"It'sthewaywe'retaughtatschool，"hehazarded，genially。
　　"Inallthearithmeticssixbeatsfive，andsevenbeatssix。"
　　"They'rewrong，"Thorpedeclared，andthenconsentedtolaughinagrudging，doggedwayathisfriend'sfacialconfessionofpuzzlement。"WhatImeanis——what'sthegoodofpilingupmoney，whileyoucan'tpileuptheenjoymentsitwillbuy？Whatwillamilliongiveyou，thatthefifthofit，orthetenthofit，won'tgiveyoujustaswell？"
　　"Aye，"saidSemple，withagleamofcomprehensioninhisglance。
　　"Soyou'vecometothatframeofmind，haveyou？
　　Whydoesamangoonandshootfivehundredpheasants，whenhecaneatonlyone？"
　　"Oh，ifyoulikethemeremakingofmoney，I'venothingmoretosay，"Thorperesponded，withatouchofresentment。
　　"I'vealwaysthoughtofyouasamanlikemyself，whowantedtomakehispileandthenenjoyhimself。"
　　TheScotchmanlaughedjoyously。"Enjoymyself！Likeyou！"
　　hecried。"Man，you'reasdolefulasamuteatalaird'sfuneral！What'scomeoveryou？Iknowwhatitis。
　　YougoandtakeacourseofGermanwaters——"
　　"Oh，thatbedamned！"Thorpeobjected，gloomily。"ItellyouI'mallright。Only——only——God！I'veagreatnotiontogoandgetdrunk。"
　　ColinSempleviewedhiscompanionwithamoresympatheticexpression。"I'msorryyou'resohipped，"hesaid，ingentletones。"Itcan'tbemorethansomepassingwhimsy。
　　You'reinnorealtrouble，areyou？——nofamilytrouble？"
　　Thorpeshookhishead。"Thewholethingisrot！"
　　heaffirmed，enigmatically。
　　"Whatwholething？"Thebrokerperchedontheedgeofhisdesk，andwithpatientphilosophytookhimup。
　　"Doyoumeaneightythousandayearisrot？Thatdependsuponthemanwhohasit。"
　　"Iknowthatwellenough，"brokeintheother，heavily。
　　"That'swhatI'mkickingabout。I'mnogood！"
　　Semple，lookingattentivelydownuponhim，pursedhislipsinreflection。"That'snotthecase，"heobservedwithargumentativecalmness。"You'reagreatdealofgood。
　　I'mnotsosurethatwhatyou'vebeentryingtodoisanygood，though。Come！——Ireadyoulikelargeprint。
　　You'vesetouttolivethelifeofarichcountrysquire——andithasn'tcomeoff。Itcouldn'tcomeoff！I
　　neverbelieveditwould。Youhaven'tthetasteforitinbredinyourbones。Youhaven'tthethousandlittlehabitsandintereststhattheytakeinwiththeirmother'smilk，andthatmakesuchalifepossible。
　　Whenyoulookatahedge，youdon'tthinkofitassomethingtoworryliveanimalsoutof。Whenyouseeoneofyourlabourers，youdon'tcarewhohisfatherwas，orwhichdairymaidhisuncleoughttohavemarried，ifhehadwantedtogetacertaincottage。Youdon'twanttoknowthenameofeverybodywhoseroofyoucansee；
　　muchlesscouldyourememberthem，andtalkaboutthem，andlistentogossipaboutthem，yearafteryear。
　　Itisn'tapassioninyourbloodtoridetohounds，andtoshoot，andallthat。Itdoesn'tcometoyoubytradition——andyouhaven'tthevacancyofmindwhichmightbeasubstitutefortradition。Whatareyoudoinginthecountry，then？Justeatingtoomuch，andsittingabout，andgettingfatandstupid。Ifyouwantthetruth，thereitisforyou。"
　　Thorpe，puttingouthislipsjudicially，inclineduponreflectiontotheviewthatthiswasthetruth。
　　"That'sallright，asfarasitgoes，"heassented，withhesitation。"Butwhatthehellelseisthere？"
　　ThelittleScotchmanhadgrowntoointerestedinhisdiagnosistodropitinanincompletestate。"Ayearago，"hewenton，"youhadwonyourvictorieslikeaveritableNapoleon。
　　Youhadeverythinginyourownhands；Napoleonhimselfwasnotmorethemasterofwhathesawabouthimthanyouwere。
　　Andthenwhatdidyoudo？YouvoluntarilyretiredyourselftoyourElba。Itwasn'tthatyouwerebeatenanddriventherebyothers；youwentofyourownaccord。
　　Haveyoueverthought，Thorpe，ofthis？Napoleonwasthegreatestmanofhisage——oneofthegreatestmenofallages——notonlyinwarbutinahundredotherways。
　　HespentthelastsixyearsofhislifeatSt。Helena——inexcellenthealthandwithcompanionsthathetalkedfreelyto——andinalltheextraordinarilycopiousreportsofhisconversationsthere，wedon'tgetasinglesentenceworthrepeating。Ifyoureadit，you'llseehetalkedlikeadull，ordinarybody。Thegreatnesshadentirelyevaporatedfromhim，themomenthewasputonanislandwherehehadnothingtodo。"
　　"Yes-s，"saidThorpe，thoughtfully。Heacceptedtheapplicationwithoutanyqualmsaboutthesplendourofthecomparisonitrestedupon。Hehaddonethegreatthings，justasSemplesaid，andtherewasnoroomforfalsemodestyabouttheminhismind。"Thetroubleis，"hebegan，"thatIdidwhatIhadalwaysthoughtIwantedtodomost。
　　IwasquitecertaininmymindthatthatwaswhatIwanted。
　　AndifwesaynowthatIwaswrong——ifweadmitthatthatwasn'twhatIreallywanted——whythen，GodknowswhatitisIDOwant。I'llbehangedifIdo！"
　　"ComebacktotheCity，"Sempletoldhim。"That'swhereyoubelong。"
　　"No——no！"Thorpespokewithemphasis。"That'swhereyou'realloff。Idon'tbelongintheCityatall。
　　Ihatethewholeoutfit。Whatthedevilamusementwoulditbetometotakeothermen'smoneyawayfromthem？
　　I'dbewantingallthewhiletogiveitbacktothem。
　　AndcertainlyIwouldn'tgetanyfunoutoftheirtakingmymoneyawayfromme。Besides，itdoesn'tentertainme。
　　I'venotasteatallforit。Ineverlookatafinancialpapernow。IcouldnomoreinterestmyselfinallthatstuffagainthanIcouldfly。That'sthehellofit——tobeinterestedinanything。"
　　"Goinforpolitics，"theothersuggested，withlesswarmth。
　　"Yes，Iknow，"Thorpecommented，withalingeringtone。
　　"PerhapsIoughttothinkmoreaboutthat。Bytheway，what'sPlowdendoing？I'velostalltrackofhim。"
　　"Abroadsomewhere，Ifancy，"Semplereplied。Hismannerexhibitedaprofoundindifference。"Whenhismotherdiedhecameintosomething——Idon'tknowhowmuch。
　　Idon'tthinkI'veseenhimsince——andthatmusthavebeensixmonthsandmoreago。"
　　"Yes。Iheardaboutitatthetime，"theothersaid。
　　"Itmustbeaboutthat。Hissisterandbrother——theyoungPlowdens——they'recomingtousattheendoftheweek，Ibelieve。Youdidn'thititoffparticularlywithPlowden，eh？"
　　Sempleemittedacontemptuouslittlelaugh。"Ididnotquarrelwithhim——ifyoumeanthat，"hesaid，"buteventopleaseyou，Thorpe，Icouldn'tbringmyselftoputmybackintothejobofmakingmoneyforhim。
　　Hewastreatedfairly——evengenerously，d'yemind。
　　Ishouldthink，alltold，hehadsomethirtythousandpoundsforhisshares，andthat'sahundredtimesasmuchasIhadapleasureinseeinghimget。Eachmancanwearhisownparasites，butit'sataskforhimtostandanotherman's。IshookyourLordPlowdenoff，whenthechancecame。"
　　"THAT'Sallright，"Thorpeassuredhim，easily。"Inevertoldyouthathewasanygood。Imerelyfeltlikegivinghimalegup——becausereallyatthestarthewasofusetome。Ididowehimsomething……ItwasathishousethatImetmywife。"
　　"Aye，"saidSemple，withdispassionatebrevity。
　　CHAPTERXXIV
　　WHENhehadpartedwithSemple，atacornerwherethebusybroker，whohadwalkedoutwithhim，obviouslyfidgetedtogetaway，ThorpecouldthinkofnooneelseintheCitywhomhedesiredtosee。
　　Acalluponhisbankerswould，heknew，bemadeanoccasionofextremelypleasantcourtesybythoseaffablepeople，butuponreflectionitseemedscarcelyworththetrouble。
　　Hewasinamoodforindolentsauntering，andhemadethelongstretchoftheHolbornthoroughfareinaleisurelyfashion，turningoffwhenthewhimseizedhimintooddcourtsandalley-waystoseewhattheywerelike。Afterluncheon，hecontinuedhisramble，passingatlastfromSt。Giles，throughavenueswhichhadnotexistedintheLondonofhisboyhood，totheneighbourhoodoftheDials。
　　Herealsothelandmarksseemedallchanged，buttherewasstillenoughostentatioussqualoranddisordertoidentifythedistrict。Heobserveditanditsinhabitantswithacertainnewcuriosity。Anotablealterationforthebetterhadcomeoverhisspirits。
　　Itmightbethechampagneatluncheon，oritmightbethemereoperationofafranktalkwithSemple，thathaddissipatedhisgloom。Atalleventsitwasgone——andhestrolledalonginquiteplacidcontentment，takinginthepanoramaofLondon'smoreintimatelifewiththeinterestofaLondonerwhohasobtainedafreshcountryeye。
　　Hewhohadseenmostoftheworld，andnotcaredmuchaboutthespectacle，foundhimselfnowconsciouslyenjoyingobservationashehadnotsupposeditpossibletodo。
　　Hesurrenderedhimselftotheexperiencewithanovelsenseofhavingfoundsomethingworthwhile——andfoundit，moreover，underhisverynose。Insomedull，meaninglessfashionhehadalwaysknownthispartofLondon，andbeenfamiliarwithitsexternalaspects。
　　Nowsuddenlyheperceivedthatthepowerhadcometohimofseeingitallinadifferentway。Theobjectshebeheld，inanimateandotherwise，hadspecificnewmeaningsforhim。
　　Hismindwasstirredpleasurablybythethingstheysaidtohim。
　　Helookedatallthecontentsofthewindowsashepassed；
　　atthebarrowsofthecostersandhawkerscrowdinguptheside-streets；atthecoarse-haired，bare-headedgirlsandwomenstandingaboutintheirshawlsandbigwhiteaprons；attheweaklingbabiesintheirarmsoraboutthethick，clumsyfoldsoftheirstainedskirts；
　　atthegrimy，shufflingfiguresoftheirmen-folk，againsttheaccustomedbackgroundofthepublic-housecorner，withitshalf-opendoor，anditsfly-blowntheatre-billsinthewindows；atthedriversofthevansandcarts，sleepilyoverlookingthehugehorses，gigantictothenearviewassomesurvivalfromtheageofmammoths，whichpushedgingerly，ploddingly，theirtuftedfeetoverthegreasystones；atfoulinteriorswherethroughtheblacknessonediscernedbentoldhagspickingoverrefuse；
　　atthefaceswhich，ashepassed，madesomespecialhumanappealtohim——facesblurredwithdrink，facespallidwithunder-feeding，faceswornintomasksbythetensionoftrouble，facessweetenedbyresignation，facesaglowwithdevil-may-careglee……helooked，asitwere，intothepulsingheartofsomethingwhichhadscarcelyseemedalivetohimbefore。
　　Eventually，hefoundhimselfhaltingatthedoorofhissister'sbook-shop。Anewboystoodguardoverthestockexposedontheshelfandstandsoutside，andhelookedstonilyatthegreatman；itwasevidentthathewasasfarfromsuspectinghisgreatnessashisrelationship。ItpleasedThorpeforalittletotakeuponebookafteranother，andpretendtoreadfromit，andforcetheboytowatchhimhard。Hehadalmostthetemptationtocovertlyslipavolumeintohispocket，andseewhattheladwoulddo。
　　Itwasremarkable，hereflectedwithsatisfaction——thisnewcapacitywithinhimtofinddramaintrifles。
　　Therefloatedintohismindtherecollectionofsomeabsurdsquabblehehadhadwithhissisteraboutthesignoverhead。
　　Hesteppedbackafewpacesandlookedupatit。
　　Thereweretheoldwords——"Thorpe，Bookseller"——rightenough，buttheyseemedtostandforthwithanovelprominence。
　　Uponasecondglance，hesawthattheboardhadbeenrepainted。
　　Atthishelaughedaloud。Thedetailsoftheepisodecamebacktohimnow。Forsomereason，ornoreasonatall——hecouldnotnowimaginewhatonearthcouldhavepromptedhim——hehadlastspringcausedhissistertobeinformedofhiswishthatherownname，Dabney，shouldbesubstitutedforthatofThorpeonhersign。
　　ItwastoJuliathathehadconfidedthismission，anditwasJuliawho，inaround-aboutway，haddisclosedtohimpresentlyhermother'sdeepresolutiontodonothingofthesort。Helaughedagainattheaddeddefiancethatthisrefurbishingoftheoldsignexpressed，andstillwasgrinningbroadlyasheenteredtheshopandpushedhiswayalongtotherear。
　　Shestoodbesideherdeskassheseemedtohavestoodeversincehecouldrememberher——tall，placid，dull-eyed，self-sufficient，exhalingasitwereakindofstubbornyetcompetentlistlessness。Herlong，mannishcountenanceexpressedanundoubtedinterestinhispresence，whensherecognizedhim，buthehadnoclearperceptionwhetheritwaspleasedorotherwise。Intheirinfrequentlatter-dayencountershehaddroppedthehabitofkissingher，andtherewascertainlynohintinhermannerofexpecting，muchlessinviting，itsrenewalnow——butuponasuddenimpulsehedrewhertohimwithanarmflungroundhergauntwaist，smackedhislipswitheffusionuponhercheek。
　　Hersurprise，asshewithdrewherselfsomewhatforcefullyfromhisembrace，wasplainenough。"Well！"sheexclaimedvaguely，andthenlookedathim。"You'regettingfatter。"
　　"NoI'mnot，"herejoined，withtheearnestnessbelongingtoanimportanttopic。"PeoplethinkIam——butit'smerelytheloosenessoftheseclothes。There'sreallynodifferencesinceIwasherelast。"
　　Theglancetheyexchangedwassofullofthetacitcommentthatthislastvisitwasalongtimeago，thatThorpeputitintowords。"Let'ssee——thatwasjustbeforeChristmas，wasn'tit？"hesaid。
　　"Somethinglikethat，"sheresponded。"Youweregoingtogetmarriedinaweekortwo，Iremember，andTHAT
　　wasinJanuary，wasn'tit？Iwastakingstock，Iknow。"
　　Henoddedinturn。Thethoughtthathisonlysisterrecalledhismarriagemerelyasadate，likearoyalanniversaryorabank-holiday，andheldherselfimplacablyalooffromallcontactwithhisdomesticlife，annoyedhimafresh。
　　"You'reanawfulgoat，nottocomenearus，"hefeltimpelled，inbrotherlyfrankness，totellher。
　　Sheputoutherlips，andwaggedherheadalittle，inagesturewhichitflashedacrosshimhisownmirrormightoftenhaverecorded。"Ithoughtthatwasallsettledanddonewithlongago，"shesaid，moodily。
　　"Oh，Iwon'tworryyouwithit，Lou，"heobserved，withreassuringkindnessoftone。"Ineverfeltsomuchlikebeingnicetoyouinmylife。"
　　Sheseemedsurprisedatthis，too，andregardedhimwithaheavynewfixityofgaze。Noverbalcomment，apparently，occurredtoher。
　　"JuliaandAlfredallright？"hequeried，cheerfully。
　　"Idaresay，"shemadebriefanswer。
　　"Buttheywritetoyou，don'tthey？"
　　"SHEdoes——sometimes。Theyseemtobedoingthemselvesverywell，fromwhatshesays。"
　　"She'dwriteoftener，ifyou'danswerherletters，"
　　hetoldher，intonesofconfidentialreproach。
　　"Oh，Idon'twritelettersunlessI'vegotsomethingtosay，"
　　sheanswered，asiftheexplanationwereample。
　　TheyoungpeopleweredomiciledforthetimebeingatDusseldorf，whereAlfredhadthoughthewouldmostliketobeginhisContinentalstudent-career，andwhereJulia，uponthemoreorlesscolourablepretextoflearningthelanguage，mightenjoythemingledfreedomandoccupationofahomeofherown。
　　Theyhadtakenahouseforthesummerandautumn，andwoulddothesameinDresdenorMunich，lateron，forthewinter。
　　"WhatIwouldreallyhaveliked，"Thorpeconfidedtohissisternow，"wastohavehadthembothlivewithme。
　　Theywouldhavebeenaswelcomeasthedayislong。
　　Icouldsee，ofcourse，inAlfred'scase，thatifhe'ssetonbeinganartist，heoughttostudyabroad。
　　EventhebestEnglishartists，hesays，dothatatthebeginning。Soitwasallrightforhimtogo。
　　ButJulia——itwasdifferentwithher——Iwasratherkeenaboutherstaying。MywifewasjustaskeenasIwas。
　　ShetookthegreatestfancytoJuliafromtheverystart——andsofarasIcouldsee，Julialikedherallright。
　　Infact，IthoughtJuliawouldwanttostay——butsomehowshedidn't。"
　　"Shealwaysspokeveryhighlyofyourwife，"Mrs。Dabneyaffirmedwithjudicialfairness。"Ithinkshedoeslikeherverymuch。"
　　"WellthenwhatdidshewanttohykeofftoliveamongthoseDutchmenfor，whenoneofthebesthousesinEnglandwasopentoher？"Thorpedemanded。
　　"Youmustn'taskme，"hermotherresponded。Hertoneseemedtocarrythesuggestionthatbysilenceshecouldbestprotectherdaughter'sinterests。
　　"Idon'tbelieveyouknowanymoreaboutitthanIdo，"
　　washisimpulsivecomment。
　　"Idaresaynot，"shereplied，withindifference。
　　"Probablyshedidn'tfancylivinginsobigahouse——
　　althoughheavenknowsherideasarebigenoughaboutmostthings。"
　　"Didshesayso？"Thorpeaskedabruptly。
　　Thewidowshookherheadwithdispassionatecandour。
　　"Shedidn'tsayanythingtomeaboutit，onewayortheother。
　　Iformedmyownimpressions——that'sall。It'safreecountry。
　　Everybodycanformtheirimpressions。"
　　"Iwishyou'dtellmewhatyoureallythink，"Thorpeurgedher，mildlypersuasive。"YouknowhowfondIamofJulia，andhowlittleIwanttodoheraninjustice。"
　　"Oh，shewouldn'tfeelTHATway，"Louisaobserved，vaguely。
　　"Ifyouaskmeplain，Ithinkitwasdullforher。"
　　"Well，"saidThorpe，uponreflection，"Ishouldn'tbesurprisedifitwas。Ihadn'tthoughtofthat。
　　Butstill——whysheandmywifecouldbecompanyforeachother。"
　　"Youtalkasiflifewasmerelyalongrailwayjourney，"
　　shetoldhim，inanunexpectedflightofmetaphor。
　　"Twowomencoopedupinalonesomecountryhousemaybealittlelesslonelythanoneofthembyherselfwouldbe——butnotmuch。It'snoneofmybusiness——buthowyourwifemusthateit！"
　　Helaughedeasily。"Ah，that'swhereyou'rewrong，"
　　hesaid。"Shedoesn'tcareaboutanythingbutgardening。
　　That'sherhobby。She'scrazyaboutit。We'velaidoutmoreinnewgreenhousesalone，notcountingtheplants，thanwouldrebuildthisbuilding。I'mnotsuretheheatingapparatuswouldn'tcometothat，alone。Andthentheplants！
　　Whatdoyouthinkofsixandeightguineasforasingleroot？Thosearetheamaryllises——andifyoucometoorchids，youcanpayhundredsifyoulike。Well，that'sherpassion。
　　That'swhatshereallyloves。"
　　"That'swhatsheseizesupontokeepherfromjustdyingofloneliness，"Louisaretorted，obstinately，andatasignofdissentfromherbrothershewenton。"Oh，IknowwhatI'mtalkingabout。Ihavethreeorfourcustomers——ladiesinthecountry，andoneofthemisaladyoftitle，too——andtheyordergardeningbooksandotherbooksthroughme，andwhentheygetuptotown，onceayearorso，theycomehereandtheytalktomeaboutit。Andthereisn'toneofthemthatatthebottomofherheartdoesn'thateit。
　　They'dratherdodgebussesatCharingCrosscorneralldaylong，thanraiseflowersasbigascheeses，iftheyhadtheirownway。Buttheydon'thavetheirownway，andtheymusthavesomethingtooccupythemselveswith——andtheytaketogardening。IdaresayI'devendoitmyselfifIhadtoliveinthecountry，whichthankGodIdon't！"
　　"That'sbecauseyoudon'tknowanythingaboutthecountry，"
　　hetoldher，buttheretort，evenwhileitjustifieditself，hadahollowsoundinhisownears。"AllyouknowoutsideofLondonisMargate。"
　　"IwenttoYarmouthandLowestoftthissummer，"
　　sheinformedhim，crushingly。
　　Somehowhelackedthehearttolaugh。"Iknowwhatyoumean，Lou，"hesaid，withanaffectionateattemptatplacation。
　　"Isupposethere'sagooddealinwhatyousay。Itisdull，outthereatmyplace，ifyouhavetoomuchofit。
　　Perhapsthat'sagoodhintaboutmywife。Itneveroccurredtome，butitmaybeso。Butthedeuceofitis，whatelseistheretodo？WetriedahouseinLondon，duringtheSeason——"
　　"Yes，Isawinthepapersyouwerehere，"shesaidimpassively，incommentuponhisembarrassedpause。
　　"Ididn'tlookyouup，becauseIdidn'tthinkyouwantedmuchtoseeme"——heexplainedwithacertainawkwardness——"butbye-gonesareallbye-gones。Wetookatownhouse，butwedidn'tlikeit。Itwasoneendlessprocessionofstupidandtiresomecallsanddinnersandparties；
　　wegotawfullysickofit，andsworewewouldn'ttryitagain。Wellthereyouare，don'tyousee？It'sstupidinHertfordshire，andit'sstupidhere。Ofcourseonecantravelabroad，butthat'snogoodformorethanafewmonths。
　　OfcourseitwouldbedifferentifIhadsomethingtodo。
　　ItellyouGod'struth，Lou——sometimesIfeelasifI
　　wasreallyhappierwhenIwasapoorman。Iknowit'sallrot——Ireallywasn't——butsometimesitSEEMSasifIwas。"
　　Shecontemplatedhimwithaleadenkindofgaze。
　　"Didn'titeveroccurtoyoutodosomegoodwithyourmoney？"
　　shesaid，withslowbluntness。Then，asiffearingapossiblemisconception，sheaddedmorerapidly："Idon'tmeanamongyourownfamily。We'reaclannishpeople，weThorpes；we'dalwayshelpourownfleshandblood，evenifwekickedthemwhileweweredoingit——butI
　　meanoutside，intheworldatlarge。"
　　"WhathaveIgottodowiththeworldatlarge？Ididn'tmakeit；I'mnotresponsibleforit。"Hemutteredthephraseslightlyenough，butacertainfatuityinthemseemedtoattracthisattentionwhenheheardtheirsound。
　　"I'vegivenbetweenfiveandsixthousandpoundstoLondonhospitalswithinthepresentyear，"headded，straighteninghimself。"Iwonderyoudidn'tseeit。
　　Itwasinallthepapers。"
　　"Hospitals！"
　　Itwasimpossibletoexaggeratethescornwhichhervoiceimportedintotheword。Helookedatherwithunfeignedsurprise，andthentookintheimpressionthatshewasuponasubjectwhichexceptionallyinterestedher。
　　Certainlythedisplayofsomethingapproachinganimationinherglanceandmannerwasabnormal。
　　"Isaid'dosomeGOODwithyourmoney，'"sheremindedhim，stillwithavibrationoffeelinginhertone。"Youmustliveinthecountry，ifyouthinkLondonhospitalsaredeservingobjects。Theycouldn'tfoolLondonersonthatpoint，notiftheyhadgotthePrincetogoonhishandsandknees。
　　Andyougiveafewbigchequestothem，"shewenton，meditatively，"andyouneveraskhowthey'remanaged，orwhatringsarerunningthemfortheirownbenefit，orhowyourmoneyisspent——andyouthinkyou'vedoneanoble，philanthropicthing！Ohno——Iwasn'ttalkingabouthumbugcharity。Iwastalkingaboutdoingsomegenuinegoodintheworld。"
　　Heputhislegoverthehighstool，andpushedhishatbackwithasmile。"Allright，"hesaid，genially。
　　"Whatdoyoupropose？"
　　"Idon'tproposeanything，"shetoldhim，afteramoment'shesitation。"Youmustworkthatoutforyourself。
　　Whatmightseemimportanttomemightnotinterestyouatall——andifyouweren'tinterestedyouwouldn'tdoanything。ButthisIdosaytoyou，Joel——andI'vesaidittomyselfeverydayforthislastyearormore，andhadyouinmindallthetime，too——ifIhadmadeagreatfortune，andIsataboutinpurpleandfinelinendoingnothingbutamusemyselfinidlenessandselfishness，lettingmyrichesaccumulateandmultiplythemselveswithoutbeingofusetoanybody，IshouldbeASHAMEDtolookmyfellow-creaturesintheface！Youwerebornhere。
　　YouknowwhatLondonslumsarelike。YouknowwhatClareMarketwaslike——it'sbadenoughstill——andwhattheSevenDialsandDruryLaneandadozenotherplacesroundhereareliketothisday。That'sonlywithinastone'sthrow。
　　HaveyouseenCharlesBooth'sfiguresabouttheLondonpoor？Ofcourseyouhaven't——anditdoesn'tmatter。
　　YouKNOWwhattheyarelike。Butyoudon'tcare。
　　Themiseryandignoranceandfilthandhopelessnessoftwoorthreehundredthousandpeopledoesn'tinterestyou。
　　Yousituponyourmoney-bagsandsmile。Ifyouwantthetruth，I'mashamedtohaveyouforabrother！"
　　"Well，I'mdamned！"wasThorpe'sdelayedandpuzzledcommentuponthisoutburst。Helookedlongathissister，inblankastonishment。"Sincewhenhaveyoubeentakenthisway？"heaskedatlast，mechanicallyjocular。
　　"That'sallright，"shedeclaredwithdefensiveinconsequence。
　　"It'sthewayIfeel。It'sthewayI'vefeltfromthebeginning。"
　　Hewasplainlysurprisedoutofhisequanimitybythisunlooked-fordemonstrationonhissister'spart。
　　Hegotoffthestoolandwalkedaboutinthelittleclearedspaceroundthedesk。Whenhespoke，itwastouttersomethingwhichhecouldtracetonomentalprocessofwhichhehadbeenconscious。
　　"Howdoyouknowthatthatisn'twhatI'vefelttoo——fromthebeginning？"hedemandedofher，almostwithtruculence。
　　"YousayIsitonmymoney-bagsandsmile——youabusemewithdoingnogoodwithmymoney——howdoyouknowIhaven'tbeenstudyingthesubjectallthiswhile，andmakingmyplans，andgettingreadytoact？Youneverdidbelieveinme！"
　　Shesniffedathim。"Idon'tbelieveinyounow，atallevents，"shesaid，bluntly。
　　Heassumedtheexpressionofamisunderstoodman。
　　"Why，thisveryday"——hebegan，andagainwasawarethatthoughtswerecomingup，ready-shapedtohistongue，whichwerequitestrangerstohisbrain——"thiswholedayI'vebeengoinginchbyinchovertheverygroundyoumention；I'vebeenonfootsincemorning，seeingallthecornersandalleysofthatwholedistrictformyself，watchingthepeopleandthethingstheybuyandthewaytheylive——andthinkingoutmyplansfordoingsomething。
　　Idon'tclaimanycreditforit。Itseemstomenomorethanwhatamaninmypositionoughttodo。ButIownthattocomein，actuallytiredoutfromatramplikethat，andgetblown-upbyone'sownsisterforselfishnessandheartlessnessandmiserlinessandalltherestofit——I
　　mustsay，that'sabitrum。"
　　Louisadidnotwinceunderthisreproachasshemighthavebeenexpectedtodo，norwasthereanyperceptibleameliorationintheheavyfrownwithwhichshecontinuedtoregardhim。
　　Butherwords，utteredaftersomeconsideration，cameinatoneofvoicewhichrevealedadesiretoavoidoffense。
　　"Itwon'tmattertoyou，yourgettingblown-upbyme，ifyou'rereallyoccupyingyourmindwiththatsortofthing。
　　You'retoousedtoitforthat。"
　　Hewouldhavelikedalesscautiousacceptanceofhisassurancesthanthis——butafterall，onedidnotlooktoLouisaforenthusiasms。ThedepthoffeelingshehaddisclosedonthissubjectofLondon'spoorstillastonishedhim，butprincipallynowbecauseofitsunlikelysource。
　　Ifshehadbeennotoriouslyofanaltruisticandfree-handeddisposition，hecouldhaveunderstoodit。
　　Butshehadbeenalwaysthehard，dry，unemotionalone；
　　bycomparisonwithher，hefelthimselftobeavolatileandevensentimentalperson。Ifshehadsuchviewsasthese，itbecamecleartohimthathisownviewswereevenmuchadvanced。
　　"It'satremendoussubject，"hesaid，withlooselargenessofmanner。"Onlyamanwhoworkshardatitcanrealizehowcomplicateditis。Theonlywayistostartwiththeunderstandingthatsomethingisgoingtobedone。
　　Nomatterhowmanydifficultiesthereareintheway，SOMETHING'SGOINGTOBEDONE！Ifastrongmanstartsoutwiththat，whythenhecanfighthiswaythrough，andpushthedifficultiesasideorbendthemtosuithispurpose，andaccomplishsomething。"
　　Mrs。Dabney，listeningtothis，foundnothinginittoquarrelwith——yetsomehowremained，ifnotskeptical，thenpassivelyunconvinced。"Whatareyourplans？"
　　sheaskedhim。
　　"Oh，it'stoosoontoformulateanything，"hetoldher，withpreparedreadiness。"Itisn'tathingtorushintoinahurry，withhalfbakedtheoriesandlimitedinformation。
　　Greatresults，permanentresults，areneverobtainedthatway。"
　　"Ihopeitisn'tanyPeabodymodel-dwellingthing。"
　　"Oh，nothinglikeitintheleast，"heassuredher，andmadeamentalnotetofindoutwhatitwasshehadreferredto。
　　"TheLord-Rowtonhousesarebetter，theysay，"
　　shewenton，"butitseemstomethattherealthingisthatthereshouldn'tbeallthisimmensenumberofpeoplewithonlyfourpenceorfivepenceintheirpocket。
　　That'swheretherealmischieflies。"
　　Henoddedcomprehendingly，buthesitatedoverfurtherwords。
　　Thensomethingoccurredtohim。"Lookhere！"hesaid。
　　"Ifyou'reaskeenaboutallthis，areyougametogiveupthisfootlingoldshop，anddevoteyourtimetocarryingoutmyplans，whenI'velicked'emintoshape？"
　　Shebeganshakingherhead，butthensomethingseemedalsotooccurtoher。"It'llbetimeenoughtosettlethatwhenwegettoit，won'tit？"sheobserved。
　　"No——you'vegottopromisemenow，"hetoldher。
　　"WellthatIwon't！"sheanswered，roundly。
　　"You'dseethewhole——thewholeschemecometonothing，wouldyou？"——hescoldedather——"ratherthanabateajotofyourconfoundedmulishness。"
　　"Aha！"shecommented，withacertainalertnessofperceptionshiningthroughthestolidityofhermien。
　　"Iknewyouwerehumbugging！Ifyou'dmeantwhatyousaid，youwouldn'ttalkaboutitscomingtonothingbecauseI
　　won'tdothisorthat。Ioughttohaveknownbetter。
　　I'malwaysagoosewhenIbelievewhatyoutellme。"
　　Acertainabstractjusticeinherreproachimpressedhim。
　　"Noyou'renot，Lou，"hereplied，coaxingly。"Ireallymeanitall——everywordofit——andmore。Itonlyoccurredtomethatitwouldallgobetter，ifyouhelped。
　　Can'tyouunderstandhowIshouldfeelthat？"
　　Sheseemedinagrudgingwaytoacceptanewhisprofessionsofsincerity，butsheresistedallattemptstoextractanypromise。"Idon'tbelieveincrossingabridgetillIgettoit，"shedeclared，when，onthepointofhisdeparture，helastraisedthequestion，andithadtobeleftatthat。
　　Hetookwithhimsomesmallbooksshehadtiedinaparcel，andtoldhimtoread。Shehadspokensoconfidentlyoftheirilluminatingvalue，thathefoundhimselfquitecommittedtotheirperusal——andalmosttotheirendorsement。
　　HehadthoughtduringthedayofrunningdowntoNewmarket，fortheCesarewitchwastoberunonthemorrow，andsomeonehadtoldhimthatthatwasworthseeing。
　　Bythetimehereachedhishotel，however，anentirelynewprojecthadpossessedhismind。Hepackedhisbag，andtookthenexttrainforhome。
　　CHAPTERXXV
　　"IDIDN'Taskyourfather，afterall，"wasoneofthethingsthatThorpesaidtohiswifenextday。Hehadthemannerofoneannouncingaconcession，albeitinanaffablespirit，andshereceivedtheremarkwithascant，silentnod。
　　Twodayslaterherecurredtothesubject。Theywereagainupontheterrace，wherehehadbeenlounginginaneasy-chairmostoftheday，withthebookshissisterhadbidhimreadonatablebesidehim。Hehadglancedthroughsomeoftheminadesultoryfashion，cuttingpagesatrandomhereandthere，butforthemostparthehadlookedstraightbeforehimatthebroadlandscape，mellowingnowintosoftbrownsandyellowsunderthemild，vagueOctobersun。Hehadnotthoughtmuchofthebooks，buthehadacertainnewsenseofenjoymentinthefruitsofthisplacid，abstractedruminationwhichperhapstheyhadhelpedtoinduce。
　　"Aboutyourfather，"hesaidnow，ashiswife，whohadcomeouttospeakwithhimonsomeothermatter，wasturningtogoawayagain："I'mafraidIannoyedyoutheotherdaybywhatIsaid。"
　　"Ihavenorecollectionofit，"shetoldhim，withtranquilpoliteness，overhershoulder。
　　Hefoundhimselfallatoncekeenlydesirousofaconversationonthistopic。"ButIwantyoutorecollect，"
　　hesaid，asherosetohisfeet。Therewasasuggestionofurgencyinhistonewhicharrestedherattention。
　　Shemovedslowlytowardthechair，andafteralittleperchedherselfupononeofitsbigarms，andlookedupathimwhereheleantagainsttheparapet。
　　"I'vethoughtofitagooddeal，"hewenton，inhaltingexplanation。Hispurposeseemedclearertohimthanweretherightphrasesinwhichtodefineit。
　　"IpersistedinsayingthatI'ddosomethingyoudidn'twantmetodo——somethingthatwasagooddealmoreyouraffairthanmine——andI'veblamedmyselfforit。
　　Thatisn'tatallwhatIwanttodo。"
　　Herfaceaswellashersilenceshowedhertobeatalossforanappropriatecomment。Shewasplainlysurprised，andseeminglyembarrassedaswell。"I'msureyoualwayswishtobenice，"shesaidatlast。Thewordsandtonewerealikegracious，buthedetectedinthemsomewhereaperfunctorynote。
　　"Oh——nice！"heechoed，inasuddenstressofimpatiencewiththeword。"Damnbeing'nice'！Anybodycanbe'nice。'I'mthinkingofsomethingtenthousandtimesbiggerthanbeing'nice。'"
　　"Iwithdrawthewordimmediately——unreservedly，"sheputin，withasmileinwhichhereadthatgenialmockeryheknewsowell。
　　"Youlaughatme——wheneverItrytotalkseriously，"
　　heobjected。
　　"Ilaugh？"shequeried，withanupwardglanceofdemurelysimulatedamazement。"Impossible！IassureyouI'veforgottenhow。"
　　"Ah，nowwegettoit！"hebrokeout，withenergy。
　　"You'rereallyfeelingaboutitjustasIam。
　　You'renotsatisfiedwithwhatwe'redoing——withthelifewe'releading——anymorethanIam。Iseethat，plainenough，now。Ididn'tdreamofitbefore。SomehowI
　　gottheideathatyouwereenjoyingitimmensely——thegreenhousesandgardensandallthatsortofthing。
　　Anddoyouknowwhoitwasthatputmeright——thattoldmeyouhatedit？"
　　"Oh，don'tletustalkofhim！"Edithexclaimed，swiftly。
　　Thorpelaughed。"You'rewrong。Itwasn'tyourfather。
　　Ididn'tseehim。No——itwasmysister。She'sneverseenyou，butallthesamesheknewenoughtogivemepoints。
　　ShetoldmeIwasafooltosupposeyouwerehappyhere。"
　　"Howcleverofher！"Acertainbanteringsmileaccompaniedthewords，butontheinstantitfadedaway。Shewentonwithamusinggravity。"I'msorryIdon'tgettoknowyoursister。Sheseemsanextremelyrealsortofperson。
　　Icanunderstandthatshemightbedifficulttolivewith——I
　　daresayallgenuinecharactersare——butshe'sveryreal。
　　Although，apparently，conversationisn'therstrongpoint，stillIenjoytalkingwithher。"
　　"Howdoyoumean？"Thorpeasked，knittinghisbrowsinpuzzlement。
　　"Oh，Ioftengotohershop——ordidwhenIwasintown。
　　Iwentalmostimmediatelyafterour——ourreturntoEngland。
　　Iwashalfafraidshewouldrecognizeme——theportraitsinthepapers，youknow——butapparentlyshedidn't。Andit'ssplendid——thewayshesaysabsolutelynothingmorethanit'snecessarytosay。Andhercandour！Ifshethinksbooksarebadshesaysso。Fancythat！"
　　Hestillfrowneduneasilyashelookeddownather。
　　"Younevermentionedtomethatyouhadgonethere，"
　　hetoldher，asifinreproach。
　　"Ah，itwascomplicated，"Edithexplained。"Sheobjectstoknowingme——IthinksecretlyIrespectheragreatdealforthat——andthereforethereissomethingclandestineaboutmygettingtoknowher——andIcouldnotbesurehowitwouldimpressyou，andreallyitseemedsimplestnottomentionit。"
　　"Itisn'tthatalone，"hedeclared，grave-facedstill，butwithasoftervoice。"DoyourememberwhatIsaidtheotherday？Itwouldmakeallthedifferenceintheworldtome，if——ifyouwerereally——actuallymyotherhalf！"
　　Thephrasewhichhehadcaughtatseemed，asitfellupontheair，toimpregnateitwithsomebenumbingquality。
　　Thehusbandandwifelookeddumbly，almostvacantlyatoneanother，forwhatappearedalongtime。
　　"Imean"——allatonceThorpefoundtongue，andevenasortoffluencyasheprogressed——"Imean，ifyousharedthingsreallywithme！Oh，I'mnotcomplaining；youmustn'tthinkthat。Theagreementwemadeatthestart——you'vekeptyourpartofitperfectly。You'vedonebetterthanthat：
　　you'vekeptstillaboutthefactthatitmadeyouunhappy。"
　　"Ohno，"sheinterposed，gently。"Itisnotthefactthatithasmademeunhappy。"
　　"Well——discontented，then，"heresumed，withoutpause。
　　"Hereweare。Wedothethingwewanttodo——wemakethekindofhomeforourselvesthatwe'veagreedwewouldlike——andthenitturnsoutthatsomehowitdoesn'tcomeuptoexpectations。Yougettiredofit。
　　Isuppose，ifthetruthwereknown，I'mbywayofbeingtiredofittoo。Well，ifyoulookatit，thatfactisthemostimportantthingintheworldforbothofus。
　　It'stheonethingthatweoughttobemostanxioustodiscuss，andexaminefranklyinallitsbearings——inordertoseeifwecan'tbetterit——butthat'spreciselythethingthatdoesn'tgettalkedaboutbetweenus。
　　Youwouldneverhavetoldmethatyouwereunhappy——"
　　"Youusethewordagain，"sheremindedhim，awansmilesofteningherprotest。
　　Thorpestoodup，andtookaslowsteptowardthechair。
　　Heheldherglancewithhisown，ashestoodthen，hisheadbent，gravelyregardingher。
　　"Doyoutellmethatyouarehappy？"heasked，withsoberdirectness。
　　Sheflutteredherhandsinalittlerestrainedgestureofcomment。"Youconsideronlytheextremes，"shetoldhim。
　　"Betweenblackandwhitetherearesomanycoloursandshadesandhalf-tones！Thewholespectrum，infact。Hardlyanybody，Ishouldthink，getsovertheedgeintothetrueblackorthetruewhite。Therearealwaystints，modifications。
　　Peoplearealwaysinsidethecolour-scheme，sotospeak。
　　TheworstthatcanbesaidofmeisthatImaybeintheblues——inthelight-blues——butitisfairtorememberthattheyphotographwhite。"
　　Thoughtherewasanimpulsewithinhimtoresentthisastrifling，heresistedit，andjudiciallyconsideredherallegory。"Thatistosay"——hebeganhesitatingly。
　　"TotheobserverIamhappy。TomyselfIamnotunhappy。"
　　"Whywon'tyoutellme，Edith，justwhereyouare？"
　　Thesoundofhernamewassomewhatunfamiliartotheirdiscourse。Theintonationwhichhisvoicegavetoitnowcausedhertolookupquickly。
　　"IfIcouldtellmyself，"sheansweredhim，afteraninstant'sthought，"praybelievethatIwouldtellyou。"
　　Thewayseemedforthemomentblockedbeforehim，andhesighedheavily。"Iwanttogetnearertoyou，"hesaid，withgloom，"andIdon't！"
　　Itoccurredtohertoremark："YoutakeexceptiontomyphraseologywhenIsayyoualwaystrytobe'nice，'butI'msureyouknowwhatImean。"Sheofferedhimthisassurancewithatentativesmile，intowhichhegazedmoodily。
　　"Youdidn'tthinkIwas'nice'whenyouconsentedtomarryme，"hewassuddenlyinspiredtosay。"Ican'timagineyourapplyingthatwordtometheninyourmind。
　　Godknowswhatitwasyoudidsaytoyourselfaboutme，butyouneversaidIwas'nice。'Thatwasthelastwordthatwouldhavefittedmethen——andnowit'stheonlyoneyoucanthinkof。"Thehintthatsomehowhehadstumbleduponacluetothemysteriesenvelopinghimrosetoprominenceinhismindashespoke。
　　Theyearhadwroughtabafflingdifferenceinhim。
　　Helackedsomethingnowthatthenhehadpossessed，buthewaspowerlesstodefineit。
　　Heseatedhimselfagaininthechair，andputhishandthroughherarmtokeepherwhereshelightlyrestedbesidehim。"Willyoutellme，"hesaid，withakindofsombregentleness，"whatthewordisthatyouwouldhaveusedthen？Iknowyouwouldn't——couldn't——havecalledme'nice。'Whatwouldyouhavecalledme？"
　　Shepausedinsilenceforalittle，thenslippedfromthechairandstooderect，stillleavingherwristwithintherestrainingcurveofhisfingers。"Isuppose，"
　　shesaid，musingly——"IsupposeIshouldhavesaid'powerful'or'strong。'"Thenshereleasedherarm，andinturnmovedtotheparapet。
　　"AndIamweaknow——Iam'nice，'"hereflected，mechanically。
　　Intheprofilehesaw，asshelookedawayatthevastdistanthorizon，therewassomethingpensive，evensad。
　　Shedidnotspeakatonce，andashegazedathermorenarrowlyitseemedasifherlipswerequivering。
　　Anewsenseofhergreatbeautycametohim——andwithitahintthatfortheinstantatleastherguardwasdown。
　　Hesprangtohisfeet，andstoodbesideher。
　　"YouAREgoingtobeopenwithme——Edith！"hepleaded，softly。
　　Sheturnedfromhimalittle，asiftohidethesignsofheragitation。"Oh，whatistheretosay？"shedemanded，inatonewhichwasalmostawail。"Itisnotyourfault。
　　I'mnotblamingyou。"
　　"WHATisnotmyfault？"hepersistedwithpatientgentleness。
　　Suddenlysheconfrontedhim。Therewerethetracesoftearsuponherlashes，andserenityhadfledfromherface。
　　"Itisamistake——ablunder，"shebegan，hurriedly。"Itakeitalluponmyownshoulders。Iwastheonewhodidit。
　　Ishouldhavehadmorejudgment——moregoodsense！"
　　"Youarenottellingme，areyou，"heaskedwithgravity，"thatyouaresorryyoumarriedme？"
　　"Iseitherofusglad？"sheretorted，breathlessly。
　　"Whatistheretobegladabout？Youareboredtodeath——youconfessit。AndI——well，itisnotwhatIthoughtitwouldbe。Ideceivedmyself。Idonotreproachyou。"
　　"No，youkeepsayingthat，"heobserved，withgloomyslownessofutterance。"Butwhatisityoureproachyourselfwith，then？Wemightaswellhaveitout。"
　　"Yes，"sheassented，withaswiftreversiontocalm。
　　Hereyesmethiswithaglancewhichhadinitanimplacablefrankness。"ImarriedonemanbecausehewouldbeabletomakemeaDuchess。Imarriedanotherbecausehehadeightythousandayear。ThatisthekindofbeastIam。Thereisbadbloodinme。Youknowmyfather；thatisquiteenough。Iamhisdaughter；
　　thatexplainseverything。"
　　Theexaggerationofhertoneandwordsproducedacuriouseffectuponhim。Hestaredatherforalittle，perceivingslowlythatanewpersonagewasbeingrevealedtohim。Themaskofdelicately-balancedcynicism，ofamiablypoliteindifference，hadbeenlifted；
　　therewasawomanoffleshandbloodbeneathit，afterall——awomantowhomhecouldtalkontermsofintimacy。
　　"Rubbish！"hesaid，andhisbigfacelightenedintoagenial，paternalsmile。"Youdidn'tmarrymeformymoneyatall！
　　Whatnonsense！Isimplycamealongandcarriedyouoff。
　　Youcouldn'thelpyourself。ItwouldhavebeenthesameifIhadn'thadsixpence。"
　　Tohissharpscrutinythereseemedtoflickerinhereyesakindofansweringgleam。Thenshehastilyavertedherglance，andinthisactiontootherewasawarrantforhismountingconfidence。
　　"Thetroublehasbeen，"hedeclared，"thatI'vebeentoomuchafraidofyou。I'vethoughtthatyouweremadeofsomuchfinerstuffthanIam，thatyoumustn'tbetouched。
　　Thatwasallamistake。Iseeitrightenoughnow。
　　YouAREfinerthanIam——Godknowsthere'snodisputeaboutthat——butthat'snoreasonwhyIshouldhavehungupsignsof'Handsoff！'allaroundyou，andbeenfrightenedbythemmyself。Ihadthecheektocaptureyouandcarryyouoff——andIoughttohavehadtheplucktomakeyoulovemeafterward，andkeepitup。Andthat'swhatI'mgoingtodo！"
　　Tothisdeclarationsheofferednoimmediatereply，butcontinuedtogazewithavaguelymeditativeairupontheexpanseoflandscapespreadbelowthem。
　　Hethrewahastyglanceoverthewindowsbehindhim，andthenwithassurancepassedhisarmroundherwaist。
　　Hecouldnotsaythattherewasanyresponsiveyieldingtohisembrace，buthedidaffirmtohimselfwithnewconviction，ashelookeddownuponthefairsmallheadathisshoulder，withitslovelypale-brownhairdrawnsoftlyoverthetemples，anditsglimpseofthematchlessprofileinclinedbeneath——thatitwasallright。
　　Hewaitedforalongtime，withajoyouspatience，forhertospeak。Themerefactthatshestoodbeneathhisengirdlingarm，andgavenothoughttothepotentialservants'-eyesbehindthem，wasenoughforpresenthappiness。
　　Heregardedtheillimitablepicturecommandedfromhisterracewithrefreshedeyes；itwasonceagainthefinestviewinEngland——andsomethingmuchmorethanthatbeside。
　　Atlast，abruptly，shelaughedaloud——asilvery，amusedlittlelaughunderherbreath。"Howcomedyandtragedytreadforeveroneachother'sheels！"sheremarked。
　　Hertonewasphilosophicallygay，butuponreflectionhedidnotwhollylikeherwords。
　　"Therewasn'tanytragedy，"hesaid，"andthereisn'tanycomedy。"
　　Shelaughedagain。"Oh，don'tsaythatthisdoesn'tappealtoyoursenseofhumour！"sheurged，withmockfervour。
　　Thorpesighedinsuchunaffecteddepressionatthis，thatsheseemedtouchedbyhismood。Withoutstirringfromhishold，sheliftedherface。"Don'tthinkI'mhateful，"
　　shebadehim，andhereyeswereverykind。"There'smoretruthinwhatyou'vebeensayingthanevenyouimagine。
　　Itreallywasn'tthemoney——orImeanitmighteasilyhavebeenthesameiftherehadbeennomoney。ButhowshallI
　　explainit？Iamattractedbyabig，bold，strongpirate，letussay，butassoonashehascarriedmeoff——thatisthephraseforit——thenhestraightwayrenouncescrimeandbecomesalaw-abiding，peacefulcitizen。
　　Mybuccaneertransformshimself，undermyveryeyes，intoanalderman！Doyousaythereisnocomedyinthat——andtragedytoo？"
　　"Oh，putitthatwayandit'sallright，"hedeclared，afteramoment'sconsideration。"I'vegotasmuchfuninmeasanybodyelse，"hewenton，"onlyyourjokeshaveawayofraisingblistersonme，somehow。Butthat'salldonewithnow。That'sbecauseIdidn'tknowyou——wasfrightenedofyou。ButIaintscaredanymore。
　　Everythingisdifferent！"
　　Withacertaingraciousnessoflingeringmovement，shewithdrewherselffromhisclasp，andfacedhimwithadoubtfulsmile。"Ah，don'tbetoosure，"shemurmured。
　　"Everythingisdifferent！"herepeated，withconfidentemphasis。
　　"Don'tyouseeyourselfitis？"
　　"Yousayitis，"shereplied，hesitatingly，"butthatalonedoesn'tmakeitso。Theassertionthatlifeisn'temptydoesn'tfillit。"
　　"Ah，butNOWyouwilltalkwithmeaboutallthat，"
　　hebrokeintriumphantly。"We'vebeenstandingoffwithoneanother。We'vebeenofnohelptoeachother。Butwe'llchangethat，now。We'lltalkovereverythingtogether。
　　We'llmakeupourmindsexactlywhatwewanttodo，andthenI'lltuckyouundermyarmandwe'llsetoutanddoit。"
　　Shesmiledwithkindlytoleranceforhisnew-bornenthusiasm。
　　"Don'tcountonmefortoomuchwisdomorinvention，"
　　shewarnedhim。"Ifthingsaretobedone，youarestilltheonewhowillhavetodothem。Butundoubtedlyyouareatyourbestwhenyouaredoingthings。Thisreallyhasbeennosortoflifeforyou，here。"
　　Hegatheredherarmintohis。"Comeandshowmeyourgreenhouses，"
　　hesaid，andbeganwalkingtowardtheendoftheterrace。
　　"It'llturnouttohavebeenallrightforme，thisyearthatI'vespenthere，"hecontinued，astheystrolledalong。
　　Therewasadelightfulconsciousnessofnewintimacyconveyedbytheverytouchofherarm，whichfilledhistonewithbuoyancy。"I'vebeenlearningallsortsoftrickshere，andgettingmyselfintoyourwaysoflife。It'sallbeengoodtraining。IneverywayI'mabettermanthanIwas。"
　　Theyhaddescendedfromtheterracetoagardenpath，andapproachednowalongglassstructure，throughthepanesofwhichmassesofsoftcolour——whites，yellows，pinks，mauves，andstrangedullreds——weredimlyperceptible。
　　"Thechrysanthemumsarenotuptomuchthisyear，"
　　Edithobserved，astheydrewneartothedoorofthishouse。
　　"Collinsdidthemverybadly——ashedidmostotherthings。
　　Butnextyearitwillbeverydifferent。GaffersonisthebestchrysanthemummaninEngland。Thatisheintherenow，Ithink。"
　　Thorpestoppedshort，andstaredather，thewhilethesuggestionsstirredbythesoundofthisnameslowlyshapedthemselves。
　　"Gafferson？"heaskedher，withablankcountenance。
　　"Mynewhead-gardener，"sheexplained。"HewasatHadlow，andafterpooroldLadyPlowdendied——why，surelyyourememberhimthere。Youspokeabouthim——you'dknownhimsomewhere——intheWestIndies，wasn'tit？"
　　Helookedintovacancywiththeaspectofonestupefied。
　　"DidI？"hemumbledautomatically。
　　Then，withsuddendecision，heswungroundonthegravel。
　　"I'vegotakindofheadachecomingon，"hesaid。"Ifyoudon'tmind，wewon'tgoinsideamongtheflowers。"
　　CHAPTERXXVI
　　THORPEwalkedalong，intheremoterout-of-the-waypartsofthegreatgardens，asthefirstshadowsofeveningbegantodullthedaylight。Foralongtimehemovedaimlesslyabout，sickatheartandbenumbedofmind，inthestupidoppressionofabaddream。
　　Thereranthroughallhisconfusedthoughtstheexasperatingconsciousnessthatitwasnonsensetobefrightened，orevendisturbed；that，intruth，nothingwhateverhadhappened。Buthecouldnotlayholdofittoanycomfortingpurpose。Someperverseforcewithinhiminsistedonraisingnewphantomsinhispath，anddirectinghisreluctantgazetotheirunpleasantshapes。
　　Forgottenterrorspushedthemselvesuponhisrecollection。
　　ItwasasifhestoodagainintheBoardRoom，withthetelegramtellingofoldTavender'sdeathinhishands，waitingtoheartheknockofScotlandYarduponthedoor。
　　ThecomingofGaffersontookonakindofsupernaturalaspect，whenThorperecalleditscircumstances。Hisowncuriousmentalferment，whichhadmadethispresentweekaperiodapartinhislife，hadbegunintheveryhourofthisman'sapproachtothehouse。Hismemoryreconstructedavividpictureofthatapproach——oftheoldramshacklevillagetrap，andtheboyandthebagsandtheyellowtintrunk，andthatdecent，red-bearded，plebeianfigure，socommonplaceandyetsoelusivelysuggestiveofsomethingoutoftheordinary。Itseemedtohimnowthathehadatthetimediscernedacertainfatefulqualityintheapparition。
　　AndheandhiswifehadactuallybeentalkingofoldKervickatthemoment！Itwastheirdisagreementoverhimwhichhadpreventedherexplainingaboutthenewhead-gardener。Therewasaneffectoftheuncannyinallthis。
　　AndwhatdidGaffersonwant？Howmuchdidheknow？TheideathatperhapsoldKervickhadfoundhimout，andpatchedupwithhimaschemeofblackmail，occurredtohim，andintheunrealatmosphereofhismood，becameathingofsubstance。
　　Withblackmail，however，onecouldalwaysdeal；itwasalmostarelieftoseethecomplicationassumethatguise。
　　ButifGaffersonwasintentuponrevengeandexposureinstead？Withsuchaslug-like，patient，tenaciousfool，wasthatnotmorelikely？
　　Reasonableargumentspresentedthemselvestohismindeverandagain：hiswifehadknownofGafferson'swork，andthoughthighlyofit，andhadbeeninapositiontolearnofhisleavingHadlow。Whatmorenaturalthanthatsheshouldhastentoemployhim？Andwhatwasit，afterall，thatGaffersoncouldpossiblyknoworprove？Hisbrother-in-lawhadgoneoff，andgottoodrunktolive，andhaddied。WhatinthenameofallthatwassensiblehadthistodowithThorpe？WhyshoulditevenbesupposedthatGaffersonassociatedThorpewithanyphaseofthebusiness？Andifhehadanynotionofahostilemovement，whyshouldhehavedelayedactionsolong？Whyindeed！
　　Reassurancedidnotcometohim，butatlastanimpulsetodefiniteactionturnedhisfootstepstowardtheclusterofgreenhousesinthedeepeningshadowofthemansion。
　　HewouldfindGafferson，andprobethisbusinesstotheuttermost。Iftherewasdiscoverableintheman'smannerorglancetheleastevidenceofamalevolentintention——hewouldknowwhattodo。Ah，whatwasitthathewoulddo？Hecouldnotsay，beyondthatitwouldbebadforGafferson。Heinstinctivelyclenchedthefistsinthepocketsofhisjacketashequickenedhispace。
　　Insidethecongeriesofglazedhouseshewassomewhatatsea。
　　Itwasstilllightenoughtomakeone'swayaboutinthepassagesbetweenthestagings，buthehadnoideaofthegeneralplanofthebuildings，anditseemedtohimthathefrequentlygotbacktoplaceshehadtraversedbefore。
　　Thereweretwoorthreesubordinategardenersinoraboutthehouses，butuponreflectionheforboretoquestionthem。
　　Hetriedtoassumeanidlyindifferentairashesaunteredpast，noddingalmostimperceptibleacknowledgmentoftheforefingerstheyjerkedupwardinsalutation。
　　Hecameatlastuponalockeddoor，thekeyofwhichhadbeenremoved。Thefactvaguelysurprisedhim，andhelookedwithawakenedinterestthroughthepanesofthisdoor。
　　Theairinsideseemedslightlythickened——andthenhiseyecaughttheflickerofaflame，straightahead。
　　Itwasnothingbutthefumigationofahouse；theburningspiritsinthelampunderneaththebrazierwerefillingthestructurewithvapoursfataltoallinsectlife。
　　Intwoorthreehoursthemenwouldcomeandopenthedoorsandwindowsandventilatetheplace。Theoperationwasquitefamiliartohim；ithadindeedinterestedhimmorewhenhefirstsawitdonethanhadanythingelseconnectedwiththegreenhouses。
　　Hisabstractedgazehappenedtotakenoteofthefactthatthedoor-keywashangingonanailoverhead，andthensuddenlythisseemedtoberelatedtosomethingelseinhisthoughts——someobscureimpressionormemorywhichevadedhim。
　　Continuingtolookatthekey，acertainrecollectionallatonceassumedgreatdefinitenessinhismind：itcametohimthatthelabelsonthispatentfumigatortheywereusingwarnedpeopleagainstexposingthemselvestoitsfumesmorethanwasabsolutelynecessary。Thatmeant，ofcourse，thattheirfullforcewouldkillahumanbeing。
　　Itwasveryinteresting。Helookedthroughtheglassagain，butcouldnotseethattheairwasanythicker。
　　Thelampstillburnedbrightly。
　　Heturnedaway，andbeheldaman，inanoldcapandapron，atthefurtherendofthepalm-househewasin，doingsomethingtoaplant。ThorpenotedthefactthathefeltnosurpriseinseeingthatitwasGafferson。
　　Somehowthesightofthekey，andofthepoison-spreadingflameinsidethelockeddoor，seemedtohavepreparedhimforthespectacleofGaffersoncloseathand。
　　Hemovedforwardslowlytowardthehead-gardener，andluminousplansroseinhismind，ready-madeateachstep。Hecouldstranglethisannoyingfool，orsmotherhim，intonon-resistinginsensibility，andthenputhiminsidethatdeath-house，andletitbesupposedthathehadbeenasphyxiatedbyaccident。
　　Themenwhentheycamebackwouldfindhimthere。
　　Butah！theywouldknowthattheyhadnotlefthimthere；
　　theywouldhaveseenhimoutside，nodoubt，afterthefirehadbeenlighted。Well，thekeycouldbeleftintheunlockeddoor。Thenitcouldbesupposedthathehadrashlyentered，andbeenovercomebythevapours。
　　Heapproachedthemansilently，hisbrainarrangingthedetailsofthedeedwithcalmcelerity。