Afterthisconversationflagged。RickieglancedbackatCadover，andthoughtoftheinsipiddaythatlaybeforehim。Generallyhewasattractedbyfreshpeople，andStephenwasalmostfresh:theyhadbeentohimsymbolsoftheunknown，andallthattheydidwasinteresting。Butnowhecaredfortheunknownnolonger。Heknew。
Mr。Wilbrahampassedtheminhisdog—cart，andliftedhishattohisemployer’snephew。Stephenheignored:hecouldnotfindhimonthemap。
"Goodmorning，"saidRickie。"Whatalovelymorning！"
"Isay，"calledtheother，"anotherchilddead！"Mr。Wilbraham，whohadseemedinclinedtochat，whippeduphishorseandleftthem。
"Theregoesanoutandouter，"saidStephen;andthen，asifintroducinganentirelynewsubject——"Don’tyouthinkFleaThompsontreatedmedisgracefully？"
"Isupposehedid。ButI’mscarcelythepersontosympathize。"
Theallusionfellflat，andhehadtoexplainit。"Ishouldhavedonethesamemyself，——promisedtobeawaytwohours，andstoppedfour。"
"Stopped—oh——oh，Iunderstand。Youbeinginlove，youmean？"
Hesmiledandnodded。
"Oh，I’venoobjectiontoFlealoving。Hesayshecan’thelpit。
Butaslongasmyfistsarestronger，he’sgottokeepitinline。"
"Inline？"
"Amanlikethat，whenhe’sgotagirl，thinkstherestcangotothedevil。Hegoescuttinghisworkandbreakinghisword。
Wilbrahamoughttosackhim。IpromiseyouwhenI’veagirlI’llkeepherinline，andifsheturnsnasty，I’llgetanother。"
Rickiesmiledandsaidnomore。Buthewassorrythatanyoneshouldstartlifewithsuchacreed——allthemoresorrybecausethecreedcaricaturedhisown。Hetoobelievedthatlifeshouldbeinaline——alineofenormouslength，fullofcountlessinterestsandcountlessfigures，allwellbeloved。Butwomanwasnottobe"kept"tothisline。Ratherdidsheadvanceitcontinually，likesometriumphantgeneral，makingeachunitstillmoreinteresting，stillmorelovable，thanithadbeenbefore。HelovedAgnes，notonlyforherself，butbecauseshewaslightingupthehumanworld。Buthecouldscarcelyexplainthistoaninexperiencedanimal，nordidhemaketheattempt。
Foralongtimetheyproceededinsilence。ThehillbehindCadoverwasinharvest，andthehorsesmovedregretfullybetweenthesheaves。Stephenhadpickedagrassleaf，andwasblowingcatcallsuponit。Heblewverywell，andthismorningallhissoulwentintothewail。Forhewasill。Hewastorturedwiththefeelingthathecouldnotgetawayanddo——dosomething，insteadofbeingciviltothisanaemicprig。Fourhoursintherainwasbetterthanthis:hehadnotwantedtofidgetintherain。Butnowtheairwaslikewine，andthestubblewassmellingofwet，andoverhisheadwhitecloudstrundledmoreslowlyandmoreseldomthroughbroadeningtractsofblue。Thereneverhadbeensuchamorning，andheshutuphiseyesandcalledtoit。Andwheneverhecalled，Rickieshutuphiseyesandwinced。
Atlastthebladebroke。"Wedon’tgoquick，dowe"heremarked，andlookedontheweedytrackforanother。
"Iwishyouwouldn’tletmekeepyou。Ifyouwerealoneyouwouldbegallopingorsomethingofthatsort。"
"IwastoldImustgoyourpace，"hesaidmournfully。"AndyoupromisedMissPembrokenottohurry，"
"Well，I’lldisobey。"Buthecouldnotriseaboveagentletrot，andeventhatnearlyjerkedhimoutofthesaddle。
"Sitlikethis，"saidStephen。"Can’tyouseelikethis？"Rickielurchedforward，andbrokehisthumbnailonthehorse’sneck。Itbledalittle，andhadtobeboundup。
"Thankyou——awfullykind——notighter，please——I’msimplyspoilingyourday。"
"Ican’tthinkhowamancanhelpriding。You’veonlytoleaveittothehorseso！——so！——justasyouleaveittowaterinswimming。"
RickieleftittoDido，whostoppedimmediately。
"IsaidLEAVEit。"Hisvoiceroseirritably。"Ididn’tsay’die。’
Ofcourseshestopsifyoudie。Firstyousitherasifyou’reSandowexercising，andthenyousitlikeacorpse。Can’tyoutellheryou’realive？That’sallshewants。"
Intryingtoconveytheinformation，Rickiedroppedhiswhip。
StephenpickeditupandrammeditintothebeltofhisownNorfolkjacket。Hewasscarcelyafashionablehorseman。Hewasnotevengraceful。Butherodeasalivingman，thoughRickiewastoomuchboredtonoticeit。Notamuscleinhimwasidle，notamuscleworkinghard。Whenhereturnedfromthegallophislimbswerestillunsatisfiedandhismannersstillirritable。Hedidnotknowthathewasill:heknewnothingabouthimselfatall。
"LikeahowdahintheZoo，"hegrumbled。"MotherFailingwillbuyelephants。"Andheproceededtocriticizehisbenefactress。
Rickie，keenlyalivetobadtaste，triedtostophim，andgainedinsteadacriticismofreligion。StephenoverthrewtheMosaiccosmogony。HepointedoutthediscrepanciesintheGospels。Helevelledhiswitagainstthemostbeautifulspireintheworld，nowrisingagainstthesouthernsky。Betweenwhileshewentforagallop。AfteratimeRickiestoppedlistening，andsimplywenthisway。ForDidowasaperfectmount，andasindifferenttothemotionsofAeneasasifshewasstrollingintheElysianfields。
Hehadhadabadnight，andthestrongairmadehimsleepy。ThewindblewfromthePlain。Cadoveranditsvalleyhaddisappeared，andthoughtheyhadnotclimbedmuchandcouldnotseefar，therewasasenseofinfinitespace。Thefieldswereenormous，likefieldsontheContinent，andthebrilliantsunshoweduptheircolourswell。Thegreenoftheturnips，thegoldoftheharvest，andthebrownofthenewlyturnedclods，wereeachcontrastedwithmorselsofgreydown。Butthegeneraleffectwaspale，orrathersilvery，forWiltshireisnotacountyofheavytints。
Beneaththesecolourslurkedtheunconquerablechalk，andwhereverthesoilwaspooritemerged。Thegrassytrack，sogaywithscabiousandbedstraw，wassnow—whiteatthebottomofitsruts。Adazzlingamphitheatregleamedintheflankofadistanthill，cutforsomeOlympianaudience。Andhereandthere，whateverthesurfacecrop，theearthbrokeintolittleembankments，littleditches，littlemounds:therehadbeennolackofdramatosolacethegods。
InCadover，theperiloushouse，AgneshadalreadypartedfromMrs。Failing。Histhoughtsreturnedtoher。Wasshe，thesouloftruth，insafety？Washerpurityvexedbytheliesandselfishness？Wouldsheeludethecapricewhichhad，hevaguelyknew，causedsufferingbefore？Ah，thefrailtyofjoy！Ah，themyriadsoflongingsthatpasswithoutfruition，andtheturfgrowsoverthem！Bettermen，womenasnoble——theyhaddieduphereandtheirdusthadbeenmingled，butonlytheirdust。Thesearemorbidthoughts，butwhodarecontradictthem？Thereismuchgoodluckintheworld，butitisluck。Wearenoneofussafe。
Wearechildren，playingorquarrelingontheline，andsomeofushaveRickie’stemperament，orhisexperiences，andadmitit。
Sobemused，thatanxiouslittlespeck，andallthelandseemedtocommentonhisfearsandonhislove。
Theirpathlayupward，overagreatbaldskull，halfgrass，halfstubble。Itseemedeachmomenttherewouldbeasplendidview。
Theviewnevercame，fornoneoftheinclinesweresharpenough，andtheymovedovertheskullformanyminutes，scarcelyshiftingalandmarkoralteringthebluefringeofthedistance。ThespireofSalisburydidalter，butveryslightly，risingandfallinglikethemercuryinathermometer。Atthemostitwouldbehalfhidden;attheleastthetipwouldshowbehindtheswellingbarrierofearth。Theypassedtwoelder—trees——agreatevent。Thebarepatch，saidStephen，wasowingtothegallows。Rickienodded。Hehadlostallsenseofincident。Inthisgreatsolitude——moresolitarythananyAlpinerange——heandAgneswerefloatingaloneandforever，betweentheshapelessearthandtheshapelessclouds。Animmensesilenceseemedtomovetowardsthem。
Alarkstoppedsinging，andtheyweregladofit。TheywereapproachingtheThroneofGod。Thesilencetouchedthem;theearthandalldangerdissolved，buteretheyquitevanishedRickieheardhimselfsaying，"Isitexactlywhatweintended？"
"Yes，"saidaman’svoice;"it’stheoldplan。"Theywereinanothervalley。Itssideswerethickwithtrees。Downitrananotherstreamandanotherroad:it，too，shelteredastringofvillages。Butallwasricher，larger，andmorebeautiful——thevalleyoftheAvonbelowAmesbury。
"I’vebeenasleep！"saidRickie，inawestrucktones。
"Never！"saidtheotherfacetiously。"Pleasantdreams？"
"Perhaps——I’mreallytiredofapologizingtoyou。Howlonghaveyoubeenholdingmeon？"
"Allintheday’swork。"Hegavehimbackthereins。
"Where’sthatroundhill？"
"Gonewherethegoodniggersgo。Iwantadrink。"
ThisisNature’sjokeinWiltshire——heronejoke。Youtoilonwindyslopes，andfeelveryprimeval。Youaremilesfromyourfellows，andlo！alittlevalleyfullofelmsandcottages。
BeforeRickiehadwakeduptoit，theyhadstoppedbyathatchedpublic—house，andStephenwasyellinglikeamaniacforbeer。
Therewasnooccasiontoyell。Hewasnotverythirsty，andtheywerequitereadytoservehim。Norneedhehavedrunkinthesaddle，withtheairofawarriorwhocarriesimportantdispatchesandhasnotthetimetodismount。Arealsoldier，boundonasimilarerrand，rodeuptotheinn，andStephenfearedthathewouldyelllouder，andwashostile。Buttheymadefriendsandtreatedeachother，andslangedtheproprietorandraggedtheprettygirls;whileRickie，aseachwaveofvulgarityburstoverhim，sunkhisheadlowerandlower，andwishedthattheearthwouldswallowhimup。HewasonlyusedtoCambridge，andtoaverysmallcornerofthat。Heandhisfriendstherebelievedinfreespeech。Buttheyspokefreelyaboutgeneralities。Theywerescientificandphilosophic。Theywouldhaveshrunkfromtheempiricalfreedomthatresultsfromalittlebeer。
Thatwaswhatannoyedhimasherodedownthenewvalleywithtwochatteringcompanions。Hewasmoreskilledthantheywereintheprinciplesofhumanexistence，buthewasnotsoindecentlyfamiliarwiththeexamples。Asordidvillagescandal——suchasStephendescribedasahugejoke——sprangfromcertaindefectsinhumannature，withwhichhewastheoreticallyacquainted。Buttheexample！Heblushedatitlikeamaidenlady，inspiteofitshavingaparallelinabeautifulidyllofTheocritus。Wasexperiencegoingtobesuchasplendidthingafterall？Weretheoutsideofhousessoverybeautiful？
"That’sspicy！"thesoldierwassaying。"Gotanymorelikethat？"
"I’segotapome，"saidStephen，anddrewapieceofpaperfromhispocket。Thevalleyhadbroadened。OldSarumrosebeforethem，uglyandmajestic。
"Writethisyourself？"heasked，chuckling。
"Rather，"saidStephen，loweringhisheadandkissingAeneasbetweentheears。
"Butwho’soldEm’ly？"Rickiewincedandfrowned。
"Nowyou’reasking。
"OldEm’lyshelimps，Andas——"
"Iamsotired，"saidRickie。Whyshouldhestanditanylonger？
Hewouldgohometothewomanheloved。"DoyoumindifIgiveupSalisbury？"
"Butwe’veseennothing！"criedStephen。
"Ishouldn’tenjoyanything，Iamsoabsurdlytired。"
"Leftturn，then——allintheday’swork。"Hebitathismoustacheangrily。
"Goodgraciousme，man！——ofcourseI’mgoingbackalone。I’mnotgoingtospoilyourday。Howcouldyouthinkitofme？"
Stephengavealoudsighofrelief。"Ifyoudowanttogohome，here’syourwhip。Don’tfalloff。Saytoheryouwantedit，ortheremightbeructions。"
"Certainly。Thankyouforyourkindcareofme。"
"’OldEm’lyshelimps，Andas——’"
Soonhewasoutofearshot。Soontheywerelosttoview。Soontheywereoutofhisthoughts。Heforgotthecoarsenessandthedrinkingandtheingratitude。Afewmonthsagohewouldnothaveforgottensoquickly，andhemightalsohavedetectedsomethingelse。Butaloverisdogmatic。Tohimtheworldshallbebeautifulandpure。Whenitisnot，heignoresit。
"He’snottired，"saidStephentothesoldier;"hewantshisgirl。"Andtheywinkedateachother，andcrackedjokesovertheeternalcomedyoflove。Theyaskedeachotherifthey’dletagirlspoilamorning’sride。Theybothexhibitedaprofoundcynicism。Stephen，whowasquitewithoutballast，describedthehouseholdatCadover:heshouldsaythatRickiewouldfindMissPembrokekissingthefootman。
"Isaythefootman’skissingoldEm’ly。"
"Jollyday，"saidStephen。Hisvoicewassuddenlyconstrained。Hewasnotsurewhetherhelikedthesoldierafterall，norwhetherhehadbeenwiseinshowinghimhiscompositions。
"’OldEm’lyshelimps，Andas——’"
"Allright，Thomas。That’lldo。"
"OldEm’ly——’"
"Iwishyou’ddryup，likeagoodfellow。Thisisthelady’shorse，youknow，hangit，afterall。"
"In—deed！"
"Don’tyousee——whenafellow’sonahorse，hecan’tletanotherfellow——kindof——don’tyouknow？"
Themandidknow。"There’ssenseinthat。"hesaidapprovingly。
Peacewasrestored，andtheywouldhavereachedSalisburyiftheyhadnothadsomemorebeer。Itunloosedthesoldier’sfancies，andagainhespokeofoldEm’ly，andrecitedthepoem，withAristophanicvariations。
"Jollyday，"repeatedStephen，withastraighteningoftheeyebrowsandaquickglanceattheother’sbody。Hethenwarnedhimagainstthevariations。InconsequencehewasaccusedofbeingamemberoftheY。M。C。A。Hisbloodboiledatthis。Herefutedthecharge，andbecamegreatfriendswiththesoldier，forthethirdtime。
"Anyobjectionto’SaucyMr。andMrs。Tackleton’？"
"Rathernot。"
Thesoldiersang"SaucyMr。andMrs。Tackkleton。"Itisreallyaworkfortwovoices，mostofthesaucinessdisappearingwhentakenasasolo。NorisMrs。Tackleton’snameEm’lv。
"Icallitajollyrottensong，"saidStephencrossly。"Iwon’tstandbeinggotat。"
"P’r’apsy’liketheroldsong。Lishen。
"’Ofallthegullsthatarsshmart，There’snonelinepretty——Em’ly;
Forshe’sthedarlingofmerart’"
"Now，that’swrong。"Herodeupclosetothesinger。
"Shright。"
"’Tisn’t。"
"It’sasmymothertaughtme。"
"Idon’tcare。"
"I’llnotalterfrommother’sway。"
Stephenwasbaffled。Thenhesaid，"Howdoesyourmothermakeitrhyme？"
"Wot？"
"Squat。You’reanass，andI’mnot。Poemswantrhymes。’Alley’
comesnextline。"
Hesaid"alley"was——welcometocomeifitliked。
"Itcan’t。YouwantSally。Sally——alley。Em’ly—alleydoesn’tdo。"
"Emily—femily！"criedthesoldier，withaninspirationthatwasnothiswhensober。"Mymothertaughtmefemily。
"’Forshe’sthedarlingofmerart，Andshelivesinmyfemily。’"
"Well，you’dbestbecareful，Thomas，andyourmothertoo。"
"Yourmother’snobetterthansheshouldbe，"saidThomasvaguely。
"DoyouthinkIhaven’theardthatbefore？"retortedtheboy。
Theotherconcludedhemightnowsayanything。Sohemight——thenameofoldEmilyexcepted。Stephencaredlittleabouthisbenefactress’shonour，butagreatdealabouthisown。HehadmadeMrs。Failingintoatest。Forthemomenthewoulddieforher，asaknightwoulddieforaglove。Heisnottobedistinguishedfromahero。
OldSarumwaspassed。Theyapproachedthemostbeautifulspireintheworld。"Lord！anotheroftheselargechurches！"saidthesoldier。UnfriendlytoGothic，heliftedbothhandstohisnose，anddeclaredthatoldEm’lywasburiedthere。Helayinthemud。
HishorsetrottedbacktowardsAmesbury，Stephenhadtwistedhimoutofthesaddle。
"I’vedonehim！"heyelled，thoughnoonewastheretohear。Heroseupinhisstirrupsandshoutedwithjoy。HeflunghisarmsroundAeneas’sneck。Theelderlyhorseunderstood，capered，andbolted。ItwasacentaurthatdashedintoSalisburyandscatteredthepeople。Inthestablehewouldnotdismount。"I’vedonehim！"
heyelledtotheostlers——apatheticmen。Stretchingupwards，heclungtoabeam。Aeneasmovedonandhewaslefthanging。Greatlydidheincommodethembyhisexercises。Hepulledup，hecircled，hekickedtheothercustomers。Atlasthefelltotheearth，deliciouslyfatigued。Hisbodyworriedhimnolonger。
Hewent，likethebabyhewas，tobuyawhitelinenhat。Thereweresoldiersabout，andhethoughtitwoulddisguisehim。Thenhehadalittlelunchtosteadythebeer。Thisdayhadturnedoutadmirably。AllthemoneythatshouldhavefedRickiehecouldspendonhimself。InsteadoftoilingovertheCathedralandseeingthestuffedpenguins，hecouldstopthewholethinginthecattlemarket。Therehemetandmadesomefriends。Hewatchedthecheap—jacks，andsawhownecessaryitwastohaveaconfidentmanner。Hespokeconfidentlyhimselfaboutlambs，andpeoplelistened。Hespokeconfidentlyaboutpigs，andtheyroaredwithlaughter。Hemustlearnmoreaboutpigs。Hewitnessedaperformance——nottoonamby—pamby——ofPunchandJudy。"Hullo，Podge！"criedanaughtylittlegirl。Hetriedtocatchher，andfailed。ShewasoneoftheCadfordchildren。ForSalisburyonmarketday，thoughitisnotpicturesque，iscertainlyrepresentative，andyoureadthenamesofhalftheWiltshirevillagesuponthecarriers’carts。Hefound，inPennyFarthingStreet，thecartfromWintersbridge。Itwouldnotstartforseveralhours，butthepassengersalwaysuseditasaclub，andsatiniteverynowandthenduringtheday。Nolessthanthreeladieswerethesenow，staringattheshafts。OneofthemwasFleaThompson’sgirl。Heaskedher，quitepolitely，whyherloverhadbrokenfaithwithhimintherain。Shewassilent。Hewarnedherofapproachingvengeance。Shewasstillsilent，butanotherwomanhopedthatagentlemanwouldnotbehardonapoorperson。
Somethinginthisannoyedhim;itwasn’taquestionofgentilityandpoverty——itwasaquestionoftwomen。HedeterminedtogobackbyCadburyRingswheretheshepherdwouldnowbe。
Hedid。Butthispartmustbetreatedlightly。HerodeuptotheculpritwiththeairofaSaintGeorge，spokeafewsternwordsfromthesaddle，tetheredhissteedtoahurdle，andtookoffhiscoat。"Areyouready？"heasked。
"Yes，sir，"saidFlea，andflunghimonhisback。
"That’snotfair，"heprotested。
Theotherdidnotreply，butflunghimonhishead。
"Howonearthdidyoulearnthat？"
"Bytryingoften，"saidFlea。
Stephensatontheground，pickingmudoutofhisforehead。"I
meantittobefists，"hesaidgloomily。
"Iknow，sir。"
"It’sjollysmartthough，and——andIbegyourpardonallround。"
Itcosthimagreatdealtosaythis，buthewassurethatitwastherightthingtosay。Hemustacknowledgethebetterman。
Whereasmostpeople，iftheyprovokeafightandareflung，say，"Youcannotrobmeofmymoralvictory。"
Therewasnothingfurthertobedone。Hemountedagain，notexactlydepressed，butfeelingthatthisdelightfulworldisextraordinarilyunreliable。Hehadneverexpectedtoflingthesoldier，ortobeflungbyFlea。"Onenipsorisnipped，"hethought，"andneverknowsbeforehand。IshouldnotbesurprisedifmanypeoplehadmoreinthemthanIsuppose，whileotherswerejusttheotherwayround。Ihaven’tseenthatsortofthinginIngersoll，butit’squiteimportant。"Thenhisthoughtsturnedtoacuriousincidentoflongago，whenhehadbeen"nipped"——asalittleboy。Hewastrespassinginthosewoods，whenhemetinanarrowgladeaflockofsheep。Theyhadneitherdognorshepherd，andadvancedtowardshimsilently。Hewasaccustomedtosheep，buthadneverhappenedtomeettheminawoodbefore，anddislikedit。Heretired，slowlyatfirst，thenfast;andtheflock，inadensemass，pressedafterhim。Histerrorincreased。
Heturnedandscreamedattheirlongwhitefaces;andstilltheycameon，allstucktogether，likesomehorriblejell——。Ifoncehegotintothem！Bellowingandscreeching，herushedintotheundergrowth，torehimselfallover，andreachedhomeinconvulsions。Mr。Failing，hisonlygrown—upfriend，wassympathetic，butquitestupid。"Panoviumcustos，"hesympathetic，ashepulledoutthethorns。"Whynot？""Panoviumcustos。"Stephenlearntthemeaningofthephraseatschool，"A
panofeggsforcustard。"Hestillrememberedhowtheotherboyslookedashepeepedatthembetweenhislegs，awaitingthedescendingcane。
Sohereturned，fullofpleasantdisconnectedthoughts。Hehadhadararegoodtime。Helikedeveryone——eventhatpoorlittleElliot——andyetnoonemattered。Theywereallout。Onthelandinghesawthehousemaid。Hefeltskittishandirresistible。
Shouldhesliphisarmroundherwaist？Perhapsbetternot;shemightboxhisears。Andhewantedtosmokeontheroofbeforedinner。Soheonlysaid，"Pleasewillyoustoptheboyblackingmybrownboots，"andshewithdowncasteyes，answered，"Yes，sir;
Iwillindeed。"
Hisroomwasinthepediment。Classicalarchitecture，likeallthingsinthisworldthatattemptserenity，isboundtohaveitslapsesintotheundignified，andCadoverlapsedhopelesslywhenitcametoStephen’sroom。Itgavehimoneroundwindow，toseethroughwhichhemustlieuponhisstomach，onetrapdooropeningupontheleads，threeirongirders，threebeams，sixbuttresses，nocircling，unlessyoucountthewalls，nowallsunlessyoucounttheceilingandinitsembarrassmentpresentedhimwiththegurglycisternthatsuppliedthebathwater。Herehelived，absolutelyhappy，andunawarethatMrs。Failinghadpokedhimuphereonpurpose，topreventhimfromgrowingtoobumptious。Hereheworkedandsangandpractisedontheocharoon。Here，inthecrannies，hehadconstructedshelvesandcupboardsanduselesslittledrawers。Hehadonlyonepicture——theDemeterofCnidos——
andshehungstraightfromtherooflikeajointofmeat。Onceshewasinthedrawing—room;butMrs。Failinghadgottiredofher，anddecreedherremovalandthisdegradation。Nowshefacedthesunrise;andwhenthemoonroseitslightalsofellonher，andtrembled，likelightuponthesea。Forshewasneverstill，andifthedraughtincreasedshewouldtwistonherstring，andwouldswayandtapupontheraftersuntilStephenwokeupandsaidwhathethoughtofher。"Wantyournose？"hewouldmurmur。
"Don’tyouwishyoumaygetit"Thenhedrewtheclothesoverhisears，whileabovehim，inthewindandthedarkness，thegoddesscontinuedhermotions。
Today，asheentered，hetrodonthepileofsixpennyreprints。
Leightonhadbroughtthemup。Helookedattheportraitsintheircovers，andbegantothinkthatthesepeoplewerenoteverything。
Whatafate，tolooklikeColonelIngersoll，ortomarryMrs。
JuliaP。Chunk！TheDemeterturnedtowardshimashebathed，andinthecoldwaterhesang——
"Theyaren’tbeautiful，theyaren’tmodest;
I’djustassoonfollowanoldstonegoddess，"
andsprangupwardthroughtheskylightontotheroof。Yearsago，whenanursewaswashinghim，hehadslippedfromhersoapyhandsandgotuphere。Sheimploredhimtorememberthathewasalittlegentleman;butheforgotthefact——ifitwasafact——andnoteventhebutlercouldgethimdown。Mr。Failing，whowassittingaloneinthegardentooilltoread，heardashout，"AmI
anacroterium？"HelookedupandsawanakedchildpoisedonthesummitofCadover。"Yes，"hereplied;"buttheyareunfashionable。Goin，"andthevisionhadremainedwithhimassomethingpeculiarlygracious。Hefeltthatnonsenseandbeautyhavecloseconnections，——closerconnectionsthanArtwillallow，—
—andthatbothwouldremainwhenhisownheavinessandhisownuglinesshadperished。Mrs。Failingfoundinhisremainsasentencethatpuzzledher。"Iseetherespectablemansion。Iseethesmugfortressofculture。Thedoorsareshut。Thewindowsareshut。Butontheroofthechildrengodancingforever。"
Stephenwasachildnolonger。Heneverstoodonthepedimentnow，exceptforabet。Henever，orscarcelyever，pouredwaterdownthechimneys。Whenhecaughtthecat，heseldomdroppedherintothehousekeeper’sbedroom。Butstill，whentheweatherwasfair，helikedtocomeupafterbathing，andgetdryinthesun。
Todayhebroughtwithhimatowel，apipeoftobacco，andRickie’sstory。Hemustgetitdonesometime，andhewastiredofthesix—pennyreprints。Theslopinggablewaswarm，andhelaybackonitwithclosedeyes，gaspingforpleasure。Starlingscriticizedhim，snotsfellonhiscleanbody，andoverhimalittlecloudwastingedwiththecoloursofevening。"Good！
good！"hewhispered。"Good，ohgood！"andopenedthemanuscriptreluctantly。
Whataproduction！Whowasthisgirl？Wheredidshegoto？Whysomuchtalkabouttrees？"Itakeithewroteitwhenfeelingbad，"
hemurmured，andletitfallintothegutter。Itfellfacedownwards，andonthebackhesawaneatlittleresumeinMissPembroke’shandwriting，intendedforsuchashim。"Allegory。Man=moderncivilization（inbadsense）。Girl=gettingintotouchwithNature。"
IntouchwithNature！Thegirlwasatree！Helithispipeandgazedattheradiantearth。Theforegroundwashidden，buttherewasthevillagewithitselms，andtheRomanRoad，andCadburyRings。There，too，werethosewoods，andlittlebeechcopses，crowningawasteofdown。Nottomentiontheair，orthesun，orwater。Good，ohgood！
IntouchwithNature！Whatcantwouldthebooksthinkofnext？
Hiseyesclosed。Hewassleepy。Good，ohgood！Sighingintohispipe，hefellasleep。