\"Granted;buthedidn\'tmakeafortune。Hetookafortunethatothersmade。AtCambridgetheytaughtmethathisprofitsweretherewardofabstinence——theabstinencewhichenabledhimtosave。ThatquietedmyconscienceuntilIbegantowonderwhyonemanshouldmakeanotherpayhimforexercisingoneofthevirtues。Thencamethequestion:whatdidmyfatherabstainfrom？
Theworkmenabstainedfrommeat,drink,freshair,goodclothes,decentlodging,holidays,money,thesocietyoftheirfamilies,andprettynearlyeverythingthatmakeslifeworthliving,whichwasperhapsthereasonwhytheyusuallydiedtwentyyearsorsosoonerthanpeopleinourcircumstances。Yetnoonerewardedthemfortheirabstinence。Therewardcametomyfather,whoabstainedfromnoneofthesethings,butindulgedinthemalltohisheart\'scontent。Besides,ifthemoneywastherewardofabstinence,itseemedlogicaltoinferthathemustabstaintentimesasmuchwhenhebadfiftythousandayearaswhenhehadonlyfivethousand。Herewasaproblemformyyoungmind。
Required,somethingfromwhichmyfatherabstainedandinwhichhisworkmenexceeded,andwhichheabstainedfrommoreandmoreashegrewricherandricher。Theonlythingthatansweredthisdescriptionwashardwork,andasInevermetasanemanwillingtopayanotherforidling,Ibegantoseethattheseprodigiouspaymentstomyfatherwereextortedbyforce。Todohimjustice,heneverboastedofabstinence。Heconsideredhimselfahard—workedman,andclaimedhisfortuneastherewardofhisrisks,hiscalculations,hisanxieties,andthejourneyshehadtomakeatallseasonsandatallhours。Thiscomfortedmesomewhatuntilitoccurredtomethatifhehadlivedacenturyearlier,investedhismoneyinahorseandapairofpistols,andtakentotheroad,hisobject——thatofwrestingfromothersthefruitsoftheirlaborwithoutrenderingthemanequivalent——wouldhavebeenexactlythesame,andhisriskfargreater,foritwouldhaveincludedriskofthegallows。Constanttravellingwiththeconstableathisheels,andcalculationsofthechancesofrobbingtheDovermail,wouldhavegivenhimhisfillofactivityandanxiety。Onthewhole,ifJesseTrefusis,M。P。,whodiedamillionaireinhispalaceatKensington,hadbeenahighwayman,I
couldnotmoreheartilyloathethesocialarrangementsthatrenderedsuchacareerashisnotonlypossible,buteminentlycreditabletohimselfintheeyesofhisfellows。Mostmenmakeittheirbusinesstoimitatehim,hopingtobecomerichandidleonthesameterms。ThereforeIturnmybackonthem。Icannotsitattheirfeastsknowinghowmuchtheycostinhumanmisery,andseeinghowlittletheyproduceofhumanhappiness。Whatisyouropinion,mytreasure？\"
Henriettaseemedalittletroubled。Shesmiledfaintly,andsaidcaressingly,\"Itwasnotyourfault,Sidney。_I_don\'tblameyou。\"
\"Immortalpowers！\"heexclaimed,sittingboltuprightandappealingtotheskies,\"hereisawomanwhobelievesthattheonlyconcernallthiscausesmeiswhethershethinksanytheworseofmepersonallyonaccountofit！\"
\"No,no,Sidney。ItisnotIalone。Nobodythinkstheworseofyouforit。\"
\"Quiteso,\"hereturned,inapolitefrenzy。\"Nobodyseesanyharminit。Thatispreciselythemischiefofit。\"
\"Besides,\"sheurged,\"yourmotherbelongedtooneoftheoldestfamiliesinEngland。\"
\"Andwhatmorecanmandesirethanwealthwithdescentfromacountyfamily！CouldamanbehappierthanIoughttobe,sprungasIamfrommonopolistsofallthesourcesandinstrumentsofproduction——oflandontheoneside,andofmachineryontheother？Thisverygroundonwhichwearerestingwasthepropertyofmymother\'sfather。Atleastthelawallowedhimtouseitassuch。Whenhewasaboy,therewasafairlyprosperousraceofpeasantssettledhere,tillingthesoil,payinghimrentforpermissiontodoso,andmakingenoughoutofittosatisfyhislargewantsandtheirownnarrowneedswithoutworkingthemselvestodeath。Butmygrandfatherwasashrewdman。Heperceivedthatcowsandsheepproducedmoremoneybytheirmeatandwoolthanpeasantsbytheirhusbandry。Soheclearedtheestate。Thatis,hedrovethepeasantsfromtheirhomes,asmyfatherdidafterwardsinhisScotchdeerforest。Or,ashistombstonehasit,hedevelopedtheresourcesofhiscountry。Idon\'tknowwhatbecameofthepeasants;HEdidn\'tknow,and,Ipresume,didn\'tcare。Isupposetheoldoneswentintotheworkhouse,andtheyoungonescrowdedthetowns,andworkedformenlikemyfatherinfactories。Theirplacesweretakenbycattle,whichpaidfortheirfoodsowellthatmygrandfather,gettingmyfathertotakesharesintheenterprise,hiredlaborersontheManchestertermstocutthatcanalforhim。Whenitwasmade,hetooktolluponit;andhisheirsstilltaketoll,andthesonsofthenavvieswhodugitandoftheengineerwhodesigneditpaythetollwhentheyhaveoccasiontotravelbyit,ortopurchasegoodswhichhavebeenconveyedalongit。Iremembermygrandfatherwell。Hewasawell—bredman,andaperfectgentlemaninhismanners;but,onthewhole,Ithinkhewaswickederthanmyfather,who,afterall,wascaughtinthewheelsofavicioussystem,andhadeithertospoilothersorbespoiledbythem。Butmygrandfather——theoldrascal！——wasinnosuchdilemma。MasterashewasofhisbitofmerryEngland,nomancouldhaveenslavedhim,andhemightatleasthavelivedandletlive。Myfatherfollowedhisexampleinthematterofthedeerforest,butthatwastheclimaxofhiswickedness,whereasitwasonlythebeginningofmygrandfather\'s。Howbeit,whicheverbearsthepalm,theretheywere,thetypesafterwhichweallstrive。\"
\"Notall,Sidney。Notwetwo。Ihatetradespeopleandcountrysquires。Webelongtotheartisticandculturedclasses,andwecankeepalooffromshopkeepers。\"
\"Living,meanwhile,attherateofseveralthousandayearonrentandinterest。No,mydear,thisisthewayofthosepeoplewhoinsistthatwhentheyareinheaventheyshallbesparedtherecollectionofsuchaplaceashell,butarequitecontentthatitshallexistoutsidetheirconsciousness。Irespectmyfathermore——ImeanIdespisehimless——fordoinghisownsweatingandfilchingthanIdothesensitivesluggardsandcowardswholenthimtheirmoneytosweatandfilchwith,andaskednoquestionsprovidedtheinterestwaspaidpunctually。Andastoyourfriendstheartists,theyaretheworstofall。\"
\"Oh,Sidney,youaredeterminednottobepleased。Artistsdon\'tkeepfactories。\"
\"No;butthefactoryisonlyapartofthemachineryofthesystem。Itsbasisisthetyrannyofbrainforce,which,amongcivilizedmen,isallowedtodowhatmuscularforcedoesamongschoolboysandsavages。Theschoolboypropositionis:\'Iamstrongerthanyou,thereforeyoushallfagforme。\'Itsgrownupformis:\'Iamclevererthanyou,thereforeyoushallfagforme。\'Thestateofthingsweproducebysubmittingtothis,badenoughevenatfirst,becomesintolerablewhenthemediocreorfoolishdescendantsofthecleverfellowsclaimtohaveinheritedtheirprivileges。Now,nomenaregreatersticklersforthearbitrarydominionofgeniusandtalentthanyourartists。Thegreatpainterisnotsatisfiedwithbeingsoughtafterandadmiredbecausehishandscandomorethanordinaryhands,whichtheytrulycan,buthewantstobefedasifhisstomachneededmorefoodthanordinarystomachs,whichitdoesnot。Aday\'sworkisaday\'swork,neithermorenorless,andthemanwhodoesitneedsaday\'ssustenance,anight\'srepose,anddueleisure,whetherhebepainterorploughman。Buttherascalofapainter,poet,novelist,orothervoluptuaryinlabor,isnotcontentwithhisadvantageinpopularesteemovertheploughman;healsowantsanadvantageinmoney,asifthereweremorehoursinadayspentinthestudioorlibrarythaninthefield;orasifheneededmorefoodtoenablehimtodohisworkthantheploughmantoenablehimtodohis。Hetalksofthehigherqualityofhiswork,asifthehigherqualityofitwereofhisownmaking——asifitgavehimarighttoworklessforhisneighborthanhisneighborworksforhim——asiftheploughmancouldnotdobetterwithouthimthanhewithouttheploughman——asifthevalueofthemostcelebratedpictureshasnotbeenquestionedmorethanthatofanystraightfurrowinthearableworld——asifitdidnottakeanapprenticeshipofasmanyyearstotrainthehandandeyeofamasonorblacksmithasofanartist——asif,inshort,thefellowwereagod,ascantingbrainworshippershaveforyearspastbeenassuringhimheis。ArtistsarcthehighpriestsofthemodernMoloch。Nineoutoftenofthemarediseasedcreatures,justsaneenoughtotradeontheirownneuroses。Theonlyqualityo？theirswhichextortsmyrespectisacertainsublimeselfishnesswhichmakesthemwillingtostarveandtolettheirfamiliesstarvesoonerthandoanyworktheydon\'tlike。\"
\"INDEEDyouarequitewrong,Sidney。TherewasagirlattheSladeschoolwhosupportedhermotherandtwosistersbyherdrawing。Besides,whatcanyoudo？Peopleweremadeso。\"
\"Yes;Iwasmadealandlordandcapitalistbythefollyofthepeople;buttheycanunmakemeiftheywill。MeanwhileIhaveabsolutelynomeansofescapefrommypositionexceptbygivingawaymyslavestofellowswhowillusethemnobetterthanI,andbecomingaslavemyself;which,ifyouplease,youshallnotcatchmedoinginahurry。No,mybeloved,Imustkeepmyfootontheirnecksforyoursakeaswellasformyown。Butyoudonotcareaboutallthisprosystuff。Iamconsumedwithremorseforhavingboredmydarling。YouwanttoknowwhyIamlivingherelikeahermitinavulgartwo—roomedhovelinsteadoftastingthedelightsofLondonsocietywithmybeautifulanddevotedyoungwife。\"
\"Butyoudon\'tintendtostayhere,Sidney？\"
\"Yes,Ido;andIwilltellyouwhy。IamhelpingtoliberatethoseManchesterlaborerswhoweremyfather\'sslaves。Tobringthatabout,theirfellowslavesallovertheworldmustuniteinavastinternationalassociationofmenpledgedtosharetheworld\'sworkjustly;tosharetheproduceoftheworkjustly;toyieldnotafarthing——charityapart——toanyfull—grownandable—bodiedidlerormalingerer,andtotreatasvermininthecommonwealthpersonsattemptingtogetmorethantheirshareofwealthorgivelessthantheirshareofwork。Thisisaverydifficultthingtoaccomplish,becauseworking—men,likethepeoplecalledtheirbetters,donotalwaysunderstandtheirowninterests,andwilloftenactuallyhelptheiroppressorstoexterminatetheirsaviourstothetuneof\'RuleBritannia,\'orsomesuchlyingdoggerel。Wemusteducatethemoutofthat,and,meanwhile,pushforwardtheinternationalassociationoflaborersdiligently。Iamatpresentoccupiedinpropagatingitsprinciples。Capitalism,organizedforrepressivepurposesunderpretextofgoverningthenation,wouldverysoonstoptheassociationifitunderstoodouraim,butitthinksthatweareengagedingunpowderplotsandconspiraciestoassassinatecrownedheads;andso,whilstthepoliceareblunderinginsearchofevidenceofthese,ourrealworkgoesonunmolested。WhetherI
amreallyadvancingthecauseismorethanIcansay。Iuseheapsofpostagestamps,paytheexpensesofmanyindifferentlecturers,defraythecostofprintingreamsofpamphletsandhand—billswhichhailthelaborerflatteringlyasthesaltoftheearth,writeandeditalittlesocialistjournal,anddowhatliesinmypowergenerally。Ihadratherspendmyill—gottenwealthinthiswaythanuponanexpensivehouseandaretinueofservants。AndIprefermycorduroysandmytwo—roomedchaletheretoourprettylittlehouse,andyourprettylittleways,andmyprettylittleneglectoftheworkthatmyheartissetupon。Someday,perhaps,Iwilltakeaholiday;andthenweshallhaveanewhoneymoon。\"
ForamomentHenriettaseemedabouttocry。Suddenlysheexclaimedwithenthusiasm:\"Iwillstaywithyou,Sidney。Iwillshareyourwork,whateveritmaybe。Iwilldressasadairymaid,andhavealittlepailtocarrymilkin。Theworldisnothingtomeexceptwhenyouarewithme;andIshouldlovetolivehereandsketchfromnature。\"
Heblenched,andpartiallyrose,unabletoconcealhisdismay。
She,resolvednottobecastoff,seizedhimandclungtohim。
ThiswasthemovementthatexcitedthederisionofWickens\'sboyintheadjacentgravelpit。Trefusiswasgladoftheinterruption;and,whenhegavetheboytwopenceandbadehimbegone,halfhopedthathewouldinsistonremaining。Butthoughanobdurateboyonmostoccasions,heprovedcomplaisantonthis,andwithdrewtothehighroad,wherehemadeoveroneofhispenniestoaphantomgambler,andtossedwithhimuntilrecalledfromhisdualstatebytheappearanceofFairholme\'sparty。
Inthemeantime,Henriettaurgentlyreturnedtoherproposition。
\"Weshouldbesohappy,\"shesaid。\"Iwouldhousekeepforyou,andyoucouldworkasmuchasyoupleased。Ourlifewouldbealongidyll。\"
\"Mylove,\"hesaid,shakinghisheadasshelookedbeseechinglyathim,\"IhavetoomuchManchestercottoninmyconstitutionforlongidylls。Andthetruthis,thatthefirstconditionofworkwithmeisyourabsence。Whenyouarewithme,Icandonothingbutmakelovetoyou。Youbewitchme。WhenIescapefromyouforamoment,itisonlytogroanremorsefullyoverthehoursyouhavetemptedmetowasteandtheenergyyouhavefutilized。\"
\"Ifyouwon\'tlivewithmeyouhadnorighttomarryme。\"
\"True。Butthatisneitheryourfaultnormine。Wehavefoundthatweloveeachothertoomuch——thatourintercoursehindersourusefulness——andsowemustpart。Notforever,mydear;onlyuntilyouhavecaresandbusinessofyourowntofillupyourlifeandpreventyoufromwastingmine。\"
\"Ibelieveyouaremad,\"shesaidpetulantly。\"Theworldismadnowadays,andisgallopingtothedeuceasfastasgreedcangoadit。Imerelystandoutoftherush,notlikingitsdestination。
Herecomesabarge,thecommanderofwhichisdevotedtomebecausehebelievesthatIamorganizingarevolutionfortheabolitionoflockduesandtolls。WewillgoaboardandfloatdowntoLyvern,whenceyoucanreturntoLondon。Youhadbettertelegraphfromthejunctiontothecollege;theremustbeahueandcryoutafterusbythistime。Youshallhavemyaddress,andwecanwritetooneanotherorseeoneanotherwheneverweplease。Oryoucandivorcemefordesertingyou。\"
\"Youwouldlikemeto,Iknow,\"saidHenrietta,sobbing。
\"Ishoulddieofdespair,mydarling,\"hesaidcomplacently。
\"Shipaho—o—o—y！Stopcrying,Hetty,forGod\'ssake。Youlaceratemyverysoul。\"
\"Ah—o—o—o—o—o—o—oy,master！\"roaredthebargee。
\"Goodarternoon,sir,\"saidamanwho,withashortwhipinhishand,trudgedbesidethewhitehorsethattowedthebarge。\"Comeup！\"headdedmalevolentlytothehorse。
\"Iwanttogetonboard,andgouptoLyvernwithyou,\"saidTrefusis。\"Heseemsawellfedbrute,that。\"
\"Betterfednorme,\"saidtheman。\"Youcan\'tgettheworkoutofahunderfed\'orsethatyoucanoutofahunderfedmanorwoman。
I\'vebininpartsofEnglandwherewomenpulledthebarges。Theycomecheapernor\'orses,becauseitdidn\'tcostnothingtogetnewoneswhentheoldonesweworeout。\"
\"Thenwhynotemploythem？\"saidTrefusis,withironicalgravity。
\"TheprincipleofbuyinglaborforceinthecheapestmarketandsellingitsproductinthedearesthasdonemuchtomakeEnglishmen——whattheyare。\"
\"Therailwaycomp\'nieskeeps\'orspittlesforthelikeof\'IM,\"
saidtheman,withacunninglaugh,indicatingthehorsebysmackinghimonthebellywiththebuttofthewhip。\"Ifeveryoutrybein\'alaborerinearnest,governor,tryitonfourlegs。
You\'llfinditfarpreferabletotryingontwo。\"
\"Thismanisoneofmyconverts,\"saidTrefusisaparttoHenrietta。\"HetoldmetheotherdaythatsinceIsethimthinkingheneverseesagentlemanwithoutfeelinginclinedtoheaveabrickathim。Ifindthatsocialismisoftenmisunderstoodbyitsleastintelligentsupportersandopponentstomeansimplyunrestrainedindulgenceofournaturalpropensitytoheavebricksatrespectablepersons。NowIamgoingtocarryyoualongthisplank。Ifyoukeepquiet,wemayreachthebarge。
Ifnot,weshallreachthebottomofthecanal。\"
Hecarriedhersafelyover,andexchangedsomefriendlywordswiththebargee。ThenhetookHenriettaforward,andstoodwatchingthewaterastheywerebornealongnoiselesslybetweenthehillypasturesofthecountry。
\"Thiswouldbeafairyjourney,\"hesaid,\"ifonecouldforgetthewomandownbelow,cookingherhusband\'sdinnerinastiflingholeaboutasbigasyourwardrobe,and——\"
\"Oh,don\'ttalkanymoreofthesethings,\"shesaidcrossly;\"I
cannothelpthem。Ihavemyowntroublestothinkof。HERhusbandliveswithher。\"
\"Shewillchangeplaceswithyou,mydear,ifyoumakehertheoffer。\"
Shehadnoanswerready。Afterapausehebegantospeakpoeticallyofthesceneryandtoofferherloverlikespeechesandcompliments。Butshefeltthatheintendedtogetridofher,andheknewthatitwasuselesstotrytohidethatdesignfromher。
Sheturnedawayandsatdownonapileofbricks,onlywrithingangrilywhenhepressedherforaword。Astheynearedtheendofhervoyage,andherintenseprotestagainstdesertionremained,asshethought,onlyhalfexpressed,hersenseofinjurygrewalmostunbearable。
Theylandedonawharf,andwentthroughanunswept,deeply—ruttedlaneuptothemainstreetofLyvern。HerehebecameSmilashagain,walkingdeferentiallyalittlebeforeher,asifshehadhiredhimtopointouttheway。Shethensawthatherlastopportunityofappealingtohimhadgoneby,andshenearlyburstintotearsatthethought。Itoccurredtoherthatshemightprevailuponhimbymakingasceneinpublic。Butthestreetwasabusyone,andshewasalittleafraidofhim。
Neitherconsiderationwouldhavecheckedherinoneofherungovernablemoods,butnowshewasinanabjectone。Hermoodsseemedtocomeonlywhentheywereharmfultoher。Shesufferedherselftobeputintotherailwayomnibus,whichwasonthepointofstartingfromtheinnyardwhentheyarrivedthere,andthoughhetouchedhishat,askedwhethershehadanymessagetogivehim,andinatenderwhisperwishedherasafejourney,shewouldnotlookatorspeaktohim。Sotheyparted,andhereturnedalonetothechalet,wherehewasreceivedbythetwopolicemenwhosubsequentlybroughthimtothecollege。
CHAPTERVI
Theyearworeon,andthelongwintereveningssetin。ThestudiousyoungladiesatAltonCollege,elbowsondeskandhandsoverears,shudderedchillilyinfurtippetswhilsttheyloadedtheirmemorieswiththestatementsofwritersonmoralscience,or,likemenwhoswimuponcorks,reasonedoutmathematicalproblemsuponpostulates。Whenceitsometimeshappenedthatthemorereasonableastudentwasinmathematics,themoreunreasonableshewasintheaffairsofreallife,concerningwhichfewtrustworthypostulateshaveyetbeenascertained。
Agatha,notstudious,andapttoshiverinwinter,begantobreakRuleNo。17withincreasingfrequency。RuleNo。17forbadethestudentstoenterthekitchen,orinanywaytodisturbtheservantsinthedischargeoftheirduties。Agathabrokeitbecauseshewasfondofmakingtoffee,ofeatingit,ofagoodfire,ofdoinganyforbiddenthing,andoftheadmirationwithwhichtheservantslistenedtoherventriloquialandmusicalfeats。Gertrudeaccompaniedherbecauseshetoolikedtoffee,andbecausesheplumedherselfonhercondescensiontoherinferiors。
Janewentbecausehertwofriendswent,andthespiritofadventure,theforceofexample,andtheloveoftoffeeoftenbroughtmorevolunteerstotheseexpeditionsthanAgathathoughtitsafetoenlist。OneeveningMissWilson,goingdownstairsalonetoherprivatewinecellar,wasarrestednearthekitchenbysoundsofrevelry,and,stoppingtolisten,overheardthecastanetdance（whichremindedheroftheemphasiswithwhichAgathahadsnappedherfingersatMrs。Miller）,thebeeonthewindowpane,\"RobinAdair\"（encoredbytheservants）,andanimitationofherselfintheactofappealingtoJaneCarpenter\'sbetternaturetoinducehertostudyfortheCambridgeLocal。Shewaiteduntilthecoldandherfearofbeingdiscoveredspyingforcedhertocreepupstairs,ashamedofhavingenjoyedasillyentertainment,andofconnivingatabreachoftherulesratherthanfaceafreshquarrelwithAgatha。
TherewasoneparticularinwhichmattersbetweenAgathaandthecollegedisciplinedidnotgoonexactlyasbefore。Althoughshehadformerlysuppliedadisproportionatelylargenumberoftheconfessionsinthefaultbook,theentrywhichhadnearlyledtoherexpulsionwasthelastsheevermadeinit。Notthatherconductwasbetter——itwasratherthereverse。MissWilsonnevermentionedthematter,thefaultbookbeingsacredfromallallusiononherpart。ButshesawthatthoughAgathawouldnotconfessherownsins,shestillassistedotherstounburdentheirconsciences。ThewitticismswithwhichJaneunsuspectinglyenlivenedthepagesoftheRecordingAngelwereconclusiveonthispoint。
Smilashhadnowadoptedaprofession。Inthelastdaysofautumnhehadwhitewashedthechalet,paintedthedoors,windows,andveranda,repairedtheroofandinterior,andimprovedtheplacesomuchthatthelandlordhadwarnedhimthattherentwouldberaisedattheexpirationofhistwelvemonth\'stenancy,remarkingthatatenantcouldnotreasonablyexpecttohaveapretty,rain—tightdwelling—houseforthesamemoneyasahardlyhabitableruin。Smilashhadimmediatelypromisedtodilapidateittoitsformerstateattheendoftheyear。Hehadputupaboardatthegatewithaninscriptioncopiedfromsomeprintedcardswhichhepresentedtopersonswhohappenedtoconversewithhim。
_______________________________________________________
JEFFERSONSMILASH
PAINTER,DECORATOR,GLAZIER,PLUMBER&GARDENER。Pianofortestuned。DomesticengineeringinallitsBranches。Familieswaiteduponattableorotherwise。
CHAMOUNIXVILLA,LYVERN。（N。B。AdviceGratis。NoReasonableofferrefused。）_______________________________________________________
Thebusinessthusannounced,comprehensiveasitwas,didnotflourish。Whenaskedbythecuriousfortestimonytohiscompetenceandrespectability,herecklesslyreferredthemtoFairholme,toJosephs,andinparticulartoMissWilson,who,hesaid,hadknownhimfromhisearliestchildhood。Fairholme,gladofanopportunitytoshowthathewasnomealymouthedparson,declared,whenappliedto,thatSmilashwasthegreatestrogueinthecountry。Josephs,partlyfrombenevolence,andpartlyfromavaguefearthatSmilashmightatanymomenttakeanactionagainsthimfordefamationofcharacter,saidhehadnodoubtthathewasaverycheapworkman,andthatitwouldbeacharitytogivehimsomelittlejobtoencouragehim。MissWilsonconfirmedFairholme\'saccount;andthechurchorganist,whohadtunedallthepianofortesintheneighborhoodonceayearfornearlyaquarterofacentury,denouncedthenewcomerasJackofalltradesandmasterofnone。HereupontheradicalsofLyvern,asmallanddisreputableparty,begantoassertthattherewasnoharmintheman,andthattheparsonsandMissWilson,wholivedinafinehouseanddidnothingbuttakeinthedaughtersofrichswellsasboarders,mightemploytheirleisurebetterthanintakingthebreadoutofapoorworkman\'smouth。Butasnoneofthisfactionneededtheservicesofadomesticengineer,hewasnonethericherfortheirsupport,andtheonlypatronheobtainedwasahousemaidwhowasleavinghersituationatacountryhouseinthevicinity,andwantedherboxrepaired,thelidhavingfallenoff。Smilashdemandedhalf—a—crownforthejob,butonherdemurring,immediatelyapologizedandcamedowntoashilling。Forthissumherepaintedthebox,tracedherinitialsonit,andaffixednewhinges,aBramahlock,andbrasshandles,atacosttohimselfoftenshillingsandseveralhours\'labor。
Thehousemaidfoundfaultwiththecolorofthepaint,madehimtakeoffthehandles,which,shesaid,remindedherofacoffin,complainedthatalockwithsuchasmallkeycouldn\'tbestrongenoughforalargebox,butadmittedthatitwasallherownfaultfornotemployingaproperman。Itgotaboutthathehadmadeapoorjobofthebox;andashe,whentaxedwiththis,emphaticallyconfirmedit,hegotnoothercommission;andhissignboardservedthenceforthonlyfortheamusementofpedestriantouristsandofshepherdboyswithatasteforstonethrowing。
OnenightagreatstormblewoverLyvern,andthoseyoungladiesatAltonCollegewhowereafraidoflightning,saidtheirprayerswithsomeearnestness。Athalf—pasttwelvetherain,wind,andthundermadesuchadinthatAgathaandGertrudewrappedthemselvesinshawls,stoledownstairstothewindowonthelandingoutsideMissWilson\'sstudy,andstoodwatchingtheflashesgivevividglimpsesofthelandscape,anddiscussinginwhisperswhetheritwasdangeroustostandnearawindow,andwhetherbrassstair—rodscouldattractlightning。Agatha,asseriousandfriendlywithasinglecompanionasshewasmischievousandsatiricalbeforealargeraudience,enjoyedthescenequietly。Thelightningdidnotterrifyher,forsheknewlittleofthevalueoflife,andfanciedmuchconcerningtheheroismofbeingindifferenttoit。Thetremorswhichthemorestartlingflashescausedher,onlymadehermoreconsciousofherowncourageanditscontrastwiththeuneasinessofGertrude,whoatlast,shrinkingfromaforkedzigzagofblueflame,said:
\"Letusgobacktobed,Agatha。Ifeelsurethatwearenotsafehere。\"
\"Quiteassafeasinbed,wherewecannotseeanything。Howthehouseshakes！Ibelievetherainwillbatterinthewindowsbefore——\"
\"Hush,\"whisperedGertrude,catchingherarminterror。\"Whatwasthat？\"
\"What？\"
\"IamsureIheardthebell——thegatebell。Oh,doletusgobacktobed。\"
\"Nonsense！Whowouldbeoutonsuchanightasthis？Perhapsthewindrangit。\"
Theywaitedforafewmoments;Gertrudetrembling,andAgathafeeling,asshelistenedinthedarkness,asensationfamiliartopersonswhoareafraidofghosts。Presentlyaveiledclangormingledwiththewind。Afewsharpandurgentsnatchesofitcameunmistakablyfromthebellatthegateofthecollegegrounds。Itwasaloudbell,usedtosummonaservantfromthecollegetoopenthegates;forthoughtherewasaporter\'slodge,itwasuninhabited。
\"Whoonearthcanitbe？\"saidAgatha。\"Can\'ttheyfindthewicket,theidiots？\"
\"Oh,Ihopenot！Docomeupstairs,Agatha。\"
\"No,Iwon\'t。Goyou,ifyoulike。\"ButGertrudewasafraidtogoalone。\"IthinkIhadbetterwakenMissWilson,andtellher,\"
continuedAgatha。\"Itseemsawfultoshutanybodyoutonsuchanightasthis。\"
\"Butwedon\'tknowwhoitis。\"
\"Well,Isupposeyouarenotafraidofthem,inanycase,\"saidAgatha,knowingthecontrary,butrecognizingtheconvenienceofshamingGertrudeintosilence。
Theylistenedagain。Thestormwasnowveryboisterous,andtheycouldnothearthebell。Suddenlytherewasaloudknockingatthehousedoor。Gertrudescreamed,andhercrywasechoedfromtheroomsabove,whereseveralgirlshadheardtheknockingalso,andhadbeendrivenbyitintothestateofmindwhichaccompaniestheclimaxofanightmare。Thenacandleflickeredonthestairs,andMissWilson\'svoice,reassuringlyfirm,washeard。
\"Whoisthat？\"
\"ItisI,MissWilson,andGertrude。Wehavebeenwatchingthestorm,andthereissomeoneknockingatthe——\"Atremendousbatterywiththeknocker,followedbyasound,confusedbythegale,asofamanshouting,interruptedher。
\"Theyhadbetternotopenthedoor,\"saidMissWilson,insomealarm。\"Youareveryimprudent,Agatha,tostandhere。Youwillcatchyourdeathof——Dearme！Whatcanbethematter？Shehurrieddown,followedbyAgatha,Gertrude,andsomeofthebraverstudents,tothehall,wheretheyfoundafewshiveringservantswatchingthehousekeeper,whowasatthekeyholeofthehousedoor,querulouslyaskingwhowasthere。Shewasevidentlynotheardbythosewithout,fortheknockingrecommencedwhilstshewasspeaking,andsherecoiledasifshehadreceivedablowonthemouth。MissWilsonthenrattledthechaintoattractattention,anddemandedagainwhowasthere。
\"Letusin,\"wasreturnedinahollowshoutthroughthekeyhole。
\"Thereisadyingwomanandthreechildrenhere。Openthedoor。\"
MissWilsonlostherpresenceofmind。Togaintime,shereplied,\"I——Ican\'thearyou。Whatdoyousay？\"
\"Damnation！\"saidthevoice,speakingthistimetosomeoneoutside。\"Theycan\'thear。\"Andtheknockingrecommencedwithincreasedurgency。Agatha,excited,caughtMissWilson\'sdressinggown,andrepeatedtoherwhatthevoicehadsaid。MissWilsonhadhearddistinctlyenough,andshefelt,withoutknowingclearlywhy,thatthedoormustbeopened,butshewasalmostover—masteredbyavaguedreadofwhatwastofollow。Shebegantoundothechain,andAgathahelpedwiththebolts。Twooftheservantsexclaimedthattheywereallabouttobemurderedintheirbeds,andranaway。Afewofthestudentsseemedinclinedtofollowtheirexample。Atlastthedoor,loosed,wasblownwideopen,flingingMissWilsonandAgathaback,andadmittingawhirlwindthattoreroundthehall,snatchedatthewomen\'sdraperies,andblewoutthelights。Agatha,byahashoflightning,sawforaninstanttwomenstrainingatthedoorlikesailorsatacapstan。Thensheknewbythecessationofthewhirlwindthattheyhadshutit。Matcheswerestruck,thecandlesrelighted,andthenewcomersclearlyperceived。
Smilash,bareheaded,withoutacoat,hiscorduroyvestandtrousersheavywithrain;arough—looking,middle—agedman,poorlydressedlikeashepherd,wetasSmilash,withtheexpression,piteous,patient,anddesperate,ofoneharddrivenbyill—fortune,andattheendofhisresources;twolittlechildren,aboyandagirl,almostnaked,coweringunderanoldsackthathadservedthemasanumbrella;and,lyingonthesetteewherethetwomenhadlaidit,aheapofwretchedwearingapparel,sacking,androttenmatting,withSmilash\'scoatandsou\'wester,thewholecoveringabundlewhichpresentlyprovedtobeanexhaustedwomanwithatinyinfantatherbreast。Smilash\'sexpression,ashelookedather,wasferocious。
\"Sorryfurtotroubleyou,lady,\"saidtheman,afterglancinganxiouslyatSmilash,asifhehadexpectedhimtoactasspokesman;\"butmyroofandthesideofmyhousehasgoneinthestorm,andmymissushasbeenhavinganotherlittleone,andIamsorrytoill—convenienceyou,Miss;but——but——\"
\"Inconvenience！\"exclaimedSmilash。\"Itisthelady\'sprivilegetorelieveyou——herhighestprivilege！\"
Thelittleboyherebegantocryfrommeremisery,andthewomanrousedherselftosay,\"Forshame,Tom！beforethelady,\"andthencollapsed,tooweaktocareforwhatmighthappennextintheworld。SmilashlookedimpatientlyatMissWilson,whohesitated,andsaidtohim:
\"Whatdoyouexpectmetodo？\"
