"Theyareanoddfamily。"
　　"Theyareindeed。"
　　Herbert，withunusualsweetness，bentdownandkissedher。
　　Shethankedhim。
　　Theirtendernesssoonpassed。Theyexchangeditwithavertedeyes。Itembarrassedthem。Therearemomentsforallofuswhenweseemobligedtospeakinanewunprofitabletongue。Onemightfancyaseraph，vexedwithournormallanguage，whotouchesthepioustoblasphemy，theblasphemoustopiety。Theseraphpasses，andweproceedunaltered——conscious，however，thatwehavenotbeenourselves，andthatwemayfailinthisfunctionyetagain。
　　SoAgnesandHerbert，astheyproceededtodiscusstheJackson’ssupper—party，hadanuneasymemoryofspiritualdeserts，spiritualstreams。
　　XXVI
　　PoorMr。AnsellwasactuallysittinginthegardenofDunwoodHouse。ItwasSundaymorning。Theairwasfullofroastingbeef。
　　Thesoundofamanlyhymn，takenveryfast，floatedovertheroadfromtheschoolchapel。Hefrowned，forhewasreadingabook，theEssaysofAnthonyEustaceFailing。
　　Hewashereonaccountofthisbook——atleastsohetoldhimself。
　　Ithadjustbeenpublished，andtheJacksonsweresurethatMr。
　　Elliotwouldhaveacopy。Forabookonemaygoanywhere。ItwouldnothavebeenlogicaltoenterDunwoodHouseforthepurposeofseeingRickie，whenRickiehadnotcometosupperyesterdaytoseehim。HewasatSawstontoassurehimselfofhisfriend’sgrave。Withquieteyeshehadintendedtoviewthesods，withunfalteringfingerstoinscribetheepitaph。Loveremained。
　　Butinhighmattershewaspractical。Heknewthatitwouldbeuselesstorevealit。
　　"Morning！"saidavoicebehindhim。
　　Hesawnoreasontoreplytothissuperfluousstatement，andwentonwithhisreading。
　　"Morning！"saidthevoiceagain。
　　AsfortheEssays，thethoughtwassomewhatold—fashioned，andhepickedmanyholesinit;norwasheanythingbutboredbytheprospectofthebrotherhoodofman。However，Mr。Failingstucktohisguns，suchastheywere，andfiredfromthemseveralgoodremarks。Verynotablewashisdistinctionbetweencoarsenessandvulgarity（coarseness，revealingsomething;vulgarity，concealingsomething），andhisavowedpreferenceforcoarseness。Vulgarity，tohim，hadbeentheprimalcurse，theshoddyreticencethatpreventsmanopeninghishearttoman，thepowerthatmakesagainstequality。Fromitsprangallthethingsthathehated——
　　classshibboleths，ladies，lidies，thegamelaws，theConservativeparty——allthethingsthataccentthedivergenciesratherthanthesimilaritiesinhumannature。Whereascoarseness——
　　ButatthispointHerbertPembrokehadscrawledwithabluepencil:"Childish。Onereadsnofurther。"
　　"Morning！"repeatedthevoice。
　　Ansellreadfurther，forherewasthebookofamanwhohadtried，howeverunsuccessfully，topracticewhathepreached。Mrs。
　　Failing，inherIntroduction，describedwithdelicateironyhisdifficultiesasalandlord;butshedidnotrecordtheloveinwhichhisnamewasheld。Norcouldherironytouchhimwhenhecried:"Attainthepracticalthroughtheunpractical。Thereisnootherroad。"Ansellwasinclinedtothinkthattheunpracticalisitsownreward，butherespectedthosewhoattemptedtojourneybeyondit。Wemustallofusgooverthemountains。Thereiscertainlynootherroad。
　　"Nicemorning！"saidthevoice。
　　Itwasnotanicemorning，soAnsellfeltboundtospeak。Heanswered:"No。Why？"Aclodofearthimmediatelystruckhimontheback。Heturnedroundindignantly，forhehatedphysicalrudeness。Asquaremanofruddyaspectwaspacingthegravelpath，hishandsdeepinhispockets。Hewasveryangry。Thenhesawthattheclodofearthnourishedabluelobelia，andthatawoundofcorrespondingsizeappearedonthepie—shapedbed。Hewasnotsoangry。"Iexpecttheywillmindit，"hereflected。
　　Lastnight，attheJacksons’，Agneshaddisplayedabriskpitythatmadehimwishtowringherneck。Maudehadnotexaggerated。
　　Mr。Pembrokehadpatronizedthroughasorrowfulvoiceandlargeroundeyes。Tillhemetthesepeoplehehadneverbeentoldthathiscareerwasafailure。Apparentlyitwas。Theywouldneverhavebeenciviltohimifithadbeenasuccess，iftheyortheirshadanythingtofearfromhim。
　　InmanywaysAnsellwasaconceitedman;buthewasneverproudofbeingright。HehadforeseenRickie’scatastrophefromthefirst，butderivedfromthisnoconsolation。Inmanywayshewaspedantic;buthispedantrylayclosetothevineyardsoflife——
　　farcloserthanthatfetichExperienceoftheinnumerabletea—
　　cups。Hehadagreatmanyfactstolearn，andbeforehediedhelearntasuitablequantity。Butheneverforgotthattheholinessoftheheart’simaginationcanaloneclassifythesefacts——canalonedecidewhichisanexception，whichanexample。"Howunpracticalitallis！"ThatwashiscommentonDunwoodHouse。
　　"Howunbusiness—like！Theylivetogetherwithoutlove。Theyworkwithoutconviction。Theyseekmoneywithoutrequiringit。
　　Theydie，andnothingwillhavehappened，eitherforthemselvesorforothers。"Itisacommentthattheacademicmindwilloftenmakewhenfirstconfrontedwiththeworld。
　　Buthewasbecomingillogical。Theclodofearthhaddisturbedhim。Brushingthedirtoffhisback，hereturnedtothebook。
　　Whatacuriousaffairwastheessayon"Gaps"！Solitude，star—crowned，pacingthefieldsofEngland，hasadialoguewithSeclusion。He，poorlittleman，livesinthechoicestscenery——
　　amongrocks，forests，emeraldlawns，azurelakes。Tokeeppeopleouthehasbuiltroundhisdomainahighwall，onwhichisgravenhismotto——"Proculesteprofani。"Buthecannotenjoyhimself。
　　HisonlypleasureisinmockingtheabsentProfane。Theyareinhismindnightandday。Theirblemishesandstupiditiesformthesubjectofhisgreatpoem，"IntheHeartofNature。"ThenSolitudetellshimthatsoitalwayswillbeuntilhemakesagapinthewall，andpermitshisseclusiontobethesportofcircumstance。Heobeys。TheProfaneinvadehim;butforshortintervalstheywanderelsewhere，andduringthoseintervalstheheartofNatureisrevealedtohim。
　　ThisdialoguehadreallybeensuggestedtoMr。Failingbyatalkwithhisbrother—in—law。ItalsotouchedAnsell。Helookedatthemanwhohadthrowntheclod，andwasnowpacingwithobviousyouthandimpudenceuponthelawn。"ShallIimprovemysoulathisexpense？"hethought。"IsupposeIhadbetter。"Infriendlytonesheremarked，"WereyouwaitingforMr。Pembroke？"
　　"No，"saidtheyoungman。"Why？"
　　Ansell，afteramoment’sadmiration，flungtheEssaysathim。
　　Theyhithimintheback。Thenextmomenthelayonhisownbackinthelobeliapie。
　　"Butithurts！"hegasped，inthetonesofapuzzledcivilization。"Whatyoudohurts！"Fortheyoungmanwasnickinghimovertheshinswiththerimofthebookcover。"Littlebrute—
　　ee——ow！"
　　"ThensayPax！"
　　SomethingrevoltedinAnsell。WhyshouldhesayPax？Freeinghishand，hecaughtthelittlebruteunderthechin，andwasagainknockedintothelobeliasbyablowonthemouth。
　　"SayPax！"herepeated，pressingthephilosopher’sskullintothemould;andheadded，withananxietythatwassomehownotoffensive，"Idoadviseyou。You’dreallybetter。"
　　Ansellswallowedalittleblood。Hetriedtomove，andhecouldnot。Helookedcarefullyintotheyoungman’seyesandintothepalmofhisrighthand，whichatpresentswungunclenched，andhesaid"Pax！"
　　"Shakehands！"saidtheother，helpinghimup。TherewasnothingAnsellloathedsomuchastheheartyBritisher;butheshookhands，andtheystaredateachotherawkwardly。Withcivilmurmurstheypickedthelittleblueflowersoffeachother’sclothes。Ansellwastryingtorememberwhytheyhadquarrelled，andtheyoungmanwaswonderingwhyhehadnotguardedhischinproperly。Inthedistanceahymnswungoff——
　　"Fightthegood。Fightwith。Allthy。Might。"
　　Theywouldbeacrossfromthechapelsoon。
　　"Yourbook，sir？"
　　"Thankyou，sir——yes。"
　　"Why！"criedtheyoungman——"why，it’s’WhatWeWant’！Atleastthebinding’sexactlythesame。"
　　"It’scalled’Essays，’"saidAnsell。
　　"Thenthat’sit。Mrs。Failing，yousee，shewouldn’tca11itthat，becausethreeW’s，yousee，inarow，shesaid，arevulgar，andsoundlikeTolstoy，ifyou’veheardofhim。"
　　Ansellconfessedtoanacquaintance，andthensaid，"Doyouthink’WhatWeWant’vulgar？"Hewasnotatallinterested，buthedesiredtoescapefromtheatmosphereofpugilisticcourtesy，morepainfultohimthanblowsthemselves。
　　"ItISthesamebook，"saidtheother——"sametitle，samebinding。"Heweigheditlikeabrickinhismuddyhands。
　　"Openittoseeiftheinsidecorresponds，"saidAnsell，swallowingalaughandalittlemorebloodwithit。
　　Withaliberalallowanceofthumb—marks，heturnedthepagesoverandread，"’theruralsilencethatisnotapoet’sluxurybutapracticalneedforallmen。’Yes，itisthesamebook。"Smilingpleasantlyoverthediscovery，hehandeditbacktotheowner。
　　"Andisittrue？"
　　"Ibegyourpardon？"
　　"Isittruethatruralsilenceisapracticalneed？"
　　"Don’taskme！"
　　"Haveyouevertriedit？"
　　"What？"
　　"Ruralsilence。"
　　"Afieldwithnonoiseinit，Isupposeyoumean。Idon’tunderstand。"
　　Ansellsmiled，butaslightfireintheman’seyecheckedhim。
　　Afterall，thiswasapersonwhocouldknockonedown。Moreover，therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldbeteased。Hehaditinhimtoretort"No。Why？"Hewasnotstupidinessentials。Hewasirritable——inAnsell’seyesafrequentsignofgrace。Sittingdownontheupturnedseat，heremarked，"Ilikethebookinmanyways。Idon’tthink’WhatWeWant’wouldhavebeenavulgartitle。ButIdon’tintendtospoilmyselfonthechanceofmendingtheworld，whichiswhatthecreedamountsto。NoramI
　　keenonruralsilences。"
　　"Curse！"hesaidthoughtfully，suckingatanemptypipe。
　　"Tobacco？"
　　"Please。"
　　"Rickie’sisinvariably——filthy。"
　　"WhosaysIknowRickie？"
　　"Well，youknowhisaunt。It’sapossiblelink。BegentlewithRickie。Don’tknockhimdownifhedoesn’tthinkit’sanicemorning。"
　　Theotherwassilent。
　　"Doyouknowhimwell？"
　　"Kindof。"Hewasnotinclinedtotalk。Thewishtosmokewasveryviolentinhim，andAnsellnoticedhowhegazedatthewreathsthatascendedfrombowlandstem，andhow，whenthestemwasinhismouth，hebitit。Hegavetheideaofananimalwithjustenoughsoultocontemplateitsownbliss。Unitedwithrefinement，suchatypewascommoninGreece。Itisnotcommontoday，andAnsellwassurprisedtofinditinafriendofRickie’s。Rickie，ifhecouldeven"kindofknow"suchacreature，mustbestirringinhisgrave。
　　"Doyouknowhiswifetoo？"
　　"Ohyes。InawayIknowAgnes。Butthankyouforthistobacco。
　　LastnightInearlydied。Ihavenomoney。"
　　"Takethewholepouch——do。"
　　Afteramoment’shesitationhedid。"Fightthegood"hadscarcelyended，soquicklyhadtheirintimacygrown。
　　"Isupposeyou’reafriendofRickie’s？"
　　Ansellwastemptedtoreply，"Idon’tknowhimatall。"Butitseemednomomentfortheseverertruths，sohesaid，"IknewhimwellatCambridge，butIhaveseenverylittleofhimsince。"
　　"Isittruethathisbabywaslame？"
　　"Ibelieveso。"
　　Histeethclosedonhispipe。Chapelwasover。Theorganistwasprancingthroughthevoluntary，andthefirstrippleofboyshadalreadyreachedDunwoodHouse。Inafewminutesthemasterswouldbeheretoo，andAnsell，whowasbecominginterested，hurriedtheconversationforward。
　　"Haveyoucomefar？"
　　"FromWiltshire。DoyouknowWiltshire？"Andforthefirsttimetherecameintohisfacetheshadowofasentiment，thepassingtributetosomemystery。"It’sagoodcountry。IliveinoneofthefinestvalleysoutofSalisburyPlain。Imean，Ilived。"
　　"HaveyoubeendismissedfromCadover，withoutapennyinyourpocket？"
　　Hewasalarmedatthis。Suchknowledgeseemedsimplydiabolical。
　　Ansellexplainedthatifhisbootswerechalky，ifhisclotheshadobviouslybeensleptin，ifheknewMrs。Failing，ifheknewWiltshire，andifhecouldbuynotobacco——thenthedeductionwaspossible。"Youdojustattend，"hemurmured。
　　Thehousewasfillingwithboys，andAnsellsaw，tohisregret，theheadofAgnesoverthethuyiahedgethatseparatedthesmallfrontgardenfromthesidelawnwherehewassitting。AfterafewminutesitwasfollowedbytheheadsofRickieandMr。Pembroke。
　　Alltheheadswereturnedtheotherway。Buttheywouldfindhiscardinthehall，andifthemanhadleftanymessagetheywouldfindthattoo。"Whatareyou？"hedemanded。"Whoareyou——yourname——Idon’tcareaboutthat。Butitinterestsmetoclasspeople，anduptonowIhavefailedwithyou。"
　　"I——"Hestopped。Ansellreflectedthatthereareworseanswers。
　　"Ireallydon’tknowwhatIam。UsedtothinkIwassomethingspecial，butstrikesmenowIfeelmuchlikeotherchaps。Usedtolookdownonthelabourers。UsedtotakeforgrantedIwasagentleman，butreallyIdon’tknowwhereIdobelong。"
　　"Onebelongstotheplaceonesleepsinandtothepeopleoneeatswith。"
　　"AsoftenasnotIsleepoutofdoorsandeatbymyself，sothatdoesn’tgetyouanyfurther。"
　　Asilence，akintopoetry，invadedAnsell。Wasitonlyaposetolikethisman，orwashereallywonderful？Hewasnotromantic，forRomanceisafigurewithoutstretchedhands，yearningfortheunattainable。CertainfiguresoftheGreeks，towhomwecontinuallyreturn，suggestedhimalittle。Oneexpectednothingofhim——nopurityofphrasenorswiftedgedthought。Yettheconvictiongrewthathehadbeenbacksomewhere——backtosometableofthegods，spreadinafieldwherethereisnonoise，andthathebelongedforevertotheguestswithwhomhehadeaten。
　　Meanwhilehewassimpleandfrank，andwhathecouldtellhewouldtelltoanyone。Hehadnotthesuburbanreticence。Ansellaskedhim，"WhydidMrs。FailingturnyououtofCadover？I
　　shouldliketohearthattoo。"
　　"Becauseshewastiredofme。Because，again，Icouldn’tkeepquietoverthefarmhands。Iaskyou，isitright？"Hebecameincoherent。Ansellcaught，"Andtheygrowold——theydon’tplaygames——itendstheycan’tplay。"Anillustrationemerged。"Takeakitten——ifyoufoolaboutwithher，shegoesonplayingwellintoacat。"
　　"ButMrs。Failingmindednomicebeingcaught。"
　　"Mice？"saidtheyoungmanblankly。"WhatIwasgoingtosayis，thatsomeonewasjealousofmybeingatCadover。I’llmentionnonames，butIfancyitwasMrs。Silt。I’msorryforherifitwas。
　　Anyhow，shesetMrs。Failingagainstme。Itcameonthetopofotherthings——andoutIwent。"
　　"WhatdidMrs。Silt，whosenameIdon’tmention，say？"
　　Helookedguilty。"Idon’tknow。Easyenoughtofindsomethingtosay。Thepointisthatshesaidsomething。Youknow，Mr。——Idon’tknowyourname，mine’sWonham，butI’mmoregratefulthanIcanputitoverthistobacco。Imean，yououghttoknowthereisanothersidetothisquarrel。It’swrong，butit’sthere。"
　　Anselltoldhimnottobeuneasy:heladalreadyguessedthattheremightbeanotherside。ButhecouldnotmakeoutwhyMr。
　　Wonhamshouldhavecomestraightfromtheaunttothenephew。
　　Theywerenowsittingontheupturnedseat。"WhatWeWant，"agooddealshattered，laybetweenthem。
　　"Onaccountofabove—mentionedreasons，therewasarow。Idon’tknow——youcanguessthestyleofthing。Shewantedtotreatmetothecolonies，andhaduptheparsontotalksoft—sawderandmakeoutthataboundlesscontinentwastheplaceforaladlikeme。Isaid，’Ican’trunuptotheRingswithoutgettingtired，norgallopahorseoutofthisviewwithouttiringit，sowhatisthepointofaboundlesscontinent？’ThenIsawthatshewasfrightenedofme，andbluffedabitmore，andintheendIwasnipped。Shecaughtme——justlikeher！whenIhadnothingonbutflannels，andwascomingintothehouse，havinglickedtheCadchurchteam。Shestoodupinthedoorwaybetweenthosestonepilastersandsaid，’No！Neveragain！’andbehindherwasWilbraham，whomItriedtoturnout，andthegardener，andpooroldLeighton，whohatesbeinghurt。Shesaid，’There’sahundredpoundsforyouattheLondonbank，andasmuchmoreinDecember。
　　Go！’Isaid，’Keepyour——money，andtellmewhosesonIam。’I
　　didn’tcarereally。Ionlysaiditontheoff—chanceofhurtingher。Sureenough，shecaughtontothedoorhandle（beinglame）
　　andsaid，’Ican’t——Ipromised——Idon’treallywantto，’andWilbrahamdidstare。Then——she’sveryqueer——sheburstoutlaughing，andwentforthepacketafterall，andweheardherlaughthroughthewindowasshegotit。Sherolleditatmedownthesteps，andshesays，’Aleafoutoftheeternalcomedyforyou，Stephen，’orsomethingofthatsort。IopeneditasIwalkeddownthedrive，shelaughingalwaysandcatchingontothehandleofthefrontdoor。Ofcourseitwasn’tcomicatall。Butdowninthevillagetherewerebothcricketteams，alreadyalittletight，andthemadplumbershouting’RightsofMan！’TheyknewI
　　wasturnedout。Wedidhavearow，andkeptituptoo。Theydaren’ttouchWilbraham’swindows，butthereisn’tmuchglassleftupatCadover。Whenyoustart，it’sworthgoingon，butintheendIhadtocut。Theysubscribedabobhereandabobthere，andtheseareFleaThompson’sSundays。IsentalinetoLeightonnottoforwardmyownthings:Idon’tfancythem。Theyaren’treallymine。"Hedidnotmentionhisgreatsymbolicact，performed，itistobefeared，whenhewasratherdrunkandthefriendlypolicemanwaslookingtheotherway。Hehadcastallhisflannelsintothelittlemillpond，andthenwadedhimselfthroughthedarkcoldwatertothenewclothesontheotherside。Someonehadflunghispipeandhispacketafterhim。Thepackethadfallenshort。ForthisreasonitwaswetwhenhehandedittoAnsell，andinkthathadbeendryfortwenty—threeyearshadbeguntorunagain。
　　"Iwonderedifyou’rerightaboutthehundredpounds，"saidAnsellgravely。"Itispleasanttobeproud，butitisunpleasanttodieinthenightthroughnothavinganytobacco。"
　　"ButI’mnotproud。LookhowI’vetakenyourpouch！Thehundredpoundswas——well，can’tyouseeyourself，itwasquitedifferent？
　　Itwas，sotospeak，inconvenientformetotakethehundredpounds。OrlookagainhowItookashillingfromaboywhoearnsnineboba—week！ProvesprettyconclusivelyI’mnotproud。"
　　Ansellsawitwasuselesstoargue。Heperceived，beneaththeslatternlyuseofwords，theman，buttonedupinthem，justashisbodywasbuttonedupinashoddysuit，——andhewonderedmorethaneverthatsuchamanshouldknowtheElliots。Helookedattheface，whichwasfrank，proud，andbeautiful，iftruthisbeauty。Ofmercyortactsuchafaceknewlittle。Itmightbecoarse，butithadinitnothingvulgarorwantonlycruel。"MayI
　　readthesepapers？"hesaid。
　　"Ofcourse。Ohyes;didn’tIsay？I’mRickie’shalf—brother，comeheretotellhimthenews。Hedoesn’tknow。Thereitis，putshortlyforyou。Iwassaying，though，thatIboltedinthedark，sleptintherifle—buttsaboveSalisbury，theshedswheretheykeepthecardboardmen，youknow，neverlockedupastheyoughttobe。Iturnedthewholeplaceupsidedowntoteachthem。"
　　"Hereisyourpacketagain，"saidAnsell。"Thankyou。Howinteresting！"HerosefromtheseatandturnedtowardsDunwoodHouse。Helookedatthebow—windows，thecheappicturesquegables，theterracottadragonsclawingadirtysky。HelistenedtotheclinkofplatesandtothevoiceofMr。Pembroketakingoneofhisinnumerableroll—calls。Helookedatthebedoflobelias。Howinteresting！Whatelsewastheretosay？
　　"Onemustbethesonofsomeone，"remarkedStephen。Andthatwasallhehadtosay。Tohimthosenamesonthemoistenedpaperweremereantiquities。Hewasneitherproudofthemnorashamed。Amanmusthaveparents，orhecannotenterthedelightfulworld。A
　　man，ifhehasabrother，mayreasonablyvisithim，fortheymayhaveinterestsincommon。Hecontinuedhisnarrative，howinthenighthehadheardtheclocks，howatdaybreak，insteadofenteringthecity，hehadstruckeastwardtosavemoney，——whileAnsellstilllookedatthehouseandfoundthatallhisimaginationandknowledgecouldleadhimnofartherthanthis:
　　howinteresting！
　　"——Andwhatdoyouthinkofthatforaholyhorror？"
　　"Forawhat？"saidAnsell，histhoughtsfaraway。
　　"ThismanIamtellingyouabout，whogavemealifttowardsAndover，whosaidIwasablotonGod’searth。"
　　Oneo’clockstruck。Itwasstrangethatneitherofthemhadhadanysummonsfromthehouse。
　　"HesaidIoughttobeashamedofmyself。Hesaid，’I’llnotbethemeansofbringingshametoanhonestgentlemanandlady。’I
　　toldhimnottobeafool。IsaidIknewwhatIwasabout。RickieandAgnesareproperlyeducated，whichleadspeopletolookatthingsstraight，andnotgoscreamingaboutblots。Amanlikeme，withjustalittlereadingatoddhours——I’vegotsofar，andRickiehasbeenthroughCambridge。"
　　"AndMrs。Elliot？"
　　"Oh，shewon’tmind，andItoldthemanso;buthekeptonsaying，’I’llnotbethemeansofbringingshametoanhonestgentlemanandlady，’untilIgotoutofhisrottencart。"HiseyewatchedthemanaNonconformist，drivingawayoverGod’searth。
　　"Icaughtthetrainbyrunning。IgottoWaterlooat——"
　　Heretheparlour—maidflutteredtowardsthem，WouldMr。Wonhamcomein？Mrs。Elliotwouldbegladtoseehimnow。
　　"Mrs。Elliot？"criedAnsell。"NotMr。Elliot？"
　　"It’sallthesame，"saidStephen，andmovedtowardsthehouse。
　　"Yousee，Ionlyleftmyname。Theydon’tknowwhyI’vecome。"
　　"PerhapsMr。Elliotseesmemeanwhile？"
　　Theparlour—maidlookedblank。Mr。Elliothadnotsaidso。HehadbeenwithMrs。ElliotandMr。Pembrokeinthestudy。Nowthegentlemenhadgoneupstairs。
　　"Allright，Icanwait。"Afterall，RickiewastreatinghimashehadtreatedRickie，asoneinthegrave，towhomitisfutiletomakeanylovingmotion。Goneupstairs——tobrushhishairfordinner！Theironyofthesituationappealedtohimstrongly。ItremindedhimoftheGreekDrama，wheretheactorsknowsolittleandthespectatorssomuch。
　　"But，bythebye，"hecalledafterStephen，"IthinkIoughttotellyou——don’t——"
　　"Whatisit？"
　　"Don’t——"Thenhewassilent。Hehadbeentemptedtoexplaineverything，totellthefellowhowthingsstood，thathemustavoidthisifhewantedtoattainthat;thathemustbreakthenewstoRickiegently;thathemusthaveatleastonebattleroyalwithAgnes。Butitwascontrarytohisownspirittocoachpeople:heheldthehumansoultobeaverydelicatething，whichcanreceiveeternaldamagefromalittlepatronage。Stephenmustgointothehousesimplyashimself，forthusalonewouldheremainthere。
　　"Ioughttoknockmypipeout？Wasthatit？""Bynomeans。Goin，yourpipeandyou。"
　　Hehesitated，tornbetweenproprietyanddesire。Thenhefollowedtheparlour—maidintothehousesmoking。Asheenteredthedinner—bellrang，andtherewasthesoundofrushingfeet，whichdiedawayintoshufflingandsilence。Throughthewindowoftheboys’dining—hallcamethecolourlessvoiceofRickie—
　　"’Benedictusbenedicat。’"
　　Ansellpreparedhimselftowitnessthesecondactofthedrama;
　　forgettingthatallthisworld，andnotpartofit，isastage。
　　XXVII
　　Theparlour—maidtookMr。Wonhamtothestudy。Hehadbeeninthedrawing—roombefore，buthadgotbored，andsohadstrolledoutintothegarden。Nowhewasinbetterspirits，asamanoughttobewhohasknockeddownaman。Ashepassedthroughthehallhesparredattheteakmonkey，andhunghiscaponthebustofHermes。AndhegreetedMrs。Elliotwithapleasantclapoflaughter。"Oh，I’vecomewiththemosttremendousnews！"hecried。
　　Shebowed，butdidnotshakehands，whichrathersurprisedhim。
　　Buthenevertroubledover"details。"Heseldomwatchedpeople，andneverthoughtthattheywerewatchinghim。Norcouldheguesshowmuchitmeanttoherthatheshouldenterherpresencesmok—
　　ing。HadshenotsaidonceatCadover，"Oh，pleasesmoke;Ilovethesmellofapipe"？
　　"Wouldyousitdown？Exactlythere，please。"Sheplacedhimatalargetable，oppositeaninkpotandapadofblotting—paper。
　　"Willyoutellyour’tremendousnews’tome？Mybrotherandmyhusbandaregivingtheboystheirdinner。"
　　"Ah！"saidStephen，whohadhadneithertimenormoneyforbreakfastinLondon。
　　"Itoldthemnottowaitforme。"
　　Sohecametothepointatonce。Hetrustedthishandsomewoman。