第19章

Itgrewcolderanddark。Heturnedthecollarofhiscoatuptohisears。HehadvisionsofPiccadilly。Thiswild—goosechaseappearedsuddenlyadangerous，unfathomablebusiness。Lights，fellowship，security！’Neveragain！’hebrooded;’whywon’ttheyletmealone？’

Butitwasnotclearwhetherby’they’hemeanttheconventions，theBoleskeys，hispassions，orthosehauntingmemoriesofRozsi。Ifhehadonlyhadabagwithhim！Whatwashegoingtosay？Whatwashegoingtogetbythis？Hereceivednoanswertothesequestions。Thedarknessitselfwaslessobscurethanhissensations。Fromtimetotimehetookouthiswatch。Ateachvillagethedrivermadeinquiries。Itwaspasttenwhenhestoppedthecarriagewithajerk。

Thestarswerebrightassteel，andbythesideoftheroadareedylakeshowedinthemoonlight。Swithinshivered。Amanonahorsehadhaltedinthecentreoftheroad。"Driveon！"calledSwithin，withastolidface。ItturnedouttobeBoleskey，who，onagauntwhitehorse，lookedlikesomewingedcreature。Hestoodwherehecouldbartheprogressofthecarriage，holdingoutapistol。

’Theatricalbeggar！’thoughtSwithin，withanervoussmile。Hemadenosignofrecognition。SlowlyBoleskeybroughthisleanhorseuptothecarriage。Whenhesawwhowaswithinheshowedastonishmentandjoy。

"You？"hecried，slappinghishandonhisattenuatedthigh，andleaningovertillhisbeardtouchedSwithin。"Youhavecome？Youfollowedus？"

"Itseemsso，"Swithingruntedout。

"Youthrowinyourlotwithus。Isitpossible？You——youareaknight—errantthen！"

"GoodGod！"saidSwithin。Boleskey，flogginghisdejectedsteed，canteredforwardinthemoonlight。Hecameback，bringinganoldcloak，whichheinsistedonwrappingroundSwithin’sshoulders。Hehandedhim，too，acapaciousflask。

"Howcoldyoulook！"hesaid。"Wonderful！Wonderful！youEnglish！"

HisgratefuleyesneverleftSwithinforamoment。Theyhadcomeuptotheheelsoftheothercarriagenow，butSwithin，hunchedinthecloak，didnottrytoseewhatwasinfrontofhim。TothebottomofhissoulheresentedtheHungarian’sgratitude。Heremarkedatlast，withwastedirony:

"You’reinahurry，itseems！"

"Ifwehadwings，"Boleskeyanswered，"wewouldusethem。"

"Wings！"mutteredSwithinthickly;"legsaregoodenoughforme。"

X

Arrivedattheinnwheretheyweretopassthenight，Swithinwaited，hopingtogetintothehousewithouta"scene，"butwhenatlasthealightedthegirlswereinthedoorway，andMargitgreetedhimwithanadmiringmurmur，inwhich，however，heseemedtodetectirony。

Rozsi，paleandtremulous，withahalf—scaredlook，gavehimherhand，and，quicklywithdrawingit，shrankbehindhersister。WhentheyhadgoneuptotheirroomSwithinsoughtBoleskey。Hisspiritshadrisenremarkably。"Tellthelandlordtogetussupper，"hesaid;

"we’llcrackabottletoourluck。"Hehurriedonthelandlord’spreparations。Thewindowofthe，roomfacedawood，sonearthathecouldalmosttouchthetrees。Thescentfromthepinesblewinonhim。Heturnedawayfromthatscenteddarkness，andbegantodrawthecorksofwinebottles。ThesoundseemedtoconjureupBoleskey。

Hecamein，splashedallover，smellingslightlyofstables;soonafter，Margitappeared，freshandserene，butRozsididnotcome。

"Whereisyoursister？"Swithinsaid。Rozsi，itseemed，wastired。

"Itwilldohergoodtoeat，"saidSwithin。AndBoleskey，murmuring，"Shemustdrinktoourcountry，"wentouttosummonher，Margitfollowedhim，whileSwithincutupachicken。Theycamebackwithouther。Shehad"amegrimofthespirit。"

Swithin’sfacefell。"Lookhere！"hesaid，"I’llgoandtry。Don’twaitforme。"

"Yes，"answeredBoleskey，sinkingmournfullyintoachair;"try，brother，try—byallmeans，try。"

Swithinwalkeddownthecorridorwithanodd，sweet，sinkingsensationinhischest;andtappedonRozsi’sdoor。Inaminute，shepeepedforth，withherhairloose，andwonderingeyes。

"Rozsi，"hestammered，"whatmakesyouafraidofme，now？"

Shestaredathim，butdidnotanswer。

"Whywon’tyoucome？"

Stillshedidnotspeak，butsuddenlystretchedouttohimherbarearm。Swithinpressedhisfacetoit。Withashiver，shewhisperedabovehim，"Iwillcome，"andgentlyshutthedoor。

Swithinstealthilyretracedhissteps，andpausedaminuteoutsidethesitting—roomtoregainhisself—control。

ThesightofBoleskeywithabottleinhishandsteadiedhim。

"Sheiscoming，"hesaid。Andverysoonshedidcome，herthickhairroughlytwistedinaplait。

Swithinsatbetweenthegirls;butdidnottalk，forhewasreallyhungry。Boleskeytoowassilent，plungedingloom;Rozsiwasdumb;

Margitalonechattered。

"YouwillcometoourFather—town？Weshallhavethingstoshowyou。

Rozsi，whatthingswewillshowhim！"Rozsi，withalittleappealingmovementofherhands，repeated，"Whatthingswewillshowyou！"Sheseemedsuddenlytofindhervoice，andwithglowingcheeks，mouthsfull，andeyesbrightassquirrels’，theychatteredreminiscencesofthe"dearFather—town，"of"dearfriends，"ofthe"dearhome。"

’Apoorplace！’Swithincouldnothelpthinking。Thisenthusiasmseemedtohimcommon;buthewascarefultoassumealookofinterest，feedingontheglancesflashedathimfromRozsi’srestlesseyes。

AsthewinewanedBoleskeygrewmoreandmoregloomy，butnowandthenasortofgleamingflickerpassedoverhisface。Herosetohisfeetatlast。

"Letusnotforget，"hesaid，"thatwegoperhapstoruin，todeath;

inthefaceofallthiswego，becauseourcountryneeds——inthisthereisnocredit，neithertomenortoyou，mydaughters;butforthisnobleEnglishman，whatshallwesay？GivethankstoGodforagreatheart。Hecomes——notforcountry，notforfame，notformoney，buttohelptheweakandtheoppressed。Letusdrink，then，tohim;

letusdrinkagainandagaintoheroicForsyte！"Inthemidstofthedeadsilence，SwithincaughtthelookofsuppliantmockeryinRozsi’seyes。HeglancedattheHungarian。Washelaughingathim？ButBoleskey，afterdrinkinguphiswine，hadsunkagainintohisseat;

andtheresuddenly，tothesurpriseofall，hebegantosnore。

Margitroseand，bendingoverhimlikeamother，murmured:"Heistired——itistheride！"Sheraisedhiminherstrongarms，andleaningonhershoulderBoleskeystaggeredfromtheroom。SwithinandRozsiwereleftalone。Heslidhishandtowardsherhandthatlaysoclose，ontheroughtable—cloth。Itseemedtoawaithistouch。Somethinggavewayinhim，andwordscamewellingup;forthemomentheforgothimself，forgoteverythingbutthathewasnearher。

Herheaddroppedonhisshoulder，hebreathedtheperfumeofherhair。"Good—night！"shewhispered，andthewhisperwaslikeakiss;

yetbeforehecouldstophershewasgone。Herfootstepsdiedawayinthepassage，butSwithinsatgazingintentlyatasinglebrightdropofspiltwinequiveringonthetable’sedge。Inthatmomentshe，inherhelplessnessandemotion，wasallinalltohim——hislifenothing;alltherealthings——hisconventions，convictions，training，andhimself——allseemedremote，behindamistofpassionandstrangechivalry。Carefullywithabitofbreadhesoakedupthebrightdrop;andsuddenlyhethought:’Thisistremendous！’Foralongtimehestoodthereinthewindow，closetothedarkpine—trees。

XI

Intheearlymorningheawoke，fullofthediscomfortofthisstrangeplaceandthemedleyofhisdreams。Lying，withhisnosepeepingoverthequilt，hewasvisitedbyahorriblesuspicion。Whenhecouldbearitnolonger，hestartedupinbed。Whatifitwereallaplottogethimtomarryher？Thethoughtwastreacherous，andinspiredinhimafaintdisgust。Still，shemightbeignorantofit！

Butwasshesoinnocent？Whatinnocentgirlwouldhavecometohisroomlikethat？Whatinnocentgirl？Herfather，whopretendedtobecaringonlyforhiscountry？Itwasnotprobablethatanymanwassuchafool;itwasallpartofthegame—aschemingrascal！

Kasteliz，too——histhreats！Theyintendedhimtomarryher！Andthehorridideawasstrengthenedbyhisreverenceformarriage。Itwastheproper，therespectablecondition;hewasgenuinelyafraidofthisothersortofliaison——itwassomehowtooprimitive！Andyetthethoughtofthatmarriagemadehisbloodruncold。Consideringthatshehadalreadyyielded，itwouldbeallthemoremonstrous！

Withthecold，fatalclearnessofthemorninglighthenowforthefirsttimesawhispositioninitsfullbearings。And，likeafishpulledoutofwater，hegaspedatwhatwasdisclosed。Sullenresentmentagainstthisattempttoforcehimsettleddeepintohissoul。

Heseatedhimselfonthebed，holdinghisheadinhishands，solemnlythinkingoutwhatsuchmarriagemeant。Inthefirstplaceitmeantridicule，inthenextplaceridicule，inthelastplaceridicule。

Shewouldeatchickenboneswithherfingers——thosefingershislipsstillburnedtokiss。Shewoulddancewildlywithothermen。Shewouldtalkofher"dearFather—town，"andallthetimehereyeswouldlookbeyondhim，somewhereorotherintosomed——dplaceheknewnothingof。Hesprangupandpacedtheroom，andforamomentthoughthewouldgomad。

Theymeanthimtomarryher！Evenshe——shemeanthimtomarryher！

Hertantalisinginscrutability;hersuddenlittletendernesses;herquicklaughter;herswift，burningkisses;eventhemovementsofherhands;hertears——allwereevidenceagainsther。NotoneofthesethingsthatNaturemadeherdocountedonherside，buthowtheyfannedhislonging，hisdesire，anddistress！Hewenttotheglassandtriedtoparthishairwithhisfingers，butbeingratherfine，itfellintolankstreaks。Therewasnocomforttobegotfromit。

Hedrewhismuddybootson。Suddenlyhethought:’IfIcouldseeheralone，Icouldarriveatsomearrangement！’Then，withasenseofstupefaction，hemadethediscoverythatnoarrangementcouldpossiblybemadethatwouldnotbedangerous，evendesperate。Heseizedhishat，and，likearabbitthathasbeenfiredat，boltedfromtheroom。Heploddedalongamongstthedampwoodswithhisheaddown，andresentmentanddismayinhisheart。But，asthesunrose，andtheairgrewsweetwithpinescent，heslowlyregainedasortofequability。Afterall，shehadalreadyyielded;itwasnotasif……！

Andthetrampofhisownfootstepslulledhimintofeelingthatitwouldallcomeright。

’Lookatthethingpractically，’hethought。Thefasterhewalkedthefirmerbecamehisconvictionthathecouldstillseeitthrough。

Hetookouthiswatch——itwaspastseven——hebegantohastenback。

Intheyardoftheinnhisdriverwasharnessingthehorses;Swithinwentuptohim。

"Whotoldyoutoputthemin？"heasked。

Thedriveranswered，"DerHerr。"

Swithinturnedaway。’Intenminutes，’hethought，’Ishallbeinthatcarriageagain，withthisgoingoninmyhead！DrivingawayfromEngland，fromallI’musedto—drivingto—what？’Couldhefaceit？Couldhefaceallthathehadbeenthroughthatmorning;faceitdayafterday，nightafternight？Lookingup，hesawRozsiatheropenwindowgazingdownathim;neverhadshelookedsweeter，moreroguish。Aninexplicableterrorseizedonhim;heranacrosstheyardandjumpedintohiscarriage。"ToSalzburg！"hecried;"driveon！"Andrattlingoutoftheyardwithoutalookbehind，heflungasovereignatthehostler。Flyingbackalongtheroadfastereventhanhehadcome，withpaleface，andeyesblankandstaringlikeapug—dog’s，Swithinspokenosingleword;nor，tillhehadreachedthedoorofhislodgings，didhesufferthedrivertodrawrein。

XII

Towardsevening，fivedayslater，Swithin，yellowandtravel—worn，wasferriedinagondolatoDanielli’sHotel。Hisbrother，whowasonthesteps，lookedathimwithanapprehensivecuriosity。

"Why，it’syou！"hemumbled。"Soyou’vegotheresafe？"

"Safe？"growledSwithin。

Jamesreplied，"Ithoughtyouwouldn’tleaveyourfriends！"Then，withajerkofsuspicion，"Youhaven’tbroughtyourfriends？"

"Whatfriends？"growledSwithin。

Jameschangedthesubject。"Youdon’tlookthething，"hesaid。

"Really！"mutteredSwithin;"what’sthattoyou？"

Heappearedatdinnerthatnight，butfellasleepoverhiscoffee。

NeitherTraquairnorJamesaskedhimanyfurtherquestion，nordidtheyalludetoSalzburg;andduringthefourdayswhichconcludedthestayinVeniceSwithinwentaboutwithhisheadup，buthiseyeshalf—closedlikeadazedman。OnlyaftertheyhadtakenshipatGenoadidheshowsignsofanyhealthyinterestinlife，when，findingthatamanonboardwasperpetuallystrumming，helockedthepianoupandpitchedthekeyintothesea。

ThatwinterinLondonhebehavedmuchasusual，butfitsofmorosenesswouldseizeonhim，duringwhichhewasnotpleasanttoapproach。

OneeveningwhenhewaswalkingwithafriendinPiccadilly，agirlcomingfromaside—streetaccostedhiminGerman。Swithin，afterstaringatherinsilenceforsomeseconds，handedherafive—poundnote，tothegreatamazementofhisfriend;norcouldhehimselfhaveexplainedthemeaningofthisfreakofgenerosity。

OfRozsiheneverheardagain……

This，then，wasthesubstanceofwhatherememberedashelayillinbed。Stretchingouthishandhepressedthebell。Hisvaletappeared，crossingtheroomlikeacat;aSwede，whohadbeenwithSwithinmanyyears;alittlemanwithadriedfaceandfiercemoustache，morbidlysharpnerves，andaqueerdevotiontohismaster。

Swithinmadeafeeblegesture。"Adolf，"hesaid，"I’mverybad。"

"Yes，sir！"

"Whydoyoustandtherelikeacow？"askedSwithin;"can’tyouseeI’mverybad？"

"Yes，sir！"Thevalet’sfacetwitchedasthoughitmaskedthedanceofobscureemotions。

"Ishallfeelbetterafterdinner。Whattimeisit？"

"Fiveo’clock。"

"Ithoughtitwasmore。Theafternoonsareverylong。"

"Yes，sir！"Swithinsighed，asthoughhehadexpectedtheconsolationofdenial。

"VerylikelyIshallhaveanap。Bringuphotwaterathalf—pastsixandshavemebeforedinner。"

Thevaletmovedtowardsthedoor。Swithinraisedhimself。

"WhatdidMr。Jamessaytoyou？"

"Hesaidyououghttohaveanotherdoctor;twodoctors，hesaid，betterthanone。Hesaid，also，hewouldlookinagainonhisway’home。’"

Swithingrunted，"Umph！Whatelsedidhesay？"

"Hesaidyoudidn’ttakecareofyourself。"

Swithinglared。

"Hasanybodyelsebeentoseeme？"

Thevaletturnedawayhiseyes。"Mrs。ThomasForsytecamelastMondayfortnight。"

"HowlonghaveIbeenill？"

"FiveweeksonSaturday。"

"DoyouthinkI’mverybad？"

Adolf’sfacewascoveredsuddenlywithcrow’s—feet。"Youhavenobusinesstoaskmequestionlikethat！Iamnotpaid，sir，toanswerquestionlikethat。"

Swithinsaidfaintly:"You’reapepperyfool！Openabottleofchampagne！"

Adolftookabottleofchampagne——fromacupboardandheldnipperstoit。HefixedhiseyesonSwithin。"Thedoctorsaid——"

"Openthebottle！"

"Itisnot——"

"Openthebottle——orIgiveyouwarning。"

Adolfremovedthecork。Hewipedaglasselaborately，filledit，andboreitscrupulouslytothebedside。Suddenlytwirlinghismoustaches，hewrunghishands，andburstout:"Itispoison。"

Swithingrinnedfaintly。"Youforeignfool！"hesaid。"Getout！"

Thevaletvanished。

’Heforgothimself！’thoughtSwithin。Slowlyheraisedtheglass，slowlyputitback，andsankgaspingonhispillows。Almostatoncehefellasleep。

Hedreamedthathewasathisclub，sittingafterdinnerinthecrowdedsmoking—room，withitsbrightwallsandtrefoilsoflight。

Itwastherethathesateveryevening，patient，solemn，lonely，andsometimesfellasleep，hissquare，paleoldfacenoddingtooneside。

Hedreamedthathewasgazingatthepictureoverthefireplace，ofanoldstatesmanwithahighcollar，supremelyfinishedface，andscepticaleyebrows——thepicture，smooth，andreticentassealing—wax，ofonewhoseemedforeverexhalingthenarrowwisdomoffinaljudgments。Allroundhim，hisfellowmemberswerechattering。Onlyhehimself，theoldsickmember，wassilent。Iffellowsonlyknewwhatitwasliketositbyyourselfandfeelillallthetime！Whattheyweresayinghehadheardahundredtimes。Theyweretalkingofinvestments，ofcigars，horses，actresses，machinery。Whatwasthat？

Aforeignpatentforcleaningboilers？Therewasnosuchthing;

boilerscouldn’tbecleaned，anyfoolknewthat！IfanEnglishmancouldn’tcleanaboiler，noforeignercouldcleanone。Heappealedtotheoldstatesman’seyes。Butforoncethoseeyesseemedhesitating，blurred，wantinginfinality。Theyvanished。IntheirplacewereRozsi’slittledeep—seteyes，withtheirwideandfar—offlook;andashegazedtheyseemedtogrowbrightassteel，andtospeaktohim。Slowlythewholefacegrewtobethere，floatingonthedarkbackgroundofthepicture;itwaspink，aloof，unfathomable，enticing，withitsfluffyhairandquicklips，justashehadlastseenit。"Areyoulookingforsomething？"sheseemedtosay:"I

couldshowyou。"

"Ihaveeverythingsafeenough，"answeredSwithin，andinhissleephegroaned。

Hefeltthetouchoffingersonhisforehead。’I’mdreaming，’hethoughtinhisdream。

Shehadvanished;andfaraway，frombehindthepicture，cameasoundoffootsteps。

Aloud，inhissleep，Swithinmuttered:"I’vemissedit。"

Againheheardtherustlingofthoselightfootsteps，andcloseinhisearasound，likeasob。Heawoke;thesobwashisown。Greatdropsofperspirationstoodonhisforehead。’Whatisit？’hethought;’whathaveIlost？’Slowlyhismindtravelledoverhisinvestments;hecouldnotthinkofanysingleonethatwasunsafe。

Whatwasit，then，thathehadlost？Strugglingonhispillows，heclutchedthewine—glass。Hislipstouchedthewine。’Thisisn’tthe"Heidseck"！’hethoughtangrily，andbeforetherealityofthatdispleasureallthedimvisionpassedaway。Butashebenttodrink，somethingsnapped，and，withasigh，SwithinForsytediedabovethebubbles……

WhenJamesForsytecameinagainonhiswayhome，thevalet，tremblingtookhishatandstick。

"How’syourmaster？"

"Mymasterisdead，sir！"

"Dead！Hecan’tbe！Ilefthimsafeanhourago。

OnthebedSwithin’sbodywasdoubledlikeasack;hishandstillgraspedtheglass。

JamesForsytepaused。"Swithin！"hesaid，andwithhishandtohisearhewaitedforananswer;butnonecame，andslowlyintheglassalastbubbleroseandburst。

December1900。

ToMYSISTER

MABELEDITHREYNOLDS

THESILENCE

I

InacaroftheNaplesexpressaminingexpertwasdivingintoabagforpapers。Thestrongsunlightshowedthefinewrinklesonhisbrownfaceandtheshabbinessofhisshort，roughbeard。Anewspapercuttingslippedfromhisfingers;hepickeditup，thinking:’Howthedickensdidthatgetinhere？’Itwasfromacolonialprintofthreeyearsback;andhesatstaring，asifinthatforlornslipofyellowpaperhehadencounteredsomeghostfromhispast。

Thesewerethewordsheread:"Wehopethatthesetbacktocivilisation，thechecktocommerceanddevelopment，inthispromisingcentreofourcolonymaybebuttemporary;andthatcapitalmayagaincometotherescue。Whereonemanwassuccessful，othersshouldsurelynotfail？Weareconvincedthatitonlyneeds……"

Andthelastwords:"Forwhatcanbesadderthantoseetheforestspreadingitslengtheningshadows，likesymbolsofdefeat，overtheuntenanteddwellingsofmen;andwherewasoncethemerrychatterofhumanvoices，topassbyinthesilence……"

Onanafternoon，thirteenyearsbefore，hehadbeeninthecityofLondon，atoneofthoseemporiumswhereminingexpertsperch，beforefreshflights，likesea—gullsonsomefavouriterock。Aclerksaidtohim:"Mr。Scorrier，theyareaskingforyoudownstairs——Mr。

HemmingsoftheNewCollieryCompany。"

Scorriertookupthespeakingtube。"Isthatyou，Mr。Scorrier？I

hopeyouareverywell，sir，Iam——Hemmings——Iam——comingup。"

Intwominutesheappeared，ChristopherHemmings，secretaryoftheNewCollieryCompany，knownintheCity—behindhisback——as"Down—by—

the—starn"Hemmings。HegraspedScorrier’shand——thegesturewasdeferential，yetdistinguished。Toohandsome，toocapable，tooimportant，hisfigure，thecutofhisiron—greybeard，andhisintrusivelyfineeyes，conveyedacontinualcourteousinvitationtoinspecttheirinfallibilities。Hestood，likeaCity"Atlas，"withhislegsapart，hiscoat—tailsgatheredinhishands，awholeglobeoffinancialmattersdeftlybalancedonhisnose。"Lookatme！"heseemedtosay。"It’sheavy，buthoweasilyIcarryit。Notthemantoletitdown，Sir！"

"IhopeIseeyouwell，Mr。Scorrier，"hebegan。"Ihavecomeroundaboutourmine。Thereisaquestionofafreshfieldbeingopenedup——betweenourselves，notbeforeit’swanted。IfinditdifficulttogetmyBoardtotakeacomprehensiveview。Inshort，thequestionis:Areyoupreparedtogooutforus，andreportonit？Thefeeswillbeallright。"Hislefteyeclosed。"Thingshavebeenvery——

er——dicky;wearegoingtochangeoursuperintendent。IhavegotlittlePippin——youknowlittlePippin？"

Scorriermurmured，withafeelingofvagueresentment:"Ohyes。He’snotaminingman！"

Hemmingsreplied:"Wethinkthathewilldo。"’Doyou？’thoughtScorrier;’that’sgoodofyou！’

HehadnotaltogethershakenoffaworshiphehadfeltforPippin——

"King"Pippinhewasalwayscalled，whentheyhadbeenboysattheCamborneGrammar—school。"King"Pippin！theboywiththebrightcolour，verybrighthair，bright，subtle，elusiveeyes，broadshoulders，littlestoopintheneck，andawayofmovingitquicklylikeabird;theboywhowasalwaysatthetopofeverything，andheldhisheadasiflookingforsomethingfurthertobethetopof。

Herememberedhowoneday"King"Pippinhadsaidtohiminhissoftway，"YoungScorrie，I’lldoyoursumsforyou";andinanswertohisdubious，"Isthatallright？"hadreplied，"Ofcourse——Idon’twantyoutogetbehindthatbeastBlake，he’snotaCornishman"（thebeastBlakewasanIrishmannotyettwelve）。Heremembered，too，anoccasionwhen"King"Pippinwithtwootherboysfoughtsixloutsandgotalicking，andhowPippinsatforhalfanhourafterwards，allbloody，hisheadinhishands，rockingtoandfro，andweepingtearsofmortification;andhowthenextdayhehadsneakedoffbyhimself，and，attackingthesamegang，gotfrightfullymauledasecondtime。

Thinkingofthesethingsheansweredcurtly:"WhenshallIstart？"

"Down—by—the—starn"Hemmingsrepliedwithasortoffearfulsprightliness:"There’sagoodfellow！Iwillsendinstructions;sogladtoseeyouwell。"ConferringonScorrieralook——finetothevergeofvulgarity——hewithdrew。Scorrierremained，seated;heavywithinsignificanceandvagueoppression，asifhehaddrunkatumblerofsweetport。

Aweeklater，incompanywithPippin，hewasonboardaliner。

The"King"Pippinofhisschool—dayswasnowamanofforty—four。HeawakenedinScorriertheuncertainwonderwithwhichmenlookbackwardattheiruncomplicatedteens;andstaggeringupanddownthedecksinthelongAtlanticroll，hewouldstealglancesathiscompanion，asifheexpectedtofindoutfromthemsomethingabouthimself。Pippinhadstill"King"Pippin’sbright，finehair，anddazzlingstreaksinhisshortbeard;hehadstillabrightcolourandsuavevoice，andwhattherewereofwrinklessuggestedonlysubtletiesofhumourandironicsympathy。Fromthefirst，andapparentlywithoutnegotiation，hehadhisseatatthecaptain’stable，towhichontheseconddayScorriertoofoundhimselftranslated，andhadtosit，asheexpresseditruefully，"amongthebig—wigs。"

DuringthevoyageonlyoneincidentimpresseditselfonScorrier’smemory，andthatforadisconcertingreason。Intheforecastleweretheusualcomplementofemigrants。Oneevening，leaningacrosstherailtowatchthem，hefeltatouchonhisarm;and，lookinground，sawPippin’sfaceandbeardquiveringinthelamplight。"Poorpeople！"hesaid。TheideaflashedonScorrierthathewaslikesomefinewiresound—recordinginstrument。

’Supposeheweretosnap！’hethought。Impelledtojustifythisfancy，heblurtedout:"You’reanervouschap。Thewayyoulookatthosepoordevils！"

Pippinhustledhimalongthedeck。"Come，come，youtookmeoffmyguard，"hemurmured，withasly，gentlesmile，"that’snotfair。"

HefounditacontinualsourceofwonderthatPippin，athisage，shouldcuthimselfadriftfromtheassociationsandsecurityofLondonlifetobeginanewcareerinanewcountrywithdubiousprospectofsuccess。’Ialwaysheardhewasdoingwellallround，’

hethought;’thinkshe’llbetterhimself，perhaps。He’satrueCornishman。’

Themorningofarrivalatthemineswasgreyandcheerless;acloudofsmoke，beatendownbydrizzle，clungabovetheforest;thewoodenhousesstraggleddismallyintheunkemptsemblanceofastreet，againstabackgroundofendless，silentwoods。Anairofblankdiscouragementbroodedovereverything;cranesjuttedidlyoveremptytrucks;thelongjettyoozedblackslime;minerswithlistlessfacesstoodintherain;dogsfoughtundertheirverylegs。OnthewaytothehoteltheymetnoonebusyorsereneexceptaChineewhowaspolishingadish—cover。

Thelatesuperintendent，acowedman，regaledthematlunchwithhisforebodings;hisattitudetowardthesituationwaslikethefood，whichwasgreasyanduninspiring。Alonetogetheroncemore，thetwonewcomerseyedeachothersadly。