Hehalted，withahandheldoutoverherarm，andshepausedaswell，inareluctant，tentativeway。"Idon'tunderstandyou，"sheremarked，blankly。
"Letmeputitinthisway，"hebegan，knittinghisbrows，andmarshallingthethoughtsandphraseswithwhichhismindhadbeenbusy。"Thisisthequestion。
Youweresayingthatyouweren'taskedtojoinmyBoard。
YouexplainedinthatwayhowIcoulddothingsforPlowden，andcouldn'tdothemforyou。Oh，Iknowitwasajoke——butithaditsmeaning——atleasttome。NowIwanttoaskyou——ifIdecidetoformanotherCompany，averysmallandparticularCompany——ifIshoulddecidetoformit，Isay——couldIcometoyouandaskyoutojoinTHATBoard？
OfcourseIcouldask——butwhatImeanis——well，IguessyouknowwhatImean。"
Themetaphorhadseemedtohimamostingeniousandsatisfactoryvehicleforhispurpose，andithadbrokendownunderhimamidevidencesofconfusionwhichhecouldnotaccountfor。Allatoncehissenseofphysicalascendancyhadmeltedaway——disappeared。HelookedatLadyCressageforaninstant，andknewtherewassomethingshufflingandnervelessinthewayhisglancethenshiftedtothedimmountainchainbeyond。Hisheartflutteredsurprisinglyinsidehisbreast，duringthesilencewhichensued。
"Surelyyoumusthavesaideverythingnowthatyouwishedtosay，"sheobservedatlast。Shehadbeenstudyingintentlythetroddensnowatherfeet，anddidnotevennowlookup。Theconstraintofhermanner，andacertainpleadinghesitationinherwords，beganatoncetorestorehisself-command。"Donottalkofitanyfurther，Ibegofyou，"shewenton。
"We——wehavebeenlaggingbehindunconscionably。
Ifyouwishtopleaseme，letushurryforwardnow。
Andplease！——nomoretalkatall！"
"Butjustaword——you'renotangry？"
Sheshookherheadveryslightly。
"AndyoudoknowthatI'myourfriend——yoursolid，twenty-four-caratfriend？"
Afteramoment'spause，shemadeanswer，almostinawhisper——"Yes——bemyfriend——ifitamusesyou，"——andledthewaywithprecipitatestepsdownthewindingroad。
CHAPTERXIII
TWOdayslater，ThorpeandhisyoungpeopletookanearlymorningtrainforGeneva——homewardbound。
Itwasentirelyeasytoaccepttheiruncle'sdeclarationthaturgentbusinesssummonedhimtoLondon，yetJuliaandAlfred，whentheychancedtoexchangeglancesaftertheannouncement，readineachother'seyestheformlessimpressionthattherewereotherthingsbesidebusiness。
Theiruncle，theyrealized，mustbeconcernedinlargeandprobablyventuresomeenterprises；butitdidnotfitwiththeirconceptionofhischaracterthatcommercialanxietiesshouldpossessthepowertoupsethim。
Andupsetheundeniablywas。
Theytracedhisdisturbance，inageneralway，tothemorningfollowingtheexcursionuptoGlionandCaux。
Hetoldthemthenthathehadsleptverybadly，andthattheymust"counthimout"oftheirplansfortheday。
HecontinuedtobecountedoutofwhatremainedoftheirstayatTerritet。Heprofessednottobeill，buthewasrestlessandpreoccupied。Heatelittle，butsmokedcontinuously，anddrankspiritsagooddeal，whichtheyhadnotseenhimdobefore。Nothingwouldinducehimtogoouteitherday。
Strangelyenough，thisdisturbanceoftheiruncle'sequanimitysynchronizedwithanapparentchangeintheattitudeoftheirnewfriendsonthefloorbelow。
Thischangewas，indeed，moreapparentthandefinable。
Theladieswere，tothenicestscrutiny，askindlyandaffableasever，butthesenseofcomradeshiphadsomehowvanished。Insensibly，thetwopartieshadceasedtohaveimpulsesandtastesincommon。
Therewerenomoretripstogether——nomorefortuitousluncheonsorformaldinnersasagroup。
Theyoungpeoplelookedupatthefrontofthebighotelonthismorningofdeparture，aftertheyhadclamberedoverthedriftsintothesnow-bedeckedtrain，andopenedthewindowoftheircompartment。TheymadesurethattheycouldidentifythewindowsofMissMadden'ssuite，andthatthecurtainsweredrawnaside——buttherewasnoothertokenofoccupancydiscernible。Theyhadsaidgood-byetothetwoladiesthepreviousevening，ofcourse——itlingeredintheirmindsasaratherperfunctoryceremony——butthishadnotpreventedtheirhopingforanotherfarewellglimpseoftheirfriends。Noonecametowaveahandfromthebalcony，however，andtheyoungsterslookedsomewhatdubiouslyateachotherasthetrainmoved。
Thenintuitivelytheyglancedtowardtheiruncle——andperceivedthathehadhishatpulledoverhiseyes，andwasstaringwithakindofmoodyscowlatthelakeopposite。
"Fortunately，itisaclearday，"saidJulia。"WeshallseeMontBlanc。"
Hervoiceseemedtohaveahollowandunnaturalsoundinherownears。Neitherherunclenorherbrotheransweredher。
Atbreakfast，meanwhile，intheapartmenttowardwhichtheyoungpeoplehadturnedtheirfarewellgazeinvain，MissMaddensippedhercoffeethoughtfullywhileshereadaletterspreaduponthetablebesideher。
"It'sastheysaid，"sheobserved。"Youarenotallowedtodriveinthemountainswithyourownhorsesandcarriage。
ThatseemsratherquaintforamodelRepublic——doesn'tit？"
"Idaresaythey'requiteright，"LadyCressagereplied，listlessly。"It'sintheinterestofsafety。
Peoplewhodonotknowthemountainswouldsimplygoandgetkilledinavalanchesandhurricanes——andallthat。
IsupposethatiswhattheGovernmentwishestoprevent。"
"Andyou'reonthesideoftheGovernment，"saidtheother，withatwinkleinherbrowneyes。"Trulynow——youhatedthewholeideaofdrivingovertheSimplon。"
LadyCressageliftedherbrowsinwhimsicalassentasshenodded。
"ButdoyoulikethisRussianplananybetter？"
demandedCelia。"Iwishforonceyouwouldbeabsolutelycandidandopenwithme——andletmeknowtotheuttermostjustwhatyouthink。""'Foronce'？"queriedtheother。
Hertonewasplacidenough，butsheallowedthesignificanceofthequotationtobemarked。
"Oh，Ineverwhollyknowwhatyou'rethinking，"
MissMaddendeclared。Sheputonasmiletoalleviatetheforceofherremarks。"Itisnotyoualone——Edith。Don'tthinkthat！Butitisingrainedinyourcountry-women。
Youcan'thelpit。It'sinyourbloodtokeepthingsback。
I'vemetnumbersofEnglishladieswho，I'mreadytobelieve，wouldbeincapableoftellinganuntruth。
ButI'venevermetoneofwhomIcouldbesurethatshewouldtellmethewholetruth。Don'tyouseethiscaseinpoint，"shepursued，withalittlelaugh，"IcouldnotdragitoutofyouthatyoudislikedtheSimplonidea，solongastherewasachanceofourgoing。Immediatelywefindthatwecan'tgo，youadmitthatyouhatedit。"
"Butyouwantedtogo，"objectedLadyCressage，quietly。
"Thatwastheimportantthing。WhatIwantedordidnotwanthadnothingtodowiththematter。"
Celia'sfacecloudedmomentarily。"ThosearenotthekindofthingsIliketohearyousay，"sheexclaimed，withacertainvigour。"Theyputeverythinginquiteafalselight。IameverywhitasanxiousthatyoushouldbepleasedasthatIshould。Youknowthatwellenough。
I'vesaiditathousandtimes——andhaveIeverdoneanythingtodisproveit？ButInevercanfindoutwhatyoudowant——whatreallywillpleaseyou！Youneverwillproposeanything；youneverwillbeentirelyfrankaboutthethingsIpropose。It'sonlybywatchingyououtofthecornerofmyeyethatIcaneverguesswhetheranythingisaltogethertoyourlikingornot。"
Thediscussionseemedtobefollowinglinesfamiliartothemboth。"Thatisonlyanotherwayofsayingwhatyoudiscoveredlongago，"saidLadyCressage，passively——"thatIamdeficientintheenthusiasms。
Butoriginallyyouwereoftheopinionthatyouhadenthusiasmsenoughfortwo，andthatmylackofthemwouldredressthebalance，sotospeak。Ithoughtitwasaverylogicalopinionthen，and，frommyownpointofview，Ithinksonow。Butifitdoesnotworkinpractice，atleasttheresponsibilityofdefendingitisnotmine。"
"Delightful！"criedCelia，smilinggaylyassheputdownhercupagain。"YouaretheonlywomanI'veeverknownwhowaswortharguingwith。ThemereoperationmakesmefeelasifIweregoingthroughOxford——orpassingthefinalJesuitexaminations。Heavenknows，Iwouldgetupargumentswithyoueveryday，forthepureenjoymentofthething——ifIweren'teternallyafraidofsayingsomethingthatwouldhurtyourfeelings，andthenyouwouldn'ttellme，butwouldnursethewoundinsilenceinthedark，andIshouldknowthatsomethingwaswrong，andhavetowatchyouforweekstomakeoutwhatitwas——anditwouldallbetoounhappy。
Butitcomesback，yousee，towhatIsaidbefore。
Youdon'ttellmethings！"
Edithsmiledinturn，affectionatelyenough，butwithawistfulreserve。"Itisaconstitutionaldefect——evennational，accordingtoyou。HowshallIhopetochange，atthislateday？Butwhatisityouwantmetotellyou？——Iforget。"
"TheRussianthing。TogotoVienna，wherewegetourpassports，andthentoCracow，andthroughtoKief，whichtheysayisawfullywellworthwhile——andnextMoscow——andsoontoSt。Petersburg，intimetoseetheicebreakup。ItisonlyinwinterthatyouseethecharacteristicRussia：thatonehasalwaysheard。
Withthefursandthesledges，andthethreehorsesgallopingoverthesnow——itseemstomeitmustbethebestthinginEurope——ifyoucancallRussiaEurope。
That'sthewayitpresentsitselftome——butthenIwasbroughtupinahalf-Arcticclimate，andIlovethatsortofthing——initsproperseason。Itisdifferentwithyou。
InEnglandyoudon'tknowwhatarealwinteris。
AndsoIhavetomakequitesurethatyouthinkyouwouldliketheRussianexperiment。"
Theotherlaughedgently。"ButifIdon'tknowwhatarealwinteris，howcanItellwhetherIwilllikeitornot？AllIdoknowisthatIamperfectlywillingtogoandfindout。Ohyes——truly——Ishouldlikeverymuchtogo。"
MissMaddensighedbriefly。"Allright，"shesaid，butwithanotableabsenceofconvictioninhertone。
Aspaceofsilenceensued，assheopenedandglancedthroughanothernote，theenvelopeofwhichhadbornenopostmark。
Shepoutedherlipsoverthecontentsofthismissive，andraisedhereyebrowsintokenofsurprise，butasshelaiditdownshelookedwithafranksmileathercompanion。
"It'sfromouryoungfriend，"sheexplained，genially——
"thepainter-boy——Mr。D'Aubigny。ItistoremindmeofapromisehesaysImade——thatwhenIcametoLondonheshouldpaintmyportrait。Idon'tthinkIpromisedanythingofthekind——butIsupposethatisadetail。
It'sallmyunfortunatehair。Theymusthavegonebythistime——theyweretogoveryearly，weren'tthey？"
LadyCressageglancedattheclock。"Itwas8：40，Ithink——fullyhalfanhourago，"sheanswered，withapainstakingeffectofindifference。
"Curiousconglomeration"——musedtheother。"Theboyandgirlaresocivilized，andtheiruncleissorudimentary。
I'mafraidtheyarespoilinghimjustasthemissionariesspoilthenoblesavage。Theyoughttogoawayandleavehimalone。Asabarbarianhewasrathereffective——buttheywillwhitewashhimandgildhimandmakeatamemonstrosityofhim。ButIsupposeit'sinevitable。
Havingmadehisfortune，itistherulethathemustsetupasagentleman。WedoitmoresimplyinAmerica。
Onegenerationmakesthefortune，andleavesittothenextgenerationtoputonthefrills。Myfather，forexample，neveralteredintheslightestdegreethehabitsheformedwhenhewasapoorworkman。Tothedayofhisdeath，blessedoldman，heremainedwhathehadalwaysbeen——simple，pious，modest，hard-working，kindly，andthrifty——amodelpeasant。Nothingevertemptedhimahair's-breadthoutofthepathhehadbeenbredtowalkin。
Butsuchnobilityofmindandtemperwithitall！HeneverdreamedofsuggestingthatIshouldwalkinthesamepath。
FrommyearliestchildhoodIcannotrememberhiseverputtingalimitationuponmethatwasn'tentirelysensibleandgenerous。Imusthavebeenanextremelytryingdaughter，butheneversaidso；heneverlookedoractedasifhethoughtso——ButIneverstopwhenIbegintalkingofmyfather。"
"It'salwaysverysweettometohearyoutalkofhim，"
LadyCressageputin。"Oneknowssofewpeoplewhofeelthatwayabouttheirfathers！"
Celianoddedgravely，asifinbenevolentcommentuponsomethingthathadbeenleftunsaid。Thesightoftheyoungartist'snoterecalledherearliersubject。
"Ofcoursethereisacertaindifference，"shewenton，carelessly，——"thisMr。Thorpeisnotatallapeasant，asthephrasegoes。Hestrikesone，sometimes，ashavingbeeneducated。"
"Oh，hewasatapublicschool，LordPlowdentellsme，"
saidtheother，withinterest。"Andhispeoplewerebooksellers——somewhereinLondon——sothathegotagoodsmatteringofliteratureandallthat。Hecertainlyhasmorerighttosetupasagentlemanthannineoutoftenofthenouveauxrichesoneseesflauntingaboutnowadays。
Andhecantalkverywellindeed——inadirect，practicalsortofway。Idon'tquitefollowyouabouthisnieceandnephewspoilinghim。Ofcourseonecanseethattheyhavehadagreateffectuponhim。Heseesithimself——andhe'sveryproudofit。Hetoldmeso，quitefrankly。
Butwhyshouldn'titbeaniceeffect？"
"Oh，Idon'tknow，"Celiareplied，idly。"Itseemedtomethathewasthekindofpiraticalbuccaneerwhooughtn'ttobeshavedandpolishedandtaughtdrawing-roomtricks——I
feelthatmerelyintheinterestofthefitnessofthings。
Haveyoulookedintohiseyes——Imeanwhenthey'vegotthatlack-lustreexpression？Youcanseeahundredthousanddeadmeninthem。"
"Iknowthelookyoumean，"saidLadyCressage，inalowvoice。
"NotthatIassumeheisgoingtokillanybody，"
pursuedMissMadden，withostensibleindifference，butfixingaglanceofarousedattentionuponhercompanion'sface，"orthathehasanycriminalintentionswhatever。Hebehavesverycivillyindeed，andapparentlyhisnieceandnephewidolizehim。Heseemstobethesoulofkindnesstothem。
ItmaybethatI'maltogetherwrongabouthim——onlyI
knowIhadtheinstinctofalarmwhenIcaughtthatsortofdullglazeinhiseye。ImetanAfricanexplorerayearago，orso，aboutwhoseexpeditionsdarkstoriesweretold，andhehadpreciselythatkindofeye。
Perhapsitwasthisthatputitintomyhead——butIhaveafeelingthatthisThorpeisanexceptionalsortofman，whowouldhavethecapacityinhimforterriblethings，ifthenecessityaroseforthem。"
"Iseewhatyoumean，"theotherrepeated。Shetoyedwiththebread-crumbsaboutherplate，andreflectivelywatchedtheirmanipulationintosquaresandtrianglesasshewenton。"Butmaythatnotbemerelythevisiblesignofanexceptionallystrongandmasterfulcharacter？
Andisn'tit，afterall，theresultofcircumstanceswhethersuchacharactermakes，asyouputit，ahundredthousanddeadmen，orenrichesahundredthousandlivesinstead？Weagree，letussay，thatthisMr。Thorpeimpressesusbothasapowerfulsortofpersonality。
Thequestionarises，Howwillheusehispower？Onthatpoint，welookforevidence。Youseeadullglazeinhiseye，andyoudrawhostileconclusionsfromit。Ireplythatitmaymeannomorethanthatheissleepy。But，ontheotherhand，Ibringproofsthatareactivelyinhisfavour。
Heis，asyousay，idolizedbytheonlytwomembersofhisfamilythatwehaveseen——persons，moreover，whohavebeenbroughtupinwaysdifferenttohisown，andwhowouldnotstart，therefore，withprejudicesinhisfavour。
Beyondthat，Iknowoftwocasesinwhichhehasbehaved，orratherundertakentobehave，withreallylavishgenerosity——andinneithercasewasthereanyclaimuponhimofasubstantialnature。Heseemstome，infact，quitetoomuchdisposedtosharehisfortunewithTom，Dick，andHarry——anybodywhoexciteshissympathyorgetsintohisaffections。"Havingsaidthismuch，LadyCressagesweptthecrumbsasideandlookedup。"Sonow，"sheadded，withaflushedsmile，"sinceyouloveargumentssomuch，howdoyouanswerthat？"
Celiasmiledback。"Oh，Idon'tansweritatall，"shesaid，andhervoicecarriedakindofquizzicalimplication。
"Yourproofsoverwhelmme。Iknownothingofhim——andyouknowsomuch！"
LadyCressageregardedhercompanionwithanovelearnestnessanddirectnessofgaze。"Ihadalong，longtalkwithhim——theafternoonwecamedownfromGlion。"
MissMaddenrose，andgoingtothemantellightedacigarette。
Shedidnotreturntothetable，butafterabriefpausecameandtookaneasy-chairbesideherfriend，whoturnedtofaceher。"MydearEdith，"shesaid，withgravity，"Ithinkyouwanttotellmeaboutthattalk——andsoI
begyoutodoso。ButifI'mmistaken——whythenIbegyoutodonothingofthekind。"
Theotherthrewoutherhandswithagestureofweariedimpatience，andthenclaspedthemuponherknee。
"IseemnottoknowwhatIwant！Whatisthegoodoftalkingaboutit？Whatisthegoodofanything？"
"Now——now！"Celia'sassumptionofamonitor'stonehadreference，apparently，tosomethingunderstoodbetweenthetwo，forLadyCressagedeferredtoit，andevensummonedtheghostofasmile。
"Thereisreallynothingtotell，"shefaltered，hesitatingly——"
thatis，nothinghappened。Idon'tknowhowtosayit——thetalkleftmymindinawhirl。Icouldn'ttellyouwhy。
Itwasnoparticularthingthatwassaid——itseemedtobemorethethingsthatIthoughtofwhilesomethingelsewasbeingtalkedabout——butthewholeexperiencemadeamosttremendousimpressionuponme。I'vetriedtostraightenitoutinmyownmind，butIcanmakenothingofit。
Thatiswhatdisturbsme，Celia。Nomanhaseverconfusedmeinthissillyfashionbefore。Nothingcouldbemoreidiotic。
I'msupposedtoholdmyowninconversationwithpeopleof——well，withpeopleofacertainintellectualrank，——butthisman，whoisofhardlyanyintellectualrankatall，andwhorambledonwithoutanyspecialaimthatonecouldsee——hereducedmybraintoasortofporridge。
Isaidthemostextraordinarythingstohim——babblingrubbishwhichaschool-girlwouldbeashamedof。
Howisthattobeaccountedfor？Itrytoreasonitout，butIcan't。Canyou？"
"Nerves，"saidMissMadden，judicially。
"Oh，thatismeaningless，"theotherdeclared。
"Anybodycansay'nerves。'Ofcourse，allhumanthoughtandactionis'nerves。'"
"Butyoursisaspecialcaseofnerves，"Celiapursued，withgentleimperturbability。"IthinkIcanmakemymeaningcleartoyou——thoughtheparallelisn'tpreciselyanelegantone。
Thefinestthoroughbreddogintheworld，ifitisbeatenviciouslyandcowedinitsyouth，willalwayshavealatenttaintofnervousness，apprehension，timidity——callitwhatyoulike。Well，itseemstomethere'ssomethinglikethatinyourcase，Edith。Theyhurtyoutoocruelly，poorgirl。Iwon'tsayitbrokeyournerve——butitmadeaflawinit。Justasasoldier'soldwoundacheswhenthere'sastormintheair——soyouroldhurtdistractsandupsetsyouundercertainpsychologicalconditions。
It'saratherclumsyexplanation，butIthinkitdoesexplain。"
"Perhaps——Idon'tknow，"Edithreplied，inatoneofmelancholyreverie。"Itmakesaverypoorcreatureoutofme，whateveritis。"
"Iratherlosepatience，Edith，"hercompanionadmonishedher，gravely。"Nobodyhasarighttobesodeficientincourageasyouallowyourselftobe。"
"ButI'mnotacoward，"theotherprotested。
"Icouldbeasbraveasanybody——asbraveasyouare——ifachanceweregivenme。Butofwhatuseisbraveryagainstawalltwentyfeethigh？Ican'tgetoverit。
Ionlywoundandcripplemyselfbytryingtotearitdown，orbreakthroughit——Ohyes，Iknowwhatyousay！Yousaythereisnowall——thatitisallanillusionofmine。
ButunfortunatelyI'munabletotakethatview。
I'vebatteredmyselfagainstittoolong——toosorely，Celia！"
Celiashruggedhershouldersincomment。"Oh，wewomenallhaveourwalls——ourlimitations——ifitcomestothat，"
shesaid，withakindofcompassionateimpatienceinhertone。
"Weareallridiculoustogether——fromthepointofviewofhumanliberty。Thefreewomanisafraud——amyth。
Sheisasemptyanabstractionasthe'Liberty，Equality，Fraternity'thattheFrenchputontheirpublicbuildings。
Iusedtohavethemostwonderfulvisionsofwhatindependencewouldmean。IthoughtthatwhenIwasabsolutelymyownmaster，withmymoneyandmycourageandmyfreemind，Iwoulddothingstoastonishallmankind。ButreallythemostIachieveistheoccasionalmildsurpriseofaGermanwaiter。Eventhatpallsononeafteratime。
Andifyouwereindependent，Edith——ifyouhadanyamountofmoney——whatdifferencedoyouthinkitwouldmaketoyou？
Whatcouldyoudothatyoudon'tdo，orcouldn'tdo，now？"
"Ah，now"——saidtheother，lookingupwithathinsmile——"nowisaninterval——anoasis。"
MissMadden'slarge，handsome，clear-huedface，habituallysereneinitsexpression，lostsomethingincomposureassheregardedhercompanion。"Idon'tknowwhyyoushouldsaythat，"sheobserved，gentlyenough，butwithaneffectofreproofinhertone。"Ihaveneverputlimitstotheconnection，inmyownmind——andithadn'toccurredtomethatyouweredoingsoinyours。"
"ButI'mnot，"interposedLadyCressage。
"ThenIunderstandyoulessthanever。Whydoyoutalkaboutan'interval'？Whatwastheotherword？——
'oasis'——asifthiswereabriefhaltforrefreshmentsandabreathing-spell，andthatpresentlyyoumustwanderforthintothedesertagain。Thatsuggestionisnoneofmine。
Weagreedthatwewouldlivetogether——'poolourissues，'
astheysayinAmerica。Iwantedacompanion；sodidyou。
Ihaveneverforaninstantregrettedthearrangement。
SomeofmyownshortcomingsinthematterIhaveregretted。
YouwerethemostbeautifulyoungwomanIhadeverseen，andyouweretalented，andyouseemedtolikeme——andI
promisedmyselfthatIwouldaddcheerfulnessandagayspirittoyourothergifts——andinthatIhavefailedwofully。
You'renothappy。Iseethatonlytooclearly。"
"Iknow——I'mawearinessandaboretoyou，"brokeintheother，despondingly。
"Thatispreciselywhatyou'renot，"Celiawenton。
"Wemustn'tusewordsofthatsort。Theydon'tdescribeanythinginourlifeatall。ButIshouldbebetterpleasedwithmyselfifIcouldreallyputmyfingeronwhatitisthatisworryingyou。Evenifwedecidedtobreakupourestablishment，Ihavetoldyouthatyoushouldnotgobacktowhatyouregardaspoverty。
Uponthatscore，Ihadhopedthatyourmindwaseasy。
AsIsay，Ithinkyouattachmoreimportancetomoneythanthosewhohavetesteditspowerswouldagreeto——butthat'sneitherherenorthere。Youdidnotgetonwellon600poundsayear——andthatisenough。Youshallneverhavelessthantwicethatamount，whetherwekeeptogetherornot——andifitoughttobethreetimestheamount，thatdoesn'tmatter。
"Youdon'tseemtorealize，Edith"——shespokewithincreasedanimation——"thatyouaremycaprice。YouarethepossessionthatIamproudestofandfondestof。
Thereisnothingelsethatappealstomeahundredthpartasmuchasyoudo。SinceIbecameindependent，theonerealsatisfactionIhavehadisinbeingabletodothingsforyou——tohaveyouwithme，andmakeyoushareinthebestthattheworldcanoffer。
Andifwithitallyouremainunhappy，whythenyouseeIdon'tknowwhattodo。"
"Oh，Iknow——Ibehaveverybadly！"LadyCressagehadrisen，andwithvisibleagitationbegannowtopacetheroom。
"Ideservetobethrownintothelake——Iknowitwellenough！ButCelia——truly——I'masincapableofunderstandingitasyouare。ItmustbethatIampossessedbydevils——likethepeopleintheNewTestament。
Perhapssomeonewillcomealongwhocancastthemout。
Idon'tseemabletodoitmyself。Ican'trulemyselfatall。ItneedsastrengthIhaven'tgot！"
"Ah！"saidCelia，thoughtfully。TheexcitedsentenceswhichEdiththrewoverhershoulderasshewalkedappeared，uponexamination，tocontainasuggestion。
"Mydearchild，"sheaskedabruptly，afteramoment'ssilence，"doyouwanttomarry？"
LadyCressagepausedatthemantel，andexchangedalongsteadfastglancewithherfriend。Thenshecameslowlyforward。"Ah，thatiswhatIdon'tknow，"
sheanswered。Apparentlythereplywascandid。
MissMaddenpursedherlips，andfrownedalittleinthought。Then，atsomepassingreflection，shesmiledinapuzzledfashion。Atlastshealsorose，andwenttothemantelforanothercigarette。"NowI
amgoingtotalkplainly，"shesaid，withdecision。
"Sincethesubjectismentioned，lessharmwillbedonebyspeakingoutthanbykeepingstill。Thereisadebateinyourmindonthematter，isn'tthere？"
Theotherlady，tall，slender，gentlyruminativeoncemore，stoodatthewindowandwithbowedheadlookeddownatthelake。"Yes——Isupposeitmightbecalledthat，"
shereplied，inalowvoice。
"Andyouhesitatetotellmeaboutit？Youwouldrathernot？"Celia，afteraninstant'spause，wentonwithoutwaitingforananswer。"Ibegthatyouwon'tassumemyhostilitytotheidea，Edith。Infact，I'mnotsureIdon'tthinkitwouldbethebestthingforyoutodo。Marriage，ahome，children——thesearegreatthingstoawoman。Wecansaythatshepaysthepriceofbondageforthem——buttoknowwhatthatsignifies，wemustaskwhatherfreedomhasbeenworthtoher。"
"Yes，"interposedtheother，fromthewindow。"WhathaveIdonewithmyfreedomthathasbeenworthwhile？"
"Notmuch，"murmuredCelia，underherbreath。
Shemovedforward，andstoodbesideEdith，withanarmroundherwaist。Theylookedtogetheratthelake。
"ItisLordPlowden，isitnot？"askedtheAmerican，asthesilencegrewconstrained。
LadyCressagelookedupalertly，andthenhesitatedoverherreply。"No，"shesaidatlast。Uponreflection，andwithadimsmileflickeringinherside-longglanceatCelia，sheadded，"Hewantstomarryyou，youknow。"
"Leavethatoutofconsideration，"saidCelia，composedly。
"Hehasneversaidso。Ithinkitwasmorehismother'sideathanhis，ifitexistedatall。OfcourseIamnotmarryinghim，oranybodyelse。ButIsawatHadlowthatyouandhewere——whatshallIsay？——oldfriends。"
"Hemustmarrymoney，"theotherreplied。Inanunexpectedburstofcandourshewenton："HewouldhaveaskedmetomarryhimifIhadhadmoney。Thereisnoharmintellingyouthat。Itwasquiteunderstood——oh，twoyearsago。
AndIthinkIwishedIhadthemoney——then。"
"Andyoudon'twishitnow？"
AslightshakeofEdith'ssmall，shapelyheadservedforanswer。Afteralittle，shespokeinamusingtone：
"Heisgoingtohavemoneyofhisown，verysoon，butI
don'tthinkitwouldattractmenow。Ilikehimpersonally，ofcourse，but——thereisnocareer，noambition，nofuture。"
"AViscounthasfutureenoughbehindhim，"observedCelia。
"Itdoesn'tattractme，"theotherrepeated，vaguely。
"Heishandsome，andclever，andkindandallthat——buthewouldneverappealtoanyofthegreatemotions——norbecapableofthemhimselfHeistoosmooth，toowell-balanced，toomuchthegentleman。Thatexpressesitbadly——butdoyouseewhatImean？"
Celiaturned，andstudiedthebeautifulprofilebesideher，inasteady，comprehendinglook。
"Yes，IthinkIseewhatyoumean，"shesaid，withsignificanceinhertone。
LadyCressageflushed，andreleasedherselffromhercompanion'sarm。"ButIdon'tknowmyselfwhatImean！"
sheexclaimed，despairingly，asshemovedaway。"Idon'tknow！——Idon'tknow！"
CHAPTERXIV
ONthelastdayofFebruary，Mrs。Dabneywassurprisedifnotexhilaratedbyavisitfromhertwochildreninthelittlebook-shop。
"It'sthelastdayintheworldthatIshouldhavethoughtyou'd'a'comeouton，"shetoldthem，insalutation——andforcommenttheyallglancedalongthedarknarrowalleyofshelvestothestreetwindow。
Agloomyspectacleitwasindeed，withacoldrainslantingthroughthediscreditedremnantsofafog，whichtheeastwindhadbrokenup，butcouldnotdriveaway，andwithonlynowandagainapasser-bymovingacrossthedimvista，maskedbeneathanumbrella，orbentforwardwithchinburiedinturned-upcollar。Inthedoorwayoutsidethesulkyboystampedhisfeetandslappedhissideswithhisarmsinpantomimicmutinyagainstthetaskofguardingthebook-stalls'drippingcovers，whichnobodywouldbemadenoughtopauseover，muchlesstolift。
"Idon'tknowbutI'doughttolettheboybringinthebooksandgohome，"shesaid，astheirvaguegazewasattractedbyhisgestures。"Butitisn'tthreeyet——itseemsridiculoustocloseup。Still，ifyou'dbemorecomfortableupstairs"
"Why，mamma！Theideaofmakingstrangersofus，"protestedJulia。Shestrovetomakehertonecheerful，butitseffectofrebukewasunmistakable。
Themother，leaningagainstthetalldesk，lookedblanklyatherdaughter。Thepallidflickerofthegas-jetoverheadmadeherlong，listlessfaceseemmoredevoidofcolourthanever。
"Butyouareasgoodasstrangers，aren'tyou？"
sheobserved，coldly。"You'vebeenbackintowntendaysandmore，andI'vescarcelylaideyesuponeitherofyou。
Butdon'tyouwanttositdown？Youcanputthoseparcelsontheflooranywhere。OrshallIdoitforyou？"
Alfredhadbeenloungingintheshadowedcorneragainstaheapofoldmagazinestiedinbundles。Hesprangupnowandclearedthechair，buthissisterdeclineditwithagesture。Hersmallfigurehadstraighteneditselfintoakindofhaughtyrigidity。
"Therehasbeensomuchtodo，mamma，"sheexplained，inaclear，coolvoice。"Wehavehadhundredsofthingstobuyandtoarrangeabout。Alltheresponsibilityforthehousekeepingrestsuponme——andAlfredhashisstudiotodo。
Butofcourseweshouldhavelookedinuponyousooner——andmuchoftener——ifwehadthoughtyouwantedus。Butreally，whenwecametoyou，theverydayafterourreturn，itwasimpossibleforustopretendthatyouweregladtoseeus。"
"Oh，Iwasgladenough，"Mrs。Dabneymadeanswer，mechanically。"Whyshouldn'tIbeglad？AndwhyshouldyouthinkIwasn'tglad？Didyouexpectmetoshoutanddance？"
"Butyousaidyouwouldn'tcometoseeusinOvingtonSquare，"
Alfredremindedher。
"That'sdifferent，"shedeclared。"WhatwouldIbedoinginOvingtonSquare？It'sallrightforyoutobethere。
Ihopeyou'llbehappythere。Butitwouldn'taddanythingtoyourhappinesstohavemethere；itwouldbequitetheotherwayabout。Iknowthat，ifyouDON'T。Thisismyplace，here，andIintendtosticktoit！"
Julia'sbrighteyes，scanningtheapathetic，stubbornmaternalcountenance，hardenedbeyondtheirwont。
"Youtalkasiftherehadbeensomeclasswardeclared，"shesaid，withobviousannoyance。"YouknowthatUncleStormontwouldlikenothingbetterthantobeasnicetoyouasheistous。"
"UncleStormont！"Mrs。Dabney'srepetitionofthewordswassurchargedwithhostilesarcasm。"ButhisnamewasStormontasmuchasitwasJoel，"brokeinAlfred，fromhisdarkcorner。"Hehasaperfectrighttousetheonehelikesbest。"
"Oh，Idon'tdisputehisright，"shereplied，oncemoreinherpassionlessmonotone。"Everybodycancallthemselveswhatevertheyplease。It'snoaffairofmine。Youandyoursisterspellyourfather'snameinawaytosuityourselves：Ineverinterfered，didI？Youhaveyourownideasandyourowntastes。
Theyarequitebeyondme——butthey'reallrightforyou。
Idon'tcriticizethematall。WhatIsayisthatitisagreatmercyyourunclecamealong，withhispocketsfullofmoneytoenableyoutomakethemostofthem。
IfIwerereligiousIshouldcallthatprovidential。"
"Andthat'swhatweDOcallit，"putinJulia，withvivacity。
"AndwhyshouldyoushutyourdoorsagainstthisProvidence，mamma？Justthinkofit！Wedon'tinsistuponyourcomingtoliveatOvingtonSquareatall。Probably，asyousay，youwouldbehappierbyyourself——atleastforthepresent。
ButwhenUncleSt——whenunclesaysthere'smorethanenoughmoneyforusall，andisonlytooanxiousforyoutolethimdothingsforyou——why，he'syourownbrother！
It'sasifIshouldrefusetoallowAlfredtodothingsforme。"
"Thatyouneverdid，"interposedtheyoungman，gayly。
"I'llsaythatforyou，Jule。"
"Andneverwill，"sheassuredhim，withcheerfuldecision。
"Butno——mamma——can'tyouseewhatwemean？Wehavedonewhatyouwantedustodo。Yousentusbothtomuchbetterschoolsthanyoucouldafford，fromthetimewewereofnoageatall——andwhenuncle'smoneycameyousentustoCheltenham。Wedidyounodiscredit。
Weworkedverywell；webehavedourselvesproperly。
Wecamebacktoyouatlastwithfairreasontosupposethatyouwouldbe——Iwon'tsayproud，butatleastwellsatisfiedwithus——andthenitturnedoutthatyoudidn'tlikeusatall。"
"Ineversaidanythingofthesort，"themotherdeclared，withatouchofanimation。
"Ohno——youneversaidit，"Juliaadmitted，"butwhatelsecanwethinkyoumean？Ourunclesendsforustogoabroadwithhim，andyoubusyyourselfgettingmeready，andhavingnewfrocksmadeandallthat——andIneverhearasuggestionthatyoudon'twantmetogo——"
"ButIdidwantyoutogo，"Mrs。Dabneyaffirmed。
"Well，then，whenIcomeback——whenwecomeback，andtellyouwhatsplendidandgenerousplansunclehasmadeforus，andhowhehastakenabeautifulfurnishedhouseandmadeitourhome，andsoon，——why，youwon'tevencomeandlookatthehouse！"
"ButIdon'twanttoseeit，"themotherretorted；obstinately。
"Well，then，youneedn't！"saidAlfred，rising。
"Nobodywillaskyouagain。""Ohyestheywill，"
urgedJulia，glancingmeaninglyfromonetotheother。
Allherlife，asitseemed，shehadbeenaccustomedtomediatebetweenthesetwounpliableandstubborntemperaments。
Fromherearliestchildhoodshehadunderstood，somehow，thattherewasaDabneyhabitofmind，whichwasbycomparisonsoftandifnotyielding，thenpolitic：
andsetoveragainstittherewasaThorpetemperfullofgnarledandtwistedhardnesses，andtenaciousasdeath。
InthedaysofhergrandfatherThorpe，whomsherememberedwithanalarmeddistinctness，therehadexistedakindoftacitideathathisnamealoneaccountedforandjustifiedthemostpersistentandstormybadtemper。
Thatoldmanwiththescowlingbrowsbulliedeverybody，suspectedeverybody，apparentlydislikedeverybody，vehementlydemandedhisownwillofeverybody——anditwasalltobeexplained，seemingly，bythefactthathewasaThorpe。
Afterhisdisappearancefromthescene——unlamented，tothebestofJulia'sjuvenileperceptions——therehadbeenrelativelypeacefultimesinthebook-shopandthehomeoverhead，yettherehadexistedalwaysarecognizedlineofdemarcationrunningthroughthehousehold。Juliaandherfather——asmall，hollow-chested，round-shoulderedyoungman，withapale，anxiousfaceandingratiatingmanner，whohadenteredtheshopasanassistant，andremainedasason-in-law，andwasnowthethinnestofunsubstantialmemories——JuliaandthisfatherhadstoodupononesideofthisimpalpablelineasDabneys，otherwiseasmeekandtractablepersons，whowouldnotexpecttohavetheirownway。
AlfredandhismotherwereThorpes——thatistosay，peoplewhonecessarilyhadtheirownway。Theirdominationwasstainedbynoneoftheexcesseswhichhadrenderedthegrandfatherintolerable。Theirsurfacetemperwasintruthalmostsluggishlypacific。Underneath，however，uglycurrentsandsharprockswerewellknowntohaveapotentialexistence——anditwasthemissionoftheDabneystoseethatnowindofprovocationundulystirredthesedepths。
Worseeventhanthesepossibilitiesofviolence，however，sofarasevery-daylifewasconcerned，wasthestrainofobstinacywhichbelongedtotheThorpetemper。
Asortofpassivemulishnessitwas，impervioustoargument，immovableunderthemostsympatheticpressure，whichparticularlytriedtheDabneypatience。
ItseemedtoJulianow，assheinterposedhersoothinginfluencebetweenthesejarringforces，thatshehadspentwholeyearsofherlifeinpersonalinterventionsofthissort。
"Ohyestheywill，"sherepeated，andwarnedherbrotherintothebackgroundwithagesturehalf-pleadinghalf-peremptory。"Weareyourchildren，andwe'renotbadorundutifulchildrenatall，andI'msurethatwhenyouthinkitallover，mamma，you'llseethatitwouldbeabsurdtoletanythingcomebetweenyouandus。"
"HowcouldIhelplettingitcome？"demandedthemother，listlesslyargumentative。"Youhadoutgrownmeandmywaysaltogether。Itwasnonsensetosupposethatyouwouldhavebeensatisfiedtocomebackandlivehereagain，overtheshop。Icouldn'tthinkforthelifeofmewhatI
wasgoingtodowithyou。Butnowyourunclehastakenallthatintohisownhands。Hecangiveyouthekindofhomethatgoeswithyoureducationandyourideas——andwhatmoredoyouwant？Whyshouldyoucomebotheringme？"
"Howunjustyouare，mamma！"criedJulia，withaglazeoftearsuponherbrightglance。
Thewidowtookherelbowfromthedesk，and，slowlystraighteningherself，lookeddownuponherdaughter。
Herlongplainface，habituallygraveinexpression，conveyednohintofexceptionalemotion，butthefingersofthelarge，capablehandssheclaspedbeforeherwrithedrestlesslyagainstoneanother，andtherewasahusky-threatofcollapseinhervoiceasshespoke：
"Ifyoueverhavechildrenofyourown，"shesaid，"andyouslaveyourlifeouttobringthemupsothatthey'llthinkthemselvesyourbetters，andtheyactaccordingly——thenyou'llunderstand。Butyoudon'tunderstandnow——andthere'snogoodourtalkinganymoreaboutit。
Comeinwheneverit'sconvenient——andyoufeellikeit。
Imustgobacktomybooksnow。"
Shetookupapenatthis，andopenedthecash-bookupontheblotter。Herchildren，surveyingherblankly，foundspeechdifficult。Withsomemurmuredwords，afteralittlepause，theybestowedaperfunctorykissuponherunresponsivecheek，andfiledoutintotherain。
Mrs。Dabneywatchedthemputuptheirumbrella，andmoveoffStrandwardbeneathit。Shecontinuedtolookforalongtime，inanaimless，ruminatingway，atthedismalprospectrevealedbythewindowandtheglassofthedoor。Theprematurenightwasclosinginmiserably，withincreasingrain，andadolefulwhistleofrisingwindroundthecorner。
Atlastsheshutuptheunconsideredcash-book，lightedanothergas-jet，andstridingtothedoor，rappedsharplyontheglass。
"Bringeverythingin！"shecalledtotheboy，andhelpedouthisapprehensionbyacomprehensivegesture。
Later，whenhehadcompletedhistask，andoneofthetwonarrowoutletsfromtheshopinfrontwassatisfactorilyblockedwiththewaresfromwithout，andalltheflooraboutreekedwiththegrimydrippingsoftheoilskins，Mrs。Dabneysummonedhimtothedeskintherear。
"Ithinkyoumaygohomenow，"shesaidtohim，withthelaconicabruptnesstowhichhewassowellaccustomed。
"Youhaveahome，haven'tyou？"
RememberingtheexhaustiveenquirieswhichtheMissionpeoplehadmadeabouthimandhisbelongings，asapreliminarytohisgettingthisjob，hecouldnotbutbesurprisedatthemistress'squestion。Inconfusionhenoddedassent，andjerkedhisfingertowardhiscap。
"Gotamother？"shepursued。Againhenodded，withaugmentedconfidence。
"Anddoyouthinkyourselfbetterthansheis？"
Theurchin'sdirtyandunpleasantfacescreweditselfupinanxiousperplexityoverthisstrangequery。Thenitclearedashethoughthegraspedtheidea，andtherat-eyesheliftedtohergleamedwiththefellacutenessoftheDials。
"Ish'dbesorryifIwasn't，"heanswered，inswift，raspingaccents。"She'sarareoldboozer，sheis！It'safaircursetoanhonestboylikeme，to'ave——""Gohome！"
shebadehim，peremptorily——andfrownedafterhimasheduckedandscuttledfromtheshop。
Lefttoherself，Mrs。Dabneydidnotreopenthecash-
book——thewretchedday，indeed，hadbeenpracticallyablankinitshistory——butloiteredaboutinthewaninglightamongtheshelvesnearthedesk，alteringthepositionofbookshereandthere，andglancingcursorilythroughothers。
Onceortwiceshewenttothedoorandlookedoutupontherain-soakedstreet。Atradesman'sassistant，opposite，wasrollingtheironshuttersdownforthenight。
Ifbusinessinhatswasoverfortheday，howmuchmoresoinbooks！Hershophadneverbeenfittedwithshutters——forwhatreasonshecouldnotguess。
Theopenedpagesofnumerousvolumesweredisplayedcloseagainstthewindow，butnoonehadeverbrokenapanetogetatthem。Apparentlyliteratureraisednodesiresinthecriminalbreast。Toclosetheshoptherewasnothingtodobutlockandboltthedoorandturnoutthelights。
Atlast，astheconvictionofnightfallforceditselfuponherfromthedrencheddarknessoutside，shebenttoputherhandtothekey。Then，withalittlestartofsurprise，shestooderect。Someonewasshuttinganumbrellainthedoorway，preparatorytoenteringtheshop。
Itwasherbrother，splashedandwettotheknees，butwithaglowingface，whopushedhiswayin，andconfrontedherwithabroadgrin。Therewassuchamasterfulairabouthim，thatwhenhejoviallythrewanarmroundhergauntwaist，andgatheredherupagainsthismoistshoulder，shesurprisedherselfbyahalf-laughingsubmission。
Hervocabularywasnotrichinphrasesforthiskindofemergency。"Domindwhatyou'reabout！"shetoldhim，flushingnotunpleasurably。
"Shutuptheplace！"heanswered，withlordlygeniality。
"I'vewalkedallthewayfromtheCityintherain。
Iwantedtheexertion——Icouldn'thavesatinacab。
Comebackandbuildupthefire，andlet'shaveatalk。
God！WhatthingsI'vegottotellyou！"
"Thereisn'tanyfiredownhere，"shesaid，apologetically，astheyedgedtheirwaythroughtherestrictedalleytotherear。"Theoldfireplacetookuptoomuchroom。
Sometimes，inverysharpweather，Ihaveanoil-stovein。
Usuallythegaswarmsitenough。Youdon'tfindittoocold——doyou？——withyourcoaton？Orwouldyourathercomeupstairs？"
"Nevermindthecold，"hereplied，throwingalegoverthestoolbeforethedesk。"Ican'tstaymore'naminuteortwo。Whatdoyouthinkwe'vedonetoday？"
Louisahadneverinherlifeseenherbrotherlooksowellashedidnow，sprawlingtriumphantlyuponthestoolundertheyellowgas-light。Hisstrong，heavily-featuredfacehadsomehowceasedtobecommonplace。
Ithadacquiredanindividualdistinctionofitsown。
Helookedupatherwithaclear，boldeye，inwhich，despiteitsglossofgood-humour，shediscernedanewauthority。
Thenervousandapprehensivelineshadsomehowvanishedfromthecountenance，andwiththem，oddlyenough，thatlethargic，heavyexpressionwhichhadbeentheircomplement。
Hewasallvigour，readiness，confidence，now。Shedeemedhimalmosthandsome，thiscurious，changeablebrotherofhers，ashebeatwithhisfistinameasuredwayuponthedesk-toptoemphasizehiswords，andfastenedhiscommandinggazeuponher。
"Wetookverynearlytwentythousandpoundsto-day，"
hewenton。"Thisisthetwenty-eighthofFebruary。
Afortnightagotodaywasthefirstsettlement。
Iwasn'there，butSemplewas——andtheworkingofitisallinhishands。Hekeptasstillasamousethatfirstday。Theyhadtodelivertous26，000shares，andtheyhadn'tgotone，butwedidn'tmakeanyfuss。
Thepointwas，yousee，nottoletthemdreamthattheywerecaughtinatrap。Wedidn'tevenputthepriceuptopar。TheyhadtocometoSemple，andsaytheredidn'tseemtobeanysharesobtainablejustatthemoment，andwhatwouldhecarrythemoverat？Thatmeans，toletthempostponedeliveryforanotherfortnight。
Hewasassmoothassweet-oilwiththem，andagreedtocarrythemovertilltodaywithoutanychargeatall。
Buttodayitwasalittledifferent。Thepricewasuptenshillingsabovepar。Thatistosay，Semplearrangedwithajobber，onthequiet，d'yesee？toofferthirtyshillingsforourone-poundshares。Thatofferfixedthemaking-upprice。Sothen，whentheywerestillwithoutsharesto-day，andhadtobecarriedoveragain，theyhadtopaytenshillings'differenceoneachoftwenty-sixthousandshares，plusthedifferencebetweenparandthepricesthey'dsoldat。Thatmakeswithinafewhundredsof20，000poundsincash，foroneday'shaul。
D'yesee？"
Shenoddedathim，expressively。Throughprevioustalksshehadreallyobtainedaninsightintotheoperation，anditinterestedhermorethanshewouldhavecaredtoconfess。
"Well，then，weputthat20，000poundsinourpockets，"
heproceededwithasteadyglowinhiseyes。"Afortnighthence，thatisMarch14th，weringthebellonthemagain，andtheymarchuptothecaptain'sofficeandsettleasecondtime。
Nowwhathappensonthe14th？AjobbermakesthepriceforSempleagain，andthatsettlesthenewsumtheyhavetopayusindifferences。Itisforustosaywhatthatpriceshallbe。We'lldecideonthatwhenthetimecomes。
Wemostprobablywilljustputitupanothertenshillings，andsotakeinjustasimple13，000pounds。It'sbestinthelongrun，Isuppose，togoslow，withsmallriseslikethat，inordernottofrightenanybody。
SoSemplesays，atanyrate。"
"Butwhynotfrightenthem？"Louisaasked。"Ithoughtyouwantedtofrightenthem。Youwerefullofthatideaawhileago。"
Hesmiledgenially。"I'velearnedsomenewwrinklessincethen。We'llfrighten'emstiffenough，beforewe'rethroughwiththem。Butatthestartwejustgoeasy。
Iftheygotwordthattherewasa'corner，'therewouldbeadeadscareamongthejobbers。They'dbeafraidtosellornameapriceforRubberConsolsunlesstheyhadthesharesinhand。Andthereareotherwaysinwhichthatwouldbeanuisance。Presently，ofcourse，weshallliberatesomefewshares，sothattheremaybesomeactualdealings。
Probablyacertainnumberofthe5，000whichwenttothegeneralpublicwillcomeintothemarkettoo。
Butofcourseyouseethatallsuchshareswillsimplygothroughoneoperationbeforetheycomebacktous。
SomeoneofthefourteenmenwearesqueezingwillsnapthemupandbringthemstraighttoSemple，togetfreefromthefortnightlytaxwearelevyingonthem。Inthatwayweshalleventuallyletoutsayhalfofthesefourteen'shorts，'orperhapsmorethanhalf。"
"Whatdoyouwanttodothatfor？"Thesister'sgreyeyeshadcaughtametallicgleam，asiffromthetalkaboutgold。
"Whyletanybodyout？Whycan'tyougoontakingtheirmoneyforever？"
Thorpenoddedcomplacently。"Yes——that'swhatIaskedtoo。
Itseemedtomethemostnaturalthing，whenyou'dgot'eminthevise，tokeepthemthere。Butwhenyoucometoreflect——youcan'tgetmoreoutofamanthanthereisinhim。Ifyoupresshimtoohard，hecanalwaysgobankrupt——andthenhe'soutofyourreachaltogether，andyouloseeverythingthatyoucountedonmakingoutofhim。So，afteracertainpoint，eachoneofthefourteenmenwhomwe'resqueezingmustbedealtwithonadifferentfooting。Weshallhavetowatchthemall，andstudytheirresources，astipsterswatchhorsesinthepaddock。
"Yousee，someofthemcanstandalossofahundredthousandpoundsbetterthanotherscouldlosetenthousand。
Allthatwehavetoknow。Wecantakeitasaprinciplethatnoneofthemwillgobankruptandlosehisplaceontheexchangeunlessheispressedtighttothewall。
Well，ourbusinessistolearnhowfareachfellowisfromthewalltostartwith。Thenwekeeptrackofhim，oneturnofthescrewafteranother，tillweseehe'sgotjustenoughlefttobuyhimselfout。Thenwe'lllethimout。See？"
"It'scruel，isn'tit？"shecommented，calmlymeditative，afteralittlepause。
"EverythingintheCityiscruel，"heassuredherwithalighttone。"Allspeculativebusinessiscruel。
Takeourcase，forexample。Iestimateinaroughwaythatthesefourteenmenwillhavetopayovertous，indifferencesandinfinalsales，saysevenhundredthousandpounds——maybeeighthundred。Well，now，notoneofthosefellowseverearnedasinglesovereignofthatmoney。
They'vetakenthewholeofitfromothers，andtheseotherstookitfromothersstill，andsoonalmostindefinitely。
Thereisn'tasovereignofitthathasn'tbeenthroughtwentyhands，orfiftyforthatmatter，sincethelastmanwhohaddonesomehonestworkforitpartedcompanywithit。
Well——moneylikethatbelongstothosewhoareinpossessionofit，onlysolongastheyarestrongenoughtoholdontoit。Whensomeonestrongerstillcomesalong，hetakesitawayfromthem。Theydon'tcomplain：theydon'tcryandsayit'scruel。Theyknowit'stheruleofthegame。
Theyacceptit——andbeginatoncelookingoutforanewsetoffoolsandweaklingstorecoupthemselveson。
That'sthewaytheCitygoes。"
Thorpehadconcludedhisphilosophicalremarkswithruminativeslowness。Ashelapsedintosilencenow，hefelltostudyinghisownhandsonthedesk-topbeforehim。
Hestretchedoutthefingers，curvedthemindifferentdegrees，thenclosedthemtightandturnedthebulkyhard-lookingfistsroundforinspectioninvaryingaspects。
"That'sthekindofhand，"hebeganagain，thoughtfully，"thatbreakstheJewinthelongrun，ifthere'sonlygritenoughbehindit。IusedtowatchthoseJews'
hands，ayearago，whenIwasdiningandwiningthem。
They'reallthinandwiryandfullofveins。Theirfingersareneverstill；theytwistroundandkeepstirringlikealobster'sfeelers。Butthereaintanyrealstrengthin'em。Theygetholdofmostofthethingsthataregoing，becausethey'reeternallyonthemove。
It'stheirhellishindustryandactivitythatgivesthemsuchapull，andmakesmostpeopleafraidofthem。
Butwhenahandlikethattakesthembythethroat"——hehelduphisrighthandashespoke，withthethickuncouthfingersandmassivethumbarchedmenacinglyinapowerfulmusculartension——"whenTHATtightensroundtheirneck，andtheyfeelthatthegripmeansbusiness——myGod！
whatgoodarethey？"
Helaughedcontemptuously，andslappedtherelaxedpalmonthedeskwithanoisewhichmadehissisterstart。
Apparentlythediversionrecalledsomethingtohermind。
"Therewasamaninhereaskingaboutyoutoday，"
sheremarked，inacasualfashion。"Saidhewasanoldfriendofyours。"
"Oh，yes，everybody'smy'oldfriend'now，"heobservedwithbeamingindifference。"I'malreadygettingheapsofinvitationstodinnersanddancesandallthat。
OnefellowinsistedonbookingmeforEasterforsomesalmonfishinghe'sgotwaydowninCumberland。
ItoldhimIcouldn'tcome，butheputmynamedownallthesame。Sayshiswifewillwritetoremindme。
Damnhiswife！Sempletellsmethatwhenoursqueezereallybeginsandtheyrealizethedesperatekindoftrapthey'rein，they'llsimplyshowerattentionsofthatsortonme。Hesaysthesocialpressuretheycancommand，foragameofthiskind，issomethingtremendous。
ButI'mnottobetakeninbyitforasinglepennyworth，d'yesee？Idinewithnobody！Ifishandshootandgoyachtingwithnobody！JuliaandAlfredandourownhomeinOvingtonSquare——that'llbegoodenoughforme。
Bytheway——youhaven'tbeenouttoseeusyet。
We'reallsettlednow。Youmustcomeatonce——whynotwithme，now？"
Louisapaidnoheedtothissuggestion。Shehadbeenrummagingamongsomeloosepapersonthetopofthedesk，andshesteppedroundnowtoliftthelidandsearchaboutforsomethinginside。
"Heleftacardforyou，"shesaid，asshegropedamongthedesk'scontents。"Idon'tknowwhatIdidwithit。
Hewrotesomethingonit。"
"Oh，damnhim，andhiscardtoo，"Thorpeprotestedeasily。
"Idon'twanttoseeeitherofthem。"
"HesaidheknewyouinMexico。Hesaidyou'dhaddealingstogether。Heseemedtoactasifyou'dwanttoseehim——butIdidn'tknow。Ididn'ttellhimyouraddress。"
Thorpehadlistenedtotheseapatheticsentenceswithoutmuchinterest，butthesumoftheirmessageappearedsuddenlytocatchhisattention。Hesatupright，andafteramoment'sfrowningbrownstudy，lookedsharplyupathissister。
"Whatwashisname？"heaskedwithabruptness。
"Idon'tintheleastremember，"shemadeanswer，holdingthedesk-topup，buttemporarilysuspendinghersearch。
"Hewasalittleman，five-and-fifty，Ishouldthink。
Hehadlonggreyhair——akindofQuaker-lookingman。
Hesaidhesawthenameoverthedoor，andherememberedyourtellinghimyourpeoplewerebooksellers。HeonlygotbackhereinEnglandyesterdayorthedaybefore。
Hesaidhedidn'tknowwhatyou'dbeendoingsinceyouleftMexico。Hedidn'tevenknowwhetheryouwereinEnglandornot！"
Thorpehadbeenlookingwithabstractedintentnessatasetofgreen-boundcheapBritishpoetsjustatonesideofhissister'shead。"Youmustfindthatcard！"
hetoldhernow，withavagueseverityinhisvoice。
"Iknowthenamewellenough，butIwanttoseewhathe'swritten。Wasithisaddress，doyouremember？ThenameitselfwasTavender，wasn'tit？GoodGod！Whyisitawomanneverknowswhereshe'sputanything？EvenJuliaspendshourslookingforbutton-hooksorcorkscrewsorsomethingofthatsort，everydayofherlife！They'vegotnothingintheworldtodoexceptknowwherethingsare，rightundertheirnose，andyetthat'sjustwhattheydon'tknowatall！"
"Oh，Ihaveagoodfewotherthingstodo，"sheremindedhim，asshefumbledagaininsidetheobscurityofthedesk。
"Icanputmyhandonanyoneoffourthousandbooksinstock，"shemildlyboastedoverhershoulder，"andthat'ssomethingyouneverlearnedtodo。AndIcantellifasinglebookismissing——andIwouldn'ttrustanyshopmanIeverknewtodothat。"
"Ohofcourse，you'reanexception，"headmitted，underasenseofjustice。"ButIwishyou'dfindthecard。"
"Iknowwhereitis，"shesuddenlyannounced，andforthwithclosedthedesk。Movingoffintotheremoterrecessesofthecrowdedinterior，shereturnedtothelightwiththebitofpasteboardinherhand。
"I'dstuckitinthelittlemirroroverthewashstand，"
sheexplained。
Healmostsnatcheditfromher，andstoodupthebettertoexamineitunderthegas-light。"WhereisMontagueStreet？"
heasked，withroughdirectness。
"InBloomsbury——alongsidetheMuseum。That'soneMontagueStreet——Idon'tknowhowmanyotherstheremaybe。"
Thorpehadalreadytakenuphisumbrellaandwasbuttoninghiscoat。"Yes——Bloomsbury，"hesaidhurriedly。
"Thatwouldbehisform。Andyousayheknewnothingaboutmymovementsorwhereabouts——nothingabouttheCompany，eh？"Helookedathiswatchashespoke。
Evidentlythepresenceofthisstrangerhadexcitedhimagooddeal。
"No，"sheassuredhim，reflectively；"no，I'msurehedidn't。Fromwhathesaid，hedoesn'tknowhiswayaboutLondonverywell，oranywhereelse，forthatmatter，Ishouldsay。"
Thorpenodded，andputhisfingertohisforeheadwithameaninglook。"No——he'sashadeoffintheupperstory，"
hetoldherinaconfidentialtone。"Still，it'simportantthatIshouldseehim，"——andwithonlyahastyhand-shakehebustledoutoftheshop。
Bythelightofthestreetlampopposite，shecouldseehimonthepavement，inthepeltingrain，vehementlysignallingwithhisumbrellaforacab。