"OfcourseIdon’treallythinkaboutwriting，"hesaid，ashepouredthecoldwaterintothecoffee。"Evenifmythingseverweredecent，Idon’tthinkthemagazineswouldtakethem，andthemagazinesareone’sonlychance。Ireadsomewhere，too，thatMarieCorelli’sabouttheonlypersonwhomakesathingoutofliterature。I’mcertainitwouldn’tpayme。"
　　"Inevermentionedtheword’pay，’"saidMr。Pembrokeuneasily。
　　"Youmustnotconsidermoney。Thereareidealstoo。"
　　"Ihavenoideals。"
　　Rickie！"sheexclaimed。"Horribleboy！"
　　"No，Agnes，Ihavenoideals。"Thenhegotveryred，foritwasaphrasehehadcaughtfromAnsell，andhecouldnotrememberwhatcamenext。
　　"Thepersonwhohasnoideals，"sheexclaimed，"istobepitied。"
　　"Ithinksotoo，"saidMr。Pembroke，sippinghiscoffee。"Lifewithoutanidealwouldbeliketheskywithoutthesun。"
　　Rickielookedtowardsthenight，whereintherenowtwinkledinnumerablestars——godsandheroes，virginsandbrides，towhomtheGreekshavegiventheirnames。
　　"Lifewithoutanideal——"repeatedMr。Pembroke，andthenstopped，forhismouthwasfullofcoffeegrounds。ThesameafflictionhadovertakenAgnes。Afteralittlejocoselaughtertheydepartedtotheirlodgings，andRickie，havingseenthemasfarastheporter’slodge，hurried，singingashewent，toAnsell’sroom，burstopenthedoor，andsaid，"Lookhere！
　　Whateverdoyoumeanbyit？"
　　"Bywhat？"Ansellwassittingalonewithapieceofpaperinfrontofhim。Onitwasadiagram——acircleinsideasquare，insidewhichwasagainasquare。
　　"Bybeingsorude。You’renogentleman，andItoldherso。"Heslammedhimontheheadwithasofacushion。"I’mcertainoneoughttobepolite，eventopeoplewhoaren’tsaved。"（"Notsaved"wasaphrasetheyappliedjustthentothosewhomtheydidnotlikeorintimatelyknow。）"AndIbelievesheissaved。I
　　neverknewanyonesoalwaysgood—temperedandkind。She’sbeenkindtomeeversinceIknewher。Iwishyou’dheardhertryingtostopherbrother:you’dhavecertainlycomeround。Notbutwhathewasonlybeingniceaswell。Butsheisreallynice。AndIthoughtshecameintotheroomsobeautifully。Doyouknow——oh，ofcourse，youdespisemusic——butAndersonwasplayingWagner，andhe’djustgottothepartwheretheysing’Rheingold！
　　’Rheingold！
　　andthesunstrikesintothewaters，andthemusic，whichuptothenhassooftenbeeninEflat——"
　　"GoesintoDsharp。Ihavenotunderstoodasingleword，partlybecauseyoutalkasifyourmouthwasfullofplums，partlybecauseIdon’tknowwhomyou’retalkingabout。"
　　"MissPembroke——whomyousaw。"
　　"Isawnoone。"
　　"Whocamein？"
　　"Noonecamein。"
　　"You’reanass！"shriekedRickie。"Shecamein。Yousawhercomein。Sheandherbrotherhavebeentodinner。"
　　"Youonlythinkso。Theywerenotreallythere。"
　　"ButtheystoptillMonday。"
　　"Youonlythinkthattheyarestopping。"
　　"But——oh，lookhere，shutup！Thegirllikeanempress——"
　　"Isawnoempress，noranygirl，norhaveyouseenthem。"
　　"Ansell，don’trag。"
　　"Elliot，Ineverrag，andyouknowit。Shewasnotreallythere。"
　　Therewasamoment’ssilence。ThenRickieexclaimed，"I’vegotyou。Yousay——orwasitTilliard？——no，YOUsaythatthecow’sthere。Well——therethesepeopleare，then。Gotyou。Yah！"
　　"Diditneverstrikeyouthatphenomenamaybeoftwokinds:ONE，thosewhichhavearealexistence，suchasthecow;TWO，thosewhicharethesubjectiveproductofadiseasedimagination，andwhich，toourdestruction，weinvestwiththesemblanceofreality？Ifthisneverstruckyou，letitstrikeyounow。"
　　Rickiespokeagain，butreceivednoanswer。Hepacedalittleupanddownthesombreroam。Thenhesatontheedgeofthetableandwatchedhiscleverfrienddrawwithinthesquareacircle，andwithinthecircleasquare，andinsidethatanothercircle，andinsidethatanothersquare。
　　"Whvwillyoudothat？"
　　Noanswer。
　　"Aretheyreal？"
　　"Theinsideoneis——theoneinthemiddleofeverything，thatthere’sneverroomenoughtodraw。"
　　II
　　AlittlethissideofMadingley，totheleftoftheroad，thereisasecludeddell，pavedwithgrassandplantedwithfir—trees。
　　Itcouldnothavebeenworthavisittwentyyearsago，forthenitwasonlyascarofchalk，anditisnotworthavisitatthepresentday，forthetreeshavegrowntoothickandchokedit。
　　ButwhenRickiewasup，itchancedtobethebriefseasonofitsromance，aseasonasbriefforachalk—pitasaman——itsdivineintervalbetweenthebarenessofboyhoodandthestuffinessofage。Rickiehaddiscovereditinhissecondterm，whentheJanuarysnowshadmeltedandleftfiordsandlagoonsofclearestwaterbetweentheinequalitiesofthefloor。TheplacelookedasbigasSwitzerlandorNorway——asindeedforthemomentitwas——
　　andhecameuponitatatimewhenhislifetoowasbeginningtoexpand。Accordinglythedellbecameforhimakindofchurch——achurchwhereindeedyoucoulddoanythingyouliked，butwhereanythingyoudidwouldbetransfigured。LiketheancientGreeks，hecouldevenlaughathisholyplaceandleaveitnolessholy。
　　Hechattedgailyaboutit，andaboutthepleasantthoughtswithwhichitinspiredhim;hetookhisfriendsthere;heeventookpeoplewhomhedidnotlike。"Proculeste，profani！"exclaimedadelightedaestheteonbeingintroducedtoit。ButthiswasnevertobetheattitudeofRickie。Hedidnotlovethevulgarherd，butheknewthathisownvulgaritywouldbegreaterifheforbadeitingress，andthatitwasnotbypreciositythathewouldattaintotheintimatespiritofthedell。Indeed，ifhehadagreedwiththeaesthete，hewouldpossiblynothaveintroducedhim。Ifthedellwastobearanyinscription，hewouldhavelikedittobe"ThiswaytoHeaven，"paintedonasign—postbythehigh—road，andhedidnotrealizetilllateryearsthatthenumberofvisitorswouldnottherebyhavesensiblyincreased。
　　OntheblessedMondaythatthePembrokesleft，hewalkedoutherewiththreefriends。Itwasadaywhentheskyseemedenormous。
　　Onecloud，aslargeasacontinent，wasvoyagingnearthesun，whilstothercloudsseemedanchoredtothehorizon，toolazyortoohappytomove。Theskyitselfwasofthepalestblue，palingtowhitewhereitapproachedtheearth;andtheearth，brown，wet，andodorous，wasengagedbeneathitonitsyearlydutyofdecay。Rickiewasopentothecomplexitiesofautumn;hefeltextremelytiny——extremelytinyandextremelyimportant;andperhapsthecombinationisasfairasanythatexists。Hehopedthatallhislifehewouldneverbepeevishorunkind。
　　"Elliotisinadangerousstate，"saidAnsell。Theyhadreachedthedell，andhadstoodforsometimeinsilence，eachleaningagainstatree。Itwastoowettositdown。
　　"How’sthat？"askedRickie，whohadnotknownhewasinanystateatall。HeshutupKeats，whomhethoughthehadbeenreading，andslippedhimbackintohiscoat—pocket。Scarcelyeverwashewithoutabook。
　　"He’stryingtolikepeople。"
　　"Thenhe’sdonefor，"saidWiddrington。"He’sdead。"
　　"He’stryingtolikeHornblower。"
　　Theothersgaveshrillagonizedcries。
　　"Hewantstobindthecollegetogether。Hewantstolinkustothebeefyset。"
　　"IdolikeHornblower，"heprotested。"Idon’ttry。"
　　"AndHornblowertriestolikeyou。"
　　"Thatpartdoesn’tmatter。"
　　"Buthedoestrytolikeyou。Hetriesnottodespiseyou。Itisaltogetheramostpublic—spiritedaffair。"
　　"Tilliardstartedthem，"saidWiddrington。"Tilliardthinksitsuchapitythecollegeshouldbesplitintosets。"
　　"Oh，Tilliard！"saidAnsell，withmuchirritation。"Butwhatcanyouexpectfromapersonwho’seternallybeautiful？Theothernightwehadbeendiscussingalongtime，andsuddenlythelightwasturnedon。Everyoneelselookedasight，astheyought。ButtherewasTilliard，sittingneatlyonalittlechair，likeanundersizedgod，withnotacurlcrooked。IshouldsayhewillgetintotheForeignOffice。"
　　"Whyaremostofussougly？"laughedRickie。
　　"It’smerelyasignofoursalvation——merelyanothersignthatthecollegeissplit。"
　　"Thecollegeisn’tsplit，"criedRickie，whogotexcitedonthissubjectwithunfailingregularity。"Thecollegeis，andhasbeen，andalwayswillbe，one。Whatyoucallthebeefysetaren’tasetatall。They’rejusttherowingpeople，andnaturallytheychieflyseeeachother;butthey’realwaysnicetomeortoanyone。Ofcourse，theythinkusratherasses，butit’squiteinapleasantway。"
　　"That’smywholeobjection，"saidAnsell。"Whatrighthavetheytothinkusassesinapleasantway？Whydon’ttheyhateus？WhatrighthasHornblowertosmackmeonthebackwhenI’vebeenrudetohim？"
　　"Well，whatrighthaveyoutoberudetohim？"
　　"BecauseIhatehim。Youthinkitissosplendidtohatenoone。
　　Itellyouitisacrime。Youwanttoloveeveryoneequally，andthat’sworsethanimpossibleit’swrong。Whenyoudenouncesets，you’rereallytryingtodestroyfriendship。"
　　"Imaintain，"saidRickie——itwasaverbheclungto，inthehopethatitwouldlendstabilitytowhatfollowed——"Imaintainthatonecanlikemanymorepeoplethanonesupposes。"
　　"AndImaintainthatyouhatemanymorepeoplethanyoupretend。"
　　"Ihatenoone，"heexclaimedwithextraordinaryvehemence，andthedellre—echoedthatithatednoone。
　　"Weareobligedtobelieveyou，"saidWiddrington，smilingalittle"butwearesorryaboutit。"
　　"Notevenyourfather？"askedAnsell。
　　Rickiewassilent。
　　"Notevenyourfather？"
　　Thecloudaboveextendedagreatpromontoryacrossthesun。Itonlylaythereforamoment，yetthatwasenoughtosummonthelurkingcoldnessfromtheearth。
　　"Doeshehatehisfather？"saidWiddrington，whohadnotknown。
　　"Oh，good！"
　　"Buthisfather’sdead。Hewillsayitdoesn’tcount。"
　　"Still，it’ssomething。Doyouhateyours？"
　　Anselldidnotreply。Rickiesaid:"Isay，Iwonderwhetheroneoughttotalklikethis？"
　　"Abouthatingdeadpeople？"
　　"Yes——"
　　"Didyouhateyourmother？"askedWiddrington。
　　Rickieturnedcrimson。
　　"Idon’tseeHornblower’ssucharotter，"remarkedtheotherman，whosenamewasJames。
　　"James，youarediplomatic，"saidAnsell。"Youaretryingtotideoveranawkwardmoment。Youcango。"
　　Widdringtonwascrimsontoo。Inhiswishtobesprightlyhehadusedwordswithoutthinkingoftheirmeanings。Suddenlyherealizedthat"father"and"mother"reallymeantfatherandmother——peoplewhomhehadhimselfathome。Hewasveryuncomfortable，andthoughtRickiehadbeenratherqueer。HetootriedtoreverttoHornblower，butAnsellwouldnotlethim。Thesuncameout，andstruckonthewhiterampartsofthedell。
　　Rickielookedstraightatit。Thenhesaidabruptly——
　　"IthinkIwanttotalk。"
　　"Ithinkyoudo，"repliedAnsell。
　　"Shouldn’tIberatherafoolifIwentthroughCambridgewithouttalking？It’ssaidnevertocomesoeasyagain。Allthepeoplearedeadtoo。Ican’tseewhyIshouldn’ttellyoumostthingsaboutmybirthandparentageandeducation。"
　　"Talkaway。Ifyouboreus，wehavebooks。"
　　WiththisinvitationRickiebegantorelatehishistory。Thereaderwhohasnobookwillbeobligedtolistentoit。
　　Somepeoplespendtheirlivesinasuburb，andnotforanyurgentreason。ThishadbeenthefateofRickie。Hehadopenedhiseyestofilmyheavens，andtakenhisfirstwalkonasphalt。Hehadseencivilizationasarowofsemi—detachedvillas，andsocietyasastateinwhichmendonotknowthemenwholivenextdoor。
　　Hehadhimselfbecomepartofthegreymonotonythatsurroundsallcities。Therewasnonecessityforthis——itwasonlyratherconvenienttohisfather。
　　Mr。Elliotwasabarrister。Inappearanceheresembledhisson，beingweaklyandlame，withhollowlittlecheeks，abroadwhitebandofforehead，andstiffimpoverishedhair。Hisvoice，whichhedidnottransmit，wasverysuave，withafinecommandofcynicalintonation。Byalteringiteversolittlehecouldmakepeoplewince，especiallyiftheyweresimpleorpoor。Nordidhetransmithiseyes。Theirpeculiarflatness，asifthesoullookedthroughdirtywindow—panes，theunkindnessofthem，thecowardice，thefearinthem，weretotroubletheworldnolonger。
　　Hemarriedagirlwhosevoicewasbeautiful。Therewasnocaressinityetallwhohearditweresoothed，asthoughtheworldheldsomeunexpectedblessing。Shecalledtoherdogsonenightoverinvisiblewaters，andhe，atouristuponthebridge，thought"thatisextraordinarilyadequate。"Intimehediscoveredthatherfigure，face，andthoughtswereadequatealso，andasshewasnotimpossiblesocially，hemarriedher。"Ihavetakenaplunge，"
　　hetoldhisfamily。Thefamily，hostileatfirst，hadnotawordtosaywhenthewomanwasintroducedtothem;andhissisterdeclaredthattheplungehadbeentakenfromtheoppositebank。
　　Thingsonlywentrightforalittletime。Thoughbeautifulwithoutandwithin，Mrs。Elliothadnotthegiftofmakingherhomebeautiful;andoneday，whensheboughtacarpetforthedining—roomthatclashed，helaughedgently，saidhe"reallycouldn’t，"anddeparted。Departureisperhapstoostrongaword。
　　InMrs。Elliot’smouthitbecame，"Myhusbandhastosleepmoreintown。"Heoftencamedowntoseethem，nearlyalwaysunexpectedly，andoccasionallytheywenttoseehim。"Father’shouse，"asRickiecalledit，onlyhadthreerooms，butthesewerefullofbooksandpicturesandflowers;andtheflowers，insteadofbeingsquasheddownintothevasesastheywereinmummy’shouse，rosegracefullyfromframesofleadwhichlaycoiledatthebottom，asdoubtlesstheseaserpenthastolie，coiledatthebottomofthesea。Oncehewaslettoliftaframeout——onlyonce，forhedroppedsomewateronacreton。"Ithinkhe’sgoingtohavetaste，"saidMr。Elliotlanguidly。"Itisquitepossible，"hiswifereplied。Shehadnottakenoffherhatandgloves，norevenpulledupherveil。Mr。Elliotlaughed，andsoonafterwardsanotherladycamein，andthey——wentaway。
　　"Whydoesfatheralwayslaugh？"askedRickieintheeveningwhenheandhismotherweresittinginthenursery。
　　"Itisawayofyourfather’s。"
　　"Whydoeshealwayslaughatme？AmIsofunny？"Thenafterapause，"Youhavenosenseofhumour，haveyou，mummy？"
　　Mrs。Elliot，whowasraisingathreadofcottontoherlips，helditsuspendedinamazement。
　　"Youtoldhimsothisafternoon。ButIhaveseenyoulaugh。"Henoddedwisely。"Ihaveseenyoulaugheversooften。Onedayyouwerelaughingalonealldowninthesweetpeas。"
　　"WasI？"
　　"Yes。Wereyoulaughingatme？"
　　"Iwasnotthinkingaboutyou。Cotton，please——areelofNo。50
　　whitefrommychestofdrawers。Lefthanddrawer。Nowwhichisyourlefthand？"
　　"Thesidemypocketis。"
　　"Andifyouhadnopocket？"
　　"Thesidemybadfootis。"
　　"Imeantyoutosay，’thesidemyheartis，’"saidMrs。Elliot，holdingupthedusterbetweenthem。"Mostofus——Imeanallofus——canfeelononesidealittlewatch，thatneverstopsticking。Soevenifyouhadnobadfootyouwouldstillknowwhichistheleft。No。50white，please。No;I’llgetitmyself。"
　　Forshehadrememberedthatthedarkpassagefrightenedhim。
　　Theseweretheoutlines。Rickiefilledtheminwiththeslownessandtheaccuracyofachild。Hewasnevertoldanything，buthediscoveredforhimselfthathisfatherandmotherdidnotloveeachother，andthathismotherwaslovable。HediscoveredthatMr。ElliothaddubbedhimRickiebecausehewasrickety，thathetookpleasureinalludingtohisson’sdeformity，andwassorrythatitwasnotmoreseriousthanhisown。Mr。Elliothadnotonescrapofgenius。Hegatheredthepicturesandthebooksandtheflower—supportsmechanically，notinanyimpulseoflove。Hepassedforaculturedmanbecauseheknewhowtoselect，andhepassedforanunconventionalmanbecausehedidnotselectquitelikeotherpeople。Inrealityheneverdidorsaidorthoughtonesinglethingthathadtheslightestbeautyorvalue。AndintimeRickiediscoveredthisaswell。
　　Theboygrewupingreatloneliness。Heworshippedhismother，andshewasfondofhim。Butshewasdignifiedandreticent，andpathos，liketattle，wasdisgustingtoher。Shewasafraidofintimacy，incaseitledtoconfidencesandtears，andsoallherlifesheheldhersonatalittledistance。Herkindnessandunselfishnessknewnolimits，butifhetriedtobedramaticandthankher，shetoldhimnottobealittlegoose。Andsotheonlypersonhecametoknowatallwashimself。HewouldplayHalmaagainsthimself。Hewouldconductsolitaryconversations，inwhichonepartofhimaskedandanotherpartanswered。Itwasanexcitinggame，andconcludedwiththeformula:"Good—bye。
　　Thankyou。Iamgladtohavemetyou。Ihopebeforelongweshallenjoyanotherchat。"Andthenperhapshewouldsobforloneliness，forhewouldseerealpeople——realbrothers，realfriends——doinginwarmlifethethingshehadpretended。"ShallI
　　everhaveafriend？"hedemandedattheageoftwelve。"Idon’tseehow。Theywalktoofast。AndabrotherIshallneverhave。"
　　（"Noloss，"interruptedWiddrington。
　　"ButIshallneverhaveone，andsoIquitewantone，evennow。"）
　　WhenhewasthirteenMr。Elliotenteredonhisillness。Theprettyroomsintownwouldnotdoforaninvalid，andsohecamebacktohishome。OneofthefirstconsequenceswasthatRickiewassenttoapublicschool。Mrs。Elliotdidwhatshecould，butshehadnoholdwhateveroverherhusband。
　　"Heworriesme，"hedeclared。"He’sajokeofwhichIhavegottired。"
　　"Woulditbepossibletosendhimtoaprivatetutor’s？"
　　"No，"saidMr。Elliot，whohadallthemoney。"Coddling。"
　　"Iagreethatboysoughttoroughit;butwhenaboyislameandverydelicate，heroughsitsufficientlyifheleaveshome。
　　Rickiecan’tplaygames。Hedoesn’tmakefriends。Heisn’tbrilliant。Thinkingitover，Ifeelthatasit’slikethis，wecan’teverhopetogivehimtheordinaryeducation。Perhapsyoucouldthinkitovertoo。"No。
　　"Iamsurethatthingsarebestforhimastheyare。Theday—schoolknocksquiteasmanycornersoffhimashecanstand。
　　Hehatesit，butitisgoodforhim。Apublicschoolwillnotbegoodforhim。Itistoorough。Insteadofgettingmanlyandhard，hewill——"
　　"Myhead，please。"
　　Rickiedepartedinastateofbewilderedmisery，whichwasscarcelyevertogrowclearer。
　　Eachholidayhefoundhisfathermoreirritable，andalittleweaker。Mrs。Elliotwasquicklygrowingold。Shehadtomanagetheservants，tohushtheneighbouringchildren，toanswerthecorrespondence，topaperandre—papertherooms——andallforthesakeofamanwhomshedidnotlike，andwhodidnotconcealhisdislikeforher。OnedayshefoundRickietearful，andsaidrathercrossly，"Well，whatisitthistime？"
　　Hereplied，"Oh，mummy，I’veseenyourwrinklesyourgreyhair——
　　I’munhappy。"
　　Suddentendernessovercameher，andshecried，"Mydarling，whatdoesitmatter？Whateverdoesitmatternow？"
　　Hehadneverknownhersoemotional。Yetevenbetterdidherememberanotherincident。Hearinghighvoicesfromhisfather’sroom，hewentupstairsinthehopethatthesoundofhistreadmightstopthem。Mrs。Elliotburstopenthedoor，andseeinghim，exclaimed，"Mydear！Ifyouplease，he’shitme。"Shetriedtolaughitoff，butafewhourslaterhesawthebruisewhichthestickoftheinvalidhadraiseduponhismother’shand。
　　Godaloneknowshowfarweareinthegripofourbodies。HealonecanjudgehowfarthecrueltyofMr。Elliotwastheoutcomeofextenuatingcircumstances。ButMrs。Elliotcouldaccuratelyjudgeofitsextent。
　　Atlasthedied。Rickiewasnowfifteen，andgotoffawholeweek’sschoolforthefuneral。Hismotherwasratherstrange。Shewasmuchhappier，shelookedyounger，andhermourningwasasunobtrusiveasconventionpermitted。Allthishehadexpected。
　　Butsheseemedtobewatchinghim，andtobeextremelyanxiousforhisopiniononany，subject——moreespeciallyonhisfather。
　　Why？Atlasthesawthatshewastryingtoestablishconfidencebetweenthem。Butconfidencecannotbeestablishedinamoment。
　　Theywerebothshy。Thehabitofyearswasuponthem，andtheyalludedtothedeathofMr。Elliotasanirreparableloss。
　　"Nowthatyourfatherhasgone，thingswillbeverydifferent。"
　　"Shallwebepoorer，mother？"No。
　　"Oh！"
　　"Butnaturallythingswillbeverydifferent。"
　　"Yes，naturally。"
　　"Forinstance，yourpoorfatherlikedbeingnearLondon，butI
　　almostthinkwemightmove。Wouldyoulikethat？"
　　"Ofcourse，mummy。"Helookeddownattheground。Hewasnotaccustomedtobeingconsulted，anditbewilderedhim。
　　"Perhapsyoumightlikequiteadifferentlifebetter？"
　　Hegiggled。
　　"It’salittledifficultforme，"saidMrs。Elliot，pacingvigorouslyupanddowntheroom，andmoreandmoredidherblackdressseemamockery。"Insomewaysyououghttobeconsulted:
　　nearlyallthemoneyislefttoyou，asyoumusthearsometimeorother。Butinotherwaysyou’reonlyaboy。WhatamItodo？"
　　"Idon’tknow，"hereplied，appearingmorehelplessandunhelpfulthanhereallywas。
　　"Forinstance，wouldyoulikemetoarrangethingsexactlyasI
　　like？"
　　"Ohdo！"heexclaimed，thinkingthisamostbrilliantsuggestion。
　　"Theverynicestthingofall。"Andheadded，inhishalf—pedantic，half—pleasingway，"Ishallbeaswaxinyourhands，mamma。"
　　Shesmiled。"Verywell，darling。Youshallbe。"Andshepressedhimlovingly，asthoughshewouldmouldhimintosomethingbeautiful。
　　Forthenextfewdaysgreatpreparationswereintheair。Shewenttoseehisfather’ssister，thegiftedandvivaciousAuntEmily。Theyweretoliveinthecountry——somewhererightinthecountry，withgrassandtreesuptothedoor，andbirdssingingeverywhere，andatutor。Forhewasnottogobacktoschool。
　　Unbelievable！Hewasnevertogobacktoschool，andthehead—
　　masterhadwrittensayingthatheregrettedthestep，butthatpossiblyitwasawiseone。
　　Itwasrawweather，andMrs。Elliotwatchedoverhimwithceaselesstenderness。Itseemedasifshecouldnotdotoomuchtoshieldhimandtodrawhimnearertoher。
　　"Putonyourgreatcoat，dearest，"shesaidtohim。
　　"Idon’tthinkIwantit，"answeredRickie，rememberingthathewasnowfifteen。
　　"Thewindisbitter。Yououghttoputiton。"
　　"Butit’ssoheavy。"
　　"Doputiton，dear。"
　　Hewasnotveryoftenirritableorrude，butheanswered，"Oh，I
　　shan’tcatchcold。Idowishyouwouldn’tkeeponbothering。"