WhenMr。Townlinsonaccompaniedhisvisitortohercarriagewithdignifiedpolitenesshefeltsomewhatlikeanelderlysolicitorwhohadfoundhimselfdrawnintotheatmosphereofasortofintenselymodernfairytale。Hesawtwoofhisunderclerks，withtheimproprietyofmiddle—classyouth，lookingoutofanofficewindowatthedarkbluebroughamandthetallyounglady，whosebeautybloomedinthesunshine。Hedidnot，onthewhole，wonderat，thoughhedeplored，theconductoftheyoungmen。Butthey，ofcourse，sawonlywhattheycolloquiallydescribedtoeachotherasa"rippin’handsomegirl。"Theyknewnothingoftheinterestinginterview。
　　Hehimselfreturnedtohisprivateroominamusingmoodandthoughtitallover，hisminddwellingonvariousfeaturesoftheinternationalsituation，andmorethanoncehesaidaloud：
　　"Mostremarkable。Veryremarkable，indeed。"
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　THEFIFTEENTHEARLOFMOUNTDUNSTAN
　　JamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyre——fifteenthEarlofMountDunstan，"JemSalter，"ashisneighboursontheWesternrancheshadcalledhim，thered—haired，second—classpassengeroftheMeridiana，satinthegreatlibraryofhisdesolategreathouse，andstaredfixedlythroughtheopenwindowatthelovelylandspreadoutbeforehim。FromthisparticularwindowwastobeseenoneofthegreatestviewsinEngland。
　　Fromtheuppernurserieshehadlivedinasachildhehadseeniteverydayfrommorninguntilnight，andithadseemedtohisyoungfancytocoveralltheplainsoftheearth。Surelytherestoftheworld，hehadthought，couldbebutsmall——
　　thoughsomewhereheknewtherewasLondonwheretheQueenlived，andinLondonwereBuckinghamPalaceandSt。JamesPalaceandKensingtonandtheTower，whereheadshadbeenchoppedoff；andtheHorseGuards，wheresplendid，plumedsoldiersrodeforthglittering，withthrillingtrumpetssoundingastheymoved。Theselasthealwaysremembered，becausehehadseenthem，andoncewhenhehadwalkedintheparkwithhisnursetherehadbeenanexcitedstirintheRow，andpeoplehadcrowdedaboutacertaingate，throughwhichanescortedcarriagehadbeendriven，andhehadbeenmadeatoncetotakeoffhishatandstandbareheadeduntilitpassed，becauseitwastheQueen。Somehowfromthatafternoonhedatedthefirstpresentationofcertainvaguelymiserableideas。Inquiriesmadeofhisattendant，whenthecortegehadsweptby，hadelicitedthefactthattheRoyalLadyherselfhadchildren——littleboyswhowereprincesandlittlegirlswhowereprincesses。Whatcuriousandpersistentchildcross—examinationonhisparthaddrawnforththefactthatalmostallthepeoplewhodroveaboutandlookedsohappyandbrilliant，werethefathersormothersoflittleboyslike，yet——insomemysteriousway——unlikehimself？Andinwhatmannerhadhegatheredthathewasdifferentfromthem？Hisnurse，itistrue，wasnotapleasantperson，andhadaninjuredandresentfulbearing。Inlateryearsherealisedthatithadbeenthebearingofanirregularlypaidmenial，whorebelledagainstthefactthatherplacewasnotamongpeoplewhowereofdistinctionandhighrepute，andwhosehouseholdsbestowedacertainsocialstatusupontheirservitors。Shewasatallwomanwithasourfaceandabearingwhichconveyedaglumenduranceofapositionbeneathher。Yes，ithadbeenfromher——Broughhernamewas——thathehadmysteriouslygatheredthathewasnotadesirablecharge，asregardedfromthepointoftheservants’hall——or，infact，fromanyotherpoint。Hispeoplewerenotthepeoplewhosepatronagewassoughtwithanxiouseagerness。
　　Forsomereasontheirtownhousewasobjectionable，andMountDunstanwaswithoutattractions。Otherbighouseswere，insomemarkedway，different。Thetownhouseheobjectedtohimselfasbeinggloomyandugly，andpossessingonlyabareandbatterednursery，fromwhosewindowsonecouldnotevenobtainasatisfactoryviewoftheMews，whereatleast，therewerehorsesandgroomswhohissedcheerfullywhiletheycurriedandbrushedthem。Hehatedthetownhouseandwas，infact，verygladthathewasscarcelyevertakentoit。People，itseemed，didnotcaretocomeeithertothetownhouseortoMountDunstan。Thatwaswhyhedidnotknowotherlittleboys。Again——forthemysteriousreason——peopledidnotcarethattheirchildrenshouldassociatewithhim。Howdidhediscoverthis？Heneverknewexactly。
　　Herealised，however，thatwithoutdistinctstatements，heseemedtohavegathereditthroughvariousdisconnectedtalkswithBrough。Shehadnotremainedwithhimlong，having"betteredherself"greatlyandgoneawayinglumsatisfaction，butshehadstayedlongenoughtoconveytohimthingswhichbecamepartofhisexistence，andsmoulderedinhislittlesouluntiltheybecamepartofhimself。Theancestorswhohadhewntheirwaythroughtheirenemieswithbattle—
　　axes，whohadbeenfierceandcruelandunconquerableintheirsavagepride，hadhandeddowntohimaburningandunsubmissivesoul。Atsixyearsold，walkingwithBroughinKensingtonGardens，andseeingotherchildrenplayingunderthecareofnurses，who，helearned，werenotinclinedtomakeadvancestohisattendant，hedraggedBroughawaywithafiercelittlehandandstoodapartwithher，scowlinghaughtily，hisheadintheair，pretendingthathedisdainedallchildishgambols，andwouldhavedeclinedtojoininthem，evenifhehadbeenbesoughttosofarunbend。
　　Bitternesshadbeenplantedinhimthen，thoughhehadnotunderstood，andthesournessofBroughhadbeenconnectedwithnointelligencewhichmighthavecausedhertosuspecthisfeelings，andnoonehadnoticed，andifanyonehadnoticed，noonewouldhavecaredintheveryleast。
　　WhenBroughhadgoneawaytoherfarsuperiorplace，andshehadbeensucceededbyonevarietyofobjectionableorincompetentpersonafteranother，hehadstillcontinuedtolearn。Indifferentwayshesilentlycollectedinformation，andallofitwasunpleasant，and，ashegrewolder，ittookforsomeyearsoneform。Lackofresources，whichshouldofrightbelongtopersonsofrank，wastheradicalobjectiontohispeople。Atthetownhousetherewasnomoney，atMountDunstantherewasnomoney。Therehadbeensolittlemoneyeveninhisgrandfather’stimethathisfatherhadinheritedcomparativebeggary。ThefourteenthEarlofMountDunstandidnotcallit"comparative"beggary，hecalleditbeggarypureandsimple，andcursedhisprogenitorswithengagingfrankness。Heneverreferredtothefactthatinhispersonableyouthhehadmarriedawifewhosefortune，ifithadnotbeensquandered，mighthaverestoredhisown。Thefortunehadbeensquanderedinthecourseofafewyearsofriotousliving，thewifehaddiedwhenherthirdsonwasborn，whicheventtookplacetenyearsafterthebirthofhersecond，whomshehadlostthroughscarletfever。JamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyreneverheardmuchofher，andbarelyknewofherpastexistencebecauseinthepicturegalleryhehadseenaportraitofatall，thin，fretful—lookingyounglady，withlightringlets，andpearlsroundherneck。Shehadnotattractedhimasachild，andthefactthathegatheredthatshehadbeenhismotherlefthimentirelyunmoved。Shewasnotaloveable—
　　lookingperson，and，indeed，hadbeenatonceempty—headed，irritable，andworldly。Hewouldprobablyhavebeennolesslonelyifshehadlived。Lonelyhewas。Hisfatherwasengagedinacareermuchtoolivelyandinterestingtohimselftoadmitofhisallowinghimselftobeboredbyanunwantedandentirelysuperfluouschild。Theelderson，whowasLordTenham，hadreachedaprematureanddegeneratematuritybythetimetheyoungeronemadehisbelatedappearance，andregardedhimwithunconcealeddislike。Theworstthingwhichcouldhavebefallentheyoungerboywouldhavebeenintimateassociationwiththisdegenerateyouth。
　　AsSaltyreleftnurserydaysbehind，helearnedbydegreesthattheobjectiontohimselfandhispeople，whichhadatfirstendeavouredtoexplainitselfasbeingtheresultofanunseemlylackofmoney，combinedwiththatunpleasantfeature，anuglierone——namely，lackofdecentreputation。Angryduns，beggarlinessofincome，scarcityofthenecessariesandluxurieswhichdignityofrankdemanded，theindifferenceandslightsofone’sequals，andtheignoringofone’sexistencebyexaltedpersons，wereallhideousenoughtoLordMountDunstanandhiselderson——buttheywerenotsohideousaswas，tohisyoungerson，thechildish，shamedfrenzyofawakeningtothetruththathewasoneofabadlot——adisgracefullot，fromwhomnothingwasexpectedbutshiftyways，lowvices，andscandals，whichintheendcouldnotevenbekeptoutofthenewspapers。Thedaycame，infact，whentheworstofthesewasseizeduponbythemandfilledtheirsheetswithmatterwhichforawholeseasondecentLondonavoidedreading，andthefastandindecentelementlaughed，derided，orgloatedover。
　　Thememoryofthefeverofthemonstrousweekswhichhadpassedatthistimewasnotoneitwaswiseforamantorecall。Butitwasnottobeforgotten——thehastymidnightarrivalatMountDunstanoffatherandson，theirhaggard，nervousfaces，theirterrifieddiscussions，andargumentativeragingwhentheywereshutuptogetherbehindlockeddoors，theappearanceoflegaladviserswholookedasanxiousasthemselves，butfailedtoconcealthedisgustwithwhichtheywerebattling，theknowledgethattongueswereclackingalmosthystericallyinthevillage，andthatcuriousfaceshurriedtothewindowswhenevenamenialfromthegreathousepassed，theatmosphereofbelow—stairswhispers，andjoggedelbows，andwinks，andgiggles；thefinaldesperate，excitedpreparationsforflight，whichmightbeignominiouslystoppedatanymomentbytheinterventionofthelaw，thehuddlingawayatnighttime，thehot—throatedfearthattheshameful，self—brandingmovemightbetoolate——theburninghumiliationofknowingtheinevitableresultofpubliccontemptorlaughterwhentheworldnextdayheardthatthefugitiveshadputtheEnglishChannelbetweenthemselvesandtheircountry’slaws。
　　LordTenhamhaddiedafewyearslateratPortSaid，afterdescendingintoallthehellsofdegeneratedebauch。
　　Hisfatherhadlivedlonger——longenoughtomakeofhimselfsomethinghorriblynearanimbecile，beforehediedsuddenlyinParis。TheMountDunstanwhosucceededhim，havingspenthischildhoodandboyhoodundertheshadowofthe"badlot，"hadthecharacterofbeingabig，surly，unattractiveyoungfellow，whoseeccentricitypresenteditselftothosewhoknewhisstock，asbeingofakindwhichmightdevelopatanytimeintoanyobjectionabletendency。Hisbearingwasnotsuchasallured，andhisfortunewasnotoftheorderwhichplacedamanintheviewoftheworld。Hehadnomoneytoexpend，nohospitalitiestoofferandapparentlynodispositiontoconnecthimselfwithsociety。Hiswild—goosechasetoAmericahad，whenithadbeenconsideredworthwhilediscussingatall，beenregardedasbeingverymuchthekindofthingaMountDunstanmightdowithsomesecretanddisreputableendinview。Noonehadheardtheexacttruth，andnoonewouldhavebeeninclinedtobelieveiftheyhadheardit。ThathehadlivedasplainJemSalter，andlabouredasanyhindmighthavedone，indesperateeffortandmadhope，wouldnothavebeenregardedasafacttobecredited。Hehadgoneaway，hehadsquanderedmoney，hehadreturned，hewasatMountDunstanagain，livingthelifeofanobjectionablerecluse——objectionable，becausetheownerofaplacelikeMountDunstanshouldbeapowerandaninfluenceinthecounty，shouldbecounteduponasadispenserofhospitalities，asasupporterofcharities，asadignitaryofweight。Hewasnoneofthese——livingnooneknewhow，slouchingaboutwithhisgun，ridingorwalkingsullenlyovertheroadsandmarshland。
　　Justonemanknewhimintimately，andthisonehadbeenfromhisfifteenthyearthesolefriendofhislife。Hehadcome，then——theReverendLewisPenzance——apoorandunhealthyscholar，tobevicaroftheparishofDunstan。Onlyapoorandbook—absorbedmanwouldhaveacceptedtheposition。Whatthismanwantedwasnomorethanquiet，purecountryairtofillfraillungs，aroofoverhishead，andaplacetoporeoverbooksandmanuscripts。Hewasabornmonkandcelibate——inby—gonecenturieshewouldhavelivedpeacefullyinsomemonastery，spendinghisyearsinthereadingandwritingofblackletterandtheilluminatingofmissals。
　　Atthevicaragehecouldleadanexistencewhichwasalmostthesamething。
　　AtMountDunstanthereremainedstillthelargeremnantofagreatlibrary。Ahugeroomwhoseneglectedandhalfemptiedshelvescontainedsomestrangethingsandwonderfulones，thoughallwereindisorder，andgivenuptodustandnaturaldilapidation。InevitablytheReverendLewisPenzancehadfoundhiswaythere，inevitablyhehadgainedindifferentlybestowedpermissiontoentertainhimselfbyendeavouringtoreducetoorderandtomakeanattemptatcataloguing。
　　Inevitably，also，thehourshespentintheplacebecamethechiefsustenanceofhisbeing。
　　There，oneday，hehadcomeuponanuncouth—lookingboywithdeepeyesandashaggycropofredhair。Theboywasporingoveranoldvolume，andwasplainlynotdisposedtoleaveit。Herose，nottoograciously，andrepliedtotheelderman’sgreeting，andthefriendlyquestionswhichfollowed。
　　Yes，hewastheyoungestsonofthehouse。Hehadnothingtodo，andhelikedthelibrary。Heoftencamethereandsatandreadthings。Thereweresomequeeroldbooksandalotofstupidones。Thebookhewasreadingnow？Oh，that（withaslightreddeningofhisskinandalittleawkwardnessattheadmission）wasoneofthosehelikedbest。Itwasoneofthequeerones，butinterestingforallthat。Itwasabouttheirownpeople——thegenerationsofMountDunstanswhohadlivedinthecenturiespast。Hesupposedhelikeditbecausetherewerealotofoddstoriesandexcitingthingsinit。
　　Plentyoffightingandadventure。Therehadbeensomesplendidfellowsamongthem。（Hewasbeginningtoforgethimselfalittlebythistime。）Theywereafraidofnothing。Theywereratherlikesavagesintheearliestdays，butatthattimealltherestoftheworldwassavage。Buttheywerebrave，anditwasoddhowdecenttheywereveryoften。
　　Whathemeantwas——whathelikedwas，thattheyweremen——
　　evenwhentheywerebarbarians。Youcouldn’tbeashamedofthem。Thingstheydidthencouldnotbedonenow，becausetheworldwasdifferent，butif——well，thekindofmentheyweremightdoEnglandalotofgoodiftheywerealiveto—day。Theywouldbedifferentthemselves，ofcourse，inoneway——buttheymustbethesamemeninothers。PerhapsMr。Penzance（reddeningagain）understoodwhathemeant。
　　Heknewhimselfverywell，becausehehadthoughtitallout，hewasalwaysthinkingaboutit，buthewasnogoodatexplaining。
　　Mr。Penzancewasinterested。Hisoutlookonthepastandthepresenthadalwaysbeenthatofabookworm，butheunderstoodenoughtoseethathehadcomeuponatemperamentnovelenoughtoawakencuriosity。Theapparentlyentirelyneglectedboy，ofatypesingularlyunlikethatofhisfatherandelderbrother，livinghislifevirtuallyaloneinthebigplace，andfindingfoodtohistasteinstoriesofthoseofhisbloodwhosedusthadmingledwiththeearthcenturiesago，providedhimwithanewsubjectforreflection。
　　Thathadbeenthebeginningofanunusualfriendship。
　　GraduallyPenzancehadreachedaclearunderstandingofallthebuildingoftheyounglife，ofitsranklinghumiliation，andthequalitiesofmindandbodywhichmadeforrebellion。Itsometimesthrilledhimtoseeinthebigframeandpowerfulmuscles，inthestrongnatureandunconquerablespirit，arevivalofwhathadburnedandstirredthroughliveslivedinadim，almostmythical，past。Therewerelegendsofmenwithbigbodies，fiercefaces，andredhair，whohaddonebigdeeds，andconqueredindarkandbarbarousdays，evenFate’sself，asithadseemed。Nonecouldoverthrowthem，nonecouldstandbeforetheirdeterminationtoattainthatwhichtheychosetoclaim。Studentsofheredityknewthattherewerecuriousinstancesofrevivaloftype。TherehadbeenacertainRedGodwynwhohadruledhispieceofEnglandbeforetheConquerorcame，andwhohaddefiedtheinterloperwithsuchsplendidarroganceandsuperhumanlackoffearthathehadwonintheend，strangelyenough，theadmirationandfriendshipoftheroyalsavagehimself，whosaw，inhis，akindredsavagery，apowertobewellranged，throughlove，ifnotthroughfear，uponhisownside。ThisGodwynhadadeepattractionforhisdescendant，whoknewthewholestoryofhisfiercelife——astoldinoneyellowmanuscriptandanother——byheart。Whymightnotonefancy——Penzancewasdrawnbytheimagining——thisstrongthingreborn，evenastheoffspringofapoorereffetetype。RedGodwynspringingintobeingagain，hadbeenstrongerthanallelse，andhadsweptweaknessbeforehimashehaddoneinotherandfar—offdays。
　　IntheoldlibraryitfelloutintimethatPenzanceandtheboyspentthegreaterpartoftheirdays。Themanwasabookwormandascholar，youngSaltyrehadapassionforknowledge。Amongtheoldbooksandmanuscriptshegainedasingulareducation。Withoutaguidehecouldnothavegatheredandassimilatedallhedidgatherandassimilate。
　　Togetherthetworummagedforgottenshelvesandchests，andfoundforgottenthings。Thatwhichhaddrawntheboyfromthefirstalwaysdrewandabsorbedhim——theannalsofhisownpeople。Manyalongwintereveningthepairturnedoverthepagesofvolumesandofparchment，andfollowedwitheagerinterestandcuriositytherecordsofwildlives——storiesofwarriorsandabbotsandbards，offeudallordsatruthlesswarwitheachother，ofbesiegingsandbattlesandcaptivesandtorments。Legendstherewereofsmallkingdomstornasunder，oftheslaughteroftheirkings，themadfightingsoftheirbarons，andthefaithorunfaithoftheirserfs。Hereandtheretheeternalpowerrevealeditselfinsomestoryoflawfulorunlawfullove——fordameordamsel，royallady，abbess，orhigh—bornnun——endingintheweldingoftwolivesorinrapine，violence，anddeath。TherewereannalsofearlyEngland，andofmarauders，monks，andDanes。And，throughallthese，something，somemanorwoman，place，orstrifelinkedbysometiewithMountDunstanblood。Inpastgenerations，itseemedplain，therehadbeencertainofthelinewhohadhadprideintheserecords，andhadsoughtandcollectedthem；thenhadbeenbornotherswhohadnotcared。Sometimestherelationswereinadequate，sometimestheyworeanunauthenticair，butmostofthemseemed，evenafterthepassingofcenturies，humandocuments，andtogetherbuiltamarvellousgreatdramaoflifeandpower，wickednessandpassionanddaringdeeds。
　　WhentheshamefulscandalburstforthyoungSaltyrewasseenbyneitherhisfathernorhisbrother。Neitherofthemhadanydesiretoseehim；infact，eachdetestedtheideaofconfrontingbyanychancehishot，intoleranteyes。"TheBrat，"hisfatherhadcalledhiminhischildhood，"TheLout，"
　　whenhehadgrownbig—limbedandclumsy。BothheandTenhamweresickenough，withoutbeingcalledupontocontemplate"TheLout，"whoseopinion，inanycase，theypreferrednottohear。
　　Saltyre，duringthehideousdays，shuthimselfupinthelibrary。Hedidnotleavethehouse，evenforexercise，untilafterthepairhadfled。Hisexercisehetookinwalkingupanddownfromoneendofthelongroomtoanother。Devilswereletlooseinhim。WhenPenzancecametohim，hesawtheirfuryinhiseyes，andhearditinthesavageryofhislaugh。
　　Hekickedanancientvolumeoutofhiswayashestrodetoandfro。
　　"Therehasbeenplentyofthebloodofthebeastinusinbygonetimes，"hesaid，"butitwasnotlikethis。
　　Savageryinsavagedayshaditsexcuse。Thisisthebeastsunkintothegibbering，degenerateape。"
　　Penzancecameandspenthoursofeachdaywithhim。
　　Partofhisragewastherageofaman，buthewasaboystill，andtheboyishnessofhisbitterlyhurtyouthwasathingtomovetopity。Withyoungblood，andyoungpride，andyoungexpectancyrisingwithinhim，hewasatanhourwhenheshouldhavefelthimselfstandinguponthethresholdoftheworld，gazingoutatthesplendidjoysandpromisesandpowerfuldeedsofit——waitingonlythefitmomenttostepforthandwinhisplace。
　　"Butwearedonefor，"heshoutedonce。"Wearedonefor。AndIamasmuchdoneforastheyare。Decentpeoplewon’ttouchus。ThatiswherethelastMountDunstanstands。"AndPenzanceheardinhisvoiceanabsolutebreak。Hestoppedandmarchedtothewindowattheendofthelongroom，andstoodindeadstillness，staringoutatthedown—sweepinglinesofheavyrain。
　　Theoldermanthoughtmanythings，ashelookedathisbigbackandbody。Hestoodwithhislegsastride，andPenzancenotedthathisrighthandwasclenchedonhiship，asaman’smightbeasheclenchedthehiltofhissword——hisonematewhomightavengehimevenwhen，standingatbay，heknewthattheendhadcome，andhemustfall。
　　PrimevalForce——thethin—faced，narrow—chested，slightlybaldclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandwasthinking——neverlosesitsway，orfailstosweepapathbeforeit。Thesunrisesandsets，theseasonscomeandgo，PrimevalForceisofthem，andasunchangeable。Muchofitstoodbeforehimembodiedinthisstronglysentientthing。InthiswaytheReverendLewisfoundhisthoughtsleadinghim，andhe——beingmovedtothedepthsofafinesoul——feltthemprofoundlyinteresting，andevensustaining。
　　Hesatinahigh—backedchair，holdingitsarmswithlongthinhands，andlookingforsometimeatJamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyre。Hesaid，atlast，inasanelevelvoice：
　　"LordTenhamisnotthelastMountDunstan。"
　　Afterwhichthestillnessremainedunbrokenagainforsomeminutes。Saltyredidnotmoveormakeanyresponse，and，whenhelefthisplaceatthewindow，hetookupabook，andtheyspokeofotherthings。
　　WhenthefourteenthEarldiedinParis，andhisyoungersonsucceeded，therecameatimewhenthetwocompanionssattogetherinthelibraryagain。Itwastheeveningofalongdayspentindiscouraginghardwork。Inthemorningtheyhadriddensidebysideovertheestate，intheafternoontheyhadsatandporedoveraccounts，leases，maps，plans。Bynightfallbothwerefaggedandneitherinsanguinemood。
　　MountDunstanhadsatsilentforsometime。Thepairoftensatsilent。Thispausewasendedbytheyoungman’srisingandstandingup，stretchinghislimbs。
　　"Itwasaqueerthingyousaidtomeinthisroomafewyearsago，"hesaid。"Ithasjustcomebacktome。"
　　Singularlyenough——orperhapsnaturallyenough——ithadalsojustarisenagainfromthedepthsofPenzance’ssubconsciousness。
　　"Yes，"heanswered，"Iremember。To—nightitsuggestspremonition。YourbrotherwasnotthelastMountDunstan。"
　　"InonesenseheneverwasMountDunstanatall，"
　　answeredtheotherman。Thenhesuddenlythrewouthisarmsinagesturewhosewholesignificanceitwouldhavebeendifficulttodescribe。Therewasakindofpassioninit。"I
　　amthelastMountDunstan，"heharshlylaughed。"Moiquivousparle！Thelast。"
　　Penzance’seyesrestingonhimtookuponthemselvesthefar—seeinglookofamanwhowatchestheworldoflifewithoutlivinginit。Hepresentlyshookhishead。
　　"No，"hesaid。"Idon’tseethat。No——notthelast。
　　Believeme。
　　Andsingularly，intruth，MountDunstanstoodstillandgazedathimwithoutspeaking。Theeyesofeachrestedintheeyesoftheother。And，ashadhappenedbefore，theyfollowedthesubjectnofurther。Fromthatmomentitdropped。
　　OnlyPenzancehadknownofhisreasonsforgoingtoAmerica。Eventhefamilysolicitors，gravelyholdinginterviewswithhimandrestrainingexpressionoftheirabsolutedisapprovalofsuchemploymentofhisinadequateresources，knewnomorethanthatthisMountDunstan，insteadofwastinghisbeggarlyincomeatCairo，orMonteCarlo，orinParisasthelastonehaddone，preferstowasteitinnewerplaces。
　　Theheadofthefirm，whenhebidshimgood—morningandleaveshimalone，merelyshrugshisshouldersandreturnstohisletterwritingwiththecornersofhiselderlymouthhardset。
　　Penzancesawhimoff——andmethimuponhisreturn。Inthelibrarytheysatandtalkeditover，and，havingdoneso，closedthebookoftheepisode……
　　Hesatatthetable，hiseyesuponthewide—spreadlovelinessofthelandscape，buthisthoughtelsewhere。Itwanderedovertheyearsalreadylivedthrough，wanderingbackwardseventothedayswhenexistence，openingbeforethechildeyes，wasabafflingandvaguelyunhappything。
　　WhenthedooropenedandPenzancewasusheredinbyaservant，hisfaceworethelookhisfriendwouldhavebeenrejoicedtoseesweptawaytoreturnnomore。
　　Thenletustakeouroldaccustomedseatandbeginsomecasualtalk，whichwilldrawhimoutoftheshadows，andmakehimforgetsuchthingsasitisnotgoodtoremember。Thatiswhatwehavedonemanytimesinthepast，andmayfinditwelltodomanyatimeagain。
　　Hebeginswithtalkofthevillageandthecountry—side。
　　Villagestoriesareoftenquaint，andstoriesofthecountry—
　　sidearesometimes——notalways——interesting。TomBenson’swifehaspresentedhimwithtriplets，andthereisgreatexcitementinthevillage，astothestepstobetakentosecurethethreeguineasgivenbytheQueenasarewardforthisfeat。OldBennyBateshasannouncedhisintentionoftakingafifthwifeattheageofninety，andisindignantthatithasbeensuggestedthattheparochialauthoritiesinchargeofthe"Union，"inwhichhemustinevitablyshortlytakerefuge，mayinterferewithhisrightsasacitizen。TheReverendLewishasbeentotalkseriouslywithhim，andfindshimatonceirateandobdurate。