Thorperesumed。"Idon'twantyoutosufferbythisunlooked-forchangeintheshapeofthings。Youholdtwothousandshares——onlybyaccidentthey'rethewrongkindofshares。Verywell：I'llmakethemtherightkindofshares。I'llhaveatransfersenttoyoutomorrow，sothatyoucanreturnthosevendor'ssharestome，andinexchangeforthemI'llgiveyoutwothousandfully-paidordinaryshares。Youcanselltheseatonce，ifyoulike，oryoucanholdthemonoveronemoresettlement，whicheveryouplease。"
"Thisisverymunificent，"remarkedLordChaldon，afteraninstant'sself-communion。Histonewasextremelygracious，buthedisplayednoneoftheenthusiasticexcitementwhichThorpeperceivednowthathehadlookedfor。
TheequanimityofMarquises，whowerealsoex-Ambassadors，wasevidentlyadeeper-rootedaffairthanhehadsupposed。
Thiselderlyandurbanediplomattookagiftofthirtythousandpoundsashemighthaveacceptedasuperiorcigar。
Abriefpauseensued，andwasendedbyanotherremarkfromthenobleman："Ithoughtforthemomentofaskingyouradvice——onthisquestionofselling，"hecontinued。
"Butitwillbeputmoreappropriately，perhaps，inthisway：Letmeleaveitentirelyinyourhands。Whateveryoudowillberight。Iknowsolittleofthesethings——andyouknowsomuch。"
Thorpeputouthislipsatrifle，andlookedawayforaninstantinfrowningabstraction。"Ifitwereputinthatway——IthinkIshouldsell，"hesaid。
"It'sallrightformetotakelongchances——it'smygame——butthere'snoreasonwhyyoushouldriskthings。
Butletmeputitinstillanotherway，"headded，withthepassinggleamofanewthoughtoverthedullsurfaceofhiseye。"Whatdoyousaytoourmakingthetransactionstrictlybetweenourselves？Herearesharestobearer，inthesafethere。Isaythattwothousandofthemareyours：thatmakesthemyours。
Igiveyoumychequeforthirtythousandpounds——here，now，ifyoulike——andthatmakesthemmineagain。
Thebusinessisfinishedanddonewith——insidethisroom。
Neitherofusistosayanythingaboutittoasoul。
Doesthatmeetyourviews？"
Thediplomatponderedtheproposition——againwithalengthenedperturbationoftheeyelids。"Itwouldbepossibletosuggestavarietyofobjections，ifonewereofasophisticalturnofmind，"hesaidatlast，smilinglyreflective。
"YetIseenoreallyinsuperableobstacleinthepath。"
Hethoughtuponitfurther，andwentonwithanenquiringupwardglancedirectedsuddenlyatThorpe："Istherelikelytobeanyveryunpleasanthubbubinthepress——whenitisknownthattheannualmeetinghasbeenpostponed？"
Thorpeshookhisheadwithconfidence。"No——youneedhavenofearofthat。Thepressisallright。It'sthetalkoftheCity，I'mtold——thewayI'vemanagedthepress。
Itisn'toftenthatamanhasallthreeofthepaperswalkingthesamechalk-line。"
TheMarquisconsideredtheseremarkswithapuzzledair。
Thenhesmiledfaintly。"I'mafraidwe'respeakingofdifferentthings，"hesuggested。"Apparentlyyourefertothefinancialpapers。Ihadscarcelygiventhemathought。
ItdoesnotseemtomethatIshouldmindparticularlywhattheysaidaboutme——butIshouldcareagreatdealabouttheotherpress——thegreatpublicpress。"
"Oh，whatdotheyknowaboutthesethings？"saidThorpe，lightly。
"SofarasIcansee，theydon'tknowaboutanything，unlessitgetsintothepolicecourt，orthedivorcecourt，oracourtofsomekind。They'rethefunniestsortofpapersIeversaw。Seemsasiftheydidn'tthinkanythingwassafetobeprinteduntilithadbeenswornto。
WhyanybodyshouldbeafraidofthemismorethanIcansee。"
"Nevertheless，"persistedhisLordship，blandly，"IshouldgreatlydislikeanypublicdiscussionofourCompany'saffairs。
Ihopeitisquiteclearthatthatcanbeavoided。"
"Absolutely！"Thorpetoldhim，withreassuringenergy。
"Why，discussionsdon'tmakethemselves。Somebodyhastokickbeforeanythinggetsdiscussed。Andwhoistokickhere？Thepublicwhoholdthesharesarenotlikelytocomplainbecausethey'vegoneupfifteenhundredortwothousandpercent。AndwhoelsehasanyinterestinwhattheCompany，asaCompany，does？"
"Ah，thatisaquestionwhichhasoccurredtome，"saidLordChaldon，"andIshallbegladifitisalreadyanswered。
Theonlypeoplelikelyto'kick，'asyouputitsosimply，wouldbe，Itakeit，DirectorsandotherofficersoftheCompanywhofindthemselvesholdingaclassofshareswhichdoesnotparticipateinthepresentrise。Ispeakwithsomeconfidence——becauseIwasinthatpositionmyselfuntilafewminutesago——andIdon'tmindconfessingthatIhadbroughtmyselftocontemplatethecontingencyofultimatelybeingcompelledto——to'kick'alittle。
Ofcourse，sofarasIamconcerned，eventshaveputmeinadiametricallydifferentframeofmind。IfIcameprepared——Iwon'tsaytocurse，butto——tocriticize——I
certainlyremaintobless。Butyouseemypoint。
IofcoursedonotknowwhatyouhavedoneasregardstheothermembersoftheBoard。"
"Idon'tcareaboutthem，"saidThorpe，carelessly。"YouaretheonethatIwishedtobringinontheground-floor。
Theothersdon'tmatter。Ofcourse，Ishalldosomethingforthem；theyshan'tbeallowedtomaketrouble——evensupposingthatitwouldbeintheirpowertomaketrouble，whichisn'tthecase。Butitwon'tbedonebyanymeansonthesamescalethat——"hepausedabruptly，andthetwomentacitlycompletedhissentenceintheglancetheyexchanged。
TheMarquisofChaldonrose，andtookuphishatandstick。
"Ifyouwillpostittome——inaregisteredletter——mytownhouse——please，"heremarked，withacharminglydelicatehesitationoverthephrases。Thenheputouthishand："I
neednotsayhowfullyIappreciateyourgreatkindnesstomyoldfriendFromentin。Itwasanobleaction——oneIshallalwaysreflectuponwithadmiration。"
"Ihopeyouwon'tmentionit，though，"saidThorpe，astheyshookhands；"eitherthator——oranythingelse。"
"Ishallpreservethemostguarded——themostdiplomaticsecrecy，"
hisLordshipassuredhim，astheywalkedtowardthedoor。
Thorpeopenedthisdoor，andsteppedaside，withahalfbow，tofacilitatetheexitoftheMarquis，whobentgraciousacknowledgmentofthecourtesy。Then，withanabruptstartofsurprise，thetwomenstraightenedthemselves。
Directlyinfrontofthem，leaninglightlyagainstthebrass-railwhichguardedtheentrancetotheBoardRoom，stoodLordPlowden。
Acertainsenseofconfusion，unwelcomebutinevitable，visiblyenvelopedthischancemeeting。TheMarquisblinkedveryhardasheexchangedafleetinghand-shakewiththeyoungernobleman，andmurmuredsomeindistinguishablecommonplaces。Then，withagracefulcelerity，whichwasmorethandiplomatic，hedisappeared。Thorpe，withmoredifficulty，recoveredasortofstolidityofexpressionthatmightpassforcomposure。Heinturngavehishandtothenewcomer，andnoddedtohim，andachievedadoubtfulsmile。
"Comein！"hesaid，haltingly。"Wheredidyoudropfrom？
Gladtoseeyou！Howareallyourpeople？"
AmomentlatertheyoungViscountwasseatedinthechairwhichtheelderlyMarquishadvacated。Hepresentedthereinafigurewhich，initsway，wasperhapsascourtlyastheotherhadbeen——butthewaywaswidelydifferent。
LordPlowden'sfine，litheformexpressednodeferenceinitseasypostures。Hishandsomefacewasatnopainstoassumeconciliatoryoringratiatingaspects。
Hisbrilliantbrowneyessparkledaconfident，buoyantgazefullintotheheavy，lethargiccountenanceofthebigmanatthedesk。
"Ihaven'tbotheredyoubefore，"hesaid，tossinghisglovesintohishat，andspreadinghisfrock-coatoutbyitssilklapels。Hecrossedhislegs，andsatbackwithacomfortablesmile。"Iknewyouwereawfullybusy——andIkeptawayaslongasIcould。
Butnow——well，thetruthis——I'minratherofahole。
Ihopeyoudon'tmindmycoming。"
"Whynotatall，"saidThorpe，laconically。Afteramomentarypauseheadded："TheMarquishasjustbeenconsultingmeaboutthepostponementoftheannualmeeting。Isupposeyouagreewithus——thatitwouldbebettertoputitoff。
There'sreallynothingtoreport。Ofcourse，youknowmoreaboutthesituationthanhedoes——betweenourselves。
Theshareholdersdon'twantameeting；it'senoughforthemthattheirsharesareworthfifteenortwentytimeswhattheypaidforthem。AndcertainlyWEdon'tneedameeting，asthingsstandnow。"
"Ahyes——howdothingsstandnow？"askedLordPlowden，briskly。
"Well，"——Thorpeeyedhisvisitorwithamoodyblanknessofgaze，hischinoncemoreburiedinhiscollar——"well，everythingisgoingallright，asfarasIcansee。
But，ofcourse，thesedealingsinoursharesintheCityhavetakenupallmytime——sothatIhaven'tbeenabletogiveanyattentiontostartingupworkinMexico。
Thatbeingthecase，Ishallarrangetofootallthebillsforthisyear'sexpenses——therent，theDirectors'
feesandclerk-hireandsoon——outofmyownpocket。
Itcomes，alltold，toabout2，700pounds——withoutcountingmyextra1，000poundsasManagingDirector。
Idon'tproposetoaskforapennyofthat，underthecircumstances——andI'llevenpaytheotherexpenses。
SothattheCompanyisn'tlosingapennybyournotgettingtoworkatthedevelopmentoftheproperty。
Noonecouldaskanythingfairerthanthat——Andareyourmotherandsisterquitewell？"
"Oh，verywellindeed，thanks，"repliedtheother。Herelapsedabruptlyintoasilencewhichwasplainlypreoccupied。
Somethingoftheradiantcheerfulnesswithwhichhisfacehadbeamedseemedtohavefadedaway。
"I'mintreatyforahouseandamoorintheHighlands"——Thorpewenton，inacasualtone——"infact，I'mhesitatingbetweenthreeorfourplacesthatallseemtobeprettygood——butI
don'tknowwhetherIcangetawaymuchbeforethetwentieth。
IhopeyoucancontrivetocomewhileI'mthere。
Ishouldlikeitverymuchifyouwouldbringyourmotherandsister——andyourbrothertoo。Ihaveanephewabouthisage——afineyoungfellow——who'dbecompanyforhim。
Whycan'tyousaynowthatyou'llallcome？"
LordPlowdenemergedfromhisbrownstudywiththegleamofsomenewideaonhisface。"Imightbringmysister，"
hesaid。"MymotherhatesScotland。Shedoesn'tgoabout，either，eveninEngland。ButIdaresayWinniewouldenjoyitimmensely。Shehasagreatopinionofyou，youknow。"
"Ionlysawherthatonce，"Thorperemarked。
Somethoughtbehindhiswordslentamusingeffecttothetoneinwhichtheywereuttered。Thebrother'scontemplativesmileseemedacommentuponthistone。
"Womenarecuriouscreatures，"hesaid。"Theytakefanciesanddislikesasswiftlyandirresponsiblyascloud-shadowsshiftandchangeonamountain-sideinApril。ButI
happentoknowthatmysisterdoeslikeyouimmensely。
Sodoesmymother，"headded，withanotherlittlesmile。
HecontinuedtoregardThorpe'sface，buttherewasanincreasinguncertaintyinhisglance。"You'veputonflesh，haven'tyou？"heventured，afterabriefpause。
Therewastheimplicationinhisvoiceandmannerthatheobservedchangeswhichdisconcertedhim。
"Notmuch，Iguess，"repliedtheother，carelessly。
"I'vebeenstickingtotheCityprettyclosely。That'sall。
There'snothingthatafortnight'srestwon'tputright。
Ishouldlikeitfirst-ratetohaveyouandyoursistercome。
I'llletyouknowwhichplaceIdecideupon。Verylikelyyoucanmanagetobringheratthesametimethatsomeotherladieswillbethere。IexpectLadyCressageandMissMadden，youknow。"
LordPlowdenstaredathisfriend。"Aretheyback？HavetheyreturnedtoEngland？"heasked，confusedly。
"Oh，didn'tyouknow？"Thorpepursued，withanaccessionofamiability。Hevisiblyhadpleasureinthedisclosureoftheother'signorance。"They'vebeeninLondonfortwoorthreeweeks。Thatis，MissMaddenhasbeentakingflyingtripstoseecathedralsandsoon，butLadyCressagehasstayedintown。Theirlongjourneyingshaveratherdoneherup。"HelookedPlowdenstraightintheeye，andaddedwithanairofdeliberation："I'mratheranxiousaboutherhealth。"
Thenoblemanfranklyabandonedhiseffortstomaintainanundisturbedfront。"You——are——anxious，"herepeated，frowningindispleasedwonderment。
"Whyyes——whynot？"demandedThorpe，withasuddengrowlinhisvoice。AshecoveredthehandsomeViscountwithhisheavy，intentgaze，impulsesofwrathstirredwithinhim。Whyshouldthisfopofalordlingputonthisairofcontemptuousincredulity？"Whatistheresoamazingaboutthat？Whyshouldn'tIbeanxious？"
Theperemptoryharshnessofhismanner，andthescowlonhisbig，loweringface，broughtasortofself-
controlbacktotheother。Heshruggedhisshoulders，withanattemptatnonchalance。"Whynotindeed！"
hesaid，aslightlyashecould。Withhandsonknees，hebentforwardasiftorise。"ButperhapsI'dbettercomeinanotherday，"hesuggested，tentatively。
"I'minterruptingyou。"
"No——sitstill，"Thorpebadehim，andthen，withchinsettledmoredeterminedlythaneverinhiscravat，sateyeinghiminalong，doursilence。
LordPlowdenfounditimpossibletoobtainfromthismassive，apatheticvisageanycluetothethoughtsworkingbehindit。
HechancedtorecallthetimewhenhehaddiscussedwithThorpethemeaningandvaluesofthisinscrutableexpressionwhichthelatter'scountenancecouldassume。
Ithadseemedinterestingandevenadmirabletohimthen——butthenhehadnotforeseenthepossibilitythathehimselfmightsomedayconfrontitsadamantinebarrierwithasinkingheart。Allatoncehecouldbearthisimplacablesphinx-gazenolonger。
"I'msuresomeotherdaywouldbebetter，"heurged，withanopenoverturetopropitiationinhistone。
"You'renotinthemoodtobebotheredwithmyaffairstoday。"
"Asmuchtodayasanyother，"Thorpeansweredhim，slowly。
Theothersatsuddenlyupright——andthenuponamoment'sreflectionrosetohisfeet。"Idon'tintheleastknowwhattomakeofallthis，"hesaid，withnervousprecipitancy。
"IfI'veoffendedyouinanyway，sayso，andIwillapologizeatonce。Buttreatmentofthissortpassesmycomprehension。"
Thorpeintruthdidnothimselfcomprehenditmuchmoreclearly。Somestrangefreakofwilfulnessimpelledhimtopursuethisunintelligiblepersecution。
"I'vesaidnothingaboutanyoffense，"hedeclared，inahard，deliberatevoice。"Itisyourownword。
Allthesame——Imentionthenameofalady——alady，mindyou，whomImetunderyourownroof——andyoustrikeattitudesandputonairsasif——asifIwasn'tgoodenough！"
"Oh，uponmyword，that'sallrubbish！"theotherbrokein。
"Nothingcouldhavebeenfurtherfrommythoughts，Iassureyou。QuitenaturallyIwassurprisedforthemomentatabitofunexpectednews——butthatwasall。
Igiveyoumywordthatwasall。"
"Verywell，then，"Thorpeconsentedgrudginglytomutter。
Hecontinuedhissullenscrutinyofthemanstandingbeforehim，notinghowthevivacityofhisbearinghaddeterioratedinthesefewminutes。Hehadcutsuchagallantfigurewhenheenteredtheroom，withhissparklingeyeandsmile，hisalmostjauntymanner，hissuperiortailor'splumage——andnowhewassuchacrestfallenandwiltedthing！
Rememberingtheirlastconversationtogether——rememberingindeedhowfulloflikingforthisyoungnoblemanhehadbeenwhentheylastmet——Thorpepausedtowonderatthefactthathefeltnoatomofpityforhimnow。
Whatwashisgrievance？WhathadPlowdendonetoprovokethissavagehostility？Thorpecouldnottell。Heknewonlythatunnamedforcesdraggedhimforwardtohurtandhumiliatehisformerfriend。Obscurely，nodoubt，therewassomethingaboutawomaninit。PlowdenhadbeenanadmirerofLadyCressage。Therewasherfather'swordforitthatiftherehadbeenmoneyenoughhewouldhavewishedtomarryher。Therehadbeen，aswell，theGeneral'shintthatifthedifficultyofPlowden'spovertywereremoved，hemightstillwishtomarryher——ahintwhichThorpediscoveredtoberanklingwithasuddennewsorenessinhismind。WasthatwhyhehatedPlowden？No——hesaidtohimselfthatitwasnot。
HewasgoingtomarryLadyCressagehimself。Herletter，signifyingdelicatelyherassenttohisproposal，hadcometohimthatverymorning——wasinhispocketnow。
Whatdidhecareaboutthebye-goneaspirationsofotherwould-besuitors？And，asforPlowden，hehadnotevenknownofherreturntoLondon。Clearlythereremainednocommunicationsofanysortbetweenthem。
Itwasnotatallonheraccount，heassuredhimself，thathehadturnedagainstPlowden。Butwhatotherreasoncouldtherebe？Heobservedhisvisitor'sperturbedanddejectedmienwithagrimkindofsatisfaction——butstillhecouldnottellwhy。
"Thisisallterriblyimportanttome，"thenoblemansaid，breakingtheunpleasantsilence。Hisvoicewassurchargedwithearnestness。"Apparentlyyouareannoyedwithsomething——whatitmaybeIcan'tforthelifeofmemakeout。
AllIcansayis"——andhebrokeoffwithahelplessgesturewhichseemedtoimplythathefearedtosayanything。
Thorpeputouthislips。"Idon'tknowwhatyoumean，"
hesaid，brusquely。
"WhatImean"——theotherechoed，withbewilderedvaguenessofglance。"I'mallatsea。Idon'tintheleastgraspthemeaningofanything。Youyourselfvolunteeredthedeclarationthatyouwoulddogreatthingsforme。
'Wearerichmentogether'——thosewereyourownwords。
Iurgedyouatthetimetogoslowly——toconsidercarefullywhetheryouweren'tbeingtoogenerous。Imyselfsaidtoyouthatyouwereridiculouslyexaggeratingwhatyoucalledyourobligationtome。Itwasyouwhoinsisteduponpresentingmewith100，000shares。"
"Well，theyareherereadyforyou，"saidThorpe，withcalculatedcoldness。"Youcanhavethemwheneveryouplease。Ipromisedthemtoyou，andsetthemasideforyou。Youcantakethemawaywithyounow，ifyoulike。Whatareyoukickingupthisfussfor，then？Uponmyword！——youcomehereandsuggesttomethatImadepromisestoyouwhichI'vebroken！"
Plowdenlookedhardathim，asheturnedoverinhismindthepurportofthesewords。"Iseewhatyouaredoing，"
hesaidthen。"Youturnovertome100，000vendor'sdeferredshares。Thanks！Ihavealready1，000ofthem。
Ikeeptheminthesameboxwithmyfather'sConfederatebonds。"
"Whatthehelldoyoumean？"Thorpebrokeinwithexplosivewarmth，liftinghimselfinhischair。
"Oh，comenow，Thorpe，"Plowdenretorted，"let'sgetthistalkonanintelligent，common-sensefooting。"
Hehadregainedsomethingofhisself-control，andkeenlyputforwardnowtohelphimallhispersuasivegracesofeyeandspeech。Heseatedhimselfoncemore。
"I'mconvincedthatyouwanttobegoodtome。
Ofcourseyoudo！IfI'veseemedhereforaminuteortwotothinkotherwise，itwasbecauseImisunderstoodthings。
Don'tlettherebeanyfurthermisunderstandings！Iapologizefordoingyouthemomentaryinjusticeofsuspectingthatyouweregoingtoplayoffthevendor'ssharesonme。
Ofcourseyousaidit——butitwasajoke。"
"Thereseemstobeajokesomewhere，sureenough，"
saidThorpe，indrylymetallictones——"butitisn'tmewho'sthejoker。Itoldyouyoushouldhave100，000
ofmy400，000shares，didn'tI？Itoldyouthatinsomanywords。Verywell，whatmoredoyouwant？Heretheyareforyou！Ikeepmypromisetotheletter。
Butyou——youseemtothinkyou'reentitledtomakearow。
Whatdoyoumeanbyit？"
"Justalittleword"——interposedPlowden，withstrenuouscalmnessofutterance——"whatyousaymaybetrueenough——yes，Iadmititistrueasfarasitgoes。
Butwasthatwhateitherofushadinourmindsatthetime？
Youknowitwasn't！YouhadjustplannedacoupontheStockExchangewhichpromisedyouimmenserewards。IhelpedyoutopassabogusallotmentthroughourBoard——withoutwhichyourcoupwouldn'thavebeenworthafarthing。
Youwereenthusiasticallygratefultomethen。Intheexcitementofthemomentyoupromisedmeaquarterofallyoushouldmake。'WEAREBOTHRICHMEN！'Irememberthoseverywordsofyours。Theyhaveneverbeenoutofmymind。
Wediscussedthethingsthatwewouldeachdo，whenwecameintothiswealth。Itwastakenforgrantedinallourtalkthatyourmakingmoneymeantalsomymakingmoney。
Thatwasthecompleteunderstanding——hereinLondon，andwhileyouwereatmyhouse。YouknowitaswellasIdo。
AndIrefusetosupposethatyouseriouslyintendtositthereandpretendthatyoumeanttogivemenothingbutanarmfulofwastepaper。Itwouldbetoomonstrous！"
Thorperappedwithhisnailsonthedesk，topointtheforceofhisrejoinder："Howdoyouaccountforthefact，myLord"——hegavehiswordsachillinglyscornfulprecisionofutterance——"thatIdistinctlymentioned400，000vendor'ssharesofmine，100，000ofwhichIpromisedtoturnovertoyou？Thosewerethespecificterms，weretheynot？Youdon'tdenyit？Thenwhatareyoutalkingabout？"
"Iaccountforitinthisway"——saidPlowden，afteramoment'sbaffledreflection："atthattimeyouyourselfhadn'tgraspedthedifferencebetweenthetwoclassesofshares。
Youthoughtthevendor'sshareswouldplayapartinthegame。Ah！IseeI'vehitthemark！Thatwasthewayofit！——Andnowhere，Thorpe！Letallthat'sbeensaidbebye-gones！Idon'twantanyverbaltriumphoveryou。
Youdon'twanttowrongme——andyourselftoo——bystickingtothisquibbleaboutvendor'sshares。Youintendedtobedeucedgoodtome——andwhathaveIdonethatyoushouldroundonmenow？Ihaven'tbotheredyoubefore。
Icametodayonlybecausethingsareparticularlyrotten，financially，justnow。AndIdon'tevenwanttoholdyoutoaquarter——Ileavethatentirelytoyou。
Butafterallthat'sbeensaidanddone——Iputittoyouasonemantoanother——youaremorallyboundtohelpmeout。"
"Howdoyoumean？——'allthat'sbeensaidanddone'？"
Thorpeaskedthequestioninsomeconfusionofmoods。
PerhapsitwastheethicalforceofLordPlowden'sappeal，perhapsonlyarecurringsenseofhisearlieraffectionfortheman——butforthemomenthewaveredinhispurpose。
Thepeerflushedalittle，ashelookedatthefloor，revolvingpossibleanswerstothisquery。HisearhadbeenquicktoseizethenoteofhesitationinThorpe'stone。
Hestroveanxiouslytogettogetherconsiderationswhichshouldtiptheflutteringbalancedefinitelyhisway。
"Well，"hebeganslowly，"Ihardlyknowhowtoputit。
Ofcoursetherewas，inthefirstplace，theimmenseexpectationoffortunewhichyougaveme，andwhichI'mafraidI'vemorethanlivedupto。Andthen，ofcourse，otherssharedmyexpectations。Itwasn'tathingonecouldverywellkeeptooneself。Mymotherandmysister——especiallymysister——theywerewonderfullyexcitedaboutit。Youarequitetheherointheireyes。
Andthen——yourememberthattalkwehad，inwhichyousaidIcouldhelpyou——socially，youknow。Ididitalittle，justasastart，butofcoursethere'snoendtowhatcouldbedone。You'vebeentoobusyheretofore，butwecanbeginnowwheneveryoulike。Idon'tmindtellingyou——I'vehadsomethoughtsofapossiblemarriageforyou。
Inpointofbloodandconnectionsitwouldbesuchamatchasacommonerhasn'tmadebeforeinmymemory——ahighly-
cultivatedandhighly-bredyoungladyofrank——andsettlementscouldbemadesothataconsiderablequantityoflandwouldeventuallycometoyourson。Ineedn'ttellyouthatlandstandsformuchmorethanmoney，ifyouhappentosetyourmindonabaronetcyorapeerage。
Ofcourse——Ineedscarcelysay——Imentionthismarriageonlyassomethingwhichmayormaynotattractyou，——itisquiteopentoyoutopreferanother，——butthereishardlyanythingofthatsortinwhichIandmyconnectionscouldnotbeofusetoyou。"
Evenmorebythetoneandinflectionofthesewordsthanbythephrasesthemselves，ThorpedivinedthathewasbeingofferedthehandoftheHon。WinifredPlowdeninmarriage。
Herecalledvividlythefactthatoncetheshadowofsomesuchthoughthadfloatedthroughhisownbrain；
therehadbeenamoment——itseemedcuriouslyremote，likeadream-phantomfromsomepreviousstateofexistence——whenhehaddweltwithpersonalinterestuponherinheritancefromlonglinesofnoblemen，andherrelationtohalfthepeerage。Then，swiftly，illogically，hedislikedthebrotherofthisladymorethanever。
"Allthatistalkingintheair，"hesaid，withabruptdecision。"Iseenothinginit。Youshallhaveyourvendor'sshares，preciselyasIpromisedyou。
Idon'tseehowyoucanpossiblyaskforanythingmore。"
Helookedattheother'sdarklingfaceforamoment，andthenrosewithunwieldydeliberation。"Ifyou'resohardupthough，"hecontinued，coldly，"Idon'tminddoingthismuchforyou。I'llexchangethethousandvendor'ssharesyoualreadyholdtheonesIgaveyoutoqualifyyouatthebeginning——forordinaryshares。
Youcansellthoseforfifteenthousandpoundscash。
Infact，I'llbuythemofyounow。I'llgiveyouachequefortheamount。Doyouwantit？"
LordPlowden，red-facedandfrowning，hesitatedforafractionoftime。Theninconstrainedsilencehenodded，andThorpe，leaningponderouslyoverthedesk，wroteoutthecheque。HisLordshiptookit，foldeditup，andputitinhispocketwithoutimmediatecomment。
"Thenthisistheendofthings，isit？"heasked，afteranawkwardsilence，inavoicehestroveinvaintokeepfromshaking。
"Whatthings？"saidtheother。
Plowdenshruggedhisshoulders，framedhislipstouttersomethingwhichhedecidednottosay，andatlastturnedonhisheel。"Goodday，"hecalledoutoverhisshoulder，andlefttheroomwithaflagrantairofhostility。
Thorpe，wanderingabouttheapartment，stoppedafteratimeatthecabinet，andhelpedhimselftoadrink。
Thethingmostapparenttohimwasthatofsetpurposehehadconvertedafriendintoanenemy。Whyhadhedonethis？Heaskedhimselfthequestioninvaryingforms，overhisbrandyandsoda，butnoconvincinganswercame。
Hehaddoneitbecausehehadfeltlikedoingit。Itwasimpossibletotracemotivesfurtherthanthat。
CHAPTERXVIII
"EDITHwillbedowninaveryfewmoments，"MissMaddenassuredThorpethatevening，whenheenteredthedrawing-roomofthehouseshehadtakeninGraftonStreet。
Helookedintohereyesandsmiled，ashebowedoverthehandsheextendedtohim。Hisglanceexpressedwithforcefuldirectnesshisthought："Ah，thenshehastoldyou！"
Thecomplacentconsciousnessofproducingafineeffectinevening-clotheshadgiventoMr。StormontThorpehabituallynowamildnessofmanner，afterthedressinghour，whichwaslackingtohisdeportmentintheday-time。
Theconventionalattireofceremony，juggledinthehandsofaninspiredtailor，hadbeenbroughttolendtohisponderousfigureadignity，andevensomethingofagrace，whichthemanwithinassimilatedandmadehisown。
ItwasanequableandratheramiableThorpewhompeopleencounteredafternightfall——agentlemanwholookedimpressiveenoughtohavepowerfulperformancesbelievedofhim，yetseemedwithalanapproachableandeasy-goingperson。
Menwhosawhimatmidnightorlaterspokeofhimtotheirwomenkindwithacertainsignificantreserve，inwhichtrainedwomankindreadthesuggestionthatthe"RubberKing"
drankagooddeal，andwasprobablynotwhollyniceinhiscups。
This，however，couldnotbesaidtorenderhimlessinterestinginanyeyes。Therewasindeedaboutittheimplicationofagenerousnature，orattheleastofablindside——anditisnotunpleasanttodiscovertheseattributesinanewmanwhohasmadehishalf-million，andhas，ormayhave，countlessfavourstobestow。
Itwasasifhistongueinsteadofhiseyeshadutteredtheexclamation——"Ah，thenshehastoldyou！"——forMissMaddentookitashavingbeenspoken。"I'mnotdisposedtopretendthatI'moverjoyedaboutit，youknow，"
shesaidtohimbluntly，astheirhandsdropped，andtheystoodfacingeachother。"IfIsaidIcongratulatedyou，itwouldbeonlytheemptiestform。AndIhateemptyforms。"
"WhyshouldyouthinkthatIwon'tmakeagoodhusband？"
Thorpeaskedthequestionwithagood-naturedifperemptoryfranknesswhichcamemostreadilytohiminthepresenceofthisAmericanlady，herselfsooutspokenandmasterful。
"Idon'tknowthatIspeciallydoubtit，"shereplied。
"Isupposeanymanhasinhimthemakingsofwhatiscalledagoodhusband——iftheconditionsaresufficientlypropitious。"
"Wellthen——what'sthematterwiththeconditions？"
hedemanded，jocosely。
MissMaddenshruggedhershouldersslightly。Thorpenotedthesomewhatluxuriantcurvesofthesesplendidshoulders，andthecreamywhitenessoftheskin，uponwhich，roundthefullthroat，achainofdiamondslayasuponsatin——andrecalledthathehadnotseenherbeforeinwhathephrasedtohimselfassomuchlow-neckeddress。
Thedeepfire-gleaminherbroadplaitsofhairgaveawonderfulbrilliancytothiscolouringofbrowandthroatandbosom。Hemarvelledathimselffordiscoveringonlynowthatshealsowasbeautiful——andthenthrilledwithprideatthethoughtthathenceforthhislifemightbepassedaltogetheramongbeautifulwomen，radiantingemsandcostlyfabrics，whowouldsmileuponhimathiscommand。
"Oh，Ihavenowishtobeakill-joy，"sheprotested。
"I'msureIhopeallmannerofgoodresultsfromthe——
theexperiment。"
"Isupposethat'swhatitcomesto，"hesaid，meditatively。
"It'sallanexperiment。Everymarriageintheworldmustbethat——neithermorenorless。"
"Withalltheexperienceoftheagesagainstitscomingoutright。"Shehadturnedtomovetowardachair，butlookednowoverhershoulderathim。"Haveyoueverseenwhatseemedtoyouanabsolutelyhappymarriageinyourlife？"
Uponreflectionheshookhishead。"Idon'trecalloneonthespuroftheminute，"heconfessed。
"Notthekind，Imean，thatyoureadaboutinbooks。
ButI'veseenplentywherethecouplegotalongtogetherinagood，easy，comfortablesortofway，withoutanotionofanysortofunpleasantness。It'speoplewhomarrytooyoungwhodomostofthefighting，Iimagine。
Afterpeoplehavegottoasensibleage，andknowwhattheywantandwhattheycangetalongwithout，whythenthere'snoreasonforanytrouble。Wedon'tstartoutwithanyschool-boyandschool-girlmoonshine"
"Oh，there'sagooddealtobesaidforthemoonshine，"
sheinterruptedhim，asshesankuponthesofa。
"Whycertainly，"heassented，amiably，ashestoodlookingdownather。"Themorethereisofit，thebetter——ifitcomesnaturally，andpeopleknowenoughtounderstandthatitismoonshine，andisn'tthebe-allandend-allofeverything。"
"There'saloverforyou！"MissMaddencried，withmirthandderisionmingledinherlaugh。
"Don'tyouworryaboutme，"hetoldher。"I'magoodenoughlover，allright。Andwhenyoucometothat，ifEdithissatisfied，Idon'tpreciselyseewhat——"
"Whatbusinessitisofmine？"shefinishedthesentenceforhim。"You'reentirelyright。Asyousay，IFshe'ssatisfied，nooneelsehasanythingtodowithit。"
"Buthaveyougotanyrighttoassumethatsheisn'tsatisfied？"heaskedherwithswiftdirectness——"oranyreasonforsupposingit？"
MissMaddenshookherhead，butthenegationseemedqualifiedbythewhimsicalsmileshegavehim。"Nonewhatever，"
shesaid——andontheinstantthetalkwasextinguishedbytheentranceofLadyCressage。
Thorpe'svisionwasfloodedwiththeperceptionofhisrarefortuneashewenttomeether。Hetookthehandsheoffered，andlookedintothesmileofhergreeting，andcouldsaynothing。Herbeautyhadgatheredtoitnewforcesinhiseyes——forceswhichdazzledandtroubledhisglance。Thethoughtthatthisexquisitebeing——thisineffablecompoundoffeelingandfinenervesandsweetwisdomandwitandloveliness——belongedtohimseemedtoovastforthecapacityofhismind。
Hecouldnotkeephimselffromtremblingalittle，andfromdivertingtoascreenbeyondhershoulderagazewhichhefelttobeovertlydimmedandembarrassed。
"Ihavekeptyouwaiting，"shemurmured。
Thesoftsoundofhervoicecametohisearsasfromadistance。Itboreanunfamiliarnote，uponthestrangenessofwhichhedweltforadetachedinstant。Thenitsmeaningbrokeinuponhisconsciousnessfromallsides，andlighteduphisheavyfacewiththeglowofaconqueror'sself-centredsmile。Hebenthiseyesuponher，andnotedwithacontrolledexaltationhowherglanceinturndeferredtohis，andflutteredbeneathit，andshrankaway。
Hesquaredhisbigshouldersandliftedhishead。
Stillholdingherjewelledhandinhis，heturnedandledhertowardthesofa。Halting，hebowedwithanexaggeratedgenuflectionandflourishofhisfreehandtoMissMadden，thewhileheflashedatheraglanceatonceofchallengeandofdeprecation。Throughthesensitizedcontactoftheotherhand，hefeltthatthewomanheheldbowedalso，andinhisownspiritofconfuseddefianceandentreaty。
Thelaughhegavethenseemedtodispeltheawkwardnesswhichhadmomentarilyhungoverthemockingsalutation。
MissMaddenlaughedtoo。"Oh，Isurrender，"shesaid。
"Youdragcongratulationsfromme。"
Somequalityinthetoneofthisungraciousspeechhadtheeffectofputtingthepartyatitsease。
LadyCressageseatedherselfbesideherfriendonthesofa，andgently，abstractedly，pattedoneofherhands。
Thorperemainedonhisfeet，lookingdownatthepairwithsatisfiedcheerfulness。Hetool，aslipofpaperfromhispocket，tosupportastatementhewasmaking。
"I'mforevertellingyouwhatastraintheCityisonamaninmyposition，"hesaid——"andtodayIhadthecuriositytokeepanaccountofwhathappened。Hereitis。
Ihadthirtycallers。Ofthose，howmanydoyousupposecametoseemeonmyownbusiness？Justeight。Thatistosay，theirerrandswereaboutinvestmentsofmine，butmostofthemmanagedtogetinsomewordaboutaxesoftheirowntogrind。Alltherestmadenopretenceatallofthinkingaboutanybodybutthemselves。
I'veclassifiedthem，onebyone，here。
"First，thereweresixmenwhowantedmetotakesharesofonesortoranother，andIhadtomoreorlesslistentowhattheytriedtomakeouttheircompanieswerelike。
Theywerenoneofthemanygood。Eightdifferentfellowscametomewithschemesthathaven'treachedthecompanystage。OnehadaschemeforgettingpossessionofaniggerrepublicintheWestIndiesbyraisingaloan，andthenrepudiatingallthepreviousloans。
Anotherwantedmetobuyapaperforhim，inwhichhewastosupportallmyenterprises。Anotherwantedtostartabank——Iapparentlytofindthemoney，andhethebrains。
Onechapwantedmetofinanceatheatricalsyndicate——hehadabagfullofphotographsofanactressalleyesandteethandhair，——andanotherchaphadaschemeallworkedoutforgettingaconcessionfromSpainforoneoftheCarolineIslands，andputtingupafactorythereformakingporpoise-hideleather。
"Thentherewerethreeinventors——let'ssee，heretheyare——onewithacoiledwirespringforscissorsinsideapocket-knife，andonewithabottle，thewholetopofwhichunscrewsinsteadofhavingacorkorstopper，andonewithanelectricalfish-line，afinewireinsidethesilk，youknow，whichconnectswithsomebatterywhenafishbites，andringsabell，andthrowsouthooksinvariousdirections，anddoesallsortsofthings。
"Wellthen，therewasamanwhowantedmetotakethechairmanshipofacompany，andonewhowantedmetoguaranteeanoverdraftathisbank，andtwowhowantedtoborrowmoneyonstock，andoneparson-fellowwhotriedtostickmeforasubscriptiontosomeHomeorotherhesaidhehadforchildreninthecountry。
Hewastheworstbounderofthelot。
"Well，there'stwenty-sevenpeople——andtwentyofthemstrangerstome，andnotworthapennytome，andalltryingtogetmoneyoutofme。Isn'tthatadog'slifeforone？"
"Idon'tknow，"saidMissMadden，contemplatively。
"Aladymayhavetwicethatnumberofcallersinanafternoon——quiteasgreatstrangerstoallintentsandpurposes——andnotevenhavethesatisfactionofdiscoveringthattheyhadanyobjectwhateverincalling。
Atleastyourpeoplehadsomemotive：thegreymatterintheirbrainwasworking。Andbesides，oneofthemmighthavehadsomethingtosaywhichyouwouldvalue。
Idon'tthinkthateverhappensamongalady'scallers；
doesit，Edith？"
Edithsmiled，pleasantlyandyetalittlewistfully，butsaidnothing。
"Atanyrate，"Thorpewenton，withakindofpurposegatheringinhiseyes，"noneofthosefellowscostmeanything，exceptintime。ButthenIhadthreecallers，almostinabunch，andoneofthemtookoutofmethirtythousandpounds，andanotherfifteenthousandpounds，andthethird——anutterstrangerhewas——hegotanabsolutegratuityoftenthousandpounds，besidesmyconsenttoasalewhich，ifIhadrefusedit，wouldhavestoodmeinperhapsfortyorfiftythousandpoundsmore。
Youladiesmaythankyourstarsyoudon'thavethatkindofcallers！"
Thesoundofthesefiguresintheairbroughtaconstrainedlooktothefacesofthewomen。Seeminglytheyconfrontedasubjectwhichwasnottotheirliking。
TheAmerican，however，afteramoment'spause，tookitupinanindifferentmanner。
"Youspeakofan'absolutegratuity。'IknownothingofLondonCitymethods——butisn'ttenthousandpoundsagratuityonaratherlargescale？"
Thorpehesitatedbriefly，thensmiled，and，withslowdeliberation，drewupachairandseatedhimselfbeforethem。"PerhapsI
don'tmindtellingyouaboutit，"hebegan，andpausedagain。
"Ihadaletterinmymailthismorning，"hewentonatlast，givingasentimentalsignificancetobothtoneandglance——"aletterwhichchangedeverythingintheworldforme，andmademetheproudestandhappiestmanaboveground。
AndIputthatletterinmypocket，righthereontheleftside——andit'stherenow，forthatmatter"——heputhishandtohisbreast，asifundertheimpulsetoverifyhiswordsbytheproductionofthemissive，andthenstoppedandflushed。
Theladies，watchinghim，seemedbytheireyestocondonethemawkishnessofthedemonstrationwhichhadtemptedhim。
Therewasindeedakindofapprovinginterestintheirjointregard，whichhehadnotexperiencedbefore。
"Ihaditinmypocket，"heresumed，withanaccessionofmellowemotioninhisvoice，"andnoneofthecallersevergotmythoughtsveryfarfromthatletter。
Andoneofthesewasanoldman——aFrenchbankerwhomustbeseventyyearsold，butdyeshishairakindofpurpleblack——anditseemsthathisnephewhadgotthefirmintoaterriblekindofscrape，selling2，000ofmyshareswhenhehadn'tgotthemtosellandcouldn'tgetthem——andtheoldmancametobegmetolethimoutatpresentmarketfigures。HegotLordChaldon——he'smyChairman，youknow——tobringhim，andintroducehimashisfriend，andpleadforhim——butIdon'tthinkallthat，byitself，wouldhavebudgedmeanatom。Butthentheoldmantoldhowhewasjustabletoscrapetogethermoneyenoughtobuythesharesheneeded，attherulingprice，andhehappenedtomentionthathisniece'smarriageportionwouldhavetobesacrificed。Well，then，doyouknow，thatletterinmypocketsaidsomethingtome……And——well，that'sthestory。Thegirl'sportion，Iwormeditoutofhim，wastenthousand……andIstruckthatmuchoffthefigurethatIallowedhimtobuyhisshares，andsavehisfirm，for……Itwasalltheletterthatdidit，mindyou！"
Heconcludedthehaltingnarrativeamidamarkedsilence。
Theladieslookedathimandateachother，buttheyseemedsurprisedoutoftheirfacilityofcomment。
Inthiskindofflusteredhush，thedoorwasopenedanddinnerwasannounced。
MissMaddenwelcomedthediversionbyrisingwithostentatiousvigour。"Iwilltakemyselfout，"
shedeclared，withcheerfulpromptnessleadingtheway。
LadyCressagetookthearmThorpeofferedher，andgavenotokenofcomprehendingthatherwristwasbeingcaressinglypressedagainsthissideastheymovedalong。
Atthelittletableshininginthecentreofthedark，cooldining-room，talkmovedidlyaboutamonggeneraltopics。
Athunderstormbrokeoverthetown，atanearlystageofthedinner，andthesoundoftherushingdownpourthroughtheopenwindows，andthebreathoffreshnesswhichstirredthejadedair，werepleasanterthananyspeech。
Thoughtsrovedintuitivelycountry-ward，wherethelong-neededrainwouldbedoweringthelandscapewithnewlife——wheretheearthatsunrisewouldbegreenagain，andbuoyantinreawakenedenergy，andredolentwiththeperfumesofsweetestsummer。Theyspokeofthefieldsandthemoorswiththelongingoftiredtown-folkinAugust。
"Oh，whenIgetaway"——saidThorpe，fervently，"itseemstomethatIdon'twantevertocomeback。
Theselastfewweekshavegotterriblyonmynerve。
Andreally——whyshouldIcomeback？I'vebeenaskingmyselfthequestion——moretodaythaneverbefore。
Ofcourseeverythinghasbeendifferenttoday。ButifI'mtogetanygenuinegoodoutofmy——myfortune——ImustpullawayfromtheCityaltogethersometime——andwhynotnow？
Ofcourse，someimportantthingsarestillopen——andtheyhavetobewatchednightandday——butafterall，Semple——that'smyBroker——hecoulddoitforme。
Atthemost，itwon'tlastmorethananothersixweeks。
Thereisasettlement-daynextweek，the15th，andanotherafortnightafter，onthe29th，andanotheronSeptember12th。Well，thosethreedays，ifthey'reworkedasIintendtheyshallbe，andnothingunforeseenhappens，willbringinoverfourhundredthousandpounds，andclosethe'corner'inRubberConsolsforgood。
ThenIneedneverseetheCityagain，thankGod！Andforthatmatter——why，whatissixweeks？It'sliketomorrow。
I'mgoingtoactasifIwerefreealready。Therainfillsmefullofthecountry。Willyoubothcomewithmetomorrowornextday，andseethePellesleyplaceinHertfordshire？
Bythephotographsit'sthebestthinginthemarket。
ThenewestpartsofitareTudor——andthat'swhatI'vealwayswanted。"
"Howunexpectedyouare！"commentedMissMadden。
"YouarealmostthelastpersonIshouldhavelookedtoforasentimentaboutTudorfoundations。"
Thorpeputouthislipsatrifle。"Ah，youdon'tknowme，"
hereplied，inavoicemilderthanhislookhadpromised。
"BecauseI'mroughandpractical，youmustn'tthinkIdon'tknowgoodthingswhenIseethem。Why，alltheworldisgoingtohavelivingproofverysoon"——hepaused，andsentasmilesurchargedwithmeaningtowardthesilentmemberofthetrio——"livingproofthatI'mthegreatestjudgeofperfectioninbeautyofmytime。"
Heliftedhisglassashespoke，andtheladiesacceptedwithaninclinationofthehead，andatouchofthewineattheirlips，histacittoast。"Oh，IthinkIdoknowyou，"
saidCeliaMadden，calmlydiscursive。"Uptoacertainpoint，youarenotsounlikeothermen。Ifpeopleappealtoyourimagination，anddonotcontradictyou，orboreyou，orgetinyourway，youarecapableofbeingveryniceindeedtothem。Butthatisn'taveryuncommonquality。
Whatisuncommoninyou——atleastthatismyreading——issomethingwhichaccordingtocircumstancesmaybenice，orverymuchtheotherwayabout。It'ssomethingwhichstandsquiteapartfromstandardsofmoralsorethicsortheordinaryemotions。ButIdon'tknow，whetheritisdesirableformetoenterintothisextremelypersonalanalysis。"
"Ohyes，goon，"Thorpeurgedher。Hewatchedherfacewithanalmostexcitedinterest。
"Well——Ishouldsaythatyoupossessedacapacityforsuddenandcapriciousactioninlargematters，equallyimpatientofreasoningandindifferenttoconsequences，whichmightbeveryawkward，andeventragic，topeoplewhohappenedtoannoyyou，orstandinyourroad。
Youhavethekindoforganizationinwhich，withinasecond，withoutanywarningorreason，apassingwhimmayhaveworkeditselfupintoanimperativelaw——somethingyoumustobey。"
Themansmiledandnoddedapprovingly："You'vegotmedownfine，"hesaid。
"Italkwithagooddealofconfidence，"shewenton，withacheerless，ruminativelittlelaugh，"becauseitismyownorganizationthatIamdescribing，too。
ThedifferenceisthatIwasallowedtoexploitmycapacityformischiefveryearly。Ihadmyownwayinmyteens——myownmoney，myownpower——ofcourseonlyofacertainsort，andinaverysmallplace。
ButIknowwhatIdidwiththatpower。Ispreadtroubleandmiseryaboutme——alwaysofcourseonasmallscale。
Thenagroupofthingshappenedinakindofclimax——averypainfulclimax——anditshookthenonsenseoutofme。
Mybrotherandmyfatherdied——someothersoberingthingshappened……andluckilyIwasstillyoungenoughtostopshort，andtakestockofmyself，andsaythattherewerecertainpathsIwouldneversetfootonagain——andsticktoit。
Butwithyou——doyousee？——poweronlycomestoyouwhenyouareamatureman。Experiences，nomatterhowunpleasanttheyare，willnotchangeyounow。Youwillnotbemovedbythisoccurrenceorthattodistrustyourself，orreconsideryourmethods，orformnewresolutions。
Ohno！Powerwillbeterribleinyourhands，ifpeoplewhomyoucaninjureprovokeyoutocruelcourses——"
"Oh，dear——dear！"brokeinLadyCressage。"WhatadistressingMrs。Gummidge-Cassandrayouare，Celia！Praystopit！"
"No——she'srightenough，"saidThorpe，gravely。
"That'sthekindofmanIam。"
Heseemedsoprofoundlyinterestedinthecontemplationofthisportraitwhichhadbeendrawnofhim，thattheothersrespectedhisreflectivesilence。Hesatforsomemoments，idlyfingeringaforkonthetable，andstaringatablotchofvividredprojectedthroughadecanteruponthecloth。
"Itseemstomethat'stheonlykindofmanit'sworthwhiletobe，"headdedatlast，stillspeakingwiththoughtfuldeliberation。"There'snothingelseintheworldsobigaspower——strength。Ifyouhavethat，youcangeteverythingelse。Butifyouhaveit，anddon'tuseit，thenitrustsanddecaysonyourhands。
It'slikeathoroughbredhorse。Youcan'tkeepitidleinthestable。Ifyoudon'texerciseit，youloseit。"
Heappearedtobecommentinguponsomeillustrationwhichhadoccurredtohisownmind，butwasnotvisibletohisauditors。Whiletheyregardedhim，hewaspromptedtoadmitthemtohisconfidence。
"Therewasacaseofittoday，"hesaid，andthenpaused。
"Precisely，"putinMissMadden。"ThefactthatsomeFrenchwoman，ofwhomyouhadneverheardbefore，wasgoingtolosehermarriageportioncaughtyourattention，andontheinstantyoupresentedherwith$10，000，anexerciseofpowerwhichhappenstobeonthegenerousside——butstillentirelyunreasoning，andnotdeservingofanyintellectualrespect。Andhere'sthepoint：ifithadhappenedthatsomebodyelsechancedtoproduceanoppositeimpressionuponyou，youwouldhavebeencapableoftaking$50，000awayfromhimwithjustaslightaheart。"
Thorpe'sfacebeamedwithrepressedamusement。"AsamatteroffactitwasthatkindofcaseIwasgoingtomention。
Iwasn'treferringtothegirlandhermarriageportion。
Ayoungmancametometoday——cameintomyroomallcock-a-whoop，smilingtohimselfwiththenotionthathehadonlytonamewhathewanted，andIwouldgiveittohim——and——"
Hestoppedabruptly，withaconfusedlittlelaugh。
HehadbeenuponthebrinkoftellingaboutLordPlowden'sdiscomfiture，andevennowthestoryitcheduponhistongue。Itcosthimanefforttoputthenarrativeaside，thewhileheponderedtheargumentswhichhadsuddenlyrearedthemselvesagainstpublicity。
Whenatlasthespoke，itwaswithaglanceofconsciousmagnanimitytowardtheladywhohadconsentedtobehiswife。
"Nevermind，"hesaid，lightly。"Therewasn'tmuchtoit。
Themanannoyedme，somehow——andhedidn'tgetwhathecamefor——that'sall。"
"Buthewasentitledtogetit？"askedCeliaMadden。
Thorpe'slipspoutedoverareply。"Well——no，"hesaid，withakindofreluctance。"Hegotstrictlywhathewasentitledto——preciselywhatIhadpromisedhim——andhewrunguphisnoseatthat——andthenIactuallygavehim15，000poundshewasn'tentitledtoatall。"
"Ihardlyseewhatitproves，then，"EdithCressageremarked，andthesubjectwasdropped。
Sometwohourslater，Thorpetookhisdeparture。
Itwasnotuntilhewasgettingintothehansomwhichhadbeensummoned，thatitallatonceoccurredtohimthathehadnotforamomentbeenalonewithhisbetrothed。
Uponreflection，asthecabspedsmoothlyforward，thisseemedoddtohim。Hedecidedfinallythattherewasprobablysomesocialruleaboutsuchthingswhichhedidn'tunderstand。
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Inthedrawing-roomofthehouseinGraftonStreetwhichhehadquitted，thetwoladiessatwithfacesavertedfromeachother，inconstrainedsilence。
EdithCressageroseatlast，andtookafewaimlesssteps，withherhandsatherhair。"Well——I'membarked——fairlyunderway！"shesaid，inclear-cut，almostprovocativetones。
"Idon'tatallknowwhattosay，"hercompanionreplied，slowly。"Ifancythatyouexaggeratemydisapproval。
Perhapsitoughtnoteventobecalleddisapprovalatall。
ItisonlythatIampuzzled——andalittlefrightened。"
"Oh，Iamfrightenedtoo，"saidtheother，butwitheagernessratherthantrepidationinhervoice。"ThatiswhyIdidnotgiveyouthesignaltoleaveusalone。
Icouldn'tquitegetupthenerveforit。Butwouldyoubelieveit？——thatisoneofthecharmsofthething。
Thereisanexcitementaboutitthatexhilaratesme。
Togethappinessthroughterror——youcan'tunderstandthat，canyou？"
"I'mtrying。IthinkI'mbeginningtounderstand，"
saidMissMadden，vaguely。
"DidyoueversetyourselftocomprehendingwhyMarieStuartmarriedBothwell？"askedEdith，lookingdownupontheotherwithilluminatingfixity。"Youhaveitall——allthere。Mariegottiredofthesmoothpeople，theusualpeople。Therewasthepromiseofadventure，andrisk，andperil，andthegrandemotionswiththebig，darkbrute。"
"Itisn'tahappystory——thisparallelthatyoupickout，"
commentedCelia，absently。
"Happy！Pah！"retortedEdith，withspirit。"Whoknowsifitwasn'ttheonlyreallyhappythinginherlife？Thesnobsandprigsallscoldherandpreachsermonsather——theydiditinherlifetime：theydoitnow——"Ohcome，I'mneitherasnobnoraprig，"putinCelia，lookingupinherturn，andtemperingwithasmiletheenergyofhertone——"I
don'tblameherforherBothwell；Idon'tcriticizeher。
IneverwasevenabletomindaboutherkillingDarnley。
YouseeItakeanextremelyliberalview。Onemightalmostcallitbroad。ButifIhadbeenoneofherladies——herbosomfriends——sayCatherineSeton——andshehadtalkedwithmeaboutit——IthinkIshouldhaveconfessedtosomeforebodings——somelittlemisgivings。"
"Anddoyouknowwhatshewouldhavesaid？"
Edith'sswiftquestion，putwithaglowingfaceandaconfidentvoice，hadinittheringofassuredtriumph。
"Shewouldhaveansweredyou：'Mydearestgirl，allmylifeIhavedonewhatotherpeopletoldmetodo。InmychildhoodIwasgiveninmarriagetoacriminalidiot。
InmyprematurewidowhoodIwasgovernedbyacommitteeofscoundrelsofbothsexesuntilanothercriminalidiotwasimposeduponmeasasecondhusband。
Myownpersonalityhasneverhadthegleamofachance。
IhaveneveryetdoneanysinglethingbecauseIwantedtodoit。Betweenfirstmypolitician-motherandherbandoftonsuredswindlers，andthenmycantankerousbrotherandhiscrewofsnarlingandsour-mindedpreachers，andallthecourtliarsandparasitesandspiesthatbothsidessurroundedmewith，Ihavelivedanexistencethatisn'tlifeatall。Ipurporttobeawoman，butIhaveneverbeensufferedtoseeagenuineman。
Andnowhereisone——orwhatIthinktobeone——andI'mgiventounderstandthatheisapirateandamurdererandanunspeakableruffiangenerally——buthetakesmyfancy，andhehasbeckonedtometocometohim，andsoyouwillkindlygetmemyhatandjacketandgloves。'
That'swhatshewouldhavesaidtoyou，mydear。"
"AndI"——saidCelia，risingafteramoment'spause，andputtingherhanduponEdith'sarm——"Iwouldhaveanswered，'Dearestlady，inwhateverbefalls，IprayyounevertoforgetthatIamtotheendyourfondanddevotedandloyalservant。'"
CHAPTERXIX
AUGUSTworeitselfoutinparchedtedium，andaSeptemberbeganwhichseemedevenmoreunbearableintown，——andstillThorpedidnotgetawayfromLondon。
Sofarasthepaymentofanexorbitantrentinadvance，andthereceiptofinnumerablelettersfromarestlessandfussystewardwhomhehadnotyetseen，wentasevidence，heknewhimselftobethetenantinpossessionofagreatshootinginMorayshire。Hehadseveralphotographsofwhatwascalledthelodge，butlookedlikesomethingbetweenamansionandabaronialcastle，onthemanteloftheBoardRoom。
Thereflectionthatthissumptuousresidencehadbeenhisforamonth，andthatitdailystoodwaitingforhim，furnishedandsweptandprovisionedforhiscoming，didnothingtohelpthepassingoftimeinthehot，faggedCity。Morethanoncehehadsaidresolutelythat，onthemorrow，orattheworstthenextday，hewouldgo——butintheeventhehadnotgone。InthelastweekofAugusthehadproceededtothelengthofsendinghisnieceandnephewNorthward，andshuttingupthehouseinOvingtonSquare，andbetakinghimselftotheSavoyHotel。
Thishadappearedatthetimetobealmostequivalenttohisgettingawayhimself，——tobeatleastafirststageintheprogressofhisownjourney。Butatthehotelhehadstuckfast，——andnow，onthetenthofSeptember，wasnonearerthemoorsandthedeer-forestthanhehadbeenamonthbefore。
Anovelsenseofloneliness，——ofthefatuityofpresentexistence，——weighedgrievouslyuponhim。TheladiesofGraftonStreethadlefttownuponacomprehensiveitineraryofvisitswhichincludedtheMalverncountry，andaducalcastleinShropshire，andaplaceinWestmoreland。
TherewasnothingverydefiniteaboutthedateoftheircomingtohiminScotland。Theladywhohadconsentedtomarryhimhad，somehow，omittedtopromisethatshewouldwritetohim。Anarrangementexisted，instead，bywhichsheandhisnieceJuliaweretocorrespond，andtofixbetweenthemselvesthedetailsofthevisittoMorayshire。
Thorpehardlywenttothepointofannoyancewiththisarrangement。Hewasconsciousofnodeepimpulsetowritelove-lettershimself，andtherewasnothinginthesituationwhichmadehisfailuretoreceivelove-
lettersseemunnatural。Theabsenceofmoonshine，atleastduringthispreliminaryseason，hadbeenquitetakenforgrantedbetweenthem，andhedidnotcomplaineventohimself。Therewasevenakindofproudsatisfactionforhiminthethoughtthat，thoughhehadallbutcompletedthepurchaseofthenoblePellesleyestateforEdithCressage，hehadneveryetkissedher。
Thereserveheimposeduponhimselfgavehimacertainaristocraticfinenessinhisowneyes。Itwasthemeansbywhichhecouldfeelhimselftobemostnearlyherequal。
ButheremainedverylonelyinLondon，nonetheless。
Itistruethatagreatdealofsocietywascontinuallyofferedtohim，andeventhrustuponhim。Inthepopularphrase，Londonwasempty，butthereseemedtobemorepeoplethaneverwhodesiredMr。StormontThorpe'
spresenceattheirdinner-tables，ortheirlittletheatreorcardorriverparties。Heclungsullenlytohisruleofgoingnowhere，butitwasnotsosimpleamattertoevadethecivilitiesandimportunitiesofthosewhowerestoppingatthehotel，orwhocametheretowaylayhimattheentrance，ortoencounterhimintherestaurant。
Hecouldnotalwaysrefusetositdownattableswhenattractively-dressedandvivaciouswomenmaderoomforhim，ortolingerovercigarsandwinewiththeirhusbandsandescortslateron。
Anincessantandspiritedcourtwaspaidtohimbymanydifferentgroupsofinterestedpeoplewhowererarelyatthepainstodissembletheiraims。
Heformedamannerforthereceptionoftheseadvances，compoundedofjoviality，cynicism，andfrankbrutality，whichnobody，tohisfaceatleast，resented。Ifwomenwincedunderhismockingrudenessesofspeechandsmile，ifmenlongedtokillhimforthecoldinsolenceofhisrefusaltolettheminsidehisguard，theysedulouslykeptitfromhim。Theconsciousnessthateverybodywasafraidofhim，——thateverybodywouldkneeltohim，andmeeklytakeinsultandignominyfromhim，ifonlyhoperemainedtothemofgettingsomethingoutofhim，——hardenedlikeacrustuponhismind。
Itwasimpossibletogetasenseofcompanionshipfrompeoplewhocringedtohim，andswallowedhisaffrontsandcackledathisjokeswithequaldocility。Sometimeshehadapassingamusementintheroughpleasantriesandcrueltieswhichtheydrewfromhim。ThereweretwoorthreebrightJewishwomen，moregaylycleverandimpudent，perhaps，thanbeautiful，withwhomhefounditgenuinefuntotalk，andconcerningwhomhewasperpetuallyconceivingprojectswhichcouldnothavebeendiscussedwiththeirhusbands，andasperpetuallydoingnothingtotesttheirfeasibility。
Butthesediversionswereintheiressenceunsubstantial。
Therewasnoteventhesemblanceofarealfriendshipamongthem，——andlonelinessbecameanincreasingburden。
Hissisterattheoldbook-shopexasperatedhimnowadaystoadegreewhichoftenprovokedwithinhimtheresolutiontohavedonewithher。Hehadascoreofprojectsforherbetterment，eachcapableofasmanyvariationsandeageradaptationstosuitherfancy，buttothemallandsundrysheopposedabarrierofstupidlypassivenegation。Therewasnothingshewanteddoneforher。Shewouldnotexchangetheworkshehadbeenbroughtupinforalifeofidleness。