SincethenthecenturiesinEnglandhaveachievedsomethingdifferent；
　　andsomethingwhich，fortunately，isperfectlyeasytostate。Thereisnodoubtaboutwhatwehavedone。Wehavekepttheinequality，butwehavedestroyedthesecurity。Themanisnottiedtotheland，asinserfdom；noristhelandtiedtotheman，asinapeasantry。Therichmanhasenteredintoanabsoluteownershipoffarmsandfields；andinthemodernindustrialphrasehehaslockedouttheEnglishpeople。Theycanonlyfindanacretodigorahousetosleepinbyacceptingsuchcompetitiveandcrueltermsashechoosestoimpose。
　　Well，whatwouldhappenthen，overthelargerpartsoftheplanet，partsinhabitedbysavages？Savages，ofcourse，wouldhuntandfish。ThatretreatfortheEnglishpoorwasperceived；andthatretreatwascutoff。
　　GamelawsweremadetoextendoverdistrictsliketheArcticsnowsortheSahara。TherichmanhadpropertyoveranimalshehadnomoredreamedofthanagovernorofRomanAfricahaddreamedofagiraffe。Heownedallthebirdsthatpassedoverhisland:hemightaswellhaveownedallthecloudsthatpassedoverit。IfarabbitranfromSmith'slandtoBrown'sland，itbelongedtoBrown，asifitwerehispetdog。
　　Thelogicalanswertothiswouldbesimple:AnyonestungonBrown'slandoughttobeabletoprosecuteBrownforkeepingadangerouswaspwithoutamuzzle。
　　Thusthepoormanwasforcedtobeatrampalongtheroadsandtosleepintheopen。Thatretreatwasperceived；andthatretreatwascutoff。
　　AlandlessmaninEnglandcanbepunishedforbehavingintheonlywaythatalandlessmancanbehave:forsleepingunderahedgeinSurreyoronaseatontheEmbankment。Hissinisdescribedwithahideoussenseoffunasthatofhavingnovisiblemeansofsubsistence。
　　Thelastpossibility，ofcourse，isthatuponwhichallhumanbeingswouldfallbackiftheyweresinkinginaswamporimpaledonaspikeordesertedonanisland。Itisthatofcallingoutforpitytothepasser-
　　by。Thatretreatwasperceived；andthatretreatwascutoff。AmaninEnglandcanbesenttoprisonforaskinganothermanforhelpinthenameofGod。
　　Youhavedoneallthesethings，andbysodoingyouhaveforcedthepoortoservetherich，andtoservethemonthetermsoftherich。Theyhavestilloneweaponleftagainsttheextremesofinsultandunfairness:thatweaponistheirnumbersandthenecessityofthosenumberstotheworkingofthatvastandslavishmachine。AndbecausetheystillhadthislastretreatwhichwecalltheStrike，becausethisretreatwasalsoperceived，therewastalkofthisretreatbeingalsocutoff。Whereupontheworkmenbecamesuddenlyandviolentlyangry；andstruckatyourBoardsandCommitteeshere，there，andwherevertheycould。Andyouopenedonthemtheeyesofowls，andsaid，"Itmustbethesunshine。”
　　Youcouldonlygoonsaying，"Thesun，thesun。”ThatwaswhatthemaninIbsensaid，whenhehadlosthiswits。
　　THEWRONGINCENDIARY
　　IstoodlookingattheCoronationProcession——ImeantheoneinBeaconsfield；nottheratherelephantineimitationofitwhich，Ibelieve，hadsomesuccessinLondon——andIwasseriouslyimpressed。MostofmylifeispassedindiscoveringwithadeathlysurprisethatIwasquiteright。NeverbeforehaveIrealisedhowrightIwasinmaintainingthatthesmallareaexpressestherealpatriotism:thesmallerthefieldthetallerthetower。Therewerethingsinourlocalprocessionthatdidnotonemightevenreverentlysay，couldnotoccurintheLondonprocession。
　　Oneofthemostprominentcitizensinourprocessionforinstancehadhisfaceblacked。Anotherrodeonaponywhichworepinkandbluetrousers。IwasnotpresentattheMetropolitanaffair，andthereforemyassertionissubjecttosuchcorrectionastheeyewitnessmayalwaysoffertotheabsentee。ButIbelievewithsomefirmnessthatnosuchfeaturesoccurredintheLondonpageant。
　　ButitisnotofthelocalcelebrationthatIwouldspeak，butofsomethingthatoccurredbeforeit。Inthefieldbeyondtheendofmygardenthematerialsforabonfirehadbeenheaped；ahillofeverykindofrubbishandrefuseandthingsthatnobodywants；brokenchairs，deadtrees，rags，shavings，newspapers，newreligions，inpamphletform，reportsoftheEugenicCongress，andsoon。Allthisrefuse，materialandmental，itwasourpurposetopurifyandchangetoholyflameonthedaywhentheKingwascrowned。Thefollowingisanaccountoftheratherstrangethingthatreallyhappened。Idonotknowwhetheritwasanysortofsymbol；butInarrateitjustasitbefell。
　　InthemiddleofthenightIwokeupslowlyandlistenedtowhatI
　　supposedtobetheheavycrunchingofacart-wheelalongaroadofloosestones。Thenitgrewlouder，andIthoughtsomebodywasshootingoutcartloadsofstones；thenitseemedasiftheshockwasbreakingbigstonesintopieces。ThenIrealisedthatunderthissoundtherewasalsoastrange，sleepy，almostinaudibleroar；andthatontopofiteverynowandthencamepigmypopslikeabattleofpennypistols。ThenIknewwhatitwas。Iwenttothewindow；andagreatfirelightflungacrosstwomeadowssmotemewhereIstood。"Oh，myholyaunt，"Ithought，"they'vemistakentheCoronationDay。”
　　AndyetwhenIeyedthetransfiguredsceneitdidnotseemexactlylikeabonfireoranyritualillumination。Itwastoochaotic，andtooclosetothehousesofthetown。Allonesideofacottagewaspaintedpinkwiththegiantbrushofflame；thenextside，bycontrast，waspaintedasblackastar。Alongthefrontofthisranablackeningrimorrampartedgedwitharestlessredribbonthatdancedanddoubledanddevouredlikeascarletsnake；andbeyonditwasnothingbutadeathlyfulnessoflight。
　　Iputonsomeclothesandwentdowntheroad；allthedullorstartlingnoisesinthatdinofburninggrowinglouderandlouderasIwalked。Theheaviestsoundwasthatofanincessantcrackingandcrunching，asifsomegiantwithteethofstonewasbreakingupthebonesoftheworld。I
　　hadnotyetcomewithinsightoftherealheartandhabitatofthefire；
　　butthestrongredlight，likeanunnaturalmidnightsunset，powderedthegrayestgrasswithgoldandflushedthefewtalltreesuptothelastfingersoftheirfoliage。Behindthemthenightwasblackandcavernous；
　　andonecouldonlytracefaintlytheashenhorizonbeyondthedarkandmagicWiltonWoods。AsIwent，aworkmanonabicycleshotaroodpastme；thenstaggeredfromhismachineandshoutedtometotellhimwherethefirewas。IansweredthatIwasgoingtosee，butthoughtitwasthecottagesbythewood-yard。Hesaid，"MyGod!"andvanished。
　　AlittlefartheronIfoundgrassandpavementsoakingandflooded，andtheredandyellowflamesrepaintedinpoolsandpuddles。Beyondweredimhuddlesofpeopleandasmalldistantvoiceshoutingoutorders。Thefire-engineswereatwork。Iwentonamongtheredreflections，whichseemedlikesubterraneanfires；Ihadasingularsensationofbeinginaveryimportantdream。Oddlyenough，thiswasincreasedwhenIfoundthatmostofmyfriendsandneighbourswereentangledinthecrowd。Onlyindreamsdoweseefamiliarfacessovividlyagainstablackbackgroundofmidnight。Iwasgladtofindfortheworkmancyclist'ssakethatthefirewasnotinthehousesbythewood-yard，butinthewood-yarditself。
　　Therewasnofearforhumanlife，andthethingwasseeminglyaccidental；
　　thoughthereweretheusualuglywhispersaboutrivalryandrevenge。
　　ButforallthatIcouldnotshakeoffmydream-druggedsoulaswollen，tragic，portentoussortofsensation，thatitallhadsomethingtodowiththecrowningoftheEnglishKing，andthegloryortheendofEngland。ItwasnottillIsawthepuddlesandtheashesinbroaddaylightnextmorningthatIwasfundamentallycertainthatmymidnightadventurehadnothappenedoutsidethisworld。
　　ButIwasmorearrogantthantheancientEmperorsPharaohorNebuchadnezzar；forIattemptedtointerpretmyowndream。Thefirewasfeedinguponsolidstacksofunusedbeechorpine，grayandwhitepilesofvirginwood。Itwasanorgyofmerewaste；thousandsofgoodthingswerebeingkilledbeforetheyhadeverexisted。Doors，tables，walking-
　　sticks，wheelbarrows，woodenswordsforboys，DutchdollsforgirlsI
　　couldhearthecryofeachuncreatedthingasitexpiredintheflames。
　　AndthenIthoughtofthatothernobletowerofneedlessthingsthatstoodinthefieldbeyondmygarden；thebonfire，themountainofvanities，thatismeantforburning；andhowitstooddarkandlonelyinthemeadow，andthebirdshoppedonitscornersandthedewtouchedandspangleditstwigs。AndIrememberedthattherearetwokindsoffires，theBadFireandtheGoodFirethelastmustsurelybethemeaningofBonfire。AndtheparadoxisthattheGoodFireismadeofbadthings，ofthingsthatwedonotwant；buttheBadFireismadeofgoodthings，ofthingsthatwedowant；likeallthatwealthofwoodthatmighthavemadedollsandchairsandtables，butwasonlymakingahuelessash。
　　AndthenIsaw，inmyvision，thatjustastherearetwofires，sotherearetworevolutions。AndIsawthatthewholemadmodernworldisaracebetweenthem。Whichwillhappenfirst——therevolutioninwhichbadthingsshallperish，orthatotherrevolution，inwhichgoodthingsshallperishalso？Oneistheriotthatallgoodmen，eventhemostconservative，reallydreamof，whenthesneershallbestruckfromthefaceofthewell-fed；whenthewineofhonourshallbepoureddownthethroatofdespair；whenweshall，sofarastothesonsoffleshispossible，taketyrannyandusuryandpublictreasonandbindthemintobundlesandburnthem。Andtheotheristhedisruptionthatmaycomeprematurely，negatively，andsuddenlyinthenight；likethefireinmylittletown。
　　Itmaycomebecausethemerestrainofmodernlifeisunbearable；andiniteventhethingsthatmendodesiremaybreakdown；marriageandfairownershipandworshipandthemysteriousworthofman。Thetworevolutions，whiteandblack，areracingeachotherliketworailwaytrains；Icannotguesstheissue……butevenasIthoughtofit，thetallestturretofthetimberstoopedandfalteredandcamedowninacataractofnoises。Andthefire，findingpassage，wentupwithaspoutlikeafountain。Itstoodfarupamongthestarsforaninstant，ablazingpillarofbrassfitforapaganconqueror，sohighthatonecouldfancyitvisibleawayamongthegoblintreesofBurnhamoralongtheterracesoftheChilternHills。
　　THEFREEMAN
　　Theideaoflibertyhasultimatelyareligiousroot；thatiswhymenfinditsoeasytodieforandsodifficulttodefine。Itrefersfinallytothefactthat，whiletheoysterandthepalmtreehavetosavetheirlivesbylaw，manhastosavehissoulbychoice。RuskinrebukedColeridgeforpraisingfreedom，andsaidthatnomanwouldwishthesuntobefree。Itseemsenoughtoanswerthatnomanwouldwishtobethesun。SpeakingasaLiberal，IhavemuchmoresympathywiththeideaofJoshuastoppingthesuninheaventhanwiththeideaofRuskintrottinghisdailyroundinimitationofitsregularity。JoshuawasaRadical，andhisastronomicalactwasdistinctlyrevolutionary。Forallrevolutionisthemasteringofmatterbythespiritofman，theemergenceofthathumanauthoritywithinuswhich，inthenoblewordsofSirThomasBrowne，"owesnohomageuntothesun。”
　　Generally，themoralsubstanceoflibertyisthis:thatmanisnotmeantmerelytoreceivegoodlaws，goodfood:orgoodconditions，likeatreeinagarden，butismeanttotakeacertainprincelypleasureinselectingandshapinglikethegardener。PerhapsthatisthemeaningofthetradeofAdam。Andthebestpopularwordsforrenderingtherealideaoflibertyarethosewhichspeakofmanasacreator。Weusetheword"make"aboutmostofthethingsinwhichfreedomisessential，asacountrywalkorafriendshiporaloveaffair。Whenaman"makeshisway"throughawoodhehasreallycreated，hehasbuiltaroad，liketheRomans。Whenaman"makesafriend，"hemakesaman。Andinthethirdcasewetalkofaman"makinglove，"asifhewereas，indeed，heis
　　creatingnewmassesandcoloursofthatflamingmaterialanawfulformofmanufacture。Initsprimaryspiritualsense，libertyisthegodinman，or，ifyouliketheword，theartist。
　　InitssecondarypoliticalsenselibertyisthelivinginfluenceofthecitizenontheStateinthedirectionofmouldingordeflectingit。Menaretheonlycreaturesthatevidentlypossessit。Ontheonehand，theeaglehasnoliberty；heonlyhasloneliness。Ontheotherhand，ants，bees，andbeaversexhibitthehighestmiracleoftheStateinfluencingthecitizen；butnoperceptibletraceofthecitizeninfluencingtheState。Youmay，ifyoulike，calltheantsademocracyasyoumaycallthebeesadespotism。ButIfancythatthearchitecturalantwhoattemptedtointroduceanartnouveaustyleofant-hillwouldhaveacareerascurtandfruitlessasthecelebratedbeewhowantedtoswarmalone。Theisolationofthisideainhumanityisakintoitsreligiouscharacter；butitisnoteveninhumanitybyanymeansequallydistributed。
　　TheideathattheStateshouldnotonlybesupportedbyitschildren，liketheant-hill，butshouldbeconstantlycriticisedandreconstructedbythem，isanideastrongerinChristendomthananyotherpartoftheplanet；strongerinWesternthanEasternEurope。Andtouchingthepureideaoftheindividualbeingfreetospeakandactwithinlimits，theassertionofthisidea，wemayfairlysay，hasbeenthepeculiarhonourofourowncountry。FormypartIgreatlyprefertheJingoismofRuleBritanniatotheImperialismofTheRecessional。IhavenoobjectiontoBritanniarulingthewaves。Idrawthelinewhenshebeginstorulethedryland——andsuchdamnablydrylandtoo——asinAfrica。AndtherewasarealoldEnglishsincerityinthevulgarchorusthat"Britonsnevershallbeslaves。”Wehadnoequalityandhardlyanyjustice；butfreedomwewerereallyfondof。AndIthinkjustnowitisworthwhiletodrawattentiontotheoldoptimisticprophecythat"Britonsnevershallbeslaves。”
　　ThemereloveoflibertyhasneverbeenatalowerebbinEnglandthanithasbeenforthelasttwentyyears。NeverbeforehasitbeensoeasytoslipsmallBillsthroughParliamentforthepurposeoflockingpeopleup。
　　Neverwasitsoeasytosilenceawkwardquestions，ortoprotecthigh-
　　placedofficials。TwohundredyearsagoweturnedouttheStuartsratherthanendangertheHabeasCorpusAct。TwoyearsagoweabolishedtheHabeasCorpusActratherthanturnouttheHomeSecretary。WepassedalawwhichisnowinforcethatanEnglishman'spunishmentshallnotdependuponjudgeandjury，butuponthegovernorsandjailerswhohavegotholdofhim。Butthisisnottheonlycase。Thescornoflibertyisintheair。AnewspaperisseizedbythepoliceinTrafalgarSquarewithoutawordofaccusationorexplanation。TheHomeSecretarysaysthatinhisopinionthepoliceareverynicepeople，andthereisanendofthematter。AMemberofParliamentattemptstocriticiseapeerage。
　　TheSpeakersayshemustnotcriticiseapeerage，andtherethematterdrops。
　　Politicalliberty，letusrepeat，consistsinthepowerofcriticisingthoseflexiblepartsoftheStatewhichconstantlyrequirereconsideration，notthebasis，butthemachinery。Inplainerwords，itmeansthepowerofsayingthesortofthingsthatadecentbutdiscontentedcitizenwantstosay。HedoesnotwanttospitontheBible，ortorunaboutwithoutclothes，ortoreadtheworstpageinZolafromthepulpitofSt。Paul's。Thereforetheforbiddingofthesethingswhetherjustornotisonlytyrannyinasecondaryandspecialsense。
　　Itrestrainstheabnormal，notthenormalman。Butthenormalman，thedecentdiscontentedcitizen，doeswanttoprotestagainstunfairlawcourts。Hedoeswanttoexposebrutalitiesofthepolice。HedoeswanttomakegameofavulgarpawnbrokerwhoismadeaPeer。Hedoeswantpubliclytowarnpeopleagainstunscrupulouscapitalistsandsuspiciousfinance。Ifheisruninfordoingthisashewillbehedoeswanttoproclaimthecharacterorknownprejudicesofthemagistratewhotrieshim。Ifheissenttoprisonashewillbehedoeswanttohaveaclearandcivilisedsentence，tellinghimwhenhewillcomeout。Andtheseareliterallyandexactlythethingsthathenowcannotget。Thatisthealmostcloyinghumourofthepresentsituation。Icansayabnormalthingsinmodernmagazines。ItisthenormalthingsthatIamnotallowedtosay。IcanwriteinsomesolemnquarterlyanelaboratearticleexplainingthatGodisthedevil；IcanwriteinsomeculturedweeklyanaestheticfancydescribinghowIshouldliketoeatboiledbaby。
　　ThethingImustnotwriteisrationalcriticismofthemenandinstitutionsofmycountry。
　　ThepresentconditionofEnglandisbrieflythis:ThatnoEnglishmancansayinpublicatwentiethpartofwhathesaysinprivate。Onecannotsay，forinstance，that——ButIamafraidImustleaveoutthatinstance，becauseonecannotsayit。Icannotprovemycase——becauseitissotrue。
　　THEHYPOTHETICALHOUSEHOLDER
　　Wehavereadofsomecelebratedphilosopherwhowassoabsent-mindedthathepaidacallathisownhouse。Myownabsent-mindednessisextreme，andmyphilosophy，ofcourse，isthemarvelofmenandangels。ButI
　　neverquitemanagedtobesoabsent-mindedasthat。Someyardsatleastfrommyowndoor，somethingvaguelyfamiliarhasalwayscaughtmyeye；
　　andthusthejokehasbeenspoiled。OfcourseIhavequiteconstantlywalkedintoanotherman'shouse，thinkingitwasmyownhouse；myvisitsbecamealmostmonotonous。Butwalkingintomyownhouseandthinkingitwasanotherman'shouseisaflightofpoeticdetachmentstillbeyondme。
　　Somethingofthesensationsthatsuchanabsent-mindedmanmustfeelI
　　reallyfelttheotherday；andverypleasantsensationstheywere。Thebestpartsofeveryproperromancearethefirstchapterandthelastchapter；andtoknockatastrangedoorandfindanicewifewouldbetoconcentratethebeginningandendofallromance。
　　Minewasamilderandslighterexperience，butitsthrillwasofthesamekind。ForIstrolledthroughaplaceIhadimaginedquitevirginandunvisitedasfarasIwasconcerned，andIsuddenlyfoundIwastreadinginmyownfootprints，andthefootprintswerenearlytwentyyearsold。
　　Itwasoneofthosestretchesofcountrywhichalwayssuggestsanalmostunnaturaldecay；thicketsandheathsthathavegrownoutofwhatwereoncegreatgardens。Gardenflowersstillgrowthereaswildflowers，asitsaysinsomegoodpoeticcoupletwhichIforget；andthereissomethingsingularlyromanticanddisastrousaboutseeingthingsthatweresolongahumanpropertyandcarefightingfortheirownhandinthethicket。Onealmostexpectstofindadecayeddog-kennel；withthedogevolvedintoawolf。
　　Thisdesolategarden-landhadbeeneveninmyyouthscrappilyplannedoutforbuilding。Thehalf-builtoremptyhouseshadappearedquitethreateninglyontheedgeofthisheathevenwhenIwalkedoverityearsagoandalmostasaboy。Iwasastonishedthatthebuildinghadgonenofarther；Isupposesomebodywentbankruptandsomebodyelsedislikedbuilding。ButIremember，especiallyalongonesideofthistangleorcoppice，thattherehadoncebeenarowofhalf-builthouses。Thebrickofwhichtheywerebuiltwasasortofplainpink；everythingelsewasablindingwhite；thehousessmokedwithwhitedustandwhitesawdust；andonmanyofthewindowswererubbedthoseroundroughdisksofwhitewhichalwaysdelightedmeasachild。Theylookedlikethewhiteeyesofsomeblindgiant。
　　Icouldseethecrude，parchedpink-and-whitevillasstill；thoughIhadnotthoughtatallofthemforaquarterofmylife；andhadnotthoughtmuchofthemevenwhenIsawthem。ThenIwasanidle，buteageryouthwalkingoutfromLondon；nowIwasamostreluctantlybusymiddle-agedperson，cominginfromthecountry。Youth，Ithink，seemsfartheroffthanchildhood，foritmadeitselfmoreofasecret。Likeaprenatalpicture，distant，tiny，andquitedistinct，IsawthisheathonwhichI
　　stood；andIlookedaroundforthestringofbright，half-bakedvillas。
　　Theystillstoodthere；buttheywerequiterussetandweather-stained，asiftheyhadstoodforcenturies。
　　IrememberedexactlywhatIhaddoneonthatdaylongago。Ihadhalfslidonamirydescent；itwasstillthere；alittlelowerIhadknockedoffthetopofathistle；thethistleshadnotbeendiscouraged，butwerestillgrowing。IrecalleditbecauseIhadwonderedwhyoneknocksoffthetopsofthistles；andthenIhadthoughtofTarquin；andthenIhadrecitedmostofMacaulay'sVIRGINIAtomyself，forIwasyoung。AndthenIcametoatatterededgewheretheverytufthadwhitenedwiththesawdustandbrick-dustfromthenewrowofhouses；andtwoorthreegreenstarsofdockandthistlegrewspasmodicallyabouttheblindingroad。
　　IrememberedhowIhadwalkedupthisnewone-sidedstreetallthoseyearsago；andIrememberedwhatIhadthought。Ithoughtthatthisredandwhiteglaringterraceatnoonwasreallymorecreepyandmorelonesomethanaglimmeringchurchyardatmidnight。Thechurchyardcouldonlybefulloftheghostsofthedead；butthesehouseswerefulloftheghostsoftheunborn。Andamancanneverfindahomeinthefutureashecanfinditinthepast。Iwasalwaysfascinatedbythatmediaevalnotionoferectingarudelycarpenteredstageinthestreet，andactingonitamiracleplayoftheHolyFamilyortheLastJudgment。AndI
　　thoughttomyselfthateachoftheseglaring，gaping，newjerry-builtboxeswasindeedaricketystageerectedfortheactingofarealmiracleplay；thathumanfamilythatisalmosttheholyone，andthathumandeaththatisneartothelastjudgment。
　　Forsomefoolishreasonthelasthousebutoneinthatimperfectrowespeciallyhauntedmewithitshollowgrinandemptywindow-eyes。
　　Somethingintheshapeofthisbrick-and-mortarskeletonwasattractive；
　　andtherebeingnoworkmenabout，Istrolledintoitforcuriosityandsolitude。Igave，withallthesky-deepgravityofyouth，abenedictionuponthemanwhowasgoingtolivethere。IevenrememberthatfortheconvenienceofmeditationIcalledhimJamesHarrogate。
　　AsIreflecteditcrawledbackintomymemorythatIhadmildlyplayedthefoolinthathouseonthatdistantday。Ihadsomeredchalkinmypocket，Ithink，andIwrotethingsontheunpaperedplasterwalls；
　　thingsaddressedtoMr。Harrogate。AdimmemorytoldmethatIhadwrittenupinwhatIsupposedtobethedining-room:
　　JamesHarrogate，thankGodformeat，Theneatandeatandeatandeat，orsomethingofthatkind。Ifaintlyfeelthatsomelongerlyricwasscrawledonthewallsofwhatlookedlikeabedroom，somethingbeginning:
　　Whenlayingwhatyoucallyourhead，OHarrogate，uponyourbed，andthereallmymemorydislimnsanddecays。ButIcouldstillseequitevividlytheplainplasteredwallsandtherude，irregularwriting，andtheplaceswheretheredchalkbroke。Icouldseethem，Imean，inmemory；forwhenIcamedownthatroadagainafterasixthofacenturythehousewasverydifferent。
　　Ihadseenitbeforeatnoon，andnowIfounditinthedusk。Butitswindowsglowedwithlightsofmanyartificialsorts；oneofitslowsquarewindowsstoodopen；fromthisthereescapeduptheroadastreamoflamplightandastreamofsinging。Somesortofgirl，atleast，wasstandingatsomesortofpiano，andsingingasongofhealthysentimentalisminthathousewherelongagomyblessinghaddiedonthewindandmypoemsbeencoveredupbythewallpaper。IstoodoutsidethatlamplithouseatduskfullofthosethoughtsthatIshallneverexpressifIlivetobeamillionanybetterthanIexpressedtheminredchalkuponthewall。ButafterIhadhoveredalittle，andwasabouttowithdraw，amadimpulseseizedme。Irangthebell。Isaidindistinctaccentstoaverysmartsuburbanmaid，"DoesMr。JamesHarrogatelivehere？"
　　Shesaidhedidn't；butthatshewouldinquire，incaseIwaslookingforhimintheneighbourhood；butIexcusedherfromsuchexertion。Ihadonemoment'simpulsetolookforhimallovertheworld；andthendecidednottolookforhimatall。
　　THEPRIESTOFSPRING
　　ThesunhasstrengthenedandtheairsoftenedjustbeforeEasterDay。
　　Butitisatroubledbrightnesswhichhasabreathnotonlyofnoveltybutofrevolution，Therearetwogreatarmiesofthehumanintellectwhowillfighttilltheendonthisvitalpoint，whetherEasteristobecongratulatedonfittinginwiththeSpring——ortheSpringonfittinginwithEaster。
　　Theonlytwothingsthatcansatisfythesoulareapersonandastory；
　　andevenastorymustbeaboutaperson。Thereareindeedveryvoluptuousappetitesandenjoymentsinmereabstractionslikemathematics，logic，orchess。Butthesemerepleasuresofthemindarelikemerepleasuresofthebody。Thatis，theyaremerepleasures，thoughtheymaybegiganticpleasures；theycanneverbyamereincreaseofthemselvesamounttohappiness。Amanjustabouttobehangedmayenjoyhisbreakfast；especiallyifitbehisfavouritebreakfast；andinthesamewayhemayenjoyanargumentwiththechaplainaboutheresy，especiallyifitishisfavouriteheresy。Butwhetherhecanenjoyeitherofthemdoesnotdependoneitherofthem；itdependsuponhisspiritualattitudetowardsasubsequentevent。Andthateventisreallyinterestingtothesoul；becauseitistheendofastoryandassomeholdtheendofaperson。