第14章

ItwasthefirstopportunityErskinehadeverenjoyedofspeakingtoGertrudeatleisureandalone。Yettheirconversationhadneverbeensocommonplace。She,likingthegame,playedverywellandchattedindifferently;heplayedbadly,andbroachedtrivialtopicsinspiteofhimself。Afteranhour—and—a—half"splay,Gertrudehadannouncedthatthisgamemustbetheirlast。Hethoughtdesperatelythatifheweretomissmanymorestrokesthegamemustpresentlyend,andanopportunitywhichmightneverrecurpassbeyondrecall。Hedeterminedtotellherwithoutprefacethatheadoredher,butwhenheopenedhislipsaquestioncameforthofitsownaccordrelatingtothePersianwayofplayingbilliards。GertrudehadneverbeeninPersia,buthadseensomeEasternbilliardcuesintheIndiamuseum。WerenottheHindooswonderfulpeopleforfiligreework,andcarpets,andsuchthings？Didhenotthinkthccrookednessoftheircarpetpatternsablemish？Somepeoplepretendedtoadmirethem,butwasnotthatallnonsense？Wasnotthemodernpolishedfloor,witharuginthemiddle,muchsuperiortotheoldcarpetfittedintothecornersoftheroom？Yes。Enormouslysuperior。Immensely——

"Why,whatareyouthinkingofto—day,Mr。Erskine？Youhaveplayedwithmyball。"

"Iamthinkingofyou。"

"Whatdidyousay？"saidGertrude,notcatchingtheseriousturnhehadgiventotheconversation,andpoisinghercueforastroke。"Oh！Iamasbadasyou;thatwastheworststrokeIevermade,Ithink。Ibegyourpardon;yousaidsomethingjustnow。"

"Iforget。Nothingofanyconsequence。"Andhegroanedathisowncowardice。

"Supposewestop,"shesaid。"Thereisnouseinfinishingthegameifourhandsareout。Iamrathertiredofit。"

"Certainly——ifyouwishit"

"Iwillfinishifyoulike。"

"Notatall。Whatpleasesyou,pleasesme。"

Gertrudemadehimalittlebow,andidlyknockedtheballsaboutwithhercue。Erskine"seyeswandered,andhislipmovedirresolutely。Hehadsettledwithhimselfthathisdeclarationshouldbeafrankone——hearttoheart。Hehadpicturedhimselfintheactoftakingherhanddelicately,andsaying,"Gertrude,I

loveyou。MayItellyousoagain？"Butthisschemedidnotnowseempracticable。

"MissLindsay。"

Gertrude,bendingoverthetable,lookedupinalarm。

"ThepresentisasgoodanopportunityasIwill——asIshall——asIwill。"

"Shall,"saidGertrude。

"Ibegyourpardon？"

"SHALL,"repeatedGertrude。"Didyoueverstudythedoctrineofnecessity？"

"Thedoctrineofnecessity？"hesaid,bewildered。

Gertrudewenttotheothersideofthetableinpursuitofaball。Shenowguessedwhatwascoming,andwaswillingthatitshouldcome;notbecausesheintendedtoaccept,butbecause,likeotheryoungladiesexperiencedinsuchscenes,shecountedtheproposalsofmarriageshereceivedasaRedIndiancountsthescalpshetakes。

"Wehavehadaverypleasanttimeofithere,"hesaid,givingupasinexplicabletherelevanceofthedoctrineofnecessity。"Atleast,Ihave。"

"Well,"saidGertrude,quicktoresentafanciedallusiontoherprivatediscontent,"sohaveI。"

"Iamgladofthat——moresothanIcanconveybywords。"

"Isitanybusinessofyours？"shesaid,followingthedisagreeableveinhehadunconsciouslystruckupon,andsuspectingpityinhiseffortstobesympathetic。

"IwishIdaredhopeso。Thehappinessofmyvisithasbeenduetoyouentirely。"

"Indeed,"saidGertrude,wincingasallthehardthingsTrefusishadtoldherofherselfcameintohermindattheheelsofErskine"sunfortunateallusiontoherpowerofenjoyingherself。

"IhopeIamnotpainingyou,"hesaidearnestly。

"Idon"tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout,"shesaid,standingerectwithsuddenimpatience。"Youseemtothinkthatitisveryeasytopainme。"

"No,"hesaidtimidly,puzzledbytheeffecthehadproduced。"I

fearyoumisunderstandme。Iamveryawkward。PerhapsIhadbettersaynomore,Gertrude,byturningawaytoputuphercue,signifiedthatthatwasapointforhimtoconsider;shenotintendingtotroubleherselfaboutit。Whenshefacedhimagain,hewasmotionlessanddejected,withawistfulexpressionlikethatofadogthathasprofferedacaressandreceivedakick。

Remorse,andavaguesensethattherewassomethingbaseinherattitudetowardshim,overcameher。Shelookedathimforaninstantandlefttheroom。

Thelookexcitedhim。Hedidnotunderstandit,norattempttounderstandit;butitwasalookthathehadneverbeforeseeninherfaceorinthatofanyotherwoman。Itstruckhimasamomentaryrevelationofwhathehadwrittenofin"ThePatriotMartyrs"as"Thegloriousmysteryofawoman"sheart,"

anditmadehimfeelunfitforordinarysocialintercourse。Hehastenedfromthehouse,walkedswiftlydowntheavenuetothelodge,wherehekepthisbicycle,leftwordtherethathewasgoingforanexcursionandshouldprobablynotreturnintimefordinner,mounted,andspedawayrecklesslyalongtheRiversideRoad。InlessthantwominuteshepassedthegateofSallust"sHouse,wherehenearlyranoveranoldwomanladenwithabasketofcoals,whoputdownherburthentoscreamcursesafterhim。

Warnedbythisthathisheadlongpacewasdangerous,heslackeneditalittle,andpresentlysawTrefusislyingproneontheriverbank,withhischeeksproppedonhiselbows,readingintently。

Erskine,whohadpresentedhim,afewdaysbefore,withacopyof"ThePatriotMartyrsandotherPoems,"triedtocatchaglimpseofthebookoverwhichTrefusiswassoserious。ItwasaBlueBook,fulloffigures。Erskinerodeonindisgust,consolinghimselfwiththerecollectionofGertrude"sface。

Thehighwaynowswervedinlandfromtheriver,androsetoasteepacclivity,atthebrowofwhichheturnedandlookedback。

Thelightwasgrowingruddy,andtheshadowswerelengthening。

Trefusiswasstillprostrateinthemeadow,andtheoldwomanwasinafield,gatheringhemlock。

Erskineraceddownthehillatfullspeed,anddidnotlookbehindhimagainuntilhefoundhimselfatnightfallontheskirtsofatown,wherehepurchasedsomebeerandasandwich,whichheatewithlittleappetite。Gertrudehadsetupadisturbancewithinhimwhichmadehimimpatientofeating。

Itwasnowdark。HewasmanymilesfromBrandonBeeches,andnotsureofthewayback。Suddenlyheresolvedtocompletehisunfinisheddeclarationthatevening。Henowcouldnotridebackfastenoughtosatisfyhisimpatience。Hetriedashortcut,losthimself,spentnearlyanhourseekingthehighroad,andatlastcameuponarailwaystationjustintimetocatchatrainthatbroughthimwithinamileofhisdestination。

Whenherosefromthecushionsoftherailwaycarriagehefoundhimselfsomewhatfatigued,andhemountedthebicyclestiffly。

Buthisresolutionwasasardentasever,andhisheartbeatstronglyas,afterleavinghisbicycleatthelodge,hewalkeduptheavenuethroughthedeepgloombeneaththebeeches。Nearthehouse,thefirstnotesof"Grudelperchefinora"reachedhim,andhesteppedsoftlyontotheturflesthisfootstepsonthegravelshouldrousethedogsandmakethemmartheharmonybybarking。A

rustlemadehimstopandlisten。ThenGertrude"svoicewhisperedthroughthedarkness:

"Whatdidyoumeanbywhatyousaidtomewithin？"

AnextraordinarysensationshookErskine;confusedideasoffairylandranthroughhisimagination。Abitterdisappointment,likethatofwakingfromahappydream,followedasTrefusis"svoice,morefinelytunedthanhehadeverhearditbefore,answered,"MerelythattheexpanseofstarsaboveusisnotmoreillimitablethanmycontemptforMissLindsay,norbrighterthanmyhopesofGertrude。"

"MissLindsayalwaystoyou,ifyouplease,Mr。Trefusis。"

"MissLindsaynevertome,butonlytothosewhocannotseethroughhertothesoulwithin,whichisGertrude。ThereareathousandMissLindsaysintheworld,formalandfalse。ThereisbutoneGertrude。"

"Iamanunprotectedgirl,Mr。Trefusis,andyoucancallmewhatyouplease。"

ItoccurredtoErskinethatthiswasafitoccasiontorushforwardandgiveTrefusis,whosefigurehecouldnowdimlydiscern,ablackeye。Buthehesitated,andtheopportunitypassed。

"Unprotected！"saidTrefusis。"Why,youarefencedroundandbarredinwithconventions,laws,andliesthatwouldfrightenthetruthfromthelipsofanymanwhosefaithinGertrudewaslessstrongthanmine。GotoSirCharlesandtellhimwhatIhavesaidtoMissLindsay,andwithintenminutesIshallhavepassedthesegateswithawarningnevertoapproachthemagain。Iaminyourpower,andwereIinMissLindsay"spoweralone,myshriftwouldbeshort。Happily,Gertrude,thoughsheseesasyetbutdarkly,feelsthatMissLindsayisherbitterestfoe。"

"Itisridiculous。Iamnottwopersons;Iamonlyone。Whatdoesitmattertomeifyourcontemptformeisasillimitableasthestars？"

"Ah,yourememberthat,doyou？Wheneveryouhearamantalkingaboutthestarsyoumayconcludethatheiseitheranastronomerorafool。Butyouandafinestarrynightwouldmakeafoolofanyman。"

"Idon"tunderstandyou。Itryto,butIcannot;or,ifIguess,Icannottellwhetheryouareinearnestornot。"

"Iamverymuchinearnest。AbandonatonceandforeverallmisgivingsthatIamtriflingwithyou,orpassinganidlehourasmendowhentheyfindthemselvesinthecompanyofbeautifulwomen。ImeanwhatIsayliterally,andinthedeepestsense。Youdoubtme;wehavebroughtsocietytosuchastatethatweallsuspectoneanother。Butwhateveristruewillcommandbeliefsoonerorlaterfromthosewhohavewitenoughtocomprehendtruth。NowletmerecallMissLindsaytoconsciousnessbyremarkingthatwehavebeenoutfortenminutes,andthatourhostessisnotthewomantoallowourabsencetopasswithoutcomment。"

"Letusgoin。Thankyouforremindingme。"

"Thankyouforforgetting。"

Erskineheardtheirfootstepsretreating,andpresentlysawthetwoentertheglowoflightthatshonefromtheopenwindowofthebilliardroom,throughwhichtheywentindoors。Trefusis,amanwhomhehadseenthatdayinabeautifullandscape,blindtoeverythingexceptarowoffiguresinaBlueBook,washissuccessfulrival,althoughitwasplainfromtheverysoundofhisvoicethathedidnot——couldnot——loveGertrude。Onlyapoetcoulddothat。Trefusiswasnopoet,butasordidbruteunlikelytoinspireinterestinanythingmorehumanthanapublicmeeting,muchlessinawoman,muchlessagaininawomansoetherealasGertrude。Shewasproudtoo,yetshehadallowedthefellowtoinsulther——hadforgivenhimforthesakeofafewbroadcompliments。Erskinegrewangryandcynical。Thesituationdidnotsuithispoetry。Insteadofbeingstrickentotheheartwithasolemnsorrow,asaPatriotMartyrwouldhavebeenundersimilarcircumstances,hefeltslightedandridiculous。Hewashardlyconvincedofwhathadseemedatfirstthemostobviousfeatureofthecase,Trefusis"sinferioritytohimself。

HestoodunderthetreesuntilTrefusisreappearedonhiswayhome,making,Erskinethought,asmuchnoisewithhisheelsonthegravelasaregimentofdelicatelybredmenwouldhavedone。

Hestoppedforamomenttomakeinquiryatthelodgeashewentout;thenhisfootstepsdiedawayinthedistance。

Erskine,chilled,stiff,andwithasensationofabadcoldcomingon,wentintothehouse,andwasrelievedtofindthatGertrudehadretired,andthatLadyBrandon,thoughshehadbeensurethathehadriddenintotheriverinthedark,hadneverthelessprovidedawarmsupperforhim。

CHAPTERXV

Erskinesoonfoundplentyofthemesforhisnewlybegottencynicism。Gertrude"smannertowardshimsoftenedsomuchthathe,believingherheartgiventohisrival,concludedthatshewastemptinghimtomakeaproposalwhichshehadnointentionofaccepting。SirCharles,towhomhetoldwhathehadoverheardintheavenue,professedsympathy,butwasevidentlypleasedtolearnthattherewasnothingseriousintheattentionsTrefusispaidtoAgatha。ErskinewrotethreebittersonnetsonhollowfriendshipandshowedthemtoSirCharles,who,failingtoapplythemtohimself,praisedthemhighlyandshowedthemtoTrefusiswithoutaskingtheauthor"spermission。Trefusisremarkedthatinacorruptsocietyexpressionsofdissatisfactionwerealwayscreditabletoawriter"ssensibility;buthedidnotsaymuchinpraiseoftheverse。

"Whyhashetakentowritinginthisvein？"hesaid。"Hashebeendisappointedinanywayoflate？HasheproposedtoMissLindsayandbeenrejected？"

"No,"saidSirCharlessurprisedbythisbluntreferencetoasubjecttheyhadneverbeforediscussed。"HedoesnotintendtoproposetoMissLindsay。"

"Buthedidintendto。"

"Hecertainlydid,buthehasgivenuptheidea。"

"Why？"saidTrefusis,apparentlydisapprovingstronglyoftherenunciation。

SirCharlesshruggedhisshouldersanddidnotreply。

"Iamsorrytohearit。Iwishyoucouldinducehimtochangehismind。Heisanicefellow,withenoughtoliveoncomfortably,whilstheisyetwhatiscalledapoorman,sothatshecouldfeelperfectlydisinterestedinmarryinghim。Itwilldohergoodtomarrywithoutmakingapecuniaryprofitbyit;shewillrespectherselfthemoreafterwards,andwillneitherwantbreadandbutternorbeashamedofherhusband"sorigin,inspiteofhavingmarriedforlovealone。Makeamatchofitifyoucan。I

takeaninterestinthegirl;shehasgoodinstincts。"

SirCharles"ssuspicionthatTrefusiswasreallypayingcourttoAgathareturnedafterthisconversation,whichherepeatedtoErskine,who,muchannoyedbecausehispoemshadbeenshowntoareaderofBlueBooks,thoughtitonlyablindforTrefusis"sdesignuponGertrude。SirCharlespooh—poohedthisview,andthetwofriendsweresharpwithoneanotherindiscussingit。Afterdinner,whentheladieshadleftthem,SirCharles,repentantandcordial,urgedErskinetospeaktoGertrudewithouttroublinghimselfastothesincerityofTrefusis。ButErskine,knowinghimselfillabletobrookarefusal,waslothtoexposehimselftoo278

"Ifyouhadheardthetoneofhervoicewhensheaskedhimwhetherhewasinearnest,youwouldnottalktomelikethis,"

hesaiddespondently。"Iwishhehadnevercomehere。"

"Well,that,atleast,wasnofaultofmine,mydearfellow,"

saidSirCharles。"Hecameamongusagainstmywill。Andnowthatheappearstohavebeenintheright——legally——aboutthefield,itwouldlooklikespiteifIcuthim。Besides,hereallyisn"tabadmanifhewouldonlyletthewomenalone。"

"IfhetrifleswithMissLindsay,IshallaskhimtocrosstheChannel,andhaveashotathim。"

"Idon"tthinkhe"dgo,"saidSirCharlesdubiously。"IfIwereyou,IwouldtrymyluckwithGertrudeatonce。Inspiteofwhatyouheard,Idon"tbelieveshewouldmarryamanofhisorigin。

Hismoneygiveshimanadvantage,certainly,butGertrudehassentrichermentotherightabout。"

"Letthefellowhavefairplay,"saidErskine。"Imaybewrong,ofcourse;allmenareliabletoerrinjudgingthemselves,butI

thinkIcouldmakeherhappierthanhecan。"

SirCharleswasnotsosureofthat,buthecheerfullyresponded,"Certainly。Heisnotthemanforheratall,andyouare。Heknowsit,too。"

"Hmf！"mutteredErskine,risingdejectedly。"Let"sgoupstairs。"

"By—the—bye,wearetocallonhimto—morrow,togothroughhishouse,andhiscollectionofphotographs。Photographs！Ha,ha"

Damnhishouse！"saidErskine。

NextdaytheywenttogethertoSallust"sHouse。Itstoodinthemidstofanacreofland,wasteexceptalittlekitchengardenattherear。Thelodgeattheentrancewasuninhabited,andthegatesstoodopen,withdustandfallenleavesheapedupagainstthem。Freeingresshadthusbeenaffordedtotwostrayponies,agoat,andatramp,wholayasleepinthegrass。Hiswifesatnear,watchinghim。

"Ihaveamindtoturnback,"saidSirCharles,lookingabouthimindisgust。"Theplaceisscandalouslyneglected。Lookatthatrascalasleepwithinfullviewofthewindows。"

"Iadmirehischeek,"saidErskine。"Nicepairofponies,too。"

Sallust"sHousewassquareandpaintedcinnamoncolor。Beneaththecornicewasayellowfriezewithfiguresofdancingchildren,imitatedfromtheworksofDonatello,andveryunskilfullyexecuted。Therewasameagreporticooffourcolumns,paintedred,andaplainpediment,paintedyellow。Thecolors,meanttomatchthoseofthewalls,contrasteddisagreeablywiththem,havingbeenappliedmorerecently,apparentlybyacolor—blindartist。Thedoorbeneaththeporticostoodopen。SirCharlesrangthebell,andanelderlywomanansweredit;butbeforetheycouldaddressher,Trefusisappeared,cladinapainter"sjacketofwhitejean。Followinghimin,theyfoundthatthehousewasahollowsquare,enclosingacourtyardwithabathsunkinthemiddle,andafountaininthecentreofthebath。Thecourtyard,formerlyopentothesky,wasnowroofedinwithdustyglass;thenymphthathadoncepouredoutthewaterofthefountainwasbarrenandmutilated;andthebathwaspartlycoveredinwithlooseboards,theexposedpartaccommodatingaheapofcoalsinonecorner,aheapofpotatoesinanother,abeerbarrel,someoldcarpets,atarpaulin,andabrokencanoe。Themarblepavementextendedtotheouterwallsofthehouse,andwasroofedinatthesidesbytheupperstories,whichweresupportedbyflutedstonecolumns,muchstainedandchipped。Thestaircase,towardswhichTrefusisledhisvisitors,wasabroadoneattheendoppositethedoor,andgaveaccesstoagalleryleadingtotheupperrooms。

"Thishousewasbuiltin11780byanancestorofmymother,"saidTrefusis。"Hepassedforamanofexquisitetaste。Hewishedtheplacetobemaintainedforever——heactuallyusedthatexpressioninhiswill——asthefamilyseat,andhecollectedafinelibraryhere,whichIfounduseful,asallthebookscameintomyhandsingoodcondition,mostofthemwiththeleavesuncut。Somepeopleprizeuncutcopiesofoldeditions;adealergavemethreehundredandfiftypoundsforalotofthem。Icameintopossessionofanumberoffamilyfetishes——heirlooms,astheyarecalled。TherewasaswordthatoneofmyforbearsworeatEdgehillandotherbattlesinCharlestheFirst"stime。Wefoughtonthewrongside,ofcourse,buttheswordfetchedthirty—fiveshillingsnevertheless。YouwillhardlybelievethatIwasofferedonehundredandfiftypoundsforagoldcupworthabouttwenty—five,merelybecauseQueenElizabethoncedrankfromit。

Thisismystudy。Itwasdesignedforabanquetinghall。"

Theyenteredaroomaslongasthewallofthehouse,piercedononesidebyfourtallwindows,betweenwhichsquarepillars,withCorinthiancapitalssupportingthecornice,werehalfsunkinthewall。Thereweresimilarpillarsontheoppositeside,butbetweenthem,insteadofwindows,werearchednichesinwhichstoodlife—sizeplasterstatues,chipped,broken,anddefacedinanextraordinaryfashion。Theflooring,ofdiagonallysetnarrowboards,wasuncarpetedandunpolished。Theceilingwasadornedwithfrescoes,whichatonceexcitedSirCharles"sinterest,andhenotedwithindignationthatalargeportionofthepaintingatthenorthernendhadbeendestroyedandsomeglassroofinginserted。Inanotherplaceboltshadbeendrivenintosupporttheropesofatrapezeandafewotherpiecesofgymnasticapparatus。Thewallswerewhitewashed,andataboutfourfeetfromthegroundadarkbandappeared,producedbypencilmemorandaandlittlesketchesscribbledonthewhitewash。Oneendoftheapartmentwasunfurnished,exceptbythegymnasticapparatus,aphotographer"scamera,aladderinthecorner,andacommondealtablewithoilcansandpaintpotsuponit。Attheotherendacomparativelyluxuriousshowwasmadebyalargebookcase,anelaboratecombinationofbureauandwritingdesk,arackwitharifle,asetoffoils,andanumbrellainit,severalfolioalbumsonatable,somecomfortablechairsandsofas,andathickcarpetunderfoot。Closeby,andseemingmuchoutofplace,wasacarpenter"sbenchwiththeusualimplementsandanumberofboardsofvariousthicknesses。

"Thisisasortofcomfortbeyondthereachofanybutarichman,"saidTrefusis,turningandsurprisinghisvisitorsintheactofexchangingglancesofastonishmentathistaste。"Ikeepadrawing—roomoftheusualkindforreceivingstrangerswithwhomitisnecessarytobeconventional,butIneverenteritexceptonsuchoccasions。Whatdoyouthinkofthisforastudy？"

"Onmysoul,Trefusis,Ithinkyouaremad,"saidSirCharles。

"Theplacelooksasifithadstoodasiege。Howdidyoumanagetobreakthestatuesandchipthewallssooutrageously？"

Trefusistookanewspaperfromthetableandsaid,"Listentothis:

"Inspiteoftheunfavorablenatureoftheweather,thesportoftheEmperorandhisguestsinStyriahasbeensuccessful。Inthreedays52chamoisand79stagsanddeerfellto19

single—barrelledrifles,theEmperorallowingnomoreonthisoccasion。"

"IsharetheEmperor"sdelightinshooting,butIamnobutcher,anddonotneedtheroyalrelishofbloodtomysport。AndIdonotsharemyancestors"tasteinstatuary。Hence——"HereTrefusisopenedadrawer,tookoutapistol,andfiredattheHebeinthefarthestniche。

"Welldone！"saidErskinecoolly,asthelastfragmentofHebe"sheadcrumbledatthetouchofthebullet。

"Veryfruitlesslydone,"saidTrefusis。"Iamagoodshot,butofwhatuseisittome？None。IoncemetagamekeeperwhowasaMethodist。Hewasamosteloquentspeaker,butAbadshot。IfhecouldhaveswappedtalentswithmeIwouldhavegivenhimtenthousandpoundstobootwillingly,althoughhewouldhaveprofitedasmuchasIbytheexchangealone。IhavenomoredesireorneedtobeagoodshotthantobekingofEngland,orownerofaDerbywinner,oranythingelseequallyridiculous,andyetInevermissedmyaiminmylife——thankblindfortunefornothing！"

"KingofEngland！"saidErskine,withascornfullaugh,toshowTrefusisthatotherpeoplewereasliberty—lovingashe。"Isitnotabsurdtohearanationboastingofitsfreedomandtoleratingaking？"

"Oh,hangyourrepublicanism,Chester！"saidSirCharles,whoprivatelyheldalowopinionofthepoliticalsideofthePatriotMartyrs。

"Iwon"theputdownonthatpoint,"saidErskine。"Iadmireamanthatkillsaking。Youwillagreewithmethere,Trefusis,won"tyou？"

"Certainlynot,"saidTrefusis。"Akingnowadaysisonlyadummyputuptodrawyourfireofftherealoppressorsofsociety,andthefractionofhissalarythathecanspendashelikesisusuallyfartoosmallforhisrisk,histrouble,andtheconditionofpersonalslaverytowhichheisreduced。WhatprivatemaninEnglandisworseoffthantheconstitutionalmonarch？Wedenyhimallprivacy;hemaynotmarrywhomhechooses,consortwithwhomheprefers,dressaccordingtohistaste,orlivewherehepleases。Idon"tbelievehemayeveneatordrinkwhathelikesbest;atastefortripeandonionsonhispartwouldprovokearemonstrancefromthePrivyCouncil。Wedictateeverythingexcepthisthoughtsanddreams,andeventhesehemustkeeptohimselfiftheyarenotsuitable,inouropinion,tohiscondition。Theworkweimposeonhimhasallthehardshipofmeretaskwork;itisunfruitful,incessant,monotonous,andhastobetransactedforthemostpartwithnervousbores。Wemakehiskingdomatreadmilltohim,anddrivehimtoandfroonthefaceofit。Finally,havingtakeneverythingelsethatmenprizefromhim,wefalluponhischaracter,andthatofeverypersontowhomheventurestoshowfavor。Weimposeenormousexpensesonhim,stinthim,andthenrailathisparsimony。WeusehimasIusethosestatues——stickhimupintheplaceofhonorforourgreaterconvenienceindisfiguringandabusinghim。

Wesendhimforththroughourcrowdedcities,proclaimingthatheisthesourceofallgoodandevilinthenation,andhe,knowingthatmanypeoplebelieveit,knowingthatitisalie,andthatheispowerlesstoshortentheworkingdaybyonehour,raisewagesonepenny,orannulthesmallestcriminalsentence,howeverunjustitmayseemtohim;knowingthateveryminerinthekingdomcanmanufacturedynamite,andthatrevolversaresoldforsevenandsixpenceapiece;knowingthatheisnotbulletproof,andthateverykinginEuropehasbeenshotatinthestreets;hemustsmileandbowandmaintainanexpressionofgraciousenjoymentwhilstthemayorandcorporationinflictuponhimthetwaddlingaddresshehasheardathousandtimesbefore。Idonotaskyoutobeloyal,Erskine;butIexpectyou,incommonhumanity,tosympathizewiththechieffigureinthepageant,whoisnomoreaccountableforthemanifoldevilsandabominationsthatexistinhisrealmthantheLordMayorisaccountableforthetheftsofthepickpocketswhofollowhisshowontheninthofNovember。"

SirCharleslaughedatthetroubleTrefusistooktoprovehiscase,andsaidsoothingly,"Mydearfellow,kingsareusedtoit,andexpectit,andlikeit。"

"AndprobablydonotseethemselvesasIseethem,anymorethancommonpeopledo,"assentedTrefusis。

"Whatanexquisiteface！"exclaimedErskinesuddenly,catchingsightofaphotographinarichgoldandcoralframeonaminiatureeaseldrapedwithrubyvelvet。Trefusisturnedquickly,soevidentlygratifiedthatSirCharleshastenedtosay,"Charming！"Then,lookingattheportrait,headded,asifalittlestartled,"Itcertainlyisanextraordinarilyattractiveface。"

"Yearsago,"saidTrefusis,"whenIsawthatfaceforthefirsttime,Ifeltasyoufeelnow。"

Silenceensued,thetwovisitorslookingattheportrait,Trefusislookingatthem。

"Curiousstyleofbeauty,"saidSirCharlesatlast,notquitesoassuredlyasbefore。

Trefusislaughedunpleasantly。"Doyourecognizetheartist——theenthusiasticamateur——inher？"hesaid,openinganotherdrawerandtakingoutabundleofdrawings,whichhehandedtobeexamined。

"Veryclever。Verycleverindeed,"saidSirCharles。"Ishouldliketomeetthelady。"

"Ihaveoftenbeenonthepointofburningthem,"saidTrefusis;

"buttheretheyare,andtheretheyarelikelytoremain。Theportraithasbeenmuchadmired。"

"Canyougiveusanintroductiontotheoriginal,oldfellow？"

saidErskine。

"No,happily。Sheisdead。"

Disagreeablyshocked,theylookedathimforamomentwithaversion。ThenErskine,turningwithpityanddisappointmenttothepicture,said,"Poorgirl！Wasshemarried？"

"Yes。Tome。"

"Mrs。Trefusis！"exclaimedSirCharles。"Ah！Dearme！"

Erskine,withproofbeforehimthatitwaspossibleforabeautifulgirltoacceptTrefusis,saidnothing。

"Ikeepherportraitconstantlybeforemetocorrectmynaturalamativeness。Ifellinlovewithherandmarriedher。IhavefalleninloveonceortwicesincebutaglanceatmylostHettyhascuredmeoftheslightestinclinationtomarry。"

SirCharlesdidnotreply。ItoccurredtohimthatLadyBrandon"sportrait,ifnothingelsewereleftofher,mightbeusefulinthesameway。

"Come,youwillmarryagainoneofthesedays,"saidErskine,inaforcedtoneofencouragement。

"Itispossible。Menshouldmarry,especiallyrichmen。ButI

assureyouIhavenopresentintentionofdoingso。"

Erskine"scolordeepened,andhemovedawaytothetablewherethealbumslay。

"ThisisthecollectionofphotographsIspokeof,"saidTrefusis,followinghimandopeningoneofthebooks。"Itookmanyofthemmyselfundergreatdifficultieswithregardtolight——theonlydifficultythatmoneycouldnotalwaysremove。

Thisisaviewofmyfather"shouse——orratheroneofhishouses。

Itcostseventy—fivethousandpounds。"

"Veryhandsomeindeed,"saidSirCharles,secretlydisgustedatbeinginvitedtoadmireaphotograph,suchashouseagentsexhibit,ofavulgarlydesignedcountryhouse,merelybecauseithadcostseventy—fivethousandpounds。Thefigureswereactuallywrittenbeneaththepicture。

"Thisisthedrawing—room,andthisoneofthebestbedrooms。Intheright—handcornerofthemountyouwillseeanoteofthecostofthefurniture,fittings,napery,andsoforth。Theywereofthemostluxuriousdescription。"

"Veryinteresting,"saidSirCharles,hardlydisguisingtheironyofthecomment。