"Tohelpus,"hereplied。Then,withanexplosionofnervousenergy,headded:"Dowhatyourhearttellsyoutodo。Giveyourbedandyourclothestothewoman,andletyourgirlspitchtheirbookstothedevilforafewdaysandmakesomethingforthesepoorlittlecreaturestowear。ThepoorhaveworkedhardenoughtoclotheTHEM。Letthemtaketheirturnnowandclothethepoor。"
　　"No,no。Steady,master,"saidtheman,steppingforwardtopropitiateMissWilson,andevidentlymuchoppressedbyasenseofunwelcomeness。"Itain'tanyfaultofthelady's。MightImakesoboldastoaskyoutoputthiswomanofmineanywherethatmaybeconvenientuntilmorning。Anysortofaplacewilldo;she'saccustomedtoroughit。JusttohavearoofoverheruntilIfindaroominthevillagewherewecanshakedown。"Here,ledbyhisownwordstocontemplatethefuture,helookeddesolatelyroundthecorniceofthehall,asifitwereashelfonwhichsomebodymighthaveleftasuitablelodgingforhim。
　　MissWilsonturnedherbackdecisivelyandcontemptuouslyonSmilash。Shehadrecoveredherself。"Iwillkeepyourwifehere,"
　　shesaidtotheman。"Everycareshallbetakenofher。Thechildrencanstaytoo。"
　　"Threecheersformoralscience！"criedSmilash,ecstaticallybreakingintotheoutrageousdialecthehadforgotteninhiswrath。"Wotwasmywordstoyou,neighbor,whenIsaidweshouldbringyourmissustothecollege,andyousaid,ironical—like,'Aye,andbloomin'gladthey'llbetoseeusthere。'DidInotsaytoyouthattheladyhadanoble'art,andwouldshowitwhenputtothetestbysechacalamityasthis？"
　　"Whyshouldyoubringmyhastywordsupagain'menow,master,whentheladyhasbeensokind？"saidthemanwithemotion。"Iamhumblygratefultoyou,Miss;andsoisBess。Wearesensibleoftheill—conveniencewe——"
　　MissWilson,whohadbeenconferringwiththehousekeeper,cuthisspeechshortbyorderinghimtocarryhiswifetobed,whichhedidwiththeassistanceofSmilash,nowjubilant。Whilsttheywereaway,oneoftheservants,biddentobringsomeblanketstothewoman'sroom,refused,sayingthatshewasnotgoingtowaitonthatsortofpeople。MissWilsongaveherwarningalmostfiercelytoquitthecollegenextday。Thisexcepted,noill—willwasshowntotherefugees。Theyoungladieswerethenrequestedtoreturntobed。
　　Meanwhiletheman,havinglaidhiswifeinachamberpalatialincomparisonwiththatwhichthestormhadblownaboutherears,wascongratulatingheronherluck,andthreateningthechildrenwiththemostviolentchastisementiftheyfailedtobehavethemselveswithstrictproprietywhilsttheyremainedinthathouse。Beforeleavingthemhekissedhiswife;andshe,reviving,askedhimtolookatthebaby。Hedidso,andpensivelyapostrophizeditwithashockingepithetinanticipationofthetimewhenitsappetitemustbesatisfiedfromtheprovisionshopinsteadoffromitsmother'sbreast。Shelaughedandcriedshameonhim;andsotheypartedcheerfully。WhenhereturnedtothehallwithSmilashtheyfoundtwomugsofbeerwaitingforthem。
　　Thegirlshadretired,andonlyMissWilsonandthehousekeeperremained。
　　"Here'syourhealth,mum,"saidtheman,beforedrinking;"andmayyoufindsuchanotherasyourselftohelpyouwhenyou'reintrouble,whichLordsendmaynevercome！"
　　"Isyourhousequitedestroyed？"saidMissWilson。"Wherewillyouspendthenight？"
　　"Don'tyouthinkofme,mum。MasterSmilashherewillkindlyputmeup'tilmorning。"
　　"Hishealth！"saidSmilash,touchingthemugwithhislips。
　　"Theroofandsouthwallisbrowedrightaway,"continuedtheman,afterpausingforamomenttopuzzleoverSmilash'smeaning。
　　"Idoubtifthere'sastoneofitstandingbythis。"
　　"ButSirJohnwillbuilditforyouagain。Youareoneofhisherds,areyounot？"
　　"Iam,Miss。Butnothe;he'llbegladit'sdown。Hedon'tlikepeoplelivin'ontheland。Ihavetoldhimtimeandagainthattheplacewasreadytofall;buthesaidIcouldn'texpecthimtolayoutmoneyonahousethathegotnorentfor。Yousee,Miss,Ididn'tpayanyrent。Itooklowwages;andthebitofahutwasasortofset—offagain'whatIwaspaidshortoftheothermen。
　　Icouldn'taffordtohaveitrepaired,thoughIdidwhatIcouldtopatchandpropit。AndnowmostlikeIshallbeblamedforlettingitbeblewdown,andshallhavetoliveinhalfaroominthetownandpaytwoorthreeshillin'saweek,besideswalkin'
　　threemilestoandfrommyworkeveryday。AgentlemanlikeSirJohndon'thardlyknowwhatthevalueofapennyistouslaborin'folk,norhowcruelhardhisestaterulesandthelikecomesonus。"
　　"SirJohn'shealth！"saidSmilash,touchingthemugasbefore。
　　Themandrankamouthfulhumbly,andSmilashcontinued,"Here'stothegloriouslandedgentryofoldEngland:bless'em！"
　　"MasterSmilashisonlyjokin',"saidthemanapologetically。
　　"It'shisway。"
　　"Youshouldnotbringafamilyintotheworldifyouaresopoor,"saidMissWilsonseverely。"Canyounotseethatyouimpoverishyourselfbydoingso——toputthematteronnohighergrounds。"
　　"ReverendMr。Malthus'shealth！"remarkedSmilash,repeatinghispantomime。
　　"Somesayit'sthechildren,andsomesayit'sthedrink,Miss,"
　　saidthemansubmissively。"ButfromwhatIsee,familyornofamily,drunkorsober,thepoorgetspoorerandtherichrichereveryday。"
　　"Ain'titdisgustin'tohearamansoignorantoftheimprovementintheconditionofhisclass？"saidSmilash,appealingtoMissWilson。
　　"Ifyouintendtotakethismanhomewithyou,"shesaid,turningsharplyonhim,"youhadbetterdoitatonce。"
　　"Itakeitkindonyourpartthatyouaskmetodoanythink,afteryourupandtellingMr。WickensthatIamthelastpersoninLyvernyouwouldtrustwithajob。"
　　"Soyouare——theverylast。Whydon'tyoudrinkyourbeer？"
　　"Notinscornofyourbrewing,lady;butbecause,bein'acommonman,waterisgoodenoughforme。"
　　"Iwishyougood—night,Miss,"saidtheman;"andthankyoukindlyforBessandthechildren。"
　　"Good—night,"shereplied,steppingasidetoavoidanysalutationfromSmilash。Buthewentuptoherandsaidinalowvoice,andwiththeTrefusismannerandaccent:
　　"Good—night,MissWilson。Ifyoushouldeverbeinwantoftheservicesofadog,aman,oradomesticengineer,remindSmilashofBessandthechildren,andhewillactforyouinanyofthosecapacities。"
　　Theyopenedthedoorcautiously,andfoundthatthewind,conqueredbytherain,hadabated。MissWilson'scandle,thoughitflickeredinthedraught,wasnotextinguishedthistime;andshewaspresentlyleftwiththehousekeeper,boltingandchainingthedoor,andlisteningtothecrunchingoffeetonthegraveloutsidedyingawaythroughthesteadypatteringoftherain。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　Agathawasatthistimeinherseventeenthyear。Shehadalivelyperceptionofthefoiblesofothers,andnoreverenceforherseniors,whomshethoughtdull,cautious,andridiculouslyamenablebycommonplaces。Butshewassubjecttotheillusionwhichdisablesyouthinspiteofitssuperioritytoage。Shethoughtherselfanexception。CreditingMr。Janseniusandthegeneralmobofmankindwithnothingbutagrovellingconsciousnessofsomefewmaterialfacts,shefeltinherselfanexquisitesenseandall—embracingconceptionofnature,sharedonlybyherfavoritepoetsandheroesofromanceandhistory。
　　Henceshewasinthecommonyouthfulcaseofbeingamuchbetterjudgeofotherpeople'saffairsthanofherown。Atthefellow—studentwhoadoredsomeHenryorAugustus,notfromthedrivellingsentimentalitywhichtheworldcallslove,butbecausethisparticularHenryorAugustuswasaphoenixtowhomthelawsthatgoverntherelationsofordinaryladsandlassesdidnotapply,Agathalaughedinhersleeve。Themoreshesawofthisweaknessinherfellows,themoresatisfiedshewasthat,beingforewarned,shewasalsoforearmedagainstanattackofitonherself,muchasifadoctorweretoconcludethathecouldnotcatchsmallpoxbecausehehadseenmanycasesofit;orasifamastermariner,knowingthatmanyshipsarewreckedintheBritishchannel,shouldventuretherewithoutapilot,thinkingthatheknewitsperilstoowelltorunanyriskofthem。Yet,asthedoctormightholdsuchanopinionifhebelievedhimselftobeconstituteddifferentlyfromordinarymen;ortheshipmasteradoptsuchacourseundertheimpressionthathisvesselwasastar,Agathafoundfalsesecurityinthesubjectivedifferencebetweenherfellowsseenfromwithoutandherselfknownfromwithin。When,forinstance,shefellinlovewithMr。JeffersonSmilash（astepuponwhichsheresolvedthedayafterthestorm）,herimaginationinvestedthepleasingemotionwithasacrednesswhich,toher,setitfarapartanddistinctfromthefrivolousfanciesofwhichHenryandAugustushadbeenthesubject,andshetheconfidant。
　　"Icanlookathimquitecoollyanddispassionately,"shesaidtoherself。"Thoughhisfacehasastrangeinfluencethatmust,I
　　know,correspondtosomeunexplainedpowerwithinme,yetitisnotaperfectface。Ihaveseenmanymenwhoare,strictlyspeaking,farhandsomer。Ifthelightthatneverwasonseaorlandisinhiseyes,yettheyarenotprettyeyes——nothalfsoclearasmine。Thoughhewearshiscommonclotheswithanamelessgracethatbetrayshistruebreedingateverystep,yetheisnottall,dark,andmelancholy,asmyidealherowouldbeifIwereasgreatafoolasgirlsofmyageusuallyare。IfIaminlove,Ihavesenseenoughnottoletmyloveblindmyjudgment。"
　　Shedidnottellanyoneofhernewinterestinlife。Strongestinthatstudentcommunity,shehadusedherpowerwithgood—natureenoughtowinthepopularityofaschoolleader,andoccasionallywithunscrupulousnessenoughtosecuretheprivilegesofaschoolbully。Popularityandprivilege,however,onlysatisfiedherwhenshewasinthemoodforthem。Girls,likemen,wanttobepetted,pitied,andmademuchof,whentheyarediffident,inlowspirits,orinunrequitedlove。Theseareserviceswhichtheweakcannotrendertothestrongandwhichthestrongwillnotrendertotheweak,exceptwhenthereisalsoadifferenceofsex。
　　Agathaknewbyexperiencethatthoughaweakwomancannotunderstandwhyherstrongersistershouldwishtoleanuponher,shemaytriumphinthefactwithoutunderstandingit,andgivechaffinsteadofconsolation。Agathawantedtobeunderstoodandnottobechaffed。Findingherselfunabletosatisfyboththeseconditions,sheresolvedtodowithoutsympathyandtoholdhertongue。Shehadoftenhadtodosobefore,andshewashelpedonthisoccasionbyasenseoftheridiculousappearanceherpassionmightwearinthevulgareye。Hersecretkeptitself,asshewassupposedinthecollegetobeinsensibletothesofteremotions。
　　Lovewroughtnoexternalchangeuponher。Itmadeherbelievethatshehadlefthergirlhoodbehindherandwasnowawomanwithanewly—developedheartcapacityatwhichshewouldchildishlyhavescoffedalittlewhilebefore。Shefeltashamedofthebeeonthewindowpane,althoughitsomehowbuzzedasfrequentlyasbeforeinspiteofher。Hercalendar,formerlyamonotonouscycleofclasstimes,mealtimes,playtimes,andbedtime,wasnowirregularlydividedbywalkspastthechaletandaccidentalglimpsesofitstenant。
　　EarlyinDecembercameablackfrost,andnavigationonthecanalwassuspended。Wickens'sboywassenttothecollegewithnewsthatWickens'spondwouldbear,andthattheyoungladiesshouldbewelcomeatanytime。Thepondwasonlyfourfeetdeep,andasMissWilsonsetmuchstorebythephysicaleducationofherpupils,leavewasgivenforskating。Agatha,whowasexpertontheice,immediatelyproposedthataselectpartyshouldgooutbeforebreakfastnextmorning。Actionsnotinthemselvesvirtuousoftenappearsowhenperformedathoursthatcompelearlyrising,andsomeofthecandidatesfortheCambridgeLocal,whowouldnothavesacrificedtheafternoontoamusement,atoncefellinwithhersuggestion。Butforthemitmightneverhavebeencarriedout;forwhentheysummonedAgatha,athalf—pastsixnextmorning,toleaveherwarmbedandbravethebitingair,shewouldhaverefusedwithouthesitationhadshenotbeenshamedintocompliancebytheselaboriousoneswhostoodbyherbedside,blue—nosedandhungry,butreadyfortheice。Whenshehaddressedherselfwithmuchshudderingandchattering,theyallayedtheirinternaldiscomfortbyaslendermealofbiscuits,gottheirskates,andwentoutacrosstherimymeadows,pastpatientcowsbreathingcloudsofsteam,toWickens'spond。Here,totheirsurprise,wasSmilash,onelectro—platedacmeskates,practicingcomplicatedfigureswithintensediligence。Itsoonappearedthathisskillcameshortofhisambition;for,afterseveralnarrowescapesandsomefranticstaggering,hiscalves,elbows,andocciputsmotetheicealmostsimultaneously。Onrisingruefullytoasittingposturehebecameawarethateightyoungladieswerewatchinghisproceedingswithinterest。
　　"Thiscomesofacommonmanputtinghimselfabovehisstationbygettingintogentlemen'sskates,"hesaid。"HadIbeencontentwithahumbleslide,asmyfatherswas,Ishouldha'beenahappiermanatthepresentmoment。"Hesighed,rose,touchedhishattoMissWard,andtookoffhisskates,adding:"Good—morning,Miss。MissWilsonsentmewordtobeheresharpatsixtoputontheyoungladies'skates,andItookthelibertyoftryingafigureortwotokeepoutthecold。"
　　"MissWilsondidnottellmethatsheorderedyoutocome,"saidMissWard。
　　"Justlikehertobethoughtfulandyetnotletontobe！Sheisakindlady,andalearned——likeyourself,Miss。Sityourselfdownonthecamp—stool。andgivemeyourheel,ifImaybesoboldastostickagimletintoit。"
　　Hisassistancewaswelcome,andMissWardallowedhimtoputonherskates。ShewasaCanadian,andcouldskatewell。Jane,thefirsttofollowher,wasanxiousastothestrengthoftheice;
　　butwhenreassured,sheacquittedherselfadmirably,forshewasproficientinoutdoorexercises,andhadthesatisfactionoflaughinginthefieldatthosewholaughedatherinthestudy。
　　Agatha,contrarytohercustom,gavewaytohercompanions,andherbootswerethelastuponwhichSmilashoperated。
　　"Howd'youdo,MissWylie？"hesaid,droppingtheSmilashmannernowthattherestwereoutofearshot。
　　"Iamverywell,thankyou,"saidAgatha,shyandconstrained。
　　Thisphaseofherbeingnewtohim,hepausedwithherheelinhishandandlookedupathercuriously。Shecollectedherself,returnedhisgazesteadily,andsaid:"HowdidMissWilsonsendyouwordtocome？Sheonlyknewofourpartyathalf—pastninelastnight。"
　　"MissWilsondidnotsendforme。"
　　"ButyouhavejusttoldMissWardthatshedid。"
　　"Yes。IfinditnecessarytotellalmostasmanyliesnowthatI
　　amasimplelaborerasIdidwhenIwasagentleman。More,infact。"
　　"Ishallknowhowmuchtobelieveofwhatyousayinthefuture。"
　　"Thetruthisthis。Iamperhapstheworstskaterintheworld,andtherefore,accordingtoanaturallaw,Icovetthefaintestdistinctionontheicemorethanimmortalfameforthethingsinwhichnaturehasgivenmeaptitudetoexcel。Ienvythatlargefriendofyours——Janeishername,Ithink——morethanIenvyPlato。Icamedownherethismorning,thinkingthattheskatingworldwasalla—bed,topracticeinsecret。"
　　"Iamgladwecaughtyouatit,"saidAgathamaliciously,forhewasdisappointingher。Shewantedhimtobeheroicinhisconversation;andhewouldnot。
　　"Isupposeso,"hereplied。"IhaveobservedthatWoman'sdearestdelightistowoundMan'sself—conceit,thoughMan'sdearestdelightistogratifyhers。ThereisatleastonecreaturelowerthanMan。Now,offwithyou。ShallIholdyouuntilyouranklesgetfirm？"
　　"Thankyou,"shesaid,disgusted:"_I_canskateprettywell,andIdon'tthinkyoucouldgivemeanyusefulassistance。"Andshewentoffcautiously,feelingthatamishapwouldbeverydisgracefulaftersuchaspeech。
　　Hestoodontheshore,listeningtothegrinding,swayingsoundoftheskates,andwatchingthegrowingcomplexityofthecurvestheywereengravingontheice。Asthegirlsgrewwarmandaccustomedtotheexercisetheylaughed,jested,screamedrecklesslywhentheycameintocollision,andsailedbeforethewinddownthewholelengthofthepondatperilousspeed。Themoreanimatedtheybecame,thegloomierlookedSmilash。"Nottwo—penn'orthofchoicebetweenthemandaparcelofpuppies,"hesaid;"exceptthatsomeofthemareconsciousthatthereisamanlookingatthem,althoughheisonlyablackguardlaborer。TheyremindmeofHenriettainahundredways。WouldIlaugh,now,ifthewholesheetoficeweretoburstintolittlebitsunderthem？"
　　Justthentheicecrackedwithastartlingreport,andtheskaters,exceptJane,skimmedawayinalldirections。
　　"Youarebreakingtheicetopieces,Jane,"saidAgatha,callingfromasafedistance。"Howcanyouexpectittobearyourweight？"
　　"Packoffools！"retortedJaneindignantly。"Thenoiseonlyshowshowstrongitis。"
　　TheshockwhichthereporthadgivenSmilashansweredhimhisquestion。"Makeanotethatwishesforthedestructionofthehumanrace,howeverrationalandsincere,arecontrarytonature,"hesaid,recoveringhisspirits。"Besides,whatapreciousfoolIshouldbeifIwereworkingataninternationalassociationofcreaturesonlyfitfordestruction！Hi,lady！Oneword,Miss！"ThiswastoMissWard,whohadskatedintohisneighborhood。"Itbein'acoldmorning,andmehavin'apoorandcommoncirculation,woulditbelookedonasalibertyifIwastocutaslidehereortakeaturninthecorneralltomyself？"
　　"Youmayskateoverthereifyouwish,"shesaid,afterapauseforconsideration,pointingtoadesertedspotattheleewardendofthepond,wheretheicewastooroughforcomfortableskating。
　　"Noblyspoke！"hecried,withagrin,hurryingtotheplaceindicated,where,skatingbeingoutofthequestion,hemadeapairofslides,andgravelyexercisedhimselfuponthemuntilhisfaceglowedandhisfingerstingledinthefrostyair。Thetimepassedquickly;whenMissWardsentforhimtotakeoffherskatestherewasageneralgroananddeclarationthatitcouldnotpossiblybehalf—pasteighto'clockyet。Smilashkneltbeforethecamp—stool,andwaspresentlybusyunbucklingandunscrewing。
　　WhenJane'sturncame,thecamp—stoolcreakedbeneathherweight。
　　Agathaagainremonstratedwithher,butimmediatelyreproachedherselfwithflippancybeforeSmilash,towhomshewishedtoconveyanimpressionofdeepseriousnessofcharacter。
　　"Smallestfootofthelot,"hesaidcritically,holdingJane'sfootbetweenhisfingerandthumbasifitwereanarttreasurewhichhehadbeeninvitedtoexamine。"Andbelongingtothefinestbuiltlady。"
　　Janesnatchedawayherfoot,blushed,andsaid:
　　"Indeed！Whatnext,Iwonder？"
　　"T'other'unnext,"hesaid,settingtoworkontheremainingskate。Whenitwasoff,helookedupather,andshedartedaglanceathimassherosewhichshowedthathiscompliment（herfeetwere,infact,smallandpretty）wasappreciated。
　　"Allowme,Miss,"hesaidtoGertrude,whowasstandingononeleg,leaningonAgatha,andtakingoffherownskates。
　　"No,thankyou,"shesaidcoldly。"Idon'tneedyourassistance。"
　　"Iamwellawarethattheofferwasoverbold,"hereplied,withaself—complacencythatmadehisprofessionofhumilityexasperating。"Ifalltheskatesisoff,Iwill,byMissWilson'sorder,carrythemandthecamp—stoolbacktothecollege。"
　　MissWardhandedhimherskatesandturnedaway。GertrudeplacedhersonthestoolandwentwithMissWard。Therestfollowed,leavinghimtostareattheheapofskatesandconsiderhowheshouldcarrythem。Hecouldthinkofnobetterplanthantointerlacethestrapsandhangtheminachainoverhisshoulder。
　　Bythetimehehaddonethistheyoungladieswereoutofsight,andhisintentionofenjoyingtheirsocietyduringthereturntothecollegewasdefeated。Theyhadenteredthebuildinglongbeforehecameinsightofit。
　　Somewhatoutofconceitwithhisfolly,hewenttotheservants'
　　entranceandrangthebellthere。Whenthedoorwasopened,hesawMissWardstandingbehindthemaidwhoadmittedhim。
　　"Oh,"shesaid,lookingatthestringofskatesasifshehadhardlyexpectedtoseethemagain,"soyouhavebroughtourthingsback？"
　　"Suchweremyinstructions,"hesaid,takenabackbyhermanner。
　　"Youhadnoinstructions。Whatdoyoumeanbygettingourskatesintoyourchargeunderfalsepretences？Iwasabouttosendthepolicetotakethemfromyou。Howdareyoutellmethatyouweresenttowaitonme,whenyouknowverywellthatyouwerenothingofthesort？"
　　"Icouldn'thelpit,Miss,"herepliedsubmissively。"Iamanaturalbornliar——alwayswas。Iknowthatitmustappeardreadfultoyouthatnevertoldalie,anddon'thardlyknowwhatalieis,belongingasyoudotoaclasswherenoneisevertold。
　　Butcommonpeoplelikemetellsliesjustasaduckswims。Iaskyourpardon,Miss,mosthumble,andIhopetheyoungladies'llbeabletotellonesetofskatesfromt'other;forI'mblestifI
　　can。"
　　"Putthemdown。MissWilsonwishestospeaktoyoubeforeyougo。
　　Susan,showhimtheway。"
　　"Hopeyouain'tbeenandgotapoorcoveintotrouble,Miss？"
　　"MissWilsonknowshowyouhavebehaved。"
　　HesmiledatherbenevolentlyandfollowedSusanupstairs。OntheirwaytheymetJane,whostoleaglanceathim,andwasabouttopassby,whenhesaid:
　　"Won'tyousayawordtoMissWilsonforapoorcommonfellow,honoredyounglady？Ihavegotintodreadfultroubleforhavingmadeboldtoassistyouthismorning。"
　　"Youneedn'tgiveyourselfthepainstotalklikethat,"repliedJaneinanimpetuouswhisper。"Weallknowthatyou'reonlypretending。"
　　"Well,youcanguessmymotive,"hewhispered,lookingtenderlyather。
　　"Suchstuffandnonsense！Ineverheardofsuchathinginmylife,"saidJane,andranaway,plainlyunderstandingthathehaddisguisedhimselfinordertoobtainadmissiontothecollegeandenjoythehappinessoflookingather。
　　"CursedfoolthatIam！"hesaidtohimself;"Icannotactlikearationalcreatureforfiveconsecutiveminutes。"
　　Theservantledhimtothestudyandannounced,"Theman,ifyouplease,ma'am。"
　　"JeffSmilash,"headdedinexplanation。
　　"Comein,"saidMissWilsonsternly。
　　Hewentin,andmetthedeterminedfrownwhichshecastonhimfromherseatbehindthewritingtable,bysayingcourteously:
　　"Good—morning,MissWilson。"
　　Shebentforwardinvoluntarily,asiftoreceiveagentleman。
　　Thenshecheckedherselfandlookedimplacable。
　　"Ihavetoapologize,"hesaid,"formakinguseofyournameunwarrantablythismorning——tellingalie,infact。Ihappenedtobeskatingwhentheyoungladiescamedown,andastheyneededsomeassistancewhichtheywouldhardlyhaveacceptedfromacommonman——excusemyborrowingthattiresomeexpressionfromouracquaintanceSmilash——Isettheirmindsateasebysayingthatyouhadsentforme。Otherwise,asyouhavegivenmeabadcharacter——thoughnotworsethanIdeserve——theywouldprobablyhaverefusedtoemployme,oratleastIshouldhavebeencompelledtoacceptpayment,whichI,ofcourse,donotneed。"
　　MissWilsonaffectedsurprise。"Idonotunderstandyou,"shesaid。
　　"Notaltogether,"hesaidsmiling。"ButyouunderstandthatIamwhatiscalledagentleman。"
　　"No。ThegentlemenwithwhomIamconversantdonotdressasyoudress,norspeakasyouspeak,noractasyouact。"
　　Helookedather,andhercountenanceconfirmedthehostilityofhertone。HeinstantlyrelapsedintoanaggravatedphaseofSmilash。
　　"Iwillnolongerattempttosetmyselfupasagentleman,"hesaid。"Iamacommonman,andyourladyship'shirecognizesmeassuchandisnottobedeceived。Butdon'tgofortosaythatIamnotcandidwhenIamascandidaseveryouwillletmebe。Whatfault,ifany,doyoufindwithmyputtingtheskatesontheyoungladies,andcarryin'thecampstoolforthem？"
　　"Ifyouareagentleman,"saidMissWilson,reddening,"yourconductinpersistingintheseanticsinmypresenceisinsultingtome。Extremelyso。"
　　"MissWilson,"hereplied,unruffled,"ifyouinsistonSmilash,youshallhaveSmilash;Itakeaninsanepleasureinpersonatinghim。IfyouwantSidney——myrealChristianname——youcancommandhim。Butallowmetosaythatyoumusthaveeitheroneortheother。Ifyoubecomefrankwithme,IwillunderstandthatyouareaddressingSidney。Ifdistantandsevere,Smilash。"
　　"Nomatterwhatyournamemaybe,"saidMissWilson,muchannoyed,"Iforbidyoutocomehereortoholdanycommunicationwhateverwiththeyoungladiesinmycharge。"
　　"Why？"
　　"BecauseIchoose。"
　　"Thereismuchforceinthatreason,MissWilson;butitisnotmoralforceinthesenseconveyedbyyourcollegeprospectus,whichIhavereadwithgreatinterest。"
　　MissWilson,sinceherquarrelwithAgatha,hadbeensoreonthesubjectofmoralforce。"Nooneisadmittedhere,"shesaid,"withoutatrustworthyintroductionorrecommendation。Adisguiseisnotasatisfactorysubstituteforeither。"
　　"Disguisesaregenerallyassumedforthepurposeofconcealingcrime,"heremarkedsententiously。
　　"Preciselyso,"shesaidemphatically。
　　"Therefore,Ibear,tosaytheleast,adoubtfulcharacter。
　　Nevertheless,Ihaveformedwithsomeofthestudentshereaslightacquaintance,ofwhich,itseems,youdisapprove。YouhavegivenmenogoodreasonwhyIshoulddiscontinuethatacquaintance,andyoucannotcontrolmeexceptbyyourwish——asortofinfluencenotusuallyeffectivewithdoubtfulcharacters。
　　SupposeIdisregardyourwish,andthatoneortwoofyourpupilscometoyouandsay:'MissWilson,inouropinionSmilashisanexcellentfellow;wefindhisconversationmostimproving。Asitisyourprincipletoallowustoexerciseourownjudgment,weintendtocultivatetheacquaintanceofSmilash。'Howwillyouactinthatcase？"
　　"Sendthemhometotheirparentsatonce。"
　　"IseethatyourprinciplesarethoseoftheChurchofEngland。
　　Youallowthestudentstherightofprivatejudgmentonconditionthattheyarriveatthesameconclusionsasyou。ExcusemysayingthattheprinciplesoftheChurchofEngland,howeverexcellent,arenotthoseyourprospectusledmetohopefor。Yourplaniscoercion,starkandsimple。"
　　"Idonotadmitit,"saidMissWilson,readytoargue,evenwithSmilash,indefenceofhersystem。"Thegirlsarequiteatlibertytoactastheyplease,butIreservemyequallibertytoexcludethemfrommycollegeifIdonotapproveoftheirbehavior。"
　　"Justso。Inmostschoolschildrenareperfectlyatlibertytolearntheirlessonsornot,justastheyplease;buttheprincipalreservesanequallibertytowhipthemiftheycannotrepeattheirtasks。"
　　"Idonotwhipmypupils,"saidMissWilsonindignantly。"Thecomparisonisanoutrage。"
　　"Butyouexpelthem;and,astheyaredevotedtoyouandtotheplace,expulsionisadreadedpunishment。Yoursistheoldsystemofmakinglawsandenforcingthembypenalties,andthesuperiorityofAltonCollegetoothercollegesisdue,nottoanydifferenceofsystem,buttothecomparativereasonablenessofitslawsandthemildnessandjudgmentwithwhichtheyareenforced。"
　　"Mysystemisradicallydifferentfromtheoldone。However,I
　　willnotdiscussthematterwithyou。Amindoccupiedwiththeprejudicesoftheoldcoercivedespotismcannaturallyonlyseeinthenewamodificationoftheold,insteadof,asmysystemis,anentirereversalorabandonmentofit。"
　　Heshookhisheadsadlyandsaid:"Youseektoimposeyourideasonothers,ostracizingthosewhorejectthem。Believeme,mankindhasbeendoingnothingelseeversinceitbegantopaysomeattentiontoideas。Ithasbeensaidthatabenevolentdespotismisthebestpossibleformofgovernment。Idonotbelievethatsaying,becauseIbelieveanotheronetotheeffectthathellispavedwithbenevolence,whichmostpeople,theproverbbeingtoodeepforthem,misinterpretasunfulfilledintentions。Asifabenevolentdespotmightnotbyanyerrorofjudgmentdestroyhiskingdom,andthensay,likeRomeowhenhegothisfriendkilled,'Ithoughtallforthebest！'Excusemyrambling。Imeanttosay,inshort,thatthoughyouarebenevolentandjudiciousyouarenonethelessadespot。"