第1章

ByJEROMEK。JEROME

TheneighbourhoodofBloomsburySquaretowardsfouro’clockofaNovemberafternoonisnotsocrowdedastosecuretothestranger，ofappearanceanythingoutofthecommon，immunityfromobservation。

Tibb’sboy，screamingatthetopofhisvoicethat_she_washishoney，stoppedsuddenly，steppedbackwardsontothetoesofavolubleyoungladywheelingaperambulator，andremaineddeaf，apparently，tothesomewhatpersonalremarksofthevolubleyounglady。Notuntilhehadreachedthenextcorner——andthenmoreasasoliloquythanasinformationtothestreet——didTibb’sboyrecoversufficientinterestinhisownaffairstoremarkthat_he_washerbee。Thevolubleyoungladyherself，followingsomehalf—a—dozenyardsbehind，forgotherwrongsincontemplationofthestranger’sback。Therewasthisthatwaspeculiaraboutthestranger’sback：thatinsteadofbeingflatitpresentedadecidedcurve。"Itain’ta’ump，anditdon’tlooklikekervitcherofthespine，"observedthevolubleyoungladytoherself。

"BlimyifIdon’tbelieve’e’staking’ome’iswashinguphisback。"

Theconstableatthecorner，tryingtoseembusydoingnothing，noticedthestranger’sapproachwithgatheringinterest。"That’sanoddsortofawalkofyours，youngman，"thoughttheconstable。"Youtakecareyoudon’tfalldownandtumbleoveryourself。"

"Thoughthewasayoungman，"murmuredtheconstable，thestrangerhavingpassedhim。"Hehadayoungfacerightenough。"

Thedaylightwasfading。Thestranger，findingitimpossibletoreadthenameofthestreetuponthecornerhouse，turnedback。

"Why，’tisayoungman，"theconstabletoldhimself；"amereboy。"

"Ibegyourpardon，"saidthestranger；"butwouldyoumindtellingmemywaytoBloomsburySquare。"

"ThisisBloomsburySquare，"explainedtheconstable；"leastwaysroundthecorneris。Whatnumbermightyoubewanting？"

Thestrangertookfromtheticketpocketofhistightlybuttonedovercoatapieceofpaper，unfoldeditandreaditout："Mrs。

Pennycherry。NumberForty—eight。"

"Roundtotheleft，"instructedhimtheconstable；"fourthhouse。

Beenrecommendedthere？"

"By——byafriend，"repliedthestranger。"Thankyouverymuch。"

"Ah，"mutteredtheconstabletohimself；"guessyouwon’tbecallinghimthatbytheendoftheweek，young——"

"Funny，"addedtheconstable，gazingaftertheretreatingfigureofthestranger。"Seenplentyoftheothersexaslookedyoungbehindandoldinfront。Thiscovelooksyounginfrontandoldbehind。

Guesshe’lllookoldallroundifhestopslongatmotherPennycherry’s：stingyoldcat。"

ConstableswhosebeatincludedBloomsburySquarehadtheirreasonsfornotlikingMrs。Pennycherry。Indeeditmighthavebeendifficulttodiscoveranyhumanbeingwithreasonsforlikingthatsharp—featuredlady。Maybethekeepingofsecond—rateboardinghousesintheneighbourhoodofBloomsburydoesnottendtodevelopthevirtuesofgenerosityandamiability。

Meanwhilethestranger，proceedingnponhisway，hadrungthebellofNumberForty—eight。Mrs。Pennycherry，peepingfromtheareaandcatchingaglimpse，abovetherailings，ofahandsomeifsomewhateffeminatemasculineface，hastenedtoreadjustherwidow’scapbeforethelooking—glasswhiledirectingMaryJanetoshowthestranger，shouldheproveaproblematicalboarder，intothedining—room，andtolightthegas。

"Anddon’tstopgossiping，anddon’tyoutakeituponyourselftoanswerquestions。SayI’llbeupinaminute，"wereMrs。

Pennycherry’sfurtherinstructions，"andmindyouhideyourhandsasmuchasyoucan。"

***

"Whatareyougrinningat？"demandedMrs。Pennycherry，acoupleofminuteslater，ofthedingyMaryJane。

"Wasn’tgrinning，"explainedthemeekMaryJane，"wasonlysmilingtomyself。"

"Whatat？"

"Dunno，"admittedMaryJane。Butstillshewentonsmiling。

"What’shelikethen？"demandedMrs。Pennycherry。

"’Eain’ttheusualsort，"wasMaryJane’sopinion。

"ThankGodforthat，"ejaculatedMrs。Pennycherrypiously。

"Says’e’sbeenrecommended，byafriend。"

"Bywhom？"

"Byafriend。’Edidn’tsaynoname。"Mrs。Pennycherrypondered。

"He’snotthefunnysort，ishe？"

Notthatsortatall。MaryJanewassureofit。

Mrs。Pennycherryascendedthestairsstillpondering。Assheenteredtheroomthestrangerroseandbowed。Nothingcouldhavebeensimplerthanthestranger’sbow，yettherecamewithittoMrs。Pennycherryarushofoldsensationslongforgotten。ForonebriefmomentMrs。

Pennycherrysawherselfanamiablewell—bredlady，widowofasolicitor：avisitorhadcalledtoseeher。Itwasbutamomentaryfancy。ThenextinstantRealityreasserteditself。Mrs。Pennycherry，alodging—housekeeper，existingprecariouslyuponadailyroundofpettymeannesses，waspreparedforcontestwithapossiblenewboarder，whofortunatelylookedaninexperiencedyounggentleman。

"Someonehasrecommendedmetoyou，"beganMrs。Pennycherry；"mayI

askwho？"

Butthestrangerwavedthequestionasideasimmaterial。

"Youmightnotremember——him，"hesmiled。"HethoughtthatIshoulddowelltopassthefewmonthsIamgiven——thatIhavetobeinLondon，here。Youcantakemein？"

Mrs。Pennycherrythoughtthatshewouldbeabletotakethestrangerin。

"Aroomtosleepin，"explainedthestranger，"——anyroomwilldo——withfoodanddrinksufficientforaman，isallthatIrequire。"

"Forbreakfast，"beganMrs。Pennycherry，"Ialwaysgive——"

"Whatisrightandproper，Iamconvinced，"interruptedthestranger。

"Praydonottroubletogointodetail，Mrs。Pennycherry。WithwhateveritisIshallbecontent。"

Mrs。Pennycherry，puzzled，shotaquickglanceatthestranger，buthisface，thoughthegentleeyesweresmiling，wasfrankandserious。

"Atalleventsyouwillseetheroom，"suggestedMrs。Pennycherry，"beforewediscussterms。"

"Certainly，"agreedthestranger。"Iamalittletiredandshallbegladtorestthere。"

Mrs。Pennycherryledthewayupward；onthelandingofthethirdfloor，pausedamomentundecided，thenopenedthedoorofthebackbedroom。

"Itisverycomfortable，"commentedthestranger。

"Forthisroom，"statedMrs。Pennycherry，"togetherwithfullboard，consistingof——"

"Ofeverythingneedful。Itgoeswithoutsaying，"againinterruptedthestrangerwithhisquietgravesmile。

"Ihavegenerallyasked，"continuedMrs。Pennycherry，"fourpoundsaweek。Toyou——"Mrs。Pennycherry’svoice，unknowntoher，tooktoitselfthenoteofaggressivegenerosity——"seeingyouhavebeenrecommendedhere，saythreepoundsten。"

"Dearlady，"saidthestranger，"thatiskindofyou。Asyouhavedivined，Iamnotarichman。IfitbenotimposinguponyouIacceptyourreductionwithgratitude。"

AgainMrs。Pennycherry，familiarwiththesatiricalmethod，shotasuspiciousglanceuponthestranger，butnotalinewasthere，uponthatsmoothfairface，towhichasneercouldforamomenthaveclung。

Clearlyhewasassimpleashelooked。

"Gas，ofcourse，extra。"

"Ofcourse，"agreedtheStranger。

"Coals——"

"Weshallnotquarrel，"forathirdtimethestrangerinterrupted。

"Youhavebeenveryconsideratetomeasitis。Ifeel，Mrs。

Pennycherry，Icanleavemyselfentirelyinyourhands。"

Thestrangerappearedanxioustobealone。Mrs。Pennycherry，havingputamatchtothestranger’sfire，turnedtodepart。AndatthispointitwasthatMrs。Pennycherry，theholderhithertoofanunbrokenrecordforsanity，behavedinamannersheherself，fiveminutesearlierinhercareer，wouldhavedeemedimpossible——thatnolivingsoulwhohadeverknownherwouldhavebelieved，evenhadMrs。

Pennycherrygonedownuponherkneesandswornittothem。

"DidIsaythreepoundten？"demandedMrs。Pennycherryofthestranger，herhanduponthedoor。Shespokecrossly。Shewasfeelingcross，withthestranger，withherself——particularlywithherself。

"Youwerekindenoughtoreduceittothatamount，"repliedthestranger；"butifuponreflectionyoufindyourselfunable——"

"Iwasmakingamistake，"saidMrs。Pennycherry，"itshouldhavebeentwopoundten。"

"Icannot——Iwillnotacceptsuchsacrifice，"exclaimedthestranger；

"thethreepoundtenIcanwellafford。"

"Twopoundtenaremyterms，"snappedMrs。Pennycherry。"Ifyouarebentonpayingmore，youcangoelsewhere。You’llfindplentytoobligeyou。"

Hervehemencemusthaveimpressedthestranger。"Wewillnotcontendfurther，"hesmiled。"Iwasmerelyafraidthatinthegoodnessofyourheart——"

"Oh，itisn’tasgoodasallthat，"growledMrs。Pennycherry。

"Iamnotsosure，"returnedthestranger。"Iamsomewhatsuspiciousofyou。Butwilfulwomanmust，Isuppose，haveherway。"

Thestrangerheldouthishand，andtoMrs。Pennycherry，atthatmoment，itseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworldtotakeitasifithadbeenthehandofanoldfriendandtoendtheinterviewwithapleasantlaugh——thoughlaughingwasanexercisenotoftenindulgedinbyMrs。Pennycherry。

MaryJanewasstandingbythewindow，herhandsfoldedinfrontofher，whenMrs。Pennycherryre—enteredthekitchen。BystandingclosetothewindowonecaughtaglimpseofthetreesinBloomsburySquareandthroughtheirbarebranchesoftheskybeyond。

"There’snothingmuchtodoforthenexthalfhour，tillCookcomesback。I’llseetothedoorifyou’dlikearunout？"suggestedMrs。

Pennycherry。

"Itwouldbenice，"agreedthegirlsosoonasshehadrecoveredpowerofspeech；"it’sjustthetimeofdayIlike。"

"Don’tbelongerthanthehalfhour，"addedMrs。Pennycherry。

Forty—eightBloomsburySquare，assembledafterdinnerinthedrawing—room，discussedthestrangerwiththatfreedomandfranknesscharacteristicofForty—eightBloomsburySquare，towardstheabsent。

"NotwhatIcallasmartyoungman，"wastheopinionofAugustusLongcord，whowassomethingintheCity。

"Thpeakingformythelf，"commentedhispartnerIsidore，"hav’n’thanyutheforthethmartyoungman。Toomanyofhim，athitith。"

"Mustbeprettysmartifhe’sonetoomanyforyou，"laughedhispartner。

TherewasthistobesaidforthereparteeofForty—eightBloomsburySquare：itwassimpleofconstructionandeasyofcomprehension。

"Wellitmademefeelgoodjustlookingathim，"declaredMissKite，thehighlycoloured。"Itwashisclothes，Isuppose——mademethinkofNoahandtheark——allthatsortofthing。"

"Itwouldbeclothesthatwouldmakeyouthink——ifanything，"drawledthelanguidMissDevine。Shewasatall，handsomegirl，engagedatthemomentinfutileeffortstoreclinewitheleganceandcomfortcombineduponahorsehairsofa。MissKite，byreasonofhavingsecuredtheonlyeasy—chair，wasunpopularthatevening；sothatMissDevine’sremarkreceivedfromtherestofthecompanymoreapprobationthanperhapsitmerited。

"Isthatintendedtobeclever，dear，oronlyrude？"MissKiterequestedtobeinformed。

"Both，"claimedMissDevine。

"Myself？Imustconfess，"shoutedthetallyounglady’sfather，commonlycalledtheColonel，"Ifoundhimafool。"

"Inoticedyouseemedtobegettingonverywelltogether，"purredhiswife，aplump，smilinglittlelady。

"Possiblywewere，"retortedtheColonel。"Fatehasaccustomedmetothesocietyoffools。"

"Isn’titapitytostartquarrellingimmediatelyafterdinner，youtwo，"suggestedtheirthoughtfuldaughterfromthesofa，"you’llhavenothinglefttoamuseyoufortherestoftheevening。"

"Hedidn’tstrikemeasaconversationalist，"saidtheladywhowascousintoabaronet；"buthedidpassthevegetablesbeforehehelpedhimself。Alittlethinglikethatshowsbreeding。"

"Orthathedidn’tknowyouandthoughtmaybeyou’dleavehimhalfaspoonful，"laughedAugustusthewit。

"WhatIcan’tmakeoutabouthim——"shoutedtheColonel。

Thestrangerenteredtheroom。

TheColonel，securingtheeveningpaper，retiredintoacorner。ThehighlycolouredKite，reachingdownfromthemantelpieceapaperfan，helditcoylybeforeherface。MissDevinesatuprightonthehorse—hairsofa，andrearrangedherskirts。

"Knowanything？"demandedAugustusofthestranger，breakingthesomewhatremarkablesilence。

Thestrangerevidentlydidnotunderstand。ItwasnecessaryforAugustus，thewitty，toadvancefurtherintothatoddsilence。

"What’sgoingtopullofftheLincolnhandicap？Tellme，andI’llgooutstraightandputmyshirtuponit。"

"Ithinkyouwouldactunwisely，"smiledthestranger；"Iamnotanauthorityuponthesubject。"

"Not！WhytheytoldmeyouwereCaptainSpyofthe_SportingLife_——indisguise。"

Itwouldhavebeendifficultforajoketofallmoreflat。Nobodylaughed，thoughwhyMr。AugustusLongcordcouldnotunderstand，andmaybenoneofhisaudiencecouldhavetoldhim，foratForty—eightBloomsburySquareMr。AugustusLongcordpassedasahumorist。Thestrangerhimselfappearedunawarethathewasbeingmadefunof。

"Youhavebeenmisinformed，"assuredhimthestranger。

"Ibegyourpardon，"saidMr。AugustusLongcord。

"Itisnothing，"repliedthestrangerinhissweetlowvoice，andpassedon。

"Wellwhataboutthistheatre，"demandedMr。Longcordofhisfriendandpartner；"doyouwanttogoordon’tyou？"Mr。Longcordwasfeelingirritable。

"Goththeticketh——mayathwell，"thoughtIsidore。

"Damnstupidpiece，I’mtold。"

"Mothtofthemthupid，moreorleth。Pitytowathtetheticketh，"

arguedIsidore，andthepairwentout。

"AreyoustayinglonginLondon？"askedMissKite，raisingherpractisedeyestowardsthestranger。

"Notlong，"answeredthestranger。"AtleastIdonotknow。Itdepends。"

Anunusualquiethadinvadedthedrawing—roomofForty—eightBloomsburySquare，generallynoisywithstridentvoicesaboutthishour。TheColonelremainedengrossedinhispaper。Mrs。Devinesatwithherplumpwhitehandsfoldedonherlap，whetherasleepornotitwasimpossibletosay。Theladywhowascousintoabaronethadshiftedherchairbeneaththegasolier，hereyesbentonhereverlastingcrochetwork。ThelanguidMissDevinehadcrossedtothepiano，whereshesatfingeringsoftlythetunelesskeys，herbacktothecoldbarely—furnishedroom。

"Sitdown！"commandedsaucilyMissKite，indicatingwithherfanthevacantseatbesideher。"Tellmeaboutyourself。Youinterestme。"

MissKiteadoptedaprettyauthoritativeairtowardsallyouthful—lookingmembersoftheoppositesex。Itharmonisedwiththepeachcomplexionandthegoldenhair，andfittedheraboutaswell。

"Iamgladofthat，"answeredthestranger，takingthechairsuggested。"Isowishtointerestyou。"

"You’reaveryboldboy。"MissKiteloweredherfan，forthepurposeofglancingarchlyovertheedgeofit，andforthefirsttimeencounteredtheeyesofthestrangerlookingintohers。AndthenitwasthatMissKiteexperiencedpreciselythesamecurioussensationthatanhourorsoagohadtroubledMrs。Pennycherrywhenthestrangerhadfirstbowedtoher。ItseemedtoMissKitethatshewasnolongertheMissKitethat，hadsherisenandlookedintoit，thefly—blownmirroroverthemarblemantelpiecewould，sheknew，havepresentedtoherview；butquiteanotherMissKite——acheerful，bright—eyedladyvergingonmiddleage，yetstillgood—lookinginspiteofherfadedcomplexionandsomewhatthinbrownlocks。MissKitefeltapangofjealousyshootthroughher；thismiddle—agedMissKiteseemed，onthewhole，amoreattractivelady。Therewasawholesomeness，abroadmindednessaboutherthatinstinctivelydrewonetowardsher。

Nothampered，asMissKiteherselfwas，bythenecessityofappearingtobesomewherebetweeneighteenandtwenty—two，thisotherMissKitecouldtalksensibly，evenbrilliantly：onefeltit。Athoroughly"nice"womanthisotherMissKite；therealMissKite，thoughenvious，wasboundtoadmitit。MissKitewishedtogoodnessshehadneverseenthewoman。TheglimpseofherhadrenderedMissKitedissatisfiedwithherself。

"Iamnotaboy，"explainedthestranger；"andIhadnointentionofbeingbold。"

"Iknow，"repliedMissKite。"Itwasasillyremark。Whateverinducedmetomakeit，Ican’tthink。Gettingfoolishinmyoldage，Isuppose。"

Thestrangerlaughed。"Surelyyouarenotold。"

"I’mthirty—nine，"snappedoutMissKite。"Youdon’tcallityoung？"

"Ithinkitabeautifulage，"insistedthestranger；"youngenoughnottohavelostthejoyofyouth，oldenoughtohavelearntsympathy。"

"Oh，Idaresay，"returnedMissKite，"anyageyou’dthinkbeautiful。

I’mgoingtobed。"MissKiterose。Thepaperfanhadsomehowgotitselfbroken。Shethrewthefragmentsintothefire。

"Itisearlyyet，"pleadedthestranger，"Iwaslookingforwardtoatalkwithyou。"

"Well，you’llbeabletolookforwardtoit，"retortedMissKite。

"Good—night。"

Thetruthwas，MissKitewasimpatienttohavealookatherselfintheglass，inherownroomwiththedoorshut。ThevisionofthatotherMissKite——theclean—lookingladyofthepalefaceandthebrownhairhadbeensovivid，MissKitewonderedwhethertemporaryforgetfulnessmightnothavefallenuponherwhiledressingfordinnerthatevening。

Thestranger，lefttohisowndevices，strolledtowardsthelootable，seekingsomethingtoread。

"YouseemtohavefrightenedawayMissKite，"remarkedtheladywhowascousintoabaronet。

"Itseemsso，"admittedthestranger。

"Mycousin，SirWilliamBosster，"observedthecrochetinglady，"whomarriedoldLordEgham’sniece——younevermettheEghams？"

"Hitherto，"repliedthestranger，"Ihavenothadthatpleasure。"

"Acharmingfamily。Cannotunderstand——mycousinSirWilliam，Imean，cannotunderstandmyremaininghere。’MydearEmily’——hesaysthesamethingeverytimeheseesme：’MydearEmily，howcanyouexistamongthesortofpeopleonemeetswithinaboarding—house。’Buttheyamuseme。"

Asenseofhumour，agreedthestranger，wasalwaysofadvantage。

"Ourfamilyonmymother’sside，"continuedSirWilliam’scousininherplacidmonotone，"wasconnectedwiththeTatton—Joneses，whowhenKingGeorgetheFourth——"SirWilliam’scousin，needinganotherreelofcotton，glancedup，andmetthestranger’sgaze。

"I’msureIdon’tknowwhyI’mtellingyouallthis，"saidSirWilliam’scousininanirritabletone。"Itcan’tpossiblyinterestyou。"

"Everythingconnectedwithyouinterestsme，"gravelythestrangerassuredher。

"Itisverykindofyoutosayso，"sighedSirWilliam’scousin，butwithoutconviction；"IamafraidsometimesIborepeople。"

Thepolitestrangerrefrainedfromcontradiction。

"Yousee，"continuedthepoorlady，"Ireallyamofgoodfamily。"

"Dearlady，"saidthestranger，"yourgentleface，yourgentlevoice，yourgentlebearing，allproclaimit。"

Shelookedwithoutflinchingintothestranger’seyes，andgraduallyasmilebanishedthereigningdulnessofherfeatures。

"Howfoolishofme。"Shespokerathertoherselfthantothestranger。"Why，ofcourse，people——peoplewhoseopinionisworthtroublingabout——judgeofyoubywhatyouare，notbywhatyougoaboutsayingyouare。"

Thestrangerremainedsilent。