第2章

"Iamthewidowofaprovincialdoctor，withanincomeofjusttwohundredandthirtypoundsperannum，"sheargued。"Thesensiblethingformetodoistomakethebestofit，andtoworrymyselfaboutthesehighandmightyrelationsofmineaslittleastheyhaveeverworriedthemselvesaboutme。"

Thestrangerappearedunabletothinkofanythingworthsaying。

"Ihaveotherconnections，"rememberedSirWilliam’scousin；"thoseofmypoorhusband，towhominsteadofbeingthe’poorrelation’Icouldbethefairygod—mama。Theyaremypeople——orwouldbe，"addedSirWilliam’scousintartly，"ifIwasn’tavulgarsnob。"

Sheflushedtheinstantshehadsaidthewordsand，rising，commencedpreparationsforahurrieddeparture。

"NowitseemsIamdrivingyouaway，"sighedthestranger。

"Havingbeencalleda’vulgarsnob，’"retortedtheladywithsomeheat，"IthinkitabouttimeIwent。"

"Thewordswereyourown，"thestrangerremindedher。

"WhateverImayhavethought，"remarkedtheindignantdame，"nolady——leastofallinthepresenceofatotalstranger——wouldhavecalledherself——"Thepoordamepaused，bewildered。"Thereissomethingverycuriousthematterwithmethisevening，thatIcannotunderstand，"sheexplained，"Iseemquiteunabletoavoidinsultingmyself。"

Stillsurroundedbybewilderment，shewishedthestrangergood—night，hopingthatwhennexttheymetshewouldbemoreherself。Thestranger，hopingsoalso，openedthedoorandcloseditagainbehindher。

"Tellme，"laughedMissDevine，whobysheerforceoftalentwascontrivingtowringharmonyfromthereluctantpiano，"howdidyoumanagetodoit？Ishouldliketoknow。"

"HowdidIdowhat？"inquiredthestranger。

"Contrivetogetridsoquicklyofthosetwooldfrumps？"

"Howwellyouplay！"observedthestranger。"IknewyouhadgeniusformusicthemomentIsawyou。"

"Howcouldyoutell？"

"Itiswrittensoclearlyinyourface。"

Thegirllaughed，wellpleased。"Youseemtohavelostnotimeinstudyingmyface。"

"Itisabeautifulandinterestingface，"observedthestranger。

Sheswungroundsharplyonthestoolandtheireyesmet。

"Youcanreadfaces？"

"Yes。"

"Tellme，whatelsedoyoureadinmine？"

"Frankness，courage——"

"Ah，yes，allthevirtues。Perhaps。Wewilltakethemforgranted。"

Itwasoddhowseriousthegirlhadsuddenlybecome。"Tellmethereverseside。"

"Iseenoreverseside，"repliedthestranger。"Iseebutafairgirl，burstingintonoblewomanhood。"

"Andnothingelse？Youreadnotraceofgreed，ofvanity，ofsordidness，of——"Anangrylaughescapedherlips。"Andyouareareaderoffaces！"

"Areaderoffaces。"Thestrangersmiled。"Doyouknowwhatiswrittenuponyoursatthisverymoment？Aloveoftruththatisalmostfierce，scornoflies，scornofhypocrisy，thedesireforallthingspure，contemptofallthingsthatarecontemptible——especiallyofsuchthingsasarecontemptibleinwoman。Tellme，doInotreadaright？"

Iwonder，thoughtthegirl，isthatwhythosetwoothersbothhurriedfromtheroom？Doeseveryonefeelashamedofthelittlenessthatisinthemwhenlookedatbythoseclear，believingeyesofyours？

Theideaoccurredtoher："Papaseemedtohaveagooddealtosaytoyouduringdinner。Tellme，whatwereyoutalkingabout？"

"Themilitarylookinggentlemanuponmyleft？Wetalkedaboutyourmotherprincipally。"

"Iamsorry，"returnedthegirl，wishfulnowshehadnotaskedthequestion。"Iwashopinghemighthavechosenanothertopicforthefirstevening！"

"Hedidtryoneortwo，"admittedthestranger；"butIhavebeenabouttheworldsolittle，Iwasgladwhenhetalkedtomeabouthimself。I

feelweshallbefriends。Hespokesonicely，too，aboutMrs。

Devine。"

"Indeed，"commentedthegirl。

"Hetoldmehehadbeenmarriedfortwentyyearsandhadneverregretteditbutonce！"

Herblackeyesflasheduponhim，butmeetinghis，thesuspiciondiedfromthem。Sheturnedasidetohidehersmile。

"Soheregrettedit——once。"

"Onlyonce，"explainedthestranger，"inapassingirritablemood。Itwassofrankofhimtoadmitit。Hetoldme——Ithinkhehastakenalikingtome。Indeedhehintedasmuch。Hesaidhedidnotoftengetanopportnnityoftalkingtoamanlikemyself——hetoldmethatheandyourmother，whentheytraveltogether，arealwaysmistakenforahoneymooncouple。Someoftheexperiencesherelatedtomewerereallyquiteamusing。"Thestrangerlaughedatrecollectionofthem——"thatevenhere，inthisplace，theyaregenerallyreferredtoas’DarbyandJoan。’"

"Yes，"saidthegirl，"thatistrue。Mr。Longcordgavethemthatname，thesecondeveningafterourarrival。Itwasconsideredclever——butratherobviousIthoughtmyself。"

"Nothing——soitseemstome，"saidthestranger，"ismorebeautifulthanthelovethathasweatheredthestormsoflife。Thesweet，tenderblossomthatflowersintheheartoftheyoung——inheartssuchasyours——that，too，isbeautiful。Theloveoftheyoungfortheyoung，thatisthebeginningoflife。Buttheloveoftheoldfortheold，thatisthebeginningof——ofthingslonger。"

"Youseemtofindallthingsbeautiful，"thegirlgrumbled。

"Butarenotallthingsbeautiful？"demandedthestranger。

TheColonelhadfinishedhispaper。"Youtwoareengagedinaveryabsorbingconversation，"observedtheColonel，approachingthem。

"WewerediscussingDarbiesandJoans，"explainedhisdaughter。"Howbeautifulisthelovethathasweatheredthestormsoflife！"

"Ah！"smiledtheColonel，"thatishardlyfair。Myfriendhasbeenrepeatingtocynicalyouththeconfessionsofanamoroushusband’saffectionforhismiddle—agedandsomewhat——"TheColonelinplayfulmoodlaidhishanduponthestranger’sshoulder，anactionthatnecessitatedhislookingstraightintothestranger’seyes。TheColoneldrewhimselfupstifflyandturnedscarlet。

SomebodywascallingtheColonelacad。Notonlythat，butwasexplainingquiteclearly，sothattheColonelcouldseeitforhimself，whyhewasacad。

"Thatyouandyourwifeleadacatanddogexistenceisadisgracetobothofyou。Atleastyoumighthavethedecencytotryandhideitfromtheworld——notmakeajestofyourshametoeverypassingstranger。Youareacad，sir，acad！"

Whowasdaringtosaythesethings？Notthestranger，hislipshadnotmoved。Besides，itwasnothisvoice。IndeeditsoundedmuchmorelikethevoiceoftheColonelhimself。TheColonellookedfromthestrangertohisdaughter，fromhisdaughterbacktothestranger。

Clearlytheyhadnotheardthevoice——amerehallucination。TheColonelbreathedagain。

Yettheimpressionremainingwasnottobeshakenoff。Undoubtedlyitwasbadtastetohavejokedtothestrangeruponsuchasubject。Nogentlemanwouldhavedoneso。

Butthennogentlemanwouldhavepermittedsuchajesttobepossible。

Nogentlemanwouldbeforeverwranglingwithhiswife——certainlyneverinpublic。Howeverirritatingthewoman，agentlemanwouldhaveexercisedself—control。

Mrs。Devinehadrisen，wascomingslowlyacrosstheroom。FearlaidholdoftheColonel。Shewasgoingtoaddresssomeaggravatingremarktohim——hecouldseeitinhereye——whichwouldirritatehimintosavageretort。

Eventhisprizeidiotofastrangerwouldunderstandwhyboarding—housewitshaddubbedthem"DarbyandJoan，"wouldgraspthefactthatthegallantColonelhadthoughtitamusing，inconversationwithatableacquaintance，toholdhisownwifeuptoridicule。

"Mydear，"criedtheColonel，hurryingtospeakfirst，"doesnotthisroomstrikeyouascold？Letmefetchyouashawl。"

Itwasuseless：theColonelfeltit。Ithadbeentoolongthecustomofbothofthemtoprefacewithpolitenesstheirdeadliestinsultstoeachother。Shecameon，thinkingofasuitablereply：suitablefromherpointofview，thatis。Inanothermomentthetruthwouldbeout。

Awild，fantasticpossibilityflashedthroughtheColonel’sbrain：Iftohim，whynottoher？

"Letitia，"criedtheColonel，andthetoneofhisvoicesurprisedherintosilence，"Iwantyoutolookcloselyatourfriend。Doeshenotremindyouofsomeone？"

Mrs。Devine，sourged，lookedatthestrangerlongandhard。"Yes，"

shemurmured，turningtoherhusband，"hedoes，whoisit？"

"Icannotfixit，"repliedtheColonel；"Ithoughtthatmaybeyouwouldremember。"

"Itwillcometome，"musedMrs。Devine。"Itissomeone——yearsago，whenIwasagirl——inDevonshire。Thankyou，ifitisn’ttroublingyou，Harry。Ileftitinthedining—room。"

Itwas，asMr。AugustusLongcordexplainedtohispartnerIsidore，thecolossalfoolishnessofthestrangerthatwasthecauseofallthetrouble。"Givemeaman，whocantakecareofhimself——orthinkshecan，"declaredAugustusLongcord，"andIampreparedtogiveagoodaccountofmyself。Butwhenahelplessbabyrefuseseventolookatwhatyoucallyourfigures，tellsyouthatyourmerewordissufficientforhim，andhandsyouoverhischeque—booktofillupforyourself——well，itisn’tplayingthegame。"

"Auguthuth，"wasthecurtcommentofhispartner，"you’reafool。"

"Allright，myboy，youtry，"suggestedAugustus。

"JuthtwhatImeantodo，"assertedhispartner。

"Well，"demandedAugustusoneeveninglater，meetingIsidoreascendingthestairsafteralongtalkwiththestrangerinthedining—roomwiththedoorshut。

"Oh，don’tarthme，"retortedIsidore，"thillyath，thathwhatheith。"

"Whatdidhesay？"

"Whatdidhethay！talkedabouttheJewth：whatagrandrathetheywere——howpeoplemithjudgedthem：allthatthortofrot。

"ThaidthomeofthemoththonorablemenhehadevermethadbeenJewth。ThoughtIwathoneof’em！"

"Well，didyougetanythingoutofhim？"

"Getanythingoutofhim。Ofcourthenot。Couldn’tverywellthellthewholerathe，athitwere，foracoupleofhundredpoundth，afterthat。Didn’ttheemworthit。"

ThereweremanythingsForty—eightBloomsburySquarecamegraduallytotheconclusionwerenotworththedoing：——Snatchingatthegravy；

pouncingoutofone’sturnuponthevegetablesandhelpingoneselftomorethanone’sfairshare；manoeuveringfortheeasy—chair；sittingontheeveningpaperwhilepretendingnottohaveseenit——allsuch—liketiresomebitsofbusiness。Forthelittleonemadeoutofit，reallyitwasnotworththebother。Grumblingeverlastinglyatone’sfood；grumblingeverlastinglyatmostthings；abusingPennycherrybehindherback；abusing，forachange，one’sfellow—boarders；squabblingwithone’sfellow—boardersaboutnothinginparticular；sneeringatone’sfellow—boarders；talkingscandalofone’sfellow—boarders；makingsenselessjokesaboutone’sfellow—boarders；talkingbigaboutoneself，nobodybelievingone——allsuch—likevulgarities。Otherboarding—housesmightindulgeinthem：

Forty—eightBloomsburySquarehaditsdignitytoconsider。

Thetruthis，Forty—eightBloomsburySquarewascomingtoaverygoodopinionofitself：forthewhichnotBloomsburySquaresomuchasthestrangermustbeblamed。ThestrangerhadarrivedatForty—eightBloomsburySquarewiththepreconceivedidea——whereobtainedfromHeavenknows——thatitsseeminglycommonplace，mean—minded，coarse—fibredoccupantswereinrealityladiesandgentlemenofthefirstwater；andtimeandobservationhadapparentlyonlystrengthenedthisabsurdidea。Thenaturalresultwas，Forty—eightBloomsburySquarewascomingroundtothestranger’sopinionofitself。

Mrs。Pennycherry，thestrangerwouldpersistinregardingasaladybornandbred，compelledbycircumstancesoverwhichshehadnocontroltofillanarduousbuthonorablepositionofmiddle—classsociety——asortoffoster—mother，towhomwereduethethanksandgratitudeofherpromiscuousfamily；andthisviewofherselfMrs。

Pennycherrynowclungtowithobstinateconviction。Thereweredisadvantagesattaching，buttheseMrs。Pennycherryappearedpreparedtosuffercheerfully。Aladybornandbredcannotchargeotherladiesandgentlemenforcoalsandcandlestheyhaveneverburnt；afoster—mothercannotpalmoffuponherchildrenNewZealandmuttonforSouthdown。Amerelodging—house—keepercanplaythesetricks，andpockettheprofits。Butaladyfeelsshecannot：Mrs。Pennycherryfeltshenolongercould。

TothestrangerMissKitewasawittyanddelightfulconversationalistofmostattractivepersonality。MissKitehadonefailing：itwaslackofvanity。Shewasunawareofherowndelicateandrefinedbeauty。IfMissKitecouldonlyseeherselfwithhis，thestranger’seyes，themodestythatrenderedherdistrustfulofhernaturalcharmswouldfallfromher。ThestrangerwassosureofitMissKitedeterminedtoputittothetest。Oneevening，anhourbeforedinner，thereenteredthedrawing—room，whenthestrangeronlywasthereandbeforethegaswaslighted，apleasant，good—lookinglady，somewhatpale，withneatly—arrangedbrownhair，whodemandedofthestrangerifheknewher。Allherbodywastrembling，andhervoiceseemedinclinedtorunawayfromherandbecomeasob。Butwhenthestranger，lookingstraightintohereyes，toldherthatfromthelikenesshethoughtshemustbeMissKite’syoungersister，butmuchprettier，itbecamealaughinstead：andthateveningthegolden—hairedMissKitedisappearednevertoshowherhigh—colouredfaceagain；andwhatperhaps，morethanallelse，mighthaveimpressedsomeformerhabitueofForty—eightBloomsburySquarewithawe，itwasthatnooneinthehousemadeevenapassinginquiryconcerningher。

SirWilliam’scousinthestrangerthoughtanacquisitiontoanyboarding—house。Aladyofhigh—classfamily！Therewasnothingoutwardorvisibleperhapstotellyouthatshewasofhigh—classfamily。Sheherself，naturally，wouldnotmentionthefact，yetsomehowyoufeltit。Unconsciouslyshesetahigh—classtone，diffusedanatmosphereofgentlemanners。Notthatthestrangerhadsaidthisinsomanywords；SirWilliam’scousingatheredthathethoughtit，andfeltherselfinagreementwithhim。

ForMr。Longcordandhispartner，asrepresentativesofthebesttypeofbusinessmen，thestrangerhadagreatrespect。Withwhatunfortunateresultstothemselveshasbeennoted。ThecuriousthingisthattheFirmappearedcontentwiththepricetheyhadpaidforthestranger’sgoodopinion——hadeven，itwasrumoured，acquiredatasteforhonestmen’srespect——thatinthelongrunwaslikelytocostthemdear。Butweallhaveourpetextravagance。

TheColonelandMrs。Devinebothsufferedagooddealatfirstfromthenecessityimposeduponthemoflearning，somewhatlateinlife，newtricks。Intheprivacyoftheirownapartmenttheycondoledwithoneanother。

"Tomfoolnonsense，"grumbledtheColonel，"youandIstartingbillingandcooingatourage！"

"WhatIobjectto，"saidMrs。Devine，"isthefeelingthatsomehowI

ambeingmadetodoit。"

"Theideathatamanandhiswifecannothavetheirlittlejoketogetherforfearofwhatsomeimpertinentjackanapesmaythinkofthem！it’sdamnridiculous，"theColonelexploded。

"Evenwhenheisn’tthere，"saidMrs。Devine，"Iseemtoseehimlookingatmewiththosevexingeyesofhis。Reallythemanquitehauntsme。"

"Ihavemethimsomewhere，"musedtheColonel，"I’llswearI’vemethimsomewhere。Iwishtogoodnesshewouldgo。"

AhundredthingsadaytheColonelwantedtosaytoMrs。Devine，ahundredthingsadayMrs。DevinewouldhavelikedtoobservetotheColonel。Butbythetimetheopportunityoccurred——whennobodyelsewasbytohear——allinterestinsayingthemwasgone。

"Womenwillbewomen，"wasthesentimentwithwhichtheColonelconsoledhimself。"Amanmustbearwiththem——mustneverforgetthatheisagentleman。"

"Oh，well，Isupposethey’reallalike，"laughedMrs。Devinetoherself，havingarrivedatthatstageofdespairwhenoneseeksrefugeincheerfulness。"What’stheuseofputtingoneselfout——itdoesnogood，andonlyupsetsone。"Thereisacertainsatisfactioninfeelingyouarebearingwithheroicresignationtheirritatingfolliesofothers。ColonelandMrs。Devinecametoenjoytheluxuryofmuchself—approbation。

Butthepersonseriouslyannoyedbythestranger’sbigotedbeliefintheinnategoodnessofeveryonehecameacrosswasthelanguid，handsomeMissDevine。ThestrangerwouldhaveitthatMissDevinewasanoble—souled，high—mindedyoungwoman，somethingmidwaybetweenaFloraMacdonaldandaJoanofArc。MissDevine，onthecontrary，knewherselftobeasleek，luxury—lovinganimal，quitewillingtosellherselftothebidderwhocouldofferherthefinestclothes，therichestfoods，themostsumptuoussurroundings。Suchabidderwastohandinthepersonofaretiredbookmaker，asomewhatgreasyoldgentleman，butexceedinglyrichandundoubtedlyfondofher。

MissDevine，havingmadeuphermindthatthethinghadgottobedone，wasanxiousthatitshouldbedonequickly。Andhereitwasthatthestranger’sridiculousopinionofhernotonlyirritatedbutinconveniencedher。Undertheveryeyesofaperson——howeverfoolish——convincedthatyouarepossessedofallthehighestattributesofyoursex，itisdifficulttobehaveasthoughactuatedbyonlythebasestmotives。AdozentimeshadMissDevinedeterminedtoendthematterbyformalacceptanceofherelderlyadmirer’slargeandflabbyhand，andadozentimes——thevisioninterveningofthestranger’sgrave，believingeyes——hadMissDevinerefuseddecidedanswer。Thestrangerwouldonedaydepart。Indeed，hehadtoldherhimself，hewasbutapassingtraveller。Whenhewasgoneitwouldbeeasier。Soshethoughtatthetime。

Oneafternoonthestrangerenteredtheroomwhereshewasstandingbythewindow，lookingoutuponthebarebranchesofthetreesinBloomsburySquare。Sherememberedafterwards，itwasjustsuchanotherfoggyafternoonastheafternoonofthestranger’sarrivalthreemonthsbefore。Nooneelsewasintheroom。Thestrangerclosedthedoor，andcametowardsherwiththatcurious，quick—leapingstepofhis。Hislongcoatwastightlybuttoned，andinhishandshecarriedhisoldfelthatandthemassiveknottedstickthatwasalmostastaff。

"Ihavecometosaygood—bye，"explainedthestranger。"Iamgoing。"

"Ishallnotseeyouagain？"askedthegirl。

"Icannotsay，"repliedthestranger。"Butyouwillthinkofme？"

"Yes，"sheansweredwithasmile，"Icanpromisethat。"

"AndIshallalwaysrememberyou，"promisedthestranger，"andIwishyoueveryjoy——thejoyoflove，thejoyofahappymarriage。"

Thegirlwinced。"Loveandmarriagearenotalwaysthesamething，"

shesaid。

"Notalways，"agreedthestranger，"butinyourcasetheywillbeone。"

Shelookedathim。

"DoyouthinkIhavenotnoticed？"smiledthestranger，"agallant，handsomelad，andclever。Youlovehimandhelovesyou。Icouldnothavegoneawaywithoutknowingitwaswellwithyou。"

Hergazewanderedtowardsthefadinglight。

"Ah，yes，Ilovehim，"sheansweredpetulantly。"Youreyescanseeclearlyenough，whentheywantto。Butonedoesnotliveonlove，inourworld。IwilltellyouthemanIamgoingtomarryifyoucaretoknow。"Shewouldnotmeethiseyes。Shekepthergazestillfixeduponthedingytrees，themistbeyond，andspokerapidlyandvehemently："Themanwhocangivemeallmysoul’sdesire——moneyandthethingsthatmoneycanbuy。Youthinkmeawoman，I’monlyapig。

Heismoist，andbreatheslikeaporpoise；withcunninginplaceofabrain，andtherestofhimmerestomach。Butheisgoodenoughforme。"

Shehopedthiswouldshockthestrangerandthatnow，perhaps，hewouldgo。Itirritatedhertohearhimonlylaugh。

"No，"hesaid，"youwillnotmarryhim。"

"Whowillstopme？"shecriedangrily。

"YourBetterSelf。"

Hisvoicehadastrangeringofauthority，compellinghertoturnandlookuponhisface。Yes，itwastrue，thefancythatfromtheveryfirsthadhauntedher。Shehadmethim，talkedtohim——insilentcountryroads，incrowdedcitystreets，wherewasit？Andalwaysintalkingwithhimherspirithadbeenliftedup：shehadbeen——whathehadalwaysthoughther。

"Therearethose，"continuedthestranger（andforthefirsttimeshesawthathewasofanoblepresence，thathisgentle，child—likeeyescouldalsocommand），"whoseBetterSelfliesslainbytheirownhandandtroublesthemnomore。Butyours，mychild，youhaveletgrowtoostrong；itwilleverbeyourmaster。Youmustobey。Fleefromitanditwillfollowyou；youcannotescapeit。Insultitanditwillchastiseyouwithburningshame，withstingingself—reproachfromdaytoday。"Thesternnessfadedfromthebeautifulface，thetendernesscreptback。Helaidhishandupontheyounggirl’sshoulder。"Youwillmarryyourlover，"hesmiled。"Withhimyouwillwalkthewayofsunlightandofshadow。"

Andthegirl，lookingupintothestrong，calmface，knewthatitwouldbeso，thatthepowerofresistingherBetterSelfhadpassedawayfromherforever。

"Now，"saidthestranger，"cometothedoorwithme。Leave—takingsarebutwastedsadness。Letmepassoutquietly。Closethedoorsoftlybehindme。"

Shethoughtthatperhapshewouldturnhisfaceagain，butshesawnomoreofhimthantheoddroundnessofhisbackunderthetightlybuttonedcoat，beforehefadedintothegatheringfog。

Thensoftlysheclosedthedoor。