’Itisonlythroughdeepsympathythatamancanbecomeagreatartist。’——Lewes’sLifeofGoethe。
’Sympathyisfeelingrelatedtoanobject，whilstsentimentisthesamefeelingseekingitselfalone。’——ArnoldToynbee。
ChapterI。
’Nothingfillsachild’smindlikealargeoldmansion；betterifun—orpartiallyoccupied；peopledwiththespiritsofdeceasedmembersofthecountyandJusticesoftheQuorum。WouldIwereburiedinthepeopledsolitudeofone，withmyfeelingsatsevenyearsold!’——FromLettersofCharlesLamb。
ToattemptaformalbiographyofDerrickVaughanwouldbeoutofthequestion，eventhoughheandIhavebeenmoreorlessthrowntogethersincewewerebothinthenursery。ButIhaveanoddsortofwishtonotedownroughlyjustafewofmyrecollectionsofhim，andtoshowhowhisfortunesgraduallydeveloped，beingperhapsstimulatedtomaketheattemptbycertainirritatingremarkswhichoneoverhearsnowoftenenoughatclubsorindrawing—rooms，orindeedwhereveronegoes。"DerrickVaughan，"saytheseauthoritiesoftheworldofsmall—talk，withthatdelightfulairofomnisciencewhichinvariablycharacterisesthem，"why，hesimplyleaptintofame。Heisoneofthefavouritesoffortune。LikeByron，hewokeonemorningandfoundhimselffamous。"
Nowthissoundswellenough，butitisalongwayfromthetruth，andI——SydneyWharncliffe，oftheInnerTemple，Barrister—at—law——
desire，whilethepastfewyearsarefreshinmymind，towriteatrueversionofmyfriend’scareer。
Everyoneknowshisface。Hasitnotappearedin’NotedMen，’and——
graduallydeterioratingaccordingtothepriceofthepaperandthequalityoftheengraving——inmanyanotherillustratedjournal？Yetsomehowtheseworksofartdon’tsatisfyme，and，asIwrite，IseebeforemesomethingverydifferentfromthelatestphotographbyMessrs。PaulandReynard。
Iseealarge—featured，broad—browedEnglishface，atrifleheavy—
lookingwheninrepose，yetathorough，honest，manlyface，withacomplexionneitherdarknorfair，withbrownhairandmoustache，andwithlighthazeleyesthatlookoutontheworldquietlyenough。
Youmighttalktohimforlonginanordinarywayandneversuspectthathewasagenius；butwhenyouhavehimtoyourself，whensomeconsciousnessofsympathyrouseshim，heallatoncebecomesadifferentbeing。Hisquieteyeskindle，hisfacebecomesfulloflife——youwonderthatyoueverthoughtitheavyorcommonplace。
Thentheworldinterruptsinsomeway，and，justasahermit—crabdrawsdownitsshellwithacomicallyrapidmovement，soDerricksuddenlyretiresintohimself。
Thusmuchforhisouterman。
Fortherest，thereareofcoursetheneatlittleaccountsofhisbirthplace，hisparentage，hiseducation，etc。，etc。，publishedwiththelistofhisworksindueorder，withtheengravingsintheillustratedpapers。Butthesetelluslittleofthereallifeoftheman。
Carlyle，inoneofhisfinestpassages，saysthat’Atruedelineationofthesmallestmanandhissceneofpilgrimagethroughlifeiscapableofinterestingthegreatestmen；thatallmenaretoanunspeakabledegreebrothers，eachman’slifeastrangeemblemofeveryman’s；andthathumanportraitsfaithfullydrawnareofallpicturesthewelcomestonhumanwalls。’AndthoughIdon’tprofesstogiveaportrait，butmerelyasketch，Iwillendeavourtosketchfaithfully，andpossiblyinthefuturemyworkmayfallintothehandsofsomeofthoseworthypeoplewhoimaginethatmyfriendleaptintofameatabound，orofthosecomfortablemortalswhoseemtothinkthatanovelisturnedoutaseasilyaswaterfromatap。
Thereis，however，onethingIcanneverdo：——Iamquiteunabletoputintowordsmyfriend’sintenselystrongfeelingwithregardtothesacrednessofhisprofession。ItseemedtomenotunlikethefeelingofIsaiahwhen，inthevision，hismouthhadbeentouchedwiththecelestialfire。AndIcanonlyhopethatsomethingofthismaybereadbetweenmyveryinadequatelines。
Lookingback，IfancyDerrickmusthavebeenacleverchild。Buthewasnotprecocious，andinsomerespectswasevendecidedlybackward。Icanseehimnow——itismyfirstclearrecollectionofhim——leaningbackinthecornerofmyfather’scarriageaswedrovefromtheNewmarketstationtooursummerhomeatMondisfield。HeandIweresmallboysofeight，andDerrickhadbeeninvitedfortheholidays，whilehistwinbrother——ifIrememberright——indulgedintyphoidfeveratKensington。Hewasshyandsilent，andtheicewasnotbrokenuntilwepassedSilverySteeple。
"That，"saidmyfather，"isaruinedchurch；itwasdestroyedbyCromwellintheCivilWars。"
Inaninstantthesmallquietboysittingbesidemewastransformed。
Hiseyesshone；hesprangforwardandthrusthisheadfaroutofthewindow，gazingattheoldivy—coveredtoweraslongasitremainedinsight。
"WasCromwellreallyoncethere？"heaskedwithbreathlessinterest。
"Sotheysay，"repliedmyfather，lookingwithanamusedsmileatthefaceofthequestioner，inwhicheagerness，delight，andreverenceweremingled。"AreyouanadmireroftheLordProtector？"
"Heismygreatestheroofall，"saidDerrickfervently。"Doyouthink——oh，doyouthinkhepossiblycaneverhavecometoMondisfield？"
Myfatherthoughtnot，butsaidtherewasanoldtraditionthattheHallhadbeenattackedbytheRoyalists，andthebridgeoverthemoatdefendedbytheownerofthehouse；buthehadnogreatbeliefinthestory，forwhich，indeed，thereseemednoevidence。
Derrick’seyesduringthisconversationweresomethingwonderfultosee，andlongafter，whenwewerenotactuallyplayingatanything，Iusedoftentonoticethesameexpressionstealingoverhim，andwouldcryout，"Thereisthemandefendingthebridgeagain；Icanseehiminyoureyes!Tellmewhathappenedtohimnext!"
Then，generallypacingtoandfrointheapplewalk，orsittingastridethebridgeitself，Derrickwouldtellmeoftheadventuresofmyancestor，PaulWharncliffe，whoperformedincrediblefeatsofvalour，andwhowastobothofusamostrealperson。Onwetdayshewrotehisstoryinacopy—book，andwouldhaveworkedatitforhourshadmymotherallowedhim，thoughofthemanualpartoftheworkhehad，andhasalwaysretained，thegreatestdislike。I
rememberwellthecomicalendingofthisfirststoryofhis。Heskippedoveranintervaloftenyears，representedonthepagebytenlaboriouslymadestars，anddidforhisherointhefollowinglines：
"Andnow，reader，letuscomeintoMondisfieldchurchyard。Therearethreetombstones。Ononeiswritten，’Mr。PaulWharncliffe。’"
Thestorywasnobetterthantheproductionsofmosteight—year—oldchildren，thewrittenstoryatleast。But，curiouslyenough，itprovedtobethegermofthecelebratedromance，’AtStrife，’whichDerrickwroteinafteryears；andhehimselfmaintainsthathispictureoflifeduringtheCivilWarwouldhavebeenmuchlessgraphichadhenotlivedsomuchinthepastduringhisvariousvisitstoMondisfield。
Itwasathissecondvisit，whenwewerenine，thatIrememberhisannouncinghisintentionofbeinganauthorwhenhewasgrownup。
Mymotherstilldelightsintellingthestory。Shewassittingatworkinthesouthparlouroneday，whenIdashedintotheroomcallingout：
"Derrick’sheadisstuckbetweenthebanistersinthegallery；comequick，mother，comequick!"
Sheranupthelittlewindingstaircase，andthere，sureenough，inthemusician’sgallery，waspoorDerrick，hismanuscriptandpenonthefloorandhisheadindurancevile。
"Yousillyboy!"saidmymother，alittlefrightenedwhenshefoundthattogettheheadbackwasnoeasymatter，"Whatmadeyouputitthrough？"
"YoulooklikeKingCharlesatCarisbrooke，"Icried，forgettinghowmuchDerrickwouldresentthespeech。
Andbeingreleasedatthatmomenthetookmebytheshouldersandgavemeanangryshakeortwo，ashesaidvehemently，"I’mnotlikeKingCharles!KingCharleswasaliar。"
Isawmymothersmilealittleassheseparatedus。
"Come，boys，don’tquarrel，"shesaid。"AndDerrickwilltellmethetruth，forindeedIamcurioustoknowwhyhethrusthisheadinsuchaplace。"
"Iwantedtomakesure，"saidDerrick，"whetherPaulWharncliffecouldseeLadyLettice，whenshetookthefalcononherwristbelowinthepassage。Imustn’tsayhesawherifit’simpossible，youknow。Authorshavetobequitetrueinlittlethings，andImeantobeanauthor。"
"But，"saidmymother，laughingatthegreatearnestnessofthehazeleyes，"couldnotyourherolookoverthetopoftherail？"
"Well，yes，"saidDerrick。"Hewouldhavedonethat，butyouseeit’ssodreadfullyhighandIcouldn’tgetup。ButItellyouwhat，Mrs。Wharncliffe，ifitwouldn’tbegivingyouagreatdealoftrouble——I’msorryyouweretroubledtogetmyheadbackagain——butifyouwouldjustlookover，sinceyouaresotall，andI’llrundownandactLadyLettice。"
"Whycouldn’tPaulgodownstairsandlookattheladyincomfort？"
askedmymother。
Derrickmusedalittle。
"Hemightlookatherthroughacrackinthedooratthefootofthestairs，perhaps，butthatwouldseemmean，somehow。Itwouldbeapity，too，nottousethegallery；galleriesareuncommon，yousee，andyoucangetcrackeddoorsanywhere。And，youknow，hewasobligedtolookatherwhenshecouldn’tseehim，becausetheirfatherswereondifferentsidesinthewar，anddreadfulenemies。"
Whenschool—dayscame，matterswentonmuchinthesameway；therewasalwaysanabominablyscribbledtalestowedawayinDerrick’sdesk，andheworkedinfinitelyharderthanIdid，becausetherewasalwaysbeforehimthisdeterminationtobeanauthorandtopreparehimselfforthelife。Buthewrotemerelyfromloveofit，andwithnoideaofpublicationuntilthebeginningofourlastyearatOxford，when，havingreachedtheripeageofone—and—twenty，hedeterminedtodelaynolonger，buttoplungeboldlyintohisfirstnovel。
Hewasseldomabletogetmorethansixoreighthoursaweekforit，becausehewasreadingratherhard，sothatthenovelprogressedbutslowly。Finally，tomyastonishment，itcametoadeadstand—
still。
IhavenevermadeoutexactlywhatwaswrongwithDerrickthen，thoughIknowthathepassedthroughaterribletimeofdoubtanddespair。IspentpartoftheLongwithhimdownatVentnor，wherehismotherhadbeenorderedforherhealth。ShewasdevotedtoDerrick，andasfarasIcanunderstand，hewasherchiefcomfortinlife。MajorVaughan，thehusband，hadbeenoutinIndiaforyears；
theonlydaughterwasmarriedtoarichmanufactureratBirmingham，whohadaconstitutionaldisliketomothers—in—law，andasfaraspossibleeschewedtheircompany；whileLawrence，Derrick’stwinbrother，wasforevergettingintoscrapes，andwasintothebargainthemostunblushinglyselfishfellowIeverhadthepleasureofmeeting。
"Sydney，"saidMrs。Vaughantomeoneafternoonwhenwewereinthegarden，"Derrickseemstomeunlikehimself，thereisadivisionbetweenuswhichIneverfeltbefore。Canyoutellmewhatistroublinghim？"
Shewasnotatallagood—lookingwoman，butshehadaverysweet，wistfulface，andIneverlookedathersadeyeswithoutfeelingreadytogothroughfireandwaterforher。ItriednowtomakelightofDerrick’sdepression。
"Heisonlygoingthroughwhatweallofusgothrough，"Isaid，assumingacheerfultone。"Hehassuddenlydiscoveredthatlifeisagreatriddle，andthatthethingshehasacceptedinblindfaithare，afterall，notsosure。"
Shesighed。
"Doallgothroughit？"shesaidthoughtfully。"Andhowmany，I
wonder，getbeyond？"
"Fewenough，"Irepliedmoodily。Then，rememberingmyrole，——"ButDerrickwillgetthrough；hehasathousandthingstohelphimwhichothershavenot，——you，forinstance。AndthenIfancyhehasasortofinsightwhichmostofusarewithout。"
"Possibly，"shesaid。"Asforme，itislittlethatIcandoforhim。Perhapsyouareright，anditistruethatonceinalifeatanyrateweallhavetogointothewildernessalone。"
ThatwasthelastsummerIeversawDerrick’smother；shetookachillthefollowingChristmasanddiedafterafewdays’illness。
ButIhavealwaysthoughtherdeathhelpedDerrickinawaythatherlifemighthavefailedtodo。Foralthoughhenever，Ifancy，quiterecoveredfromtheblow，andtothisdaycannotspeakofherwithouttearsinhiseyes，yetwhenhecamebacktoOxfordheseemedtohavefoundtheanswertotheriddle，andthougholder，sadderandgraverthanbefore，hadquitelosttherestlessdissatisfactionthatforsometimehadcloudedhislife。Inafewmonths，moreover，I
noticedafreshsignthathewasoutofthewood。ComingintohisroomsonedayIfoundhimsittinginthecushionedwindow—seat，readingoverandcorrectingsomesheetsofbluefoolscap。
"Atitagain？"Iasked。
Henodded。
"Imeantofinishthefirstvolumehere。FortherestImustbeinLondon。"
"Why？"Iasked，alittlecuriousastothisunknownartofnovel—
making。
"Because，"hereplied，"onemustbeintheheartofthingstounderstandhowLynwoodwasaffectedbythem。"
"Lynwood!Ibelieveyouarealwaysthinkingofhim!"（Lynwoodwastheheroofhisnovel。）
"Well，soIamnearly——soImustbe，ifthebookistobeanygood。"
"Readmewhatyouhavewritten，"Isaid，throwingmyselfbackinaricketybuttolerablycomfortablearm—chairwhichDerrickhadinheritedwiththerooms。
Hehesitatedamoment，beingalwaysverydiffidentabouthisownwork；butpresently，havingprovidedmewithacigarandmadeagooddealofunnecessaryworkinarrangingthesheetsofthemanuscript，hebegantoreadaloud，rathernervously，theopeningchaptersofthebooknowsowellknownunderthetitleof’Lynwood’sHeritage。’
Ihadheardnothingofhisforthelastfouryears，andwasamazedatthegiganticstridehehadmadeintheinterval。For，spiteofacertaincrudeness，itseemedtomeamostpowerfulstory；itrushedstraighttothepointwithnowavering，nobeatingaboutthebush；
itflungitselfintotheproblemsofthedaywithasortofsublimeaudacity；ittookholdofone；itwhirledonealongwithitsowninherentforce，anddrewforthbothlaughterandtears，forDerrick’spowerofpathoshadalwaysbeenhisstrongestpoint。
Allatoncehestoppedreading。
"Goon!"Icriedimpatiently。
"Thatisall，"hesaid，gatheringthesheetstogether。
"Youstoppedinthemiddleofasentence!"Icriedinexasperation。
"Yes，"hesaidquietly，"forsixmonths。"
"Youprovokingfellow!why，Iwonder？"
"BecauseIdidn’tknowtheend。"
"Goodheavens!Anddoyouknowitnow？"
Helookedmefullintheface，andtherewasanexpressioninhiseyeswhichpuzzledme。
"IbelieveIdo，"hesaid；and，gettingup，hecrossedtheroom，putthemanuscriptawayinadrawer，andreturning，satdowninthewindow—seatagain，lookingoutonthenarrow，pavedstreetbelow，andatthegreybuildingsopposite。
IknewverywellthathewouldneveraskmewhatIthoughtofthestory——thatwasnothisway。
"Derrick!"Iexclaimed，watchinghisimpassiveface，"Ibelieveafterallyouareagenius。"
IhardlyknowwhyIsaid"afterall，"buttillthatmomentithadneverstruckmethatDerrickwasparticularlygifted。HehadsofargotthroughhisOxfordcareercreditably，butthenhehadworkedhard；histalentswerenotofashowyorder。IhadneverexpectedthathewouldsettheThamesonfire。Evennowitseemedtomethathewastoodreamy，tooquiet，toodevoidofthepushingfacultytosucceedintheworld。
Myremarkmadehimlaughincredulously。
"Defineagenius，"hesaid。
ForanswerIpulleddownhisbelovedImperialDictionaryandreadhimthefollowingquotationfromDeQuincey：’Geniusisthatmodeofintellectualpowerwhichmovesinalliancewiththegenialnature，i。e。，withthecapacitiesofpleasureandpain；whereastalenthasnovestigeofsuchanalliance，andisperfectlyindependentofallhumansensibilities。’
"Letmethink!YoucancertainlyenjoythingsahundredtimesmorethanIcan——andasforsuffering，whyyouwerealwaysagreathandatthat。NowlistentothegreatDr。Johnsonandseeifthecapfits，’Thetruegeniusisamindoflargegeneralpowersaccidentallydeterminedinsomeparticulardirection。’
"’Largegeneralpowers’!——yes，Ibelieveafterallyouhavethemwith，alas，poorDerrick!onenotableexception——themathematicalfaculty。Youwerealwaysbadatfigures。WewillsticktoDeQuincey’sdefinition，andforheaven’ssake，mydearfellow，dogetLynwoodoutofthatawfulplight!Nowonderyouweredepressedwhenyoulivedallthisagewithsuchasentenceunfinished!"
"Forthematterofthat，"saidDerrick，"hecan’tgetouttilltheendofthebook；butIcanbegintogoonwithhimnow。"
"AndwhenyouleaveOxford？"
"ThenImeantosettledowninLondon——towriteleisurely——andpossiblytoreadfortheBar。"
"Wemightbetogether，"Isuggested。AndDerricktooktothisidea，beingamanwhodetestedsolitudeandcrowdsaboutequally。Sincehismother’sdeathhehadbeenverymuchaloneintheworld。ToLawrencehewasalwaysloyal，butthetwohadnothingincommon，andthoughfondofhissisterhecouldnotgetonatallwiththemanufacturer，hisbrother—in—law。ButthisprospectoflifetogetherinLondonpleasedhimamazingly；hebegantorecoverhisspiritstoagreatextentandtolookmuchmorelikehimself。
ItmusthavebeenjustashehadtakenhisdegreethathereceivedatelegramtoannouncethatMajorVaughanhadbeeninvalidedhome，andwouldarriveatSouthamptoninthreeweeks’time。Derrickknewverylittleofhisfather，butapparentlyMrs。VaughanhaddoneherbesttokeepupasortofmemoryofhischildishdaysatAldershot，andinthesethepartthathisfatherplayedwasalwayspleasant。Sohelookedforwardtothemeetingnotalittle，whileI，fromthefirst，hadmydoubtsastothefelicityitwaslikelytobringhim。
However，itwasordainedthatbeforetheMajor’sshiparrived，hisson’swholelifeshouldchange。EvenLynwoodwasthrustintothebackground。Asforme，Iwasnowhere。ForDerrick，thequiet，theself—contained，hadfallenpassionatelyinlovewithacertainFredaMerrifield。
ChapterII。
’Infancy？Whatiftherose—streakofmorningPaleanddepartinapassionoftears？
Oncetohavehopedisnomatterforscorning：
Loveonce：e’enlove’sdisappointmentendears；
Amoment’ssuccesspaysthefailureofyears。’
R。Browning。
Thewonderwouldhavebeenifhehadnotfalleninlovewithher，foramorefascinatinggirlIneversaw。ShehadonlyjustreturnedfromschoolatCompiegne，andwasnotyetout；hercharmingfreshnesswasunsullied；shehadallthesimplicityandstraightforwardnessofunspoilt，unsophisticatedgirlhood。Iwellrememberourfirstsightofher。Wehadbeeninvitedforafortnight’syachtingbyCalverleyofExeter。Hisfather，SirJohnCalverley，hadasailingyacht，andsomeguestshavingdisappointedhimatthelastminute，hegavehissoncarteblancheastowhoheshouldbringtofillthevacantberths。
SowethreetravelleddowntoSouthamptontogetheronehotsummerday，andwererowedouttotheAurora，anuncommonlyneatlittleschoonerwhichlayinthatover—ratedandfrequentlyodoriferousroadstead，SouthamptonWater。However，Iadmitthatonthatevening——thetidebeinghigh——theplacelookedremarkablypretty；
thelevelraysofthesettingsunturnedthewatertogold；asoftluminoushazehungoverthetownandtheshipping，andbyastretchofimaginationonemighthavethoughttheviewalmostVenetian。
Derrick’sperfectcontentwasonlymarredbyhisshyness。IknewthathedreadedreachingtheAurora；andsureenough，aswesteppedontotheexquisitelywhitedeckandcaughtsightofthelittlegroupofguests，Isawhimretreatintohiscrab—shellofsilentreserve。SirJohn，whomadeaverypleasanthost，introducedustotheothervisitors——LordProbynandhiswifeandtheirniece，MissFredaMerrifield。LadyProbynwasSirJohn’ssister，andalsothesisterofMissMerrifield’smother；sothatitwasalmostafamilyparty，andbynomeansaformidablegathering。LadyProbynplayedthepartofhostessandchaperonedherprettyniece；butshewasnotintheleastliketheauntoffiction——onthecontrary，shewascomparativelyyounginyearsandalmostcomicallyyounginmind；herniecewasdevotedtoher，andthemomentIsawherIknewthatourcruisecouldnotpossiblybedull。
AstoMissFreda，whenwefirstcaughtsightofhershewasstandingnearthecompanion，dressedinadaintilymadeyachtingcostumeofbluesergeandwhitebraid，androundherwhitesailorhatsheworethenameoftheyachtstampedonawhiteribbon；inherwaist—bandshehadfastenedtwodeepcrimsonroses，andshelookedatuswithfrank，girlishcuriosity，nodoubtwonderingwhetherweshouldaddtoordetractfromtheenjoymentoftheexpedition。Shewasrathertall，andtherewasanairofstrengthandenergyaboutherwhichwasmostrefreshing。Herskinwassingularlywhite，buttherewasahealthyglowofcolourinhercheeks；whileherlarge，greyeyes，shadedbylonglashes，werefulloflifeandbrightness。Astoherfeatures，theywereperhapsatrifleirregular，andhereldersistersweresupposedtoeclipseheraltogether；buttomymindshewasfarthemosttakingofthethree。
IwasnotintheleastsurprisedthatDerrickshouldfallheadoverearsinlovewithher；shewasexactlythesortofgirlthatwouldinfalliblyattracthim。Herabsenceofshyness；herstraightforward，easywayoftalking；hergenuinegoodheartedness；
herdevotiontoanimals——oneofhisownpethobbies——andfinallyherexquisiteplaying，madetheresultaforegoneconclusion。Andthen，moreover，theywereperpetuallytogether。Hewouldhangoverthepianointhesaloonforhourswhilesheplayed，therestofuslazilyenjoyingtheeasychairsandthefreshairondeck；andwheneverwelanded，thesetwoweresureintheendtobejustalittleapartfromtherestofus。
Itwasaneminentlysuccessfulcruise。Wealllikedeachother；theseawascalm，thesunshineconstant，thewindasarulefavourable，andIthinkIneverinasinglefortnightheardsomanygoodstories，orhadsuchagoodtime。Weseemedtogetrightoutoftheworldanditsnarrowrestrictions，awayfromallthatwashollowandbaseanddepressing，onlylandingnowandthenatquaintlittlequietplacesforsomemerryexcursiononshore。Fredawasinthehighestspirits；andastoDerrick，hewasadifferentcreature。
Sheseemedtohavethepowerofdrawinghimoutinamarvellousdegree，andshetookthegreatestinterestinhiswork——asurewaytoeveryauthor’sheart。
Butitwasnottilloneday，whenwelandedatTresco，thatIfeltcertainshegenuinelylovedhim——thereinoneglancethetruthflasheduponme。Iwaswalkingwithoneofthegardenersdownoneofthelongshadypathsofthatlovelylittleisland，withitscuriouslyforeignlook，whenwesuddenlycamefacetofacewithDerrickandFreda。Theyweretalkingearnestly，andIcouldseehergreatgreyeyesastheywereliftedtohis——perhapstheyweremoreexpressivethansheknew——Icannotsay。Theybothstartedalittleasweconfrontedthem，andthecolourdeepenedinFreda’sface。Thegardener，withwhatphotographersusuallyaskfor——’justthefaintbeginningofasmile，’——turnedandgatheredabitofwhiteheathergrowingnear。
"Theysayitbringsgoodluck，miss，"heremarked，handingittoFreda。
"Thankyou，"shesaid，laughing，"Ihopeitwillbringittome。Atanyrateitwillremindmeofthisbeautifulisland。Isn’titjustlikeParadise，Mr。Wharncliffe？"
"FormeitislikeParadisebeforeEvewascreated，"Ireplied，ratherwickedly。"Bythebye，areyougoingtokeepallthegoodlucktoyourself？"
"Idon’tknow，"shesaidlaughing。"PerhapsIshall；butyouhaveonlytoaskthegardener，hewillgatheryouanotherpiecedirectly。"
Itookgoodcaretodropbehind，havingnotasteforthethird—
fiddlebusiness；butInoticedwhenwewereinthegigoncemore，rowingbacktotheyacht，thatthewhiteheatherhadbeenequallydivided——onehalfwasinthewaist—bandofthebluesergedress，theotherhalfinthebutton—holeofDerrick’sblazer。
Sothefortnightslippedby，andatlengthoneafternoonwefoundourselvesoncemoreinSouthamptonWater；thencamethebustleofpackingandthehurryofdeparture，andthemerrypartydispersed。
DerrickandIsawthemalloffatthestation，for，ashisfather’sshipdidnotarrivetillthefollowingday，ImadeupmymindtostayonwithhimatSouthampton。
"Youwillcomeandseeusintown，"saidLadyProbyn，kindly。AndLordProbyninvitedusbothfortheshootingatBlachingtoninSeptember。"Wewillhavethesamepartyonshore，andseeifwecan’tenjoyourselvesalmostaswell，"hesaidinhisheartyway；
"thenovelwillgoallthebetterforit，eh，Vaughan？"
Derrickbrightenedvisiblyatthesuggestion。IheardhimtalkingtoFredaallthetimethatSirJohnstoodlaughingandjokingastothecomparativepleasuresofyachtingandshooting。
"Youwillbetheretoo？"Derrickasked。
"Ican’ttell，"saidFreda，andtherewasashadeofsadnessinhertone。Hervoicewasdeeperthanmostwomen’svoices——arichcontraltowithsomethingstrikingandindividualaboutit。Icouldhearherquiteplainly；butDerrickspokelessdistinctly——healwayshadabadtrickofmumbling。
"YouseeIamtheyoungest，"shesaid，"andIamnotreally’out。’
Perhapsmymotherwillwishoneoftheelderonestogo；butIhalfthinktheyarealreadyengagedforSeptember，soafterallImayhaveachance。"
Inaudibleremarkfrommyfriend。
"Yes，IcameherebecausemysistersdidnotcaretoleaveLondontilltheendoftheseason，"repliedtheclearcontralto。"Ithasbeenaperfectcruise。Ishallrememberitallmylife。"
Afterthat，nothingmorewasaudible；butIimagineDerrickmusthavehazardedamorepersonalquestion，andthatFredahadadmittedthatitwasnotonlytheactualsailingsheshouldremember。AtanyrateherfacewhenIcaughtsightofitagainmademethinkofthegirldescribedinthe’BiglowPapers’：
"’’Twaskin’o’kingdomcometolookOnsechablessedcreatur。
Adogroseblushin’toabrookAin’tmodesternorsweeter。’"
Sothetrainwentoff，andDerrickandIwerelefttoidleaboutSouthamptonandkilltimeasbestwemight。Derrickseemedtowalkthestreetsinasortofdream——hewasperfectlywellawarethathehadmethisfate，andatthattimenothoughtofdifficultiesinthewayhadariseneitherinhismindorinmyown。Wewerebothofusyoungandinexperienced；wewerebothofusinlove，andwehadtheusuallover’snotionthateverythinginheavenandearthispreparedtofavourthecourseofhisparticularpassion。
Irememberthatwesoonfoundthetownintolerable，and，crossingbytheferry，walkedovertoNetleyAbbey，andlaydownidlyintheshadeoftheoldgreywalls。Notabreathofwindstirredthegreatmassesofivywhichwerewreathedabouttheruinedchurch，andtheplacelookedsolovelyinitsdecay，thatwefeltdisposedtojudgethedissolutemonksverylenientlyforhavingbehavedsobadlythattheirchurchandmonasteryhadtobeopenedtothefourwindsofheaven。Afterall，whenisachurchsobeautifulaswhenithasthegreengrassforitsfloorandtheskyforitsroof？
IcouldshowyoutheveryspotneartheEastwindowwhereDerricktoldmethewholetruth，andwherewetalkedoverFreda’sperfectionsandtheprobabilityoffrequentmeetingsinLondon。Hehadlistenedsooftenandsopatientlytomyaffairs，thatitseemedanoddreversaltohavetoplaytheconfidant；andifnowandthenmythoughtswanderedofftothecomingmonthatMondisfield，andpicturedvioleteyeswhilehetalkedofgrey，itwasnotfromanylackofsympathywithmyfriend。
Derrickwasnotofaself—tormentingnature，andthoughIknewhewasamazedatthethoughtthatsuchagirlasFredacouldpossiblycareforhim，yethebelievedmostimplicitlythatthiswonderfulthinghadcometopass；and，rememberingherfaceaswehadlastseenit，andthelookinhereyesatTresco，I，too，hadnotashadowofadoubtthatshereallylovedhim。Shewasnottheleastbitofaflirt，andsocietyhadnothadachanceyetofmouldingherintotheordinarygirlofthenineteenthcentury。
PerhapsitwasthesuddenandunexpectedchangeofthenextdaythatmakesmerememberDerrick’sfacesodistinctlyashelaybackonthesmoothturfthatafternooninNetleyAbbey。Asitlookedthen，fullofyouthandhope，fullofthatdreamofcloudlesslove，Ineversawitagain。
ChapterIII。
"Religioninhimneverdied，butbecameahabit——ahabitofenduringhardness，andcleavingtothesteadfastperformanceofdutyinthefaceofthestrongestallurementstothepleasanterandeasiercourse。"
LifeofCharlesLamb，byA。Ainger。
Derrickwasingoodspiritsthenextday。HetalkedmuchofMajorVaughan，wonderedwhetherthevoyagehomehadrestoredhishealth，discussedtheprobablelengthofhisleave，andspeculatedastothenatureofhisillness；thetelegramhadofcoursegivennodetails。
"Therehasnotbeenevenaphotographforthelastfiveyears，"heremarked，aswewalkeddowntothequaytogether。"YetIthinkI
shouldknowhimanywhere，ifitisonlybyhisheight。Heusedtolooksowellonhorseback。IrememberasachildseeinghiminashamfightchargingupCaesar’sCamp。"
"Howoldwereyouwhenhewentout？"
"Oh，quiteasmallboy，"repliedDerrick。"ItwasjustbeforeI
firststayedwithyou。However，hehashadaregularsuccessionofphotographssentouttohim，andwillknowmeeasilyenough。"
PoorDerrick!Ican’tthinkofthatdayevennowwithoutakindofmentalshiver。Wewatchedthegreatsteamerasitglideduptothequay，andDerrickscannedthecrowdeddeckwitheagereyes，butcouldnowhereseethetall，soldierlyfigurethathadlingeredsolonginhismemory。Hestoodwithhishandrestingontherailofthegangway，andwhenpresentlyitwasraisedtothesideofthesteamer，hestillkepthisposition，sothathecouldinstantlycatchsightofhisfatherashepasseddown。Istoodclosebehindhim，andwatchedthemotleyprocessionofpassengers；mostofthemhadthedullcolourlessskinwhichbespeakslongresidenceinIndia，andaparticularlyyellowandpeevish—lookingoldmanwasgrumblingloudlyasheslowlymadehiswaydownthegangway。
"Themostdisgracefulscene!"heremarked。"Thefellowwasasdrunkashecouldbe。"
"Whowasit？"askedhiscompanion。
"Why，MajorVaughan，tobesure。Theonlywonderisthathehasn’tdrunkhimselftodeathbythistime——beenatityearsenough!"
Derrickturned，asthoughtoshelterhimselffromthecuriouseyesofthetravellers；buteverywherethequaywascrowded。Itseemedtomenotunlikethelifethatlaybeforehim，withthisnewshamewhichcouldnotbehid，andIshallneverforgetthelookofmiseryinhisface。
"Mostlikelyagreatexaggerationofthatspitefuloldfogey’s，"I
said。"Neverbelieveanythingthatyouhear，isasoundaxiom。Hadyounotbettertrytogetonboard？"
"Yes；andforheaven’ssakecomewithme，Wharncliffe!"hesaid。
"Itcan’tbetrue!Itis，asyousay，thatman’sspite，orelsethereissomeoneelseofthenameonboard。Thatmustbeit——
someoneelseofthename。"
Idon’tknowwhetherhemanagedtodeceivehimself。Wemadeourwayonboard，andhespoketooneofthestewards，whoconductedustothesaloon。Iknewfromtheexpressionoftheman’sfacethatthewordswehadoverheardwerebuttootrue；itwasamereglancethathegaveus，yetifhehadsaidaloud，"Theybelongtothatolddrunkard!ThankheavenI’mnotintheirshoes!"Icouldnothavebetterunderstoodwhatwasinhismind。
Therewerethreepersonsonlyinthegreatsaloon：anofficer’sservant，whoseappearancedidnotpleaseme；afinelookingoldmanwithgreyhairandwhiskers，andarough—hewnhonestface，apparentlytheship’sdoctor；andatallgrizzledmaninwhomIatoncesawasortofhorriblelikenesstoDerrick——horriblebecausethisfacewaswickedanddegraded，andbecauseitsownerwasdrunk——
noisilydrunk。Derrickpausedforaminute，lookingathisfather；
then，deadlypale，heturnedtotheolddoctor。"IamMajorVaughan’sson，"hesaid。
Thedoctorgraspedhishand，andtherewassomethingintheoldman’skindly，chivalrousmannerwhichbroughtasortoflightintothegloom。
"Iamverygladtoseeyou!"heexclaimed。"IstheMajor’sluggageready？"heinquiredturningtotheservant。Then，asthemanrepliedintheaffirmative，"Howwoulditbe，Mr。Vaughan，ifyourfather’smanjustsawthethingsintoacab？andthenI’llcomeonshorewithyouandseemypatientsafelysettledin。"
Derrickacquiesced，andthedoctorturnedtotheMajor，whowasleaningupagainstoneofthepillarsofthesaloonandshoutingout"’TwasinTrafalgarBay，"inawaywhich，underothercircumstances，wouldhavebeenhighlycomic。Thedoctorinterruptedhim，aswithmuchfeelinghesanghow：
"EnglanddeclaredthateverymanThatdayhaddonehisduty。"
"Look，Major，"hesaid；"hereisyoursoncometomeetyou。"
"Gladtoseeyou，myboy，"saidtheMajor，reelingforwardandrunningallhiswordstogether。"How’syourmother？IsthisLawrence？Gladtoseebothofyou!Why，you’r’slike’stwopeas!
NotLawrence，doyousay？Confoundit，doctor，howtheshiprollsto—day!"
Andtheoldwretchstaggeredandwouldhavefallen，hadnotDerricksupportedhimandlandedhimsafelyononeofthefixedottomans。
"Yes，yes，you’rethesonforme，"hewenton，withablandsmile，whichmadehisfaceallthemorehideous。"You’renotsoroughandclumsyasthatconfoundedJohnThomas，whosehandsarelikebrickbats。I’mamerewreck，asyousee；it’stheaccursedclimate!
Butyourmotherwillsoonnursemeintohealthagain；shewasalwaysagoodnurse，poorsoul!itwasherbestpoint。Whatwithyouandyourmother，Ishallsoonbemyselfagain。"
Herethedoctorinterposed，andDerrickmadedesperatelyforaportholeandgulpeddownmouthfulsoffreshair：buthewasnotallowedmuchofarespite，fortheservantreturnedtosaythathehadprocuredacab，andtheMajorcalledloudlyforhisson’sarm。
"I’llnothaveyou，"hesaid，pushingtheservantviolentlyaway。
"Come，Derrick，helpme!youareworthtwoofthatblockhead。"
AndDerrickcamequicklyforward，hisfacestillverypale，butwithadignityaboutitwhichIhadneverbeforeseen；and，givinghisarmtohisdrunkenfather，hepilotedhimacrossthesaloon，throughthestaringranksofstewards，officials，andtardypassengersoutside，downthegangway，andoverthecrowdedquaytothecab。I
knewthateachderisiveglanceofthespectatorswastohimlikeasword—thrust，andlongedtothrottletheMajor，whoseemedtoenjoyhimselfamazinglyonterrafirma，andsangatthetopofhisvoiceaswedrovethroughthestreetsofSouthampton。Theolddoctorkeptupacheeryflowofsmall—talkwithme，thinking，nodoubt，thatthiswouldbeakindnesstoDerrick：andatlastthatpurgatorialdriveended，andsomehowDerrickandthedoctorbetweenthemgottheMajorsafelyintohisroomatRadley’sHotel。
Wehadorderedlunchinaprivatesitting—room，thinkingthattheMajorwouldpreferittothecoffee—room；but，asitturnedout，hewasinnostatetoappear。Theylefthimasleep，andtheship’sdoctorsatintheseatthathadbeenpreparedforhispatient，andmadethemealastolerabletousbothasitcouldbe。Hewasanodd，old—fashionedfellow，butastrueagentlemanaseverbreathed。
"Now，"hesaid，whenlunchwasover，"youandImusthaveatalktogether，Mr。Vaughan，andIwillhelpyoutounderstandyourfather’scase。"
Imadeamovementtogo，butsatdownagainatDerrick’srequest。I
think，pooroldfellow，hedreadedbeingalone，andknowingthatI
hadseenhisfatherattheworst，thoughtImightaswellhearallparticulars。
"MajorVaughan，"continuedthedoctor，"hasnowbeenundermycareforsomeweeks，andIhadsomecommunicationwiththeregimentalsurgeonabouthiscasebeforehesailed。Heissufferingfromanenlargedliver，andthediseasehasbeenbroughtonbyhisunfortunatehabitofover—indulgenceinstimulants。"Icouldalmosthavesmiled，soverygentlyandconsideratelydidthegoodoldmanveilinlongwordstheshamefulfact。"Itisahabitsadlyprevalentamongourfellow—countrymeninIndia；theclimateaggravatesthemischief，andverymanylivesareinthiswayruined。
Thenyourfatherwasalsounfortunateenoughtocontractrheumatismwhenhewascampingoutinthejunglelastyear，andthisisincreasingonhimverymuch，sothathislifeisalmostintolerabletohim，andhenaturallyfliesforrelieftohisgreatestenemy，drink。Atallcosts，however，youmustkeephimfromstimulants；
theywillonlyintensifythediseaseandthesufferings，infacttheyarepoisontoamaninsuchastate。Don’tthinkIamabigotinthesematters；butIsaythatforamaninsuchaconditionasthis，thereisnothingforitbuttotalabstinence，andatallcostsyourfathermustbeguardedfromthepossibilityofprocuringanysortofintoxicatingdrink。ThroughoutthevoyageIhavedonemybesttoshieldhim，butitwasadifficultmatter。Hisservant，too，isnottrustworthy，andshouldbedismissedifpossible。"
"Hadhespokenatallofhisplans？"askedDerrick，andhisvoicesoundedstrangelyunlikeitself。
"HeaskedmewhatplaceinEnglandhehadbettersettledownin，"
saidthedoctor，"andIstronglyrecommendedhimtotryBath。Thisseemedtopleasehim，andifheiswellenoughhehadbettergothereto—morrow。Hementionedyourmotherthismorning；nodoubtshewillknowhowtomanagehim。"
"Mymotherdiedsixmonthsago，"saidDerrick，pushingbackhischairandbeginningtopacetheroom。Thedoctormadekindlyapologies。
"Perhapsyouhaveasister，whocouldgotohim？"
"No，"repliedDerrick。"Myonlysisterismarried，andherhusbandwouldneverallowit。"
"Oracousinoranaunt？"suggestedtheoldman，naivelyunconsciousthatthewordssoundedlikeaquotation。
IsawtheghostofasmileflitoverDerrick’sharassedfaceasheshookhishead。
"IsuggestedthatheshouldgointosomeHomefor——casesofthekind，"resumedthedoctor，"orplacehimselfunderthechargeofsomemedicalman；however，hewon’thearofsuchathing。Butifheislefttohimself——well，itisallupwithhim。Hewilldrinkhimselftodeathinafewmonths。"
"Heshallnotbeleftalone，"saidDerrick；"Iwilllivewithhim。
DoyouthinkIshoulddo？ItseemstobeHobson’schoice。"
Ilookedupinamazement——forherewasDerrickcalmlygivinghimselfuptoalifethatmustcrusheveryplanforthefuturehehadmade。
Didmenmakesuchachoiceasthatwhiletheytooktwoorthreeturnsinaroom？Didtheyspeaksocomposedlyafterastrugglethatmusthavebeensobitter？Thinkingitovernow，Ifeelsureitwashisextraordinarygiftofinsightandhisclearjudgmentwhichmadehimbehaveinthisway。Heinstantlyperceivedandpromptlyacted；
theworstofthesufferingcamelongafter。
"Why，ofcourseyouaretheverybestpersonintheworldforhim，"
saidthedoctor。"Hehastakenafancytoyou，andevidentlyyouhaveacertaininfluencewithhim。Ifanyonecansavehimitwillbeyou。"
ButthethoughtofallowingDerricktobesacrificedtothatoldbruteofaMajorwasmorethanIcouldbearcalmly。
"Amoremadschemewasneverproposed，"Icried。"Why，doctor，itwillbeutterruintomyfriend’scareer；hewillloseyearsthatnoonecanevermakeup。Andbesides，heisunfitforsuchastrain，hewillneverstandit。"
MyheartfelthotasIthoughtofDerrick，withhishighly—strung，sensitivenature，hisrefinement，hisgentleness，inconstantcompanionshipwithsuchamanasMajorVaughan。
"Mydearsir，"saidtheolddoctor，withagleaminhiseye，"I
understandyourfeelingwellenough。Butdependuponit，yourfriendhasmadetherightchoice，andthereisnodoubtthathe’llbestrongenoughtodohisduty。"
ThewordremindedmeoftheMajor’ssong，andmyvoicewasabominablysarcasticintoneasIsaidtoDerrick，"Younolongerconsiderwritingyourdutythen？"
"Yes，"hesaid，"butitmuststandsecondtothis。Don’tbevexed，Sydney；ourplansareknockedonthehead，butitisnotsobadasyoumakeout。Ihaveatanyrateenoughtoliveon，andcanaffordtowait。"
Therewasnomoretobesaid，andthenextdayIsawthatstrangetriosetoutontheirroadtoBath。TheMajorlookingmorewickedwhensoberthanhehaddonewhendrunk；theolddoctorkindlyandconsiderateasever；andDerrick，withanairofresolutionaboutthatEnglishfaceofhisandadauntlessexpressioninhiseyeswhichimpressedmecuriously。
Thesequiet，reservedfellowsarealwaysgivingoneoddsurprises。
Hehadastonishedmebythevigouranddepthofthefirstvolumeof’Lynwood’sHeritage。’Heastonishedmenowbyanewphaseinhisowncharacter。ApparentlyhewhohadalwaysbeencontenttofollowwhereIled，andtowatchliferatherthantotakeanactiveshareinit，nowintendedtostrikeoutaverydecidedlineofhisown。
ChapterIV。
"BothGoetheandSchillerwereprofoundlyconvincedthatArtwasnoluxuryofleisure，nomereamusementtocharmtheidle，orrelaxthecareworn；butamightyinfluence，seriousinitsaimsalthoughpleasureableinitsmeans；asisterofReligion，bywhoseaidthegreatworld—schemewaswroughtintoreality。"
Lewes’sLifeofGoethe。
Manisaselfishbeing，andIamaparticularlyfinespecimenoftheraceasfarasthatcharacteristicgoes。IfIhadhadadozendrunkenparentsIshouldneverhavedancedattendanceononeofthem；yetinmysecretsoulIadmiredDerrickforthelinehehadtaken，forwemostlydoadmirewhatisunlikeourselvesandreallynoble，thoughitisthefashiontoseemtotallyindifferenttoeverythinginheavenandearth。ButallthesameIfeltannoyedaboutthewholebusiness，andwasgladtoforgetitinmyownaffairsatMondisfield。
Weekspassedby。Ilivedthroughamidsummerdreamofhappiness，andahardawaking。That，however，hasnothingtodowithDerrick’sstory，andmaybepassedover。InOctoberIsettleddowninMontagueStreet，Bloomsbury，andbegantoreadfortheBar，inaboutasdisagreeableaframeofmindascanbeconceived。OnemorningI
foundonmybreakfasttablealetterinDerrick’shandwriting。Likemostmen，wehardlyevercorresponded——whatwomensayintheeternalletterstheysendtoeachotherIcan’tconceive——butitstruckmethatunderthecircumstancesIoughttohavesenthimalinetoaskhowhewasgettingon，andmyconscienceprickedmeasIrememberedthatIhadhardlythoughtofhimsinceweparted，beingabsorbedinmyownmatters。Theletterwasnotverylong，butwhenonereadbetweenthelinesitsomehowtoldagooddeal。Ihaveitlyingbyme，andthisisacopyofit：
"DearSydney，——DolikeagoodfellowgotoNorthAudleyStreetforme，tothehousewhichIdescribedtoyouastheonewhereLynwoodlodged，andtellmewhathewouldseebesidesthechurchfromhiswindow——ifshops，whatkind？AlsoifanyglimpseofOxfordStreetwouldbevisible。Thenifyou’lladdtoyourfavoursbygettingmeasecond—handcopyofLaveleye’s’SocialismeContemporain，’Ishouldbeforevergrateful。Wearesettledinhereallright。Bathisempty，butIpeopleitasfarasIcanwiththefolkoutof’Evelina’and’Persuasion。’HowdidyougetonatBlachington？andwhichoftheMissesMerrifieldwentintheend？Don’tbotheraboutthecommissions。Anytimewilldo。
"Everyours，"DerrickVaughan。"
Pooroldfellow!allthespiritseemedknockedoutofhim。TherewasnotonewordabouttheMajor，andwhocouldsaywhatwretchednesswasveiledinthatcurtphrase，"wearesettledinallright"？Allright!itwasallaswrongasitcouldbe!MybloodbegantoboilatthethoughtofDerrick，withhisgreatpowers——hiswonderfulgift——coopedupinaplacewherethestudyoflifewassolimitedandsodull。ThentherewashishungerfornewsofFreda，andhissilenceastowhathadkepthimawayfromBlachington，andaboutallasortofproudhumilitywhichpreventedhimfromsayingmuchthatIshouldhaveexpectedhimtosayunderthecircumstances。
ItwasSaturday，andmytimewasmyown。Iwentout，gothisbookforhim；interviewedNorthAudleyStreet；spentabadfiveminutesincompanywiththatvillain’Bradshaw，’whoisresponsibleforsomuchofthebrainandeyediseaseofthenineteenthcentury，andfinallyleftPaddingtonintheFlyingDutchman，whichlandedmeatBathearlyintheafternoon。Ileftmyportmanteauatthestation，andwalkedthroughthecitytillIreachedGayStreet。LikemostofthestreetsofBath，itwasbroad，andhadoneitherhanddull，well—built，darkgrey，eminentlyrespectable，unutterablydreary—
lookinghouses。Irang，andthedoorwasopenedtomebyamostquaintoldwoman，evidentlythelandlady。Anodourofcurrypervadedthepassage，andbecamemoreoppressiveasthedoorofthesitting—roomwasopened，andIwasusheredinupontheMajorandhisson，whohadjustfinishedlunch。
"Hullo!"criedDerrick，springingup，hisfacefullofdelightwhichtouchedme，whileatthesametimeitfilledmewithenvy。
EventheMajorthoughtfittogivemeaheartywelcome。
"Gladtoseeyouagain，"hesaidpleasantlyenough。"It’sarelieftohaveafreshfacetolookat。Wehavearoomwhichisquiteatyourdisposal，andIhopeyou’llstaywithus。Broughtyourportmanteau，eh？"
"Itisatthestation，"Ireplied。
"Seethatitissentfor，"hesaidtoDerrick；"andshowMr。
Wharncliffeallthatistobeseeninthiscursedholeofaplace。"
Then，turningagaintome，"Haveyoulunched？Verywell，then，don’twastethisfineafternooninaninvalid’sroom，butbeoffandenjoyyourself。"
Socordialwastheoldman，thatIshouldhavethoughthimalreadyareformedcharacter，hadInotfoundthathekepttheroughsideofhistongueforhomeuse。Derrickplacedanovelandasmallhandbellwithinhisreach，andwewerejustgoing，whenwewerecheckedbyavolleyofoathsfromtheMajor；thenabookcameflyingacrosstheroom，wellaimedatDerrick’shead。Hesteppedaside，andletitfallwithacrashonthesideboard。
"WhatdoyoumeanbygivingmethesecondvolumewhenyouknowIaminthethird？"fumedtheinvalid。
Heapologisedquietly，fetchedthethirdvolume，straightenedthedisorderedleavesofthediscardedsecond，andwiththeairofonewellaccustomedtosuchlittledomesticscenes，tookuphishatandcameoutwithme。
"HowlongdoyouintendtogoonplayingDavidtotheMajor’sSaul？"
Iasked，marvellingatthewayinwhichheenduredthehumoursofhisfather。
"AslongasIhavethechance，"hereplied。"Isay，areyousureyouwon’tmindstayingwithus？Itcan’tbeaverycomfortablehouseholdforanoutsider。"
"Muchbetterthanforaninsider，toallappearance，"Ireplied。
"I’monlytoodelightedtostay。Andnow，oldfellow，tellmethehonesttruth——youdidn’t，youknow，inyourletter——howhaveyoubeengettingon？"
Derricklaunchedintoanaccountofhisfather’sailments。
"Oh，hangtheMajor!Idon’tcareabouthim，Iwanttoknowaboutyou，"Icried。
"Aboutme？"saidDerrickdoubtfully。"Oh，I’mrightenough。"
"Whatdoyoudowithyourself？Howonearthdoyoukilltime？"I
asked。"Come，givemeafull，true，andparticularaccountofitall。"
"Wehavetriedthreeotherservants，"saidDerrick；"buttheplandoesn’tanswer。Theyeitherwon’tstandit，orelsetheyarebribedintosmugglingbrandyintothehouse。IfindIcandomostthingsformyfather，andinthemorninghehasanattendantfromthehospitalwhoistrustworthy，andwhodoeswhatisnecessaryforhim。
Attenwebreakfasttogether，thentherearethemorningpapers，whichhelikestohavereadtohim。AfterthatIgoroundtothePumpRoomwithhim——oddcontrastnowtowhatitmusthavebeenwhenBathwastherage。Thenwehavelunch。Intheafternoon，ifheiswellenough，wedrive；ifnothesleeps，andIgetawalk。LateronanoldIndianfriendofhiswillsometimesdropin；ifnothelikestobereadtountildinner。Afterdinnerweplaychess——heisafirst—rateplayer。AttenIhelphimtobed；fromeleventotwelveIsmokeandstudySocialismandalltherestofitthatLynwoodisatpresentflounderingin。"
"Whydon’tyouwrite，then？"
"Itriedit，butitdidn’tanswer。Icouldn’tsleepafterit，andwas，infact，tootired；seemsabsurdtobetiredaftersuchadayasthat，butsomehowittakesitoutofonemorethanthehardestreading；Idon’tknowwhy。"
"Why，"Isaidangrily，"it’sbecauseitisworktowhichyouarequiteunsuited——workforathick—skinned，hard—hearted，uncultivatedandwell—paidattendant，notforthenovelistwhoistobethechieflightofourgeneration。"
Helaughedatthisestimateofhispowers。
"Novelists，likeothercattle，havetoobeytheirowner，"hesaidlightly。
IthoughtforamomentthathemeanttheMajor，andwasbreakingintoanangryremonstrance，whenIsawthathemeantsomethingquitedifferent。Itwasalwayshisstrongestpoint，thisextraordinaryconsciousnessofright，thisunwaveringbeliefthathehadtodoandthereforecoulddocertainthings。Withoutthis，Iknowthatheneverwrotealine，andinmyheartIbelievethiswasthecauseofhissuccess。
"Thenyouarenotwritingatall？"Iasked。
"Yes，Iwritegenerallyforacoupleofhoursbeforebreakfast，"hesaid。
Andthateveningwesatbyhisgasstoveandhereadmethenextfourchaptersof’Lynwood。’Hehadratheradismallodging—housebedroom，withfadedwall—paperandaprosaicsnuff—colouredcarpet。
Onaricketytableinthewindowwashisdesk，andaportfoliofullofbluefoolscap，buthehaddonewhathecouldtomaketheplacehabitable；hisOxfordpictureswereonthewalls——Hoffman’s’ChristspeakingtotheWomantakeninAdultery，’hangingoverthemantelpiece——ithadalwaysbeenafavouriteofhis。Irememberthat，ashereadthedescriptionofLynwoodandhiswife，IkeptlookingfromhimtotheChristinthepicturetillIcouldalmosthavefanciedthateachfaceborethesameexpression。HadthisstrangemonotonouslifewiththatoldbruteofaMajorbroughthimsomenewperceptionofthosewords，"NeitherdoIcondemnthee"？
Butwhenhestoppedreading，I，truetomycharacter，forgothisaffairsinmyown，aswesattalkingfarintothenight——talkingofthatlucklessmonthatMondisfield，ofalltheproblemsithadopenedup，andofmywretchedness。
"YouwereintownallSeptember？"heasked；"yougaveupBlachington？"
"Yes，"Ireplied。"WhatdidIcareforcountryhousesinsuchamoodasthat。"
Heacquiesced，andIwentontalkingofmygrievances，anditwasnottillIwasinthetrainonmywaybacktoLondonthatI
rememberedhowalookofdisappointmenthadpassedoverhisfacejustatthemoment。EvidentlyhehadcountedonlearningsomethingaboutFredafromme，andI——well，Ihadcleanforgottenbothherexistenceandhispassionatelove。
Something，probablyself—interest，thedesireformyfriend’scompany，andsoforth，tookmedowntoBathprettyfrequentlyinthosedays；luckilytheMajorhadasortoflikingforme，andwasalwayspoliteenough；anddearoldDerrick——well，Ibelievemyvisitsreallyhelpedtobrightenhimup。Atanyratehesaidhecouldn’thavebornehislifewithoutthem，andforasceptical，dismal，cynicalfellowlikemetohearthatwassomehowflattering。
Themereforceofcontrastdidmegood。IusedtocomebackontheMondaywonderingthatDerrickdidn’tcuthisthroat，andrealisingthat，afterall，itwassomethingtobeafreeagent，andtohavecomfortableroomsinMontagueStreet，withnooldbearofadrunkardtodisturbmypeace。Andthenasortofadmirationsprangupinmyheart，andthecynicismbredofmelancholybroodingsoversolitarypipeswaslessrampantthanusual。
Itwas，Ithink，earlyinthenewyearthatImetLawrenceVaughaninBath。HewasnotstayingatGayStreet，soIcouldstillhavethevacantroomnexttoDerrick’s。LawrenceputupattheYorkHouseHotel。
"Foryouknow，"heinformedme，"Ireallycan’tstandthegovernorformorethananhourortwoatatime。"
"Derrickmanagestodoit，"Isaid。
"Oh，Derrick，yes，"hereplied，"it’shismetier，andheiswellaccustomedtothelife。Besides，youknow，heissuchadreamy，quietsortoffellow；helivesallthetimeinaworldofhisowncreation，andbearsthediscomfortsofthisworldwithgreatphilosophy。Actuallyhehasturnedteetotaller!Itwouldkillmeinaweek。"
Imakeapointofneverarguingwithafellowlikethat，butIthinkIhadavindictivelonging，asIlookedathim，toshuthimupwiththeMajorforamonth，andseewhatwouldhappen。
Thesetwinbrotherswerecuriouslyalikeinfaceandcuriouslyunlikeinnature。Somuchforthegreatscienceofphysiognomy!Itoftenseemedtomethattheywerethecomplementofeachother。Forinstance，Derrickinsocietywasextremelysilent，Lawrencewasarattlingtalker；Derrick，whenalonewithyou，wouldnowandthenrevealunsuspecteddepthsofthoughtandexpression；Lawrence，whenalonewithyou，veryfrequentlyshowedhimselftobeacad。Theeldertwinwasmodestanddiffident，theyoungerinclinedtobrag；
theonehadastrongtendencytomelancholy，theotherwasblestorcursedwiththesortoftemperamentwhichhasbeensaidtoaccompany"ahardheartandagooddigestion。"
Iwasnotsurprisedtofindthatthesonwhocouldnottoleratethegovernor’spresenceformorethananhourortwo，wasaprimefavouritewiththeoldman；thatwasjustthewayoftheworld。Ofcourse，theMajorwasaspoliteaspossibletohim；DerrickgotthekicksandLawrencethehalf—pence。
Intheeveningsweplayedwhist，Lawrencecominginafterdinner，"For，youknow，"heexplainedtome，"Ireallycouldn’tgetthroughamealwithnothingbutthoseinfernalmineralwaterstowashitdown。"
AndhereImustownthatatmyfirstvisitIhadsailedratherclosetothewind；forwhentheMajor，liketheHatterin’Alice，’pressedmetotakewine，I——notseeingany——hadansweredthatIdidnottakeit；mentallyaddingthewords，"inyourhouse，youbrute!"
Thetwobrotherswerefondofeachotherafterafashion。ButDerrickwashuman，andhadhisfaultsliketherestofus；andIamprettysurehedidnotmuchenjoythesightofhisfather’sfoolishandunreasonabledevotiontoLawrence。Ifyoucometothinkofit，hewouldhavebeenafull—fledgedangelifnojealouspang，noreflectionthatitwasratherroughonhim，hadcrossedhismind，whenhesawhisyoungerbrothertreatedwitheverymarkofrespectandliking，andknewthatLawrencewouldneverstirafingerreallytohelpthepoorfractiousinvalid。Unluckilytheyhappenedonenighttogetonthesubjectofprofessions。