Thusmusinghelaydowntosleep，feelingdiseasedinbodyandsoul。Itwasnowonderthatthenightwasthemostterriblehehadeverknown。HerevisitedCambridge，andhisnamewasagreyghostoverthedoor。Thenthererecurredthevoiceofagentleshadowywoman，Mrs。Aberdeen，"Itdoesn’tseemhardlyright。"
　　Thosehadbeenherwords，heronlycomplaintagainstthemysteriesofchangeanddeath。Shebowedherheadandlabouredtomakeher"gentlemen"comfortable。Shewaslabouringstill。AshelayinbedheaskedGodtogranthimherwisdom;thathemightkeepsorrowwithinduebounds;thathemightabstainfromextremehatredandenvyofStephen。Itwasseldomthatheprayedsodefinitely，orventuredtoobtrudehisprivatewishes。Religionwastohimaservice，amysticcommunionwithgood;notameansofgettingwhathewantedontheearth。Buttonight，throughsuffering，hewashumbled，andbecamelikeMrs。Aberdeen。
　　Hourafterhourheawaitedsleepandtriedtoendurethefacesthatfrothedinthegloom——hisaunt’s，hisfather’s，and，worstofall，thetriumphantfaceofhisbrother。Oncehestruckatit，andawoke，havinghurthishandonthewall。Thenheprayedhystericallyforpardonandrest。
　　Yetagaindidheawake，andfromamoremysteriousdream。Heheardhismothercrying。Shewascryingquitedistinctlyinthedarkenedroom。Hewhispered，"Nevermind，mydarling，nevermind，"andavoiceechoed，"Nevermind——comeaway——letthemdieout——letthemdieout。"Helitacandle，andtheroomwasempty。Then，hurryingtothewindow，hesawabovemeanhousesthefrostygloriesofOrion。
　　Henceforwardhedeteriorates。Letthosewhocensurehimsuggestwhatheshoulddo。Hehaslosttheworkthatheloved，hisfriends，andhischild。Heremainedconscientiousanddecent，butthespiritualpartofhimproceededtowardsruin。
　　XXIV
　　Thecomingmonths，thoughfullofdegradationandanxiety，weretobringhimnothingsoterribleasthatnight。Itwasthecrisisofthisagony。Hewasanoutcastandafailure。Buthewasnotagainforcedtocontemplatethesefactssoclearly。Vardenleftinthemorning，carryingthefatalletterwithhim。Thewholehousewasrelieved。Thegoodangelwaswiththeboysagain，orelse（asHerbertpreferredtothink）theyhadlearntalesson，andweremorehumaneinconsequence。Atallevents，thedisastroustermconcludedquietly。
　　IntheChristmasholidaysthetwomastersmadeanabortiveattempttovisitItaly，andatEastertherewastalkofacruiseintheAegean。Herbertactuallywent，andenjoyedAthensandDelphi。TheElliotspaidafewvisitstogetherinEngland。TheyreturnedtoSawstonabouttendaysbeforeschoolopened，tofindthatWiddringtonwasagainstoppingwiththeJacksons。
　　Intercoursewaspainful，forthetwofamilieswerescarcelyonspeakingterms;nordidthetriumphantscaffoldingsofthenewboarding—housemakethingseasier。（Thepartyofprogresshadcarriedtheday。）Widdringtonwasbynaturetouchy，butonthisoccasionherefusedtotakeoffence，andoftendroppedintoseethem。Hismannerwasfriendlybutcritical。Theyagreedhewasanuisance。ThenAgnesleft，veryabruptly，toseeMrs。Failing，andwhileshewasawayRickiehadalittlestealthyintercourse。
　　Herabsence，convenientasitwas，puzzledhim。Mrs。Silt，halfgoose，halfstormy—petrel，hadrecentlypaidaflyingvisittoCadover，andthencehadflown，withoutaninvitation，toSawston。
　　Generallyshewasnotawelcomeguest。OnthisoccasionAgneshadwelcomedher，and——soRickiethought——hadmadeherpromisenottotellhimsomethingthatsheknew。Theladieshadtalkedmysteriously。"Mr。Siltwouldbeonewithyouthere，"saidMrs。
　　Silt。Couldtherebeanyconnectionbetweenthetwovisits？
　　Agnes’sletterstoldhimnothing:theyneverdid。Shewastooclumsyortoocautioustoexpressherselfonpaper。AdrivetoStonehenge;ananthemintheCathedral;AuntEmily’slove。AndwhenhemetheratWaterloohelearntnothing（iftherewasanythingtolearn）fromherface。
　　"Howdidyouenjoyyourself？"
　　"Thoroughly。"
　　"Wereyouandshealone？"
　　"Sometimes。Sometimesotherpeople。"
　　"WillUncleTony’sEssaysbepublished？"
　　Hereshewasmorecommunicative。Thebookwasatlastinproof。
　　AuntEmilyhadwrittenacharmingintroduction;butshewassoidle，sheneverfinishedthingsoff。
　　TheygotintoanomnibusfortheArmyandNavyStores:shewantedtodosomeshoppingbeforegoingdowntoSawston。
　　"DidyoureadanyoftheEssays？"
　　"Everyone。Delightful。Couldn’tputthemdown。Nowandthenhespoiltthembystatistics——butyoushouldreadhisdescriptionsofNature。Heagreeswithyou:saysthehillsandtreesarealive！AuntEmilycalledyouhisspiritualheir，whichIthoughtniceofher。Webothsolamentedthatyouhavestoppedwriting。"
　　ShequotedfragmentsoftheEssaysastheywentupintheStores’
　　lift。
　　"Whatelsedidyoutalkabout？"
　　"I’vetoldyouallmynews。Nowforyours。Let’shaveteafirst。"
　　Theysatdowninthecorridoramidladiesineverystageoffatigue——haggardladies，scarletladies，ladieswithparcelsthattwistedfromeveryfingerlikejointsofmeat。Gentlemenwerescarcer，butallwereofthesub—fashionabletype，towhichRickiehimselfnowbelonged。
　　"Ihaven’tdoneanything，"hesaidfeebly。"Ate，read，beenrudetotradespeople，talkedtoWiddrington。Herbertarrivedthismorning。HehasbroughtamostbeautifulphotographoftheParthenon。"
　　"Mr。Widdrington？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whatdidyoutalkabout？"
　　Shemighthaveheardeveryword。Itwasonlythefeelingofpleasurethathewishedtoconceal。Evenwhenwelovepeople，wedesiretokeepsomecornersecretfromthem，howeversmall:itisahumanright:itispersonality。Shebegantocross—questionhim，buttheywereinterrupted。Ayoungladyatanadjacenttablesuddenlyroseandcried，"Yes，itisyou。Ithoughtsofromyourwalk。"ItwasMaudAnsell。
　　"Oh，docomeandjoinus！"hecried。"Letmeintroducemywife。"
　　Maudbowedquitestiffly，butAgnes，takingitforill—breeding，wasnotoffended。
　　"ThenIwillcome！"shecontinuedinshrill，pleasanttones，adroitlypoisingherteathingsoneitherhand，andtransferringthemtotheElliots’table。"Whyhaven’tyouevercometous，pray？"
　　"Ithinkyoudidn’taskme！"
　　"Youweren’ttobeasked。"Shesprawledforwardwithawaggingfinger。Buthereyeshadthehonestyofherbrother’s。"Don’tyourememberthedayyouleftus？Fathersaid，’Now，Mr。Elliot——’Ordidhecallyou’Elliot’？Howonedoesforget。Anyhow，fathersaidyouweren’ttowaitforaninvitation，andyousaid，’No，Iwon’t。’Oursisafair—sizedhouse，"——sheturnedsomewhathaughtilytoAgnes，——"andthesecondspareroom，onaccountofaharpthathangsonthewall，isalwaysreservedforStewart’sfriends。"
　　"HowisMr。Ansell，yourbrother？"
　　Maud’sfacefell。"Hadn’tyouheard？"shesaidinawe—strucktones。
　　"No。"
　　"Hehasn’tgothisfellowship。It’sthesecondtimehe’sfailed。
　　Thatmeanshewillnevergetone。Hewillneverbeadon，norliveinCambridgeandthat，aswehadhoped。"
　　"Oh，poor，poorfellow！"saidMrs。Elliotwitharemorsethatwassincere，thoughhercongratulationswouldnothavebeen。"Iamsoverysorry。"
　　ButMaudturnedtoRickie。"Mr。Elliot，youmightknow。Tellme。
　　WhatiswrongwithStewart’sphilosophy？Whatoughthetoputin，ortoalter，soastosucceed？"
　　Agnes，whoknewbetterthanthis，smiled。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidRickiesadly。Theywerenoneofthemsoclever，afterall。
　　"Hegel，"shecontinuedvindictively。"Theysayhe’sreadtoomuchHegel。Buttheynevertellhimwhattoreadinstead。Theirownstuffybooks，Isuppose。Lookhere——no，that’sthe’Windsor。’"
　　Afteralittlegropingsheproducedacopyof"Mind，"andhandeditroundasifitwasageologicalspecimen。"Insidethatthere’saparagraphwrittenaboutsomethingStewart’swrittenaboutbefore，andthereitsayshe’sreadtoomuchHegel，anditseemsnowthatthat’sbeenthetroubleallalong。"Hervoicetrembled。
　　"Icallitmostunfair，andthefellowship’sgonetoamanwhohascountedthepetalsonananemone。"
　　Rickiehadnoinclinationtosmile。
　　"IwishStewarthadtriedOxfordinstead。"
　　"Idon’twishit！"
　　"Yousaythat，"shecontinuedhotly，"andthenyounevercometoseehim，thoughyouknewyouwerenottowaitforaninvitation。"
　　"Ifitcomestothat，MissAnsell，"retortedRickie，inthelaughingtonesthatoneadoptsonsuchoccasions，"Stewartwon’tcometome，thoughhehashadaninvitation。"
　　"Yes，"chimedinAgnes，"weaskMr。Ansellagainandagain，andhewillhavenoneofus。"
　　Maudlookedatherwithaflashingeye。"Mybrotherisaverypeculiarperson，andweladiescan’tunderstandhim。ButIknowonething，andthat’sthathehasareasonallroundforwhathedoes。Lookhere，Imustbegettingon。Waiter！Wai—ai—aiter！
　　Bill，please。Separately，ofcourse。CalltheArmyandNavycheap！Iknowbetter！"
　　"Howdoesthedraperydepartmentcompare？"saidAgnessweetly。
　　Thegirlgaveasharpchokingsound，gatheredupherparcels，andleftthem。Rickiewastoomuchdisgustedwithhiswifetospeak。
　　"Appallingperson！"shegasped。"Itwasnaughtyofme，butI
　　couldn’thelpit。Whatadreadfulfateforacleverman！Tofailinlifecompletely，andthentobethrownbackonafamilylikethat！"
　　"MaudisasnobandaPhilistine。But，inhercase，somethingemerges。"
　　Sheglancedathim，butproceededinhersuavesttones，"DoletusmakeonegreatunitedattempttogetMr。AnselltoSawston。"
　　"No。"
　　"Whatachangeablefriendyouare！Whenwewereengagedyouwerealwaystalkingabouthim。"
　　"Wouldyoufinishyourtea，andthenwewillbuythelinoleumforthecubicles。"
　　Butshereturnedtothesubjectagain，notonlyonthatdaybutthroughouttheterm。CouldnothingbedoneforpoorMr。Ansell？
　　Itseemedthatshecouldnotrestuntilallthathehadoncehelddearwashumiliated。Inthisshestrayedoutsidehernature:shewasunpractica1。Andthosewhostrayoutsidetheirnatureinvitedisaster。Rickie，goadedbyher，wrotetohisfriendagain。Theletterwasinallwaysunlikehisoldself。Anselldidnotanswerit。ButhedidwritetoMr。Jackson，withwhomhewasnotacquainted。
　　"DearMr。Jackson，——
　　IunderstandfromWiddringtonthatyouhavealargehouse。I
　　wouldliketotellyouhowconvenientitwouldbeformetocomeandstopinit。Junesuitsmebest。——
　　Yourstruly，StewartAnsellTowhichMr。JacksonrepliedthatnotonlyinJunebutduringthewholeyearhishousewasatthedisposalofMr。Ansellandofanyonewhoresembledhim。
　　ButAgnescontinuedherlife，cheerfullybeatingtime。She，too，knewthathermarriagewasafailure，andinhersparemomentsregrettedit。Shewishedthatherhusbandwashandsomer，moresuccessful，moredictatorial。Butshewouldthink，"No，no;onemustn’tgrumble。Itcan’tbehelped。"Ansellwaswronginsup—
　　posingshemighteverleaveRickie。Spiritualapathypreventedher。Norwouldsheeverbetemptedbyajollierman。Herecriticismwouldwillinglyalteritstone。ForAgnesalsohashertragedy。Shebelongedtothetype——notnecessarilyanelevatedone——thatlovesonceandonceonly。HerloveforGeraldhadnotbeenanoblepassion:noimaginationtransfiguredit。Butsuchasitwas，itsprangtoembracehim，andhecarrieditawaywithhimwhenhedied。Lesamoursguisuivrentsontmoinsinvoluntaires:
　　byaneffortofthewillshehadwarmedherselfforRickie。
　　Sheisnotconsciousofhertragedy，andthereforeonlythegodsneedweepatit。Butitisfairtorememberthathithertoshemovesasonefromwhomtheinnerlifehasbeenwithdrawn。
　　XXV
　　"Iamafraid，"saidAgnes，unfoldingaletterthatshehadreceivedinthemorning，"thatthingsgofarfromsatisfactorilyatCadover。"
　　Thethreewerealoneatsupper。ItwastheJuneofRickie’ssecondyearatSawston。
　　"Indeed？"saidHerbert，whotookafriendlyinterest。"Inwhatway？
　　"DoyourememberustalkingofStephen——StephenWonham，whobyanoddcoincidence——"
　　"Yes。WhowrotelastyeartothatmiserablefailureVarden。I
　　do。"
　　"Itisabouthim。"
　　"Ididnotlikethetoneofhisletter。"
　　Agneshadmadeherfirstmove。Shewaitedforherhusbandtoreplytoit。Buthe，thoughfullofapainfulcuriosity，wouldnotspeak。Shemovedagain。
　　"Idon’tthink，Herbert，thatAuntEmily，muchasIlikeher，isthekindofpersontobringayoungmanup。Atalleventstheresultshavebeendisastrousthistime。"
　　"Whathashappened？"
　　"Atangleofthings。"Sheloweredhervoice。"Drink。"
　　"Dear！Really！WasMrs。Failingfondofhim？"
　　"Sheusedtobe。ShelethimliveatCadovereversincehewasalittleboy。Naturallythatcannotcontinue。"
　　Rickieneverspoke。
　　"Andnowhehastakentobeviolentandrude，"shewenton。
　　"Inshort，abeggaronhorseback。Whoishe？Hashegotrelatives？"
　　"Shehasalwaysbeenbothfatherandmothertohim。Nowitmustallcometoanend。Iblameher——andsheblamesherself——fornotbeingsevereenough。Hehasgrownupwithoutfixedprinciples。Hehasalwaysfollowedhisinclinations，andoneknowstheresultofthat"
　　Herbertassented。"TomeMrs。Failing’scourseisperfectlyplain。Shehasacertainresponsibility。Shemustpaytheyouth’spassagetooneofthecolonies，starthimhandsomelyinsomebusiness，andthenbreakoffallcommunications。"
　　"Howfunny！Itisexactlywhatsheisgoingtodo。"
　　"Ishallthenconsiderthatshehasbehavedinathoroughlyhonourablemanner。"Heheldouthisplateforgooseberries。"HislettertoVardenwasneitherhelpfulnorsympathetic，and，ifwrittenatall，itoughttohavebeenboth。Iamnotintheleastsurprisedtolearnthathehasturnedoutbadly。Whenyouwritenext，wouldyoutellherhowsorryIam？"
　　"IndeedIwill。Twoyearsago，whenshewasalreadyalittleanxious，shedidsowishyoucouldundertakehim。
　　"Icouldnotalteragrownman。"Butinhishearthethoughthecould，andsmiledathissisteramiably。"Terrible，isn’tit？"heremarkedtoRickie。Rickie，whowastryingnottomindanything，assented。Andanonlookerwouldhavesupposedthemadispassionatetrio，whoweresorrybothforMrs。Failingandforthebeggarwhowouldbestrideherhorses’backsnolonger。AnewtopicwasintroducedbythearrivaloftheeveningpostHerberttookupalltheletters，asheoftendid。
　　"Jackson？"heexclaimed。"Whatdoesthefellowwant？"Heread，andhistonewasmollified，"’DearMr。Pembroke，——Couldyou，Mrs。
　　Elliot，andMr。ElliotcometosupperwithusonSaturdaynext？I
　　shouldnotmerelybepleased，Ishouldbegrateful。MywifeiswritingformallytoMrs。Elliot’——（Here，Agnes，takeyourletter），——butIventuretowriteaswell，andtoaddmymoreuncouthentreaties。’——Anolive—branch。Itistime！But（ridiculousperson！）doeshethinkthatwecanleavetheHousedesertedandallgooutpleasuringintermtime？——Rickie，aletterforyou。"
　　"Mine’stheformalinvitation，"saidAgnes。"Howveryodd！Mr。
　　Ansellwillbethere。Surelyweaskedhimhere！DidyouknowheknewtheJacksons？"
　　"Thismakesrefusalverydifficult，"saidHerbert，whowasanxioustoaccept。"Atallevents，Rickieoughttogo。"
　　"Idonotwanttogo，"saidRickie，slowlyopeninghisownletter。"AsAgnessays，Ansellhasrefusedtocometous。I
　　cannotputmyselfoutforhim。"
　　"Who’syoursfrom？"shedemanded。
　　"Mrs。Silt，"repliedHerbert，whohadseenthehandwriting。
　　"Itrustshedoesnotwanttopayusavisitthisterm，withtheexaminationsimpendingandallthemachineryatfullpressure。
　　Though，Rickie，youwillhavetoaccepttheJacksons’
　　invitation。"
　　"Icannotpossiblygo。Ihavebeentoorude;withWiddringtonwealwaysmeethere。I’llstopwiththeboys——"Hisvoicecaughtsuddenly。HehadopenedMrs。Silt’sletter。
　　"TheSiltsarenotill，Ihope？"
　　"No。But，Isay，"——helookedathiswife，——"Idothinkthisisgoingtoofar。Really，Agnes。"
　　"Whathashappened？"
　　"Itisgoingtoofar，"herepeated。Hewasnervinghimselfforanotherbattle。"Icannotstandthissortofthing。Therearelimits。"
　　Helaidtheletterdown。ItwasHerbertwhopickeditup，andread:"AuntEmilyhasjustwrittentous。Wearesogladthathertroublesareover，inspiteoftheexpense。Itneverdoestoliveapartfromone’sownrelativessomuchasshehasdoneuptonow。
　　HegoesnextSaturdaytoCanada。Whatyoutoldherabouthimjustturnedthescale。Shehasaskedus——"
　　"No，it’stoomuch，"heinterrupted。"WhatItoldher——toldherabouthim——no，Iwillhaveitoutatlast。Agnes！"
　　"Yes？"saidhiswife，raisinghereyesfromMrs。Jackson’sformalinvitation。
　　"It’syou——it’syou。Inevermentionedhimtoher。Why，I’veneverseenherorwrittentohersince。Iaccuseyou。"
　　ThenHerbertoverborehim，andhecollapsed。Hewasaskedwhathemeant。Whywashesoexcited？Ofwhatdidheaccusehiswife。
　　Eachtimehespokemorefeebly，andbeforelongthebrotherandsisterwerelaughingathim。Hefeltbewildered，likeaboywhoknowsthatheisrightbutcannotputhiscasecorrectly。Herepeated，"I’venevermentionedhimtoher。It’salibel。Neverinmylife。"Andtheycried，"MydearRickie，whatanabsurdfuss！"Thenhisbraincleared。Hiseyefellontheletterthathiswifehadreceivedfromhisaunt，andhereopenedthebattle。
　　"Agnes，givemethatletter，ifyouplease。"
　　"Mrs。Jackson’s？"
　　"Myaunt’s。"
　　Sheputherhandonit，andlookedathimdoubtfully。Shesawthatshehadfailedtobullyhim。
　　"Myaunt’sletter，"herepeated，risingtohisfeetandbendingoverthetabletowardsher。
　　"Why，dear？"
　　"Yes，whyindeed？"echoedHerbert。HetoohadbulliedRickie，butfromapurermotive:hehadtriedtostampoutadissensionbetweenhusbandandwife。Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadintervened。
　　"Theletter。Forthisreason:itwillshowmewhatyouhavedone。
　　IbelieveyouhaveruinedStephen。youhaveworkedatitfortwoyears。Youhaveputwordsintomymouthto’turnthescale’
　　againsthim。HegoestoCanada——andalltheworldthinksitisowingtome。AsIsaidbefore——Iadviseyoutostopsmiling——youhavegonealittletoofar。"
　　Theywereallontheirfeetnow，standingroundthelittletable。
　　Agnessaidnothing，butthefingersofherdelicatehandtightenedupontheletter。Whenherhusbandsnatchedatitsheresisted，andwiththeeffectofaharlequinadeeverythingwentonthefloor——lamb，mintsauce，gooseberries，lemonade，whisky。
　　Atoncetheywereswampedindomesticities。Sherangthebellfortheservant，criesarose，dusterswerebrought，brokencrockery（aweddingpresent）pickedupfromthecarpet;whilehestoodwrathfullyatthewindow，regardingtheobscuredsun’sdecline。
　　"IMUSTseeherletter，"herepeated，whentheagitationwasover。Hewastooangrytobedivertedfromhispurpose。Onlyslightemotionsarethwartedbyaninterludeoffarce。
　　"I’vehadenoughofthisquarrelling，"sheretorted。"YouknowthattheSiltsareinaccurate。Ithinkyoumighthavegivenmethebenefitofthedoubt。Ifyouwillknow——haveyouforgottenthatrideyoutookwithhim。？"
　　"I——"hewasagainbewildered。"TheridewhereIdreamt——"
　　"Theridewhereyouturnedbackbecauseyoucouldnotlistentoadisgracefulpoem？"
　　"Idon’tunderstand。"
　　"ThepoemwasAuntEmily。Hereadittoyouandastraysoldier。
　　Afterwardsyoutoldme。Yousaid，’Reallyitisshocking，hisingratitude。Sheoughttoknowaboutit’Shedoesknow，andI
　　shouldbegladofanapology。"
　　Hehadsaidsomethingofthesortinafitofirritation。Mrs。
　　Siltwasright——hehadhelpedtoturnthescale。
　　"WhateverIsaid，youknewwhatImeant。YouknewI’dsoonercutmytongueoutthanhaveitusedagainsthim。Eventhen。"Hesighed。Hadheruinedhisbrother？Acurioustendernesscameoverhim，andpassedwhenherememberedhisowndeadchild。"Wehaveruinedhim，then。Haveyouanyobjectionto’we’？Wehavedisinheritedhim。"
　　"Idecideagainstyou，"interposedHerbert。"Ihavenowheardbothsidesofthisdeplorableaffair。Youaretalkingmostcriminalnonsense。’Disinherit！’Sentimentaltwaddle。It’sbeencleartomefromthefirstthatMrs。FailinghasbeenimposeduponbytheWonhamman，apersonwithnolegalclaimonher，andanyonewhoexposeshimperformsapublicduty——"
　　"——Andgetsmoney。"
　　"Money？"Hewasalwaysuneasyattheword。"Whomentionedmoney？"
　　"Justunderstandme，Herbert，andofwhatitisthatIaccusemywife。"Tearscameintohiseyes。"ItisnotthatIliketheWonhamman，orthinkthatheisn’tadrunkardandworse。He’stooawfulineveryway。Butheoughttohavemyaunt’smoney，becausehe’slivedallhislifewithher，andishernephewasmuchasI
　　am。Yousee，myfatherwentwrong。"Hestopped，amazedathimself。Howeasyithadbeentosay！Hewaswitheringup:thepowertocareaboutthisstupidsecrethaddied。
　　WhenHerbertunderstood，hisfirstthoughtwasforDunwoodHouse。
　　"WhyhaveIneverbeentold？"washisfirstremark。
　　"Wesettledtotellnoone，"saidAgnes。"Rickie，inhisanxietytoprovemealiar，hasbrokenhispromise。"
　　"Ioughttohavebeentold，"saidHerbert，hisangerincreasing。
　　"HadIknown，Icouldhaveavertedthisdeplorablescene。"
　　"Letmeconcludeit，"saidRickie，againcollapsingandleavingthedining—room。HisimpulsewastogostraighttoCadoverandmakeabusiness—likestatementofthepositiontoStephen。Thenthemanwouldbearmed，andperhapsfightthetwowomensuccessfully，Butheresistedtheimpulse。Whyshouldhehelponepowerofevilagainstanother？Letthemgointertwinedtodestruction。Toenrichhisbrotherwouldbeasbadasenrichinghimself。Iftheiraunt’smoneyeverdidcometohim，hewouldrefusetoacceptit。Thatwastheeasiestandmostdignifiedcourse。Hetroubledhimselfnolongerwithjusticeorpity，andthenextdayheaskedhiswife’spardonforhisbehaviour。
　　Inthedining—roomtheconversationcontinued。Agnes，withoutmuchdifficulty，gainedherbrotherasanally。Sheacknowledgedthatshehadbeenwronginnottellinghim，andhethendeclaredthatshehadbeenrightoneveryotherpoint。Sheslurredalittleovertheincidentofhertreachery，forHerbertwassometimesclearsightedoverdetails，thougheasilymuddledinageneralsurvey。Mrs。Failinghadhadplentyofdirectcausesofcomplaint，andshedweltonthese。Shedealt，too，ontheveryhandsomewayinwhichtheyoungman，"thoughheknewnothing，hadneveraskedtoknow，"wasbeingtreatedbyhisaunt。
　　"’Handsome’istheword，"saidHerbert。"Ihopenotindulgently。
　　Hedoesnotdeserveindulgence。"
　　Andsheknewthathe，likeherself，couldremembermoney，andthatitlentanacknowledgedhalotohercause。
　　"Itisnotasavourysubject，"hecontinued，withsuddenstiffness。"IunderstandwhyRickieissohysterical。
　　Myimpulse"——helaidhishandonhershoulder——"istoabandonitatonce。ButifIamtobeofanyusetoyou，Imusthearitall。
　　Therearemomentswhenwemustlookfactsintheface。"
　　Shedidnotshrinkfromthesubjectasmuchashethought，asmuchassheherselfcouldhavewished。Twoyearsbefore，ithadfilledherwithaphysicalloathing。Butbynowshehadaccustomedherselftoit。
　　"Iamafraid，Bertieboy，thereisnothingelsetobear，Ihavetriedtofindoutagainandagain，butAuntEmilywillnottellme。Isupposeitisnatural。ShewantstoshieldtheElliotname。
　　Sheonlytoldusinafitoftemper;thenweallagreedtokeepittoourselves;thenRickieagainmismanagedher，andeversinceshehasrefusedtoletusknowanydetails。"
　　"Amostunsatisfactoryposition。"
　　"SoIfeel。"Shesatdownagainwithasigh。Mrs。Failinghadbeenagreattrialtoherorderlymind。"Sheisanoddwoman。Sheisalwayslaughing。Sheactuallyfindsitamusingthatweknownomore。"