CynthiaandMollyhadbothspokenofthebrotherswithfamiliarregard，implyingconsiderableintimacy；theirflowershadbeenpreferredtohisontheoccasionoftheball；mostpeoplespokewellofthem；andMrPrestonhadananimal’sinstinctivejealousyandcombativenessagainstallpopularyoungmen。Their’position’
　　—poorastheHamleysmightbe—wasfarhigherthanhisowninthecounty；
　　and，moreover，hewasagenttothegreatWhiglord，whosepoliticalinterestswerediametricallyopposedtothoseoftheoldTorysquire。NotthatLordCumnortroubledhimselfmuchabouthispoliticalinterests。HisfamilyhadobtainedpropertyandtitlefromtheWhigsatthetimeoftheHanoveriansuccession；andso，traditionally，hewasaWhig，andhadbelongedinhisyouthtoWhigclubs，wherehehadlostconsiderablesumsofmoneytoWhiggamblers。Allthiswassatisfactoryandconsistentenough。AndifLordHollingfordhadnotbeenreturnedforthecountyontheWhiginterest—
　　ashisfatherhadbeenbeforehim，untilhehadsucceededtothetitle—itisquiteprobableLordCumnorwouldhaveconsideredtheBritishconstitutionindanger，andthepatriotismofhisancestorsungratefullyignored。But，exceptingatelections，hehadnonotionofmakingWhigandToryapartycry。HehadlivedtoomuchinLondon，andwasoftoosociableanature，toexcludeanymanwhojumpedwithhishumour，fromthehospitalityhewasalwaysreadytooffer，betheagreeableacquaintanceWhig，Tory，orRadical。Butinthecountyofwhichhewaslord—lieutenant，theoldpartydistinctionwasstillashibbolethbywhichmenweretestedfortheirfitnessforsocialintercourse，aswellasonthehustings。IfbyanychanceaWhigfoundhimselfataTorydinner—table—orvice—versâ；—thefoodwashardofdigestion，andwineandviandswerecriticizedratherthanenjoyed。Amarriagebetweentheyoungpeopleoftheseparatepartieswasalmostasunheard—ofandprohibitedanallianceasthatofRomeoandJuliet’s。AndofcourseMrPrestonwasnotamaninwhosebreastsuchprejudiceswoulddieaway。Theywereanexcitementtohimforonething，andcalledoutallhistalentforintrigueonbehalfofthepartytowhichhewasallied。Moreover，heconsidereditasloyaltytohisemployerto’scatterhisenemies’byanymeansinhispower。HehadalwayshatedanddespisedtheToriesingeneral；andafterthatinterviewonthemarshycommoninfrontofSilas’scottage，hehatedtheHamleysandRogerespecially，withaverychoiceandparticularhatred。’Thatprig，’ashereafterhealwaysdesignatedRoger—’heshallpayforityet，’hesaidtohimselfbywayofconsolation，afterthefatherandsonhadlefthim。’Whataloutitis！’—watchingtherecedingfigure。’Theoldchaphastwiceasmuchspunk，’
　　asthesquiretuggedathisbridle—reins。’Theoldmarecouldmakeherwaybetterwithoutbeingled，myfinefellow。ButIseethroughyourdodge。
　　You’reafraidofyouroldfatherturningbackandgettingintoanotherrage。Positionindeed！abeggarlysquire—amanwhodidturnoffhismenjustbeforewinter，torotorstarve，forallhecared—it’sjustlikeabrutaloldTory。’And，underthecoverofsympathywiththedismissedlabourers，MrPrestonindulgedhisownprivatepiqueverypleasantly。MrPrestonhadmanycausesforrejoicing：hemighthaveforgottenthisdiscomfiture，ashechosetofeelit，intheremembranceofanincreaseofincome，andinthepopularityheenjoyedinhisnewabode。AllHollingfordcameforwardtodotheearl’snewagenthonour。MrSheepshankshadbeenacrabbed，crustyoldbachelor，frequentinginn—parloursonmarket—days，notunwillingtogivedinnerstothreeorfourchosenfriendsandfamiliars，withwhom，inreturn，hedinedfromtimetotime，andwithwhom，also，hekeptupanamicablerivalryinthematterofwines。Buthe’didnotappreciatefemalesociety，’asMissBrowningelegantlywordedhisunwillingnesstoaccepttheinvitationsoftheHollingfordladies。Hewasunrefinedenoughtospeakoftheseinvitationstohisintimatefriendsaforesaidinthefollowingmanner，’Thoseoldwomen’sworrying，’but，ofcourse，theyneverheardofthis。Littlequarter—of—sheetnotes，withoutanyenvelopes—thatinventionwasunknowninthosedays—butsealedinthecornerswhenfoldedupinsteadofgummedastheyarefastenedatpresent，occasionallypassedbetweenMrSheepshanksandtheMissBrownings，MrsGoodenoughorothers。
　　Inthefirstinstance，theformranasfollows：—’Miss’Browningandhersister，MissPhoebeBrowning，presenttheirrespectfulcomplimentstoMrSheepshanks，andbegtoinformhimthatafewfriendshavekindlyconsentedtofavourthemwiththeircompanyatteaonThursdaynext。MissBrowningandMissPhoebewilltakeitverykindlyifMrSheepshankswilljointheirlittlecircle。’NowforMrsGoodenough：—’MrsGoodenough’srespectstoMrSheepshanks，andhopesheisingoodhealth。
　　ShewouldbeverygladifhewouldfavourherwithhiscompanytoteaonMonday。Mydaughter，inCombermere，hassentmeacoupleofguineafowls，andMrsGoodenoughhopesMrSheepshankswillstayandtakeabitofsupper。’Noneedforthedatesofthedaysofthemonth。Thegoodladieswouldhavethoughtthattheworldwascomingtoanendiftheinvitationhadbeensentoutaweekbeforethepartythereinnamed。Butnotevenguinea—fowlsforsuppercouldtemptMrSheepshanks。Herememberedthemade—wineshehadtastedinformerdaysatHollingfordparties，andshuddered。Bread—and—cheese，withaglassofbitter—beer，oralittlebrandy—and—water，partakenofinhisoldclothes（whichhadwornintoshapesofloosecomfort，andsmeltstronglyoftobacco），helikedbetterthanroastguinea—fowlandbirch—wine，evenwithoutthrowingintothebalancethestiffuneasycoat，andthetightneckclothandtightershoes。Sotheex—agenthadbeenseldom，ifever，seenattheHollingfordtea—parties。Hemighthavehadhisformofrefusalstereotyped，itwassoinvariablythesame。’MrSheepshanks’dutytoMissBrowningandhersister’（toMrsGoodenough，ortoothers，asthecasemightbe）。’Businessofimportancepreventshimfromavailinghimselfoftheirpoliteinvitation；forwhichhebegstoreturnhisbestthanks。’ButnowthatMrPrestonhadsucceeded，andcometoliveinHollingford，thingswerechanged。Heacceptedeverycivilityrightandleft，andwongoldenopinionsaccordingly。
　　Partiesweremadeinhishonour，’justasifhehadbeenabride，’MissPhoebeBrowningsaid；andtoallofthemhewent。’What’sthemanafter？’saidMrSheepshankstohimself，whenheheardofhissuccessor’saffability，andsociability，andamiability，andavarietyofotheragreeable’ilities，’fromthefriendswhomtheoldstewardstillretainedatHollingford。’Preston’snotamantoputhimselfoutfornothing。He’sdeep。He’llbeaftersomethingsoliderthanpopularity。’Thesagaciousoldbachelorwasright。MrPrestonwas’after’somethingmorethanmerepopularity。HewentwhereverhehadachanceofmeetingCynthiaKirkpatrick。ItmightbethatMolly’sspiritsweremoredepressedatthistimethantheywereingeneral；orthatCynthiawasexultant，unawarestoherself，intheamountofattentionandadmirationshewasreceivingfromRogerbyday，fromMrPrestonintheevenings，butthetwogirlsseemedtohavepartedcompanyincheerfulness。Mollywasalwaysgentle，butverygraveandsilent。Cynthia，onthecontrary，wasmerry，fullofprettymockeries，andhardlyeversilent。WhenfirstshecametoHollingford，oneofhergreatcharmshadbeenthatshewassuchagraciouslistener；nowherexcitement，bywhatevercaused，madehertoorestlesstoholdhertongue；yetwhatshesaidwastoopretty，toowitty，nottobeawinningandsparklinginterruption，eagerlywelcomedbythosewhowereunderhersway。MrGibsonwastheonlyonewhoobservedthischange，andreasoneduponit。’Sheisinamentalfeverofsomekind，’thoughthetohimself。’Sheisveryfascinating，butIdon’tquiteunderstandher。’IfMollyhadnotbeensoentirelyloyaltoherfriend，shemighthavethoughtthisconstantbrilliancyalittletiresomewhenbroughtintoevery—daylife；itwasnotthesunshinyrestofaplacidlake，itwasrathertheglitterofthepiecesofabrokenmirror，whichconfusesandbewilders。Cynthiawouldnottalkquietlyaboutanythingnow；subjectsofthoughtorconversationseemedtohavelosttheirrelativevalue。Therewereexceptionstothismoodofhers，whenshesankintodeepfitsofsilence，thatwouldhavebeengloomyhaditnotbeenforthenevervaryingsweetnessofhertemper。IftherewasalittlekindnesstobedonetoeitherMrGibsonorMolly，Cynthiawasjustasreadyasevertodoit；nordidsherefusetodoanythinghermotherwished，howeverfidgetymightbe，thehumourthatpromptedthewish。ButinthislattercaseCynthia’seyeswerenotquickenedbyherheart。Mollywasdejected，sheknewnotwhy。Cynthiahaddriftedalittleapart；
　　thatwasnotit。Herstepmotherhadwhimsicalmoods；andifCynthiadispleasedher，shewouldoppressMollywithsmallkindnessesandpseudo—affection。
　　Orelseeverythingwaswrong，theworldwasoutofjoint，andMollyhadfailedinhermissiontosetitright，andwastobeblamedaccordingly。
　　ButMollywasoftoosteadyadispositiontobemuchmovedbythechangeablenessofanunreasonableperson。Shemightbeannoyed，orirritated，butshewasnotdepressed。Thatwasnotit。Therealcausewascertainlythis。
　　AslongasRogerwasdrawntoCynthia，andsoughtherofhisownaccord，ithadbeenasorepainandbewildermenttoMolly’sheart；butitwasastraightforwardattraction，andonewhichMollyacknowledged，inherhumilityandgreatpowerofloving，tobethemostnaturalthingintheworld。ShewouldlookatCynthia’sbeautyandgrace，andfeelasifnoonecouldresistit。AndwhenshewitnessedallthesmallsignsofhonestdevotionwhichRogerwasatnopainstoconceal，shethought，withasigh，thatsurelynogirlcouldhelprelinquishingherhearttosuchtender，strongkeepingasRoger’scharacterensured。Shewouldhavebeenwillingtocutoffherrighthand，ifneedwere，toforwardhisattachmenttoCynthia；andtheself—sacrificewouldhaveaddedastrangezesttoahappycrisis。ShewasindignantatwhatsheconsideredtobeMrsGibson’sobtusenesstosomuchgoodnessandworth；andwhenshecalledRoger’acountrylout’，oranyotherdepreciativeepithet，Mollywouldpinchherselfinordertokeepsilent。Butafterallthosewerepeacefuldayscomparedtothepresent，whenshe，seeingthewrongsideofthetapestry，afterthewontofthosewhodwellinthesamehousewithaplotter，becameawarethatMrsGibsonhadtotallychangedherbehaviourtoRoger，fromsomecauseunknowntoMolly。Buthewasalwaysexactlythesame；’steadyasoldTime，’asMrsGibsoncalledhim，withherusualoriginality；’arockofstrength，underwhoseveryshadowthereisrest，’asMrsHamleyhadoncespokenofhim。SothecauseofMrsGibson’salteredmannerlaynotinhim。Yetnowhewassureofawelcome，lethimcomeatanyhourhewould。HewasplayfullyreprovedforhavingtakenMrsGibson’swordstooliterally，andfornevercomingbeforelunch。Buthesaidheconsideredherreasonsforsuchwordstobevalid，andshouldrespectthem。Andthiswasdoneoutofhissimplicity，andfromnotingeofmalice。Thenintheirfamilyconversationsathome，MrsGibsonwasconstantlymakingprojectsforthrowingRoger’andCynthiatogether，withsoevidentabetrayalofherwishtobringaboutanengagement，thatMollychafedatthenetspreadsoevidently，andatRoger’sblindnessincomingsowillinglytobeentrapped。Sheforgothispreviouswillingness，hisformerevidencesofmanlyfondnessforthebeautifulCynthia；sheonlysawplotsofwhichhewasthevictim，andCynthiatheconsciousifpassivebait。ShefeltasifshecouldnothaveactedasCynthiadid；no，noteventogainRoger’slove。Cynthiaheardandsawasmuchofthedomesticbackgroundasshedid，andyetshesubmittedtotherô；leassignedtoher！Tobesure，thisrô；lewouldhavebeenplayedbyherunconsciously；
　　thethingsprescribedwerewhatshewouldnaturallyhavedone；butbecausetheywereprescribed—byimplicationonly，itistrue—Mollywouldhaveresisted；havegoneout，forinstance，whenshewasexpectedtostayathome；orhavelingeredinthegardenwhenalongcountrywalkwasplanned。
　　Atlast—forshecouldnothelplovingCynthia，comewhatwould—shedeterminedtobelievethatCynthiawasentirelyunawareofall；butitwaswithaneffortthatshebroughtherselftobelieveit。Itmaybeallverypleasant’tosportwithAmaryllisintheshade，orwiththetanglesofNeæ；ra’shair，’butyoungmenattheoutsetoftheirindependentlifehavemanyothercaresinthisprosaicEnglandtooccupytheirtimeandtheirthoughts。RogerwasFellowofTrinity，tobesure；
　　andfromtheoutsideitcertainlyappearedasifhisposition，aslongashechosetokeepunmarried，wasaveryeasyone。Hiswasnotanature，however，tosinkdownintoingloriousease，evenhadhisfellowshipincomebeenathisdisposal。Helookedforwardtoanactivelife；inwhatdirectionhehadnotyetdetermined。Heknewwhatwerehistalentsandhistastes；
　　anddidnotwishtheformertolieburied，northelatter，whichheregardedasgifts，fittinghimforsomepeculiarwork，tobedisregardedorthwarted。
　　Heratherlikedawaitinganobject，secureinhisownenergytoforcehiswaytoit，whenheoncesawitclearly。Hereservedenoughofmoneyforhisownpersonalneeds，whichweresmall，andforthereadyfurtheranceofanyprojecthemightseefittoundertake；therestofhisincomewasOsborne’s；givenandacceptedinthespiritwhichmadethebondbetweenthesetwobrotherssorarelyperfect。ItwasonlythethoughtofCynthiathatthrewRogeroffhisbalance。Astrongmanineverythingelse，aboutherhewasasachild。Heknewthathecouldnotmarryandretainhisfellowship；
　　hisintentionwastoholdhimselfloosefromanyemploymentorprofessionuntilhehadfoundonetohismind，sotherewasnoimmediateprospect—noprospectformanyyears，indeed，thathewouldbeabletomarry。YethewentonseekingCynthia’ssweetcompany，listeningtothemusicofhervoice，baskinginhersunshine，andfeedinghispassionineverypossibleway，justlikeanunreasoningchild。Heknewthatitwasfolly—andyethedidit；anditwasperhapsthisthatmadehimsosympatheticwithOsborne。
　　RogerrackedhisbrainsaboutOsborne’saffairsmuchmorefrequentlythanOsbornetroubledhimself。Indeed，hehadbecomesoailingandlanguidoflate，thateventhesquiremadeonlyveryfaintobjectionstohisdesireforfrequentchangeofscene，thoughformerlyheusedtogrumblesomuchatthenecessaryexpenditureitinvolved。’Afterall，itdoesnotcostmuch，’thesquiresaidtoRogeroneday。’Choosehowhedoesit，hedoesitcheaply；heusedtocomeandaskmefortwenty，wherenowhedoesitforfive。ButheandI。havelosteachother’slanguage，that’swhatwehave！andmydictionary’（onlyhecalledit’dixonary’）
　　’hasallgotwrongbecauseofthoseconfoundeddebts—whichhewillneverexplaintome，ortalkabout—healwaysholdsmeoffatarm’slengthwhenIbeginuponit—hedoes，Roger—me，hisolddad，aswashisprimestfavouriteofall，whenhewasalittlebitofachap！’ThesquiredweltsomuchuponOsborne’sreservedbehaviourtohimself’
　　thatbroodingoverthisonesubjectperpetuallyhebecamemoremoroseandgloomythaneverinhismannertoOsborne，resentingthewantoftheconfidenceandaffectionthathethusrepelled。SomuchsothatRoger，whodesiredtoavoidbeingmadethereceptacleofhisfather’scomplaintsagainstOsborne—andRoger’spassivelisteningwasthesedativehisfatheralwayssought—hadoftentohaverecoursetothediscussionofthedrainageworksasacounter—irritant。ThesquirehadfeltMrPreston’sspeechaboutthedismissalofhisworkpeopleverykeenly；itfellinwiththereproachesofhisownconscience，though，ashewouldrepeattoRogeroverandoveragain，—
　　’Icouldnothelpit—howcouldI？—Iwasdraineddryofreadymoney—IwishthelandwasdrainedasdryasIam，’saidhe，withatouchofhumourthatcameoutbeforehewasaware，andatwhichhesmiledsadlyenough。’WhatwasItodo，Iaskyou，Roger？IknowIwasinarage—I’vehadadealtomakemeso—andmaybeIdidnotthinkasmuchaboutconsequencesasIshouldha’done，whenIgaveordersfor’emtobesentoff；butI
　　couldnothavedoneotherwiseifI’dha’thoughtforatwelvemonthincoolblood。Consequences！Ihateconsequences；they’vealwaysbeenagainstme；
　　theyhave。I’msotiedupIcan’tcutdownastickmore，andthat’sa"consequence"
　　ofhavingthepropertysodeucedlywellsettled；IwishI’dneverhadanyancestors。Ay，laugh，lad！itdoesmegoodtoseetheelaughabit，afterOsborne’slongface，whichalwaysgrowslongeratsighto’me！’’Lookhere，father！’saidRogersuddenly，’I’llmanagesomehowaboutthemoneyfortheworks。Youtrusttome；givemetwomonthstoturnmyselfin，andyoushallhavesomemoney，atanyrate，tobeginwith。’Thesquirelookedathim，andhisfacebrightenedasachild’sdoesatthepromiseofapleasuremadetohimbysomeoneonwhomhecanrely。
　　Hebecamealittlegraver，however，ashesaid，—’Buthowwillyougetit？It’shardenoughwork。’’Nevermind；I’llgetit—ahundredorsoatfirst—Idon’tyetknowhow—butremember，father，I’maSeniorWrangler，anda"verypromisingyoungwriter，"asthatreviewcalledme。Oh，youdon’tknowwhatafinefellowyou’vegotforason。Youshouldhavereadthatreviewtoknowallmywonderfulmerits。’’Idid，Roger。IheardGibsonspeakingofit，andImadehimgetitforme。IshouldhaveunderstooditbetteriftheycouldhavecalledtheanimalsbytheirEnglishnames，andnotputsomuchoftheirFrenchjingointoit。’’ButitwasananswertoanarticlebyaFrenchwriter，’pleadedRoger。’I’dha’lethimalone！’saidthesquireearnestly。’Wehadtobeat’em，andwediditatWaterloo；butI’dnotdemeanmyselfbyansweringanyoftheirlies，ifIwasyou。ButIgotthroughthereview，foralltheirLatinandFrench；Idid，andifyoudoubtme，youjustlookattheendofthegreatledger，turnitupsidedown，andyou’llfindI’vecopiedoutallthefinewordstheysaidofyou："carefulobserver，""strongnervousEnglish，"
　　"risingphilosopher。"Oh！Icannearlysayitalloffbyheart，formanyatimewhenIamfrabbedbybaddebts，orOsborne’sbills，ormoideredwithaccounts，Iturntheledgerwrongwayup，andsmokeapipeoverit，whileIreadthosepiecesoutofthereviewwhichspeakaboutyou，lad！’
　　chapter32CHAPTERXXXIICOMINGEVENTSRogerhadturnedovermanyplansinhismind，bywhichhethoughtthathecouldobtainsufficientmoneyforthepurposehedesiredtoaccomplish。
　　Hiscarefulgrandfather，whohadbeenamerchantinthecity，hadsotiedupthefewthousandshehadlefttohisdaughter，thatalthough，incaseofherdeathbeforeherhusband’s，thelattermightenjoythelifeinterestthereof，yetincaseofboththeirdeaths，theirsecondsondidnotsucceedtothepropertyuntilhewasfive—and—twenty。andifhediedbeforethatagethemoneythatwouldthenhavebeenhiswenttooneofhiscousinsonthematernalside。Inshort，theoldmerchanthadtakenasmanyprecautionsabouthislegacyasifithadbeenfortens，insteadofunitsofthousands。
　　OfcourseRogermighthaveslippedthroughallthesemeshesbyinsuringhislifeuntilthespecifiedage；andprobablyifhehadconsultedanylawyerthiscoursewouldhavebeensuggestedtohim。Buthedislikedtakinganyoneintohisconfidenceonthesubjectofhisfather’swantofreadymoney。Hehadobtainedacopyofhisgrandfather’swillatDoctors’Commons，andheimaginedthatallthecontingenciesinvolvedinitwouldbepatenttothelightofnatureandcommonsense。Hewasalittlemistakeninthis，butnotthelessresolvedthatmoneyinsomewayhewouldhaveinordertofulfilhispromisetohisfather，andfortheulteriorpurposeofgivingthesquiresomedailyinteresttodistracthisthoughtsfromtheregretsandcaresthatwerealmostweakeninghismind。Itwas’RogerHamley，SeniorWranglerandFellowofTrinity，tothehighestbidder，nomatterwhathonestemployment，’andpresentlyitcamedownto’anybidderatall。’AnotherperplexityanddistressatthistimeweigheduponRoger。Osborne，heirtotheestate，wasgoingtohaveachild。TheHamleypropertywasentailedon’heirsmaleborninlawfulwedlock。’Wasthe’wedlock’lawful？
　　Osborneneverseemedtodoubtthatitwas—neverseemed，infact，tothinktwiceaboutit。Andifhe，thehusband，didnot，howmuchlessdidAimé；e，thetrustfulwife？Yetwhocouldtellhowmuchmiseryanyshadowsofillegalitymightcastintothefuture？OneeveningRoger，sittingbythelanguid，careless，dilettanteOsborne，begantoquestionhimastothedetailsofthemarriage。OsborneknewinstinctivelyatwhatRogerwasaiming。Itwasnotthathedidnotdesireperfectlegalityinjusticetohiswife；itwasthathewassoindisposedatthetimethathehatedtobebothered。
　　ItwassomethingliketherefrainofGray’sScandinavianProphetess：’Leaveme，leavemetorepose。’’Butdotryandtellmehowyoumanagedit。’’Howtiresomeyouare，Roger，’putinOsborne。’Well，IdaresayIam。Goon！’’I’vetoldyouMorrisonmarriedus。YourememberoldMorrisonatTrinity？’’Yes；asgoodandblunder—headedafellowaseverlived。’’Well，he’stakenorders；andtheexaminationforpriest’sordersfatiguedhimsomuchthathegothisfathertogivehimahundredortwoforatourontheContinent。HemeanttogettoRome，becauseheheardthatthereweresuchpleasantwintersthere。SoheturnedupatMetzinAugust。’’Idon’tseewhy。’’Nomoredidhe。Heneverwasgreatingeography，youknow；andsomehowhethoughtthatMetz，pronouncedFrenchfashion，mustbeontheroadtoRome。Someonehadtoldhimsoinfun。However，itwasverywellformethatImetwithhimthereforIwasdeterminedtobemarried，andthatwithoutlossoftime。’’ButAimé；eisaCatholic？’’That’strue！butyouseeIamnot。Youdon’tsupposeIwoulddoheranywrong，Roger？’askedOsborne，sittingupinhislounging—chair，andspeakingratherindignantlytoRoger，hisfacesuddenlyflushingred。’No！I’msureyouwouldnotmeanit；butyouseethere’sachildcoming，andthisestateisentailedon"heirsmale。"Now，Iwanttoknowifthemarriageislegalornot？anditseemstomeit’saticklishquestion。’’Oh！’saidOsborne，fallingbackintorepose，’ifthat’sall，Isupposeyou’renextheirmale，andIcantrustyouasIcanmyself。Youknowmymarriageisbonâ；fideinintention，andIbelieveittobelegalinfact。WewentovertoStrasbourg；Aimé；epickedupafriend—agoodmiddle—agedFrenchwoman—whoservedhalfasbridesmaid，halfaschaperone，andthenwewentbeforethemayor—pré；fet—whatdoyoucallthem？IthinkMorrisonratherenjoyedthespree。Isignedallmannerofpapersintheprefecture；Ididnotreadthemover，forfearlestIcouldnotsignthemconscientiously。Itwasthesafestplan。Aimé；ekepttremblingsoIthoughtshewouldfaint，andthenwewentofftothenearestEnglishchaplaincy，Carlsruhe，andthechaplainwasaway，soMorrisoneasilygottheloanofthechapel，andweweremarriedthenextday。’’Butsurelysomeregistrationorcertificatewasnecessary？’’Morrisonsaidhewouldundertakeallthoseforms；andheoughttoknowhisownbusiness。’IknowItippedhimprettywellforthejob。’’Youmustbemarriedagain，’saidRoger，afterapause，’andthatbeforethechildisborn。Haveyougotacertificateofthemarriage？’’IdaresayMorrisonhasgotitsomewhere。ButIbelieveI’mlegallymarriedaccordingtothelawsbothofEnglandandFrance；Ireallydo，oldfellow。
　　I’vegotthepré；fet’spaperssomewhere。’’Nevermind！youshallbemarriedagaininEngland。Aimé；egoestotheRomanCatholicchapelatPrestham，doesnotshe？’’Yes。SheissogoodIwouldnotdisturbherinherreligionfortheworld。’’Thenyoushallbemarriedboththereandatthechurchoftheparishinwhichshelivesaswell，’saidRoger，decidedly。’It’sagreatdealoftrouble，unnecessarytrouble，andunnecessaryexpense，Ishouldsay，’saidOsborne。’Whycan’tyouleavewellalone？NeitherAimé；enorIareofthesortofstufftoturnscoundrelsanddenythelegalityofourmarriage，andifthechildisaboyandmyfatherdies，andIdie，whyI’m。sureyou’lldohimjustice，assureasIamofmyself，oldfellow！’’ButifIdieintothebargain？MakeahecatombofthepresentHamleysallatonce，whileyouareaboutit。Whosucceedsasheirmale？’Osbornethoughtforamoment。’OneoftheIrishHamleys，Isuppose。Ifancytheyareneedychaps。Perhapsyou’reright。Butwhatneedtohavesuchgloomyforebodings？’’Thelawmakesonehaveforesightinsuchaffairs，’saidRoger。’SoI’llgodowntoAimé；enextweekwhenI’mintown，andI’llmakeallnecessaryarrangementsbeforeyoucome。Ithinkyou’llbehappierifitisalldone。’’IshallbehappierifI’veachanceofseeingthelittlewoman，thatI
　　grantyou。Butwhatistakingyouuptotown？IwishI’dmoneytorunaboutlikeyou，insteadofbeingshutupforeverinthisdulloldhouse。’OsbornewasaptoccasionallytocontrasthispositionwithRoger’sinatoneofcomplaint，forgettingthatbothweretheresultsofcharacter，andalsothatoutofhisincomeRogergaveupsolargeaportionforthemaintenanceofhisbrother’swife。ButifthisungenerousthoughtofOsborne’shadbeensetclearlybeforehisconscience，hewouldhavesmotehisbreastandcried’Meaculpa’withthebestofthem；itwasonlythathewastooindolenttokeepanunassistedconscience。’Ishouldnothavethoughtofgoingup，’saidRoger，reddeningasifhehadbeenaccusedofspendinganother’smoneyinsteadofhisown，’ifI
　　hadnothadtogouponbusiness。LordHollingfordhaswrittenforme；
　　heknowsmygreatwishforemployment，andhasheardofsomethingwhichheconsiderssuitable；there’shisletterifyoucaretoreadit。Butitdoesnottellanythingdefinitely。’OsbornereadtheletterandreturnedittoRoger。Afteramomentortwoofsilencehesaid，—’Whydoyouwantmoney？Arewetakingtoomuchfromyou？It’sagreatshameofme；butwhatcanIdo？Onlysuggestacareerforme，andI’llfollowitto—morrow。’HespokeasifRogerhadbeenreproachinghim。’Mydearfellow，don’tgetthosenotionsintoyourhead！Imustdosomethingformyselfsometimes，andIhavebeenonthelook—out。Besides，Iwantmyfathertogoonwithhisdrainage，itwoulddogoodbothtohishealthandhisspirits。