Mr。FailinghadaletterfromStockholm。Itwasneverknownwhatimpulsesentthemthere。"Iamsorryaboutitall，butitwastheonlyway。"ThelettercensuredthelawofEngland，"whichobligesustobehavelikethis，orelseweshouldnevergetmarried。I
　　shallcomebacktofacethings:shewillnotcomebacktillsheismywife。Hemustbringanactionsoon，orelseweshalltryoneagainsthim。Itseemsallveryunconventional，butitisnotreally。itisonlyadifficultstart。Wearenotlikeyouoryourwife:wewanttobejustordinarypeople，andmakethefarmpay，andnotbenoticedallourlives。"
　　Andtheywerecapableoflivingastheywanted。Theclassdifference，whichsointriguedMrs。Failing，meantverylittletothem。Itwasthere，butsowereotherthings。
　　Theybothcaredforworkandlivingintheopen，andfornotspeakingunlesstheyhadgotsomethingtosay。Theirloveofbeauty，liketheirloveforeachother，wasnotdependentondetail:itgrewnotfromthenervesbutfromthesoul。
　　"IbelievealeafofgrassisnolessthanthejourneyworkofthestarsAndthepismireisequallyperfect，andagrainofsand，andtheeggofthewren，Andthetreetoadisachef—d’oeuvreforthehighest，Andtherunningblackberrywouldadorntheparloursofheaven。"
　　Theyhadneverreadtheselines，andwouldhavethoughtthemnonsenseiftheyhad。Theydidnotdissect——indeedtheycouldnot。Butshe，atallevents，divinedthatmorethanperfecthealthandperfectweather，morethanpersonallove，hadgonetothemakingofthoseseventeendays。
　　"Ordinarypeople！"criedMrs。Failingonhearingtheletter。Atthattimeshewasyounganddaring。"Why，they’redivine！They’reforcesofNature！They’reasordinaryasvolcanoes。Weallknewmybrotherwasdisgusting，andwantedhimtobeblowntopieces，butweneverthoughtitwouldhappen。Dolookatthethingbravely，andsay，asIdo，thattheyareguiltlessinthesightofGod。"
　　"Ithinktheyare，"repliedherhusband。"Buttheyarenotguiltlessinthesightofman。"
　　"Youconventional！"sheexclaimedindisgust。
　　"Whattheyhavedonemeansmiserynotonlyforthemselvesbutforothers。Foryourbrother，thoughyouwillnotthinkofhim。Forthelittleboy——didyouthinkofhim？Andperhapsforanotherchild，whowillhavethewholeworldagainsthimifitknows。
　　Theyhavesinnedagainstsociety，andyoudonotdiminishthemiserybyprovingthatsocietyisbadorfoolish。ItisthesaddesttruthIhaveyetperceivedthattheBelovedRepublic"——
　　hereshetookupabook——"ofwhichSwinburnespeaks"——sheputthebookdown——"willnotbebroughtaboutbylovealone。Itwillapproachwithnoflourishoftrumpets，andhavenodeclarationofindependence。Self—sacrificeand——worsestill——self—mutilationarethethingsthatsometimeshelpitmost，andthatiswhyweshouldstartforStockholmthisevening。"Hewaitedforherindignationtosubside，andthencontinued。"Idon’tknowwhetheritcanbehushedup。Idon’tyetknowwhetheritoughttobehushedup。Butweoughttoprovidetheopportunity。Thereisnoscandalyet。Ifwego，itisjustpossiblethereneverwillbeany。Wemusttalkoverthewholethingand——"
　　"——Andlie！"interruptedMrs。Failing，whohatedtravel。
　　"——Andseehowtoavoidthegreatestunhappiness。"
　　Therewastobenoscandal。BythetimetheyarrivedRoberthadbeendrowned。Mrs。Elliotdescribedhowtheyhadgoneswimming，andhow，"sincehealwayslivedinland，"thegreatwaveshadtiredhim。Theyhadracedfortheopensea。
　　"Whatareyourplans？"heasked。"IbringyouamessagefromFrederick。"
　　"Iheardhimcall，"shecontinued，"butIthoughthewaslaughing。WhenIturned，itwastoolate。Heputhishandsbehindhisbackandsank。Forhewouldonlyhavedrownedmewithhim。I
　　shouldhavedonethesame。"
　　Mrs。Failingwasthrilled，andkissedher。ButMr。Failingknewthatlifedoesnotcontinueheroicforlong，andhegaveherthemessagefromherhusband:Wouldshecomebacktohim？
　　Tohisintenseastonishment——atfirsttohisregret——shereplied，"Iwillthinkaboutit。IfIlovedhimtheveryleastbitI
　　shouldsayno。IfIhadanythingtodowithmylifeIshouldsayno。ButitissimplyaquestionofbeatingtimetillIdie。
　　Nothingthatiscomingmatters。Imayaswellsitinhisdrawing—roomanddusthisfurniture，sincehehassuggestedit。"
　　AndMr。Elliot，thoughhemadecertainstipulations，waspositivelygladtoseeher。Peoplehadbeguntolaughathim，andtosaythathiswifehadrunaway。Shehadnot。ShehadbeenwithhissisterinSweden。Inahalfmiraculouswaythematterwashushedup。EventheSiltsonlyscented"somethingstrange。"WhenStephenwasborn，itwasabroad。WhenhecametoEngland，itwasasthechildofafriendofMr。Failing’s。Mrs。Elliotreturnedunsuspectedtoherhusband。
　　Butthoughthingscanbehushedup，thereisnosuchthingasbeatingtime;andastheyearspassedsherealizedherterriblemistake。Whenherloversank，eludingherlastembrace，shethought，asAgneswastothinkafterher，thathersoulhadsunkwithhim，andthatneveragainshouldshebecapableofearthlylove。Nothingmattered。Shemightaswellgoandbeusefultoherhusbandandtothelittleboywholookedexactlylikehim，andwho，shethought，wasexactlylikehimindisposition。ThenStephenwasborn，andalteredherlife。Shecouldstilllovepeoplepassionately;shestilldrewstrengthfromtheheroicpast。Yet，tokeeptoherbond，shemustseethissononlyasastranger。Shewasprotectedbetheconventions，andmustpaythemtheirfee。Andacuriousthinghappened。Hersecondchilddrewhertowardsherfirst。ShebegantoloveRickiealso，andtobemorethanusefultohim。Andasherloverevived，sodidhercapacityforsuffering。Life，moreimportant，grewmorebitter。
　　Shemindedherhusbandmore，notless;andwhenatlasthedied，andshesawagloriousautumn，beautifulwiththevoicesofboyswhoshouldcallhermother，theendcameforheraswell，beforeshecouldrememberthegraveinthealiennorthandthedustthatwouldneverreturntothedearfieldsthathadgivenit。
　　XXX
　　Stephen，thesonofthesepeople，hadoneinstinctthattroubledhim。Atnight——especiallyoutofdoors——itseemedratherstrangethathewasalive。Thedrygrassprickedhischeek，thefieldswereinvisibleandmute，andherewashe，throwingstonesatthedarknessorsmokingapipe。Thestonesvanished，thepipewouldburnout。Buthewouldbehereinthemorningwhenthesunrose，andhewouldbathe，andruninthemist。Hewasproudofhisgoodcirculation，andinthemorningitseemedquitenatural。Butatnight，whyshouldtherebethisdifferencebetweenhimandtheacresoflandthatcooledallroundhimuntilthesunreturned？
　　Whatluckychancehadheatedhimup，andsenthim，warmandlovable，intoapassiveworld？Hehadotherinstincts，butthesegavehimnotrouble。Hesimplygratifiedeachasitoccurred，providedhecoulddosowithoutgraveinjurytohisfellows。Buttheinstincttowonderatthenightwasnottobethusappeased。
　　AtfirsthehadlivedunderthecareofMr。Failingtheonlypersontowhomhismotherspokefreely，theonlypersonwhohadtreatedherneitherasacriminalnorasapioneer。Intheirrarebutintimateconversationsshehadaskedhimtoeducateherson。
　　"IwillteachhimLatin，"heanswered。"Therestsuchaboymustremember。"Latin，atallevents，wasafailure:whocouldattendtoVirgilwhenthesoundofthethresherarose，andyouknewthatthestackwasdecreasingandthatratsrushedmoreplentifullyeachmomenttotheirdoom？ButhewasfondofMr。Failing，andcriedwhenhedied。Mrs。Elliot，apleasantwoman，diedsoonafter。
　　Therewassomethingfatalintheorderofthesedeaths。Mr。
　　Failinghadmadenoprovisionfortheboyinhiswill:hiswifehadpromisedtoseetothis。ThencameMr。Elliot’sdeath，and，beforethenewhomewascreated，thesuddendeathofMrs。Elliot。
　　ShealsoleftStephennomoney:shehadnonetoleave。ChancethrewhimintothepowerofMrs。Failing。"Letthingsgoonastheyare，"shethought。"Iwilltakecareofthisprettylittleboy，andtheuglylittleboycanlivewiththeSilts。Aftermydeath——well，thepaperswillbefoundaftermydeath，andtheycanmeetthen。Iliketheideaoftheirmutualignorance。Itisamusing。"
　　Hewasthentwelve。Withafewbriefintervalsofschool，helivedinWiltshireuntilhewasdrivenout。Lifehadtwodistinctsides——thedrawing—roomandtheother。Inthedrawing—roompeopletalkedagooddeal，laughingastheytalked。Beingclever，theydidnotcareforanimals:onemanhadneverseenahedgehog。Intheotherlifepeopletalkedandlaughedseparately，orevendidneither。Onthewhole，inspiteofthewetandgamekeepers，thislifewaspreferable。Heknewwherehewas。Heglancedattheboy，orlaterattheman，andbehavedaccordingly。Therewasnolaw——
　　thepolicemanwasnegligible。Nothingboundhimbuthisownword，andhegavethatsparingly。
　　Itisimpossibletoberomanticwhenyouhaveyourheart’sdesire，andsuchaboydisappointedMrs。Failinggreatly。Hisparentshadmetforonebriefembrace，hadfoundonelittleintervalbetweenthepoweroftherulersofthisworldandthepowerofdeath。Hewasthechildofpoetryandofrebellion，andpoetryshouldruninhisveins。Buthelivedtoonearthethingshelovedtoseempoetical。Partedfromthem，hemightyetsatisfyher，andstretchouthishandswithapagan’syearning。Asitwas，heonlyrodeherhorses，andtrespassed，andbathed，andworked，fornoobviousreason，uponherfields。Affectionshedidnotbelievein，andmadenoattempttomouldhim;andhe，forhispart，wasverycontenttohardenuntouchedintoaman。Hisparentshadgivenhimexcellentgifts——health，sturdylimbs，andafacenotugly，——giftsthathishabitsconfirmed。Theyhadalsogivenhimacloudlessspirit——thespiritoftheseventeendaysinwhichhewascreated。Buttheyhadnotgivenhimthespiritoftheirsityearsofwaiting，andloveforonepersonwasnevertobethegreatestthingheknew。
　　"Philosophy"hadpostponedthequarrelbetweenthem。Incuriousabouthispersonalorigin，hehadacertaininterestinoureternalproblems。Theinterestneverbecameapassion:itsprangoutofhisphysicalgrowth，andwassoonmergedinitagain。Or，asheputithimself，"Imustgetfixedupbeforestarting。"Hewassoonfixedupasamaterialist。Thenhetoreupthesixpennyreprints，andneveramusedMrs。Failingsomuchagain。
　　Aboutthetimehefixedhimselfup，hetooktodrink。Heknewofnoreasonagainstit。Theinstinctwasinhim，andithurtnobody。Here，aselsewhere，hismotionsweredecided，andhepassedatoncefromroaringjollitytosilence。Forthosewholiveonthefuddledborderland，whocrawlhomebytherailingsandmaunderrepentanceinthemorning，hehadabitingcontempt。
　　Amanmusttakehistumbleandhisheadache。Hewas，infact，aslittledisgustingasisconceivable;andhithertohehadnotstrainedhisconstitutionorhiswill。NordidhegetdrunkasoftenasAgnessuggested。Thcrealquarrelgatheredelsewhere。
　　Presentablepeoplehaverunwildintheiryouth。Butthehourcomeswhentheyturnfromtheirboorishcompanytohigherthings。
　　ThishournevercameforStephen。Somewhatabullybynature，hekeptwherehispowerswouldtell，andcontinuedtoquarrelandplaywiththemenhehadknownasboys。Heprolongedtheiryouthunduly。"Theywon’tsettledown，"saidMr。Wilbrahamtohiswife。
　　"They’rewantingthings。It’sthegermofaTradesUnion。Ishallgetridofafewoftheworst。"ThenStephenrusheduptoMrs。
　　Failingandworriedher。"Itwasn’tfair。So—and—sowasagoodsort。Hedidhiswork。Keenaboutit？No。Whyshouldhebe？Whyshouldhebekeenaboutsomebodyelse’sland？Butkeenenough。
　　Andverykeenonfootball。"Shelaughed，andsaidawordaboutSo—and—sotoMr。Wilbraham。Mr。Wilbrahamblazedup。"Howcouldthefarmgoonwithoutdiscipline？HowcouldtherebedisciplineifMr。Stepheninterfered？Mr。Stephenlikedpower。Hespoketothemenlikeoneofthemselves，andpretendeditwasallequality，buthetookcaretocomeouttop。Natural，ofcourse，that，beingagentleman，heshould。Butnotnaturalforagentlemantoloiteralldaywithpoorpeopleandlearntheirwork，andputwrongnotionsintotheirheads，andcarrytheirnewfangledgrievancestoMrs。Failing。Whichpartlyaccountedforthedeficitonthepastyear。"SherebukedStephen。Thenhelosthistemper，wasrudetoher，andinsultedMr。Wilbraham。
　　TheworstdaysofMr。Failing’sruleseemedtobereturning。AndStephenhadapracticalexperience，andalsoatasteforbattle，thatherhusbandhadneverpossessed。Hedrewupalistofgrievances，someabsurd，othersfundamental。Nonewspapersinthereading—room，youcouldputaplateundertheThompsons’door，nolevelcricket—pitch，noallotmentsandnotimetoworkinthem，Mrs。Wilbraham’sknife—boyunderpaid。"Aren’tyoualittleunwise？"sheaskedcoldly。"Iammoreboredthanyouthinkoverthefarm。"Shewaswantingtocorrecttheproofsofthebookandrewritetheprefatorymemoir。InherirritationshewrotetoAgnes。Agnesrepliedsympathetically，andMrs。Failing，cleverasshewas，fellintothepoweroftheyoungerwoman。Theydiscussedhimatfirstasawretchofaboy;thenhegotdrunkandsomehowitseemedmorecriminal。Allthatsheneedednowwasapersonalgrievance，whichAgnescasuallysupplied。Thoughvindictive，shewasdeterminedtotreathimwell，andthoughtwithsatisfactionofourdistantcolonies。Butheburstintoanoddpassion:hewouldsoonerstarvethanleaveEngland。"Why？"sheasked。"Areyouinlove？"Hepickedupalumpofthechalk—theywerebythearbour——andmadenoanswer。Thevicarmurmured，"Itisnotlikegoingabroad——GreaterBritain——bloodisthickerthanwater——"A
　　lumpofchalkbrokeherdrawing—roomwindowontheSaturday。
　　ThusStephenleftWiltshire，half—blackguard，half—martyr。Donotbrandhimasasocialist。Hehadnoquarrelwithsociety，noranyparticularbeliefinpeoplebecausetheyarepoor。Heonlyheldthecreedof"hereamIandthereareyou，"andthereforeclassdistinctionsweretrivialthingstohim，andlifenodecorousscheme，butapersonalcombatorapersonaltruce。Forthesamereasonancestryalsowastrivial，andamannotthedearerbecausethesamewomanwasmothertothemboth。YetitseemedworthwhiletogotoSawstonwiththenews。Perhapsnothingwouldcomeofit;perhapsfriendlyintercourse，andahomewhilehelookedaround。
　　Whentheywrongedhimhewalkedquietlyaway。Heneverthoughtofallottingtheblame，nororappealingtoAnsell，whostillsatbroodingintheside—garden。Heonlyknewthateducatedpeoplecouldbehorrible，andthatacleanlivermustneverenterDunwoodHouseagain。Theairseemedstuffy。Hespatinthegutter。Wasityesterdayhehadlainintherifle—buttsoverSalisbury？Slightlyaggrieved，hewonderedwhyhewasnotbacktherenow。"Ioughttohavewrittenfirst，"hereflected。"Hereismymoneygone。Icannotmove。TheElliotshave，asitwere，practicallyrobbedme。"Thatwastheonlygrudgeheretainedagainstthem。Theirsuspicionsandinsultsweretohimasthecursesofatrampwhomhepassedbythewayside。Theyweredirtypeople，nothissort。Hesummedupthecomplicatedtragedyasa"takein。"
　　WhileRickiewasbeingcarriedupstairs，andwhileAnsell（hadheknownit）wasdashingaboutthestreetsforhim，helayunderarailwayarchtryingtosettlehisplans。Hemustpaybackthefriendswhohadgivenhimshillingsandclothes。HethoughtofFlea，whoseSundayshewasspoiling——poorFlea，whooughttobeinthemnow，shiningbeforehisgirl。"Idaresayhe’llbeashamedandnotgotoseeher，andthenshe’lltaketheotherman。"Hewasalsoveryhungry。ThatwormMrs。Elliotwouldbethroughherlunchbynow。Tryinghisbracesroundhim，andtearingupthoseoldwetdocuments，hesteppedforthtomakemoney。Avillainousyoungbrutehelooked:hisclothesweredirty，andhehadlostthespringofthemorning。Touchingthewalls，frowning，talkingtohimselfattimes，hesloucheddisconsolatelynorthwards;nowonderthatsometawdrygirlsscreamedathim，orthatmatronsavertedtheireyesastheyhurriedtoafternoonchurch。Hewanderedfromonesuburbtoanother，tillhewasamongpeoplemorevillainousthanhimself，whoboughthistobaccofromhimandsoldhimfood。Againtheneighbourhood"wentup，"andfamilies，insteadofsittingontheirdoorsteps，wouldsitbehindthickmuslincurtains。Againitwould"godown"intoamoreavoweddespair。Farintothenighthewandered，untilhecametoasolemnrivermajesticasastreaminhell。ThereinweregatheredthewatersofCentralEngland——thosethatflowoffHindhead，offtheChilterns，offWiltshirenorthofthePlain。Thereintheyweremadeintolerableeretheyreachedthesea。Butthewatershehadknownescaped。TheircourselaysouthwardintotheAvonbyforestsandbeautifulfields，evenswift，evenpure，untiltheymirroredthetowerofChristchurchandgreetedtherampartsoftheIsleofWight。Ofthesehethoughtforamomentashecrossedtheblackriverandenteredtheheartofthemodernworld。
　　Herehefoundemployment。Hewasnothamperedbygenteeltraditions，and，asitwasnearquarter—day，managedtogettakenonatafurniturewarehouse。HemovedpeoplefromthesuburbstoLondon，fromLondontothesuburbs，fromonesuburbtoanother。
　　Hiscompanionswerehurriedandquerulous。Inparticular，heloathedtheforeman，apioushumbugwhoallowednoswearing，butindulgedinsomethingfarmoredegraded——theCockneyrepartee。
　　TheLondonintellect，sopertandshallow，likeastreamthatneverreachestheocean，disgustedhimalmostasmuchastheLondonphysique，whichforallitsdexterityisnotpermanent，andseldomcontinuesintothethirdgeneration。Hisfather，hadheknownit，hadfeltthesame;forbetweenMr。Elliotandtheforemanthegulfwassocial，notspiritual:bothspenttheirlivesintryingtobeclever。AndTonyFailinghadonceputthethingintowords:"There’snosuchthingasaLondoner。He’sonlyacountrymanontheroadtosterility。"
　　Attheendoftendayshehadsavedscarcelyanything。Oncehepassedthebankwhereahundredpoundslayreadyforhim，butitwasstillinconvenientforhimtotakethem。ThendutysenthimtoasuburbnotveryfarfromSawston。Intheeveningamanwhowasdrivingatrapaskedhimtoholdit，andbymistaketippedhimasovereign。Stephencalledafterhim;butthemanhadawomanwithhimandwantedtoshowoff，andthoughhehadmeanttotipashilling，andcouldnotaffordthat，heshoutedbackthathissovereignwasasgoodasanyone’s，andthatifStephendidnotthinksohecoulddovariousthingsandgotovariousplaces。
　　Ontheactionofthismanmuchdepends。Stephenchangedthesovereignintoapostalorder，andsentitofftothepeopleatCadford。Itdidnotpaythemback，butitpaidthemsomething，andhefeltthathissoulwasfree。
　　Afewshillingsremainedinhispocket。TheywouldhavepaidhisfaretowardsWiltshire，agoodcounty;butwhatshouldhedothere？Whowouldemployhim？Todaythejourneydidnotseemworthwhile。"Tomorrow，perhaps，"hethought，anddeterminedtospendthemoneyonpleasureofanotherkind。Two—pencewentforarideonanelectrictram。Fromthetophesawthesundescend——adiscwithadarkrededge。ThesamesunwasdescendingoverSalisburyintolerablybright。Outofthegoldenhazethespirewouldbepiercing，likeapurpleneedle;thenmistsarosefromtheAvonandtheotherstreams。Lampsflickered，butintheouterpuritythevillageswerealreadyslumbering。SalisburyisonlyaGothicupstartbesidethese。Forgenerationstheyhavecomedowntohertobuyortoworship，andhavefoundinherthereasonablecrisisoftheirlives;butgenerationsbeforeshewasbuilttheywereclingingtothesoil，andrenewingitwithsheepanddogsandmen，whofoundthecrisisoftheirlivesuponStonehenge。ThebloodofthesemenraninStephen;thevigourtheyhadwonforhimwasasyetuntarnished;outonthosedownstheyhadunitedwithroughwomentomakethethinghespokeofas"himself";thelastofthemhasrescuedawomanofadifferentkindfromstreetsandhousessuchasthese。Asthesundescendedhegotoffthetramwithasmileofexpectation。Apublic—houselayopposite，andaboyinadirtyuniformwasalreadylightingitsenormouslamp。
　　Hislipsparted，andhewentin。
　　Twohourslater，whenRickieandHerbertweregoingtherounds，abrickcamecrashingatthestudywindow。Herbertpeeredintothegarden，andahooliganslippedbyhimintothehouse，wreckedthehall，lurchedupthestairs，fellagainstthebanisters，balancedforamomentonhisspine，andslidover。Herbertcalledforthepolice。Rickie，whowasuponthelanding，caughtthemanbythekneesandsavedhislife。
　　"Whatisit？"criedAgnes，emerging。
　　"It’sStephencomeback，"wastheanswer。"Hullo，Stephen！"
　　XXXI
　　HitherhadRickiemovedintendays——fromdisgusttopenitence，frompenitencetolongingfromalifeofhorrortoanewlife，inwhichhestillsurprisedhimselfbyunexpectedwords。Hullo，Stephen！Forthesonofhismotherhadcomeback，toforgivehim，asshewouldhavedone，tolivewithhim，asshehadplanned。
　　"He’sdrunkthistime，"saidAgneswearily。Shetoohadaltered:
　　thescandalwasageingher，andAnsellcametothehousedaily。
　　"Hullo，Stephen！"
　　ButStephenwasnowinsensible。
　　"Stephen，youlivehere——"
　　"Goodgraciousme！"interposedHerbert。"Myadviceis，thatweallgotobed。Thelesssaidthebetterwhileournervesareinthisstate。Verywell，Rickie。Ofcourse，Wonhamsleepsthenightifyouwish。"Theycarriedthedrunkenmassintothespareroom。Amassofscandalitseemedtooneofthem，asymbolofredemptiontotheother。Neitheracknowledgeditaman，whowouldanswerthembackafterafewhours’rest。
　　"Ansellthoughthewouldneverforgiveme，"saidRickie。"Foroncehe’swrong。"
　　"Cometobednow，Ithink。"AndasRickielaidhishandonthesleeper’shair，headded，"Youwon’tdoanythingfoolish，willyou？Youarestillinamorbidstate。Yourpoormother——Pardonme，dearboy;itismyturntospeakout。Youthoughtitwasyourfather，andminded。Itisyourmother。Surelyyououghttomindmore？"
　　"Ihavebeentoofarback，"saidRickiegently。"Anselltookmeonajourneythatwasevennewtohim。Wegotbehindrightandwrong，toaplacewhereonlyonethingmatters——thattheBelovedshouldrisefromthedead。"
　　"Butyouwon’tdoanythingrash？"
　　"WhyshouldI？"
　　"RememberpoorAgnes，"hestammered。"I——Iamthefirsttoacknowledgethatwemighthavepursuedadifferentpolicy。Butwearecommittedtoitnow。Itmakesnodifferencewhosesonheis。
　　Imean，heisthesameperson。YouandIandmysisterstandorfalltogether。Itwasouragreementfromthefirst。Ihope——Nomoreofthesedistressingsceneswithher，there’sadearfellow。Iassureyoutheymakemyheartbleed。"
　　"Thingswillquietdownnow。"
　　"Tobednow;Iinsistuponthatmuch。"
　　"Verywell，"saidRickie，andwhentheywereinthepassage，lockedthedoorfromtheoutside。"Wewantnomoremuddles，"heexplained。
　　Mr。Pembrokewasleftexaminingthehall。ThebustofHermeswasbroken。Sowasthepotofthepalm。HecouldnotgotobedwithoutoncemoresoundingRickie。"You’lldonothingrash，"hecalled。
　　"Thenotionofhimlivingherewas，ofcourse，apassingimpulse。Wethreehaveadoptedacommonpolicy。"
　　"Now，yougoaway！"calledavoicethatwasalmostflippant。"I
　　neverdidbelongtothatgreatsectwhosedoctrineisthateachoneshouldselect——atleast，I’mnotgoingtobelongtoitanylonger。Goawaytobed。"
　　"Agoodnight’srestiswhatyouneed，"threatenedHerbert，andretired，nottofindoneforhimself。
　　ButRickieslept。Theguiltofmonthsandtheremorseofthelasttendayshadalikedeparted。Hehadthoughtthathislifewaspoisoned，andlo！itwaspurified。Hehadcursedhismother，andAnsellhadreplied，"Youmayberight，butyoustandtooneartosettle。Stepbackwards。Pretendthatithappenedtome。Doyouwantmetocursemymother？Now，stepforwardandseewhetheranythinghaschanged。"Somethinghadchanged。Hehadjourneyed——
　　asonrareoccasionsamanmust——tillhestoodbehindrightandwrong。Onthebanksofthegreytorrentoflife，loveistheonlyflower。AlittlewayupthestreamandalittlewaydownhadRickieglanced，andheknewthatshewhomhelovedhadrisenfromthedead，andmightriseagain。"Comeaway——letthemdieout——letthemdieout。"Surelythatdreamwasavision！To—nightalsohehurriedtothewindow——toremember，withasmile，thatOrionisnotamongthestarsofJune。
　　"Letmedieout。Shewillcontinue，"hemurmured，andinmakingplansforStephen’shappiness，fellasleep。
　　NextmorningafterbreakfastheannouncedthathisbrothermustliveatDunwoodHouse。Theywereawedbytheverymoderationofhistone。"There’snothingelsetobedone。Cadover’shopeless，andaboyofthosetendenciescan’tgodrifting。Thereisalsothequestionofaprofessionforhim，andhisallowance。"
　　"WehavetothankMr。Ansellforthis，"wasallthatAgnescouldsay;and"Iforeseedisaster，"wasthecontributionofHerbert。
　　"There’splentyofmoneyabout，"Rickiecontinued。"Quiteaman’s—worthtoomuch。Ithasbeenoneofourabsurdities。Don’tlooksosad，Herbert。I’msorryforyoupeople，buthe’ssuretoletusdowneasy。"ForhisexperienceofdrunkardsandofStephenwassmall。
　　Hesupposedthathehadcomewithoutmalicetorenewtheofferoftendaysago。
　　"ItistheendofDunwoodHouse。"
　　Rickienodded，andhopednot。Agnes，whowasnotlookingwell，begantocry。"Oh，itistoobad，"shecomplained，"whenI’vesavedyoufromhimalltheseyears。"Buthecouldnotpityher，norevensympathizewithherwoundeddelicacy。Thetimeforsuchnonsensewasover。Hewouldtakehisshareoftheblame:itwascanttoassumeitall。
　　Perhapshewasover—hard。Hedidnotrealizehowlargehissharewas，norhowhisveryvirtuesweretoblameforherdeterioration。
　　"IfIhadagirl，I’dkeepherinline，"isnottheremarkofafoolnorofacad。Rickiehadnotkepthiswifeinline。Hehadshownheralltheworkingsofhissoul，mistakingthisforlove;
　　andinconsequenceshewastheworsewomanaftertwoyearsofmarriage，andhe，onthismorningoffreedom，washarderuponherthanheneedhavebeen。
　　Thespareroombellrang。Herberthadapainfulstrugglebetweencuriosityandduty，forthebellforchapelwasringingalso，andhemustgothroughthedrizzletoschool。Hepromisedtocomeupintheinterval，Rickie，whohadrappedhisheadthatSundayontheedgeofthetable，wasstillforbiddentowork。Beforehimaquietmorninglay。Secureofhisvictory，hetooktheportraitoftheirmotherinhishandandwalkedleisurelyupstairs。Thebellcontinuedtoring。
　　"Seeabouthisbreakfast，"hecalledtoAgnes，whoreplied，"Verywell。"Thehandleofthespareroomdoorwasmovingslowly。"I’mcoming，"hecried。Thehandlewasstill。Heunlockedandentered，hisheartfullofcharity。
　　Butwithinstoodamanwhoprobablyownedtheworld。
　　Rickiescarcelyknewhim;lastnighthehadseemedsocolorless，nonegligible。Inafewhourshehadrecapturedmotionandpassionandtheimprintofthesunlightandthewind。Hestood，notconsciouslyheroic，witharmsthatdangledfrombroadstoopingshoulders，andfeetthatplayedwithahassockonthecarpet。Buthishairwasbeautifulagainstthegreysky，andhiseyes，recallingtheskyunclouded，shotpasttheintruderasiftosomeworthiervision。SointentwastheirgazethatRickiehimselfglancedbackwards，onlytoseetheneatpassageandthebanistersatthetopofthestairs。Thenthelipsbeattogethertwice，andoutburstatorrentofamazingwords。
　　"Additallup，andletmeknowhowmuch。I’dsoonerhavedied。
　　Itnevertookmethatwaybefore。Imusthavebrokenpounds’worth。
　　Ifyou’llnottellthepolice，Ipromiseyoushan’tlose，Mr。
　　Elliot，Iswear。ButitmaybemonthsbeforeIsendit。
　　Everythingistobenew。You’venottobeapennyoutofpocket，doyousee？Doletmego，thisonceagain。"
　　"What’sthetrouble？"askedRickie，asiftheyhadbeenfriendsforyears。"Mydearman，we’veotherthingstotalkabout。
　　Graciousme，whatafuss！Ifyou’dsmashedthewholehouseI
　　wouldn’tmind，solongasyoucameback。"
　　"I’dsoonerhavedied，"gulpedStephen。
　　"Youdidnearly！ItwasIwhocaughtyou。Nevermindyesterday’srag。Whatcanyoumanageforbreakfast？"
　　Thefacegrewmoreangryandmorepuzzled。"Yesterdaywasn’tarag，"hesaidwithoutfocusinghiseyes。"Iwasdrunk，butnaturallymeantit。"
　　"Meantwhat？"
　　"Tosmashyou。BadliquordidwhatMrs。Elliotcouldn’t。I’veputmyselfinthewrong。You’vegotme。"
　　Itwasapoorbeginning。
　　"AsIhavegotyou，"saidRickie，controllinghimself，"Iwanttohaveatalkwithyou。Therehasbeenaghastlymistake。"
　　ButStephen，withacountryman’spersistency，continuedonhisownline。Hemeanttobecivil，butRickiewentcoldroundthemouth。Forhehadnotevenbeenangrywiththem。Untilhewasdrunk，theyhadbeendirtypeople——nothissort。Thenthetrivialinjuryrecurred，andhehadreeledtosmashthemashepassed。
　　"AndIwillpayforeverything，"washisrefrain，withwhichthesighingofraindropsmingled。"Youshan’tloseapenny，ifonlyyouletmefree。"
　　"You’llpayformycoffinifyoutalklikethatanylonger！Willyou，one，forgivemyfrightfulbehaviour;two，livewithme？"Forhisonlyhopewasinacheerfulprecision。
　　Stephengrewmoreagitated。Hethoughtitwassometrick。
　　"IwassayingImadeanunspeakablemistake。Ansellputmeright，butitwastoolatetofindyou。Don’tthinkIgotoffeasily。
　　Anselldoesn’tspareone。Andyou’vegottoforgiveme，tosharemylife，tosharemymoney。——I’vebroughtyouthisphotograph——I
　　wantittobethefirstthingyouacceptfromme——youhavethegreaterright——Iknowallthestorynow。Youknowwhoitis？"
　　"Ohyes;butIdon’twanttodragallthatin。"