第1章

ByJEROMEK。JEROME TheneighbourhoodofBloomsburySquaretowardsfouro’clockofaNovemberafternoonisnotsocrowdedastosecuretothestranger，ofappearanceanythingoutofthecommon，immunityfromobservation。 Tibb’sboy，screamingatthetopofhisvoicethat_she_washishoney，stoppedsuddenly，steppedbackwardsontothetoesofavolubleyoungladywheelingaperambulator，andremaineddeaf，apparently，tothesomewhatpersonalremarksofthevolubleyounglady。Notuntilhehadreachedthenextcorner——andthenmoreasasoliloquythanasinformationtothestreet——didTibb’sboyrecoversufficientinterestinhisownaffairstoremarkthat_he_washerbee。Thevolubleyoungladyherself，followingsomehalf—a—dozenyardsbehind，forgotherwrongsincontemplationofthestranger’sback。Therewasthisthatwaspeculiaraboutthestranger’sback：thatinsteadofbeingflatitpresentedadecidedcurve。\"Itain’ta’ump，anditdon’tlooklikekervitcherofthespine，\"observedthevolubleyoungladytoherself。 \"BlimyifIdon’tbelieve’e’staking’ome’iswashinguphisback。\" Theconstableatthecorner，tryingtoseembusydoingnothing，noticedthestranger’sapproachwithgatheringinterest。\"That’sanoddsortofawalkofyours，youngman，\"thoughttheconstable。\"Youtakecareyoudon’tfalldownandtumbleoveryourself。\" \"Thoughthewasayoungman，\"murmuredtheconstable，thestrangerhavingpassedhim。\"Hehadayoungfacerightenough。\" Thedaylightwasfading。Thestranger，findingitimpossibletoreadthenameofthestreetuponthecornerhouse，turnedback。 \"Why，’tisayoungman，\"theconstabletoldhimself；\"amereboy。\" \"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidthestranger；\"butwouldyoumindtellingmemywaytoBloomsburySquare。\" \"ThisisBloomsburySquare，\"explainedtheconstable；\"leastwaysroundthecorneris。Whatnumbermightyoubewanting？\" Thestrangertookfromtheticketpocketofhistightlybuttonedovercoatapieceofpaper，unfoldeditandreaditout：\"Mrs。 Pennycherry。NumberForty—eight。\" \"Roundtotheleft，\"instructedhimtheconstable；\"fourthhouse。 Beenrecommendedthere？\" \"By——byafriend，\"repliedthestranger。\"Thankyouverymuch。\" \"Ah，\"mutteredtheconstabletohimself；\"guessyouwon’tbecallinghimthatbytheendoftheweek，young——\" \"Funny，\"addedtheconstable，gazingaftertheretreatingfigureofthestranger。\"Seenplentyoftheothersexaslookedyoungbehindandoldinfront。Thiscovelooksyounginfrontandoldbehind。 Guesshe’lllookoldallroundifhestopslongatmotherPennycherry’s：stingyoldcat。\" ConstableswhosebeatincludedBloomsburySquarehadtheirreasonsfornotlikingMrs。Pennycherry。Indeeditmighthavebeendifficulttodiscoveranyhumanbeingwithreasonsforlikingthatsharp—featuredlady。Maybethekeepingofsecond—rateboardinghousesintheneighbourhoodofBloomsburydoesnottendtodevelopthevirtuesofgenerosityandamiability。 Meanwhilethestranger，proceedingnponhisway，hadrungthebellofNumberForty—eight。Mrs。Pennycherry，peepingfromtheareaandcatchingaglimpse，abovetherailings，ofahandsomeifsomewhateffeminatemasculineface，hastenedtoreadjustherwidow’scapbeforethelooking—glasswhiledirectingMaryJanetoshowthestranger，shouldheproveaproblematicalboarder，intothedining—room，andtolightthegas。 \"Anddon’tstopgossiping，anddon’tyoutakeituponyourselftoanswerquestions。SayI’llbeupinaminute，\"wereMrs。 Pennycherry’sfurtherinstructions，\"andmindyouhideyourhandsasmuchasyoucan。\" *** \"Whatareyougrinningat？\"demandedMrs。Pennycherry，acoupleofminuteslater，ofthedingyMaryJane。 \"Wasn’tgrinning，\"explainedthemeekMaryJane，\"wasonlysmilingtomyself。\" \"Whatat？\" \"Dunno，\"admittedMaryJane。Butstillshewentonsmiling。 \"What’shelikethen？\"demandedMrs。Pennycherry。 \"’Eain’ttheusualsort，\"wasMaryJane’sopinion。 \"ThankGodforthat，\"ejaculatedMrs。Pennycherrypiously。 \"Says’e’sbeenrecommended，byafriend。\" \"Bywhom？\" \"Byafriend。’Edidn’tsaynoname。\"Mrs。Pennycherrypondered。 \"He’snotthefunnysort，ishe？\" Notthatsortatall。MaryJanewassureofit。 Mrs。Pennycherryascendedthestairsstillpondering。Assheenteredtheroomthestrangerroseandbowed。Nothingcouldhavebeensimplerthanthestranger’sbow，yettherecamewithittoMrs。Pennycherryarushofoldsensationslongforgotten。ForonebriefmomentMrs。 Pennycherrysawherselfanamiablewell—bredlady，widowofasolicitor：avisitorhadcalledtoseeher。Itwasbutamomentaryfancy。ThenextinstantRealityreasserteditself。Mrs。Pennycherry，alodging—housekeeper，existingprecariouslyuponadailyroundofpettymeannesses，waspreparedforcontestwithapossiblenewboarder，whofortunatelylookedaninexperiencedyounggentleman。 \"Someonehasrecommendedmetoyou，\"beganMrs。Pennycherry；\"mayI askwho？\" Butthestrangerwavedthequestionasideasimmaterial。 \"Youmightnotremember——him，\"hesmiled。\"HethoughtthatIshoulddowelltopassthefewmonthsIamgiven——thatIhavetobeinLondon，here。Youcantakemein？\" Mrs。Pennycherrythoughtthatshewouldbeabletotakethestrangerin。 \"Aroomtosleepin，\"explainedthestranger，\"——anyroomwilldo——withfoodanddrinksufficientforaman，isallthatIrequire。\" \"Forbreakfast，\"beganMrs。Pennycherry，\"Ialwaysgive——\" \"Whatisrightandproper，Iamconvinced，\"interruptedthestranger。 \"Praydonottroubletogointodetail，Mrs。Pennycherry。WithwhateveritisIshallbecontent。\" Mrs。Pennycherry，puzzled，shotaquickglanceatthestranger，buthisface，thoughthegentleeyesweresmiling，wasfrankandserious。 \"Atalleventsyouwillseetheroom，\"suggestedMrs。Pennycherry，\"beforewediscussterms。\" \"Certainly，\"agreedthestranger。\"Iamalittletiredandshallbegladtorestthere。\" Mrs。Pennycherryledthewayupward；onthelandingofthethirdfloor，pausedamomentundecided，thenopenedthedoorofthebackbedroom。 \"Itisverycomfortable，\"commentedthestranger。 \"Forthisroom，\"statedMrs。Pennycherry，\"togetherwithfullboard，consistingof——\" \"Ofeverythingneedful。Itgoeswithoutsaying，\"againinterruptedthestrangerwithhisquietgravesmile。 \"Ihavegenerallyasked，\"continuedMrs。Pennycherry，\"fourpoundsaweek。Toyou——\"Mrs。Pennycherry’svoice，unknowntoher，tooktoitselfthenoteofaggressivegenerosity——\"seeingyouhavebeenrecommendedhere，saythreepoundsten。\" \"Dearlady，\"saidthestranger，\"thatiskindofyou。Asyouhavedivined，Iamnotarichman。IfitbenotimposinguponyouIacceptyourreductionwithgratitude。\" AgainMrs。Pennycherry，familiarwiththesatiricalmethod，shotasuspiciousglanceuponthestranger，butnotalinewasthere，uponthatsmoothfairface，towhichasneercouldforamomenthaveclung。 Clearlyhewasassimpleashelooked。 \"Gas，ofcourse，extra。\" \"Ofcourse，\"agreedtheStranger。 \"Coals——\" \"Weshallnotquarrel，\"forathirdtimethestrangerinterrupted。 \"Youhavebeenveryconsideratetomeasitis。Ifeel，Mrs。 Pennycherry，Icanleavemyselfentirelyinyourhands。\" Thestrangerappearedanxioustobealone。Mrs。Pennycherry，havingputamatchtothestranger’sfire，turnedtodepart。AndatthispointitwasthatMrs。Pennycherry，theholderhithertoofanunbrokenrecordforsanity，behavedinamannersheherself，fiveminutesearlierinhercareer，wouldhavedeemedimpossible——thatnolivingsoulwhohadeverknownherwouldhavebelieved，evenhadMrs。 Pennycherrygonedownuponherkneesandswornittothem。 \"DidIsaythreepoundten？\"demandedMrs。Pennycherryofthestranger，herhanduponthedoor。Shespokecrossly。Shewasfeelingcross，withthestranger，withherself——particularlywithherself。 \"Youwerekindenoughtoreduceittothatamount，\"repliedthestranger；\"butifuponreflectionyoufindyourselfunable——\" \"Iwasmakingamistake，\"saidMrs。Pennycherry，\"itshouldhavebeentwopoundten。\" \"Icannot——Iwillnotacceptsuchsacrifice，\"exclaimedthestranger； \"thethreepoundtenIcanwellafford。\" \"Twopoundtenaremyterms，\"snappedMrs。Pennycherry。\"Ifyouarebentonpayingmore，youcangoelsewhere。You’llfindplentytoobligeyou。\" Hervehemencemusthaveimpressedthestranger。\"Wewillnotcontendfurther，\"hesmiled。\"Iwasmerelyafraidthatinthegoodnessofyourheart——\" \"Oh，itisn’tasgoodasallthat，\"growledMrs。Pennycherry。 \"Iamnotsosure，\"returnedthestranger。\"Iamsomewhatsuspiciousofyou。Butwilfulwomanmust，Isuppose，haveherway。\" Thestrangerheldouthishand，andtoMrs。Pennycherry，atthatmoment，itseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworldtotakeitasifithadbeenthehandofanoldfriendandtoendtheinterviewwithapleasantlaugh——thoughlaughingwasanexercisenotoftenindulgedinbyMrs。Pennycherry。 MaryJanewasstandingbythewindow，herhandsfoldedinfrontofher，whenMrs。Pennycherryre—enteredthekitchen。BystandingclosetothewindowonecaughtaglimpseofthetreesinBloomsburySquareandthroughtheirbarebranchesoftheskybeyond。 \"There’snothingmuchtodoforthenexthalfhour，tillCookcomesback。I’llseetothedoorifyou’dlikearunout？\"suggestedMrs。 Pennycherry。 \"Itwouldbenice，\"agreedthegirlsosoonasshehadrecoveredpowerofspeech；\"it’sjustthetimeofdayIlike。\" \"Don’tbelongerthanthehalfhour，\"addedMrs。Pennycherry。 Forty—eightBloomsburySquare，assembledafterdinnerinthedrawing—room，discussedthestrangerwiththatfreedomandfranknesscharacteristicofForty—eightBloomsburySquare，towardstheabsent。 \"NotwhatIcallasmartyoungman，\"wastheopinionofAugustusLongcord，whowassomethingintheCity。 \"Thpeakingformythelf，\"commentedhispartnerIsidore，\"hav’n’thanyutheforthethmartyoungman。Toomanyofhim，athitith。\" \"Mustbeprettysmartifhe’sonetoomanyforyou，\"laughedhispartner。 TherewasthistobesaidforthereparteeofForty—eightBloomsburySquare：itwassimpleofconstructionandeasyofcomprehension。 \"Wellitmademefeelgoodjustlookingathim，\"declaredMissKite，thehighlycoloured。\"Itwashisclothes，Isuppose——mademethinkofNoahandtheark——allthatsortofthing。\" \"Itwouldbeclothesthatwouldmakeyouthink——ifanything，\"drawledthelanguidMissDevine。Shewasatall，handsomegirl，engagedatthemomentinfutileeffortstoreclinewitheleganceandcomfortcombineduponahorsehairsofa。MissKite，byreasonofhavingsecuredtheonlyeasy—chair，wasunpopularthatevening；sothatMissDevine’sremarkreceivedfromtherestofthecompanymoreapprobationthanperhapsitmerited。 \"Isthatintendedtobeclever，dear，oronlyrude？\"MissKiterequestedtobeinformed。 \"Both，\"claimedMissDevine。 \"Myself？Imustconfess，\"shoutedthetallyounglady’sfather，commonlycalledtheColonel，\"Ifoundhimafool。\" \"Inoticedyouseemedtobegettingonverywelltogether，\"purredhiswife，aplump，smilinglittlelady。 \"Possiblywewere，\"retortedtheColonel。\"Fatehasaccustomedmetothesocietyoffools。\" \"Isn’titapitytostartquarrellingimmediatelyafterdinner，youtwo，\"suggestedtheirthoughtfuldaughterfromthesofa，\"you’llhavenothinglefttoamuseyoufortherestoftheevening。\" \"Hedidn’tstrikemeasaconversationalist，\"saidtheladywhowascousintoabaronet；\"buthedidpassthevegetablesbeforehehelpedhimself。Alittlethinglikethatshowsbreeding。\" \"Orthathedidn’tknowyouandthoughtmaybeyou’dleavehimhalfaspoonful，\"laughedAugustusthewit。 \"WhatIcan’tmakeoutabouthim——\"shoutedtheColonel。 Thestrangerenteredtheroom。 TheColonel，securingtheeveningpaper，retiredintoacorner。ThehighlycolouredKite，reachingdownfromthemantelpieceapaperfan，helditcoylybeforeherface。MissDevinesatuprightonthehorse—hairsofa，andrearrangedherskirts。 \"Knowanything？\"demandedAugustusofthestranger，breakingthesomewhatremarkablesilence。 Thestrangerevidentlydidnotunderstand。ItwasnecessaryforAugustus，thewitty，toadvancefurtherintothatoddsilence。 \"What’sgoingtopullofftheLincolnhandicap？Tellme，andI’llgooutstraightandputmyshirtuponit。\" \"Ithinkyouwouldactunwisely，\"smiledthestranger；\"Iamnotanauthorityuponthesubject。\" \"Not！WhytheytoldmeyouwereCaptainSpyofthe_SportingLife_——indisguise。\" Itwouldhavebeendifficultforajoketofallmoreflat。Nobodylaughed，thoughwhyMr。AugustusLongcordcouldnotunderstand，andmaybenoneofhisaudiencecouldhavetoldhim，foratForty—eightBloomsburySquareMr。AugustusLongcordpassedasahumorist。Thestrangerhimselfappearedunawarethathewasbeingmadefunof。 \"Youhavebeenmisinformed，\"assuredhimthestranger。 \"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidMr。AugustusLongcord。 \"Itisnothing，\"repliedthestrangerinhissweetlowvoice，andpassedon。 \"Wellwhataboutthistheatre，\"demandedMr。Longcordofhisfriendandpartner；\"doyouwanttogoordon’tyou？\"Mr。Longcordwasfeelingirritable。 \"Goththeticketh——mayathwell，\"thoughtIsidore。 \"Damnstupidpiece，I’mtold。\" \"Mothtofthemthupid，moreorleth。Pitytowathtetheticketh，\" arguedIsidore，andthepairwentout。 \"AreyoustayinglonginLondon？\"askedMissKite，raisingherpractisedeyestowardsthestranger。 \"Notlong，\"answeredthestranger。\"AtleastIdonotknow。Itdepends。\" Anunusualquiethadinvadedthedrawing—roomofForty—eightBloomsburySquare，generallynoisywithstridentvoicesaboutthishour。TheColonelremainedengrossedinhispaper。Mrs。Devinesatwithherplumpwhitehandsfoldedonherlap，whetherasleepornotitwasimpossibletosay。Theladywhowascousintoabaronethadshiftedherchairbeneaththegasolier，hereyesbentonhereverlastingcrochetwork。ThelanguidMissDevinehadcrossedtothepiano，whereshesatfingeringsoftlythetunelesskeys，herbacktothecoldbarely—furnishedroom。 \"Sitdown！\"commandedsaucilyMissKite，indicatingwithherfanthevacantseatbesideher。\"Tellmeaboutyourself。Youinterestme。\" MissKiteadoptedaprettyauthoritativeairtowardsallyouthful—lookingmembersoftheoppositesex。Itharmonisedwiththepeachcomplexionandthegoldenhair，andfittedheraboutaswell。 \"Iamgladofthat，\"answeredthestranger，takingthechairsuggested。\"Isowishtointerestyou。\" \"You’reaveryboldboy。\"MissKiteloweredherfan，forthepurposeofglancingarchlyovertheedgeofit，andforthefirsttimeencounteredtheeyesofthestrangerlookingintohers。AndthenitwasthatMissKiteexperiencedpreciselythesamecurioussensationthatanhourorsoagohadtroubledMrs。Pennycherrywhenthestrangerhadfirstbowedtoher。ItseemedtoMissKitethatshewasnolongertheMissKitethat，hadsherisenandlookedintoit，thefly—blownmirroroverthemarblemantelpiecewould，sheknew，havepresentedtoherview；butquiteanotherMissKite——acheerful，bright—eyedladyvergingonmiddleage，yetstillgood—lookinginspiteofherfadedcomplexionandsomewhatthinbrownlocks。MissKitefeltapangofjealousyshootthroughher；thismiddle—agedMissKiteseemed，onthewhole，amoreattractivelady。Therewasawholesomeness，abroadmindednessaboutherthatinstinctivelydrewonetowardsher。 Nothampered，asMissKiteherselfwas，bythenecessityofappearingtobesomewherebetweeneighteenandtwenty—two，thisotherMissKitecouldtalksensibly，evenbrilliantly：onefeltit。Athoroughly\"nice\"womanthisotherMissKite；therealMissKite，thoughenvious，wasboundtoadmitit。MissKitewishedtogoodnessshehadneverseenthewoman。TheglimpseofherhadrenderedMissKitedissatisfiedwithherself。 \"Iamnotaboy，\"explainedthestranger；\"andIhadnointentionofbeingbold。\" \"Iknow，\"repliedMissKite。\"Itwasasillyremark。Whateverinducedmetomakeit，Ican’tthink。Gettingfoolishinmyoldage，Isuppose。\" Thestrangerlaughed。\"Surelyyouarenotold。\" \"I’mthirty—nine，\"snappedoutMissKite。\"Youdon’tcallityoung？\" \"Ithinkitabeautifulage，\"insistedthestranger；\"youngenoughnottohavelostthejoyofyouth，oldenoughtohavelearntsympathy。\" \"Oh，Idaresay，\"returnedMissKite，\"anyageyou’dthinkbeautiful。 I’mgoingtobed。\"MissKiterose。Thepaperfanhadsomehowgotitselfbroken。Shethrewthefragmentsintothefire。 \"Itisearlyyet，\"pleadedthestranger，\"Iwaslookingforwardtoatalkwithyou。\" \"Well，you’llbeabletolookforwardtoit，\"retortedMissKite。 \"Good—night。\" Thetruthwas，MissKitewasimpatienttohavealookatherselfintheglass，inherownroomwiththedoorshut。ThevisionofthatotherMissKite——theclean—lookingladyofthepalefaceandthebrownhairhadbeensovivid，MissKitewonderedwhethertemporaryforgetfulnessmightnothavefallenuponherwhiledressingfordinnerthatevening。 Thestranger，lefttohisowndevices，strolledtowardsthelootable，seekingsomethingtoread。 \"YouseemtohavefrightenedawayMissKite，\"remarkedtheladywhowascousintoabaronet。 \"Itseemsso，\"admittedthestranger。 \"Mycousin，SirWilliamBosster，\"observedthecrochetinglady，\"whomarriedoldLordEgham’sniece——younevermettheEghams？\" \"Hitherto，\"repliedthestranger，\"Ihavenothadthatpleasure。\" \"Acharmingfamily。Cannotunderstand——mycousinSirWilliam，Imean，cannotunderstandmyremaininghere。’MydearEmily’——hesaysthesamethingeverytimeheseesme：’MydearEmily，howcanyouexistamongthesortofpeopleonemeetswithinaboarding—house。’Buttheyamuseme。\" Asenseofhumour，agreedthestranger，wasalwaysofadvantage。 \"Ourfamilyonmymother’sside，\"continuedSirWilliam’scousininherplacidmonotone，\"wasconnectedwiththeTatton—Joneses，whowhenKingGeorgetheFourth——\"SirWilliam’scousin，needinganotherreelofcotton，glancedup，andmetthestranger’sgaze。 \"I’msureIdon’tknowwhyI’mtellingyouallthis，\"saidSirWilliam’scousininanirritabletone。\"Itcan’tpossiblyinterestyou。\" \"Everythingconnectedwithyouinterestsme，\"gravelythestrangerassuredher。 \"Itisverykindofyoutosayso，\"sighedSirWilliam’scousin，butwithoutconviction；\"IamafraidsometimesIborepeople。\" Thepolitestrangerrefrainedfromcontradiction。 \"Yousee，\"continuedthepoorlady，\"Ireallyamofgoodfamily。\" \"Dearlady，\"saidthestranger，\"yourgentleface，yourgentlevoice，yourgentlebearing，allproclaimit。\" Shelookedwithoutflinchingintothestranger’seyes，andgraduallyasmilebanishedthereigningdulnessofherfeatures。 \"Howfoolishofme。\"Shespokerathertoherselfthantothestranger。\"Why，ofcourse，people——peoplewhoseopinionisworthtroublingabout——judgeofyoubywhatyouare，notbywhatyougoaboutsayingyouare。\" Thestrangerremainedsilent。