第1章

Idedicateallthatisgoodinthisworktomymother.——C.R.，NOTE

THISstorywaswrittenthreeyearsago，andoneortwotopicsinitarenottreatedexactlyastheywouldbeifwrittenbythesamehandto—day.

Butiftheauthorhadretouchedthosepageswithhiscolorsof1853，hewould（hethinks）havedestroyedtheonlymerittheyhave，viz.，thatofcontaininggenuinecontemporaneousverdictsuponacantthatwasflourishinglikeapeony，andatruththatwasstrugglingforbarelife，intheyearoftruth1850.

Hepreferstodealfairlywiththepublic，and，withthisexplanationandapology，tolayatitsfeetafaultybutgenuinepieceofwork.

CHAPTERI.

VISCOUNTIPSDEN，agedtwenty—five，incomeeighteenthousandpoundsperyear，constitutionequine，wasunhappy！Thismightsurprisesomepeople;

buttherearecertainblessings，thenon—possessionofwhichmakesmorepeoplediscontentedthantheirpossessionrendershappy.

Foremostamongtheseare"WealthandRank."WereItoadd"Beauty"tothelist，suchmenandwomenasgobyfact，notbyconjecture，wouldhardlycontradictme.

Thefortunatemanishewho，bornpoor，ornobody，worksgraduallyuptowealthandconsideration，and，havinggotthem，diesbeforehefindstheywerenotworthsomuchtrouble.

LordIpsdenstartedwithnothingtowin;andnaturallylivedforamusement.Nownothingissosuretoceasetopleaseaspleasure——toamuse，asamusement.Unfortunatelyforhimselfhecouldnotatthisperiodofhislifewarmtopolitics;so，havingexhaustedhisLondonclique，herolledthroughthecitiesofEuropeinhiscarriage，andcruiseditsshoresinhisyacht.Buthewasnothappy！

Hewasamanoftaste，andsippedtheartsandotherknowledge，ashesaunteredEuroperound.

Buthewasnothappy.

"WhatshallIdo？"said_l’ennuye’._

"Distinguishyourself，"saidone.

"How？"

Noimmediateanswer.

"Takea_primadonna_over，"saidanother.

Well，themantooka_primadonna_over，whichscoldeditsmaidfromtheAlpstoDoverinthe_linguaToscana_withoutthe_boccaRomana，_andsanginLondonwithoutapplause;becausewhatgoesdownatLaScaladoesnotgenerallygodownatIlTeatrodellaRegina，Haymarket.

SothenmylordstrolledintoRussia;therehedroveapairofhorses，oneofwhomputhisheaddownanddidthework;theotherprancedandcapricoledalongside，allunconsciousofthetrace.Heseemedhappierthanhisworkingbrother;butthebipedwhosecareercorrespondedwiththisplayfulanimal’swasnothappy！

AtlengthaneventoccurredthatpromisedtoplayanadagiouponLordIpsden’smind.HefellinlovewithLadyBarbaraSinclair;andhehadnosoonerdonethisthanhefelt，asweareallapttodoonsimilaroccasions，howwiseathinghehaddone！

Besidesalovelyperson，LadyBarbaraSinclairhadacharacterthathesawwouldmakehim;and，infact，LadyBarbaraSinclairwas，toaninexperiencedeye，theexactoppositeofLordIpsden.

Hermentalimpulsewasasplethoricashiswaslanguid.

Shewasasenthusiasticashewascool.

Shetookawarminterestineverything.Shebelievedthatgovernmentisascience，andonethatgoeswith_copiaverborum._

Shebelievedthat，inEngland，governmentisadministered，notbyasetofmenwhosesalariesrangefromeightytofivehundredpoundsayear，andwhosenamesareneverheard，butbytheFirstLordoftheTreasury，andothergreatmen.

Hencesheinferred，thatitmattersverymuchtoallofusinwhosehandistherudderofthatstatevesselwhichgoesdownthewindofpublicopinion，withoutveeringapoint，letwhowillbeatthehelm.

Shealsocaredverymuchwhowasthenewbishop.Religion——ifnotreligion，theology——wouldbeaffectedthereby.

Shewasenthusiasticaboutpoets;imaginedtheirversetobesomesortofclewtotheircharacters，andsoon.

Shehadothertheories，whichwillbeindicatedbyandby;atpresentitisenoughtosaythathermindwasyoung，healthy，somewhatoriginal，fulloffireandfaith，andemptyofexperience.

LordIpsdenlovedher！itwaseasytoloveher.

First，therewasnot，inthewholerangeofhermindandbody，onegrainofaffectationofanysort.

Shewasalways，inpointoffact，undertheinfluenceofsomemalemindorother，generallysomewriter.Whatyoungwomanisnot，moreorless，amirror？Butsheneverimitatedoraffected;shewasalwaysherself，bywhomsoevercolored.

Thenshewasbeautifulandeloquent;muchtoohigh—bredtoputarestraintuponhernaturalmanner，shewasoftenmore_naive，_andevenbrusk，thanyourwould—bearistocratsdaretobe;butwhatacharmingabruptnessherswas！

Idonotexcelindescriptions，andyetIwanttogiveyousomecarnalideaofacertainpeculiarityandcharmthisladypossessed;permitmetocallasisterarttomyaid.

TherehaslatelysteppedupontheFrenchstageacharmingpersonage，whosemannerisquitefreefromtheaffectationthatsoilsnearlyallFrenchactresses——MademoiselleMadeleineBrohan！WhenyouseethisyoungladyplayMademoiselleLaSegli’ere，youseehigh—bredsensibilitypersonified，andyouseesomethinglikeLadyBarbaraSinclair.

ShewasaconnectionofLordIpsden’s，buttheyhadnotmetfortwoyears，whentheyencounteredeachotherinParisjustbeforethecommencementofthis"DramaticStory，""Novel"bycourtesy.

ThemonthhespentinParis，nearher，wasabrightmonthtoLordIpsden.

Abystanderwouldnothavegathered，fromhismanner，thathewaswarmlyinlovewiththislady;but，forallthat，hislordshipwasgraduallyuncoilinghimself，andgracefully，quietlybaskingintheraysofBarbaraSinclair.

Hewasalsojustbeginningtotakeaninterestinsubjectsoftheday——ministries，flatpaintings，controversialnovels，Cromwell’sspotlessintegrity，etc.——whynot？Theyinterestedher.

SuddenlytheladyandherfamilyreturnedtoEngland.LordIpsden，whowasgoingtoRome，cametoEnglandinstead.

ShehadnotbeenfivedaysinLondon，beforeshemadeherpreparationstospendsixmonthsinPerthshire.

Thisbroughtmatterstoaclimax.

LordIpsdenproposedinform.

LadyBarbarawassurprised;shehadnotviewedhisgracefulattentionsinthatlightatall.However，sheansweredbyletterhisproposalwhichhadbeenmadebyletter.

Afterafewofthosecourteouswordsaladyalwaysbestowsonagentlemanwhohasofferedherthehighestcomplimentanymanhasitinhispowertoofferanywoman，shecametothepointinthefollowingcharacteristicmanner：

"ThemanImarrymusthavetwothings，virtuesandvices——youhaveneither.Youdonothing，andneverwilldoanythingbutsketchandhumtunes，anddanceanddangle.Forgetthisfollythedayafterto—morrow，mydearIpsden，and，ifImayaskafavorofonetowhomIrefusethatwhichwouldnotbeakindness，bestillgoodfriendswithherwhowillalwaysbe"Youraffectionate_Cousin，_

"BARBARASINCLAIR."

SoonafterthiseffusionshevanishedintoPerthshire，leavinghercousinstunnedbyablowwhichshethoughtwouldbeonlyascratchtooneofhischaracter.

LordIpsdenrelapsedintogreaterlistlessnessthanbeforehehadcherishedthesecrushedhopes.Theworldnowbecamereallydarkandblanktohim.Hewastoolanguidtogoanywhereordoanything;arepublicanmighthavecomparedthesettledexpressionofhishandsome，hopelessfacewiththatofmostday—laborersofthesameage，andmoderatedhisenvyoftherichandtitled.

AtlasthebecamesopaleaswellaslanguidthatMr.Saundersinterfered.

Saunderswasamodelvaletandfactotum;whohadbeenwithhismastereversinceheleftEton，andhadmadehimselfnecessarytohimintheirjourneys.

ThesaidSaunderswasreallyaninvaluableservant，and，withaworldofobsequiousness，contrivedtohavehisownwayonmostoccasions.Hehad，Ibelieve，onlyonegreatweakness，thatofimaginingabeau—idealofaristocracyandthenoutdoingitinthepersonofJohnSaunders.

NowthisSaunderswashuman，andcouldnotbeeightyearswiththisyounggentlemanandnottakesomelittleinterestinhim.Hewasflunky，andtookagreatinterestinhim，asstepping—stonetohisowngreatness.Sowhenhesawhimturningpaleandthin，andreadingoneletterfiftytimes，hespeculatedandinquiredwhatwasthematter.HebroughttheintellectofMr.Saunderstobearonthequestionatthefollowingangle：

"Now，ifIwasayounglordwith20，000poundsayear，andalltheworldatmyfeet，whatwouldmakemeinthisway？Why，theliver！Nothingelse.

"Andthatiswhatiswrongwithhim，youmaydepend."

Thisconclusionarrivedat，Mr.SaunderscoollywrotehisconvictionstoDr.Aberford，anddesiredthatgentleman’simmediateattentiontothecase.Anhourortwolater，heglidedintohislord’sroom，notwithoutsomesecrettrepidation，notraceofwhichappearedonhisface.Hepulledalonghistrioniccountenance."Mylord，"saidhe，insoft，melancholytones，"yourlordship’smelancholystateofhealthgivesmegreatanxiety;and，withmanyapologiestoyourlordship，thedoctorissentfor，mylord."

"Why，Saunders，youaremad;thereisnothingthematterwithme."

"Ibegyourlordship’spardon，yourlordshipisveryill，andDr.

Aberfordsentfor."

"Youmaygo，Saunders."

"Yes，mylord.Icouldn’thelpit;I’veoutsteppedmyduty，mylord，butIcouldnotstandquietandseeyourlordshipdyingbyinches."HereMr.

S.putacambrichandkerchiefartisticallytohiseyes，andglidedout，havingdisarmedcensure.

LordIpsdenfellintoareverie.

"Ismymindormybodydisordered？Dr.Aberford！——absurd！——Saundersisgettingtoopragmatical.Thedoctorshallprescribeforhiminsteadofme;byJove，thatwouldservehimright."Andmylordfaintlychuckled.

"No！thisiswhatIamillof"——andhereadthefatalnoteagain."Idonothing！——cruel，unjust，"sighedhe."Icouldhavedone，wouldhavedone，anythingtopleaseher.Donothing！nobodydoesanythingnow——thingsdon’tcomeinyourwaytobedoneastheyusedcenturiesago，orweshoulddothemjustthesame;itistheirfault，notours，"arguedhislordship，somewhatconfusedly;then，leaninghisbrowuponthesofa，hewishedtodie.For，atthatdarkmomentlifeseemedtothisfortunatemananachingvoid;aweary，stale，flat，unprofitabletale;afadedflower;

aball—roomafterdaylighthascreptin，andmusic，motionandbeautyarefledaway.

"Dr.Aberford，mylord."

Thisannouncement，madebyMr.Saunders，checkedhislordship’sreverie.

"Insultseverybody，doeshenot，Saunders？"

"Yes，mylord，"saidSaunders，monotonously.

"Perhapshewillme;thatmightamuseme，"saidtheother.

Amomentlaterthedoctorbowledintotheapartment，tuggingathisgloves，asheran.

Thecontrastbetweenhimandourpoorrichfriendisalmostbeyondhumanlanguage.

HerelayonasofaIpsden，oneofthemostdistinguishedyounggentlemeninEurope;acreatureincapable，bynature，ofaruggedtoneoracoarsegesture;abeingwithouttheslightestapparentpretension，butrefinedbeyondthewildestdreamofdandies.Tohim，enterAberford，perspiringandshouting.Hewasoneofthoseglobulesofhumanquicksilveroneseesnowandthenfortwoseconds;theyare，infact，twoglobules;theirheadisone，invariablybald，round，andglittering;thebodyisanotherinactivityandshape，_totusteresatquerotundus;_andinfiftyyearstheylivefivecenturies._HorumRexAberford_——oftheseourdoctorwasthechief.Hehadhardlytornoffoneglove，androlledasfarasthethirdflowerfromthedooronhislordship’scarpet，beforeheshouted：

"Thisismypatient，lollopinginpursuitofhealth.Yourhand，"addedhe.Forhewasatthesofalongbeforehislordshipcouldglideoffit.

"Tongue.Pulseisgood.Breatheinmyface."

"Breatheinyourface，sir！howcanIdothat？"（withanairofmilddoubt.）

"Byfirstinhaling，andthenexhalinginthedirectionrequired，orhowcanImakeacquaintancewithyourbowels？"

"Mybowels？"

"Theabdomen，andthegreaterandlesserintestines.Well，nevermind，I

cangetatthemanotherway;giveyourheartaslap，so.That’syourliver.Andthat’syourdiaphragm."

Hislordshiphavingfoundtherequiredspot（somepeoplethatIknowcouldnot）andslappedit，theAberfordmadeacircularspringandlistenedeagerlyathisshoulder—blade;theresultofthisscientificpantomimeseemedtobesatisfactory，forheexclaimed，nottosaybawled：

"Halo！hereisaviscountassoundasaroach！Now，younggentleman，"

addedhe，"yourorgansaresuperb，yetyouarereallyoutofsorts;itfollowsyouhavethemaladiesofidleminds，love，perhaps，amongtherest;youblush，adiagnosticofthatdisorder;makeyourmindeasy，cutaneousdisorders，suchaslove，etc.，shallneverkillapatientofminewithastomachlikeyours.So，nowtocureyou！"Andawaywentthesphericaldoctor，withhishandsbehindhim，notupanddowntheroom，butslantingandtacking，likeaknightonachess—board.Hehadnotmademanystepsbefore，turninghisupperglobule，withoutaffectinghislower，hehurledback，inacoldbusiness—liketone，thefollowinginterrogatory：

"Whatareyourvices？"

"Saunders，"inquiredthepatient，"whicharemyvices？"

"M’lord，lordshiphasn’tanyvices，"repliedSaunders，withdull，matter—of—factsolemnity.

"LadyBarbaramakesthesamecomplaint，"thoughtLordIpsden.

"ItseemsIhavenotanyvices，Dr.Aberford，"saidhe，demurely.

"Thatisbad;nothingtogetholdof.Whatinterestsyou，then？"

"Idon’tremember."

"Whatamusesyou？"

"Iforget."

"What！nowinninghorsetogallopawayyourrents？"

"No，sir！"

"Nooperagirltorunherfootandanklethroughyourpurse？"

"No，sir！andIthinktheiranklesarenotwhattheywere."

"Stuff！justthesame，fromtheiranklesuptotheirears，anddownagaintotheirmorals;itisyoureyesthataresunkdeeperintoyourhead.

Hum！nohorses，novices，nodancers，noyacht;youconfoundone’snotionsofnobility，andIoughttoknowthem，forIhavetopatchthemallupabitjustbeforetheygotothedeuce."

"ButIhave，DoctorAberford."

"What！"

"Ayacht！andaclippersheis，too."

"Ah！——（NowI’vegothim.）"

"IntheBayofBiscayshelayhalfapointnearerthewindthanLordHeavyjib."

"Oh！botherLordHeavyjib，andhisBayofBiscay."

"Withallmyheart，theyhaveoftenbotheredme."

"SendherroundtoGrantonPier，intheFirthofForth."

"Iwill，sir."

"Andwritedownthisprescription."Andawayhewalkedagain，thinkingtheprescription.

"Saunders，"appealedhismaster.

"Saundersbehanged."

"Sir！"saidSaunders，withdignity，"Ithankyou."

"Don’tthankme，thankyourowndeserts，"repliedthemodernChesterfield."Obligemebywritingityourself，mylord，itisallthebodilyexerciseyouwillhavehadto—day，nodoubt."

Theyoungviscountbowed，seatedhimselfatadesk，andwrotefromdictation：

"DR.ABERFORD’SPRESCRIPTION.

"Makeacquaintancewithallthepeopleoflowestatewhohavetimetobebotheredwithyou;learntheirways，theirminds，and，aboveall，theirtroubles."

"Won’tallthisboreme？"suggestedthewriter.

"Youwillsee.Relieveonefellow—creatureeveryday，andletMr.

Saundersbookthecircumstances."

"Ishalllikethispart，"saidthepatient，layingdownhispen."Howcleverofyoutothinkofsuchthings;maynotIdotwosometimes？"

"Certainlynot;onepillperday.Write，Fishtheherring！（thatbeatsdeer—stalking.）Runyournoseintoadventuresatsea;liveontenpence，andearnit.Isitdown？"

"Yes，itisdown，butSaunderswouldhavewrittenitbetter."

"Ifhehadn’theoughttobehanged，"saidtheAberford，inspectingthework."I’moff，where’smyhat？oh，there;where’smymoney？oh，here.

Nowlookhere，followmyprescription，andYouwillsoonhaveMenssanaincorporesano;Andnotcarewhetherthegirlssayyesorsayno;

neglectit，and——mygloves;oh，inmypocket——youwillbe_blase’_and_ennuye’，_and（anEnglishparticiple，thatmeanssomethingasbad）;Godblessyou！"

Andouthescuttled，glidedafterbySaunders，forwhomheopenedandshutthestreetdoor.

Neverwasagreatereffectproducedbyadoctor’svisit;patientandphysicianweremadeforeachother.Dr.AberfordwasthespecificforLordIpsden.Hecametohimlikeashowertoafaintingstrawberry.

Saunders，onhisreturn，foundhislordpacingtheapartment.

"Saunders，"saidhe，smartly，"senddowntoGravesendandordertheyachttothisplace——whatisit？"

"GrantonPier.Yes，mylord."

"And，Saunders，takeclothes，andbooks，andviolins，andtelescopes，andthings——andme——toEustonSquare，inanhour."

"Impossible，’mylord，"criedSaunders，indismay."Andthereisnotrainforhours."

Hismasterrepliedwithahundred—poundnote，andaquiet，butwickedishlook;andtheprinceofgentlemen’sgentlemanhadalltherequireditemswithhim，inaspecialtrain，withinthespecifiedtime，andawaytheyflashed，northward.

CHAPTERII.

ITissaidthatoppositecharactersmakeaunionhappiest;andperhapsLordIpsden，diffidentofhimself，feltthevaluetohimofacreaturesodifferentasLadyBarbaraSinclair;butthelady，forherpart，wasnotsodiffidentofherself，norwassheinsearchofheropposite.Onthecontrary，shewaswaitingpatientlytofindjustsuchamanasshewas，orfanciedherself，awoman.

Accustomedtomeasuremenbytheircharactersalone，andtotreatwithsublimecontempttheaccidentsofbirthandfortune，shehadbeenalittlestaggeredbytheassuranceofthisbutterflythathadproposedtosettleuponherhand——forlife.

Inaword，thebeautifulwriterofthefatalnotewashonestlyromantic，accordingtotheromanceof1848，andofgoodsociety;ofcourseshewasnotaffectedbyhairtumblingbackorplastereddownforward，andarollingeyewentnofurtherwithherthanasquintingone.

Herromancewasstern，notsickly.Shewasonthelookoutforironvirtues;shehadsworntobewooedwithgreatdeeds，orneverwon;onthissubjectshehadthoughtmuch，thoughnotenoughtoaskherselfwhethergreatdeedsarealwaystobegotat，howeverdisposedalovermaybe.

Nomatter;shekeptherselfinreserveforsomeearnestman，whowasnottocomeflatteringandfoolingtoher，butlookanotherwayanddoexploits.

ShelikedLordIpsden，hercousinonceremoved，butdespisedhimforbeingagreeable，handsome，clever，andnobody.

ShewasalsoalittlebittenwithwhatsheandotherscalledtheMiddleAges，infactwiththatpictureofthemwhichGrubStreet，imposingonthesimplicityofyouth，hadgotupforsalebyarrayingpaintedglass，giltrags，andfancy，againstfact.

Withthesevagueandsketchynoticeswearecompelledtopart，forthepresent，withLadyBarbara.Butitservesherright;shehasgonetoestablishhercourtinPerthshire，andleftherrejectedloveronourhands.

Journeysofafewhundredmilesarenolongerdescribed.

Youexchangeadeadchairforalivingchair，Saundersputsinyourhandanewtalelikethis;youmournthesuperstitionofbooksellers，whichstillinflictsuncutleavesuponhumanity，thoughtailorsdonotsendhomecoatswiththesleevesstitchedup，norchambermaidsputtravelersintoapple—piebedsaswellasdampsheets.Yourendandread，andareatEdinburgh，fatiguedmoreorless，butnotbythejourney.

LordIpsdenwas，therefore，sooninstalledbytheFirthside，fulloftheAberford.

Theyoungnoblemannotonlyveneratedthedoctor’ssagacity，buthalfadmiredhisbrusquerieandbustle;thingsofwhichhewashimselfneverguilty.

Asfortheprescription，thatwasaDelphicOracle.Worldscouldnothavetemptedhimtodeviatefromaletterinit.

Hewaitedwithimpatiencefortheyacht;and，meantime，itstruckhimthatthefirstpartoftheprescriptioncouldbeattackedatonce.

Itwastheafternoonofthedaysucceedinghisarrival.TheFifeshirehills，seenacrosstheFirthfromhiswindows，werebeginningtotaketheircharmingviolettinge，alightbreezeruffledthebluewaterintoasparklingsmile，theshorewastranquil，andtheseafullofnoiselesslife，withthecraftofallsizesglidinganddancingandcourtesyingontheirtracklessroads.

Theairwastepid，pureandsweetasheaven;thisbrightafternoon，Naturehadgrudgednothingthatcouldgivefreshlifeandhopetosuchdwellersindustandsmokeandviceasweretheretolookawhileonhercleanfaceanddrinkherhoneyedbreath.

Thisyounggentlemanwasnotinsensibletothebeautyofthescene.Hewasalittlelazybynature，andmadelazierbythemisfortuneofwealth，buthehadsensibilities;hewasanartistofgreatnaturaltalent;hadheonlybeenwithoutapenny，howhewouldhavehandledthebrush！Andthenhewasamightysailor;ifhehadsailedforbiscuitafewyears，howhewouldhavehandledaship！

Ashewas，hehadtheeyeofahawkforNature’sbeauties，andtheseaalwayscamebacktohimlikeafriendafteranabsence.

Thisscene，then，curledroundhisheartalittle，andhefeltthegoodphysicianwaswiserthanthetribethatgobythatname，andstrivetobuildhealthonthesandyfoundationofdrugs.

"Saunders！doyouknowwhatDr.Aberfordmeansbythelowerclasses？"

"Perfectly，mylord."

"Arethereanyabouthere？"

"Iamsorrytosaytheyareeverywhere，mylord."

"Getmesome"——_（cigarette）._

OutwentSaunders，withhisusualgraceful_empressement，_butaninternalshrugofhisshoulders.

Hewasabsentanhourandahalf;hethenreturnedwithadoubleexpressiononhisface——prideathissuccessindivingtotheverybottomofsociety，andcontemptofwhathehadfishedupthence.

Heapproachedhislordmysteriously，andsaid，_sottovoce，_butimpressively，"Thisislowenough，mylord."Thenglidedback，andusheredin，withpolitedisdain，twolovelierwomenthanhehadeveropenedadoortointhewholecourseofhisperfumedexistence.

OntheirheadstheyworecapsofDutchorFlemishorigin，withabroadlaceborder，stiffenedandarchedovertheforehead，aboutthreeincheshigh，leavingthebrowandcheeksunencumbered.

Theyhadcottonjackets，brightredandyellow，mixedinpatterns，confinedatthewaistbytheapron—strings，butbobtailedbelowthewaist;shortwoolenpetticoats，withbroadverticalstripes，redandwhite，mostvividincolor;whiteworstedstockings，andneat，thoughhigh—quarteredshoes.Undertheirjacketstheyworeathickspottedcottonhandkerchief，aboutoneinchofwhichwasvisibleroundthelowerpartofthethroat.Oftheirpetticoats，theouteronewaskilted，orgathereduptowardthefront，andthesecond，ofthesamecolor，hungintheusualway.

Oftheseyoungwomen，onehadanolivecomplexion，withtheredbloodmantlingunderit，andblackhair，andgloriousblackeyebrows.

Theotherwasfair，withamassivebutshapelythroat，aswhiteasmilk;

glossybrownhair，theloosethreadsofwhichglitteredlikegold，andablueeye，which，beingcontrastedwithdarkeyebrowsandlashes，tooktheluminouseffectpeculiartothatrarebeauty.

Theirshortpetticoatsrevealedaneatankle，andalegwithanobleswell;forNature，whensheisinearnest，buildsbeautyontheideasofancientsculptorsandpoets，notofmodernpoetasters，who，withtheirairy—likesylphsandtheirsmoke—likeverses，fightforwantoffleshinwomanandwantoffactinpoetryasparallelbeauties.

_Theyare，_mylads.——_Continuez！_

Thesewomenhadagrandcorporealtrait;theyhadneverknownacorset！

sotheywerestraightasjavelins;theycouldlifttheirhandsabovetheirheads！——actually！TheirsupplepersonsmovedasNatureintended;

everygesturewasease，graceandfreedom.

Whatwiththeirownradiance，andthesnowycleanlinessandbrightnessoftheircostume，theycamelikemeteorsintotheapartment.

LordIpsden，risinggentlyfromhisseat，withthesamequietpolitenesswithwhichhewouldhavereceivedtwoprincesoftheblood，said，"Howdoyoudo？"andsmiledawelcome.

"Fine！hoow’syoursel？"answeredthedarklass，whosenamewasJeanCarnie，andwhosevoicewasnotsosweetasherface.

"What’nlordareye？"continuedshe;"areyouajuke？Iwadlikefinetohaeacrackwi’ajuke."

Saunders，whoknewhimselfthecauseofthisquestion，replied，_sottovoce，_"Hislordshipisaviscount."

"Ididnaken’t，"wasJean’sremark."Butithasabonnysoond."

"Whatmairwouldyehae？"saidthefairbeauty，whosenamewasChristieJohnstone.Then，appealingtohislordshipasthelikeliesttoknow，sheadded，"Nobeelityisjistasoonditsel，I’mtauld."

Theviscount，findinghimselfexpectedtosaysomethingonatopichehadnotattendedmuchto，answereddryly："Wemustasktherepublicans，theyarethepeoplethatgivetheirmindstosuchsubjects."

"Andyonman，"askedJeanCarnie，"ishealord，too？"

"Iamhislordship’sservant，"repliedSaunders，gravely，notwithoutasecretmisgivingwhetherfatehadbeenjust.

"Na！"repliedshe，nottobeimposedupon，"yearestatelierandprooderthanthisane."

"Iwillexplain，"saidhismaster."Saundersknowshisvalue;aservantlikeSaundersisrarerthananidleviscount."

"Mylord，mylord！"remonstratedSaunders，withashockedandmostdisclamatorytone."Rather！"washisinwardreflection.

"Jean，"saidChristie，"yehaemuckletolaern.Areyeforherrin’theday，vilecount？"

"No！areyouforthissortofthing？"

Atthis，Saunders，withaworldof_empressement，_offeredtheCarniesomecakethatwasonthetable.

Shetookapiece，instantlyspatitoutintoherhand，andwithmoreenergythandelicacyflungitintothefire.

"Augh！"criedshe，"justasugarandsautbutterthegither;buynaemairatyonshoep，vilecount."

"Trythis，outofNature’sshop，"laughedtheirentertainer;andheofferedthem，himself，somepeachesandthings.

"Hech！amedi——cine！"saidChristie.

"Nature，mylad，"saidMissCarnie，makingherivoryteethmeetintheirfirstnectarine，"Ididnakenwhauryestoep，butyebeattheotherconfectioners，thatdivye."

Thefairlass，whohadwatchedtheviscountallthistimeasdemurelyasacatcream，nowapproachedhim.

Thisyoungwomanwasthethinker;hervoicewasalsorich，full，andmelodious，andhermannerveryengaging;itwashalfadvancing，halfretiring，noteasytoresistortodescribe.

"Noo，"saidshe，withaveryslightblushstealingacrossherface，"yemaunletmecatecheezeye，wullye？"

Thelasttwowordsweresaidinawaythatwouldhaveinducedabeartorevealhiswinterresidence.

Hesmiledassent.Saundersretiredtothedoor，and，excludingeveryshadeofcuriosityfromhisface，tookanattitude，halfmajesty，halfobsequiousness.

ChristiestoodbyLordIpsden，withonehandonherhip（theknucklesdownward），butgracefulasAntinous，andbegan.

"Hoomuckleisthequeengreaterthany’are？"

Hislordshipwasobligedtoreflect.

"Letmesee——asisthemoontoawaxtaper，soishermajestythequeentoyouandme，andtherest."

"An’whaurdoestheJuke*comein？"

*Buceleuch.

"Onthisparticularoccasion，theDuke**makesoneofus，myprettymaid."

**Wellington"Isee！Arenayeawfu’proodo’beingalorrd？"

"Whatanidea！"

"Hislordshipdidnotgotobedaspinning—jenny，andriseupalord，likesomeofthem，"putinSaunders.

"Saunders，"saidthepeer，doubtfully，"eloquenceratherborespeople."

"ThenImustn’tspeakagain，mylord，"saidSaunders，respectfully.

"Noo，"saidthefairinquisitor，"yeshalltellmehowyecametobelorrds，yourfaemily？"

"Saunders！"

"Na！yemannafleetoSandyforathing，yearenoabairn，areye？"

Herewasadilemma，theSaunderspropknockedrudelyaway，andobligedtothinkforourselves.

ButSaunderswouldcometohisdistressedmaster’sassistance.Hefurtivelyconveyedtohimaplumpbook——thiswasSaunders’smanualoffaith;theauthorwasMr.Burke，notEdmund.

LordIpsdenranhastilyoverthepage，closedthebook，andsaid，"Hereisthestory.

"Fivehundredyearsago——"

"Listen，Jean，"saidChristie;"we’regauntogetaboenystory.’Fivehundre’yearsago，’"addedshe，withinterestandawe.

"Wasagreatbattle，"resumedthenarrator，incheerfultones，asonelarkingwithhistory，"betweenakingofEnglandandhisrebels.Hewasinthethickofthefight——"

"That’stheking，Jean，hewasinthethicko’t."

"Myancestorkilledafellowwhowassneakingbehindhim，butthenextmomentaman—at—armspreparedathrustathismajesty，whohadhishandsfullwiththreeassailants."

"Eh！that’snofair，"saidChristie，"assureasdeeth."

"Myancestordashedforward，and，astheking’sswordpassedthroughoneofthem，hecloveanothertothewaistwithablow."

"Weeldone！weeldone！"

LordIpsdenlookedatthespeaker，hereyeswereglittering，andhercheekflushing.

"GoodHeavens！"thoughthe;"shebelievesit！"Sohebegantotakemorepainswithhislegend.

"Butforthespearsman，"continuedhe，"hehadnothingbuthisbody;hegaveit，itwashisduty，andreceivedthedeathleveledathissovereign."

"Hech！puirmon."Andtheglowingeyesbegantoglisten.

"Thebattleflowedanotherway，andGodgavevictorytotheright;butthekingcamebacktolookforhim，foritwasnocommonservice."

"Deedno！"

HereLordIpsdenbegantoturnhiseyeinward，andcallupthescene.Heloweredhisvoice.

"Theyfoundhimlyingonhisback，lookingdeathintheface.

"Thenobles，bytheking’sside，uncoveredassoonashewasfound，fortheywerebravemen，too.Therewasamoment’ssilence;eyesmeteyes，andsaid，thisisastoutsoldier’slastbattle.

"Thekingcouldnotbidhimlive."

"Na！lad，KingDeethhasowerstrongagrrip."

"Buthedidwhatkingscando，hegavehimtwoblowswithhisroyalsword."

"Oh，therobber，andhimadeeingmon."

"Twowordsfromhisroyalmouth，andheandwewereBaronsofIpsdenandHawthornGlenfromthatdaytothis."

"Butthepuirdyingcreature？"

"Whatpoordyingcreature？"

"Yourforbear，lad."

"Idon’tknowwhyyoucallhimpoor，madam;allthemenofthatdayaredust;theyarethegolddustwhodiedwithhonor.

"Helookedround，uneasily，forhisson——forhehadbutone——andwhenthatsonknelt，unwounded，byhim，hesaid，’Goodnight，BaronIpsden;’

andsohedied，fireinhiseye，asmileonhislip，andhonoronhisnameforever.Imeanttotellyoualie，andI’vetoldyouthetruth."

"Laddie，"saidChristie，halfadmiringly，halfreproachfully，"yegarthetearcomeinmyeen.Hech！lookatyonlassie！howcouldyouthinkt’eatplumsthroughsiccanabonnystory？"

"Hets，"answeredJean，whohad，infact，clearedtheplate，"Iayelistenbestwhenmyainmooth’sstappit."

"Butsee，now，"ponderedChristie，"twawordsfraaking——thirtitlesarejustbreeth."

"Ofcourse，"wastheanswer."Alltitlesare.Whatispopularity？askAristidesandLamartine——thebreathofamob——smellsofitssource——andisgonebeforethesuncansetonit.NowtheroyalbreathdoessmelloftheRoseandCrown，andstaysbyusfromagetoage."

Thestoryhadwarmedourmarbleacquaintance.Saundersopenedhiseyes，andthought，"WeshallwakeuptheHouseofLordssomeevening——_we_

shall."

Hislordshipthenadded，lesswarmly，lookingatthegirls：

"IthinkIshouldliketobeafisherman."

Sosaying，mylordyawnedslightly.

Tothisaspirationtheyoungfishwivesdeignednoattention，doubting，perhaps，itssincerity;andChristie，withashadeofseverity，inquiredofhimhowhecametobeavilecount.

"Abaron’sno’avilecount，I’msure，"saidshe;"saetellmehowyecametobeavilecount."

"Ah！"saidhe，"thatisbynomeansaprettystoryliketheother;youwillnotlikeit，Iamsure.

"Ay，willI——ay，willI;I’mayeseekingknoewledge."

"Well，itissoontold.Oneofussattwentyyearsononeseat，inthesamehouse，soonedayhegotupa——viscount."

"Owermucklepayforowerlittlewark."

"Nowdon’tsaythat;Iwouldn’tdoittobeEmperorofRussia."

"Aweel，Ihaegottenaheapouto’ye;saenoowI’llgang，sinceyearenoforherrin’;comeaway，Jean."

Atthistheirhostremonstrated，andinquiredwhyboresareatone’sservicenightandday，andbrightpeoplearealwaysinahurry;hewasinformedinreply，"Laboristheloto’man.Divyenokenthatmuckle？

Andabunea’o’women."*

*Alocalidea，Isuspect.——C.R.

"Why，whatcantwosuchprettycreatureshavetodoexcepttobeadmired？"

Thisquestioncomingwithinthedarkbeauty’sscope，shehastenedtoreply.

"Tosellourherrin’——wehaethreehundre’leftinthecreel."

"Whatistheprice？"

AtthisquestionthepoetrydiedoutofChristieJohnstone’sface，shegavehercompanionarapidlook，indiscerniblebymaleeye，andanswered：

"Threeapenny，sirr;theyarenoplentytheday，"addedshe，insmoothtonesthatcarriedconviction.

（Littleliar;theyweresellingsixapennyeverywhere.）

"Saunders，buythemall，andbeeversolongaboutit;countthem，orsomenonsense."

"He’sdaft！he’sdaft！Oh，yeken，Jean，anEnnglishmanandalorrd，twadaftthingsthegither，hecouldna’misstheroad.Coontthem，lassie."

"Comeaway，Sandy，tillIcountthemtillye，"saidJean.

SaundersandJeandisappeared.

Businessbeingoutofsight，curiosityrevived.

"An’whatbringsyeherefromLondon，ifyeplease？"recommencedthefairinquisitor.

"Youhaveagoodcountenance;thereissomethinginyourface.Icouldfinditinmyhearttotellyou，butIshouldboreyou."

"De’elafear！Boreme，boreme！wheat’sthaat，Iwonder？"

"Whatisyourname，madam？MineisIpsden."

"Theyca’meChristieJohnstone."

"Well，ChristieJohnstone，Iamunderthedoctor’shands."

"Puirlad.What’sthetrouble？"（solemnlyandtenderly.）

"Ennui！"（ratherpiteously.）

"Yawn—we？Ineverheerdtello’t."

"Oh，youluckygirl，"burstouthe;"butthedoctorhasundertakentocureme;inonethingyoucouldassistme，ifIamnotpresumingtoofaronourshortacquaintance.Iamtorelieveonepoordistressedpersoneveryday，butImustn’tdotwo.Isnotthatabore？"

"Gie’syourhand，gie’syourhand.I’mvexedforca’ingyoudaft.Hech！

whatasafthandyehae.Jean，I’msaying，comehere，feelthis."

Jean，whohadrunin，tooktheviscount’shandfromChristie.

"Itneverwrouchtany，"explainedJean."Andhehasbonnyhair，"saidChristie，justtouchinghislocksontheotherside.

"He’sabonnylad，"saidJean，inspectinghimscientifically，andpointblank.

"Ay，ishe，"saidtheother."Aweel，there’sJessRutherford，awiddy，wi’fourbairns，yemeichtdowaurthanwareyoursilleronher."

"Fivepoundstobegin？"inquiredhislordship.

"Fivepund！Areyemadeo’siller？Tenschell’n！"

Saunderswasrungfor，andproducedaone—poundnote.

"Theherrin’isfiveandsaxpence;it’sfourandsaxpenceI’mawinye，"

saidtheyoungfishwife，"andJesswillbeagladwomantheneicht."

Thesettlementwaseffected，andawaywentthetwofriends，saying：

"Good—boye，vilecount."

Theirhostfellintothought.

"WhenhaveItalkedsomuch？"askedheofhimself.

"Dr.Aberford，youareawonderfulman;Ilikeyourlowerclassesamazingly."

"Me’fiezvous，MonsieurIpsden！"shouldsomementorhavesaid.

AstheDevilputsintoabeginner’shandsace，queen，fivetrumps，togivehimatasteforwhist，sotheselowerclasseshaveperhapsputforwardoneoftheirbestcardstoleadyouintoafalseestimateofthestrengthoftheirhand.

Instead，however，ofthis，whoshouldreturn，todisturbtheequilibriumoftruth，butthisChristinaJohnstone？Shecamethoughtfullyin，andsaid：

"I’vebeentakingathoucht，andthisisnowhatyongudephyseecianmeaned;yearenotoflingyourchaeritylikeabanetilladoeg;ye’llgangyourseltoJessRutherford;FluckerJohnstone，that’smybrother，willconvoyye."

"Buthowisyourbrothertoknowme？"

"How？BecauseI’llgiehimasairsairhiding，ifheletsyegangby."

Thenshereturnedtheone—poundnote，afreshsettlementwaseffected，andshelefthim.Atthedoorshesaid："AndIammuckleobleegedtoyeforyourstoryandyourgoodness."

Whileutteringthesewords，shehalfkissedherhandtohim，withaloftyanddisengagedgesture，suchasonemightexpectfromaqueen，ifqueensdidnotwearstays;andwasgone.

Whenhislordship，afewminutesafter，saunteredoutforastroll，thefirstobjecthebeheldwasanexacthumansquare，ahandsomeboy，withabodyswelledoutapparentlytothesizeofaman’s，withblueflannel，andblueclothaboveit，leaningagainstawall，withhishandsinhispockets——astatuetteof_insouciance._

Thismarinepuff—ballwasFluckerJohnstone，agedfourteen.

Stainhissister’sfacewithdilutedwalnut—juice，astheymakethestagegypsyandRedIndian（twoanimalsimaginedbyactorstobeone），andyouhaveFlucker’sface.

Aslightmoraldistinctionremains，nottobesoeasilygotover，

Shewasthebestgirlintheplace，andheabaddishboy.

Hewas，however，assharpinhiswayasshewasintelligentinhers.

Thisyouthfulmarinerallowedhislordshiptopasshim，andtaketwentysteps，butwatchedhimallthetime，andcomparedhimwithadescriptionfurnishedhimbyhissister.

Hethenfollowed，andbroughthimto，ashecalledit.

"Idaursayit’syouI’mtoconvoytoyonauldfaggitt！"saidthisbaddishboy.

Ontheywent，Fluckerrollingandpitchingandyawingtokeepupwiththelordlygalley，forafisherman’snaturalwaddleistwomilesanhour.

AttheveryentranceofNewhaven，thenewpilotsuddenlysungout，"Starboard！"

Starboarditwas，andtheyascendedafilthy"close，"oralleytheymountedastaircasewhichwasoutofdoors，and，withoutknocking，FluckerintroducedhimselfintoJessRutherford’shouse.

"Hereagentlemantospeaktillye，wife."

CHAPTERIII.

THEwidowwasweather—beatenandrough.Shesatmendinganoldnet.

"Thegentleman’swelcome，"saidshe;buttherewasnogratificationinhertone，andbutlittlesurprise.

Hislordshipthenexplainedthat，understandingtherewereworthypeopleindistress，hewasinhopeshemightbepermittedtoassistthem，andthatshemustblameaneighborofhersifhehadbrokeninuponhertooabruptlywiththisobject.Hethen，withablush，hintedattenshillings，whichhebeggedshewouldconsiderasmerelyaninstallment，untilhecouldlearntheprecisenatureofherembarrassments，andthebestwayofplacingmeansatherdisposal.

Thewidowheardallthiswithalacklustermind.

Formanyyearsherlifehadbeenunsuccessfullabor;ifanythinghadevercometoher，ithadalwaysbeenamisfortune;herincidentshadbeenthorns——herevents，daggers.

Shecouldnotrealizeahumanangelcomingtoherrelief，andshedidnotrealizeit，andsheworkedawayathernet.

Atthis，Flucker，towhomhislordship’sspeechappearedmonstrouslyweakandpointless，drewnigh，andgavethewidow，inherear，hisversion，namely，hissister’sembellished.Itwasbrieflythis：ThatthegentlemanwasadaftlordfromEngland，whohadcomewiththebankinhisbreeks，toremovepovertyfromScotland，beginningwithher."Saespeakloudaneuch，andye’llnowantsiller，"washispolitecorollary.

Hislordshiprose，laidacardonachair，beggedhertomakeuseofhim，etcetera;hethen，recallingtheoracularprescription，said，"Domethefavortoapplytomeforanylittlesumyouhaveausefor，and，inreturn，Iwillbegofyou（ifitdoesnotboreyoutoomuch）tomakemeacquaintedwithanylittletroublesyoumayhaveencounteredinthecourseofyourlife."

Hislordship，receivingnoanswer，wasabouttogo，afterbowingtoher，andsmilinggracefullyuponher.

Hishandwasonthelatch，whenJessRutherfordburstintoapassionoftears.

Heturnedwithsurprise.

"My_troubles，_laddie，"criedshe，tremblingallover."Thesunwadset，andrise，andsetagain，ereIcouldtellyea’thetroubleIhaecomethrough.

"Oh，yeneednavexyourselfforanauldwife’stears;tearsareablessin’，lad，Ishallassureye.Mony’sthetimeIhaeprayedforthem，andcouldnahaethemSityedoon！sityedoon！I’llnoletyegangframydoortillIhaethankitye——butgiemetime，giemetime.Icannagreeta’thedaysoftheweek."

Flucker，_aetat._14，openedhiseyes，unabletoconnecttenshillingsandtears.

LordIpsdensatdown，andfeltverysorryforher.

Andshecriedatherease.

Ifonetouchofnaturemakethewholeworldkin，methinksthatsweetandwonderfulthing，sympathy，isnotlesspowerful.Whatfrozenbarriers，whaticeofcenturies，itcanmeltinamoment！

Hisbarementionofhertroubleshadsurprisedthewidowedwoman’sheart，andnowshelookedupandexaminedhiscountenance;itwassoondone.

Awoman，youngorold，highorlow，candiscernandappreciatesensibilityinaman’sface，atasingleglance.

Whatshesawtherewasenough.Shewassureofsympathy.Sherecalledherresolve，andthetaleofhersorrowsburstfromherlikeaflood.

Thentheoldfishwifetoldtheyoungaristocrathowshehadbornetwelvechildren，andburiedsixasbairns;howhermanwasalwaysunlucky;howamastfellonhim，anddisabledhimawholeseason;howtheycouldbutjustkeepthepotboilingbythedeep—seafishing，andhewasnotallowedtodredgeforoysters，becausehisfatherwasnotaNewhavenman.How，whentheherringfishingcame，tomakeallright，heneverhadanotherman’sluck;howhisboat’screwwoulddrawemptynets，andaboatalongsidehimwouldbegunwaledowninthewaterwiththefish.How，atlast，onemorning，the20thdayofNovember，hisboatcameintoNewhavenPierwithouthim，andwhenhewasinquiredfor，hiscrewsaid，"Hehadstayedathome，likealazyloon，andnotsailedwiththemthenightbefore."Howshewasanxious，andhadallthepublichousessearched.

"Forhetookadropnowandthen，naewonder，andhimayeintheweather."Poorthing！whenhewasalivesheusedtocallhimadrunkenscoundreltohisface.How，whenthetidewentdown，amadwife，whosehusbandhadbeendrownedtwentyyearsago，pointedoutsomethingunderthepierthattheresttookforsea—weedfloating——howitwasthehairofherman’shead，washedaboutbythewater，andhewasthere，drownedwithoutacryorastruggle，byhisenormousboots，thatkepthiminanuprightposition，thoughhewasdead;therehestood——dead——drownedbyslippingfromtheslipperypier，closetohiscomrades’hands，inadarkandgustynight;howherdaughtermarried，andwaswelltodo，andassistedher;howshefellintoarapiddecline，anddied，apictureofhealthtoinexperiencedeyes.Howshe，themother，sawandknew，andwatchedthetreacherousadvanceofdiseaseanddeath;howotherssaidgayly，"Herdaughterwasbetter，"andshewasobligedtosay，"Yes."Howshehadworked，eighteenhoursaday，atmakingnets;how，whensheletouthernetstotheothermenattheherringfishing，theyalwayscheatedher，becausehermanwasgone.Howshehadmanytimeshadtochoosebetweenbegginghermealandgoingtobedwithoutit，but，thankHeaven！

shehadalwayschosenthelatter.

Shetoldhimofhunger，cold，andanguish.Asshespoketheybecamerealthingstohim;uptothatmomenttheyhadbeenthingsinastory—book.

Andasshespokesherockedherselffromsidetoside.

Indeed，shewasawoman"acquaintedwithgrief."Shemighthavesaid，"HereIandsorrowsit.Thisismythrone，bidkingscomeandbowtoit！"

Herhearerfeltthis，andthereforethiswoman，poor，old，andugly，becamesacredinhiseye;itwaswithastrangesortofrespectthathetriedtoconsoleher.Hespoketoherintonesgentleandsweetasthesouthwindonasummerevening.

"Madam，"saidhe，"letmebesohappyastobringyousomecomfort.ThesorrowsoftheheartIcannotheal;theyareforamightierhand;butapartofyourdistressappearstohavebeenpositiveneed;thatwecanatleastdisposeof，andIentreatyoutobelievethatfromthishourwantshallneverenterthatdooragain.Never！uponmyhonor！"

TheScotchareicebergs，withvolcanoesunderneath;thawtheScotchice，whichisverycold，andyoushallgettotheScotchfire，warmerthananysunofItalyorSpain.

Hislordshiphadrisentogo.Theoldwifehadseemedabsorbedinherowngrief;shenowdriedhertears.

"Bideye，sirr，"saidshe，"tillIthankye."

Soshebegantothankhim，rathercoldlyandstiffly.

"Hesaysyearealord，"saidshe;"Idinnaken，an’Idinnacare;butye’reagentleman，Idaursay，andakindheartyehae."

Thenshebegantowarm.

"Andye’llneverbeagrainthepoorerforthesilleryehaegienme;forhethatgivethtothepoorlendethtotheLord."

Thenshebegantoglow.

"Butit’snoyoursiller;dinnathinkit——na，lad，na！Oh，fine！Ikenthere’smonyasupperforthebairnsandmeinyonbitsmetal;butI

cannafeelyoursillerasIfeelyourwinsomesmile——thedropinyouryoungeen——an’thesweetwordsyegiedme，inthesweetmusico’yourSootherntongue，Gudeblessye！"（Wherewashericebythistime？）"Gudeblessye！andIblessye！"

Andshedidblesshim;andwhatablessingitwas;notamelodiousgenerality，likeastageparent’s，orpapa’sinadamsel’snovel.ItwaslikethesonofBarakonZophim.

Sheblessedhim，asonewhohadthepowerandtherighttoblessorcurse.

Shestoodonthehighgroundofherlowestate，andherafflictions——anddemandedoftheirCreatortoblessthefellow—creaturethathadcometoheraidandconsolation.

Thiswomanhadsufferedtothelimitsofendurance;yesterdayshehadsaid，"SurelytheAlmightydoesna_see_mea’theseyears！"

Sonowsheblessedhim，andherheart’sbloodseemedtogushintowords.

Sheblessedhimbylandandwater.

Sheknewmostmortalgriefs;forshehadfeltthem.

Shewarnedthemawayfromhimonebyone.

Sheknewthejoysoflife;forshehadfelttheirwant.

Shesummonedthemonebyonetohisside.

"Andafairwindtoyourship，"criedshe，"andthestormsayetenmilestoleewardo’her."

Manyhappydays，"an’weelspent，"shewishedhim.

"Hisloveshouldlovehimdearly，orabettertakeherplace."

"Healthtohissidebyday;sleeptohispillowbynight."

Athousandgoodwishescame，likeatorrentoffire，fromherlips，withapowerthateclipsedhisdreamsofhumaneloquence;andthen，changinginamomentfromthethunderofaPythonesstothetendermusicofsomepoetessmother，sheended：

"An’oh，myboenny，boennylad，mayyebewi’therichupontheairtha’

yourdays——ANDWI’THEPUIRINTHEWARLDTOCOME！"

Hislordship’stonguerefusedhimthethinphrasesofsociety.

"Farewellforthepresent，"saidhe，andhewentquietlyaway.

Hepacedthoughtfullyhome.

Hehaddrunkafactwitheverysentence;andanideawitheveryfact.

Fortheknowledgewehaveneverrealizedisnotknowledgetous——onlyknowledge’sshadow.

Withthebanishedduke，henowbegantofeel，"wearenotaloneunhappy."

Thisuniversalworldcontainsotherguesssorrowsthanyours，viscount——_scilicet_thanunvaryinghealth，unbrokenleisure，andincalculableincome.

Thenthiswoman’seloquence！blessme！hehadseenfolkmurmurpolitelyintheUpperHouse，anddroneorhammerawayattheSpeakerdownbelow，withmoreheatthanwarmth.

Hehadseenninehundredwildbeastsfedwithpepperedtongue，inamenageriecalled_L’Assemble’Nationale._

Hisearshadrungoftenenough，forthatmatter.Thistimehisheartbeat.

HehadbeenintheprincipalcourtsofEurope;knewwhatahandfulofgentlefolkscall"theWorld";hadexperiencedthehoneyedwordsofcourtiers，themistynothingsofdiplomatists，andtheinnocentprattleofmightykings.

Buthithertoheseemedtohaveundergonegibberishandjargon：

Gibberishandjargon——Political！

Gibberishandjargon——Social！

Gibberishandjargon——Theological！

Gibberishandjargon——Positive！

Peoplehadbeenprating——Jesshadspoken.

But，itistobeobserved，hewasunderthedoubleeffectofeloquenceandnovelty;and，sosituated，weoverratethings，youknow.

Thatnighthemadeaprovisionforthispoorwoman，incaseheshoulddiebeforenextweek.

"Whoknows？"saidhe，"sheissuchanunluckywoman."Thenhewenttobed，andwhetherfromthewidow’sblessing，ortheairoftheplace，hesleptlikeaplowboy.

LeavingRichard，LordIpsden，toworkouttheAberfordproblem——torelievepoorpeople，oneortwoofwhom，liketheRutherford，weregrateful，therestactedittothelife——toreceivenowandthenavisitfromChristinaJohnstone，whoborrowedeverymortalbookinhishouse，whosoldhimfish，invariablycheatedhimbytheindelibleforceofhabit，andthenremorsefullyundidthebargain，withapeevishentreatythat"hewouldnotbesogreen，fortherewasnodoingbusinesswithhim"——tobefasteneduponbyFlucker，who，withadmirablesmoothnessandcunning，wormedhimselfintoacabin—boyonboardtheyacht，andman—at—armsashore.

Tocruiseinsearchofadventures，andmeetnothingbutdisappointments;

toacquireabrownertint，alighterstep，andajacket，ourstorymovesforawhiletowardhumblerpersonages.

CHAPTERIV.

JESSRUTHERFORD，widowofAlexanderJohnstone——forNewhavenwives，likegreatartists，changetheirconditionswithoutchangingtheirnames——wasknowninthetownonlyasadourwife，asouroldcarline.Whosefault？

Dowoodenfacesandirontonguestemptsorrowtoputoutitssnails’

horns？

Shehardlyspoketoanyone，oranyonetoher，butfourdaysafterthevisitwehavedescribedpeoplebegantobendlooksofsympathyonher，tostepoutoftheirwaytogiveherakindlygood—morrow;afterabit，fishandmealusedtobeplacedonhertablebyoneneighbororanother，whenshewasout，andsoon.Shewasatfirstbehindhandinrespondingtoallthis，butbydegreesshethawedtothosewhowerethawingtoher.Next，Saunderscalledonher，andshowedherasettlement，madeforherbenefit，oncertainlandsinLanarkshire.Shewasateaseforlife.

TheAlmightyhadseenheralltheseyears.

Buthowcameherneighborstomelt？

Becauseanoblemanhadvisitedher.

Notexactly，dearnovel—reader.

Thiswasit.

Thatsamenight，byabrightfirelightingupsnowywalls，burnishedcopper，gleamingcandlesticks，andadinner—tablefloor，satthemistressofthehouse，ChristieJohnstone，andherbrother，Flucker.

Shewithabook，hewithhisreflectionsoppositeher.

"Lassie，haeyeonysillerpastye？"

"Ay，lad;an’Imeantokeepit！"Thebaddishboyhadregisteredavowtothecontrary，andproceededtobleedhisflint（fortodoChristiejusticetheprocesswasnotverydissimilar）.Fluckerhadaversatilegeniusformakingmoney;hehadmadeitinfortydifferentways，bylandandsea，tenpenceatatime.

"Ihaegottenthelifeo’JessRutherfordtillye，"saidhe.

"Giestthen."

"I’mseekinghalfacrownfor’t，"saidhe.

Now，heknewheshouldnevergethalfacrown，buthealsoknewthatifheaskedashilling，heshouldbebeatendowntofourpence.

Sohalfacrownwashisfirstbode.

Theenemy，withangeratherheart，calledupahumoroussmile，andsaying，"An’ye’llgetsaxpence，"wentaboutsomehouseholdmatter;inreality，toletherproposalrankleinFlucker.

Fluckerlightedhispipeslowly，asonewhowouldnotdoasistertheinjusticetonoticesotrivialaproposition.

Hewaitedfreshovertures.

Theydidnotcome.

Christieresumedherbook.

Thenthebaddishboyfixedhiseyeonthefire，andsaidsoftlyandthoughtfullytothefire，"Hech，whataheapo’troublesyonwomanhascomethrough."

Thisstrokeofartwasnotlost.Christielookedupfromherbook;

pretendedhehadspokentoher，gaveafictitiousyawn，andrenewedthenegotiationwiththeairofonedisposedtokilltime.

Shewasdyingforthestory.

Commercewastwicebrokenoffandrenewedbyeachpowerinturn.

Atlastthebargainwasstruckatfourteen—pence.

ThenFluckercameout，thehonestmerchant.

Hehadlistenedintently，withmercantileviews.

Hehadthewidow’ssorrowsalloffpat.

Hewasnotabitaffectedhimself，butbypurememoryherememberedwhereshehadbeenmostagitatedorovercome.

HegaveitChristie，wordforword，andeventhrewinwhatdramatistscall"thebusiness，"thus：

"Hereyesuldgreet——"

"Hereye’llplayyourhandlikeageraffe."

"Geraffe？That’sabeast，I’mthinking."

"Na;it’sthethingonthehillthatmakessignals."

"Telegraph，yefulishgoloshen！"

"Ooay，telegraph！Geraffe’ssunestsaidfora’."

ThusJessRutherford’slifecameintoChristieJohnstone’shands.

Shetoldittoaknotofnativesnextday;itlostnothing，forshewasawomanoffeeling，andbyintuitionanartistofthetongue.Shewasthebest_raconteur_inaplacewherethereareahundred，maleandfemale，whoattemptthatart.

Thenextdayshetolditagain，andtheninferiornarratorsgotholdofit，anditsooncirculatedthroughthetown.

AndthiswasthecauseofthesuddensympathywithJessRutherford.

Asourprigswouldsay：

"Arthadadoptedhercauseandadornedhertale."

CHAPTERV.

THEfishingvillageofNewhavenisanuniqueplace;itisacolonythatretainsdistinctfeatures;thepeopleseldomintermarrywiththeirScotchneighbors.

SomesaythecolonyisDutch，someDanish，someFlemish.Thecharacterandcleanlinessoftheirfemalecostumepointsrathertothelatter.

Fish，likehorse—flesh，corruptsthemindandmanners.

Afteracertainage，theNewhavenfishwifeisalwaysablackguard，andugly;butamongtheyoungerspecimens，whohavenottradedtoomuch，orcomeintomuchcontactwithlargertowns，acharmingmodesty，orelseslyness（suchasnomancandistinguishfromit，soitanswerseverypurpose），istobefound，combinedwithraregraceandbeauty.

Itisaraceofwomenthatthenorthernsunpeachifiesinsteadofrosewoodizing.

OnSundaysthemajoritysacrificeappearancetofashion;theseturnoutrainbowsofsilk，satinandlace.Intheweektheywereallgrace，andnostays;nowtheyseemallstaysandnograce.Theyneverlooksoillaswhentheychangetheir"costume"for"dress."

Themenaresmartfishermen，distinguishedfromtheotherfishermenoftheFirthchieflybytheir"dredgingsong."

Thisoldsongismoneytothem;thus：

Dredgingispracticallyverystiffrowingfortenhours.

NowboththeNewhavenmenandtheirrivalsareagreedthatthissongliftsthemthroughmoreworkthanuntunedfishermencanmanage.

Ihaveheardthesong，andseentheworkdonetoit;andinclinetothinkithelpstheoar，notonlybykeepingthetimetrue，andthespiritalive，butalsobyitsfavorableactiononthelungs.Itissunginapeculiarway;thesoundis，asitwere，expelledfromthechestinasortofmusicalejaculations;andthelike，weknow，wasdonebytheancientgymnasts;andisdonebytheFrenchbakers，inliftingtheirenormousdough，andbyourpaviors.

Thesong，initself，doesnotcontainaboveseventystockverses，buttheseperenniallinesareanucleus，roundwhichthemenimprovisethetopicsoftheday，giving，Iknownotforwhatreason，thepreferencetosuchasvergeuponindelicacy.

Themenandwomenaremusicalandnarrative;threeoutoffourcansingasongortellastory，andtheyomitfewopportunities.

Malesandfemalessuckwhiskylikemilk，andarequarrelsomeinproportion.Themenfight（round—handed），thewomenfleichtorscold，intheformofateapot——thehandlefixedandthespoutsawingtheair.

Asingularcustomprevailshere.

Themaidenshaveonlyonesweetheartapiece！！！

Sothewholetownisinpairs.

ThecourtingisalldoneonSaturdaynight，bythelady’sfire.Itishardtokeepoutofagrooveinwhichallthetownisrunning;andtheJohnstonehadpossessed，asmereproperty——alad！

Shewassowealthythatfewofthemcouldpretendtoaspiretoher，sosheselectedforherchattelayoungmancalledWillyListon;ayouthofanunhappyturn——hecontributednothingtohilarity，hisfacewasakill—joy——nobodylikedhim;forthisfemalereasonChristiedistinguishedhim.

HefoundadivinesuppereverySaturdaynightinherhouse;heate，andsighed！Christiefedhim，andlaughedathim.

Fluckerditto.

Assheneitherfednorlaughedatanyotherman，sometwentywerebitterlyjealousofWillyListon，andthisgavetheblightedyouthacheerfulmomentortwo.

Butthebrightalliancereceivedachecksomemonthsbeforeourtale.

Christiewas_heluolibrorum！_andlikeotherswhohavethattaste，andcanonlygratifyitintheintervalofmanualexercise，shereadveryintenselyinherhoursofstudy.Abookabsorbedher.Shewaslikealeechontheseoccasions，_nonmissuracutem._EvenJeanCarnie，herco—adjutoror"neebor，"astheycallit，founditbesttokeepoutofherwaytillthebookwassucked.

OneSaturdaynightWillyListon’sevilstarordainedthatagentlemanofFrenchoriginandSpanishdress，calledGilBlas，shouldbetheJohnstone’scompanion.

WillyListonarrived.

Christie，whohadboltedthedoor，toldhimfromthewindow，civillyenough，butdecidedly，"Shewouldexcusehiscompanythatnight."

"Varaweel，"saidWilly，anddeparted.

NextSaturday——noWillycame.

Dittothenext.Willywaswaitingthe_amende._

Christieforgottomakeit.

Onedayshewaspassingtheboats，Willybeckonedhermysteriously;heledhertohisboat，whichwascalled"TheChristieJohnstone";bytheboat’ssidewasapaintpotandbrush.

TheyhadnotsuppedtogetherforfiveSaturdays.

Ergo，Mr.Listonhadpaintedoutthefirstfourlettersof"Christie，"henowproceededtopaintoutthefifth，givinghertounderstand，that，ifsheallowedthewholenametogo，alettereveryblankSaturday，herimagewouldbegradually，buteffectually，obliteratedfromtheheartListonian.

MyreaderhasdonewhatListondidnot，anticipateheranswer.Sherecommendedhim，whilehishandwasin，topaintouttheentirename，and，withwhitepaintandasmallerbrush，tosubstitutesomeotherfemaleappellation.Sosaying，shetrippedoff.

Mr.Listononthiswasguiltyofthefollowinginconsistency;hepressedthepaintcarefullyoutofthebrushintothepot.Havingthuseconomizedhismaterial，hehurledthepotwhichcontainedhiseconomyat"theJohnstone，"hethenadjournedtothe"Peacock，"and"awayatoncewithloveandreason."

Thenceforth，whenmenaskedwhowasChristieJohnstone’slad，theanswerusedtobe，"She’sseekingane."_Quellehorreur！！_

Newhavendoesn’tknoweverything，butmyintelligentreadersuspects，and，ifconfirminghissuspicionscanreconcilehimtoourfacts，itwillsoonbedone.

ButhemustcomewithustoEdinburgh;it’sonlythreemiles.