havedeliberately
spent
a
certain
proportion
of
the
money
that
ought
to
have
gone
for
food
in
the
cheapest
kind
of
strong
liquor
.
'
'
Ha
!
that
's
interesting
.
But
it
never
got
the
force
of
a
habit
you
had
to
break
?
'
'
No
.
Partly
,
I
dare
say
,
because
I
had
the
warning
of
poor
Sykes
before
my
eyes
.
'
'
You
never
see
that
poor
fellow
?
'
'
Never
.
He
must
be
dead
,
I
think
.
He
would
die
either
in
the
hospital
or
the
workhouse
.
'
'
Well
,
'
said
Reardon
,
musing
cheerfully
,
'
I
shall
never
become
a
drunkard
;
I
have
n't
that
diathesis
,
to
use
your
expression
.
Does
n't
it
strike
you
that
you
and
I
are
very
respectable
persons
?
We
really
have
no
vices
.
Put
us
on
a
social
pedestal
,
and
we
should
be
shining
lights
of
morality
.
I
sometimes
wonder
at
our
inoffensiveness
.
Why
do
n't
we
run
amuck
against
law
and
order
?
Why
,
at
the
least
,
do
n't
we
become
savage
revolutionists
,
and
harangue
in
Regent
's
Park
of
a
Sunday
?
'
'
Because
we
are
passive
beings
,
and
were
meant
to
enjoy
life
very
quietly
.
As
we
ca
n't
enjoy
,
we
just
suffer
quietly
,
that
's
all
.
By-the-by
,
I
want
to
talk
about
a
difficulty
in
one
of
the
Fragments
of
Euripides
.
Did
you
ever
go
through
the
Fragments
?
'
This
made
a
diversion
for
half
an
hour
.
Then
Reardon
returned
to
his
former
line
of
thought
.
'
As
I
was
entering
patients
yesterday
,
there
came
up
to
the
table
a
tall
,
good-looking
,
very
quiet
girl
,
poorly
dressed
,
but
as
neat
as
could
be
.
She
gave
me
her
name
,
then
I
asked
"
Occupation
?
"
She
said
at
once
,
"
I
'm
unfortunate
,
sir
.
"
I
could
n't
help
looking
up
at
her
in
surprise
;
I
had
taken
it
for
granted
she
was
a
dressmaker
or
something
of
the
kind
.
And
,
do
you
know
,
I
never
felt
so
strong
an
impulse
to
shake
hands
,
to
show
sympathy
,
and
even
respect
,
in
some
way
.
I
should
have
liked
to
say
,
"
Why
,
I
am
unfortunate
,
too
!
"
such
a
good
,
patient
face
she
had
.
'
'
I
distrust
such
appearances
,
'
said
Biffen
in
his
quality
of
realist
.
'
Well
,
so
do
I
,
as
a
rule
.
But
in
this
case
they
were
convincing
.
And
there
was
no
need
whatever
for
her
to
make
such
a
declaration
;
she
might
just
as
well
have
said
anything
else
;
it
's
the
merest
form
.
I
shall
always
hear
her
voice
saying
,
"
I
'm
unfortunate
,
sir
.
"
She
made
me
feel
what
a
mistake
it
was
for
me
to
marry
such
a
girl
as
Amy
.
I
ought
to
have
looked
about
for
some
simple
,
kind-hearted
work-girl
;
that
was
the
kind
of
wife
indicated
for
me
by
circumstances
.
If
I
had
earned
a
hundred
a
year
she
would
have
thought
we
were
well-to-do
.
I
should
have
been
an
authority
to
her
on
everything
under
the
sun
—
and
above
it
.
No
ambition
would
have
unsettled
her
.
We
should
have
lived
in
a
couple
of
poor
rooms
somewhere
,
and
—
we
should
have
loved
each
other
.
'
'
What
a
shameless
idealist
you
are
!
'
said
Biffen
shaking
his
head.'Let
me
sketch
the
true
issue
of
such
a
marriage
.
To
begin
with
,
the
girl
would
have
married
you
in
firm
persuasion
that
you
were
a
"
gentleman
"
in
temporary
difficulties
,
and
that
before
long
you
would
have
plenty
of
money
to
dispose
of
.
Disappointed
in
this
hope
,
she
would
have
grown
sharp-tempered
,
querulous
,
selfish
.
All
your
endeavours
to
make
her
understand
you
would
only
have
resulted
in
widening
the
impassable
gulf
.
She
would
have
misconstrued
your
every
sentence
,
found
food
for
suspicion
in
every
harmless
joke
,
tormented
you
with
the
vulgarest
forms
of
jealousy
.
The
effect
upon
your
nature
would
have
been
degrading
.
In
the
end
,
you
must
have
abandoned
every
effort
to
raise
her
to
your
own
level
,
and
either
have
sunk
to
hers
or
made
a
rupture
.
Who
does
n't
know
the
story
of
such
attempts
?
I
myself
,
ten
years
ago
,
was
on
the
point
of
committing
such
a
folly
,
but
,
Heaven
be
praised
!
an
accident
saved
me
.
'
'
You
never
told
me
that
story
.
'
'
And
do
n't
care
to
now
.
I
prefer
to
forget
it
.
'
'
Well
,
you
can
judge
for
yourself
,
but
not
for
me
.
Of
course
I
might
have
chosen
the
wrong
girl
,
but
I
am
supposing
that
I
had
been
fotunate
.
In
any
case
there
would
have
been
a
much
better
chance
than
in
the
marriage
that
I
made
.
'
'
Your
marriage
was
sensible
enough
,
and
a
few
years
hence
you
will
be
a
happy
man
again
.
'
'
You
seriously
think
Amy
will
come
back
to
me
?
'
'
Of
course
I
do
.
'
'
Upon
my
word
,
I
do
n't
know
that
I
desire
it
.
'
'
Because
you
are
in
a
strangely
unhealthy
state
.
'
'
I
rather
think
I
regard
the
matter
more
sanely
than
ever
yet
.
I
am
quite
free
from
sexual
bias
.
I
can
see
that
Amy
was
not
my
fit
intellectual
companion
,
and
all
emotion
at
the
thought
of
her
has
gone
from
me
.
The
word
"
love
"
is
a
weariness
to
me
.
If
only
our
idiotic
laws
permitted
us
to
break
the
legal
bond
,
how
glad
both
of
us
would
be
!
'
'
You
are
depressed
and
anæmic
.
Get
yourself
in
flesh
,
and
view
things
like
a
man
of
this
world
.
'
'
But
do
n't
you
think
it
the
best
thing
that
can
happen
to
a
man
if
he
outgrows
passion
?
'
'
In
certain
circumstances
,
no
doubt
.
'
'
In
all
and
any
.
The
best
moments
of
life
are
those
when
we
contemplate
beauty
in
the
purely
artistic
spirit
—
objectively
.
I
have
had
such
moments
in
Greece
and
Italy
;
times
when
I
was
a
free
spirit
,
utterly
remote
from
the
temptations
and
harassings
of
sexual
emotion
.
What
we
call
love
is
mere
turmoil
.
Who
would
n't
release
himself
from
it
for
ever
,
if
the
possibility
offered
?
'
'
Oh
,
there
's
a
good
deal
to
be
said
for
that
,
of
course
.
'
Reardon
's
face
was
illumined
with
the
glow
of
an
exquisite
memory
.
'
Have
n't
I
told
you
,
'
he
said
,
'
of
that
marvellous
sunset
at
Athens
?
I
was
on
the
Pnyx
;
had
been
rambling
about
there
the
whole
afternoon
.
For
I
dare
say
a
couple
of
hours
I
had
noticed
a
growing
rift
of
light
in
the
clouds
to
the
west
;
it
looked
as
if
the
dull
day
might
have
a
rich
ending
.
That
rift
grew
broader
and
brighter
—
the
only
bit
of
light
in
the
sky
.
On
Parnes
there
were
white
strips
of
ragged
mist
,
hanging
very
low
;
the
same
on
Hymettus
,
and
even
the
peak
of
Lycabettus
was
just
hidden
.
Of
a
sudden
,
the
sun
's
rays
broke
out
.
They
showed
themselves
first
in
a
strangely
beautiful
way
,
striking
from
behind
the
seaward
hills
through
the
pass
that
leads
to
Eleusis
,
and
so
gleaming
on
the
nearer
slopes
of
Aigaleos
,
making
the
clefts
black
and
the
rounded
parts
of
the
mountain
wonderfully
brilliant
with
golden
colour
.
All
the
rest
of
the
landscape
,
remember
,
was
untouched
with
a
ray
of
light
.
This
lasted
only
a
minute
or
two
,
then
the
sun
itself
sank
into
the
open
patch
of
sky
and
shot
glory
in
every
direction
;
broadening
beams
smote
upwards
over
the
dark
clouds
,
and
made
them
a
lurid
yellow
.
To
the
left
of
the
sun
,
the
gulf
of
Ægina
was
all
golden
mist
,
the
islands
floating
in
it
vaguely
.
To
the
right
,
over
black
Salamis
,
lay
delicate
strips
of
pale
blue
—
indescribably
pale
and
delicate
.
'
'
You
remember
it
very
clearly
.
'
'
As
if
I
saw
it
now
!
But
wait
.
I
turned
eastward
,
and
there
to
my
astonishment
was
a
magnificent
rainbow
,
a
perfect
semicircle
,
stretching
from
the
foot
of
Parnes
to
that
of
Hymettus
,
framing
Athens
and
its
hills
,
which
grew
brighter
and
brighter
—
the
brightness
for
which
there
is
no
name
among
colours
.
Hymettus
was
of
a
soft
misty
warmth
,
a
something
tending
to
purple
,
its
ridges
marked
by
exquisitely
soft
and
indefinite
shadows
,
the
rainbow
coming
right
down
in
front
.
The
Acropolis
simply
glowed
and
blazed
.
As
the
sun
descended
all
these
colours
grew
richer
and
warmer
;
for
a
moment
the
landscape
was
nearly
crimson
.
Then
suddenly
the
sun
passed
into
the
lower
stratum
of
cloud
,
and
the
splendour
died
almost
at
once
,
except
that
there
remained
the
northern
half
of
the
rainbow
,
which
had
become
double
.
In
the
west
,
the
clouds
were
still
glorious
for
a
time
;
there
were
two
shaped
like
great
expanded
wings
,
edged
with
refulgence
.
'
'
Stop
!
'
cried
Biffen
,
'
or
I
shall
clutch
you
by
the
throat
.
I
warned
you
before
that
I
ca
n't
stand
those
reminiscences
.
'
'
Live
in
hope
.
Scrape
together
twenty
pounds
,
and
go
there
,
if
you
die
of
hunger
afterwards
.
'
'
I
shall
never
have
twenty
shillings
,
'
was
the
despondent
answer
.
'
I
feel
sure
you
will
sell
"
Mr.
Bailey
.
"
'
'
It
's
kind
of
you
to
encourage
me
;
but
if
"
Mr.
Bailey
"
is
ever
sold
I
do
n't
mind
undertaking
to
eat
my
duplicate
of
the
proofs
.
'
'
But
now
,
you
remember
what
led
me
to
that
.
What
does
a
man
care
for
any
woman
on
earth
when
he
is
absorbed
in
contemplation
of
that
kind
?
'
'
But
it
is
only
one
of
life
's
satisfactions
.
'
'
I
am
only
maintaining
that
it
is
the
best
,
and
infinitely
preferable
to
sexual
emotion
.
It
leaves
,
no
doubt
,
no
bitterness
of
any
kind
.
Poverty
ca
n't
rob
me
of
those
memories
.
I
have
lived
in
an
ideal
world
that
was
not
deceitful
,
a
world
which
seems
to
me
,
when
I
recall
it
,
beyond
the
human
sphere
,
bathed
in
diviner
light
.
'
It
was
four
or
five
days
after
this
that
Reardon
,
on
going
to
his
work
in
City
Road
,
found
a
note
from
Carter
.
It
requested
him
to
call
at
the
main
hospital
at
half-past
eleven
the
next
morning
.
He
supposed
the
appointment
had
something
to
do
with
his
business
at
Croydon
,
whither
he
had
been
in
the
mean
time
.
Some
unfavourable
news
,
perhaps
;
any
misfortune
was
likely
.
He
answered
the
summons
punctually
,
and
on
entering
the
general
office
was
requested
by
the
clerk
to
wait
in
Mr.
Carter
's
private
room
;
the
secretary
had
not
yet
arrived
.
His
waiting
lasted
some
ten
minutes
,
then
the
door
opened
and
admitted
,
not
Carter
,
but
Mrs.
Edmund
Yule
.
Reardon
stood
up
in
perturbation
.
He
was
anything
but
prepared
,
or
disposed
,
for
an
interview
with
this
lady
.
She
came
towards
him
with
hand
extended
and
a
countenance
of
suave
friendliness
.
'
I
doubted
whether
you
would
see
me
if
I
let
you
know
,
'
she
said
.
'
Forgive
me
this
little
bit
of
scheming
,
will
you
?
I
have
something
so
very
important
to
speak
to
you
about
.
'
He
said
nothing
,
but
kept
a
demeanour
of
courtesy
.
'
I
think
you
have
n't
heard
from
Amy
?
'
Mrs.
Yule
asked
.
'
Not
since
I
saw
her
.
'
'
And
you
do
n't
know
what
has
come
to
pass
?
'
'
I
have
heard
of
nothing
.
'
'
I
am
come
to
see
you
quite
on
my
own
responsibility
,
quite
.
I
took
Mr.
Carter
into
my
confidence
,
but
begged
him
not
to
let
Mrs.
Carter
know
,
lest
she
should
tell
Amy
;
I
think
he
will
keep
his
promise
.
It
seemed
to
me
that
it
was
really
my
duty
to
do
whatever
I
could
in
these
sad
,
sad
circumstances
.
'
Reardon
listened
respectfully
,
but
without
sign
of
feeling
.
'
I
had
better
tell
you
at
once
that
Amy
's
uncle
at
Wattleborough
is
dead
,
and
that
in
his
will
he
has
bequeathed
her
ten
thousand
pounds
.
'
Mrs.
Yule
watched
the
effect
of
this
.
For
a
moment
none
was
visible
,
but
she
saw
at
length
that
Reardon
's
lips
trembled
and
his
eyebrows
twitched
.
'
I
am
glad
to
hear
of
her
good
fortune
,
'
he
said
distantly
and
in
even
tones
.
'
You
will
feel
,
I
am
sure
,
'
continued
his
mother-in-law
,
'
that
this
must
put
an
end
to
your
most
unhappy
differences
.
'
'
How
can
it
have
that
result
?
'
'
It
puts
you
both
in
a
very
different
position
,
does
it
not
?
But
for
your
distressing
circumstances
,
I
am
sure
there
would
never
have
been
such
unpleasantness
—
never
.
Neither
you
nor
Amy
is
the
kind
of
person
to
take
a
pleasure
in
disagreement
.
Let
me
beg
you
to
go
and
see
her
again
.
Everything
is
so
different
now
.
Amy
has
not
the
faintest
idea
that
I
have
come
to
see
you
,
and
she
must
n't
on
any
account
be
told
,
for
her
worst
fault
is
that
sensitive
pride
of
hers
.
And
I
'm
sure
you
wo
n't
be
offended
,
Edwin
,
if
I
say
that
you
have
very
much
the
same
failing
.
Between
two
such
sensitive
people
differences
might
last
a
lifetime
,
unless
one
could
be
persuaded
to
take
the
first
step
.
Do
be
generous
!
A
woman
is
privileged
to
be
a
little
obstinate
,
it
is
always
said
.
Overlook
the
fault
,
and
persuade
her
to
let
bygones
be
bygones
.
'
There
was
an
involuntary
affectedness
in
Mrs.
Yule
's
speech
which
repelled
Reardon
.
He
could
not
even
put
faith
in
her
assurance
that
Amy
knew
nothing
of
this
intercession
.
In
any
case
it
was
extremely
distasteful
to
him
to
discuss
such
matters
with
Mrs.
Yule
.
'
Under
no
circumstances
could
I
do
more
than
I
already
have
done
,
'
he
replied.'And
after
what
you
have
told
me
,
it
is
impossible
for
me
to
go
and
see
her
unless
she
expressly
invites
me
.
'
'
Oh
,
if
only
you
would
overcome
this
sensitiveness
!
'
'
It
is
not
in
my
power
to
do
so
.
My
poverty
,
as
you
justly
say
,
was
the
cause
of
our
parting
;
but
if
Amy
is
no
longer
poor
,
that
is
very
far
from
a
reason
why
I
should
go
to
her
as
a
suppliant
for
forgiveness
.
'
'
But
do
consider
the
facts
of
the
case
,
independently
of
feeling
.
I
really
think
I
do
n't
go
too
far
in
saying
that
at
least
some
—
some
provocation
was
given
by
you
first
of
all
.
I
am
so
very
,
very
far
from
wishing
to
say
anything
disagreeable
—
I
am
sure
you
feel
that
—
but
was
n't
there
some
little
ground
for
complaint
on
Amy
's
part
?
Was
n't
there
,
now
?
'
Reardon
was
tortured
with
nervousness
.
He
wished
to
be
alone
,
to
think
over
what
had
happened
,
and
Mrs.
Yule
's
urgent
voice
rasped
upon
his
ears
.
Its
very
smoothness
made
it
worse
.
'
There
may
have
been
ground
for
grief
and
concern
,
'
he
answered
,
'
but
for
complaint
,
no
,
I
think
not
.
'
'
But
I
understand
'
—
the
voice
sounded
rather
irritable
now
—
'
that
you
positively
reproached
and
upbraided
her
because
she
was
reluctant
to
go
and
live
in
some
very
shocking
place
.
'
'
I
may
have
lost
my
temper
after
Amy
had
shown
—
But
I
ca
n't
review
our
troubles
in
this
way
.
'
'
Am
I
to
plead
in
vain
?
'
'
I
regret
very
much
that
I
ca
n't
possibly
do
as
you
wish
.
It
is
all
between
Amy
and
myself
.
Interference
by
other
people
cannot
do
any
good
.
'
'
I
am
sorry
you
should
use
such
a
word
as
"
interference
,
"
'
replied
Mrs.
Yule
,
bridling
a
little
.
'
Very
sorry
,
indeed
.
I
confess
it
did
n't
occur
to
me
that
my
good-will
to
you
could
be
seen
in
that
light
.
'
'
Believe
me
that
I
did
n't
use
the
word
offensively
.
'
'
Then
you
refuse
to
take
any
step
towards
a
restoration
of
good
feeling
?
'
'
I
am
obliged
to
,
and
Amy
would
understand
perfectly
why
I
say
so
.
'
His
earnestness
was
so
unmistakable
that
Mrs.
Yule
had
no
choice
but
to
rise
and
bring
the
interview
to
an
end
.
She
commanded
herself
sufficiently
to
offer
a
regretful
hand
.
'
I
can
only
say
that
my
daughter
is
very
,
very
unfortunate
.
'
Reardon
lingered
a
little
after
her
departure
,
then
left
the
hospital
and
walked
at
a
rapid
pace
in
no
particular
direction
.
Ah
!
if
this
had
happened
in
the
first
year
of
his
marriage
,
what
more
blessed
man
than
he
would
have
walked
the
earth
!
But
it
came
after
irreparable
harm
.
No
amount
of
wealth
could
undo
the
ruin
caused
by
poverty
.
It
was
natural
for
him
,
as
soon
as
he
could
think
with
deliberation
,
to
turn
towards
his
only
friend
.
But
on
calling
at
the
house
in
Clipstone
Street
he
found
the
garret
empty
,
and
no
one
could
tell
him
when
its
occupant
was
likely
to
be
back
.
He
left
a
note
,
and
made
his
way
back
to
Islington
.
The
evening
had
to
be
spent
at
the
hospital
,
but
on
his
return
Biffen
sat
waiting
for
him
.
'
You
called
about
twelve
,
did
n't
you
?
'
the
visitor
inquired
.
'
Half-past
.
'
'
I
was
at
the
police-court
.
Odd
thing
—
but
it
always
happens
so
—
that
I
should
have
spoken
of
Sykes
the
other
night
.
Last
night
I
came
upon
a
crowd
in
Oxford
Street
,
and
the
nucleus
of
it
was
no
other
than
Sykes
himself
,
very
drunk
and
disorderly
,
in
the
grip
of
two
policemen
.
Nothing
could
be
done
for
him
;
I
was
useless
as
bail
;
he
e'en
had
to
sleep
in
the
cell
.
But
I
went
this
morning
to
see
what
would
become
of
him
.
Such
a
spectacle
when
they
brought
him
forward
!
It
was
only
five
shillings
fine
,
and
to
my
astonishment
he
produced
the
money
.
I
joined
him
outside
—
it
required
a
little
courage
—
and
had
a
long
talk
with
him
.
He
's
writing
a
London
Letter
for
some
provincial
daily
,
and
the
first
payment
had
thrown
him
off
his
balance
.
'
Reardon
laughed
gaily
,
and
made
inquiries
about
the
eccentric
gentleman
.
Only
when
the
subject
was
exhausted
did
he
speak
of
his
own
concerns
,
relating
quietly
what
he
had
learnt
from
Mrs.
Yule
.
Biffen
's
eyes
widened
.
'
So
,
'
Reardon
cried
with
exultation
,
'
there
is
the
last
burden
off
my
mind
!
Henceforth
I
have
n't
a
care
!
The
only
thing
that
still
troubled
me
was
my
inability
to
give
Amy
enough
to
live
upon
.
Now
she
is
provided
for
in
secula
seculorum
.
Is
n't
this
grand
news
?
'
'
Decidedly
.
But
if
she
is
provided
for
,
so
are
you
.
'
'
Biffen
,
you
know
me
better
.
Could
I
accept
a
farthing
of
her
money
?
This
has
made
our
coming
together
again
for
ever
impossible
,
unless
—
unless
dead
things
can
come
to
life
.
I
know
the
value
of
money
,
but
I
ca
n't
take
it
from
Amy
.
'
The
other
kept
silence
.
'
No
!
But
now
everything
is
well
.
She
has
her
child
,
and
can
devote
herself
to
bringing
the
boy
up
.
And
I
—
but
I
shall
be
rich
on
my
own
account
.
A
hundred
and
fifty
a
year
;
it
would
be
a
farce
to
offer
Amy
her
share
of
it
.
By
all
the
gods
of
Olympus
,
we
will
go
to
Greece
together
,
you
and
I
!
'
'
Pooh
!
'
'
I
swear
it
!
Let
me
save
for
a
couple
of
years
,
and
then
get
a
good
month
's
holiday
,
or
more
if
possible
,
and
,
as
Pallas
Athene
liveth
!
we
shall
find
ourselves
at
Marseilles
,
going
aboard
some
boat
of
the
Messageries
.
I
ca
n't
believe
yet
that
this
is
true
.
Come
,
we
will
have
a
supper
to-night
.
Come
out
into
Upper
Street
,
and
let
us
eat
,
drink
,
and
be
merry
!
'
'
You
are
beside
yourself
.
But
never
mind
;
let
us
rejoice
by
all
means
.
There
's
every
reason
.
'
'
That
poor
girl
!
Now
,
at
last
,
she
'll
be
at
ease
.
'
'
Who
?
'
'
Amy
,
of
course
!
I
'm
delighted
on
her
account
.
Ah
!
but
if
it
had
come
a
long
time
ago
,
in
the
happy
days
!
Then
she
,
too
,
would
have
gone
to
Greece
,
would
n't
she
?
Everything
in
life
comes
too
soon
or
too
late
.
What
it
would
have
meant
for
her
and
for
me
!
She
would
never
have
hated
me
then
,
never
.
Biffen
,
am
I
base
or
contemptible
?
She
thinks
so
.
That
's
how
poverty
has
served
me
.
If
you
had
seen
her
,
how
she
looked
at
me
,
when
we
met
the
other
day
,
you
would
understand
well
enough
why
I
could
n't
live
with
her
now
,
not
if
she
entreated
me
to
.
That
would
make
me
base
if
you
like
.
Gods
!
how
ashamed
I
should
be
if
I
yielded
to
such
a
temptation
!
And
once
—
'
He
had
worked
himself
to
such
intensity
of
feeling
that
at
length
his
voice
choked
and
tears
burst
from
his
eyes
.
'
Come
out
,
and
let
us
have
a
walk
,
'
said
Biffen
.
On
leaving
the
house
they
found
themselves
in
a
thick
fog
,
through
which
trickled
drops
of
warm
rain
.
Nevertheless
,
they
pursued
their
purpose
,
and
presently
were
seated
in
one
of
the
boxes
of
a
small
coffee-shop
.
Their
only
companion
in
the
place
was
a
cab-driver
,
who
had
just
finished
a
meal
,
and
was
now
nodding
into
slumber
over
his
plate
and
cup
.
Reardon
ordered
fried
ham
and
eggs
,
the
luxury
of
the
poor
,
and
when
the
attendant
woman
was
gone
away
to
execute
the
order
,
he
burst
into
excited
laughter
.
'
Here
we
sit
,
two
literary
men
!
How
should
we
be
regarded
by
—
'
He
named
two
or
three
of
the
successful
novelists
of
the
day
.
'
With
what
magnificent
scorn
they
would
turn
from
us
and
our
squalid
feast
!
They
have
never
known
struggle
;
not
they
.
They
are
public-school
men
,
University
men
,
club
men
,
society
men
.
An
income
of
less
than
three
or
four
hundred
a
year
is
inconceivable
to
them
;
that
seems
the
minimum
for
an
educated
man
's
support
.
It
would
be
small-minded
to
think
of
them
with
rancour
,
but
,
by
Apollo
!
I
know
that
we
should
change
places
with
them
if
the
work
we
have
done
were
justly
weighed
against
theirs
.
'
'
What
does
it
matter
?
We
are
different
types
of
intellectual
workers
.
I
think
of
them
savagely
now
and
then
,
but
only
when
hunger
gets
a
trifle
too
keen
.
Their
work
answers
a
demand
;
ours
—
or
mine
at
all
events
—
does
n't
.
They
are
in
touch
with
the
reading
multitude
;
they
have
the
sentiments
of
the
respectable
;
they
write
for
their
class
.
Well
,
you
had
your
circle
of
readers
,
and
,
if
things
had
n't
gone
against
you
,
by
this
time
you
certainly
could
have
counted
on
your
three
or
four
hundred
a
year
.
'
'
It
's
unlikely
that
I
should
ever
have
got
more
than
two
hundred
pounds
for
a
book
;
and
,
to
have
kept
at
my
best
,
I
must
have
been
content
to
publish
once
every
two
or
three
years
.
The
position
was
untenable
with
no
private
income
.
And
I
must
needs
marry
a
wife
of
dainty
instincts
!
What
astounding
impudence
!
No
wonder
Fate
pitched
me
aside
into
the
gutter
.
'
They
ate
their
ham
and
eggs
,
and
exhilarated
themselves
with
a
cup
of
chicory
—
called
coffee
.
Then
Biffen
drew
from
the
pocket
of
his
venerable
overcoat
the
volume
of
Euripides
he
had
brought
,
and
their
talk
turned
once
more
to
the
land
of
the
sun
.
Only
when
the
coffee-shop
was
closed
did
they
go
forth
again
into
the
foggy
street
,
and
at
the
top
of
Pentonville
Hill
they
stood
for
ten
minutes
debating
a
metrical
effect
in
one
of
the
Fragments
.
Day
after
day
Reardon
went
about
with
a
fever
upon
him
.
By
evening
his
pulse
was
always
rapid
,
and
no
extremity
of
weariness
brought
him
a
refreshing
sleep
.
In
conversation
he
seemed
either
depressed
or
excited
,
more
often
the
latter
.
Save
when
attending
to
his
duties
at
the
hospital
,
he
made
no
pretence
of
employing
himself
;
if
at
home
,
he
sat
for
hours
without
opening
a
book
,
and
his
walks
,
excepting
when
they
led
him
to
Clipstone
Street
,
were
aimless
.
The
hours
of
postal
delivery
found
him
waiting
in
an
anguish
of
suspense
.
At
eight
o'clock
each
morning
he
stood
by
his
window
,
listening
for
the
postman
's
knock
in
the
street
.
As
it
approached
he
went
out
to
the
head
of
the
stairs
,
and
if
the
knock
sounded
at
the
door
of
his
house
,
he
leaned
over
the
banisters
,
trembling
in
expectation
.
But
the
letter
was
never
for
him
.
When
his
agitation
had
subsided
he
felt
glad
of
the
disappointment
,
and
laughed
and
sang
.
One
day
Carter
appeared
at
the
City
Road
establishment
,
and
made
an
opportunity
of
speaking
to
his
clerk
in
private
.
'
I
suppose
,
'
he
said
with
a
smile
,
'
they
'll
have
to
look
out
for
someone
else
at
Croydon
?
'
'
By
no
means
!
The
thing
is
settled
.
I
go
at
Christmas
.
'
'
You
really
mean
that
?
'
'
Undoubtedly
.
'
Seeing
that
Reardon
was
not
disposed
even
to
allude
to
private
circumstances
the
secretary
said
no
more
,
and
went
away
convinced
that
misfortunes
had
turned
the
poor
fellow
's
brain
.
Wandering
in
the
city
,
about
this
time
,
Reardon
encountered
his
friend
the
realist
.
'
Would
you
like
to
meet
Sykes
?
'
asked
Biffen
.
'
I
am
just
going
to
see
him
.
'
'
Where
does
he
live
?
'
'
In
some
indiscoverable
hole
.
To
save
fuel
,
he
spends
his
mornings
at
some
reading-rooms
;
the
admission
is
only
a
penny
,
and
there
he
can
see
all
the
papers
and
do
his
writing
and
enjoy
a
grateful
temperature
.
'
They
repaired
to
the
haunt
in
question
.
A
flight
of
stairs
brought
them
to
a
small
room
in
which
were
exposed
the
daily
newspapers
;
another
ascent
,
and
they
were
in
a
room
devoted
to
magazines
,
chess
,
and
refreshments
;
yet
another
,
and
they
reached
the
department
of
weekly
publications
;
lastly
,
at
the
top
of
the
house
,
they
found
a
lavatory
,
and
a
chamber
for
the
use
of
those
who
desired
to
write
.
The
walls
of
this
last
retreat
were
of
blue
plaster
and
sloped
inwards
from
the
floor
;
along
them
stood
school
desks
with
benches
,
and
in
one
place
was
suspended
a
ragged
and
dirty
card
announcing
that
paper
and
envelopes
could
be
purchased
downstairs
.
An
enormous
basket
full
of
waste-paper
,
and
a
small
stove
,
occupied
two
corners
;
ink
blotches
,
satirical
designs
,
and
much
scribbling
in
pen
and
pencil
served
for
mural
adornment
.
From
the
adjacent
lavatory
came
sounds
of
splashing
and
spluttering
,
and
the
busy
street
far
below
sent
up
its
confused
noises
.
Two
persons
only
sat
at
the
desks
.
One
was
a
hunger-bitten
,
out-of-work
clerk
,
evidently
engaged
in
replying
to
advertisements
;
in
front
of
him
lay
two
or
three
finished
letters
,
and
on
the
ground
at
his
feet
were
several
crumpled
sheets
of
note-paper
,
representing
abortive
essays
in
composition
.
The
other
man
,
also
occupied
with
the
pen
,
looked
about
forty
years
old
,
and
was
clad
in
a
very
rusty
suit
of
tweeds
;
on
the
bench
beside
him
lay
a
grey
overcoat
and
a
silk
hat
which
had
for
some
time
been
moulting
.
His
face
declared
the
habit
to
which
he
was
a
victim
,
but
it
had
nothing
repulsive
in
its
lineaments
and
expression
;
on
the
contrary
,
it
was
pleasing
,
amiable
,
and
rather
quaint
.
At
this
moment
no
one
would
have
doubted
his
sobriety
.
With
coat-sleeve
turned
back
,
so
as
to
give
free
play
to
his
right
hand
and
wrist
,
revealing
meanwhile
a
flannel
shirt
of
singular
colour
,
and
with
his
collar
unbuttoned
(
he
wore
no
tie
)
to
leave
his
throat
at
ease
as
he
bent
myopically
over
the
paper
,
he
was
writing
at
express
speed
,
evidently
in
the
full
rush
of
the
ardour
of
composition
.
The
veins
of
his
forehead
were
dilated
,
and
his
chin
pushed
forward
in
a
way
that
made
one
think
of
a
racing
horse
.
'
Are
you
too
busy
to
talk
?
'
asked
Biffen
,
going
to
his
side
.
'
I
am
!
Upon
my
soul
I
am
!
'
exclaimed
the
other
looking
up
in
alarm
.
'
For
the
love
of
Heaven
do
n't
put
me
out
!
A
quarter
of
an
hour
!
'
'
All
right
.
I
'll
come
up
again
.
'
The
friends
went
downstairs
and
turned
over
the
papers
.
'
Now
let
's
try
him
again
,
'
said
Biffen
,
when
considerably
more
than
the
requested
time
had
elapsed
.
They
went
up
,
and
found
Mr.
Sykes
in
an
attitude
of
melancholy
meditation
.
He
had
turned
back
his
coat
sleeve
,
had
buttoned
his
collar
,
and
was
eyeing
the
slips
of
completed
manuscript
.
Biffen
presented
his
companion
,
and
Mr.
Sykes
greeted
the
novelist
with
much
geniality
.
'
What
do
you
think
this
is
?
'
he
exclaimed
,
pointing
to
his
work
.
'
The
first
instalment
of
my
autobiography
for
the
Shropshire
Weekly
Herald
.
Anonymous
,
of
course
,
but
strictly
veracious
,
with
the
omission
of
sundry
little
personal
failings
which
are
nothing
to
the
point
.
I
call
it
"
Through
the
Wilds
of
Literary
London
.
"
An
old
friend
of
mine
edits
the
Herald
,
and
I
'm
indebted
to
him
for
the
suggestion
.
'
His
voice
was
a
trifle
husky
,
but
he
spoke
like
a
man
of
education
.
'
Most
people
will
take
it
for
fiction
.
I
wish
I
had
inventive
power
enough
to
write
fiction
anything
like
it
.
I
have
published
novels
,
Mr.
Reardon
,
but
my
experience
in
that
branch
of
literature
was
peculiar
—
as
I
may
say
it
has
been
in
most
others
to
which
I
have
applied
myself
.
My
first
stories
were
written
for
The
Young
Lady
's
Favourite
,
and
most
remarkable
productions
they
were
,
I
promise
you
.
That
was
fifteen
years
ago
,
in
the
days
of
my
versatility
.
I
could
throw
off
my
supplemental
novelette
of
fifteen
thousand
words
without
turning
a
hair
,
and
immediately
after
it
fall
to
,
fresh
as
a
daisy
,
on
the
"
Illustrated
History
of
the
United
States
,
"
which
I
was
then
doing
for
Edward
Coghlan
.
But
presently
I
thought
myself
too
good
for
the
Favourite
;
in
an
evil
day
I
began
to
write
three-volume
novels
,
aiming
at
reputation
.
It
would
n't
do
.
I
persevered
for
five
years
,
and
made
about
five
failures
.
Then
I
went
back
to
Bowring
.
"
Take
me
on
again
,
old
man
,
will
you
?
"
Bowring
was
a
man
of
few
words
;
he
said
,
"
Blaze
away
,
my
boy
.
"
And
I
tried
to
.
But
it
was
no
use
;
I
had
got
out
of
the
style
;
my
writing
was
too
literary
by
a
long
chalk
.
For
a
whole
year
I
deliberately
strove
to
write
badly
,
but
Bowring
was
so
pained
with
the
feebleness
of
my
efforts
that
at
last
he
sternly
bade
me
avoid
his
sight
.
"
What
the
devil
,
"
he
roared
one
day
,
"
do
you
mean
by
sending
me
stories
about
men
and
women
?
You
ought
to
know
better
than
that
,
a
fellow
of
your
experience
!
"
So
I
had
to
give
it
up
,
and
there
was
an
end
of
my
career
as
a
writer
of
fiction
.
'
He
shook
his
head
sadly
.
'
Biffen
,
'
he
continued
,
'
when
I
first
made
his
acquaintance
,
had
an
idea
of
writing
for
the
working
classes
;
and
what
do
you
think
he
was
going
to
offer
them
?
Stories
about
the
working
classes
!
Nay
,
never
hang
your
head
for
it
,
old
boy
;
it
was
excusable
in
the
days
of
your
youth
.
Why
,
Mr.
Reardon
,
as
no
doubt
you
know
well
enough
,
nothing
can
induce
working
men
or
women
to
read
stories
that
treat
of
their
own
world
.
They
are
the
most
consumed
idealists
in
creation
,
especially
the
women
.
Again
and
again
work-girls
have
said
to
me
:
"
Oh
,
I
do
n't
like
that
book
;
it
's
nothing
but
real
life
.
"
'
'
It
's
the
fault
of
women
in
general
,
'
remarked
Reardon
.
'
So
it
is
,
but
it
comes
out
with
delicious
naïveté
in
the
working
classes
.
Now
,
educated
people
like
to
read
of
scenes
that
are
familiar
to
them
,
though
I
grant
you
that
the
picture
must
be
idealised
if
you
're
to
appeal
to
more
than
one
in
a
thousand
.
The
working
classes
detest
anything
that
tries
to
represent
their
daily
life
.
It
is
n't
because
that
life
is
too
painful
;
no
,
no
;
it
's
downright
snobbishness
.
Dickens
goes
down
only
with
the
best
of
them
,
and
then
solely
because
of
his
strength
in
farce
and
his
melodrama
.
'
Presently
the
three
went
out
together
,
and
had
dinner
at
an
à
la
mode
beef
shop
.
Mr.
Sykes
ate
little
,
but
took
copious
libations
of
porter
at
twopence
a
pint
.
When
the
meal
was
over
he
grew
taciturn
.
'
Can
you
walk
westwards
?
'
Biffen
asked
.
'
I
'm
afraid
not
,
afraid
not
.
In
fact
I
have
an
appointment
at
two
—
at
Aldgate
station
.
'
They
parted
from
him
.
'
Now
he
'll
go
and
soak
till
he
's
unconscious
,
'
said
Biffen
.
'
Poor
fellow
!
Pity
he
ever
earns
anything
at
all
.
The
workhouse
would
be
better
,
I
should
think
.
'
'
No
,
no
!
Let
a
man
drink
himself
to
death
rather
.
I
have
a
horror
of
the
workhouse
.
Remember
the
clock
at
Marylebone
I
used
to
tell
you
about
.
'
'
Unphilosophic
.
I
do
n't
think
I
should
be
unhappy
in
the
workhouse
.
I
should
have
a
certain
satisfaction
in
the
thought
that
I
had
forced
society
to
support
me
.
And
then
the
absolute
freedom
from
care
!
Why
,
it
's
very
much
the
same
as
being
a
man
of
independent
fortune
.
'
It
was
about
a
week
after
this
,
midway
in
November
,
that
there
at
length
came
to
Manville
Street
a
letter
addressed
in
Amy
's
hand
.
It
arrived
at
three
one
afternoon
;
Reardon
heard
the
postman
,
but
he
had
ceased
to
rush
out
on
every
such
occasion
,
and
to-day
he
was
feeling
ill.
Lying
upon
the
bed
,
he
had
just
raised
his
head
wearily
when
he
became
aware
that
someone
was
mounting
to
his
room
.
He
sprang
up
,
his
face
and
neck
flushing
.
This
time
Amy
began
'
Dear
Edwin
'
;
the
sight
of
those
words
made
his
brain
swim
.
'
You
must
,
of
course
,
have
heard
[
she
wrote
]
that
my
uncle
John
has
left
me
ten
thousand
pounds
.
It
has
not
yet
come
into
my
possession
,
and
I
had
decided
that
I
would
not
write
to
you
till
that
happened
,
but
perhaps
you
may
altogether
misunderstand
my
silence
.
'
If
this
money
had
come
to
me
when
you
were
struggling
so
hard
to
earn
a
living
for
us
,
we
should
never
have
spoken
the
words
and
thought
the
thoughts
which
now
make
it
so
difficult
for
me
to
write
to
you
.
What
I
wish
to
say
is
that
,
although
the
property
is
legally
my
own
,
I
quite
recognise
that
you
have
a
right
to
share
in
it
.
Since
we
have
lived
apart
you
have
sent
me
far
more
than
you
could
really
afford
,
believing
it
your
duty
to
do
so
;
now
that
things
are
so
different
I
wish
you
,
as
well
as
myself
,
to
benefit
by
the
change
.
'
I
said
at
our
last
meeting
that
I
should
be
quite
prepared
to
return
to
you
if
you
took
that
position
at
Croydon
.
There
is
now
no
need
for
you
to
pursue
a
kind
of
work
for
which
you
are
quite
unfitted
,
and
I
repeat
that
I
am
willing
to
live
with
you
as
before
.
If
you
will
tell
me
where
you
would
like
to
make
a
new
home
I
shall
gladly
agree
.
I
do
not
think
you
would
care
to
leave
London
permanently
,
and
certainly
I
should
not
.
'
Please
to
let
me
hear
from
you
as
soon
as
possible
.
In
writing
like
this
I
feel
that
I
have
done
what
you
expressed
a
wish
that
I
should
do
.
I
have
asked
you
to
put
an
end
to
our
separation
,
and
I
trust
that
I
have
not
asked
in
vain
.
'
Yours
always
,
'
Amy
Reardon
.
'
The
letter
fell
from
his
hand
.
It
was
such
a
letter
as
he
might
have
expected
,
but
the
beginning
misled
him
,
and
as
his
agitation
throbbed
itself
away
he
suffered
an
encroachment
of
despair
which
made
him
for
a
time
unable
to
move
or
even
think
.
His
reply
,
written
by
the
dreary
twilight
which
represented
sunset
,
ran
thus
:
'
Dear
Amy
,
—
I
thank
you
for
your
letter
,
and
I
appreciate
your
motive
in
writing
it
.
But
if
you
feel
that
you
have
"
done
what
I
expressed
a
wish
that
you
should
do
,
"
you
must
have
strangely
misunderstood
me
.
'
The
only
one
thing
that
I
wished
was
,
that
by
some
miracle
your
love
for
me
might
be
revived
.
Can
I
persuade
myself
that
this
is
the
letter
of
a
wife
who
desires
to
return
to
me
because
in
her
heart
she
loves
me
?
If
that
is
the
truth
you
have
been
most
unfortunate
in
trying
to
express
yourself
.
'
You
have
written
because
it
seemed
your
duty
to
do
so
.
But
,
indeed
,
a
sense
of
duty
such
as
this
is
a
mistaken
one
.
You
have
no
love
for
me
,
and
where
there
is
no
love
there
is
no
mutual
obligation
in
marriage
.
Perhaps
you
think
that
regard
for
social
conventions
will
necessitate
your
living
with
me
again
.
But
have
more
courage
;
refuse
to
act
falsehoods
;
tell
society
it
is
base
and
brutal
,
and
that
you
prefer
to
live
an
honest
life
.
'
I
cannot
share
your
wealth
,
dear
.
But
as
you
have
no
longer
need
of
my
help
—
as
we
are
now
quite
independent
of
each
other
—
I
shall
cease
to
send
the
money
which
hitherto
I
have
considered
yours
.
In
this
way
I
shall
have
enough
,
and
more
than
enough
,
for
my
necessities
,
so
that
you
will
never
have
to
trouble
yourself
with
the
thought
that
I
am
suffering
privations
.
At
Christmas
I
go
to
Croydon
,
and
I
will
then
write
to
you
again
.
'
For
we
may
at
all
events
be
friendly
.
My
mind
is
relieved
from
ceaseless
anxiety
on
your
account
.
I
know
now
that
you
are
safe
from
that
accursed
poverty
which
is
to
blame
for
all
our
sufferings
.
You
I
do
not
blame
,
though
I
have
sometimes
done
so
.
My
own
experience
teaches
me
how
kindness
can
be
embittered
by
misfortune
.
Some
great
and
noble
sorrow
may
have
the
effect
of
drawing
hearts
together
,
but
to
struggle
against
destitution
,
to
be
crushed
by
care
about
shillings
and
sixpences
—
that
must
always
degrade
.
'
No
other
reply
than
this
is
possible
,
so
I
beg
you
not
to
write
in
this
way
again
.
Let
me
know
if
you
go
to
live
elsewhere
.
I
hope
Willie
is
well
,
and
that
his
growth
is
still
a
delight
and
happiness
to
you
.
'
Edwin
Reardon
.
'
That
one
word
'
dear
,
'
occurring
in
the
middle
of
the
letter
,
gave
him
pause
as
he
read
the
lines
over
.
Should
he
not
obliterate
it
,
and
even
in
such
a
way
that
Amy
might
see
what
he
had
done
?
His
pen
was
dipped
in
the
ink
for
that
purpose
,
but
after
all
he
held
his
hand
.
Amy
was
still
dear
to
him
,
say
what
he
might
,
and
if
she
noted
the
word
—
if
she
pondered
over
it
—
A
street
gas-lamp
prevented
the
room
from
becoming
absolutely
dark
.
When
he
had
closed
the
envelope
he
lay
down
on
his
bed
again
,
and
watched
the
flickering
yellowness
upon
the
ceiling
.
He
ought
to
have
some
tea
before
going
to
the
hospital
,
but
he
cared
so
little
for
it
that
the
trouble
of
boiling
water
was
too
great
.
The
flickering
light
grew
fainter
;
he
understood
at
length
that
this
was
caused
by
fog
that
had
begun
to
descend
.
The
fog
was
his
enemy
;
it
would
be
wise
to
purchase
a
respirator
if
this
hideous
weather
continued
,
for
sometimes
his
throat
burned
,
and
there
was
a
rasping
in
his
chest
which
gave
disagreeable
admonition
.
He
fell
asleep
for
half
an
hour
,
and
on
awaking
he
was
feverish
,
as
usual
at
this
time
of
day
.
Well
,
it
was
time
to
go
to
his
work
.
Ugh
!
That
first
mouthful
of
fog
!
CHAPTER
XXVIII
INTERIM
The
rooms
which
Milvain
had
taken
for
himself
and
his
sisters
were
modest
,
but
more
expensive
than
their
old
quarters
.
As
the
change
was
on
his
account
he
held
himself
responsible
for
the
extra
outlay
.
But
for
his
immediate
prospects
this
step
would
have
been
unwarrantable
,
as
his
earnings
were
only
just
sufficient
for
his
needs
on
the
previous
footing
.
He
had
resolved
that
his
marriage
must
take
place
before
Christmas
;
till
that
event
he
would
draw
when
necessary
upon
the
girls
'
little
store
,
and
then
repay
them
out
of
Marian
's
dowry
.
'
And
what
are
we
to
do
when
you
are
married
?
'
asked
Dora
.
The
question
was
put
on
the
first
evening
of
their
being
all
under
the
same
roof
.
The
trio
had
had
supper
in
the
girls
'
sitting-room
,
and
it
was
a
moment
for
frank
conversation
.
Dora
rejoiced
in
the
coming
marriage
;
her
brother
had
behaved
honourably
,
and
Marian
,
she
trusted
,
would
be
very
happy
,
notwithstanding
disagreement
with
her
father
,
which
seemed
inevitable
.
Maud
was
by
no
means
so
well
pleased
,
though
she
endeavoured
to
wear
smiles
.
It
looked
to
her
as
if
Jasper
had
been
guilty
of
a
kind
of
weakness
not
to
be
expected
in
him
.
Marian
,
as
an
individual
,
could
not
be
considered
an
appropriate
wife
for
such
a
man
with
such
a
future
;
and
as
for
her
five
thousand
pounds
,
that
was
ridiculous
.
Had
it
been
ten
—
something
can
be
made
of
ten
thousand
;
but
a
paltry
five
!
Maud
's
ideas
on
such
subjects
had
notably
expanded
of
late
,
and
one
of
the
results
was
that
she
did
not
live
so
harmoniously
with
her
sister
as
for
the
first
few
months
of
their
London
career
.
'
I
have
been
thinking
a
good
deal
about
that
,
'
replied
Jasper
to
the
younger
girl
's
question
.
He
stood
with
his
back
to
the
fire
and
smoked
a
cigarette
.
'
I
thought
at
first
of
taking
a
flat
;
but
then
a
flat
of
the
kind
I
should
want
would
be
twice
the
rent
of
a
large
house
.
If
we
have
a
house
with
plenty
of
room
in
it
you
might
come
and
live
with
us
after
a
time
.
At
first
I
must
find
you
decent
lodgings
in
our
neighbourhood
.
'
'
You
show
a
good
deal
of
generosity
,
Jasper
,
'
said
Maud
,
'
but
pray
remember
that
Marian
is
n't
bringing
you
five
thousand
a
year
.
'
'
I
regret
to
say
that
she
is
n't
.
What
she
brings
me
is
five
hundred
a
year
for
ten
years
—
that
's
how
I
look
at
it
.
My
own
income
will
make
it
something
between
six
or
seven
hundred
at
first
,
and
before
long
probably
more
like
a
thousand
.
I
am
quite
cool
and
collected
.
I
understand
exactly
where
I
am
,
and
where
I
am
likely
to
be
ten
years
hence
.
Marian
's
money
is
to
be
spent
in
obtaining
a
position
for
myself
.
At
present
I
am
spoken
of
as
a
"
smart
young
fellow
,
"
and
that
kind
of
thing
;
but
no
one
would
offer
me
an
editorship
,
or
any
other
serious
help
.
Wait
till
I
show
that
I
have
helped
myself
,
and
hands
will
be
stretched
to
me
from
every
side
.
'
Tis
the
way
of
the
world
.
I
shall
belong
to
a
club
;
I
shall
give
nice
,
quiet
little
dinners
to
selected
people
;
I
shall
let
it
be
understood
by
all
and
sundry
that
I
have
a
social
position
.
Thenceforth
I
am
quite
a
different
man
,
a
man
to
be
taken
into
account
.
And
what
will
you
bet
me
that
I
do
n't
stand
in
the
foremost
rank
of
literary
reputabilities
ten
years
hence
?
'
'
I
doubt
whether
six
or
seven
hundred
a
year
will
be
enough
for
this
.
'
'
If
not
,
I
am
prepared
to
spend
a
thousand
.
Bless
my
soul
!
As
if
two
or
three
years
would
n't
suffice
to
draw
out
the
mean
qualities
in
the
kind
of
people
I
am
thinking
of
!
I
say
ten
,
to
leave
myself
a
great
margin
.
'
'
Marian
approves
this
?
'
'
I
have
n't
distinctly
spoken
of
it
.
But
she
approves
whatever
I
think
good
.
'
The
girls
laughed
at
his
way
of
pronouncing
this
.
'
And
let
us
just
suppose
that
you
are
so
unfortunate
as
to
fail
?
'
'
There
's
no
supposing
it
,
unless
,
of
course
,
I
lose
my
health
.
I
am
not
presuming
on
any
wonderful
development
of
powers
.
Such
as
I
am
now
,
I
need
only
to
be
put
on
the
little
pedestal
of
a
decent
independence
and
plenty
of
people
will
point
fingers
of
admiration
at
me
.
You
do
n't
fully
appreciate
this
.
Mind
,
it
would
n't
do
if
I
had
no
qualities
.
I
have
the
qualities
;
they
only
need
bringing
into
prominence
.
If
I
am
an
unknown
man
,
and
publish
a
wonderful
book
,
it
will
make
its
way
very
slowly
,
or
not
at
all
.
If
I
,
become
a
known
man
,
publish
that
very
same
book
,
its
praise
will
echo
over
both
hemispheres
.
I
should
be
within
the
truth
if
I
had
said
"
a
vastly
inferior
book
,
"
but
I
am
in
a
bland
mood
at
present
.
Suppose
poor
Reardon
's
novels
had
been
published
in
the
full
light
of
reputation
instead
of
in
the
struggling
dawn
which
was
never
to
become
day
,
would
n't
they
have
been
magnified
by
every
critic
?
You
have
to
become
famous
before
you
can
secure
the
attention
which
would
give
fame
.
'
He
delivered
this
apophthegm
with
emphasis
,
and
repeated
it
in
another
form
.
'
You
have
to
obtain
reputation
before
you
can
get
a
fair
hearing
for
that
which
would
justify
your
repute
.
It
's
the
old
story
of
the
French
publisher
who
said
to
Dumas
:
"
Make
a
name
,
and
I
'll
publish
anything
you
write
.
"
"
But
how
the
diable
,
"
cries
the
author
,
"
am
I
to
make
a
name
if
I
ca
n't
get
published
?
"
If
a
man
ca
n't
hit
upon
any
other
way
of
attracting
attention
,
let
him
dance
on
his
head
in
the
middle
of
the
street
;
after
that
he
may
hope
to
get
consideration
for
his
volume
of
poems
.
I
am
speaking
of
men
who
wish
to
win
reputation
before
they
are
toothless
.
Of
course
if
your
work
is
strong
,
and
you
can
afford
to
wait
,
the
probability
is
that
half
a
dozen
people
will
at
last
begin
to
shout
that
you
have
been
monstrously
neglected
,
as
you
have
.
But
that
happens
when
you
are
hoary
and
sapless
,
and
when
nothing
under
the
sun
delights
you
.
'
He
lit
a
new
cigarette
.
'
Now
I
,
my
dear
girls
,
am
not
a
man
who
can
afford
to
wait
.
First
of
all
,
my
qualities
are
not
of
the
kind
which
demand
the
recognition
of
posterity
.
My
writing
is
for
to-day
,
most
distinctly
hodiernal
.
It
has
no
value
save
in
reference
to
to-day
.
The
question
is
:
How
can
I
get
the
eyes
of
men
fixed
upon
me
?
The
answer
:
By
pretending
I
am
quite
independent
of
their
gaze
.
I
shall
succeed
,
without
any
kind
of
doubt
;
and
then
I
'll
have
a
medal
struck
to
celebrate
the
day
of
my
marriage
.
'
But
Jasper
was
not
quite
so
well
assured
of
the
prudence
of
what
he
was
about
to
do
as
he
wished
his
sisters
to
believe
.
The
impulse
to
which
he
had
finally
yielded
still
kept
its
force
;
indeed
,
was
stronger
than
ever
since
the
intimacy
of
lovers
'
dialogue
had
revealed
to
him
more
of
Marian
's
heart
and
mind
.
Undeniably
he
was
in
love
.
Not
passionately
,
not
with
the
consuming
desire
which
makes
every
motive
seem
paltry
compared
with
its
own
satisfaction
;
but
still
quite
sufficiently
in
love
to
have
a
great
difficulty
in
pursuing
his
daily
tasks
.
This
did
not
still
the
voice
which
bade
him
remember
all
the
opportunities
and
hopes
he
was
throwing
aside
.
Since
the
plighting
of
troth
with
Marian
he
had
been
over
to
Wimbledon
,
to
the
house
of
his
friend
and
patron
Mr.
Horace
Barlow
,
and
there
he
had
again
met
with
Miss
Rupert
.
This
lady
had
no
power
whatever
over
his
emotions
,
but
he
felt
assured
that
she
regarded
him
with
strong
interest
.
When
he
imagined
the
possibility
of
contracting
a
marriage
with
Miss
Rupert
,
who
would
make
him
at
once
a
man
of
solid
means
,
his
head
drooped
,
and
he
wondered
at
his
precipitation
.
It
had
to
be
confessed
that
he
was
the
victim
of
a
vulgar
weakness
.
He
had
declared
himself
not
of
the
first
order
of
progressive
men
.
The
conversation
with
Amy
Reardon
did
not
tend
to
put
his
mind
at
rest
.
Amy
was
astonished
at
so
indiscreet
a
step
in
a
man
of
his
calibre
.
Ah
!
if
only
Amy
herself
were
free
,
with
her
ten
thousand
pounds
to
dispose
of
!
She
,
he
felt
sure
,
did
not
view
him
with
indifference
.
Was
there
not
a
touch
of
pique
in
the
elaborate
irony
with
which
she
had
spoken
of
his
choice
?
—
But
it
was
idle
to
look
in
that
direction
.
He
was
anxious
on
his
sisters
'
account
.
They
were
clever
girls
,
and
with
energy
might
before
long
earn
a
bare
subsistence
;
but
it
began
to
be
doubtful
whether
they
would
persevere
in
literary
work
.
Maud
,
it
was
clear
,
had
conceived
hopes
of
quite
another
kind
.
Her
intimacy
with
Mrs.
Lane
was
effecting
a
change
in
her
habits
,
her
dress
,
even
her
modes
of
speech
.
A
few
days
after
their
establishment
in
the
new
lodgings
,
Jasper
spoke
seriously
on
this
subject
with
the
younger
girl
.
'
I
wonder
whether
you
could
satisfy
my
curiosity
in
a
certain
matter
,
'
he
said
.
'
Do
you
,
by
chance
,
know
how
much
Maud
gave
for
that
new
jacket
in
which
I
saw
her
yesterday
?
'
Dora
was
reluctant
to
answer
.
'
I
do
n't
think
it
was
very
much
.
'
'
That
is
to
say
,
it
did
n't
cost
twenty
guineas
.
Well
,
I
hope
not
.
I
notice
,
too
,
that
she
has
been
purchasing
a
new
hat
.
'
'
Oh
,
that
was
very
inexpensive
.
She
trimmed
it
herself
.
'
'
Did
she
?
Is
there
any
particular
,
any
quite
special
,
reason
for
this
expenditure
?
'
'
I
really
ca
n't
say
,
Jasper
.
'
'
That
's
ambiguous
,
you
know
.
Perhaps
it
means
you
wo
n't
allow
yourself
to
say
?
'
'
No
,
Maud
does
n't
tell
me
about
things
of
that
kind
.
'
He
took
opportunities
of
investigating
the
matter
,
with
the
result
that
some
ten
days
after
he
sought
private
colloquy
with
Maud
herself
.
She
had
asked
his
opinion
of
a
little
paper
she
was
going
to
send
to
a
ladies
'
illustrated
weekly
,
and
he
summoned
her
to
his
own
room
.
'
I
think
this
will
do
pretty
well
,
'
he
said
.
'
There
's
rather
too
much
thought
in
it
,
perhaps
.
Suppose
you
knock
out
one
or
two
of
the
less
obvious
reflections
,
and
substitute
a
wholesome
commonplace
?
You
'll
have
a
better
chance
,
I
assure
you
.
'
'
But
I
shall
make
it
worthless
.
'
'
No
;
you
'll
probably
make
it
worth
a
guinea
or
so
.
You
must
remember
that
the
people
who
read
women
's
papers
are
irritated
,
simply
irritated
,
by
anything
that
is
n't
glaringly
obvious
.
They
hate
an
unusual
thought
.
The
art
of
writing
for
such
papers
—
indeed
,
for
the
public
in
general
—
is
to
express
vulgar
thought
and
feeling
in
a
way
that
flatters
the
vulgar
thinkers
and
feelers
.
Just
abandon
your
mind
to
it
,
and
then
let
me
see
it
again
.
'
Maud
took
up
the
manuscript
and
glanced
over
it
with
a
contemptuous
smile
.
Having
observed
her
for
a
moment
,
Jasper
threw
himself
back
in
the
chair
and
said
,
as
if
casually
:
'
I
am
told
that
Mr.
Dolomore
is
becoming
a
great
friend
of
yours
.
'
The
girl
's
face
changed
.
She
drew
herself
up
,
and
looked
away
towards
the
window
.
'
I
do
n't
know
that
he
is
a
"
great
"
friend
.
'
'
Still
,
he
pays
enough
attention
to
you
to
excite
remark
.
'
'
Whose
remark
?
'
'
That
of
several
people
who
go
to
Mrs.
Lane
's
.
'
'
I
do
n't
know
any
reason
for
it
,
'
said
Maud
,
coldly
.
'
Look
here
,
Maud
,
you
do
n't
mind
if
I
give
you
a
friendly
warning
?
'
She
kept
silence
,
with
a
look
of
superiority
to
all
monition
.
'
Dolomore
,
'
pursued
her
brother
,
'
is
all
very
well
in
his
way
