\"Youdamnedmyfeelings,andIwilldamnyours,\"continuedJanseniusinthesametone。Trefusisinvoluntarilylookedatthedoorthroughwhichhehadlatelypassed。Then,recoveringhimself,hesaidquietly:
\"Itdoesnotmatter。Shecan\'thearus。\"
BeforeJanseniuscouldreplyhiswifehurriedupstairs,caughthimbythearm,andsaid,\"Don\'tspeaktohim,John。Andyou,\"
sheadded,toTrefusis,\"WILLyoubegone？\"
\"What！\"hesaid,lookingcynicallyather。\"Withoutmydead！
Withoutmyproperty！Well,beitso。\"
\"Whatdoyouknowofthefeelingsofarespectableman？\"
persistedJansenius,breakingoutagaininspiteofhiswife。
\"Nothingissacredtoyou。ThisshowswhatSocialistsare！\"
\"Andwhatfathersare,andwhatmothersare,\"retortedTrefusis,givingwaytohistemper。\"IthoughtyoulovedHetty,butIseethatyouonlyloveyourfeelingsandyourrespectability。Thedeviltakeboth！Shewasright;myloveforher,incompleteasitwas,wasgreaterthanyours。\"Andheleftthehouseindudgeon。
Buthestoodawhileintheavenuetolaughathimselfandhisfather—in—law。Thenhetookahansomandwasdriventothehouseofhissolicitor,whomhewishedtoconsultonthesettlementofhislatewife\'saffairs。
CHAPTERX
TheremainsofHenriettaTrefusiswereinterredinHighgateCemeterythedaybeforeChristmasEve。Threenoblemensenttheircarriagestothefuneral,andthefriendsandclientsofMr。
Jansenius,toalargenumber,attendedinperson。ThebierwascoveredwithaprofusionofcostlyBowers。Theundertaker,instructedtosparenoexpense,providedlong—tailedblackhorses,withblackpallsontheirbacksandblackplumesupontheirforeheads;coachmendecoratedwithscarvesandjack—boots,blackhammercloths,cloaks,andgloves,withmanyhiredmourners,who,however,wouldhavebeeninstantlydischargedhadtheypresumedtobetrayemotion,orinanywayoversteptheirfunctionofwalkingbesidethehearsewithbrass—tippedbatonsintheirhands。
AmongthegenuinemournerswereMr。Jansenius,whoburstintotearsattheceremonyofcastingearthonthecoffin;theboyArthur,who,preoccupiedbythenoveltyofappearinginalongcloakattheheadofapublicprocession,feltthathewasnotsosorryasheoughttobewhenhesawhispapacry;andacousinwhohadonceaskedHenriettatomarryhim,andwhonow,fulloftragicreflections,wasenjoyinghisdespairintensely。
Therestwhispered,whenevertheycoulddecentlydoso,aboutastrangeomissioninthearrangements。Thehusbandofthedeceasedwasabsent。MembersofthefamilyandintimatefriendsweretoldbyDanielJanseniusthatthewidowerhadactedinablackguardway,andthattheJanseniusesdidnotcaretwo—pencewhetherhecameorstayedathome;that,butfortheindecencyofthething,theywerejustasgladthathewaskeepingaway。Others,whohadnoclaimtobeprivatelyinformed,madeinquiriesoftheundertaker\'sforeman,whosaidheunderstoodthegentlemanobjectedtolargefunerals。Askedwhy,hesaidhesupposeditwasonthegroundofexpense。ThisbeingmetbyaremarkthatMr。
Trefusiswasverywealthy,headdedthathehadbeentoldso,butbelievedthemoneyhadnotcomefromthelady;thatpeopleseldomcaredtogotoagreatexpenseforafuneralunlesstheycameintosomethinggoodbythedeath;andthatsomepartiesthemoretheyhadthemoretheygrudged。Beforethefuneralguestsdispersed,thereportspreadbyMr。Jansenius\'sbrotherhadgotmixedwiththeviewsoftheforeman,andhadgivenrisetoastoryofTrefusisexpressingjoyathiswife\'sdeathwithfrightfuloathsinherfather\'shousewhilstshelaydeadthere,andrefusingtopayafarthingofherdebtsorfuneralexpenses。
Somedayslater,whengossiponthesubjectwassubsiding,afreshscandalrevivedit。AliteraryfriendofMr。Jansenius\'shelpedhimtocomposeanepitaph,andaddedtoitacoupleofprettyandtouchingstanzas,settingforththatHenrietta\'scharacterhadbeenoneofraresweetnessandvirtue,andthatherfriendswouldneverceasetosorrowforherloss。Atradesmanwhodescribedhimselfasa\"monumentalmason\"furnishedabookoftombdesigns,andMr。Janseniusselectedahighlyornamentalone,andproposedtodefrayhalfthecostofitserection。Trefusisobjectedthattheepitaphwasuntrue,andsaidthathedidnotseewhytombstonesshouldbeprivilegedtopublishfalsestatements。Itwasreportedthathehadfolloweduphisformermisconductbycallinghisfather—in—lawaliar,andthathehadorderedacommontombstonefromsomecheap—jackattheEast—end。
Hehad,infact,spokencontemptuouslyofthemonumentaltradesmanasan\"exploiter\"oflabor,andhadaskedayoungworkingmason,amemberoftheInternationalAssociation,todesignamonumentforthegratificationofJansenius。
Themason,withmuchpainsandmisgiving,producedanoriginaldesign。Trefusisapprovedofit,andresolvedtohaveitexecutedbythehandsofthedesigner。Hehiredasculptor\'sstudio,purchasedblocksofmarbleofthedimensionsandqualitydescribedtohimbythemason,andinvitedhimtosettoworkforthwith。
Trefusisnowencounteredadifficulty。Hewishedtopaythemasonthejustvalueofhiswork,nomoreandnoless。Butthishecouldnotascertain。Theonlyavailablestandardwasthemarketprice,andthisherejectedasbeingfixedbycompetitionamongcapitalistswhocouldonlysecureprofitbyobtainingfromtheirworkmenmoreproductsthantheypaidthemfor,andcouldonlytemptcustomersbyofferingashareoftheunpaid—forpartoftheproductsasareductioninprice。Thushefoundthatthesystemofwithholdingtheindispensablematerialsforproductionandsubsistencefromthelaborers,exceptonconditionoftheirsupportinganidleclasswhilstacceptingalowerstandardofcomfortforthemselvesthanforthatidleclass,renderedthedeterminationofjustratiosofexchange,andconsequentlythepracticeofhonestdealing,impossible。Hehadatlasttoaskthemasonwhathewouldconsiderfairpaymentfortheexecutionofthedesign,thoughheknewthatthemancouldnomoresolvetheproblemthanhe,andthat,thoughhewouldcertainlyaskasmuchashethoughthecouldget,hisdemandmustbelimitedbyhispovertyandbythecompetitionofthemonumentaltradesman。
Trefusissettledthematterbygivingdoublewhatwasasked,onlyimposingsuchconditionsaswerenecessarytocompelthemasontoexecutetheworkhimself,andnotmakeaprofitbyhiringothermenatthemarketrateofwagestodoit。
Butthedesignwas,toitsauthor\'sastonishment,tobepaidforseparately。Themason,afterhesitatingalongtimebetweentwo—pounds—tenandfivepounds,wasemboldenedbyafellow—workman,whotreatedhimtosomehotwhiskeyandwater,tonamethelargersum。Trefusispaidthemoneyatonce,andthensethimselftofindouthowmuchasimilardesignwouldhavecostfromthehandsofaneminentRoyalAcademician。Happeningtoknowagentlemaninthisposition,heconsultedhim,andwasinformedthattheprobablecostwouldbefromfivehundredtoonethousandpounds。Trefusisexpressedhisopinionthatthemason\'schargewasthemorereasonable,somewhattotheindignationofhisartistfriend,whoremindedhimoftheyearswhichaRoyalAcademicianhastospendinacquiringhisskill。Trefusismentionedthattheapprenticeshipofamasonwasquiteaslong,twiceaslaborious,andnothalfsopleasant。TheartistnowbegantofindTrefusis\'sSocialisticviews,withwhichhehadpreviouslyfanciedhimselfinsympathy,bothodiousanddangerous。Hedemandedwhethernothingwastobeallowedforgenius。Trefusiswarmlyrepliedthatgeniuscostitspossessornothing;thatitwastheinheritanceofthewholeraceincidentallyvestedinasingleindividual,andthatifthatindividualemployedhismonopolyofittoextortmoneyfromothers,hedeservednothingbetterthanhanging。Theartistlosthistemper,andsuggestedthatifTrefusiscouldnotfeelthattheprerogativeofartwasdivine,perhapshecouldunderstandthatapainterwasnotsuchafoolastodesignatombforfivepoundswhenhemightbepaintingaportraitforathousand。
Trefusisretortedthatthefactofamanpayingathousandpoundsforaportraitprovedthathehadnotearnedthemoney,andwasthereforeeitherathieforabeggar。Thecommonworkmanwhosacrificedsixpencefromhisweek\'swagesforacheapphotographtopresenttohissweet。heart,orashillingforapairofchromolithographicpicturesordelftfigurestoplaceonhismantelboard,sufferedgreaterprivationforthesakeofpossessingaworkofartthanthegreatlandlordorshareholderwhopaidathousandpounds,whichhewastoorichtomiss,foraportraitthat,likeHogarth\'sJackSheppard,wasonlyinterestingtostudentsofcriminalphysiognomy。Alivelyquarrelensued,Trefusisdenouncingthefollyofartistsinfancyingthemselvesapriestlycastewhentheywereobviouslyonlytheparasitesandfavoredslavesofthemoneyedclasses,andhisfriend（temporarilyhisenemy）sneeringbitterlyatlevellerswhowereforlevellingdowninsteadoflevellingup。Finally,tiredofdisputing,andremorsefulfortheiracrimony,theydinedamicablytogether。
ThemonumentwasplacedinHighgateCemeterybyasmallbandofworkmenwhomTrefusisfoundoutofemployment。Itborethefollowinginscription:
THISISTHEMONUMENTOFHENRIETTAJANSENIUSWHOWASBORNONTHE
26THJULY,1856,MARRIEDTOSIDNEYTREFUSISONTHE23RDAUGUST,1875,ANDWHODIEDONTHE21STDECEMBERINTHESAMEYEAR。
Mr。Janseniustookthisasaninsulttohisdaughter\'smemory,and,asthetombwasmuchsmallerthanmanywhichhadbeenerectedinthecemeterybyfamiliestowhomtheJanseniusesclaimedsuperiority,citeditasanexampleofthewidower\'smeanness。ButbyotherpersonsitwassomuchadmiredthatTrefusishopeditwouldensuretheprosperityofitsdesigner。
Thecontraryhappened。Whenthemasonattemptedtoreturntohisordinaryworkhewasinformedthathehadcontravenedtradeusage,andthathisformeremployerswouldhavenothingmoretosaytohim。Onapplyingforadviceandassistancetothetrades—unionofwhichhewasamemberhereceivedthesamereply,andwasfurtherreproachedfortreacherytohisfellow—workmen。
HereturnedtoTrefusistosaythatthetombstonejobhadruinedhim。Trefusis,enraged,wroteanargumentativelettertothe\"Times,\"whichwasnotinserted,asarcasticonetothetrades—union,whichdidnogood,andafierceonetotheemployers,whothreatenedtotakeanactionforlibel。Hehadtocontenthimselfwithsettingthemantoworkagainonmantelpiecesandotherdecorativestone—workforuseinhousepropertyontheTrefusisestate。Inayearortwohisliberalpaymentsenabledthemasontosavesufficienttostartasanemployer,inwhichcapacityhesoonbegantogrowrich,asheknewbyexperienceexactlyhowmuchhisworkmencouldbeforcedtodo,andhowlittletheycouldbeforcedtotake。Shortlyafterthischangeinhiscircumstanceshebecameanadvocateofthrift,temperance,andsteadyindustry,andquittedtheInternationalAssociation,ofwhichhehadbeenanenthusiasticsupporterwhendependentonhisownskillandtasteasaworkingmason。
DuringtheseoccurrencesAgatha\'sschool—lifeended。Herresolutiontostudyhardduringanothertermatthecollegehadbeenformed,notforthesakeofbecominglearned,butthatshemightbecomemoreworthyofSmilash;andwhenshelearnedthetruthabouthimfromhisownlips,theideaofreturningtothesceneofthathumiliationbecameintolerabletoher。Sheleftundertheimpressionthatherheartwasbroken,forhersmartingvanity,bythelawofitsownexistence,wouldnotperceivethatitwastheseatoftheinjury。SoshebadeMissWilsonadieu;andthebeeonthewindowpanewasheardnomoreatAltonCollege。
TheintelligenceofHenrietta\'sdeathshockedherthemorebecauseshecouldnothelpbeinggladthattheonlyotherpersonwhoknewofherfollywithregardtoSmilash（himselfexcepted）
wasnowsilencedforever。Thisseemedtoheraterriblediscoveryofherowndepravity。Underitsinfluenceshebecamealmostreligious,andcausedsomeanxietyaboutherhealthtohermother,whowaspuzzledbyherunwontedseriousness,and,inparticular,byherdeterminationnottospeakofthemisconductofTrefusis,whichwasnowtheprevailingtopicofconversationinthefamily。Shelistenedinsilencetogossipingdiscussionsofhisdesertionofhiswife,hisheartlessindifferencetoherdecease,hisviolenceandbadlanguagebyherdeathbed,hisparsimony,hismaliciousoppositiontothewishesoftheJanseniuses,hischeaptombstonewiththeinsultingepitaph,hisassociationwithcommonworkmenandlowdemagogues,hissuspectedconnectionwithasecretsocietyfortheassassinationoftheroyalfamilyandblowingupofthearmy,hisatheisticdenial,inapamphletaddressedtotheclergy,ofastatementbytheArchbishopofCanterburythatspiritualaidalonecouldimprovetheconditionofthepoorintheEast—endofLondon,andthecrowningdisgraceofhistrialforseditiouslibelattheOldBailey,wherehewascondemnedtosixmonths\'imprisonment;apenaltyfromwhichhewasrescuedbytheingenuityofhiscounsel,whodiscoveredaflawintheindictment,andsucceeded,atgreatcosttoTrefusis,ingettingthesentencequashed。
Agathaatlastgottiredofhearingofhismisdeeds。Shebelievedhimtobeheartless,selfish,andmisguided,butsheknewthathewasnottheloud,coarse,sensual,andignorantbrawlermostofhermother\'sgossipssupposedhimtobe。Sheevenfelt,inspiteofherself,anemotionofgratitudetothefewwhoventuredtodefendhim。
Preparationforherfirstseasonhelpedhertoforgethermisadventure。She\"cameout\"induetime,andanextremelydullseasonshefoundit。Somuchso,thatshesometimesaskedherselfwhethersheshouldeverbehappyagain。Atthecollegetherehadbeengoodfellowship,fun,rules,anddutieswhichwereasourceofstrengthwhenobservedandasourceofdeliciousexcitementwhenviolated,freedomfromceremony,toffeemaking,flightsonthebanisters,andappreciativeaudiencesforthesoldierinthechimney。
Insocietythereweresillyconversationslastinghalfaminute,coolacquaintanceshipsfoundedonsuchhalf—minutes,generalreciprocityofsuspicion,overcrowding,insufficientventilation,badmusicbadlyexecuted,latehours,unwholesomefood,intoxicatingliquors,jealouscompetitioninuselessexpenditure,husband—hunting,flirting,dancing,theatres,andconcerts。Thelastthree,whichAgathaliked,helpedtomakethecontrastbetweenAltonandLondontolerabletoher,buttheyhadtheirdrawbacks,forgoodpartnersatthedances,andgoodperformancesatthespiritlessoperaandconcerts,weredisappointinglyscarce。Flirtingshecouldnotendure;shedrovemenawaywhentheybecametender,seeinginthemthefalsehoodofSmilashwithouthiswit。Shewasconsideredrudebytheyoungergentlemenofhercircle。Theydiscussedherbadmannersamongthemselves,andagreedtopunishherbynotaskinghertodance。Shethusgotrid,withoutknowingwhy,oftheattentionsshecaredforleast（sheretainedaschoolgirl\'scruelcontemptfor\"boys\"）,andenjoyedherselfasbestshecouldwithsuchoftheolderormoresensiblemenaswerenotintolerantofgirls。
Atbesttheyearwastheleasthappyshehadeverspent。Sherepeatedlyalarmedhermotherbybroachingprojectsofbecomingahospitalnurse,apublicsinger,oranactress。Theseprojectsledtosomedesultorystudies。Inordertoqualifyherselfasanurseshereadahandbookofphysiology,whichMrs。WyliethoughtsoimproperasubjectforayoungladythatshewentintearstobegMrs。Janseniustoremonstratewithherunrulygirl。Mrs。
Jansenius,betteradvised,wasofopinionthatthemoreawomanknewthemorewiselyshewaslikelytoact,andthatAgathawouldsoondropthephysiologyofherownaccord。Thisprovedtrue。
Agatha,havingfinishedherbookbydintofextensiveskipping,proceededtostudypathologyfromavolumeofclinicallectures。
Findingherownsensationsexactlylikethosedescribedinthebookassymptomsofthedirestdiseases,sheputitbyinalarm,andtookupanovel,whichwasfreefromthefaultshehadfoundinthelectures,inasmuchasnoneoftheemotionsitdescribedintheleastresembledanyshehadeverexperienced。
Afterabriefinterval,sheconsultedafashionableteacherofsingingastowhetherhervoicewasstrongenoughfortheoperaticstage。Herecommendedhertostudywithhimforsixyears,assuringherthatattheendofthatperiod——ifshefollowedhisdirections——sheshouldbethegreatestsingerintheworld。Tothistherewas,inhermind,theconclusiveobjectionthatinsixyearssheshouldbeanoldwoman。Sosheresolvedtotryprivatelywhethershecouldnotgetonmorequicklybyherself。Meanwhile,withaviewtothedramaincaseheroperaticschemeshouldfail,shetooklessonsinelocutionandgymnastics。
Practiceintheseimprovedherhealthandspiritssomuchthatherpreviousaspirationsseemedtoolimited。Shetriedherhandatalltheartsinsuccession,butwastoodiscouragedbytheweaknessofherfirstattemptstopersevere。Sheknewthatasageneralruletherearefeebleandridiculousbeginningstoallexcellence,butsheneverappliedgeneralrulestoherowncase,stillthinkingofherselfasanexceptiontothem,justasshehaddonewhensheromancedaboutSmilash。Theillusionsofadolescencewerethickuponher。
Meanwhileherprogresswascreatinganxietiesinwhichshehadnoshare。Herparoxysmsofexhilaration,followedbyagnawingsenseoffailureanduselessness,wereknowntohermotheronlyas\"wildness\"and\"lowspirits,\"tobecombatedbyneedleworkasasedative,orbeefteaasastimulant。Mrs。Wyliehadlearntbyrotethatthewholedutyofaladyistobegraceful,charitable,helpful,modest,anddisinterestedwhilstawaitingpassivelywhateverlotthesevirtuesmayinduce。Butshehadlearntbyexperiencethatalady\'sbusinessinsocietyistogetmarried,andthatvirtuesandaccomplishmentsalikeareimportantonlyasattractionstoeligiblebachelors。Asthistruthisshameful,youngladiesareleftforayearortwotofinditoutforthemselves;itisseldomexplicitlyconveyedtothemattheirentryintosociety。Hencetheyoftenthrowawaycapitalbargainsintheirfirstseason,andarecompelledtoofferthemselvesatgreatlyreducedpricessubsequently,whentheirattractionsbegintostale。ThiswasthefatewhichMrs。Wylie,warnedbyMrs。
Jansenius,fearedforAgatha,who,timeaftertimewhenacallowgentlemanofwealthandpositionwasintroducedtoher,drovehimbrusquelyawayassoonasheventuredtohintthat200
hisaffectionswereconcernedintheiracquaintanceship。Theanxiousmotherhadtoconsoleherselfwiththefactthatherdaughterdroveawaytheineligibleasruthlesslyastheeligible,formednounworldlyattachments,wasstillveryyoung,andwouldgrowlesscoyassheadvancedinyearsandinwhatMrs。Janseniuscalledsense。
ButastheseasonswentbyitremainedquestionablewhetherAgathawasthemoretobecongratulatedonhavingbegunlifeafterleavingschoolorHenriettaonhavingfinishedit。
CHAPTERXI
BrandonBeeches,intheThamesvalley,wastheseatofSirCharlesBrandon,seventhbaronetofthatname。Hehadlosthisfatherbeforeattaininghismajority,andhadmarriedshortlyafterwards;sothatinhistwenty—fifthyearhewasfathertothreechildren。Hewasalittleworn,inspiteofhisyouth,buthewastallandagreeable,hadawinningwayoftakingakindandsoothingviewofthemisfortunesofothers,couldtellastorywell,likedmusicandcouldplayandsingalittle,lovedtheartsofdesignandcouldsketchalittleinwatercolors,readeverymagazinefromLondontoParisthatcriticisedpictures,hadtravelledalittle,fishedalittle,shotalittle,botanizedalittle,wanderedrestlesslyinthefootstepsofwomen,anddissipatedhisenergiesthroughallthesmallchannelsthathiswealthopenedandhistalentsmadeeasytohim。Hehadnolargeknowledgeofanysubject,thoughhehadlookedintomanyjustfarenoughtoreplaceabsoluteunconsciousnessofthemwithmeasurableignorance。Neverhavingenjoyedthesenseofachievement,hewastroubledwithunsatisfiedaspirationsthatfilledhimwithmelancholyandconvincedhimthathewasabornartist。Hiswifefoundhimselfish,peevish,hankeringafterchange,andpronetobelievethathewasattackedbydangerousdiseasewhenhewasonlycatchingcold。
LadyBrandon,whobelievedthatheunderstoodallthesubjectshetalkedaboutbecauseshedidnotunderstandthemherself,wasoneofhisdisappointments。Inpersonsheresemblednoneofthetypesofbeautystrivenafterbythepaintersofhertime,butshehadcharmstowhichfewmenareinsensible。Shewastall,soft,andstout,withampleandshapelyarms,shoulders,andhips。Withhersmallhead,littleears,prettylips,androguisheye,she,beingaverylargecreature,presentedanimmensityofhalfwomanly,halfinfantilelovelinesswhichsmoteevengravemenwithadesiretoclaspherintheirarmsandkissher。ThisdesirehadscatteredthedesultoryintellectualcultureofSirCharlesatfirstsight。Hisimaginationinvestedherwiththetasteforthefineartswhichhorequiredfromawife,andhemarriedherinherfirstseason,onlytodiscoverthattheamativenessinhertemperamentwassolittleandlanguidthatshemadeallhisattemptsatfondnessridiculous,androbbedthecaressesforwhichhehadlongedofalltheiranticipatedecstasy。
Intellectuallyshefellstillfurthershortofhishopes。Shelookeduponhisfavoriteartofpaintingasapastimeforamateurandabranchofthehouse—furnishingtradeforprofessionalartists。Whenhewasdiscussingitamonghisfriends,shewouldofferheropinionwithapresumptionwhichwasthemoretryingasshefrequentlyblundereduponasoundconclusionwhilsthewasreasoninghiswaytoahollowonewithhisutmostsubtletyandseriousness。Onsuchoccasionshisdisgustdidnottroubleherintheleast;shetriumphedinit。Shehadconcludedthatmarriagewasagreaterfolly,andmengreaterfools,thanshehadsupposed;butsuchbeliefsratherlightenedhersenseofresponsibilitythandisappointedher,and,asshehadplentyofmoney,plentyofservants,plentyofvisitors,andplentyofexerciseonhorseback,ofwhichshewasimmoderatelyfond,hertimepassedpleasantlyenough。Comfortseemedtoherthenaturalorderoflife;troublealwayssurprisedher。Herhusband\'sfriends,whomistrustedeveryfuturehour,andfoundmatterforbitterreflectioninmanypastones,weretoheronlyexamplesofthepowerofsedentaryhabitsandexcessivereadingtomakementrippedanddull。
OnefineMaymorning,asshecanteredalongtheavenueatBrandonBeechesonapowerfulbayhorse,thegatesattheendopenedandayoungmanspedthroughthemonabicycle。Hewasofslightframe,withfinedarkeyesanddelicatenostrils。WhenherecognizedLadyBrandonhewavedhiscap,andwhentheymethesprangfromhisinanimatesteed,atwhichthebayhorseshied。
\"Don\'t,yousillybeast！\"shecried,whackingtheanimalwiththebuttofherwhip。\"Thoughit\'snaturalenough,goodnessknows！
Howd\'yedo？Theideaofanyonerichenoughtoaffordahorseridingonawheellikethat！\"
\"ButIamnotrichenoughtoaffordahorse,\"hesaid,approachinghertopatthebay,havingplacedthebicycleagainstatree。\"Besides,Iamafraidofhorses,notbeingaccustomedtothem;andIknownothingaboutfeedingthem。Mysteedneedsnofood。Hedoesn\'tbitenorkick。Henevergoeslame,norsickens,nordies,norneedsagroom,nor——\"
\"That\'sallbosh,\"saidLadyBrandonimpetuously。\"Itstumbles,andgivesyouthemostawfultosses,anditgoeslamebyitstreadlesandthingamejigscomingoff,anditwearsout,andistwiceasmuchtroubletokeepcleanandscrapethemudoffasahorse,andallsortsofthings。Ithinkthemostridiculoussightintheworldisamanonabicycle,workingawaywithhisfeetashardashepossiblycan,andbelievingthathishorseiscarryinghiminsteadof,asanyonecansee,hecarryingthehorse。Youneedn\'ttellmethatitisn\'teasiertowalkintheordinarywaythantodragagreatdeadironthingalongwithyou。It\'snotgoodsense。\"
\"NeverthelessIcancarryitahundredmilesfurtherinadaythanIcancarrymyselfalone。Sucharethemarvelsofmachinery。
ButIknowthatwecutaverypoorfigurebesideyouandthatmagnificentcreaturenotthatanyonewilllookatmewhilstyouarebytooccupytheirattentionsomuchmoreworthily。\"
Shedartedaglanceathimwhichcloudedhisvisionandmadehisheartbeatmorestrongly。Thiswasanoldhabitofhers。Shekeptitupfromloveoffun,havingnoideaoftheeffectitproducedonmoreardenttemperamentsthanherown。Hecontinuedhastily:
\"IsSirCharleswithindoors？\"
\"Oh,it\'sthemostridiculousthingIeverheardofinmylife,\"
sheexclaimed。\"AmanthatlivesbyhimselfinaplacedownbytheRiversideRoadlikeatoysavingsbank——don\'tyouknowthethingsImean？——calledSallust\'sHouse,saysthereisarightofwaythroughournewpleasureground。Asifanyonecouldhaveanyrightthereafterallthemoneywehavespentfencingitonthreesides,andbuildingupthewallbytheroad,andlevelling,andplanting,anddraining,andgoodnessknowswhatelse！Andnowthemansaysthatallthecommonpeopleandtrampsintheneighborhoodhavearighttowalkacrossitbecausetheyaretoolazytogoroundbytheroad。SirCharleshasgonetoseethemanaboutit。Ofcoursehewouldn\'tdoasIwantedhim。\"
\"Whatwasthat？\"
\"Writetotellthemantomindhisownbusiness,andtosaythatthefirstpersonwefoundattemptingtotrespassonourpropertyshouldbegiventothepolice。\"
\"ThenIshallfindnooneathome。Ibegyourpardonforcallingitso,butitistheonlyplacelikehometome。\"
\"Yes;itissocomfortablesincewebuiltthebilliardroomandtookawaythosenastyhangingsinthehall。Iwaseversolongtryingtoper——\"
Shewasinterruptedbyanoldlaborer,whohobbledupasfastashisrheumatismwouldallowhim,andbegantospeakwithoutfurtherceremonythansnatchingoffhiscap。
\"Th\'avecoomtothenoogroups,mylady,crowdsof\'em。An\'aparsonwith\'em,an\'aflag！SurChorleshedon\'tknowwhattosay;an\'soochdoin\'sneverwas。\"
LadyBrandonturnedpaleandpulledatherhorseasiftobackhimoutofsomedanger。Hervisitor,puzzled,askedtheoldmanwhathemeant。
\"There\'sgoin\'tobeaproceyshonthroughthenoogroups,\"hereplied,\"an\'themastercan\'tstop\'em。Th\'avethroondownthewall;threeyardsofitislyin\'onRiversideRoad。An\'there\'saparsonwith\'em,andaflag。An\'himthatlivesinSallust\'shoos,he\'sthere,hoddin\'\'emon。\"
\"Throwndownthewall！\"exclaimedLadyBrandon,scarletwithindignationandpalewithapprehensionbyturns。\"Whatadisgracefulthing！Wherearethepolice？Chester,willyoucomewithmeandseewhattheyaredoing？SirCharlesisnouse。Doyouthinkthereisanydanger？\"
\"There\'stwopolice,\"saidtheoldman,\"an\'himthatlivesatSallust\'sdar\'dthemstophim。They\'relookin\'on。An\'there\'saparsonamong\'em。Iseehimpullin\'awayatthewallwithhisownhan\'s。\"
\"Iwillgoandseethefun,\"saidChester。
LadyBrandonhesitated。Butherangerandcuriosityvanquishedherfears。Sheovertookthebicycle,andtheywenttogetherthroughthegatesandbythehighroadtothescenetheoldmanhaddescribed。Aheapofbricksandmortarlayintheroadwayoneachsideofabreachinthenewlybuiltwall,overwhichLadyBrandon,fromhereminenceonhorseback,couldsee,comingtowardsheracrossthepleasureground,acolumnofaboutthirtypersons。Theymarchedthreeabreastingoodorderandinsilence;
theexpressionofallexceptafewmirthfulfacesbeingthatofdevoteesfulfillingarite。Thegravityoftheprocessionwasdeepenedbytheappearanceofaclergymaninitsranks,whichwerecomposedofmenofthemiddleclass,andafewworkmencarryingabannerinscribedTHESOILorENGLANDTHEBIRTHRIGHTOF
ALLHERPEOPLE。Therewerealsofourwomen,uponwhomLadyBrandonlookedwithintenseindignationandcontempt。Noneofthemenoftheneighborhoodhaddaredtojoin;theystoodintheroadwhispering,andoccasionallyventuringtolaughatthejestsofacoupleoftrampswhohadstoppedtoseethefun,andwhocarednothingforSirCharles。
He,standingalittlewaywithinthefield,wasremonstratingangrilywithamanofhisownclass,whostoodwithhisbacktothebreachandhishandsinthepocketsofhissnuff—coloredclothes,contemplatingtheprocessionwithelatesatisfaction。
LadyBrandon,atoncesuspectingthatthiswasthemanfromSallust\'sHouse,andencouragedbytheloyaltyofthecrowd,mostofwhommadewayforherandtouchedtheirhats,hitthebayhorsesmartlywithherwhipandrodehim,withaclatterofhoofsandscatteringofclods,rightatthesnuff—coloredenemy,whohadtospringhastilyasidetoavoidher。Therewasaroaroflaughterfromtheroadway,andthemanturnedsharplyonher。Buthesuddenlysmiledaffably,replacedhishandsinhispocketsafterraisinghishat,andsaid:
\"Howdoyoudo,MissCarpenter？Ithoughtyouwereachargeofcavalry。\"
\"IamnotMissCarpenter,IamLadyBrandon;andyououghttobeashamedofyourself,Mr。Smilash,ifitisyouthathavebroughtthesedisgracefulpeoplehere。\"
HiseyesasherepliedwereeloquentwithreproachtoherforbeingnolongerMissCarpenter。\"IamnotSmilash,\"hesaid;\"I
amSidneyTrefusis。IhavejusthadthepleasureofmeetingSirCharlesforthefirsttime,andweshallbethebestfriendspossiblewhenIhaveconvincedhimthatitishardlyfairtoseizeonapathbelongingtothepeopleandcompelthemtowalkamileandahalfroundhisestateinsteadoffourhundredyardsbetweentwoportionsofit。\"
\"Ihavealreadytoldyou,sir,\"saidSirCharles,\"thatIintendtoopenastillshorterpath,andtoallowallthewell—conductedwork—peopletopassthroughtwiceaday。Thiswillenablethemtogototheirworkandreturnfromit;andIwillbeatthecostofkeepingthepathinrepair。\"
