Hisstrengthandhisyouthcalledtohers，expectingnoprudishresponse。"It’sveryodd。ItisthatI’mRickie’sbrother。I’vejustfoundout。I’vecometotellyouall。"
　　"Yes？"
　　Hefeltinhispocketforthepapers。"Half—brotherIoughttohavesaid。"
　　"Yes？"
　　"I’millegitimate。Legallyspeaking，thatis，I’vebeenturnedoutofCadover。Ihaven’tapenny。I——"
　　"Thereisnooccasiontoinflictthedetails。"Herface，whichhadbeenanevenbrown，begantoflushslowlyinthecentreofthecheeks。Thecolourspreadtillallthathesawofherwassuffused，andsheturnedaway。Hethoughthehadshockedher，andsodidshe。Neitherknewthatthebodycanbeinsincereandexpressnottheemotionswefeelbutthosethatweshouldliketofeel。Inrealityshewasquitecalm，andherdislikeofhimhadnothingemotionalinitasyet。
　　"Yousee——"hebegan。Hewasdeterminedtotellthefidgetystory，forthesooneritwasoverthesoonertheywouldhavesomethingtoeat。Delicacyhelacked，andhissympathieswerelimited。Butsuchastheywere，theyrangtrue:heputnodecorousphantombetweenhimandhisdesires。
　　"Idosee。Ihaveseenfortwoyears。"Shesatdownattheheadofthetable，wheretherewasanotherink—pot。Intothisshedippedapen。"Ihaveseeneverything，Mr。Wonham——whoyouare，howyouhavebehavedatCadover，howyoumusthavetreatedMrs。
　　Failingyesterday;andnow"——hervoicebecameverygrave——"Iseewhyyouhavecomehere，penniless。Beforeyouspeak，weknowwhatyouwillsay。"
　　Hismouthfellopen，andhelaughedsomerrilythatitmighthavegivenherawarning。Butshewasthinkinghowtofollowupherfirstsuccess。"AndIthoughtIwasbringingtremendousnews！"hecried。"IonlytwisteditoutofMrs。Failinglastnight。AndRickieknowstoo？"
　　"Wehaveknownfortwoyears。"
　　"Butcome，bythebye，——ifyou’veknownfortwoyears，howisityoudidn’t——"Thelaughdiedoutofhiseyes。"Youaren’tashamed？"heasked，halfrisingfromhischair。"Youaren’tlikethemantowardsAndover？"
　　"Please，pleasesitdown，"saidAgnes，intheeventonessheusedwhenspeakingtotheservants;"letusnotdiscusssideissues。I
　　amahorriblydirectperson，Mr。Wonham。Igoalwaysstraighttothepoint。"Sheopenedachequebook。"IamafraidIshallshockyou。Forhowmuch？"
　　Hewasnotattending。
　　"Thereisthepaperwesuggestyoushallsign。"Shepushedtowardshimapseudo—legaldocument，justcomposedbyHerbert。
　　"Inconsiderationofthesumof……，Iagreetoperpetualsilence—
　　—torestrainfromlibellous……nevertomolestthesaidFrederickElliotbyintruding——’"
　　Hisbrainwasnotquick。Hereadthedocumentovertwice，andhecouldstillsay，"Butwhat’sthatchequefor？"
　　"Itismyhusband’s。Hesignedforyouassoonasweheardyouwerehere。Weguessedyouhadcometobesilenced。Hereishissignature。Buthehasleftthefillinginforme。Forhowmuch？I
　　willcrossit，shallI？Youwilljusthavestartedabankingaccount，ifIunderstandMrs。Failingrightly。Itisnotquiteaccuratetosayyouarepenniless:Iheardfromherjustbeforeyoureturnedfromyourcricket。Sheallowsyoutwohundreda—
　　year，Ithink。Butthisadditionalsum——shallIdatethechequeSaturdayorfortomorrow？"
　　Atlasthefoundwords。Knockinghispipeoutonthetable，hesaidslowly，"Here’saverybadmistake。"
　　"Itisquitepossible，"retortedAgnes。Shewasgladshehadtakentheoffensive，insteadofwaitingtillhebeganhisblackmailing，ashadbeentheadviceofRickie。AuntEmilyhadsaidthatveryspring，"One’sonlyhopewithStephenistostartbullyingfirst。"Herehewas，quitebewildered，smearingthepipe—asheswithhisthumb。Heaskedtoreadthedocumentagain。
　　"Astampandall！"heremarked。
　　Theyhadanticipatedthathisclaimwouldexceedtwopounds。
　　"Isee。Allright。Ittakesafoolaminute。Nevermind。I’vemadeabadmistake。"
　　"Yourefuse？"sheexclaimed，forhewasstandingatthedoor。
　　"Thendoyourworst！Wedefyyou！"
　　"That’sallright，Mrs。Elliot，"hesaidroughly。"Idon’twantascenewithyou，noryetwithyourhusband。We’llsaynomoreaboutit。It’sallright。Imeannoharm。"
　　"Butyoursignaturethen！Youmustsign——you——"
　　Hepushedpasther，andsaidashereachedforhiscap，"There，that’sallright。It’smymistake。I’msorry。"Hespokelikeafarmerwhohasfailedtosellasheep。Hismannerwasutterlyprosaic，anduptothelastshethoughthehadnotunderstoodher。"Butit’smoneyweofferyou，"sheinformedhim，andthendartedbacktothestudy，believingforoneterriblemomentthathehadpickeduptheblankcheque。Whenshereturnedtothehallhehadgone。Hewaswalkingdowntheroadratherquickly。Atthecornerheclearedhisthroat，spatintothegutter，anddisappeared。
　　"There’sanoddfinish，"shethought。Shewaspuzzled，anddeterminedtorecasttheinterviewalittlewhensherelatedittoRickie。Shehadnotsucceeded，forthepaperwasstillunsigned。ButshehadsocowedStephenthathewouldprobablyrestcontentwithhistwohundreda—year，andnevercometroublingthemagain。Clevermanagement，foroneknewhimtoberapacious:shehadheardtalesofhimlendingtothepoorandexactingrepaymenttotheuttermostfarthing。Hehadalsostolenatschool。Moderatelytriumphant，shehurriedintotheside—
　　garden:shehadjustrememberedAnsell:she，notRickie，hadreceivedhiscard。
　　"Oh，Mr。Ansell！"sheexclaimed，awakinghimfromsomeday—dream。
　　"Haven’teitherRickieorHerbertbeenouttoyou？Now，docomeintodinner，toshowyouaren’toffended。Youwillfindallofusassembledintheboys’dining—hall。"
　　Toherannoyanceheaccepted。
　　"Thatis，iftheJacksonsarenotexpectingyou。"
　　TheJacksonsdidnotmatter。Ifhemightbrushhisclothesandbathehislip，hewouldliketocome。
　　"Oh，whathashappenedtoyou？Andoh，myprettylobelias！"
　　Hereplied，"Amomentarycontactwithreality，"andshe，whodidnotlookforsenseinhisremarks，hurriedawaytothedining—
　　halltoannouncehim。
　　Thedining—hallwasnotunlikethepreparationroom。Therewasthesameparquetfloor，anddadoofshinypitchpine。Onitswallsalsowereimperialportraits，andovertheharmoniumtowhichtheysangtheeveninghymnswasspreadtheUnionJack。Sundaydinner，themostpompousmealoftheweek，wasinprogress。Herbrothersatattheheadofthehightable，herhusbandattheheadofthesecond。Toeachhegaveareassuringnodandwenttoherownseat，whichwasamongthejuniorboys。Thebeefwasbeingcarriedout;shestoppedit。"Mr。Anselliscoming，"shecalled。
　　"Herbertthereismoreroombyyou;situpstraight，boys。"Theboyssatupstraight，andarespectfulhushspreadovertheroom。
　　"Hereheis！"calledRickiecheerfully，takinghiscuefromhiswife。"Oh，thisissplendid！"Ansellcamein。"I’msogladyoumanagedthis。Icouldn’tleavethesewretcheslastnight！"Theboystitteredsuitably。Theatmosphereseemednormal。EvenHerbert，thoughlongingtohearwhathadhappenedtotheblackmailer，gaveadequategreetingtotheirguest:"Comein，Mr。
　　Ansell;comehere。Takeusasyoufindus！"
　　"Iunderstood，"saidStewart，"thatIshouldfindyouall。Mrs。
　　ElliottoldmeIshould。OnthatunderstandingIcame。"
　　Itwasatonceevidentthatsomethinghadgonewrong。
　　Anselllookedroundtheroomcarefully。Thenclearinghisthroatandrufflinghishair，hebegan—
　　"IcannotseethemanwithwhomIhavetalked，intimately，foranhour，inyourgarden。"
　　Theworstofitwastheywereallsofarfromhimandfromeachother，eachattheendofatablefulofinquisitiveboys。ThetwomasterslookedatAgnesforinformation，forherreassuringnodhadnottoldthemmuch。Shelookedhopelesslyback。
　　"Icannotseethisman，"repeatedAnsell，whoremainedbytheharmoniuminthemidstofastonishedwaitresses。"Ishetobegivennolunch？"
　　Herbertbrokethesilencebyfreshgreetings。Rickieknewthatthecontestwaslost，andthathisfriendhadsidedwiththeenemy。Itwasthekindofthinghewoulddo。Onemustfacethecatastrophequietlyandwithdignity。PerhapsAnsellwouldhaveturnedonhisheel，andleftbehindhimonlyvaguesuspicions，ifMrs。Elliothadnottriedtotalkhimdown。"Man，"shecried——
　　"whatman？Oh，Iknow——terriblebore！Didhegetholdofyou？"——
　　thuscommittingtheirfirstblunder，andcausingAnselltosaytoRickie，"Haveyouseenyourbrother？"
　　"Ihavenot。"
　　"Haveyoubeentoldhewashere？"
　　Rickie’sanswerwasinaudible。
　　"Haveyoubeentoldyouhaveabrother？"
　　"Letuscontinuethisconversationlater。"
　　"Continueit？Mydearman，howcanweuntilyouknowwhatI’mtalkingabout？Youmustthinkmemad;butItellyousolemnlythatyouhaveabrotherofwhomyou’veneverheard，andthathewasinthishousetenminutesago。"Hepausedimpressively。"Yourwifehashappenedtoseehimfirst。Beingneitherseriousnortruthful，sheiskeepingyouapart，tellinghimsomelieandnottellingyouaword。"
　　Therewasamurmurofalarm。Oneoftheprefectsrose，andAnsellsethisbacktothewall，quitereadyforabattle。Fortwoyearshehadwaitedforhisopportunity。HewouldhitoutatMrs。
　　Elliotlikeanyploughboynowthatithadcome。Rickiesaid:
　　"Thereisaslightmisunderstanding。I，likemywife，haveknownwhatthereistoknowfortwoyears"——adignifiedrebuff，buttheirsecondblunder。
　　"Exactly，"saidAgnes。"NowIthinkMr。Ansellhadbettergo。"
　　"Go？"explodedAnsell。"I’veeverythingtosayyet。Ibegyourpardon，Mrs。Elliot，Iamconcernedwithyounolonger。Thisman"——heturnedtotheavenueoffaces——"thismanwhoteachesyouhasabrother。Hehasknownofhimtwoyearsandbeenashamed。Hehas——oh——oh——howitfitstogether！Rickie，it’syou，notMrs。
　　Silt，whomusthavesenttalesofhimtoyouraunt。It’syouwho’veturnedhimoutofCadover。It’syouwho’veorderedhimtoberuinedtoday。
　　NowHerbertarose。"Outofmysight，sir！ButhaveitfrommefirstthatRickieandhisaunthavebothbehavedmostgenerously。
　　No，no，Agnes，I’llnotbeinterrupted。Garbledversionsmustnotgetabout。IftheWonhammanisnotsatisfiednow，hemustbeinsatiable。Hecannotlevyblackmailonusforever。Sir，Igiveyoutwominutes;thenyouwillbeexpelledbyforce。"
　　"Twominutes！"sangAnsell。"Icansayagreatdealinthat。"Heputonefootonachairandheldhisarmsoverthequiveringroom。HeseemedtransfiguredintoaHebrewprophetpassionateforsatireandthetruth。"Oh，keepquietfortwominutes，"hecried，"andI’lltellyousomethingyou’llbegladtohear。You’realittleafraidStephenmaycomeback。Don’tbeafraid。Ibringgoodnews。You’llneverseehimnoranyonelikehimagain。I
　　mustspeakveryplainly，foryouareallthreefools。Idon’twantyoutosayafterwards，’PoorMr。Anselltriedtobeclever。’
　　GenerallyIdon’tmind，butIshouldmindtoday。Pleaselisten。
　　Stephenisabully;hedrinks;heknocksonedown;buthewouldsoonerdiethantakemoneyfrompeoplehedidnotlove。Perhapshewilldie，forhehasnothingbutafewpencethatthepoorgavehimandsometobaccowhich，tomyeternalglory，heacceptedfromme。Pleaselistenagain。Whydidhecomehere？Becausehethoughtyouwouldlovehim，andwasreadytoloveyou。ButItellyou，don’tbeafraid。Hewouldsoonerdienowthansayyouwerehisbrother。Pleaselistenagain——"
　　"Now，Stewart，don’tgoonlikethat，"saidRickiebitterly。
　　"It’seasyenoughtopreachwhenyouareanoutsider。Youwouldbemorecharitableifsuchathinghadhappenedtoyourself。Easyenoughtobeunconventionalwhenyouhaven’tsufferedandknownothingofthefacts。Youloveanythingoutoftheway，anythingqueer，thatdoesn’toftenhappen，andsoyougetexcitedoverthis。It’suseless，mydearman;youhavehurtme，butyouwillneverupsetme。Assoonasyoustopthisridiculousscenewewillfinishourdinner。Spreadthisscandal;addtoit。I’mtoooldtomindsuchnonsense。Icannothelpmyfather’sdisgrace，ontheonehand;nor，ontheother，willIhaveanythingtodowithhisblackguardofason。"
　　Sothesecretwasgiventotheworld。Agnesmightcolourathisspeech;HerbertmightcalculatetheeffectofitontheentriesforDunwoodHouse;buthecaredfornoneofthesethings。ThankGod！hewaswitheredupatlast。
　　"Pleaselistenagain，"resumedAnsell。"Pleasecorrecttwoslightmistakes:firstly，StephenisoneofthegreatestpeopleIhaveevermet;secondly，he’snotyourfather’sson。He’sthesonofyourmother。"
　　ItwasRickie，notAnsell，whowascarriedfromthehall，anditwasHerbertwhopronouncedtheblessing——
　　"Benedictobenedicatur。"
　　Aprofoundstillnesssucceededthestorm，andtheboys，slippingawayfromtheirmeal，toldthenewstotherestoftheschool，orputitintheletterstheywerewritinghome。
　　XXVIII
　　Thesoulhasherowncurrency。Shemintsherspiritualcoinageandstampsitwiththeimageofsomebelovedface。Withitshepaysherdebts，withitshereckons，saying，"Thismanhasworth，thismanisworthless。"Andintimesheforgetsitsorigin;itseemstohertobeathingunalterable，divine。Butthesoulcanalsohaveherbankruptcies。
　　Perhapsshewillbethericherintheend。Inheragonyshelearnstoreckonclearly。Fairasthecoinmayhavebeen，itwasnotaccurate;andthoughsheknewitnot，thereweretreasuresthatitcouldnotbuy。Theface，howeverbeloved，wasmortal，andasliableasthesoulherselftoerr。Wedobutshiftresponsibilitybymakingastandardofthedead。
　　Thereis，indeed，anothercoinagethatbearsonitnotman’simagebutGod’s。Itisincorruptible，andthesoulmaytrustitsafely;itwillserveherbeyondthestars。Butitcannotgiveusfriends，ortheembraceofalover，orthetouchofchildren，forwithourfellowmortalsithasnoconcern。Itcannotevengivethejoyswecalltrivial——fineweather，thepleasuresofmeatanddrink，bathingandthehotsandafterwards，running，dreamlesssleep。Havewelearntthetruedisciplineofabankruptcyifweturntosuchcoinageasthis？Willitreallyprofitussomuchifwesaveoursoulsandlosethewholeworld？
　　PART3WILTSHIRE
　　XXIX
　　Robert——thereisnooccasiontomentionhissurname:hewasayoungfarmerofsomeeducationwhotriedtocoaxtheagedsoilofWiltshirescientifically——cametoCadoveronbusinessandfellinlovewithMrs。Elliot。Shewasthereonherbridalvisit，andhe，anobscurenobody，wasreceivedbyMrs。Failingintothehouseandtreatedashersocialequal。Hewasgood—lookinginabucolicway，andpeoplesometimesmistookhimforagentlemanuntiltheysawhishands。Hediscoveredthis，andoneoftheslow，gentlejokesheplayedonsocietywastotalkuponsomeculturedsubjectwithhishandsbehindhisbackandthensuddenlyrevealthem。"Doyougoinforboating？"theladywouldask;andthenheexplainedthatthoseparticularwealsaremadebythehandlesoftheplough。Uponwhichshebecameextremelyinterested，butfoundanearlyopportunityoftalkingtosomeoneelse。
　　HeplayedthisjokeonMrs。Elliotthefirstevening，notknowingthatsheobservedhimasheenteredtheroom。Hewalkedheavily，liftinghisfeetasifthecarpetwasfurrowed，andhehadnoeveningclothes。Everyonetriedtoputhimathisease，butsherathersuspectedthathewastherealready，andenviedhim。Theywereintroduced，andspokeofByron，whowasstillfashionable。
　　Outcamehishands——theonlyroughhandsinthedrawing—room，theonlyhandsthathadeverworked。Shewasfilledwithsomestrangeapproval，andlikedhim。
　　Afterdinnertheymetagain，tospeaknotofByronbutofmanure。
　　Theotherpeopleweresocleverandsoamusingthatitrelievedhertolistentoamanwhotoldherthreetimesnottobuyartificialmanurereadymade，but，ifshewoulduseit，tomakeitherselfatthelastmoment。Becausetheammoniaevaporated。
　　Hereweretwopacketsofpowder。Didtheysmell？No。Mixthemtogetherandpoursomecoffee——Anappallingsmellatonceburstforth，andeveryonebegantocoughandcry。Thiswasgoodfortheearthwhenshefeltsour，forheknewwhentheearthwasill。
　　Heknew，too，whenshewashungryhespokeofhertantrums——thestrangeunscientificelementinherthatwillbafflethescientisttotheendoftime。"Studyaway，Mrs。Elliot，"hetoldher;"readallthebooksyoucangetholdof;butwhenitcomestothepoint，strolloutwithapipeinyourmouthanddoabitofguessing。"Ashetalked，theearthbecamealivingbeing——orratherabeingwithalivingskin，——andmanurenolongerdirtystuff，butasymbolofregenerationandofthebirthoflifefromlife。"Soitgoesonforever！"shecriedexcitedly。Hereplied:
　　"Notforever。Intimethefireatthecentrewillcool，andnothingcangoonthen。"
　　Headvancedintolovewithopeneyes，slowly，heavily，justashehadadvancedacrossthedrawingroomcarpet。Butthistimethebridedidnotobservehistread。Shewaslisteningtoherhusband，andtryingnottobesostupid。Whenhewasclosetoher——soclosethatitwasdifficultnottotakeherinhisarms——
　　hespoketoMr。Failing，andwasatonceturnedoutofCadover。
　　"I’msorry，"saidMr。Failing，ashewalkeddownthedrivewithhishandonhisguest’sshoulder。"Ihadnonotionyouwerethatsort。Anyonewhobehaveslikethathastostopatthefarm。"
　　"Anyone？"
　　"Anyone。"Hesighedheavily，notforanypersonalgrievance，butbecausehesawhowunruly，howbarbaric，isthesoulofman。
　　Afterall，thismanwasmorecivilizedthanmost。
　　"Areyouangrywithme，sir？"Hecalledhim"sir，"notbecausehewasricherorclevererorsmarter，notbecausehehadhelpedtoeducatehimandhadlenthimmoney，butforareasonmoreprofound——forthereasonthattherearegradationsinheaven。
　　"Ididthinkyou——thatamanlikeyouwouldn’triskmakingpeopleunhappy。Mysister—in—law——Idon’tsaythistostopyoulovingher;somethingelsemustdothat——mysister—in—law，asfarasI
　　know，doesn’tcareforyouonelittlebit。Ifyouhadsaidanything，ifshehadguessedthatachancepersonwasin——thisfearfulstate，youwouldsimply——haveopenedhell。Awomanofhersortwouldhavelostall——"
　　"Iknewthat。"
　　Mr。Failingremovedhishand。Hewasdispleased。
　　"Butsomethinghere，"saidRobertincoherently。"Thishere。"Hestruckhimselfheavilyontheheart。"Thishere，doingsomethingsounusual，makesitnotmatterwhatsheloses——I——"Afterasilenceheasked，"HaveIquitefollowedyou，sir，inthatbusinessofthebrotherhoodofman？"
　　"Howdoyoumean？"
　　"Ithoughtlovewastobringitabout。"
　　"Loveofanotherman’swife？Sensuallove？Youhaveunderstoodnothing——nothing。"Thenhewasashamed，andcried，"Iunderstandnothingmyself。"Forherememberedthatsensualandspiritualarenoteasywordstouse;thatthereare，perhaps，nottwoAphrodites，butoneAphroditewithaJanusface。"Ionlyunderstandthatyoumusttrytoforgether。"
　　"Iwillnottry。"
　　"Promisemejustthis，then——nottodoanythingcrooked。"
　　"I’mstraight。Noboasting，butIcouldn’tdoacrookedthing——
　　No，notifItried。"
　　Andsoappallinglystraightwasheinafteryears，thatMr。
　　Failingwishedthathehadphrasedthepromisedifferently。
　　Robertsimplywaited。Hetoldhimselfthatitwashopeless;butsomethingdeeperthanhimselfdeclaredthattherewashope。Hegaveupdrink，andkepthimselfinallwaysclean，forhewantedtobeworthyofherwhenthetimecame。Womenseemedfondofhim，andcausedhimtoreflectwithpleasure，"Theydorunafterme。
　　Theremustbesomethinginme。Good。I’dbedoneforiftherewasn’t。"ForsixyearsheturneduptheearthofWiltshire，andreadbooksforthesakeofhismind，andtalkedtogentlemenforthesakeoftheirpatois，andeachyearherodetoCadovertotakeoffhishattoMrs。Elliot，and，perhaps，tospeaktoheraboutthecrops。Mr。Failingwasgenerallypresent，anditstruckneithermanthatthosedulllittlevisitsweresomanywordsoutofwhichalonelywomanmightbuildsentences。ThenRobertwenttoLondononbusiness。HechancedtoseeMr。Elliotwithastrangelady。Thetimehadcome。
　　Hebecamediplomatic，andcalledatMr。Elliot’sroomstofindthingsout。ForifMrs。Elliotwashappierthanhecouldevermakeher，hewouldwithdraw，andloveherinrenunciation。Butifhecouldmakeherhappier，hewouldloveherinfulfilment。Mr。
　　Elliotadmittedhimasafriendofhisbrother—in—law’s，andfeltverybroad—mindedashedidso。Robert，however，wasasuccess。
　　Theyoungishmentherefoundhiminteresting，andlikedtoshockhimwithtalesofnaughtyLondonandnaughtierParis。Theyspokeof"experience"and"sensations"and"seeinglife，"andwhenasmileploughedoverhisface，concludedthathispruderywasvanquished。Hesawthattheyweremuchlessviciousthantheysupposed:oneboyhadobviouslyreadhissensationsinabook。
　　Buthecouldpardonvice。Whathecouldnotpardonwastriviality，andhehopedthatnodecentwomancouldpardoniteither。Theregrewupinhimacold，steadyangeragainstthesesillypeoplewhothoughtitadvancedtobeshocking，andwhodescribed，assomethingparticularlychoiceandeducational，thingsthathehadunderstoodandfoughtagainstforyears。HeinquiredafterMrs。Elliot，andaboytittered。Itseemedthatshe"didnotknow，"thatshelivedinaremotesuburb，takingcareofaskinnybaby。"Ishallcallsometimeorother，"saidRobert。"Do，"saidMr。Elliot，smiling。Andnexttimehesawhiswifehecongratulatedheronherrusticadmirer。
　　Shehadsufferedterribly。Shehadaskedforbread，andhadbeengivennotevenastone。Peopletalkofhungeringfortheideal，butthereisanotherhunger，quiteasdivine，forfacts。Shehadaskedforfactsandhadbeengiven"views，""emotionalstandpoints，""attitudestowardslife。"Toawomanwhobelievedthatfactsarebeautiful，thatthelivingworldisbeautifulbeyondthelawsofbeauty，thatmanureisneithergrossnorludicrous，thatafire，noteternal，glowsattheheartoftheearth，itwasintolerabletobeputoffwithwhattheElliotscalled"philosophy，"and，ifsherefused，tobetoldthatshehadnosenseofhumour。"TarryingintotheElliotfamily。"Ithadsoundedsosplendid，forshewasapennilesschildwithnothingtooffer，andtheElliotsheldtheirheadshigh。Forwhatreason？
　　Whathadtheyeverdone，exceptsaysarcasticthings，andlimp，andberefined？Mr。Failingsufferedtoo，butshesufferedmore，inasmuchasFrederickwasmoreimpossiblethanEmily。Hedidnotlikeher，hepracticallylivedapart，hewasnotevenfaithfulorpolite。Theseweregravefaults，buttheywerehumanones:shecouldevenimaginetheminamansheloved。Whatshecouldneverlovewasadilettante。
　　Robertbroughtheranarmfulofsweet—peas。Helaiditonthetable，puthishandsbehindhisback，andkeptthemtheretilltheendofthevisit。Sheknewquitewellwhyhehadcome，andthoughshealsoknewthathewouldfail，shelovedhimtoomuchtosnubhimortostareinvirtuousindignation。"Whyhaveyoucome？"sheaskedgravely，"andwhyhaveyoubroughtmesomanyflowers？"
　　"Mygardenisfullofthem，"heanswered。"Sweetpeasneedpickingdown。And，generallyspeaking，flowersareplentifulinJuly。"
　　Shebrokehispresentintobunches——somuchforthedrawing—room，somuchforthenursery，somuchforthekitchenandherhusband’sroom:hewouldbedownforthenight。Themostbeautifulshewouldkeepforherself。Presentlyhesaid，"Yourhusbandisnogood。I’vewatchedhimforaweek。I’mthirty，andnotwhatyoucallhasty，asIusedtobe，orthinkingthatnothingmattersliketheFrench。No。I’maplainBritisher，yet——
　　I——I’vebegunwrongend，Mrs。Elliot;IshouldhavesaidthatI’vethoughtchieflyofyouforsixyears，andthatthoughItalkheresorespectfully，ifIonceunhookedmyhands——"
　　Therewasapause。Thenshesaidwithgreatsweetness，"Thankyou;Iamgladyouloveme，"andrangthebell。
　　"Whathaveyoudonethatfor？"hecried。
　　"Becauseyoumustnowleavethehouse，andneverenteritagain。"
　　"Idon’tgoalone，"andhebegantogetfurious。
　　Hervoicewasstillsweet，butstrengthlayinittoo，asshesaid，"Youeithergonowwithmythanksandblessing，orelseyougowiththepolice。IamMrs。Elliot。WeneednotdiscussMr。
　　Elliot。IamMrs。Elliot，andifyoumakeonesteptowardsmeI
　　giveyouincharge。"
　　Butthemaidansweredthebellnotofthedrawing—room，butofthefrontdoor。TheywerejoinedbyMr。Elliot，whoheldouthishandwithmuchurbanity。Itwasnottaken。Helookedquicklyathiswife，andsaid，"AmIdetrop？"Therewasalongsilence。
　　Atlastshesaid，"Frederick，turnthismanout。"
　　"Mylove，why？"
　　Robertsaidthathelovedher。
　　"ThenIamdetrop，"saidMr。Elliot，smoothingouthisgloves。
　　Hewouldgivethesesoddenbarbariansalesson。"Myhansomiswaitingatthedoor。Praymakeuseofit。"
　　"Don’t！"shecried，almostaffectionately。"DearFrederick，itisn’taplay。Justtellthismantogo，orsendforthepolice。"
　　"Onthecontrary;itisFrenchcomedyofthebesttype。Don’tyouagree，sir，thatthepolicewouldbeaninartisticerror？"Hewasperfectlycalmandcollected，whereastheywereinapitiablestate。
　　"Turnhimoutatonce！"shecried。"Hehasinsultedyourwife。
　　Saveme，saveme！"Sheclungtoherhusbandandwept。"HewasgoingIhadmanagedhim——hewouldneverhaveknown——"Mr。Elliotrepulsedher。
　　"Ifyoudon’tfeelinclinedtostartatonce，"hesaidwitheasycivility，"Letushavealittletea。Mydearsir，doforgivemefornotshootingyou。Nousavonschangetoutcela。Pleasedon’tlooksonervous。Pleasedounclaspyourhands——"
　　Hewasalone。
　　"That’sallright，"heexclaimed，andstrolledtothedoor。Thehansomwasdisappearingroundthecorner。"That’sallright，"herepeatedinmorequaveringtonesashereturnedtothedrawing—
　　roomandsawthatitwaslitteredwithsweet—peas。Theircolourgotonhisnerves——magenta，crimson;magenta，crimson。Hetriedtopickthemup，andtheyescaped。Hetrodthemunderfoot，andtheymultipliedanddancedinthetriumphofsummerlikeathousandbutterflies。Thetrainhadleftwhenhegottothestation。HefollowedontoLondon，andtherehelostalltraces。
　　Atmidnighthebegantorealizethathiswifecouldneverbelongtohimagain。