"Youdamnedmyfeelings,andIwilldamnyours,"continuedJanseniusinthesametone。Trefusisinvoluntarilylookedatthedoorthroughwhichhehadlatelypassed。Then,recoveringhimself,hesaidquietly:
　　"Itdoesnotmatter。Shecan'thearus。"
　　BeforeJanseniuscouldreplyhiswifehurriedupstairs,caughthimbythearm,andsaid,"Don'tspeaktohim,John。Andyou,"
　　sheadded,toTrefusis,"WILLyoubegone？"
　　"What！"hesaid,lookingcynicallyather。"Withoutmydead！
　　Withoutmyproperty！Well,beitso。"
　　"Whatdoyouknowofthefeelingsofarespectableman？"
　　persistedJansenius,breakingoutagaininspiteofhiswife。
　　"Nothingissacredtoyou。ThisshowswhatSocialistsare！"
　　"Andwhatfathersare,andwhatmothersare,"retortedTrefusis,givingwaytohistemper。"IthoughtyoulovedHetty,butIseethatyouonlyloveyourfeelingsandyourrespectability。Thedeviltakeboth！Shewasright;myloveforher,incompleteasitwas,wasgreaterthanyours。"Andheleftthehouseindudgeon。
　　Buthestoodawhileintheavenuetolaughathimselfandhisfather—in—law。Thenhetookahansomandwasdriventothehouseofhissolicitor,whomhewishedtoconsultonthesettlementofhislatewife'saffairs。
　　CHAPTERX
　　TheremainsofHenriettaTrefusiswereinterredinHighgateCemeterythedaybeforeChristmasEve。Threenoblemensenttheircarriagestothefuneral,andthefriendsandclientsofMr。
　　Jansenius,toalargenumber,attendedinperson。ThebierwascoveredwithaprofusionofcostlyBowers。Theundertaker,instructedtosparenoexpense,providedlong—tailedblackhorses,withblackpallsontheirbacksandblackplumesupontheirforeheads;coachmendecoratedwithscarvesandjack—boots,blackhammercloths,cloaks,andgloves,withmanyhiredmourners,who,however,wouldhavebeeninstantlydischargedhadtheypresumedtobetrayemotion,orinanywayoversteptheirfunctionofwalkingbesidethehearsewithbrass—tippedbatonsintheirhands。
　　AmongthegenuinemournerswereMr。Jansenius,whoburstintotearsattheceremonyofcastingearthonthecoffin;theboyArthur,who,preoccupiedbythenoveltyofappearinginalongcloakattheheadofapublicprocession,feltthathewasnotsosorryasheoughttobewhenhesawhispapacry;andacousinwhohadonceaskedHenriettatomarryhim,andwhonow,fulloftragicreflections,wasenjoyinghisdespairintensely。
　　Therestwhispered,whenevertheycoulddecentlydoso,aboutastrangeomissioninthearrangements。Thehusbandofthedeceasedwasabsent。MembersofthefamilyandintimatefriendsweretoldbyDanielJanseniusthatthewidowerhadactedinablackguardway,andthattheJanseniusesdidnotcaretwo—pencewhetherhecameorstayedathome;that,butfortheindecencyofthething,theywerejustasgladthathewaskeepingaway。Others,whohadnoclaimtobeprivatelyinformed,madeinquiriesoftheundertaker'sforeman,whosaidheunderstoodthegentlemanobjectedtolargefunerals。Askedwhy,hesaidhesupposeditwasonthegroundofexpense。ThisbeingmetbyaremarkthatMr。
　　Trefusiswasverywealthy,headdedthathehadbeentoldso,butbelievedthemoneyhadnotcomefromthelady;thatpeopleseldomcaredtogotoagreatexpenseforafuneralunlesstheycameintosomethinggoodbythedeath;andthatsomepartiesthemoretheyhadthemoretheygrudged。Beforethefuneralguestsdispersed,thereportspreadbyMr。Jansenius'sbrotherhadgotmixedwiththeviewsoftheforeman,andhadgivenrisetoastoryofTrefusisexpressingjoyathiswife'sdeathwithfrightfuloathsinherfather'shousewhilstshelaydeadthere,andrefusingtopayafarthingofherdebtsorfuneralexpenses。
　　Somedayslater,whengossiponthesubjectwassubsiding,afreshscandalrevivedit。AliteraryfriendofMr。Jansenius'shelpedhimtocomposeanepitaph,andaddedtoitacoupleofprettyandtouchingstanzas,settingforththatHenrietta'scharacterhadbeenoneofraresweetnessandvirtue,andthatherfriendswouldneverceasetosorrowforherloss。Atradesmanwhodescribedhimselfasa"monumentalmason"furnishedabookoftombdesigns,andMr。Janseniusselectedahighlyornamentalone,andproposedtodefrayhalfthecostofitserection。Trefusisobjectedthattheepitaphwasuntrue,andsaidthathedidnotseewhytombstonesshouldbeprivilegedtopublishfalsestatements。Itwasreportedthathehadfolloweduphisformermisconductbycallinghisfather—in—lawaliar,andthathehadorderedacommontombstonefromsomecheap—jackattheEast—end。
　　Hehad,infact,spokencontemptuouslyofthemonumentaltradesmanasan"exploiter"oflabor,andhadaskedayoungworkingmason,amemberoftheInternationalAssociation,todesignamonumentforthegratificationofJansenius。
　　Themason,withmuchpainsandmisgiving,producedanoriginaldesign。Trefusisapprovedofit,andresolvedtohaveitexecutedbythehandsofthedesigner。Hehiredasculptor'sstudio,purchasedblocksofmarbleofthedimensionsandqualitydescribedtohimbythemason,andinvitedhimtosettoworkforthwith。
　　Trefusisnowencounteredadifficulty。Hewishedtopaythemasonthejustvalueofhiswork,nomoreandnoless。Butthishecouldnotascertain。Theonlyavailablestandardwasthemarketprice,andthisherejectedasbeingfixedbycompetitionamongcapitalistswhocouldonlysecureprofitbyobtainingfromtheirworkmenmoreproductsthantheypaidthemfor,andcouldonlytemptcustomersbyofferingashareoftheunpaid—forpartoftheproductsasareductioninprice。Thushefoundthatthesystemofwithholdingtheindispensablematerialsforproductionandsubsistencefromthelaborers,exceptonconditionoftheirsupportinganidleclasswhilstacceptingalowerstandardofcomfortforthemselvesthanforthatidleclass,renderedthedeterminationofjustratiosofexchange,andconsequentlythepracticeofhonestdealing,impossible。Hehadatlasttoaskthemasonwhathewouldconsiderfairpaymentfortheexecutionofthedesign,thoughheknewthatthemancouldnomoresolvetheproblemthanhe,andthat,thoughhewouldcertainlyaskasmuchashethoughthecouldget,hisdemandmustbelimitedbyhispovertyandbythecompetitionofthemonumentaltradesman。
　　Trefusissettledthematterbygivingdoublewhatwasasked,onlyimposingsuchconditionsaswerenecessarytocompelthemasontoexecutetheworkhimself,andnotmakeaprofitbyhiringothermenatthemarketrateofwagestodoit。
　　Butthedesignwas,toitsauthor'sastonishment,tobepaidforseparately。Themason,afterhesitatingalongtimebetweentwo—pounds—tenandfivepounds,wasemboldenedbyafellow—workman,whotreatedhimtosomehotwhiskeyandwater,tonamethelargersum。Trefusispaidthemoneyatonce,andthensethimselftofindouthowmuchasimilardesignwouldhavecostfromthehandsofaneminentRoyalAcademician。Happeningtoknowagentlemaninthisposition,heconsultedhim,andwasinformedthattheprobablecostwouldbefromfivehundredtoonethousandpounds。Trefusisexpressedhisopinionthatthemason'schargewasthemorereasonable,somewhattotheindignationofhisartistfriend,whoremindedhimoftheyearswhichaRoyalAcademicianhastospendinacquiringhisskill。Trefusismentionedthattheapprenticeshipofamasonwasquiteaslong,twiceaslaborious,andnothalfsopleasant。TheartistnowbegantofindTrefusis'sSocialisticviews,withwhichhehadpreviouslyfanciedhimselfinsympathy,bothodiousanddangerous。Hedemandedwhethernothingwastobeallowedforgenius。Trefusiswarmlyrepliedthatgeniuscostitspossessornothing;thatitwastheinheritanceofthewholeraceincidentallyvestedinasingleindividual,andthatifthatindividualemployedhismonopolyofittoextortmoneyfromothers,hedeservednothingbetterthanhanging。Theartistlosthistemper,andsuggestedthatifTrefusiscouldnotfeelthattheprerogativeofartwasdivine,perhapshecouldunderstandthatapainterwasnotsuchafoolastodesignatombforfivepoundswhenhemightbepaintingaportraitforathousand。
　　Trefusisretortedthatthefactofamanpayingathousandpoundsforaportraitprovedthathehadnotearnedthemoney,andwasthereforeeitherathieforabeggar。Thecommonworkmanwhosacrificedsixpencefromhisweek'swagesforacheapphotographtopresenttohissweet。heart,orashillingforapairofchromolithographicpicturesordelftfigurestoplaceonhismantelboard,sufferedgreaterprivationforthesakeofpossessingaworkofartthanthegreatlandlordorshareholderwhopaidathousandpounds,whichhewastoorichtomiss,foraportraitthat,likeHogarth'sJackSheppard,wasonlyinterestingtostudentsofcriminalphysiognomy。Alivelyquarrelensued,Trefusisdenouncingthefollyofartistsinfancyingthemselvesapriestlycastewhentheywereobviouslyonlytheparasitesandfavoredslavesofthemoneyedclasses,andhisfriend（temporarilyhisenemy）sneeringbitterlyatlevellerswhowereforlevellingdowninsteadoflevellingup。Finally,tiredofdisputing,andremorsefulfortheiracrimony,theydinedamicablytogether。
　　ThemonumentwasplacedinHighgateCemeterybyasmallbandofworkmenwhomTrefusisfoundoutofemployment。Itborethefollowinginscription:
　　THISISTHEMONUMENTOFHENRIETTAJANSENIUSWHOWASBORNONTHE
　　26THJULY,1856,MARRIEDTOSIDNEYTREFUSISONTHE23RDAUGUST,1875,ANDWHODIEDONTHE21STDECEMBERINTHESAMEYEAR。
　　Mr。Janseniustookthisasaninsulttohisdaughter'smemory,and,asthetombwasmuchsmallerthanmanywhichhadbeenerectedinthecemeterybyfamiliestowhomtheJanseniusesclaimedsuperiority,citeditasanexampleofthewidower'smeanness。ButbyotherpersonsitwassomuchadmiredthatTrefusishopeditwouldensuretheprosperityofitsdesigner。
　　Thecontraryhappened。Whenthemasonattemptedtoreturntohisordinaryworkhewasinformedthathehadcontravenedtradeusage,andthathisformeremployerswouldhavenothingmoretosaytohim。Onapplyingforadviceandassistancetothetrades—unionofwhichhewasamemberhereceivedthesamereply,andwasfurtherreproachedfortreacherytohisfellow—workmen。
　　HereturnedtoTrefusistosaythatthetombstonejobhadruinedhim。Trefusis,enraged,wroteanargumentativelettertothe"Times,"whichwasnotinserted,asarcasticonetothetrades—union,whichdidnogood,andafierceonetotheemployers,whothreatenedtotakeanactionforlibel。Hehadtocontenthimselfwithsettingthemantoworkagainonmantelpiecesandotherdecorativestone—workforuseinhousepropertyontheTrefusisestate。Inayearortwohisliberalpaymentsenabledthemasontosavesufficienttostartasanemployer,inwhichcapacityhesoonbegantogrowrich,asheknewbyexperienceexactlyhowmuchhisworkmencouldbeforcedtodo,andhowlittletheycouldbeforcedtotake。Shortlyafterthischangeinhiscircumstanceshebecameanadvocateofthrift,temperance,andsteadyindustry,andquittedtheInternationalAssociation,ofwhichhehadbeenanenthusiasticsupporterwhendependentonhisownskillandtasteasaworkingmason。
　　DuringtheseoccurrencesAgatha'sschool—lifeended。Herresolutiontostudyhardduringanothertermatthecollegehadbeenformed,notforthesakeofbecominglearned,butthatshemightbecomemoreworthyofSmilash;andwhenshelearnedthetruthabouthimfromhisownlips,theideaofreturningtothesceneofthathumiliationbecameintolerabletoher。Sheleftundertheimpressionthatherheartwasbroken,forhersmartingvanity,bythelawofitsownexistence,wouldnotperceivethatitwastheseatoftheinjury。SoshebadeMissWilsonadieu;andthebeeonthewindowpanewasheardnomoreatAltonCollege。
　　TheintelligenceofHenrietta'sdeathshockedherthemorebecauseshecouldnothelpbeinggladthattheonlyotherpersonwhoknewofherfollywithregardtoSmilash（himselfexcepted）
　　wasnowsilencedforever。Thisseemedtoheraterriblediscoveryofherowndepravity。Underitsinfluenceshebecamealmostreligious,andcausedsomeanxietyaboutherhealthtohermother,whowaspuzzledbyherunwontedseriousness,and,inparticular,byherdeterminationnottospeakofthemisconductofTrefusis,whichwasnowtheprevailingtopicofconversationinthefamily。Shelistenedinsilencetogossipingdiscussionsofhisdesertionofhiswife,hisheartlessindifferencetoherdecease,hisviolenceandbadlanguagebyherdeathbed,hisparsimony,hismaliciousoppositiontothewishesoftheJanseniuses,hischeaptombstonewiththeinsultingepitaph,hisassociationwithcommonworkmenandlowdemagogues,hissuspectedconnectionwithasecretsocietyfortheassassinationoftheroyalfamilyandblowingupofthearmy,hisatheisticdenial,inapamphletaddressedtotheclergy,ofastatementbytheArchbishopofCanterburythatspiritualaidalonecouldimprovetheconditionofthepoorintheEast—endofLondon,andthecrowningdisgraceofhistrialforseditiouslibelattheOldBailey,wherehewascondemnedtosixmonths'imprisonment;apenaltyfromwhichhewasrescuedbytheingenuityofhiscounsel,whodiscoveredaflawintheindictment,andsucceeded,atgreatcosttoTrefusis,ingettingthesentencequashed。
　　Agathaatlastgottiredofhearingofhismisdeeds。Shebelievedhimtobeheartless,selfish,andmisguided,butsheknewthathewasnottheloud,coarse,sensual,andignorantbrawlermostofhermother'sgossipssupposedhimtobe。Sheevenfelt,inspiteofherself,anemotionofgratitudetothefewwhoventuredtodefendhim。
　　Preparationforherfirstseasonhelpedhertoforgethermisadventure。She"cameout"induetime,andanextremelydullseasonshefoundit。Somuchso,thatshesometimesaskedherselfwhethersheshouldeverbehappyagain。Atthecollegetherehadbeengoodfellowship,fun,rules,anddutieswhichwereasourceofstrengthwhenobservedandasourceofdeliciousexcitementwhenviolated,freedomfromceremony,toffeemaking,flightsonthebanisters,andappreciativeaudiencesforthesoldierinthechimney。
　　Insocietythereweresillyconversationslastinghalfaminute,coolacquaintanceshipsfoundedonsuchhalf—minutes,generalreciprocityofsuspicion,overcrowding,insufficientventilation,badmusicbadlyexecuted,latehours,unwholesomefood,intoxicatingliquors,jealouscompetitioninuselessexpenditure,husband—hunting,flirting,dancing,theatres,andconcerts。Thelastthree,whichAgathaliked,helpedtomakethecontrastbetweenAltonandLondontolerabletoher,buttheyhadtheirdrawbacks,forgoodpartnersatthedances,andgoodperformancesatthespiritlessoperaandconcerts,weredisappointinglyscarce。Flirtingshecouldnotendure;shedrovemenawaywhentheybecametender,seeinginthemthefalsehoodofSmilashwithouthiswit。Shewasconsideredrudebytheyoungergentlemenofhercircle。Theydiscussedherbadmannersamongthemselves,andagreedtopunishherbynotaskinghertodance。Shethusgotrid,withoutknowingwhy,oftheattentionsshecaredforleast（sheretainedaschoolgirl'scruelcontemptfor"boys"）,andenjoyedherselfasbestshecouldwithsuchoftheolderormoresensiblemenaswerenotintolerantofgirls。
　　Atbesttheyearwastheleasthappyshehadeverspent。Sherepeatedlyalarmedhermotherbybroachingprojectsofbecomingahospitalnurse,apublicsinger,oranactress。Theseprojectsledtosomedesultorystudies。Inordertoqualifyherselfasanurseshereadahandbookofphysiology,whichMrs。WyliethoughtsoimproperasubjectforayoungladythatshewentintearstobegMrs。Janseniustoremonstratewithherunrulygirl。Mrs。
　　Jansenius,betteradvised,wasofopinionthatthemoreawomanknewthemorewiselyshewaslikelytoact,andthatAgathawouldsoondropthephysiologyofherownaccord。Thisprovedtrue。
　　Agatha,havingfinishedherbookbydintofextensiveskipping,proceededtostudypathologyfromavolumeofclinicallectures。
　　Findingherownsensationsexactlylikethosedescribedinthebookassymptomsofthedirestdiseases,sheputitbyinalarm,andtookupanovel,whichwasfreefromthefaultshehadfoundinthelectures,inasmuchasnoneoftheemotionsitdescribedintheleastresembledanyshehadeverexperienced。
　　Afterabriefinterval,sheconsultedafashionableteacherofsingingastowhetherhervoicewasstrongenoughfortheoperaticstage。Herecommendedhertostudywithhimforsixyears,assuringherthatattheendofthatperiod——ifshefollowedhisdirections——sheshouldbethegreatestsingerintheworld。Tothistherewas,inhermind,theconclusiveobjectionthatinsixyearssheshouldbeanoldwoman。Sosheresolvedtotryprivatelywhethershecouldnotgetonmorequicklybyherself。Meanwhile,withaviewtothedramaincaseheroperaticschemeshouldfail,shetooklessonsinelocutionandgymnastics。
　　Practiceintheseimprovedherhealthandspiritssomuchthatherpreviousaspirationsseemedtoolimited。Shetriedherhandatalltheartsinsuccession,butwastoodiscouragedbytheweaknessofherfirstattemptstopersevere。Sheknewthatasageneralruletherearefeebleandridiculousbeginningstoallexcellence,butsheneverappliedgeneralrulestoherowncase,stillthinkingofherselfasanexceptiontothem,justasshehaddonewhensheromancedaboutSmilash。Theillusionsofadolescencewerethickuponher。
　　Meanwhileherprogresswascreatinganxietiesinwhichshehadnoshare。Herparoxysmsofexhilaration,followedbyagnawingsenseoffailureanduselessness,wereknowntohermotheronlyas"wildness"and"lowspirits,"tobecombatedbyneedleworkasasedative,orbeefteaasastimulant。Mrs。Wyliehadlearntbyrotethatthewholedutyofaladyistobegraceful,charitable,helpful,modest,anddisinterestedwhilstawaitingpassivelywhateverlotthesevirtuesmayinduce。Butshehadlearntbyexperiencethatalady'sbusinessinsocietyistogetmarried,andthatvirtuesandaccomplishmentsalikeareimportantonlyasattractionstoeligiblebachelors。Asthistruthisshameful,youngladiesareleftforayearortwotofinditoutforthemselves;itisseldomexplicitlyconveyedtothemattheirentryintosociety。Hencetheyoftenthrowawaycapitalbargainsintheirfirstseason,andarecompelledtoofferthemselvesatgreatlyreducedpricessubsequently,whentheirattractionsbegintostale。ThiswasthefatewhichMrs。Wylie,warnedbyMrs。
　　Jansenius,fearedforAgatha,who,timeaftertimewhenacallowgentlemanofwealthandpositionwasintroducedtoher,drovehimbrusquelyawayassoonasheventuredtohintthat200
　　hisaffectionswereconcernedintheiracquaintanceship。Theanxiousmotherhadtoconsoleherselfwiththefactthatherdaughterdroveawaytheineligibleasruthlesslyastheeligible,formednounworldlyattachments,wasstillveryyoung,andwouldgrowlesscoyassheadvancedinyearsandinwhatMrs。Janseniuscalledsense。
　　ButastheseasonswentbyitremainedquestionablewhetherAgathawasthemoretobecongratulatedonhavingbegunlifeafterleavingschoolorHenriettaonhavingfinishedit。
　　CHAPTERXI
　　BrandonBeeches,intheThamesvalley,wastheseatofSirCharlesBrandon,seventhbaronetofthatname。Hehadlosthisfatherbeforeattaininghismajority,andhadmarriedshortlyafterwards;sothatinhistwenty—fifthyearhewasfathertothreechildren。Hewasalittleworn,inspiteofhisyouth,buthewastallandagreeable,hadawinningwayoftakingakindandsoothingviewofthemisfortunesofothers,couldtellastorywell,likedmusicandcouldplayandsingalittle,lovedtheartsofdesignandcouldsketchalittleinwatercolors,readeverymagazinefromLondontoParisthatcriticisedpictures,hadtravelledalittle,fishedalittle,shotalittle,botanizedalittle,wanderedrestlesslyinthefootstepsofwomen,anddissipatedhisenergiesthroughallthesmallchannelsthathiswealthopenedandhistalentsmadeeasytohim。Hehadnolargeknowledgeofanysubject,thoughhehadlookedintomanyjustfarenoughtoreplaceabsoluteunconsciousnessofthemwithmeasurableignorance。Neverhavingenjoyedthesenseofachievement,hewastroubledwithunsatisfiedaspirationsthatfilledhimwithmelancholyandconvincedhimthathewasabornartist。Hiswifefoundhimselfish,peevish,hankeringafterchange,andpronetobelievethathewasattackedbydangerousdiseasewhenhewasonlycatchingcold。
　　LadyBrandon,whobelievedthatheunderstoodallthesubjectshetalkedaboutbecauseshedidnotunderstandthemherself,wasoneofhisdisappointments。Inpersonsheresemblednoneofthetypesofbeautystrivenafterbythepaintersofhertime,butshehadcharmstowhichfewmenareinsensible。Shewastall,soft,andstout,withampleandshapelyarms,shoulders,andhips。Withhersmallhead,littleears,prettylips,androguisheye,she,beingaverylargecreature,presentedanimmensityofhalfwomanly,halfinfantilelovelinesswhichsmoteevengravemenwithadesiretoclaspherintheirarmsandkissher。ThisdesirehadscatteredthedesultoryintellectualcultureofSirCharlesatfirstsight。Hisimaginationinvestedherwiththetasteforthefineartswhichhorequiredfromawife,andhemarriedherinherfirstseason,onlytodiscoverthattheamativenessinhertemperamentwassolittleandlanguidthatshemadeallhisattemptsatfondnessridiculous,androbbedthecaressesforwhichhehadlongedofalltheiranticipatedecstasy。
　　Intellectuallyshefellstillfurthershortofhishopes。Shelookeduponhisfavoriteartofpaintingasapastimeforamateurandabranchofthehouse—furnishingtradeforprofessionalartists。Whenhewasdiscussingitamonghisfriends,shewouldofferheropinionwithapresumptionwhichwasthemoretryingasshefrequentlyblundereduponasoundconclusionwhilsthewasreasoninghiswaytoahollowonewithhisutmostsubtletyandseriousness。Onsuchoccasionshisdisgustdidnottroubleherintheleast;shetriumphedinit。Shehadconcludedthatmarriagewasagreaterfolly,andmengreaterfools,thanshehadsupposed;butsuchbeliefsratherlightenedhersenseofresponsibilitythandisappointedher,and,asshehadplentyofmoney,plentyofservants,plentyofvisitors,andplentyofexerciseonhorseback,ofwhichshewasimmoderatelyfond,hertimepassedpleasantlyenough。Comfortseemedtoherthenaturalorderoflife;troublealwayssurprisedher。Herhusband'sfriends,whomistrustedeveryfuturehour,andfoundmatterforbitterreflectioninmanypastones,weretoheronlyexamplesofthepowerofsedentaryhabitsandexcessivereadingtomakementrippedanddull。
　　OnefineMaymorning,asshecanteredalongtheavenueatBrandonBeechesonapowerfulbayhorse,thegatesattheendopenedandayoungmanspedthroughthemonabicycle。Hewasofslightframe,withfinedarkeyesanddelicatenostrils。WhenherecognizedLadyBrandonhewavedhiscap,andwhentheymethesprangfromhisinanimatesteed,atwhichthebayhorseshied。
　　"Don't,yousillybeast！"shecried,whackingtheanimalwiththebuttofherwhip。"Thoughit'snaturalenough,goodnessknows！
　　Howd'yedo？Theideaofanyonerichenoughtoaffordahorseridingonawheellikethat！"
　　"ButIamnotrichenoughtoaffordahorse,"hesaid,approachinghertopatthebay,havingplacedthebicycleagainstatree。"Besides,Iamafraidofhorses,notbeingaccustomedtothem;andIknownothingaboutfeedingthem。Mysteedneedsnofood。Hedoesn'tbitenorkick。Henevergoeslame,norsickens,nordies,norneedsagroom,nor——"
　　"That'sallbosh,"saidLadyBrandonimpetuously。"Itstumbles,andgivesyouthemostawfultosses,anditgoeslamebyitstreadlesandthingamejigscomingoff,anditwearsout,andistwiceasmuchtroubletokeepcleanandscrapethemudoffasahorse,andallsortsofthings。Ithinkthemostridiculoussightintheworldisamanonabicycle,workingawaywithhisfeetashardashepossiblycan,andbelievingthathishorseiscarryinghiminsteadof,asanyonecansee,hecarryingthehorse。Youneedn'ttellmethatitisn'teasiertowalkintheordinarywaythantodragagreatdeadironthingalongwithyou。It'snotgoodsense。"
　　"NeverthelessIcancarryitahundredmilesfurtherinadaythanIcancarrymyselfalone。Sucharethemarvelsofmachinery。
　　ButIknowthatwecutaverypoorfigurebesideyouandthatmagnificentcreaturenotthatanyonewilllookatmewhilstyouarebytooccupytheirattentionsomuchmoreworthily。"
　　Shedartedaglanceathimwhichcloudedhisvisionandmadehisheartbeatmorestrongly。Thiswasanoldhabitofhers。Shekeptitupfromloveoffun,havingnoideaoftheeffectitproducedonmoreardenttemperamentsthanherown。Hecontinuedhastily:
　　"IsSirCharleswithindoors？"
　　"Oh,it'sthemostridiculousthingIeverheardofinmylife,"
　　sheexclaimed。"AmanthatlivesbyhimselfinaplacedownbytheRiversideRoadlikeatoysavingsbank——don'tyouknowthethingsImean？——calledSallust'sHouse,saysthereisarightofwaythroughournewpleasureground。Asifanyonecouldhaveanyrightthereafterallthemoneywehavespentfencingitonthreesides,andbuildingupthewallbytheroad,andlevelling,andplanting,anddraining,andgoodnessknowswhatelse！Andnowthemansaysthatallthecommonpeopleandtrampsintheneighborhoodhavearighttowalkacrossitbecausetheyaretoolazytogoroundbytheroad。SirCharleshasgonetoseethemanaboutit。Ofcoursehewouldn'tdoasIwantedhim。"
　　"Whatwasthat？"
　　"Writetotellthemantomindhisownbusiness,andtosaythatthefirstpersonwefoundattemptingtotrespassonourpropertyshouldbegiventothepolice。"
　　"ThenIshallfindnooneathome。Ibegyourpardonforcallingitso,butitistheonlyplacelikehometome。"
　　"Yes;itissocomfortablesincewebuiltthebilliardroomandtookawaythosenastyhangingsinthehall。Iwaseversolongtryingtoper——"
　　Shewasinterruptedbyanoldlaborer,whohobbledupasfastashisrheumatismwouldallowhim,andbegantospeakwithoutfurtherceremonythansnatchingoffhiscap。
　　"Th'avecoomtothenoogroups,mylady,crowdsof'em。An'aparsonwith'em,an'aflag！SurChorleshedon'tknowwhattosay;an'soochdoin'sneverwas。"
　　LadyBrandonturnedpaleandpulledatherhorseasiftobackhimoutofsomedanger。Hervisitor,puzzled,askedtheoldmanwhathemeant。
　　"There'sgoin'tobeaproceyshonthroughthenoogroups,"hereplied,"an'themastercan'tstop'em。Th'avethroondownthewall;threeyardsofitislyin'onRiversideRoad。An'there'saparsonwith'em,andaflag。An'himthatlivesinSallust'shoos,he'sthere,hoddin''emon。"
　　"Throwndownthewall！"exclaimedLadyBrandon,scarletwithindignationandpalewithapprehensionbyturns。"Whatadisgracefulthing！Wherearethepolice？Chester,willyoucomewithmeandseewhattheyaredoing？SirCharlesisnouse。Doyouthinkthereisanydanger？"
　　"There'stwopolice,"saidtheoldman,"an'himthatlivesatSallust'sdar'dthemstophim。They'relookin'on。An'there'saparsonamong'em。Iseehimpullin'awayatthewallwithhisownhan's。"
　　"Iwillgoandseethefun,"saidChester。
　　LadyBrandonhesitated。Butherangerandcuriosityvanquishedherfears。Sheovertookthebicycle,andtheywenttogetherthroughthegatesandbythehighroadtothescenetheoldmanhaddescribed。Aheapofbricksandmortarlayintheroadwayoneachsideofabreachinthenewlybuiltwall,overwhichLadyBrandon,fromhereminenceonhorseback,couldsee,comingtowardsheracrossthepleasureground,acolumnofaboutthirtypersons。Theymarchedthreeabreastingoodorderandinsilence;
　　theexpressionofallexceptafewmirthfulfacesbeingthatofdevoteesfulfillingarite。Thegravityoftheprocessionwasdeepenedbytheappearanceofaclergymaninitsranks,whichwerecomposedofmenofthemiddleclass,andafewworkmencarryingabannerinscribedTHESOILorENGLANDTHEBIRTHRIGHTOF
　　ALLHERPEOPLE。Therewerealsofourwomen,uponwhomLadyBrandonlookedwithintenseindignationandcontempt。Noneofthemenoftheneighborhoodhaddaredtojoin;theystoodintheroadwhispering,andoccasionallyventuringtolaughatthejestsofacoupleoftrampswhohadstoppedtoseethefun,andwhocarednothingforSirCharles。
　　He,standingalittlewaywithinthefield,wasremonstratingangrilywithamanofhisownclass,whostoodwithhisbacktothebreachandhishandsinthepocketsofhissnuff—coloredclothes,contemplatingtheprocessionwithelatesatisfaction。
　　LadyBrandon,atoncesuspectingthatthiswasthemanfromSallust'sHouse,andencouragedbytheloyaltyofthecrowd,mostofwhommadewayforherandtouchedtheirhats,hitthebayhorsesmartlywithherwhipandrodehim,withaclatterofhoofsandscatteringofclods,rightatthesnuff—coloredenemy,whohadtospringhastilyasidetoavoidher。Therewasaroaroflaughterfromtheroadway,andthemanturnedsharplyonher。Buthesuddenlysmiledaffably,replacedhishandsinhispocketsafterraisinghishat,andsaid:
　　"Howdoyoudo,MissCarpenter？Ithoughtyouwereachargeofcavalry。"
　　"IamnotMissCarpenter,IamLadyBrandon;andyououghttobeashamedofyourself,Mr。Smilash,ifitisyouthathavebroughtthesedisgracefulpeoplehere。"
　　HiseyesasherepliedwereeloquentwithreproachtoherforbeingnolongerMissCarpenter。"IamnotSmilash,"hesaid;"I
　　amSidneyTrefusis。IhavejusthadthepleasureofmeetingSirCharlesforthefirsttime,andweshallbethebestfriendspossiblewhenIhaveconvincedhimthatitishardlyfairtoseizeonapathbelongingtothepeopleandcompelthemtowalkamileandahalfroundhisestateinsteadoffourhundredyardsbetweentwoportionsofit。"
　　"Ihavealreadytoldyou,sir,"saidSirCharles,"thatIintendtoopenastillshorterpath,andtoallowallthewell—conductedwork—peopletopassthroughtwiceaday。Thiswillenablethemtogototheirworkandreturnfromit;andIwillbeatthecostofkeepingthepathinrepair。"