ItwasthefirstopportunityErskinehadeverenjoyedofspeakingtoGertrudeatleisureandalone。Yettheirconversationhadneverbeensocommonplace。She,likingthegame,playedverywellandchattedindifferently;heplayedbadly,andbroachedtrivialtopicsinspiteofhimself。Afteranhour—and—a—half'splay,Gertrudehadannouncedthatthisgamemustbetheirlast。Hethoughtdesperatelythatifheweretomissmanymorestrokesthegamemustpresentlyend,andanopportunitywhichmightneverrecurpassbeyondrecall。Hedeterminedtotellherwithoutprefacethatheadoredher,butwhenheopenedhislipsaquestioncameforthofitsownaccordrelatingtothePersianwayofplayingbilliards。GertrudehadneverbeeninPersia,buthadseensomeEasternbilliardcuesintheIndiamuseum。WerenottheHindooswonderfulpeopleforfiligreework,andcarpets,andsuchthings？Didhenotthinkthccrookednessoftheircarpetpatternsablemish？Somepeoplepretendedtoadmirethem,butwasnotthatallnonsense？Wasnotthemodernpolishedfloor,witharuginthemiddle,muchsuperiortotheoldcarpetfittedintothecornersoftheroom？Yes。Enormouslysuperior。Immensely——
　　"Why,whatareyouthinkingofto—day,Mr。Erskine？Youhaveplayedwithmyball。"
　　"Iamthinkingofyou。"
　　"Whatdidyousay？"saidGertrude,notcatchingtheseriousturnhehadgiventotheconversation,andpoisinghercueforastroke。"Oh！Iamasbadasyou;thatwastheworststrokeIevermade,Ithink。Ibegyourpardon;yousaidsomethingjustnow。"
　　"Iforget。Nothingofanyconsequence。"Andhegroanedathisowncowardice。
　　"Supposewestop,"shesaid。"Thereisnouseinfinishingthegameifourhandsareout。Iamrathertiredofit。"
　　"Certainly——ifyouwishit"
　　"Iwillfinishifyoulike。"
　　"Notatall。Whatpleasesyou,pleasesme。"
　　Gertrudemadehimalittlebow,andidlyknockedtheballsaboutwithhercue。Erskine'seyeswandered,andhislipmovedirresolutely。Hehadsettledwithhimselfthathisdeclarationshouldbeafrankone——hearttoheart。Hehadpicturedhimselfintheactoftakingherhanddelicately,andsaying,"Gertrude,I
　　loveyou。MayItellyousoagain？"Butthisschemedidnotnowseempracticable。
　　"MissLindsay。"
　　Gertrude,bendingoverthetable,lookedupinalarm。
　　"ThepresentisasgoodanopportunityasIwill——asIshall——asIwill。"
　　"Shall,"saidGertrude。
　　"Ibegyourpardon？"
　　"SHALL,"repeatedGertrude。"Didyoueverstudythedoctrineofnecessity？"
　　"Thedoctrineofnecessity？"hesaid,bewildered。
　　Gertrudewenttotheothersideofthetableinpursuitofaball。Shenowguessedwhatwascoming,andwaswillingthatitshouldcome;notbecausesheintendedtoaccept,butbecause,likeotheryoungladiesexperiencedinsuchscenes,shecountedtheproposalsofmarriageshereceivedasaRedIndiancountsthescalpshetakes。
　　"Wehavehadaverypleasanttimeofithere,"hesaid,givingupasinexplicabletherelevanceofthedoctrineofnecessity。"Atleast,Ihave。"
　　"Well,"saidGertrude,quicktoresentafanciedallusiontoherprivatediscontent,"sohaveI。"
　　"Iamgladofthat——moresothanIcanconveybywords。"
　　"Isitanybusinessofyours？"shesaid,followingthedisagreeableveinhehadunconsciouslystruckupon,andsuspectingpityinhiseffortstobesympathetic。
　　"IwishIdaredhopeso。Thehappinessofmyvisithasbeenduetoyouentirely。"
　　"Indeed,"saidGertrude,wincingasallthehardthingsTrefusishadtoldherofherselfcameintohermindattheheelsofErskine'sunfortunateallusiontoherpowerofenjoyingherself。
　　"IhopeIamnotpainingyou,"hesaidearnestly。
　　"Idon'tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout,"shesaid,standingerectwithsuddenimpatience。"Youseemtothinkthatitisveryeasytopainme。"
　　"No,"hesaidtimidly,puzzledbytheeffecthehadproduced。"I
　　fearyoumisunderstandme。Iamveryawkward。PerhapsIhadbettersaynomore,Gertrude,byturningawaytoputuphercue,signifiedthatthatwasapointforhimtoconsider;shenotintendingtotroubleherselfaboutit。Whenshefacedhimagain,hewasmotionlessanddejected,withawistfulexpressionlikethatofadogthathasprofferedacaressandreceivedakick。
　　Remorse,andavaguesensethattherewassomethingbaseinherattitudetowardshim,overcameher。Shelookedathimforaninstantandlefttheroom。
　　Thelookexcitedhim。Hedidnotunderstandit,norattempttounderstandit;butitwasalookthathehadneverbeforeseeninherfaceorinthatofanyotherwoman。Itstruckhimasamomentaryrevelationofwhathehadwrittenofin"ThePatriotMartyrs"as"Thegloriousmysteryofawoman'sheart,"
　　anditmadehimfeelunfitforordinarysocialintercourse。Hehastenedfromthehouse,walkedswiftlydowntheavenuetothelodge,wherehekepthisbicycle,leftwordtherethathewasgoingforanexcursionandshouldprobablynotreturnintimefordinner,mounted,andspedawayrecklesslyalongtheRiversideRoad。InlessthantwominuteshepassedthegateofSallust'sHouse,wherehenearlyranoveranoldwomanladenwithabasketofcoals,whoputdownherburthentoscreamcursesafterhim。
　　Warnedbythisthathisheadlongpacewasdangerous,heslackeneditalittle,andpresentlysawTrefusislyingproneontheriverbank,withhischeeksproppedonhiselbows,readingintently。
　　Erskine,whohadpresentedhim,afewdaysbefore,withacopyof"ThePatriotMartyrsandotherPoems,"triedtocatchaglimpseofthebookoverwhichTrefusiswassoserious。ItwasaBlueBook,fulloffigures。Erskinerodeonindisgust,consolinghimselfwiththerecollectionofGertrude'sface。
　　Thehighwaynowswervedinlandfromtheriver,androsetoasteepacclivity,atthebrowofwhichheturnedandlookedback。
　　Thelightwasgrowingruddy,andtheshadowswerelengthening。
　　Trefusiswasstillprostrateinthemeadow,andtheoldwomanwasinafield,gatheringhemlock。
　　Erskineraceddownthehillatfullspeed,anddidnotlookbehindhimagainuntilhefoundhimselfatnightfallontheskirtsofatown,wherehepurchasedsomebeerandasandwich,whichheatewithlittleappetite。Gertrudehadsetupadisturbancewithinhimwhichmadehimimpatientofeating。
　　Itwasnowdark。HewasmanymilesfromBrandonBeeches,andnotsureofthewayback。Suddenlyheresolvedtocompletehisunfinisheddeclarationthatevening。Henowcouldnotridebackfastenoughtosatisfyhisimpatience。Hetriedashortcut,losthimself,spentnearlyanhourseekingthehighroad,andatlastcameuponarailwaystationjustintimetocatchatrainthatbroughthimwithinamileofhisdestination。
　　Whenherosefromthecushionsoftherailwaycarriagehefoundhimselfsomewhatfatigued,andhemountedthebicyclestiffly。
　　Buthisresolutionwasasardentasever,andhisheartbeatstronglyas,afterleavinghisbicycleatthelodge,hewalkeduptheavenuethroughthedeepgloombeneaththebeeches。Nearthehouse,thefirstnotesof"Grudelperchefinora"reachedhim,andhesteppedsoftlyontotheturflesthisfootstepsonthegravelshouldrousethedogsandmakethemmartheharmonybybarking。A
　　rustlemadehimstopandlisten。ThenGertrude'svoicewhisperedthroughthedarkness:
　　"Whatdidyoumeanbywhatyousaidtomewithin？"
　　AnextraordinarysensationshookErskine;confusedideasoffairylandranthroughhisimagination。Abitterdisappointment,likethatofwakingfromahappydream,followedasTrefusis'svoice,morefinelytunedthanhehadeverhearditbefore,answered,"MerelythattheexpanseofstarsaboveusisnotmoreillimitablethanmycontemptforMissLindsay,norbrighterthanmyhopesofGertrude。"
　　"MissLindsayalwaystoyou,ifyouplease,Mr。Trefusis。"
　　"MissLindsaynevertome,butonlytothosewhocannotseethroughhertothesoulwithin,whichisGertrude。ThereareathousandMissLindsaysintheworld,formalandfalse。ThereisbutoneGertrude。"
　　"Iamanunprotectedgirl,Mr。Trefusis,andyoucancallmewhatyouplease。"
　　ItoccurredtoErskinethatthiswasafitoccasiontorushforwardandgiveTrefusis,whosefigurehecouldnowdimlydiscern,ablackeye。Buthehesitated,andtheopportunitypassed。
　　"Unprotected！"saidTrefusis。"Why,youarefencedroundandbarredinwithconventions,laws,andliesthatwouldfrightenthetruthfromthelipsofanymanwhosefaithinGertrudewaslessstrongthanmine。GotoSirCharlesandtellhimwhatIhavesaidtoMissLindsay,andwithintenminutesIshallhavepassedthesegateswithawarningnevertoapproachthemagain。Iaminyourpower,andwereIinMissLindsay'spoweralone,myshriftwouldbeshort。Happily,Gertrude,thoughsheseesasyetbutdarkly,feelsthatMissLindsayisherbitterestfoe。"
　　"Itisridiculous。Iamnottwopersons;Iamonlyone。Whatdoesitmattertomeifyourcontemptformeisasillimitableasthestars？"
　　"Ah,yourememberthat,doyou？Wheneveryouhearamantalkingaboutthestarsyoumayconcludethatheiseitheranastronomerorafool。Butyouandafinestarrynightwouldmakeafoolofanyman。"
　　"Idon'tunderstandyou。Itryto,butIcannot;or,ifIguess,Icannottellwhetheryouareinearnestornot。"
　　"Iamverymuchinearnest。AbandonatonceandforeverallmisgivingsthatIamtriflingwithyou,orpassinganidlehourasmendowhentheyfindthemselvesinthecompanyofbeautifulwomen。ImeanwhatIsayliterally,andinthedeepestsense。Youdoubtme;wehavebroughtsocietytosuchastatethatweallsuspectoneanother。Butwhateveristruewillcommandbeliefsoonerorlaterfromthosewhohavewitenoughtocomprehendtruth。NowletmerecallMissLindsaytoconsciousnessbyremarkingthatwehavebeenoutfortenminutes,andthatourhostessisnotthewomantoallowourabsencetopasswithoutcomment。"
　　"Letusgoin。Thankyouforremindingme。"
　　"Thankyouforforgetting。"
　　Erskineheardtheirfootstepsretreating,andpresentlysawthetwoentertheglowoflightthatshonefromtheopenwindowofthebilliardroom,throughwhichtheywentindoors。Trefusis,amanwhomhehadseenthatdayinabeautifullandscape,blindtoeverythingexceptarowoffiguresinaBlueBook,washissuccessfulrival,althoughitwasplainfromtheverysoundofhisvoicethathedidnot——couldnot——loveGertrude。Onlyapoetcoulddothat。Trefusiswasnopoet,butasordidbruteunlikelytoinspireinterestinanythingmorehumanthanapublicmeeting,muchlessinawoman,muchlessagaininawomansoetherealasGertrude。Shewasproudtoo,yetshehadallowedthefellowtoinsulther——hadforgivenhimforthesakeofafewbroadcompliments。Erskinegrewangryandcynical。Thesituationdidnotsuithispoetry。Insteadofbeingstrickentotheheartwithasolemnsorrow,asaPatriotMartyrwouldhavebeenundersimilarcircumstances,hefeltslightedandridiculous。Hewashardlyconvincedofwhathadseemedatfirstthemostobviousfeatureofthecase,Trefusis'sinferioritytohimself。
　　HestoodunderthetreesuntilTrefusisreappearedonhiswayhome,making,Erskinethought,asmuchnoisewithhisheelsonthegravelasaregimentofdelicatelybredmenwouldhavedone。
　　Hestoppedforamomenttomakeinquiryatthelodgeashewentout;thenhisfootstepsdiedawayinthedistance。
　　Erskine,chilled,stiff,andwithasensationofabadcoldcomingon,wentintothehouse,andwasrelievedtofindthatGertrudehadretired,andthatLadyBrandon,thoughshehadbeensurethathehadriddenintotheriverinthedark,hadneverthelessprovidedawarmsupperforhim。
　　CHAPTERXV
　　Erskinesoonfoundplentyofthemesforhisnewlybegottencynicism。Gertrude'smannertowardshimsoftenedsomuchthathe,believingherheartgiventohisrival,concludedthatshewastemptinghimtomakeaproposalwhichshehadnointentionofaccepting。SirCharles,towhomhetoldwhathehadoverheardintheavenue,professedsympathy,butwasevidentlypleasedtolearnthattherewasnothingseriousintheattentionsTrefusispaidtoAgatha。ErskinewrotethreebittersonnetsonhollowfriendshipandshowedthemtoSirCharles,who,failingtoapplythemtohimself,praisedthemhighlyandshowedthemtoTrefusiswithoutaskingtheauthor'spermission。Trefusisremarkedthatinacorruptsocietyexpressionsofdissatisfactionwerealwayscreditabletoawriter'ssensibility;buthedidnotsaymuchinpraiseoftheverse。
　　"Whyhashetakentowritinginthisvein？"hesaid。"Hashebeendisappointedinanywayoflate？HasheproposedtoMissLindsayandbeenrejected？"
　　"No,"saidSirCharlessurprisedbythisbluntreferencetoasubjecttheyhadneverbeforediscussed。"HedoesnotintendtoproposetoMissLindsay。"
　　"Buthedidintendto。"
　　"Hecertainlydid,buthehasgivenuptheidea。"
　　"Why？"saidTrefusis,apparentlydisapprovingstronglyoftherenunciation。
　　SirCharlesshruggedhisshouldersanddidnotreply。
　　"Iamsorrytohearit。Iwishyoucouldinducehimtochangehismind。Heisanicefellow,withenoughtoliveoncomfortably,whilstheisyetwhatiscalledapoorman,sothatshecouldfeelperfectlydisinterestedinmarryinghim。Itwilldohergoodtomarrywithoutmakingapecuniaryprofitbyit;shewillrespectherselfthemoreafterwards,andwillneitherwantbreadandbutternorbeashamedofherhusband'sorigin,inspiteofhavingmarriedforlovealone。Makeamatchofitifyoucan。I
　　takeaninterestinthegirl;shehasgoodinstincts。"
　　SirCharles'ssuspicionthatTrefusiswasreallypayingcourttoAgathareturnedafterthisconversation,whichherepeatedtoErskine,who,muchannoyedbecausehispoemshadbeenshowntoareaderofBlueBooks,thoughtitonlyablindforTrefusis'sdesignuponGertrude。SirCharlespooh—poohedthisview,andthetwofriendsweresharpwithoneanotherindiscussingit。Afterdinner,whentheladieshadleftthem,SirCharles,repentantandcordial,urgedErskinetospeaktoGertrudewithouttroublinghimselfastothesincerityofTrefusis。ButErskine,knowinghimselfillabletobrookarefusal,waslothtoexposehimselftoo278
　　"Ifyouhadheardthetoneofhervoicewhensheaskedhimwhetherhewasinearnest,youwouldnottalktomelikethis,"
　　hesaiddespondently。"Iwishhehadnevercomehere。"
　　"Well,that,atleast,wasnofaultofmine,mydearfellow,"
　　saidSirCharles。"Hecameamongusagainstmywill。Andnowthatheappearstohavebeenintheright——legally——aboutthefield,itwouldlooklikespiteifIcuthim。Besides,hereallyisn'tabadmanifhewouldonlyletthewomenalone。"
　　"IfhetrifleswithMissLindsay,IshallaskhimtocrosstheChannel,andhaveashotathim。"
　　"Idon'tthinkhe'dgo,"saidSirCharlesdubiously。"IfIwereyou,IwouldtrymyluckwithGertrudeatonce。Inspiteofwhatyouheard,Idon'tbelieveshewouldmarryamanofhisorigin。
　　Hismoneygiveshimanadvantage,certainly,butGertrudehassentrichermentotherightabout。"
　　"Letthefellowhavefairplay,"saidErskine。"Imaybewrong,ofcourse;allmenareliabletoerrinjudgingthemselves,butI
　　thinkIcouldmakeherhappierthanhecan。"
　　SirCharleswasnotsosureofthat,buthecheerfullyresponded,"Certainly。Heisnotthemanforheratall,andyouare。Heknowsit,too。"
　　"Hmf！"mutteredErskine,risingdejectedly。"Let'sgoupstairs。"
　　"By—the—bye,wearetocallonhimto—morrow,togothroughhishouse,andhiscollectionofphotographs。Photographs！Ha,ha"
　　Damnhishouse！"saidErskine。
　　NextdaytheywenttogethertoSallust'sHouse。Itstoodinthemidstofanacreofland,wasteexceptalittlekitchengardenattherear。Thelodgeattheentrancewasuninhabited,andthegatesstoodopen,withdustandfallenleavesheapedupagainstthem。Freeingresshadthusbeenaffordedtotwostrayponies,agoat,andatramp,wholayasleepinthegrass。Hiswifesatnear,watchinghim。
　　"Ihaveamindtoturnback,"saidSirCharles,lookingabouthimindisgust。"Theplaceisscandalouslyneglected。Lookatthatrascalasleepwithinfullviewofthewindows。"
　　"Iadmirehischeek,"saidErskine。"Nicepairofponies,too。"
　　Sallust'sHousewassquareandpaintedcinnamoncolor。Beneaththecornicewasayellowfriezewithfiguresofdancingchildren,imitatedfromtheworksofDonatello,andveryunskilfullyexecuted。Therewasameagreporticooffourcolumns,paintedred,andaplainpediment,paintedyellow。Thecolors,meanttomatchthoseofthewalls,contrasteddisagreeablywiththem,havingbeenappliedmorerecently,apparentlybyacolor—blindartist。Thedoorbeneaththeporticostoodopen。SirCharlesrangthebell,andanelderlywomanansweredit;butbeforetheycouldaddressher,Trefusisappeared,cladinapainter'sjacketofwhitejean。Followinghimin,theyfoundthatthehousewasahollowsquare,enclosingacourtyardwithabathsunkinthemiddle,andafountaininthecentreofthebath。Thecourtyard,formerlyopentothesky,wasnowroofedinwithdustyglass;thenymphthathadoncepouredoutthewaterofthefountainwasbarrenandmutilated;andthebathwaspartlycoveredinwithlooseboards,theexposedpartaccommodatingaheapofcoalsinonecorner,aheapofpotatoesinanother,abeerbarrel,someoldcarpets,atarpaulin,andabrokencanoe。Themarblepavementextendedtotheouterwallsofthehouse,andwasroofedinatthesidesbytheupperstories,whichweresupportedbyflutedstonecolumns,muchstainedandchipped。Thestaircase,towardswhichTrefusisledhisvisitors,wasabroadoneattheendoppositethedoor,andgaveaccesstoagalleryleadingtotheupperrooms。
　　"Thishousewasbuiltin11780byanancestorofmymother,"saidTrefusis。"Hepassedforamanofexquisitetaste。Hewishedtheplacetobemaintainedforever——heactuallyusedthatexpressioninhiswill——asthefamilyseat,andhecollectedafinelibraryhere,whichIfounduseful,asallthebookscameintomyhandsingoodcondition,mostofthemwiththeleavesuncut。Somepeopleprizeuncutcopiesofoldeditions;adealergavemethreehundredandfiftypoundsforalotofthem。Icameintopossessionofanumberoffamilyfetishes——heirlooms,astheyarecalled。TherewasaswordthatoneofmyforbearsworeatEdgehillandotherbattlesinCharlestheFirst'stime。Wefoughtonthewrongside,ofcourse,buttheswordfetchedthirty—fiveshillingsnevertheless。YouwillhardlybelievethatIwasofferedonehundredandfiftypoundsforagoldcupworthabouttwenty—five,merelybecauseQueenElizabethoncedrankfromit。
　　Thisismystudy。Itwasdesignedforabanquetinghall。"
　　Theyenteredaroomaslongasthewallofthehouse,piercedononesidebyfourtallwindows,betweenwhichsquarepillars,withCorinthiancapitalssupportingthecornice,werehalfsunkinthewall。Thereweresimilarpillarsontheoppositeside,butbetweenthem,insteadofwindows,werearchednichesinwhichstoodlife—sizeplasterstatues,chipped,broken,anddefacedinanextraordinaryfashion。Theflooring,ofdiagonallysetnarrowboards,wasuncarpetedandunpolished。Theceilingwasadornedwithfrescoes,whichatonceexcitedSirCharles'sinterest,andhenotedwithindignationthatalargeportionofthepaintingatthenorthernendhadbeendestroyedandsomeglassroofinginserted。Inanotherplaceboltshadbeendrivenintosupporttheropesofatrapezeandafewotherpiecesofgymnasticapparatus。Thewallswerewhitewashed,andataboutfourfeetfromthegroundadarkbandappeared,producedbypencilmemorandaandlittlesketchesscribbledonthewhitewash。Oneendoftheapartmentwasunfurnished,exceptbythegymnasticapparatus,aphotographer'scamera,aladderinthecorner,andacommondealtablewithoilcansandpaintpotsuponit。Attheotherendacomparativelyluxuriousshowwasmadebyalargebookcase,anelaboratecombinationofbureauandwritingdesk,arackwitharifle,asetoffoils,andanumbrellainit,severalfolioalbumsonatable,somecomfortablechairsandsofas,andathickcarpetunderfoot。Closeby,andseemingmuchoutofplace,wasacarpenter'sbenchwiththeusualimplementsandanumberofboardsofvariousthicknesses。
　　"Thisisasortofcomfortbeyondthereachofanybutarichman,"saidTrefusis,turningandsurprisinghisvisitorsintheactofexchangingglancesofastonishmentathistaste。"Ikeepadrawing—roomoftheusualkindforreceivingstrangerswithwhomitisnecessarytobeconventional,butIneverenteritexceptonsuchoccasions。Whatdoyouthinkofthisforastudy？"
　　"Onmysoul,Trefusis,Ithinkyouaremad,"saidSirCharles。
　　"Theplacelooksasifithadstoodasiege。Howdidyoumanagetobreakthestatuesandchipthewallssooutrageously？"
　　Trefusistookanewspaperfromthetableandsaid,"Listentothis:
　　'Inspiteoftheunfavorablenatureoftheweather,thesportoftheEmperorandhisguestsinStyriahasbeensuccessful。Inthreedays52chamoisand79stagsanddeerfellto19
　　single—barrelledrifles,theEmperorallowingnomoreonthisoccasion。'
　　"IsharetheEmperor'sdelightinshooting,butIamnobutcher,anddonotneedtheroyalrelishofbloodtomysport。AndIdonotsharemyancestors'tasteinstatuary。Hence——"HereTrefusisopenedadrawer,tookoutapistol,andfiredattheHebeinthefarthestniche。
　　"Welldone！"saidErskinecoolly,asthelastfragmentofHebe'sheadcrumbledatthetouchofthebullet。
　　"Veryfruitlesslydone,"saidTrefusis。"Iamagoodshot,butofwhatuseisittome？None。IoncemetagamekeeperwhowasaMethodist。Hewasamosteloquentspeaker,butAbadshot。IfhecouldhaveswappedtalentswithmeIwouldhavegivenhimtenthousandpoundstobootwillingly,althoughhewouldhaveprofitedasmuchasIbytheexchangealone。IhavenomoredesireorneedtobeagoodshotthantobekingofEngland,orownerofaDerbywinner,oranythingelseequallyridiculous,andyetInevermissedmyaiminmylife——thankblindfortunefornothing！"
　　"KingofEngland！"saidErskine,withascornfullaugh,toshowTrefusisthatotherpeoplewereasliberty—lovingashe。"Isitnotabsurdtohearanationboastingofitsfreedomandtoleratingaking？"
　　"Oh,hangyourrepublicanism,Chester！"saidSirCharles,whoprivatelyheldalowopinionofthepoliticalsideofthePatriotMartyrs。
　　"Iwon'theputdownonthatpoint,"saidErskine。"Iadmireamanthatkillsaking。Youwillagreewithmethere,Trefusis,won'tyou？"
　　"Certainlynot,"saidTrefusis。"Akingnowadaysisonlyadummyputuptodrawyourfireofftherealoppressorsofsociety,andthefractionofhissalarythathecanspendashelikesisusuallyfartoosmallforhisrisk,histrouble,andtheconditionofpersonalslaverytowhichheisreduced。WhatprivatemaninEnglandisworseoffthantheconstitutionalmonarch？Wedenyhimallprivacy;hemaynotmarrywhomhechooses,consortwithwhomheprefers,dressaccordingtohistaste,orlivewherehepleases。Idon'tbelievehemayeveneatordrinkwhathelikesbest;atastefortripeandonionsonhispartwouldprovokearemonstrancefromthePrivyCouncil。Wedictateeverythingexcepthisthoughtsanddreams,andeventhesehemustkeeptohimselfiftheyarenotsuitable,inouropinion,tohiscondition。Theworkweimposeonhimhasallthehardshipofmeretaskwork;itisunfruitful,incessant,monotonous,andhastobetransactedforthemostpartwithnervousbores。Wemakehiskingdomatreadmilltohim,anddrivehimtoandfroonthefaceofit。Finally,havingtakeneverythingelsethatmenprizefromhim,wefalluponhischaracter,andthatofeverypersontowhomheventurestoshowfavor。Weimposeenormousexpensesonhim,stinthim,andthenrailathisparsimony。WeusehimasIusethosestatues——stickhimupintheplaceofhonorforourgreaterconvenienceindisfiguringandabusinghim。
　　Wesendhimforththroughourcrowdedcities,proclaimingthatheisthesourceofallgoodandevilinthenation,andhe,knowingthatmanypeoplebelieveit,knowingthatitisalie,andthatheispowerlesstoshortentheworkingdaybyonehour,raisewagesonepenny,orannulthesmallestcriminalsentence,howeverunjustitmayseemtohim;knowingthateveryminerinthekingdomcanmanufacturedynamite,andthatrevolversaresoldforsevenandsixpenceapiece;knowingthatheisnotbulletproof,andthateverykinginEuropehasbeenshotatinthestreets;hemustsmileandbowandmaintainanexpressionofgraciousenjoymentwhilstthemayorandcorporationinflictuponhimthetwaddlingaddresshehasheardathousandtimesbefore。Idonotaskyoutobeloyal,Erskine;butIexpectyou,incommonhumanity,tosympathizewiththechieffigureinthepageant,whoisnomoreaccountableforthemanifoldevilsandabominationsthatexistinhisrealmthantheLordMayorisaccountableforthetheftsofthepickpocketswhofollowhisshowontheninthofNovember。"
　　SirCharleslaughedatthetroubleTrefusistooktoprovehiscase,andsaidsoothingly,"Mydearfellow,kingsareusedtoit,andexpectit,andlikeit。"
　　"AndprobablydonotseethemselvesasIseethem,anymorethancommonpeopledo,"assentedTrefusis。
　　"Whatanexquisiteface！"exclaimedErskinesuddenly,catchingsightofaphotographinarichgoldandcoralframeonaminiatureeaseldrapedwithrubyvelvet。Trefusisturnedquickly,soevidentlygratifiedthatSirCharleshastenedtosay,"Charming！"Then,lookingattheportrait,headded,asifalittlestartled,"Itcertainlyisanextraordinarilyattractiveface。"
　　"Yearsago,"saidTrefusis,"whenIsawthatfaceforthefirsttime,Ifeltasyoufeelnow。"
　　Silenceensued,thetwovisitorslookingattheportrait,Trefusislookingatthem。
　　"Curiousstyleofbeauty,"saidSirCharlesatlast,notquitesoassuredlyasbefore。
　　Trefusislaughedunpleasantly。"Doyourecognizetheartist——theenthusiasticamateur——inher？"hesaid,openinganotherdrawerandtakingoutabundleofdrawings,whichhehandedtobeexamined。
　　"Veryclever。Verycleverindeed,"saidSirCharles。"Ishouldliketomeetthelady。"
　　"Ihaveoftenbeenonthepointofburningthem,"saidTrefusis;
　　"buttheretheyare,andtheretheyarelikelytoremain。Theportraithasbeenmuchadmired。"
　　"Canyougiveusanintroductiontotheoriginal,oldfellow？"
　　saidErskine。
　　"No,happily。Sheisdead。"
　　Disagreeablyshocked,theylookedathimforamomentwithaversion。ThenErskine,turningwithpityanddisappointmenttothepicture,said,"Poorgirl！Wasshemarried？"
　　"Yes。Tome。"
　　"Mrs。Trefusis！"exclaimedSirCharles。"Ah！Dearme！"
　　Erskine,withproofbeforehimthatitwaspossibleforabeautifulgirltoacceptTrefusis,saidnothing。
　　"Ikeepherportraitconstantlybeforemetocorrectmynaturalamativeness。Ifellinlovewithherandmarriedher。IhavefalleninloveonceortwicesincebutaglanceatmylostHettyhascuredmeoftheslightestinclinationtomarry。"
　　SirCharlesdidnotreply。ItoccurredtohimthatLadyBrandon'sportrait,ifnothingelsewereleftofher,mightbeusefulinthesameway。
　　"Come,youwillmarryagainoneofthesedays,"saidErskine,inaforcedtoneofencouragement。
　　"Itispossible。Menshouldmarry,especiallyrichmen。ButI
　　assureyouIhavenopresentintentionofdoingso。"
　　Erskine'scolordeepened,andhemovedawaytothetablewherethealbumslay。
　　"ThisisthecollectionofphotographsIspokeof,"saidTrefusis,followinghimandopeningoneofthebooks。"Itookmanyofthemmyselfundergreatdifficultieswithregardtolight——theonlydifficultythatmoneycouldnotalwaysremove。
　　Thisisaviewofmyfather'shouse——orratheroneofhishouses。
　　Itcostseventy—fivethousandpounds。"
　　"Veryhandsomeindeed,"saidSirCharles,secretlydisgustedatbeinginvitedtoadmireaphotograph,suchashouseagentsexhibit,ofavulgarlydesignedcountryhouse,merelybecauseithadcostseventy—fivethousandpounds。Thefigureswereactuallywrittenbeneaththepicture。
　　"Thisisthedrawing—room,andthisoneofthebestbedrooms。Intheright—handcornerofthemountyouwillseeanoteofthecostofthefurniture,fittings,napery,andsoforth。Theywereofthemostluxuriousdescription。"
　　"Veryinteresting,"saidSirCharles,hardlydisguisingtheironyofthecomment。