Thesilencewasbrokenbythesoundoffeetonthegravel。Agnessaidhastily，"Isthatreallytrue——thatheknowsnothing？"
　　"You，Rickie，andIaretheonlypeoplealivethatknow。Herealizeswhatheis——withaprecisionthatissometimesalarming。
　　Whoheis，hedoesn’tknowanddoesn’tcare。IsupposehewouldknowwhenI’mdead。Therearepapers。"
　　"AuntEmily，beforehecomes，mayIsaytoyouI’msorryIwassorude？"
　　Mrs。Failinghadnotdislikedhercourage。"Mydear，youmay。
　　We’realloffourhingesthisSunday。Sitdownbymeagain。"
　　Agnesobeyed，andtheyawaitedthearrivalofStephen。Theywerecleverenoughtounderstandeachother。Thethingmustbehushedup。Thematronmustrepairtheconsequencesofherpetulance。Thegirlmusthidethestaininherfuturehusband’sfamily。Whynot？
　　Whowasinjured？Whatdoesagrown—upmanwantwithagrownbrother？Rickieupstairs，howgratefulhewouldbetothemforsavinghim。
　　"Stephen！"
　　"Yes。"
　　"I’mtiredofyou。Goandbatheinthesea。"
　　"Allright。"
　　Andthewholethingwassettled。Shelikednofuss，andsodidhe。Hesatdownonthesteptotightenhisbootlaces。Thenhewouldbeready。Mrs。Failinglaidtwoorthreesovereignsonthestepabovehim。Agnestriedtomakeconversation，andsaid，withavertedeyes，thattheseawasalongwayoff。
　　"Thesea’sdownhill。That’sallIknowaboutit。"Hesweptupthemoneywithawordofpleasure:hewaskeptlikeababyinsuchthings。Thenhestartedoff，butslowly，forhemeanttowalktillthemorning。
　　"Hewillbegonedays，"saidMrs。Failing。"Thecomedyisfinished。Letuscomein。"
　　Shewenttoherroom。Thestormthatshehadraisedhadshatteredher。Yet，becauseitwasstilledforamoment，sheresumedheroldemancipatedmanner，andspokeofitasacomedy。
　　AsforMissPembroke，shepretendedtobeemancipatednolonger。
　　Peoplelike"StephenWonham"weresocialthunderbolts，tobeshunnedatallcosts，oratalmostallcosts。Herjoywasnowunfeigned，andshehurriedupstairstoimpartittoRickie。
　　"Idon’tthinkwearerewardedifwedoright，butwearepunishedifwelie。It’sthefashiontolaughatpoeticjustice，butIdobelieveinhalfofit。Castbitterbreaduponthewaters，andaftermanydaysitreallywillcomebacktoyou。"
　　ThesewerethewordsofMr。Failing。TheywerealsotheopinionsofStewartAnsell，anotherunpracticalperson。Rickiewastryingtowritetohimwhensheenteredwiththegoodnews。
　　"Dear，we’resaved！Hedoesn’tknow，andheneveristoknow。I
　　can’ttellyouhowgladIam。Allthetimewesawthemstandingtogetherupthere，shewasn’ttellinghimatall。Shewaskeepinghimoutoftheway，incaseyouletitout。Oh，Ilikeher！Shemaybeunwise，butsheisnice，really。Shesaid，’I’vebeenafoolbutIhaven’tbeenafooltwice。’Youmustforgiveher，Rickie。I’veforgivenher，andsheme;foratfirstIwassoangrywithher。Oh，mydarlingboy，Iamsoglad！"
　　Hewasshiveringallover，andcouldnotreply。Atlasthesaid，"Whyhasn’tshetoldhim？"
　　"Becauseshehascometohersenses。"
　　"Butshecan’tbehavetopeoplelikethat。Shemusttellhim。"
　　"Becausehemustbetoldsucharealthing。"
　　"Sucharealthing？"thegirlechoed，screwingupherforehead。
　　"But——butyoudon’tmeanyou’regladaboutit？"
　　Hisheadbowedovertheletter。"MyGod——no！Butit’sarealthing。Shemusttellhim。Inearlytoldhimmyself——upthere——
　　whenhemademelookattheground，butyouhappenedtopreventme。"
　　HowProvidencehadwatchedoverthem！
　　"Shewon’ttellhim。Iknowthatmuch。"
　　"Then，Agnes，darling"——hedrewhertothetable"wemusttalktogetheralittle。Ifshewon’t，thenweoughtto。"
　　"WEtellhim？"criedthegirl，whitewithhorror。"Tellhimnow，wheneverythinghasbeencomfortablyarranged？"
　　"Yousee，darling"——hetookholdofherhand——"whatonemustdoistothinkthethingoutandsettlewhat’sright，I’mstillalltremblingandstupid。Iseeitmixedupwithotherthings。Iwantyoutohelpme。Itseemstomethathereandthereinlifewemeetwithapersonorincidentthatissymbolical。It’snothinginitself，yetforthemomentitstandsforsomeeternalprinciple。Weacceptit，atwhatevercosts，andwehaveacceptedlife。Butifwearefrightenedandrejectit，themoment，sotospeak，passes;thesymbolisneverofferedagain。Isthisnonsense？Oncebeforeasymbolwasofferedtome——Ishallnottellyouhow;butIdidacceptit，andcherisheditthroughmuchanxietyandrepulsion，andintheendIamrewarded。Therewillbenorewardthistime。Ithink，fromsuchaman——thesonofsuchaman。ButIwanttodowhatisright。"
　　"Becausedoingrightisitsownreward，"saidAgnesanxiously。
　　"Idonotthinkthat。Ihaveseenfewexamplesofit。Doingrightissimplydoingright。"
　　"Ithinkthatallyousayiswonderfullyclever;butsinceyouaskme，itISnonsense，dearRickie，absolutely。"
　　"Thankyou，"hesaidhumbly，andbegantostrokeherhand。"Butallmydisgust;myindignationwithmyfather，mylovefor——"Hebrokeoff;hecouldnotbeartomentionthenameofhismother。
　　"Iwastryingtosay，Ioughtn’ttofollowtheseimpulsestoomuch。Thereareothersthings。Truth。Ourdutytoacknowledgeeachmanaccurately，howevervileheis。Andapartfromideals"
　　（hereshehadwonthebattle），"andleavingidealsaside，I
　　couldn’tmeethimandkeepsilent。Itisn’tinme。Ishouldblurtitout。"
　　"Butyouwon’tmeethim！"shecried。"It’sallbeenarranged。
　　We’vesenthimtothesea。Isn’titsplendid？He’sgone。Myownboywon’tbefantastic，willhe？"Thenshefoughtthefantasyonitsownground。"And，byethebye，whatyoucallthe’symbolicmoment’isover。YouhaditupbytheRings。Youtriedtotellhim，Iinterruptedyou。It’snotyourfault。Youdidallyoucould。"
　　Shethoughtthisexcellentlogic，andwassurprisedthathelookedsogloomy。"Sohe’sgonetothesea。Forthepresentthatdoessettleit。HasAuntEmilytalkedabouthimyet？"
　　"No。Askhertomorrowifyouwishtoknow。Askherkindly。Itwouldbesodreadfulifyoudidnotpartfriends，and——"
　　"What’sthat？"
　　ItwasStephencallingupfromthedrive。Hehadcomeback。Agnesthrewoutherhandindespair。
　　"Elliot！"thevoicecalled。
　　Theywerefacingeachother，silentandmotionless。ThenRickieadvancedtothewindow。Thegirldartedinfrontofhim。Hethoughthehadneverseenhersobeautiful。Shewasstoppinghisadvancequitefrankly，withwidespreadarms。
　　"Elliot！"
　　Hemovedforward——intowhat？Hepretendedtohimselfhewouldratherseehisbrotherbeforeheanswered;thatitwaseasiertoacknowledgehimthus。Butatthebackofhissoulheknewthatthewomanhadconquered，andthathewasmovingforwardtoacknowledgeher。"Ifhecallsmeagain——"hethought。
　　"Elliot！"
　　"Well，ifhecallsmeonceagain，Iwillanswerhim，vileasheis。"
　　Hedidnotcallagain。
　　Stephenhadreallycomebackforsometobacco，butashepassedunderthewindowshethoughtofthepoorfellowwhohadbeen"nipped"（nothingserious，saidMrs。Failing），anddeterminedtoshoutgood—byetohim。Andonceortwice，ashefollowedtheriverintothedarkness，hewonderedwhatitwasliketobesoweak，——nottoride，nottoswim，nottocareforanythingbutbooksandagirl。
　　Theyembracedpassionately。Thedangerhadbroughtthemveryneartoeachother。Theybothneededahometoconfrontthemenacingtumultuousworld。Andwhatwearyyearsofwork，ofwaiting，laybetweenthemandthathome！Stillholdingherfast，hesaid，"I
　　waswritingtoAnsellwhenyoucamein。"
　　"Doyouowehimaletter？"
　　"No。"Hepaused。"Iwaswritingtotellhimaboutthis。Hewouldhelpus。Healwayspicksouttheimportantpoint。"
　　"Darling，Idon’tliketosayanything，andIknowthatMr。
　　Ansellwouldkeepasecret，buthaven’twepickedouttheimportantpointforourselves？"
　　Hereleasedherandtoretheletterup。
　　XV
　　Thesenseofpurityisapuzzlingandattimesafearfulthing。
　　Itseemssonoble，anditstartsasonewithmorality。Butitisadangerousguide，andcanleadusawaynotonlyfromwhatisgracious，butalsofromwhatisgood。Agnes，inthistangle，hadfolloweditblindly，partlybecauseshewasawoman，anditmeantmoretoherthanitcanevermeantoaman;partlybecause，thoughdangerous，itisalsoobvious，andmakesnodemandupontheintellect。ShecouldnotfeelthatStephenhadfullhumanrights。Hewasillicit，abnormal，worsethanamandiseased。AndRickierememberingwhosesonhewas，graduallyadoptedheropinion。He，too，cametobegladthathisbrotherhadpassedfromhimuntried，thatthesymbolicmomenthadbeenrejected。
　　Stephenwasthefruitofsin;thereforehewassinful，He，too，becameasexualsnob。
　　Andnowhemustheartheunsavourydetails。Thateveningtheysatinthewalledgarden。Agues，accordingtoarrangement，lefthimalonewithhisaunt。Heaskedher，andwasnotanswered。
　　"Youareshocked，"shesaidinahard，mockingvoice，"Itisveryniceofyoutobeshocked，andIdonotwishtogrieveyoufurther。Wewillnotalludetoitagain。Letusallgoonjustasweare。Thecomedyisfinished。"
　　Hecouldnottoleratethis。Hisnerveswereshattered，andallthatwasgoodinhimrevoltedaswell。TothehorrorofAgnes，whowaswithinearshot，hereplied，"Youusedtopuzzleme，AuntEmily，butIunderstandyouatlast。Youhaveforgottenwhatotherpeoplearelike。Continualselfishnessleadstothat。Iamsureofit。Iseenowhowyoulookattheworld。’Niceofmetobeshocked！’Iwanttogotomorrow，ifImay。"
　　"Certainly，dear。Themorningtrainsarethebest。"Andsothedisastrousvisitended。
　　Ashewalkedbacktothehousehemetacertainpoorwoman，whosechildStephenhadrescuedatthelevel—crossing，andwhohaddecided，aftersomedelay，thatshemustthankthekindgentlemaninperson。"Hehasgotsomebrutecourage，"thoughtRickie，"anditwasdecentofhimnottoboastaboutit。"Buthehadlabelledtheboyas"Bad，"anditwasconvenienttoreverttohisgoodqualitiesasseldomaspossible。Hepreferredtobroodoverhiscoarseness，hiscaddishingratitude，hisirreligion。Outoftheseheconstructedarepulsivefigure，forgettinghowslovenlyhisownperceptionshadbeenduringthepastweek，howdogmaticandintoleranthisattitudetoallthatwasnotLove。
　　DuringthepackinghewasobligedtogouptotheattictofindtheDryadmanuscriptwhichhadneverbeenreturned。Leightoncametoo，andforabouthalfanhourtheyhuntedintheflickeringlightofacandle。Itwasastrange，ghostlyplace，andRickiewasquitestartledwhenapictureswungtowardshim，andhesawtheDemeterofCnidus，shimmeringandgrey。Leightonsuggestedtheroof。Mr。Stephensometimesleftthingsontheroof。Sotheyclimbedoutoftheskylight——thenightwasperfectlystill——andcontinuedthesearchamongthegables。Enormousstarshungoverhead，andtheroofwasboundedbychasms，impenetrableandblack。"Itdoesn’tmatter，"saidRickie，suddenlyconvincedofthefutilityofallthathedid。"Oh，letuslookproperly，"saidLeighton，akindly，pliableman，whohadtriedtoshirkcoming，butwhowasgenuinelysympatheticnowthathehadcome。Theywererewarded:themanuscriptlayinagutter，charredandsmudged。
　　TherestoftheyearwasspentbyRickiepartlyinbed，——hehadacuriousbreakdown，——partlyintheattempttogethislittlestoriespublished。Hehadwritteneightornine，andhopedtheywouldmakeupabook，andthatthebookmightbecalled"PanPipes。"Hewasveryenergeticoverthis;helikedtowork，forsomeimperceptiblebloomhadpassedfromtheworld，andhenolongerfoundsuchacutepleasureinpeople。Mrs。Failing’soldpublishers，towhomthebookwassubmitted，repliedthat，greatlyastheyfoundthemselvesinterested，theydidnotseetheirwaytomakinganofferatpresent。Theywereverypolite，andsingledoutforspecialpraise"AndantePastorale，"whichRickiehadthoughttoosentimental，butwhichAgneshadpersuadedhimtoinclude。Thestoriesweresenttoanotherpublisher，whoconsideredthemforsixweeks，andthenreturnedthem。Afragmentofredcotton，PlacedbyAgnesbetweentheleaves，hadnotshifteditsposition。
　　"Can’tyoutrysomethinglonger，Rickie？"shesaid;
　　"Ibelievewe’reonthewrongtrack。Tryanout——and——outlove—story。"
　　"Mynotionjustnow，"hereplied，"istoleavethepassionsonthefringe。"Shenodded，andtappedforthewaiter:theyhadmetinaLondonrestaurant。"Ican’tsoar;Icanonlyindicate。
　　That’swherethemusicianshavethepull，formusichaswings，andwhenshesays’Tristan’andhesays’Isolde，’youareontheheightsatonce。Whatdopeoplemeanwhentheycalllovemusicartificial？"
　　"Iknowwhattheymean，thoughIcan’texactlyexplain。Orcouldn’tyoumakeyourstoriesmoreobvious？Idon’tseeanyharminthat。UncleWillieflounderedhopelessly。Hedoesn’treadmuch，andhegotmuddled。Ihadtoexplain，andthenhewasdelighted。Ofcourse，towritedowntothepublicwouldbequiteanotherthingandhorrible。Youhavecertainideas，andyoumustexpressthem。Butcouldn’tyouexpressthemmoreclearly？"
　　"Yousee——"Hegotnofurtherthan"yousee。"
　　"Thesoulandthebody。Thesoul’swhatmatters，"saidAgnes，andtappedforthewaiteragain。Helookedatheradmiringly，butfeltthatshewasnotaperfectcritic。Perhapsshewastooperfecttobeacritic。Actuallifemightseemtohersorealthatshecouldnotdetecttheunionofshadowandadamantthatmencallpoetry。Hewouldevengofurtherandacknowledgethatshewasnotascleverashimself——andhewasstupidenough！Shedidnotlikediscussinganythingorreadingsolidbooks，andshewasalittleangrywithsuchwomenasdid。Itpleasedhimtomaketheseconcessions，fortheytouchednothinginherthathevalued。Helookedroundtherestaurant，whichwasinSohoanddecidedthatshewasincomparable。
　　"Athalf—pasttwoIcallontheeditorofthe’Holborn。’He’sgotastraystorytolookat，andhe’swrittenaboutit。"
　　"Oh，Rickie！Rickie！Whydidn’tyouputonaboiledshirt！"
　　Helaughed，andteasedher。"’Thesoul’swhatmatters。Weliterarypeopledon’tcareaboutdress。"
　　"Well，yououghttocare。AndIbelieveyoudo。Can’tyouchange？"
　　"Toofar。"HehadroomsinSouthKensington。"AndI’veforgotmycard—case。There’sforyou！"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Naughty，naughtyboy！Whateverwillyoudo？"
　　"Sendinmyname，oraskforabitofpaperandwriteit。Hullo！
　　that’sTilliard！"
　　Tilliardblushed，partlyonaccountofthefauxpashehadmadelastJune，partlyonaccountoftherestaurant。HeexplainedhowhecametobepigginginSoho:itwassofrightfullyconvenientandsofrightfullycheap。
　　"JustwhyRickiebringsme，"saidMissPembroke。
　　"AndIsupposeyou’reheretostudylife？"saidTilliard，sittingdown。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidRickie，gazingroundatthewaitersandtheguests。
　　"Doesn’tonewanttoseeagooddealoflifeforwriting？There’slifeofasortinSoho，——Unpeudefaisan，s’ilvowsplait。"
　　Agnesalsograbbedatthewaiter，andpaid。Shealwaysdidthepaying，Rickiemuddledwithhispurse。
　　"I’mcramming，"pursuedTilliard，"andsonaturallyIcomeintocontactwithverylittleatpresent。ButlateronIhopetoseethings。"Heblushedalittle，forhewastalkingforRickie’sedification。"Itismostfrightfullyimportantnottogetanarroworacademicoutlook，don’tyouthink？ApersonlikeAnsell，whogoesfromCambridge，home——home，Cambridge——itmusttellonhimintime。"
　　"ButMr。Ansellisaphilosopher。"
　　"Averykinkyone，"saidTilliardabruptly。"Notmyideaofaphilosopher。Howgoeshisdissertation？"
　　"Heneveranswersmyletters，"repliedRickie。"Heneverwould。
　　I’veheardnothingsinceJune。"
　　"It’sapityhesendsinthisyear。Therearesomanygoodpeoplein。He’dhaveafarbetterchanceifhewaited。"
　　"SoIsaid，buthewouldn’twait。He’ssokeenaboutthisparticularsubject。"
　　"Whatisit？"askedAgnes。
　　"Aboutthingsbeingreal，wasn’tit，Tilliard？"
　　"That’snearenough。"
　　"Well，goodlucktohim！"saidthegirl。"Andgoodlucktoyou，Mr。Tilliard！Lateron，Ihope，we’llmeetagain。"
　　Theyparted。Tilliardlikedher，thoughhedidnotfeelthatshewasquiteinhiscouchesociale。Hissister，forinstance，wouldneverhavebeenluredintoaSohorestaurant——exceptfortheexperienceofthething。Tilliard’scouchesocialepermittedexperiences。Providedhisheartdidnotgoouttothepoorandtheunorthodox，hemightstareatthemasmuchasheliked。Itwasseeinglife。
　　AgnesputherloversafelyintoanomnibusatCambridgeCircus。
　　Sheshoutedafterhimthathistiewasrisingoverhiscollar，buthedidnothearher。Foramomentshefeltdepressed，andpicturedquiteaccuratelytheeffectthathisappearancewouldhaveontheeditor。Theeditorwasatallneatmanofforty，slowofspeech，slowofsoul，andextraordinarilykind。HeandRickiesatoverafire，withanenormoustablebehindthemwhereonstoodmanybookswaitingtobereviewed。
　　"I’msorry，"hesaid，andpaused。
　　Rickiesmiledfeebly。
　　"Yourstorydoesnotconvince。"Hetappedit。"Ihavereaditwithverygreatpleasure。Itconvincesinparts，butitdoesnotconvinceasawhole;andstories，don’tyouthink，oughttoconvinceasawhole？"
　　"Theyoughtindeed，"saidRickie，andplungedintoself—depreciation。Buttheeditorcheckedhim。
　　"No——no。Pleasedon’ttalklikethat。Ican’tbeartohearanyonetalkagainstimagination。Therearecountlessopeningsforimagination，——forthemysterious，forthesupernatural，forallthethingsyouaretryingtodo，andwhich，Ihope，youwillsucceedindoing。I’mnotOBJECTINGtoimagination;onthecontrary，I’dadviseyoutocultivateit，toaccentit。Writeareallygoodghoststoryandwe’dtakeitatonce。Or"——hesuggesteditasanalternativetoimagination——"oryoumightgetinsidelife。It’sworthdoing。"
　　"Life？"echoedRickieanxiously。
　　Helookedroundthepleasantroom，asiflifemightbeflutteringtherelikeanimprisonedbird。Thenhelookedattheeditor:
　　perhapshewassittinginsidelifeatthisverymoment。
　　"Seelife，Mr。Elliot，andthensendusanotherstory。"Heheldouthishand。"IamsorryIhavetosay’No，thankyou’;it’ssomuchnicertosay，’Yes，please。’"Helaidhishandontheyoungman’ssleeve，andadded，"Well，theinterview’snotbeensoalarmingafterall，hasit？"
　　"Idon’tthinkthateitherofusisaveryalarmingperson，"wasnotRickie’sreply。Itwaswhathethoughtoutafterwardsintheomnibus。Hisreplywas"Ow，"deliveredwithaslightgiggle。
　　Asherumbledwestward，hisfacewasdrawn，andhiseyesmovedquicklytotherightandleft，asifhewoulddiscoversomethinginthesqualidfashionablestreetssomebirdonthewing，someradiantarchway，thefaceofsomegodbeneathabeaverhat。Heloved，hewasloved，hehadseendeathandotherthings;buttheheartofallthingswashidden。Therewasapasswordandhecouldnotlearnit，norcouldthekindeditorofthe"Holborn"teachhim。Hesighed，andthensighedmorepiteously。Forhadhenotknownthepasswordonce——knownitandforgottenitalready？
　　ButatthispointhisfortunesbecomeintimatelyconnectedwiththoseofMr。Pembroke。
　　PART2SAWSTON
　　XVI
　　InthreeyearsMr。Pembrokehaddonemuchtosolidifytheday—boysatSawstonSchool。Iftheywerenotsolid，theywereatalleventscurdling，andhisactivitiesmightreasonablyturnelsewhere。Hehadservedtheschoolformanyyears，anditwasreallytimeheshouldbeentrustedwithaboarding—house。Theheadmaster，animpulsivemanwhodartedaboutlikeaminnowandgavehismotheragreatdealoftrouble，agreedwithhim，andalsoagreedwithMrs。JacksonwhenshesaidthatMr。Jacksonhadservedtheschoolformanyyearsandthatitwasreallytimeheshouldbeentrustedwithaboarding—house。Consequently，whenDunwoodHousefellvacanttheheadmasterfoundhimselfinratheradifficultposition。
　　DunwoodHousewasthelargestandmostlucrativeoftheboarding—houses。Itstoodalmostoppositetheschoolbuildings。
　　Originallyithadbeenavillaresidence——ared—brickvilla，coveredwithcreepersandcrownedwithterracottadragons。Mr。
　　Annison，founderofitsglory，hadlivedhere，andhadhadoneortwoboystolivewithhim。Timeschanged。Thefameofthebishopsblazedbrighter，theschoolincreased，theoneortwoboysbecameadozen，andanadditionwasmadetoDunwoodHousethatmorethandoubleditssize。Ahugenewbuilding，repletewitheveryconvenience，wasstuckontoitsrightflank。Dormitories，cubicles，studies，apreparation—room，adining—room，parquetfloors，hot—airpipes——noexpensewasspared，andthetwelveboysroamedoveritlikeprinces。BaizedoorscommunicatedoneveryfloorwithMr。Annison’spart，andhe，ananxiousgentleman，wouldstrollbackwardsandforwards，alittledepressedatthehygienicsplendours，andconsciousofsomevanishedintimacy。
　　Somehowhehadknownhisboysbetterwhentheyhadallmuddledtogetherasonefamily，andalgebraslaystrewnuponthedrawingroomchairs。Asthehousefilled，hisinterestinitdecreased。
　　Whenheretired——whichhedidthesamesummerthatRickieleftCambridge——ithadalreadypassedthesummitofexcellenceandwasbeginningtodecline。Itsnumberswerestillsatisfactory，andforalittletimeitwouldsubsistonitspastreputation。Butthatmysteriousassetthetonehadlowered，anditwasthereforeofgreatimportancethatMr。Annison’ssuccessorshouldbeafirst—classman。Mr。Coates，whocamenextinseniority，waspassedover，andrightly。ThechoicelaybetweenMr。PembrokeandMr。Jackson，theoneanorganizer，theotherahumanist。Mr。
　　JacksonwasmasteroftheSixth，and——withtheexceptionoftheheadmaster，whowastoobusytoimpartknowledge——theonlyfirst—classintellectintheschool。Buthecouldnotorratherwouldnot，keeporder。Hetoldhisformthatifitchosetolistentohimitwouldlearn;ifitdidn’t，itwouldn’t。Onehalflistened。Theotherhalfmadepaperfrogs，andboredholesintheraisedmapofItalywiththeirpenknives。Whenthepenknivesgrittedhepunishedthemwithundueseverity，andthenforgottomakethemshowthepunishmentsup。Yetoutofthischaostwofactsemerged。HalftheboysgotscholarshipsattheUniversity，andsomeofthem——includingseveralofthepaper—frogsort——
　　remainedfriendswithhimthroughouttheirlives。Moreover，hewasrich，andhadacompetentwife。HisclaimtoDunwoodHousewasstrongerthanonewouldhavesupposed。
　　ThequalificationsofMr。Pembrokehavealreadybeenindicated。
　　Theyprevailed——butunderconditions。Ifthingswentwrong，hemustpromisetoresign。
　　"Inthefirstplace，"saidtheheadmaster，"youaredoingsosplendidlywiththeday—boys。Yourattitudetowardstheparentsismagnificent。I——don’tknowhowtoreplaceyouthere。Whereas，ofcourse，theparentsofaboarder——"
　　"Ofcourse，"saidMr。Pembroke。
　　Theparentofaboarder，whoonlyhadtoremovehissonifhewasdiscontentedwiththeschool，wasnaturallyinamoreindependentpositionthantheparentwhohadbroughtallhisgoodsandchattelstoSawston，andwasrentingahousethere。
　　"Nowtheparentsofboarders——thisismysecondpoint——
　　practicallydemandthatthehouse—mastershouldhaveawife。"
　　"Amostunreasonabledemand，"saidMr。Pembroke。
　　"Tomymindalsoabrightmotherlymatronisquitesufficient。
　　Butthatiswhattheydemand。Andthatiswhy——doyousee？——weHAVEtoregardyourappointmentasexperimental。PossiblyMissPembrokewillbeabletohelpyou。OrIdon’tknowwhetherifever——"Heleftthesentenceunfinished。TwodayslaterMr。
　　PembrokeproposedtoMrs。Orr。
　　Hehadalwaysintendedtomarrywhenhecouldaffordit;andoncehehadbeeninlove，violentlyinlove，buthadlaidthepassionaside，andtoldittowaittillamoreconvenientseason。Thiswas，ofcourse，theproperthingtodo，andprudenceshouldhavebeenrewarded。Butwhen，afterthelapseoffifteenyears，hewent，asitwere，tohisspirituallarderandtookdownLovefromthetopshelftoofferhimtoMrs。Orr，hewasratherdismayed。
　　Somethinghadhappened。Perhapsthegodhadflown;perhapshehadbeeneatenbytherats。Atallevents，hewasnotthere。
　　Mr。Pembrokewasconscientiousandromantic，andknewthatmarriagewithoutloveisintolerable。Ontheotherhand，hecouldnotadmitthatlovehadvanishedfromhim。Toadmitthis，wouldarguethathehaddeteriorated。
　　Whereasheknewforafactthathehadimproved，yearbyyear。