第10章

"Youdamnedmyfeelings,andIwilldamnyours,"continuedJanseniusinthesametone。Trefusisinvoluntarilylookedatthedoorthroughwhichhehadlatelypassed。Then,recoveringhimself,hesaidquietly:

"Itdoesnotmatter。Shecan"thearus。"

BeforeJanseniuscouldreplyhiswifehurriedupstairs,caughthimbythearm,andsaid,"Don"tspeaktohim,John。Andyou,"

sheadded,toTrefusis,"WILLyoubegone？"

"What！"hesaid,lookingcynicallyather。"Withoutmydead！

Withoutmyproperty！Well,beitso。"

"Whatdoyouknowofthefeelingsofarespectableman？"

persistedJansenius,breakingoutagaininspiteofhiswife。

"Nothingissacredtoyou。ThisshowswhatSocialistsare！"

"Andwhatfathersare,andwhatmothersare,"retortedTrefusis,givingwaytohistemper。"IthoughtyoulovedHetty,butIseethatyouonlyloveyourfeelingsandyourrespectability。Thedeviltakeboth！Shewasright;myloveforher,incompleteasitwas,wasgreaterthanyours。"Andheleftthehouseindudgeon。

Buthestoodawhileintheavenuetolaughathimselfandhisfather—in—law。Thenhetookahansomandwasdriventothehouseofhissolicitor,whomhewishedtoconsultonthesettlementofhislatewife"saffairs。

CHAPTERX

TheremainsofHenriettaTrefusiswereinterredinHighgateCemeterythedaybeforeChristmasEve。Threenoblemensenttheircarriagestothefuneral,andthefriendsandclientsofMr。

Jansenius,toalargenumber,attendedinperson。ThebierwascoveredwithaprofusionofcostlyBowers。Theundertaker,instructedtosparenoexpense,providedlong—tailedblackhorses,withblackpallsontheirbacksandblackplumesupontheirforeheads;coachmendecoratedwithscarvesandjack—boots,blackhammercloths,cloaks,andgloves,withmanyhiredmourners,who,however,wouldhavebeeninstantlydischargedhadtheypresumedtobetrayemotion,orinanywayoversteptheirfunctionofwalkingbesidethehearsewithbrass—tippedbatonsintheirhands。

AmongthegenuinemournerswereMr。Jansenius,whoburstintotearsattheceremonyofcastingearthonthecoffin;theboyArthur,who,preoccupiedbythenoveltyofappearinginalongcloakattheheadofapublicprocession,feltthathewasnotsosorryasheoughttobewhenhesawhispapacry;andacousinwhohadonceaskedHenriettatomarryhim,andwhonow,fulloftragicreflections,wasenjoyinghisdespairintensely。

Therestwhispered,whenevertheycoulddecentlydoso,aboutastrangeomissioninthearrangements。Thehusbandofthedeceasedwasabsent。MembersofthefamilyandintimatefriendsweretoldbyDanielJanseniusthatthewidowerhadactedinablackguardway,andthattheJanseniusesdidnotcaretwo—pencewhetherhecameorstayedathome;that,butfortheindecencyofthething,theywerejustasgladthathewaskeepingaway。Others,whohadnoclaimtobeprivatelyinformed,madeinquiriesoftheundertaker"sforeman,whosaidheunderstoodthegentlemanobjectedtolargefunerals。Askedwhy,hesaidhesupposeditwasonthegroundofexpense。ThisbeingmetbyaremarkthatMr。

Trefusiswasverywealthy,headdedthathehadbeentoldso,butbelievedthemoneyhadnotcomefromthelady;thatpeopleseldomcaredtogotoagreatexpenseforafuneralunlesstheycameintosomethinggoodbythedeath;andthatsomepartiesthemoretheyhadthemoretheygrudged。Beforethefuneralguestsdispersed,thereportspreadbyMr。Jansenius"sbrotherhadgotmixedwiththeviewsoftheforeman,andhadgivenrisetoastoryofTrefusisexpressingjoyathiswife"sdeathwithfrightfuloathsinherfather"shousewhilstshelaydeadthere,andrefusingtopayafarthingofherdebtsorfuneralexpenses。

Somedayslater,whengossiponthesubjectwassubsiding,afreshscandalrevivedit。AliteraryfriendofMr。Jansenius"shelpedhimtocomposeanepitaph,andaddedtoitacoupleofprettyandtouchingstanzas,settingforththatHenrietta"scharacterhadbeenoneofraresweetnessandvirtue,andthatherfriendswouldneverceasetosorrowforherloss。Atradesmanwhodescribedhimselfasa"monumentalmason"furnishedabookoftombdesigns,andMr。Janseniusselectedahighlyornamentalone,andproposedtodefrayhalfthecostofitserection。Trefusisobjectedthattheepitaphwasuntrue,andsaidthathedidnotseewhytombstonesshouldbeprivilegedtopublishfalsestatements。Itwasreportedthathehadfolloweduphisformermisconductbycallinghisfather—in—lawaliar,andthathehadorderedacommontombstonefromsomecheap—jackattheEast—end。

Hehad,infact,spokencontemptuouslyofthemonumentaltradesmanasan"exploiter"oflabor,andhadaskedayoungworkingmason,amemberoftheInternationalAssociation,todesignamonumentforthegratificationofJansenius。

Themason,withmuchpainsandmisgiving,producedanoriginaldesign。Trefusisapprovedofit,andresolvedtohaveitexecutedbythehandsofthedesigner。Hehiredasculptor"sstudio,purchasedblocksofmarbleofthedimensionsandqualitydescribedtohimbythemason,andinvitedhimtosettoworkforthwith。

Trefusisnowencounteredadifficulty。Hewishedtopaythemasonthejustvalueofhiswork,nomoreandnoless。Butthishecouldnotascertain。Theonlyavailablestandardwasthemarketprice,andthisherejectedasbeingfixedbycompetitionamongcapitalistswhocouldonlysecureprofitbyobtainingfromtheirworkmenmoreproductsthantheypaidthemfor,andcouldonlytemptcustomersbyofferingashareoftheunpaid—forpartoftheproductsasareductioninprice。Thushefoundthatthesystemofwithholdingtheindispensablematerialsforproductionandsubsistencefromthelaborers,exceptonconditionoftheirsupportinganidleclasswhilstacceptingalowerstandardofcomfortforthemselvesthanforthatidleclass,renderedthedeterminationofjustratiosofexchange,andconsequentlythepracticeofhonestdealing,impossible。Hehadatlasttoaskthemasonwhathewouldconsiderfairpaymentfortheexecutionofthedesign,thoughheknewthatthemancouldnomoresolvetheproblemthanhe,andthat,thoughhewouldcertainlyaskasmuchashethoughthecouldget,hisdemandmustbelimitedbyhispovertyandbythecompetitionofthemonumentaltradesman。

Trefusissettledthematterbygivingdoublewhatwasasked,onlyimposingsuchconditionsaswerenecessarytocompelthemasontoexecutetheworkhimself,andnotmakeaprofitbyhiringothermenatthemarketrateofwagestodoit。

Butthedesignwas,toitsauthor"sastonishment,tobepaidforseparately。Themason,afterhesitatingalongtimebetweentwo—pounds—tenandfivepounds,wasemboldenedbyafellow—workman,whotreatedhimtosomehotwhiskeyandwater,tonamethelargersum。Trefusispaidthemoneyatonce,andthensethimselftofindouthowmuchasimilardesignwouldhavecostfromthehandsofaneminentRoyalAcademician。Happeningtoknowagentlemaninthisposition,heconsultedhim,andwasinformedthattheprobablecostwouldbefromfivehundredtoonethousandpounds。Trefusisexpressedhisopinionthatthemason"schargewasthemorereasonable,somewhattotheindignationofhisartistfriend,whoremindedhimoftheyearswhichaRoyalAcademicianhastospendinacquiringhisskill。Trefusismentionedthattheapprenticeshipofamasonwasquiteaslong,twiceaslaborious,andnothalfsopleasant。TheartistnowbegantofindTrefusis"sSocialisticviews,withwhichhehadpreviouslyfanciedhimselfinsympathy,bothodiousanddangerous。Hedemandedwhethernothingwastobeallowedforgenius。Trefusiswarmlyrepliedthatgeniuscostitspossessornothing;thatitwastheinheritanceofthewholeraceincidentallyvestedinasingleindividual,andthatifthatindividualemployedhismonopolyofittoextortmoneyfromothers,hedeservednothingbetterthanhanging。Theartistlosthistemper,andsuggestedthatifTrefusiscouldnotfeelthattheprerogativeofartwasdivine,perhapshecouldunderstandthatapainterwasnotsuchafoolastodesignatombforfivepoundswhenhemightbepaintingaportraitforathousand。

Trefusisretortedthatthefactofamanpayingathousandpoundsforaportraitprovedthathehadnotearnedthemoney,andwasthereforeeitherathieforabeggar。Thecommonworkmanwhosacrificedsixpencefromhisweek"swagesforacheapphotographtopresenttohissweet。heart,orashillingforapairofchromolithographicpicturesordelftfigurestoplaceonhismantelboard,sufferedgreaterprivationforthesakeofpossessingaworkofartthanthegreatlandlordorshareholderwhopaidathousandpounds,whichhewastoorichtomiss,foraportraitthat,likeHogarth"sJackSheppard,wasonlyinterestingtostudentsofcriminalphysiognomy。Alivelyquarrelensued,Trefusisdenouncingthefollyofartistsinfancyingthemselvesapriestlycastewhentheywereobviouslyonlytheparasitesandfavoredslavesofthemoneyedclasses,andhisfriend（temporarilyhisenemy）sneeringbitterlyatlevellerswhowereforlevellingdowninsteadoflevellingup。Finally,tiredofdisputing,andremorsefulfortheiracrimony,theydinedamicablytogether。

ThemonumentwasplacedinHighgateCemeterybyasmallbandofworkmenwhomTrefusisfoundoutofemployment。Itborethefollowinginscription:

THISISTHEMONUMENTOFHENRIETTAJANSENIUSWHOWASBORNONTHE

26THJULY,1856,MARRIEDTOSIDNEYTREFUSISONTHE23RDAUGUST,1875,ANDWHODIEDONTHE21STDECEMBERINTHESAMEYEAR。

Mr。Janseniustookthisasaninsulttohisdaughter"smemory,and,asthetombwasmuchsmallerthanmanywhichhadbeenerectedinthecemeterybyfamiliestowhomtheJanseniusesclaimedsuperiority,citeditasanexampleofthewidower"smeanness。ButbyotherpersonsitwassomuchadmiredthatTrefusishopeditwouldensuretheprosperityofitsdesigner。

Thecontraryhappened。Whenthemasonattemptedtoreturntohisordinaryworkhewasinformedthathehadcontravenedtradeusage,andthathisformeremployerswouldhavenothingmoretosaytohim。Onapplyingforadviceandassistancetothetrades—unionofwhichhewasamemberhereceivedthesamereply,andwasfurtherreproachedfortreacherytohisfellow—workmen。

HereturnedtoTrefusistosaythatthetombstonejobhadruinedhim。Trefusis,enraged,wroteanargumentativelettertothe"Times,"whichwasnotinserted,asarcasticonetothetrades—union,whichdidnogood,andafierceonetotheemployers,whothreatenedtotakeanactionforlibel。Hehadtocontenthimselfwithsettingthemantoworkagainonmantelpiecesandotherdecorativestone—workforuseinhousepropertyontheTrefusisestate。Inayearortwohisliberalpaymentsenabledthemasontosavesufficienttostartasanemployer,inwhichcapacityhesoonbegantogrowrich,asheknewbyexperienceexactlyhowmuchhisworkmencouldbeforcedtodo,andhowlittletheycouldbeforcedtotake。Shortlyafterthischangeinhiscircumstanceshebecameanadvocateofthrift,temperance,andsteadyindustry,andquittedtheInternationalAssociation,ofwhichhehadbeenanenthusiasticsupporterwhendependentonhisownskillandtasteasaworkingmason。

DuringtheseoccurrencesAgatha"sschool—lifeended。Herresolutiontostudyhardduringanothertermatthecollegehadbeenformed,notforthesakeofbecominglearned,butthatshemightbecomemoreworthyofSmilash;andwhenshelearnedthetruthabouthimfromhisownlips,theideaofreturningtothesceneofthathumiliationbecameintolerabletoher。Sheleftundertheimpressionthatherheartwasbroken,forhersmartingvanity,bythelawofitsownexistence,wouldnotperceivethatitwastheseatoftheinjury。SoshebadeMissWilsonadieu;andthebeeonthewindowpanewasheardnomoreatAltonCollege。

TheintelligenceofHenrietta"sdeathshockedherthemorebecauseshecouldnothelpbeinggladthattheonlyotherpersonwhoknewofherfollywithregardtoSmilash（himselfexcepted）

wasnowsilencedforever。Thisseemedtoheraterriblediscoveryofherowndepravity。Underitsinfluenceshebecamealmostreligious,andcausedsomeanxietyaboutherhealthtohermother,whowaspuzzledbyherunwontedseriousness,and,inparticular,byherdeterminationnottospeakofthemisconductofTrefusis,whichwasnowtheprevailingtopicofconversationinthefamily。Shelistenedinsilencetogossipingdiscussionsofhisdesertionofhiswife,hisheartlessindifferencetoherdecease,hisviolenceandbadlanguagebyherdeathbed,hisparsimony,hismaliciousoppositiontothewishesoftheJanseniuses,hischeaptombstonewiththeinsultingepitaph,hisassociationwithcommonworkmenandlowdemagogues,hissuspectedconnectionwithasecretsocietyfortheassassinationoftheroyalfamilyandblowingupofthearmy,hisatheisticdenial,inapamphletaddressedtotheclergy,ofastatementbytheArchbishopofCanterburythatspiritualaidalonecouldimprovetheconditionofthepoorintheEast—endofLondon,andthecrowningdisgraceofhistrialforseditiouslibelattheOldBailey,wherehewascondemnedtosixmonths"imprisonment;apenaltyfromwhichhewasrescuedbytheingenuityofhiscounsel,whodiscoveredaflawintheindictment,andsucceeded,atgreatcosttoTrefusis,ingettingthesentencequashed。

Agathaatlastgottiredofhearingofhismisdeeds。Shebelievedhimtobeheartless,selfish,andmisguided,butsheknewthathewasnottheloud,coarse,sensual,andignorantbrawlermostofhermother"sgossipssupposedhimtobe。Sheevenfelt,inspiteofherself,anemotionofgratitudetothefewwhoventuredtodefendhim。

Preparationforherfirstseasonhelpedhertoforgethermisadventure。She"cameout"induetime,andanextremelydullseasonshefoundit。Somuchso,thatshesometimesaskedherselfwhethersheshouldeverbehappyagain。Atthecollegetherehadbeengoodfellowship,fun,rules,anddutieswhichwereasourceofstrengthwhenobservedandasourceofdeliciousexcitementwhenviolated,freedomfromceremony,toffeemaking,flightsonthebanisters,andappreciativeaudiencesforthesoldierinthechimney。

Insocietythereweresillyconversationslastinghalfaminute,coolacquaintanceshipsfoundedonsuchhalf—minutes,generalreciprocityofsuspicion,overcrowding,insufficientventilation,badmusicbadlyexecuted,latehours,unwholesomefood,intoxicatingliquors,jealouscompetitioninuselessexpenditure,husband—hunting,flirting,dancing,theatres,andconcerts。Thelastthree,whichAgathaliked,helpedtomakethecontrastbetweenAltonandLondontolerabletoher,buttheyhadtheirdrawbacks,forgoodpartnersatthedances,andgoodperformancesatthespiritlessoperaandconcerts,weredisappointinglyscarce。Flirtingshecouldnotendure;shedrovemenawaywhentheybecametender,seeinginthemthefalsehoodofSmilashwithouthiswit。Shewasconsideredrudebytheyoungergentlemenofhercircle。Theydiscussedherbadmannersamongthemselves,andagreedtopunishherbynotaskinghertodance。Shethusgotrid,withoutknowingwhy,oftheattentionsshecaredforleast（sheretainedaschoolgirl"scruelcontemptfor"boys"）,andenjoyedherselfasbestshecouldwithsuchoftheolderormoresensiblemenaswerenotintolerantofgirls。

Atbesttheyearwastheleasthappyshehadeverspent。Sherepeatedlyalarmedhermotherbybroachingprojectsofbecomingahospitalnurse,apublicsinger,oranactress。Theseprojectsledtosomedesultorystudies。Inordertoqualifyherselfasanurseshereadahandbookofphysiology,whichMrs。WyliethoughtsoimproperasubjectforayoungladythatshewentintearstobegMrs。Janseniustoremonstratewithherunrulygirl。Mrs。

Jansenius,betteradvised,wasofopinionthatthemoreawomanknewthemorewiselyshewaslikelytoact,andthatAgathawouldsoondropthephysiologyofherownaccord。Thisprovedtrue。

Agatha,havingfinishedherbookbydintofextensiveskipping,proceededtostudypathologyfromavolumeofclinicallectures。

Findingherownsensationsexactlylikethosedescribedinthebookassymptomsofthedirestdiseases,sheputitbyinalarm,andtookupanovel,whichwasfreefromthefaultshehadfoundinthelectures,inasmuchasnoneoftheemotionsitdescribedintheleastresembledanyshehadeverexperienced。

Afterabriefinterval,sheconsultedafashionableteacherofsingingastowhetherhervoicewasstrongenoughfortheoperaticstage。Herecommendedhertostudywithhimforsixyears,assuringherthatattheendofthatperiod——ifshefollowedhisdirections——sheshouldbethegreatestsingerintheworld。Tothistherewas,inhermind,theconclusiveobjectionthatinsixyearssheshouldbeanoldwoman。Sosheresolvedtotryprivatelywhethershecouldnotgetonmorequicklybyherself。Meanwhile,withaviewtothedramaincaseheroperaticschemeshouldfail,shetooklessonsinelocutionandgymnastics。

Practiceintheseimprovedherhealthandspiritssomuchthatherpreviousaspirationsseemedtoolimited。Shetriedherhandatalltheartsinsuccession,butwastoodiscouragedbytheweaknessofherfirstattemptstopersevere。Sheknewthatasageneralruletherearefeebleandridiculousbeginningstoallexcellence,butsheneverappliedgeneralrulestoherowncase,stillthinkingofherselfasanexceptiontothem,justasshehaddonewhensheromancedaboutSmilash。Theillusionsofadolescencewerethickuponher。

Meanwhileherprogresswascreatinganxietiesinwhichshehadnoshare。Herparoxysmsofexhilaration,followedbyagnawingsenseoffailureanduselessness,wereknowntohermotheronlyas"wildness"and"lowspirits,"tobecombatedbyneedleworkasasedative,orbeefteaasastimulant。Mrs。Wyliehadlearntbyrotethatthewholedutyofaladyistobegraceful,charitable,helpful,modest,anddisinterestedwhilstawaitingpassivelywhateverlotthesevirtuesmayinduce。Butshehadlearntbyexperiencethatalady"sbusinessinsocietyistogetmarried,andthatvirtuesandaccomplishmentsalikeareimportantonlyasattractionstoeligiblebachelors。Asthistruthisshameful,youngladiesareleftforayearortwotofinditoutforthemselves;itisseldomexplicitlyconveyedtothemattheirentryintosociety。Hencetheyoftenthrowawaycapitalbargainsintheirfirstseason,andarecompelledtoofferthemselvesatgreatlyreducedpricessubsequently,whentheirattractionsbegintostale。ThiswasthefatewhichMrs。Wylie,warnedbyMrs。

Jansenius,fearedforAgatha,who,timeaftertimewhenacallowgentlemanofwealthandpositionwasintroducedtoher,drovehimbrusquelyawayassoonasheventuredtohintthat200

hisaffectionswereconcernedintheiracquaintanceship。Theanxiousmotherhadtoconsoleherselfwiththefactthatherdaughterdroveawaytheineligibleasruthlesslyastheeligible,formednounworldlyattachments,wasstillveryyoung,andwouldgrowlesscoyassheadvancedinyearsandinwhatMrs。Janseniuscalledsense。

ButastheseasonswentbyitremainedquestionablewhetherAgathawasthemoretobecongratulatedonhavingbegunlifeafterleavingschoolorHenriettaonhavingfinishedit。

CHAPTERXI

BrandonBeeches,intheThamesvalley,wastheseatofSirCharlesBrandon,seventhbaronetofthatname。Hehadlosthisfatherbeforeattaininghismajority,andhadmarriedshortlyafterwards;sothatinhistwenty—fifthyearhewasfathertothreechildren。Hewasalittleworn,inspiteofhisyouth,buthewastallandagreeable,hadawinningwayoftakingakindandsoothingviewofthemisfortunesofothers,couldtellastorywell,likedmusicandcouldplayandsingalittle,lovedtheartsofdesignandcouldsketchalittleinwatercolors,readeverymagazinefromLondontoParisthatcriticisedpictures,hadtravelledalittle,fishedalittle,shotalittle,botanizedalittle,wanderedrestlesslyinthefootstepsofwomen,anddissipatedhisenergiesthroughallthesmallchannelsthathiswealthopenedandhistalentsmadeeasytohim。Hehadnolargeknowledgeofanysubject,thoughhehadlookedintomanyjustfarenoughtoreplaceabsoluteunconsciousnessofthemwithmeasurableignorance。Neverhavingenjoyedthesenseofachievement,hewastroubledwithunsatisfiedaspirationsthatfilledhimwithmelancholyandconvincedhimthathewasabornartist。Hiswifefoundhimselfish,peevish,hankeringafterchange,andpronetobelievethathewasattackedbydangerousdiseasewhenhewasonlycatchingcold。

LadyBrandon,whobelievedthatheunderstoodallthesubjectshetalkedaboutbecauseshedidnotunderstandthemherself,wasoneofhisdisappointments。Inpersonsheresemblednoneofthetypesofbeautystrivenafterbythepaintersofhertime,butshehadcharmstowhichfewmenareinsensible。Shewastall,soft,andstout,withampleandshapelyarms,shoulders,andhips。Withhersmallhead,littleears,prettylips,androguisheye,she,beingaverylargecreature,presentedanimmensityofhalfwomanly,halfinfantilelovelinesswhichsmoteevengravemenwithadesiretoclaspherintheirarmsandkissher。ThisdesirehadscatteredthedesultoryintellectualcultureofSirCharlesatfirstsight。Hisimaginationinvestedherwiththetasteforthefineartswhichhorequiredfromawife,andhemarriedherinherfirstseason,onlytodiscoverthattheamativenessinhertemperamentwassolittleandlanguidthatshemadeallhisattemptsatfondnessridiculous,androbbedthecaressesforwhichhehadlongedofalltheiranticipatedecstasy。

Intellectuallyshefellstillfurthershortofhishopes。Shelookeduponhisfavoriteartofpaintingasapastimeforamateurandabranchofthehouse—furnishingtradeforprofessionalartists。Whenhewasdiscussingitamonghisfriends,shewouldofferheropinionwithapresumptionwhichwasthemoretryingasshefrequentlyblundereduponasoundconclusionwhilsthewasreasoninghiswaytoahollowonewithhisutmostsubtletyandseriousness。Onsuchoccasionshisdisgustdidnottroubleherintheleast;shetriumphedinit。Shehadconcludedthatmarriagewasagreaterfolly,andmengreaterfools,thanshehadsupposed;butsuchbeliefsratherlightenedhersenseofresponsibilitythandisappointedher,and,asshehadplentyofmoney,plentyofservants,plentyofvisitors,andplentyofexerciseonhorseback,ofwhichshewasimmoderatelyfond,hertimepassedpleasantlyenough。Comfortseemedtoherthenaturalorderoflife;troublealwayssurprisedher。Herhusband"sfriends,whomistrustedeveryfuturehour,andfoundmatterforbitterreflectioninmanypastones,weretoheronlyexamplesofthepowerofsedentaryhabitsandexcessivereadingtomakementrippedanddull。

OnefineMaymorning,asshecanteredalongtheavenueatBrandonBeechesonapowerfulbayhorse,thegatesattheendopenedandayoungmanspedthroughthemonabicycle。Hewasofslightframe,withfinedarkeyesanddelicatenostrils。WhenherecognizedLadyBrandonhewavedhiscap,andwhentheymethesprangfromhisinanimatesteed,atwhichthebayhorseshied。

"Don"t,yousillybeast！"shecried,whackingtheanimalwiththebuttofherwhip。"Thoughit"snaturalenough,goodnessknows！

Howd"yedo？Theideaofanyonerichenoughtoaffordahorseridingonawheellikethat！"

"ButIamnotrichenoughtoaffordahorse,"hesaid,approachinghertopatthebay,havingplacedthebicycleagainstatree。"Besides,Iamafraidofhorses,notbeingaccustomedtothem;andIknownothingaboutfeedingthem。Mysteedneedsnofood。Hedoesn"tbitenorkick。Henevergoeslame,norsickens,nordies,norneedsagroom,nor——"

"That"sallbosh,"saidLadyBrandonimpetuously。"Itstumbles,andgivesyouthemostawfultosses,anditgoeslamebyitstreadlesandthingamejigscomingoff,anditwearsout,andistwiceasmuchtroubletokeepcleanandscrapethemudoffasahorse,andallsortsofthings。Ithinkthemostridiculoussightintheworldisamanonabicycle,workingawaywithhisfeetashardashepossiblycan,andbelievingthathishorseiscarryinghiminsteadof,asanyonecansee,hecarryingthehorse。Youneedn"ttellmethatitisn"teasiertowalkintheordinarywaythantodragagreatdeadironthingalongwithyou。It"snotgoodsense。"

"NeverthelessIcancarryitahundredmilesfurtherinadaythanIcancarrymyselfalone。Sucharethemarvelsofmachinery。

ButIknowthatwecutaverypoorfigurebesideyouandthatmagnificentcreaturenotthatanyonewilllookatmewhilstyouarebytooccupytheirattentionsomuchmoreworthily。"

Shedartedaglanceathimwhichcloudedhisvisionandmadehisheartbeatmorestrongly。Thiswasanoldhabitofhers。Shekeptitupfromloveoffun,havingnoideaoftheeffectitproducedonmoreardenttemperamentsthanherown。Hecontinuedhastily:

"IsSirCharleswithindoors？"

"Oh,it"sthemostridiculousthingIeverheardofinmylife,"

sheexclaimed。"AmanthatlivesbyhimselfinaplacedownbytheRiversideRoadlikeatoysavingsbank——don"tyouknowthethingsImean？——calledSallust"sHouse,saysthereisarightofwaythroughournewpleasureground。Asifanyonecouldhaveanyrightthereafterallthemoneywehavespentfencingitonthreesides,andbuildingupthewallbytheroad,andlevelling,andplanting,anddraining,andgoodnessknowswhatelse！Andnowthemansaysthatallthecommonpeopleandtrampsintheneighborhoodhavearighttowalkacrossitbecausetheyaretoolazytogoroundbytheroad。SirCharleshasgonetoseethemanaboutit。Ofcoursehewouldn"tdoasIwantedhim。"

"Whatwasthat？"

"Writetotellthemantomindhisownbusiness,andtosaythatthefirstpersonwefoundattemptingtotrespassonourpropertyshouldbegiventothepolice。"

"ThenIshallfindnooneathome。Ibegyourpardonforcallingitso,butitistheonlyplacelikehometome。"

"Yes;itissocomfortablesincewebuiltthebilliardroomandtookawaythosenastyhangingsinthehall。Iwaseversolongtryingtoper——"

Shewasinterruptedbyanoldlaborer,whohobbledupasfastashisrheumatismwouldallowhim,andbegantospeakwithoutfurtherceremonythansnatchingoffhiscap。

"Th"avecoomtothenoogroups,mylady,crowdsof"em。An"aparsonwith"em,an"aflag！SurChorleshedon"tknowwhattosay;an"soochdoin"sneverwas。"

LadyBrandonturnedpaleandpulledatherhorseasiftobackhimoutofsomedanger。Hervisitor,puzzled,askedtheoldmanwhathemeant。

"There"sgoin"tobeaproceyshonthroughthenoogroups,"hereplied,"an"themastercan"tstop"em。Th"avethroondownthewall;threeyardsofitislyin"onRiversideRoad。An"there"saparsonwith"em,andaflag。An"himthatlivesinSallust"shoos,he"sthere,hoddin""emon。"

"Throwndownthewall！"exclaimedLadyBrandon,scarletwithindignationandpalewithapprehensionbyturns。"Whatadisgracefulthing！Wherearethepolice？Chester,willyoucomewithmeandseewhattheyaredoing？SirCharlesisnouse。Doyouthinkthereisanydanger？"

"There"stwopolice,"saidtheoldman,"an"himthatlivesatSallust"sdar"dthemstophim。They"relookin"on。An"there"saparsonamong"em。Iseehimpullin"awayatthewallwithhisownhan"s。"

"Iwillgoandseethefun,"saidChester。

LadyBrandonhesitated。Butherangerandcuriosityvanquishedherfears。Sheovertookthebicycle,andtheywenttogetherthroughthegatesandbythehighroadtothescenetheoldmanhaddescribed。Aheapofbricksandmortarlayintheroadwayoneachsideofabreachinthenewlybuiltwall,overwhichLadyBrandon,fromhereminenceonhorseback,couldsee,comingtowardsheracrossthepleasureground,acolumnofaboutthirtypersons。Theymarchedthreeabreastingoodorderandinsilence;

theexpressionofallexceptafewmirthfulfacesbeingthatofdevoteesfulfillingarite。Thegravityoftheprocessionwasdeepenedbytheappearanceofaclergymaninitsranks,whichwerecomposedofmenofthemiddleclass,andafewworkmencarryingabannerinscribedTHESOILorENGLANDTHEBIRTHRIGHTOF

ALLHERPEOPLE。Therewerealsofourwomen,uponwhomLadyBrandonlookedwithintenseindignationandcontempt。Noneofthemenoftheneighborhoodhaddaredtojoin;theystoodintheroadwhispering,andoccasionallyventuringtolaughatthejestsofacoupleoftrampswhohadstoppedtoseethefun,andwhocarednothingforSirCharles。

He,standingalittlewaywithinthefield,wasremonstratingangrilywithamanofhisownclass,whostoodwithhisbacktothebreachandhishandsinthepocketsofhissnuff—coloredclothes,contemplatingtheprocessionwithelatesatisfaction。

LadyBrandon,atoncesuspectingthatthiswasthemanfromSallust"sHouse,andencouragedbytheloyaltyofthecrowd,mostofwhommadewayforherandtouchedtheirhats,hitthebayhorsesmartlywithherwhipandrodehim,withaclatterofhoofsandscatteringofclods,rightatthesnuff—coloredenemy,whohadtospringhastilyasidetoavoidher。Therewasaroaroflaughterfromtheroadway,andthemanturnedsharplyonher。Buthesuddenlysmiledaffably,replacedhishandsinhispocketsafterraisinghishat,andsaid:

"Howdoyoudo,MissCarpenter？Ithoughtyouwereachargeofcavalry。"

"IamnotMissCarpenter,IamLadyBrandon;andyououghttobeashamedofyourself,Mr。Smilash,ifitisyouthathavebroughtthesedisgracefulpeoplehere。"

HiseyesasherepliedwereeloquentwithreproachtoherforbeingnolongerMissCarpenter。"IamnotSmilash,"hesaid;"I

amSidneyTrefusis。IhavejusthadthepleasureofmeetingSirCharlesforthefirsttime,andweshallbethebestfriendspossiblewhenIhaveconvincedhimthatitishardlyfairtoseizeonapathbelongingtothepeopleandcompelthemtowalkamileandahalfroundhisestateinsteadoffourhundredyardsbetweentwoportionsofit。"

"Ihavealreadytoldyou,sir,"saidSirCharles,"thatIintendtoopenastillshorterpath,andtoallowallthewell—conductedwork—peopletopassthroughtwiceaday。Thiswillenablethemtogototheirworkandreturnfromit;andIwillbeatthecostofkeepingthepathinrepair。"