Thorperesumed。"Idon'twantyoutosufferbythisunlooked-forchangeintheshapeofthings。Youholdtwothousandshares——onlybyaccidentthey'rethewrongkindofshares。Verywell：I'llmakethemtherightkindofshares。I'llhaveatransfersenttoyoutomorrow，sothatyoucanreturnthosevendor'ssharestome，andinexchangeforthemI'llgiveyoutwothousandfully-paidordinaryshares。Youcanselltheseatonce，ifyoulike，oryoucanholdthemonoveronemoresettlement，whicheveryouplease。"
　　"Thisisverymunificent，"remarkedLordChaldon，afteraninstant'sself-communion。Histonewasextremelygracious，buthedisplayednoneoftheenthusiasticexcitementwhichThorpeperceivednowthathehadlookedfor。
　　TheequanimityofMarquises，whowerealsoex-Ambassadors，wasevidentlyadeeper-rootedaffairthanhehadsupposed。
　　Thiselderlyandurbanediplomattookagiftofthirtythousandpoundsashemighthaveacceptedasuperiorcigar。
　　Abriefpauseensued，andwasendedbyanotherremarkfromthenobleman："Ithoughtforthemomentofaskingyouradvice——onthisquestionofselling，"hecontinued。
　　"Butitwillbeputmoreappropriately，perhaps，inthisway：Letmeleaveitentirelyinyourhands。Whateveryoudowillberight。Iknowsolittleofthesethings——andyouknowsomuch。"
　　Thorpeputouthislipsatrifle，andlookedawayforaninstantinfrowningabstraction。"Ifitwereputinthatway——IthinkIshouldsell，"hesaid。
　　"It'sallrightformetotakelongchances——it'smygame——butthere'snoreasonwhyyoushouldriskthings。
　　Butletmeputitinstillanotherway，"headded，withthepassinggleamofanewthoughtoverthedullsurfaceofhiseye。"Whatdoyousaytoourmakingthetransactionstrictlybetweenourselves？Herearesharestobearer，inthesafethere。Isaythattwothousandofthemareyours：thatmakesthemyours。
　　Igiveyoumychequeforthirtythousandpounds——here，now，ifyoulike——andthatmakesthemmineagain。
　　Thebusinessisfinishedanddonewith——insidethisroom。
　　Neitherofusistosayanythingaboutittoasoul。
　　Doesthatmeetyourviews？"
　　Thediplomatponderedtheproposition——againwithalengthenedperturbationoftheeyelids。"Itwouldbepossibletosuggestavarietyofobjections，ifonewereofasophisticalturnofmind，"hesaidatlast，smilinglyreflective。
　　"YetIseenoreallyinsuperableobstacleinthepath。"
　　Hethoughtuponitfurther，andwentonwithanenquiringupwardglancedirectedsuddenlyatThorpe："Istherelikelytobeanyveryunpleasanthubbubinthepress——whenitisknownthattheannualmeetinghasbeenpostponed？"
　　Thorpeshookhisheadwithconfidence。"No——youneedhavenofearofthat。Thepressisallright。It'sthetalkoftheCity，I'mtold——thewayI'vemanagedthepress。
　　Itisn'toftenthatamanhasallthreeofthepaperswalkingthesamechalk-line。"
　　TheMarquisconsideredtheseremarkswithapuzzledair。
　　Thenhesmiledfaintly。"I'mafraidwe'respeakingofdifferentthings，"hesuggested。"Apparentlyyourefertothefinancialpapers。Ihadscarcelygiventhemathought。
　　ItdoesnotseemtomethatIshouldmindparticularlywhattheysaidaboutme——butIshouldcareagreatdealabouttheotherpress——thegreatpublicpress。"
　　"Oh，whatdotheyknowaboutthesethings？"saidThorpe，lightly。
　　"SofarasIcansee，theydon'tknowaboutanything，unlessitgetsintothepolicecourt，orthedivorcecourt，oracourtofsomekind。They'rethefunniestsortofpapersIeversaw。Seemsasiftheydidn'tthinkanythingwassafetobeprinteduntilithadbeenswornto。
　　WhyanybodyshouldbeafraidofthemismorethanIcansee。"
　　"Nevertheless，"persistedhisLordship，blandly，"IshouldgreatlydislikeanypublicdiscussionofourCompany'saffairs。
　　Ihopeitisquiteclearthatthatcanbeavoided。"
　　"Absolutely！"Thorpetoldhim，withreassuringenergy。
　　"Why，discussionsdon'tmakethemselves。Somebodyhastokickbeforeanythinggetsdiscussed。Andwhoistokickhere？Thepublicwhoholdthesharesarenotlikelytocomplainbecausethey'vegoneupfifteenhundredortwothousandpercent。AndwhoelsehasanyinterestinwhattheCompany，asaCompany，does？"
　　"Ah，thatisaquestionwhichhasoccurredtome，"saidLordChaldon，"andIshallbegladifitisalreadyanswered。
　　Theonlypeoplelikelyto'kick，'asyouputitsosimply，wouldbe，Itakeit，DirectorsandotherofficersoftheCompanywhofindthemselvesholdingaclassofshareswhichdoesnotparticipateinthepresentrise。Ispeakwithsomeconfidence——becauseIwasinthatpositionmyselfuntilafewminutesago——andIdon'tmindconfessingthatIhadbroughtmyselftocontemplatethecontingencyofultimatelybeingcompelledto——to'kick'alittle。
　　Ofcourse，sofarasIamconcerned，eventshaveputmeinadiametricallydifferentframeofmind。IfIcameprepared——Iwon'tsaytocurse，butto——tocriticize——I
　　certainlyremaintobless。Butyouseemypoint。
　　IofcoursedonotknowwhatyouhavedoneasregardstheothermembersoftheBoard。"
　　"Idon'tcareaboutthem，"saidThorpe，carelessly。"YouaretheonethatIwishedtobringinontheground-floor。
　　Theothersdon'tmatter。Ofcourse，Ishalldosomethingforthem；theyshan'tbeallowedtomaketrouble——evensupposingthatitwouldbeintheirpowertomaketrouble，whichisn'tthecase。Butitwon'tbedonebyanymeansonthesamescalethat——"hepausedabruptly，andthetwomentacitlycompletedhissentenceintheglancetheyexchanged。
　　TheMarquisofChaldonrose，andtookuphishatandstick。
　　"Ifyouwillpostittome——inaregisteredletter——mytownhouse——please，"heremarked，withacharminglydelicatehesitationoverthephrases。Thenheputouthishand："I
　　neednotsayhowfullyIappreciateyourgreatkindnesstomyoldfriendFromentin。Itwasanobleaction——oneIshallalwaysreflectuponwithadmiration。"
　　"Ihopeyouwon'tmentionit，though，"saidThorpe，astheyshookhands；"eitherthator——oranythingelse。"
　　"Ishallpreservethemostguarded——themostdiplomaticsecrecy，"
　　hisLordshipassuredhim，astheywalkedtowardthedoor。
　　Thorpeopenedthisdoor，andsteppedaside，withahalfbow，tofacilitatetheexitoftheMarquis，whobentgraciousacknowledgmentofthecourtesy。Then，withanabruptstartofsurprise，thetwomenstraightenedthemselves。
　　Directlyinfrontofthem，leaninglightlyagainstthebrass-railwhichguardedtheentrancetotheBoardRoom，stoodLordPlowden。
　　Acertainsenseofconfusion，unwelcomebutinevitable，visiblyenvelopedthischancemeeting。TheMarquisblinkedveryhardasheexchangedafleetinghand-shakewiththeyoungernobleman，andmurmuredsomeindistinguishablecommonplaces。Then，withagracefulcelerity，whichwasmorethandiplomatic，hedisappeared。Thorpe，withmoredifficulty，recoveredasortofstolidityofexpressionthatmightpassforcomposure。Heinturngavehishandtothenewcomer，andnoddedtohim，andachievedadoubtfulsmile。
　　"Comein！"hesaid，haltingly。"Wheredidyoudropfrom？
　　Gladtoseeyou！Howareallyourpeople？"
　　AmomentlatertheyoungViscountwasseatedinthechairwhichtheelderlyMarquishadvacated。Hepresentedthereinafigurewhich，initsway，wasperhapsascourtlyastheotherhadbeen——butthewaywaswidelydifferent。
　　LordPlowden'sfine，litheformexpressednodeferenceinitseasypostures。Hishandsomefacewasatnopainstoassumeconciliatoryoringratiatingaspects。
　　Hisbrilliantbrowneyessparkledaconfident，buoyantgazefullintotheheavy，lethargiccountenanceofthebigmanatthedesk。
　　"Ihaven'tbotheredyoubefore，"hesaid，tossinghisglovesintohishat，andspreadinghisfrock-coatoutbyitssilklapels。Hecrossedhislegs，andsatbackwithacomfortablesmile。"Iknewyouwereawfullybusy——andIkeptawayaslongasIcould。
　　Butnow——well，thetruthis——I'minratherofahole。
　　Ihopeyoudon'tmindmycoming。"
　　"Whynotatall，"saidThorpe，laconically。Afteramomentarypauseheadded："TheMarquishasjustbeenconsultingmeaboutthepostponementoftheannualmeeting。Isupposeyouagreewithus——thatitwouldbebettertoputitoff。
　　There'sreallynothingtoreport。Ofcourse，youknowmoreaboutthesituationthanhedoes——betweenourselves。
　　Theshareholdersdon'twantameeting；it'senoughforthemthattheirsharesareworthfifteenortwentytimeswhattheypaidforthem。AndcertainlyWEdon'tneedameeting，asthingsstandnow。"
　　"Ahyes——howdothingsstandnow？"askedLordPlowden，briskly。
　　"Well，"——Thorpeeyedhisvisitorwithamoodyblanknessofgaze，hischinoncemoreburiedinhiscollar——"well，everythingisgoingallright，asfarasIcansee。
　　But，ofcourse，thesedealingsinoursharesintheCityhavetakenupallmytime——sothatIhaven'tbeenabletogiveanyattentiontostartingupworkinMexico。
　　Thatbeingthecase，Ishallarrangetofootallthebillsforthisyear'sexpenses——therent，theDirectors'
　　feesandclerk-hireandsoon——outofmyownpocket。
　　Itcomes，alltold，toabout2，700pounds——withoutcountingmyextra1，000poundsasManagingDirector。
　　Idon'tproposetoaskforapennyofthat，underthecircumstances——andI'llevenpaytheotherexpenses。
　　SothattheCompanyisn'tlosingapennybyournotgettingtoworkatthedevelopmentoftheproperty。
　　Noonecouldaskanythingfairerthanthat——Andareyourmotherandsisterquitewell？"
　　"Oh，verywellindeed，thanks，"repliedtheother。Herelapsedabruptlyintoasilencewhichwasplainlypreoccupied。
　　Somethingoftheradiantcheerfulnesswithwhichhisfacehadbeamedseemedtohavefadedaway。
　　"I'mintreatyforahouseandamoorintheHighlands"——Thorpewenton，inacasualtone——"infact，I'mhesitatingbetweenthreeorfourplacesthatallseemtobeprettygood——butI
　　don'tknowwhetherIcangetawaymuchbeforethetwentieth。
　　IhopeyoucancontrivetocomewhileI'mthere。
　　Ishouldlikeitverymuchifyouwouldbringyourmotherandsister——andyourbrothertoo。Ihaveanephewabouthisage——afineyoungfellow——who'dbecompanyforhim。
　　Whycan'tyousaynowthatyou'llallcome？"
　　LordPlowdenemergedfromhisbrownstudywiththegleamofsomenewideaonhisface。"Imightbringmysister，"
　　hesaid。"MymotherhatesScotland。Shedoesn'tgoabout，either，eveninEngland。ButIdaresayWinniewouldenjoyitimmensely。Shehasagreatopinionofyou，youknow。"
　　"Ionlysawherthatonce，"Thorperemarked。
　　Somethoughtbehindhiswordslentamusingeffecttothetoneinwhichtheywereuttered。Thebrother'scontemplativesmileseemedacommentuponthistone。
　　"Womenarecuriouscreatures，"hesaid。"Theytakefanciesanddislikesasswiftlyandirresponsiblyascloud-shadowsshiftandchangeonamountain-sideinApril。ButI
　　happentoknowthatmysisterdoeslikeyouimmensely。
　　Sodoesmymother，"headded，withanotherlittlesmile。
　　HecontinuedtoregardThorpe'sface，buttherewasanincreasinguncertaintyinhisglance。"You'veputonflesh，haven'tyou？"heventured，afterabriefpause。
　　Therewastheimplicationinhisvoiceandmannerthatheobservedchangeswhichdisconcertedhim。
　　"Notmuch，Iguess，"repliedtheother，carelessly。
　　"I'vebeenstickingtotheCityprettyclosely。That'sall。
　　There'snothingthatafortnight'srestwon'tputright。
　　Ishouldlikeitfirst-ratetohaveyouandyoursistercome。
　　I'llletyouknowwhichplaceIdecideupon。Verylikelyyoucanmanagetobringheratthesametimethatsomeotherladieswillbethere。IexpectLadyCressageandMissMadden，youknow。"
　　LordPlowdenstaredathisfriend。"Aretheyback？HavetheyreturnedtoEngland？"heasked，confusedly。
　　"Oh，didn'tyouknow？"Thorpepursued，withanaccessionofamiability。Hevisiblyhadpleasureinthedisclosureoftheother'signorance。"They'vebeeninLondonfortwoorthreeweeks。Thatis，MissMaddenhasbeentakingflyingtripstoseecathedralsandsoon，butLadyCressagehasstayedintown。Theirlongjourneyingshaveratherdoneherup。"HelookedPlowdenstraightintheeye，andaddedwithanairofdeliberation："I'mratheranxiousaboutherhealth。"
　　Thenoblemanfranklyabandonedhiseffortstomaintainanundisturbedfront。"You——are——anxious，"herepeated，frowningindispleasedwonderment。
　　"Whyyes——whynot？"demandedThorpe，withasuddengrowlinhisvoice。AshecoveredthehandsomeViscountwithhisheavy，intentgaze，impulsesofwrathstirredwithinhim。Whyshouldthisfopofalordlingputonthisairofcontemptuousincredulity？"Whatistheresoamazingaboutthat？Whyshouldn'tIbeanxious？"
　　Theperemptoryharshnessofhismanner，andthescowlonhisbig，loweringface，broughtasortofself-
　　controlbacktotheother。Heshruggedhisshoulders，withanattemptatnonchalance。"Whynotindeed！"
　　hesaid，aslightlyashecould。Withhandsonknees，hebentforwardasiftorise。"ButperhapsI'dbettercomeinanotherday，"hesuggested，tentatively。
　　"I'minterruptingyou。"
　　"No——sitstill，"Thorpebadehim，andthen，withchinsettledmoredeterminedlythaneverinhiscravat，sateyeinghiminalong，doursilence。
　　LordPlowdenfounditimpossibletoobtainfromthismassive，apatheticvisageanycluetothethoughtsworkingbehindit。
　　HechancedtorecallthetimewhenhehaddiscussedwithThorpethemeaningandvaluesofthisinscrutableexpressionwhichthelatter'scountenancecouldassume。
　　Ithadseemedinterestingandevenadmirabletohimthen——butthenhehadnotforeseenthepossibilitythathehimselfmightsomedayconfrontitsadamantinebarrierwithasinkingheart。Allatoncehecouldbearthisimplacablesphinx-gazenolonger。
　　"I'msuresomeotherdaywouldbebetter，"heurged，withanopenoverturetopropitiationinhistone。
　　"You'renotinthemoodtobebotheredwithmyaffairstoday。"
　　"Asmuchtodayasanyother，"Thorpeansweredhim，slowly。
　　Theothersatsuddenlyupright——andthenuponamoment'sreflectionrosetohisfeet。"Idon'tintheleastknowwhattomakeofallthis，"hesaid，withnervousprecipitancy。
　　"IfI'veoffendedyouinanyway，sayso，andIwillapologizeatonce。Buttreatmentofthissortpassesmycomprehension。"
　　Thorpeintruthdidnothimselfcomprehenditmuchmoreclearly。Somestrangefreakofwilfulnessimpelledhimtopursuethisunintelligiblepersecution。
　　"I'vesaidnothingaboutanyoffense，"hedeclared，inahard，deliberatevoice。"Itisyourownword。
　　Allthesame——Imentionthenameofalady——alady，mindyou，whomImetunderyourownroof——andyoustrikeattitudesandputonairsasif——asifIwasn'tgoodenough！"
　　"Oh，uponmyword，that'sallrubbish！"theotherbrokein。
　　"Nothingcouldhavebeenfurtherfrommythoughts，Iassureyou。QuitenaturallyIwassurprisedforthemomentatabitofunexpectednews——butthatwasall。
　　Igiveyoumywordthatwasall。"
　　"Verywell，then，"Thorpeconsentedgrudginglytomutter。
　　Hecontinuedhissullenscrutinyofthemanstandingbeforehim，notinghowthevivacityofhisbearinghaddeterioratedinthesefewminutes。Hehadcutsuchagallantfigurewhenheenteredtheroom，withhissparklingeyeandsmile，hisalmostjauntymanner，hissuperiortailor'splumage——andnowhewassuchacrestfallenandwiltedthing！
　　Rememberingtheirlastconversationtogether——rememberingindeedhowfulloflikingforthisyoungnoblemanhehadbeenwhentheylastmet——Thorpepausedtowonderatthefactthathefeltnoatomofpityforhimnow。
　　Whatwashisgrievance？WhathadPlowdendonetoprovokethissavagehostility？Thorpecouldnottell。Heknewonlythatunnamedforcesdraggedhimforwardtohurtandhumiliatehisformerfriend。Obscurely，nodoubt，therewassomethingaboutawomaninit。PlowdenhadbeenanadmirerofLadyCressage。Therewasherfather'swordforitthatiftherehadbeenmoneyenoughhewouldhavewishedtomarryher。Therehadbeen，aswell，theGeneral'shintthatifthedifficultyofPlowden'spovertywereremoved，hemightstillwishtomarryher——ahintwhichThorpediscoveredtoberanklingwithasuddennewsorenessinhismind。WasthatwhyhehatedPlowden？No——hesaidtohimselfthatitwasnot。
　　HewasgoingtomarryLadyCressagehimself。Herletter，signifyingdelicatelyherassenttohisproposal，hadcometohimthatverymorning——wasinhispocketnow。
　　Whatdidhecareaboutthebye-goneaspirationsofotherwould-besuitors？And，asforPlowden，hehadnotevenknownofherreturntoLondon。Clearlythereremainednocommunicationsofanysortbetweenthem。
　　Itwasnotatallonheraccount，heassuredhimself，thathehadturnedagainstPlowden。Butwhatotherreasoncouldtherebe？Heobservedhisvisitor'sperturbedanddejectedmienwithagrimkindofsatisfaction——butstillhecouldnottellwhy。
　　"Thisisallterriblyimportanttome，"thenoblemansaid，breakingtheunpleasantsilence。Hisvoicewassurchargedwithearnestness。"Apparentlyyouareannoyedwithsomething——whatitmaybeIcan'tforthelifeofmemakeout。
　　AllIcansayis"——andhebrokeoffwithahelplessgesturewhichseemedtoimplythathefearedtosayanything。
　　Thorpeputouthislips。"Idon'tknowwhatyoumean，"
　　hesaid，brusquely。
　　"WhatImean"——theotherechoed，withbewilderedvaguenessofglance。"I'mallatsea。Idon'tintheleastgraspthemeaningofanything。Youyourselfvolunteeredthedeclarationthatyouwoulddogreatthingsforme。
　　'Wearerichmentogether'——thosewereyourownwords。
　　Iurgedyouatthetimetogoslowly——toconsidercarefullywhetheryouweren'tbeingtoogenerous。Imyselfsaidtoyouthatyouwereridiculouslyexaggeratingwhatyoucalledyourobligationtome。Itwasyouwhoinsisteduponpresentingmewith100，000shares。"
　　"Well，theyareherereadyforyou，"saidThorpe，withcalculatedcoldness。"Youcanhavethemwheneveryouplease。Ipromisedthemtoyou，andsetthemasideforyou。Youcantakethemawaywithyounow，ifyoulike。Whatareyoukickingupthisfussfor，then？Uponmyword！——youcomehereandsuggesttomethatImadepromisestoyouwhichI'vebroken！"
　　Plowdenlookedhardathim，asheturnedoverinhismindthepurportofthesewords。"Iseewhatyouaredoing，"
　　hesaidthen。"Youturnovertome100，000vendor'sdeferredshares。Thanks！Ihavealready1，000ofthem。
　　Ikeeptheminthesameboxwithmyfather'sConfederatebonds。"
　　"Whatthehelldoyoumean？"Thorpebrokeinwithexplosivewarmth，liftinghimselfinhischair。
　　"Oh，comenow，Thorpe，"Plowdenretorted，"let'sgetthistalkonanintelligent，common-sensefooting。"
　　Hehadregainedsomethingofhisself-control，andkeenlyputforwardnowtohelphimallhispersuasivegracesofeyeandspeech。Heseatedhimselfoncemore。
　　"I'mconvincedthatyouwanttobegoodtome。
　　Ofcourseyoudo！IfI'veseemedhereforaminuteortwotothinkotherwise，itwasbecauseImisunderstoodthings。
　　Don'tlettherebeanyfurthermisunderstandings！Iapologizefordoingyouthemomentaryinjusticeofsuspectingthatyouweregoingtoplayoffthevendor'ssharesonme。
　　Ofcourseyousaidit——butitwasajoke。"
　　"Thereseemstobeajokesomewhere，sureenough，"
　　saidThorpe，indrylymetallictones——"butitisn'tmewho'sthejoker。Itoldyouyoushouldhave100，000
　　ofmy400，000shares，didn'tI？Itoldyouthatinsomanywords。Verywell，whatmoredoyouwant？Heretheyareforyou！Ikeepmypromisetotheletter。
　　Butyou——youseemtothinkyou'reentitledtomakearow。
　　Whatdoyoumeanbyit？"
　　"Justalittleword"——interposedPlowden，withstrenuouscalmnessofutterance——"whatyousaymaybetrueenough——yes，Iadmititistrueasfarasitgoes。
　　Butwasthatwhateitherofushadinourmindsatthetime？
　　Youknowitwasn't！YouhadjustplannedacoupontheStockExchangewhichpromisedyouimmenserewards。IhelpedyoutopassabogusallotmentthroughourBoard——withoutwhichyourcoupwouldn'thavebeenworthafarthing。
　　Youwereenthusiasticallygratefultomethen。Intheexcitementofthemomentyoupromisedmeaquarterofallyoushouldmake。'WEAREBOTHRICHMEN！'Irememberthoseverywordsofyours。Theyhaveneverbeenoutofmymind。
　　Wediscussedthethingsthatwewouldeachdo，whenwecameintothiswealth。Itwastakenforgrantedinallourtalkthatyourmakingmoneymeantalsomymakingmoney。
　　Thatwasthecompleteunderstanding——hereinLondon，andwhileyouwereatmyhouse。YouknowitaswellasIdo。
　　AndIrefusetosupposethatyouseriouslyintendtositthereandpretendthatyoumeanttogivemenothingbutanarmfulofwastepaper。Itwouldbetoomonstrous！"
　　Thorperappedwithhisnailsonthedesk，topointtheforceofhisrejoinder："Howdoyouaccountforthefact，myLord"——hegavehiswordsachillinglyscornfulprecisionofutterance——"thatIdistinctlymentioned400，000vendor'ssharesofmine，100，000ofwhichIpromisedtoturnovertoyou？Thosewerethespecificterms，weretheynot？Youdon'tdenyit？Thenwhatareyoutalkingabout？"
　　"Iaccountforitinthisway"——saidPlowden，afteramoment'sbaffledreflection："atthattimeyouyourselfhadn'tgraspedthedifferencebetweenthetwoclassesofshares。
　　Youthoughtthevendor'sshareswouldplayapartinthegame。Ah！IseeI'vehitthemark！Thatwasthewayofit！——Andnowhere，Thorpe！Letallthat'sbeensaidbebye-gones！Idon'twantanyverbaltriumphoveryou。
　　Youdon'twanttowrongme——andyourselftoo——bystickingtothisquibbleaboutvendor'sshares。Youintendedtobedeucedgoodtome——andwhathaveIdonethatyoushouldroundonmenow？Ihaven'tbotheredyoubefore。
　　Icametodayonlybecausethingsareparticularlyrotten，financially，justnow。AndIdon'tevenwanttoholdyoutoaquarter——Ileavethatentirelytoyou。
　　Butafterallthat'sbeensaidanddone——Iputittoyouasonemantoanother——youaremorallyboundtohelpmeout。"
　　"Howdoyoumean？——'allthat'sbeensaidanddone'？"
　　Thorpeaskedthequestioninsomeconfusionofmoods。
　　PerhapsitwastheethicalforceofLordPlowden'sappeal，perhapsonlyarecurringsenseofhisearlieraffectionfortheman——butforthemomenthewaveredinhispurpose。
　　Thepeerflushedalittle，ashelookedatthefloor，revolvingpossibleanswerstothisquery。HisearhadbeenquicktoseizethenoteofhesitationinThorpe'stone。
　　Hestroveanxiouslytogettogetherconsiderationswhichshouldtiptheflutteringbalancedefinitelyhisway。
　　"Well，"hebeganslowly，"Ihardlyknowhowtoputit。
　　Ofcoursetherewas，inthefirstplace，theimmenseexpectationoffortunewhichyougaveme，andwhichI'mafraidI'vemorethanlivedupto。Andthen，ofcourse，otherssharedmyexpectations。Itwasn'tathingonecouldverywellkeeptooneself。Mymotherandmysister——especiallymysister——theywerewonderfullyexcitedaboutit。Youarequitetheherointheireyes。
　　Andthen——yourememberthattalkwehad，inwhichyousaidIcouldhelpyou——socially，youknow。Ididitalittle，justasastart，butofcoursethere'snoendtowhatcouldbedone。You'vebeentoobusyheretofore，butwecanbeginnowwheneveryoulike。Idon'tmindtellingyou——I'vehadsomethoughtsofapossiblemarriageforyou。
　　Inpointofbloodandconnectionsitwouldbesuchamatchasacommonerhasn'tmadebeforeinmymemory——ahighly-
　　cultivatedandhighly-bredyoungladyofrank——andsettlementscouldbemadesothataconsiderablequantityoflandwouldeventuallycometoyourson。Ineedn'ttellyouthatlandstandsformuchmorethanmoney，ifyouhappentosetyourmindonabaronetcyorapeerage。
　　Ofcourse——Ineedscarcelysay——Imentionthismarriageonlyassomethingwhichmayormaynotattractyou，——itisquiteopentoyoutopreferanother，——butthereishardlyanythingofthatsortinwhichIandmyconnectionscouldnotbeofusetoyou。"
　　Evenmorebythetoneandinflectionofthesewordsthanbythephrasesthemselves，ThorpedivinedthathewasbeingofferedthehandoftheHon。WinifredPlowdeninmarriage。
　　Herecalledvividlythefactthatoncetheshadowofsomesuchthoughthadfloatedthroughhisownbrain；
　　therehadbeenamoment——itseemedcuriouslyremote，likeadream-phantomfromsomepreviousstateofexistence——whenhehaddweltwithpersonalinterestuponherinheritancefromlonglinesofnoblemen，andherrelationtohalfthepeerage。Then，swiftly，illogically，hedislikedthebrotherofthisladymorethanever。
　　"Allthatistalkingintheair，"hesaid，withabruptdecision。"Iseenothinginit。Youshallhaveyourvendor'sshares，preciselyasIpromisedyou。
　　Idon'tseehowyoucanpossiblyaskforanythingmore。"
　　Helookedattheother'sdarklingfaceforamoment，andthenrosewithunwieldydeliberation。"Ifyou'resohardupthough，"hecontinued，coldly，"Idon'tminddoingthismuchforyou。I'llexchangethethousandvendor'ssharesyoualreadyholdtheonesIgaveyoutoqualifyyouatthebeginning——forordinaryshares。
　　Youcansellthoseforfifteenthousandpoundscash。
　　Infact，I'llbuythemofyounow。I'llgiveyouachequefortheamount。Doyouwantit？"
　　LordPlowden，red-facedandfrowning，hesitatedforafractionoftime。Theninconstrainedsilencehenodded，andThorpe，leaningponderouslyoverthedesk，wroteoutthecheque。HisLordshiptookit，foldeditup，andputitinhispocketwithoutimmediatecomment。
　　"Thenthisistheendofthings，isit？"heasked，afteranawkwardsilence，inavoicehestroveinvaintokeepfromshaking。
　　"Whatthings？"saidtheother。
　　Plowdenshruggedhisshoulders，framedhislipstouttersomethingwhichhedecidednottosay，andatlastturnedonhisheel。"Goodday，"hecalledoutoverhisshoulder，andlefttheroomwithaflagrantairofhostility。
　　Thorpe，wanderingabouttheapartment，stoppedafteratimeatthecabinet，andhelpedhimselftoadrink。
　　Thethingmostapparenttohimwasthatofsetpurposehehadconvertedafriendintoanenemy。Whyhadhedonethis？Heaskedhimselfthequestioninvaryingforms，overhisbrandyandsoda，butnoconvincinganswercame。
　　Hehaddoneitbecausehehadfeltlikedoingit。Itwasimpossibletotracemotivesfurtherthanthat。
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　"EDITHwillbedowninaveryfewmoments，"MissMaddenassuredThorpethatevening，whenheenteredthedrawing-roomofthehouseshehadtakeninGraftonStreet。
　　Helookedintohereyesandsmiled，ashebowedoverthehandsheextendedtohim。Hisglanceexpressedwithforcefuldirectnesshisthought："Ah，thenshehastoldyou！"
　　Thecomplacentconsciousnessofproducingafineeffectinevening-clotheshadgiventoMr。StormontThorpehabituallynowamildnessofmanner，afterthedressinghour，whichwaslackingtohisdeportmentintheday-time。
　　Theconventionalattireofceremony，juggledinthehandsofaninspiredtailor，hadbeenbroughttolendtohisponderousfigureadignity，andevensomethingofagrace，whichthemanwithinassimilatedandmadehisown。
　　ItwasanequableandratheramiableThorpewhompeopleencounteredafternightfall——agentlemanwholookedimpressiveenoughtohavepowerfulperformancesbelievedofhim，yetseemedwithalanapproachableandeasy-goingperson。
　　Menwhosawhimatmidnightorlaterspokeofhimtotheirwomenkindwithacertainsignificantreserve，inwhichtrainedwomankindreadthesuggestionthatthe"RubberKing"
　　drankagooddeal，andwasprobablynotwhollyniceinhiscups。
　　This，however，couldnotbesaidtorenderhimlessinterestinginanyeyes。Therewasindeedaboutittheimplicationofagenerousnature，orattheleastofablindside——anditisnotunpleasanttodiscovertheseattributesinanewmanwhohasmadehishalf-million，andhas，ormayhave，countlessfavourstobestow。
　　Itwasasifhistongueinsteadofhiseyeshadutteredtheexclamation——"Ah，thenshehastoldyou！"——forMissMaddentookitashavingbeenspoken。"I'mnotdisposedtopretendthatI'moverjoyedaboutit，youknow，"
　　shesaidtohimbluntly，astheirhandsdropped，andtheystoodfacingeachother。"IfIsaidIcongratulatedyou，itwouldbeonlytheemptiestform。AndIhateemptyforms。"
　　"WhyshouldyouthinkthatIwon'tmakeagoodhusband？"
　　Thorpeaskedthequestionwithagood-naturedifperemptoryfranknesswhichcamemostreadilytohiminthepresenceofthisAmericanlady，herselfsooutspokenandmasterful。
　　"Idon'tknowthatIspeciallydoubtit，"shereplied。
　　"Isupposeanymanhasinhimthemakingsofwhatiscalledagoodhusband——iftheconditionsaresufficientlypropitious。"
　　"Wellthen——what'sthematterwiththeconditions？"
　　hedemanded，jocosely。
　　MissMaddenshruggedhershouldersslightly。Thorpenotedthesomewhatluxuriantcurvesofthesesplendidshoulders，andthecreamywhitenessoftheskin，uponwhich，roundthefullthroat，achainofdiamondslayasuponsatin——andrecalledthathehadnotseenherbeforeinwhathephrasedtohimselfassomuchlow-neckeddress。
　　Thedeepfire-gleaminherbroadplaitsofhairgaveawonderfulbrilliancytothiscolouringofbrowandthroatandbosom。Hemarvelledathimselffordiscoveringonlynowthatshealsowasbeautiful——andthenthrilledwithprideatthethoughtthathenceforthhislifemightbepassedaltogetheramongbeautifulwomen，radiantingemsandcostlyfabrics，whowouldsmileuponhimathiscommand。
　　"Oh，Ihavenowishtobeakill-joy，"sheprotested。
　　"I'msureIhopeallmannerofgoodresultsfromthe——
　　theexperiment。"
　　"Isupposethat'swhatitcomesto，"hesaid，meditatively。
　　"It'sallanexperiment。Everymarriageintheworldmustbethat——neithermorenorless。"
　　"Withalltheexperienceoftheagesagainstitscomingoutright。"Shehadturnedtomovetowardachair，butlookednowoverhershoulderathim。"Haveyoueverseenwhatseemedtoyouanabsolutelyhappymarriageinyourlife？"
　　Uponreflectionheshookhishead。"Idon'trecalloneonthespuroftheminute，"heconfessed。
　　"Notthekind，Imean，thatyoureadaboutinbooks。
　　ButI'veseenplentywherethecouplegotalongtogetherinagood，easy，comfortablesortofway，withoutanotionofanysortofunpleasantness。It'speoplewhomarrytooyoungwhodomostofthefighting，Iimagine。
　　Afterpeoplehavegottoasensibleage，andknowwhattheywantandwhattheycangetalongwithout，whythenthere'snoreasonforanytrouble。Wedon'tstartoutwithanyschool-boyandschool-girlmoonshine"
　　"Oh，there'sagooddealtobesaidforthemoonshine，"
　　sheinterruptedhim，asshesankuponthesofa。
　　"Whycertainly，"heassented，amiably，ashestoodlookingdownather。"Themorethereisofit，thebetter——ifitcomesnaturally，andpeopleknowenoughtounderstandthatitismoonshine，andisn'tthebe-allandend-allofeverything。"
　　"There'saloverforyou！"MissMaddencried，withmirthandderisionmingledinherlaugh。
　　"Don'tyouworryaboutme，"hetoldher。"I'magoodenoughlover，allright。Andwhenyoucometothat，ifEdithissatisfied，Idon'tpreciselyseewhat——"
　　"Whatbusinessitisofmine？"shefinishedthesentenceforhim。"You'reentirelyright。Asyousay，IFshe'ssatisfied，nooneelsehasanythingtodowithit。"
　　"Buthaveyougotanyrighttoassumethatsheisn'tsatisfied？"heaskedherwithswiftdirectness——"oranyreasonforsupposingit？"
　　MissMaddenshookherhead，butthenegationseemedqualifiedbythewhimsicalsmileshegavehim。"Nonewhatever，"
　　shesaid——andontheinstantthetalkwasextinguishedbytheentranceofLadyCressage。
　　Thorpe'svisionwasfloodedwiththeperceptionofhisrarefortuneashewenttomeether。Hetookthehandsheoffered，andlookedintothesmileofhergreeting，andcouldsaynothing。Herbeautyhadgatheredtoitnewforcesinhiseyes——forceswhichdazzledandtroubledhisglance。Thethoughtthatthisexquisitebeing——thisineffablecompoundoffeelingandfinenervesandsweetwisdomandwitandloveliness——belongedtohimseemedtoovastforthecapacityofhismind。
　　Hecouldnotkeephimselffromtremblingalittle，andfromdivertingtoascreenbeyondhershoulderagazewhichhefelttobeovertlydimmedandembarrassed。
　　"Ihavekeptyouwaiting，"shemurmured。
　　Thesoftsoundofhervoicecametohisearsasfromadistance。Itboreanunfamiliarnote，uponthestrangenessofwhichhedweltforadetachedinstant。Thenitsmeaningbrokeinuponhisconsciousnessfromallsides，andlighteduphisheavyfacewiththeglowofaconqueror'sself-centredsmile。Hebenthiseyesuponher，andnotedwithacontrolledexaltationhowherglanceinturndeferredtohis，andflutteredbeneathit，andshrankaway。
　　Hesquaredhisbigshouldersandliftedhishead。
　　Stillholdingherjewelledhandinhis，heturnedandledhertowardthesofa。Halting，hebowedwithanexaggeratedgenuflectionandflourishofhisfreehandtoMissMadden，thewhileheflashedatheraglanceatonceofchallengeandofdeprecation。Throughthesensitizedcontactoftheotherhand，hefeltthatthewomanheheldbowedalso，andinhisownspiritofconfuseddefianceandentreaty。
　　Thelaughhegavethenseemedtodispeltheawkwardnesswhichhadmomentarilyhungoverthemockingsalutation。
　　MissMaddenlaughedtoo。"Oh，Isurrender，"shesaid。
　　"Youdragcongratulationsfromme。"
　　Somequalityinthetoneofthisungraciousspeechhadtheeffectofputtingthepartyatitsease。
　　LadyCressageseatedherselfbesideherfriendonthesofa，andgently，abstractedly，pattedoneofherhands。
　　Thorperemainedonhisfeet，lookingdownatthepairwithsatisfiedcheerfulness。Hetool，aslipofpaperfromhispocket，tosupportastatementhewasmaking。
　　"I'mforevertellingyouwhatastraintheCityisonamaninmyposition，"hesaid——"andtodayIhadthecuriositytokeepanaccountofwhathappened。Hereitis。
　　Ihadthirtycallers。Ofthose，howmanydoyousupposecametoseemeonmyownbusiness？Justeight。Thatistosay，theirerrandswereaboutinvestmentsofmine，butmostofthemmanagedtogetinsomewordaboutaxesoftheirowntogrind。Alltherestmadenopretenceatallofthinkingaboutanybodybutthemselves。
　　I'veclassifiedthem，onebyone，here。
　　"First，thereweresixmenwhowantedmetotakesharesofonesortoranother，andIhadtomoreorlesslistentowhattheytriedtomakeouttheircompanieswerelike。
　　Theywerenoneofthemanygood。Eightdifferentfellowscametomewithschemesthathaven'treachedthecompanystage。OnehadaschemeforgettingpossessionofaniggerrepublicintheWestIndiesbyraisingaloan，andthenrepudiatingallthepreviousloans。
　　Anotherwantedmetobuyapaperforhim，inwhichhewastosupportallmyenterprises。Anotherwantedtostartabank——Iapparentlytofindthemoney，andhethebrains。
　　Onechapwantedmetofinanceatheatricalsyndicate——hehadabagfullofphotographsofanactressalleyesandteethandhair，——andanotherchaphadaschemeallworkedoutforgettingaconcessionfromSpainforoneoftheCarolineIslands，andputtingupafactorythereformakingporpoise-hideleather。
　　"Thentherewerethreeinventors——let'ssee，heretheyare——onewithacoiledwirespringforscissorsinsideapocket-knife，andonewithabottle，thewholetopofwhichunscrewsinsteadofhavingacorkorstopper，andonewithanelectricalfish-line，afinewireinsidethesilk，youknow，whichconnectswithsomebatterywhenafishbites，andringsabell，andthrowsouthooksinvariousdirections，anddoesallsortsofthings。
　　"Wellthen，therewasamanwhowantedmetotakethechairmanshipofacompany，andonewhowantedmetoguaranteeanoverdraftathisbank，andtwowhowantedtoborrowmoneyonstock，andoneparson-fellowwhotriedtostickmeforasubscriptiontosomeHomeorotherhesaidhehadforchildreninthecountry。
　　Hewastheworstbounderofthelot。
　　"Well，there'stwenty-sevenpeople——andtwentyofthemstrangerstome，andnotworthapennytome，andalltryingtogetmoneyoutofme。Isn'tthatadog'slifeforone？"
　　"Idon'tknow，"saidMissMadden，contemplatively。
　　"Aladymayhavetwicethatnumberofcallersinanafternoon——quiteasgreatstrangerstoallintentsandpurposes——andnotevenhavethesatisfactionofdiscoveringthattheyhadanyobjectwhateverincalling。
　　Atleastyourpeoplehadsomemotive：thegreymatterintheirbrainwasworking。Andbesides，oneofthemmighthavehadsomethingtosaywhichyouwouldvalue。
　　Idon'tthinkthateverhappensamongalady'scallers；
　　doesit，Edith？"
　　Edithsmiled，pleasantlyandyetalittlewistfully，butsaidnothing。
　　"Atanyrate，"Thorpewenton，withakindofpurposegatheringinhiseyes，"noneofthosefellowscostmeanything，exceptintime。ButthenIhadthreecallers，almostinabunch，andoneofthemtookoutofmethirtythousandpounds，andanotherfifteenthousandpounds，andthethird——anutterstrangerhewas——hegotanabsolutegratuityoftenthousandpounds，besidesmyconsenttoasalewhich，ifIhadrefusedit，wouldhavestoodmeinperhapsfortyorfiftythousandpoundsmore。
　　Youladiesmaythankyourstarsyoudon'thavethatkindofcallers！"
　　Thesoundofthesefiguresintheairbroughtaconstrainedlooktothefacesofthewomen。Seeminglytheyconfrontedasubjectwhichwasnottotheirliking。
　　TheAmerican，however，afteramoment'spause，tookitupinanindifferentmanner。
　　"Youspeakofan'absolutegratuity。'IknownothingofLondonCitymethods——butisn'ttenthousandpoundsagratuityonaratherlargescale？"
　　Thorpehesitatedbriefly，thensmiled，and，withslowdeliberation，drewupachairandseatedhimselfbeforethem。"PerhapsI
　　don'tmindtellingyouaboutit，"hebegan，andpausedagain。
　　"Ihadaletterinmymailthismorning，"hewentonatlast，givingasentimentalsignificancetobothtoneandglance——"aletterwhichchangedeverythingintheworldforme，andmademetheproudestandhappiestmanaboveground。
　　AndIputthatletterinmypocket，righthereontheleftside——andit'stherenow，forthatmatter"——heputhishandtohisbreast，asifundertheimpulsetoverifyhiswordsbytheproductionofthemissive，andthenstoppedandflushed。
　　Theladies，watchinghim，seemedbytheireyestocondonethemawkishnessofthedemonstrationwhichhadtemptedhim。
　　Therewasindeedakindofapprovinginterestintheirjointregard，whichhehadnotexperiencedbefore。
　　"Ihaditinmypocket，"heresumed，withanaccessionofmellowemotioninhisvoice，"andnoneofthecallersevergotmythoughtsveryfarfromthatletter。
　　Andoneofthesewasanoldman——aFrenchbankerwhomustbeseventyyearsold，butdyeshishairakindofpurpleblack——anditseemsthathisnephewhadgotthefirmintoaterriblekindofscrape，selling2，000ofmyshareswhenhehadn'tgotthemtosellandcouldn'tgetthem——andtheoldmancametobegmetolethimoutatpresentmarketfigures。HegotLordChaldon——he'smyChairman，youknow——tobringhim，andintroducehimashisfriend，andpleadforhim——butIdon'tthinkallthat，byitself，wouldhavebudgedmeanatom。Butthentheoldmantoldhowhewasjustabletoscrapetogethermoneyenoughtobuythesharesheneeded，attherulingprice，andhehappenedtomentionthathisniece'smarriageportionwouldhavetobesacrificed。Well，then，doyouknow，thatletterinmypocketsaidsomethingtome……And——well，that'sthestory。Thegirl'sportion，Iwormeditoutofhim，wastenthousand……andIstruckthatmuchoffthefigurethatIallowedhimtobuyhisshares，andsavehisfirm，for……Itwasalltheletterthatdidit，mindyou！"
　　Heconcludedthehaltingnarrativeamidamarkedsilence。
　　Theladieslookedathimandateachother，buttheyseemedsurprisedoutoftheirfacilityofcomment。
　　Inthiskindofflusteredhush，thedoorwasopenedanddinnerwasannounced。
　　MissMaddenwelcomedthediversionbyrisingwithostentatiousvigour。"Iwilltakemyselfout，"
　　shedeclared，withcheerfulpromptnessleadingtheway。
　　LadyCressagetookthearmThorpeofferedher，andgavenotokenofcomprehendingthatherwristwasbeingcaressinglypressedagainsthissideastheymovedalong。
　　Atthelittletableshininginthecentreofthedark，cooldining-room，talkmovedidlyaboutamonggeneraltopics。
　　Athunderstormbrokeoverthetown，atanearlystageofthedinner，andthesoundoftherushingdownpourthroughtheopenwindows，andthebreathoffreshnesswhichstirredthejadedair，werepleasanterthananyspeech。
　　Thoughtsrovedintuitivelycountry-ward，wherethelong-neededrainwouldbedoweringthelandscapewithnewlife——wheretheearthatsunrisewouldbegreenagain，andbuoyantinreawakenedenergy，andredolentwiththeperfumesofsweetestsummer。Theyspokeofthefieldsandthemoorswiththelongingoftiredtown-folkinAugust。
　　"Oh，whenIgetaway"——saidThorpe，fervently，"itseemstomethatIdon'twantevertocomeback。
　　Theselastfewweekshavegotterriblyonmynerve。
　　Andreally——whyshouldIcomeback？I'vebeenaskingmyselfthequestion——moretodaythaneverbefore。
　　Ofcourseeverythinghasbeendifferenttoday。ButifI'mtogetanygenuinegoodoutofmy——myfortune——ImustpullawayfromtheCityaltogethersometime——andwhynotnow？
　　Ofcourse，someimportantthingsarestillopen——andtheyhavetobewatchednightandday——butafterall，Semple——that'smyBroker——hecoulddoitforme。
　　Atthemost，itwon'tlastmorethananothersixweeks。
　　Thereisasettlement-daynextweek，the15th，andanotherafortnightafter，onthe29th，andanotheronSeptember12th。Well，thosethreedays，ifthey'reworkedasIintendtheyshallbe，andnothingunforeseenhappens，willbringinoverfourhundredthousandpounds，andclosethe'corner'inRubberConsolsforgood。
　　ThenIneedneverseetheCityagain，thankGod！Andforthatmatter——why，whatissixweeks？It'sliketomorrow。
　　I'mgoingtoactasifIwerefreealready。Therainfillsmefullofthecountry。Willyoubothcomewithmetomorrowornextday，andseethePellesleyplaceinHertfordshire？
　　Bythephotographsit'sthebestthinginthemarket。
　　ThenewestpartsofitareTudor——andthat'swhatI'vealwayswanted。"
　　"Howunexpectedyouare！"commentedMissMadden。
　　"YouarealmostthelastpersonIshouldhavelookedtoforasentimentaboutTudorfoundations。"
　　Thorpeputouthislipsatrifle。"Ah，youdon'tknowme，"
　　hereplied，inavoicemilderthanhislookhadpromised。
　　"BecauseI'mroughandpractical，youmustn'tthinkIdon'tknowgoodthingswhenIseethem。Why，alltheworldisgoingtohavelivingproofverysoon"——hepaused，andsentasmilesurchargedwithmeaningtowardthesilentmemberofthetrio——"livingproofthatI'mthegreatestjudgeofperfectioninbeautyofmytime。"
　　Heliftedhisglassashespoke，andtheladiesacceptedwithaninclinationofthehead，andatouchofthewineattheirlips，histacittoast。"Oh，IthinkIdoknowyou，"
　　saidCeliaMadden，calmlydiscursive。"Uptoacertainpoint，youarenotsounlikeothermen。Ifpeopleappealtoyourimagination，anddonotcontradictyou，orboreyou，orgetinyourway，youarecapableofbeingveryniceindeedtothem。Butthatisn'taveryuncommonquality。
　　Whatisuncommoninyou——atleastthatismyreading——issomethingwhichaccordingtocircumstancesmaybenice，orverymuchtheotherwayabout。It'ssomethingwhichstandsquiteapartfromstandardsofmoralsorethicsortheordinaryemotions。ButIdon'tknow，whetheritisdesirableformetoenterintothisextremelypersonalanalysis。"
　　"Ohyes，goon，"Thorpeurgedher。Hewatchedherfacewithanalmostexcitedinterest。
　　"Well——Ishouldsaythatyoupossessedacapacityforsuddenandcapriciousactioninlargematters，equallyimpatientofreasoningandindifferenttoconsequences，whichmightbeveryawkward，andeventragic，topeoplewhohappenedtoannoyyou，orstandinyourroad。
　　Youhavethekindoforganizationinwhich，withinasecond，withoutanywarningorreason，apassingwhimmayhaveworkeditselfupintoanimperativelaw——somethingyoumustobey。"
　　Themansmiledandnoddedapprovingly："You'vegotmedownfine，"hesaid。
　　"Italkwithagooddealofconfidence，"shewenton，withacheerless，ruminativelittlelaugh，"becauseitismyownorganizationthatIamdescribing，too。
　　ThedifferenceisthatIwasallowedtoexploitmycapacityformischiefveryearly。Ihadmyownwayinmyteens——myownmoney，myownpower——ofcourseonlyofacertainsort，andinaverysmallplace。
　　ButIknowwhatIdidwiththatpower。Ispreadtroubleandmiseryaboutme——alwaysofcourseonasmallscale。
　　Thenagroupofthingshappenedinakindofclimax——averypainfulclimax——anditshookthenonsenseoutofme。
　　Mybrotherandmyfatherdied——someothersoberingthingshappened……andluckilyIwasstillyoungenoughtostopshort，andtakestockofmyself，andsaythattherewerecertainpathsIwouldneversetfootonagain——andsticktoit。
　　Butwithyou——doyousee？——poweronlycomestoyouwhenyouareamatureman。Experiences，nomatterhowunpleasanttheyare，willnotchangeyounow。Youwillnotbemovedbythisoccurrenceorthattodistrustyourself，orreconsideryourmethods，orformnewresolutions。
　　Ohno！Powerwillbeterribleinyourhands，ifpeoplewhomyoucaninjureprovokeyoutocruelcourses——"
　　"Oh，dear——dear！"brokeinLadyCressage。"WhatadistressingMrs。Gummidge-Cassandrayouare，Celia！Praystopit！"
　　"No——she'srightenough，"saidThorpe，gravely。
　　"That'sthekindofmanIam。"
　　Heseemedsoprofoundlyinterestedinthecontemplationofthisportraitwhichhadbeendrawnofhim，thattheothersrespectedhisreflectivesilence。Hesatforsomemoments，idlyfingeringaforkonthetable，andstaringatablotchofvividredprojectedthroughadecanteruponthecloth。
　　"Itseemstomethat'stheonlykindofmanit'sworthwhiletobe，"headdedatlast，stillspeakingwiththoughtfuldeliberation。"There'snothingelseintheworldsobigaspower——strength。Ifyouhavethat，youcangeteverythingelse。Butifyouhaveit，anddon'tuseit，thenitrustsanddecaysonyourhands。
　　It'slikeathoroughbredhorse。Youcan'tkeepitidleinthestable。Ifyoudon'texerciseit，youloseit。"
　　Heappearedtobecommentinguponsomeillustrationwhichhadoccurredtohisownmind，butwasnotvisibletohisauditors。Whiletheyregardedhim，hewaspromptedtoadmitthemtohisconfidence。
　　"Therewasacaseofittoday，"hesaid，andthenpaused。
　　"Precisely，"putinMissMadden。"ThefactthatsomeFrenchwoman，ofwhomyouhadneverheardbefore，wasgoingtolosehermarriageportioncaughtyourattention，andontheinstantyoupresentedherwith$10，000，anexerciseofpowerwhichhappenstobeonthegenerousside——butstillentirelyunreasoning，andnotdeservingofanyintellectualrespect。Andhere'sthepoint：ifithadhappenedthatsomebodyelsechancedtoproduceanoppositeimpressionuponyou，youwouldhavebeencapableoftaking$50，000awayfromhimwithjustaslightaheart。"
　　Thorpe'sfacebeamedwithrepressedamusement。"AsamatteroffactitwasthatkindofcaseIwasgoingtomention。
　　Iwasn'treferringtothegirlandhermarriageportion。
　　Ayoungmancametometoday——cameintomyroomallcock-a-whoop，smilingtohimselfwiththenotionthathehadonlytonamewhathewanted，andIwouldgiveittohim——and——"
　　Hestoppedabruptly，withaconfusedlittlelaugh。
　　HehadbeenuponthebrinkoftellingaboutLordPlowden'sdiscomfiture，andevennowthestoryitcheduponhistongue。Itcosthimanefforttoputthenarrativeaside，thewhileheponderedtheargumentswhichhadsuddenlyrearedthemselvesagainstpublicity。
　　Whenatlasthespoke，itwaswithaglanceofconsciousmagnanimitytowardtheladywhohadconsentedtobehiswife。
　　"Nevermind，"hesaid，lightly。"Therewasn'tmuchtoit。
　　Themanannoyedme，somehow——andhedidn'tgetwhathecamefor——that'sall。"
　　"Buthewasentitledtogetit？"askedCeliaMadden。
　　Thorpe'slipspoutedoverareply。"Well——no，"hesaid，withakindofreluctance。"Hegotstrictlywhathewasentitledto——preciselywhatIhadpromisedhim——andhewrunguphisnoseatthat——andthenIactuallygavehim15，000poundshewasn'tentitledtoatall。"
　　"Ihardlyseewhatitproves，then，"EdithCressageremarked，andthesubjectwasdropped。
　　Sometwohourslater，Thorpetookhisdeparture。
　　Itwasnotuntilhewasgettingintothehansomwhichhadbeensummoned，thatitallatonceoccurredtohimthathehadnotforamomentbeenalonewithhisbetrothed。
　　Uponreflection，asthecabspedsmoothlyforward，thisseemedoddtohim。Hedecidedfinallythattherewasprobablysomesocialruleaboutsuchthingswhichhedidn'tunderstand。
　　*****************
　　Inthedrawing-roomofthehouseinGraftonStreetwhichhehadquitted，thetwoladiessatwithfacesavertedfromeachother，inconstrainedsilence。
　　EdithCressageroseatlast，andtookafewaimlesssteps，withherhandsatherhair。"Well——I'membarked——fairlyunderway！"shesaid，inclear-cut，almostprovocativetones。
　　"Idon'tatallknowwhattosay，"hercompanionreplied，slowly。"Ifancythatyouexaggeratemydisapproval。
　　Perhapsitoughtnoteventobecalleddisapprovalatall。
　　ItisonlythatIampuzzled——andalittlefrightened。"
　　"Oh，Iamfrightenedtoo，"saidtheother，butwitheagernessratherthantrepidationinhervoice。"ThatiswhyIdidnotgiveyouthesignaltoleaveusalone。
　　Icouldn'tquitegetupthenerveforit。Butwouldyoubelieveit？——thatisoneofthecharmsofthething。
　　Thereisanexcitementaboutitthatexhilaratesme。
　　Togethappinessthroughterror——youcan'tunderstandthat，canyou？"
　　"I'mtrying。IthinkI'mbeginningtounderstand，"
　　saidMissMadden，vaguely。
　　"DidyoueversetyourselftocomprehendingwhyMarieStuartmarriedBothwell？"askedEdith，lookingdownupontheotherwithilluminatingfixity。"Youhaveitall——allthere。Mariegottiredofthesmoothpeople，theusualpeople。Therewasthepromiseofadventure，andrisk，andperil，andthegrandemotionswiththebig，darkbrute。"
　　"Itisn'tahappystory——thisparallelthatyoupickout，"
　　commentedCelia，absently。
　　"Happy！Pah！"retortedEdith，withspirit。"Whoknowsifitwasn'ttheonlyreallyhappythinginherlife？Thesnobsandprigsallscoldherandpreachsermonsather——theydiditinherlifetime：theydoitnow——"Ohcome，I'mneitherasnobnoraprig，"putinCelia，lookingupinherturn，andtemperingwithasmiletheenergyofhertone——"I
　　don'tblameherforherBothwell；Idon'tcriticizeher。
　　IneverwasevenabletomindaboutherkillingDarnley。
　　YouseeItakeanextremelyliberalview。Onemightalmostcallitbroad。ButifIhadbeenoneofherladies——herbosomfriends——sayCatherineSeton——andshehadtalkedwithmeaboutit——IthinkIshouldhaveconfessedtosomeforebodings——somelittlemisgivings。"
　　"Anddoyouknowwhatshewouldhavesaid？"
　　Edith'sswiftquestion，putwithaglowingfaceandaconfidentvoice，hadinittheringofassuredtriumph。
　　"Shewouldhaveansweredyou：'Mydearestgirl，allmylifeIhavedonewhatotherpeopletoldmetodo。InmychildhoodIwasgiveninmarriagetoacriminalidiot。
　　InmyprematurewidowhoodIwasgovernedbyacommitteeofscoundrelsofbothsexesuntilanothercriminalidiotwasimposeduponmeasasecondhusband。
　　Myownpersonalityhasneverhadthegleamofachance。
　　IhaveneveryetdoneanysinglethingbecauseIwantedtodoit。Betweenfirstmypolitician-motherandherbandoftonsuredswindlers，andthenmycantankerousbrotherandhiscrewofsnarlingandsour-mindedpreachers，andallthecourtliarsandparasitesandspiesthatbothsidessurroundedmewith，Ihavelivedanexistencethatisn'tlifeatall。Ipurporttobeawoman，butIhaveneverbeensufferedtoseeagenuineman。
　　Andnowhereisone——orwhatIthinktobeone——andI'mgiventounderstandthatheisapirateandamurdererandanunspeakableruffiangenerally——buthetakesmyfancy，andhehasbeckonedtometocometohim，andsoyouwillkindlygetmemyhatandjacketandgloves。'
　　That'swhatshewouldhavesaidtoyou，mydear。"
　　"AndI"——saidCelia，risingafteramoment'spause，andputtingherhanduponEdith'sarm——"Iwouldhaveanswered，'Dearestlady，inwhateverbefalls，IprayyounevertoforgetthatIamtotheendyourfondanddevotedandloyalservant。'"
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　AUGUSTworeitselfoutinparchedtedium，andaSeptemberbeganwhichseemedevenmoreunbearableintown，——andstillThorpedidnotgetawayfromLondon。
　　Sofarasthepaymentofanexorbitantrentinadvance，andthereceiptofinnumerablelettersfromarestlessandfussystewardwhomhehadnotyetseen，wentasevidence，heknewhimselftobethetenantinpossessionofagreatshootinginMorayshire。Hehadseveralphotographsofwhatwascalledthelodge，butlookedlikesomethingbetweenamansionandabaronialcastle，onthemanteloftheBoardRoom。
　　Thereflectionthatthissumptuousresidencehadbeenhisforamonth，andthatitdailystoodwaitingforhim，furnishedandsweptandprovisionedforhiscoming，didnothingtohelpthepassingoftimeinthehot，faggedCity。Morethanoncehehadsaidresolutelythat，onthemorrow，orattheworstthenextday，hewouldgo——butintheeventhehadnotgone。InthelastweekofAugusthehadproceededtothelengthofsendinghisnieceandnephewNorthward，andshuttingupthehouseinOvingtonSquare，andbetakinghimselftotheSavoyHotel。
　　Thishadappearedatthetimetobealmostequivalenttohisgettingawayhimself，——tobeatleastafirststageintheprogressofhisownjourney。Butatthehotelhehadstuckfast，——andnow，onthetenthofSeptember，wasnonearerthemoorsandthedeer-forestthanhehadbeenamonthbefore。
　　Anovelsenseofloneliness，——ofthefatuityofpresentexistence，——weighedgrievouslyuponhim。TheladiesofGraftonStreethadlefttownuponacomprehensiveitineraryofvisitswhichincludedtheMalverncountry，andaducalcastleinShropshire，andaplaceinWestmoreland。
　　TherewasnothingverydefiniteaboutthedateoftheircomingtohiminScotland。Theladywhohadconsentedtomarryhimhad，somehow，omittedtopromisethatshewouldwritetohim。Anarrangementexisted，instead，bywhichsheandhisnieceJuliaweretocorrespond，andtofixbetweenthemselvesthedetailsofthevisittoMorayshire。
　　Thorpehardlywenttothepointofannoyancewiththisarrangement。Hewasconsciousofnodeepimpulsetowritelove-lettershimself，andtherewasnothinginthesituationwhichmadehisfailuretoreceivelove-
　　lettersseemunnatural。Theabsenceofmoonshine，atleastduringthispreliminaryseason，hadbeenquitetakenforgrantedbetweenthem，andhedidnotcomplaineventohimself。Therewasevenakindofproudsatisfactionforhiminthethoughtthat，thoughhehadallbutcompletedthepurchaseofthenoblePellesleyestateforEdithCressage，hehadneveryetkissedher。
　　Thereserveheimposeduponhimselfgavehimacertainaristocraticfinenessinhisowneyes。Itwasthemeansbywhichhecouldfeelhimselftobemostnearlyherequal。
　　ButheremainedverylonelyinLondon，nonetheless。
　　Itistruethatagreatdealofsocietywascontinuallyofferedtohim，andeventhrustuponhim。Inthepopularphrase，Londonwasempty，butthereseemedtobemorepeoplethaneverwhodesiredMr。StormontThorpe'
　　spresenceattheirdinner-tables，ortheirlittletheatreorcardorriverparties。Heclungsullenlytohisruleofgoingnowhere，butitwasnotsosimpleamattertoevadethecivilitiesandimportunitiesofthosewhowerestoppingatthehotel，orwhocametheretowaylayhimattheentrance，ortoencounterhimintherestaurant。
　　Hecouldnotalwaysrefusetositdownattableswhenattractively-dressedandvivaciouswomenmaderoomforhim，ortolingerovercigarsandwinewiththeirhusbandsandescortslateron。
　　Anincessantandspiritedcourtwaspaidtohimbymanydifferentgroupsofinterestedpeoplewhowererarelyatthepainstodissembletheiraims。
　　Heformedamannerforthereceptionoftheseadvances，compoundedofjoviality，cynicism，andfrankbrutality，whichnobody，tohisfaceatleast，resented。Ifwomenwincedunderhismockingrudenessesofspeechandsmile，ifmenlongedtokillhimforthecoldinsolenceofhisrefusaltolettheminsidehisguard，theysedulouslykeptitfromhim。Theconsciousnessthateverybodywasafraidofhim，——thateverybodywouldkneeltohim，andmeeklytakeinsultandignominyfromhim，ifonlyhoperemainedtothemofgettingsomethingoutofhim，——hardenedlikeacrustuponhismind。
　　Itwasimpossibletogetasenseofcompanionshipfrompeoplewhocringedtohim，andswallowedhisaffrontsandcackledathisjokeswithequaldocility。Sometimeshehadapassingamusementintheroughpleasantriesandcrueltieswhichtheydrewfromhim。ThereweretwoorthreebrightJewishwomen，moregaylycleverandimpudent，perhaps，thanbeautiful，withwhomhefounditgenuinefuntotalk，andconcerningwhomhewasperpetuallyconceivingprojectswhichcouldnothavebeendiscussedwiththeirhusbands，andasperpetuallydoingnothingtotesttheirfeasibility。
　　Butthesediversionswereintheiressenceunsubstantial。
　　Therewasnoteventhesemblanceofarealfriendshipamongthem，——andlonelinessbecameanincreasingburden。
　　Hissisterattheoldbook-shopexasperatedhimnowadaystoadegreewhichoftenprovokedwithinhimtheresolutiontohavedonewithher。Hehadascoreofprojectsforherbetterment，eachcapableofasmanyvariationsandeageradaptationstosuitherfancy，buttothemallandsundrysheopposedabarrierofstupidlypassivenegation。Therewasnothingshewanteddoneforher。Shewouldnotexchangetheworkshehadbeenbroughtupinforalifeofidleness。