Thelightfadedoutofthedrawing—room，inspiteofitbeingSeptemberandonlyhalf—pastsix。FromherlowchairAgnescouldseethetreesbythedrive，blackagainstablackeningsky。Thatdrivewashalfamilelong，andshewaspraisingitsgravelledsurfacewhenRickiecalledinavoiceofalarm，"Isay，whendidourtrainarrive？"
　　"Four—six。"
　　"Isaidso。"
　　"Itarrivedatfour—sixonthetime—table，"saidMr。Wonham。"I
　　wanttoknowwhenitgottothestation？"
　　"Itellyouagainitwaspunctual。ItellyouIlookedatmywatch。Icandonomore。"
　　Agneswasamazed。WasRickiemad？Aminuteagoandtheywereboringeachotheroverdogs。Whathadhappened？
　　"Now，now！Quarrellingalready？"askedMrs。Failing。
　　Thefootman，bringingalamp，lituptwoangryfaces。
　　"Hesays——"
　　"Hesays——"
　　"Hesaysweranoverachild。"
　　"Soyoudid。Youranoverachildinthevillageatfour—sevenbymywatch。Yourtrainwaslate。Youcouldn’thavegottothestationtillfour—ten。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveit。Wehadpassedthevillagebyfour—seven。
　　Agnes，hadn’twepassedthevillage？Itmusthavebeenanexpressthatranoverthechild。"
　　"Nowisitlikely"——heappealedtothepracticalworld——"isitlikelythatthecompanywouldrunastoppingtrainandthenanexpressthreeminutesafterit？"
　　"Achild——"saidRickie。"Ican’tbelievethatthetrainkilledachild。"Hethoughtoftheirjourney。Theywerealoneinthecarriage。Asthetrainslackenedspeedhehadcaughtherforamomentinhisarms。Therainbeatonthewindows，buttheywereinheaven。
　　"You’vegottobelieveit，"saidtheother，andproceededto"rubitin。"Hishealthy，irritablefacedrewclosetoRickie’s。"TwochildrenwerekickingandscreamingontheRomancrossing。Yourtrain，beinglate，camedownonthem。Oneofthemwaspulledofftheline，buttheotherwascaught。Howwillyougetoutofthat？"
　　"Andhowwillyougetoutofit？"criedMrs。Failing，turningthetablesonhim。"Where’sthechildnow？Whathashappenedtoitssoul？Youmustknow，Agnes，thatthisyounggentlemanisaphilosopher。"
　　"Oh，dropallthat，"saidMr。Wonham，suddenlycollapsing。
　　"Dropit？Where？Onmynicecarpet？"
　　"Ihatephilosophy，"remarkedAgnes，tryingtoturnthesubject，forshesawthatitmadeRickieunhappy。
　　"SodoI。ButIdaren’tsaysobeforeStephen。Hedespisesuswomen。"
　　"No，Idon’t，"saidthevictim，swayingtoandfroonthewindow—sill，whitherhehadretreated。
　　"Yes，hedoes。Hewon’teventroubletoanswerus。Stephen！
　　Podge！Answerme。Whathashappenedtothechild’ssoul？"
　　Heflungopenthewindowandleantfromthemintothedusk。Theyheardhimmuttersomethingaboutabridge。
　　"WhatdidItellyou？Hewon’tanswermyquestion。"
　　Thedelightfulmomentwasapproachingwhentheboywouldlosehistemper:sheknewitbyacertaintremorinhisheels。
　　"Therewantsabridge，"heexploded。"Abridgeinsteadofallthisrottentalkandthelevel—crossing。Itwouldn’tbreakyoutobuildatwo—archbridge。Thenthechild’ssoul，asyoucallit——
　　well，nothingwouldhavehappenedtothechildatall。"
　　Agustofnightairentered，accompaniedbyrain。Theflowersinthevasesrustled，andtheflameofthelampshotupandsmokedtheglass。Slightlyirritated，sheorderedhimtoclosethewindow。
　　XI
　　Cadoverwasnotalargehouse。Butitisthelargesthousewithwhichthisstoryhasdealings，andmustalwaysbethoughtofwithrespect。Itwasbuiltabouttheyear1800，andfavouredthearchitectureofancientRome——chieflybymeansoffivelankpilasters，whichstretchedfromthetopofittothebottom。
　　Betweenthepilasterswastheglassfrontdoor，totherightofthemthedrawingroomwindows，totheleftofthemthewindowsofthedining—room，abovethematriangulararea，whichthebetter—classservantsknewasa"pendiment，"andwhichhadinitsmiddleasmallroundhole，accordingtotheusageofPalladio。
　　Theclassicalnotewasalsosustainedbyeightgreystepswhichledfromthebuildingdownintothedrive，andbyanattemptataformalgardenontheadjoininglawn。ThelawnendedinaHa—ha（"Ha！ha！whoshallregardit？"），andthencethebarelandslopeddownintothevillage。Themaingarden（walled）wastotheleftasonefacedthehouse，whiletotherightwasthatlaurelavenue，leadinguptoMrs。Failing’sarbour。
　　Itwasacomfortablebutnotveryattractiveplace，and，toacertaintypeofmind，itssituationwasnotattractiveeither。
　　>Fromthedistanceitshowedasagreybox，huddledagainstevergreens。Therewasnomysteryaboutit。Yousawitformiles。
　　ItshillhadnoneofthebeetlingromanceofDevonshire，noneofthesubtlecontoursthatpreludeacottageinKent，butprofferreditsburdencrudely，onahugebarepalm。"There’sCadover，"visitorswouldsay。"Howsmallitstilllooks。Weshallbelateforlunch。"Andtheviewfromthewindows，thoughextensive，wouldnothavebeenacceptedbytheRoyalAcademy。A
　　valley，containingastream，aroad，arailway;overthevalleyfieldsofbarleyandwurzel，dividedbynoprettyhedges，andpassingintoagreatandformlessdown——thiswastheoutlook，desolateatalltimes，andalmostterrifyingbeneathacloudysky。Thedownwascalled"CadburyRange"（"CocoaSquares"ifyouwereyoungandfunny），becausehighuponit——onecannotsay"onthetop，"therebeingscarcelyanytopsinWiltshire——becausehighuponittherestoodadoublecircleofentrenchments。Abankofgrassenclosedaringofturnips，whichenclosedasecondbankofgrass，whichenclosedmoreturnips，andinthemiddleofthepatterngrewonesmalltree。British？Roman？Saxon？Danish？Thecompetentreaderwilldecide。TheThompsonfamilyknewittobefarolderthantheFranco—Germanwar。ItwasthepropertyofGovernment。ItwasfullofgoldanddeadsoldierswhohadfoughtwiththesoldiersonCastleRingsandbeenbeaten。TheroadtoLondinium，havingfordedthestreamandcrossedthevalleyroadandtherailway，passedupbytheseentrenchments。TheroadtoLondonlayhalfamiletotherightofthem。
　　Tocompletethissurveyonemustmentionthechurchandthefarm，bothofwhichlayoverthestreaminCadford。Betweenthemtheyruledthevillage，oneclaimingthesoulsofthelabourers，theothertheirbodies。Ifamandesiredotherreligionorotheremploymenthemustleave。Thechurchlayupbytherailway，thefarmwasdownbythewatermeadows。Thevicar，agentlecharitablemanscarcelyrealizedhispower，andnevertriedtoabuseit。Mr。Wilbraham，theagent，wasofanothermould。Heknewhisplace，andkeptotherstotheirs:allsocietyseemedspreadbeforehimlikeamap。Thelinebetweenthecountyandthelocal，thelinebetweenthelabourerandtheartisan——heknewthemall，andstrengthenedthemwithnouncertaintouch。
　　Everythingwithhimwasgraduated——carefullygraduatedcivilitytowardshissuperior，towardshisinferiorscarefullygraduatedincivility。So——forhewasathoughtfulperson——soalone，declaredhe，couldthingsbekepttogether。
　　PerhapstheComicMuse，towhomsomuchisnowattributed，hadcausedhisestatetobelefttoMr。Failing。Mr。Failingwastheauthorofsomebrilliantbooksonsocialism，——thatwaswhyhiswifemarriedhim——andfortwenty—fiveyearshereignedupatCadoverandtriedtoputhistheoriesintopractice。Hebelievedthatthingscouldbekepttogetherbyaccentingthesimilarities，notthedifferencesofmen。"Weareallmuchmorealikethanweconfess，"wasoneofhisfavouritespeeches。Asaspeechitsoundedverywell，andhiswifehadapplauded;butwhenitresultedinhardwork，eveningsinthereading—rooms，mixed—parties，andlongunobtrusivetalkswithdullpeople，shegotbored。Inherpiquantwayshedeclaredthatshewasnotgoingtoloveherhusband，andsucceeded。Hetookitquietly，buthisbrilliancydecreased。Hishealthgrewworse，andheknewthatwhenhediedtherewasnoonetocarryonhiswork。Hefelt，besides，thathehaddoneverylittle。Toilashewould，hehadnotapracticalmind，andcouldneverdispensewithMr。
　　Wilbraham。Forallhistact，hewouldoftenstretchoutthehandofbrotherhoodtoosoon，orwithholditwhenitwouldhavebeenaccepted。Mostpeoplemisunderstoodhim，oronlyunderstoodhimwhenhewasdead。Inafteryearshisreignbecameagoldenage;
　　buthecountedafewdisciplesinhislife—time，afewyounglabourersandtenantfarmers，whosworetempestuouslythathewasnotreallyafool。This，hetoldhimself，wasasmuchashedeserved。
　　Cadoverwasinheritedbyhiswidow。Shetriedtosellit;shetriedtoletit;butsheaskedtoomuch，andasitwasneitheraprettyplacenorfertile，itwasleftonherhands。Withmanyagroanshesettleddowntobanishment。Wiltshirepeople，shedeclared，werethestupidestinEngland。Shetoldthemsototheirfaces，whichmadethemnobrighter。Andtheircountywasworthyofthem:nodistinctioninit——nostyle——simplyland。
　　Butherwrathpassed，orremainedonlyasagracefulfretfulness。
　　Shemadethehousecomfortable，andabandonedthefarmtoMr。
　　Wilbraham。Withagooddealofcaresheselectedasmallcircleofacquaintances，andhadthemtostopinthesummermonths。Inthewintershewouldgototownandfrequentthesalonsoftheliterary。Asherlamenessincreasedshemovedaboutless，andatthetimeofhernephew’svisitseldomlefttheplacethathadbeenforceduponherasahome。Justnowshewasbusy。A
　　prominentpoliticianhadquotedherhusband。Theyounggenerationasked，"WhoisthisMr。Failing？"andthepublisherswrote，"Nowisthetime。"Shewascollectingsomeessaysandpenninganintroductorymemoir。
　　Rickieadmiredhisaunt，butdidnotcareforher。Sheremindedhimtoomuchofhisfather。Shehadthesameaffliction，thesameheartlessness，thesamehabitoftakinglifewithalaugh——asiflifeisapill！Healsofeltthatshehadneglectedhim。Hewouldnothaveaskedmuch:asfor"prospects，"theyneverenteredhishead，butshewashisonlynearrelative，andalittlekindnessandhospitalityduringthelonelyyearswouldhavemadeincalculabledifference。NowthathewashappierandcouldbringherAgnes，shehadaskedhimtostopatonce。Thesunasitrosenextmorningspoketohimofanewlife。Hetoohadapurposeandavalueintheworldatlast。Leaningoutofthewindow，hegazedattheearthwashedcleanandheardthroughthepureairthedistantnoisesofthefarm。
　　Butthatdaynothingwastoremaindivinebuttheweather。Hisaunt，forreasonsofherown，decreedthatheshouldgoforaridewiththeWonhamboy。TheyweretolookatOldSarum，proceedthencetoSalisbury，lunchthere，seethesights，callonacertaincanonfortea，andreturntoCadoverintheevening。Thearrangementsuitednoone。Hedidnotwanttoride，buttobewithAgnes;nordidAgneswanttobepartedfromhim，norStephentogowithhim。Buttheclearerthewishesofherguestsbecame，themoredeterminedwasMrs。Failingtodisregardthem。Shesmoothedawayeverydifficulty，sheconvertedeveryobjectionintoareason，andsheorderedthehorsesforhalf—pastnine。
　　"Itisabore，"hegrumbledashesatintheirlittleprivatesitting—room，breakinghisfinger—nailsuponthecoachman’sgaiters。"Ican’tride。Ishallfalloff。Weshouldhavebeensohappyhere。It’sjustlikeAuntEmily。Can’tyouimaginehersayingafterwards，’Loversareabsurd。Imadeapointofkeepingthemapart，’andtheneverybodylaughing。"
　　Withaprettyforetasteofthefuture，Agneskneltbeforehimanddidthegaitersup。"WhoisthisMr。Wonham，bythebye？"
　　"Idon’tknow。SomeconnectionofMr。Failing’s，Ithink。"
　　"Doeshelivehere？"
　　"Heusedtobeatschoolorsomething。Heseemstohavegrownintoatiresomeperson。"
　　"IsupposethatMrs。Failinghasadoptedhim。"
　　"Isupposeso。Ibelievethatshehasbeenquitekind。Idohopeshe’llbekindtoyouthismorning。Ihateleavingyouwithher。"
　　"Why，yousayshelikesme。"
　　"Yes，butthatwouldn’tprevent——youseeshedoesn’tmindwhatshesaysorwhatsherepeatsifitamusesher。Ifshethoughtitreallyfunny，forinstance，tobreakoffourengagement，she’dtry。"
　　"Dearboy，whatafrightfulremark！Butitwouldbefunnierforustoseehertrying。Whatevercouldshedo？"
　　Hekissedthehandsthatwerestillbusywiththefastenings。
　　"Nothing。Ican’tseeonething。Wesimplylieopentoeachother，youandI。Thereisn’tonenewcornerineitherofusthatshecouldreveal。It’sonlythatIalwayshaveinthishousethemostawfulfeelingofinsecurity。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Ifanyonesaysordoesafoolishthingit’salwayshere。Allthefamilybreezeshavestartedhere。It’sakindoffocusforaimedandaimlessscandal。Youknow，whenmyfatherandmotherhadtheirspecialquarrel，myauntwasmixedupinit，——Ineverknewhoworhowmuch——butyoumaybesureshedidn’tcalmthingsdown，unlessshefoundthingsmoreentertainingcalm。"
　　"Rickie！Rickie！"criedtheladyfromthegarden，"Yourriding—master’simpatient。"
　　"Wereallyoughtn’ttotalkofherlikethishere，"whisperedAgnes。"It’sahorriblehabit。"
　　"Thehabitofthecountry，Agnes。Ugh，thisgossip！"Suddenlyheflunghisarmsoverher。"Dear——dear——let’sbewareofIdon’tknowwhat——ofnothingatallperhaps。"
　　"Oh，buckup！"yelledtheirritableStephen。"WhichamItoshorten——leftstirruporright？"
　　"Left！"shoutedAgnes。
　　"Howmanyholes？"
　　Theyhurrieddown。Onthewayshesaid:"I’mgladofthewarning。
　　NowI’mprepared。Yourauntwillgetnothingoutofme。"
　　Herbetrothedtriedtomountwiththewrongfootaccordingtohisinvariablecustom。Shealsohadtopickuphiswhip。Atlasttheystarted，theboyshowingoffprettyconsistently，andshewasleftalonewithherhostess。
　　"Didoisquietasalamb，"saidMrs。Failing，"andStephenisagoodfielder。Whatablessingitistohaveclearedoutthemen。
　　WhatshallyouandIdothisheavenlymorning？"
　　"I’mgameforanything。"
　　"Haveyouquiteunpacked？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Anyletterstowrite？"No。
　　"Thenlet’sgotomyarbour。No，wewon’t。Itgetsthemorningsun，andit’llbetoohottoday。"Alreadysheregrettedclearingoutthemen。Onsuchamorningshewouldhavelikedtodrive，butherthirdanimalhadgonelame。Shefeared，too，thatMissPembrokewasgoingtoboreher。However，theydidgotothearbour。Inlanguidtonesshepointedoutthevariousobjectsofinterest。
　　"There’stheCad，whichgoesintothesomething，whichgoesintotheAvon。CadburyRingsopposite，Cadchurchtotheextremeleft:
　　youcan’tseeit。Youweretherelastnight。Itisfamousforthedrunkenparsonandtherailway—station。ThenCadDauntsey。ThenCadford，thatsideofthestream，connectedwithCadover，this。
　　ObservethefertilityoftheWiltshiremind。"
　　"AterriblelotofCads，"saidAgnesbrightly。
　　Mrs。Failingdividedherguestsintothosewhomadethisjokeandthosewhodidnot。Thelatterclasswasverysmall。
　　"ThevicarofCadford——notthenicedrunkard——declaresthenameisreally’Chadford，’andheworriedontillIputupawindowtoSt。Chadinourchurch。HisCambridgewifepronouncesit’Hyadford。’Icouldsmackthemboth。HowdoyoulikePodge？Ah！
　　youjump;Imeantyouto。HowdoyoulikePodgeWonham？"
　　"Verynice，"saidAgnes，laughing。
　　"Nice！Heisahero。"
　　Therewasalongintervalofsilence。Eachladylooked，withoutmuchinterest，attheview。Mrs。Failing’sattitudetowardsNaturewasseverelyaesthetic——anattitudemoresterilethantheseverelypractical。Sheappliedthetestofbeautytoshadowandodourandsound;theyneverfilledherwithreverenceorexcitement;sheneverknewthemasaresistlesstrinitythatmayintoxicatetheworshipperwithjoy。Ifshelikedaploughedfield，itwasonlyasaspotofcolour——notalsoasahintoftheendlessstrengthoftheearth。Andtodayshecouldapproveofonecloud，butobjecttoitsfellow。AsforMissPembroke，shewasnotapprovingorobjectingatall。"Ahero？"shequeried，whentheintervalhadpassed。Hervoicewasindifferent，asifshehadbeenthinkingofotherthings。
　　"Ahero？Yes。Didn’tyounoticehowheroichewas？"
　　"Idon’tthinkIdid。"
　　"Notatdinner？Ah，Agnes，alwayslookoutforheroismatdinner。
　　Itistheirgreattime。Theyliveuptothestiffnessoftheirshirtfronts。DoyoumeantosaythatyounevernoticedhowhesetdownRickie？"
　　"Oh，thataboutpoetry！"saidAgnes，laughing。"Rickiewouldnotminditforamoment。Butwhydoyousingleoutthatasheroic？"
　　"Tosnubpeople！tosetthemdown！toberudetothem！tomakethemfeelsmall！Surelythat’sthelifeworkofahero？"
　　"Ishouldn’thavesaidthat。AndasamatteroffactMr。Wonhamwaswrongoverthepoetry。ImadeRickielookitupafterwards。"
　　"Butofcourse。Aheroalwaysiswrong。"
　　"Tome，"shepersisted，rathergently，"aherohasalwaysbeenastrongwonderfulbeing，whochampions——"
　　"Ah，waittillyouarethedragon！Ihavebeenadragonmostofmylife，Ithink。Adragonthatwantsnothingbutapeacefulcave。Thenincomesthestrong，wonderful，delightfulbeing，andgainsaprincessbypiercingmyhide。No，seriously，mydearAgnes，thechiefcharacteristicsofaheroareinfinitedisregardforthefeelingsofothers，plusgeneralinabilitytounderstandthem。"
　　"ButsurelyMr。Wonham——"
　　"Yes;aren’twebeingunkindtothepoorboy。Oughtwetogoontalking？"
　　Agneswaited，rememberingthewarningsofRickie，andthinkingthatanythingshesaidmightperhapsberepeated。
　　"Thoughevenifhewasherehewouldn’tunderstandwhatwearesaying。"
　　"Wouldn’tunderstand？"
　　Mrs。Failinggavetheleastflickerofaneyetowardshercompanion。"Didyoutakehimforclever？"
　　"Idon’tthinkItookhimforanything。"Shesmiled。"Ihavebeenthinkingofotherthings，andanotherboy。"
　　"ButdothinkforamomentofStephen。Iwilldescribehowhespentyesterday。Heroseateight。Fromeighttoelevenhesang。
　　Thesongwascalled，’Father’sbootswillsoonfitWillie。’Hestoppedoncetosaytothefootman，’She’llneverfinishherbook。Sheidles:’She’beingI。Atelevenhewentout，andstoodintheraintillfour，buthadthelucktoseeachildrunoveratthelevel—crossing。Byhalf—pastfourhehadknockedthebottomoutofChristianity。"
　　Agneslookedbewildered。
　　"Aren’tyouimpressed？Iwas。Itoldhimthathewasonnoaccounttounsettlethevicar。Openthatcupboard，oneofthosesixpennybookstellsPodgethathe’smadeofhardlittleblackthings，anotherthathe’smadeofbrownthings，largerandsquashy。Thereseemsadiscrepancy，butanythingisbetterforathoughtfulyouththantobemadeintheGardenofEden。Letuseliminatethepoetic，atwhatevercosttotheprobable。"Whenforamomentshespokemoregravely。"Hereheisattwenty，withnothingtoholdonby。Idon’tknowwhat’stobedone。Isupposeit’smyfault。ButI’veneverhadanybotherovertheChurchofEngland;haveyou？"
　　"OfcourseIgowithmyChurch，"saidMissPembroke，whohatedthisstyleofconversation。"Idon’tknow，I’msure。Ithinkyoushouldconsultaman。"
　　"WouldRickiehelpme？"
　　"Rickiewoulddoanythinghecan。"AndMrs。Failingnotedthehalfofficialwayinwhichshevouchedforherlover。"ButofcourseRickieisalittle——complicated。IdoubtwhetherMr。
　　Wonhamwouldunderstandhim。Hewants——doesn’the？——someonewho’salittlemoreassertiveandmoreaccustomedtoboys。Someonemorelikemybrother。"
　　"Agnes！"sheseizedherbythearm。"DoyousupposethatMr。
　　PembrokewouldundertakemyPodge？"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Histimeissofilledup。Hegetsaboarding—housenextterm。Besides——afterallIdon’tknowwhatHerbertwoulddo。"
　　"Morality。Hewouldteachhimmorality。TheThirty—NineArticlesmaycomeofthemselves，butifyouhavenomoralsyoucometogrief。MoralityisallIdemandfromMr。HerbertPembroke。Heshallbeexcusedtheuseoftheglobes。Youknow，ofcourse，thatStephen’sexpelledfromapublicschool？Hestole。"
　　Theschoolwasnotapublicone，andtheexpulsion，orratherrequestforremoval，hadtakenplacewhenStephenwasfourteen。A
　　violentspasmofdishonesty——suchasoftenheraldstheapproachofmanhood——hadovercomehim。Hestoleeverything，especiallywhatwasdifficulttosteal，andhidtheplunderbeneathalooseplankinthepassage。Hewasbetrayedbytheinclusionofaham。
　　Thiswasthecrisisofhiscareer。Hisbenefactresswasjustthenratherboredwithhim。Hehadstoppedbeingaprettyboy，andsheratherdoubtedwhethershewouldseehimthrough。Butshewassoragedwiththelettersoftheschoolmaster，andsodelightedwiththoseofthecriminal，thatshehadhimbackandgavehimaprize。
　　"No，"saidAgnes，"Ididn’tknow。IshouldbehappytospeaktoHerbert，but，asIsaid，histimewillbeveryfull。ButIknowhehasfriendswhomakeaspecialityofweaklyor——orunusualboys。"
　　"Mydear，I’vetriedit。Stephenkickedtheweaklyboysandrobbedappleswiththeunusualones。Hewasexpelledagain。"
　　AgnesbegantofindMrs。Failingrathertiresome。Whereveryoutrodonher，sheseemedtoslipawayfrombeneathyourfeet。
　　Agneslikedtoknowwhereshewasandwhereotherpeoplewereaswell。Shesaid:"Mybrotherthinksagreatdealofhomelife。I
　　daresayhe’dthinkthatMr。Wonhamisbestwhereheis——withyou。
　　Youhavebeensokindtohim。You"——shepaused——"havebeentohimbothfatherandmother。"
　　"I’mtoohot，"wasMrs。Failing’sreply。ItseemedthatMissPembrokehadatlasttouchedatopiconwhichshewasreticent。
　　Sherangtheelectricbell，——itwasonlytotellthefootmantotakethereprintstoMr。Wonham’sroom，——andthenmurmuringsomethingaboutwork，proceededherselftothehouse。
　　"Mrs。Failing——"saidAgnes，whohadnotexpectedsuchaspeedyendtotheirchat。
　　"CallmeAuntEmily。Mydear？"
　　"AuntEmily，whatdidyouthinkofthatstoryRickiesentyou？"
　　"Itisbad，"saidMrs。Failing。"But。But。But。"Thensheescaped，havingtoldthetruth，andyetleavingapleasurableimpressionbehindher。
　　XII
　　TheexcursiontoSalisburywasbutapoorbusiness——infact，Rickienevergotthere。TheywerenotoutofthedrivebeforeMr。
　　Wonhambegandoingacrobatics。HeshowedRickiehowveryquicklyhecouldturnroundinhissaddleandsitwithhisfacetoAeneas’stail。"Isee，"saidRickiecoldly，andbecamealmostcrosswhentheyarrivedinthisconditionatthegatebehindthehouse，forhehadtoopenit，andwasafraidoffalling。Asusual，heanchoredjustbeyondthefastenings，andthenhadtoturnDido，whoseemedaslongasabattleship。Tohisreliefamancameforward，andmurmuring，"Worstgateintheparish，"
　　pusheditwideandhelditrespectfully。"Thankyou，"criedRickie;"manythanks。"ButStephen，whowasridingintotheworldbackfirst，saidmajestically，"No，no;itdoesn’tcount。Youneedn’tthinkitdoes。Youmakeitworsebytouchingyourhat。
　　Fourhoursandsevenminutes！You’llseemeagain。"Themananswerednothing。
　　"Eh，butI’llhurthim，"hechanted，asheswungintoposition。
　　"ThatwasFlea。Eh，buthe’sforgottenmyfists;eh，butI’llhurthim。"
　　"Why？"venturedRickie。Lastnight，overcigarettes，hehadbeenboredtodeathbythestoryofFlea。TheboyhadalittleremindedhimofGerald——theGeraldofhistory，nottheGeraldofromance。Hewasmoregenial，buttherewasthesamebrutality，thesamepeevishinsistenceonthepoundofflesh。
　　"Hurthimtillhelearns。"
　　"Learnswhat？"
　　"Learns，ofcourse，"retortedStephen。Neitherofthemwasverycivil。Theydidnotdislikeeachother，buttheyeachwantedtobesomewhereelse——exactlythesituationthatMrs。Failinghadexpected。
　　"Hebehavedbadly，"saidRickie，"becauseheispoorerthanweare，andmoreignorant。Lessmoneyhasbeenspentonteachinghimtobehave。"
　　"Well，I’llteachhimfornothing。"
　　"Perhapshisfistsarestrongerthanyours！"
　　"Theyaren’t。Ilooked。"