第6章

"Granted;buthedidn"tmakeafortune。Hetookafortunethatothersmade。AtCambridgetheytaughtmethathisprofitsweretherewardofabstinence——theabstinencewhichenabledhimtosave。ThatquietedmyconscienceuntilIbegantowonderwhyonemanshouldmakeanotherpayhimforexercisingoneofthevirtues。Thencamethequestion:whatdidmyfatherabstainfrom？

Theworkmenabstainedfrommeat,drink,freshair,goodclothes,decentlodging,holidays,money,thesocietyoftheirfamilies,andprettynearlyeverythingthatmakeslifeworthliving,whichwasperhapsthereasonwhytheyusuallydiedtwentyyearsorsosoonerthanpeopleinourcircumstances。Yetnoonerewardedthemfortheirabstinence。Therewardcametomyfather,whoabstainedfromnoneofthesethings,butindulgedinthemalltohisheart"scontent。Besides,ifthemoneywastherewardofabstinence,itseemedlogicaltoinferthathemustabstaintentimesasmuchwhenhebadfiftythousandayearaswhenhehadonlyfivethousand。Herewasaproblemformyyoungmind。

Required,somethingfromwhichmyfatherabstainedandinwhichhisworkmenexceeded,andwhichheabstainedfrommoreandmoreashegrewricherandricher。Theonlythingthatansweredthisdescriptionwashardwork,andasInevermetasanemanwillingtopayanotherforidling,Ibegantoseethattheseprodigiouspaymentstomyfatherwereextortedbyforce。Todohimjustice,heneverboastedofabstinence。Heconsideredhimselfahard—workedman,andclaimedhisfortuneastherewardofhisrisks,hiscalculations,hisanxieties,andthejourneyshehadtomakeatallseasonsandatallhours。Thiscomfortedmesomewhatuntilitoccurredtomethatifhehadlivedacenturyearlier,investedhismoneyinahorseandapairofpistols,andtakentotheroad,hisobject——thatofwrestingfromothersthefruitsoftheirlaborwithoutrenderingthemanequivalent——wouldhavebeenexactlythesame,andhisriskfargreater,foritwouldhaveincludedriskofthegallows。Constanttravellingwiththeconstableathisheels,andcalculationsofthechancesofrobbingtheDovermail,wouldhavegivenhimhisfillofactivityandanxiety。Onthewhole,ifJesseTrefusis,M。P。,whodiedamillionaireinhispalaceatKensington,hadbeenahighwayman,I

couldnotmoreheartilyloathethesocialarrangementsthatrenderedsuchacareerashisnotonlypossible,buteminentlycreditabletohimselfintheeyesofhisfellows。Mostmenmakeittheirbusinesstoimitatehim,hopingtobecomerichandidleonthesameterms。ThereforeIturnmybackonthem。Icannotsitattheirfeastsknowinghowmuchtheycostinhumanmisery,andseeinghowlittletheyproduceofhumanhappiness。Whatisyouropinion,mytreasure？"

Henriettaseemedalittletroubled。Shesmiledfaintly,andsaidcaressingly,"Itwasnotyourfault,Sidney。_I_don"tblameyou。"

"Immortalpowers！"heexclaimed,sittingboltuprightandappealingtotheskies,"hereisawomanwhobelievesthattheonlyconcernallthiscausesmeiswhethershethinksanytheworseofmepersonallyonaccountofit！"

"No,no,Sidney。ItisnotIalone。Nobodythinkstheworseofyouforit。"

"Quiteso,"hereturned,inapolitefrenzy。"Nobodyseesanyharminit。Thatispreciselythemischiefofit。"

"Besides,"sheurged,"yourmotherbelongedtooneoftheoldestfamiliesinEngland。"

"Andwhatmorecanmandesirethanwealthwithdescentfromacountyfamily！CouldamanbehappierthanIoughttobe,sprungasIamfrommonopolistsofallthesourcesandinstrumentsofproduction——oflandontheoneside,andofmachineryontheother？Thisverygroundonwhichwearerestingwasthepropertyofmymother"sfather。Atleastthelawallowedhimtouseitassuch。Whenhewasaboy,therewasafairlyprosperousraceofpeasantssettledhere,tillingthesoil,payinghimrentforpermissiontodoso,andmakingenoughoutofittosatisfyhislargewantsandtheirownnarrowneedswithoutworkingthemselvestodeath。Butmygrandfatherwasashrewdman。Heperceivedthatcowsandsheepproducedmoremoneybytheirmeatandwoolthanpeasantsbytheirhusbandry。Soheclearedtheestate。Thatis,hedrovethepeasantsfromtheirhomes,asmyfatherdidafterwardsinhisScotchdeerforest。Or,ashistombstonehasit,hedevelopedtheresourcesofhiscountry。Idon"tknowwhatbecameofthepeasants;HEdidn"tknow,and,Ipresume,didn"tcare。Isupposetheoldoneswentintotheworkhouse,andtheyoungonescrowdedthetowns,andworkedformenlikemyfatherinfactories。Theirplacesweretakenbycattle,whichpaidfortheirfoodsowellthatmygrandfather,gettingmyfathertotakesharesintheenterprise,hiredlaborersontheManchestertermstocutthatcanalforhim。Whenitwasmade,hetooktolluponit;andhisheirsstilltaketoll,andthesonsofthenavvieswhodugitandoftheengineerwhodesigneditpaythetollwhentheyhaveoccasiontotravelbyit,ortopurchasegoodswhichhavebeenconveyedalongit。Iremembermygrandfatherwell。Hewasawell—bredman,andaperfectgentlemaninhismanners;but,onthewhole,Ithinkhewaswickederthanmyfather,who,afterall,wascaughtinthewheelsofavicioussystem,andhadeithertospoilothersorbespoiledbythem。Butmygrandfather——theoldrascal！——wasinnosuchdilemma。MasterashewasofhisbitofmerryEngland,nomancouldhaveenslavedhim,andhemightatleasthavelivedandletlive。Myfatherfollowedhisexampleinthematterofthedeerforest,butthatwastheclimaxofhiswickedness,whereasitwasonlythebeginningofmygrandfather"s。Howbeit,whicheverbearsthepalm,theretheywere,thetypesafterwhichweallstrive。"

"Notall,Sidney。Notwetwo。Ihatetradespeopleandcountrysquires。Webelongtotheartisticandculturedclasses,andwecankeepalooffromshopkeepers。"

"Living,meanwhile,attherateofseveralthousandayearonrentandinterest。No,mydear,thisisthewayofthosepeoplewhoinsistthatwhentheyareinheaventheyshallbesparedtherecollectionofsuchaplaceashell,butarequitecontentthatitshallexistoutsidetheirconsciousness。Irespectmyfathermore——ImeanIdespisehimless——fordoinghisownsweatingandfilchingthanIdothesensitivesluggardsandcowardswholenthimtheirmoneytosweatandfilchwith,andaskednoquestionsprovidedtheinterestwaspaidpunctually。Andastoyourfriendstheartists,theyaretheworstofall。"

"Oh,Sidney,youaredeterminednottobepleased。Artistsdon"tkeepfactories。"

"No;butthefactoryisonlyapartofthemachineryofthesystem。Itsbasisisthetyrannyofbrainforce,which,amongcivilizedmen,isallowedtodowhatmuscularforcedoesamongschoolboysandsavages。Theschoolboypropositionis:"Iamstrongerthanyou,thereforeyoushallfagforme。"Itsgrownupformis:"Iamclevererthanyou,thereforeyoushallfagforme。"Thestateofthingsweproducebysubmittingtothis,badenoughevenatfirst,becomesintolerablewhenthemediocreorfoolishdescendantsofthecleverfellowsclaimtohaveinheritedtheirprivileges。Now,nomenaregreatersticklersforthearbitrarydominionofgeniusandtalentthanyourartists。Thegreatpainterisnotsatisfiedwithbeingsoughtafterandadmiredbecausehishandscandomorethanordinaryhands,whichtheytrulycan,buthewantstobefedasifhisstomachneededmorefoodthanordinarystomachs,whichitdoesnot。Aday"sworkisaday"swork,neithermorenorless,andthemanwhodoesitneedsaday"ssustenance,anight"srepose,anddueleisure,whetherhebepainterorploughman。Buttherascalofapainter,poet,novelist,orothervoluptuaryinlabor,isnotcontentwithhisadvantageinpopularesteemovertheploughman;healsowantsanadvantageinmoney,asifthereweremorehoursinadayspentinthestudioorlibrarythaninthefield;orasifheneededmorefoodtoenablehimtodohisworkthantheploughmantoenablehimtodohis。Hetalksofthehigherqualityofhiswork,asifthehigherqualityofitwereofhisownmaking——asifitgavehimarighttoworklessforhisneighborthanhisneighborworksforhim——asiftheploughmancouldnotdobetterwithouthimthanhewithouttheploughman——asifthevalueofthemostcelebratedpictureshasnotbeenquestionedmorethanthatofanystraightfurrowinthearableworld——asifitdidnottakeanapprenticeshipofasmanyyearstotrainthehandandeyeofamasonorblacksmithasofanartist——asif,inshort,thefellowwereagod,ascantingbrainworshippershaveforyearspastbeenassuringhimheis。ArtistsarcthehighpriestsofthemodernMoloch。Nineoutoftenofthemarediseasedcreatures,justsaneenoughtotradeontheirownneuroses。Theonlyqualityo？theirswhichextortsmyrespectisacertainsublimeselfishnesswhichmakesthemwillingtostarveandtolettheirfamiliesstarvesoonerthandoanyworktheydon"tlike。"

"INDEEDyouarequitewrong,Sidney。TherewasagirlattheSladeschoolwhosupportedhermotherandtwosistersbyherdrawing。Besides,whatcanyoudo？Peopleweremadeso。"

"Yes;Iwasmadealandlordandcapitalistbythefollyofthepeople;buttheycanunmakemeiftheywill。MeanwhileIhaveabsolutelynomeansofescapefrommypositionexceptbygivingawaymyslavestofellowswhowillusethemnobetterthanI,andbecomingaslavemyself;which,ifyouplease,youshallnotcatchmedoinginahurry。No,mybeloved,Imustkeepmyfootontheirnecksforyoursakeaswellasformyown。Butyoudonotcareaboutallthisprosystuff。Iamconsumedwithremorseforhavingboredmydarling。YouwanttoknowwhyIamlivingherelikeahermitinavulgartwo—roomedhovelinsteadoftastingthedelightsofLondonsocietywithmybeautifulanddevotedyoungwife。"

"Butyoudon"tintendtostayhere,Sidney？"

"Yes,Ido;andIwilltellyouwhy。IamhelpingtoliberatethoseManchesterlaborerswhoweremyfather"sslaves。Tobringthatabout,theirfellowslavesallovertheworldmustuniteinavastinternationalassociationofmenpledgedtosharetheworld"sworkjustly;tosharetheproduceoftheworkjustly;toyieldnotafarthing——charityapart——toanyfull—grownandable—bodiedidlerormalingerer,andtotreatasvermininthecommonwealthpersonsattemptingtogetmorethantheirshareofwealthorgivelessthantheirshareofwork。Thisisaverydifficultthingtoaccomplish,becauseworking—men,likethepeoplecalledtheirbetters,donotalwaysunderstandtheirowninterests,andwilloftenactuallyhelptheiroppressorstoexterminatetheirsaviourstothetuneof"RuleBritannia,"orsomesuchlyingdoggerel。Wemusteducatethemoutofthat,and,meanwhile,pushforwardtheinternationalassociationoflaborersdiligently。Iamatpresentoccupiedinpropagatingitsprinciples。Capitalism,organizedforrepressivepurposesunderpretextofgoverningthenation,wouldverysoonstoptheassociationifitunderstoodouraim,butitthinksthatweareengagedingunpowderplotsandconspiraciestoassassinatecrownedheads;andso,whilstthepoliceareblunderinginsearchofevidenceofthese,ourrealworkgoesonunmolested。WhetherI

amreallyadvancingthecauseismorethanIcansay。Iuseheapsofpostagestamps,paytheexpensesofmanyindifferentlecturers,defraythecostofprintingreamsofpamphletsandhand—billswhichhailthelaborerflatteringlyasthesaltoftheearth,writeandeditalittlesocialistjournal,anddowhatliesinmypowergenerally。Ihadratherspendmyill—gottenwealthinthiswaythanuponanexpensivehouseandaretinueofservants。AndIprefermycorduroysandmytwo—roomedchaletheretoourprettylittlehouse,andyourprettylittleways,andmyprettylittleneglectoftheworkthatmyheartissetupon。Someday,perhaps,Iwilltakeaholiday;andthenweshallhaveanewhoneymoon。"

ForamomentHenriettaseemedabouttocry。Suddenlysheexclaimedwithenthusiasm:"Iwillstaywithyou,Sidney。Iwillshareyourwork,whateveritmaybe。Iwilldressasadairymaid,andhavealittlepailtocarrymilkin。Theworldisnothingtomeexceptwhenyouarewithme;andIshouldlovetolivehereandsketchfromnature。"

Heblenched,andpartiallyrose,unabletoconcealhisdismay。

She,resolvednottobecastoff,seizedhimandclungtohim。

ThiswasthemovementthatexcitedthederisionofWickens"sboyintheadjacentgravelpit。Trefusiswasgladoftheinterruption;and,whenhegavetheboytwopenceandbadehimbegone,halfhopedthathewouldinsistonremaining。Butthoughanobdurateboyonmostoccasions,heprovedcomplaisantonthis,andwithdrewtothehighroad,wherehemadeoveroneofhispenniestoaphantomgambler,andtossedwithhimuntilrecalledfromhisdualstatebytheappearanceofFairholme"sparty。

Inthemeantime,Henriettaurgentlyreturnedtoherproposition。

"Weshouldbesohappy,"shesaid。"Iwouldhousekeepforyou,andyoucouldworkasmuchasyoupleased。Ourlifewouldbealongidyll。"

"Mylove,"hesaid,shakinghisheadasshelookedbeseechinglyathim,"IhavetoomuchManchestercottoninmyconstitutionforlongidylls。Andthetruthis,thatthefirstconditionofworkwithmeisyourabsence。Whenyouarewithme,Icandonothingbutmakelovetoyou。Youbewitchme。WhenIescapefromyouforamoment,itisonlytogroanremorsefullyoverthehoursyouhavetemptedmetowasteandtheenergyyouhavefutilized。"

"Ifyouwon"tlivewithmeyouhadnorighttomarryme。"

"True。Butthatisneitheryourfaultnormine。Wehavefoundthatweloveeachothertoomuch——thatourintercoursehindersourusefulness——andsowemustpart。Notforever,mydear;onlyuntilyouhavecaresandbusinessofyourowntofillupyourlifeandpreventyoufromwastingmine。"

"Ibelieveyouaremad,"shesaidpetulantly。"Theworldismadnowadays,andisgallopingtothedeuceasfastasgreedcangoadit。Imerelystandoutoftherush,notlikingitsdestination。

Herecomesabarge,thecommanderofwhichisdevotedtomebecausehebelievesthatIamorganizingarevolutionfortheabolitionoflockduesandtolls。WewillgoaboardandfloatdowntoLyvern,whenceyoucanreturntoLondon。Youhadbettertelegraphfromthejunctiontothecollege;theremustbeahueandcryoutafterusbythistime。Youshallhavemyaddress,andwecanwritetooneanotherorseeoneanotherwheneverweplease。Oryoucandivorcemefordesertingyou。"

"Youwouldlikemeto,Iknow,"saidHenrietta,sobbing。

"Ishoulddieofdespair,mydarling,"hesaidcomplacently。

"Shipaho—o—o—y！Stopcrying,Hetty,forGod"ssake。Youlaceratemyverysoul。"

"Ah—o—o—o—o—o—o—oy,master！"roaredthebargee。

"Goodarternoon,sir,"saidamanwho,withashortwhipinhishand,trudgedbesidethewhitehorsethattowedthebarge。"Comeup！"headdedmalevolentlytothehorse。

"Iwanttogetonboard,andgouptoLyvernwithyou,"saidTrefusis。"Heseemsawellfedbrute,that。"

"Betterfednorme,"saidtheman。"Youcan"tgettheworkoutofahunderfed"orsethatyoucanoutofahunderfedmanorwoman。

I"vebininpartsofEnglandwherewomenpulledthebarges。Theycomecheapernor"orses,becauseitdidn"tcostnothingtogetnewoneswhentheoldonesweworeout。"

"Thenwhynotemploythem？"saidTrefusis,withironicalgravity。

"TheprincipleofbuyinglaborforceinthecheapestmarketandsellingitsproductinthedearesthasdonemuchtomakeEnglishmen——whattheyare。"

"Therailwaycomp"nieskeeps"orspittlesforthelikeof"IM,"

saidtheman,withacunninglaugh,indicatingthehorsebysmackinghimonthebellywiththebuttofthewhip。"Ifeveryoutrybein"alaborerinearnest,governor,tryitonfourlegs。

You"llfinditfarpreferabletotryingontwo。"

"Thismanisoneofmyconverts,"saidTrefusisaparttoHenrietta。"HetoldmetheotherdaythatsinceIsethimthinkingheneverseesagentlemanwithoutfeelinginclinedtoheaveabrickathim。Ifindthatsocialismisoftenmisunderstoodbyitsleastintelligentsupportersandopponentstomeansimplyunrestrainedindulgenceofournaturalpropensitytoheavebricksatrespectablepersons。NowIamgoingtocarryyoualongthisplank。Ifyoukeepquiet,wemayreachthebarge。

Ifnot,weshallreachthebottomofthecanal。"

Hecarriedhersafelyover,andexchangedsomefriendlywordswiththebargee。ThenhetookHenriettaforward,andstoodwatchingthewaterastheywerebornealongnoiselesslybetweenthehillypasturesofthecountry。

"Thiswouldbeafairyjourney,"hesaid,"ifonecouldforgetthewomandownbelow,cookingherhusband"sdinnerinastiflingholeaboutasbigasyourwardrobe,and——"

"Oh,don"ttalkanymoreofthesethings,"shesaidcrossly;"I

cannothelpthem。Ihavemyowntroublestothinkof。HERhusbandliveswithher。"

"Shewillchangeplaceswithyou,mydear,ifyoumakehertheoffer。"

Shehadnoanswerready。Afterapausehebegantospeakpoeticallyofthesceneryandtoofferherloverlikespeechesandcompliments。Butshefeltthatheintendedtogetridofher,andheknewthatitwasuselesstotrytohidethatdesignfromher。

Sheturnedawayandsatdownonapileofbricks,onlywrithingangrilywhenhepressedherforaword。Astheynearedtheendofhervoyage,andherintenseprotestagainstdesertionremained,asshethought,onlyhalfexpressed,hersenseofinjurygrewalmostunbearable。

Theylandedonawharf,andwentthroughanunswept,deeply—ruttedlaneuptothemainstreetofLyvern。HerehebecameSmilashagain,walkingdeferentiallyalittlebeforeher,asifshehadhiredhimtopointouttheway。Shethensawthatherlastopportunityofappealingtohimhadgoneby,andshenearlyburstintotearsatthethought。Itoccurredtoherthatshemightprevailuponhimbymakingasceneinpublic。Butthestreetwasabusyone,andshewasalittleafraidofhim。

Neitherconsiderationwouldhavecheckedherinoneofherungovernablemoods,butnowshewasinanabjectone。Hermoodsseemedtocomeonlywhentheywereharmfultoher。Shesufferedherselftobeputintotherailwayomnibus,whichwasonthepointofstartingfromtheinnyardwhentheyarrivedthere,andthoughhetouchedhishat,askedwhethershehadanymessagetogivehim,andinatenderwhisperwishedherasafejourney,shewouldnotlookatorspeaktohim。Sotheyparted,andhereturnedalonetothechalet,wherehewasreceivedbythetwopolicemenwhosubsequentlybroughthimtothecollege。

CHAPTERVI

Theyearworeon,andthelongwintereveningssetin。ThestudiousyoungladiesatAltonCollege,elbowsondeskandhandsoverears,shudderedchillilyinfurtippetswhilsttheyloadedtheirmemorieswiththestatementsofwritersonmoralscience,or,likemenwhoswimuponcorks,reasonedoutmathematicalproblemsuponpostulates。Whenceitsometimeshappenedthatthemorereasonableastudentwasinmathematics,themoreunreasonableshewasintheaffairsofreallife,concerningwhichfewtrustworthypostulateshaveyetbeenascertained。

Agatha,notstudious,andapttoshiverinwinter,begantobreakRuleNo。17withincreasingfrequency。RuleNo。17forbadethestudentstoenterthekitchen,orinanywaytodisturbtheservantsinthedischargeoftheirduties。Agathabrokeitbecauseshewasfondofmakingtoffee,ofeatingit,ofagoodfire,ofdoinganyforbiddenthing,andoftheadmirationwithwhichtheservantslistenedtoherventriloquialandmusicalfeats。Gertrudeaccompaniedherbecauseshetoolikedtoffee,andbecausesheplumedherselfonhercondescensiontoherinferiors。

Janewentbecausehertwofriendswent,andthespiritofadventure,theforceofexample,andtheloveoftoffeeoftenbroughtmorevolunteerstotheseexpeditionsthanAgathathoughtitsafetoenlist。OneeveningMissWilson,goingdownstairsalonetoherprivatewinecellar,wasarrestednearthekitchenbysoundsofrevelry,and,stoppingtolisten,overheardthecastanetdance（whichremindedheroftheemphasiswithwhichAgathahadsnappedherfingersatMrs。Miller）,thebeeonthewindowpane,"RobinAdair"（encoredbytheservants）,andanimitationofherselfintheactofappealingtoJaneCarpenter"sbetternaturetoinducehertostudyfortheCambridgeLocal。Shewaiteduntilthecoldandherfearofbeingdiscoveredspyingforcedhertocreepupstairs,ashamedofhavingenjoyedasillyentertainment,andofconnivingatabreachoftherulesratherthanfaceafreshquarrelwithAgatha。

TherewasoneparticularinwhichmattersbetweenAgathaandthecollegedisciplinedidnotgoonexactlyasbefore。Althoughshehadformerlysuppliedadisproportionatelylargenumberoftheconfessionsinthefaultbook,theentrywhichhadnearlyledtoherexpulsionwasthelastsheevermadeinit。Notthatherconductwasbetter——itwasratherthereverse。MissWilsonnevermentionedthematter,thefaultbookbeingsacredfromallallusiononherpart。ButshesawthatthoughAgathawouldnotconfessherownsins,shestillassistedotherstounburdentheirconsciences。ThewitticismswithwhichJaneunsuspectinglyenlivenedthepagesoftheRecordingAngelwereconclusiveonthispoint。

Smilashhadnowadoptedaprofession。Inthelastdaysofautumnhehadwhitewashedthechalet,paintedthedoors,windows,andveranda,repairedtheroofandinterior,andimprovedtheplacesomuchthatthelandlordhadwarnedhimthattherentwouldberaisedattheexpirationofhistwelvemonth"stenancy,remarkingthatatenantcouldnotreasonablyexpecttohaveapretty,rain—tightdwelling—houseforthesamemoneyasahardlyhabitableruin。Smilashhadimmediatelypromisedtodilapidateittoitsformerstateattheendoftheyear。Hehadputupaboardatthegatewithaninscriptioncopiedfromsomeprintedcardswhichhepresentedtopersonswhohappenedtoconversewithhim。

_______________________________________________________

JEFFERSONSMILASH

PAINTER,DECORATOR,GLAZIER,PLUMBER&GARDENER。Pianofortestuned。DomesticengineeringinallitsBranches。Familieswaiteduponattableorotherwise。

CHAMOUNIXVILLA,LYVERN。（N。B。AdviceGratis。NoReasonableofferrefused。）_______________________________________________________

Thebusinessthusannounced,comprehensiveasitwas,didnotflourish。Whenaskedbythecuriousfortestimonytohiscompetenceandrespectability,herecklesslyreferredthemtoFairholme,toJosephs,andinparticulartoMissWilson,who,hesaid,hadknownhimfromhisearliestchildhood。Fairholme,gladofanopportunitytoshowthathewasnomealymouthedparson,declared,whenappliedto,thatSmilashwasthegreatestrogueinthecountry。Josephs,partlyfrombenevolence,andpartlyfromavaguefearthatSmilashmightatanymomenttakeanactionagainsthimfordefamationofcharacter,saidhehadnodoubtthathewasaverycheapworkman,andthatitwouldbeacharitytogivehimsomelittlejobtoencouragehim。MissWilsonconfirmedFairholme"saccount;andthechurchorganist,whohadtunedallthepianofortesintheneighborhoodonceayearfornearlyaquarterofacentury,denouncedthenewcomerasJackofalltradesandmasterofnone。HereupontheradicalsofLyvern,asmallanddisreputableparty,begantoassertthattherewasnoharmintheman,andthattheparsonsandMissWilson,wholivedinafinehouseanddidnothingbuttakeinthedaughtersofrichswellsasboarders,mightemploytheirleisurebetterthanintakingthebreadoutofapoorworkman"smouth。Butasnoneofthisfactionneededtheservicesofadomesticengineer,hewasnonethericherfortheirsupport,andtheonlypatronheobtainedwasahousemaidwhowasleavinghersituationatacountryhouseinthevicinity,andwantedherboxrepaired,thelidhavingfallenoff。Smilashdemandedhalf—a—crownforthejob,butonherdemurring,immediatelyapologizedandcamedowntoashilling。Forthissumherepaintedthebox,tracedherinitialsonit,andaffixednewhinges,aBramahlock,andbrasshandles,atacosttohimselfoftenshillingsandseveralhours"labor。

Thehousemaidfoundfaultwiththecolorofthepaint,madehimtakeoffthehandles,which,shesaid,remindedherofacoffin,complainedthatalockwithsuchasmallkeycouldn"tbestrongenoughforalargebox,butadmittedthatitwasallherownfaultfornotemployingaproperman。Itgotaboutthathehadmadeapoorjobofthebox;andashe,whentaxedwiththis,emphaticallyconfirmedit,hegotnoothercommission;andhissignboardservedthenceforthonlyfortheamusementofpedestriantouristsandofshepherdboyswithatasteforstonethrowing。

OnenightagreatstormblewoverLyvern,andthoseyoungladiesatAltonCollegewhowereafraidoflightning,saidtheirprayerswithsomeearnestness。Athalf—pasttwelvetherain,wind,andthundermadesuchadinthatAgathaandGertrudewrappedthemselvesinshawls,stoledownstairstothewindowonthelandingoutsideMissWilson"sstudy,andstoodwatchingtheflashesgivevividglimpsesofthelandscape,anddiscussinginwhisperswhetheritwasdangeroustostandnearawindow,andwhetherbrassstair—rodscouldattractlightning。Agatha,asseriousandfriendlywithasinglecompanionasshewasmischievousandsatiricalbeforealargeraudience,enjoyedthescenequietly。Thelightningdidnotterrifyher,forsheknewlittleofthevalueoflife,andfanciedmuchconcerningtheheroismofbeingindifferenttoit。Thetremorswhichthemorestartlingflashescausedher,onlymadehermoreconsciousofherowncourageanditscontrastwiththeuneasinessofGertrude,whoatlast,shrinkingfromaforkedzigzagofblueflame,said:

"Letusgobacktobed,Agatha。Ifeelsurethatwearenotsafehere。"

"Quiteassafeasinbed,wherewecannotseeanything。Howthehouseshakes！Ibelievetherainwillbatterinthewindowsbefore——"

"Hush,"whisperedGertrude,catchingherarminterror。"Whatwasthat？"

"What？"

"IamsureIheardthebell——thegatebell。Oh,doletusgobacktobed。"

"Nonsense！Whowouldbeoutonsuchanightasthis？Perhapsthewindrangit。"

Theywaitedforafewmoments;Gertrudetrembling,andAgathafeeling,asshelistenedinthedarkness,asensationfamiliartopersonswhoareafraidofghosts。Presentlyaveiledclangormingledwiththewind。Afewsharpandurgentsnatchesofitcameunmistakablyfromthebellatthegateofthecollegegrounds。Itwasaloudbell,usedtosummonaservantfromthecollegetoopenthegates;forthoughtherewasaporter"slodge,itwasuninhabited。

"Whoonearthcanitbe？"saidAgatha。"Can"ttheyfindthewicket,theidiots？"

"Oh,Ihopenot！Docomeupstairs,Agatha。"

"No,Iwon"t。Goyou,ifyoulike。"ButGertrudewasafraidtogoalone。"IthinkIhadbetterwakenMissWilson,andtellher,"

continuedAgatha。"Itseemsawfultoshutanybodyoutonsuchanightasthis。"

"Butwedon"tknowwhoitis。"

"Well,Isupposeyouarenotafraidofthem,inanycase,"saidAgatha,knowingthecontrary,butrecognizingtheconvenienceofshamingGertrudeintosilence。

Theylistenedagain。Thestormwasnowveryboisterous,andtheycouldnothearthebell。Suddenlytherewasaloudknockingatthehousedoor。Gertrudescreamed,andhercrywasechoedfromtheroomsabove,whereseveralgirlshadheardtheknockingalso,andhadbeendrivenbyitintothestateofmindwhichaccompaniestheclimaxofanightmare。Thenacandleflickeredonthestairs,andMissWilson"svoice,reassuringlyfirm,washeard。

"Whoisthat？"

"ItisI,MissWilson,andGertrude。Wehavebeenwatchingthestorm,andthereissomeoneknockingatthe——"Atremendousbatterywiththeknocker,followedbyasound,confusedbythegale,asofamanshouting,interruptedher。

"Theyhadbetternotopenthedoor,"saidMissWilson,insomealarm。"Youareveryimprudent,Agatha,tostandhere。Youwillcatchyourdeathof——Dearme！Whatcanbethematter？Shehurrieddown,followedbyAgatha,Gertrude,andsomeofthebraverstudents,tothehall,wheretheyfoundafewshiveringservantswatchingthehousekeeper,whowasatthekeyholeofthehousedoor,querulouslyaskingwhowasthere。Shewasevidentlynotheardbythosewithout,fortheknockingrecommencedwhilstshewasspeaking,andsherecoiledasifshehadreceivedablowonthemouth。MissWilsonthenrattledthechaintoattractattention,anddemandedagainwhowasthere。

"Letusin,"wasreturnedinahollowshoutthroughthekeyhole。

"Thereisadyingwomanandthreechildrenhere。Openthedoor。"

MissWilsonlostherpresenceofmind。Togaintime,shereplied,"I——Ican"thearyou。Whatdoyousay？"

"Damnation！"saidthevoice,speakingthistimetosomeoneoutside。"Theycan"thear。"Andtheknockingrecommencedwithincreasedurgency。Agatha,excited,caughtMissWilson"sdressinggown,andrepeatedtoherwhatthevoicehadsaid。MissWilsonhadhearddistinctlyenough,andshefelt,withoutknowingclearlywhy,thatthedoormustbeopened,butshewasalmostover—masteredbyavaguedreadofwhatwastofollow。Shebegantoundothechain,andAgathahelpedwiththebolts。Twooftheservantsexclaimedthattheywereallabouttobemurderedintheirbeds,andranaway。Afewofthestudentsseemedinclinedtofollowtheirexample。Atlastthedoor,loosed,wasblownwideopen,flingingMissWilsonandAgathaback,andadmittingawhirlwindthattoreroundthehall,snatchedatthewomen"sdraperies,andblewoutthelights。Agatha,byahashoflightning,sawforaninstanttwomenstrainingatthedoorlikesailorsatacapstan。Thensheknewbythecessationofthewhirlwindthattheyhadshutit。Matcheswerestruck,thecandlesrelighted,andthenewcomersclearlyperceived。

Smilash,bareheaded,withoutacoat,hiscorduroyvestandtrousersheavywithrain;arough—looking,middle—agedman,poorlydressedlikeashepherd,wetasSmilash,withtheexpression,piteous,patient,anddesperate,ofoneharddrivenbyill—fortune,andattheendofhisresources;twolittlechildren,aboyandagirl,almostnaked,coweringunderanoldsackthathadservedthemasanumbrella;and,lyingonthesetteewherethetwomenhadlaidit,aheapofwretchedwearingapparel,sacking,androttenmatting,withSmilash"scoatandsou"wester,thewholecoveringabundlewhichpresentlyprovedtobeanexhaustedwomanwithatinyinfantatherbreast。Smilash"sexpression,ashelookedather,wasferocious。

"Sorryfurtotroubleyou,lady,"saidtheman,afterglancinganxiouslyatSmilash,asifhehadexpectedhimtoactasspokesman;"butmyroofandthesideofmyhousehasgoneinthestorm,andmymissushasbeenhavinganotherlittleone,andIamsorrytoill—convenienceyou,Miss;but——but——"

"Inconvenience！"exclaimedSmilash。"Itisthelady"sprivilegetorelieveyou——herhighestprivilege！"

Thelittleboyherebegantocryfrommeremisery,andthewomanrousedherselftosay,"Forshame,Tom！beforethelady,"andthencollapsed,tooweaktocareforwhatmighthappennextintheworld。SmilashlookedimpatientlyatMissWilson,whohesitated,andsaidtohim:

"Whatdoyouexpectmetodo？"