,and
wo
n't
have
attention
fixed
long
enough
upon
it
to
establish
its
repute
.
The
struggle
for
existence
among
books
is
nowadays
as
severe
as
among
men
.
If
a
writer
has
friends
connected
with
the
press
,
it
is
the
plain
duty
of
those
friends
to
do
their
utmost
to
help
him
.
What
matter
if
they
exaggerate
,
or
even
lie
?
The
simple
,
sober
truth
has
no
chance
whatever
of
being
listened
to
,
and
it
's
only
by
volume
of
shouting
that
the
ear
of
the
public
is
held
.
What
use
is
it
to
Biffen
if
his
work
struggles
to
slow
recognition
ten
years
hence
?
Besides
,
as
I
say
,
the
growing
flood
of
literature
swamps
everything
but
works
of
primary
genius
.
If
a
clever
and
conscientious
book
does
not
spring
to
success
at
once
,
there
's
precious
small
chance
that
it
will
survive
.
Suppose
it
were
possible
for
me
to
write
a
round
dozen
reviews
of
this
book
,
in
as
many
different
papers
,
I
would
do
it
with
satisfaction
.
Depend
upon
it
,
this
kind
of
thing
will
be
done
on
that
scale
before
long
.
And
it
's
quite
natural
.
A
man
's
friends
must
be
helped
,
by
whatever
means
,
quocunque
modo
,
as
Biffen
himself
would
say
.
'
'
I
dare
say
he
does
n't
even
think
of
you
as
a
friend
now
.
'
'
Very
likely
not
.
It
's
ages
since
I
saw
him
.
But
there
's
much
magnanimity
in
my
character
,
as
I
have
often
told
you
.
It
delights
me
to
be
generous
,
whenever
I
can
afford
it
.
'
Dusk
was
gathering
about
them
.
As
they
sat
talking
,
there
came
a
tap
at
the
door
,
and
the
summons
to
enter
was
obeyed
by
Mr.
Whelpdale
.
'
I
was
passing
,
'
he
said
in
his
respectful
voice
,
'
and
could
n't
resist
the
temptation
.
'
Jasper
struck
a
match
and
lit
the
lamp
.
In
this
clearer
light
Whelpdale
was
exhibited
as
a
young
man
of
greatly
improved
exterior
;
he
wore
a
cream-coloured
waistcoat
,
a
necktie
of
subtle
hue
,
and
delicate
gloves
;
prosperity
breathed
from
his
whole
person
.
It
was
,
in
fact
,
only
a
moderate
prosperity
to
which
he
had
as
yet
attained
,
but
the
future
beckoned
to
him
flatteringly
.
Early
in
this
year
,
his
enterprise
as
'
literary
adviser
'
had
brought
him
in
contact
with
a
man
of
some
pecuniary
resources
,
who
proposed
to
establish
an
agency
for
the
convenience
of
authors
who
were
not
skilled
in
disposing
of
their
productions
to
the
best
advantage
.
Under
the
name
of
Fleet
+
Co.
,
this
business
was
shortly
set
on
foot
,
and
Whelpdale
's
services
were
retained
on
satisfactory
terms
.
The
birth
of
the
syndicate
system
had
given
new
scope
to
literary
agencies
,
and
Mr.
Fleet
was
a
man
of
keen
eye
for
commercial
opportunities
.
'
Well
,
have
you
read
Biffen
's
book
?
'
asked
Jasper
.
'
Wonderful
,
is
n't
it
?
A
work
of
genius
,
I
am
convinced
.
Ha
!
you
have
it
there
,
Miss
Dora
.
But
I
'm
afraid
it
is
hardly
for
you
.
'
'
And
why
not
,
Mr.
Whelpdale
?
'
'
You
should
only
read
of
beautiful
things
,
of
happy
lives
.
This
book
must
depress
you
.
'
'
But
why
will
you
imagine
me
such
a
feeble-
minded
person
?
'
asked
Dora
.
'
You
have
so
often
spoken
like
this
.
I
have
really
no
ambition
to
be
a
doll
of
such
superfine
wax
.
'
The
habitual
flatterer
looked
deeply
concerned
.
'
Pray
forgive
me
!
'
he
murmured
humbly
,
leaning
forwards
towards
the
girl
with
eyes
which
deprecated
her
displeasure
.
'
I
am
very
far
indeed
from
attributing
weakness
to
you
.
It
was
only
the
natural
,
unreflecting
impulse
;
one
finds
it
so
difficult
to
associate
you
,
even
as
merely
a
reader
,
with
such
squalid
scenes
.
The
ignobly
decent
,
as
poor
Biffen
calls
it
,
is
so
very
far
from
that
sphere
in
which
you
are
naturally
at
home
.
'
There
was
some
slight
affectation
in
his
language
,
but
the
tone
attested
sincere
feeling
.
Jasper
was
watching
him
with
half
an
eye
,
and
glancing
occasionally
at
Dora
.
'
No
doubt
,
'
said
the
latter
,
'
it
's
my
story
in
The
English
Girl
that
inclines
you
to
think
me
a
goody-goody
sort
of
young
woman
.
'
'
So
far
from
that
,
Miss
Dora
,
I
was
only
waiting
for
an
opportunity
to
tell
you
how
exceedingly
delighted
I
have
been
with
the
last
two
weeks
'
instaiments
.
In
all
seriousness
,
I
consider
that
story
of
yours
the
best
thing
of
the
kind
that
ever
came
under
my
notice
.
You
seem
to
me
to
have
discovered
a
new
genre
;
such
writing
as
this
has
surely
never
been
offered
to
girls
,
and
all
the
readers
of
the
paper
must
be
immensely
grateful
to
you
.
I
run
eagerly
to
buy
the
paper
each
week
;
I
assure
you
I
do
.
The
stationer
thinks
I
purchase
it
for
a
sister
,
I
suppose
.
But
each
section
of
the
story
seems
to
be
better
than
the
last
.
Mark
the
prophecy
which
I
now
make
:
when
this
tale
is
published
in
a
volume
its
success
will
be
great
.
You
will
be
recognised
,
Miss
Dora
,
as
the
new
writer
for
modern
English
girls
.
'
The
subject
of
this
panegyric
coloured
a
little
and
laughed
.
Unmistakably
she
was
pleased
.
'
Look
here
,
Whelpdale
,
'
said
Jasper
,
'
I
ca
n't
have
this
;
Dora
's
conceit
,
please
to
remember
,
is
,
to
begin
with
,
only
a
little
less
than
my
own
,
and
you
will
make
her
unendurable
.
Her
tale
is
well
enough
in
its
way
,
but
then
its
way
is
a
very
humble
one
.
'
'
I
deny
it
!
'
cried
the
other
,
excitedly
.
'
How
can
it
be
called
a
humble
line
of
work
to
provide
reading
,
which
is
at
once
intellectual
and
moving
and
exquisitely
pure
,
for
the
most
important
part
of
the
population
—
the
educated
and
refined
young
people
who
are
just
passing
from
girlhood
to
womanhood
?
'
'
The
most
important
fiddlestick
!
'
'
You
are
grossly
irreverent
,
my
dear
Milvain
.
I
cannot
appeal
to
your
sister
,
for
she
's
too
modest
to
rate
her
own
sex
at
its
true
value
,
but
the
vast
majority
of
thoughtful
men
would
support
me
.
You
yourself
do
,
though
you
affect
this
profane
way
of
speaking
.
And
we
know
,
'
he
looked
at
Dora
,
'
that
he
would
n't
talk
like
this
if
Miss
Yule
were
present
.
'
Jasper
changed
the
topic
of
conversation
,
and
presently
Whelpdale
was
able
to
talk
with
more
calmness
.
The
young
man
,
since
his
association
with
Fleet
+
Co.
,
had
become
fertile
in
suggestions
of
literary
enterprise
,
and
at
present
he
was
occupied
with
a
project
of
special
hopefulness
.
'
I
want
to
find
a
capitalist
,
'
he
said
,
'
who
will
get
possession
of
that
paper
Chat
,
and
transform
it
according
to
an
idea
I
have
in
my
head
.
The
thing
is
doing
very
indifferently
,
but
I
am
convinced
it
might
be
made
splendid
property
,
with
a
few
changes
in
the
way
of
conducting
it
.
'
'
The
paper
is
rubbish
,
'
remarked
Jasper
,
'
and
the
kind
of
rubbish
—
oddly
enough
—
which
does
n't
attract
people
.
'
'
Precisely
,
but
the
rubbish
is
capable
of
being
made
a
very
valuable
article
,
if
it
were
only
handled
properly
.
I
have
talked
to
the
people
about
it
again
and
again
,
but
I
ca
n't
get
them
to
believe
what
I
say
.
Now
just
listen
to
my
notion
.
In
the
first
place
,
I
should
slightly
alter
the
name
;
only
slightly
,
but
that
little
alteration
would
in
itself
have
an
enormous
effect
.
Instead
of
Chat
,
I
should
call
it
Chit-
Chat
!
'
Jasper
exploded
with
mirth
.
'
That
's
brilliant
!
'
he
cried
.
'
A
stroke
of
genius
!
'
'
Are
you
serious
?
Or
,
are
you
making
fun
of
me
?
I
believe
it
is
a
stroke
of
genius
.
Chat
does
n't
attract
any
one
,
but
Chit-Chat
would
sell
like
hot
cakes
,
as
they
say
in
America
.
I
know
I
am
right
;
laugh
as
you
will
.
'
'
On
the
same
principle
,
'
cried
Jasper
,
'
if
The
Tatler
were
changed
to
Tittle-Tattle
,
its
circulation
would
be
trebled
.
'
Whelpdale
smote
his
knee
in
delight
.
'
An
admirable
idea
!
Many
a
true
word
uttered
in
joke
,
and
this
is
an
instance
!
Tittle-Tattle
—
a
magnificent
title
;
the
very
thing
to
catch
the
multitude
.
'
Dora
was
joining
in
the
merriment
,
and
for
a
minute
or
two
nothing
but
bursts
of
laughter
could
be
heard
.
'
Now
do
let
me
go
on
,
'
implored
the
man
of
projects
,
when
the
noise
subsided
.
'
That
's
only
one
change
,
though
a
most
important
one
.
What
I
next
propose
is
this
:
—
I
know
you
will
laugh
again
,
but
I
will
demonstrate
to
you
that
I
am
right
.
No
article
in
the
paper
is
to
measure
more
than
two
inches
in
length
,
and
every
inch
must
be
broken
into
at
least
two
paragraphs
.
'
'
Superb
!
'
'
But
you
are
joking
,
Mr.
Whelpdale
?
'
exclaimed
Dora
.
'
No
,
I
am
perfectly
serious
.
Let
me
explain
my
principle
.
I
would
have
the
paper
address
itself
to
the
quarter-educated
;
that
is
to
say
,
the
great
new
generation
that
is
being
turned
out
by
the
Board
Schools
,
the
young
men
and
women
who
can
just
read
,
but
are
incapable
of
sustained
attention
.
People
of
this
kind
want
something
to
occupy
them
in
trains
,
and
on
'
buses
and
trams
.
As
a
rule
they
care
for
no
newspapers
except
the
Sunday
ones
;
what
they
want
is
the
lightest
and
frothiest
of
chit-chatty
information
—
bits
of
stories
,
bits
of
description
,
bits
of
scandal
,
bits
of
jokes
,
bits
of
statistics
,
bits
of
foolery
.
Am
I
not
right
?
Everything
must
be
very
short
,
two
inches
at
the
utmost
;
their
attention
ca
n't
sustain
itself
beyond
two
inches
.
Even
chat
is
too
solid
for
them
:
they
want
chit-chat
.
'
Jasper
had
begun
to
listen
serionsly
.
'
There
's
something
in
this
,
Whelpdale
,
'
he
remarked
.
'
Ha
!
I
have
caught
you
?
'
cried
the
other
delightedly
.
'
Of
course
there
's
something
in
it
!
'
'
But
—
'
began
Dora
,
and
checked
herself
.
'
You
were
going
to
say
—
'
Whelpdale
bent
towards
her
with
deference
.
'
Surely
these
poor
,
silly
people
ought
n't
to
be
encouraged
in
their
weakness
.
'
'
Whelpdale
's
countenance
fell
.
He
looked
ashamed
of
himself
.
But
Jasper
came
speedily
to
the
rescue
.
'
That
's
twaddle
,
Dora
.
Fools
will
be
fools
to
the
world
's
end
.
Answer
a
fool
according
to
his
folly
;
supply
a
simpleton
with
the
reading
he
craves
,
if
it
will
put
money
in
your
pocket
.
You
have
discouraged
poor
Whelpdale
in
one
of
the
most
notable
projects
of
modern
times
.
'
'
I
shall
think
no
more
of
it
,
'
said
Whelpdale
,
gravely
.
'
You
are
right
,
Miss
Dora
.
'
Again
Jasper
burst
into
merriment
.
His
sister
reddened
,
and
looked
uncomfortable
.
She
began
to
speak
timidly
:
'
You
said
this
was
for
reading
in
trains
and
'
buses
?
'
Whelpdale
caught
at
hope
.
'
Yes
.
And
really
,
you
know
,
it
may
be
better
at
such
times
to
read
chit-chat
than
to
be
altogether
vacant
,
or
to
talk
unprofitably
.
I
am
not
sure
;
I
bow
to
your
opinion
unreservedly
.
'
'
So
long
as
they
only
read
the
paper
at
such
times
,
'
said
Dora
,
still
hesitating
.
'
One
knows
by
experience
that
one
really
ca
n't
fix
one
's
attention
in
travelling
;
even
an
article
in
a
newspaper
is
often
too
long
.
'
'
Exactly
!
And
if
you
find
it
so
,
what
must
be
the
case
with
the
mass
of
untaught
people
,
the
quarter-educated
.
It
might
encourage
in
some
of
them
a
taste
for
reading
—
do
n't
you
think
?
'
'
It
might
,
'
assented
Dora
,
musingly
.
'
And
in
that
case
you
would
be
doing
good
!
'
'
Distinct
good
!
'
They
smiled
joyfully
at
each
other
.
Then
Whelpdale
turned
to
Jasper
:
'
You
are
convinced
that
there
is
something
in
this
?
'
'
Seriously
,
I
think
there
is
.
It
would
all
depend
on
the
skill
of
the
fellows
who
put
the
thing
together
every
week
.
There
ought
always
to
be
one
strongly
sensational
item
—
we
wo
n't
call
it
article
.
For
instance
,
you
might
display
on
a
placard
:
"
What
the
Queen
eats
!
'
'
or
,
"
How
Gladstone
's
collars
are
made
!
"
—
things
of
that
kind
.
'
'
To
be
sure
,
to
be
sure
.
And
then
,
you
know
,
'
added
Whelpdale
,
glancing
anxiously
at
Dora
,
'
when
people
had
been
attracted
by
these
devices
,
they
would
find
a
few
things
that
were
really
profitable
.
We
would
give
nicely
written
little
accounts
of
exemplary
careers
,
of
heroic
deeds
,
and
so
on
.
Of
course
nothing
whatever
that
could
be
really
demoralising
—
cela
va
sans
dire
.
Well
,
what
I
was
going
to
say
was
this
:
would
you
come
with
me
to
the
office
of
Chat
,
and
have
a
talk
with
my
friend
Lake
,
the
subeditor
?
I
know
your
time
is
very
valuable
,
but
then
you
're
often
running
into
the
Will-o'-the-
Wisp
,
and
Chat
is
just
upstairs
,
you
know
.
'
'
What
use
should
I
be
?
'
'
Oh
,
all
the
use
in
the
world
.
Lake
would
pay
most
respectful
attention
to
your
opinion
,
though
he
thinks
so
little
of
mine
.
You
are
a
man
of
note
,
I
am
nobody
.
I
feel
convinced
that
you
could
persuade
the
Chat
people
to
adopt
my
idea
,
and
they
might
be
willing
to
give
me
a
contingent
share
of
contingent
profits
,
if
I
had
really
shown
them
the
way
to
a
good
thing
.
'
Jasper
promised
to
think
the
matter
over
.
Whilst
their
talk
still
ran
on
this
subject
,
a
packet
that
had
come
by
post
was
brought
into
the
room
.
Opening
it
,
Milvain
exclaimed
:
'
Ha
!
this
is
lucky
.
There
's
something
here
that
may
interest
you
,
Whelpdale
.
'
'
Proofs
?
'
'
Yes
.
A
paper
I
have
written
for
The
Wayside
.
'
He
looked
at
Dora
,
who
smiled
.
'
How
do
you
like
the
title
?
—
"
The
Novels
of
Edwin
Reardon
!
"
'
'
You
do
n't
say
so
!
'
cried
the
other
.
'
What
a
good-hearted
fellow
you
are
,
Milvain
!
Now
that
's
really
a
kind
thing
to
have
done
.
By
Jove
!
I
must
shake
hands
with
you
;
I
must
indeed
!
Poor
Reardon
!
Poor
old
fellow
!
'
His
eyes
gleamed
with
moisture
.
Dora
,
observing
this
,
looked
at
him
so
gently
and
sweetly
that
it
was
perhaps
well
he
did
not
meet
her
eyes
;
the
experience
would
have
been
altogether
too
much
for
him
.
'
It
has
been
written
for
three
months
,
'
said
Jasper
,
'
but
we
have
held
it
over
for
a
practical
reason
.
When
I
was
engaged
upon
it
,
I
went
to
see
Mortimer
,
and
asked
him
if
there
was
any
chance
of
a
new
edition
of
Reardon
's
books
.
He
had
no
idea
the
poor
fellow
was
dead
,
and
the
news
seemed
really
to
affect
him
.
He
promised
to
consider
whether
it
would
be
worth
while
trying
a
new
issue
,
and
before
long
I
heard
from
him
that
he
would
bring
out
the
two
best
books
with
a
decent
cover
and
so
on
,
provided
I
could
get
my
article
on
Reardon
into
one
of
the
monthlies
.
This
was
soon
settled
.
The
editor
of
The
Wayside
answered
at
once
,
when
I
wrote
to
him
,
that
he
should
be
very
glad
to
print
what
I
proposed
,
as
he
had
a
real
respect
for
Reardon
.
Next
month
the
books
will
be
out
—
"
Neutral
Ground
,
"
and
"
Hubert
Reed
.
"
Mortimer
said
he
was
sure
these
were
the
only
ones
that
would
pay
for
themselves
.
But
we
shall
see
.
He
may
alter
his
opinion
when
my
article
has
been
read
.
'
'
Read
it
to
us
now
,
Jasper
,
will
you
?
'
asked
Dora
.
The
request
was
supported
by
Whelpdale
,
and
Jasper
needed
no
pressing
.
He
seated
himself
so
that
the
lamp-light
fell
upon
the
pages
,
and
read
the
article
through
.
It
was
an
excellent
piece
of
writing
(
see
The
Wayside
,
June
1884
)
,
and
in
places
touched
with
true
emotion
.
Any
intelligent
reader
would
divine
that
the
author
had
been
personally
acquainted
with
the
man
of
whom
he
wrote
,
though
the
fact
was
nowhere
stated
.
The
praise
was
not
exaggerated
,
yet
all
the
best
points
of
Reardon
's
work
were
admirably
brought
out
.
One
who
knew
Jasper
might
reasonably
have
doubted
,
before
reading
this
,
whether
he
was
capable
of
so
worthily
appreciating
the
nobler
man
.
'
I
never
understood
Reardon
so
well
before
,
'
declared
Whelpdale
,
at
the
close
.
'
This
is
a
good
thing
well
done
.
It
's
something
to
be
proud
of
,
Miss
Dora
.
'
'
Yes
,
I
feel
that
it
is
,
'
she
replied
.
'
Mrs
.
Reardon
ought
to
be
very
grateful
to
you
,
Milvain
.
By-the-by
,
do
you
ever
see
her
?
'
'
I
have
met
her
only
once
since
his
death
—
by
chance
.
'
'
Of
course
she
will
marry
again
.
I
wonder
who
'll
be
the
fortunate
man
?
'
'
Fortunate
,
do
you
think
?
'
asked
Dora
quietly
,
without
looking
at
him
.
'
Oh
,
I
spoke
rather
cynically
,
I
'm
afraid
,
'
Whelpdale
hastened
to
reply
.
'
I
was
thinking
of
her
money
.
Indeed
,
I
knew
Mrs.
Reardon
only
very
slightly
.
'
'
I
do
n't
think
you
need
regret
it
,
'
Dora
remarked
.
'
Oh
well
,
come
,
come
!
'
put
in
her
brother
.
'
We
know
very
well
that
there
was
little
enough
blame
on
her
side
.
'
'
There
was
great
blame
!
'
Dora
exclaimed
.
'
She
behaved
shamefully
!
I
would
n't
speak
to
her
;
I
would
n't
sit
down
in
her
company
!
'
'
Bosh
!
What
do
you
know
about
it
?
Wait
till
you
are
married
to
a
man
like
Reardon
,
and
reduced
to
utter
penury
.
'
'
Whoever
my
husband
was
,
I
would
stand
by
him
,
if
I
starved
to
death
!
'
'
If
he
ill-used
you
?
'
'
I
am
not
talking
of
such
cases
.
Mrs.
Reardon
had
never
anything
of
the
kind
to
fear
.
It
was
impossible
for
a
man
such
as
her
husband
to
behave
harshly
.
Her
conduct
was
cowardly
,
faithless
,
unwomanly
!
'
'
Trust
one
woman
for
thinking
the
worst
of
another
,
'
observed
Jasper
with
something
like
a
sneer
.
Dora
gave
him
a
look
of
strong
disapproval
;
one
might
have
suspected
that
brother
and
sister
had
before
this
fallen
into
disagreement
on
the
delicate
topic
.
Whelpdale
felt
obliged
to
interpose
,
and
had
of
course
no
choice
but
to
support
the
girl
.
'
I
can
only
say
,
'
he
remarked
with
a
smile
,
'
that
Miss
Dora
takes
a
very
noble
point
of
view
.
One
feels
that
a
wife
ought
to
be
staunch
.
But
it
's
so
very
unsafe
to
discuss
matters
in
which
one
cannot
know
all
the
facts
.
'
'
We
know
quite
enough
of
the
facts
,
'
said
Dora
,
with
delightful
pertinacity
.
'
Indeed
,
perhaps
we
do
,
'
assented
her
slave
.
Then
,
turning
to
her
brother
,
'
Well
,
once
more
I
congratulate
you
.
I
shall
talk
of
your
article
incessantly
,
as
soon
as
it
appears
.
And
I
shall
pester
every
one
of
my
acquaintances
to
buy
Reardon
's
books
—
though
it
's
no
use
to
him
,
poor
fellow
.
Still
,
he
would
have
died
more
contentedly
if
he
could
have
foreseen
this
.
By-the-by
,
Biffen
will
be
profoundly
grateful
to
you
,
I
'm
sure
.
'
'
I
'm
doing
what
I
can
for
him
,
too
.
Run
your
eye
over
these
slips
.
'
Whelpdale
exhausted
himself
in
terms
of
satisfaction
.
'
You
deserve
to
get
on
,
my
dear
fellow
.
In
a
few
years
you
will
be
the
Aristarchus
of
our
literary
world
.
'
When
the
visitor
rose
to
depart
,
Jasper
said
he
would
walk
a
short
distance
with
him
.
As
soon
as
they
had
left
the
house
,
the
future
Aristarchus
made
a
confidential
communication
.
'
It
may
interest
you
to
know
that
my
sister
Maud
is
shortly
to
be
married
.
'
'
Indeed
!
May
I
ask
to
whom
?
'
'
A
man
you
do
n't
know
.
His
name
is
Dolomore
—
a
fellow
in
society
.
'
'
Rich
,
then
,
I
hope
?
'
'
Tolerably
well-to-do
.
I
dare
say
he
has
three
or
four
thousand
a
year
!
'
'
Gracious
heavens
!
Why
,
that
's
magnificent
.
'
But
Whelpdale
did
not
look
quite
so
much
satisfaction
as
his
words
expressed
.
'
Is
it
to
be
soon
?
'
he
inquired
.
'
At
the
end
of
the
season
.
Make
no
difference
to
Dora
and
me
,
of
course
.
'
'
Oh
?
Really
?
No
difference
at
all
?
You
will
let
me
come
and
see
you
—
both
—
just
in
the
old
way
,
Milvain
?
'
'
Why
the
deuce
should
n't
you
?
'
'
To
be
sure
,
to
be
sure
.
By
Jove
!
I
really
do
n't
know
how
I
should
get
on
if
I
could
n't
look
in
of
an
evening
now
and
then
.
I
have
got
so
much
into
the
habit
of
it
.
And
—
I
'm
a
lonely
beggar
,
you
know
.
I
do
n't
go
into
society
,
and
really
—
'
He
broke
off
,
and
Jasper
began
to
speak
of
other
things
.
When
Milvain
re-entered
the
house
,
Dora
had
gone
to
her
own
sitting-room
.
It
was
not
quite
ten
o'clock
.
Taking
one
set
of
the
proofs
of
his
'
Reardon
'
article
,
he
put
it
into
a
large
envelope
;
then
he
wrote
a
short
letter
,
which
began
'
Dear
Mrs.
Reardon
,
'
and
ended
'
Very
sincerely
yours
,
'
the
communication
itself
being
as
follows
:
'
I
venture
to
send
you
the
proofs
of
a
paper
which
is
to
appear
in
next
month
's
Wayside
,
in
the
hope
that
it
may
seem
to
you
not
badly
done
,
and
that
the
reading
of
it
may
give
you
pleasure
.
If
anything
occurs
to
you
which
you
would
like
me
to
add
,
or
if
you
desire
any
omission
,
will
you
do
me
the
kindness
to
let
me
know
of
it
as
soon
as
possible
,
and
your
suggestion
shall
at
once
be
adopted
.
I
am
informed
that
the
new
edition
of
"
On
Neutral
Ground
"
and
"
Hubert
Reed
"
will
be
ready
next
month
.
Need
I
say
how
glad
I
am
that
my
friend
's
work
is
not
to
be
forgotten
?
'
This
note
he
also
put
into
the
envelope
,
which
he
made
ready
for
posting
.
Then
he
sat
for
a
long
time
in
profound
thought
.
Shortly
after
eleven
his
door
opened
,
and
Maud
came
in
.
She
had
been
dining
at
Mrs.
Lane
's
.
Her
attire
was
still
simple
,
but
of
quality
which
would
have
signified
recklessness
,
but
for
the
outlook
whereof
Jasper
spoke
to
Whelpdale
.
The
girl
looked
very
beautiful
.
There
was
a
flush
of
health
and
happiness
on
her
cheek
,
and
when
she
spoke
it
was
in
a
voice
that
rang
quite
differently
from
her
tones
of
a
year
ago
;
the
pride
which
was
natural
to
her
had
now
a
firm
support
;
she
moved
and
uttered
herself
in
queenly
fashion
.
'
Has
anyone
been
?
'
she
asked
.
'
Whelpdale
.
'
'
Oh
!
I
wanted
to
ask
you
,
Jasper
:
do
you
think
it
wise
to
let
him
come
quite
so
often
?
'
'
There
's
a
difficulty
,
you
see
.
I
can
hardly
tell
him
to
sheer
off
.
And
he
's
really
a
decent
fellow
.
'
'
That
may
be
.
But
—
I
think
it
's
rather
unwise
.
Things
are
changed
.
In
a
few
months
.
Dora
will
be
a
good
deal
at
my
house
,
and
will
see
all
sorts
of
people
.
'
'
Yes
;
but
what
if
they
are
the
kind
of
people
she
does
n't
care
anything
about
?
You
must
remember
,
old
girl
,
that
her
tastes
are
quite
different
from
yours
.
I
say
nothing
,
but
—
perhaps
it
's
as
well
they
should
be
.
'
'
You
say
nothing
,
but
you
add
an
insult
,
'
returned
Maud
,
with
a
smile
of
superb
disregard
.
'
We
wo
n't
reopen
the
question
.
'
'
Oh
dear
no
!
And
,
by-the-by
,
I
have
a
letter
from
Dolomore
.
I
came
just
after
you
left
.
'
'
Well
?
'
'
He
is
quite
willing
to
settle
upon
you
a
third
of
his
income
from
the
collieries
;
he
tells
me
it
will
represent
between
seven
and
eight
hundred
a
year
.
I
think
it
rather
little
,
you
know
;
but
I
congratulate
myself
on
having
got
this
out
of
him
.
'
'
Do
n't
speak
in
that
unpleasant
way
!
It
was
only
your
abruptness
that
made
any
kind
of
difficulty
.
'
'
I
have
my
own
opinion
on
that
point
,
and
I
shall
beg
leave
to
keep
it
.
Probably
he
will
think
me
still
more
abrupt
when
I
request
,
as
I
am
now
going
to
do
,
an
interview
with
his
solicitors
.
'
'
Is
that
allowable
?
'
asked
Maud
,
anxiously
.
Can
you
do
that
with
any
decency
?
'
'
If
not
,
then
I
must
do
it
with
indecency
.
You
will
have
the
goodness
to
remember
that
if
I
do
n't
look
after
your
interests
,
no
one
else
will
.
It
's
perhaps
fortunate
for
you
that
I
have
a
good
deal
of
the
man
of
business
about
me
.
Dolomore
thought
I
was
a
dreamy
,
literary
fellow
.
I
do
n't
say
that
he
is
n't
entirely
honest
,
but
he
shows
something
of
a
disposition
to
play
the
autocrat
,
and
I
by
no
means
intend
to
let
him
.
If
you
had
a
father
,
Dolomore
would
have
to
submit
his
affairs
to
examination
.
I
stand
to
you
in
loco
parentis
,
and
I
shall
bate
no
jot
of
my
rights
.
'
'
But
you
ca
n't
say
that
his
behaviour
has
n't
been
perfectly
straightforward
.
'
'
I
do
n't
wish
to
.
I
think
,
on
the
whole
,
he
has
behaved
more
honourably
than
was
to
be
expected
of
a
man
of
his
kind
.
But
he
must
treat
me
with
respect
.
My
position
in
the
world
is
greatly
superior
to
his
.
And
,
by
the
gods
!
I
will
be
treated
respectfully
!
It
woul
n't
be
amiss
,
Maud
,
if
you
just
gave
him
a
hint
to
that
effect
.
'
'
All
I
have
to
say
is
,
Jasper
,
do
n't
do
me
an
irreparable
injury
.
You
might
,
without
meaning
it
.
'
'
No
fear
whatever
of
it
.
I
can
behave
as
a
gentleman
,
and
I
only
expect
Dolomore
to
do
the
same
.
'
Their
conversation
lasted
for
a
long
time
,
and
when
he
was
again
left
alone
Jasper
again
fell
into
a
mood
of
thoughtfulness
.
By
a
late
post
on
the
following
day
he
received
this
letter
:
'
Dear
Mr.
Milvain
,
—
I
have
received
the
proofs
,
and
have
just
read
them
;
I
hasten
to
thank
you
with
all
my
heart
.
No
suggestion
of
mine
could
possibly
improve
this
article
;
it
seems
to
me
perfect
in
taste
,
in
style
,
in
matter
.
No
one
but
you
could
have
written
this
,
for
no
one
else
understood
Edwin
so
well
,
or
had
given
such
thought
to
his
work
.
If
he
could
but
have
known
that
such
justice
would
be
done
to
his
memory
!
But
he
died
believing
that
already
he
was
utterly
forgotten
,
that
his
books
would
never
again
be
publicly
spoken
of
.
This
was
a
cruel
fate
.
I
have
shed
tears
over
what
you
have
written
,
but
they
were
not
only
tears
of
bitterness
;
it
cannot
but
be
a
consolation
to
me
to
think
that
,
when
the
magazine
appears
,
so
many
people
will
talk
of
Edwin
and
his
books
.
I
am
deeply
grateful
to
Mr.
Mortimer
for
having
undertaken
to
republish
those
two
novels
;
if
you
have
an
opportunity
,
will
you
do
me
the
great
kindness
to
thank
him
on
my
behalf
?
At
the
same
time
,
I
must
remember
that
it
was
you
who
first
spoke
to
him
on
this
subject
.
You
say
that
it
gladdens
you
to
think
Edwin
will
not
be
forgotten
,
and
I
am
very
sure
that
the
friendly
office
you
have
so
admirably
performed
will
in
itself
reward
you
more
than
any
poor
expression
of
gratitude
from
me
.
I
write
hurriedly
,
anxious
to
let
you
hear
as
soon
as
possible
.
'
Believe
me
,
dear
Mr.
Milvain
,
'
Yours
sincerely
,
'
Amy
Reardon
.
'
CHAPTER
XXXIV
A
CHECK
Marian
was
at
work
as
usual
in
the
Reading-room
.
She
did
her
best
,
during
the
hours
spent
here
,
to
convert
herself
into
the
literary
machine
which
it
was
her
hope
would
some
day
be
invented
for
construction
in
a
less
sensitive
material
than
human
tissue
.
Her
eyes
seldom
strayed
beyond
the
limits
of
the
desk
;
and
if
she
had
occasion
to
rise
and
go
to
the
reference
shelves
,
she
looked
at
no
one
on
the
way
.
Yet
she
herself
was
occasionally
an
object
of
interested
regard
.
Several
readers
were
acquainted
with
the
chief
facts
of
her
position
;
they
knew
that
her
father
was
now
incapable
of
work
,
and
was
waiting
till
his
diseased
eyes
should
be
ready
for
the
operator
;
it
was
surmised
,
moreover
,
that
a
good
deal
depended
upon
the
girl
's
literary
exertions
.
Mr.
Quarmby
and
his
gossips
naturally
took
the
darkest
view
of
things
;
they
were
convinced
that
Alfred
Yule
could
never
recover
his
sight
,
and
they
had
a
dolorous
satisfaction
in
relating
the
story
of
Marian
's
legacy
.
Of
her
relations
with
Jasper
Milvain
none
of
these
persons
had
heard
;
Yule
had
never
spoken
of
that
matter
to
any
one
of
his
friends
.
Jasper
had
to
look
in
this
morning
for
a
hurried
consultation
of
certain
encyclopædic
volumes
,
and
it
chanced
that
Marian
was
standing
before
the
shelves
to
which
his
business
led
him
.
He
saw
her
from
a
little
distance
,
and
paused
;
it
seemed
as
if
he
would
turn
back
;
for
a
moment
he
wore
a
look
of
doubt
and
worry
.
But
after
all
he
proceeded
.
At
the
sound
of
his
'
Good-morning
,
'
Marian
started
—
she
was
standing
with
an
open
book
in
hand
—
and
looked
up
with
a
gleam
of
joy
on
her
face
.
'
I
wanted
to
see
you
to-day
,
'
she
said
,
subduing
her
voice
to
the
tone
of
ordinary
conversation
.
'
I
should
have
come
this
evening
.
'
'
You
would
n't
have
found
me
at
home
.
From
five
to
seven
I
shall
be
frantically
busy
,
and
then
I
have
to
rush
off
to
dine
with
some
people
.
'
'
I
could
n't
see
you
before
five
?
'
'
Is
it
something
important
?
'
'
Yes
,
it
is
.
'
'
I
tell
you
what
.
If
you
could
meet
me
at
Gloucester
Gate
at
four
,
then
I
shall
be
glad
of
half
an
hour
in
the
park
.
But
I
must
n't
talk
now
;
I
'm
driven
to
my
wits
'
end
.
Gloucester
Gate
,
at
four
sharp
.
I
do
n't
think
it
'll
rain
.
'
He
dragged
out
a
tome
of
the
'
Britannica
.
'
Marian
nodded
,
and
returned
to
her
seat
.
At
the
appointed
hour
she
was
waiting
near
the
entrance
of
Regent
's
Park
which
Jasper
had
mentioned
.
Not
long
ago
there
had
fallen
a
light
shower
,
but
the
sky
was
clear
again
.
At
five
minutes
past
four
she
still
waited
,
and
had
begun
to
fear
that
the
passing
rain
might
have
led
Jasper
to
think
she
would
not
come
.
Another
five
minutes
,
and
from
a
hansom
that
rattled
hither
at
full
speed
,
the
familiar
figure
alighted
.
'
Do
forgive
me
!
'
he
exclaimed
.
'
I
could
n't
possibly
get
here
before
.
Let
us
go
to
the
right
.
'
They
betook
themselves
to
that
tree-shadowed
strip
of
the
park
which
skirts
the
canal
.
'
I
'm
so
afraid
that
you
have
n't
really
time
,
'
said
Marian
,
who
was
chilled
and
confused
by
this
show
of
hurry
.
She
regretted
having
made
the
appointment
;
it
would
have
been
much
better
to
postpone
what
she
had
to
say
until
Jasper
was
at
leisure
.
Yet
nowadays
the
hours
of
leisure
seemed
to
come
so
rarely
.
'
If
I
get
home
at
five
,
it
'll
be
all
right
.
'
he
replied
.
'
What
have
you
to
tell
me
,
Marian
?
'
'
We
have
heard
about
the
money
,
at
last
.
'
'
Oh
?
'
He
avoided
looking
at
her
.
'
And
what
's
the
upshot
?
'
'
I
shall
have
nearly
fifteen
hundred
pounds
.
'
'
So
much
as
that
?
Well
,
that
's
better
than
nothing
,
is
n't
it
?
'
'
Very
much
better
.
'
They
walked
on
in
silence
.
Marian
stole
a
glance
at
her
companion
.
'
I
should
have
thought
it
a
great
deal
,
'
she
said
presently
,
'
before
I
had
begun
to
think
of
thousands
.
'
'
Fifteen
hundred
.
Well
,
it
means
fifty
pounds
a
year
,
I
suppose
.
'
He
chewed
the
end
of
his
moustache
.
'
Let
us
sit
down
on
this
bench
.
Fifteen
hundred
—
h
'm
!
And
nothing
more
is
to
be
hoped
for
?
'
'
Nothing
.
I
should
have
thought
men
would
wish
to
pay
their
debts
,
even
after
they
had
been
bankrupt
;
but
they
tell
us
we
ca
n't
expect
anything
more
from
these
people
.
'
'
You
are
thinking
of
Walter
Scott
,
and
that
kind
of
thing
'
—
Jasper
laughed
.
'
Oh
,
that
's
quite
unbusinesslike
;
it
would
be
setting
a
pernicious
example
nowadays
.
Well
,
and
what
's
to
be
done
?
'
Marian
had
no
answer
for
such
a
question
.
The
tone
of
it
was
a
new
stab
to
her
heart
,
which
had
suffered
so
many
during
the
past
half
year
.
'
Now
,
I
'll
ask
you
frankly
,
'
Jasper
went
on
,
'
and
I
know
you
will
reply
in
the
same
spirit
:
would
it
be
wise
for
us
to
marry
on
this
money
?
'
'
On
this
money
?
'
She
looked
into
his
face
with
painful
earnestness
.
'
You
mean
,
'
he
said
,
'
that
it
ca
n't
be
spared
for
that
purpose
?
'
What
she
really
meant
was
uncertain
even
to
herself
.
She
had
wished
to
hear
how
Jasper
would
receive
the
news
,
and
thereby
to
direct
her
own
course
.
Had
he
welcomed
it
as
offering
a
possibility
of
their
marriage
,
that
would
have
gladdened
her
,
though
it
would
then
have
been
necessary
to
show
him
all
the
difficulties
by
which
she
was
beset
;
for
some
time
they
had
not
spoken
of
her
father
's
position
,
and
Jasper
seemed
willing
to
forget
all
about
that
complication
of
their
troubles
.
But
marriage
did
not
occur
to
him
,
and
he
was
evidently
quite
prepared
to
hear
that
she
could
no
longer
regard
this
money
as
her
own
to
be
freely
disposed
of
.
This
was
on
one
side
a
relief
,
but
on
the
other
it
confirmed
her
fears
.
She
would
rather
have
heard
him
plead
with
her
to
neglect
her
parents
for
the
sake
of
being
his
wife
.
Love
excuses
everything
,
and
his
selfishness
would
have
been
easily
lost
sight
of
in
the
assurance
that
he
still
desired
her
.
'
You
say
,
'
she
replied
,
with
bent
head
,
'
that
it
would
bring
us
fifty
pounds
a
year
.
If
another
fifty
were
added
to
that
,
my
father
and
mother
would
be
supported
in
case
the
worst
comes
.
I
might
earn
fifty
pounds
.
'
'
You
wish
me
to
understand
,
Marian
,
that
I
must
n't
expect
that
you
will
bring
me
anything
when
we
are
married
.
'
His
tone
was
that
of
acquiescence
;
not
by
any
means
of
displeasure
.
He
spoke
as
if
desirous
of
saying
for
her
something
she
found
a
difficulty
in
saying
for
herself
.
'
Jasper
,
it
is
so
hard
for
me
!
So
hard
for
me
!
How
could
I
help
remembering
what
you
told
me
when
I
promised
to
be
your
wife
?
'
'
I
spoke
the
truth
rather
brutally
,
'
he
replied
,
in
a
kind
voice
.
'
Let
all
that
be
unsaid
,
forgotten
.
We
are
in
quite
a
different
position
now
.
Be
open
with
me
,
Marian
;
surely
you
can
trust
my
common
sense
and
good
feeling
.
Put
aside
all
thought
of
things
I
have
said
,
and
do
n't
be
restrained
by
any
fear
lest
you
should
seem
to
me
unwomanly
—
you
ca
n't
be
that
.
What
is
your
own
wish
?
What
do
you
really
wish
to
do
,
now
that
there
is
no
uncertainty
calling
for
postponements
?
'
Marian
raised
her
eyes
,
and
was
about
to
speak
as
she
regarded
him
;
but
with
the
first
accent
her
look
fell
.
'
I
wish
to
be
your
wife
.
'
He
waited
,
thinking
and
struggling
with
himself
.
'
Yet
you
feel
that
it
would
be
heartless
to
take
and
use
this
money
for
our
own
purposes
?
'
'
What
is
to
become
of
my
parents
,
Jasper
?
'
'
But
then
you
admit
that
the
fifteen
hundred
pounds
wo
n't
support
them
.
You
talk
of
earning
fifty
pounds
a
year
for
them
.
'
'
Need
I
cease
to
write
,
dear
,
if
we
were
married
?
Would
n't
you
let
me
help
them
?
'
'
But
,
my
dear
girl
,
you
are
taking
for
granted
that
we
shall
have
enough
for
ourselves
.
'
'
I
did
n't
mean
at
once
,
'
she
explained
hurriedly
.
'
In
a
short
time
—
in
a
year
.
You
are
getting
on
so
well
.
You
will
soon
have
a
sufficient
income
,
I
am
sure
.
'
Jasper
rose
.
'
Let
us
walk
as
far
as
the
next
seat
.
Do
n't
speak
.
I
have
something
to
think
about
.
'
Moving
on
beside
him
,
she
slipped
her
hand
softly
within
his
arm
;
but
Jasper
did
not
put
the
arm
into
position
to
support
hers
,
and
her
hand
fell
again
,
dropped
suddenly
.
They
reached
another
bench
,
and
again
became
seated
.
'
It
comes
to
this
,
Marian
,
'
he
said
,
with
portentous
gravity
.
'
Support
you
,
I
could
—
I
have
little
doubt
of
that
.
Maud
is
provided
for
,
and
Dora
can
make
a
living
for
herself
.
I
could
support
you
and
leave
you
free
to
give
your
parents
whatever
you
can
earn
by
your
own
work
.
But
—
'
He
paused
significantly
.
It
was
his
wish
that
Marian
should
supply
the
consequence
,
but
she
did
not
speak
.
'
Very
well
,
'
he
exclaimed
.
'
Then
when
are
we
to
be
married
?
'
The
tone
of
resignation
was
too
marked
.
Jasper
was
not
good
as
a
comedian
;
he
lacked
subtlety
.
'
We
must
wait
,
'
fell
from
Marian
's
lips
,
in
the
whisper
of
despair
.
'
Wait
?
But
how
long
?
'
he
inquired
,
dispassionately
.
'
Do
you
wish
to
be
freed
from
your
engagement
,
Jasper
?
'
He
was
not
strong
enough
to
reply
with
a
plain
'
Yes
,
'
and
so
have
done
with
his
perplexities
.
He
feared
the
girl
's
face
,
and
he
feared
his
own
subsequent
emotions
.
'
Do
n't
talk
in
that
way
,
Marian
.
The
question
is
simply
this
:
Are
we
to
wait
a
year
,
or
are
we
to
wait
five
years
?
In
a
year
's
time
,
I
shall
probably
be
able
to
have
a
small
house
somewhere
out
in
the
suburbs
.
If
we
are
married
then
,
I
shall
be
happy
enough
with
so
good
a
wife
,
but
my
career
will
take
a
different
shape
.
I
shall
just
throw
overboard
certain
of
my
ambitions
,
and
work
steadily
on
at
earning
a
livelihood
.
If
we
wait
five
years
,
I
may
perhaps
have
obtained
an
editorship
,
and
in
that
case
I
should
of
course
have
all
sorts
of
better
things
to
offer
you
.
'
'
But
,
dear
,
why
should
n't
you
get
an
editorship
all
the
same
if
you
are
married
?
'
'
I
have
explained
to
you
several
times
that
success
of
that
kind
is
not
compatible
with
a
small
house
in
the
suburbs
and
all
the
ties
of
a
narrow
income
.
As
a
bachelor
,
I
can
go
about
freely
,
make
acquaintances
,
dine
at
people
's
houses
,
perhaps
entertain
a
useful
friend
now
and
then
—
and
so
on
.
It
is
not
merit
that
succeeds
in
my
line
;
it
is
merit
plus
opportunity
.
Marrying
now
,
I
cut
myself
off
from
opportunity
,
that
's
all
.
'
She
kept
silence
.
'
Decide
my
fate
for
me
,
Marian
,
'
he
pursued
,
magnanimously
.
'
Let
us
make
up
our
minds
and
do
what
we
decide
to
do
.
Indeed
,
it
does
n't
concern
me
so
much
as
yourself
.
Are
you
content
to
lead
a
simple
,
unambitious
life
?
Or
should
you
prefer
your
husband
to
be
a
man
of
some
distinction
?
'
'
I
know
so
well
what
your
own
wish
is
.
But
to
wait
for
years
—
you
will
cease
to
love
me
,
and
will
only
think
of
me
as
a
hindrance
in
your
way
.
'
'
Well
now
,
when
I
said
five
years
,
of
course
I
took
a
round
number
.
Three
—
two
might
make
all
the
difference
to
me
.
'
'
Let
it
be
just
as
you
wish
.
I
can
bear
anything
rather
than
lose
your
love
.
'
'
You
feel
,
then
,
that
it
will
decidedly
be
wise
not
to
marry
whilst
we
are
still
so
poor
?
'
'
Yes
;
whatever
you
are
convinced
of
is
right
.
'
He
again
rose
,
and
looked
at
his
watch
.
'
Jasper
,
you
do
n't
think
that
I
have
behaved
selfishly
in
wishing
to
let
my
father
have
the
money
?
'
'
I
should
have
been
greatly
surprised
if
you
had
n't
wished
it
.
I
certainly
ca
n't
imagine
you
saying
:
"
Oh
,
let
them
do
as
best
they
can
!
"
That
would
have
been
selfish
with
a
vengeance
.
'
'
Now
you
are
speaking
kindly
!
Must
you
go
,
Jasper
?
'
'
I
must
indeed
.
Two
hours
'
work
I
am
bound
to
get
before
seven
o'clock
.
'
'
And
I
have
been
making
it
harder
for
you
,
by
disturbing
your
mind
.
'
'
No
,
no
;
it
's
all
right
now
.
I
shall
go
at
it
with
all
the
more
energy
,
now
we
have
come
to
a
decision
.
'
'
Dora
has
asked
me
to
go
to
Knew
on
Sunday
.
Shall
you
be
able
to
come
,
dear
?
'
'
By
Jove
,
no
!
I
have
three
engagements
on
Sunday
afternoon
.
I
'll
try
and
keep
the
Sunday
after
;
I
will
indeed
.
'
'
What
are
the
engagements
?
'
she
asked
timidly
.
As
they
walked
back
towards
Gloucester
Gate
,
he
answered
her
question
,
showing
how
unpardonable
it
would
be
to
neglect
the
people
concerned
.
Then
they
parted
,
Jasper
going
off
at
a
smart
pace
homewards
.
Marian
turned
down
Park
Street
,
and
proceeded
for
some
distance
along
Camden
Road
.
The
house
in
which
she
and
her
parents
now
lived
was
not
quite
so
far
away
as
St.
Paul
's
Crescent
;
they
rented
four
rooms
,
one
of
which
had
to
serve
both
as
Alfred
Yule
's
sitting-room
and
for
the
gatherings
of
the
family
at
meals
.
Mrs.
Yule
generally
sat
in
the
kitchen
,
and
Marian
used
her
bedroom
as
a
study
.
About
half
the
collection
of
books
had
been
sold
;
those
that
remained
were
still
a
respectable
library
,
almost
covering
the
walls
of
the
room
where
their
disconsolate
possessor
passed
his
mournful
days
.
He
could
read
for
a
few
hours
a
day
,
but
only
large
type
,
and
fear
of
consequences
kept
him
well
within
the
limit
of
such
indulgence
laid
down
by
his
advisers
.
Though
he
inwardly
spoke
as
if
his
case
were
hopeless
,
Yule
was
very
far
from
having
resigned
himself
to
this
conviction
;
indeed
,
the
prospect
of
spending
his
latter
years
in
darkness
and
idleness
was
too
dreadful
to
him
to
be
accepted
so
long
as
a
glimmer
of
hope
remained
.
He
saw
no
reason
why
the
customary
operation
should
not
restore
him
to
his
old
pursuits
,
and
he
would
have
borne
it
ill
if
his
wife
or
daughter
had
ever
ceased
to
oppose
the
despair
which
it
pleased
him
to
affect
.
On
the
whole
,
he
was
noticeably
patient
.
At
the
time
of
their
removal
to
these
lodgings
,
seeing
that
Marian
prepared
herself
to
share
the
change
as
a
matter
of
course
,
he
let
her
do
as
she
would
without
comment
;
nor
had
he
since
spoken
to
her
on
the
subject
which
had
proved
so
dangerous
.
Confidence
between
them
there
was
none
;
Yule
addressed
his
daughter
in
a
grave
,
cold
,
civil
tone
,
and
Marian
replied
gently
,
but
without
tenderness
.
For
Mrs.
Yule
the
disaster
to
the
family
was
distinctly
a
gain
;
she
could
not
but
mourn
her
husband
's
affliction
,
yet
he
no
longer
visited
her
with
the
fury
or
contemptuous
impatience
of
former
days
.
Doubtless
the
fact
of
needing
so
much
tendance
had
its
softening
influence
on
the
man
;
he
could
not
turn
brutally
upon
his
wife
when
every
hour
of
the
day
afforded
him
some
proof
of
her
absolute
devotion
.
Of
course
his
open
air
exercise
was
still
unhindered
,
and
in
this
season
of
the
returning
sun
he
walked
a
great
deal
,
decidedly
to
the
advantage
of
his
general
health
—
which
again
must
have
been
a
source
of
benefit
to
his
temper
.
Of
evenings
,
Marian
sometimes
read
to
him
.
He
never
requested
this
,
but
he
did
not
reject
the
kindness
.
This
afternoon
Marian
found
her
father
examining
a
volume
of
prints
which
had
been
lent
him
by
Mr.
Quarmby
.
The
table
was
laid
for
dinner
(
owing
to
Marian
's
frequent
absence
at
the
Museum
,
no
change
had
been
made
in
the
order
of
meals
)
and
Yule
sat
by
the
window
,
his
book
propped
on
a
second
chair
.
A
whiteness
in
his
eyes
showed
how
the
disease
was
progressing
,
but
his
face
had
a
more
wholesome
colour
than
a
year
ago
.
'
Mr
.
Hinks
and
Mr.
Gorbutt
inquired
very
kindly
after
you
to-day
,
'
said
the
girl
,
as
she
seated
herself
.
'
Oh
,
is
Hinks
out
again
?
'
'
Yes
,
but
he
looks
very
ill
.
'
They
conversed
of
such
matters
until
Mrs.
Yule
—
now
her
own
servant
—
brought
in
the
dinner
.
After
the
meal
,
Marian
was
in
her
bedroom
for
about
an
hour
;
then
she
went
to
her
father
,
who
sat
in
idleness
,
smoking
.
'
What
is
your
mother
doing
?
'
he
asked
,
as
she
entered
.
'
Some
needlework
.
'
'
I
had
perhaps
better
say
'
—
he
spoke
rather
stiffly
,
and
with
averted
face
—
'
that
I
make
no
exclusive
claim
to
the
use
of
this
room
.
As
I
can
no
longer
pretend
to
study
,
it
would
be
idle
to
keep
up
the
show
of
privacy
that
must
n't
be
disturbed
.
Perhaps
you
will
mention
to
your
mother
that
she
is
quite
at
liberty
to
sit
here
whenever
she
chooses
.
'
It
was
characteristic
of
him
that
he
should
wish
to
deliver
this
permission
by
proxy
.
But
Marian
understood
how
much
was
implied
in
such
an
announcement
.
'
I
will
tell
mother
,
'
she
said
.
'
But
at
this
moment
I
wished
to
speak
to
you
privately
.
How
would
you
advise
me
to
invest
my
money
?
'
Yule
looked
surprised
,
and
answered
with
cold
dignity
.
'
It
is
strange
that
you
should
put
such
a
question
to
me
.
I
should
have
supposed
your
interests
were
in
the
hands
of
—
of
some
competent
person
.
'
'
This
will
be
my
private
affair
,
father
.
I
wish
to
get
as
high
a
rate
of
interest
as
I
safely
can
.
'
'
I
really
must
decline
to
advise
,
or
interfere
in
any
way
.
But
,
as
you
have
introduced
this
subject
,
I
may
as
well
put
a
question
which
is
connected
with
it
.
Could
you
give
me
any
idea
as
to
how
long
you
are
likely
to
remain
with
us
?
'
'
At
least
a
year
,
'
was
the
answer
,
'
and
very
likely
much
longer
.
'
'
Am
I
to
understand
,
then
,
that
your
marriage
is
indefinitely
postponed
?
'
'
Yes
,
father
.
'
'
And
will
you
tell
me
why
?
'
'
I
can
only
say
that
it
has
seemed
better
—
to
both
of
us
.
'
Yule
detected
the
sorrowful
emotion
she
was
endeavouring
to
suppress
.
His
conception
of
Milvain
's
character
made
it
easy
for
him
to
form
a
just
surmise
as
to
the
reasons
for
this
postponement
;
he
was
gratified
to
think
that
Marian
might
learn
how
rightly
he
had
judged
her
wooer
,
and
an
involuntary
pity
for
the
girl
did
not
prevent
his
hoping
that
the
detestable
alliance
was
doomed
.
With
difficulty
he
refrained
from
smiling
.
'
I
will
make
no
comment
on
that
,
'
he
remarked
,
with
a
certain
emphasis
.
'
But
do
you
imply
that
this
investment
of
which
you
speak
is
to
be
solely
for
your
own
advantage
?
'
'
For
mine
,
and
for
yours
and
mother
's
.
'
There
was
a
silence
of
a
minute
or
two
.
As
yet
it
had
not
been
necessary
to
take
any
steps
for
raising
money
,
but
a
few
months
more
would
see
the
family
without
resources
,
save
those
provided
by
Marian
,
who
,
without
discussion
,
had
been
simply
setting
aside
what
she
received
for
her
work
.
'
You
must
be
well
aware
,
'
said
Yule
at
length
,
'
that
I
cannot
consent
to
benefit
by
any
such
offer
.
When
it
is
necessary
,
I
shall
borrow
on
the
security
of
—
'
'
Why
should
you
do
that
,
father
?
'
Marian
interrupted
.
'
My
money
is
yours
.
If
you
refuse
it
as
a
gift
,
then
why
may
not
I
lend
to
you
as
well
as
a
stranger
?
Repay
me
when
your
eyes
are
restored
.
For
the
present
,
all
our
anxieties
are
at
an
end
.
We
can
live
very
well
until
you
are
able
to
write
again
.
'
For
his
sake
she
put
it
in
his
way
.
Supposing
him
never
able
to
earn
anything
,
then
indeed
would
come
a
time
of
hardship
;
but
she
could
not
contemplate
that
.
The
worst
would
only
befall
them
in
case
she
was
forsaken
by
Jasper
,
and
if
that
happened
all
else
would
be
of
little
account
.
'
This
has
come
upon
me
as
a
surprise
,
'
said
Yule
,
in
his
most
reserved
tone
.
'
I
can
give
no
definite
reply
;
I
must
think
of
it
.
'
'
Should
you
like
me
to
ask
mother
to
bring
her
sewing
here
now
?
'
asked
Marian
,
rising
.
'
Yes
,
you
may
do
so
.
'
In
this
way
the
awkwardness
of
the
situation
was
overcome
,
and
when
Marian
next
had
occasion
to
speak
of
money
matters
no
serious
objection
was
offered
to
her
proposal
.
Dora
Milvain
of
course
learnt
what
had
come
to
pass
;
to
anticipate
criticism
,
her
brother
imparted
to
her
the
decision
at
which
Marian
and
he
had
arrived
.
She
reflected
with
an
air
of
discontent
.
'
So
you
are
quite
satisfied
,
'
was
her
question
at
length
,
'
that
Marian
should
toil
to
support
her
parents
as
well
as
herself
?
'
'
Can
I
help
it
?
'
'
I
shall
think
very
ill
of
you
if
you
do
n't
marry
her
in
a
year
at
latest
.
'
'
I
tell
you
,
Marian
has
made
a
deliberate
choice
.
She
understands
me
perfectly
,
and
is
quite
satisfied
with
my
projects
.
You
will
have
the
kindness
,
Dora
,
not
to
disturb
her
faith
in
me
.
'
'
I
agree
to
that
;
and
in
return
I
shall
let
you
know
when
she
begins
to
suffer
from
hunger
.
It
wo
n't
be
very
long
till
then
,
you
may
be
sure
.
How
do
you
suppose
three
people
are
going
to
live
on
a
hundred
a
year
?
And
it
's
very
doubtful
indeed
whether
Marian
can
earn
as
much
as
fifty
pounds
.
Never
mind
;
I
shall
let
you
know
when
she
is
beginning
to
strave
,
and
doubtless
that
will
amuse
you
.
'
At
the
end
of
July
Maud
was
married
.
Between
Mr.
Dolomore
and
Jasper
existed
no
superfluous
kindness
,
each
resenting
the
other
's
self-sufficiency
;
but
Jasper
,
when
once
satisfied
of
his
proposed
brother-in-law
's
straightforwardness
,
was
careful
not
to
give
offence
to
a
man
who
might
some
day
serve
him
.
Provided
this
marriage
resulted
in
moderate
happiness
to
Maud
,
it
was
undoubtedly
a
magnificent
stroke
of
luck
.
Mrs.
Lane
,
the
lady
who
has
so
often
been
casually
mentioned
,
took
upon
herself
those
offices
in
connection
with
the
ceremony
which
the
bride
's
mother
is
wont
to
perform
;
at
her
house
was
held
the
wedding-breakfast
,
and
such
other
absurdities
of
usage
as
recommend
themselves
to
Society
.
Dora
of
course
played
the
part
of
a
bridesmaid
,
and
Jasper
went
through
his
duties
with
the
suave
seriousness
of
a
man
who
has
convinced
himself
that
he
cannot
afford
to
despise
anything
that
the
world
sanctions
.
About
the
same
time
occurred
another
event
which
was
to
have
more
importance
for
this
aspiring
little
family
than
could
as
yet
be
foreseen
.
Whelpdale
's
noteworthy
idea
triumphed
;
the
weekly
paper
called
Chat
was
thorughly
transformed
,
and
appeared
as
Chit-Chat
.
From
the
first
number
,
the
success
of
the
enterprise
was
beyond
doubt
;
in
a
month
's
time
all
England
was
ringing
with
the
