CHAPTERI
　　MRS。MERILLIAISCARRIEDTOBED
　　ThegreattelescopeoftheProphetwascarefullyadjusteduponitslofty，brass—boundstandinthebowwindowofNumberOneThousandBerkeleySquare。ItpointedtowardstheremarkablybrightstarswhichtwinkledintheDecemberskyoverfrostyLondon，thoseguardianstarswhichalwaysseemedtotheProphettowatchwithpeculiarsolicitudeoverthemostrespectableneighbourhoodinwhichheresided。Thepolestarhaditseyeevennowuponthemansionofanadjacentex—
　　premier，thebeltofOrionwasnotobliviousofabeltedearl’scosyred—brickhomejustopposite，andthehouseofacertainfamousactorandactressclosebyhadbeentakenbytheGreatBearunderitsspecialprotection。
　　TheProphet’sbutler，Mr。Ferdinand——thatbulkyandveraciousgentleman——threwopenthelatticedwindowsofthedrawing—roomandletthecoldairrushblithelyin。Thenhemadeupthefirecarefully，placedacopyofMr。Malkiel’s/Almanac/，boundindullpinkandsilverbrocadebyMissClorindaDolbrettoftheCromwellRoad，uponasmalltulip—woodtablenearthetelescope，pattedasofacushionaffectionatelyonthehead，glancedaroundwiththemeditativeeyeofthebutlerbornnotmade，andquittedthecomfortableapartmentwithasalaried，butsoft，footstep。
　　Itwasapleasantchamber，thisdrawing—roomofNumberOneThousand。Itspokerespectfullyofthegenerationsthatwerepastandseemedserenelycertainofacomfortablefuture。Therewasnotoomodernuneasinessaboutit，notrifling，gim—crackfurnitureconstructedtocatchtheeyeandtheanglesofanyoneventuringtoseekreposeuponit，nounmeaningrubbishofornamentsorhecticflummeryofsecond—ratepictures。Abovethehighoakenmantel—piecewasalittlepurebustinmarbleoftheProphetwhenasmallboy。TorightandleftwereprettyminiaturesingoldenframesoftheProphet’sdelightfullynumerousgrandmothers。HeremightbeseenMrs。Prothero，thegreatship—
　　builder’sfaithfulwife，inbluebrocade，andLadyCamptown，whoreignedatBath，ingreytabinetanddiamondbuckles，whenMissJaneAustenwaswritingherfirstromance；Mrs。SusanBurlington，whoknewLordByron——aremarkablefact——andLadySophiaGreen，whoknewherownmind，afactstillmoreremarkable。Thelast—namedladyworeblackwithaRomannose，andthecombinationwasadmirablyconvincing。HeremightalsobeobservedMrs。Stuefitt，MistressoftheMazurka，andtheLadyJaneFollington，ofwhomGeorgetheSecondhadspokenopenlyintermsofapprobation。Sheaffectedplumcolourandhadeyeslikesloes——thefashionablehueintheneat—foot—and—pretty—ankleperiod。Theflamesofthefiretwinkledbrightlyoverthisbattalionofdeucedfinewomen，whowereall，withoutoneexception，thegrandmothers——invariousdegrees——oftheProphet。Whenspeakingofthem，inthehighestterms，heneverdifferentiatedthembytheadjectivesgreat，orgreat—great。
　　Theywereallkindandcondescendingenoughtobehisgrandmothers。Foramanofhissensitive，delicateandgratefuldispositionthiswasenough。Hethoughtthemallquiteperfect，andtookthemallundertheprotectionofhissoftandbeamingeyes。
　　OfMrs。Merillia，thelivegrandmotherwithwhomhehadthegreatfelicitytodwellinBerkeleySquare，heseldomsaidanythinginpublicpraise。Theincenseheofferedathershrinerose，mostsweetlyperfumed，fromhisdailylife。Thehearthofthisagreeableandgrandmotherlychamberwasattractivewithdogs，thesilvercagebesideitwithgreenlove—birds。Uponthefloorwasaheavy，dull—bluecarpetoverwhich——ashasbeenintimated——evenabutlersoheavyasMr。
　　Ferdinandcouldgosoftly。Thewallsweredressedwithadullbluepaperthatlookedlikevelvet。
　　Hereandthereuponthemhungapicture：alandscapeofGeorgeMorland，lustilyEnglish，aCotman，aCuyp——cowsintwilight——aReynolds，fadedbutexquisitelygenteel。Alovelylittleharpsichord——meditatingonScarlatti——stoodinoneangle，aharp，tiedwithmostdelicateribandsofivorysatinpowderedwithpimpernels，inanother。Manywaxencandlesshedatenderandunostentatiousradianceabovetheircarefulgrease—
　　catchers。UponprettytableslayneatbooksbyFannyBurney，BeatriceHarraden，MaryWilkins，andMaxBeerbohm，alsothepoemsofLordByronandofLorddeTabley。Nearthehearthwasasofaonwhichanemperormighthavelaidaneasyheadthatworeacrown，andbeforeeverylowandseductivechairwassetalowandseductivefootstool。
　　Agrandmother’sclockpronouncedthehourofteninafrailandelegantvoiceasthefinely—carvedoakdoorwasopened，andtheProphetseriouslyenteredthispeacefulroom，carryingacopyofthe/MeditationsofMarcusAurelius/inhishand。
　　Hewasaneatly—madelittlemanoffashionable，evenofmodish，cut，spare，smartandwhimsical，withaclean—shaved，small—featuredface，large，shiningbrowneyes，abundantandslightly—wavingbrownhair，thatcouldonlybeparted，withthesweetestsorrow，inthecentreofhiswell—shaped，almostphilosophicalhead，andmovementslightandtemperateasthoseofameditativesquirrel。Havingjustdinedhewasnaturallyineveningdress，withabutterflytie，gleamingpumps，andabuttonholeofviolets。Heshutthedoorgently，glancedathisnice—
　　lookinggrandmothers，and，walkingforwardveryquietlyanddemurely，appliedhiseyetothetelescope，loweringhimselfslightlybyaSandowexercise，whichhehadpractisedbeforehebecameaprophet。Havingremainedinthispositionofastronomicalobservationforsomeminutes，hedeviatedintotheupright，closedthewindow，andtinkledasmallsilverbellthatstoodonthetulip—woodtablebesideMalkiel’s/Almanac/。
　　Mr。Ferdinandappeared，lookingrespectfullybuoyant。
　　"HasMr。Malkielsentanyreplytomyinquiry，Mr。Ferdinand？"askedtheProphet。
　　"Hehasnot，sir，"repliedMr。Ferdinand，sympathetically。
　　"Didtheboymessengersayhedeliveredmynote？"
　　"Hesaidso，sir，onhisBibleoath，sir。"
　　"Anddoyoubelievehim？"
　　"Oh，sir！"respondedMr。Ferdinand，inashockedvoice，"surelyaLondonladwouldnotbefoundtotellalie！"
　　"Ihopenot，Mr。Ferdinand。Still——didhelookanervoussortoflad？"
　　"Hewasatriflepale，sir，aboutthegills——butaheartofgold，sir，Ifeelsure。Heworefourmedals，sir。"
　　"Fourmedals！Nevertheless，hemayhavebeenfrightenedtogotoMr。
　　Malkiel’sdoor。Thatwilldo，Mr。Ferdinand。"
　　Mr。FerdinandwasabouttobowandretirewhentheProphet，afteramomentofhesitation，added，——
　　"Stay，Mr。Ferdinand。Mrs。MerilliahasgonetotheGaietyTheatreto—night。Iexpectherbackathalf—pasteleven。Shemayneedassistanceonherreturn。"
　　"Assistance，sir！Mrs。Merillia，sir！"
　　Mr。Ferdinand’sluminouseyesshonewithamazement。
　　"Shemay——Isayshe/may/——havetobecarriedtobed。"
　　Mr。Ferdinand’sjawdropped。HegaveatthekneesandwasobligedtoclingtoaChippendalecabinetforsupport。
　　"HaveanarmchairreadyinthehallincaseofnecessityandtellGustavustositup。Mrs。Merilliamustnotbedropped。Youunderstand。
　　Thatwilldo，Mr。Ferdinand。"
　　Mr。Ferdinandendeavouredtobow，andultimatelysucceededinretiring。
　　Whenhistremulousshoulderswerenolongervisible，theProphetopenedMarcusAurelius，and，seatinghimselfinacornerofthebigcouchbythefire，crossedhislegsoneovertheotherandbegantoreadthattimidAncient’sconsolatory，butunconvincing，remarks。Occasionallyhepaused，however，murmureddoubtfully，"Willshehavetobecarriedtobed？"shookhisheadmournfullyandthenresumedhisreading。
　　Whilehethusemployshistime，wemustsayawordortwoabouthim。
　　Mr。HennesseyVivianwasnowamanofthirty—eight，ofexcellentfortune，offineconnections，andofadmirabledisposition。Hehadbecomeanorphanassoonasitwasinhispowertodoso，havinglosthisfather——CaptainVivianofHerMajesty’sTenthLancers——somemonthsbefore，andhismother——whohadbeenaMerilliaofChippingSudbury——afewminutesafterhisbirth。Intheseunfortunatecircumstances，overwhichhe，poorinfant，hadabsolutelynocontrol——whateverunkindpeoplemightsay！——hedevolveduponhismother’smother，thehandsomeandpopularMrs。Merillia，whoassumedhischargewiththerosyalacritycharacteristicofherinallherundertakings。WithherthelittleHennesseyhadpassedhisinfantineyears，blowinghappybubbles，presidingoverthevoyagesofhisownprivateNoah——fromtheArmyandNavyStores，withtwohundredanimalsofbothsexes！——eatingpappreparedbyMrs。Merillia’sown/chef/，andsleepinginacothungwithsunnysilkthatmighthavecurtainedVenusorhaveshakenaboutAuroraassheroseinthefirstmorningoftheworld。Fromherhehadacquiredthealphabetandmanyaginger—nutanddecorativebonbon。Andfromher，too，hehadsetforth，withtears，inhisnewEtonjacketandbroadwhitecollar，togotoMr。Chapman’spreparatoryschoolforlittleboysatSlough。Hereheremainedforseveralyears，acquiringarespectforthepoetGrayandaloveofSloughpeppermintthatcouldonlyceasewithlife。HeretoohemadefriendswithRobertGreen，sonofLordChurchmore，whowasafterwardstobeacertaininfluenceinhislife。
　　HisexistenceatSloughwashappy。Indeed，sogreatwashisaffectionfortheplacethathisremovaltoEtoncosthimsufferingscarcelylessacutethanthatwhichpresentlyattendedhisdeparturefromEtontoChristchurch。OverhissensationsonleavingOxfordweprefertodrawaveil，onlysayingthathislastoutlook——asanundergraduate——overherimmemorialtowerswasashazyastheaverageCabinetMinister’soutlookovertheeventsofthedayandthedesiresofthecommunity。
　　ButifthemoistureoftheProphetdidhimcreditatthatpainfulperiodofhislife，itmustbeallowedthathisbehaviouronbeingformallyintroducedintoLondonSocietyshowednopulingregret，nobackwardlongingsafterechoingcolleges，lostdonsandthescoutsthatarenomore。Hewasquiteathisease，anddisplayednoneofthehigh—
　　pitchedcontemptofPiccadillythatisoftensoamusinglycharacteristicoftheyounggentlemenaccustomedto"theHigh。"
　　Mrs。Merillia，whohadbeenawidoweversinceshecouldremember，possessedtheleaseofthehouseinBerkeleySquareinwhichtheProphetwasnowsitting。Itwasanexcellentmansion，witheverythingcomfortableaboutit，adukeononeside，aChancelloroftheExchequerontheother，electriclight，severalbathroomsandthegramophone。
　　TherewasneveranyquestionoftheProphetsettinguphousebyhimself。OnleavingOxfordhejoinedhisamplefortunetoMrs。
　　Merillia’sasamatterofcourse，andtheysettleddowntogetherwiththegreatestalacrityandhopefulness。NorweretheirpleasantrelationsoncedisturbedduringthefifteenyearsthatelapsedbeforetheProphetappliedhiseyetothetelescopeinthebowwindowandgaveMr。Ferdinandtheinstructionswhichhavejustbeenrecorded。
　　Thesefifteenyearshadnotgonebywithoutleavingtheirmarkuponourhero。Hehaddoneseveralthingsduringtheirpassage。Forinstance，hehadwrittenaplay，verynearlyproposedtothethirddaughterofaLondonclergymanandtwicebeentotheDerby。Sucheventshad，notunnaturally，hadtheireffectupontheformationofhischaracterandevenupontheexpressionofhisintelligentface。Thewritingoftheplay——and，perhaps，itsrefusalbyalltheactor—managersofthetown——
　　hadtracedatinylineateachcornerofhismobilemouth。ThethirddaughteroftheLondonclergyman——hissentimentforher——hadtaughthishandtheslightlyepiscopalgesturewhichwassoadmiredattheLambethPalaceGardenPartyinthesummerof1892。Andthegreatracemeetingwasresponsiblefortherathertighttrousersandthegentleman—jockeysmilewhichhewaswonttoassumewhenhesetoutforacanterintheRow。FromallthisitwillbeguessedthatourProphetwasexceedinglyamenabletotheinfluencesthatthrongattheheelsofthehumandestiny。Indeed，hewas。Andsomefewmonthsbeforethisstoryopensitcameaboutthatheencounteredagentlemanwhowas，infact，theprimarycauseofthisstorybeingtrue。Whowasthisgentleman？youwillsay。SirTiglathButt，thegreatastronomer，CorrespondentoftheInstituteofFrance，MemberoftheRoyalCollegeofScience，DemonstratorofAstronomicalPhysics，authorofthepamphlet，"Star—
　　Gazers，"andthebrochure，"Aninvestigationintothepsychicalconditionofthosewhoseestars，"C。B。F。R。S。andpopularmemberoftheColleyCibberClubinLongAcre。
　　TheProphetwasintroducedtoSirTiglathattheColleyCibberClub，andthoughSirTiglath，whowasofafreakishdispositionandmuchaddictedtohisjokedeclinedtospeaktohim，onthegroundthathe（SirTiglath）hadlosthisvoiceandwasunlikelytofinditinconversation，theProphetwasgreatlyimpressedbytheastronomer’senormousbrick—redface，roundbody，turnedlegs，eyeslikemarbles，andcapacityfordrinkingport—wine——somuchso，infactthat，onleavingtheclub，hehastenedtobuyascienceprimeronastronomy，anddevotedhimselfforseveraldaystoaminuteinvestigationoftheMilkyWay。
　　Asthereisafascinationoftheearth，soisthereafascinationoftheheavens。Alongthedim，empurpledhighwaysthatleadfromstartostar，frommeteoritetocomet，theimaginationtravelswakefullybynight，andtheheartleapsasitdrawsneartothesilverbossesofthemoon。Mrs。Merilliawassoonobligedtopermittheintrusionofagigantictelescopeintoherprettydrawing—room，andfoundherselfexpectedtoconverseatthedinner—tableontheeightmoonsofSaturn，thebeltsofJupiter，theasteroidsofMarsandthephasesofVenus。
　　Theselastsheatfirstdeclinedtodiscusswithaman，eventhoughhewerehergrandson。ButshewaswonoverbytheProphet’sinnocentpersuasiveness，anddrawnonuntilshespokealmostasreadilyofthemovementsofthestarsasformerlyshehadspokenofthemovementsoftheCourtfromWindsortoLondon，andfromLondontoBalmoral。Intruth，sheexpectedthatHennessey’spassionforthecometswouldceaseashadceasedhispassionfortheclergyman’sdaughter；thathisardourforastronomywoulddieashaddiedhisardourforplay—writing；thathewouldgiveupgoingto/CoronaBorealis/andtotheSouthernFishashehadgivenupgoingtotheDerby。Timeprovedherwrong。AsthedaysflewHennesseybecameincreasinglyimpassioned。HewasmoreoftenatthetelescopethanattheBachelors’，andseemedonthewaytobecomealmostasgibbousastheplanetMars。Evenheslightlyneglectedhissocialduties；andononeterribleoccasionforgotthathewasengagedtodineatCambridgeHousebecausehewasassistingatatransitofMercury。
　　NowallthisbegantoweighuponthemindofMrs。Merillia，despitetheamazingcheerfulnessofdispositionwhichshehadinheritedfromtwolonglinesofconfirmedoptimists——herancestorsonthepaternalandmaternalsides。Shedidnotknowhowtobrood，but，ifshehad，shemightwellhavebeenledtodoso。Andevenasitwasshehadbeenreducedtosounusualaconditionofdejectionthat，aweekbeforetheeveningwearedescribing，shehadbeenobligedtoorderaboxattheGaietyTheatre，she，who，likealloptimists，habituallyfrequentedthoseplayhouseswhereshecouldbeholdgloomytragedies，awfulmelodramas，orthoseironicpiecescalledfarces，inwhichtheultimatemiseryofwhichhumannatureiscapableisdrawntoitsfarthestpoint。
　　Inthebeginningofthisnewdejectionofhers，Mrs。Merilliawasnowseatedinastageboxatthe"Gaiety，"withanelderlyGeneralofLifeGuards，aMistressoftheRobes，andthegrandfatheroftheCentralAmericanAmbassadorattheCourtofSt。James，andallfourofthemweresmilingataneatlittlelowcomedian，whowassinging，withoutanyvoiceandwiththeutmostprecision，apatheticromanceentitled，"DeCoonWotGotdeChuck。"
　　MeanwhiletheProphetwasengagedforthetwentiethtimeinconsideringwhetherMrs。Merillia，onherreturnfromthisfestival，wouldhavetobecarriedtobedbyhiredmenials。
　　Why？
　　Thisbringsustothegreatturningpointinourhero’slife，tothepointwhenfirsthebegantorespectthestrangepowersstirringwithinhim。
　　UntilheencounteredSirTiglathButtinthedining—roomoftheColleyCibberClubHennesseyhadbeenbutadilettantefellow。Hehadwrittenaplay，butairily，andwithoutthetwentyyearsofarduousandpersistentstudydeclaredbythedramaticcriticstobeabsolutelynecessarybeforeanyintelligentmancanlearnhowtogetabishopon，orachambermaidoff，thestage。Hehadnearlyproposedtoaclergyman’sdaughter，butthoughtlessly，andwithoutanypreviousexaminationintotheclericalismofrectoryfemales，anyfirst—handknowledgeofmothers’meetings，devoidofwhichhemustbeastout—
　　heartedgentlemanwhowouldrushinwhereevencuratesoftenfeartotread。HehadbeentotheDerby，butwithoutwearingabottle—greenveilorcarryingabetting—book。Infact，hehadnottakenlifeveryseriously，orfullyappreciatedthesolemndutiesitbringstoallwhobearitsyoke。OnlywhentheplumpredhandofSirTiglath——holdingabumperofthirty—fourport——pointedthewaytotheheavens，didHennesseybegin——throughhistelescope——toseethegreatpossibilitiesthatfootitabouttheexistenceofeventhemeanestmanwhoeats，drinksandsuffers。Forthroughhistelescopehesawthathemightbeaprophet。Malkielreadthefutureinthestars。Whynothe？
　　Heendeavouredtodoso。Hesoughtanintimacywiththebenefic/Jupiter/，andfoundit——perhapsbyasecretkow—towingto/Sagittarius/。Hemadeupopenlyto/CanisMajor/andwasshortlyonwhatmightalmostbeconsideredtermsofaffectionwith/Venus/。Andhewas，moreover，presentlyquitefearlessinthepresenceof/Saturn/，quiteunabashedbeneaththeglitteringeyeof/Mercury/。Then，astheneophytegrowingboldbyfamiliaritywiththecircleofthegreatones，heventuredonhisfirstprophecy，adiscreetandevenhumbleforecastoftheweather。Hepredictedaheavyfallofsnowforacertainevening，andsodistrustedhisownpredictionthatwhentheeveningcame，mildandbenign，hesalliedforthtotheEmpirePalaceofVarieties，andstayedtillnearmidnight，laughingatthesalliesofFrenchclowns，andapplaudingthefrailanticsofcockatoosonmotorbicycles。When，onthestrokeoftwelve，hecameairilyforthwrappedinthelightestofdustcoats，hewasobligedtoendurethegreatestofman’samazements——theknowledgethattherewasawelloftruthwithinhim。LeicesterSquarewasswathedinanivoryfleece，andhewasobligedtogainBerkeleySquareonfoot，treadinggingerlyinpumps，escortedbylinkmenwithflaringgoldentorches，andprecededbytipsybutassiduousruffiansarmedwithshovels，who，withmanyalustyoathandhorridimprecation，clearedathinthreadofpathbetweenthetoweringwallsofsnowthatsparkledfaintlyinthegaslight。
　　Thisexperiencefiredhim。Heroseupearly，laydownlate，and，quitewithherassent，castthehoroscopeofMrs。Merilliainthesweatofhisbrow。Hecast，wesay，herhoroscopeand，fromacertainconjunctionoftheplanets，hegathered，tohishorror，thatuponthefifteenthdayofthemonthofJanuaryshewouldsufferanaccidentwhileonaneveningjaunt。Wefindhimnow，onthisfifteenthdayofthefirstmonth，awareofhisreveredgrandmother’sintrepidexpeditiontotheGaietyTheatre，waitingherreturntoBerkeleySquarewithmingledfeelingswhichwemightanalyseforpages，butwhichwepreferbaldlytostate。
　　Helongedtobeprovedindeedaprophet，andhelongedalsotoseehisbelovedrelativereturnfromhersheafofpleasuresinthefreeandunconstraineduseofallhergracefullimbs。Hewas，therefore，tornbyfoesinamentalconflict，andwasinnocasetosipthephilosophichoneyofMarcusAureliusashesatbetweenthetelescopeandthefireinthecomfortabledrawing—roomawaitinghisgrandmother’sreturn。
　　"Gustavus，"saidMr。Ferdinandintheservants’halltotheflushedfootmanwholayuponawhat—not，sippingaglassofaleandreadinganewandunabridgedfarthingeditionofCarlyle’s/FrenchRevolution/，"Gustavus，Mrs。MerilliahasbeenandgonetotheGaietyTheatreto—night。Weexpectherbackateleven—thirtysharp。Shemayneedassistanceonherreturn，Gustavus。"
　　Thefootmanputdownthetumblerwhichhewasintheactofraisingtohispoutedlips。
　　"Assistance，Mr。Ferdinand！"heejaculated。"Mrs。Merillia，Mr。
　　Ferdinand！"
　　"Shemay——wesayshe/may/——havetobecarriedtobed，Gustavus。"
　　Gustavus’sjawdropped，andthe/FrenchRevolution/flutteredinhisstartledhands。
　　"Goodlawks，Mr。Ferdinand！"heexclaimed（notquotingfromCarlyle）。
　　"Haveanarmchairreadyinthehall，Gustavus。Mrs。Merilliamustnotbedropped。Youunderstand？Thatwilldo，Gustavus。"
　　AndMr。Ferdinandpassedtotheadjacentsupper—table，tojointheupperhousemaidinadiscussionoftwosubjectsthatwereveryneartotheirhearts，aroundofbeefandatureenofpickledcabbage，whileGustavusgotupfromthewhat—notinabemusedmanner，andproceededtosearchdreamilyforanarmchair。Hecameupononebychanceinthedining—room，andwheeleditoutintothehalljustastheclocksinthehouserangoutthehalf—houraftereleven。
　　TheProphetabovesprangupfromthecouchbythefire，Mr。Ferdinandbelowclosedhisdiscussionwiththeupperhousemaid，andtheformerrapidlycamedown，thelatterup，stairsastherollofwheelsbrokethroughthesilenceofthesquare。
　　Gustavus，inanattitudeofbridledcuriosity，wasposedbeneathapolarbearthatheldanelectriclamp。Hishandwaslaiduponthebackofthearmchair，andhisroundhazeleyeswereturnedexpectantlytowardsthehallashistwomastersjoinedhim。
　　"Isallready，Mr。Ferdinand？"saidtheProphet，anxiously。
　　"Allisready，sir，"repliedthebutler。
　　"Wheelthechairforward，Gustavus，ifyouplease，"saidtheProphet。
　　"Mrs。Merilliamustnotbedropped。Rememberthat。"
　　"Notbedropped，sir——no。"
　　Thechairranforwardonitsamicablecastorsasacarriagewasheardtostopoutside。Mr。Ferdinandflungopentheportal，andtheProphetglidedoutexcitedlyuponthestep。
　　"Well？"hecried，"well？"
　　Afootman，inalongdrabcoatwithredfacings，waspreparingtogetofftheboxofasmartbrougham，butbeforehecouldreachthepavement，acharminghead，coveredwithalacecap，wasthrustoutofthewindow，andamusicalandalmostgirlishvoicecried，——
　　"Allnonsense，Hennessey，allrubbish！Saturndon’tknowwhathe’stalkin’about。Look！"
　　Thecarriagedoorwasvivaciouslyopenedfromtheinsideandadelightfullittleoldlady，dressedinbrownsilk，withalong，cheerfulpointednose，rosycheeks，andchestnuthair——thatalmostmightn’thavebeenawigincertainlights——preparedtoleapforthwithoutwaitingforthereverentassistancethattheProphet，flankedbyMr。FerdinandandGustavus，wasinwaitingtoafford。
　　Asshejumped，shebegantocry，"Notmuchwrongwithme，isthere，Hennessey？"butbeforethesentencewascompletedshehadcaughtherneatfootinherbrownsilkgown，hadstumbledfromthestepofthecarriagetothepavement，hadtwistedherprettyankle，hadreeledandalmostfallen，hadbeencaughtbytheProphetandMr。Ferdinand，bornetenderlyintothehall，andplacedinthearmchairwhichtheterrifiedGustavus，withalmostenragedardour，droveforwardtoreceiveher。Asshesankdowninit，helpless，Mrs。Merilliaexclaimed，withunabatedvivacity，——
　　"It’shappened，Hennessey，it’shappened！Butitwasmyowndoin’andyours。Youshouldn’thaveprophesiedatyourage，andIshouldn’thavejumpedatmine。
　　"Dearestgrannie！"criedtheProphet，onhiskneesbesideher，"howgrieved，howshockedIam！Isit——isit——"
　　"Sprained，Hennessey？"
　　Henodded。MechanicallyMr。Ferdinandnodded。Gustavuslethispowderedheaddrop，too，inimitationofhissuperiors。
　　"I’lltellyouinthedrawin’——room。"
　　Sheplacedherpretty，mittenedhandsuponthearmsofthechair，andgavealittlewriggle，tryingtogetup。Thenshecriedoutmusically，——
　　"No，Imustbecarriedup。Mr。Ferdinand！"
　　"Ma’am！"