hadneither
time
nor
spirit
to
test
the
possibilities
of
the
market
;
he
was
ashamed
to
betray
his
need
by
higgling
.
'
I
'll
take
it
,
'
he
said
,
in
a
matter-of-fact
voice
.
A
messenger
was
sent
for
the
books
that
afternoon
.
He
stowed
them
skilfully
in
two
bags
,
and
carried
them
downstairs
to
a
cart
that
was
waiting
.
Reardon
looked
at
the
gaps
left
on
his
shelves
.
Many
of
those
vanished
volumes
were
dear
old
friends
to
him
;
he
could
have
told
you
where
he
had
picked
them
up
and
when
;
to
open
them
recalled
a
past
moment
of
intellectual
growth
,
a
mood
of
hope
or
despondency
,
a
stage
of
struggle
.
In
most
of
them
his
name
was
written
,
and
there
were
often
pencilled
notes
in
the
margin
.
Of
course
he
had
chosen
from
among
the
most
valuable
he
possessed
;
such
a
multitude
must
else
have
been
sold
to
make
this
sum
of
two
pounds
ten
.
Books
are
cheap
,
you
know
.
At
need
,
one
can
buy
a
Homer
for
fourpence
,
a
Sophocles
for
sixpence
.
It
was
not
rubbish
that
he
had
accumulated
at
so
small
expenditure
,
but
the
library
of
a
poor
student
—
battered
bindings
,
stained
pages
,
supplanted
editions
.
He
loved
his
books
,
but
there
was
something
he
loved
more
,
and
when
Amy
glanced
at
him
with
eyes
of
sympathy
he
broke
into
a
cheerful
laugh
.
'
I
'm
only
sorry
they
have
gone
for
so
little
.
Tell
me
when
the
money
is
nearly
at
an
end
again
,
and
you
shall
have
more
.
It
's
all
right
;
the
novel
will
be
done
soon
.
'
And
that
night
be
worked
until
twelve
o'clock
,
doggedly
,
fiercely
.
The
next
day
was
Sunday
.
As
a
rule
he
made
it
a
day
of
rest
,
and
almost
perforce
,
for
the
depressing
influence
of
Sunday
in
London
made
work
too
difficult
.
Then
,
it
was
the
day
on
which
he
either
went
to
see
his
own
particular
friends
or
wa
visited
by
them
.
'
Do
you
expect
anyone
this
evening
?
'
Amy
inquired
.
'
Biffen
will
look
in
,
I
dare
say
.
Perhaps
Milvain
.
'
'
I
think
I
shall
take
Willie
to
mother
's
.
I
shall
be
back
before
eight
.
'
'
Amy
,
do
n't
say
anything
about
the
books
.
'
'
No
,
no
.
'
'
I
suppose
they
always
ask
you
when
we
think
of
removing
over
the
way
?
'
He
pointed
in
a
direction
that
suggested
Marylebone
Workhouse
.
Amy
tried
to
laugh
,
but
a
woman
with
a
child
in
her
arms
has
no
keen
relish
for
such
jokes
.
'
I
do
n't
talk
to
them
about
our
affairs
,
'
she
said
.
'
That
's
best
.
'
She
left
home
about
three
o'clock
,
the
servant
going
with
her
to
carry
the
child
.
At
five
a
familiar
knock
sounded
through
the
flat
;
it
was
a
heavy
rap
followed
by
half
a
dozen
light
ones
,
like
a
reverberating
echo
,
the
last
stroke
scarcely
audible
.
Reardon
laid
down
his
book
,
but
kept
his
pipe
in
his
mouth
,
and
went
to
the
door
.
A
tall
,
thin
man
stood
there
,
with
a
slouch
hat
and
long
grey
overcoat
.
He
shook
hands
silently
,
hung
his
hat
in
the
passage
,
and
came
forward
into
the
study
.
His
name
was
Harold
Biffen
,
and
,
to
judge
from
his
appearance
,
he
did
not
belong
to
the
race
of
common
mertals
.
His
excessive
meagreness
would
all
but
have
qualified
him
to
enter
an
exhibition
in
the
capacity
of
living
skeleton
,
and
the
garments
which
hung
upon
this
framework
would
perhaps
have
sold
for
three
and
sixpence
at
an
old-clothes
dealer
's
.
But
the
man
was
superior
to
these
accidents
of
flesh
and
raiment
.
He
had
a
fine
face
:
large
,
gentle
eyes
,
nose
slightly
aquiline
,
small
and
delicate
mouth
.
Thick
black
hair
fell
to
his
coat-collar
;
he
wore
a
heavy
moustache
and
a
full
beard
.
In
his
gait
there
was
a
singular
dignity
;
only
a
man
of
cultivated
mind
and
graceful
character
could
move
and
stand
as
he
did
.
His
first
act
on
entering
the
room
was
to
take
from
his
pocket
a
pipe
,
a
pouch
,
a
little
tobacco-stopper
,
and
a
box
of
matches
,
all
of
which
he
arranged
carefully
on
a
corner
of
the
central
table
.
Then
he
drew
forward
a
chair
and
seated
himself
.
'
Take
your
top-coat
off
,
'
said
Reardon
.
'
Thanks
,
not
this
evening
.
'
'
Why
the
deuce
not
?
'
'
Not
this
evening
,
thanks
.
'
The
reason
,
as
soon
as
Reardon
sought
for
it
,
was
obvious
.
Biffen
had
no
ordinary
coat
beneath
the
other
.
To
have
referred
to
this
fact
would
have
been
indelicate
;
the
novelist
of
course
understood
it
,
and
smiled
,
but
with
no
mirth
.
'
Let
me
have
your
Sophocles
,
'
were
the
visitor
's
next
words
.
Reardon
offered
him
a
volume
of
the
Oxford
Pocket
Classics
.
'
I
prefer
the
Wunder
,
please
.
'
'
It
's
gone
,
my
boy
.
'
'
Gone
?
'
'
Wanted
a
little
cash
.
'
Biffen
uttered
a
sound
in
which
remonstrance
and
sympathy
were
blended
.
'
I
'm
sorry
to
hear
that
;
very
sorry
.
Well
,
this
must
do
.
Now
,
I
want
to
know
how
you
scan
this
chorus
in
the
"
Oedipus
Rex
.
"
'
Reardon
took
the
volume
,
considered
,
and
began
to
read
aloud
with
metric
emphasis
.
'
Choriambics
,
eh
?
'
cried
the
other
.
'
Possible
,
of
course
;
but
treat
them
as
Ionics
a
minore
with
an
anacrusis
,
and
see
if
they
do
n't
go
better
.
'
He
involved
himself
in
terms
of
pedantry
,
and
with
such
delight
that
his
eyes
gleamed
.
Having
delivered
a
technical
lecture
,
he
began
to
read
in
illustration
,
producing
quite
a
different
effect
from
that
of
the
rhythm
as
given
by
his
friend
.
And
the
reading
was
by
no
means
that
of
a
pedant
,
rather
of
a
poet
.
For
half
an
hour
the
two
men
talked
Greek
metres
as
if
they
lived
in
a
world
where
the
only
hunger
known
could
be
satisfied
by
grand
or
sweet
cadences
.
They
had
first
met
in
an
amusing
way
.
Not
long
after
the
publication
of
his
book
'
On
Neutral
Ground
'
Reardon
was
spending
a
week
at
Hastings
.
A
rainy
day
drove
him
to
the
circulating
library
,
and
as
he
was
looking
along
the
shelves
for
something
readable
a
voice
near
at
hand
asked
the
attendant
if
he
had
anything
'
by
Edwin
Reardon
.
'
The
novelist
turned
in
astonishment
;
that
any
casual
mortal
should
inquire
for
his
books
seemed
incredible
.
Of
course
there
was
nothing
by
that
author
in
the
library
,
and
he
who
had
asked
the
question
walked
out
again
.
On
the
morrow
Reardon
encountered
this
same
man
at
a
lonely
part
of
the
shore
;
he
looked
at
him
,
and
spoke
a
word
or
two
of
common
civility
;
they
got
into
conversation
,
with
the
result
that
Edwin
told
the
story
of
yesterday
.
The
stranger
introduced
himself
as
Harold
Biffen
,
an
author
in
a
small
way
,
and
a
teacher
whenever
he
could
get
pupils
;
an
abusive
review
had
interested
him
in
Reardon
's
novels
,
but
as
yet
he
knew
nothing
of
them
but
the
names
.
Their
tastes
were
found
to
be
in
many
respects
sympathetic
,
and
after
returning
to
London
they
saw
each
other
frequently
.
Biffen
was
always
in
dire
poverty
,
and
lived
in
the
oddest
places
;
he
had
seen
harder
trials
than
even
Reardon
himself
.
The
teaching
by
which
he
partly
lived
was
of
a
kind
quite
unknown
to
the
respectable
tutorial
world
.
In
these
days
of
examinations
,
numbers
of
men
in
a
poor
position
—
clerks
chiefly
—
conceive
a
hope
that
by
'
passing
'
this
,
that
,
or
the
other
formal
test
they
may
open
for
themselves
a
new
career
.
Not
a
few
such
persons
nourish
preposterous
ambitions
;
there
are
warehouse
clerks
privately
preparing
(
without
any
means
or
prospect
of
them
)
for
a
call
to
the
Bar
,
drapers
'
assistants
who
'
go
in
'
for
the
preliminary
examination
of
the
College
of
Surgeons
,
and
untaught
men
innumerable
who
desire
to
procure
enough
show
of
education
to
be
eligible
for
a
curacy
.
Candidates
of
this
stamp
frequently
advertise
in
the
newspapers
for
cheap
tuition
,
or
answer
advertisements
which
are
intended
to
appeal
to
them
;
they
pay
from
sixpence
to
half
a
crown
an
hour
—
rarely
as
much
as
the
latter
sum
.
Occasionally
it
happened
that
Harold
Biffen
had
three
or
four
such
pupils
in
hand
,
and
extraordinary
stories
he
could
draw
from
his
large
experience
in
this
sphere
.
Then
as
to
his
authorship
.
—
But
shortly
after
the
discussion
of
Greek
metres
he
fell
upon
the
subject
of
his
literary
projects
,
and
,
by
no
means
for
the
first
time
,
developed
the
theory
on
which
he
worked
.
'
I
have
thought
of
a
new
way
of
putting
it
.
What
I
really
aim
at
is
an
absolute
realism
in
the
sphere
of
the
ignobly
decent
.
The
field
,
as
I
understand
it
,
is
a
new
one
;
I
do
n't
know
any
writer
who
has
treated
ordinary
vulgar
life
with
fidelity
and
seriousness
.
Zola
writes
deliberate
tragedies
;
his
vilest
figures
become
heroic
from
the
place
they
fill
in
a
strongly
imagined
drama
.
I
want
to
deal
with
the
essentially
unheroic
,
with
the
day-to-day
life
of
that
vast
majority
of
people
who
are
at
the
mercy
of
paltry
circumstance
.
Dickens
understood
the
possibility
of
such
work
,
but
his
tendency
to
melodrama
on
the
one
hand
,
and
his
humour
on
the
other
,
prevented
him
from
thinking
of
it
.
An
instance
,
now
.
As
I
came
along
by
Regent
's
Park
half
an
hour
ago
a
man
and
a
girl
were
walking
close
in
front
of
me
,
love-making
;
I
passed
them
slowly
and
heard
a
good
deal
of
their
talk
—
it
was
part
of
the
situation
that
they
should
pay
no
heed
to
a
stranger
's
proximity
.
Now
,
such
a
love-scene
as
that
has
absolutely
never
been
written
down
;
it
was
entirely
decent
,
yet
vulgar
to
the
nth
power
.
Dickens
would
have
made
it
ludicrous
—
a
gross
injustice
.
Other
men
who
deal
with
low-class
life
would
perhaps
have
preferred
idealising
it
—
an
absurdity
.
For
my
own
part
,
I
am
going
to
reproduce
it
verbatim
,
without
one
single
impertinent
suggestion
of
any
point
of
view
save
that
of
honest
reporting
.
The
result
will
be
something
unutterably
tedious
.
Precisely
.
That
is
the
stamp
of
the
ignobly
decent
life
.
If
it
were
anything
but
tedious
it
would
be
untrue
.
I
speak
,
of
course
,
of
its
effect
upon
the
ordinary
reader
.
'
'
I
could
n't
do
it
,
'
said
Reardon
.
'
Certainly
you
could
n't
.
You
—
well
,
you
are
a
psychological
realist
in
the
sphere
of
culture
.
You
are
impatient
of
vulgar
circumstances
.
'
'
In
a
great
measure
because
my
life
has
been
martyred
by
them
.
'
'
And
for
that
very
same
reason
I
delight
in
them
,
'
cried
Biffen
.
'
You
are
repelled
by
what
has
injured
you
;
I
am
attracted
by
it
.
This
divergence
is
very
interesting
;
but
for
that
,
we
should
have
resembled
each
other
so
closely
.
You
know
that
by
temper
we
are
rabid
idealists
,
both
of
us
.
'
'
I
suppose
so
.
'
'
But
let
me
go
on
.
I
want
,
among
other
things
,
to
insist
upon
the
fateful
power
of
trivial
incidents
.
No
one
has
yet
dared
to
do
this
seriously
.
It
has
often
been
done
in
farce
,
and
that
's
why
farcical
writing
so
often
makes
one
melancholy
.
You
know
my
stock
instances
of
the
kind
of
thing
I
mean
.
There
was
poor
Allen
,
who
lost
the
most
valuable
opportunity
of
his
life
because
he
had
n't
a
clean
shirt
to
put
on
;
and
Williamson
,
who
would
probably
have
married
that
rich
girl
but
for
the
grain
of
dust
that
got
into
his
eye
and
made
him
unable
to
say
or
do
anything
at
the
critical
moment
.
'
Reardon
burst
into
a
roar
of
laughter
.
'
There
you
are
!
'
cried
Biffen
,
with
friendly
annoyance
.
'
You
take
the
conventional
view
.
If
you
wrote
of
these
things
you
would
represent
them
as
laughable
.
'
'
They
are
laughable
,
'
asserted
the
other
,
'
however
serious
to
the
persons
concerned
.
The
mere
fact
of
grave
issues
in
life
depending
on
such
paltry
things
is
monstrously
ludicrous
.
Life
is
a
huge
farce
,
and
the
advantage
of
possessing
a
sense
of
humour
is
that
it
enables
one
to
defy
fate
with
mocking
laughter
.
'
'
That
's
all
very
well
,
but
it
is
n't
an
original
view
.
I
am
not
lacking
in
sense
of
humour
,
but
I
prefer
to
treat
these
aspects
of
life
from
an
impartial
standpoint
.
The
man
who
laughs
takes
the
side
of
a
cruel
omnipotence
,
if
one
can
imagine
such
a
thing
.
I
want
to
take
no
side
at
all
;
simply
to
say
,
Look
,
this
is
the
kind
of
thing
that
happens
.
'
'
I
admire
your
honesty
,
Biffen
,
'
said
Reardon
,
sighing
.
'
You
will
never
sell
work
of
this
kind
,
yet
you
have
the
courage
to
go
on
with
it
because
you
believe
in
it
.
'
'
I
do
n't
know
;
I
may
perhaps
sell
it
some
day
.
'
'
In
the
meantime
,
'
said
Reardon
,
laying
down
his
pipe
,
'
suppose
we
eat
a
morsel
of
something
.
I
'm
rather
hungry
.
'
In
the
early
days
of
his
marriage
Reardon
was
wont
to
offer
the
friends
who
looked
in
on
Sunday
evening
a
substantial
supper
;
by
degrees
the
meal
had
grown
simpler
,
until
now
,
in
the
depth
of
his
poverty
,
he
made
no
pretence
of
hospitable
entertainment
.
It
was
only
because
he
knew
that
Biffen
as
often
as
not
had
nothing
whatever
to
eat
that
he
did
not
hesitate
to
offer
him
a
slice
of
bread
and
butter
and
a
cup
of
tea
.
They
went
into
the
back
room
,
and
over
the
Spartan
fare
continued
to
discuss
aspects
of
fiction
.
'
I
shall
never
,
'
said
Biffen
,
'
write
anything
like
a
dramatic
scene
.
Such
things
do
happen
in
life
,
but
so
very
rarely
that
they
are
nothing
to
my
purpose
.
Even
when
they
happen
,
by-the-by
,
it
is
in
a
shape
that
would
be
useless
to
the
ordinary
novelist
;
he
would
have
to
cut
away
this
circumstance
,
and
add
that
.
Why
?
I
should
like
to
know
.
Such
conventionalism
results
from
stage
necessities
.
Fiction
has
n't
yet
outgrown
the
influence
of
the
stage
on
which
it
originated
.
Whatever
a
man
writes
for
effect
is
wrong
and
bad
.
'
'
Only
in
your
view
.
There
may
surely
exist
such
a
thing
as
the
art
of
fiction
.
'
'
It
is
worked
out
.
We
must
have
a
rest
from
it
.
You
,
now
—
the
best
things
you
have
done
are
altogether
in
conflict
with
novelistic
conventionalities
.
It
was
because
that
blackguard
review
of
"
On
Neutral
Ground
"
clumsily
hinted
this
that
I
first
thought
of
you
with
interest
.
No
,
no
;
let
us
copy
life
.
When
the
man
and
woman
are
to
meet
for
a
great
scene
of
passion
,
let
it
all
be
frustrated
by
one
or
other
of
them
having
a
bad
cold
in
the
head
,
and
so
on
.
Let
the
pretty
girl
get
a
disfiguring
pimple
on
her
nose
just
before
the
ball
at
which
she
is
going
to
shine
.
Show
the
numberless
repulsive
features
of
common
decent
life
.
Seriously
,
coldly
;
not
a
hint
of
facetiousness
,
or
the
thing
becomes
different
.
'
About
eight
o'clock
Reardon
heard
his
wife
's
knock
at
the
door
.
On
opening
,
he
saw
not
only
Amy
and
the
servant
,
the
latter
holding
Willie
in
her
arms
,
but
with
them
Jasper
Milvain
.
'
I
have
been
at
Mrs.
Yule
's
,
'
Jasper
explained
as
he
came
in
.
'
Have
you
anyone
here
?
'
'
Biffen
.
'
'
Ah
,
then
we
'll
discuss
realism
.
'
'
That
's
over
for
the
evening
.
Greek
metres
also
.
'
'
Thank
Heaven
!
'
The
three
men
seated
themselves
with
joking
and
laughter
,
and
the
smoke
of
their
pipes
gathered
thickly
in
the
little
room
.
It
was
half
an
hour
before
Amy
joined
them
.
Tobacco
was
no
disturbance
to
her
,
and
she
enjoyed
the
kind
of
talk
that
was
held
on
these
occasions
;
but
it
annoyed
her
that
she
could
no
longer
play
the
hostess
at
a
merry
supper-table
.
'
Why
ever
are
you
sitting
in
your
overcoat
,
Mr.
Biffen
?
'
were
her
first
words
when
she
entered
.
'
Please
excuse
me
,
Mrs.
Reardon
.
It
happens
to
be
more
convenient
this
evening
.
'
She
was
puzzled
,
but
a
glance
from
her
husband
warned
her
not
to
pursue
the
subject
.
Biffen
always
behaved
to
Amy
with
a
sincerity
of
respect
which
had
made
him
a
favourite
with
her
.
To
him
,
poor
fellow
,
Reardon
seemed
supremely
blessed
.
That
a
struggling
man
of
letters
should
have
been
able
to
marry
,
and
such
a
wife
,
was
miraculous
in
Biffen
's
eyes
.
A
woman
's
love
was
to
him
the
unattainable
ideal
;
already
thirty-five
years
old
,
he
had
no
prospect
of
ever
being
rich
enough
to
assure
himself
a
daily
dinner
;
marriage
was
wildly
out
of
the
question
.
Sitting
here
,
he
found
it
very
difficult
not
to
gaze
at
Amy
with
uncivil
persistency
.
Seldom
in
his
life
had
he
conversed
with
educated
women
,
and
the
sound
of
this
clear
voice
was
always
more
delightful
to
him
than
any
music
.
Amy
took
a
place
near
to
him
,
and
talked
in
her
most
charming
way
of
such
things
as
she
knew
interested
him
.
Biffen
's
deferential
attitude
as
he
listened
and
replied
was
in
strong
contrast
with
the
careless
ease
which
marked
Jasper
Milvain
.
The
realist
would
never
smoke
in
Amy
's
presence
,
but
Jasper
puffed
jovial
clouds
even
whilst
she
was
conversing
with
him
.
'
Whelpdale
came
to
see
me
last
night
,
'
remarked
Milvain
,
presently
.
'
His
novel
is
refused
on
all
hands
.
He
talks
of
earning
a
living
as
a
commission
agent
for
some
sewing-machine
people
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
understand
how
his
book
should
be
positively
refused
,
'
said
Reardon
.
'
The
last
was
n't
altogether
a
failure
.
'
'
Very
nearly
.
And
this
one
consists
of
nothing
but
a
series
of
conversations
between
two
people
.
It
is
really
a
dialogue
,
not
a
novel
at
all
.
He
read
me
some
twenty
pages
,
and
I
no
longer
wondered
that
he
could
n't
sell
it
.
'
'
Oh
,
but
it
has
considerable
merit
,
'
put
in
Biffen
.
'
The
talk
is
remarkably
true
.
'
'
But
what
's
the
good
of
talk
that
leads
to
nothing
?
'
protested
Jasper
.
'
It
's
a
bit
of
real
life
.
'
'
Yes
,
but
it
has
no
market
value
.
You
may
write
what
you
like
,
so
long
as
people
are
willing
to
read
you
.
Whelpdale
's
a
clever
fellow
,
but
he
ca
n't
hit
a
practical
line
.
'
'
Like
some
other
people
I
have
heard
of
,
'
said
Reardon
,
laughing
.
'
But
the
odd
thing
is
,
that
he
always
strikes
one
as
practical-minded
.
Do
n't
you
feel
that
,
Mrs.
Reardon
?
'
He
and
Amy
talked
for
a
few
minutes
,
and
Reardon
,
seemingly
lost
in
meditation
,
now
and
then
observed
them
from
the
corner
of
his
eye
.
At
eleven
o'clock
husband
and
wife
were
alone
again
.
'
You
do
n't
mean
to
say
,
'
exclaimed
Amy
,
'
that
Biffen
has
sold
his
coat
?
'
'
Or
pawned
it
.
'
'
But
why
not
the
overcoat
?
'
'
Partly
,
I
should
think
,
because
it
's
the
warmer
of
the
two
;
partly
,
perhaps
,
because
the
other
would
fetch
more
.
'
'
That
poor
man
will
die
of
starvation
some
day
,
Edwin
.
'
'
I
think
it
not
impossible
.
'
'
I
hope
you
gave
him
something
to
eat
?
'
'
Oh
yes
.
But
I
could
see
he
did
n't
like
to
take
as
much
as
he
wanted
.
I
do
n't
think
of
him
with
so
much
pity
as
I
used
to
;
that
's
a
result
of
suffering
oneself
.
'
Amy
set
her
lips
and
sighed
.
CHAPTER
XI
RESPITE
The
last
volume
was
written
in
fourteen
days
.
In
this
achievement
Reardon
rose
almost
to
heroic
pitch
,
for
he
had
much
to
contend
with
beyond
the
mere
labour
of
composition
.
Scarcely
had
he
begun
when
a
sharp
attack
of
lumbago
fell
upon
him
;
for
two
or
three
days
it
was
torture
to
support
himself
at
the
desk
,
and
he
moved
about
like
a
cripple
.
Upon
this
ensued
headaches
,
sore-throat
,
general
enfeeblement
.
And
before
the
end
of
the
fortnight
it
was
necessary
to
think
of
raising
another
small
sum
of
money
;
he
took
his
watch
to
the
pawnbroker
's
(
you
can
imagine
that
it
would
not
stand
as
security
for
much
)
,
and
sold
a
few
more
books
.
All
this
notwithstanding
,
here
was
the
novel
at
length
finished
.
When
he
had
written
'
The
End
'
he
lay
back
,
closed
his
eyes
,
and
let
time
pass
in
blankness
for
a
quarter
of
an
hour
.
It
remained
to
determine
the
title
.
But
his
brain
refused
another
effort
;
after
a
few
minutes
'
feeble
search
he
simply
took
the
name
of
the
chief
female
character
,
Margaret
Home
.
That
must
do
for
the
book
.
Already
,
with
the
penning
of
the
last
word
,
all
its
scenes
,
personages
,
dialogues
had
slipped
away
into
oblivion
;
he
knew
and
cared
nothing
more
about
them
.
'
Amy
,
you
will
have
to
correct
the
proofs
for
me
.
Never
as
long
as
I
live
will
I
look
upon
a
page
of
this
accursed
novel
.
It
has
all
but
killed
me
.
'
'
The
point
is
,
'
replied
Amy
,
'
that
here
we
have
it
complete
.
Pack
it
up
and
take
it
to
the
publishers
'
to-morrow
morning
.
'
'
I
will
.
'
'
And
—
you
will
ask
them
to
advance
you
a
few
pounds
?
'
'
I
must
.
'
But
that
undertaking
was
almost
as
hard
to
face
as
a
re-writing
of
the
last
volume
would
have
been
.
Reardon
had
such
superfluity
of
sensitiveness
that
,
for
his
own
part
,
he
would
far
rather
have
gone
hungry
than
ask
for
money
not
legally
his
due
.
To-day
there
was
no
choice
.
In
the
ordinary
course
of
business
it
would
be
certainly
a
month
before
he
heard
the
publishers
'
terms
,
and
perhaps
the
Christmas
season
might
cause
yet
more
delay
.
Without
borrowing
,
he
could
not
provide
for
the
expenses
of
more
than
another
week
or
two
.
His
parcel
under
his
arm
,
he
entered
the
ground-floor
office
,
and
desired
to
see
that
member
of
the
firm
with
whom
he
had
previously
had
personal
relations
.
This
gentleman
was
not
in
town
;
he
would
be
away
for
a
few
days
.
Reardon
left
the
manuscript
,
and
came
out
into
the
street
again
.
He
crossed
,
and
looked
up
at
the
publishers
'
windows
from
the
opposite
pavement
.
'
Do
they
suspect
in
what
wretched
circumstances
I
am
?
Would
it
surprise
them
to
know
all
that
depends
upon
that
budget
of
paltry
scribbling
?
I
suppose
not
;
it
must
be
a
daily
experience
with
them
.
Well
,
I
must
write
a
begging
letter
.
'
It
was
raining
and
windy
.
He
went
slowly
homewards
,
and
was
on
the
point
of
entering
the
public
door
of
the
flats
when
his
uneasiness
became
so
great
that
he
turned
and
walked
past
.
If
he
went
in
,
he
must
at
once
write
his
appeal
for
money
,
and
he
felt
that
he
could
not
.
The
degradation
seemed
too
great
.
Was
there
no
way
of
getting
over
the
next
few
weeks
?
Rent
,
of
course
,
would
be
due
at
Christmas
,
but
that
payment
might
be
postponed
;
it
was
only
a
question
of
buying
food
and
fuel
.
Amy
had
offered
to
ask
her
mother
for
a
few
pounds
;
it
would
be
cowardly
to
put
this
task
upon
her
now
that
he
had
promised
to
meet
the
difficulty
himself
.
What
man
in
all
London
could
and
would
lend
him
money
?
He
reviewed
the
list
of
his
acquaintances
,
but
there
was
only
one
to
whom
he
could
appeal
with
the
slightest
hope
—
that
was
Carter
.
Half
an
hour
later
he
entered
that
same
hospital
door
through
which
,
some
years
ago
,
he
had
passed
as
a
half-starved
applicant
for
work
.
The
matron
met
him
.
'
Is
Mr.
Carter
here
?
'
'
No
,
sir
.
But
we
expect
him
any
minute
.
Will
you
wait
?
'
He
entered
the
familiar
office
,
and
sat
down
.
At
the
table
where
he
had
been
wont
to
work
,
a
young
clerk
was
writing
.
If
only
all
the
events
of
the
last
few
years
could
be
undone
,
and
he
,
with
no
soul
dependent
upon
him
,
be
once
more
earning
his
pound
a
week
in
this
room
!
What
a
happy
man
he
was
in
those
days
!
Nearly
half
an
hour
passed
.
It
is
the
common
experience
of
beggars
to
have
to
wait
.
Then
Carter
came
in
with
quick
step
;
he
wore
a
heavy
ulster
of
the
latest
fashion
,
new
gloves
,
a
resplendent
silk
hat
;
his
cheeks
were
rosy
from
the
east
wind
.
'
Ha
,
Reardon
!
How
do
?
how
do
?
Delighted
to
see
you
!
'
'
Are
you
very
busy
?
'
'
Well
,
no
,
not
particularly
.
A
few
cheques
to
sign
,
and
we
're
just
getting
out
our
Christmas
appeals
.
You
remember
?
'
He
laughed
gaily
.
There
was
a
remarkable
freedom
from
snobbishness
in
this
young
man
;
the
fact
of
Reardon
's
intellectual
superiority
had
long
ago
counteracted
Carter
's
social
prejudices
.
'
I
should
like
to
have
a
word
with
you
.
'
'
Right
you
are
!
'
They
went
into
a
small
inner
room
.
Reardon
's
pulse
beat
at
fever-rate
;
his
tongue
was
cleaving
to
his
palate
.
'
What
is
it
,
old
man
?
'
asked
the
secretary
,
seating
himself
and
flinging
one
of
his
legs
over
the
other
.
'
You
look
rather
seedy
,
do
you
know
.
Why
the
deuce
do
n't
you
and
your
wife
look
us
up
now
and
then
?
'
'
I
've
had
a
hard
pull
to
finish
my
novel
.
'
'
Finished
,
is
it
?
I
'm
glad
to
hear
that
.
When
'll
it
be
out
?
I
'll
send
scores
of
people
to
Mudie
's
after
it
.
'
'
Thanks
;
but
I
do
n't
think
much
of
it
,
to
tell
you
the
truth
.
'
'
Oh
,
we
know
what
that
means
.
'
Reardon
was
talking
like
an
automaton
.
It
seemed
to
him
that
he
turned
screws
and
pressed
levers
for
the
utterance
of
his
next
words
.
'
I
may
as
well
say
at
once
what
I
have
come
for
.
Could
you
lend
me
ten
pounds
for
a
month
—
in
fact
,
until
I
get
the
money
for
my
book
?
'
The
secretary
's
countenance
fell
,
though
not
to
that
expression
of
utter
coldness
which
would
have
come
naturally
under
the
circumstances
to
a
great
many
vivacious
men
.
He
seemed
genuinely
embarrassed
.
'
By
Jove
!
I
—
confound
it
!
To
tell
you
the
truth
,
I
have
n't
ten
pounds
to
lend
.
Upon
my
word
I
have
n't
,
Reardon
!
These
infernal
housekeeping
expenses
!
I
do
n't
mind
telling
you
,
old
man
,
that
Edith
and
I
have
been
pushing
the
pace
rather
.
'
He
laughed
,
and
thrust
his
hands
down
into
his
trousers-pockets
.
'
We
pay
such
a
darned
rent
,
you
know
—
hundred
and
twenty-five
.
We
've
only
just
been
saying
we
should
have
to
draw
it
mild
for
the
rest
of
the
winter
.
But
I
'm
infernally
sorry
;
upon
my
word
I
am
.
'
'
And
I
am
sorry
to
have
annoyed
you
by
the
unseasonable
request
.
'
'
Devilish
seasonable
,
Reardon
,
I
assure
you
!
'
cried
the
secretary
,
and
roared
at
his
joke
.
It
put
him
into
a
better
temper
than
ever
,
and
he
said
at
length
:
'
I
suppose
a
fiver
would
n't
be
much
use
?
—
For
a
month
,
you
say
?
—
I
might
manage
a
fiver
,
I
think
.
'
'
It
would
be
very
useful
.
But
on
no
account
if
—
'
'
No
,
no
;
I
could
manage
a
fiver
,
for
a
month
.
Shall
I
give
you
a
cheque
?
'
'
I
'm
ashamed
—
'
'
Not
a
bit
of
it
!
I
'll
go
and
write
the
cheque
.
'
Reardon
's
face
was
burning
.
Of
the
conversation
that
followed
when
Carter
again
presented
himself
he
never
recalled
a
word
.
The
bit
of
paper
was
crushed
together
in
his
hand
.
Out
in
the
street
again
,
he
all
but
threw
it
away
,
dreaming
for
the
moment
that
it
was
a
'
but
ticket
or
a
patent
medicine
bill
.
He
reached
home
much
after
the
dinner
hour
.
Amy
was
surprised
at
his
long
absence
.
'
Got
any
thing
?
'
she
asked
.
'
Yes
.
'
It
was
half
his
intention
to
deceive
her
,
to
say
that
the
publishers
had
advanced
him
five
pounds
.
But
that
would
be
his
first
word
of
untruth
to
Amy
,
and
why
should
he
be
guilty
of
it
?
He
told
her
all
that
had
happened
.
The
result
of
this
frankness
was
something
that
he
had
not
anticipated
;
Amy
exhibited
profound
vexation
.
'
Oh
,
you
should
n't
have
done
that
!
'
she
exclaimed
.
'
Why
did
n't
you
come
home
and
tell
me
?
I
would
have
gone
to
mother
at
once
.
'
'
But
does
it
matter
?
'
'
Of
course
it
does
,
'
she
replied
sharply
.
'
Mr
.
Carter
will
tell
his
wife
,
and
how
pleasant
that
is
!
'
'
I
never
thought
of
that
.
And
perhaps
it
would
n't
have
seemed
to
me
so
annoying
as
it
does
to
you
.
'
'
Very
likely
not
.
'
She
turned
abruptly
away
,
and
stood
at
a
distance
in
gloomy
muteness
.
'
Well
,
'
she
said
at
length
,
'
there
's
no
helping
it
now
.
Come
and
have
your
dinner
.
'
'
You
have
taken
away
my
appetite
.
'
Nonsense
!
I
suppose
you
're
dying
of
hunger
.
'
They
had
a
very
uncomfortable
.
meal
,
exchanging
few
words
.
On
Amy
's
face
was
a
look
more
resembling
bad
temper
than
anything
Reardon
had
ever
seen
there
.
After
dinner
he
went
and
sat
alone
in
the
study
.
Amy
did
not
come
near
him
.
He
grew
stubbornly
angry
;
remembering
the
pain
he
had
gone
through
,
he
felt
that
Amy
's
behaviour
to
him
was
cruel
.
She
must
come
and
speak
when
she
would
.
At
six
o'clock
she
showed
her
face
in
the
doorway
and
asked
if
he
would
come
to
tea
.
'
Thank
you
,
'
he
replied
,
'
I
had
rather
stay
here
.
'
'
As
you
please
.
'
And
he
sat
alone
until
about
nine
.
It
was
only
then
he
recollected
that
he
must
send
a
note
to
the
publishers
,
calling
their
attention
to
the
parcel
he
had
left
.
He
wrote
it
,
and
closed
with
a
request
that
they
would
let
him
hear
as
soon
as
they
conveniently
could
.
As
he
was
putting
on
his
hat
and
coat
to
go
out
and
post
the
letter
Amy
opened
the
dining-room
door
.
'
You
're
going
out
?
'
'
Yes
.
'
'
Shall
you
be
long
?
'
'
I
think
not
.
'
He
was
away
only
a
few
minutes
.
On
returning
he
went
first
of
all
into
the
study
,
but
the
thought
of
Amy
alone
in
the
other
room
would
not
let
him
rest
.
He
looked
in
and
saw
that
she
was
sitting
without
a
fire
.
'
You
ca
n't
stay
here
in
the
cold
,
Amy
.
'
'
I
'm
afraid
I
must
get
used
to
it
,
'
she
replied
,
affecting
to
be
closely
engaged
upon
some
sewing
.
That
strength
of
character
which
it
had
always
delighted
him
to
read
in
her
features
was
become
an
ominous
hardness
.
He
felt
his
heart
sink
as
he
looked
at
her
.
'
Is
poverty
going
to
have
the
usual
result
in
our
case
?
'
he
asked
,
drawing
nearer
.
'
I
never
pretended
that
I
could
be
indifferent
to
it
.
'
'
Still
,
do
n't
you
care
to
try
and
resist
it
?
'
She
gave
no
answer
.
As
usual
in
conversation
with
an
aggrieved
woman
it
was
necessary
to
go
back
from
the
general
to
the
particular
.
'
I
'm
afraid
,
'
he
said
,
'
that
the
Carters
already
knew
pretty
well
how
things
were
going
with
us
.
'
'
That
's
a
very
different
thing
.
But
when
it
comes
to
asking
them
for
money
—
'
'
I
'm
very
sorry
.
I
would
rather
have
done
anything
if
I
had
known
how
it
would
annoy
you
.
'
'
If
we
have
to
wait
a
month
,
five
pounds
will
be
very
little
use
to
us
.
'
She
detailed
all
manner
of
expenses
that
had
to
be
met
—
outlay
there
was
no
possibility
of
avoiding
so
long
as
their
life
was
maintained
on
its
present
basis
.
'
However
,
you
need
n't
trouble
any
more
about
it
.
I
'll
see
to
it
.
Now
you
are
free
from
your
book
try
to
rest
.
'
'
Come
and
sit
by
the
fire
.
There
's
small
chance
of
rest
for
me
if
we
are
thinking
unkindly
of
each
other
.
'
A
doleful
Christmas
.
Week
after
week
went
by
and
Reardon
knew
that
Amy
must
have
exhausted
the
money
he
had
given
her
.
But
she
made
no
more
demands
upon
him
,
and
necessaries
were
paid
for
in
the
usual
way
.
He
suffered
from
a
sense
of
humiliation
;
sometimes
he
found
it
difficult
to
look
in
his
wife
's
face
.
When
the
publishers
'
letter
came
it
contained
an
offer
of
seventy-five
pounds
for
the
copyright
of
'
Margaret
Home
,
'
twenty-five
more
to
be
paid
if
the
sale
in
three-volume
form
should
reach
a
certain
number
of
copies
.
Here
was
failure
put
into
unmistakable
figures
.
Reardon
said
to
himself
that
it
was
all
over
with
his
profession
of
authorship
.
The
book
could
not
possibly
succeed
even
to
the
point
of
completing
his
hundred
pounds
;
it
would
meet
with
universal
contempt
,
and
indeed
deserved
nothing
better
.
'
Shall
you
accept
this
?
'
asked
Amy
,
after
dreary
silence
.
'
No
one
else
would
offer
terms
as
good
.
'
'
Will
they
pay
you
at
once
?
'
'
I
must
ask
them
to
.
'
Well
,
it
was
seventy-five
pounds
in
hand
.
The
cheque
came
as
soon
as
it
was
requested
,
and
Reardon
's
face
brightened
for
the
moment
.
Blessed
money
!
root
of
all
good
,
until
the
world
invent
some
saner
economy
.
'
How
much
do
you
owe
your
mother
?
'
he
inquired
,
without
looking
at
Amy
.
'
Six
pounds
,
'
she
answered
coldly
.
'
And
five
to
Carter
;
and
rent
,
twelve
pounds
ten
.
We
shall
have
a
matter
of
fifty
pounds
to
go
on
with
.
'
CHAPTER
XII
WORK
WITHOUT
HOPE
The
prudent
course
was
so
obvious
that
he
marvelled
at
Amy
's
failing
to
suggest
it
.
For
people
in
their
circumstances
to
be
paying
a
rent
of
fifty
pounds
when
a
home
could
be
found
for
half
the
money
was
recklessness
;
there
would
be
no
difficulty
in
letting
the
flat
for
this
last
year
of
their
lease
,
and
the
cost
of
removal
would
be
trifling
.
The
mental
relief
of
such
a
change
might
enable
him
to
front
with
courage
a
problem
in
any
case
very
difficult
,
and
,
as
things
were
,
desperate
.
Three
months
ago
,
in
a
moment
of
profoundest
misery
,
he
had
proposed
this
step
;
courage
failed
him
to
speak
of
it
again
,
Amy
's
look
and
voice
were
too
vivid
in
his
memory
.
Was
she
not
capable
of
such
a
sacrifice
for
his
sake
?
Did
she
prefer
to
let
him
bear
all
the
responsibility
of
whatever
might
result
from
a
futile
struggle
to
keep
up
appearances
?
Between
him
and
her
there
was
no
longer
perfect
confidence
.
Her
silence
meant
reproach
,
and
—
whatever
might
have
been
the
case
before
—
there
was
no
doubt
that
she
now
discussed
him
with
her
mother
,
possibly
with
other
people
.
It
was
not
likely
that
she
concealed
his
own
opinion
of
the
book
he
had
just
finished
;
all
their
acquaintances
would
be
prepared
to
greet
its
publication
with
private
scoffing
or
with
mournful
shaking
of
the
head
.
His
feeling
towards
Amy
entered
upon
a
new
phase
.
The
stability
of
his
love
was
a
source
of
pain
;
condemning
himself
,
he
felt
at
the
same
time
that
he
was
wronged
.
A
coldness
which
was
far
from
representing
the
truth
began
to
affect
his
manner
and
speech
,
and
Amy
did
not
seem
to
notice
it
,
at
all
events
she
made
no
kind
of
protest
.
They
no
longer
talked
of
the
old
subjects
,
but
of
those
mean
concerns
of
material
life
which
formerly
they
had
agreed
to
dismiss
as
quickly
as
possible
.
Their
relations
to
each
other
—
not
long
ago
an
inexhaustible
topic
—
would
not
bear
spoken
comment
;
both
were
too
conscious
of
the
danger-signal
when
they
looked
that
way
.
In
the
time
of
waiting
for
the
publishers
'
offer
,
and
now
again
when
he
was
asking
himself
how
he
should
use
the
respite
granted
him
,
Reardon
spent
his
days
at
the
British
Museum
.
He
could
not
read
to
much
purpose
,
but
it
was
better
to
sit
here
among
strangers
than
seem
to
be
idling
under
Amy
's
glance
.
Sick
of
imaginative
writing
,
he
turned
to
the
studies
which
had
always
been
most
congenial
,
and
tried
to
shape
out
a
paper
or
two
like
those
he
had
formerly
disposed
of
to
editors
.
Among
his
unused
material
lay
a
mass
of
notes
he
had
made
in
a
reading
of
Diogenes
Laertius
,
and
it
seemed
to
him
now
that
he
might
make
something
saleable
out
of
these
anecdotes
of
the
philosophers
.
In
a
happier
mood
he
could
have
written
delightfully
on
such
a
subject
—
not
learnedly
,
but
in
the
strain
of
a
modern
man
whose
humour
and
sensibility
find
free
play
among
the
classic
ghosts
;
even
now
he
was
able
to
recover
something
of
the
light
touch
which
had
given
value
to
his
published
essays
.
Meanwhile
the
first
number
of
The
Current
had
appeared
,
and
Jasper
Milvain
had
made
a
palpable
hit
.
Amy
spoke
very
often
of
the
article
called
'
Typical
Readers
,
'
and
her
interest
in
its
author
was
freely
manifested
.
Whenever
a
mention
of
Jasper
came
under
her
notice
she
read
it
out
to
her
husband
.
Reardon
smiled
and
appeared
glad
,
but
he
did
not
care
to
discuss
Milvain
with
the
same
frankness
as
formerly
.
One
evening
at
the
end
of
January
he
told
Amy
what
he
had
been
writing
at
the
Museum
,
and
asked
her
if
she
would
care
to
hear
it
read
.
'
I
began
to
wonder
what
you
were
doing
,
'
she
replied
.
'
Then
why
did
n't
you
ask
me
?
'
'
I
was
rather
afraid
to
.
'
'
Why
afraid
?
'
'
It
would
have
seemed
like
reminding
you
that
—
you
know
what
I
mean
.
'
'
That
a
month
or
two
more
will
see
us
at
the
same
crisis
again
.
Still
,
I
had
rather
you
had
shown
an
interest
in
my
doings
.
'
After
a
pause
Amy
asked
:
'
Do
you
think
you
can
get
a
paper
of
this
kind
accepted
?
'
'
It
is
n't
impossible
.
I
think
it
's
rather
well
done
.
Let
me
read
you
a
page
—
'
'
Where
will
you
send
it
?
'
she
interrupted
.
'
To
The
Wayside
.
'
'
Why
not
try
The
Current
?
Ask
Milvain
to
introduce
you
to
Mr.
Fadge
.
They
pay
much
better
,
you
know
.
'
'
But
this
is
n't
so
well
suited
for
Fadge
.
And
I
much
prefer
to
be
independent
,
as
long
as
it
's
possible
.
'
'
That
's
one
of
your
faults
,
Edwin
,
'
remarked
his
wife
,
mildly
.
'
It
's
only
the
strongest
men
that
can
make
their
way
independently
.
You
ought
to
use
every
means
that
offers
.
'
'
Seeing
that
I
am
so
weak
?
'
'
I
did
n't
think
it
would
offend
you
.
I
only
meant
—
'
'
No
,
no
;
you
are
quite
right
.
Certainly
,
I
am
one
of
the
men
who
need
all
the
help
they
can
get
.
But
I
assure
you
,
this
thing
wo
n't
do
for
The
Current
.
'
'
What
a
pity
you
will
go
back
to
those
musty
old
times
!
Now
think
of
that
article
of
Milvain
's
.
If
only
you
could
do
something
of
that
kind
!
What
do
people
care
about
Diogenes
and
his
tub
and
his
lantern
?
'
'
My
dear
girl
,
Diogenes
Laertius
had
neither
tub
nor
lantern
,
that
I
know
of
.
You
are
making
a
mistake
;
but
it
does
n't
matter
.
'
'
No
,
I
do
n't
think
it
does
.
'
The
caustic
note
was
not
very
pleasant
on
Amy
's
lips
.
'
Whoever
he
was
,
the
mass
of
readers
will
be
frightened
by
his
name
.
'
'
Well
,
we
have
to
recognise
that
the
mass
of
readers
will
never
care
for
anything
I
do
.
'
'
You
will
never
convince
me
that
you
could
n't
write
in
a
popular
way
if
you
tried
.
I
'm
sure
you
are
quite
as
clever
as
Milvain
—
'
Reardon
made
an
impatient
gesture
.
'
Do
leave
Milvain
aside
for
a
little
!
He
and
I
are
as
unlike
as
two
men
could
be
.
What
's
the
use
of
constantly
comparing
us
?
'
Amy
looked
at
him
.
He
had
never
spoken
to
her
so
brusquely
.
'
How
can
you
say
that
I
am
constantly
comparing
you
?
'
'
If
not
in
spoken
words
,
then
in
your
thoughts
.
'
'
That
's
not
a
very
nice
thing
to
say
,
Edwin
.
'
'
You
make
it
so
unmistakable
,
Amy
.
What
I
mean
is
,
that
you
are
always
regretting
the
difference
between
him
and
me
.
You
lament
that
I
ca
n't
write
in
that
attractive
way
.
Well
,
I
lament
it
myself
—
for
your
sake
.
I
wish
I
had
Milvain
's
peculiar
talent
,
so
that
I
could
get
reputation
and
money
.
But
I
have
n't
,
and
there
's
an
end
of
it
.
It
irritates
a
man
to
be
perpetually
told
of
his
disadvantages
.
'
'
I
will
never
mention
Milvain
's
name
again
,
'
said
Amy
,
coldly
.
'
Now
that
's
ridiculous
,
and
you
know
it
.
'
'
I
feel
the
same
about
your
irritation
.
I
ca
n't
see
that
I
have
given
any
cause
for
it
.
'
'
Then
we
'll
talk
no
more
of
the
matter
.
'
Reardon
threw
his
manuscript
aside
,
and
opened
a
book
.
Amy
never
asked
him
to
resume
his
intention
of
reading
what
he
had
written
.
However
,
the
paper
was
accepted
.
It
came
out
in
The
Wayside
for
March
,
and
Reardon
received
seven
pounds
ten
for
it
.
By
that
time
he
had
written
another
thing
of
the
same
gossipy
kind
,
suggested
by
Pliny
's
Letters
.
The
pleasant
occupation
did
him
good
,
but
there
was
no
possibility
of
pursuing
this
course
.
'
Margaret
Home
'
would
be
published
in
April
;
he
might
get
the
five-and-twenty
pounds
contingent
upon
a
certain
sale
,
yet
that
could
in
no
case
be
paid
until
the
middle
of
the
year
,
and
long
before
then
he
would
be
penniless
.
His
respite
drew
to
an
end
.
But
now
he
took
counsel
of
no
one
;
as
far
as
it
was
possible
he
lived
in
solitude
,
never
seeing
those
of
his
acquaintances
who
were
outside
the
literary
world
,
and
seldom
even
his
colleagues
.
Milvain
was
so
busy
that
he
had
only
been
able
to
look
in
twice
or
thrice
since
Christmas
,
and
Reardon
nowadays
never
went
to
Jasper
's
lodgings
.
He
had
the
conviction
that
all
was
over
with
the
happiness
of
his
married
life
,
though
how
the
events
which
were
to
express
this
ruin
would
shape
themselves
he
could
not
foresee
.
Amy
was
revealing
that
aspect
of
her
character
to
which
he
had
been
blind
,
though
a
practical
man
would
have
perceived
it
from
the
first
;
so
far
from
helping
him
to
support
poverty
,
she
perhaps
would
even
refuse
to
share
it
with
him
.
He
knew
that
she
was
slowly
drawing
apart
;
already
there
was
a
divorce
between
their
minds
,
and
he
tortured
himself
in
uncertainty
as
to
how
far
he
retained
her
affections
.
A
word
of
tenderness
,
a
caress
,
no
longer
met
with
response
from
her
;
her
softest
mood
was
that
of
mere
comradeship
.
All
the
warmth
of
her
nature
was
expended
upon
the
child
;
Reardon
learnt
how
easy
it
is
for
a
mother
to
forget
that
both
parents
have
a
share
in
her
offspring
.
He
was
beginning
to
dislike
the
child
.
But
for
Willie
's
existence
Amy
would
still
love
him
with
undivided
heart
;
not
,
perhaps
,
so
passionately
as
once
,
but
still
with
lover
's
love
.
And
Amy
understood
—
or
,
at
all
events
,
remarked
—
this
change
in
him
.
She
was
aware
that
he
seldom
asked
a
question
about
Willie
,
and
that
he
listened
with
indifference
when
she
spoke
of
the
little
fellow
's
progress
.
In
part
offended
,
she
was
also
in
part
pleased
.
But
for
the
child
,
mere
poverty
,
he
said
to
himself
,
should
never
have
sundered
them
.
In
the
strength
of
his
passion
he
could
have
overcome
all
her
disappointments
;
and
,
indeed
,
but
for
that
new
care
,
he
would
most
likely
never
have
fallen
to
this
extremity
of
helplessness
.
It
is
natural
in
a
weak
and
sensitive
man
to
dream
of
possibilities
disturbed
by
the
force
of
circumstance
.
For
one
hour
which
he
gave
to
conflict
with
his
present
difficulties
,
Reardon
spent
many
in
contemplation
of
the
happiness
that
might
have
been
.
Even
yet
,
it
needed
but
a
little
money
to
redeem
all
.
Amy
had
no
extravagant
aspirations
;
a
home
of
simple
refinement
and
freedom
from
anxiety
would
restore
her
to
her
nobler
self
.
How
could
he
find
fault
with
her
?
She
knew
nothing
of
such
sordid
life
as
he
had
gone
through
,
and
to
lack
money
for
necessities
seemed
to
her
degrading
beyond
endurance
.
Why
,
even
the
ordinary
artisan
's
wife
does
not
suffer
such
privations
as
hers
at
the
end
of
the
past
year
.
For
lack
of
that
little
money
his
life
must
be
ruined
.
Of
late
he
had
often
thought
about
the
rich
uncle
,
John
Yule
,
who
might
perhaps
leave
something
to
Amy
;
but
the
hope
was
so
uncertain
.
And
supposing
such
a
thing
were
to
happen
;
would
it
be
perfectly
easy
to
live
upon
his
wife
's
bounty
—
perhaps
exhausting
a
small
capital
,
so
that
,
some
years
hence
,
their
position
would
be
no
better
than
before
?
Not
long
ago
,
he
could
have
taken
anything
from
Amy
's
hand
;
would
it
be
so
simple
since
the
change
that
had
come
between
them
?
Having
written
his
second
magazine-article
(
it
was
rejected
by
two
editors
,
and
he
had
no
choice
but
to
hold
it
over
until
sufficient
time
had
elapsed
to
allow
of
his
again
trying
The
Wayside
)
,
he
saw
that
he
must
perforce
plan
another
novel
.
But
this
time
he
was
resolute
not
to
undertake
three
volumes
.
The
advertisements
informed
him
that
numbers
of
authors
were
abandoning
that
procrustean
system
;
hopeless
as
he
was
,
he
might
as
well
try
his
chance
with
a
book
which
could
be
written
in
a
few
weeks
.
And
why
not
a
glaringly
artificial
story
with
a
sensational
title
?
It
could
not
be
worse
than
what
he
had
last
written
.
So
,
without
a
word
to
Amy
,
he
put
aside
his
purely
intellectual
work
and
began
once
more
the
search
for
'
plot
.
'
This
was
towards
the
end
of
February
.
The
proofs
of
'
Margaret
Home
'
were
coming
in
day
by
day
;
Amy
had
offered
to
correct
them
,
but
after
all
he
preferred
to
keep
his
shame
to
himself
as
long
as
possible
,
and
with
a
hurried
reading
he
dismissed
sheet
after
sheet
.
His
imagination
did
not
work
the
more
happily
for
this
repugnant
task
;
still
,
he
hit
at
length
upon
a
conception
which
seemed
absurd
enough
for
the
purpose
before
him
.
Whether
he
could
persevere
with
it
even
to
the
extent
of
one
volume
was
very
doubtful
.
But
it
should
not
be
said
of
him
that
he
abandoned
his
wife
and
child
to
penury
without
one
effort
of
the
kind
that
Milvain
and
Amy
herself
had
recommended
.
Writing
a
page
or
two
of
manuscript
daily
,
and
with
several
holocausts
to
retard
him
,
he
had
done
nearly
a
quarter
of
the
story
when
there
came
a
note
from
Jasper
telling
of
Mrs.
Milvain
's
death
.
He
handed
it
across
the
breakfast
table
to
Amy
,
and
watched
her
as
she
read
it
.
'
I
suppose
it
does
n't
alter
his
position
,
'
Amy
remarked
,
without
much
interest
.
'
I
suppose
not
appreciably
.
He
told
me
once
his
mother
had
a
sufficient
income
;
but
whatever
she
leaves
will
go
to
his
sisters
,
I
should
think
.
He
has
never
said
much
to
me
.
'
Nearly
three
weeks
passed
before
they
heard
anything
more
from
Jasper
himself
;
then
he
wrote
,
again
from
the
country
,
saying
that
he
purposed
bringing
his
sisters
to
live
in
London
.
Another
week
,
and
one
evening
he
appeared
at
the
door
.
A
want
of
heartiness
in
Reardon
's
reception
of
him
might
have
been
explained
as
gravity
natural
under
the
circumstances
.
But
Jasper
had
before
this
become
conscious
that
he
was
not
welcomed
here
quite
so
cheerily
as
in
the
old
days
.
He
remarked
it
distinctly
on
that
evening
when
he
accompanied
Amy
home
from
Mrs.
Yule
's
;
since
then
he
had
allowed
his
pressing
occupations
to
be
an
excuse
for
the
paucity
of
his
visits
.
It
seemed
to
him
perfectly
intelligible
that
Reardon
,
sinking
into
literary
insignificance
,
should
grow
cool
to
a
man
entering
upon
a
successful
career
;
the
vein
of
cynicism
in
Jasper
enabled
him
to
pardon
a
weakness
of
this
kind
,
which
in
some
measure
flattered
him
.
But
he
both
liked
and
respected
Reardon
,
and
at
present
he
was
in
the
mood
to
give
expression
to
his
warmer
feelings
.
'
Your
book
is
announced
,
I
see
,
'
he
said
with
an
accent
of
pleasure
,
as
soon
as
he
had
seated
himself
.
'
I
did
n't
know
it
.
'
'
Yes
.
"
New
novel
by
the
author
of
'
On
Neutral
Ground
.
'
"
Down
for
the
sixteenth
of
April
.
And
I
have
a
proposal
to
make
about
it
.
Will
you
let
me
ask
Fadge
to
have
it
noticed
in
"
Books
of
the
Month
,
"
in
the
May
Current
?
'
'
I
strongly
advise
you
to
let
it
take
its
chance
.
The
book
is
n't
worth
special
notice
,
and
whoever
undertook
to
review
it
for
Fadge
would
either
have
to
lie
,
or
stultify
the
magazine
.
'
Jasper
turned
to
Amy
.
'
Now
what
is
to
be
done
with
a
man
like
this
?
What
is
one
to
say
to
him
,
Mrs.
Reardon
?
'
'
Edwin
dislikes
the
book
,
'
Amy
replied
,
carelessly
.
'
That
has
nothing
to
do
with
the
matter
.
We
know
quite
well
that
in
anything
he
writes
there
'll
be
something
for
a
well-disposed
reviewer
to
make
a
good
deal
of
.
If
Fadge
will
let
me
,
I
should
do
the
thing
myself
.
'
Neither
Reardon
nor
his
wife
spoke
.
'
Of
course
,
'
went
on
Milvain
,
looking
at
the
former
,
'
if
you
had
rather
I
left
it
alone
—
'
'
I
had
much
rather
.
Please
do
n't
say
anything
about
it
.
'
There
was
an
awkward
silence
.
Amy
broke
it
by
saying
:
'
Are
your
sisters
in
town
,
Mr.
Milvain
?
'
'
Yes
.
We
came
up
two
days
ago
.
I
found
lodgings
for
them
not
far
from
Mornington
Road
.
Poor
girls
!
they
do
n't
quite
know
where
they
are
,
yet
.
Of
course
they
will
keep
very
quiet
for
a
time
,
then
I
must
try
to
get
friends
for
them
.
Well
,
they
have
one
already
—
your
cousin
,
Miss
Yule
.
She
has
already
been
to
see
them
.
'
'
I
'm
very
glad
of
that
.
'
Amy
took
an
opportunity
of
studying
his
face
.
There
was
again
a
silence
as
if
of
constraint
.
Reardon
,
glancing
at
his
wife
,
said
with
hesitation
:
'
When
they
care
to
see
other
visitors
,
I
'm
sure
Amy
would
be
very
glad
—
'
'
Certainly
!
'
his
wife
added
.
'
Thank
you
very
much
.
Of
course
I
knew
I
could
depend
on
Mrs.
Reardon
to
show
them
kindness
in
that
way
.
But
let
me
speak
frankly
of
something
.
My
sisters
have
made
quite
a
friend
of
Miss
Yule
,
since
she
was
down
there
last
year
.
Would
n't
that
'
—
he
turned
to
Amy
—
'
cause
you
a
little
awkwardness
?
'
Amy
had
a
difficulty
in
replying
.
She
kept
her
eyes
on
the
ground
.
'
You
have
no
quarrel
with
your
cousin
,
'
remarked
Reardon
.
'
None
whatever
.
It
's
only
my
mother
and
my
uncle
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
imagine
Miss
Yule
having
a
quarrel
with
anyone
,
'
said
Jasper
.
Then
he
added
quickly
:
'
Well
,
things
must
shape
themselves
naturally
.
We
shall
see
.
For
the
present
they
will
be
fully
occupied
.
Of
course
it
's
best
that
they
should
be
.
I
shall
see
them
every
day
,
and
Miss
Yule
will
come
pretty
often
,
I
dare
say
.
'
Reardon
caught
Amy
's
eye
,
but
at
once
looked
away
again
.
'
My
word
!
'
exclaimed
Milvain
,
after
a
moment
's
meditation
.
'
It
's
well
this
did
n't
happen
a
year
ago
.
The
girls
have
no
income
;
only
a
little
cash
to
go
on
with
.
We
shall
have
our
work
set
.
It
's
a
precious
lucky
thing
that
I
have
just
got
a
sort
of
footing
.
