第11章

"Thankyou,"saidTrefusisdrily;"butwhyshouldwetroubleyouwhenwehaveapathofourowntousefiftytimesadayifwechoose,withoutanymanbarringourwayuntilourconducthappenstopleasehim？Besides,yournextheirwouldprobablyshutthepathupthemomenthecameintopossession。"

"Offeringthemapathisjustwhatmakesthemimpudent,"saidLadyBrandontoherhusband。"Whydidyoupromisethemanything？

Theywouldnotthinkitahardshiptowalkamileandahalf,ortwentymiles,toapublic—house,butwhentheygototheirworktheythinkitdreadfultohavetowalkayard。Perhapstheywouldlikeustolendthemthewagonettetodrivein？"

"Ihavenodoubttheywould,"saidTrefusis,beamingather。

"Prayleavemetomanagehere,Jane;thisisnoplaceforyou。

BringErskinetothehouse。Hemustbe——"

"Whydon"tthepolicemakethemgoaway？"saidLadyBrandon,tooexcitedtolistentoherhusband。

"Hush,Jane,pray。Whatcanthreemendoagainstthirtyorforty？"

"Theyoughttotakeupsomebodyasanexampletotherest。"

"Theyhaveoffered,inthehandsomestmanner,toarrestmeifSirCharleswillgivemeincharge,"saidTrefusis。

"There！"saidLadyJane,turningtoherhusband。"Whydon"tyougivehim——orsomeone——incharge？"

"Youknownothingaboutit,"saidSirCharles,vexedbyasensethatshewaspubliclymakinghimridiculous。

"Ifyoudon"t,Iwill,"shepersisted。"Theideaofhavingourgroundbrokenintoandournewwallknockeddown！Anicestateofthingsitwouldbeifpeoplewereallowedtodoastheylikedwithotherpeoples"property。Iwillgiveeveryoneofthemincharge。"

"Wouldyouconsignmetoadungeon？"saidTrefusis,inmelancholytones。

"Idon"tmeanyouexactly,"shesaid,relenting。"ButIwillgivethatclergymanintocharge,becauseheoughttoknowbetter。Heistheringleaderofthewholething。"

"Hewillbedelighted,LadyBrandon;hepinesformartyrdom。Butwillyoureallygivehimintocustody？"

"Iwill,"shesaidvehemently,emphasizingtheassurancebyaplungeinthesaddlethatmadethebaystagger。

"Onwhatcharge？"hesaid,pattingthehorseandlookingupather。

"Idon"tcarewhatcharge,"shereplied,consciousthatshewasbeingadmired,andnotdispleased。"Letthemtakehimup,that"sall。"

Humanbeingsonhorsebackaresofarcentaursthatlibertiestakenwiththeirhorsesarealmostaspersonalaslibertiestakenwiththemselves。WhenSirCharlessawTrefusispattingthebayhefeltasmuchoutragedasifLadyBrandonherselfwerebeingpatted,andhefeltbitterlytowardsherforpermittingthefamiliarity。Heuasrelievedbythearrivaloftheprocession。Ithaltedasthe1eaderecameuptoTrefusis,whosaidgravely:

"Gentlemen,Icongratulateyouonthefirmnesswithwhichyouhavethisdayassertedtherightsofthepeopleofthisplacetotheuseofoneofthefewscrapsofmotherearthofwhichtheyhavenotbeendespoiled。"

"Gentlemen,"shoutedanexcitedmemberoftheprocession,"threecheersfortheresumptionofthelandofEnglandbythepeopleofEngland！Hip,hip,hurrah！"

Thecheersweregivenwithmuchspirit,SirCharles"scheeksbecomingredderateachrepetition。Helookedangrilyattheclergyman,nowdistractedbythecharmsofLadyBrandon,whosescorn,asshesurveyedthecrowd,expresseditselfbyapoutwhichbecameherprettylipsextremely。

Thenamiddle—agedlaborersteppedfromtheroadintothefield,hatinhand,duckedrespectfully,andsaid:"Look"ehere,SirCharles。Don"t"emindthemfellers。Thereain"tamanbelongingtothisneighborhoodamong"em;notoneinyouremployoronyourland。Ourdootytoyouandyourladyship,andwewilltrusttoyoutodowhatisfairbyus。WewantnointerlopersfromLunnontogetusintotroublewithyourhonor,and——"

"Youunmitigatedcur,"exclaimedTrefusisfiercely,"whatrighthaveyoutogiveawaytohisunbornchildrenthelibertyofyourown？"

"They"renotunborn,"saidLadyBrandonindignantly。"Thatjustshowshowlittleyouknowaboutit。"

"No,normineeither,"saidtheman,emboldenedbyherladyship"ssupport。"Andwhoareyouthatcallmeacur？"

"WhoamI！Iamarichman——oneofyourmasters,andprivilegedtocallyouwhatIplease。Youareagrovellingfamine—brokenslave。Nowgoandseekredressagainstmefromthelaw。IcanbuylawenoughtoruinyouforlessmoneythanitwouldcostmetoshootdeerinScotlandorverminhere。Howdoyoulikethatstateofthings？Eh？"

Themanwastakenaback。"SirCharleswillstandbyme,"hesaid,afterapause,withassumedconfidence,butwithananxiousglanceatthebaronet。

"Ifhedoes,afterwitnessingthereturnyouhavemademeforstandingbyyou,heisagreaterfoolthanItakehimtobe。"

"Gently,gently,"saidtheclergyman。"Thereismuchexcusetobemadeforthepoorfellow。"

"Asgentlyasyoupleasewithanymanthatisafreemanatheart,"saidTrefusis;"butslavesmustbedriven,andthisfellowisaslavetothemarrow。"

"Still,wemustbepatient。Hedoesnotknow——"

"Heknowsagreatdealbetterthanyoudo,"saidLadyBrandon,interrupting。"Andthemoreshameforyou,becauseyououghttoknowbest。Isupposeyouwereeducatedsomewhere。Youwillnotbesatisfiedwithyourselfwhenyourbishophearsofthis。Yes,"sheadded,turningtoTrefusiswithaninfantileairofwantingtocryandbeingforcedtolaughagainstherwill,"youmaylaughasmuchasyouplease——don"ttroubletopretendit"sonlycoughing——butwewillwritetohisbishop,asheshallfindtohiscost。"

"Holdyourtongue,Jane,forGod"ssake,"saidSirCharles,takingherhorsebythebridleandbackinghimfromTrefusis。

"Iwillnot。Ifyouchoosetostandhereandallowthemtowalkawaywiththewallsintheirpockets,Idon"t,andwon"t。Whycannotyoumakethepolicedosomething？"

"Theycandonothing,"saidSirCharles,almostbesidehimselfwithhumiliation。"IcannotdoanythinguntilIseemysolicitor。

Howcanyoubeartostayherewranglingwiththesefellows？ItisSOundignified！"

"It"sallverywelltotalkofdignity,butIdon"tseethedignityoflettingpeopletrampleonourgroundswithoutleave。

Mr。Smilash,willyoumakethemallgoaway,andtellthemthattheyshallallbeprosecutedandputinprison？"

"Theyaregoingtothecrossroads,toholdapublicmeetingand——ofcourse——makespeeches。Iamdesiredtosaythattheydeeplyregretthattheirdemonstrationshouldhavedisturbedyoupersonally,LadyBrandon。"

"Sotheyought,"shereplied。"Theydon"tlookverysorry。Theyaregettingfrightenedatwhattheyhavedone,andtheywouldbegladtoescapetheconsequencesbyapologizing,mostlikely。Buttheyshan"t。Iamnotsuchafoolastheythink。"

"Theydon"tthinkso。Youhaveprovedthecontrary。"

"Jane,"saidSirCharlespettishly,"doyouknowthisgentleman？"

"IshouldthinkIdo,"saidLadyBrandonemphatically。

Trefusisbowedasifhehadjustbeenformallyintroducedtothebaronet,who,againsthiswill,returnedthesalutationstiffly,unabletoignoreanolder,firmer,andquickermanunderthecircumstances。

"Thisseemsanunneighborlybusiness,SirCharles,"saidTrefusis,quiteathisease;"butasitisapublicquestion,itneednotprejudiceourprivaterelations。AtleastIhopenot。"

SirCharlesbowedagain,morestifflythanbefore。

"Iam,likeyou,acapitalistandlandlord。"

"Whichitseemstomeyouhavenorighttobe,ifyouareinearnest,"struckinChester,whohadbeenwatchingthesceneinsilencebySirCharles"sside。

"Which,asyousay,Ihaveundoubtedlynorighttobe,"saidTrefusis,surveyinghimwithinterest;"butwhichIneverthelesscannothelpbeing。HaveIthepleasureofspeakingtoMr。

ChichesterErskine,authorofatragedyentitled"ThePatriotMartyrs,"dedicatedwithenthusiasticdevotiontotheSpiritofLibertyandhalfadozenfamousupholdersofthatprinciple,anddenouncinginforciblelanguagethetyrannyofthelateTsarofRussia,BombaofNaples,andNapoleontheThird？"

"Yes,sir,"saidErskine,reddening;forhefeltthatthisdescriptionmightmakehisdramaseemridiculoustothosepresentwhohadnotreadit。

"Then,"saidTrefusis,extendinghishand——Erskineatfirstthoughtforaheartyshake——"givemehalf—a—crowntowardsthecostofourexpeditionhereto—daytoasserttherightofthepeopletotreadthesoilwearestandingupon。"

"Youshalldonothingofthesort,Chester,"criedLadyBrandon。

"Ineverheardofsuchathinginmylife！Doyoupayusforthewallandfenceyourpeoplehavebroken,Mr。Smilash;thatwouldbemoretothepurpose。"

"IfIcouldfindathousandmenaspracticalasyou,LadyBrandon,Imightaccomplishthenextgreatrevolutionbeforetheendofthisseason。"Helookedatherforamomentcuriously,asiftryingtoremember;andthenaddedinconsequently:"Howareyourfriends？TherewasaMiss——Miss——IamafraidIhaveforgottenallthenamesexceptyourown。"

"GertrudeLindsayisstayingwithus。Doyourememberher？"

"Ithink——no,IamafraidIdonot。Letmesee。Wassheahaughtyyounglady？"

"Yes,"saidLadyBrandoneagerly,forgettingthewallandfence。

"ButwhodoyouthinkiscomingnextThursday？ImetheraccidentallythelasttimeIwasintown。She"snotabitchanged。Youcan"tforgether,sodon"tpretendtobepuzzled。"

"Youhavenottoldmewhosheisyet。AndIshallprobablynotrememberher。Youmustnotexpectmetorecognizeeveryoneinstantaneously,asIrecognizedyou。"

"Whatstuff！YouwillknowAgathafastenough。"

"AgathaWylie！"hesaid,withsuddengravity。

"Yes。SheiscomingonThursday。Areyouglad？"

"IfearIshallhavenoopportunityofseeingher。"

"Oh,ofcourseyoumustseeher。Itwillbesojollyforusalltomeetagainjustasweused。Whycan"tyoucometoluncheononThursday？"

"Ishallbedelighted,ifyouwillreallyallowmetocomeaftermyconducthere。"

"Thelawyerswillsettlethat。Nowthatyouhavefoundoutwhoweareyouwillstoppullingdownourwalls,ofcourse。"

"Ofcourse,"saidTrefusis,smiling,ashetookoutapocketdiaryandenteredtheengagement。"Imusthurryawaytothecrossroads。Theyhaveprobablyvotedmeintothechairbythistime,andarewaitingformetoopentheirmeeting。Good—bye。Youhavemadethisplace,whichIwasgrowingtiredof,unexpectedlyinterestingtome。"

Theyexchangedglancesoftheoldcollegepattern。ThenhenoddedtoSirCharles,wavedhishandfamiliarlytoErskine,andfollowedtheprocession,whichwasbythistimeoutofsight。

SirCharles,who,waitingtospeak,hadbeenrepeatedlybaffledbythehastyspeechesofhiswifeandtheunhesitatingrepliesofTrefusis,nowturnedangrilyuponher,saying:

"Whatdoyoumeanbyinvitingthatfellowtomyhouse？"

"Yourhouse,indeed！IwillinvitewhomIplease。Youaregettingintooneofyourtempers。"

SirCharleslookedabouthim。Erskinehaddiscreetlyslippedaway,andwasintheroad,tighteningascrewinhisbicycle。Thefewpersonswhoremainedwereoutofearshot。

"Whoandwhatthedevilishe,andhowdoyoucometoknowhim？"

hedemanded。Heneversworeinthepresenceofanyladyexcepthiswife,andthenonlywhentheywerealone。

"Heisagentleman,whichismorethanyouare,"sheretorted,and,withacutofherwhipthatnarrowlymissedherhusband"sshoulder,sentthebayplungingthroughthegap。

"Comealong,"shesaidtoErskine。"Weshallbelateforluncheon。"

"HadwenotbetterwaitforSirCharles？"heaskedinjudiciously。

"NevermindSirCharles,heisinthesulks,"shesaid,withoutabatinghervoice。"Comealong。"Andshewentoffatacanter,Erskinefollowingherwithamisgivingthathisvisitwasunfortunatelytimed。unworthyofyourself,andthatanetisclosingroundyou？"

"No。Nothingofthesort！"

"Thenwhyareyousoanxioustogetaway？"

"Idon"tknow,"saidAgatha,affectingtolaughashelookedscepticallyatherfrombeneathhisloweredeyelids。"PerhapsI

dofeelalittlelikethat;butnotsomuchasyousay。"

"Iwillexplaintheemotiontoyou,"hesaid,withasubduedardorthataffectedAgathastrangely。"Butfirsttellmewhetheritisnewtoyouornot。"

"Itisnotanemotionatall。Ididnotsaythatitwas。"

"Donotbeafraidofit。Itisonlybeingalonewithamanwhomyouhavebewitched。Youwouldbemistressofthesituationifyouonlyknewhowtomanagealover。Itisfareasierthanmanagingahorse,orskating,orplayingthepiano,orhalfadozenotherfeatsofwhichyouthinknothing。"

Agathacoloredandraisedherhead。

"Forgiveme,"hesaid,interruptingtheaction。"Iamtryingtooffendyouinordertosavemyselffromfallinginlovewithyou,andIhavenotthehearttoletmyselfsucceed。Onyourlife,donotlistentomeorbelieveme。Ihavenorighttosaythesethingstoyou。SomefiendentersintomewhenIamatyourside。

Youshouldwearaveil,Agatha。"

Sheblushed,andstoodburningandtingling,herpresenceofmindgone,andherchiefsensationoneofrelieftohear——forshedidnotdaretosee——thathewasdeparting。Herconsciousnesswasinadeliciousconfusion,withtheonedefinitethoughtinitthatshehadwonherloveratlast。ThetoneofTrefusis"svoice,richwithtruthandearnestness,hisquickinsight,andhispassionatewarningtohernottoheedhim,convincedherthatshehadenteredintoarelationdestinedtoinfluenceherwholelife。

"Andyet,"shesaidremorsefully,"Icannotlovehimashelovesme。Iamselfish,cold,calculating,worldly,andhavedoubteduntilnowwhethersuchathingaslovereallyexisted。IfIcouldonlylovehimrecklesslyandwholly,ashelovesme！"

Smilashwasalsosoliloquizingashewentonhisway。

"NowIhavemadethepoorchild——whowassoanxiousthatIshouldnotmistakeherforasupernaturallygiftedandlovelywoman——ashappyasanangel;andsoisthatfinegirlwhomtheycallJaneCarpenter。Ihopetheywon"texchangeconfidencesonthesubject。"

CHAPTERXII

OnthefollowingThursdayGertrude,Agatha,andJanemetforthefirsttimesincetheyhadpartedatAltonCollege。Agathawastheshyestofthethree,andexternallytheleastchanged。ShefanciedherselfverydifferentfromtheAgathaofAlton;butitwasheropinionofherselfthathadaltered,notherperson。

Expectingtofindacorrespondingalterationinherfriends,shehadlookedforwardtothemeetingwithmuchdoubtandlittlehopeofitsprovingpleasant。

ShewasmoreanxiousaboutGertrudethanaboutJane,concerningwhom,atabriefinterviewinLondon,shehadalreadydiscoveredthatLadyBrandon"smanner,mind,andspeechwerejustwhatMissCarpenter"shadbeen。But,evenfromAgatha,Janecommandedmorerespectthanbefore,havingchangedfromanovergrowngirlintoafinewoman,andmadeabrilliantmatchinherfirstseason,whilstmanyofherpretty,proud,andclevercontemporaries,whomshehadenviedatschool,werestillunmarried,andwerehavingtheirhomesmadeuncomfortablebyparentsanxioustogetridoftheburthenofsupportingthem,andtoprofitinpurseorpositionbytheirmarriages。

ThiswasGertrude"scase。LikeAgatha,shehadthrownawayhermatrimonialopportunities。Proudofherrankandexclusiveness,shehadresolvedtohaveaslittleaspossibletodowithpersonswhodidnotsharebothwithher。Shebeganbyrepulsingtheprofferedacquaintanceofmanyfamiliesofgreatwealthandfashion,whoeitherdidnotknowtheirgrandparentsorwereashamedofthem。Havingshutherselfoutoftheircircle,shewaspresentedatcourt,andthenceforthacceptedtheinvitationsofthoseonlywhohad,inheropinion,arighttothesamehonor。

AndshewasfarstricteronthatpointthantheLordChamberlain,whohad,sheheld,betrayedhistrustbypracticallyturningLeveller。Shewaswelleducated,refinedinhermannersandhabits,skilledinetiquettetoanextentirritatingtotheignorant,andgiftedwithadelicatecomplexion,pearlyteeth,andafacethatwouldhavebeenGrecianbutforaslightupwardtiltofthenoseandtracesofasquare,heavytypeinthejaw。

Herfatherwasaretiredadmiral,withsufficientinfluencetohavehadasinecuremadebyaConservativegovernmentexpresslyforthemaintenanceofhissonpendingalliancewithsomeheiress。YetGertruderemainedsingle,andtheadmiral,whohadformerlyspentmoremoneythanhecouldcomfortablyaffordonhereducation,andwasstilldoingsouponherstateandpersonaladornment,wascomplainingsounpleasantlyofherfailuretogettakenoffhishands,thatshecouldhardlybeartoliveathome,andwasreadytomarryanythoroughbredgentleman,howeverunsuitablehisageorcharacter,whowouldrelieveherfromherhumiliatingdependence。Shewaspreparedtosacrificehernaturaldesireforyouth,beauty,andvirtueinahusbandifshecouldescapefromherparentsonnoeasierterms,butshewasresolvedtodieanoldmaidsoonerthanmarryanupstart。

Thedifficultyinherwaywaspecuniary。Theadmiralwaspoor。Hehadnotquitesixthousandayear,andthoughhepracticedtheutmosteconomyinordertokeepupthemostexpensivehabits,hecouldnotaffordtogivehisdaughteradowry。Nowthewellbornbachelorsofherset,havingmorebluebood,butmuchlesswealth,thantheyneeded,admiredher,paidhercompliments,dancedwithher,butcouldnotaffordtomarryher。Someofthemeventoldherso,marriedrichdaughtersofteamerchants,ironfounders,orsuccessfulstocktrokers,andthentriedtomakematchesbetweenherandtheirlowlybornbrothers—in—law。

So,whenGertrudemetLadyBrandon,herlotwassecretlywretched,andshewasgladtoacceptaninvitationtoBrandonBeechesinordertoescapeforawhilefromtheadmiral"sdailysarcasmsonthemarriagelistinthe"Times。"TheinvitationwasthemoreacceptablebecauseSirCharleswasnomushroomnoble,and,intheschooldayswhichGertrudenowrememberedasthehappiestofherlife,shehadacknowledgedthatJane"sfamilyandconnectionsweremorearistocraticthanthoseofanyotherstudentthenatAlton,herselfexcepted。ToAgatha,whosegrandfatherhadamassedwealthasaproprietorofgasworks（noveltiesinhistime）,shehadneverofferedherintimacy。

Agathahadtakenitbyforce,partlymoral,partlyphysical。Butthegasworkswereneverforgotten,andwhenLadyBrandonmentioned,asapieceofdelightfulnews,thatshehadfoundouttheiroldschoolcompanion,andhadaskedhertojointhem,Gertrudewasnotquitepleased。Yet,whentheymet,hereyesweretheonlywetonesthere,forshewastheleasthappyofthethree,and,thoughshedidnotknowit,herspiritwassomewhatbroken。Agatha,shethought,hadlostthebloomofgirlhood,butwasbolder,stronger,andclevererthanbefore。Agathahad,infact,summonedallherself—possessiontohidehershyness。ShedetectedtheemotionofGertrude,whoatthelastmomentdidnottrytoconcealit。Itwouldhavebeenpouredoutfreelyinwords,hadGertrude"ssocialtrainingtaughthertoexpressherfeelingsaswellasithadaccustomedhertodissemblethem。

"DoyourememberMissWilson？"saidJane,asthethreedrovefromtherailwaystationtoBrandonBeeches。"DoyourememberMrs。

Millerandhercat？DoyouremembertheRecordingAngel？DoyourememberhowIfellintothecanal？"

ThesereminiscenceslasteduntiltheyreachedthehouseandwenttogethertoAgatha"sroom。HereJane,havingsomeorderstogiveinthehousehold,hadtoleavethem——reluctantly;forshewasjealouslestGertrudeshouldgetthestartofherintherenewalofAgatha"saffection。Sheeventriedtotakeherrivalawaywithher;butinvain。Gertrudewouldnotbudge。

"Whatabeautifulhouseandsplendidplace！"saidAgathawhenJanewasgone。"AndwhatanicefellowSirCharlesis！WeusedtolaughatJane,butshecanaffordtolaughattheluckiestofusnow。Ialwayssaidshewouldblunderintothebestofeverything。

Isittruethatshemarriedinherfirstseason？"

"Yes。AndSirCharlesisamanofgreatculture。Icannotunderstandit。Hersizeisreallybeyondeverything,andhermannersarebad。"

"Hm！"saidAgathawithawiseair。"TherewasalwayssomethingaboutJanethatattractedmen。Andsheismoreknavethanfool。

Butsheiscertainlyagreatass。"

Gertrudelookedserious,toimplythatshehadgrownoutofthehabitofusingorlisteningtosuchlanguage。Agatha,stimulatedbythis,continued:

"HereareyouandI,whoconsiderourselvestwiceaspresentableandconversableasshe,twooldmaids。"Gertrudewinced,andAgathahastenedtoadd:"Why,asforyou,youareperfectlylovely！Andshehasaskedusdownexpresslytomarryus。"

"Shewouldnotpresume——"

"Nonsense,mydearGertrude。Shethinksthatweareacoupleoffoolswhohavemismanagedourownbusiness,andthatshe,havingmanagedsowellforherself,cansettleusinajiffy。Come,didshenotsaytoyou,beforeIcame,thatitwastimeformetobegettingmarried？"

"Well,shedid。But——"

"Shesaidexactlythesamethingtomeaboutyonwhensheinvitedme。"

"Iwouldleaveherhousethismoment,"saidGertrude,"ifI

thoughtshedaredmeddleinmyaffairs。WhatisittoherwhetherIammarriedornot？"

"Wherehaveyoubeenlivingalltheseyears,ifyoudonotknowthattheveryfirstthingawomanwantstodowhenshehasmadeagoodmatchistomakeonesforallherspinsterfriends。Janedoesnotmeananyharm。Shedoesitoutofpurebenevolence。"

"IdonotneedJane"sbenevolence。"

"NeitherdoI;butitdoesn"tdoanyharm,andsheiswelcometoamuseherselfbytrottingouthermaleacquaintancesformyapproval。Hush！Hereshecomes。"

Gertrudesubsided。ShecouldnotquarrelwithLadyBrandonwithoutleavingthehouse,andshecouldnotleavethehousewithoutreturningtoherhome。ButsheprivatelyresolvedtodiscouragetheattentionsofErskine,suspectingthatinsteadofbeinginlovewithherashepretended,hehadmerelybeenrecommendedbyJanetomarryher。

ChichesterErskinehadmadesketchesinPalestinewithSirCharles,andhadtrampedwithhimthroughmanyEuropeanpicturegalleries。Hewasayoungmanofgentlebirth,andhadinheritedfifteenhundredayearfromhismother,thebulkofthefamilypropertybeinghiselderbrother"s。Havingnoprofession,andbeingfondofbooksandpictures,hehaddevotedhimselftofineart,apursuitwhichofferedhimonthecheapesttermsahighopinionofthebeautyandcapacityofhisownnature。Hehadpublishedatragedyentitled,"ThePatriotMartyrs,"withanetchedfrontispiecebySirCharles,andaneditionofithadbeenspeedilydisposedofinpresentationstothefriendsoftheartistandpoet,andtothereviewsandnewspapers。SirCharleshadaskedaneminenttragedianofhisacquaintancetoplacetheworkonthestageandtoenactoneofthepatriotmartyrs。Butthetragedianhadobjectedthattheotherpatriotmartyrshadpartsofequalimportancetothatproposedforhim。Erskinehadindignantlyrefusedtocutthesepartsdownorout,andsotheprojecthadfallenthrough。

SincethenErskinehadbeenbentonwritinganotherdrama,withoutregardtotheexigenciesofthestage,buthehadnotyetbegunit,inconsequenceofhisinspirationcominguponhimatinconvenienthours,chieflylateatnight,whenhehadbeendrinking,andhadleisureforsonnetsonly。Themorningairandbicycleridingwerefataltotheveininwhichpoetrystruckhimasbeingworthwriting。Inspiteofthebicycle,however,thedrama,whichwastobeentitled"Hypatia,"wasnowinafairwaytobewritten,forthepoethadmetandfalleninlovewithGertrudeLindsay,whosealmostGrecianfeatures,andsomeknowledgeofthedifferentcalculuawhichshehadacquiredatAlton,helpedhimtobelievethatshewasafitmodelforhisheroine。

WhentheladiescamedownstairstheyfoundtheirhostandErskineinthepicturegallery,famousintheneighborhoodforthesumithadcostSirCharles。Therewasanewetchingtobeadmired,andtheywerecalledontoobservewhatthebaronetcalleditstones,andwhatAgathawouldhavecalleditsdegreesofsmudginess。SirCharles"sattentionoftenwanderedfromthisworkofart。Helookedathiswatchtwice,andsaidtohiswife:

"Ihaveorderedthemtobepunctualwiththeluncheon。"

"Oh,yes;it"sallright,"saidLadyBrandon,whohadgivenordersthatluncheonwasnottobeserveduntilthearrivalofanothergentleman。"ShowAgathathepictureofthemaninthe——"

"Mr。Trefusis,"saidaservant。

Mr。Trefusis,stillinsnuffcolor,entered;coatunbuttonedandattentionunconstrained;exasperatinglyunconsciousofanyoccasionforceremony。

"Hereyouareatlast,"saidLadyBrandon。"Youknoweverybody,don"tyou？"

"Howdoyoudo？"saidSirCharles,offeringhishandasasevereexpressionofhisdutytohiswife"sguest,whotookitcordially,noddedtoErskine,lookedwithoutrecognitionatGertrude,whosefrostystillnessrepudiatedLadyBrandon"simplicationthatthestrangerwasacquaintedwithher,andturnedtoAgatha,towhomhebowed。Shemadenosign;shewasparalyzed。

LadyBrandonreddenedwithanger。SirCharlesnotedhisguest"sreceptionwithsecretsatisfaction,butsharedtheembarrassmentwhichoppressedallpresentexceptTrefusis,whoseemedquiteindifferentandassured,andunconsciouslyproducedanimpressionthattheothershadnotbeenequaltotheoccasion,asindeedtheyhadnot。

"Wewerelookingatsomeetchingswhenyoucamein,"saidSirCharles,hasteningtobreakthesilence。"Doyoucareforsuchthings？"Andhehandedhimaproof。

Trefusislookedatitasifhehadneverseensuchathingbeforeanddidnotquiteknowwhattomakeofit。"Allthesescratchesseemtometohavenomeaning,"hesaiddubiously。

SirCharlesstoleacontemptuoussmileandsignificantglanceatErskine。He,seizedalreadywithaninstinctiveantipathytoTrefusis,saidemphatically:

"Thereisnotoneofthosescratchesthathasnotameaning。"

"Thatone,forinstance,likethelimbofadaddy—long—legs。Whatdoesthatmean？"

Erskinehesitatedamoment;recoveredhimself;andsaid:

"Obviouslyenough——tomeatleast——itindicatesthemarkingoftheroadway。"

"Notabitofit,"saidTrefusis。"Thereneverwassuchamarkasthatonaroad。Itmaybeaverybadattemptatabriar,butbriarsdon"tstraggleintothemiddleofroadsfrequentedasthatoneseemstobe——judgingbythoseoverdoneruts。"Heputtheetchingaway,showingnodispositiontolookfurtherintotheportfolio,andremarked,"Theonlyartthatinterestsmeisphotography。"

ErskineandSirCharlesagainexchangedglances,andtheformersaid:

"PhotographyisnotanartinthesenseinwhichIunderstandtheterm。Itisaprocess。"

"Andamuchlesstroublesomeandmoreperfectprocessthanthat,"

saidTrefusis,pointingtotheetching。"Theartistsarestickingtotheoldbarbarous,difficult,andimperfectprocessesofetchingandportraitpaintingmerelytokeepupthevalueoftheirmonopolyoftherequiredskill。Theyhaveleftthenew,morecomplexlyorganized,andmoreperfect,yetsimpleandbeautifulmethodofphotographyinthehandsoftradesmen,sneeringatitpubliclyandresortingtoitsaidsurreptitiously。