneself
,
at
first
—
in
one
's
earliest
youth
,
”
she
said
,
“
as
undoubtedly
human
,
with
human
needs
and
rights
and
dignities
.
But
this
turns
out
to
be
an
illusion
.
It
is
as
an
animal
that
one
has
to
play
the
really
important
part
in
life
;
it
is
by
submitting
to
the
demands
of
society
,
in
this
respect
,
that
one
wins
rewards
and
commendation
.
Of
course
,
if
one
likes
to
throw
in
a
few
ornamental
extras
,
so
much
the
better
;
it
keeps
up
appearances
and
the
aspect
of
refined
sentiment
—
but
the
main
point
—
”
“
You
are
extravagant
!
”
cried
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
That
is
not
the
right
way
to
look
at
it
.
”
“
It
is
certainly
not
the
convenient
way
to
look
at
it
.
It
is
doubtless
wise
to
weave
as
many
garlands
as
you
can
,
to
deck
yourself
for
the
sacrifice
.
By
that
means
,
you
do
n't
quite
see
which
way
you
are
going
,
because
of
the
masses
of
elegant
vegetation
.
”
“
Ah
!
Hadria
,
you
exaggerate
,
you
distort
;
you
forget
so
many
things
—
the
sentiments
,
the
affections
,
the
thousand
details
that
hallow
that
crude
foundation
which
you
see
only
bare
and
unsoftened
.
”
“
A
repulsive
object
tastefully
decorated
,
is
to
me
only
the
more
repulsive
,
”
returned
Hadria
,
with
suppressed
passion
.
“
There
will
come
a
day
when
you
will
feel
very
differently
,
”
prophesied
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
Perhaps
.
Why
should
I
,
more
than
the
others
,
remain
uninfluenced
by
the
usual
processes
of
blunting
,
and
grinding
down
,
and
stupefying
,
till
one
grows
accustomed
to
one
's
function
,
one
's
intolerable
function
?
”
“
My
dear
,
my
dear
!
”
“
I
am
sorry
if
I
shock
you
,
but
that
is
how
I
feel
.
I
have
seen
this
sort
of
traditional
existence
and
nothing
else
,
all
my
life
,
and
I
have
been
brought
up
to
it
,
with
the
rest
—
prepared
and
decked
out
like
some
animal
for
market
—
all
in
the
most
refined
and
graceful
manner
possible
;
but
how
can
one
help
seeing
through
the
disguise
;
how
can
one
be
blind
to
the
real
nature
of
the
transaction
,
and
to
the
fate
that
awaits
one
—
awaits
one
as
inexorably
as
death
,
unless
by
some
force
of
one
's
own
,
with
all
the
world
—
friends
and
enemies
—
in
opposition
,
one
can
avert
it
?
”
Miss
Du
Prel
remained
silent
.
“
You
can
avert
it
,
”
she
said
at
last
;
“
but
at
what
cost
?
”
“
Miss
Du
Prel
,
I
would
rather
sweep
a
crossing
,
I
would
rather
beg
in
the
streets
,
than
submit
to
the
indignity
of
such
a
life
!
”
“
Then
what
do
you
intend
to
do
instead
?
”
“
Ah
!
there
's
the
difficulty
.
What
can
one
do
instead
,
without
breaking
somebody
's
heart
?
Nothing
,
except
breaking
one
's
own
.
And
even
putting
that
difficulty
aside
,
it
seems
as
if
everyone
's
hand
were
against
a
woman
who
refuses
the
path
that
has
been
marked
out
for
her
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
it
is
not
so
bad
as
that
.
There
are
many
openings
now
for
women
.
”
“
But
,
”
said
Hadria
,
“
as
far
as
I
can
gather
,
ordinary
ability
is
not
sufficient
to
enable
them
to
make
a
scanty
living
.
The
talent
that
would
take
a
man
to
the
top
of
the
tree
is
required
to
keep
a
woman
in
a
meagre
supply
of
bread
and
butter
.
”
“
Allowing
for
exaggeration
,
that
is
more
or
less
the
case
,
”
Miss
Du
Prel
admitted
.
“
I
have
revolted
against
the
common
lot
,
”
she
went
on
after
a
pause
,
“
and
you
see
what
comes
of
it
;
I
am
alone
in
the
world
.
One
does
not
think
of
that
when
one
is
quite
young
.
”
“
Would
you
rather
be
in
Mrs.
Gordon
's
position
than
in
your
own
?
”
“
I
doubt
not
that
she
is
happier
.
”
“
But
would
you
change
with
her
,
surrendering
all
that
she
has
surrendered
?
”
“
Yes
,
if
I
were
of
her
temperament
.
”
“
Ah
!
you
always
evade
the
question
.
Remaining
yourself
,
would
you
change
with
her
?
”
“
I
would
never
have
allowed
my
life
to
grow
like
hers
.
”
“
No
,
”
said
Hadria
,
laughing
,
“
you
would
probably
have
run
away
or
killed
yourself
or
somebody
,
long
before
this
.
”
Miss
Du
Prel
could
not
honestly
deny
this
possibility
.
After
a
pause
she
said
:
“
A
woman
cannot
afford
to
despise
the
dictates
of
Nature
.
She
may
escape
certain
troubles
in
that
way
;
but
Nature
is
not
to
be
cheated
,
she
makes
her
victim
pay
her
debt
in
another
fashion
.
There
is
no
escape
.
The
centuries
are
behind
one
,
with
all
their
weight
of
heredity
and
habit
;
the
order
of
society
adds
its
pressure
—
one
's
own
emotional
needs
.
Ah
,
no
!
it
does
not
answer
to
pit
oneself
against
one
's
race
,
to
bid
defiance
to
the
fundamental
laws
of
life
.
”
“
Such
then
are
the
alternatives
,
”
said
Hadria
,
moving
close
to
the
river
's
brink
,
and
casting
two
big
stones
into
the
current
.
“
There
stand
the
devil
and
the
deep
sea
.
”
“
You
are
too
young
to
have
come
to
that
sad
conclusion
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
But
I
have
n't
,
”
cried
Hadria
.
“
I
still
believe
in
revolt
.
”
The
other
shook
her
head
.
“
And
what
about
love
?
Are
you
going
through
life
without
the
one
thing
that
makes
it
bearable
?
“
I
would
not
purchase
it
at
such
a
cost
.
If
I
ca
n't
have
it
without
despoiling
myself
of
everything
that
is
worth
possessing
,
I
prefer
to
go
without
.
”
“
You
do
n't
know
what
you
say
!
”
exclaimed
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
But
why
?
Love
would
be
ruined
and
desecrated
.
I
understand
by
it
a
sympathy
so
perfect
,
and
a
reverence
so
complete
,
that
the
conditions
of
ordinary
domestic
existence
would
be
impossible
,
unthinkable
,
in
connection
with
it
.
”
“
So
do
I
understand
love
.
But
it
comes
,
perhaps
,
once
in
a
century
,
and
if
one
is
too
fastidious
,
it
passes
by
and
leaves
one
forlorn
:
at
best
,
it
comes
only
to
open
the
gates
of
Paradise
,
for
a
moment
,
and
to
close
them
again
,
and
leave
one
in
outer
darkness
.
”
“
Always
?
”
“
I
believe
always
,
”
answered
Miss
Du
Prel
.
The
running
of
the
river
sounded
peacefully
in
the
pause
that
followed
.
“
Well
,
”
cried
Hadria
at
length
,
raising
her
head
with
a
long
sigh
,
“
one
cannot
do
better
than
follow
one
's
own
instinct
and
thought
of
the
moment
.
Regret
may
come
,
do
what
one
may
.
One
cannot
escape
from
one
's
own
temperament
.
”
“
One
can
modify
it
.
”
“
I
cannot
even
wish
to
modify
mine
,
so
that
I
should
become
amenable
to
these
social
demands
.
I
stand
in
hopeless
opposition
to
the
scheme
of
life
that
I
have
grown
up
amongst
,
to
the
universal
scheme
of
life
indeed
,
as
understood
by
the
world
up
to
this
day
.
Audacious
,
is
it
not
?
”
“
I
like
audacity
,
”
returned
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
As
I
understand
you
,
you
require
an
altogether
new
dispensation
!
”
Hadria
gave
a
half
smile
,
conscious
of
her
stupendous
demand
.
Then
she
said
,
with
a
peculiar
movement
of
the
head
,
as
if
throwing
off
a
heavy
weight
,
and
looking
before
her
steadily
:
“
Yes
,
I
require
a
new
dispensation
.
”
CHAPTER
VIII
.
HUBERT
TEMPERLEY
made
a
point
of
going
to
the
tennis-party
,
on
Tuesday
,
at
Dunaghee
,
in
order
to
talk
to
Miss
Fullerton
.
He
had
not
expected
to
find
original
musical
talent
in
this
out-of-the-way
place
.
Hadria
was
in
a
happy
mood
,
for
her
mother
had
so
far
overcome
her
prejudice
against
Miss
Du
Prel
,
as
to
ask
her
to
join
the
party
.
The
festivity
had
,
therefore
,
lost
its
usual
quality
of
melancholy
.
It
was
a
warm
afternoon
,
and
every
one
seemed
cheerful
“
and
almost
intelligent
,
”
Hadria
commented
.
The
first
words
that
Mr.
Temperley
uttered
,
made
her
turn
to
him
,
in
surprise
.
She
was
so
unaccustomed
to
be
interested
in
what
the
people
about
here
had
to
say
.
Even
intelligent
visitors
usually
adopted
the
tone
of
the
inhabitants
.
Hubert
Temperley
's
manner
was
very
polished
.
His
accent
denoted
mental
cultivation
.
He
spoke
with
eloquence
of
literature
,
and
praised
enthusiastically
most
great
names
dating
securely
from
the
hallowed
past
.
Of
modern
literature
he
was
a
stern
critic
;
of
music
he
spoke
with
ardour
.
“
I
hear
that
you
not
only
perform
but
compose
,
Miss
Fullerton
,
”
he
said
.
“
As
soon
as
I
heard
that
,
I
felt
that
I
must
make
your
acquaintance
.
My
friends
,
the
Gordons
,
are
very
charming
,
but
they
do
n't
understand
a
note
of
music
,
and
I
am
badly
off
for
a
kindred
spirit
.
”
“
My
composing
is
a
very
mild
affair
,
”
Hadria
answered
.
“
I
suppose
you
are
more
fortunate
.
”
“
Not
much
.
I
am
pretty
busy
you
see
.
I
have
my
profession
fession
.
I
play
a
good
deal
—
the
piano
and
the
'
cello
are
my
instruments
.
But
my
difficulty
is
to
find
someone
to
accompany
me
.
My
sister
does
when
she
can
,
but
of
course
with
a
house
and
family
to
look
after
—
I
am
sometimes
selfish
enough
to
wish
she
had
not
married
.
We
used
to
be
such
good
friends
.
”
“
Is
that
all
over
?
”
“
It
is
different
.
She
always
manages
to
be
busy
now
,
”
said
Temperley
in
a
slightly
ironical
tone
.
He
plunged
once
more
,
into
a
musical
discussion
.
Hadria
had
reluctantly
to
cut
it
short
,
in
order
to
arrange
tennis-matches
.
This
task
was
performed
as
usual
,
somewhat
recklessly
.
Polite
and
amiable
in
indiscriminate
fashion
,
Hadria
ignored
the
secret
jealousies
and
heart-burnings
of
the
neighbourhood
,
only
to
recognise
and
repent
her
mistakes
when
too
late
.
To-day
she
was
even
more
unchastened
than
usual
in
her
dealings
with
inflammable
social
material
.
“
Hadria
!
”
cried
Mrs.
Fullerton
,
taking
her
aside
,
“
How
could
you
ask
Cecilia
Gordon
to
play
with
young
McKenzie
?
You
know
their
families
are
not
on
speaking
terms
!
”
Everyone
,
except
the
culprit
,
had
remarked
the
haughty
manner
in
which
Cecilia
wielded
her
racket
,
and
the
gloomy
silence
in
which
the
set
was
played
.
Hadria
,
though
not
impenitent
,
laughed
.
“
How
does
Miss
Gordon
manage
to
be
energetic
and
chilling
at
the
same
time
!
”
she
exclaimed
.
The
Gordons
and
the
McKenzies
,
like
hostile
armies
,
looked
on
grimly
.
Everyone
felt
awkward
,
and
to
feel
awkward
was
nothing
less
than
tragic
,
in
the
eyes
of
the
assembly
.
“
Oh
,
Hadria
,
how
could
you
?
”
cried
Mrs.
Gordon
,
coming
up
in
her
elaborate
toilette
,
which
expressed
almost
as
much
of
the
character
of
its
wearer
as
was
indicated
by
her
thin
,
chattering
tones
,
and
unreposeful
manner
.
Her
mode
of
dress
was
rich
and
florid
—
very
obvious
in
its
effects
,
very
naïf
.
She
was
built
on
a
large
scale
,
and
might
have
been
graceful
,
had
not
her
mental
constitution
refused
to
permit
,
or
to
inspire
,
that
which
physical
construction
seemed
to
intend
.
She
distributed
smiles
on
all
hands
,
of
no
particular
meaning
.
Though
still
a
young
woman
,
she
looked
worn
and
wearied
.
However
,
her
rôle
was
cheerfulness
,
and
she
smiled
on
industriously
.
“
I
am
so
sorry
,
”
said
Hadria
,
“
the
quarrel
went
clean
out
of
my
head
.
They
are
so
well
matched
.
But
your
sister-in-law
will
never
forgive
me
.
”
“
Oh
,
well
,
never
mind
,
my
dear
;
it
is
your
way
,
I
know
.
Only
of
course
it
is
awkward
.
”
“
What
can
be
done
?
Shall
I
run
in
and
separate
them
?
”
“
Oh
,
Hadria
,
you
are
ridiculous
!
”
“
I
was
not
meant
for
society
,
”
she
said
,
in
a
depressed
tone
.
“
Oh
,
you
will
soon
get
into
the
way
of
it
,
”
cried
Mrs.
Gordon
encouragingly
.
“
I
am
afraid
I
shall
.
”
Mrs.
Gordon
stared
.
“
Mr.
Temperley
,
I
can
never
make
out
what
Miss
Fullerton
really
means
.
Do
see
if
you
can
.
”
“
How
could
I
expect
to
succeed
where
you
have
failed
?
”
“
Oh
,
you
men
are
so
much
cleverer
than
we
poor
women
,
”
cried
the
lady
archly
.
Temperley
was
obviously
of
the
same
opinion
.
But
he
found
some
appropriate
Chesterfieldian
reply
,
while
Hadria
,
to
his
annoyance
,
hurried
off
to
her
duties
,
full
of
good
resolutions
.
Having
introduced
a
couple
of
sisters
to
their
brother
,
she
grew
desperate
.
A
set
had
just
ended
,
and
the
sisters
were
asked
to
play
.
This
time
,
no
mistake
had
been
made
in
the
selection
of
partners
,
so
far
as
the
question
of
sentiment
was
concerned
,
but
they
were
fatally
ill-assorted
as
to
strength
.
However
,
Hadria
said
with
a
sigh
,
if
their
emotions
were
satisfied
,
it
was
really
all
they
could
expect
.
Considering
the
number
of
family
feuds
,
she
did
not
see
her
way
to
arranging
both
points
,
to
everyone
's
satisfaction
.
Hadria
was
surrounded
by
a
small
group
,
among
whom
were
Temperley
,
Harold
Wilkins
,
and
Mr.
Hawkesley
,
the
brother
who
had
been
introduced
to
his
sisters
.
“
How
very
handsome
Hadria
is
looking
this
afternoon
,
”
said
Mrs.
Gordon
,
“
and
how
becoming
that
dark
green
gown
is
.
”
Mrs.
Fullerton
smiled
.
“
Yes
,
she
does
look
her
best
to-day
.
I
think
she
has
been
improving
,
of
late
,
in
her
looks
.
”
“
That
's
just
what
we
have
all
noticed
.
There
is
so
much
animation
in
her
face
;
she
is
such
a
sweet
girl
.
”
Miss
Du
Prel
,
who
was
not
of
the
stuff
that
martyrs
are
made
of
,
muttered
something
incoherent
and
deserted
her
neighbour
.
She
came
up
to
the
group
that
had
gathered
round
Hadria
.
“
Ah
,
Miss
Du
Prel
,
”
cried
the
latter
,
“
I
am
so
glad
to
see
you
at
large
again
.
I
was
afraid
you
were
getting
bored
.
”
“
I
was
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
frankly
,
“
so
I
came
away
.
”
The
young
men
laughed
.
“
If
only
everybody
could
go
away
when
he
was
bored
,
”
cried
Hadria
,
“
how
peaceful
it
would
be
,
and
what
small
tennis-parties
one
would
have
!
”
“
Always
excepting
tennis-parties
at
this
house
,
”
said
Hubert
Temperley
.
“
I
do
n't
think
any
house
would
survive
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
If
people
do
not
meet
to
exchange
ideas
,
I
ca
n't
see
the
object
of
their
meeting
at
all
.
”
“
What
a
revolutionary
sentiment
!
”
cried
Temperley
,
laughing
.
“
Where
would
society
be
,
on
that
principle
?
”
Hadria
was
called
away
,
at
that
moment
,
and
the
group
politely
wavered
between
duty
and
inclination
.
Temperley
and
Miss
Du
Prel
strolled
off
together
,
his
vast
height
bent
deferentially
towards
her
.
This
air
of
deference
proved
somewhat
superficial
.
Miss
Du
Prel
found
that
his
opinions
were
of
an
immovable
order
,
with
very
defined
edges
.
In
some
indescribable
fashion
,
those
opinions
partook
of
the
general
elegance
of
his
being
.
Not
for
worlds
would
he
have
harboured
an
exaggerated
or
immoderate
idea
.
In
politics
he
was
conservative
,
but
he
did
not
abuse
his
opponents
.
He
smiled
at
them
:
he
saw
no
reason
for
supposing
that
they
did
not
mean
quite
as
well
as
he
did
,
possibly
better
.
What
he
did
see
reason
to
doubt
,
was
their
judgment
.
His
tolerance
was
urbane
and
superior
.
On
all
questions
,
however
,
whether
he
knew
much
about
them
or
little
,
his
judgment
was
final
and
absolute
.
He
swept
away
whole
systems
of
thought
that
had
shaken
the
world
,
with
a
confident
phrase
.
Miss
Du
Prel
looked
at
him
with
increasing
amazement
.
He
seemed
unaccustomed
to
opposition
.
“
A
vast
deal
of
nonsense
is
talked
in
the
name
of
philosophy
,
”
he
observed
,
in
a
tone
of
gay
self-confidence
peculiar
to
him
,
and
more
indicative
of
character
than
even
what
he
said
.
“
People
seem
to
think
that
they
have
only
to
quote
Spencer
or
Huxley
,
or
take
an
interest
in
heredity
,
to
justify
themselves
in
throwing
off
all
the
trammels
,
as
they
would
regard
them
,
of
duty
and
common
sense
.
”
“
I
have
not
observed
that
tendency
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
Really
.
I
regret
to
say
that
I
notice
everywhere
a
disposition
to
evade
responsibilities
which
,
in
former
days
,
would
have
been
honestly
and
contentedly
accepted
.
”
“
Our
standards
are
all
changing
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
It
does
not
follow
that
they
are
changing
for
the
worse
.
”
“
It
seems
to
me
that
they
are
not
so
much
changing
,
as
disappearing
altogether
,
”
said
Temperley
cheerfully
,
“
especially
among
women
.
We
hear
a
great
deal
about
rights
,
but
we
hear
nothing
about
duties
.
”
“
We
are
perhaps
,
a
little
tired
of
hearing
about
duties
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
You
admit
then
what
I
say
,
”
he
returned
placidly
.
“
Every
woman
wants
to
be
Mary
,
and
no
one
will
be
Martha
.
”
“
I
make
just
the
opposite
complaint
,
”
cried
Miss
Du
Prel
.
“
Dear
me
,
quite
a
different
way
of
looking
at
it
.
I
confess
I
have
scant
patience
with
these
interfering
women
,
who
want
to
turn
everything
upside
down
,
instead
of
quietly
minding
their
duties
at
home
.
”
“
I
know
it
is
difficult
to
make
people
understand
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
,
with
malice
.
“
I
should
esteem
it
a
favour
to
be
enlightened
,
”
returned
Temperley
.
“
You
were
just
now
condemning
socialism
,
Mr.
Temperley
,
because
you
say
that
it
attempts
to
ignore
the
principle
of
the
division
of
labour
.
Now
,
when
you
lose
patience
with
the
few
women
who
are
refusing
to
be
Marthas
,
you
ignore
that
principle
yourself
.
You
want
all
women
to
do
exactly
the
same
sort
of
work
,
irrespective
of
their
ability
or
their
bent
of
mind
.
May
I
ask
why
?
”
“
Because
I
consider
that
is
the
kind
of
work
for
which
they
are
best
fitted
,
”
replied
Temperley
serenely
.
“
Then
you
are
to
be
judge
and
jury
in
the
case
;
your
opinion
,
not
theirs
,
is
to
decide
the
matter
.
Supposing
I
were
to
take
upon
myself
to
judge
what
you
were
best
fitted
for
,
and
were
to
claim
,
therefore
,
to
decide
for
you
what
sort
of
life
you
should
live
,
and
what
sort
of
work
you
should
undertake
—
?
”
“
I
should
feel
every
confidence
in
resigning
myself
to
your
able
judgment
,
”
said
Temperley
,
with
a
low
bow
.
Miss
Du
Prel
laughed
.
“
Ah
,
”
she
said
,
“
you
are
at
present
,
on
the
conquering
side
,
and
can
afford
to
jest
on
the
subject
.
”
“
It
is
no
joke
to
jest
with
an
able
woman
,
”
he
returned
.
“
Seriously
,
I
have
considerable
sympathy
with
your
view
,
and
no
wish
to
treat
it
flippantly
.
But
if
I
am
to
treat
it
seriously
,
I
must
admit
frankly
that
I
think
you
forget
that
,
after
all
,
Nature
has
something
to
say
in
this
matter
.
”
Engrossed
in
their
conversation
,
they
had
,
without
thinking
what
they
were
doing
,
passed
through
the
open
gate
at
the
end
of
the
avenue
,
and
walked
on
along
the
high
road
.
Swarms
of
small
birds
flew
out
of
the
hedges
,
with
a
whirring
sound
,
to
settle
further
on
,
while
an
incessant
chatter
was
kept
up
on
each
side
.
“
I
often
think
that
modern
women
might
take
example
from
these
little
creatures
,
”
said
Temperley
,
who
,
in
common
with
many
self-sufficient
persons
,
was
fond
of
recommending
humility
to
others
.
“
They
never
attempt
to
shirk
their
lowly
tasks
on
the
plea
of
higher
vocations
.
Not
one
turns
from
the
path
marked
out
by
our
great
Mother
,
who
also
teaches
her
human
children
the
same
lesson
of
patient
duty
;
but
,
alas
!
by
them
is
less
faithfully
obeyed
.
”
“
If
our
great
Mother
wanted
instinct
she
should
not
have
bestowed
reason
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
impatiently
.
Temperley
had
fallen
into
the
dulcet
strains
of
one
who
feels
,
not
only
that
he
stands
as
the
champion
of
true
wisdom
and
virtue
,
but
that
he
is
sure
of
support
from
the
vast
majority
of
his
fellows
.
Miss
Du
Prel
's
brusqueness
seemed
to
suit
her
less
admirable
rôle
.
Temperley
was
tolerant
and
regretful
.
If
Miss
Du
Prel
would
think
for
a
moment
,
she
could
not
fail
to
see
that
Nature
...
and
so
forth
,
in
the
same
strain
of
“
pious
devotion
to
other
people
's
duties
”
as
his
companion
afterwards
described
it
.
She
chafed
at
the
exhortation
to
“
think
for
a
moment
.
”
At
that
instant
,
the
solitude
was
broken
by
the
apparition
of
a
dusty
wayfarer
in
knickerbockers
and
soft
felt
hat
,
coming
towards
them
up
the
road
.
He
was
a
man
of
middle
height
and
rather
slim
.
He
appeared
about
five-and-thirty
years
of
age
.
He
had
fair
hair
,
and
a
strange
,
whimsical
face
,
irregular
of
feature
,
with
a
small
moustache
covering
the
upper
lip
.
Miss
Du
Prel
looked
startled
,
as
she
caught
sight
of
the
travel-stained
figure
.
She
flushed
deeply
,
and
her
expression
changed
to
one
of
bewilderment
and
uncertainty
,
then
to
one
of
incredulous
joy
.
She
hastened
forward
,
at
length
,
and
arrested
the
wayfarer
.
“
Professor
Fortescue
,
do
n't
you
remember
me
?
”
she
cried
excitedly
.
He
gazed
at
her
for
a
second
,
and
then
a
look
of
amazement
came
into
his
kind
eyes
,
as
he
held
out
his
hand
.
“
Miss
Du
Prel
!
This
is
incredible
!
”
They
stood
,
with
hand
locked
in
hand
,
staring
at
one
another
.
“
By
what
happy
misunderstanding
am
I
thus
favoured
by
the
gods
?
”
exclaimed
the
Professor
.
Miss
Du
Prel
explained
her
presence
.
“
Prodigious
!
”
cried
Professor
Fortescue
.
“
Fate
must
have
some
strange
plots
in
the
making
,
unless
indeed
we
fall
to
the
discouraging
supposition
that
she
deigns
to
jest
.
”
He
said
that
he
was
on
a
walking
tour
,
studying
the
geology
of
the
district
,
and
that
he
had
written
to
announce
his
coming
to
his
old
friends
,
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Fullerton
,
and
to
ask
them
to
put
him
up
.
He
supposed
that
they
were
expecting
him
.
Miss
Du
Prel
was
greatly
excited
.
It
was
so
long
since
they
had
met
,
and
it
was
so
delightful
to
meet
again
.
She
had
a
hundred
enquiries
to
make
about
common
friends
,
and
about
the
Professor
's
own
doings
.
She
forgot
Temperley
's
name
,
and
her
introduction
was
vague
.
The
Professor
held
out
his
hand
cordially
.
Temperley
was
not
allowed
to
feel
an
intrusive
third
.
This
was
in
consequence
of
the
new-comer
's
kindliness
of
manner
,
and
not
at
all
because
of
Miss
Du
Prel
,
who
had
forgotten
Temperley
's
elegant
existence
.
She
had
a
look
of
surprise
when
he
joined
in
the
conversation
.
“
I
can
scarcely
believe
that
it
is
ten
years
since
I
was
here
,
”
cried
the
Professor
,
pausing
to
look
over
a
gate
at
the
stretch
of
country
.
“
I
used
to
visit
my
friends
at
Dunaghee
every
autumn
,
and
now
if
some
one
were
to
assure
me
that
I
had
been
to
sleep
and
dreamt
a
ten
years
'
dream
,
I
should
be
disposed
to
credit
it
.
Every
detail
the
same
;
the
very
cattle
,
the
very
birds
—
surely
just
those
identical
sparrows
used
to
fly
before
me
along
the
hedgerows
,
in
the
good
old
times
,
ten
years
ago
!
Ah
!
yes
,
it
is
only
the
human
element
that
changes
.
”
“
One
is
often
so
thankful
for
a
change
in
that
,
”
Temperley
remarked
,
with
an
urbane
sort
of
cynicism
.
“
True
,
”
said
Miss
Du
Prel
;
“
but
what
is
so
discouraging
is
that
so
often
the
charm
goes
,
like
the
bloom
of
a
peach
,
and
only
the
qualities
that
one
regrets
remain
and
prosper
.
”
“
I
think
people
improve
with
time
,
as
often
as
they
fall
off
,
”
said
the
Professor
.
The
others
shook
their
heads
.
“
To
him
that
hath
shall
be
given
,
but
to
him
that
hath
not
—
”
The
Professor
smiled
a
little
sadly
,
in
quoting
the
significant
words
.
“
Well
,
well
,
”
he
said
,
turning
to
Miss
Du
Prel
,
“
I
ca
n't
say
how
happy
I
am
to
see
you
again
.
I
have
not
yet
got
over
my
surprise
.
And
so
you
have
made
the
acquaintance
of
the
family
at
Dunaghee
.
I
have
the
warmest
respect
and
affection
for
those
dear
folks
.
Mrs.
Fullerton
has
the
qualities
of
a
heroine
,
kind
hostess
as
she
is
!
And
of
what
fine
Scottish
stuff
the
old
man
is
made
—
and
a
mind
like
crystal
!
What
arguments
we
used
to
have
in
that
old
study
of
his
!
I
can
see
him
now
.
And
how
genial
!
A
man
could
never
forget
it
,
who
had
once
received
his
welcome
.
”
Such
was
Miss
Du
Prel
's
impression
,
when
ten
minutes
later
the
meeting
took
place
between
the
Professor
and
his
old
friend
.
It
would
indeed
have
been
hard
to
be
anything
but
genial
to
the
Professor
.
Hadria
remembered
him
and
his
kindness
to
her
and
the
rest
of
the
children
,
in
