Thusmusinghelaydowntosleep，feelingdiseasedinbodyandsoul。Itwasnowonderthatthenightwasthemostterriblehehadeverknown。HerevisitedCambridge，andhisnamewasagreyghostoverthedoor。Thenthererecurredthevoiceofagentleshadowywoman，Mrs。Aberdeen，"Itdoesn’tseemhardlyright。"
Thosehadbeenherwords，heronlycomplaintagainstthemysteriesofchangeanddeath。Shebowedherheadandlabouredtomakeher"gentlemen"comfortable。Shewaslabouringstill。AshelayinbedheaskedGodtogranthimherwisdom;thathemightkeepsorrowwithinduebounds;thathemightabstainfromextremehatredandenvyofStephen。Itwasseldomthatheprayedsodefinitely，orventuredtoobtrudehisprivatewishes。Religionwastohimaservice，amysticcommunionwithgood;notameansofgettingwhathewantedontheearth。Buttonight，throughsuffering，hewashumbled，andbecamelikeMrs。Aberdeen。
Hourafterhourheawaitedsleepandtriedtoendurethefacesthatfrothedinthegloom——hisaunt’s，hisfather’s，and，worstofall，thetriumphantfaceofhisbrother。Oncehestruckatit，andawoke，havinghurthishandonthewall。Thenheprayedhystericallyforpardonandrest。
Yetagaindidheawake，andfromamoremysteriousdream。Heheardhismothercrying。Shewascryingquitedistinctlyinthedarkenedroom。Hewhispered，"Nevermind，mydarling，nevermind，"andavoiceechoed，"Nevermind——comeaway——letthemdieout——letthemdieout。"Helitacandle，andtheroomwasempty。Then，hurryingtothewindow，hesawabovemeanhousesthefrostygloriesofOrion。
Henceforwardhedeteriorates。Letthosewhocensurehimsuggestwhatheshoulddo。Hehaslosttheworkthatheloved，hisfriends，andhischild。Heremainedconscientiousanddecent，butthespiritualpartofhimproceededtowardsruin。
XXIV
Thecomingmonths，thoughfullofdegradationandanxiety，weretobringhimnothingsoterribleasthatnight。Itwasthecrisisofthisagony。Hewasanoutcastandafailure。Buthewasnotagainforcedtocontemplatethesefactssoclearly。Vardenleftinthemorning，carryingthefatalletterwithhim。Thewholehousewasrelieved。Thegoodangelwaswiththeboysagain，orelse（asHerbertpreferredtothink）theyhadlearntalesson，andweremorehumaneinconsequence。Atallevents，thedisastroustermconcludedquietly。
IntheChristmasholidaysthetwomastersmadeanabortiveattempttovisitItaly，andatEastertherewastalkofacruiseintheAegean。Herbertactuallywent，andenjoyedAthensandDelphi。TheElliotspaidafewvisitstogetherinEngland。TheyreturnedtoSawstonabouttendaysbeforeschoolopened，tofindthatWiddringtonwasagainstoppingwiththeJacksons。
Intercoursewaspainful，forthetwofamilieswerescarcelyonspeakingterms;nordidthetriumphantscaffoldingsofthenewboarding—housemakethingseasier。（Thepartyofprogresshadcarriedtheday。）Widdringtonwasbynaturetouchy，butonthisoccasionherefusedtotakeoffence，andoftendroppedintoseethem。Hismannerwasfriendlybutcritical。Theyagreedhewasanuisance。ThenAgnesleft，veryabruptly，toseeMrs。Failing，andwhileshewasawayRickiehadalittlestealthyintercourse。
Herabsence，convenientasitwas，puzzledhim。Mrs。Silt，halfgoose，halfstormy—petrel，hadrecentlypaidaflyingvisittoCadover，andthencehadflown，withoutaninvitation，toSawston。
Generallyshewasnotawelcomeguest。OnthisoccasionAgneshadwelcomedher，and——soRickiethought——hadmadeherpromisenottotellhimsomethingthatsheknew。Theladieshadtalkedmysteriously。"Mr。Siltwouldbeonewithyouthere，"saidMrs。
Silt。Couldtherebeanyconnectionbetweenthetwovisits？
Agnes’sletterstoldhimnothing:theyneverdid。Shewastooclumsyortoocautioustoexpressherselfonpaper。AdrivetoStonehenge;ananthemintheCathedral;AuntEmily’slove。AndwhenhemetheratWaterloohelearntnothing（iftherewasanythingtolearn）fromherface。
"Howdidyouenjoyyourself？"
"Thoroughly。"
"Wereyouandshealone？"
"Sometimes。Sometimesotherpeople。"
"WillUncleTony’sEssaysbepublished？"
Hereshewasmorecommunicative。Thebookwasatlastinproof。
AuntEmilyhadwrittenacharmingintroduction;butshewassoidle，sheneverfinishedthingsoff。
TheygotintoanomnibusfortheArmyandNavyStores:shewantedtodosomeshoppingbeforegoingdowntoSawston。
"DidyoureadanyoftheEssays？"
"Everyone。Delightful。Couldn’tputthemdown。Nowandthenhespoiltthembystatistics——butyoushouldreadhisdescriptionsofNature。Heagreeswithyou:saysthehillsandtreesarealive！AuntEmilycalledyouhisspiritualheir，whichIthoughtniceofher。Webothsolamentedthatyouhavestoppedwriting。"
ShequotedfragmentsoftheEssaysastheywentupintheStores’
lift。
"Whatelsedidyoutalkabout？"
"I’vetoldyouallmynews。Nowforyours。Let’shaveteafirst。"
Theysatdowninthecorridoramidladiesineverystageoffatigue——haggardladies，scarletladies，ladieswithparcelsthattwistedfromeveryfingerlikejointsofmeat。Gentlemenwerescarcer，butallwereofthesub—fashionabletype，towhichRickiehimselfnowbelonged。
"Ihaven’tdoneanything，"hesaidfeebly。"Ate，read，beenrudetotradespeople，talkedtoWiddrington。Herbertarrivedthismorning。HehasbroughtamostbeautifulphotographoftheParthenon。"
"Mr。Widdrington？"
"Yes。"
"Whatdidyoutalkabout？"
Shemighthaveheardeveryword。Itwasonlythefeelingofpleasurethathewishedtoconceal。Evenwhenwelovepeople，wedesiretokeepsomecornersecretfromthem，howeversmall:itisahumanright:itispersonality。Shebegantocross—questionhim，buttheywereinterrupted。Ayoungladyatanadjacenttablesuddenlyroseandcried，"Yes，itisyou。Ithoughtsofromyourwalk。"ItwasMaudAnsell。
"Oh，docomeandjoinus！"hecried。"Letmeintroducemywife。"
Maudbowedquitestiffly，butAgnes，takingitforill—breeding，wasnotoffended。
"ThenIwillcome！"shecontinuedinshrill，pleasanttones，adroitlypoisingherteathingsoneitherhand，andtransferringthemtotheElliots’table。"Whyhaven’tyouevercometous，pray？"
"Ithinkyoudidn’taskme！"
"Youweren’ttobeasked。"Shesprawledforwardwithawaggingfinger。Buthereyeshadthehonestyofherbrother’s。"Don’tyourememberthedayyouleftus？Fathersaid，’Now，Mr。Elliot——’Ordidhecallyou’Elliot’？Howonedoesforget。Anyhow，fathersaidyouweren’ttowaitforaninvitation，andyousaid，’No，Iwon’t。’Oursisafair—sizedhouse，"——sheturnedsomewhathaughtilytoAgnes，——"andthesecondspareroom，onaccountofaharpthathangsonthewall，isalwaysreservedforStewart’sfriends。"
"HowisMr。Ansell，yourbrother？"
Maud’sfacefell。"Hadn’tyouheard？"shesaidinawe—strucktones。
"No。"
"Hehasn’tgothisfellowship。It’sthesecondtimehe’sfailed。
Thatmeanshewillnevergetone。Hewillneverbeadon，norliveinCambridgeandthat，aswehadhoped。"
"Oh，poor，poorfellow！"saidMrs。Elliotwitharemorsethatwassincere，thoughhercongratulationswouldnothavebeen。"Iamsoverysorry。"
ButMaudturnedtoRickie。"Mr。Elliot，youmightknow。Tellme。
WhatiswrongwithStewart’sphilosophy？Whatoughthetoputin，ortoalter，soastosucceed？"
Agnes，whoknewbetterthanthis，smiled。
"Idon’tknow，"saidRickiesadly。Theywerenoneofthemsoclever，afterall。
"Hegel，"shecontinuedvindictively。"Theysayhe’sreadtoomuchHegel。Buttheynevertellhimwhattoreadinstead。Theirownstuffybooks，Isuppose。Lookhere——no，that’sthe’Windsor。’"
Afteralittlegropingsheproducedacopyof"Mind，"andhandeditroundasifitwasageologicalspecimen。"Insidethatthere’saparagraphwrittenaboutsomethingStewart’swrittenaboutbefore，andthereitsayshe’sreadtoomuchHegel，anditseemsnowthatthat’sbeenthetroubleallalong。"Hervoicetrembled。
"Icallitmostunfair，andthefellowship’sgonetoamanwhohascountedthepetalsonananemone。"
Rickiehadnoinclinationtosmile。
"IwishStewarthadtriedOxfordinstead。"
"Idon’twishit！"
"Yousaythat，"shecontinuedhotly，"andthenyounevercometoseehim，thoughyouknewyouwerenottowaitforaninvitation。"
"Ifitcomestothat，MissAnsell，"retortedRickie，inthelaughingtonesthatoneadoptsonsuchoccasions，"Stewartwon’tcometome，thoughhehashadaninvitation。"
"Yes，"chimedinAgnes，"weaskMr。Ansellagainandagain，andhewillhavenoneofus。"
Maudlookedatherwithaflashingeye。"Mybrotherisaverypeculiarperson，andweladiescan’tunderstandhim。ButIknowonething，andthat’sthathehasareasonallroundforwhathedoes。Lookhere，Imustbegettingon。Waiter！Wai—ai—aiter！
Bill，please。Separately，ofcourse。CalltheArmyandNavycheap！Iknowbetter！"
"Howdoesthedraperydepartmentcompare？"saidAgnessweetly。
Thegirlgaveasharpchokingsound，gatheredupherparcels，andleftthem。Rickiewastoomuchdisgustedwithhiswifetospeak。
"Appallingperson！"shegasped。"Itwasnaughtyofme，butI
couldn’thelpit。Whatadreadfulfateforacleverman！Tofailinlifecompletely，andthentobethrownbackonafamilylikethat！"
"MaudisasnobandaPhilistine。But，inhercase，somethingemerges。"
Sheglancedathim，butproceededinhersuavesttones，"DoletusmakeonegreatunitedattempttogetMr。AnselltoSawston。"
"No。"
"Whatachangeablefriendyouare！Whenwewereengagedyouwerealwaystalkingabouthim。"
"Wouldyoufinishyourtea，andthenwewillbuythelinoleumforthecubicles。"
Butshereturnedtothesubjectagain，notonlyonthatdaybutthroughouttheterm。CouldnothingbedoneforpoorMr。Ansell？
Itseemedthatshecouldnotrestuntilallthathehadoncehelddearwashumiliated。Inthisshestrayedoutsidehernature:shewasunpractica1。Andthosewhostrayoutsidetheirnatureinvitedisaster。Rickie，goadedbyher，wrotetohisfriendagain。Theletterwasinallwaysunlikehisoldself。Anselldidnotanswerit。ButhedidwritetoMr。Jackson，withwhomhewasnotacquainted。
"DearMr。Jackson，——
IunderstandfromWiddringtonthatyouhavealargehouse。I
wouldliketotellyouhowconvenientitwouldbeformetocomeandstopinit。Junesuitsmebest。——
Yourstruly，StewartAnsellTowhichMr。JacksonrepliedthatnotonlyinJunebutduringthewholeyearhishousewasatthedisposalofMr。Ansellandofanyonewhoresembledhim。
ButAgnescontinuedherlife，cheerfullybeatingtime。She，too，knewthathermarriagewasafailure，andinhersparemomentsregrettedit。Shewishedthatherhusbandwashandsomer，moresuccessful，moredictatorial。Butshewouldthink，"No，no;onemustn’tgrumble。Itcan’tbehelped。"Ansellwaswronginsup—
posingshemighteverleaveRickie。Spiritualapathypreventedher。Norwouldsheeverbetemptedbyajollierman。Herecriticismwouldwillinglyalteritstone。ForAgnesalsohashertragedy。Shebelongedtothetype——notnecessarilyanelevatedone——thatlovesonceandonceonly。HerloveforGeraldhadnotbeenanoblepassion:noimaginationtransfiguredit。Butsuchasitwas，itsprangtoembracehim，andhecarrieditawaywithhimwhenhedied。Lesamoursguisuivrentsontmoinsinvoluntaires:
byaneffortofthewillshehadwarmedherselfforRickie。
Sheisnotconsciousofhertragedy，andthereforeonlythegodsneedweepatit。Butitisfairtorememberthathithertoshemovesasonefromwhomtheinnerlifehasbeenwithdrawn。
XXV
"Iamafraid，"saidAgnes，unfoldingaletterthatshehadreceivedinthemorning，"thatthingsgofarfromsatisfactorilyatCadover。"
Thethreewerealoneatsupper。ItwastheJuneofRickie’ssecondyearatSawston。
"Indeed？"saidHerbert，whotookafriendlyinterest。"Inwhatway？
"DoyourememberustalkingofStephen——StephenWonham，whobyanoddcoincidence——"
"Yes。WhowrotelastyeartothatmiserablefailureVarden。I
do。"
"Itisabouthim。"
"Ididnotlikethetoneofhisletter。"
Agneshadmadeherfirstmove。Shewaitedforherhusbandtoreplytoit。Buthe，thoughfullofapainfulcuriosity，wouldnotspeak。Shemovedagain。
"Idon’tthink，Herbert，thatAuntEmily，muchasIlikeher，isthekindofpersontobringayoungmanup。Atalleventstheresultshavebeendisastrousthistime。"
"Whathashappened？"
"Atangleofthings。"Sheloweredhervoice。"Drink。"
"Dear！Really！WasMrs。Failingfondofhim？"
"Sheusedtobe。ShelethimliveatCadovereversincehewasalittleboy。Naturallythatcannotcontinue。"
Rickieneverspoke。
"Andnowhehastakentobeviolentandrude，"shewenton。
"Inshort，abeggaronhorseback。Whoishe？Hashegotrelatives？"
"Shehasalwaysbeenbothfatherandmothertohim。Nowitmustallcometoanend。Iblameher——andsheblamesherself——fornotbeingsevereenough。Hehasgrownupwithoutfixedprinciples。Hehasalwaysfollowedhisinclinations，andoneknowstheresultofthat"
Herbertassented。"TomeMrs。Failing’scourseisperfectlyplain。Shehasacertainresponsibility。Shemustpaytheyouth’spassagetooneofthecolonies，starthimhandsomelyinsomebusiness，andthenbreakoffallcommunications。"
"Howfunny！Itisexactlywhatsheisgoingtodo。"
"Ishallthenconsiderthatshehasbehavedinathoroughlyhonourablemanner。"Heheldouthisplateforgooseberries。"HislettertoVardenwasneitherhelpfulnorsympathetic，and，ifwrittenatall，itoughttohavebeenboth。Iamnotintheleastsurprisedtolearnthathehasturnedoutbadly。Whenyouwritenext，wouldyoutellherhowsorryIam？"
"IndeedIwill。Twoyearsago，whenshewasalreadyalittleanxious，shedidsowishyoucouldundertakehim。
"Icouldnotalteragrownman。"Butinhishearthethoughthecould，andsmiledathissisteramiably。"Terrible，isn’tit？"heremarkedtoRickie。Rickie，whowastryingnottomindanything，assented。Andanonlookerwouldhavesupposedthemadispassionatetrio，whoweresorrybothforMrs。Failingandforthebeggarwhowouldbestrideherhorses’backsnolonger。AnewtopicwasintroducedbythearrivaloftheeveningpostHerberttookupalltheletters，asheoftendid。
"Jackson？"heexclaimed。"Whatdoesthefellowwant？"Heread，andhistonewasmollified，"’DearMr。Pembroke，——Couldyou，Mrs。
Elliot，andMr。ElliotcometosupperwithusonSaturdaynext？I
shouldnotmerelybepleased，Ishouldbegrateful。MywifeiswritingformallytoMrs。Elliot’——（Here，Agnes，takeyourletter），——butIventuretowriteaswell，andtoaddmymoreuncouthentreaties。’——Anolive—branch。Itistime！But（ridiculousperson！）doeshethinkthatwecanleavetheHousedesertedandallgooutpleasuringintermtime？——Rickie，aletterforyou。"
"Mine’stheformalinvitation，"saidAgnes。"Howveryodd！Mr。
Ansellwillbethere。Surelyweaskedhimhere！DidyouknowheknewtheJacksons？"
"Thismakesrefusalverydifficult，"saidHerbert，whowasanxioustoaccept。"Atallevents，Rickieoughttogo。"
"Idonotwanttogo，"saidRickie，slowlyopeninghisownletter。"AsAgnessays，Ansellhasrefusedtocometous。I
cannotputmyselfoutforhim。"
"Who’syoursfrom？"shedemanded。
"Mrs。Silt，"repliedHerbert，whohadseenthehandwriting。
"Itrustshedoesnotwanttopayusavisitthisterm，withtheexaminationsimpendingandallthemachineryatfullpressure。
Though，Rickie，youwillhavetoaccepttheJacksons’
invitation。"
"Icannotpossiblygo。Ihavebeentoorude;withWiddringtonwealwaysmeethere。I’llstopwiththeboys——"Hisvoicecaughtsuddenly。HehadopenedMrs。Silt’sletter。
"TheSiltsarenotill，Ihope？"
"No。But，Isay，"——helookedathiswife，——"Idothinkthisisgoingtoofar。Really，Agnes。"
"Whathashappened？"
"Itisgoingtoofar，"herepeated。Hewasnervinghimselfforanotherbattle。"Icannotstandthissortofthing。Therearelimits。"
Helaidtheletterdown。ItwasHerbertwhopickeditup，andread:"AuntEmilyhasjustwrittentous。Wearesogladthathertroublesareover，inspiteoftheexpense。Itneverdoestoliveapartfromone’sownrelativessomuchasshehasdoneuptonow。
HegoesnextSaturdaytoCanada。Whatyoutoldherabouthimjustturnedthescale。Shehasaskedus——"
"No，it’stoomuch，"heinterrupted。"WhatItoldher——toldherabouthim——no，Iwillhaveitoutatlast。Agnes！"
"Yes？"saidhiswife，raisinghereyesfromMrs。Jackson’sformalinvitation。
"It’syou——it’syou。Inevermentionedhimtoher。Why，I’veneverseenherorwrittentohersince。Iaccuseyou。"
ThenHerbertoverborehim，andhecollapsed。Hewasaskedwhathemeant。Whywashesoexcited？Ofwhatdidheaccusehiswife。
Eachtimehespokemorefeebly，andbeforelongthebrotherandsisterwerelaughingathim。Hefeltbewildered，likeaboywhoknowsthatheisrightbutcannotputhiscasecorrectly。Herepeated，"I’venevermentionedhimtoher。It’salibel。Neverinmylife。"Andtheycried，"MydearRickie，whatanabsurdfuss！"Thenhisbraincleared。Hiseyefellontheletterthathiswifehadreceivedfromhisaunt，andhereopenedthebattle。
"Agnes，givemethatletter，ifyouplease。"
"Mrs。Jackson’s？"
"Myaunt’s。"
Sheputherhandonit，andlookedathimdoubtfully。Shesawthatshehadfailedtobullyhim。
"Myaunt’sletter，"herepeated，risingtohisfeetandbendingoverthetabletowardsher。
"Why，dear？"
"Yes，whyindeed？"echoedHerbert。HetoohadbulliedRickie，butfromapurermotive:hehadtriedtostampoutadissensionbetweenhusbandandwife。Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadintervened。
"Theletter。Forthisreason:itwillshowmewhatyouhavedone。
IbelieveyouhaveruinedStephen。youhaveworkedatitfortwoyears。Youhaveputwordsintomymouthto’turnthescale’
againsthim。HegoestoCanada——andalltheworldthinksitisowingtome。AsIsaidbefore——Iadviseyoutostopsmiling——youhavegonealittletoofar。"
Theywereallontheirfeetnow，standingroundthelittletable。
Agnessaidnothing，butthefingersofherdelicatehandtightenedupontheletter。Whenherhusbandsnatchedatitsheresisted，andwiththeeffectofaharlequinadeeverythingwentonthefloor——lamb，mintsauce，gooseberries，lemonade，whisky。
Atoncetheywereswampedindomesticities。Sherangthebellfortheservant，criesarose，dusterswerebrought，brokencrockery（aweddingpresent）pickedupfromthecarpet;whilehestoodwrathfullyatthewindow，regardingtheobscuredsun’sdecline。
"IMUSTseeherletter，"herepeated，whentheagitationwasover。Hewastooangrytobedivertedfromhispurpose。Onlyslightemotionsarethwartedbyaninterludeoffarce。
"I’vehadenoughofthisquarrelling，"sheretorted。"YouknowthattheSiltsareinaccurate。Ithinkyoumighthavegivenmethebenefitofthedoubt。Ifyouwillknow——haveyouforgottenthatrideyoutookwithhim。？"
"I——"hewasagainbewildered。"TheridewhereIdreamt——"
"Theridewhereyouturnedbackbecauseyoucouldnotlistentoadisgracefulpoem？"
"Idon’tunderstand。"
"ThepoemwasAuntEmily。Hereadittoyouandastraysoldier。
Afterwardsyoutoldme。Yousaid，’Reallyitisshocking，hisingratitude。Sheoughttoknowaboutit’Shedoesknow，andI
shouldbegladofanapology。"
Hehadsaidsomethingofthesortinafitofirritation。Mrs。
Siltwasright——hehadhelpedtoturnthescale。
"WhateverIsaid，youknewwhatImeant。YouknewI’dsoonercutmytongueoutthanhaveitusedagainsthim。Eventhen。"Hesighed。Hadheruinedhisbrother？Acurioustendernesscameoverhim，andpassedwhenherememberedhisowndeadchild。"Wehaveruinedhim，then。Haveyouanyobjectionto’we’？Wehavedisinheritedhim。"
"Idecideagainstyou，"interposedHerbert。"Ihavenowheardbothsidesofthisdeplorableaffair。Youaretalkingmostcriminalnonsense。’Disinherit！’Sentimentaltwaddle。It’sbeencleartomefromthefirstthatMrs。FailinghasbeenimposeduponbytheWonhamman，apersonwithnolegalclaimonher，andanyonewhoexposeshimperformsapublicduty——"
"——Andgetsmoney。"
"Money？"Hewasalwaysuneasyattheword。"Whomentionedmoney？"
"Justunderstandme，Herbert，andofwhatitisthatIaccusemywife。"Tearscameintohiseyes。"ItisnotthatIliketheWonhamman，orthinkthatheisn’tadrunkardandworse。He’stooawfulineveryway。Butheoughttohavemyaunt’smoney，becausehe’slivedallhislifewithher，andishernephewasmuchasI
am。Yousee，myfatherwentwrong。"Hestopped，amazedathimself。Howeasyithadbeentosay！Hewaswitheringup:thepowertocareaboutthisstupidsecrethaddied。
WhenHerbertunderstood，hisfirstthoughtwasforDunwoodHouse。
"WhyhaveIneverbeentold？"washisfirstremark。
"Wesettledtotellnoone，"saidAgnes。"Rickie，inhisanxietytoprovemealiar，hasbrokenhispromise。"
"Ioughttohavebeentold，"saidHerbert，hisangerincreasing。
"HadIknown，Icouldhaveavertedthisdeplorablescene。"
"Letmeconcludeit，"saidRickie，againcollapsingandleavingthedining—room。HisimpulsewastogostraighttoCadoverandmakeabusiness—likestatementofthepositiontoStephen。Thenthemanwouldbearmed，andperhapsfightthetwowomensuccessfully，Butheresistedtheimpulse。Whyshouldhehelponepowerofevilagainstanother？Letthemgointertwinedtodestruction。Toenrichhisbrotherwouldbeasbadasenrichinghimself。Iftheiraunt’smoneyeverdidcometohim，hewouldrefusetoacceptit。Thatwastheeasiestandmostdignifiedcourse。Hetroubledhimselfnolongerwithjusticeorpity，andthenextdayheaskedhiswife’spardonforhisbehaviour。
Inthedining—roomtheconversationcontinued。Agnes，withoutmuchdifficulty，gainedherbrotherasanally。Sheacknowledgedthatshehadbeenwronginnottellinghim，andhethendeclaredthatshehadbeenrightoneveryotherpoint。Sheslurredalittleovertheincidentofhertreachery，forHerbertwassometimesclearsightedoverdetails，thougheasilymuddledinageneralsurvey。Mrs。Failinghadhadplentyofdirectcausesofcomplaint，andshedweltonthese。Shedealt，too，ontheveryhandsomewayinwhichtheyoungman，"thoughheknewnothing，hadneveraskedtoknow，"wasbeingtreatedbyhisaunt。
"’Handsome’istheword，"saidHerbert。"Ihopenotindulgently。
Hedoesnotdeserveindulgence。"
Andsheknewthathe，likeherself，couldremembermoney，andthatitlentanacknowledgedhalotohercause。
"Itisnotasavourysubject，"hecontinued，withsuddenstiffness。"IunderstandwhyRickieissohysterical。
Myimpulse"——helaidhishandonhershoulder——"istoabandonitatonce。ButifIamtobeofanyusetoyou，Imusthearitall。
Therearemomentswhenwemustlookfactsintheface。"
Shedidnotshrinkfromthesubjectasmuchashethought，asmuchassheherselfcouldhavewished。Twoyearsbefore，ithadfilledherwithaphysicalloathing。Butbynowshehadaccustomedherselftoit。
"Iamafraid，Bertieboy，thereisnothingelsetobear，Ihavetriedtofindoutagainandagain，butAuntEmilywillnottellme。Isupposeitisnatural。ShewantstoshieldtheElliotname。
Sheonlytoldusinafitoftemper;thenweallagreedtokeepittoourselves;thenRickieagainmismanagedher，andeversinceshehasrefusedtoletusknowanydetails。"
"Amostunsatisfactoryposition。"
"SoIfeel。"Shesatdownagainwithasigh。Mrs。Failinghadbeenagreattrialtoherorderlymind。"Sheisanoddwoman。Sheisalwayslaughing。Sheactuallyfindsitamusingthatweknownomore。"