Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER I I

CHAPTER I I I

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI I

CHAPTER VI I I

CHAPTER I X

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI I

CHAPTER XI I I

CHAPTER XI V

CHAPTER XV

CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI I

CHAPTER XVI I I

CHAPTER XI X

CHAPTER XX

CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI I

CHAPTER XXI I I

CHAPTER XXI V

CHAPTER XXV

CHAPTER XXVI

CHAPTER XXVI I

CHAPTER XXVI I I

CHAPTER XXI X

CHAPTER XXX

CHAPTER XXXI

CHAPTER XXXI I

CHAPTER XXXI I I

CHAPTER XXXI V

CHAPTER XXXV

CHAPTER XXXVI

CHAPTER XXXVI I

CHAPTER XXXVI I I

CHAPTER XXXI X

CHAPTER XL

CHAPTER XLI

CHAPTER XLI I

CHAPTER XLI I I

CHAPTER XLI V

CHAPTER XLV

CHAPTER XLVI

CHAPTER XLVI I

CHAPTER XLVI I I

CHAPTER XLI X

CHAPTER L

Page 1 of 443

TOM BROWN AT OXFORD

By

Thomas Hughes

Aut hor of " Tom Br own' s School Days"

Aut hor ' s Dedi cat i on

To t he Rev. F. D. Maur i ce, i n memor y of f our t een year s' f el l ow

wor k, and i n t est i mony of ever i ncr easi ng af f ect i on and gr at i t ude

t hi s vol ume i s dedi cat ed by

The Aut hor .

PREFACE

Pr ef aces wr i t t en t o expl ai n t he obj ect s and meani ng of a book, or

t o make any appeal , _ad mi ser acor di am_ or ot her , i n i t s f avor ,

ar e, i n my opi ni on, nui sances. Any book wor t h r eadi ng wi l l

expl ai n i t s own obj ect s and meani ng, and t he mor e i t i s

cr i t i ci zed and t ur ned i nsi de out , t he bet t er f or i t and i t s

aut hor . Of al l books, t oo, i t seems t o me t hat novel s r equi r e

pr ef aces l east - - at any r at e, on t hei r f i r st appear ance.

Not wi t hst andi ng whi ch bel i ef , I must ask r eader s f or t hr ee

mi nut es' pat i ence bef or e t hey make t r i al of t hi s book.

The nat ur al pl easur e whi ch I f el t at t he unl ooked f or popul ar i t y

of t he f i r st par t of t he pr esent st or y, was much l essened by t he

per t i naci t y wi t h whi ch many per sons, acquai nt ance as wel l as

st r anger s, woul d i nsi st ( bot h i n publ i c and i n pr i vat e) on

i dent i f yi ng t he her o and t he aut hor . On t he appear ance of t he

f i r st f ew number s of t he pr esent cont i nuat i on i n Macmi l l an' s

Magazi ne, t he same t hi ng occur r ed, and, i n f act , r eached such a

pi t ch, as t o l ead me t o make some changes t o t he st or y.

Sensi t i veness on such a poi nt may seem f ol l y, but i f t he r eader s

had f el t t he sor t of l oat hi ng and di sgust whi ch one f eel s at t he

not i on of pai nt i ng a f avor abl e l i keness of onesel f i n a wor k of

f i ct i on, t hey woul d not wonder at i t . So, now t hat t hi s book i s

f i ni shed and Tom Br own, so f ar as I am concer ned, i s done wi t h

f or ever , I must t ake t hi s, my f i r st and l ast chance of sayi ng,

t hat he i s not I , ei t her as boy or man- - i n f act , not t o beat

about t he bush, i s a much br aver , and nobl er , and pur er f el l ow

t han I ever was.

When I f i r st r esol ved t o wr i t e t he book, I t r i ed t o r eal i ze t o

mysel f what t he commonest t ype of Engl i sh boy of t he upper mi ddl e

cl ass was, so f ar as my exper i ence went ; and t o t hat t ype I have

t hr oughout adher ed, t r yi ng si mpl y t o gi ve a good speci men of t he

genus. I cer t ai nl y have pl aced hi m i n t he count r y, and scenes

Page 2 of 443

whi ch I know best mysel f , f or t he si mpl e r eason, t hat I knew t hem

bet t er t han any ot her s, and t her ef or e was l ess l i kel y t o bl under

i n wr i t i ng about t hem.

As t o t he name, whi ch has been, per haps, t he chi ef " cause of

of f ense, " i n t hi s mat t er , t he si mpl e f act s ar e, t hat I chose t he

name " Br own, " because i t st ood f i r st i n t he t r i o of " Br own,

Jones, and Robi nson, " whi ch had become a sor t of synonym f or t he

mi ddl e cl asses of Gr eat Br i t ai n. I t happens t hat my own name and

t hat of Br own have no si ngl e l et t er i n common. As t o t he

Chr i st i an name of " Tom, " havi ng chosen Br own, I coul d har dl y hel p

t aki ng i t as t he pr ef i x. The t wo names have gone t oget her i n

Engl and f or t wo hundr ed year s, and t he j oi nt name has not enj oyed

much of a r eput at i on f or r espect abi l i t y. Thi s sui t ed me exact l y.

I want ed t he _commonest _ name I coul d get , and di d not want any

name whi ch had t he l east her oi c, or ar i st ocr at i c, or even

r espect abl e savor about i t . Ther ef or e I had a nat ur al l eani ng t o

t he combi nat i on whi ch I f ound r eady t o my hand. Mor eover , I

bel i eved " Tom" t o be a mor e speci al l y Engl i sh name t han John, t he

onl y ot her as t o whi ch I f el t t he l east doubt . Whet her i t be t hat

Thomas a Becket t was f or so l ong t he f avor i t e Engl i sh sai nt , or

f r om what ever ot her cause, i t cer t ai nl y seems t o be t he f act ,

t hat t he name " Thomas, " i s much commoner i n Engl and t han i n any

ot her count r y. The wor ds, " t om- f ool , " " t om- boy, " et c. , t hough,

per haps not compl i ment ar y t o t he " Tom' s" of Engl and, cer t ai nl y

show how l ar ge a f ami l y t hey must have been. These r easons

deci ded me t o keep t he Chr i st i an name whi ch had been al ways

associ at ed wi t h " Br own" ; and I own t hat t he f act t hat i t happened

t o be my own, never occur r ed t o me as an obj ect i on, t i l l t he

mi schi ef was done, past r ecal l .

I have onl y, t hem, t o say, t hat nei t her i s t he her o a por t r ai t of

mysel f , nor i s t her e any ot her por t r ai t i n ei t her of t he books,

except i n t he case of Dr . Ar nol d, wher e t he t r ue name i s gi ven.

My deep f eel i ng of gr at i t ude t o hi m, and r ever ence f or hi s

memor y, embol dened me t o r i sk t he at t empt at a por t r ai t i n hi s

case, so f ar as t he char act er was necessar y f or t he wor k. Wi t h

t hese r emar ks, I l eave t hi s vol ume i n t he hands of r eader s.

T. Hughes

Li ncol n' s I nn,

Oct ober , 1861

CONTENTS

I NTRODUCTORY

I - - ST. AMBROSE' S COLLEGE

I I - - A ROW ON THE RI VER

I I I - - A BREAKFAST AT DRYSDALE' S

I V- - THE ST. AMBROSE BOAT CLUB; I TS MI NI STRY- - AND THEI R BUDGET

V- - HARDY, THE SERVI TOR

VI - - HOW DRYSDALE AND BLAKE WENT FI SHI NG

VI I - - AN EXPLOSI ON

Page 3 of 443

VI I I - - HARDY' S HI STORY

I X- - " A BROWN BAI T"

X- - SUMMER TERM

XI - - MUSCULAR CHRI STI ANI TY

XI I - - THE CAPTAI N' S NOTI ONS

XI I I - - THE FI RST BUMP

XI V- - A CHANGE I N THE CREW AND WHAT CAME OF I T

XV- - A STORM BREWS AND BREAKS

XVI - - THE STORM RAGES

XVI I - - NEW GROUND

XVI I I - - ENGLEBOURN VI LLAGE

XI X- - A PROMI SE OF FAI RER WEATHER

XX- - THE RECONCI LI ATI ON

XXI - - CAPTAI N HARDY ENTERTAI NED BY ST. AMBROSE

XXI I - - DEPARTURES EXPECTED AND UNEXPECTED

XXI I I - - THE ENGLEBOURN CONSTABLE

XXI V- - THE SCHOOLS

XXV- - COMMEMORATI ON

XXVI - - THE LONG WALK I N CHRI STCHURCH MEADOWS

XXVI I - - LECTURI NG A LI ONESS

XXVI I I - - THE END OF THE FRESHMEN' S YEAR

XXI X- - THE LONG VACATI ON LETTER BAG

XXX- - AMUSEMENTS AT BARTON MANOR

XXXI - - BEHI ND THE SCENES

XXXI I - - A CRI SI S

XXXI I I - - BROWN PATRONUS

XXXI V- - [ Gr eek t ext ] MEHDEN AGAN

XXXV- - SECOND YEAR

XXXVI - - THE RI VER SI DE

XXXVI I - - THE NI GHT WATCH

XXXVI I I - - MARY I N MAYFAI R

XXXI X- - WHAT CAME OF THE NI GHT WATCH

Page 4 of 443

XL- - HUE AND CRY

XLI - - THE LI EUTENANT' S SENTI MENTS AND PROBLEMS

XLI I - - THI RD YEAR

XLI I I - - AFTERNOON VI SI TORS

XLI V- - THE I NTERCEPTED LETTER BAG

XLV- - MASTER' S TERM

XLVI - - FROM I NDI A TO ENGLE BOURN

XLVI I - - THE WEDDI NG DAY

XLVI I I - - THE BEGI NNI NG OF THE END

XLI X- - THE END

L- - THE POSTSCRI PT

TOM BROWN AT OXFORD

By Thomas Hughes ( 1822- 96)

CHAPTER I NTRODUCTORY

I n t he Mi chael mas t er m af t er l eavi ng school , Tom Br own r ecei ved a

summons f r om t he aut hor i t i es, and went up t o mat r i cul at e at St .

Ambr ose' s Col l ege, Oxf or d, He pr esent ed hi msel f at t he col l ege

one af t er noon, and was exami ned by one of t he t ut or s, who car r i ed

hi m, and sever al ot her yout hs i n l i ke pr edi cament , up t o t he

Senat e House t he next mor ni ng. Her e t hey went t hr ough t he usual

f or ms of subscr i bi ng t o t he ar t i cl es, and ot her wi se t est i f yi ng

t hei r l oyal t y t o t he est abl i shed or der of t hi ngs, wi t hout much

t hought per haps, but i n ver y good f ai t h never t hel ess. Havi ng

compl et ed t he cer emony, by payi ng hi s f ees, our her o hur r i ed back

home, wi t hout maki ng any st ay i n Oxf or d. He had of t en passed

t hr ough i t , so t hat t he ci t y had not t he char m of novel t y f or

hi m, and he was anxi ous t o get home; wher e, as he had never spent

an aut umn away f r om school t i l l now, f or t he f i r st t i me i n hi s

l i f e he was havi ng hi s f i l l of hunt i ng and shoot i ng.

He had l ef t school i n June, and di d not go up t o r esi de at Oxf or d

t i l l t he end of t he f ol l owi ng Januar y. Seven good mont hs; dur i ng

a par t of whi ch he had i ndeed r ead f or f our hour s or so a week

wi t h t he cur at e of t he par i sh, but t he r esi due had been

excl usi vel y devot ed t o cr i cket and f i el d spor t s. Now, admi r abl e

as t hese i nst i t ut i ons ar e, and benef i ci al as i s t hei r i nf l uence

on t he yout h of Br i t ai n, i t i s possi bl e f or a youngst er t o get

t oo much of t hem. So i t had f al l en out wi t h our her o. He was a

bet t er hor seman and shot , but t he t ot al r el axat i on of al l t he

heal t hy di sci pl i ne of school , t he r egul ar hour s and r egul ar wor k

t o whi ch he had been used f or so many year s, had cer t ai nl y t hr own

hi m back i n ot her ways. The whol e man had not gr own; so t hat we

must not be sur pr i sed t o f i nd hi m qui t e as boyi sh, now t hat we

f al l i n wi t h hi m agai n, mar chi ng down t o St . Ambr ose' s wi t h a

Page 5 of 443

por t er wheel i ng hi s l uggage af t er hi m on a t r uck as when we l ef t

hi m at t he end of hi s school car eer .

Tom was i n t r ut h begi nni ng t o f eel t hat i t was hi gh t i me f or hi m

t o be get t i ng t o r egul ar wor k agai n of some sor t . A l andi ng pl ace

i s a f amous t hi ng, but i t i s onl y enj oyabl e f or a t i me by any

mor t al who deser ves one at al l . So i t was wi t h a f eel i ng of

unmi xed pl easur e t hat he t ur ned i n at t he St . Ambr ose gat es, and

i nqui r ed of t he por t er what r ooms had been al l ot t ed t o hi m wi t hi n

t hose vener abl e wal l s.

Whi l e t he por t er consul t ed hi s l i st , t he gr eat col l ege sundi al ,

over t he l odge, whi ch had l at el y been r enovat ed, caught Tom' s

eye. The mot t o under neat h, _" Per eunt et i mput ant ur , " _ st ood out ,

pr oud of i t s new gi l di ng, i n t he br i ght af t er noon sun of a f r ost y

Januar y day: whi ch mot t o was r ai si ng sundr y t hought s i n hi s

br ai n, when t he por t er came upon t he r i ght pl ace i n hi s l i st , and

di r ect ed hi m t o t he end of hi s j our ney: No. 5 st ai r case, second

quadr angl e, t hr ee pai r back. I n whi ch new home we shal l l eave hi m

t o i nst al l hi msel f , whi l e we endeavor t o gi ve t he r eader some

not i on of t he col l ege i t sel f .

CHAPTER I

ST. AMBROSE' S COLLEGE

St . Ambr ose' s Col l ege was a moder at e- si zed one. Ther e mi ght have

been some sevent y or ei ght y under gr aduat es i n r esi dence, when our

her o appear ed t her e as a f r eshman. Of t hese, unf or t unat el y f or

t he col l ege, t her e wer e a ver y l ar ge pr opor t i on of t he

gent l eman- commoner s; enough, i n f act , wi t h t he ot her men whom

t hey dr ew r ound t hem, and who l i ved pr et t y much as t hey di d, t o

f or m t he l ar gest and l eadi ng set i n t he col l ege. So t he col l ege

was deci dedl y f ast .

The chi ef char act er i st i c of t hi s set was t he most r eckl ess

ext r avagance of ever y ki nd. London wi ne mer chant s f ur ni shed t hem

wi t h l i queur s at a gui nea a bot t l e and wi ne at f i ve gui neas a

dozen; Oxf or d and London t ai l or s vi ed wi t h one anot her i n

pr ovi di ng t hem wi t h unhear d- of quant i t i es of t he most gor geous

cl ot hi ng. They dr ove t andems i n al l di r ect i ons, scat t er i ng t hei r

ampl e al l owances, whi ch t hey t r eat ed as pocket money, about

r oadsi de i nns and Oxf or d t aver ns wi t h open hand, and " goi ng t i ck"

f or ever yt hi ng whi ch coul d by possi bi l i t y be booked. Thei r ci gar s

cost t wo gui neas a pound; t hei r f ur ni t ur e was t he best t hat coul d

be bought ; pi ne- appl es, f or ced f r ui t , and t he most r ar e pr eser ves

f i gur ed at t hei r wi ne par t i es; t hey hunt ed, r ode st eepl e- chases

by day, pl ayed bi l l i ar ds unt i l t he gat es cl osed, and t hen wer e

r eady f or _vi ngt - et - une_, unl i mi t ed l oo, and hot dr i nk i n t hei r

own r ooms, as l ong as anyone coul d be got t o si t up and pl ay.

The f ast set t hen swamped, and gave t he t one t o t he col l ege; at

whi ch f act no per sons wer e mor e ast oni shed and hor r i f i ed t han t he

aut hor i t i es of St . Ambr ose.

That t hey of al l bodi es i n t he wor l d shoul d be f ai r l y r un away

wi t h by a set of r eckl ess, l oose young spendt hr i f t s, was i ndeed a

mel anchol y and unpr ecedent ed f act ; f or t he body of f el l ows of St .

Ambr ose was as di st i ngui shed f or l ear ni ng, mor al i t y and

r espect abi l i t y as any i n t he Uni ver si t y. The f oundat i on was not ,

i ndeed, act ual l y an open one. Or i el at t hat t i me al one enj oyed

t hi s di st i nct i on; but t her e wer e a l ar ge number of open

Page 6 of 443

f el l owshi ps, and t he i ncome of t he col l ege was l ar ge, and t he

l i vi ngs bel ongi ng t o i t numer ous; so t hat t he best men f r om ot her

col l eges wer e const ant l y comi ng i n. Some of t hese of a f or mer

gener at i on had been emi nent l y successf ul i n t hei r management of

t he col l ege. The St . Ambr ose under gr aduat es at one t i me had

car r i ed of f al most al l t he uni ver si t y pr i zes, and f i l l ed t he

cl ass l i st s, whi l e mai nt ai ni ng at t he same t i me t he hi ghest

char act er f or manl i ness and gent l emanl y conduct . Thi s had l ast ed

l ong enough t o est abl i sh t he f ame of t he col l ege, and gr eat l or ds

and st at esmen had sent t hei r sons t her e; head- mast er s had

st r uggl ed t o get t he names of t hei r best pupi l s on t he books; i n

shor t , ever yone who had a son, war d, or pupi l , whom he want ed t o

push f or war d i n t he wor l d- - who was meant t o cut a f i gur e, and

t ake t he l ead among men, l ef t no st one unt ur ned t o get hi m i nt o

St . Ambr ose' s; and t hought t he f i r st , and a ver y l ong st ep gai ned

when he had succeeded.

But t he gover ni ng bodi es of col l eges ar e al ways on t he change,

and, i n t he cour se of t hi ngs men of ot her i deas came t o r ul e at

St . Ambr ose- - shr ewd men of t he wor l d; men of busi ness, some of

t hem, wi t h good i deas of maki ng t he most of t hei r advant ages; who

sai d, " Go t o; why shoul d we not make t he publ i c pay f or t he gr eat

benef i t s we conf er on t hem? Have we not t he ver y best ar t i cl e i n

t he educat i onal mar ket t o suppl y- - al most a monopol y of i t - - and

shal l we not get t he hi ghest pr i ce f or i t ?" So by degr ees t hey

al t er ed many t hi ngs i n t he col l ege. I n t he f i r st pl ace, under

t hei r auspi ces, gent l emen- commoner s i ncr eased and mul t i pl i ed; i n

f act , t he el dest sons of bar onet s, even squi r es, wer e scar cel y

admi t t ed on any ot her f oot i ng. As t hese young gent l emen pai d

doubl e f ees t o t he col l ege, and had gr eat expect at i ons of al l

sor t s, i t coul d not be expect ed t hat t hey shoul d be subj ect t o

qui t e t he same di sci pl i ne as t he common r un of men, who woul d

have t o make t hei r own way i n t he wor l d. So t he r ul es as t o

at t endance at chapel and l ect ur es, t hough nomi nal l y t he same f or

t hem as f or commoner s, wer e i n pr act i ce r el axed i n t hei r f avour ;

and, t hat t hey mi ght f i nd al l t hi ngs sui t abl e t o per sons i n t hei r

posi t i on, t he ki t chen and but t er y wer e wor ked up t o a hi gh st at e

of per f ect i on, and St . Ambr ose, f r om havi ng been one of t he most

r easonabl e, had come t o be about t he most expensi ve col l ege i n

t he uni ver si t y. These changes wor ked as t hei r pr omot er s pr obabl y

desi r ed t hat t hey shoul d wor k, and t he col l ege was f ul l of r i ch

men, and commanded i n t he uni ver si t y t he sor t of r espect whi ch

r i ches br i ng wi t h t hem. But t he ol d r eput at i on, t hough st i l l

st r ong out of door s, was begi nni ng sadl y t o wane wi t hi n t he

uni ver si t y pr eci nct s. Fewer and f ewer of t he St . Ambr ose men

appear ed i n t he cl ass l i st s, or amongst t he pr i ze- men. They no

l onger l ed t he debat es at t he Uni on; t he boat l ost pl ace af t er

pl ace on t he r i ver ; t he el even got beat en i n al l t hei r mat ches.

The i naugur at or s of t hese changes had passed away i n t hei r t ur n,

and at l ast a r eact i on had commenced. The f el l ows r ecent l y

el ect ed, and who wer e i n r esi dence at t he t i me we wr i t e of , wer e

f or t he most par t men of gr eat at t ai nment s, al l of t hem men who

had t aken ver y hi gh honor s. The el ect or s nat ur al l y enough had

chosen t hem as t he most l i kel y per sons t o r est or e, as t ut or s, t he

gol den days of t he col l ege; and t hey had been car ef ul i n t he

sel ect i on t o conf i ne t hemsel ves t o ver y qui et and st udi ous men,

such as wer e l i kel y t o r emai n up at Oxf or d, passi ng over men of

mor e popul ar manner s and act i ve spi r i t s, who woul d be sur e t o

f l i t soon i nt o t he wor l d, and be of l i t t l e mor e ser vi ce t o St .

Ambr ose.

But t hese wer e not t he men t o get any hol d on t he f ast set who

wer e now i n t he ascendant . I t was not i n t he nat ur e of t hi ngs

t hat t hey shoul d under st and each ot her ; i n f act , t hey wer e

Page 7 of 443

hopel essl y at war , and t he col l ege was get t i ng mor e and mor e out

of gear i n consequence.

What t hey coul d do, however , t hey wer e doi ng; and under t hei r

f ost er i ng car e wer e gr owi ng up a smal l set , i ncl udi ng most of t he

schol ar s, who wer e l i kel y, as f ar as t hey wer e concer ned, t o

r et r i eve t he col l ege char act er of t he school s. But t hey wer e t oo

much l i ke t hei r t ut or s, men who di d l i t t l e el se but r ead. They

nei t her wi shed f or , nor wer e l i kel y t o gai n, t he sl i ght est

i nf l uence on t he f ast set . The best men amongst t hem, t oo, wer e

di l i gent r eader s of t he _Tr act s f or t he Ti mes_, and f ol l ower s of

t he abl e l eader s of t he Hi gh- chur ch par t y, whi ch was t hen a

gr owi ng one; and t hi s l ed t hem al so t o f or m such f r i endshi ps as

t hey made amongst out - col l ege men of t hei r own way of

t hi nki ng- wi t h hi gh chur chmen, r at her t han St . Ambr ose men. So

t hey l i ved ver y much t o t hemsel ves, and scar cel y i nt er f er ed wi t h

t he domi nant par t y.

Last l y, t her e was t he boat i ng set , whi ch was begi nni ng t o r evi ve

i n t he col l ege, par t l y f r om t he nat ur al di sgust of any body of

young Engl i shmen, at f i ndi ng t hemsel ves di st anced i n an exer ci se

r equi r i ng st r engt h and pl uck, and par t l y f r om t he f act , t hat t he

capt ai n f or t he t i me bei ng was one of t he best oar s i n t he

Uni ver si t y boat , and al so a deser vedl y popul ar char act er . He was

now i n hi s t hi r d year of r esi dence, had won t he pai r - oar r ace,

and had pul l ed seven i n t he gr eat year l y mat ch wi t h Cambr i dge,

and by const ant har d wor k had managed t o car r y t he St . Ambr ose

boat up t o t he f i f t h pl ace on t he r i ver . He wi l l be i nt r oduced t o

you, gent l e r eader , when t he pr oper t i me comes; at pr esent , we

ar e onl y concer ned wi t h a bi r d' s- eye vi ew of t he col l ege, t hat

you may f eel mor e or l ess at home i n i t . The boat i ng set was not

so separ at e or mar ked as t he r eadi ng set , mel t i ng on one si de

i nt o, and keepi ng up mor e or l ess connexi on wi t h, t he f ast set ,

and al so commandi ng a sor t of hal f al l egi ance f r om most of t he

men who bel onged t o nei t her of t he ot her set s. The mi nor

di vi si ons, of whi ch of cour se t her e wer e many, need not be

par t i cul ar i zed, as t he above gener al cl assi f i cat i on wi l l be

enough f or t he pur poses of t hi s hi st or y.

Our her o, on l eavi ng school , havi ng bound hi msel f sol emnl y t o

wr i t e al l hi s doi ngs and t hought s t o t he f r i end whom he had l ef t

behi nd hi m: di st ance and separ at i on wer e t o make no di f f er ence

what ever i n t hei r f r i endshi p. Thi s compact had been made on one

of t hei r l ast eveni ngs at Rugby. They wer e si t t i ng t oget her i n

t he si x- f or m r oom, Tom spl i ci ng t he handl e of a f avour i t e cr i cket

bat , and Ar t hur r eadi ng a vol ume of Ral ei gh' s wor ks. The Doct or

had l at el y been al l udi ng t o t he " Hi st or y of t he Wor l d, " and had

exci t ed t he cur i osi t y of t he act i ve- mi nded amongst hi s pupi l s

about t he gr eat navi gat or , st at esman, sol di er , aut hor , and f i ne

gent l eman. So Ral ei gh' s wor ks wer e sei zed on by var i ous vor aci ous

young r eader s, and car r i ed out of t he school l i br ar y; and Ar t hur

was now deep i n a vol ume of t he " Mi scel l ani es, " cur l ed up on a

cor ner of t he sof a. Pr esent l y, Tom hear d somet hi ng bet ween a

gr oan and a pr ot est , and, l ooki ng up, demanded expl anat i ons; i n

answer t o whi ch, Ar t hur , i n a voi ce hal f f ur i ous and hal f

f ear f ul , r ead out : - -

" And be sur e of t hi s, t hou shal t never f i nd a f r i end i n t hy young

year s whose condi t i ons and qual i t i es wi l l pl ease t hee af t er t hou

comest t o mor e di scr et i on and j udgment ; and t hen al l t hou gi vest

i s l ost , and al l wher ei n t hou shal t t r ust such a one wi l l be

di scover ed. "

" You don' t mean t hat ' s Ral ei gh' s?"

Page 8 of 443

" Yes- - her e i t i s, i n hi s f i r st l et t er t o hi s son. "

" What a col d- bl ooded ol d Phi l i st i ne, " sai d Tom.

" But i t can' t be t r ue, do you t hi nk?" sai d Ar t hur .

And i n shor t , af t er some per sonal r ef l ect i ons on Si r Wal t er , t hey

t hen and t her e r esol ved t hat , so f ar as t hey wer e concer ned, i t

was not , coul d not , and shoul d not be t r ue, t hat t hey woul d

r emai n f ai t hf ul , t he same t o each ot her ; and t he gr eat est f r i ends

i n t he wor l d, t hr ough I know not what separ at i ons, t r i al s, and

cat ast r ophes. And f or t he bet t er i nsur i ng t hi s r esul t , a

cor r espondence, r egul ar as t he r ecur r i ng mont hs, was t o be

mai nt ai ned. I t had al r eady l ast ed t hr ough t he l ong vacat i on and

up t o Chr i st mas wi t hout sensi bl y dr aggi ng, t hough Tom' s l et t er s

had been somet hi ng of t he shor t est i n November , when he had l ot s

of shoot i ng, and t wo days a week wi t h t he hounds. Now, however ,

havi ng f ai r l y got t o Oxf or d, he det er mi ned t o make up f or al l

shor t - comi ngs. Hi s f i r st l et t er f r om col l ege, t aken i n connexi on

wi t h t he pr evi ous sket ch of t he pl ace, wi l l pr obabl y accompl i sh

t he wor k of i nt r oduct i on bet t er t han any det ai l ed account by a

t hi r d par t y; and i t i s t her ef or e gi ven her e ver bat i m: - -

_" St . Ambr ose, Oxf or d, _

_" Febr uar y, 184- _

" MY DEAR GEORDI E,

" Accor di ng t o pr omi se, I wr i t e t o t el l you how I get on up her e,

and what sor t of a pl ace Oxf or d i s. Of cour se, I don' t know much

about i t yet , havi ng onl y been up some weeks, but you shal l have

my f i r st i mpr essi ons.

" Wel l , f i r st and f or emost i t ' s an awf ul l y i dl e pl ace; at any r at e

f or us f r eshmen. Fancy now. I am i n t wel ve l ect ur es a week of an

hour each- - Gr eek Test ament , f i r st book of Her odot us, second

AEnei d, and f i r st book of Eucl i d! Ther e' s a t r eat ! Two hour s a

day; al l over by t wel ve, or one at l at est , and no ext r a wor k at

al l , i n t he shape of copi es of ver ses, t hemes, or ot her

exer ci ses.

" I t hi nk somet i mes I ' m back i n t he l ower f i f t h; f or we don' t get

t hr ough mor e t han we used t o do t her e; and i f you wer e t o hear

t he men const r ue, i t woul d make your hai r st and on end. Wher e on

ear t h can t hey have come f r om? Unl ess t hey bl under on pur pose, as

I of t en t hi nk. Of cour se, I never l ook at a l ect ur e bef or e I go

i n, I know i t al l near l y by hear t , so i t woul d be sheer wast e of

t i me. I hope I shal l t ake t o r eadi ng somet hi ng or ot her by

mysel f ; but you know I never was much of a hand at sappi ng, and,

f or t he pr esent , t he l i ght wor k sui t s me wel l enough, f or t her e' s

pl ent y t o see and l ear n about i n t hi s pl ace.

" We keep ver y gent l emanl y hour s. Chapel ever y mor ni ng at ei ght ,

and eveni ng at seven. You must at t end once a day, and t wi ce on

Sundays- - at l east , t hat ' s t he r ul e of our col l ege- - and be i n

gat es by t wel ve o' cl ock at ni ght . Besi des whi ch, i f you' r e a

decent l y st eady f el l ow, you ought t o di ne i n hal l per haps f our

days a week. Hal l i s at f i ve o' cl ock. And now you have t he sum

t ot al . Al l t he r est of your t i me you may j ust do what you l i ke

wi t h.

Page 9 of 443

" So much f or our wor k and hour s. Now f or t he pl ace. Wel l , i t ' s a

gr and ol d pl ace, cer t ai nl y; and I dar e say, i f a f el l ow goes

st r ai ght i n i t , and get s cr edi t abl y t hr ough hi s t hr ee year s, he

may end by l ovi ng i t as much as we do t he ol d school - house and

quadr angl e at Rugby. Our col l ege i s a f ai r speci men: a vener abl e

ol d f r ont of cr umbl i ng st one f r ont i ng t he st r eet , i nt o whi ch t wo

or t hr ee ot her col l eges l ook al so. Over t he gat eway i s a l ar ge

r oom, wher e t he col l ege exami nat i ons go on, when t her e ar e any;

and, as you ent er , you pass t he por t er s l odge, wher e r esi des our

j ani t or , a bust l i ng l i t t l e man, wi t h a pot bel l y, whose busi ness

i t i s t o put down t he t i me at whi ch t he men come i n at ni ght , and

t o keep al l di scommonsed t r adesmen, st r ay dogs, and bad

char act er s gener al l y, out of t he col l ege.

" The l ar ge quadr angl e i nt o whi ch you come f i r st , i s bi gger t han

our s at Rugby, and a much mor e sol emn and sl eepy sor t of a pl ace,

wi t h i t s gabl es and ol d mul l i oned wi ndows. One si de i s occupi ed

by t he hal l and chapel ; t he pr i nci pal ' s house t akes up hal f

anot her si de; and t he r est i s di vi ded i nt o st ai r cases, on each of

whi ch ar e si x or ei ght set s of r ooms, i nhabi t ed by us

under gr aduat es, and her e and t her e a t ut or or f el l ow dr opped down

amongst us ( i n t he f i r st - f l oor r ooms, of cour se) , not exact l y t o

keep or der , but t o act as a sor t of bal l ast . Thi s quadr angl e i s

t he show par t of t he col l ege, and i s gener al l y r espect abl e and

qui et , whi ch i s a good deal mor e t han can be sai d f or t he i nner

quadr angl e, whi ch you get at t hr ough a passage l eadi ng out of t he

ot her . The r ooms ai n' t hal f so l ar ge or good i n t he i nner quad;

and her e' s wher e al l we f r eshmen l i ve, besi des a l ot of t he ol der

under gr aduat es who don' t car e t o change t hei r r ooms. Onl y one

t ut or has r ooms her e; and I shoul d t hi nk, i f he' s a r eadi ng man,

i t won' t be l ong bef or e he cl ear s out ; f or al l sor t s of hi gh

j i nks go on on t he gr ass- pl ot , and t he r ow on t he st ai r cases i s

of t en as bad, and not hal f so r espect abl e, as i t used t o be i n

t he mi ddl e passage i n t he l ast week of t he hal f - year .

" My r ooms ar e what t hey cal l gar r et s, r i ght up i n t he r oof , wi t h

a commandi ng vi ew of t he col l ege t i l es and chi mney pot s, and of

houses at t he back. No end of cat s, bot h col l ege Toms and

st r anger s, haunt t he nei ghbour hood, and I am r api dl y l ear ni ng

cat - t al ki ng f r om t hem; but I ' m not goi ng t o st and i t - - I don' t

want t o know cat - t al k. The col l ege Toms ar e pr ot ect ed by t he

st at ut es, I bel i eve; but I ' m goi ng t o buy an ai r - gun f or t he

benef i t of t he st r anger s. My r ooms ar e pl easant enough, at t he

t op of t he ki t chen st ai r case, and separ at ed f r om al l manki nd by a

gr eat , i r on- cl amped, out er door , my oak, whi ch I spor t when I go

out or want t o be qui et ; si t t i ng r oom ei ght een by t wel ve, bedr oom

t wel ve by ei ght , and a l i t t l e cupboar d f or t he scout .

" Ah, Geor di e, t he scout i s an i nst i t ut i on! Fancy me wai t ed upon

and val et ed by a st out par t y i n bl ack of qui et , gent l emanl y

manner s, l i ke t he benevol ent f at her i n a comedy. He t akes t he

deepest i nt er est i n al l my possessi ons and pr oceedi ngs, and i s

evi dent l y used t o good soci et y, t o j udge by t he amount of

cr ocker y and gl ass, wi nes, l i quor s, and gr ocer y, whi ch he t hi nks

i ndi spensabl e f or my due est abl i shment . He has al so been good

enough t o r ecommend t o me many t r adesmen who ar e r eady t o suppl y

t hese ar t i cl es i n any quant i t i es; each of whom has been her e

al r eady a dozen t i mes, cap i n hand, and vowi ng t hat i t i s qui t e

i mmat er i al when I pay- whi ch i s ver y ki nd of t hem; but , wi t h t he

hi ghest r espect f or f r i end Per ki ns ( my scout ) and hi s obl i gi ng

f r i ends, I shal l make some enqui r i es bef or e " l et t i ng i n" wi t h any

of t hem. He wai t s on me i n hal l , wher e we go i n f ul l f i g of cap

and gown at f i ve, and get ver y good di nner s, and cheap enough. I t

Page 10 of 443

i s r at her a f i ne ol d r oom, wi t h a good, ar ched, bl ack oak cei l i ng

and hi gh panel l i ng, hung r ound wi t h pi ct ur es of ol d swel l s,

bi shops and l or ds chi ef l y, who have endowed t he col l ege i n some

way, or at l east have f ed her e i n t i mes gone by, and f or whom,

_" caet er i sque benef act or i bus nost r i s, " _ we dai l y gi ve t hanks i n a

l ong Lat i n gr ace, whi ch one of t he under gr aduat es ( I t hi nk i t

must be) goes and r at t l es out at t he end of t he hi gh t abl e, and

t hen comes down agai n f r om t he dai s t o hi s own pl ace. No one

f eeds at t he hi gh t abl e except t he dons and t he

gent l emen- commoner s, who ar e under gr aduat es i n vel vet caps and

si l k gowns. Why t hey wear t hese i nst ead of cl ot h and ser ge I

haven' t yet made out , I bel i eve i t i s because t hey pay doubl e

f ees; but t hey seem uncommonl y wr et ched up at t he hi gh t abl e, and

I shoul d t hi nk woul d sooner pay doubl e t o come t o t he ot her end

of t he hal l .

" The chapel i s a quai nt l i t t l e pl ace, about t he si ze of t he

chancel of Lut t er wor t h Chur ch. I t j ust hol ds us al l comf or t abl y.

The at t endance i s r egul ar enough, but I don' t t hi nk t he men car e

about i t a bi t i n gener al . Sever al I can see br i ng i n Eucl i ds,

and ot her l ect ur e books, and t he ser vi ce i s gone t hr ough at a

gr eat pace. I coul dn' t t hi nk at f i r st why some of t he men seemed

so uncomf or t abl e and st i f f about t he l egs at mor ni ng ser vi ce, but

I f i nd t hat t hey ar e t he hunt i ng set , and come i n wi t h pea- coat s

over t hei r pi nks, and t r ouser s over t hei r l eat her br eeches and

t op- boot s; whi ch account s f or i t . Ther e ar e a f ew ot her s who seem

ver y devout , and bow a good deal , and t ur n t owar ds t he al t ar at

di f f er ent par t s of t he ser vi ce. These ar e of t he Oxf or d

Hi gh- chur ch school , I bel i eve; but I shal l soon f i nd out mor e

about t hem. On t he whol e I f eel l ess at home at pr esent , I am

sor r y t o say, i n t he chapel , t han anywher e el se.

" I was ver y near f or get t i ng a gr eat i nst i t ut i on of t he col l ege,

whi ch i s t he but t er y- hat ch, j ust opposi t e t he hal l - door . Her e

abi des t he f at ol d but l er ( al l t he ser vant s at St . Ambr ose' s ar e

por t l y) , and ser ves out l i mi t ed br ead, but t er , and cheese, and

unl i mi t ed beer br ewed by hi msel f , f or an hour i n t he mor ni ng, at

noon, and agai n at supper - t i me. Your scout al ways f et ches you a

pi nt or so on each occasi on i n case you shoul d want i t , and i f

you don' t , i t f al l s t o hi m; but I can' t say t hat my f el l ow get s

much, f or I am nat ur al l y a t hi r st y soul , and cannot of t en r esi st

t he mal t mysel f , comi ng up as i t does, f r esh and cool , i n one of

t he si l ver t ankar ds, of whi ch we seem t o have an endl ess suppl y.

" I spent a day or t wo i n t he f i r st week, bef or e I got shaken down

i nt o my pl ace her e, i n goi ng r ound and seei ng t he ot her col l eges,

and f i ndi ng out what gr eat men had been at each ( one got a t ast e

f or t hat sor t of wor k f r om t he Doct or , and I ' d not hi ng el se t o

do) . Wel l , I never was mor e i nt er est ed; f ancy f er r et i ng out

Wycl i f f e, t he Bl ack Pr i nce, our f r i end Si r Wal t er Ral ei gh, Pym,

Hampden, Laud, I r et on, But l er , and Addi son, i n one af t er noon. I

wal ked about t wo i nches t al l er i n my t r encher cap af t er i t .

Per haps I may be goi ng t o make dear f r i ends wi t h some f el l ow who

wi l l change t he hi st or y of Engl and. Why shoul dn' t I ? Ther e must

have been f r eshmen once who wer e chums of Wycl i f f e of Queen' s, or

Ral ei gh of Or i el . I mooned up and down t he Hi gh- st r eet , st ar i ng

at al l t he young f aces i n caps, and wonder i ng whi ch of t hem woul d

t ur n out gr eat gener al s, or st at esmen, or poet s. Some of t hem

wi l l , of cour se, f or t her e must be a dozen at l east , I shoul d

t hi nk, i n ever y gener at i on of under gr aduat es, who wi l l have a

good deal t o say t o t he r ul i ng and gui di ng of t he Br i t i sh nat i on

bef or e t hey di e.

" But , af t er al l , t he r i ver i s t he f eat ur e of Oxf or d, t o my mi nd;

Page 11 of 443

a gl or i ous st r eam, not f i ve mi nut es' wal k f r om t he col l eges,

br oad enough i n most pl aces f or t hr ee boat s t o r ow abr east . I

expect I wi l l t ake t o boat i ng f ur i ousl y: I have been down t he

r i ver t hr ee or f our t i mes al r eady wi t h some ot her f r eshmen, and

i t i s gl or i ous exer ci se; t hat I can see, t hough we bungl e and cut

cr abs desper at el y at pr esent .

" Her e' s a l ong yar n I ' m spi nni ng f or you; and I dar e say af t er

al l you' l l say i t t el l s you not hi ng, and you' d r at her have t went y

l i nes about t he men, and what t hey' r e t hi nki ng about and t he

meani ng, and t he i nner l i f e of t he pl ace, and al l t hat . Pat i ence,

pat i ence! I don' t know anyt hi ng about i t mysel f yet , and have had

onl y t i me t o l ook at t he shel l , whi ch i s a ver y handsome and

st at el y af f ai r ; you shal l have t he ker nel , i f I ever get at i t ,

i n due t i me.

" And now wr i t e me a l ong l et t er di r ect l y, and t el l me about t he

Doct or , and who ar e i n t he Si xt h, and how t he house goes on, and

what sor t of an el even t her e' l l be, and what you ar e doi ng and

t hi nki ng about . Come up her e t r y f or a schol ar shi p; I ' l l t ake you

i n and show you t he l i ons. Remember me t o ol d f r i ends. - - Ever your

af f ect i onat el y,

T. B. "

CHAPTER I I

A ROW ON THE RI VER

Wi t hi n a day or t wo of t he penni ng of t hi s cel ebr at ed epi st l e,

whi ch cr eat ed qui t e a sensat i on i n t he si xt h- f or m r oom as i t went

t he r ound af t er t ea, Tom r eal i zed one of t he obj ect s of hi s young

Oxf or d ambi t i on, and succeeded i n embar ki ng on t he r i ver i n a

ski f f by hi msel f , wi t h such r esul t s as ar e now descr i bed. He had

al r eady been down sever al t i mes i n pai r - oar and f our - oar boat s,

wi t h an ol d oar t o pul l st r oke, and anot her t o st eer and coach

t he young i dea, but he was not sat i sf i ed wi t h t hese essays. He

coul d not bel i eve t hat he was such a bad oar as t he ol d hands'

made hi m out t o be, and t hought t hat i t must be t he f aul t of t he

ot her f r eshmen who wer e l ear ni ng wi t h hi m t hat t he boat made so

l i t t l e way and r ol l ed so much. He had been such a pr of i ci ent i n

al l t he Rugby games, t hat he coul dn' t r eal i ze t he f act of hi s

unr eadi ness i n a boat . Pul l i ng l ooked a si mpl e t hi ng enough- - much

easi er t han t enni s; and he had made a capi t al st ar t at t he l at t er

game, and been hi ghl y compl i ment ed by t he mar ker af t er hi s f i r st

hour i n t he l i t t l e cour t . He f or got t hat cr i cket and f i ves ar e

capi t al t r ai ni ng f or t enni s, but t hat r owi ng i s a speci al i t y, of

t he r udi ment s of whi ch he was whol l y i gnor ant . And so, i n f ul l

conf i dence t hat , i f he coul d onl y have a t ur n or t wo al one, he

shoul d not onl y sat i sf y hi msel f , but ever ybody el se, t hat he was

a heaven- bor n oar , he r ef used al l of f er s of compani onshi p, and

st ar t ed on t he af t er noon of a f i ne Febr uar y day down t o t he boat s

f or hi s t r i al t r i p. He had wat ched hi s r egul ar compani ons wel l

out of col l ege, and gave t hem enough st ar t t o make sur e t hat t hey

woul d be of f bef or e he hi msel f coul d ar r i ve at St . Ambr ose' s

dr essi ng r oom at Hal l ' s, and chuckl ed, as he came wi t hi n si ght of

t he r i ver , t o see t he f r eshmen' s boat i n whi ch he gener al l y

per f or med, go pl ungi ng away past t he Uni ver si t y bar ge, keepi ng

t hr ee di f f er ent t i mes wi t h f our oar s, and ot her wi se demeani ng

i t sel f so as t o become an obj ect of mi r t hf ul admi r at i on t o al l

behol der s.

Page 12 of 443

Tom was punt ed acr oss t o Hal l ' s i n a st at e of gr eat cont ent ,

whi ch i ncr eased when, i n answer t o hi s casual i nqui r y, t he

managi ng man i nf or med hi m t hat not a man of hi s col l ege was about

t he pl ace. So he or der ed a ski f f wi t h as much di gni t y and

cool ness as he coul d command, and hast ened up st ai r s t o dr ess. He

appear ed agai n, car r yi ng hi s boat i ng coat and cap. They wer e

qui t e new, so he woul d not wear t hem; not hi ng about hi m shoul d

bet r ay t he f r eshman on t hi s day i f he coul d hel p i t .

" I s my ski f f r eady?"

" Al l r i ght , si r ; t hi s way, si r ; " sai d t he manager , conduct i ng hi m

t o a good, saf e- l ooki ng cr af t . " Any gent l eman goi ng t o st eer ,

si r ?"

" No" sai d Tom, super ci l i ousl y; " You may t ake out t he r udder . "

" Goi ng qui t e al one, si r ? Bet t er t ake one of our boys - - f i nd you a

ver y l i ght one. Her e, Bi l l ! " - - and he t ur ned t o summons a j uveni l e

wat er man t o t ake char ge of our her o.

" Take out t he r udder , do you hear ?" i nt er r upt ed Tom. " I won' t

have a st eer er . "

" Wel l , si r , as you pl ease, " sai d t he manager , pr oceedi ng t o

r emove t he degr adi ng appendage. " The r i ver ' s r at her hi gh, pl ease

t o r emember , si r . You must mi nd t he mi l l st r eam at I f f l ey Lock. I

suppose you can swi m?"

" Yes, of cour se, " sai d Tom, set t l i ng hi msel f on hi s cushi on.

" Now, shove her of f . "

The next moment he was wel l out i n t he st r eam, and l ef t t o hi s

own r esour ces. He got hi s scul l s out successf ul l y enough, and,

t hough f eel i ng by no means easy on hi s seat , pr oceeded t o pul l

ver y del i ber at el y past t he bar ges, st oppi ng hi s scul l s i n t he ai r

t o f eat her accur at el y, i n t he hopes of decei vi ng spect at or s i nt o

t he bel i ef t hat he was an ol d hand j ust goi ng out f or a gent l e

paddl e. The manager wat ched hi m f or a mi nut e, and t ur ned t o hi s

wor k wi t h an aspi r at i on t hat he mi ght not come t o gr i ef .

But no t hought of gr i ef was on Tom' s mi nd as he dr opped gent l y

down, i mpat i ent f or t he t i me when he shoul d pass t he mout h of t he

Cher wel l , and so, havi ng no l onger cr i t i cal eyes t o f ear , mi ght

put out hi s whol e st r engt h, and gi ve hi msel f at l east i f not t he

wor l d, assur ance of a wat er man.

The day was a ver y f i ne one, a br i ght sun shi ni ng, and a ni ce

f r esh br eeze bl owi ng acr oss t he st r eam, but not enough t o r uf f l e

t he wat er ser i ousl y. Some heavy st or ms up Gl oucest er shi r e way had

cl ear ed t he ai r , and swol l en t he st r eam at t he same t i me; i n

f act , t he r i ver was as f ul l as i t coul d be wi t hout over f l owi ng

i t s banks- - a st at e i n whi ch, of al l ot her s, i t i s t he l east saf e

f or boat i ng exper i ment s. For t unat el y, i n t hose days t her e wer e no

out r i gger s. Even t he r aci ng ski f f s wer e compar at i vel y saf e cr af t ,

and woul d now be char act er i zed as t ubs; whi l e t he r eal t ubs ( i n

one of t he saf est of whi ch t he pr udent manager had embar ked our

her o) wer e of such bui l d t hat i t r equi r ed consi der abl e i ngenui t y

act ual l y t o upset t hem.

I f any or di nar y amount of bungl i ng coul d have done i t , Tom' s

voyage woul d have t er mi nat ed wi t hi n a hundr ed yar ds of t he

Cher wel l . Whi l e he had been si t t i ng qui et and mer el y paddl i ng,

and al most l et t i ng t he st r eam car r y hi m down, t he boat had

Page 13 of 443

t r i mmed wel l enough; but now, t aki ng a l ong br eat h, he l eaned

f or war d, and dug hi s scul l s i nt o t he wat er , pul l i ng t hem t hr ough

wi t h al l hi s st r engt h. The consequence of t hi s f eat was t hat t he

handl es of t he scul l s came i nt o vi ol ent col l i si on i n t he mi ddl e

of t he boat , t he knuckl es of hi s r i ght hand wer e bar ked, hi s l ef t

scul l unshi pped, and t he head of hi s ski f f al most bl own r ound by

t he wi nd bef or e he coul d r est or e or der on boar d.

" Never mi nd; t r y agai n, " t hought be, af t er t he f i r st sensat i on of

di sgust had passed of f , and a gl ance at t he shor e showed hi m t hat

t her e wer e no wi t nesses. " Of cour se, I f or got one hand must go

over t he ot her . I t mi ght have happened t o anyone. Let me see,

whi ch hand shal l I keep upper most ; t he l ef t , t hat ' s t he weakest . "

And away he went agai n, keepi ng hi s newl y- acqui r ed f act pai nf ul l y

i n mi nd, and so avoi di ng f ur t her col l i si on ami dshi ps f or f our or

f i ve st r okes. But , as i n ot her sci ences, t he gi vi ng of undue

pr omi nence t o one f act br i ngs ot her s i nexor abl y on t he head of

t he st udent t o avenge hi s negl ect of t hem, so i t happened wi t h

Tom i n hi s pr act i cal st udy of t he sci ence of r owi ng t hat by

t hi nki ng of hi s hands he f or got hi s seat , and t he necessi t y of

t r i mmi ng pr oper l y. Wher eupon t he ol d t ub began t o r ock f ear f ul l y,

and t he next moment , he mi ssed t he wat er al t oget her wi t h hi s

r i ght scul l , and subsi ded backwar ds, not wi t hout st r uggl es, i nt o

t he bot t om of t he boat ; whi l e t he hal f st r oke whi ch he had pul l ed

wi t h hi s l ef t hand sent her head wel l i nt o t he bank.

Tom pi cked hi msel f up, and set t l ed hi msel f on hi s bench agai n, a

sadder and wi ser man, as t he t r ut h began t o dawn upon hi m t hat

pul l i ng, especi al l y scul l i ng, does not , l i ke r eadi ng and wr i t i ng,

come by nat ur e. However , he addr essed hi msel f manf ul l y t o hi s

t ask; savage i ndeed, and l ongi ng t o dr i ve a hol e i n t he bot t om of

t he ol d t ub, but as r esol ved as ever t o get t o Sandf or d and back

bef or e hal l t i me, or per i sh i n t he at t empt .

He shoved hi msel f of f t he bank, and war ned by hi s l ast mi shap,

got out i nt o mi d st r eam, and t her e, moder at i ng hi s ar dor , and

cont ent i ng hi msel f wi t h a sl ow and st eady st r oke, was pr ogr essi ng

sat i sf act or i l y, and begi nni ng t o r ecover hi s t emper , when a l oud

shout st ar t l ed hi m; and, l ooki ng over hi s shoul der at t he

i mmi nent r i sk of an upset , he behel d t he f ast sai l or t he Dar t ,

cl ose haul ed on a wi nd, and al most aboar d of hi m. Ut t er l y

i gnor ant of what was t he r i ght t hi ng t o do, he hel d on hi s

cour se, and passed cl ose under t he bows of t he mi ni at ur e cut t er ,

t he st eer sman havi ng j ammed hi s hel m har d down, shaki ng her i n

t he wi nd, t o pr event r unni ng over t he ski f f , and sol aci ng hi msel f

wi t h pour i ng mal edi ct i ons on Tom and hi s cr af t , i n whi ch t he man

who had hol d of t he sheet s, and t he t hi r d, who was l oungi ng i n

t he bows, hear t i l y j oi ned. Tom was out of ear - shot bef or e he had

col l ect ed vi t uper at i on enough t o hur l back at t hem, and was,

mor eover , al r eady i n t he di f f i cul t navi gat i on of t he Gut , wher e,

not wi t hst andi ng al l hi s ef f or t s, he agai n r an agr ound; but , wi t h

t hi s except i on, he ar r i ved wi t hout ot her mi shap at I f f l ey, wher e

he l ay on hi s scul l s wi t h much sat i sf act i on, and shout ed,

" Lock- - l ock! "

The l ock- keeper appear ed t o t he summons, but i nst ead of openi ng

t he gat es sei zed a l ong boat - hook, and r ushed t owar ds our her o,

cal l i ng upon hi m t o mi nd t he mi l l - st r eam, and pul l hi s r i ght - hand

scul l ; not wi t hst andi ng whi ch war ni ng, Tom was wi t hi n an ace of

dr i f t i ng past t he ent r ance t o t he l ock, i n whi ch case assur edl y

hi s boat , i f not he, had never r et ur ned whol e. However , t he

l ock- keeper managed t o cat ch t he st er n of hi s ski f f wi t h t he

boat - hook, and dr ag hi m back i nt o t he pr oper channel , and t hen

opened t he l ock- gat es f or hi m. Tom congr at ul at ed hi msel f as he

Page 14 of 443

ent er ed t he l ock t hat t her e wer e no ot her boat s goi ng t hr ough

wi t h hi m; but hi s evi l st ar was i n t he ascendant , and al l t hi ngs,

ani mat e and i nani mat e, seemed t o be l eagued t oget her t o humi l i at e

hi m. As t he wat er began t o f al l r api dl y, he l ost hi s hol d of t he

chai n and t he t ub i nst ant l y dr i f t ed acr oss t he l ock, and was i n

i mmi nent danger of st i cki ng and br eaki ng her back, when t he

l ock- keeper agai n came t o t he r escue wi t h hi s boat - hook and,

guessi ng t he st at e of t he case, di d not qui t hi m unt i l he had

saf el y shoved hi m and hi s boat wel l out i nt o t he pool bel ow, wi t h

an exhor t at i on t o mi nd and go out si de of t he bar ge whi ch was

comi ng up.

Tom st ar t ed on t he l at t er hal f of hi s out war d voyage wi t h t he

sor t of l ook whi ch Cat o must have wor n when he el ect ed t he l osi ng

si de, and al l t he gods went over t o t he wi nni ng one. But hi s

pr evi ous st r uggl es had not been t hr own away, and he managed t o

keep t he r i ght si de of t he bar ge, t ur n t he cor ner wi t hout goi ng

ar ound, and zi gzag down Kenni ngt on r each, sl owl y i ndeed, but wi t h

much l abor , but at any r at e saf el y. Rej oi ci ng i n hi s f eat , he

st opped at t he i sl and, and r ecr eat ed hi msel f wi t h a gl ass of

beer , l ooki ng now hopef ul l y t owar ds Sandf or d, whi ch l ay wi t hi n

easy di st ance, now upwar ds agai n al ong t he r each whi ch he had

j ust over come, and sol aci ng hi msel f wi t h t he r emembr ance of a

di ct um, whi ch he had hear d f r om a gr eat aut hor i t y, t hat i t was

al ways easi er t o st eer up st r eam t han down, f r om whi ch he ar gued

t hat t he wor st par t of hi s t r i al t r i p was now over .

Pr esent l y he saw a ski f f t ur n t he cor ner at t he t op of t he

Kenni ngt on r each, and, r esol vi ng i n hi s mi nd t o get t o Sandf or d

bef or e t he new comer , pai d f or hi s beer , and bet ook hi msel f agai n

t o hi s t ub. He got pr et t y wel l of f , and, t he i sl and shut t i ng out

hi s unconsci ous r i val f r om hi s vi ew, wor ked away at f i r st under

t he pl easi ng del usi on t hat he was hol di ng hi s own. But he was

soon undecei ved, f or i n monst r ousl y shor t t i me t he pur sui ng ski f f

showed ar ound t he cor ner and bor e down on hi m. He never r el axed

hi s ef f or t s, but coul d not hel p wat chi ng t he enemy as he came up

wi t h hi m hand over hand, and envyi ng t he per f ect ease wi t h whi ch

he seemed t o be pul l i ng hi s l ong st eady st r oke and t he pr eci si on

wi t h whi ch he st eer ed, scar cel y ever cast i ng a l ook over hi s

shoul der . He was huggi ng t he Ber kshi r e si de hi msel f , as t he ot her

ski f f passed hi m, and t hought he hear d t he scul l er say somet hi ng

about keepi ng out , and mi ndi ng t he smal l l asher ; but t he noi se of

t he wat er s and hi s own desper at e ef f or t s pr event ed hi s heedi ng,

or , i ndeed, hear i ng t he war ni ng pl ai nl y. I n anot her mi nut e,

however , he hear d pl ai nl y enough most ener get i c shout s behi nd hi m

and, t ur ni ng hi s head over hi s r i ght shoul der , saw t he man who

had j ust passed hi m backi ng hi s ski f f r api dl y up st r eam t owar ds

hi m. The next moment he f el t t he bows of hi s boat whi r l r ound,

t he ol d t ub gr ounded f or a moment , and t hen, t ur ni ng over on her

si de, shot hi m out on t o t he pl anki ng of t he st eep descent i nt o

t he smal l l asher . He gr asped at t he boar ds, but t hey wer e t oo

sl i pper y t o hol d, and t he r ush of wat er was t oo st r ong f or hi m,

and r ol l i ng hi m over and over l i ke a pi ece of dr i f t wood, pl unged

hi m i nt o t he pool bel ow.

Af t er t he f i r st moment of ast oni shment and f r i ght was over , Tom

l ef t hi msel f t o t he st r eam, hol di ng hi s br eat h har d, and paddl i ng

gent l y wi t h hi s hands, f eel i ng sur e t hat , i f he coul d onl y hol d

on, he shoul d come t o t he sur f ace sooner or l at er ; whi ch

accor di ngl y happened af t er a somewhat l engt hy submer si on.

Hi s f i r st i mpul se on r i si ng t o t he sur f ace, af t er cat chi ng hi s

br eat h, was t o st r i ke out f or t he shor e, but , i n t he act of doi ng

so, he caught si ght of t he ot her ski f f comi ng st er n f or emost down

Page 15 of 443

t he decent af t er hi m, and he t r od t he wat er and dr ew i n hi s

br eat h t o wat ch. Down she came, as st r ai ght as an ar r ow, i nt o t he

t umul t bel ow; t he scul l er si t t i ng upr i ght , and hol di ng hi s scul l s

st eadi l y i n t he wat er . For a moment she seemed t o be goi ng under ,

but r i ght ed her sel f , and gl i ded swi f t l y i nt o t he st i l l wat er ; and

t hen t he scul l er cast a hast y and anxi ous gl ance ar ound, t i l l hi s

eyes r est ed on our her o' s hal f - dr owned head.

" Oh, t her e you ar e! " he sai d, l ooki ng much r el i eved; " al l r i ght ,

I hope. Not hur t , eh?"

" No, t hankee; al l r i ght , I bel i eve, " answer ed Tom. " What shal l I

do?"

" Swi m ashor e; I ' l l l ook af t er your boat . " So Tom t ook t he advi ce,

swam ashor e, and t her e st ood dr i ppi ng and wat chi ng t he ot her as

he r i ght ed t he ol d t ub whi ch was f l oat i ng qui et l y bot t om upwar ds,

l i t t l e t he wor se f or t he mi shap, and no doubt , i f boat s can wi sh,

ear nest l y desi r i ng i n her wooden mi nd t o be al l owed t o go qui et l y

t o pi eces t hen and t her e, sooner t o be r escued t han be agai n

ent r ust ed t o t he gui dance of f r eshmen.

The t ub havi ng been br ought t o t he bank, t he st r anger st ar t ed

agai n, and col l ect ed t he scul l s and bot t om boar ds whi ch wer e

f l oat i ng about her e and t her e i n t he pool , and al so succeeded i n

maki ng sal vage of Tom' s coat , t he pocket s of whi ch hel d hi s

wat ch, pur se, and ci gar case. These he br ought t o t he bank, and

del i ver i ng t hem over , i nqui r ed whet her t her e was anyt hi ng el se t o

l ook af t er .

" Thank you, no; not hi ng but my cap. Never mi nd i t . I t ' s l uck

enough not t o have l ost t he coat , " sai d Tom, hol di ng up t he

dr i ppi ng gar ment t o l et t he wat er r un out of t he ar ms and

pocket - hol es, and t hen wr i ngi ng i t as wel l as he coul d. " At any

r at e, " t hought he, " I needn' t be af r ai d of i t s l ooki ng t oo new

any mor e. "

The st r anger put of f agai n, and made one mor e r ound, sear chi ng

f or t he cap and anyt hi ng el se whi ch he mi ght have over l ooked, but

wi t hout success. Whi l e he was doi ng so, Tom had t i me t o l ook hi m

wel l over , and see what sor t of a man had come t o hi s r escue. He

har dl y knew at t he t i me t he f ul l ext ent of hi s obl i gat i on- - at

l east i f t hi s sor t of obl i gat i on i s t o be r eckoned not so much by

t he ser vi ce act ual l y r ender ed, as by t he r i sk encount er ed t o be

abl e t o r ender i t . Ther e wer e pr obabl y not t hr ee men i n t he

Uni ver si t y who woul d have dar ed t o shoot t he l asher i n a ski f f i n

i t s t hen st at e, f or i t was i n t hose t i mes a r eal l y danger ous

pl ace; and Tom hi msel f had an ext r aor di nar y escape, f or , as

Mi l l er , t he St . Ambr ose coxswai n, r emar ked on hear i ng t he st or y,

" No one who wasn' t bor n t o be hung coul d have r ol l ed down i t

wi t hout knocki ng hi s head agai nst somet hi ng har d, and goi ng down

l i ke l ead when he got t o t he bot t om. "

He was ver y wel l sat i sf i ed wi t h hi s i nspect i on. The ot her man was

evi dent l y a year or t wo ol der t han hi msel f , hi s f i gur e was mor e

set , and he had st r onger whi sker s t han ar e gener al l y gr own at

t went y. He was somewher e about f i ve f eet t en i n hei ght , ver y

deep- chest ed, and wi t h l ong power f ul ar ms and hands. Ther e was no

denyi ng, however , t hat at t he f i r st gl ance he was an ugl y man; he

was mar ked wi t h smal l - pox, had l ar ge f eat ur es, hi gh cheekbones,

deepl y set eyes, and a ver y l ong chi n; and had got t he t r i ck

whi ch many under hung men have of compr essi ng hi s upper l i p.

Never t hel ess, t her e was t hat i n hi s f ace whi ch hi t Tom' s f ancy,

and made hi m anxi ous t o know hi s r escuer bet t er . He had an

Page 16 of 443

i nst i nct t hat good was t o be got t en out of hi m. So he was ver y

gl ad when t he sear ch was ended, and t he st r anger came t o t he

bank, shi pped hi s scul l s, and j umped out wi t h t he pai nt er of hi s

ski f f i n hi s hand, whi ch he pr oceeded t o f ast en t o an ol d st ump,

whi l e he r emar ked- -

" I ' m af r ai d t he cap' s l ost . "

" I t doesn' t mat t er t he l east . Thank you f or comi ng t o hel p me; i t

was ver y ki nd i ndeed, and mor e t han I expect ed. Don' t t hey say

t hat one Oxf or d man wi l l never save anot her f r om dr owni ng unl ess

t hey have been i nt r oduced?"

" I don' t know, " r epl i ed t he ot her ; " ar e you sur e you' r e not

hur t ?"

" Yes, qui t e, " sai d Tom, f oi l ed i n what he consi der ed an ar t f ul

pl an t o get t he st r anger t o i nt r oduce hi msel f .

" Then we' r e ver y wel l out of i t , " sai d t he ot her , l ooki ng at t he

st eep descent i nt o t he l asher , and t he r ol l i ng t umbl i ng r ush of

t he wat er bel ow.

" I ndeed we ar e, " sai d Tom; " but how i n t he wor l d di d you manage

not t o upset ?"

" I har dl y know mysel f - - I had shi pped a good deal of wat er , you

see. Per haps I ought t o have j umped out on t he bank and come

acr oss t o you, l eavi ng my ski f f i n t he r i ver , f or i f I had upset

I coul dn' t have hel ped you much. However , I f ol l owed my i nst i nct ,

whi ch was t o come t he qui ckest way. I t hought , t oo, t hat i f I

coul d manage t o get down i n t he boat I shoul d be of mor e use. I

am ver y gl ad I di d i t , " he added af t er a moment ' s pause; " I ' m

r eal l y pr oud of havi ng come down t hat pl ace. "

" So ai n' t I , " sai d Tom, wi t h a l augh, i n whi ch t he ot her j oi ned.

" But now you' r e get t i ng chi l l ed, " and he t ur ned f r om t he l asher

and l ooked at Tom' s chat t er i ng j aws.

" Oh, i t ' s not hi ng. I ' m used t o bei ng wet . "

" But you may j ust as wel l be comf or t abl e i f you can. Her e' s t hi s

r ough Jer sey whi ch I use i nst ead of a coat ; pul l of f t hat wet

cot t on af f ai r , and put i t on, and t hen we' l l get t o wor k, f or we

have pl ent y t o do. "

Af t er a l i t t l e per suasi on Tom di d as he was bi d, and got i nt o t he

gr eat wool en gar ment , whi ch was ver y comf or t i ng; and t hen t he t wo

set about get t i ng t hei r ski f f s back i nt o t he mai n st r eam. Thi s

was compar at i vel y easy as t o t he l i ght er ski f f , whi ch was soon

bal ed out and haul ed by mai n f or ce on t o t he bank, car r i ed acr oss

and l aunched agai n. The t ub gave t hem much mor e t r oubl e, f or she

was qui t e f ul l of wat er and ver y heavy; but af t er t went y mi nut es

or so of har d wor k, dur i ng whi ch t he mut ual r espect of t he

l abour er s f or t he st r engt h and wi l l i ngness of each ot her was much

i ncr eased, she al so l ay i n t he mai n st r eam, l eaki ng consi der abl y,

but ot her wi se not much t he wor se f or her advent ur e.

" Now what do you mean t o do?" sai d t he st r anger . " I don' t t hi nk

you can pul l home i n her . One doesn' t know how much she may be

damaged. She may si nk i n t he l ock, or pl ay any pr ank. "

" But what am I t o do wi t h her ?"

Page 17 of 443

" Oh, you can l eave her at Sandf or d and wal k up, and send one of

Hal l ' s boys af t er her . Or , i f you l i ke, I wi l l t ow her up behi nd

my ski f f . "

" Won' t your ski f f car r y t wo?"

" Yes; i f you l i ke t o come I ' l l t ake you, but you must si t ver y

qui et . "

" Can' t we go down t o Sandf or d f i r st and have a gl ass of al e? What

t i me i s i t ?- - t he wat er has st opped my wat ch. "

" A quar t er past t hr ee. I have about t went y mi nut es t o spar e. "

" Come al ong, t hen, " sai d Tom; " but wi l l you l et me pul l your

ski f f down t o Sandf or d? I r esol ved t o pul l t o Sandf or d t o- day,

and don' t l i ke t o gi ve i t up. "

" By al l means, i f you l i ke, " sai d t he ot her , wi t h a smi l e; " j ump

i n, and I ' l l wal k al ong t he bank. "

" Thank you, " sai d Tom, hur r yi ng i nt o t he ski f f , i n whi ch he

compl et ed t he r emai ni ng quar t er of a mi l e, whi l e t he owner wal ked

by t he si de, wat chi ng hi m.

They met on t he bank at t he l i t t l e i nn by Sandf or d l ock, and had

a gl ass of al e, over whi ch Tom conf essed t hat i t was t he f i r st

t i me he had ever navi gat ed a ski f f by hi msel f , and gave a

det ai l ed account of hi s advent ur es, t o t he gr eat amusement of hi s

compani on. And by t he t i me t hey r ose t o go, i t was set t l ed, at

Tom' s ear nest r equest , t hat he shoul d pul l t he sound ski f f up,

whi l e hi s compani on sat i n t he st er n and coached hi m. The ot her

consent ed ver y ki ndl y, mer el y st i pul at i ng t hat he hi msel f shoul d

t ake t he scul l s, i f i t shoul d pr ove t hat Tom coul d not pul l t hem

up i n t i me f or hal l di nner . So t hey st ar t ed, and t ook t he t ub i n

t ow when t hey came up t o i t . Tom got on f amousl y under hi s new

t ut or , who t aught hi m t o get f or war d, and open hi s knees

pr oper l y, and t hr ow hi s wei ght on t o t he scul l s at t he begi nni ng

of t he st r oke. He managed even t o get i nt o I f f l ey l ock on t he way

up wi t hout f oul i ng t he gat es, and was t hen and t her e compl i ment ed

on hi s pr ogr ess. Wher eupon, as t hey sat , whi l e t he l ock f i l l ed,

Tom pour ed out hi s t hanks t o hi s t ut or f or hi s i nst r uct i on, whi ch

had been gi ven so j udi ci ousl y t hat , whi l e he was consci ous of

i mpr ovi ng at ever y st r oke, he di d not f eel t hat t he ot her was

asser t i ng any super i or i t y over hi m; and so, t hough mor e humbl e

t han at t he most di sast r ous per i od of hi s downwar d voyage, he was

get t i ng i nt o a bet t er t emper ever y mi nut e.

I t i s a gr eat pi t y t hat some of our i nst r uct or s i n mor e i mpor t ant

mat t er s t han scul l i ng wi l l not t ake a l eaf out of t he same book.

Of cour se, i t i s mor e sat i sf act or y t o one' s own sel f - l ove t o make

ever yone who comes t o one t o l ear n, f eel t hat he i s a f ool , and

we wi se men; but i f our obj ect i s t o t each wel l and usef ul l y what

we know our sel ves t her e cannot be a wor se met hod. No man,

however , i s l i kel y t o adopt i t , so l ong as he i s consci ous t hat

he has anyt hi ng hi msel f t o l ear n f r om hi s pupi l s; and as soon as

he has ar r i ved at t he convi ct i on t hat t hey can t each hi m

not hi ng- t hat i t i s hencef or t h t o be al l gi ve and no t ake- t he

sooner he t hr ows up hi s of f i ce of t eacher , t he bet t er i t wi l l be

f or hi msel f , hi s pupi l s, and hi s count r y, whose sons he i s

mi sgui di ng.

On t hei r way up, so i nt ent wer e t hey on t hei r own wor k t hat i t

Page 18 of 443

was not unt i l shout s of " Hel l o, Br own! how di d you get t her e?

Why, you sai d you wer e not goi ng down t oday, " gr eet ed t hem j ust

above t he Gut , t hat t hey wer e awar e of t he pr esence of t he

f r eshmen' s f our - oar of St . Ambr ose Col l ege, whi ch had wi t h some

t r oubl e succeeded i n over t aki ng t hem.

" I sai d I wasn' t goi ng down wi t h _you_, " shout ed Tom, gr i ndi ng

away har der t han ever , t hat t hey mi ght wi t ness and wonder at hi s

pr owess.

" Oh, I dar e say! Whose ski f f ar e you t owi ng up? I bel i eve you' ve

been upset . "

Tom made no r epl y, and t he f our - oar f l ounder ed on ahead.

" Ar e you at St . Ambr ose' s?" asked hi s si t t er , af t er a mi nut e.

" Yes; t hat ' s my t r eadmi l l , t hat f our - oar . I ' ve been down i n i t

al most ever y day si nce I came up, and ver y poor f un i t i s. So I

t hought t o- day I woul d go on my own hook, and see i f I coul dn' t

make a bet t er hand of i t . And I have t oo, I know, t hanks t o you. "

The ot her made no r emar k, but a l i t t l e shade came over hi s f ace.

He had no chance of maki ng out Tom' s col l ege, as t he new cap

whi ch woul d have bet r ayed hi m had di sappear ed i n t he l asher . He

hi msel f wor e a gl azed st r aw hat , whi ch was of no col l ege; so t hat

up t o t hi s t i me nei t her of t hem had known t o what col l ege t he

ot her bel onged.

When t hey l anded at Hal l ' s, Tom was at once i nvol ved i n a wr angl e

wi t h t he manager as t o t he amount of damage done t o t he t ub;

whi ch t he l at t er r ef used t o assess bef or e he knew what had

happened t o i t ; whi l e our her o vi gor ousl y and wi t h r eason

mai nt ai ned, t hat i f he knew hi s busi ness i t coul d not mat t er what

had happened t o t he boat . Ther e she was, and he must say whet her

she was bet t er or wor se, or how much wor se t han when she st ar t ed.

I n t he mi ddl e of whi ch di al ogue hi s new acquai nt ance, t ouchi ng

hi s ar m, sai d, " You can l eave my j er sey wi t h your own t hi ngs; I

shal l get i t t o- mor r ow, " and t hen di sappear ed.

Tom, when he had come t o t er ms wi t h hi s adver sar y, r an upst ai r s,

expect i ng t o f i nd t he ot her , and meani ng t o t el l hi s name, and

f i nd out who i t was t hat had pl ayed t he good Samar i t an by hi m. He

was much annoyed when he f ound t he coast cl ear , and dr essed i n a

gr umbl i ng humour . " I wonder why he shoul d have gone of f so qui ck.

He mi ght j ust as wel l have st ayed and wal ked up wi t h me, " t hought

he. " Let me see, t hough; di dn' t he say I was t o l eave hi s Jer sey

i n our r oom, wi t h my own t hi ngs? Why, per haps he i s a St . Ambr ose

man hi msel f . But t hen he woul d have t ol d me so, sur el y. I don' t

r emember t o have seen hi s f ace i n chapel or hal l ; but t hen t her e

i s such a l ot of new f aces, and he may not si t near me. However I

mean t o f i nd hi m out bef or e l ong, whoever he may be. " Wi t h whi ch

r esol ve Tom cr ossed i n t he punt i nt o Chr i st ' s Chur ch meadow, and

st r ol l ed col l ege- war ds, f eel i ng t hat he had had a good har d

af t er noon' s exer ci se, and was much t he bet t er f or i t . He mi ght

have sat i sf i ed hi s cur i osi t y at once by si mpl y aski ng t he manager

who i t was t hat had ar r i ved wi t h hi m; and t hi s occur r ed t o hi m

bef or e he got home, wher eat he f el t sat i sf i ed, but woul d not go

back t hen, as i t was so near hal l t i me. He woul d be sur e t o

r emember i t t he f i r st t hi ng t omor r ow.

As i t happened, however , he had not so l ong t o wai t f or t he

i nf or mat i on whi ch he needed; f or scar cel y had he sat down i n hal l

and or der ed hi s di nner , when he caught si ght of hi s boat i ng

Page 19 of 443

acquai nt ance, who wal ked i n habi t ed i n a gown whi ch Tom t ook f or

a schol ar ' s. He t ook hi s seat at a l i t t l e t abl e i n t he mi ddl e of

t he hal l , near t he bachel or s' t abl e, but qui t e away f r om t he r est

of t he under gr aduat es, at whi ch sat f our or f i ve ot her men i n

si mi l ar gowns. He ei t her di d not or woul d not not i ce t he l ooks of

r ecogni t i on whi ch Tom kept f i r i ng at hi m unt i l he had t aken hi s

seat .

" Who i s t hat man t hat has j ust come i n, do you know?" sai d Tom t o

hi s next nei ghbour , a second t er m man.

" Whi ch?" sai d t he ot her , l ooki ng up.

" That one over at t he l i t t l e t abl e i n t he mi ddl e of t he hal l ,

wi t h t he dar k whi sker s. Ther e, he has j ust t ur ned r at her f r om us,

and put hi s ar m on t he t abl e. "

" Oh, hi s name i s Har dy. "

" Do you know hi m?"

" No; I don' t t hi nk anybody does. They say he i s a cl ever f el l ow,

but a ver y queer one. "

" Why does he si t at t hat t abl e! "

" He i s one of our ser vi t or s; t hey al l si t t her e t oget her . "

" Oh, " sai d Tom, not much wi ser f or t he i nf or mat i on, but r esol ved

t o wayl ay Har dy as soon as t he hal l was over , and hi ghl y

del i ght ed t o f i nd t hat t hey wer e af t er al l of t he same col l ege;

f or he had al r eady begun t o f i nd out , t hat however f r i endl y you

may be wi t h out - col l ege men, you must l i ve chi ef l y wi t h t hose of

your own. But now hi s scout br ought hi s di nner , and he f el l t o

wi t h t he appet i t e of a f r eshman on hi s ampl e commons.

CHAPTER I I I

A BREAKFAST AT DRYSDALE' S

No man i n St . Ambr ose Col l ege gave such br eakf ast s as Dr ysdal e.

Not t he gr eat heavy spr eads f or t hi r t y or f or t y, whi ch came once

or t wi ce a t er m, when ever yt hi ng was suppl i ed out of t he col l ege

ki t chen, and you had t o ask l eave of t he Dean bef or e you coul d

have i t at al l . I n t hose ponder ous f east s t he most hum- dr um of

t he under gr aduat e ki nd mi ght r i val t he most ar t i st i c, i f he coul d

onl y pay hi s bat t l e- bi l l , or get cr edi t wi t h t he cook. But t he

dai l y mor ni ng meal , when even gent l emen commoner s wer e l i mi t ed t o

t wo hot di shes out of t he ki t chen, t hi s was Dr ysdal e' s f or t e.

Or di nar y men l ef t t he mat t er i n t he hands of scout s, and wer e

cont ent wi t h t he ever - r ecur r i ng but t er ed t oast s and eggs, wi t h a

di sh of br oi l ed ham, or somet hi ng of t he sor t , wi t h a mar mal ade

and bi t t er al e t o f i ni sh wi t h; but Dr ysdal e was not an or di nar y

man, as you f el t i n a moment when you went t o br eakf ast wi t h hi m

f or t he f i r st t i me.

The st ai r case on whi ch he l i ved was i nhabi t ed, except i n t he

gar r et s, by men i n t he f ast set , and he and t hr ee ot her s, who had

an equal aver si on t o sol i t ar y f eedi ng, had est abl i shed a

br eakf ast - cl ub, i n whi ch, t hanks t o Dr ysdal e' s geni us, r eal

sci ent i f i c gast r onomy was cul t i vat ed. Ever y mor ni ng t he boy f r om

t he Wei r s ar r i ved wi t h f r eshl y caught gudgeon, and now and t hen

Page 20 of 443

an eel or t r out , whi ch t he scout s on t he st ai r case had l ear nt t o

f r y del i cat el y i n oi l . Fr esh wat er cr esses came i n t he same

basket , and t he col l ege ki t chen f ur ni shed a spi t chedcocked

chi cken, or gr i l l ed t ur key' s l eg. I n t he season t her e wer e

pl over ' s eggs; or , at t he wor st , t her e was a dai nt y omel et t e; and

a di st ant baker , f amed f or hi s l i ght r ol l s and hi gh char ges, sent

i n t he br ead- - t he common domest i c col l ege l oaf bei ng of cour se

out of t he quest i on f or anyone wi t h t he sl i ght est pr et ensi on t o

t ast e, and f i t onl y f or t he per qui si t e of scout s. Then t her e

woul d be a deep Yor kshi r e pi e, or r eser voi r of pot t ed game, as a

_pi ece, de r esi st ance_, and t hr ee or f our sor t s of pr eser ves; and

a l ar ge cool t ankar d of ci der or al e- cup t o f i ni sh up wi t h, or

soda- wat er and mar aschi no f or a change. Tea and cof f ee wer e t her e

i ndeed, but mer el y as a compl i ment t o t hose r espect abl e

bever ages, f or t hey wer e r ar el y t ouched by t he br eakf ast eat er s

of No. 3 st ai r case. Pl easant young gent l emen t hey wer e on No. 3

st ai r case; I mean t he gr ound and f i r st f l oor men who f or med t he

br eakf ast - cl ub, f or t he gar r et s wer e nobodi es. Thr ee out of t he

f our wer e gent l emen- commoner s, wi t h al l owances of 500L a year at

l east each; and, as t hey t r eat ed t hei r al l owances as

pocket - money, and wer e al l i n t hei r f i r st year , r eady money was

pl ent y and cr edi t good, and t hey mi ght have had pot t ed

hi ppopot amus f or br eakf ast i f t hey had chosen t o or der i t , whi ch

t hey woul d most l i kel y have done i f t hey had t hought of i t .

Two out of t he t hr ee wer e t he sons of r i ch men who made t hei r own

f or t unes, and sent t hei r sons t o St . Ambr ose' s because i t was

ver y desi r abl e t hat t he young gent l emen shoul d make good

connexi ons. I n f act , t he f at her s l ooked upon t he Uni ver si t y as a

good i nvest ment , and gl or i ed much i n hear i ng t hei r sons t al k

f ami l i ar l y i n t he vacat i ons of t hei r dear f r i ends Lor d Har r y Thi s

and Si r Geor ge That .

Dr ysdal e, t he t hi r d of t he set , was t he hei r of an ol d as wel l of

a r i ch f ami l y, and consequent l y, havi ng hi s connexi on r eady made

t o hi s hand, car ed l i t t l e enough wi t h whom he associ at ed,

pr ovi ded t hey wer e pl easant f el l ows, and gave hi m good f ood and

wi nes. Hi s whol e i dea at pr esent was t o enj oy hi msel f as much as

possi bl e; but he had good manl y st uf f i n hi m at t he bot t om, and,

had he f al l en i nt o any but t he f ast set , woul d have made a f i ne

f el l ow, and done cr edi t t o hi msel f and hi s col l ege.

The f our t h man at t he br eakf ast - cl ub, t he Hon. Pi er s St . Cl oud

was i n hi s t hi r d year , and was a ver y wel l - dr essed,

wel l - manner ed, wel l - connect ed young man. Hi s al l owance was smal l

f or t he set he l i ved wi t h, but he never want ed f or anyt hi ng. He

di dn' t ent er t ai n much, cer t ai nl y, but when he di d, ever yt hi ng was

i n t he best possi bl e st yl e. He was ver y excl usi ve, and knew no

man i n col l ege out of t he f ast set , and of t hese he addi ct ed

hi msel f chi ef l y t o t he soci et y of t he r i ch f r eshmen, f or somehow

t he men of hi s own st andi ng seemed a l i t t l e shy of hi m. But wi t h

t he f r eshmen he was al ways hand and gl ove, l i ved i n t hei r r ooms,

and used t hei r wi nes, hor ses, and ot her movabl e pr oper t y as hi s

own. Bei ng a good whi st and bi l l i ar d pl ayer , and not a bad

j ockey, he managed i n one way or anot her t o make hi s young

f r i ends pay wel l f or t he honour of hi s acquai nt ance; as, i ndeed,

why shoul d t hey not , at l east t hose of t hem who came t o t he

col l ege t o f or m el i gi bl e connexi ons; f or had not hi s r emot e

l i neal ancest or come over i n t he same shi p wi t h Wi l l i am t he

Conquer or ? Wer e not al l hi s r el at i ons about t he Cour t , as l or ds

and l adi es i n wai t i ng, whi t e st i cks or bl ack r ods, and i n t he

i nner most of al l possi bl e ci r cl es of t he gr eat wor l d; and was

t her e a bet t er coat of ar ms t han he bor e i n al l Bur ke' s Peer age?

Page 21 of 443

Our her o had met Dr ysdal e at a house i n t he count r y shor t l y

bef or e t he begi nni ng of hi s f i r st t er m, and t hey had r at her t aken

t o one anot her . Dr ysdal e had been amongst hi s f i r st cal l er s; and,

as he came out of chapel one mor ni ng shor t l y af t er hi s ar r i val ,

Dr ysdal e' s scout came up t o hi m wi t h an i nvi t at i on t o br eakf ast .

So he went t o hi s own r ooms, or der ed hi s commons t o be t aken

acr oss t o No. 3, and f ol l owed hi msel f a f ew mi nut es af t er war ds.

No one was i n t he r ooms when he ar r i ved, f or none of t he cl ub had

f i ni shed t hei r t oi l et t es. Mor ni ng chapel was not meant f or , or

cul t i vat ed by gent l emen- commoner s; t hey pai d doubl e chapel f ees,

i n consi der at i on of whi ch, pr obabl y, t hey wer e not expect ed t o

at t end so of t en as t he r est of t he under gr aduat es; at any r at e,

t hey di dn' t , and no har m came t o t hem i n consequence of t hei r

absence. As Tom ent er ed, a gr eat spl ashi ng i n an i nner r oom

st opped f or a moment , and Dr ysdal e' s voi ce shout ed out t hat he

was i n hi s t ub, but woul d be wi t h hi m i n a mi nut e. So Tom gave

hi msel f up t o cont empl at i on of t he r ooms i n whi ch hi s f or t unat e

acquai nt ance dwel t ; and ver y pl easant r ooms t hey wer e. The l ar ge

r oom i n whi ch t he br eakf ast - t abl e was l ai d f or f i ve, was l of t y

and wel l pr opor t i oned, and panel l ed wi t h ol d oak, and t he

f ur ni t ur e was handsome and sol i d, and i n keepi ng wi t h t he r oom.

Ther e wer e f our deep wi ndows, hi gh up i n t he wal l , wi t h

cushi oned seat s under t hem, t wo l ooki ng i nt o t he l ar ge

quadr angl e, and t wo i nt o t he i nner one. Out si de t hese wi ndows,

Dr ysdal e had r i gged up hangi ng gar dens, whi ch wer e kept f ul l of

f l ower s by t he f i r st nur ser yman i n Oxf or d, al l t he year r ound;

so t hat even on t hi s Febr uar y mor ni ng, t he scent of gar deni a and

vi ol et s per vaded t he r oom, and st r ove f or mast er y wi t h t he smel l

of st al e t obacco, whi ch hung about t he cur t ai ns and sof a. Ther e

was a l ar ge gl ass i n an oak f r ame over t he mant el pi ece, whi ch

was l oaded wi t h choi ce pi pes and ci gar cases and quai nt

r ecept acl es f or t obacco; and by t he si de of t he gl ass hung smal l

car ved oak f r ames, cont ai ni ng l i st s of meet s of t he Heyshr op,

t he Ol d Ber kshi r e, and Dr ake' s hounds, f or t he cur r ent week.

Ther e was a queer assor t ment of wel l - f r amed pai nt i ngs and

engr avi ngs on t he wal l s; some of consi der abl e mer i t , especi al l y

some wat er col or and sea- pi eces and engr avi ngs f r om Landseer ' s

pi ct ur es, mi ngl ed wi t h whi ch hung Tagl i oni and Cer i t o, i n shor t

pet t i coat s and i mpossi bl e at t i t udes; Phosphur ous wi nni ng t he

Der by; t he Deat h of Gr i mal di ( t he f amous st eepl e- chase hor se,

not poor ol d Joe) ; an Amer i can Tr ot t i ng Mat ch, and Jem Bel cher

and Deaf Bur ke i n at t i t udes of sel f - def ense. Sever al t andem and

r i di ng whi ps, mount ed i n heavy si l ver , and a doubl e- bar r el l ed

gun, and f i shi ng r ods, occupi ed one cor ner , and a pol i shed

copper cask, hol di ng about f i ve gal l ons of mi l d al e, st ood i n

anot her . I n shor t , t her e was pl ent y of ever yt hi ng except

books- - t he l i t er at ur e of t he wor l d bei ng r epr esent ed, so f ar as

Tom coul d make out i n hi s shor t scr ut i ny, by a f ew wel l - bound

but badl y used vol umes of t he cl assi cs, wi t h t he cr i bs t her et o

apper t ai ni ng, shoved away i nt o a cupboar d whi ch st ood hal f open,

and cont ai ned besi des, hal f - empt i ed decant er s, and l ar ge

pewt er s, and dog col l ar s, and packs of car ds, and al l sor t s of

mi scel l aneous ar t i cl es t o ser ve as an ant i dot e.

Tom had scar cel y f i ni shed hi s shor t sur vey when t he door of t he

bedr oom opened, and Dr ysdal e emer ged i n a l oose j acket l i ned

wi t h si l k, hi s vel vet cap on hi s head, and ot her wi se gor geousl y

at t i r ed. He was a pl easant - l ooki ng f el l ow of mi ddl e si ze, wi t h

dar k hai r , and a mer r y br own eye, wi t h a t wi nkl e i n i t , whi ch

spoke wel l f or hi s sense of humor ; ot her wi se, hi s l ar ge f eat ur es

wer e r at her pl ai n, but he had t he l ook and manner s of a

t hor oughl y wel l - br ed gent l eman.

Page 22 of 443

Hi s f i r st act , af t er noddi ng t o Tom, was t o sei ze on a pewt er

and r esor t t o t he cask i n t he cor ner , f r om whence he dr ew a pi nt

or so of t he cont ent s, havi ng, as he sai d, " ' a whor eson l ongi ng

f or t hat poor cr eat ur e, smal l beer . ' We wer e pl ayi ng Van- John i n

Bl ake' s r ooms t i l l t hr ee l ast ni ght , and he gave us devi l l ed

bones and mul l ed por t . A f el l ow can' t enj oy hi s br eakf ast af t er

t hat wi t hout somet hi ng t o cool hi s copper s. "

Tom was as yet i gnor ant of what Van- John mi ght be, so hel d hi s

peace, and t ook a pul l at t he beer whi ch t he ot her handed t o

hi m; and t hen t he scout ent er ed, and r ecei ved or der s t o br i ng up

Jack and t he br eakf ast , and not wai t f or any one. I n anot her

mi nut e, a bounci ng and scr at chi ng was hear d on t he st ai r s, and a

whi t e bul l dog r ushed i n, a gem i n hi s way; f or hi s br ow was

br oad and massi ve, hi s ski n was as f i ne as a l ady' s, and hi s

t ai l t aper and near l y as t hi n as a cl ay pi pe. Hi s gener al l ook,

and a way he had of goi ng ' snuzzl i ng' about t he cal ves of

st r anger s, wer e not pl easant f or ner vous peopl e. Tom, however ,

was used t o dogs, and soon became f r i ends wi t h hi m, whi ch

evi dent l y pl eased hi s host . And t hen t he br eakf ast ar r i ved, al l

smoki ng, and wi t h i t t he t wo ot her i ngeni ous yout hs, i n vel vet

caps and f ar mor e gor geous appar el , so f ar as col or s went , t han

Dr ysdal e. They wer e i nt r oduced t o Tom, who t hought t hem somewhat

or di nar y and r at her l oud young gent l emen. One of t hem

r emonst r at ed vi gor ousl y agai nst t he pr esence of t hat conf ounded

dog, and so Jack was sent t o l i e down i n a cor ner , and t hen t he

f our f el l t o wor k upon t he br eakf ast .

I t was a good l esson i n gast r onomy, but t he r esul t s ar e scar cel y

wor t h r epeat i ng her e. I t i s wonder f ul , t hough, how you f eel

dr awn t o a man who f eeds you wel l ; and, as Tom' s appet i t e got

l ess, hi s l i ki ng and r espect f or hi s host undoubt edl y i ncr eased.

When t hey had near l y f i ni shed, i n wal ked t he Honor abl e Pi er s, a

t al l sl i ght man, t wo or t hr ee year s ol der t han t he r est of t hem;

good l ooki ng, and ver y wel l and qui et l y dr essed, but wi t h t he

dr awi ng up of hi s nost r i l , and a dr awi ng down of t he cor ner s of

hi s mout h, whi ch set Tom agai nst hi m at once. The cool ,

super ci l i ous hal f - nod, mor eover , t o whi ch he t r eat ed our her o

when i nt r oduced t o hi m, was enough t o spoi l hi s di gest i on, and

hur t hi s sel f - l ove a good deal mor e t han he woul d have l i ked t o

own.

" Her e, Henr y, " sai d t he Honor abl e Pi er s t o t he scout i n

at t endance, seat i ng hi msel f , and i nspect i ng t he hal f - cl ear ed

di shes; " what i s t her e f or my br eakf ast ?"

Henr y bust l ed about , and handed a di sh or t wo.

" I don' t want t hese col d t hi ngs; haven' t you kept me any

gudgeon?"

" Why si r " sai d Henr y, " t her e was onl y t wo dozen t hi s mor ni ng,

and Mr . Dr ysdal e t ol d me t o cook t hem al l .

" To be sur e I di d, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " Just hal f a dozen f or each

of us f our : t hey wer e f i r st - r at e. I f you can' t get her e at

hal f - past ni ne, you won' t get gudgeon, I can t el l you. "

" Just go and get me a br oi l f r om t he ki t chen, " sai d t he

Honor abl e Pi er s, wi t hout dei gni ng an answer t o Dr ysdal e.

" Ver y sor r y, si r ; ki t chen' s shut by now, si r , " answer ed Henr y.

Page 23 of 443

" Then go t o Hi nt on' s, and or der some cut l et s. "

" I say, Henr y, " shout ed Dr ysdal e t o t he r et r eat i ng scout ; " not

t o my t i ck, mi nd! Put t hem down t o Mr . St . Cl oud. "

Henr y seemed t o know ver y wel l t hat i n t hat case he mi ght save

hi msel f t he t r oubl e of t he j our ney, and consequent l y r et ur ned t o

hi s wai t i ng; and t he Honor abl e Pi er s set t o wor k upon hi s

br eakf ast , wi t hout showi ng any f ur t her i l l t emper cer t ai nl y,

except by t he st i ngi ng t hi ngs whi ch he t hr ew ever y now and t hen

i nt o t he conver sat i on, f or t he benef i t of each of t he ot her s i n

t ur n.

Tom t hought he det ect ed si gns of comi ng host i l i t i es bet ween hi s

host and St . Cl oud, f or Dr ysdal e seemed t o pr i ck up hi s ear s and

get combat i ve whenever t he ot her spoke, and l ost no chance i n

r oughi ng hi m i n hi s r epl i es. And, i ndeed, he was not f ar wr ong;

t he f act bei ng, t hat dur i ng Dr ysdal e' s f i r st t er m, t he ot her had

l i ved on hi m- dr i nki ng hi s wi ne, smoki ng hi s ci gar s, dr i vi ng hi s

dog- car t , and wi nni ng hi s money; al l whi ch Dr ysdal e, who was t he

easi est goi ng and best t emper ed f el l ow i n Oxf or d, had st ood

wi t hout t ur ni ng a hai r . But St . Cl oud added t o t hese l i t t l e

f avor s a hal f pat r oni zi ng, hal f cont empt uous manner , whi ch he

used wi t h gr eat success t owar ds some of t he ot her

gent l eman- commoner s, who t hought i t a mar k of hi gh br eedi ng, and

t he cor r ect t hi ng, but whi ch Dr ysdal e, who di dn' t car e t hr ee

st r aws about knowi ng St . Cl oud, wasn' t goi ng t o put up wi t h.

However , not hi ng happened but a l i t t l e spar r i ng, and t he

br eakf ast t hi ngs wer e cl ear ed away, and t he t ankar ds l ef t on t he

t abl e, and t he company bet ook t hemsel ves t o ci gar s and easy

chai r s. Jack came out of hi s cor ner t o be gr at i f i ed wi t h some of

t he r emnant s by hi s f ond mast er , and t hen cur l ed hi msel f up on

t he sof a al ong whi ch Dr ysdal e l ounged.

" What ar e you goi ng t o do t o- day, Dr ysdal e?" sai d one of t he

ot her s. " I ' ve or der ed a l eader t o be sent on over t he br i dge, and

mean t o dr i ve my dog- car t over , and di ne at Abi ngdon. Won' t you

come?"

" Who' s goi ng besi des?" asked Dr ysdal e.

" Oh, onl y St . Cl oud and Far l ey her e. Ther e' s l ot s of r oom f or a

f our t h. "

" No, t hank' ee; t eami ng' s sl ow wor k on t he back seat . Besi des,

I ' ve hal f pr omi sed t o go down i n t he boat . "

" I n t he boat ! " shout ed t he ot her . " Why, you don' t mean t o say

you' r e goi ng t o t ake t o pul l i ng?"

" Wel l , I don' t know; I r at her t hi nk I am. I ' m dog- t i r ed of

dr i vi ng and doi ng t he Hi gh St r eet , and pl ayi ng car ds and

bi l l i ar ds al l day, and our boat i s l i kel y t o be head of t he

r i ver , I t hi nk. "

" By Jove! I shoul d as soon have t hought of you t aki ng t o r eadi ng,

or goi ng t o Uni ver si t y Ser mon, " put i n St . Cl oud.

" And t he boat i ng- men, t oo, " went on Far l ey; " di d you ever see

such a set , St . Cl oud? wi t h t hei r ever l ast i ng f l annel s and

j er seys, and hai r cr opped l i ke pr i ze- f i ght er s?"

Page 24 of 443

" I ' l l bet a gui nea t her e i sn' t one of t hem has mor e t han 200L a

year , " put i n Chant er , whose f at her coul d j ust wr i t e hi s name,

and was maki ng a col ossal f or t une by suppl yi ng bad i r on r ai l s t o

t he new r ai l way compani es.

" What t he devi l do I car e, " br oke i n Dr ysdal e; " I know t hey' r e a

deal mor e amusi ng t han you f el l ows, who can' t do anyt hi ng t hat

don' t cost pounds. "

" Get t i ng economi cal ! " sneer ed St . Cl oud.

" Wel l , I don' t see t he f un of t ear i ng one' s hear t out , and

bl i st er i ng one' s hands, onl y t o get abused by t hat l i t t l e br ut e

Mi l l er t he coxswai n, " sai d Far l ey.

" Why, you won' t be abl e t o si t st r ai ght i n your chai r f or a

mont h, " sai d Chant er ; " and t he capt ai n wi l l make you di ne at one,

and f et ch you out of anybody' s r ooms, conf ound hi s i mpudence

whet her he knows t hem or not , at el even o' cl ock ever y ni ght . "

" Two ci gar s ever y day, and a pi nt and a hal f of l i qui d, " and

Far l ey i nser t ed hi s cod f i sh f ace i nt o t he t ankar d; " f ancy

Dr ysdal e on t r ai ni ng al l owance! "

Her e a newcomer ent er ed i n a bachel or ' s gown, who was war ml y

gr eet ed by t he name of Sander s by Dr ysdal e. St . Cl oud and he

exchanged t he col dest possi bl e nods; and t he ot her t wo, t aki ng

t he of f i ce f r om t hei r ment or , st ar ed at hi m t hr ough t hei r smoke,

and, af t er a mi nut e or t wo' s si l ence, and a f ew r ude

hal f - whi sper ed r emar ks amongst t hemsel ves, went of f t o pl ay a

game of pyr ami ds t i l l l uncheon t i me. Saunder s t ook a ci gar whi ch

Dr ysdal e of f er ed, and began aski ng about hi s f r i ends at home, and

what he had been doi ng i n t he vacat i on.

They wer e evi dent l y i nt i mat e, t hough Tom t hought t hat Dr ysdal e

di dn' t seem qui t e at hi s ease at f i r st , whi ch he wonder ed at , as

Sander s t ook hi s f ancy at once. However , el even o' cl ock st r uck,

and Tom had t o go t o l ect ur e, wher e we cannot f ol l ow hi m j ust

now, but must r emai n wi t h Dr ysdal e and Saunder s, who chat t ed on

ver y pl easant l y f or some t went y mi nut es, t i l l a knock came at t he

door . I t was not t i l l t he t hi r d summons t hat Dr ysdal e shout ed,

" Come i n, " wi t h a shr ug of hi s shoul der s, and an i mpat i ent ki ck

at t he sof a cushi on at hi s f eet , as t hough not hal f pl eased at

t he appr oachi ng vi si t .

Reader ! Had you not ever a f r i end a f ew year s ol der t han

your sel f , whose good opi ni ons you wer e anxi ous t o keep? A f el l ow

_t er es at qua r ot undus_; who coul d do ever yt hi ng bet t er t han you,

f r om Pl at o and t enni s down t o si ngi ng a comi c song and pl ayi ng

quoi t s? I f you have had, wasn' t he al ways i n your r ooms or

company whenever anyt hi ng happened t o show your l i t t l e weak

poi nt s? Sander s, at any r at e, occupi ed t hi s posi t i on t owar ds our

young f r i end Dr ysdal e, and t he l at t er , much as he l i ked Sander ' s

company, woul d have pr ef er r ed i t at any t i me t han on an i dl e

mor ni ng j ust at t he begi nni ng of t er m, when t he gent l emen

t r adesmen, who l ook upon under gr aduat es i n gener al , and

gent l emen- commoner s i n par t i cul ar , as t hei r l awf ul pr ey, ar e i n

t he habi t of cal l i ng i n f l ocks.

The new ar r i val was a t al l f l or i d man, wi t h a hal f ser vi l e, hal f

i mpudent , manner , and a f or ei gn accent ; dr essed i n sumpt uous

cost ume, wi t h a vel vet - f aced coat , and a gor geous pl ush

wai st - coat . Under hi s ar m he car r i ed a l ar ge par cel , whi ch he

pr oceeded t o open, and pl aced upon a sof a t he cont ent s,

Page 25 of 443

consi st i ng of a coupl e of coat s, and t hr ee or f our wai st coat s and

a pai r of t r ouser s. He sal ut ed Sander s wi t h a most obsequi ous

bow, l ooked ner vousl y at Jack, who opened one eye f r om bet ween

hi s mast er ' s l egs and gr owl ed, and t hen, t ur ni ng t o Dr ysdal e,

asked i f he shoul d have t he honor of seei ng hi m t r y on any of t he

cl ot hes?

" No; I can' t be bor ed wi t h t r yi ng t hem on now, " sai d Dr ysdal e;

" l eave t hem wher e t hey ar e. "

Mr . Schl oss woul d l i ke ver y much on hi s r et ur n t o t own, i n a day

or t wo, t o be abl e t o assur e hi s pr i nci pal s, t hat Mr . Dr ysdal e' s

or der s had been execut ed t o hi s sat i sf act i on. He had al so some

ver y beaut i f ul new st uf f s wi t h hi m, whi ch he shoul d l i ke t o

submi t t o Mr . Dr ysdal e, and wi t hout mor e ado began unf ol di ng

car ds of t he most f abul ous pl ushes and cl ot hs.

Dr ysdal e gl anced f i r st at t he car ds and t hen at Sander s, who sat

puf f i ng hi s ci gar , and wat chi ng Schl oss' s pr oceedi ngs wi t h a l ook

not unl i ke Jack' s when anyone he di d not appr ove of appr oached

hi s mast er .

" Conf ound your pat t er ns, Schl oss, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " I t el l you I

have mor e t hi ngs t han I want al r eady. "

" The l ar ge st r i pe, such as t hese, i s now ver y much wor n i n

London, " went on Schl oss, wi t hout heedi ng t he r ebuf f , and

spr eadi ng hi s car ds on t he t abl e.

" D- t r ouser s, " r epl i ed Dr ysdal e; " you seem t o t hi nk a f el l ow has

t en pai r of l egs. "

" Monsi eur i s pl eased t o j oke, " smi l ed Schl oss; " but , t o be i n t he

mode, gent l emen must have var i et y. "

" Wel l , I won' t or der any now, t hat ' s f l at , " sai d Dr ysdal e.

" Monsi eur wi l l do as he pl eases; but i t i s i mpossi bl e t hat he

shoul d not have some pl ush wai st s; t he f abr i c i s onl y j ust out ,

and i s maki ng a sensat i on. "

" Now l ook her e, Schl oss; wi l l you go i f I or der a wai st coat ?"

" Monsi eur i s ver y good; he sees how t ast ef ul t hese new pat t er ns

ar e. "

" I woul dn' t , be seen at a cock- f i ght i n one of t hem, t her e' r e as

gaudy as a sal mon- f l y, " sai d Dr ysdal e, f eel i ng t he st uf f whi ch

t he obsequi ous Schl oss hel d out . " But i t seems ni ce st uf f , t oo, "

he went on; " I shoul dn' t mi nd havi ng a coupl e of wai st coat s of i t

of t hi s pat t er n; " and he chucked acr oss t o Schl oss a dar k t ar t an

wai st coat whi ch was l yi ng near hi m. " Have you got t he st uf f i n

t hat pat t er n?"

" Ah! no, " sai d Schl oss, gat her i ng up t he wai st coat ; " but i t shal l

not hi nder . I shal l have at once a l oom f or Monsi eur set up at

once i n Par i s. "

" Set i t up i n Jer i cho i f you l i ke, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " and now go! "

" May I ask, Mr . Schl oss, " br oke i n Sander s, " what i t wi l l cost t o

set up t he l oom?"

" Ah! i ndeed, a t r i f l e onl y; some t wel ve, or per haps f our t een

Page 26 of 443

pounds. " Sander s gave a chuckl e, and puf f ed away at hi s ci gar .

" By Jove, " shout ed Dr ysdal e, j er ki ng hi msel f i n a si t t i ng

post ur e, and upset t i ng Jack, who went t r ot t i ng about t he r oom,

and snuf f i ng at Schl oss' s l egs; " do you mean t o say, Schl oss, you

wer e goi ng t o make me wai st coat s at f our t een gui neas api ece?"

" Not i f Monsi eur di sappr oves. Ah! t he l ar ge hound i s not f r i endl y

t o st r anger s; I wi l l cal l agai n when Monsi eur i s mor e at

l ei sur e. " And Schl oss gat her ed up hi s car ds and beat a hast y

r et r eat , f ol l owed by Jack wi t h hi s head on one si de, and cast i ng

an enr aged l ook at Sander s, as he sl i d t hr ough t he door .

" Wel l done, Jack, ol d boy! " sai d Sander s, pat t i ng hi m; " what a

f unk t he f el l ow was i n. Wel l , you' ve saved your mast er a pony

t hi s f i ne mor ni ng. Cheap dog you' ve got , Dr ysdal e. "

" D- - - - t he f el l ow, " answer ed Dr ysdal e, " he l eaves a bad t ast e i n

one' s mout h; " and he went t o t he t abl e, t ook a pul l at t he

t ankar d, and t hen t hr ew hi msel f down on t he sof a agai n, as Jack

j umped up and coi l ed hi msel f r ound by hi s mast er ' s l egs, keepi ng

one hal f - open eye wi nki ng at hi m, and gi vi ng an occasi onal wag

wi t h t he end of hi s t aper t ai l .

Saunder s got up, and began handl i ng t he new t hi ngs. Fi r st he hel d

up a pai r of br i ght bl ue t r ouser s, wi t h a r ed st r i pe acr oss t hem,

Dr ysdal e l ooki ng on f r om t he sof a. " I say, Dr ysdal e, you don' t

mean t o say you r eal l y or der ed t hese t hunder - and- l i ght eni ng

af f ai r s?"

" Heaven onl y knows, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " I dar esay I di d, I ' d or der a

f ul l sui t cut out of my gr andmot her ' s f ar t hi ngal e t o get t hat

cur sed Schl oss out of my r ooms somet i mes. "

" You' l l never be abl e t o wear t hem; even i n Oxf or d t he boys woul d

mob you. Why don' t you ki ck hi m down st ai r s?" suggest ed Sander s,

put t i ng down t he t r ouser s, and t ur ni ng t o Dr ysdal e.

" Wel l , I ' ve been ver y near i t once or t wi ce; but I don' t know- - my

name' s Easy- - besi des, I don' t want t o gi ve up t he beast

al t oget her ; he makes t he best t r ouser s i n Engl and. "

" And t hese wai st coat s, " went on Sander s; " l et me see; t hr ee l i ght

si l k wai st coat s, peach- col or , f awn- col or , and l avender . Wel l , of

cour se, you can onl y wear t hese at your weddi ngs. You may be

mar r i ed t he f i r st t i me i n t he peach or f awn- col or ; and t hen, i f

you have l uck, and bur y your f i r st wi f e soon, i t wi l l be a

del i cat e compl i ment t o t ake t o No. 2 i n t he l avender , t hat bei ng

hal f - mour ni ng; but st i l l , you see, we' r e i n di f f i cul t y as t o one

of t he t hr ee, ei t her t he peach or t he f awn- col or - "

Her e he was i nt er r upt ed by anot her knock, and a boy ent er ed f r om

t he f ashi onabl e t obacconi st ' s i n Or i el Lane, who had gener al

or der s t o l et Dr ysdal e have hi s f ai r shar e of anyt hi ng ver y

speci al i n t he ci gar l i ne. He deposi t ed a t wo pound box of ci gar s

at t hr ee gui neas t he pound, on t he t abl e, and wi t hdr ew i n

si l ence.

Then came a boot - maker wi t h a new pai r of t op- boot s, whi ch

Dr ysdal e had or der ed i n November , and had f or got t en next day. The

ar t i st , wi sel y consi der i ng t hat hi s young pat r on must have pl ent y

of t ops t o l ast hi m t hr ough t he hunt i ng season ( he hi msel f havi ng

suppl i ed t hr ee pr evi ous pai r s i n Oct ober ) , had r et ai ned t he

pr esent pai r f or show i n hi s wi ndow; and ever yone knows t hat

Page 27 of 443

boot s wear much bet t er f or bei ng kept somet i me bef or e use. Now,

however , as t he hunt i ng season was dr awi ng t o a cl ose, and t he

pl ace i n t he wi ndow was want ed f or spr i ng st ock, he j udi ci ousl y

sent i n t he t ops, mer el y addi ng hal f - a- sover ei gn or so t o t he

pr i ce f or i nt er est on t he out l ay si nce t he or der . He al so ki ndl y

l ef t on t he t abl e a pai r of l ar ge pl at ed spur s t o mat ch t he

boot s.

I t never r ai ns but i t pour s. Sander s sat smoki ng hi s ci gar i n

pr ovoki ng si l ence, whi l e knock succeeded knock and t r adesman

f ol l owed t r adesman; each deposi t i ng some ar t i cl e or der ed, or

supposed t o have been or der ed, or whi ch ought i n t he j udgment of

t he deposi t or s t o have been or der ed, by t he l uckl ess Dr ysdal e:

and new hat s, and t i es, and gl oves, and pi ns, j ost l ed bal sam of

Ner ol i , and r egi st er ed shavi ng- soap, and f ancy l et t er paper , and

Eau de Col ogne, on ever y avai l abl e t abl e. A vi si t f r om t wo

l i ver y- st abl e- keeper s i n successi on f ol l owed, each of whom had

sever al new l eader s whi ch t hey wer e anxi ous Mr . Dr ysdal e shoul d

t r y as soon as possi bl e. Dr ysdal e gr owl ed and gr unt ed, and wi shed

t hem or Sander s at t he bot t om of t he sea; however , he consol ed

hi msel f wi t h t he t hought t hat t he wor st was now passed, - - t her e

was no ot her possi bl e suppl i er of under gr aduat e want s who coul d

ar r i ve.

Not so; i n anot her mi nut e a gent l e knock came at t he door . Jack

pr i cked up hi s ear s and wagged hi s t ai l ; Dr ysdal e r eckl essl y

shout ed, " Come i n! " t he door sl owl y opened about ei ght een i nches,

and a shock head of hai r ent er ed t he r oom, f r om whi ch one l i vel y

l i t t l e gi ml et eye went gl anci ng about i nt o ever y cor ner . The

ot her eye was cl osed, but as a per pet ual wi nk t o i ndi cat e t he

unsl eepi ng war i ness of t he owner , or because t hat her o had r eal l y

l ost t he power of usi ng i t i n some of hi s numer ous encount er s

wi t h men and beast s, no one, so f ar as I know, has ever

ascer t ai ned.

" Ah! Mr . Dr ysdal e, si r ! " began t he head; and t hen r api dl y

wi t hdr ew behi nd t he door t o avoi d one of t he spur s, whi ch ( bei ng

t he mi ssi l e near est at hand) Dr ysdal e i nst ant l y di schar ged at i t .

As t he spur f el l t o t he f l oor , t he head r eappear ed i n t he r oom,

and as qui ckl y di sappear ed agai n, i n def er ence t o t he ot her spur ,

t he t op boot s, an i vor y handl ed hai r br ush, and a t r ansl at i on of

Eur i pi des, whi ch i n t ur n sal ut ed each successi ve appear ance of

sai d head; and t he gr i n was br oader on each r eappear ance.

Then Dr ysdal e, havi ng no ot her ar t i cl e wi t hi n r each whi ch he

coul d t hr ow, bur st i nt o a l oud f i t of l aught er , i n whi ch Sander s

and t he head hear t i l y j oi ned, and shout ed, " Come i n, Joe, you ol d

f ool ! and don' t st and bobbi ng your ugl y ol d mug i n and out t her e,

l i ke a j ack i n t he box. "

So t he head came i n, and af t er i t t he body, and cl osed t he door

behi nd i t ; and a queer , cr oss- gr ai ned, t ough- l ooki ng body i t was,

of about f i f t y year s st andi ng, or r at her sl ouchi ng, cl ot hed i n an

ol d f ust i an coat , cor dur oy br eeches and gai t er s, and bei ng t he

ear t hl y t aber nacl e of Joe Muggl es, t he dog- f anci er of St .

Al dat e' s.

" How t he deuce di d you get by t he l odge, Joe?" i nqui r ed Dr ysdal e.

Joe, be i t known, had been f or bi dden t he col l ege f or i mpor t i ng a

sack of r at s i nt o t he i nner quadr angl e, upon t he t ur f of whi ch a

mat ch at r at - ki l l i ng had come of f bet ween t he t er r i er s of t wo

gent l emen- commoner s. Thi s l i t t l e event mi ght have passed

unnot i ced, but t hat Dr ysdal e had bought f r om Joe a dozen of t he

sl aught er ed r at s, and nai l ed t hem on t he door s of t he f our

Page 28 of 443

col l ege t ut or s, t hr ee t o a door ; wher eupon i nqui r y had been made,

and Joe had been out l awed.

" Oh, pl ease Mr . Dr ysdal e, si r , I j ust wat ched t he ' ed por t er ,

si r , acr oss t o t he but t er y t o get hi s mor ni n' , and t hen I t i ps a

wi nk t o t he under por t er ( pal o' mi ne, si r , t he under por t er ) ,

and makes a r un of i t r i ght up. "

" Wel l , you' l l be quod' ed i f you' r e caught ! Now what do you want ?"

" Why, you see, Mr . Dr ysdal e, si r , " sai d Joe, i n hi s most

i nsi nuat i ng t one, " my mat e hev got an ol d dog br ock, si r , f r om

t he Heyt hr op kennel , and Honbl e Wer nham, si r of New I nn ' Al l ,

si r , he' ve j i st been down our yar d wi t h a f i ght i ng chap f r om

t own, Mr . Dr ysdal e- - i n t he f ancy, si r , he i s, and hev got a

mat t er of t hr ee dogs down a st oppi n' at Mi l ky Bi l l ' s. And he

says, says he, Mr . Dr ysdal e, as ar r a one of he' s dogs' l l dr aw t he

ol d un t hr ee t i mes, whi l e ar r a Oxf or d dog' l l dr aw un t wi ce, and

Honbl e Wer nham chaf f s as how he' l l back un f or a f i ' pun

not e; " - - and Joe st opped t o car ess Jack, who was f awni ng on hi m as

i f he under st ood ever y wor d.

" Wel l , Joe, what t hen?" sai d Dr ysdal e.

" So you see, Mr . Dr ysdal e, si r , " went on Joe, f ondl i ng Jack' s

muzzl e, " my mat e says, says he, ' Jack' s t he dog as can dr aw a

br ock, ' says he, ' agi n any Lonnun dog as ever was whel ped; and

Mr . Dr ysdal e' says he, ' ai n' t t he man as' d see t wo poor chaps

bounced out of t hei r honest name by ar r a t own chap, and a f i ' pun

not e' s no mor e t o he f or t he mat t er o' t hat , t hen t o Honbl e

Wer nham hi s sel f , ' says my mat e. "

" So I ' m t o l end you Jack f or a mat ch, and st and t he st akes?"

" Wel l , Mr . Dr ysdal e, si r , t hat was what my mat e was a sayi n' . "

" You' r e cool heads, you and your mat e, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " her e,

t ake a dr i nk, and get out , and I ' l l t hi nk about i t . " Dr ysdal e was

now i n a def i ant humor , and r esol ved not t o l et Sander s t hi nk

t hat hi s pr esence coul d keep hi m f r om any act of f ol l y t o whi ch

he was i ncl i ned.

Joe t ook hi s dr i nk; and j ust t hen sever al men came i n f r om

l ect ur e, and dr ew of f Dr ysdal e' s at t ent i on f r om Jack, who qui et l y

f ol l owed Joe out of t he r oom, when t hat wor t hy di sappear ed.

Dr ysdal e onl y l aughed when he f ound i t out , and went down t o t he

yar d t hat af t er noon t o see t he mat ch bet ween t he London dog and

hi s own pet .

" How i n t he wor l d ar e youngst er s wi t h unl i mi t ed cr edi t , pl ent y of

r eady money, and f ast t ast es, t o be kept f r om maki ng f ool s and

bl ackguar ds of t hemsel ves up her e, " t hought Sander s, as he

st r ol l ed back t o hi s col l ege. And i t i s a quest i on whi ch has

exer ci sed ot her heads besi des hi s, and pr obabl y i s a l ong way yet

f r om bei ng wel l sol ved.

CHAPTER I V

THE ST. AMBROSE BOAT CLUB: I TS MI NI STERY AND THEI R BUDGET.

We l ef t our her o, a shor t t i me back, busi l y engaged on hi s di nner

commons, and r esol ved f or t hwi t h t o make gr eat f r i ends wi t h Har dy.

Page 29 of 443

I t never occur r ed t o hi m t hat t her e coul d be t he sl i ght est

di f f i cul t y i n car r yi ng out t hi s r esol ve. Af t er such a passage as

t hey t wo had had t oget her t hat af t er noon, he f el t t hat t he usual

out wor ks of acquai nt anceshi p had been cl ear ed at a bound, and

l ooked upon Har dy al r eady as an ol d f r i end t o whom he coul d t al k

out hi s mi nd as f r eel y as he had been used t o do t o hi s ol d t ut or

at school , or t o Ar t hur . Mor eover , as t her e wer e al r eady sever al

t hi ngs i n hi s head whi ch he was anxi ous t o vent i l at e, he was al l

t he mor e pl eased t hat chance had t hr own hi m acr oss a man of so

much ol der st andi ng t han hi msel f , and one t o whom he

i nst i nct i vel y f el t t hat he coul d l ook up.

Accor di ngl y, af t er gr ace had been sai d, and he saw t hat Har dy had

not f i ni shed hi s di nner , but sat down agai n when t he f el l ows had

l ef t t he hal l , he st r ol l ed out , meani ng t o wai t f or hi s vi ct i m

out si de, and sei ze upon hi m t hen and t her e; so he st opped on t he

st eps out si de t he hal l - door , and t o pass t he t i me, j oi ned hi msel f

t o one or t wo ot her men wi t h whom he had a speaki ng acquai nt ance,

who wer e al so hangi ng about . Whi l e t hey wer e t al ki ng, Har dy came

out of t he hal l , and Tom t ur ned and st epped f or war d, meani ng t o

speak t o hi m. To hi s ut t er di scomf i t ur e, Har dy wal ked qui ckl y

away, l ooki ng st r ai ght bef or e hi m, and wi t hout showi ng, by l ook

or gest ur e, t hat he was consci ous of our her o' s exi st ence, or had

ever seen hi m bef or e i n hi s l i f e.

Tom was so t aken aback t hat he made no ef f or t t o f ol l ow. He j ust

gl anced at hi s compani ons t o see whet her t hey had not i ced t he

occur r ence, and was gl ad t o see t hat t hey had not ( bei ng deep i n

t he di scussi on of t he mer i t s of a new hunt er of Si mmons' s, whi ch

one of t hem had been r i di ng) ; so he wal ked away by hi msel f t o

consi der what i t coul d mean. But t he mor e he puzzl ed about i t ,

t he l ess coul d he under st and i t . Sur el y, he t hought , Har dy must

have seen me; and yet , i f he had, why di d he not r ecogni ze me? My

cap and gown can' t be such a di sgui se as al l t hat . And yet common

decency must have l ed hi m t o ask whet her I was any t he wor se f or

my ducki ng, i f he knew me.

He scout ed t he not i on, whi ch suggest ed i t sel f once or t wi ce, t hat

Har dy meant t o cut hi m; and so, not bei ng abl e t o come t o any

r easonabl e concl usi on, suddenl y bet hought hi m t hat he was asked

t o a wi ne- par t y; and put t i ng hi s specul at i ons asi de f or a moment ,

wi t h t he f ul l i nt ent i on never t hel ess of cl ear i ng up t he myst er y

as soon as possi bl e, he bet ook hi msel f t o t he r ooms of hi s

ent er t ai ner .

They wer e f ai r - si zed r ooms i n t he second quadr angl e, f ur ni shed

pl ai nl y but wel l , so f ar as Tom coul d j udge, but , as t hey wer e

now l ai d out f or t he wi ne- par t y, t hey had l ost al l i ndi vi dual

char act er f or t he t i me. Ever yone of us, I suppose, i s f ond of

st udyi ng t he r ooms, chamber s, dens i n shor t , of what ever sor t

t hey may be, of our f r i ends and acquai nt ances- - at l east , I knew

t hat I mysel f l i ke t o see what sor t of a chai r a man si t s i n,

wher e he put s i t , what books l i e or st and on t he shel ves near est

hi s hand, what t he obj ect s ar e whi ch he keeps most f ami l i ar l y

bef or e hi m, i n t hat par t i cul ar nook of t he ear t h' s sur f ace i n

whi ch he i s most at home, wher e he pul l s of f hi s coat , col l ar ,

and boot s, and get s i nt o an ol d easy shoot i ng- j acket , and hi s

br oadest sl i pper s. Fi ne houses and f i ne r ooms have l i t t l e

at t r act i on f or most men, and t hose who have t he f i nest

dr awi ng- r ooms ar e pr obabl y t he most bor ed by t hem; but t he den of

t he man you l i ke, or ar e di sposed t o l i ke, has t he st r ongest and

st r angest at t r act i on f or you. However , an Oxf or d under gr aduat e' s

r oom, set out f or a wi ne- par t y, can t el l you not hi ng. Al l t he

char act er i st i cs ar e shoved away i nt o t he backgr ound, and t her e i s

Page 30 of 443

not hi ng t o be seen but a l ong mahogany set out wi t h bot t l es,

gl asses, and desser t . I n t he pr esent i nst ance t he pr epar at i ons

f or f est i vi t y wer e pr et t y much what t hey ought t o be: good sound

por t and sher r y, bi scui t s, and a pl at e or t wo of nut s and dr i ed

f r ui t s. The host , who sat at t he head of t he boar d, was one of

t he mai n- st ays of t he Col l ege boat - cl ub. He was t r easur er of t he

cl ub, and al so a ki nd of a boat i ng nur se, who l ooked- up and

t r ai ned t he young oar s, and i n t hi s capaci t y had been i n command

of t he f r eshmen' s f our - oar , i n whi ch Tom had been l ear ni ng hi s

r udi ment s. He was a heavy, bur l y man, nat ur al l y awkwar d i n hi s

movement s, but gi f t ed wi t h a st eady sor t of dogged ent husi asm,

and by di nt of har d and const ant t r ai ni ng, had made hi msel f i nt o

a most usef ul oar , f i t f or any pl ace i n t he mi ddl e of t he boat .

I n t he t wo year s of hi s r esi dence, he had pul l ed down t o Sandf or d

ever y day except Sundays, and much f ar t her whenever he coul d get

anybody t o accompany hi m. He was t he most good nat ur ed man i n t he

wor l d, ver y badl y dr essed, ver y shor t si ght ed, and cal l ed

ever ybody " ol d f el l ow. " Hi s name was si mpl e Smi t h, gener al l y

known as Di ogenes Smi t h, f r om an eccent r i c habi t whi ch he had of

maki ng an easy chai r of hi s hi p bat h. Mal i ci ous acquai nt ance

decl ar ed t hat when Smi t h f i r st came up, and, havi ng pai d t he

val uat i on f or t he f ur ni t ur e i n hi s r ooms, came t o i nspect t he

same, t he t ub i n quest i on had been l ef t by chance i n t he

si t t i ng- r oom, and t hat Smi t h, not havi ng t he f ai nt est i dea of i t s

pr oper use, had by t he exer ci se of hi s nat ur al r eason come t o t he

concl usi on t hat i t coul d onl y be meant f or a man t o si t i n, and

so had kept i t i n hi s si t t i ng- r oom, and had t aken t o i t as an

ar m- chai r . Thi s I have r eason t o bel i eve was a l i bel . Cer t ai n i t

i s, however , t hat i n hi s f i r st t er m he was di scover ed si t t i ng

sol emnl y i n t he t ub, by hi s f i r e- si de, wi t h hi s spect acl es on,

pl ayi ng t he f l ut e- - t he onl y ot her r ecr eat i on besi des boat i ng i n

whi ch he i ndul ged; and no amount of qui zzi ng coul d get hi m out of

t he habi t . When al one, or wi t h onl y one or t wo f r i ends i n hi s

r oom, he st i l l occupi ed t he t ub; and decl ar ed t hat i t was t he

most per f ect of seat s hi t her t o i nvent ed, and, above al l , adapt ed

f or t he r ecr eat i on of a boat i ng man, t o whom cushi oned seat s

shoul d be an abomi nat i on. He was nat ur al l y a ver y hospi t abl e man,

and on t hi s ni ght was par t i cul ar l y anxi ous t o make hi s r ooms

pl easant t o al l comer s, as i t was a sor t of openi ng f or t he

boat i ng season. Thi s wi ne of hi s was a busi ness mat t er , i n f act ,

t o whi ch Di ogenes had i nvi t ed of f i ci al l y, as t r easur er of t he

boat - cl ub, ever y man who had ever shown t he l east t endency t o

pul l i ng, - - many wi t h whom he had scar cel y a noddi ng acquai nt ance.

For Mi l l er , t he coxswai n, had come up at l ast . He had t aken hi s

B. A. degr ee i n t he Mi chael mas t er m, and had been ver y near

st ar t i ng f or a t our i n t he East . Upon t ur ni ng t he mat t er over i n

hi s mi nd, however , Mi l l er had come t o t he concl usi on t hat

Pal est i ne, and Egypt , and Gr eece coul d not r un away, but t hat ,

unl ess he was t her e t o keep mat t er s goi ng, t he St . Ambr ose boat

woul d l ose t he best chance i t was ever l i kel y t o have of get t i ng

t o t he head of t he r i ver . So he had pat r i ot i cal l y r esol ved t o

r esi de t i l l June, r ead di vi ni t y, and coach t he r aci ng cr ew; and

had wr i t t en t o Di ogenes t o cal l t oget her t he whol e boat i ng

i nt er est of t he Col l ege, t hat t hey mi ght set t o wor k at once i n

good ear nest . Tom, and t he t hr ee or f our ot her f r eshmen pr esent ,

wer e dul y pr esent ed t o Mi l l er as t hey came i n, who l ooked t hem

over as t he col onel of a cr ack r egi ment mi ght l ook over hor ses at

Hor ncast l e- f ai r , wi t h a si ngl e eye t o t hei r bone and muscl e, and

how much wor k mi ght be got out of t hem. They t hen gat her ed

t owar ds t he l ower end of t he l ong t abl e, and sur veyed t he

cel ebr i t i es at t he upper end wi t h much r espect . Mi l l er , t he

coxswai n, sat on t he host ' s r i ght hand, - - a sl i ght , r esol ut e,

f i er y l i t t l e man, wi t h cur l y bl ack hai r . He was pecul i ar l y

qual i f i ed by nat ur e f or t he t ask whi ch he had set hi msel f ; and i t

Page 31 of 443

t akes no mean qual i t i es t o keep a boat ' s cr ew wel l t oget her and

i n or der . Per haps he er r ed a l i t t l e on t he si de of

over - st r i ct ness and sever i t y; and he cer t ai nl y woul d have been

mor e popul ar had hi s manner s been a t hought mor e cour t eous; but

t he men who r ebel l ed most agai nst hi s t yr anny gr umbl i ngl y

conf essed t hat he was a f i r st - r at e coxswai n.

A ver y di f f er ent man was t he capt ai n of t he boat , who sat

opposi t e t o Mi l l er ; al t oget her , a nobl e speci men of a ver y nobl e

t ype of our count r ymen. Tal l and st r ong of body; cour ageous and

even- t emper ed; t ol er ant of al l men; spar i ng of speech, but r eady

i n act i on; a t hor oughl y wel l bal anced, modest , qui et Engl i shman;

one of t hose who do a good st r oke of t he wor k of t he count r y

wi t hout get t i ng much cr edi t f or i t , or even becomi ng awar e of t he

f act ; f or t he l ast t hi ng such men under st and i s how t o bl ow t hei r

own t r umpet s. He was per haps t oo easy f or t he capt ai n of St .

Ambr ose boat - cl ub; at any r at e, Mi l l er was al ways t el l i ng hi m so.

But , i f he was not st r i ct enough wi t h ot her s, he never spar ed

hi msel f , and was as good as t hr ee men i n t he boat at a pi nch.

But i f I vent ur e on mor e i nt r oduct i ons, my r eader s wi l l get

bewi l der ed; so I must cl ose t he l i st , much as I shoul d l i ke t o

make t hem known t o " f or t i s Gyas f or t i sque Cl oant hus, " who sat

r ound t he chi ef s, l aughi ng and consul t i ng, and specul at i ng on t he

chances of t he comi ng r aces. No, st ay, t her e i s one ot her man

t hey must make r oom f or . Her e he comes, r at her l at e, i n a ver y

gl ossy hat , t he onl y man i n t he r oom not i n cap and gown. He

wal ks up and t akes hi s pl ace by t he si de of t he host as a mat t er

of cour se; a handsome, pal e man, wi t h a dar k, qui ck eye,

consci ous t hat he dr aws at t ent i on wher ever he goes, and

appar ent l y of t he opi ni on t hat i t i s r i ght .

" Who i s t hat who has j ust come i n i n beaver ?" sai d Tom, t ouchi ng

t he next man t o hi m.

" Oh, don' t you know? t hat ' s Bl ake; he' s t he most wonder f ul f el l ow

i n Oxf or d, " answer ed hi s nei ghbor .

" How do you mean?" sai d Tom.

" Why, he can do ever yt hi ng bet t er t han al most anybody, and

wi t hout any t r oubl e at al l . Mi l l er was obl i ged t o have hi m i n t he

boat l ast year , t hough he never t r ai ned a bi t . Then he' s i n t he

el even, and i s a wonder f ul r i der , and t enni s- pl ayer , and shot . "

" Ay, and he' s so awf ul l y cl ever wi t h i t al l , " j oi ned i n t he man

on t he ot her si de. " He' l l be a saf e f i r st , t hough I don' t bel i eve

he r eads mor e t han you or I . He can wr i t e songs, t oo, as f ast as

you can t al k near l y, and si ngs t hem wonder f ul l y. "

" I s he of our Col l ege, t hen?"

" Yes, of cour se, or he coul dn' t have been i n our boat l ast year . "

" But I don' t t hi nk I ever saw hi m i n chapel or hal l "

" No, I dar esay not . He har dl y ever goes t o ei t her , and yet he

manages never t o get haul ed up much, no one knows how. He never

get s up now t i l l t he af t er noon, and si t s up near l y al l ni ght

pl ayi ng car ds wi t h t he f ast est f el l ows, or goi ng r ound si ngi ng

gl ees at t hr ee or f our i n t he mor ni ng. "

Tom si pped hi s por t and l ooked wi t h gr eat i nt er est at t he

admi r abl e Cr i cht on of St . Ambr ose' s; and, af t er wat chi ng hi m a

Page 32 of 443

f ew moment s sai d i n a l ow voi ce t o hi s nei ghbor ,

" How wr et ched he l ooks! I never saw a sadder f ace. "

Poor Bl ake! one can' t hel p cal l i ng hi m " poor , " al t hough he

hi msel f woul d have wi nced at i t mor e t han any name you coul d have

cal l ed hi m. You mi ght have admi r ed, f ear ed, or wonder ed at hi m,

and he woul d have been pl eased; t he obj ect of hi s l i f e was t o

r ai se such f eel i ngs i n hi s nei ghbor s; but pi t y was t he l ast whi ch

he woul d l i ke t o exci t e.

He was i ndeed a wonder f ul l y gi f t ed f el l ow, f ul l of al l sor t s of

ener gy and t al ent , and power and t ender ness; and yet , as hi s f ace

t ol d onl y t oo t r ul y t o anyone who wat ched hi m when he was

exer t i ng hi msel f i n soci et y, one of t he most wr et ched men i n t he

Col l ege. He had a passi on f or success- - f or beat i ng ever ybody el se

i n what ever he t ook i n hand, and t hat , t oo, wi t hout seemi ng t o

make any gr eat ef f or t hi msel f . The doi ng a t hi ng wel l and

t hor oughl y gave hi m no sat i sf act i on unl ess he coul d f eel t hat he

was doi ng i t bet t er and mor e easi l y t han A, B, or C, and t hey

f el t and acknowl edged t hi s. He had had f ul l swi ng of success f or

t wo year s, and now t he Nemesi s was comi ng.

For , al t hough not an ext r avagant man, many of t he pur sui t s i n

whi ch he has ecl i psed al l r i val s wer e f ar beyond t he means of any

but a r i ch one, and Bl ake was not r i ch. He had a f ai r al l owance,

but by t he end of hi s f i r st year was consi der abl y i n debt , and,

at t he t i me we ar e speaki ng of , t he whol e pack of Oxf or d

t r adesmen i nt o whose books he had got ( havi ng smel t out t he

l eaness of hi s expect at i ons) , wer e upon hi m, besi egi ng hi m f or

payment . Thi s mi ser abl e and const ant annoyance was wear i ng hi s

soul out . Thi s was t he r eason why hi s oak was spor t ed, and he was

never seen t i l l t he af t er noons, and t ur ned ni ght i nt o day. He was

t oo pr oud t o come t o an under st andi ng wi t h hi s per secut or s, even

had i t been possi bl e; and now, at hi s sor est need, hi s whol e

scheme of l i f e was f ai l i ng hi m; hi s l ove of success was t ur ni ng

i nt o ashes i n hi s mout h; he f el t much mor e di sgust t han pl easur e

at hi s t r i umphs over ot her men, and yet t he habi t of st r i vi ng f or

successes, not wi t hst andi ng i t s i r ksomeness, was t oo st r ong t o be

r esi st ed.

Poor Bl ake! he was l i vi ng on f r om hand t o mout h, f l ashi ng out i n

hi s ol d br i l l i ancy and power , and f or ci ng hi msel f t o t ake t he

l ead i n what ever company he mi ght be; but ut t er l y l onel y and

depr essed when by hi msel f - - r eadi ng f ever i shl y i n secr et , i n a

desper at e ef f or t t o r et r i eve al l by hi gh honor s and a f el l owshi p.

As Tom sai d t o hi s nei ghbor , t her e was no sadder f ace t han hi s t o

be seen i n Oxf or d.

And yet at t hi s ver y wi ne par t y he was t he l i f e of ever yt hi ng, as

he sat up t her e bet ween Di ogenes- - whom he kept i n a const ant sor t

of mi l d epi l ept i c f i t , f r om l aught er , and wi ne goi ng t he wr ong

way ( f or whenever Di ogenes r ai sed hi s gl ass Bl ake shot hi m wi t h

some j oke) - - and t he Capt ai n who wat ched hi m wi t h t he most

undi sgui sed admi r at i on. A si ngul ar cont r ast , t he t wo men! Mi l l er ,

t hough Bl ake was t he t or ment of hi s l i f e, r el axed af t er t he f i r st

quar t er of al l hour ; and our her o, by t he same t i me, gave hi msel f

cr edi t f or bei ng a much gr eat er ass t han he was, f or havi ng ever

t hought Bl ake' s f ace a sad one.

When t he r oom was qui t e f ul l , and enough wi ne had been dr unk t o

open t he hear t s of t he guest s, Di ogenes r ose on a si gnal f r om

Mi l l er , and opened t he budget . The f i nanci al st at ement was a

sat i sf act or y one; t he cl ub was al most f r ee of debt ; and,

Page 33 of 443

compar i ng t hei r posi t i on wi t h t hat of ot her col l eges, Di ogenes

advi sed t hat t hey mi ght f ai r l y bur den t hemsel ves a l i t t l e mor e,

and t hen, i f t hey woul d st and a whi p of t en shi l l i ngs a man, t hey

mi ght have a new boat , whi ch he bel i eved t hey al l woul d agr ee had

become necessar y. Mi l l er suppor t ed t he new boat i n a pungent

l i t t l e speech; and t he Capt ai n, when appeal ed t o, nodded and sai d

he t hought t hey must have one. So t he smal l suppl i es and t he

l ar ge addi t i on t o t he cl ub debt was vot ed unani mousl y, and t he

Capt ai n, Mi l l er , and Bl ake, who had many not i ons as t o t he

f l oor i ng, l i nes, and keel of a r aci ng boat , wer e appoi nt ed t o

or der and super i nt end t he bui l di ng.

Soon af t er war ds, cof f ee came i n and ci gar s wer e l i ght ed; a l ar ge

sect i on of t he par t y went of f t o pl ay pool , ot her s t o st r ol l

about t he st r eet s, ot her s t o whi st ; a f ew, l et us hope, t o t hei r

own r ooms t o r ead; but t hese l at t er wer e a sadl y smal l mi nor i t y

even i n t he qui et est of St . Ambr ose par t i es.

Tom, who was f asci nat ed by t he her oes at t he head of t he t abl e,

sat st eadi l y on, si dl i ng up t owar ds t hem as t he i nt er medi at e

pl aces became vacant , and at l ast at t ai ned t he next chai r but one

t o t he Capt ai n, wher e f or t he t i me he sat i n per f ect bl i ss. Bl ake

and Mi l l er wer e t el l i ng boat i ng st or i es of t he Henl ey and Thames

r egat t as, t he l at t er of whi ch had been l at el y st ar t ed wi t h gr eat

_ecl at _; and f r om t hese gr eat year l y event s, and t he deeds of

pr owess done t her eat , t he t al k came gr adual l y r ound t o t he next

r aces.

" Now, Capt ai n, " sai d Mi l l er , suddenl y, " have you t hought yet what

new men we ar e t o t r y i n t he cr ew t hi s year ?"

" No, ' pon my honor I haven' t , " sai d t he Capt ai n, " I ' m r eadi ng,

and have no t i me t o spar e. Besi des, af t er al l , t her e' s l ot s of

t i me t o t hi nk about i t . Her e we' r e onl y hal f t hr ough Lent t er m,

and t he r aces don' t begi n t i l l t he end of East er t er m. "

" I t won' t do, " sai d Mi l l er , " we must get t he cr ew t oget her t hi s

t er m. "

" Wel l , you and Smi t h put your heads t oget her and manage i t , " sai d

t he Capt ai n. " I wi l l go down any day, and as of t en as you l i ke,

at t wo o' cl ock. "

" Let ' s see, " sai d Mi l l er t o Smi t h, " how many of t he ol d cr ew have

we l ef t ?"

" Fi ve, count i ng Bl ake, " answer ed Di ogenes.

" Count i ng me! wel l , t hat ' s cool , " l aughed Bl ake; " you ol d t ub

haunt i ng f l ut e- pl ayer , why am I not t o be count ed?"

" You never wi l l t r ai n, you see, " sai d Di ogenes.

" Smi t h i s qui t e r i ght , " sai d Mi l l er ; " t her e' s no count i ng on you,

Bl ake. Now, be a good f el l ow, and pr omi se t o be r egul ar t hi s

year . "

" I ' l l pr omi se t o do my wor k i n a r ace, whi ch i s mor e t han some of

your best - t r ai ned men wi l l do, " sai d Bl ake, r at her pi qued.

" Wel l you know what I t hi nk on t he subj ect , " sai d Mi l l er ; " but

who have we got f or t he ot her t hr ee pl aces?"

" Ther e' s Dr ysdal e woul d do, " sai d Di ogenes; " I hear he was a

Page 34 of 443

capi t al oar at Et on; and so, t hough I don' t know hi m, I managed

t o get hi m once down l ast t er m. He woul d do f amousl y f or No. 2, or

No. 3 i f he woul d pul l . "

" Do you t hi nk he wi l l , Bl ake? You know hi m, I suppose, " sai d

Mi l l er .

" Yes, I know hi m wel l enough, " sai d Bl ake; and, shr uggi ng hi s

shoul der s, added, " I don' t t hi nk you' l l get hi m t o t r ai n much. "

" Wel l , we must t r y, " sai d Mi l l er . " Now, who el se i s t her e?"

Smi t h went t hr ough f our or f i ve names, at each of whi ch Mi l l er

shook hi s head.

" Any pr omi si ng f r eshmen?" sai d he at l ast .

" None bet t er t han Br own her e, " sai d Smi t h. " I t hi nk he' l l do wel l

i f he wi l l onl y wor k, and st and bei ng coached. "

" Have you ever pul l ed much?" sai d Mi l l er .

" No, " sai d Tom, " never t i l l t hi s l ast mont h- - si nce I ' ve been up

her e. "

" Al l t he bet t er , " sai d Mi l l er ; " now, Capt ai n, you hear ; we may

pr obabl y have t o go i n wi t h t hr ee new hands; t hey must get i nt o

your st r oke t hi s t er m, or we shal l be nowher e. "

" Ver y wel l , " sai d t he Capt ai n; " I ' l l gi ve f r om t wo t i l l f i ve any

days you l i ke. "

" And now l et ' s go and have one pool , " sai d Bl ake, get t i ng up.

" Come, Capt ai n, j ust one l i t t l e pool af t er al l t hi s busi ness. "

Di ogenes i nsi st ed on st ayi ng t o pl ay hi s f l ut e; Mi l l er was

engaged; but t he Capt ai n, wi t h a l i t t l e coaxi ng, was l ed away by

Bl ake, and good- nat ur edl y asked Tom t o accompany t hem, when he

saw t hat he was l ooki ng as i f he woul d l i ke i t . So t he t hr ee went

of f t o t he bi l l i ar d- r ooms; Tom i n such spi r i t s at t he chance of

bei ng t r i ed i n t he cr ew, t hat he har dl y not i ced t he exceedi ngl y

bad exchange whi ch he had i nvol unt ar i l y made of hi s new cap and

gown f or a t hi r d- year cap wi t h t he boar d br oken i nt o sever al

pi eces, and a f ust y ol d gown whi ch had been about col l ege

pr obabl y f or t en gener at i ons. Under - gr aduat e mor al i t y i n t he

mat t er of caps and gowns seems t o be f ounded on t he cel ebr at ed

maxi m, " Pr opr i et e c' est l e vol . "

They f ound t he St . Ambr ose pool - r oom f ul l of t he f ast set ; and

Tom enj oyed hi s game much, t hough hi s t hr ee l i ves wer e soon

di sposed of . The Capt ai n and Bl ake wer e t he l ast l i ves on t he

boar d, and di vi ded t he pool at Bl ake' s suggest i on. He had

scar cel y ner ve f or pl ayi ng out a si ngl e handed mat ch wi t h such an

i r on- ner ved, st eady pi ece of humani t y as t he Capt ai n, t hough he

was t he mor e br i l l i ant pl ayer of t he t wo. The par t y t hen br oke

up, and Tom r et ur ned t o hi s r ooms; and, when he was by hi msel f

agai n, hi s t hought s r ecur r ed t o Har dy. How odd, he t hought , t hat

t hey never ment i oned hi m f or t he boat ! Coul d he have done

anyt hi ng t o be ashamed of ? How was i t t hat nobody seemed t o know

hi m, and he t o know nobody.

Most r eader s, I doubt not , wi l l t hi nk our her o ver y gr een f or

bei ng puzzl ed at so si mpl e a mat t er ; and, no doubt , t he st eps i n

t he soci al scal e i n Engl and ar e ver y cl ear l y mar ked out , and we

Page 35 of 443

al l come t o t he appr eci at i on of t he gr adat i ons sooner or l at er .

But our her o' s pr evi ous educat i on must be t aken i nt o

consi der at i on. He had not been i nst r uct ed at home t o wor shi p mer e

convent i onal di st i nct i ons of r ank or weal t h, and had gone t o a

school whi ch was not f r equent ed by per sons of r ank, and wher e no

one knew whet her a boy was hei r t o a pr i nci pal i t y, or woul d have

t o f i ght hi s own way i n t he wor l d. So he was r at her t aken by

sur pr i se at what he f ound t o be t he st at e of t hi ngs at St .

Ambr ose' s and di dn' t easi l y r eal i ze i t .

CHAPTER V

HARDY, THE SERVI TOR

I t was not l ong bef or e Tom had ef f ect ed hi s obj ect i n par t . That

i s t o say, he had caught Har dy sever al t i mes i n t he Quadr angl e

comi ng out of Lect ur e Hal l , or Chapel , and had f ast ened hi msel f

upon hi m; of t en wal ki ng wi t h hi m even up t o t he door of hi s

r ooms. But t her e mat t er s ended. Har dy was ver y ci vi l and

gent l emanl y; he even seemed pl eased wi t h t he vol unt eer ed

compani onshi p; but t her e was undoubt edl y a cool ness about hi m

whi ch Tom coul d not make out . But , as he onl y l i ked Har dy mor e,

t he mor e he saw of hi m, he ver y soon made up hi s mi nd t o br eak

gr ound hi msel f , and t o make a dash at any r at e f or somet hi ng mor e

t han a mer e speaki ng acquai nt ance.

One eveni ng he had as usual wal ked f r om Hal l wi t h Har dy up t o hi s

door . They st opped a moment t al ki ng, and t hen Har dy, hal f - openi ng

t he door , sai d, " Wel l , goodni ght ; per haps we shal l meet on t he

r i ver t o- mor r ow, " and was goi ng i n, when Tom, l ooki ng hi m i n t he

f ace, bl ur t ed out , " I say, Har dy, I wi sh you' d l et me come i n and

si t wi t h you a bi t . "

" I never ask a man of our col l ege i nt o my r ooms, " answer ed t he

ot her , " but come i n by al l means i f you l i ke; " and so t hey

ent er ed.

The r oom was t he wor st , bot h i n si t uat i on and f ur ni t ur e, whi ch

Tom had yet seen. I t was on t he gr ound f l oor , wi t h onl y one

wi ndow, whi ch l ooked out i nt o a back yar d, wher e wer e t he of f i ces

of t he col l ege. Al l day, and up t o ni ne o' cl ock at ni ght , t he

yar d and of f i ces wer e f i l l ed wi t h scout s; boys cl eani ng boot s and

kni ves; bed- maker s empt yi ng sl ops and t at t l i ng scandal ; scul l i ons

peel i ng pot at oes and l i st eni ng; and t he but cher s' and

gr een- gr ocer s' men who suppl y t he col l ege, and l oi t er i ng about t o

gossi p and get a t ast e of t he col l ege al e bef or e goi ng about

t hei r busi ness. The r oom was l ar ge, but l ow and cl ose, and t he

f l oor uneven. The f ur ni t ur e di d not add t o t he cheer f ul ness of

t he apar t ment . I t consi st ed of one l ar ge t abl e i n t he mi ddl e,

cover ed wi t h an ol d chequer ed t abl e- cl ot h, and an Oxf or d t abl e

near t he wi ndow, on whi ch l ay hal f - a- dozen books wi t h wr i t i ng

mat er i al s. A coupl e of pl ai n Wi ndsor chai r s occupi ed t he t wo

si des of t he f i r epl ace, and hal f - a- dozen common wooden chai r s

st ood agai nst t he opposi t e wal l , t hr ee on each si de of a

pr et t y- wel l - f i l l ed book- case; whi l e an ol d r i cket y sof a, cover ed

wi t h soi l ed chi nt z, l eaned agai nst t he wal l whi ch f r ont ed t he

wi ndow, as i f t o r est i t s l ame l eg. The car pet and r ug wer e

di ngy, and deci dedl y t he wor se f or wear ; and t he col l ege had

evi dent l y negl ect ed t o paper t he r oom or whi t ewash t he cei l i ng

f or sever al gener at i ons. On t he mant l e- pi ece r eposed a f ew l ong

cl ay pi pes, and a br own ear t henwar e r ecept acl e f or t obacco,

t oget her wi t h a j apanned t i n case, shaped l i ke a f i gur e of ei ght ,

Page 36 of 443

t he use of whi ch puzzl ed Tom exceedi ngl y. One modest l y f r amed

dr awi ng of a 10- gun br i g hung above, and at t he si de of t he

f i r epl ace a swor d and bel t . Al l t hi s Tom had t i me t o r emar k by

t he l i ght of t he f i r e, whi ch was bur ni ng br i ght l y, whi l e hi s host

pr oduced a coupl e of br ass candl est i cks f r om hi s cupboar d and

l i ght ed up, and dr ew t he cur t ai n bef or e hi s wi ndow. Then Tom

i nst i nct i vel y l ef t of f t aki ng hi s not es, f or f ear of hur t i ng t he

ot her ' s f eel i ngs ( j ust as he woul d have gone on doi ng, and maki ng

r emar ks on ever yt hi ng, had t he r ooms been model s of t ast e and

comf or t ) , and t hr owi ng hi s cap and gown on t he sof a, sat down on

one of t he Wi ndsor chai r s.

" What a j ol l y chai r , " sai d he; " wher e do you get t hem? I shoul d

l i ke t o buy one. "

" Yes, t hey' r e comf or t abl e enough, " sai d Har dy, " but t he r eason I

have t hem i s, t hat t hey' r e t he cheapest ar mchai r one can get . I

l i ke an ar m- chai r , and can' t af f or d t o have any ot her t han

t hese. "

Tom dr opped t he subj ect of t he chai r s at once, f ol l owi ng hi s

i nst i nct agai n, whi ch, sad t o say, was al r eady t eachi ng hi m t hat

pover t y i s a di sgr ace t o a Br i t on, and t hat , unt i l you know a man

t hor oughl y, you must al ways seem t o assume t hat he i s t he owner

of unl i mi t ed r eady money. Somehow or anot her , he began t o f eel

embar r assed, and coul dn' t t hi nk of anyt hi ng t o say, as hi s host

t ook down t he pi pes and t obacco f r om t he mant l e- pi ece, and pl aced

t hem on t he t abl e. However , anyt hi ng was bet t er t han si l ence, so

he began agai n.

" Ver y good- si zed r ooms your s seem, " sai d he, t aki ng up a pi pe

mechani cal l y.

" Bi g enough, f or t he mat t er of t hat , " answer ed t he ot her , " but

ver y dar k and noi sy i n t he day- t i me. "

" So I shoul d t hi nk, " sai d Tom; " do you know, I ' d sooner , now,

have my f r eshman' s r ooms up i n t he gar r et s. I wonder you don' t

change. "

" I get t hese f or not hi ng, " sai d hi s host , put t i ng hi s l ong cl ay

t o t he candl e, and puf f i ng out vol umes of smoke. Tom f el t mor e

and mor e unequal t o t he si t uat i on, and f i l l ed hi s pi pe i n

si l ence. The f i r st whi f f made hi m cough as he wasn' t used t o t he

f r agr ant weed i n t hi s shape.

" I ' m af r ai d you don' t smoke t obacco, " sai d hi s host f r om behi nd

hi s own cl oud; " shal l I go out and f et ch you a ci gar ? I don' t

smoke t hem mysel f ; I can' t af f or d i t . "

" No, t hank you, " sai d Tom bl ushi ng f or shame as i f he had come

t her e onl y t o i nsul t hi s host , and wi shi ng hi msel f hear t i l y out

of i t , " I ' ve got my case her e; and t he f act i s I wi l l smoke a

ci gar i f you' l l al l ow me, f or I ' m not up t o pi pes yet . I wi sh

you' d t ake some, " he went on, empt yi ng hi s ci gar s on t o t he

t abl e.

" Thank' ee, " r epl i ed hi s host , " I pr ef er a pi pe. And now what wi l l

you have t o dr i nk? I don' t keep wi ne but I can get a bot t l e of

anyt hi ng you l i ke f r om t he common r oom. That ' s one of _our _

pr i vi l eges, " - - he gave a gr i m chuckl e as he emphasi sed t he wor d

" our " .

" Who on ear t h ar e _we_?" t hought Tom " ser vi t or s I suppose, " f or

Page 37 of 443

he knew al r eady t hat under gr aduat es i n gener al coul d not get wi ne

f r om t he col l ege cel l ar s.

" I don' t car e a st r aw about wi ne, " sai d he, f eel i ng ver y hot

about t he ear s; " a gl ass of beer , or anyt hi ng you have her e- - or

t ea. "

" Wel l , I can gi ve you a pr et t y good gl ass of whi skey, " sai d hi s

host , goi ng t o t he cupboar d, and pr oduci ng a bl ack bot t l e, t wo

t umbl er s of di f f er ent si zes, some l i t t l e wooden t oddy l adl es, and

sugar i n an ol d cr acked gl ass.

Tom vowed t hat , i f t her e was one t hi ng i n t he wor l d he l i ked mor e

t han anot her , i t was whi skey; and began measur i ng out t he l i quor

car ef ul l y i nt o hi s t umbl er , and r ol l i ng i t r ound bet ween hi s eyes

and t he candl e and smel l i ng i t , t o show what a t r eat i t was t o

hi m; whi l e hi s host put t he ket t l e on t he f i r e, t o ascer t ai n t hat

i t had qui t boi l i ng, and t hen, as i t spl ut t er ed and f i zzed,

f i l l ed up t he t wo t umbl er s, and r est or ed i t t o i t s pl ace on t he

hob.

Tom swal l owed some of t he mi xt ur e, whi ch near l y made hi m cough

agai n- - f or , t hough i t was ver y good, i t was al so ver y pot ent .

However , by an ef f or t he managed t o swal l ow hi s cough; he woul d

about as soon have l ost a l i t t l e f i nger as l et i t out . Then, t o

hi s gr eat r el i ef , hi s host t ook t he pi pe f r om hi s l i ps, and

i nqui r ed, " How do you l i ke Oxf or d?"

" I har dl y know yet , " sai d Tom; " t he f i r st f ew days I was

del i ght ed wi t h goi ng about and seei ng t he bui l di ngs, and f i ndi ng

out who had l i ved i n each of t he ol d col l eges, and pot t er i ng

about i n t he Bodl ei an, and f ancyi ng I shoul d l i ke t o be a gr eat

schol ar . Then I met sever al ol d school f el l ows goi ng about , who

ar e up at ot her col l eges, and went t o t hei r r ooms and t al ked over

ol d t i mes. But none of my ver y i nt i mat e f r i ends ar e up yet , and

unl ess you car e ver y much about a man al r eady, you don' t seem

l i kel y t o get i nt i mat e wi t h hi m up her e, unl ess he i s at your own

col l ege. "

He paused, as i f expect i ng an answer .

" I dar esay not , " sai d Har dy, " but I never was at a publ i c school ,

unl ucki l y, and so am no j udge. "

" Wel l , t hen, as t o t he col l ege l i f e, " went on Tom, " i t ' s al l ver y

wel l as f ar as i t goes. Ther e' s pl ent y of l i ber t y and good f ood.

And t he men seem ni ce f el l ows- - many of t hem, at l east , so f ar as

I can j udge. But I can' t say t hat I l i ke i t as much as I l i ked

our school l i f e. "

" I don' t under st and, " sai d Har dy. " Why not ?"

" Oh! I har dl y know, " sai d Tom l aughi ng; " I don' t seem as i f I had

anyt hi ng t o do her e; t hat ' s one r eason, I t hi nk. And t hen, you

see, at Rugby I was r at her a gr eat man. Ther e one had a shar e i n

t he r ul i ng of 300 boys, and a good deal of r esponsi bi l i t y; but

her e one has onl y j ust t o t ake car e of onesel f , and keep out of

scr apes; and t hat ' s what I never coul d do. What do you t hi nk a

f el l ow ought t o do, now, up her e?"

" Oh I don' t see much di f f i cul t y i n t hat , " sai d hi s host , smi l i ng;

" get up your l ect ur es wel l , t o begi n wi t h. "

" But my l ect ur es ar e a f ar ce, " sai d Tom; " I ' ve done al l t he books

Page 38 of 443

over and over agai n. They don' t t ake me an hour a day t o get up. "

" Wel l , t hen, set t o wor k r eadi ng somet hi ng r egul ar l y - - r eadi ng f or

your degr ee, f or i nst ance. "

" Oh, hang i t ! I can' t l ook so f ar f or war d as t hat ; I shan' t be

goi ng up f or t hr ee year s. "

" You can' t begi n t oo ear l y. You mi ght go and t al k t o your

col l ege- t ut or about i t . "

" So I di d, " sai d Tom; " at l east I meant t o do i t . For he asked me

and t wo ot her f r eshmen t o br eakf ast t he ot her mor ni ng, and I was

goi ng t o open out t o hi m; but when I got t her e I was qui t e shut

up. He never l ooked one of us i n t he f ace, and t al ked i n set

sent ences, and was col d, and f or mal , and condescendi ng. The onl y

bi t of advi ce he gave us was t o have not hi ng t o do wi t h

boat i ng- - j ust t he one t hi ng whi ch I f eel a r eal i nt er est i n. I

coul dn' t get out a wor d of what I want ed t o say. "

" I t i s unl ucky, cer t ai nl y, t hat our pr esent t ut or s t ake so l i t t l e

i nt er est i n anyt hi ng whi ch t he men car e about . But i t i s mor e

f r om shyness t han anyt hi ng el se, t hat manner whi ch you not i ced.

You may be sur e t hat he was mor e wr et ched and embar r assed t han

any of you. "

" Wel l , but now I shoul d r eal l y l i ke t o know what you di d

your sel f , " sai d Tom; " you ar e t he onl y man of much ol der st andi ng

t han mysel f whom I know at al l yet - - I mean I don' t know anybody

el se wel l enough t o t al k about t hi s sor t of t hi ng t o t hem. What

di d you do, now, besi des l ear ni ng t o pul l , i n your f i r st year ?"

" I had l ear nt t o pul l bef or e I came up her e, " sai d Har dy.

" I r eal l y har dl y r emember what I di d besi des r ead. You see, I

came up wi t h a def i ni t e pur pose of r eadi ng. My f at her was ver y

anxi ous t hat I shoul d become a good schol ar . Then my posi t i on i n

t he col l ege and my pover t y nat ur al l y kept me out of t he many

t hi ngs whi ch ot her men do. "

Tom f l ushed agai n at t he ugl y wor d, but not so much as at f i r st .

Har dy coul dn' t mi nd t he subj ect , or he woul d never be f or ci ng i t

up at ever y t ur n, he t hought .

" You woul dn' t t hi nk i t , " he began agai n, har pi ng on t he same

st r i ng, " but I can har dl y t el l you how I mi ss t he sor t of

r esponsi bi l i t y I was t al ki ng t o you about . I have no doubt I

shal l get t he vacuum f i l l ed up bef or e l ong, but f or t he l i f e of

me I can' t see how yet . "

" You wi l l be a ver y l ucky f el l ow i f you don' t f i nd i t qui t e as

much as you can do t o keep your sel f i n or der up her e. I t i s about

t he t oughest par t of a man' s l i f e, I do bel i eve, t he t i me he has

spent her e. My uni ver si t y l i f e has been so di f f er ent al t oget her

f r om what your s wi l l be, t hat my exper i ence i sn' t l i kel y t o

benef i t you. "

" I wi sh you woul d t r y me, t hough, " sai d Tom; " you don' t know what

a t eachabl e sor t of a f el l ow I am, i f any body wi l l t ake me t he

r i ght way. You t aught me t o scul l , you know; or at l east put me

i n a way t o l ear n. But scul l i ng, and r owi ng, and cr i cket , and al l

t he r est of i t , wi t h such r eadi ng as I am l i kel y t o do, won' t be

enough. I f eel sur e of t hat al r eady.

Page 39 of 443

" I don' t t hi nk i t wi l l , " sai d Har dy. " No amount of physi cal or

ment al wor k wi l l f i l l t he vacuum you wer e t al ki ng of j ust now. I t

i s t he empt y house swept and gar ni shed whi ch t he boy mi ght have

had gl i mpses of , but t he man f i nds yawni ng wi t hi n hi m, whi ch must

be f i l l ed somehow. I t ' s a pr et t y good t hr ee year s' wor k t o l ear n

how t o keep t he devi l s out of i t , mor e or l ess; by t he t i me you

t ake your degr ee. At l east I have f ound i t so. "

Har dy r ose and t ook a t ur n or t wo up and down hi s r oom. He was

ast oni shed at f i ndi ng hi msel f t al ki ng so unr eser vedl y t o one of

whom he knew so l i t t l e, and hal f - wi shed t he wor ds r ecal l ed. He

l i ved much al one, and t hought hi msel f mor bi d and t oo

sel f - consci ous; why shoul d he be f i l l i ng a youngst er ' s head wi t h

puzzl es? How di d he know t hat t hey wer e t hi nki ng of t he same

t hi ng?

But t he spoken wor d cannot be r ecal l ed; i t must go on i t s way f or

good or evi l ; and t hi s one set t he hear er st ar i ng i nt o t he ashes,

and put t i ng many t hi ngs t oget her i n hi s head.

I t was some mi nut es bef or e he br oke si l ence, but at l ast he

gat her ed up hi s t hought s, and sai d, " Wel l , I hope I sha' n' t shi r k

when t he t i me comes. You don' t t hi nk a f el l ow need shut hi msel f

up, t hough? I ' m sur e I shoul dn' t be any t he bet t er f or t hat . "

" No, I don' t t hi nk you woul d, " sai d Har dy.

" Because, you see, " Tom went on, waxi ng bol der and mor e

conf i dent i al , " I f I wer e t o t ake t o mopi ng by mysel f , I shoul dn' t

r ead as you or any sensi bl e f el l ow woul d do; I know t hat wel l

enough. I shoul d j ust begi n, si t t i ng wi t h my l egs upon t he

mant el - pi ece, and l ooki ng i nt o my own i nsi de. I see you ar e

l aughi ng, but you know what mean, don' t you now?"

" Yes; st ar i ng i nt o t he vacuum you wer e t al ki ng of j ust now; i t

al l comes back t o t hat , " sai d Har dy.

" Wel l , per haps i t does, " sai d Tom; " and I don' t bel i eve i t does a

f el l ow a bi t of good t o be t hi nki ng about hi msel f and hi s own

doi ngs. "

" Onl y he can' t hel p hi msel f , " sai d Har dy. " Let hi m t hr ow hi msel f

as he wi l l i nt o al l t hat i s goi ng on up her e, af t er al l he must

be al one f or a gr eat par t of hi s t i me- - al l ni ght at any r at e- - and

when he get s hi s oak spor t ed, i t ' s al l up wi t h hi m. He must be

l ooki ng mor e or l ess i nt o hi s own i nsi de, as you cal l i t . "

" Then I hope he won' t f i nd i t as ugl y a busi ness as I do. I f he

does, I ' m sur e he can' t be wor se empl oyed. "

" I don' t know t hat , " sai d Har dy; " he can' t l ear n anyt hi ng wor t h

l ear ni ng i n any ot her way. "

" Oh, I l i ke t hat ! " sai d Tom; " i t ' s wor t h l ear ni ng how t o pl ay

t enni s, and how t o speak t he t r ut h. You can' t l ear n ei t her by

t hi nki ng of your sel f ever so much. "

" You must know t he t r ut h bef or e you can speak i t , " sai d Har dy.

" So you al ways do i n pl ent y of t i me. "

" How?" sai d Har dy.

" Oh, I don' t know, " sai d Tom; " by a sor t of i nst i nct I suppose. I

Page 40 of 443

never i n my l i f e f el t any doubt about what I _ought _ t o say or

do; di d you?"

" Wel l , your s i s a good, comf or t abl e, wor ki ng bel i ef at any r at e, "

sai d Har dy, smi l i ng; " and I shoul d advi se you t o hol d on t o i t as

l ong as you can. "

" But you don' t t hi nk I can ver y l ong, eh?"

" No: but men ar e ver y di f f er ent . Ther e' s no sayi ng. I f you wer e

goi ng t o get out of t he sel f - di ssect i ng busi ness al t oget her

t hough, why shoul d you have br ought t he subj ect up at al l

t o- ni ght ? I t l ooks awkwar d f or you, doesn' t i t ?"

Tom began t o f eel r at her f or l or n at t hi s suggest i on, and pr obabl y

bet r ayed i t i n hi s f ace, f or Har dy changed t he subj ect suddenl y.

" How do you get on i n t he boat ? I saw you goi ng down t o- day, and

t hought t he t i me much bet t er . "

Tom f el t gr eat l y r el i eved, as he was begi nni ng t o f i nd hi msel f i n

r at her deep wat er ; so he r ushed i nt o boat i ng wi t h gr eat zest , and

t he t wo chat t ed on ver y pl easant l y on t hat and ot her mat t er s.

The col l ege cl ock st r uck dur i ng a pause i n t hei r t al k, and Tom

l ooked at hi s wat ch.

" Ei ght o' cl ock I decl ar e, " he sai d; " why I must have been her e

mor e t han t wo hour s. I ' m af r ai d, now, you have been want i ng t o

wor k, and I have kept you f r om i t wi t h my t al k. "

" No, i t ' s Sat ur day ni ght . Besi des, I don' t get much soci et y t hat

I car e about , and so I enj oy i t al l t he mor e. Won' t you st op and

have some t ea?"

Tom gl adl y consent ed, and hi s host pr oduced a somewhat

di l api dat ed set of cr ocker y, and pr oceeded t o br ew t he dr i nk

l east appr eci at ed at St . Ambr ose' s. Tom wat ched hi m i n si l ence,

much excer ci sed i n hi s mi nd as t o what manner of man he had

f al l en upon; ver y much ast oni shed at hi msel f f or havi ng opened

out so f r eel y, and f eel i ng a desi r e t o know mor e about Har dy, not

unmi xed wi t h a sor t of ner vousness as t o how he was t o accompl i sh

i t .

When Har dy sat down agai n and began pour i ng out t he t ea,

cur i osi t y over came, and he opened wi t h- -

" So you r ead ni ght s, af t er Hal l ?

" Yes, f or t wo or t hr ee hour s; l onger , when I am i n a good humor . "

" What , al l by your sel f ?"

" Gener al l y; but once or t wi ce a week Gr ey comes i n t o compar e

not es. Do you know hi m?"

" No, at l east he hasn' t cal l ed on me, I have j ust spoken t o hi m. "

" He i s a qui et f el l ow, and I dar esay doesn' t cal l on any man

unl ess he knew somet hi ng of hi m bef or e. "

" Don' t you?"

" Never , " sai d Har dy, shor t l y; and added af t er a shor t pause,

Page 41 of 443

" ver y f ew men woul d t hank me i f I di d; most woul d t hi nk i t

i mper t i nent , and I ' m t oo pr oud t o r i sk t hat . "

Tom was on t he poi nt of aski ng why; but t he uncomf or t abl e f eel i ng

whi ch he had near l y l ost came back on hi m.

" I suppose one ver y soon get s t i r ed of t he wi ne and supper par t y

l i f e, t hough I own I f i nd i t pl easant enough now. "

" I have never been t i r ed, " sai d Har dy; " ser vi t or s ar e not

t r oubl ed wi t h t hat sor t of a t hi ng. I f t hey wer e I woul dn' t go

unl ess I coul d r et ur n t hem, and t hat I can' t af f or d. "

" Ther e he goes agai n, " t hought Tom; " why wi l l he be t hr owi ng t hat

ol d st or y i n my f ace over and over agai n? He can' t t hi nk I car e

about hi s pover t y; I won' t change t he subj ect t hi s t i me, at any

r at e. " And so he sai d:

" You don' t mean t o say i t makes any r eal di f f er ence t o a man i n

soci et y up her e, whet her he i s poor or r i ch; I mean, of cour se,

i f he i s a gent l eman and a good f el l ow?"

" Yes, i t does- - t he ver y gr eat est possi bl e. But don' t t ake my wor d

f or i t . Keep your eyes open and j udge f or your sel f ; I dar esay I ' m

pr ej udi ced on t he subj ect . "

" Wel l , I shan' t bel i eve i t i f I can hel p i t , " sai d Tom; " you

know, you sai d j ust now t hat you never cal l ed on any one. Per haps

you don' t gi ve men a f ai r chance. They mi ght be gl ad t o know you

i f you woul d l et t hem, and may t hi nk i t ' s your f aul t t hat t hey

don' t . "

" Ver y possi bl e, " sai d Har dy; " I t el l you not t o t ake my wor d f or

i t . "

" I t upset s al l one' s i deas so, " went on Tom; " why Oxf or d ought t o

be t he pl ace i n Engl and wher e money shoul d count f or not hi ng.

Sur el y, now, such a man as Jer vi s, our capt ai n, has mor e

i nf l uence t han al l t he r i ch men i n t he col l ege put t oget her , and

i s mor e l ooked up t o?"

" He' s one of a t housand, " sai d Har dy; " handsome, st r ong,

good- t emper ed, cl ever , and up t o ever yt hi ng. Besi des, he i sn' t a

poor man; and mi nd, I don' t say t hat i f he wer e he woul dn' t be

wher e he i s. I am speaki ng of t he r ul e, and not of t he

except i ons. "

Her e Har dy' s scout came i n t o say t hat t he Dean want ed t o speak

t o hi m. So he put on hi s cap and gown, and Tom r ose al so.

" Wel l , I ' m sor r y t o t ur n you out , " sai d Har dy; " and I ' m af r ai d

I ' ve been ver y sur l y and made you ver y uncomf or t abl e. You won' t

come back agai n i n a hur r y. "

" I ndeed I wi l l t hough, i f you wi l l l et me, " sai d Tom; " I have

enj oyed my eveni ng i mmensel y. "

" Then come whenever you l i ke, " sai d Har dy.

" But I am af r ai d of i nt er f er i ng wi t h your r eadi ng, " sai d Tom.

" Oh, you needn' t mi nd t hat , I have pl ent y of t i me on my hands;

besi des, one can' t r ead al l ni ght , and f r om ei ght t i l l t en you' l l

f i nd me gener al l y i dl e. "

Page 42 of 443

" Then you' l l see me of t en enough. But pr omi se, now, t o t ur n me

out whenever I am i n t he way. "

" Ver y wel l , " sai d Har dy, l aughi ng; and so t hey par t ed f or t he

t i me.

Some t went y mi nut es af t er war ds Har dy r et ur ned t o hi s r oom af t er

hi s i nt er vi ew wi t h t he Dean, who mer el y want ed t o speak t o hi m

about some mat t er of col l ege busi ness.

He f l ung hi s cap and gown on t he sof a, and began t o wal k up and

down hi s r oom, at f i r st hur r i edl y, but soon wi t h hi s usual

r egul ar t r amp. However expr essi ve a man' s f ace may be, and

however wel l you may know i t , i t i s si mpl y nonsense t o say t hat

you can t el l what he i s t hi nki ng about by l ooki ng at i t , as many

of us ar e apt t o boast . St i l l mor e absur d woul d i t be t o expect

r eader s t o know what Har dy i s t hi nki ng about , when t hey have

never had t he advant age of seei ng hi s f ace even i n a phot ogr aph.

Wher ef or e, i t woul d seem t hat t he aut hor i s bound on such

occasi ons t o put hi s r eader s on equal vant age gr ound wi t h

hi msel f , and not onl y t el l what a man does, but , so f ar as may

be, what he i s t hi nki ng about al so.

Hi s f i r st t hought , t hen, was one of pl easur e at havi ng been

sought by one who seemed t o be j ust t he sor t of f r i end he woul d

l i ke t o have. He cont r ast ed our her o wi t h t he f ew men wi t h whom

he had gener al l y l i ved, and f or some of whom he had a hi gh

est eem- - whose onl y i dea of exer ci se was a t wo hour const i t ut i onal

wal k i n t he af t er noons, and whose l i f e was chi ef l y spent over

books and behi nd spor t ed oaks- - and f el t t hat t hi s was mor e of a

man af t er hi s own hear t . Then came doubt s whet her hi s new f r i end

woul d dr aw back when he had been up a l i t t l e l onger , and knew

mor e of t he pl ace. At any r at e he had sai d and done not hi ng t o

t empt hi m; " i f he pushes t he acquai nt ance- - and I t hi nk he

wi l l - - i t wi l l be because he l i kes me f or mysel f . And I can do hi m

good t oo, I f eel sur e, " he went on, as he r an over r api dl y hi s

own l i f e f or t he l ast t hr ee year s. " Per haps he won' t f l ounder

i nt o al l t he sl oughs whi ch I have had t o dr ag t hr ough; he wi l l

get t oo much of t he heal t hy, act i ve l i f e up her e f or t hat , whi ch

I have never had; but some of t hem he must get i nt o. Al l t he

compani onshi p of boat i ng and cr i cket i ng, and wi ne- par t i es, and

supper par t i es, and al l t he r eadi ng i n t he wor l d won' t keep hi m

f r om many a l ong hour of mawki shness, and di scont ent , and

empt i ness of hear t ; he f eel s t hat al r eady hi msel f . Am I sur e of

t hat , t hough? I may be onl y r eadi ng mysel f i nt o hi m. At any r at e,

why shoul d I have hel ped t o t r oubl e hi m bef or e t he t i me? Was t hat

a f r i end' s par t ? Wel l , he _must _ f ace i t , and t he sooner t he

bet t er per haps. At any r at e i t i s done. But what a bl essed t hi ng

i f one can onl y hel p a youngst er l i ke t hi s t o f i ght hi s own way

t hr ough t he col d cl ammy at mospher e whi ch i s al ways hangi ng over

hi m, r eady t o set t l e down on hi m- - can hel p t o keep some l i vi ng

f ai t h i n hi m, t hat t he wor l d, Oxf or d and al l , i sn' t a r espect abl e

pi ece of machi ner y set goi ng some cent ur i es back! Ah! I t ' s an

awf ul busi ness, t hat t empt at i on t o bel i eve, or t hi nk you bel i eve,

i n a dead God. I t has near l y br oken my back a scor e of t i mes.

What ar e al l t he t empt at i ons of t he wor l d, t he f l esh, and t he

devi l t o t hi s? I t i ncl udes t hem al l . Wel l , I bel i eve I can hel p

hi m, and, pl ease God, I wi l l , i f he wi l l onl y l et me; and t he

ver y si ght of hi m does me good; so I won' t bel i eve we went down

t he l asher t oget her f or not hi ng. "

And so at l ast Har dy f i ni shed hi s wal k, t ook down a vol ume of Don

Qui xot e f r om hi s shel ves, and sat down f or an hour ' s enj oyment

Page 43 of 443

bef or e t ur ni ng i n.

CHAPTER VI

HOW DRYSDALE AND BLAKE WENT FI SHI NG

" Dr ysdal e, what ' s a ser vi t or ?"

" How t he deuce shoul d I know?"

Thi s shor t and pi t hy di al ogue t ook pl ace i n Dr ysdal e' s r ooms one

eveni ng soon af t er t he conver sat i on r ecor ded i n t he l ast chapt er .

He and Tom wer e si t t i ng al one t her e, f or a wonder , and so t he

l at t er sei zed t he occasi on t o pr opound t hi s quest i on, whi ch he

had had on hi s mi nd f or some t i me. He was scar cel y sat i sf i ed wi t h

t he above r ej oi nder , but whi l e he was t hi nki ng how t o come at t he

subj ect by anot her r oad, Dr ysdal e opened a mor occo f l y - book, and

pour ed i t s cont ent s on t he t abl e, whi ch was al r eady cover ed wi t h

f l i es of al l sor t s and pat t er ns, hanks of gut , del i cat e made- up

cast s, r eel s, mi nnows, and t ackl e enough t o ki l l al l t he f i sh i n

t he f our nei ghbor i ng count i es. Tom began t ur ni ng t hem over and

scr ut i ni zi ng t he dr essi ngs of t he f l i es.

" I t has been so mi l d, t he f i sh must be i n season don' t you t hi nk?

Besi des, i f t hey' r e not , i t ' s a j ol l y dr i ve t o Fai r f or d at any

r at e. You' ve never been behi nd my t eam Br own. You' d bet t er come,

now, t o- mor r ow. "

" I can' t cut my t wo l ect ur es. "

" Bot her your l ect ur es! Put on an aeger , t hen. "

" No! t hat doesn' t sui t my book, you know. "

" I can' t see why you shoul d be so cur sedl y par t i cul ar . Wel l , i f

you won' t , you won' t ; I know t hat wel l enough. But what cast

shal l you f i sh wi t h t o- mor r ow?"

" How many f l i es do you use?"

" Somet i mes t wo, somet i mes t hr ee. "

" Two' s enough, I t hi nk; al l depends on t he weat her ; but , i f i t ' s

at al l l i ke t oday, you can' t do bet t er , I shoul d t hi nk, t han t he

ol d Mar ch br own and a pal mer t o begi n wi t h. Then, f or change,

t hi s har e' s ear , and an al der f l y, per haps; or , - - l et me see, " and

he began sear chi ng t he gl i t t er i ng heap t o sel ect a col or t o go

wi t h t he dul l har e' s ear .

" I sn' t i t ear l y f or t he al der ?" sai d Dr ysdal e.

" Rat her , per haps; but t hey can' t r esi st i t . "

" These bang- t ai l ed l i t t l e si nner s any good?" sai d Dr ysdal e,

t hr owi ng some cock- a- bondi es acr oss t he t abl e.

" Yes; I never l i ke t o be wi t hout t hem, and a gover nor or t wo.

Her e, t hi s i s a wel l - t i ed l ot , " sai d Tom, pi cki ng out hal f

a- dozen. " You never know when you may not ki l l wi t h ei t her of

t hem. But I don' t know t he Fai r f or d wat er ; so my opi ni on i sn' t

wor t h much. "

Page 44 of 443

Tom soon r et ur ned t o t he ol d t opi c.

" But now, Dr ysdal e, you must know what a ser vi t or i s. "

" Why shoul d I ? Do you mean one of our col l ege ser vi t or s?"

" Yes?"

" Oh, somet hi ng i n t he upper - ser vant l i ne. I shoul d put hi m above

t he por t er , and bel ow t he cook, and but l er . He does t he don' s

di r t y wor k, and get s t hei r br oken vi ct ual s, and I bel i eve he pays

no col l ege f ees. "

Tom r at her dr ew i nt o hi msel f at t hi s i nsol ent and of f hand

def i ni t i on. He was ast oni shed and hur t at t he t one of hi s f r i end.

However , pr esent l y, he r esol ved t o go t hr ough wi t h i t , and began

agai n.

" But ser vi t or s ar e gent l emen, I suppose?"

" A good deal of t he cock- t ai l about t hem, I shoul d t hi nk. But I

have not t he honor of any acquai nt ance amongst t hem. "

" At any r at e, t hey ar e under gr aduat es, ar e not t hey?"

" Yes. "

" And may t ake degr ees, j ust l i ke you or me?"

" They may have al l t he degr ees t o t hemsel ves, f or anyt hi ng I

car e. I wi sh t hey woul d l et one pay a ser vi t or f or passi ng

l i t t l e- go f or one. I t woul d be deuced comf or t abl e. I wonder i t

don' t st r i ke t he dons, now; t hey mi ght get cl ever beggar s f or

ser vi t or s, and f ar m t hem, and so make l oads of t i n. "

" But , Dr ysdal e, ser i ousl y, why shoul d you t al k l i ke t hat ? I f t hey

can t ake al l t he degr ees we can, and ar e, i n f act , j ust what we

ar e, under gr aduat es, I can' t see why t hey' r e not as l i kel y t o be

gent l emen as we. I t can sur el y make no di f f er ence, t hei r bei ng

poor men?"

" I t must make t hem devi l i sh uncomf or t abl e, " sai d t he i ncor r i gi bl e

payer of doubl e f ees, get t i ng up t o l i ght hi s ci gar .

" The name ought t o car r y r espect her e, at any r at e. The Bl ack

Pr i nce was an Oxf or d man, and he t hought t he nobl est mot t o he

coul d t ake was, ' I ch di en, ' I ser ve. "

" I f he wer e her e now, he woul d change i t f or ' Je paye. ' "

" I of t en wi sh you woul d t el l me what you r eal l y and t r ul y t hi nk,

Dr ysdal e. "

" My dear f el l ow I am t el l i ng you what I do r eal l y t hi nk. What ever

t he Bl ack Pr i nce mi ght be pl eased t o obser ve i f he wer e her e, I

st i ck t o my mot t o. I t el l you t he t hi ng t o be abl e t o do her e at

Oxf or d i s- - t o pay. "

" I don' t bel i eve i t . "

" I knew you woul dn' t . "

" I don' t bel i eve you do ei t her . "

Page 45 of 443

" I do, t hough. But what makes you so cur i ous about ser vi t or s?"

" Why, I made f r i ends wi t h Har dy, one of our ser vi t or s. He i s such

a f i ne f el l ow! "

I am sor r y t o r el at e t hat i t cost Tom an ef f or t t o say t hi s t o

Dr ysdal e, but he despi sed hi msel f t hat i t was so.

" You shoul d have t ol d me so, bef or e you began t o pump me, " sai d

Dr ysdal e. " However , I par t l y suspect ed somet hi ng of t he sor t .

You' ve a good bi t of a Qui xot e i n you. But r eal l y, Br own, " he

added, seei ng Tom r edden and l ook angr y, " I ' m sor r y i f what I

sai d pai ned you. I dar esay t hi s f r i end of your s i s a gent l eman,

and al l you say. "

" He i s mor e of a gent l eman by a l ong way t han most of t he- "

" Gent l emen commoner s, you wer e goi ng t o say. Don' t cr ane at such

a smal l f ence on my account . I wi l l put i t i n anot her way f or

you. He can' t be a gr eat er snob t han many of t hem. "

" Wel l , but why do you l i ve wi t h t hem so much, t hen?"

" Why? because t hey happen t o do t he t hi ngs I l i ke doi ng, and l i ve

up her e as I l i ke t o l i ve. I l i ke hunt i ng and dr i vi ng, and

dr awi ng badger s, and pl ayi ng car ds, and good wi ne and ci gar s.

They hunt and dr i ve, and keep dogs and good cel l ar s, and wi l l

pl ay unl i mi t ed l oo or Van John as l ong as I pl ease. "

" But I know you get ver y si ck of al l t hat of t en, f or I ' ve hear d

you say as much hal f - a- dozen t i mes i n t he l i t t l e t i me I ' ve been

her e. "

" Why, you don' t want t o deny me t he Br i t on' s pr i vi l ege of

gr umbl i ng, do you?" sai d Dr ysdal e, as he f l ung hi s l egs up on t he

sof a, cr ossi ng one over t he ot her as he l ounged on hi s back - - hi s

f avor i t e at t i t ude; " but suppose I am get t i ng t i r ed of i t

al l - - whi ch I am not - - what do you pur pose as a subst i t ut e?"

" Take t o boat i ng. I know you coul d be i n t he f i r st boat i f you

l i ked; I hear d t hem say so at Smi t h' s wi ne t he ot her ni ght . "

" But what ' s t o pr event my get t i ng j ust as t i r ed of t hat ? Besi des,

i t ' s such a gr i nd. And t hen t her e' s t he bor e of changi ng al l

one' s habi t s. "

" Yes, but i t ' s such spl endi d har d wor k, " sai d Tom, who was bent

on maki ng a conver t of hi s f r i end.

" Just so; and t hat ' s j ust what I don' t want ; t he ' books and wor k

and heal t hf ul pl ay' l i ne don' t sui t my compl ai nt . No, as my uncl e

says, ' a young f el l ow must sow hi s wi l d oat s, ' and Oxf or d seems a

pl ace especi al l y set apar t by Pr ovi dence f or t hat oper at i on. "

I n al l t he wi l d r ange of accept ed Br i t i sh maxi ms t her e i s none,

t ake i t f or al l i n al l , mor e t hor oughl y abomi nabl e t han t hi s one,

as t o t he sowi ng of wi l d oat s. Look at i t on what si de you wi l l ,

and you can make not hi ng but a devi l ' s maxi m of i t . What a

man- - be he young, ol d, or mi ddl e- aged- - sows, _t hat _, and not hi ng

el se shal l he r eap. The one onl y t hi ng t o do wi t h wi l d oat s, i s

t o put t hem car ef ul l y i nt o t he hot t est par t of t he f i r e, and get

t hem bur nt t o dust , ever y seed of t hem. I f you sow t hem no mat t er

i n what gr ound, up t hey wi l l come, wi t h l ong t ough r oot s l i ke

couch gr ass, and l uxur i ant st al ks and l eaves, as sur e as t her e i s

Page 46 of 443

a sun i n heaven- - a cr op whi ch i t t ur ns one' s hear t col d t o t hi nk

of . The devi l , t oo, whose speci al cr op t hey ar e, wi l l see t hat

t hey t hr i ve, and you, and nobody el se, wi l l have t o r eap t hem;

and no common r eapi ng wi l l get t hem out of t he soi l , whi ch must

be dug down deep agai n and agai n. Wel l f or you i f wi t h al l your

car e you can make t he gr ound sweet agai n by your dyi ng day. " Boys

wi l l be boys" i s not much bet t er , but t hat has a t r ue si de t o i t ;

but t hi s encour agement t o t he sowi ng of wi l d oat s, i s si mpl y

devi l i sh, f or i t means t hat a young man i s t o gi ve way t o t he

t empt at i ons and f ol l ow t he l ust s of hi s age. What ar e we t o do

wi t h t he wi l d oat s of manhood and ol d age- - wi t h ambi t i on,

over - r eachi ng t he f al se wei ght s, har dness, suspi ci on, avar i ce- - i f

t he wi l d oat s of yout h ar e t o be sown, and not bur nt ? What

possi bl e di st i nct i on can be dr awn bet ween t hem? I f we may sow t he

one, why not t he ot her ?

But t o get back t o our st or y. Tom went away f r om Dr ysdal e' s r ooms

t hat ni ght ( af t er t hey had sor t ed al l t he t ackl e, whi ch was t o

accompany t he f i shi ng expedi t i on, t o t hei r sat i sf act i on) i n a

di st ur bed st at e of mi nd. He was ver y much annoyed at Dr ysdal e' s

way of t al ki ng, because he was get t i ng t o l i ke t he man. He was

sur pr i sed and angr y at bei ng dr i ven mor e and mor e t o t he

concl usi on t hat t he wor shi p of t he gol den cal f was ver i l y and

i ndeed r ampant i n Oxf or d- - si de by si de, no doubt , wi t h much t hat

was manl y and nobl e, but t ai nt i ng mor e or l ess t he whol e l i f e of

t he pl ace. I n f act , what annoyed hi m most was, t he consci ousness

t hat he hi msel f was becomi ng an i dol at er . For he coul dn' t hel p

admi t t i ng t hat he f el t much mor e comf or t abl e when st andi ng i n t he

quadr angl es or st r ol l i ng i n t he Hi gh St r eet wi t h Dr ysdal e i n hi s

vel vet cap, and si l k gown, and f aul t l ess get - up, t han when doi ng

t he same t hi ngs wi t h Har dy i n hi s f aded ol d gown, shabby l oose

over coat , and wel l - wor n t r ouser s. He woul dn' t have had Har dy

suspect t he f act f or al l he was wor t h, and hoped t o get over t he

f eel i ng soon; but t her e i t was unmi st akabl y. He wonder ed whet her

Har dy had ever f el t anyt hi ng of t he ki nd hi msel f .

Never t hel ess, t hese t hought s di d not hi nder hi m f r om sl eepi ng

soundl y, or f r om get t i ng up an hour ear l i er t han usual t o go and

see Dr ysdal e st ar t on hi s expedi t i on.

Accor di ngl y, he was i n Dr ysdal e' s r ooms next mor ni ng bet i mes, and

assi st ed at t he ear l y br eakf ast whi ch was goi ng on t her e. Bl ake

was t he onl y ot her man pr esent . He was goi ng wi t h Dr ysdal e, and

ent r ust ed Tom wi t h a message t o Mi l l er and t he Capt ai n, t hat he

coul d not pul l i n t he boat t hat day, but woul d pay a wat er man t o

t ake hi s pl ace. As soon as t he gat e opened, t he t hr ee,

accompani ed by t he f ai t hf ul Jack, and f ol l owed by Dr ysdal e' s

scout , bear i ng over coat s, a spl endi d wat er - pr oof apr on l i ned wi t h

f ur , and t he r ods and r eel s, sal l i ed out of t he col l ege, and

sought t he l i ver y st abl es, pat r oni zed by t he men of St .

Ambr ose' s. Her e t hey f ound a dog car t al l r eady i n t he yar d, wi t h

a st r ong Roman- nosed, vi ci ous- l ooki ng, r at - t ai l ed hor se i n t he

shaf t s, cal l ed Sat an by Dr ysdal e; t he l eader had been sent on t o

t he f i r st t ur npi ke. The t hi ngs wer e packed, and Jack, t he

bul l - dog, hoi st ed i nt o t he i nt er i or i n a f ew mi nut es; Dr ysdal e

pr oduced a l ong st r ai ght hor n, whi ch he cal l ed hi s yar d of t i n

( pr obabl y because i t was made of br ass) , and af t er r ef r eshi ng

hi msel f wi t h a bl ast or t wo, handed i t over t o Bl ake, and t hen

mount ed t he dog car t , and t ook t he r ei ns. Bl ake seat ed hi msel f by

hi s si de; t he hel p who was t o accompany t hem got up behi nd, and

Jack l ooked wi sel y out f r om hi s i nsi de pl ace over t he back - boar d.

" Ar e we al l r i ght ?" sai d Dr ysdal e, cat chi ng hi s l ong t andem whi p

i nt o a knowi ng doubl e t hong.

Page 47 of 443

" Al l r i ght , si r , " sai d t he head ost l er , t ouchi ng hi s cap.

" You' d bet t er have come, my boy, " sai d Dr ysdal e t o Tom, as t hey

t r ot t ed of f out of t he yar d; and Tom coul dn' t hel p envyi ng t hem

as he f ol l owed, and wat ched t he dog car t l esseni ng r api dl y down

t he empt y st r eet , and hear d t he not es of t he yar d of t i n, whi ch

Bl ake managed t o make r eal l y musi cal , bor ne back on t he sof t

west er n br eeze. I t was such a pl easant mor ni ng f or f i shi ng.

However , i t was t oo l at e t o r epent , had he wi shed i t ; and so he

got back t o chapel , and dest r oyed t he whol e ef f ect of t he mor ni ng

ser vi ce on Mi l l er ' s mi nd, by del i ver i ng Bl ake' s message t o t hat

chol er i c coxswai n as soon as chapel was over . Mi l l er vowed f or

t he t went i et h t i me t hat Bl ake shoul d be t ur ned out of t he boat ,

and went of f t o t he Capt ai n' s r ooms t o t or ment hi m, and consul t

what was t o be done.

The weat her cont i nued magni f i cent - - a sof t , dul l gr ey Mar ch day,

and a st eady wi nd; and t he t hought of t he l ucky f i sher men, and

vi si ons of cr eel s f i l l ed wi t h huge t hr ee- pounder s, haunt ed Tom at

l ect ur e, and t hr oughout t he day.

At t wo o' cl ock he was down at t he r i ver . The col l ege ei ght was t o

go down f or t he f i r st t i me i n t he season t o t he r eached bel ow

Nuneham, f or a good t r ai ni ng pul l , and he had not i ce, t o hi s

gr eat j oy, t hat he was t o be t r i ed i n t he boat . But , gr eat , no

doubt , as was t he gl or y, t he pr i ce was a heavy one. Thi s was t he

f i r st t i me he had been subj ect ed t o t he t ender mer ci es of Mi l l er ,

t he coxswai n, or had pul l ed behi nd t he Capt ai n; and i t di d not

t ake l ong t o convi nce hi m t hat i t was a ver y di f f er ent st yl e of

t hi ng f r om anyt hi ng he had as yet been accust omed t o i n t he

f r eshman' s cr ew. The l ong st eady sweep of t he so- cal l ed paddl e

t r i ed hi m al most as much as t he br eat hl ess st r ai n of t he spur t .

Mi l l er , t oo, was i n one of hi s most r el ent l ess moods. He was

angr y at Bl ake' s deser t i on, and seemed t o t hi nk t hat Tom had

somet hi ng t o do wi t h i t , t hough he si mpl y del i ver ed t he message

whi ch had been ent r ust ed t o hi m; and so, t hough he di st r i but ed

r ebuke and obj ur gat i on t o ever y man i n t he boat except t he

Capt ai n, he seemed t o our her o t o t ake par t i cul ar del i ght i n

wor ki ng hi m. Ther e he st ood i n t he st er n, t he f i er y l i t t l e

coxswai n, l eani ng f or war d wi t h a t i l l er - r ope i n each hand, and

bendi ng t o ever y st r oke, shout i ng hi s war ni ngs, and r ebukes, and

moni t i ons t o Tom, t i l l he dr ove hi m t o hi s wi t s' end. By t he t i me

t he boat came back t o Hal l ' s, hi s ar ms wer e so numb t hat he coul d

har dl y t el l whet her hi s oar was i n or out of hi s hand; hi s l egs

wer e st i f f and achi ng, and ever y muscl e i n hi s body f el t as i f i t

had been pul l ed out an i nch or t wo. As he wal ked up t o Col l ege,

he f el t as i f hi s shoul der s and l egs had not hi ng t o do wi t h one

anot her ; i n shor t , he had had a ver y har d day' s wor k, and, af t er

goi ng f ast asl eep at a wi ne- par t y, and t r yi ng i n vai n t o r ouse

hi msel f by a st r ol l i n t he st r eet s, f ai r l y gave i n about t en

o' cl ock and went t o bed wi t hout r emember i ng t o spor t hi s oak.

For some hour s he sl ept t he sl eep of t he dead, but at l ast began

t o be consci ous of voi ces, and t he cl i cki ng of gl asses, and

l aught er , and scr aps of songs; and af t er t ur ni ng hi msel f once or

t wi ce i n bed, t o ascer t ai n whet her he was awake or no, r ubbed hi s

eyes, sat up, and became awar e t hat somet hi ng ver y ent er t ai ni ng

t o t he par t i es concer ned was goi ng on i n hi s si t t i ng- r oom. Af t er

l i st eni ng f or a mi nut e, he j umped up, t hr ew on hi s shoot i ng- coat ,

and appear ed at t he door of hi s own si t t i ng- r oom, wher e he paused

a moment t o cont empl at e t he scene whi ch met hi s ast oni shed

Page 48 of 443

vi si on. Hi s f i r e r ecent l y r epl eni shed, was bur ni ng br i ght l y i n

t he gr at e, and hi s candl es on t he t abl e on whi ch st ood hi s whi sky

bot t l e, and t umbl er s, and hot wat er . On hi s sof a, whi ch had been

wheel ed r ound bef or e t he f i r e, r ecl i ned Dr ysdal e, on hi s back, i n

hi s pet at t i t ude, one l eg cr ossed over t he ot her , wi t h a paper i n

hi s hand, f r om whi ch he was si ngi ng, and i n t he ar m- chai r sat

Bl ake, whi l e Jack was coi l ed on t he r ug, t ur ni ng hi msel f ever y

now and t hen i n a sor t of uneasy pr ot est agai nst hi s mast er ' s

unt i mel y hi l ar i t y. At f i r st , Tom f el t i ncl i ned t o be angr y, but

t he j ol l y shout of l aught er wi t h whi ch Dr ysdal e r ecei ved hi m, as

he st epped out i nt o t he l i ght i n ni ght - shi r t , shoot i ng- coat , and

di shevel l ed hai r , appeased hi m at once.

" Why, Br own, you don' t mean t o say you have been i n bed t hi s l ast

hal f - hour ? We l ooked i nt o t he bed- r oom, and t hought i t was empt y.

Si t down, ol d f el l ow, and make your sel f at home. Have a gl ass of

gr og; i t ' s f i r st - r at e whi sky. "

" Wel l you' r e a coupl e of cool hands, I must say, " sai d Tom. " How

di d you get i n?"

" Thr ough t he door , l i ke honest men, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " You' r e t he

onl y good f el l ow i n col l ege t o- ni ght . When we got back our f i r es

wer e out , and we' ve been al l r ound t he col l ege, and f ound al l t he

oaks spor t ed but your s. Never spor t your oak, ol d boy; i t ' s a bad

habi t . You don' t know what t i me i n t he mor ni ng you may ent er t ai n

angel s unawar es. "

" You' r e a r um pai r of angel s, anyhow, " sai d Tom, t aki ng hi s seat

on t he sof a. " But what o' cl ock i s i t ?"

" Oh, about hal f - past one, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " We' ve had a ser i es of

cat ast r ophes. Never got i nt o col l ege t i l l near one. I t hought we

shoul d never have waked t hat besot t ed l i t t l e por t er . However ,

her e we ar e at l ast , you see, al l r i ght . "

" So i t seems, " sai d Tom; " but how about t he f i shi ng?"

" Fi shi ng! We' ve never t hr own a f l y al l day, " sai d Dr ysdal e.

" He i s so cur sedl y concei t ed about hi s knowl edge of t he count r y, "

st r uck i n Bl ake. " What wi t h t hat , and hi s awf ul t wi st , and hi s

i ncur abl e habi t of gossi pi ng, and hi s bl ackguar d dog, and hi s

t eam of a devi l and a young f emal e- - "

" Hol d your scandal ous t ongue, " shout ed Dr ysdal e. " To hear _you_

t al ki ng of my t wi st , i ndeed; you at e f our chops and a whol e

chi cken t o- day, at di nner , t o your own cheek, you know. "

" That ' s qui t e anot her t hi ng, " sai d Bl ake. " I l i ke t o see a f el l ow

an honest gr ubber at br eakf ast and di nner ; but you' ve al ways got

your nose i n t he manger . That ' s how we al l got wr ong t o- day,

Br own. You saw what a br eakf ast he at e bef or e st ar t i ng; wel l ,

not hi ng woul d sat i sf y hi m but anot her at Whi t ney. Ther e we f el l

i n wi t h a bi r d i n mahogany t ops, and, as usual , Dr ysdal e began

chummi ng wi t h hi m. He knew al l about t he f i shi ng of t he next

t hr ee count i es. I dar esay he di d. My pr i vat e bel i ef i s, t hat he

i s one of t he Hunger f or d t own counci l , who l et t he f i shi ng t her e;

at any r at e, he swor e i t was no use our goi ng t o Fai r f or d; t he

onl y pl ace wher e f i sh woul d be i n season was Hunger f or d. Of

cour se Dr ysdal e swal l owed i t al l , and not hi ng woul d ser ve hi m but

t hat we shoul d t ur n of f f or Hunger f or d at once. Now, I di d go

once t o Hunger f or d r aces, and I vent ur ed t o suggest t hat we

shoul d never get near t he pl ace. Not a bi t of use; he knew ever y

Page 49 of 443

f oot of t he count r y. I t was t hen about ni ne; he woul d guar ant ee

t hat we shoul d be t her e by t wel ve, at l at est . "

" So we shoul d have been, but f or acci dent s, " st r uck i n Dr ysdal e.

" Wel l , at any r at e, what we di d was t o dr i ve i nt o Far r i ngdon,

i nst ead of Hunger f or d, bot h hor ses dead done up, at t wel ve

o' cl ock, af t er mi ssi ng our way about t went y t i mes. "

" Because you woul d put i n your oar , " sai d Dr ysdal e.

" Then gr ub agai n, " went on Bl ake, " and an hour t o bai t t he

hor ses. I knew we wer e as l i kel y t o get t o Jer i cho as t o

Hunger f or d. However , he woul d st ar t ; but , l ucki l y, about t wo

mi l es f r om Far r i ngdon, ol d Sat an bowl ed qui et l y i nt o a bank,

br oke a shaf t , and deposi t ed us t hen and t her e. He wasn' t such a

f ool as t o be goi ng t o Hunger f or d at t hat t i me of day; t he f i r st

t i me i n hi s wi cked ol d l i f e t hat I ever r emember seei ng hi m do

anyt hi ng t hat pl eased me. "

" Come, now, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " do you mean t o say you ever sat

behi nd a bet t er wheel er , when he' s i n a decent t emper ?"

" Can' t say, " sai d Bl ake; " never sat behi nd hi m i n a good t emper ,

t hat I can r emember . "

" I ' l l t r ot hi m f i ve mi l es out and home i n a dog- car t , on any r oad

out of Oxf or d, agai nst any hor se you can br i ng, f or a f i ver . "

" Done! " sai d Bl ake.

" But wer e you upset ?" sai d Tom. " How di d you get i nt o t he bank?"

" Why, you see, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " Jessy, - - t hat ' s t he l i t t l e

bl ood- mar e, my l eader , - - i s ver y young, and as shy and ski t t i sh as

t he r est of her sex. We t ur ned a cor ner shar p, and came r i ght

upon a gi psy encampment . Up she went i nt o t he ai r i n a moment ,

and t hen t ur ned r i ght ar ound and came head on at t he car t . I gave

her t he doubl e t hong acr oss her f ace t o send her back agai n, and

Sat an, sei zi ng t he oppor t uni t y, r ushed agai nst t he bank, dr aggi ng

her wi t h hi m, and snappi ng t he shaf t . "

" And so ended our day' s f i shi ng, " sai d Bl ake. " And next moment

out j umps t hat br ut e Jack, and pi t ches i nt o t he gi psy' s dog, who

had come up ver y nat ur al l y t o have a l ook at what was goi ng on.

Down j umps Dr ysdal e t o see t hat hi s beast get s f ai r pl ay, l eavi ng

me and t he hel p t o l ook af t er t he wr eck, and keep hi s pr eci ous

wheel er f r om ki cki ng t he car t i nt o l i t t l e pi eces. "

" Come, now, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " you must own we f el l on our l egs

af t er al l . Hadn' t we a j ol l y af t er noon? I ' m t hi nki ng of t ur ni ng

t r amp, Br own. We spent t hr ee or f our hour s i n t hat camp, and

Bl ake got spooney on a gi psy gi r l , and has wr i t t en I don' t know

how many songs on t hem. Di dn' t you hear us si ngi ng t hem j ust

now?"

" But how di d you get t he car t mended?" sai d Tom.

" Oh, t he t i nker pat ched up t he shaf t f or us, - - a cunni ng ol d

beggar , t he _per e de f ami l l e_ of t he encampment ; up t o ever y move

on t he boar d. He want ed t o have a deal wi t h me f or Jessy. But

' pon my honor , we had a good t i me of i t . Ther e was t he ol d

t i nker , mendi ng t he shaf t , i n hi s f ur cap, wi t h a bl ack pi pe, one

i nch l ong, st i cki ng out of hi s mout h; and t he ol d br own par chment

Page 50 of 443

of a mot her , wi t h her head i n a r ed handker chi ef , smoki ng a di t t o

pi pe t o t he t i nker ' s, who t ol d our f or t unes, and t al ked l i ke a

pr i nt ed book. Then t her e was hi s wi f e, and t he sl i p of a gi r l who

bowl ed over Bl ake t her e, and hal f a dozen r agged br at s; and a

f el l ow on a t r amp, not a gi psy- - some r unaway appr ent i ce, I t ake

i t , but a j ol l y dog- - wi t h no l uggage but an ol d f i ddl e on whi ch

he scr aped away uncommonl y wel l , and set Bl ake maki ng r hymes as

we sat i n t he t ent . You never hear d any of hi s songs. Her e' s one

f or each of us; we' r e goi ng t o get up t he char act er s and si ng

t hem about t he count r y; - - now f or a r ehear sal ; I ' l l be t he

t i nker . "

" No, you must t ake t he ser vant gi r l , " sai d Bl ake.

" Wel l , we' l l t oss up f or char act er s when t he t i me comes. You

begi n t hen; her e' s a song, " and he handed one of t he paper s t o

Bl ake, who began si ngi ng- -

" Squat on a gr een pl ot ,

We scor n a bench or set t l e, oh.

Pl yi ng or t r yi ng,

A spi ce of ever y t r ade;

Razor s we gr i nd,

Ri ng a pi g, or mend a ket t l e, oh;

Come, what d' ye l ack?

Speak i t out , my pr et t y mai d.

" I ' l l set your sci ssor s, whi l e

My gr anny t el l s you pl ai nl y!

Who st ol e your bar l ey meal ,

Your but t er or your hear t ;

Tel l i f your husband wi l l

Be handsome or ungai nl y,

Ri de i n a coach and f our , or

Rough i t i n a car t . "

" Ent er Si l l y Sal l y; t hat ' s I , f or t he pr esent you see, " sai d

Dr ysdal e; and he began- -

" Oh, dear ! what can t he mat t er be?

Dear , dear ! what can t he mat t er be?

Oh, dear ! what can t he mat t er be?

Al l i n a pucker be I ;

I ' m gr owi ng uneasy about Bi l l y Mar t i n,

For l ove i s a casual t y desper ' t unsar t i n.

Law! yonder ' s t he gi psy as t el l s f ol k' s f or t i n;

I ' m hal f i n t he mi nd f or t o t r y. "

" Then you must be t he ol d gi psy woman, Mot her Pat r i co; her e' s

your par t Br own. "

" But what ' s t he t une?" sai d Tom.

" Oh, you can' t mi ss i t ; go ahead; " and so Tom, who was dr oppi ng

i nt o t he humour of t he t hi ng, dr oned out f r om t he MS. handed t o

hi m- -

" Chai r s t o mend,

Ol d chai r s t o mend,

Rush bot t om' d cane bot t om' d,

Chai r s t o mend.

Page 51 of 443

Mai d, appr oach,

I f t hou woul dst know

What t he st ar s

May dei gn t o show. "

" Now, t i nker , " sai d Dr ysdal e, noddi ng at Bl ake, who r at t l ed on, - -

" Chance f eeds us, chance l eads us;

Round t he l and i n j ol l i t y;

Rag- deal i ng, nag- st eal i ng,

Ever ywher e we r oam;

Br ass mendi ng, ass vendi ng,

Happi er t han t he qual i t y;

Swi pes soaki ng, pi pes smoki ng,

Ev' r y bar n a home;

Ti nk, t i nk, a t i nk a t i nk,

Our l i f e i s f ul l of f un, boys;

Cl i nk t i nk, a t i nk a t i nk,

Our busy hammer s r i ng;

Cl i nk, t i nk, a t i nk a t i nk,

Our j ob wi l l soon be done boys;

Then t une we mer r i l y

The bl adder and t he st r i ng. "

DRYSDALE, as _Si l l y Sal l y_.

" Oh, dear ! what can t he mat t er be?

Dear , dear ! what can t he mat t er be?

Oh, dear ! what can t he mat t er be?

Ther e' s such a l ook i n her eye.

Oh, l awk! I decl ar e I be al l of a t r embl e;

My mi nd i t mi sgi ves me about Sukey Wi mbl e,

A spl at t er f aced wench nei t her ci vi l nor ni mbl e

She' l l br i ng Bi l l y t o beggar y. "

TOM, as _Mot her Pat r i co_.

" Show your hand;

Come show your hand!

Woul d you know

What f at e has pl anned?

Heaven f or ef end,

Ay, heav' n f or ef end!

What may t hese

Cr oss l i nes por t end?"

BLAKE, as _t he Ti nker _.

" Owl , pheasant , al l ' s pl easant ,

Not hi ng comes ami ss t o us;

Har e, r abbi t , snar e, nab i t ;

Cock, or hen, or ki t e;

Tom cat , wi t h st r ong f at ,

A dai nt y supper i s t o us;

Hedge- hog and sedge- f r og

To st ew i s our del i ght ;

Bow, wow, wi t h angr y bar k

My l ady' s dog assai l s us;

We sack hi m up, and cl ap

Page 52 of 443

A st opper on hi s di n.

Now pop hi m i n t he pot ;

Hi s st or e of meat avai l s us;

Wi f e cook hi m ni ce and hot ,

And gr anny t ans hi s ski n. "

DRYSDALE, as _Si l l y Sal l y_.

" Oh, l awk! what a cal ami t y!

Oh, my! what a cal ami t y!

Oh, dear ! what a cal ami t y!

Lost and f or saken be I .

I ' m out of my senses, and nought wi l l cont ent me,

But poi s' ni ng Pol l Ady who hel ped ci r cumvent me;

Come t el l me t he means, f or no power shal l pr event me:

Oh, gi ve me r evenge, or di e. "

TOM, as _Mot her Pat r i co_

" Pause awhi l e!

Anon, anon!

Gi ve me t i me

The st ar s t o con.

Tr ue l ove' s cour se

Shal l yet r un smoot h;

Tr ue shal l pr ove

The f avor ' d yout h. "

BLAKE, as _t he Ti nker _.

" Ti nk t i nk, a t i nk a t i nk,

We' l l wor k and t hen get t i psy, oh!

Cl i nk t i nk, on each chi nk,

Our busy hammer s r i ng.

Ti nk t i nk, a t i nk a t i nk,

How mer r y l i ves a gypsy, oh!

Chant i ng and r ant i ng;

As happy as a ki ng. "

DRYSDALE, as _Si l l y Sal l y_.

" Joy! Joy! al l wi l l end happi l y!

Joy! Joy! al l wi l l end happi l y!

Joy! j oy! al l wi l l end happi l y!

Bi l l wi l l be const ant t o I .

Oh, t hankee, good dame, her e' s my pur se and my t hi mbl e;

A f i g f or Pol l Ady and f at Sukey Wi mbl e;

I now coul d j ump over t he st eepl e so ni mbl e;

Wi t h j oy I be r eady t o cr y. "

TOM, as _Mot her Pat r i co_.

" Wi l l i am shal l

Be r i ch and gr eat ;

And shal l pr ove

A const ant mat e.

Thank not me,

Page 53 of 443

But t hank your f at e,

On whose hi gh

Decr ees I wai t . "

" Wel l , won' t t hat do? won' t i t br i ng t he house down? I ' m goi ng t o

send f or dr esses t o London, and we' l l st ar t next week. "

" What , on t he t r amp, si ngi ng t hese songs?"

" Yes; we' l l begi n i n some out - of - t he- way pl ace t i l l we get used

t o i t . "

" And end i n t he l ock- up, I shoul d say, " sai d Tom; " i t ' l l he a

good l ar k, t hough. Now, you haven' t t ol d me how you got home. "

" Oh, we l ef t camp at about f i ve- "

" The t i nker havi ng ext r act ed a sover ei gn f r om Dr ysdal e, "

i nt er r upt ed Bl ake.

" What di d you gi ve t o t he l i t t l e gypsy your sel f ?" r et or t ed

Dr ysdal e; " I saw your adi eus under t he t hor n- bush. - - Wel l , we got

on al l r i ght t o ol d Mur dock' s, at Ki ngst on I nn, by about seven,

and t her e we had di nner ; and af t er di nner t he ol d boy came i n. He

and I ar e gr eat chums, f or I ' m of t en t her e, and al ways ask hi m

i n. But t hat beggar Bl ake, who never saw hi m bef or e, cut me cl ean

out i n f i ve mi nut es. Fancy hi s swear i ng he i s Scot ch, and t hat an

ancest or of hi s i n t he si xt eent h cent ur y mar r i ed a Mur dock! "

" Wel l , when you come t o t hi nk what a l ot of ancest or s one must

have had at t hat t i me, i t ' s pr obabl y t r ue, " sai d Bl ake.

" At any r at e, i t t ook, " went on Dr ysdal e. " I t hought ol d Mur dock

woul d have wept on hi s neck. As i t was, he scat t er ed snuf f enough

t o f i l l a pi nt pot over hi m out of hi s mul l , and began t al ki ng

Gael i c. And Bl ake had t he cheek t o j abber a l ot of gi bber i sh back

t o hi m, as i f he under st ood ever y wor d. "

" Gi bber i sh! i t was t he pur est Gael i c, " sai d Bl ake l aughi ng.

" I hear d a l ot of Gr eek wor ds mysel f , " sai d Dr ysdal e; " but ol d

Mur dock was t oo pl eased at hear i ng hi s own cl apper goi ng, and t oo

f ul l of whi sky, t o f i nd hi m out . "

" Let al one t hat I doubt whet her he r emember s mor e t han about f i ve

wor ds of hi s nat i ve t ongue hi msel f , " sai d Bl ake.

" The ol d boy got so exci t ed t hat he went up st ai r s f or hi s pl ai d

and di r k, and dr essed hi msel f up i n t hem, apol ogi si ng t hat he

coul d not appear i n t he f ul l gr ab of ol d Gaul , i n honor of hi s

new- f ound r el at i ve, as hi s daught er had cut up hi s ol d ki l t f or

' t r ews f or t he bar ni es' dur i ng hi s absence f r om home. Then t hey

t ook t o mor e t oddy and si ngi ng Scot ch songs, t i l l at el even

o' cl ock t hey wer e st andi ng on t hei r chai r s, r i ght hands cl asped,

each wi t h one f oot on t he t abl e, gl asses i n t he ot her hands, t he

t oddy f l yi ng over t he r oom as t hey swayed about r oar i ng l i ke

mani acs, what was i t ?- - oh, I have i t :

' Wug- an- t oor ey al l agr ee,

Wug- an- t oor ey, wug- an- t oor ey. ' "

" He hasn' t t ol d you t hat he t r i ed t o j oi n us, and t umbl ed over

t he back of hi s chai r i nt o t he di r t y- pl at e basket . "

Page 54 of 443

" A l i bel ! a l i bel ! " shout ed Dr ysdal e; " t he l eg of my chai r br oke,

and I st epped down gr acef ul l y and saf el y, and when I l ooked up

and saw what a t ot t er y per f or mance i t was, I concl uded t o gi ve

t hem a wi de ber t h. I t woul d be no j oke t o have ol d Mur dock t oppl e

over on t o you. I l ef t t hem ' wug- an- t oor eyi ng, ' and went out t o

l ook af t er t he t r ap, whi ch was or der ed t o be at t he door at

hal f - past t en. I f ound Mur dock' s ost l er ver y dr unk, but sober

compar ed wi t h t hat r ascal l y hel p whom we had been f ool s enough t o

t ake wi t h us. They had got t he t r ap out and t he hor ses i n, but

t hat ol d r ascal Sat an was st andi ng so qui et t hat I suspect ed

somet hi ng wr ong. Sur e enough, when I came t o l ook, t hey had hi m

up t o t he cheek on one si de of hi s mout h, and t hi r d bar on t he

ot her , hi s bel l y- band buckl ed acr oss hi s back, and no ki cki ng

st r ap. The ol d br ut e was chuckl i ng t o hi msel f what he woul d do

wi t h us as soon as we had st ar t ed i n t hat t r i m. I t t ook hal f an

hour get t i ng al l r i ght , as I was t he onl y one abl e t o do

anyt hi ng. "

" Yes, you woul d have sai d so, " sai d Bl ake, " i f you had seen hi m

t r yi ng t o put Jack up behi nd. He made si x shot s wi t h t he ol d dog,

and dr opped hi m about on hi s head and t he br oad of hi s back as i f

he had been a bundl e of el l s. "

" The f act i s, t hat t hat r ascal l y ost l er had made poor ol d Jack

dr unk t oo, " expl ai ned Dr ysdal e, " and he woul dn' t be l i f t ed

st r ai ght . However we got of f at l ast , and hadn' t gone a mi l e

bef or e t he hel p ( who was maunder i ng away some cur sed sent i ment al

di t t y or ot her behi nd) , l ur ched mor e heavi l y t han usual , and

pi t ched of f i nt o t he ni ght somewher e. Bl ake l ooked f or hi m f or

hal f - an- hour , and coul dn' t f i nd a hai r . "

" You don' t mean t o say t he man t umbl ed of f and you never f ound

hi m?" sai d Tom i n hor r or .

" Wel l , t hat ' s about t he f act , " sai d Dr ysdal e; " but i t i sn' t so

bad as you t hi nk. We had no l amps, and i t was an uncommon bad

ni ght f or r unni ng by hol l oas. "

" But a f i r st - r at e ni ght f or r unni ng by scent , " br oke i n Bl ake;

" t he f el l ow l eant agai nst me unt i l he made hi s exi t , and I ' d have

backed mysel f t o have hi t t he scent agai n hal f - a- mi l e of f i f t he

wi nd had onl y been r i ght . "

" He may have br oken hi s neck, " sai d Tom.

" Can a f el l ow si ng wi t h a br oken neck?" sai d Dr ysdal e; " hanged i f

I know! But don' t I t el l you, we hear d hi m maunder i ng on

somewher e or ot her ? And when Bl ake shout ed, he r ebuked hi m

pi ousl y out of t he pi t ch dar kness, and t ol d hi m t o go home and

r epent . I near l y dr opped of f t he box l aughi ng at t hem; and t hen

he ' upl i f t ed hi s t est i mony, ' as he cal l ed i t , agai nst me, f or

dr i vi ng a hor se cal l ed Sat an. I bel i eve he' s a r ant i ng met hodi st

spout er . "

" I t r i ed har d t o f i nd hi m, " sai d Bl ake; " For I shoul d dear l y have

l i ked t o ki ck hi m saf el y i nt o t he di t ch. "

" At l ast Bl ack Wi l l hi msel f coul dn' t have hel d Sat an anot her

mi nut e. So Bl ake scr ambl ed up, and away we came, and knocked i nt o

col l ege at one f or a f i ni sh: t he r est you know. "

" Wel l , you' ve had a pr et t y good day of i t , " sai d Tom, who had

been hugel y amused; " but I shoul d f eel ner vous about t he hel p, i f

Page 55 of 443

I wer e you. "

" Oh, he' l l come t o no gr i ef , I ' l l be bound, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " but

what o' cl ock i s i t ?"

" Thr ee, " sai d Bl ake, l ooki ng at hi s wat ch and get t i ng up; " t i me

t o t ur n i n. "

" The f i r st t i me I ever hear d you say t hat , " sai d Dr ysdal e.

" Yes; but you f or get we wer e up t hi s mor ni ng bef or e t he wor l d was

ai r ed. Good ni ght , Br own. "

And of f t he t wo went , l eavi ng Tom t o spor t hi s oak t hi s t i me, and

r et i r e i n wonder t o bed.

Dr ysdal e was asl eep, wi t h Jack cur l ed up on t he f oot of t he bed,

i n t en mi nut es. Bl ake, by t he hel p of wet t owel s and a knot t ed

pi ece of whi pcor d r ound hi s f or ehead, r ead Pi nder t i l l t he chapel

bel l began t o r i ng.

CHAPTER VI I

AN EXPLOSI ON

Our her o soon began t o f eel t hat he was cont r act i ng hi s f i r st

col l ege f r i endshi p. The gr eat , st r ong, badl y- dr essed,

badl y- appoi nt ed ser vi t or , who seemed al most at t he same t i me

ut t er l y r eckl ess of , and ner vousl y al i ve t o, t he opi ni on of al l

ar ound hi m, wi t h hi s bur st s of womanl y t ender ness and Ber ser ker

r age, al t er nat i ng l i ke st or ms and sunshi ne of a Jul y day on a

hi gh moor l and, hi s keen sense of humor and appr eci at i on of al l

t he good t hi ngs of l i f e, t he use and enj oyment of whi ch he was so

st eadi l y denyi ng hi msel f f r om hi gh pr i nci pl e, had f r om t he f i r st

sei zed power f ul l y on al l Tom' s sympat hi es, and was dai l y gai ni ng

mor e hol d upon hi m.

Bl essed i s t he man who has t he gi f t of maki ng f r i ends; f or i t i s

one of God' s best gi f t s. I t i nvol ves many t hi ngs, but above al l ,

t he power of goi ng out of onesel f , and seei ng and appr eci at i ng

what ever i s nobl e and l i vi ng i n anot her man.

But even t o hi m who has t he gi f t , i t i s of t en a gr eat puzzl e t o

f i nd out whet her a man i s r eal l y a f r i end or not . The f ol l owi ng

i s r ecommended as a t est i n t he case of any man about whom you

ar e not qui t e sur e; especi al l y i f he shoul d happen t o have mor e

of t hi s wor l d' s goods, ei t her i n t he shape of t al ent s, r ank or

money, or what not , t han you.

Fancy t he man st r i pped st ar k naked of ever y t hi ng i n t he wor l d,

except an ol d pai r of t r ouser s and a shi r t , f or decency' s sake,

wi t hout even a name t o hi m, and dr opped down i n t he mi ddl e of

Hol bor n or Pi ccadi l l y, Woul d you go up t o hi m t hen and t her e, and

l ead hi m out f r om amongst t he cabs and omni buses, and t ake hi m t o

your own home and f eed hi m and cl ot he hi m, and st and by hi m

agai nst al l t he wor l d, t o your l ast sover ei gn, and your l ast l eg

of mut t on? I f you woul dn' t do t hi s you have no r i ght t o cal l hi m

by t he sacr ed name of f r i end. I f you woul d, t he odds ar e t hat he

woul d do t he same by you, and you may count your sel f a r i ch man.

For , pr obabl y wer e f r i endshi p expr essi bl e by, or conver t i bl e

i nt o, cur r ent coi n of t he r eal m, one such f r i end woul d be wor t h

t o a man, at l east 100, 000L. How many mi l l i onai r es ar e t her e i n

Page 56 of 443

Engl and? I can' t even guess; but mor e by a good many, I f ear ,

t han t her e ar e men who have t en r eal f r i ends. But f r i endshi p i s

not expr essi bl e or conver t i bl e. I t i s mor e pr eci ous t han wi sdom;

and wi sdom " cannot be got t en f or gol d, nor shal l r ubi es be

ment i oned i n compar i son t her eof . " Not al l t he r i ches t hat ever

came out of ear t h and sea ar e wor t h t he assur ance of one such

r eal abi di ng f r i endshi p i n your hear t of hear t s.

But f or t he wor t h of a f r i endshi p commonl y so cal l ed- - meani ng

t her eby a sent i ment f ounded on t he good di nner s, good st or i es,

oper a st al l s, and days' hoot i ng you have got t en or hope t o get

out of a man, t he snug t hi ngs i n hi s gi f t , and hi s power s of

pr ocur i ng enj oyment of one ki nd or anot her t o mi ser abl e body or

i nt el l ect - - why, such a f r i endshi p as t hat i s t o be appr ai sed

easi l y enough, i f you f i nd i t wor t h your whi l e; but you wi l l have

t o pay your pound of f l esh f or i t one way or anot her - - you may

t ake your oat h of t hat . I f you f ol l ow my advi ce, you wi l l t ake a

10L not e down, and r et i r e t o your cr ust of br ead and l i ber t y.

Tom was r api dl y f al l i ng i nt o f r i endshi p wi t h Har dy. He was not

bound hand and f oot and car r i ed away capt i ve yet , but he was

al r eady get t i ng deep i n t he t oi l s.

One eveni ng he f ound hi msel f as usual at Har dy' s door about ei ght

o' cl ock. The oak was open, but he got no answer when he knocked

at t he i nner door . Never t hel ess he ent er ed, havi ng qui t e got over

al l shyness or cer emony by t hi s t i me. The r oom was empt y, but t wo

t umbl er s and t he bl ack bot t l e st ood on t he t abl e, and t he ket t l e

was hi ssi ng away on t he hob. " Ah, " t hought Tom, " he expect s me, I

see; " so he t ur ned hi s back t o t he f i r e and made hi msel f at home.

A quar t er of an hour passed, and st i l l Har dy di d not r et ur n.

" Never knew hi m out so l ong bef or e at t hi s t i me of ni ght , "

t hought Tom. " Per haps he' s at some par t y. I hope so. I t woul d do

hi m a good deal of good; and I know he mi ght go out i f he l i ked.

Next t er m, see i f I won' t make hi m mor e soci abl e. I t ' s a st upi d

cust om t hat f r eshmen don' t gi ve par t i es i n t hei r f i r st t er m, or

I ' d do i t at once. Why won' t he be mor e soci abl e? No, af t er al l

soci abl e i sn' t t he wor d; he' s a ver y soci abl e f el l ow at bot t om.

What i n t he wor l d i s i t t hat he want s?"

And so Tom bal anced hi msel f on t he t wo hi nd l egs of one of t he

Wi ndsor chai r s, and bet ook hi msel f t o ponder i ng what i t was

exact l y whi ch ought t o be added t o Har dy t o make hi m an

unexcept i onal obj ect of her o- wor shi p; when t he man hi msel f came

suddenl y i nt o t he r oom, sl ammi ng hi s oak behi nd hi m, and cast i ng

hi s cap and gown f i er cel y on t o t he sof a bef or e he not i ced our

her o.

Tom j umped up at once. " My dear f el l ow, what ' s t he mat t er ?" he

sai d; " I ' m sor r y I came i n; shal l I go?"

" No- - don' t go- - si t down, " sai d Har dy, abr upt l y; and t hen began t o

smoke f ast wi t hout sayi ng anot her wor d.

Tom wai t ed a f ew mi nut es wat chi ng f or hi m, and t hen br oke si l ence

agai n. - -

" I am sur e somet hi ng i s t he mat t er , Har dy; you l ook dr eadf ul l y

put out - - what i s i t ?"

" What i s i t ?" sai d Har dy, bi t t er l y; " Oh, not hi ng at al l - - not hi ng

at al l ; a gent l e l esson t o ser vi t or s as t o t he dut i es of t hei r

posi t i on; not pl easant , per haps, f or a youngst er t o swal l ow; but

I ought t o be used t o such t hi ngs at any r at e by t hi s t i me. I beg

Page 57 of 443

your par don f or seemi ng put out . "

" Do t el l me what i t i s, " sai d Tom. " I ' m sur e I am ver y sor r y f or

anyt hi ng whi ch annoys you. "

" I bel i eve you ar e, " sai d Har dy, l ooki ng at hi m, " and I ' m much

obl i ged t o you f or i t . What do you t hi nk of t hat f el l ow Chant er ' s

of f er i ng Smi t h, t he j uni or ser vi t or , a boy j ust come up, a br i be

of t en pounds t o pr i ck hi m i n at chapel when he i sn' t t her e?"

" The di r t y bl ackguar d, " sai d Tom; " by Jove he ought t o be cut . He

wi l l be cut , won' t he? You don' t mean t hat he r eal l y di d of f er

hi m t he money?"

" I do, " sai d Har dy, " and t he poor l i t t l e f el l ow came her e af t er

hal l t o ask me what he shoul d do wi t h t ear s i n hi s eyes. "

" Chant er ought t o be hor sewhi pped i n quad, " sai d Tom.

" I wi l l go and cal l on Smi t h di r ect l y. What di d you do?"

" Why, as soon as I coul d mast er mysel f enough not t o l ay hands on

hi m, " sai d Har dy, " I went acr oss t o hi s r ooms wher e he was

ent er t ai ni ng a sel ect par t y, and j ust gave hi m hi s choi ce bet ween

wr i t i ng an abj ect apol ogy t hen and t her e t o my di ct at i on, or

havi ng t he whol e busi ness l ai d bef or e t he pr i nci pal t o- mor r ow

mor ni ng. He chose t he f or mer al t er nat i ve, and I made hi m wr i t e

such a l et t er as I don' t t hi nk he wi l l f or get i n a hur r y. "

" That ' s good, " sai d Tom; " but he ought t o have been hor sewhi pped

t oo. I t makes one' s f i nger s i t ch t o t hi nk of i t . However , Smi t h' s

al l r i ght now. "

" Al l r i ght ! " sai d Har dy, bi t t er l y. " I don' t know what you cal l

' al l r i ght . ' Pr obabl y t he boy' s sel f - r espect i s hur t f or l i f e.

You can' t sal ve over t hi s sor t of t hi ng wi t h an apol ogy - pl ast er . "

" Wel l , I hope i t i sn' t so bad as t hat , " sai d Tom.

" Wai t t i l l you' ve t r i ed i t your sel f , " sai d Har dy, " I ' l l t el l you

what i t i s; one or t wo t hi ngs of t hi s sor t - - and I ' ve seen many

mor e t han t hat i n my t i me- - si nk down i nt o you, and l eave mar ks

l i ke a r ed- hot i r on. "

" But , Har dy, now, r eal l y, di d you ever know a br i be of f er ed

bef or e?" sai d Tom.

Har dy t hought f or a moment . " No, " sai d he, " I can' t say t hat I

have; but t hi ngs as bad, or near l y as bad, of t en. " He paused a

mi nut e, and t hen went on; " I t el l you, i f i t wer e not f or my dear

ol d f at her , who woul d br eak hi s hear t over i t , I woul d cut t he

whol e concer n t o- mor r ow. I ' ve been near doi ng i t t went y t i mes,

and enl i st i ng i n a good r egi ment . "

" Woul d i t be any bet t er t her e, t hough?" sai d Tom, gent l y, f or he

f el t t hat he was i n a gunpowder magazi ne.

" Bet t er ! yes, i t must be bet t er , " sai d Har dy; " at any r at e t he

youngst er s t her e ar e mar cher s and f i ght er s; besi des, one woul d be

i n t he r anks and know one' s pl ace. Her e one i s by way of bei ng a

gent l eman- - God save t he mar k! A young of f i cer , be he never such a

f op or pr of l i gat e, must t ake hi s t ur n at guar d, and car r y hi s

l i f e i n hi s hand al l over t he wor l d wher ever he i s sent , or he

has t o l eave t he ser vi ce. Ser vi ce! - - yes, t hat ' s t he wor d; t hat ' s

Page 58 of 443

what makes ever y young r ed- coat r espect abl e, t hough he mayn' t

t hi nk i t . He i s ser vi ng hi s Queen, hi s count r y- - t he devi l , t oo,

per haps- - ver y l i kel y- - but st i l l t he ot her i s some sor t . He i s

bound t o i t , swor n t o i t , must do i t ; mor e or l ess. But a

youngst er up her e, wi t h heal t h, st r engt h, and heaps of

money- - bound t o no ear t hl y ser vi ce, and choosi ng t hat of t he

devi l and hi s own l ust s, because some ser vi ce or ot her he must

have- - I want t o know wher e el se under t he sun you can see such a

si ght as t hat ?"

Tom mumbl ed somet hi ng t o t he ef f ect t hat i t was by no means

necessar y t hat men at Oxf or d, ei t her r i ch or poor , need embar k i n

t he ser vi ce whi ch had been al l uded t o; whi ch r emar k, however ,

onl y seemed t o add f uel t o t he f i r e. For Har dy now r ose f r om hi s

chai r , and began st r i di ng up and down t he r oom, hi s r i ght ar m

behi nd hi s back, t he hand gr i ppi ng hi s l ef t el bow, hi s l ef t hand

br ought r ound i n f r ont cl ose t o hi s body, and hol di ng t he bowl of

hi s pi pe, f r om whi ch he was bl owi ng of f cl ouds i n puf f s l i ke an

engi ne j ust st ar t i ng wi t h a heavy t r ai n. The at t i t ude was one of

a man pai nf ul l y t r yi ng t o cur b hi msel f . Hi s eyes bur nt l i ke coal s

under hi s deep br ows. The man al t oget her l ooked awf ul , and Tom

f el t par t i cul ar l y uncomf or t abl e and puzzl ed. Af t er a t ur n or t wo,

Har dy bur st out agai n- -

" And who ar e t hey, I shoul d l i ke t o know, t hese f el l ows who dar e

t o of f er br i bes t o gent l emen? How do t hey l i ve? What do t hey do

f or t hemsel ves or f or t hi s Uni ver si t y? By heaven, t hey ar e

r ui ni ng t hemsel ves body and soul , and maki ng t hi s pl ace, whi ch

was meant f or t he t r ai ni ng of l ear ned and br ave and r i ght eous

Engl i shmen, a l i e and a snar e. And who t r i es t o st op t hem? Her e

and t her e a don i s doi ng hi s wor k l i ke a man; t he r est ar e ei t her

washi ng t hei r hands of t he busi ness, and spendi ng t hei r t i me i n

l ooki ng af t er t hose who don' t want l ooki ng af t er , and cr ammi ng

t hose who woul d be bet t er wi t hout t he cr ammi ng, or el se st andi ng

by, cap i n hand, and shout i ng, ' Oh young men of l ar ge f or t une and

gr eat connexi ons! You f ut ur e di spenser s of t he good t hi ngs of

t hi s Real m, come t o our col l eges and al l shal l be made pl easant ! '

and t he shout i s t aken up by under gr aduat es, and t r adesmen, and

hor se- deal er s, and cr i cket - cads, and dog- f anci er s ' Come t o us,

and us, and us, and we wi l l be your t oadi es! ' Let t hem; l et t hem

t oady and cr i nge t o t hei r pr eci ous i dol s, t i l l t hey br i ng t hi s

nobl e ol d pl ace down about t hei r ear s. Down i t wi l l come, down i t

must come, f or down i t ought t o come, i f i t can f i nd not hi ng

bet t er t o wor shi p t han r ank, money, and i nt el l ect . But t o l i ve i n

t he pl ace and l ove i t t oo, and t o see al l t hi s goi ng on, and

gr oan and wr i t he under i t , and not be abl e- "

At t hi s poi nt i n hi s speech Har dy came t o t he t ur ni ng- poi nt i n

hi s mar ch at t he f ar t her end of t he r oom, j ust opposi t e hi s

cr ocker y cupboar d; but , i nst ead of t ur ni ng as usual , he paused,

l et go t he hol d on hi s l ef t el bow, poi sed hi msel f f or a moment t o

get a pur chase, and t hen dashed hi s r i ght f i st f ul l agai nst one

of t he panel s. Cr ash went t he sl i ght deal boar ds, as i f st r uck

wi t h a sl edge- hammer , and cr ash went gl ass and cr ocker y behi nd.

Tom j umped t o hi s f eet , i n doubt whet her an assaul t on hi m woul d

not f ol l ow, but t he f i t was over , and Har dy l ooked r ound at hi m

wi t h a r uef ul and depr ecat i ng f ace. For a moment Tom t r i ed t o

l ook sol emn and her oi c, as bef i t t ed t he occasi on; but somehow,

t he sudden cont r ast f l ashed upon hi m, and sent hi m of f , bef or e he

coul d t hi nk about i t , i nt o a r oar of l aught er , endi ng i n a

vi ol ent f i t of coughi ng; f or i n hi s exci t ement he had swal l owed a

mout hf ul of smoke. Har dy, af t er hol di ng out f or a moment , gave i n

t o t he humour of t he t hi ng, and t he appeal i ng l ook passed i nt o a

smi l e, and t he smi l e i nt o a l augh, as he t ur ned t owar ds hi s

Page 59 of 443

damaged cupboar d, and began openi ng i t car ef ul l y i n a l egi t i mat e

manner .

" I say, ol d f el l ow, " sai d Tom, comi ng up, " I shoul d t hi nk you

must f i nd i t an expensi ve amusement . Do you of t en wal k i nt o your

cupboar d l i ke t hat ?"

" You see, Br own, I am nat ur al l y a man of a ver y qui ck t emper . "

" So i t seems" sai d Tom; " but doesn' t i t hur t your knuckl es? I

shoul d have somet hi ng sof t er put up f or me i f I wer e you; your

bol st er , wi t h a vel vet cap on i t , or a doct or of di vi ni t y' s gown,

now. "

" You be hanged, " sai d Har dy, as he di sengaged t he l ast spl i nt er ,

and gent l y opened t he i l l - used cupboar d door . " Oh, t hunder and

t ur f , l ook her e, " he went on, as t he st at e of af f ai r s i nsi de

di scl osed i t sel f t o hi s vi ew; " how many t i mes have I t ol d t hat

t hi ef Geor ge never t o put anyt hi ng on t hi s si de of my cupboar d!

Two t umbl er s smashed t o bi t s, and I ' ve onl y f our i n t he wor l d.

Lucky we had t hose t wo out on t he t abl e. "

" And her e' s a gr eat pi ece out of t he sugar - basi n, you see, " sai d

Tom, hol di ng up t he br oken ar t i cl e; " and, l et me see, one cup and

t hr ee saucer s gone t o gl or y. "

" Wel l , i t ' s l ucky i t ' s no wor se, " sai d Har dy, peer i ng over hi s

shoul der ; " I had a l ot of odd saucer s, and t her e' s enough l ef t t o

l ast my t i me. Never mi nd t he smash, l et ' s si t down agai n and be

r easonabl e. "

Tom sat down i n hi gh good humor . He f el t hi msel f mor e on an

equal i t y wi t h hi s host t han he had done bef or e, and even t hought

he mi ght vent ur e on a l i t t l e mi l d expost ul at i on or l ect ur i ng. But

whi l e he was consi der i ng how t o i mpr ove t he occasi on Har dy began

hi msel f .

" I shoul dn' t go so f ur i ous, Br own, i f I di dn' t car e about t he

pl ace so much. I can' t bear t o t hi nk of i t as a sor t of l ear ni ng

machi ne, i n whi ch I am t o gr i nd f or t hr ee year s t o get cer t ai n

degr ees whi ch I want . No- - t hi s pl ace, and Cambr i dge, and our

gr eat school s, ar e t he hear t of dear ol d Engl and. Di d you ever

r ead Secr et ar y Cook' s addr ess t o t he Vi ce- Chancel l or , Doct or s,

&c. i n 1636- - mor e cr i t i cal t i mes, per haps, even t han our s? No?

Wel l , l i st en t hen; " and he went t o hi s bookcase, t ook down a

book, and r ead; " ' The ver y t r ut h i s, t hat al l wi se pr i nces

r espect t he wel f ar e of t hei r est at es, and consi der t hat school s

and uni ver si t i es ar e ( as i n a body) t he nobl e and vi t al par t s,

whi ch bei ng vi gor ous and sound send good bl ood and act i ve spi r i t s

i nt o t he vei ns and ar t er i es, whi ch cause heal t h and st r engt h; or ,

i f f eebl e or i l l - af f ect ed, cor r upt al l t he vi t al par t s; wher eupon

gr ow di seases, and i n t he end, deat h i t sel f . ' A l ow st andar d up

her e f or t en year s may cor r upt hal f t he par i shes i n t he ki ngdom. "

" That ' s t r ue, " sai d Tom, " but - "

" Yes; and so one has a r i ght t o be j eal ous f or Oxf or d. Ever y

Engl i shman ought t o be. "

" But I r eal l y t hi nk, Har dy, t hat you' r e unr easonabl e, " sai d Tom,

who had no mi nd t o be done out of hi s chance of l ect ur i ng hi s

host .

" I am ver y qui ck- t emper ed, " sai d Har dy, " as I t ol d you j ust now. "

Page 60 of 443

" But you' r e not f ai r on t he f ast set up her e. They can' t hel p

bei ng r i ch men, af t er al l . "

" No; so one ought n' t t o expect t hem t o be goi ng t hr ough t he eyes

of needl es, I suppose. But do you mean t o say you ever hear d of a

mor e di r t y, bl ackguar d busi ness t han t hi s?" sai d Har dy; " he ought

t o be expel l ed t he Uni ver si t y. "

" I admi t t hat , " sai d Tom; " but i t was onl y one of t hem, you know.

I don' t bel i eve t her e' s anot her man i n t he set who woul d have

done i t . "

" Wel l , I hope not , " sai d Har dy; " I may be har d on t hem- - as you

say, t hey can' t hel p bei ng r i ch. But , now, I don' t want you t o

t hi nk me a vi ol ent one- si ded f anat i c; shal l I t el l you some of my

exper i ences up her e- - some passages f r om t he l i f e of a ser vi t or ?"

" Do, " sai d Tom, " I shoul d l i ke not hi ng so wel l . "

CHAPTER VI I I

HARDY' S HI STORY

" My f at her i s an ol d commander i n t he Royal Navy. He was a second

cousi n of Nel son' s Har dy, and t hat , bel i eve, was what l ed hi m

i nt o t he navy, f or he had no i nt er est what ever of hi s own. I t was

a vi si t whi ch Nel son' s Har dy, t hen a young l i eut enant , pai d t o

hi s r el at i ve, my gr andf at her , whi ch deci ded my f at her , he has

t ol d me: but he al ways had a st r ong bent t o t he sea, t hough he

was a boy of ver y st udi ous habi t s.

" However , t hose wer e t i mes when br ave men who knew and l oved

t hei r pr of essi on coul dn' t be over l ooked, and my dear ol d f at her

f ought hi s way up st ep by st ep- - not ver y f ast cer t ai nl y, but ,

st i l l f ast enough t o keep hi m i n hear t about hi s chances i n l i f e.

I can show you t he account s of some of t he af f ai r s he was i n, i n

James' s Hi st or y, whi ch you see up on my shel f t her e, or I coul d

t el l t hem you mysel f ; but I hope some day, you wi l l know hi m, and

t hen you wi l l hear t hem i n per f ect i on.

" My f at her was made commander t owar ds t he end of t he war , and got

a shi p, whi ch he sai l ed wi t h a convoy of mer chant men f r om

Br i st ol . I t was t he l ast voyage he ever made i n act i ve ser vi ce;

but t he Admi r al t y was so wel l sat i sf i ed wi t h hi s conduct i n i t

t hat t hey kept hi s shi p i n commi ssi on t wo year s af t er peace was

decl ar ed. And wel l t hey mi ght be; f or i n t he Spani sh mai n he

f ought an act i on whi ch l ast ed, on and of f , f or t wo days, wi t h a

Fr ench sl oop of war , and a pr i vat eer , whi ch he al ways t hought was

an Amer i can, ei t her of whi ch ought t o have been a mat ch f or hi m.

But he had been wi t h Vi ncent i n t he _Ar r ow_, and was not l i kel y

t o t hi nk much of such smal l odds as t hat . At any r at e he beat

t hem of f , and not a pr i ze coul d ei t her of t hem make out of hi s

convoy, t hough I bel i eve hi s shi p was never f i t f or anyt hi ng

af t er war ds, and was br oken up as soon as she was out of

commi ssi on. We have got her compasses, and t he ol d f l ag whi ch

f l ew at t he peak t hr ough t he whol e voyage, at home now. I t was my

f at her ' s own f l ag, and hi s f ancy t o have i t al ways f l yi ng. Mor e

t han hal f t he men wer e ki l l ed, or badl y hi t - - t he dear ol d f at her

amongst t he r est . A bal l t ook of f par t of hi s knee cap, and he

had t o f i ght t he l ast si x hour s of t he act i on si t t i ng i n a chai r

on t he quar t er - deck; but he says i t made t he men f i ght bet t er

Page 61 of 443

t han when he was among t hem, seei ng hi m si t t i ng t her e sucki ng

or anges.

" Wel l , he came home wi t h a st i f f l eg. The Br i st ol mer chant s gave

hi m t he f r eedom of t he ci t y i n a gol d box, and a

spl endi dl y- mount ed swor d wi t h an i nscr i pt i on on t he bl ade, whi ch

hangs over t he mant el - pi ece at home. When I f i r st l ef t home, I

asked hi m t o gi ve me hi s ol d ser vi ce swor d, whi ch used t o hang by

t he ot her , and he gave i t me at once, t hough I was onl y a l ad of

sevent een, as he woul d gi ve me hi s r i ght eye, dear ol d f at her ,

whi ch i s t he onl y one he has now; t he ot her he l ost f r om a

cut l ass wound i n a boar di ng- par t y. Ther e i t hangs, and t hose ar e

hi s epaul et t es i n t he t i n case. They used t o l i e under my pi l l ow

bef or e I had a r oom of my own, and many a cowar dl y down- hear t ed

f i t have t hey hel ped me t o pul l t hr ough, Br own; and many a mean

act have t hey hel ped t o keep me f r om doi ng. Ther e t hey ar e

al ways; and t he si ght of t hem br i ngs home t he dear ol d man t o me

as not hi ng el se does, har dl y even hi s l et t er s. I must be a gr eat

scoundr el t o go ver y wr ong wi t h such a f at her .

" Let ' s see- - wher e was I ? Oh, yes; I r emember . Wel l , my f at her got

hi s box and swor d, and some ver y handsome l et t er s f r om sever al

gr eat men. We have t hem al l i n a book at home, and I know t hem by

hear t . The ones he val ues most ar e f r om Col l i ngwood, and hi s ol d

capt ai n, Vi ncent , and f r om hi s cousi n Nel son' s Har dy, who di dn' t

come of f ver y wel l hi msel f af t er t he war . But my poor ol d f at her

never got anot her shi p. For some t i me he went up ever y year t o

London, and was al ways, he says, ver y ki ndl y r ecei ved by t he

peopl e i n power , and of t en di ned wi t h one and anot her Lor d of t he

Admi r al t y who had been an ol d messmat e. But he was l ongi ng f or

empl oyment ; and i t used t o pr ey on hi m whi l e he was i n hi s pr i me

t o f eel year af t er year sl i ppi ng away and he st i l l wi t hout a

shi p. But why shoul d I abuse peopl e, and t hi nk i t har d, when he

doesn' t ? ' You see, Jack, ' he sai d t o me t he l ast t i me we spoke

about i t , ' af t er al l I was a bat t er ed ol d hul k, l ame and hal f

bl i nd. So was Nel son you' l l say: but ever y man i sn' t a Nel son, my

boy.

' And t hough I mi ght t hi nk I coul d con or f i ght a shi p as wel l as

ever , I can' t say ot her f ol k who di dn' t know me wer e wr ong f or

not agr eei ng wi t h me. Woul d you, now Jack, appoi nt a l ame and

bl i nd man t o command your shi p, i f you had one?' But he l ef t of f

appl yi ng f or wor k as soon as he was f i f t y, ( I j ust r emember t he

t i me) , f or he began t o doubt t hen whet her he was qui t e so f i t t o

command a vessel as a younger man; and, t hough he had a much

bet t er chance af t er t hat of get t i ng a shi p ( f or Wi l l i am I V came

t o t he t hr one, who knew al l about hi m) , he never went near t he

Admi r al t y agai n. ' God f or bi d, ' he sai d, ' t hat hi s Maj est y shoul d

t ake me i f t her e' s a bet t er man t o be had. '

" But I have f or got t en t o t el l you how I came i nt o t he wor l d, and

am t el l i ng you my f at her ' s st or y i nst ead of my own. You seem t o

l i ke hear i ng about i t t hough, and you can' t under st and one

wi t hout t he ot her . However , when my f at her was made commander , he

mar r i ed, and bought , wi t h hi s pr i ze- money and savi ngs, a cot t age

and pi ece of l and, i n a vi l l age on t he sout h coast , wher e he l ef t

hi s wi f e when he went on hi s l ast voyage. They had wai t ed some

year s, f or nei t her of t hem had any money; but t her e never wer e

t wo peopl e who want ed i t l ess, or di d mor e good wi t hout i t t o al l

who came near t hem. They had a har d t i me of i t t oo, f or my f at her

had t o go on hal f - pay; and a commander ' s hal f - pay i sn' t much t o

l i ve upon and keep a f ami l y. For t hey had a f ami l y; t hr ee besi des

me; but t hey ar e al l gone. And my mot her , t oo; she di ed when I

was qui t e a boy, and l ef t hi m and me al one; and si nce t hen I have

Page 62 of 443

never known what a woman' s l ove i s, f or I have no near r el at i ons;

and a man wi t h such pr ospect s as mi ne had bet t er keep down

al l - - However , t her e' s no need t o go i nt o any not i on; I won' t

wander any mor e i f I can hel p i t .

" I know my f at her was ver y poor when my mot her di ed, and I t hi nk

( t hough he never t ol d me so) t hat he had mor t gaged our cot t age,

and was ver y near havi ng t o sel l i t at one t i me. The expenses of

my mot her ' s i l l ness had been ver y heavy; I know a good deal of

t he best f ur ni t ur e was sol d- - al l , i ndeed except a handsome ar m

chai r and a l i t t l e wor k t abl e of my mot her ' s. She used t o si t i n

t he chai r , i n her l ast i l l ness, on our l awn, and wat ch t he

sunset s. And he sat by her , and wat ched her , and somet i mes r ead

t he Bi bl e t o her ; whi l e I pl ayed about wi t h a bi g bl ack dog we

had t hen, named Vi ncent , af t er my f at her ' s ol d capt ai n; or wi t h

Bur t , hi s ol d boat swai n, who came wi t h hi s wi f e t o l i ve wi t h my

f at her bef or e I can r ecol l ect , and l i ves wi t h us st i l l . He di d

ever yt hi ng i n t he gar den, and about t he house; and i n t he house,

t oo, when hi s wi f e was i l l , f or he can t ur n hi s hand t o most

anyt hi ng, l i ke most ol d sal t s. I t was he who r i gged up t he up t he

mast and weat her - cock on t he l awn, and used t o l et me r un up t he

ol d f l ag on Sundays, and on my f at her ' s weddi ng- day, and on t he

anni ver sar y of hi s act i on, and of Vi ncent ' s act i on i n t he Ar r ow.

" Af t er my mot her ' s deat h my f at her sent away al l t he ser vant s,

f or t he boat swai n and hi s wi f e ar e mor e l i ke f r i ends. I was wr ong

t o say t hat no woman has l oved me si nce my mot her ' s deat h, f or I

bel i eve dear ol d nanny l oves me as i f I wer e her own chi l d. My

f at her , af t er t hi s, used t o si t si l ent f or hour s t oget her , doi ng

not hi ng but l ook over t he sea, but , except f or t hat , was not much

changed. Af t er a shor t t i me he t ook t o t eachi ng me t o r ead, and

f r om t hat t i me I never was away f r om hi m f or an hour , except when

I was asl eep, unt i l I went out i nt o t he wor l d.

" As I t ol d you, my f at her was nat ur al l y f ond of st udy. He had

kept up t he l i t t l e Lat i n he had l ear nt as a boy, and had al ways

been r eadi ng what ever he coul d l ay hi s hands on; so t hat I

coul dn' t have had a bet t er t ut or . They wer e no l essons t o me,

par t i cul ar l y t he geogr aphi cal ones; f or t her e was no par t of t he

wor l d' s sea- coast t hat he di d not know, and coul d t el l me what i t

and t he peopl e wer e l i ke; and of t en when Bur t happened t o come i n

at such t i mes, and hear d what my f at her was t al ki ng about , he

woul d gi ve us some of hi s advent ur es and i deas of geogr aphy,

whi ch wer e ver y queer i ndeed.

" When I was near l y t en, a new vi car came. He was about my

f at her ' s age and a wi dower , l i ke hi m; onl y he had no chi l d. Li ke

hi m, t oo, he had no pr i vat e f or t une, and t he l i vi ng i s a ver y

poor one. He soon became ver y i nt i mat e wi t h us, and made my

f at her hi s chur chwar den; and, af t er bei ng pr esent at some of our

l essons, vol unt eer ed t o t each me Gr eek, whi ch, he sai d, i t was

t i me I shoul d begi n t o l ear n.

" Thi s was gr eat r el i ef t o my f at her , who had bought a Gr eek

gr ammar and di ct i onar y, and a del ect us, some t i me bef or e; and I

coul d see hi m of t en, dear ol d f at her , wi t h hi s gl ass i n hi s eye,

puzzl i ng away over t hem when I was pl ayi ng, or r eadi ng Cook' s

Voyages, f or i t had gr own t o be t he wi sh of hi s hear t t hat I

shoul d be a schol ar , and shoul d go i nt o or der s. So he was goi ng

t o t each me Gr eek hi msel f , f or t her e was no one i n t he par i sh

except t he Vi car who knew a wor d of anyt hi ng but Engl i sh- - so t hat

he coul d not have got me a t ut or , and t he t hought of sendi ng me

t o school had never cr ossed hi s mi nd, even i f he coul d have

af f or ded t o do ei t her . My f at her onl y sat by at Gr eek l essons,

Page 63 of 443

and t ook no par t ; but f i r st he began t o put i n a wor d her e and

t her e, and t hen woul d r epeat wor ds and sent ences hi msel f , and

l ook over my book whi l e I const r ued, and ver y soon was j ust as

r egul ar a pupi l of t he Vi car ' s as I .

" The Vi car was f or t he most par t ver y pr oud of hi s pupi l s, and

t he ki ndest of mast er s; but ever y now and t hen be used t o be har d

on my f at her , whi ch made me f ur i ous, t hough he never seemed t o

mi nd i t . I used t o make mi st akes on pur pose at t hose t i mes t o

show t hat I was wor se t han he at any r at e. But t hi s onl y happened

af t er we had had a pol i t i cal di scussi on at di nner ; f or we di ned

at t hr ee, and t ook t o our Gr eek af t er war ds, t o sui t t he Vi car ' s

t i me, who was gener al l y a guest . My f at her i s a Tor y, of cour se,

as you may guess, and t he Vi car was a Li ber al , of a ver y mi l d

sor t , as I have si nce t hought ; a Whi g of ' 88, ' he used t o cal l

hi msel f . But he was i n f avor of t he Ref or m Bi l l , whi ch was enough

f or my f at her , who l ect ur ed hi m about l oyal t y, and openi ng t he

f l ood- gat es t o r evol ut i on; and used t o cal l up ol d Bur t f r om t he

ki t chen, wher e he was smoki ng hi s pi pe, and ask hi m what he used

t o t hi nk of t he Radi cal s on boar d shi p; and Bur t ' s r egul ar r epl y

was- -

" ' Skul ks, yer honor , r egul ar skul ks. I woul dn' t gi ve t he t wi st of

a f i ddl er ' s el bow f or al l t he l ot of ' em as ever pr et ended t o

handl e a swab, or handl e a t opsai l . '

" The Vi car al ways t r i ed t o ar gue, but , as Bur t and I wer e t he

onl y audi ence, my f at her was al ways t r i umphant ; onl y he t ook i t

out of us af t er war ds, at t he Gr eek. Of t en I used t o t hi nk, when

t hey wer e r eadi ng hi st or y, and t al ki ng about t he char act er s, t hat

my f at her was much t he mor e l i ber al of t he t wo.

" About t hi s t i me he bought a smal l hal f - decked boat of t en t ons,

f or he and Bur t agr eed t hat I ought t o l ear n t o handl e a boat ,

al t hough I was not t o go t o sea; and when t hey got t he Vi car i n

t he boat on t he summer eveni ngs ( f or he was al ways r eady f or a

sal e t hough he was a ver y bad sai l or ) , I bel i eve t hey used t o

st eer as near t he wi nd as possi bl e, and get i nt o shor t choppi ng

seas on pur pose. But I don' t t hi nk he was ever f r i ght ened, t hough

he used somet i mes t o be ver y i l l .

" And so I went on, l ear ned al l I coul d f r om my f at her , and t he

Vi car , and ol d Bur t , t i l l I was si xt een. By t hat t i me I had begun

t o t hi nk f or mysel f ; and I had made up my mi nd t hat i t was t i me I

shoul d do somet hi ng. No boy ever want ed t o l eave home l ess, I

bel i eve; but I saw t hat I must make a move i f I was ever t o be

what my f at her wi shed me t o be. So I spoke t o t he Vi car , and he

qui t e agr eed wi t h me, and made i nqui r i es amongst hi s

acquai nt ance; and so, bef or e I was sevent een, I was of f er ed t he

pl ace of under - mast er i n a commer ci al school , about t went y mi l es

f r om home. The Vi car br ought t he of f er , and my f at her was ver y

angr y at f i r st ; but we t al ked hi m over , and so I t ook t he

si t uat i on.

" And I am ver y gl ad I di d, al t hough t her e wer e many dr awbacks.

The sal ar y was 35L a year , and f or t hat I had t o dr i l l al l t he

boys i n Engl i sh, and ar i t hmet i c, and Lat i n, and t o t each t he

Gr eek gr ammar t o t he f i ve or si x who pai d ext r a t o l ear n i t . Out

of t he school I had al ways t o be wi t h t hem, and was r esponsi bl e

f or t he di sci pl i ne. I t was wear y wor k ver y of t en, and what seemed

t he wor st par t of i t t o me, at t he t i me, was t he t r ade spi r i t

whi ch l eavened t he whol e of t he est abl i shment . The mast er and

owner of t he school , who was a keen vul gar man, but al ways ci vi l

enough t o me, t hought of not hi ng but what woul d pay. And t hi s

Page 64 of 443

seemed t o be what f i l l ed t he school . Fat her s sent t hei r boys,

because t he pl ace was so pr act i cal , and not hi ng was t aught

( except as ext r as) whi ch was not t o be of so- cal l ed r eal use t o

t he boys i n t he wor l d. We had our wor k qui t e cl ear l y l ai d down

f or us; and i t was, not t o put t he boys i n t he way of get t i ng

r eal knowl edge or under st andi ng, or any of t he t hi ngs Sol omon

t al ks about , but t o put t hem i n t he way of get t i ng on.

" I spent t hr ee year s at t hat school , and i n t hat t i me I r ounded

mysel f pr et t y wel l i n Lat i n and Gr eek- - bet t er , I bel i eve, t han I

shoul d have done i f I had been at a f i r st - r at e school mysel f ; and

I hope I di d t he boys some good, and t aught some of t hem t hat

cunni ng was not t he best qual i t y t o st ar t i n l i f e wi t h. And I was

not of t en ver y unhappy, f or I coul d al ways l ook f or war d t o my

hol i days wi t h my f at her .

" However , I own t hat I never was bet t er pl eased t han one

Chr i st mas when t he Vi car came over t o our cot t age, and br ought

wi t h hi m a l et t er f r om t he Pr i nci pal of St . Ambr ose Col l ege,

Oxf or d, appoi nt i ng me t o a ser vi t or shi p. My f at her was even mor e

del i ght ed t han I , and t hat eveni ng pr oduced a bot t l e of ol d r um,

whi ch was par t of hi s shi p' s st ock, and had gone al l t hr ough hi s

act i on, and been i n hi s cel l ar ever si nce. And we t hr ee i n t he

par l or , and ol d Bur t and hi s wi f e i n t he ki t chen, f i ni shed i t

t hat ni ght ; t he boat swai n, I must own, t aki ng t he l i on' s shar e.

The Vi car t ook occasi on, i n t he cour se of t he eveni ng, t o hi nt

t hat i t was onl y poor men who t ook t hese pl aces at t he

Uni ver si t y; and t hat I mi ght f i nd some i nconveni ence, and suf f er

some annoyance, by not bei ng exact l y i n t he same posi t i on as

ot her men. But my dear ol d f at her woul d not hear of i t ; I was now

goi ng t o be i n amongst t he ver y pi ck of Engl i sh gent l emen- - what

coul d i t mat t er whet her I had money or not ? That was t he l ast

t hi ng whi ch r eal gent l emen t hought of . Besi des, why was I t o be

so ver y poor ? He shoul d be abl e t o al l ow me what ever woul d be

necessar y t o make me comf or t abl e. ' But , Jack, ' he sai d suddenl y,

l at er i n t he eveni ng, ' one meet s l ow f el l ows ever ywher e. You have

met t hem, I know, of t en at t he conf ounded school , and wi l l meet

t hem agai n. Never you be ashamed of your pover t y, my boy. ' I

pr omi sed r eadi l y enough, f or I di dn' t t hi nk I coul d be mor e t r i ed

i n t hat way t han I had been al r eady. I had l i ved f or t hr ee year s

amongst peopl e whose cl ass not or i ousl y measur ed al l t hi ngs by a

money st andar d; now t hat was al l over , I t hought . I t ' s easy

maki ng pr omi ses i n t he dar k. The Vi car , however , woul d not l et

t he mat t er r est ; so we r esol ved our sel ves i nt o a Commi t t ee of

Ways and Means, and my f at her engaged t o l ay bef or e us an exact

st at ement of hi s af f ai r s next day. I went t o t he door wi t h t he

Vi car , and he t ol d me t o come and see hi m i n t he mor ni ng.

" I hal f - guessed what he want ed t o see me f or . He knew al l my

f at her ' s af f ai r s per f ect l y wel l , and wi shed t o pr epar e me f or

what was t o come i n t he eveni ng. ' Your f at her , ' he sai d, ' i s one

of t he most l i ber al men I ever met ; he i s al most t he onl y per son

who gi ves anyt hi ng t o t he school s and ot her char i t i es i n t hi s

par i sh, and he gi ves t o t he ut most . You woul d not wi sh hi m, I

know, t o cut of f t hese gi f t s, whi ch br i ng t he hi ghest r ewar d wi t h

t hem, when t hey ar e made i n t he spi r i t i n whi ch he makes t hem.

Then he i s get t i ng ol d, and you woul d never l i ke hi m t o deny

hi msel f t he comf or t s ( and f ew enough t hey ar e) whi ch he i s used

t o. He has not hi ng but hi s hal f - pay t o l i ve on; and out of t hat

he pays 50L a year f or i nsur ance; f or he has i nsur ed hi s l i f e,

t hat you may have somet hi ng besi des t he cot t age and l and when he

di es. I onl y t el l you t hi s t hat you may know t he f act s

bef or ehand. I am sur e you woul d never t ake a penny f r om hi m i f

you coul d hel p i t . But he won' t be happy unl ess he makes you some

Page 65 of 443

al l owance; and he can do i t wi t hout cr i ppl i ng hi msel f . He has

been payi ng of f an ol d mor t gage on hi s pr oper t y her e f or many

year s, by i nst al l ment s of 40L a year , and t he l ast was pai d l ast

Mi chael mas; so t hat i t wi l l not i nconveni ence hi m t o make you

t hat al l owance. Now, you wi l l not be abl e t o l i ve pr oper l y upon

t hat at Oxf or d, even as a ser vi t or . I speak t o you now, my dear

Jack, as your ol dest f r i end ( except Bur t ) , and you must al l ow me

t he pr i vi l ege of an ol d f r i end. I have mor e t han I want , and I

pr opose t o make your al l owance at Oxf or d t o 80L a year , and upon

t hat I t hi nk you may manage t o get on. Now, i t wi l l not be qui t e

candi d, but I t hi nk, under t he ci r cumst ances, we shal l be

j ust i f i ed i n r epr esent i ng t o your f at her t hat 40L a year wi l l be

ampl e f or hi m t o al l ow you. You see what I mean?

" I r emember al most wor d f or wor d what t he Vi car sai d; f or i t i s

not of t en i n one' s l i f e t hat one meet s wi t h t hi s sor t of f r i end.

At f i r st I t hanked hi m, but r ef used t o t ake anyt hi ng f r om hi m. I

had saved enough, I sai d, t o car r y me t hr ough Oxf or d. But he

woul d not be put of f ; and I f ound t hat hi s hear t was as much set

on maki ng me an al l owance hi msel f as on savi ng my f at her . So I

agr eed t o t ake 25L a year f r om hi m.

" When we met agai n i n t he eveni ng, t o hear my f at her ' s st at ement ,

i t was as good as a pl ay t o see t he dear ol d man, wi t h hi s

spect acl es on and hi s paper s bef or e hi m, pr ovi ng i n some

wonder f ul way t hat he coul d easi l y al l ow me at l east 80L or 100L

a year . I bel i eve i t cost t he Vi car some t wi nges of consci ence t o

per suade hi m t hat al l I shoul d want woul d be 40L a year ; and i t

was ver y har d wor k; but at l ast we succeeded, and i t was so

set t l ed. Dur i ng t he next t hr ee weeks t he pr epar at i ons f or my

st ar t occupi ed us al l . The Vi car l ooked out al l t he cl assi cs,

whi ch he i nsi st ed t hat I shoul d t ake. Ther e t hey st and on t hat

mi ddl e shel f - - al l wel l bound, you see, and many of t hem ol d

col l ege pr i zes. My f at her made an expedi t i on t o t he near est t own,

and came back wi t h a l ar ge new por t mant eau and hat - box; and t he

next day t he l eadi ng t ai l or came over t o f i t me out wi t h new

cl ot hes. I n f act , i f I had not r esi st ed st out l y, I shoul d have

come t o col l ege wi t h hal f t he cont ent s of t he cot t age, and Bur t

as val et ; f or t he ol d boat swai n was as bad as t he ot her t wo. But

I compr omi sed t he mat t er wi t h hi m by accept i ng hi s pocket compass

and t he pi ct ur e of t he br i g whi ch hangs t her e; t he t wo t hi ngs,

next t o hi s wi f e, whi ch he val ues, I bel i eve, most i n t he wor l d.

" Wel l , i t i s now t wo year s l ast Oct ober si nce I came t o Oxf or d as

a ser vi t or ; so you see I have pr et t y, near l y f i ni shed my t i me

her e. I was mor e t han t went y t hen- - much ol der as you know, t han

most f r eshmen. I dar esay i t was par t l y owi ng t o t he di f f er ence i n

age, and par t l y t o t he f act t hat I knew no one when I came up,

but most l y t o my own bad management and odd t emper , t hat I di d

not get on bet t er t han I have done wi t h t he men her e. Somet i mes I

t hi nk t hat our col l ege i s a bad speci men, f or I have made sever al

f r i ends amongst out - col l ege men. At any r at e, t he f act i s, as you

have no doubt f ound out - - and I hope I haven' t t r i ed at al l t o

conceal i t - - t hat I am out of t he pal e, as i t wer e. I n f act , wi t h

t he except i on of one of t he t ut or s, and one man who was a

f r eshman wi t h me, I do not know a man i n col l ege except as a mer e

speaki ng acquai nt ance.

" I had been r at her t hr own of f my bal ance, I t hi nk, at t he change

i n my l i f e, f or at f i r st I made a gr eat f ool of mysel f . I had

bel i eved t oo r eadi l y what my f at her had sai d, and t hought t hat at

Oxf or d I shoul d see no mor e of what I had been used t o. Her e I

t hought t hat t he l ast t hi ng a man woul d be val ued by woul d be t he

l engt h of hi s pur se, and t hat no one woul d l ook down upon me

Page 66 of 443

because I per f or med some ser vi ces t o t he col l ege i n r et ur n f or my

keep, i nst ead of payi ng f or i t i n money.

" Yes, I made a gr eat f ool of mysel f , no doubt of t hat ; and, what

i s wor se, I br oke my pr omi se t o my f at her - - I of t en _was_ ashamed

of my pover t y, and t r i ed at f i r st t o hi de i t , f or somehow t he

spi r i t of t he pl ace car r i ed me al ong wi t h i t . I coul dn' t hel p

wi shi ng t o be t hought of and t r eat ed as an equal by t he men. I t ' s

a ver y bi t t er t hi ng f or a pr oud, shy, sensi t i ve f el l ow, as I am

by nat ur e, t o have t o bear t he sor t of assumpt i on and i nsol ence

one meet s wi t h. I f ur ni shed my r ooms wel l , and dr essed wel l . Ah!

you st ar e; but t hi s i s not t he f ur ni t ur e I st ar t ed wi t h; I sol d

i t al l when I came t o my senses, and put i n t hi s t umbl e- down

second- hand st uf f , and I have wor n out my f i ne cl ot hes. I know

I ' m not wel l dr essed now. ( Tom nodded r eady acqui escence t o t hi s

posi t i on. ) Yes, t hough I st i l l wi nce a l i t t l e now and t hen- - a

gr eat deal of t ener t han I l i ke- - I don' t car r y any f al se col or s. I

can' t qui t e conquer t he f eel i ng of shame ( f or shame i t i s, I am

af r ai d) , but at any r at e I don' t t r y t o hi de my pover t y any

l onger , I haven' t f or t hese ei ght een mont hs. I have a gr i m sor t

of pl easur e i n pushi ng i t i n ever ybody' s f ace. ( Tom assent ed wi t h

a smi l e, r emember i ng how excessi vel y uncomf or t abl e Har dy had made

hi m by t hi s l i t t l e pecul i ar i t y t he f i r st t i me he was i n hi s

r ooms. ) The f i r st t hi ng whi ch opened my eyes a l i t t l e was t he

conduct of t he t r adesmen. My bi l l s al l came i n wi t hi n a week of

t he del i ver y of t he f ur ni t ur e and cl ot hes; some of t hem woul dn' t

l eave t he t hi ngs wi t hout payment . I was ver y angr y and vexed, not

at t he bi l l s, f or I had my savi ngs, whi ch wer e mor e t han enough

t o pay f or ever yt hi ng. But I knew t hat t hese same t r adesmen never

t hought of aski ng f or payment under a year , of t ener t wo, f r om

ot her men. Wel l , i t was a l esson. Cr edi t f or gent l emen- commoner s,

r eady- money deal i ngs wi t h ser vi t or s! I owe t he Oxf or d t r adesmen

much f or t hat l esson. I f t hey woul d onl y t r eat ever y man who

comes up as a ser vi t or , i t woul d save a deal of mi ser y.

" My cur e was compl et ed by much hi gher f ol k, t hough. I can' t go

t hr ough t he whol e t r eat ment , but wi l l gi ve you a speci men or t wo

of t he doses, gi vi ng pr ecedence ( as i s t he way her e) t o t hose

admi ni st er ed by t he hi ghest i n r ank. I got t hem f r om al l sor t s of

peopl e, but none di d me mor e good t han t he l or ds' pi l l s. Amongst

ot her ways of get t i ng on I t ook t o spar r i ng, whi ch was t hen ver y

much i n vogue. I am a good hand at i t , and ver y f ond of i t , so

t hat i t wasn' t al t oget her f l unkeyi sm, I ' m gl ad t o t hi nk. I n my

second t er m t wo or t hr ee f i ght i ng men came down f r om London, and

gave a benef i t at t he Wei r s. I was t her e, and set t o wi t h one of

t hem. We wer e wel l mat ched, and bot h of us di d our ver y best ; and

when we had had our t ur n we dr ew down t he house, as t hey say.

Sever al young t uf t s and ot her s of t he f ast er men came up t o me

af t er war ds and compl i ment ed me. They di d t he same by t he

pr of essi onal , but i t di dn' t occur t o me at t he t i me t hat t hey put

us bot h i n t he same cat egor y.

" I am f r ee t o own t hat I was r eal l y pl eased t wo days af t er war ds,

when a most el abor at e f l unkey br ought a car d t o my door i nscr i bed

' The Vi scount Phi l i ppi ne, Ch. Ch. , at home t o- ni ght , ei ght

o' cl ock- - spar r i ng. ' Lucki l y, I made a l i ght di nner , and went

shar p t o t i me i nt o Chr i st Chur ch. The por t er di r ect ed me t o t he

nobl e Vi scount ' s r ooms; t hey wer e most spl endi d, cer t ai nl y - - f i r st

f l oor r ooms i n Peckwat er . I was shown i nt o t he l ar ge l oom, whi ch

was magni f i cent l y f ur ni shed and l i ght ed. A good space was cl ear ed

i n t he cent r e; t her e wer e al l sor t s of bot t l es and gl asses on t he

si deboar d. Ther e mi ght have been t wel ve or t hi r t een men pr esent ,

al most al l i n t uf t s or gent l emen commoner s' caps. One or t wo of

our col l ege I r ecogni zed. The f i ght i ng man was al so t her e,

Page 67 of 443

st r i pped f or spar r i ng, whi ch none of t he r est wer e. I t was pl ai n

t hat t he spor t had not begun; I t hi nk he was doi ng some t r i ck of

st r engt h as I came i n. My nobl e host came f or war d wi t h a nod and

asked me i f I woul d t ake anyt hi ng, and when I decl i ned, sai d,

' Then wi l l you put on t he gl oves?' I l ooked at hi m r at her

sur pr i sed, and t hought i t an odd way t o t r eat t he onl y st r anger

i n hi s r ooms. However , I st r i pped, put on t he gl oves, and one of

t he ot her s came f or war d t o t i e t hem f or me. Whi l e he was doi ng i t

I hear d my host say t o t he man, ' A f i ve- pound not e, mi nd, i f you

do i t wi t hi n t he quar t er - of - an- hour . ' ' Onl y hal f - mi nut e t i me,

t hen, my l or d, ' he answer ed. The man who was t yi ng my gl oves

sai d, ' Be st eady; don' t gi ve hi m a chance t o knock you down. ' I t

f l ashed acr oss me i n a moment now why I was t her e; but i t was t oo

l at e t o dr aw back; so we st ood up and began spar r i ng. I pl ayed

ver y st eadi l y and l i ght at f i r st t o see whet her my suspi ci ons

wer e wel l f ounded, and i n t wo mi nut es I was sat i sf i ed. My

opponent t r i ed ever y dodge t o br i ng on a r al l y, and when he was

f oi l ed I coul d see t hat he was shi f t i ng hi s gl ove. I st opped and

i nsi st ed t hat hi s gl oves shoul d be t i ed, and t hen we went on

agai n.

" I kept on t he def ensi ve. The man was i n bad t r ai ni ng, and

l ucki l y I had t he advant age by an i nch or so i n l engt h of ar m.

Bef or e f i ve mi nut es was over , I had caught enough of t he

byst ander ' s r emar ks t o know t hat my nobl e host had bet t ed a pony

t hat I shoul d be knocked down i n a quar t er - of - an- hour . My one

obj ect now was t o make hi m l ose hi s money. My opponent di d hi s

ut most f or hi s pat r on, and f ai r l y wi nded hi msel f i n hi s ef f or t s

t o get at me. He had t o cal l t i me t wi ce hi msel f . I sai d not a

wor d; my t i me woul d come I knew, i f I coul d keep on my l egs, and

of t hi s I had l i t t l e f ear . I hel d mysel f t oget her , made no

at t ack, and my l engt h of ar m gave me t he advant age i n ever y

count er . I t was al l I coul d do, t hough, t o keep cl ear of hi s

r ushes as t he t i me dr ew on. On he came t i me af t er t i me, car el ess

of guar di ng, and he was f ul l as good a man as I . ' Ti me' s up; i t ' s

past t he quar t er . ' ' No, by Jove hal f a mi nut e yet ; now' s your

t i me, sai d my nobl e host t o hi s man, who answer ed by a r ush. I

met hi m as bef or e wi t h a st eady count er , but t hi s t i me my bl ow

got home under hi s chi n, and he st agger ed, l ost hi s f oot i ng, and

went f ai r l y over on hi s back.

" Most of t he byst ander s seemed del i ght ed, and some of t hem

hur r i ed t owar ds me. But I t or e of f t he gl oves, f l ung t hem on t he

gr ound, and t ur ned t o my host . I coul d har dl y speak, but I made

an ef f or t , and sai d qui et l y, ' You have br ought a st r anger t o your

r ooms, and have t r i ed t o make hi m f i ght f or your amusement ; now I

t el l you i t i s a bl ackguar d act of your s- - an act whi ch no

gent l eman woul d have done. ' My nobl e host made no r emar k. I t hr ew

on my wai st - coat , and t hen t ur ned t o t he r est and sai d

' _Gent l emen_ woul d not have st ood by and seen i t done. ' I went up

t o t he si de- boar d, uncor ked a bot t l e of champagne, and hal f

f i l l ed a t umbl er , bef or e a wor d was spoken. Then one of t he

vi si t or s st epped f or war d and sai d, ' Mr . Har dy, I hope you won' t

go, t her e has been a mi st ake; we di d not know of t hi s. I am sur e

many of us ar e ver y sor r y f or what has occur r ed; st ay and l ook

on, we wi l l al l of us spar . ' I l ooked at hi m, and t hen at my

host , t o see whet her t he l at t er j oi ned i n t he apol ogy. Not he, he

was doi ng t he di gni f i ed sul ky, and most of t he r est seemed t o me

t o be wi t h hi m. ' Wi l l any of you spar wi t h me?' I sai d,

t aunt i ngl y, t ossi ng of f t he champagne. ' Cer t ai nl y, t he new

speaker sai d di r ect l y, ' I f you wi sh i t , and ar e not t oo t i r ed, I

wi l l spar wi t h you mysel f ; you wi l l , won' t you, James?' and he

t ur ned t o one of t he ot her men. I f any of t hem had backed hi m by

a wor d I shoul d pr obabl y have st ayed; sever al of t hem, I l ear nt

Page 68 of 443

af t er war ds, woul d have l i ked t o have done so, but i t was an

awkwar d scene t o i nt er f er e i n. I st opped a moment and t hen sai d,

wi t h a sneer , ' You' r e t oo smal l , and none of t he ot her gent l emen

seem i ncl i ned t o of f er . '

" I saw t hat I had hur t hi m, and f el t pl eased at t he moment I had

done so. I was now r eady t o st ar t , and I coul d not t hi nk of

anyt hi ng mor e unpl easant t o say at t he moment ; so I went up t o my

ant agoni st , who was st andi ng wi t h t he gl oves on st i l l , not qui t e

knowi ng what t o be at , and hel d out my hand. ' I can shake hands

wi t h you at any r at e, ' I sai d; ' you onl y di d what you wer e pai d

f or i n t he r egul ar way of busi ness, and you di d your best . ' He

l ooked r at her sheepi sh, but hel d out hi s gl oved hand, whi ch I

shook. ' Now, I have t he honor t o wi sh you al l a ver y good

eveni ng; ' and so I l ef t t he pl ace and got home t o my own r ooms,

and sat down t her e wi t h sever al new i deas i n my head. On t he

whol e, t he l esson was not a ver y bi t t er one, f or I f el t t hat I

had had t he best of t he game. The onl y t hi ng I r eal l y was sor r y

f or was my own i nsol ence t o t he man who had come f or war d as a

peacemaker . I had r emar ked hi s f ace bef or e. I don' t know how i t

i s wi t h you, but I can never hel p l ooki ng at a t uf t - - t he gol d

t assel dr aws one' s eye somehow; and t hen i t ' s an awf ul posi t i on,

af t er al l , f or mer e boys t o be pl aced i n. So I knew hi s f ace

bef or e t hat day, t hough I had onl y seen hi m t wo or t hr ee t i mes i n

t he st r eet . Now i t was much mor e cl ear l y i mpr essed on my mi nd;

and I cal l ed i t up and l ooked i t over , hal f hopi ng t hat I shoul d

det ect somet hi ng t o j ust i f y me t o mysel f , but wi t hout success.

However , I got t he whol e af f ai r pr et t y wel l out of my head by

bedt i me.

" Whi l e I was at br eakf ast t he next mor ni ng, my scout came i n wi t h

a f ace of t he most l udi cr ous i mpor t ance, and qui t e a def er ent i al

manner . I decl ar e I don' t t hi nk he has ever got back si nce t hat

day t o hi s or i gi nal f r ee- and- easy swagger . He l ai d a car d on my

t abl e, paused a moment , and t hen sai d, ' Hi s l udshi p i s hout si de

wat i n' , si r . '

" I had had enough of l or ds' car ds; and t he scene of yest er day

r ose pai nf ul l y bef or e me as I t hr ew t he car d i nt o t he f i r e

wi t hout l ooki ng at i t , and sai d, ' Tel l hi m I am engaged. '

" My scout , wi t h somet hi ng l i ke a shudder at my audaci t y, r epl i ed,

' Hi s l udshi p t ol d me t o say, si r , as hi s bi s' ness was ver y

par t i cul ar , so hi f you was engaged he woul d cal l agai n i n ' ar f an

hour . '

" Tel l hi m t o come i n, t hen, i f he won' t t ake a ci vi l hi nt . ' I

f el t sur e who i t woul d be, but har dl y knew whet her t o be pl eased

or annoyed, when i n anot her mi nut e t he door opened, and i n wal ked

t he peacemaker . I don' t know whi ch of us was t he most

embar r assed; he wal ked st r ai ght up t o me wi t hout l i f t i ng hi s

eyes, and hel d out hi s hand sayi ng, ' I hope, Mr . Har dy, you wi l l

shake hands wi t h me now. '

" ' Cer t ai nl y, my l or d, ' I sai d, t aki ng hi s hand; ' I am sor r y f or

what I sai d t o you yest er day, when my bl ood was up. '

" ' You sai d no mor e t han we deser ved, ' he answer ed t wi r l i ng hi s

cap by t he l ong gol d t assel ; ' I coul d not be comf or t abl e wi t hout

comi ng t o assur e you agai n mysel f , t hat nei t her I , nor , I

bel i eve, hal f t he men i n Phi l i ppi ne' s r ooms yest er day, knew

anyt hi ng of t he bet . I r eal l y cannot t el l you how annoyed I have

been about i t . '

Page 69 of 443

" I assur ed hi m t hat he mi ght make hi msel f qui t e easy, and t hen

r emai ned st andi ng, expect i ng hi m t o go, and not knowi ng exact l y

what t o say f ur t her . But he begged me t o go on wi t h my br eakf ast ,

and sat down, and t hen asked me t o gi ve hi m a cup of t ea, as he

had not br eakf ast ed. So i n a f ew mi nut es we wer e si t t i ng opposi t e

one anot her over t ea and br ead and but t er , f or he di dn' t ask f or ,

and I di dn' t of f er , anyt hi ng el se. I t was r at her a t r yi ng meal ,

f or each of us was doi ng al l he coul d t o make out t he ot her . I

onl y hope I was as pl easant as he was. Af t er br eakf ast he went

and I t hought t he acquai nt ance was pr obabl y at an end; he had

done al l t hat a gent l eman need have done, and had wel l - ni gh

heal ed a r aw pl ace i n my ment al ski n.

" But I was mi st aken. Wi t hout i nt r udi ng hi msel f on me, he managed

somehow or anot her t o keep on bui l di ng up t he acquai nt ance l i t t l e

by l i t t l e. For some t i me I l ooked out ver y j eal ousl y f or any

pat r oni zi ng ai r s, and even af t er I was convi nced, t hat he had

not hi ng of t he sor t i n hi m, avoi ded hi m as much as I coul d,

t hough he was t he most pl easant and best - i nf or med man I knew.

However , we became i nt i mat e, and I saw a good deal of hi m i n a

qui et way, at hi s own r ooms. I woul dn' t go t o hi s par t i es, and

asked hi m not t o come t o me her e, f or my hor r or of bei ng t hought

a t uf t - hunt er had become al most a di sease. He was not so ol d as

I , but he was j ust l eavi ng t he Uni ver si t y, f or he had come up

ear l y, and l or d' s sons ar e al l owed t o go out i n t wo year s; - - I

suppose because t he aut hor i t i es t hi nk t hey wi l l do l ess har m her e

i n t wo t han t hr ee year s; but i t i s somet i mes har d on poor men,

who have t o ear n t hei r br ead, t o see such a pr i vi l ege gi ven t o

t hose who want i t l east . When he l ef t , he made me pr omi se t o go

and pay hi m a vi si t - - whi ch I di d i n t he l ong vacat i on, at a

spl endi d pl ace up i n t he Nor t h, and enj oyed mysel f mor e t han I

car e t o own. Hi s f at her , who i s qui t e wor t hy of hi s son, and al l

hi s f ami l y, wer e as ki nd as peopl e coul d be.

" Wel l , amongst ot her f ol ks I met t her e a young spr i g of nobi l i t y

who was comi ng up her e t he next t er m. He had been br ought up

abr oad, and, I suppose, knew ver y f ew men of hi s own age i n

Engl and. He was not a bad st yl e of boy, but r at her t oo

demonst r at i ve, and not st r ong- headed. He t ook t o me wonder f ul l y,

was del i ght ed t o hear t hat I was up at Oxf or d, and t al ked

const ant l y of how much we shoul d see of one anot her . As i t

happened, I was al most t he f i r st man he met when he got of f t he

coach at t he ' Angel , ' at t he begi nni ng of hi s f i r st t er m. He

al most embr aced me, and not hi ng woul d ser ve but I must di ne wi t h

hi m at t he i nn, and we spent t he eveni ng t oget her , and par t ed

dear f r i ends. Two days af t er war ds we met i n t he st r eet ; he was

wi t h t wo ot her youngst er s, and gave me a pol i shed and di st ant

bow; i n anot her week he passed me as i f we had never met .

" I don' t bl ame hi m, poor boy. My onl y wonder i s, t hat any of t hem

ever get t hr ough t hi s pl ace wi t hout bei ng t hor oughl y spoi l t . Fr om

Vi ce- Chancel l or down t o scout ' s boy, t he whol e of Oxf or d seems t o

be i n l eague t o t ur n t hei r boys heads, even i f t hey come up wi t h

t hem set on st r ai ght , whi ch t oadyi ng ser vant s at home t ake car e

shal l never happen i f t hey can hi nder i t . The onl y men who woul d

do t hem good up her e, bot h dons and under gr aduat es, keep out of

t hei r way, ver y nat ur al l y. Gent l emen- commoner s have a l i t t l e

bet t er chance, t hough not much, and seem t o me t o be wor se t han

t he t uf t s, and t o f ur ni sh most of t hei r t oadi es.

" Wel l , you ar e t i r ed of my r ai l i ng? I dar esay I am r abi d about i t

al l . Onl y i t does go t o my hear t t o t hi nk what t hi s pl ace mi ght

be, and what i t i s. I see I needn' t gi ve you any mor e of my

exper i ence.

Page 70 of 443

" You' l l under st and now some of t he t hi ngs t hat have puzzl ed you

about me. Oh! I know t hey di d; you needn' t l ook apol oget i c. I

don' t wonder , or bl ame you. I am a ver y queer bi r d f or t he per ch

I have l i t on; I know t hat as wel l as anybody. The onl y wonder i s

t hat you ever t ook t he t r oubl e t o t r y t o l i me me. Now have

anot her gl ass of t oddy. Why! i t i s near t wel ve. I must have one

pi pe and t ur n i n. No Ar i st ophanes t o- ni ght . "

CHAPTER I X

" A BROWN BAI T. "

Tom' s l i t t l e exal t at i on i n hi s own eyes consequent on t he

cupboar d- smashi ng escapade of hi s f r i end was not t o l ast l ong.

Not a week had el apsed bef or e he hi msel f ar r i ved suddenl y i n

Har dy' s r oom i n as f ur i ous a st at e of mi nd as t he ot her had so

l at el y been i n, al l owi ng f or t he di f f er ence of t he men. Har dy

l ooked up f r om hi s books and excl ai med: - -

" What ' s t he mat t er ? Wher e have you been t o- ni ght ? You l ook f i er ce

enough t o si t f or a por t r ai t of Sangui noso Vol canoni , t he

bandi t . "

" Been! " sai d Tom, si t t i ng down on t he spar e Wi ndsor chai r , whi ch

he usual l y occupi ed, so har d as t o make i t cr ack agai n; " been!

I ' ve been t o a wi ne par t y at Hendon' s. Do you know any of t hat

set ?"

" No, except Gr ey, who came i nt o r esi dence i n t he same t er m wi t h

me; we have been r eadi ng f or degr ee t oget her . You must have seen

hi m her e somet i mes i n t he eveni ngs. "

" Yes, I r emember ; t he f el l ow wi t h a st i f f neck, who won' t l ook

you i n t he f ace. "

" Ay, but he i s a st er l i ng man at t he bot t om, I can t el l you. "

" Wel l , he wasn' t t her e. You don' t know any of t he r est ?"

" No. "

" And never went t o any of t hei r par t i es?"

" No. "

" You' ve had no l oss, I can t el l you, " sai d Tom, pl eased t hat t he

gr ound was cl ear f or hi m. " I never was amongst such a set of

waspi sh, dogmat i cal , over - bear i ng f el l ows i n my l i f e. "

" Why, what i n t he name of f or t une have t hey been doi ng t o you?

How di d you f al l among such Phi l i st i nes?"

" I ' m such an easy f ool , you see, " sai d Tom, " I go of f di r ect l y

wi t h any f el l ow t hat asks me; f ast or sl ow, i t ' s al l t he same. I

never t hi nk t wi ce about t he mat t er , and gener al l y, I l i ke al l t he

f el l ows I meet , and enj oy ever yt hi ng. But j ust cat ch me at

anot her of t hei r st uck- up wi nes, t hat ' s al l . "

" But you won' t t el l me what ' s t he mat t er . "

" Wel l , I don' t know why Hendon shoul d have asked me. He can' t

Page 71 of 443

t hi nk me a l i kel y car d f or a conver t , I shoul d t hi nk. At any

r at e, he asked me t o wi ne, and I went as usual . Ever yt hi ng was i n

capi t al st yl e ( i t don' t seem t o be any par t of t hei r cr eed, mi nd

you, t o dr i nk bad wi ne) , and awf ul l y gent l emanl y and decor ous. "

" Yes, t hat ' s aggr avat i ng, I admi t . I t woul d have been i n bet t er

t ast e, of cour se, i f t hey had been a l i t t l e bl ackguar d and

i ndecor ous. No doubt , t oo, one has a r i ght t o expect bad wi ne at

Oxf or d. Wel l ?"

Har dy spoke so gr avel y, t hat Tom had t o l ook acr oss at hi m f or

hal f a mi nut e t o see whet her he was i n ear nest . Then he went on

wi t h a gr i n.

" Ther e was a pi ano i n one cor ner , and musl i n cur t ai ns - - I gi ve you

my wor d, musl i n cur t ai ns, besi des t he st uf f ones. "

" You don' t say so, " sai d Har dy; " put up, no doubt , t o i nsul t you.

No wonder you l ooked, so f ur i ous when you came i n. Anyt hi ng

el se?"

" Let me see- - yes- - I count ed t hr ee sor t s of scent s on t he

mant el - pi ece, besi des Eau- de- Col ogne. But I coul d have st ood i t

wel l enough i f i t hadn' t been f or t hei r t al k. Fr om one t hi ng t o

anot her t hey got t o cat hedr al s, and one of t hem cal l ed St . Paul ' s

' a di sgr ace t o a Chr i st i an ci t y; ' I coul dn' t st and t hat , you

know. I was al ways br ed t o r espect St . Paul ' s; wer en' t you?"

" My educat i on i n t hat l i ne was negl ect ed, " sai d Har dy, gr avel y.

" And so you t ook up t he cudgel s f or St . Paul ' s?"

" Yes, I pl umped out t hat St . Paul ' s was t he f i nest cat hedr al i n

Engl and. You' d have t hought I had sai d t hat l yi ng was one of t he

car di nal vi r t ues- - one or t wo j ust t r eat ed me t o a sor t of pi t yi ng

sneer , but my nei ghbor s wer e down upon me wi t h a vengeance. I

st uck t o my t ext t hough, and t hey dr ove me i nt o sayi ng I l i ked

t he Rat cl i f f e mor e t han any bui l di ng i n Oxf or d; whi ch I don' t

bel i eve I do, now I come t o t hi nk of i t . So when t hey coul dn' t

get me t o budge f or t hei r t al k, t hey t ook t o t el l i ng me t hat

ever y body t hat knew anyt hi ng about chur ch ar chi t ect ur e was

agai nst me- - of cour se meani ng t hat I knew not hi ng about i t - - f or

t he mat t er of t hat , I don' t mean t o say t hat I do" - - Tom paused;

i t had suddenl y occur r ed t o hi m t hat t her e mi ght be some r eason

i n t he r ough handl i ng he had got .

" But what di d you say t o t he aut hor i t i es?" sai d Har dy, who was

gr eat l y amused.

" Sai d I di dn' t car e a st r aw f or t hem" sai d Tom, " t her e was no

r i ght or wr ong i n t he mat t er , and I had as good a r i ght t o my

opi ni on as Pugi n- - or what ever hi s name i s- - and t he r est . "

" What her esy! " sai d Har dy, l aughi ng; " you caught i t f or t hat , I

suppose?"

" Di dn' t I ! They made such a noi se over i t , t hat t he men at t he

ot her end of t he t abl e st opped t al ki ng ( t hey wer e al l f r eshmen at

our end) , and when t hey f ound what was up, one of t he ol der ones

t ook me i n hand, and I got a l ect ur e about t he mi ddl e ages, and

t he monks. I sai d I t hought Engl and was wel l r i d of t he monks;

and t hen we got on t o Pr ot est ant i sm, and f ast i ng, and apost ol i c

successi on, and passi ve obedi ence, and I don' t know what al l ! I

onl y know I was t i r ed enough of i t bef or e t he cof f ee came; but I

coul dn' t go, you know, wi t h al l of t hem on me at once, coul d I ?"

Page 72 of 443

" Of cour se not ; you wer e l i ke t he 6, 000 unconquer abl e Br i t i sh

i nf ant r y at Al buer a. You hel d your posi t i on by sheer f i ght i ng,

suf f er i ng f ear f ul l oss. "

" Wel l , " sai d Tom, l aughi ng, f or he had t al ked hi msel f i nt o good

humor agai n. " I dar e say I t al ked a deal of nonsense; and, when I

come t o t hi nk i t over , a good deal of what some of t hem sai d had

somet hi ng i n i t . I shoul d l i ke t o hear i t agai n qui et l y; but

t her e wer e ot her s sneer i ng and gi vi ng t hemsel ves ai r s, but t hat

put s a f el l ow' s back up. "

" Yes, " sai d Har dy, " a good many of t he weakest and vai nest men

who come up t ake t o t hi s sor t of t hi ng now. They can do not hi ng

t hemsel ves, and get a sor t of pl at f or m by goi ng i n on t he Hi gh

Chur ch busi ness f r om whi ch t o l ook down on t hei r nei ghbor s. "

" That ' s j ust what I t hought , " sai d Tom, " t hey t r i ed t o push

mot her Chur ch, mot her Chur ch, down my t hr oat at ever y t ur n; I ' m

as f ond of t he Chur ch as any of t hem, but I don' t want t o be

j umpi ng up on her back ever y mi nut e, l i ke a si ckl y chi cken

get t i ng on t he ol d hen' s back t o war m i t s f eet whenever t he

gr ound i s col d, and f ancyi ng hi msel f t al l er t han al l t he r est of

t he br ood. "

" You wer e unl ucky, " sai d Har dy; " t her e ar e some ver y f i ne f el l ows

amongst t hem. "

" Wel l , I haven' t seen much of t hem, " sai d Tom, " and I don' t want

t o see any mor e, f or i t seems t o be al l Got hi c moul di ngs and

man- mi l l i ner y busi ness. "

" You won' t t hi nk so when you' ve been up a l i t t l e l onger . " sai d

Har dy, get t i ng up t o make t ea, whi ch oper at i on he had har dl y

commenced, when a knock came at t he door , and i n answer t o

Har dy' s " Come i n, " a sl i ght , shy man appear ed, who hesi t at ed, and

seemed i ncl i ned t o go when he saw t hat Har dy was not al one.

" Oh, come i n, and have a cup of t ea, Gr ey. You know Br own, I

t hi nk?" sai d Har dy, l ooki ng r ound f r om t he f i r e, wher e he was

f i l l i ng hi s t eapot , t o wat ch Tom' s r ecept i on of t he new comer .

Our her o t ook hi s f eet down, dr ew hi msel f up and made a sol emn

bow, whi ch Gr ey r et ur ned, and t hen sl i d ner vousl y i nt o a chai r

and l ooked ver y uncomf or t abl e. However , i n anot her mi nut e Har dy

came t o t he r escue and began pour i ng out t he t ea. He was

evi dent l y t i ckl ed at t he i dea of conf r ont i ng Tom so soon wi t h

anot her of hi s enemi es. Tom saw t hi s, and put on a cool and

maj est i c manner i n consequence, whi ch evi dent l y i ncr eased t he

di scomf or t of Gr ey' s seat , and kept Har dy on t he edge of an abyss

of l aught er . I n f act , he had t o ease hi msel f by t al ki ng of

i ndi f f er ent mat t er s and l aughi ng at not hi ng. Tom had never seen

hi m i n t hi s sor t of humor bef or e, and coul dn' t hel p enj oyi ng i t ,

t hough he f el t t hat i t was par t l y at hi s own expense. But when

Har dy once j ust appr oached t he subj ect of t he wi ne par t y, Tom

br i st l ed up so qui ckl y, and Gr ey l ooked so meekl y wr et ched,

t hough he knew not hi ng of what was comi ng, t hat Har dy suddenl y

changed t he subj ect , and t ur ni ng t o Gr ey, sai d- -

" What have you been doi ng t he l ast f or t ni ght ? You haven' t been

her e once. I ' ve been obl i ged t o get on wi t h my Ar i st ot l e wi t hout

you. "

" I ' m ver y sor r y i ndeed, but I haven' t been abl e t o come, " sai d

Page 73 of 443

Gr ey, l ooki ng si deways at Har dy, and t hen at Tom, who sat

r egar di ng t he wal l , supr emel y i ndi f f er ent .

" Wel l , I ' ve f i ni shed my Et hi cs, " sai d Har dy; " can' t you come i n

t o- mor r ow ni ght t o t al k t hem over ? I suppose you' r e t hr ough t hem

t oo?"

" No, r eal l y, " sai d Gr ey. " I haven' t been abl e t o l ook at t hem

si nce t he l ast t i me I was her e. "

" You must t ake car e, " sai d Har dy. " The new exami ner s ar e al l f or

sci ence and hi st or y; i t won' t do f or you t o go i n t r ust i ng t o

your schol ar shi p. "

" I hope t o make i t up i n t he East er vacat i on, " sai d Gr ey. " You' l l

have enough t o do t hen, " sai d Har dy; " but how i s i t you' ve

dr opped ast er n so?"

" Why, t he f act i s, " sai d Gr ey, hesi t at i ngl y, " t hat t he cur at e of

St . Pet er ' s has set up some ni ght school s, and want ed some hel p.

So I have been doi ng what I coul d t o hel p hi m; and r eal l y, "

l ooki ng at hi s wat ch, " I must be goi ng. I onl y want ed t o t el l you

how i t was I di dn' t come now. "

Har dy l ooked at Tom, who was r at her t aken aback by t hi s

announcement , and began t o l ook l ess haught i l y at t he wal l . He

even condescended t o t ake a shor t gl ance at hi s nei ghbor .

" I t ' s unl ucky, " sai d Har dy; " but do you t each ever y ni ght ?"

" Yes, " sai d Gr ey. " I used t o do my sci ence and hi st or y at ni ght ,

you know; but I f i nd t hat t eachi ng t akes so much out of me, t hat

I ' m onl y f i t f or bed now, when I get back. I ' m so gl ad I ' ve t ol d

you. I have want ed t o do i t f or some t i me. And i f you woul d l et

me come i n f or an hour , di r ect l y af t er hal l , i nst ead of l at er , I

t hi nk I coul d st i l l manage t hat . "

" Of cour se, " sai d Har dy, " come when you l i ke. But i t ' s r at her

har d t o t ake you away ever y ni ght , so near t he exami nat i ons. "

" I t i s my own wi sh, " sai d Gr ey. " I shoul d have been ver y gl ad i f

i t hadn' t happened j ust now; but as i t has I must do t he best I

can. "

" Wel l , but I shoul d l i ke t o hel p you. Can' t I t ake a ni ght or t wo

of f your hands?"

" No! " sai d Tom, f i r ed wi t h sudden ent husi asm; " i t wi l l be as bad

f or you, Har dy. I t can' t want much schol ar shi p t o t each t her e.

Let me go. I ' l l t ake t wo ni ght s a week i f you' l l l et me. "

" Oh, t hank you, " sai d Gr ey; " but I don' t know how my f r i end mi ght

l i ke i t . That i s- - I mean, " he sai d, get t i ng ver y r ed, " i t ' s ver y

ki nd of you, onl y I ' m used t o i t ; and- - and t hey r el y on me. But I

r eal l y must go- - good ni ght ; " and Gr ey went of f i n conf usi on.

As soon as t he door had f ai r l y cl osed, Har dy coul d st and i t no

l onger , and l ay back i n hi s chai r l aughi ng t i l l t he t ear s r an

down hi s cheeks. Tom, whol l y unabl e t o appr eci at e t he j oke, sat

l ooki ng at hi m wi t h per f ect gr avi t y.

" What can t her e be i n your l ook, Br own?" sai d Har dy, when he

coul d speak agai n, " t o f r i ght en Gr ey so? Di d you see what a

f r i ght he was i n at once, at t he i dea of t ur ni ng you i nt o t he

Page 74 of 443

ni ght school s? Ther e must be some l ur ki ng Pr ot est ant i sm i n your

f ace somewher e, whi ch I hadn' t det ect ed. "

" I don' t bel i eve he was f r i ght ened at me a bi t . He woul dn' t have

you ei t her , r emember , " sai d Tom.

" Wel l , at any r at e, t hat doesn' t l ook as i f i t wer e al l mer e

Got hi c- moul di ngs and man- mi l l i ner y, does i t ?" sai d Har dy.

Tom si pped hi s t ea, and consi der ed.

" One can' t hel p admi r i ng hi m, do you know, f or i t , " he sai d. " Do

you t hi nk he i s r eal l y t hr own back, now, i n hi s own r eadi ng by

t hi s t eachi ng?"

" I ' m sur e of i t . He i s such a qui et f el l ow, t hat not hi ng el se i s

l i kel y t o dr aw hi m of f r eadi ng; I can see t hat he doesn' t get on

as he used, day by day. Unl ess he makes i t up somehow, he won' t

get hi s f i r st . "

" He don' t seem t o l i ke t he t eachi ng wor k much, " sai d Tom.

" Not at al l , so f ar as I can see. "

" Then i t i s a ver y f i ne t hi ng of hi m, " sai d Tom.

" And you r et r act your man- mi l l i ner y di ct um, so f ar as he i s

concer ned?"

" Yes, t hat I do, hear t i l y; but not as t o t he set i n gener al . "

" Wel l , t hey don' t sui t me ei t her ; but , on t he whol e, t hey ar e

want ed- - at any r at e, i n t hi s col l ege. Even t he wor st of t hem i s

maki ng some sor t of pr ot est f or sel f - deni al , and agai nst

sel f - i ndul gence, whi ch i s nowher e mor e needed t han her e. "

" A ni ce sor t of pr ot est - - musl i n cur t ai ns, a pi ano, and ol d

cl ar et . "

" Oh, you' ve no r i ght t o count Henden among t hem; he has onl y a

l i t t l e hanker i ng af t er medi aeval i sm, and t hi nks t he whol e t hi ng

gent l emanl y. "

" I onl y know t he whol e cl amj amf er y of t hem wer e t her e, and di dn' t

seem t o pr ot est much. "

" Br own, you' r e a bi got . I shoul d never have t hought you woul d

have been so f ur i ous agai nst any set of f el l ows, I begi n t o smel l

Ar nol d. "

" No you don' t . He never spoke t o me agai nst anybody. "

" Hal l o! I t was t he Rugby at mospher e, t hen, I suppose. But I t el l

you t hey ar e t he onl y men i n t he col l ege who ar e maki ng t hat

pr ot est , what ever t hei r mot i ves may be. "

" What do you say t o your sel f , ol d f el l ow?"

" Nonsense! I never deny mysel f any pl easur e t hat I can af f or d, i f

i t i sn' t wr ong i n i t sel f , and doesn' t hi nder anyone el se. I can

t el l you I am as f ond of f i ne t hi ngs and good l i vi ng as you. "

" I f a t hi ng i sn' t wr ong, and you can af f or d i t , and i t doesn' t

hur t anybody! Just so; wel l , t hen, must n' t i t be r i ght f or you t o

Page 75 of 443

have? You woul dn' t have i t put under your nose, I suppose, j ust

f or you t o smel l at , and l et i t al one?"

" Yes, I know al l t hat . I ' ve been over i t of t en enough, and

t her e' s t r ut h i n i t . But , mi nd you, i t ' s r at her sl i pper y gr ound,

especi al l y f or a f r eshman; and t her e' s a good deal t o be sai d on

t he ot her si de- - I mean, f or denyi ng onesel f j ust f or t he sake of

t he sel f deni al . "

" Wel l , t hey don' t deny t hemsel ves t he pl easur e of l ooki ng at a

f el l ow as i f he wer e a Tur k, because he l i kes St . Paul ' s bet t er

t han West mi nst er Abbey. "

" How t hat snubbi ng you got at t he Eccl esi ol ogi cal wi ne par t y

seems t o wr ankl e. - - Ther e now! don' t br i st l e up l i ke a hedgehog.

I ' l l never ment i on t hat unf or t unat e wi ne agai n. I saw t he ei ght

come i n t o- day. You wer e keepi ng much bet t er t i me, but t her e i s a

weak pl ace or t wo f or war d. "

" Yes, " sai d Tom, del i ght ed t o change t he subj ect , " I f i nd i t

awf ul l y har d t o pul l up t o Jer vi s' s st r oke. Do you t hi nk I shal l

ever get t o i t ?"

" Of cour se you wi l l . Why you have onl y been pul l i ng behi nd hi m a

dozen t i mes or so, and hi s i s t he most t r yi ng st r oke on t he

r i ver . You qui cken a l i t t l e on i t ; but I di dn' t mean you. Two and

f i ve ar e t he bl ot s i n t he boat . "

" You t hi nk so?" sai d Tom, much r el i eved. " So does Mi l l er , I can

see. I t ' s so pr ovoki ng- - Dr ysdal e i s t o pul l t wo i n t he r aces next

t er m, and Bl ake seven, and t hen Di ogenes wi l l go t o f i ve. He' s

obl i ged t o pul l seven now, because Bl ake won' t come down t hi s

t er m; no mor e wi l l Dr ysdal e. They say t her e wi l l be pl ent y of

t i me af t er East er . "

" I t ' s a gr eat pi t y, " sai d Har dy.

" I sn' t i t , " sai d Tom; " and i t makes Mi l l er so savage. He wal ks

i nt o us al l as i f i t wer e our f aul t s. Do you t hi nk he' s a good

coxswai n?"

" Fi r st r at e on most poi nt s, but r at her t oo shar p t ongued. You

can' t get a man' s best out of hi m wi t hout a l i t t l e pr ai se. "

" Yes, t hat ' s j ust i t , he put s one' s back up, " sai d Tom. " But t he

Capt ai n i s a spl endi d f el l ow, i sn' t he?"

" Yes, but a l i t t l e t oo easy, at l east wi t h men l i ke Bl ake and

Dr ysdal e. He ought t o make t hem t r ai n, or t ur n t hem out . "

" But who coul d he get ? Ther e' s nobody el se. I f you woul d pul l ,

now- - why shoul dn' t you? I ' m sur e i t woul d make us al l r i ght . "

" I don' t subscr i be t o t he cl ub. " sai d Har dy; " I wi sh I had, f or I

shoul d have l i ked t o have pul l ed wi t h you, and behi nd Jer vi s t hi s

year . "

" Do l et me t el l t he Capt ai n, " sai d Tom, " I ' m sur e he' d manage i t

somehow. "

" I ' m af r ai d i t ' s t oo l at e, " sai d Har dy; " I cut mysel f of f f r om

ever yt hi ng of t he sor t t wo year s ago, and I ' m begi nni ng t o t hi nk

I was a f ool f or my pai ns. "

Page 76 of 443

Not hi ng mor e was sai d on t he subj ect at t he t i me, but Tom went

away i n gr eat spi r i t s at havi ng dr awn t hi s conf essi on out of

Har dy- - t he mor e so, per haps, because he f l at t er ed hi msel f t hat he

had somet hi ng t o say t o t he change i n hi s f r i end.

CHAPTER X

SUMMER TERM

How many spot s i n l i f e ar e t her e whi ch wi l l bear compar i son wi t h

t he begi nni ng of our second t er m at t he Uni ver si t y? So f ar as

ext er nal ci r cumst ances ar e concer ned, i t seems har d t o know what

a man coul d f i nd t o ask f or at t hat per i od of hi s l i f e, i f a

f ai r y godmot her wer e t o al i ght i n hi s r ooms and of f er hi m t he

usual t hr ee wi shes. The sai l or who had asked f or " al l t he gr og i n

t he wor l d, " and " al l t he baccy i n t he wor l d, " was i ndeed dr i ven

t o " a l i t t l e mor e baccy" as hi s t hi r d r equi si t i on; but , at any

r at e hi s t wo f i r st r equi si t i ons wer e t o some ext ent gr ounded on

what he hel d t o be subst ant i al want s; he f el t hi msel f act ual l y

l i mi t ed i n t he mat t er s of gr og and t obacco. The condi t i on whi ch

Jack woul d have been i n as a wi sher , i f he had been st ar t ed on

hi s quest wi t h t he assur ance t hat hi s ut most desi r es i n t he

di r ect i on of al cohol and nar cot i c wer e al r eady pr ovi ded f or , and

must be l ef t out of t he quest i on, i s t he onl y one af f or di ng a

pr et t y exact par al l el t o t he case we ar e consi der i ng. I n our

second t er m we ar e no l onger f r eshmen, and begi n t o f eel

our sel ves at home, whi l e bot h " smal l s" and " gr eat s" ar e

suf f i ci ent l y di st ant t o be al t oget her i gnor ed i f we ar e t hat way

i ncl i ned, or t o be l ooked f or war d t o wi t h conf i dence t hat t he

game i s i n our own hands i f we ar e r eadi ng men. Our f i nanci al

posi t i on- - unl ess we have exer ci sed r ar e i ngenui t y i n i nvol vi ng

our sel ves- - i s al l t hat hear t can desi r e; we have ampl e al l owances

pai d i n quar t er l y t o t he Uni ver si t y banker s wi t hout t hought or

t r oubl e of our s, and our cr edi t i s at i t s zeni t h. I t i s a par t of

our r ecogni zed dut y t o r epay t he hospi t al i t y we have r ecei ved as

f r eshmen; and al l men wi l l be sur e t o come t o our f i r st par t i es

t o see how we do t he t hi ng; i t wi l l be our own f aul t s i f we do

not keep t hem i n f ut ur e. We have not had t i me t o i nj ur e our

char act er s t o any mat er i al ext ent wi t h t he aut hor i t i es of our own

col l ege, or of t he Uni ver si t y. Our spi r i t s ar e never l i kel y t o be

hi gher , or our di gest i ons bet t er . These and many ot her comf or t s

and advant ages envi r on t he f or t unat e yout h r et ur ni ng t o Oxf or d

af t er hi s f i r st vacat i on; t hr i ce f or t unat e, however , i f , as

happened i n our her o' s case, i t i s East er t er m t o whi ch he i s

r et ur ni ng; f or t hat East er t er m, wi t h t he f our days' vacat i on,

and t he l i t t l e Tr i ni t y t er m at t he end of i t , i s sur el y t he cr eam

of t he Oxf or d year . Then, even i n t hi s our st er n nor t her n

cl i mat e, t he sun i s begi nni ng t o have power , t he days have

l engt hened out , gr eat - coat s ar e unnecessar y at mor ni ng chapel ,

and t he mi ser i es of numbed hands and shi ver i ng ski ns no l onger

accompany ever y pul l on t he r i ver and cant er on Bul l i ngdon. I n

Chr i st Chur ch meadows and t he col l ege gar dens t he bi r ds ar e

maki ng sweet musi c i n t he t al l el ms. You may al most hear t he

t hi ck gr ass gr owi ng, and t he buds on t r ee and shr ub ar e changi ng

f r om br own, r ed, or pur pl e, t o emer al d gr een under your eyes; t he

gl or i ous ol d ci t y i s put t i ng on her best l ooks, and bur st i ng i nt o

l aught er and song. I n a f ew weeks t he r aces begi n, and Cowl ey

mar sh wi l l be al i ve wi t h whi t e t ent s and j oyous cr i cket er s. A

qui ck ear , on t he t owi ng- pat h by t he Gut , may f east at one t i me

on t hose t hr ee sweet sounds, t he t hud t hud of t he ei ght - oar , t he

cr ack of t he r i f l es at t he Wei r s, and t he cl i ck of t he bat on t he

Magdal en gr ound. And t hen Commemor at i on r i ses i n t he backgr ound,

Page 77 of 443

wi t h i t s cl ouds of f ai r vi si t or s, and vi si ons of excur si ons t o

Woodst ock and Nuneham i n t he summer days- - of wi ndows open on t o

t he ol d quadr angl es i n t he l ong st i l l eveni ngs, t hr ough whi ch

si l ver l aught er and st r ai ns of sweet musi c, not made by man,

st eal out and puzzl e t he ol d cel i bat e j ackdaws, peer i ng down f r om

t he bat t l ement s, wi t h heads on one si de. To cr own al l , l ong

vacat i on, begi nni ng wi t h t he r un t o Henl ey r egat t a, or up t o t own

t o see t he mat ch wi t h Cambr i dge at Lor d' s and t ast e some of t he

sweet s of t he season, bef or e st ar t i ng on some pl easur e t our or

r eadi ng par t y, or dr oppi ng back i nt o t he qui et pl easur es of

Engl i sh count r y l i f e! Sur el y, t he l ot of young Engl i shmen who

f r equent our uni ver si t i es i s cast i n pl easant pl aces. The count r y

has a r i ght t o expect somet hi ng f r om t hose f or whom she f i nds

such a l i f e as t hi s i n t he year s when enj oyment i s keenest .

Tom was cer t ai nl y al i ve t o t he advant ages of t he si t uat i on, and

ent er ed on hi s ki ngdom wi t hout any ki nd of scr upl e. He was ver y

gl ad t o f i nd t hi ngs so pl easant , and qui t e r esol ved t o make t he

best he coul d of t hem. Then he was i n a par t i cul ar l y good humour

wi t h hi msel f , f or i n def er ence t o t he advi ce of Har dy, he had

act ual l y f i xed on t he books whi ch he shoul d send i n f or hi s

l i t t l e- go exami nat i on bef or e goi ng down f or t he East er vacat i on,

and had r ead t hem t hr ough at home, devot i ng an hour or t wo al most

dai l y t o t hi s l audabl e occupat i on. So he f el t hi msel f ent i t l ed t o

t ake t hi ngs easi l y on hi s r et ur n. He had br ought back wi t h hi m

t wo l ar ge hamper s of good sound wi ne, a gi f t f r om hi s f at her , who

had a hor r or of l et t i ng hi s son set bef or e hi s f r i ends t he

f i r e- wat er whi ch i s gener al l y sol d t o t he under gr aduat e. Tom

f ound t hat hi s f at her ' s not i ons of t he r at e of consumpt i on

pr eval ent i n t he uni ver si t y wer e wi l d i n t he ext r eme. " I n hi s

t i me, " t he squi r e sai d, " el even men came t o hi s f i r st wi ne par t y,

and he had opened ni net een bot t l es of por t f or t hem. He was ver y

gl ad t o hear t hat t he habi t s of t he pl ace had changed so much f or

t he bet t er ; and as Tom woul dn' t want near l y so much wi ne, he

shoul d have i t out of an ol der bi n. " Accor di ngl y, t he por t whi ch

Tom empl oyed t he f i r st hour af t er hi s r et ur n i n st acki ng

car ef ul l y away i n hi s cel l ar , had been mor e t han t wel ve year s i n

bot t l e, and he t hought wi t h unmi xed sat i sf act i on of t he pl easi ng

ef f ect i t woul d have on Jer vi s and Mi l l er , and t he one or t wo

ot her men who knew good wi ne f r om bad, and gui ded publ i c opi ni on

on t he subj ect , and of t he soci al i mpor t ance whi ch he woul d soon

at t ai n f r om t he r eput at i on of gi vi ng good wi ne.

The i dea of ent er t ai ni ng, of bei ng hospi t abl e, i s a pl easant and

f asci nat i ng one t o most young men; but t he act soon get s t o be a

bor e t o al l but a f ew cur i ousl y const i t ut ed i ndi vi dual s. Wi t h

t hese hospi t al i t y becomes f i r st a passi on and t hen a f ai t h- - a

f ai t h t he pr act i ce of whi ch, i n t he cases of some of i t s

pr of essor s, r emi nds one st r ongl y of t he hi nt s on such subj ect s

scat t er ed about t he New Test ament . Most of us f eel , when our

f r i ends l eave us a cer t ai n sor t of sat i sf act i on, not unl i ke t hat

of payi ng a bi l l ; t hey have been done f or , and can' t expect

anyt hi ng mor e f or a l ong t i me. Such t hought s never occur t o your

r eal l y hospi t abl e man. Long year s of nar r ow means cannot hi nder

hi m f r om keepi ng open house f or whoever want s t o come t o hi m, and

set t i ng t he best of ever yt hi ng bef or e al l comer s. He has no

not i on of gi vi ng you anyt hi ng but t he best he can command i f i t

be onl y f r esh por t er f r om t he near est mews. He asks hi msel f not ,

" Ought I t o i nvi t e A or B? do I owe hi m anyt hi ng?" but , " Woul d A

or B l i ke t o come her e?" Gi ve me t hese men' s houses f or r eal

enj oyment , t hough you never get anyt hi ng ver y choi ce t her e, - - ( how

can a man pr oduce ol d wi ne who gi ves hi s ol dest ever y

day?) - - sel dom much el bow r oom or or der l y ar r angement . The hi gh

ar t s of gast r onomy and sci ent i f i c dr i nki ng so much val ued i n our

Page 78 of 443

hi ghl y ci vi l i zed communi t y, ar e whol l y unheeded by hi m, ar e

al t oget her above hi m, ar e cul t i vat ed i n f act by qui t e anot her set

who have ver y l i t t l e of t he genui ne spi r i t of hospi t al i t y i n

t hem, f r om t hose t abl es, shoul d one by chance happen upon t hem,

one senses, cer t ai nl y wi t h a f eel i ng of sat i sf act i on and

expansi on, chi ef l y physi cal , but ent i r el y wi t hout t he expansi on

of hear t whi ch one get s at t he scr ambl e of t he hospi t abl e man. So

t hat we ar e dr i ven t o r emar k, even i n such ever yday mat t er s as

t hese, but i t i s t he i nvi si bl e, t he spi r i t ual , whi ch af t er al l

gi ves val ue and r eal i t y even t o di nner s; and, wi t h Sol omon, t o

pr ef er t he most t ouchi ng _di ner Russe_, t he di nner of her bs wher e

l ove i s, t hough I t r ust t hat nei t her we nor Sol omon shoul d obj ect

t o wel l - dr essed cut l et s wi t h our sal ad, i f t hey happened t o be

goi ng.

Reader s wi l l scar cel y need t o be t ol d t hat one of t he f i r st

t hi ngs Tom di d, af t er deposi t i ng hi s l uggage and unpacki ng hi s

wi ne, was t o cal l at Har dy' s r ooms, wher e he f ound hi s f r i end

deep as usual i n hi s books, t he har d- wor ked at l ases and

di ct i onar i es of al l sor t s t aki ng up mor e space t han ever . Af t er

t he f i r st hear t y gr eet i ng, Tom occupi ed hi s ol d pl ace wi t h much

sat i sf act i on.

" How l ong have you been up, ol d f el l ow?" he began; " you l ook

qui t e set t l ed. "

" I onl y went home f or a week. Wel l , what have you been doi ng i n

t he vacat i on?"

" Oh, t her e was not hi ng much goi ng on; so, amongst ot her t hi ngs,

I ' ve near l y f l oor ed my l i t t l e- go wor k. "

" Br avo! you' l l f i nd t he comf or t of i t now. I har dl y t hought you

woul d t ake t o t he gr i nd so easi l y. "

" I t ' s pl easant enough f or a spur t , " sai d Tom; " but I shal l never

manage a hor r i d per pet ual gr i nd l i ke your s. But what i n t he wor l d

have you been doi ng t o your wal l s?"

Tom mi ght wel l ask, f or t he cor ner s of Har dy' s r oom wer e cover ed

wi t h sheet s of paper of di f f er ent si zes, past ed agai nst t he wal l

i n gr oups. I n t he l i ne of si ght , f r om about t he hei ght of f our t o

si x f eet , t her e was scar cel y an i nch of t he or i gi nal paper

vi si bl e, and r ound each cent r e gr oup t her e wer e out l yi ng pat ches

and st r eamer s, st r et chi ng t owar ds f l oor or cei l i ng, or away

near l y t o t he bookcases or f i r epl ace.

" Wel l , don' t you t hi nk i t i s a gr eat i mpr ovement on t he ol d

paper ?" sai d Har dy. " I shal l be out of r ooms next t er m, and i t

wi l l be a hi nt t o t he Col l ege t hat t he r ooms want paper i ng.

You' r e no j udge of such mat t er s, or I shoul d ask you whet her you

don' t see gr eat ar t i st i c t ast e i n t he ar r angement . "

" Why, t hey' r e not hi ng but maps, and l i st s of names and dat es, "

sai d Tom, who had got up t o exami ne t he decor at i ons. " And what i n

t he wor l d ar e al l t hese queer pi ns f or ?" he went on, pul l i ng a

st r ong pi n wi t h a l ar ge r ed seal i ng- wax head out of t he map

near est t o hi m.

" Hul l o! t ake car e t her e, what ar e you about ?" shout ed Har dy,

get t i ng up and hast eni ng t o t he cor ner . " Why, you i r r ever ent

beggar , t hose pi ns ar e t he f amous st at esmen and war r i or s of

Gr eece and Rome. "

Page 79 of 443

" Oh, I beg your par don; I di dn' t know I was i n such august

company; " sayi ng whi ch, Tom pr oceeded t o st i ck t he r ed- headed pi n

back i n t he wal l .

" Now, j ust l ook at t hat , " sai d Har dy, t aki ng t he pi n out f r om t he

pl ace wher e Tom had st uck i t . " Pr et t y doi ngs t her e woul d be

amongst t hem wi t h your management . Thi s pi n i s Br asi das; you' ve

t aken hi m away f r om Naupact us, wher e he was wat chi ng t he el even

At heni an gal l eys anchor ed under t he t empl e of Apol l o, and st r uck

hi m down r i ght i n t he mi ddl e of t he Pnyx, wher e he wi l l be

i nst ant l y t or n i n pi eces by a r ut hl ess and r eckl ess mob. You cal l

your sel f a Tor y i ndeed! However , ' t was al ways t he same wi t h you

Tor i es; cal cul at i ng, cr uel , and j eal ous. Use your l eader s up, and

t hr ow t hem over - - t hat ' s t he gol den r ul e of ar i st ocr aci es. "

" Hang Br asi das, " sai d Tom, l aughi ng; " st i ck hi m back at Naupact us

agai n. Her e, whi ch i s Cl eon? The scoundr el ! gi ve me hol d of hi m,

and I ' l l put hi m i n a hot ber t h. "

" That ' s he, wi t h t he yel l ow head. Let hi m al one, I t el l you, or

al l wi l l be hopel ess conf usi on when Gr ey comes f or hi s l ect ur e.

We' r e onl y i n t he t hi r d year of t he war . "

" I l i ke your chaf f about Tor i es sacr i f i ci ng t hei r gr eat men, "

sai d Tom, put t i ng hi s hands i n hi s pocket s t o avoi d t empt at i on.

" How about your pr eci ous democr acy, ol d f el l ow? Whi ch i s

Socr at es?"

" Her e, t he dear ol d boy! - - t hi s pi n wi t h t he gr eat gr ey head, i n

t he mi ddl e of At hens, you see. I pr i de mysel f on my At hens.

Her e' s t he Pi r aeus and t he l ong wal l s, and t he hi l l of Mar s.

I sn' t i t as good as a pi ct ur e?"

" Wel l , i t i s bet t er t han most maps, I t hi nk, " sai d Tom; " but

you' r e not goi ng t o sl i p out so easi l y. I want t o know whet her

your pet democr acy di d or di d not mur der Socr at es. "

" I ' m not bound t o def end democr aci es. But l ook at my pi ns. I t may

be t he nat ur al f ondness of a par ent , but I decl ar e t hey seem t o

me t o have a gr eat deal of char act er , consi der i ng t he mat er i al .

You' l l guess t hem at once, I ' m sur e, i f you mar k t he col or and

shape of t he wax. Thi s one now, f or i nst ance, who i s he?"

" Al ci bi ades, " answer ed Tom, doubt f ul l y.

" Al ci bi ades! " shout ed Har dy; " you f r esh f r om Rugby, and not know

your Thucydi des bet t er t han t hat ? Ther e' s Al ci bi ades, t hat l i t t l e

pur pl e- headed, f oppi sh pi n, by Socr at es. Thi s r ust y- col or ed one

i s t hat r espect abl e ol d st i ck- i n- t he- mud, Ni ci as. "

" Wel l , but you' ve made Al ci bi ades near l y t he smal l est of t he

whol e l ot , " sai d Tom.

" So he was, t o my mi nd, " sai d Har dy; " j ust t he sor t of i nsol ent

young r uf f i an whom I shoul d have l i ked t o buy at my pr i ce, and

sel l at hi s own. He must have been ver y l i ke some of our

gent l emen- commoner s, wi t h t he addi t i on of br ai ns. "

" I shoul d r eal l y t hi nk, t hough, " sai d Tom, " I t must be a capi t al

pl an f or maki ng you r emember t he hi st or y. "

" I t i s, I f l at t er mysel f . I ' ve l ong had t he i dea, but I shoul d

never have wor ked i t out and f ound t he val ue of i t but f or Gr ey.

I i nvent ed i t t o coach hi m i n hi s hi st or y. You see we ar e i n t he

Page 80 of 443

Gr eci an cor ner . Over t her e i s t he Roman. You' l l f i nd Li vy and

Taci t us wor ked out t her e, j ust as Her odot us and Thucydi des ar e

her e; and t he pi ns ar e st uck f or t he Second Puni c War , wher e we

ar e j ust now. I shoul dn' t wonder i f Gr ey got hi s f i r st , af t er

al l , he' s pi cki ng up so qui ck i n my cor ner s; and says he never

f or get s any set of event s when he has pi cked t hem out wi t h t he

pi ns. "

" I s he wor ki ng at t hat school st i l l ?" asked Tom.

" Yes, as har d as ever . He di dn' t go down f or t he vacat i on, and I

r eal l y bel i eve i t was because t he cur at e t ol d hi m t he school

woul d go wr ong i f he went away. "

" I t ' s ver y pl ucky of hi m, but I do t hi nk he' s a gr eat f ool not t o

knock i t of f now t i l l he has passed, don' t you?"

" No, " sai d Har dy; " he i s get t i ng mor e good t her e t han he can ever

get i n t he school s, t hough I hope he' l l do wel l i n t hem t oo. "

" Wel l , I hope so; f or he deser ves i t . And now, Har dy, t o change

t he subj ect , I am goi ng t o gi ve my f i r st wi ne next Thur sday; and

her e' s t he f i r st car d whi ch, has gone out f or i t . You' l l pr omi se

me t o come now, won' t you?"

" What a hur r y you' r e i n. " sai d Har dy, t aki ng t he car d whi ch he

put on hi s mant el - pi ece, af t er exami ni ng i t .

" But you' l l pr omi se t o come, now?"

" I ' m ver y har d at wor k; I can' t be sur e. "

" You needn' t st ay above hal f an hour . I ' ve br ought back some

f amous wi ne f r om t he gover nor ' s cel l ar ; and I want so t o get you

and Jer vi s t oget her . He i s sur e t o come. "

" Why, t hat ' s t he bel l f or chapel begi nni ng al r eady, " sai d Har dy;

" I had no not i on i t was so l at e. I must be of f , t o put t he new

ser vi t or up t o hi s wor k. Wi l l you come i n af t er hal l ?"

" Yes i f you wi l l come t o me next Thur sday. "

" We' l l t al k about i t . But mi nd you come t o- ni ght ; f or you' l l f i nd

me wor ki ng Gr ey i n t he Puni c war s, and you' l l see how t he pi ns

act . I ' m ver y pr oud of my show. "

And so Har dy went of f t o chapel , and Tom t o Dr ysdal e' s r ooms, not

at al l sat i sf i ed t hat he had made Har dy saf e. He f ound Dr ysdal e

l ol l i ng on hi s sof a, as usual , and f ondl i ng Jack. He had j ust

ar r i ved, and hi s ser vant and t he scout wer e unpacki ng hi s

por t mant eaus. He seemed pl eased t o see Tom, but l ooked l angui d

and used up.

" Wher e have you been t hi s vacat i on?" sai d Tom; " you l ook seedy. "

" You may say t hat , " sai d Dr ysdal e. " Her e, Henr y, get out a bot t l e

of Schi edam. Have a t ast e of bi t t er s? t her e' s not hi ng l i ke i t t o

set one' s di gest i on r i ght . "

" No, t hank' ee, " sai d Tom, r ej ect i ng t he gl ass whi ch Henr y

pr of f er ed hi m; " my appet i t e don' t want i mpr ovi ng. "

" You' r e l ucky, t hen, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " Ah, t hat ' s t he r i ght st uf f !

I f eel bet t er al r eady. "

Page 81 of 443

" But wher e have you been?"

" Oh, i n t he l i t t l e vi l l age. I t ' s no use bei ng i n t he count r y at

t hi s t i me of year . I j ust went up t o Li mmer ' s, and t her e I st uck,

wi t h t wo or t hr ee mor e, t i l l t o- day. "

" I can' t st and London f or mor e t han a week, " sai d Tom. " What di d

you do al l t he day?"

" We hadn' t much t o say t o day- l i ght " sai d Dr ysdal e. " What wi t h

t heat r es, and spar i ng- cr i bs and t he Coal - hol e and Ci der - cel l ar s,

and a l i t t l e pl ay i n St . James' s St r eet now and t hen, one wasn' t

up t o ear l y r i si ng. However , I was bet t er t han t he r est , f or I

had gener al l y br eakf ast ed by t wo o' cl ock. "

" No wonder you l ook seedy. You' d much bet t er have been i n t he

count r y. "

" I shoul d have been mor e i n pocket , at any r at e, " sai d Dr ysdal e.

" By Jove, how i t r uns away wi t h t he r eady! I ' m f ai r l y cl eaned

out ; and i f I haven' t l uck at Van John, I ' l l be hanged i f I know

how I ' m t o get t hr ough t er m. But , l ook her e, her e' s a bundl e of

t he newest songs- - f i r st r at e, some of t hem. " And he t hr ew some

paper s acr oss t o Tom, who gl anced at t hem wi t hout bei ng at al l

edi f i ed.

" You' r e goi ng t o pul l r egul ar l y, I hope, t hi s t er m, Dr ysdal e. "

" Yes, I t hi nk so; i t ' s cheap amusement , and I want a l i t t l e

t r ai ni ng f or a change. "

" That ' s al l r i ght . "

" I ' ve br ought down some dr esses f or our gi psy busi ness, by t he

way. I di dn' t f or get t hat . I s Bl ake back?"

" I don' t know, " sai d Tom; " but we shan' t have t i me bef or e t he

r aces. "

" Wel l af t er war ds wi l l do; t hough t he days ought n' t t o be t oo

l ong. I ' m al l f or a l i t t l e dar kness i n masquer adi ng. "

" Ther e' s f i ve o' cl ock st r i ki ng. Ar e you goi ng t o di ne i n hal l ?"

" No; I shal l go t o t he Mi t r e, and get a br oi l . "

" Then I ' m of f . Let ' s see, - - wi l l you come and wi ne wi t h me next

Thur sday?"

" Yes; onl y send us a car d, ' t o r emi nd. ' "

" Al l r i ght ! " sai d Tom, and went of f t o hal l , f eel i ng di ssat i sf i ed

and uncomf or t abl e about hi s f ast f r i end, f or whom he had a

si ncer e r egar d.

Af t er hal l , Tom made a shor t r ound amongst hi s acquai nt ance, and

t hen, gi vi ng hi msel f up t o t he st r ongest at t r act i on, r et ur ned t o

Har dy' s r ooms, comf or t i ng hi msel f wi t h t he t hought t hat i t r eal l y

must be an act of Chr i st i an char i t y t o t ake such a t er r i bl e

r eader of f hi s books f or once i n a way, when hi s consci ence

pr i cked hi m f or i nt r udi ng on Har dy dur i ng hi s hour s of wor k. He

f ound Gr ey t her e, who was get t i ng up hi s Roman hi st or y, under

Har dy' s gui dance; and t he t wo wer e wor ki ng t he pi ns on t he maps

Page 82 of 443

and l i st s i n t he Roman cor ner when Tom ar r i ved. He begged t hem

not t o st op, and ver y soon was as much i nt er est ed i n what t hey

wer e doi ng as i f he al so wer e goi ng i nt o t he school s i n May; f or

Har dy had a way of t hr owi ng l i f e i nt o what he was t al ki ng about ,

and, l i ke many men wi t h st r ong opi ni ons, and passi onat e nat ur es,

ei t her car r i ed hi s hear er s of f t hei r l egs and away wi t h hi m

al t oget her , or ar oused ever y spar k of combat i veness i n t hem. The

l at t er was t he ef f ect whi ch hi s l ect ur e on t he Puni c War s had on

Tom. He made sever al pr ot est s as Har dy went on; but Gr ey' s

anxi ous l ooks kept hi m f r om goi ng f ai r l y i nt o act i on, t i l l Har dy

st uck t he bl ack pi n, whi ch r epr esent ed Sci pi o, t r i umphant l y i n

t he mi ddl e of Car t hage, and, t ur ni ng r ound sai d, " And now f or

some t ea, Gr ey, bef or e you have t o t ur n out . "

Tom opened f i r e whi l e t he t ea was br ewi ng.

" You coul dn' t say anyt hi ng bad enough about ar i st ocr aci es t hi s

mor ni ng, Har dy, and now t o- ni ght you ar e cr owi ng over t he success

of t he heavi est and cr uel est ol i gar chy t hat ever l i ved, and

pr ai si ng t hem up t o t he ski es. "

" Hul l o! her e' s a br eeze! " sai d Har dy, smi l i ng; " but I r ej oi ce, O

Br own, i n t hat t hey t hr ashed t he Car t hagi ni ans, and not , as you

seem t o t hi nk, i n t hat t hey bei ng ar i st ocr at s, t hr ashed t he

Car t hagi ni ans; f or ol i gar chs t hey wer e not at t hi s t i me. "

" At any r at e t hey answer t o t he Spar t ans i n t he st r uggl e, and t he

Car t hagi ni ans t o t he At heni ans; and yet al l your sympat hi es ar e

wi t h t he Romans t o- ni ght i n t he Puni c War s, t hough t hey wer e wi t h

t he At heni ans bef or e di nner . "

" I deny your posi t i on. The Car t hagi ni ans wer e not hi ng but a gr eat

t r adi ng ar i st ocr acy- - wi t h a gl or i ous f ami l y or t wo I gr ant you,

l i ke t hat of Hanni bal ; but , on t he whol e, a di r t y,

bar gai n- dr i vi ng, buy- cheap- and- sel l - dear ar i st ocr acy- - of whom t he

wor l d was wel l r i d. They l i ke t he At heni ans i ndeed! Why, j ust

l ook what t he t wo peopl e have l ef t behi nd t hem- "

" Yes, " i nt er r upt ed Tom; " but we onl y know t he Car t hagi ni ans

t hr ough t he r epor t s of t hei r dest r oyer s. Your her oes t r ampl ed

t hem out wi t h hoof s of i r on. "

" Do you t hi nk t he Roman hoof coul d have t r ampl ed out t hei r Homer

i f t hey ever had one?" sai d Har dy. " The Romans conquer ed Gr eece

t oo, r emember . "

" But Gr eece was never so near beat i ng t hem. "

" Tr ue. But I hol d t o my poi nt . Car t hage was t he mot her of al l

huxt er s, compassi ng sea and l and t o sel l her war es. "

" And no bad l i ne of l i f e f or a nat i on. At l east Engl i shmen ought

t o t hi nk so. "

" No t hey ought not ; at l east i f _' Puni ca f i des' _ i s t o be t he

r ul e of t r ade. Sel l i ng any amount of Br ummagem war es never di d

nat i on or man much good, and never wi l l . Eh, Gr ey?"

Gr ey wi nced at bei ng appeal ed t o, but r emar ked t hat he hoped t he

Chur ch woul d yet be abl e t o save Engl and f r om t he f at e of Tyr e or

Car t hage, t he gr eat t r adi ng nat i ons of t he ol d wor l d; and t hen,

swal l owi ng hi s t ea, and l ooki ng as i f he had been caught r obbi ng

a henr oost , he made a sudden exi t , and hur r i ed away out of

col l ege t o t he ni ght school .

Page 83 of 443

" What a pi t y he i s so odd and shy, " sai d Tom; " I shoul d so l i ke

t o know mor e of hi m. "

" I t _i s_ a pi t y. He i s much bet t er when he i s al one wi t h me. I

t hi nk he has hear d f r om some of t he set t hat you ar e a f ur i ous

Pr ot est ant , and sees an i mmense amount of st i f f - neckedness i n

you. "

" But about Engl and and Car t hage, " sai d Tom, shi r ki ng t he subj ect

of hi s own pecul i ar i t i es; " you don' t r eal l y t hi nk us l i ke t hem?

I t gave me a t ur n t o hear you t r ansl at i ng ' Puni ca f i des' i nt o

Br ummagem war es j ust now.

" I t hi nk t hat successf ul t r ade i s our r ock ahead. The devi l who

hol ds new mar ket s and t went y per cent pr of i t s i n hi s gi f t i s t he

devi l t hat Engl and has most t o f ear f r om. ' Because of unr i ght eous

deal i ngs, and r i ches got t en by decei t t he ki ngdom i s t r ansl at ed

f r om one peopl e t o anot her , ' sai d t he wi se man. Thi nk of t hat

opi um war t he ot her day. I don' t bel i eve we can get over many

mor e such busi nesses as t hat . Gr ey f al l s back on t he Chur ch, you

see, t o save t he nat i on; but t he Chur ch he dr eams of wi l l never

do i t . I s t her e any t hat can? Ther e _must _ be sur el y, or we have

bel i eved a l i e. But t hi s wor k of maki ng t r ade r i ght eous, of

Chr i st i ani zi ng t r ade, l ooks l i ke t he ver y har dest t he Gospel has

ever had t o t ake i n hand- - i n Engl and at any r at e. "

Har dy spoke sl owl y and doubt f ul l y, and paused as i f aski ng f or

Tom' s opi ni on.

" I never hear d i t put i n t hat way. I know ver y l i t t l e of pol i t i cs

or t he st at e of Engl and. But come, now; t he put t i ng down t he

sl ave- t r ade and compensat i ng our pl ant er s, _t hat _ shows t hat we

ar e not sol d t o t he t r ade devi l yet , sur el y. "

" I don' t t hi nk we ar e. No, t hank God, t her e ar e pl ent y of si gns

t hat we ar e l i kel y t o make a good f i ght of i t yet . "

They t al ked t oget her f or anot her hour , dr awi ng t hei r chai r s r ound

t o t he f i r e, and l ooki ng dr eami ngl y i nt o t he ember s, as i s t he

wont of men who ar e t hr owi ng out suggest i ons, and hel pi ng one

anot her t o t hi nk, r at her t han ar gui ng. At t he end of t hat t i me,

Tom l ef t Har dy t o hi s books, and went away l aden wi t h sever al new

i deas, one of t he cl ear est of whi ch was t hat he was awf ul l y

i gnor ant of t he cont empor ar y hi st or y of hi s own count r y, and t hat

i t was t he t hi ng of al l ot her s whi ch he ought t o be best i nf or med

on, and t hi nki ng most about . So, bei ng of an i mpet uous t ur n of

mi nd, he went st r ai ght t o hi s r ooms t o commence hi s new st udy,

wher e, af t er di l i gent hunt i ng, t he onl y f ood of t he ki nd he

r equi r ed whi ch t ur ned up was t he l ast number of _Bel l ' s Li f e_

f r om t he pocket of hi s gr eat coat . Upon t hi s he f el l t o wor k, i n

def aul t of anyt hi ng bet t er , and was soon deep i n t he P. R.

col umn, whi ch was f ul l of i nt er est i ng specul at i ons as t o t he

chances of Bungar ee, i n hi s f or t hcomi ng campai gn agai nst t he

Br i t i sh mi ddl ewei ght s. By t he t i me he had ski mmed t hr ough t he

wel l - known sheet s, he was sat i sf i ed t hat t he col umns of hi s ol d

acquai nt ance wer e not t he pl ace, except i n t he pol i ce r epor t s,

wher e much coul d be l ear nt about t he pr esent st at e or f ut ur e

pr ospect s of Engl and. Then, t he f i r st eveni ng of t er m bei ng a

r est l ess pl ace, he wander ed out agai n, and bef or e l ong l anded, as

hi s cust om was, at Dr ysdal e' s door .

On ent er i ng t he r oom he f ound Dr ysdal e and Bl ake al one t oget her ,

t he f or mer l ooki ng mor e ser i ous t han Tom had ever seen hi m

Page 84 of 443

bef or e. As f or Bl ake, t he r est l ess, haggar d expr essi on sat mor e

heavi l y t han ever on hi s f ace, sadl y mar r i ng i t s beaut y. I t was

cl ear t hat t hey changed t he subj ect of t hei r t al k abr upt l y on hi s

ent r ance; so Tom l ooked anywher e except st r ai ght bef or e hi m as he

was gr eet i ng Bl ake. He r eal l y f el t ver y sor r y f or hi m at t he

moment . However , i n anot her f i ve mi nut es, he was i n f i t s of

l aught er over Bl ake' s descr i pt i on of t he conver sat i on bet ween

hi msel f and t he coachman who had dr i ven t he Gl o' st er day - mai l by

whi ch he had come up; i n whi ch conver sat i on, never t hel ess, when

Tom came t o t hi nk i t over , and t r y t o r epeat i t af t er war ds, t he

most f acet i ous par t s seemed t o be t he " sez he' s" and t he " sez

I ' s" wi t h whi ch Jehu l ar ded hi s st or i es; so he gave up t he

at t empt , wonder i ng what he coul d have f ound i n i t t o l augh at .

" By t he way, Bl ake, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " how about our excur si on i nt o

Ber kshi r e masquer adi ng t hi s t er m? Ar e you game?"

" Not exact l y, " sai d Bl ake; " I r eal l y must make t he most of such

t i me as I have l ef t , i f I ' m goi ng i nt o t he school s t hi s t er m. "

" I f t her e' s one t hi ng whi ch spoi l s Oxf or d i t i s t hose school s, "

sai d Dr ysdal e; " t hey get i n t he way of ever yt hi ng. I ought t o be

goi ng up f or smal l s mysel f next t er m, and I haven' t opened a book

yet , and don' t mean t o do so. Fol l ow a good exampl e, ol d f el l ow,

you' r e cock- sur e of your f i r st , ever y- body knows. "

" I wi sh ever ybody woul d back hi s opi ni on, and gi ve me a shade of

odds. Why, I have scar cel y t hought of my hi st or y. "

" Why t he d- - - l shoul d t hey make such a f uss about hi st or y? One

knows per f ect l y wel l t hat t hose ol d bl ack- guar d heat hens wer e no

bet t er t han t hey shoul d be; and what good i t can do t o l umber

one' s head wi t h who t hei r gr andmot her s wer e, and what t hey at e,

and when and wher e and why t hey had t hei r st upi d br ai ns knocked

out , I can' t see f or t he l i f e of me. "

" Excel l ent l y wel l put . Wher e di d you pi ck up such sound vi ews,

Dr ysdal e? But you' r e not exami ner yet ; and, on t he whol e, I must

r ub up my hi st or y somehow. I wi sh I knew how t o do i t . "

" Can' t you put on a coach?" sai d Dr ysdal e.

" I have one on, but hi st or y i s my weak poi nt , sai d Bl ake.

" I t hi nk I can hel p you, " sai d Tom. " I ' ve j ust been hear i ng a

l ect ur e i n Roman hi st or y, and one t hat won' t be so easy t o f or get

as most ; " and he went on t o expl ai n Har dy' s pl ans, t o whi ch Bl ake

l i st ened eager l y.

" Capi t al ! " he sai d, when Tom had f i ni shed. " I n whose r ooms di d

you say t hey ar e?"

" I n Har dy' s, and he wor ks at t hem ever y ni ght wi t h Gr ey. "

" That ' s t he queer bi g ser vi t or , hi s par t i cul ar pal , " put i n

Dr ysdal e; " t her e' s no account i ng f or t ast es. "

" You don' t know hi m, " r et or t ed Tom; " and t he l ess you say about

hi m t he bet t er . "

" I know he wear s hi ghl ows and shor t f l annel s, and- "

" Woul d you mi nd aski ng Har dy t o l et me come t o hi s l ect ur es?"

i nt er r upt ed Bl ake, aver t i ng t he st r ong l anguage whi ch was r i si ng

Page 85 of 443

t o Tom' s l i ps. " I t hi nk t hey seem j ust t he t hi ngs I want . I

shoul dn' t l i ke t o of f er t o pay hi m, unl ess you t hi nk - "

" I ' m qui t e sur e, " i nt er r upt ed Tom, " t hat he won' t t ake anyt hi ng.

I wi l l ask hi m t o- mor r ow whet her he wi l l l et you come, and he i s

such a ki nd good f el l ow t hat I ' m al most sur e he wi l l . "

" I shoul d l i ke t o know your pal , t oo, Br own, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " you

must i nt r oduce me, wi t h Bl ake. "

" No, I ' l l be hanged i f I do, " sai d Tom.

" Then I shal l i nt r oduce mysel f , " sai d Dr ysdal e; " see i f I don' t

si t next hi m, now, at your wi ne on Thur sday. "

Her e Dr ysdal e' s scout ent er ed wi t h t wo not es, and wi shed t o know

i f Mr . Dr ysdal e woul d r equi r e anyt hi ng mor e. Not hi ng but hot

wat er ; he coul d put t he ket t l e on, Dr ysdal e sai d, and go; and

whi l e t he scout was f ul f i l l i ng hi s or der s, he got up car el essl y,

whi st l i ng, and wal ki ng t o t he f i r e, r ead t he not es by t he l i ght

of one of t he candl es whi ch wer e bur ni ng on t he mant l e- pi ece.

Bl ake was wat chi ng hi m eager l y, and Tom saw t hi s, and made some

awkwar d ef f or t s t o go on t al ki ng about t he advant ages of Har dy' s

pl an f or l ear ni ng hi st or y. But he was t al ki ng t o deaf ear s, and

soon came t o a st and st i l l . He saw Dr ysdal e cr umpl e up t he not es

i n hi s hand and shove t hem i nt o hi s pocket . Af t er st andi ng f or a

f ew seconds i n t he same posi t i on, wi t h hi s back t o t hem, he

t ur ned ar ound wi t h a car el ess ai r , and saunt er ed t o t he t abl e

wher e t hey wer e si t t i ng.

" Let ' s see, what wer e we sayi ng?" he began. " Oh, about your

eccent r i c pal , Br own. "

" You' ve answer s f r om bot h?" i nt er r upt ed Bl ake. Dr ysdal e nodded,

and was begi nni ng t o speak agai n t o Tom when Bl ake got up and

sai d, wi t h whi t e l i ps, " I _must _ see t hem. "

" No, never mi nd, what does i t mat t er ?"

" Mat t er ! by heaven, I must and wi l l see t hem now. "

Tom saw at once t hat he had bet t er go, and so t ook up hi s cap,

wi shed t hem good ni ght , and went of f t o hi s own r ooms.

He mi ght have been si t t i ng t her e f or about t went y mi nut es, when

Dr ysdal e ent er ed.

" I coul dn' t hel p comi ng over , Br own, " he sai d, " I must t al k t o

some one, and Bl ake has gone of f r agi ng. I don' t know what he' l l

do- - I never was so bot her ed or savage i n my l i f e. "

" I am ver y sor r y, " sai d Tom; " he l ooked ver y bad i n your r ooms.

Can I do anyt hi ng?"

" No, but I must t al k t o some one. You know- - no you don' t , by t he

way- - but , however , Bl ake got me out of a t r emendous scr ape i n my

f i r st t er m, and t her e' s not hi ng t hat I am not bound t o do f or

hi m, and woul dn' t do i f I coul d. Yes, by Geor ge, what ever f el l ows

say of me t hey shal l never say I di dn' t st and by a man who st ood

by me. Wel l , he owes a di r t y 300L. or 400L. or somet hi ng of t he

sor t - - not hi ng wor t h t al ki ng of , I know- - t o peopl e i n Oxf or d, and

t hey have been l eadi ng hi m a dog' s l i f e t hi s year and mor e. Now,

he' s j ust goi ng up f or hi s degr ee, and t wo or t hr ee of t hese

cr edi t or s- - t he most r ascal l y of cour se- - ar e suei ng hi m i n t he

Page 86 of 443

Vi ce- Chancel l or ' s Cour t , t hi nki ng now' s t he t i me t o put t he scr ew

on. He wi l l be r ui ned i f t hey ar e not st opped somehow. Just af t er

I saw you t o- day, he came t o me about i t . You never saw a f el l ow

i n such a st at e; I coul d see i t was t ear i ng hi m t o pi eces,

t el l i ng i t t o me even. However , I soon set hi m at ease as f ar as

I was concer ned; but , as t he devi l wi l l have i t , I can' t l end hi m

t he money, t hough 60L. woul d get hi m over t he exami nat i on, and

t hen he can make t er ms. My guar di an advanced me 200L. beyond my

al l owance j ust bef or e East er , and I haven' t 20L. l ef t , and t he

bank her e has gi ven me not i ce not t o over dr aw any mor e. However ,

I t hought t o set t l e i t easy enough; so I t ol d hi m t o meet me at

t he Mi t r e i n hal f an hour f or di nner , and when he was gone I sat

down and wr ot e t wo not es- - t he f i r st t o St . Cl oud. That f el l ow was

wi t h us of f and on i n t own, and one ni ght he and I went par t ner s

at _r oul et t e_, I f i ndi ng r eady- money f or t he t i me, gai ns and

l osses t o be equal l y shar ed i n t he end. I l ef t t he t abl e t o go

and eat some supper , and he l ost 80L. , and pai d i t out of my

money. I di dn' t much car e, and he cur sed t he l uck and

acknowl edged t hat he owed me 40L. at t he t i me. Wel l , I j ust

r emi nded hi m of t hi s 40L. and sai d I shoul d be gl ad of i t ( I know

he has pl ent y of money j ust now) , but added, t hat i t mi ght st and

i f he woul d j oi n me and Bl ake i n bor r owi ng 60L. ; I was f ool

enough t o add t hat Bl ake was i n di f f i cul t i es, and I was most

anxi ous t o hel p hi m. As I t hought t hat St . Cl oud woul d pr obabl y

pay t he 40L. but do no mor e, I wr ot e al so t o Chant er - - heaven

knows why, except t hat t he beast r ol l s i n money, and has f awned

on me t i l l I ' ve been near l y si ck t hi s year past - - and asked hi m t o

l end Bl ake 50L. on our j oi nt not e of hand. Poor Bl ake! when I

t ol d hi m what I had done at t he Mi t r e, I t hi nk I mi ght as wel l

have st uck t he car vi ng kni f e i nt o hi m. We had a wr et ched t wo

hour s; t hen you came i n, and I got my t wo answer s - - her e t hey

ar e. "

Tom t ook t he pr of f er ed not es, and r ead:

" DEAR DRYSDALE, - - Pl ease expl ai n t he al l usi on i n your s t o some

myst er i ous 40L. I r emember per f ect l y t he occur r ence t o whi ch you

r ef er i n anot her par t of your not e. You wer e t i r ed of si t t i ng at

t he t abl e, and went of f t o supper , l eavi ng me ( not by my own

desi r e) t o pl ay f or you wi t h your money. I di d so, and had

abomi nabl e l uck, as you wi l l r emember , f or I handed you back a

sadl y dwi ndl ed heap on your r et ur n t o t he t abl e. I hope you ar e

i n no r ow about t hat ni ght ? I shal l be qui t e r eady t o gi ve

evi dence of what passed i f i t wi l l hel p you i n any way. I am

al ways your s ver y t r ul y,

A. ST. CLOUD

" P. S. I must decl i ne t he l i t t l e j oi nt oper at i on f or Bl ake' s

benef i t , whi ch you pr opose. "

The second answer r an:

" DEAR DRYSDALE, - - I am sor r y t hat I cannot accommodat e Mr . Bl ake,

as a f r i end of your s, but you see hi s accept ance i s mer e wast e

paper , and you cannot gi ve secur i t y unt i l you ar e of age, so i f

you wer e t o di e t he money woul d be l ost . Mr . Bl ake has al ways

car r i ed hi s head as hi gh as i f he had 5000l . a year t o spend;

per haps now he wi l l t ur n l ess haught y t o men who coul d buy hi m up

easy enough.

I r emai n your s si ncer el y,

Page 87 of 443

JABEZ CHANTER. "

Tom l ooked up and met Dr ysdal e' s eyes, whi ch had mor e of pur pose

i n t hem t han he had ever seen bef or e. " Fancy poor Bl ake r eadi ng

t hose t wo not es, " he sai d, " and ' t was I br ought t hem on hi m.

However , he shal l have t he money somehow t o- mor r ow, i f I pawn my

wat ch. I ' l l be even wi t h t hose t wo some day. " The t wo r emai ned i n

conf er ence f or some t i me l onger ; i t i s har dl y wor t h whi l e t o do

mor e t han r el at e t he r esul t .

At t hr ee o' cl ock t he next day, Bl ake, Dr ysdal e and Tom wer e i n

t he back par l or of a second- r at e i nn, i n t he Cor n- mar ket . On t he

t abl e wer e pens and i nk, some cases of Eau- de- Col ogne and

j ewel r y, and behi nd i t a f at man of f or bi ddi ng aspect who spent a

day or t wo i n each t er m at Oxf or d. He hel d i n hi s t hi ck r ed damp

hand, or nament ed as t o t he f or e- f i nger wi t h a huge r i ng, a pi ece

of paper .

" Then I shal l dr aw f or a hundr ed- and- f i ve?"

" I f you do we won' t si gn, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " now, be qui ck, Ben"

( t he f at man' s name was Benj ami n) , " you i nf er nal shar k, we' ve

been wr angl i ng l ong enough over i t . Dr aw f or 100L at t hr ee

mont hs, or we' r e of f . "

" Then, Mr . Dr ysdal e, you gent s wi l l t ake par t i n goods. I wi sh t o

do al l I can f or gent s as comes wel l i nt r oduced, but money i s

ver y scar ce j ust now. "

" Not a st uf f ed bi r d, bot t l e of Eau- de- Col ogne, r i ng or ci gar ,

wi l l we have. So now, no mor e nonsense, put down 75L on t he

t abl e. "

The money- l ender , af t er anot her equal l y usel ess at t empt t o move

Dr ysdal e, who was t he onl y one of t he par t y who spoke, pr oduced a

r ol l of bi l l s, and count ed out 75L, t hi nki ng t o hi msel f t hat he

woul d make t hi s young spar k si ng a di f f er ent t une bef or e ver y

l ong. He t hen f i l l ed up t he pi ece of paper , mut t er i ng t hat t he

i nt er est was not hi ng consi der i ng t he r i sk, and he hoped t hey

woul d hel p hi m t o some t hi ng bet t er wi t h some of t hei r f r i ends.

Dr ysdal e r emi nded hi m, i n t er ms not t oo car ef ul l y chosen, t hat he

was get t i ng cent per cent . The document was si gned, - - Dr ysdal e

t ook t he not es, and t hey went out .

" Wel l , t hat ' s wel l over , " sai d Dr ysdal e, as t hey wal ked t owar ds

Hi gh St r eet . " I ' m pr oud of my t act i cs, I must say; one never does

so wel l f or onesel f as f or anyone el se. I f I had been on my own

hook, t hat f el l ow woul d have l et me i n f or 20L wor t h of st uf f ed

bi r ds and bad j ewel r y. Let ' s see, what do you want , Bl ake?"

" Si xt y wi l l do, " sai d Bl ake.

" You had bet t er t ake 65L; t her e' l l be some l aw cost s t o pay, " and

Dr ysdal e handed hi m t he not es.

" Now, Br own, shal l we di vi de t he bal ance, - - a f i ver a pi ece?"

" No, t hank you, " sai d Tom, " I don' t want i t ; as you t wo ar e t o

hol d me har ml ess, you must do what you l i ke wi t h t he money. " So

Dr ysdal e pocket ed t he 10L, af t er whi ch t hey wal ked i n si l ence t o

t he gat e of St . Ambr ose. The most r eckl ess youngst er doesn' t

begi n t hi s sor t of t hi ng wi t hout r ef l ect i ons whi ch ar e apt t o

Page 88 of 443

keep hi m si l ent . At t he gat es Bl ake wr ung bot h t hei r hands. " I

don' t say much, but I sha' n' t f or get i t . " He got out t he wor ds

wi t h some di f f i cul t y, and went of f t o hi s r ooms.

CHAPTER XI

MUSCULAR CHRI STI ANI TY

Wi t hi n t he next week or t wo sever al i mpor t ant event s had happened

t o one and anot her of our St . Ambr ose f r i ends. Tom had i nt r oduced

Bl ake t o Har dy, af t er some demur on t he par t of t he l at t er . Bl ake

was hi s seni or by a t er m; mi ght have cal l ed on hi m any t i me t hese

t hr ee year s; why shoul d he want t o make hi s acquai nt ance now? But

when Tom expl ai ned t o hi m t hat i t woul d be a ki nd t hi ng t o l et

Bl ake come and coach up hi s hi st or y wi t h hi m, f or t hat unl ess he

t ook a hi gh degr ee i n t he comi ng exami nat i on, he woul d have t o

l eave t he col l ege, and pr obabl y be r ui ned f or l i f e, Har dy at once

consent ed.

Tom di d not vent ur e t o i nqui r e f or a day or t wo how t he t wo hi t

i t of f t oget her . When he began caut i ousl y t o appr oach t he

subj ect , he was gl ad t o f i nd t hat Har dy l i ked Bl ake. " He i s a

gent l eman, and ver y abl e, " he sai d; " i t i s cur i ous t o see how

qui ckl y he i s over haul i ng Gr ey, and yet how Gr ey t akes t o hi m. He

has never l ooked scar ed at hi m ( as he st i l l does at you, by t he

way) si nce t he f i r st ni ght t hey met . Bl ake has t he t al ent of

set t i ng peopl e at t hei r ease wi t hout sayi ng anyt hi ng. I shoul dn' t

wonder i f Gr ey t hi nks he has sound Chur ch not i ons. I t ' s a

danger ous t al ent , and may make a man ver y f al se i f he doesn' t

t ake car e. " Tom asked i f Bl ake woul d be up i n hi s hi st or y i n

t i me. Har dy t hought he mi ght per haps, but he had a gr eat l ee- way

t o make up. I f capaci t y f or t aki ng i n cr am woul d do i t , he woul d

be al l r i ght . He had been wel l cr ammed i n hi s sci ence, and had

put hi m ( Har dy) up t o many dodges whi ch mi ght be usef ul i n t he

school s, and whi ch you coul dn' t get wi t hout a pr i vat e t ut or .

Then Tom' s f i r st wi ne had gone of f most successf ul l y. Jer vi s and

Mi l l er had come ear l y and st ayed l at e, and sai d al l t hat was

handsome of t he por t , so t hat he was al r eady a soci al her o wi t h

t he boat i ng set . Dr ysdal e, of cour se, had been t her e, r at t l i ng

away t o ever ybody i n hi s r eckl ess f ashi on, and set t i ng a good

exampl e t o t he t wo or t hr ee f ast men whom Tom knew wel l enough t o

ask, and who consequent l y behaved pr et t y wel l , and gave

t hemsel ves no ai r s, t hough as t hey went away t oget her t hey

gr umbl ed sl i ght l y t hat Br own di dn' t gi ve cl ar et . The r est of t he

men had shaken t oget her wel l , and seemed t o enj oy t hemsel ves. The

onl y dr awback t o Tom had been t hat nei t her Har dy nor Gr ey had

appear ed. They excused t hemsel ves af t er war ds on t he scor e of

r eadi ng, but Tom f el t aggr i eved i n Har dy' s case; he knew t hat i t

was onl y an excuse.

Then t he t r ai ni ng had begun ser i ousl y, Mi l l er had come up

speci al l y f or t he f i r st f or t ni ght , t o get t hem wel l i n hand, as

he sai d. Af t er t hey wer e once f ai r l y st ar t ed, he woul d have t o go

down t i l l j ust bef or e t he r aces; but he t hought he mi ght r el y on

t he Capt ai n t o keep t hem up t o t hei r wor k i n t he i nt er val .

So Mi l l er , t he coxswai n, t ook t o dr awi ng t he bow up t o t he ear at

once. At t he ver y begi nni ng of t he t er m, f i ve or si x weeks bef or e

t he r aces, t he St . Ambr ose boat was t o be seen ever y ot her day at

Abi ngdon; and ear l y di nner s, l i mi t at i on of l i qui ds and t obacco,

and abst i nence f r om l at e supper par t i es, past r y, i ce, and al l

Page 89 of 443

manner of t r ash, l i kel y i n Mi l l er ' s opi ni on t o i nj ur e ner ve or

wi nd, wer e hangi ng over t he cr ew, and al r eady, i n f act , t o some

ext ent enf or ced. The Capt ai n shr ugged hi s shoul der s, submi t t ed t o

i t al l hi msel f and wor ked away wi t h al l i mper t ur babl e t emper ;

mer el y hi nt i ng t o Mi l l er , i n pr i vat e, t hat he was goi ng t oo f ast ,

and t hat i t woul d be i mpossi bl e t o keep i t up. Di ogenes hi ghl y

appr oved; he woul d have become t he wi l l i ng sl ave of any t yr anny

whi ch shoul d i nsi st t hat ever y adul t mal e subj ect shoul d pul l

t went y mi l es, and never i mbi be mor e t han a quar t of l i qui d, i n

t he t went y- f our hour s. Tom was i ncl i ned t o l i ke i t , as i t hel ped

hi m t o r eal i ze t he pr oud f act t hat he was act ual l y i n t he boat .

The r est of t he cr ew wer e i n al l st ages of mut i ny and wer e onl y

kept f r om br eaki ng out by t hei r f ondness f or t he Capt ai n and t he

knowl edge t hat Mi l l er was goi ng i n a f ew days. As i t was, Bl ake

was t he onl y one who openl y r ebel l ed. Once or t wi ce he st ayed

away. Mi l l er swor e and gr umbl ed, t he Capt ai n shook hi s head, and

t he cr ew i n gener al r ej oi ced.

I t i s t o one of t hese occasi ons t o whi ch we must now t ur n. I f t he

usual casual voyager of novel s had been st andi ng on Sandf or d

l ock, at about f our , on t he af t er noon of Apr i l - t h, 184- , he

mi ght have behel d t he St . Ambr ose ei ght - oar comi ng wi t h a st eady

swi ng up t he l ast r each. I f such voyager wer e i n t he l east

conver sant wi t h t he gl or i ous myst er y of r owi ng, he woul d have

f el t hi s hear t war m at t he magni f i cent sweep and l i f e of t he

st r oke, and woul d, on t he whol e, have been pl eased wi t h t he

per f or mance of t he cr ew gener al l y, consi der ed as a col l ege cr ew

i n t he ear l y st ages of t r ai ni ng. They came " har d al l " up t o t he

pool bel ow t he l ock, t he coxswai n st andi ng i n t he st er n wi t h a

t i l l er - r ope i n each hand, and t hen shi pped oar s; t he l ock - gat es

opened, and t he boat ent er ed, and i n anot her mi nut e or t wo was

moor ed t o t he bank above t he l ock, and t he cr ew st r ol l ed i nt o t he

l i t t l e i nn whi ch st ands by t he l ock, and, af t er st oppi ng i n t he

bar t o l ay hands on sever al pewt er s f ul l of por t er , passed

t hr ough t he house i nt o t he quoi t and ski t t l e- gr ounds behi nd.

These wer e al r eady wel l f i l l ed wi t h men of ot her cr ews, pl ayi ng

i n gr oups or l ooki ng on at t he pl ayer s. One of t hese gr oups, as

t hey passed, sei zed on t he Capt ai n, and Mi l l er st opped wi t h hi m;

t he r est of t he St . Ambr ose men, i n no humor f or ski t t l es,

quoi t s, or any r el axat i on except r est and gr umbl i ng, t ook

possessi on of t he f i r st t abl e and seat s of f er ed, and came t o

anchor .

Then f ol l owed a moment of i nt ense enj oyment , of a sor t onl y

appr eci abl e by t hose who have had a t wel ve mi l es' t r ai ni ng pul l

wi t h a coxswai n as shar p as a needl e, and i n an awf ul t emper .

" Ah, " sai d Dr ysdal e, t aki ng t he pewt er down f r om hi s l i ps, wi t h a

si gh, and handi ng i t t o Tom who sat next hi m, " by Jove I f eel

bet t er . "

" I t ' s al most wor t h whi l e pul l i ng ' har d al l ' f r om Abi ngdon t o get

such a t hi r st , " sai d anot her of t he cr ew.

" I ' l l t el l you what , t hough, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " t o- day' s t he l ast

day you' l l cat ch me i n t hi s bl essed boat . "

Tom had j ust f i ni shed hi s dr aught , but di d not r epl y; i t was by

no means t he f i r st t i me t hat Dr ysdal e had announced t hi s r esol ve.

The r est wer e si l ent al so.

" I t ' s bad enough t o have t o pul l your hear t out , wi t hout get t i ng

abused al l t he way i nt o t he bar gai n. Ther e Mi l l er st ands i n t he

st er n- - and a devi l i sh easy t hi ng i t i s t o st and t her e and wal k

Page 90 of 443

i nt o us- - I can see hi m chuckl e as he comes t o you and me,

Br own- - ' Now, 2, wel l f or war d; ' ' 3, don' t j er k; ' ' Now 2, t hr ow

your wei ght on t he oar ; come, now, you can get anot her pound on. '

I hang on l i ke gr i m Deat h, - - t hen i t s ' Ti me, 2; now, 3- ' "

" Wel l , i t ' s a gr eat compl i ment , " br oke i n Tom, wi t h a l augh; " he

t hi nks he can make somet hi ng of us. "

" He' l l make not hi ng of us f i r st , I t hi nk, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " I ' ve

l ost ei ght pounds i n a f or t ni ght . The Capt ai n ought t o put me i n

ever y pl ace i n t he boat , i n t ur n, t o make i t wat er - t i ght . I ' ve

l ar ded t he bot t om boar ds under my seat so t hat not a dr op of

wat er wi l l ever come t hr ough agai n. "

" A ver y good t hi ng f or you, ol d f el l ow, " sai d Di ogenes; " you l ook

t en t i mes bet t er t han you di d at t he begi nni ng of t he t er m. "

" I don' t know what you cal l a good t hi ng, you ol d f l ut er . I ' m

obl i ged t o si t on my hi p bones- - I can' t go t o a l ect ur e- - al l t he

t ut or s t hi nk I am poki ng f un at t hem, and put me on di r ect l y. I

haven' t been abl e t o go t o l ect ur e t hese t en days. "

" So f ond of l ect ur e as he i s, t oo, poor f el l ow, " put i n Tom.

" But t hey' ve di scommonsed me f or st ayi ng away, " sai d Dr ysdal e;

" not t hat I car e much f or t hat , t hough. "

" Wel l , Mi l l er goes down t o- mor r ow mor ni ng- - I hear d hi m say so, "

sai d anot her .

" Then we' l l memor i al i ze t he Capt ai n and get out of t hese Abi ngdon

pul l s. Li f e i sn' t wor t h havi ng at t hi s r at e. "

" No ot her boat has been bel ow Sandf or d, yet . "

And so t hey sat on and pl ot t ed, and soon most of t he ot her cr ews

st ar t ed. And t hen t hey t ook t hei r t ur n at ski t t l es, and al most

f or got t hei r gr i evances, whi ch must be expl ai ned t o t hose who

don' t know t he r i ver at Oxf or d.

The r i ver r uns al ong t he sout h of t he ci t y, get t i ng i nt o t he

uni ver si t y quar t er af t er i t passes under t he br i dge connect i ng

Ber ks and Oxf or dshi r e, over whi ch i s t he r oad t o Abi ngdon. Just

bel ow t hi s br i dge ar e t he boat bui l der s' est abl i shment s on bot h

si des of t he r i ver , and t hen on t he Oxf or dshi r e si de i s

Chr i st chur ch meadow, opposi t e whi ch i s moor ed t he uni ver si t y

bar ge. Her e i s t he goal of al l uni ver si t y r aces; and t he

r acecour se st r et ches away down t he r i ver f or a mi l e and a hal f ,

and a l i t t l e bel ow t he st ar t i ng pl ace of t he r aces i s I f f l ey

Lock. The next l ock bel ow I f f l ey i s t he Sandf or d Lock ( wher e we

l ef t our boat ' s cr ew pl ayi ng at ski t t l es) , whi ch i s about a mi l e

and a hal f bel ow I f f l ey. Bel ow Sandf or d t her e i s no l ock t i l l you

get t o Abi ngdon, a di st ance of si x mi l es and mor e by t he r i ver .

Now, i nasmuch as t he l ongest di st ance t o be r owed i n t he r aces i s

onl y t he upper mi l e and a hal f f r om I f f l ey t o t he uni ver si t y

bar ge, of cour se al l cr ews t hi nk t hemsel ves ver y har dl y t r eat ed

i f t hey ar e t aken f ur t her t han t o Sandf or d. Pul l i ng " har d al l "

f r om Sandf or d t o I f f l ey, and t hen agai n f r om I f f l ey over t he

r egul ar cour se, ought t o be enough i n al l consci ence. So chor us

t he cr ews; and most capt ai ns and coxswai ns gi ve i n. But her e and

t her e some enemy of hi s ki nd- - some uncomf or t abl e, wor r i t i ng,

ener gi zi ng mor t al , l i ke Mi l l er - - get s command of a boat , and t hen

t he unf or t unat e cr ew ar e dr agged, bemoani ng t hei r f at e, down

bel ow Sandf or d, wher e no f r i endl y l ock i nt er venes t o br eak t he

Page 91 of 443

l ong, st eady swi ng of t he t r ai ni ng pul l ever y t wo mi l es, and t he

r esul t f or t he t i me i s bl i st er s and mut i ny. I am bound t o add

t hat i t gener al l y t el l s, and t hat t he cr ew whi ch has been

under goi ng t hat _pei ne f or t e et dur e_ i s ver y apt t o get t he

change out of i t on t he ni ght s of har d r aces.

So t he St . Ambr ose cr ew pl ayed out t hei r ski t t l es, and set t l ed t o

appeal t he Capt ai n i n a body t he next day, af t er Mi l l er ' s

depar t ur e; and t hen bei ng summoned t o t he boat , t hey t ook t o t he

wat er agai n, and paddl ed st eadi l y up home, ar r i vi ng j ust i n t i me

f or hal l f or t hose who l i ked t o hur r y. Dr ysdal e never l i ked

hur r yi ng hi msel f ; besi des, he coul d not di ne i n hal l , as he was

di scommonsed f or per si st ent absence f r om l ect ur e, and negl ect t o

go t o t he Dean when sent f or t o expl ai n hi s absence.

" I say, Br own, hang hal l , " he sai d t o Tom, who was t hr owi ng on

hi s t hi ngs; " come and di ne wi t h me at t he Mi t r e. I ' l l gi ve you a

bot t l e of hock; i t ' s ver y good t her e. "

" Hock' s about t he wor st t hi ng you dr i nk i n t r ai ni ng, " sai d

Mi l l er . " I sn' t i t , Jer vi s?"

" I t ' s no good, cer t ai nl y, " sai d t he Capt ai n, as he put on hi s cap

and gown; " come al ong, Mi l l er . "

" Ther e, you hear ?" sai d Mi l l er . " You can dr i nk a gl ass of sound

sher r y, i f you want wi ne; " and he f ol l owed t he Capt ai n.

Dr ysdal e per f or med a def i ant pant omi me af t er t he r et i r i ng

coxswai n, and t hen easi l y car r i ed hi s poi nt wi t h Tom, except as

t o t he hock. So t hey wal ked up t o t he Mi t r e t oget her , wher e

Dr ysdal e or der ed di nner and a bot t l e of hock i n t he cof f ee- r oom.

" Don' t or der hock, Dr ysdal e; I shan' t dr i nk any. "

" Then I shal l have i t al l t o my own cheek. I f you begi n maki ng a

sl ave of your sel f t o t hat Mi l l er , he' l l ver y soon cut you down t o

a gl ass of wat er a day, wi t h a pi nch of r hubar b i n i t , and make

you dr i nk t hat st andi ng on your head. "

" Gammon; but I don' t t hi nk i t ' s f ai r on t he r est of t he cr ew not

t o t r ai n as wel l as one can. "

" You don' t suppose dr i nki ng a pi nt of hock t o- ni ght wi l l make you

pul l any t he wor se t hi s day si x weeks, when t he r aces begi n, do

you?"

" No; but - - "

" Hul l o! l ook her e, " sai d Dr ysdal e, who was i nspect i ng a pr i nt ed

bi l l pi nned up on t he wal l of t he cof f ee hal l ; " Wombwel l ' s

menager i e i s i n t he t own, somewher e down by Wor cest er . What f un!

We' l l go t her e af t er di nner . "

The f ood ar r i ved wi t h Dr ysdal e' s hock, whi ch he seemed t o enj oy

al l t he mor e f r om t he assur ance whi ch ever y gl ass gave hi m t hat

he was def yi ng t he coxswai n, and doi ng j ust t he t hi ng he woul d

most di sl i ke. So he dr ank away, and f acet i ousl y specul at ed how he

coul d be such an i di ot as t o go on pul l i ng. Ever y day of hi s l i f e

he made good r esol ut i ons i n t he r each above t he Gut t hat i t

shoul d be hi s l ast per f or mance, and al ways br oke t hem next day.

He supposed t he habi t he had of br eaki ng al l good r esol ut i ons was

t he way t o account f or i t .

Page 92 of 443

Af t er di nner t hey set of f t o f i nd t he wi l d- beast show; and, as

t hey wi l l be at l east a quar t er of an hour r eachi ng i t , f or t he

pi t ch i s i n a par t of t he subur bs l i t t l e known t o gownsmen, t he

oppor t uni t y may be sei zed of maki ng a f ew r emar ks t o t he pat i ent

r eader , whi ch i mpat i ent r eader s ar e begged t o ski p.

Our her o on hi s f i r st appear ance i n publ i c some year s si nce, was

wi t hout hi s own consent at once pat t ed on t he back by t he

good- nat ur ed cr i t i cs, and enr ol l ed f or bet t er or wor se i n t he

br ot her hood of muscul ar Chr i st i ans, who at t hat t i me wer e

begi nni ng t o be r ecogni sed as an act ual and l ust y por t i on of

gener al Br i t i sh l i f e. As hi s bi ogr apher , I am not about t o t ake

except i on t o hi s enr ol ment ; f or , af t er consi der i ng t he per sons up

and down Her Maj est y' s domi ni ons t o whom t he new ni ck- name has

been appl i ed, t he pr i nci pl es whi ch t hey ar e supposed t o hol d, and

t he sor t of l i ves t hey ar e supposed t o l ead; I cannot see wher e

he coul d i n t hese t i mes have f al l en upon a nobl er br ot her hood. I

am speaki ng of cour se under cor r ect i on, and wi t h onl y a sl i ght

acquai nt ance wi t h t he f ai t h of muscul ar Chr i st i ani t y, gat her ed

al most ent i r el y f r om t he wi t t y exposi t i ons and comment s of

per sons of a somewhat dyspept i c habi t , who ar e not amongst t he

f ai t hf ul t hemsel ves. I ndeed, I am not awar e t hat any aut hor i zed

ar t i cl es of bel i ef have been sanct i oned or publ i shed by t he sect ,

Chur ch, or what ever t hey may be. Mor eover , at t he age at whi ch

our her o has ar r i ved, and havi ng r egar d t o hi s char act er , I

shoul d say t hat he has i n al l l i kel i hood t hought ver y l i t t l e on

t he subj ect of bel i ef , and woul d scar cel y be abl e t o gi ve any

f or mal account of hi s own, beyond t hat cont ai ned i n t he Chur ch

Cat echi sm, whi ch I f or one t hi nk may ver y wel l sat i sf y hi m f or

t he pr esent . Never t hel ess, he had suddenl y been caught at t he

gat e of St . Ambr ose' s Col l ege, by one of t he gent l emen who do t he

cl assi f yi ng f or t he Br i t i sh publ i c, and accost ed wi t h, " Si r , you

bel ong t o a body whose cr eed i t i s t o f ear God, and wal k 1000

mi l es i n 1000 hour s; " I bel i eve he woul d have r epl i ed, " Do I ,

si r ? I ' m ver y gl ad t o hear i t . They must be a ver y good set of

f el l ows. How many weeks' t r ai ni ng, do t hey al l ow?"

But i n t he cour se of my i nqui r i es on t he subj ect of muscul ar

Chr i st i ans, t hei r wor ks and ways, a f act has f or ced i t sel f on my

at t ent i on, whi ch, f or t he sake of i ngeni ous yout h, ought not t o

be passed over . I f i nd, t hen, t hat , si de by si de wi t h t hese

muscul ar Chr i st i ans, and appar ent l y cl ai mi ng some sor t of

connect i on wi t h t hem ( t he same concer n, as t he pi r at es of

t r ade- mar ks say) , have r i sen up anot her set of per sons, agai nst

whom I desi r e t o caut i on my r eader s and my her o, and t o war n t he

l at t er t hat I do not mean on any pr et ense what ever t o al l ow hi m

t o connect hi msel f wi t h t hem, however much he may be t aken wi t h

t hei r of f - hand, " hai l br ot her wel l - met " manner and dr ess, whi ch

may easi l y l ead car el ess obser ver s t o t ake t he count er f ei t f or

t he t r ue ar t i cl e. I must cal l t he per sons i n quest i on

" muscl emen, " as di st i ngui shed f r om muscul ar Chr i st i ans; t he onl y

poi nt i n common bet ween t he t wo bei ng, t hat bot h hol d i t t o be a

good t hi ng t o have st r ong and wel l - exer ci sed bodi es, r eady t o be

put at t he shor t est not i ce t o any wor k of whi ch bodi es ar e

capabl e, and t o do i t wel l . Her e al l l i keness ends; f or t he

" muscl e" man seems t o have no bel i ef what ever as t o t he pur poses

f or whi ch hi s body has been gi ven hi m, except some hazy i dea t hat

i t i s t o go up and down t he wor l d wi t h hi m, bel abor i ng men or

capt i vat i ng women f or hi s benef i t or pl easur e, at once t he

ser vant and f oment or of t hose f i er ce and br ut al passi ons whi ch he

seems t o t hi nk i t a necessi t y, and r at her a f i ne t hi ng t han

ot her wi se, t o i ndul ge and obey. Wher eas, so f ar as I know, t he

l east of t he muscul ar Chr i st i ans has hol d of t he ol d chi val r ous

and Chr i st i an bel i ef , t hat a man' s body i s gi ven hi m t o be

Page 93 of 443

t r ai ned and br ought i nt o subj ect i on, and t hen used f or t he

pr ot ect i on of t he weak, t he advancement of al l r i ght eous causes,

and t he subdui ng of t he ear t h whi ch God has gi ven t o t he chi l dr en

of men. He does not hol d t hat mer e st r engt h or act i vi t y ar e i n

t hemsel ves wor t hy of any r espect or wor shi p, or t hat one man i s a

bi t bet t er t han anot her because he can knock hi m down, or car r y a

bi gger sack of pot at oes t han he. For mer e power , whet her of body

or i nt el l ect , he has ( I hope and bel i eve) no r ever ence what ever ,

t hough, _coet er i s par i bus_, he woul d pr obabl y hi msel f , as a

mat t er of t ast e, pr ef er t he man who can l i f t a hundr ed- wei ght

r ound hi s head wi t h hi s l i t t l e f i nger t o t he man who can

const r uct a st r i ng of per f ect Sor i t es, or expound t he doct r i ne of

" cont r adi ct or y i nconcei vabl es. "

The above r emar ks occur as our her o i s mar chi ng i nnocent l y down

t owar ds hi s f i r st " t own and gown" r ow, and I shoul d scar cel y l i ke

t o see hi m i n t he mi ddl e of i t , wi t hout pr ot est i ng t hat i t i s a

mi st ake. I know t hat he, and ot her youngst er s of hi s ki dney, wi l l

have f i t s of f i ght i ng or desi r i ng t o f i ght wi t h t hei r poor er

br et hr en, j ust as chi l dr en have t he measl es. But t he shor t er t he

f i t t he bet t er f or t he pat i ent , f or l i ke t he measl es i t i s a

gr eat mi st ake, and a most unsat i sf act or y compl ai nt . I f t hey can

escape i t al t oget her so much t he bet t er . But i nst ead of t r eat i ng

t he f i t as a di sease, " muscl emen" pr of essor s ar e wont t o

r epr esent i t as a st at e of heal t h, and t o l et t hei r di sci pl es r un

about i n mi ddl e age wi t h t he measl es on t hem as st r ong as ever .

Now al t hough our her o had t he measl es on hi m at t hi s par t i cul ar

t i me, and t he passage of ar ms whi ch I am about shor t l y t o

descr i be l ed t o r esul t s of some i mpor t ance i n hi s hi st or y, and

cannot t her ef or e be passed over , yet I wi sh at t he same t i me t o

di scl ai m, bot h i n my sponsor i al and i ndi vi dual char act er , al l

sympat hy wi t h t own and gown r ows, and wi t h al l ot her cl ass r ows

and quar r el s of ever y sor t and ki nd, whet her waged wi t h swor d,

pen, t ongue, f i st or ot her wi se. Al so t o say t hat i n al l such

r ows, so f ar as I have seen or r ead, f r om t he t i me when t he Roman

pl ebs mar ched out t o Mons Sacer , down t o 1848, when t he Engl i sh

char t i st s met on Kenni ngt on Common, t he upper cl asses ar e most t o

bl ame. I t may be t hat t hey ar e not t he aggr essor s on any gi ven

occasi on; ver y possi bl y t hey may car r y on t he act ual f i ght i ng

wi t h mor e f ai r ness ( t hough t hi s i s by no means t r ue as a r ul e) ;

never t hel ess t he st at e of f eel i ng whi ch makes such t hi ngs

possi bl e, especi al l y i n Engl and, wher e men i n gener al ar e onl y

t oo r eady t o be l ed and t aught by t hei r super i or s i n r ank, may be

f ai r l y l ai d at t hei r door . Ever , i n t he case of st r i kes, whi ch

j ust now wi l l of cour se be at once t hr own i n my t eet h, I say

f ear l essl y, l et any man t ake t he t r oubl e t o st udy t he quest i on

honest l y, and he wi l l come t o t he convi ct i on t hat al l

combi nat i ons of t he men f or t he pur pose of i nf l uenci ng t he l abor

mar ket , whet her i n t he much and unj ust l y abused Tr ades'

Soci et i es, or i n ot her f or ms, have been def ensi ve or gani zat i ons,

and t hat t he mast er s mi ght , as a body, over and over agai n have

t aken t he st i ng out of t hem i f t hey had act ed f ai r l y, as many

i ndi vi dual s amongst t hem have done. Whet her i t may not be t oo

l at e now, i s a t r emendous quest i on f or Engl and, but one whi ch

t i me onl y can deci de.

When Dr ysdal e and Tom at l ast f ound t he car avans, i t was j ust

get t i ng dar k. Somet hi ng of a cr owd had col l ect ed out si de, and

t her e was some hi ssi ng as t hey ascended t he shor t f l i ght of st eps

whi ch l ed t o t he pl at f or m i n f r ont of t he show; but t hey t ook no

not i ce of i t , pai d t hei r money, and ent er ed.

I nsi de t hey f ound an exci t i ng scene. The pl ace was pr et t y wel l

l i ght ed, and t he bi r ds and beast s wer e al l al i ve i n t hei r sever al

Page 94 of 443

dens and cages, wal ki ng up and down, and each ut t er i ng

r emonst r ances af t er i t s own manner , t he shr i l l not es of bi r ds

mi ngl i ng wi t h t he moan of t he beast s of pr ey and chat t er i ng of

t he monkeys. Feedi ng t i me had been put of f t i l l ni ght t o sui t t he

under gr aduat es, and t he under gr aduat es wer e pr ovi ng t hei r

appr eci at i on of t he at t ent i on by pl ayi ng of f al l manner of

pr act i cal j okes on bi r ds and beast s, t hei r keeper s, and such of

t he publ i c as had been r ash enough t o vent ur e i n. At t he f ar t her

end was t he keeper , who di d t he showman, vai nl y endeavour i ng t o

go t hr ough hi s usual j ogt r ot descr i pt i on. Hi s monot one was

dr owned ever y mi nut e by t he chor us of voi ces, each shout i ng out

some new f act i n nat ur al hi st or y t ouchi ng t he bi ped or quadr uped

whom t he keeper was at t empt i ng t o descr i be. At t hat day a gr eat

deal of t hi s sor t of chaf f was cur r ent , so t hat t he most

dunder - headed boy had pl ent y on t he t i p of hi s t ongue. A smal l

and i ndi gnant knot of t ownspeopl e, headed by a st out and sever e

mi ddl e- aged woman, wi t h t wo bi g boys, her sons, f ol l owed t he

keeper , endeavour i ng by caust i c r emar ks and wi t her i ng gl ances t o

st op t he f l ood of chaf f , and r est or e t he l egi t i mat e aut hor i t y and

t he r ei gn of keeper and nat ur al hi st or y.

At anot her poi nt was a l ong I r i shman i n cap and gown, who had

cl ear l y had as much wi ne as he coul d car r y, cl ose t o t he bar s of

t he pant her ' s den, t hr ough whi ch he was ear nest l y endeavour i ng,

wi t h t he hel p of a cr ooked st i ck, t o dr aw t he t ai l of whi chever

of t he beast s st opped f or a moment i n i t s uneasy wal k. On t he

ot her si de wer e a set of men bent on bur ni ng t he wr et ched

monkeys' f i nger s wi t h t he l i ght ed ends of t hei r ci gar s, i n whi ch

t hey seemed successf ul enough, t o j udge by t he angr y chat t er i ngs

and shr i eki ngs of t hei r vi ct i ms.

The t wo new comer s paused f or a moment on t he pl at f or m i nsi de t he

cur t ai n; and t hen Dr ysdal e, r ubbi ng hi s hands, and i n hi gh gl ee

at t he si ght of so much mi sr ul e i n so smal l a pl ace, l ed t he way

down on t o t he f l oor deep i n sawdust , excl ai mi ng, " Wel l , t hi s

_i s_ a l ar k! We' r e j ust i n f or al l t he f un of t he f ai r . "

Tom f ol l owed hi s f r i end, who made st r ai ght f or t he show man, and

pl ant ed hi msel f at hi s si de, j ust as t hat wor t hy, poi nt i ng wi t h

hi s pol e, was pr oceedi ng- -

" Thi s i s t he j ackal , f r om- - "

" The Car i bee Hi el ands, of whi ch I ' m a nat i ve mysel ' , " shout ed a

gownsman.

" Thi s i s t he j ackal , or l i on' s pr ovi der , " began agai n t he much

endur i ng keeper .

" Who al ways goes bef or e t he l i on t o pur wi de hi s pur wi si ons,

pur wi di ng t her e' s anyt hi ng t o pur wi de, " put i n Dr ysdal e.

" Hem- - r eal l y I do t hi nk i t ' s scandal ous not t o l et t he keeper

t el l about t he beast eses, " sai d t he unf or t unat e mat r on, wi t h a

hal f t ur n t owar ds t he per secut or s, and gr aspi ng her bag.

" My dear madam, " sai d Dr ysdal e, i n hi s sof t est voi ce, " I assur e

you he knows not hi ng about t he beast eses. We ar e Doct or

Buckl and' s f avour i t e pupi l s, ar e al so wel l known t o t he gr eat

Panj andr um, and have eat en mor e beast eses t han t he keeper has

ever seen. "

" I don' t know who you ar e, young man, but you don' t know how t o

behave your sel ves, " r ej oi ned t he out r aged f emal e; and t he keeper ,

Page 95 of 443

gi vi ng up t he j ackal as a bad j ob, poi nt i ng wi t h hi s pol e,

pr oceeded- -

" The l i t t l e hani mal i n t he upper cage i s t he hopossom, of Nor t h

Amer i ca- - "

" The mi sgui ded of f spr i ng of t he r accoon and t he gumt r ee, " put i n

one of hi s t or ment or s.

Her e a f r i ght f ul r oar i ng and st r uggl i ng at a l i t t l e di st ance,

mi ngl ed wi t h shout s of l aught er , and " Hol d on, Pat ! " " Go i t ,

pant her ! " i nt er r upt ed t he l ect ur e, and caused a r ush t o t he ot her

si de, wher e t he l ong I r i shman, Donovan, by name, wi t h one f oot

agai nst t he bar s, was hol di ng on t o t he t ai l of one of t he

pant her s, whi ch he had at l engt h managed t o cat ch hol d of . The

next moment he was f l at on hi s back i n t he sawdust , and hi s

vi ct i m was boundi ng wi l dl y about t he cage. The keeper hur r i ed

away t o l ook af t er t he out r aged pant her ; and Dr ysdal e, at once

i nst al l i ng hi msel f as showman, began at t he next cage- -

" Thi s i s t he wi l d man of t he woods, or whangee- t angee, t he most

unt ameabl e- - good heavens, ma' am, t ake car e! " and he sei zed hol d

on t he unf or t unat e woman and pul l ed her away f r om t he bar s.

" Oh, goodness! " she scr eamed, " i t ' s got my t i ppet ; oh, Bi l l ,

Pet er , cat ch hol d! " Bi l l and Pet er pr oved unequal t o t he

occasi on, but a gownsman sei zed t he vani shi ng t i ppet , and af t er a

moment ' s st r uggl e wi t h t he gr eat ape, r est or ed a meagr e hal f t o

t he pr oper owner , whi l e Jacko sat gr i nni ng over t he ot her hal f ,

pi cki ng i t t o pi eces. The poor woman had now had enough of i t ,

and she hur r i ed of f wi t h her t wo boys, f ol l owed by t he f ew

t ownspeopl e who wer e st i l l i n t he show, t o l ay her case di r ect l y

bef or e t he mayor , as she i nf or med t he del i nquent s f r om t he

pl at f or m bef or e di sappear i ng. Her wr ongs wer e l i kel y t o be mor e

speedi l y avenged, t o j udge by t he angr y mur mur s whi ch ar ose

out si de i mmedi at el y af t er her exi t .

But st i l l t he hi gh j i nks went on, Donovan l eadi ng al l mi schi ef ,

unt i l t he mast er of t he menager i e appear ed i nsi de, and

r emonst r at ed wi t h t he men. " He must send f or t he pol i ce, " he

sai d, " i f t hey woul d not l eave t he beast s al one. He had put of f

t he f eedi ng i n or der t o sui t t hem; woul d t hey l et hi s keeper s

f eed t he beast s qui et l y?" The t hr eat of t he pol i ce was r ecei ved

wi t h shout s of def i ance by some of t he men, t hough t he gr eat er

par t seemed of t he opi ni on t hat mat t er s wer e get t i ng ser i ous.

The pr oposal of f eedi ng, was however , wel comed by al l and

compar at i ve qui et ensued f or some t en mi nut es, whi l e t he basket s

of j oi nt s, br ead, st al e f i sh, and pot at oes wer e br ought i n, and

t he cont ent s di st r i but ed t o t he f ami shed occupant s of t he cages.

I n t he i nt er val of peace t he showman- keeper , on a hi nt f r om hi s

mast er , agai n began hi s r ound. But t he spi r i t of mi schi ef was

abr oad, and i t onl y needed t hi s t o make i t br eak out agai n. I n

anot her t wo mi nut es t he beast s, f r om t he l i on t o t he smal l est

monkey, wer e st r uggl i ng f or t hei r supper s, wi t h one or mor e

under gr aduat es; t he el ephant had t or n t he gown of f Donovan' s

back, havi ng onl y j ust mi ssed hi s ar m; t he manager i n a conf usi on

wor t hy of t he t ower of Babel , sent of f a keeper f or t he ci t y

pol i ce, and t ur ned t he gas out .

The audi ence, af t er t he f i r st moment of sur pr i se and i ndi gnat i on,

gr oped t hei r way t owar ds t he st eps and mount ed t he pl at f or m,

wher e t hey hel d a counci l of war . Shoul d t hey st ay wher e t hey

wer e or make a sal l y at once, br eak t hr ough t he cr owd and get

Page 96 of 443

back t o t hei r col l eges? I t was cur i ous t o see how i n t hat shor t

mi nut e i ndi vi dual char act er came out , and t he cowar d, t he

caut i ous man, t he r esol ut e pr ompt Engl i shman, each was t her e, and

mor e t han one speci es of each. Donovan was one of t he l ast up t he

st eps, and as he st umbl ed up caught somet hi ng of t he quest i on

bef or e t he house. He shout ed l oudl y at once f or descendi ng and

of f er i ng bat t l e. " But boys, " he added, " f i r st wai t t i l l I

adt hr ess t he meet i ng, " and he made f or t he openi ng i n t he canvas

t hr ough whi ch t he out si de pl at f or m was r eached. St ump or at or y and

a f r ee f i ght wer e j ust t he t wo t empt at i ons whi ch Donovan was

whol l y unabl e t o r esi st ; i t was wi t h a f ace r adi ant wi t h

devi l - may- car e del i ght t hat he bur st t hr ough t he openi ng,

f ol l owed by al l t he r est ( who f el t t hat t he mat t er was out of

t hei r hands, and must go i t s own way af t er t he I r i shman) , and

r ol l i ng t o t he f r ont of t he out si de pl at f or m, r est ed one hand on

t he r ai l , and waved t he ot her gr acef ul l y t owar ds t he cr owd.

Thi s was t he si gnal f or a bur st of def i ant shout s and hi ssi ng.

Donovan st ood bl andl y wavi ng hi s hand f or si l ence. Dr ysdal e,

r unni ng hi s eye over t he mob, t ur ned t o t he r est and sai d,

" Ther e' s not hi ng t o st op us, not t went y gr own men i n t he whol e

l ot . "

Then one of t he men l i ght i ng upon t he dr umst i cks, whi ch t he usual

man i n cor dur oys had hi dden away, began beat i ng t he bi g dr um

f ur i ousl y. One of t he unaccount abl e whi ms whi ch i nf l uence cr owds

sei zed on t he mob, and t her e was al most per f ect si l ence. Thi s

seemed t o t ake Donovan by sur pr i se; t he open ai r was havi ng t he

common ef f ect on hi m; he was get t i ng unst eady on hi s l egs, and

hi s br ai ns wer e wonder i ng. " Now' s your t i me, Donovan, my

boy- - begi n. "

" Ah, yes, t o be sur e, what ' l l I say? l et ' s see, " sai d Donovan,

put t i ng hi s head on one si de- -

" Fr i ends, Romans, count r ymen, " suggest ed some wag.

" To be sur e, " cr i ed Donovan; " Fr i ends, Romans, count r ymen, l end

me your ear s. "

" Br avo Pat , wel l begun; pul l t hei r ear s wel l when you' ve got

' em. "

" Bad l uck t o i t ! wher e was I ? you di vel s- - I mean l adi es and

gent l emen of Oxf or d ci t y as I was sayi ng, t he poet s - "

Then t he st or m of shout i ng and hi ssi ng ar ose agai n, and Donovan,

af t er an i nef f ect ual at t empt or t wo t o go on, l eaned f or war d and

shook hi s f i st gener al l y at t he mob. Lucki l y f or hi m, t her e wer e

no st ones about ; but one of t he cr owd, cat chi ng t he f i r st mi ssel

at hand, whi ch happened t o be a cabbage st al k, sent i t wi t h t r ue

ai m at t he enr aged or at or . He j er ked hi s head on one si de t o

avoi d i t ; t he mot i on unst eadi ed hi s cap; he t hr ew up hi s hand,

whi ch, i nst ead of cat chi ng t he f al l i ng cap, as i t was meant t o

do, sent i t spi nni ng among t he cr owd bel ow. The owner , wi t hout a

moment ' s hesi t at i on, cl apped bot h hands on t he bar bef or e hi m,

and f ol l owed hi s pr oper t y, vaul t i ng over on t he heads of t hose

near est t he pl at f or m, amongst whom he f el l , scat t er i ng t hem r i ght

and l ef t .

" Come on, gown, or he' l l be mur der ed, " sang out one of Donovan' s

f r i ends. Tom was one of t he f i r st down t he st eps; t hey r ushed t o

t he spot i n anot her moment , and t he I r i shman r ose, pl ast er ed wi t h

di r t , but ot her wi se none t he wor se f or hi s f eat ; hi s cap, cover ed

Page 97 of 443

wi t h mud, was pr oudl y st uck on, hi nd par t bef or e. He was of

cour se t hi r st i ng f or bat t l e, but not qui t e so much mast er of hi s

st r engt h as usual ; so hi s t wo f r i ends, who wer e l ucki l y st r ong

and bi g men, sei zed hi m, one t o each ar m.

" Come al ong, keep t oget her , " was t he wor d; " t her e' s no t i me t o

l ose. Push f or t he cor n- mar ket . "

The cr y of " Town! t own! " now r ose on al l si des. The gownsmen i n a

compact body, wi t h Donovan i n t he mi ddl e, pushed r api dl y acr oss

t he open space i n whi ch t he car avans wer e set up and gai ned t he

st r eet . Her e t hey wer e compar at i vel y saf e; t hey wer e f ol l owed

cl ose, but coul d not be sur r ounded by t he mob. And now agai n a

byst ander mi ght have amused hi msel f by not i ng t he men' s

char act er s. Thr ee or f our pushed r api dl y on, and wer e out of

si ght ahead i n no t i me. The gr eat er par t , wi t hout showi ng any

act ual si gns of f f ear , kept st eadi l y on, at a good pace. Cl ose

behi nd t hese, Donovan st r uggl ed vi ol ent l y wi t h hi s t wo

conduct or s, and shout ed def i ance t o t he t own; whi l e a smal l and

si l ent r ear guar d, amongst whom wer e Tom and Dr ysdal e, wal ked

sl owl y and, t o al l appear ance, car el essl y behi nd, wi t hi n a f ew

yar ds of t he cr owd of shout i ng boys who headed t he advanci ng

t own. Tom hi msel f f el t hi s hear t beat i ng qui ck, and I don' t t hi nk

had any par t i cul ar desi r e f or t he f i ght i ng t o begi n, wi t h such

l ong odds on t he t own si de; but he was r esol ved t o be i n i t as

soon as any one i f t her e was t o be any. Thus t hey mar ched t hr ough

one or t wo st r eet s wi t hout anyt hi ng mor e ser i ous t han an

occasi onal st one passi ng t hei r ear s. Anot her t ur n woul d have

br ought t hem i nt o t he open par t s of t he t own, wi t hi n hear i ng of

t he col l eges, when suddenl y Donovan br oke l oose f r om hi s

suppor t er s, and r ushi ng wi t h a shout on t he advanced guar d of t he

t own, dr ove t hem back i n conf usi on f or some yar ds. The onl y t hi ng

t o do was t o back hi m up; so t he r ear - guar d, shout i ng " Gown!

gown! " char ged af t er hi m. The ef f ect of t he onset was l i ke t hat

of Bl ount at Fl odden, when he saw Mar mi on' s banner go down, - - a

wi de space was cl ear ed f or a moment , t he t own dr i ven back on t he

pavement s, and up t he mi ddl e of t he st r eet , and t he r escued

Donovan caught , set on hi s l egs, and dr agged away agai n some

paces t owar ds col l ege. But t he char gi ng body was t oo f ew i n

number t o i mpr ove t he f i r st success, or even t o i nsur e i t s own

r et r eat . " Dar kl y cl osed t he war ar ound. " The t own l apped on t hem

f r om t he pavement s, and pour ed on t hem down t he mi ddl e of t he

st r eet , bef or e t hey had t i me t o r al l y and st and t oget her agai n.

What happened t o t he r est - - who was down, who f ought , who

f l ed, - - Tom had no t i me t o i nqui r e; f or he f ound hi msel f suddenl y

t he cent r e of a yel l i ng ci r cl e of enemi es. So he set hi s t eet h

and buckl ed t o hi s wor k; and t he t hought of spl endi d si ngl e

combat , and gl or y such as he had r ead of i n col l ege st or i es, and

t r adi t i on handi ng hi m down as t he her o of t hat gr eat ni ght ,

f l ashed i nt o hi s head as he cast hi s eye r ound f or f oemen wor t hy

of hi s st eel . None such appear ed; so, sel ect i ng t he one most of

hi s own si ze, he squar ed and advanced on hi m. But t he chal l enged

one decl i ned t he combat , and kept r et r eat i ng; whi l e f r om behi nd,

and at t he si des, one af t er anot her of t he " t own" r ushi ng out

deal t Tom a bl ow and vani shed agai n i nt o t he cr owd. For a moment

or t wo he kept hi s head and t emper ; t he assai l ant s i ndi vi dual l y

wer e t oo i nsi gni f i cant t o put out hi s st r engt h upon; but head and

t emper wer e r api dl y goi ng; - - he was l i ke a bul l i n t he ar ena wi t h

t he pi cador es st i cki ng t hei r l i t t l e j avel i ns i n hi m. A smar t bl ow

on t he nose, whi ch set a myr i ad of st ar s danci ng bef or e hi s eyes,

f i ni shed t he busi ness, and he r ushed af t er t he l ast assai l ant ,

deal i ng bl ows t o r i ght and l ef t , on smal l and gr eat . The mob

cl osed i n on hi m, st i l l avoi di ng at t acks i n f r ont , but on t he

Page 98 of 443

f l ank and r ear t hey hung on hi m and bat t er ed at hi m. He had t o

t ur n shar pl y r ound af t er ever y st ep t o shake hi msel f cl ear , and

at each t ur n t he pr ess t hi ckened, t he shout s waxed l ouder and

f i er cer ; he began t o get unst eady; t ot t er ed, swayed, and,

st umbl i ng over a pr ost r at e yout h, at l ast went down f ul l l engt h

on t o t he pavement , car r yi ng a coupl e of hi s assai l ant s wi t h hi m.

And now i t woul d have f ar ed har dl y wi t h hi m, and he woul d

scar cel y have r eached col l ege wi t h sound bones, - - f or I am sor r y

t o say an Oxf or d t own mob i s a cr uel and br ut al one, and a man

who i s down has no chance wi t h i t , - - but t hat f or one moment he

and hi s pr ost r at e f oes wer e so j umbl ed t oget her t hat t he t own

coul d not get at hi m, and t he next cr y of " Gown! gown! " r ose hi gh

above t he di n; t he t own wer e swept back agai n by t he r ush of a

r ei nf or cement of gownsmen, t he l eader of whom sei zed hi m by t he

shoul der s and put hi m on hi s l egs agai n; whi l e hi s l at e

ant agoni st s cr awl ed away t o t he si de of t he r oad.

" Why, Br own! " sai d hi s r escuer , - - Jer vi s, t he Capt ai n, - - " t hi s,

you? Not hur t , eh?"

" Not a bi t , " sai d Tom.

" Good; come on, t hen; st i ck t o me. " I n t hr ee st eps t hey j oi ned

t he r est of t he gown, now number i ng some t went y men. The mob was

cl ose bef or e t hem, gat her i ng f or anot her r ush. Tom f el t a cr uel ,

wi l d devi l begi nni ng t o r i se i n hi m; he had never f el t t he l i ke

bef or e. Thi s t i me he l onged f or t he next cr ash, whi ch happi l y f or

hi m, was f at ed never t o come of f .

" Your names and col l eges, gent l emen, " sai d a voi ce cl ose behi nd

t hem at t hi s cr i t i cal moment . The " t own" set up a der i si ve shout ,

and, t ur ni ng r ound, t he gownsmen f ound t he vel vet sl eeves of one

of t he pr oct or s at t hei r el bow and hi s sat el l i t es, vul gar l y

cal l ed bul l - dogs, t aki ng not es of t hem. They wer e compl et el y

caught , and so qui et l y gave t he r equi r ed i nf or mat i on.

" You wi l l go t o your col l eges at once, " sai d t he pr oct or , " and

r emai n wi t hi n gat es. You wi l l see t hese gent l emen t o t he

Hi gh- st r eet , " he added t o hi s mar shal ; and t hen st r ode on af t er

t he cr owd, whi ch was vani shi ng down t he st r eet .

The men t ur ned and st r ol l ed t owar ds t he Hi gh- st r eet , t he mar shal l

keepi ng, i n a def er ent i al but wi de- awake manner , pr et t y cl ose t o

t hem, but wi t hout maki ng any show of wat chi ng t hem. When t hey

r eached t he Hi gh- st r eet he t ouched hi s hat and sai d ci vi l l y, " I

hope you wi l l go home now, gent l emen, t he seni or pr oct or i s ver y

st r i ct . "

" Al l r i ght , mar shal l ; good ni ght , " sai d t he good nat ur ed ones.

" D- - - hi s i mpudence, " gr owl ed one or t wo of t he r est , and t he

mar shal bust l ed away af t er hi s mast er . The men l ooked at one

anot her f or a moment or t wo. They wer e of di f f er ent col l eges, and

st r anger s. The Hi gh- st r eet was qui et ; so wi t hout t he exchange of

a wor d, af t er t he manner of Br i t i sh yout h, t hey br oke up i nt o

t wos and t hr ees, and par t ed. Jer vi s, Tom, and Dr ysdal e, who

t ur ned up qui t e undamaged, saunt er ed t oget her t owar ds St .

Ambr ose' s.

" I say, wher e ar e you goi ng?" sai d Dr ysdal e.

" Not t o col l ege, I vot e, " sai d Tom.

" No, t her e may be some mor e f un. "

Page 99 of 443

" Mi ght y poor f un, I shoul d say, you' l l f i nd i t , " sai d Jer vi s;

" however , i f you wi l l st ay, I suppose I must . I can' t l eave you

t wo boys by your sel ves. "

" Come al ong t hen, down her e. " So t hey t ur ned down one of t he

cour t s l eadi ng out of t he Hi gh- st r eet , and so by back st r eet s

bor e up agai n f or t he di st ur bed di st r i ct s.

" Mi nd and keep a shar p l ookout f or t he pr oct or s, " sai d Jer vi s;

" as much r ow as you pl ease, but we must n' t be caught agai n. "

" Wel l , onl y l et ' s keep t oget her i f we have t o bol t . "

They pr omenaded i n l onel y di gni t y f or some f i ve mi nut es, keepi ng

eyes and ear s on f ul l st r ai n.

" I t el l you what , " sai d Dr ysdal e, at l ast , " i t i sn' t f ai r , t hese

enemi es i n t he camp; what wi t h t he ' t own' and t hei r st ones and

f i st s, and t he pr oct or s wi t h t hei r ' name and col l ege, ' we' ve got

t he wr ong end of t he st i ck. "

" Bot h wr ong ends, I can t el l you, " sai d Jer vi s. " Hel l o, Br own,

your nose i s bl eedi ng. "

" I s i t ?" sai d Tom, dr awi ng hi s hand acr oss hi s mout h; " ' t was t hat

conf ounded l i t t l e f el l ow t hen who r an up t o my si de whi l e I was

squar i ng at t he l ong par t y. I f el t a shar p cr ack, and t he l i t t l e

r ascal bol t ed i nt o t he cr owd bef or e I coul d t ur n at hi m. "

" Cut and come agai n, " sai d Dr ysdal e, l aughi ng.

" Ay, t hat ' s t he r egul ar t hi ng i n t hese bl ackguar d st r eet

squabbl es. Her e t hey come t hen, " sai d Jer vi s. " St eady, al l . "

They t ur ned ar ound t o f ace t he t own, whi ch came shout i ng down t he

st r eet behi nd t hem i n pur sui t of one gownsman, a l i t t l e,

har ml ess, qui et f el l ow, who had f al l en t hem on hi s way back t o

hi s col l ege f r om a t ea wi t h hi s t ut or , and, l i ke a wi se man, was

gi vi ng t hem l eg- bai l as har d as he coul d f oot i t . But t he l i t t l e

man was of a cour ageous, t hough pr udent soul , and t ur ned pant i ng

and gaspi ng on hi s f oes t he moment he f ound hi msel f amongst

f r i ends agai n.

" Now, t hen, st i ck t oget her ; don' t l et t hem get ar ound us, " sai d

Jer vi s.

They wal ked st eadi l y down t he st r eet , whi ch was l ucki l y a nar r ow

one, so t hat t hr ee of t hem coul d keep t he whol e of i t , hal t i ng

and showi ng f r ont ever y f ew yar ds, when t he cr owd pr essed t oo

much. " Down wi t h t hem! Town, t own! That ' s t wo as was i n t he

show. " " Mar k t he vel vet - capped chap. Town, t own! " shout ed t he

hi nder par t of t he mob, but i t was a r abbl e of boys as bef or e,

and t he f r ont r ank t ook ver y good car e of i t sel f , and f or bor e

f r om cl ose quar t er s.

The smal l gownsman had now got hi s wi nd agai n; and smar t i ng under

t he i gnomi ny of hi s r ecent f l i ght , was al ways a pace or t wo

near er t he cr owd t han t he ot her t hr ee, r uf f l i ng up l i ke a l i t t l e

bant am, and shout i ng def i ance bet ween t he cat chi ngs of hi s

br eat h.

" You vagabonds! you cowar ds! Come on now I say! Gown, gown! " And

at l ast , embol dened by t he r epeat ed hal t s of t he mob, and

Page 100 of 443

t hi r st i ng f or r evenge, he made a dash at one of t he near est of

t he enemy. The suddenness of t he at t ack t ook bot h si des by

sur pr i se, t hen came a r ush by t wo or t hr ee of t he t own t o t he

r escue.

" No, no! st and back- - one at a t i me, " shout ed t he Capt ai n,

t hr owi ng hi msel f bet ween t he combat ant s and t he mob. " Go i t ,

l i t t l e ' un; ser ve hi m out . Keep t he r est back boys; st eady! " Tom

and Dr ysdal e f aced t owar ds t he cr owd, whi l e a l i t t l e gownsman and

hi s ant agoni st - - who def ended hi msel f vi gor ousl y enough now- - came

t o cl ose quar t er s, i n t he r ear of t he gown l i ne; t oo cl ose t o

hur t one anot her but what wi t h huggi ng and cuf f i ng t he t ownsman

i n anot her hal f - mi nut e was si t t i ng qui et l y on t he pavement wi t h

hi s back agai nst t he wal l , hi s enemy squar i ng i n f r ont of hi m,

and dar i ng hi m t o r enew t he combat . " Get up, you cowar d; get up,

I say, you cowar d! He won' t get up, " sai d t he l i t t l e man, eager l y

t ur ni ng t o t he Capt ai n. " Shal l I gi ve hi m a ki ck?"

" No, l et t he cur al one, " r epl i ed Jer vi s. " Now, do any mor e of you

want t o f i ght ? Come on l i ke men one at a t i me. I ' l l f i ght any man

i n t he cr owd. "

Whet her t he chal l enge woul d have been answer ed must r est

uncer t ai n; f or now t he cr owd began t o l ook back, and a cr y ar ose,

" Her e t hey ar e, pr oct or s! now t hey' l l r un. "

" So we must , by Jove, Br own, " sai d t he Capt ai n. " What ' s your

col l ege?" t o t he l i t t l e her o.

" Pembr oke. "

" Cut away, t hen; you' r e cl ose at home. "

" Ver y wel l , i f I must ; good ni ght , " and away went t he smal l man

as f ast as he had come; and i t has never been hear d t hat he came

t o f ur t her gr i ef , or per f or med ot her f eat s t hat ni ght .

" Hang i t , don' t l et ' s r un, " sai d Dr ysdal e.

" I s i t t he pr oct or s?" sai d Tom. " I can t see t hem. "

" Mar k t he bl oody- f aced one; ki ck hi m over , " sang out a voi ce i n

t he cr owd.

" Thank' ee, " sai d Tom, savagel y. " Let ' s have one r ush at t hem. "

" Look! t her e' s t he pr oct or ' s cap j ust t hr ough t hem; come al ong

boys- - wel l , st ay i f you l i ke, and be r ust i cat ed, I ' m of f , " and

away went Jer vi s, and t he next moment Tom and Dr ysdal e f ol l owed

t he good exampl e, and, as t hey had t o r un, made t he best use of

t hei r l egs, and i n t wo mi nut es wer e wel l ahead of t hei r pur suer s.

They t ur ned a cor ner ; " Her e, Br own! al i ght i n t hi s publ i c, cut

i n, and i t ' s al l r i ght . " Next moment t hey wer e i n t he dar k

passage of a qui et l i t t l e i nn, and hear d wi t h a chuckl e par t of

t he cr owd scur r y by t he door i n pur sui t , whi l e t hey t hemsel ves

suddenl y appear ed i n t he neat l i t t l e bar , t o t he no smal l

ast oni shment of i t s occupant s. These wer e a st out el der l y woman

i n spect acl es, who was st i t chi ng away at pl ai n wor k i n an

ar m- chai r on one si de of t he f i r e; t he f or eman of one of t he

gr eat boat - bui l der s, who sat opposi t e her , smoki ng hi s pi pe wi t h

a l ong gl ass of cl ear al e at hi s el bow; and a br i ght - eyed, neat

handed bar mai d, who was l eani ng agai nst t he t abl e, and t al ki ng

t o t he ot her s as t hey ent er ed.

Page 101 of 443

CHAPTER XI I

THE CAPTAI N' S NOTI ONS

The ol d l ady dr opped her wor k, t he bar mai d t ur ned r ound wi t h a

st ar t and l i t t l e ej acul at i on, and t he f or eman st ar ed wi t h al l hi s

eyes f or a moment , and t hen, j umpi ng up, excl ai med- -

" Bl ess us, i f i t i sn' t Must er Dr ysdal e and Must er Br own, of

Ambr ose' s. Why what ' s t he mat t er , si r ? Must er Br own, you be al l

cover ed wi ' bl ood, si r . "

" Oh dear me! poor young gent l emen! " cr i ed t he host ess; - - " Her e,

Pat t y, r un and t el l Di ck t o go f or t he doct or , and get t he best

r oom- - "

" No, pl ease don' t ; i t ' s not hi ng at al l , " i nt er r upt ed Tom,

l aughi ng; - - " a basi n of col d wat er and a t owel , i f you pl ease,

Mi ss Pat t y, and I shal l be qui t e pr esent abl e i n a mi nut e. I ' m

ver y sor r y t o have f r i ght ened you al l . "

Dr ysdal e j oi ned i n t he assur ances t hat i t was not hi ng but a

l i t t l e of hi s f r i end' s " cl ar et , " whi ch he woul d be al l t he bet t er

f or l osi ng, and wat ched wi t h an envi ous eye t he i nt er est depi ct ed

i n Pat t y' s pr et t y f ace, as she hur r i ed i n wi t h a basi n of f r esh

pumped wat er , and hel d t he t owel . Tom bat hed hi s f ace, and ver y

soon was as r espect abl e a member of soci et y as usual , save f or a

sl i ght swel l i ng on one si de of hi s nose.

Dr ysdal e meant i me- - seat ed on t he t abl e- - had been expl ai ni ng t he

ci r cumst ances t o t he l andl ady and t he f or eman. " And now, ma' am, "

sai d he as Tom j oi ned t hem, and seat ed hi msel f on a vacant chai r ,

" I ' m sur e you must dr aw f amous al e. "

" I ndeed, si r , I t hi nk Di ck- - t hat ' s my ost l er , si r - - i s as good a

br ewer as i s i n t he t own. We al ways br ew at home, si r , and I hope

al ways shal l . "

" Qui t e r i ght , ma' am, qui t e r i ght , " sai d Dr ysdal e; " and I don' t

t hi nk we can do bet t er t han f ol l ow Jem her e. Let us have a j ug of

t he same al e as he i s dr i nki ng. And you' l l t ake a gl ass wi t h us,

Jem? or wi l l you have spi r i t s?"

Jem was f or anot her gl ass of al e, and bor e wi t ness t o i t s bei ng

t he best i n Oxf or d, and Pat t y dr ew t he al e, and suppl i ed t wo mor e

l ong gl asses. Dr ysdal e, wi t h apol ogi es, pr oduced hi s ci gar case;

and Jem, under t he i nf l uence of t he al e and a f i r st - r at e Havannah

( f or whi ch he deser t ed hi s pi pe, t hough he di d not enj oy i t hal f

as much) , vol unt eer ed t o go and r ouse t he yar d and conduct t hem

saf el y back t o col l ege. Thi s of f er was of cour se, pol i t el y

decl i ned and t hen, Jem' s hour f or bed havi ng come, he bei ng a

met hodi cal man, as became hi s posi t i on, depar t ed, and l ef t our

t wo young f r i ends i n sol e possessi on of t he bar . Not hi ng coul d

have sui t ed t he t wo young gent l emen bet t er , and t hey set t o wor k

t o make t hemsel ves agr eeabl e. They l i st ened wi t h l i vel y i nt er est

t o t he l andl ady' s st at ement of t he di f f i cul t i es of a wi dow woman

i n a house l i ke her s, and t o her pr ai ses of her f act ot um Di ck and

her ni ece Pat t y. They appl auded her r esol ut i on of not br i ngi ng up

her t wo boys i n t he publ i can l i ne, t hough t hey coul d of f er no

ver y avai l abl e answer her appeal s f or advi ce as t o what t r ade

t hey shoul d be put t o; al l t r ades wer e so f ul l , and t hi ngs wer e

not as t hey t o be. The one t hi ng, appar ent l y, whi ch was want i ng

Page 102 of 443

t o t he happi ness of Dr ysdal e at Oxf or d, was t he di scover y of such

beer as he had at l ast f ound at " The Choughs. "

Di ck was t o come up t o St . Ambr ose' s t he f i r st t hi ng i n t he

mor ni ng and car r y of f hi s bar r el , whi ch woul d never cont ai n i n

f ut ur e any ot her l i qui d. At l ast t hat wor t hy appear ed i n t he bar

t o know when he was t o shut up, and was sent out by hi s mi st r ess

t o see t hat t he st r eet was cl ear , f or whi ch ser vi ce he r ecei ved a

shi l l i ng, t hough hi s of f er of escor t was decl i ned. And so, af t er

payi ng i n a spl endi d manner f or t hei r ent er t ai nment , t hey f ound

t hemsel ves i n t he st r eet , and set of f f or col l ege, agr eei ng on

t he way t hat " The Choughs" was a gr eat f i nd, t he ol d l ady was t he

best ol d soul i n t he wor l d, and Pat t y t he pr et t i est gi r l i n

Oxf or d. They f ound t he st r eet s qui et , and wal ki ng qui ckl y al ong

t hem, knocked at t he col l ege gat es at hal f - past el even. The st out

por t er r ecei ved t hem wi t h a l ong f ace.

" Seni or pr oct or ' s sent down her e an hour back, gent l emen, t o f i nd

whet her you was i n col l ege. "

" You don' t mean t hat , por t er ? How ki nd of hi m! What di d you say?"

" Sai d I di dn' t know, si r ; but t he mar shal sai d, i f you come i n

af t er , t hat you was t o go t o t he seni or pr oct or ' s at hal f - past

ni ne t o- mor r ow. "

" Send my compl i ment s t o t he seni or pr oct or , " sai d Dr ysdal e, " and

say I have a ver y par t i cul ar engagement t o mor r ow mor ni ng, whi ch

wi l l pr event my havi ng t he pl easur e of cal l i ng on hi m. "

" Ver y good, si r , " sai d t he por t er , gi vi ng a l i t t l e dr y chuckl e,

and t appi ng t he keys agai nst hi s l eg; " onl y per haps you woul dn' t

mi nd wr i t i ng hi m a not e, si r , as he i s r at her a par t i cul ar

gent l eman. "

" Di dn' t he send af t er anyone el se?" sai d Tom.

" Yes, si r , Mr . Jer vi s, si r . "

" Wel l , and what about hi m?"

" Oh, si r , Mr . Jer vi s! an ol d hand, si r . He' d been i n gat es l ong

t i me, si r , when t he mar shal came. "

" The sl y ol d beggar ! " sai d Dr ysdal e, " good ni ght , por t er ; mi nd

you send my message t o t he pr oct or . I f he i s set on seei ng me

t o- mor r ow, you can say t hat he wi l l f i nd a br oi l ed chi cken and a

hand at pi cquet i n my r ooms, i f he l i kes t o dr op i n t o l unch. "

The por t er l ooked af t er t hem f or a moment , and t hen r et i r ed t o

hi s deep ol d chai r i n t he l odge, pul l ed hi s ni ght cap over hi s

ear s, put up hi s f eet bef or e t he f i r e on a hi gh st ool , and f ol ded

hi s hands on hi s l ap. " The most i mpi dent est t hi ng on t he f ace of

t he ear t h i s i t gen' l ' man- commoner i n hi s f i r st year , "

sol i l oqui zed t he l i t t l e man. " ' Twoul d ha' done t hat one a si ght

of good, now, i f he' d got a good hi di ng i n t he st r eet t o- ni ght .

But he' s bet t er t han most on ' em, t oo, " he went on; " uncommon

f r ee wi t h hi s t ongue, but j ust as f r ee wi t h hi s ar f - sover ei gns.

Wel l , I ' m not goi ng t o peach i f t he pr oct or don' t send agai n i n

t he mor ni ng. That sor t ' s good f or t he col l ege; makes t hi ngs

br i sk; has hi s _wi ne_ f r om t own, and don' t keep no keys. I

wonder , now, i f my Pet er ' s been out a f i ght i ng? He' s pr et t y ni gh

as har d t o manage, i s t hat boy, as i f he was at col l ege hi ssel f . "

Page 103 of 443

And so, mut t er i ng over hi s domest i c and pr of essi onal gr i evances,

t he smal l j ani t or composed hi msel f t o a nap. I may add,

par ent het i cal l y, t hat hi s hopef ul Pet er , a pr ecoci ous yout h of

sevent een, scout ' s boy on No. 3 st ai r case of St . Ambr ose' s

Col l ege, was r epr esent ed i n t he boot cl eani ng and er r and l i ne by

a subst i t ut e f or some days; and when he r et ur ned t o dut y was

mi nus a f r ont t oot h.

" What f ool s we wer e not t o st i ck t o t he Capt ai n. I wonder what we

shal l get , " sai d Tom, who was t r oubl ed i n hi s mi nd at t he

pr oct or ' s message, and not gi f t ed nat ur al l y wi t h t he r eckl essness

and cont empt of aut hor i t y whi ch i n Dr ysdal e' s case appr oached t he

subl i me.

" Who car es? I ' l l be bound, now, t he ol d f ox came st r ai ght home t o

ear t h. Let ' s go and knock hi m up. "

Tom assent ed, f or he was anxi ous t o consul t Jer vi s as t o hi s

pr oceedi ngs i n t he mor ni ng; so t hey soon f ound t hemsel ves

dr ummi ng at hi s oak, whi ch was opened shor t l y by " t he st r oke" i n

an ol d boat i ng- j acket . They f ol l owed hi m i n. At one end of hi s

t abl e st ood hi s t ea- ser vi ce and t he r emai ns of hi s commons, whi ch

t he scout had not cl ear ed away; at t he ot her , open books,

not e- books, and maps showed t hat t he Capt ai n r ead, as he r owed,

" har d al l . "

" Wel l , ar e you t wo onl y j ust i n?"

" Onl y j ust , my Capt ai n, " answer ed Dr ysdal e.

" Have you been wel l t hr ashed, t hen? You don' t l ook much damaged?"

" We ar e i nnocent of f i ght si nce your sudden depar t ur e- - f l i ght ,

shal l I cal l i t ?- - my Capt ai n. "

" Wher e have you been?"

" Wher e! why i n t he par agon of al l pot houses; snug l i t t l e bar

wi t h r ed cur t ai ns; st out ol d benevol ent f emal e i n spect acl es;

bar mai d an hour i ; and f or mal t t he most t ouchi ng t ap i n Oxf or d,

wasn' t i t , Br own?"

" Yes, t he beer was undeni abl e, " sai d Tom.

" Wel l , and you dawdl ed t her e t i l l now?" sai d Jer vi s.

" Even so. What wi t h mobs t hat woul dn' t f i ght f ai r , t he capt ai ns

who woul d r un away, and t he pr oct or s mar shal s who woul d

i nt er f er e, we wer e ' per f ect l y di sgust ed wi t h t he whol e

pr oceedi ngs, ' as t he Scot chman sai d when he was sent enced t o be

hanged. "

" Wel l ! Heaven, t hey say, pr ot ect s chi l dr en, sai l or s, and dr unken

men; and what ever answer t o Heaven i n t he academi cal syst em

pr ot ect s f r eshmen, " r emar ked Jer vi s.

" Not us, at any r at e, " sai d Tom, " f or we ar e t o go t o t he pr oct or

t o- mor r ow mor ni ng. "

" What , di d he cat ch you i n your f amous publ i c?"

" No; t he mar shal came r ound t o t he por t er ' s l odge, asked i f we

wer e i n, and l ef t wor d t hat , i f we wer e not , we wer e t o go t o hi m

i n t he mor ni ng. The por t er t ol d us j ust now as we came i n. "

Page 104 of 443

" Pshaw, " sai d t he Capt ai n, wi t h di sgust ; " now you' l l be gat ed

pr obabl y, and t he whol e cr ew wi l l be t hr own out of gear . Why

coul dn' t you have come home when I di d?"

" We do not pr opose t o at t end t he l evee of t hat excel l ent per son

i n of f i ce t o- mor r ow mor ni ng, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " He wi l l f or get al l

about i t . Ol d Copas won' t say a wor d- - cat ch hi m. He get s t oo much

out of me f or t hat . "

" Wel l , you' l l see; I ' l l back t he pr oct or ' s memor y. "

" But , Capt ai n, what ar e you goi ng t o st and?"

" St and! not hi ng, unl ess you l i ke a cup of col d t ea. You' l l get no

wi ne or spi r i t s her e at t hi s t i me of ni ght , and t he but t er y i s

shut . Besi des you' ve had qui t e as much beer as good f or you at

your par agon publ i c. "

" Come, now, Capt ai n, j ust t wo gl asses of sher r y, and I ' l l pr omi se

t o go t o bed. "

" Not a t hi mbl ef ul . "

" You ol d t yr ant ! " sai d Dr ysdal e, hoppi ng of f hi s per ch on t he

el bow of t he sof a. " Come al ong, Br own, l et ' s go and dr aw f or some

supper , and a hand at Van John. Ther e' s sur e t o be somet hi ng

goi ng up my st ai r case; or , at any r at e, t her e' s a cool bot t l e of

cl ar et i n my r ooms. "

" St op and have a t al k, Br own, " sai d t he Capt ai n, and pr evai l ed

agai nst Dr ysdal e, who, af t er anot her at t empt t o dr aw Tom of f ,

depar t ed on hi s quest f or dr i nk and car ds.

" He' l l never do f or t he boat , I ' m af r ai d, " sai d t he Capt ai n;

" wi t h hi s r ascal l y l at e hour s, and dr i nki ng and eat i ng al l sor t s

of t r ash. I t ' s a pi t y, t oo f or he' s a pr et t y oar f or hi s wei ght . "

" He i s such uncommon good company, t oo, " sai d Tom.

" Yes; but I ' l l t el l you what . He' s j ust a l eet l e t oo good company

f or you and me, or any f el l ows who mean t o t ake a degr ee. Let ' s

see, t hi s i s onl y hi s t hi r d t er m? I ' l l gi ve hi m, per haps, t wo

mor e t o make t he pl ace t oo hot t o hol d hi m. Take my wor d f or i t ,

he' l l never get t o hi s l i t t l e- go. "

" I t wi l l be a gr eat pi t y, t hen, " sai d Tom.

" So i t wi l l . But af t er al l , you see, what does i t mat t er t o hi m?

He get s r ust i cat ed; t akes hi s name of f wi t h a f l our i sh of

t r umpet s- - what t hen? He f al l s back on 5, 000L a year i n l and, and

a good accumul at i on i n consol s, r uns abr oad or l i ves i n t own f or

a year . Takes t he hounds when he comes of age, or i s si ngl ed out

by some di scer ni ng const i t uency, and sent t o make l aws f or hi s

count r y, havi ng spent t he whol e of hi s l i f e hi t her t o i n br eaki ng

al l t he l aws he ever came under . You and I , per haps, go f ool i ng

about wi t h hi m, and get r ust i cat ed. We make our f r i ends

mi ser abl e. We can' t t ake our names of f , but have t o come cr i ngi ng

back at t he end of our year , mar ked men. Keep our t ai l s bet ween

our l egs f or t he r est of t he t i me. Lose a year at our

pr of essi ons, and most l i kel y have t he sl i p cast i ng up agai nst us

i n one way or anot her f or t he next t went y year s. I t ' s l i ke t he

ol d st or y of t he gi ant and t he dwar f , or l i ke f i ght i ng a sweep,

or any ot her one- si ded busi ness. "

Page 105 of 443

" But I ' d sooner have t o f i ght my own way i n t he wor l d af t er al l ;

woul dn' t you?" sai d Tom.

" H- m- m! " sai d t he Capt ai n, t hr owi ng hi msel f back i n t he chai r ,

and smi l i ng; " can' t answer of f hand. I ' m a t hi r d year man, and

begi n t o see t he ot her si de r at her cl ear er t han I di d when I was

a f r eshman l i ke you. Thr ee year s at Oxf or d, my boy, wi l l t each

you somet hi ng of what r ank and money count f or , i f t hey t each you

not hi ng el se. "

" Why, her e' s t he Capt ai n si ngi ng t he same song as Har dy, " t hought

Tom.

" So you t wo have t o go t o t he pr oct or t o- mor r ow?"

" Yes. "

" Shal l you go? Dr ysdal e won' t . "

" Of cour se I shal l . I t seems t o me chi l di sh not t o go; as i f I

wer e back i n t he l ower school agai n. To t el l you t he t r ut h, t he

bei ng sent f or i sn' t pl easant ; but t he ot her I coul dn' t st and. "

" Wel l , I don' t f eel anyt hi ng of t hat sor t . But I t hi nk you' r e

r i ght on t he whol e. The chances ar e t hat he' l l r emember your

name, and send f or you agai n i f you don' t go; and t hen you' l l be

wor se of f . "

" You don' t t hi nk he' l l r ust i cat e us, or anyt hi ng of t hat sor t ?"

sai d Tom, who had f el t hor r i bl e t wi nges at t he Capt ai n' s pi ct ur e

of t he ef f ect s of r ust i cat i on on or di nar y mor t al s.

" No; not unl ess he' s i n a ver y bad humour . I was caught t hr ee

t i mes i n one ni ght i n my f r eshman' s t er m, and onl y got an

i mposi t i on. "

" Then I don' t car e, " sai d Tom. " But i t ' s a bor e t o have been

caught i n so seedy an af f ai r ; i f i t had been a r eal good r ow, one

woul dn' t have mi nded so much. "

" Why, what di d you expect ? I t was nei t her bet t er nor wor se t han

t he common r un of such t hi ngs. "

" Wel l , but t hr ee par t s of t he cr owd wer e boys. "

" So t hey ar e al ways- - or ni ne t i mes out of t en at any r at e. "

" But t her e was no r eal f i ght i ng; at l east , I onl y know I got

none. "

" Ther e i sn' t any r eal f i ght i ng, as you cal l i t , ni ne t i mes out of

t en. "

" What i s t her e, t hen?"

" Why, somet hi ng of t hi s sor t . Fi ve shopboys, or scout s' boys,

f ul l of sauci ness, l oi t er i ng at an out - of - t he- way st r eet cor ner .

Ent er t wo f r eshmen, f ul l of di gni t y and bad wi ne. Expl osi on of

i nf l ammabl e mat er i al . Fr eshmen mobbed i nt o Hi gh- st r eet or

Br oad- st r eet , wher e t he t abl es ar e t ur ned by a gat her i ng of many

mor e f r eshmen, and t he mob of t own boys qui et l y subsi des, put s

i t s hands i n i t s pocket s, and ceases t o shout ' Town, t own! ' The

t r i umphant f r eshmen mar ch up and down f or per haps hal f an hour ,

Page 106 of 443

shout i ng ' Gown, gown! ' and l ooki ng f ur i ous, but not hal f sor r y

t hat t he mob vani shes l i ke mi st at t hei r appr oach. Then come t he

pr oct or s, who hunt down, and br eak up t he gown i n some hal f - hour

or hour . The ' t own' agai n mar ches about i n t he ascendant , and

mobs t he scat t er ed f r eshmen, wher ever t hey can be caught i n ver y

smal l number s. "

" But wi t h al l your chaf f about f r eshmen, Capt ai n, you wer e i n i t

your sel f t o- ni ght ; come now. "

" Of cour se, I had t o l ook af t er you t wo boys. "

" But you di dn' t know we wer e i n when you came up?"

" I was sur e t o f i nd some of you. Besi des, I ' l l admi t one don' t

l i ke t o go i n whi l e t her e' s any chance of a r eal r ow as you cal l

i t , and so get s pr oct or i zed i n one' s ol d age f or one' s

pat r i ot i sm. "

" Wer e you ever i n a r eal r ow?" sai d Tom.

" Yes, once, about a year ago. The f i ght i ng number s wer e about

equal , and t he t own al l gr own men, l abour er s and mechani cs. I t

was desper at e har d wor k, none of your shout i ng and pr omenadi ng.

That Har dy, one of our Bi bl e cl er ks, f ought l i ke a Pal adi n; I

know I shi f t ed a f el l ow i n cor dur oys on t o hi m, whom I had f ound

an uncommon t ough cust omer , and never f el t bet t er pl eased i n my

l i f e t han when I saw t he l i ght gl ance on hi s hobnai l s as he went

over i nt o t he gut t er t wo mi nut es af t er war ds. I t l ast ed, per haps,

t en mi nut es, and bot h si des wer e ver y gl ad t o dr aw of f . "

" But , of cour se, you l i cked t hem?"

" We sai d we di d. "

" Wel l , I bel i eve t hat a gent l eman wi l l al ways l i ck i n a f ai r

f i ght . "

" Of cour se you do, i t ' s t he or t hodox bel i ef . "

" But don' t you?"

" Yes; i f he i s as bi g and st r ong, and knows how t o f i ght as wel l

as t he ot her . The odds ar e t hat he car es a l i t t l e mor e f or gi vi ng

i n, and t hat wi l l pul l hi m t hr ough. "

" That i sn' t sayi ng much, t hough. "

" No, but i t ' s qui t e as much as i s t r ue. I ' l l t el l you what i t i s,

I t hi nk j ust t hi s, t hat we ar e gener al l y bet t er i n t he f i ght i ng

way t han shopkeeper s, cl er ks, f l unki es, and al l f el l ows who don' t

wor k har d wi t h t hei r bodi es al l day. But t he moment you come t o

t he r eal har d- f i st ed f el l ow; used t o ni ne or t en hour s' wor k a

day, he' s a cr uel har d cust omer . Take sevent y or ei ght y of t hem

at haphazar d, t he f i r st you meet , and t ur n t hem i nt o St . Ambr ose

any mor ni ng- - by ni ght I t ake i t t hey woul d be l or ds of t hi s

vener abl e est abl i shment i f we had t o f i ght f or t he possessi on;

except , per haps, f or t hat Har dy- - he' s one of a t housand, and was

bor n f or a f i ght i ng man; per haps he mi ght pul l us t hr ough. "

" Why don' t you t r y hi m i n t he boat ?"

" Mi l l er manages al l t hat . I spoke t o hi m about i t af t er t hat r ow,

but he sai d t hat Har dy had r ef used t o subscr i be t o t he cl ub, sai d

Page 107 of 443

he coul dn' t af f or d i t , or somet hi ng of t he sor t . I don' t see why

t hat need mat t er , mysel f , but I suppose, as we have r ul es, we

ought t o st i ck t o t hem. "

" I t ' s a gr eat pi t y t hough. I know Har dy wel l , and you can' t t hi nk

what a f i ne f el l ow he i s. "

" I ' m sur e of t hat . I t r i ed t o know hi m, and we don' t get on badl y

as speaki ng acquai nt ance. But he seems a queer , sol i t ar y bi r d. "

Twel ve o' cl ock st r uck; so Tom wi shed t he Capt ai n good ni ght and

depar t ed, medi t at i ng much on what he had hear d and seen. The

vi si on of t er r i bl e si ngl e combat s, i n whi ch t he descendant of a

hundr ed ear l s pol i shes of f t he huge r epr esent at i ve of t he masses

i n t he most f i ni shed st yl e, wi t hout a scr at ch on hi s own

ar i st ocr at i c f eat ur es, had f aded f r om hi s mi nd.

He went t o bed t hat ni ght , f ai r l y si ckened wi t h hi s exper i ence of

a t own and gown r ow, and wi t h a nast y t ast e i n hi s mout h. But he

f el t much pl eased at havi ng dr awn out t he Capt ai n so compl et el y.

For " t he st r oke" was i n gener al a man of mar vel l ous f ew wor ds,

havi ng many bet t er uses t han t al ki ng t o put hi s br eat h t o.

Next mor ni ng he at t ended at t he pr oct or ' s r ooms at t he appoi nt ed

t i me, not wi t hout some f eel i ng of shame at havi ng t o do so;

whi ch, however , wor e of f when he f ound some dozen men of ot her

col l eges wai t i ng about on t he same er r and as hi msel f . I n hi s t ur n

he was usher ed i n, and as he st ood by t he door , had t i me t o l ook

t he gr eat man over as he sat maki ng a not e of t he case he had

j ust di sposed of . The i nspect i on was r eassur i ng. The pr oct or was

a gent l emanl y, st r ai ght - f or war d l ooki ng man of about t hi r t y, not

at al l donni sh, and hi s addr ess answer ed t o hi s appear ance.

" Mr . Br own, of St . Ambr ose' s, I t hi nk, " he sai d.

" Yes, si r . "

" I sent you t o your col l ege yest er day eveni ng; di d you go

st r ai ght home?"

" No, si r . "

" How was t hat , Mr . Br own?"

Tom made no answer , and t he pr oct or l ooked at hi m st eadi l y f or a

f ew seconds, and t hen r epeat ed.

" How was t hat ?"

" Wel l , si r , " sai d Tom, " I don' t mean t o say I was goi ng st r ai ght

t o col l ege, but I shoul d have been i n l ong bef or e you sent , onl y

I f el l i n wi t h t he mob agai n, and t hen t her e was a cr y t hat you

wer e comi ng. And so- " He paused.

" Wel l , " sai d t he pr oct or , wi t h a gr i m sor t of cur l about t he

cor ner s of hi s mout h.

" Why, I r an away, and t ur ned i nt o t he f i r st pl ace whi ch was open,

and st opped t i l l t he st r eet s wer e qui et . "

" A publ i c house, I suppose. "

" Yes, si r ; ' The Choughs. ' "

Page 108 of 443

The pr oct or consi der ed a mi nut e, and agai n scr ut i ni zed Tom' s l ook

and manner , whi ch cer t ai nl y wer e st r ai ght f or war d, and wi t hout any

t i nge of cr i ngi ng or i nsol ence.

" How l ong have you been up?"

" Thi s i s my second t er m, si r . "

" You have never been sent t o me bef or e, I t hi nk?"

" Never , si r . "

" Wel l , I can' t over l ook t hi s, as you your sel f conf ess t o a di r ect

act of di sobedi ence. You must wr i t e me out 200 l i nes of Vi r gi l .

And now, Mr . Br own, l et me advi se you t o keep out of di sr eput abl e

st r eet quar r el s i n f ut ur e. Good mor ni ng. "

Tom hur r i ed away, wonder i ng what i t woul d f eel l i ke t o be wr i t i ng

out Vi r gi l agai n as a puni shment at hi s t i me of l i f e, but gl ad

above measur e t hat t he pr oct or had asked hi m no quest i ons about

hi s compani on. The her o was of cour se, mi ght i l y t i ckl ed at t he

r esul t , and sei zed t he occasi on t o l ect ur e Tom on hi s f ut ur e

conduct , hol di ng hi msel f up as a l i vi ng exampl e of t he benef i t s

whi ch wer e sur e t o accr ue t o a man who never di d anyt hi ng he was

t ol d t o do. The soundness of hi s r easoni ng, however , was somewhat

shaken by t he dean, who, on t he same af t er noon, managed t o cat ch

hi m i n quad; and, car r yi ng hi m of f , di scour sed wi t h hi m

concer ni ng hi s var i ous and syst emat i c br eaches of di sci pl i ne,

poi nt ed out t o hi m t hat he had al r eady made such good use of hi s

t i me t hat i f he wer e t o be di scommonsed f or t hr ee mor e days he

woul d l ose hi s t er m; and t hen t ook of hi s cr oss, gave hi m a book

of Vi r gi l t o wr i t e out and gat ed hi m f or a f or t ni ght af t er hal l .

Dr ysdal e sent out hi s scout t o or der hi s puni shment as he mi ght

have or der ed a wai st coat , pr esent ed ol d Copas wi t h a

hal f - sover ei gn, and t hen di smi ssed puni shment and gat i ng f r om hi s

mi nd. He cul t i vat ed wi t h gr eat success t he sci ence of ment al

gymnast i cs, or t hr owi ng ever yt hi ng t he l east unpl easant of f hi s

mi nd at once. And no doubt i t i s a sci ence wor t hy of al l

cul t i vat i on, i f one desi r es t o l ead a comf or t abl e l i f e. I t get s

har der , however , as t he year s r ol l over us, t o at t ai n t o any

sat i sf act or y pr of i ci ency i n i t ; so i t shoul d be mast er ed as ear l y

i n l i f e as may be.

The t own and gown r ow was t he t al k of t he col l ege f or t he next

week. Tom, of cour se, t al ked much about i t , l i ke hi s nei ghbor s,

and conf i ded t o one and anot her t he Capt ai n' s her esi es. They wer e

al l i ncr edul ous; f or no one had ever hear d hi m t al k as much i n a

t er m as Tom r epor t ed hi m t o have done on t hi s one eveni ng.

So i t was r esol ved t hat he shoul d be t aken t o t ask on t he subj ect

on t he f i r st oppor t uni t y; and, as nobody was af r ai d of hi m, t her e

was no di f f i cul t y i n f i ndi ng a man t o bel l t he cat . Accor di ngl y,

at t he next wi ne of t he boat i ng set , t he Capt ai n had scar cel y

ent er ed when he was assai l ed by t he host wi t h- -

" Jer vi s, Br own says you don' t bel i eve a gent l eman can l i ck a cad,

unl ess he i s t he bi ggest and st r ongest of t he t wo. "

The Capt ai n, who hat ed comi ng out wi t h hi s bel i ef s, shr ugged hi s

shoul der s, si pped hi s wi ne, and t r i ed t o t ur n t he subj ect . But ,

seei ng t hat t hey wer e al l bent on dr awi ng hi m out , he was not t he

man t o r un f r om hi s guns; and so he sai d qui et l y:

" No mor e I do. "

Page 109 of 443

Not wi t hst andi ng t he r ever ence i n whi ch he was hel d, t hi s sayi ng

coul d not be al l owed t o pass, and a dozen voi ces wer e i nst ant l y

r ai sed, and a dozen aut hent i c st or i es t ol d t o conf ut e hi m. He

l i st ened pat i ent l y, and t hen, seei ng he was i n f or i t , sai d:

" Never mi nd f i ght i ng. Tr y somet hi ng el se; cr i cket , f or i nst ance.

The pl ayer s gener al l y beat t he gent l emen, don' t t hey?"

" Yes; but t hey ar e pr of essi onal s. "

" Wel l , and we don' t of t en get a uni ver si t y cr ew whi ch can beat

t he wat er men?"

" Pr of essi onal s agai n. "

" I bel i eve t he mar ker s ar e t he best t enni s- pl ayer s, ai n' t t hey?"

per sever ed t he Capt ai n; " and I gener al l y f i nd keeper s and

hunt smen shoot i ng and r i di ng bet t er t han t hei r mast er ' s, don' t

you?"

" But t hat ' s not f ai r . Al l t he cases you put ar e t hose of men who

have not hi ng el se t o do, who l i ve by t he t hi ngs gent l emen onl y

t ake up f or pl easur e. "

" I onl y say t hat t he cads, as you cal l t hem, manage, somehow or

anot her , t o do t hem best , " sai d t he Capt ai n.

" How about t he ar my and navy? The of f i cer s al ways l ead. "

" Wel l , t her e t hey' r e al l pr of essi onal s, at any r at e, " sai d t he

Capt ai n. " I admi t t hat t he of f i cer s l ead; but t he men f ol l ow

pr et t y cl ose. And i n a f or l or n hope t her e ar e f i f t y men t o one

of f i cer , af t er al l . "

" But t hey must be l ed. The men wi l l never go wi t hout an of f i cer

t o l ead. "

" I t ' s t he of f i cer s' busi ness t o l ead, I know; and t hey do i t . But

you won' t f i nd t he best j udges t al ki ng as i f t he men want ed much

l eadi ng. Read Napi er : t he f i nest st or y i n hi s book i s of t he

ser geant who gave hi s l i f e f or hi s boy of f i cer ' s - - your namesake,

Br own- - at t he Coa. "

" Wel l , I never t hought t o hear you cr yi ng down gent l emen. "

" I ' m not cr yi ng down gent l emen, " sai d t he Capt ai n. " I onl y say

t hat a gent l eman' s f l esh and bl ood, and br ai ns, ar e j ust t he

same, and no bet t er t han anot her man' s. He has al l t he chances on

hi s si de i n t he way of t r ai ni ng, and pr et t y near al l t he pr i zes;

so i t woul d be har d i f he di dn' t do most t hi ngs bet t er t han poor

men. But gi ve t hem t he chance of t r ai ni ng, and t hey wi l l t r ead on

hi s heel s soon enough. That ' s al l I say. "

That was al l , cer t ai nl y, t hat t he Capt ai n sai d, and t hen r el apsed

i nt o hi s usual good- t emper ed monosyl l abi c st at e; f r om whi ch al l

t he eager t al k of t he men, who t ook up t he cudgel s nat ur al l y

enough f or t hei r own cl ass, and t al ked t hemsel ves bef or e t he wi ne

br oke up i nt o a r enewed consci ousness of t hei r nat ur al

super i or i t y, f ai l ed agai n t o r ouse hi m.

Thi s was, i n f act , t he Capt ai n' s weak poi nt , i f he had one. He

had st r ong bel i ef s hi msel f ; one of t he st r ongest of whi ch was,

t hat nobody coul d be t aught anyt hi ng except by hi s own

Page 110 of 443

exper i ence; so he never , or ver y r ar el y, exer ci sed hi s own

per sonal i nf l uence, but j ust qui et l y went on hi s own way, and l et

ot her men go t hei r s. Anot her of hi s bel i ef s was, t hat t her e was

no man or t hi ng i n t he wor l d t oo bad t o be t ol er at ed; f ai t hf ul l y

act i ng up t o whi ch bel i ef , t he Capt ai n hi msel f t ol er at ed per sons

and t hi ngs i nt ol er abl e.

Bear i ng whi ch f act s i n mi nd, t he r eader wi l l easi l y guess t he

r esul t of t he appl i cat i on whi ch t he cr ew dul y made t o hi m t he day

af t er Mi l l er ' s back was t ur ned. He si mpl y sai d t hat t he t r ai ni ng

t hey pr oposed woul d not be enough, and t hat he hi msel f shoul d

t ake al l who chose t o go down, t o Abi ngdon t wi ce a week. Fr om

t hat t i me t her e wer e many def aul t er s; and t he spi r i t of Di ogenes

gr oaned wi t hi n hi m, as day af t er day t he cr ew had t o be f i l l ed up

f r om t he t or pi d or by wat er men. Dr ysdal e woul d r i de down t o

Sandf or d, meet i ng t he boat on i t s way up, and t hen t ake hi s pl ace

f or t he pul l up t o Oxf or d, whi l e hi s gr oom r ode hi s hor se up t o

Fol l y br i dge t o meet hi m. Ther e he woul d mount agai n and r i de of f

t o Bul l i ngdon, or t o t he I si s, or Quent i n, or ot her soci al

meet i ng equal l y i ni mi cal t o good t r ai ni ng. Bl ake of t en absent ed

hi msel f t hr ee days i n a week, and ot her men once or t wi ce.

Fr om consi der i ng whi ch f act s, Tom came t o under st and t he

di f f er ence bet ween hi s t wo her oes; t hei r st r ong l i keness i n many

poi nt s he had seen f r om t he f i r st . They wer e al i ke i n

t r ut hf ul ness, br aver y, bodi l y st r engt h, and i n most of t hei r

opi ni ons. But Jer vi s wor r i ed hi msel f about not hi ng, and l et al l

men and t hi ngs al one, i n t he bel i ef t hat t he wor l d was not goi ng

so ver y wr ong, or woul d r i ght i t sel f somehow wi t hout hi m. Har dy,

on t he ot her hand, was consumi ng hi s hear t over ever yt hi ng t hat

seemed t o hi m t o be goi ng wr ong i n hi msel f and r ound about

hi m- - i n t he col l ege, i n Oxf or d, i n Engl and, i n t he ends of t he

ear t h, and never l et t i ng sl i p a chance of t r yi ng t o set r i ght ,

her e a t hr ead, and t her e a t hr ead. A sel f - quest i oni ng, much

endur i ng man; a sl ayer of dr agons hi msel f , and one wi t h whom you

coul d not l i ve much wi t hout get t i ng uncomf or t abl y awar e of t he

dr agons whi ch you al so had t o sl ay.

What wonder t hat , apar t al t oget her f r om t he di f f er ence i n t hei r

soci al posi t i on, t he one man was ever becomi ng mor e and mor e

popul ar , whi l e t he ot her was l ef t mor e and mor e t o hi msel f . Ther e

ar e f ew of us at Oxf or d, or el sewher e, who do not l i ke t o see a

man l i vi ng a br ave and r i ght eous l i f e, so l ong as he keeps cl ear

of us; and st i l l f ewer who _do_ l i ke t o be i n const ant cont act

wi t h one who, not cont ent wi t h so l i vi ng hi msel f , i s al ways

comi ng acr oss t hem, and l ayi ng bar e t o t hem t hei r own

f ai nt - hear t edness, and sl ot h, and meanness. The l at t er , no doubt ,

i nspi r es t he deeper f eel i ng, and l ays hol d wi t h a f i r mer gr i p of

t he men he does l ay hol d of , but t hey ar e f ew. For men can' t

al ways keep up t o hi gh pr essur e t i l l t hey have f ound f i r m gr ound

t o bui l d upon, al t oget her out si de of t hemsel ves; and i t i s har d

t o be t hankf ul and f ai r t o t hose who ar e showi ng us t i me af t er

t i me t hat our f oot hol d i s not hi ng but shi f t i ng sand.

The cont r ast bet ween Jer vi s and Har dy now began t o f or ce i t sel f

dai l y mor e and mor e on our her o' s at t ent i on.

Fr om t he ni ght of t he t own and gown r ow, " The Choughs" became a

r egul ar haunt of t he cr ew, who wer e t aken t her e under t he

gui dance of Tom and Dr ysdal e t he next day. Not cont ent wi t h

cal l i ng t her e on hi s way f r om t he boat s, t her e was sel dom an

eveni ng now t hat Tom di d not manage t o dr op i n and spend an hour

t her e.

Page 111 of 443

When one i s ver y much bent on doi ng a t hi ng, i t i s gener al l y easy

enough t o f i nd ver y good r easons, or excuses at any r at e, f or i t ;

and whenever any doubt s cr ossed Tom' s mi nd, he si l enced t hem by

t he r ef l ect i on t hat t he t i me he spent at " The Choughs" woul d

ot her wi se have been devot ed t o wi ne par t i es or bi l l i ar ds; and i t

was not di f f i cul t t o per suade hi msel f t hat hi s pr esent occupat i on

was t he mor e whol esome of t he t wo. He coul d not , however , f eel

sat i sf i ed t i l l he had ment i oned hi s change i n l i f e t o Har dy. Thi s

he f ound a much mor e embar r assi ng mat t er t han he f anci ed i t woul d

be. But , af t er one or t wo f al se st ar t s, he managed t o get out

t hat he had f ound t he best gl ass of al e i n Oxf or d, at a qui et

l i t t l e publ i c on t he way t o t he boat s, kept by t he most per f ect

of wi dows, wi t h a f act ot um of an ost l er , who was a r egul ar

char act er , and t hat he went t her e most eveni ngs f or an hour or

so. Woul dn' t Har dy come some ni ght ?

No, Har dy coul dn' t spar e t he t i me.

Tom f el t r at her r el i eved at t hi s answer ; but , never t hel ess went

on t o ur ge t he excel l ence of t he al e as a f ur t her i nducement .

" I don' t bel i eve i t ' s hal f so good as our col l ege beer , and I ' l l

be bound i t ' s hal f as dear agai n. "

" Onl y a penny a pi nt dear er , " sai d Tom, " t hat won' t r ui n

you, - - al l t he cr ew go t her e. "

" I f I wer e t he Capt ai n, " sai d Har dy, " I woul dn' t l et you r un

about dr i nki ng al e at ni ght af t er wi ne par t i es. Does he know

about i t ?"

" Yes, and goes t her e hi msel f of t en on t he way f r om t he boat s, "

sai d Tom.

" And at ni ght , t oo?" sai d Har dy.

" No, " sai d Tom, " but I don' t go t her e af t er dr i nki ng wi ne; I

haven' t been t o a wi ne t hese t en days, at l east not f or mor e t han

f i ve mi nut es. "

" Wel l , sound al e i s bet t er t han Oxf or d wi ne, " sai d Har dy, " i f you

must dr i nk somet hi ng; " and so t he subj ect dr opped.

And Tom went away sat i sf i ed t hat Har dy had not di sappr oved of hi s

new habi t . I t cer t ai nl y occur r ed t o hi m t hat he had omi t t ed al l

ment i on of t he pr et t y bar mai d i n hi s enumer at i on of t he

at t r act i ons of " The Choughs, " but he set down t o mer e acci dent ;

i t was a sl i p whi ch he woul d set r i ght i n t hei r next t al k. But

t hat t al k never came, and t he subj ect was not agai n ment i oned

bet ween t hem. I n f act , t o t el l t he t r ut h, Tom' s vi si t s t o hi s

f r i end' s r ooms i n t he eveni ngs became shor t er and l ess f r equent

as " The Choughs" absor bed mor e and mor e of hi s t i me. He made

excuses t o hi msel f , t hat Har dy must be gl ad of mor e t i me, and

woul d be onl y bor ed i f he kept dr oppi ng i n ever y ni ght , now t hat

t he exami nat i on f or degr ee was so near ; t hat he was sur e he dr ove

Gr ey away, who woul d be of much mor e use t o Har dy j ust now.

These, and many ot her equal l y pl ausi bl e r easons, suggest ed

t hemsel ves whenever hi s consci ence smot e hi m f or hi s negl ect , as

i t di d not sel dom. But he al ways managed t o sat i sf y hi msel f

somehow, wi t hout admi t t i ng t he r eal f act , t hat t hese vi si t s wer e

no l onger what t hey had been t o hi m; t hat a gul f had spr ung up,

and was wi deni ng day by day bet ween hi m and t he onl y f r i end who

woul d have had t he cour age and honest y t o t el l hi m t he t r ut h

about hi s new pur sui t . Meant i me Har dy was much pai ned at t he

Page 112 of 443

change i n hi s f r i end, whi ch _he_ saw qui ckl y enough, and of t en

t hought over i t wi t h a si gh as he sat at hi s sol i t ar y t ea. He set

i t down t o hi s own dul l ness, t o t he number of new f r i ends such a

soci abl e f el l ow as Tom was sur e t o make, and who, of cour se,

woul d t ake up mor e and mor e of hi s t i me; and, i f he f el t a l i t t l e

j eal ousy ever y now and t hen, put i t r esol ut el y back, st r uggl i ng

t o t hi nk no evi l , or i f t her e wer e any, t o l ay i t on hi s own

shoul der s.

Cr i bbage i s a most vi r t uous and r espect abl e game, and yet

scar cel y, one woul d t hi nk, possessi ng i n i t sel f suf f i ci ent

at t r act i ons t o keep a young gent l eman i n hi s t went i et h year t i ed

t o t he boar d, and goi ng t hr ough t he quai nt cal cul at i on ni ght

af t er ni ght of " f i f t een t wo, f i f t een f our , t wo f or hi s nob, and

one f or hi s heel s. " The ol d l ady of " The Choughs" l i ked not hi ng

so much as her game of cr i bbage i n t he eveni ngs, and t he boar d

l ay r eady on t he l i t t l e t abl e by her el bow i n t he cozy bar , a

sur e st eppi ng- st one t o her good gr aces. Tom somehow became an

ent husi ast i n cr i bbage, and woul d al ways l oi t er behi nd hi s

compani ons f or hi s qui et game; chat t i ng pl easant l y whi l e t he ol d

l ady cut and shuf f l ed t he di r t y pack, st r i vi ng keenl y f or t he

ni ght l y st ake of si xpence, whi ch he sel dom f ai l ed t o l ose, and

l aughi ngl y wr angl i ng wi t h her over t he l ast poi nt s i n t he game

whi ch deci ded t he t r ansf er of t he t wo si xpences ( dul y post ed i n

t he snuf f er - t r ay besi de t he cr i bbage- boar d) i nt o hi s wai st coat

pocket or her bag, unt i l she woul d t ake of f her spect acl es t o

wi pe t hem, and si nk back i n her chai r exhaust ed wi t h t he pl easi ng

exci t ement .

Such an odd t ast e as i t seemed, t oo, a byst ander mi ght r easonabl y

have t hought , when he mi ght have been empl oyi ng hi s t i me so much

mor e pl easant l y i n t he ver y r oom. For , f l i t t i ng i n and out of t he

bar dur i ng t he game, and ever y now and t hen st oopi ng over t he ol d

l ady' s shoul der t o exami ne her hand, and exchange knowi ng l ooks

wi t h her , was t he l i t he l i t t l e f i gur e of Mi ss Pat t y, wi t h her

oval r ace, and mer r y eyes, and br i ght br own hai r , and j aunt y

l i t t l e cap, wi t h f r esh bl ue r i bbons of t he shade of t he St .

Ambr ose col or s. However , t her e i s no account i ng f or t ast es, and

i t i s f or t unat e t hat some l i ke appl es and some oni ons. I t may

possi bl y be, t oo, t hat Mi ss Pat t y di d not f eel her sel f negl ect ed,

or di d not car e about at t ent i on. Per haps she may not have been

al t oget her unconsci ous t hat ever y l east mot i on and wor d of her s

was not i ced, even when t he game was at i t s keenest . At any r at e,

i t was cl ear enough t hat she and Tom wer e on t he best t er ms,

t hough she al ways t ook her aunt ' s par t vehement l y i n any l i t t l e

di sput e whi ch ar ose, and somet i mes even came t o t he r escue at t he

end, and r ecapt ur ed t he vani shed si xpences out of t he wr ongf ul

gr asp whi ch he gener al l y l ai d on t hem t he moment t he ol d l ady

hel d out her hand and pr onounced t he wor d " game. " One knows t hat

si ze has l i t t l e t o do wi t h st r engt h, or one mi ght have wonder ed

t hat her l i t t l e hands shoul d have been abl e t o open hi s f i nger s

so sur el y one by one, t hough he seemed t o do al l he coul d t o keep

t hem shut . But , af t er al l , i f he r eal l y t hought he had a r i ght t o

t he money, he had al ways t i me t o put i t i n hi s pocket at once,

i nst ead of keepi ng hi s cl enched hand on t he t abl e, and ar gui ng

about i t t i l l she had t i me t o get up t o t he succour of her aunt .

CHAPTER XI I I

THE FI RST BUMP

" What ' s t he t i me, Smi t h?"

Page 113 of 443

" Hal f - past t hr ee, ol d f el l ow, " answer ed Di ogenes, l ooki ng at hi s

wat ch.

" I never knew a day go so sl owl y, " sai d Tom; " i sn' t i t t i me t o go

down t o t he boat s?"

" Not by t wo hour s and mor e, ol d f el l ow- - can' t you t ake a book, or

somet hi ng t o keep you qui et ? You won' t be f i t f or anyt hi ng by si x

o' cl ock, i f you go on wor r yi ng l i ke t hi s. " And so Di ogenes t ur ned

hi msel f t o hi s f l ut e, and bl ew away t o al l appear ances as

composedl y as i f i t had been t he f i r st week of t er m, t hough, i f

t he t r ut h must be t ol d, i t was al l he coul d do not t o get up and

wander about i n a f ever i sh and di st r act ed st at e, f or Tom' s

r est l essness i nf ect ed hi m.

Di ogenes' whol e hear t was i n t he col l ege boat ; and so, t hough he

had pul l ed dozens of r aces i n hi s t i me, he was al most as ner vous

as a f r eshman on t hi s t he f i r st day of t he r aces. Tom, al l

unconsci ous of t he secr et di scomposur e of t he ot her , t hr ew

hi msel f i nt o a chai r and l ooked at hi m wi t h wonder and envy. The

f l ut e went " t oot , t oot , t oot , " t i l l he coul d st and i t no l onger .

So he got up and went t o t he wi ndow, and, l eani ng out , l ooked up

and down t he st r eet f or some mi nut es i n a pur posel ess sor t of

f ashi on, st ar i ng har d at ever ybody and ever yt hi ng, but

unconsci ous al l t he t i me t hat he was doi ng so. He woul d not have

been abl e i n f act , t o answer Di ogenes a wor d, had not t hat wor t hy

i nqui r ed of hi m what he had seen, when he pr esent l y dr ew i n hi s

head and r et ur ned t o hi s f i dget y r ambl i ngs about t he r oom.

" How hot t he sun i s! but t her e' s a st i f f br eeze f r om t he

sout h- east . I hope i t wi l l go down bef or e t he eveni ng, don' t

you?"

" Yes, t hi s wi nd wi l l make i t ver y r ough bel ow t he Gut . Mi nd you

f eat her hi gh now at st ar t i ng. "

" I hope t o goodness I sha' n' t cat ch a cr ab, " sai d Tom.

" Don' t t hi nk about i t , ol d f el l ow; t hat ' s your best pl an. "

" But I can' t t hi nk of anyt hi ng el se, " sai d Tom. " What t he deuce

i s t he good of t el l i ng a f el l ow not t o t hi nk about i t ?"

Di ogenes appar ent l y had not hi ng par t i cul ar t o r epl y, f or he put

hi s f l ut e t o hi s mout h agai n; and at t he sound of t he " t oot ,

t oot " Tom caught up hi s gown and f l ed i nt o t he quadr angl e.

The cr ew had had t hei r ear l y di nner of st eaks and chops, st al e

br ead, and a gl ass and a hal f of ol d beer a pi ece at t wo o' cl ock,

i n t he Capt ai n' s r ooms. The cur r ent t heor y of t r ai ni ng at t hat

t i me was- - as much meat as you coul d eat , t he mor e under done t he

bet t er , and t he smal l est amount of dr i nk upon whi ch you coul d

manage t o l i ve. Two pi nt s i n t he t went y- f our hour s was al l t hat

most boat ' s cr ews t hat pr et ended t o t r ai n at al l wer e al l owed,

and f or t he l ast f or t ni ght i t had been t he nomi nal al l owance of

t he St . Ambr ose cr ew. The di scomf or t of such a di et i n t he hot

summer mont hs, when you wer e at t he same t i me t aki ng r egul ar and

vi ol ent exer ci se, was somet hi ng ver y ser i ous. Out r aged human

nat ur e r ebel l ed agai nst i t ; and t hough t hey di d not admi t i t i n

publ i c, t her e wer e ver y f ew men who di d not r ush t o t hei r wat er

bot t l es f or r el i ef , mor e or l ess of t en, accor di ng t o t he

devel opment of t hei r bumps of consci ent i ousness and obst i nacy. To

keep t o t he di et at al l st r i ct l y i nvol ved a ver y r espect abl e

Page 114 of 443

amount of physi cal endur ance. Our successor s have f ound out t he

unwi sdom of t hi s, as of ot her ol d super st i t i ons; and t hat i n

or der t o get a man i nt o t r ai ni ng f or a boat - r ace now- a- days, i t

i s not of t he f i r st i mpor t ance t o keep hi m i n a const ant st at e of

consumi ng t hi r st , and t he r est l essness of body and shar pness of

t emper whi ch t hi r st gener al l y i nduces.

Tom appr eci at ed t he honor of bei ng i n t he boat i n hi s f i r st year

so keenl y, t hat he had al most managed t o keep t o hi s t r ai ni ng

al l owance, and consequent l y, now t hat t he event f ul day had

ar r i ved, was i n a most uncomf or t abl e f r ame of body and

di sagr eeabl e f r ame of mi nd.

He f l ed away f r om Di ogenes' f l ut e, but f ound no r est . He t r i ed

Dr ysdal e. That her o was l yi ng on hi s back on hi s sof a pl ayi ng

wi t h Jack, and onl y i ncr eased Tom' s t hi r st and sour ed hi s t emper

by t he vi ci ousness of hi s r emar ks on boat i ng, and ever yt hi ng and

per son connect ed t her ewi t h; above al l , on Mi l l er , who had j ust

come up, had st eer ed t hem t he day bef or e, and pr onounced t he cr ew

gener al l y, and Dr ysdal e i n par t i cul ar , " not hal f t r ai ned. "

Bl ake' s oak was spor t ed, as usual . Tom l ooked i n at t he Capt ai n' s

door , but f ound hi m har d at wor k r eadi ng, and so car r i ed hi msel f

of f ; and, af t er a vai n hunt af t er ot her s of t he cr ew, and even

t r yi ng t o si t down and r ead, f i r st a novel , t hen a pl ay of

Shakespear e, wi t h no success what ever , wander ed away out of t he

col l ege, and f ound hi msel f i n f i ve mi nut es, by a nat ur al and

i r r esi st i bl e at t r act i on, on t he uni ver si t y bar ge.

Ther e wer e hal f a dozen men or so r eadi ng t he paper s, and a gr oup

or t wo di scussi ng t he comi ng r aces. Amongst ot her t hi ngs t he

chances of St . Ambr ose' s maki ng a bump t he f i r st ni ght wer e

wei ghed. Ever y one j oi ni ng i n pr ai si ng t he st r oke, but t her e wer e

gr eat doubt s whet her t he cr ew coul d l i ve up t o i t . Tom car r i ed

hi msel f on t o t he t op of t he bar ge t o get out of hear i ng, f or

l i st eni ng made hi s hear t beat and hi s t hr oat dr i er t han ever . He

st ood on t he t op and l ooked r i ght away down t o t he Gut , t he

st r ong wi nd bl owi ng hi s gown about . Not even a pai r oar was t o be

seen; t he gr eat event of t he eveni ng made t he r i ver a sol i t ude at

t hi s t i me of day. Onl y one or t wo ski f f s wer e comi ng home,

i mpel l ed by r eadi ng men, who t ook t hei r const i t ut i onal s on t he

wat er , and wer e comi ng i n t o be i n t i me f or af t er noon chapel . The

f ast est and best of t hese soon came near enough f or Tom t o

r ecogni ze Har dy' s st r oke; so he l ef t t he bar ge and went down t o

meet t he ser vi t or at hi s l andi ng, and accompani ed hi m t o t he St .

Ambr ose dr essi ng- r oom.

" Wel l , how do you f eel f or t he r ace t o- ni ght ?" sai d Har dy, as he

dr i ed hi s neck and f ace, whi ch he had been sl ui ci ng wi t h col d

wat er , l ooki ng as har dy and br i ght as a r acer on Der by day.

" Oh, wr et ched! I ' m af r ai d I shal l br eak down" sai d Tom, and

pour i ng out some of hi s doubt s and mi ser i es. Har dy soon comf or t ed

hi m gr eat l y; and by t he t i me t hey wer e hal f acr oss Chr i st chur ch

meadow, he was qui t e i n hear t agai n. For he knew how wel l Har dy

under st ood r owi ng, and what a sound j udge he was; and i t was

t her ef or e cheer i ng t o hear t hat he t hought t hey wer e cer t ai nl y

t he second best , i f not t he best boat on t he r i ver ; and t hat t hey

woul d be sur e t o make some bumps unl ess t hey had acci dent s.

" But t hat ' s j ust what I f ear so, " sai d Tom. " I ' m af r ai d I shal l

make some awf ul bl under . "

" Not you! " sai d Har dy; " onl y r emember . Don' t you f ancy you can

Page 115 of 443

pul l t he boat by your sel f , and go t o t r yi ng t o do i t . Ther e' s

wher e young oar s f ai l . I f you keep t hor ough good t i me you' l l be

pr et t y sur e t o be doi ng your shar e of wor k. Ti me i s ever yt hi ng,

al most . "

" I ' l l be sur e t o t hi nk of t hat , " sai d Tom; and t hey ent er ed St .

Ambr ose j ust as t he chapel bel l was goi ng down; and he went t o

chapel and t hen t o hal l , si t t i ng by and t al ki ng f or compani onshi p

whi l e t he r est di ned.

And so at l ast t he t i me sl i pped away, and t he Capt ai n and Mi l l er

must er ed t hem at t he gat es and wal ked of f t o t he boat s. A dozen

ot her cr ews wer e maki ng t hei r way i n t he same di r ect i on, and hal f

t he under gr aduat es of Oxf or d st r eamed al ong wi t h t hem. The banks

of t he r i ver wer e cr owded; and t he punt s pl i ed r api dl y backwar ds

and f or war ds, car r yi ng l oads of men over t o t he Ber kshi r e si de.

The uni ver si t y bar ge, and al l t he ot her bar ges, wer e decked wi t h

f l ags, and t he band was pl ayi ng l i vel y ai r s as t he St . Ambr ose

cr ew r eached t he scene of act i on.

No t i me was l ost i n t he dr essi ng- r oom, and i n t wo mi nut es t hey

wer e al l st andi ng i n f l annel t r ouser s and si l k j er seys at t he

l andi ng- pl ace.

" You had bet t er keep your j acket s on, " sai d t he Capt ai n; " we

sha' n' t be of f yet . "

" Ther e goes Br azen- nose. "

" They l ook l i ke wor k, don' t t hey?"

" The bl ack and yel l ow seems t o sl i p al ong so f ast . They' r e no end

of good col or s. I wi sh our new boat was bl ack. "

" Hang her col or s, i f she' s onl y st i f f i n t he back, and don' t

di p. "

" Wel l , she di dn' t di p yest er day; at l east , t he men on t he bank

sai d so. "

" Ther e go Bal i ol , and Or i el , and Uni ver si t y. "

" By Jove, we shal l be l at e! Wher e' s Mi l l er ?"

" I n t he shed, get t i ng t he boat out . Look, her e' s Exet er . "

The t al k of t he cr ew was si l enced f or t he moment as ever y man

l ooked eager l y at t he Exet er boat . The Capt ai n nodded t o Jer vi s

wi t h a gr i m smi l e as t hey paddl ed gent l y by.

Then t he t al k began agai n, " How do you t hi nk she goes?"

" Not so badl y. They' r e ver y st r ong i n t he mi ddl e of t he boat . "

" Not a bi t of i t ; i t ' s al l l umber . "

" You' l l see. They' r e bet t er t r ai ned t han we ar e. They l ook as

f i ne as st ar s. "

" So t hey ought . They' ve pul l ed seven mi l es t o our f i ve f or t he

l ast mont h, I ' m sur e. "

" Then we sha' n' t bump t hem. "

Page 116 of 443

" Why not ?"

" Don' t you know t hat t he val ue of pr oduct s consi st i n t he

quant i t y of l abor whi ch goes t o pr oduce t hem? Pr oduct pace over

cour se f r om I f f l ey up. Labor expended, Exet er 7; St . Ambr ose, 5.

You see i t i s not i n t he nat ur e of t hi ngs t hat we shoul d bump

t hem- - Q. E. D. "

" What moonshi ne! as i f t en mi l es behi nd t hei r st r oke ar e wor t h

t wo behi nd Jer vi s! "

" My dear f el l ow, i t i sn' t my moonshi ne; you must set t l e t he

mat t er wi t h t he phi l osopher s. I onl y appl y a uni ver sal l aw t o a

par t i cul ar case. "

Tom, unconsci ous of t he pear l s of economi c l or e whi ch wer e bei ng

pour ed out f or t he benef i t of t he cr ew, was wat chi ng t he Exet er

ei ght as i t gl i ded away t owar ds t he Cher wel l . He t hought t hey

seemed t o keep hor r i bl y good t i me.

" Hal l oa, Dr ysdal e; l ook, t her e' s Jack goi ng acr oss i n one of t he

punt s. "

" Of cour se i t i s. You don' t suppose he woul d go down t o see t he

r ace. "

" Why won' t Mi l l er l et us st ar t ? Al most al l t he boat s ar e of f . "

" Ther e' s pl ent y of t i me. We may j ust as wel l be up her e as

dawdl i ng about t he bank at I f f l ey. "

" We sha' n' t go down t i l l t he l ast ; Mi l l er never l et s us get out

down bel ow. "

" Wel l , come; her e' s t he boat , at l ast . "

The new boat now emer ged f r om i t s shed, gui ded st eadi l y t o wher e

t hey wer e st andi ng by Mi l l er and t he wat er man. Then t he coxswai n

got out and cal l ed f or bow, who st epped f or war d.

" Mi nd how you st ep now, t her e ar e no bot t om boar ds, sai d Mi l l er .

" Shal l I t ake my j acket ?"

" Yes; you had bet t er al l go down i n j acket s i n t hi s wi nd. I ' ve

sent a man down t o br i ng t hem back. Now t wo. "

" Aye, aye! " sai d Dr ysdal e, st eppi ng f or war d. Then came Tom' s

t ur n, and soon t he boat was manned.

" Now, " sai d Mi l l er , t aki ng hi s pl ace, " ar e al l your st r et cher s

r i ght ?"

" I shoul d l i ke a l i t t l e mor e gr ease on my r ol l ocks. "

" I ' m t aki ng some down; we' l l put i t on down bel ow. Ar e you al l

r i ght ?"

" Yes. "

" Then push her of f - - gent l y. "

The St . Ambr ose boat was al most t he l ast , so t her e wer e no punt s

i n t he way, or ot her obst r uct i ons; and t hey swung st eadi l y down

Page 117 of 443

past t he uni ver si t y bar ge, t he t op of whi ch was al r eady cover ed

wi t h spect at or s. Ever y man i n t he boat f el t as i f t he eyes of

Eur ope wer e on hi m, and pul l ed i n hi s ver y best f or m. Smal l

gr oups of gownsmen wer e scat t er ed al ong t he bank i n Chr i st chur ch

meadow, chi ef l y dons, who wer e r eal l y i nt er est ed i n t he r aces,

but , at t hat t i me of day, sel dom l i ked t o di spl ay ent husi asm

enough t o cr oss t he wat er and go down t o t he st ar t i ng- pl ace.

These sombr e gr oups l i ght ed up her e and t her e by t he dr esses of a

f ew l adi es, who wer e wal ki ng up and down, and wat chi ng t he boat s.

At t he mout h of t he Cher wel l wer e moor ed t wo punt s, i n whi ch

r ecl i ned at t hei r ease some dozen young gent l emen, smoki ng;

sever al of t hese wer e f r i ends of Dr ysdal e' s, and hai l ed hi m as

t he boat passed.

" What a f ool I am t o be her e! " he gr umbl ed, i n an under t one,

cast i ng an envi ous gl ance at t he punt s i n t hei r comf or t abl e

ber t h, up under t he banks, and out of t he wi nd. " I say, Br own,

don' t you wi sh we wer e wel l past t hi s on t he way up?"

" Si l ence i n t he bows?" shout ed Mi l l er .

" You devi l , how I hat e you! " gr owl ed Dr ysdal e, hal f i n j est and

hal f i n ear nest , as t hey sped al ong under t he wi l l ows.

Tom got mor e comf or t abl e at ever y st r oke, and by t he t i me t hey

r eached t he Gut began t o hope t hat he shoul d not have a f i t or

l ose al l hi s st r engt h j ust at t he st ar t , or cut a cr ab, or come

t o some ot her unut t er abl e gr i ef , t he f ear of whi ch had been

haunt i ng hi m al l day.

" Her e t hey ar e at l ast ! - - come al ong now- - keep up wi t h t hem, " sai d

Har dy t o Gr ey, as t he boat near ed t he Gut ; and t he t wo t r ot t ed

al ong downwar ds, Har dy wat chi ng t he cr ew and Gr ey wat chi ng hi m.

" Har dy, how eager you l ook! "

" I ' d gi ve t went y pounds t o be goi ng t o pul l i n t he r ace. " Gr ey

shambl ed on i n si l ence by t he si de of hi s bi g f r i end, and wi shed

he coul d under st and what i t was t hat moved hi m so.

As t he boat shot i nt o t he Gut f r om under t he cover of t he

Oxf or dshi r e bank, t he wi nd caught t he bows.

" Feat her hi gh, now, " shout ed Mi l l er ; and t hen added i n a l ow

voi ce t o t he Capt ai n, " I t wi l l be t i ckl i sh wor k, st ar t i ng i n t hi s

wi nd. "

" Just as bad f or al l t he ot her boat s, " answer ed t he Capt ai n.

" Wel l sai d, ol d phi l osopher ! " sai d Mi l l er . " I t ' s a comf or t t o

st eer you; you never make a f el l ow ner vous. I wonder i f you ever

f el t ner vous your sel f , now?"

" Can' t say, " sai d t he Capt ai n. " Her e' s our post ; we may as wel l

t ur n. "

" Easy, bow si de- - now t wo and f our , pul l her r ound- - back wat er ,

seven and f i ve! " shout ed t he coxswai n; and t he boat ' s head swung

r ound, and t wo or t hr ee st r okes t ook her i nt o t he bank.

Jack i nst ant l y made a convul si ve at t empt t o boar d, but was

st er nl y r epul sed, and t umbl ed backwar ds i nt o t he wat er .

Har k! - - t he f i r st gun. The r epor t sent Tom' s hear t i nt o hi s mout h

Page 118 of 443

agai n. Sever al of t he boat s pushed of f at once i nt o t he st r eam;

and t he cr owds of men on t he bank began t o be agi t at ed, as i t

wer e, by t he shadow of t he comi ng exci t ement . The St . Ambr ose

cr ew f i nger ed t hei r oar s, put a l ast dash of gr ease on t hei r

r ol l ocks, and set t l ed t hei r f eet agai nst t he st r et cher s.

" Shal l we push her of f ?" asked " bow. "

" No, I can gi ve you anot her mi nut e, " sai d Mi l l er , who was

si t t i ng, wat ch i n hand, i n t he st er n, " onl y be smar t when I gi ve

t he wor d. "

The Capt ai n t ur ned on hi s seat , and l ooked up t he boat . Hi s f ace

was qui et , but f ul l of conf i dence, whi ch seemed t o pass f r om hi m

i nt o t he cr ew. Tom f el t cal mer and st r onger , he met hi s eye. " Now

mi nd, boys, don' t qui cken, " he sai d, cheer i l y; " f our shor t

st r okes, t o get way on her , and t hen st eady. Her e, pass up t he

l emon. "

And he t ook a sl i ced l emon out of hi s pocket , put a smal l pi ece

i nt o hi s own mout h, and t hen handed i t t o Bl ake, who f ol l owed hi s

exampl e, and passed i t on. Each man t ook a pi ece; and j ust as

" bow" had secur ed t he end, Mi l l er cal l ed out - -

" Now, j acket s of f , and get her head out st eadi l y. "

The j acket s wer e t hr own on shor e, and gat her ed up by t he boat men

i n at t endance. The cr ew poi sed t hei r oar s, No. 2 pushi ng out her

head, and t he Capt ai n doi ng t he same f or t he st er n. Mi l l er t ook

t he st ar t i ng- r ope i n hi s hand.

" How t he wi nd cat ches her st er n, " he sai d; " her e, pay out t he

r ope, one of you. No, not you- - some f el l ow wi t h a st r ong hand.

Yes, you' l l do, " he went on, as Har dy st epped down t he bank and

t ook hol d of t he r ope; " l et me have i t f oot by f oot as I want i t .

Not t oo qui ck; make t he most of i t - - t hat ' l l do. Two and t hr ee di p

your oar s i n t o gi ve her way. "

The r ope pai d out st eadi l y, and t he boat set t l ed t o her pl ace.

But now t he wi nd r ose agai n, and t he st er n dr i f t ed t owar ds t he

bank.

" You _must _ back her a bi t , Mi l l er , and keep her a l i t t l e f ur t her

out , or our oar s on st r oke si de wi l l cat ch t he bank. "

" So I see; cur se t he wi nd. Back her , one st r oke al l . Back her , I

say! " shout ed Mi l l er .

I t i s no easy mat t er t o get a cr ew t o back her an i nch j ust now,

par t i cul ar l y as t her e ar e i n her t wo men who have never r owed a

r ace bef or e, except i n t he t or pi ds, and one who has never r owed a

r ace i n hi s l i f e.

However , back she comes; t he st ar t i ng- r ope sl ackens i n Mi l l er ' s

l ef t hand, and t he st r oke, unshi ppi ng hi s oar , pushes t he st er n

gent l y out agai n.

Ther e goes t he second gun! one shor t mi nut e mor e, and we ar e of f .

Shor t mi nut e, i ndeed! you woul dn' t say so i f you wer e i n t he

boat , wi t h your hear t i n your mout h, and t r embl i ng al l over l i ke

a man wi t h t he pal sy. Those si xt y seconds bef or e t he st ar t i ng gun

i n your f i r st r ace- - why, t hey ar e a l i t t l e l i f e- t i me.

" By Jove, we ar e dr i f t i ng i n agai n, " sai d Mi l l er , i n hor r or . The

Page 119 of 443

Capt ai n l ooked gr i m, but sai d not hi ng; i t was t oo l at e now f or

hi m t o be unshi ppi ng agai n. " Her e, cat ch hol d of t he l ong

boat - hook, and f end her of f . "

Har dy, t o whom t hi s was addr essed, sei zed t he boat - hook, and,

st andi ng wi t h one f oot i n t he wat er , pr essed t he end of t he

boat - hook agai nst t he gunwal e, at t he f ul l st r et ch of hi s ar m,

and so by mai n f or ce, kept t he st er n out . Ther e was j ust r oom f or

st r oke oar s t o di p, and t hat was al l . The st ar t i ng- r ope was as

t aut as a har p- st r i ng; wi l l Mi l l er ' s l ef t hand hol d out ?

I t i s an awf ul moment . But t he coxswai n, t hough al most dr agged

backwar ds of f hi s seat , i s equal t o t he occasi on. He hol ds hi s

wat ch i n hi s r i ght hand wi t h t he t i l l er r ope.

" Ei ght seconds mor e onl y. Look out f or t he f l ash. Remember , al l

eyes i n t he boat . "

Ther e i t comes, at l ast - - t he f l ash of t he st ar t i ng gun. Long

bef or e t he sound of t he r epor t can r ol l up t he r i ver , t he whol e

pent - up l i f e and ener gy whi ch has been hel d i n l eash, as i t wer e,

f or t he l ast si x mi nut es, i s l et l oose, and br eaks away wi t h a

bound and a dash whi ch he who has f el t i t wi l l r emember f or hi s

l i f e, but t he l i ke of whi ch, wi l l he ever f eel agai n? The

st ar t i ng- r opes dr op f r om t he coxswai ns' hands, t he oar s f l ash

i nt o t he wat er , and gl eam on t he f eat her , t he spr ay f l i es f r om

t hem, and t he boat s l eap f or war d.

The cr owds on t he bank scat t er , and r ush al ong, each keepi ng as

near as i t may be t o i t s own boat . Some of t he men on t he t owi ng

pat h, some on t he ver y edge of , of t en i n, t he wat er - - some

sl i ght l y i n advance, as i f t hey coul d hel p t o dr ag t hei r boat

f or war d- - some behi nd, wher e t hey can see t he pul l i ng bet t er - - but

al l at f ul l speed, i n wi l d exci t ement , and shout i ng at t he t op of

t hei r voi ces t o t hose on whom t he honor of t he col l ege i s l ai d.

" Wel l pul l ed, al l ! " " Pi ck her up t her e, f i ve! " " You' r e gai ni ng,

ever y st r oke! " " Ti me i n t he bows! " " Br avo, St . Ambr ose! "

On t hey r ushed by t he si de of t he boat s, j ost l i ng one anot her ,

st umbl i ng, st r uggl i ng, and pant i ng al ong.

For a quar t er of a mi l e al ong t he bank t he gl or i ous maddeni ng

hur l y- bur l y ext ends, and r ol l s up t he si de of t he st r eam.

For t he f i r st t en st r okes Tom was i n t oo gr eat f ear of maki ng a

mi st ake t o f eel or hear or see. Hi s whol e soul was gl ued t o t he

back of t he man bef or e hi m, hi s one t hought t o keep t i me, and get

hi s st r engt h i nt o t he st r oke. But as t he cr ew set t l ed down i nt o

t he wel l known l ong sweep, what we may cal l consci ousness

r et ur ned; and whi l e ever y muscl e i n hi s body was st r ai ni ng, and

hi s chest heaved, and hi s hear t l eapt , ever y ner ve seemed t o be

gat her i ng new l i f e, and hi s senses t o wake i nt o unwont ed

acut eness. He caught t he scent of t he wi l d t hyme i n t he ai r , and

f ound r oom i n hi s br ai n t o wonder how i t coul d have got t her e, as

he had never seen t he pl ant near t he r i ver , or smel t i t bef or e.

Though hi s eye never wander ed f r om t he back of Di ogenes, he

seemed t o see al l t hi ngs at once. The boat behi nd, whi ch seemed

t o be gai ni ng- - i t was al l he coul d do t o pr event hi msel f f r om

qui ckeni ng on t he st r oke as he f anci ed t hat - - t he eager f ace of

Mi l l er , wi t h hi s compr essed l i ps, and eyes f i xed so ear nest l y

ahead t hat Tom coul d al most f eel t he gl ance passi ng over hi s

r i ght shoul der ; t he f l yi ng banks and t he shout i ng cr owd; see t hem

wi t h hi s bodi l y eyes he coul d not , but he knew never t hel ess t hat

Page 120 of 443

Gr ey had been upset and near l y r ol l ed down t he bank i nt o t he

wat er i n t he f i r st hundr ed yar ds, t hat Jack was boundi ng and

scr ambl i ng and bar ki ng al ong by t he ver y edge of t he st r eam;

above al l , he was j ust as wel l awar e as i f he had been l ooki ng at

i t , of a st al war t f or m i n cap and gown, boundi ng al ong,

br andi shi ng t he l ong boat - hook, and al ways keepi ng j ust opposi t e

t he boat ; and ami d al l t he Babel of voi ces, and t he dash and

pul se of t he st r oke, and t he l abor i ng of hi s own br eat hi ng, he

hear d Har dy' s voi ce comi ng t o hi m agai n and agai n, and cl ear as

i f t her e had been no ot her sound i n t he ai r , " St eady, t wo!

st eady! wel l pul l ed! st eady, st eady! " The voi ce seemed t o gi ve

hi m st r engt h and keep hi m t o hi s wor k. And what wor k i t was! he

had had many a har d pul l i n t he l ast si x weeks, but " never aught

l i ke t hi s. "

But i t can' t l ast f or ever ; men' s muscl es ar e not st eel , or t hei r

l ungs bul l ' s hi de, and hear t s can' t go on pumpi ng a hundr ed mi l es

an hour wi t hout bur st i ng. The St . Ambr ose' s boat i s wel l away

f r om t he boat behi nd, t her e i s a gr eat gap bet ween t he

accompanyi ng cr owds; and now, as t hey near t he Gut , she hangs f or

a moment or t wo i n hand, t hough t he r oar f r om t he bank gr ows

l ouder and l ouder , and Tom i s al r eady awar e t hat t he St . Ambr ose

cr owd i s mel t i ng i nt o t he one ahead of t hem.

" We must be cl ose t o Exet er ! " The t hought f l ashes i nt o hi m, and

i t woul d seem i nt o t he r est of t he cr ew at t he same moment . For ,

al l at once, t he st r ai n seems t aken of f t hei r ar ms agai n; t her e

i s no mor e dr ag; she spr i ngs t o t he st r oke as she di d at t he

st ar t ; and Mi l l er ' s f ace whi ch had dar kened f or a f ew seconds,

l i ght ens up agai n.

Mi l l er ' s f ace and at t i t ude ar e a st udy. Coi l ed up i nt o t he

smal l est possi bl e space, hi s chi n al most r est i ng on hi s knees,

hi s hands cl ose t o hi s si des, f i r ml y but l i ght l y f eel i ng t he

r udder , as a good hor seman handl es t he mout h of a f r ee- goi ng

hunt er , - - i f a coxswai n coul d make a bump by hi s own exer t i ons,

sur el y he wi l l do i t . No sudden j er ks of t he St . Ambr ose r udder

wi l l you see, wat ch as you wi l l f r om t he bank; t he boat never

hangs t hr ough f aul t of hi s, but easi l y and gr acef ul l y r ounds

ever y poi nt . " You' r e gai ni ng! you' r e gai ni ng! " he now and t hen

mut t er s t o t he Capt ai n, who r esponds wi t h a wi nk, keepi ng hi s

br eat h f or ot her mat t er s. I sn' t he gr and, t he Capt ai n, as he

comes f or war d l i ke l i ght eni ng, st r oke af t er st r oke, hi s back

f l at , hi s t eet h set , hi s whol e f r ame wor ki ng f r om t he hi ps wi t h

t he r egul ar i t y of a machi ne? As t he space st i l l nar r ows, t he eyes

of t he f i er y l i t t l e coxswai n f l ash wi t h exci t ement , but he i s f ar

t oo good a j udge t o hur r y t he f i nal ef f or t bef or e vi ct or y i s saf e

i n hi s gr asp.

The t wo cr owds mi ngl e now, and no mi st ake; and t he shout s come

al l i n a heap over t he wat er . " Now, St . Ambr ose, si x st r okes

mor e. " " Now, Exet er , you' r e gai ni ng; pi ck her up. " " Mi nd t he Gut ,

Exet er . " " Br avo, St . Ambr ose. " The wat er r ushes by, st i l l eddyi ng

f r om t he st r okes of t he boat ahead. Tom f anci es now t hat he can

hear t hei r oar s, and t he wor ki ng of t hei r r udder , and t he voi ce

of t hei r coxswai n. I n anot her moment bot h boat s ar e i n t he Gut ,

and a per f ect st or m of shout s r eaches t hem f r om t he cr owd, as i t

r ushes madl y of f t o t he l ef t of t he f oot br i dge, ami dst whi ch " Oh,

wel l st eer ed, wel l st eer ed, St . Ambr ose! " i s t he pr evai l i ng cr y.

Then Mi l l er , mot i onl ess as a st at ue t i l l now, l i f t s hi s r i ght

hand and whi r l s t he t assel r ound hi s head; " Gi ve i t her now,

boys; si x st r okes and we ar e i nt o t hem. " Ol d Jer vi s l ays down

t hat gr eat br oad back, and l ashes hi s oar t hr ough t he wat er wi t h

t he mi ght of a gi ant , t he cr ew caught hi m up i n anot her st r oke,

Page 121 of 443

t he t i ght new boat answer s t o t he spur t , and Tom f eel s a l i t t l e

shock behi nd hi m, and t hen a gr at i ng sound, as Mi l l er shout s

" Unshi p oar s, bow and t hr ee, " and t he nose of t he St . Ambr ose

boat gl i des qui et l y up t he si de of t he Exet er , t i l l i t t ouches

t hei r st r oke oar .

" Take car e what you' r e comi ng t o. " I t i s t he coxswai n of t he

bumped boat who speaks.

Tom, l ooki ng r ound, f i nds hi msel f wi t hi n a f oot or t wo of hi m;

and, bei ng ut t er l y unabl e t o cont ai n hi s j oy, and unwi l l i ng t o

exhi bi t i t bef or e t he eyes of a gal l ant r i val , t ur ns away t owar ds

t he shor e, and begi ns t el egr aphi ng t o Har dy.

" Now t hen, what ar e you at t her e i n t he bows? Cast her of f qui ck.

Come, l ook al i ve! Push acr oss at once out of t he way of t he ot her

boat s. "

" I congr at ul at e you, Jer vi s, " says t he Exet er st r oke as t he St .

Ambr ose boat shot past hi m. " Do i t agai n next r ace and I sha' n' t

car e. "

" We wer e wi t hi n t hr ee l engt hs of Br azen- nose when we bumped, "

says t he al l - obser vant Mi l l er i n a l ow voi ce.

" Al l r i ght , " answer s t he Capt ai n; " Br azen- nose i sn' t so st r ong as

usual . We sha' n' t have much t r oubl e t her e, but a t ough j ob up

above, I t ake i t . "

" Br azen- nose was bet t er st eer ed t han Exet er . "

" They muf f ed i t i n t he Gut , eh?" sai d t he Capt ai n. " I t hought so

by t he shout s. "

" Yes, we wer e pr essi ng t hem a l i t t l e down bel ow, and t hei r

coxswai n kept l ooki ng over hi s shoul der . He was i n t he Gut bef or e

he knew i t , and had t o pul l hi s l ef t hand har d or t hey woul d have

f oul ed t he Oxf or dshi r e cor ner . That st opped t hei r way, and i n we

went . "

" Br avo; and how wel l we st ar t ed t oo. "

" Yes, t hanks t o t hat Har dy. I t was t ouch and go t hough; I

coul dn' t have hel d t hat r ope t wo seconds mor e. "

" How di d our f el l ows wor k; she dr agged a good deal bel ow t he

Gut . "

Mi l l er l ooked somewhat ser i ous, but even he cannot be f i ndi ng

f aul t j ust now. For t he f i r st st ep i s gai ned, t he f i r st vi ct or y

won; and, as Homer somet i mes nods, so Mi l l er r el axes t he

st er nness of hi s r ul e. The cr ew, as soon as t hey have f ound t hei r

voi ces agai n, l augh and t al k, and answer t he congr at ul at i ons of

t hei r f r i ends, as t he boat sl i ps al ong cl ose t o t he t owi ng pat h

on t he Ber ks si de, " easy al l , " al most keepi ng pace never t hel ess

wi t h t he l ower boat s, whi ch ar e r aci ng up under t he wi l l ows on

t he Oxf or dshi r e si de. Jack, af t er one or t wo f ei nt s, makes a

f r ant i c bound i nt o t he wat er , and i s haul ed dr i ppi ng i nt o t he

boat by Dr ysdal e, unchi d by Mi l l er , but t o t he i nt ense di sgust of

Di ogenes, whose pant al oons and pr i nci pl es ar e al i ke out r aged by

t he pr oceedi ng. He- - t he Cat o of t he oar - - scor ns t o r el ax t he

st r i ct ness of hi s code even af t er vi ct or y won. Nei t her wor d nor

l ook does he cast t o t he exhul t i ng St . Ambr osi ans on t he bank; a

t wi nkl e i n hi s eye and a subdued chuckl e or t wo, al one bet r ay

Page 122 of 443

t hat t hough an oar sman he i s mor t al . Al r eady he r evol ves i n hi s

mi nd t he pr oj ect of an ear l y wal k under a f ew pea- coat s, not

bei ng qui t e sat i sf i ed ( consci ent i ous ol d boy! ) t hat he t r i ed hi s

st r et cher enough i n t hat f i nal spur t , and t hi nki ng t hat t her e

must be an ext r a pound of f l esh on hi m somewher e or ot her whi ch

di d t he mi schi ef .

" I say, Br own, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " how do you f eel ?"

" Al l r i ght , " sai d Tom; " I never f el t j ol l i er i n my l i f e. "

" By Jove, t hough, i t was an awf ul gr i nd; di dn' t you wi sh your sel f

wel l out of i t bel ow t he Gut ?"

" No, nor you ei t her . "

" Di dn' t I ? I was awf ul l y baked, my t hr oat i s l i ke a l i meki l n yet .

What di d you t hi nk about ?"

" Wel l , about keepi ng t i me, I t hi nk, " sai d Tom, " but I can' t

r emember much. "

" I onl y kept on by t hi nki ng how I hat ed t hose devi l s i n t he

Exet er boat , and how done up t hey must be, and hopi ng t hei r NO. 2

f el t l i ke havi ng a f i t . "

At t hi s moment t hey came opposi t e t he Cher wel l . The l eadi ng boat

was j ust passi ng t he wi nni ng- post , of f t he uni ver si t y bar ge, and

t he band st r uck up t he " Conquer i ng Her o, " wi t h a cr ash. And whi l e

a mi ght y sound of shout s, mur mur s, and musi c went up i nt o t he

eveni ng sky, Mi l l er shook t he t i l l er - r opes agai n, t he Capt ai n

shout ed, " Now t hen, pi ck her up, " and t he St . Ambr ose boat shot

up bet ween t he swar mi ng banks at r aci ng pace t o her

l andi ng- pl ace, t he l i on of t he eveni ng.

Dear r eader s of t he gent l er sex! you, I know, wi l l par don t he

ent husi asm whi ch st i r s our pul ses, now i n sober mi ddl e age, as we

cal l up agai n t he memor i es of t hi s t he most exci t i ng spor t of our

boy hood ( f or we wer e but boys t hen, af t er al l ) . You wi l l par don,

t hough I f ear hopel essl y unabl e t o under st and, t he above sket ch;

your sons and br ot her s wi l l t el l you i t coul d not have been l ess

t echni cal .

For you, mal e r eader s, who have never handl ed an oar , - - what shal l

I say t o you? You at l east , I hope, i n some way - - i n ot her

cont est s of one ki nd or anot her - - have f el t as we f el t , and have

st r i ven as we st r ove. You _ought _ t o under st and and sympat hi ze

wi t h us i n al l our boat i ng memor i es. Oh, how f r esh and sweet t hey

ar e! Above al l , t hat one of t he gay l i t t l e Henl ey t own, t he

car r i age- cr owded br i dge, t he nobl e r i ver r each, t he gi ant

popl ar s, whi ch mar k t he cr i t i cal poi nt of t he cour se- - t he r oar i ng

col umn of " under gr ads, " l i ght bl ue and dar k pur pl e, Cant ab and

Oxoni an, al i ke and yet how di f f er ent , - - hur l i ng al ong t oget her ,

and hi di ng t he t owi ng- pat h- - t he cl ang of Henl ey chur ch- bel l s- - t he

cheer i ng, t he wavi ng of embr oi der ed handker chi ef s, and gl anci ng

of br i ght eyes, t he i l l - conceal ed pr i de of f at her s, open del i ght

and exul t at i on of mot her s and si st er s- - t he l evee i n t he t own- hal l

when t he r ace was r owed, t he gr eat cup f ul l of champagne ( i nn

champagne, but we wer e not cr i t i cal ) - - t he chops, t he st eaks, t he

bi t t er beer - - but we r un i nt o ant i - cl i max- - r emember , we wer e boys

t hen, and bear wi t h us i f you cannot sympat hi ze.

And you, ol d compani ons, [ Gr eek t ext ] t hr ani t ai , bencher s, ( of

t he gal l ant ei ght - oar ) , now sel dom met , but never - f or got t en,

Page 123 of 443

l ai r ds, squi r es, sol di er s, mer chant s, l awyer s, gr ave J. P. ' s,

gr aver cl er gymen, gr avest bi shops ( f or of t wo bi shops at l east

does our br ot her hood boast ) , I t ur n f or a moment , f r om my t ask,

t o r each t o you t he r i ght hand of f el l owshi p f r om t hese pages,

and empt y t he sol emn pewt er - - t r ophy of har d- won vi ct or y- - t o your

heal t h and happi ness.

Sur el y none t he wor se Chr i st i ans and ci t i zens ar e ye f or your

i nvol unt ar y f ai l i ng of muscul ar i t y!

CHAPTER XI V

A CHANGE I N THE CREW, AND WHAT CAME OF I T

I t was on a Sat ur day t hat t he St . Ambr ose boat made t he f i r st

bump, descr i bed i n our l ast chapt er . On t he next Sat ur day, t he

day- week af t er t he f i r st success, at ni ne o' cl ock i n t he eveni ng,

our her o was at t he door of Har dy' s r ooms. He j ust st opped f or

one moment out si de, wi t h hi s hand on t he l ock, l ooki ng a l i t t l e

puzzl ed, but wi t hal pl eased, and t hen opened t he door and

ent er ed. The l i t t l e est r angement whi ch t her e had been bet ween

t hem f or some weeks, had passed away si nce t he r aces had begun.

Har dy had t hr own hi msel f i nt o t he spi r i t of t hem so t hor oughl y,

t hat he had not onl y r egai ned al l hi s hol d on Tom, but had war med

up t he whol e cr ew i n hi s f avour , and had mol l i f i ed t he mar t i net

Mi l l er hi msel f . I t was he who had managed t he st ar t i ng- r ope i n

ever y r ace, and hi s voi ce f r om t he t owi ng pat h had come t o be

l ooked upon as a saf e gui de f or cl appi ng on or r owi ng st eady.

Even Mi l l er , aut ocr at as he was, had come t o l i st en f or i t , i n

conf i r mat i on of hi s own j udgment , bef or e cal l i ng on t he cr ew f or

t he f i nal ef f or t .

So Tom had r ecover ed hi s ol d f oot i ng i n t he ser vi t or ' s r ooms; and

when he ent er ed on t he ni ght i n quest i on di d so wi t h t he bear i ng

of an i nt i mat e f r i end. Har dy' s t ea commons wer e on one end of t he

t abl e as usual , and he was si t t i ng at t he ot her por i ng over a

book. Tom mar ched st r ai ght up t o hi m, and l eant over hi s

shoul der .

" What , her e you ar e at t he per pet ual gr i nd, " he sai d. " Come; shut

up, and gi ve me some t ea; I want t o t al k t o you. "

Har dy l ooked up wi t h a gr i m smi l e.

" Ar e you up t o a cup of t ea?" he sai d; " l ook her e, I was j ust

r emi nded of you f el l ows. Shal l I const r ue f or you?"

He poi nt ed wi t h hi s f i nger t o t he open page of t he book he was

r eadi ng. I t was t he Kni ght s of Ar i st ophanes, and Tom, l eani ng

over hi s shoul der , r ead, - -

[ Gr eek t ext ] chat a chat hi xi on mal achoz i na meh t r i behz t ehn en

Sal ami nt , &c.

Af t er medi t at i ng a moment , he bur st out ; " You har dhear t ed ol d

r uf f i an! I come her e f or sympat hy, and t he f i r st t hi ng you do i s

t o poke f un at me out of your wr et ched cl assi cs. I ' ve a good mi nd

t o cl ear out and not t o do my er r and. "

" What ' s a man t o do?" sai d Har dy. " I hol d t hat i t ' s al ways bet t er

t o l augh at f or t une. What ' s t he use of r epi ni ng? You have done

f amousl y, and second i s a capi t al pl ace on t he r i ver . "

Page 124 of 443

" Second be hanged! " sai d Tom. " We mean t o be f i r st . "

" Wel l , I hope we may! " sai d Har dy. " I can t el l you nobody f el t i t

mor e t han I - - not even ol d Di ogenes- - when you di dn' t make your

bump t o- ni ght . "

" Now you t al k l i ke a man, and a Sai nt Ambr osi an, " sai d Tom. " But

what do you t hi nk? Shal l we ever cat ch t hem?" and, so sayi ng, he

r et i r ed t o a chai r opposi t e t he t ea t hi ngs.

" No, " sai d Har dy; " I don' t t hi nk we ever shal l . I ' m ver y sor r y t o

say i t , but t hey ar e an uncommonl y st r ong l ot , and we have a weak

pl ace or t wo i n our cr ew. I don' t t hi nk we can do mor e t han we

di d t o- ni ght - - at l east wi t h t he pr esent cr ew. "

" But i f we coul d get a l i t t l e mor e st r engt h we mi ght ?"

" Yes, I t hi nk so. Jer vi s' s st r oke i s wor t h t wo of t hei r s. A ver y

l i t t l e mor e powder woul d do i t . "

" Then we must have a l i t t l e mor e powder . "

" Ay, but how ar e we t o get i t ? Who can you put i n?"

" You! " sai d Tom, si t t i ng up. " Ther e, now, t hat ' s j ust what I am

come about . Dr ysdal e i s t o go out . Wi l l you pul l next r ace? They

al l want you t o r ow. "

" Do t hey?" sai d Har dy, qui et l y ( but Tom coul d see t hat hi s eye

spar kl ed at t he not i on, t hough he was t oo pr oud t o show how much

he was pl eased) ; " t hen t hey had bet t er come and ask me

t hemsel ves. "

" Wel l , you cant anker ous ol d par t y, t hey' r e comi ng, I can t el l

you! " sai d Tom i n gr eat del i ght . " The Capt ai n j ust sent me t o

br eak gr ound, and wi l l be her e di r ect l y hi msel f . I say now,

Har dy, " he went on, " don' t you say no. I ' ve set my hear t upon i t .

I ' m sur e we shal l bump t hem i f you pul l . "

" I don' t know t hat , " sai d Har dy, get t i ng up, and begi nni ng t o

make t ea, t o conceal t he exci t ement he was i n at t he i dea of

r owi ng; " you see I ' m not i n t r ai ni ng. "

" Gammon, " sai d Tom, " you' r e al ways i n t r ai ni ng, and you know i t . "

" Wel l , " sai d Har dy, " I can' t be i n wor se t han Dr ysdal e. He has

been of no use above t he Gut t hese l ast t hr ee ni ght s. "

" That ' s j ust what Mi l l er says, " sai d Tom, " and her e comes t he

Capt ai n. " Ther e was a knock at t he door whi l e he spoke, and

Jer vi s and Mi l l er ent er ed.

Tom was i n a dr eadf ul f i dget f or t he next t went y mi nut es, and may

best be compar ed t o an ent husi ast i c envoy negot i at i ng a t r eat y,

and suddenl y f i ndi ng hi s act i on i mpeded by t he ar r i val of hi s

pr i nci pal s. Mi l l er was ver y ci vi l , but not pr essi ng; he seemed t o

have come mor e wi t h a vi ew of t al ki ng over t he pr esent st at e of

t hi ngs, and consul t i ng upon t hem, t han t o enl i st i ng a r ecr ui t .

Har dy met hi m mor e t han hal f way, and specul at ed on al l sor t s of

possi bl e i ssues, wi t hout a hi nt of vol unt eer i ng hi msel f . But

pr esent l y Jer vi s, who di d not under st and f i nessi ng, br oke i n, and

asked Har dy, poi nt bl ank, t o pul l i n t he next r ace; and when he

pl eaded want of t r ai ni ng, over r ul ed hi m at once by sayi ng t hat

Page 125 of 443

t her e was no bet t er t r ai ni ng t han scul l i ng. So i n hal f an hour

al l was set t l ed. Har dy was t o pul l f i ve i n t he next r ace,

Di ogenes was t o t ake Bl ake' s pl ace, at No. 7, and Bl ake t o t ake

Dr ysdal e' s oar at No. 2. The whol e cr ew wer e t o go f or a l ong

t r ai ni ng wal k t he next day, Sunday, i n t he af t er noon; t o go down

t o Abi ngdon on Monday, j ust t o get i nt o swi ng i n t hei r new

pl aces, and t hen on Tuesday t o abi de t he f at e of war . They had

hal f an hour ' s pl easant t al k over Har dy' s t ea, and t hen

separ at ed.

" I al ways t ol d you he was our man, " sai d t he Capt ai n t o Mi l l er ,

as t he wal ked t oget her t o t he gat es; " we want st r engt h, and he i s

as st r ong as a hor se. You must have seen hi m scul l i ng your sel f .

Ther e i sn' t hi s mat ch on t he r i ver t o my mi nd. "

" Yes, I t hi nk he' l l do, " r epl i ed Mi l l er ; " at any r at e he can' t be

wor se t han Dr ysdal e. "

As f or Tom and Har dy, i t may saf el y be sai d t hat no t wo men i n

Oxf or d went t o bed i n bet t er spi r i t s t hat Sat ur day ni ght t han

t hey t wo.

And now t o expl ai n how i t came about t hat Har dy was want ed.

For t une had smi l ed upon t he St . Ambr osi ans i n t he t wo r aces whi ch

succeeded t he one i n whi ch t hey had bumped Exet er . They had r i sen

t wo mor e pl aces wi t hout any ver y gr eat t r oubl e. Of cour se, t he

const i t uenci es on t he bank magni f i ed t hei r power s and doi ngs.

Ther e never was such a cr ew, t hey wer e qui t e saf e t o be head of

t he r i ver , not hi ng coul d l i ve agai nst t hei r pace. So t he young

oar s i n t he boat swal l owed al l t hey hear d, t hought t hemsel ves t he

f i nest f el l ows goi ng, t ook l ess and l ess pai ns t o keep up t hei r

condi t i on, and when t hey got out of ear shot of Jer vi s and

Di ogenes, wer e r eady t o bet t wo t o one t hat t hey woul d bump Or i el

t he next ni ght , and keep easi l y head of t he r i ver f or t he r est of

t he r aces.

Sat ur day ni ght came, and br ought wi t h i t a most usef ul t hough

unpal at abl e l esson t o t he St . Ambr osi ans. The Or i el boat was

manned chi ef l y by ol d oar s, seasoned i n many a r ace, and not

l i abl e t o pani c when har d pr essed. They had a f ai r , t hough not a

f i r st - r at e st r oke, and a good coxswai n; exper t s r emar ked t hat

t hey wer e r at her t oo heavy f or t hei r boat , and t hat she di pped a

l i t t l e when t hey put on anyt hi ng l i ke a sever e spur t ; but on t he

whol e t hey wer e by no means t he sor t of cr ew you coul d j ust r un

i nt o hand over hand. So Mi l l er and Di ogenes pr eached, and so t he

Ambr osi ans f ound out t o t hei r cost .

They had t he pace of t he ot her boat , and gai ned as usual a boat ' s

l engt h bef or e t he Gut ; but , f i r st t hose t wo f at al cor ner s wer e

passed, and t hen ot her wel l - r emember ed spot s wher e f or mer bumps

had been made, and st i l l Mi l l er made no si gn; on t he cont r ar y, he

l ooked gl oomy and savage. The St . Ambr osi an shout s f r om t he shor e

t oo changed f r om t he usual exul t ant peal s i nt o somet hi ng l i ke a

quaver of const er nat i on, whi l e t he ai r was r ent wi t h t he name and

l audat i ons of " l i t t l e Or i el . "

Long bef or e t he Cher wel l Dr ysdal e was compl et el y baked ( he had

pl ayed t r uant t he day bef or e and di ned at t he Wei r s, wer e he had

i mbi bed much dubi ous hock) , but he f r om ol d habi t managed t o keep

t i me. Tom and t he ot her young oar s got f l ur r i ed, and qui ckened;

t he boat dr agged, t her e was no l i f e l ef t i n her , and, t hough t hey

managed j ust t o hol d t hei r f i r st advant age, coul d not put her a

f oot near er t he st er n of t he Or i el boat , whi ch gl i ded past t he

wi nni ng- post a cl ear boat ' s l engt h ahead of her pur suer , and wi t h

Page 126 of 443

a cr ew much l ess depr essed.

Such r aces must t el l on st r okes; and even Jer vi s, who had pul l ed

magni f i cent l y t hr oughout , was ver y much done at t he cl ose, and

l eant over hi s oar wi t h a swi mmi ng i n hi s head, and an appr oach

t o f ai nt ness, and was scar cel y abl e t o see f or a mi nut e or so.

Mi l l er ' s i ndi gnat i on knew no bounds, but he bot t l ed i t up t i l l he

had manoeuver ed t he cr ew i nt o t hei r dr essi ng- r oom by t hemsel ves,

Jer vi s havi ng st opped bel ow. Then he di d not spar e t hem. " They

woul d ki l l t hei r capt ai n, whose l i t t l e f i nger was wor t h t he whol e

of t hem; t hey wer e di sgr aci ng t he col l ege; t hr ee or f our of t hem

had nei t her hear t , head nor pl uck. " They al l f el t t hat t hi s was

unj ust , f or af t er al l had t hey not br ought t he boat up t o t he

second pl ace? Poor Di ogenes sat i n a cor ner and gr oaned; he

f or got t o pr ef i x " ol d f el l ow" t o t he f ew obser vat i ons he made.

Bl ake had gr eat di f f i cul t y i n adj ust i ng hi s neckt i e bef or e t he

gl ass; he mer el y r emar ked i n a pause of t he obj ur gat i on, " I n

f ai t h, coxswai n, t hese be ver y bi t t er wor ds. " Tom and most of t he

ot her s wer e t oo much out of hear t t o r esi st ; but at l ast Dr ysdal e

f i r ed up- -

" You' ve no r i ght t o be so savage t hat I can see, " he sai d,

suddenl y st oppi ng t he l ow whi st l e i n whi ch he was i ndul gi ng, as

he sat on t he cor ner of t he t abl e; " you seem t o t hi nk No 2 t he

weakest out of sever al weak pl aces i n t he boat . "

" Yes, I do, " sai d Mi l l er .

" Then t hi s honour abl e member , " sai d Dr ysdal e, get t i ng of f t he

t abl e, " seei ng t hat hi s humbl e ef f or t s ar e unappr eci at ed, t hi nks

i t best f or t he publ i c ser vi ce t o pl ace hi s r esi gnat i on i n t he

hands of your coxswai nshi p. "

" Whi ch my coxswai nshi p i s gr aci ousl y pl eased t o accept , " r epl i ed

Mi l l er .

" Hur r ah f or a r oomy punt and a sof t cushi on next r aci ng

ni ght - - i t ' s al most wor t h whi l e t o have been r owi ng al l t hi s t i me,

t o r eal i ze t he sensat i ons I shal l f eel when I see you f el l ows

passi ng t he Cher wel l on Tuesday. "

" _Suave est _, i t ' s what I ' m par t i al t o, _mar i mango_, i n t he l ast

r each, _t er r a_, f r om t he t owi ng pat h, _al t er i us magnum spect ar e

l abor em_, t o wi t ness t he t or t ur es of you wr et ched beggar s i n t he

boat . I ' m obl i ged t o t r ansl at e f or Dr ysdal e, who never l ear ned

Lat i n, " sai d Bl ake, f i ni shi ng hi s t i e bef or e t he gl ass. Ther e was

an awkwar d si l ence. Mi l l er was chaf i ng i nwar dl y and r unni ng over

i n hi s mi nd what was t o be done; and nobody el se seemed qui t e t o

know what ought t o happen next , when t he door opened and Jer vi s

came i n.

" Congr at ul at e me, my Capt ai n, " sai d Dr ysdal e; " I ' m wel l out of i t

at l ast . "

Jer vi s " pi shed and pshaw' d" a l i t t l e at hear i ng what had

happened, but hi s pr esence act ed l i ke oi l on t he wat er s. The

moment t he r esi gnat i on was named, Tom' s t hought s had t ur ned t o

Har dy. Now was t he t i me- - he had such conf i dence i n t he man, t hat

t he i dea of get t i ng hi m i n f or next r ace ent i r el y changed t he

aspect of af f ai r s t o hi m, and made hi m f eel as " bumpt i ous" agai n

as he had done i n t he mor ni ng. So wi t h t hi s i dea i n hi s head, he

hung about t i l l t he Capt ai n had made hi s t oi l et , and j oi ned

hi msel f t o hi m and Mi l l er as t hey wal ked up.

Page 127 of 443

" Wel l , what ar e we goi ng t o do now, " sai d t he Capt ai n.

" That ' s j ust what you have t o set t l e, " sai d Mi l l er ; " you have

been up al l t he t er m, and know t he men' s pul l i ng bet t er t han I . "

" I suppose we must pr ess somebody f r om t he t or pi d- - l et me see,

t her e' s Bur t on. "

" He r ol l s l i ke a por poi se, " i nt er r upt ed Mi l l er , posi t i vel y;

" i mpossi bl e. "

" St ewar t mi ght do, t hen. "

" Never kept t i me f or t hr ee st r okes i n hi s l i f e, " sai d Mi l l er .

" Wel l , t her e ar e no bet t er men, " sai d t he Capt ai n.

" Then we may l ay our account t o st oppi ng wher e we ar e, i f we

don' t even l ose a pl ace, " sai d Mi l l er .

" Dust unt o dust , what must be, must ;

I f you can' t get cr umb, you' d best eat cr ust . " sai d t he Capt ai n.

" I t ' s al l ver y wel l t al ki ng cool l y now, " sai d Mi l l er , " but you' l l

ki l l your sel f t r yi ng t o bump, and t her e ar e t hr ee mor e ni ght s. "

" Har dy woul d r ow i f you asked hi m, I ' m sur e, " sai d Tom.

The Capt ai n l ooked at Mi l l er , who shook hi s head. " I don' t t hi nk

i t , " he sai d; " I t ake hi m t o be a shy bi r d t hat won' t come t o

ever ybody' s whi st l e. We mi ght have had hi m t wo year s ago, I

bel i eve- - I wi sh we had. "

" I al ways t ol d you so, " sai d Jer vi s; " at any r at e l et ' s t r y hi m.

He can but say no, and I don' t t hi nk he wi l l f or you see he has

been at t he st ar t i ng pl ace ever y ni ght , and as keen as a f r eshman

al l t he t i me. "

" I ' m sur e he won' t , " sai d Tom; " I know he woul d gi ve anyt hi ng t o

pul l . "

" You had bet t er go t o hi s r ooms and sound hi m, " sai d t he Capt ai n;

" Mi l l er and I wi l l f ol l ow i n hal f an hour . "

We have al r eady hear d how Tom' s mi ssi on pr osper ed.

The next day, at a f ew moment s bef or e t wo o' cl ock, t he St .

Ambr ose cr ew, i ncl udi ng Har dy, wi t h Mi l l er ( who was a desper at e

and i ndef at i gabl e pedest r i an) , f or l eader , cr ossed Magdal en

Br i dge. At f i ve t hey r et ur ned t o col l ege, havi ng done a l i t t l e

over f i f t een mi l es f ai r heal and t oe wal ki ng i n t he i nt er val . The

af t er noon had been ver y hot , and Mi l l er chuckl ed t o t he Capt ai n,

" I don' t t hi nk t her e wi l l be much t r ash l ef t i n any of t hem af t er

t hat . That f el l ow Har dy i s as f i ne as a r ace- hor se, and, di d you

see, he never t ur ned a hai r al l t he way. "

The cr ew di sper sed t o t hei r r ooms, del i ght ed wi t h t he per f or mance

now t hat i t was over , and f eel i ng t hat t hey wer e much t he bet t er

f or i t , t hough t hey al l decl ar ed i t had been har der wor k t han any

r ace t hey had yet pul l ed. I t woul d have done a t r ai ner ' s hear t

good t o have seen t hem, some t went y mi nut es af t er war ds, dr oppi ng

i nt o hal l ( wher e t hey wer e al l owed t o di ne on Sundays on t he

j oi nt ) , f r esh f r om col d bat hs, and l ooki ng r uddy and cl ear , and

Page 128 of 443

har d enough f or anyt hi ng.

Agai n on Monday, not a chance was l ost . The St . Ambr ose boat

st ar t ed soon af t er one o' cl ock f or Abi ngdon. They swung st eadi l y

down t he whol e way, and back agai n t o Sandf or d wi t hout a si ngl e

spur t ; Mi l l er gener al l y st andi ng i n t he st er n and pr eachi ng above

al l t hi ngs st eadi ness and t i me. Fr om Sandf or d up, t hey wer e

accompani ed by hal f a dozen men or so, who r an up t he bank

wat chi ng t hem. The st r uggl e f or t he f i r st pl ace on t he r i ver was

cr eat i ng gr eat exci t ement i n t he r owi ng wor l d, and t hese wer e

some of t he most keen connoi sseur s, who, havi ng hear d t hat St .

Ambr ose had changed a man, wer e on t he l ook- out t o sat i sf y

t hemsel ves as t o how i t woul d wor k. The gener al opi ni on was

veer i ng r ound i n f avor of Or i el ; changes so l at e i n t he r aces, at

such a cr i t i cal moment , wer e l ooked upon as ver y damagi ng.

For emost amongst t he r unner s on t he bank was a wi r y, dar k man,

wi t h a sangui ne compl exi on, who went wi t h a pecul i ar l ong, l ow

st r i de, keepi ng hi s keen eye wel l on t he boat . Just above

Kenni ngt on I sl and, Jer vi s, not i ci ng t hi s par t i cul ar spect at or f or

t he f i r st t i me, cal l ed on t he cr ew, and, qui ckeni ng hi s st r oke,

t ook t hem up t he r each at r aci ng pace. As t hey l ay i n I f f l ey Lock

t he dar k man appear ed above t hem, and exchanged a f ew wor ds and a

gr eat deal of dumb show wi t h t he Capt ai n and Mi l l er , and t hen

di sappear ed.

Fr om I f f l ey up t hey went st eadi l y agai n. On t he whol e Mi l l er

seemed t o be i n ver y good spi r i t s i n t he dr essi ng r oom; he

t hought t he boat t r i mmed bet t er , and went bet t er t han she had

ever done bef or e, and compl i ment ed Bl ake par t i cul ar l y f or t he

ease wi t h whi ch he had changed si des. They al l went up i n hi gh

spi r i t s, cal l i ng on t hei r way at " The Choughs" f or one gl ass of

ol d al e r ound, whi ch Mi l l er was gr aci ousl y pl eased t o al l ow. Tom

never r emember ed t i l l t hey wer e out agai n t hat Har dy had never

been t her e bef or e, and f el t embar r assed f or a moment , but i t soon

passed of f . A moder at e di nner and ear l y t o bed f i ni shed t he day,

and Mi l l er was j ust i f i ed i n hi s par t i ng r emar k t o t he Capt ai n,

" Wel l , i f we don' t wi n, we can comf or t our sel ves t hat we hav' n' t

dr opped a st i t ch t hi s l ast t wo days, at any r at e. "

Then t he event f ul day ar ose whi ch Tom, and many ot her s f el t was

t o make or mar St . Ambr ose. I t was a gl or i ous ear l y - summer day,

wi t hout a cl oud, scar cel y a br eat h of ai r st i r r i ng. " We shal l

have a f ai r st ar t at any r at e, " was t he gener al f eel i ng. We have

al r eady seen what a t hr oat - dr yi ng, ner vous busi ness, t he mor ni ng

of a r ace- day i s, and must not go over t he same gr ound mor e t han

we can hel p; so we wi l l i magi ne t he St . Ambr ose boat down at t he

st ar t i ng pl ace, l yi ng cl ose t o t he t owi ng pat h, j ust bef or e t he

f i r st gun.

Ther e i s a much gr eat er cr owd t han usual opposi t e t he t wo f i r st

boat s. By t hi s t i me most of t he ot her boat s have f ound t hei r

pl aces, f or t her e i s not much chance of anyt hi ng ver y exci t i ng

down bel ow; so, besi des t he men of Or i el and St . Ambr ose ( who

must er t o- ni ght of al l sor t s, t he f ast est of t he f ast and t he

sl owest of t he sl ow havi ng been by t hi s t i me shamed i nt o

somet hi ng l i ke ent husi asm) , many of ot her col l eges, whose boat s

have no chance of bumpi ng or bei ng bumped, f l ock t o t he poi nt of

at t r act i on.

" Do you make out what t he change i s?" says a backer of Or i el t o

hi s f r i end i n t he l i ke pr edi cament .

" Yes, t hey' ve got a NO. 5, don' t you see, and, by Geor ge, I don' t

Page 129 of 443

l i ke hi s l ooks, " answer ed hi s f r i end; " awf ul l y l ong and st r ong i n

t he ar m, and wel l r i bbed up. A devi l i sh awkwar d cust omer . I shal l

go and t r y t o get a hedge. "

" Pooh, " says t he ot her , " di d you ever know one man wi n a r ace?"

" Ay, t hat I have, " says hi s f r i end, and wal ks of f t owar d t he

Or i el cr owd t o t ake f i ve t o f our on Or i el i n hal f - sover ei gns, i f

he can get i t .

Now t hei r dar k f r i end of yest er day comes up at a t r ot , and pul l s

up cl ose t o t he Capt ai n, wi t h whom he i s evi dent l y dear f r i ends.

He i s wor t h l ooki ng at , bei ng coxswai n of t he O. U. B. , t he best

st eer er , r unner and swi mmer i n Oxf or d; amphi bi ous hi msel f and

spr ung f r om an amphi bi ous r ace. Hi s own boat i s i n no danger , so

he has l ef t her t o t ake car e of her sel f . He i s on t he l ook - out

f or r ecr ui t s f or t he Uni ver si t y cr ew, and no r ecr ui t i ng ser geant

has a shar per eye f or t he sor t of st uf f he r equi r es.

" What ' s hi s name?" he says i n a l ow t one t o Jer vi s, gi vi ng a j er k

wi t h hi s head t owar ds Har dy. " Wher e di d you get hi m?"

" Har dy, " answer s t he Capt ai n, i n t he same t one; " i t ' s hi s f i r st

ni ght i n t he boat . "

" I know t hat , " r epl i es t he coxswai n; " I never saw hi m r ow bef or e

yest er day. He' s t he f el l ow who scul l s i n t hat br own ski f f , i sn' t

he?"

" Yes, and I t hi nk he' l l do; keep your eye on hi m. "

The coxswai n nods as i f he wer e somewhat of t he same mi nd, and

exami nes Har dy wi t h t he eye of a connoi sseur , pr et t y much as t he

j udge at an agr i cul t ur al show l ooks at t he pr i ze bul l . Har dy i s

t i ght eni ng t he st r op of hi s st r et cher , and al l - unconsci ous of t he

compl i ment s whi ch ar e bei ng pai d hi m. The gr eat aut hor i t y seems

sat i sf i ed wi t h hi s i nspect i on, gr i ns, r ubs hi s hands, and t r ot s

of f t o t he Or i el boat t o make compar i sons.

Just as t he f i r st gun i s hear d, Gr ey si dl es ner vousl y t o t he

f r ont of t he cr owd as i f he wer e doi ng somet hi ng ver y audaci ous,

and dr aws Har dy' s at t ent i on, exchangi ng sympat hi zi ng nods wi t h

hi m, but sayi ng not hi ng, f or he knows not what t o say, and t hen

di sappear i ng agai n i n t he cr owd.

" Hal l o, Dr ysdal e, i s t hat you?" says Bl ake, as t hey push of f f r om

t he shor e. " I t hought you wer e goi ng t o t ake i t easy i n a punt . "

" So I t hought , " says Dr ysdal e, " but I coul dn' t keep away, and

her e I am. I shal l r un up; and mi nd, i f I see you wi t hi n t en

f eet , and cock- sur e t o wi n, I ' l l gi ve a vi ew hol l oa. I ' l l be

bound you shal l hear i t . "

" May i t come speedi l y, " sai d Bl ake, and t hen set t l ed hi msel f i n

hi s seat .

" Eyes i n t he boat - - mi nd now, st eady al l , wat ch t he st r oke and

don' t qui cken. "

These ar e Mi l l er ' s l ast wor ds; ever y f acul t y of hi msel f and t he

cr ew bei ng now devot ed t o get t i ng a good st ar t . Thi s i s no

di f f i cul t mat t er , as t he wat er i s l i ke gl ass, and t he boat l i es

l i ght l y on i t , obeyi ng t he sl i ght est di p of t he oar s of bow and

t wo, who j ust f eel t he wat er t wi ce or t hr i ce i n t he l ast mi nut e.

Page 130 of 443

Then, af t er a f ew moment s of br eat hl ess hush on t he bank, t he

l ast gun i s f i r ed, and t hey ar e of f .

The same scene of mad exci t ement ensues, onl y t enf ol d mor e

i nt ense, as al most t he whol e i nt er est of t he r aces i s t oni ght

concent r at ed on t he t wo head boat s and t hei r f at e. At ever y gat e

t her e i s a j am, and t he weaker vessel s ar e shoved i nt o t he

di t ches, upset and l ef t unnot i ced. The most act i ve men, i ncl udi ng

t he O. U. B. coxswai n, shun t he gat es al t oget her , and t ake t he

bi g di t ches i n t hei r st r i de, maki ng f or t he l ong br i dges, t hat

t hey may get qui et l y over t hese and be saf e f or t he best par t of

t he r ace. They know t hat t he cr i t i cal poi nt of t he st r uggl e wi l l

be near t he f i ni sh.

Bot h boat s made a beaut i f ul st ar t , and agai n as bef or e i n t he

f i r st dash t he St . Ambr ose pace t el l s, and t hey gai n t hei r boat ' s

l engt h bef or e f i r st wi nds f ai l ; t hen t hey set t l e down f or a l ong

st eady ef f or t . Bot h cr ews ar e r owi ng compar at i vel y st eady

r eser vi ng t hemsel ves f or t he t ug of war up above. Thus t hey pass

t he Gut , and t hose t wo t r eacher ous cor ner s, t he scene of

count l ess bumps, i nt o t he wi der wat er beyond, up under t he

wi l l ows.

Mi l l er ' s f ace i s deci dedl y hopef ul ; he shows no si gn, i ndeed, but

you can see t hat he i s not t he same man as he was at t hi s pl ace

i n t he l ast r ace. He f eel s t hat t o- day t he boat i s f ul l of l i f e,

and t hat he can cal l on hi s cr ew wi t h hopes of an answer . Hi s

wel l - t r ai ned eye al so det ect s t hat , whi l e bot h cr ews ar e at f ul l

st r et ch, hi s own, i nst ead of l osi ng, as i t di d on t he l ast ni ght ,

i s now gai ni ng i nch by i nch on Or i el . The gai n i s scar cel y

per cept i bl e t o hi m even; f r om t he bank i t i s qui t e i mper cept i bl e;

but t her e i t i s; he i s sur er and sur er of i t , as one af t er

anot her t he wi l l ows ar e l ef t behi nd.

And now comes t he pi nch. The Or i el capt ai n i s begi nni ng t o be

consci ous of t he f act whi ch has been dawni ng on Mi l l er , but wi l l

not acknowl edge i t t o hi msel f , and as hi s coxswai n t ur ns t he

boat ' s head gent l y acr oss t he st r eam, and makes f or t he Ber kshi r e

si de and t he goal , now f ul l i n vi ew, he smi l es gr i ml y as he

qui ckens hi s st r oke; he wi l l shake of f t hese l i ght heel ed gent r y

yet , as he di d bef or e.

Mi l l er sees t he move i n a moment , and si gnal s hi s capt ai n, and

t he next st r oke St . Ambr ose has qui ckened al so; and now t her e i s

no mi st ake about i t , St . Ambr ose i s cr eepi ng up sl owl y but

sur el y. The boat ' s l engt h l essens t o f or t y f eet , t hi r t y f eet ;

sur el y and st eadi l y l essens. But t he r ace i s not l ost yet ; t hi r t y

f eet i s a shor t space enough t o l ook at on t he wat er , but a good

bi t t o pi ck up f oot by f oot i n t he l ast t wo or t hr ee hundr ed

yar ds of a desper at e st r uggl e. They ar e over , under t he Ber kshi r e

si de now and t her e st ands up t he wi nni ng- post , cl ose ahead, al l

but won. The di st ance l essens, and l essens st i l l , but t he Or i el

cr ew st i ck st eadi l y and gal l ant l y t o t hei r wor k, and wi l l f i ght

ever y i nch of di st ance t o t he l ast . The Or i el men on t he bank who

ar e r ushi ng al ong somet i mes i n t he wat er , somet i mes out , hoar se,

f ur i ous, madl y al t er nat i ng bet ween hope and despai r , have no

r eason t o be ashamed of a man i n t he cr ew. Of f t he mout h of t he

Cher wel l t her e i s st i l l t went y f eet bet ween t hem. Anot her mi nut e

and i t wi l l be over one way or anot her . Ever y man i n bot h cr ews

i s now doi ng hi s best , and no mi st ake; t el l me whi ch boat hol ds

t he most men who can do bet t er t han t hei r best at a pi nch, who

wi l l r i sk a br oken bl ood- vessel , and I wi l l t el l you how i t wi l l

end. " Har d poundi ng, gent l emen; l et ' s see who wi l l pound

l ongest , " t he Duke i s r epor t ed t o have sai d at Wat er l oo, and won.

Page 131 of 443

" Now, Tommy, l ad, ' t i s t hou or I , " Bi g Ben sai d as he came up t o

t he l ast r ound of hi s har dest f i ght , and won. I s t her e a man of

t hat t emper i n ei t her cr ew t oni ght ? I f so, now' s hi s t i me. For

bot h coxswai ns have cal l ed on t hei r men f or t he l ast ef f or t ;

Mi l l er i s whi r l i ng t he t assel of hi s r i ght - hand t i l l er r ope r ound

hi s head, l i ke a wi r y l i t t l e l unat i c; f r om t he t owi ng pat h, f r om

Chr i st chur ch meadow, f r om t he r ow of punt s, f r om t he cl ust er ed

t ops of t he bar ges, comes a r oar of encour agement and appl ause,

and t he band, unabl e t o r esi st t he i mpul se, br eaks wi t h a cr ash

i nt o t he " Jol l y Young Wat er men, " pl ayi ng t wo bar s t o t he second.

A bump i n t he Gut i s not hi ng- - a f ew par t i sans on t he t owi ng- pat h

t o cheer you, al r eady out of br eat h; but up her e at t he ver y

f i ni sh, wi t h al l Oxf or d l ooki ng on, when t he pr i ze i s t he

headshi p of t he r i ver - - once i n a gener at i on onl y do men get such

a chance.

Who ever saw Jer vi s not up t o hi s wor k? The St . Ambr ose st r oke i s

gl or i ous. Tom had an at om of go st i l l l ef t i n t he ver y back of

hi s head, and at t hi s moment he hear d Dr ysdal e' s vi ew hol l oa

above al l t he di n; i t seemed t o gi ve hi m a l i f t , and ot her men

besi des i n t he boat , f or i n anot her si x st r okes t he gap i s

l essened and St . Ambr ose has cr ept up t o t en f eet , and now t o

f i ve f r om t he st er n of Or i el . Weeks af t er war ds Har dy conf i ded t o

Tom t hat when he hear d t hat vi ew hol l oa he seemed t o f eel t he

muscl es of hi s ar ms and l egs t ur n i nt o st eel , and di d mor e wor k

i n t he l ast t went y st r okes t han i n any ot her f or t y i n t he ear l i er

par t of t he r ace.

Anot her f i f t y yar ds and Or i el i s saf e, but t he l ook on t he

capt ai n' s f ace i s so omi nous t hat t hei r coxswai n gl ances over hi s

shoul der . The bow of St . Ambr ose i s wi t hi n t wo f eet of t hei r

r udder . I t i s a moment f or desper at e expedi ent s. He pul l s hi s

l ef t t i l l er r ope suddenl y, t her eby car r yi ng t he st er n of hi s own

boat out of t he l i ne of t he St . Ambr ose, and cal l s on hi s cr ew

once mor e; t hey r espond gal l ant l y yet , but t he r udder i s agai nst

t hem f or a moment , and t he boat dr ags. St . Ambr ose over l aps. " A

bump, a bump, " shout t he St . Ambr osi ans on shor e. " Row on, r ow

on, " scr eams Mi l l er . He has not yet f el t t he el ect r i c shock, and

knows he wi l l mi ss hi s bump i f t he young ones sl acken f or a

moment . A young coxswai n woul d have gone on maki ng shot s at t he

st er n of t he Or i el boat , and so have l ost .

A bump now and no mi st ake; t he bow of t he St . Ambr ose boat j ams

t he oar of t he Or i el st r oke, and t he t wo boat s pass t he

wi nni ng- post wi t h t he way t hat was on t hem when t he bump was

made. So near a shave was i t .

Who can descr i be t he scene on t he bank? I t was a hur l y - bur l y of

del i r i ous j oy, i n t he mi dst of whi ch t ook pl ace a t er r i f i c combat

bet ween Jack and t he Or i el dog- - a nobl e bl ack bul l t er r i er

bel ongi ng t o t he col l ege i n gener al , and no one i n

par t i cul ar - - who al ways at t ended t he r aces and f el t t he mi sf or t une

keenl y. Lucki l y t hey wer e par t ed wi t hout wor se t hi ngs happeni ng;

f or t hough t he Or i el men wer e savage, and not di si ncl i ned f or a

j ost l e, t he mi l k of human ki ndness was t oo st r ong f or t he moment

i n t hei r adver sar i es. So Jack was choked of f wi t h some t r oubl e,

and t he Or i el men ext r i cat ed t hemsel ves f r om t he cr owd, car r yi ng

of f Cr i b, t hei r dog, and l ooki ng st r ai ght bef or e t hem i nt o

vacancy.

" Wel l r owed, boys, " says Jer vi s, t ur ni ng r ound t o hi s cr ew as

t hey l ay pant i ng on t hei r oar s.

" Wel l r owed; f i ve, " says Mi l l er , who even i n t he hour of such a

Page 132 of 443

t r i umph i s not i ncl i ned t o be gener al i n l audat i on.

" Wel l r owed, f i ve, " i s echoed f r om t he bank; i t i s t hat cunni ng

man, t he r ecr ui t i ng- ser geant . " _Fat al l y_ wel l r owed, " he adds t o

a comr ade, wi t h whom he get s i nt o one of t he punt s t o cr oss t o

Chr i st chur ch meadow; " we must have hi m i n t he Uni ver si t y cr ew. "

" I don' t t hi nk you' l l get hi m t o r ow, f r om what I hear , " answer s

t he ot her .

" Then he must he handcuf f ed and car r i ed i nt o t he boat by f or ce, "

says t he O. U. B. coxswai n; " why i s not t he pr essgang an

i nst i t ut i on i n t hi s uni ver si t y?"

CHAPTER XV

A STORM BREWS AND BREAKS

Cer t ai nl y Dr ysdal e' s char act er came out wel l t hat ni ght . He di d

not seem t he l east j eal ous of t he success whi ch had been achi eved

t hr ough hi s di smi ssal . On t he cont r ar y, t her e was no man i n t he

col l ege who showed mor e i nt er est i n t he r ace, or j oy at t he

r esul t , t hen he. Per haps t he pl easur e of bei ng out of i t hi msel f

may have r eckoned f or somet hi ng wi t h hi m. I n any case, t her e he

was at t he door wi t h Jack, t o meet t he cr ew as t hey l anded af t er

t he r ace, wi t h a l ar ge pewt er , f oami ng wi t h shandygaf f , i n each

hand, f or t hei r r ecr eat i on. Dr aco hi msel f coul d not have

f or bi dden t hem t o dr i nk at t hat moment ; so, ami dst shaki ng of

hands and cl appi ng on t he back, t he pewt er s t r avel l ed r ound f r om

st r oke t o bow, and t hen t he cr ew went of f t o t hei r dr essi ng- r oom,

accompani ed by Dr ysdal e and ot her s.

" Br avo! i t was t he f i nest r ace t hat has been seen on t he r i ver

t hi s si x year s; ever ybody says so. You f el l ows have deser ved wel l

of your count r y. I ' ve sent up t o col l ege t o have supper i n my

r oom, and you must al l come. Hang t r ai ni ng! t her e ar e onl y t wo

mor e ni ght s, and you' r e saf e t o keep your pl ace. What do you say

Capt ai n? eh, Mi l l er ? Now be good- nat ur ed f or once. "

" Wel l , we don' t get head of t he r i ver ever y ni ght , " sai d Mi l l er .

" I don' t obj ect i f you' l l al l t ur n out and go t o bed at el even. "

" That ' s al l r i ght , " sai d Dr ysdal e; " and now l et ' s go t o t he ol d

' Choughs' and have a gl ass of al e whi l e supper i s get t i ng r eady.

Eh, Br own?" and he hooked hi s ar m i nt o Tom' s and l ed t he way i nt o

t he t own.

" I ' m so sor r y you wer e not i n i t f or t he f i ni sh, " sai d Tom, who

was qui t e t ouched by hi s f r i end' s good- humour .

" Ar e you?" sai d Dr ysdal e; " i t ' s mor e t han I am, t hen, I can t el l

you. I f you coul d have seen your sel f under t he wi l l ows, you

woul dn' t have t hought your sel f much of an obj ect of envy. Jack

and I wer e qui t e sat i sf i ed wi t h our shar e of wor k and gl or y on

t he bank. Wer en' t we, ol d f el l ow?" at whi ch sal ut at i on Jack

r ear ed hi msel f on hi s hi nd l egs and l i cked hi s mast er ' s hand.

" Wel l , you' r e a r eal good f el l ow f or t aki ng i t as you do. I don' t

t hi nk I coul d have come near t he r i ver i f I had been you. "

" I t ake ever yt hi ng as i t comes, " sai d Dr ysdal e. " The next r ace i s

on Der by day, and I coul dn' t have gone i f I hadn' t been t ur ned

Page 133 of 443

out of t he boat ; t hat ' s a compensat i on, you see. Her e we ar e. I

wonder i f Mi ss Pat t y has hear d of t he vi ct or y?"

They t ur ned down t he l i t t l e passage ent r ance of " The Choughs" as

he spoke, f ol l owed by most of t he cr ew, and by a t ai l of younger

St . Ambr osi ans, t hei r admi r er s, and t he bar was cr owded t he next

moment . Pat t y was t her e, of cour se, and her ser vi ces wer e i n

gr eat r equi si t i on; f or t hough each of t he cr ew onl y t ook a smal l

gl ass of t he ol d al e, t hey made as much f uss about i t wi t h t he

pr et t y bar mai d as i f t hey wer e dr i nki ng hogsheads. I n f act , i t

had become cl ear l y t he cor r ect t hi ng wi t h t he St . Ambr osi ans t o

make much of Pat t y; and, consi der i ng t he ci r cumst ances, i t was

onl y a wonder t hat she was not mor e spoi l ed t han seemed t o be t he

case. I ndeed, as Har dy st ood up i n t he cor ner opposi t e t o t he

l andl ady' s chai r , a si l ent onl ooker at t he scene, he coul dn' t

hel p admi t t i ng t o hi msel f t hat t he gi r l hel d her own wel l ,

wi t hout doi ng or sayi ng anyt hi ng unbecomi ng a modest woman. And

i t was a har d t hi ng f or hi m t o be f ai r t o her , f or what he saw

now i n a f ew mi nut es conf i r med t he i mpr essi on whi ch hi s f or mer

vi si t had l ef t on hi s mi nd- - t hat hi s f r i end was saf e i n her

t oi l s; how deepl y, of cour se he coul d not j udge, but t hat t her e

was mor e bet ween t hem t han he coul d appr ove was now cl ear enough

t o hi m, and he st ood si l ent , l eani ng agai nst t he wal l i n t hat

f ar t hest cor ner , i n t he shadow of a pr oj ect i ng cupboar d, much

di st r essed i n mi nd, and ponder i ng over what i t behove hi m t o do

under t he ci r cumst ances. Wi t h t he except i on of a ci vi l sent ence

or t wo t o t he ol d l andl ady who sat opposi t e hi m kni t t i ng, and

cast i ng r at her uneasy l ooks f r om t i me t o t i me t owar ds t he f r ont

of t he bar , he spoke t o no one. I n f act , nobody came near t hat

end of t he r oom, and t hei r exi st ence seemed t o have been

f or got t en by t he r est .

Tom had been a l i t t l e uncomf or t abl e f or t he f i r st mi nut e; but

af t er seei ng Har dy t ake hi s gl ass of al e, and t hen mi ssi ng hi m,

he f or got al l about hi m, and was t oo busy wi t h hi s own af f ai r s t o

t r oubl e hi msel f f ur t her . He had become a sor t of dr awer , or

bar man, at " The Cl oughs, " and pr esi ded, under Pat t y, over t he

di st r i but i on of t he al e, gi vi ng an eye t o hi s chi ef t o see t hat

she was not put upon.

Dr ysdal e and Jack l ef t af t er a shor t st ay, t o see t hat t he supper

was bei ng pr oper l y pr epar ed. Soon af t er war ds Pat t y went of f out

of t he bar i n answer t o some bel l whi ch cal l ed her t o anot her

par t of t he house; and t he St . Ambr osi ans vot ed t hat i t was t i me

t o go of f t o col l ege t o supper , and cl ear ed out i nt o t he st r eet .

Tom went out wi t h t he l ast bat ch of t hem, but l i nger ed a moment

i n t he passage out si de. He knew t he house and i t s ways wel l

enough by t hi s t i me. The next moment Pat t y appear ed f r om a si de

door , whi ch l ed t o anot her par t of t he house.

" So you' r e not goi ng t o st ay and pl ay a game wi t h aunt , " she

sai d; " what makes you i n such a hur r y?"

" I must go up t o col l ege; t her e' s a supper t o cel ebr at e our

get t i ng head of t he r i ver . " Pat t y l ooked down and pout ed a

l i t t l e. Tom t ook her hand, and sai d sent i ment al l y, " Don' t be

cr oss, now; you know t hat I woul d sooner st ay her e, don' t you?"

She t ossed her head, and pul l ed away her hand, and t hen changi ng

t he subj ect , sai d, " Who' s t hat ugl y ol d f el l ow who was her e agai n

t o- ni ght ?"

" Ther e was no one ol der t han Mi l l er , and he i s r at her an admi r er

Page 134 of 443

of your s. I shal l t el l hi m you cal l ed hi m ugl y. "

" Oh, I don' t mean Mr . Mi l l er ; you know t hat wel l enough, " she

answer ed. " I mean hi m i n t he ol d r ough coat , who don' t t al k t o

anyone. "

" Ugl y ol d f el l ow, Pat t y? Why, you mean Har dy. He' s a gr eat f r i end

of mi ne, and you must l i ke hi m f or my sake. "

" I ' m sur e I won' t . I don' t l i ke hi m a bi t ; he l ooks so cr oss at

me. "

" I t ' s al l your f ancy. Ther e now, good- ni ght . "

" You shan' t go, however , t i l l you' ve gi ven me t hat handker chi ef .

You pr omi sed i t me i f you got head of t he r i ver . "

" Oh! you l i t t l e st or y- t el l er . Why, t hey ar e my col l ege col or s. I

woul dn' t par t wi t h t hem f or wor l ds. I ' l l gi ve you a l ock of my

hai r , and t he pr et t i est handker chi ef you can f i nd i n Oxf or d; but

not t hi s. "

" But I _wi l l _ have i t and you _di d_ pr omi se me i t , " she sai d, and

put up her hands suddenl y, and unt i ed t he bow of Tom' s

neck- handker chi ef . He caught her wr i st s i n hi s hands, and l ooked

down i nt o her eyes, i n whi ch, i f he saw a l i t t l e pi que at hi s

goi ng, he saw ot her t hi ngs whi ch st i r r ed i n hi m st r ange f eel i ngs

of t r i umph and t ender ness.

" Wel l , t hen you shal l pay f or i t , anyhow, " he sai d. - - Why, need I

t el l what f ol l owed?- - Ther e was a l i t t l e st r uggl e; a " Go al ong,

do, Mr . Br own; " and t he next mi nut e Tom mi nus hi s handker chi ef ,

was hur r yi ng af t er hi s compani ons; and Pat t y was wat chi ng hi m

f r om t he door , and set t i ng her cap t o r i ght s. Then she t ur ned and

went back i nt o t he bar , and st ar t ed, and t ur ned r ed, as she saw

Har dy t her e, st i l l st andi ng i n t he f ur t her cor ner , opposi t e her

aunt . He f i ni shed hi s gl ass of al e as she came i n, and t hen

passed out wi shi ng t hem " Good- ni ght . "

" Why aunt " she sai d, " I t hought t hey wer e al l gone. Who was t hat

sour - l ooki ng man?"

" He seems a ni ce qui et gent l eman, my dear , " sai d t he ol d l ady,

l ooki ng up. " I ' m sur e he' s much bet t er t han t hose ones as make so

much r acket i n t he bar . But wher e have you been, Pat t y?"

" Oh, t o t he commer ci al r oom, aunt . Won' t you have a game at

cr i bbage?" and Pat t y t ook up t he car ds and set t he boar d out , t he

ol d l ady l ooki ng at her doubt f ul l y al l t he t i me t hr ough her

spect acl es. She was begi nni ng t o wi sh t hat t he col l ege gent l emen

woul dn' t come so much t o t he house, t hough t hey wer e ver y good

cust omer s.

Tom, mi nus hi s handker chi ef , hur r i ed af t er hi s comr ades, and

caught t hem up bef or e t hey got t o col l ege. They wer e al l t her e

but Har dy, whose absence vexed our her o f or a moment ; he had

hoped t hat Har dy, now t hat he was i n t he boat , woul d have shaken

of f al l hi s r eser ve t owar ds t he ot her men, and bl amed hi m because

he had not done so at once. Ther e coul d be no r eason f or i t but

hi s own oddness he t hought , f or ever yone was f ul l of hi s pr ai ses

as t hey st r ol l ed on t al ki ng of t he r ace. Mi l l er pr ai sed hi s

st yl e, and t i me, and pl uck. " Di dn' t you f eel how t he boat spr ung

when I cal l ed on you at t he Cher wel l ?" he sai d t o t he Capt ai n.

" Dr ysdal e was al ways dead beat at t he Gut , and j ust l i ke a l og i n

Page 135 of 443

t he boat , pr et t y much l i ke some of t he r est of you. "

" He' s i n such good t r ai ni ng, t oo, " sai d Di ogenes; " I shal l f i nd

out how he di et s hi msel f . "

" We' ve pr et t y wel l done wi t h t hat , I shoul d hope, " sai d No. 6.

" Ther e ar e onl y t wo mor e ni ght s, and not hi ng can t ouch us now. "

" Don' t be t oo sur e of t hat , " sai d Mi l l er . " Mi nd now, al l of you,

don' t l et us have any nonsense t i l l t he r aces ar e over and we ar e

al l saf e. "

And so t hey t al ked on t i l l t hey r eached col l ege, and t hen

di sper sed t o t hei r r ooms t o wash and dr ess and met agai n i n

Dr ysdal e' s r ooms, wher e supper was awai t i ng t hem.

Agai n Har dy di d not appear . Dr ysdal e sent a scout t o hi s r ooms,

who br ought back wor d t hat he coul d not f i nd hi m; so Dr ysdal e set

t o wor k t o do t he honor s of hi s t abl e and enj oyed t he pl easur e of

t empt i ng t he cr ew wi t h al l sor t s of f or bi dden hot l i quor s, whi ch

he and t he r est of t he non pr of essi onal s i mbi bed f r eel y. But wi t h

Mi l l er ' s eye on t hem, and t he exampl e of Di ogenes and t he Capt ai n

bef or e t hem, t he r est of t he cr ew exer ci sed an abst emi ousness

whi ch woul d have been admi r abl e, had i t not been i n a gr eat

measur e compul sor y.

I t was a gr eat success, t hi s supper at Dr ysdal e' s, al t hough

knocked up at an hour ' s not i ce. The t r i umph of t hei r boat , had,

f or t he t i me, t he ef f ect of war mi ng up and dr awi ng out t he

f eel i ng of f el l owshi p, whi ch i s t he soul of col l ege l i f e. Though

onl y a f ew men besi des t he cr ew sat down t o supper , l ong bef or e

i t was cl ear ed away men of ever y set i n t he col l ege came i n, i n

t he hi ghest spi r i t s, and t he r oom was cr owded. For Dr ysdal e sent

r ound t o ever y man i n t he col l ege wi t h whom he had a speaki ng

acquai nt ance, and t hey f l ocked i n and sat wher e t hey coul d, and

men t al ked and l aughed wi t h nei ghbor s, wi t h whom, per haps, t hey

had never exchanged a wor d si nce t he t i me when t hey wer e f r eshmen

t oget her .

Of cour se t her e wer e speeches, cheer ed t o t he echo, and songs, of

whi ch t he chor uses mi ght have been hear d i n t he Hi gh- st r eet . At a

l i t t l e bef or e el even, never t hel ess, despi t e t he pr ot est at i ons of

Dr ysdal e, and t he passi ve r esi st ance of sever al of t hei r number ,

Mi l l er car r i ed of f t he cr ew, and many of t he ot her guest s went at

t he same t i me, l eavi ng t hei r host and a smal l ci r cl e t o make a

ni ght of i t .

Tom went t o hi s r oom i n hi gh spi r i t s, hummi ng t he ai r of one of

t he songs he had j ust hear d; but he had scar cel y t hr own hi s gown

on a chai r when a t hought st r uck hi m, and he r an down st ai r s

agai n and acr oss t o Har dy' s r ooms.

Har dy was si t t i ng wi t h some col d t ea pour ed out , but unt ast ed,

bef or e hi m, and no books open- - a ver y unusual t hi ng wi t h hi m at

ni ght . But Tom ei t her di d not or woul d not not i ce t hat t her e was

anyt hi ng unusual .

He seat ed hi msel f and began gossi pi ng away as f ast as he coul d,

wi t hout l ooki ng much at t he ot her . He began by r ecount i ng al l t he

compl i ment ar y t hi ngs whi ch had been sai d by Mi l l er and ot her s of

Har dy' s pul l i ng. Then he went on t o t he supper par t y; what a

j ol l y eveni ng t hey had had; he di d not r emember anyt hi ng so

pl easant si nce he had been up, and he r et ai l ed t he speeches, and

named t he best songs. " You r eal l y ought t o have been t her e. Why

Page 136 of 443

di dn' t you come? Dr ysdal e sent over f or you. I ' m sur e ever y one

wi shed you had been t her e. Di dn' t you get hi s message?"

" I di dn' t f eel up t o goi ng, " sai d Har dy.

" Ther e' s not hi ng t he mat t er , eh?" sai d Tom, as t he t hought

cr ossed hi s mi nd t hat per haps Har dy had hur t hi msel f i n t he r ace,

as he had not been r egul ar l y t r ai ni ng.

" No, not hi ng, " answer ed t he ot her .

Tom t r i ed t o make pl ay agai n, but soon came t o an end of hi s

t al k. I t was i mpossi bl e t o make head agai nst t hat col d si l ence.

At l ast he st opped, l ooked at Har dy f or a mi nut e, who was st ar i ng

abst r act edl y at t he swor d over hi s mant el - pi ece, and t hen sai d, - -

" Ther e _i s_ somet hi ng t he mat t er , t hough. Don' t si t gl ower i ng as

i f you had swal l owed a f ur ze bush. Why you haven' t been smoki ng,

ol d boy?" he added, get t i ng up and put t i ng hi s hand on t he ot her s

shoul der . " I see t hat ' s i t . Her e, t ake one of my weeds, t hey' r e

mi l d. Mi l l er al l ows t wo of t hese a day. "

" No, t hank' ee, " sai d Har dy, r ousi ng hi msel f ; " Mi l l er hasn' t

i nt er f er ed wi t h my smoki ng, and I _wi l l _ have a pi pe, f or I t hi nk

I want i t . "

" Wel l , I don' t see t hat i t does you any good, " sai d Tom, af t er

wat chi ng hi m f i l l and l i ght , and smoke f or some mi nut es wi t hout

sayi ng a wor d. " Her e, I ' ve managed t he one t hi ng I had at hear t .

You ar e i n t he cr ew, and we ar e head of t he r i ver , and ever ybody

i s pr ai si ng your r owi ng up t o t he ski es, and sayi ng t hat t he bump

was al l your doi ng. And her e I come t o t el l you, and not a wor d

can I get out of you. Ai n' t you pl eased? Do you t hi nk we shal l

keep our pl ace?" He paused a moment .

" Hang i t al l , I say, " he added, l osi ng al l pat i ence; " swear a

l i t t l e i f you can' t do anyt hi ng el se. Let ' s hear your voi ce; i t

i sn' t such a t ender one t hat you need keep i t al l shut up. "

" Wel l , " sai d Har dy, maki ng a gr eat ef f or t ; " t he r eal f act i s I

_have_ somet hi ng, and somet hi ng ver y ser i ous t o say t o you. "

" Then I ' m not goi ng t o l i st en t o i t , " br oke i n Tom; " I ' m not

ser i ous, and I won' t be ser i ous, and no one shal l make me ser i ous

t o- ni ght . I t ' s no use, so don' t l ook gl um. But i sn' t t he al e at

' The Choughs' good? and i sn' t i t a dear l i t t l e pl ace?"

" I t ' s t hat pl ace I want t o t al k t o you about , " sai d Har dy,

t ur ni ng hi s chai r suddenl y so as t o f r ont hi s vi si t or . " Now,

Br own, we haven' t known one anot her l ong, but I t hi nk I

under st and you, and I know I l i ke you, and I hope you l i ke me. "

" Wel l , wel l , wel l , " br oke i n Tom, " of cour se I l i ke you, ol d

f el l ow, or el se I shoul dn' t come poki ng af t er you, and wast i ng so

much of your t i me, and si t t i ng on your cur sed har d chai r s i n t he

mi ddl e of t he r aces. What has l i ki ng t o do wi t h ' The Choughs, ' or

' The Choughs' wi t h l ong f aces? You ought t o have had anot her

gl ass of al e t her e. "

" I wi sh you had never had a gl ass of al e t her e, " sai d Har dy,

bol t i ng out hi s wor ds as i f t hey wer e r ed hot . " Br own you have no

r i ght t o go t o t hat pl ace. "

" Why?" sai d Tom, si t t i ng up i n hi s chai r and begi nni ng t o be

Page 137 of 443

net t l ed.

" You know why, " sai d Har dy, l ooki ng hi m f ul l i n t he f ace, and

puf f i ng out huge vol umes of smoke. I n spi t e of t he bl unt ness of

t he at t ack, t her e was a year ni ng l ook whi ch spr ead over t he

r ugged br ow, and shone out of t he deep set eyes of t he speaker ,

whi ch al most conquer ed Tom. But f i r st pr i de, and t hen t he

consci ousness of what was comi ng next , whi ch began t o dawn on

hi m, r ose i n hi s hear t . I t was al l he coul d do t o meet t hat l ook

f ul l , but he managed i t , t hough he f l ushed t o t he r oot s of hi s

hai r , as he si mpl y r epeat ed t hr ough hi s set t eet h, " Why?"

" I say agai n, " sai d Har dy, " you know why. "

" I see what you mean, " sai d Tom, sl owl y; " as you say, we have not

known one anot her l ong; l ong enough, t hough, I shoul d have

t hought , f or you t o have been mor e char i t abl e. Why am I not t o go

t o ' The Cl oughs' ? Because t her e happens t o be a pr et t y bar mai d

t her e? Al l our cr ew go, and t went y ot her men besi des. "

" Yes; but do any of t hem go i n t he sor t of way you do? Does she

l ook at anyone of t hem as she does at you?"

" How do I know?"

" That ' s not f ai r , or t r ue, or l i ke you, Br own, " sai d Har dy,

get t i ng up and begi nni ng t o wal k up and down t he r oom. " You _do_

know t hat t hat gi r l doesn' t car e a st r aw f or t he ot her men who go

t her e. You _do_ know t hat she i s begi nni ng t o car e f or you. "

" You seem t o know a gr eat deal about i t , " sai d Tom; " I don' t

bel i eve you wer e ever t her e bef or e t wo days ago. "

" No, I never was. "

" Then I t hi nk you needn' t be qui t e so qui ck at f i ndi ng f aul t . I f

t her e wer e anyt hi ng I di dn' t wi sh you t o see, do you t hi nk I

shoul d have t aken you t her e? I t el l you she i s qui t e abl e t o t ake

car e of her sel f . "

" So I bel i eve, " sai d Har dy; " i f she wer e a mer e gi ddy, l i ght

gi r l , set t i ng her cap at ever y man who came i n, i t woul dn' t

mat t er so much- - f or her at any r at e. She can t ake car e of her sel f

wel l enough so f ar as t he r est ar e concer ned, but you know i t

i sn' t so wi t h you. You know i t now, Br own; t el l t he t r ut h; anyone

wi t h hal f an eye can see i t . "

" You seem t o have made pr et t y good use of your eyes i n t hese t wo

ni ght s, anyhow, " sai d Tom.

" I don' t mi nd your sneer s, Br own, " sai d Har dy as he t r amped up

and down wi t h hi s ar ms l ocked behi nd hi m; " I have t aken on mysel f

t o speak t o you about t hi s; I shoul d be no t r ue f r i end i f I

shi r ked i t . I ' m f our year s ol der t han you, and have seen mor e of

t he wor l d and of t hi s pl ace t han you. You sha' n' t go on wi t h t hi s

f ol l y, t hi s si n, f or want of war ni ng. "

" So i t seems, " sai d Tom doggedl y. " Now I t hi nk I ' ve had war ni ng

enough; suppose we dr op t he subj ect . "

Har dy st opped hi s wal k, and t ur ned on Tom wi t h a l ook of anger .

" Not yet , " he sai d, f i r ml y; " you know best how and why you have

done i t , but you know t hat somehow or ot her you have made t hat

gi r l l i ke you. "

Page 138 of 443

" Suppose I have, what t hen; whose busi ness i s t hat but mi ne and

her s?"

" I t ' s t he busi ness of ever yone who won' t st and by and see t he

devi l ' s game pl ayed under hi s nose i f he can hi nder i t . "

" What r i ght have you t o t al k about t he devi l ' s game t o me?" sai d

Tom. " I ' l l t el l you what ; i f you and I ar e t o keep f r i ends we had

bet t er dr op t hi s subj ect . "

" I f we ar e t o keep f r i ends we must go t o t he bot t om of i t . Ther e

ar e onl y t wo endi ngs t o t hi s sor t of busi ness and you know i t as

wel l as I . "

" A r i ght and wr ong one, eh? and because you cal l me your f r i end

you assume t hat my end wi l l be t he wr ong one. "

" I do cal l you my f r i end, and I say t he end must be t he wr ong one

her e. Ther e' s no r i ght end. Thi nk of your f ami l y. You don' t mean

t o say- - you dar e not t el l me, t hat you wi l l mar r y her ?"

" I _dar e_ not t el l you! " sai d Tom, st ar t i ng up i n hi s t ur n; " I

dar e t el l you or any man anyt hi ng I pl ease. But I won' t t el l you

or any man anyt hi ng on compul si on. "

" I r epeat , " went on Har dy, " you _dar e_ not say you mean t o mar r y

her . You don' t mean i t - - and, as you don' t , t o ki ss her as you di d

t o- ni ght - - "

" So you wer e sneaki ng behi nd t o wat ch me! " bur st out Tom, chaf i ng

wi t h r age, and gl ad t o f i nd any handl e f or a quar r el . The t wo men

st ood f r ont i ng one anot her , t he younger wr i t hi ng wi t h t he sense

of shame and out r aged pr i de, and l ongi ng f or a f i er ce answer - - a

bl ow- - anyt hi ng, t o gi ve vent t o t he f ur i es whi ch wer e t ear i ng

hi m.

But at t he end of a f ew seconds t he el der answer ed, cal ml y and

sl owl y, - -

" I wi l l not t ake t hose wor ds f r om any man; you had bet t er l eave

my r ooms. "

" I f I do, I shal l not come back t i l l you have al t er ed your

opi ni ons. "

" You need not come back t i l l you have al t er ed your s. "

The next moment Tom was i n t he passage; t he next , st r i di ng up and

down t he si de of t he i nner quadr angl e i n t he pal e moonl i ght .

Poor f el l ow! i t was no pl easant wal ki ng gr ound f or hi m. I s i t

wor t h our whi l e t o f ol l ow hi m up and down i n hi s t r amp? We have

most of us wal ked t he l i ke mar ches at one t i me or anot her of our

l i ves. The memor y of t hem i s by no means one whi ch we can dwel l

on wi t h pl easur e. Ti mes t hey wer e of bl i ndi ng and dr i vi ng st or m,

and howl i ng wi nds, out of whi ch voi ces as of evi l spi r i t s spoke

cl ose i n our ear s- - t aunt i ngl y, t empt i ngl y, whi sper i ng t o t he

mi schi evous wi l d beast whi ch l ur ks i n t he bot t om of al l our

hear t s, now, " Rouse up! ar t t hou a man and dar est not do t hi s

t hi ng?" now, " Ri se, ki l l and eat - - i t i s t hi ne, wi l t t hou not t ake

i t ? Shal l t he f l i msy scr upl es of t hi s t eacher , or t he sanct i f i ed

cant of t hat , bar t hy way, and bal k t hee of t hi ne own? Thou hast

st r engt h t o br ave t hem- - t o br ave al l t hi ngs i n ear t h, or heaven,

Page 139 of 443

or hel l ; put out t hy st r engt h and be a man! "

Then di d not t he wi l d beast wi t hi n us shake i t sel f , and f eel i t s

power , sweepi ng away al l t he " Thou shal t not ' s" whi ch t he l aw

wr ot e up bef or e us i n l et t er s of f i r e, wi t h t he " _I wi l l _" of

har dy, godl ess, sel f - asser t i on? And al l t he whi l e- - whi ch al one

made t he st or m r eal l y dr eadf ul t o us- - was t her e not t he st i l l

smal l voi ce- - never t o be al t oget her si l enced by t he r oar i ngs of

t he t empest of passi on, by t he evi l voi ces, by our own vi ol ent

at t empt s t o st i f l e i t - - t he st i l l smal l voi ce appeal i ng t o t he

man, t he t r ue man, wi t hi n us, whi ch i s made i n t he i mage of

God- - cal l i ng on hi m t o asser t hi s domi ni on over t he wi l d

beast - - t o obey, and conquer , and l i ve? Ay! and t hough we may have

f ol l owed t he ot her voi ces, have we not , whi l e f ol l owi ng t hem,

conf essed i n our hear t s, t hat al l t r ue st r engt h, and nobl eness,

and manl i ness, was t o be f ound i n t he ot her pat h? Do I say t hat

most of us have had t o t r ead t hi s pat h, and f i ght t hi s bat t l e?

Sur el y I mi ght have sai d al l of us; al l , at l east , who have

passed t he br i ght days of t hei r boyhood. The cl ear and keen

i nt el l ect no l ess t han t he dul l and heavy; t he weak, t he col d,

t he ner vous, no l ess t han t he st r ong and passi onat e of body. The

ar ms and t he f i el d have been di ver s; can have been t he same, I

suppose, t o no t wo men, but t he bat t l e must have been t he same t o

al l . One her e and t her e may have had a f or et ast e of i t as a boy;

but i t i s t he young man' s bat t l e, and not t he boy' s, t hank God

f or i t ! That most hat ef ul and f ear f ul of al l r eal i t i es, cal l i t

by what name we wi l l - - sel f , t he nat ur al man, t he ol d Adam- - must

have r i sen up bef or e each of us i n ear l y manhood, i f not sooner ,

chal l engi ng t he t r ue man wi t hi n us t o whi ch t he Spi r i t of God i s

speaki ng, t o a st r uggl e f or l i f e or deat h.

Gi r d your sel f , t hen, f or t he f i ght , my young br ot her , and t ake up

t he pl edge whi ch was made f or you when you wer e a hel pl ess chi l d.

Thi s wor l d, and al l ot her s, t i me and et er ni t y, f or you hang upon

t he i ssue. Thi s enemy must be met and vanqui shed- - not f i nal l y,

f or no man whi l e on ear t h I suppose, can say t hat he i s sl ai n;

but , when once known and r ecogni zed, met and vanqui shed he must

be, by God' s hel p i n t hi s and t hat encount er , bef or e you can be

t r ul y cal l ed a man; bef or e you can r eal l y enj oy any one even of

t hi s wor l d' s good t hi ngs.

Thi s st r i f e was no l i ght one f or our her o on t he ni ght i n hi s

l i f e at whi ch we have ar r i ved. The qui et sky over head, t he qui et

sol emn ol d bui l di ngs, under t he shadow of whi ch he st ood, br ought

hi m no peace. He f l ed f r om t hem i nt o hi s own r ooms; he l i ght ed

hi s candl es and t r i ed t o r ead, and f or ce t he whol e mat t er f r om

hi s t hought s; but i t was usel ess; back i t came agai n and agai n.

The mor e i mpat i ent of i t s pr esence he became, t he l ess coul d he

shake i t of f . Some deci si on he must make; what shoul d i t be? He

coul d have no peace t i l l i t was t aken. The vei l had been dr awn

asi de t hor oughl y, and once f or al l . Twi ce he was on t he poi nt of

r et ur ni ng t o Har dy' s r ooms t o t hank hi m, conf ess, and consul t ;

but t he t i de r ol l ed back agai n. As t he t r ut h of t he war ni ng sank

deeper and deeper i nt o hi m, t he i r r i t at i on agai nst hi m who had

ut t er ed i t gr ew al so. He coul d not and woul d not be f ai r yet . I t

i s no easy t hi ng f or anyone of us t o put t he whol e bur den of any

f ol l y or si n on our own backs al l at once. " I f he had done i t i n

any ot her way, " t hought Tom, " I mi ght have t hanked hi m. "

Anot her ef f or t t o shake of f t he whol e quest i on. Down i nt o t he

quadr angl e agai n; l i ght s i n Dr ysdal e' s r ooms. He goes up, and

f i nds t he r emai ns of t he supper , t ankar ds f ul l of egg- f l i p and

car di nal , and a par t y pl ayi ng at _vi ngt - un_. He dr i nks f r eel y,

car el ess of t r ai ni ng or boat - r aci ng, anxi ous onl y t o dr own

Page 140 of 443

t hought . He si t s down t o pl ay. The boi st er ous t al k of some, t he

eager keen l ooks of ot her s, j ar on hi m equal l y. One mi nut e he i s

absent , t he next boi st er ous, t hen i r r i t abl e, t hen moody. A

col l ege car d- par t y i s no pl ace t o- ni ght f or hi m. He l oses hi s

money, i s di sgust ed at l ast , and get s t o hi s own r ooms by

mi dni ght ; goes t o bed f ever i sh, di ssat i sf i ed wi t h hi msel f , wi t h

al l t he wor l d. The i nexor abl e quest i on pur sues hi m even i nt o t he

st r ange hel pl ess l and of dr eams, demandi ng a deci si on, when he

has no l onger power of wi l l t o choose ei t her good or evi l .

But how f ar ed i t al l t hi s t i me wi t h t he physi ci an? Al as! l i t t l e

bet t er t han wi t h hi s pat i ent . Hi s was t he deeper and mor e

sensi t i ve nat ur e. Keenl y consci ous of hi s own posi t i on, he had

al ways avoi ded any but t he most f or mal i nt er cour se wi t h t he men

i n hi s col l ege whom he woul d have l i ked most t o l i ve wi t h. Thi s

was t he f i r st f r i endshi p he had made amongst t hem, and he val ued

i t accor di ngl y; and now i t seemed t o l i e at hi s f eet i n hopel ess

f r agment s, and cast down t oo by hi s own hand. Bi t t er l y he bl amed

hi msel f over and over agai n, as he r ecal l ed ever y wor d t hat had

passed- - not f or havi ng spoken- - t hat he f el t had been a sacr ed

dut y- - but f or t he har shness and suddenness wi t h whi ch he seemed

t o hi msel f t o have done i t .

" One t ouch of gent l eness or sympat hy, and I mi ght have won hi m.

As i t was, how coul d he have met me ot her wi se t han he di d- - har d

wor d f or har d wor d, hast y answer f or pr oud r epr oof ? Can I go t o

hi m and r ecal l i t al l ? No! I can' t t r ust mysel f ; I shal l onl y

make mat t er s wor se. Besi des, he may t hi nk t hat t he ser vi t or - - Ah!

am I t her e agai n? The ol d sor e, sel f , sel f , sel f ! I nur se my own

pr i de; I val ue i t mor e t han my f r i end; and yet - - no, no! I cannot

go, t hough I t hi nk I coul d di e f or hi m. The si n, i f si n t her e

must be, be on my head. Woul d t o God I coul d bear t he st i ng of

i t ! But t her e wi l l be none- - how can I f ear ? he i s t oo t r ue, t oo

manl y. Rough and br ut al as my wor ds have been, t hey have shown

hi m t he gul f . He wi l l , he must escape i t . But wi l l he ever come

back t o me? I car e not , so he escape. "

How can my poor wor ds f ol l ow t he st r ong l ovi ng man i n t he

wr est l i ngs of hi s spi r i t , t i l l f ar on i n t he qui et ni ght he l ai d

t he whol e bef or e t he Lor d and sl ept ! Yes, my br ot her , even so:

t he ol d, ol d st or y; but st ar t not at t he phr ase, t hough you may

never have f ound i t s meani ng- - He l ai d t he whol e bef or e t he Lor d

i n pr ayer , f or hi s f r i end, f or hi msel f , f or t he whol e wor l d.

And you, t oo, i f ever you ar e t r i ed as he was - - as ever y man must

be i n one way or anot her - - must l ear n t o do t he l i ke wi t h ever y

bur t hen on your soul , i f you woul d not have i t hangi ng r ound you

heavi l y, and ever mor e heavi l y, and dr aggi ng you down l ower and

l ower t i l l your dyi ng day.

CHAPTER XVI

THE STORM RAGES

Har dy was ear l y i n t he chapel t he next mor ni ng. I t was hi s week

f or pr i cki ng i n. Ever y man who ent er ed- - f r om t he ear l y men who

st r ol l ed i n qui et l y whi l e t he bel l was st i l l r i ngi ng, t o t he

hur r yi ng, hal f - dr essed l oi t er er s who cr ushed i n as t he por t er was

cl osi ng t he door s, and di st ur bed t he congr egat i on i n t he mi ddl e

of t he conf essi on- - gave hi m a t ur n ( as t he expr essi ve phr ase i s) ,

and ever y t ur n onl y ended i n di sappoi nt ment . He put by hi s l i st

at l ast , when t he door s wer e f ai r l y shut , wi t h a si gh. He had

Page 141 of 443

hal f expect ed t o see Tom come i nt o mor ni ng chapel wi t h a f ace

f r om whi ch he mi ght have gat her ed hope t hat hi s f r i end had t aken

t he r i ght pat h. But Tom di d not come at al l , and Har dy f el t i t

was a bad si gn.

They di d not meet t i l l t he eveni ng, at t he r i ver , when t he boat

went down f or a st eady pul l , and t hen Har dy saw at once t hat al l

was goi ng wr ong. Nei t her spoke t o or l ooked at t he ot her . Har dy

expect ed some one t o r emar k i t , but nobody di d. Af t er t he pul l

t hey wal ked up, and Tom as usual l ed t he way, as i f not hi ng had

happened, i nt o " The Choughs. " Har dy paused f or a moment , and t hen

went i n t oo, and st ayed t i l l t he r est of t he cr ew l ef t . Tom

del i ber at el y st ayed af t er t hem al l . Har dy t ur ned f or a moment as

he was l eavi ng t he bar , and saw hi m set t l i ng hi msel f down i n hi s

chai r wi t h an ai r of def i ance, meant evi dent l y f or hi m, whi ch

woul d have made most men angr y. He was i r r i t at ed f or a moment ,

and t hen was f i l l ed wi t h r ut h f or t he poor wr ong- headed youngst er

who was heapi ng up coal s of f i r e f or hi s own head. I n hi s

moment ar y anger Har dy sai d t o hi msel f , " Wel l , I have done what I

can; now he must go hi s own way; " but such a t hought was soon

ki cked i n di sgr ace f r om hi s nobl e and wel l - di sci pl i ned mi nd. He

r esol ved, t hat , l et i t cost what i t mi ght i n t he shape of l oss of

t i me and t r i al of t emper , he woul d l eave no st one unt ur ned, and

spar e no pai ns, t o del i ver hi s f r i end of yest er day f r om t he

sl ough i nt o whi ch he was pl ungi ng. How he mi ght best wor k f or

t hi s end occupi ed hi s t hought s as he wal ked t owar ds col l ege.

Tom sat on at " The Choughs, " gl or i f yi ng hi msel f i n t he t hought

t hat now, at any r at e, he had shown Har dy t hat he wasn' t t o be

dr agooned i nt o doi ng or not doi ng anyt hi ng. He had had a bad t i me

of i t al l day, and hi s good angel had f ought har d f or vi ct or y;

but sel f - wi l l was t oo st r ong f or t he t i me. When he st ayed behi nd

t he r est , i t was mor e out of br avado t han f r om any def i ned

pur pose of pur sui ng what he t r i ed t o per suade hi msel f was an

i nnocent f l i r t at i on. When he l ef t t he house some hour s af t er he

was deeper i n t he t oi l s t han ever , and dar k cl ouds wer e gat her i ng

over hi s hear t . Fr om t hat t i me he was an al t er ed man, and

al t er i ng as r api dl y f or t he wor se i n body as i n mi nd. Har dy saw

t he change i n bot h, and gr oaned over i t i n secr et . Mi l l er ' s qui ck

eye det ect ed t he bodi l y change. Af t er t he next r ace he dr ew Tom

asi de, and sai d, - -

" Why, Br own, what ' s t he mat t er ? What have you been about ? You' r e

br eaki ng down. Hol d on, man; t her e' s onl y one mor e ni ght . "

" Never f ear , " sai d Tom, pr oudl y, " I shal l l ast i t out . "

And i n t he l ast r ace he di d hi s wor k agai n, t hough i t cost hi m

mor e t han al l t he pr ecedi ng ones put t oget her , and when he got

out of t he boat he coul d scar cel y wal k or see. He f el t a f i er ce

ki nd of j oy i n hi s own di st r ess, and wi shed t hat t her e wer e mor e

r aces t o come. But Mi l l er , as he wal ked up ar m- i n- ar m wi t h t he

Capt ai n, t ook a di f f er ent vi ew of t he subj ect .

" Wel l , i t ' s al l r i ght , you see, " sai d t he Capt ai n; " but we' r e not

a boat ' s l engt h bet t er t han Or i el over t he cour se af t er al l . How

was i t we bumped t hem? I f anyt hi ng, t hey dr ew a- l i t t l e on us

t o- ni ght . "

" Ay, hal f a boat ' s l engt h, I shoul d say, " answer ed Mi l l er . " I ' m

uncommonl y gl ad i t ' s over ; Br own i s goi ng al l t o pi eces; he

woul dn' t st and anot her r ace, and we haven' t a man t o put i n hi s

pl ace. "

Page 142 of 443

" I t ' s odd, t oo, " sai d t he Capt ai n; " I put hi m down as a l ast er ,

and he has t r ai ned wel l . Per haps he has over done i t a l i t t l e.

However , i t don' t mat t er now. "

So t he r aces wer e over ; and t hat ni ght a gr eat supper was hel d i n

St . Ambr ose Hal l , t o whi ch wer e bi dden, and came, t he cr ews of

al l t he boat s f r om Exet er upwar ds. The Dean, wi t h many mi sgi vi ngs

and caut i ons, had al l owed t he hal l t o be used, on pr essur e f r om

Mi l l er and Jer vi s. Mi l l er was a bachel or and had t aken a good

degr ee, and Jer vi s bor e a hi gh char act er and was expect ed t o do

wel l i n t he school s. So t he poor Dean gave i n t o t hem, ext r act i ng

many pr omi ses i n exchange f or hi s per mi ssi on, and f l i t t ed

uneasi l y about al l t he eveni ng i n hi s cap and gown, i nst ead of

wor ki ng on at hi s edi t i on of t he Fat her s, whi ch occupi ed ever y

mi nut e of hi s l ei sur e, and was maki ng an ol d man of hi m bef or e

hi s t i me.

Fr om ei ght t o el even t he f i ne ol d poi nt ed wi ndows of St . Ambr ose

Hal l bl azed wi t h l i ght , and t he chor uses of songs, and t he cheer s

whi ch f ol l owed t he shor t i nt er val s of si l ence whi ch t he speeches

made, r ang out over t he quadr angl es, and made t he poor Dean ambl e

about i n a st at e of ner vous bewi l der ment . I nsi de t her e was hear t y

f east i ng, such as had not been seen t her e, f or aught I know,

si nce t he day when t he ki ng came back t o " enj oy hi s own agai n. "

The one ol d cup, r el i c of t he Mi ddl e Ages, whi ch had sur vi ved t he

ci vi l war s, - - St . Ambr ose' s had been a r i ght l oyal col l ege, and

t he pl at e had gone wi t hout a mur mur i nt o Char l es t he Fi r st ' s

war - chest , - - went r ound and r ound; and r i val cr ews pl edged one

anot her out of i t , and t he massi ve t ankar ds of a l at er day, i n

al l good f ai t h and good f el l owshi p. Mai l ed kni ght s, gr ave

bi shops, r oyal per sons of ei t her sex, and " ot her our

benef act or s, " l ooked down on t he scene f r om t hei r heavy gi l ded

f r ames, and, l et us hope, not unki ndl y. Al l passed of f wel l and

qui et l y; t he out - col l ege men wer e gone, t he l i ght s wer e out , and

t he but l er had l ocked t he hal l door by a quar t er past el even, and

t he Dean r et ur ned i n peace t o hi s own r ooms.

Had Tom been t ol d a week bef or e t hat he woul d not have enj oyed

t hat ni ght , t hat i t woul d not have been amongst t he happi est and

pr oudest of hi s l i f e, he woul d have set hi s i nf or mer down as a

madman. As i t was, he never once r ose t o t he spi r i t of t he f east ,

and wi shed i t al l over a dozen t i mes. He deser ved not t o enj oy

i t ; but not so Har dy, who was never t hel ess al most as much out of

t une as Tom; t hough t he Uni ver si t y coxswai n had si ngl ed hi m out ,

named hi m i n hi s speech, sat by hi m and t al ked t o hi m f or a

quar t er of an hour , and asked hi m t o go t o t he Henl ey and Thames

r egat t as i n t he Oxf or d cr ew.

The next eveni ng, as usual , Tom f ound hi msel f at " The Choughs"

wi t h hal f a dozen ot her s. Pat t y was i n t he bar by her sel f ,

l ooki ng pr et t i er t han ever . One by one t he r est of t he men

dr opped of f , t he l ast sayi ng, " Ar e you comi ng, Br own?" and bei ng

answer ed i n t he negat i ve.

He sat st i l l , wat chi ng Pat t y as she f l i t t ed about , washi ng up t he

al e gl asses and put t i ng t hem on t hei r shel ves, and get t i ng out

her wor k basket ; and t hen she came and sat down i n her aunt ' s

chai r opposi t e hi m, and began st i t chi ng away demur el y at an apr on

she was maki ng. Then he br oke si l ence, - -

" Wher e' s your aunt t o- ni ght , Pat t y?"

" Oh, she has gone away f or a f ew days, f or a vi si t t o some

f r i ends. "

Page 143 of 443

" You and I wi l l keep house, t hen, t oget her ; you shal l t each me

al l t he t r i cks of t he t r ade. I shal l make a f amous bar man, don' t

you t hi nk?"

" You must l ear n t o behave bet t er , t hen. But I pr omi sed aunt t o

shut up at ni ne; so you must go when i t st r i kes. Now pr omi se me

you wi l l go. "

" Go at ni ne! what , i n hal f an hour ? The f i r st eveni ng I have ever

had a chance of spendi ng al one wi t h you; do you t hi nk i t l i kel y?"

and he l ooked i nt o her eyes. She t ur ned away wi t h a sl i ght

shi ver , and a deep bl ush.

Hi s ner vous syst em had been so unusual l y exci t ed i n t he l ast f ew

days, t hat he seemed t o know ever yt hi ng t hat was passi ng i n her

mi nd. He t ook her hand. " Why, Pat t y, you' r e not af r ai d of me,

sur el y?" he sai d, gent l y.

" No, not when you' r e l i ke you ar e now. But you f r i ght ened me j ust

t hi s mi nut e. I never saw you l ook so bef or e. Has anyt hi ng

happened t o you?"

" No, not hi ng. Now t hen, we' r e goi ng t o have a j ol l y eveni ng, and

pl ay Dar by and Joan t oget her , " he sai d, t ur ni ng away, and goi ng

t o t he bar wi ndow; " shal l I shut up, Pat t y?"

" No, i t i sn' t ni ne yet ; somebody may come i n. "

" That ' s j ust why I mean t o put t he shut t er s up; I don' t want

anybody. "

" Yes, but I do, t hough. Now I decl ar e, Mr . Br own, i f you go on

shut t i ng up, I ' l l r un i nt o t he ki t chen and si t wi t h Di ck. "

" Why wi l l you cal l me ' Mr . Br own' ?"

" Why, what shoul d I cal l you?"

" Tom, of cour se. "

" Oh, I never ! one woul d t hi nk you was my br ot her , " sai d Pat t y,

l ooki ng up wi t h a pr et t y per t ness whi ch she had a most bewi t chi ng

way of put t i ng on. Tom' s r ej oi nder , and t he l i t t l e squabbl e whi ch

t hey had af t er war d about wher e her wor k- t abl e shoul d st and, and

ot her such mat t er s, may be passed over . At l ast he was br ought t o

r eason, and t o anchor opposi t e hi s enchant r ess, t he wor k - t abl e

bet ween t hem; and he sat l eani ng back i n hi s chai r and wat chi ng

her , as she st i t ched away wi t hout ever l i f t i ng her eyes. He was

i n no hur r y t o br eak t he si l ence. The posi t i on was par t i cul ar l y

f asci nat i ng t o hi m, f or he had scar cel y ever yet had a good l ook

at her bef or e, wi t hout f ear of at t r act i ng at t ent i on, or bei ng

i nt er r upt ed. At l ast he r oused hi msel f .

" Any of our men been her e t o- day, Pat t y?" he sai d, si t t i ng up.

" Ther e now, I ' ve won, " she l aughed; " I sai d t o mysel f I woul dn' t

speak f i r st , and I haven' t . What a t i me you wer e. I t hought you

woul d never begi n. "

" You' r e a l i t t l e goose! Now I begi n t hen; who' ve been her e

t o- day?"

" Of your col l ege? l et me see; " and she l ooked away acr oss t o t he

Page 144 of 443

bar wi ndow, pr i cki ng her needl e i nt o t he t abl e. " Ther e was Mr .

Dr ysdal e and some ot her s cal l ed f or a gl ass of al e as t hey

passed, goi ng out dr i vi ng. Then t her e was Mr . Smi t h and t hem f r om

t he boat s about f our , and t hat ugl y one- - I can' t mi nd hi s name- - "

" What , Har dy?"

" Yes, t hat ' s i t ; he was her e about hal f - past si x, and- - "

" What , Har dy her e af t er hal l ?" i nt er r upt ed Tom, ut t er l y

ast oni shed.

" Yes, af t er your di nner up at col l ege. He' s been her e t wo or

t hr ee t i mes l at el y. "

" The deuce he has! "

" Yes, and he t al ks so pl easant t o aunt , t oo. I ' m sur e he i s a

ver y ni ce gent l eman, af t er al l . He sat and t al ked t oni ght f or

hal f an hour , I shoul d t hi nk. "

" What di d he t al k about ?" sai d Tom, wi t h a sneer .

" Oh, he asked me whet her I had a mot her , and wher e I came f r om,

and al l about my br i ngi ng up, and made me f eel qui t e pl easant . He

i s so ni ce and qui et and r espect f ul , not l i ke most of you. I ' m

goi ng t o l i ke hi m ver y much, as you t ol d me. "

" I don' t t el l you so now. "

" But you di d say he was your gr eat f r i end. "

" Wel l , he i sn' t t hat now. "

" What , have you quar r el ed?"

" Yes. "

" Dear ; dear ; how odd you gent l emen ar e! "

" Why, i t i sn' t a ver y odd t hi ng f or men t o quar r el , i s i t ?"

" No, not i n t he publ i c r oom. They' r e al ways quar r el i ng t her e,

over t hei r dr i nk and t he bagat el l e- boar d; and Di ck has t o t ur n

t hem out . But gent l emen ought t o know bet t er . "

" They don' t , you see, Pat t y. "

" But what di d you quar r el about ?"

" Guess. "

" How can I guess? What was i t about ?"

" About you. "

" About me! " she sai d, l ooki ng up f r om her wor k i n wonder . " How

coul d you quar r el about me?"

" Wel l , I ' l l t el l you; he sai d I had no r i ght t o come her e. You

won' t l i ke hi m af t er t hat , wi l l you Pat t y?"

" I don' t know, I ' m sur e, " sai d Pat t y, goi ng on wi t h her wor k, and

l ooki ng t r oubl ed.

Page 145 of 443

They sat st i l l f or some mi nut es. Evi l t hought s cr owded i nt o Tom' s

head. He was i n t he humor f or t hi nki ng evi l t hought s, and,

put t i ng t he wor st const r uct i on on Har dy' s vi si t s, f anci ed he came

t her e as hi s r i val . He di d not t r ust hi msel f t o speak t i l l he had

mast er ed hi s pr eci ous di scover y, and put i t away i n t he back of

hi s hear t , and wei ghed i t down t her e wi t h a good cover i ng of

hat r ed and r evenge, t o be br ought out as occasi on shoul d ser ve.

He was pl ungi ng down r api dl y enough now; but he had new mot i ves

f or maki ng t he most of hi s t i me, and never pl ayed hi s car ds

bet t er or made mor e pr ogr ess. When a man si t s down t o such a

game, t he devi l wi l l t ake good car e he sha' n' t want cunni ng or

st r engt h. I t was t en o' cl ock i nst ead of ni ne bef or e he l ef t ,

whi ch he di d wi t h a f eel i ng of t r i umph. Poor Pat t y r emai ned

behi nd, and shut up t he bar , her hear t i n a f l ut t er , and her

hands shaki ng, whi l e Di ck was l ocki ng t he f r ont door . She har dl y

knew whet her t o l augh or cr y; she f el t t he change whi ch had come

over hi m, and was hal f f asci nat ed and hal f r epel l ed by i t .

Tom wal ked qui ckl y back t o col l ege, i n a mood whi ch I do not car e

t o descr i be. The onl y one of hi s t hought s whi ch my r eader s need

be t r oubl ed wi t h, put i t sel f i nt o some such wor ds as t hese i n hi s

head: - - " So, i t ' s Abi ngdon f ai r next Thur sday, and she has

hal f - pr omi sed t o go wi t h me. I know I can make i t cer t ai n. Who' l l

be goi ng besi des? Dr ysdal e, I ' l l be bound. I ' l l go and see hi m. "

On ent er i ng col l ege he went st r ai ght t o Dr ysdal e' s r ooms, and

dr ank deepl y, and pl ayed hi gh i nt o t he shor t hour s of t he ni ght ,

but f ound no oppor t uni t y of speaki ng.

Deeper and deeper yet f or t he next f ew days, downwar ds and ever

f ast er downwar ds he pl unged, t he l i ght get t i ng f ai nt er and ever

f ai nt er above hi s head. Li t t l e good can come of dwel l i ng on t hose

days. He l ef t of f pul l i ng, shunned hi s ol d f r i ends, and l i ved

wi t h t he ver y wor st men he knew i n col l ege, who wer e r eady enough

t o l et hi m shar e al l t hei r br ut al or gi es.

Dr ysdal e, who was of t en pr esent , wonder ed at t he change, whi ch he

saw pl ai nl y enough. He was sor r y f or i t i n hi s way, but i t was no

busi ness of hi s. He began t o t hi nk t hat Br own was a good enough

f el l ow bef or e, but woul d make a devi l i sh di sagr eeabl e one i f he

was goi ng t o t ur n f ast man.

At " The Choughs" al l went on as i f t he downwar d pat h knew how t o

make i t sel f smoot h. Now t hat t he r aces wer e over , and so many

ot her at t r act i ons wer e goi ng on i n Oxf or d, ver y f ew men came i n

t o i nt er f er e wi t h hi m. He was scar cel y ever away f r om Pat t y' s

si de, i n t he eveni ngs whi l e her aunt was absent , and gai ned mor e

and mor e power over her . He mi ght have had some compassi on, but

t hat he was spur r ed on by hear i ng how Har dy haunt ed t he pl ace

now, at t i mes when he coul d not be t her e. He f el t t hat t her e was

an i nf l uence st r uggl i ng wi t h hi s i n t he gi r l ' s mi nd; he l ai d i t

t o Har dy' s door , and i mput ed i t st i l l mor e and mor e t o mot i ves as

base as hi s own. But Abi ngdon f ai r was comi ng on Thur sday. When

he l ef t " The Choughs" on Tuesday ni ght , he had ext r act ed a

pr omi se f r om Pat t y t o accompany hi m t her e, and had ar r anged t hei r

pl ace of meet i ng.

Al l t hat r emai ned t o be done was t o see i f Dr ysdal e was goi ng.

Somehow he f el t a di si ncl i nat i on t o go al one wi t h Pat t y. Dr ysdal e

was t he onl y man of t hose he was now l i vi ng wi t h t o whom he f el t

t he l east at t r act i on. I n a vague way he cl ung t o hi m; and t hough

he never f aced t he t hought of what he was about f ai r l y, yet i t

passed t hr ough hi s mi nd t hat even i n Dr ysdal e' s company he woul d

Page 146 of 443

be saf er t han i f al one. I t was al l pi t i l ess, bl i nd, wi l d wor k,

wi t hout r udder or compass; t he wi sh t hat not hi ng ver y bad mi ght

come out of i t al l , however , came up i n spi t e of hi m now and

agai n, and he l ooked t o Dr ysdal e, and l onged t o become even as

he.

Dr ysdal e was goi ng. He was ver y r eser ved on t he subj ect , but at

l ast conf essed t hat he was not goi ng al one. Tom per si st ed.

Dr ysdal e was t oo l azy and car el ess t o keep anyt hi ng f r om a man

who was bent on knowi ng i t . I n t he end i t was ar r anged t hat he

shoul d dr i ve Tom out t he next af t er noon. He di d so. They st opped

at a smal l publ i c house some t wo mi l es out of Oxf or d. The car t

was put up, and af t er car ef ul l y scanni ng t he nei ghbor hood t hey

wal ked qui ckl y t o t he door of a pr et t y r et i r ed cot t age. As t hey

ent er ed, Dr ysdal e sai d,

" By Jove, I t hought I caught a gl i mpse of your f r i end Har dy at

t hat t ur n. "

" Fr i end! he' s no f r i end of mi ne. "

" But di dn' t you see hi m?"

" No. "

They r eached col l ege agai n bet ween t en and el even, and par t ed,

each t o hi s own r ooms.

To hi s sur pr i se, Tom f ound a candl e bur ni ng on hi s t abl e. Round

t he candl e was t i ed a pi ece of st r i ng, at t he end of whi ch hung a

not e. Who ever had put i t t her e had cl ear l y been anxi ous t hat he

shoul d i n no case mi ss i t when he came i n. He t ook i t up and saw

t hat i t was i n Har dy' s hand. He paused, and t r embl ed as he st ood.

Then wi t h an ef f or t he br oke t he seal and r ead: - -

" I must speak once mor e. To- mor r ow i t may be t oo l at e. I f you go

t o Abi ngdon f ai r wi t h her i n t he company of Dr ysdal e and hi s

mi st r ess, or , I bel i eve, i n any company, you wi l l r et ur n a

scoundr el , and she- - ; i n t he name of t he honor of your mot her and

si st er , i n t he name of God, I war n you. May He hel p you t hr ough

i t .

" JOHN HARDY. "

Her e we wi l l dr op t he cur t ai n f or t he next hour . At t he end of

t hat t i me, Tom st agger ed out of hi s r oom, down t he st ai r case,

acr oss t he quadr angl e, up Dr ysdal e' s st ai r case. He paused at t he

door t o gat her some st r engt h, r an hi s hands t hr ough hi s hai r , and

ar r anged hi s coat ; not wi t hst andi ng, when he ent er ed, Dr ysdal e

st ar t ed t o hi s f eet , upset t i ng Jack f r om hi s comf or t abl e coi l on

t he sof a.

" Why, Br own, you' r e i l l ; have some br andy, " he sai d, and went t o

hi s cupboar d f or t he bot t l e.

Tom l eant hi s ar m on t he f i r epl ace; hi s head on i t . The ot her

hung down by hi s si de, and Jack l i cked i t , and he l oved t he dog

as he f el t t he car ess. Then Dr ysdal e came t o hi s si de wi t h a

gl ass of br andy, whi ch he t ook and t ossed of f as t hough i t had

been wat er . " Thank you, " he sai d, and as Dr ysdal e went back wi t h

t he bot t l e, r eached a l ar ge ar mchai r and sat down i n i t .

" Dr ysdal e, I sha' n' t go wi t h you t o Abi ngdon f ai r t o- mor r ow. "

Page 147 of 443

" Hul l o! what , has t he l ovel y Pat t y t hr own you over ?" sai d

Dr ysdal e, t ur ni ng f r om t he cupboar d, and r esumi ng hi s l ounge on

t he sof a.

" No. " he sank back i nt o t he chai r , on t he ar ms of whi ch hi s

el bows r est ed, and put hi s hands up bef or e hi s f ace, pr essi ng

t hem agai nst hi s bur ni ng t empl es. Dr ysdal e l ooked at hi m har d,

but sai d not hi ng; and t her e was a dead si l ence of a mi nut e or so,

br oken onl y by Tom' s heavy br eat hi ng, whi ch he l abor ed i n vai n t o

cont r ol .

" No, " he r epeat ed at l ast , and t he r emai ni ng wor ds came out

sl owl y as t hey wer e t r yi ng t o st eady t hemsel ves, " but , by God,

Dr ysdal e I _can' t _ t ake her wi t h you, and t hat - - " a dead pause.

" The young l ady you met t o- ni ght , eh?"

Tom nodded, but sai d not hi ng.

" Wel l , ol d f el l ow, " sai d Dr ysdal e, " now you' ve made up your mi nd,

I t el l you, I ' m devi l i sh gl ad of i t . I ' m no sai nt , as you know,

but I t hi nk i t woul d have been a d- - d shame i f you had t aken her

wi t h us. "

" Thank you, " sai d Tom, and pr essed hi s f i nger s t i ght er on hi s

f or ehead; and he di d f eel t hankf ul f or t he wor ds, t hough comi ng

f r om such a man, t hey went i nt o hi m l i ke coal s of f i r e.

Agai n t her e was a l ong pause, Tom si t t i ng as bef or e.

Dr ysdal e got up and st r ol l ed up and down hi s r oom, wi t h hi s hands

i n t he pocket s of hi s si l k- l i ned l oungi ng coat , t aki ng at each

t ur n a st eady l ook at t he ot her . Pr esent l y he st opped, and t ook

hi s ci gar out of hi s mout h. " I say, Br own, " he sai d, af t er

anot her mi nut e' s cont empl at i on of t he f i gur e bef or e hi m, whi ch

bor e such an unmi st akabl e i mpr ess of wr et chedness, t hat i t made

hi m qui t e uncomf or t abl e, " why don' t you cut t hat concer n?"

" How do you mean?" sai d Tom.

" Why t hat ' Choughs' busi ness- - I ' l l be hanged i f i t won' t ki l l

you, or make a devi l of you bef or e l ong, i f you go on wi t h i t . "

" I t ' s not f ar f r om t hat now. "

" So I see- - and I ' l l t el l you what , you' r e not t he sor t of f el l ow

t o go i n f or t hi s ki nd of t hi ng. You' d bet t er l eave i t t o

col d- bl ooded br ut es, l i ke some we know- - I needn' t ment i on names. "

" I ' m awf ul l y wr et ched, Dr ysdal e; I ' ve been a br ut e my sel f t o you

and ever ybody of l at e. "

" Wel l , I own I don' t l i ke t he new si de of you. Now make up your

mi nd t o cut t he whol e concer n, ol d f el l ow, " he sai d, comi ng up

goodnat ur edl y, and put t i ng hi s hand on Tom' s shoul der , " i t ' s har d

t o do, I dar e say, but you had bet t er make a pl unge and get i t

over . Ther e' s wi ckedness enough goi ng about wi t hout your hel pi ng

t o shove anot her one i nt o i t . "

Tom gr oaned as he l i st ened, but he f el t t hat t he man was t r yi ng

t o hel p hi m i n hi s own way, and accor di ng t o hi s l i ght , as

Dr ysdal e went on expoundi ng hi s own cur i ous code of mor al i t y.

When i t was ended, he shook Dr ysdal e' s hand, and, wi shi ng hi m

good ni ght , went back t o hi s own r ooms. The f i r st st ep upwar ds

Page 148 of 443

t owar ds t he l i ght had been made, - - f or he f el t t hor oughl y humbl ed

bef or e t he man on whom he had expended i n hi s own mi nd so much

pat r oni zi ng pi t y f or t he l ast hal f year - - whom he had been

f ancyi ng he was i nf l uenci ng f or good.

Dur i ng t he l ong hour s of t he ni ght t he scenes of t he l ast f ew

hour s, of t he l ast f ew days, came back t o hi m and bur nt i nt o hi s

soul . The gul f yawned bef or e hi m now pl ai n enough, open at hi s

f eet - - bl ack, ghast l y. He shudder ed at i t , wonder i ng i f he shoul d

even yet f al l i n, f el t wi l dl y about f or st r engt h t o st and f i r m,

t o r et r ace hi s st eps; but f ound i t not . He f ound not yet t he

st r engt h he was i n sear ch of , but i n t he gr ey mor ni ng he wr ot e a

shor t not e: - -

" I shal l not be abl e t o t ake you t o Abi ngdon f ai r t o- day. You

wi l l not see me per haps f or some days. I am not wel l .

" I am ver y sor r y. Don' t t hi nk t hat I am changed. Don' t be

unhappy, or I don' t know what I may do. " Ther e was no addr ess and

no si gnat ur e t o t he not e.

When t he gat es opened he hur r i ed out of t he col l ege and, havi ng

l ef t i t and a shi l l i ng wi t h Di ck ( whom he f ound cl eani ng t he

yar d, and much ast oni shed at hi s appear ance, and who pr omi sed t o

del i ver i t t o Pat t y wi t h hi s own hands bef or e ei ght o' cl ock) , he

got back agai n t o hi s own r ooms, went t o bed, wor n out i n mi nd

and body, and sl ept t i l l mi d- day.

CHAPTER XVI I

NEW GROUND

My r eader s have now been st eadi l y at Oxf or d f or si x mont hs

wi t hout movi ng. Most peopl e f i nd such a spel l of t he pl ace

wi t hout a change qui t e as much as t hey car e t o t ake; per haps t oo,

i t may do our her o good t o l et hi m al one f or a l i t t l e, t hat he

may have t i me t o l ook st eadi l y i nt o t he pi t whi ch he has been so

near f al l i ng down, whi ch i s st i l l yawni ng awkwar dl y i n hi s pat h;

mor eover , t he exi genci es of a st or y t el l er must l ead hi m away

f r om home now and t hen. Li ke t he r est of us, hi s f ami l y must have

change of ai r , or he has t o go of f t o see a f r i end pr oper l y

mar r i ed, or a connexi on bur i ed; t o wear whi t e or bl ack gl oves

wi t h or f or some one, car r yi ng such sympat hy as he can wi t h hi m,

so t hat he may come back f r om ever y j our ney, however shor t , wi t h

a wi der hor i zon. Yes; t o come back home af t er ever y st age of

l i f e' s j our neyi ng wi t h a wi der hor i zon- - mor e i n sympat hy wi t h men

and nat ur e, knowi ng ever mor e of t he r i ght eous and et er nal l aws

whi ch gover n t hem, and of t he r i ght eous and l ovi ng wi l l whi ch i s

above al l , and ar ound al l , and beneat h al l - - t hi s must be t he end

and ai m of al l of us, or we shal l be wander i ng about bl i ndf ol d,

and spendi ng t i me and l abor and j our ney- money on t hat whi ch

pr of i t et h not hi ng. So now I must ask my r eader s t o f or get t he ol d

bui l di ngs and quadr angl es of t he f ai r est of Engl and' s ci t i es, t he

caps and t he gowns, t he r eadi ng and r owi ng f or a shor t space, and

t ake a f l i ght wi t h me t o ot her scenes and past ur es new.

The ni ght s ar e pl easant i n May, shor t and pl easant f or t r avel . We

wi l l l eave t he anci ent ci t y asl eep, and do our f l i ght i n t he

ni ght t o save t i me. Tr ust your sel f t hen t o t he st or y - t el l er ' s

aer i al machi ne. I t i s but a r ough af f ai r , I own, r ough and

humbl e, unf i t t ed f or hi gh or gr eat f l i ght s, wi t h no gi l ded panel s

or dai nt y cushi ons, or C- spr i ngs- - not t hat we shal l car e about

Page 149 of 443

spr i ngs, by t he way, unt i l we al i ght on t er r a f i r ma agai n- - st i l l ,

t her e i s much t o be l ear ned i n a t hi r d- cl ass car r i age i f we wi l l

onl y not l ook whi l e i n i t f or cushi ons and f i ne panel s, and f or t y

mi l es an hour t r avel i ng, and wi l l not be shocked at our f el l ow

passenger s f or bei ng weak i n t hei r h' s and smel l i ng of f ust i an.

Mount i n i t , t hen, you who wi l l , af t er t hi s war ni ng; t he f ar es

ar e hol i day f ar es, t he t i cket s r et ur n t i cket s. Take wi t h you

not hi ng but t he poet ' s l uggage,

" A smi l e f or Hope, a t ear f or Pai n,

A br eat h t o swel l t he voi ce of Pr ayer . "

and may you have a pl easant j our ney, f or i t i s t i me t hat t he

st oker shoul d be l ooki ng t o hi s goi ng gear .

So now we r i se sl owl y i n t he moonl i ght f r om St . Ambr ose' s

quadr angl e, and, when we ar e cl ear of t he cl ock- t ower , st eer away

sout hwar ds, over Oxf or d ci t y and al l i t s sl eepi ng wi sdom and

f ol l y, over st r eet and past spi r e, over Chr i st Chur ch and t he

canons' houses, and t he f ount ai n i n Tom quad; over St . Al dat e' s

and t he r i ver , al ong whi ch t he moonbeams l i e i n a pat hway of

t wi nkl i ng si l ver , over t he r ai l way sheds- - no, t her e was t hen no

r ai l way, but onl y t he qui et f i el ds and f oot pat hs of Hi ncksey

haml et . Wel l , no mat t er ; at any r at e, t he hi l l s beyond, and

Bagl ey Wood, wer e t her e t hen as now; and over hi l l s and wood we

r i se, cat chi ng t he pur r of t he ni ght - j ar , t he t r i l l of t he

ni ght i ngal e, and t he f i r st cr ow of t he ear l i est cock - pheasant , as

he st r et ches hi s j ewel l ed wi ngs, consci ous of hi s st r engt h and

hi s beaut y, heedl ess of t he f el l ows of St . John' s, who sl umber

wi t hi n si ght of hi s per ch, on whose hospi t abl e boar d he shal l one

day l i e, pr one on hi s back, wi t h f ai r l ar ded br east t ur ned

upwar ds f or t he car vi ng- kni f e, havi ng cr owed hi s l ast cr ow. He

knows i t not ; what mat t er s i t t o hi m? I f he knew i t , coul d a

Bagl ey Wood cock- pheasant desi r e a bet t er endi ng?

We pass over t he val e beyond; hal l and haml et , chur ch, and

meadow, and copse, f ol ded i n mi st and shadow bel ow us, each

haml et hol di ng i n i t s bosom t he mat er i al of t hr ee vol umed novel s

by t he dozen, i f we coul d onl y pul l of f t he r oof s of t he houses

and l ook st eadi l y i nt o t he i nt er i or s; but our dest i nat i on i s

f ar t her yet . The f ai nt whi t e st r eak behi nd t he di st ant Chi l t er ns

r emi nds us t hat we have no t i me f or gossi p by t he way; May ni ght s

ar e shor t , and t he sun wi l l be up by f our . No mat t er ; our j our ney

wi l l now be soon over , f or t he br oad val e i s cr ossed, and t he

chal k hi l l s and downs beyond. Lar ks qui ver up by us, " hi gher ,

ever hi gher , " hast eni ng up t o get a f i r st gl i mpse of t he comi ng

monar ch, car el ess of f ood, f l oodi ng t he f r esh ai r wi t h song.

St eadi l y pl oddi ng r ooks l abour al ong bel ow us, and l i vel y

st ar l i ngs r ush by on t he l ook- out f or t he ear l y wor m; l ar k and

swal l ow, r ook and st ar l i ng, each on hi s appoi nt ed r ound. The sun

ar i ses, and t hey get t hem t o i t ; he i s up now, and t hese br eezy

upl ands over whi ch we hang ar e swi mmi ng i n t he l i ght of

hor i zont al r ays, t hough t he shadows and mi st s st i l l l i e on t he

wooded del l s whi ch sl ope away sout hwar ds.

Her e l et us br i ng t o, over t he vi l l age of Engl ebour n, and t r y t o

get acquai nt ed wi t h t he out si de of t he pl ace bef or e t he good f ol k

ar e about , and we have t o go down among t hem and t hei r sayi ngs

and doi ngs.

The vi l l age l i es on t he sout her n sl opes of t he Ber kshi r e hi l l s,

on t he opposi t e si de t o t hat under whi ch our her o was bor n.

Anot her soi l al t oget her i s her e, we r emar k i n t he f i r st pl ace.

Thi s i s no chal k; t hi s hi gh knol l whi ch r i ses above- - one may

Page 150 of 443

al most say hangs over - - t he vi l l age, cr owned wi t h Scot ch f i r s, i t s

si des t uf t ed wi t h gor se and heat her . I t i s t he Hawk' s Lynch, t he

f avor i t e r esor t of Engl ebour n f ol k, who come up f or t he vi ew, f or

t he ai r , because t hei r f at her s and mot her s came up bef or e t hem,

because t hey came up t hemsel ves as chi l dr en- - f r om an i nst i nct

whi ch moves t hem al l i n l ei sur e hour s and Sunday eveni ngs, when

t he sun shi nes and t he bi r ds si ng, whet her t hey car e f or vi ew or

ai r or not . Somet hi ng gui des al l t hei r f eet hi t her war d; t he

chi l dr en, t o pl ay hi de- and- seek and l ook f or nest s i n t he

gor se- bushes; young men and mai dens, t o saunt er and l ook and

t al k, as t hey wi l l t i l l t he wor l d' s end- - or as l ong, at any r at e,

as t he Hawk' s Lynch and Engl ebour n l ast - - and t o cut t hei r

i ni t i al s, encl osed i n a t r ue l over ' s knot , on t he shor t r abbi t ' s

t ur f ; st eady mar r i ed coupl es, t o pl od al ong t oget her consul t i ng

on har d t i mes and gr owi ng f ami l i es; even ol d t ot t er i ng men, who

l ove t o si t at t he f eet of t he f i r s, wi t h chi ns l eani ng on t hei r

st i cks, pr at t l i ng of days l ong past , t o anyone who wi l l l i st en,

or l ooki ng si l ent l y wi t h di m eyes i nt o t he summer ai r , f eel i ng

per haps i n t hei r spi r i t s af t er a wi der and mor e peacef ul vi ew

whi ch wi l l soon open f or t hem. A common knol l , open t o al l , up i n

t he si l ent ai r , wel l away f r om ever y- day Engl ebour n l i f e, wi t h

t he Hampshi r e r ange and t he di st ant Beacon Hi l l l yi ng sof t on t he

hor i zon, and not hi ng hi gher bet ween you and t he sout her n sea,

what a bl essi ng t he Hawk' s Lynch i s t o t he vi l l age f ol k, one and

al l ! May Heaven and a t hankl ess soi l l ong pr eser ve i t and t hem

f r om an encl osur e under t he Act !

Ther e i s much t empt at i on l yi ng about , t hough, f or t he encl oser s

of t he wor l d. The r ough common l and st r et ches over t he whol e of

t he knol l , and down t o i t s base, and away al ong t he hi l l s behi nd,

of whi ch t he Hawk' s Lynch i s an out l yi ng spur . Rough common l and,

br oken onl y by pi ne woods of a f ew acr es each i n ext ent , an

occasi onal woodman' s or squat t er ' s cot t age and l i t t l e pat ch of

at t empt ed gar den. But i mmedi at el y bel ow, and on each f l ank of t he

spur , and hal f - way up t he sl opes, come smal l f ar m encl osur es,

br eaki ng her e and t her e t he bel t of woodl ands, whi ch gener al l y

l i es bet ween t he r ough wi l d upl and, and t he cul t i vat ed count r y

bel ow. As you st and on t he knol l you can see common l and j ust

bel ow you at i t s f oot nar r ow i nt o a mer e r oad, wi t h a bor der of

wast e on each si de whi ch r uns i nt o Engl ebour n st r eet . At t he end

of t he st r aggl i ng vi l l age st ands t he chur ch wi t h i t s squar e

t ower , a l of t y gr ey st one bui l di ng, wi t h bi t s of f i ne decor at ed

ar chi t ect ur e about i t , but much of chur chwar den Got hi c

super veni ng. The chur chyar d i s l ar ge, and t he gr aves, as you can

see pl ai nl y even f r om t hi s di st ance, ar e al l cr owded on t he

sout her n si de. The r ect or ' s sheep ar e f eedi ng i n t he nor t her n

par t , near est t o us, and a smal l gat e at one cor ner opens i nt o

hi s gar den. The Rect or y l ooks l ar ge and comf or t abl e, and i t s

gr ounds wel l car ed f or and ext ensi ve, wi t h a r ooker y of el ms at

t he l awn' s end. I t i s t he chi ef house of t he pl ace, f or t her e i s

no r esi dent squi r e. The pr i nci pal st r eet cont ai ns a f ew shops,

some dozen, per haps, i n al l ; and sever al f ar m houses l i e a l i t t l e

back f r om i t , wi t h gar dens i n f r ont , and yar ds and bar ns and

or char ds behi nd; and t her e ar e t wo publ i c- houses. The ot her

dwel l i ngs ar e mer e cot t ages, and ver y bad ones f or t he most par t ,

wi t h f l oor s bel ow t he l evel of t he st r eet . Al most ever y house i n

t he vi l l age i s t hat ched, whi ch adds t o t he beaut y t hough not t o

t he comf or t of t he pl ace. The r est of t he popul at i on who do not

l i ve i n t he st r eet ar e dot t ed about t he nei ghbor i ng l anes,

chi ef l y t owar ds t he west , on our r i ght as we l ook down f r om t he

Hawk' s Lynch. On t hi s si de t he count r y i s mor e open, and her e

most of t he f ar mer s l i ve, as we may see by t he number of

homest eads. And t her e i s a smal l br ook on t hat si de t oo, whi ch

wi t h car ef ul dammi ng i s made t o t ur n a mi l l , t her e wher e you see

Page 151 of 443

t he cl ump of popl ar s. On our l ef t as we l ook down, t he count r y t o

t he east of t he vi l l age i s t hi ckl y wooded; but we can see t hat

t her e i s a vi l l age gr een on t hat si de, and a f ew scat t er ed

cot t ages, t he f ar t hest of whi ch st ands l ooki ng out l i ke a l i t t l e

whi t e eye, f r om t he end of a dense copse.

Beyond i t t her e i s no si gn of habi t at i on f or some t wo mi l es; t hen

you can see t he t al l chi mneys of a gr eat house, and a wel l

t i mber ed par k r ound i t . The Gr ange i s not i n Engl ebour n

par i sh- - happi l y f or t hat par i sh, one i s sor r y t o r emar k. I t must

be a ver y bad squi r e who does not do mor e good t han har m by

l i vi ng i n a count r y vi l l age. But t her e ar e ver y bad squi r es, and

t he owner of t he Gr ange i s one of t hem. He i s, however , f or t he

most par t , an absent ee, so t hat we ar e l i t t l e concer ned wi t h hi m,

and i n f act , have onl y t o not i ce t hi s one of hi s bad habi t s, t hat

he keeps t hat l ong bel t of woodl ands, whi ch r uns i nt o Engl ebour n

par i sh, and comes al most up t o t he vi l l age, f ul l of har es and

pheasant s. He has onl y succeeded t o t he pr oper t y some t hr ee or

f our year s, and yet t he head of game on t he est at e, and above al l

i n t he woods, has t r ebl ed or quadr upl ed. Pheasant s by hundr eds

ar e r ear ed under hens, f r om eggs bought i n London, and r un about

t he keeper s' houses as t ame as bar n door f owl s al l t he summer .

When t he f i r st par t y comes down f or t he f i r st _bat t ue_ ear l y i n

Oct ober , i t i s of t en as much as t he beat er s can do t o per suade

t hese pamper ed f owl s t hat t hey ar e wi l d game, whose dut y i t i s t o

get up and f l y away, and be shot at . However , t hey soon l ear n

mor e of t he wor l d- - such of t hem, at l east , as ar e not sl ai n- - and

ar e unmi st akabl e wi l d bi r ds i n a f ew days. Then t hey t ake t o

r oost i ng f ar t her f r om t hei r ol d haunt s, mor e i n t he out ski r t s of

t he woods, and t he t i me comes f or ot her s besi des t he squi r e' s

guest s t o t ake t hei r educat i on i n hand, and t each pheasant s at

l east t hat t hey ar e no nat i ve Br i t i sh bi r ds. These ar e a wi l d

set , l i vi ng scat t er ed about t he wi l d count r y; t ur f - cut t er s,

br oom- maker s, squat t er s, wi t h i ndef i ni t e occupat i ons, and

namel ess habi t s, a r ace hat ed of keeper s and const abl es. These

have i ncr eased and f l our i shed of l at e year s; and, not wi t hst andi ng

t he i mpr i sonment s and t r anspor t at i ons whi ch depr i ve t hem

per i odi cal l y of t he most ent er pr i si ng member s of t hei r communi t y,

one and al l gi ve t hanks f or t he day when t he owner of t he Gr ange

t ook t o pheasant br eedi ng. I f t he demor al i zat i on st opped wi t h

t hem, l i t t l e har m mi ght come of i t , as t hey woul d st eal f owl s i n

t he homest eads i f t her e wer e no pheasant s i n t he woods - - whi ch

l at t er ar e l ess danger ous t o get , and wor t h mor e when got t en.

But , unhappi l y, t hi s met hod of ear ni ng a l i vel i hood has st r ong

at t r act i ons, and i s cat chi ng; and t he cases of f ar m l abour er s who

get i nt o t r oubl e about game ar e mor e f r equent season by season i n

t he nei ghbour i ng par i shes, and Engl ebour n i s no bet t er t han t he

r est . And t he men ar e not l i kel y t o be much di scour aged f r om

t hese pr act i ces, or t aught bet t er by t he f anner s; f or , i f t her e

i s one t hi ng mor e t han anot her t hat dr i ves t hat st ur dy set of

men, t he Engl ebour n yeomen, i nt o a f r enzy, i t i s t al k of t he game

i n t he Gr ange cover s. Not t hat t hey di sl i ke spor t ; t hey l i ke i t

t oo wel l , and, mor eover , have been used t o t hei r f ai r shar e of

i t . For t he l at e squi r e l ef t t he game ent i r el y i n t hei r hands.

" You know best how much game your l and wi l l car r y wi t hout ser i ous

damage t o t he cr ops, " he used t o say. " I l i ke t o show my f r i ends

a f ai r day' s spor t when t hey ar e wi t h me, and have enough game t o

suppl y t he house and make a f ew pr esent s. Beyond t hat , i t i s no

af f ai r of mi ne. You can cour se whenever you l i ke; and l et me know

when you want a day' s shoot i ng, and you shal l have i t . " Under

t hi s syst em t he yeomen became keen spor t smen; t hey and al l t hei r

l abour er s t ook a keen i nt er est i n pr eser vi ng, and t he whol e

di st r i ct woul d have r i sen on a poacher . The keeper ' s pl ace became

a si necur e, and t he squi r e had as much game as he want ed wi t hout

Page 152 of 443

expense, and was, mor eover , t he most popul ar man i n t he count y.

Even af t er t he new man came, and al l was changed, t he mer e

r evocat i on of t hei r spor t i ng l i ber t i es, and t he i ncr ease of game,

unpopul ar as t hese t hi ngs wer e, woul d not al one have made t he

f ar mer s so bi t t er , and have r ai sed t hat sense of out r aged j ust i ce

i n t hem. But wi t h t hese changes came i n a cust om new i n t he

count r y- - t he cust om of sel l i ng t he game. At f i r st t he r epor t was

not bel i eved; but soon i t became not or i ous t hat no head of game

f r om t he Gr ange est at es was ever gi ven away, t hat not onl y di d

t he t enant s never get a br ace of bi r ds or a har e, or t he

l abour er s a r abbi t , but not one of t he gent l emen who hel ped t o

ki l l t he game ever f ound any of t he bag i n hi s dog- car t af t er t he

day' s shoot i ng. Nay, so shamel ess had t he syst em become, and so

hi ghl y was t he ar t of t ur ni ng t he game t o account cul t i vat ed at

t he Gr ange, t hat t he keeper s sol d powder and shot t o any of t he

guest s who had empt i ed t hei r own bel t s or f l asks at somet hi ng

over t he mar ket r et ai l pr i ce. The l i ght car t dr ove t o t he

mar ket - t own t wi ce a week i n t he season, l oaded heavi l y wi t h game,

but mor e heavi l y wi t h t he hat r ed and scor n of t he f ar mer s; and,

i f deep and bi t t er cur ses coul d br eak pat ent axl es or necks, t he

new squi r e and hi s game- car t woul d not l ong have vexed t he

count r ysi de. As i t was, not a man but hi s own t enant s woul d

sal ut e hi m i n t he mar ket - pl ace; and t hese r epai d t hemsel ves f or

t he unwi l l i ng cour t esy by bi t t er r ef l ect i ons on a squi r e who was

mean enough t o pay hi s but cher ' s and poul t er er ' s bi l l s out of

t hei r pocket s.

Al as t hat t he manl y i nst i nct of spor t whi ch i s so st r ong i n al l

of us Engl i shmen- - whi ch sends Oswel l s si ngl e handed agai nst t he

mi ght i est beast s t hat wal k t he ear t h, and t akes t he poor cockney

j our neyman out a t en mi l es' wal k al most bef or e dayl i ght , on t he

r ar e summer hol i day mor ni ngs, t o angl e wi t h r ude t ackl e i n

r eser voi r or canal - - shoul d be dr agged t hr ough such mi r e as t hi s

i n many an Engl i sh shi r e i n our day. I f Engl i sh l andl or ds want t o

go on shoot i ng game much l onger , t hey must gi ve up sel l i ng i t .

For i f sel l i ng game becomes t he r ul e, and not t he except i on ( as

i t seems l i kel y t o do bef or e l ong) , good- bye t o spor t i n Engl and.

Ever y man who l oves hi s count r y mor e t han hi s pl easur e or hi s

pocket - - and, t hank God, t hat i ncl udes t he gr eat maj or i t y of us

yet , however much we may del i ght i n gun and r od, l et any

demagogue i n t he l and say what he pl eases- - wi l l cr y, " Down wi t h

i t , " and l end a hand t o put i t down f or ever .

But t o r et ur n t o our per ch on t he Hawk' s Lynch above Engl ebour n

vi l l age. The r ect or i s t he f our t h of hi s r ace who hol ds t he

f ami l y l i vi ng- - a ki nd, easy- goi ng, gent l emanl y ol d man, a Doct or

of Di vi ni t y, as becomes hi s posi t i on, t hough he onl y went i nt o

or der s because t her e was t he l i vi ng r eady f or hi m. I n hi s day he

had been a good magi st r at e and nei ghbour , l i vi ng wi t h and much i n

t he same way as t he squi r es r ound about . But hi s cont empor ar i es

had dr opped of f one by one; hi s own heal t h had l ong been f ai l i ng;

hi s wi f e was dead; and t he young gener at i on di d not seek hi m. Hi s

wor k and t he par i sh had no r eal hol d on hi m; so he had not hi ng t o

f al l back on, and had become a conf i r med i nval i d, sel dom l eavi ng

t he house and gar den even t o go t o chur ch, and t hi nki ng mor e of

hi s di nner and hi s heal t h t han of al l ot her t hi ngs i n ear t h or

heaven.

The onl y chi l d who r emai ned at home wi t h hi m was a daught er , a

gi r l of ni net een or t her eabout s, whose acquai nt ance we shal l make

pr esent l y, and who was doi ng al l t hat a good hear t and sound head

pr ompt ed i n nur si ng an ol d hypochondr i ac, and f i l l i ng hi s pl ace

i n t he par i sh. But t hough t he ol d man was weak and sel f i sh, he

was ki nd i n hi s way, and r eady t o gi ve f r eel y or do anyt hi ng t hat

Page 153 of 443

hi s daught er suggest ed f or t he good of hi s peopl e, pr ovi ded t he

t r oubl e wer e t aken of f hi s shoul der s. I n t he year bef or e our t al e

opens, he had al l owed some t hi r t y acr es of hi s gl ebe t o be

par cel l ed out i n al l ot ment s amongst t he poor ; and hi s daught er

spent al most what she pl eased i n cl ot hi ng- cl ubs, and si ck- cl ubs,

and t he school , wi t hout a wor d f r om hi m. Whenever he di d

r emonst r at e, she managed t o get what she want ed out of t he

house- money, or her own al l owance.

We must make acquai nt ance wi t h such ot her of t he i nhabi t ant s as

i t concer ns us t o know i n t he cour se of t he st or y; f or i t i s

br oad dayl i ght , and t he vi l l ager s wi l l be ast i r di r ect l y. Fol k

who go t o bed bef or e ni ne, af t er a har d day' s wor k, get i nt o t he

habi t of t ur ni ng out soon af t er t he sun cal l s t hem. So now,

descendi ng f r om t he Hawk' s Lynch, we wi l l al i ght at t he east end

of Engl ebour n, opposi t e t he l i t t l e whi t e cot t age whi ch l ooks out

at t he end of t he gr eat wood, near t he vi l l age gr een.

Soon af t er f i ve on t hat br i ght Sunday mor ni ng, Har r y Wi nbur n

unbol t ed t he door of hi s mot her ' s cot t age, and st epped out i n hi s

shi r t - sl eeves on t o t he l i t t l e wal k i n f r ont , paved wi t h pebbl es.

Per haps some of my r eader s wi l l r ecogni ze t he name of an ol d

acquai nt ance, and wonder how he got her e; so l et us expl ai n at

once. Soon af t er our her o went t o school , Har r y' s f at her had di ed

of a f ever . He had been a j our neyman bl acksmi t h, and i n t he

r ecei pt , consequent l y, of r at her bet t er wages t han gener al l y f al l

t o t he l ot of t he peasant r y, but not enough t o l eave much of a

mar gi n over cur r ent expendi t ur e. Mor eover , t he Wi nbur ns had

al ways been open- handed wi t h what ever money t hey had; so t hat al l

he l ef t f or hi s wi dow and chi l d, of wor l dl y goods, was t hei r " f ew

st i cks" of f ur ni t ur e, L5 i n t he savi ngs bank, and t he money f r om

hi s bur i al - cl ub whi ch was not mor e t han enough t o gi ve hi m a

cr edi t abl e f uner al - - t hat obj ect of honor abl e ambi t i on t o al l t he

i ndependent poor . He l ef t , however , anot her i nher i t ance t o t hem,

whi ch i s i n pr i ce above r ubi es, nei t her shal l si l ver be named i n

compar i son t her eof , - - t he i nher i t ance of an honest name, of whi ch

hi s wi dow was pr oud, and whi ch was not l i kel y t o suf f er i n her

hands.

Af t er t he f uner al , she r emoved t o Engl ebour n, her own nat i ve

vi l l age, and kept her ol d f at her ' s house t i l l hi s deat h. He was

one of t he woodmen t o t he Gr ange, and l i ved i n t he cot t age at t he

cor ner of t he wood i n whi ch hi s wor k l ay. When he, t oo, di ed,

har d t i mes came on Wi dow Wi nbur n. The st ewar d al l owed her t o keep

on t he cot t age. The r ent was a sor e bur den t o her , but she woul d

sooner have st ar ved t han l eave i t . Par i sh r el i ef was out of t he

quest i on f or her f at her ' s chi l d and her husband' s wi dow; so she

t ur ned her hand t o ever y odd j ob whi ch of f er ed, and went t o wor k

i n t he f i el ds when not hi ng el se coul d be had. Whenever t her e was

si ckness i n t he pl ace, she was an unt i r i ng nur se; and, at one

t i me, f or some ni ne mont hs, she t ook t he of f i ce of post man, and

wal ked dai l y some ni ne mi l es t hr ough a sever e wi nt er . The f at i gue

and exposur e had br oken down her heal t h, and made her an ol d

woman bef or e her t i me. At l ast , i n a l ucky hour , t he Doct or came

t o hear of her pr ai sewor t hy st r uggl es, and gave her t he Rect or y

washi ng, whi ch had made her l i f e a compar at i vel y easy one agai n.

Dur i ng al l t hi s t i me her poor nei ghbor s had st ood by her as t he

poor do st and by one anot her , hel pi ng her i n number l ess smal l

ways, so t hat she had been abl e t o r eal i ze t he gr eat obj ect of

her l i f e, and keep Har r y at school t i l l he was near l y f our t een.

By t hi s t i me he had l ear ned al l t hat t he vi l l age pedagogue coul d

t each, and had i n f act become an obj ect of mi ngl ed pr i de and

j eal ousy t o t hat wor t hy man, who had hi s mi sgi vi ngs l est Har r y' s

Page 154 of 443

f ame as a schol ar shoul d ecl i pse hi s own bef or e many year s wer e

over .

Mr s. Wi nbur n' s char act er was so good, t hat no sooner was her son

r eady f or a pl ace t han a pl ace was r eady f or hi m; he st epped at

once i nt o t he di gni t y of car t er ' s boy, and hi s ear ni ngs, when

added t o hi s mot her ' s, made t hem comf or t abl e enough. Of cour se

she was wr apped up i n hi m, and bel i eved t hat t her e was no such

boy i n t he par i sh. And i ndeed she was near er t he t r ut h t han most

mot her s, f or he soon gr ew i nt o a f amous speci men of a count r yman;

t al l and l i t he, f ul l of ner vous st r engt h, and not yet bowed down

or st i f f ened by t he const ant t oi l of a l abour er ' s dai l y l i f e. I n

t hese mat t er s, however , he had r i val s i n t he vi l l age; but i n

i nt el l ect ual accompl i shment s he was unr i val l ed. He was f ul l of

l ear ni ng accor di ng t o t he vi l l age st andar d, coul d wr i t e and

ci pher wel l , was f ond of r eadi ng such books as came i n hi s way,

and spoke hi s nat i ve Engl i sh al most wi t hout an accent . He i s

one- and- t went y at t he t i me when our st or y t akes hi m up; a

t hor oughl y ski l l ed l abour er , t he best hedger and di t cher i n t he

par i sh; and, when hi s bl ood i s up, he can shear t went y sheep i n a

day, wi t hout r azi ng t he ski n, or mow f or si xt een hour s at a

st r et ch, wi t h r est s of hal f an hour f or meal s t wi ce i n t he day.

Har r y shaded hi s eyes wi t h hi s hand f or a mi nut e, as he st ood

out si de t he cot t age dr i nki ng i n t he f r esh, pur e ai r , l aden wi t h

t he scent of t he honeysuckl e whi ch he had t r ai ned over t he por ch,

and l i st eni ng t o t he chor us of l i nnet s and f i nches f r om t he copse

at t he back of t he house; he t hen set about t he househol d dut i es,

whi ch he al ways made i t a poi nt of honour t o at t end t o hi msel f on

Sundays. Fi r st he unshut t er ed t he l i t t l e l at t i ce- wi ndow of t he

r oom on t he gr ound f l oor ; a si mpl e enough oper at i on, f or t he

shut t er was a mer e wooden f l ap, whi ch was cl osed over t he wi ndow

at ni ght and bol t ed wi t h a wooden bol t on t he out si de, and t hr own

back agai nst t he wal l i n t he dayt i me. Any one who woul d coul d

have opened i t at any moment of t he ni ght ; but t he poor sl eep

sound wi t hout bol t s. Then he t ook t he one ol d bucket of t he

est abl i shment , and st r ode away t o t he wel l on t he vi l l age gr een,

and f i l l ed i t wi t h cl ear , col d wat er , doi ng t he same ki nd of f i ce

f or t he vessel s of t wo or t hr ee r osy l i t t l e damsel s and boys, of

ages var yi ng f r om t en t o f our t een, who wer e al r eady ast i r , and t o

whom t he wi ndi ng- up of t he par i sh chai n and bucket woul d have

been a wor k of di f f i cul t y. Ret ur ni ng t o t he cot t age, he pr oceeded

t o f i l l hi s mot her ' s ket t l e, sweep t he hear t h, st r i ke a l i ght ,

and make up t he f i r e wi t h a f aggot f r om t he l i t t l e st ack i n t he

cor ner of t he gar den. Then he haul ed t he t hr ee- l egged r ound t abl e

bef or e t he f i r e, and dust ed i t car ef ul l y over , and l ai d out t he

bl ack Japan t ea- t r ay wi t h t wo del f cups and saucer s of gor geous

pat t er n, and di mi nut i ve pl at es t o mat ch, and pl aced t he sugar and

sl op basi ns, t he bi g l oaf and smal l pi ece of sal t but t er , i n

t hei r accust omed pl aces, and t he l i t t l e bl ack t eapot on t he hob

t o get pr oper l y war m. Ther e was l i t t l e mor e t o be done i ndoor s,

f or t he f ur ni t ur e was scant y enough; but ever yt hi ng i n t ur n

r ecei ved i t s f ai r shar e of at t ent i on, and t he l i t t l e r oom, wi t h

i t s sunken t i l ed f l oor and yel l ow- washed wal l s, l ooked cheer f ul

and homel y. Then Har r y t ur ned hi s at t ent i on t o t he shed of hi s

own cont r i vi ng, whi ch st ood besi de t he f aggot - st ack, and f r om

whi ch expost ul at or y and pl ai nt i ve gr unt s had been i ssui ng ever

si nce hi s f i r st appear ance at t he door , t el l i ng of a f ai t hf ul and

usef ul f r i end who was shar p set on Sunday mor ni ngs, and desi r ed

hi s poor br eakf ast , and t o be di smi ssed f or t he day t o pi ck up

t he r est of hi s l i vel i hood wi t h hi s br et hr en por ker s of t he

vi l l age on t he gr een and i n t he l anes. Har r y ser ved out t o t he

por ker t he poor mess whi ch t he wash of t he cot t age and t he odds

and ends of t he l i t t l e gar den af f or ded; whi ch t hat vi r t uous

Page 155 of 443

ani mal f or t hwi t h began t o di scuss wi t h bot h f or e- f eet i n t he

t r ough- - by way, pr obabl y, of addi ng t o t he f l avor - - whi l e hi s

mast er scr at ched hi m gent l y bet ween t he ear s and on t he back wi t h

a shor t st i ck t i l l t he r epast was concl uded. Then he opened t he

door of t he st ye, and t he gr at ef ul ani mal r ushed out i nt o t he

l ane, and away t o t he gr een wi t h a j oyf ul squeal and f l i r t of hi s

hi nd- quar t er s i n t he ai r ; and Har r y, af t er pi cki ng a bunch of

wal l - f l ower s, and pansi es, and hyaci nt hs, a l i ne of whi ch f l ower s

ski r t ed t he nar r ow gar den wal k, and put t i ng t hem i n a l ong- necked

gl ass whi ch he t ook f r om t he mant el - pi ece, pr oceeded t o hi s

mor ni ng abl ut i ons, ampl e mat er i al s f or whi ch r emai ned at t he

bot t om of t he f ami l y bucket , whi ch he had put down on a l i t t l e

bench by t he si de of t he por ch. These f i ni shed, he r et i r ed

i ndoor s t o shave and dr ess hi msel f .

CHAPTER XVI I I

ENGLEBOURNE VI LLAGE

Dame Wi nbur n was not l ong af t er her son, and t hey sat down

t oget her t o br eakf ast i n t hei r best Sunday cl ot hes - - she, i n a

pl ai n l ar ge whi t e cap whi ch cover ed al l but a l i ne of gr ey hai r ,

a bl ack st uf f gown r eachi ng t o neck and wr i st s, and smal l si l k

neckker chi ef put on l i ke a shawl ; a t hi n, al most gaunt ol d woman,

whom t he year s had not used t ender l y, and who showed mar ks of

t hei r usage- - but a r esol ut e, hi gh- cour aged soul , who had met har d

t i mes i n t he f ace, and coul d meet t hem agai n i f need wer e. She

spoke i n br oad Ber kshi r e, and was ot her wi se a homel y body, but

sel f - possessed and wi t hout a shade of r eal vul gar i t y i n her

composi t i on.

The wi dow l ooked wi t h some anxi et y at Har r y as he t ook hi s seat .

Al t hough somet hi ng of a r ust i c dandy, of l at e he had not been so

car ef ul i n t he mat t er of dr ess as usual ; but , i n consequence of

her r epr oaches, on t hi s Sunday t her e was not hi ng t o compl ai n of .

Hi s bl ack vel vet een shoot i ng coat , and cot t on pl ush wai st coat ,

hi s br own cor dur oy knee- br eeches and gai t er s, sat on hi m wel l ,

and gave t he wor l d assur ance of a wel l - t o- do man, f or f ew of t he

Engl ebour n l abour er s r ose above smock- f r ocks and f ust i an

t r ouser s. He wor e a bl ue bi r d' s- eye handker chi ef r ound hi s neck,

and hi s shi r t , t hough coar se i n t ext ur e, was as whi t e as t he sun

and t he best l aundr ess i n Engl ebour n coul d manage t o bl each i t .

Ther e was not hi ng t o f i nd f aul t wi t h i n hi s dr ess, t her ef or e, but

st i l l hi s mot her di d not f eel qui t e comf or t abl e as she t ook

st eal t hy gl ances at hi m. Har r y was nat ur al l y a r eser ved f el l ow,

and di d not make much conver sat i on hi msel f , and hi s mot her f el t a

l i t t l e embar r assed on t hi s par t i cul ar mor ni ng.

I t was not , t her ef or e, unt i l Dame Wi nbur n had f i ni shed her f i r st

sl i ce of br ead and but t er , and had si pped t he gr eat er par t of her

second di sh of t ea out of her saucer , t hat she br oke si l ence.

" I mi nded t hy busi ness l ast ni ght , Har r y, when I wur up at t he

Rect or y about t he washi n' . I t ' s my bel i ef as t hou' l t get t ' ot her

' l ot ment next quar t er - day. The Doct or spoke ver y ki nd about i t ,

and sai d as how he heer ' d as hi gh a char act er o' t hee, young as

t hee bi st , as of ar e' a man i n t he par i sh, and as how he wur set

on l et t i n' t he l ot s t o t haay as' d do best by ' em; onl y he sai d as

t he f ar mer s went agi n gi vi n' mor e nor an acr e t o any man as

wor ked f or _t hem_; and t he Doct or , you see, he don' t l i ke t o go

al t oget her agi n t he vest r y f ol k. "

Page 156 of 443

" What busi ness i s i t o' t hei r s, " sai d Har r y, " so l ong as t hey get

t hei r own wor k done? Ther e' s scar ce one on ' em as hasn' t mor e

l and al r eady nor he can keep as shoul d be, and f or al l t hat t hey

want t o snap up ever y bi t as f al l s vacant , so as no poor man

shal l get i t . "

" ' Ti s most l y so wi t h t hem as has, " sai d hi s mot her , wi t h a hal f

puzzl ed l ook; " Scr i pt ur says as t o t hem shal l be gi ven, and t hey

shal l have mor e abundant , " Dame Wi nbur n spoke hesi t at i ngl y, and

l ooked doubt f ul l y at Har r y, as a per son who has shot wi t h a

st r ange gun, and knows not what ef f ect t he bol t may have. Har r y

was br ought up al l st andi ng by t hi s unexpect ed quot at i on of hi s

mot her ' s; but , af t er t hi nki ng f or a f ew moment s whi l e he cut

hi msel f a sl i ce of br ead, r epl i ed: - -

" I t don' t say as t hose shal l have mor e t hat can' t use what

t hey' ve got al r eady. ' Ti s a deal mor e l i ke Nabot h' s vi neyar d f or

aught as I can see. But ' t i s l i t t l e odds t o me whi ch way i t

goes. "

" How canst t al k so, Har r y?" sai d hi s mot her r epr oachf ul l y; " t hou

know' st t hou wast set on i t l ast f al l , l i ke a wasp on sugar . Why

scar ce a day past but t hou wast up t o t he Rect or y, t o see t he

Doct or about i t ; and now t hou' r t l i ke t o get t h' l ot ment t hou' l t

not go anyst ' un. "

Har r y l ooked out at t he open door , wi t hout answer i ng. I t was

qui t e t r ue t hat , i n t he l ast aut umn, he had been ver y anxi ous t o

get as l ar ge an al l ot ment as he coul d i nt o hi s own hands, and

t hat he had been f or ever up t owar ds t he Rect or y, but per haps not

al ways on t he al l ot ment busi ness. He was nat ur al l y a

sel f - r el i ant , shr ewd f el l ow, and f el t t hat i f he coul d put hi s

hand on t hr ee or f our acr es of l and, he coul d soon make hi msel f

i ndependent of t he f ar mer s. He knew t hat at har vest - t i mes, and

whenever t her e was a pi nch f or good l abour er s, t hey woul d be gl ad

enough t o have hi m; whi l e at ot her t i mes, wi t h a f ew acr es of hi s

own, he woul d be hi s own mast er and coul d do much bet t er f or

hi msel f . So he had put hi s name down f i r st on t he Doct or ' s l i st ,

t aken t he l ar gest l ot he coul d get , and wor ked i t so wel l t hat

hi s cr ops, amongst ot her s, had been a sor t of vi l l age show l ast

har vest - t i me. Many of t he nei ghbor i ng al l ot ment s st ood out i n sad

cont r ast t o t hose of Har r y and t he mor e ener get i c of t he

peasant r y, and l ay by t he si de of t hese l at t er onl y hal f wor ked

and f ul l of weeds, and t he r ent was never r eady. I t was wor se

t han usel ess t o l et mat t er s go on t hus, and t he quest i on ar ose,

what was t o be done wi t h t he negl ect ed l ot s. Har r y, and al l t he

men l i ke hi m, appl i ed at once f or t hem; and t hei r eager ness t o

get t hem had r oused some nat ur al j eal ousy amongst t he f ar mer s,

who began t o f or esee t hat t he new syst em mi ght shor t l y l eave t hem

wi t h none but t he wor st l abour er s. So t he vest r y had pr essed on

t he Doct or , as Dame Wi nbur n sai d, not t o l et any man have mor e

t han an acr e, or an acr e and a hal f ; and t he wel l - meani ng,

easy- goi ng i nval i d ol d man coul dn' t make up hi s mi nd what t o do.

So her e was May agai n, and t he negl ect ed l ot s wer e st i l l i n t he

nomi nal occupat i on of t he i dl er s. The Doct or got no r ent , and was

annoyed at t he par t i al f ai l ur e of a scheme whi ch he had not

i ndeed or i gi nat ed, but f or whi ch he had t aken much cr edi t t o

hi msel f . The negl i gent occupi er s gr umbl ed t hat t hey wer e not

al l owed a dr awback f or manur e, and t hat no pi gst yes wer e put up

f or t hem. " ' Twas al l er s under st ood so, " t hey mai nt ai ned, " and

t hey' d never ha' t ook t o t he l ot s but f or t hat . " The good men

gr umbl ed t hat i t woul d be t oo l at e now f or t hem t o do mor e t han

cl ean t he l ot s of weeds t hi s year . The f ar mer s gr umbl ed t hat i t

was al ways under st ood t hat no man shoul d have mor e t han one l ot .

Page 157 of 443

The poor r ect or had l ed hi s f l ock i nt o a mi r y pl ace wi t h a

vengeance. Peopl e who cannot make up t hei r mi nds br eed t r oubl e i n

ot her pl aces besi des count r y vi l l ages. However qui et and out of

t he way t he pl ace may be, t her e i s al ways some _quasi _ publ i c

t opi c, whi ch st ands, t o t he r ur al Engl i shman, i n t he pl ace of

t r eat y, or budget , or r ef or m- bi l l . So t he gr eat al l ot ment

quest i on, f or t he t i me, was t hat whi ch exer ci sed t he mi nds of t he

i nhabi t ant s of Engl ebour n; and unt i l l at el y no one had t aken a

keener i nt er est i n i t t han Har r y Wi nbur n. But t hat i nt er est had

now much abat ed, and so Har r y l ooked t hr ough t he cot t age door ,

i nst ead of answer i ng hi s mot her .

" ' Ti s my bel i ef as you med amost hev i t f or t he axi n' . " Dame

Wi nbur n began agai n when she f ound t hat he woul d not r e- open t he

subj ect hi msel f . " The young mi ssus sai d as much t o me her sel f

l ast ni ght . Ah! t o be sur e, t hi ngs' d go bet t er i f she had t he

gui di n' on ' em. "

" I ' m not goi ng af t er i t any mor e, mot her . We can keep t he bi t s o'

st i cks her e t oget her wi t hout i t whi l e you be al i ve; and i f

anyt hi ng was t o happen t o you, I don' t t hi nk I shoul d st ay i n

t hese par t s. But i t don' t mat t er what becomes o' me; I can ear n a

l i vel i hood anywher e. "

Dame Wi nbur n paused a moment bef or e answer i ng t o subdue her

vexat i on, and t hen sai d, " How can ' ee l et hanker i n' ar t er a l ass

t ake t he hear t out o' t hee so? Hol d up t hy head, and act a bi t

meast er f ul . The mor e t how makest o' t hysel f , t he mor e l i ke t hou

ar t t o wi n. "

" Di d you hear aught of her l ast ni ght , mot her ?" r epl i ed Har r y,

t aki ng advant age of t hi s ungr aci ous openi ng t o speak of t he

subj ect whi ch was upper most i n hi s mi nd.

" I heer ' d she wur goi n' on wel l , " sai d hi s mot her .

" No l i kel i hood of her comi n' home?"

" Not as I coul d make out . Why, she hevn' t been gone not f our

mont hs. Now, do ' ee pl uck up a bi t , Har r y; and be mor e l i ke

t hysel f . "

" Why, mot her , I ' ve not mi ssed a day' s wor k si nce Chr i st mas; so

t her e ai n' t much t o f i nd f aul t wi t h. "

" Nay, Har r y, ' t i sn' t t hy wor k. Thou wer t al ways good at t hy wor k,

pr ai se God. Thou' r t t hy f at her ' s own son f or t hat . But t hou

dost n' t keep about l i ke, and t ake t hy pl ace wi ' t he l ave on ' em

si nce Chr i st mas. Thou l ook' st hagged at t i mes, and f ol k' l l see' t ,

and t al k about t hee af or e l ong. "

" Let ' em t al k. I mi nd t hei r t al k no mor e t han l ast year ' s wi nd, "

sai d Har r y, abr upt l y.

" But t hy ol d mot her does, " she sai d, l ooki ng at hi m wi t h eyes

f ul l of pr i de and l ove; and so Har r y, who was a r i ght good son,

began t o i nqui r e what i t was t hat was speci al l y wei ghi ng on hi s

mot her ' s mi nd, det er mi ned t o do anyt hi ng i n r eason t o r e- pl ace

her on t he l i t t l e har ml ess soci al pi nnacl e f r om whi ch she was

wont t o l ook down on al l t he ot her mot her s and sons of t he

par i sh. He soon f ound out t hat her pr esent gr i evance ar ose f r om

hi s havi ng negl ect ed hi s pl ace as r i nger of t he heavy bel l i n t he

vi l l age peal on t he t wo pr ecedi ng Sundays; and, as t hi s post was,

i n some sor t t he cor r espondi ng one t o st r oke of t he boat at

Page 158 of 443

Oxf or d, her anxi et y was r easonabl e enough. So Har r y pr omi sed t o

go t o r i ngi ng i n good t i me t hat mor ni ng, and t hen set about

l i t t l e odds and ends of j obs t i l l i t woul d be t i me t o st ar t . Dame

Wi nbur n went t o her cooki ng and ot her househol d dut i es, whi ch

wer e pr et t y wel l got under when her son t ook hi s hat and st ar t ed

f or t he bel f r y. She st ood at t he door wi t h a hal f - peel ed pot at o

i n one hand, shadi ng her eyes wi t h t he ot her , as she wat ched hi m

st r i di ng al ong t he r ai sed f oot pat h under t he el ms, when t he sound

of l i ght f oot st eps and pl easant voi ces, comi ng up f r om t he ot her

di r ect i on, made her t ur n r ound and dr op a cur t sey as t he r ect or ' s

daught er and anot her young l ady st opped at her door .

" Good mor ni ng, Bet t y, " sai d t he f or mer ; " her e' s a br i ght Sunday

mor ni ng at l ast , i sn' t i t ?"

" ' Ti s i ndeed, mi ss; but wher e hev' ee been t o?"

" Oh, we' ve onl y been f or a l i t t l e wal k bef or e school - t i me. Thi s

i s my cousi n, Bet t y. She hasn' t been at Engl ebour n si nce she was

qui t e a chi l d; so I ' ve been t aki ng her t o t he Hawk' s Lynch t o see

our vi ew. "

" And you can' t t hi nk how I have enj oyed i t , " sai d her cousi n; " i t

i s so st i l l and beaut i f ul . "

" I ' ve heer ' d say as t her e ai n' t no such a pl ace f or t hr et t y mi l e

r ound, " sai d Bet t y, pr oudl y, " But do' ee come i n, t ho' , and si t ' ee

down a bi t , " she added, bust l i ng i nsi de her door , and begi nni ng

t o r ub down a chai r wi t h her apr on; " ' t i s a smar t st ep f or

gent l ef ol k t o wal k af or e chur ch. " Bet t y' s not i ons of t he wal ki ng

power s of gent l ef ol k wer e ver y l i mi t ed.

" No, t hank you, we must be get t i ng on, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er ; " but

how l ovel y your f l ower s ar e! Look, Mar y, di d you ever see such

doubl e pansi es? We' ve not hi ng l i ke t hem at t he Rect or y. "

" Do' ee t ake some, " sai d Bet t y, emer gi ng agai n, and begi nni ng t o

pl uck a handf ul of her f i nest f l ower s; " ' t i s al l our Har r y' s

doi ng; he' s ' mazi ng par t i ckl er about seeds. "

" He seems t o make ever yt hi ng t hr i ve, Bet t y. Ther e, t hat ' s pl ent y,

t hank you. We won' t t ake many, f or f ear t hey shoul d f ade bef or e

chur ch i s over . "

" Oh, dwont ' ee be af ear d, t her e' s pl ent y mor e; and you be as

wel com' as t he day. "

Bet t y never sai d a t r uer wor d; she was one of t he r eal

open- handed sor t , who ar e f ound most l y amongst t hose who have t he

l east t o gi ve. They or anyone el se wer e wel come t o t he best she

had.

So t he young l adi es t ook t he f l ower s, t hanked her agai n, and

passed on t owar ds t he Sunday- school .

The r ect or ' s daught er mi ght have been a year or so ol der t han her

compani on; she l ooked mor e. Her posi t i on i n t he vi l l age had been

one of much anxi et y, and she was f ast get t i ng an ol d head on

young shoul der s. The ot her young l ady was a sl i p of a gi r l j ust

comi ng out ; i n f act , t hi s was t he f i r st vi si t whi ch she had ever

pai d out of l eadi ng st r i ngs. She had l i ved i n a happy home, wher e

she had al ways been t r ust ed and l oved, and per haps a t hought t oo

much pet t ed.

Page 159 of 443

Ther e ar e some nat ur es whi ch at t r act pet t i ng; you can' t hel p

doi ng your best t o spoi l t hem i n t hi s way, and i t i s

sat i sf act or y, t her ef or e, t o know ( as t he f act i s) t hat t hey ar e

j ust t he ones whi ch cannot be so spoi l t .

Mi ss Mar y was one of t hese. Tr ust f ul , f or she had never been

t r i cked; f ear l ess, f or she had never been cowed; pur e and br i ght

as t he Engl ebour n br ook at f i f t y yar ds f r om i t s par ent spr i ng i n

t he chal k, f or she had a pur e and br i ght nat ur e, and had come i n

cont act as yet wi t h not hi ng whi ch coul d soi l or cast a shadow.

What wonder t hat her l i f e gave f or t h l i ght and musi c as i t gl i ded

on, and t hat ever y one who knew her was eager t o have her wi t h

t hem, t o war m t hemsel ves i n t he l i ght and r ej oi ce i n t he musi c!

Besi des al l her ot her at t r act i ons, or i n consequence of t hem f or

anyt hi ng I know, she was one of t he mer r i est young women i n t he

wor l d, al ways r eady t o bubbl e over and br eak out i nt o cl ear

l aught er on t he sl i ght est pr ovocat i on. And pr ovocat i on had not

been want i ng dur i ng t he l ast t wo days whi ch she had spent wi t h

her cousi n. As usual she had br ought sunshi ne wi t h her , and t he

ol d doct or had hal f f or got t en hi s numer ous compl ai nt s and

gr i evances f or t he t i me. So t he cl oud whi ch gener al l y hung over

t he house had been par t i al l y l i f t ed, and Mar y, knowi ng and

suspect i ng not hi ng of t he dar k si de of l i f e at Engl ebour n

Rect or y, r al l i ed her cousi n on her gr avi t y, and l aughed t i l l she

cr i ed at t he queer ways and t al k of t he peopl e about t he pl ace.

As soon as t hey wer e out of hear i ng of Dame Wi nbur n, Mar y began- -

" Wel l , Kat i e, I can' t say t hat you have mended your case at al l . "

" Sur el y you can' t deny t hat t her e i s a gr eat deal of char act er i n

Bet t y' s f ace?" sai d Mi ss Wi nt er .

" Oh, pl ent y of char act er ; al l your peopl e, as soon as t hey begi n

t o st i f f en a l i t t l e and get wr i nkl es, seem t o be f ul l of

char act er , and I enj oy i t much mor e t han beaut y; but we wer e

t al ki ng about beaut y, you know. "

" Bet t y' s son i s t he handsomest young man i n t he par i sh, " sai d

Mi ss Wi nt er ; " and I must say I don' t t hi nk you coul d f i nd a

bet t er - l ooki ng one anywher e. "

" Then I can' t have seen hi m. "

" I ndeed you have; I poi nt ed hi m out t o you at t he post of f i ce

yest er day. Don' t you r emember ? He was wai t i ng f or a l et t er . "

" Oh, yes! now I r emember . Wel l , he was bet t er t han most . But t he

f aces of your young peopl e i n gener al ar e not i nt er est i ng- - I

don' t mean t he chi l dr en, but t he young men and women- - and t hey

ar e awkwar d and cl owni sh i n t hei r manner s, wi t hout t he quai nt ness

of t he el der gener at i on, who ar e t he f unni est ol d dear s i n t he

wor l d. "

" They wi l l al l be quai nt enough as t hey get ol der . You must

r emember t he sor t of l i f e t hey l ead. They get t hei r not i ons ver y

sl owl y, and t hey must have not i ons i n t hei r heads bef or e t hey can

show t hem on t hei r f aces. "

" Wel l , your Bet t y' s son l ooked as i f he had a not i on of hangi ng

hi msel f yest er day. "

" I t ' s no l aughi ng mat t er , Mar y. I hear t hat he i s desper at el y i n

Page 160 of 443

l ove. "

" Poor f el l ow! t hat makes a di f f er ence, of cour se. I hope he won' t

car r y out hi s not i on. Who i s i t , do you know? Do t el l me al l

about i t . "

" Our gar dener ' s daught er , I bel i eve. Of cour se, I never meddl e

wi t h t hese mat t er s; but one can' t hel p hear i ng t he ser vant ' s

gossi p. I t hi nk i t l i kel y t o be t r ue, f or he was about our

pr emi ses at al l sor t s of t i mes unt i l l at el y, and I never see hi m

now t hat she i s away. "

" I s she pr et t y?" sai d Mar y, who was get t i ng i nt er est ed.

" Yes, she i s our bel l e. I n f act , t hey ar e t he t wo beaut i es of t he

par i sh. "

" Fancy t hat cr oss- gr ai ned ol d Si mon havi ng a pr et t y daught er . Oh,

Kat i e, l ook her e! who i s t hi s f i gur e of f un?"

The f i gur e of f un was a mi ddl e- aged man of smal l st at ur e, and

ver y bandy- l egged, dr essed i n a bl ue coat and br ass but t ons, and

car r yi ng a gr eat bass- vi ol bi gger t han hi msel f , i n a r ough bai ze

cover . He came out of a f oot pat h i nt o t he r oad j ust bef or e t hem,

and, on seei ng t hem, t ouched hi s hat t o Mi ss Wi nt er , and t hen

f i dget ed al ong wi t h hi s l oad, and j er ked hi s head i n a

depr ecat or y manner away f r om t hem as he wal ked on, wi t h t he sor t

of l ook and act i on whi ch a f avor i t e t er r i er uses when hi s mast er

hol ds out a l i ght ed ci gar t o hi s nose. He was t he vi l l age t ai l or

and const abl e, al so t he pr i nci pal per f or mer i n t he chur ch- musi c

whi ch obt ai ned i n Engl ebour n. I n t he l at t er capaci t y he had of

l at e come i nt o col l i si on wi t h Mi ss Wi nt er .

For t hi s was anot her of t he quest i ons whi ch di vi ded t he

par i sh- - The gr eat chur ch musi c quest i on. Fr om t i me i mmemor i al , at

l east ever si nce t he gal l er y at t he west end had been bui l t , t he

vi l l age psal mody had been i n t he hands of t he occupi er s of t hat

Pr ot est ant st r uct ur e. I n t he mi ddl e of t he f r ont r ow sat t he

musi ci ans, t hr ee i n number , who pl ayed r espect i vel y a bass - vi ol ,

a f i ddl e, and a cl ar i onet . On one si de of t hem wer e t wo or t hr ee

young women, who sang t r ebl e- - shr i l l , ear - pi er ci ng t r ebl e- - wi t h a

st r ong nasal Ber kshi r e dr awl i n i t . On t he ot her si de of t he

musi ci ans sat t he bl acksmi t h, t he wheel wr i ght , and ot her

t r adesmen of t he pl ace. Tr adesmen means i n t hat par t of t he

count r y what we mean by ar t i san, and t hese wer e nat ur al l y al l i ed

wi t h t he l abor er s, and consor t ed wi t h t hem. So f ar as

chur ch- goi ng was concer ned, t hey f or med a sor t of i ndependent

opposi t i on, si t t i ng i n t he gal l er y, i nst ead of i n t he nave, wher e

t he f ar mer s and t he t wo or t hr ee pr i nci pal shopkeeper s - - t he gr eat

l anded and commer ci al i nt er est s- - r egul ar l y sat and sl ept , and

wher e t he t wo publ i cans occupi ed pews, but sel dom made even t he

pr et ence of wor shi ppi ng.

The r est of t he gal l er y was f i l l ed by t he abl e- bodi ed mal e

peasant r y. The ol d wor n- out men gener al l y sat bel ow i n t he f r ee

seat s; t he women al so, and some f ew boys. But t he hear t s of t hese

l at t er wer e i n t he gal l er y- - a seat on t he back benches of whi ch

was a si gn t hat t hey had i ndued t he _t oga vi r i l i s_, and wer e

t hencef or t h f r ee f r om mat er nal and past or al t ut el age i n t he

mat t er of chur ch- goi ng. The gal l er y t hus const i t ut ed had

gr adual l y usur ped t he psal mody as t hei r par t i cul ar and speci al

por t i on of t he ser vi ce; t hey l ef t t he cl er k and t he school

chi l dr en, ai ded by such of t he ar i st ocr acy bel ow as car ed t o

j oi n, t o do t he r esponses; but , when si ngi ng t i me came, t hey

Page 161 of 443

r ei gned supr eme. The sl at e on whi ch t he Psal ms wer e announced was

hung out f r om bef or e t he cent r e of t he gal l er y, and t he cl er k,

l eavi ng hi s pl ace under t he r eadi ng- desk, mar ched up t her e t o

gi ve t hem out . He t ook t hi s met hod of pr eser vi ng hi s

const i t ut i onal connect i on wi t h t he si ngi ng, knowi ng t hat

ot her wi se he coul d not have mai nt ai ned t he r i ght f ul posi t i on of

hi s of f i ce i n t hi s mat t er . So mat t er s had st ood unt i l shor t l y

bef or e t he t i me of our st or y.

The pr esent cur at e, however , backed by Mi ss Wi nt er , had t r i ed a

r ef or m. He was a qui et man, wi t h a wi f e and sever al chi l dr en, and

smal l means. He had ser ved i n t he di ocese ever si nce he had been

or dai ned, i n a hum- dr um sor t of way, goi ng wher e he was sent f or ,

and per f or mi ng hi s r out i ne dut i es r easonabl y wel l , but wi t hout

showi ng any gr eat apt i t ude f or hi s wor k. He had l i t t l e i nt er est ,

and had al most gi ven up expect i ng pr omot i on, whi ch he cer t ai nl y

had done not hi ng par t i cul ar t o mer i t . But t her e was one poi nt on

whi ch he was al ways r eady t o go out of hi s way, and t ake a l i t t l e

t r oubl e. He was a good musi ci an, and had f or med choi r s at al l hi s

f or mer cur aci es.

Soon af t er hi s ar r i val , t her ef or e, he, i n concer t wi t h Mi ss

Wi nt er , had begun t o t r ai n t he chi l dr en i n chur ch- musi c. A smal l

or gan, whi ch had st ood i n a passage i n t he Rect or y f or many

year s, had been r epai r ed, and appear ed f i r st at t he school r oom,

and at l engt h under t he gal l er y of t he chur ch; and i t was

announced one week t o t he par t y i n possessi on, t hat , on t he next

Sunday, t he const i t ut ed aut hor i t i es woul d t ake t he chur ch- musi c

i nt o t hei r own hands. Then ar ose a st r i f e, t he end of whi ch had

near l y been t o send t he gal l er y of f , i n a body, headed by t he

of f ended bass- vi ol , t o t he smal l r ed- br i ck l i t t l e Bet hel at t he

ot her end of t he vi l l age. For t unat el y t he cur at e had t oo much

good sense t o dr i ve mat t er s t o ext r emi t i es, and so al i enat e t he

par i sh const abl e, and a l ar ge par t of hi s f l ock, t hough he had

not t act or ener gy enough t o br i ng t hem r ound t o hi s own vi ews.

So a compr omi se was come t o; and t he cur at e' s choi r wer e al l owed

t o chant t he Psal ms and Cant i cl es, whi ch had al ways been r ead

bef or e, whi l e t he gal l er y r emai ned t r i umphant mast er s of t he

r egul ar Psal ms.

My r eader s wi l l now under st and why Mi ss Wi nt er ' s sal ut at i on t o

t he musi cal const abl e was not so cor di al as i t was t o t he ot her

vi l l ager s whom t hey had come acr oss pr evi ousl y.

I ndeed, Mi ss Wi nt er , t hough she acknowl edged t he const abl e' s

sal ut at i on, di d not seem i ncl i ned t o encour age hi m t o accompany

t hem, and t al k hi s mi nd out , al t hough he was goi ng t he same way

wi t h t hem; and, i nst ead of dr awi ng hi m out , as was her wont i n

such cases, went on t al ki ng her sel f t o her cousi n.

The l i t t l e man wal ked out i n t he r oad, evi dent l y i n t r oubl e of

mi nd. He di d not l i ke t o dr op behi nd or go ahead wi t hout some

f ur t her r emar k f r om Mi ss Wi nt er , and yet coul d not scr ew up hi s

cour age t o t he poi nt of openi ng t he conver sat i on hi msel f . So he

ambl ed on al ongsi de t he f oot pat h on whi ch t hey wer e wal ki ng,

showi ng hi s di scomf or t by a t wi st of hi s neck ever y f ew seconds,

and per pet ual shi f t i ngs of hi s bass- vi ol , and hunchi ng up of one

shoul der .

The conver sat i on of t he young l adi es under t hese ci r cumst ances

was of cour se f or ced; and Mi ss Mar y, t hough i nf i ni t el y del i ght ed

at t he meet i ng, soon began t o pi t y t hei r i nvol unt ar y compani on.

She was f ul l of t he sensi t i ve i nst i nct whi ch t he best sor t of

women have t o such a mar vel l ous ext ent , and whi ch t el l s t hem at

Page 162 of 443

once and i nf al l i bl y i f any one i n t hei r company has even a

cr eased r ose- l eaf next t hei r mor al ski n.

Bef or e t hey had wal ked a hundr ed yar ds she was i nt er cedi ng f or

t he r ebel l i ous const abl e.

" Kat i e, " she sai d sof t l y i n Fr ench, " do speak t o hi m. The poor

man i s f r i ght f ul l y uncomf or t abl e. "

" I t ser ves hi m r i ght , " answer ed Mi ss Wi nt er i n t he same l anguage;

" you don' t know how i mper t i nent he was t he ot her day t o Mr .

Wal ker . And he won' t gi ve way on t he l east poi nt , and l eads t he

r est of t he ol d si nger s, and makes t hem as st ubbor n as hi msel f . "

" But l ook how he i s wi nki ng and j er ki ng hi s head at you. You

r eal l y must n' t be so cr uel t o hi m, Kat i e. I shal l have t o begi n

t al ki ng t o hi m i f you don' t . "

Thus ur ged, Mi ss Wi nt er opened t he conver sat i on by aski ng af t er

hi s wi f e, and when she had ascer t ai ned " t hat hi s mi ssus wur

pr et t y mi ddl i n, " made some ot her commonpl ace r emar k, and r el apsed

i nt o si l ence. By t he hel p of Mar y, however , a sor t of di sj oi nt ed

di al ogue was kept up t i l l t hey came t o t he gat e whi ch l ed up t o

t he school , i nt o whi ch t he chi l dr en wer e t r oopi ng by t wos and

t hr ees. Her e t he l adi es t ur ned i n, and wer e goi ng up t he wal k

t owar ds t he school door , when t he const abl e summoned up cour age

t o speak on t he mat t er whi ch was t r oubl i ng hi m, and, r est i ng t he

bass- vi ol car ef ul l y on hi s r i ght f oot , cal l i ng out af t er t hem,

" Oh, pl ease mar m! Mi ss Wi nt er ! "

" Wel l , " she sai d qui et l y, t ur ni ng r ound, " what do you wi sh t o

say?"

" Why, pl ease mann, I hopes as you don' t t hi nk I be any ways unked

' bout t hi s her e qui r e si ngi n' , as t hey cal l s i t I ' m sar t i n you

knows as t her e ai n' t amost not hi ng I woul dn' t do t o pl ease ee. "

" Wel l , you know how t o do i t ver y easi l y, " she sai d when he

paused. " I don' t ask you even t o gi ve up your musi c and t r y t o

wor k wi t h us, t hough I t hi nk you mi ght have done t hat . I onl y ask

you t o use some psal ms and t unes whi ch ar e f i t t o be used i n a

chur ch. "

" To be sur e us ool . ' Tai nt we as want s no new- f angl ed t unes; t hem

as we si ngs be aal owl d ones as ha' been used i n our chur ch ever

si nce I can mi nd. But you onl y choose t haay as you l i kes out o'

t he book? and we be r eady t o kep t o t haay. "

" I t hi nk Mr . Wal ker made a sel ect i on f or you some weeks ago, "

sai d Mi ss Wi nt er ; " di d he not ?"

" ' Ees, but ' t i s nar r a mossel o' use f or we t o t r y hi s ' gor i ums

and si ch l i ke. I hopes you wun' t be of f ended wi ' me, mi ss, f or I

be t el l i ng nought but t r ut h. " He spoke l ouder as t hey got near er

t o t he school door , and, as t hey wer e openi ng i t , shout ed hi s

l ast shot af t er t hem, " ' Ti s na good t o t r y t haay t unes o' hi s' n,

mi ss. When us pr ai ses God, us l i kes t o pr ai se un j oyf ul . "

" Ther e, you hear t hat , Mar y, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er . " You' l l soon

begi n t o see why I l ook gr ave. Ther e never was such a har d par i sh

t o manage. Nobody wi l l do what t hey ought . I never can get t hem

t o do anyt hi ng. Per haps we may manage t o t each t he chi l dr en

bet t er , t hat ' s my onl y comf or t . "

Page 163 of 443

" But , Kat i e dear , what _do_ t he poor t hi ngs si ng? Psal ms, I

hope. "

" Oh yes, but t hey choose al l t he odd ones on pur pose, I bel i eve.

Whi ch cl ass wi l l you t ake?"

And so t he young l adi es set t l ed t o t hei r t eachi ng, and t he

chi l dr en i n her cl ass al l f el l i n l ove wi t h Mar y bef or e

chur ch- t i me.

The bass- vi ol pr oceeded t o t he chur ch and di d t he usual

r ehear sal s, and gossi ped wi t h t he sext on, t o whom he conf i ded t he

f act t hat t he young mi ssus was " t er r i bl e vexed. " The bel l s soon

began t o r i ng, and Wi dow Wi nbur n' s hear t was gl ad as she l i st ened

t o t he f ul l peal , and t hought t o her sel f t hat i t was her Har r y

who was maki ng so much noi se i n t he wor l d, and speaki ng t o al l

t he nei ghbor hood. Then t he peal ceased as chur ch- t i me dr ew near ,

and t he si ngl e bel l began, and t he congr egat i on came f l ocki ng i n

f r om al l si des. The f ar mer s, l et t i ng t hei r wi ves and chi l dr en

ent er , gat her ed r ound t he chur ch por ch and compar ed not es i n a

ponder ous manner on cr ops and mar ket s. The l abour er s col l ect ed

near t he door by whi ch t he gal l er y was r eached. Al l t he men of

t he par i sh seemed t o l i ke st andi ng about bef or e chur ch, unt i l

t hey had seen t he cl er gyman saf el y i nsi de. He came up wi t h t he

school chi l dr en and t he young l adi es, and i n due cour se t he bel l

st opped and t he ser vi ce began. Ther e was a ver y good congr egat i on

st i l l at Engl ebour n; t he adul t gener at i on had been br ed up i n

t i mes when ever y decent per son i n t he par i sh went t o chur ch, and

t he cust om was st i l l st r ong, not wi t hst andi ng t he r ect or ' s bad

exampl e. He scar cel y ever came t o chur ch hi msel f i n t he mor ni ngs,

t hough hi s wheel chai r mi ght be seen goi ng up and down on t he

gr avel bef or e hi s house or on t he l awn on war m days, and t hi s was

one of hi s daught er ' s gr eat est t r oubl es.

The l i t t l e choi r of chi l dr en sang admi r abl y, l ed by t he

school mi st r ess, and Mi ss Wi nt er and t he cur at e exchanged

appr ovi ng gl ances. They per f or med t he l i vel i est chant i n t hei r

col l ect i on, t hat t he opposi t i on mi ght have no cause t o compl ai n

of t hei r want of j oyf ul ness. And i n t ur n Mi ss Wi nt er was i n hopes

t hat , out of def er ence t o her , t he usual r ul e of sel ect i on i n t he

gal l er y mi ght have been modi f i ed. I t was wi t h no smal l annoyance,

t her ef or e, t hat , af t er t he Li t any was over , and t he t uni ng

f i ni shed, she hear d t he cl er k gi ve out t hat t hey woul d pr ai se God

by si ngi ng par t of t he ni net y- f i r st Psal m. Mar y, who was on t he

t i pt oe of expect at i on as t o what was comi ng, saw t he cur at e gi ve

a sl i ght shr ug wi t h hi s shoul der s and l i f t of hi s eyebr ows as he

l ef t t he r eadi ng- desk, and i n anot her mi nut e i t became a pai nf ul

ef f or t f or her t o keep f r om l aughi ng as she sl yl y wat ched her

cousi n' s f ace; whi l e t he gal l er y sang wi t h vi gour wor t hy of any

cause or occasi on- -

" On t he ol d l i on He shal l go,

The adder f el l and l ong;

On t he young l i on t r ead al so,

Wi t h dr agons st out and st r ong. "

The t r ebl es t ook up t he l ast l i ne, and r epeat ed- -

" Wi t h dr agons st out and st r ong; "

and t hen t he whol e st r engt h of t he gal l er y chor used agai n- -

" Wi t h _dr a- gons_ st out and st r ong; "

Page 164 of 443

and t he bass- vi ol seemed t o her t o pr ol ong t he not es and t o gl oat

over t hem as he dr oned t hem out , l ooki ng t r i umphant l y at t he

di st ant cur at e. Mar y was t hankf ul t o kneel down t o compose her

f ace. The f i r st t r i al was t he sever e one, and she got t hr ough t he

second psal m much bet t er ; and by t he t i me Mr . Wal ker had pl unged

f ai r l y i nt o hi s ser mon she was a model of pr opr i et y and

sedat eness agai n. But i t was t o be a Sunday of advent ur es. The

ser mon had scar cel y begun when t her e was a st i r down by t he door

at t he west end, and peopl e began t o l ook r ound and whi sper .

Pr esent l y a man came sof t l y up and sai d somet hi ng t o t he cl er k;

t he cl er k j umped up and whi sper ed t o t he cur at e, who paused f or a

moment wi t h a puzzl ed l ook, and, i nst ead of f i ni shi ng hi s

sent ence, sai d i n a l oud voi ce, " Far mer Gr oves' house i s on

f i r e! "

The cur at e pr obabl y ant i ci pat ed t he ef f ect of hi s wor ds; i n a

mi nut e he was t he onl y per son l ef t i n t he chur ch except t he cl er k

and one or t wo ver y i nf i r m ol d f ol k. He shut up and pocket ed hi s

ser mon, and f ol l owed hi s f l ock.

I t pr oved l ucki l y t o be onl y Far mer Gr oves' chi mney and not hi s

house whi ch was on f i r e. The f ar mhouse was onl y t wo f i el ds f r om

t he vi l l age, and t he congr egat i on r ushed acr oss t her e, Har r y

Wi nbur n and t wo or t hr ee of t he most act i ve young men and boys

l eadi ng. As t hey ent er ed t he yar d, t he f l ames wer e r ushi ng out of

t he chi mney, and any moment t he t hat ch mi ght t ake f i r e. Her e was

t he r eal danger . A l adder had j ust been r ai sed agai nst t he

chi mney, and, whi l e a f r i ght ened f ar m- gi r l and a car t er - boy hel d

i t at t he bot t om, a man was goi ng up i t car r yi ng a bucket of

wat er . I t shook wi t h hi s wei ght , and t he t op was sl i ppi ng

gr adual l y al ong t he f ace of t he chi mney, and i n anot her moment

woul d r est agai nst not hi ng. Har r y and hi s compani ons saw t he

danger at a gl ance, and shout ed t o t he man t o st and st i l l t i l l

t hey coul d get t o t he l adder . They r ushed t owar ds hi m wi t h t he

r ush whi ch men can onl y make under st r ong exci t ement . The

f or emost of t hem caught a spoke wi t h one hand, but bef or e he

coul d st eady i t , t he t op sl i pped cl ear of t he chi mney, and,

l adder , man, and bucket came heavi l y t o t he gr ound.

Then came a scene of bewi l der i ng conf usi on, as women and chi l dr en

t r ooped i nt o t he yar d- - " Who was i t ?" " Was he dead?" " The f i r e was

cat chi ng t he t hat ch. " " The st abl es wer e on f i r e. " " Who di d

i t ?" - - al l sor t s of cr i es and al l sor t s of act s except t he r i ght

ones. For t unat el y t wo or t hr ee of t he men, wi t h heads on t hei r

shoul der s, soon or gani zed a l i ne f or handl i ng bucket s; t he f l ue

was st opped bel ow, and Har r y Wi nbur n st andi ng near l y at t he t op

of t he l adder , whi ch was now saf el y pl ant ed, was del ugi ng t he

t hat ch r ound t he chi mney f r om t he bucket s handed up t o hi m. I n a

f ew mi nut es he was abl e t o pour wat er down t he chi mney i t sel f ,

and soon af t er war ds t he whol e af f ai r was at an end. The f ar mer ' s

di nner was spoi l t , but ot her wi se no damage had been done, except

t o t he cl ot hes of t he f or emost men; and t he onl y acci dent was

t hat f i r st f al l f r om t he l adder .

The man had been car r i ed out of t he yar d whi l e t he f i r e was st i l l

bur ni ng; so t hat i t was har dl y known who i t was.

Now, i n answer t o t hei r i nqui r i es, i t pr oved t o be ol d Si mon, t he

r ect or ' s gar dener and head man, who had seen t he f i r e, and sent

t he news t o t he chur ch, whi l e he hi msel f went t o t he spot , wi t h

such r esul t as we have seen.

The sur geon had not yet seen hi m. Some decl ar ed he was dead;

Page 165 of 443

ot her s, t hat he was si t t i ng up at home, and qui t e wel l . Li t t l e by

l i t t l e t he cr owd di sper sed t o Sunday' s di nner s; when t hey met

agai n bef or e t he af t er noon' s ser vi ce, i t was ascer t ai ned t hat

Si mon was cer t ai nl y not dead, but al l el se was st i l l not hi ng mor e

t han r umor . Publ i c opi ni on was much di vi ded, some hol di ng t hat i t

woul d go har d wi t h a man of hi s age and hef t ; but t he common

bel i ef seemed t o be t hat he was of t hat sor t " as' d t ake a deal o'

ki l l i n' , " and t hat he woul d be none t he wor se f or such a f al l as

t hat .

The t wo young l adi es had been much shocked at t he acci dent , and

had accompani ed t he hur dl e on whi ch ol d Si mon was car r i ed t o hi s

cot t age door ; af t er af t er noon ser vi ce t hey went r ound by t he

cot t age t o i nqui r e. The t wo gi r l s knocked at t he door , whi ch was

opened by hi s wi f e, who dr opped a cur t sey and smoot hed down her

Sunday apr on when she f ound who wer e her vi si t or s.

She seemed at f i r st a l i t t l e unwi l l i ng t o l et t hem i n; but Mi ss

Wi nt er pr essed so ki ndl y t o see her husband, and Mar y made such

sympat hi zi ng eyes at her , t hat t he ol d woman gave i n, and

conduct ed t hem t hr ough t he f r ont r oom i nt o t hat beyond, wher e t he

pat i ent l ay.

" I hope as you' l l excuse i t , mi ss, f or I knows t he pl ace do smel l

t er r i bl e bad of baccer ; onl y my ol d man he sai d as how- "

" Oh, never mi nd, we don' t car e at al l about t he smel l . Poor

Si mon! I ' m sur e i f i t does hi m any good, or soot hes t he pai n, I

shal l be gl ad t o buy hi m some t obacco mysel f . "

The ol d man was l yi ng on t he bed, wi t h hi s coat and boot s of f ,

and a wor st ed ni ght cap of hi s wi f e' s kni t t i ng pul l ed on t o hi s

head. She had t r i ed har d t o get hi m t o go t o bed at once, and

t ake some physi c, and hi s pr esent cost ume and posi t i on was t he

compr omi se. Hi s back was t ur ned t o t hem as t hey ent er ed, and he

was evi dent l y i n pai n, f or he dr ew hi s br eat h heavi l y and wi t h

di f f i cul t y, and gave a sor t of gr oan at ever y r espi r at i on. He di d

not seem t o not i ce t hei r ent r ance; so hi s wi f e t ouched hi m on t he

shoul der , and sai d, " Si mon, her e' s t he young l adi es come t o see

how you be. "

Si mon t ur ned hi msel f r ound, and wi nced and gr oaned as he pul l ed

of f hi s ni ght cap i n t oken of r espect .

" We di dn' t l i ke t o go home wi t hout comi ng t o see how you wer e,

Si mon. Has t he doct or been?"

" Oh, yes, t hank' ee, mi ss. He' ve a been and f eel ' d un al l over ,

and l i st ened at t he chest on un, " sai d hi s wi f e.

" And what di d he say?"

" He zem' d t o zay as t her e wur no bwones br uk- - ugh, ugh, " put i n

Si mon, who spoke hi s nat i ve t ongue wi t h a buzz, i mpor t ed f r om

f ar t her west , " but a coul dn' t zay wet her or no t her e war n' t som

i nf ar nal i nj ur y- "

" Et ar nal , Si mon, et ar nal ! " i nt er r upt ed hi s wi f e; " how canst use

such wor ds af or e t he young l adi es?"

" I t el l ' ee wi f e, as ' t wur i nf ar nal - - ugh, ugh, " r et or t ed t he

gar dener .

" I nt er nal i nj ur y?" suggest ed Mi ss Wi nt er . " I ' m ver y sor r y t o hear

Page 166 of 443

i t . "

" Zummut i nsi de o' me l i ke, as wur got out o' pl ace, " expl ai ned

Si mon; " and I t henks a must be near about t he mar k, f or I f eel s

mor t al bad her e when I t r i es t o move; " and he put hi s hand on hi s

si de. " Hows' m' ever , as t her e' s no bwones br uk, I hopes t o be

about t o- mor r ow mor ni n' , pl ease t he Lor d- - ugh, ugh. "

" You must n' t t hi nk of i t , Si mon, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er . " You must be

qui t e qui et f or a week, at l east , t i l l you get r i d of t hi s pai n. "

" So I t el l s un, Mi ss Wi nt er , " put i n t he wi f e. " You hear what t he

young mi ssus says, Si mon?"

" And wut ' s t o happen t o Ti ny?" sai d t he cont umaci ous Si mon,

scor nf ul l y. " Her ' l l cast her cal f , and me not by. Her ' s cal vi ng

maybe t hi s mi nut . Ti ny' s t i me wer e up, mi ss, t wo days back, and

her ' s never no gur t whi l e ar t er her t i me. "

" She wi l l do ver y wel l , I dar e say, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er , " One of

t he men can l ook af t er her . "

The not i on of anyone el se at t endi ng Ti ny i n her i nt er est i ng

si t uat i on seemed t o exci t e Si mon beyond bear i ng, f or he r ai sed

hi msel f on one el bow, and was about t o make a demonst r at i on wi t h

hi s ot her hand, when t he pai n sei zed hi m agai n, and he sank back

gr oani ng.

" Ther e, you see, Si mon, you can' t move wi t hout pai n. You must be

qui et t i l l you have seen t he doct or agai n. "

" Ther e' s t he r ed spi der out al ong t he sout h wal l - - ugh, ugh, "

per si st ed Si mon, wi t hout seemi ng t o hear her ; " and your new

g' r ani ums a' most cover ed wi ' bl i ght . I wur a t ackl i n' one of ' em

j ust af or e you cum i n. "

Fol l owi ng t he di r ect i on i ndi cat ed by hi s nod, t he gi r l s became

awar e of a pl ant by hi s bedsi de, whi ch he had been f umi gat i ng,

f or hi s pi pe was l eani ng agai nst t he f l ower - pot i n whi ch i t

st ood.

" He woul dn' t l i e st i l l nohow, mi ss, " expl ai ned hi s wi f e, " t i l l I

went and f et ched un i n a pi pe and one o' t haay pl ant s f r om t he

gr eenhouse. "

" I t was ver y t hought f ul of you, Si mon, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er ; " you

know how much I pr i ze t hese new pl ant s; but we wi l l manage t hem;

and you must n' t t hi nk of t hese t hi ngs now. You have had a

wonder f ul escape t o- day f or a man of your age. I hope we shal l

f i nd t hat t her e i s not hi ng much t he mat t er wi t h you af t er a f ew

days, but you mi ght have been ki l l ed you know. You ought t o be

ver y t hankf ul t o God t hat you wer e not ki l l ed i n t hat f al l . "

" So I be, mi ss, wer r y t hankf ul t o un- - ugh, ugh; - - and i f i t pl ease

t he Lor d t o spar e my l i f e t i l l t o- mor r ow mor ni n' , - - ugh,

ugh, - - we' l l smoke t hem cussed i nsect s. "

Thi s l ast r et or t of t he i ncor r i gi bl e Si mon on her cousi n' s

at t empt , as t he r ect or ' s daught er , t o i mpr ove t he occasi on, was

t oo much f or Mi ss Mar y, and she sl i pped out of t he r oom, l est she

shoul d br i ng di sgr ace on her sel f by an expl osi on of l aught er . She

was j oi ned by her cousi n i n anot her mi nut e, and t he t wo wal ked

t oget her t owar d t he Rect or y.

Page 167 of 443

" I hope you wer e not f ai nt , dear , wi t h t hat cl ose r oom, smel l i ng

of smoke?"

" Oh, dear , no; t o t el l you t he t r ut h, I was onl y af r ai d of

l aughi ng at your quai nt ol d pat i ent . What a r ugged ol d dear he

i s. I hope he i sn' t much hur t . "

" I hope not , i ndeed; f or he i s t he most honest , f ai t hf ul ol d

ser vant i n t he wor l d, but so obst i nat e. He never wi l l go t o

chur ch on Sunday mor ni ngs; and, when I speak t o hi m about i t , he

says papa doesn' t go, whi ch i s ver y wr ong and i mper t i nent of

hi m. "

CHAPTER XI X

A PROMI SE OF FAI RER WEATHER

Al l dwel l er s i n and about London ar e, al as! t oo wel l acquai nt ed

wi t h t he never - t o- be- enough- hat ed change whi ch we have t o under go

once, at l east , i n ever y spr i ng. As each succeedi ng wi nt er wear s

away, t he same t hi ng happens t o us.

For some t i me we do not t r ust t he f ai r l engt heni ng days, and

cannot bel i eve t hat t he di r t y pai r of spar r ows who l i ve opposi t e

our wi ndow ar e r eal l y maki ng l ove and goi ng t o bui l d,

not wi t hst andi ng al l t hei r t wi t t er i ng. But mor ni ng af t er mor ni ng

r i ses f r esh and gent l e; t her e i s no l onger any voi ce i n t he ai r ;

we dr op our over - coat s; we r ej oi ce i n t he gr een shoot s whi ch t he

pr i vet hedge i s maki ng i n t he squar e gar den, and hai l t he

r et ur ni ng t ender - poi nt ed l eaves of t he pl ane- t r ees as f r i ends; we

go out of our way t o wal k t hr ough Covent Gar den Mar ket t o see t he

ever - br i ght eni ng show of f l ower s f r om t he happy count r y.

Thi s st at e of t hi ngs goes on somet i mes f or a f ew days onl y,

somet i mes f or weeks, t i l l we make sur e t hat we ar e saf e f or t hi s

spr i ng at any r at e. Don' t we wi sh we may get i t ! Sooner or l at er ,

but sur e- - sur e as Chr i st mas bi l l s or t he i ncome- t ax, or anyt hi ng,

i f t her e be anyt hi ng, sur er t han t hese- - comes t he mor ni ng when we

ar e suddenl y consci ous as soon as we r i se t hat t her e i s somet hi ng

t he mat t er . We do not f eel comf or t abl e i n our cl ot hes; not hi ng

t ast es qui t e as i t shoul d at br eakf ast ; t hough t he day l ooks

br i ght enough, t her e i s a f i er ce dust y t ast e about i t as we l ook

out t hr ough wi ndows, whi ch no i nst i nct now pr ompt s us t o t hr ow

open, as i t has done ever y day f or t he l ast mont h.

But i t i s onl y when we open our door s and i ssue i nt o t he st r eet ,

t hat t he hat ef ul r eal i t y comes r i ght home t o us. Al l moi st ur e,

and sof t ness, and pl easant ness has gone cl ean out of t he ai r

si nce l ast ni ght ; we seem t o i nhal e yar ds of hor se hai r i nst ead

of sat i n; our ski ns dr y up; our eyes, and hai r , and whi sker s, and

cl ot hes ar e soon f i l l ed wi t h l oat hsome dust , and our nost r i l s

wi t h t he r eek of t he gr eat ci t y. We gl ance at t he weat her - cock on

t he near est st eepl e, and see t hat i t poi nt s N. E. And so l ong as

t he change l ast s, we car r y about wi t h us a f eel i ng of anger and

i mpat i ence, as t hough we per sonal l y wer e bei ng i l l - t r eat ed. We

coul d have bor ne wi t h i t wel l enough i n November ; i t woul d have

been nat ur al , and al l i n t he days wor k i n Mar ch; but now, when

Rot t en Row i s begi nni ng t o be cr owded, when l ong l i nes of

pl easur e vans ar e l eavi ng t own on Monday mor ni ngs f or Hampt on

Cour t or t he poor r emai ns of dear Eppi ng For est , when t he

exhi bi t i ons ar e open, or about t o open, when t he r el i gi ous publ i c

i s up, or on i t s way up, f or May meet i ngs, when t he Thames i s

Page 168 of 443

al r eady sendi ng up f ai nt war ni ngs of what we may expect as soon

as hi s di r t y ol d l i f e' s bl ood shal l have been t hor oughl y war med

up, and t he " Shi p" , and " Tr af al gar " , and t he " St ar and Gar t er "

ar e i n f ul l swi ng at t he ant agoni st i c pol es of t he cockney

syst em, we do f eel t hat t hi s bl i ght whi ch has come over us and

ever yt hi ng i s an i nsul t , and t hat whi l e i t l ast s, as t her e i s

nobody who can be made par t i cul ar l y r esponsi bl e f or i t , we ar e

j ust i f i ed i n goi ng about i n gener al di sgust , and r eady t o quar r el

wi t h anybody we may meet on t he smal l est pr et ext .

Thi s sor t of east - wi ndy st at e i s per haps t he best physi cal

anal ogy f or t hat ment al one i n whi ch our her o now f ound hi msel f .

The r eal cr i ses was over ; he had managed t o pass t hr ough t he eye

of t he st or m, and dr i f t f or t he pr esent at l east i nt o t he ski r t s

of i t , wher e he l ay r ol l i ng under bar e pol es, compar at i vel y saf e,

but wi t hout any power as yet t o get t he shi p wel l i n hand, and

make her obey her hel m. The st or m mi ght br eak over hi m agai n at

any mi nut e, and woul d f i nd hi m al most as hel pl ess as ever .

For he coul d not f ol l ow Dr ysdal e' s advi ce at once, and br eak of f

hi s vi si t s t o " The Choughs" al t oget her . He went back agai n af t er

a day or t wo, but onl y f or shor t vi si t s; he never st ayed behi nd

now af t er t he ot her men l ef t t he bar , and avoi ded i nt er vi ews wi t h

Pat t y al one as di l i gent l y as he had sought t hem bef or e. She was

puzzl ed at hi s change of manner , and not bei ng abl e t o account

f or i t , was pi qued, and r eady t o r evenge her sel f , and pay hi m out

i n t he hundr ed l i t t l e ways whi ch t he l east pr act i ced of her sex

know how t o empl oy f or t he di sci pl i ne of any of t he i nf er i or or

t r ouser ed hal f of t he cr eat i on. I f she had been r eal l y i n l ove

wi t h hi m, i t woul d have been a di f f er ent mat t er ; but she was not .

I n t he l ast si x weeks she had cer t ai nl y of t en had vi si ons of t he

pl easur es of bei ng a l ady and keepi ng ser vant s, and r i di ng i n a

car r i age l i ke t he squi r es' and r ect or s' wi ves and daught er s about

her home. She had a l i ki ng, even a sent i ment f or hi m, whi ch mi ght

ver y wel l have gr own i nt o somet hi ng danger ous bef or e l ong; but as

yet i t was not mor e t han ski n deep. Of l at e, i ndeed, she had been

much mor e f r i ght ened t han at t r act ed by t he conduct of her

admi r er , and r eal l y f el t i t a r el i ef , not wi t hst andi ng her pi que,

when he r et i r ed i nt o t he el der br ot her sor t of st at e. But she

woul d have been mor e t han woman i f she had not r esent ed t he

change; and so ver y soon t he pangs of j eal ousy wer e added t o hi s

ot her t r oubl es. Ot her men wer e begi nni ng t o f r equent " The

Choughs" r egul ar l y. Dr ysdal e, besi des di vi di ng wi t h Tom t he

pr est i ge of bei ng an or i gi nal di scover er , was by f ar t he l ar gest

cust omer . St . Cl oud came, and br ought Chant er wi t h hi m, t o whom

Pat t y was act ual l y ci vi l , not because she l i ked hi m at al l , but

because she saw t hat i t made Tom f ur i ous. Though he coul d not f i x

on any one man i n par t i cul ar , he f el t t hat manki nd i n gener al

wer e gai ni ng on hi m. I n hi s bet t er moment s, i ndeed, he of t en

wi shed t hat she woul d t ake t he mat t er i nt o her own hands and

t hr ow hi m over f or good and al l ; but keep away f r om t he pl ace

al t oget her he coul d not , and of t en when he f anci ed hi msel f on t he

poi nt of doi ng i t , a pr et t y t oss of her head, or a ki nd l ook of

her eyes woul d scat t er al l hi s good r esol ut i ons t o t he f our

wi nds.

And so t he days dr agged on, and he dr agged on t hr ough t hem; hot

f i t s of concei t al t er nat i ng i n hi m wi t h col d f i t s of despondency

and mawki shness and di scont ent wi t h ever yt hi ng and ever ybody,

whi ch wer e al l t he mor e i nt ol er abl e f r om t hei r ent i r e

st r angeness. I nst ead of seei ng t he br i ght si de of al l t hi ngs, he

seemed t o be l ooki ng at cr eat i on t hr ough yel l ow spect acl es, and

saw f aul t s and bl emi shes i n al l hi s acquai nt ance, whi ch had been

t i l l now i nvi si bl e.

Page 169 of 443

But t he mor e he was i ncl i ned t o depr eci at e al l ot her men, t he

mor e he f el t t her e was one t o whom he had been gr ossl y unj ust .

And, as he r ecal l ed al l t hat had passed, he began t o do j ust i ce

t o t he man who had not f l i nched f r om war ni ng hi m and br avi ng hi m,

who he f el t had been wat chi ng over hi m, and t r yi ng t o gui de hi m

st r ai ght , when he had l ost al l power or wi l l t o keep st r ai ght

hi msel f .

Fr om t hi s t i me t he dr ead i ncr eased on hi m l est any of t he ot her

men shoul d f i nd out hi s quar r el wi t h Har dy. Thei r ut t er i gnor ance

of i t encour aged hi m i n t he hope t hat i t mi ght al l pass of f l i ke

a bad dr eam. Whi l e i t r emai ned a mat t er bet ween t hem al one, he

f el t t hat al l mi ght come st r ai ght , t hough he coul d not t hi nk how.

He began t o l oi t er by t he ent r ance of t he passage whi ch l ed t o

Har dy' s r ooms; somet i mes he woul d f i nd somet hi ng t o say t o hi s

scout or bed- maker whi ch t ook hi m i nt o t he back out si de Har dy' s

wi ndow, gl anci ng at i t si deways as he st ood gi vi ng hi s or der s.

Ther e i t was, wi de open, gener al l y- - he har dl y knew whet her he

hoped t o cat ch a gl i mpse of t he owner , but he di d hope t hat Har dy

mi ght hear hi s voi ce. He wat ched hi m i n chapel and hal l

f ur t i vel y, but const ant l y, and was al ways f ancyi ng what he was

doi ng and t hi nki ng about . Was i t as pai nf ul an ef f or t t o Har dy,

he wonder ed, as t o hi m t o go on speaki ng, as i f not hi ng had

happened, when t hey met at t he boat s, as t hey di d now agai n

al most dai l y ( f or Di ogenes was bent on t r ai ni ng some of t he

t or pi ds f or next year ) , and yet never t o l ook one anot her i n t he

f ace; t o l i ve t oget her as usual dur i ng par t of ever y day, and yet

t o f eel al l t he t i me t hat a gr eat wal l had r i sen bet ween t hem,

mor e hopel essl y di vi di ng t hem f or t he t i me t han t housands of

mi l es of ocean or cont i nent ?

Amongst ot her di st r act i ons whi ch Tom t r i ed at t hi s cr i si s of hi s

l i f e, was r eadi ng. For t hr ee or f our days r unni ng, he r eal l y

wor ked har d- - ver y har d, i f we wer e t o r eckon by t he number of

hour s he spent i n hi s own r ooms over hi s books wi t h hi s oak

spor t ed- - har d, even t hough we shoul d onl y r eckon by r esul t s. For ,

t hough scar cel y an hour passed t hat he was not bal anci ng on t he

hi nd l egs of hi s chai r wi t h a vacant l ook i n hi s eyes, and

t hi nki ng of anyt hi ng but Gr eek r oot s or Lat i n const r uct i ons, yet

on t he whol e he managed t o get t hr ough a good deal , and one

eveni ng, f or t he f i r st t i me si nce hi s quar r el wi t h Har dy, f el t a

sensat i on of r eal comf or t - - i t har dl y amount ed t o pl easur e- - as he

cl osed hi s Sophocl es some hour or so af t er hal l , havi ng j ust

f i ni shed t he l ast of t he Gr eek pl ays whi ch he meant t o t ake i n

f or hi s f i r st exami nat i on. He l eaned back i n hi s chai r and sat

f or a f ew mi nut es, l et t i ng hi s t hought s f ol l ow t hei r own bent .

They soon t ook t o goi ng wr ong, and he j umped up i n f ear l est he

shoul d be dr i f t i ng back i nt o t he bl ack st or my sea, i n t he t r ough

of whi ch he had been l abor i ng so l at el y, and whi ch he f el t he was

by no means cl ear of yet . At f i r st he caught up hi s cap and gown

as t hough he wer e goi ng out . Ther e was a wi ne par t y at one of hi s

acquai nt ance' s r ooms; or he coul d go and smoke a ci gar i n t he

pool r oom, or at any one of a dozen ot her pl aces. On second

t hought s, however , he t hr ew hi s academi cal s back on t o t he sof a

and went t o hi s book- case. The r eadi ng had pai d so wel l t hat

eveni ng t hat he r esol ved t o go on wi t h i t . He had no par t i cul ar

obj ect i n sel ect i ng one book mor e t han anot her , and so t ook down

car el essl y t he f i r st t hat came t o hand.

I t happened t o be a vol ume of Pl at o, and opened of i t s own accor d

at t he " Apol ogy. " He gl anced at a f ew l i nes. What a f l ood of

memor i es t hey cal l ed up! Thi s was al most t he l ast book he had

r ead at school ; and t eacher , and f r i ends, and l of t y oak - shel ved

Page 170 of 443

l i br ar y st ood out bef or e hi m at once. Then t he bl under s t hat he

hi msel f and ot her s had made r ushed t hr ough hi s mi nd, and he

al most bur st i nt o a l augh as he wheel ed hi s chai r r ound t o t he

wi ndow, and began r eadi ng wher e he had opened, encour agi ng ever y

t hought of t he ol d t i mes when he f i r st r ead t hat mar vel l ous

def ense, and t hr owi ng hi msel f back i nt o t hem wi t h al l hi s mi ght .

And st i l l , as he r ead, f or got t en wor ds of wi se comment , and

st r ange t hought s of wonder and l ongi ng, came back t o hi m. The

gr eat t r ut h whi ch he had been l ed t o t he br i nk of i n t hose ear l y

days r ose i n al l i t s awe and al l i t s at t r act i veness bef or e hi m.

He l eaned back i n hi s chai r , and gave hi msel f up t o hi s t hought ;

and how st r angel y t hat t hought bor e on t he st r uggl e whi ch had

been r agi ng i n hi m of l at e; how an answer seemed t o be t r embl i ng

t o come out of i t t o al l t he cr i es, now def i ant , now pl ai nt i ve,

whi ch had gone up out of hi s hear t i n t hi s t i me of t r oubl e! For

hi s t hought was of t hat spi r i t , di st i nct f r om hi msel f , and yet

communi ng wi t h hi s i nmost soul , al ways dwel l i ng i n hi m, knowi ng

hi m bet t er t han he knew hi msel f , never mi sl eadi ng hi m, al ways

l eadi ng hi m t o l i ght and t r ut h, of whi ch t he ol d phi l osopher

spoke. " The ol d heat hen, Socr at es, di d act ual l y bel i eve

t hat - - t her e can be no quest i on about i t ; " he t hought , " Has not

t he t est i mony of t he best men t hr ough t hese t wo t housand year s

bor ne wi t ness t hat he was r i ght - - t hat he di d not bel i eve a l i e?

That was what we wer e t ol d. Sur el y I don' t mi st ake! Wer e we not

t ol d, t oo, or di d I dr eam i t , t hat what was t r ue f or hi m was t r ue

f or ever y man- - f or me? That t her e i s a spi r i t dwel l i ng i n me,

st r i vi ng wi t h me, r eady t o l ead me i nt o al l t r ut h i f I wi l l

submi t t o hi s gui dance?"

" Ay! submi t , submi t , t her e' s t he r ub! Gi ve your sel f up t o hi s

gui dance! Thr ow up t he r ei ns, and say you' ve made a mess of i t .

Wel l , why not ? Haven' t I made a mess of i t ? Am I f i t t o hol d t he

r ei ns?"

" Not I " - - he got up and began wal ki ng about hi s r ooms- - " I gi ve i t

up. "

" Gi ve i t up! " he went on pr esent l y; " yes, but t o whom? Not t o t he

daemon spi r i t , what ever i t was, who t ook up abode i n t he ol d

At heni an- - at l east , so he sai d, and so I bel i eve. No, no! Two

t housand year s and al l t hat t hey have seen have not passed over

t he wor l d t o l eave us j ust wher e he was l ef t . We want no daemons

or spi r i t s. And yet t he ol d heat hen was gui ded r i ght , and what

can a man want mor e? and who ever want ed gui dance mor e t han I

now- - her e- - i n t hi s r oom- - at t hi s mi nut e? I gi ve up t he r ei ns; who

wi l l t ake t hem?" And so t her e came on hi m one of t hose seasons

when a man' s t hought s cannot be f ol l owed i n wor ds. A sense of awe

came on hi m, and over hi m, and wr apped hi m r ound; awe at a

pr esence of whi ch he was becomi ng suddenl y consci ous, i nt o whi ch

he seemed t o have wander ed, and yet whi ch he f el t must have been

t her e ar ound hi m, i n hi s own hear t and soul , t hough he knew i t

not . Ther e was hope and l ongi ng i n hi s hear t , mi ngl i ng wi t h t he

f ear of t hat pr esence, but wi t hal t he ol d r eckl ess and dar i ng

f eel i ng whi ch he knew so wel l , st i l l bubbl i ng up unt amed,

unt amabl e i t seemed t o hi m.

The r oom st i f l ed hi m now; so he t hr ew on hi s cap and gown, and

hur r i ed down i nt o t he quadr angl e. I t was ver y qui et ; pr obabl y

t her e was not a dozen men i n col l ege. He wal ked acr oss t o t he

l ow, dar k ent r ance of t he passage whi ch l ed t o Har dy' s r ooms, and

t her e paused. Was he t her e by chance, or was he gui ded t her e?

Yes, t hi s was t he r i ght way f or hi m, he had no doubt now as t o

t hat ; down t he dar k passage and i nt o t he r oom he knew so

wel l - - and what t hen? He t ook a shor t t ur n or t wo bef or e t he

Page 171 of 443

ent r ance. How coul d he be sur e t hat Har dy was al one? And, i f not ,

t o go i n woul d be wor se t han usel ess. I f he wer e al one, what

shoul d he say? Af t er al l , _must _ he go i n t her e? was t her e no way

but t hat ?

The col l ege cl ock st r uck a quar t er t o seven. I t was hi s usual

t i me f or " The Choughs; " t he house woul d be qui et now; was t her e

not one l ooki ng out f or hi m t her e who woul d be gr i eved i f he di d

not come? Af t er al l , mi ght not t hat be hi s way, f or t hi s ni ght at

l east ? He mi ght br i ng pl easur e t o one human bei ng by goi ng t her e

at once. That he knew; what el se coul d he be sur e of ?

At t hi s moment he hear d Har dy' s door open and a voi ce sayi ng

" Good- ni ght , " and t he next Gr ey came out of t he passage, and was

passi ng cl ose t o hi m.

" Joi n your sel f t o hi m. " The i mpul se came so st r ongl y i nt o Tom' s

mi nd t hi s t i me, t hat i t was l i ke a voi ce speaki ng hi m. He yi el ded

t o i t , and, st eppi ng t o Gr ey' s si de, wi shed hi m good- eveni ng. The

ot her r et ur ned hi s sal ut e i n hi s shy way, and was hur r yi ng on,

but Tom kept by hi m.

" Have you been r eadi ng wi t h Har dy?"

" Yes. "

" How i s he? I have not seen anyt hi ng of hi m f or some t i me. "

" Oh, ver y wel l , I t hi nk, " sai d Gr ey, gl anci ng si deways at hi s

quest i oner , and addi ng, af t er a moment , " I have wonder ed r at her

not t o see you t her e of l at e. "

" Ar e you goi ng t o your school ?" sai d Tom, br eaki ng away f r om t he

subj ect .

" Yes, and I am r at her l at e; I must make hast e on; good ni ght . "

" Wi l l you l et me go wi t h you t o- ni ght ? I t woul d be a r eal

ki ndness. I ndeed, " he added, as he saw how embar r assi ng hi s

pr oposal was t o Gr ey, " I wi l l do what ever you t el l me- - you don' t

know how gr at ef ul I shoul d be t o you. Do l et me go- - j ust f or

t o- ni ght . Tr y me once. "

Gr ey hesi t at ed, t ur ned hi s head shar pl y once or t wi ce as t hey

wal ked on t oget her , and t hen sai d wi t h somet hi ng l i ke a si gh- -

" I don' t know, I ' m sur e. Di d you ever t each i n a ni ght school ?"

" No, but I have t aught i n t he Sunday- school at home somet i mes.

I ndeed, I wi l l do what ever you t el l me. "

" Oh! but t hi s i s not at al l l i ke a Sunday - school . They ar e a ver y

r ough, wi l d l ot . "

" The r ougher t he bet t er , " sai d Tom; " I shal l know how t o manage

t hem t hen. "

" But you must not r eal l y be r ough wi t h t hem. "

" No, I won' t ; I di dn' t mean t hat , " sai d Tom, hast i l y, f or he saw

hi s mi st ake at once. " I shal l t ake i t as a gr eat f avor , i f you

wi l l l et me go wi t h you t o- ni ght . You won' t r epent i t , I ' m sur e. "

Gr ey di d not seem at al l sur e of t hi s, but saw no means of

Page 172 of 443

get t i ng r i d of hi s compani on, and so t hey wal ked on t oget her and

t ur ned down a l ong, nar r ow cour t i n t he l owest par t of t he t own.

At t he door s of t he houses l abor i ng men, most l y I r i sh, l ounged or

st ood about , smoki ng and t al ki ng t o one anot her , or t o t he women

who l eant out of t he wi ndows, or passed t o and f r o on t hei r

var i ous er r ands of busi ness or pl easur e. A gr oup of hal f - gr own

l ads wer e pl ayi ng at pi t ch- f ar t hi ng at t he f ar t her end, and al l

over t he cour t wer e scat t er ed chi l dr en of al l ages, r agged and

noi sy l i t t l e cr eat ur es most of t hem, on whom pat er nal and

mat er nal admoni t i ons and cuf f s wer e const ant l y bei ng expended, and

t o al l appear ances i n vai n.

At t he si ght of Gr ey a shout ar ose amongst t he smal l er boys, of

" Her e' s t he t eacher ! " and t hey cr owded ar ound hi m and Tom as t hey

went up t he cour t . Sever al of t he men gave hi m a hal f - sur l y

hal f - r espect f ul nod, as he passed al ong, wi shi ng t hem good

eveni ng. The r est mer el y st ar ed at hi m and hi s compani on. They

st opped at a door whi ch Gr ey opened, and l ed t he way i nt o t he

passage of an ol d t umbl e- down cot t age, on t he gr ound f l oor of

whi ch wer e t wo l ow r ooms whi ch ser ved f or t he school - r ooms.

A har d- f eat ur ed, mi ddl e- aged woman, who kept t he house, was

wai t i ng, and sai d t o Gr ey, " Mr . Jones t ol d me t o say, si r , he

woul d not be her e t o ni ght , as he has got a bad f ever case- - so

you was t o t ake onl y t he l ower cl asses, si r , he sai d; and t he

pol i ceman woul d be near t o keep out t he bi g boys i f you want ed

hi m. Shal l I go and t el l hi m t o st ep r ound, si r ?"

Gr ey l ooked embar r assed f or a moment , and t hen sai d, " No, never

mi nd; you can go; " and t hen t ur ni ng t o Tom, added, " Jones i s t he

cur at e; he won' t be her e t o- ni ght ; and some of t he bi gger boys

ar e ver y noi sy and t r oubl esome, and onl y come t o make a noi se.

However , i f t hey come we must do our best . "

Meant i me, t he cr owd of smal l r agged ur chi ns had f i l l ed t he r oom,

and wer e swar mi ng on t o t he benches and squabbl i ng f or t he

copy- books whi ch wer e l ai d out on t he t hi n desks. Gr ey set t o

wor k t o get t hem i nt o or der , and soon t he smal l est wer e dr aught ed

of f i nt o t he i nner r oom wi t h sl at es and spel l i ng- books, and t he

bi gger ones, some dozen i n number , set t l ed t o t hei r wr i t i ng. Tom

seconded hi m so r eadi l y, and seemed so much at home, t hat Gr ey

f el t qui t e r el i eved.

" You seem t o get on capi t al l y, " he sai d; " I wi l l go i nt o t he

i nner r oom t o t he l i t t l e ones, and you st ay and t ake t hese. Ther e

ar e t he cl ass- books when t hey have done t hei r copi es, " and so

went of f i nt o t he i nner r oom and cl osed t he door .

Tom set hi msel f t o wor k wi t h a wi l l , and as he bent over one

af t er anot her of t he pupi l s, and gui ded t he smal l gr ubby hands

whi ch cl ut ched t he i nky pens wi t h cr amped f i nger s, and went

spl ut t er i ng and bl ot chi ng al ong t he l i nes of t he copy - books, f el t

t he yel l ow scal es dr oppi ng f r om hi s eyes, and mor e war mt h comi ng

back i nt o hi s hear t t han he had known t her e f or many a day.

Al l went on wel l i nsi de, not wi t hst andi ng a f ew smal l out - br eaks

bet ween t he schol ar s, but ever y now and t hen mud was t hr own

agai nst t he wi ndow, and noi ses out si de and i n t he passages

t hr eat ened some i nt er r upt i on. At l ast , when t he wr i t i ng was

f i ni shed, t he copy- books cl ear ed away, and t he cl ass- books

di st r i but ed, t he door opened, and t wo or t hr ee bi g boys of

f i f t een or si xt een l ounged i n, wi t h t hei r hands i n t hei r pocket s

and t hei r caps on. Ther e was an i nsol ent l ook about t hem whi ch

set Tom' s back up at once; however , he kept hi s t emper , made t hem

Page 173 of 443

t ake t hei r caps of f , and, as t hey sai d t hey want ed t o r ead wi t h

t he r est , l et t hem t ake t hei r pl aces on t he benches.

But now came t he t ug of war . He coul d not keep hi s eyes on t he

whol e l ot at once, and, no sooner di d he f i x hi s at t ent i on on t he

st ammer i ng r eader f or t he t i me bei ng and t r y t o hel p hi m, t han

anar chy br oke out al l r ound hi m. Smal l st ones and shot wer e

t hr own about , and cr i es ar ose f r om t he smal l er f r y, " Pl ease, si r ,

he' s been and pour ed some i nk down my back, " " He' s st ol e my book,

si r , " " He' s gone and st uck a pi n i n my l eg. " The evi l - doer s wer e

so cunni ng t hat i t was i mpossi bl e t o cat ch t hem; but as he was

hast i l y t ur ni ng i n hi s own mi nd what t o do, a cr y ar ose, and one

of t he benches went suddenl y over backwar ds on t o t he f l oor ,

car r yi ng wi t h i t i t s whol e f r ei ght of boys, except t wo of t he

bi gger ones, who wer e t he evi dent aut hor s of t he mi shap.

Tom spr ang at t he one near est hi m, sei zed hi m by t he col l ar ,

haul ed hi m i nt o t he passage, and sent hi m out of t he st r eet - door

wi t h a sound ki ck; and t hen r ushi ng back, caught hol d of t he

second, who went down on hi s back and cl ung r ound Tom' s l egs,

shout i ng f or hel p t o hi s r emai ni ng compani ons, and st r uggl i ng and

swear i ng. I t was al l t he wor k of a moment , and now t he door

opened, and Gr ey appear ed f r om t he i nner r oom. Tom l ef t of f

haul i ng hi s pr i ze t owar ds t he passage, and f el t and l ooked ver y

f ool i sh.

" Thi s f el l ow, and anot her whom I have t ur ned out , upset t hat f or m

wi t h al l t he l i t t l e boys on i t , " he sai d, apol oget i cal l y.

" I t ' s a l i e, t ' wasn' t me, " r oar ed t he capt i ve, t o whom Tom

admi ni st er ed a sound box on t he ear , whi l e t he smal l boys,

r ubbi ng di f f er ent par t s of t hei r bodi es, chor used, " ' t was hi m,

t eacher , ' t was hi m, " and heaped f ur t her char ges of pi nchi ng,

pi n- st i cki ng, and ot her at r oci t i es on hi m.

Gr ey ast oni shed Tom by hi s f i r mness. " Don' t st r i ke hi m agai n, " he

sai d. " Now, go out at once, or I wi l l send f or your f at her . " The

f el l ow got up, and, af t er st andi ng a moment and consi der i ng hi s

chance of successf ul r esi st ance t o physi cal f or ce i n t he per son

of Tom, and mor al i n t hat of Gr ey, sl unk out . " You must go, t oo,

Mur phy, " went on Gr ey t o anot her of t he i nt r uder s.

" Oh, your honor l et me bi de. I ' l l be as qui et as a mouse, "

pl eaded t he I r i sh boy; and Tom woul d have gi ven i n, but Gr ey was

unyi el di ng.

" You wer e t ur ned out l ast week, and Mr . Jones sai d you wer e not

t o come back f or a f or t ni ght . "

" Wel l , good ni ght t o your honor , " sai d Mur phy, and t ook hi msel f

of f .

" The r est may st op, " sai d Gr ey. " You had bet t er t ake t he i nner

r oom now; I wi l l st ay her e. "

" I ' m ver y sor r y, " sai d Tom.

" You coul dn' t hel p i t ; no one can manage t hose t wo. Mur phy i s

qui t e di f f er ent , but I shoul d have spoi l ed hi m i f I had l et hi m

st ay now. "

The r emai ni ng hal f hour passed of f qui et l y. Tom r et i r ed i nt o t he

i nner r oom, and t ook up Gr ey' s l esson, whi ch he had been r eadi ng

t o t he boys f r om a l ar ge Bi bl e wi t h pi ct ur es. Out of

Page 174 of 443

consi der at i on f or t hei r nat ur al and acqui r ed r est l essness, t he

l i t t l e f el l ows, who wer e al l bet ween ei ght and el even year s ol d,

wer e onl y kept si t t i ng at t hei r pot hooks and spel l i ng f or t he

f i r st hal f hour or so, and t hen wer e al l owed t o cr owd r ound t he

t eacher , who r ead and t al ked t o t hem, and showed t hem t he

pi ct ur es. Tom f ound t he Bi bl e open at t he st or y of t he pr odi gal

son, and r ead i t out t o t hem as t hey cl ust er ed r ound hi s knees.

Some of t he out si de ones f i dget ed about a l i t t l e, but t hose cl ose

r ound hi m l i st ened wi t h ear s, and eyes, and bat ed br eat h; and t wo

l i t t l e bl ue- eyed boys, wi t hout shoes- - t hei r r agged cl ot hes

conceal ed by l ong pi naf or es whi ch t hei r wi dowed mot her had put on

cl ean t o send t hem t o school - - l eaned agai nst hi m and l ooked up i n

hi s f ace, and hi s hear t war med t o t he t ouch and t he l ook.

" Pl ease, t eacher , r ead i t agai n, " t hey sai d when he f i ni shed; so

he r ead i t agai n and si ghed when Gr ey came i n and l i ght ed a

candl e ( f or t he r oom was get t i ng dar k) and sai d i t was t i me f or

pr ayer s.

A f ew col l ect s, and t he Lor d' s Pr ayer , i n whi ch al l t he young

voi ces j oi ned, dr owni ng f or a mi nut e t he noi ses f r om t he cour t

out si de, f i ni shed t he eveni ng' s school i ng. The chi l dr en t r ooped

out , and Gr ey went t o speak t o t he woman who kept t he house. Tom,

l ef t t o hi msel f , f el t st r angel y happy, and, f or somet hi ng t o do,

t ook t he snuf f er s and commenced a cr usade agai nst a l ar ge f ami l y

of bugs, who, t aki ng advant age of t he qui et , came cr ui si ng out of

a cr ack i n t he ot her wi se neat l y paper ed wal l . Some dozen had

f al l en on hi s spear when Gr ey r eappear ed, and was much hor r i f i ed

at t he si ght . He cal l ed t he woman and t ol d her t o have t he hol e

car ef ul l y f umi gat ed and mended.

" I t hought we had ki l l ed t hem al l l ong ago, " he sai d; " but t he

pl ace i s t umbl i ng down. "

" I t l ooks wel l enough, " sai d Tom.

" Yes, we have i t kept as t i dy as possi bl e. I t ought t o be at

l east a l i t t l e bet t er t han what t he chi l dr en see at home. " And so

t hey l ef t t he school and cour t and wal ked up t o col l ege.

" Wher e ar e you goi ng?" Tom sai d, as t hey ent er ed t he gat e.

" To Har dy' s r ooms; wi l l you come?"

" No, not t o- ni ght , " sai d Tom; " I know t hat you want t o be

r eadi ng; I shoul d onl y i nt er r upt . "

" Wel l , good ni ght , t hen, " sai d Gr ey, and went on, l eavi ng Tom

st andi ng i n t he por ch. On t he way up f r om t he school he had

al most made up hi s mi nd t o go t o Har dy' s r ooms t hat ni ght . He

l onged and yet f ear ed t o do so; and, on t he whol e, was not sor r y

f or an excuse. Thei r f i r st meet i ng must be al one, and i t woul d be

a ver y embar r assi ng one, f or hi m at any r at e. Gr ey, he hoped,

woul d t el l Har dy of hi s vi si t t o t he school , and t hat woul d show

t hat he was comi ng r ound, and make t he meet i ng easi er . Hi s t al k

wi t h Gr ey, t oo, had r emoved one gr eat cause of uneasi ness f r om

hi s mi nd. I t was now qui t e cl ear t hat he had no suspi ci on of t he

quar r el , and, i f Har dy had not t ol d hi m, no one el se coul d know

of i t .

Al t oget her , he st r ol l ed i nt o t he quadr angl e a happi er and sounder

man t han he had been si nce hi s f i r st vi si t t o " The Choughs" , and

l ooked up and answer ed wi t h hi s ol d l ook and voi ce when he hear d

hi s name cal l ed f r om one of t he f i r st - f l oor wi ndows.

Page 175 of 443

The hai l er was Dr ysdal e, who was l eani ng out i n l oungi ng coat and

vel vet cap, and enj oyi ng a ci gar as usual , i n t he mi dst of t he

f l ower s of hi s hangi ng gar den.

" You' ve hear d t he good news, I suppose?"

" No, what do you mean?"

" Why, Bl ake has got t he Lat i n ver se. "

" Hur r ah! I ' m so gl ad. "

" Come up and have a weed. "

Tom r an up t he st ai r case and i nt o Dr ysdal e' s r ooms, and was

l eani ng out of t he wi ndow at hi s si de i n anot her mi nut e.

" What does he get by i t ?" he sai d, " do you know?"

" No; some books bound i n Russi a, I dar e say, wi t h t he Oxf or d

ar ms, and ' Domi nus i l l umi nat i o mea, ' on t he back. "

" No money?"

" Not much- - per haps a t en' ner , " answer ed Dr ysdal e, " but no end of

[ Gr eek t ext ] kudoz, I suppose. "

" I t makes i t l ook wel l f or hi s f i r st , don' t you t hi nk? But I wi sh

he had got some money f or i t . I of t en f eel ver y uncomf or t abl e

about t hat bi l l , don' t you?"

" Not I , what ' s t he good? I t ' s not hi ng when you ar e used t o i t .

Besi des, i t don' t f al l due f or anot her si x weeks. "

" But i f Bl ake can' t meet i t t hen?" sai d Tom.

" W el l , i t wi l l be vacat i on, and I ' l l t r oubl e gr easy Benj ami n t o

cat ch me t hen. "

" But you don' t mean t o say you won' t pay i t ?" sai d Tom i n hor r or .

" Pay i t ! You may t r ust Benj ami n f or t hat . He' l l pul l r ound hi s

l i t t l e usur i es somehow. "

" Onl y we have pr omi sed t o pay on a cer t ai n day, you know. "

" Oh, of cour se, t hat ' s t he f or m. That onl y means t hat he can' t

pi nch us sooner . "

" I do hope, t hough, Dr ysdal e, t hat i t wi l l be pai d on t he day, "

sai d Tom, who coul d not qui t e swal l ow t he not i on of f or f ei t i ng

hi s wor d, even t hough i t wer e onl y a pr omi se t o pay t o a

scoundr el .

" Al l r i ght . You' ve not hi ng t o do wi t h i t , r emember . He won' t

bot her you. Besi des, you can pl ead i nf ancy, i f t he wor st comes t o

t he wor st . Ther e' s such a queer ol d bi r d gone t o your f r i end

Har dy' s r ooms. "

" The ment i on of Har dy br oke t he di sagr eeabl e t r ai n of t hought

i nt o whi ch Tom was f al l i ng, and he l i st ened eager l y as Dr ysdal e

went on.

" I t was about hal f an hour ago. I was l ooki ng out her e, and saw

Page 176 of 443

an ol d f el l ow come hobbl i ng i nt o quad on t wo st i cks, i n a shady

bl ue uni f or m coat and whi t e t r ouser s. The ki nd of ol d boy you

r ead about i n books, you know. Commodor e Tr unni on, or Uncl e Toby,

or one of t hat sor t . Wel l , I wat ched hi m backi ng and f i l l i ng

about t he quad, and t r yi ng one st ai r case and anot her ; but t her e

was nobody about . So down I t r ot t ed and went up t o hi m f or f un,

and t o see what he was af t er . I t was as good as a pl ay, i f you

coul d have seen i t . I was ass enough t o t ake of f my cap and make

a l ow bow as I came up t o hi m, and he pul l ed of f hi s uni f or m cap

i n r et ur n, and we st ood t her e bowi ng t o one anot her . He was a

t hor ough ol d gent l eman, and I f el t r at her f ool i sh f or f ear t hat

he shoul d see t hat I expect ed a l ar k when I came out . But I don' t

t hi nk he had an i dea of i t , and onl y set my cappi ng hi m down t o

t he wonder f ul good manner s of t he col l ege. So we got qui t e t hi ck,

and I pi l ot ed hi m acr oss t o Har dy' s st ai r case i n t he back quad. I

want ed hi m t o come up and quench, but he decl i ned, wi t h many

apol ogi es. I ' m sur e he i s a char act er . "

" He must be Har dy' s f at her , " sai d Tom.

" I shoul dn' t wonder . But i s hi s f at her i n t he navy?"

" He i s a r et i r ed capt ai n. "

" Then no doubt you' r e r i ght . What shal l we do? Have a hand at

pi cquet . Some men wi l l be her e di r ect l y. Onl y f or l ove. "

Tom decl i ned t he pr of f er ed game, and went of f soon af t er t o hi s

own r ooms, a happi er man t han he had been si nce hi s f i r st ni ght

at " The Choughs. "

CHAPTER XX

THE RECONCI LI ATI ON

Tom r ose i n t he mor ni ng wi t h a pr esent i ment t hat al l woul d be

over now bef or e l ong, and t o make hi s pr esent i ment come t r ue,

r esol ved, bef or e ni ght , t o go hi msel f t o Har dy and gi ve i n. Al l

he r eser ved t o hi msel f was t he l i ber t y t o do i t i n t he manner

whi ch woul d be l east pai nf ul t o hi msel f . He was gr eat l y annoyed,

t her ef or e, when Har dy di d not appear at mor ni ng chapel ; f or he

had f i xed on t he l eavi ng chapel as t he l east unpl easant t i me i n

whi ch t o begi n hi s conf essi on, and was goi ng t o cat ch Har dy t hen,

and f ol l ow hi m t o hi s r ooms. Al l t he mor ni ng, t oo, i n answer t o

hi s i nqui r i es by hi s scout Wi ggi ns, Har dy' s scout r epl i ed t hat

hi s mast er was out , or busy. He di d not come t o t he boat s, he di d

not appear i n hal l ; so t hat , af t er hal l , when Tom went back t o

hi s own r ooms, as he di d at once, i nst ead of saunt er i ng out of

col l ege, or goi ng t o a wi ne par t y, he was qui t e out of hear t at

hi s bad l uck, and began t o be af r ai d t hat he woul d have t o sl eep

on hi s unheal ed wound anot her ni ght .

He sat down i n an ar m- chai r , and f el l t o musi ng, and t hought how

wonder f ul l y hi s l i f e had been changed i n t hese f ew shor t weeks.

He coul d har dl y get back acr oss t he gul f whi ch separ at ed hi m f r om

t he sel f who had come back i nt o t hose r ooms af t er East er , f ul l of

ant i ci pat i ons of t he pl easur es and del i ght s of t he comi ng summer

t er m and vacat i on. To hi s own sur pr i se he di dn' t seem much t o

r egr et t he l oss of hi s _chat eaux en Espange_, and f el t a sor t of

gr i m sat i sf act i on i n t hei r ut t er over t hr ow.

Whi l e occupi ed wi t h t hese t hought s, he hear d t al ki ng on hi s

Page 177 of 443

st ai r s, accompani ed by a st r ange l umber i ng t r ead. These came

near er ; and at l ast st opped j ust out si de hi s door , whi ch opened

i n anot her moment , and Wi ggi ns announced- -

" Capt i ng Har dy, si r . "

Tom j umped t o hi s l egs, and f el t hi msel f col our pai nf ul l y.

" Her e, Wi ggi ns, " sai d he, " wheel r ound t hat ar m- chai r f or Capt ai n

Har dy. I am so ver y gl ad t o see you, si r , " and he hast ened r ound

hi msel f t o meet t he ol d gent l eman, hol di ng out hi s hand, whi ch

t he vi si t or t ook ver y cor di al l y, as soon as he had passed hi s

heavy st i ck t o hi s l ef t hand, and bal anced hi msel f saf el y upon

i t .

" Thank you, si r ; t hank you, " sai d t he ol d man af t er a f ew

moment s' pause, " I f i nd your compani on l adder s r at her st eep; " and

t hen he sat down wi t h some di f f i cul t y.

Tom t ook t he Capt ai n' s st i ck and undr ess cap, and put t hem

r ever ent i al l y on hi s si deboar d; and t hen, t o get r i d of some

l i t t l e ner vousness whi ch he coul dn' t hel p f eel i ng, bust l ed t o hi s

cupboar d, and hel ped Wi ggi ns t o pl ace gl asses and bi scui t s on t he

t abl e. " Now, si r , what wi l l you t ake? I have por t , sher r y and

whi sky her e, and can get you anyt hi ng el se. Wi ggi ns, r un t o

Hi nt on' s and get some desser t . "

" No desser t , t hank you, f or me, " sai d t he Capt ai n; " I ' l l t ake a

cup of cof f ee, or a gl ass of gr og, or anyt hi ng you have r eady.

Don' t open wi ne f or me, pr ay, si r . "

" Oh, i t i s al l t he bet t er f or bei ng opened, " sai d Tom, wor ki ng

away at a bot t l e of sher r y wi t h hi s cor kscr ew, " and Wi ggi ns, get

some cof f ee and anchovy t oast i n a quar t er of an hour ; and j ust

put out some t umbl er s and t oddy l adl es, and br i ng up boi l i ng

wat er wi t h t he cof f ee. "

Whi l e maki ng hi s hospi t abl e pr epar at i ons, Tom managed t o get many

si de gl ances at t he ol d man, who sat l ooki ng st eadi l y and

abst r act l y bef or e hi m i nt o t he f i r epl ace, and was much st r uck and

t ouched by t he pi ct ur e. The sai l or wor e a wel l - pr eser ved ol d

undr ess uni f or m coat and wai st coat , and whi t e dr i l l t r ouser s; he

was a man of mi ddl e hei ght , but gaunt and massi ve, and Tom

r ecogni zed t he f r amewor k of t he l ong ar ms and gr and shoul der s and

chest whi ch he had so of t en admi r ed i n t he son. Hi s r i ght l eg was

qui t e st i f f f r om an ol d wound on t he knee cap; t he l ef t eye was

si ght l ess, and t he scar of a cut l ass t r avel l ed down t he dr oopi ng

l i d and on t o t he weat her - beat en cheek bel ow. Hi s head was hi gh

and br oad, hi s hai r and whi sker s si l ver whi t e, whi l e t he shaggy

eyebr ows wer e scar cel y gr i zzl ed. Hi s f ace was deepl y l i ned, and

t he l ong, cl ean- cut l ower j aw, and dr awn l ook about t he mout h,

gave a gr i m expr essi on t o t he f ace at t he f i r st gl ance, whi ch

wor e of f as you l ooked, l eavi ng, however , on most men who t hought

about i t , t he i mpr essi on whi ch f ast ened on our her o, " An awkwar d

man t o have met at t he head of boar der s t owar ds t he end of t he

gr eat war . "

I n a mi nut e or t wo, Tom, havi ng compl et ed hi s dut i es, f aced t he

ol d sai l or , much r eassur ed by hi s cover t i nspect i on; and, pour i ng

hi msel f out a gl ass of sher r y, pushed t he decant er acr oss, and

dr ank t o hi s guest .

" Your heal t h, si r , " he sai d, " and t hank you ver y much f or comi ng

up t o see me. "

Page 178 of 443

" Thank _you_, si r , " sai d t he Capt ai n, r ousi ng hi msel f and

f i l l i ng, " I dr i nk t o you, si r . The f act i s, I t ook a gr eat

l i ber t y i n comi ng up t o your r ooms i n t hi s of f - hand way, wi t hout

cal l i ng or sendi ng up, but you' l l excuse i t i n an ol d sai l or . "

Her e t he Capt ai n t ook t o hi s gl ass, and seemed a l i t t l e

embar r assed. Tom f el t embar r assed al so, f eel i ng t hat somet hi ng

was comi ng, and coul d onl y t hi nk of aski ng how t he Capt ai n l i ked

t he sher r y. The Capt ai n l i ked t he sher r y ver y much. Then,

suddenl y cl ear i ng hi s t hr oat , he went on. " I f el t , si r , t hat you

woul d excuse me, f or I have a f avor t o ask of you. " He paused

agai n, whi l e Tom mut t er ed somet hi ng about " gr eat pl easur e, " and

t hen went on.

" You know my son, Mr . Br own?"

" Yes, si r ; he has been my best f r i end up her e; I owe mor e t o hi m

t han t o any man i n Oxf or d. "

The Capt ai n' s eye gl eamed wi t h pl easur e as he r epl i ed, " Jack i s a

nobl e f el l ow, Mr . Br own, t hough I say i t who am hi s f at her . I ' ve

of t en pr omi sed mysel f a cr ui se t o Oxf or d si nce he has been her e.

I came her e at l ast yest er day, and have been havi ng a l ong yar n

wi t h hi m. I f ound t her e was somet hi ng on hi s mi nd. He can' t keep

anyt hi ng f r om hi s ol d f at her ; and so I dr ew out of hi m t hat he

l oves you as Davi d l oved Jonat han. He made my ol d eye ver y di m

whi l e he was t al ki ng of you, Mr . Br own. And t hen I f ound t hat you

t wo ar e not as you used t o be. Some col dness spr ung up bet ween

you; but what about I coul dn' t get at . Young men ar e of t en

hast y- I know I was, f or t y year s ago- Jack says he has been hast y

wi t h you. Now, t hat boy i s al l I have i n t he wor l d, Mr . Br own. I

know my boy' s f r i end wi l l l i ke t o send an ol d man home wi t h a

l i ght hear t . So I made up my mi nd t o come over t o you and ask you

t o make i t up wi t h Jack. I gave hi m t he sl i p af t er di nner and

her e I am. "

" Oh, si r , di d he r eal l y ask you t o come t o me?"

" No, si r , " sai d t he Capt ai n, " he di d not - I am sor r y f or i t - I

t hi nk Jack must be i n t he wr ong, f or he sai d he had been t oo

hast y, and yet he woul dn' t ask me t o come t o you and make i t up.

But he i s young, si r ; young and pr oud. He sai d he coul dn' t move

i n i t , hi s mi nd was made up; he was wr et ched enough over i t , but

t he move must come f r om you. And so t hat ' s t he f avor I have t o

ask, t hat you wi l l make i t up wi t h Jack. I t i sn' t of t en a young

man can do such a f avor t o an ol d one- - t o an ol d f at her wi t h one

son. You' l l not f eel t he wor se f or havi ng done i t , i f i t ' s ever

so har d t o do, when you come t o be my age. " And t he ol d man

l ooked wi st f ul l y acr oss t he t abl e, t he muscl es about hi s mout h

qui ver i ng as he ended.

Tom spr ang f r om hi s chai r , and gr asped t he ol d sai l or ' s hand, as

he f el t t he l oad pass out of hi s hear t . " Favour , si r ! " he sai d,

" I have been a mad f ool enough al r eady i n t hi s busi ness - - I shoul d

have been a doubl e- dyed scoundr el , l i ke enough, by t hi s t i me but

f or your son, and I ' ve quar r el l ed wi t h hi m f or st oppi ng me at t he

pi t ' s mout h. Favor ! I f God wi l l , I ' l l pr ove somehow wher e t he

f avor l i es, and what I owe t o hi m; and t o you, si r , f or comi ng t o

me t oni ght . St op her e t wo mi nut es, si r , and I ' l l r un down and

br i ng hi m over . "

Tom t or e away t o Har dy' s door and knocked. Ther e was no pausi ng

i n t he passage now. " Come i n. " He opened t he door but di d not

ent er , and f or a moment or t wo coul d not speak. The r ush of

Page 179 of 443

associ at i ons whi ch t he si ght of t he wel l - known ol d r i cket y

f ur ni t ur e, and t he f i gur e whi ch was seat ed, book i n hand, wi t h

i t s back t o t he door and i t s f eet agai nst one si de of t he

mant el - pi ece, cal l ed up, choked hi m.

" _May_ I come i n?" he sai d at l ast .

He saw t he f i gur e gi ve a st ar t , and t he book t r embl ed a l i t t l e,

but t hen came t he answer , sl ow but f i r m- -

" I have not changed my opi ni on. "

" No; dear ol d boy, but I have, " and Tom r ushed acr oss t o hi s

f r i end, dear er t han ever t o hi m now, and t hr ew hi s ar m r ound hi s

neck; and, i f t he un- Engl i sh t r ut h must out had t hr ee par t s of a

mi nd t o ki ss t he r ough f ace whi ch was now wor ki ng wi t h st r ong

emot i on.

" Thank God! " sai d Har dy, as he gr asped t he hand whi ch hung over

hi s shoul der .

" And now come over t o my r oom; your f at her i s t her e wai t i ng f or

us. "

" What , t he dear ol d gover nor ? That ' s what he has been af t er , i s

i t ? I coul dn' t t hi nk wher e he coul d have ' hove t o, ' as he woul d

say. "

Har dy put on hi s cap, and t he t wo hur r i ed back t o Tom' s r ooms,

t he l i ght est hear t s i n t he Uni ver si t y of Oxf or d.

CHAPTER XXI

CAPTAI N HARDY ENTERTAI NED BY ST. AMBROSE.

Ther e ar e moment s i n t he l i f e of t he most sel f - cont ai ned and

sober of us al l , when we f ai r l y bubbl e over , l i ke a f ul l bot t l e

of champagne wi t h t he cor k out ; and t hi s was one of t hem f or our

her o who however , be i t r emar ked, was nei t her sel f - cont ai ned nor

sober by nat ur e. When t hey got back t o hi s r ooms, he r eal l y

har dl y knew what t o do t o gi ve vent t o hi s l i ght ness of hear t ;

and Har dy, t hough sel f - cont ai ned and sober enough i n gener al , was

on t hi s occasi on al most as bad as hi s f r i end. They r at t l ed on,

t al ked out t he t hi ng whi ch came upper most , what ever t he subj ect

mi ght chance t o be; but whet her gr ave or gay, i t al ways ended

af t er a mi nut e or t wo i n j okes not al ways good, and chaf f , and

l aught er . The poor capt ai n was a l i t t l e puzzl ed at f i r st , and

made one or t wo endeavour s t o t ur n t he t al k i nt o i mpr ovi ng

channel s. But ver y soon he saw t hat Jack was t hor oughl y happy,

and t hat was al ways enough f or hi m. So he l i st ened t o one and t he

ot her , j oi ni ng cheer i l y i n t he l augh whenever he coul d; and when

he coul dn' t cat ch t he j oke, l ooki ng l i ke a benevol ent ol d l i on,

and maki ng as much bel i ef t hat he had under st ood i t al l as t he

si mpl i ci t y and t r ut hf ul ness of hi s char act er woul d al l ow.

The spi r i t s of t he t wo f r i ends seemed i nexhaust i bl e. They l ast ed

out t he bot t l e of sher r y whi ch Tom had uncor ked, and t he r emai ns

of a bot t l e of hi s f amous por t . He had t r i ed har d t o be al l owed

t o open a f r esh bot t l e, but t he Capt ai n had made such a poi nt of

hi s not doi ng so, t hat he had gi ven i n f or hospi t al i t y' s sake.

They l ast ed out t he cof f ee and anchovy t oast ; af t er whi ch t he

Capt ai n made a l i t t l e ef f or t at movi ng, whi ch was suppl i cat i ngl y

Page 180 of 443

st opped by Tom.

" Oh, pr ay don' t go, Capt ai n Har dy. I haven' t been so happy f or

mont hs. Besi des, I must br ew you a gl ass of gr og. I pr i de mysel f

on my br ew. Your son t her e wi l l t el l you t hat I am a dead hand at

i t . Her e, Wi ggi ns, a l emon! " shout ed Tom.

" Wel l , f or once i n a way, I suppose, eh, Jack?" sai d t he Capt ai n,

l ooki ng at hi s son.

" Oh yes, f at her . You mayn' t know i t , Br own, but , i f t her e i s one

t hi ng har der t o do t han anot her , i t i s t o get an ol d sai l or l i ke

my f at her t o t ake a gl ass of gr og at ni ght . "

The Capt ai n l aughed a l i t t l e l augh, and shook hi s t hi ck st i ck at

hi s son, who went on.

" And as f or aski ng hi m t o t ake a pi pe wi t h i t - - "

" Dear me, " sai d Tom, " I qui t e f or got . I r eal l y beg your par don,

Capt ai n Har dy; and he put down t he l emon he was squeezi ng, and

pr oduced a box of ci gar s.

" I t ' s al l Jack' s nonsense, si r , " sai d t he Capt ai n, hol di ng out

hi s hand, never t hel ess, f or t he box.

" Now, f at her , don' t be absur d, " i nt er r upt ed Har dy, snat chi ng t he

box away f r om hi m. " You mi ght as wel l gi ve hi m a gl ass of

absi nt he. He i s chur ch- war den at home and can' t smoke anyt hi ng

but a l ong cl ay. "

" I ' m ver y sor r y I haven' t one her e, but I can send out i n a

mi nut e. " And Tom was maki ng f or t he door t o shout f or Wi ggi ns.

" No, don' t cal l . I ' l l f et ch some f r om my r ooms. "

When Har dy l ef t t he r oom, Tom squeezed away at hi s l emon, and was

pr epar i ng hi msel f f or a speech t o Capt ai n Har dy f ul l of

conf essi on and gr at i t ude. But t he Capt ai n was bef or e hi m, and l ed

t he conver sat i on i nt o a most unexpect ed channel .

" I suppose, now, Mr . Br own, " he began, " you don' t f i nd any

di f f i cul t y i n const r ui ng your Thucydi des?"

" I ndeed, I do, si r , " sai d Tom, l aughi ng. " I f i nd hi m a ver y t ough

ol d cust omer , except i n t he si mpl est nar r at i ve. "

" For my par t , " sai d t he Capt ai n, " I can' t get on at al l , I f i nd,

wi t hout a t r ansl at i on. But you see, si r , I had none of t he

advant ages whi ch you young men have up her e. I n f act , Mr . Br own,

I di dn' t begi n Gr eek t i l l Jack was near l y t en year s ol d. " The

Capt ai n i n hi s secr et hear t was pr ouder of hi s par t i al vi ct or y

over t he Gr eek t ongue i n hi s ol d age, t han of hi s undi sput ed

t r i umphs over t he Fr ench i n hi s yout h, and was not aver se t o

t al ki ng of i t .

" I wonder t hat you ever began i t at al l , si r , " sai d Tom.

" You woul dn' t wonder i f you knew how an uneducat ed man l i ke me

f eel s, when he comes t o a pl ace l i ke Oxf or d. "

" Uneducat ed, si r ! " sai d Tom. " Why your educat i on has been wor t h

t wi ce as much, I ' m sur e, as any we get her e. "

Page 181 of 443

" No, si r ; we never l ear nt anyt hi ng i n t he navy when I was a

youngst er , except a l i t t l e r ul e- of - t humb mat hemat i cs. One pi cked

up a sor t of smat t er i ng of a l anguage or t wo knocki ng about t he

wor l d, but no gr ammat i cal knowl edge, not hi ng sci ent i f i c. I f a boy

doesn' t get a met hod, he i s beat i ng t o wi ndwar d i n a cr ank cr af t

al l hi s l i f e. He hasn' t got any r egul ar pl ace t o st ow away what

he get s i nt o hi s br ai ns, and so i t l i es t umbl i ng about i n t he

hol d, and he l oses i t , or i t get s damaged and i s never r eady f or

use. You see what I mean, Mr . Br own?"

" Yes, si r . But I ' m af r ai d we don' t al l of us get much met hod up

her e. Do you r eal l y enj oy r eadi ng Thucydi des now, Capt ai n Har dy?"

" I ndeed I do, si r , ver y much, " sai d t he capt ai n. " Ther e' s a gr eat

deal i n hi s hi st or y t o i nt er est an ol d sai l or , you know. I dar e

say, now, t hat I enj oy t hose par t s about t he sea- f i ght s mor e t han

you do. " The Capt ai n l ooked at Tom as i f he had made an audaci ous

r emar k.

" I am sur e you do, si r , " sai d Tom, smi l i ng.

" Because you see, Mr . Br own, " sai d t he Capt ai n, " when one has

been i n t hat sor t of t hi ng onesel f , one l i kes t o r ead how peopl e

i n ot her t i mes managed, and t o t hi nk what one woul d have done i n

t hei r pl ace. I don' t bel i eve t hat t he Gr eeks j ust at t hat t i me

wer e ver y r esol ut e f i ght er s, t hough. Nel son or Col l i ngwood woul d

have f i ni shed t hat war i n a year or t wo. "

" Not wi t h t r i r emes, do you t hi nk, si r ?" sai d Tom.

" Yes, si r , wi t h any vessel s whi ch wer e t o be had, " sai d t he

Capt ai n. " But you ar e r i ght about t r i r emes. I t has al ways been a

gr eat puzzl e t o me how t hose t r i r emes coul d have been wor ked. How

do you under st and t he t hr ee banks of oar s, Mr . Br own?"

" Wel l , si r , I suppose t hey must have been one above t he ot her

somehow. "

" But t he upper bank must have had oar s t went y f eet l ong, and

mor e, i n t hat case, " sai d t he Capt ai n. " You must al l ow f or

l ever age, you see. "

" Of cour se, si r . When one comes t o t hi nk of i t , i t i sn' t easy t o

see how t hey wer e manned and wor ked, " sai d Tom.

" Now my not i on about t r i r emes- - " began t he Capt ai n, hol di ng t he

head of hi s st i ck wi t h bot h hands, and l ooki ng acr oss at Tom.

" Why, f at her ! " cr i ed Har dy, r et ur ni ng at t he moment wi t h t he

pi pes, and cat chi ng t he Capt ai n' s l ast wor d, " on one of your

hobby hor ses al r eady! You' r e not saf e! - - I can' t l eave you f or t wo

mi nut es. Her e' s a l ong pi pe f or you. How i n t he wor l d di d he get

on t r i r emes?"

" I har dl y know, " sai d Tom; " but I want t o hear what Capt ai n Har dy

t hi nks about t hem. You wer e sayi ng, si r , t hat t he upper oar s must

have been t went y f eet l ong at l east . "

" My not i on i s- - " sai d t he Capt ai n, t aki ng t he pi pe and

t obacco- pouch f r om hi s son' s hand.

" St op one moment , " sai d Har dy; " I f ound Bl ake at my r ooms, and

asked hi m t o come over her e. You don' t obj ect ?"

Page 182 of 443

" Obj ect , my dear f el l ow! I ' m much obl i ged t o you. Now, Har dy,

woul d you l i ke t o have anyone el se? I can send i n a mi nut e. "

" No one, t hank you. "

" You won' t st and on cer emony now, wi l l you, wi t h me?" sai d Tom.

" You see I haven' t . "

" And you never wi l l agai n?"

" No, never . Now, f at her , you can heave ahead about t hose oar s. "

The Capt ai n went on char gi ng hi s pi pe, and pr oceeded: " You see,

Mr . Br own, t hey must have been at l east t went y f eet l ong,

because, i f you al l ow t he l owest bank of oar s t o have been t hr ee

f eet above t he wat er - l i ne, whi ch even Jack t hi nks t hey must have

been- - "

" Cer t ai nl y. That hei ght at l east t o do any good, " sai d Har dy.

" Not t hat I t hi nk Jack' s opi ni on wor t h much on t he poi nt , " went

on hi s f at her .

" I t ' s ver y ungr at ef ul of you, t hen, t o say so, f at her , " sai d

Har dy, " af t er al l t he t i me I ' ve wast ed t r yi ng t o make i t al l

cl ear t o you. "

" I don' t say t hat Jack' s i s not a good opi ni on on most t hi ngs,

Mr . Br own, " sai d t he Capt ai n; " but he i s al l at sea about

t r i r emes. He bel i eves t hat t he men of t he upper most bank r owed

somehow l i ke l i ght er men on t he Thames, wal ki ng up and down. "

" I obj ect t o your st at ement of my f ai t h, f at her , " sai d Har dy.

" Now you know, Jack, you have sai d so, of t en. "

" I have sai d t hey must have st ood up t o r ow, and so- - "

" You woul d have had awf ul conf usi on, Jack. You must have or der

bet ween decks when you' r e goi ng i nt o act i on. Besi des, t he r ower s

had cushi ons. "

" That ol d her esy of your s agai n. "

" Wel l , but Jack, t hey _had_ cushi ons. Di dn' t t he r ower s who wer e

mar ched acr oss t he I st hmus t o man t he shi ps whi ch wer e t o

sur pr i se t he Pi r aeus, car r y t hei r oar s, t hongs and cushi ons?"

" I f t hey di d, your concl usi on doesn' t f ol l ow, f at her , t hat t hey

sat on t hem t o r ow. "

" You hear , Mr . Br own, " sai d t he Capt ai n; " he admi t s my poi nt

about t he cushi ons. "

" Oh, f at her , I hope you used t o f i ght t he Fr ench mor e f ai r l y, "

sai d Har dy.

" But di dn' t he? Di dn' t Jack admi t my poi nt ?"

" I mpl i ci t l y, si r , I t hi nk, " sai d Tom, cat chi ng Har dy' s eye, whi ch

was danci ng wi t h f un.

" Of cour se he di d. You hear t hat , Jack. Now my not i on about

Page 183 of 443

t r i r emes- - "

A knock at t he door i nt er r upt ed t he Capt ai n agai n, and Bl ake came

i n and was i nt r oduced.

" Mr . Bl ake i s al most our best schol ar , f at her ; you shoul d appeal

t o hi m about t he cushi ons. "

" I am ver y pr oud t o make your acquai nt ance, si r , " sai d t he

Capt ai n; " I have hear d my son speak of you of t en. "

" We wer e t al ki ng about t r i r emes, " sai d Tom; " Capt ai n Har dy t hi nks

t he oar s must have been t went y f eet l ong. "

" Not easy t o come f or war d wel l wi t h t hat sor t of oar , " sai d

Bl ake; " t hey must have pul l ed a sl ow st r oke. "

" Our t or pi d woul d have bumped t he best of t hem, " sai d Har dy.

" I don' t t hi nk t hey coul d have made mor e t han si x knot s, " sai d

t he Capt ai n; " but yet t hey used t o si nk one anot her , and a l i ght

boat goi ng onl y si x knot s coul dn' t br eak anot her i n t wo

ami d- shi ps. I t ' s a puzzl i ng subj ect , Mr . Bl ake. "

" I t i s, si r , " sai d Mr . Bl ake; " i f we onl y had some of t hei r

f o' cast l e songs we shoul d know mor e about i t . I ' m af r ai d t hey had

no Di bdi n. "

" I wi sh you woul d t ur n one of my f at her ' s f avor i t e songs i nt o

anapaest s f or hi m, " sai d Har dy.

" What ar e t hey?" sai d Bl ake.

" ' Tom Bowl i ng, ' or ' The wi nd t hat bl ows, and t he shi p t hat goes,

and t he l ass t hat l oves a sai l or . ' "

" By t he way, why shoul dn' t we have a song?" sai d Tom.

" What do you say, Capt ai n Har dy?"

The Capt ai n wi nced a l i t t l e as he saw hi s chance of expoundi ng

hi s not i on as t o t r i r emes sl i ppi ng away, but answer ed:

" By al l means, si r ; Jack must si ng f or me t hough. Di d you ever

hear hi m si ng ' Tom Bowl i ng! ' "

" No, never , si r . Why, Har dy, you never t ol d me you coul d si ng. "

" You never asked me, " sai d Har dy, l aughi ng; " but i f I si ng f or my

f at her , he must spi n us a yar n. "

" Oh yes; wi l l you, si r ! "

" I ' l l do my best , Mr . Br own; but I don' t know t hat you' l l car e t o

l i st en t o my ol d yar ns. Jack t hi nks ever ybody must l i ke t hem as

wel l as he, who used t o hear t hem when he was a chi l d. "

" Thank you, si r ; t hat ' s f amous. Now Har dy, st r i ke up. "

" Af t er you. You must set t he exampl e i n your own r ooms. "

So Tom sang hi s song. And t he noi se br ought Dr ysdal e and anot her

man up, who wer e l oi t er i ng i n quad on t he l ookout f or somet hi ng

t o do. Dr ysdal e and t he Capt ai n r ecogni sed one anot her , and wer e

Page 184 of 443

f r i ends at once. And t hen Har dy sang " Tom Bowl i ng, " i n a st yl e

whi ch ast oni shed t he r est not a l i t t l e, and as usual near l y made

hi s f at her cr y; and Bl ake sang, and Dr ysdal e and t he ot her man.

And t hen t he Capt ai n was cal l ed on f or hi s yar n; and, t he gener al

voi ce bei ng f or " somet hi ng t hat had happened t o hi m, " " t he

st r angest t hi ng t hat had ever happened t o hi m at sea, " t he ol d

gent l eman l ai d down hi s pi pe and sat up i n hi s chai r wi t h hi s

hands on hi s st i ck and began.

THE CAPTAI N' S STORY

I t wi l l be f or t y year s ago next mont h si nce t he shi p I was t hen

i n came home f r om t he West I ndi es st at i on, and was pai d of f . I

had nowher e i n par t i cul ar t o go j ust t hen, and so was ver y gl ad

t o get a l et t er , t he mor ni ng af t er I went ashor e at Por t smout h,

aski ng me t o go down t o Pl ymout h f or a week or so. I t came f r om

an ol d sai l or , a f r i end of my f ami l y, who had been Commodor e of

t he f l eet . He l i ved at Pl ymout h; he was a t hor ough ol d

sai l or - - what you young men woul d cal l " an ol d sal t " - - and coul dn' t

l i ve out of si ght of t he bl ue sea and t he shi ppi ng. I t i s a

di sease t hat a good many of us t ake who have spent our best year s

on t he sea. I have i t mysel f - - a sor t of f eel i ng t hat we want t o

be under anot her ki nd of Pr ovi dence, when we l ook out and see a

hi l l on t hi s si de and a hi l l on t hat . I t ' s wonder f ul t o see t he

t r ees come out and t he cor n gr ow, but t hen i t doesn' t come so

home t o an ol d sai l or . I know t hat we' r e al l j ust as much under

t he Lor d' s hand on shor e as at sea; but you can' t r ead i n a book

you haven' t been used t o, and t hey t hat go down t o t he sea i n

shi ps, t hey see t he wor ks of t he Lor d and Hi s wonder s i n t he

deep. I t i sn' t t hei r f aul t i f t hey don' t see hi s wonder s on t he

l and so easi l y as ot her peopl e.

But , f or al l t hat , t her e' s no man enj oys a cr ui se i n t he count r y

mor e t han a sai l or . I t ' s f or t y year s ago si nce I st ar t ed f or

Pl ymout h, but I haven' t f or got t en t he r oad a bi t or how beaut i f ul

i t was; al l t hr ough t he New For est , and over Sal i sbur y Pl ai n, and

t hen by t he mai l t o Exet er , and t hr ough Devonshi r e. I t t ook me

t hr ee days t o get t o Pl ymout h, f or we di dn' t get about so qui ck

i n t hose days.

The Commodor e was ver y ki nd t o me when I got t her e, and I went

about wi t h hi m t o t he shi ps i n t he bay, and t hr ough t he

dock- yar d, and pi cked up a good deal t hat was of use t o me

af t er war ds. I was a l i eut enant i n t hose days, and had seen a good

deal of ser vi ce, and I f ound t he ol d Commodor e had a gr eat nephew

whom he had adopt ed, and had set hi s whol e hear t upon. He was an

ol d bachel or hi msel f , but t he boy had come t o l i ve wi t h hi m, and

was t o go t o sea; so he want ed t o put hi m under some one who

woul d gi ve an eye t o hi m f or t he f i r st year or t wo. He was a

l i ght sl i p of a boy t hen, f our t een year s ol d, wi t h deep set bl ue

eyes and l ong eyel ashes, and cheeks l i ke a gi r l ' s, but br ave as a

l i on and as mer r y as a l ar k. The ol d gent l eman was ver y pl eased

t o see t hat we t ook t o one anot her . We used t o bat he and boat

t oget her ; and he was never t i r ed of hear i ng my st or i es about t he

gr eat admi r al s, and t he f l eet , and t he st at i ons I had been on.

Wel l , i t was agr eed t hat I shoul d appl y f or a shi p agai n

di r ect l y, and go up t o London wi t h a l et t er t o t he Admi r al t y f r om

t he Commodor e, t o hel p t hi ngs on. Af t er a mont h or t wo I was

appoi nt ed t o a br i g, l yi ng at Spi t head; and so I wr ot e of f t o t he

Commodor e and he got hi s boy a mi dshi pman' s ber t h on boar d, and

br ought hi m t o Por t smout h hi msel f a day or t wo bef or e we sai l ed

Page 185 of 443

f or t he Medi t er r anean. The ol d gent l eman came on boar d t o see t he

boy' s hammock sl ung, and went bel ow i nt o t he cockpi t t o make sur e

t hat al l was r i ght . He onl y l ef t us by t he pi l ot boat when we

wer e wel l out i n t he Channel . He was ver y l ow at par t i ng wi t h hi s

boy, but bor e up as wel l as he coul d; and we pr omi sed t o wr i t e t o

hi m f r om Gi br al t ar , and as of t en af t er war ds as we had a chance.

I was soon as pr oud and f ond of l i t t l e Tom Hol dswor t h as i f he

had been my own younger br ot her ; and, f or t hat mat t er , so wer e

al l t he cr ew, f r om our capt ai n t o t he cook' s boy. He was such a

gal l ant youngst er , and yet so gent l e. I n one cut t i ng- out busi ness

we had, he cl i mbed over t he boat swai n' s shoul der , and was al most

f i r st on deck; how he came out of i t wi t hout a scr at ch I can' t

t hi nk t o t hi s day. But he hadn' t a bi t of bl ust er i n hi m, and was

as ki nd as a woman t o anyone who was wounded or down wi t h

si ckness.

Af t er we had been out about a year we wer e sent t o cr ui se of f

Mal t a, on t he l ook- out f or t he Fr ench f l eet . I t was a l ong

busi ness, and t he post wasn' t so good t hen as i t i s now. We wer e

somet i mes f or mont hs wi t hout get t i ng a l et t er , and knew not hi ng

of what was happeni ng at home, or anywher e el se. We had a si ck

t i me t oo on boar d, and at l ast he got a f ever . He bor e up agai nst

i t l i ke a man, and woul dn' t knock of f dut y f or a l ong t i me. He

was mi dshi pman of my wat ch; so I used t o make hi m t ur n i n ear l y,

and t r i ed t o ease t hi ngs t o hi m as much as I coul d; but he di dn' t

pi ck up, and I began t o get ver y anxi ous about hi m. I t al ked t o

t he doct or , and t ur ned mat t er s over i n my own mi nd, and at l ast I

came t o t hi nk he woul dn' t get any bet t er unl ess he coul d sl eep

out of t he cockpi t . So one ni ght , t he 20t h of Oct ober i t was - - I

r emember i t wel l enough, bet t er t han I r emember any day si nce; i t

was a di r t y ni ght , bl owi ng hal f a gal e of wi nd f r om t he

sout hwar d, and we wer e under cl ose- r eef ed t op- sai l s- - I had t he

f i r st wat ch, and at ni ne o' cl ock I sent hi m down t o my cabi n t o

sl eep t her e, wher e he woul d be f r esher and qui et er , and I was t o

t ur n i nt o hi s hammock when my wat ch was over .

I was on deck t hr ee hour s or so af t er he went down, and t he

weat her got di r t i er and di r t i er , and t he scud dr ove by, and t he

wi nd sang and hummed t hr ough t he r i ggi ng- - i t made me mel anchol y

t o l i st en t o i t . I coul d t hi nk of not hi ng but t he youngst er down

bel ow, and what I shoul d say t o hi s poor ol d uncl e i f anyt hi ng

happened. Wel l , soon af t er mi dni ght I went down and t ur ned i nt o

hi s hammock. I di dn' t go t o sl eep at once, f or I r emember ver y

wel l l i st eni ng t o t he cr eaki ng of t he shi p' s t i mber s as she r ose

t o t he swel l , and wat chi ng t he l amp, whi ch was sl ung f r om t he

cei l i ng, and gave l i ght enough t o make out t he ot her hammocks

swi ngi ng sl owl y al t oget her . At l ast , however , I dr opped of f , and

I r eckon I must have been asl eep about an hour , when I woke wi t h

a st ar t . For t he f i r st moment I di dn' t see anyt hi ng but t he

swi ngi ng hammocks and t he l amp; but t hen suddenl y I became awar e

t hat some one was st andi ng by my hammock, and I saw t he f i gur e as

pl ai nl y as I see any one of you now, f or t he f oot of t he hammock

was cl ose t o t he l amp, and t he l i ght st r uck f ul l acr oss on t he

head and shoul der s, whi ch was al l t hat I coul d see of hi m. Ther e

he was, t he ol d Commodor e; hi s gr i zzl ed hai r comi ng out f r om

under a r ed wool en ni ght cap, and hi s shoul der s wr apped i n an ol d

t hr ead- bar e bl ue dr essi ng- gown whi ch I had of t en seen hi m i n. Hi s

f ace l ooked pal e and dr awn, and t her e was a wi st f ul di sappoi nt ed

l ook about t he eyes. I was so t aken aback I coul d not speak, but

l ay wat chi ng hi m. He l ooked f ul l at my f ace once or t wi ce, but

di dn' t seem t o r ecogni se me; and, j ust as I was get t i ng back my

t ongue and goi ng t o speak, he sai d sl owl y: " Wher e' s Tom? t hi s i s

hi s hammock. I can' t see Tom; " and t hen he l ooked vaguel y about

Page 186 of 443

and passed away somehow, but how, I coul dn' t see. I n a moment or

t wo I j umped out and hur r i ed t o my cabi n, but young Hol dswor t h

was f ast asl eep. I sat down, and wr ot e down j ust what I had seen,

maki ng a not e of t he exact t i me, t went y mi nut es t o t wo. I di dn' t

t ur n i n agai n, but sat wat chi ng t he youngst er . When he woke I

asked hi m i f he had hear d anyt hi ng of hi s gr eat uncl e by t he l ast

mai l . Yes, he had hear d; t he ol d gent l eman was r at her f eebl e, but

not hi ng par t i cul ar t he mat t er . I kept my own counsel and never

t ol d a soul i n t he shi p; and, when t he mai l came t o hand a f ew

days af t er war ds wi t h a l et t er f r om t he Commodor e t o hi s nephew,

dat ed l at e i n Sept ember , sayi ng t hat he was wel l , I t hought t he

f i gur e by my hammock must have been al l my own f ancy.

However , by t he next mai l came t he news of t he ol d Commodor e' s

deat h. I t had been a ver y sudden br eak up, hi s execut or sai d. He

had l ef t al l hi s pr oper t y, whi ch was not much, t o hi s gr eat

nephew, who was t o get l eave t o come home as soon as he coul d.

The f i r st t i me we t ouched at Mal t a, Tom Hol dswor t h l ef t us and

went home. We f ol l owed about t wo year s af t er war ds, and t he f i r st

t hi ng I di d af t er l andi ng was t o f i nd out t he Commodor e' s

execut or . He was a qui et , dr y l i t t l e Pl ymout h l awyer , and ver y

ci vi l l y answer ed al l my quest i ons about t he l ast days of my ol d

f r i end. At l ast I asked hi m t o t el l me as near as he coul d t he

t i me of hi s deat h; and he put on hi s spect acl es, and got hi s

di ar y, and t ur ned over t he l eaves. I was qui t e ner vous t i l l he

l ooked up and sai d, - - " Twent y- f i ve mi nut es t o t wo, si r , A. M. , on

t he mor ni ng of Oct ober 21st ; or i t mi ght be a f ew mi nut es l at er . "

" How do you mean, si r ?" I asked.

" Wel l , " he sai d, " i t i s an odd st or y. The doct or was si t t i ng wi t h

me, wat chi ng t he ol d man, and, as I t el l you, at t went y - f i ve

mi nut es t o t wo, he got up and sai d i t was al l over . We st ood

t oget her , t al ki ng i n whi sper s f or , i t mi ght be, f our or f i ve

mi nut es, when t he body seemed t o move. He was an odd ol d man, you

know, t he Commodor e, and we never coul d get hi m pr oper l y t o bed,

but he l ay i n hi s r ed ni ght cap and ol d dr essi ng- gown, wi t h a

bl anket over hi m. I t was not a pl easant si ght , I can t el l you,

si r . I don' t t hi nk one of you gent l emen, who ar e br ed t o f ace al l

manner of danger s, woul d have l i ked i t . As I was sayi ng, t he body

f i r st moved, and t hen sat up, pr oppi ng i t sel f behi nd wi t h i t s

hands. The eyes wer e wi de open, and he l ooked at us f or a moment ,

and sai d sl owl y, ' I ' ve been t o t he Medi t er r anean, but I di dn' t

see Tom. ' Then t he body sank back agai n, and t hi s t i me t he ol d

Commodor e was r eal l y dead. But i t was not a pl easant t hi ng t o

happen t o one, si r . I do not r emember anyt hi ng l i ke i t i n my

f or t y year s' pr act i ce. "

CHAPTER XXI I

DEPARTURES EXPECTED AND UNEXPECTED

Ther e was a si l ence of a f ew seconds af t er t he Capt ai n had

f i ni shed hi s st or y, al l t he men si t t i ng wi t h eyes f i xed on hi m,

and not a l i t t l e sur pr i sed at t he r esul t s of t hei r cal l . Dr ysdal e

was t he f i r st t o br eak t he si l ence, whi ch he di d wi t h a " By

Geor ge! " and a l ong r espi r at i on; but , as he di d not seem pr epar ed

wi t h any f ur t her r emar k, Tom t ook up t he r unni ng.

" What a st r ange st or y, " he sai d; " and t hat r eal l y happened t o

you, Capt ai n Har dy?"

Page 187 of 443

" To me si r , i n t he Medi t er r anean, mor e t han f or t y year s ago. "

" The st r angest t hi ng about i t i s t hat t he ol d Commodor e shoul d

have managed t o get al l t he way t o t he shi p, and t hen not have

known wher e hi s nephew was, " sai d Bl ake.

" He onl y knew hi s nephew' s ber t h, you see, si r , " sai d t he

Capt ai n.

" But he mi ght have beat about t hr ough t he shi p t i l l he had f ound

hi m. "

" You must r emember t hat he was at hi s l ast br eat h, si r , " sai d t he

Capt ai n; " you can' t expect a man t o have hi s head cl ear at such a

moment . "

" Not a man, per haps; but I shoul d a ghost , " sai d Bl ake.

" Ti me was ever yt hi ng t o hi m, " went on t he Capt ai n, wi t hout

r egar di ng t he i nt er r upt i on, " space not hi ng. But t he st r angest

par t of i t i s t hat _I _ shoul d have seen t he f i gur e at al l . I t ' s

t r ue I had been t hi nki ng of t he ol d uncl e, because of t he boy' s

i l l ness; but I can' t suppose he was t hi nki ng of me, and, as I

say, he never r ecogni zed me. I have t aken a gr eat deal of

i nt er est i n such mat t er s si nce t hat t i me, but I have never met

wi t h j ust such a case as t hi s. "

" No, t hat i s t he puzzl e. One can f ancy hi s appear i ng t o hi s

nephew wel l enough, " sai d Tom.

" We can' t account f or t hese t hi ngs, or f or a good many ot her

t hi ngs whi ch ought t o be qui t e as st ar t l i ng, onl y we see t hem

ever y day. But now I t hi nk i t i s t i me f or us t o be goi ng, eh

Jack?" and t he Capt ai n and hi s son r ose t o go.

Tom saw t hat i t woul d be no ki ndness t o t hem t o t r y t o pr ol ong

t he si t t i ng, and so he got up t oo, t o accompany t hem t o t he

gat es. Thi s br oke up t he par t y. Bef or e goi ng, Dr ysdal e, af t er

whi sper i ng t o Tom, went up t o Capt ai n Har dy, and sai d, - -

" I want t o ask you t o do me a f avour , si r . Wi l l you and your son

br eakf ast wi t h me t o- mor r ow?"

" We shal l be ver y happy, si r , " sai d t he Capt ai n.

" I t hi nk, f at her , you had bet t er br eakf ast wi t h me, qui et l y. We

ar e much obl i ged t o Mr . Dr ysdal e, but I can' t gi ve up a whol e

mor ni ng. Besi des, I have sever al t hi ngs t o t al k t o you about . "

" Nonsense, Jack, " bl ur t ed out t he ol d sai l or , " l eave your books

al one f or one mor ni ng. I ' m come up her e t o enj oy mysel f , and see

your f r i ends. "

Har dy gave a sl i ght shr ug of hi s shoul der at t he wor d f r i ends,

and Dr ysdal e, who saw i t , l ooked a l i t t l e conf used. He had never

asked Har dy t o hi s r ooms bef or e. The Capt ai n saw t hat somet hi ng

was t he mat t er , and hast ened i n hi s own way t o make al l smoot h

agai n.

" Never mi nd Jack, si r , " he sai d, " he shal l come. I t ' s a gr eat

t r eat t o me t o be wi t h young men, especi al l y when t hey ar e

f r i ends of my boy. "

Page 188 of 443

" I hope you' l l come as a per sonal f avor t o me, " sai d Dr ysdal e,

t ur ni ng t o Har dy. " Br own, you' l l br i ng hi m, won' t you?"

" Oh yes, I ' m sur e he' l l come, " sai d Tom.

" That ' s al l r i ght . Good ni ght , t hen; " and Dr ysdal e went of f .

Har dy and Tom accompani ed t he Capt ai n t o t he gat e. Dur i ng hi s

passage acr oss t he t wo quadr angl es, t he ol d gent l eman was f ul l of

t he pr ai ses of t he men and of pr ot est at i ons as t o t he i mpr ovement

i n soci al manner s and cust oms si nce hi s day, when t her e coul d

have been no such meet i ng, he decl ar ed, wi t hout bl ackguar di sm and

dr unkenness, at l east among young of f i cer s; but t hen t hey had

l ess t o t hi nk of t han Oxf or d men, no pr oper educat i on. And so t he

Capt ai n was evi dent l y t r avel i ng back i nt o t he gr eat t r i r eme

quest i on when t hey r eached t he gat e. As t hey coul d go no f ar t her

wi t h hi m, however , he had t o car r y away hi s sol ut i on of t he

t hr ee- banks- of - oar s di f f i cul t y i n hi s own bosom t o t he " Mi t r e" .

" Don' t l et us go i n, " sai d Tom, as t he gat e cl osed on t he

Capt ai n, and t hey t ur ned back i nt o t he quadr angl e, " l et us t ake a

t ur n or t wo; " so t hey wal ked up and down t he i nner quad i n t he

st ar l i ght .

Just at f i r st t hey wer e a good deal embar r assed and conf used; but

bef or e l ong, t hough not wi t hout put t i ng consi der abl e f or ce on

hi msel f , Tom got back i nt o somet hi ng l i ke hi s ol d f ami l i ar way of

unbosomi ng hi msel f t o hi s r e- f ound f r i end, and Har dy showed mor e

t han hi s ol d anxi et y t o meet hi m hal f - way. Hi s r eady and

undi sgui sed sympat hy soon di sper sed t he r emai ni ng cl ouds whi ch

wer e st i l l hangi ng bet ween t hem; and Tom f ound i t al most a

pl easur e, i nst ead of a dr ear y t ask, as he had ant i ci pat ed, t o

make a f ul l conf essi on, and st at e t he case cl ear l y and st r ongl y

agai nst hi msel f t o one who cl ai med nei t her by wor d nor l ook t he

l east super i or i t y over hi m, and never seemed t o r emember t hat he

hi msel f had been i l l - t r eat ed i n t he mat t er .

" He had such a chance of l ect ur i ng me, and di dn' t do i t , " t hought

Tom af t er war ds, when he was consi der i ng why he f el t so ver y

gr at ef ul t o Har dy. " I t was so cunni ng of hi m, t oo. I f he had

begun l ect ur i ng, I shoul d have begun t o def end mysel f , and never

have f el t hal f such a scamp as I di d when I was t el l i ng i t al l

out t o hi m i n my own way. "

The r esul t of Har dy' s management was t hat Tom made a cl ean br east

of i t , t el l i ng ever yt hi ng down t o hi s ni ght at t he r agged school ;

and what an ef f ect hi s chance- openi ng of t he " Apol ogy" had had on

hi m. Her e f or t he f i r st t i me Har dy came i n wi t h hi s usual dr y,

keen voi ce. " You needn' t have gone so f ar back as Pl at o f or t hat

l esson. "

" I don' t under st and, " sai d Tom.

" Wel l , t her e' s somet hi ng about an i ndwel l i ng spi r i t whi ch gui det h

ever y man, i n St . Paul , i sn' t t her e?"

" Yes, a gr eat deal , " Tom answer ed, af t er a pause; " but i t i sn' t

t he same t hi ng. "

" Why not t he same t hi ng?"

" Oh, sur el y you must f eel i t . I t woul d be al most bl asphemy i n us

t o t al k as St . Paul t al ked. I t i s much easi er t o f ace t he not i on,

or t he f act , of a daemon or spi r i t such as Socr at es f el t t o be i n

Page 189 of 443

hi m, t han t o f ace what St . Paul seems t o be meani ng. "

" Yes, much easi er . The onl y quest i on i s whet her we wi l l be

heat hens or not . "

" How do you mean?" sai d Tom.

" Why, a spi r i t was speaki ng t o Socr at es, and gui di ng hi m. He

obeyed t he gui dance, but knew not whence i t came. A spi r i t i s

st r i vi ng wi t h us t oo, and t r yi ng t o gui de us - - we f eel t hat j ust

as much as he di d. Do we know what spi r i t i t i s? whence i t comes?

Wi l l we obey i t ? I f we can' t name i t - - know no mor e of i t t hen he

knew about hi s daemon, of cour se, we ar e i n no bet t er posi t i on

t han he- - i n f act , heat hens. "

Tom made no answer , and af t er a sl i ght t ur n or t wo mor e, Har dy

sai d, " Let us go i n; " and t hey went t o hi s r ooms. When t he

candl es wer e l i ght ed, Tom saw t he ar r ay of books on t he t abl e,

sever al of t hem open, and r emember ed how near t he exami nat i ons

wer e.

" I see you want t o wor k, " he sai d. " Wel l , good- ni ght . I know how

f el l ows l i ke you hat e bei ng t hanked- - t her e, you needn' t wi nce;

I ' m not goi ng t o t r y i t on. The best way t o t hank you, I know, i s

t o go st r ai ght f or t he f ut ur e. I ' l l do t hat , pl ease God, t hi s

t i me at any r at e. Now what ought I t o do, Har dy?"

" Wel l , i t ' s ver y har d t o say. I ' ve t hought about i t a gr eat deal

t hi s l ast f ew days- - si nce I f el t you comi ng r ound- - but I can' t

make up my mi nd. How do you f eel your sel f ? What ' s your own

i nst i nct about i t ?"

" Of cour se, I must br eak i t al l of f at once, compl et el y, " sai d

Tom, mour nf ul l y, and hal f hopi ng t hat Har dy mi ght not agr ee wi t h

hi m.

" Of cour se, " answer ed Har dy, " but how?"

" I n t he way t hat wi l l pai n her l east . I woul d sooner l ose my hand

or bi t e my t ongue of f t han t hat she shoul d f eel l ower ed, or l ose

any sel f - r espect , you know, " sai d Tom, l ooki ng hel pl essl y at hi s

f r i end.

" Yes, t hat ' s al l r i ght - - you must t ake al l you can on your own

shoul der s. I t must l eave a st i ng t hough f or bot h of you, manage

how you wi l l . "

" But I can' t bear t o l et her t hi nk I don' t car e f or her - - I

needn' t do t hat - - I can' t do t hat . "

" I don' t know what t o advi se. However , I bel i eve I was wr ong i n

t hi nki ng she car ed f or you so much. She wi l l be hur t , of

cour se- - she can' t hel p bei ng hur t - - but i t won' t be so bad as I

used t o t hi nk. "

Tom made no answer ; i n spi t e of al l hi s good r esol ut i ons, he was

a l i t t l e pi qued at t hi s l ast speech. Har dy went on pr esent l y. " I

wi sh she wer e wel l out of Oxf or d. I t ' s a bad t own f or a gi r l t o

be l i vi ng i n, especi al l y as a bar mai d i n a pl ace whi ch we haunt .

I don' t know t hat she wi l l t ake much har m now; but i t ' s a ver y

t r yi ng t hi ng f or a gi r l of t hat sor t t o be t hr own ever y day

amongst a dozen young men above her i n r ank, and not one i n t en

of whom has any manl i ness about hi m. "

Page 190 of 443

" How do you mean- - no manl i ness?"

" I mean t hat a gi r l i n her posi t i on i sn' t saf e wi t h us. I f we had

any manl i ness i n us she woul d be- - "

" You can' t expect al l men t o be bl ocks of i ce, or mi l ksops, " sai d

Tom, who was get t i ng net t l ed.

" Don' t t hi nk t hat I meant you, " sai d Har dy; " i ndeed I di dn' t . But

sur el y, t hi nk a moment ; i s i t a pr oof of manl i ness t hat t he pur e

and weak shoul d f ear you and shr i nk f r om you? Whi ch i s t he

t r ue- - aye, and t he br ave- - man, he who t r embl es bef or e a woman or

he bef or e whom a woman t r embl es?"

" Nei t her , " sai d Tom; " but I see what you mean, and when you put

i t t hat way i t ' s cl ear enough. "

" But you' r e wr ong i n sayi ng ' nei t her ' i f you do see what I mean. "

Tom was si l ent . " Can t her e be any t r ue manl i ness wi t hout pur i t y?"

went on Har dy. Tom dr ew a deep br eat h but sai d not hi ng. " And

wher e t hen can you poi nt t o a pl ace wher e t her e i s so l i t t l e

manl i ness as her e? I t makes my bl ood boi l t o see what one must

see ever y day. Ther e ar e a set of men up her e, and have been ever

si nce I can r emember t he pl ace, not one of whom can l ook at a

modest woman wi t hout maki ng her shudder . "

" Ther e must al ways be some bl ackguar ds, " sai d Tom.

" Yes; but unl ucki l y t he bl ackguar ds set t he f ashi on, and gi ve t he

t one t o publ i c opi ni on. I ' m sur e bot h of us have seen enough t o

know per f ect l y wel l t hat up her e, amongst us under gr aduat es, men

who ar e del i ber at el y and avowedl y pr of l i gat es, ar e r at her admi r ed

and cour t ed, - - ar e sai d t o know t he wor l d, and al l t hat , - - whi l e a

man who t r i es t o l ead a pur e l i f e, and makes no secr et of i t , i s

openl y sneer ed at by t hem, l ooked down on mor e or l ess by t he

gr eat mass of men, and, t o use t he wor d you used j ust now,

t hought a mi l ksop by al most al l . "

" I don' t t hi nk i t so bad as t hat , " sai d Tom. " Ther e ar e many men

who woul d r espect hi m, t hough t hey mi ght not be abl e t o f ol l ow

hi m. "

" Of cour se, I never meant t hat t her e ar e not many such, but t hey

don' t set t he f ashi on. I am sur e I ' m r i ght . Let us t r y i t by t he

best t est . Haven' t you and I i n our secr et hear t s t hi s cur sed

f eel i ng, t hat t he sor t of man we ar e t al ki ng about i s a mi l ksop?"

Af t er a moment ' s t hought , Tom answer ed, " I am af r ai d I have, but

I r eal l y am t hor oughl y ashamed of i t now, Har dy. But you haven' t

i t . I f you had i t you coul d never have spoken t o me as you have. "

" I beg your par don. No man i s mor e open t han I t o t he bad

i nf l uences of any pl ace he l i ves i n. God knows I am even as ot her

men, and wor se; f or I have been t aught ever si nce I coul d speak,

t hat t he cr own of al l r eal manl i ness, of al l Chr i st i an manl i ness,

i s pur i t y. "

Nei t her of t he t wo spoke f or some mi nut es. Then Har dy l ooked at

hi s wat ch- -

" Past el even, " he sai d; " I must do some wor k. Wel l , Br own, t hi s

wi l l be a day t o be r emember ed i n my cal endar . "

Tom wr ung hi s hand, but di d not vent ur e t o r epl y.

Page 191 of 443

As he got t o t he door , however , he t ur ned back, and sai d, - -

" Do you t hi nk I ought t o wr i t e t o her ?"

" Wel l , you can t r y. You' l l f i nd i t a bi t t er busi ness, I f ear . "

" I ' l l t r y t hen. Good ni ght . "

Tom went t o hi s own r ooms, and set t o wor k t o wr i t e hi s l et t er ;

and cer t ai nl y f ound i t as di f f i cul t and unpl easant a t ask as he

had ever set hi msel f t o wor k upon. Hal f a dozen t i mes he t or e up

sheet af t er sheet of hi s at t empt s; and got up and wal ked about ,

and pl unged and ki cked ment al l y agai nst t he col l ar and t r aces i n

whi ch he had har nessed hi msel f by hi s f r i end' s hel p, - - t r yi ng t o

convi nce hi msel f t hat Har dy was a Pur i t an, who had l i ved qui t e

di f f er ent l y f r om ot her men, and knew not hi ng of what a man ought

t o do i n a case l i ke t hi s. That af t er al l ver y l i t t l e har m had

been done! The wor l d woul d never go on at al l i f peopl e wer e t o

be so scr upul ous! Pr obabl y, not anot her man i n t he col l ege,

except Gr ey, per haps, woul d t hi nk anyt hi ng of what he had

done! - - Done! why, what had he done? He coul dn' t be t aki ng i t mor e

ser i ousl y i f he had r ui ned her !

At t hi s poi nt he managed t o br i ng hi msel f up shar p agai n mor e

t han once. " No t hanks t o _me_ at any r at e, t hat she i sn' t r ui ned.

Had I any pi t y, any scr upl es? My God, what a mean, sel f i sh r ascal

I have been! " and t hen he sat down agai n, and wr ot e, and

scr at ched out what he had wr i t t en, t i l l t he ot her f i t came on,

and somet hi ng of t he same pr ocess had t o be gone t hr ough agai n.

We must al l r ecogni ze t he pr ocess, and r emember many occasi ons on

whi ch we have had t o put br i dl e and bi t on, and r i de our sel ves as

i f we had been hor ses or mul es wi t hout under st andi ng; and what a

t r yi ng busi ness i t was- - as bad as get t i ng a young col t past a

gi psy encampment i n a nar r ow l ane.

At l ast , af t er many t r i al s, Tom got hi msel f wel l i n hand, and

pr oduced somet hi ng whi ch seemed t o sat i sf y hi m; f or , af t er

r eadi ng i t t hr ee or f our t i mes, he put i t i n a cover wi t h a smal l

case, whi ch he pr oduced f r om hi s desk, seal ed i t , di r ect ed i t ,

and t hen went t o bed.

Next mor ni ng, af t er chapel , he j oi ned Har dy, and wal ked t o hi s

r ooms wi t h hi m, and af t er a f ew wor ds on i ndi f f er ent mat t er s,

sai d- -

" Wel l , I wr ot e my l et t er l ast ni ght . "

" Di d you sat i sf y your sel f ?"

" Yes, I t hi nk so. I don' t know, t hough, on second t hought s; i t

was ver y t ough wor k. "

" I was af r ai d you woul d f i nd i t so. "

" But woul dn' t you l i ke t o see i t ?"

" No t hank you. I suppose my f at her wi l l be her e di r ect l y. "

" But I wi sh you woul d r ead i t t hr ough, " sai d Tom, pr oduci ng a

copy.

" Wel l , i f you wi sh i t , I suppose I must ; but I don' t see how I

Page 192 of 443

can do any good. "

Har dy t ook t he l et t er , and sat down, and Tom dr ew a chai r cl ose

t o hi m, and wat ched hi s f ace whi l e he r ead: - -

" I t i s best f or us bot h t hat I shoul d not see you any mor e, at

l east at pr esent . I f eel t hat I have done you a gr eat wr ong. I

dar e not say much t o you, f or f ear of maki ng t hat wr ong gr eat er .

I cannot , I need not t el l you how I despi se mysel f now- - how I

l ong t o make you any amends i n my power . I f ever I can be of any

ser vi ce t o you, I do hope t hat not hi ng whi ch has passed wi l l

hi nder , you f r om appl yi ng t o me. You wi l l not bel i eve how i t

pai ns me t o wr i t e t hi s; how shoul d you? I don' t deser ve t hat you

shoul d bel i eve anyt hi ng I say. I must seem hear t l ess t o you; I

have been, I am hear t l ess. I har dl y know what I am wr i t i ng. I

shal l l ong al l my l i f e t o hear good news of you. I don' t ask you

t o par don me, but i f you can pr evai l on your sel f not t o send back

t he encl osed, and wi l l keep i t as a smal l r emembr ance of one who

i s deepl y sor r y f or t he wr ong he has done you, but who cannot and

wi l l not say he i s sor r y he ever met you, you wi l l be addi ng

anot her t o t he many ki ndnesses whi ch I have t o t hank you f or , and

whi ch I shal l never f or get . "

Har dy r ead i t over sever al t i mes, as Tom wat ched i mpat i ent l y,

unabl e t o make out anyt hi ng f r om hi s f ace.

" What do you t hi nk? You don' t t hi nk t her e' s anyt hi ng wr ong i n i t ,

I hope?"

" No, i ndeed, my dear f el l ow. I r eal l y t hi nk i t does you cr edi t . I

don' t know what el se you coul d have sai d ver y wel l , onl y - - "

" Onl y what ?"

" Coul dn' t you have made i t a l i t t l e shor t er ?"

" No, I coul dn' t ; but you don' t mean t hat . What di d you mean by

t hat ' onl y' ?"

" Why, I don' t t hi nk t hi s l et t er wi l l end t he busi ness; at l east ,

I ' m af r ai d not . "

" But what mor e coul d I have sai d?"

" Not hi ng _mor e_, cer t ai nl y; but coul dn' t you have keep a l i t t l e

qui et er - - i t ' s di f f i cul t t o get t he r i ght wor d- - a l i t t l e cool er ,

per haps. Coul dn' t you have made t he par t about not seei ng her

agai n a l i t t l e mor e deci ded?"

" But you sai d I needn' t pr et end I di dn' t car e f or her . "

" Di d I ?"

" Yes. Besi des, i t woul d have been a l i e. "

" I don' t want you t o t el l a l i e, cer t ai nl y. But how about t hi s

' smal l r emembr ance' t hat you speak of ? What ' s t hat ?"

" Oh, not hi ng; onl y a l i t t l e l ocket I bought f or her . "

" Wi t h some of your hai r i n i t ?"

" Wel l of cour se. Come now, t her e' s no har m i n t hat . "

Page 193 of 443

" No; no har m. Do you t hi nk she wi l l wear i t ?"

" How can I t el l ?"

" I t may make her t hi nk i t i sn' t al l at an end, I ' m af r ai d. I f she

al ways wear s your hai r - - "

" By Jove, you' r e t oo bad, Har dy. I wi sh you had had t o wr i t e i t

your sel f . I t ' s al l ver y easy t o pul l my l et t er t o pi eces, I dar e

say, but - - "

" I di dn' t want t o r ead i t , r emember . "

" No mor e you di d. I f or got . But I wi sh you woul d j ust wr i t e down

now what you woul d have sai d. "

" Yes, I t hi nk I see mysel f at i t . By t he way, of cour se you have

sent your l et t er ?"

" Yes, I sent i t of f bef or e chapel . "

" I t hought so. I n t hat case I don' t t hi nk we need t r oubl e

our sel ves f ur t her wi t h t he f or m of t he document . "

" Oh, t hat ' s onl y shi r ki ng. How do you know I may not want i t f or

t he next occasi on?"

" No, no! Don' t l et us begi n l aughi ng about i t . A man never ought

t o have t o wr i t e such l et t er s t wi ce i n hi s l i f e. I f he has, why,

he may get a good enough pr ecedent f or t he second out of t he

' Compl et e Let t er Wr i t er ' .

" So you won' t cor r ect my copy?"

" No, not I . "

At t hi s poi nt i n t hei r di al ogue, Capt ai n Har dy appear ed on t he

scene, and t he par t y went of f t o Dr ysdal e' s t o br eakf ast .

Capt ai n Har dy' s vi si t t o St . Ambr ose was a gr eat success. He

st ayed some f our or f i ve days, and saw ever yt hi ng t hat was t o be

seen, and enj oyed i t al l i n a sor t of r ever ent way whi ch was

al most comi c. Tom devot ed hi msel f t o t he wor k of ci cer one, and

di d hi s best t o do t he wor k t hor oughl y. Oxf or d was a sor t of

Ut opi a t o t he Capt ai n, who was r esol ut el y bent on seei ng not hi ng

but beaut y and l ear ni ng and wi sdom wi t hi n t he pr eci nct s of t he

Uni ver si t y. On one or t wo occasi ons hi s f ai t h was t r i ed sor el y by

t he si ght of young gent l emen gr acef ul l y appar el l ed, dawdl i ng

al ong t wo t oget her i n l ow easy pony car r i ages, or l yi ng on t hei r

backs i n punt s f or hour s, smoki ng, wi t h not even a _Bel l ' s Li f e_

by t hem t o pass t he t i me. Dawdl i ng and doi ng not hi ng wer e t he

obj ect s of hi s speci al abhor r ence; but , wi t h t hi s t r i f l i ng

except i on, t he Capt ai n cont i nued st eadi l y t o behol d t ower s and

quadr angl es, and chapel s, and t he i nhabi t ant s of t he col l eges,

t hr ough r ose- col our ed spect acl es. Hi s r espect f or a " r egul ar

educat i on" and f or t he seat of l ear ni ng at whi ch i t was di spensed

was so st r ong, t hat he i nvest ed not onl y t he t ut or s, doct or s and

pr oct or s ( of whom he saw l i t t l e except at a di st ance) , but even

t he most empt y- headed under gr aduat e whose acquai nt ance he made,

wi t h a sor t of f ancy hal o of sci ent i f i c knowl edge, and of t en

t al ked t o t hose yout hs i n a way whi ch was cur i ousl y bewi l der i ng

and embar r assi ng t o t hem. Dr ysdal e was par t i cul ar l y hi t by i t . He

had humour and honest y enough hi msel f t o appr eci at e t he Capt ai n,

but i t was a const ant puzzl e t o hi m t o know what t o make of i t

Page 194 of 443

al l .

" He' s a r egul ar ol d br i ck, i s t he Capt ai n, " he sai d t o Tom, on

t he l ast eveni ng of t he ol d gent l eman' s vi si t , " but by Jove, I

can' t hel p t hi nki ng he must be poki ng f un at us hal f hi s t i me. I t

i s r at her t oo r i ch t o hear hi m t al ki ng on as i f we wer e al l as

f ond of Gr eek as he seems t o be, and as i f no man ever got dr unk

up her e. "

" I decl ar e I t hi nk he bel i eves i t , " sai d Tom. " You see we' r e al l

car ef ul enough bef or e hi m. "

" That son of hi s, t oo, must be a good f el l ow. Don' t you see he

can never have peached? Hi s f at her was t el l i ng me l ast ni ght what

a comf or t i t was t o hi m t o see t hat Jack' s pover t y had been no

dr awback t o hi m. He had al ways t ol d hi m i t woul d be so amongst

Engl i sh gent l emen, and now he f ound hi m l i vi ng qui et l y and

i ndependent l y, and yet on equal t er ms, and f r i ends, wi t h men f ar

above hi m i n r ank and f or t une ' l i ke you, si r , ' t he ol d boy sai d.

By Jove, Br own, I f el t devi l i sh f ool i sh. I bel i eve I bl ushed, and

i t i sn' t of t en I i ndul ge i n t hat sor t of l uxur y. I f I wer en' t

ashamed of doi ng i t now, I shoul d t r y t o make f r i ends wi t h Har dy.

But I don' t know how t o f ace hi m, and I doubt whet her he woul dn' t

t hi nk me t oo much of a r i p t o be i nt i mat e wi t h. "

Tom, at hi s own speci al r equest , at t ended t he Capt ai n' s

depar t ur e, and t ook hi s seat opposi t e t o hi m and hi s son at t he

back of t he Sout hampt on coach, t o accompany hi m a f ew mi l es out

of Oxf or d. For t he f i r st mi l e t he Capt ai n was f ul l of t he

pl easur es of hi s vi si t , and of i nvi t at i ons t o Tom t o come and see

t hem i n t he vacat i on. I f he di d not mi nd homel y quar t er s, he

woul d f i nd a hear t y wel come, and t her e was no f i ner bat hi ng or

boat i ng pl ace on t he coast . I f he l i ked t o br i ng hi s gun, t her e

wer e pl ent y of r ock- pi geons and sea- ot t er s i n t he caves at t he

Poi nt . Tom pr ot est ed wi t h t he gr eat est si ncer i t y t hat t her e was

not hi ng he shoul d enj oy so much. Then t he young men got down t o

wal k up Bagl ey Hi l l , and when t hey mount ed agai n, f ound t he

Capt ai n wi t h a l ar ge l eat her case i n hi s hand, out of whi ch he

t ook t wo f i ve- pound not es, and began pr essi ng t hem on hi s son,

whi l e Tom t r i ed t o l ook as i f he di d not know what was goi ng on.

For some t i me Har dy st eadi l y r ef used, and t he cont ent i on became

ani mat ed, and i t was usel ess t o pr et end any l onger not t o hear .

" Why, Jack, you' r e not t oo pr oud, I hope, t o t ake a pr esent f r om

you own f at her , " t he Capt ai n sai d at l ast .

" But , my dear f at her , I don' t want t he money. You make me a ver y

good al l owance al r eady. "

" Now, Jack, j ust l i st en t o me and be r easonabl e. You know a gr eat

many of your f r i ends have been ver y hospi t abl e t o me; I coul d not

r et ur n t hei r hospi t al i t y mysel f , but I wi sh you t o do so f or me. "

" Wel l , f at her , I can do t hat wi t hout t hi s money. "

" Now, Jack, " sai d t he Capt ai n, pushi ng f or war d t he not es agai n,

" I i nsi st on your t aki ng t hem. You wi l l pai n me ver y much i f you

don' t t ake t hem. "

So t he son t ook t he not es at l ast , l ooki ng as most men of hi s age

woul d i f t hey had j ust l ost t hem, whi l e t he f at her ' s f ace was

r adi ant as he r epl aced hi s pocket book i n t he br east pocket

i nsi de hi s coat . Hi s eye caught Tom' s i n t he mi dst of t he

oper at i on, and t he l at t er coul d not hel p l ooki ng a l i t t l e

Page 195 of 443

conf used, as i f he had been uni nt ent i onal l y obt r udi ng on t hei r

pr i vacy. But t he Capt ai n at once l ai d hi s hand on hi s knee and

sai d, - -

" A young f el l ow i s never t he wor se f or havi ng a t en- pound not e t o

veer and haul on, eh, Mr . Br own?"

" No, i ndeed, si r . A gr eat deal bet t er I t hi nk, " sai d Tom, and was

qui t e comf or t abl e agai n. The Capt ai n had no new coat t hat summer ,

but he al ways l ooked l i ke a gent l eman.

Soon t he coach st opped t o t ake up a par cel at a cr ossr oad, and

t he young men got down. They st ood wat chi ng i t unt i l i t

di sappear ed r ound a cor ner of t he r oad, and t hen t ur ned back

t owar ds Oxf or d, and st r uck i nt o Bagl ey Wood, Har dy l i st eni ng wi t h

evi dent pl easur e t o hi s f r i end' s ent husi ast i c, pr ai se of hi s

f at her . But he was not i n a t al ki ng humour , and t hey wer e soon

wal ki ng al ong t oget her i n si l ence.

Thi s was t he f i r st t i me t hey had been al one t oget her si nce t he

mor ni ng af t er t hei r r econci l i at i on; so pr esent l y Tom sei zed t he

occasi on t o r ecur t o t he subj ect whi ch was upper most i n hi s

t hought s.

" She has never answer ed my l et t er , " he began abr upt l y.

" I am ver y gl ad of i t , " sai d Har dy.

" But why?"

" Because you know, you want i t al l br oken of f compl et el y. "

" Yes, but st i l l she mi ght have j ust acknowl edged i t . You don' t

know how har d i t i s f or me t o keep away f r om t he pl ace. "

" My dear f el l ow, I know i t must be har d wor k, but you ar e doi ng

t he r i ght t hi ng. "

" Yes, I hope so, " sai d Tom, wi t h a si gh. " I haven' t been wi t hi n a

hundr ed yar ds of ' The Choughs' t hi s f i ve days. The ol d l ady must

t hi nk i t so odd. "

Har dy made no r epl y. What coul d he say but t hat no doubt she di d?

" Woul d you mi nd doi ng me a gr eat f avor ?" sai d Tom, af t er a

mi nut e.

" Anyt hi ng I can do. - - What i s i t ?"

" Why, j ust t o st ep r ound on our way back, - - I wi l l st ay as f ar of f

as you l i ke, - - and see how t hi ngs ar e goi ng on; - - how she i s. "

" Ver y wel l . Don' t you l i ke t hi s vi ew of Oxf or d? I al ways t hi nk i t

i s t he best of t hem al l . "

" No. You don' t see anyt hi ng of hal f t he col l eges, " sai d Tom, who

was ver y l oat h t o l eave t he ot her subj ect f or t he pi ct ur esque.

" But you get al l t he spi r es and t ower s so wel l , and t he r i ver i n

t he f or egr ound. Look at t hat shadow of a cl oud ski mmi ng over

Chr i st chur ch Meadow. I t ' s a spl endi d ol d pl ace af t er al l . "

" I t may be f r om a di st ance, t o an out si der , " sai d Tom; " but I

don' t know- - i t ' s an awf ul l y chi l l y, deadeni ng ki nd of pl ace t o

Page 196 of 443

l i ve i n. Ther e' s somet hi ng i n t he l i f e of t he pl ace t hat si t s on

me l i ke a wei ght , and makes me f eel dr ear y. "

" How l ong have you f el t t hat ? You' r e comi ng out i n a new l i ne. "

" I wi sh I wer e. I want a new l i ne. I don' t car e a st r aw f or

cr i cket ; I har dl y l i ke pul l i ng; and as f or t hose wi ne par t i es day

af t er day, and supper s ni ght af t er ni ght , t hey t ur n me si ck t o

t hi nk of . "

" You have t he r emedy i n your own hands, at any r at e, " sai d Har dy,

smi l i ng.

" How do you mean?"

" Why, you needn' t go t o t hem. "

" Oh, one can' t hel p goi ng t o t hem. What el se i s t her e t o do! "

Tom wai t ed f or an answer , but hi s compani on onl y nodded t o show

t hat he was l i st eni ng, as he st r ol l ed on down t he pat h, l ooki ng

at t he vi ew.

" I can say what I f eel t o you, Har dy. I al ways have been abl e,

and i t ' s such a comf or t t o me now. I t was you who put t hese sor t

of t hought s i nt o my head, t oo, so you ought t o sympat hi ze wi t h

me. "

" I do, my dear f el l ow. But you' l l be al l r i ght agai n i n a f ew

days. "

" Don' t you bel i eve i t . I t i sn' t onl y what you seem t o t hi nk,

Har dy. You don' t know me so wel l as I do you, af t er al l . No, I ' m

not j ust l ove- si ck, and hi pped because I can' t go and see her .

That has somet hi ng t o do wi t h i t , I dar e say, but i t ' s t he sor t

of shut - up sel f i sh l i f e we l ead her e t hat I can' t st and. A man

i sn' t meant t o l i ve onl y wi t h f el l ows l i ke hi msel f , wi t h good

al l owances pai d quar t er l y, and no car e but how t o amuse

t hemsel ves. One i s ol d enough f or somet hi ng bet t er t han t hat , I ' m

sur e. "

" No doubt , " sai d Har dy wi t h pr ovoki ng t aci t ur ni t y.

" And t he moment one t r i es t o br eak t hr ough i t , one onl y get s i nt o

t r oubl e. "

" Yes, t her e' s a good deal of danger of t hat , cer t ai nl y, " sai d

Har dy.

" Don' t you of t en l ong t o be i n cont act wi t h some of t he r eal i t i es

of l i f e, wi t h men and women who haven' t t hei r br ead and but t er

al r eady cut f or t hem? How can a pl ace be a uni ver si t y wher e no

one can come up who hasn' t t wo hundr ed a year or so t o l i ve on?"

" You ought t o have been at Oxf or d f our hundr ed year s ago, when

t her e wer e mor e t housands her e t han we have hundr eds. "

" I don' t see t hat . I t must have been t en t i mes as bad t hen. "

" Not at al l . But i t must have been a ver y di f f er ent st at e of

t hi ngs f r om our s; t hey must have been al most al l poor schol ar s,

who wor ked f or t hei r l i vi ng, or l i ved on next t o not hi ng. "

" How do you r eal l y suppose t hey l i ved, t hough?"

Page 197 of 443

" Oh, I don' t know. But how shoul d you l i ke i t now, i f we had

f i f t y poor schol ar s at St . Ambr ose, besi des us ser vi t or s - - say t en

t ai l or s, t en shoemaker s, and so on, who came up f r om l ove of

l ear ni ng, and at t ended al l t he l ect ur es wi t h us, and wor ked f or

t he pr esent under gr aduat es whi l e t hey wer e hunt i ng, and

cr i cket i ng, and boat i ng?"

" Wel l , I t hi nk i t woul d be a ver y good t hi ng- - at any r at e, we

shoul d save i n t ai l or s' bi l l s. "

" Even i f we di dn' t get our coat s so wel l bui l t , " sai d Har dy,

l aughi ng. " Wel l , Br own, you have a most cat hol i c t ast e, and ' a

capaci t y f or t al ki ng i n new t r ut hs' , al l t he el ement s of a good

Radi cal i n you. "

" I t el l you, I hat e Radi cal s, " sai d Tom i ndi gnant l y.

" Wel l , her e we ar e i n t he t own. I ' l l go r ound by ' The Choughs'

and cat ch you up bef or e you get t o Hi gh St r eet . "

Tom, l ef t , t o hi msel f , wal ked sl owl y on f or a l i t t l e way, and

t hen qui ckl y back agai n i n an i mpat i ent , r est l ess manner , and was

wi t hi n a f ew yar ds of t he cor ner wher e t hey had par t ed, when

Har dy appear ed agai n. He saw at a gl ance t hat somet hi ng had

happened.

" What i s i t - - she i s not i l l ?" he sai d qui ckl y.

" No; qui t e wel l , her aunt says. "

" You di dn' t see her t hen?"

" No. The f act i s she has gone home. "

CHAPTER XXI I I

THE ENGLEBOURN CONSTABLE

On t he af t er noon of a spl endi d day i n t he ear l y par t of June,

some f our or f i ve days af t er t he Sunday on whi ch t he mor ni ng

ser vi ce at Engl ebour n was i nt er r upt ed by t he f i r e at Far mer

Gr oves' , Davi d Johnson, t ai l or and const abl e of t he par i sh, was

si t t i ng at hi s wor k i n a smal l er ect i on, hal f shed, hal f

summer - house, whi ch l eaned agai nst t he back of hi s cot t age. Not

t hat Davi d had not a r egul ar wor kshop, wi t h a wi ndow l ooki ng i nt o

t he vi l l age st r eet , and a r egul ar count er cl ose under i t , on

whi ch passer sby mi ght see hi m st i t chi ng, and f r om whi ch he coul d

gossi p wi t h t hem easi l y, as was hi s wont . But al t hough t he

const abl e kept t he ki ng' s peace and made gar ment s of al l ki nds

f or hi s l i vel i hood- - f r om t he cur at e' s f r ock down t o t he

pl oughboy' s f ust i ans- - he was addi ct ed f or hi s pl easur e and sol ace

t o t he keepi ng of bees. The const abl e' s bees i nhabi t ed a r ow of

hi ves i n t he nar r ow st r i p of gar den whi ch r an away at t he back of

t he cot t age. Thi s st r i p of gar den was bor der ed al ong t he whol e of

one si de by t he r ect or ' s pr emi ses. Now honest Davi d l oved gossi p

wel l , and consi der ed i t a par t of hi s dut y as const abl e t o be

wel l up i n al l event s and r umour s whi ch happened or ar ose wi t hi n

hi s l i ber t i es. But he l oved hi s bees bet t er t han gossi p, and, as

he was now i n hour l y expect at i on t hat t hey woul d be swar mi ng, was

wor ki ng, as has been sai d, i n hi s summer - house, t hat he mi ght be

at hand at t he cr i t i cal moment . The r ough t abl e on whi ch he was

Page 198 of 443

seat ed commanded a vi ew of t he hi ves; hi s bi g sci ssor s and some

shr eds of vel vet een l ay near hi m on t he t abl e, al so t he

st r eet - door key and an ol d shovel , of whi ch t he uses wi l l appear

pr esent l y.

On hi s knees l ay t he bl ack vel vet een coat , t he Sunday gar ment of

Har r y Wi nbur n, t o whi ch he was f i t t i ng new sl eeves. I n hi s

exer t i ons at t he t op of t he chi mney i n put t i ng out t he f i r e,

Har r y had gr i evousl y damaged t he gar ment i n quest i on. The f ar mer

had pr esent ed hi m wi t h f i ve shi l l i ngs on t he occasi on, whi ch sum

was qui t e i nadequat e t o t he pur chase of a new coat , and Har r y,

bei ng t oo pr oud t o cal l t he f ar mer ' s at t ent i on t o t he speci al

damage whi ch he had suf f er ed i n hi s ser vi ce, had cont ent ed

hi msel f wi t h br i ngi ng hi s ol d coat t o be new sl eeved.

Har r y was a f avor i t e wi t h t he const abl e on account of hi s

i nt el l i gence and i ndependence, and because of hi s r el at i ons wi t h

t he f ar mer s of Engl ebour n on t he al l ot ment quest i on. Al t hough by

hi s of f i ce t he r epr esent at i ve of l aw and or der i n t he par i sh,

Davi d was a man of t he peopl e, and sympat hi zed wi t h t he peasant r y

mor e t han wi t h t he f ar mer s. He had passed some year s of hi s

appr ent i ceshi p at Readi ng, wher e he had pi cked up not i ons on

pol i t i cal and soci al quest i ons much ahead of t he Engl ebour n

wor t hi es. When he r et ur ned t o hi s nat i ve vi l l age, bei ng a wi se

man, he had kept hi s new l i ght s i n t he backgr ound, and

consequent l y had succeeded i n t he obj ect of hi s ambi t i on, and had

been appoi nt ed const abl e. Hi s r eason f or seeki ng t he post was a

desi r e t o pr ove t hat t he ol d j oke as t o t he manl i ness of t ai l or s

had no appl i cat i on t o hi s case, and t hi s he had est abl i shed t o

t he sat i sf act i on of al l t he nei ghbor hood by t he r esol ut e manner

i n whi ch, whenever cal l ed on, he per f or med hi s dut i es. And, now

t hat hi s char act er was made and hi s posi t i on secur e, he was not

so car ef ul of bet r ayi ng hi s l eani ngs, and had l ost some cust om

amongst t he f ar mer s i n consequence of t hem.

The j ob on whi ch he was empl oyed nat ur al l y t ur ned hi s t hought s t o

Har r y. He st i t ched away, now wei ghi ng i n hi s mi nd whet her he

shoul d not go hi msel f t o Far mer Gr oves, and r epr esent t o hi m t hat

he ought t o gi ve Har r y a new coat ; now r ej oi ci ng over t he f act

t hat t he r ect or had deci ded t o l et Har r y have anot her acr e of t he

al l ot ment l and, now specul at i ng on t he at t achment of hi s f avor i t e

t o t he gar dener ' s daught er , and whet her he coul d do any t hi ng t o

f or war d hi s sui t . I n t he pur sui t of whi ch t hought s he had

f or got t en al l about hi s bees, when suddenl y a gr eat hummi ng

ar ose, f ol l owed by a r ush t hr ough t he ai r l i ke t he passi ng of an

expr ess t r ai n, whi ch r ecal l ed hi m t o hi msel f . He j umped f r om t he

t abl e, cast i ng asi de t he coat , and sei zi ng t he key and shovel ,

hur r i ed out i nt o t he gar den, beat i ng t he t wo t oget her wi t h al l

hi s mi ght .

The pr ocess i n quest i on, known i n count r y phr ase as " t angi ng" , i s

f ounded upon t he bel i ef t hat t he bees wi l l not set t l e unl ess

under t he i nf l uence of t hi s pecul i ar musi c; and t he const abl e,

hol di ng f ai t hf ul l y t o t he popul ar bel i ef , r ushed down hi s gar den,

" t angi ng" as t hough hi s l i f e depended upon i t , i n t he hopes t hat

t he soot hi ng sound woul d i nduce t he swar m t o set t l e at once on

hi s own appl e t r ees.

I s " t angi ng" a super st i t i on or not ? Peopl e l ear ned i n bees ought

t o know, but I never happened t o meet one who had set t l ed t he

quest i on. I t i s cur i ous how such bel i ef s or super st i t i ons f i x

t hemsel ves i n t he popul ar mi nd of a count r ysi de, and ar e hel d by

wi se and si mpl e al i ke. Davi d t he const abl e was a most sensi bl e

and open- mi nded man of hi s t i me and cl ass, but Kembl e or Aker man,

Page 199 of 443

or ot her l ear ned Angl o- Saxon schol ar s woul d have vai nl y expl ai ned

t o hi m t hat " t ang" , i s but t he ol d wor d f or " t o hol d" , and t hat

t he obj ect of " t angi ng" i s, not t o l ur e t he bees wi t h sweet musi c

of key and shovel , but t o gi ve not i ce t o t he nei ghbour s t hat t hey

have swar med, and t hat t he owner of t he mat er nal hi ve means t o

hol d on t o hi s r i ght t o t he emi gr ant s. Davi d woul d have l i st ened

t o t he l ect ur e wi t h pi t y, and have r et ai ned unshaken bel i ef i n

hi s musi c.

I n t he pr esent case, however , t he t angi ng was of l i t t l e avai l ,

f or t he swar m, af t er wheel i ng once or t wi ce i n t he ai r ,

di sappear ed f r om t he eyes of t he const abl e over t he r ect or ' s

wal l . He went on " t angi ng" vi ol ent l y f or a mi nut e or t wo, and

t hen paused t o consi der what was t o be done. Shoul d he get over

t he wal l i nt o t he r ect or ' s gar den at once, or shoul d he go r ound

and ask l eave t o car r y hi s sear ch i nt o t he par sonage gr ounds? As

a man and bee- f anci er he was on t he poi nt of f ol l owi ng st r ai ght

at once, over wal l and f ence; but t he const abl e was al so st r ong

wi t hi n hi m. He was not on t he best of t er ms wi t h ol d Si mon, t he

r ect or ' s gar dener , and hi s l at e opposi t i on t o Mi ss Wi nt er i n t he

mat t er of t he si ngi ng al so came i nt o hi s mi nd. So he r esol ved

t hat t he par i sh const abl e woul d l ose cast e by di sr egar di ng hi s

nei ghbour ' s boundar i es, and was consi der i ng what t o do next , when

he hear d a f oot st ep and shor t cough on t he ot her si de of t he wal l

whi ch he r ecogni zed.

" Be you t her e, Maest er Si mon?" he cal l ed out . Wher e upon t he

wal ker on t he ot her si de pul l ed up, and af t er a second appeal

answer ed shor t l y- -

" E' es. "

" Hev' ee seed ought o' my bees? Thaay' ve a bi n' and r i z, and gone

of f somwer es at her t t he wal l . "

" E' es, I seen ' em. "

" Wer ' be ' em t hen?"

" Aal - amang wi ' our n i n t he l i mes. "

" Aal - amang wi ' your n, " excl ai med t he const abl e. " Dr at t l e ' em.

Thaay be mor e t r oubl e t han t hey be wut h. "

" I knowd as t haay wur your n zoon as ever I sot eyes on ' em, " ol d

Si mon went on.

" How di d' ee know ' em t hen?" asked t he const abl e.

" ' Cause t hi ne be aal zet t i n' cr ass- l egged, " sai d Si mon, wi t h a

chuckl e. " Thee medst cum and pi ck ' em al l out i f t hee' st a mi nd

t o ' t . "

Si mon was mol l i f i ed by hi s own j oke, and br oke i nt o a shor t , dr y

cachi nnat i on, hal f l augh, hal f cough; whi l e t he const abl e, who

was pl eased and ast oni shed t o f i nd hi s nei ghbour i n such a good

humour , hast ened t o get an empt y hi ve and a pai r of hedger ' s

gl oves- - f or t i f i ed wi t h whi ch he l ef t hi s cot t age and made t he

best of hi s way up st r eet t owar ds t he Rect or y gat e, har d by whi ch

st ood Si mon' s cot t age.

The ol d gar dener was of an i mpat i ent nat ur e, and t he ef f ect of

t he j oke had al most t i me t o evapor at e, and Si mon was f ast

r el apsi ng i nt o hi s usual st at e of mi nd t owar ds hi s nei ghbour

Page 200 of 443

bef or e t he l at t er made hi s appear ance.

" Wher ' hast been so l ong?" he excl ai med, when t he const abl e

j oi ned hi m.

" I seed t he young mi ssus and t ' ot her young l ady a st andi n'

t al ki n' af or e t he door , " sai d Davi d; " so I st opped back, so as

not t o dl st ur ve ' em. "

" Be ' em gone i n? Who was ' em t al ki n' t o?"

" To t hy mi ssus, and t hy daar t er t oo, I b' l i eve ' t was. Thaay be

bot h at whoam, bean' t ' em?"

" Li ke enough. But what was ' em zayi n' ?"

" I coul dn' t heer not hi n' par t i c' l ar , but I j udged as ' t was summat

about Sunday and t he f i r e. "

" ' Ti s na use f or t haay t o go on f i l l i n' our pl ace wi ' bot t l es. I

dwon' t mean t o t ake no mwor e doct or ' s st uf f . "

Si mon, i t may be sai d, by t he way, had obst i nat el y r ef used t o

t ake any medi ci ne si nce hi s f al l , and had mai nt ai ned a const ant

war on t he subj ect , bot h wi t h hi s own women and Mi ss Wi nt er , whom

he had i mpr essed mor e t han ever wi t h a bel i ef i n hi s

wr ongheadedness.

" Ah! and how be' ee, t ho' , Maest er Si mon?" sai d Davi d, " I di dn' t

mi nd t o ax af or e' . You dwon' t f eel no wus f or your f al l , I

hopes?"

" I f eel s a bi t st i f f i sh l i ke, and as i f summat wur cut t i n' m' at

t i mes, when I l i f t s up my ar ms. "

" ' Ti s a mer cy ' t i s no wus, " sai d Davi d; " we bean' t so young nor

l i ssom as we was; Maest er Si mon. "

To whi ch r emar k Si mon r epl i ed by a gr unt . He di sl i ked al l usi ons

t o hi s age- - a r ar e di sl i ke amongst hi s cl ass i n t hat par t of t he

count r y. Most of t he peopl e ar e f ond of maki ng t hemsel ves out

ol der t han t hey ar e, and l ove t o dwel l on t hei r exper i ences, and

bel i eve, as f i r ml y as t he r est of us, t hat ever yt hi ng has al t er ed

f or t he wor se i n t he par i sh and di st r i ct si nce t hei r yout h.

But Si mon, t hough shor t of wor ds and t emper , and an uncomf or t abl e

acquai nt ance i n consequence, was i ncl i ned t o be hel pf ul enough i n

ot her ways. The const abl e, wi t h hi s assi st ance, had ver y soon

hi ved hi s swar m of cr oss- l egged bees.

Then t he const abl e i nsi st ed on Si mon' s comi ng wi t h hi m and t aki ng

a gl ass of al e, whi ch, af t er a l i t t l e coquet t i ng, Si mon consent ed

t o do. So, af t er car r yi ng hi s r e- capt ur e saf el y home, and

er ect i ng t he hi ve on a t hr ee- l egged st and of hi s own wor kmanshi p,

he hast ened t o r ej oi n Si mon, and t he t wo soon f ound t hemsel ves i n

t he bar of t he " Red Li on. "

The const abl e wi shed t o make t he most of t hi s oppor t uni t y, and so

began at once t o pump Si mon as t o hi s i nt ent i ons wi t h r egar d t o

hi s daught er . But Si mon was not easy t o l ead i n anyway what ever ,

and seemed i n a mor e t han usual l y no- busi ness- of - your s l i ne about

hi s daught er . Whet her he had anyone i n hi s eye f or her or not ,

Davi d coul d not make out ; but one t hi ng he di d make out , and i t

gr i eved hi m much. Ol d Si mon was i n a t ouchy and unf r i endl y st at e

Page 201 of 443

of mi nd agai nst Har r y, who, he sai d, was f al l i ng i nt o bad ways,

and begi nni ng t o t hi nk much t oo much of hi s sel f . Why was he t o

be want i ng mor e al l ot ment gr ound t han anyone el se? Si mon had

hi msel f gi ven Har r y some advi ce on t he poi nt , but not t o much

pur pose, i t woul d seem, as he summed up hi s not i ons on t he

subj ect by t he r emar k t hat , " ' Twas wast e of soap t o l at her an

ass. "

The const abl e now and t hen made a st and f or hi s young f r i end, but

ver y j udi ci ousl y; and, af t er f eel i ng hi s way f or some t i me, he

came t o t he concl usi on- - as, i ndeed, t he t r ut h was- - t hat Si mon was

j eal ous of Har r y' s t al ent f or gr owi ng f l ower s, and had been

dr i ven i nt o hi s pr esent f r ame of mi nd at hear i ng Mi ss Wi nt er and

her cousi n t al ki ng about t he f l ower s, at Dame Wi nbur n' s under hi s

ver y nose f or t he l ast f our or f i ve days. They had spoken t hus t o

i nt er est t he ol d man, meani ng t o pr ai se Har r y t o hi m. The f act

was, t hat t he ol d gar dener was one of t hose men who never can

st and hear i ng ot her peopl e pr ai sed, and t hi nk t hat al l such

pr ai se must be meant i n depr eci at i on of t hemsel ves.

When t hey had f i ni shed t hei r al e, t he af t er noon was get t i ng on,

and t he const abl e r ose t o go back t o hi s wor k; whi l e ol d Si mon

decl ar ed hi s i nt ent i on of goi ng down t o t he hay - f i el d, t o see how

t he mowi ng was get t i ng on. He was sur e t hat t he hay woul d never

be made pr oper l y, now t hat he coul dn' t be about as much as usual .

I n anot her hour t he coat was f i ni shed, and t he const abl e bei ng

uneasy i n hi s mi nd, r esol ved t o car r y t he gar ment home hi msel f at

once, and t o have a t al k wi t h Dame Wi nbur n. So he wr apped t he

coat i n a handker chi ef , put i t under hi s ar m, and set of f down

t he vi l l age.

He f ound t he dame busy wi t h her washi ng; and af t er deposi t i ng hi s

par cel , sat down on t he set t l e t o have a t al k wi t h her . They soon

got on t he subj ect whi ch was al ways upper most i n her mi nd, her

son' s pr ospect s, and she pour ed out t o t he const abl e her

t r oubl es. Fi r st t her e was t hi s sweet - hear t i ng af t er ol d Si mon' s

daught er , - - not t hat Dame Wi nbur n was goi ng t o say anyt hi ng

agai nst her , t hough she mi ght have her t hought s as wel l as ot her

f ol k, and f or her par t she l i ked t o see gi r l s t hat wer e f i t f or

somet hi ng besi des dr essi ng t hemsel ves up l i ke t hei r bet t er s, - - but

what wor r i ed her was t o see how Har r y t ook i t t o hear t . He wasn' t

l i ke hi msel f , and she coul dn' t see how i t was al l t o end. I t made

hi m f r act i ous, t oo, and he was get t i ng i nt o t r oubl e about hi s

wor k. He had l ef t hi s r egul ar pl ace, and was gone mowi ng wi t h a

gang, most of t hem men out of t he par i sh t hat she knew not hi ng

about , and l i kel y not t o be t he best of company. And i t was al l

ver y wel l i n har vest t i me, when t hey coul d go and ear n good wages

at mowi ng and r eapi ng any wher e about , and no man coul d ear n

bet t er t han her Har r y, but when i t came t o wi nt er agai n she

di dn' t see but what he mi ght f i nd t he want of a r egul ar pl ace,

and t hen t he f ar mer s mi ght n' t t ake hi m on; and hi s own l and, t hat

he had got , and seemed t o t hi nk so much of , mi ght n' t t ur n out al l

he t hought i t woul d. And so i n f act t he ol d l ady was t r oubl ed i n

her mi nd, and onl y made t he const abl e mor e uneasy. He had a vague

sor t of i mpr essi on t hat he was i n some way answer abl e f or Har r y,

who was a good deal wi t h hi m, and was f ond of comi ng about hi s

pl ace. And al t hough hi s cot t age happened t o be next t o ol d

Si mon' s, whi ch mi ght account f or t he f act t o some ext ent , yet t he

const abl e was consci ous of havi ng t al ked t o hi s young f r i end on

many mat t er s i n a way whi ch mi ght have unset t l ed hi m, and

encour aged hi s nat ur al t endency t o st and up f or hi s own r i ght s

and i ndependence, and he knew wel l enough t hat t hi s t emper was

not t he one whi ch was l i kel y t o keep a l abour i ng man out of

Page 202 of 443

t r oubl e i n t he par i sh.

He di d not al l ow hi s own mi sgi vi ngs, however , t o add t o t he

wi dow' s t r oubl es, but , on t he cont r ar y, cheer ed her by pr ai si ng

up Har r y as much as even she coul d desi r e, and pr ophesyi ng t hat

al l woul d come r i ght , and t hat t hose t hat l i ved woul d see her son

as r espect ed as any man i n t he par i sh; he shoul dn' t be sur pr i sed,

i ndeed, i f he wer e chur ch- war den bef or e he di ed. And t hen,

ast oni shed at hi s own bol dness, and f eel i ng t hat he was not

capabl e of any hi gher f l i ght of i magi nat i on, t he const abl e r ose

t o t ake hi s l eave. He asked wher e Har r y was wor ki ng, and, f i ndi ng

t hat he was at mowi ng i n t he Danes' Cl ose, set of f t o l ook af t er

hi m. The ki nd- hear t ed const abl e coul d not shake of f t he f eel i ng

t hat somet hi ng was goi ng t o happen t o Har r y whi ch woul d get hi m

i nt o t r oubl e, and he want ed t o assur e hi msel f t hat as yet not hi ng

had gone wr ong. Whenever one has t hi s sor t of vague f eel i ng about

a f r i end, t her e i s a nat ur al and i r r esi st i bl e i mpul se t o go and

l ook af t er hi m, and t o be wi t h hi m.

The Danes' Cl ose was a par t of t he gl ebe, a l ar ge f i el d of some

t en acr es or so i n ext ent , cl ose t o t he vi l l age. Two f oot pat hs

r an acr oss i t , so t hat i t was al most common pr oper t y, and t he

vi l l age chi l dr en consi der ed i t as much t hei r pl aygr ound as t he

gr een i t sel f . They t r ampl ed t he gr ass a good deal mor e t han

seemed endur abl e i n t he eyes of Si mon, who managed t he r ect or ' s

f ar mi ng oper at i ons as wel l as t he gar den; but t he chi l dr en had

t hei r own way, not wi t hst andi ng t he t hr eat s he somet i mes l aunched

at t hem. Mi ss Wi nt er woul d have sooner l ost al l t he hay t han have

nar r owed t hei r amusement s. I t was t he most di f f i cul t pi ece of

mowi ng i n t he par i sh, i n consequence of t he t r ampl i ngs and of t he

l ar ge cr ops i t bor e. The Danes, or some ot her unknown per sons,

had made t he l and f at , per haps wi t h t hei r car casses, and t he

benef i t had l ast ed t o t he t i me of our st or y. At any r at e, t he

f i el d bor e spl endi d cr ops, and t he mower s al ways got an ext r a

shi l l i ng an acr e f or cut t i ng i t , by Mi ss Wi nt er ' s speci al or der ,

whi ch was pai d by Si mon i n t he most ungr aci ous manner , and wi t h

many gr umbl i ngs t hat i t was enough t o r ui n al l t he mower s i n t he

count r ysi de.

As t he const abl e got over t he st i l e i nt o t he hay - f i el d, a gr eat

par t of hi s mi sgi vi ngs passed out of hi s head. He was a si mpl e

ki ndl y man, whose hear t l ay open t o al l i nf l uences of scene and

weat her , and t he Danes' Cl ose, f ul l of l i f e and j oy and mer r y

sounds, as seen under t he sl ant i ng r ays of t he eveni ng sun, was

j ust t he pl ace t o r ub al l t he wr i nkl es out of hi m.

The const abl e, however , i s not si ngul ar i n t hi s mat t er . What man

amongst us al l , i f he wi l l t hi nk t he mat t er over cal ml y and

f ai r l y, can honest l y say t hat t her e i s any one spot on t he

ear t h' s sur f ace i n whi ch he has enj oyed so much r eal , whol esome,

happy l i f e as i n a hay f i el d? He may have won r enown on hor seback

or on f oot at t he spor t s and past i mes i n whi ch Engl i shmen gl or y;

he may have shaken of f al l r i val s, t i me af t er t i me, acr oss t he

val es of Ayl esbur y, or of Ber ks, or any ot her of our f amous

hunt i ng count i es; he may have st al ked t he ol dest and shyest buck

i n Scot ch f or est s, and ki l l ed t he bi ggest sal mon of t he year i n

t he Tweed, and t he t r out i n t he Thames; he may have made t oppi ng

aver ages i n f i r st - r at e mat ches of cr i cket ; or have made l ong and

per i l ous mar ches, dear t o memor y, over boggy moor , or mount ai n,

or gl aci er ; he may have successf ul l y at t ended many

br eakf ast - par t i es, wi t hi n dr i ve of Mayf ai r , on vel vet l awns,

sur r ounded by al l t he f ai r yl and of pomp, and beaut y, and l uxur y,

whi ch London can pour out ; he may have shone at pr i vat e

t heat r i cal s and at - homes; hi s voi ce may have sounded over hushed

Page 203 of 443

audi ences at St . St ephen' s, or i n t he l aw cour t s; or he may have

had good t i mes i n any ot her scenes of pl easur e or t r i umph open t o

Engl i shmen; but I much doubt whet her , on put t i ng hi s

r ecol l ect i ons f ai r l y and qui et l y t oget her , he woul d not say at

l ast t hat t he f r esh mown hay f i el d i s t he pl ace wher e he has

spent t he most hour s whi ch he woul d l i ke t o l i ve over agai n, t he

f ewest whi ch he woul d wi sh t o f or get .

As chi l dr en, we st umbl e about t he new- mown hay, r evel l i ng i n t he

many col or s of t he pr ost r at e gr ass and wi l d f l ower s, and i n t he

power of t umbl i ng wher e we pl ease wi t hout hur t i ng our sel ves; as

smal l boys, we pel t one anot her and t he vi l l age school gi r l s and

our nur semai ds and young l ady cousi ns wi t h t he hay, t i l l , hot and

wear y, we r et i r e t o t ea or syl l abub beneat h t he shade of some

gr eat oak or el m, st andi ng up l i ke a monar ch out of t he f ai r

past ur e; or , f ol l owi ng t he mower s, we r ush wi t h eager ness on t he

t r easur es di scl osed by t he scyt he- st r oke, - - t he nest of t he

unhappy l at e l ayi ng t i t l ar k, or car el ess f i el d- mouse; as bi g

boys, we t oi l ambi t i ousl y wi t h t he spar e f or ks and r akes, or

cl i mb i nt o t he wagons and r ecei ve wi t h open ar ms t he del i ci ous

l oad as i t i s pi t ched up f r om bel ow, and r i ses hi gher and hi gher

as we pass al ong t he l ong l i nes of haycocks; a year or t wo l at er

we ar e st r ol l i ng t her e wi t h our f i r st sweet hear t s, our soul s and

t ongues, l oaded wi t h sweet t hought s and sof t speeches; we t ake a

t ur n wi t h t he scyt he as t he br onzed mower s l i e i n t he shade f or

t hei r shor t r est , and wi l l i ngl y pay our f oot i ng f or t he f eat .

Agai n, we come back wi t h book i n pocket , and our own chi l dr en

t umbl i ng about as we di d bef or e t hem; now r ompi ng wi t h t hem, and

smot her i ng t hem wi t h t he sweet - smel l i ng l oad- - now musi ng and

r eadi ng and dozi ng away t he del i ci ous summer eveni ngs. And so

shal l we not come back t o t he end, enj oyi ng as gr andf at her s t he

l ovemaki ng and t he r ompi ngs of younger gener at i ons yet ?

Wer e any of us ever r eal l y di sappoi nt ed or mel anchol y i n a

hay- f i el d? Di d we ever l i e f ai r l y back on a haycock and l ook up

i nt o t he bl ue sky and l i st en t o t he mer r y sounds, t he whet t i ng of

scyt hes and t he l aughi ng pr at t l e of women and chi l dr en, and t hi nk

evi l t hought s of t he wor l d and of or our br et hr en? Not we! Or i f

we have so done, we ought t o be ashamed of our sel ves, and deser ve

never t o be out of t own agai n dur i ng hay- har vest .

Ther e i s somet hi ng i n t he si ght s and sounds of a hay - f i el d whi ch

seems t o t ouch t he same chor d i n one as Lowel l ' s l i nes i n t he

" Lay of Si r Launf al , " whi ch end- -

" For a cap and bel l s our l i ves we pay;

We wear out our l i ves wi t h t oi l i ng and t aski ng;

I t i s onl y Heaven t hat i s gi ven away;

I t i s onl y God may be had f or t he aski ng.

Ther e i s no pr i ce set on t he l avi sh summer ,

And June may be had by t he poor est comer . "

But t he phi l osophy of t he hay- f i el d r emai ns t o be wr i t t en. Let us

hope t hat whoever t akes t he subj ect i n hand wi l l not di ssi pat e

al l i t s sweet ness i n t he pr ocess of t he i nqui r y wher ei n t he char m

l i es.

The const abl e had not t he sl i ght est not i on of specul at i ng on hi s

own sensat i ons, but was ver y gl ad, never t hel ess, t o f i nd hi s

spi r i t s r i si ng as he st epped i nt o t he Danes' Cl ose. Al l t he hay

was down, except a smal l pi ece i n t he f ur t her cor ner , whi ch t he

mower s wer e upon. Ther e wer e gr oups of chi l dr en i n many par t s of

t he f i el d, and women t o l ook af t er t hem, most l y si t t i ng on t he

f r esh swar t h, wor ki ng and gossi pi ng, whi l e t he l i t t l e ones pl ayed

Page 204 of 443

about . He had not gone t went y yar ds bef or e he was st opped by t he

vi ol ent cr yi ng of a chi l d; and t ur ni ng t owar d t he voi ce, he saw a

l i t t l e gi r l of si x or seven, who had st r ayed f r om her mot her ,

scr ambl i ng out of t he di t ch, and wr i ngi ng her hands i n an agony

of pai n and t er r or . The poor l i t t l e t hi ng had f al l en i nt o a bed

of net t l es, and was ver y much f r i ght ened, and not a l i t t l e hur t .

The const abl e caught her up i n hi s ar ms, soot hi ng her as wel l as

he coul d, and hur r yi ng al ong t i l l he f ound some dock - l eaves, sat

down wi t h her on hi s knee, and r ubbed her hands wi t h t he l eaves,

r epeat i ng t he ol d saw- -

" Our net t l e,

I n dock;

Dock shal l ha'

A new smock;

Net t l e shan' t

Ha' nar r un' . "

What wi t h t he r ubbi ng, and t he const abl e' s ki nd manner , and

l i st eni ng t o t he dogger el r hyme, and f eel i ng t hat net t l e woul d

get her deser t s, t he l i t t l e t hi ng soon ceased cr yi ng. But sever al

gr oups had been dr awn t owar ds t he pl ace, and amongst t he r est

came Mi ss Wi nt er and her cousi n, who had been wi t hi n hear i ng of

t he di sast er . The const abl e began t o f eel ver y ner vous and

uncomf or t abl e, when he l ooked up f r om hi s char i t abl e occupat i on,

and suddenl y f ound t he r ect or ' s daught er cl ose t o hi m. But hi s

ner vousness was uncal l ed f or . The si ght of what he was about , and

of t he t ender way i n whi ch he was handl i ng t he chi l d, dr ove al l

r emembr ance of hi s her esi es and cont umaci ousness i n t he mat t er of

psal mody out of her head. She gr eet ed hi m wi t h f r ankness and

cor di al i t y, and pr esent l y- - when he had gi ven up hi s char ge t o t he

mot her , who was i ncl i ned at f i r st t o be har d wi t h t he poor l i t t l e

sobbi ng t r uant - - came up, and sai d she wi shed t o speak a f ew wor ds

t o hi m.

Davi d was hi ghl y del i ght ed at Mi ss Wi nt er ' s manner ; but he wal ked

al ong at her si de not qui t e comf or t abl e i n hi s mi nd, f or f ear

l est she shoul d st ar t t he ol d subj ect of di sput e, and t hen hi s

dut y as a publ i c man woul d have t o be done at al l r i sk of

of f endi ng her . He was much comf or t ed when she began by aski ng hi m

whet her he had seen much of Wi dow Wi nbur n' s son l at el y.

Davi d admi t t ed t hat he gener al l y saw hi m ever y day.

Di d he know t hat he had l ef t hi s pl ace, and had quar r el l ed wi t h

Mr . Test er ?

Yes, Davi d knew t hat Har r y had had wor ds wi t h Far mer Test er ; but

Far mer Test er was a sor t t hat was ver y har d not t o have wor ds

wi t h.

" St i l l , i t i s ver y bad, you know, f or so young a man t o be

quar r el l i ng wi t h t he f ar mer s, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er .

" ' Twas t he var mer as quar r el ed wi ' he, you see, mi ss, " Davi d

answer ed, " whi ch makes al l t he odds. He cum t o Har r y al l i n a

f l ust er , and sai d as how he must dr ow up t he l and as he' d a' got ,

or he' s pl ace- - one or t ' ot her on ' em. And so you see, Mi ss, as

Har r y wur ki nd o' dr uv t o i t . ' Twar n' t l i kel y as he wur t o dr ow

up t he l and now as he wer e j ust r eppi n' t he benef i t ov i t , and

al l f or Var mer Test er ' s pl ace, wi ch be no si ch gur t t hi ngs, mi ss,

ar t er al l . "

" Ver y l i kel y not ; but I f ear i t may hi nder hi s get t i ng

Page 205 of 443

empl oyment . The ot her f ar mer s wi l l not t ake hi m on now i f t hey

can hel p i t . "

" No; t haay f al l s out wi ' one anot her bad enough, and cal l s al l

manner o' names. But t haay can' t abi de a poor man t o speak hi s

mi nd, nor t ake hi s own par t , not one on ' em, " sai d Davi d, l ooki ng

at Mi ss Wi nt er , as i f doubt f ul how she mi ght t ake hi s st r i ct ur es;

but she went on wi t hout any show of di ssent , - -

" I shal l t r y t o get hi m wor k f or my f at her , but I am sor r y t o

f i nd t hat Si mon does not seem t o l i ke t he i dea of t aki ng hi m on.

I t i s not easy al ways t o make out Si mon' s meani ng. When I spoke

t o hi m, he sai d somet hi ng about a bl eat i ng sheep l osi ng a bi t e;

but I shoul d t hi nk t hi s young man i s not much of a t al ker i n

gener al ?" - - she paused.

" That ' s t r ue, mi ss, " sai d Davi d, ener get i cal l y; " t her e ai n' t a

qui et er spoken or st eadi er man at hi s wor k i n t he par i sh. "

" I ' m ver y gl ad t o hear you say so, " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er , " and I hope

we may soon do somet hi ng f or hi m. But what I want you t o do j ust

now i s t o speak a wor d t o hi m about t he company he seems t o be

get t i ng i nt o. "

The const abl e l ooked somewhat aghast at t hi s speech of Mi ss

Wi nt er ' s, but di d not answer , not knowi ng t o what she was

al l udi ng. She saw t hat he di d not under st and, and went on- -

" He i s mowi ng t o- day wi t h a gang f r om t he heat h and t he next

par i sh; I am sur e t hey ar e ver y bad men f or hi m t o be wi t h. I was

so vexed when I f ound Si mon had gi ven t hem t he j ob; but he sai d

t hey woul d get i t al l down i n a day, and be done wi t h i t , and

t hat was al l he car ed f or . "

" And ' t i s a f i ne day' s wor k, mi ss, f or f i ve men, " sai d Davi d,

l ooki ng over t he f i el d; " and ' t i s good wor k t oo, you mi nd t he

swar t h el se, " and he pi cked up a handf ul of t he f al l en gr ass t o

show her how near t he gr ound i t was cut .

" Oh, yes, I have no doubt t hey ar e ver y good mower s, but t hey ar e

not good men, I ' m sur e. Ther e, do you see now who i t i s t hat i s

br i ngi ng t hem beer ? I hope you wi l l see Wi dow Wi nbur n' s son, and

speak t o hi m, and t r y t o keep hi m out of bad company. We shoul d

be al l so sor r y i f he wer e t o get i nt o t r oubl e. "

Davi d pr omi sed t o do hi s best , and Mi ss Wi nt er wi shed hi m good

eveni ng, and r ej oi ned her cousi n.

" Wel l , Kat i e, wi l l he do your behest ?"

" Yes, i ndeed; and I t hi nk he i s t he best per son t o do i t . Wi dow

Wi nbur n t hi nks her son mi nds hi m mor e t han any one. "

" Do you know, I don' t t hi nk i t wi l l ever go r i ght . I ' m sur e she

doesn' t car e t he l east f or hi m. "

" Oh, you have onl y j ust seen her once f or t wo or t hr ee mi nut es. "

" And t hen t hat wr et ched ol d Si mon i s so per ver se about i t , " sai d

t he cousi n. " You wi l l never manage hi m. "

" He i s ver y pr ovoki ng, cer t ai nl y; but I get my own way gener al l y,

i n spi t e of hi m. And i t i s such a per f ect pl an, i sn' t i t ! "

Page 206 of 443

" Oh, char mi ng! i f you can onl y br i ng i t about . "

" Now we must be r eal l y goi ng home; papa wi l l be get t i ng

r est l ess. " So t he young l adi es l ef t t he hay - f i el d deep i n

cast l e- bui l di ng f or Har r y Wi nbur n and t he gar dener ' s daught er ,

Mi ss Wi nt er bei ng no mor e abl e t o r esi st a t al e of t r ue l ove t han

her cousi n, or t he r est of her sex. They woul d have been mor e or

l ess t han woman i f t hey had not t aken an i nt er est i n so absor bi ng

a passi on as poor Har r y' s. By t he t i me t hey r eached t he Rect or y

gat e t hey had i nst al l ed hi m i n t he gar dener ' s cot t age wi t h hi s

br i de and mot her ( f or t her e woul d be pl ent y of r oom f or t he

wi dow, and i t woul d be so conveni ent t o have t he l aundr y cl ose at

hand) and had pent i oned ol d Si mon, and sent hi m and hi s ol d wi f e

t o wr angl e away t he r est of t hei r t i me i n t he wi dow' s cot t age.

Cast l e- bui l di ng i s a del i ght f ul and har ml ess exer ci se.

Meant i me Davi d t he const abl e had gone t owar ds t he mower s, who

wer e t aki ng a shor t r est bef or e f i ni shi ng of f t he l ast hal f - acr e

whi ch r emai ned st andi ng. The per son whose appear ance had so

hor r i f i ed Mi ss Wi nt er was dr awi ng beer f or t hem f r om a smal l

bar r el . Thi s was an el der l y r aw- boned woman wi t h a ski n bur nt as

br own as t hat of any of t he mower s. She wor e a man' s hat and

spencer and had a st r ong har sh voi ce, and al t oget her was not a

pr epossessi ng per son. She went by t he name of Daddy Cowel l i n t he

par i sh, and had been f or year s a pr oscr i bed per son. She l i ved up

on t he heat h, of t en wor ked i n t he f i el ds, t ook i n l odger s, and

smoked a shor t cl ay pi pe. These eccent r i ci t i es, when added t o her

hal f - made cl ot hi ng, wer e qui t e enough t o account f or t he sor t of

out l awr y i n whi ch she l i ved. Mi ss Wi nt er , and ot her good peopl e

of Engl ebour n, bel i eved her capabl e of any cr i me, and t he

chi l dr en wer e t aught t o st op t al ki ng and pl ayi ng, and r un away

when she came near t hem; but t he const abl e, who had had one or

t wo sear ch- war r ant s t o execut e i n her house, and had ot her wi se

had f r equent occasi ons of get t i ng acquai nt ed wi t h her i n t he

cour se of hi s dut i es, had by no means so evi l an opi ni on of her .

He had never seen much har m i n her , he had of t en been hear d t o

say, and she never made pr et ence t o much good. Never t hel ess,

Davi d was by no means pl eased t o see her act i ng as pur veyor t o

t he gang whi ch Har r y had j oi ned. He knew how such cont act woul d

damage hi m i n t he eyes of al l t he par ochi al r espect abi l i t i es, and

was anxi ous t o do hi s best t o get hi m cl ear of i t .

Wi t h t hese vi ews he went up t o t he men, who wer e r est i ng under a

l ar ge el m t r ee, and compl i ment ed t hem on t hei r day' s wor k. They

wer e t hemsel ves wel l sat i sf i ed wi t h i t , and wi t h one anot her .

When men have had si xt een hour s or so har d mowi ng i n company, and

none of t hem can say t hat t he ot her s have not done t hei r f ai r

shar e, t hey ar e apt t o r espect one anot her mor e at t he end of i t .

I t was Har r y' s f i r st day wi t h t hi s gang, who wer e f amous f or

goi ng about t he nei ghbour hood, and doi ng gr eat f eat s i n hay and

wheat har vest . They wer e sat i sf i ed wi t h hi m and he wi t h t hem,

none t he l ess so pr obabl y i n hi s pr esent f r ame of mi nd, because

t hey al so wer e l oose on t he wor l d, ser vant s of no r egul ar mast er .

I t was a bad t i me t o make hi s appr oaches, t he const abl e saw; so,

af t er si t t i ng by Har r y unt i l t he gang r ose t o f i ni sh of f t hei r

wor k i n t he cool of t he eveni ng, and aski ng hi m t o come r ound by

hi s cot t age on hi s way home, whi ch Har r y pr omi sed t o do, he

wal ked back t o t he vi l l age.

CHAPTER XXI V

THE SCHOOLS.

Page 207 of 443

Ther e i s no mor e char act er i st i c spot i n Oxf or d t han t he

quadr angl e of t he school s. Doubt l ess i n t he t i mes when t he

Uni ver si t y hel d and exer ci sed t he pr i vi l eges of i nf ang- t hi ef and

out f ang- t hi ef , and ot her such ol d- wor l d r i ght s, t her e must have

been a pl ace somewher e wi t hi n t he l i ber t i es devot ed t o

exami nat i ons even mor e exci t i ng t han t he gr eat - go. But si nce

_al ma mat er _ has ceased t o t ake cogni zance of " t r easons,

i nsur r ect i ons, f el oni es, and mayhem, " i t i s her e, i n t hat f at ef ul

and i nexor abl e quadr angl e, and t he bui l di ngs whi ch sur r ound i t ,

t hat she exer ci ses her most pot ent spel l s over t he spi r i t s of her

chi l dr en. I suppose t hat a man bei ng t r i ed f or hi s l i f e must be

mor e uncomf or t abl e t han an under gr aduat e bei ng exami ned f or hi s

degr ee, and t hat t o be hung- - per haps even t o be pi l l or i ed- - must

be wor se t han t o be pl ucked. But af t er al l , t he f eel i ng i n bot h

cases must be essent i al l y t he same, onl y mor e i nt ense i n t he

f or mer ; and an i nst i t ut i on whi ch can exami ne a man ( _i n l i t er i s

humani t or i bus_, i n humani t i es, so cal l ed) once a year f or t wo or

t hr ee days at a t i me, has not hi ng t o compl ai n of , t hough i t has

no l onger t he power of hangi ng hi m at once out of hand.

The school s' quadr angl e i s f or t he most par t a l onel y pl ace. Men

pass t hr ough t he mel anchol y i r on- gat es by whi ch t hat quadr angl e

i s ent er ed on t hr ee si des- - f r om Br oad st r eet , f r om t he Rat cl i f f ,

and f r om New Col l ege- Lane- - when necessi t y l eads t hem t hat way,

wi t h al er t st ep and si l ent l y. No nur semai ds or chi l dr en pl ay

about i t . Nobody l i ves i n i t . Onl y when t he exami nat i ons ar e

goi ng on you may see a f ew hooded f i gur es who wal k as t hough

consci ous of t he power s of academi c l i f e and deat h whi ch t hey

wi el d, and a good deal of shudder i ng under gr aduat e l i f e f l i t t i ng

about t he pl ace- - l uckl ess yout hs, i n whi t e t i es and bands, who

ar e under goi ng t he _pei ne f or t e et dur e_ wi t h di f f er ent degr ees

of composur e; and t hei r f r i ends who ar e t her e t o l ook af t er t hem.

You may go i n and wat ch t he t or t ur e your sel f i f you ar e so

mi nded, f or t he _vi va voce_ school s ar e open t o t he publ i c. But

one such exper i ment wi l l be enough f or you, unl ess you ar e ver y

har d- hear t ed. The si ght of t he l ong t abl e, behi nd whi ch si t

Mi nos, Rhadamant hus & Co. , f ul l - r obed, st er n of f ace, sof t of

speech, sei zi ng t hei r vi ct i m i n t ur n, now l et t i ng hi m r un a

l i t t l e way as a cat does a mouse, t hen dr awi ng hi m back, wi t h

cl aw of wi l y quest i on, pr obi ng hi m on t hi s si de and t hat , t ur ni ng

hi m i nsi de out , - - t he r ow of vi ct i ms opposi t e, pal e or f l ushed, of

anxi ous or car el ess mi en, accor di ng t o t emper ament , but one and

al l on t he r ack as t hey bend over t he al l ot t ed paper , or r ead

f r om t he wel l - t humbed book- - t he scar cel y- l ess- t o- be- pi t i ed r ow

behi nd of f ut ur e vi ct i ms, " si t t i ng f or t he school s" as i t i s

cal l ed, r ut hl essl y br ought hi t her by st at ut es, t o wat ch t he

suf f er i ngs t hey must her eaf t er under go- - shoul d f i l l t he f r i end of

suf f er i ng humani t y wi t h t hought s t oo deep f or t ear s. Thr ough t he

l ong day t i l l f our o' cl ock, or l at er , t he t or t ur e l ast s. Then t he

l ast vi ct i m i s di smi ssed; t he men who ar e " si t t i ng f or t he

school s" f l y al l ways t o t hei r col l eges, si l ent l y, i n sear ch of

r el i ef t o t hei r over - wr ought f eel i ngs- - pr obabl y al so of beer , t he

under gr aduat e' s uni ver sal speci f i c. The beadl es cl ose t hose

r ut hl ess door s f or a myst er i ous hal f - hour on t he exami ner s.

Out si de i n t he quadr angl e col l ect by t wos and t hr ees t he f r i ends

of t he vi ct i ms, wai t i ng f or t he r eopeni ng of t he door , and t he

di st r i but i on of t he " t est amur s. " The t est amur s, l ady r eader s wi l l

be pl eased t o under st and, ar e cer t i f i cat es under t he hands of t he

exami ner s t hat your sons, br ot her s, husbands, per haps, have

successf ul l y under gone t he t or t ur e. But , i f husbands, oh, go not

your sel ves, and send not your sons t o wai t f or t he t est amur of

t he head of your house; f or Oxf or d has sel dom seen a si ght over

whi ch she woul d mor e wi l l i ngl y dr aw t he vei l , wi t h aver t ed f ace,

Page 208 of 443

t han t hat of t he yout h r ushi ng wi l dl y, di ssol ved i n t ear s f r om

t he school s' quadr angl e, and shout i ng, " Mamma! papa' s pl ucked!

papa' s pl ucked! "

The exami nat i on i s near l y over whi ch i s t o deci de t he academi cal

f at e of some of our char act er s; t he paper - wor k of t he candi dat es

f or honor s has been goi ng on f or t he l ast week. Ever y mor ni ng our

t hr ee St . Ambr ose acquai nt ances have must er ed wi t h t he r est f or

t he anxi ous day' s wor k, af t er such br eakf ast s as t hey have been

abl e t o eat under t he ci r cumst ances. They t ake t hei r wor k i n ver y

di f f er ent ways. Gr ey r ushes ner vousl y back t o hi s r ooms whenever

he i s out of t he school s f or t en mi nut es, t o l ook up dat es and

dodges. He wor r i es hi msel f sadl y over ever y bl under whi ch he

di scover s hi msel f t o have made, and si t s up near l y al l ni ght

cr ammi ng, al ways hopi ng f or a bet t er t o- mor r ow. Bl ake keeps up

hi s af f ect ed car el essness t o t he l ast , qui zzi ng t he exami ner s,

l aughi ng over t he shot s he has been maki ng i n t he l ast paper . Hi s

shot s, i t must be sai d, t ur n out wel l f or t he most par t ; i n t he

t ast e paper par t i cul ar l y, as t hey compar e not es, he seems t o have

al most st r uck t he bul l ' s- eye i n hi s answer s t o one or t wo

quest i ons whi ch Har dy and Gr ey have passed over al t oget her . When

he i s wi de of t he mar k, he passes i t of f wi t h some j est i ng

r emar k; " t hat a f ool can ask i n f i ve mi nut es mor e quest i ons t han

a wi se man can answer i n a week, " or wi sh " t hat t he exami ner s

woul d pl ay f ai r , and change si des of t he t abl e f or an hour wi t h

t he candi dat es f or a f i ni sh. " But he, t oo, t hough he does i t on

t he sl y, i s cr ammi ng wi t h hi s coach at ever y avai l abl e spar e

moment . Har dy had f i ni shed hi s r eadi ng a f ul l t hi r t y - si x hour s

bef or e t he f i r st day of paper - wor k, and had br aced hi msel f f or

t he act ual st r uggl e by t wo good ni ght s' r est and a l ong day on

t he r i ver wi t h Tom. He had wor ked har d f r om t he f i r st , and so had

r eal l y mast er ed hi s books. And now, f eel i ng t hat he had f ai r l y

and honest l y done hi s best , and t hat i f he f ai l s i t wi l l be

ei t her f r om bad l uck or nat ur al i ncapaci t y, and not f r om hi s own

f aul t , he manages t o keep a cool er head t han any of hi s

compani ons i n t r oubl e.

The week' s paper - wor k passed of f unevent f ul l y; t hen comes t he

_vi va voce_ wor k f or t he candi dat es f or honor s. They go i n, i n

al phabet i cal or der , f our a day, f or one mor e day' s wor k, t he

har dest of al l , and t hen t her e i s not hi ng mor e t o do but wai t

pat i ent l y f or t he cl ass l i st . On t hese days t her e i s a good

at t endance i n t he encl osed space t o whi ch t he publ i c ar e

admi t t ed. The f r ont seat s ar e of t en occupi ed by t he pr i vat e

t ut or s of t he candi dat es, who ar e t her e, l i ke Newmar ket t r ai ner s,

t o see t he per f or mance of t hei r st abl es, mar ki ng how each col t

bear s pr essi ng, and compor t s hi msel f when t he pi nch comes. They

wat ch t he exami ner s, t oo, car ef ul l y t o see what l i ne t hey t ake,

whet her sci ence or hi st or y, or schol ar shi p i s l i kel y t o t el l

most , t hat t hey may handl e t he r est of t hei r st ar t s accor di ngl y.

Behi nd t hem, f or t he most par t on t he hi nder most benches of t he

f l i ght of r ai sed st eps, anxi ous younger br ot her s and f r i ends si t ,

f or a f ew mi nut es at a t i me, f l i t t i ng i n and out i n much unr est ,

and maki ng t he obj ect s of t hei r sol i ci t ude mor e ner vous t han ever

by t hei r sympat hy.

I t i s now t he af t er noon of t he second day of t he _vi va voce_

exami nat i ons i n honor s. Bl ake i s one of t he men i n. Hi s t ut or ,

Har dy, Gr ey, Tom, and ot her St . Ambr ose men, have al l been i n t he

school s mor e or l ess dur i ng hi s exami nat i on, and now Har dy and

Tom ar e wai t i ng out si de t he door s f or t he i ssui ng of t he

t est amur s.

The gr oup i s smal l enough. I t i s so much of cour se t hat a

Page 209 of 443

cl ass- man shoul d get hi s t est amur t hat t her e i s no exci t ement

about i t ; gener al l y t he man hi msel f st ops t o r ecei ve i t .

The onl y anxi ous f aces i n t he gr oup ar e Tom' s and Har dy' s. They

have not exchanged a wor d f or t he l ast f ew mi nut es i n t hei r shor t

wal k bef or e t he door . Now t he exami ner s come out and wal k away

t owar ds t hei r col l eges, and t he next mi nut e t he door agai n opens

and t he cl er k of t he school s appear s wi t h a sl i p of paper i n hi s

hand.

" Now you' l l see i f I am not r i ght , " sai d Har dy, as t hey gat her ed

t o t he door wi t h t he r est . " I t el l you t her e i sn' t t he l east

chance f or hi m. "

The cl er k r ead out t he names i nscr i bed on t he t est amur s whi ch he

hel d, and handed t hem t o t he owner s.

" Haven' t you one f or Mr . Bl ake of St . Ambr ose?" sai d Tom

desper at el y as t he cl er k was cl osi ng t he door .

" No, si r ; none but t hose I have j ust gi ven out , " answer ed t he

cl er k, shaki ng hi s head. The door cl osed, and t hey t ur ned away i n

si l ence f or t he f i r st mi nut e.

" I t ol d you how i t woul d be, " sai d Har dy, as t hey passed out of

t he sout h gat e i nt o t he Rat cl i f f Quadr angl e.

" But he seemed t o be doi ng so wel l when I was i n. "

" You wer e not t her e at t he t i me. I t hought at f i r st t hey woul d

have sent hi m out of t he school s at once. "

" I n hi s di vi ni t y, wasn' t i t ?"

" Yes; he was asked t o r epeat one of t he Ar t i cl es, and di dn' t know

t hr ee wor ds of i t . Fr om t hat moment I saw i t was al l over . The

exami ner and he bot h l ost t hei r t emper s, and i t went f r om bad t o

wor se, t i l l t he exami ner r emar ked t hat he coul d have answer ed one

of t he quest i ons he was aski ng when he was t en year s ol d, and

Bl ake r epl i ed, so coul d he. They gave hi m a paper i n di vi ni t y

af t er war ds, but you coul d see t her e was no chance f or hi m. "

" Poor f el l ow! what wi l l he do, do you t hi nk? How wi l l he t ake

i t ?"

" I can' t el l . But I ' m af r ai d i t wi l l be a ver y ser i ous mat t er f or

hi m. He was t he abl est man i n our year t oo. What a pi t y. "

They got i nt o St . Ambr ose j ust as t he bel l f or af t er noon chapel

was goi ng down, and went i n. Bl ake was t her e, and one l ook showed

hi m what had happened. I n f act he had expect ed not hi ng el se al l

day si nce hi s br eakdown i n t he Ar t i cl es. Tom coul dn' t hel p

wat chi ng hi m dur i ng chapel ; and af t er war ds, on t hat eveni ng,

acknowl edged t o a f r i end t hat what ever el se you mi ght t hi nk of

Bl ake, t her e was no doubt about hi s gameness.

Af t er chapel he l oi t er ed out si de t he door i n t he quadr angl e,

t al ki ng j ust as usual , and bef or e hal l he l oi t er ed on t he st eps

i n wel l - f ei gned car el essness. Ever ybody el se was t hi nki ng of hi s

br eakdown; some wi t h r eal sor r ow and sympat hy; ot her s as of any

ot her ni ne days' wonder - - pr et t y much as i f t he f avour i t e f or t he

Der by had br oken down; ot her s wi t h i l l - conceal ed t r i umph, f or

Bl ake had many enemi es amongst t he men. He hi msel f was consci ous

enough of what t hey wer e t hi nki ng, but mai nt ai ned hi s easy, gay

Page 210 of 443

manner t hr ough i t al l , t hough t he ef f or t i t cost hi m was

t r emendous. The onl y al l usi on he made t o what had happened whi ch

Tom hear d was when he asked hi m t o wi ne.

" Ar e you engaged t o- ni ght , Br own?" he sai d. Tom answer ed i n t he

negat i ve. " Come t o me, t hen" he went on. " You won' t get anot her

chance i n St . Ambr ose. I have a f ew bot t l es of ol d wi ne l ef t ; we

may as wel l f l oor t hem; t hey won' t bear movi ng t o a hal l wi t h

t hei r mast er . "

And t hen he t ur ned t o some ot her men and asked t hem, ever yone i n

f act who he came acr oss, especi al l y t he domi nant f ast set wi t h

whom he had chi ef l y l i ved. These young gent l emen ( of whom we had

a gl i mpse at t he out set , but whose company we have car ef ul l y

avoi ded ever si nce, seei ng t hat t hei r sayi ngs and doi ngs wer e of

a ki nd of whi ch t he l ess sai d t he bet t er ) had been st eadi l y goi ng

on i n t hei r way, get t i ng mor e and mor e i dl e, r eckl ess and

i nsol ent . Thei r doi ngs had been al r eady so scandal ous on sever al

occasi ons as t o cal l f or sol emn meet i ngs of t he col l ege

aut hor i t i es; but , no vi gor ous measur es havi ng f ol l owed, such

del i ber at i ons had onl y made mat t er s wor se, and gi ven t he men a

not i on t hat t hey coul d do what t hey pl eased wi t h i mpuni t y. Thi s

ni ght t he cl i max had come; i t was as t hough t he f l ood of mi sr ul e

had at l ast br oken banks and over f l owed t he whol e col l ege.

For t wo hour s t he wi ne par t y i n Bl ake' s l ar ge gr ound- f l oor r ooms

was kept up wi t h a wi l d, r eckl ess mi r t h, i n keepi ng wi t h t he

host ' s t emper . Bl ake was on hi s met t l e. He had asked ever y man

wi t h whom he had a speaki ng acquai nt ance, as i f he wi shed t o f ace

out hi s di sast er at once t o t he whol e wor l d. Many of t he men came

f eel i ng uncomf or t abl e, and woul d sooner have st ayed away and

t r eat ed t he pl uck as r eal mi sf or t une. But af t er al l Bl ake was t he

best j udge of how he l i ked t o be t r eat ed, and, i f he had a f ancy

f or gi vi ng a gr eat wi ne on t he occasi on, t he ci vi l est t hi ng t o do

was t o get t o i t . And so t hey went , and wonder ed as much as he

coul d desi r e at t he br i l l i ant cool ness of t hei r host , specul at i ng

and doubt i ng never t hel ess i n t hei r own secr et hear t s whet her i t

wasn' t act i ng af t er al l . Act i ng i t was, no doubt , and not wor t h

t he doi ng; no act i ng i s. But one must make al l owances. No t wo men

t ake a t hi ng j ust al i ke, and ver y f ew can si t down qui et l y when

t hey have l ost a f al l i n l i f e' s wr est l e, and say: " Wel l , her e I

am, beat en no doubt t hi s t i me. But my own f aul t , t oo. Now, t ake a

good l ook at me, my good f r i ends, as I know you al l want t o do,

and say your say out , f or I mean get t i ng up agai n di r ect l y and

havi ng anot her t ur n at i t . "

Bl ake dr ank f r eel y hi msel f , and ur ged hi s guest s t o dr i nk, whi ch

was a super f l uous cour t esy f or t he most par t . Many of t he men

l ef t hi s r oom consi der abl y exci t ed. They had di sper sed f or an

hour or so t o bi l l i ar ds, or a st r ol l i n t he t own, and at t en

o' cl ock r eassembl ed at supper par t i es, of whi ch t her e wer e

sever al i n col l ege t hi s eveni ng, especi al l y a monst er one at

Chant er ' s r ooms- - a " champagne supper , " as he had car ef ul l y and

ost ent at i ousl y announced on t he car ds of i nvi t at i on.

Thi s f l aunt i ng t he champagne i n t hei r f aces had been r esent ed by

Dr ysdal e and ot her s, who dr ank hi s champagne i n t umbl er s, and

t hen abused i t and cl amor ed f or beer i n t he mi ddl e of t he supper .

Chant er , whose pr odi gal i t y i n some ways was onl y exceeded by hi s

gener al meanness, had l ost hi s t emper at t hi s demand, and

i nsi st ed t hat , i f t hey want ed beer , t hey mi ght send f or i t

t hemsel ves, f or he woul dn' t pay f or i t . Thi s pr ot est was t r eat ed

wi t h upr oar i ous cont empt , and gal l ons of al e soon made t hei r

appear ance i n col l ege j ugs and t ankar ds. The t abl es wer e cl ear ed,

Page 211 of 443

and songs ( most of t hem of mor e t han doubt f ul char act er ) , ci gar s,

and al l sor t s of compounded dr i nks, f r om cl ar et cup t o egg f l i p,

succeeded. The company, r ecr ui t ed const ant l y as men came i nt o t he

col l ege, was get t i ng mor e and mor e exci t ed ever y mi nut e. The

scout s cl ear ed away and car r i ed of f t he r el i cs of t he supper , and

t hen l ef t ; st i l l t he r evel went on, t i l l , by mi dni ght , t he men

wer e r i pe f or any mi schi ef or f ol l y whi ch t hose among t hem who

r et ai ned any br ai ns at al l coul d suggest . The si gnal f or br eaki ng

up was gi ven by t he host ' s f al l i ng f r om hi s seat .

Some of t he men r ose wi t h a shout t o put hi m t o bed, whi ch t hey

accompl i shed wi t h di f f i cul t y, af t er dr oppi ng hi m sever al t i mes,

and l ef t hi m t o snor e of f t he ef f ect s of hi s debauch wi t h one of

hi s boot s on. Ot her s t ook t o doi ng what mi schi ef occur r ed t o t hem

i n hi s r ooms. One man mount ed on a chai r wi t h a ci gar i n hi s

mout h whi ch had gone out , was empl oyed i n pour i ng t he cont ent s of

a champagne bot t l e wi t h unst eady hand i nt o t he cl ock on t he

mant el - pi ece. Chant er was a par t i cul ar man i n t hi s sor t of

f ur ni t ur e, and hi s cl ock was r at her a speci al t y. I t was a l ar ge

br onze f i gur e of At l as, suppor t i ng t he gl obe i n t he shape of a

t i me- pi ece. Unl ucki l y, t he maker , not ant i ci pat i ng t he sor t of

t est t o whi ch hi s wor k woul d be subj ect ed, had i ngeni ousl y l ef t

t he hol e f or wi ndi ng up i n t he t op of t he cl ock, so t hat unusual

f aci l i t i es exi st ed f or dr owni ng t he wor l d- car r i er , and he was

al r eady al most at hi s l ast t i ck. One or t wo men wer e mor al l y

ai di ng and abet t i ng, and physi cal l y suppor t i ng t he exper i ment er

on cl ocks, who f ound i t di f f i cul t t o st and t o hi s wor k by

hi msel f . Anot her knot of young gent l emen st uck t o t he t abl es, and

so cont i nued t o shout out scr aps of song, somet i mes st andi ng on

t hei r chai r s, and somet i mes t umbl i ng of f t hem. Anot her set wer e

empl oyed on t he ami abl e wor k of pour i ng beer and sugar i nt o t hr ee

new pai r s of pol i shed l eat her dr ess boot s, wi t h col or ed t ops t o

t hem, whi ch t hey di scover ed i n t he dr essi ng- r oom. Cer t ai nl y, as

t hey r emar ked, Chant er coul d have no possi bl e use f or so many

dr ess boot s at once, and i t was a pi t y t he beer shoul d be wast ed;

but on t he whol e, per haps, t he mat er i al s wer e never meant f or

combi nat i on, and had bet t er have been kept apar t . Ot her s had gone

away t o br eak i nt o t he ki t chen, headed by one who had j ust come

i nt o col l ege and vowed he woul d have some supper ; and ot her s, t o

scr ew up an unpopul ar t ut or , or t o br eak i nt o t he r ooms of some

i nof f ensi ve f r eshman. The r emai nder must er ed on t he gr ass i n t he

quadr angl e, and began pl ayi ng l eap- f r og and l ar ki ng one anot her .

Amongst t hese l ast was our her o, who had been at Bl ake' s wi ne and

one of t he qui et er supper par t i es; and, t hough not so f ar gone as

most of hi s compani ons, was by no means i n a st at e i n whi ch he

woul d have car ed t o meet t he Dean. He l ent hi s hear t y ai d

accor di ngl y t o swel l t he noi se and t umul t , whi ch was becomi ng

somet hi ng out of t he way even f or St . Ambr ose' s. As t he l eap- f r og

was f l aggi ng, Dr ysdal e suddenl y appear ed car r yi ng some si l ver

pl at es whi ch wer e used on sol emn occasi ons i n t he common r oom,

and al l owed t o be i ssued on speci al appl i cat i on f or

gent l emen- commoner s' par t i es. A r ush was made t owar ds hi m.

" Hal l oa, her e' s Dr ysdal e wi t h l ot s of swag, " shout ed one.

" What ar e you goi ng t o do wi t h i t ?" cr i ed anot her .

Dr ysdal e paused a moment wi t h t he pecul i ar l y sapi ent l ook of a

t i psy man who has suddenl y l ost t he t hr ead of hi s i deas, and t hen

suddenl y br oke out wi t h- -

" Hang i t ! I f or got . But l et ' s pl ay at quoi t s wi t h t hem. "

The pr oposal was r ecei ved wi t h appl ause, and t he game began, but

Page 212 of 443

Dr ysdal e soon l ef t i t . He had evi dent l y some not i on i n hi s head

whi ch woul d not suf f er hi m t o t ur n t o anyt hi ng el se t i l l he had

car r i ed i t out . He went of f accor di ngl y t o Chant er ' s r ooms, whi l e

t he quoi t s went on i n t he f r ont quadr angl e.

About t hi s t i me, however , t he Dean and bur sar , and t he t ut or s who

l i ved i n col l ege, began t o be consci ous t hat somet hi ng unusual

was goi ng on. They wer e qui t e used t o di st ant chor uses, and gr eat

noi ses i n t he men' s r ooms, and t o a f ai r amount of shout i ng and

skyl ar ki ng i n t he quadr angl e, and wer e l ong- suf f er i ng men, not

gi ven t o i nt er f er i ng, but t her e must be an end t o al l endur ance,

and t he st at e of t hi ngs whi ch had ar r i ved coul d no l onger be met

by a t ur n i n bed and a gr owl at t he upr oar s and f ol l i es of

under gr aduat es.

Pr esent l y some of t he r i ot er s on t he gr ass caught si ght of a

f i gur e gl i di ng al ong t he si de quadr angl e t owar ds t he Dean' s

st ai r case. A shout ar ose t hat t he enemy was up, but l i t t l e heed

was pai d t o i t by t he gr eat er number . Then anot her f i gur e passed

f r om t he Dean' s st ai r case t o t he por t er ' s l odge. Those of t he men

who had any sense l ef t saw t hat i t was t i me t o qui t , and, af t er

war ni ng t he r est , went of f t owar ds t hei r r ooms. Tom, on hi s way

t o hi s st ai r case, caught si ght of a f i gur e seat ed i n a r emot e

cor ner of t he i nner quadr angl e, and made f or i t , i mpel l ed by

nat ur al cur i osi t y. He f ound Dr ysdal e seat ed on t he gr ound wi t h

sever al si l ver t ankar ds by hi s si de, empl oyed t o t he best of hi s

power s i n di ggi ng a hol e wi t h one of t he col l ege car vi ng- kni ves.

" Hal l oa, Dr ysdal e! what ar e you up t o?" he shout ed, l ayi ng hi s

hand on hi s shoul der .

" Pr ovi di ng f or post er i t y, " r epl i ed Dr ysdal e, gr avel y, wi t hout

l ooki ng up.

" What t he deuce do you mean? Don' t be such an ass. The Dean wi l l

be out i n a mi nut e. Get up and come al ong. "

" I t el l you, ol d f el l ow, " sai d Dr ysdal e, somewhat i nar t i cul at el y,

and dr i vi ng hi s kni f e i nt o t he gr ound agai n, " t he dons ar e goi ng

t o spout t he col l ege pl at e. So I am bur yi ng t hese ar t i cl es f or

posht er i t y- - "

" Hang post er i t y, " sai d Tom; " come al ong di r ect l y, or you' l l be

caught and r ust i cat ed. "

" Go t o bed, Br own- - you' r e dr unk, Br own, " r epl i ed Dr ysdal e,

cont i nui ng hi s wor k, and st r i ki ng t he car vi ng- kni f e i nt o t he

gr ound so cl ose t o hi s own t hi gh t hat i t made Tom shudder .

" Her e t hey ar e t hen, " he cr i ed t he next moment , sei zi ng Dr ysdal e

by t he ar m, as a r ush of men came t hr ough t he passage i nt o t he

quadr angl e, shout i ng and t umbl i ng al ong, and maki ng i n smal l

gr oups f or t he di f f er ent st ai r - cases. The Dean and t wo of t he

t ut or s f ol l owed, and t he por t er bear i ng a l ant er n. Ther e was no

t i me t o be l ost ; so Tom, af t er one mor e st r uggl e t o pul l Dr ysdal e

up and hur r y hi m of f , gave i t up, and l eavi ng hi m t o hi s f at e,

r an acr oss t o hi s own st ai r case.

For t he next hal f - hour t he Dean and hi s par t y pat r ol l ed t he

col l ege, and succeeded at t he l ast i n r est or i ng or der , t hough not

wi t hout some undi gni f i ed and di sagr eeabl e passages. The l i ght s on

t he st ai r cases, whi ch gener al l y bur nt al l ni ght , wer e of cour se

put out as t hey appr oached. On t he f i r st st ai r case whi ch t hey

st or med, t he por t er ' s l ant er n was knocked out of hi s hand by an

Page 213 of 443

unseen adver sar y, and t he l i ght put out on t he bot t om st ai r s. On

t he f i r st l andi ng t he bur sar t r od on a smal l t er r i er bel ongi ng t o

a f ast f r eshman, and t he dog nat ur al l y t her eupon bi t t he bur sar ' s

l eg; whi l e hi s mast er and ot her _enf ant s per dus_, t aki ng

advant age of t he di ver si on, r ushed down t he dar k st ai r s, past t he

par t y of or der , and i nt o t he quadr angl e, wher e t hey scat t er ed

ami dst a shout of l aught er . Whi l e t he por t er was gone f or a

l i ght , t he Dean and hi s par t y r ashl y vent ur ed on a second ascent .

Her e an unexpect ed cat ast r ophy awai t ed t hem. On t he t op l andi ng

l i ved one of t he st eadi est men i n col l ege, whose door had been

t r i ed shor t l y bef or e. He had been r oused out of hi s f i r st sl eep,

and, vowi ng vengeance on t he next comer s, st ood behi nd hi s oak,

hol di ng hi s br own Geor ge, or huge ear t henwar e r ecept acl e, hal f

f ul l of di r t y wat er , i n whi ch hi s bed- maker had been washi ng up

hi s t ea- t hi ngs. Hear i ng st eal t hy st eps and whi sper i ngs on t he

st ai r s bel ow, he suddenl y t hr ew open hi s oak, di schar gi ng t he

whol e cont ent s of hi s br own Geor ge on t he appr oachi ng

aut hor i t i es, wi t h a shout of , " Take t hat f or your skul ki ng. "

The exasper at ed Dean and t ut or s r ushi ng on, sei zed t hei r

ast oni shed and i nnocent assai l ant , and af t er r ecei vi ng

expl anat i ons, and t he of f er of cl ean t owel s, hur r i ed of f agai n

af t er t he r eal enemy. And now t he por t er appear ed agai n wi t h a

l i ght , and, cont i nui ng t hei r r ounds, t hey appr ehended and

di sar med Dr ysdal e, col l ect ed t he col l ege pl at e, mar ked down

ot her s of t he r i ot er s, vi si t ed Chant er ' s r ooms, hel d a par l ey

wi t h t he one of t hei r number who was scr ewed up i n hi s r ooms, and

di scover ed t hat t he bar s had been wr enched out of t he ki t chen

wi ndow. Af t er whi ch t hey r et i r ed t o sl eep on t hei r i ndi gnat i on,

and qui et set t l ed down agai n on t he anci ent and vener abl e

col l ege.

The next mor ni ng at chapel many of t he r evel l er s met ; i n f act ,

t her e was a f ul l er at t endance t han usual , f or ever y one f el t t hat

somet hi ng ser i ous must be i mpendi ng. Af t er such a ni ght t he dons

must make a st and, or gi ve up al t oget her . The most r eckl ess onl y

of t he f ast set wer e absent . St . Cl oud was t her e, dr essed even

mor e pr eci sel y t han usual , and l ooki ng as i f he wer e i n t he habi t

of goi ng t o bed at t en, and had never hear d of mi l k punch. Tom

t ur ned out not much t he wor se hi msel f , but i n hi s hear t f eel i ng

not a l i t t l e ashamed of t he whol e busi ness; of t he par t y, t he

men, but , above al l , of hi msel f . He t hr ust t he shame back,

however , as wel l as he coul d, and put a cool f ace on i t . Pr obabl y

most of t he men wer e i n much t he same st at e of mi nd. Even i n St .

Ambr ose' s, r eckl ess and vi ci ous as t he col l ege had become, by f ar

t he gr eat er par t of t he under gr aduat es woul d gl adl y have seen a

change i n t he di r ect i on of or der and decency, and wer e si ck of

t he wr et ched l i cense of doi ng r i ght i n t hei r own eyes and wr ong

i n ever y ot her per son' s.

As t he men t r ooped out of chapel , t hey f or med i n cor ner s of t he

quadr angl e, except t he r eadi ng set , who went of f qui et l y t o t hei r

r ooms. Ther e was a pause of a mi nut e or t wo. Nei t her pr i nci pal ,

dean, t ut or , nor f el l ow f ol l owed as on or di nar y occasi ons.

" They' r e hat chi ng somet hi ng i n t he out er chapel , " sai d one.

" I t ' l l be a coar se t i me f or Chant er , I t ake i t , " sai d anot her .

" Was your name sent t o t he but t er y f or hi s supper ?"

" No, I t ook d- d good car e of t hat , " sai d St . Cl oud, who was

addr essed.

" Dr ysdal e was caught , wasn' t he?"

Page 214 of 443

" So I hear , and near l y f r i ght ened t he Dean and t he por t er out of

t hei r wi t s by st agger i ng af t er t hem wi t h a car vi ng- kni f e. "

" He' l l be sacked, of cour se. "

" Much he' l l car e f or t hat . "

" Her e t hey come, t hen; by Jove, how bl ack t hey l ook! "

The aut hor i t i es now came out of t he ant echapel door , and wal ked

sl owl y acr oss t owar ds t he Pr i nci pal ' s house i n a body. At t hi s

moment , as i l l - l uck woul d have i t , Jack t r ot t ed i nt o t he f r ont

quadr angl e, dr aggi ng af t er hi m t he l i ght st eel chai n, wi t h whi ch

he was usual l y f ast ened up i n Dr ysdal e' s scout ' s r oom at ni ght .

He came i nnocent l y t owar ds one and anot her of t he gr oups, and

r et i r ed f r om each much ast oni shed at t he l ow gr owl wi t h whi ch hi s

acquai nt ance was r epudi at ed on al l si des.

" Por t er , whose dog i s t hat ?" sai d t he Dean cat chi ng si ght of hi m.

" Mr . Dr ysdal e' s dog, si r , I t hi nk, si r , " answer ed t he por t er .

" Pr obabl y t he ani mal who bi t me l ast ni ght , " sai d t he bur sar . Hi s

knowl edge of dogs was smal l ; i f Jack had f ast ened on hi m, he

woul d pr obabl y have been i n bed f r om t he ef f ect s.

" Tur n t he dog out of col l ege, " sai d t he Dean.

" Pl ease, si r he' s a ver y savage dog, si r , " sai d t he por t er , whose

r espect f or Jack was unbounded.

" Tur n hi m out i mmedi at el y, " r epl i ed t he Dean.

The wr et ched por t er , ar mi ng hi msel f wi t h a br oom, appr oached

Jack, and af t er some coaxi ng, managed t o cat ch hol d of t he end of

hi s chai n, and began t o l ead hi m t owar ds t he gat es, car ef ul l y

hol di ng out t he br oom t owar ds Jack' s nose wi t h hi s ot her hand t o

pr ot ect hi msel f . Jack at f i r st haul ed away at hi s chai n, and t hen

began ci r cl i ng r ound t he por t er at t he f ul l ext ent of i t ,

evi dent l y medi t at i ng an at t ack. Not wi t hst andi ng t he ser i ousness

of t he si t uat i on, t he l udi cr ous al ar m of t he por t er set t he men

l aughi ng.

" Come al ong, or Jack wi l l be pi nni ng t he wr et ched Copas, " sai d

Jer vi s; and he and Tom st epped up t o t he t er r i f i ed l i t t l e man,

and, r el easi ng hi m, l ed Jack, who knew t hem bot h wel l , out of

col l ege.

" Wer e you at t hat supper par t y?" sai d Jer vi s, as t hey deposi t ed

Jack wi t h an ost l er , who was l oungi ng out si de t he gat es, t o be

t aken t o Dr ysdal e' s st abl es.

" No, " sai d Tom.

" I ' m gl ad t o hear i t ; t her e wi l l be a pr et t y cl ean sweep af t er

l ast ni ght ' s doi ngs. "

" But I was i n t he quadr angl e when t hey came out . "

" Not caught , eh?" sai d Jer vi s.

" No, l ucki l y, I got t o my own r ooms at once. "

Page 215 of 443

" Wer e any of t he cr ew caught ?"

" Not t hat I know of . "

" Wel l , we shal l hear enough of i t bef or e l ect ur e t i me. "

Jer vi s was r i ght . Ther e was a meet i ng i n t he common r oom di r ect l y

af t er br eakf ast . Dr ysdal e, ant i ci pat i ng hi s f at e, t ook hi s name

of f bef or e t hey sent f or hi m. Chant er and t hr ee or f our ot her s

wer e r ust i cat ed f or a year , and Bl ake was or der ed t o go down at

once. He was a schol ar , and what was t o be done i n hi s case woul d

be set t l ed at t he meet i ng at t he end of t he t er m.

For t went y- f our hour s i t was supposed t hat St . Cl oud had escaped

al t oget her ; but at t he end of t hat t i me he was summoned bef or e a

meet i ng i n t he common r oom. The t ut or whose door had been so

ef f ect ual l y scr ewed up t hat he had been obl i ged t o get out of hi s

wi ndow by a l adder t o at t end mor ni ng chapel , pr oved whol l y unabl e

t o appr eci at e t he j oke, and set hi msel f t o wor k t o di scover t he

per pet r at or s of i t . The door was f ast ened wi t h l ong gi ml et s,

whi ch had been scr ewed f i r ml y i n, and when dr i ven wel l home,

t hei r heads knocked of f . The t ut or col l ect ed t he shaf t s of t he

gi ml et s f r om t he car pent er , who came t o ef f ect an ent r y f or hi m;

and, af t er car ef ul exami nat i on di scover ed t he t r ade mar k, So,

put t i ng t hem i nt o hi s pocket , he wal ked of f i nt o t he t own, and

soon came back wi t h t he i nf or mat i on he r equi r ed, whi ch r esul t ed

i n t he r ust i cat i on of St . Cl oud, an event whi ch was bor ne by t he

col l ege wi t h t he gr eat est equani mi t y.

Shor t l y af t er war ds, Tom at t ended i n t he school s' quadr angl e

agai n, t o be pr esent at t he post i ng of t he cl ass l i st . Thi s t i me

t her e wer e pl ent y of anxi ous f aces; t he quadr angl e was f ul l of

t hem. He f el t al most as ner vous hi msel f as i f he wer e wai t i ng f or

t he t hi r d gun. He t hr ust hi msel f f or war d, and was amongst t he

f i r st who caught si ght of t he document . One l ook was enough f or

hi m, and t he next moment he was of f at f ul l speed f or St .

Ambr ose, and, r ushi ng headl ong i nt o Har dy' s r ooms, sei zed hi m by

t he hand and shook i t vehement l y.

" I t ' s al l r i ght , ol d f el l ow, " he cr i ed, as soon as he coul d cat ch

hi s br eat h; " i t ' s al l r i ght . Four f i r st s; you' r e one of t hem;

wel l done! "

" And Gr ey, wher e' s he; i s he al l r i ght ?"

" Bl ess me, I f or got t o l ook, " sai d Tom; " I onl y r ead t he f i r st s,

and t hen came of f as har d as I coul d. "

" Then he i s not a f i r st . "

" No; I ' m sur e of t hat . "

" I must go and see hi m; he deser ved i t f ar mor e t han I . "

" No, by Jove, ol d boy, " sai d Tom, sei zi ng hi m agai n by t he hand,

" t hat he di dn' t ; nor any man t hat ever went i nt o t he school s. "

" Thank you, Br own, " sai d Har dy, r et ur ni ng hi s war m gr i p. " You do

one good. Now t o see poor Gr ey, and t o wr i t e t o my dear ol d

f at her bef or e hal l . Fancy hi m openi ng t he l et t er at br eakf ast t he

day af t er t o- mor r ow! I hope i t won' t hur t hi m. "

" Never , f ear . I don' t bel i eve i n peopl e dyi ng of j oy, and

anyt hi ng shor t of sudden deat h he won' t mi nd at t he pr i ce. "

Page 216 of 443

Har dy hur r i ed of f , and Tom went t o hi s own r ooms, and smoked a

ci gar t o al l ay hi s exci t ement , and t hought about hi s f r i end, and

al l t hey had f el t t oget her , and l aughed and mour ned over i n t he

shor t mont hs of t hei r f r i endshi p. A pl easant , dr eamy hal f - hour he

spent t hus, t i l l t he hal l bel l r oused hi m, and he made hi s

t oi l et t e and went t o hi s di nner .

I t was wi t h ver y mi xed f eel i ngs t hat Har dy wal ked by t he

ser vi t or s' t abl e and t ook hi s seat wi t h t he bachel or s, an equal

at l ast amongst equal s. No man who i s wor t h hi s sal t can l eave a

pl ace wher e he has gone t hr ough har d and sear chi ng di sci pl i ne,

and been t r i ed i n t he ver y dept hs of hi s hear t , wi t hout r egr et ,

however much he may have wi nced under t he di sci pl i ne. I t i s no

l i ght t hi ng t o f ol d up and l ay by f or ever a por t i on of one' s l i f e

even when i t can be l ai d by wi t h honor and i n t hankf ul ness.

But i t was wi t h no mi xed f eel i ngs, but wi t h a sense of ent i r e

t r i umph and j oy, t hat Tom wat ched hi s f r i end t aki ng hi s new

pl ace, and t he dons, one af t er anot her , comi ng up and

congr at ul at i ng hi m, and t r eat i ng hi m as t he man who had done

honor t o t hem and hi s col l ege.

CHAPTER XXV

COMMEMORATI ON

The end of t he academi c year was now at hand, and Oxf or d was

begi nni ng t o put on her gayest cl ot hi ng. The col l ege gar dener s

wer e i n a st at e of unusual act i vi t y, and t he l awns and

f l ower - beds whi ch f or m such exqui si t e set t i ngs t o many of t he

vener abl e gr ey, gabl ed bui l di ngs, wer e as neat and as br i ght as

hands coul d make t hem. Cooks, but l er s and t hei r assi st ant s wer e

best i r r i ng t hemsel ves i n ki t chen and but t er y, under t he di r ect i on

of bur sar s j eal ous of t he f ame of t hei r houses, i n t he

pr epar at i on of t he abundant and sol i d f ar e wi t h whi ch Oxf or d i s

wont t o ent er t ai n al l comer s. Ever yt hi ng t he best of i t s ki nd, no

st i nt but no nonsense, seems t o be t he wi se r ul e whi ch t he

Uni ver si t y hands down and l i ves up t o i n t hese mat t er s. However

we may di f f er as t o her degener acy i n ot her depar t ment s, al l who

have ever vi si t ed her wi l l admi t t hat i n t hi s of hospi t al i t y she

i s st i l l a gr eat nat i onal t eacher , acknowl edgi ng and pr eachi ng by

exampl e t he f act , t hat eat i ng and dr i nki ng ar e i mpor t ant par t s of

man' s l i f e, whi ch ar e t o be al l owed t hei r due pr omi nence, and not

t hr ust i nt o a cor ner , but ar e t o be done sober l y and t hankf ul l y,

i n t he si ght of God and man. The coaches wer e br i ngi ng i n heavy

l oads of vi si t or s; car r i ages of al l ki nds wer e comi ng i n f r om t he

nei ghbour i ng count i es; and l odgi ngs i n t he Hi gh- st r eet wer e goi ng

up t o f abul ous pr i ces.

I n one of t hese Hi gh- st r eet l odgi ngs, on t he eveni ng of t he

Sat ur day bef or e Commemor at i on, Mi ss Wi nt er and her cousi n ar e

si t t i ng. They have been i n Oxf or d dur i ng t he gr eat er par t of t he

day, havi ng post ed up f r om Engl ebour n; but t hey have onl y j ust

come i n, f or t he younger l ady i s st i l l i n her bonnet , and Mi ss

Wi nt er ' s l i es on t he t abl e. The wi ndows ar e wi de open, and Mi ss

Wi nt er i s si t t i ng at one of t hem; whi l e her cousi n i s busi ed i n

exami ni ng t he f ur ni t ur e and decor at i ons of t hei r t empor ar y home,

now comment i ng upon t hese, now pour i ng out pr ai ses of Oxf or d.

" I sn' t i t t oo char mi ng? I never dr eamt t hat any t own coul d be so

beaut i f ul . Don' t you f eel wi l d about i t , Kat i e?"

Page 217 of 443

" I t i s t he queen of t owns, dear . But I know i t wel l , you see, so

t hat I can' t be qui t e so ent husi ast i c as you. "

" Oh, t hose dear gar dens! what was t he name of t hose ones wi t h t he

t ar get s up, wher e t hey wer e shoot i ng? Don' t you r emember ?"

" New Col l ege Gar dens, on t he ol d ci t y wal l , you mean?"

" No, no. They wer e ni ce and sent i ment al . I shoul d l i ke t o go and

si t and r ead poet r y t her e. But I mean t he bi g ones, t he gor geous,

pr i ncel y ones, wi t h wi cked ol d Bi shop Laud' s gal l er y l ooki ng i nt o

t hem. "

" Oh! St . John' s, of cour se. "

" Yes, St . John' s. Why do you hat e Laud so, Kat i e?"

" I don' t hat e hi m, dear . He was a Ber kshi r e man, you know. But I

t hi nk he di d a gr eat deal of har m t o t he Chur ch. "

" How di d you t hi nk my new si l k l ooked i n t he gar den? How l ucky I

br ought i t , wasn' t i t ? I shoul dn' t have l i ked t o have been i n

not hi ng but musl i n. They don' t sui t her e; you want somet hi ng

r i cher amongst t he ol d bui l di ngs, and on t he beaut i f ul vel vet y

t ur f of t he gar dens. How do you t hi nk I l ooked?"

" You l ooked l i ke a queen, dear ; or a l ady- i n- wai t i ng, at l east . "

" Yes, a l ady- i n- wai t i ng on Henr i et t a Mar i a. Di dn' t you hear one

of t he gent l emen say t hat she was l odged i n St . John' s when

Char l es mar ched t o r el i eve Gl oucest er ? Ah! Can' t you f ancy her

sweepi ng about t he gar dens, wi t h her l adi es f ol l owi ng her , and

Bi shop Laud wal ki ng j ust a l i t t l e behi nd her , and t al ki ng i n a

l ow voi ce about - - l et me see- - somet hi ng ver y i mpor t ant ?"

" Oh, Mar y, wher e has your hi st or y gone? He was Ar chbi shop, and

was saf el y l ocked up i n t he Tower . "

" Wel l , per haps he was; t hen he coul dn' t be wi t h her , of cour se.

How st upi d of you t o r emember , Kat i e. Why can' t you make up your

mi nd t o enj oy your sel f when you come out f or a hol i day?"

" I shoul dn' t enj oy mysel f any t he mor e f or f or get t i ng dat es, "

sai d Kat i e, l aughi ng.

" Oh, you woul d t hough; onl y t r y. But l et me see, i t can' t be

Laud. Then i t shal l be t hat cr uel dr i nki ng ol d man, wi t h t he

wooden l eg made of gol d, who was gover nor of Oxf or d when t he ki ng

was away. He must be hobbl i ng al ong af t er t he queen i n a buf f

coat and br east pl at e, hol di ng hi s hat wi t h a l ong dr oopi ng whi t e

f eat her i n hi s hand.

" But you woul dn' t l i ke i t at al l , Mar y; i t woul d be t oo ser i ous

f or you. The poor queen woul d be t oo anxi ous f or gossi p, and you

l adi es- i n- wai t i ng woul d be obl i ged t o wal k af t er her wi t hout

sayi ng a wor d. "

" Yes, t hat woul d be st upi d. But t hen she woul d have t o go away

wi t h t he ol d gover nor t o wr i t e di spat ches; and some of t he young

of f i cer s wi t h l ong hai r and beaut i f ul l ace sl eeves, and l ar ge

boot s, whom t he ki ng had l ef t behi nd, wounded, mi ght come and

wal k per haps, or si t i n t he sun i n t he qui et gar dens. "

Page 218 of 443

Mar y l ooked over her shoul der wi t h t he mer r i est t wi nkl e i n her

eye, t o see how her st eady cousi n woul d t ake t hi s l ast pi ct ur e.

" The col l ege aut hor i t i es woul d never al l ow t hat , " she sai d

qui et l y, st i l l l ooki ng out t he wi ndow; " i f you want ed beaus, you

must have had t hem i n bl ack gowns. "

" They woul d have been j eal ous of t he sol di er s, you t hi nk? Wel l , I

don' t mi nd; t he bl ack gowns ar e ver y pl easant , onl y a l i t t l e

st i f f . But how do you t hi nk my bonnet l ooked.

" Char mi ngl y, but when ar e you goi ng t o have done l ooki ng i n t he

gl ass? You don' t car e f or t he bui l di ngs, I bel i eve, a bi t . Come

and l ook at St . Mar y' s; t her e i s such a l ovel y l i ght on t he

st eepl e! "

" I ' l l come di r ect l y, but I must get t hese f l ower s r i ght . I ' m sur e

t her e ar e t oo many i n t hi s t r i mmi ng. "

Mar y was t r yi ng her new bonnet on over and over agai n bef or e t he

mant el - gl ass, and pul l i ng out and changi ng t he pl aces of t he

bl ush- r ose buds wi t h whi ch i t was t r i mmed. Just t hen a noi se of

wheel s, accompani ed by a mer r y t une on a cor nopean, came i n f r om

t he st r eet .

" What ' s t hat , Kat i e?" she cr i ed, st oppi ng her wor k f or a moment .

" A coach comi ng up f r om Magdal en Br i dge. I t hi nk i t i s a

cr i cket i ng par t y comi ng home. "

" Oh, l et me see, " and she t r i pped acr oss t o t he wi ndow, bonnet i n

hand, and st ood besi de her cousi n. And, t hen, sur e enough, a

coach cover ed wi t h cr i cket er s r et ur ni ng f r om a mat ch dr ove past

t he wi ndow. The young l adi es l ooked out at f i r st wi t h gr eat

cur i osi t y; but , suddenl y f i ndi ng t hemsel ves t he mar k f or a whol e

coach l oad of mal e eyes, shr ank back a l i t t l e bef or e t he

cr i cket er s had passed on t owar ds t he " Mi t r e. " As t he coach passed

out of si ght , Mar y gave a pr et t y t oss of her head, and sai d- -

" Wel l , t hey don' t want f or assur ance, at any r at e. I t hi nk t hey

needn' t have st ar ed so. "

" I t was our f aul t , " sai d Kat i e; " we shoul dn' t have been at t he

wi ndow. Besi des, you know you ar e t o be a l ady- i n- wai t i ng on

Henr i et t a Mar i a up her e, and of cour se you must get used t o bei ng

st ar ed at . "

" Oh yes, but t hat was t o be by young gent l emen wounded i n t he

war s, i n l ace r uf f l es, as one sees t hem i n pi ct ur es. That ' s a

ver y di f f er ent t hi ng f r om young gent l emen i n f l annel t r ouser s and

st r aw hat s, dr i vi ng up t he Hi gh st r eet on coaches. I decl ar e one

of t hem had t he i mpudence t o bow as i f he knew you. "

" So he does. That was my cousi n. "

" Your cousi n! Ah, I r emember . Then he must be my cousi n, t oo. "

" No, not at al l . He i s no r el at i on of your s. "

" Wel l I sha' n' t br eak my hear t . But i s he a good par t ner ?"

" I shoul d say, yes. But I har dl y know. We used t o be a gr eat deal

t oget her as chi l dr en, but papa has been such an i nval i d l at el y. "

" Ah, I wonder how uncl e i s get t i ng on at t he Vi ce- Chancel l or ' s.

Page 219 of 443

Look, i t i s past ei ght by St . Mar y' s. When wer e we t o go?"

" We wer e asked f or ni ne. "

" Then we must go and dr ess. Wi l l i t be ver y sl ow and st i f f ,

Kat i e? I wi sh we wer e goi ng t o somet hi ng not qui t e so gr and. "

" You' l l f i nd i t ver y pl easant , I dar e say. "

" Ther e won' t be any danci ng, t hough, I know, wi l l t her e?"

" No; I shoul d t hi nk cer t ai nl y not . "

" Dear me! I hope t her e wi l l be some young men t her e- - I shal l be

so shy, I know, i f t her e ar e not hi ng but wi se peopl e. How do you

t al k t o a Regi us Pr of essor , Kat i e? I t must be awf ul . "

" He wi l l pr obabl y be at l east as uncomf or t abl e as you, dear , "

sai d Mi ss Wi nt er , l aughi ng, and r i si ng f r om t he wi ndow; " l et us

go and dr ess. "

" Shal l I wear my best gown?- - What shal l I put i n my hai r ?"

At t hi s moment t he door opened, and t he mai d- ser vant i nt r oduced

Mr . Br own.

I t was t he St . Ambr ose dr ag whi ch had passed al ong shor t l y

bef or e, bear i ng t he el even home f r om a t r i umphant mat ch. As t hey

came over Magdal en Br i dge, Dr ysdal e, who had r et ur ned t o Oxf or d

as a pr i vat e gent l eman af t er hi s l at e cat ast r ophe, whi ch he had

managed t o keep a secr et f r om hi s guar di an, and was occupyi ng hi s

usual pl ace on t he box, cal l ed out - -

" Now, boys, keep your eyes open, t her e must be pl ent y of

l i onesses about ; " and t hus war ned, t he whol e l oad, i ncl udi ng t he

cor nopean pl ayer , wer e on t he l ook- out f or l ady vi si t or s,

pr of anel y cal l ed l i onesses, al l t he way up t he st r eet . They had

been gr at i f i ed by t he si ght of sever al wal ki ng i n t he Hi gh St r eet

or l ooki ng out of t he wi ndows, bef or e t hey caught si ght of Mi ss

Wi nt er and her cousi n. The appear ance of t hese young l adi es

cr eat ed a sensat i on.

" I say, l ook! up t her e i n t hat f i r st f l oor . "

" By Geor ge, t hey' r e somet hi ng l i ke. "

" The si t t er f or choi ce. "

" No, no, t he st andi ng- up one; she l ooks so saucy. "

" Hel l o, Br own, do you know t hem?"

" One of t hem i s my cousi n, " sai d Tom, who had j ust been gui l t y of

t he sal ut at i on whi ch, as we saw, exci t ed t he i ndi gnat i on of t he

younger l ady.

" What l uck! - - You' l l ask me t o meet t hem- - when shal l i t be?

To- mor r ow at br eakf ast , I vot e. "

" I say, you' l l i nt r oduce me bef or e t he bal l on Monday? pr omi se

now, " sai d anot her .

" I don' t know t hat I shal l see anyt hi ng of t hem, " sai d Tom; " I

shal l j ust l eave a past eboar d, but I ' m not i n t he humour t o be

Page 220 of 443

danci ng about l i oni zi ng. "

A st or m of i ndi gnat i on ar ose at t hi s speech; t he not i on t hat any

of t he f r at er ni t y who had any hol d on l i onesses, par t i cul ar l y i f

t hey wer e pr et t y, shoul d not use i t t o t he ut most f or t he benef i t

of t he r est , and t he gl or y and honor of t he col l ege, was

r evol t i ng t o t he under gr aduat e mi nd. So t he whol e body escor t ed

Tom t o t he door of t he l odgi ngs, i mpr essi ng upon hi m t he

necessi t y of engagi ng bot h hi s l i onesses f or ever y hour of ever y

day i n St . Ambr ose' s, and l ef t hi m not t i l l t hey had hear d hi m

ask f or t he young l adi es, and seen hi m f ai r l y on hi s way

upst ai r s. They need not have t aken so much t r oubl e, f or i n hi s

secr et soul he was no l i t t l e pl eased at t he appear ance of

cr edi t abl e l adi es, mor e or l ess bel ongi ng t o hi m, and woul d have

f ound hi s way t o see t hem qui ckl y and sur el y enough wi t hout any

ur gi ng. Mor eover , he had been r eal l y f ond of hi s cousi n, year s

bef or e, when t hey had been boy and gi r l t oget her .

So t hey gr eet ed one anot her ver y cor di al l y, and l ooked one

anot her over as t hey shook hands, t o see what changes t i me had

made. He makes hi s changes r api dl y enough at t hat age, and most l y

f or t he bet t er , as t he t wo cousi ns t hought . I t was near l y t hr ee

year s si nce t hey had met , and t hen he was a f i f t h- f or m boy and

she a gi r l i n t he school - r oom. They wer e bot h consci ous of a

st r ange pl easur e i n meet i ng agai n, mi xed wi t h a f eel i ng of

shyness and wonder whet her t hey shoul d be abl e t o st ep back i nt o

t hei r ol d r el at i ons.

Mar y l ooked on demur el y, r eal l y wat chi ng t hem, but ost ensi bl y

engaged on t he r osebud t r i mmi ng. Pr esent l y Mi ss Wi nt er t ur ned t o

her and sai d, " I don' t t hi nk you t wo ever met bef or e; I must

i nt r oduce you, I suppose; - - my cousi n Tom, my cousi n Mar y. "

" Then we must be cousi ns, t oo, " sai d Tom, hol di ng out hi s hand.

" No, Kat i e says not , " she answer ed.

" I don' t mean t o bel i eve her , t hen, " sai d Tom; " but what ar e you

goi ng t o do now, t o- ni ght ? Why di dn' t you wr i t e and t el l me you

wer e comi ng?"

" We have been so shut up l at el y, owi ng t o papa' s bad heal t h, t hat

I r eal l y had al most f or got t en t hat you wer e at Oxf or d. "

" By t he bye, " sai d Tom, " wher e i s uncl e?"

" Oh, he i s di ni ng at t he Vi ce- Chancel l or ' s, who i s an ol d col l ege

f r i end of hi s. We have onl y been up her e t hr ee or f our hour s, and

i t has done hi m so much good. I am so gl ad we spi r i t ed hi m up t o

comi ng. "

" You haven' t made any engagement s yet , I hope?"

" I ndeed we have; I can' t t el l how many. We came i n t i me f or

l uncheon i n Bal l i ol . Mar y and I made i t our di nner , and we have

been seei ng si ght s ever si nce, and have been asked t o go t o I

don' t know how many l uncheons and br eakf ast s. "

" What , wi t h a l ot of dons, I suppose?" sai d Tom, spi t ef ul l y; " you

won' t enj oy Oxf or d, t hen; t hey' l l bor e you t o deat h. "

" Ther e now, Kat i e; t hat i s j ust what I was af r ai d of , " j oi ned i n

Mar y; " you r emember we di dn' t hear a wor d about bal l s al l t he

af t er noon. "

Page 221 of 443

" You haven' t got your t i cket s f or t he bal l s, t hen?" sai d Tom,

br i ght eni ng up.

" No, how shal l we get t hem?"

" Oh, I can manage t hat , I ' ve no doubt . "

" St op; how ar e we t o go? Papa wi l l never t ake us. "

" You needn' t t hi nk about t hat ; anybody wi l l chaper one you. Nobody

car es about t hat sor t of t hi ng at Commemor at i on. "

" I ndeed I t hi nk you had bet t er wai t t i l l I have t al ked t o papa. "

" Then al l t he t i cket s wi l l be gone, " sai d Tom. " You must go. Why

shoul dn' t I chaper one you? I know sever al men whose si st er s ar e

goi ng wi t h t hem. "

" No, t hat wi l l scar cel y do, I ' m af r ai d. But r eal l y, Mar y, we must

go and dr ess. "

" Wher e ar e you goi ng, t hen?" sai d Tom.

" To an eveni ng par t y at t he Vi ce- Chancel l or ' s; we ar e asked f or

ni ne o' cl ock, and t he hal f hour has st r uck. "

" Hang t he dons; how unl ucky t hat I di dn' t know bef or e! Have you

any f l ower s, by t he way?"

" Not one. "

" Then I wi l l t r y t o get you some by t he t i me you ar e r eady. May

I ?"

" Oh yes, pr ay, do, " sai d Mar y. " That ' s capi t al , Kat i e, i sn' t i t ?

Now I shal l have some t hi ng t o put i n my hai r ; I coul dn' t t hi nk

what I was t o wear . "

Tom t ook a l ook at t he hai r i n quest i on, and t hen l ef t t hem and

hast ened out t o scour t he t own f or f l ower s, as i f hi s l i f e

depended on success. I n t he mor ni ng he woul d pr obabl y have

r esent ed as i nsul t i ng, or l aughed at as wi l dl y i mpr obabl e, t he

suggest i on t hat he woul d be so empl oyed bef or e ni ght .

A doubl e chai r was dr awn up opposi t e t he door when he came back,

and t he l adi es wer e comi ng down i nt o t he si t t i ng- r oom.

" Oh l ook, Kat i e! What l ovel y f l ower s! How ver y ki nd of you. "

Tom sur r ender ed as much of hi s bur den as t hat young l ady' s l i t t l e

r ound whi t e hands coul d cl asp, t o her , and deposi t ed t he r est on

t he t abl e.

" Now, Kat i e, whi ch shal l I wear - - t hi s beaut i f ul whi t e r ose al l by

i t sel f , or a wr eat h of t hese pansi es? Her e, I have a wi r e; I can

make t hem up i n a mi nut e. " She t ur ned t o t he gl ass, and hel d t he

r i ch cr eam- whi t e r ose agai nst her hai r , and t hen t ur ni ng on Tom,

added, " What do you t hi nk?"

" I t hought f er n woul d sui t your hai r bet t er t han anyt hi ng el se, "

sai d Tom; " and so I got t hese l eaves, " and he pi cked out t wo

sl ender f er n- l eaves.

Page 222 of 443

" How ver y ki nd of you! Let me see, how do you mean? Ah! I see; i t

wi l l be char mi ng; " and so sayi ng, she hel d t he l eaves one i n each

hand t o t he si des of her head, and t hen f l oat ed about t he r oom

f or needl e and t hr ead, and wi t h a f ew ni mbl e st i t ches f ast ened

t oget her t he si mpl e gr een cr own, whi ch her cousi n put on f or her ,

maki ng t he poi nt s meet above her f or ehead. Mar y was wi l d wi t h

del i ght at t he ef f ect , and f ul l of t hanks t o Tom as he hel ped

t hem hast i l y t o t i e up bouquet s, and t hen, ami dst much l aughi ng,

t hey squeezed i nt o t he wheel chai r t oget her ( as t he f ashi ons of

t hat day al l owed t wo young l adi es t o do) , and went of f t o t hei r

par t y, l eavi ng a l ast i nj uct i on on hi m t o go up and put t he r est

of t he f l ower s i n wat er , and t o cal l di r ect l y af t er br eakf ast t he

next day.

He obeyed hi s or der s, and pensi vel y ar r anged t he r est of t he

f l ower s i n t he chi na or nament s on t he mant l e- pi ece, and i n a soup

pl at e whi ch he got and pl aced i n t he mi ddl e of t he t abl e, and

t hen spent some mi nut es exami ni ng a pai r of gl oves and ot her

smal l ar t i cl es of women' s gear whi ch l ay scat t er ed about t he

r oom. The gl oves par t i cul ar l y at t r act ed hi m, and he f l at t ened

t hem out and l ai d t hem on hi s own l ar ge br own hand, and smi l ed at

t he cont r ast , and t ook f ur t her unj ust i f i abl e l i ber t i es wi t h t hem;

af t er whi ch he r et ur ned t o col l ege and endur ed much bant er as t o

t he t i me hi s cal l had l ast ed, and pr omi sed t o engage hi s cousi ns

as he cal l ed t hem, t o gr ace some f est i vi t i es i n St . Ambr ose' s at

t hei r f i r st spar e moment .

The next day, bei ng Show Sunday, was spent by t he young l adi es i n

a f er ment of spi r i t ual and ot her di ssi pat i on. They at t ended

mor ni ng ser vi ce at ei ght at t he cat hedr al ; br eakf ast ed at a

Mer t on f el l ow' s, f r om whence t hey adj our ned t o Uni ver si t y ser mon.

Her e Mar y, af t er t wo or t hr ee ut t er l y i nef f ect ual at t empt s t o

under st and what t he pr eacher was meani ng, soon r el apsed i nt o an

exami nat i on of t he bonnet s pr esent , and t he doct or s and pr oct or s

on t he f l oor , and t he under gr aduat es i n t he gal l er y. On t he

whol e, she was per haps, bet t er empl oyed t han her cousi n, who knew

enough of r el i gi ous par t y st r i f e t o f ol l ow t he pr eacher , and was

made ver y uncomf or t abl e by hi s di scour se, whi ch consi st ed of an

at t ack upon t he r ecent publ i cat i ons of t he most emi nent and best

men i n t he Uni ver si t y. Poor Mi ss Wi nt er came away wi t h a vague

i mpr essi on of t he wi ckedness of al l per sons who dar e t o t r avel

out of beat en t r acks, and t hat t he most unsaf e st at e of mi nd i n

t he wor l d i s t hat whi ch i nqui r es and aspi r es, and cannot be

sat i sf i ed wi t h t he r egul at i on dr aught of spi r i t ual doct or s i n

hi gh pl aces. Bei ng nat ur al l y of a r ever ent t ur n of mi nd, she

t r i ed t o t hi nk t hat t he di scour se had done her good. At t he same

t i me she was somewhat t r oubl ed by t he t hought t hat somehow t he

best men i n al l t i mes of whi ch she had r ead seemed t o her t o be

j ust t hose whom t he pr eacher was i n f act denounci ng, al t hough i n

wor ds he had pr ai sed t hem as t he gr eat l i ght s of t he Chur ch. The

wor ds whi ch she had hear d i n one of t he l essons kept r unni ng i n

her head, " Tr ul y ye bear wi t ness t hat ye do al l ow t he deeds of

your f at her s, f or t hey i ndeed ki l l ed t hem, but ye bui l d t hei r

sepul chr es. " But she had l i t t l e l ei sur e t o t hi nk on t he subj ect ,

and, as her f at her pr ai sed t he ser mon as a nobl e pr ot est agai nst

t he f ear f ul t endenci es of t he day t o Poper y and Pant hei sm,

smot her ed t he quest i oni ngs of her own hear t as wel l as she coul d,

and went of f t o l uncheon i n a common r oom; af t er whi ch her f at her

r et i r ed t o t hei r l odgi ngs, and she and her cousi n wer e escor t ed

t o af t er noon ser vi ce at Magdal en, i n achi evi ng whi ch l ast f eat

t hey had t o encount er a cr ush onl y t o be equal ed by t hat at t he

pi t ent r ance t o t he oper a on a Jenny Li nd ni ght . But what wi l l

not a del i cat el y nur t ur ed Br i t i sh l ady go t hr ough when her mi nd

i s bent ei t her on pl easur e or dut y?

Page 223 of 443

Poor Tom' s f eel i ngs t hr oughout t he day may be mor e easi l y

concei ved t han descr i bed. He had cal l ed accor di ng t o or der , and

wai t ed at t hei r l odgi ngs af t er br eakf ast . Of cour se t hey di d not

ar r i ve. He had caught a di st ant gl i mpse of t hem i n St . Mar y' s,

but had not been abl e t o appr oach. He had cal l ed agai n i n t he

af t er noon unsuccessf ul l y, so f ar as seei ng t hem was concer ned;

but he had f ound hi s uncl e at home, l yi ng upon t he sof a. At f i r st

he was much di smayed by t hi s r encont r e, but , r ecover i ng hi s

pr esence mi nd, he pr oceeded, I r egr et t o say, t o t ake t he l engt h

of t he ol d gent l eman' s f oot , by ent er i ng i nt o a mi nut e and

sympat hi zi ng i n qui r y i nt o t he st at e of hi s heal t h. Tom had no

f ai t h what ever i n hi s uncl e' s i l l - heal t h, and bel i eved- - as many

per sons of r obust const i t ut i on ar e t oo apt t o do when br ought

f ace t o f ace wi t h ner vous pat i ent s- - t hat he mi ght shake of f t he

whol e of hi s mal adi es at any t i me by a r esol ut e ef f or t , so t hat

hi s sympat hy was al l a sham, t hough, per haps, one may par don i t ,

consi der i ng t he end i n vi ew, whi ch was t hat of per suadi ng t he ol d

gent l eman t o ent r ust t he young l adi es t o hi s nephew' s car e f or

t hat eveni ng i n t he Long Wal k; and gener al l y t o l ook upon hi s

nephew, Thomas Br own, as hi s nat ur al pr op and suppor t er i n t he

Uni ver si t y, whose one obj ect i n l i f e j ust now woul d be t o t ake

t r oubl e of f hi s hands, and who was of t hat r ar e and pr ecoci ous

st eadi ness of char act er t hat he mi ght be as saf el y t r ust ed as a

Spani sh duenna. To a ver y consi der abl e ext ent t he vi ct i m f el l

i nt o t he t oi l s. He had many ol d f r i ends at t he col l eges, and was

ver y f ond of good di nner s, and l ong si t t i ngs af t er war ds. Thi s

ver y eveni ng he was goi ng t o di ne at St . John' s, and had been

much t r oubl ed at t he i dea of havi ng t o l eave t he unr i val l ed ol d

por t of t hat l ear ned house t o escor t hi s daught er and ni ece t o

t he Long Wal k. St i l l he was t oo easy and good- nat ur ed not t o wi sh

t hat t hey mi ght get t her e, and di d not l i ke t he not i on of t hei r

goi ng wi t h per f ect st r anger s. Her e was a compr omi se. Hi s nephew

was young, but st i l l he was a near r el at i on, and i n f act i t gave

t he poor ol d man a pl ausi bl e excuse f or not exer t i ng hi msel f as

he f el t he ought t o do, whi ch was al l he ever r equi r ed f or

shi f t i ng hi s r esponsi bi l i t i es and dut i es upon ot her shoul der s.

So Tom wai t ed qui et l y t i l l t he young l adi es came home, whi ch t hey

di d j ust bef or e hal l - t i me. Mr . Wi nt er was get t i ng i mpat i ent . As

soon as t hey ar r i ved he st ar t ed f or St . John' s, af t er advi si ng

t hem t o r emai n at home f or t he eveni ng, as t hey l ooked qui t e

t i r ed and knocked up; but i f t hey r esol ved t o go t o t he Long

Wal k, hi s nephew woul d escor t t hem.

" How can Uncl e Rober t say we l ook so t i r ed?" sai d Mar y,

consul t i ng t he gl ass on t he subj ect ; " I f eel qui t e f r esh. Of

cour se, Kat i e, you mean t o go t o t he Long Wal k?"

" I hope you wi l l go, " sai d Tom; " I t hi nk you owe me some amends.

I came her e accor di ng t o or der t hi s mor ni ng, and you wer e not i n,

and I have been t r yi ng t o cat ch you ever si nce. "

" We coul dn' t hel p i t , " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er ; " i ndeed we have not had

a mi nut e t o our sel ves al l day. I was ver y sor r y t o t hi nk t hat we

shoul d have br ought you her e f or not hi ng t hi s mor ni ng. "

" But about t he Long Wal k, Kat i e?"

" Wel l , don' t you t hi nk we have done enough f or t o- day? I shoul d

l i ke t o have t ea and si t qui et l y at home, as papa suggest ed. "

" Do you f eel ver y t i r ed, dear ?" sai d Mar y, seat i ng her sel f by her

cousi n on t he sof a, and t aki ng her hand.

Page 224 of 443

" No, dear , I onl y want a l i t t l e qui et and a cup of t ea. "

" Then l et us st ay her e qui et l y t i l l i t i s t i me t o st ar t . When

ought we t o get t o t he Long Wal k?"

" About hal f - past seven, " sai d Tom; " you shoul dn' t be much l at er

t han t hat . "

" Ther e you see, Kat i e, we shal l have t wo hour s' per f ect r est . You

shal l l i e upon t he sof a, and I wi l l r ead t o you, and t hen we

shal l go on al l f r esh agai n. "

Mi ss Wi nt er smi l ed and sai d, " Ver y wel l . " She saw t hat her cousi n

was bent on goi ng, and she coul d deny her not hi ng.

" May I send you i n anyt hi ng f r om col l ege?" sai d Tom; " you ought

t o have somet hi ng mor e t han t ea, I ' m sur e. "

" Oh no, t hank you. We di ned i n t he mi ddl e of t he day. "

" Then I may cal l you about seven o' cl ock, " sai d Tom, who had come

unwi l l i ngl y t o t he concl usi on t hat he had bet t er l eave t hem f or

t he pr esent .

" Yes, and mi nd you come i n good t i me; we mean t o see t he whol e

si ght , r emember . We ar e count r y cousi ns. "

" You must l et me cal l you cousi n t hen, j ust f or t he l ook of t he

t hi ng. "

" Cer t ai nl y, j ust f or t he l ook of t he t hi ng, we wi l l be cousi ns

t i l l f ur t her not i ce. "

" Wel l , you and Tom seem t o get on t oget her , Mar y, " sai d Mi ss

Wi nt er , as t hey hear d t he f r ont door cl ose. " I ' m l ear ni ng a

l esson f r om you, t hough I doubt whet her I shal l ever be abl e t o

put i t i n pr act i ce. What a bl essi ng i t must be not t o be shy! "

" Ar e you shy, t hen?" sai d Mar y, l ooki ng at her cousi n wi t h a

pl ayf ul l ovi ng smi l e.

" Yes, dr eadf ul l y. I t i s posi t i ve pai n t o me t o wal k i nt o a r oom

wher e t her e ar e peopl e I do not know. "

" But I f eel t hat t oo. I ' m sur e, now, you wer e much l ess

embar r assed t han I l ast ni ght at t he Vi ce Chancel l or ' s. I qui t e

envi ed you, you seemed so much at your ease. "

" Di d I ? I woul d have gi ven anyt hi ng t o be back her e qui et l y. But

i t i s not t he same t hi ng wi t h you. You have no r eal shyness, or

you woul d never have got on so f ast wi t h my cousi n. "

" Oh! I don' t f eel at al l shy wi t h hi m, " sai d Mar y, l aughi ng. " How

l ucky i t i s t hat he f ound us out so soon. I l i ke hi m so much.

Ther e i s a sor t of way about hi m, as i f he coul dn' t hel p hi msel f .

I am sur e one coul d t ur n hi m r ound one' s f i nger . Don' t you t hi nk

so?"

" I ' m not so sur e of t hat . But he al ways was sof t - hear t ed, poor

boy. But he i sn' t a boy any l onger . You must t ake car e, Mar y.

Shal l we r i ng f or t ea?"

Page 225 of 443

CHAPTER XXVI

THE LONG WALK I N CHRI STCHURCH MEADOWS

" Do wel l unt o t hysel f and men wi l l speak good of t hee, " i s a

maxi m as ol d as Ki ng Davi d' s t i me, and j ust as t r ue now as i t was

t hen. Har dy had f ound i t so si nce t he publ i cat i on of t he cl ass

l i st . Wi t hi n a f ew days of t hat event i t was known t hat hi s was a

ver y good f i r st . Hi s col l ege t ut or had made hi s own i nqui r i es,

and r epeat ed on sever al occasi ons i n a conf i dent i al way t he

st at ement t hat , " wi t h t he except i on of a want of pol i sh i n hi s

Lat i n and Gr eek ver ses, whi ch we sel dom get except i n t he most

f i ni shed publ i c school men- - Et oni ans i n par t i cul ar - - t her e has

been no bet t er exami nat i on i n t he school s f or sever al year s. " The

wor t hy t ut or went on t o t ake gl or y t o t he col l ege, and i n a l ower

degr ee t o hi msel f . He cal l ed at t ent i on, i n mor e t han one common

r oom, t o t he f act t hat Har dy had never had any pr i vat e t ui t i on,

but had at t ai ned hi s i nt el l ect ual devel opment sol el y i n t he

_cur r i cul um_ pr ovi ded by St . Ambr ose' s Col l ege f or t he t r ai ni ng

of t he yout h ent r ust ed t o her . " He hi msel f , i ndeed, " he woul d

add, " had al ways t aken much i nt er est i n Har dy, and had, per haps,

done mor e f or hi m t han woul d be possi bl e i n ever y case, but onl y

wi t h di r ect r ef er ence t o, and i n suppl ement of t he col l ege

cour se. "

The Pr i nci pal had t aken mar ked and somewhat pompous not i ce of

hi m, and had gr aci ousl y i nt i mat ed hi s wi sh, or , per haps I shoul d

say, hi s wi l l ( f or he woul d have been much ast oni shed t o be t ol d

t hat a wi sh of hi s coul d count f or l ess t han a r oyal mandat e t o

any man who had been one of hi s ser vi t or s) t hat Har dy shoul d

st and f or a f el l owshi p, whi ch had l at el y f al l en vacant . A f ew

weeks, bef or e, t hi s excessi ve af f abi l i t y and condescensi on of t he

gr eat man woul d have wounded Har dy; but , somehow, t he sudden r ush

of sunshi ne and pr osper i t y, t hough i t had not t hr own hi m of f hi s

bal ance, or changed hi s est i mat e of men and t hi ngs had pul l ed a

sor t of comf or t abl e sheat h over hi s sensi t i veness, and gave hi m a

second ski l l , as i t wer e, f r om whi ch t he Pr i nci pal ' s shaf t s

bounded of f i nnocuous, i nst ead of pi er ci ng and r ankl i ng. At

f i r st , t he i dea of st andi ng f or a f el l owshi p at St Ambr ose' s was

not pl easant t o hi m. He f el t i ncl i ned t o open up ent i r el y new

gr ound f or hi msel f , and st and at some ot her col l ege, wher e he had

nei t her acquai nt ance nor associ at i on. But on second t hought s, he

r esol ved t o st i ck t o hi s ol d col l ege, moved t her et o par t l y by t he

l ament at i ons of Tom when he hear d of hi s f r i ends medi t at ed

emi gr at i on but chi ef l y by t he unwi l l i ngness t o qui t a har d post

f or an easi er one, whi ch beset s nat ur es l i ke hi s t o t hei r own

di scomf or t , but , may one hope, t o t he si ngl e benef i t of t he wor l d

at l ar ge. Such men may see cl ear l y enough al l t he advant ages of a

move of t hi s ki nd- - may qui t e appr eci at e t he ease whi ch i t woul d

br i ng t hem- - may be i mpat i ent wi t h t hemsel ves f or not maki ng i t at

once, but when i t comes t o t he act ual l eavi ng t he ol d post , even

t hough i t may be a mar ch out wi t h al l t he honour s of war , dr ums

beat i ng and col or s f l yi ng, as i t woul d have been i n Har dy' s case,

somehow or anot her , ni ne t i mes out of t en, t hey t hr ow up t he

chance at t he l ast moment , i f not ear l i er ; pi ck up t hei r ol d

ar ms- - gr owl i ng per haps at t he pr i ce t hey ar e payi ng t o keep t hei r

own sel f - r espect - - and shoul der back i nt o t he pr ess t o f ace t hei r

ol d wor k, mut t er i ng, " We ar e asses; we don' t know what ' s good f or

us; but we must see t hi s j ob t hr ough somehow, come what may. "

So Har dy st ayed on at St . Ambr ose, wai t i ng f or t he f el l owshi p

exami nat i on, and cer t ai nl y, I am f r ee t o conf ess, not a l i t t l e

enj oyi ng t he change i n hi s posi t i on and af f ai r s.

Page 226 of 443

He had gi ven up hi s l ow dar k back r ooms t o t he new ser vi t or , hi s

successor , t o whom he had pr esent ed al l t he r i cket y f ur ni t ur e,

except hi s t wo Wi ndsor chai r s and Oxf or d r eadi ng- t abl e. The

i nt r i nsi c val ue of t he gi f t was not gr eat , cer t ai nl y, but was of

i mpor t ance t o t he poor r aw boy who was t aki ng hi s pl ace; and i t

was made wi t h t he del i cacy of one who knew t he si t uat i on. Har dy' s

good of f i ces di d not st op her e. Havi ng t r i ed t he bed hi msel f f or

upwar ds of t hr ee l ong year s, he knew al l t he har d pl aces, and was

r esol ved whi l e he st ayed up t hat t hey shoul d never chaf e anot her

occupant as t hey had hi m. So he set hi msel f t o pr ovi de st uf f i ng,

and t ook t he l ad about wi t h hi m, and cast a ski r t of hi s

newl y- acqui r ed mant l e of r espect abi l i t y over hi m, and put hi m i n

t he way of maki ng hi msel f as comf or t abl e as ci r cumst ances woul d

al l ow, never di sgui si ng f r om hi m al l t he whi l e t hat t he bed was

not t o be a bed of r oses. I n whi ch pur sui t , t hough not yet a

f el l ow, per haps he was qual i f yi ng hi msel f bet t er f or a f el l owshi p

t han he coul d have done by any amount of cr ammi ng f or pol i sh i n

hi s ver si f i cat i on. Not t hat t he el ect or s of St . Ambr ose woul d be

l i kel y t o hear of or appr eci at e t hi s ki nd of t r ai ni ng. Pol i shed

ver si f i cat i on woul d no doubt have t ol d mor e i n t hat quar t er . But

we who ar e behi nd t he scenes may di sagr ee wi t h t hem, and hol d

t hat he who i s t hus act i ng out and l ear ni ng t o under st and t he

meani ng of t he wor d " f el l ow- shi p, " i s t he man f or our vot es.

So Har dy had l ef t hi s r ooms and gone out of col l ege i nt o l odgi ngs

near at hand. The swor d, epaul et t es, and pi ct ur e of hi s f at her ' s

ol d shi p- - hi s t ut el ar y di vi ni t i es, as Tom cal l ed t hem- - occupi ed

t hei r accust omed pl aces i n hi s new r ooms, except t hat t her e was a

l ooki ng- gl ass over t he mant el - pi ece her e, by t he si de of whi ch

t he swor d hung- - i nst ead of i n t he cent r e, as i t had done whi l e he

had no such l uxur y. Hi s Wi ndsor chai r s occupi ed each si de of t he

pl easant wi ndow of hi s si t t i ng- r oom, and al r eady t he t ast e f or

l uxur i es of whi ch he had so of t en accused hi msel f t o Tom began t o

peep out i n t he shape of one or t wo f i ne engr avi ngs. Al t oget her

f or t une was smi l i ng on Har dy, and he was maki ng t he most of her ,

l i ke a wi se man, havi ng br ought her r ound by pr ovi ng t hat he

coul d get on wi t hout her , and was not goi ng out of t he way t o

gai n her smi l es. Sever al men came at once, even bef or e he had

t aken hi s B. A. degr ee, t o r ead wi t h hi m, and ot her s appl i ed t o

know whet her he woul d t ake a r eadi ng par t y i n t he l ong vacat i on.

I n shor t , al l t hi ngs went wel l wi t h Har dy, and t he Oxf or d wor l d

r ecogni zed t he f act , and t r adesmen and col l ege ser vant s became

obsequi ous, and began t o bow bef or e hi m, and r ecogni ze hi m as one

of t hei r l or ds and mast er s.

I t was t o Har dy' s l odgi ngs t hat Tom r epai r ed st r ai ght - way, when

he l ef t hi s cousi n by bl ood, and cousi n by cour t esy, at t he end

of t he l ast chapt er . For , r unni ng over i n hi s mi nd al l hi s

acquai nt ance, he at once f i xed upon Har dy as t he man t o accompany

hi m i n escor t i ng t he l adi es t o t he Long Wal k. Besi des bei ng hi s

own most i nt i mat e f r i end, Har dy was t he man whom he woul d pr ef er

t o al l ot her s t o i nt r oduce t o l adi es now. " A mont h ago i t mi ght

have been di f f er ent , " Tom t hought ; " he was such an ol d guy i n hi s

dr ess. But he has smar t ened up, and wear s as good a coat as I do,

and l ooks wel l enough f or anybody, t hough he never wi l l be much

of a dr esser . Then he wi l l be i n a bachel or ' s gown t oo, whi ch

wi l l l ook r espect abl e. "

" Her e you ar e; t hat ' s al l r i ght ; I ' m so gl ad you' r e i n, " he sai d

as he ent er ed t he r oom. " Now I want you t o come t o t he Long Wal k

wi t h me t o- ni ght . "

" Ver y wel l - - wi l l you cal l f or me?"

Page 227 of 443

" Yes, and mi nd you come i n your best get - up, ol d f el l ow; we shal l

have t wo of t he pr et t i est gi r l s who ar e up, wi t h us. "

" You won' t want me t hen; t hey wi l l have pl ent y of escor t . "

" Not a bi t of i t . They ar e deser t ed by t hei r nat ur al guar di an, my

ol d uncl e, who has gone out t o di nner . Oh, i t ' s al l r i ght ; t hey

ar e my cousi ns, mor e l i ke si st er s, and my uncl e knows we ar e

goi ng. I n f act i t was he who set t l ed t hat I shoul d t ake t hem. "

" Yes, but you see I don' t know t hem. "

" That doesn' t mat t er , I can' t t ake t hem bot h mysel f - - I must have

somebody wi t h me, and I ' m so gl ad t o get t he chance of

i nt r oduci ng you t o some of my peopl e. You' l l know t hem al l , I

hope, bef or e l ong. "

" Of cour se I shoul d l i ke i t ver y much, i f you ar e sur e i t ' s al l

r i ght . "

Tom was per f ect l y sur e as usual , and so t he mat t er was ar r anged.

Har dy was ver y much pl eased and gr at i f i ed at t hi s pr oof of hi s

f r i end' s conf i dence; and I am not goi ng t o say t hat he di d not

shave agai n, and pay most unwont ed at t ent i on t o hi s t oi l et bef or e

t he hour f i xed f or Tom' s r et ur n. The f ame of Br own' s l i onesses

had spr ead t hr ough St . Ambr ose' s al r eady, and Har dy had hear d of

t hem as wel l as ot her men. Ther e was somet hi ng so unusual t o hi m

i n be i ng sel ect ed on such an occasi on, when t he smar t est men i n

t he col l ege wer e wi shi ng and pl ot t i ng f or t hat whi ch came t o hi m

unasked, t hat he may be par doned f or f eel i ng somet hi ng a l i t t l e

l i ke vani t y, whi l e he adj ust ed t he coat whi ch Tom had r ecent l y

t hought of wi t h such compl acency, and l ooked i n t he gl ass t o see

t hat hi s gown hung gr acef ul l y. The ef f ect on t he whol e was so

good, t hat Tom was above measur e ast oni shed when he came back,

and coul d not hel p i ndul gi ng i n some gent l e chaf f as t hey wal ked

t owar ds t he Hi gh- st r eet ar m i n ar m.

The young l adi es wer e qui t e r est ed, and si t t i ng dr essed and r eady

f or t hei r wal k, when Tom and Har dy wer e announced, and ent er ed

t he r oom. Mi ss Wi nt er r ose up, sur pr i sed and a l i t t l e embar r assed

at t he i nt r oduct i on of a t ot al st r anger i n her f at her ' s absence.

But she put a good f ace on t he mat t er , as became a wel l - br ed

young woman, t hough she secr et l y r esol ved t o l ect ur e Tom i n

pr i vat e, as he i nt r oduced " My gr eat f r i end, Mr . Har dy, of our

col l ege. My cousi ns. " Mar y dr opped a pr et t y l i t t l e demur e

cour t esy, l i f t i ng her eyes f or one moment f or a gl ance at Tom

whi ch sai d as pl ai n as l ook coul d speak, " Wel l , I must say you

ar e maki ng t he most of your new- f ound r el at i onshi p. " He was a

l i t t l e put out f or a moment , but t hen r ecover ed hi msel f , and sai d

apol oget i cal l y,

" Mr . Har dy i s a bachel or , Kat e- - I mean a Bachel or of Ar t s, and he

knows al l t he peopl e by si ght up her e. We coul dn' t have gone t o

t he Wal k wi t hout some one t o show us t he l i ons. "

" I ndeed, I ' m af r ai d you gi ve me t oo much cr edi t , " sai d Har dy. " I

know most of our dons by si ght , cer t ai nl y, but scar cel y any of

t he vi si t or s. "

The awkwar dness of Tom' s at t empt ed expl anat i on set ever yt hi ng

wr ong agai n.

Then came one of t hose awkwar d pauses whi ch wi l l occur so ver y

Page 228 of 443

pr ovoki ngl y at t he most i noppor t une t i mes. Mi ss Wi nt er was sei zed

wi t h one of t he uncont r ol l abl e f i t s of shyness, her bondage t o

whi ch she had so l at el y been gr i evi ng over t o Mar y; and i n

sel f - def ence, and wi t hout meani ng i n t he l east t o do so, dr ew

hi msel f up, and l ooked as pr oud as you pl ease.

Har dy, whose sensi t i veness was al most as keen as a woman' s, f el t

i n a moment t he awkwar dness of t he si t uat i on, and became as shy

as Mi ss Wi nt er her sel f . I f t he f l oor woul d have suddenl y opened,

and l et hi m t hr ough i nt o t he dar k shop, he woul d have been

t hankf ul ; but , as i t woul d not , t her e he st ood, medi t at i ng a

sudden r et r eat f r om t he r oom and a t r emendous onsl aught on Tom,

as soon as he coul d cat ch hi m al one, f or get t i ng hi m i nt o such a

scr ape. Tom was pr ovoked wi t h t hem al l f or not at once f eel i ng at

ease wi t h one anot her , and st ood t wi r l i ng hi s cap by t he t assel ,

and l ooki ng f i er cel y at i t , r esol ved not t o br eak t he si l ence. He

had been at al l t he t r oubl e of br i ngi ng about t hi s char mi ng

si t uat i on, and now nobody seemed t o l i ke i t , or t o know what t o

say or do. They ought t o get t hemsel ves out of i t as t hey coul d,

f or anyt hi ng he car ed; he was not goi ng t o bot her hi msel f any

mor e.

Mar y l ooked i n t he gl ass, t o see t hat her bonnet was qui t e r i ght ,

and t hen f r om one t o anot her of her compani ons, i n a l i t t l e

wonder at t hei r unaccount abl e behavi or , and a l i t t l e pi que t hat

t wo young men shoul d be st andi ng t her e l i ke unpl easant i mages,

and not avai l i ng t hemsel ves of t he pr i vi l ege of t r yi ng, at l east ,

t o make t hemsel ves agr eeabl e t o her . Lucki l y, however , f or t he

par t y, t he humor ous si de of t he t abl eau st r uck her wi t h gr eat

f or ce, so t hat when Tom l i f t ed hi s mi sant hr opi c eyes f or a

moment , and caught her s, t hey wer e so f ul l of f un t hat he had

not hi ng t o do but t o al l ow her sel f , not wi t hout a st r uggl e, t o

br eak f i r st i nt o a smi l e and t hen i nt o a l augh. Thi s br ought al l

eyes t o bear on hi m, and t he i ce, bei ng once br oken, di ssol ved as

qui ckl y as i t had gat her ed.

" I r eal l y can' t see what t her e i s t o l augh at , Tom, " sai d Mi ss

Wi nt er , smi l i ng her sel f , never t hel ess, and bl ushi ng a l i t t l e, as

she wor ked or pr et ended t o wor k at but t oni ng one of her gl oves.

" Can' t you, Kat e? Wel l , t hen, i sn' t i t ver y r i di cul ous, and

enough t o make one l augh, t hat we f our shoul d be st andi ng her e i n

a sor t of Quaker ' s meet i ng, when we ought t o be hal f - way t o t he

Long Wal k by t hi s t i me?"

" Oh do l et us st ar t , " sai d Mar y; " I know we shal l be mi ssi ng al l

t he best of t he si ght .

" Come al ong, t hen, " sai d Tom, l eadi ng t he way down st ai r s, and

Har dy and t he l adi es f ol l owed, and t hey descended i nt o t he Hi gh

St r eet , wal ki ng al l abr east , t he t wo l adi es t oget her , wi t h a

gent l eman on ei t her f l ank. Thi s f or mat i on answer ed wel l enough on

Hi gh St r eet , t he br oad pavement of t hat cel ebr at ed t hor oughf ar e

bei ng f avour abl e t o an advance i n l i ne. But when t hey had wheel ed

i nt o Or i el Lane t he nar r ow pavement at once t hr ew t he l i ne i nt o

conf usi on, and af t er one or t wo f r ui t l ess at t empt s t o t ake

up t he dr essi ng, t hey set t l ed down i nt o t he mor e nat ur al

f or mat i on of cl ose col umn of coupl es, t he l eadi ng coupl e

consi st i ng of Mar y and Tom, and t he r emai ni ng coupl e of Mi ss

Wi nt er and Har dy. I t was a l ovel y mi dsummer eveni ng, and

Oxf or d was l ooki ng her best under t he geni al cl oudl ess sky,

so t hat , what wi t h t he usual congr at ul at i ons on t he weat her ,

and expl anat or y r emar ks on t he bui l di ngs as t hey passed

al ong, Har dy managed t o keep up a conver sat i on wi t h hi s

Page 229 of 443

compani on wi t hout much di f f i cul t y. Mi ss Wi nt er was pl eased

wi t h hi s qui et , def er ent i al manner , and soon l ost her

f eel i ng of shyness; and, bef or e Har dy had come t o t he end of

such r emar ks as i t occur r ed t o hi m t o make, she was t aki ng

her f ai r shar e i n t he t al k. I n descr i bi ng t hei r day' s doi ngs

she spoke wi t h ent husi asm of t he beaut y of Magdal en Chapel ,

and bet r ayed a l i t t l e knowl edge of t r acer i es and moul di ngs,

whi ch gave an openi ng t o her compani on t o t r avel out of t he

weat her and t he names of col l eges. Chur ch ar chi t ect ur e was

j ust one of t he subj ect s whi ch was sur e at t hat t i me t o t ake

mor e or l ess hol d on ever y man at Oxf or d whose mi nd was open

t o t he i nf l uences of t he pl ace. Har dy had r ead t he usual

t ext - books, and kept hi s eyes open as he wal ked about t he

t own and nei ghbor hood. To Mi ss Wi nt er he seemed so l ear ned

on t he subj ect , t hat she began t o doubt hi s t endenci es, and

was gl ad t o be r eassur ed by some r emar ks whi ch f el l f r om hi m

as t o t he Uni ver si t y ser mon whi ch she had hear d. She was

gl ad t o f i nd t hat her cousi n' s most i nt i mat e f r i end was not

l i kel y t o l ead hi m i nt o t he er r or s of Tr act ar i ani sm.

Meant i me t he l eadi ng coupl e wer e get t i ng on sat i sf act or i l y

i n t hei r own way.

" I sn' t i t good of Uncl e Rober t ? He says t hat he shal l f eel

qui t e comf or t abl e as l ong as you and Kat i e ar e wi t h me. I n

f act , I f eel qui t e r esponsi bl e al r eady, l i ke an ol d dr agon

i n a st or y- book wat chi ng a t r easur e. "

" Yes, but what does Kat i e say t o bei ng made a t r easur e of ?

She has t o t hi nk a good deal f or her sel f ; and I am af r ai d

you ar e not qui t e cer t ai n of bei ng our sol e kni ght and

guar di an because Uncl e Rober t want s t o get r i d of us. Poor

ol d uncl e! "

" But you woul dn' t obj ect , t hen?"

" Oh, dear , no- - at l east , not unl ess you t ake t o l ooki ng as

cr oss as you di d j ust now i n our l odgi ngs. Of cour se, I ' m

al l f or dr agons who ar e mad about danci ng, and never t hi nk

of l eavi ng a bal l - r oom t i l l t he band packs up and t he ol d

man shuf f l es i n t o put out t he l i ght s. "

" Then I shal l be a model dr agon, " sai d Tom. Twent y - f our

hour s ear l i er he had decl ar ed t hat not hi ng shoul d i nduce hi m

t o go t o t he bal l s; but hi s vi ews on t he subj ect had been

gr eat l y modi f i ed, and he had been wor r yi ng al l hi s

acquai nt ance, not unsuccessf ul l y, f or t he necessar y t i cket s,

ever si nce hi s t al k wi t h hi s cousi ns on t he pr ecedi ng

eveni ng.

The scene became mor e and mor e gay and l i vel y as t hey passed

out of Chr i st chur ch t owar ds t he Long Wal k. The t own t ur ned

out t o t ake i t s shar e i n t he show; and ci t i zens of al l

r anks, t he poor er ones accompani ed by chi l dr en of al l ages,

t r ooped al ong cheek by j owl wi t h member s of t he Uni ver si t y,

of al l degr ees, and t hei r vi si t or s, somewhat i ndeed t o t he

di sgust of cer t ai n of t hese l at t er , many of whom decl ar ed

t hat t he whol e t hi ng was spoi l t by t he mi scel l aneousness of

t he cr owd, and t hat " t hose sor t of peopl e" ought not t o be

al l owed t o come t o t he Long Wal k on Show Sunday. However ,

" t hose sor t of peopl e" abounded never t hel ess, and seemed t o

enj oy ver y much, i n sober f ashi on, t he sol emn mar ch up and

down beneat h t he gr and avenue of el ms i n t he mi dst of t hei r

bet t er s.

Page 230 of 443

The Uni ver si t y was t her e i n st r engt h, f r om t he

Vi ce- Chancel l or downwar ds. Somehow or anot her , t hough i t

mi ght seem an unr easonabl e t hi ng at f i r st si ght f or gr ave

and r ever end per sons t o do, yet most of t he gr avest of t hem

f ound some r eason f or t aki ng a t ur n i n t he Long Wal k. As f or

t he under gr aduat es, t hey t ur ned out al most t o a man, and

none of t hem mor e cer t ai nl y t han t he young gent l emen,

el abor at el y dr essed, who had sneer ed at t he whol e cer emony

as snobbi sh an hour or t wo bef or e.

As f or our her o, he sai l ed i nt o t he meadows t hor oughl y

sat i sf i ed f or t he moment wi t h hi msel f and hi s convoy. He had

ever y r eason t o be so, f or t hough t her e wer e many gayer and

mor e f ashi onabl y dr essed l adi es pr esent t han hi s cousi n, and

cousi n by cour t esy, t her e wer e none t her e whose f aces,

f i gur es and dr esses car r i ed mor e unmi st akabl y t he mar ks of

t hat t hor ough qui et hi gh br eedi ng, t hat r ef i nement whi ch i s

no mer e sur f ace pol i sh, and t hat f ear l ess unconsci ousness

whi ch l ooks out f r om pur e hear t s, whi ch ar e st i l l , t hank

God, t o be f ound i n so many homes of t he Engl i sh gent r y.

The Long Wal k was f i l l i ng r api dl y, and at ever y hal f - dozen paces

Tom was gr eet ed by some of hi s f r i ends or acquai nt ance, and

exchanged a wor d or t wo wi t h t hem. But he al l owed t hem one af t er

anot her t o pass by wi t hout ef f ect i ng any i nt r oduct i on.

" You seem t o have a gr eat many acquai nt ances, " sai d hi s

compani on, upon whom none of t hese sal ut at i ons wer e l ost .

" Yes, of cour se; one get s t o know a gr eat many men up her e. "

" I t must be ver y pl easant . But does i t not i nt er f er e a gr eat deal

wi t h your r eadi ng?"

" No; because one meet s t hem at l ect ur es, and i n hal l and chapel .

Besi des, " he added i n a sudden f i t of honest y, " i t i s my f i r st

year . One doesn' t r ead much i n one' s f i r st year . I t i s a much

har der t hi ng t han peopl e t hi nk t o t ake t o r eadi ng, except j ust

bef or e an exami nat i on. "

" But your gr eat f r i end who i s wal ki ng wi t h Kat i e- - what di d you

say hi s name i s?"

" Har dy. "

" Wel l , he i s a gr eat schol ar , di dn' t you say?"

" Yes, he has j ust t aken a f i r st cl ass. He i s t he best man of hi s

year . "

" How pr oud you must be of hi m! I suppose, now, he i s a gr eat

r eader ?"

" Yes, he i s gr eat at ever yt hi ng. He i s near l y t he best oar i n our

boat . By t he way, you wi l l come t o t he pr ocessi on of boat s

t o- mor r ow ni ght ? We ar e t he head boat on t he r i ver . "

" Oh, I hope so. I s i t a pr et t y si ght ? Let us ask Kat i e about i t . "

" I t i s t he f i nest si ght i n t he wor l d, " sai d Tom, who had never

seen i t ; " t went y- f our ei ght oar s wi t h t hei r f l ags f l yi ng, and al l

t he cr ews i n uni f or m. You see t he bar ges over t her e, moor ed al ong

t he si de of t he r i ver ? You wi l l si t on one of t hem as we pass. "

Page 231 of 443

" Yes, I t hi nk I do, " sai d Mar y, l ooki ng acr oss t he meadow i n t he

di r ect i on i n whi ch he poi nt ed; " you mean t hose gr eat gi l ded

t hi ngs. But I don' t see t he r i ver . "

" Shal l we wal k r ound t her e. I t won' t t ake up t en mi nut es. "

" But we must not l eave t he Wal k and al l t he peopl e. I t i s so

amusi ng her e. "

" Then you wi l l wear our col or s at t he pr ocessi on t o- mor r ow?"

" Yes, i f Kat i e doesn' t mi nd. At l east i f t hey ar e pr et t y. What

ar e your col or s?"

" Bl ue and whi t e. I wi l l get you some r i bbons t o- mor r ow mor ni ng. "

" Ver y wel l , and I wi l l make t hem up i nt o r oset t es. "

" Why, do you know t hem?" asked Tom, as she bowed t o t wo gent l emen

i n mast er s' caps and gowns, whom t hey met i n t he cr owd.

" Yes; at l east we met t hem l ast ni ght . "

" But do you know who t hey ar e?"

" Oh, yes; t hey wer e i nt r oduced t o us, and I t al ked a gr eat deal

t o t hem. And Kat i e scol ded me f or i t when we got home. No; I

won' t say scol ded me, but l ooked ver y gr ave over i t . "

" They ar e t wo of t he l eader s of t he Tr act ar i ans. "

" Yes. That was t he f un of i t . Kat i e was so pl eased and i nt er est ed

wi t h t hem at f i r st ; much mor e t han I was. But when she f ound out

who t hey wer e, she f ai r l y r an away, and I st ayed and t al ked on. I

don' t t hi nk t hey sai d anyt hi ng ver y danger ous. Per haps one of

t hem wr ot e No. 90. Do you know?"

" I dar e say. But I don' t know much about i t . However , t hey must

have a bad t i me of i t , I shoul d t hi nk, up her e wi t h t he ol d

dons. "

" But don' t you t hi nk one l i kes peopl e who ar e per secut ed? I

decl ar e I woul d l i st en t o t hem f or an hour , t hough I di dn' t

under st and a wor d, j ust t o show t hem t hat I wasn' t af r ai d of

t hem, and sympat hi zed wi t h t hem. How can peopl e be so

i l l - nat ur ed? I ' m sur e t hey onl y wr i t e what t hey bel i eve and t hi nk

wi l l do good. "

" That ' s j ust what most of us f eel , " sai d Tom; " we hat e t o see

t hem put down because t hey don' t agr ee wi t h t he swel l s up her e.

You' l l see how t hey wi l l be cheer ed i n t he Theat r e. "

" Then t hey ar e not unpopul ar and per secut ed af t er al l ?"

" Oh yes, by t he dons. And t hat ' s why we al l l i ke t hem. Fr om

f el l ow- f eel i ng you see, because t he dons bul l y t hem and us

equal l y. "

" But I t hought t hey wer e dons t oo?"

" Wel l , so t hey ar e, but not r egul ar dons, you know, l i ke t he

pr oct or s, and deans, and t hat sor t . "

Page 232 of 443

Hi s compani on di d not under st and t hi s del i cat e di st i nct i on, but

was t oo much i nt er est ed i n wat chi ng t he cr owd t o i nqui r e f ur t her .

Pr esent l y t hey met t wo of t he heads of houses wal ki ng wi t h

sever al st r anger s. Ever yone was not i ci ng t hem when t hey passed,

and of cour se Tom was quest i oned as t o who t hey wer e. Not bei ng

pr epar ed wi t h an answer , he appeal ed t o Har dy, who was j ust

behi nd t hem t al ki ng t o Mi ss Wi nt er . They wer e some of t he

cel ebr i t i es on whom honor ar y degr ees wer e t o be conf er r ed, Har dy

sai d; a f amous Amer i can aut hor , a f or ei gn ambassador , a

wel l - known I ndi an sol di er , and ot her s. Then came some mor e

M. A. ' s, one of whom t hi s t i me bowed t o Mi ss Wi nt er .

" Who was t hat , Kat i e?"

" One of t he gent l emen we met l ast ni ght . I di d not cat ch hi s

name, but he was ver y agr eeabl e. "

" Oh, I r emember . You wer e t al ki ng t o hi m f or a l ong t i me af t er

you r an away f r om me. I was ver y cur i ous t o know what you wer e

sayi ng, you seemed so i nt er est ed. "

" Wel l , you seem t o have made t he most of your t i me l ast ni ght , "

sai d Tom; " I shoul d have t hought , Kat i e, you woul d har dl y have

appr oved of hi m ei t her . "

" But who i s he?"

" Why, t he most danger ous man i n Oxf or d. What do t hey cal l hi m- - a

Ger mani zer and a r at i onal i st , i sn' t i t , Har dy?"

" Yes, I bel i eve so, " sai d Har dy.

" Oh, t hi nk of t hat ! Ther e, Kat i e; you had much bet t er have st ayed

by me af t er al l . A Ger mani zer , di dn' t you say? What a har d wor d.

I t must be much wor se t han Tr act ar i an, i sn' t i t , now?"

" Mar y dear , pr ay t ake car e; ever ybody wi l l hear you, " sai d Mi ss

Wi nt er .

" I wi sh I t hought t hat ever ybody woul d l i st en t o me, " r epl i ed

Mi ss Mar y. " But I r eal l y wi l l be qui et , Kat i e, onl y I must know

whi ch i s t he wor st , my Tr act ar i ans your Ger mani zer ?"

" Oh, t he Ger mani zer , of cour se, " sai d Tom.

" But why?" sai d Har dy, who coul d do no l ess t han br eak a l ance

f or hi s compani on. Mor eover , he happened t o have st r ong

convi ct i ons on t hese subj ect s.

" Why? Because one knows t he wor st of wher e t he Tr act ar i ans ar e

goi ng. They may go t o Rome and t her e' s an end of i t . But t he

Ger mani zer s ar e goi ng i nt o t he abysses, or no one knows wher e. "

" Ther e, Kat i e, you hear , I hope, " i nt er r upt ed Mi ss Mar y, comi ng

t o her compani on' s r escue bef or e Har dy coul d br i ng hi s ar t i l l er y

t o bear , " but what a t er r i bl e pl ace Oxf or d must be. I decl ar e i t

seems qui t e f ul l of peopl e whom i t i s unsaf e t o t al k wi t h. "

" I wi sh i t wer e, i f t hey wer e al l l i ke Mi ss Wi nt er ' s f r i end, "

sai d Har dy. And t hen t he cr owd t hi ckened and t hey dr opped behi nd

agai n. Tom was get t i ng t o t hi nk mor e of hi s compani on and l ess of

hi msel f ever y mi nut e, when he was suddenl y conf r ont ed i n t he wal k

by Benj ami n, t he Jew money- l ender , smoki ng a ci gar , and dr essed

Page 233 of 443

i n a gaudy f i gur ed sat i n wai st coat and wat er f al l of t he same

mat er i al , and r espl endent wi t h j ewel r y. He had busi ness t o at t end

t o i n Oxf or d at t hi s t i me of t he year . Not hi ng escaped t he eyes

of Tom' s compani on.

" Who was t hat ?" she sai d; " what a dr eadf ul - l ooki ng man! Sur el y he

bowed as i f he knew you?"

" I dar e say. He i s i mpudent enough f or anyt hi ng, " sai d Tom.

" But who i s he?"

" Oh, a r ascal l y f el l ow who sel l s bad ci gar s and wor se wi ne. "

Tom' s equani mi t y was much shaken by t he appar i t i on of t he Jew.

The r emembr ance of t he bi l l scene at t he Publ i c house i n t he

Cor n- mar ket , and t he unsat i sf act or y pr ospect i n t hat mat t er , wi t h

Bl ake pl ucked and Dr ysdal e no l onger a member of t he Uni ver si t y,

and ut t er l y car el ess as t o hi s l i abi l i t i es, came acr oss hi m, and

made hi m si l ent and absent .

He answer ed at hazar d t o hi s compani on' s r emar ks f or t he next

mi nut e or t wo, unt i l af t er some par t i cul ar l y i nappr opr i at e r epl y,

she t ur ned her head and l ooked at hi m f or a moment wi t h st eady

wi de open eyes, whi ch br ought hi m t o hi msel f , or r at her dr ove hi m

i nt o hi msel f , i n no t i me.

" I r eal l y beg your par don, " he sai d; " I was ver y r ude, I f ear . I t

i s so st r ange t o me t o be wal ki ng her e wi t h l adi es. What wer e you

sayi ng?"

" Not hi ng of any consequence- - I r eal l y f or get . But i t i s a ver y

st r ange t hi ng f or you t o wal k wi t h l adi es her e?"

" St r ange! I shoul d t hi nk i t was! I have never seen a l ady t hat I

knew up her e, t i l l you came. "

" I ndeed! but t her e must be pl ent y of l adi es l i vi ng i n Oxf or d?"

" I don' t bel i eve t her e ar e. At l east , we never see t hem, "

" Then you ought t o be on your best behavi or when we do come. I

shal l expect you now t o l i st en t o ever yt hi ng I say, and t o answer

my si l l i est quest i ons. "

" Oh, you ought not t o be so har d on us. "

" You mean t hat you f i nd i t har d t o answer si l l y quest i ons? How

wi se you must al l gr ow, l i vi ng up her e t oget her ! "

" Per haps. But t he wi sdom doesn' t come down t o t he f i r st - year men;

and so- - "

" Wel l , why do you st op?"

" Because I was goi ng t o say somet hi ng you mi ght not l i ke. "

" Then I i nsi st on hear i ng i t . Now, I shal l not l et you of f . You

wer e sayi ng t hat wi sdom does not come so l ow as f i r st - year men;

and so- - what ?"

" And so- - and so, t hey ar e not wi se. "

" Yes, of cour se; but t hat was not what you wer e goi ng t o say; and

Page 234 of 443

so- - "

" And so t hey ar e gener al l y agr eeabl e, f or wi se peopl e ar e al ways

dul l ; and so- - l adi es ought t o avoi d t he dons. "

" And not avoi d f i r st - year men?"

" Exact l y so. "

" Because t hey ar e f ool i sh, and t her ef or e f i t company f or l adi es.

Now, r eal l y- - "

" No, no; because t hey ar e f ool i sh, and, t her ef or e, t hey ought t o

be made wi se; and l adi es ar e wi ser t han dons. "

" And t her ef or e, dul l er , f or al l wi se peopl e, you sai d, wer e

dul l . "

" Not al l wi se peopl e; onl y peopl e who ar e wi se by cr ammi ng, - - as

dons; but l adi es ar e wi se by i nspi r at i on. "

" And f i r st - year men, ar e t hey f ool i sh by i nspi r at i on and

agr eeabl e by cr ammi ng, or agr eeabl e by i nspi r at i on and f ool i sh by

cr ammi ng?"

" They ar e agr eeabl e by i nspi r at i on i n t he soci et y of l adi es. "

" Then t hey can never be agr eeabl e, f or you say t hey never see

l adi es. "

" Not wi t h t he bodi l y eye, but wi t h t he eye of f ancy. "

" Then t hei r agr eeabl eness must be al l f ancy. "

" But i t i s bet t er t o be agr eeabl e i n f ancy t han dul l i n r eal i t y. "

" That depends upon whose f ancy i t i s. To be agr eeabl e i n your own

f ancy i s compat i bl e wi t h bei ng dul l i n r eal i t y as- - "

" How you pl ay wi t h wor ds! I see you won' t l eave me a shr ed ei t her

of f ancy or agr eeabl eness t o st and on. "

" Then I shal l do you good ser vi ce. I shal l dest r oy your

i l l usi ons; you cannot st and on i l l usi ons. "

" But r emember what my i l l usi ons wer e- - f ancy and agr eeabl eness. "

" But your agr eeabl eness st ood on f ancy, and your f ancy on

not hi ng. You had bet t er set t l e down at once on t he sol i d basi s of

dul l ness l i ke t he dons. "

" Then I am t o f ound mysel f on f act , and t r y t o be dul l ? What a

concl usi on! But per haps dul l ness i s no mor e a f act t han f ancy;

what i s dul l ness?"

" Oh, I do not under t ake t o def i ne; you ar e t he best j udge. "

" How sever e you ar e! Now, see how gener ous I am. Dul l ness i n

soci et y i s t he absence of l adi es. "

" Al as, poor Oxf or d! Who i s t hat i n t he vel vet sl eeves? Why do you

t ouch your cap?"

" That i s t he Pr oct or . He i s our Cer ber us; he has t o keep al l

Page 235 of 443

under gr aduat es i n good or der . "

" What a t ask! He ought t o have t hr ee heads. "

" He has onl y one head, but i t i s a ver y l ong one. And he has a

t ai l l i ke any Basha, composed of pr o- pr oct or s, mar shal s and

bul l - dogs, and I don' t know what al l . But t o go back t o what we

wer e sayi ng- - "

" No, don' t l et us go back. I ' m t i r ed of i t ; besi des you wer e j ust

begi nni ng about dul l ness. How can you expect me t o l i st en now?"

" Oh, but do l i st en, j ust f or t wo mi nut es. Wi l l you be ser i ous? I

do want t o know what you r eal l y t hi nk when you hear t he case. "

" Wel l , I wi l l t r y- - f or t wo mi nut es, mi nd. "

Upon gai ni ng whi ch per mi ssi on, Tom went of f i nt o an i nt er est i ng

di scour se on t he unnat ur al ness of men' s l i ves at . Oxf or d, whi ch

i t i s by no means necessar y t o i nf l i ct on our r eader s.

As he was waxi ng el oquent and sent i ment al , he chanced t o l ook

f r om hi s compani on' s f ace f or a moment i n sear ch of a si mi l e,

when hi s eyes al i ght ed on t hat vi r t uous member of soci et y, Di ck,

t he f act ot um of " The Choughs, " who was t aki ng hi s t ur n i n t he

Long Wal k wi t h hi s bet t er s. Di ck' s f ace was t wi st ed i nt o an

uncomf or t abl e gr i n; hi s eyes wer e f i xed on Tom and hi s compani on;

and he made a sor t of hal f mot i on t owar ds t ouchi ng hi s hat , but

coul dn' t qui t e car r y i t t hr ough, and so passed by.

" Ah! ai n' t he a goi ng of i t agai n, " he mut t er ed t o hi msel f ; " j est

l i ke ' em al l . "

Tom di dn' t hear t he wor ds, but t he l ook had been qui t e enough f or

hi m, and he br oke of f shor t i n hi s speech, and t ur ned hi s head

away, and, af t er t wo or t hr ee f l ounder i ngs whi ch Mar y seemed not

t o not i ce, st opped shor t , and l et Mi ss Wi nt er and Har dy j oi n

t hem.

" I t ' s get t i ng dar k, " he sai d, as t hey came up; " t he Wal k i s

t hi nni ng; ought we not t o be goi ng? Remember , I am i n char ge. "

" Yes, I t hi nk i t i s t i me. "

At t hi s moment t he gr eat Chr i st chur ch bel l - - Tom by name- - began t o

t ol l .

" Sur el y t hat can' t be Tom?" Mi ss Wi nt er sai d, who had hear d t he

one hundr ed and one st r okes on f or mer occasi ons.

" I ndeed i t i s, t hough. "

" But how ver y l i ght i t i s. "

" I t i s al most t he l ongest day i n t he year , and t her e hasn' t been

a cl oud al l day. "

They st ar t ed t o wal k home al l t oget her , and Tom gr adual l y

r ecover ed hi msel f , but l ef t t he l abour i ng oar t o Har dy, who di d

hi s wor k ver y wel l , and per suaded t he l adi es t o go on and see t he

Rat cl i f f e by moonl i ght - - t he onl y t i me t o see i t , as he sai d,

because of t he shadows- - and j ust t o l ook i n at t he ol d quadr angl e

of St . Ambr ose.

Page 236 of 443

I t was al most t en o' cl ock when t hey st opped at t he l odgi ngs i n

Hi gh- st r eet . Whi l e t hey wer e wai t i ng f or t he door t o be opened,

Har dy sai d- -

" I r eal l y must apol ogi ze, Mi ss Wi nt er , t o you, f or my i nt r usi on

t o- ni ght . I hope your f at her wi l l al l ow me t o cal l on hi m. "

" Oh yes! pr ay do; he wi l l be so gl ad t o see any f r i end of my

cousi n' s. "

" And i f I can be of any use t o hi m; or t o you, or your si st er - - "

" My si st er ! Oh, you mean Mar y? She i s not my si st er . "

" I beg your par don. But I hope you wi l l l et me know i f t her e i s

anyt hi ng I can do f or you. "

" I ndeed we wi l l . Now, Mar y, papa wi l l be wor r yi ng about us. " And

so t he young l adi es sai d t hei r adi eus and di sappear ed.

" Sur el y you t ol d me t hey wer e si st er s, " sai d Har dy, as t he t wo

wal ked away t owar ds col l ege.

" No, di d I ? I don' t r emember . "

" But t hey ar e your cousi ns?"

" Yes, at l east Kat i e i s. Don' t you l i ke her ?"

" Of cour se, one can' t hel p l i ki ng her . But she says you have not

met f or t wo year s or mor e. "

" No mor e we have. "

" Then I suppose you have seen mor e of her compani on l at el y?"

" Wel l , i f you must know, I never saw her bef or e yest er day. "

" You don' t mean t o say t hat you t ook me i n t her e t oni ght when you

had never seen one of t he young l adi es bef or e, and t he ot her not

f or t wo year s! Wel l , upon my wor d, Br own- - "

" Now don' t bl ow me up, ol d f el l ow, t o- ni ght - - pl ease don' t . Ther e,

I gi ve i n. Don' t hi t a f el l ow when he' s down. I ' m so l ow. " Tom

spoke i n such a depr eci at i ng t one t hat Har dy' s wr at h passed away.

" Why, what ' s t he mat t er ?" he sai d. " You seemed t o be f ul l of

t al k. I was envyi ng your f l uency I know, of t en. "

" Tal k! yes so I was. But di dn' t you see Di ck i n t he Wal k? You

have never hear d anyt hi ng mor e?"

" No! but no news i s good news. "

" Hei gho! I ' m awf ul l y down. I want t o t al k t o you. Let me come

up. "

" Come al ong t hen. " And so t hey di sappear ed i nt o Har dy' s l odgi ngs.

The t wo young l adi es, meanwhi l e, soot hed ol d Mr . Wi nt er , who had

eat en and dr ank mor e t han was good f or hi m, and was nat ur al l y put

out t her eby. They soon managed t o per suade hi m t o r et i r e, and

t hen f ol l owed t hem- sel ves- - f i r st t o Mar y' s r oom, wher e t hat young

l ady bur st out at once, " What a char mi ng pl ace i t i s! Oh! di dn' t

Page 237 of 443

you enj oy your eveni ng, Kat i e! "

" Yes, but I f el t a l i t t l e awkwar d wi t hout a chaper one. You seemed

t o get on ver y wel l wi t h my cousi n. You scar cel y spoke t o us i n

t he Long Wal k t i l l j ust bef or e we came away. What wer e you

t al ki ng about ?"

Mar y bur st i nt o a gay l augh. " Al l sor t s of nonsense, " she sai d.

" I don' t t hi nk I ever t al ked so much nonsense i n my l i f e. I hope

he i sn' t shocked. I don' t t hi nk he i s. But I sai d anyt hi ng t hat

came i nt o my head. I coul dn' t hel p i t . You don' t t hi nk i t wr ong?"

" Wr ong, dear ? No, I ' m sur e you coul d say not hi ng wr ong. "

" I ' m not so sur e of t hat . But , Kat i e dear , I know t her e i s

somet hi ng on hi s mi nd. "

" Why do you t hi nk so?"

" Oh, because he st opped shor t t wi ce, and became qui t e absent , and

seemed not t o hear anyt hi ng I sai d. "

" How odd! I never knew hi m do so. Di d you see any r eason f or i t ?"

" No; unl ess i t was t wo men we passed i n t he cr owd. One was a

vul gar - l ooki ng wr et ch, who was smoki ng- - a f at bl ack t hi ng, wi t h

such a t hi ck nose, cover ed wi t h j ewel r y- - "

" Not hi s nose, dear ?"

" No, but hi s dr ess; and t he ot her was a homel y, dr i ed- up l i t t l e

man, l i ke one of your Engl ebour n t r oubl es. I ' m sur e t her e i s some

myst er y about t hem, and I shal l f i nd i t out . But how di d you l i ke

hi s f r i end, Kat i e?"

" Ver y much, i ndeed. I was r at her uncomf or t abl e at wal ki ng so l ong

wi t h a st r anger . But he was ver y pl easant , and i s so f ond of Tom.

I am sur e he i s a ver y good f r i end f or hi m. "

" He l ooks a good man; but how ugl y! "

" Do you t hi nk so? We shal l have a har d day t o- mor r ow. Good ni ght ,

dear . "

" Good ni ght , Kat i e. But I don' t f eel a bi t sl eepy. " And so t he

cousi ns ki ssed one anot her , and Mi ss Wi nt er went t o her own r oom.

CHAPTER XXVI I

LECTURI NG A LI ONESS

The eveni ng of Show Sunday may ser ve as a f ai r sampl e of what

t hi s event f ul Commemor at i on was t o our her o. The const ant

i nt er cour se wi t h l adi es- - wi t h such l adi es as Mi ss Wi nt er and

Mar y- - young, good- l ooki ng, wel l spoken, and cr edi t abl e i n al l

ways, was ver y del i ght f ul , and t he mor e f asci nat i ng, f r om t he

sudden change whi ch t hei r pr esence wr ought i n t he or di nar y mode

of l i f e of t he pl ace. They woul d have been char mi ng i n any r oom,

but wer e qui t e i r r epr essi bl e i n hi s den, whi ch no f emal e

pr esence, except t hat of hi s bl owsy ol d bed- maker , had l i ght ened

si nce he had been i n possessi on. Al l t he associ at i ons of t he

f r esh- man' s r oom wer e r ai sed at once. When he came i n at ni ght

Page 238 of 443

now, he coul d l ook sent i ment al l y at hi s ar m chai r ( chr i st ened

" The Capt ai n, " af t er Capt ai n Har dy) , on whi ch Kat i e had sat t o

make br eakf ast ; or at t he br ass peg on t he door , on whi ch Mar y

had hung her bonnet and shawl , af t er di spl aci ng hi s gown. Hi s

ver y t eacups and saucer s, whi ch wer e al r eady a mi scel l aneous set

of sever al di f f er ent pat t er ns, had made a move al most i nt o hi s

af f ect i ons; at l east t he t wo- - one br own, one bl ue- - whi ch t he

young l adi es had used. A human i nt er est bel onged t o t hem now, and

t hey wer e no l onger mer e cr ocker y. He had t hought of buyi ng t wo

ver y pr et t y chi na ones, t he most expensi ve he coul d f i nd i n

Oxf or d, and get t i ng t hem t o use t hese f or t he f i r st t i me, but

r ej ect ed t he i dea. The f i ne new ones, he f el t , woul d never be t he

same t o hi m. They had come i n and used hi s own r ubbi sh; t hat was

t he gr eat char m. I f he had been goi ng t o gi ve _t hem_ cups, no

mat er i al woul d have been beaut i f ul enough; but f or hi s own use

af t er t hem, t he commoner t he bet t er . The mat er i al was not hi ng,

t he associ at i on ever yt hi ng. I t i s mar vel l ous t he amount of

heal t hy sent i ment of whi ch a nat ur al l y sof t - hear t ed under gr aduat e

i s capabl e by t he end of t he summer t er m. But sent i ment i s not

al l one- si ded. The del i ght s whi ch spr i ng f r om sudden i nt i macy

wi t h t he f ai r est and best par t of t he cr eat i on, ar e as f ar above

t hose of t he or di nar y, unmi t i gat ed under gr aduat e l i f e, as t he

Br i t i sh ci t i zen of 1860 i s above t he r udi ment ar y per sonage i n

pr ehi st or i c t i mes f r om whom he has been gr adual l y i mpr oved up t o

hi s pr esent st at e of enl i ght enment and per f ect i on. But each st at e

has al so i t s own t r oubl es as wel l as i t s pl easur es; and, t hough

t he f or mer ar e a pr i ce whi ch no decent f el l ow woul d boggl e at f or

a moment , i t i s usel ess t o pr et end t hat payi ng t hem i s pl easant .

Now, at Commemor at i on, as el sewher e, wher e men do congr egat e, i f

your l ady- vi si t or s ar e not pr et t y or agr eeabl e enough t o make

your f r i ends and acquai nt ances eager t o know t hem, and t o cat er

f or t hei r enj oyment , and t r y i n al l ways t o wi n t hei r f avor and

cut you out , you have t he sat i sf act i on at any r at e of keepi ng

t hem t o your sel f , t hough you l ose t he pl easur es whi ch ar i se f r om

bei ng sought af t er , and made much of f or t hei r sakes, and f eel i ng

r ai sed above t he r uck of your nei ghbor s. On t he ot her hand, i f

t hey ar e al l l i ke t hi s, you mi ght as wel l t r y t o keep t he

sunshi ne and ai r t o your sel f . Uni ver sal human nat ur e r i ses up

agai nst you; and besi des, t hey wi l l not st and i t t hemsel ves. And,

i ndeed, why shoul d t hey? Women, t o be ver y at t r act i ve t o al l

sor t s of di f f er ent peopl e, must have gr eat r eadi ness of sympat hy.

Many have i t nat ur al l y, and many wor k har d i n acqui r i ng a good

i mi t at i on of i t . I n t he f i r st case i t i s agai nst t he nat ur e of

such per sons t o be monopol i zed f or mor e t han a ver y shor t t i me;

i n t he second, al l t hei r t r oubl e woul d be t hr own away i f t hey

al l owed t hemsel ves t o be monopol i zed. Once i n t hei r l i ves,

i ndeed, t hey wi l l be, and ought t o be, and t hat monopol y l ast s,

or shoul d l ast , f or ever ; but i nst ead of dest r oyi ng i n t hem t hat

whi ch was t hei r gr eat char m, i t onl y deepens and wi dens i t , and

t he sympat hy whi ch was bef or e f i t f ul , and, per haps, waywar d,

f l ows on i n a cal m and heal t hy st r eam, bl essi ng and cheer i ng al l

who come wi t hi n r each of i t s exhi l ar at i ng and l i f e- gi vi ng wat er s.

But man of al l ages i s a sel f i sh ani mal , and unr easonabl e i n hi s

sel f i shness. I t t akes ever y one of us i n t ur n many a shr ewd f al l

i n our wr est l i ngs wi t h t he wor l d, t o convi nce us t hat we ar e not

t o have ever yt hi ng our own way. We ar e consci ous i n our i nmost

soul s t hat man i s t he r i ght f ul l or d of cr eat i on; and, st ar t i ng

f r om t hi s et er nal pr i nci pl e, and i gnor i ng, each man- chi l d of us

i n t ur n, t he qual i f yi ng t r ut h t hat i t i s t o man i n gener al ,

i ncl udi ng women, and not t o Thomas Br own i n par t i cul ar , t hat t he

ear t h has been gi ven, we set about asser t i ng our ki ngshi ps each

i n hi s own way, and pr ocl ai mi ng our sel ves ki ngs f r om our l i t t l e

Page 239 of 443

ant - hi l l s of t hr ones. And t hen come t he st r uggl i ngs and t he

down- f al l i ngs, and some of us l ear n our l esson, and some l ear n i t

not . But what l esson? That we have been dr eami ng i n t he gol den

hour s when t he vi si on of a ki ngdom r ose bef or e us? That t her e i s

i n shor t no ki ngdom at al l , or t hat , i f t her e be, we ar e no hei r s

of i t ?

No- - I t ake i t t hat , whi l e we make not hi ng bet t er t han t hat out of

our l esson, we shal l have t o go on spel l i ng at i t and st umbl i ng

over i t , t hr ough al l t he days of our l i f e, t i l l we make our l ast

st umbl e, and t ake our f i nal header out of t hi s r i ddl e of a wor l d,

whi ch we once dr eamed we wer e t o r ul e over , excl ai mi ng " vani t as

vani t at um" t o t he end. But man' s spi r i t wi l l never be sat i sf i ed

wi t hout a ki ngdom, and was never i nt ended t o be sat i sf i ed so; and

One wi ser t han Sol omon t el l s us day by day t hat our ki ngdom i s

about us her e, and t hat we may r i se up and pass i n when we wi l l

at t he shi ni ng gat es whi ch He hol ds open, f or t hat i t i s Hi s, and

we ar e j oi nt hei r s of i t wi t h Hi m.

On t he whol e, however , maki ng al l owances f or al l dr awbacks, t hose

Commemor at i on days wer e t he pl easant est days Tom had ever known

at Oxf or d. He was wi t h hi s uncl e and cousi ns ear l y and l at e,

devi si ng al l sor t s of pl easant ent er t ai nment s and excur si ons f or

t hem, i nt r oduci ng al l t he pl easant est men of hi s acquai nt ance and

t axi ng t he r esour ces of t he col l ege, whi ch at such t i mes wer e

avai l abl e f or under gr aduat es as wel l as t hei r bet t er s, t o

mi ni st er t o t hei r comf or t and enj oyment . And he was wel l r epai d.

Ther e was somet hi ng per f ect l y new t o t he l adi es, and ver y pi quaut

i n t he l i f e and habi t s of t he pl ace. They f ound i t ver y di ver t i ng

t o be r ecei vi ng i n Tom' s r ooms, pr esi di ng over hi s br eakf ast s and

l uncheons, al t er i ng t he posi t i on of hi s f ur ni t ur e, and maki ng t he

pl ace l ook as pr et t y as ci r cumst ances woul d al l ow. Then t her e was

pl easant occupat i on f or ever y spar e hour , and t he f et es and

amusement s wer e al l unl i ke ever yt hi ng but t hemsel ves. Of cour se

t he l adi es at once became ent husi ast i c St . Ambr osi ans, and

managed i n spi t e of al l di st r act i ons t o f i nd t i me f or maki ng up

r oset t es and bows of bl ue and whi t e, i n whi ch t o appear at t he

pr ocessi on of t he boat s, whi ch was t he gr eat event of t he Monday.

For t unat el y Mr . Wi nt er had been a good oar i n hi s day, and had

pul l ed i n one of t he f i r st f our - oar s i n whi ch t he Uni ver si t y

r aces had commenced some t hi r t y- f i ve year s bef or e; and Tom, who

had set hi s mi nd on managi ng hi s uncl e, wor ked hi m up al most i nt o

ent husi asm and f or get f ul ness of hi s mal adi es, so t hat he r ai sed

no obj ect i on t o a f i ve o' cl ock di nner , and an adj our nment t o t he

r i ver al most i mmedi at el y af t er war ds. Jer vi s, who was al l - power f ul

on t he r i ver , at Tom' s i nst i gat i on got an ar m- chai r f or hi m i n

t he best par t of t he Uni ver si t y bar ge, whi l e t he l adi es, af t er

wal ki ng al ong t he bank wi t h Tom and ot her s of t he cr ew, and bei ng

i nst r uct ed i n t he col or s of t he di f f er ent boat s, and t he meani ng

of t he cer emony, t ook t hei r pl aces i n t he f r ont r ow on t he t op of

t he bar ge, beneat h t he awni ng and t he f l ags, and l ooked down wi t h

hundr eds of ot her f ai r st r anger s on t he scene, whi ch cer t ai nl y

mer i t ed al l t hat Tom had sai d of i t on f ai t h.

The bar ges above and bel ow t he Uni ver si t y bar ge, whi ch occupi ed

t he post of honor , wer e al so cover ed wi t h l adi es, and

Chr i st chur ch Meadow swar med wi t h gay dr esses and caps and gowns.

On t he opposi t e si de t he bank was l i ned wi t h a cr owd i n hol i day

cl ot hes, and t he punt s pl i ed acr oss wi t hout i nt er mi ssi on l oaded

wi t h peopl e, t i l l t he gr oups st r et ched away down t he t owi ng pat h

i n an al most cont i nuous l i ne t o t he st ar t i ng pl ace. Then one

af t er anot her of t he r aci ng- boat s, al l pai nt ed and pol i shed up

f or t he occasi on, wi t h t he col l ege f l ags dr oopi ng at t hei r

st er ns, put out and passed down t o t hei r st at i ons, and t he bands

Page 240 of 443

pl ayed, and t he sun shone hi s best . And t hen, af t er a shor t pause

of expect at i on, t he di st ant bank became al l al i ve, and t he gr oups

al l t ur ned one way, and came up t he t owi ng pat h agai n, and t he

f or emost boat wi t h t he bl ue and whi t e f l ag shot t hr ough t he Gut

and came up t he r each, f ol l owed by anot her , and anot her , and

anot her , t i l l t hey wer e t i r ed of count i ng, and t he l eadi ng boat

was al r eady cl ose t o t hem bef or e t he l ast had come wi t hi n si ght .

And t he bands pl ayed up al l t oget her , and t he cr owd on bot h si des

cheer ed as t he St . Ambr ose boat spur t ed f r om t he Cher wel l , and

t ook t he pl ace of honor at t he wi nni ng- post , opposi t e t he

Uni ver si t y bar ge, and cl ose under wher e t hey wer e si t t i ng.

" Oh, l ook, Kat i e dear ; her e t hey ar e. Ther e' s Tom, and Mr . Har dy,

and Mr . Jer vi s; " and Mar y waved her handker chi ef and cl apped her

hands, and was i n an ecst asy of ent husi asm, i n whi ch her cousi n

was no whi t behi nd her . The gal l ant cr ew of St . Ambr ose wer e by

no means unconsci ous of , and f ul l y appr eci at ed, t he compl i ment .

Then t he boat s passed up one by one; and, as each came opposi t e

t o t he St . Ambr ose boat , t he cr ews t ossed t hei r oar s and cheer ed,

and t he St . Ambr ose cr ew t ossed t hei r oar s and cheer ed i n r et ur n;

and t he whol e cer emony went of f i n t r i umph, not wi t hst andi ng t he

casual t y whi ch occur r ed t o one of t he t or pi ds. The t or pi ds, bei ng

f i l l ed wi t h t he r ef use of t he r owi ng men- - gener al l y awkwar d or

ver y young oar smen- - f i nd some di f f i cul t y i n t he act of

t ossi ng- - no saf e oper at i on f or an unst eady cr ew. Accor di ngl y, t he

t or pi d i n quest i on, havi ng sust ai ned her cr ew gal l ant l y t i l l t he

sal ut i ng poi nt , and al l owed t hem t o get t hei r oar s f ai r l y i nt o

t he ai r , pr oceeded gr avel y t o t ur n over on her si de, and shoot

t hem out i nt o t he st r eam.

A t hr i l l r an al ong t he t op of t he bar ges, and a l i t t l e scr eam or

t wo mi ght have been hear d even t hr ough t he not es of " Anni e

Laur i e" , whi ch wer e f i l l i ng t he ai r at t he moment ; but t he band

pl ayed on, and t he cr ew swam ashor e, and t wo of t he punt - men l ai d

hol d of t he boat and col l ect ed t he oar s, and nobody seemed t o

t hi nk anyt hi ng of i t .

Kat i e dr ew a l ong br eat h.

" Ar e t hey al l out , dear ?" she sai d; " can you see? I can onl y

count ei ght . "

" Oh, I was t oo f r i ght ened t o l ook. Let me see; yes, t her e ar e

ni ne; t her e' s one by hi msel f , t he l i t t l e man pul l i ng t he weeds

of f hi s t r ouser s. "

And so t hey r egai ned t hei r equani mi t y, and soon af t er l ef t t he

bar ge, and wer e escor t ed t o t he hal l of St . Ambr ose by t he cr ew,

who gave an ent er t ai nment t her e t o cel ebr at e t he occasi on, whi ch

Mr . Wi nt er was i nduced t o at t end and pl eased t o appr ove, and

whi ch l ast ed t i l l i t was t i me t o dr ess f or t he bal l , f or whi ch a

pr oper chaper one had been pr ovi dent i al l y f ound. And so t hey

passed t he days and ni ght s of Commemor at i on.

But i s not wi t hi n t he scope of t hi s wor k t o chr oni cl e al l t hei r

doi ngs- - how, not wi t hst andi ng bal l s at ni ght , t hey wer e up t o

chapel i n t he mor ni ng, and at t ended f l ower - shows at Wor cest er and

musi cal pr omenades i n New Col l ege, and managed t o get down t he

r i ver f or a pi cni c at Nuneham, besi des seei ng ever yt hi ng t hat was

wor t h seei ng i n al l t he col l eges. How i t was done, no man can

t el l ; but done i t was, and t hey seemed onl y t he bet t er f or i t

al l . They wer e wai t i ng at t he gat es of t he Theat r e amongst t he

f i r st , t i cket s i n hand, and wi t nessed t he whol e scene, wonder i ng

Page 241 of 443

no l i t t l e at t he st r ange mi xt ur e of sol emni t y and l i cense, t he

r ush and cr owdi ng of t he under gr aduat es i nt o t hei r gal l er y, and

t hei r f r ee and easy way of t aki ng t he whol e pr oceedi ngs under

t hei r pat r onage, wat chi ng ever y movement i n t he amphi t heat r e and

on t he f l oor , and shout i ng appr oval and di sappr oval of t he heads

of t hei r r epubl i c of l ear ni ng, or of t he most i l l ust r i ous

vi si t or s, or cheer i ng wi t h equal vi gor , t he l adi es, Her Maj est y' s

mi ni st er s, or t he pr i ze poems.

I t i s a st r ange scene cer t ai nl y, and has pr obabl y puzzl ed many

per sons besi des young l adi es. One can wel l f ancy t he ast oni shment

of t he l ear ned f or ei gner , f or i nst ance, when he sees t he head of

t he Uni ver si t y, whi ch he has r ever enced at a di st ance f r om hi s

yout h up, r i se i n hi s r obes i n sol emn convocat i on t o exer ci se one

of t he hi ghest of Uni ver si t y f unct i ons, and hear s hi s sonor ous

Lat i n per i ods i nt er r upt ed by " t hr ee cheer s f or t he l adi es i n pi nk

bonnet s! " or , when some man i s i nt r oduced f or an honor ar y degr ee,

whose name may be known t hr oughout t he ci vi l i zed wor l d, and t he

Vi ce- Chancel l or , t ur ni ng t o hi s compeer s, i nqui r es, " Pl acet ne

vobi s, domi ni doct or es? pl acet ne vobi s, magi st r i ?" and he hear s

t he voi ce of doct or s and mast er s dr owned i n cont r adi ct or y shout s

f r om t he young _demus_ i n t he gal l er y, " Who i s he?" " Non pl acet ! "

" _Pl acet _! " " Why does he car r y an umbr el l a?" I t i s t hor oughl y

Engl i sh, and t hat i s j ust al l t hat need, or i ndeed can, be sai d

f or i t al l ; but not one i n a hundr ed of us woul d al t er i t i f we

coul d, beyond suppr essi ng some of t he per sonal i t i es, whi ch of

l at e year s have gone somewhat t oo f ar .

Af t er t he Theat r e t her e was sumpt uous l unch i n Al l Soul s' , and

t hen a f et e i n St . John' s Gar dens. Now, at t he af or esai d

l uncheon, Tom' s f eel i ngs had been sever el y t r i ed; i n f act , t he

l i t t l e t r oubl es, whi ch, as has been bef or e hi nt ed, ar e i nci dent

t o per sons, especi al l y young men i n hi s f or t unat e pr edi cament ,

had her e come t o a head.

He was separ at ed f r om hi s cousi n a l i t t l e way. Bei ng a guest , and

not an i mpor t ant one i n t he eyes of t he Al l Soul s' f el l ows, he

had t o f i nd hi s l evel , whi ch was ver y much bel ow t hat al l ot t ed t o

hi s uncl e and cousi ns. I n shor t , he f el t t hat t hey wer e t aki ng

hi m about , i nst ead of he t hem- - whi ch change of posi t i on was i n

i t sel f t r yi ng; and Mar y' s conduct f anned hi s sl umber i ng

di scont ent i nt o a f l ame. Ther e she was, si t t i ng bet ween a f el l ow

of Al l Soul s' , who was a col l ect or of pi ct ur es and an aut hor i t y

i n f i ne ar t mat t er s, and t he I ndi an of f i cer who had been so

r ecent l y pr omot ed t o t he degr ee of D. C. L. i n t he Theat r e. Ther e

she sat , so absor bed i n t hei r conver sat i on t hat she di d not even

hear a r emar k whi ch he was pl eased t o addr ess t o her .

Wher eupon he began t o br ood on hi s wr ongs, and t o t ake umbr age at

t he cat hol i ci t y of her enj oyment and ent husi asm. So l ong as he

had been t he medi um t hr ough whi ch she was br ought i n cont act wi t h

ot her s, he had been wel l enough cont ent t hat t hey shoul d amuse

and i nt er est her ; but i t was a ver y di f f er ent t hi ng now.

So he wat ched her j eal ousl y, and r aked up f or mer conver sat i ons,

and came t o t he concl usi on t hat i t was hi s dut y t o r emonst r at e

wi t h her . He had r emar ked, t oo, t hat she never coul d t al k wi t h

hi m now wi t hout br eaki ng away af t er a shor t t i me i nt o badi nage.

Her badi nage cer t ai nl y was ver y char mi ng and pl easant , and kept

hi m on t he st r et ch; but why shoul d she not l et hi m be ser i ous and

sent i ment al when he pl eased? She di d not br eak out i n t hi s manner

wi t h ot her peopl e. So he r eal l y f el t i t t o be hi s dut y t o speak

t o her on t he subj ect - - not i n t he l east f or hi s own sake, but f or

her s.

Page 242 of 443

Accor di ngl y, when t he par t y br oke up, and t hey st ar t ed f or t he

f et e at St . John' s, he r esol ved t o car r y out hi s i nt ent i ons. At

f i r st he coul d not get an oppor t uni t y whi l e t hey wer e wal ki ng

about on t he beaut i f ul l awn of t he gr eat gar den, seei ng and bei ng

seen, and l i st eni ng t o musi c, and l ooki ng at choi ce f l ower s. But

soon a chance of f er ed. She st ayed behi nd t he r est wi t hout

not i ci ng i t , t o exami ne some speci al l y beaut i f ul pl ant , and he

was by her si de i n a moment , and pr oposed t o show her t he smal l er

gar den, whi ch l i es beyond, t o whi ch she i nnocent l y consent ed; and

t hey wer e soon out of t he cr owd, and i n compar at i ve sol i t ude.

She r emar ked t hat he was somewhat si l ent and gr ave, but t hought

not hi ng of i t , and chat t ed on as usual , r emar ki ng upon t he

pl easant company she had been i n at l uncheon.

Thi s opened t he way f or Tom' s l ect ur e.

" How easi l y you seem t o get i nt er est ed wi t h new peopl e! " he

began.

" Do I ?" she sai d. " Wel l , don' t you t hi nk i t ver y nat ur al ?"

" Woul dn' t i t be a bl essi ng i f peopl e woul d al ways say j ust what

t hey t hi nk and mean, t hough?"

" Yes, and a gr eat many do, " she r epl i ed, l ooki ng at hi m i n some

wonder , and not qui t e pl eased wi t h t he t ur n t hi ngs wer e t aki ng.

" Any l adi es, do you t hi nk? You know we haven' t many oppor t uni t i es

of obser vi ng. "

" Yes, I t hi nk qui t e as many l adi es as men. Mor e, i ndeed, as f ar

as my smal l exper i ence goes. "

" You r eal l y mai nt ai n del i ber at el y t hat you have met peopl e- - men

and women- - who can t al k t o you or anyone el se f or a quar t er of an

hour qui t e honest l y, and say not hi ng at al l whi ch t hey don' t

mean- - not hi ng f or t he sake of f l at t er y, or ef f ect , f or i nst ance?"

" Oh dear me, yes, of t en. "

" Who, f or exampl e?"

" Our cousi n Kat i e. Why ar e you so suspi ci ous and mi sant hr opi cal ?

Ther e i s your f r i end Mr . Har dy agai n; what do you say t o hi m?"

" Wel l , I t hi nk you may have hi t on an except i on. But I mai nt ai n

t he r ul e. "

" You l ook as i f I ought t o obj ect . But I sha' n' t . I t i s no

busi ness of mi ne i f you choose t o bel i eve any such di sagr eeabl e

t hi ng about your f el l ow- cr eat ur es. "

" I don' t bel i eve anyt hi ng wor se about t hem t han I do about

mysel f . I know t hat I can' t do i t . "

" Wel l , I am ver y sor r y f or you. "

" But I don' t t hi nk I am any wor se t han my nei ghbour s. "

" I don' t suppose you do. Who ar e your nei ghbor s?"

" Shal l I i ncl ude you i n t he number ?"

Page 243 of 443

" Oh, by al l means, i f you l i ke. "

" But I may not mean t hat you ar e l i ke t he r est . The man who f el l

among t hi eves, you know, had one good nei ghbor . "

" Now, Cousi n Tom, " she sai d, l ooki ng up wi t h spar kl i ng eyes, " I

can' t r et ur n t he compl i ment . You meant t o make me f eel t hat I

_was_ l i ke t he r est - - at l east l i ke what you say t hey ar e. You

know you di d. And now you ar e j ust t ur ni ng r ound, and t r yi ng t o

sl i p out of i t by sayi ng what you don' t mean. "

" Wel l , Cousi n Mar y, per haps I was. At any r at e I was a gr eat f ool

f or my pai ns. I mi ght have known by t hi s t i me t hat you woul d

cat ch me out f ast enough. "

" Per haps you mi ght . I di dn' t chal l enge you t o set up your Pal ace

of Tr ut h. But , i f we ar e t o l i ve i n i t , you ar e not t o say al l

t he di sagr eeabl e t hi ngs and hear none of t hem. "

" I hope not , i f t hey must be di sagr eeabl e. But why shoul d t hey

be? I can' t see why you and I , f or i nst ance, shoul d not say

exact l y what we ar e t hi nki ng t o one anot her wi t hout bei ng

di sagr eeabl e. "

" Wel l , I don' t t hi nk you made a happy begi nni ng j ust now. "

" But I am sur e we shoul d al l l i ke one anot her t he bet t er f or

speaki ng t he t r ut h. "

" Yes; but I don' t admi t t hat I haven' t been speaki ng t he t r ut h. "

" You won' t under st and me. Have I sai d t hat you don' t speak t he

t r ut h?"

" Yes, you sai d j ust now t hat I don' t say what I t hi nk and mean.

Wel l , per haps you di dn' t exact l y say t hat , but t hat i s what you

meant : "

" You ar e ver y angr y, Cousi n Mar y. Let us wai t t i l l - - "

" No, no. I t was you who began, and I wi l l not l et you of f now. "

" Ver y wel l , t hen. I di d mean somet hi ng of t he sor t . I t i s bet t er

t o t el l you t han t o keep i t t o mysel f . "

" Yes; and now t el l me your r easons, " sai d Mar y, l ooki ng down and

bi t i ng her l i p. Tom was r eady t o bi t e hi s t ongue of f , but t her e

was not hi ng now but t o go t hr ough wi t h i t .

" You make ever ybody t hat comes near you t hi nk t hat you ar e deepl y

i nt er est ed i n t hem and t hei r doi ngs. Poor Gr ey bel i eves t hat you

ar e as mad as he i s about r i t ual s and r ubr i cs. And t he boat i ng

men decl ar e t hat you woul d sooner see a r ace t han go t o t he best

bal l i n t he wor l d. And you l i st ened t o t he Dean' s st al e ol d

st or i es about hi s school s, and went i nt o r apt ur es i n t he Bodl ei an

about pi ct ur es and ar t wi t h t hat f ol l ow of Al l Soul s' . Even our

ol d but l er and t he cook- - "

Her e Mar y, despi t e her vexat i on, af t er a sever e st r uggl e t o

cont r ol i t , bur st i nt o a l augh, whi ch made Tom pause.

" Now you can' t say t hat I am not r eal l y f ond of j el l i es, " she

sai d.

Page 244 of 443

" And you can' t say t hat I have sai d anyt hi ng so ver y

di sagr eeabl e. "

" Oh, but you have, t hough. "

" At any r at e I have made you l augh. "

" But you di dn' t mean t o do i t . Now, go on. "

" I have not hi ng mor e t o say. You see my meani ng, or you never

wi l l . "

" I f you have not hi ng mor e t o say, you shoul d not have sai d so

much, " sai d Mar y. " You woul dn' t have me r ude t o al l t he peopl e I

meet , and I can' t hel p i t i f t he cook t hi nks I am a gl ut t on. "

" But you coul d hel p l et t i ng Gr ey t hi nk t hat you shoul d l i ke t o go

and see hi s ni ght school s. "

" But I shoul d l i ke t o see t hem of al l t hi ngs. "

" And I suppose you woul d l i ke t o go t hr ough t he manuscr i pt s i n

t he Bodl ei an wi t h t he Dean. I hear d you t al ki ng t o hi m as i f i t

was t he dear est wi sh of your hear t , and maki ng a hal f engagement

t o go wi t h hi m t hi s af t er noon, when, you know t hat you ar e t i r ed

t o deat h of hi m, and so f ul l of ot her engagement s t hat you don' t

know wher e t o t ur n. "

Mar y began t o bi t e her l i ps agai n. She f el t hal f i ncl i ned t o cr y,

and hal f i ncl i ned t o get up and box hi s ear s. However she di d

nei t her , but l ooked up af t er a moment or t wo and sai d- -

" Wel l , have you any mor e unki nd wor ds t o say?"

" Unki nd, Mar y?"

" Yes, t hey _ar e_ unki nd. How can I enj oy anyt hi ng now when I

shal l know you ar e wat chi ng me, and t hi nki ng al l sor t s of har m of

ever yt hi ng I say and do? However , i t doesn' t much mat t er , f or we

go t o- mor r ow mor ni ng. "

" But you wi l l gi ve me cr edi t at l east f or meani ng you wel l . "

" I t hi nk you ar e ver y j eal ous and suspi ci ous. "

" You don' t know how you pai n me when you say t hat . "

" But I must say what I t hi nk. "

Mar y set her l i t t l e mout h, and l ooked down, and began t appi ng her

boot wi t h her par asol . Ther e was an awkwar d si l ence whi l e Tom

consi der ed wi t hi n hi msel f whet her she was not r i ght , and whet her ,

af t er al l , hi s own j eal ousy had not been t he cause of t he l ect ur e

he had been del i ver i ng, much mor e t han any unsel f i sh wi sh f or

Mar y' s i mpr ovement .

" I t i s your t ur n now, " he sai d pr esent l y, l eani ng f or war d wi t h

hi s el bows on hi s knees, and l ooki ng har d at t he gr avel . " I may

have been f ool i shl y j eal ous, and I t hank you f or t el l i ng me so.

But you can t el l me a gr eat deal mor e i f you wi l l , qui t e as good

f or me t o hear . "

" No, I have not hi ng t o say. I dar esay you ar e open and t r ue, and

Page 245 of 443

have not hi ng t o hi de or di sgui se, not even about ei t her of t he

men we met i n t he Long Wal k on Sunday. "

He wi nced at t hi s r andom shaf t as i f he had been st ung, and she

saw t hat i t had gone home, and r epent ed t he next moment . The

si l ence became mor e and mor e embar r assi ng. By good l uck, however ,

t hei r par t y suddenl y appear ed st r ol l i ng t owar ds t hem f r om t he

l ar ge gar den.

" Her e ar e Uncl e Rober t and Kat i e, and al l of t hem. Let us j oi n

t hem. "

She r ose up, and he wi t h her , and as t hey wal ked t owar ds t he

r est , he sai d qui ckl y i n a l ow voi ce, " Wi l l you f or gi ve me i f I

have pai ned you? I was ver y sel f i sh, and I am sor r y. "

" Oh yes, we wer e bot h ver y f ool i sh, but we won' t do i t agai n. "

" Her e you ar e at l ast . We have been l ooki ng f or you ever ywher e, "

sai d Mi ss Wi nt er , as t hey came up.

" I ' m sur e I don' t know how we mi ssed you. We came st r ai ght f r om

t he musi c t ent t o t hi s seat , and have not moved. We knew you must

come by sooner or l at er . "

" But i t i s qui t e out of t he way. I t i s qui t e by chance t hat we

came r ound her e. "

" I sn' t Uncl e Rober t t i r ed, Kat i e?" sai d Tom; " he doesn' t l ook

wel l t hi s af t er noon. "

Kat i e i nst ant l y t ur ned t o her f at her , and Mr . Wi nt er decl ar ed

hi msel f t o be much f at i gued. So t hey wi shed t hei r hospi t abl e

ent er t ai ner s good- bye, and Tom hur r i ed of f and got a wheel chai r

f or hi s uncl e, and wal ked by hi s si de t o t hei r l odgi ngs. The

young l adi es wal ked near t he chai r al so, accompani ed by one or

t wo of t hei r acquai nt ances; i n f act t hey coul d not move wi t hout

an escor t . But Tom never once t ur ned hi s head f or a gl ance at

what was goi ng on, and t al ked st eadi l y on t o hi s uncl e, t hat he

mi ght not cat ch a st r ay wor d of what t he r est wer e sayi ng.

Despi t e of al l t hi s sel f - deni al , however , he was qui t e awar e

somehow when he made hi s bow at t he door t hat Mar y had been ver y

si l ent al l t he way home.

Mr . Wi nt er r et i r ed t o hi s r oom t o l i e down, and hi s daught er and

ni ece r emai ned i n t he si t t i ng- r oom. Mar y sat down and unt i ed her

bonnet , but di d not bur st i nt o her usual f l ood of comment s on t he

event s of t he day. Mi ss Wi nt er l ooked at her and sai d- -

" You l ook t i r ed, dear , and over - exci t ed. "

" Oh yes, so I am. I ' ve had such a quar r el wi t h Tom. "

" A quar r el - - you' r e not ser i ous?"

" I ndeed I am, t hough. I qui t e hat ed hi m f or f i ve mi nut es at

l east . "

" But what di d he do?"

" Why, he t aunt ed me wi t h bei ng t oo ci vi l t o ever ybody, and i t

made me so angr y. He sai d I pr et ended t o t ake an i nt er est i n ever

so many t hi ngs, j ust t o pl ease peopl e, when I di dn' t r eal l y car e

about t hem. And i t i sn' t t r ue, now, Kat i e, i s i t ?"

Page 246 of 443

" No, dear . He never coul d have sai d t hat . You must have

mi sunder st ood hi m. "

" Ther e, I knew you woul d say so. And i f i t wer e t r ue, I ' m sur e i t

i sn' t wr ong. When peopl e t al k t o you, i t ' s so easy t o seem

pl eased and i nt er est ed i n what t hey ar e sayi ng; and t hen t hey

l i ke you, and i t i s so pl easant t o be l i ked. Now, Kat i e, do you

ever snap peopl e' s noses of f , or t el l t hem you t hi nk t hem ver y

f ool i sh, and t hat you don' t car e, and t hat what t hey ar e sayi ng

i s al l of no consequence?"

" I , dear ? I coul dn' t do i t t o save my l i f e. "

" Oh, I was sur e you coul dn' t . And he may say what he wi l l , but I

am qui t e sur e he woul d not have been pl eased i f we had not made

our sel ves pl easant t o hi s f r i ends. "

" That ' s qui t e t r ue. He has t ol d me hi msel f hal f a dozen t i mes how

del i ght ed he was t o see you so popul ar . "

" And you t oo, Kat i e?"

" Oh yes. He was ver y wel l pl eased wi t h me. But i t i s you who have

t ur ned al l t he heads i n t he col l ege, Mar y. You ar e Queen of St .

Ambr ose beyond a doubt j ust now. "

" No, no, Kat i e; not mor e t han you at any r at e. "

" I say yes, yes, Mar y. You wi l l al ways be t en t i mes as popul ar as

I ; some peopl e have t he gi f t of i t ; I wi sh I had. But why do you

l ook so gr ave agai n?"

" Why, Kat i e, don' t you see you ar e j ust sayi ng over agai n, onl y

i n a di f f er ent way, what your pr ovoki ng cousi n- - I shal l cal l hi m

Mr . Br own, I t hi nk, i n f ut ur e- - was t el l i ng me f or my good i n St .

John' s gar dens. You saw how l ong we wer e away f r om you; wel l , he

was l ect ur i ng me al l t he t i me, onl y t hi nk; and now you ar e goi ng

t o t el l i t me al l over agai n. But go on, dear ; I sha' n' t mi nd

anyt hi ng f r om you. "

She put her ar m r ound her cousi n' s wai st , and l ooked up pl ayf ul l y

i nt o her f ace. Mi ss Wi nt er saw at once t hat no gr eat har m,

per haps some good, had been done i n t he passage of ar ms bet ween

her r el at i ves.

" You made i t al l up, " she sai d, smi l i ng, " bef or e we f ound you. "

" Onl y j ust , t hough. He begged my par don j ust at l ast , al most i n a

whi sper , when you wer e qui t e cl ose t o us. "

" And you gr ant ed i t ?"

" Yes, of cour se; but I don' t know t hat I shal l not r ecal l i t . "

" I was sur e you woul d be f al l i ng out bef or e l ong, you got on so

f ast . But he i sn' t qui t e so easy t o t ur n r ound your f i nger as you

t hought , Mar y. "

" Oh, I don' t know t hat , " sai d Mar y, l aughi ng; " you saw how humbl e

he l ooked at l ast , and what good or der he was i n. "

" Wel l , dear , i t ' s t i me t o t hi nk whet her we shal l go out agai n. "

Page 247 of 443

" Let me see; t her e' s t he l ast bal l . What do you say?"

" Why, I ' m af r ai d poor papa i s t oo t i r ed t o t ake us, and I don' t

know wi t h whom we coul d go. We ought t o begi n packi ng, t oo I

t hi nk. "

" Ver y wel l . Let us have t ea qui et l y at home. "

" I wi l l wr i t e a not e t o Tom t o t el l hi m. He has done hi s best f or

us, poor f el l ow, and we ought t o consi der hi m a l i t t l e. "

" Oh yes, and ask hi m and hi s f r i end Mr . Har dy t o t ea, as i t i s

t he l ast ni ght . "

" I f you wi sh i t , I shal l be ver y gl ad; t hey wi l l amuse papa. "

" Cer t ai nl y, and t hen he wi l l see t hat I bear hi m no mal i ce. And

now I wi l l go and j ust do my hai r . "

" Ver y wel l ; and we wi l l pack af t er t hey l eave. How st r ange home

wi l l seem af t er al l t hi s gayet y. "

" Yes, we seem t o have been her e a mont h. "

" I do hope we shal l f i nd al l qui et at Engl ebour n. I am al ways

af r ai d of some t r oubl e t her e. "

CHAPTER XXVI I I

THE END OF THE FRESHMAN' S YEAR

On t he mor ni ng af t er Commemor at i on, Oxf or d was i n a bust l e of

depar t ur e. The pl ay had been pl ayed, t he l ong vacat i on had begun,

and vi si t or s and member s seemed equal l y anxi ous t o be of f . At t he

gat es of t he col l eges, gr oups of men i n t r avel l i ng- dr esses wai t ed

f or t he coaches, omni buses, dog- car t s and al l manner of vehi cl es,

whi ch wer e t o car r y t hem t o t he Gr eat West er n r ai l way st at i on at

St event on, or el sewher e, t o al l poi nt s of t he compass. Por t er s

passed i n and out wi t h por t mant eaus, gun- cases, and baggage of

al l ki nds, whi ch t hey pi l ed out si de t he gat es, or car r i ed of f t o

" The Mi t r e" or " The Angel , " under t he vi gor ous and not t oo

cour t eous or der s of t he owner s. Col l ege ser vant s f l i t t ed r ound

t he gr oups t o t ake i nst r uct i ons, and, i f so mi ght be, t o ext r act

t he bal ances of ext or t i onat e bi l l s out of t hei r depar t i ng

mast er s. Dog- f anci er s wer e t her e al so, hol di ng t er r i er s; and

scout s f r om t he cr i cket i ng gr ounds, wi t h bat s and pads under

t hei r ar ms; and host l er s, and men f r om t he boat s, al l on t he same

er r and of get t i ng t he l ast shi l l i ng out of t hei r pat r ons - - a

f awni ng, obsequi ous cr owd f or t he most par t , wi t h her e and t her e

a st ur dy Br i t on who f el t t hat he was onl y t her e f or hi s due.

Thr ough such a gr oup, at t he gat e of St . Ambr ose, Tom and Har dy

passed soon af t er br eakf ast t i me, i n cap and gown, whi ch cost ume

exci t ed no smal l ast oni shment .

" Hul l o, Br own, ol d f el l ow! ai n' t you of f t hi s mor ni ng?"

" No, I shal l be up f or a day or t wo yet . "

" Wi sh you j oy. I woul dn' t be st ayi ng up over t o- day f or

somet hi ng. "

Page 248 of 443

" But you' l l be at Henl ey t o- mor r ow?" sai d Di ogenes, conf i dent l y,

who st ood at t he gat e i n boat i ng coat and f l annel s, a bi g st i ck

and knapsack, wai t i ng f or a compani on, wi t h whom he was goi ng t o

wal k t o Henl ey.

" And at Lor d' s on Fr i day, " sai d anot her . " I t wi l l be a f amous

mat ch. Come and di ne somewher e af t er war ds, and go t o t he

Haymar ket wi t h us. "

" You know t he Leander ar e t o be at Henl ey, " put i n Di ogenes; " and

Cambr i dge i s ver y st r ong. Ther e wi l l be a spl endi d r ace f or t he

cup, but Jer vi s t hi nks we ar e al l r i ght . "

" Bot her your et er nal r aces! Haven' t we had enough of t hem

al r eady?" sai d t he Londoner . " You had much bet t er come up t o t he

l i t t l e vi l l age at once, Br own, and st ay t her e whi l e t he coi n

l ast s. "

" I f I get away at al l , i t wi l l be t o Henl ey, " sai d Tom.

" Of cour se, I knew t hat , " sai d Di ogenes, t r i umphant l y, " our boat

ought t o be on f or t he l adi es' pl at e. I f onl y Jer vi s wer e not i n

t he Uni ver si t y cr ew! I t hought you wer e t o pul l at Henl ey,

Har dy?"

" I was asked t o pul l , but I coul dn' t manage t he t i me wi t h t he

school s comi ng on, and when t he exami nat i ons wer e over i t was t oo

l at e. The cr ew wer e pi cked and hal f t r ai ned, and none of t hem

have br oken down. "

" What ! Ever y one of t hem st ood put t i ng t hr ough t he si eve? They

must be a r ar e cr ew, t hen, " sai d anot her .

" You' r e r i ght , " sai d Di ogenes. " Oh, her e you ar e at l ast , " he

added, as anot her man i n f l annel s and knapsack came out of

col l ege. " Wel l , good- bye al l , and a pl easant vacat i on; we must be

of f , i f we ar e t o be i n t i me t o see our cr ew pul l over t he cour se

t o- ni ght ; " and t he t wo mar ched of f t owar ds Magdal en Br i dge.

" By Jove! " r emar ked a f ast yout h, i n most el abor at e t oi l et t e,

l ooki ng af t er t hem, " f ancy t wo f el l ows gr i ndi ng of f t o Henl ey,

f i ve mi l es an hour , i n t hi s sun, when t hey mi ght dr op up t o t he

met r opol i s by t r ai n i n hal f t he t i me? I sn' t i t mar vel l ous?"

" I shoul d l i ke t o be goi ng wi t h t hem, " sai d Tom.

" Wel l , t her e' s no account i ng f or t ast es. Her e' s our coach. "

" Good- bye, t hen; " and Tom shook hands, and, l eavi ng t he coach t o

get packed wi t h por t mant eaus, t er r i er s, and under gr aduat es, he

and Har dy wal ked of f t owar ds t he Hi gh- st r eet .

" So you' r e not goi ng t o- day?" Har dy sai d.

" No; t wo or t hr ee of my ol d school f el l ows ar e comi ng up t o st and

f or schol ar shi ps, and I must be her e t o r ecei ve t hem. But i t ' s

ver y unl ucky; I shoul d have l i ked so t o have been at Henl ey. "

" Look, t hei r car r i age i s al r eady at t he door , " sai d Har dy,

poi nt i ng up Hi gh- st r eet , i nt o whi ch t hey now t ur ned. Ther e wer e a

dozen post chai ses and car r i ages l oadi ng i n f r ont of di f f er ent

houses i n t he st r eet , and amongst t hem Mr . Wi nt er ' s ol d- f ashi oned

t r avel l i ng bar ouche.

Page 249 of 443

" So i t i s, " sai d Tom; " t hat ' s some of uncl e' s f i dget i ness; but he

wi l l be sur e t o dawdl e at t he l ast . Come al ong i n. "

" Don' t you t hi nk I had bet t er st ay downst ai r s? I t may seem

i nt r usi ve. "

" No, come al ong. Why, t hey asked you t o come and see t he l ast of

t hem l ast ni ght , di dn' t t hey?"

Har dy di d not r equi r e any f ur t her ur gi ng t o i nduce hi m t o f ol l ow

hi s i ncl i nat i on; so t he t wo went up t oget her . The br eakf ast

t hi ngs wer e st i l l on t he t abl e, at whi ch sat Mi ss Wi nt er , i n her

bonnet , empl oyed i n exami ni ng t he bi l l , wi t h t he assi st ance of

Mar y, who l eant over her shoul der . She l ooked up as t hey ent er ed.

" Oh! I ' m so gl ad you ar e come. Poor Kat i e i s so bot her ed, and I

can' t hel p her . Do l ook at t he bi l l ; i s i t al l r i ght ?"

" Shal l I , Kat i e?"

" Yes, pl ease do. I don' t see anyt hi ng t o obj ect t o, except ,

per haps, t he t hi ngs I have mar ked. Do you t hi nk we ought t o be

char ged hal f a cr own a day f or t he ki t chen f i r e?"

" Fi r e i n June! and you have never di ned at home once?"

" No, but we have had t ea sever al t i mes. "

" I t i s a r egul ar swi ndl e, " sai d Tom, t aki ng t he bi l l and gl anci ng

at i t . " Her e, Har dy, come and hel p me cut down t hi s pr eci ous

t ot al . "

They sat down t o t he bi l l , t he l adi es wi l l i ngl y gi vi ng pl ace.

Mar y t r i pped of f t o t he gl ass t o t i e her bonnet .

" Now t hat i s al l r i ght ! " she sai d mer r i l y; " why can' t one go on

wi t hout bi l l s or hor r i d money?"

" Ah! why can' t one?" sai d Tom, " t hat woul d sui t most of our

compl ai nt s. But wher e' s uncl e; has he seen t he bi l l ?"

" No; Papa i s i n hi s r oom; he must not be wor r i ed, or t he j our ney

wi l l be t oo much f or hi m. "

Her e t he l adi es' - mai d ar r i ved, wi t h a message t hat her f at her

wi shed t o see Mi ss Wi nt er .

" Leave your money, Kat i e, " sai d her cousi n, " t hi s i s gent l emen' s

busi ness, and Tom and Mr . Har dy wi l l set t l e i t al l f or us, I am

sur e. "

Tom pr of essed hi s ent i r e wi l l i ngness t o accept t he char ge,

del i ght ed at f i ndi ng hi msel f r ei nst at ed i n hi s of f i ce of

pr ot ect or at Mar y' s suggest i on. Had t he l andl or d been one or hi s

own t r adesmen, or t he bi l l hi s own bi l l , he mi ght not have been

so wel l pl eased, but , as nei t her of t hese was t he case, and he

had Har dy t o back hi m, he went i nt o t he mat t er wi t h much vi gor

and di scr et i on, and had t he l andl or d up, made t he pr oper

deduct i ons, and got t he bi l l set t l ed and r ecei pt ed i n a f ew

mi nut es. Then he and Har dy addr essed t hemsel ves t o get t i ng t he

car r i age comf or t abl y packed, and vi ed wi t h one anot her i n

set t l i ng and st owi ng away i n t he most conveni ent pl aces, t he many

l i t t l e odds and ends whi ch nat ur al l y accompany young l adi es and

i nval i ds on t hei r t r avel s; i n t he cour se of whi ch empl oyment he

Page 250 of 443

managed t o snat ch a f ew wor ds her e and t her e wi t h Mar y and

sat i sf i ed hi msel f t hat she bor e hi m no i l l - wi l l f or t he event s of

t he pr evi ous day.

At l ast al l was r eady f or t he st ar t , and Tom r epor t ed t he f act i n

t he si t t i ng- r oom. " Then I wi l l go and f et ch papa, " sai d Mi ss

Wi nt er .

Tom' s eyes met Mar y' s at t he moment . He gave a sl i ght shr ug wi t h

hi s shoul der s, and sai d, as t he door cl osed af t er hi s cousi n,

" Real l y I have no pat i ence wi t h Uncl e Rober t , he l eaves poor

Kat i e t o do ever yt hi ng. "

" Yes; and how beaut i f ul l y she does i t al l , wi t hout a wor d or , I

bel i eve, a t hought of compl ai nt ! I coul d never be so pat i ent . "

" I t hi nk i t i s a pi t y. I f Uncl e Rober t wer e obl i ged t o exer t

hi msel f , i t woul d be much bet t er f or hi m. Kat i e i s onl y spoi l i ng

hi m and wear i ng her sel f out . "

" Yes, i t i s ver y easy f or you and me t o t hi nk and say so. But he

i s her f at her , and t hen he i s r eal l y an i nval i d. So she goes on

devot i ng her sel f t o hi m mor e and mor e, and f eel s she can never do

t oo much f or hi m. "

" But i f she bel i eved i t woul d be bet t er f or hi m t o exer t hi msel f ?

I ' m sur e i t i s t he t r ut h. Coul dn' t you t r y t o per suade her ?"

" No, i ndeed; i t woul d onl y wor r y her , and be so cr uel . But t hen I

am not used t o gi ve advi ce, " she added, af t er a moment ' s pause,

l ooki ng demur el y at her gl oves; " I t mi ght do good, per haps, now,

i f you wer e t o speak t o her . "

" You t hi nk me so wel l qual i f i ed, I suppose, af t er t he speci men

you had yest er day? Thank you; I have had enough of l ect ur i ng f or

t he pr esent . "

" I am ver y much obl i ged t o you, r eal l y, f or what you sai d t o me, "

sai d Mar y, st i l l l ooki ng at her gl oves.

The subj ect was a ver y di st ast ef ul one t o Tom. He l ooked at her

f or a moment t o see whet her she was l aughi ng at hi m, and t hen

br oke i t of f abr upt l y- -

" I hope you have enj oyed your vi si t ?"

" Oh yes, so ver y much. I shal l t hi nk of i t al l t he summer . "

" Wher e shal l you be al l t he summer ?" asked Tom. " Not so ver y f ar

f r om you. Papa has t aken a house onl y ei ght mi l es f r om

Engl ebour n, and Kat i e says you l i ve wi t hi n a day' s dr i ve of

t hem. "

" And shal l you be t her e al l t he vacat i on?"

" Yes; and we hope t o get Kat i e over of t en. Coul d not you come and

meet her ? i t woul d be so pl easant . "

" But do you t hi nk I mi ght ? I don' t know your f at her or mot her . "

" Oh, yes; papa and mamma ar e ver y ki nd, and wi l l ask anybody I

l i ke. Besi des, you ar e a cousi n, you know. "

" Onl y up at Oxf or d, I am af r ai d. "

Page 251 of 443

" Wel l now, you wi l l see. We ar e goi ng t o have a gr eat ar cher y

par t y next mont h, and you shal l have an i nvi t at i on. "

" Wi l l you wr i t e i t f or me your sel f ?"

" Ver y l i kel y; but why?"

" Don' t you t hi nk I shal l val ue a not e i n your hand mor e t han- - "

" Nonsense; now, r emember your l ect ur e. Oh her e ar e Uncl e Rober t

and Kat i e. "

Mr . Wi nt er was ver y gr aci ous, and t hanked Tom f or al l hi s

at t ent i ons. He had been ver y pl eased, he sai d, t o make hi s

nephew' s acquai nt ance agai n so pl easant l y, and hoped he woul d

come and pass a day or t wo at Engl ebour n i n t he vacat i on. I n hi s

sad st at e of heal t h he coul d not do much t o ent er t ai n a young

man, but he coul d pr ocur e hi m some good f i shi ng and shoot i ng i n

t he nei ghbor hood. Tom assur ed hi s uncl e t hat not hi ng woul d pl ease

hi m so much as a vi si t t o Engl ebour n. Per haps t he r emembr ance of

t he di st ance bet ween t hat par i sh and t he pl ace wher e Mar y was t o

spend t he summer may have added a l i t t l e t o hi s ent husi asm.

" I shoul d have l i ked al so t o have t hanked your f r i end f or hi s

hospi t al i t y, " Mr . Wi nt er went on. " I under st ood my daught er t o

say he was her e. "

" Yes, he was her e j ust now, " sai d Tom; " he must be bel ow, I

t hi nk. "

" What , t hat good Mr . Har dy?" sai d Mar y, who was l ooki ng out of

t he wi ndow; " t her e he i s i n t he st r eet . He has j ust hel ped

Hopki ns i nt o t he r umbl e, and handed her t hi ngs t o her j ust as i f

she wer e a duchess. She has been so cr oss al l t he mor ni ng, and

now she l ooks qui t e gr aci ous. "

" Then I t hi nk, papa, we had bet t er st ar t . "

" Let me gi ve you an ar m down st ai r s, uncl e, " sai d Tom; and so he

hel ped hi s uncl e down t o t he car r i age, t he t wo young l adi es

f ol l owi ng behi nd, and t he l andl or d st andi ng wi t h obsequi ous bows

at hi s shop door , and l ooki ng as i f he had never made an

over char ge i n hi s l i f e.

Whi l e Mr . Wi nt er was maki ng hi s acknowl edgment s t o Har dy, and

bei ng hel ped by hi m i nt o t he most comf or t abl e seat i n t he

car r i age, Tom was maki ng t ender adi eus t o t he t wo young l adi es

behi nd, and even succeeded i n keepi ng a r ose- bud whi ch Mar y was

car r yi ng, when t hey t ook t hei r seat s. She par t ed f r om i t

hal f - l aughi ngl y, and t he post - boy cr acked hi s whi p and t he

bar ouche went l umber i ng al ong Hi gh- st r eet . Har dy and Tom wat ched

i t unt i l i t t ur ned down St . Al dat e' s t owar ds Fol l y Br i dge, t he

l at t er wavi ng hi s hand as i t di sappear ed, and t hen t hey t ur ned

and st r ol l ed sl owl y away si de by si de i n si l ence. The si ght of

al l t he ot her depar t ur es i ncr eased t he uncomf or t abl e, unsat i sf i ed

f eel i ng whi ch t hat of hi s own r el at i ves had al r eady pr oduced i n

Tom' s mi nd.

" Wel l , i t i sn' t l i vel y st oppi ng up her e when ever ybody i s goi ng,

i s i t ? What i s one t o do?"

" Ought n' t you t o be l ooki ng af t er your f r i ends who ar e comi ng up

t o t r y f or t he schol ar shi ps?"

Page 252 of 443

" No, t hey won' t be up t i l l af t er noon, by coach. "

" Shal l we go down t o t he r i ver , t hen?"

" No, i t woul d be mi ser abl e. Hul l o, l ook her e, what ' s up?"

The cause of Tom' s ast oni shment was t he appear ance of t he usual

pr ocessi on of uni ver si t y beadl es car r yi ng si l ver - headed maces,

and escor t i ng t he Vi ce- Chancel l or t owar ds St . Mar y' s.

" Why, t he bel l s ar e goi ng f or ser vi ce; t her e must be a uni ver si t y

ser mon. I s i t a sai nt ' s day?"

" Wher e' s t he congr egat i on t o come f r om? Why, hal f Oxf or d i s of f

by t hi s t i me, and t hose t hat ar e l ef t won' t want t o be hear i ng

ser mons. "

" Wel l , I don' t know. A good many seem t o be goi ng. I wonder who

i s t o pr each?"

" I vot e we go. I t wi l l hel p t o pass t he t i me. "

Har dy agr eed, and t hey f ol l owed t he pr ocessi on and went up i nt o

t he gal l er y of St . Mar y' s. Ther e was a ver y f ai r congr egat i on i n

t he body of t he chur ch, and t he st af f s of t he col l eges had not

yet br oken up, and even i n t he gal l er y t he under gr aduat es

must er ed i n some f or ce. The r est l ess f eel i ng whi ch had br ought

our her o t her e seemed t o have had a l i ke ef f ect on most of t he

men who wer e f or one r eason or anot her unabl e t o st ar t on t hat

day.

Tom l ooked st eadi l y i nt o hi s cap dur i ng t he bi ddi ng pr ayer , and

sat down composedl y af t er war ds, expect i ng not t o be much

i nt er est ed or benef i t t ed, but comf or t ed wi t h t he assur ance t hat

at any r at e i t woul d be al most l uncheon t i me bef or e he woul d be

agai n t hr own on hi s own r esour ces. But he was mi st aken i n hi s

expect at i ons, and bef or e t he pr eacher had been speaki ng f or t hr ee

mi nut es, was al l at t ent i on. The ser mon was upon t he f r eedom of

t he Gospel , t he power by whi ch i t bur st s al l bonds and l et s t he

oppr essed go f r ee. I t s bur t hen was, " Ye shal l know t he t r ut h, and

t he t r ut h shal l make you f r ee. " The pr eacher dwel t on many si des

of t hese wor ds; t he f r eedom of nat i ons, of soci et i es, of

uni ver si t i es, of t he consci ence of each i ndi vi dual man, wer e each

gl anced at i n t ur n; and t hen, r emi ndi ng hi s hear er s of t he end of

t he academi cal year , he went on- -

" We have hear d i t sai d i n t he t r oubl es and t oi l s and t empt at i ons

of t he wor l d, * ' Oh t hat I coul d begi n l i f e over agai n! oh t hat I

coul d f al l asl eep, and wake up t wel ve, si x, t hr ee mout hs hence,

and f i nd my di f f i cul t i es sol ved! ' That whi ch we may vai nl y wi sh

el sewher e, by a happy Pr ovi dence i s f ur ni shed t o us by t he

nat ur al di vi si ons of meet i ng and par t i ng i n t hi s pl ace. To

ever yone of us, ol d and young, t he l ong vacat i on on whi ch we ar e

now ent er i ng gi ves us a br eat hi ng space, and t i me t o br eak t he

bonds whi ch pl ace and ci r cumst ance have woven r ound us dur i ng t he

year t hat i s past . Fr om al l our pet t y car es, and conf usi ons, and

i nt r i gues; f r om t he dust and cl at t er of t hi s huge machi ner y

ami dst whi ch we l abor and t oi l ; f r om what ever cyni cal cont empt of

what i s gener ous and devout ; f r om what ever f anci f ul di sr egar d of

what i s j ust and wi se; f r om what ever gal l of bi t t er ness i s

secr et ed i n our best mot i ves; f r om what ever bonds of unequal

deal i ngs i n whi ch we may have ent angl ed our sel ves or ot her s, we

ar e now f or a t i me set f r ee. We st and on t he edge of a r i ver

Page 253 of 443

whi ch shal l f or a t i me at l east sweep t hem away- - t hat anci ent

r i ver , t he Ki shon, t he r i ver of f r esh t hought s, and f r esh scenes,

and f r esh f eel i ngs, and f r esh hopes- - one sur el y amongst t he

bl essed means wher eby God' s f r ee and l ovi ng gr ace wor ks out our

del i ver ance, our r edempt i on f r om evi l , and r enews t he st r engt h of

each succeedi ng year , so t hat we may ' mount up agai n as eagl es,

may r un and not be wear y, may wal k and not f ai nt . ' "

" And i f , t ur ni ng t o t he younger par t of my hear er s, I may st i l l

mor e di r ect l y appl y t hi s gener al l esson t o t hem. I s t her e no one

who, i n some shape or ot her , does not f eel t he bondage of whi ch I

have been speaki ng? He has somet hi ng on hi s consci ence; he has

somet hi ng on hi s mi nd; ext r avagance, si n, debt , f al sehood. Ever y

mor ni ng i n t he f i r st f ew mi nut es af t er waki ng, i t i s t he f i r st

t hought t hat occur s t o hi m. He dr i ves i t away i n t he day; he

dr i ves i t of f by r eckl essness, whi ch onl y bi nds i t mor e and mor e

cl osel y r ound hi m. I s t her e any one who has ever f el t , who i s at

t hi s moment f eel i ng t hi s gr i evous bur den. What i s t he

del i ver ance? How shal l he set hi msel f f r ee? I n what speci al way

does t he r edempt i on of Chr i st , t he f r ee gr ace of God, pr esent

i t sel f t o hi m? Ther e i s at l east one way cl ear and si mpl e. He

knows i t bet t er t han anyone can t el l hi m. I t i s t hose same wor ds

whi ch I used wi t h anot her pur pose. ' The t r ut h shal l make hi m

f r ee. ' I t i s t o t el l t he t r ut h t o hi s f r i end, t o hi s par ent , t o

any one, whosoever i t be, f r om whom he i s conceal i ng t hat whi ch

he ought t o make known. One wor d of open, f r ank di scl osur e- - one

r esol ut i on t o act si ncer el y and honest l y by hi msel f and ot her s,

one r ay of t r ut h l et i nt o t hat dar k cor ner wi l l i ndeed set t he

whol e man f r ee. "

" _Li ber avi ani mam meam_. ' I have del i ver ed my soul . ' What a

f ai t hf ul expr essi on i s t hi s of t he r el i ef , t he del i ver ance

ef f ect ed by one st r ong ef f or t of wi l l i n one moment of t i me. ' I

wi l l ar i se and go t o my f at her , and wi l l say unt o hi m, Fat her I

have si nned agai nst Heaven and bef or e t hee, and am no mor e wor t hy

t o be cal l ed t hy son. So we hear d t he pr odi gal ' s conf essi on t hi s

mor ni ng. So may t he t hought wel l spr i ng up i n t he mi nds of any

who i n t he cour se of t hi s l ast year have wander ed i nt o si n, have

f ound t hemsel ves beset wi t h evi l habi t s of wi cked i dl eness, of

wr et ched sel f - i ndul gence. Now t hat you ar e i ndeed i n t he l i t er al

sense of t he wor d about t o r i se and go t o your f at her , now t hat

you wi l l be abl e t o shake of f t he bondage of bad compani onshi p,

now t hat t he whol e l engt h of t hi s l ong absence wi l l r ol l bet ween

you and t he past , t ake a l ong br eat h; br eak of f t he yoke of your

si n, of your f aul t , of your wr ong doi ng, of your f ol l y, of your

per ver seness, of your pr i de, of your vani t y, of your weakness;

br eak i t of f by t r ut h; br eak i t of f by one st out ef f or t , i n one

st eadf ast pr ayer ; br eak i t of f by i nnocent and f r ee enj oyment ;

br eak i t of f by honest wor k. Put your ' hand t o t he nai l and your

r i ght hand t o t he wor kman' s hammer ; ' st r i ke t hr ough t he enemy

whi ch has ensnar ed you, pi er ce and st r i ke hi m t hr ough and

t hr ough. However power f ul he seems, at your f eet he wi l l bow, he

wi l l f al l , he wi l l l i e down; at your f eet he wi l l bow and f al l ,

and wher e he bows, t her e wi l l he r i se up no mor e. So l et al l

t hi ne enemi es per i sh, O Lor d; but l et t hem t hat l ove Thee be as

t he sun when he goet h f or t h i n hi s mi ght . ' "

* Thi s quot at i on i s f r om t he ser mon pr eached by Dr . St anl ey

bef or e t he Uni ver si t y, on Act Sunday, 1859 ( publ i shed by J. H.

Par ker , of Oxf or d) . I hope t he di st i ngui shed pr of essor whose

wor ds t hey ar e wi l l par don t he l i ber t y I have t aken i n quot i ng

t hem. No wor ds of my own coul d have gi ven so vi vi dl y what I

want ed t o say.

Page 254 of 443

The t wo f r i ends separ at ed t hemsel ves f r om t he cr owd i n t he por ch

and wal ked away, si de by si de, t owar ds t hei r col l ege.

" Wel l , t hat wasn' t a bad move of our s. I t i s wor t h somet hi ng t o

hear a man pr each t hat sor t of doct r i ne, " sai d Har dy.

" How does he get t o know i t al l ?" sai d Tom, medi t at i vel y.

" Al l what ? I don' t see your puzzl e. "

" Why, al l sor t s of t hi ngs t hat ar e i n a f el l ow' s mi nd- - what he

t hi nks about t he f i r st t hi ng i n t he mor ni ng, f or i nst ance. "

" Pr et t y much l i ke t he r est of us, I t ake i t ; by l ooki ng at home.

You don' t suppose uni ver si t y pr eacher s ar e unl i ke you and me. "

" Wel l , I don' t know. Now do you t hi nk he ever had anyt hi ng on hi s

mi nd t hat was al ways comi ng up and pl agui ng hi m, and whi ch he

never t ol d t o anybody?"

" Yes, I shoul d t hi nk so; most of us must have had. "

" Have you?"

" Ay, of t en and of t en. "

" And you t hi nk hi s r emedy t he r i ght one?"

" The onl y one. Make a cl ean br east of i t and t he st i ng i s gone.

Ther e' s a gr eat deal t o be done af t er war ds, of cour se; but t her e

can be no quest i on about st ep No. 1. "

" Di d you ever owe a hundr ed pounds t hat you coul dn' t pay?" sai d

Tom, wi t h a sudden ef f or t ; and hi s secr et had har dl y passed hi s

l i ps bef or e he f el t a r el i ef whi ch sur pr i sed hi msel f .

" My dear f el l ow, " sai d Har dy, st oppi ng i n t he st r eet " you don' t

mean t o say you ar e speaki ng of your sel f ?"

" I do, t hough, " sai d Tom, " and i t has been on my mi nd ever si nce

East er t er m, and has spoi l t my t emper and ever yt hi ng- - t hat and

somet hi ng el se t hat you know of . You must have seen me get t i ng

mor e and mor e i l l - t emper ed, I ' m sur e; and I have t hought of i t

t he f i r st t hi ng i n t he mor ni ng and t he l ast t hi ng at ni ght ; and

t r i ed t o dr i ve t he t hought away j ust as he sai d one di d i n hi s

ser mon. By Jove, I t hought he knew al l about i t , f or he l ooked

r i ght at me, j ust when he came t o t hat pl ace. "

" But , Br own, how do you mean you owe a hundr ed pounds? You

haven' t r ead much cer t ai nl y; but you haven' t hunt ed, or gambl ed,

or t ai l or ed much, or gone i nt o any ot her ext r avagant f ol l y. You

must be dr eami ng. "

" Am I t hough? Come up t o my r ooms and I ' l l t el l you al l about i t ;

I f eel bet t er al r eady now I ' ve l et i t out . I ' l l send over f or

your commons, and we' l l have some l unch. "

Har dy f ol l owed hi s f r i end i n much t r oubl e of mi nd, consi der i ng i n

hi msel f whet her wi t h t he r emai nder of hi s savi ngs he coul d not

make up t he sum whi ch Tom had named. For t unat el y f or bot h of t hem

a shor t cal cul at i on showed hi m t hat he coul d not , and he gave up

t he i dea of del i ver i ng hi s f r i end i n t hi s summar y manner wi t h a

Page 255 of 443

si gh. He r emai ned cl oset ed wi t h Tom f or an hour , and t hen came

out , l ooki ng ser i ous st i l l , but not uncomf or t abl e, and went down

t o t he r i ver . He scul l ed down t o Sandf or d, bat hed i n t he l asher ,

and r et ur ned i n t i me f or chapel . He st ayed out si de af t er war ds,

and Tom came up t o hi m and sei zed hi s ar m.

" I ' ve done i t , ol d f el l ow, " he sai d; " l ook her e; " and pr oduced a

l et t er . Har dy gl anced at t he di r ect i on, and saw t hat i t was t o

hi s f at her .

" Come al ong and post i t , " sai d Tom, " and t hen I shal l f eel al l

r i ght . "

They wal ked of f qui ckl y t o t he post - of f i ce and dr opped t he l et t er

i nt o t he box.

" Ther e, " he sai d, as i t di sappear ed, " _l i ber avi ani mam meam_. I

owe t he pr eacher a good t ur n f or t hat ; I ' ve a good mi nd t o wr i t e

and t hank hi m. Fancy t he poor ol d gover nor ' s f ace t o- mor r ow at

br eakf ast ! "

" Wel l , you seem t o t ake i t easy enough now, " sai d Har dy.

" I can' t hel p i t . I t el l you I haven' t f el t so j ol l y t hi s t wo

mont hs. What a f ool I was not t o have done i t bef or e. Af t er al l

now I come t o t hi nk of i t , I can pay i t mysel f , at l east as soon

as I am of age, f or I know I ' ve some money- - a l egacy or

somet hi ng- - comi ng t o me t hen. But t hat i sn' t what I car e about

now. "

" I ' m ver y gl ad, t hough, t hat you have t he money of your own. "

" Yes, but t he havi ng t ol d i t i s al l t he comf or t . Come al ong, and

l et ' s see whet her t hese boys ar e come. The ol d Pi g ought t o be i n

by t hi s t i me, and I want t hem t o di ne i n hal l . I t ' s onl y t en

mont hs si nce I came up on i t t o mat r i cul at e, and i t seems t went y

year s. But I ' m goi ng t o be a boy agai n f or t o- ni ght ; you' l l see

i f I ' m not . "

CHAPTER XXI X

THE LONG VACATI ON LETTER- BAG.

" June 24, 184- .

" My Dear Tom, - - Your l et t er came t o hand t hi s mor ni ng, and i t has,

of cour se, gi ven your mot her and me much pai n. I t i s not t he

money t hat we car e about , but t hat our son shoul d have

del i ber at el y under t aken, or pr et ended t o under t ake, what he must

have known at t he t i me he coul d not per f or m hi msel f .

" I have wr i t t en t o my banker s t o pay 100L. at once t o your

account at t he Oxf or d Bank. I have al so r equest ed my sol i ci t or t o

go over t o Oxf or d, and he wi l l pr obabl y cal l on you t he day af t er

you r ecei ve t hi s. You say t hat t hi s per son who hol ds your not e of

hand i s now i n Oxf or d. You wi l l see hi m i n t he pr esence of my

sol i ci t or , t o whom you wi l l hand t he not e when you have r ecover ed

i t . I shal l consi der af t er war ds what f ur t her st eps wi l l have t o

be t aken i n t he mat t er .

" You wi l l not be of age f or a year . I t wi l l be t i me enough t hen

t o det er mi ne whet her you wi l l r epay t he bal ance of t hi s money out

Page 256 of 443

of t he l egacy t o whi ch you wi l l be ent i t l ed under your

gr andf at her ' s wi l l . I n t he meant i me, I shal l deduct at t he r at e

of 50L. a year f r om your al l owance and I shal l hol d your bond i n

honor t o r educe your expendi t ur e by t hi s amount . You ar e no

l onger a boy, and one of t he f i r st dut i es whi ch a man owes t o hi s

f r i ends and t o soci et y i s t o l i ve wi t hi n hi s i ncome.

" I make t hi s advance t o you on t wo condi t i ons. Fi r st , t hat you

wi l l never agai n put your hand t o a not e or bi l l i n a t r ansact i on

of t hi s ki nd. I f you have money, l end i t or spend i t . You may

l end or spend f ool i shl y, but t hat i s not t he poi nt her e; at any

r at e you ar e deal i ng wi t h what i s your own. But i n t r ansact i ons

of t hi s ki nd you ar e deal i ng wi t h what i s not your own. A

gent l eman shoul d shr i nk f r om t he possi bi l i t y of havi ng t o come on

ot her s, even on hi s own f at her , f or t he f ul f i l l ment of hi s

obl i gat i ons, as he woul d f r om a l i e. I woul d sooner see a son of

mi ne i n hi s gr ave t han cr awl i ng on t hr ough l i f e a sl ave t o want s

and habi t s whi ch he must gr at i f y at ot her peopl e' s expense.

" My second condi t i on i s, t hat you put an end t o your acquai nt ance

wi t h t hese t wo gent l emen who have l ed you i nt o t hi s scr ape, and

have di vi ded t he pr oceeds of your j oi nt not e bet ween t hem. They

ar e bot h your seni or s i n st andi ng, you say, and t hey appear t o be

f ami l i ar wi t h t hi s pl an of r ai si ng money at t he expense of ot her

peopl e. The pl ai n Engl i sh wor d f or such doi ngs i s, swi ndl i ng.

What pai ns me most i s, t hat you have become i nt i mat e wi t h young

men of t hi s ki nd. I am not sur e t hat i t wi l l not be my dut y t o

l ay t he whol e mat t er bef or e t he aut hor i t i es of t he col l ege. You

do not ment i on t hei r names, and I r espect t he f eel i ng whi ch has

l ed you not t o ment i on t hem. I shal l know t hem qui t e soon enough

t hr ough my sol i ci t or , who wi l l f or war d me a copy of t he not e of

hand and si gnat ur es i n due cour se.

" Your l et t er makes gener al al l usi on t o ot her mat t er s; and I

gat her f r om i t t hat you ar e di ssat i sf i ed wi t h t he manner i n whi ch

you have spent your f i r st year at Oxf or d. I do not ask f or

speci f i c conf essi ons, whi ch you seem i ncl i ned t o of f er me; i n

f act , I woul d sooner not have t hem, unl ess t her e i s any ot her

mat t er i n whi ch you want assi st ance or advi ce f r om me. I know

f r om exper i ence t hat Oxf or d i s a pl ace f ul l of t empt at i on of al l

ki nds, of f er ed t o young men at t he most cr i t i cal t i me of t hei r

l i ves. Knowi ng t hi s, I have del i ber at el y accept ed t he

r esponsi bi l i t y of sendi ng you t her e, and I do not r epent i t . I am

gl ad t hat you ar e di ssat i sf i ed wi t h your f i r st year . I f you had

not been I shoul d have f el t much mor e anxi ous about your second.

Let bygones be bygones bet ween you and me. You know wher e t o go

f or st r engt h, and t o make conf essi ons whi ch no human ear shoul d

hear , f or no human j udgment can wei gh t he cause. The secr et

pl aces of a man' s hear t ar e f or hi msel f and God. Your mot her

sends her l ove.

" I am, ever your af f ect i onat e f at her , - - JOHN BROWN. "

June 26t h, 184- .

" MY DEAR BOY, - - I am not sor r y t hat you have t aken my l ast l et t er

as you have done. I t i s qui t e r i ght t o be sensi t i ve on t hese

poi nt s, and i t wi l l have done you no har m t o have f anci ed f or

f or t y- ei ght hour s t hat you had i n my j udgment l ost cast e as a

gent l eman. But now I am ver y gl ad t o be abl e t o ease your mi nd on

t hi s poi nt . You have done a ver y f ool i sh t hi ng; but i t i s onl y

t he habi t , and t he get t i ng ot her s t o bi nd t hemsel ves, and not t he

doi ng i t onesel f f or ot her s, whi ch i s di sgr acef ul . You ar e goi ng

Page 257 of 443

t o pay honour abl y f or your f ol l y, and wi l l owe me nei t her t hanks

nor money i n t he t r ansact i on. I have chosen my own t er ms f or

r epayment , whi ch you have accept ed, and so t he f i nanci al quest i on

i s di sposed of .

" I have consi der ed what you say as t o your compani ons - - f r i ends I

wi l l not cal l t hem- - and wi l l pr omi se you not t o t ake any f ur t her

st eps, or t o ment i on t he subj ect t o anyone. But I must i nsi st on

my second condi t i on, t hat you avoi d al l f ur t her i nt i macy wi t h

t hem. I do not mean t hat you ar e t o cut t hem, or do anyt hi ng t hat

wi l l at t r act at t ent i on. But , no mor e i nt i macy.

" And now, my dear boy, as t o t he r est of your l et t er . Mi ne must

i ndeed have f ai l ed t o expr ess my meani ng. God f or bi d t hat t her e

shoul d not be t he most per f ect conf i dence bet ween us. Ther e i s

not hi ng whi ch I desi r e or val ue mor e. I onl y quest i on whet her

speci al conf essi ons wi l l conduce t o i t . My exper i ence i s agai nst

t hem. I al most doubt whet her t hey can be per f ect l y honest bet ween

man and man; and, t aki ng i nt o account t he di f f er ence of our ages,

i t seems t o be much mor e l i kel y t hat we shoul d mi sunder st and one

anot her . But havi ng sai d t hi s, I l eave i t t o you t o f ol l ow your

own consci ence i n t he mat t er . I f t her e i s any bur t hen whi ch I can

hel p you t o bear , i t wi l l be my gr eat est pl easur e, as i t i s my

dut y, t o do i t . So now, say what you pl ease, or say no mor e. I f

you speak, i t wi l l be t o one who has f el t and r emember s a young

man' s t r i al s.

" We hope you wi l l be abl e t o come home t o- mor r ow, or t he next

day, at l at est . Your mot her i s l ongi ng t o see you, and I shoul d

be gl ad t o have you her e a day or t wo bef or e t he assi zes, whi ch

ar e hel d next week. I shoul d r at her l i ke you t o accompany me t o

t hem, as i t wi l l gi ve me t he oppor t uni t y of i nt r oduci ng you t o my

br ot her magi st r at es f r om ot her par t s of t he count y, whom you ar e

not l i kel y t o meet el sewher e, and i t i s a good t hi ng f or a young

man t o know hi s own count y wel l .

" The cr i cket cl ub i s ver y f l our i shi ng, you wi l l be gl ad t o hear ,

and t hey have put of f t hei r best mat ches t i l l your r et ur n; so you

ar e i n gr eat r equest , you see. I am t ol d t hat t he f i shi ng i s ver y

good t hi s year , and am pr omi sed sever al days f or you i n t he cl ub

wat er .

" Sept ember i s a l ong way of f , but t her e i s not hi ng l i ke bei ng

bef or e hand; I have put your name down f or a l i cense; and i t i s

t i me you shoul d have a good gun of your own; so I have or der ed

one f or you f r om a man who has l at el y set t l ed i n t he count y. He

was Pur dy' s f or eman, wi t h whom I used t o bui l d, and, I can see,

under st ands hi s busi ness t hor oughl y. Hi s l ocks ar e as good as any

I have ever seen. I have t ol d hi m t o make t he st ock r at her

l onger , and not qui t e so st r ai ght as t hat of my ol d doubl e wi t h

whi ch you shot l ast year . I t hi nk I r emember you cr i t i ci zed my

weapon on t hese poi nt s; but t her e wi l l be t i me f or you t o al t er

t he det ai l s af t er you get home, i f you di sappr ove of my or der s.

I t wi l l be mor e sat i sf act or y i f i t i s bui l t under your own eye.

" I f you cont i nue i n t he mi nd f or a mont h' s r eadi ng wi t h your

f r i end Mr . Har dy, we wi l l ar r ange i t t owar ds t he end of t he

vacat i on; but woul d he not come her e? Fr om what you say we shoul d

ver y much l i ke t o know hi m. Pr ay ask hi m f r om me whet her he wi l l

pass t he l ast mont h of t he vacat i on her e, r eadi ng wi t h you. I

shoul d l i ke you t o be hi s f i r st r egul ar pupi l . Of cour se t hi s

wi l l be my af f ai r . And now, God bl ess you, and come home as soon

as you can. Your mot her sends her best l ove.

Page 258 of 443

" Ever your most af f ect i onat e,

" JOHN BROWN. "

" ENGLEBOURN RECTORY,

" June 28t h, 184- '

" DEAREST MARY; - - How good of you t o wr i t e t o me so soon! Your

l et t er has come l i ke a gl eam of sunshi ne. I am i n t he mi dst of

wor r i es al r eady. I ndeed, as you know, I coul d never qui t e t hr ow

of f t he f ear of what mi ght be happeni ng her e, whi l e we wer e

enj oyi ng our sel ves at Oxf or d, and i t has al l t ur ned out even

wor se t han I expect ed. I shal l never be abl e t o go away agai n i n

comf or t , I t hi nk. And yet , i f I had been her e, I don' t know t hat

I coul d have done any good. I t i s so ver y sad t hat poor papa i s

unabl e t o at t end t o hi s magi st r at e' s busi ness, and he has been

wor se t han usual , qui t e l ai d up i n f act , si nce our r et ur n. Ther e

i s no ot her magi st r at e- - not even a gent l eman i n t he pl ace, as you

know, except t he cur at e; and t hey wi l l not l i st en t o hi m, even i f

he woul d i nt er f er e i n t hei r quar r el s. But he says he wi l l not

meddl e wi t h secul ar mat t er s; and, poor man, I cannot bl ame hi m,

f or i t i s ver y easy and sad and wear i ng t o be mi xed up i n i t al l .

" But now I must t el l you al l my t r oubl es. You r emember t he men

whom we saw mowi ng t oget her j ust bef or e we went t o Oxf or d. Bet t y

Wi nbur n' s son was one of t hem, and I am af r ai d t he r est ar e not

at al l good company f or hi m. When t hey had f i ni shed papa' s hay,

t hey went t o mow f or Far mer Test er . You must r emember hi m, dear ,

I am sur e; t he t al l , gaunt man, wi t h heavy, t hi ck l i ps and a

br oken nose, and t he t op of hi s head qui t e f l at , as i f i t had

been cut of f a l i t t l e above hi s eyebr ows. He i s a ver y mi ser l y

man, and a har d mast er ; at l east al l t he poor peopl e t el l me so,

and he l ooks cr uel . I have al ways been af r ai d of hi m, and

di sl i ked hi m, f or I r emember as a chi l d hear i ng papa compl ai n how

t r oubl esome he was i n t he vest r y; and except ol d Si mon, who, I

bel i eve, onl y does i t f r om per ver seness, I have never hear d

anybody speak wel l of hi m.

" The f i r st day t hat t he men went t o mow f or Far mer Test er , he

gave t hem sour beer t o dr i nk. You see, dear , t hey bar gai ned t o

mow f or so much money and t hei r beer . They wer e ver y di scont ent ed

at t hi s, and t hey l ost a good deal of t i me goi ng t o compl ai n t o

hi m about i t , and t hey had hi gh wor ds wi t h hi m.

" The men sai d t he beer wasn' t f i t f or pi gs, and t he f ar mer sai d

i t was qui t e good enough ' f or such as t hey, ' and i f t hey di dn' t

l i ke hi s beer t hey mi ght buy t hei r own. I n t he eveni ng, t oo, he

came down and compl ai ned t hat t he mowi ng was bad, and t hen t her e

wer e mor e hi gh wor ds, f or t he men ar e ver y j eal ous about t hei r

wor k. However t hey went t o wor k as usual t he next mor ni ng, and

al l mi ght have gone of f qui et l y, but i n t he day Far mer Test er

f ound t wo pi gs i n hi s t ur ni p f i el d whi ch adj oi ns t he common, and

had t hem put i n t he pound. One of t hese pi gs bel onged t o Bet t y

Wi nbur n' s son, and t he ot her t o one of t he men who was mowi ng

wi t h hi m; so, when t hey came home at ni ght , t hey f ound what had

happened.

" The const abl e i s our pound- keeper , t he l i t t l e man who amused you

so much; he pl ays t he bass- vi ol i n chur ch. When he put s any

beast s i nt o t he pound he cut s a st i ck i n t wo, and gi ves one pi ece

t o t he per son who br i ngs t he beast s, and keeps t he ot her hi msel f ,

and t he owner of t he beast s has t o br i ng t he ot her end of t he

st i ck t o hi m bef or e he can l et t hem out . Ther ef or e, t he owner ,

Page 259 of 443

you see, must go t o t he per son who has pounded hi s beast s, and

make a bar gai n wi t h hi m f or payment of t he damage whi ch has been

done, and so get back t he ot her end of t he st i ck, whi ch t hey cal l

t he ' t al l y, ' t o pr oduce t o t he pound- keeper .

" Wel l , t he men went of f t o t he const abl e' s when t hey hear d t hei r

pi gs wer e pounded, t o f i nd who had t he ' t al l y, ' and, when t hey

f ound i t was Far mer Test er , t hey went i n a body t o hi s house t o

r emonst r at e wi t h hi m, and l ear n what he set t he damages at . The

f ar mer used dr eadf ul l anguage t o t hem, I hear , and sai d t hey

wer en' t f i t t o have pi gs, and must pay hal f a cr own f or each pi g,

bef or e t hey coul d have t he ' t al l y; ' and t he men i r r i t at ed hi m by

t el l i ng hi m t hat hi s f ences wer e a shame t o t he par i sh, because

he was t oo st i ngy t o have t hem mended, and t hat t he pi gs coul dn' t

have f ound hal f a cr own' s wor t h of t ur ni ps i n t he whol e f i el d,

f or he never put any manur e on i t except what he coul d get of f

t he r oad, whi ch ought t o bel ong t o t he poor . At l ast t he f ar mer

dr ove t hem away sayi ng he shoul d st op t he money out of t he pr i ce

he was t o pay f or t hei r mowi ng.

" Then t her e was ver y near bei ng a r i ot i n t he par i sh; f or some of

t he men ar e ver y r eckl ess peopl e, and t hey went i n t he eveni ng

and bl ew hor ns and beat ket t l es bef or e hi s house, t i l l t he

const abl e, who has behaved ver y wel l , per suaded t hem t o go away.

" I n t he mor ni ng one of t he pi gs had been t aken out of t he pound;

not Bet t y' s son' s, I am gl ad t o say- - f or no doubt i t was ver y

wr ong of t he men t o t ake i t out . The f ar mer was f ur i ous, and went

wi t h t he const abl e i n t he mor ni ng t o f i nd t he pi g, but t hey coul d

hear not hi ng of i t anywher e. James Pope, t he man t o whom i t

bel onged, onl y l aughed at t hem, and sai d he never coul d keep hi s

pi g i n hi msel f , because i t was gr andson t o one of t he act i ng pi gs

t hat went about t o t he f ai r s, and al l t he pi gs of t hat f ami l y

t ook t o cl i mbi ng nat ur al l y; so hi s pi g must have cl i mbed out of

t he pound. Thi s of cour se was al l a st or y; t he men had l i f t ed t he

pi g out of t he pound, and t hen ki l l ed i t , so t hat t he f ar mer

mi ght not f i nd i t , and sol d t he meat cheap al l over t he par i sh.

Bet t y went t o t he f ar mer t hat mor ni ng and pai d t he hal f cr own,

and got her son' s pi g out bef or e he came home; but Far mer Test er

st opped t he ot her hal f cr own out of t he men' s wages, whi ch made

mat t er s wor se t hen ever .

" The day t hat we wer e i n t he Theat r e at Oxf or d, Far mer Test er was

away at one of t he mar ket s. He t ur ns hi s bi g cat t l e out t o gr aze

on t he common, whi ch t he poor peopl e say he has no r i ght t o do,

and i n t he af t er noon a pony of hi s got i nt o t he al l ot ment s, and

Bet t y' s son caught i t , and t ook i t t o t he const abl e, and had i t

put i n t he pound. The const abl e t r i ed t o per suade hi m not t o do

i t , but i t was of no use; and so, when Far mer Test er came home,

he f ound t hat hi s t ur n had come. I am af r ai d t hat he was not

sober , f or I hear t hat he behaved dr eadf ul l y bot h t o t he

const abl e and t o Bet t y' s son, and, when he f ound t hat he coul d

not f r i ght en t hem, he decl ar ed he woul d have t he l aw of t hem i f

i t cost hi m t went y pounds. So i n t he mor ni ng he went t o f et ch hi s

l awyer , and when we got home you can f ancy what a scene i t was.

" You r emember how poor l y papa was when you l ef t us at Lambour n.

By t he t i me we got home he was qui t e knocked up, and so ner vous

t hat he was f i t f or not hi ng except t o have a qui et cup of t ea i n

hi s own r oom. I was sur e as we dr ove up t he st r eet , t her e was

somet hi ng t he mat t er . The ost l er was wat chi ng out si de t he Red

Li on, and r an i n as soon as we came i n si ght ; and, as we passed

t he door , out came Far mer Test er , l ooki ng ver y f l ushed i n t he

f ace, and car r yi ng hi s gr eat i r on- handl ed whi p, and a per son wi t h

Page 260 of 443

hi m, who I f ound was hi s l awyer , and t hey mar ched af t er t he

car r i age. Then t he const abl e was st andi ng at hi s door t oo, and he

came af t er us, and t her e was a gr oup of men out si de t he r ect or y

gat e. We had not been i n t he house f i ve mi nut es bef or e a ser vant

came i n t o say t hat Far mer Test er and a gent l emen want ed t o see

papa on par t i cul ar busi ness. Papa sent out wor d t hat he was ver y

unwel l , and t hat i t was not t he pr oper t i me t o come on busi ness;

he woul d see t hem t he next day at t wel ve o' cl ock. But t hey woul d

not go away, and t hen papa asked me t o go out and see t hem. You

can f ancy how di sagr eeabl e i t was; and I was so angr y wi t h t hem

f or comi ng, when t hey knew how ner vous papa i s af t er a j our ney,

t hat I coul d not have pat i ence t o per suade t hem t o l eave; and so

at l ast t hey made poor papa see t hem af t er al l .

" He was l yi ng on a sof a, and qui t e unf i t t o cope wi t h a har d bad

man l i ke Far mer Test er , and a f l uent pl ausi bl e l awyer . They t ol d

t hei r st or y al l t hei r own way, and t he f ar mer decl ar ed t hat t he

man had t empt ed t he pony i nt o t he al l ot ment wi t h cor n. And t he

l awyer sai d t hat t he const abl e had no r i ght t o keep t he pony i n

t he pound, t hat he was l i abl e t o al l sor t s of puni shment s. They

want ed papa t o make an or der at once f or t he pound t o be opened,

and I t hi nk he woul d have done so, but I asked hi m i n a whi sper

t o send f or t he const abl e, and hear what he had t o say. The

const abl e was wai t i ng i n t he ki t chen, so he came i n i n a mi nut e.

You can' t t hi nk how wel l he behaved; I have qui t e f or gi ven hi m

al l hi s obst i nacy about t he si ngi ng. He t ol d t he whol e st or y

about t he pi gs, and how Far mer Test er had st opped money out of

t he men' s wages. And when t he l awyer t r i ed t o f r i ght en hi m, he

answer ed hi m qui t e bol dl y, t hat he mi ght n' t know so much about

t he l aw, but he knew what was al ways t he cust om l ong bef or e hi s

t i me at Engl ebour n about t he pound, and i f Far mer Test er want ed

hi s beast out , he must br i ng t he ' t al l y' l i ke anot her man. Then

t he l awyer appeal ed t o papa about t he l aw, and sai d how absur d i t

was, and t hat i f such a cust om wer e t o be uphel d, t he man who had

t he ' t al l y' mi ght char ge 100L. f or t he damage. And poor papa

l ooked t hr ough hi s l aw books, and coul d f i nd not hi ng about i t at

al l ; and whi l e he was doi ng i t Far mer Test er began t o abuse t he

const abl e, and sai d he si ded wi t h al l t he good- f or - not hi ng

f el l ows i n t he par i sh, and t hat bad bl ood woul d come of i t . But

t he const abl e qui t e f i r ed up at t hat , and t ol d hi m t hat i t was

such as he who made bad bl ood i n t he par i sh, and t hat poor f ol ks

had t hei r r i ght s as wel l as t hei r bet t er s, and shoul d have t hem

as l ong as he was const abl e. I f he got papa' s or der t o open t he

pound, he supposed he must do i t , and ' t was not f or hi m t o say

what was l aw, but Henr y Wi nbur n had had t o get t he ' t al l y' f or

hi s pi g f r om Far mer Test er , and what was f ai r f or one was f ai r

f or al l .

" I was af r ai d papa woul d have made t he or der , but t he l awyer sai d

somet hi ng at l ast whi ch made hi m t ake t he ot her si de. So he

set t l ed t hat t he f ar mer shoul d pay f i ve shi l l i ngs f or t he

' t al l y, ' whi ch was what he had t aken f r om Bet t y, and had st opped

out of t he wages, and t hat was t he onl y or der he woul d make, and

t he l awyer mi ght do what he pl eased about i t . The const abl e

seemed sat i sf i ed wi t h t hi s, and under t ook t o t ake t he money down

t o Har r y Wi nbur n, f or Far mer Test er decl ar ed he woul d sooner l et

t he pony st ar ve t han go hi msel f . And so papa got r i d of t hem

af t er an hour and mor e of t hi s t al k. The l awyer and Far mer Test er

went away gr umbl i ng and ver y angr y t o t he Red Li on. I was ver y

anxi ous t o hear how t he mat t er ended; so I went af t er t he

const abl e t o ask hi m t o come back and see me when he had set t l ed

i t al l , and about ni ne o' cl ock he came. He had had a ver y har d

j ob t o get Har r y Wi nbur n t o t ake t he money, and gi ve up t he

' t al l y. ' The men sai d t hat , i f Far mer Test er coul d make t hem pay

Page 261 of 443

hal f - a- cr own f or a pi g i n hi s t ur ni ps, whi ch wer e no bi gger t han

r adi shes, he ought t o pay t en shi l l i ngs at l east f or hi s pony

t r ampl i ng down t hei r cor n, whi ch was hal f gr own, and I coul dn' t

hel p t hi nki ng t hi s seemed ver y r easonabl e. I n t he end, however ,

t he const abl e had per suaded t hem t o t ake t he money, and so t he

pony was l et out .

" I t ol d hi m how pl eased I was at t he way he had behaved, but t he

l i t t l e man di dn' t seem qui t e sat i sf i ed hi msel f . He shoul d have

l i ked t o have gi ven t he l awyer a pi ece of hi s mi nd, he sai d, onl y

he was no schol ar , ' but I ' ve a got al l t he f eel i n' s of a man,

mi ss, t hough I medn' t have t he ways o' br i ngi n' on ' em out . ' You

see I ' m qui t e comi ng r ound t o your opi ni on about hi m. But when I

sai d t hat I hoped al l t he t r oubl e was over , he shook hi s head,

and he seems t o t hi nk t hat t he men wi l l not f or get i t , and t hat

some of t he wi l d ones wi l l be t r yi ng t o pay Far mer Test er out i n

t he wi nt er ni ght s, and I coul d see he was ver y anxi ous about

Har r y Wi nbur n; so I pr omi sed hi m t o go and see Bet t y.

" I went down t o her cot t age yest er day, and f ound her ver y l ow,

poor ol d soul , about her son. She has had a bad at t ack agai n, and

I am af r ai d her hear t i s not r i ght . She wi l l not l i ve l ong i f she

has much t o make her anxi ous, and how i s t hat t o be avoi ded? For

her son' s cour t i ng i s al l goi ng wr ong, she can see, t hough he

wi l l not t el l her anyt hi ng about i t ; but he get s mor e moody and

r est l ess, she says, and don' t t ake a pr i de i n anyt hi ng, not even

i n hi s f l ower s or hi s al l ot ment ; and he t akes t o goi ng about ,

mor e and mor e ever y day, wi t h t hese men, who wi l l be sur e t o l ead

hi m i nt o t r oubl e.

" Af t er I l ef t her , I wal ked up t o t he Hawk' s Lynch, t o see

whet her t he vi ew and t he ai r woul d not do me good. And i t di d do

me a gr eat deal of good, dear , and I t hought of you, and when I

shoul d see your br i ght f ace and hear your happy l augh agai n. The

vi l l age l ooked so pr et t y and peacef ul . I coul d har dl y bel i eve,

whi l e I was up t her e, t hat t her e wer e al l t hese mi ser abl e

quar r el s and hear t bur ni ngs goi ng on i n i t . I suppose t hey go on

ever ywher e, but one can' t hel p f eel i ng as i f t her e was somet hi ng

speci al l y har d i n t hose whi ch come under one' s own eyes, and

t ouch one' s sel f . And t hen t hey ar e so f r i vol ous, and ever yt hi ng

mi ght go on so comf or t abl y i f peopl e woul d onl y be r easonabl e. I

ought t o have been a man, I am sur e, and t hen I mi ght , per haps,

be abl e t o do mor e, and shoul d have mor e i nf l uence. I f poor papa

wer e onl y wel l and st r ong!

" But , dear , I shal l t i r e you wi t h al l t hese l ong hi st or i es and

compl ai ni ngs. I have r un on t i l l I have no r oom l ef t f or anyt hi ng

el se; but you can' t t hi nk what a comf or t i t i s t o me t o wr i t e i t

al l t o you, f or I have no one t o t el l i t t o. I f eel so much

bet t er , and mor e cheer f ul , si nce I sat down t o wr i t e t hi s. You

must gi ve my dear l ove t o uncl e and aunt , and l et me hear f r om

you agai n whenever you have t i me. I f you coul d come over agai n

and st ay f or a f ew days, i t woul d be ver y ki nd; but I must not

pr ess i t , as t her e i s not hi ng t o at t r act you her e, onl y we mi ght

t al k over al l t hat we di d and saw at Oxf or d. - - Ever , dear est Mar y,

your af f ect i onat e cousi n,

" Kat i e"

" P. S. - - I shoul d l i ke t o have t he pat t er n of t he j acket you wor e

t he l ast day at Oxf or d. Coul d you cut i t out i n t hi n paper and

send i t i n your next ?"

Page 262 of 443

" Jul y- , 184- .

" MY DEAR BROWN, - - I was ver y gl ad t o see your hand, and t o hear

such f l our i shi ng account s of your vacat i on doi ngs. You won' t get

any l i ke announcement of me, f or cr i cket has not yet come so f ar

west as t hi s, at l east not t o set t l e. We have a f ew pi oneer s and

squat t er s i n t he vi l l ages; but , I am sor r y t o say, not hi ng yet

l i ke mat ches bet ween t he el evens of di st r i ct s. Nei ghbor s we have

none, except t he r ect or ; so I have pl ent y of spar e t i me, some of

whi ch I f eel gr eat l y di sposed t o devot e t o you; and I hope you

won' t f i nd me t oo t edi ous t o r ead.

" I t i s ver y ki nd of your f at her t o wi sh t hat you shoul d be my

f i r st pupi l , and t o pr opose t hat I shoul d spend t he l ast mont h of

t hi s vacat i on wi t h you i n Ber kshi r e. But I do not l i ke t o gi ve up

a whol e mont h. My f at her i s get t i ng ol d and i nf i r m, and I can see

t hat i t woul d be a gr eat t r i al t o hi m, al t hough he ur ges i t , and

i s al ways t el l i ng me not t o l et hi m keep me at home. What do you

say t o meet i ng me hal f way? I mean, t hat you shoul d come her e f or

hal f of t he t i me, and t hen t hat I shoul d r et ur n wi t h you f or t he

l ast f or t ni ght of t he vacat i on. Thi s I coul d manage per f ect l y.

" But you cannot i n any case be my f i r st pupi l ; f or not t o ment i on

t hat I have been, as you know, t eachi ng f or some year s, I have a

pupi l her e, at t hi s mi nut e. You ar e not l i kel y t o guess who i t

i s, t hough you know hi m wel l enough- - per haps I shoul d say t oo

wel l - - so, i n a wor d, i t i s Bl ake. I had not been at home t hr ee

days bef or e I got a l et t er f r om hi m, aski ng me t o t ake hi m, and

put t i ng i t i n such a way t hat I coul dn' t r ef use. I woul d sooner

not have had hi m, as I had al r eady got out of t aki ng a r eadi ng

par t y wi t h some t r oubl e, and f el t i ncl i ned t o enj oy mysel f her e

i n di gni f i ed i dl eness t i l l next t er m. But what can you do when a

man put s i t t o you as a gr eat per sonal f avor , &c. &c. ? So I wr ot e

t o accept . You may i magi ne my di sgust a day or t wo af t er war ds, at

get t i ng a l et t er f r om an uncl e of hi s, some of f i ci al per son i n

London appar ent l y, t r eat i ng t he whol e mat t er i n a _busi ness_

poi nt of vi ew, and me as i f I wer e a t r ai ni ng gr oom. He i s good

enough t o suggest a st i mul ant t o me i n t he shape of ext r a pay and

hi s f ut ur e pat r onage i n t he event of hi s nephew' s t aki ng a f i r st

i n Mi chael mas t er m. I f I had r ecei ved t hi s l et t er bef or e, I t hi nk

i t woul d have t ur ned t he scal e, and I shoul d have r ef used. But

t he t hi ng was done, and Bl ake i sn' t f ai r l y r esponsi bl e f or hi s

r el at i ve' s vi ews.

" So her e he has been f or a f or t ni ght . He t ook a l odgi ng i n t he

vi l l age at f i r st ; but of cour se my dear ol d f at her ' s i deas of

hospi t al i t y wer e shocked at t hi s, and her e he i s, our i nmat e.

" He r eads f i er cel y by f i t s and st ar t s. A f eel i ng of per sonal

hat r ed agai nst t he exami ner s seems t o ur ge hi m on mor e t han any

ot her mot i ve; but t hi s wi l l not be st r ong enough t o keep hi m t o

r egul ar wor k, and wi t hout r egul ar wor k he won' t do,

not wi t hst andi ng al l hi s cl ever ness, and he i s a mar vel l ousl y

cl ever f el l ow. So t he f i r st t hi ng I have t o do i s t o get hi m

st eadi l y t o t he col l ar , and how t o do i t i s a pr et t y par t i cul ar

puzzl e. For he hasn' t a gr ai n of ent husi asm i n hi s composi t i on,

nor any power , as f ar as I can see, of t hr owi ng hi msel f i nt o t he

t i mes and scenes of whi ch he i s r eadi ng. The phi l osophy of Gr eece

and t he hi st or y of Rome ar e mat t er s of per f ect i ndi f f er ence t o

hi m- - t o be got up by cat ch- wor ds and dat es f or exami nat i on and

not hi ng mor e. I don' t t hi nk he woul d car e a st r aw i f Socr at es had

never l i ved, or Hanni bal had dest r oyed Rome. The gr eat est names

and deeds of t he ol d wor l d ar e j ust so many dead count er s t o

hi m- t he Jewi sh j ust as much as t he r est . I t r i ed hi m wi t h t he

Page 263 of 443

st or y of t he at t empt of Ant i ochus Epi phanes t o conquer t he Jews,

and t he gl or i ous r i si ng of al l t hat was l i vi ng i n t he Hol y Land

under t he Maccabees. Not i t bi t of i t ; I coul dn' t get a spar k out

of hi m. He woul dn' t even r ead t he st or y because i t i s i n t he

Apocr ypha, and so, as he sai d, t he d- - - - d exami ner s coul dn' t ask

hi m anyt hi ng about i t i n t he school s.

" Then hi s sense of dut y i s qui et undevel oped. He has no not i on of

goi ng on doi ng anyt hi ng di sagr eeabl e because he ought . So her e I

am at f aul t agai n. Ambi t i on he has i n abundance; i n f act so

st r ongl y, t hat ver y l i kel y i t may i n t he end pul l hi m t hr ough,

and make hi m wor k har d enough f or hi s Oxf or d pur poses at any

r at e. But i t want s r epr essi ng r at her t han encour agement , and I

cer t ai nl y shan' t appeal t o i t .

" You wi l l begi n t o t hi nk I di sl i ke hi m and want t o get r i d of

hi m, but i t i sn' t t he case. You know what a good t emper he has,

and how r emar kabl y wel l he t al ks; so he makes hi msel f ver y

pl easant , and my f at her evi dent l y enj oys hi s company; and t hen t o

be i n const ant i nt er cour se wi t h a subt l e i nt el l ect l i ke hi s, i s

pl easant l y exci t i ng, and keeps one al i ve and at hi gh pr essur e,

t hough one can' t hel p al ways wi shi ng t hat i t had a l i t t l e heat i n

i t . You woul d be i mmensel y amused i f you coul d dr op i n on us.

" I t hi nk I have t ol d you or you must have seen i t f or your sel f ,

t hat my f at her ' s pr i nci pl es ar e t r ue bl ue, as becomes a sai l or of

t he t i me of t he gr eat war , whi l e hi s i nst i nct s and pr act i ce ar e

l i ber al i n t he ext r eme. Our r ect or , on t he cont r ar y, i s l i ber al

i n pr i nci pl es, but an ar i st ocr at of t he ar i st ocr at s i n i nst i nct

and pr act i ce. They ar e al ways r eady enough t her ef or e t o do

bat t l e, and Bl ake del i ght s i n t he war , and f ans i t and t akes par t

i n i t as a sor t of f r ee l ance, l ayi ng l i t t l e l ogi cal pi t f al l s f or

t he combat ant s al t er nat el y, wi t h t hat def er ent i al manner of hi s.

He get s some sor t of i nt el l ect ual pl easur e, I suppose, out of

seei ng wher e t hey ought t o t umbl e i n; f or t umbl e i n t hey don' t ,

but cl ear hi s pi t - f al l s i n t hei r st r i de- at l east my f at her

does- qui t e i nnocent of havi ng negl ect ed t o di st r i but e hi s mi ddl e

t er m; and t he r ect or , i f he has some i nkl i ng of t hese t r aps,

br ushes t hem asi de, and di sdai ns t o spend powder on anyone but

hi s ol d adver sar y and f r i end. I empl oy mysel f i n t r yi ng t o come

down r ut hl essl y on Bl ake hi msel f ; and so we spend our eveni ngs

af t er di nner , whi ch comes of f at t he pr i mi t i ve hour of f i ve. We

used t o di ne at t hr ee, but my f at her has comf or med now t o col l ege

hour s. I f t he r ect or does not come, i nst ead of ar gument at i ve

t al k, we get st or i es out of my f at her . I n t he mor ni ng we bat he,

and boat , and r ead. So, you see, he and I have pl ent y of one

anot her ' s company; and i t i s cer t ai nl y odd t hat we get on so wel l

wi t h so ver y f ew poi nt s of sympat hy. But , l ucki l y, besi des hi s

good t emper and cl ever ness, he has pl ent y of humor . On t he whol e,

I t hi nk we shal l r ub t hr ough t he t wo mont hs whi ch he i s t o spend

her e wi t hout get t i ng t o hat e one anot her , t hough t her e i s l i t t l e

chance of our becomi ng f r i ends. Besi des put t i ng some hi st or y and

sci ence i nt o hi m ( schol ar shi p he does not need) , I shal l be

sat i sf i ed i f I can make hi m gi ve up hi s use of t he pr onoun ' you'

bef or e he goes. I n t al ki ng of t he cor n l aws, or f or ei gn pol i cy,

or I ndi a, or any ot her pol i t i cal subj ect , however i nt er est i ng, he

never wi l l i dent i f y hi msel f as an Engl i shman; and ' you do t hi s, '

or ' you expect t hat ' i s f or ever i n hi s mout h, speaki ng of hi s

own count r ymen. I bel i eve i f t he Fr ench wer e t o l and t o- mor r ow on

Por t l and, he woul d comment on our at t empt s t o di sl odge t hem as i f

he had no concer n wi t h t he busi ness except as a l ooker - on.

" You wi l l t hi nk al l t hi s r at her a sl ow r et ur n f or your j ol l y

gossi pi ng l et t er , f ul l of cr i cket , ar cher y, f i shi ng, and I know

Page 264 of 443

not what pl easant goi ngs- on. But what i s one t o do? one can onl y

wr i t e about what i s one' s subj ect of i nt er est f or t he t i me bei ng,

and Bl ake st ands i n t hat r el at i on t o me j ust now. I shoul d pr ef er

i t ot her wi se, but _si on n' a pas ce qu' on ai me i l f aut ai mer ce

qu' on a_. I have no i nci dent t o r el at e; t hese par t s get on

wi t hout i nci dent s somehow, and wi t hout soci et y. I wi sh t her e wer e

some, par t i cul ar l y l adi es' soci et y. I br eak t he t ent h commandment

const ant l y, t hi nki ng of Commemor at i on, and t hat you ar e wi t hi n a

r i de of Mi ss Wi nt er and her cousi n. When you see t hem next , pr ay

pr esent my r espect f ul compl i ment s. I t i s a sor t of consol at i on t o

t hi nk t hat one may cr oss t hei r f ancy f or a moment and be

r emember ed as par t of a pi ct ur e whi ch gi ves t hem pl easur e. Wi t h

such pi ece of sent i ment I may as wel l shut up. Don' t you f or get

my message now, and- -

" Bel i eve me, ever your s most t r ul y,

" JOHN HARDY.

" P. S. - - I mean t o speak t o Bl ake, when I get a chance, of t hat

wr et ched debt whi ch you have pai d, unl ess you obj ect . I shoul d

t hi nk bet t er of hi m i f he seemed mor e uncomf or t abl e about hi s

af f ai r s. Af t er al l he may be mor e so t han I t hi nk, f or he i s ver y

r eser ved on such subj ect s. "

" ENGLEBOURN RECTORY,

" Jul y, 184- '

" DEAREST MARY. - - I send t he coachman wi t h t hi s not e i n or der t hat

you may not be anxi ous about me. I have j ust r et ur ned f r om poor

Bet t y Wi nbur n' s cot t age t o wr i t e i t . She i s ver y ver y i l l , and I

do not t hi nk can l ast out mor e t han a day or t wo; and she seems

t o cl i ng t o me so t hat I cannot have t he hear t t o l eave her .

I ndeed, i f I coul d make up my mi nd t o do i t , I shoul d never get

her poor whi t e eager f ace out of my head al l day, so t hat I

shoul d be ver y bad company, and qui t e out of pl ace at your par t y,

maki ng ever ybody mel anchol y and uncomf or t abl e who came near me.

So, dear , I am not comi ng. Of cour se i t i s a gr eat

di sappoi nt ment . I had set my hear t on bei ng wi t h you, and

enj oyi ng i t al l t hor oughl y; and even at br eakf ast t hi s mor ni ng

knew of not hi ng t o hi nder me. My dr ess i s act ual l y l yi ng on t he

bed at t hi s mi nut e, and i t l ooks ver y pr et t y, especi al l y t he

j acket l i ke your s, whi ch I and Hopki ns have managed t o make up

f r om t he pat t er n you sent , t hough you f or got t he sl eeves, whi ch

made i t r at her har d t o do. Ah, wel l ; i t i s no use t o t hi nk of how

pl easant t hi ngs woul d have been whi ch one cannot have. You must

wr i t e me an account of how i t al l went of f , dear ; or per haps you

can manage t o get over her e bef or e l ong t o t el l me.

" I must now go back t o poor Bet t y. She i s such a f ai t hf ul ,

pat i ent ol d t hi ng, and has been such a good woman al l her l i f e

t hat t her e i s not hi ng pai nf ul i n bei ng by her now, and one f eel s

sur e t hat i t wi l l be much happi er and bet t er f or her t o be at

r est . I f she coul d onl y f eel comf or t abl e about her son, I am sur e

she woul d t hi nk so her sel f . Oh, I f or got t o say t hat her at t ack

was br ought on by t he shock of hear i ng t hat he had been summoned

f or an assaul t . Far mer Test er ' s son, a young man about hi s own

age, has, i t seems, been of l at e wayl ayi ng Si mon' s daught er and

maki ng l ove t o her . I t i s so ver y har d t o make out t he t r ut h i n

mat t er s of t hi s ki nd. Hopki ns says she i s a dr essed- up l i t t l e

mi nx who r uns af t er al l t he young men i n t he par i sh; but r eal l y,

f r om what I see and hear f r om ot her per sons, I t hi nk she i s a

Page 265 of 443

good gi r l enough. Even Bet t y, who l ooks on her as t he cause of

most of her own t r oubl e, has never sai d a wor d t o make me t hi nk

t hat she i s at al l a l i ght per son, or mor e f ond of admi r at i on

t han any ot her good- l ooki ng gi r l i n t he par i sh.

" But t hose Test er s ar e a ver y wi cked set . You cannot t hi nk what a

mi sf or t une i t i s i n a pl ace l i ke t hi s t o have t hese r i ch f ami l i es

wi t h est at es of t hei r own, i n whi ch t he young men begi n t o t hi nk

t hemsel ves above t he common f ar mer s. They ape t he gent l emen, and

gi ve t hemsel ves gr eat ai r s, but of cour se no gent l eman wi l l

associ at e wi t h t hem, as t hey ar e qui t e uneducat ed; and t he

consequence i s t hat t hey l i ve a gr eat deal at home, and gi ve

t hemsel ves up t o al l ki nds of wi ckedness. Thi s young Test er i s

one of t hese. Hi s f at her i s a ver y bad ol d man, and does a gr eat

deal of har m her e; and t he son i s f ol l owi ng i n hi s st eps, and i s

qui t e as bad, or wor se. So you see t hat I shal l not easi l y

bel i eve t hat Har r y Wi nbur n has been much i n t he wr ong. However ,

al l I know of i t at pr esent i s t hat young Test er was beat en by

Har r y yest er day eveni ng i n t he vi l l age st r eet , and t hat t hey came

t o papa at once f or a summons.

" Oh, her e i s t he coachman r eady t o st ar t ; so I must concl ude,

dear , and go back t o my pat i ent . I shal l of t en t hi nk of you

dur i ng t he day. I am sur e you wi l l have a char mi ng par t y. Wi t h

best l ove t o al l , bel i eve me, ever dear est ,

" Your most af f ect i onat e,

" KATI E.

" P. S. - - I am ver y gl ad t hat uncl e and aunt t ake t o Tom, and t hat

he i s st ayi ng wi t h you f or some days. You wi l l f i nd hi m ver y

usef ul i n maki ng t he par t y go of f wel l , I am sur e. "

CHAPTER XXX

AMUSEMENTS AT BARTON MANOR

" A l et t er , Mi ss, f r om Engl ebour n, " sai d a f oot man, comi ng up t o

Mar y wi t h t he not e gi ven at t he end of t he l ast chapt er , on a

wai t er . She t ook i t and t or e i t open; and whi l e she i s r eadi ng

i t , t he r eader may be i nt r oduced t o t he pl ace and company i n

whi ch we f i nd her . The scene i s a l ar ge ol d- f ashi oned squar e

br i ck house, backed by f i ne t r ees, i n t he t ops of whi ch t he r ooks

l i ve, and t he j ackdaws and st ar l i ngs i n t he many hol es whi ch t i me

has wor n i n t he ol d t r unks; but t hey ar e al l away on t hi s f i ne

summer mor ni ng, seeki ng t hei r meal and enj oyi ng t hemsel ves i n t he

nei ghbour i ng f i el ds. I n t he f r ont of t he house i s a pr et t y f l ower

gar den, separ at ed by a haw- haw f r om a l ar ge past ur e, sl opi ng

sout hwar ds gent l y down t o a st r eam, whi ch gl i des al ong t hr ough

wat er - cr ess and wi l l ow beds t o j oi n t he Kennet . The beast s have

al l been dr i ven of f , and on t he upper par t of t he f i el d, near est

t he house, t wo men ar e f i xi ng up a t hi r d pai r of t ar get s on t he

r i ch shor t gr ass. A l ar ge t ent i s pi t ched near t he ar cher y

gr ound, t o hol d qui ver s and bow- cases, and l uncheon, and t o

shel t er l ooker s- on f r om t he mi d- day sun. Beyond t he br ook, a

pl easant , wel l - t i mber ed, count r y l i es, wi t h hi gh chal k- downs f or

an hor i zon, endi ng i n Mar l bor ough hi l l , f ai nt and bl ue i n t he

west . Thi s i s t he pl ace whi ch Mar y' s f at her has t aken f or t he

summer and aut umn, and wher e she i s f ast becomi ng t he pet of t he

nei ghbor hood.

Page 266 of 443

I t wi l l not per haps sur pr i se our r eader s t o f i nd t hat our her o

has managed t o f i nd hi s way t o Bar t on Manor i n t he second week of

t he vacat i on, and havi ng made t he most of hi s oppor t uni t i es, i s

acknowl edged as a cousi n by Mr . and Mr s. Por t er . Thei r boys ar e

at home f or t he hol i days, and Mr . Por t er ' s gr eat wi sh i s t hat

t hey shoul d get used t o t he count r y i n t hei r summer hol i days. And

as t hey have spent most of t hei r chi l dhood and boyhood i n London,

t o whi ch he has been t i ed pr et t y cl osel y hi t her t o, t hi s i s a

gr eat oppor t uni t y. The boys onl y want ed a pr ecept or , and Tom

pr esent ed hi msel f at t he r i ght moment , and soon became t he her o

of Char l ey and Neddy Por t er . He t aught t hem t o t hr ow f l i es and

bai t cr awf i sh net s, t o bat - f owl , and f er r et f or r abbi t s, and t o

saddl e and r i de t hei r poni es, besi des get t i ng up games of cr i cket

i n t he spar e eveni ngs, whi ch kept hi m away f r om Mr . Por t er ' s

di nner - t abl e. Thi s l ast pi ece of sel f - deni al , as he consi der ed

i t , qui t e won over t hat gent l eman, who agr eed wi t h hi s wi f e t hat

Tom was j ust t he sor t of compani on t hey woul d l i ke f or t he boys,

and so t he house was t hr own open t o hi m.

The boys wer e al ways cl amour i ng f or hi m when he was away, and

maki ng t hei r mot her wr i t e of f t o pr ess hi m t o come agai n; whi ch

he, bei ng a ver y good- nat ur ed young man, and par t i cul ar l y f ond of

boys, was r eady enough t o do. So t hi s was t he t hi r d vi si t he had

pai d i n a mont h.

Mr . and Mr s. Br own wonder ed a l i t t l e t hat he shoul d be so ver y

f ond of t he young Por t er s, who wer e good boys enough, but ver y

much l i ke ot her boys of t hi r t een and f i f t een, of whom t her e wer e

sever al i n t he nei ghbor hood. He had i ndeed j ust ment i oned an

el der si st er , but so casual l y t hat t hei r at t ent i on had not been

dr awn t o t he f act , whi ch had al most sl i pped out of t hei r

memor i es. On t he ot her hand, Tom seemed so compl et el y t o i dent i f y

hi msel f wi t h t he boys and t hei r pur sui t s, t hat i t never occur r ed

t o t hei r f at her and mot her , who wer e doat i ngl y f ond of t hem,

t hat , af t er al l , t hey mi ght not be t he onl y at t r act i on. Mar y

seemed t o t ake ver y l i t t l e not i ce of hi m, and went on wi t h her

own pur sui t s much as usual . I t was t r ue t hat she l i ked keepi ng

t he scor e at cr i cket , and comi ng t o l ook at t hem f i shi ng or

r abbi t i ng i n her wal ks; but al l t hat was ver y nat ur al . I t i s a

cur i ous and mer ci f ul di spensat i on of Pr ovi dence t hat most f at her s

and mot her s seem never t o be capabl e of r emember i ng t hei r own

exper i ence, and wi l l pr obabl y go on t i l l t he end of t i me t hi nki ng

of t hei r sons of t went y and daught er s of si xt een or sevent een as

mer e chi l dr en who may be al l owed t o r un about t oget her as much as

t hey pl ease. And, wher e i t i s ot her wi se, t he r esul t s ar e not ver y

di f f er ent , f or t her e ar e cer t ai n myst er i ous ways of hol di ng

i nt er cour se i mpl ant ed i n t he yout h of bot h sexes, agai nst whi ch

no vi gi l ance can pr evai l .

So on t hi s, her gr eat f et e day, Tom had been hel pi ng Mar y al l t he

mor ni ng i n dr essi ng t he r ooms wi t h f l ower s and ar r angi ng al l t he

det ai l s- - wher e peopl e wer e t o si t at col d di nner ; how t o f i nd t he

pr oper number of seat s; how t he di ni ng- r oom was t o be cl ear ed i n

t i me f or danci ng when t he dew began t o f al l . I n al l whi ch mat t er s

t her e wer e many obvi ous occasi ons f or t hose l i t t l e at t ent i ons

whi ch ar e much val ued by per sons i n l i ke si t uat i ons; and Tom was

not sor r y t hat t he boys had vot ed t he whol e pr epar at i ons a bor e,

and had gone of f t o t he br ook t o ' gr oppl e' i n t he bank f or

cr ayf i sh t i l l t he shoot i ng began. The ar r i val of t he not e had

been t he f i r st _cont r e- t emps_ of t he mor ni ng, and t hey wer e now

expect i ng guest s t o ar r i ve ever y mi nut e.

" What i s t he mat t er ? No bad news I hope, " he sai d, seei ng her

Page 267 of 443

vexed expr essi on.

" Why, Kat i e can' t come. I decl ar e I coul d si t down and cr y. I

sha' n' t enj oy t he par t y a bi t now, and I wi sh i t wer e al l over . "

" I am sur e Kat i e woul d be ver y unhappy i f she t hought you wer e

goi ng t o spoi l your day' s pl easur e on her account . "

" Yes, I know she woul d. But i t i s so pr ovoki ng when I had l ooked

f or war d so t o havi ng her . "

" You have never t ol d me why she cannot come. She was qui t e f ul l

of i t al l a f ew days si nce. "

" Oh, t her e i s a poor ol d woman i n t he vi l l age dyi ng, who i s a

gr eat f r i end of Kat i e' s. Her e i s her l et t er ; l et me see, " she

sai d, gl anci ng over i t t o see t hat t her e i s not hi ng i n i t t hat

she di d not wi sh hi m t o r ead, " you may r ead i t i f you l i ke. "

Tom began r eadi ng. " Bet t y Wi nbur n, " he sai d, when he came t o t he

name, " what , poor dear ol d Bet t y? why I ' ve known her ever si nce I

was bor n. She used t o l i ve i n our par i sh, and I haven' t seen her

t hi s ei ght year s near l y. And her boy Har r y, I wonder what has

become of hi m?"

" You wi l l see i f you r ead on, " sai d Mar y; and so he r ead t o t he

end, and t hen f ol ded i t up and r et ur ned i t .

" So poor ol d Bet t y i s dyi ng. Wel l she was al ways a good soul , and

ver y ki nd t o me when I was a boy. I shoul d l i ke t o see her once

agai n, and per haps I mi ght be abl e t o do somet hi ng f or her son. "

" Why shoul d we not r i de over t o Engl ebour n t o- mor r ow? They wi l l

be gl ad t o get us out of t he way whi l e t he house i s bei ng

st r ai ght ened. "

" I shoul d l i ke i t of al l t hi ngs, i f i t can be managed. "

" Oh, I wi l l manage i t somehow, f or I must go and see t hat dear

Kat i e. I do f eel so ashamed of mysel f when I t hi nk of al l t he

good she i s doi ng, and I do not hi ng but put f l ower s about , and

pl ay t he pi ano. I sn' t she an angel , now?"

" Of cour se she i s. "

" Yes, but I won' t have t hat sor t of mat t er - of - cour se

acqui escence. Now- - do you r eal l y mean t hat Kat i e i s as good as an

angel ?"

" As ser i ousl y as i f I saw t he wi ngs gr owi ng out of her shoul der s,

and dew dr ops hangi ng on t hem. "

" You deser ve t o have some t hi ng not at al l l i ke wi ngs gr owi ng out

of your head. How i s i t t hat you never see when I don' t want you

t o t al k your nonsense?"

" How am I t o t al k sense about angel s? I don' t know anyt hi ng about

t hem. "

" You know what I mean per f ect l y. I say t hat dear Kat i e i s an

angel , and I mean t hat I don' t know anyt hi ng i n her - - no not one

si ngl e t hi ng- - whi ch I shoul d l i ke t o have changed. I f t he angel s

ar e al l as good as she" - -

Page 268 of 443

" _I f _! why I shal l begi n t o doubt your or t hodoxy. "

" You don' t know what I was goi ng t o say. "

" I t doesn' t mat t er what you wer e goi ng t o say. You coul dn' t have

br ought t hat sent ence i nt o an or t hodox concl usi on. Oh, pl ease

don' t l ook so angr y, now. Yes, I qui t e see what you mean. You can

t hi nk of Kat i e j ust as she i s now i n heaven wi t hout bei ng

shocked. "

Mar y paused f or a moment bef or e she answer ed, as i f t aken by

sur pr i se at t hi s way of put t i ng her meani ng, and t hen sai d

ser i ousl y- -

" I ndeed, I can. I t hi nk we shoul d al l be per f ect l y happy i f we

wer e al l as good as she i s. "

" But she i s not ver y happy her sel f , I am af r ai d. "

" Of cour se not . How can she be, when al l t he peopl e about her ar e

so t r oubl esome and sel f i sh?"

" I can' t f ancy an angel t he l east bi t l i ke Uncl e Rober t , can

you?"

" I won' t t al k about angel s any mor e. You have made me f eel qui t e

as i f I had been sayi ng somet hi ng wi cked. "

" Now r eal l y i t i s t oo har d t hat you shoul d l ay al l t he bl ame on

me, when you began t he subj ect your sel f . You ought at l east t o

l et me say what I have t o say about angel s. "

" Why, you sai d you knew not hi ng about t hem hal f a mi nut e ago. "

" But I may have my not i ons, l i ke ot her peopl e. You have your

not i ons. Kat i e i s your angel . "

" Wel l , t hen, what ar e your not i ons?"

" Kat i e i s r at her t oo dar k f or my i dea of an angel . I can' t f ancy

a dar k angel . "

" Why, how can you cal l Kat i e dar k! "

" I onl y say she i s t oo dar k f or my i dea of an angel . "

" Wel l , go on. "

" Then, she i s r at her t oo gr ave! "

" Too gr ave f or an angel ! "

" For my i dea of an angel , - - one doesn' t want one' s angel t o be

l i ke onesel f , and I am so gr ave, you know. "

" Yes, ver y. Then your angel i s t o be a l aughi ng angel . A l aughi ng

angel , and yet ver y sensi bl e; never t al ki ng nonsense?"

" Oh, I di dn' t say t hat . "

" But you sai d he wasn' t t o be l i ke you. "

" _He_! who i n t he wor l d do you mean by _he_?"

Page 269 of 443

" Why, your angel , of cour se. "

" My angel ! You don' t r eal l y suppose t hat my angel i s t o be a

man. "

" I have no t i me t o t hi nk about i t . Look, t hey ar e put t i ng t hose

t ar get s qui t e cr ooked. You ar e r esponsi bl e f or t he t ar get s; we

must go and get t hem st r ai ght . "

They wal ked acr oss t he gr ound t owar ds t he t ar get s, and Tom

set t l ed t hem accor di ng t o hi s not i ons of opposi t es.

" Af t er al l , ar cher y i s sl ow wor k, " he sai d, when t he t ar get s wer e

set t l ed sat i sf act or i l y. " I don' t bel i eve anybody r eal l y enj oys

i t . "

" Now t hat i s because you men haven' t i t al l t o your sel ves. You

ar e j eal ous of any sor t of game i n whi ch we can j oi n. I bel i eve

you ar e af r ai d of bei ng beat en by us. "

" On t he cont r ar y, t hat i s i t s onl y r ecommendat i on, t hat you can

j oi n i n i t . "

" Wel l , I t hi nk t hat ought t o be r ecommendat i on enough. But I

bel i eve i t i s much har der t han most of your games. You can' t

shoot hal f so wel l as you can pl ay cr i cket , can you?"

" No, because I never pr act i ce. I t i sn' t exci t i ng t o be wal ki ng up

and down bet ween t wo t ar get s, and doi ng t he same t hi ng over and

over agai n. Why, you don' t f i nd i t so your sel f . You har dl y ever

shoot . "

" I ndeed, I do t hough, const ant l y. "

" Why, I have scar cel y ever seen you shoot i ng. "

" That i s because you ar e away wi t h t he boys al l day. "

" Oh, I am never t oo f ar t o know what i s goi ng on. I ' m sur e you

have never pr act i sed f or mor e t han a quar t er of an hour any day I

have been her e. "

" Wel l , per haps I may not have. But I t el l you I am ver y f ond of

i t . "

Her e t he t wo boys came up f r om t he br ook, Neddy wi t h hi s Scot ch

cap f ul l of cr ayf i sh.

" Why, you wr et ched boys, wher e have you been? You ar e not f i t t o

be seen, " sai d Mar y, shaki ng t he ar r ows at t hem whi ch she was

car r yi ng i n her hand. " Go and dr ess di r ect l y, or you wi l l be

l at e. I t hi nk I hear d a car r i age dr i vi ng up j ust now. "

" Oh, t her e' s pl ent y of t i me. Look what whacker s, Cousi n Tom, "

sai d Char l ey, hol di ng out one of hi s pr i zes by i t s back t owar ds

Tom, whi l e t he i ndi gnant cr ayf i sh f l apped i t s t ai l and wor ked

ar ound wi t h i t s cl aws, i n hopes of get t i ng hol d of somet hi ng t o

pi nch.

" I don' t bel i eve t hose boys have been dr y f or t wo hour s t oget her

i n dayl i ght si nce you f i r st came her e, " sai d Mar y, t o Tom.

" Wel l , and t hey' r e al l t he bet t er f or i t , I ' m sur e, " sai d Tom.

Page 270 of 443

" Yes, t hat we ar e, " sai d Char l ey.

" I say Char l ey, " sai d Tom, " your si st er says she i s ver y f ond of

shoot i ng. "

" Ay, and so she i s. And i sn' t she a good shot t oo? I bel i eve she

woul d beat you at f i f t y yar ds. "

" Ther e now, you see, you need not have been so unbel i evi ng, " sai d

Mar y.

" Wi l l you gi ve her a shot at your new hat , Cousi n Tom?" sai d

Neddy.

" Yes, Neddy, t hat I wi l l ; " and he added t o Mar y, " I wi l l bet you

a pai r of gl oves t hat you don' t hi t i t i n t hr ee shot s. "

" Ver y wel l , " sai d Mar y; " at t hi r t y yar ds. "

" No, no! f i f t y yar ds was t he named di st ance. "

" No, f i f t y yar ds i s t oo f ar . Why, you hat i s not much bi gger t han

t he gol d. "

" Wel l , I don' t mi nd spl i t t i ng t he di f f er ence; we wi l l say f or t y. "

" Ver y wel l - - t hr ee shot s at f or t y yar ds. "

" Yes; her e, Char l ey, r un and hang my hat on t hat t ar get . "

The boys r ushed of f wi t h t he hat - - a new whi t e one- - and hung i t

wi t h a bi t of st r i ng over t he cent er of one of t he t ar get s, and

t hen, st eppi ng a l i t t l e asi de, st ood, cl appi ng t hei r hands,

shout i ng t o Mar y t o t ake good ai m.

" You must st r i ng my bow, " she sai d, handi ng i t t o hi m as she

buckl ed on her guar d. " Now, do you r epent ? I am goi ng t o do my

best , mi nd, i f I do shoot . "

" I scor n r epent ance; do your wor st , " sai d Tom, st r i ngi ng t he bow

and handi ng i t back t o her . " And now I wi l l hol d your ar r ows;

her e i s t he f or t y yar ds. "

Mar y came t o t he pl ace whi ch he had st epped, her eyes f ul l of f un

and mi schi ef ; and he saw at once t hat she knew what she was

about , as she t ook her posi t i on and dr ew t he f i r st ar r ow. I t

mi ssed t he hat by some t hr ee i nches onl y; and t he boys cl apped

and shout ed.

" Too near t o be pl easant , " sai d Tom, handi ng t he second ar r ow. " I

see you can shoot . "

" Wel l , I wi l l l et you of f st i l l . "

" Gl oves and al l ?"

" No, of cour se you must pay t he gl oves. "

" Shoot away, t hen. Ah, t hat wi l l do, " he cr i ed, as t he second

ar r ow st r uck consi der abl y above t he hat , " I shal l get my gl oves

yet , " and he handed t he t hi r d ar r ow. They wer e t oo i nt ent on t he

busi ness i n hand t o obser ve t hat Mr . and Mr s. Por t er and sever al

guest s wer e al r eady on t he hand- br i dge whi ch cr ossed t he haw- haw.

Page 271 of 443

Mar y dr ew her t hi r d ar r ow, paused a moment , l oosed i t , and t hi s

t i me wi t h f at al ai m.

The boys r ushed t o t he t ar get , t owar ds whi ch Mar y and Tom al so

hur r i ed, Mr . and Mr s. Por t er and t he new comer s f ol l owi ng mor e

qui et l y.

" Oh, l ook her e- - what f un, " sai d Char l ey, as Tom came up, hol di ng

up t he hat , spi ked on t he ar r ow, whi ch he had dr awn out of t he

t ar get .

" What a wi cked shot , " he sai d, t aki ng t he hat and t ur ni ng t o

Mar y. " Look her e, you have act ual l y gone t hr ough t hr ee

pl aces- - t hr ough cr own, and si de, and br i m. "

Mar y began t o f eel qui t e sor r y at her own success, and l ooked at

t he wounded hat sor r owf ul l y.

" Hul l o, l ook her e- - her e' s papa and mamma and some peopl e, and we

ai n' t dr essed. Come al ong, Neddy, " and t he boys made of f t owar ds

t he back pr emi ses, whi l e Mar y and Tom, t ur ni ng r ound, f ound

t hemsel ves i n t he pr esence of Mr . and Mr s. Por t er , Mr s. Br own,

and t wo or t hr ee ot her guest s.

CHAPTER XXXI

BEHI ND THE SCENES

Mr . and Mr s. Br own had a l ong way t o dr i ve home t hat eveni ng,

i ncl udi ng some ei ght mi l es of ver y i ndi f f er ent chal ky r oad over

t he downs, whi ch separ at e t he Val e of Kennet f r om t he Val e of

Whi t e Hor se. Mr . Br own was an ear l y man, and car ef ul of hi s

hor ses, who r esponded t o hi s car e by bei ng al ways wel l up t o much

mor e wor k t han t hey wer e ever put t o. The dr i ve t o Bar t on Manor

and back i n a day was a r ar e event i n t hei r l i ves. Thei r mast er ,

t aki ng t hi s f act i nt o consi der at i on, was bent on gi vi ng t hem

pl ent y of t i me f or t he r et ur n j our ney, and had or der ed hi s gr oom

t o be r eady t o st ar t by ei ght o' cl ock. But , t hat t hey mi ght not

di st ur b t he r est , by t hei r ear l y depar t ur e, he had sent t he

car r i age t o t he vi l l age i nn, i nst ead of t o t he Por t er ' s st abl es.

At t he appoi nt ed t i me, t her ef or e, and when t he eveni ng' s

amusement s wer e j ust begi nni ng at t he manor house, Mr . Br own

sought out hi s wi f e; and, af t er a f ew wor ds of l eave- t aki ng t o

t hei r host and host ess, t he t wo sl i pped qui et l y away; and wal ked

down t he vi l l age. The car r i age was st andi ng bef or e t he i nn al l

r eady f or t hem, wi t h t he host l er and Mr . Br own' s gr oom at t he

hor ses' heads. The car r i age was a hi gh phaet on havi ng a r oomy

f r ont seat wi t h a hood t o i t , speci al l y devi sed by Mr . Br own wi t h

a vi ew t o hi s wi f e' s comf or t , and t hat he mi ght wi t h a good

consci ence enj oy at t he same t i me t he pl easur es of her soci et y

and of dr i vi ng hi s own hor ses. When once i n her pl ace, Mr s. Br own

was as comf or t abl e as she woul d have been i n t he most l uxur i ous

bar ouche wi t h C spr i ngs, but t he ascent was cer t ai nl y r at her a

dr awback. The pl easur e of si t t i ng by her husband and of r ecei vi ng

hi s assi duous hel p i n t he pr el i mi nar y cl i mb, however , mor e t han

compensat ed t o Mr s. Br own f or t hi s l i t t l e i nconveni ence.

Mr . Br own hel ped her up as usual , and ar r anged a pl ai d car ef ul l y

over her knees, t he weat her bei ng t oo hot f or t he apr on. He t hen

pr oceeded t o wal k r ound t he hor ses, pat t i ng t hem, exami ni ng t he

bi t s, and maki ng i nqui r i es as t o how t hey had f ed. Havi ng

Page 272 of 443

sat i sf i ed hi msel f on t hese poi nt s, and f ee' d t he host l er , he t ook

t he r ei ns, seat ed hi msel f by hi s wi f e, and st ar t ed at a st eady

pace t owar ds t he hi l l s at t he back of Bar t on vi l l age.

For a mi nut e or t wo nei t her of t hem spoke, Mr . Br own bei ng

engr ossed wi t h hi s hor ses and she wi t h her t hought s. Pr esent l y,

however , he t ur ned t o her , and, havi ng ascer t ai ned t hat she was

qui t e comf or t abl e, went on- -

" Wel l , my dear , what do you t hi nk of t hem?"

" Oh, I t hi nk t hey ar e agr eeabl e peopl e, " answer ed Mr s. Br own;

" but one can scar cel y j udge f r om seei ng t hem t o- day. I t i s t oo

f ar f or a dr i ve; we shal l not be home t i l l mi dni ght . "

" But I am ver y gl ad we came. Af t er al l , t hey ar e connexi ons

t hr ough poor Rober t , and he seems anxi ous t hat t hey shoul d st ar t

wel l i n t he count y. Why, he has act ual l y wr i t t en t wi ce, you know,

about our comi ng up t o- day. We must t r y t o show t hem some

ci vi l i t y. "

" I t i s i mpossi bl e t o come so f ar of t en, " Mr s. Br own per si st ed.

" I t i s t oo f ar f or or di nar y vi si t i ng. What do you say t o aski ng

t hem t o come and spend a day or t wo wi t h us?"

" Cer t ai nl y, my dear , i f you wi sh i t , " answer ed Mr s. Br own, but

wi t hout much cor di al i t y i n her voi ce.

" Yes, I shoul d l i ke i t ; and i t wi l l pl ease Rober t so much. We

mi ght have hi m and Kat i e over t o meet t hem, don' t you t hi nk?"

" Let me see, " sai d Mr s. Br own, wi t h much mor e al acr i t y, " Mr . and

Mr s. Por t er wi l l have t he best bed- r oom and dr essi ng- r oom; Rober t

must have t he sout h r oom, and Kat i e t he chi nt z. Yes, t hat wi l l

do; I can manage i t ver y wel l . "

" And t hei r daught er ; you have f or got t en her . "

" Wel l , you see, dear , t her e i s no mor e r oom. "

" Why; t her e i s t he dr essi ng- r oom, next t o t he sout h r oom, wi t h a

bed i n i t . I ' m sur e nobody can want a bet t er r oom. "

" You know, John, t hat Rober t cannot sl eep i f t her e i s t he l east

noi se. I coul d never put any- one i nt o hi s dr essi ng- r oom; t her e i s

onl y a si ngl e door bet ween t he r ooms, and even i f t hey made no

noi se, t he f ancy t hat some one was sl eepi ng t her e woul d keep hi m

awake al l ni ght . "

" Pl ague t ake hi s f anci es! Rober t has gi ven way t o t hem t i l l he i s

f i t f or not hi ng. But you can put hi m i n t he chi nt z r oom, and gi ve

t he t wo gi r l s t he sout h bed r oom and dr essi ng- r oom. "

" What , put Rober t i n a r oom whi ch l ooks nor t h? My dear John; what

can you be t hi nki ng about ?"

Mr . Br own ut t er ed an i mpat i ent gr unt , and, as a vent t o hi s

f eel i ngs mor e decor ous on t he whol e t han abusi ng hi s

br ot her - i n- l aw, dr ew hi s whi p mor e smar t l y t han usual acr oss t he

backs of hi s hor ses. The exer t i on of muscl e necessar y t o r educe

t hose ast oni shed ani mal s t o t hei r accust omed st eady t r ot r est or ed

hi s t emper , and he r et ur ned t o t he char ge- -

Page 273 of 443

" I suppose we must manage i t on t he second f l oor , t hen, unl ess

you coul d get a bed r un up i n t he school - r oom. "

" No, dear ; I r eal l y shoul d not l i ke t o do t hat - - i t woul d be so

ver y i nconveni ent . We ar e al ways want i ng t he r oom f or wor kwomen

or ser vant s; besi des, I keep my account books and ot her t hi ngs

t her e. "

" Then I ' m af r ai d i t must be on t he second f l oor . Some of t he

chi l dr en must be moved. The gi r l seems a ni ce gi r l wi t h no

nonsense about her , and won' t mi nd sl eepi ng up t her e. Or , why not

put Kat i e upst ai r s?"

" I ndeed, I shoul d not t hi nk of i t . Kat i e i s a dear good gi r l , and

I wi l l not put anyone over her head. "

" Nor I , dear . On t he cont r ar y, I was aski ng you t o put her over

anot her per son' s head, " sai d Mr . Br own, l aughi ng at hi s own j oke,

Thi s unusual r el uct ance on t he par t of hi s wi f e t o assi st i n

car r yi ng out any hospi t abl e pl ans of hi s began t o st r i ke hi m; so,

not bei ng an adept at conceal i ng hi s t hought s, or gai ni ng hi s

poi nt by any at t ack except a di r ect one, af t er dr i vi ng on f or a

mi nut e i n si l ence, he t ur ned suddenl y on hi s wi f e, and sai d, - -

" Why, Li zzi e, you seem not t o want t o ask t he gi r l ?"

" Wel l , John, I do not see t he need of i t at al l . "

" No, and you don' t want t o ask her ?"

" I f you must know, t hen, I do not . "

" Don' t you l i ke her ?"

" I do not know her wel l enough ei t her t o l i ke or di sl i ke. "

" Then, why not ask her , and see what she i s l i ke? But t he t r ut h

i s, Li zzi e, you have t aken a pr ej udi ce agai nst her ?"

" Wel l , John, I t hi nk she i s a t hought l ess gi r l , and ext r avagant ;

not t he sor t of gi r l , i n f act , t hat I shoul d wi sh t o be much wi t h

us. "

" Thought l ess and ext r avagant ! " sai d Mr . Br own, l ooki ng gr ave;

" how you women can be so shar p on one anot her ! Her dr ess seemed

t o me si mpl e and pr et t y, and her manner s ver y l ady- l i ke and

pl easi ng. "

" You seem t o have qui t e f or got t en about Tom' s hat , " sai d Mr s.

Br own.

" Tom' s whi t e hat - - so I had, " sai d Mr . Br own, and he r el apsed i nt o

a l ow l augh at t he r emembr ance of t he scene. " I cal l t hat _hi s_

ext r avagance, and not her s. "

" I t was a new hat , and a ver y expensi ve one, whi ch he had bought

f or t he vacat i on, and i t i s qui t e spoi l t . "

" Wel l , my dear ; r eal l y, i f Tom wi l l l et gi r l s shoot at hi s hat s,

he must t ake t he consequences. He must wear i t wi t h t he hol es, or

buy anot her . "

" How can he af f or d anot her , John? you know how poor he i s. "

Page 274 of 443

Mr . Br own dr ove on now f or sever al mi nut es wi t hout speaki ng. He

knew per f ect l y wel l what hi s wi f e was comi ng t o now, and, af t er

wei ghi ng i n hi s mi nd t he al t er nat i ves of accept i ng bat t l e or

maki ng sai l and changi ng t he subj ect al t oget her , sai d, - -

" You know, my dear , he has br ought i t on hi msel f . A headl ong,

gener ous sor t of youngst er , l i ke Tom, must be t aught ear l y t hat

he can' t have hi s cake and eat hi s cake. I f he l i kes t o l end hi s

money, he must f i nd out t hat he hasn' t i t t o spend. "

" Yes, dear , I qui t e agr ee wi t h you. But 50L a year i s a gr eat

deal t o make hi m pay. "

" Not a bi t t oo much, Li zzi e. Hi s al l owance i s qui t e enough

wi t hout i t t o keep hi m l i ke a gent l eman. Besi des, af t er al l , he

get s i t i n meal or i n mal t ; I have j ust pai d 25L f or hi s gun. "

" I know how ki nd and l i ber al you ar e t o hi m; onl y I am so af r ai d

of hi s get t i ng i nt o debt . "

" I wonder what men woul d do, i f t hey hadn' t some sof t - hear t ed

woman al ways r eady t o t ake t hei r par t s and pul l t hem out of

scr apes, " sai d Mr . Br own. " Wel l , dear , how much do you want t o

gi ve t he boy! "

" Twent y- f i ve pounds, j ust f or t hi s year . But out of my own

al l owance, John. "

" Nonsense! " r epl i ed Mr . Br own; " you want your al l owance f or

your sel f and t he chi l dr en. "

" I ndeed, dear John, I woul d sooner not do i t at al l , t hen, i f I

may not do i t out of my own money. "

" Wel l , have i t your own way. I bel i eve you woul d al ways l ook

wel l - dr essed, i f you never bought anot her gown. Then, t o go back

t o what we wer e t al ki ng about j ust now- - you wi l l f i nd a r oom f or

t he gi r l somehow?"

" Yes, dear , cer t ai nl y, as I see you ar e bent on i t . "

" I t hi nk i t woul d be scar cel y ci vi l not t o ask her , especi al l y i f

Kat i e comes. And I own I t hi nk her ver y pr et t y, and have t aken a

gr eat f ancy t o her . "

" I sn' t i t odd t hat Tom shoul d never have sai d anyt hi ng about her

t o us? He has t al ked of al l t he r est t i l l I knew t hem qui t e wel l

bef or e I went t her e. "

" No; i t seems t o me t he most nat ur al t hi ng i n t he wor l d. "

" Yes, dear , ver y nat ur al . But I can' t hel p wi shi ng he had t al ked

about her mor e; I shoul d t hi nk i t l ess danger ous. "

" Oh, you t hi nk Mast er Tom i s i n l ove wi t h her , eh?" sai d Mr .

Br own, l aughi ng.

" Mor e unl i kel y t hi ngs have happened. You t ake i t ver y easi l y,

John. "

" Wel l , we have al l been boys and gi r l s, Li zzi e. The wor l d hasn' t

al t er ed much, I suppose, si nce I used t o get up at f i ve on wi nt er

mor ni ngs, t o r i de some t went y mi l es t o cover , on t he chance of

Page 275 of 443

meet i ng a young l ady on a gr ey pony. I r emember how my poor dear

ol d f at her used t o wonder at i t , when our hounds met cl ose by i n

a bet t er count r y. I ' m af r ai d I f or got t o t el l hi m what a pr et t y

cr eat ur e ' Gi psy' was, and how wel l she was r i dden. "

" But Tom i s onl y t went y, and he must go i nt o a pr of essi on. "

" Yes, yes; much t o young, I know- - t oo young f or anyt hi ng ser i ous.

We had bet t er see t hem t oget her and t hen i f t her e i s anyt hi ng i n

i t , we can keep t hem apar t . Ther e cannot be much t he mat t er yet . "

" Wel l , dear , i f you ar e sat i sf i ed, I am sur e I am. "

And so t he conver sat i on t ur ned on ot her subj ect s, and Mr . and

Mr s. Br own enj oyed t hei r moonl i ght dr i ve home t hr ough t he

del i ci ous summer ni ght , and wer e qui t e sor r y when t he gr oom got

down f r om t he hi nd- seat t o open t hei r own gat es, at hal f - past

t wel ve.

About t he same t i me t he f est i vi t i es at Bar t on Manor wer e comi ng

t o a cl ose. Ther e had been col d di nner i n t he t ent at si x, af t er

t he gr eat mat ch of t he day; and, af t er di nner , t he announcement

of t he scor es, and t he di st r i but i on of pr i zes t o t he wi nner s. A

cer t ai n amount of t oast s and speechi f yi ng f ol l owed, whi ch t he

l adi es sat t hr ough wi t h t he most exempl ar y appear ance of bei ng

amused. When t hei r heal t hs had been pr oposed and acknowl edged

t hey r et i r ed, and wer e soon f ol l owed by t he younger por t i on of

t he mal e sex; and, whi l e t he J. P. ' s and cl er gymen sat qui et l y at

t hei r wi ne, whi ch Mr . Por t er t ook car e shoul d be r emar kabl y good,

and t hei r wi ves went t o l ook over t he house and have t ea, t hei r

sons and daught er s spl i t up i nt o gr oups, and some shot handi caps,

and some wal ked about and f l i r t ed, and some pl ayed at bowl s and

l awn bi l l i ar ds. And soon t he band appear ed agai n f r om t he

ser vant s' hal l , mi ght i l y r ef r eshed; and danci ng began on t he

gr ass, and i n due t i me was t r ansf er r ed t o t he t ent , when t he

gr ass got damp wi t h t he ni ght dew; and t hen t o t he hal l of t he

house, when t he l i ght i ng of t he t ent began t o f ai l . And t hen

t her e came a supper , ext empor i zed out of t he r emai ns of t he

di nner ; af t er whi ch, papas and mammas began t o l ook at t hei r

wat ches, and r emonst r at e wi t h daught er s, comi ng up wi t h spar kl i ng

eyes and hai r a l i t t l e shaken out of pl ace, and pl eadi ng f or

" j ust one mor e dance. " " You have been goi ng on ever si nce one

o' cl ock, " r emonst r at e t he par ent s; " And ar e r eady t o go on t i l l

one t o- mor r ow, " r epl i ed t he chi l dr en. By degr ees, however , t he

f r equent sound of wheel s was hear d, and t he dancer s got t hi nner

and t hi nner , t i l l , f or t he l ast hal f hour , some hal f - dozen

coupl es of young peopl e danced at i nt er mi nabl e r eel , whi l e Mr .

and Mr s. Por t er , and a f ew of t he most good- nat ur ed mat r ons of

t he nei ghbor hood l ooked on. Soon af t er mi dni ght t he band st r uck;

no amount of negus coul d get anyt hi ng mor e out of t hem but " God

save t he Queen, " whi ch t hey accor di ngl y pl ayed and depar t ed; and

t hen came t he f i nal cl oaki ng and dr i vi ng of f of t he l ast guest s.

Tom and Mar y saw t he l ast of t hem i nt o t hei r car r i age at t he

hal l - door , and l i nger ed a moment i n t he por ch.

" What a l ovel y ni ght ! " sai d Mar y. " How I hat e goi ng t o bed! "

" I t i s a dr eadf ul bor e, " answer ed Tom; " but her e i s t he but l er

wai t i ng t o shut up; we must go i n. "

" I wonder wher e papa and mama ar e. "

" Oh, t hey ar e onl y seei ng t hi ngs put a l i t t l e t o r i ght s. Let us

si t her e t i l l t hey come; t hey must pass by t o get t o t hei r

Page 276 of 443

r ooms. "

So t he t wo sat down on some hal l chai r s.

" Oh dear ! I wi sh i t wer e al l comi ng over agai n t o- mor r ow, " sai d

Tom, l eani ng back, and l ooki ng up at t he cei l i ng. " By t he way,

r emember I owe you a pai r of gl oves; what col or shal l t hey be?"

" Any col or you l i ke. I can' t bear t o t hi nk of i t . I f el t so

dr eadf ul l y ashamed when t hey al l came up, and your mot her l ooked

so gr ave; I am sur e she was ver y angr y. "

" Poor mot her ! she was t hi nki ng of my hat wi t h t hr ee ar r ow- hol es

i n i t . "

" Wel l , I am ver y sor r y, because I want ed t hem t o l i ke me. "

" And so t hey wi l l ; I shoul d l i ke t o know who can hel p i t . "

" Now, I won' t have any of your nonsensi cal compl i ment s. Do you

t hi nk t hey enj oyed t he day?"

" Yes, I am sur e t hey di d. My f at her sai d he had never l i ked an

ar cher y meet i ng so much. "

" But t hey went away so ear l y. "

" They had a ver y l ong dr i ve, you know. Let me see, " he sai d,

f eel i ng i n hi s br east - pocket , " mot her l ef t me a not e, and I have

never l ooked at i t t i l l now. " He t ook a sl i p of paper out and

r ead i t , and hi s f ace f el l .

" What i s i t ?" sai d Mar y l eani ng f or war d.

" Oh, not hi ng; onl y I must go t o- mor r ow mor ni ng. "

" Ther e, I was sur e she was angr y. "

" No, no; i t was wr i t t en t hi s mor ni ng bef or e she came her e. I can

t el l by t he paper . "

" But she wi l l not l et you st ay her e a day, you see. "

" I have been her e a good deal , consi der i ng al l t hi ngs. I shoul d

l i ke never t o go away. "

" Per haps papa mi ght f i nd a pl ace f or you, i f you asked hi m. Whi ch

shoul d you l i ke, - - t o be t ut or t o t he boys or gamekeeper ?"

" On t he whol e, I shoul d pr ef er t he t ut or shi p at pr esent ; you t ake

so much i nt er est i n t he boys. "

" Yes, because t hey have no one t o l ook af t er t hem now i n t he

hol i days. But , when you come as t ut or , I shal l wash my hands of

t hem. "

" Then I shal l decl i ne t he si t uat i on. "

" How ar e you goi ng home t o- mor r ow?"

" I shal l r i de r ound by Engl ebour n. They wi sh me t o go r ound and

see Kat i e and Uncl e Rober t . You t al ked about r i di ng over t her e

your sel f t hi s mor ni ng. "

Page 277 of 443

" I shoul d l i ke i t so much. But how can we manage i t ? I can' t r i de

back agai n by mysel f . "

" Coul dn' t you st ay and sl eep t her e?"

" I wi l l ask mamma. No, I ' m af r ai d i t can har dl y be managed; " and

so sayi ng, Mar y l eant back i n her chai r and began t o pul l t o

pi eces some f l ower s she hel d i n her hand.

" Don' t pul l t hem t o pi eces; gi ve t hem t o me, " sai d Tom. " I have

kept t he r osebud you gave me at Oxf or d f ol ded up i n" - -

" Whi ch you t ook, you mean t o say. No, I won' t gi ve you any of

t hem- - or , l et me see- - yes, her e i s a spr i g of l avender ; you may

have t hat . "

" Thank you. But , why l avender ?"

" Lavender st ands f or si ncer i t y. I t wi l l r emi nd you of t he l ect ur e

you gave me. "

" I wi sh you woul d f or get t hat . But you know what f l ower s mean,

t hen? Do gi ve me a l ect ur e; you owe me one. What do t hose f l ower s

mean whi ch you wi l l not gi ve me, - - t he pi ece of heat her f or

i nst ance?"

" Heat her si gni f i es const ancy. "

" And t he car nat i ons?"

" Jeal ousy. "

" And t he hel i ot r ope?"

" Oh, never mi nd t he hel i ot r ope. "

" But i t i s such a f avor i t e of mi ne. Do t el l me what i t means?"

" _Je vous ai me_, " sai d Mar y wi t h a l augh, and a sl i ght bl ush; " i t

i s al l nonsense. Oh, her e' s mamma at l ast , " and she j umped up and

went t o meet her mot her , who came out of t he dr awi ng- r oom, candl e

i n hand.

" My dear Mar y, I t hought you wer e gone t o bed, " sai d Mr s. Por t er ,

l ooki ng f r om one t o t he ot her ser i ousl y.

" Oh, I ' m not t he l east t i r ed, and I coul dn' t go wi t hout wi shi ng

you and papa good ni ght , and t hanki ng you f or al l t he t r oubl e you

have t aken. "

" I ndeed we ought al l t o t hank you, " sai d Tom; " ever ybody sai d i t

was t he pl easant est par t y t hey had ever been at . "

" I am ver y gl ad i t went of f so wel l , " sai d Mr s. Por t er , gr avel y;

" and now, Mar y, you must go t o bed. "

" I am af r ai d I must l eave you t o- mor r ow mor ni ng, " sai d Tom.

" Yes; Mr s. Br own sai d t hey expect you at home t omor r ow. "

" I am t o r i de r ound by Uncl e Rober t ' s; woul d you l i ke one of t he

boys t o go wi t h me?"

" Oh, dear mamma, coul d not Char l ey and I r i de over t o Engl ebour n?

Page 278 of 443

I do so l ong t o see Kat i e. "

" No, dear ; i t i s much t oo f ar f or you. We wi l l dr i ve over i n a

f ew days' t i me. "

And so sayi ng, Mr s. Por t er wi shed Tom good ni ght , and l ed of f her

daught er .

Tom went sl owl y up st ai r s t o hi s r oom, and, af t er packi ng hi s

por t mant eau f or t he car r i er t o t ake i n t he mor ni ng, t hr ew up hi s

wi ndow and l eant out i nt o t he ni ght , and wat ched t he l i ght cl ouds

swi mmi ng over t he moon, and t he si l ver mi st f ol di ng t he

wat er - meadows and wi l l ows i n i t s sof t cool mant l e. Hi s t hought s

wer e such as wi l l occur t o any r eader who has passed t he wi t chi ng

age of t went y; and t he scent of t he hel i ot r ope- bed i n t he

f l ower - gar den bel ow, seemed t o r i se ver y st r ongl y on t he ni ght

ai r .

CHAPTER XXXI I

A CRI SI S

I n t he f or enoon of t he f ol l owi ng day, Tom r ode sl owl y al ong t he

st r eet of Engl ebour n t owar ds t he Rect or y gat e. He had l ef t Bar t on

soon af t er br eakf ast , wi t hout havi ng been abl e t o exchange a wor d

wi t h Mar y except i n t he pr esence of her mot her , and yet he had

f el t mor e anxi ous t han ever bef or e at l east t o say good bye t o

her wi t hout wi t nesses. Wi t h t hi s vi ew he had been up ear l y, and

had whi st l ed a t une i n t he hal l , and hel d a l oud conver sat i on

wi t h t he boys, who appear ed hal f dr essed i n t he gal l er y above,

whi l e he br ushed t he di l api dat ed whi t e hat t o l et al l whom i t

mi ght concer n know t hat he was on t he move. Then he had wal ked up

and down t he gar den i n f ul l vi ew of t he wi ndows t i l l t he bel l

r ang f or pr ayer s. He was i n t he br eakf ast r oom bef or e t he bel l

had done r i ngi ng, and Mr s. Por t er , f ol l owed by her daught er ,

ent er ed at t he same moment . He coul d not hel p f ancyi ng t hat t he

conver sat i on at br eakf ast was a l i t t l e const r ai ned, and

par t i cul ar l y r emar ked t hat not hi ng was sai d by t he heads of t he

f ami l y when t he boys voci f er ousl y bewai l ed hi s appr oachi ng

depar t ur e, and t r i ed t o get hi m t o name some day f or hi s r et ur n

bef or e t hei r hol i days ended. I nst ead of encour agi ng t he i dea,

Mr s. Por t er r emi nded Neddy and Char l ey t hat t hey had onl y t en

days mor e, and had not yet l ooked at t he wor k t hey had t o do f or

t hei r t ut or i n t he hol i days. I mmedi at el y af t er br eakf ast Mr s.

Por t er had wi shed hi m good bye her sel f ver y ki ndl y, but ( he coul d

not hel p t hi nki ng) , wi t hout t hat ai r of near r el at i onshi p whi ch

he had f l at t er ed hi msel f was wel l est abl i shed bet ween hi msel f and

al l t he member s of t he Por t er f ami l y; and t hen she had added,

" Now Mar y, you must say good bye; I want you t o come and hel p me

t hi s mor ni ng. " He had scar cel y l ooked at her al l mor ni ng, and now

one shake of t he hand and she was spi r i t ed away i n a moment , and

he was l ef t st andi ng, di ssat i sf i ed and uncomf or t abl e, wi t h a

sense of i ncompl et eness i n hi s mi nd, and as i f he had had a

t hr ead i n hi s l i f e suddenl y br oken of f , whi ch he coul d not t el l

how t o get j oi ned agai n.

However , t her e was not hi ng f or i t but t o get of f . He had no

excuse f or del ay, and had a l ong r i de bef or e hi m; so he and t he

boys went r ound t o t he st abl e. On t hei r passage t hr ough t he

gar den, t he i dea of pi cki ng a nosegay and sendi ng i t t o her by

one of t he boys came i nt o hi s head. He gat her ed t he f l ower s, but

t hen t hought bet t er of i t and t hr ew t hem away. What r i ght , af t er

Page 279 of 443

al l , had he t o be sendi ng f l ower s t o her - - above al l , f l ower s t o

whi ch t hey had at t ached a meani ng, j oki ngl y i t was t r ue; but

st i l l a meani ng? No, he had no r i ght t o do i t ; i t woul d not be

f ai r t o her , or her f at her or mot her , af t er t he ki nd way i n whi ch

t hey had al l r ecei ved hi m. So he t hr ew away t he f l ower s, and

mount ed and r ode of f , wat ched by t he boys, who waved t hei r st r aw

hat s as he l ooked back j ust bef or e comi ng t o a t ur n i n t he r oad

whi ch woul d t ake hi m out of si ght of t he Manor House. He r ode

al ong at a f oot ' s pace f or some t i me, t hi nki ng over t he event s of

t he past week; and t hen, begi nni ng t o f eel pur posel ess, and

somewhat mel anchol y, ur ged hi s hor se i nt o a smar t t r ot al ong t he

wast e l and whi ch ski r t ed t he r oad. But , go what pace he woul d, i t

mat t er ed not ; he coul d not l eave hi s t hought s behi nd; so he

pul l ed up agai n af t er a mi l e or so, sl ackened hi s r ei ns, and,

l eavi ng hi s hor se t o pi ck hi s own way al ong t he r oad, bet ook

hi msel f t o t he ser i ous consi der at i on of hi s posi t i on.

The mor e he t hought of i t , t he mor e di scont ent ed he became, and

t he day cl ouded over as i f t o sui t hi s t emper . He f el t as i f

wi t hi n t he l ast t went y- f our hour s he had been somehow

unwar r ant abl y i nt er f er ed wi t h. Hi s mot her and Mr s. Por t er had

bot h been pl anni ng somet hi ng about hi m, he f el t sur e. I f t hey had

anyt hi ng t o say, why coul dn' t t hey say i t out t o hi m? But what

coul d t her e be t o say? Coul dn' t he and Mar y be t r ust ed t oget her

wi t hout maki ng f ool s of t hemsel ves? He di d not st op t o anal yze

hi s f eel i ngs t owar ds her , or t o consi der whet her i t was ver y

pr udent or desi r abl e f or her t hat t hey shoul d be t hr own so

const ant l y and unr eser vedl y t oget her . He was t oo much t aken up

wi t h what he chose t o consi der hi s own wr ongs f or any such

consi der at i on. - - " Why can' t t hey l et me al one?" was t he quest i on

whi ch he asked hi msel f per pet ual l y, and i t seemed t o hi m t he most

r easonabl e one i n t he wor l d, and t hat no sat i sf act or y answer was

possi bl e t o i t , except t hat he ought t o be, and shoul d be l et

al one. And so at l ast he r ode al ong Engl ebour n st r eet , convi nced

t hat what he had t o do bef or e al l ot her t hi ngs j ust now was t o

asser t hi msel f pr oper l y, and show ever yone, even hi s own mot her ,

t hat he was no l onger a boy t o be managed accor di ng t o anyone' s

f anci es except hi s own.

He r ode st r ai ght t o t he st abl es and l oosed t he gi r t hs of hi s

hor se, and gave par t i cul ar di r ect i ons about gr oomi ng and f eedi ng

hi m, and st ayed i n t he st al l f or a f ew mi nut es r ubbi ng hi s ear s

and f ondl i ng hi m. The ant agoni sm whi ch possessed hi m f or t he

moment agai nst manki nd per haps made hi m appr eci at e t he val ue of

hi s r el at i ons wi t h a wel l - t r ai ned beast . He had not been i n

Engl ebour n f or some year s, and t he ser vant di d not know hi m, and

answer ed t hat Mr . Wi nt er was not out of hi s r oom and never saw

st r anger s t i l l t he af t er noon. Wher e was Mi ss Wi nt er , t hen? She

was down t he vi l l age at Wi dow Wi nbur n' s, and he coul dn' t t el l

when she woul d be back, t he man sai d. The cont ent s of Kat i e' s

not e of t he day bef or e had gone out of hi s head, but t he ment i on

of Bet t y' s name r ecal l ed t hem, and wi t h t hem somet hi ng of t he

ki ndl y f eel i ng whi ch had st i r r ed wi t hi n hi m on hear i ng of her

i l l ness. So, sayi ng he woul d cal l l at er t o see hi s uncl e, he

st ar t ed agai n t o f i nd t he wi dow' s cot t age, and hi s cousi n.

The ser vant had di r ect ed hi m t o t he l ast house i n t he vi l l age,

but , when he got out si de of t he gat e, t her e wer e houses i n t wo

di r ect i ons. He l ooked about f or some one and f r om whom t o i nqui r e

f ur t her , and hi s eye f el l upon our ol d acquai nt ance, t he

const abl e, comi ng out of hi s door wi t h a par cel under hi s ar m.

The l i t t l e man was i n a br own st udy, and di d not not i ce Tom' s

f i r st addr ess. He was i n f act anxi ousl y t hi nki ng over hi s ol d

Page 280 of 443

f r i end' s i l l ness and her son' s t r oubl e; and was on hi s way t o

Far mer Gr ove' s, ( havi ng l ucki l y t he excuse of t aki ng a coat t o be

t r i ed on) i n t he hopes of get t i ng hi m t o i nt er f er e and pat ch up

t he quar r el bet ween young Test er and Har r y.

Tom' s f i r st sal ut e had been f r i endl y enough; no one knew bet t er

how t o speak t o t he poor , amongst whom he had l i ved al l hi s l i f e,

t han he. But , not get t i ng any answer , and bei ng i n a t ouchy st at e

of mi nd, he was put out , and shout ed- -

" Hel l o, my man, can' t you hear me?"

" Ees, I beant dunch, " r epl i ed t he const abl e, t ur ni ng and l ooki ng

at hi s quest i oner .

" I t hought you wer e, f or I spoke l oud enough bef or e. Whi ch i s

Mr s. Wi nbur n' s cot t age?"

" The f ur dest house down t her , " he sai d, poi nt i ng, " ' t i s i n my way

i f you' ve a mi nd t o come. " Tom accept ed t he of f er and wal ked

al ong by t he const abl e.

" Mr s. Wi nbur n i s i l l , i sn' t she, " he asked, af t er l ooki ng hi s

gui de over .

" Ees, her be- - t er r i bl e bad, " sai d t he const abl e.

" What i s t he mat t er wi t h her , do you know?"

" Zummat o' f i t s, I hear s. Her ' ve had ' em t hi s si x year , on and

of f . "

" I suppose i t ' s danger ous. I mean she i sn' t l i kel y t o get wel l ?"

" ' Ti s i n t he Lor d' s hands, " r epl i ed t he const abl e, " but her ' s

t hat bad wi ' pai n, at t i mes, ' t woul d be a mussy i f ' t woul d pl aase

He t o t ak' her out on' t . "

" Per haps she mi ght n' t t hi nk so, " sai d Tom, super ci l i ousl y; he was

not i n t he mi nd t o agr ee wi t h anyone. The const abl e l ooked at hi m

sol emnl y f or a moment , and t hen sai d- -

" Her ' s been a God- f ear i n' woman f r om her yout h up, and her ' s had

a deal o' t r oubl e. Thaay as t he Lor d l ovet h He chast enet h, and

' t i sn' t such as t haay as i s af ear ed t o go af or e Hi m. "

" Wel l , I never f ound t hat havi ng t r oubl es made peopl e a bi t mor e

anxi ous t o get ' out on' t , ' as you cal l i t , " sai d Tom. " I t don' t

seem t o me as you can ' a had much o' t r oubl e t o j udge by, " sai d

t he const abl e, who was begi nni ng t o be net t l ed by Tom' s manner .

" How can you t el l t hat ?"

" Least ways ' t woul d be whoam- made, t hen, " per si st ed t he const abl e;

" and t her ' s a si ght o' odds at ween whoam made t r oubl es and t haay

as t he Lor d sends. "

" So t her e may; but I may have seen bot h sor t s f or anyt hi ng you

can t el l . "

" Nay, nay; t he Lor d' s t r oubl es l eaves Hi s mar ks. "

" And you don' t see any of _t hem_ i n my f ace, eh?"

Page 281 of 443

The const abl e j er ked hi s head af t er hi s own pecul i ar f ashi on, but

decl i ned t o r epl y di r ect l y t o t hi s i nt er r ogat or y. He par r i ed i t

by one of hi s own.

" I n t he doct or i n' l i ne, make so boul d?"

" No, " sai d Tom. " You don' t seem t o have such ver y good eyes,

af t er al l . "

" Oh, I seed you wasn' t ol d enough t o be doi n' f or your sel f , l i ke;

but I t hought you med ha' been a ' si st ant , or summat . "

" Wel l , t hen, you' r e j ust mi st aken, " sai d Tom, consi der abl y

di sgust ed at bei ng t aken f or a count r y doct or ' s assi st ant .

" I ax your pi l l - don, " sai d t he const abl e. " But i f you beant i n

t he doct or i n' l i ne, what be gwi ne t o Wi dow Wi nbur n' s f or , make so

boul d?"

" That ' s my l ook out , I suppose, " sai d Tom, al most angr i l y.

" That ' s t he house, i sn' t i t ?" and he poi nt ed t o t he cot t age

al r eady descr i bed, at t he cor ner of Engl ebour n Copse.

" Ees. "

" Good day, t hen. "

" Good day, " mut t er ed t he const abl e, not at al l sat i sf i ed wi t h

t hi s abr upt cl ose of t he conver sat i on, but t oo unr eady t o pr ol ong

i t . He went on hi s own way sl owl y, l ooki ng back of t en, t i l l he

saw t he door open, af t er whi ch he seemed bet t er sat i sf i ed, and

ambl ed out of si ght .

" The ol d snuf f l er ! " t hought Tom, as be st r ode up t o t he cot t age

door , - - " a r ant er , I ' l l be bound, wi t h hi s Lor d' s t r oubl es, ' and

' Lor d' s hands, ' and ' Lor d' s mar ks. ' I hope Uncl e Rober t hasn' t

many such i n t he par i sh. "

He knocked at t he cot t age door , and i n a f ew seconds i t opened

gent l y, and Kat i e sl i pped out wi t h her f i nger on her l i ps. She

made a sl i ght gest ur e of sur pr i se at seei ng hi m, and hel d out her

hand.

" Hush! " she sai d, " she i s asl eep. You ar e not i n a hur r y?"

" No, not par t i cul ar l y, " he answer ed, abr upt l y; f or t her e was

somet hi ng i n her voi ce and manner whi ch j ar r ed wi t h hi s humor .

" Hush! " she sai d agai n, " you must not speak so l oud. We can si t

down her e, and t al k qui et l y. I shal l hear i f she moves. "

So he sat down opposi t e t o her i n t he l i t t l e por ch of t he

cot t age. She l ef t t he door aj ar , so t hat she mi ght cat ch t he

l east movement of her pat i ent , and t hen t ur ned t o hi m wi t h a

br i ght smi l e, and sai d, - -

" Wel l , I am so gl ad t o see you! What good wi nd bl ows you her e?"

" No par t i cul ar l y good wi nd, t hat I know of . Mar y showed me your

l et t er yest er day, and mot her wi shed me t o come r ound her e on my

way home; and so her e I am. "

" And how di d t he par t y go of f ? I l ong t o hear about i t . "

Page 282 of 443

" Ver y wel l ; hal f t he count y wer e t her e, and i t was al l ver y wel l

done. "

" And how di d dear Mar y l ook?"

" Oh, j ust as usual . But now, Kat i e, why di dn' t you come? Mar y and

al l of us wer e so di sappoi nt ed. "

" I t hought you r ead my l et t er ?"

" Yes, so I di d. "

" Then you know t he r eason. "

" I don' t cal l i t a r eason. Real l y, you have no r i ght t o shut

your sel f up f r om ever yt hi ng. You wi l l be get t i ng moped t o deat h. "

" But do I l ook moped?" she sai d; and he l ooked at her , and

coul dn' t hel p admi t t i ng t o hi msel f , r el uct ant l y, t hat she di d

not . So he r e- opened f i r e f r om anot her poi nt .

" You wi l l wear your sel f out , nur si ng ever y ol d woman i n t he

par i sh. "

" But I don' t nur se ever y ol d woman. "

" Why, t her e i s no one her e but you t o- day, now, " he sai d, wi t h a

mot i on of hi s head t owar ds t he cot t age.

" No, because I have l et t he r egul ar nur se go home f or a f ew

hour s. Besi des, t hi s i s a speci al case. You don' t know what a

dear ol d soul Bet t y i s. "

" Yes, I do; I r emember her ever si nce I was a chi l d. "

" Ah, I f or got ; I have of t en hear t her t al k of you. "

" Then you ought not t o be sur pr i sed at anyt hi ng I may do f or

her . "

" She i s a good, ki nd ol d woman, I know. But st i l l I must say,

Kat i e, you ought t o t hi nk of your f r i ends and r el at i ons a l i t t l e,

and what you owe t o soci et y. "

" I ndeed, I do t hi nk of my f r i ends and r el at i ons ver y much, and I

shoul d have l i ked, of al l t hi ngs, t o have been wi t h you

yest er day. You ought t o be pi t yi ng me, i nst ead of scol di ng me. "

" My dear Kat i e, you know I di dn' t mean t o scol d you; and nobody

admi r es t he way you gi ve your sel f up t o vi si t i ng, and al l t hat

sor t of t hi ng, mor e t han I ; onl y you ought t o have a l i t t l e

pl easur e somet i mes. Peopl e have a r i ght t o t hi nk of t hemsel ves

and t hei r own happi ness a l i t t l e. "

" Per haps I don' t f i nd vi si t i ng and al l t hat sor t of t hi ng so ver y

mi ser abl e. But now, Tom, you saw i n my l et t er t hat poor Bet t y' s

son has got i nt o t r oubl e?"

" Yes; and t hat i s what br ought on her at t ack, you sai d. "

" I bel i eve so. She was i n a sad st at e about hi m al l

yest er day, - - so pai nf ul l y eager and anxi ous. She i s bet t er t oday,

but st i l l I t hi nk i t woul d do her good i f you woul d see her , and

say you wi l l be a f r i end t o her son. Woul d you mi nd?"

Page 283 of 443

" I t was j ust what I wi shed t o do yest er day. I wi l l do al l I can

f or hi m, I ' m sur e. I al ways l i ked hi m as a boy; you can t el l her

t hat . But I don' t f eel , somehow- - t oday, at l east - - as i f I coul d

do any good by seei ng her . "

" Oh, why not ?"

" I don' t t hi nk I ' m i n t he r i ght humor . I s she ver y i l l ?"

" Yes, ver y i l l i ndeed; I don' t t hi nk she can r ecover . "

" Wel l , you see, Kat i e, I ' m not used t o deat h- beds. I shoul dn' t

say t he r i ght sor t of t hi ng. "

" How do you mean- - t he r i ght sor t of t hi ng?"

" Oh, you know. I coul dn' t t al k t o her about her soul . I ' m not f i t

f or i t , and i t i sn' t my pl ace. "

" No, i ndeed, i t i sn' t . But you can r emi nd her of ol d t i mes and

say a ki nd wor d about her son. "

" Ver y wel l , i f you don' t t hi nk I shal l do any har m. "

" I ' m sur e i t wi l l comf or t her . And now t el l me about yest er day. "

They sat t al ki ng f or some t i me i n t he same l ow t one, and Tom

began t o f or get hi s causes of quar r el wi t h t he wor l d, and gave an

account of t he ar cher y par t y f r om hi s own poi nt of vi ew. Kat i e

saw, wi t h a woman' s qui ckness, t hat he avoi ded ment i oni ng Mar y,

and smi l ed t o her sel f and dr ew her own concl usi ons.

At l ast , t her e was a sl i ght movement i n t he cot t age, and l ayi ng

her hand on hi s ar m, she got up qui ckl y, and went i n. I n a f ew

mi nut es she came t o t he door agai n.

" How i s she?" asked Tom.

" Oh, much t he same; but she has waked wi t hout pai n, whi ch i s a

gr eat bl essi ng. Now, ar e you r eady?"

" Yes; you must go wi t h me. "

" Come i n, t hen. " She t ur ned, and he f ol l owed i nt o t he cot t age.

Bet t y' s bed had been moved i nt o t he ki t chen, f or t he sake of

l i ght and ai r . He gl anced at t he cor ner wher e i t st ood wi t h

al most a f eel i ng of awe, as he f ol l owed hi s cousi n on t i p- t oe. I t

was al l he coul d do t o r ecogni ze t he pal e, dr awn f ace whi ch l ay

on t he coar se pi l l ow. The r ush of ol d memor i es whi ch t he si ght

cal l ed up, and t he t hought of t he suf f er i ng of hi s poor ol d

f r i end t ouched hi m deepl y.

Kat i e went t o t he bed- si de, and, st oopi ng down, smoot hed t he

pi l l ow, and pl aced her hand f or a moment on t he f or ehead of her

pat i ent . Then she l ooked up, and beckoned t o hi m, and sai d, i n

her l ow, cl ear voi ce, - -

" Bet t y, her e i s an ol d f r i end come t o see you; my cousi n, Squi r e

Br own' s son. You r emember hi m qui t e a l i t t l e boy?"

The ol d woman moved her head t owar ds t he voi ce, and smi l ed, but

gave no f ur t her si gn of r ecogni t i on. Tom st ol e acr oss t he f l oor ,

Page 284 of 443

and sat down by t he bed- si de.

" Oh, yes, Bet t y, " he sai d, l eani ng t owar ds her and speaki ng

sof t l y, " you must r emember me. Mast er Tom who used t o come t o

your cot t age on baki ng days f or hot br ead, you know. "

" To be sur e I mi nds un, bl ess hi s l i t t l e hear t , " sai d t he ol d

woman f ai nt l y. " Hev he come t o see poor Bet t y? Do' ee l et un com' ,

and l i f t un up so as I med see un. My si ght be get t i ng di m- l i ke. "

" Her e he i s, Bet t y, " sai d Tom, t aki ng her hand- - a har dwor ki ng

hand, l yi ng t her e wi t h t he ski n al l pucker ed f r om l ong and dai l y

acquai nt ance wi t h t he washi ng- t ub- - " I ' m Mast er Tom. "

" Ah, dear ee me, " she sai d sl owl y, l ooki ng at hi m wi t h l ust r el ess

eyes. " Wel l , you be gr owed i nt o a f i ne young gent l eman, sur el y.

And how' s t he Squi r e and Madam Br own, and al l t he f am' l y?"

" Oh, ver y wel l , Bet t y, - - t hey wi l l be so sor r y t o hear of your

i l l ness. "

" But t her e ai n' t no hot br ead f or un. ' Ti s i l l t o bake wi ' no f uz

bushes, and t he baker s' st uf f i s poor f or hungr y f ol k. "

" I ' m wi t hi n t hr ee mont hs as ol d as your Har r y, you know, " sai d

Tom, t r yi ng t o l ead her back t o t he obj ect of hi s vi si t .

" Har r y, " she r epeat ed, and t hen col l ect i ng her sel f went on, " our

Har r y; wher e i s he? They haven' t sent un t o pr i son, and hi s

mot her a dyi n' ?"

" Oh, no, Bet t y; he wi l l be her e di r ect l y. I came t o ask whet her

t her e i s anyt hi ng I can do f or you. "

" You' l l st and by un, poor buoy- - our Har r y, as you used t o pl ay

wi ' when you was l i t t l e- - ' t was t hey as aggr avat ed un so he

coul dn' t abear i t , af or e ever he' d a st r uck a f l y. "

" Yes, Bet t y; I wi l l see t hat he has f ai r pl ay. Don' t t r oubl e

about t hat , i t wi l l be al l r i ght . You must be qui t e qui et , and

not t r oubl e your sel f about anyt hi ng, t hat you may get wel l and

about agai n. "

" Nay, nay, Mast er Tom. I be gwi ne whoam; ees, I be gwi ne whoam t o

my maest er , Har r y' s f at her - - I knows I be- - and you' l l st and by un

when I be gone; and Squi r e Br own ' l l say a good wor d f or un t o

t he j ust i ces?"

" Yes, Bet t y, t hat he wi l l . But you must cheer up, and you' l l get

bet t er yet ; don' t be af r ai d. "

" I beant af ear d, Mast er Tom; no, bl ess you, I beant af ear d but

what t he Lor d' l l be mussi f ul t o a poor l one woman l i ke me, as has

had a sor e t i me of i t si nce my meast er di ed wi ' a hungr y boy l i ke

our Har r y t o kep, back and bel l y; and t he r heumat i cs t er r i bl e bad

al l wi nt er t i me. "

" I ' m sur e, Bet t y, you have done your dut y by hi m, and ever yone

el se. "

" Dwont ee speak o' doi n' s, Mast er Tom. ' Ti s no doi n' s o' our n

as' l l make any odds wher e I be gwi ne. "

Tom di d not know what t o answer ; so he pr essed her hand and

Page 285 of 443

sai d, - -

" Wel l , Bet t y, I am ver y gl ad I have seen you once mor e; I sha' n' t

f or get i t . Har r y sha' n' t want a f r i end whi l e I l i ve. "

" The Lor d bl ess you, Mast er Tom, f or t hat wor d, " sai d t he dyi ng

woman, r et ur ni ng t he pr essur e, as her eyes f i l l ed wi t h t ear s.

Kat i e, who had been wat chi ng her car ef ul l y f r om t he ot her si de of

t he bed, made hi m a si gn t o go.

" Good- bye, Bet t y" he sai d; " I won' t f or get , you may be sur e; God

bl ess you; " and t hen, di sengagi ng hi s hand gent l y, went out agai n

i nt o t he por ch, wher e he sat down t o wai t f or hi s cousi n.

I n a f ew mi nut es t he nur se r et ur ned, and Kat i e came out of t he

cot t age soon af t er war ds.

" Now I wi l l wal k up home wi t h you, " she sai d. " You must come i n

and see papa. Wel l , I ' m sur e you must be gl ad you went i n. Was

not I r i ght ?"

" Yes, i ndeed; I wi sh I coul d have sai d somet hi ng mor e t o comf or t

her . "

" You coul dn' t have sai d mor e. I t was j ust what she want ed. "

" But wher e i s her son? I ought t o see hi m bef or e I go. "

" He has gone t o t he doct or ' s f or some medi ci ne. He wi l l be back

soon. "

" Wel l , I must see hi m; and I shoul d l i ke t o do somet hi ng f or hi m

at once. I ' m not ver y f l ush of money, but I must gi ve you

somet hi ng f or hi m. You' l l t ake i t ; I shoul dn' t l i ke t o of f er i t

t o hi m. "

" I har dl y t hi nk he want s money; t hey ar e wel l of f now. He ear ns

good wages, and Bet t y has done her washi ng up t o t hi s week. "

" Yes, but he wi l l be f i ned, I suppose, f or t hi s assaul t ; and

t hen, i f she shoul d di e, t her e wi l l be t he f uner al expenses. "

" Ver y wel l ; as you pl ease, " she sai d; and Tom pr oceeded t o hand

over t o her al l hi s r eady money, except a shi l l i ng or t wo. Af t er

sat i sf yi ng hi s mi nd t hus, he l ooked at her , and sai d- -

" Do you know, Kat i e, I don' t t hi nk I ever saw you so happy and i n

such spi r i t s?"

" Ther e now! And yet you began t al ki ng t o me as i f I wer e l ooki ng

sad enough t o t ur n al l t he beer i n t he par i sh sour . "

" Wel l , so you ought t o be, accor di ng t o Cocker , spendi ng al l your

t i me i n si ck r ooms. "

" Accor di ng t o who?"

" Accor di ng t o Cocker . "

" Who i s Cocker ?"

" Oh, I don' t know; some ol d f el l ow who wr ot e t he r ul es of

ar i t hmet i c, I bel i eve; i t ' s onl y a bi t of sl ang. But , I r epeat ,

you have a r i ght t o be sad, and i t ' s t aki ng an unf ai r advant age

Page 286 of 443

of your r el at i ons t o l ook as pl easant as you do. "

Kat i e l aughed. " You ought not t o say so, at any r at e, " she sai d,

" f or you l ook al l t he pl easant er f or your vi si t t o a si ck r oom. "

" Di d I l ook ver y unpl easant bef or e?"

" Wel l , I don' t t hi nk you wer e i n a ver y good humor . "

" No, I was i n a ver y bad humor , and t al ki ng t o you and poor ol d

Bet t y has set me r i ght , I t hi nk. But you sai d her s was a speci al

case. I t must be ver y sad wor k i n gener al . "

" Onl y when one sees peopl e i n gr eat pai n, or when t hey ar e

wi cked, and quar r el i ng, or compl ai ni ng about not hi ng; t hen I do

get ver y l ow somet i mes. But even t hen i t i s much bet t er t han

keepi ng t o one' s sel f . Anyt hi ng i s bet t er t han t hi nki ng of one' s

sel f , and one' s own t r oubl es. "

" I dar e say you ar e r i ght , " sai d Tom, r ecal l i ng hi s mor ni ng' s

medi t at i ons, " especi al l y when one' s t r oubl es ar e homemade. Look,

her e' s an ol d f el l ow who gave me a l ect ur e on t hat subj ect bef or e

I saw you t hi s mor ni ng, and t ook me f or t he apot hecar y' s boy. "

They wer e al most opposi t e Davi d' s door , at whi ch he st ood wi t h a

pi ece of wor k i n hi s hand. He had seen Mi ss Wi nt er f r om hi s

l ook- out wi ndow, and had descended f r om hi s boar d i n hopes of

hear i ng news.

Kat i e r et ur ned hi s r espect f ul and anxi ous sal ut e, and sai d, " She

i s no wor se, Davi d. We l ef t her qui t e out of pai n and ver y

qui et . "

" Ah, ' t i s t o be hoped as she' l l hev a peacef ul t i me on' t now,

poor soul , " sai d Davi d; " I ' ve a been t o Far mer Gr oves' , and I

hope as he' l l do summat about Har r y. "

" I ' m gl ad t o hear i t , " sai d Mi ss Wi nt er , " and my cousi n her e, who

knew Har r y ver y wel l when t hey wer e l i t t l e boys t oget her , has

pr omi sed t o hel p hi m. Thi s i s Har r y' s best f r i end, " she sai d t o

Tom, " who has done mor e t han anyone t o keep hi m r i ght . "

Davi d seemed a l i t t l e embar r assed, and began j er ki ng hi s head

about when hi s acquai nt ance of t he mor ni ng, whom he had scar cel y

not i ced bef or e, was i nt r oduced by Mi ss Wi nt er as " my cousi n. "

" I wi sh t o do al l I can f or hi m, " sai d Tom, " and I ' m ver y gl ad t o

have made your acquai nt ance. You must l et me know whenever I can

hel p; " and he t ook out a car d and handed i t t o Davi d, who l ooked

at i t , and t hen sai d, - -

" And I be t o wr i t e t o you, si r , t hen, i f Har r y get s i nt o

t r oubl e?"

" Yes; but we must keep hi m out of t r oubl e, even home- made ones,

whi ch don' t l eave good mar ks, you know, " sai d Tom.

" And t haay be ni ne out o' t en o' aal as comes t o a man, si r " sai d

Davi d " as I ' ve a t ol d Har r y scor es o' t i mes. "

" That seems t o be your t ext , Davi d, " sai d Tom, l aughi ng.

" Ah, and ' t i s a good un t oo, si r . Ax Mi ss Wi nt er el se. ' Ti s a

si ght bet t er t o hev t he Lor d' s t r oubl es whi l e you be about i t ,

Page 287 of 443

f or t haay as hasn' t makes wus f or t hemsel ves out o' not hi n' .

Dwon' t ' em, Mi ss?"

" Yes; you know t hat I agr ee wi t h you, Davi d. "

" Good- bye, t hen, " sai d Tom, hol di ng out hi s hand, " and mi nd you

l et me hear f r om you. "

" What a queer ol d bi r d, wi t h hi s whol e wi sdom of man packed up

smal l f or r eady use, l i ke a quack doct or , " he sai d, as soon as

t hey wer e out of hear i ng.

" I ndeed, he i sn' t t he l east l i ke a quack doct or . I don' t know a

bet t er man i n t he par i sh, t hough he i s r at her obst i nat e, l i ke al l

t he r est of t hem. "

" I di dn' t mean t o say anyt hi ng agai nst hi m, I assur e you, " sai d

Tom; " on t he cont r ar y, I t hi nk hi m a f i ne ol d f el l ow. But I

di dn' t t hi nk so t hi s mor ni ng, when he showed me t he way t o

Bet t y' s cot t age. " The f act was t hat Tom saw al l t hi ngs and

per sons wi t h qui t e a di f f er ent pai r of eyes f r om t hose whi ch he

had been pr ovi ded wi t h when he ar r i ved i n Engl ebour n t hat

mor ni ng. He even made al l owances f or ol d Mr . Wi nt er , who was i n

hi s usual quer ul ous st at e at l uncheon, t hough per haps i t woul d

have been di f f i cul t i n t he whol e nei ghbor hood t o f i nd a mor e

per t i nent comment on, and i l l ust r at i on of , t he const abl e' s t ext

t han t he poor ol d man f ur ni shed, wi t h hi s compl ai nt s about hi s

own heal t h, and al l he had t o do and t hi nk of , f or ever ybody

about hi m. I t di d st r i ke Tom, however , as ver y wonder f ul how such

a char act er as Kat i e' s coul d have gr own up under t he shade of ,

and i n const ant cont act wi t h, such a one as her f at her ' s. He

wi shed hi s uncl e good- bye soon af t er l uncheon, and he and Kat i e

st ar t ed agai n down t he vi l l age- - she t o r et ur n t o her nur si ng and

he on hi s way home. He l ed hi s hor se by t he br i dl e and wal ked by

her si de down t he st r eet . She poi nt ed t o t he Hawk' s Lynch as t hey

wal ked al ong, and sai d, " You shoul d r i de up t her e; i t i s scar cel y

out of your way. Mar y and I used t o wal k t her e ever y day when she

was her e, and she was so f ond of i t . "

At t he cot t age t hey f ound Har r y Wi nbur n. He came out , and t he t wo

young men shook hands, and l ooked one anot her over , and exchanged

a f ew shy sent ences. Tom managed wi t h di f f i cul t y t o say t he

l i t t l e he had t o say, but t r i ed t o make up f or i t by a hear t y

manner . I t was not t he t i me or pl ace f or any unnecessar y t al k; so

i n a f ew mi nut es he was mount ed and r i di ng up t he sl ope t owar ds

t he heat h. " I shoul d say he must be hal f a st one l i ght er t han I , "

he t hought , " and not qui t e so t al l ; but he l ooks as har d as i r on,

and t ough as whi pcor d. What a No. 7 he' d make i n a heavy cr ew!

Poor f el l ow, he seems dr eadf ul l y cut up. I hope I shal l be abl e

t o be of use t o hi m. Now f or t hi s pl ace whi ch Kat i e showed me

f r om t he vi l l age st r eet . "

He pr essed hi s hor se up t he st eep si de of t he Hawk' s Lynch. The

exhi l ar at i on of t he scr ambl e, and t he sense of power , and of some

sl i ght r i sk, whi ch he f el t as he hel ped on t he gal l ant beast wi t h

hand and knee and heel , whi l e t he l oose t ur f and st ones f l ew f r om

hi s hoof s and r ol l ed down t he hi l l behi nd t hem, made Tom' s eyes

ki ndl e and hi s pul se beat qui cker as he r eached t he t op and

pul l ed up under t he Scot ch f i r s. " Thi s was her f avor i t e wal k,

t hen. No wonder . What an ai r , and what a vi ew! " He j umped of f hi s

hor se, sl i pped t he br i dl e over hi s ar m, and l et hi m pi ck away at

t he shor t gr ass and t uf t s of heat h, as he hi msel f f i r st st ood,

and t hen sat , and l ooked out over t he scene whi ch she had so

of t en l ooked over . She mi ght have sat on t he ver y spot he was

Page 288 of 443

si t t i ng on; she must have t aken i n t he same expanse of wood and

meadow, vi l l age and par k, and dr eamy, di st ant hi l l . Her pr esence

seemed t o f i l l t he ai r r ound hi m. A r ush of new t hought s and

f eel i ngs swam t hr ough hi s br ai n and car r i ed hi m, a wi l l i ng pi ece

of dr i f t man, al ong wi t h t hem. He gave hi msel f up t o t he st r eam

and r evel l ed i n t hem. Hi s eye t r aced back t he r oad al ong whi ch he

had r i dden i n t he mor ni ng, and r est ed on t he Bar t on woods, j ust

vi si bl e i n t he di st ance, on t hi s si de of t he poi nt wher e al l

out l i ne except t hat of t he hor i zon began t o be l ost . The

f l i cker i ng Jul y ai r seemed t o beat i n a pul se of pur pl e gl or y

over t he spot . The sof t wi nd whi ch bl ew st r ai ght f r om Bar t on

seemed l aden wi t h her name, and whi sper ed i t i n t he f i r s, over

hi s head. Ever y ner ve i n hi s body was boundi ng wi t h new l i f e, and

he coul d si t st i l l no l onger . He r ose, spr ang on hi s hor se, and,

wi t h a shout of j oy, t ur ned f r om t he val e and r ushed away on t o

t he heat h, nor t hwar ds t owar ds hi s home behi nd t he chal k hi l l s. He

had r i dden i nt o Engl ebour n i n t he mor ni ng an al most unconsci ous

dabbl er by t he mar gi n of t he gr eat st r eam; he r ode f r om t he

Hawk' s Lynch i n t he af t er noon over head and ear s and t went y, a

hundr ed, ay, unnumber ed f at homs bel ow t hat , deep; consci ousl y,

and t r i umphant l y i n l ove.

But at what a pace, and i n what a f or m! Love, at l east i n hi s

f i r st access, must be as bl i nd a hor seman as he i s an ar cher . The

heat h was r ough wi t h peat - cut t i ng and t ur f - cut t i ng and many a

deep- r ut t ed f ar m r oad, and t uf t s of heat her and f ur ze. Over t hem

and t hr ough t hem went hor se and man- - hor se r i si ng seven and man

t went y of f , a wel l - mat ched pai r i n age f or a wi l d r i de- - headl ong

t owar ds t he nor t h, t i l l a bl i nd r ut somewhat deeper t han usual

put an end t o t hei r car eer , and sent t he good hor se st agger i ng

f or war d some t hi r t y f eet on t o hi s nose and knees, and Tom over

hi s shoul der , on t o hi s back i n t he heat her .

" Wel l , i t ' s l ucky i t ' s no wor se, " t hought our her o, as he pi cked

hi msel f up and anxi ousl y exami ned t he hor se, who st ood t r embl i ng

and l ooki ng wi l dl y puzzl ed at t he whol e pr oceedi ng; " I hope he

hasn' t over r eached. What wi l l t he gover nor say? Hi s knees ar e al l

r i ght . Poor ol d boy! " he sai d, pat t i ng hi m; " no wonder you l ook

ast oni shed. You' r e not i n l ove. Come al ong; we won' t make f ool s

of our sel ves any mor e. What i s i t ?- -

' A t r ue l ove f or saken a new l ove may get ,

But a neck t hat ' s once br oken can never be set . '

What st uf f ! one may get a neck set f or anyt hi ng I know; but a new

l ove- - bl asphemy! "

The r est of t he r i de passed of f sober l y enough, except i n Tom' s

br ai n, wher ei n wer e bui l t up i n gor geous successi on cast l es such

as we have al l bui l t , I suppose, bef or e now. And wi t h t he cast l es

wer e bui l t up si de by si de good honest r esol ves t o be wor t hy of

her , and wi n her and wor shi p her wi t h body, and mi nd, and soul .

And, as a f i r st i nst al l ment , away t o t he wi nds went al l t he

sel f i sh mor ni ng t hought s; and he r ode down t he nor t her n sl ope of

t he chal k hi l l s a dut i f ul and af f ect i onat e son, at peace wi t h

Mr s. Por t er , honor i ng her f or her car e of t he t r easur e whi ch he

was seeki ng, and i n good t i me f or di nner .

" Wel l , dear , " sai d Mr s. Br own t o her husband when t hey wer e al one

t hat ni ght , " di d you ever see Tom i n such spi r i t s, and so gent l e

and af f ect i onat e? Dear boy; t her e can be not hi ng t he mat t er . "

" Di dn' t I t el l you so, " r epl i ed Mr . Br own; " you women have al ways

got some nonsense i n your heads as soon as your boys have a hai r

Page 289 of 443

on t hei r chi n or your gi r l s begi n t o put up t hei r back hai r . "

" Wel l , John, say what you wi l l , I ' m sur e Mar y Por t er i s a ver y

sweet , t aki ng gi r l , and- - "

" I am qui t e of t he same opi ni on, " sai d Mr . Br own, " and am ver y

gl ad you have wr i t t en t o ask t hem her e. "

And so t he wor t hy coupl e went happi l y t o bed.

CHAPTER XXXI I I

BROWN PATRONUS

On a Sat ur day af t er noon i n August , a f ew weeks af t er t he event f ul

r i de, Tom r et ur ned t o t he Engl ebour n Rect or y t o st ay over Sunday,

and at t end Bet t y Wi nbur n' s f uner al . He was st r angel y at t r act ed t o

Har r y by t he r emembr ance of t hei r ol d boyi sh r i val r y; by t he

st or y whi ch he had hear d f r om hi s cousi n, of t he unwaver i ng

per sever ance wi t h whi ch t he young peasant cl ung t o and pur sued

hi s sui t f or Si mon' s daught er ; but , mor e t han al l , by t he f eel i ng

of gr at i t ude wi t h whi ch he r emember ed t he ef f ect hi s vi si t t o

Bet t y' s si ck r oom had had on hi m, on t he day of hi s r i de f r om

Bar t on Manor . On t hat day he knew t hat he had r i dden i nt o

Engl ebour n i n a mi ser abl e ment al f og, and had r i dden out of i t i n

sunshi ne, whi ch had l ast ed t hr ough t he i nt er veni ng weeks. Somehow

or anot her he had been set st r ai ght t hen and t her e, t ur ned i nt o

t he r i ght r oad and out of t he wr ong one, at what he ver y

nat ur al l y bel i eved t o be t he most cr i t i cal moment of hi s l i f e.

Wi t hout st oppi ng t o wei gh accur at el y t he r espect i ve mer i t s of t he

sever al per sons whom he came i n cont act wi t h t hat day, he

cr edi t ed t hem al l wi t h a l ar ge amount of gr at i t ude and good- wi l l ,

and Har r y wi t h hi s mot her ' s shar e as wel l as hi s own. So he had

been l ongi ng t o _do_ somet hi ng f or hi m ever si nce. The mor e he

r ej oi ced i n, and gave hi msel f up t o hi s own new sensat i ons, t he

mor e di d hi s gr at i t ude become as i t wer e a bur den t o hi m; and yet

no oppor t uni t y of f er ed of l et t i ng of f some of i t i n act i on. The

magi st r at es, t aki ng i nt o consi der at i on t he danger ous st at e of hi s

mot her , had l et Har r y of f wi t h a r epr i mand f or hi s assaul t ; so

t her e was not hi ng t o be done t her e. He wr ot e t o Kat i e of f er i ng

mor e money f or t he Wi nbur ns; but she decl i ned- - addi ng, however ,

t o her not e, by way of post scr i pt , t hat he mi ght gi ve i t t o her

cl ot hi ng cl ub or coal cl ub. Then came t he news of Bet t y' s deat h,

and an i nt i mat i on f r om Kat i e t hat she t hought Har r y woul d be much

gr at i f i ed i f he woul d at t end t he f uner al . He j umped at t he

suggest i on. Al l Engl ebour n, f r om t he Hawk' s Lynch t o t he Rect or y,

was hal l owed gr ound t o hi m. The i dea of get t i ng back t her e, so

much near er t o Bar t on Manor , f i l l ed hi m wi t h j oy, whi ch he t r i ed

i n vai n t o r epr ess when he t hought of t he mai n obj ect of hi s

vi si t on t he pr esent occasi on.

He ar r i ved i n t i me t o go and shake hands wi t h Har r y bef or e

di nner ; and, t hough scar cel y a wor d passed bet ween t hem, he saw

wi t h del i ght t hat he had evi dent l y gi ven pl easur e t o t he mour ner .

Then he had a char mi ng l ong eveni ng wi t h Kat i e, wal ki ng i n t he

gar den wi t h her bet ween di nner and t ea, and af t er t ea di scour si ng

i n l ow t ones over her wor k- t abl e, whi l e Mr . Wi nt er benevol ent l y

sl ept i n hi s ar m- chai r . Thei r di scour se br anched i nt o many pat hs,

but managed al ways somehow t o end i n t he sayi ngs, bel i ef s, and

per f ect i ons of t he young l ady of Bar t on Manor . Tom wonder ed how

i t had happened so when he got t o hi s own r oom, as he f anci ed he

Page 290 of 443

had not bet r ayed hi msel f i n t he l east . He had det er mi ned t o keep

r esol ut el y on hi s guar d, and t o make a conf i dent of no l i vi ng

soul t i l l he was t went y- one, and, t hough sor el y t empt ed t o br eak

hi s r esol ut i on i n f avor of Kat i e, had r est r ai ned hi msel f . He

mi ght have spar ed hi msel f al l t he t r oubl e; but t hi s he di d not

know, bei ng unver sed i n t he ways of women, and al l unawar e of t he

subt l et y and qui ckness of t hei r i nt ui t i ons i n al l mat t er s

connect ed wi t h t he hear t . Poor , dear , st ol i d, di m- si ght ed

manki nd, how t hey do see t hr ough us and wal k r ound us!

The f uner al on t he Sunday af t er noon bet ween chur ches had t ouched

hi m much, bei ng t he f i r st he had ever at t ended. He wal ked next

behi nd t he chi ef mour ner - - t he f ew f r i ends, amongst whom Davi d was

conspi cuous, yi el di ng pl ace t o hi m. He st ood besi de Har r y i n

chur ch, and at t he open gr ave, and made t he r esponses as f i r ml y

as he coul d, and pr essed hi s shoul der agai nst hi s, when he f el t

t he st r ong f r ame of t he son t r embl i ng wi t h t he wei ght and bur den

of hi s r esol ut el y suppr essed agony. When t hey par t ed at t he

cot t age door , t o whi ch Tom accompani ed t he mour ner and hi s ol d

and t r i ed f r i end Davi d, t hough not hi ng but a l ook and a gr asp of

t he hand passed bet ween t hem, he f el t t hat t hey wer e bound by a

new and i nvi si bl e bond; and, as he wal ked back up t he vi l l age and

passed t he chur chyar d, wher e t he chi l dr en wer e pl ayi ng about on

t he gr aves, st oppi ng ever y now and t hen t o wat ch t he sext on as he

st amped down and f i l l ed i n t he moul d on t he l ast made one besi de

whi ch he hi msel f st ood as a mour ner - - and hear d t he bel l s

begi nni ng t o chi me f or t he af t er noon ser vi ce, he r esol ved wi t hi n

hi msel f t hat he woul d be a t r ue and hel pf ul f r i end t o t he wi dow' s

son. On t hi s subj ect he coul d t al k f r eel y t o Kat i e; and he di d so

t hat eveni ng, expoundi ng how much one i n hi s posi t i on coul d do

f or a young l abor i ng man i f he was r eal l y bent on i t , and

bui l di ng up gr and cast l es f or Har r y, t he f oundat i ons of whi ch

r est ed on hi s own det er mi nat i on t o benef i t and pat r oni ze hi m.

Kat i e l i st ened hal f doubt i ngl y at f i r st , but was soon l ed away by

hi s conf i dence, and pour ed out t he t ea i n t he f ul l bel i ef t hat

wi t h Tom' s power f ul ai d al l woul d go wel l . Af t er whi ch t hey t ook

t o r eadi ng t he " Chr i st i an Year " t oget her , and br anched i nt o

di scussi ons on pr of ane poet r y, whi ch Kat i e consi der ed scar cel y

pr oper f or t he eveni ng, but whi ch, never t hel ess, bei ng of such

r ar e occur r ence wi t h her , she had not t he hear t t o st op.

The next mor ni ng Tom was t o r et ur n home. Af t er br eakf ast he began

t he subj ect of hi s f ut ur e pl ans f or Har r y agai n, when Kat i e

pr oduced a smal l paper packet whi ch she handed t o hi m, sayi ng- -

" Her e i s your money agai n. "

" What money?"

" The money you l ef t wi t h me f or Har r y Wi nbur n. I t hought at t he

t i me t hat most pr obabl y he woul d not t ake i t . "

" But ar e you sur e he doesn' t want i t ? Di d you t r y har d t o get hi m

t o t ake i t ?" sai d Tom, hol di ng out hi s hand r el uct ant l y f or t he

money.

" Not mysel f . I coul dn' t of f er hi m money mysel f , of cour se; but I

sent i t by Davi d, and begged hi m t o do al l he coul d t o per suade

hi m t o t ake i t . "

" Wel l , and why woul dn' t he?"

" Oh, he sai d t he cl ub- money whi ch was comi ng i n was mor e t han

enough t o pay f or t he f uner al and f or hi msel f he di dn' t want i t . "

Page 291 of 443

" How pr ovoki ng! I wonder i f ol d Davi d r eal l y di d hi s best t o get

hi m t o t ake i t . "

" Yes, I am sur e he di d. But you ought t o be ver y gl ad t o f i nd

some i ndependence i n a poor man. "

" Bot her hi s i ndependence! I don' t l i ke t o f eel t hat i t cost s me

not hi ng but t al k- - I want t o pay. "

" Ah, Tom, i f you knew t he poor as wel l as I do, you woul dn' t say

so. I am af r ai d t her e ar e not t wo ot her men i n t he par i sh who

woul d have r ef used your money. The f ear of under mi ni ng t hei r

i ndependence t akes away al l my pl easur e i n gi vi ng. "

" Under mi ni ng! Why, Kat i e, I am sur e I have hear d you mour n over

t hei r st ubbor nness and unr easonabl eness. "

" Oh, yes; t hey ar e of t en pr ovoki ngl y st ubbor n and unr easonabl e,

and yet not i ndependent about money, or anyt hi ng t hey can get out

of you. Besi des, I acknowl edge t hat I have become wi ser of l at e;

I used t o l i ke t o see t hem dependent and cr i ngi ng t o me, but now

I dr ead i t . "

" But you woul d l i ke Davi d t o gi ve i n about t he si ngi ng, woul dn' t

you?"

" Yes, i f he woul d gi ve i n I shoul d be ver y pr oud. I have l ear nt a

gr eat deal f r om hi m; I used posi t i vel y t o di sl i ke hi m; but , now

t hat I know hi m, I t hi nk hi m t he best man i n t he par i sh. I f he

ever does gi ve i n- - and I t hi nk he wi l l - - i t wi l l be wor t h

anyt hi ng, j ust because he i s so i ndependent . "

" That ' s al l ver y wel l ; but what am I t o do t o show Har r y Wi nbur n

t hat I mean t o be hi s f r i end, i f he won' t t ake money f r om me?"

" You have come over t o hi s mot her ' s f uner al - - he wi l l t hi nk mor e

of t hat t han of al l t he money you coul d gi ve hi m; and you can

show sympat hy f or hi m i n a gr eat many ways. "

" Wel l , I must t r y. By t he way, about hi s l ove af f ai r ; i s t he

young l ady at home? I have never seen her , you know. "

" No she i s away wi t h an aunt , l ooki ng out f or a pl ace. I have

per suaded her t o get one, and l eave home agai n f or t he pr esent .

Her f at her i s qui t e wel l now, and she i s not want ed. "

" Wel l , i t seems I can' t do any good wi t h her , t hen; but coul d I

not go and t al k t o her f at her about Har r y? I mi ght hel p hi m i n

t hat way. "

" You must be ver y car ef ul ; Si mon i s such an odd- t emper ed ol d

man. "

" Oh, I ' m not af r ai d; he and I ar e gr eat chums; and a l i t t l e sof t

soap wi l l go a l ong way wi t h hi m. Fancy, i f I coul d get hi m t hi s

ver y mor ni ng t o ' sanct i on Har r y' s sui t , ' as t he phr ase i s, what

shoul d you t hi nk of me?"

" I shoul d t hi nk ver y hi ghl y of your power s of per suasi on. "

Not t he l east daunt ed by hi s cousi n' s mi sgi vi ngs, Tom st ar t ed i n

quest of Si mon, and f ound hi m at wor k i n f r ont of t he gr eenhouse,

sur r ounded by many smal l pot s and heaps of f i nel y si f t ed moul d,

Page 292 of 443

and absor bed i n hi s occupat i on.

Si mon was a r ough, st ol i d Ber kshi r e r ust i c, somewhat of a t yr ant

i n t he bosom of hi s f ami l y, an unmanageabl e ser vant , a

cr oss- gr ai ned acquai nt ance; as a ci t i zen, st i f f - necked, and a

gr umbl er , who t hought t hat not hi ng ever went r i ght i n t he par i sh;

but , wi t hal , a t hor oughl y honest wor ker ; and, when al l owed t o go

hi s own way- - and no ot her way woul d he go, as hi s mi st r ess had

l ong si nce di scover ed- - t her e was no man who ear ned hi s dai l y

br ead mor e honest l y. He t ook a pr i de i n hi s wor k, and t he Rect or y

gar den was al ways t r i m and wel l kept , and t he beds br i ght wi t h

f l ower s f r om ear l y spr i ng t i l l l at e aut umn.

He was absor bed i n what he was about , and Tom came up cl ose t o

hi m wi t hout at t r act i ng t he l east si gn of r ecogni t i on; so he

st opped, and opened t he conver sat i on.

" Good day, Si mon; i t ' s a pl easur e t o see a gar den l ooki ng so gay

as your s. "

Si mon l ooked up f r om hi s wor k, and, when he saw who i t was,

t ouched hi s bat t er ed ol d hat , and answer ed, - -

" Mor ni n' si r ! Ees, you f i nds me al l us i n bl ume"

" I ndeed I do, Si mon; but how do you manage i t ? I shoul d l i ke t o

t el l my f at her ' s gar dener . "

" ' Ti s no use t o t el l un i f a haven' t f ound out f or hi ssel f . ' Ti s

not hi ng but l ooki n' a bi t f or r ar d and f ar m- yar d st uf f as does

i t . "

" Wel l , t her e' s pl ent y of f ar m- yar d st uf f at home, and yet ,

somehow, we never l ook hal f so br i ght as you do. "

" May be as your gar dener j ust t akes and hi t s i t auver t he t op o'

t he gr ound, and l et s i t l i e. That ' s no ki nd o' good, t hat

beant - - ' t i s t he r oot s as want s t he st uf f ; and you med j i st as

wel l t ake and put a r ound o' beef agi n my back bwone as hi t t he

st uf f auver t he gr ound, and never see as i t get s t o t he r oot s o'

t he pl ant s. "

" No, I don' t t hi nk i t can be t hat , " sai d Tom l aughi ng; " our

gar dener seems al ways t o be di ggi ng hi s manur e i n, but somehow he

can' t make i t come out i n f l ower s as you do. "

" Ther ' be mwor e waays o' ki l l i n' a cat besi des choki ng on un wi '

cr ame, " sai d Si mon, chuckl i ng i n hi s t ur n.

" That ' s t r ue Si mon, " sai d Tom; " t he f act i s, a gar dener must know

hi s busi ness as wel l as you t o be al ways i n bl oom, eh?"

" That ' s about i t , si r , " sai d Si mon, on whom t he f l at t er y was

begi nni ng t o t el l .

Tom saw t hi s, and t hought he mi ght now f eel hi s way a l i t t l e

f ur t her wi t h t he ol d man.

" I ' m over on a sad er r and, " he sai d; " I ' ve been t o poor Wi dow

Wi nbur n' s f uner al - - she was an ol d f r i end of your s, I t hi nk?"

" Ees; I mi nds her l ong af or e she wur mar r i ed, " sai d Si mon,

t ur ni ng t o hi s pot s agai n.

Page 293 of 443

" She wasn' t an ol d woman, af t er al l , " sai d Tom.

" Si xt y- t wo year ol d cum Mi chael mas, " sai d Si mon.

" Wel l , she ought t o have been a st r ong woman f or anot her t en

year s at l east ; why, you must be ol der t han she by some year s,

Si mon, and you can do a good day' s wor k yet wi t h any man. "

Si mon went on wi t h hi s pot t i ng wi t hout r epl yi ng except by a

car ef ul l y measur ed gr unt , suf f i ci ent t o show t hat he had hear d

t he r emar k, and was not much i mpr essed by i t .

Tom saw t hat he must change hi s at t ack; so, af t er wat chi ng Si mon

f or a mi nut e, he began agai n.

" I wonder why i t i s t hat t he men of your t i me of l i f e ar e so much

st r onger t han t he young ones i n const i t ut i on. Now, I don' t

bel i eve t her e ar e t hr ee young men i n Engl ebour n who woul d have

got over t hat f al l you had at Far mer Gr oves' so qui ck as you

have; most young men woul d have been cr i ppl ed f or l i f e by i t . "

" Zo ' em woul d, t he young wosbi r ds. I dwont make no account on

' em, " sai d Si mon.

" And you don' t f eel any t he wor se f or i t , Si mon?"

" Nar r a mossel , " r epl i ed Si mon; but pr esent l y he seemed t o

r ecol l ect somet hi ng, and added, " I wun' t saay but what I f eel s i t

at t i mes when I ' ve got t o st oop about much. "

" Ah, I ' m sor r y t o hear t hat , Si mon. Then you ought n' t t o have so

much st oopi ng t o do; pot t i ng, and t hat sor t of t hi ng, i s t he wor k

f or you, I shoul d t hi nk, and j ust gi vi ng an eye t o ever yt hi ng

about t he pl ace. Anybody coul d do t he di ggi ng and set t i ng out

cabbages, and your t i me i s onl y wast ed at i t . " - - Tom had now f ound

t he ol d man' s weak poi nt .

" Ees, si r , and so I t el l s mi ss, " he sai d, " but wi ' not hi n' but a

bi t o' gl ass no bi gger ' n a cowcumber f r ame, ' t i s al l as a man can

do t o keep a f ew pl ant s al i ve dr oo' t he wi nt er . "

" Of cour se, " sai d Tom, l ooki ng r ound at t he ver y r espect abl e

gr eenhouse whi ch Si mon had cont empt uousl y l i kened t o a

cucumber - f r ame, " you ought t o have at l east anot her house as bi g

as t hi s f or f or ci ng. "

" Mast er ai n' t pl eased, he ai n' t , " sai d Si mon, " i f he dwon' t get

hi s t hi ngs, hi s spr i ng weget abl es, and hi s st r awber r i es, as ear l y

as t hough we' d a got f or ci n' pi t s and gl ass l i ke ot her f ol k. ' Ti s

a year and mwor e si nce he pr omi sed as I sh' d hev gl ass al ong t hat

t her ' wal l , but ' t i s no ni gher comi n' as I can see. I be t o spake

t o mi ss about i t now, and, when I spakes t o her , ' t i s, ' oh,

Si mon, we must wai t t i l l t he ' spensar y' s ' st abl i shed, ' or ' oh,

Si mon, l ast wi nt er wur a wer r y t r yi n wun, and t he si ck cl ub' s

t er r i bl e bad of f f or f unds, ' - - and so we gwoes on, and med gwo on

f or aught as I can see, so l ong as t her e' s a body si ck or bad of f

i n al l t he par i sh. And t hat ' l l be al l us. For , what wi ' wi si t i n'

on ' em, and sendi n' on ' em di nner s, and a' al t he doct or ' s st uf f

as i s ser ved out o' t he ' spensar y- - wy, ' t i s enough t o keep ' em

bad a' al t her ' l i ves. Ther ai n' t no cr edi t i n get t i n' wel l . Ther '

wur no si ch a caddl e about si ck f ol k when I wur a bwoy. "

Si mon had never been known t o make such a l ong speech bef or e, and

Tom ar gued wel l f or hi s negot i at i on.

Page 294 of 443

" Wel l , Si mon, " he sai d, " I ' ve been t al ki ng t o my cousi n, and I

t hi nk she wi l l do what you want now. The di spensar y i s set up,

and t he peopl e ar e ver y heal t hy. How much gl ass shoul d you want ,

now, al ong t hat wal l ?"

" A mat t er o' t went y f i t or so, " sai d Si mon.

" I t hi nk t hat can be managed, " sai d Tom; " I ' l l speak t o my cousi n

about i t ; and t hen you woul d have pl ent y t o do i n t he houses, and

you' d want a r egul ar man under you. "

" Ees; ' t woul d t ake t wo on us r eg' l ar t o kep t hi ngs as t hey shoul d

be. "

" And you ought t o have somebody who knows what he i s about . Can

you t hi nk of anyone who woul d do, Si mon?"

" Ther ' s a young chap as wor ks f or Squi r e Wur l ey. I ' ve hear d as he

want s t o bet t er hi ssel f . "

" But he i sn' t an Engl ebour n man. I sn' t t her e anyone i n t he

par i sh?"

" Ne' er a one as I knows on. "

" What do you t hi nk of Har r y Wi nbur n- - he seems a good hand wi t h

f l ower s?" The wor ds had scar cel y passed hi s l i ps when Tom saw

t hat he had made a mi st ake. Ol d Si mon r et i r ed i nt o hi msel f at

once, and a cunni ng, di st r ust f ul l ook came over hi s f ace. Ther e

was no doi ng anyt hi ng wi t h hi m. Even t he new f or ci ng house had

l ost i t s at t r act i ons f or hi m, and Tom, af t er some f ur t her

i nef f ect ual at t empt s t o br i ng hi m r ound, r et ur ned t o t he house

somewhat cr est f al l en.

" Wel l , how have you succeeded?" sai d Kat i e, l ooki ng up f r om her

wor k, as he came i n and sat down near her t abl e. Tom shook hi s

head.

" I ' m af r ai d I ' ve made a r egul ar hash of i t , " he sai d. " I t hought

at f i r st I had qui t e come r ound t he ol d savage by pr ai si ng t he

gar den, and pr omi si ng t hat you woul d l et hi m have a new house. "

" You don' t mean t o say you di d t hat ?" sai d Kat i e, st oppi ng her

wor k.

" I ndeed, but I di d, t hough. I was dr awn on, you know. I saw i t

was t he r i ght car d t o pl ay; so I coul dn' t hel p i t . "

" Oh, Tom! how coul d you do so? We don' t want anot her house t he

l east i n t he wor l d; i t i s onl y Si mon' s vani t y. He want s t o beat

t he gar dener at t he gr ange at t he f l ower shows. Ever y penny wi l l

have t o come out of what papa al l ows me f or t he par i sh. "

" Don' t be af r ai d, Kat i e; you won' t have t o spend a penny. Of

cour se I r eser ved a condi t i on. The new house was t o be put up i f

he woul d t ake Har r y as an under - gar dener .

" What di d he say t o t hat ?"

" Wel l , he sai d not hi ng. I never came acr oss such an ol d Tur k. How

you have spoi l ed hi m! I f he i sn' t pl eased, he won' t t ake t he

t r oubl e t o answer you a wor d. I was ver y near t el l i ng hi m a pi ece

of my mi nd. But he _l ooked_ al l t he mor e. I bel i eve he woul d

Page 295 of 443

poi son Har r y i f he came her e. What can have made hi m hat e hi m

so?"

" He i s j eal ous of hi m. Mar y and I wer e so f ool i sh as t o pr ai se

poor Bet t y' s f l ower s bef or e Si mon, and he has never f or gi ven i t .

I t hi nk, t oo, t hat he suspect s, somehow, t hat we t al ked about

get t i ng Har r y her e. I ought t o have t ol d you, but I qui t e f or got

i t . "

" Wel l , i t can' t be hel ped. I don' t t hi nk I can do any good i n

t hat quar t er ; so now I shal l be of f t o t he Gr ange t o see what I

can do t her e. "

" How do you mean?"

" Why, Har r y i s af r ai d of bei ng t ur ned out of hi s cot t age. I saw

how i t wor r i ed hi m, t hi nki ng about i t ; so I shal l go t o t he

Gr ange, and say a good wor d f or hi m. Wur l ey can' t r ef use i f I

of f er t o pay t he r ent mysel f - - i t ' s onl y si x pounds a year . Of

cour se, I sha' n' t t el l Har r y; and he wi l l pay i t al l t he same;

but i t may make al l t he di f f er ence wi t h Wur l ey, who i s a r egul ar

scr ew. "

" Do you know Mr . Wur l ey?"

" Yes, j ust t o speak t o. He knows al l about me, and he wi l l be

ver y gl ad t o be ci vi l . "

" No doubt he wi l l ; but I don' t l i ke your goi ng t o hi s house. You

don' t know what a bad man he i s. Nobody but men on t he t ur f , and

t hat sor t of peopl e, go t her e now; and I bel i eve he t hi nks of

not hi ng but gambl i ng and game- pr eser vi ng. "

" Oh, yes; I know al l about hi m. The count y peopl e ar e begi nni ng

t o l ook shy at hi m; so he' l l be al l t he mor e l i kel y t o do what I

ask hi m. "

" But you won' t get i nt i mat e wi t h hi m?"

" You needn' t be af r ai d of t hat . "

" I t i s a sad house t o go t o- - I hope i t won' t do you any har m. "

" Ah, Kat i e! " sai d Tom, wi t h a smi l e not al t oget her cheer f ul , " I

don' t t hi nk you need be anxi ous about t hat . When one has been a

year at Oxf or d, t her e i sn' t much snow l ef t t o soi l ; so now I am

of f . I must gi ve mysel f pl ent y of t i me t o cook Wur l ey. "

" Wel l , I suppose I must not hi nder you, " sai d Kat i e. " I do hope

you wi l l succeed i n some of your ki nd pl ans f or Har r y. "

" I shal l do my best ; and i t i s a gr eat t hi ng t o have somebody

besi des onesel f t o t hi nk about and t r y t o hel p- - some poor

per son- - don' t you t hi nk so, even f or a man?"

" Of cour se I do. I am sur e you can' t be happy wi t hout i t , any

mor e t han I . We shoul dn' t be our mot her ' s chi l dr en i f we coul d

be. "

" Wel l , good- bye, dear ; you can' t t hi nk how I enj oy t hese gl i mpses

of you and your wor k. You must gi ve my l ove t o Uncl e Rober t . "

And so t hey bade each ot her adi eu, l ovi ngl y, af t er t he manner of

cousi ns, and Tom r ode away wi t h a ver y sof t pl ace i n hi s hear t

Page 296 of 443

f or hi s cousi n Kat i e. I t was not t he l east t he same sor t of

passi onat e f eel i ng of wor shi p wi t h whi ch he r egar ded Mar y. The

t wo f eel i ngs coul d l i e si de by si de i n hi s hear t wi t h pl ent y of

r oom t o spar e. I n f act , hi s hear t had been get t i ng so bi g i n t he

l ast f ew weeks t hat i t seemed capabl e of t aki ng i n t he whol e of

manki nd, not t o ment i on woman, t i l l , on t he whol e, i t may be

saf el y asser t ed t hat , had mat t er s been at al l i n a mor e f or war d

st at e, and coul d she have seen exact l y what was passi ng i n hi s

mi nd, Mar y woul d pr obabl y have obj ect ed t o t he ki nd of af f ect i on

whi ch he f el t f or hi s cousi n at t hi s par t i cul ar t i me. The j oke

about cousi nl y l ove i s pr obabl y as ol d, and cer t ai nl y as t r ue, as

Sol omon' s pr over bs. However , as mat t er s st ood, i t coul d be no

concer n of Mar y' s what hi s f eel i ngs wer e t owar ds Kat i e, or any

ot her per son.

Tom r ode i n at t he l odge gat e of t he Gr ange soon af t er el even

o' cl ock, and wal ked hi s hor se sl owl y t hr ough t he par k, admi r i ng

t he spl endi d t i mber , and t hi nki ng how he shoul d br eak hi s r equest

t o t he owner of t he pl ace. But hi s t hought s wer e i nt er r upt ed by

t he pr oceedi ngs of t he r abbi t s, whi ch wer e out by hundr eds al l

al ong t he si des of t he pl ant at i ons, and r ound t he gr eat t r ees. A

f ew of t he near est j ust dei gned t o not i ce hi m by scamper i ng t o

t hei r hol es under t he r oot s of t he ant l er ed oaks, i nt o whi ch some

of t hem popped wi t h a di sdai nf ul ki ck of t hei r hi nd l egs, whi l e

ot her s t ur ned r ound, sat up, and l ooked at hi m. As he near ed t he

house he passed a keeper ' s cot t age, and was sal ut ed by t he

bar ki ng of dogs f r om t he nei ghbor i ng kennel ; and t he young

pheasant s r an about r ound some t went y hen- coops, whi ch wer e

ar r anged al ong opposi t e t he door wher e t he keeper ' s chi l dr en wer e

pl ayi ng. The pl easur e of wat chi ng t he beast s and bi r ds kept hi m

f r om ar r angi ng hi s t hought s, and he r eached t he hal l door wi t hout

havi ng f or med t he pl an of hi s campai gn.

A f oot man answer ed t he bel l , who doubt ed whet her hi s mast er was

down, but t hought he woul d see t he gent l eman i f he woul d send i n

hi s name. Wher eupon Tom handed i n hi s car d, and, i n a f ew mi nut es

a r aki sh- l ooki ng st abl e boy came r ound af t er hi s hor se, and t he

but l er appear ed wi t h hi s mast er ' s compl i ment s, and a r equest t hat

he woul d st ep i nt o t he br eakf ast - r oom. Tom f ol l owed t hi s por t l y

per sonage t hr ough t he l ar ge handsome hal l , on t he wal l s of whi ch

hung a buf f - coat or t wo and some ol d- f ashi oned ar ms, and l ar ge

pai nt i ngs of dead game and f r ui t - - t hr ough a dr awi ng r oom, t he

f ur ni t ur e of whi ch was al l cover ed up i n mel anchol y cases - - i nt o

t he br eakf ast par l or , wher e t he owner of t he mansi on was seat ed

at t abl e i n a l oungi ng j acket . He was a man of f or t y or

t her eabout s, who woul d have been handsome, but f or t he ani mal

l ook about hi s f ace. Hi s cheeks wer e begi nni ng t o f al l i nt o

chaps, hi s f ul l l i ps had a l i quor i sh l ook about t hem, and bags

wer e begi nni ng t o f or m under hi s l i ght bl ue eyes. Hi s hands wer e

ver y whi t e and del i cat e, and shook a l i t t l e as he pour ed out hi s

t ea; and he was f ul l and st out i n body, wi t h smal l shoul der s, and

t hi n ar ms and l egs; i n shor t , t he l ast man whom Tom woul d have

chosen as bow i n a pai r oar . The onl y par t of hi m whi ch showed

st r engt h wer e hi s dar k whi sker s, whi ch wer e abundant , and

el abor at el y oi l ed and cur l ed. The r oom was l i ght and pl easant ,

wi t h t wo wi ndows l ooki ng over t he par k, and f ur ni shed

l uxur i ousl y, i n t he most moder n st yl e, wi t h al l manner of easy

chai r s and sof as. A gl azed case or t wo of wel l bound books,

showed t hat some f or mer owner had car ed f or such t hi ngs; but t he

door s had, pr obabl y, never been opened i n t he pr esent r ei gn. The

mast er and hi s usual vi si t or s f ound suf f i ci ent f ood f or t he mi nd

i n t he _Raci ng Cal endar _, " Boxi ana, " " The Advent ur es of

Cor i nt hi an Tom, " and _Bel l ' s Li f e_, whi ch l ay on a si de t abl e; or

i n t he pi ct ur es and pr i nt s of r acer s, oper a dancer s, and

Page 297 of 443

st eepl e- chases, whi ch hung i n pr of usi on on t he wal l s. The

br eakf ast t abl e was beaut i f ul l y appoi nt ed i n t he mat t er of chi na

and pl at e; and del i cat e l i t t l e r ol l s, neat pat s of but t er i n i ce,

t wo si l ver hot di shes cont ai ni ng cur r y and br oi l ed sal mon, and a

pl at e of f r ui t , pi l ed i n t empt i ng pr of usi on, appeal ed, appar ent l y

i n vai n, t o t he appet i t e of t he l or d of t he f east .

" Mr . Br own, si r , " sai d t he but l er , usher i ng i n our her o t o hi s

mast er ' s pr esence.

" Ah, Br own, I ' m ver y gl ad t o see you her e, " sai d Mr . Wur l ey,

st andi ng up and hol di ng out hi s hand. " Have any br eakf ast ?"

" Thank you, no, I have br eakf ast ed, " sai d Tom, somewhat

ast oni shed at t he i nt i macy of t he gr eet i ng; but i t was hi s cue t o

do t he f r i endl y t hi ng, - - so he t ook t he pr of f er ed hand, whi ch f el t

ver y l i mp, and sat down by t he t abl e, l ooki ng pl easant .

" Ri dden f r om home t hi s mor ni ng?" sai d Wur l ey, pi cki ng over

dai nt i l y some of t he cur r y t o whi ch he had hel ped hi msel f .

" No, I was at my uncl e' s, at Engl ebour n, l ast ni ght . I t i s ver y

l i t t l e out of t he way; so I t hought I woul d j ust cal l on my r oad

home. "

" Qui t e r i ght . I ' m ver y gl ad you came wi t hout cer emony. Peopl e

about her e ar e so d- d f ul l of cer emony. I t don' t sui t me, al l

t hat humbug. But I wi sh you' d j ust pi ck a bi t . "

" Thank you. Then I wi l l eat some f r ui t , " sai d Tom, hel pi ng

hi msel f t o some of t he f r eshl y pi cked gr apes; " how ver y f i ne

t hese ar e! "

" Yes, I ' m open t o back my houses agai nst t he f i el d f or t went y

mi l es r ound. Thi s cur r y i sn' t f i t f or a pi g- - Take i t out , and

t el l t he cook so. " The but l er sol emnl y obeyed, whi l e hi s mast er

went on wi t h one of t he f r equent oat hs wi t h whi ch he gar ni shed

hi s conver sat i on. " You' r e r i ght , t hey can' t spoi l t he f r ui t .

They' r e a set of skul ki ng devi l s, ar e ser vant s. They t hi nk of

not hi ng but st uf f i ng t hemsel ves, and how t hey can cheat you most ,

and do t he l east wor k. " Sayi ng whi ch, he hel ped hi msel f t o some

f r ui t ; and t he t wo at e t hei r gr apes f or a shor t t i me i n si l ence.

But even f r ui t seemed t o pal l qui ckl y on hi m, and he pushed away

hi s pl at e. The but l er came back wi t h a si l ver t r ay, wi t h soda

wat er , and a smal l decant er of br andy, and l ong gl asses on i t .

" Won' t you have somet hi ng af t er your r i de?" sai d t he host t o Tom;

" some soda wat er wi t h a dash of bi ngo cl ear s one' s head i n t he

mor ni ng. "

" No, t hank you, " sai d Tom, smi l i ng, " i t ' s bad f or t r ai ni ng. "

" Ah, you Oxf or d men ar e al l f or t r ai ni ng, " sai d hi s host ,

dr i nki ng gr eedi l y of t he f oami ng mi xt ur e whi ch t he but l er handed

t o hi m. " A gl ass of bi t t er al e i s what you t ake, eh? I know. Get

some al e f or Mr . Br own. "

Tom f el t t hat i t woul d be unci vi l t o r ef use t hi s or t hodox of f er ,

and t ook hi s beer accor di ngl y, af t er whi ch hi s host pr oduced a

box of Hudson' s r egal i as, and pr oposed t o l ook at t he st abl es. So

t hey l i ght ed t hei r ci gar s, and went out . Mr . Wur l ey had t aken of

l at e t o t he t ur f , and t hey i nspect ed sever al young hor ses whi ch

wer e ent er ed f or count r y st akes. Tom t hought t hem weedy - l ooki ng

ani mal s, but pat i ent l y l i st ened t o t hei r pr ai ses and pedi gr ees,

Page 298 of 443

upon whi ch hi s host was el oquent enough; and, r ubbi ng up hi s

l at est r eadi ngs i n _Bel l ' s Li f e_, and t he r aci ng t al k whi ch he

had been i n t he habi t of hear i ng i n Dr ysdal e' s r ooms, managed t o

hol d hi s own, and asked, wi t h a gr ave f ace, about t he pr i ce of

t he Cor onat i on col t f or t he next Der by, and whet her Scot t ' s l ot

was not t he r i ght t hi ng t o st and on f or t he St . Leger , t her eby

r ai si ng hi msel f consi der abl y i n hi s host ' s eyes. Ther e wer e no

hunt er s i n t he st abl e, at whi ch Tom expr essed hi s sur pr i se. I n

r epl y, Mr . Wur l ey abused t he count r y, and decl ar ed t hat i t was

not wor t h r i di ng acr oss, t he f act bei ng t hat he had l ost hi s

ner ve, and t hat t he r ecept i on whi ch he was begi nni ng t o meet wi t h

i n t he f i el d, i f he came out by chance, was of t he col dest .

Fr om t he st abl es t hey st r ol l ed t o t he keeper ' s cot t age, wher e Mr .

Wur l ey cal l ed f or some buckwheat and I ndi an cor n, and began

f eedi ng t he young pheasant s, whi ch wer e r unni ng about , al most

l i ke bar n- door f owl s, cl ose t o t hem.

" We' ve had a good season f or t he young bi r ds, " he sai d; " my

f el l ow knows t hat par t of hi s busi ness, d- - n hi m, and don' t l ose

many. You had bet t er br i ng your gun over i n Oct ober ; we shal l

have a week i n t he cover s ear l y i n t he mont h. "

" Thank you, I shal l be ver y gl ad, " sai d Tom; " but you don' t shoot

t hese bi r ds?"

" Shoot ' em! what t he devi l shoul d I do wi t h ' em?"

" Why, t hey' r e so t ame I t hought you j ust kept t hem about t he

house f or br eedi ng. I don' t car e so much f or pheasant shoot i ng; I

l i ke a good wal k af t er a sni pe, or cr eepi ng al ong t o get a wi l d

duck much bet t er . Ther e' s some spor t i n i t , or even i n par t r i dge

shoot i ng wi t h a coupl e of good dogs, now- - "

" You' r e qui t e wr ong. Ther e' s not hi ng l i ke a good dr y r i de i n a

cover wi t h l ot s of game, and a f el l ow behi nd t o l oad f or you. "

" Wel l , I must say, I pr ef er t he open. "

" You' ve no cover s over your way, have you?"

" Not many. "

" I t hought so. You wai t t i l l you' ve had a good day i n my cover s,

and you won' t car e f or quar t er i ng al l day over wet t ur ni ps.

Besi des, t hi s sor t of t hi ng pays. They t al k about pheasant s

cost i ng a gui nea a head on one' s t abl e. I t ' s al l st uf f ; at any

r at e, mi ne don' t cost _me_ much. I n f act , I say i t pays, and I

can pr ove i t . "

" But you f eed your pheasant s?"

" Yes, j ust r ound t he house f or a f ew weeks, and I sow a l i t t l e

buckwheat i n t he cover s. But t hey have t o keep t hemsel ves pr et t y

much, I can t el l you. "

" Don' t t he f ar mer s obj ect ?"

" Yes, d- n t hem; t hey' r e never sat i sf i ed. But t hey don' t gr umbl e

t o me; t hey know bet t er . Ther e ar e a dozen f el l ows r eady t o t ake

any f ar m t hat ' s gi ven up, and t hey know i t . Just get a beggar t o

put a hundr ed or t wo i nt o t he gr ound, and he won' t qui t hol d i n a

hur r y. Wi l l you pl ay a game at bi l l i ar ds?"

Page 299 of 443

The t ur n whi ch t hei r conver sat i on had t aken hi t her t o had of f er ed

no openi ng t o Tom f or i nt r oduci ng t he obj ect of hi s vi si t , and he

f el t l ess and l ess i ncl i ned t o come t o t he poi nt . He l ooked hi s

host over and over agai n, and t he mor e he l ooked t he l ess he

f anci ed aski ng anyt hi ng l i ke a f avor of hi m. However , as i t had

t o be done, he t hought he coul dn' t do bet t er t han f al l i nt o hi s

ways f or a f ew hour s, and wat ch f or a chance. The man seemed good

nat ur ed i n hi s way; and al l hi s bel ongi ngs- - t he f i ne par k and

house, and gar dens and st abl es- - wer e not wi t hout t hei r ef f ect on

hi s young guest . I t i s not gi ven t o many men of t wi ce hi s age t o

separ at e a man f r om hi s possessi ons, and l ook at hi m apar t f r om

t hem. So he yi el ded easi l y enough, and t hey went t o bi l l i ar ds i n

a f i ne r oom openi ng out of t he hal l ; and Tom, who was ver y f ond

of t he game, soon f or got ever yt hi ng i n t he pl easur e of pl ayi ng on

such a t abl e.

I t was not a bad mat ch. Mr . Wur l ey under st ood t he game f ar bet t er

t han hi s guest , and coul d gi ve hi m advi ce as t o what si de t o put

on and how t o pl ay f or cannons. Thi s he di d i n a pat r oni zi ng way,

but hi s hand was unst eady and hi s ner ve bad. Tom' s good eye and

st eady hand, and t he pr act i ce he had had at t he St . Ambr ose

pool - t abl e, gave hi m consi der abl e advant age i n t he hazar ds. And

so t hey pl ayed on, Mr . Wur l ey condescendi ng t o bet onl y

hal f - a- cr own a game, at f i r st gi vi ng t en poi nt s, and t hen f i ve,

at whi ch l at t er odds Tom managed t o be t wo games ahead when t he

but l er announced l unch, at t wo o' cl ock.

" I t hi nk I must or der my hor se, " sai d Tom, put t i ng on hi s coat .

" No, cur se i t , you must gi ve me my r evenge. I ' m al ways f i ve

poi nt s bet t er af t er l unch, and af t er di nner I coul d gi ve you

f i f t een poi nt s. Why shoul dn' t you st op and di ne and sl eep? I

expect some men t o di nner . "

" Thank you, I must get home t o- day. "

" I shoul d l i ke you t o t ast e my mut t on; I never ki l l i t f i ve year s

ol d. You don' t get t hat ever y day. "

Tom, however , was pr oof agai nst t he mut t on; but consent ed t o st ay

t i l l t owar ds t he hour when t he ot her guest s wer e expect ed,

f i ndi ng t hat hi s host had a deci ded obj ect i on t o be l ef t al one.

So af t er l unch, at whi ch Mr . Wur l ey dr ank t he bet t er par t of a

bot t l e of ol d sher r y t o st eady hi s ner ves, t hey r et ur ned agai n t o

bi l l i ar ds and Hudson' s r egal i as.

They pl ayed on f or anot her hour ; and, t hough Mr . Wur l ey' s hand

was cer t ai nl y st eadi er , t he l uck r emai ned wi t h Tom. He was now

get t i ng r at her t i r ed of pl ayi ng, and want ed t o be l eavi ng, and he

began t o r emember t he obj ect of hi s vi si t agai n. But Mr . Wur l ey

was net t l ed at bei ng beat en by a boy, as he count ed hi s opponent ,

and woul dn' t hear of l eavi ng of f . So Tom pl ayed on car el essl y

game af t er game, and was soon agai n onl y t wo games ahead. Mr .

Wur l ey' s t emper was r ecover i ng, and Tom pr ot est ed t hat he must

go. Just one game mor e, hi s host ur ged, and Tom consent ed.

Woul dn' t he pl ay f or a sover ei gn? No. So t hey pl ayed doubl e or

qui t s; and af t er a shar p st r uggl e Mr . Wur l ey won t he game, at

whi ch he was hi ghl y el at ed, and t al ked agai n gr andl y of t he odds

he coul d gi ve af t er di nner .

Tom f el t t hat i t was now or never , and so, as he put on hi s coat ,

he sai d, - -

" Wel l , I ' m much obl i ged t o you f or a ver y pl easant day, Mr .

Page 300 of 443

Wur l ey. "

" I hope you' l l come over agai n, and st ay and sl eep. I shal l

al ways be gl ad t o see you. I t i s so cur sed har d t o keep somebody

al ways goi ng i n t he count r y. "

" Thank you; I shoul d l i ke t o come agai n. But now I want t o ask a

f avor of you bef or e I go. "

" Eh, wel l , what i s i t ?" sai d Mr . Wur l ey, whose f ace and manner

became suddenl y anyt hi ng but encour agi ng.

" Ther e' s t hat cot t age of your s, t he one at t he cor ner of

Engl ebour n copse, next t he vi l l age. "

" The woodman' s house, I know, " sai d Mr . Wur l ey.

" The t enant i s dead, and I want you t o l et i t t o a f r i end of

mi ne; I ' l l t ake car e t he r ent i s pai d. "

Mr . Wur l ey pr i cked up hi s ear s at t hi s announcement . He gave a

shar p l ook at Tom; and t hen bent over t he t abl e, made a st r oke,

and sai d, " Ah, I hear d t he ol d woman was dead. Who' s your f r i end,

t hen?"

" Wel l , I mean her son, " sai d Tom, somewhat embar r assed; " he' s an

act i ve young f el l ow, and wi l l make a good t enant ; I ' m sur e. "

" I dar esay, " sai d Mr . Wur l ey, wi t h a l eer ; " and I suppose t her e' s

a si st er t o keep house f or hi m, eh?"

" No, but he want s t o get mar r i ed. "

" Want s t o get mar r i ed, eh?" sai d Mr . Wur l ey, wi t h anot her l eer

and oat h. " You' r e r i ght ; t hat ' s a deal saf er ki nd of t hi ng f or

you. "

" Yes, " sai d Tom, r esol ut el y di sr egar di ng t he i nsi nuat i on, whi ch

he coul d not hel p f eel i ng was i nt ended; " i t wi l l keep hi m st eady,

and i f he can get t he cot t age i t mi ght make al l t he di f f er ence.

Ther e woul dn' t be much t r oubl e about t he mar r i age t hen, I dar e

say. "

" You' l l f i nd i t a devi l i sh l ong way. You' r e qui t e r i ght , mi nd

you, not t o get t hem set t l ed cl ose at home; but Engl ebour n i s t oo

f ar , I shoul d say. "

" What does i t mat t er t o me?"

" Oh, you' r e t i r ed of her ! I see. Per haps i t won' t be t oo f ar ,

t hen. "

" Ti r ed of her ! who do you mean?"

" Ha, ha! " sai d Mr . Wur l ey, l ooki ng up f r om t he t abl e over whi ch

he was l eani ng, f or he went on knocki ng t he bal l s about ;

" devi l i sh wel l act ed! But you needn' t t r y t o come t he ol d sol di er

over me. I ' m not qui t e such a f ool as t hat . "

" I don' t know what you mean by comi ng t he ol d sol di er . I onl y

asked you t o l et t he cot t age, and I wi l l be r esponsi bl e f or t he

r ent . I ' l l pay i n advance i f you l i ke. "

" Yes, you want me t o l et t he cot t age f or you t o put i n t hi s

Page 301 of 443

gi r l ?"

" I beg your par don, " sai d Tom, i nt er r upt i ng hi m, and scar cel y

abl e t o keep hi s t emper ; " I t ol d you i t was f or t hi s young

Wi nbur n. "

" Of cour se you t ol d me so. Ha, ha! "

" And you don' t bel i eve me. "

" Come, now, al l ' s f ai r i n l ove and war . But , I t el l you, you

needn' t be meal y- mout hed wi t h me. You don' t mi nd hi s l i vi ng

t her e; he' s away at wor k al l day, eh? and hi s wi f e st ays at

home. "

" Mr . Wur l ey, I gi ve you my honor I never saw t he gi r l i n my l i f e

t hat I know of , and I don' t know t hat she wi l l mar r y hi m. "

" What di d you t al k about your f r i end f or , t hen?" sai d Mr . Wur l ey,

st oppi ng and st ar i ng at Tom, cur i osi t y begi nni ng t o mi ngl e wi t h

hi s l ook of cunni ng unbel i ef .

" Because I meant j ust what I sai d. "

" And t he f r i end, t hen?"

" I have t ol d you sever al t i mes t hat t hi s young Wi nbur n i s t he

man. "

" What , _your f r i end_?"

" Yes, my f r i end, " sai d; Tom; and he f el t hi msel f get t i ng r ed at

havi ng t o cal l Har r y hi s f r i end i n such company. Mr . Wur l ey

l ooked at hi m f or a f ew moment s, and t hen t ook hi s l eg of f t he

bi l l i ar d t abl e, and came r ound t o Tom wi t h t he sor t of

pat r oni zi ng ai r wi t h whi ch he had l ect ur ed hi m on bi l l i ar ds.

" I say, Br own, I ' l l gi ve you a pi ece of advi ce, " he sai d. " You' r e

a young f el l ow, and haven' t seen anyt hi ng of t he wor l d. Oxf or d' s

al l ver y wel l , but i t i sn' t t he wor l d. Now I t el l you, a young

f el l ow can' t do hi msel f gr eat er har m t han get t i ng i nt o l ow

company and t al ki ng as you have been t al ki ng. I t mi ght r ui n you

i n t he count y. That sor t of r adi cal st uf f won' t do, you know,

cal l i ng a f ar m l abor er your f r i end. "

Tom chaf ed at t hi s advi ce f r om a man who, he wel l knew, was

not or i ousl y i n t he habi t of ent er t ai ni ng at hi s house, and l i vi ng

f ami l i ar l y wi t h, bet t i ng men and t r ai ner s, and al l t he r i f f - r af f

of t he t ur f . But he r est r ai ned hi msel f by a consi der abl e ef f or t ,

and, i nst ead of r et or t i ng, as he f el t i ncl i ned t o do, sai d, wi t h

an at t empt t o l augh i t of f , " Thank you, I don' t t hi nk t her e' s

much f ear of me t ur ni ng r adi cal . But wi l l you l et me t he

cot t age?"

" My agent manages al l t hat . We t al ked about pul l i ng i t down. The

cot t age i s i n my pr eser ves, and I don' t mean t o have some

poachi ng f el l ow t her e t o be sneaki ng out at ni ght af t er my

pheasant s. "

" But hi s gr andf at her and gr eat - gr andf at her l i ved t her e. "

" I dar e say, but i t ' s my cot t age. "

" But sur el y t hat gi ves hi m a cl ai m t o i t . "

Page 302 of 443

" D- n i t ! i t ' s my cot t age. You' r e not goi ng t o t el l me I mayn' t do

what I l i ke wi t h i t , I suppose. "

" I onl y sai d t hat hi s f ami l y havi ng l i ved t her e so l ong gi ves hi m

a cl ai m. "

" A cl ai m t o what ? These ar e some mor e of your cur sed r adi cal

not i ons. I t hi nk t hey mi ght t each you somet hi ng bet t er at

Oxf or d. "

Tom was now per f ect l y cool , but wi t hal i n such a t r emendous f ur y

of exci t ement t hat he f or got t he i nt er est s of hi s cl i ent

al t oget her .

" I came her e, si r , " he sai d, ver y qui et l y and sl owl y, " not t o

r equest your advi ce on my own account , or your opi ni on on t he

st udi es of Oxf or d, val uabl e as no doubt t hey ar e; I came t o ask

you t o l et t hi s cot t age t o me, and I wi sh t o have your answer . "

" I ' l l be d- d i f I do; t her e' s my answer . "

" Ver y wel l , " sai d Tom; " t hen I have onl y t o wi sh you good

mor ni ng. I am sor r y t o have wast ed a day i n t he company of a man

who set s up f or a count r y gent l eman wi t h t he t ongue of a Thames

bar gee and t he hear t of a Jew pawn- br oker . "

Mr . Wur l ey r ushed t o t he bel l and r ang i t f ur i ousl y.

" By - - ! " he al most scr eamed, shaki ng hi s f i st at Tom, " I ' l l have

you hor se- whi pped out of my house; " and t hen pour ed f or t h a f l ood

of uncompl i ment ar y sl ang, endi ng i n anot her pul l at t he bel l , and

" By - - ! I ' l l have you hor se- whi pped out of my house. "

" You had bet t er t r y i t on- - you and your f l unkeys t oget her , " sai d

Tom, t aki ng a ci gar case out of hi s pocket and l i ght i ng up, t he

most def i ant and exasper at i ng act i on he coul d t hi nk of on t he

spur of t he moment . " Her e' s one of t hem; so I ' l l l eave you t o

gi ve hi m hi s or der s, and wai t f i ve mi nut es i n t he hal l , wher e

t her e' s mor e r oom. " And so, l eavi ng t he f oot man gapi ng at hi s

l or d, he t ur ned on hi s heel , wi t h t he ai r of Ber nar do del Car pi o

af t er he had bear ded Ki ng Al phonso, and wal ked i nt o t he hal l .

He hear d men r unni ng t o and f r o, and door s bangi ng, as he st ood

t her e l ooki ng at t he ol d buf f - coat s, and r at her t hi r st i ng f or a

f i ght . Pr esent l y a door opened, and t he por t l y but l er shuf f l ed

i n, l ooki ng consi der abl y embar r assed, and sai d, - -

" Pl ease, si r , t o go out qui et , el se he' l l be havi ng one of hi s

f i t s. "

" Your mast er , you mean. "

" Yes, si r , " sai d t he but l er , noddi ng, " D. T. , si r . Af t er one of

hi s r ages t he bl ack dog comes, and i t ' s hawf ul wor k, so I hope

you' l l go, si r . "

" Ver y wel l , of cour se I ' l l go. I don' t want t o gi ve hi m f i t . "

Sayi ng whi ch, Tom wal ked out of t he hal l - door , and l ei sur el y

r ound t o t he st abl es, wher e he f ound al r eady si gns of commot i on.

Wi t hout r egar di ng t hem, he got hi s hor se saddl ed and br i dl ed,

and, af t er l ooki ng hi m over car ef ul l y, and pat t i ng hi m, and

f eel i ng hi s gi r t hs i n t he yar d, i n t he pr esence of a cl ust er of

r et ai ner s of one sor t or anot her , who wer e gat her ed f r om t he

Page 303 of 443

house and of f i ces, and l ooki ng sor el y puzzl ed whet her t o commence

host i l i t i es or not , mount ed and wal ked qui et l y out .

Af t er hi s anger had been a l i t t l e cool ed by t he f r esh ai r of t he

wi l d count r y at t he back of Hawk' s Lynch, whi ch he st r uck i nt o on

hi s way home soon af t er l eavi ng t he par k, i t suddenl y occur r ed t o

hi m t hat , however sat i sf act or y t o hi msel f t he r esul t s of hi s

encount er wi t h t hi s unj ust l andl or d mi ght seem, t hey woul d

pr obabl y pr ove anyt hi ng but agr eeabl e t o t he woul d- be t enant ,

Har r y Wi nbur n. I n f act , as he medi t at ed on t he mat t er , i t became

cl ear t o hi m t hat i n t he cour se of one mor ni ng he had pr obabl y

exasper at ed ol d Si mon agai nst hi s aspi r ant son- i n- l aw, and put a

ser i ous spoke i n Har r y' s l ove- wheel , on t he one hand, whi l e on

t he ot her , he had ensur ed hi s speedy expul si on f r om hi s cot t age,

i f not t he demol i t i on of t hat bui l di ng. Wher eupon he became

somewhat l ow under t he convi ct i on t hat hi s f r i endshi p, whi ch was

t o wor k such wonder s f or t he sai d Har r y, and del i ver hi m out of

al l hi s t r oubl es, had as yet onl y made hi s whol e l ook - out i n t he

wor l d ver y much dar ker and mor e dust y. I n shor t , as yet he had

managed t o do consi der abl y l ess t han not hi ng f or hi s f r i end, and

he f el t ver y smal l bef or e he got home t hat eveni ng. He was f ar ,

however , f r om bei ng pr epar ed f or t he ser i ous way i n whi ch hi s

f at her l ooked upon hi s day' s pr oceedi ngs. Mr . Br own was si t t i ng

by hi msel f af t er di nner when hi s son t ur ned up, and had t o dr i nk

sever al ext r a gl asses of por t t o keep hi msel f decent l y composed,

whi l e Tom nar r at ed t he event s of t he day i n t he i nt er val s of hi s

at t acks on t he di nner , whi ch was br ought back f or hi m. When t he

ser vant had cl ear ed away, Mr . Br own pr oceeded t o comment on t he

hi st or y i n a most deci ded manner .

Tom was wr ong t o go t o t he Gr ange i n t he f i r st i nst ance; and t hi s

par t of t he homi l y was ampl i f i ed by a di scour se on t he cor r upt i on

of t he t ur f i n gener al , and t he speci al cur se of smal l count r y

r aces i n par t i cul ar , whi ch such men as Wur l ey suppor t ed, and

whi ch, but f or t hem, woul d cease. Raci ng, whi ch used t o be t he

past i me of gr eat peopl e, who coul d wel l af f or d t o spend a f ew

t housands a year on t hei r pl easur e, had now most l y f al l en i nt o

t he hands of t he ver y wor st and l owest men of al l cl asses, most

of whom woul d not scr upl e- - as Mr . Br own st r ongl y put i t - - t o st eal

a copper out of a bl i nd beggar ' s hat . I f he must go, at any r at e

he mi ght have done hi s er r and and come away, i nst ead of st ayi ng

t her e al l day accept i ng t he man' s hospi t al i t y. Mr . Br own hi msel f

r eal l y shoul d be much embar r assed t o know what t o do i f t he man

shoul d happen t o at t end t he next sessi ons or assi zes.

But , above al l , havi ng accept ed hi s hospi t al i t y, t o t ur n r ound at

t he end and i nsul t t he man i n hi s own house? Thi s seemed t o

Br own, J. P. , a monst r ous and ast oundi ng per f or mance.

Thi s new way of put t i ng mat t er s t ook Tom ent i r el y by sur pr i se. He

at t empt ed a def ense, but i n vai n. Hi s f at her admi t t ed t hat i t

woul d be a har d case i f Har r y wer e t ur ned out of hi s cot t age, but

whol l y r ef used t o l i st en t o Tom' s endeavor s t o pr ove t hat a

t enant i n such a case had any cl ai m or r i ght as agai nst hi s

l andl or d. A weekl y t enant was a weekl y t enant , and no successi on

of weeks' hol di ng coul d make hi m anyt hi ng mor e. Tom f ound hi msel f

r ushi ng i nt o a l i ne of ar gument whi ch ast oni shed hi msel f and

sounded wi l d, but i n whi ch he f el t sur e t her e was some t r ut h, and

whi ch, t her ef or e, he woul d not abandon, t hough hi s f at her was

evi dent l y annoyed, and cal l ed i t mer e mi schi evous sent i ment . Each

was mor e moved t han he woul d have l i ked t o own; each i n hi s own

hear t f el t aggr i eved and bl amed t he ot her f or not under st andi ng

hi m. But , t hough obst i nat e on t he gener al quest i on, upon t he

poi nt of hi s l eavi ng t he Gr ange, Tom was f ai r l y br ought t o shame,

Page 304 of 443

and gave i n at l ust , and expr essed hi s sor r ow, t hough he coul d

not hel p mai nt ai ni ng t hat , i f hi s f at her coul d have hear d what

t ook pl ace and seen t he man' s manner , he woul d scar cel y bl ame hi m

f or what he had sai d and done. Havi ng owned hi msel f i n t he wr ong,

however , t her e was not hi ng f or i t but t o wr i t e an apol ogy, t he

composi t i on of whi ch was as di sagr eeabl e a t ask as had ever

f al l en t o hi s l ot .

CHAPTER XXXI V

[ Gr eek t ext ] MEHDEN AGAN

Has any per son of any nat i on or l anguage, f ound out and gi ven t o

t he wor l d any occupat i on, wor k, di ver si on, or pur sui t , mor e

subt l el y danger ous t o t he suscept i bl e yout h of bot h sexes t han

t hat of nut t i ng i n pai r s. I f so, who, wher e, what ? A f ew year s

l at er i n l i f e per haps di st r i ct vi si t i ng, and at t endi ng school s

t oget her , may i n cer t ai n i nst ances be mor e f at al ; but , i n t he

f i r st br i ght days of yout h, a day' s nut t i ng agai nst t he wor l d! A

day i n aut umn, war m enough t o make si t t i ng i n t he shel t er ed nooks

i n t he woods, wher e ever t he sunshi ne l i es, ver y pl easant , and

yet not t oo war m t o make exer ci se uncomf or t abl e- - t wo young peopl e

who have been t hr own much t oget her , one of whom i s consci ous of

t he st at e of hi s f eel i ngs t owar ds t he ot her , and i s, mor eover ,

awar e t hat hi s hour s ar e number ed, and t hat i n a f ew days at

f ur t hest t hey wi l l be separ at ed f or many mont hs, t hat per sons i n

aut hor i t y on bot h si des ar e begi nni ng t o suspect somet hi ng ( as i s

appar ent f r om t he di f f i cul t y t hey have had i n get t i ng away

t oget her at al l on t hi s same af t er noon) her e i s a conj unct i on of

per sons and ci r cumst ances, i f ever t her e was one i n t he wor l d,

whi ch i s sur el y l i kel y t o end i n a cat ast r ophe. I ndeed, so

obvi ous t o t he meanest capaci t y i s t he danger of t he si t uat i on,

t hat , as Tom had, i n hi s own mi nd, st aked hi s char act er f or

r esol ut i on wi t h hi s pr i vat e sel f on t he keepi ng of hi s secr et

t i l l af t er he was of age, i t i s har d t o concei ve how he can have

been f ool i sh enough t o get hi msel f i nt o a hazel copse al one wi t h

Mi ss Mar y on t he ear l i est day he coul d manage i t af t er t he

ar r i val of t he Por t er s, on t hei r vi si t t o Mr . and Mr s. Br own.

That i s t o say, i t woul d be har d t o concei ve, i f i t di dn' t j ust

happen t o be t he most nat ur al t hi ng i n t he wor l d.

For t he f i r st t went y- f our hour s af t er t hei r meet i ng i n t he home

of hi s f at her s, t he t wo young peopl e, and Tom i n par t i cul ar , f el t

ver y uncomf or t abl e. Mar y, bei ng a young l ady of ver y hi gh

spi r i t s, and, as our r eader s may pr obabl y have di scover ed, much

gi ven t o t hat ki nd of conver sat i on whi ch bor der s as near l y upon

what men commonl y cal l chaf f as a wel l - br ed gi r l can vent ur e on,

was annoyed t o f i nd her sel f qui t e at f aul t i n al l her at t empt s t o

get her ol d ant agoni st of Commemor at i on t o show f i ght . She f el t

i n a moment how changed hi s manner was, and t hought i t by no

means changed f or t he bet t er . As f or Tom, he f el t f ool i sh and shy

at f i r st , t o an ext ent whi ch dr ove hi m hal f wi l d; hi s wor ds st uck

i n hi s t hr oat , and he t ook t o bl ushi ng agai n l i ke a boy of

f our t een. I n f act , he got so angr y wi t h hi msel f t hat he r at her

avoi ded her act ual pr esence, t hough she was scar cel y a moment out

of hi s si ght . Mr . Br own made t he best of hi s son' s r et r eat ,

devot ed hi msel f most gal l ant l y t o Mar y, and was compl et el y

capt i vat ed by her bef or e bedt i me on t he f i r st ni ght of t hei r

vi si t . He t r i umphed over hi s wi f e when t hey wer e al one, and

l aughed at t he gr oundl essness of her suspi ci ons. But she was by

no means so sat i sf i ed on t he subj ect as her husband.

Page 305 of 443

I n a day or t wo, however , Tom began t o t ake hear t of gr ace, and

t o f i nd hi msel f of t ener at Mar y' s si de, wi t h somet hi ng t o say,

and mor e t o l ook. But now she, i n her t ur n, began t o be

embar r assed; f or al l at t empt s t o r e- est abl i sh t hei r ol d f oot i ng

f ai l ed, and t he di f f i cul t y of f i ndi ng a sat i sf act or y new one

r emai ned t o be sol ved. So f or t he pr esent , t hough nei t her of t hem

f ound i t qui t e sat i sf act or y, t hey t ook r ef uge i n t he pr esence of

a t hi r d par t y, and at t ached t hemsel ves t o Kat i e, t al ki ng at one

anot her t hr ough her . Not hi ng coul d exceed Kat i e' s j udi ci ousness

as a medi um of communi cat i on; and t hr ough her a bet t er

under st andi ng began t o est abl i sh i t sel f , and t he vi si t whi ch bot h

of t hem had been l ooki ng f or war d t o so eager l y seemed l i kel y,

af t er al l , t o be as pl easant i n f act as i t had been i n

ant i ci pat i on. As t hey became mor e at ease, t he vi gi l ance of Mr s.

Br own and Mr s. Por t er seemed l i kel y t o r evi ve. But i n a count r y

house t her e must be pl ent y of chances f or young f ol ks who mean

i t , t o be t oget her ; and so t hey f ound and made use of t hei r

oppor t uni t i es, gi vi ng at t he same t i me as l i t t l e cause t o t hei r

nat ur al guar di ans as possi bl e f or any ser i ous i nt er f er ence. The

f ami l i es got on, on t he whol e, so wel l t oget her , t hat t he vi si t

was pr ol onged f r om t he or i gi nal f our or f i ve days t o a f or t ni ght ;

and t hi s t i me of gr ace was dr awi ng t o a cl ose when t he event

happened whi ch made t he vi si t memor abl e t o our her o.

On t he mor ni ng i n quest i on, Mr . Br own ar r anged at br eakf ast t hat

he and hi s wi f e shoul d dr i ve Mr . and Mr s. Por t er t o make cal l s on

sever al of t he nei ghbor s. Tom decl ar ed hi s i nt ent i on of t aki ng a

l ong day af t er t he par t r i dges, and t he young l adi es wer e t o go

and make a sket ch of t he house f r om a poi nt whi ch Kat i e had

chosen. Accor di ngl y, di r ect l y af t er l uncheon, t he car r i age came

r ound, and t he el der s depar t ed; and t he young l adi es st ar t ed

t oget her , car r yi ng t hei r sket chi ng appar at us wi t h t hem.

I t was pr obabl y a bad day f or scent ; f or t hey had not been gone a

quar t er of an hour when Tom came home, deposi t ed hi s gun, and

f ol l owed on t hei r st eps. He f ound t hem si t t i ng under t he l ee of a

hi gh bank, suf f i ci ent l y i nt ent on t hei r dr awi ngs, but nei t her

sur pr i sed nor sor r y t o f i nd t hat he had al t er ed hi s mi nd, and

come back t o i nt er r upt t hem. So he l ay down near t hem, and t al ked

of Oxf or d and Engl ebour n, and so f r om one t hi ng t o anot her , t i l l

he got upon t he subj ect of nut t i ng, and t he syl van beaut i es of a

nei ghbour i ng wood. Mar y was get t i ng on badl y wi t h her dr awi ng,

and j umped at t he i dea of a r ambl e i n t he wood; but Kat i e was

obdur at e, and r esi st ed al l t hei r sol i ci t at i ons t o move. She

suggest ed, however , t hat t hey mi ght go; and, as Tom decl ar ed t hat

t hey shoul d not be out of cal l , and woul d be back i n hal f an hour

at f ur t hest , Mar y consent ed; and t hey l ef t t he sket cher and

st r ol l ed t oget her out of t he f i el ds, and i nt o t he r oad, and so

t hr ough a gat e i nt o t he wood. I t was a pl easant oak wood. The

wi l d f l ower s wer e over , but t he gr eat masses of f er ns, f our or

f i ve f eet hi gh, made a gr and car pet r ound t he st ems of t he f or est

monar chs, and a f i t t i ng couch f or her e and t her e one of t hem

whi ch had been l at el y f el l ed, and l ay i n f al l en maj est y, wi t h

bar e shr ouded t r unk awai t i ng t he sawyer s. Fur t her on, t he hazel

under wood st ood t hi ckl y on each si de of t he gr een r i des, down

whi ch t hey saunt er ed si de by si de. Tom t al ked of t he beaut y of

t he wood i n spr i ng- t i me, and t he gl or i ous successi on of

col our i ng- - pal e yel l ow, and deep bl ue and whi t e, and

pur pl e- - whi ch t he pr i mr oses, and hyaci nt hs and st ar wor t , and

f oxgl oves gave, each i n t hei r t ur n, i n t he ear l y year , and

mour ned over t hei r absence. But Mar y pr ef er r ed Aut umn, and woul d

not agr ee wi t h hi m. She was ent husi ast i c f or f er ns and heat her .

He gat her ed some spr i gs of t he l at t er f or her , f r om a l i t t l e

sandy pat ch whi ch t hey passed, and some mor e f or hi s own

Page 306 of 443

but t on- hol e, and t hen t hey engaged i n t he absor bi ng pur sui t of

nut t i ng, and t he t al k al most ceased. He caught t he hi gher

br anches, and bent t hem down t o her , and wat ched her as she

gat her ed t hem, and wonder ed at t he ease and gr ace of al l her

movement s, and t he unconsci ous beaut y of her at t i t udes. Soon she

became mor e ent er pr i si ng her sel f , and made l i t t l e excur si ons i nt o

t he copse, sur mount i ng br i er s, and passi ng t hr ough t angl ed pl aces

l i ke a Nai ad, bef or e he coul d be t her e t o hel p her . And so t hey

went on, al ong t he r i des and t hr ough t he copse, f or get t i ng Kat i e

and t i me, t i l l t hey wer e br ought up by t he f ence on t he f ur t her

si de of t he wood. The di t ch was on t he out si de, and on t he i nsi de

a bank wi t h a hedge on t he t op, f ul l of t empt i ng hazel - bushes.

She cl apped her hands at t he si ght , and, decl i ni ng hi s hel p,

st epped l i ght l y up t he bank and began gat her i ng. He t ur ned away

f or a moment , j umped up t he bank hi msel f , and f ol l owed her

exampl e.

He was st andi ng up i n t he hedge, and r eachi ng af t er a t empt i ng

cl ust er of nut s, when he hear d a shor t shar p cr y of pai n behi nd

hi m, whi ch made hi m spr i ng backwar ds, and near l y mi ss hi s f oot i ng

as he came t o t he gr ound. Recover i ng hi msel f , and t ur ni ng r ound,

he saw Mar y l yi ng at t he f oot of t he bank, wr i t hi ng i n pai n.

He was at her si de i n a mi nut e and dr eadf ul l y al ar med.

" Good heavens! what has happened?" he sai d.

" My ankl e! " she cr i ed; and t he ef f or t of speaki ng br ought t he

sudden f l ush of pai n t o her br ow.

" Oh! what can I do?"

" The boot ! t he boot ! " she sai d, l eani ng f or war d t o unl ace i t , and

t hen si nki ng back agai nst t he bank. " I t i s so pai nf ul . I hope I

sha' n' t f ai nt ! "

Poor Tom coul d onl y cl asp hi s hands as he knel t by her , and

r epeat , " Oh, what can I do- - what can I do?" Hi s ut t er

bewi l der ment pr esent l y ar oused Mar y, and her nat ur al hi gh cour age

was begi nni ng t o mast er t he pai n.

" Have you a kni f e?"

" Yes her e, " he sai d, pul l i ng one out of hi s pocket , and openi ng

i t ; " her e i t i s. "

" Pl ease cut t he l ace. "

Tom, wi t h beat i ng hear t and t r embl i ng hand, cut t he l ace and t hen

l ooked up at her .

" Oh, be qui ck- - cut i t agai n! Don' t be af r ai d. "

He cut i t agai n; and, wi t hout t aki ng hol d of t he f oot , gent l y

pul l ed out t he ends of t he l ace.

She agai n l eaned f or war d, and t r i ed t o t ake of f t he boot ; but t he

pai n was t oo gr eat , and she sank back, and put her hand up t o her

f l ushed f ace.

" May I t r y?- - per haps I coul d do i t . "

" Yes, pr ay do. Oh, I can' t bear t he pai n! " she added, next

moment ; and Tom f el t r eady t o hang hi msel f f or havi ng been t he

Page 307 of 443

cause of i t .

" You must cut t he boot of f , pl ease. "

" But per haps I may cut you. Do you r eal l y mean i t ?"

" Yes, r eal l y. Ther e, t ake car e. How your hand shakes. You wi l l

never do f or a doct or . "

Hi s hand di d shake, cer t ai nl y. He had cut a l i t t l e hol e t he

st ocki ng; but , under t he ci r cumst ances, we need not wonder - - t he

si t uat i on was new and t r yi ng. Ur ged on by her , he cut and cut

away, and, at l ast , of f came t he boot , and her beaut i f ul l i t t l e

f oot l ay on t he gr een t ur f . She was much r el i eved at once, but

st i l l i n gr eat pai n; and now he began t o r ecover hi s head.

" The ankl e shoul d be bound up; may I t r y?"

" Oh, yes; but what wi t h?"

Tom di ved i nt o hi s shoot i ng- coat pocket , and pr oduced one of t he

l ar ge, many- col or ed neck- wr apper s whi ch wer e f ashi onabl e at

Oxf or d i n t hose days.

" How l ucky! " he sai d, as he t or e i t i nt o st r i ps. " I t hi nk t hi s

wi l l do. Now, you' l l st op me, won' t you, i f I hur t you, or don' t

do i t r i ght ?"

" Don' t be af r ai d, I ' m much bet t er . Bi nd i t t i ght , t i ght er t han

t hat . "

He wound t he st r i ps as t ender l y as he coul d r ound her f oot and

ankl e, wi t h hands al l al i ve wi t h ner ves, and wonder i ng mor e and

mor e at her cour age as she kept ur gi ng hi m t o dr aw t he bandage

t i ght er yet . Then, st i l l under her di r ect i on, he f ast ened and

pi nned down t he ends; and as he was r at her neat wi t h hi s f i nger s,

f r om t he pr act i ce of t yi ng f l i es and spl i ci ng r ods and bat s,

pr oduced, on t he whol e, a cr edi t abl e sor t of bandage. Then he

l ooked up at her , t he per spi r at i on st andi ng on hi s f or ehead, as

i f he had been pul l i ng a r ace, and sai d,

" Wi l l t hat do? I ' m af r ai d i t ' s ver y awkwar d. "

" Oh, no; t hank you so much! But I ' m so sor r y you have t or n your

handker chi ef . "

Tom made no answer t o t hi s r emar k, except by a l ook. What coul d

he say, but t hat he woul d gl adl y have t or n hi s ski n of f f or t he

same pur pose, i f i t woul d have been of any use. But t hi s speech

di d not seem qui t e t he t hi ng f or t he moment .

" But how do you f eel ? I s i t ver y pai nf ul ?" he asked.

" Rat her . But don' t l ook so anxi ous. I ndeed, i t i s ver y bear abl e.

But what ar e we t o do now?"

He t hought f or a moment , and sai d, wi t h somet hi ng l i ke a si gh- -

" Shal l I r un home, and br i ng t he ser vant s and a sof a, or

somet hi ng t o car r y you on?"

" No, I shoul dn' t l i ke t o be l ef t her e al one. "

Hi s f ace br i ght ened agai n.

Page 308 of 443

" How near i s t he near est cot t age?" she asked.

" Ther e' s none near er t han t he one whi ch we passed on t he r oad- - on

t he ot her si de of t he wood, you know. "

" Then I must t r y t o get t her e. You must hel p me up. "

He spr ang t o hi s f eet and st ooped over her , doubt i ng how t o begi n

hel pi ng her . He had never f el t so shy i n hi s l i f e. He hel d out

hi s hands.

" I t hi nk you must put your ar m r ound me, " she sai d, af t er l ooki ng

at hi m f or a moment . He l i f t ed her on t o her f eet .

" Now l et me l ean on your ar m. Ther e, I dar e say I shal l manage t o

hobbl e al ong wel l enough; " and she made a br ave at t empt t o wal k.

But t he moment t he i nj ur ed f oot t ouched t he gr ound, she st opped

wi t h a cat ch at her br eat h, and a shi ver , whi ch went t hr ough Tom

l i ke a kni f e; and t he f l ush came back i nt o her f ace, and she

woul d have f al l en had he not agai n put hi s ar m r ound her wai st ,

and hel d her up. " I am bet t er agai n now, " she sai d, af t er a

second or t wo.

" But Mar y, dear Mar y, don' t t r y t o wal k agai n. For my sake. I

can' t bear i t . "

" But what am I t o do?" she sai d. " I must get back somehow. "

" Wi l l you l et me car r y you?"

She l ooked i n hi s f ace agai n, and t hen dr opped her eyes, and

hesi t at ed.

" I woul dn' t of f er , dear , i f t her e wer e any ot her way. But you

must n' t wal k. I ndeed, you must not ; you may l ame your sel f f or

l i f e. "

He spoke ver y qui et l y, wi t h hi s eyes f i xed on t he gr ound, t hough

hi s hear t was beat i ng so t hat he f ear ed she woul d hear i t .

" Ver y wel l , " she sai d; " but I ' m ver y heavy. "

So he l i f t ed her gent l y, and st epped of f down t he r i de, car r yi ng

hi s whol e wor l d i n hi s ar ms, i n an i ndescr i babl e f l ut t er of j oy,

and t r i umph, and f ear . He had gone some f or t y yar ds or so, when

he st agger ed, and st opped f or a moment .

" Oh, pr ay put me down- - pr ay do! You' l l hur t your sel f . I ' m t oo

heavy. "

For t he cr edi t of muscul ar Chr i st i ani t y, one must say t hat i t was

not her wei ght , but t he t umul t i n hi s own i nner man, whi ch made

her bear er t ot t er . Never t hel ess, i f one i s whol l y unused t o t he

exer ci se, t he car r yi ng of a heal t hy young Engl i sh gi r l wei ghi ng a

good ei ght st one, i s as much as most men can conveni ent l y manage.

" I ' l l j ust put you down f or a moment , " he sai d. " Now, t ake car e

of t he f oot ; " and he st ooped and pl aced her t ender l y agai nst one

of t he oaks whi ch bor der ed t he r i de, st andi ng by her si de wi t hout

l ooki ng at her . Nei t her of t hem spoke f or a mi nut e. Then he

asked, st i l l l ooki ng away down t he r i de, " How i s t he f oot ?"

" Oh, pr et t y wel l , " she answer ed, cheer f ul l y. " Now, l eave me her e,

Page 309 of 443

and go f or hel p. I t i s absur d of me t o mi nd bei ng l ef t , and you

must n' t car r y me any mor e. "

He t ur ned, and t hei r eyes met f or a moment , but t hat was enough.

" Ar e you r eady?" he sai d.

" Yes, but t ake car e. Don' t go f ar . St op di r ect l y you f eel t i r ed. "

Then he l i f t ed her agai n, and t hi s t i me car r i ed her wi t hout

f al t er i ng, t i l l t hey came t o a hi l l ock cover ed wi t h sof t gr ass.

Her e t hey r est ed agai n, and so by easy st ages he car r i ed her

t hr ough t he wood, and out i nt o t he r oad, t o t he near est cot t age,

nei t her of t hem speaki ng.

An ol d woman came t o t he door i n answer t o hi s ki ck, and went of f

i nt o ej acul at i ons of pi t y and wonder i n t he br oadest Ber kshi r e,

at seei ng Mast er Tom and hi s bur t hen. But he pushed i nt o t he

house and cut her shor t wi t h- -

" Now, Mr s. Pi ke, don' t t al k, t hat ' s a dear good woman, but bust l e

about , and br i ng t hat ar m- chai r her e, and t he ot her l ow one, wi t h

a pi l l ow on i t , f or t he young l ady' s f oot t o r est on. "

The ol d woman obeyed hi s i nj unct i ons, except as t o t al ki ng; and,

whi l e she pl aced t he chai r s and shook up t he pi l l ow, descant ed on

t he sover ei gn vi r t ues of some gr een oi l and opodel doc, whi ch was

as good as a char m f or spr ai ns and br ui ses.

Mar y gave hi m one gr at ef ul l ook as he l ower ed her t ender l y and

r el uct ant l y i nt o t he chai r , and t hen spoke cheer f ul l y t o Mr s.

Pi ke, who was f or agi ng i n a cupboar d, t o f i nd i f t her e was any of

her f amous speci f i c i n t he bot t om of t he bot t l e. As he st ood up,

and t hought what t o do next , he hear d t he sound of di st ant

wheel s, and l ooki ng t hr ough t he wi ndow saw t he car r i age comi ng

homewar ds. I t was a sor r owf ul si ght t o hi m.

" Now, Mr s. Pi ke, " he sai d, " never mi nd t he oi l . Her e' s t he

car r i age comi ng; j ust st ep out and st op i t . "

The ol d dame scut t l ed out i nt o t he r oad. The car r i age was wi t hi n

one hundr ed yar ds. He l eant over t he r ough ar m- chai r i n whi ch

Mar y was l eani ng back, l ooked once mor e i nt o her eyes; and t hen,

st oopi ng f or war ds, ki ssed her l i ps, and t he next moment was by

t he si de of Mr s. Pi ke, si gnal l i ng t he coachman t o st op.

I n t he bust l e whi ch f ol l owed he st ood asi de, and wat ched Mar y

wi t h hi s hear t i n hi s mout h. She never l ooked at hi m, but t her e

was no anger , but onl y a dr eamy l ook i n her sweet f ace, whi ch

seemed t o hi m a t housand t i mes mor e beaut i f ul t han ever bef or e.

Then, t o avoi d i nqui r i es, and t o r eal i ze al l t hat had passed i n

t he l ast wonder f ul t hr ee hour s, he sl i pped away whi l e t hey wer e

get t i ng her i nt o t he car r i age, and wander ed back i nt o t he wood,

pausi ng at each of t hei r hal t i ng pl aces. At l ast he r eached t he

scene of t he acci dent , and her e hi s cup of happi ness was l i kel y

t o br i m over , f or he f ound t he mangl ed l i t t l e boot and t he cut

l ace, and secur i ng t he pr eci ous pr i ze, hur r i ed back home, t o be

i n t i me f or di nner .

Mar y di d not come down; but Kat i e, t he onl y per son of whom he

dar ed t o i nqui r e, assur ed hi m t hat she was doi ng f amousl y. The

di nner was ver y embar r assi ng, and he had t he gr eat est di f f i cul t y

i n answer i ng t he sear chi ng i nqui r i es of hi s mot her and Mr s.

Por t er , as t o how, when, wher e, and i n whose pr esence t he

Page 310 of 443

acci dent had happened. As soon as t he l adi es r ose, he l ef t hi s

f at her and Mr . Por t er over t hei r ol d por t and pol i t i cs, and went

out i n t he t wi l i ght i nt o t he gar den, bur t hened wi t h t he wei ght of

sweet t hought . He f el t t hat he had somet hi ng t o do- - t o set

hi msel f qui t e r i ght wi t h Mar y; he must speak somehow, t hat ni ght ,

i f possi bl e, or he shoul d not be comf or t abl e or at peace wi t h hi s

consci ence. Ther e wer e l i ght s i n her r oom. He guessed by t he

shadows t hat she was l yi ng on a couch by t he open wi ndow, r ound

whi ch t he ot her l adi es wer e f l i t t i ng.

Pr esent l y l i ght s appear ed i n t he dr awi ng- r oom; and, as t he

shut t er s wer e bei ng cl osed, he saw hi s mot her and Mr s. Por t er

come i n, and si t down near t he f i r e. Li st eni ng i nt ent l y, he hear d

Kat i e t al ki ng i n a l ow voi ce i n t he r oom above, and saw her head

agai nst t he l i ght as she sat down cl ose t o t he wi ndow, pr obabl y

at t he head of t he couch wher e Mar y was l yi ng. Shoul d he cal l t o

her ? I f he di d, how coul d he say what he want ed t o say t hr ough

her ?

A happy t hought st r uck hi m. He t ur ned t o t he f l ower beds, hunt ed

about , and gat her ed a bunch of hel i ot r ope, hur r i ed up t o hi s

r oom, t ook t he spr i g of heat her out of hi s shoot i ng coat , t i ed

t hem t oget her , caught up a r eel and l i ne f r om hi s t abl e, and went

i nt o t he r oom over Mar y' s. He t hr ew t he wi ndow open, and, l eani ng

out , sai d gent l y,

" Kat i e. " No answer . He r epeat ed t he name l ouder . No answer st i l l ,

and, l eani ng out yet f ur t her , he saw t hat t he wi ndow had been

shut . He l ower ed t he bunch of f l ower s, and, swi ngi ng i t backwar ds

and f or war d, made i t st r i ke t he wi ndow bel ow- - once, t wi ce; at t he

t hi r d st r oke he hear d t he wi ndow open.

" Kat i e, " he whi sper ed agai n, " i s t hat you?"

" Yes, wher e ar e you? What i s t hi s?"

" For her , " he sai d, i n t he same whi sper . Kat i e unt i ed t he

f l ower s, and he wai t ed a f ew moment s, and t hen agai n cal l ed her

name, and she answer ed.

" Has she t he f l ower s?" he asked.

" Yes, and she sends you her l ove, and says you ar e t o go down t o

t he dr awi ng- r oom; " and wi t h t hat t he wi ndow cl osed, and he went

down wi t h a l i ght ened consci ence i nt o t he dr awi ng- r oom, and,

af t er j oi ni ng i n t he t al k by t he f i r e f or a f ew mi nut es, t ook a

book, and sat down at t he f ur t her si de of t he t abl e. Whet her he

ever knew what t he book was may be f ai r l y quest i oned, but t o al l

appear ances he was deep i n t he per usal of i t t i l l t he t ea and

Kat i e ar r i ved, and t he gent l emen f r om t he di ni ng- r oom. Then he

t r i ed t o j oi n i n t he conver sat i on agai n; but , on t he whol e, l i f e

was a bur t hen t o hi m t hat ni ght , t i l l he coul d get f ai r l y away t o

hi s own r oom, and commune wi t h hi msel f , gazi ng at t he yel l ow

har vest moon, wi t h hi s el bows on t he wi ndow si l l .

The ankl e got wel l ver y qui ckl y, and Mar y was soon goi ng about

wi t h a gol d- headed st i ck whi ch had bel onged t o Mr . Br own' s

f at her , and a l i mp whi ch Tom t hought t he most beaut i f ul movement

he had ever seen. But , t hough she was about agai n, by no amount

of pat i ent vi gi l ance coul d he now get t he chance of speaki ng t o

her al one. But he consol ed hi msel f wi t h t he t hought t hat she must

under st and hi m; i f he had spoken he coul dn' t have made hi msel f

cl ear er .

Page 311 of 443

And now t he Por t er s' vi si t was al l but over , and Kat i e and her

f at her l ef t f or Engl ebour n. The Por t er s wer e t o f ol l ow t he next

day, and pr omi sed t o dr i ve r ound and st op at t he Rect or y f or

l unch. Tom pet i t i oned f or a seat i n t hei r car r i age t o Engl ebour n.

He had been devot i ng hi msel f t o Mr s. Por t er ever si nce t he

acci dent , and had t ol d her a good deal about hi s own ear l y l i f e.

Hi s account of hi s ear l y f r i endshi p f or Bet t y and her son, and

t he r enewal of i t on t he day he l ef t Bar t on Manor , had i nt er est ed

her , and she was mor eover not i nsensi bl e t o hi s assi duous and

r espect f ul at t ent i ons t o her sel f , whi ch had of l at e been qui t e

mar ked; she was t ouched, t oo, at hi s anxi et y t o hear al l about

her boys, and how t hey wer e get t i ng on at school . So on t he whol e

Tom was i n hi gh f avour wi t h her , and she most gr aci ousl y assent ed

t o hi s occupyi ng t he f our t h seat i n t hei r bar ouche. She was not

wi t hout her suspi ci ons of t he r eal st at e of t he case wi t h hi m;

but hi s behavi or had been so di scr eet t hat she had no i mmedi at e

f ear s; and, af t er al l , i f anyt hi ng shoul d come of i t some year s

hence, her daught er mi ght do wor se. I n t he meant i me she woul d see

pl ent y of soci et y i n London; wher e Mr . Por t er ' s vocat i ons kept

hi m dur i ng t he gr eat er par t of t he year .

They r eached Engl ebour n af t er a pl easant l ong mor ni ng' s dr i ve;

and Tom st ol e a gl ance at Mar y and f el t t hat she under st ood hi m,

as he poi nt ed out t he Hawk' s Lynch and t he cl ump of scot ch f i r s

t o her mot her ; and t ol d how you mi ght see Bar t on f r om t he t op of

i t , and how he l oved t he pl ace, and t he ol d t r ees, and t he vi ew.

Kat i e was at t he door r eady t o r ecei ve t hem, and car r i ed of f Mar y

and Mr s. Por t er t o her own r oom. Tom wal ked r ound t he gar den wi t h

Mr . Por t er , and t hen sat i n t he dr awi ng- r oom, and f el t

mel anchol y. He r oused hi msel f , however , when t he l adi es came down

and l uncheon was announced. Mar y was f ul l of her r emi ni scences of

t he Engl ebour n peopl e, and especi al l y of poor Mr s. Wi nbur n and

her son, i n whom she had begun t o t ake a deep i nt er est , per haps

f r om over hear i ng some of Tom' s t al k t o her mot her . So Har r y' s

st or y was canvassed agai n, and Kat i e t ol d t hem how he had been

t ur ned out of hi s cot t age, and how anxi ous she was as t o what

woul d come of i t .

" And i s he goi ng t o mar r y your gar dener ' s daught er af t er al l ?"

asked Mr s. Por t er .

" I am af r ai d t her e i s not much chance of i t , " sai d Kat i e; " I

cannot make Mar t ha out . "

" I s she at home, Kat i e?" asked Mar y; " I shoul d l i ke t o see her

agai n. I t ook a gr eat f ancy t o her when I was her e. "

" Yes, she i s at t he l odge. We wi l l wal k t her e af t er l uncheon. "

So i t was set t l ed t hat t he car r i age shoul d pi ck t hem up at t he

l odge; and soon af t er l uncheon, whi l e t he hor ses wer e bei ng put

t o, t he whol e par t y st ar t ed f or t he l odge, af t er sayi ng good- bye

t o Mr . Wi nt er , who r et i r ed t o hi s r oom much f at i gued by hi s

unwont ed hospi t al i t y.

Ol d Si mon' s wi f e answer ed t hei r knock at t he l odge door , and t hey

al l ent er ed, and Mr s. Por t er pai d her compl i ment s on t he

cl eanl i ness of t he r oom.

Then Mar y sai d, " I s your daught er at home, Mr s. Gi bbons?"

" Ees, mi ss, somewer es handy, " r epl i ed Mr s. Gi bbons; " her hav' n' t

been gone out , not dr ee mi nni t . "

Page 312 of 443

" I shoul d l i ke so much t o say good- bye t o her , " sai d Mar y. " We

shal l be l eavi ng Bar t on soon, and I shal l not see her agai n t i l l

next summer . "

" Lor bl ess' ee, mi ss, ' t i s wer r y good ov' ee, " sai d t he ol d dame,

ver y pr oud; " do' ee set down t hen whi l e I gees her a cal l . " And

wi t h t hat she hur r i ed out of t he door whi ch l ed t hr ough t he back

ki t chen i nt o t he l i t t l e yar d behi nd t he l odge, and t he next

moment t hey hear d her cal l i ng out - -

" Pat t y, Pat t y, wher bi st got t o? Come i n and see t he gent l ef ol k. "

The name whi ch t he ol d woman was cal l i ng out made Tom st ar t .

" I t hought you sai d her name was Mar t ha, " sai d Mr s. Por t er .

" Pat t y i s shor t f or Mar t ha i n Ber kshi r e, " sai d Kat i e, l aughi ng.

" And Pat t y i s such a pr et t y name. I wonder you don' t cal l her

Pat t y, " sai d Mar y.

" We had a housemai d of t he same name a year or t wo ago, and i t

made such a conf usi on- - and when one once get s used t o a name i t

i s so har d t o change- - so she has al ways been cal l ed Mar t ha. "

" Wel l , I ' m al l f or Pat t y; don' t you t hi nk so?" sai d Mar y, t ur ni ng

t o Tom.

The sudden i nt r oduct i on of a name whi ch he had such r easons f or

r emember i ng, t he memor i es and f ear s whi ch i t cal l ed up- - above

al l , t he bewi l der ment whi ch he f el t at hear i ng i t t ossed about

and canvassed by Mar y i n hi s pr esence, as i f t her e wer e not hi ng

mor e i n i t t han i n any ot her name- - conf used hi m so t hat he

f l ounder ed and bl under ed i n hi s at t empt t o answer , and at l ast

gave i t up al t oget her . She was sur pr i sed, and l ooked at hi m

i nqui r i ngl y. Hi s eyes f el l bef or e her s, and he t ur ned away t o t he

wi ndow, and l ooked at t he car r i age, whi ch had j ust dr awn up at

t he l odge door . He had scar cel y t i me t o t hi nk how f ool i sh he was

t o be so moved, when he hear d t he back- ki t chen door open agai n,

and t he ol d woman and her daught er come i n.

He t ur ned r ound shar pl y, and t her e on t he f l oor of t he r oom,

cour t seyi ng t o t he l adi es, st ood t he ex- bar mai d of t he " Choughs" .

Hi s f i r st i mpul se was t o hur r y away- - she was l ooki ng down, and he

mi ght not be r ecogni zed; hi s next , t o st and hi s gr ound, and t ake

what ever mi ght come. Mar y went up t o her and t ook her hand,

sayi ng t hat she coul d not go away wi t hout comi ng t o see her .

Pat t y l ooked up t o answer , and, gl anci ng r ound t he r oom, caught

si ght of hi m.

He st epped f or war d, and t hen st opped and t r i ed t o speak, but no

wor ds woul d come. Pat t y l ooked at hi m, dr opped Mar y' s hand,

bl ushed up t o t he r oot s of her hai r as she l ooked t i mi dl y r ound

at t he wonder i ng spect at or s, and, put t i ng her hands t o her f ace,

r an out of t he back door agai n.

" Lawk a massy! what ever can ha' cum t o our Pat t y?" sai d Mr s.

Gi bbons, f ol l owi ng her out .

" I t hi nk we had bet t er go, " sai d Mr . Por t er , gi vi ng hi s ar m t o

hi s daught er , and l eadi ng her t o t he door , " Goodbye, Kat i e; shal l

we see you agai n at Bar t on?"

Page 313 of 443

" I don' t know, uncl e, " Kat i e answer ed, f ol l owi ng wi t h Mr s.

Por t er , i n a st at e of sad bewi l der ment .

Tom, wi t h hi s br ai n swi mmi ng, got out a f ew st ammer i ng f ar ewel l

wor ds, whi ch Mr . and Mr s. Por t er r ecei ved wi t h mar ked col dness,

as t hey st epped i nt o t hei r car r i age. Mar y' s f ace was f l ushed and

uneasy; but at her he scar cel y dar ed t o st eal a l ook, and t o her

was qui t e unabl e t o speak a wor d.

Then t he car r i age dr ove of f , and he t ur ned, and f ound Kat i e

st andi ng at hi s si de, her eyes f ul l of ser i ous wonder . Hi s f el l

bef or e t hem.

" My dear Tom, " she sai d, " what i s al l t hi s? I t hought you had

never seen Mar t ha?"

" So I t hought - - I don' t know- - I can' t t al k now- - I ' l l expl ai n al l

t o you- - don' t t hi nk ver y badl y of me, Kat i e- - God bl ess you! " wi t h

whi ch wor ds he st r ode away, whi l e she l ooked af t er hi m wi t h

i ncr easi ng wonder , and t hen t ur ned and went i nt o t he l odge.

He hast ened away f r om t he Rect or y and down t he vi l l age st r eet ,

t aki ng t he r oad home mechani cal l y, but ot her wi se whol l y

unconsci ous of r oads and men. Davi d, who was ver y anxi ous t o

speak t o hi m about Har r y, st ood at hi s door maki ng si gns t o hi m

t o st op, i n vai n; and t hen gave chase, cal l i ng out af t er hi m,

t i l l he saw t hat al l at t empt s t o at t r act hi s not i ce wer e usel ess,

and so ambl ed back t o hi s shop- boar d much t r oubl ed i n mi nd.

The f i r st obj ect whi ch r ecal l ed Tom at al l t o hi msel f was t he

l i t t l e whi t e cot t age l ooki ng out of Engl ebour n copse t owar ds t he

vi l l age, i n whi ch he had sat by poor Bet t y' s deat h- bed. The

gar den was al r eady get t i ng wi l d and t angl ed, and t he house seemed

uni nhabi t ed. He st opped f or a moment and l ooked at i t wi t h bi t t er

sear chi ngs of hear t . Her e was t he pl ace wher e he had t aken such a

good t ur n, as he had f ondl y hoped- - i n connect i on wi t h t he t hen

i nmat es of whi ch he had made t he st r ongest good r esol ut i ons he

had ever made i n hi s l i f e per haps. What was t he good of hi s

t r yi ng t o bef r i end anybody? Hi s f r i endshi p t ur ned t o a bl i ght ;

what ever he had as yet t r i ed t o do f or Har r y had onl y i nj ur ed

hi m, and now how di d t hey st and? Coul d t hey ever be f r i ends agai n

af t er t hat day' s di scover y? To do hi m j ust i ce, t he pr obabl e r ui n

of al l hi s own pr ospect s, t he sudden col dness of Mr . and Mr s.

Por t er ' s l ooks, and Mar y' s aver t ed f ace, wer e not t he t hi ngs he

t hought of f i r st , and di d not t r oubl e hi m most . He t hought of

Har r y, and shudder ed at t he wr ong he had done hi m as he l ooked at

hi s deser t ed home. The door opened and a f i gur e appear ed. I t was

Mr . Wur l ey' s agent , t he l awyer who had been empl oyed by Far mer

Test er i n hi s cont est wi t h Har r y and hi s mat es about t he pound.

The man of l aw sal ut ed hi m wi t h a smi r k of scar cel y conceal ed

t r i umph, and t hen t ur ned i nt o t he house agai n and shut t he door ,

as i f he di d not consi der f ur t her communi cat i on necessar y or

saf e. Tom t ur ned wi t h a mut t er ed i mpr ecat i on on hi m and hi s

mast er , and hur r i ed away al ong t he l ane whi ch l ed t o t he heat h.

The Hawk' s Lynch l ay above hi m, and he cl i mbed t he si de

mechani cal l y and sat hi msel f agai n on t he ol d spot .

He sat f or some t i me l ooki ng over t he l andscape, gr aven on hi s

mi nd as i t was by hi s f or mer vi si t , and bi t t er l y, oh, how

bi t t er l y! di d t he r emembr ance of t hat vi si t , and of t he

exul t at i on and t r i umph whi ch t hen f i l l ed hi m, and car r i ed hi m

away over t he heat h wi t h a shout t owar ds hi s home, come back on

hi m. He coul d l ook out f r om hi s wat cht ower no l onger , and l ay

down wi t h hi s f ace bet ween hi s hands on t he t ur f , and gr oaned as

Page 314 of 443

he l ay.

But hi s good angel seemed t o haunt t he pl ace, and soon t he col d

f i t began t o pass away, and bet t er and mor e hopef ul t hought s t o

r et ur n. Af t er al l what had he done si nce hi s l ast vi si t t o t hat

pl ace t o be ashamed of ? Not hi ng. Hi s at t empt s t o do Har r y

ser vi ce, unl ucky as t hey had pr oved, had been honest . Had he

become l ess wor t hy of t he l ove whi ch had f i r st consci ousl y

mast er ed hi m t her e some f our weeks ago? No; he f el t on t he

cont r ar y, t hat i t had al r eady r ai sed hi m, and pur i f i ed hi m, and

made a man of hi m. But t hi s l ast di scover y, how coul d he ever get

over t hat ? Wel l , af t er al l , t he f act s wer e j ust t he same as

bef or e; onl y now t hey had come out . I t was r i ght t hat t hey shoul d

have come out ; bet t er f or hi m and f or ever yone t hat t hey shoul d

be known and f aced. He was r eady t o f ace t hem, t o abi de any

consequences t hat t hey mi ght now br i ng i n t hei r t r ai n. Hi s hear t

was r i ght t owar ds Mar y, t owar ds Pat t y, t owar ds Har r y- - t hat he

f el t sur e of . And, i f so, why shoul d he despai r of ei t her hi s

l ove or hi s f r i endshi p comi ng t o a good end?

And so he sat up agai n, and l ooked out br avel y t owar ds Bar t on,

and began t o consi der what was t o be done. Hi s eye r est ed on t he

Rect or y. That was t he f i r st pl ace t o begi n wi t h. He must set

hi msel f r i ght wi t h Kat i e- - l et her know t he whol e st or y. Thr ough

her he coul d r each al l t he r est , and do what ever must be done t o

cl ear t he gr ound and st ar t f r esh agai n.

At f i r st he t hought of r et ur ni ng t o her at once, and r ose t o go

down t o Engl ebour n. But anyt hi ng l i ke r et r aci ng hi s st eps was

ut t er l y di st ast ef ul t o hi m j ust t hen. Bef or e hi m he saw l i ght ,

di m enough as yet , but st i l l a dawni ng; t owar ds t hat he woul d

pr ess, l eavi ng ever yt hi ng behi nd hi m t o t ake car e of i t sel f . So

he t ur ned nor t hwar ds, and st r uck acr oss t he heat h at hi s best

pace. The vi ol ent exer ci se al most f i ni shed hi s cur e, and hi s

t hought s became cl ear er and mor e hopef ul as he near ed home. He

ar r i ved t her e as t he househol d was goi ng t o bed, and f ound a

l et t er wai t i ng f or hi m. I t was f r om Har dy, sayi ng t hat Bl ake had

l ef t hi m, and he was now t hi nki ng of r et ur ni ng t o Oxf or d, and

woul d come f or hi s l ong t al ked of vi si t t o Ber kshi r e, i f Tom was

st i l l at home, and i n t he mi nd t o r ecei ve hi m.

Never was a l et t er mor e oppor t une. Her e was t he t r i ed f r i end on

whom he coul d r el y f or hel p and advi ce and sympat hy- - who knew al l

t he f act s t oo f r om begi nni ng t o end! Hi s f at her and mot her wer e

del i ght ed t o hear t hat t hey shoul d now see t he f r i end of whom he

had spoken so much. So he went up st ai r s and wr ot e an answer ,

whi ch set Har dy t o wor k packi ng hi s por t mant eau i n t he f ar west ,

and br ought hi m speedi l y t o t he si de of hi s f r i end under t he l ee

of t he Ber kshi r e hi l l s.

CHAPTER XXXV

SECOND YEAR

For some days af t er hi s r et ur n home- - i n f act , unt i l hi s f r i end' s

ar r i val , Tom was t hor oughl y beat en down and wr et ched,

not wi t hst andi ng hi s ef f or t s t o l ook hopef ul l y f or war d, and keep

up hi s spi r i t s. Hi s usual occupat i ons wer e ut t er l y di st ast ef ul t o

hi m; and, i nst ead of occupyi ng hi msel f , he sat br oodi ng over hi s

l at e mi sf or t une, and hopel essl y puzzl i ng hi s head as t o what he

coul d do t o set mat t er s r i ght . The convi ct i on i n whi ch he al ways

l anded was t hat t her e was not hi ng t o be done, and t hat he was a

Page 315 of 443

desol at e and bl i ght ed bei ng, deser t ed of gods and men. Har dy' s

pr esence and company soon shook hi m out of t hi s maudl i n ni ght mar e

st at e, and he began t o r ecover as soon as he had hi s ol d

sheet - anchor f r i end t o hol d on t o and consul t wi t h. Thei r

consul t at i ons wer e hel d chi ef l y i n t he i nt er val s of woodcr af t , i n

whi ch t hey spent most of t hei r hour s bet ween br eakf ast and

di nner . Har dy di d not t ake out a cer t i f i cat e and woul dn' t shoot

wi t hout one; so, as t he best aut umn exer ci se, t hey sel ect ed a

t ough ol d pol l ar d el m, i nf i ni t el y ugl y, wi t h knot t ed and t wi st ed

r oot s, cur i ousl y di f f i cul t t o get at and cut t hr ough, whi ch had

been l ong mar ked as a bl ot by Mr . Br own, and condemned t o be

f el l ed as soon as t her e was not hi ng mor e pr essi ng f or hi s men t o

do. But t her e was al ways somet hi ng of mor e i mpor t ance; so t hat

t he cr oss- gr ai ned ol d t r ee mi ght have r emai ned unt i l t hi s day,

had not Har dy and Tom pi t ched on hi m as a f oeman wor t hy of t hei r

axes. They shovel ed, and pi cked, and hewed away wi t h gr eat

ener gy. The woodman who vi si t ed t hem occasi onal l y, and who, on

exami ni ng t hei r f i r st ef f or t s, had r emar ked t hat t he sever ed

r oot s l ooked a l i t t l e " as t ho' t he dogs had been a gnawi n' at

' em, " began t o hol d t hem i n r espect , and t o t ender hi s advi ce

wi t h some def er ence. By t he t i me t he t r ee was f el l ed and

shr ouded, Tom was i n a conval escent st at e.

Thei r occupat i on had nat ur al l y l ed t o di scussi ons on t he

advant ages of emi gr at i on, t he del i ght s of cl ear i ng one' s own

est at e, bui l di ng one' s own house, and get t i ng away f r om

convent i onal l i f e wi t h a f ew t r i ed f r i ends. Of cour se t he

pi ct ur es whi ch wer e pai nt ed i ncl uded f or egr ounds wi t h beaut i f ul

chi l dr en pl ayi ng about t he cl ear i ng, and gr acef ul women, wi ves of

t he happy squat t er s, f l i t t i ng i n and out of l og houses and sheds,

cl ot hed and occupi ed af t er t he manner of our i deal gr andmot her s;

wi t h t he heal t h and st r engt h of Amazons, t he r ef i nement of

hi gh- br ed l adi es, and wondr ous ski l l i n al l domest i c wor ks,

conf ect i ons, and cont r i vances. The l og- houses woul d al so cont ai n

f asci nat i ng sel ect l i br ar i es, cont i nual l y r ei nf or ced f r om home,

suf f i ci ent t o keep al l t he dwel l er s i n t he happy cl ear i ng i n

communi on wi t h al l t he hi ghest mi nds of t hei r own and f or mer

gener at i ons. Wonder ous games i n t he nei ghbour i ng f or est , dear ol d

home cust oms est abl i shed and t aki ng r oot i n t he wi l der ness, wi t h

ul t i mat e dai nt y f l ower gar dens, conser vat or i es, and

pi anof or t es- - a mi l l enni um on a smal l scal e, wi t h uni ver sal

educat i on, compet ence, pr osper i t y, and equal r i ght s! Such

cast l e- bui l di ng, as an accompani ment t o t he har d exer ci se of

woodcr af t , wor ked wonder s f or Tom i n t he next week, and may be

saf el y r ecommended t o par t i es i n l i ke evi l case wi t h hi m.

But mor e pr act i cal di scussi ons wer e not negl ect ed, and i t was

agr eed t hat t hey shoul d make a day at Engl ebour n t oget her bef or e

t hei r r et ur n t o Oxf or d, Har dy under t aki ng t o i nvade t he Rect or y

wi t h t he vi ew of r e- est abl i shi ng hi s f r i end' s char act er t her e.

Tom wr ot e a l et t er t o Kat i e t o pr epar e her f or a vi si t . The day

af t er t he anci ent el m was f ai r l y di sposed of , t hey st ar t ed ear l y

f or Engl ebour n, and separ at ed at t he ent r ance t o t he

vi l l age- - Har dy pr oceedi ng t o t he Rect or y t o f ul f i l l hi s mi ssi on,

whi ch he f el t t o be r at her an embar r assi ng one, and Tom t o l ook

af t er t he const abl e, or whoever el se coul d gi ve hi m i nf or mat i on

about Har r y.

He ar r i ved at t he " Red Li on, " t hei r appoi nt ed t r yst i ng pl ace,

bef or e Har dy, and spent a r est l ess hal f - hour i n t he por ch and bar

wai t i ng f or hi s r et ur n. At l ast Har dy came, and Tom hur r i ed hi m

i nt o t he i nn' s best r oom, wher e br ead and cheese and al e awai t ed

t hem; and, as soon as t he host ess coul d be got out of t he r oom,

Page 316 of 443

began i mpat i ent l y- -

" Wel l you have seen her ?"

" Yes, I have come st r ai ght her e f r om t he Rect or y. "

" And i s i t al l r i ght , eh? Has she got my l et t er ?"

" Yes, she had had your l et t er . "

" And you t hi nk she i s sat i sf i ed?"

" Sat i sf i ed? No, you can' t expect her t o be sat i sf i ed. "

" I mean, i s she sat i sf i ed t hat i t i sn' t so bad af t er al l as i t

l ooked t he ot her day? What does Kat i e t hi nk of me?"

" I t hi nk she i s st i l l ver y f ond of you, but t hat she has been

puzzl ed and out r aged by t hi s di scover y, and cannot get over i t

al l at once. "

" Why di dn' t you t el l her t he whol e st or y f r om begi nni ng t o end?"

" I t r i ed t o do so as wel l as I coul d. "

" Oh, but I can see you haven' t done i t . She doesn' t r eal l y

under st and how i t i s. "

" Per haps not ; but you must r emember i t i s an awkwar d subj ect t o

be t al ki ng about t o a young woman. I woul d sooner st and anot her

f el l owshi p exami nat i on t han go t hr ough i t agai n. "

" Thank you, ol d f el l ow, " sai d Tom, l ayi ng hi s hand on Har dy' s

shoul der ; " I f eel t hat I ' m unr easonabl e and i mpat i ent ; but you

can excuse i t ; you know t hat I don' t mean i t . "

" Don' t say anot her wor d; I onl y wi sh I coul d have done mor e f or

you. "

" But what do you suppose Kat i e t hi nks of me?"

" Why, you see, i t sums i t sel f up i n t hi s; she sees t hat you have

been maki ng ser i ous l ove t o Pat t y, and have t ur ned t he poor

gi r l ' s head, mor e or l ess, and t hat now you ar e i n l ove wi t h

somebody el se. Why, put i t how we wi l l , we can' t get out of t hat .

Ther e ar e t he f act s, pur e and si mpl e, and she woul dn' t be hal f a

woman i f she di dn' t r esent i t . "

" But i t ' s har d l i nes, t oo, i sn' t i t , ol d f el l ow? No, I won' t say

t hat ? I deser ve i t al l , and much wor se. But you t hi nk I may come

r ound al l r i ght ?"

" Yes, al l i n good t i me. I hope t her e' s no danger i n any ot her

quar t er ?"

" Goodness knows. Ther e' s t he r ub, you see. She wi l l go back t o

t own di sgust ed wi t h me. I sha' n' t see her agai n, and she won' t

hear of me f or I don' t know how l ong; and she wi l l be meet i ng

heaps of men. Has Kat i e been over t o Bar t on?"

" Yes; she was t her e l ast week, j ust bef or e t hey l ef t . "

" Wel l , what happened?"

Page 317 of 443

" She woul dn' t say much; but I gat her ed t hat t hey ar e ver y wel l . "

" Oh yes, bot her i t . Of cour se t hey ar e ver y wel l . But di dn' t she

t al k t o Kat i e about what happened l ast week?"

" Of couse t hey di d! What el se shoul d t hey t al k about ?"

" But you don' t know what t hey sai d?"

" No. But you may depend on i t t hat Mi ss Wi nt er wi l l be your

f r i end. My dear f el l ow, t her e i s not hi ng f or i t but t i me. "

" Wel l , I suppose not , " sai d Tom, wi t h a gr oan. " Do you t hi nk I

shoul d cal l and see Kat i e?"

" No; I t hi nk bet t er not . "

" Wel l , t hen, we may as wel l get back, " sai d Tom, who was not

sor r y f or hi s f r i end' s deci si on. So t hey pai d t hei r bi l l and

st ar t ed f or home, t aki ng t he Hawk' s Lynch on t he way, t hat Har dy

mi ght see t he vi ew.

" And what di d you f i nd out about young Wi nbur n?" he sai d as t hey

passed down t he st r eet .

" Oh, no good, " sai d Tom; " he was t ur ned out , as I t hought , and

has gone t o l i ve wi t h an ol d woman on t he heat h her e, who i s no

bet t er t han she shoul d be; and none of t he f ar mer s wi l l empl oy

hi m.

" You di dn' t see hi m, I suppose?"

" No, he i s away wi t h some of t he heat h peopl e, hawki ng besoms and

chai r s about t he count r y. They make t hem when t her e i s no har vest

wor k, and l oaf about i n Oxf or dshi r e and Bucki nghamshi r e, and

ot her count i es, sel l i ng t hem. "

" No good wi l l come of t hat sor t of l i f e, I ' m af r ai d. "

" No, but what i s he t o do?"

" I cal l ed at t he l odge as I came away, and saw Pat t y and her

mot her . I t ' s al l r i ght i n t hat quar t er . The ol d woman doesn' t

seem t o t hi nk anyt hi ng of i t , and Pat t y i s a good gi r l , and wi l l

make Har r y Wi nbur n, or anybody el se, a capi t al wi f e. Her e ar e

your l et t er s. "

" And t he l ocket ?"

" I qui t e f or got i t . Why di dn' t you r emi nd me of i t ? You t al ked of

not hi ng but t he l et t er s t hi s mor ni ng. "

" I ' m gl ad of i t . I t can do no har m now, and as i t i s wor t h

somet hi ng, I shoul d have been ashamed t o t ake i t back. I hope

she' l l put Har r y' s hai r i n i t soon. Di d she seem t o mi nd gi vi ng

up t he l et t er s?"

" Not ver y much. No, you ar e l ucky t her e. She wi l l get over i t . "

" But you t ol d her t hat I am her f r i end f or l i f e, and t hat she i s

t o l et me know i f I can ever do anyt hi ng f or her ?"

" Yes. And now I hope t hi s i s t he l ast j ob of t he ki nd I shal l

ever have t o do f or you. "

Page 318 of 443

" But what bad l uck i t has been? I f I had onl y seen her bef or e, or

known who she was, not hi ng of al l t hi s woul d have happened. "

To t hi s Har dy made no r epl y; and t he subj ect was not al l uded t o

agai n i n t hei r wal k home.

A day or t wo af t er war ds t hey r et ur ned t o Oxf or d, Har dy t o begi n

hi s wor k as f el l ow and assi st ant - t ut or of t he Col l ege, and Tom t o

see whet her he coul d not make a bet t er hand of hi s second year

t han he had of hi s f i r st . He began wi t h a much bet t er chance of

doi ng so, f or he was t hor oughl y humbl ed. The di scover y t hat he

was not al t oget her such a her o as he had f anci ed hi msel f , had

dawned upon hi m ver y di st i nct l y by t he end of hi s f i r st year ; and

t he event s of t he l ong vacat i on had conf i r med t he i mpr essi on, and

pr et t y wel l t aken al l t he concei t out of hi m f or t he t i me. The

i mpot ency of hi s own wi l l , even when he was bent on doi ng t he

r i ght t hi ng, hi s want of i nsi ght and f or esi ght i n what ever mat t er

he t ook i n hand, t he unr ul i ness of hi s t emper and passi ons j ust

at t he moment s when i t behooved hi m t o have t hem most t hor oughl y

i n hand and under cont r ol , wer e a set of di sagr eeabl e f act s whi ch

had been dr i ven wel l home t o hi m. The r esul t s, bei ng even such as

we have seen, he di d not much r epi ne at , f or he f el t he had

deser ved t hem; and t her e was a sor t of gr i m sat i sf act i on, dr ear y

as t he pr ospect was, i n f aci ng t hem, and t aki ng hi s puni shment

l i ke a man. Thi s was what he had f el t at t he f i r st bl ush on t he

Hawk' s Lynch; and, as he t hought over mat t er s agai n by hi s f i r e,

wi t h hi s oak spor t ed, on t he f i r st eveni ng of t er m, he was st i l l

i n t he same mi nd. Thi s was cl ear l y what he had t o do now. How t o

do i t , was t he onl y quest i on.

At f i r st he was i ncl i ned t o t r y t o set hi msel f r i ght wi t h t he

Por t er s and t he Engl ebour n ci r cl e, by wr i t i ng f ur t her

expl anat i ons and conf essi ons t o Kat i e. But , on t r yi ng hi s hand at

a l et t er , he f ound t hat he coul d not t r ust hi msel f . The

t empt at i on of put t i ng ever yt hi ng i n t he best poi nt of vi ew f or

hi msel f was t oo gr eat ; so he gave up t he at t empt , and mer el y

wr ot e a f ew l i nes t o Davi d, t o r emi nd hi m t hat he was al ways

r eady and anxi ous t o do al l he coul d f or hi s f r i end, Har r y

Wi nbur n, and t o beg t hat he mi ght have news of anyt hi ng whi ch

happened t o hi m, and how he was get t i ng on. He di d not al l ude t o

what had l at el y happened, f or he di d not know whet her t he f act s

had become known, and was i n no hur r y t o open t he subj ect

hi msel f .

Havi ng f i ni shed hi s l et t er , he t ur ned agai n t o hi s medi t at i ons

over t he f i r e, and, consi der i ng t hat he had some l i t t l e r i ght t o

r ewar d r esol ut i on, t ook of f t he saf et y val ve, and al l owed t he

t hought s t o bubbl e up f r eel y whi ch wer e al ways under l yi ng al l

ot her s t hat passed t hr ough hi s br ai n, and maki ng const ant l ow,

del i ci ous, but j ust now somewhat mel anchol y musi c, i n hi s head

and hear t . He gave hi msel f up t o t hi nki ng of Mar y, and t hei r wal k

i n t he wood, and t he spr ai ned ankl e, and al l t he sayi ngs and

doi ngs of t hat event f ul aut umn day. And t hen he opened hi s desk,

and exami ned cer t ai n t r easur es t her ei n conceal ed, i ncl udi ng a

wi t her ed r ose- bud, a spr i g of heat her , a cut boot - l ace, and a

scr ap or t wo of wr i t i ng. Havi ng gone t hr ough some ext r avagant

f or ms of wor shi p, not necessar y t o be speci f i ed, he put t hem

away. Woul d i t ever al l come r i ght ?

He made hi s sol i t ar y t ea, and sat down agai n t o consi der t he

poi nt . But t he poi nt woul d not be consi der ed al one. He began t o

f eel mor e st r ongl y what he had had sever al hi nt s of al r eady, t hat

t her e was a cur i ousl y cl ose connexi on bet ween hi s own l ove st or y

Page 319 of 443

and t hat of Har r y Wi nbur n and Pat t y- - t hat he coul dn' t separ at e

t hem, even i n hi s t hought s. Ol d Si mon' s t umbl e, whi ch had

r ecal l ed hi s daught er f r om Oxf or d at so cr i t i cal a moment f or

hi m; Mar y' s vi si t t o Engl ebour n at t hi s ver y t i me; t he cur i ous

yet nat ur al ser i es of l i t t l e acci dent s whi ch had kept hi m i n

i gnor ance of Pat t y' s i dent i t y unt i l t he f i nal cat ast r ophe- - t hen,

agai n, t he way i n whi ch Har r y Wi nbur n and hi s mot her had come

acr oss hi m on t he ver y day of hi s l eavi ng Bar t on; t he f el l owshi p

of a common mour ni ng whi ch had seemed t o bi nd t hem t oget her so

cl osel y; and t hi s l ast di scover y, whi ch he coul d not hel p f ear i ng

must t ur n Har r y i nt o a bi t t er enemy, when he hear d t he t r ut h, as

he must , sooner or l at er - - as al l t hese t hi ngs passed bef or e hi m,

he gave i n t o a sor t of super st i t i ous f eel i ng t hat hi s own f at e

hung, i n some way or anot her , upon t hat of Har r y Wi nbur n. I f he

hel ped on hi s sui t , he was hel pi ng on hi s own; but whet her he

hel ped on hi s own or not , was, af t er al l , not t hat whi ch was

upper most i n hi s t hought s, He was much changed i n t hi s r espect

si nce he l ast sat i n t hose r ooms, j ust af t er hi s f i r st days wi t h

her . Si nce t hen an angel had met hi m, and had t ouched t he cor d of

sel f , whi ch, t r embl i ng, was passi ng " i n musi c out of si ght . "

The t hought of Har r y and hi s t r i al s enabl ed hi m t o i ndul ge i n

some good honest i ndi gnat i on, f or whi ch t her e was no r oom i n hi s

own case. That t he pr ospect s i n l i f e of such a man shoul d be i n

t he power , t o a gr eat ext ent , of such peopl e as Squi r e Wur l ey and

Far mer Test er ; t hat , because he happened t o be poor , he shoul d be

t ur ned out of t he cot t age wher e hi s f ami l y had l i ved f or a

hundr ed year s, at a week' s not i ce, t hr ough t he capr i ce of a

dr unken gambl er ; t hat because he had st ood up f or hi s r i ght s, and

had t her eby of f ended t he wor st f ar mer i n t he par i sh, he shoul d be

a mar ked man, and unabl e t o get wor k- - t hese t hi ngs appear ed so

monst r ous t o Tom, and made hi m so angr y, t hat he was obl i ged t o

get up and st amp about t he r oom. And f r om t he par t i cul ar case he

ver y soon got t o gener al i zat i ons.

Quest i ons whi ch had bef or e now puzzl ed hi m gai ned a new

si gni f i cance ever y mi nut e, and became r eal t o hi m. Why a f ew men

shoul d be r i ch, and al l t he r est poor ; above al l , why he shoul d

be one of t he f ew? Why t he mer e possessi on of pr oper t y shoul d

gi ve a man power over al l hi s nei ghbor s? Why poor men who wer e

r eady and wi l l i ng t o wor k shoul d onl y be al l owed t o wor k as a

sor t of f avor , and shoul d af t er al l get t he mer est t i t he of what

t hei r l abor pr oduced, and be t ossed asi de as soon as t hei r wor k

was done, or no l onger r equi r ed? These, and ot her such pr obl ems,

r ose up bef or e hi m, cr ude and shar p, aski ng t o be sol ved. Feel i ng

hi msel f qui t e unabl e t o gi ve any but one answer t o t hem- - vi z.

t hat he was get t i ng out of hi s dept h, and t hat t he whol e busi ness

was i n a muddl e- - he had r ecour se t o hi s ol d met hod when i n

di f f i cul t i es, and put t i ng on hi s cap, st ar t ed of f t o Har dy' s

r ooms t o t al k t he mat t er over , and see whet her he coul d not get

some l i ght on i t f r om t hat quar t er .

He r et ur ned i n an hour or so, somewhat l ess t r oubl ed i n hi s mi nd

i nasmuch as he had f ound hi s f r i end i n pr et t y much t he same st at e

of mi nd on such t opi cs as hi msel f . But one st ep he had gai ned.

Under hi s ar m he car r i ed cer t ai n books f r om Har dy' s scant y

l i br ar y, t he per usal of whi ch he hoped, at l east , mi ght enabl e

hi m sooner or l at er t o f eel t hat he had got on t o some sor t of

f i r m gr ound, At any r at e, Har dy had advi sed hi m t o r ead t hem; so,

wi t hout mor e ado, he dr ew hi s chai r t o t he t abl e and began t o

l ook i nt o t hem.

Thi s gl i mpse of t he manner i n whi ch Tom spent t he f i r st eveni ng

of hi s second year at Oxf or d, wi l l enabl e i nt el l i gent r eader s t o

Page 320 of 443

under st and why, t hough he t ook t o r eadi ng f ar mor e ki ndl y and

honest l y t han he had ever done bef or e, he made no gr eat advance

i n t he pr oper st udi es of t he pl ace. Not t hat he whol l y negl ect ed

t hese, f or Har dy kept hi m pr et t y wel l up t o t he col l ar , and he

passed hi s l i t t l e go cr edi t abl y, and was f ai r l y pl aced at t he

col l ege exami nat i ons. I n some of t he books whi ch he had t o get up

f or l ect ur es he was genui nel y i nt er est ed. The pol i t i cs of At hens,

t he st r uggl e bet ween t he Roman pl ebs and pat r i ci ans, Mons Sacer

and t he Agr ar i an l aws- - t hese began t o have a new meani ng t o hi m,

but chi ef l y because t hey bor e mor e or l ess on t he gr eat Har r y

Wi nbur n pr obl em; whi ch pr obl em, i ndeed, f or hi m had now f ai r l y

swel l ed i nt o t he condi t i on- of - Engl and pr obl em, and was becomi ng

ever y day mor e and mor e ur gent and i mpor t unat e, shaki ng many ol d

bel i ef s, and l eadi ng hi m whi t her he knew not .

Thi s ver y mat t er of l eadi ng was a sor e t r i al t o hi m. The f ur t her

he got on hi s new r oad, t he mor e he f el t t he want of

gui dance- - t he gui dance of some man; f or t hat of books he soon

f ound t o be bewi l der i ng. Hi s col l ege t ut or , whom he consul t ed,

onl y depr ecat ed t he wast e of t une; but on f i ndi ng i t i mpossi bl e

t o di ssuade hi m, at l ast r ecommended t he economi c wor ks of t hat

day as t he pr oper wel l spr i ngs of t r ut h on such mat t er s. To t hem

Tom accor di ngl y went , and r ead wi t h t he doci l i t y and f ai t h of

yout h, bent on l ear ni ng and f eel i ng i t sel f i n t he pr esence of men

who had, or assumed, t he r i ght of speaki ng wi t h aut hor i t y.

And t hey spoke t o hi m wi t h aut hor i t y, and he r ead on, bel i evi ng

much and hopi ng mor e; but somehow t hey di d not r eal l y sat i sf y

hi m, t hough t hey si l enced hi m f or t he t i me. I t was not t he f aul t

of t he books, most of whi ch l ai d down cl ear l y enough, t hat what

t hey pr of essed t o t each was t he sci ence of man' s mat er i al

i nt er est s, and t he l aws of t he maki ng and empl oyment of capi t al .

But t hi s escaped hi m i n hi s eager ness, and he wander ed up and

down t hei r pages i n sear ch of qui t e anot her sci ence, and of l aws

wi t h whi ch t hey di d not meddl e. Never t hel ess, her e and t her e t hey

seemed t o t ouch upon what he was i n sear ch of . He was much

f asci nat ed, f or i nst ance, by t he doct r i ne of " t he gr eat est

happi ness of t he gr eat est number , " and f or i t s sake swal l owed f or

a t i me, t hough not wi t hout wr y f aces, t he dogmas, t hat

sel f - i nt er est i s t he t r ue pi vot of al l soci al act i on, t hat

popul at i on has a per pet ual t endency t o out st r i p t he means of

l i vi ng, and t hat t o est abl i sh a pr event i ve check on popul at i on i s

t he dut y of al l good ci t i zens. And so he l i ved on f or some t i me

i n a dr ear y uncomf or t abl e st at e, f ear i ng f or t he f ut ur e of hi s

count r y, and wi t h l i t t l e hope about hi s own. But , when he came t o

t ake st ock of hi s newl y acqui r ed knowl edge, t o wei gh i t and

measur e i t , and f ound i t t o consi st of a sor t of hazy convi ct i on

t hat soci et y woul d be al l r i ght and r eady f or t he mi l l enni um,

when ever y man coul d do what he l i ked, and nobody coul d i nt er f er e

wi t h hi m, and t her e shoul d be a l aw agai nst mar r i age, t he r esul t

was mor e t han he coul d st and. He r oused hi msel f and shook

hi msel f , and began t o t hi nk, " Wel l , t hese my pr esent t eacher s ar e

ver y cl ever men, and wel l - meani ng men, t oo. I see al l t hat ; but ,

i f t hei r t eachi ng i s onl y t o l and me her e, why i t was scar cel y

wor t h whi l e goi ng t hr ough so much t o get so l i t t l e. "

Cast i ng about st i l l f or gui dance, Gr ey occur r ed t o hi m. Gr ey was

i n r esi dence as a bachel or , at t endi ng di vi ni t y l ect ur es, and

pr epar i ng f or or di nat i on. He was st i l l wor ki ng har d at t he

ni ght - school , and Tom had been t her e once or t wi ce t o hel p hi m

when t he cur at e was away. I n shor t he was i n ver y good books wi t h

Gr ey, who had got t he bet t er of hi s shyness wi t h hi m. He saw t hat

Tom was changed and sober ed, and i n hi s hear t hoped some day t o

wean hi m f r om t he pur sui t s of t he body, t o whi ch he was st i l l

Page 321 of 443

f ear f ul l y addi ct ed, and t o br i ng hi m i nt o t he f ol d. Thi s hope was

not al t oget her unf ounded; f or , not wi t hst andi ng t he st r ong bi as

agai nst t hem whi ch Tom had br ought wi t h hi m f r om school , he was

now at t i mes much at t r act ed by many of t he Hi gh Chur ch doct r i nes,

and t he men who pr of essed t hem. Such men as Gr ey, he saw, di d

r eal l y bel i eve somet hi ng, and wer e i n ear nest about car r yi ng

t hei r bel i ef s i nt o act i on. The par t y mi ght and di d compr i se many

ot her s of t he weakest sor t , who bel i eved and wer e i n ear nest

about not hi ng, but who l i ked t o be pecul i ar . Never t hel ess, whi l e

he saw i t l ayi ng hol d of many of t he best men of hi s t i me, i t i s

not t o be wonder ed at t hat he was dr awn t owar ds i t . Some hel p

mi ght l i e i n t hese men i f he coul d onl y get at i t !

So he pr opounded hi s doubt s and st udi es, and t hei r r esul t s t o

Gr ey. But i t was a f ai l ur e. Gr ey f el t no di f f i cul t y or ver y

l i t t l e, i n t he whol e mat t er ; but Tom f ound t hat i t was because he

bel i eved t he wor l d t o bel ong t o t he devi l . " _Lai ssez f ai r e_, "

" buyi ng cheap and sel l i ng dear , " Gr ey hel d mi ght be good enough

f or l aws f or t he wor l d- - ver y pr obabl y wer e. The l aws of t he

Chur ch wer e " sel f - sacr i f i ce, " and " bear i ng one anot her ' s bur dens"

her chi l dr en shoul d come out f r om t he r egi ons wher e t he wor l d' s

l aws wer e acknowl edged.

Tom l i st ened, was dazzl ed at f i r st , and t hought he was get t i ng on

t he r i ght t r ack. But ver y soon he f ound t hat Gr ey' s speci f i c was

not of t he l east use t o hi m. I t was no good t o t el l hi m of t he

r ul es of a soci et y t o whi ch he f el t t hat he nei t her bel onged, nor

wi shed t o bel ong, f or cl ear l y i t coul d not be t he Chur ch of

Engl and. He was an out si der ! Gr ey woul d pr obabl y admi t i t t o be

so, i f he asked hi m! He had no l ongi ng t o be anyt hi ng el se, _i f _

t he Chur ch meant an excl usi ve body, whi ch t ook no car e of any but

i t s own peopl e, and had not hi ng t o say t o t he gr eat wor l d i n

whi ch he and most peopl e had t o l i ve, and buyi ng and sel l i ng, and

hi r i ng and wor ki ng, had t o go on. The cl ose cor por at i on mi ght

have ver y good l aws, but t hey wer e not hi ng t o hi m. What he want ed

t o know about was t he l aw whi ch t hi s gr eat wor l d- - t he devi l ' s

wor l d, as Gr ey cal l ed i t - - was r ul ed by, or r at her ought t o be

r ul ed by. Per haps, af t er al l , Bent ham and t he ot her s, whose books

he had been r eadi ng, mi ght be r i ght ! At any r at e, i t was cl ear

t hat t hey had had i n t hei r t hought s t he same wor l d t hat he

had- - t he wor l d whi ch i ncl uded hi msel f and Har r y Wi nbur n, and al l

l abour er s and squi r es, and f ar mer s. So he t ur ned t o t hem agai n,

not hopef ul l y, but mor e i ncl i ned t o l i st en t o t hem t han he had

been bef or e he had spoken t o Gr ey.

Har dy was so f ul l y occupi ed wi t h col l ege l ect ur es and pr i vat e

pupi l s, t hat Tom had scr upl es about t aki ng up much of hi s spar e

t i me i n t he eveni ngs. Never t hel ess, as Gr ey had br oken down, and

t her e was nobody el se on whose j udgment he coul d r el y who woul d

l i st en t o hi m, whenever he had a chance he woul d pr opound some of

hi s puzzl es t o hi s ol d f r i end. I n some r espect s he got l i t t l e

hel p, f or Har dy was al most as much at sea as he hi msel f on such

subj ect s as " val ue, " and " wages, " and t he " l aws of suppl y and

demand. " But t her e was an i ndomi t abl e bel i ef i n hi m t hat al l

men' s i nt er cour se wi t h one anot her , and not mer el y t hat of

Chur chmen, must be f ounded on t he pr i nci pal of " doi ng as t hey

woul d be done by, " and not on " buyi ng cheap and sel l i ng dear , "

and t hat t hese never woul d or coul d be r econci l ed wi t h one

anot her , or mean t he same t hi ng, t wi st t hem how you woul d. Thi s

f ai t h of hi s f r i end' s comf or t ed Tom gr eat l y, and he was never

t i r ed of br i ngi ng i t out ; but at t i mes he had hi s doubt s whet her

Gr ey mi ght not be r i ght - - whet her , af t er al l , t hat and t he l i ke

maxi ms and pr i nci pl es wer e meant t o be t he l aws of t he ki ngdoms

of t hi s wor l d. He want ed some cor r obor at i ve evi dence on t he

Page 322 of 443

subj ect f r om an i mpar t i al and compet ent wi t ness, and at l ast hi t

upon what he want ed. For , one eveni ng, on ent er i ng Har dy' s r ooms,

he f ound hi m on t he l ast pages of a book, whi ch he shut up wi t h

an ai r of t r i umph on r ecogni zi ng hi s vi si t or . Taki ng i t up, he

t hr ust i t i nt o Tom' s hands, and sl appi ng hi m on t he shoul der ,

sai d, " Ther e, my boy, t hat ' s what we want , or pr et t y near i t at

any r at e. Now, don' t say a wor d, but go back t o your r ooms, and

swal l ow i t whol e and di gest i t , and t hen come back and t el l me

what you t hi nk of i t . "

" But I want t o t al k t o you. "

" I can' t t al k. I have spent t he bet t er par t of t wo days over t hat

book, and have no end of paper s t o l ook over . Ther e; get back t o

your r ooms, and do what I t el l you, or si t down her e and hol d

your t ongue. "

So Tom sat down and hel d hi s t ongue, and was soon deep i n

Car l yl e' s " Past and Pr esent . " How he di d r evel i n i t - - i n t he

humor , t he power , t he pat hos, but , above al l , i n t he r oot and

br anch denunci at i ons of many of t he doct r i nes i n whi ch he had

been so l at el y vol unt ar i l y and wear i l y chai ni ng hi msel f ! The

chai ns went snappi ng of f one af t er anot her , and, i n hi s

exul t at i on, he kept spout i ng out passage af t er passage i n a song

of t r i umph, " Enl i ght ened egoi sm never so l umi nous i s not t he r ul e

by whi ch man' s l i f e can be l ed- - _l ai ssez- f ai r e_, suppl y and

demand, cash payment f or t he sol e nexus, and so f or t h, wer e not ,

ar e not , and never wi l l be, a pr act i cal l aw of uni on f or a

soci et y of men, " &c. , &c. , unt i l Har dy f ai r l y got up and t ur ned

hi m out , and he r et i r ed wi t h hi s new- f ound t r easur e t o hi s own

r ooms.

He had scar cel y ever i n hi s l i f e been so moved by a book bef or e.

He l aughed over i t , and cr i ed over i t , and began hal f a dozen

l et t er s t o t he aut hor t o t hank hi m, whi ch he f or t unat el y t or e up.

He al most f or got Mar y f or sever al hour s dur i ng hi s f i r st

ent husi asm. He had no not i on how he had been mast er ed and

oppr essed bef or e. He f el t as t he cr ew of a smal l f i shi ng- smack,

who ar e bei ng t owed away by an enemy' s cr ui ser , mi ght f eel on

seei ng a f r i gat e wi t h t he Uni on Jack f l yi ng, bear i ng down and

openi ng f i r e on t hei r capt or ; or as a smal l boy at school , who i s

bei ng f agged agai nst r ul es by t he r i ght of t he st r ongest , f eel s

when he sees hi s bi g br ot her comi ng ar ound t he cor ner . The hel p

whi ch he had f ound was j ust what he want ed. Ther e was no

nar r owi ng of t he gr ound her e- - no appeal t o men as member s of any

excl usi ve body what ever t o separ at e t hemsel ves and come out of

t he devi l ' s wor l d; but t o men as men, t o ever y man as a man- - t o

t he weakest and meanest , as wel l as t o t he st r ongest and most

nobl e- - t el l i ng t hem t hat t he wor l d i s God' s wor l d, t hat ever yone

of t hem has a wor k i n i t , and bi ddi ng t hem f i nd t hei r wor k and

set about i t .

The st r ong t i nge of sadness whi ch r an t hr ough t he whol e book, and

i t s unspar i ng denunci at i ons of t he est abl i shed or der of t hi ngs,

sui t ed hi s own unset t l ed and r est l ess f r ame of mi nd. So he gave

hi msel f up t o hi s new bondage, and r ej oi ced i n i t , as t hough he

had f ound at l ast what he was seeki ng f or ; and, by t he t i me t hat

l ong vacat i on came r ound agai n, t o whi ch we ar e compel l ed t o

hur r y hi m, he was f i l l ed f ul l of a set of cont r adi ct or y not i ons

and bel i ef s, whi ch wer e dest i ned t o ast oni sh and per pl ex t he mi nd

of t hat wor t hy J. P. f or t he count y of Ber ks, Br own t he el der ,

what ever ot her ef f ect t hey mi ght have on soci et y at l ar ge.

Reader s must not suppose, however , t hat our her o had gi ven up hi s

Page 323 of 443

ol d pur sui t s; on t he cont r ar y, he cont i nued t o boat , and cr i cket ,

and spar , wi t h as much vi gor as ever . Hi s per pl exi t i es onl y made

hi m a l i t t l e mor e si l ent at hi s past i mes t han he used t o be. But ,

as we have al r eady seen hi m t hus empl oyed, and know t he ways of

t he ani mal i n such mat t er s, i t i s needl ess t o r epeat . What we

want t o do i s t o f ol l ow hi m i nt o new f i el ds of t hought and

act i on, and mar k, i f i t may be, how he devel ops, and get s hi msel f

educat ed i n one way and anot her ; and t hi s pl unge i nt o t he gr eat

sea of soci al , pol i t i cal , and economi cal quest i ons i s t he

not i ceabl e f act ( so f ar as any i s not i ceabl e) of hi s second

year ' s r esi dence.

Dur i ng t he year he had onl y ver y meagr e account s of mat t er s at

Engl ebour n. Kat i e, i ndeed, had come r ound suf f i ci ent l y t o wr i t e

t o hi m; but she scar cel y al l uded t o her cousi n. He onl y knew t hat

Mar y had come out i n London, and was much admi r ed; and t hat t he

Por t er s had not t aken Bar t on agai n, but wer e goi ng abr oad f or t he

aut umn and wi nt er . The account s of Har r y wer e bad; he was st i l l

l i vi ng at Daddy Col l i ns' s, nobody knew how, and wor ki ng gang- wor k

occasi onal l y wi t h t he out l aws of t he heat h.

The onl y f act of i mpor t ance i n t he nei ghbor hood had been t he

deat h of Squi r e Wur l ey, whi ch happened suddenl y i n t he spr i ng. A

di st ant cousi n had succeeded hi m, a young man of Tom' s own age.

He was al so i n r esi dence at Oxf or d, and Tom knew hi m. They wer e

not ver y congeni al ; so he was much ast oni shed when young Wur l ey,

on hi s r et ur n t o Col l ege, af t er hi s r el at i ve' s f uner al , r at her

sought hi m out , and seemed t o wi sh t o know mor e of hi m. The end

of i t was an i nvi t at i on t o Tom t o come t o t he Gr ange, and spend a

week or so at t he begi nni ng of t he l ong vacat i on. Ther e was t o be

a par t y of Oxf or d men t her e, and nobody el se; and t hey meant t o

enj oy t hemsel ves t hor oughl y, Wur l ey sai d.

Tom f el t much embar r assed how t o act , and, af t er some hesi t at i on,

t ol d hi s i nvi t er of hi s l ast vi si t t o t he mansi on i n quest i on,

t hi nki ng t hat a knowl edge of t he ci r cumst ances mi ght change hi s

mi nd. But he f ound t hat young Wur l ey knew t he f act s al r eady; and,

i n f act , he coul dn' t hel p suspect i ng t hat hi s quar r el wi t h t he

l at e owner had somet hi ng t o say t o hi s pr esent i nvi t at i on.

However , i t di d not l i e i n hi s mout h t o be cur i ous on t he

subj ect ; and so he accept ed t he i nvi t at i on gl adl y, much del i ght ed

at t he not i on of begi nni ng hi s vacat i on so near Engl ebour n, and

havi ng t he r un of t he Gr ange f i shi ng, whi ch was j ust l y

cel ebr at ed.

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE RI VER SI DE

So, f r om Henl ey, Tom went home j ust t o see hi s f at her and mot her

and pi ck up hi s f i shi ng- gear , and t hen st ar t ed f or t he Gr ange. On

hi s r oad t hi t her , he mor e t han once al most made up hi s mi nd t o go

r ound by Engl ebour n, get hi s f i r st i nt er vi ew wi t h Kat i e over , and

f i nd out how t he wor l d was r eal l y goi ng wi t h Har r y and hi s

sweet hear t , of whom he had such meagr e i nt el l i gence of l at e. But ,

f or some r eason or anot her , when i t came t o t aki ng t he t ur n t o

Engl ebour n, he passed i t by, and, cont ent i ng hi msel f f or t he t i me

wi t h a di st ant vi ew of t he vi l l age and t he Hawk' s Lynch, dr ove

st r ai ght t o t he Gr ange.

He had not expect ed t o f eel ver y comf or t abl e at f i r st i n t he

Page 324 of 443

house whi ch he had l ef t t he pr evi ous aut umn i n so st r ange a

manner , and he was not di sappoi nt ed. The r ooms r emi nded hi m

unpl easant l y of hi s passage of ar ms wi t h t he l at e mast er , and t he

gr ave and por t l y but l er was somewhat embar r assed i n hi s r ecept i on

of hi m; whi l e t he f oot man, who car r i ed of f hi s por t mant eau, di d

i t wi t h a gr i n whi ch put hi m out . The set of men whom he f ound

t her e wer e not of hi s sor t . They wer e young Londoner s, and he a

t hor ough count r yman. But t he si ght of t he st r eam by whi ch he t ook

a hear t y st r ol l bef or e di nner made up f or ever yt hi ng, and f i l l ed

hi m wi t h pl easur abl e ant i ci pat i ons. He t hought he had never seen

a sweet er bi t of wat er .

The di nner t o whi ch t he par t y of young gent l emen sat down was

most undeni abl e. The host t al ked a l i t t l e t oo much, per haps;

under al l t he ci r cumst ances, of _my_ wi ne, _my_ pl at e, _my_

mut t on, &c. , pr ovoki ng t he t hought of how l ong t hey had been hi s.

But he was bent on hospi t al i t y af t er hi s f ashi on, and hi s guest s

wer e not di sposed t o cr i t i ci ze much.

The ol d but l er di d not condescend t o wai t , but br ought i n a

magnum of cl ar et af t er di nner , car ef ul l y nur si ng i t as i f i t wer e

a baby, and pl aci ng i t pat r oni zi ngl y bef or e hi s young mast er .

Bef or e t hey adj our ned t o t he bi l l i ar d- r oom t hey had di sposed of

sever al of t he same; but t he f ol l ower s wer e br ought i n by a

f oot man, t he but l er bei ng empl oyed i n di scussi ng a bot t l e of an

ol der vi nt age wi t h t he st ewar d i n t he st i l l - r oom. Then came pool ,

pool , pool , soda- wat er and br andy, and ci gar s, i nt o t he shor t

hour s; but Tom st ol e away ear l y, havi ng an eye t o hi s mor ni ng' s

f i shi ng, and not f eel i ng much at home wi t h hi s compani ons.

He was out soon af t er sunr i se t he next mor ni ng. He never want ed

t o be cal l ed when t her e was a t r out - st r eam wi t hi n r each; and hi s

f i shi ng i nst i nct t ol d hi m t hat , i n t hese sul t r y dog- days, t her e

woul d be l i t t l e chance of spor t when t he sun was wel l up. So he

l et hi msel f gent l y out of t he hal l door - - paused a moment on t he

st eps t o f i l l hi s chest wi t h t he f r esh mor ni ng ai r , as he gl anced

at t he weat her cock over t he st abl es- - and t hen set t o wor k t o put

hi s t ackl e t oget her on t he l awn, hummi ng a t une t o hi msel f as he

sel ect ed an i nsi nuat i ng r ed hackl e and al der f l y f r om hi s

wel l - wor n book, and t i ed t hem on t o hi s cast . Then he sl ung hi s

cr eel over hi s shoul der , pi cked up hi s r od, and st ar t ed f or t he

wat er .

As he passed t he gat es of t he st abl e- yar d, t he keeper came out - - a

st ur dy bul l et - headed f el l ow, i n a vel vet een coat , and cor d

br eeches and gai t er s- - and t ouched hi s hat . Tom r et ur ned t he

sal ut e, and wi shed hi m good mor ni ng.

" Mor ni n' , si r ; you be about ear l y. "

" Yes; I r eckon i t ' s t he best t i me f or spor t at t he end of June. "

" ' Ti s so, Si r . Shal l I f et ch a net , and come al ong! "

" No, t hank you, I ' l l manage t he l adl e mysel f . But whi ch do you

cal l t he best wat er ?"

" They be bot h mi ddl i ng good. They ai n' t much odds at wi xt ' em. But

I see most f i sh movi n' o' mor ni n' s i n t he deep wat er down bel ow. "

" I don' t know; t he ni ght was t oo hot , " sai d Tom, who had exami ned

t he wat er t he day bef or e, and made up hi s mi nd wher e he was

goi ng. " I ' m f or deep wat er on col d days; I shal l begi n wi t h t he

st i ckl es up above. Ther e' s a good head of wat er on, I suppose?"

Page 325 of 443

" Pl ent y down t hi s l ast week, si r . "

" Come al ong, t hen; we' l l wal k t oget her , i f you' r e goi ng t hat

way. " So Tom st epped of f , br ushi ng t hr ough t he st eami ng l ong

gr ass, gemmed wi t h wi l d f l ower s, f ol l owed by t he keeper ; and, as

t he gr asshopper s bounded chi r r upi ng out of hi s way, and t he

i nsect l i f e hummed and mur mur ed, and t he l ar k r ose and sang above

hi s head, he f el t happi er t han he had done f or many a l ong mont h.

So hi s hear t opened t owar ds hi s compani on, who kept a l i t t l e

behi nd hi m.

" What si ze do you t ake ' em out , keeper ?"

" Anyt hi ng over ni ne i nches, si r . But t her e' s a smar t i sh f ew f i sh

of t hr ee pounds, f or t hem as can cat ch ' em. "

" Wel l , t hat ' s good; but t hey ai n' t easy caught , eh?"

" I don' t r i ght l y know, si r ; but t her e' s gent s comes as st ands

cl ose by t he wat er , and f l ogs down st r eam wi t h t he sun i n t hei r

backs, and uses al l manner o' vl i es, wi ' l ong names; and t hen

t hey gwoes away, and says, ' t ai n' t no use f l yi ng her e, ' cas

t her e' s so much cadi s bai t and t hat l i ke. "

" Ah, ver y l i kel y, " sai d Tom, wi t h a chuckl e.

" The chaps as cat ches t he bi g f i shes, si r , " went on t he keeper ,

get t i ng conf i dent i al , " i s t hay cussed ni ght - l i ne poacher s.

Ther e' s one o' t hay as has come her e t hi s l ast spr i ng- t i de- - t he

ar t f ul l est chap as ever I come acr oss, and down t o ever y move on

t he boar d. He don' t use no shove- net s, nor such- l i ke t ackl e; not

he; I s' pose he don' t cal l t hat spor t . Besi des, I got mast er t o

st ake t he whol e wat er , and set ol d kni ves and r azor s about i n t he

hol es, but t hat don' t answer ; and t hi s j oker al l ' us goes

al one- - whi ch, i n cour se, he coul dn' t do wi t h net s. Now, I knows

wi t hi n f i ve or si x yar ds wher e t hat chap set s hi s l i nes, and I

f i nds ' em, now and agai n, set t he ar t f ul l est you ever see. But

' t woul d t ake a man' s l i f e t o l ook ar t er hi m, and I knows he get s,

maybe, a dozen bi g f i sh a week, do al l as I knows. "

" How i s i t you can' t cat ch hi m, keeper ?" sai d Tom, much amused.

" Why you see si r , he don' t come at any hour s. Dr at un! " sai d t he

keeper , get t i ng hot ; " bl essed i f I don' t t hi nk he somet i mes comes

down among t he haymaker s and f ol k at noon, and up l i nes and of f ,

whi l e t hey chaps does not hi ng but sni gger at un- - al l I knows i s,

as I ' ve wat ched t i l l mi dni ght , and t hen on agai n at dawn f or ' n,

and no good come on i t but once. "

" How was t hat ?"

" Wel l , one mor ni n' , si r , about l ast Lady- day, I comes qui t e qui et

up st r eam about dawn. When I get ' s t o Far mer Gi l es' s pi ece ( t hat

l i t t l e r ough bi t , si r , as you sees t ' ot her si de t he st r eam, t wo

f i el ds f r om our out si de bounds) , I sees un a st oopi ng down and

haul i ng i n' s l i ne. ' Now' s your t i me, Bi l l y, ' says I , and up t he

hedge I cut s, hot f oot , t o get bet wi xt he and our bounds. Wet her

he seen me or not , I can' t mi nd; l east ways, when I up' s head

t ' ot her si de t he hedge, vor i ght s wher e I seen hi m l ast , t her e was

he a- t r ot t i ng up st r eam qui t e cool , a- pocket i ng a t wo- pounder .

Then he sees me and away we goes si de by si de f or t he bounds - - he

t hi s si de t he hedge and I t ' ot her ; he t aki n' t he f ences l i ke our

ol d gr eyhound- bi t ch, Cl ar a. W e t akes t he l ast f ence on t o t hat

Page 326 of 443

f uzzy f i el d as you sees t her e, Si r ( par son' s gl ebe and out of our

l i ber t y) , neck and neck, and I t ur ns shor t t o t he l ef t , ' cos

t her e war n' t no f ence now bet wi xt he and I . Wel l , I t hought he' d

a dodged on about t he f uz. Not he; he sl ouches hi s hat over ' s

eyes, and st ands qui t e cool by f ust f uz bush- - I mi nded t hen as we

was out o' our beat . Hows' ever my bl ood was up; so I at ' s hi m

t hen and t her e, no wor ds l ost , and f et ches a cr ack at ' s head wi

my st i ck. ' He f ends wi ' hi s' n; and t hen, as I r ushes i n t o

col l ar ' n, dash' d i f ' e di dn' t meet I f ul l , and cat ch I by t he

t hi gh and col l ar , and send I sl ap over ' s head i nt o a f uz bush.

" Then he chuckl es f i t t o bust hi ssel f , and cut s hi s st i ck, whi l e

I cr eeps out f ul l o' pr i ckl es, and wi ' my br eeches t or n shamef ul .

Dang un! " cr i ed t he keeper , whi l e Tom r oar ed, " he' s a l i ssum

wosbi r d, t hat I ' ool say, but I ' l l be up si des wi ' he next t i me I

sees un. Whor son f ool as I was, not t o st op and l ook at ' n and

speak t o un! Then I shoul d ha' know' d ' n agai n; and now he med be

our par i sh cl er k f or al l as I know. "

" And you' ve never met hi m si nce?"

" Never sot eye on un, si r , ar l y or l at e- - wi shes I had. "

" Wel l , keeper , her e' s a hal f cr own t o go t owar ds mendi ng t he hol e

i n your br eeches, and bet t er l uck at t he r et ur n mat ch. I shal l

begi n f i shi ng her e. "

" Thank' ee, si r . You keep your cast pr et t y ni gh t hat t her e of f

bank, and you med have a r ar e good un t her ' . I seen a f i sh suck

t her e j ust now as war n' t spawned t hi s year , nor l ast net her . "

And away went t he communi cat i ve keeper .

" St anch f el l ow, t he keeper , " sai d Tom t o hi msel f , as he r eel ed

out yar d af t er yar d of hi s t aper ed l i ne, and wi t h a gent l e sweep

dr opped hi s col l ar of f l i es l i ght l y on t he wat er , each cast

cover i ng anot her f i ve f eet of t he di mpl i ng sur f ace. " Good f el l ow,

t he keeper - - don' t mi nd t el l i ng a st or y agai nst hi msel f - - can st and

bei ng l aughed at - - mor e t han mast er can. Ah, t her e' s t he f i sh he

saw sucki ng, I ' l l be bound. Now, you beaut i es, over hi s nose, and

f al l l i ght , don' t di sgr ace your br i ngi ng up! " and away went t he

f l i es qui ver i ng t hr ough t he ai r and l i ght i ng cl ose t o t he

opposi t e bank, under a bunch of r ushes. A sl i ght r ound eddy

f l owed bel ow t he r ushes as t he cast came gent l y back acr oss t he

cur r ent .

" Ah, you see t hem, do you, ol d boy?" t hought Tom. " Say your

pr ayer s, t hen, and get shr i ved! " and away went t he f l i es agai n,

t hi s t i me a l i t t l e bel ow. No movement . The t hi r d t hr ow, a gr eat

l unge and spl ash, and t he next moment t he l i t he r od bent doubl e,

and t he gut col l ar spun al ong, cut t i ng t hr ough t he wat er l i ke

mad. Up goes t he gr eat f i sh t wi ce i nt o t he ai r , Tom gi vi ng hi m

t he poi nt ; t hen up st r eam agai n, Tom gi vi ng hi m t he but t , and

begi nni ng t o r eel up gent l y. Down goes t he gr eat f i sh i nt o t he

swayi ng weeds, wor ki ng wi t h hi s t ai l l i ke a t wel ve- hor se scr ew.

" I f I can onl y get my nose t o gr ound, " t hi nks he. So t hi nks Tom,

and t r ust s t o hi s t ackl e, keepi ng a st eady st r ai n on t r out y, and

cr eepi ng gent l y down st r eam. " No go, " says t he f i sh as he f eel s

hi s nose st eadi l y haul ed r ound, and t ur ns a swi r l downst r eam.

Away goes Tom, r eel i ng i n, and away goes t he f i sh i n hopes of a

sl ack- - away, f or t went y or t hi r t y yar ds- - t he f i sh comi ng t o t he

t op l azi l y, and agai n, and hol di ng on t o get hi s second wi nd. Now

a car t t r ack cr osses t he st r eam, no weeds, and shal l ow wat er at

t he si de. " Her e we must have i t out , " t hi nks Tom, and t ur ns

Page 327 of 443

f i sh' s nose up st r eam agai n. The bi g f i sh get s sul ky, t wi ce

dr i f t s t owar ds t he shal l ow, and t wi ce pl unges away at t he si ght

of hi s enemy i nt o t he deep wat er . The t hi r d t i me he comes swayi ng

i n, hi s yel l ow si de gl eami ng and hi s mout h open; and, t he next

moment Tom scoops hi m out ont o t he gr ass, wi t h a " whoop" t hat

mi ght have been hear d at t he house.

" Two pounder , i f he' s an ounce, " says Tom, as he gi ves hi m t he

_coup de gr ace_, and l ays hi m out l ovi ngl y on t he f r esh gr een

swar d.

Who amongst you, dear r eader s, can appr eci at e t he i nt ense del i ght

of gr assi ng your f i r st bi g f i sh af t er a ni ne mont h' s f ast ? Al l

f i r st sensat i ons have t hei r speci al pl easur e; but none can be

named, i n a smal l way, t o beat t hi s of t he f i r st f i sh of t he

season. The f i r st cl ean l eg- hi t f or f our i n your f i r st mat ch at

Lor d' s- - t he gr at i ng of t he bows of your r aci ng boat agai nst t he

st er n of t he boat ahead i n your f i r st r ace- - t he f i r st hal f - mi l e

of a bur st f r om t he cover si de i n November , when t he hounds i n

t he f i el d ahead may be cover ed wi t h a t abl e- cl ot h, and no one but

t he hunt sman and a t op sawyer or t wo l i es bet ween you and

t hem- - t he f i r st br i ef af t er your cal l t o t he bar , i f i t comes

wi t hi n t he year - - t he sensat i ons pr oduced by t hese ar e t he same i n

ki nd; but cr i cket , boat i ng, get t i ng br i ef s, even hunt i ng l ose

t hei r edge as t i me goes on. As t o l ady r eader s, i t i s i mpossi bl e,

pr obabl y, t o gi ve t hem an i dea of t he sensat i on i n quest i on.

Per haps some may have exper i enced somet hi ng of t he ki nd at t hei r

f i r st bal l s, when t hey hear d whi sper s and saw al l eyes t ur ni ng

t hei r way, and knew t hat t hei r dr esses and gl oves f i t t ed

per f ect l y. But t hi s j oy can be f el t but once i n a l i f e, and t he

f i r st f i sh comes back as f r esh as ever , or ought t o come, i f al l

men had t hei r r i ght s, once i n a season. So, good l uck t o t he

gent l e cr af t , and i t s pr of essor s, may t he Fat es send us much i nt o

t hei r company! The t r out f i sher , l i ke t he l andscape pai nt er ,

haunt s t he l ovel i est pl aces of t he ear t h, and haunt s t hem al one.

Sol i t ude and hi s own t hought s- - he must be on t he best t er ms wi t h

al l of t hese; and he who can t ake ki ndl y t he l ar gest al l owance of

t hese i s l i kel y t o be t he ki ndl i est and t r uest wi t h hi s f el l ow

men.

Tom had spl endi d spor t t hat summer mor ni ng. As t he gr eat sun r ose

hi gher , t he l i ght mor ni ng br eeze, whi ch had cur l ed t he wat er ,

di ed away; t he l i ght mi st dr ew up i nt o l i ght cl oud, and t he l i ght

cl oud vani shed, i nt o cl oudl and, f or anyt hi ng I know; and st i l l

t he f i sh r ose, st r ange t o say, t hough Tom f el t i t was an af f ai r

of mi nut es, and act ed accor di ngl y. At ei ght o' cl ock he was about

a quar t er of a mi l e f r om t he house, at a poi nt i n t he st r eam of

r ar e char ms bot h f or t he angl er and t he l over of gent l e r i ver

beaut y. The mai n st r eam was cr ossed by a l ock, f or med of a sol i d

br i ck br i dge wi t h no par apet s, under whi ch t he wat er r ushed

t hr ough f our smal l ar ches, each of whi ch coul d be cl osed i n an

i nst ant by l et t i ng down a heavy wooden l ock gat e, f i t t ed i n

gr ooves on t he upper si de of t he br i dge. Such l ocks ar e f r equent

i n t he west - count r y st r eams- - even at l ong di st ances f r om mi l l s

and mi l l er s, f or whose behoof t hey wer e made i n ol d days, t hat

t he suppl y of wat er t o t he mi l l mi ght be easi l y r egul at ed. Al l

pi ous angl er s shoul d bl ess t he memor i es of t he ol d bui l der s of

t hem, f or t hey ar e t he ver y par adi ses of t he gr eat t r out , who

f r equent t he ol d br i ckwor k and t i mber f oundat i ons. The wat er i n

i t s r ush t hr ough t he ar ches, had of cour se wor ked f or i t sel f a

deep hol e, and t hen, some t went y yar ds bel ow, spr ead i t sel f out

i n want on j oyous r i ppl es and eddi es over a br oad sur f ace some

f i f t y yar ds acr oss, and dashed away t owar ds a l i t t l e i sl and some

t wo hundr ed yar ds bel ow, or r ol l ed i t sel f sl owl y back t owar ds t he

Page 328 of 443

br i dge agai n, up t he backwat er by t he si de of t he bank, as i f

l ongi ng f or anot her mer r y r ush t hr ough one of t hose nar r ow

ar ches. The i sl and bel ow was cr owned wi t h spl endi d al der s,

wi l l ows f or t y f eet hi gh, whi ch wept i nt o t he wat er , and t wo or

t hr ee popl ar s; a r i ch mi l e of wat er meadow, wi t h an occasi onal

wi l l ow or al der , l ay gl eami ng beyond; and t he vi ew was bounded by

a gl or i ous wood, whi ch cr owned t he gent l e sl ope, at t he f oot of

whi ch t he r i ver r an. Anot her consi der abl e body of wat er , whi ch

had been car r i ed of f above f r om t he mai n st r eam t o f l ush t he

wat er meadows, j oi ned i t s par ent at t hi s poi nt ; i t came sl owl y

down a br oad ar t i f i ci al di t ch r unni ng par al l el wi t h t he mai n

st r eam; and t he nar r ow st r i p of l and whi ch di vi ded t he t wo

st r eams ended abr upt l y j ust bel ow t he l ock, f or mi ng a spl endi d

poi nt f or bat her or angl er .

Tom had f i xed on t hi s pool as hi s _bonne bouche_, as a chi l d

keeps i t s pl ums t i l l t he l ast , and st ol e over t he br i dge,

st oopi ng l ow t o gai n t he poi nt i ndi cat ed. Havi ng gai ned i t , he

gl anced r ound t o be awar e of t he dwar f ash- t r ees and wi l l ows

whi ch wer e scat t er ed al ong t he st r i p, and mi ght cat ch heedl ess

col l ar s and spoi l spor t , when, l yi ng l azi l y al most on t he sur f ace

wher e t he backwat er met t he st r eam f r om t he meadows, he behel d

t he gr eat gr andf at her of al l t r out , a f el l ow t wo f eet l ong and a

f oot i n gi r t h at t he shoul der s, j ust movi ng f i n enough t o keep

hi m f r om t ur ni ng over on t o hi s back. He t hr ew hi msel f f l at on

t he gr ound and cr ept away t o t he ot her si de of t he st r i p; t he

ki ng f i sh had not seen hi m; and t he next moment Tom saw hi m suck

i n a bee, l aden wi t h hi s mor ni ng' s l oad of honey, who t ouched t he

wat er unwar i l y cl ose t o hi s nose. Wi t h t r embl i ng hand, Tom t ook

of f hi s t ai l f l y, and, on hi s knee, subst i t ut ed a gover nor ; t hen

shor t eni ng hi s l i ne, af t er wet t i ng hi s mi mi c bee i n t he pool

behi nd hi m, t ossed i t gent l y i nt o t he monst er ' s ver y j aws. For a

moment t he f i sh seemed scar ed, but t he next , consci ous i n hi s

st r engt h, l i f t ed hi s nose sl owl y t o t he sur f ace and sucked i n t he

bai t .

Tom st r uck gent l y, and t hen spr ang t o hi s f eet . But t he Heavens

had ot her wor k f or t he ki ng f i sh, who di ved swi f t l y under t he

bank; a sl i ght j ar f ol l owed, and Tom' s r od was st r ai ght over hi s

head, t he l i ne and scar cel y a yar d of hi s t r ust y gut col l ar

dangl i ng about hi s f ace. He sei zed t hi s r emnant wi t h hor r or and

unsat i sf i ed l ongi ng, and exami ned i t wi t h car e. Coul d he have

over l ooked any f r ayi ng whi ch t he gut mi ght have got i n t he

mor ni ng' s wor k? No; he had gone over ever y i nch of i t not f i ve

mi nut es bef or e, as he near ed t he pool . Besi des i t was cut cl ean

t hr ough, not a t r ace of br ui se or f r ay about i t . How coul d i t

have happened? He went t o t he spot and l ooked i nt o t he wat er ; i t

was sl i ght l y di scol or ed and he coul d not see t he bot t om. He t hr ew

hi s f i shi ng coat of f , r ol l ed up t he sl eeve of hi s f l annel shi r t ,

and, l yi ng on hi s si de, f el t about t he bank and t r i ed t o r each

t he bot t om but coul dn' t . So, hear i ng t he hal f - hour bel l r i ng, he

def er r ed f ur t her i nqui r y, and st r i pped i n si l ent di sgust f or a

pl unge i n t he pool . Thr ee t i mes he hur l ed hi msel f i nt o t he

del i ci ous r ush of t he col d chal k st r eam, wi t h t hat ut t er abandon

i n whi ch man, whose bones ar e br i t t l e, can onl y i ndul ge when

t her e ar e si x or seven f eet of wat er bet ween hi m and mot her

ear t h; and, l et t i ng t he st r eam bear hi m away at i t s own sweet

wi l l t o t he shal l ows bel ow, st r uck up agai n t hr ough t he r ush and

t he r oar t o hi s pl ungi ng pl ace. Then, sl owl y and l uxur i ousl y

dr essi ng, he l i t hi s shor t pi pe- - compani on of medi t at i on- - and

began t o r umi nat e on t he escape of t he ki ng f i sh. What coul d have

cut hi s col l ar ? The mor e he t hought , t he l ess he coul d make i t

out . When suddenl y he was awar e of t he keeper on hi s way back t o

t he house f or or der s and br eakf ast .

Page 329 of 443

" What spor t , si r ?"

" Pr et t y f ai r , " sai d Tom, car el essl y, l uggi ng f i ve pl ump speckl ed

f el l ows, wei ghi ng some seven and a hal f pounds, out of hi s cr eel ,

and l ayi ng t hem out f or t he keeper ' s i nspect i on.

" Wel l , t hey be i n pr i me or der , si r , sur el y, " says t he keeper ,

handl i ng t hem; " t hey al l us get s mor t al t hi ck acr oss t he shoul der s

whi l e t he May- f l y be on. Loose any si r ?"

" I put i n some l i t t l e ones up above, and l ost one scr eamer j ust

up t he bl ack di t ch t her e. He must have been a f our - pounder , and

went of f , and be hanged t o hi m, wi t h t wo yar ds of my col l ar and a

coupl e of f i r st - r at e f l i es. How on ear t h he got of f I can' t

t el l ! " and he went on t o unf ol d t he par t i cul ar s of t he shor t

st r uggl e.

The keeper coul d har dl y keep down a gr i n. " Ah, si r , " sai d he, " I

t hi nks I knows what spwi l ed your spor t . You owes i t al l t o t hat

chap as I was a t el l i ng you of , or my name' s not Wi l l um Goddar d; "

and t hen, f i shi ng t he l ockpol e wi t h a hook at t he end of i t out

of t he r ushes, he began gr opi ng under t he bank, and pr esent l y

haul ed up a sor t of i nf er nal machi ne, consi st i ng of a heavy l ump

of wood, a yar d or so l ong, i n whi ch wer e car ef ul l y i nser t ed t he

bl ades of f our or f i ve ol d kni ves and r azor s, whi l e a cr op of

r ust y j agged nai l s f i l l ed up t he spar e space.

Tom l ooked at i t i n wonder . " What devi l ' s wor k have you got hol d

of t her e?" he sai d at l ast .

" Bl ess you, si r , " sai d t he keeper , " ' t i s onl y our shove net t r aps

as I was a t el l i ng you of . I keeps har d upon a dozen on ' em and

shi f t s ' em about i n t he l i kel i est hol es; and I t akes car e t o l et

t he men as i s about t he wat er meadows see me a- shar peni ng on ' em

up a bi t wi ' a f i l e, now and agai n. And si nce mast er gev me

or der s t o put ' em i n, I don' t t hi nk t hey t r i es t hat game on not

once a mont h. "

" Wel l but wher e do you and your mast er expect t o go t o i f you set

such t hi ngs as t hose about ?" sai d Tom, l ooki ng ser i ous. " Why,

you' l l be cut t i ng some f el l ow' s hand or f oot hal f of f one of

t hese days. Suppose I ' d waded up t he bank t o see what had become

of my cast ?"

" Lor ' , si r , I never t hought o' t hat , " sai d t he keeper , l ooki ng

sheepi sh and l i f t i ng t he back of hi s shor t hat of f hi s head t o

make r oom f or a scr at ch; " but , " added he t ur ni ng t he subj ect , " i f

you want s t o keep t hey ar t f ul wosbi r ds of f t he wat er , you must

f r i ght en ' em wi ' summat out o' t he way. Dr at t l e ' em, I knows t hey

put s me t o my wi t ' s end; but you' d never ' a had f i ve such f i sh as

t hem af or e br eakf ast , si r , i f we di dn' t st ake t he wat er s. "

" Wel l , and I don' t want ' em i f I can' t get ' em wi t hout . I ' l l t el l

you what i t i s, keeper , t hi s r azor busi ness i s goi ng a bi t t oo

f ar ; men ai n' t t o be mai med f or l i ki ng a bi t of spor t . You set

spr i ng- guns i n t he woods, and you know what t hat came t o. Why

don' t you, or one of your wat cher s, st op out her e at ni ght , and

cat ch t he f el l ows, l i ke men?

" Why, you see, si r , mast er don' t al l ow me but one wat cher and

he' s mor t al f ear ed o' t he wat er , he be, speci al l y o' ni ght s. He' d

sooner by hal f st op up i n t he woods. Daddy Col l i ns ( t hat ' s an ol d

woman as l i ves on t he heat h, si r , and a bad sor t she be, t oo)

Page 330 of 443

wel l , she t ol d hi m once, when he woul dn' t gee her some baccy as

he' d got , and she' d a mi nd t o, as he' d f al l t wi ce i nt o t he wat er

f or once as he' d get out ; and t h' poor chap ever si nce can' t

t hi nk but what he' l l be dr ownded. And t her e' s queer si ght s and

sounds by t he r i ver o' ni ght s, t oo, I ' ool say, si r , l et al one

t he whi t e mi st , as makes ever yt hi ng l ook unket , and gi ves a chap

t he r heumat i cs. "

" Wel l , but _you_ ai n' t af r ai d of ghost s and r heumat i sm?"

" No, I don' t know as I be, si r . But t hen t her e' s t he pheasant s

a- br eedi n' , and t her e' s f our br ood of f l apper s i n t he wi t hey bed,

and a si ght of young har es i n t he spi nneys. I be har d put t o t o

mi nd i t al l . "

" I dar esay you ar e, " sai d Tom, put t i ng on hi s coat and

shoul der i ng hi s r od; " I ' ve a good mi nd t o t ake a t ur n at i t

mysel f , t o hel p you, i f you' l l onl y dr op t hose r azor s. "

" I wi shes you woul d, si r , " sai d t he keeper , f r om behi nd; " i f

genl ' men' d somet i mes t ake a wat ch at ni ght s, t hey' d f i nd out as

keeper s hadn' t al l f ai r weat her wor k, I ' l l war r ant , i f t hey' r e t o

keep a good head o' game about a pl ace. ' Tai nt al l poppi ng of f

guns, and l unchi ng under hayr i cks, I can t el l ' em- - no, nor hal f

on i t . "

" Wher e do you t hi nk, now, t hi s f el l ow we ar e t al ki ng of sel l s hi s

f i sh?" sai d Tom, af t er a mi nut e' s t hought .

" Most l y at Readi ng Mar ket , I hear s t el l , si r . Ther e' s t he guar d

of t he mai l , as goes by t he cr oss- r oads t hr ee days a week, he wur

a r ar e poachi ng chap hi ssel f down i n t he west af or e he got hi s

pl ace al ong of hi s bugl e- pl ayi ng. They do say as he' s open t o any

game, he i s, f r om a buck t o a sni pe, and dr i ves a t r ade al l down

t he r oad wi t h t he count r y chaps.

" What day i s Readi ng Mar ket ?"

" Tuesdays and Sat ur days, si r . "

" And what t i me does t he mai l go by?"

" Si x o' cl ock i n t he mor ni ng, si r , at t he cr oss - r oads. "

" And t hey' r e t hr ee mi l es of f , acr oss t he f i el ds?"

" Ther eabout s, si r . I r eckons i t about a f or t y mi nut es' st r et ch,

and no t i me l ost . "

" Ther e' l l be no mor e bi g f i sh caught on t he f l y t o- day, " sai d

Tom, af t er a mi nut e' s si l ence, as t hey near ed t he house.

The wi nd had f al l en dead, and not a spot of cl oud i n t he sky.

" Not af or e ni ght f al l , I t hi nk, si r ; " and t he keeper di sappear ed

t owar ds t he of f i ces.

CHAPTER XXXVI I

THE NI GHT WATCH

" You may do as you pl ease, but I ' m goi ng t o see i t out . "

Page 331 of 443

" No, but I say do come al ong; t hat ' s a good, f el l ow. "

" Not I ; why, we' ve onl y j ust come out . Di dn' t you hear ? Wur l ey

dar ed me t o do a ni ght ' s wat chi ng, and I sai d I meant t o do i t . "

" Yes; so di d I . But we can change our mi nds. What ' s t he good of

havi ng a mi nd i f you can' t change i t ! [ Gr eek t ext ] ai dent er ai

poz phr ont i dez sophot er ai - - i sn' t t hat good Gr eek and good sense?"

" I don' t see i t . They' l l onl y l augh and sneer i f we go back now. "

" They' l l l augh at us t wi ce as much i f we don' t . Fancy t hey' r e

j ust begi nni ng pool now, on t hat st unni ng t abl e. Come al ong,

Br own; don' t mi ss your chance. We shal l be sur e t o di vi de t he

pool s, as we' ve mi ssed t he cl ar et . Cool hands and cool heads, you

know. Gr een on br own, pi nk your pl ayer i n hand! That ' s a good

deal pl easant er t han squat t i ng her e al l ni ght on t he damp gr ass. "

" Ver y l i kel y. "

" But you won' t ? Now, do be r easonabl e. Wi l l you come i f I st op

wi t h you anot her hal f - hour ?"

" No. "

" An hour t hen? Say t i l l t en o' cl ock?"

" I f I went at al l I woul d go at once. "

" Then you won' t come?"

" No. "

" I ' l l bet you a sover ei gn you never see a poacher , and t hen how

sad you wi l l be i n t he mor ni ng! I t wi l l be much wor se comi ng i n

t o br eakf ast wi t h empt y hands and a col d i n t he head, t han goi ng

i n now. They wi l l chaf f t hen, I gr ant you. "

" Wel l , t hen, t hey may chaf f and be hanged, f or I shan' t go i n

now. "

Tom' s i nt er l ocut or put hi s hands i n t he pocket s of hi s heat her

mi xt ur e shoot i ng coat , and t ook a t ur n or t wo of some dozen

yar ds, backwar ds and f or war ds above t he pl ace wher e our her o was

si t t i ng. He di dn' t l i ke goi ng i n and f aci ng t he pool pl ayer s by

hi msel f ; so he st opped once mor e and r eopened t he conver sat i on.

" What do you want t o do by wat chi ng al l ni ght , Br own?"

" To show t he keeper and t hose f el l ows i ndoor s t hat I mean what I

say. I sai d I ' d do i t , and I wi l l . "

" You don' t want t o cat ch a poacher , t hen?"

" I don' t much car e; I ' l l cat ch one i f he comes i n my way - - or t r y

i t on, at any r at e. "

" I say, Br own, I l i ke t hat ; as i f you don' t poach your sel f . Why,

I r emember when t he Whi t eham keeper spent t he best par t of a week

out si de t he col l ege gat es, on t he l ookout f or you and Dr ysdal e

and some ot her f el l ows. "

" What has t hat t o do wi t h i t ?"

Page 332 of 443

" Why, you ought t o have mor e f el l ow- f eel i ng. I suppose you go on

t he pr i nci pl e of set a t hi ef t o cat ch a t hi ef ?"

Tom made no answer , and hi s compani on went on.

" Come al ong, now, l i ke a good f el l ow. I f you' l l come i n now, we

can come out agai n al l f r esh, when t he r est go t o bed. "

" Not we. I sha' n' t go i n. But you can come out agai n i f you l i ke;

you' l l f i nd me her eabout s. "

The man i n t he heat her mi xt ur e had now shot hi s l ast bol t , and

t ook hi msel f of f t o t he house, l eavi ng Tom by t he r i ver si de. How

t hey got t her e may be t ol d i n a f ew wor ds. Af t er hi s mor ni ng' s

f i shi ng, and conver sat i on wi t h t he keeper , he had gone i n f ul l of

hi s subj ect and pr opounded i t at t he br eakf ast t abl e. Hi s

st r i ct ur es on t he kni f e and r azor busi ness pr oduced a r at her war m

di scussi on, whi ch mer ged i n t he quest i on whet her a keeper ' s l i f e

was a har d one, t i l l somet hi ng was sai d i mpl yi ng t hat Wur l ey' s

men wer e over wor ked. The mast er t ook t hi s i n hi gh dudgeon, and

wor ds r an hi gh. I n t he di scussi on, Tom r emar ked ( apr opos of

ni ght - wor k) t hat he woul d never ask anot her man t o do what he

woul d not do hi msel f ; whi ch sent i ment was endor sed by, amongst

ot her s, t he man i n t he heat her mi xt ur e. The host had r et or t ed,

t hat t hey had bet t er i n t hat case t r y i t t hemsel ves; whi ch r emar k

had t he ef f ect of maki ng Tom r esol ve t o cut shor t hi s vi si t , and

i n t he meant i me had br ought hi m and hi s al l y t o t he r i ver si de on

t he ni ght i n quest i on.

The f i r st hour , as we have seen, had been enough f or t he al l y;

and so Tom was l ef t i n company wi t h a pl ai d, a st i ck, and a pi pe,

t o spend t he ni ght by hi msel f .

I t was by no means t he f i r st ni ght he had spent i n t he open ai r ,

and pr omi sed t o be a pl easant one f or campi ng out . I t was al most

t he l ongest day i n t he year , and t he weat her was magni f i cent .

Ther e was yet an hour of dayl i ght , and t he pl ace he had chosen

was j ust t he r i ght one f or enj oyi ng t he eveni ng.

He was si t t i ng under one of a cl ump of huge ol d al der s, gr owi ng

on t he t hi n st r i p of l and al r eady not i ced, whi ch di vi ded t he mai n

st r eam f r om t he deep ar t i f i ci al di t ch whi ch f ed t he

wat er - meadows. On hi s l ef t t he emer al d- gr een meadows st r et ched

away t i l l t hey met t he i ncl osed cor n- l and. On hi s r i ght r an t he

mai n st r eam, some f i f t y f eet i n br eadt h at t hi s poi nt ; on t he

opposi t e si de of whi ch was a r ough pi ece of gr ound, hal f

wi t hey- bed, hal f copse, wi t h a r ank gr owt h of r ushes at t he

wat er ' s edge. These wer e t he chosen haunt s of t he moor - hen and

wat er - r at , whose t r acks coul d be seen by dozens, l i ke smal l open

door ways, l ooki ng out on t o t he r i ver , t hr ough whi ch r an a number

of myst er i ous l i t t l e pat hs i nt o t he r ush- wi l der ness beyond.

The sun was now goi ng down behi nd t he copse, t hr ough whi ch hi s

beams came asl ant , chequer ed and mel l ow. The st r eam r an di mpl i ng

by hi m, sl eepi l y swayi ng t he masses of weed, under t he sur f ace

and on t he sur f ace; and t he t r out r ose under t he banks, as some

mot h or gnat or gl eami ng beet l e f el l i nt o t he st r eam; her e and

t her e one mor e f r ol i csome t han hi s br et hr en woul d t hr ow hi msel f

j oyousl y i nt o t he ai r . The swi f t s r ushed cl ose by hi m, i n

compani es of f i ve or si x, and wheel ed, and scr eamed, and dashed

away agai n, ski mmi ng al ong t he wat er , baf f l i ng hi s eye as he

t r i ed t o f ol l ow t hei r f l i ght . Two ki ngf i sher s shot suddenl y up on

t o t hei r supper st at i on, on a st unt ed wi l l ow st ump, some t went y

Page 333 of 443

yar ds bel ow hi m, and sat t her e i n t he gl or y of t hei r bl ue backs

and cl oudy r ed wai st coat s, wat chi ng wi t h l ong sagaci ous beaks

poi nt ed t o t he wat er beneat h, and ever y now and t hen dr oppi ng

l i ke f l ashes of l i ght i nt o t he st r eam, and r i si ng agai n, wi t h

what seemed one mot i on, t o t hei r per ches. A her on or t wo wer e

f i shi ng about t he meadows; and he wat ched t hem st al ki ng about i n

t hei r sober quaker coat s, or r i si ng on sl ow heavy wi ng, and

l umber i ng away home wi t h a wei r d cr y. He hear d t he st r ong pi ni ons

of t he wood pi geon i n t he ai r , and t hen f r om t he t r ees above hi s

head came t he sof t cal l , " Take- t wo- cow- Taf f y,

t ake- t wo- cow- Taf f y, " wi t h whi ch t hat f ai r and f al se bi r d i s sai d

t o have begui l l ed t he hapl ess Wel chman t o t he gal l ows. Pr esent l y,

as he l ay mot i onl ess, t he t i mi d and gr acef ul l i t t l e wat er - hens

peer ed out f r om t hei r door s i n t he r ushes opposi t e, and, seei ng

no cause f or f ear , st epped dai nt i l y i nt o t he wat er , and wer e

suddenl y sur r ounded by l i t t l e bundl es of bl ack sof t down, whi ch

went paddl i ng about i n and out of t he weeds, encour aged by t he

occasi onal shar p, cl ear , par ent al " keck- keck, " and mer r y l i t t l e

dabchi cks popped up i n mi d- st r eam, and l ooked r ound, and nodded

at hi m, per t and voi cel ess, and di ved agai n; even ol d cunni ng

wat er - r at s sat up on t he bank wi t h r ound bl ack noses and gl eami ng

eyes, or t ook sol emn swi ms out , and t ur ned up t hei r t ai l s and

di sappear ed f or hi s amusement . A comf or t abl e l ow came at

i nt er val s f r om t he cat t l e, r evel l i ng i n t he abundant her bage. Al l

l i vi ng t hi ngs seemed t o be di spor t i ng t hemsel ves, and enj oyi ng,

af t er t hei r ki nd, t he l ast gl eams of t he sunset , whi ch wer e

maki ng t he whol e vaul t of heaven gl ow and shi mmer ; and, as he

wat ched t hem, Tom bl essed hi s st ar s as he cont r ast ed t he

r i ver - si de wi t h t he gl ar e of l amps and t he cl i ck of bal l s i n t he

noi sy pool r oom.

Bef or e i t got dar k he bet hought hi m of maki ng sur e of hi s

posi t i on once mor e; mat t er s mi ght have changed si nce he chose i t

bef or e di nner . Wi t h al l t hat he coul d ext r act f r om t he keeper ,

and hi s own exper i ence i n such mat t er s, i t had t aken hi m sever al

hour s' hunt i ng up and down t he r i ver t hat af t er noon bef or e he had

hi t on a ni ght - l i ne. But he had per sever ed, knowi ng t hat t hi s was

t he onl y saf e evi dence t o st ar t f r om, and at l ast had f ound

sever al , so cunni ngl y set t hat i t was cl ear t hat i t was a

f i r st - r at e ar t i st i n t he poachi ng l i ne agai nst whom he had pi t t ed

hi msel f . These l i nes must have been l ai d al most under hi s nose on

t hat ver y day, as t he f r eshness of t he bai t s pr oved. The one

whi ch he had sel ect ed t o wat ch by was under t he bank, wi t hi n a

f ew yar ds of t he cl ump of al der s wher e he was now si t t i ng. Ther e

was no sat i sf act or y cover near t he ot her s; so he had chosen t hi s

one, wher e he woul d be per f ect l y conceal ed behi nd t he near est

t r unk f r om any per son who mi ght come i n due t i me t o t ake up t he

l i ne. Wi t h t hi s vi ew, t hen, he got up, and, st eppi ng car ef ul l y on

t he t hi ckest gr ass wher e hi s f oot woul d l eave no mar k, went t o

t he bank, and f el t wi t h t he hook of hi s st i ck af t er t he l i ne. I t

was al l r i ght , and he r et ur ned t o hi s ol d seat .

And t hen t he summer t wi l i ght came on, and t he bi r ds di sappear ed,

and t he hush of ni ght set t l ed down on r i ver , and copse, and

meadow- - cool and gent l e summer t wi l i ght af t er t he hot br i ght day.

He wel comed i t t oo, as i t f ol ded up t he l andscape, and t he t r ees

l ost t hei r out l i ne, and set t l ed i nt o sof t bl ack masses r i si ng

her e and t her e out of t he whi t e mi st , whi ch seemed t o have cr ept

up t o wi t hi n a f ew yar ds al l r ound hi m unawar es. Ther e was no

sound now but t he gent l e mur mur of t he wat er and an occasi onal

r ust l e of r eeds, or of t he l eaves over hi s head, as a st r ay

wander i ng puf f of ai r passed t hr ough t hem on i t s way home t o bed.

Not hi ng t o l i st en t o and not hi ng t o l ook at ; f or t he moon had not

r i sen, and t he l i ght mi st hi d ever yt hi ng except a st ar or t wo

Page 334 of 443

r i ght up above hi m. So, t he out si de wor l d havi ng l ef t hi m f or t he

pr esent , he was t ur ned i nwar ds on hi msel f .

Thi s was al l ver y wel l at f i r st ; and he wr apped t he pl ai d r ound

hi s shoul der s and l eant agai nst hi s t r ee, and i ndul ged i n a

l i t t l e sel f - gr at ul at i on. Ther e was somet hi ng of st r angeness and

advent ur e i n hi s sol i t ar y ni ght - wat ch, whi ch had i t s char m f or a

youngst er of t went y- one; and t he consci ousness of not r unni ng

f r om hi s wor d, of doi ng what he had sai d he woul d do, whi l e

ot her s shi r ked and br oke down, was deci dedl y pl easant .

But t hi s sat i sf act i on di d not l ast ver y l ong, and t he ni ght began

t o get a l i t t l e wear i some, and t oo cool t o be qui t e comf or t abl e.

By degr ees, doubt s as t o t he wi sdom of hi s sel f - i mposed t ask

cr ept i nt o hi s head. He di smi ssed t hem f or a t i me by t ur ni ng hi s

t hought s t o ot her mat t er s. The nei ghbour hood of Engl ebour n, some

t wo mi l es up above hi m, r emi nded hi m of t he pr evi ous summer ; and

he wonder ed how he shoul d get on wi t h hi s cousi n when t hey met .

He shoul d pr obabl y see her t he next day, f or he woul d l ose no

t i me i n cal l i ng. Woul d she r ecei ve hi m wel l ? Woul d she have much

t o t el l hi m about Mar y?

He had been mor e hopef ul on t hi s subj ect of l at e, but t he

l onel i ness, t he ut t er sol i t ude and si l ence of hi s posi t i on as he

sat t her e i n t he mi st y ni ght , away f r om al l human habi t at i ons,

was not f avor abl e somehow t o hopef ul ness. He f ound hi msel f

get t i ng dr ear y and sombr e i n hear t - - mor e and mor e so as t he

mi nut es r ol l ed on, and t he si l ence and l onel i ness pr essed on hi m

mor e and mor e heavi l y. He was sur pr i sed at hi s own

down- hear t edness, and t r i ed t o r emember how he had spent f or mer

ni ght s so pl easant l y out of door s. Ah, he had al ways had a

compani on wi t hi n cal l , and somet hi ng t o do- - cr ay f i shi ng, bat

f owl i ng, or somet hi ng of t he ki nd! Si t t i ng t her e doi ng not hi ng,

he f anci ed, must make i t so heavy t o- ni ght . By a st r ong ef f or t of

wi l l he shook of f t he oppr essi on. He moved, and hummed a t une t o

br eak t he si l ence; he got up and wal ked up and down, l est i t

shoul d agai n mast er hi m. I f wi nd, st or m, pour i ng r ai n, anyt hi ng

t o make sound or movement , woul d but come!

But nei t her of t hem came, and t her e was l i t t l e hel p i n sound or

movement made by hi msel f . Besi des i t occur r ed t o hi m t hat much

wal ki ng up and down mi ght def eat t he obj ect of hi s wat ch. No one

woul d come near whi l e he was on t he move; and he was pr obabl y

maki ng mar ks al r eady whi ch mi ght cat ch t he eye of t he set t er of

t he ni ght l i nes at some di st ance, i f t hat cunni ng par t y wai t ed f or

t he mor ni ng l i ght , and mi ght keep hi m away f r om t he pl ace

al t oget her .

So he sat down agai n on hi s ol d seat , and l eant har d agai nst t he

al der t r unk, as t hough t o st eady hi msel f , and keep al l

t r oubl esome t hought s wel l i n f r ont of hi m. I n t hi s at t i t ude of

def ense he r easoned wi t h hi msel f on t he absur di t y of al l owi ng

hi msel f t o be depr essed by t he mer e acci dent s of pl ace, and

dar kness, and si l ence; but al l t he r easoni ng at hi s command

di dn' t al t er t he f act . He f el t t he enemy advanci ng agai n, and,

cast i ng, about f or hel p, f el l back on t he t hought t hat he was

goi ng t hr ough a t ask, hol di ng t o hi s wor d, doi ng what he had sai d

he woul d do; and t hi s br ought hi m some r el i ef f or t he moment , He

f i xed hi s mi nd st eadi l y on t hi s t ask of hi s; but al as, her e agai n

i n hi s ver y l ast st r onghol d, t he enemy began t o t ur n hi s f l ank,

and t he posi t i on ever y mi nut e became mor e and mor e unt enabl e.

He had of l at e f al l en i nt o a pest i l ent habi t of cr oss - quest i oni ng

hi msel f on anyt hi ng whi ch he was about - - set t i ng up hi msel f l i ke a

Page 335 of 443

cock at Shr ovet i de, and pel t i ng hi msel f wi t h i nexor abl e " whys?"

and " wher ef or es?" A pest i l ent habi t t r ul y he had f ound i t , and

one whi ch l ef t a man no peace of hi s l i f e- - a r el ent l ess,

sl eepl ess habi t , al ways r eady t o t ake advant age of hi m, but never

so vi ci ousl y al er t , t hat he r emember ed, as on t hi s ni ght .

And so t hi s quest i oni ng sel f , whi ch woul d never be deni ed f or

l ong, began t o exami ne hi m, as t o hi s pr oposed ni ght ' s wor k. Thi s

pr eci ous t ask, whi ch he was so pr oud of goi ng t hr ough wi t h, on

t he scor e of whi ch he had been i n hi s hear t cr owi ng over ot her s,

because t hey had not t aken i t on t hem, or had l et i t dr op, what

t hen was t he meani ng of i t ?

" What was he out t her e f or ? What had he come out t o do?" They

wer e awkwar d quest i ons. He t r i ed sever al answer s and was dr i ven

f r om one t o anot her t i l l he was bound t o admi t t hat he was out

t her e t hat ni ght par t l y out of pi que, and par t l y out of pr i de;

and t hat hi s obj ect ( next t o ear ni ng t he pl easur e of t hi nki ng

hi msel f a bet t er man t han hi s nei ghbour s) was, i f so be, t o cat ch

a poacher . " To cat ch a poacher ? What busi ness had he t o be

cat chi ng poacher s? I f al l poacher s wer e t o be caught , he woul d

have t o be caught hi msel f . " He had j ust had an unpl easant

r emi nder of t hi s f act f r om hi m of t he heat her mi xt ur e- - a Par t hi an

r emar k whi ch he had t hr own over hi s shoul der as he went of f , and

whi ch had st uck. " But t hen, " Tom ar gued, " i t was a ver y di f f er ent

t hi ng, hi s poachi ng- - goi ng out f or a day' s l ar k af t er game, whi ch

he di dn' t car e a st r aw f or , but onl y f or t he spor t - - and t hat of

men maki ng a t r ade of i t , l i ke t he man t he keeper spoke of . "

" Why? How di f f er ent ? I f t her e wer e any di f f er ence, was i t one i n

hi s f avour ?" Avoi di ng t hi s suggest i on, he t ook up new gr ound,

" Poacher s wer e al ways t he gr eat est bl ackguar ds i n t hei r

nei ghbour hoods, pest s of soci et y, and ought t o be put down. "

" Possi bl y- - at any r at e he had been one of t he f r at er ni t y i n hi s

t i me, and was scar cel y t he man t o be cast i ng st ones at t hem. "

" But hi s poachi ng had al ways been done t hought l essl y. How di d he

know t hat ot her s had wor se mot i ves?"

And so he went on, t ossi ng t he mat t er backwar ds and f or war ds i n

hi s mi nd, and get t i ng mor e and mor e uncomf or t abl e, and unabl e t o

answer t o hi s own sat i sf act i on t he si mpl e quest i on, " What r i ght

have you t o be out her e on t hi s er r and?"

He got up a second t i me and wal ked up and down, but wi t h no

bet t er success t han bef or e. The change of posi t i on, and exer ci se,

di d not hel p hi m out of hi s di f f i cul t i es. And now he got a st ep

f ur t her . I f he had no r i ght t o be t her e, hadn' t he bet t er go up

t o t he house and say so, and go t o bed l i ke t he r est ? No, hi s

pr i de coul dn' t st and t hat . But i f he coul dn' t go i n, he mi ght

t ur n i n t o a bar n or out house, nobody woul d be any t he wi ser

t hen, and af t er al l he was not pl edged t o st op on one spot al l

ni ght ? I t was a t empt i ng suggest i on, and he was ver y near

yi el di ng t o i t at once. Whi l e he waver ed, a new set of t hought s

came up t o back i t . How, i f he st ayed t her e, and a gang of

ni ght - poacher s came? He knew t hat many of t hem wer e desper at e

men. He had no ar ms; what coul d he do agai nst t hem? Not hi ng; but

he mi ght be mai med f or l i f e i n a ni ght r ow whi ch he had no

busi ness t o be i n- - mur der ed, per haps. He st ood st i l l and l i st ened

l ong and pai nf ul l y.

Ever y moment , as he l i st ened, t he si l ence mast er ed hi m mor e and

mor e, and hi s r eason became mor e and mor e power l ess. I t was such

a si l ence- - a gr eat i l l i mi t abl e, vague si l ence? The si l ence of a

deser t ed house wher e he coul d at l east have f el t t hat he was

bounded somewher e, by wal l , and f l oor , and r oof - - wher e men must

Page 336 of 443

have l i ved and wor ked once, t hough t hey mi ght be t her e no

l onger - - woul d have been not hi ng; but t hi s si l ence of t he huge,

wi de out - of - door s wor l d, wher e t her e was not hi ng but ai r and

space ar ound and above hi m, and t he gr ound beneat h, i t was

get t i ng i r ksome, i nt ol er abl e, awf ul ! The gr eat si l ence seemed t o

be sayi ng t o hi m, " You ar e al one, al one, al one! " and he had never

known bef or e what hor r or l ur ked i n t hat t hought .

Ever y moment t hat he st ood st i l l t he spel l gr ew st r onger on hi m,

and yet he dar ed not move; and a st r ange, wi l d f eel i ng of

f ear - - unmi st akabl e physi cal f ear , whi ch made hi s hear t beat and

hi s l i mbs t r embl e- - sei zed on hi m. He was r eady t o cr y out , t o

f al l down, t o r un, and yet t her e he st ood l i st eni ng, st i l l and

mot i onl ess.

The cr i t i cal moment i n al l pani cs must come at l ast . A wi l d and

gr ewsome hi ssi ng and snor i ng, whi ch seemed t o come f r om t he ai r

j ust over hi s head, made hi m st ar t and spr i ng f or war d, and gave

hi m t he use of hi s l i mbs agai n at any r at e, t hough t hey woul d not

have been wor t h much t o hi m had t he ghost or hobgobl i n appear ed

whom he hal f expect ed t o see t he next moment . Then came a

scr eech, whi ch seemed t o f l i t al ong t he r ough meadow opposi t e,

and come t owar ds hi m. He dr ew a l ong br eat h, f or he knew t hat

sound wel l enough; i t was not hi ng af t er al l but t he owl s.

The mer e r eal i zed consci ousness of t he pr esence of some l i vi ng

cr eat ur es, wer e t hey onl y owl s, br ought hi m t o hi s senses. And

now t he moon was wel l up, and t he waywar d mi st had cl ear ed away,

and he coul d cat ch gl i mpses of t he sol emn bi r ds ever y now and

t hen, beat i ng over t he r ough meadow backwar ds and f or war ds, and

over t he shal l ow wat er as r egul ar l y as t r ai ned poi nt er s.

He t hr ew hi msel f down agai n under hi s t r ee, and now bet hought

hi msel f of hi s pi pe. Her e was a compani on whi ch, wonder f ul t o

say, he had not t hought of bef or e si nce t he ni ght set i n. He

pul l ed i t out , but paused bef or e l i ght i ng. Not hi ng was so l i kel y

t o bet r ay hi s wher eabout s as t obacco. Tr ue, but anyt hi ng was

bet t er t han such anot her f r i ght as he had had, " so her e goes, " he

t hought , " i f I keep of f al l t he poacher s i n Ber kshi r e; " and he

accor di ngl y l i ght ed up, and, wi t h t he hel p of hi s pi pe, once mor e

debat ed wi t h hi msel f t he quest i on of beat i ng a r et r eat .

Af t er a shar p i nwar d st r uggl e, he concl uded t o st ay and see i t

out . He shoul d despi se hi msel f , mor e t han he car ed t o f ace, i f he

gave i n now. I f he l ef t t hat spot bef or e mor ni ng, t he mot i ve

woul d be sheer cowar di ce. Ther e mi ght be f i f t y ot her good r easons

f or goi ng; but , i f he went , _hi s_ r eason woul d be f ear and

not hi ng el se. I t mi ght have been wr ong and f ool i sh t o come out ;

i t must be t o go i n now. " Fear never made a man do a r i ght

act i on, " he summed up t o hi msel f ; " so her e I st op, come what may

of i t . I t hi nk I ' ve seen t he wor st of i t now. I was i n a r eal

bl ue f unk, and no mi st ake. Let ' s see, wasn' t I l aughi ng t hi s

mor ni ng at t he wat cher who di dn' t l i ke passi ng a ni ght by t he

r i ver ? Wel l , he has got t he l augh on me now, i f he onl y knew i t .

I ' ve l ear nt one l esson t o- ni ght at any r at e; I don' t t hi nk I

shal l ever be ver y har d on cowar ds agai n. "

By t he t i me he had f i ni shed hi s pi pe, he was a man agai n, and,

mor eover , not wi t hst andi ng t he damp, began t o f eel sl eepy, now

t hat hi s mi nd was t hor oughl y made up, and hi s ner ves wer e qui et .

So he made t he best of hi s pl ai d, and pi cked a sof t i sh pl ace, and

went of f i nt o a sor t of dog- sl eep, whi ch l ast ed at i nt er val s

t hr ough t he shor t summer ni ght . A poor t hi n sor t of sl eep i t was,

i n whi ch he never al t oget her l ost hi s consci ousness, and br oken

Page 337 of 443

by shor t i nt er val s of act ual wakef ul ness, but a bl essed r el ease

f r om t he sel f - quest i oni ngs and pani cs of t he ear l y ni ght .

He woke at l ast wi t h a shi ver . I t was col der t han he had yet f el t

i t , and i t seemed l i ght er . He st r et ched hi s hal f - t or pi d l i mbs,

and sat up. Yes, i t was cer t ai nl y get t i ng l i ght , f or he coul d

j ust make out t he f i gur es on t he f ace of hi s wat ch whi ch he

pul l ed out . The dawn was al most upon hi m, and hi s ni ght wat ch was

over . Not hi ng had come of i t as yet , except hi s f r i ght , at whi ch

he coul d now l augh comf or t abl y enough; pr obabl y not hi ng mor e

mi ght come of i t af t er al l , but he had done t he t ask he had set

hi msel f wi t hout f l i nchi ng, and t hat was a sat i sf act i on. He wound

up hi s wat ch, whi ch he had f or got t en t o do t he ni ght bef or e, and

t hen st ood up, and t hr ew hi s damp pl ai d asi de, and swung hi s ar m

acr oss hi s chest t o r est or e ci r cul at i on. The cr escent moon was

hi gh up i n t he sky, f ai nt and whi t e, and he coul d scar cel y now

make out t he st ar s whi ch wer e f adi ng out as t he gl ow i n t he

nor t h- east got st r onger and br oader .

For get t i ng f or a moment t he pur pose of hi s vi gi l , he was t hi nki ng

of a l ong mor ni ng' s f i shi ng, and had t ur ned t o pi ck up hi s pl ai d

and go of f t o t he house f or hi s f i shi ng- r od, when he t hought he

hear d t he sound of dr y wood snappi ng. He l i st ened i nt ent l y; and

t he next moment i t came agai n, some way of f , but pl ai nl y t o be

hear d i n t he i nt ense st i l l ness of t he mor ni ng. Some l i vi ng t hi ng

was movi ng down t he st r eam. Anot her moment ' s l i st eni ng and he was

convi nced t hat t he sound came f r om a hedge some hundr ed yar ds

bel ow.

He had not i ced t he hedge bef or e; t he keeper had st opped up a gap

i n i t t he day bef or e, at t he pl ace wher e i t came down t o t he

wat er , wi t h some ol d hur dl es and dr y t hor ns. He dr ew hi msel f up

behi nd hi s al der , l ooki ng out f r om behi nd i t caut i ousl y t owar ds

t he poi nt f r om whi ch t he sound came. He coul d j ust make out t he

hedge t hr ough t he mi st , but saw not hi ng.

But now t he cr ackl i ng began agai n, and he was sur e t hat a man was

f or ci ng hi s way over t he keeper ' s bar r i cade. A moment af t er war ds

he saw a f i gur e dr op f r om t he hedge i nt o t he sl i p i n whi ch he

st ood. He dr ew back hi s head hast i l y, and hi s hear t beat l i ke a

hammer as he wai t ed t he appr oach of t he st r anger . I n a f ew

seconds t he suspense was t oo much f or hi m, f or agai n t her e was

per f ect si l ence. He peer ed out a second t i me caut i ousl y r ound t he

t r ee, and now he coul d make out t he f i gur e of a man st oppi ng by

t he wat er - si de j ust above t he hedge, and dr awi ng i n a l i ne. Thi s

was enough, and he dr ew back agai n, and made hi msel f smal l behi nd

t he t r ee; now he was sur e t hat t he keeper ' s enemy, t he man he had

come out t o t ake, was her e! Hi s next hal t woul d be at t he l i ne

whi ch was set wi t hi n a f ew yar ds of t he pl ace wher e he st ood. So

t he st r uggl e whi ch he had cour t ed was come! Al l hi s doubt s of t he

ni ght wr est l ed i n hi s mi nd f or a mi nut e; but f or ci ng t hem down,

he st r ung hi msel f up f or t he encount er , hi s whol e f r ame t r embl i ng

wi t h exci t ement , and hi s bl ood t i ngl i ng t hr ough hi s vei ns as

t hough i t woul d bur st t hem. The next mi nut e was as sever e a t r i al

of ner ve as he had ever been put t o, and t he sound of a st eal t hy

t r ead on t he gr ass j ust bel ow came t o hi m as a r el i ef . I t

st opped, and he hear d t he man st oop, t hen came a st i r i n t he

wat er , and t he f l appi ng as of a f i sh bei ng l anded.

Now was hi s t i me! He spr ang f r om behi nd t he t r ee, and, t he next

moment , was over t he st oopi ng f i gur e of t he poacher . Bef or e he

coul d sei ze hi m t he man spr ung up, and gr appl ed wi t h hi m. They

had come t o a t i ght l ock at once, f or t he poacher had r i sen so

cl ose under hi m t hat he coul d not cat ch hi s col l ar and hol d hi m

Page 338 of 443

of f . Too cl ose t o st r i ke, i t was a desper at e t r i al of st r engt h

and bot t om.

Tom knew i n a moment t hat he had hi s wor k cut out f or hi m. He

f el t t he ner vous power of t he f r ame he had got hol d of as he

dr ove hi s chi n i nt o t he poacher ' s shoul der , and ar ched hi s back,

and st r ai ned ever y muscl e i n hi s body t o f or ce hi m backwar ds, but

i n vai n. I t was al l he coul d do t o hol d hi s own; but he f el t t hat

he mi ght hol d i t yet , as t hey st agger ed on t he br i nk of t he back

di t ch, st ampi ng t he gr ass and mar sh mar i gol ds i nt o t he gr ound,

and dr awi ng deep br eat h t hr ough t hei r set t eet h. A sl i p, a f al se

f oot - hol d, a f ai l i ng muscl e, and i t woul d be over ; down t hey must

go- who woul d be upper most ?

The poacher had t r od on a sof t pl ace and Tom f el t i t , and,

t hr owi ng hi msel f f or war d, was r eckoni ng on vi ct or y, but r eckoni ng

wi t hout hi s host . For , r ecover i ng hi msel f wi t h a t wi st of t he

body whi ch br ought t hem st i l l cl oser t oget her , t he poacher l ocked

hi s l eg behi nd Tom' s i n a cr ook whi ch br ought t he wr est l i ngs of

hi s boyhood i nt o hi s head wi t h a f l ash, as t hey t ot t er ed f or

anot her moment , and t hen l osi ng bal ance, went headl ong over wi t h

a heavy pl unge and spl ash i nt o t he deep back di t ch, l ocked i n

each ot her ' s ar ms.

The col d wat er cl osed over t hem, and f or a moment Tom hel d as

t i ght as ever . Under or above t he sur f ace i t was al l t he same, he

coul dn' t gi ve i n f i r st . But a gul p of wat er , and t he si ngi ng i n

hi s ear s, and a f eel i ng of choki ng, br ought hi m t o hi s senses,

hel ped t oo, by t he t hought of hi s mot her and Mar y, and l ove of

t he pl easant wor l d up above. The f ol l y and usel essness of bei ng

dr owned i n a di t ch on a poi nt of honor st ood out bef or e hi m as

cl ear l y as i f he had been t hi nki ng of not hi ng el se al l hi s l i f e;

and he l et go hi s hol d- - much r el i eved t o f i nd t hat hi s compani on

of t he bat h seemed equal l y wi l l i ng t o be qui t of hi m- - and

st r uggl ed t o t he sur f ace, and sei zed t he bank, gaspi ng and

exhaust ed.

Hi s f i r st t hought was t o t ur n r ound and l ook f or hi s adver sar y.

The poacher was by t he bank t oo, a f ew f eet f r om hi m. Hi s cap had

f al l en of f i n t he st r uggl e, and, al l chance of conceal ment bei ng

over , he t oo had t ur ned t o f ace t he mat t er out , and t hei r eyes

met .

" Good God! Har r y! i s i t you?"

Har r y Wi nbur n answer ed not hi ng; and t he t wo dr agged t hei r f eet

out of t he muddy bot t om, and scr ambl ed on t o t he bank, and t hen

wi t h a sor t of common i nst i nct sat down, dr i ppi ng and f ool i sh,

each on t he pl ace he had r eached, and l ooked at one anot her .

Pr obabl y t wo mor e t hor oughl y bewi l der ed l i eges of her Maj est y

wer e not at t hat moment f aci ng one anot her i n any cor ner of t he

Uni t ed Ki ngdom.

CHAPTER XXXVI I I

MARY I N MAYFAI R

On t he ni ght whi ch our her o spent by t he si de of t he r i ver , wi t h

t he r esul t s det ai l ed i n t he l ast chapt er , t her e was a gr eat bal l

i n Br ook- st r eet , Mayf ai r . I t was t he hei ght of t he season, and of

cour se, bal l s, concer t s, and par t i es of al l ki nds wer e goi ng on

i n al l par t s of t he Gr eat Babyl on, but t he ent er t ai nment i n

Page 339 of 443

quest i on was _t he_ event of t hat eveni ng. Per sons behi nd t he

scenes woul d have t ol d you at once, had you happened t o meet

t hem, and enqui r e on t he subj ect dur i ng t he pr evi ous t en days,

t hat Br ook- st r eet was t he pl ace i n whi ch ever ybody who went

anywher e ought t o spend some hour s bet ween el even and t hr ee on

t hi s par t i cul ar eveni ng. I f you di d not happen t o be goi ng t her e,

you had bet t er st ay qui et l y at your cl ub, or your home, and not

speak of your engagement s f or t hat ni ght .

A gr eat awni ng had spr ung up i n t he cour se of t he day over t he

pavement i n f r ont of t he door , and as t he eveni ng cl osed i n,

t i r ed l awyer s and mer chant s, on t hei r r et ur n f r om t he Ci t y, and

t he r i der s and dr i ver s on t hei r way home f r om t he par k, mi ght

have seen Hol l and' s men l ayi ng r ed dr ugget over t he pavement , and

Gunt er ' s car t s comi ng and goi ng, and t he pol i ce " movi ng on" t he

st r eet boys and ser vant mai ds, and ot her cur i ous member s of t he

masses, who paused t o st ar e at t he pr epar at i ons.

Then came t he l i ght i ng up of t he r ooms, and t he bl aze of pur e

whi t e l i ght f r om t he uncur t ai ned bal l r oom wi ndows spr ead i nt o t he

st r eet , and t he musi ci ans passed i n wi t h t hei r i nst r ument s. Then,

af t er a shor t pause, t he car r i ages of a f ew i nt i mat e f r i ends, who

came ear l y at t he host ess' s expr ess desi r e, began t o dr i ve up,

and t he Hansom cabs of t he cont empor ar i es of t he el dest son, f r om

whi ch i ssued guar dsmen and For ei gn- of f i ce men, and ot her

danci ng- yout h of t he most appr oved descr i pt i on. Then t he cr owd

col l ect ed agai n r ound t he door - - a sadder cr owd now t o t he eye of

anyone who has t i me t o l ook at i t ; wi t h sal l ow, haggar d l ooki ng

men her e and t her e on t he ski r t s of i t , and t awdr y women j oki ng

and pushi ng t o t he f r ont , t hr ough t he powder ed f oot men, and

l i nkmen i n r ed wai st coat s, al r eady cl amor ous and r edol ent of gi n

and beer , and scar cel y kept back by t he hal f - dozen const abl es of

t he A di vi si on, t ol d of f f or t he speci al dut y of at t endi ng and

keepi ng or der on so i mpor t ant an occasi on.

Then comes a r ush of car r i ages, and by el even o' cl ock t he l i ne

st r et ches away hal f r ound Gr osvenor Squar e, and moves at a

f oot ' s- pace t owar ds t he l i ght s, and t he musi c, and t he shout i ng

st r eet . I n t he mi ddl e of t he l i ne i s t he comf or t abl e char i ot of

our f r i end Mr . Por t er - - t he cor ner s occupi ed by hi msel f and hi s

wi f e, whi l e Mi ss Mar y si t s wel l f or war d bet ween t hem, her whi t e

musl i n dr ess l ooped up wi t h spr i gs of heat her spr ead del i cat el y

on ei t her si de over t hei r knees, and her sel f i n a pl easant t r emor

of i mpat i ence and exci t ement .

" How ver y sl ow Rober t i s t o- day, mamma! We shal l never get t o t he

house. "

" He can not get on f ast er , my dear . The car r i age i n f r ont of us

must set down you know. "

" But I wi sh t hey woul d be qui cker . I wonder whet her we shal l know

many peopl e? Do you t hi nk I shal l get par t ner s?"

Not wai t i ng f or her mot her ' s r epl y, she went on t o name some of

her acquai nt ance who she knew woul d be t her e, and bewai l i ng t he

har d f at e whi ch was keepi ng her out of t he f i r st dances. Mar y' s

exci t ement and i mpat i ence wer e nat ur al enough. The bal l was not

l i ke most bal l s. I t was a gr eat bat t l e i n t he mi dst of t he

ski r mi shes of t he season, and she f el t t he gr eat ness of t he

occasi on.

Mr . and Mr s. Por t er had f or year s past dr opped i nt o a qui et sor t

of di nner - gi vi ng l i f e, i n whi ch t hey saw f ew but t hei r own

Page 340 of 443

f r i ends and cont empor ar i es. They gener al l y l ef t London bef or e t he

season was at i t s hei ght , and had al t oget her f al l en out of t he

bal l - gi vi ng and par t y goi ng wor l d. Mar y' s comi ng out had changed

t hei r way of l i f e. For her sake t hey had spent t he wi nt er at

Rome, and, now t hat t hey wer e at home agai n, t hey wer e pi cki ng up

t he t hr eads of ol d acquai nt ance, and encount er i ng t he

di sagr eeabl es of a r et ur n i nt o habi t s l ong di sused and al most

f or got t en. The gi ver of t he bal l was a st i r r i ng man i n pol i t i cal

l i f e, r i ch, cl ever , wel l - connect ed, and much sought af t er . He was

an ol d school - f el l ow of Mr . Por t er ' s, and t hei r i nt i macy had

never been whol l y l ai d asi de, not wi t hst andi ng t he sever ance of

t hei r pat hs i n l i f e. Now t hat Mar y must be t aken out , t he

Br ook- st r eet house was one of t he f i r st t o whi ch t he Por t er s

t ur ned, and t he i nvi t at i on t o t hi s bal l was one of t he f i r st

consequences.

I f t he t r ut h must be t ol d, nei t her her f at her nor mot her wer e i n

sympat hy wi t h Mar y as t hey gr adual l y near ed t he pl ace of set t i ng

down, and woul d f ar r at her have been goi ng t o a much l ess

i mposi ng pl ace, wher e t hey coul d have dr i ven up at once t o t he

door , and woul d not have been made uncomf or t abl e by t he shout i ngs

of t hei r names f r om ser vant t o ser vant . However , af t er t he f i r st

pl unge, when t hey had made t hei r bows t o t hei r ki nd and smi l i ng

host ess, and had passed on i nt o t he al r eady wel l f i l l ed r ooms,

t hei r shyness began t o wear of f , and t hey coul d i n some sor t

enj oy t he beaut y of t he si ght f r om a qui et cor ner . They wer e not

l ong t r oubl ed wi t h Mi ss Mar y. She had not been i n t he bal l - r oom

t wo mi nut es bef or e t he el dest son of t he house had f ound her out

and engaged her f or t he next wal t z. They had met sever al t i mes

al r eady, and wer e on t he best t er ms; and t he f r eshness and

br i ght ness of her l ook and manner , and t he evi dent enj oyment of

her par t ner , as t hey l aughed and t al ked t oget her i n t he i nt er val s

of t he dance, soon at t r act ed t he at t ent i on of t he young men, who

began t o ask one anot her , " Who i s Nor man danci ng wi t h?" and t o

ej acul at e wi t h var i ous st r engt h, accor di ng t o t hei r sever al

t emper ament s, as t o her f ace, and f i gur e, and dr ess.

As t hey wer e r et ur ni ng t owar ds Mr s. Por t er , Nor man was pul l ed by

t he sl eeve mor e t han once, and begged t o be al l owed t o i nt r oduce

f i r st one and t hen anot her of hi s f r i ends.

Mar y gave her sel f up t o t he f asci nat i on of t he scene. She had

never been i n r ooms so per f ect l y l i ght ed, wi t h such a f l oor , such

exqui si t e musi c, and so many pr et t y and wel l - br ed l ooki ng peopl e,

and she gave her sel f up t o enj oy i t wi t h al l her hear t and soul ,

and danced and l aughed and t al ked her sel f i nt o t he good gr aces of

par t ner af t er par t ner , t i l l she began t o at t r act t he not i ce of

some of t he i l l - nat ur ed peopl e who ar e t o be f ound i n ever y r oom,

and who cannot par don t he pur e, and buoyant , and unsuspect i ng

mi r t h whi ch car r i es away al l but t hemsel ves i n i t s br i ght st r eam.

So Mar y passed on f r om one par t ner t o anot her , wi t h whom we have

no concer n, unt i l at l ast a young l i eut enant i n t he guar ds who

had j ust f i ni shed hi s second dance wi t h her , l ed up a f r i end whom

he begged t o i nt r oduce. " Mi ss Por t er - - Mr . St . Cl oud; " and t hen

af t er t he usual pr el i mi nar i es, Mar y l ef t her mot her ' s si de agai n

and st ood up by t he si de of her new par t ner .

" I t i s your f i r st season I bel i eve, Mi ss Por t er ?"

" Yes, my f i r st i n London. "

" I t hought so; and you have onl y j ust come t o t own?"

" We came back f r om Rome si x weeks ago, and have been i n t own ever

Page 341 of 443

si nce. "

" But I am sur e I have not seen you anywher e t hi s season unt i l

t o- ni ght . You have not been out much yet ?"

" Yes, i ndeed. Papa and mamma ar e ver y good- nat ur ed, and go

whenever we ar e asked t o a bal l , as I am f ond of danci ng. "

" How ver y odd! and yet I am qui t e sur e I shoul d have r emember ed

i t i f we had met bef or e i n t own t hi s year . "

" I s i t so ver y odd?" asked Mar y, l aughi ng; " London i s a ver y

l ar ge pl ace; i t seems ver y nat ur al t hat t wo peopl e shoul d be abl e

t o l i ve i n i t f or a l ong t i me wi t hout meet i ng. "

" I ndeed, you ar e qui t e mi st aken. You wi l l f i nd out ver y soon how

smal l London i s- - at l east how smal l soci et y i s, and you wi l l get

t o know ever y f ace qui t e wel l - - I mean t he f ace of ever yone i n

soci et y. "

" You must have a wonder f ul memor y! "

" Yes, I have a good memor y f or f aces, and, by t he way, I am sur e

I have seen you bef or e; but not i n t own, and I cannot r emember

wher e. But i t i s not at al l necessar y t o have a memor y t o know

ever ybody i n soci et y by si ght ; you meet ever y ni ght al most ; and

al t oget her t her e ar e onl y t wo or t hr ee hundr ed f aces t o r emember .

And t hen t her e i s somet hi ng i n t he l ook of peopl e, and t he way

t hey come i nt o a r oom or st and about , whi ch t el l s you at once

whet her t hey ar e amongst t hose whom you need t r oubl e your sel f

about . "

" Wel l , I cannot under st and i t . I seem t o be i n a whi r l of f aces,

and can har dl y ever r emember any of t hem. "

" You wi l l soon get used t o i t . By t he end of t he season you wi l l

see t hat I am r i ght . And you ought t o make a st udy of i t , or you

wi l l never f eel at home i n London. "

" I must make good use of my t i me t hen. I suppose I ought t o know

ever ybody her e, f or i nst ance?"

" Al most ever ybody. "

" And I r eal l y do not know t he names of a dozen peopl e. "

" Wi l l you l et me gi ve you a l esson?"

" Oh, yes; I shal l be much obl i ged. "

" Then l et us st and her e, and we wi l l t ake t hem as t hey pass t o

t he supper - r oom. "

So t hey st ood near t he door - way of t he bal l - r oom, and he r an on,

exchangi ng const ant nods and r emar ks wi t h t he passer s by, as t he

st r eam f l owed t o and f r om t he i ces and cup, and t hen r at t l i ng on

t o hi s par t ner wi t h t he names and shor t sket ches of t he

char act er s and pecul i ar i t i es of hi s l ar ge acquai nt ance. Mar y was

ver y much amused, and had no t i me t o not i ce t he i l l - nat ur e of

most of hi s r emar ks, and he had t he wi t t o keep wi t hi n what he

consi der ed t he most i nnocent bounds.

" Ther e, you know hi m of cour se, " he sai d, as an el der l y,

Page 342 of 443

sol di er - l i ke l ooki ng man wi t h a st ar passed t hem.

" Yes; at l east , I mean I know hi m by si ght . I saw hi m at t he

Commemor at i on at Oxf or d l ast year . They gave hi m an honor ar y

degr ee on hi s r et ur n f r om I ndi a. "

" At Oxf or d! Wer e you pr esent at t he Gr and Commemor at i on, t hen?"

" Yes. The Commemor at i on Bal l was t he f i r st publ i c bal l I was ever

at . "

" Ah! t hat expl ai ns i t al l . I must have seen you t her e. I t ol d you

we had met bef or e. I was per f ect l y sur e of i t . "

" What ! wer e you t her e, t hen?"

" Yes. I had t he honor of bei ng pr esent at your f i r st bal l , you

see. "

" But how cur i ous t hat you shoul d r emember me! "

" Do you r eal l y t hi nk so? Sur el y t her e ar e some f aces whi ch, once

seen, one can never f or get . "

" I am so gl ad t hat you know dear Oxf or d. "

" I know i t t oo wel l , per haps, t o shar e your ent husi asm. "

" How do you mean?"

" I spent near l y t hr ee year s t her e. "

" What , wer e you at Oxf or d l ast year ?"

" Yes. I l ef t bef or e Commemor at i on; but I went up f or t he

gai et i es, and I am gl ad of i t , as I shal l have one pl easant

memor y of t he pl ace now. "

" Oh, I wonder you don' t l ove i t ! But what col l ege wer e you of ?"

" Why, you t al k l i ke a gr aduat e. I was of St . Ambr ose. "

" St . Ambr ose! That i s my col l ege! "

" I ndeed! I wi sh we had been i n r esi dence at t he same t i me. "

" I mean t hat we al most l i ved t her e at t he Commemor at i on. "

" Have you any r el at i on t her e, t hen?"

" No, not a r el at i on, onl y a di st ant connexi on. "

" May I ask hi s name?"

" Br own. Di d you know hi m?"

" Yes. We wer e not i n t he same set . He was a boat i ng man, I

t hi nk?"

She f el t t hat he was wat chi ng her nar r owl y now, and had gr eat

di f f i cul t y i n keepi ng her sel f r easonabl y composed. As i t was she

coul d not hel p showi ng a l i t t l e t hat she f el t embar r assed, and

l ooked down; and changed col our sl i ght l y, busyi ng her sel f wi t h

her bouquet . She l onged t o cont i nue t he conver sat i on, but somehow

Page 343 of 443

t he manner of her par t ner kept her f r om doi ng so. She r esol ved t o

r ecur t o t he subj ect car el essl y, i f t hey met agai n, when she knew

hi m bet t er . The f act of hi s havi ng been at St . Ambr ose made her

wi sh t o know hi m bet t er , and gave hi m a good st ar t i n her f avor .

But f or t he moment she f el t t hat she must change t he subj ect ; so,

l ooki ng up, she f i xed on t he f i r st peopl e who happened t o be

passi ng, and asked who t hey wer e.

" Oh, nobody, const i t uent s pr obabl y, or somet hi ng of t hat sor t . "

" I don' t under st and. "

" Why, you see, we ar e i n a pol i t i cal house t o- ni ght . So you may

set down t he peopl e whom nobody knows, as t r oubl esome

t en- pounder s, or t hat ki nd of t hi ng, who woul d he di sagr eeabl e at

t he next el ect i on, i f t hey wer e not asked. "

" Then you do not i ncl ude t hem i n soci et y?"

" By no manner of means. "

" And I need not t ake t he t r oubl e t o r emember t hei r f aces?"

" Of cour se not . Ther e i s a sedi ment of r ubbi sh at al most ever y

house. At t he par t i es her e i t i s pol i t i cal r ubbi sh. To- mor r ow

ni ght , at Lady Aubr ey' s- - you wi l l be t her e, I hope?"

" No, we do not know her . "

" I am sor r y f or t hat . Wel l , t her e we shal l have t he sci ent i f i c

r ubbi sh; and at ot her houses you see queer ar t i st s, and wr i t i ng

peopl e. I n f act , i t i s t he r ar est t hi ng i n t he wor l d t o get a

par t y wher e t her e i s not hi ng of t he ki nd, and, af t er al l , i t i s

r at her amusi ng t o wat ch t he habi t s of t he di f f er ent speci es. "

" Wel l , t o me t he r ubbi sh, as you cal l i t , seems much l i ke t he

r est . I am sur e t hese peopl e wer e l adi es and gent l emen. "

" Ver y l i kel y, " he sai d, l i f t i ng hi s eyebr ows; " but you may see at

a gl ance t hat t hey have not t he ai r of soci et y. Her e agai n, l ook

your sel f . You can see t hat t hese ar e const i t uent s. "

To t he hor r or of St . Cl oud, t he advanci ng const i t uent s made

st r ai ght f or hi s par t ner .

" Mar y, my dear ! " excl ai med t he l ady, " wher e have you been? We

have l ost you ever si nce t he l ast dance. "

" I have been st andi ng her e, mamma, " she sai d; and t hen, sl i ppi ng

f r om her l at e par t ner ' s ar m, she made a demur e l i t t l e bow, and

passed i nt o t he bal l - r oom wi t h her f at her and mot her .

St . Cl oud bi t hi s l i p, and swor e at hi msel f under hi s br eat h as

he l ooked af t er t hem. " What an i nf er nal i di ot I must have been

not t o know t hat her peopl e woul d be sur e t o t ur n out somet hi ng

of t hat sor t ! " t hought he. " By Jove, I ' l l go af t er t hem, and set

mysel f r i ght bef or e t he l i t t l e mi nx has t i me t o t hi nk i t over ! "

He t ook a st ep or t wo t owar ds t he bal l - r oom, but t hen t hought

bet t er of i t , or hi s cour age f ai l ed hi m. At any r at e, he t ur ned

r ound agai n, and sought t he r ef r eshment - r oom, wher e he j oi ned a

knot of young gent l emen i ndul gi ng i n del i cat e l i t t l e r ai sed pi es

and sal ads, and l i ber al pot at i ons at i ced cl ar et or champagne

cup. Amongst t hem was t he guar dsman who had i nt r oduced hi m t o

Mar y, and who r ecei ved hi m, as he came up, wi t h- -

Page 344 of 443

" Wel l , St . Cl oud, I hope you ar e al i ve t o your obl i gat i ons t o

me. "

" For shunt i ng your l at e par t ner on t o me? Yes, qui t e. "

" You be hanged! " r epl i ed t he guar dsman; " you may pr et end what you

pl ease now, but you woul dn' t l et me al one t i l l I had i nt r oduced

you. "

" Ar e you t al ki ng about t he gi r l i n whi t e musl i n wi t h f er n l eaves

i n her hai r ?" asked anot her .

" Yes what do you t hi nk of her ?"

" Devi l i sh t aki ng, I t hi nk. I say, can' t you i nt r oduce me? They

say she has t i n. "

" I can' t say I t hi nk much of her l ooks, " sai d St . Cl oud, act i ng

up t o hi s pr i nci pl e of t el l i ng a l i e sooner t han l et hi s r eal

t hought s be seen.

" Don' t you?" sai d t he guar dsman. " Wel l , I l i ke her f or m bet t er

t han anyt hi ng out t hi s year . Such a cl ean st epper ! You shoul d

j ust dance wi t h her . "

And so t hey went on cr i t i ci zi ng Mar y and ot her s of t hei r

par t ner s, exact l y as t hey woul d have t al ked of a st ud of r acer s,

t i l l t hey f ound t hemsel ves suf f i ci ent l y r ef r eshed t o encount er

new l abor s, and br oke up r et ur ni ng i n t wos and t hr ees t owar ds t he

bal l - r oom.

St . Cl oud at t ached hi msel f t o t he guar dsman, and r et ur ned t o t he

char ge.

" You seem hi t by t hat gi r l , " he began; " have you known her l ong?"

" About a week- - I met her once bef or e t o- ni ght . "

" Do you know her peopl e? Who i s her f at her ?"

" A pl ai n- headed ol d par t y- - you woul dn' t t hi nk i t t o l ook at

her - - but I hear he i s ver y sol vent . "

" Any sons?"

" Don' t know. I l i ke your t al ki ng of my bei ng hi t , St . Cl oud.

Ther e she i s; I shal l go and t r y f or anot her wal t z. "

The guar dsman was successf ul , and car r i ed of f Mar y f r om her

f at her and mot her , who wer e st andi ng t oget her wat chi ng t he

danci ng. St . Cl oud, af t er l ooki ng t hem wel l over , sought out t he

host ess, and begged t o be i nt r oduced t o Mr . and Mr s. Por t er ,

gl eani ng, at t he same t i me, some par t i cul ar s of who t hey wer e.

The i nt r oduct i on was ef f ect ed i n a mi nut e, t he l ady of t he house

bei ng gl ad t o get anyone t o t al k t o t he Por t er s, who wer e al most

st r anger s amongst her ot her guest s. She managed, bef or e l eavi ng

t hem, t o whi sper t o Mr s. Por t er t hat he was a young man of

excel l ent connexi ons.

St . Cl oud made t he most of hi s t i me. He exer t ed hi msel f t o t he

ut most t o pl ease, and, bei ng f l uent of speech and t hor oughl y

sat i sf i ed wi t h hi msel f , had no shyness or awkwar dness t o get

over , and j umped at once i nt o t he good gr aces of Mar y' s par ent s.

Page 345 of 443

When she r et ur ned af t er t he wal t z, she f ound hi m, t o her no smal l

ast oni shment , deep i n conver sat i on wi t h her mot her , who was

l i st eni ng wi t h a pl eased expr essi on t o hi s smal l t al k. He

pr et ended not t o see her at f i r st , and t hen begged Mr s. Por t er t o

i nt r oduce hi m f or mal l y t o her daught er , t hough he had al r eady had

t he honour of danci ng wi t h her .

Mar y put on her shor t est and col dest manner , and t hought she had

never hear d of such i mper t i nence. That he shoul d be t her e t al ki ng

so f ami l i ar l y t o her mot her af t er t he sl i p he had made t o her was

al most t oo much even f or her t emper . But she went of f f or anot her

dance, and agai n r et ur ned and f ound hi m st i l l t her e; t hi s t i me

ent er t ai ni ng Mr . Por t er wi t h pol i t i cal gossi p. The unf avour abl e

i mpr essi on began t o wear of f , and she soon r esol ved not t o make

up her mi nd about hi m wi t hout some f ur t her knowl edge.

I n due cour se he asked her t o dance agai n, and t hey st ood i n a

quadr i l l e. She st ood by hi m l ooki ng st r ai ght bef or e her , and

per f ect l y si l ent , wonder i ng how he woul d open t he conver sat i on.

He di d not l eave her l ong i n suspense.

" What char mi ng peopl e your f at her and mot her ar e, Mi ss Por t er ! "

he sai d; " I am so gl ad t o have been i nt r oduced t o t hem. "

" I ndeed! You ar e ver y ki nd. We ought t o be f l at t er ed by your

st udy of us, and I am sur e I hope you wi l l f i nd i t amusi ng. "

St . Cl oud was a l i t t l e embar r assed by t he r ej oi nder , and was not

sor r y at t he moment t o f i nd hi msel f cal l ed upon t o per f or m t he

second f i gur e. By t he t i me he was at her si de agai n he had

r ecover ed hi msel f .

" You can' t under st and what a pl easur e i t i s t o meet some one wi t h

a l i t t l e f r eshness" - - he paused t o t hi nk how he shoul d end hi s

sent ence.

" Who has not t he ai r of soci et y, " she suggest ed. " Yes, I qui t e

under st and. "

" I ndeed you qui t e mi st ake me. Sur el y you have not t aken ser i ousl y

t he nonsense I was t al ki ng j ust now?"

" I am a const i t uent , you know- - I don' t under st and how t o t ake t he

t al k of soci et y. "

" Oh, I see, t hen, t hat you ar e angr y at my j oke, and wi l l not

bel i eve t hat I knew your f at her per f ect l y by si ght . You r eal l y

cannot ser i ousl y f ancy t hat I was al l udi ng t o anyone connect ed

wi t h you; " and t hen he pr oceeded t o r et ai l t he par t i cul ar s he had

pi cked up f r om t he l ady of t he house, as i f t hey had been

f ami l i ar t o hi m f or year s, and t o l aunch out agai n i nt o pr ai ses

of her f at her and mot her . Mar y l ooked st r ai ght up i n hi s f ace,

and, t hough he di d not meet her eye, hi s manner was so composed,

t hat she began t o doubt her own senses, and t hen he suddenl y

changed t he subj ect t o Oxf or d and t he commemor at i on, and by t he

end of t he set coul d f l at t er hi msel f t hat he had qui t e di spel l ed

t he cl oud whi ch had l ooked so t hr eat eni ng.

Mar y had a gr eat success t hat eveni ng. She t ook par t i n ever y

dance, and mi ght have had t wo or t hr ee par t ner s at once, i f t hey

woul d have been of any use t o her . When, at l ast , Mr . Por t er

i nsi st ed t hat he woul d keep hi s hor ses no l onger , St . Cl oud and

t he guar dsman accompani ed her t o t he door , and wer e assi duous i n

t he cl oak r oom. Young men ar e pr et t y much l i ke a dr ove of sheep;

Page 346 of 443

anyone who t akes a deci ded l i ne i n cer t ai n mat t er s, i s sur e t o

l ead al l t he r est .

The guar dsman l ef t t he bal l i n t he f i r m bel i ef , as he hi msel f

expr essed i t , t hat Mar y " had done hi s busi ness f or l i f e; " and,

bei ng qui t e above conceal ment , per si st ed i n si ngi ng her pr ai ses

over hi s ci gar at t he cl ub, t o whi ch many of t he dancer s

adj our ned; and f r om t hat ni ght she became t he f ashi on wi t h t he

set i n whi ch St . Cl oud l i ved.

The mor e ent er pr i si ng of t hem, he amongst t he f or emost , wer e soon

i nt i mat e i n Mr . Por t er ' s house, and spoke wel l of hi s di nner s.

Mr . Por t er changed hi s hour of r i di ng i n t he par k at t hei r

suggest i on, and now he and hi s daught er wer e al ways sur e of

compani ons. I nvi t at i ons mul t i pl i ed, f or Mar y' s success was so

deci ded, t hat she f l oat ed her ast oni shed par ent s i nt o a whi r l of

bal l s and br eakf ast s. Mr . Por t er and hi s wi f e wer e f l at t er ed

t hemsel ves, and pl eased t o see t hei r daught er admi r ed and

enj oyi ng her sel f ; and i n t he next si x weeks Mar y had t he

oppor t uni t y of get t i ng al l t he good and t he bad whi ch a gi r l of

ei ght een can ext r act f r om a London season.

The t est was a sever e one. Two mont hs of const ant exci t ement , of

pl easur e- seeki ng pur e and si mpl e, wi l l not l eave peopl e j ust as

t hey f ound t hem; and Mar y' s habi t s, and t hought s, and ways of

l ooki ng at and j udgi ng of peopl e and t hi ngs, wer e much changed by

t he t i me t hat t he gay wor l d mel t ed away f r om Mayf ai r and

Bel gr avi a, and i t was t i me f or al l r espect abl e peopl e t o pul l

down t he bl i nds and shut t he shut t er s of t hei r t own houses.

CHAPTER XXXI X

WHAT CAME OF THE NI GHT WATCH

The l ast knot of t he dancer s came out of t he cl ub, and wer e

st r ol l i ng up St . James' s St r eet , and st oppi ng t o chaf f t he

i t i ner ant cof f ee vendor , who was pr epar i ng hi s st and at t he

cor ner of Pi ccadi l l y f or hi s ear l y cust omer s, j ust about t he t i me

t hat Tom was begi nni ng t o r ouse hi msel f under t he al der - t r ee, and

st r et ch hi s st i f f ened l i mbs, and sni f f t he mor ni ng ai r . By t he

t i me t he guar dsman had l et hi msel f i nt o hi s l odgi ngs i n Mount

St r eet , our her o had under gone hi s unl ooked f or bat h, and was

si t t i ng i n a st at e of ut t er bewi l der ment as t o what was next t o

be sai d or done, dr i ppi ng and di sconcer t ed, opposi t e t o t he

equal l y dr i ppi ng and, t o al l appear ance, equal l y di sconcer t ed,

poacher .

At f i r st he di d not l ook hi gher t han hi s ant agoni st ' s boot s and

gai t er s, and spent a f ew seconds by t he way i n consi der i ng

whet her t he ar r angement of nai l s on t he bot t om of Har r y' s boot s

was bet t er t han hi s own. He set t l ed t hat i t must be bet t er f or

wadi ng on sl i pper y st ones, and t hat he woul d adopt i t , and t hen

passed on t o wonder whet her Har r y' s boot s wer e as f ul l of wat er

as hi s own, and whet her cor dur oys, wet t hr ough, must not be ver y

uncomf or t abl e so ear l y i n t he mor ni ng, and congr at ul at ed hi msel f

on bei ng i n f l annel s.

And so he hung back f or second af t er second, pl ayi ng wi t h an

absur d l i t t l e t hought t hat woul d come i nt o hi s head and gi ve hi m

ever so br i ef a r espi t e f r om t he ef f or t of f aci ng t he si t uat i on,

and hopi ng t hat Har r y mi ght do or say somet hi ng t o open t he bal l .

Thi s di d not happen. He f el t t hat t he l onger he wai t ed t he har der

Page 347 of 443

i t woul d be. He must begi n hi msel f . So he r ai sed hi s head gent l y,

and t ook a si del ong l ook at Har r y' s f ace, t o see whet her he coul d

not get some hi nt f or st ar t i ng, f r om i t . But scar cel y had he

br ought hi s eyes t o bear , when t hey met Har r y' s, peer i ng

dol ef ul l y up f r om under hi s eyebr ows, on whi ch t he wat er was

st andi ng unwi ped, whi l e a pi ece of gr een weed, whi ch he di d not

seem t o have pr esence of mi nd enough t o r emove, t r ai l ed over hi s

dr i ppi ng l ocks. Ther e was somet hi ng i n t he si ght whi ch t i ckl ed

Tom' s sense of humor . He had been pr epar ed f or sul l en bl ack l ooks

and f i er ce wor ds, i nst ead of whi ch he was i r r esi st i bl y r emi nded

of school boys caught by t hei r mast er usi ng a cr i b, or i n ot her

l i ke f l agr ant del i ct .

Har r y l ower ed hi s eyes at once, but l i f t ed t hem t he next moment

wi t h a l ook of sur pr i se, as he hear d Tom bur st i nt o a hear t y f i t

of l aught er . Af t er a shor t st r uggl e t o keep ser i ous, he j oi ned i n

i t hi msel f .

" By Jove, t hough, Har r y, i t ' s no l aughi ng mat t er , " Tom sai d at

l ast , get t i ng on t o hi s l egs, and gi vi ng hi msel f a shake.

Har r y onl y r epl i ed by l ooki ng most dol ef ul agai n, and pi cki ng t he

weed out of hi s hai r , as he t oo got up.

" What i n t he wor l d' s t o be done?"

" I ' m sur e I don' t know, Mast er Tom. "

" I ' m ver y much sur pr i sed t o f i nd you at t hi s wor k, Har r y. "

" I ' m sur e, so be I , t o f i nd you, Mast er Tom. "

Tom was not pr epar ed f or t hi s l i ne of r ej oi nder . I t seemed t o be

made wi t h per f ect i nnocence, and yet i t put hi m i n a cor ner at

once. He di d not car e t o i nqui r e i nt o t he r eason of Har r y' s

sur pr i se, or t o what wor k he al l uded; so he went of f on anot her

t ack.

" Let us wal k up and down a bi t t o dr y our sel ves. Now, Har r y,

you' l l speak t o me openl y, man t o man, as an ol d f r i end

shoul d- - won' t you?"

" Ay, Mast er Tom, and gl ad t o do i t . "

" How l ong have you t aken t o poachi ng?"

" Si nce l ast Mi chael mas, when t hey t ur ned me out o' our cot t age,

and t uk away my bi t o' l and, and di d al l as t hey coul d t o br eak

me down. "

" Who do you mean?"

" Why, Squi r e Wur l ey as was t hen- - not t hi s one, but t he l ast - - and

hi s l awyer , and Far mer Test er . "

" Then i t was t hr ough spi t e t o t hem t hat you t ook t o i t ?"

" Nay, ' t war n' t al t oget her spi t e, t ho' I won' t say but what I

mi ght ha' t hought o' bei n' upsi des wi t hem. "

" What was i t t hen besi des spi t e?"

" Want o' wor k. I havn' t had no mor e' n a mat t er o' si x weeks'

r eg' l ar wor k ever si nce l ast f al l . "

Page 348 of 443

" How' s t hat ? Have you t r i ed f or i t ?"

" Wel l , Mast er Tom, I won' t t el l a l i e about i t . I don' t see as I

wur bound t o go r ound wi my cap i n my hand a beggi n' f or a day' s

wor k t o t he l i kes o' t hem. They knowed wel l enough as I wur

t her e, r eady and wi l l i ng t o wor k, and t hey knowed as I wur abl e

t o do as good a day' s wor k as e' er man i n t he par i sh; and t her ' s

been pl ent y o' wor k goi n' . But t hey t hought as I shoul d st ar ve,

and have t o come and beg f or ' t f r om one or t o' t her on ' em. They

woul d ha' l i ked t o ha' seen me cl ean br oke down, t hat ' s wut t hey

woul d, and i n t he house, " and he paused as i f hi s t hought s wer e

get t i ng a l i t t l e unmanageabl e.

" But you mi ght have gone t o l ook f or wor k el sewher e. "

" I can' t see as I had any cal l t o l eave t he pl ace wher e I wur

br ed up, Mast er Tom. That wur j ust wut t hey want ed. Why shoul d I

l et ' em dr i ve m' out ?"

" Wel l , Har r y, I ' m not goi ng t o bl ame you. I onl y want t o know

mor e about what has been happeni ng t o you, t hat I may be abl e t o

advi se and hel p you. Di d you ever t r y f or wor k, or go and t el l

your st or y, at t he Rect or y?"

" Tr y f or wor k t her e! No, I never went ar t er wor k t her e. "

Tom went on wi t hout not i ci ng t he change i n Har r y' s t one and

manner - -

" Then I t hi nk you ought t o have gone. I know my cousi n, Mi ss

Wi nt er , i s so anxi ous t o hel p any man out of wor k, and

par t i cul ar l y you; f or - - " The whol e st or y of Pat t y f l ashed i nt o

hi s mi nd, and made hi m st op shor t and st ammer , and l ook anywher e

except at Har r y. How he coul d have f or got t en i t f or a moment i n

t hat company was a wonder . Al l hi s quest i oni ng and pat r oni zi ng

power s went out of hi m and he f el t t hat t hei r posi t i ons wer e

changed, and t hat he was t he cul pr i t . I t was cl ear t hat Har r y

knew not hi ng yet of hi s own r el at i ons wi t h Pat t y. Di d he even

suspect t hem? I t must al l come out now at any r at e, f or bot h

t hei r sakes, however i t mi ght end. So he t ur ned agai n, and met

Har r y' s eye, whi ch was now col d and keen, and suspi ci ous.

" You knows al l about i t , t hen?"

" Yes; I know t hat you have been at t ached t o Si mon' s daught er f or

a l ong t i me, and t hat he i s agai nst i t ; I wi sh I coul d hel p you,

wi t h al l my hear t . I n f act , I di d f eel my way t owar ds speaki ng t o

hi m about i t l ast year , when I was i n hopes of get t i ng you t he

gar dener ' s pl ace. But I coul d see t hat I shoul d do no good. "

" I ' ve hear d say as you was acquai nt ed wi t h her , when she was

away?"

" Yes, I was, when she was wi t h her aunt i n Oxf or d. What t hen?"

" ' Twas t her e as she l ar nt her bad ways. "

" Bad ways! What do you mean?"

" I means as she l ar nt t o dr ess f i ne, and t o gee her sel f ai r s t o

t hem as she' d known f r om a chi l d, and as' d ha' gone t hr ough f i r e

t o pl ease her . "

Page 349 of 443

" I never saw anyt hi ng of t he ki nd i n her . She was a pl easant ,

l i vel y gi r l , and dr essed neat l y, but never above her st at i on. And

I ' m sur e she has t oo good a hear t t o hur t an ol d f r i end. "

" Wut made her keep shut up i n t he house when she cum back? ah,

f or days and weeks; - - and ar t er t hat , wut made her so f l i ght y and

f i ckl e? car r yi n' her sel f as pr oud as a l ady a mi nci n' and a

t r apesi n' al ong, wi ' al l t he young f ar mer ' s a f ol l er i n' her , l i ke

a f i ne gent l eman' s mi ss. "

" Come, Har r y, I won' t l i st en t o t hat . You don' t bel i eve what

you' r e sayi ng, you know her bet t er . "

" You knows her wel l enough by al l seemi ng. "

" I know her t oo wel l t o bel i eve any har m of her . "

" What cal l have you and t he l i kes o' you wi ' her ? ' Ti s no good

comes o' such company keepi n' . "

" I t el l you agai n, no har m has come of i t t o her . "

" Whose hai r does she car r y about t hen i n t hat gol d t hi ng as she

hangs ar ound her neck?"

Tom bl ushed scar l et , and l ower ed hi s eyes wi t hout answer i ng.

" Dost know? ' Ti s t hi ne, by- - . " The wor ds came hi ssi ng out bet ween

hi s set t eet h. Tom put hi s hands behi nd hi m, expect i ng t o be

st r uck as he l i f t ed hi s eyes, and sai d, - -

" Yes, i t i s mi ne; and, I t el l you agai n, no har m has come of i t . "

" ' Ti s a l i e. I knowed how ' t was, and ' t i s t hou hast done i t . "

" Tom' s bl ood t i ngl ed i n hi s vei ns, and wi l d wor ds r ushed t o hi s

t ongue, as he st ood opposi t e t he man who had j ust gi ven hi m t he

l i e, and who wai t ed hi s r epl y wi t h cl i nched hands, and l abor i ng

br east , and f i er ce eye. But t he di sci pl i ne of t he l ast year st ood

hi m i n good st ead. He st ood f or a moment or t wo, cr ushi ng hi s

hands t oget her behi nd hi s back, dr ew a l ong br eat h, and

answer ed, - -

" Wi l l you bel i eve my oat h, t hen? I st ood by your si de at your

mot her ' s gr ave. A man who di d t hat won' t l i e t o you, Har r y. I

swear t o you t her e' s no wr ong bet ween me and her . Ther e never was

f aul t on her si de. I sought her . She never car ed f or me, she

doesn' t car e f or me. As f or t hat l ocket , I f or ced i t on her . I

own I have wr onged her , and wr onged you. I have r epent ed i t

bi t t er l y. I ask your f or gi veness, Har r y; f or t he sake of ol d

t i mes, f or t he sake of your mot her ! " He spoke f r om t he hear t , and

saw t hat hi s wor ds went home. " Come, Har r y" he went on, " you won

t t ur n f r om an ol d pl ayf el l ow, who owns t he wr ong he has done,

and wi l l do al l he can t o make up f or i t . You' l l shake hands, and

say you f or gi ve me. "

Tom paused, and hel d out hi s hand.

The poacher ' s f ace wor ked vi ol ent l y f or a moment or t wo, and he

seemed t o st r uggl e once or t wi ce t o get hi s hand out i n vai n. At

l ast he st r uck i t suddenl y i nt o Tom' s, t ur ni ng hi s head away at

t he same t i me. " ' Ti s what mot her woul d ha' done, " he sai d, " t hou

cassn' t say mor e. Ther e t i s t hen, t hough I never t hought t o

do' t . "

Page 350 of 443

Thi s cur i ous and unexpect ed expl anat i on, br ought t hus t o a happy

i ssue, put Tom i nt o hi gh spi r i t s, and at once r oused t he

cast l e- bui l di ng power wi t hi n hi m, whi ch was al ways r eady enough

t o wake up.

Hi s f i r st car e was t o per suade Har r y t hat he had bet t er gi ve up

poachi ng, and i n t hi s he had much l ess di f f i cul t y t han he

expect ed. Har r y owned hi msel f si ck of t he l i f e he was l eadi ng

al r eady. He admi t t ed t hat some of t he men wi t h whom he had been

associ at i ng mor e or l ess f or t he l ast year wer e t he gr eat est

bl ackguar ds i n t he nei ghbor hood. He asked not hi ng bet t er t han t o

get out of i t . But how?

Thi s was al l Tom want ed. He woul d see t o t hat ; not hi ng coul d be

easi er .

" I shal l go wi t h you back t o Engl ebour n t hi s mor ni ng. I ' l l j ust

l eave a not e f or Wur l ey t o say t hat I ' l l be back some t i me i n t he

day t o expl ai n mat t er s t o hi m, and t hen we wi l l be of f at once.

We shal l be at t he r ect or y by br eakf ast t i me. Ah, I

f or got ; - - wel l , you can st op at Davi d' s whi l e I go and speak t o my

uncl e and t o Mi ss Wi nt er . "

Har r y di dn' t seem t o see what woul d be t he good of t hi s; and

Davi d, he sai d, was not so f r i endl y t o hi m as he had been.

" Then you must wai t at t he Red Li on. Don' t see t he good of i t !

Why, of cour se, t he good of i t i s t hat you must be set r i ght wi t h

t he Engl ebour n peopl e- - t hat ' s t he f i r st t hi ng t o do. I shal l

expl ai n how t he case st ands t o my uncl e, and I know t hat I can

get hi m t o l et you have your l and agai n i f you st ay i n t he

par i sh, even i f he can' t gi ve you wor k hi msel f . But what he must

do i s, t o t ake you up, t o show peopl e t hat he i s your f r i end,

Har r y. Wel l t hen, i f you can get good wor k- - mi nd i t must be r eal ,

good, r egul ar wor k- - at Far mer Gr ove' s, or one of t he best

f ar mer s, st op her e by al l means, and I wi l l mysel f t ake t he f i r st

cot t age whi ch f al l s vacant and l et you have i t , and meant i me you

must l odge wi t h ol d Davi d. Oh, I ' l l go and t al k hi m r ound, never

f ear . But i f you can' t get r egul ar wor k her e, why you go of f wi t h

f l yi ng col or s; no sneaki ng of f under a cl oud and l eavi ng no

addr ess. You' l l go of f wi t h me, as my ser vant , i f you l i ke. But

j ust as you pl ease about t hat . At any r at e, you' l l go wi t h me,

and I ' l l t ake car e t hat i t shal l be known t hat I consi der you as

an ol d f r i end. My f at her has al ways got pl ent y of wor k and wi l l

t ake you on. And t hen, Har r y, af t er a bi t you may be sur e al l

wi l l go r i ght , and I shal l be your best man, and dance at your

weddi ng bef or e a year ' s out . "

Ther e i s somet hi ng i n t hi s ki nd of t hi ng whi ch i s cont agi ous and

i r r esi st i bl e. Tom t hor oughl y bel i eved al l t hat he was sayi ng; and

f ai t h, even of such a poor ki nd as bel i evi ng i n one' s own

cast l es, has i t s r ewar d. Common sense i n vai n suggest ed t o Har r y

t hat al l t he cl ouds whi ch had been gat her i ng r ound hi m f or a year

wer e not l i kel y t o mel t away i n a mor ni ng. Pr udence suggest ed

t hat t he sooner he got away t he bet t er ; whi ch suggest i on, i ndeed,

he handed on f or what i t was wor t h. But Tom t r eat ed pr udence wi t h

subl i me cont empt . They woul d go t oget her , he sai d, as soon as any

one was up at t he house, j ust t o l et hi m i n t o change hi s t hi ngs

and wr i t e a not e. Har r y needn' t f ear any unpl easant consequences.

Wur l ey wasn' t an i l l - nat ur ed f el l ow at bot t om, and woul dn' t mi nd

a f ew f i sh. Tal ki ng of f i sh, wher e was t he one he hear d ki cki ng

j ust now as Har r y haul ed i n t he l i ne. They went t o t he pl ace,

and, l ooki ng i n t he l ong gr ass, soon f ound t he dead t r out , st i l l

Page 351 of 443

on t he ni ght - l i ne, of whi ch t he ot her end r emai ned i n t he wat er .

Tom sei zed hol d of i t , and pul l i ng i t car ef ul l y i n, l anded l anded

anot her f i ne t r out , whi l e Har r y st ood by, l ooki ng r at her

sheepi sh. Tom i nspect ed t he met hod of t he l i nes, whi ch was si mpl e

but awf ul l y dest r uct i ve. The l i ne was l ong enough t o r each acr oss

t he st r eam. At one end was a heavy st one, at t he ot her a shor t

st ake cut shar p, and dr i ven i nt o t he bank wel l under t he wat er .

At i nt er val s of f our f eet al ong t he l i ne shor t pi eces of f i ne

gi mp wer e f ast ened, endi ng i n hooks bai t ed al t er nat el y wi t h

l ob- wor ms and gudgeon. Tom compl i ment ed hi s compani on on t he

ki l l i ng nat ur e of hi s cr oss- l i ne.

" Wher e ar e your ot her l i nes, Har r y?" he asked; " we may as wel l go

and t ake t hem up. "

" A bi t hi gher up st r eam, Mast er Tom; " and so t hey wal ked up

st r eam and t ook up t he ot her l i nes.

" They' l l have t he f i nest di sh of f i sh t hey' ve seen t hi s l ong t i me

at t he house t o- day, " sai d Tom, as each l i ne came out wi t h t wo or

t hr ee f i ne t hi ck- shoul der ed f i sh on i t . " I ' l l you what , Har r y,

t hey' r e deuced wel l set , t hese l i nes of your s, and do you cr edi t .

They do; I ' m not compl i ment i ng you. "

" I shoul d r at her l i ke t o be of f , Mast er Tom, i f you don' t obj ect .

The mor ni n' s get t i n' on, and t he men wi l l be about . ' Twoul d be

unked f or I t o be caught . "

" Wel l , Har r y, i f you ar e so set on i t of f wi t h you, but " - -

" ' Ti s t oo l at e now; her e' s keeper . "

Tom t ur ned shar p r ound, and, sur e enough, t her e was t he keeper

comi ng down t he bank t owar ds t hem, and not a coupl e of hundr ed

yar ds of f .

" So i t i s, " sai d Tom; " wel l , onl y hol d your t ongue, and do j ust

what I t el l you. "

The keeper came up qui ckl y, and t ouchi ng hi s hat t o Tom, l ooked

i nqui r i ngl y at hi m, and t hen at Har r y. Tom nodded t o hi m, as i f

ever yt hi ng wer e j ust as i t shoul d be. He was t aki ng a t wo- pound

f i sh of f t he l ast l i ne; havi ng f i ni shed whi ch f eat he t hr ew i t on

t he gr ound by t he r est . " Ther e keeper , " he sai d, " t her e' s a f i ne

di sh of f i sh. Now, pi ck ' em up and come al ong. "

Never was keeper mor e puzzl ed. He l ooked f r om one t o t he ot her ,

l i f t i ng t he l i t t l e shor t hat f r om t he back of hi s head, and

scr at chi ng t hat somewhat t hi ck skul l of hi s, as hi s habi t was

when engaged i n what he cal l ed t hi nki ng, consci ous t hat somebody

ought t o be t ackl ed, and t hat he, t he keeper , was bei ng

myst i f i ed, but qui t e at sea as t o how he was t o set hi msel f

st r ai ght .

" Wet , bai n' t ' ee, si r ?" he sai d at l ast , noddi ng at Tom' s

cl ot hes.

" Dampi sh, keeper , " answer ed Tom; " I may as wel l go and change,

t he ser vant s wi l l be up at t he house by t hi s t i me. Pi ck up t he

f i sh and come al ong. You do up t he l i nes, Har r y. "

The keeper and Har r y per f or med t hei r t asks, l ooki ng at one

anot her out of t he cor ner s of t hei r eyes l i ke t he t er r i er s of

r i val but cher s when t he car t s happen t o st op suddenl y i n t he

Page 352 of 443

st r eet cl ose t o one anot her . Tom wat ched t hem, mi schi evousl y

del i ght ed wi t h t he f un, and t hen l ed t he way up t o t he house.

When t hey came t o t he st abl e- yar d he t ur ned t o Har r y, and sai d,

" St op her e, I shan' t be t en mi nut es; " addi ng, i n an under t one,

" Hol d your t ongue now; " he t hen vani shed t hr ough t he dar k door ,

and, hur r yi ng up t o hi s r oom, changed as qui ckl y as he coul d.

He was wi t hi n t he t en mi nut es, but , as he descended t he back

st ai r s i n hi s dr y t hi ngs, became awar e t hat hi s st ay had been t oo

l ong. Noi se and l aught er came up f r om t he st abl e- yar d, and shout s

of , " Go i t keeper , " " Keeper ' s down, " " No he bai n' t , " gr eet ed hi s

ast oni shed ear s. He spr ang down t he l ast st eps and r ushed i nt o

t he st abl e- yar d, wher e he f ound Har r y at hi s second wr est l i ng

mat ch f or t he day, whi l e t wo or t hr ee st abl emen, and a f oot man,

and t he gar dener , l ooked on and cheer ed t he combat ant s wi t h t he

r emar ks he had hear d on hi s way down.

Tom made st r ai ght t o t hem, and t appi ng Har r y on t he shoul der ,

sai d- -

" Now t hen, come al ong, I ' m r eady. "

Wher eupon t he keeper and Har r y di sengaged, and t he l at t er pi cked

up hi s cap.

" You bai n' t goi n' , si r ! " sai d t he keeper .

" Yes, keeper . "

" Not al ong wi ' he?"

" Yes, keeper . "

" What , bai n' t I t o t ake un?"

" Take hi m! No, what f or ?"

" For ni ght poachi n' , l ook at al l t hem f i sh, " sai d t he keeper

i ndi gnant l y, poi nt i ng t o t he shi ni ng heap.

" No, no, keeper , you' ve not hi ng t o do wi t h i t . You may gi ve hi m

t he l i nes t hough, Har r y. I ' ve l ef t a not e f or your mast er on my

dr essi ng t abl e, " Tom sai d, t ur ni ng t o t he f oot man, " l et hi m have

i t at br eakf ast . I ' m r esponsi bl e f or hi m, " noddi ng at Har r y, " I

shal l be back i n a f ew hour s, and now come al ong. "

And, t o t he keeper ' s ast oni shment , Tom l ef t t he st abl e- yar d,

accompani ed by Har r y.

They wer e scar cel y out of hear i ng bef or e t he st abl e- yar d br oke

out i nt o upr oar i ous l aught er at t he keeper ' s expense and much

r ude bant er was i nf l i ct ed on hi m f or l et t i ng t he poacher go. But

t he keeper ' s mi nd f or t he moment was f ul l of ot her t hi ngs.

Di sr egar di ng t hei r r emar ks he went on scr at chi ng hi s head, and

bur st out at l ast wi t h- -

" Dang un! I knows I shoul d ha' dr owed un. "

" Dr ow your gr andmot her , " pol i t el y r emar ked one of t he st abl emen,

an acquai nt ance of Har r y Wi nbur n, who knew hi s r eput e as a

wr est l er .

" I shoul d, I t el l ' ee, " sai d t he keeper as he st ooped t o gat her

up t he f i sh, " and t o t hi nk as he shoul d ha' gone of f . Mast er ' l l

Page 353 of 443

be l i ke any wi l d beast when he hear s on' t . How s' mever , ' t i s Mr .

Br own' s doi n' s. ' Ti s a queer st ar t f or a gen' l ' man l i ke he t o be

goi n' of f wi ' a poacher chap and cal l i n' of un Har r y. ' Ti s past

me al t oget her . But I s' pose he bai n' t r i ght i n' s ' ead; " and, so

sol i l oqui zi ng, he car r i ed of f t he f i sh t o t he ki t chen.

Meant i me, on t hei r wal k t o Engl ebour n, Har r y, i n answer t o Tom' s

i nqui r i es, expl ai ned t hat i n hi s absence t he st abl e- man, hi s

acquai nt ance, had come up and begun t o t al k. The keeper had

j oi ned i n and accused hi m poi nt - bl ank of bei ng t he man who had

t hr own hi m i nt o t he f ur ze bush. The st or y of t he keeper ' s

di scomf i t ur e on t hat occasi on bei ng wel l known, a l augh had been

r ai sed i n whi ch Har r y had j oi ned. Thi s br ought on a chal l enge t o

t r y a f al l t hen and t her e, whi ch Har r y had accept ed,

not wi t hst andi ng hi s l ong mor ni ng' s wor k and t he ducki ng he had

had. They l aughed over t he st or y, t hough Har r y coul d not hel p

expr essi ng hi s f ear s as t o how i t mi ght al l end. They r eached

Engl ebour n i n t i me f or br eakf ast . Tom appear ed at t he r ect or y,

and soon he and Kat i e wer e on t hei r ol d t er ms. She was del i ght ed

t o f i nd t hat he had had an expl anat i on wi t h Har r y Wi nbur n; and

t hat t her e was some chance of br i ngi ng t hat st ur dy of f ender once

mor e back i nt o decent ways; - - mor e del i ght ed per haps t o hear t he

way i n whi ch he spoke of Pat t y, t o whom af t er br eakf ast she pai d

a vi si t , and r et ur ned i n due t i me wi t h t he unf or t unat e l ocket .

Tom f el t as i f anot her coi l of t he chai n he had t i ed about

hi msel f had f al l en of f . He went out i nt o t he vi l l age, consul t ed

agai n wi t h Har r y, and r et ur ned agai n t o t he r ect or y, t o consi der

what st eps wer e t o be t aken t o get hi m wor k. Kat i e ent er ed i nt o

t he mat t er hear t i l y, t hough f or seei ng t he di f f i cul t i es i n t he

case. At l uncheon t he r ect or was t o be sounded on t he subj ect of

t he al l ot ment s. But i n t he mi ddl e of t hei r pl ans, t hey wer e

st ar t l ed by t he news t hat a magi st r at e' s war r ant had ar r i ved i n

t he vi l l age f or t he ar r est of Har r y as a ni ght poacher .

Tom r et ur ned t o t he Gr ange f ur i ous, and bef or e ni ght had had a

wor se quar r el wi t h young Wur l ey t han wi t h hi s uncl e bef or e hi m.

Had duel l i ng been i n f ashi on st i l l i n Engl and, t hey woul d

pr obabl y have f ought i n a qui et cor ner of t he par k bef or e ni ght .

As i t was t hey onl y sai d bi t t er t hi ngs, and par t ed, agr eei ng not

t o know one anot her i n t he f ut ur e.

Thr ee days af t er war ds, at pet t y sessi ons, wher e Tom br ought upon

hi msel f t he sever e censur e of t he bench f or hi s conduct on t he

t r i al , Har r y Wi nbur n was commi t t ed t o Readi ng gaol f or t hr ee

mont hs.

Reader s who wi l l t ake t he t r oubl e t o r emember t he pi ct ur e of our

her o' s ment al gr owt h dur i ng t he past year , at t empt ed t o be gi ven

i n a l at e chapt er , and t he st at e of r est l ess di ssat i sf act i on i nt o

whi ch hi s exper i ences and t hought s and r eadi ngs had t hr own hi m by

t he t i me l ong vacat i on had come ar ound agai n, wi l l per haps be

pr epar ed f or t he cat ast r ophe whi ch ensued on t he convi ct i on and

sent ence of Har r y Wi nbur n at pet t y sessi ons.

Hi t her t o, not wi t hst andi ng t he st r engt h of t he new and

r evol ut i onar y f or ces whi ch wer e must er i ng r ound i t , t her e had

al ways been a ci t adel hol di ng out i n hi s mi nd, gar r i soned by al l

t hat was best i n t he Tor yi sm i n whi ch he had been br ought up- - by

l oyal t y, r ever ence f or est abl i shed or der and est abl i shed

i nst i t ut i ons; by f ami l y t r adi t i ons, and t he pr i de of an i nher i t ed

good name. But now t he wal l s of t hat ci t adel went down wi t h a

cr ash, t he gar r i son bei ng put t o t he swor d, or maki ng away, t o

hi de i n an out of t he way cor ner , and wai t f or a r eact i on.

Page 354 of 443

I t was much easi er f or a youngst er , whose at t ent i on was once

t ur ned t o such subj ect s as had been occupyi ng Tom, t o get hol d of

wi l d and vi ol ent bel i ef s and not i ons i n t hose days t han now. The

st at e of Eur ope gener al l y was f ar mor e dead and hopel ess. Ther e

wer e no war s, cer t ai nl y, and no expect at i ons of war s. But t her e

was a dul l , beat en- down, pent - up f eel i ng abr oad, as i f t he l i d

wer e scr ewed down on t he nat i ons, and t he t hi ng whi ch had been,

however cr uel and heavy and mean, was t hat whi ch was t o r emai n t o

t he end. Engl and was bet t er of f t han her nei ghbour s, but yet i n

bad case. I n t he sout h and west par t i cul ar l y, sever al causes had

combi ned, t o spr ead a ver y bi t t er f eel i ng abr oad amongst t he

agr i cul t ur al poor . Fi r st among t hese st ood t he new poor l aw, t he

pr ovi si ons of whi ch wer e vi gor ousl y car r i ed out i n most

di st r i ct s. The poor had as yet f el t t he har shness onl y of t he new

syst em. Then t he l and was i n many pl aces i n t he hands of men on

t hei r l ast l egs, t he ol d spor t i ng f ar mer s, who had begun busi ness

as young men whi l e t he gr eat war was goi ng on, had made t hei r

money hand over hand f or a f ew year s out of t he war pr i ces, and

had t r i ed t o go on l i vi ng wi t h gr eyhounds and yeomanr y

uni f or ms- - " hor se t o r i de and weapon t o wear " - - t hr ough t he har d

year s whi ch had f ol l owed. These wer e bad mast er s ever y way,

unt hr i f t y, pr of l i gat e, needy, and nar r ow- mi nded. The younger men

who wer e suppl ant i ng t hem wer e i nt r oduci ng machi ner y, t hr eshi ng

machi nes and wi nnowi ng machi nes, t o t ake t he l i t t l e br ead whi ch a

poor man was st i l l abl e t o ear n out of t he mout hs of hi s wi f e and

chi l dr en- - so at l east t he poor t hought and mut t er ed t o one

anot her ; and t he mut t er i ngs br oke out ever y now and t hen i n t he

l ong ni ght s of t he wi nt er mont hs i n bl azi ng r i cks and br oken

machi nes. Game pr eser vi ng was on t he i ncr ease. Aust r al i a and

Amer i ca had not yet become f ami l i ar wor ds i n ever y Engl i sh

vi l l age, and t he l abour mar ket was ever ywher e over st ocked; and,

l ast but not l east , t he cor n l aws wer e st i l l i n f or ce, and t he

bi t t er and exasper at i ng st r i f e i n whi ch t hey went out was at i t s

hei ght . And whi l e Swi ng and hi s myr mi dons wer e abr oad i n t he

count i es, and coul d scar cel y be kept down by yeomanr y and poor

l aw guar di ans, t he gr eat t owns wer e i n al most wor se case. Her e

t oo emi gr at i on had not set i n t o t hi n t he l abour mar ket ; wages

wer e f al l i ng, and pr i ces r i si ng; t he cor n l aw st r uggl e was bet t er

under st ood and f ar keener t han i n t he count r y; and Char t i sm was

gai ni ng f or ce ever y day, and r i si ng i nt o a huge t hr eat eni ng

gi ant , wai t i ng t o put f or t h hi s st r engt h, and eager f or t he

occasi on whi ch seemed at hand.

You gener at i on of young Engl i shmen, who wer e t oo young t hen t o be

t r oubl ed wi t h such mat t er s, and have gr own i nt o manhood si nce,

you l i t t l e know- - may you never know! - - what i t i s t o be l i vi ng t he

ci t i zens of a di vi ded and di st r act ed nat i on. For t he t i me t hat

danger i s past . I n a happy home and so f ar as man can j udge, i n

t i me, and onl y j ust i n t i me, came t he r epeal of t he cor n l aws,

and t he gr eat cause of st r i f e and t he sense of i nj ust i ce passed

away out of men' s mi nds. The nat i on was r oused by t he I r i sh

f ami ne, and t he f ear f ul di st r ess i n ot her par t s of t he count r y,

t o begi n l ooki ng st eadi l y and ser i ousl y at some of t he sor es

whi ch wer e f est er i ng i n i t s body, and under mi ni ng heal t h and

l i f e. And so t he t i de had t ur ned, and Engl and had al r eady passed

t he cr i t i cal poi nt ; when 1848 came upon Chr i st endom, and t he

whol e of Eur ope l eapt up i nt o a wi l d bl aze of r evol ut i on.

I s anyone st i l l i ncl i ned t o make l i ght of t he danger t hat

t hr eat ened Engl and i n t hat year , t o sneer at t he 10t h of Apr i l ,

and t he monst er pet i t i on, and t he monst er meet i ngs on Kenni ngt on

and ot her commons? Wel l , i f t her e be such per sons among my

r eader s, I can onl y say t hat t hey can have known not hi ng of what

Page 355 of 443

was goi ng on ar ound t hem and bel ow t hem, at t hat t i me, and I

ear nest l y hope t hat t hei r vi si on has become cl ear er si nce t hen,

and t hat t hey ar e not l ooki ng wi t h t he same eyes t hat see

not hi ng, at t he si gns of t oday. For t hat t her e ar e quest i ons

st i l l t o be sol ved by us i n Engl and, i n t hi s cur r ent

hal f - cent ur y, qui t e as l i kel y t o t ear t he nat i on t o pi eces as t he

cor n l aws, no man wi t h hal f an eye i n hi s head can doubt . They

may seem l i t t l e cl ouds l i ke a man' s hand on t he hor i zon j ust now,

but t hey wi l l dar ken t he whol e heaven bef or e l ong, unl ess we can

f i nd wi sdom enough amongst us t o t ake t he l i t t l e cl ouds i n hand

i n t i me, and make t hem descend i n sof t r ai n.

But such mat t er s need not be spoken of her e. Al l I want t o do i s

t o put my young r eader s i n a posi t i on t o under st and how i t was

t hat our her o f el l away i nt o bel i ef s and not i ons, at whi ch Mr s.

Gr undy and al l decent peopl e coul d onl y l i f t up eyes and hands i n

pi ous and r espect abl e hor r or , and became, soon af t er t he

i ncar cer at i on of hi s f r i end f or ni ght poachi ng, l i t t l e bet t er

t han a physi cal f or ce Char t i st at t he age of t went y - one.

CHAPTER XL

HUE AND CRY

At t he end of a gust y wi l d Oct ober af t er noon, a man, l eadi ng t wo

hor ses, was mar chi ng up and down t he l i t t l e pl ot of shor t t ur f at

t he t op of t he Hawk' s Lynch. Ever y now and t hen he woul d st op on

t he br ow of t he hi l l t o l ook over t he vi l l age, and seemed t o be

wai t i ng f or somebody f r om t hat quar t er . Af t er bei ng wel l bl own,

he woul d t ur n t o hi s pr omenade agai n, or go i n under t he cl ump of

f i r s, t hr ough whi ch t he r i si ng sout h- west wi nd, r ushi ng up f r om

t he val e bel ow, was begi nni ng t o make a moan; and, hi t chi ng t he

hor ses t o some st ump or bush, and pat t i ng and coaxi ng t hem t o

i nduce t hem, i f so mi ght be, t o st and qui et f or a whi l e, woul d

t r y t o set t l e hi msel f t o l eewar d of one of t he l ar ger t r ees.

But t he f at es wer e agai nst al l at t empt s at r epose. He had

scar cel y t i me t o pr oduce a cher oot f r om hi s case and l i ght i t

under many di f f i cul t i es, when t he hor ses woul d begi n f i dget i ng,

and pul l i ng at t hei r br i dl es, and shi f t i ng r ound t o get t hei r

t ai l s t o t he wi nd. They cl ear l y di d not under st and t he necessi t y

of t he posi t i on, and wer e i ncl i ned t o be movi ng st abl e- war ds. So

he had t o get up agai n, sl i ng t he br i dl es over hi s ar m, and t ake

t o hi s mar ch up and down t he pl ot of t ur f ; now st oppi ng f or a

moment or t wo t o t r y t o get hi s cher oot t o bur n st r ai ght , and

pi shi ng and pshawi ng over i t s per ver seness; now goi ng agai n and

agai n t o t he br ow, and l ooki ng al ong t he r oad whi ch l ed t o t he

vi l l age, hol di ng hi s hat on t i ght wi t h one hand, - - f or by t hi s

t i me i t was bl owi ng hal f a gal e of wi nd.

Though i t was not yet qui t e t he hour f or hi s set t i ng, t he sun had

di sappear ed behi nd a heavy bank of wi cked sl at e- col our ed cl oud,

whi ch l ooked as t hough i t wer e r i si ng st r ai ght up i nt o t he

west er n heavens, whi l e t he wi nd whi r l ed al ong and t wi st ed i nt o

quai nt shapes a r agged r i f t of whi t e vapor , whi ch went hur r yi ng

by, al most t ouchi ng t he t ops of t he moani ng f i r s, - - al t oget her an

uncanny eveni ng t o be keepi ng t r yst at t he t op of a wi l d knol l ;

and so t hought our f r i end wi t h t he hor ses, and showed i t , t oo,

cl ear l y enough, had anyone been t her e t o put a const r uct i on on

hi s i mpat i ent movement s.

Ther e was no one near er t han t he vi l l age, of whi ch t he near est

Page 356 of 443

house was hal f a mi l e and mor e away; so, by way of passi ng t he

t i me, we must exer ci se our pr i vi l ege of put t i ng i nt o wor ds what

he i s hal f t hi nki ng, hal f mut t er i ng t o hi msel f : - -

" A pl easant ni ght I cal l t hi s, t o be out on a wi l d goose chase.

I f ever I saw a scr eami ng st or m br ewi ng, t her e i t comes. I ' l l be

hanged i f I st op up her e t o be caught i n i t f or al l t he

cr ack- br ai ned f r i ends I ever had i n t he wor l d; and I seem t o have

a f acul t y f or pi cki ng up none but cr ack- br ai ned ones. I wonder

what t he pl ague can keep hi m so l ong; he must have been gone an

hour . Ther e, st eady, st eady, ol d hor se. Conf ound t hi s weed! What

r ascal s t hese t obacconi st s ar e! You never can get a cher oot now

wor t h smoki ng. Ever y one of t hem goes sput t er i ng up t he si de, or

char r i ng up t he mi ddl e, and t ast i ng l i ke t ow soaked i n sal t pet r e

and t obacco j ui ce. Wel l , I suppose I shal l get t he r eal t hi ng i n

I ndi a. "

" I ndi a! I n a mont h f r om t o- day we shal l be of f . To hear our

seni or maj or t al k, one mi ght as wel l be goi ng t o t he bot t oml ess

pi t at once. Wel l , he' l l sel l out - - t hat ' s a comf or t . Gi ves us a

st ep, and get s r i d of an ol d r uf f i an. I don' t seem t o car e much

what t he pl ace i s l i ke i f we onl y get some wor k; and t her e wi l l

be some wor k t her e bef or e l ong, by al l account s. No mor e

gar r i son- t own l i f e, at any r at e. And i f I have any l uck - - a man

may get a chance t her e. "

" What t he deuce can he be about ? Thi s al l comes of sent i ment ,

now. Why coul dn' t I go qui et l y of f t o I ndi a wi t hout bot her i ng up

t o Oxf or d t o see hi m? Not but what i t ' s a pl easant pl ace enough.

I ' ve enj oyed my t hr ee days t her e uncommonl y. Food and dr i nk al l

t hat can be wi shed, and pl ent y of good f el l ows and f un. The l ook

of t he pl ace, t oo, makes one f eel r espect abl e. But , by Geor ge, i f

t hei r di vi ni t y i s at al l l i ke t hei r pol i t i cs, t hey must t ur n out

a queer set of par sons- - at l east i f Br own pi cked up hi s pr eci ous

not i ons at Oxf or d. He al ways was a headst r ong beggar . What was i t

he was hol di ng f or t h about l ast ni ght ? Let ' s see. ' The sacr ed

r i ght of i nsur r ect i on. ' Yes, t hat was i t , and he t al ked as i f he

bel i eved i t al l t oo; and i f t her e shoul d be a r ow, whi ch don' t

seem unl i kel y, by Jove, I t hi nk he' d act on i t , i n t he sor t of

t emper he' s i n. How about t he sacr ed r i ght of get t i ng hung or

t r anspor t ed? I shoul dn' t wonder t o hear of t hat some day. Gad!

suppose he shoul d be i n f or an i nst al l ment of hi s sacr ed r i ght

t o- ni ght . He' s capabl e of i t , and of l uggi ng me i n wi t h hi m. What

di d he say we wer e come her e f or ? To get some f el l ow out of a

scr ape, he sai d- - some sor t of poachi ng r adi cal f ost er - br ot her of

hi s, who had been i n gaol , and deser ved i t t oo, I ' l l be bound.

And he coul dn' t go down qui et l y i nt o t he vi l l age and put up at

t he publ i c, wher e I mi ght have set i n t he t ap, and not r un t he

chance of havi ng my ski n bl own over my ear s, and my t eet h down my

t hr oat , on t hi s cur sed l ook- out pl ace, because he' s _t oo wel l

known_ t her e. What does t hat mean? Upon my soul , i t l ooks bad.

They may be l ynchi ng a J. P. down t her e, or maki ng a spr ead eagl e

of t he par i sh const abl e at t hi s mi nut e, f or anyt hi ng I know, and

as sur e as f at e, i f t hey ar e, I shal l get my f oot i n i t . "

" I t wi l l r ead sweet l y i n t he naval and mi l i t ar y i nt el l i gence- - ' A

cour t - mar t i al was hel d t hi s day at Chat ham, pr esi dent , Col onel

Smi t h, of Her Maj est y' s 101st Regi ment , t o t r y Henr y East , a

l i eut enant i n t he same di st i ngui shed cor ps, who has been under

ar r est si nce t he 10t h ul t . , f or ai di ng and abet t i ng t he escape of

a convi ct , and t aki ng par t i n a r i ot i n t he vi l l age of

Engl ebour n, i n t he count y of Ber ks. The def ense of t he accused

was t hat he had a sent i ment al f r i endshi p f or a cer t ai n Thomas

Br own, an under gr aduat e of St . Ambr ose Col l ege, Oxf or d, &c. &c. ;

Page 357 of 443

and t he sent ence of t he Cour t - - '

" Hang i t ! I t ' s no l aughi ng mat t er . Many a f el l ow has been br oken

f or not maki ng hal f such a f ool of hi msel f as I have done, comi ng

out her e on t hi s er r and. I ' l l t el l T. B. a bi t of my mi nd as sur e

as- -

" Hul l o! di dn' t I hear a shout ? Onl y t he wi nd, I bel i eve. How i t

does bl ow! One of t hese f i r s wi l l be down, I expect , j ust now.

The st or m wi l l bur st i n a quar t er of an hour . Her e goes! I shal l

r i de down i nt o t he vi l l age, l et what wi l l come of i t . St eady

now- - st eady. St and st i l l you ol d f ool ; can' t you?"

" Ther e, now I ' m al l r i ght . Sol omon sai d somet hi ng about a beggar

on hor seback. Was i s Sol omon, t hough? Never mi nd. He coul dn' t

r i de. Never had a hor se t i l l he was gr own up. But he sai d some

uncommon wi se t hi ngs about havi ng t o do wi t h such f r i ends as T.

B. So, Har r y East , i f you pl ease, no mor e t omf ool er y af t er

t o- day. You' ve got a whol e ski n, and a l i eut enant ' s commi ssi on t o

make your way i n t he wor l d wi t h, and ar e t r oubl ed wi t h no

par t i cul ar cr ot chet s your sel f t hat need ever get you i nt o

t r oubl e. So j ust you keep cl ear of ot her peopl e' s. And i f your

f r i ends must be mendi ng t he wor l d, and poor men' s pl ast er i ng, and

r unni ng t hei r heads agai nst st one wal l s, why, j ust you l et go of

t hei r coat t ai l s. "

So mut t er i ng and medi t at i ng, Har r y East paused a moment af t er

mount i ng, t o t ur n up t he col l ar of t he r ough shoot i ng- coat whi ch

he was wear i ng, and but t on i t up t o t he chi n, bef or e r i di ng down

t he hi l l , when, i n t he hur l y- bur l y of t he wi nd, a shout came

spi nni ng past hi s ear s, pl ai n enough t hi s t i me; he hear d t he gat e

at t he end of Engl ebour n l ane down bel ow hi m shut wi t h a cl ang,

and saw t wo men r unni ng at f ul l speed t owar ds hi m, st r ai ght up

t he hi l l .

" Oh! her e you ar e at l ast , " he sai d, as he wat ched t hem. " Wel l ,

you don' t l ose your t i me now. Somebody must be af t er t hem. What ' s

he shout i ng and wavi ng hi s hand f or ? Oh, I ' m t o br i ng t he caval r y

suppor t s down t he sl ope, I suppose. Wel l , her e goes; he has

br ought of f hi s pal t he convi ct I see- -

Says he, you' ve ' scaped f r om t r anspor t at i on

Al l upon t he br i ny mai n;

So never gi ve way t o no t empt at i on,

And don' t get dr unk nor pr i g agai n!

Ther e goes t he gat e agai n. By Jove, what ' s t hat ? Dr agoons, as I ' m

a si nner ! Ther e' s goi ng t o be t he d- - - - - st bear - f i ght . "

Sayi ng whi ch, Har r y East dug hi s heel s i nt o hi s hor se' s si des,

hol di ng hi m up shar pl y wi t h t he cur b at t he same t i me, and i n

anot her moment , was at t he bot t om of t he sol i t ar y mound on whi ch

he had been per ched f or t he l ast hour , and on t he br ow of t he

l i ne of hi l l out of whi ch i t r ose so abr upt l y, j ust at t he poi nt

f or whi ch t he t wo r unner s wer e maki ng. He had onl y t i me t o gl ance

at t he pur suer s, and saw t hat one or t wo r ode st r ai ght on t he

t r ack of t he f ugi t i ves, whi l e t he r est ski r t ed away al ong a

par i sh r oad whi ch l ed up t he hi l l si de by an easi er ascent , when

Tom and hi s compani on wer e by hi s si de. Tom sei zed t he br i dl e of

t he l ed hor se, and was i n t he saddl e wi t h one spr i ng.

" Jump up behi nd, " he shout ed; " now, t hen, come al ong. "

" Who ar e t hey?" r oar ed East , - - i n t hat wi nd not hi ng but a shout

Page 358 of 443

coul d be hear d, - - poi nt i ng over hi s shoul der wi t h hi s t humb as

t hey t ur ned t o t he heat h.

" Yeomanr y. "

" Af t er you?"

Tom nodded, as t hey br oke i nt o a gal l op, maki ng st r ai ght acr oss

t he heat h t owar ds t he Oxf or d r oad. They wer e some quar t er of a

mi l e i n advance bef or e any of t hei r pur suer s showed over t he br ow

of t he hi l l behi nd t hem. I t was al r eady get t i ng dusk, and t he

gr eat bank of cl oud was by t hi s t i me al l but upon t hem, maki ng

t he at mospher e denser and dar ker ever y second. Then, f i r st one of

t he men appear ed who had r i dden st r ai ght up t he hi l l under t he

Hawk' s Lynch, and, pul l i ng up f or a moment , caught si ght of t hem

and gave chase. Hal f a mi nut e l at er , and sever al of t hose who had

kept t o t he r oad wer e al so i n si ght , some di st ance away on t he

l ef t , but st i l l near enough t o be unpl easant ; and t hey t oo af t er

a moment ' s pause, wer e i n f ul l pur sui t . At f i r st t he f ugi t i ves

hel d t hei r own, and t he di st ance bet ween t hem and t hei r pur suer s

was not l essened; but i t was cl ear t hat t hi s coul d not l ast .

Anyt hi ng t hat hor se- f l esh i s capabl e of , a r eal good Oxf or d hack,

such as t hey r ode, wi l l do; but t o car r y t wo f ul l - gr own men at

t he end of a pr et t y l ong day, away f r om f r esh hor ses and moder at e

wei ght s, i s t oo much t o expect even of Oxf or d hor se- f l esh; and

t he gal l ant beast whi ch Tom r ode was begi nni ng t o show si gns of

di st r ess when t hey st r uck i nt o t he r oad. Ther e was a sl i ght di p

i n t he gr ound a t hi s pl ace, and a l i t t l e f ur t her on t he heat h

r ose suddenl y agai n, and t he r oad r an bet ween hi gh banks f or a

shor t di st ance.

As t hey r eached t hi s poi nt t hey di sappear ed f or t he moment f r om

t he yeomanr y, and t he f or ce of t he wi nd was br oken by t he banks,

so t hat t hey coul d br eat he mor e easi l y, and hear one anot her ' s

voi ces.

Tom l ooked anxi ousl y r ound at t he l i eut enant , who shr ugged hi s

shoul der s i n answer t o t he l ook, as he bent f or war d t o ease hi s

own hor se, and sai d- -

" Can' t l ast anot her mi l e. "

" What ' s t o be done?"

East agai n shr ugged hi s shoul der s, but sai d not hi ng.

" I know, Mast er Tom, " sai d Har r y Wi nbur n.

" What ?"

" Pul l up a bi t , si r . "

Tom pul l ed up, and hi s hor se f el l i nt o a wal k wi l l i ngl y enough,

whi l e East passed on a f ew st r i des ahead. Har r y Wi nbur n spr ang

of f .

" You r i de on now, Mast er Tom, " he sai d, " I knows t he heat h wel l ;

you l et me bi de. "

" No, no, Har r y, not I . I won' t l eave you now, so l et t hem come,

and be hanged. "

East had pul l ed up, and l i st ened t o t hei r t al k.

Page 359 of 443

" Look her e, now, " he sai d t o Har r y; " put your ar m over t he hi nd

par t of hi s saddl e, and r un by t he si de; you' l l f i nd you can go

as f ast as t he hor se. Now, you t wo push on, and st r i ke acr oss t he

heat h. I ' l l keep t he r oad, and t ake of f t hi s j oker behi nd, who i s

t he onl y danger ous cust omer . "

" That ' s l i ke you, ol d boy, " sai d Tom, " t hen we' l l meet at t he

f i r st publ i c beyond t he heat h. " They passed ahead i n t hei r t ur n,

and t ur ned on t o t he heat h, Har r y r unni ng by t he si de, as t he

l i eut enant had advi sed.

East l ooked af t er t hem, and t hen put hi s hor se i nt o a st eady

t r ot , mut t er i ng,

" Li ke me! yes, devi l i sh l i ke me; I know t hat wel l enough. Di dn' t

I al ways pl ay cat ' s- paw t o hi s monkey at school ? But t hat convi ct

don' t seem such a bad l ot af t er al l . "

Meant i me, Tom and Har r y st r uck away over t he heat h, as t he

dar kness cl osed i n, and t he st or m dr ove down. They st umbl ed on

over t he char r ed f ur ze r oot s, and spl ashed t hr ough t he sl oppy

peat cut t i ngs, cast i ng anxi ous, hast y l ooks over t hei r shoul der s

as t hey f l ed, st r ai ni ng ever y ner ve t o get on, and l ongi ng f or

ni ght and t he st or m.

" Har k! wasn' t t hat a pi st ol - shot ?" sai d Tom, as t hey f l ounder ed

on. The sound came f r om t he r oad t hey had l ef t .

" Look, her e' s some on ' em, t hen, " sai d Har r y; and Tom was awar e

of t wo hor semen comi ng over t he br ow of t he hi l l on t hei r l ef t ,

some t hr ee hundr ed yar ds t o t he r ear . At t he same i nst ant hi s

hor se st umbl ed, and came down on hi s nose and knees. Tom went of f

over hi s shoul der , t umbl i ng agai nst Har r y, and sendi ng hi m

headl ong t o t he gr ound, but keepi ng hol d of t he br i dl e. They wer e

up agai n i n a moment .

" Ar e you hur t ?"

" No. "

" Come al ong, t hen, " and Tom was i n t he saddl e agai n, when t he

pur suer s r ai sed a shout . They had caught si ght of t hem now, and

spur r ed down t he sl ope t owar ds t hem. Tom was t ur ni ng hi s hor se' s

head st r ai ght away, but Har r y shout ed, - -

" Keep t o t he l ef t , Mast er Tom, - - t o t he l ef t , r i ght on. "

I t seemed l i ke r unni ng i nt o t he l i on' s j aws, but he yi el ded, and

t hey pushed on down t he sl ope on whi ch t hey wer e. Anot her shout

of t r i umph r ose on t he howl i ng wi nd; Tom' s hear t sank wi t hi n hi m.

The enemy was cl osi ng on t hem at ever y st r i de; anot her hundr ed

yar ds, and t hey must meet at t he bot t om of t he sl ope. What coul d

Har r y be dr eami ng of ? The t hought had scar cel y t i me t o cr oss hi s

br ai n, when down went t he t wo yeomen, hor se and man, f l ounder i ng

i n a bog above t hei r hor ses' gi r t hs. At t he same moment t he st or m

bur st on t hem, t he dr i vi ng mi st and pel t i ng r ai n. The chase was

over . They coul d not have seen a r egi ment of men at f i f t y yar ds'

di st ance.

" You l et me l ead t he hor se, Mast er Tom, " shout ed Har r y Wi nbur n;

" I knowed wher e t hey was goi ng; ' t wi l l t ake t hey t he best par t o'

t he ni ght t o get out o' t hat , I knows. "

" Al l r i ght , l et ' s get back t o t he r oad, t hen, as soon as we can, "

Page 360 of 443

sai d Tom, sur r ender i ng hi s hor se' s head t o Har r y, and t ur ni ng up

hi s col l ar , t o meet t he pi t i l ess del uge whi ch was dr i vi ng on

t hei r f l anks. They wer e dr enched t o t he ski n i n t wo mi nut es; Tom

j umped of f , and pl odded al ong on t he opposi t e si de of hi s hor se

t o Har r y. They di d not speak; t her e was ver y l i t t l e t o be sai d

under t he ci r cumst ances, and a gr eat deal t o be t hought about .

Har r y Wi nbur n pr obabl y knew t he heat h as wel l as any man l i vi ng,

but even he had much di f f i cul t y i n f i ndi ng hi s way back t o t he

r oad t hr ough t hat st or m. However , af t er some hal f - hour , spent i n

beat i ng about , t hey r eached i t , and t ur ned t hei r f aces nor t hwar ds

t owar ds Oxf or d. By t hi s t i me ni ght had come on; but t he f ur y of

t he st or m had passed over t hem, and t he moon began t o show ever y

now and t hen t hr ough t he dr i vi ng cl ouds. At l ast Tom r oused

hi msel f out of t he br own st udy i n whi ch he had been hi t her t o

pl oddi ng al ong, and t ur ned down hi s coat col l ar , and shook

hi msel f , and l ooked up at t he sky, and acr oss at hi s compani on,

who was st i l l l eadi ng t he hor se al ong mechani cal l y. I t was t oo

dar k t o see hi s f ace, but hi s wal k and gener al l ook wer e l i st l ess

and dogged; at l ast Tom br oke si l ence.

" You pr omi sed not t o do anyt hi ng, af t er you came out , wi t hout

speaki ng t o me. " Har r y made no r epl y; so pr esent l y he went on: - -

" I di dn' t t hi nk you' d have gone i n f or such a busi ness as t hat

t o- ni ght . I shoul dn' t have mi nded so much i f i t had onl y been

machi ne- br eaki ng; but r obbi ng t he cel l ar and st avi ng i n t he al e

casks and mai mi ng cat t l e- - "

" I ' d no hand i n t hat , " i nt er r upt ed Har r y.

" I ' m gl ad t o hear i t . You wer e cer t ai nl y l eani ng agai nst t he gat e

when I came up, and t aki ng no par t i n i t ; but you wer e one of t he

l eader s of t he r i ot . "

" He br ought i t on hi ssel f , " sai d Har r y, doggedl y. " Test er i s a

bad man, I know t hat ; and t he peopl e have much t o compl ai n of :

but not hi ng can j ust i f y what was done t o- ni ght . " Har r y made no

answer .

" You' r e known, and t hey' l l be af t er you t he f i r st t hi ng i n t he

mor ni ng. I don' t know what ' s t o be done. "

" ' Ti s ver y l i t t l e odds what happens t o me. "

" You' ve no r i ght t o say t hat , Har r y. Your f r i ends - - "

" I ai n' t got no f r i ends. "

" Wel l , Har r y, I don' t t hi nk you ought t o say t hat af t er what has

happened t o- ni ght . I don' t mean t o say t hat my f r i endshi p has

done you much good yet ; but I ' ve done what I coul d, and- - "

" So you hev' , Mast er Tom, so you hev' . "

" And I ' l l st i ck by you t hr ough t hi ck and t hi n, Har r y. But you

must t ake hear t and st i ck by your sel f , or we shal l never pul l you

t hr ough. " Har r y gr oaned, and t hen, t ur ni ng at once t o what was

al ways upper most i n hi s mi nd, sai d, - -

" ' Ti s no good, now I ' ve been i n gaol . Her f at her wur al l us agi n

me. And now, how be I ever t o hol d up my head at whoam? I seen

her once ar t er I came out . "

Page 361 of 443

" Wel l , and what happened?" sai d Tom, af t er wai t i ng a moment or

t wo.

" She j ust t ur ned r ed and pal e, and was al l f l ust er ed l i ke, and

made as t hough she' d have hel d out her hand; and t hen t uk and

hur r i ed of f l i ke a f r i ght ened har e, as t hough she heer d somebody

comi n' . Ah! ' t i s no good! ' t i s no good! "

" I don' t see anyt hi ng ver y hopel ess i n t hat , " sai d Tom.

" I ' ve knowed her si nce she wur t hat hi gh, " went on Har r y, hol di ng

out hi s hand about as hi gh as t he bot t om of hi s wai st coat ,

wi t hout not i ci ng t he i nt er r upt i on, " when her and I went gl eani n'

t oget her . ' Ti s what I ' ve t hought on, and l i ved f or . ' Ti s f our

year and bet t er si nce she and I br oke a si xpence auver ' t . And at

t i mes i t si m' d as t ho' ' t woul d al l cum r i ght , when my poor mot her

wur l i vi n' , t ho' her never t uk t o i t ki ndl y, mot her di dn' t . But

' t i s al l gone now! and I be t hat mad wi ' mysel f , and mammer ed,

and down, I be r eady t o hang mysel f , Mast er Tom; and i f t hey j ust

t eks and t r anspor t s me- - "

" Oh, nonsense, Har r y! You must keep out of t hat . We shal l t hi nk

of some way t o get you out of t hat bef or e mor ni ng. And you must

get cl ear away, and go t o wor k on t he r ai l ways or somewher e.

Ther e' s not hi ng t o be downhear t ed about as f ar as Pat t y i s

concer ned. "

" Ah! ' t i s t hey as wear s i t as knows wher e t he shoe pi nches. You' d

say di f f er ent i f ' t was you, Mast er Tom. "

" Shoul d I ?" sai d Tom; and, af t er pausi ng a moment or t wo, he went

on. " What I ' m goi ng t o say i s i n conf i dence. I ' ve never t ol d i t

t o any man yet , and onl y one has f ound i t out . Now, Har r y, I ' m

much wor se of f t han you ar e at t hi s mi nut e. Don' t I know wher e

t he shoe pi nches! Why I haven' t seen- - I ' ve scar cel y hear d

of - - of - - wel l , of my sweet hear t - - t her e, you' l l under st and

t hat - - f or t hi s year and mor e. I don' t know when I may see her

agai n. I don' t know t hat she hasn' t cl ean f or got t en me. I don' t

know t hat she ever car ed a st r aw f or me. Now you know qui t e wel l

t hat you ar e bet t er of f t han t hat . "

" I bean' t so sur e o' t hat , Mast er Tom. But I be t er r i bl e vexed t o

hear about you. "

" Never mi nd about me. You say you' r e not sur e, Har r y. Come, now,

you sai d, not t wo mi nut es ago, t hat you t wo had br oken a si xpence

over i t . What does t hat mean, now?"

" Ah! but ' t i s f our year s gone. Her ' s been a l eadi n' o' me up and

down, and a danci n' o' me r ound and r ound pur t y ni gh ever si nce,

l et al one t he t i me as she wur at Oxf or d, when- - "

" Wel l , we won' t t al k of t hat , Har r y. Come, wi l l yest er day do f or

you? I f you t hought she was al l r i ght yest er day, woul d t hat

sat i sf y you?"

" Ees; and summat t o spar e. "

" You don' t bel i eve i t , I see. Wel l , why do you t hi nk I came af t er

you t o- ni ght ? How di d I know what was goi ng on?"

" That ' s j ust what I ' ve been a- axi n' o' mysel f as we cum al ong. "

" Wel l , t hen, I ' l l t el l you. I came because I got a not e f r om her

Page 362 of 443

yest er day at Oxf or d. " Tom paused, f or he hear d a mut t er ed gr owl

f r om t he ot her si de of t he hor se' s head, and coul d see, even i n

t he f i t f ul moonl i ght , t he angr y t oss of t he head wi t h whi ch hi s

news was r ecei ved, " I di dn' t expect t hi s, Har r y, " he went on

pr esent l y, " af t er what I t ol d you j ust now about mysel f , i t was a

har d mat t er t o t el l i t at al l ; but , af t er t el l i ng you, I di dn' t

t hi nk you' d suspect me any mor e. However , per haps I ' ve deser ved

i t . So, t o go on wi t h what I was sayi ng, t wo year s ago, when I

came t o my senses about her , and bef or e I car ed f or anyone el se,

I t ol d her t o wr i t e i f ever I coul d do her a ser vi ce. Anyt hi ng

t hat a man coul d do f or hi s si st er I was bound t o do f or her , and

I t ol d her so. She never answer ed t i l l yest er day, when I got t hi s

not e, " and he di ved i nt o t he i nner br east pocket of hi s shoot i ng.

coat . " I f i t i sn' t soaked t o pul p, i t ' s i n my pocket now. Yes,

her e i t i s, " and he pr oduced a di r t y pi ece of paper , and handed

i t acr oss t o hi s compani on. " When t her e' s l i ght enough t o r ead

i t , you' l l see pl ai n enough what she means, t hough your name i s

not ment i oned. "

Havi ng f i ni shed hi s st at ement , Tom r et i r ed i nt o hi msel f , and

wal ked al ong wat chi ng t he hur r yi ng cl ouds. Af t er t hey had gone

some hundr ed yar ds, Har r y cl ear ed hi s t hr oat once or t wi ce, and

at l ast br oke out , - -

" Mast er Tom. "

" Wel l . "

" You bean' t of f ended wi ' me, si r , I hopes?"

" No, why shoul d I be of f ended?"

" ' Cause I knows I be so al l - f i r ed j eal ous, I can' t a' bear t o hear

o' her t al ki n' , l et al one wr i t i n' t o- - "

" Out wi t h i t . To me, you wer e goi ng t o say. "

" Nay, ' t i s mwor e nor t hat . "

" Al l r i ght , Har r y, i f you onl y l ump me wi t h t he r est of manki nd,

I don' t car e. But you needn' t be j eal ous of me, and you must n' t

be j eal ous of me, or I sha' n' t be abl e t o hel p you as I want t o

do. I ' l l gi ve you my hand and wor d on i t as man t o man, t her e' s

no t hought i n my hear t t owar ds her t hat you mi ght n' t see t hi s

mi nut e. Do you bel i eve me?"

" Ees; and you' l l f or gi ve- - "

" Ther e' s not hi ng t o f or gi ve, Har r y. But now you' l l al l ow your

case i sn' t such a bad one. She must keep a good l ookout af t er you

t o know what you wer e l i kel y t o be about t o- day. And i f she

di dn' t car e f or you, she woul dn' t have wr i t t en t o me. That ' s good

sense, I t hi nk. "

Har r y assent ed, and t hen Tom went i nt o a consi der at i on of what

was t o be done, and, as usual , f ai r cast l es began t o r i se i n t he

ai r . Har r y was t o st ar t down t he l i ne at once, and t ake wor k on

t he r ai l way. I n a f ew weeks he woul d be capt ai n of a gang, and

t hen what was t o hi nder hi s becomi ng a cont r act or , and maki ng hi s

f or t une, and buyi ng a f ar m of hi s own at Engl ebour n? To al l whi ch

Har r y l i st ened wi t h open ear s t i l l t hey got of f t he heat h, and

came upon a smal l haml et of some hal f - dozen cot t ages scat t er ed

al ong t he r oad.

Page 363 of 443

" Ther e' s a publ i c her e, I suppose, " sai d Tom, r et ur ni ng t o t he

damp r eal i t i es of l i f e. Har r y i ndi cat ed t he humbl e pl ace of

ent er t ai nment f or man and hor se.

" That ' s al l r i ght . I hope we shal l f i nd my f r i end her e; " and t hey

went t owar ds t he l i ght whi ch was shi ni ng t empt i ngl y t hr ough t he

l at t i ced wi ndow of t he r oad- si de i nn.

CHAPTER XLI

THE LI EUTENANT' S SENTI MENTS AND PROBLEMS

" St op! I t l ooks so br i ght t hat t her e must be somet hi ng goi ng on.

Sur el y t he yeomanr y can never have come on her e al r eady?"

Tom l ai d hi s hand on t he br i dl e, and t hey hal t ed on t he r oad

opposi t e t he publ i c- house, whi ch l ay a l i t t l e back, wi t h an open

space of gr ound bef or e i t . The si gn- post , and a l ong wat er - t r ough

f or t he hor ses of guest s t o dr i nk at , wer e pushed f or war d t o t he

si de of r oad t o i nt i mat e t he wher eabout s of t he house, and t he

hack whi ch Har r y l ed was al r eady dr i nki ng eager l y.

" St ay her e f or a mi nut e, and I ' l l go t o t he wi ndow, and see

what ' s up i nsi de. I t ' s ver y unl ucky, but i t wi l l never do f or us

t o go i n i f t her e ar e any peopl e t her e. "

Tom st ol e sof t l y up t o t he wi ndow out of whi ch t he l i ght came. A

l i t t l e scr ap of a cur t ai n was dr awn acr oss a por t i on of i t , but

he coul d see easi l y i nt o t he r oom on ei t her si de of t he cur t ai n.

The f i r st gl ance comf or t ed hi m, f or he saw at once t hat t her e was

onl y one per son i n t he ki t chen; but who and what he mi ght be was

a puzzl e. The onl y t hi ng whi ch was cl ear at a f i r st gl ance was,

t hat he was maki ng hi msel f at home.

The r oom was a moder at e- si zed ki t chen, wi t h a sanded f l oor , and a

l ar ge f i r e- pl ace; a hi gh wooden scr een, wi t h a nar r ow seat i n

f r ont of i t , r an al ong t he si de on whi ch t he door f r om t he

ent r ance- passage opened. I n t he mi ddl e t her e was a l ong r ough

wal nut t abl e, on whi ch st ood a l ar ge l oaf , some col d bacon and

cheese, and a yel l ow j ug; a f ew heavy r ush- bot t omed chai r s and a

set t l e composed t he r est of t he f ur ni t ur e. On t he wal l wer e a f ew

sampl er s, a war mi ng pan, and shel ves wi t h some common del f

pl at es, and cups and saucer s. But t hough t he f ur ni t ur e was meagr e

enough, t he ki t chen had a l ook of wondr ous comf or t f or a dr enched

mor t al out si de. Tom f el t t hi s keenl y, and, af t er a gl ance r ound,

f i xed hi s at t ent i on on t he happy occupant , wi t h t he vi ew of

ascer t ai ni ng whet her he woul d be a saf e per son t o i nt r ude on

under t he ci r cumst ances. He was seat ed on a l ow, t hr ee- cor ner ed

oak seat , wi t h hi s back t o t he wi ndow, st eadyi ng a f ur ze f agot on

t he f i r e wi t h t he poker . The f agot bl azed and cr ackl ed, and

r oar ed up t he chi mney, sendi ng out t he br i ght f l i cker i ng l i ght

whi ch had at t r act ed t hem, and f or mi ng a gl or i ous t op t o t he

gl owi ng cl ear f i r e of wood ember s beneat h, i nt o whi ch was

i nser t ed a l ong, f unnel - shaped t i n, out of whi ch t he f i gur e

hel ped hi msel f t o some war m compound, when he had set t l ed t he

f agot t o hi s sat i sf act i on. He was envel oped as t o hi s shoul der s

i n a heavy, di r t y- whi t e coat , wi t h huge cape and hi gh col l ar ,

whi ch hi d t he back of hi s head, such as was t hen i n use by

count r y car r i er s; but t he gar ment was much t oo shor t f or hi m, and

hi s bar e ar ms came out a f oot beyond t he end of t he sl eeves. The

r est of hi s cost ume was even mor e eccent r i c, bei ng not hi ng mor e

or l ess t han a coar se f l annel pet t i coat , and hi s bar e f eet r est ed

Page 364 of 443

on t he mat i n f r ont of t he f i r e.

Tom f el t a sudden doubt as t o hi s sani t y, whi ch doubt was

appar ent l y shar ed by t he wi dow woman, who kept t he house, and her

mai d- of - al l - wor k, one or ot her of whom mi ght be seen const ant l y

keepi ng an eye on t hei r guest f r om behi nd t he end of t he wooden

scr een. However , i t was no t i me t o be over par t i cul ar ; t hey must

r est bef or e goi ng f ur t her , and, af t er al l , i t was onl y one man.

So Tom t hought , and was j ust on t he poi nt of cal l i ng Har r y t o

come on, when t he f i gur e t ur ned r ound t owar ds t he wi ndow, and t he

f ace of t he l i eut enant di scl osed i t sel f bet ween t he hi gh- peaked

gi l l s of t he car r i er ' s coat . Tom bur st out i nt o a l oud l augh, and

cal l ed out , - -

" I t ' s al l r i ght , come al ong. "

" I ' l l j ust l ook t o t he hosses, Mast er Tom. "

" Ver y wel l , and t hen come i nt o t he ki t chen; " sayi ng whi ch, he

hur r i ed i nt o t he house, and af t er t umbl i ng agai nst t he

mai d- of - al l - wor k i n t he passage, emer ged f r om behi nd t he scr een.

" Wel l , her e we ar e at l ast , ol d f el l ow, " he sai d, sl appi ng East

on t he shoul der .

" Oh, i t ' s you, i s i t ? I t hought you wer e i n t he l ock - up by t hi s

t i me. "

East ' s cost ume, as he sat l ooki ng up, wi t h a hand on each knee,

was even mor e r i di cul ous on a cl ose i nspect i on, and Tom r oar ed

wi t h l aught er agai n.

" I don' t see t he j oke, " sai d East wi t hout movi ng a muscl e.

" You woul d, t hough, i f you coul d see your sel f . You wonder f ul ol d

Guy, wher e di d you pi ck up t hat t ogger y?"

" The l at e l ament ed husband of t he wi dow Hi ggs, our l andl ady, was

t he owner of t he coat . He al so bequeat hed t o her sever al pai r s of

br eeches, whi ch I have vai nl y endeavor ed t o get i nt o. The l at e

l ament ed Hi ggs was an abomi nabl y smal l man. He must have been

ver y much her wor se hal f . So, i n def aul t of ot her cl ot hi ng, t he

wi dow has ki ndl y obl i ged me by t he l oan of one of her own

gar ment s. "

" Wher e ar e your own cl ot hes?"

" Ther e, " sai d East , poi nt i ng t o a cl ot hes' hor se, whi ch Tom had

not hi t her t o r emar ked, whi ch st ood wel l i nt o t he chi mney cor ner ;

" and t hey ar e dr y, t oo, " he went on, f eel i ng t hem; " at l east t he

f l annel shi r t and t r ouser s ar e, so I ' l l get i nt o t hem agai n. "

" I say, ma' am, " he cal l ed out , addr essi ng t he scr een, " I ' m goi ng

t o change my t hi ngs. So you had bet t er not l ook i n j ust now. I n

f act , we can cal l now, i f we want anyt hi ng. "

At t hi s st r ong hi nt t he wi dow Hi ggs was hear d bust l i ng away

behi nd t he scr een, and af t er her depar t ur e East got i nt o some of

hi s own cl ot hes agai n, of f er i ng t he cast - of f gar ment s of t he

Hi ggs f ami l y t o Tom, who, however , decl i ned, cont ent i ng hi msel f

wi t h t aki ng of f hi s coat and wai st coat , and hangi ng t hem upon t he

hor se. He had been bl own compar at i vel y dr y i n t he l ast hal f - hour

of hi s wal k.

Page 365 of 443

Whi l e East was maki ng hi s t oi l et , Tom t ur ned t o t he t abl e, and

made an assaul t on t he br ead and bacon, and t hen pour ed hi msel f

out a gl ass of beer and began t o dr i nk i t , but was pul l ed up hal f

way, and put i t down wi t h a f ace al l dr awn up i nt o pucker s by i t s

shar pness.

" I t hought you woul dn' t appr eci at e t he wi dow' s t ap, " sai d East ,

wat chi ng hi m wi t h a gr i n. " Regul ar whi st l e- bel l y vengeance, and

no mi st ake! Her e, I don' t mi nd gi vi ng you some of my compound,

t hough you don' t deser ve i t . "

So Tom dr ew hi s chai r t o t he f i r e, and smacked hi s l i ps over t he

l ong- necked gl ass, whi ch East handed t o hi m.

" Ah! t hat ' s not bad t i ppl e af t er such a ducki ng as we' ve had.

Dog' s- nose, i sn' t i t ?"

East nodded.

" Wel l , ol d f el l ow, I wi l l say you ar e t he best hand I know at

maki ng t he most of your oppor t uni t i es. I don' t know of anyone

el se who coul d have made such a good br ew out of t hat st uf f and a

dr op of gi n. "

East was not t o be mol l i f i ed by any such compl i ment . " Have you

got many mor e such j obs as t o- day' s on hand? I shoul d t hi nk t hey

must i nt er f er e wi t h r eadi ng. "

" No. But I cal l t o- day' s a r eal good j ob. "

" Do you? I don' t agr ee. Of cour se i t ' s a mat t er of t ast e. I have

t he honor of hol di ng Her Maj est y' s commi ssi on; so I may be

pr ej udi ced, per haps. "

" What di f f er ence does i t make whose commi ssi on you hol d? You

woul dn' t hol d any commi ssi on, I know, whi ch woul d bi nd you t o be

a t yr ant and oppr ess t he weak and t he poor . "

" Humbug about your oppr essi ng! Who i s t he t yr ant , I shoul d l i ke

t o know, t he f ar mer , or t he mob t hat dest r oys hi s pr oper t y? I

don' t cal l Swi ng' s mob t he weak and t he poor . "

" That ' s al l ver y wel l ; but I shoul d l i ke t o know how you' d f eel

i f you had no wor k and a st ar vi ng f ami l y. You don' t know what

peopl e have t o suf f er . The onl y wonder i s t hat al l t he count r y

i sn' t i n a bl aze; and i t wi l l be i f t hi ngs l ast as t hey ar e much

l onger . I t must be a bad t i me whi ch makes such men as Har r y

Wi nbur n i nt o r i ot er s. "

" I don' t know anyt hi ng about Har r y Wi nbur n. But I know t her e' s a

good deal t o be sai d on t he yeomanr y si de of t he quest i on. "

" Wel l , now, East , j ust consi der t hi s- "

" No, I ' m not i n t he humour f or consi der i ng. I don' t want t o ar gue

wi t h you. "

" Yes, t hat ' s al ways t he way. You won' t hear what a f el l ow' s got

t o say, and t hen set hi m down f or a mi schi evous f ool , because he

won' t gi ve up bel i ef s f ounded on t he evi dence of hi s own eyes,

and ear s, and r eason. "

" I don' t quar r el wi t h any of your bel i ef s. You' ve got ' em- - I

haven' t - - t hat ' s j ust t he di f f er ence bet ween us. You' ve got some

Page 366 of 443

sor t of f ai t h t o f al l back upon, i n equal i t y, and br ot her hood,

and a l ot of cur sed nonsense of t hat ki nd. So, I dar esay, you

coul d dr op down i nt o a navi gat or , or a shoebl ack, or somet hi ng i n

t hat way, t o- mor r ow, and t hi nk i t pl easant . You mi ght r at her

enj oy a t r i p acr oss t he wat er at t he expense of your count r y,

l i ke your f r i end t he convi ct her e. "

" Don' t t al k such r ot , man. I n t he f i r st pl ace, he i sn' t a

convi ct ; you know t hat wel l enough. "

" He i s j ust out of pr i son, at any r at e. However , t hi s sor t of

t hi ng i sn' t my l i ne of count r y at al l . So t he next t i me you want

t o do a bi t of gaol del i ver y on your own hook, don' t ask me t o

hel p you. "

" Wel l , i f I had known al l t hat was goi ng t o happen, I woul dn' t

have asked you t o come, ol d f el l ow. Come, gi ve us anot her gl ass

of your dog' s- nose, and no mor e of your ser mon, whi ch i sn' t

edi f yi ng. "

The l i eut enant f i l l ed t he l ong- necked gl ass whi ch Tom hel d out ,

wi t h t he cr eami ng mi xt ur e, whi ch he was nur si ng i n t he

f unnel - shaped t i n. But he was not pr epar ed t o wai ve hi s r i ght t o

l ect ur e, and so cont i nued, whi l e Tom si pped hi s l i quor wi t h much

r el i sh, and l ooked comi cal l y acr oss at hi s ol d school f el l ow.

" Some f el l ows have a cal l t o set t he wor l d r i ght - - I haven' t . My

gr aci ous sover ei gn pays me seven and si xpence a day; f or whi ch

sum I under t ake t o be shot at on cer t ai n occasi ons and by pr oper

per sons, and I hope when t he t i me comes I shal l t ake i t as wel l

as anot her . But t hat doesn' t i ncl ude t ur ni ng out t o be pot t ed at

l i ke a woodcock on your conf ounded Ber kshi r e wi l ds by a

t ur ni p- headed yeoman. I t i sn' t t o be done at t he f i gur e. "

" What i n t he wor l d do you mean?"

" I mean j ust what I say. "

" That one of t hose unspeakabl e yeomanr y has been shoot i ng at

you?"

" Just so. "

" No, you don' t r eal l y mean i t ? Wh- e- e- w! Then t hat shot we hear d

was f i r ed at you. ' Pon my honor , I ' m ver y sor r y. "

" Much good your sor r ow woul d have done me i f your pr eci ous

count r yman had hel d st r ai ght . "

" Wel l , what can I say mor e, East ? I f t her e' s anyt hi ng I can do t o

show you t hat I r eal l y am ver y sor r y and ashamed at havi ng

br ought you i nt o such a scr ape, onl y t el l me what i t i s. "

" I don' t suppose your wor d woul d go f or much at t he Hor se Guar ds,

or I ' d ask you t o gi ve me a char act er f or cool ness under f i r e. "

" Come, I see you' r e j oki ng now, ol d f el l ow. Do t el l us how i t

happened. "

" Wel l , when you t ur ned of f acr oss t he common, I pul l ed up f or

hal f a mi nut e, and t hen hel d on at a st eady sl ow t r ot . I f I had

pushed on ahead, my f r i end behi nd woul d have been j ust as l i kel y

t o t ur n af t er you as af t er me. Pr esent l y I hear d Number One

comi ng t ear i ng al ong behi nd; and as soon as he got f r om bet ween

Page 367 of 443

t he banks, he saw me and came st r ai ght af t er me down t he r oad.

You wer e wel l away t o t he l ef t , so now I j ust cl apped on a bi t ,

t o l ead hi m f ur t her away f r om t he r i ght scent , and on he came,

whoopi ng and hal l ooi ng t o me t o pul l up. I di dn' t see why I

hadn' t j ust as good a r i ght t o r i de al ong t he r oad at my own pace

as he; so t he mor e he shout ed, t he mor e I di dn' t st op. But t he

beggar had t he l egs of me. He was mount ed on somet hi ng deuced

l i ke a t hor oughbr ed, and gai ned on me hand over hand. At l ast

when I j udged he must be about t went y yar ds behi nd, I t hought I

mi ght as wel l have a l ook at hi m, so I j ust t ur ned f or a moment ,

when, by Jove, t her e was my l or d, l uggi ng a pi st ol out of hi s

r i ght hol st er . He shout ed agai n t o me t o st op. I t ur ned, ducked

my head, and t he next moment he pul l ed t r i gger , and mi ssed me. "

" And what happened t hen, " sai d Tom, eager l y dr awi ng a l ong

br eat h.

" Why, I f l at t er mysel f I showed consi der abl e gener al shi p. I f I

had gi ven hi m t i me t o get at hi s ot her pi st ol , or hi s t oast i ng

f or k, i t was al l up. I di ved i nt o my pocket , wher e by good l uck

t her e was some l oose powder , and copper caps, and a snuf f - box;

upset t he snuf f , gr abbed a handf ul of t he mi xt ur e, and pul l ed

har d at my hor se. Next moment he was by my si de, l i f t i ng hi s

pi st ol t o knock me over . So I gave hi m t he mi xt ur e r i ght i n t he

f ace, and l et hi m go by. Up went bot h hi s hands, and away went he

and hi s hor se, somewher e over t he common out of si ght . I j ust

t ur ned r ound, and wal ked qui et l y back. I di dn' t see t he f un of

accept i ng any mor e at t acks i n t he r ear . Then up r i des Number Two,

a br oad- f aced young f ar mer on a bi g gr ay hor se, bl owi ng l i ke a

gr ampus. He pul l ed up shor t when we met , and st ar ed, and I wal ked

past hi m. You never saw a f el l ow l ook mor e puzzl ed. I had

r egul ar l y st al e- mat ed hi m. However , he t ook hear t , and shout ed,

' had I met t he Capt ai n?' I sai d, ' A gent l eman had r i dden by on a

br i ght bay. ' ' That was he; whi ch way had he gone?' So I poi nt ed

gener al l y over t he common, and Number Two depar t ed; and t hen down

came t he st or m, and I t ur ned agai n, and came on her e. "

" The Capt ai n! I t must have been Wur l ey, t hen, who f i r ed at you. "

" I don' t know who i t was. I onl y hope he won' t be bl i nded. "

" I t ' s a st r ange busi ness al t oget her , " sai d Tom, l ooki ng i nt o t he

f i r e; " I scar cel y know what t o t hi nk of i t . We shoul d never have

pul l ed t hr ough but f or you, t hat ' s cer t ai n. "

" I know what t o t hi nk of i t wel l enough, " sai d East . " But now

l et ' s hear what happened t o you. They di dn' t cat ch you, of

cour se?"

" No, but i t was t ouch and go. I t hought i t was al l up at one

t i me, f or Har r y woul d t ur n r i ght acr oss t hei r l i ne. But he knew

what he was about ; t her e was a bog bet ween us, and t hey came on

r i ght i nt o i t , and we l ef t t hem f l ounder i ng. "

" The convi ct seems t o have hi s head about hi m, t hen. Wher e i s he,

by t he way? I ' m cur i ous t o have a l ook at hi m. "

" Looki ng af t er t he hor ses. I ' l l cal l hi m i n. He ought have

somet hi ng t o dr i nk. "

Tom went t o t he door and cal l ed Har r y, who came out f r om t he

r ough shed whi ch ser ved as a st abl e, i n hi s shi r t , wi t h a wi sp of

hay i n hi s hand. He had st r i pped of f coat , and wai st coat , and

br aces, and had been war mi ng hi msel f by gi vi ng t he hor ses a good

Page 368 of 443

dr essi ng.

" Why, Har r y, you haven' t had anyt hi ng, " sai d Tom; " come acr oss

and have a gl ass of somet hi ng hot . "

Har r y f ol l owed i nt o t he ki t chen, and st ood by t he end of t he

scr een, l ooki ng r at her uncomf or t abl e, whi l e Tom pour ed hi m out a

gl ass of t he hot mi xt ur e, and t he l i eut enant l ooked hi m over wi t h

keen eyes.

" Ther e, t ake t hat of f . How ar e t he hor ses?"

" Pr et t y f r esh, Mast er Tom; but t hey' d be t he bet t er of a br an

mash, or somet hi n' cumf abl e. I ' ve spoke t o t he mi ssus about i t ,

and ' t i s r eady t o put on t he f i r e. "

" That ' s r i ght t hen. Let t hem have i t as qui ck as you can. "

" Then I med f et ch i t and war m i t up her e, si r ?" sai d Har r y.

" To be sur e; t he sooner t he bet t er . "

Har r y t ook of f hi s gl ass, maki ng a shy sor t of duck wi t h hi s

head, accompani ed by " your heal t h, si r , " t o each of hi s

ent er t ai ner s, and t hen di sappear ed i nt o t he back ki t chen,

r et ur ned wi t h t he mash, whi ch he put on t he f i r e, and went of f t o

t he st abl e agai n.

" What do you t hi nk of hi m?" sai d Tom.

" I l i ke t o see a f el l ow l et hi s br aces down when he goes t o

wor k, " sai d East .

" I t ' s not ever y f el l ow who woul d be st r appi ng away at t hose

hor ses, i nst ead of maki ng hi msel f at home i n t he back ki t chen. "

" No, i t i sn' t , " sai d East .

" Don' t you l i ke hi s l ooks now?"

" He' s not a bad sor t , your convi ct . "

" I say, I wi sh you woul dn' t cal l hi m names. "

" Ver y good; your unf or t unat e f r i end, t hen. What ar e you goi ng t o

do wi t h hi m?"

" That ' s j ust what I ' ve been puzzl i ng about al l t he way her e. What

do you t hi nk?" And t hen t hey dr ew t o t he f i r e agai n, and began t o

t al k over Har r y' s pr ospect s. I n some t en mi nut es he r et ur ned t o

t he ki t chen f or t he mash, and t hi s t i me dr ew a compl i ment ar y

r emar k f r om t he l i eut enant .

Har r y was passi onat el y f ond of ani mal s, and especi al l y of hor ses,

and t hey f ound i t out qui ckl y enough as t hey al ways do. The t wo

hacks wer e by t hi s t i me al most f r esh agai n, wi t h dr y coat s, and

f eet wel l washed and cl eansed; and whi l e wor ki ng at t hem, Har r y

had been t hi nki ng over al l he had hear d t hat eveni ng, and what

wi t h t he wor k and what wi t h hi s t hought s, f ound hi msel f get t i ng

mor e hopef ul ever y mi nut e. No one who had seen hi s f ace an hour

bef or e on t he heat h woul d have bel i eved i t was t he same man who

was now pat t i ng and f ondl i ng t he t wo hacks as t hey di sposed of

t he mash he had pr epar ed f or t hem. He l eant back agai nst t he

manger , r ubbi ng t he ear s of Tom' s hack- - t he one whi ch had car r i ed

Page 369 of 443

doubl e so wel l i n t hei r f i r st f l i ght - - gent l y wi t h hi s t wo hands,

whi l e t he del i ght ed beast bent down i t s head, and pr essed i t

agai nst hi m, and st r et ched i t s neck, expr essi ng i n al l manner of

si l ent ways i t s equi ne ast oni shment and sat i sf act i on. By t he

l i ght of t he si ngl e di p, Har r y' s f ace gr ew shor t er and shor t er ,

unt i l at l ast , a qui et humor ous l ook began t o cr eep back i nt o i t .

As we have al r eady t aken t he l i ber t y of put t i ng t he t hought s of

hi s bet t er s i nt o wor ds, we must now do so f or hi m; and, i f he had

expr essed hi s t hought s i n hi s own ver nacul ar as he r ubbed t he

hack' s ear s i n t he st abl e, hi s speech woul d have been much as

f ol l ows: - -

" How cums i t as I be al l changed l i ke, as t ho' sum un had t uk and

r ubbed al l t he downhear t edness out o' me? Her e I be, t wo days out

o' gaol , wi ' not hi n' i n t he wor l d but t he t hi ngs I st ands

i n, - - f or i n cour se I med j ust gi ve up t he bi t s o' t hi ngs as i s

l ef t at Daddy Col l i ns' s- - and t hey al l dr aggl ed wi ' t he wet - - and I

med be t uk i n t he mor ni n' and sent acr oss t he wat er ; and yet I

f eel s sum how as peer t as a yukkel . So f ur as I can see, ' t i s

j est not hi n' but t al ki n' wi ' our Mast er Tom. What a f i ne t hi ng

' t i s t o be a schol l ar d. And yet seemi n' l y ' t i s not hi n' but t al k

ar t er al l ' s sai d and done. But ' t i s al l us t he same; whenever I

get s t al ki n' wi ' he, i t al l cums out as smoot h as cr ame. Fust

t i me as ever I seen hi m si nce we wur bwys he t al ked j ust as a do

now; and t hen my poor mot her di ed. Then he come i n ar t er t he

f uner al , and t al ked me up agen, t i l l I t hought as I wur t o hev

our cot t age and al l t he l and as I coul d do good by. But our

cot t age wur t uk away, and my ' l ot ment besi des. Then cum l ast

summer , and ' t wur j ust t he same agen ar t er hi s t al k, but I got

dr ee mont hs auver t hat j ob. And now ' er e I be wi un agen,

a- r unni n' f r om t he const abl e; and l i ke t o be t uk up and

t r anspwor t ed, and ' t i s j ust t he same; and I s' pose ' t wi l l be j ust

t he same i f ever I get s back, and sees un, and t al ks wi ' un, i f I

be gwi ne t o be hung. ' Ti s a wunner f ul t hi ng t o be a schol l ar d, t o

be abl e t o make t hi ngs l ook al l st r ai ght when t hey be ever so

akker d and unked. "

And t hen Har r y l ef t of f r ubbi ng t he hor se' s ear s; and, pul l i ng

t he damp pi ece of paper , whi ch Tom had gi ven hi m, out of hi s

br eeches' pocket , pr oceeded t o f l at t en i t out t ender l y on t he

pal m of hi s hand, and r ead i t by t he l i ght of t he di p, when t he

l andl ady came t o i nf or m hi m t hat t he gent l ef ol k want ed hi m i n t he

ki t chen. So he f ol ded hi s t r easur e up agai n, and went of f t o t he

ki t chen. He f ound Tom st andi ng wi t h hi s back t o t he f i r e, whi l e

t he l i eut enant was si t t i ng at t he t abl e, wr i t i ng on a scr ap of

paper , whi ch t he l andl ady had pr oduced af t er much hunt i ng over of

dr awer s. Tom began, wi t h some l i t t l e hesi t at i on: - -

" Oh, Har r y, I ' ve been t al ki ng mat t er s over wi t h my f r i end her e,

and I ' ve changed my mi nd. I t won' t do af t er al l f or you t o st ay

about at r ai l way wor k, or anyt hi ng of t hat sor t . You see you

woul dn' t be saf e. They' d be sur e t o t r ace you, and you' d get i nt o

t r oubl e about t hi s day' s wor k. And t hen, af t er al l , i t ' s a ver y

poor openi ng f or a young f el l ow l i ke you. Now, why shoul dn' t you

enl i st i nt o Mr . East ' s r egi ment ? You' l l be i n hi s company, and

i t ' s a spl endi d pr of essi on. What do you say now?"

East l ooked up at poor Har r y, who was qui t e t aken aback at t hi s

change i n hi s pr ospect s, and coul d onl y mut t er , t hat he had never

t ur ned hi s mi nd t o " sodger i n. "

" I t ' s j ust t he t hi ng f or you, " Tom went on. " You can wr i t e and

keep account s, and you' l l get on f amousl y. Ask Mr . East i f you

Page 370 of 443

won' t . And don' t you f ear about mat t er s at home. You' l l see

t hat ' l l al l come r i ght . I ' l l pl edge you my wor d i t wi l l , and I ' l l

t ake car e t hat you shal l hear ever yt hi ng t hat goes on t her e; and,

depend upon i t , i t ' s your best chance. You' l l be back at

Engl ebour n as a ser geant i n no t i me, and be abl e t o snap your

f i nger s at t hem al l . You' l l come wi t h us t o St event on st at i on,

and t ake t he ni ght t r ai n t o London, and t hen i n t he mor ni ng go t o

Whi t ehal l , and f i nd Mr . East ' s ser geant . He' l l gi ve you a not e t o

hi m, and t hey' l l send you on t o Chat ham, wher e t he r egi ment i s.

You t hi nk i t ' s t he best t hi ng f or hi m, don' t you?" sai d Tom,

t ur ni ng t o East .

" Yes; I t hi nk you' l l do ver y wel l i f you onl y keep st eady. Her e' s

a not e t o t he ser geant , and I shal l be back at Chat ham i n a day

or t wo mysel f . "

Har r y t ook t he not e mechani cal l y; he was qui t e unabl e yet t o make

any r esi st ance.

" And now get somet hi ng t o eat as qui ck as you can, f or we ought

t o be of f . The hor ses ar e al l r i ght , I suppose?"

" Yes, Mast er Tom, " sai d Har r y, wi t h an appeal i ng l ook.

" Wher e ar e your coat and wai st coat , Har r y?"

" They be i n t he st abl e, si r . "

" I n t he st abl e! Why, t hey' r e al l wet , t hen, st i l l ?"

" Oh, ' t i s no odds about t hat , Mast er Tom. "

" No odds! Get t hem i n di r ect l y, and put t hem t o dr y her e. "

So Har r y Wi nbur n went of f t o t he st abl e t o f et ch hi s cl ot hes.

" He' s a f i ne f el l ow, " sai d East , get t i ng up and comi ng t o t he

f i r e; " I ' ve t aken qui t e a f ancy t o hi m, but he doesn' t f ancy

enl i st i ng. "

" Poor f el l ow! he has t o l eave hi s sweet hear t . I t ' s a sad

busi ness, but i t ' s t he best t hi ng f or hi m, and you' l l see he' l l

go. "

Tom was r i ght . Poor Har r y came i n and dr i ed hi s cl ot hes, and got

hi s supper ; and whi l e he was eat i ng i t , and al l al ong t he r oad

af t er war ds, t i l l t hey r eached t he st at i on at about el even

o' cl ock, pl eaded i n hi s pl ai n way wi t h Tom agai nst l eavi ng hi s

own count r y si de. And East l i st ened si l ent l y, and l i ked hi m

bet t er and bet t er .

Tom ar gued wi t h hi m gent l y, and t ur ned t he mat t er r ound on al l

si des, put t i ng t he most hopef ul f ace upon i t ; and, i n t he end,

t al ked f i r st hi msel f and t hen Har r y i nt o t he bel i ef t hat i t was

t he best t hi ng t hat coul d have happened t o hi m, and mor e l i kel y

t han any ot her cour se of act i on t o br i ng ever yt hi ng r i ght bet ween

hi m and al l t he f ol k at Engl ebour n.

So t hey got i nt o t he t r ai n at St event on i n pr et t y good hear t ,

wi t h hi s f ar e pai d, and hal f - a- sover ei gn i n hi s pocket , mor e and

mor e i mpr essed i n hi s mi nd wi t h what a wonder f ul t hi ng i t was t o

be " a schol l ar d. "

The t wo f r i ends r ode back t o Oxf or d at a good pace. They had bot h

Page 371 of 443

of t hem qui t e enough t o t hi nk about , and wer e not i n t he humour

f or t al k, had pl ace and t i me ser ved, so t hat scar ce a wor d passed

bet ween t hem t i l l t hey had l ef t t hei r hor ses at t he l i ver y

st abl es, and wer e wal ki ng t hr ough t he si l ent st r eet s, a f ew

mi nut es bef or e mi dni ght . Then East br oke si l ence.

" I can' t make out how you do i t . I ' d gi ve hal f - a- year ' s pay t o

get t he way of i t . "

" The way of what ? What an you t al ki ng about ?"

" Why, your way of shut t i ng your eyes, and goi ng i n bl i nd. "

" Wel l , t hat ' s a queer wi sh f or a f i ght i ng man, " sai d Tom,

l aughi ng. " We al ways t hought a r usher no good at school , and t hat

t he t hi ng t o l ear n was, t o go i n wi t h your own eyes open, and

shut up ot her peopl e' s. "

" Ah but we hadn' t cut our eye- t eet h t hen. I l ook at t hese t hi ngs

f r om a pr of essi onal poi nt of vi ew. My busi ness i s t o get f el l ows

t o shut t hei r eyes t i ght , and I begi n t o t hi nk you can' t do i t as

i t shoul d be done, wi t hout shut t i ng your own f i r st . "

" I don' t t ake. "

" Why, l ook at t he way you t al ked your convi ct - - I beg your

par don- - your unf or t unat e f r i end- - i nt o enl i st i ng t oni ght . You

t al ked as i f you bel i eved ever y wor d you wer e sayi ng t o hi m. "

" So I di d. "

" Wel l , I shoul d l i ke t o have you f or a r ecr ui t i ng ser geant , i f

you coul d onl y dr op t hat r adi cal bosh. I f I had had t o do i t ,

i nst ead of enl i st i ng, he woul d have gone st r ai ght of f and hung

hi msel f i n t he st abl e. "

" I ' m gl ad you di dn' t t r y your hand at i t t hen. "

" Look agai n at me. Do you t hi nk anyone but such a- - wel l I don' t

want t o say anyt hi ng unci vi l - - a headl ong dog l i ke you coul d have

got me i nt o such a busi ness as t o- day' s? Now I want t o be abl e t o

get ot her f el l ows t o make j ust such f ool s of t hemsel ves as I ' ve

made of mysel f t o- day. How do you do i t ?"

" I don' t know, unl ess i t i s t hat I can' t hel p al ways l ooki ng at

t he best si de of t hi ngs mysel f , and so- - "

" Most t hi ngs haven' t got a best si de. "

" Wel l , at t he pr et t y good si de, t hen. "

" Nor a pr et t y good one. "

" I f t hey haven' t got a pr et t y good one, i t don' t mat t er how you

l ook at t hem, I shoul d t hi nk. "

" No, I don' t bel i eve i t does- - much. St i l l , I shoul d l i ke t o be

abl e t o make a f ool of mysel f , t oo, when I want , wi t h t he vi ew of

get t i ng ot her s t o do di t t o, of cour se. "

" I wi sh I coul d hel p you, ol d f el l ow; but I don' t see my way t o

i t . "

" I shal l t al k t o our r egi ment al doct or about i t , and get put

Page 372 of 443

t hr ough a cour se of f ool ' s- di et bef or e we st ar t f or I ndi a. "

" Fl ap- doodl e, t hey cal l i t , what f ool s ar e f ed on. But i t ' s odd

t hat you shoul d have br oken out i n t hi s pl ace, when al l t he way

home I ' ve been doi ng not hi ng but envyi ng you your speci al

t al ent . "

" What ' s t hat ?"

" Just t he opposi t e one- - t he ar t of f al l i ng on your f eet . I shoul d

l i ke t o exchange wi t h you. "

" You' d make a pr eci ous bad bar gai n of i t , t hen. "

" Ther e' s t wel ve st r i ki ng. I must knock i n. Good ni ght . You' l l be

r ound t o br eakf ast at ni ne. "

" Al l r i ght . I bel i eve i n your br eakf ast s, r at her , " sai d East , as

t hey shook hands at t he gat e of St . Ambr ose, i nt o whi ch Tom

di sappear ed, whi l e t he l i eut enant st r ol l ed back t o t he " Mi t r e. "

CHAPTER XLI I

THI RD YEAR

East r et ur ned t o hi s r egi ment i n a f ew days, and at t he end of

t he mont h t he gal l ant 101st embar ked f or I ndi a. Tom wr ot e sever al

l et t er s t o t he l i eut enant , i ncl osi ng not es t o Har r y, wi t h

gl eani ngs of news f r om Engl ebour n, wher e hi s escape on t he ni ght

of t he r i ot had been a ni ne- days' wonder ; and, now t hat he was

f ai r l y " ' l i st ed, " and out of t he way, publ i c opi ni on was

begi nni ng t o t ur n i n hi s f avor . I n due cour se a l et t er ar r i ved

f r om t he l i eut enant , dat ed Cape Town, gi vi ng a pr osper ous account

of t he voyage so f ar . East di d not say much about " your convi ct , "

as he st i l l i nsi st ed on cal l i ng Har r y; but t he l i t t l e he di d say

was ver y sat i sf act or y, and Tom sent of f t hi s par t of t he l et t er

t o Kat i e, t o whom he had conf i ded t he whol e st or y, ent r eat i ng her

t o make t he best use of i t i n t he i nt er est of t he young sol di er .

And, af t er t hi s out - of - t he- way begi nni ng, he set t l ed down i nt o

t he usual r out i ne of hi s Oxf or d l i f e.

Thi s change i n hi s opi ni ons and obj ect s of i nt er est br ought hi m

now i nt o mor e i nt i mat e r el at i ons wi t h a set of whom he had, as

yet , seen l i t t l e. For want of a bet t er name, we may cal l t hem

" t he par t y of pr ogr ess. " At t hei r par t i es, i nst ead of pr act i cal

j okes, and boi st er ous mi r t h, and t al k of boat s, and bat s, and

guns, and hor ses, t he hi ghest and deepest quest i ons of mor al s,

and pol i t i cs, and met aphysi cs, wer e di scussed, and di scussed wi t h

a. f r eshness and ent husi asm whi ch i s apt t o wear of f when doi ng

has t o t ake t he pl ace of t al ki ng, but has a st r ange char m of i t s

own whi l e i t l ast s, and i s l ooked back t o wi t h l ovi ng r egr et by

t hose f or whom i t i s no l onger a possi bi l i t y.

Wi t h t hi s set Tom soon f r at er ni zed, and dr ank i n many new i deas,

and t ook t o hi msel f al so many new cr ot chet s besi des t hose wi t h

whi ch he was al r eady wei ght ed. Al most al l hi s new acquai nt ances

wer e Li ber al i n pol i t i cs, but a f ew onl y wer e r eady t o go al l

l engt hs wi t h hi m. They wer e al l Uni on men, and Tom, of cour se,

f ol l owed t he f ashi on, and soon pr opounded t heor i es i n t hat

i nst i t ut i on whi ch gai ned hi m t he name of Char t i st Br own.

Ther e was a st r ong mi xt ur e of sel f - concei t i n i t al l . He had a

Page 373 of 443

ki nd of i dea t hat he had di scover ed somet hi ng whi ch i t was

cr edi t abl e t o have di scover ed, and t hat i t was a ver y f i ne t hi ng

t o have al l t hese f eel i ngs f or , and sympat hi es wi t h, " t he

masses" , and t o bel i eve i n democr acy, and " gl or i ous humani t y, "

and " a good t i me comi ng, " and I know not what ot her bi g mat t er s.

And, al t hough i t st ar t l ed and pai ned hi m at f i r st t o hear hi msel f

cal l ed ugl y names, whi ch he had hat ed and despi sed f r om hi s yout h

up, and t o know t hat many of hi s ol d acquai nt ances l ooked upon

hi m, not si mpl y as a madman, but as a madman wi t h snobbi sh

pr ocl i vi t i es; yet , when t he f i r st pl unge was over , t her e was a

good deal on t he ot her hand whi ch t i ckl ed hi s vani t y, and was f ar

f r om bei ng unpl easant .

To do hi m j ust i ce, however , t he di sagr eeabl es wer e such t hat , had

t her e not been some genui ne bel i ef at t he bot t om, he woul d

cer t ai nl y have been headed back ver y speedi l y i nt o t he f ol d of

pol i t i cal and soci al or t hodoxy. As i t was, ami dst t he cl oud of

sophi sms, and pl at i t udes, and bi g, one- si ded i deas hal f - mast er ed,

whi ch f i l l ed hi s t hought s and over f l owed i n hi s t al k, t her e was

gr owi ng i n hi m, and t aki ng f i r mer hol d on hi m dai l y, a t r ue and

br oad sympat hy f or men as men, and especi al l y f or poor men as

poor men, and a r i ght eous and bur ni ng hat r ed agai nst al l l aws,

cust oms, or not i ons, whi ch, accor di ng t o hi s l i ght , ei t her wer e

or seemed t o be set t i ng asi de, or put t i ng anyt hi ng el se i n t he

pl ace of , or above, t he man. I t was wi t h hi m t he nat ur al

out gr owt h of t he chi l d' s and boy' s t r ai ni ng ( t hough hi s f at her

woul d have been much ast oni shed t o be t ol d so) , and t he i nst i nct s

of t hose ear l y days wer e now get t i ng r api dl y set i nt o habi t s and

f ai t hs, and becomi ng a par t of hi msel f .

I n t hi s st age of hi s l i f e, as i n so many f or mer ones, Tom got

gr eat hel p f r om hi s i nt er cour se wi t h Har dy, now t he r i si ng t ut or

of t he col l ege. Har dy was t r avel l i ng much t he same r oad hi msel f

as our her o, but was somewhat f ur t her on, and had come i nt o i t

f r om a di f f er ent count r y, and t hough qui t e ot her obst acl es. Thei r

ear l y l i ves had been ver y di f f er ent ; and, bot h by nat ur e and f r om

l ong and sever e sel f - r est r ai nt and di sci pl i ne, Har dy was much t he

l ess i mpet uous and demonst r at i ve of t he t wo. He di d not r ush out ,

t her ef or e ( as Tom was t oo much i ncl i ned t o do) , t he moment he had

sei zed hol d of t he end of a new i dea whi ch he f el t t o be good f or

_hi m_ and what _he_ want ed, and br andi sh i t i n t he f ace of al l

comer s, and t hi nk hi msel f a t r ai t or t o t he t r ut h i f he wasn' t

t r yi ng t o make ever ybody he met wi t h eat i t . Har dy, on t he

cont r ar y, woul d t est hi s new i dea, and t ur n i t over , and pr ove i t

as f ar as he coul d, and t r y t o get hol d of t he whol e of i t , and

r ut hl essl y st r i p of f any t i nsel or r ose- pi nk sent i ment wi t h whi ch

i t mi ght happen t o be mi xed up.

Of t en and of t en di d Tom suf f er under t hi s sever e met hod, and

r ebel agai nst i t , and accuse hi s f r i end, bot h t o hi s f ace and i n

hi s own secr et t hought s, of col dness, and want of f ai t h, and al l

manner of ot her si ns of omi ssi on and commi ssi on. I n t he end,

however , he gener al l y came r ound, wi t h mor e or l ess of r ebel l i on,

accor di ng t o t he sever i t y of t he t r eat ment , and acknowl edge t hat ,

when Har dy br ought hi m down f r om r i di ng t he hi gh hor se, i t was

not wi t hout good r eason, and t hat t he dust i n whi ch he was r ol l ed

was al ways most whol esome dust .

For i nst ance, t her e was no phr ase mor e f r equent l y i n t he mout hs

of t he par t y of pr ogr ess t han " t he good cause. " I t was a f i ne

bi g- soundi ng phr ase, whi ch coul d be used wi t h gr eat ef f ect i n

per or at i ons of speeches at t he Uni on, and was suf f i ci ent l y

i ndef i ni t e t o be easi l y def ended f r om or di nar y at t acks, whi l e i t

saved hi m who used i t t he t r oubl e of ascer t ai ni ng accur at el y f or

Page 374 of 443

hi msel f , or set t l i ng f or hi s hear er s, what i t r eal l y di d mean.

But , however sat i sf act or y i t mi ght be bef or e pr omi scuous

audi ences, and so l ong as vehement asser t i on or decl ar at i on was

al l t hat was r equi r ed t o uphol d i t , t hi s same " good cause" was

l i abl e t o come t o much gr i ef when i t had t o get i t sel f def i ned.

Har dy was par t i cul ar l y gi ven t o per secut i on on t hi s subj ect , when

he coul d get Tom, and, per haps, one or t wo ot her s, i n a qui et

r oom by t hemsel ves. Whi l e pr of essi ng t he ut most sympat hy f or " t he

good cause, " and a hope as st r ong as t hei r s t hat al l i t s enemi es

mi ght f i nd t hemsel ves suspended t o l amp- post s as soon as

possi bl e, he woul d pur sue i t i nt o cor ner s f r om whi ch escape was

most di f f i cul t , aski ng i t and i t s suppor t er s what i t exact l y was,

and dr i vi ng t hem f r om one cl oud- l and t o anot her , and f r om " t he

good cause" t o t he " peopl e' s cause, " t he " cause of l abor , " and

ot her l i ke t r oubl esome def i ni t i ons, unt i l t he gr eat i dea seemed

t o have no shape or exi st ence any l onger even i n t hei r own

br ai ns.

But Har dy' s per secut i on, pr ovoki ng as i t was f or t he t i me, never

went t o t he under mi ni ng of any r eal convi ct i on i n t he mi nds of

hi s j uni or s, or t he shaki ng of anyt hi ng whi ch di d not need

shaki ng, but onl y hel ped t hem t o cl ear t hei r i deas and br ai ns as

t o what t hey wer e t al ki ng and t hi nki ng about , and gave t hem

gl i mpses- - soon cl ouded over agai n, but most usef ul ,

never t hel ess- - of t he t r ut h; t hat t her e wer e a good many knot t y

quest i ons t o be sol ved bef or e a man coul d be qui t e sur e t hat he

had f ound out t he way t o set t he wor l d t hor oughl y t o r i ght s, and

heal al l t he i l l s t hat f l esh i s hei r t o.

Har dy t r eat ed anot her of hi s f r i end' s most f avor i t e not i ons even

wi t h l ess r espect t han t hi s one of " t he good cause. " Democr acy,

t hat " uni ver sal democr acy, " whi ch t hei r f avour i t e aut hor had

r ecent l y decl ar ed t o be " an i nevi t abl e f act of t he days i n whi ch

we l i ve" , was, per haps, on t he whol e, t he pet i dea of t he smal l

sect i on of l i ber al young Oxf or d, wi t h whom Tom was now hand and

gl ove. They l ost no oppor t uni t y of wor shi ppi ng i t , and doi ng

bat t l e f or i t ; and, i ndeed, most of t hem di d ver y t r ul y bel i eve

t hat t hat st at e of t he wor l d whi ch t hi s uni ver sal democr acy was

t o br i ng about , and whi ch was comi ng no man coul d say how soon,

was t o be i n f act t hat age of peace and good- wi l l whi ch men had

dr eamt of i n al l t i mes, when t he l i on shoul d l i e down wi t h t he

ki d, and nat i on shoul d not vex nat i on any mor e.

Af t er hear i ng somet hi ng t o t hi s ef f ect f r om Tom on sever al

occasi ons, Har dy cunni ngl y l ur ed hi m t o hi s r ooms on t he pr et ence

of t al ki ng over t he pr ospect s of t he boat cl ub, and t hen, havi ng

seat ed hi m by t he f i r e, whi ch he hi msel f pr oceeded t o assaul t

gent l y wi t h t he poker , pr opounded suddenl y t o hi m t he quest i on,

" Br own, I shoul d l i ke t o know what you mean by ' democr acy' ?"

Tom at once saw t he t r ap i nt o whi ch he had f al l en, and made

sever al ef f or t s t o br eak away, but unsuccessf ul l y; and, bei ng

seat ed t o a cup of t ea, and al l owed t o smoke, was t hen and t her e

gr i evousl y oppr essed, and mangl ed, and sat upon, by hi s ol dest

and best f r i end. He t ook hi s gr ound car ef ul l y, and pr opounded

onl y what he f el t sur e t hat Har dy hi msel f woul d at once

accept - - what no man of any wor t h coul d possi bl y t ake except i on

t o. " He meant much mor e, " he sai d, " t han t hi s; but f or t he

pr esent pur pose i t woul d be enough f or hi m t o say t hat , what ever

el se i t mi ght mean, democr acy i n hi s mout h al ways meant t hat

ever y man shoul d have a shar e i n t he gover nment of hi s count r y. "

Har dy, seemi ng t o acqui esce, and maki ng a sudden change i n t he

Page 375 of 443

subj ect of t hei r t al k, decoyed hi s i nnocent guest away f r om t he

t hought of democr acy f or a f ew mi nut es, by hol di ng up t o hi m t he

f l ag of her o- wor shi p, i n whi ch wor shi p Tom was, of cour se, a

sedul ous bel i ever . Then, havi ng i nvol ved hi m i n most di f f i cul t

count r y, hi s per secut or opened f i r e upon hi m f r om masked

bat t er i es of t he most deadl y ki nd, t he guns bei ng al l f r om t he

ar mor y of hi s own pr ophet s.

" You l ong f or t he r ul e of t he abl est man, ever ywher e, at al l

t i mes? To f i nd your abl est man, and t hen gi ve hi m power , and obey

hi m- - t hat you hol d t o be about t he hi ghest act of wi sdom whi ch a

nat i on can be capabl e of ?"

" Yes; and you know you bel i eve t hat t o, Har dy, j ust as f i r ml y as

I do. "

" I hope so. But t hen, how about our uni ver sal democr acy, and

ever y man havi ng a shar e i n t he gover nment of hi s count r y?"

Tom f el t t hat hi s f l ank was t ur ned; i n f act , t he cont r ast of hi s

t wo bel i ef s had never st r uck hi m vi vi dl y bef or e, and he was

consequent l y much conf used. But Har dy went on t appi ng a bi g coal

gent l y wi t h t he poker , and gave hi m t i me t o r ecover hi msel f and

col l ect hi s t hought s.

" I don' t mean, of cour se, t hat ever y man i s t o have an act ual

shar e i n t he gover nment , " he sai d at l ast .

" But ever y man i s somehow t o have a shar e; and, i f not an act ual

one, I can' t see what t he pr oposi t i on comes t o. "

" I cal l i t havi ng a shar e i n t he gover nment when a man has shar e

i n sayi ng who shal l gover n hi m. "

" Wel l , you' l l own t hat ' s a ver y di f f er ent t hi ng. But l et ' s see;

wi l l t hat f i nd our wi sest gover nor f or us- - l et t i ng al l t he most

f ool i sh men i n t he nat i on have a say as t o who he i s t o be?"

" Come now, Har dy, I ' ve hear d you say t hat you ar e f or manhood

suf f r age. "

" That ' s anot her quest i on; you l et i n anot her i dea t her e. At

pr esent we ar e consi der i ng whet her t he _vox popul i _ i s t he best

t est f or f i ndi ng your best man. I ' m af r ai d al l hi st or y i s agai nst

you. "

" That ' s a good j oke. Now, t her e I def y you, Har dy. "

" Begi n at t he begi nni ng, t hen, and l et us see. "

" I suppose you' l l say, t hen, t hat t he Egypt i an and Babyl oni an

empi r es wer e bet t er t han t he l i t t l e Jewi sh r epubl i c. "

" Republ i c! wel l , l et t hat pass. But I never hear d t hat t he Jews

el ect ed Moses, or any of t he j udges. "

" Wel l , never mi nd t he Jews; t hey' r e an except i onal case; you

can' t ar gue f r om t hem. "

" I don' t admi t t hat . I bel i eve j ust t he cont r ar y. But go on. "

" Wel l , t hen, what do you say t o t he gl or i ous Gr eek r epubl i cs,

wi t h At hens at t he head of t hem?"

Page 376 of 443

" I say t hat no nat i on ever t r eat ed t hei r best men so badl y. I see

I must put on a l ect ur e i n Ar i st ophanes f or your speci al benef i t .

Vai n, i r r i t abl e, shal l ow, suspi ci ous ol d Demus, wi t h hi s t wo

obol i i n hi s cheek, and doubt i ng onl y bet ween Cl eon and t he

sausage- sel l er , whi ch he shal l choose f or hi s wi sest man- - not t o

gover n, but t o ser ve hi s whi ms and capr i ces. You must cal l

anot her wi t ness, I t hi nk. "

" But t hat ' s a car i cat ur e. "

" Take t he pi ct ur e, t hen, out of Thucydi des, Pl at o, Xenophon, how

you wi l l - - you won' t mend t he mat t er much. You shoul dn' t go so

f ast , Br own; you won' t mi nd my sayi ng so, I know. You don' t get

cl ear i n your own mi nd bef or e you pi t ch i nt o ever yone who comes

acr oss you, and so do your own si de ( whi ch I admi t i s most l y t he

r i ght one) mor e har m t han good. "

Tom coul dn' t st and bei ng put down so summar i l y, and f ought over

t he gr ound f r om one count r y t o anot her , f r om Rome t o t he Uni t ed

St at es, wi t h al l t he ar gument s he coul d must er , but wi t h l i t t l e

success. That unf or t unat e f i r st admi ssi on of hi s, he f el t i t

t hr oughout , l i ke a mi l l st one r ound hi s neck, and coul d not hel p

admi t t i ng t o hi msel f , when he l ef t , t hat t her e was a good deal i n

Har dy' s concl udi ng r emar k, - - " You' l l f i nd i t r at her a t ough

busi ness t o get your ' uni ver sal democr acy' and ' gover nment by t he

wi sest ' t o pul l t oget her i n one coach. "

Not wi t hst andi ng al l such occasi onal r ever ses and col d bat hs,

however , Tom went on st r engt heni ng hi msel f i n hi s new opi ni ons,

and mai nt ai ni ng t hem wi t h al l t he zeal of a conver t . The shel ves

of hi s bookcase, and t he wal l s of hi s r oom, soon began t o show

si gns of t he change whi ch was t aki ng pl ace i n hi s ways of l ooki ng

at men and t hi ngs. Hi t her t o a f r amed engr avi ng of Geor ge I I I had

hung over hi s mant l e- pi ece; but ear l y i n t hi s, hi s t hi r d year ,

t he f r ame had di sappear ed f or a f ew days, and when i t r eappear ed,

t he sol emn f ace of John Mi l t on l ooked out f r om i t , whi l e t he

honest monar ch had r et i r ed i nt o a por t f ol i o. A f acsi mi l e of Magna

Char t a soon di spl aced a l ar ge col or ed pr i nt of " A Day Wi t h t he

Pychel ey" , and soon af t er war ds t he deat h war r ant of Char l es I .

wi t h i t s gr i m and r esol ut e r ows of si gnat ur es and seal s, appear ed

on t he wal l i n a pl ace of honour , i n t he nei ghbour hood of Mi l t on.

Squi r e Br own was passi ng t hr ough Oxf or d, and pai d hi s son a vi si t

soon af t er t hi s l ast ar r angement had been compl et ed. He di ned i n

hal l , at t he hi gh t abl e, bei ng st i l l a member of t he col l ege, and

af t er war ds came wi t h Har dy t o Tom' s r ooms t o have a qui et gl ass

of wi ne, and spend t he eveni ng wi t h hi s son and a f ew of hi s

f r i ends, who had been asked t o meet " t he gover nor . "

Tom had a st r uggl e wi t h hi msel f whet her he shoul d not r emove t he

deat h- war r ant i nt o hi s bedr oom f or t he eveni ng, and had act ual l y

t aken i f down wi t h t hi s vi ew; but i n t he end he coul d not st omach

such a backsl i di ng, and so r est or ed i t t o i t s pl ace. " I have

never conceal ed my opi ni ons f r om my f at her , " he t hought , " t hough

I don' t t hi nk he qui t e knows what t hey ar e. But i f he doesn' t , he

ought , and t he sooner t he bet t er . I shoul d be a sneak t o t r y t o

hi de t hem. I know he won' t l i ke i t , but he i s al ways j ust and

f ai r , and wi l l make al l owances. At any r at e, up i t goes agai n. "

And so he r e- hung t he deat h- war r ant , but wi t h t he devout secr et

hope t hat hi s f at her mi ght not see i t .

The wi ne- par t y went of f admi r abl y. The men wer e ni ce,

gent l emanl y, i nt el l i gent f el l ows; and t he Squi r e, who had been

Page 377 of 443

car ef ul l y pl ant ed by Tom wi t h hi s back t o t he deat h- war r ant ,

enj oyed hi msel f ver y much. At l ast t hey al l went , except Har dy;

and now t he ner vous t i me appr oached. For a shor t t i me l onger t he

t hr ee sat at t he wi ne- t abl e whi l e t he squi r e enl ar ged upon t he

gr eat i mpr ovement i n young men, and t he habi t s of t he Uni ver si t y,

especi al l y i n t he mat t er of dr i nki ng. Tom had onl y opened t hr ee

bot t l es of por t . I n hi s t i me t he men woul d have dr unk cer t ai nl y

not l ess t han a bot t l e a man; and ot her l i ke r emar ks he made, as

he si pped hi s cof f ee, and t hen, pushi ng back hi s chai r , sai d,

" Wel l , Tom, hadn' t your ser vant bet t er cl ear away, and t hen we

can dr aw r ound t he f i r e, and have a t al k. "

" Woul dn' t you l i ke t o t ake a t ur n whi l e he i s cl ear i ng? Ther e' s

t he Mar t yr ' s Memor i al you haven' t seen. "

" No, t hank you. I know t he pl ace wel l enough. I don' t come t o

wal k about i n t he dar k. We sha' n' t be i n your man' s way. "

And so Tom' s scout came i n t o cl ear away, t ook out t he ext r a

l eaves of t he t abl e, put on t he cl ot h, and l ai d t ea. Dur i ng t hese

oper at i ons Mr . Br own was st andi ng wi t h hi s back t o t he f i r e,

l ooki ng about hi m as he t al ked. When t her e was mor e space t o move

i n, he began t o wal k up and down, and ver y soon t ook t o r emar ki ng

t he f ur ni t ur e and ar r angement s of t he r oom. One af t er t he ot her

t he pi ct ur es came under hi s not i ce. Most of t hem escaped wi t hout

comment , t he Squi r e si mpl y pausi ng a moment , and t hen t aki ng up

hi s wal k agai n. Magna Char t a dr ew f or t h hi s hear t y appr oval . I t

was a capi t al not i on t o hang such t hi ngs on hi s wal l s, i nst ead of

bad pr i nt s of st eepl e- chases, or t r ash of t hat sor t . " Ah, her e' s

somet hi ng el se of t he same ki nd. Why, Tom, what ' s t hi s?" sai d t he

squi r e, as he paused bef or e t he deat h- war r ant . Ther e was a moment

or t wo of dead si l ence, whi l e t he Squi r e' s eyes r an down t he

names, f r om Jo. Br adshaw t o Mi l es Cor bet ; and t hen he t ur ned, and

came and sat down opposi t e t o hi s son. Tom expect ed hi s f at her t o

be vexed, but was not t he l east pr epar ed f or t he t one of pai n,

and sor r ow, and anger , i n whi ch he f i r st i nqui r ed, and t hen

r emonst r at ed.

For some t i me past t he Squi r e and hi s son had not f el t so

comf or t abl e t oget her as of ol d. Mr . Br own had been annoyed by

much t hat Tom had done i n t he case of Har r y Wi nbur n, t hough he

di d not know al l . Ther e had spr ung up a bar r i er somehow or ot her

bet ween t hem, nei t her of t hem knew how. They had of t en f el t

embar r assed at bei ng l ef t al one t oget her dur i ng t he past year ,

and f ound t hat t her e wer e cer t ai n t opi cs whi ch t hey coul d not

t al k upon, whi ch t hey avoi ded by mut ual consent . Ever y now and

t hen t he const r ai nt and embar r assment f el l of f f or a shor t t i me,

f or at bot t om t hey l oved and appr eci at ed one anot her hear t i l y;

but t he di ver gences i n t hei r t hought s and habi t s had become ver y

ser i ous, and seemed l i kel y t o i ncr ease r at her t han not . They f el t

keenl y t he chasm bet ween t he t wo gener at i ons. As t hey l ooked at

one anot her f r om opposi t e banks, each i n hi s secr et hear t bl amed

t he ot her i n gr eat measur e f or t hat whi ch was t he f aul t of

nei t her . Mi xed wi t h t he l ongi ngs whi ch each f el t f or a bet t er

under st andi ng was enough of r eser ve and i ndi gnat i on t o pr event

t hem f r om comi ng t o i t . The di scover y of t hei r di f f er ences was

t oo r ecent , and t hey wer e t oo much al i ke i n char act er and t emper ,

f or ei t her t o make l ar ge enough al l owance f or , or t o be r eal l y

t ol er ant of , t he ot her .

Thi s was t he f i r st occasi on on whi ch t hey had come t o out spoken

and ser i ous di f f er ence; and t hough t he col l i si on had been

exceedi ngl y pai nf ul t o bot h, yet when t hey par t ed f or t he ni ght ,

i t was wi t h a f eel i ng of r el i ef t hat t he i ce had been t hor oughl y

Page 378 of 443

br oken. Bef or e hi s f at her l ef t t he r oom, Tom had t or n t he

f acsi mi l e of t he deat h- war r ant out of i t s f r ame, and put i t i n

t he f i r e, pr ot est i ng, however , at t he same t i me, t hat , t hough " he

di d t hi st out of def er ence t o hi s f at her , and was deepl y gr i eved

at havi ng gi ven hi m pai n, he coul d not and woul d not gi ve up hi s

convi ct i ons, or pr et end t hat t hey wer e changed, or even shaken. "

The Squi r e wal ked back t o hi s hot el deepl y moved. Who can wonder ?

He was a man f ul l of l i vi ng and vehement convi ct i ons. One of hi s

ear l y r ecol l ect i ons had been t he ar r i val i n Engl and of t he news

of t he beheadi ng of Loui s XVI , and t he doi ngs of t he Rei gn of

Ter r or . He had been br ed i n t he t i mes when i t was hel d i mpossi bl e

f or a gent l eman or a Chr i st i an t o hol d such vi ews as hi s son had

been mai nt ai ni ng, and, l i ke many of t he nobl est Engl i shmen of hi s

t i me, had gone wi t h and accept ed t he cr eed of t he day.

Tom r emai ned behi nd, dej ect ed and mel anchol y; now accusi ng hi s

f at her of i nj ust i ce and bi got r y, now l ongi ng t o go af t er hi m, and

gi ve up ever yt hi ng. What wer e al l hi s opi ni ons and convi ct i ons

compar ed wi t h hi s f at her ' s conf i dence and l ove? At br eakf ast t he

next mor ni ng, however , af t er each of t hem had had t i me f or

t hi nki ng over what had passed, t hey met wi t h a cor di al i t y whi ch

was as pl easant t o each as i t was unl ooked f or ; and f r om t hi s

vi si t of hi s f at her t o hi m at Oxf or d, Tom dat ed a new and mor e

sat i sf act or y epoch i n t hei r i nt er cour se.

The f act had begun t o dawn on t he Squi r e t hat t he wor l d had

changed a good deal si nce hi s t i me. He saw t hat young men wer e

much i mpr oved i n some ways, and acknowl edged t he f act hear t i l y;

on t he ot her hand, t hey had t aken up wi t h a l ot of new not i ons

whi ch he coul d not under st and, and t hought mi schi evous and bad.

Per haps Tom mi ght get over t hem as he got t o be ol der and wi ser ,

and i n t he meant i me he must t ake t he evi l wi t h t he good. At any

r at e he was t oo f ai r a man t o t r y t o dr agoon hi s son out of

anyt hi ng whi ch he r eal l y bel i eved. Tom on hi s par t gr at ef ul l y

accept ed t he change i n hi s f at her ' s manner , and t ook al l means of

showi ng hi s gr at i t ude by consul t i ng and t al ki ng f r eel y t o hi m on

such subj ect s as t hey coul d agr ee upon, whi ch wer e numer ous,

keepi ng i n t he back- gr ound t he quest i ons whi ch had pr ovoked

pai nf ul di scussi ons bet ween t hem. By degr ees t hese even coul d be

t ender l y appr oached; and, now t hat t hey wer e appr oached i n a

di f f er ent spi r i t , t he honest bel i ef s of t he f at her and son no

l onger l ooked so monst r ous t o one anot her , t he har d and shar p

out l i nes began t o wear of f , and t he vi ews of each of t hem t o be

modi f i ed. Thus, bi t by bi t , by a sl ow but sur e pr ocess, a bet t er

under st andi ng t han ever was r e- est abl i shed bet ween t hem.

Thi s begi nni ng of a bet t er st at e of t hi ngs i n hi s r el at i ons wi t h

hi s f at her consol ed Tom f or many ot her mat t er s t hat seemed t o go

wr ong wi t h hi m, and was a const ant bi t of br i ght sky t o t ur n t o

when t he r est of hi s hor i zon l ooked dar k and dr ear y, as i t di d

of t en enough.

For i t pr oved a ver y t r yi ng year t o hi m, t hi s hi s t hi r d and l ast

year at t he Uni ver si t y; a year f ul l of l ar ge dr eams and smal l

per f or mances, of unf ul f i l l ed hopes and st r uggl es t o set hi msel f

r i ght , endi ng ever mor e sur el y i n f ai l ur e and di sappoi nt ment . The

common pur sui t s of t he pl ace had l ost t hei r f r eshness, and wi t h

i t much of t hei r char m. He was begi nni ng t o f eel hi msel f i n a

cage, and t o beat agai nst t he bar s of i t .

Of t en, i n spi t e of al l hi s nat ur al hopef ul ness, hi s hear t seemed

t o si cken and t ur n col d, wi t hout any appar ent r eason; hi s ol d

pur sui t s pal l ed on hi m, and he scar cel y car ed t o t ur n t o new

Page 379 of 443

ones. What was i t t hat made l i f e so bl ank t o hi m at t hese t i mes?

How was i t t hat he coul d not keep t he spi r i t wi t hi n hi m al i ve and

war m?

I t was easi er t o ask such quest i ons t han t o get an answer . Was i t

not t hi s pl ace he was l i vi ng i n and t he ways of i t ? No, f or t he

pl ace and i t s ways wer e t he same as ever , and hi s own way of l i f e

i n i t bet t er t han ever bef or e. Was i t t he want of si ght or

t i di ngs of Mar y? Somet i mes he t hought so, and t hen cast t he

t hought away as t r eason. Hi s l ove f or her was ever si nki ng deeper

i nt o hi m, and r ai si ng and pur i f yi ng hi m. Li ght and st r engt h and

l i f e came f r om t hat sour ce; cr aven wear i ness and col dness of

hear t , come f r om whence t hey mi ght , wer e not f r om t hat quar t er .

But pr eci ous as hi s l ove was t o hi m, and deepl y as i t af f ect ed

hi s whol e l i f e, he f el t t hat t her e must be somet hi ng beyond

i t - - t hat i t s f ul l sat i sf act i on woul d not be enough f or hi m. The

bed was t oo nar r ow f or a man t o st r et ch hi msel f on. What he was

i n sear ch of must under l i e and embr ace hi s human l ove, and

suppor t i t . Beyond and above al l pr i vat e and per sonal desi r es and

hopes and l ongi ngs, he was consci ous of a r est l ess cr avi ng and

f eel i ng about af t er somet hi ng, whi ch he coul d not gr asp, and yet

whi ch was not avoi di ng hi m, whi ch seemed t o be myst er i ousl y

l ayi ng hol d of hi m and sur r oundi ng hi m.

The r out i ne of chapel s, and l ect ur es, and r eadi ng f or degr ee,

boat i ng, cr i cket i ng, Uni on- debat i ng, - - al l wel l enough i n t hei r

way- - l ef t t hi s vacuum unf i l l ed. Ther e was a gr eat out er vi si bl e

wor l d, t he pr obl ems and puzzl es of whi ch wer e r i si ng bef or e hi m

and haunt i ng hi m mor e and mor e; and a gr eat i nner and i nvi si bl e

wor l d openi ng r ound hi m i n awf ul dept h. He seemed t o be st andi ng

on t he br i nk of each- - now shi ver i ng and hel pl ess, f eel i ng l i ke an

at om about t o be whi r l ed i nt o t he gr eat f l ood and car r i ed he knew

not wher e- - now r eady t o pl unge i n and t ake hi s par t , f ul l of hope

and bel i ef t hat he was meant t o buf f et i n t he st r engt h of a man

wi t h t he seen and t he unseen, and t o be subdued by nei t her .

I n such a year as t hi s, a bi t of st eady, br i ght bl ue sky was a

boon beyond al l pr i ce, and so he f el t i t t o be. And i t was not

onl y wi t h hi s f at her t hat Tom r egai ned l ost gr ound i n t hi s year .

He was i n a st at e of mi nd i n whi ch he coul d not bear t o negl ect

or l ose any par t i cl e of human sympat hy, and so he t ur ned t o ol d

f r i endshi ps, and r evi ved t he cor r espondence wi t h sever al of hi s

ol d school - f el l ows, and par t i cul ar l y wi t h Ar t hur , t o t he gr eat

del i ght of t he l at t er , who had mour ned bi t t er l y over t he f ew

hal f - year l y l i nes, al l he had got f r om Tom of l at e, i n answer t o

hi s own l et t er s, whi ch had t hemsel ves, under t he wei ght of

negl ect , gr adual l y dwi ndl ed down t o mer e f or mal mat t er s. A

speci men of t he l at er cor r espondence may f i t l y cl ose t he

chapt er : - -

ST. AMBROSE

" Dear Geor di e- - I can har dl y par don you f or havi ng gone t o

Cambr i dge, t hough you have got a Tr i ni t y schol ar shi p- - whi ch I

suppose i s, on t he whol e, qui t e as good a t hi ng as anyt hi ng of

t he sor t you coul d have got up her e. I had so l ooked f or war d t o

havi ng you her e t hough, and now I f eel t hat we shal l pr obabl y

scar cel y ever meet . You wi l l go your way and I mi ne; and one

al t er s so qui ckl y, and get s i nt o such st r ange new gr ooves, t hat

unl ess one sees a man about once a week at l east , you may be j ust

l i ke st r anger s when you ar e t hr own t oget her agai n. I f you had

come up her e i t woul d have been al l r i ght , and we shoul d have

gone al l t hr ough l i f e as we wer e when I l ef t school , and as I

Page 380 of 443

know we shoul d be agai n i n no t i me i f you had come her e. But now,

who can t el l ?

" What makes me t hi nk so much of t hi s i s a vi si t of a f ew days

t hat East pai d me j ust bef or e hi s r egi ment went t o I ndi a. I f eel

t hat i f he hadn' t done i t , and we had not met t i l l he came

back- - year s hence per haps- - we shoul d never have been t o one

anot her what we shal l be now. The br eak woul d have been t oo

gr eat . Now i t ' s al l r i ght . You woul d have l i ked t o see t he ol d

f el l ow gr own i nt o a man, but not a bi t al t er ed- - j ust t he qui et ,

ol d way, pooh- poohi ng you, and pr et endi ng t o car e f or not hi ng,

but r eady t o cut t he nose of f hi s f ace, or go t hr ough f i r e and

wat er f or you at a pi nch, i f you' l l onl y l et hi m go hi s own way

about i t , and have hi s gr umbl e, and say t hat he does i t al l f r om

t he wor st possi bl e mot i ves.

" But we must t r y not t o l ose hol d of one anot her , Geor di e. I t

woul d be a bi t t er day t o me i f I t hought anyt hi ng of t he ki nd

coul d ever happen agai n. We must wr i t e mor e t o one anot her . I ' ve

been awf ul l y l azy, I know, about i t f or t hi s l ast year and mor e;

but t hen I al ways t hought you woul d be comi ng up her e, and so

t hat i t di dn' t mat t er much. But now I wi l l t ur n over a new l eaf ,

and wr i t e t o you about my secr et t hought s, my wor ks and ways; and

you must do i t t oo. I f we can onl y t i de over t he next year or t wo

we shal l get i nt o pl ai n sai l i ng, and I suppose i t wi l l al l r i ght

t hen. At l east , I can' t bel i eve t hat one i s l i kel y t o have many

such up- and- down year s i n one' s l i f e as t he l ast t wo. I f one i s,

goodness knows wher e I shal l end. You know t he out l i ne of what

has happened t o me f r om my l et t er s, and t he t al ks we have had i n

my f l yi ng vi si t s t o t he ol d school , but you haven' t a not i on of

t he t r oubl es of mi nd I ' ve been i n, and t he changes I ' ve gone

t hr ough. I can har dl y bel i eve i t mysel f when I l ook back. However

I ' m qui t e sur e I have _got on_; t hat ' s my gr eat comf or t . I t i s a

st r ange bl i nd sor t of wor l d, t hat ' s a f act , wi t h l ot s of bl i nd

al l eys, down whi ch you go bl under i ng i n t he f og af t er some seedy

gasl i ght , whi ch you t ake f or t he sun t i l l you r un agai nst t he

wal l at t he end, and f i nd out t hat t he l i ght i s a gasl i ght , and

t hat t her e' s no t hor oughf ar e. But f or al l t hat one does get on.

You get t o know t he sun' s l i ght bet t er and bet t er , and t o keep

out of t he bl i nd al l eys; and I am sur er and sur er ever y day, t hat

t her e' s al ways sunl i ght enough f or ever y honest f el l ow- - t hough I

di dn' t t hi nk so a f ew mont hs back- - and a good sound r oad under

hi s f eet , i f he wi l l onl y st ep out on i t .

" Tal ki ng of bl i nd al l eys put s me i n mi nd of your l ast . Ar en' t you

goi ng down a bl i nd al l ey, or somet hi ng wor se? Ther e' s no wal l t o

br i ng you up, t hat I can see down t he t ur n you' ve t aken; and

t hen, what ' s t he pr act i cal use of i t al l ? What good woul d you do

t o your sel f , or anyone el se, i f you coul d get t o t he end of i t ? I

can' t f or t he l i f e of me f ancy, I conf ess, what you t hi nk wi l l

come of specul at i ng about necessi t y and f r ee wi l l . I onl y know

t hat I can hol d out my hand bef or e me, and can move i t t o t he

r i ght or l ef t , despi t e of al l t he power s i n heaven or ear t h. As I

si t her e wr i t i ng t o you, I can l et i nt o my hear t , and gi ve t he

r ei ns t o, al l sor t s of devi l ' s passi ons, or t o t he Spi r i t of God.

Wel l , t hat ' s enough f or me. I _know_ i t of mysel f , and I bel i eve

you know i t of your sel f , and ever ybody knows i t of t hemsel ves or

hi msel f ; and why you can' t be sat i sf i ed wi t h t hat , passes my

compr ehensi on. As i f one hasn' t got puzzl es enough, and bot her s

enough, under one' s nose, wi t hout goi ng a- f i el d af t er a l ot of

met aphysi cal qui bbl es. No, I ' m wr ong, - - not goi ng

a- f i el d, - - anyt hi ng one has t o go a- f i el d f or i s al l r i ght . What a

f el l ow meet s out si de hi msel f he i sn' t r esponsi bl e f or , and must

do t he best he can wi t h. But t o go on f or ever l ooki ng i nsi de of

Page 381 of 443

one' s sel f , and gr opi ng about amongst one' s own sensat i ons, and

i deas, and whi msi es of one ki nd and anot her , I can' t concei ve a

poor er l i ne of busi ness t han t hat . Don' t you get i nt o i t now,

t hat ' s a dear boy.

" Ver y l i kel y you' l l t el l me you can' t hel p i t ; t hat ever y one has

hi s own di f f i cul t i es, and must f i ght t hem out , and t hat mi ne ar e

one sor t , and your s anot her . Wel l , per haps you may be r i ght . I

hope I ' m get t i ng t o know t hat my pl ummet i sn' t t o measur e al l t he

wor l d. But i t does seem a pi t y t hat men shoul dn' t be t hi nki ng

about how t o cur e some of t he wr ongs whi ch poor dear ol d Engl and

i s pr et t y near dyi ng of , i nst ead of t aki ng t he edge of f t hei r

br ai ns, and spendi ng al l t hei r st eam i n specul at i ng about al l

ki nds of t hi ngs, whi ch woul dn' t make any poor man i n t he

wor l d- - or r i ch one ei t her , f or t hat mat t er - - a bi t bet t er of f , i f

t hey wer e al l f ound out , and set t l ed t o- mor r ow. But her e I am at

t he end of my paper . Don' t be angr y at my j obat i on; but wr i t e me

a l ong answer of your own f r ee wi l l , and bel i eve me ever

af f ect i onat el y your s,

" T. B. "

CHAPTER XLI I I

AFTERNOON VI SI TORS

Mi ss Mar y Por t er was si t t i ng al one i n t he f r ont dr awi ng- r oom of

her f at her ' s house, i n Bel gr avi a, on t he af t er noon of a summer ' s

day i n t hi s same year . Two year s and mor e have passed over her

head si nce we f i r st met her , and she may be a t hought mor e sedat e

and bet t er dr essed, but t her e i s no ot her change t o be not i ced i n

her .

The r oom was f or t he most par t much l i ke ot her r ooms i n t hat

quar t er of t he wor l d. Ther e wer e f ew l uxur i es i n t he way of

f ur ni t ur e whi ch f al l en man can desi r e whi ch wer e not t o be f ound

t her e, but over and above t hi s, t her e was an el egance i n t he

ar r angement of al l t he ni ck- nacks and or nament s, and an

appr opr i at eness and good t ast e i n t he pl aci ng of ever y pi ece of

f ur ni t ur e and vase of f l ower s, whi ch showed t hat a hi gher or der

of mi nd t han t he uphol st er er ' s or housemai d' s was const ant l y

over l ooki ng and wor ki ng t her e. Ever yt hi ng seemed t o be i n i t s

exact pl ace, i n t he best pl ace whi ch coul d have been t hought of

f or i t , and t o be t he best t hi ng whi ch coul d have been t hought of

f or t he pl ace. And yet t hi s per f ect i on di d not st r i ke you

par t i cul ar l y at f i r st , or sur pr i se you i n any way, but sank i nt o

you gr adual l y, so t hat , unt i l you f or ced your sel f t o consi der t he

mat t er , you coul d not i n t he l east say why t he r oom had such a

ver y pl easant ef f ect on you.

The young l ady t o whom t hi s char m was chi ef l y owi ng was si t t i ng

by a buhl wor k- t abl e, on whi ch l ay her embr oi der y and a book. She

was r eadi ng a l et t er , whi ch seemed deepl y t o i nt er est her ; f or

she di d not hear t he voi ce of t he but l er , who had j ust opened t he

door and di st ur bed her sol i t ude, unt i l he had r epeat ed f or t he

second t i me, " Mr . Smi t h. " Then Mar y j umped up, and, hast i l y

f ol di ng her l et t er , put i t i nt o her pocket . She was r at her

pr ovoked at havi ng al l owed her sel f t o be caught t her e al one by

af t er noon vi si t or s, and wi t h t he ser vant s f or havi ng l et anyone

i n; never t hel ess, she wel comed Mr . Smi t h wi t h a cor di al i t y of

manner whi ch per haps r at her mor e t han r epr esent ed her r eal

f eel i ngs, and, wi t h a " l et mamma know, " t o t he but l er , set t o

Page 382 of 443

wor k t o ent er t ai n her vi si t or . She woul d have had no di f f i cul t y

i n doi ng t hi s under or di nar y ci r cumst ances, as al l t hat Mr . Smi t h

want ed was a good l i st ener . He was a somewhat heavy and gar r ul ous

ol d gent l eman, wi t h many i magi nar y, and a f ew r eal t r oubl es, t he

const ant cont empl at i on of whi ch ser ved t o occupy t he whol e of hi s

own t i me, and as much of hi s f r i ends' as he coul d get t hem t o

gi ve hi m. But scar cel y had he set t l ed hi msel f comf or t abl y i n an

easy chai r opposi t e t o hi s vi ct i m, when t he but l er ent er ed agai n,

and announced, " Mr . St . Cl oud. "

Mar y was now no l onger at her ease. Her manner of r ecei vi ng her

new vi si t or was const r ai ned; and yet i t was cl ear t hat he was on

easy t er ms i n t he house. She asked t he but l er wher e hi s mi st r ess

was, and hear d wi t h vexat i on t hat she had gone out , but was

expect ed home al most i mmedi at el y. Char gi ng hi m t o l et her mot her

know t he moment she r et ur ned, Mar y t ur ned t o her unwel come t ask,

and sat her sel f down agai n wi t h such r esi gnat i on as she was

capabl e of at t he moment . The conduct of her vi si t or s was by no

means cal cul at ed t o r est or e her composur e, or make her

comf or t abl e bet ween t hem. She was sur e t hat t hey knew one

anot her ; but nei t her of t hen woul d speak t o t he ot her . Ther e t he

t wo sat on, each r esol ut el y bent on t i r i ng t he ot her out ; t he

el der cr ooni ng on t o her i n an under t one, and i gnor i ng t he

younger , who i n hi s t ur n put on an ai r of ser ene unconsci ousness

of t he pr esence of hi s seni or , and gazed about t he r oom, and

wat ched Mar y, maki ng occasi onal r emar ks t o her as i f no one el se

wer e pr esent . On and on t hey sat , her onl y comf or t bei ng t he hope

t hat nei t her of t hem woul d have t he consci ence t o st ay on af t er

t he depar t ur e of t he ot her .

Bet ween t hem Mar y was dr i ven t o her wi t s' end, and l ooked f or her

mot her or f or some new vi si t or t o come t o her hel p, as Wel l i ngt on

l ooked f or t he Pr ussi ans on t he af t er noon of June 18t h. At l engt h

yout h and i nsol ence pr evai l ed, and Mr . Smi t h r ose t o go. Mar y got

up t oo, and af t er hi s depar t ur e r emai ned st andi ng, i n hopes t hat

her ot her vi si t or woul d t ake t he hi nt and f ol l ow t he good

exampl e. But St . Cl oud had not t he l east i nt ent i on of movi ng.

" Real l y, your good- nat ur e i s qui t e ast oni shi ng, Mi ss Por t er , " he

sai d, l eani ng f or war d wi t h hi s el bows on hi s knees, and f ol l owi ng

t he pat t er n of one of t he f l ower s on t he car pet wi t h hi s cane,

whi ch gave hi m t he oppor t uni t y of showi ng hi s del i cat el y gl oved

hand t o advant age.

" I ndeed, why do you t hi nk so?" she asked, t aki ng up her

embr oi der y and pr et endi ng t o begi n wor ki ng.

" Have I not good r eason, af t er si t t i ng t hi s hal f - hour and seei ng

you endur i ng ol d Smi t h- - t he gr eat est bor e i n London? I don' t

bel i eve t her e ar e t hr ee houses wher e t he ser vant s dar e l et hi m

i n. I t woul d be as much as t hei r pl aces ar e wor t h. No por t er

coul d hope f or a char act er who l et hi m i n t wi ce i n t he season. "

" Poor Mr . Smi t h, " sai d Mar y, smi l i ng. " But you know we have no

por t er , and, " she suddenl y checked her sel f , and added gr avel y,

" he i s an ol d f r i end, and papa and mamma l i ke hi m. "

" But t he wear i someness of hi s gr i evances! Those t hr ee sons i n t he

Pl unger s, and t hei r et er nal scr apes! How you coul d manage t o keep

a ci vi l f ace! I t was a mast er pi ece of pol i t e pat i ence. "

" I ndeed, I am ver y sor r y f or hi s t r oubl es. I wonder wher e mamma

can be? We ar e goi ng t o dr i ve. Shal l you be i n t he Par k? I t hi nk

i t must be t i me f or me t o dr ess. "

Page 383 of 443

" I hope not . I t i s so sel dom t hat I see you except i n cr owded

r ooms. Can you wonder t hat I shoul d val ue such a chance as t hi s?"

" Wer e you at t he new oper a l ast ni ght ?" asked Mar y, car ef ul l y

avoi di ng hi s eye, and st i cki ng t o her wor k, but scar cel y abl e t o

conceal her ner vousness and di scomf or t .

" Yes, I was t her e; but - - "

" Oh, do t el l me about i t , t hen; I hear i t was a gr eat success. "

" Anot her t i me. We can t al k of t he oper a anywher e. Let me speak

now of somet hi ng el se. You must have seen, Mi ss Por t er , - - "

" How can you t hi nk I wi l l t al k of anyt hi ng t i l l you have t ol d me

about t he oper a?" i nt er r upt ed Mar y r api dl y and ner vousl y. " Was

Gr i si ver y f i ne? The chi ef par t was composed f or her , was i t not ?

and dear ol d Labl ache- - "

" I wi l l t el l you al l about i t pr esent l y, i f you wi l l l et me, i n

f i ve mi nut es' t i me- - I onl y ask f or f i ve mi nut es- - "

" Fi ve mi nut es! Oh, no, not f i ve seconds. I must hear about t he

new oper a bef or e I wi l l l i st en t o a wor d of anyt hi ng el se. "

" I ndeed, Mi ss Por t er , you must par don me f or di sobeyi ng. But I

may not have such a chance as t hi s agai n f or mont hs. "

Wi t h whi ch pr el ude he dr ew hi s chai r t owar ds her s and Mar y was

j ust t r yi ng t o make up her mi nd t o j ump up and r un r i ght out of

t he r oom, when t he door opened, and t he but l er wal ked i n wi t h a

car d on a wai t er . Mar y had never f el t so r el i eved i n her l i f e,

and coul d have hugged t he sol emn ol d domest i c when he sai d,

pr esent i ng t he car d t o her ,

" The gent l eman asked i f Mr s. or you wer e i n, Mi ss, and t ol d me t o

br i ng i t up, and f i nd whet her you woul d see hi m on par t i cul ar

busi ness. He' s wai t i ng i n t he hal l . "

" Oh, yes, I know. Of cour se. Yes, say I wi l l see hi m di r ect l y. I

mean, ask hi m t o come up now. "

" Shal l I show hi m i nt o t he l i br ar y, Mi ss?"

" No, no; i n her e; do you under st and?"

" Yes, Mi ss, " r epl i ed t he but t er , wi t h a depr ecat or y l ook at St .

Cl oud, as much as t o say, " You see, I can' t hel p i t , " i n answer

t o hi s i mpat i ent t el egr aphi c si gnal s. St . Cl oud had been ver y

l i ber al t o t he Por t er s' ser vant s.

Mar y' s conf i dence had al l come back. Rel i ef was at hand. She

coul d t r ust her sel f t o hol d St . Cl oud at bay now, as i t coul d not

be f or mor e t han a f ew mi nut es. When she t ur ned t o hi m t he

ner vousness had qui t e gone out of her manner , and she spoke i n

her ol d t one agai n, as she l ai d her embr oi der y asi de.

" How l ucky t hat you shoul d be her e! Look; I t hi nk you must be

acquai nt ed, " she sai d, hol di ng out t he car d whi ch t he but l er had

gi ven her t o St . Cl oud.

He t ook i t mechani cal l y, and l ooked at i t , and t hen cr ushed i t i n

hi s hand, and was goi ng t o speak. She pr event ed hi m.

Page 384 of 443

" I was r i ght , I ' m sur e. You do know hi m?"

" I di dn' t see t he name, " he sai d al most f i er cel y.

" The name on t he car d whi ch I gave you j ust now?- - Mr . Gr ey. He i s

cur at e i n one of t he poor West mi nst er di st r i ct s. You must

r emember hi m, f or he was of your col l ege. He was at Oxf or d wi t h

you. I made hi s acquai nt ance at t he Commemor at i on. He wi l l be so

gl ad t o meet an ol d f r i end. "

St . Cl oud was t oo much pr ovoked t o answer ; and t he next moment

t he door opened, and t he but l er announced Mr . Gr ey.

Gr ey came i nt o t he r oom t i mi dl y, car r yi ng hi s head a l i t t l e down

as usual , and gl anci ng uncomf or t abl y about i n a manner whi ch used

t o make Dr ysdal e say t hat he al ways l ooked as t hough he had j ust

been r obbi ng a hen- r oost . Mar y went f or war d t o meet hi m, hol di ng

out her hand cor di al l y.

" I am so gl ad t o see you, " she sai d. " How ki nd of you t o cal l

when you ar e so busy! Mamma wi l l be her e di r ect l y. I t hi nk you

must r emember Mr . St . Cl oud- - Mr . Gr ey. "

St . Cl oud' s pat i ence was now qui t e gone. He dr ew hi msel f up,

maki ng t he sl i ght est possi bl e i ncl i nat i on t owar ds Gr ey, and t hen,

wi t hout t aki ng any f ur t her not i ce of hi m, t ur ned t o Mar y wi t h a

l ook whi ch he meant t o be f ul l of pi t yi ng admi r at i on f or her , and

cont empt of her vi si t or ; but , as she woul d not l ook at hi m, i t

was t hr own away. So he made hi s bow and st al ked out of t he r oom,

angr i l y debat i ng wi t h hi msel f , as he went down t he st ai r s,

whet her she coul d have under st ood hi m. He was so f ul l y convi nced

of t he sacr i f i ce whi ch a man i n hi s posi t i on was maki ng i n payi ng

ser i ous at t ent i on t o a gi r l wi t h l i t t l e f or t une and no connexi on,

t hat he soon consol ed hi msel f i n t he bel i ef t hat her

embar r assment onl y ar ose f r om shyness, and t hat t he moment he

coul d expl ai n hi msel f she woul d be hi s obedi ent and gr at ef ul

ser vant . Meant i me Mar y sat down opposi t e t o t he cur at e, and

l i st ened t o hi m as he unf ol ded hi s er r and awkwar dl y enough. An

execut i on was t hr eat ened i n t he house of a poor st r uggl i ng wi dow,

whom Mr s. Por t er had empl oyed t o do needl ewor k occasi onal l y, and

who was behi nd wi t h her r ent t hr ough si ckness. He was af r ai d t hat

her t hi ngs woul d be t aken and sol d i n t he mor ni ng, unl ess she

coul d bor r ow t wo sover ei gns. He had so many cl ai ms on hi m, t hat

he coul d not l end her t he money hi msel f , and so had come out t o

see what he coul d do amongst t hose who knew her .

By t he t i me Gr ey had ar r i ved at t he end of hi s st or y, Mar y had

made up her mi nd- - not wi t hout a l i t t l e st r uggl e- - t o sacr i f i ce t he

gr eat er par t of what was l ef t of her quar t er ' s al l owance. Af t er

al l , i t woul d onl y be wear i ng cl eaned gl oves i nst ead of new ones,

and gi vi ng up her new r i di ng- hat t i l l next quar t er . So she j umped

up, and sai d gai l y, " I s t hat al l , Mr . Gr ey? I have t he money, and

I wi l l l end i t her wi t h pl easur e. I wi l l f et ch i t di r ect l y. "

She t r i pped of f t o her r oom, and soon came back wi t h t he money;

and j ust t hen t he but l er came i n wi t h t ea, and Mar y asked Mr .

Gr ey t o t ake some. He l ooked t i r ed, she sai d, and i f he woul d

wai t a l i t t l e t i me, he woul d see her mot her , who woul d be sur e t o

do somet hi ng mor e f or t he poor woman.

Gr ey had r i sen t o l eave, and was st andi ng, hat i n hand, r eady t o

go. He was i n t he habi t of r eckoni ng wi t h hi msel f st r i ct l y f or

ever y mi nut e of hi s day, and was never qui t e sat i sf i ed wi t h

Page 385 of 443

hi msel f unl ess he was doi ng t he most di sagr eeabl e t hi ng whi ch

ci r cumst ances f or t he t i me bei ng al l owed hi m t o do. But gr eat er

and st r onger men t han Gr ey, f r om Adam downwar ds, have yi el ded t o

t he t empt at i on bef or e whi ch he now succumbed. He l ooked out of

t he cor ner s of hi s eyes; and t her e was somet hi ng so f r esh and

br i ght i n t he pi ct ur e of t he dai nt y l i t t l e t ea- ser vi ce and t he

young l ady behi nd i t , t he t ea whi ch she was begi nni ng t o pour out

smel t so r ef r eshi ng, and her hand and f i gur e l ooked so pr et t y i n

t he oper at i on, t hat , wi t h a si gh of depar t i ng r esol ut i on, he gave

i n, put hi s hat on t he f l oor , and sat down opposi t e t o t he

t empt er .

Gr ey t ook a cup of t ea, and t hen anot her . He t hought he had never

t ast ed anyt hi ng so good. The del i ci ous r i ch cr eam, and t he

t empt i ng pl at e of br ead and but t er wer e t oo much f or hi m. He

f ai r l y gave way, and r esi gned hi msel f t o physi cal enj oyment , and

si pped hi s t ea, and l ooked over hi s cup at Mar y, si t t i ng t her e

br i ght and ki nd and r eady t o go on pour i ng out f or hi m t o any

ext ent . I t seemed t o hi m as i f an at mospher e of l i ght and j oy

sur r ounded her , wi t hi n t he ci r cl e of whi ch he was si t t i ng and

absor bi ng. Tea was t he onl y st i mul ant t hat Gr ey ever t ook, and he

had mor e need of i t t han usual , f or he had gi ven away t he chop,

whi ch was hi s or di nar y di nner , t o a st ar vi ng woman. He was f ai nt

wi t h f ast i ng and t he bad ai r of t he hovel s i n whi ch he had been

spendi ng hi s mor ni ng. The el egance of t he r oom, t he smel l of t he

f l ower s, t he char m of compani onshi p wi t h a young woman of hi s own

r ank, and t he cont r ast of t he whol e t o hi s common way of l i f e,

car r i ed hi m away, and hopes and t hought s began t o cr eep i nt o hi s

head t o whi ch he had l ong been a st r anger . Mar y di d her ver y best

t o make hi s vi si t pl easant t o hi m. She had a gr eat r espect f or

t he sel f - denyi ng l i f e whi ch she knew he was l eadi ng; and t he

ner vousness and shyness of hi s manner s wer e of a ki nd, whi ch,

i nst ead of i nf ect i ng her , gave her conf i dence, and made her f eel

qui t e at her ease wi t h hi m. She was so gr at ef ul t o hi m f or havi ng

del i ver ed her out of her r ecent embar r assment , t hat she was mor e

t han usual l y ki nd i n her manner .

She saw how he was enj oyi ng hi msel f ; and t hought what good i t

must do hi m t o f or get hi s usual occupat i ons f or a shor t t i me. So

she t al ked posi t i ve gossi p t o hi m, r i sked hi s opi ni on on r i di ng

habi t s, and ver y soon was t el l i ng hi m t he pl ot of a new novel

whi ch she had j ust been r eadi ng, wi t h an ani mat i on and

pl ayf ul ness whi ch woul d have war med t he hear t of an anchor i t e.

For a shor t quar t er of an hour Gr ey r esi gned hi msel f ; but at t he

end of t hat t i me he became suddenl y and pai nf ul l y consci ous of

what he was doi ng, and st opped hi msel f shor t i n t he mi ddl e of an

al t oget her wor l dl y compl i ment , whi ch he det ect ed hi msel f i n t he

act of payi ng t o hi s t oo f asci nat i ng young host ess. He f el t t hat

r et r eat was hi s onl y chance, and so gr asped hi s hat agai n, and

r ose wi t h a deep si gh, and a sudden change of manner whi ch

al ar med Mar y.

" I hope you ar e not i l l , Mr . Gr ey?" she sai d, anxi ousl y.

" No, not t he l east , t hank you. But - - but - - i n shor t , I must go t o

my wor k. I ought t o apol ogi ze, i ndeed, f or havi ng st ayed so

l ong. "

" Oh, you have not been her e mor e t han t went y mi nut es. Pr ay st ay,

and see mamma; she must be i n di r ect l y. "

" Thank you; you ar e ver y ki nd. I shoul d l i ke i t ver y much, but

i ndeed I cannot . "

Page 386 of 443

Mar y f el t t hat i t woul d be no ki ndness t o pr ess i t f ur t her , and

so r ose her sel f , and hel d out her hand. Gr ey t ook i t , and i t i s

not qui t e cer t ai n t o t hi s day whet her he di d not pr ess i t i n t hat

f ar ewel l shake mor e t han was absol ut el y necessar y. I f he di d, we

may be qui t e sur e t hat he admi ni st er ed exempl ar y puni shment t o

hi msel f af t er war ds f or so doi ng. He woul d gl adl y have l ef t now,

but hi s over - sensi t i ve consci ence f or bade i t . He had f or got t en

hi s of f i ce, he t hought , hi t her t o, but t her e was t i me yet not t o

be al t oget her f al se t o i t . So he l ooked gr ave and shy agai n, and

sai d,

" You wi l l not be of f ended wi t h me, Mi ss Por t er , i f I speak t o you

as a cl er gyman?"

Mar y was a l i t t l e di sconcer t ed, but answer ed al most

i mmedi at el y, - -

" Oh, no. Pr ay say anyt hi ng whi ch you t hi nk you ought t o say. "

" I am af r ai d t her e must be a gr eat t empt at i on i n l i vi ng al ways i n

beaut i f ul r ooms l i ke t hi s, wi t h no one but pr osper ous peopl e. Do

you not t hi nk so?"

" But one cannot hel p i t . Sur el y, Mr . Gr ey, you do not t hi nk i t

can be wr ong?"

" No, not wr ong. But i t must be ver y t r yi ng. I t must be ver y

necessar y t o do somet hi ng t o l essen t he t empt at i on of such a

l i f e. "

" I do not under st and you. What coul d one do?"

" Mi ght you not t ake up some wor k whi ch woul d not be pl easant ,

such as vi si t i ng t he poor ?"

" I shoul d be ver y gl ad; but we do not know any poor peopl e i n

London. "

" Ther e ar e ver y mi ser abl e di st r i ct s near her e. "

" Yes, and papa and mamma ar e ver y ki nd, I know, i n hel pi ng

whenever t hey can hear of a pr oper case. But i t i s so di f f er ent

f r om t he count r y. Ther e i t i s so easy and pl easant t o go i nt o t he

cot t ages wher e ever yone knows you, and most of t he peopl e wor k

f or papa, and one i s sur e of bei ng wel comed, and t hat nobody wi l l

be r ude. But her e I shoul d be af r ai d. I t woul d seem so

i mper t i nent t o go t o peopl e' s houses of whom one knows not hi ng. I

shoul d never know what t o say. "

" I t i s not easy or pl easant dut y whi ch i s t he best f or us. Gr eat

ci t i es coul d never be evangel i zed, Mi ss Por t er , i f al l l adi es

t hought as you do. "

" I t hi nk, Mr . Gr ey, " sai d Mar y, r at her net t l ed, " t hat ever yone

has not t he gi f t of l ect ur i ng t he poor , and set t i ng t hem r i ght ;

and, i f t hey have not , t hey had bet t er not t r y t o do i t . And as

f or t he r est , t her e i s pl ent y of t he same ki nd of wor k t o be

done, I bel i eve, amongst t he peopl e of one' s own cl ass. "

" You ar e j oki ng, Mi ss Por t er . "

" No, I am not j oki ng at al l . I bel i eve t hat r i ch peopl e ar e qui t e

as unhappy as poor . Thei r t r oubl es ar e not t he same, of cour se,

and ar e gener al l y of t hei r own maki ng. But t r oubl es of t he mi nd

Page 387 of 443

ar e wor se, sur el y, t han t r oubl es of t he body?"

" Cer t ai nl y; and i t i s t he hi ghest wor k of t he mi ni st r y t o deal

wi t h spi r i t ual t r i al s. But you wi l l par don me f or sayi ng t hat I

cannot t hi nk t hi s i s t he pr oper wor k f or - - f or - - "

" For me, you woul d say. We must be speaki ng of qui t e di f f er ent

t hi ngs, I am sur e. I onl y mean t hat I can l i st en t o t he t r oubl es

and gr i evances of anyone who l i kes t o t al k of t hem t o me, and t r y

t o comf or t t hem a l i t t l e, and t o make t hi ngs l ook br i ght er , and

t o keep cheer f ul . I t i s not easy al ways even t o do t hi s. "

" I t i s not , i ndeed. But woul d i t not be easi er i f you coul d do as

I suggest ? Goi ng out of one' s own cl ass, and t r yi ng t o car e f or

and hel p t he poor , br aces t he mi nd mor e t han anyt hi ng el se. "

" You ought t o know my cousi n Kat i e, " sai d Mar y, gl ad t o make a

di ver si on; " t hat i s j ust what she woul d say. I ndeed, I t hi nk you

must have seen her at Oxf or d; di d you not ?"

" I bel i eve I had t he honor of meet i ng her at t he r ooms of a

f r i end. I t hi nk he sai d she was al so a cousi n of hi s. "

" Mr . Br own, you mean? Yes; di d you know hi m?"

" Oh, yes. You wi l l t hi nk i t st r ange, as we ar e so ver y unl i ke;

but I knew hi m bet t er t han I knew al most any one. "

" Poor Kat i e i s ver y anxi ous about hi m. I hope you t hought wel l of

hi m. You do not t hi nk he i s l i kel y t o go ver y wr ong?"

" No, i ndeed. I coul d wi sh he wer e sounder on Chur ch quest i ons,

but t hat may come. Do you know t hat he i s i n London?"

" I had hear d so. "

" He has been sever al t i mes t o my school s. He used t o hel p me at

Oxf or d, and has a capi t al way wi t h t he boys. "

At t hi s moment t he cl ock on t he mant el - pi ece st r uck a quar t er .

The sound t ouched some chor d i n Gr ey whi ch made hi m gr asp hi s hat

agai n, and pr epar e f or anot her at t empt t o get away.

" I hope you wi l l par don- - " He pul l ed hi msel f up shor t , i n t he

f ear l est he wer e goi ng agai n t o be f al se ( as he deemed i t ) t o

hi s cal l i ng, and st ood t he pi ct ur e of ner vous di scomf or t .

Mar y came t o hi s r el i ef . " I am sor r y you must go, Mr . Gr ey, " she

sai d; " I shoul d have so l i ked t o have t al ked t o you mor e about

Oxf or d. You wi l l cal l agai n soon, I hope?"

At whi ch l ast speech Gr ey, cast i ng an i mpl or i ng gl ance at her ,

mut t er ed somet hi ng whi ch she coul d not cat ch, and f l ed f r om t he

r oom.

Mar y st ood l ooki ng dr eami l y out of t he wi ndow f or a f ew mi nut es,

t i l l t he ent r ance of her mot her r oused her , and she t ur ned t o

pour out a cup of t ea f or her .

" I t i s col d, mamma dear ; do l et me make some f r esh. "

" No, t hank you, dear ; t hi s wi l l do ver y wel l , " sai d Mr s. Por t er ;

and she t ook of f her bonnet and si pped t he col d t ea. Mar y wat ched

her si l ent l y f or a mi nut e, and t hen, t aki ng t he l et t er she had

Page 388 of 443

been r eadi ng out of her pocket , sai d, " I have a l et t er f r om

Kat i e, mamma. "

Mr s. Por t er t ook t he l et t er and r ead i t ; and, as Mar y st i l l

wat ched, she saw a puzzl ed l ook comi ng over her mot her ' s f ace.

Mr s. Por t er f i ni shed t he l et t er , and t hen l ooked st eal t hi l y at

Mar y, who on her si de was now busi l y engaged i n put t i ng up t he

t ea- t hi ngs.

" I t i s ver y embar r assi ng, " sai d Mr s. Por t er .

" What , mamma?"

" Oh, of cour se, my dear , I mean Kat i e' s t el l i ng us of her

cousi n' s bei ng i n London, and sendi ng us hi s addr ess - - " and t hen

she paused.

" Why, mamma?"

" Your papa wi l l have t o make up hi s mi nd whet her he wi l l ask hi m

t o t he house. Kat i e woul d sur el y never have t ol d hi m t hat she has

wr i t t en. "

" Mr . and Mr s. Br own wer e so ver y ki nd. I t woul d seem so st r ange,

so ungr at ef ul , not t o ask hi m. "

" I am af r ai d he i s not t he sor t of young man- - i n shor t , I must

speak t o your papa. "

Mr s. Por t er l ooked har d at her daught er , who was st i l l busi ed

wi t h t he t ea- t hi ngs. She had r i sen, bonnet i n hand, t o l eave t he

r oom; but now changed her mi nd, and, cr ossi ng t o her daught er ,

put her ar m r ound her neck. Mar y l ooked up st eadi l y i nt o her

eyes, t hen bl ushed sl i ght l y, and sai d qui et l y,

" No, mamma; i ndeed, i t i s not as you t hi nk. "

Her mot her st ooped and ki ssed her , and l ef t t he r oom, t el l i ng her

t o get dr essed, as t he car r i age woul d be r ound i n a f ew mi nut es.

Her t r i al s f or t he day wer e not over . She coul d see by t hei r

manner at di nner t hat her f at her and mot her had been t al ki ng

about her . Her f at her t ook her t o a bal l i n t he eveni ng, wher e

t hey met St . Cl oud, who f ast ened hi msel f t o t hem. She was danci ng

a quadr i l l e, and her f at her st ood near her , t al ki ng

conf i dent i al l y t o St . Cl oud. I n t he i nt er val s of t he dance,

scr aps of t hei r conver sat i on r eached her .

" You knew hi m, t hen, at Oxf or d?"

" Yes, ver y sl i ght l y. "

" I shoul d l i ke t o ask you now, as a f r i end- - " Her e Mar y' s par t ner

r emi nded her t hat she ought t o be danci ng. When she had r et ur ned

t o her pl ace agai n she hear d- -

" You t hi nk, t hen, t hat i t was a bad busi ness?"

" I t was not or i ous i n t he col l ege. We never had any doubt on t he

subj ect . "

" My ni ece has t ol d Mr s. Por t er t hat t her e r eal l y was not hi ng

wr ong i n i t . "

Page 389 of 443

" I ndeed? I am happy t o hear i t . "

" I shoul d l i ke t o t hi nk wel l of hi m, as he i s a connexi on of my

wi f e. I n ot her r espect s now- - "

Her e agai n she was car r i ed away by t he dance. When she r et ur ned,

she caught t he end of a sent ence of St . Cl oud' s, " You wi l l

consi der what I have sai d i n conf i dence?"

" Cer t ai nl y, " answer ed Mr . Por t er ; " and I am exceedi ngl y obl i ged

t o you. " And t hen t he dance was over , and Mar y r et ur ned t o her

f at her ' s si de. She had never enj oyed a bal l l ess t han t hi s, and

per suaded her f at her t o l eave ear l y, whi ch he was del i ght ed t o

do.

When she r eached her own r oom, Mar y t ook of f her wr eat h and

or nament s, and t hen sat down and f el l i nt o a br own st udy, whi ch

l ast ed f or some t i me. At l ast she r oused her sel f wi t h a si gh, and

t hought she had never had so t i r i ng a day, t hough she coul d

har dl y t el l why, and f el t hal f i ncl i ned t o have a good cr y, i f

she coul d onl y have made up her mi nd what about . However , bei ng a

sensi bl e young woman, she r esi st ed t he t empt at i on, and har dl y

t aki ng t he t r oubl e t o r ol l up her hai r , went t o bed and sl ept

soundl y.

Mr . Por t er f ound hi s wi f e si t t i ng up f or hi m; t hey wer e evi dent l y

bot h f ul l of t he same subj ect .

" Wel l , dear ?" she sai d, as he ent er ed t he r oom.

Mr . Por t er put down hi s candl e, and shook hi s head.

" You don' t t hi nk Kat i e can be r i ght t hen? She must have capi t al

oppor t uni t i es of j udgi ng, you know, dear . "

" But she i s no j udge. What can a gi r l l i ke Kat i e know about such

t hi ngs?"

" Wel l , dear , do you know I r eal l y cannot t hi nk t her e was anyt hi ng

ver y wr ong, t hough I di d t hi nk so at f i r st , I own. "

" But I f i nd t hat hi s char act er was bad- - deci dedl y bad- - al ways.

Young St . Cl oud di dn' t l i ke t o say much t o me, whi ch was nat ur al ,

of cour se. Young men never l i ke t o bet r ay one anot her ; but I

coul d see what he t hought . He i s a r i ght - mi nded young man and

ver y agr eeabl e. "

" I do not t ake t o hi m ver y much. "

" Hi s connexi ons and pr ospect s, t oo, ar e capi t al . I somet i mes

t hi nk he has a f ancy f or Mar y. Haven' t you r emar ked i t ?"

" Yes, dear . But as t o t he ot her mat t er ? Shal l you ask hi m her e?"

" Wel l , dear , I do not t hi nk t her e i s any need. He i s onl y i n

t own, I suppose, f or a shor t t i me, and i t i s not at al l l i kel y

t hat we shoul d know wher e he i s, you see. "

" But i f he shoul d cal l ?"

" Of cour se t hen we must be ci vi l . We can consi der t hen what i s t o

be done. "

Page 390 of 443

CHAPTER XLI V

THE I NTERCEPTED LETTER- BAG

" Dear Kat i e; - - At home, you see, wi t hout havi ng answer ed your l ast

ki nd l et t er of counsel and sympat hy. But I coul dn' t wr i t e i n

t own, I was i n such a queer st at e al l t he t i me. I enj oyed

not hi ng, not even t he mat ch at Lor d' s, or t he r ace; onl y wal ki ng

at ni ght i n t he squar e, and wat chi ng her wi ndow, and seei ng her

at a di st ance i n Rot t en Row. "

" I f ol l owed your advi ce at l ast , t hough i t went agai nst t he gr ai n

uncommonl y. I t di d seem so unl i ke what I had a r i ght t o expect

f r om t hem- - af t er al l t he ki ndness my f at her and mot her had shown

t hem when t hey came i nt o our nei ghbor hood, and af t er I had been

so i nt i mat e t her e, r unni ng i n and out j ust l i ke a son of t hei r

own- - t hat t hey shoul dn' t t ake t he sl i ght est not i ce of me al l t he

t i me I was i n London. I shoul dn' t have wonder ed i f you hadn' t

expl ai ned; but af t er t hat , and af t er you had t ol d t hem my

di r ect i on, and when t hey knew t hat I was wi t hi n f i ve mi nut es'

wal k of t hei r house const ant l y ( f or t hey knew al l about Gr ey' s

school s, and t hat I was t her e t hr ee or f our t i mes a week) , I do

t hi nk i t was t oo bad. However , as I was goi ng t o t el l you, I went

at l ast , f or I coul dn' t l eave t own wi t hout t r yi ng t o see her ; and

I bel i eve I have f i ni shed i t al l of f . I don' t know. I ' m ver y l ow

about i t , at any r at e, and want t o t el l you al l t hat passed, and

t o hear what you t hi nk. I have no one t o consul t but you, Kat i e.

What shoul d I do wi t hout you? But you wer e bor n t o hel p and

comf or t al l t he wor l d. I shan' t r est t i l l I know what you t hi nk

about t hi s l ast cr i si s i n my hi st or y. "

" I put of f goi ng t i l l my l ast day i n t own, and t hen cal l ed t wi ce.

The f i r st t i me, ' not at home. ' But I was det er mi ned now t o see

somebody and make out somet hi ng; so I l ef t my car d, and a message

t hat , as I was l eavi ng t own next day, I woul d cal l agai n. When I

cal l ed agai n at 6 o' cl ock, I was shown i nt o t he l i br ar y, and

pr esent l y your uncl e came i n. I f el t ver y uncomf or t abl e, and I

t hi nk he di d t oo; but he shook hands cor di al l y enough, asked why

I had not cal l ed bef or e, and sai d he was sor r y t o hear I was

goi ng out of t own so soon. Do you bel i eve he meant i t ? I di dn' t .

But i t put me out , because i t made i t l ook as i f i t had been my

f aul t t hat I hadn' t been t her e bef or e. I sai d I di dn' t know t hat

he woul d have l i ked me t o cal l , but I f el t t hat he had got t he

best of t he st ar t . "

" Then he asked af t er al l at home, and t al ked of hi s boys, and how

t hey wer e get t i ng on at school . By t hi s t i me I had got my head

agai n; so I went back t o my cal l i ng, and sai d t hat I had f el t

t hat I coul d never come t o t hei r house as a common acquai nt ance,

and, as I di d not know whet her t hey woul d ever l et me come i n any

ot her capaci t y, I had kept away t i l l now. "

" Your uncl e di dn' t l i ke i t , I know; f or he got up and wal ked

about , and t hen sai d he di dn' t under st and me. Wel l , I was qui t e

r eckl ess by t hi s t i me. I t was my l ast chance, I f el t ; so I l ooked

har d i nt o my hat , and sai d t hat I had been over head and ear s i n

l ove wi t h Mar y f or t wo year s. Of cour se t her e was no get t i ng out

of t he busi ness af t er t hat . I kept on st ar i ng i nt o my hat ; so I

don' t know how he t ook i t ; but t he f i r st t hi ng he sai d was t hat

he had had some suspi ci ons of t hi s, and now my conf essi on gave

hi m a r i ght t o ask me sever al quest i ons. I n t he f i r st pl ace, had

I ever spoken t o her ? No; never di r ect l y. What di d I mean by

di r ect l y? I meant t hat I had never ei t her spoken or wr i t t en t o

Page 391 of 443

her on t he subj ect - - i n f act , I hadn' t seen her except at a

di st ance f or t he l ast t wo year s- - but I coul d not say t hat she

mi ght not have f ound i t out f r om my manner . Had I ever t ol d

anyone el se? No. And t hi s was qui t e t r ue, Kat i e, f or bot h you and

Har dy f ound i t out . "

" He t ook a good many t ur ns bef or e speaki ng agai n. Then he sai d I

had act ed as a gent l eman hi t her t o and he shoul d be ver y pl ai n

wi t h me. Of cour se I must see t hat , l ooki ng at my pr ospect s and

hi s daught er ' s, i t coul d not be an engagement whi ch he coul d l ook

on wi t h much f avor f r om a wor l dl y poi nt of vi ew. Never t hel ess, he

had t he hi ghest r espect and r egar d f or my f ami l y, so t hat , i f i n

some year s' t i me I was i n a posi t i on t o mar r y, he shoul d not

obj ect on t hi s scor e; but t her e wer e ot her mat t er s whi ch wer e i n

hi s eyes of mor e i mpor t ance. He had hear d ( who coul d have t ol d

hi m?) t hat I had t aken up ver y vi ol ent opi ni ons - - opi ni ons whi ch,

t o say not hi ng mor e of t hem, woul d ver y much damage my pr ospect s

of success i n l i f e; and t hat I was i n t he habi t of associ at i ng

wi t h t he advocat es of such opi ni ons- - per sons who, he must say,

wer e not f i t compani ons f or a gent l eman- - and of wr i t i ng vi ol ent

ar t i cl es i n l ow r evol ut i onar y newspaper s, such as t he _Wessex

Fr eeman_. Yes, I conf essed I had wr i t t en. Woul d I gi ve up t hese

t hi ngs? I had a gr eat mi nd t o say f l at , no, and I bel i eve I ought

t o have; but as hi s t one was ki nd, I coul dn' t hel p t r yi ng t o meet

hi m. So I sai d I woul d gi ve up wr i t i ng or speaki ng publ i cl y about

such mat t er s, but I coul dn' t pr et end not t o bel i eve what I di d

bel i eve. Per haps, as my opi ni ons had al t er ed so much al r eady,

ver y l i kel y t hey mi ght agai n. "

" He seemed t o be r at her amused at t hat , and sai d he si ncer el y

hoped t hey mi ght . But now came t he most ser i ous poi nt ; he had

hear d ver y bad st or i es of me at Oxf or d, but he woul d not pr ess me

wi t h t hem. Ther e wer e t oo f ew young men whose l i ves woul d bear

l ooki ng i nt o f or hi m t o i nsi st much on such mat t er s, and he was

r eady t o l et bygones be bygones. But I must r emember t hat he had

hi msel f seen me i n one ver y awkwar d posi t i on. I br oke i n, and

sai d I had hoped t hat had been expl ai ned t o hi m. I coul d not

def end my Oxf or d l i f e; or coul d not def end mysel f as t o t hi s

par t i cul ar case at one t i me; but t her e had been not hi ng i n i t

t hat I was ashamed of si nce bef or e t he t i me I knew hi s daught er . "

" On my honour , had I absol ut el y and ent i r el y br oken of f al l

r el at i ons wi t h her ? He had been t ol d t hat I st i l l kept up a

cor r espondence wi t h her . "

" Yes, I st i l l wr ot e t o her , and saw her occasi onal l y; but i t was

onl y t o gi ve her news of a young man f r om her vi l l age, who was

now ser vi ng i n I ndi a. He had no ot her way of communi cat i ng wi t h

her . "

" I t was a most cur i ous ar r angement ; di d I mean t hat t hi s young

man was goi ng t o be mar r i ed t o her ?"

" I hoped so. "

" Why shoul d he not wr i t e t o her at once, i f t hey wer e engaged t o

be mar r i ed?"

" They wer e not exact l y engaged; i t was r at her har d t o expl ai n.

Her e your uncl e seemed t o l ose pat i ence, f or he i nt er r upt ed me

and sai d, ' Real l y, i t must be cl ear t o me, as a r easonabl e man,

t hat , i f t hi s connexi on wer e not absol ut el y br oken of f , t her e

must be an end of ever yt hi ng, so f ar as hi s daught er was

concer ned. Woul d I gi ve my wor d of honor t o br eak i t of f at once,

Page 392 of 443

and compl et el y?' I t r i ed t o expl ai n agai n; but he woul d have

not hi ng but ' yes' or ' no. ' Dear Kat i e, what coul d I do? I have

wr i t t en t o Pat t y t hat , t i l l I di e, she may al ways r eckon on me as

on a br ot her ; and I pr omi sed Har r y never t o l ose si ght of her ,

and t o l et her know ever yt hi ng t hat happens t o hi m. Your uncl e

woul d not hear me; so I sai d, " No. " And he sai d, ' Then our

i nt er vi ew had bet t er end, ' and r ang t he bel l . Somebody, I ' m sur e,

has been sl ander i ng me t o hi m; who can i t be?"

" I di dn' t say anot her wor d, or of f er t o shake hands, but got up

and wal ked out of t he r oom, as i t was no good wai t i ng f or t he

ser vant t o come. When I got i nt o t he hal l t he f r ont door was

open, and I hear d her voi ce. I st opped dead shor t . She was sayi ng

somet hi ng t o some peopl e who had been out r i di ng wi t h her . The

next moment t he door shut , and she t r i pped i n i n her

r i di ng- habi t , and gr ey gl oves, and hat , wi t h t he dear est l i t t l e

gr ey pl ume i n i t . She went hummi ng al ong, and up si x or ei ght

st eps, wi t hout seei ng me. Then I moved a st ep, and she st opped

and l ooked and gave a st ar t . I don' t know whet her my f ace was

awf ul l y mi ser abl e, but , when our eyes met , her ' s seemed t o f i l l

wi t h pi t y and uneasi ness, and i nqui r y, and t he br i ght l ook t o

mel t away al t oget her ; and t hen she bl ushed and r an down st ai r s

agai n, and hel d out her hand, sayi ng, ' I am so gl ad t o see you,

af t er al l t hi s l ong t i me. ' I pr essed i t , but I don' t t hi nk I sai d

anyt hi ng. I f or get ; t he but l er came i nt o t he hal l , and st ood by

t he door . She paused anot her moment , l ooked conf used, and t hen,

as t he l i br ar y door opened, went away up st ai r s, wi t h a ki nd

' good- bye. ' She dr opped a l i t t l e bunch of vi ol et s, whi ch she had

wor n i n t he br east of her habi t , as she went away. I went and

pi cked t hem up, al t hough your uncl e had now come out of t he

l i br ar y, and t hen made t he best of my way i nt o t he st r eet . "

" Ther e, Kat i e, I have t ol d you ever yt hi ng, exact l y as i t

happened. Do wr i t e t o me, dear , and t el l me, now, what you t hi nk.

I s i t al l over ? What can I do? Can you do anyt hi ng f or me? I f eel

i t i s bet t er i n one r espect . Her f at her can never say now t hat I

di dn' t t el l hi m al l about i t . But what i s t o happen? I am so

r est l ess. I can set t l e t o not hi ng, and do not hi ng, but f i sh. I

moon away al l my t i me by t he wat er - si de, dr eami ng. But I don' t

mean t o l et i t beat me much l onger . Her e' s t he f our t h day si nce I

saw her . I came away t he next mor ni ng. I shal l gi ve mysel f a

week; and, dear , do wr i t e me a l ong l et t er at once, and i nt er pr et

i t al l t o me. A woman knows so wonder f ul l y what t hi ngs mean. But

don' t make i t out bet t er t han you r eal l y t hi nk. Nobody can st op

my goi ng on l ovi ng her , t hat ' s a comf or t ; and whi l e I can do

t hat , and don' t know she l oves anybody el se, I ought t o be

happi er t han any ot her man i n t he wor l d. Yes, I ought t o be, but

I ai n' t . I wi l l be, t hough; see i f I won' t . Hei gho! Do wr i t e

di r ect l y, my dear counsel l or , t o your af f ect i onat e cousi n. T. B.

" P. S. - - I had al most f or got t en my usual budget . I encl ose my l ast

f r om I ndi a. You wi l l see by i t t hat Har r y i s get t i ng on f amousl y.

I am mor e gl ad t han I can t el l you t hat my f r i end East has t aken

hi m as hi s ser vant . He coul dn' t be under a bet t er mast er . Poor

Har r y! I somet i mes t hi nk hi s case i s mor e hopel ess t han my own.

How i s i t t o come r i ght ? or mi ne?"

ENGLEBOURN

" DEAR COUSI N, - - You wi l l bel i eve how I devour ed your l et t er ;

t hough, when I had r ead t he f i r st f ew l i nes and saw what was

comi ng, i t made me st op and t r embl e. At f i r st I coul d have cr i ed

Page 393 of 443

over i t f or vexat i on; but , now I have t hought about i t a l i t t l e,

I r eal l y do not see any r eason t o be di scour aged. At any r at e,

Uncl e Rober t now knows al l about i t , and wi l l get used t o t he

i dea, and Mar y seems t o have r ecei ved you j ust as you ought t o

have wi shed t hat she shoul d. I am t hankf ul t hat you have l ef t of f

pr essi ng me t o wr i t e t o her about you, f or I am sur e t hat woul d

not be honor abl e; and, t o r ewar d you, I encl ose a l et t er of her s,

whi ch came yest er day. You wi l l see t hat she speaks wi t h such

pl easur e of havi ng j ust caught a gl i mpse of you t hat you need not

r egr et t he shor t ness of t he i nt er vi ew. You coul d not expect her

t o say mor e, because, af t er al l , she can onl y guess; and I cannot

do mor e t han answer as i f I wer e qui t e i nnocent t oo. I am sur e

you wi l l be ver y t hankf ul t o me some day f or not havi ng been your

mout hpi ece, as I was so ver y near bei ng. You need not r et ur n t he

l et t er . I suppose I am get t i ng mor e hopef ul as I gr ow

ol der - - i ndeed, I am sur e I am; f or t hr ee or f our year s ago I

shoul d have been i n despai r about you, and now I am near l y sur e

t hat al l wi l l come r i ght . "

" But , i ndeed, cousi n Tom, you cannot , or ought not t o wonder at

Uncl e Rober t ' s obj ect i ng t o your opi ni ons. And t hen I am so

sur pr i sed t o f i nd you sayi ng t hat you t hi nk you may ver y l i kel y

change t hem. Because, i f t hat i s t he case, i t woul d be so much

bet t er i f you woul d not wr i t e and t al k about t hem. Unl ess you ar e

qui t e convi nced of such t hi ngs as you wr i t e i n t hat dr eadf ul

paper , you r eal l y ought not t o go on wr i t i ng t hem so ver y much as

i f you bel i eved t hem. "

" And now I am speaki ng t o you about t hi s, whi ch I have of t en had

on my mi nd t o speak t o you about , I must ask you not t o send me

t hat _Wessex Fr eeman_ any mor e. I am al ways del i ght ed t o hear

what you t hi nk; and t her e i s a gr eat deal i n t he ar t i cl es you

mar k f or me whi ch seems ver y f i ne; and I dar e say you qui t e

bel i eve i t al l when you wr i t e i t . Onl y I am af r ai d l est papa or

anyone of t he ser vant s shoul d open t he paper s, or get hol d of

t hem af t er I have opened t hem; f or I am sur e t her e ar e a gr eat

many wi cked t hi ngs i n t he ot her par t s of t he paper . So, pl ease do

not send i t t o me, but wr i t e and t el l me your sel f anyt hi ng t hat

you wi sh me t o know of what you ar e t hi nki ng about and doi ng. As

I di d not l i ke t o bur n t he paper s, and was af r ai d t o keep t hem

her e, I have gener al l y sent t hem on t o your f r i end Mr . Har dy. He

does not know who sends t hem; and now you mi ght send t hem

your sel f st r ai ght t o hi m, as I do not know hi s addr ess i n t he

count r y. As you ar e goi ng up agai n t o keep a t er m, I wi sh you

woul d t al k t hem over wi t h hi m, and see what he t hi nks about t hem.

You wi l l t hi nk t hi s ver y odd of me, but you know you have al ways

sai d how much you r el y on hi s j udgment , and t hat you have l ear nt

so much f r om hi m. So I am sur e you woul d wi sh t o consul t hi m;

and, i f he t hi nks t hat you ought t o go on wr i t i ng, i t wi l l be a

gr eat hel p t o you t o know i t . "

" I am so ver y gl ad t o be abl e t o t el l you how wel l Mar t ha i s

get t i ng on. I have al ways r ead t o her t he ext r act s f r om t he

l et t er s f r om I ndi a whi ch you have sent me, and she i s ver y much

obl i ged t o you f or sendi ng t hem. I t hi nk t her e i s no doubt t hat

she i s, and al ways has been, at t ached t o poor wi dow Wi nbur n' s

son, and, now t hat he i s behavi ng so wel l , I can see t hat i t

gi ves her gr eat pl easur e t o hear about hi m. Onl y, I hope he wi l l

be abl e t o come back bef or e ver y l ong, because she i s ver y much

admi r ed, and i s l i kel y t o have so many chances of set t l i ng i n

l i f e, t hat i t i s a gr eat chance whet her at t achment t o hi m wi l l be

st r ong enough t o keep her si ngl e i f he shoul d be absent f or many

year s. "

Page 394 of 443

" Do you know I have a sor t of super st i t i on, t hat your f at e hangs

upon t hei r s i n some cur i ous manner - - t he t wo st or i es have been so

i nt er woven- - and t hat t hey wi l l bot h be set t l ed happi l y much

sooner t han we dar e t o hope even j ust now. "

" Don' t t hi nk, my dear cousi n, t hat t hi s l et t er i s col d, or t hat I

do not t ake t he ver y deepest i nt er est i n al l t hat concer ns you.

You and Mar y ar e al ways i n my t hought s, and t her e i s not hi ng i n

t he wor l d I woul d not do f or you bot h whi ch I t hought woul d hel p

you. I am sur e i t woul d do you har m i f I wer e onl y a go- bet ween.

Papa i s much as usual . He get s out a good deal i n hi s chai r i n

t he sun t hi s f i ne weat her . He desi r es me t o say how gl ad he

shoul d be i f you wi l l come over soon and pay us a vi si t . I hope

you wi l l come ver y soon. "

" Ever bel i eve me, dear Tom,

" Your af f ect i onat e cousi n,

" KATI E. "

" November .

" DEAR TOM, - - I hear t hat what you i n Engl and cal l a mai l i s t o

l eave camp t hi s eveni ng; so, t hat you may have no excuse f or not

wr i t i ng t o me const ant l y, I am si t t i ng down t o spi n you such a

yar n as I can under t he di sadvant ages ci r cumst ances i n whi ch t hi s

wi l l l eave me.

" Thi s t i me l ast year , or somewher e t her eabout s, I was enj oyi ng

academi c l i f e wi t h you at Oxf or d; and now her e I am, encamped at

some unpr onounceabl e pl ace beyond Umbal a. You won' t be much t he

wi ser f or t hat . What do you know about Umbal a? I di dn' t mysel f

know t hat t her e was such a pl ace t i l l a mont h ago, when we wer e

or der ed t o mar ch up her e. But one l i ves and l ear ns. Mar chi ng over

I ndi a has i t s di sagr eeabl es, of whi ch dysent er y and dust ar e

about t he wor st . A l ot of our f el l ows ar e down wi t h t he f or mer ;

amongst ot her s my capt ai n; so I am i n command of t he company. I f

i t wer e not f or t he gl or i ous pr i vi l ege of gr umbl i ng, I t hi nk t hat

we shoul d al l own t hat we l i ked t he l i f e. Movi ng about , t hough

one does get f r ozen and br oi l ed r egul ar l y once i n t went y - f our

hour s, sui t s me; besi des, t hey t al k of mat t er s comi ng t o a

cr i si s, and no end of f i ght i ng t o be done di r ect l y. You' l l know

mor e about what ' s goi ng on f r om t he paper s t han we do, but her e

t hey say t he bal l may begi n any day; so we ar e maki ng f or ced

mar ches t o be up i n t i me. I wonder how I shal l l i ke i t . Per haps,

i n my next , I may t el l you how a bul l et sounds when i t comes at

you. I f t her e i s any f i ght i ng, I expect our r egi ment wi l l make

t hei r mar k. We ar e i n t i p- t op or der ; t he col onel i s a gr and

f el l ow, and t he r egi ment f eel s hi s hand down t o t he youngest

dr ummer boy. What a deal of good I wi l l do when I ' m a col onel !

" I dul y del i ver ed t he encl osur e i n your l ast t o your convi ct , who

i s r api dl y ascendi ng t he l adder of pr omot i on. I am di sgust ed at

t hi s mysel f , f or I have had t o gi ve hi m up, and t her e never was

such a j ewel of a ser vant ; but , of cour se, i t ' s a gr eat t hi ng f or

hi m. He i s cover i ng ser geant of my company, and t he smar t est

cover er we have, t oo. I have got a r egul ar br ot h of a boy, an

I r i shman, i n hi s pl ace, who l eads me a dog of a l i f e. I t ook hi m

chi ef l y because he ver y near l y beat me i n a f oot - r ace. Our seni or

maj or i s a Pat hi msel f , and, i t seems, knew somet hi ng of Lar r y' s

power s. So, one day at mess, he of f er ed t o back hi m agai nst

Page 395 of 443

anyone i n t he r egi ment f or 200 yar ds. My capt ai n t ook hi m up and

named me, and t he r ace came of f next day; and a pr eci ous nar r ow

t hi ng i t was, but I managed t o wi n by a neck f or t he honor of t he

ol d school . He i s a l azy scat t er - br ai ned cr eat ur e, ut t er l y

i ndi f f er ent t o f act , and I am obl i ged t o keep t he br andy f l ask

under l ock and key; but t he humour and absol ut e good- t emper of

t he ani mal i mpose upon me, and I r eal l y t hi nk he i s at t ached t o

me. So I keep hi m on, gr umbl i ng hor r i bl y at t he change f r om t hat

or der l y, punct ual , cl ean, accur at e convi ct . Depend upon i t , t hat

f el l ow wi l l do. He makes hi s way ever ywher e, wi t h of f i cer s and

men. He i s a gent l eman at hear t , and, by t he way, you woul d be

sur pr i sed at t he i mpr ovement i n hi s manner s and speech. Ther e i s

har dl y a t ast e of Ber kshi r e l ef t i n hi s _deeal ect _. He has r ead

al l t he books I coul d l end hi m or bor r ow f or hi m and i s f ast

pi cki ng up Hi ndust anee. So you see, af t er al l , I am come r ound t o

your opi ni on t hat we di d a good af t er noon' s wor k on t hat pr eci ous

st or my common when we car r i ed of f t he convi ct f r om t he

aut hor i t i es of hi s nat i ve l and, and was f i r st under f i r e. As you

ar e a per f or mer i n t hat l i ne, coul dn' t you car r y of f hi s

sweet hear t and send her out her e? Af t er t he sea voyage t her e

i sn' t much above 1, 000 mi l es t o come by dauk; and t el l her , wi t h

my compl i ment s, he i s wel l wor t h comi ng t wi ce t he di st ance f or .

Poor f el l ow! I t i s a bad l ookout f or hi m, I ' m af r ai d, as he may

not get home t hi s t en year s; and, t hough he i sn' t a ki nd t o be

easi l y l ol l ed, t her e ar e ser i ous odds agai nst hi m, even i f he

keeps al l r i ght . I al most wi sh you had never t ol d me hi s st or y.

" We ar e goi ng i nt o cant onment s as soon as t hi s expedi t i on i s

over , i n a spl endi d pi g di st r i ct , and I l ook f or war d t o some r eal

spor t . Al l t he men who have had any t el l me i t beat s t he best f ox

hunt al l t o f i t s f or exci t ement . I have got my eye on a f amous

nat i ve hor se, who i s t o be had cheap. The br ut e i s i n t he habi t

of kneel i ng on hi s mast er s, and t ear i ng t hem wi t h hi s t eet h when

he get s t hem of f , but not hi ng can t ouch hi m whi l e you keep on hi s

back. ' Howsumdever , ' as your count r ymen say, I shal l have a shy

at hi m, i f I can get hi m at my pr i ce.

" I ' ve not hi ng mor e t o say. Ther e' s nobody you knew her e, except

t he convi ct ser geant , and i t i s awf ul l y har d t o f i l l a l et t er

home unl ess you have somebody t o t al k about . Yes, by t he way,

t her e i s one l i t t l e f el l ow, an ensi gn, j ust j oi ned, who says he

r emember s us at school . He can' t be mor e t han ei ght een or

ni net een, and was an ur chi n i n t he l ower school , I suppose, when

we wer e l eavi ng. I don' t r emember hi s f ace, but i t ' s a ver y good

one, and he i s a br i ght gent l emanl y youngst er as you woul d wi sh

t o see. Hi s name i s Jones. Do you r emember hi m? He wi l l be a

godsend t o me. I have hi m t o chum wi t h me on t hi s mar ch.

" Keep up your l et t er s as you l ove me. You at home l i t t l e know

what i t i s t o enj oy a l et t er . Never mi nd what you put i n i t ;

anyt hi ng wi l l do f r om home, and I ' ve nobody much el se t o wr i t e t o

me.

" Ther e goes t he ' assembl y. ' Why, I can' t t hi nk, seei ng t hat we

have done our day' s mar ch. However , I must t ur n out and see

what ' s up. "

* * * * * * * * * *

" December .

" I have j ust f al l en on t hi s l et t er , whi ch I had qui t e f or got t en,

or , r at her , had f anci ed I had sent of f t o you t hr ee weeks and

mor e ago. My baggage has j ust come t o hand, and t he scr awl t ur ned

Page 396 of 443

up i n my paper cases. Wel l , I have pl ent y t o t el l you now, at any

r at e, i f I have t i me t o t el l i t . That ' assembl y' whi ch st opped me

shor t sounded i n consequence of t he ar r i val of one of t he

commander - i n- chi ef ' s ai des i n our camp wi t h t he news t hat t he

enemy was over t he Sut l ej . We wer e t o mar ch at once, wi t h t wo

si x- pounder s and a squadr on of caval r y, on a f or t occupi ed by an

out l yi ng l ot of t hem whi ch commanded a f or d, and was t o be t aken

and dest r oyed, and t he r ascal s who hel d i t di sper sed; af t er whi ch

we wer e t o j oi n t he mai n ar my. Our col onel had t he command, so we

wer e on t he r out e wi t hi n an hour , l eavi ng a company and t he

baggage t o f ol l ow as i t coul d; and f r om t hat t i me t o t hi s, f or ced

mar chi ng and har d f i ght i ng have been t he or der of t he day.

" We dr ew f i r st bl ood next mor ni ng. The enemy wer e i n some f or ce

out si de t he f or t , and showed f i ght i n ver y r ough gr ound cover ed

wi t h bushes, out of whi ch we had t o dr i ve t hem, whi ch we di d

af t er a shar p st r uggl e, and t he mai n body dr ew of f al t oget her .

Then t he f or t had t o be t aken. Our t wo guns wor ked away at i t

t i l l dar k. I n t he ni ght t wo of t he gunner s, who vol unt eer ed f or

t he ser vi ce, cr ept cl ose up t o t he pl ace, and r epor t ed t hat t her e

was not hi ng t o hi nder our r unni ng r i ght i nt o i t . Accor di ngl y t he

col onel r esol ved t o r ush i t at daybr eak, and my company was t ol d

of f t o l ead. The capt ai n bei ng absent , I had t o command. I was

wi t h t he dear ol d chi ef t he l ast t hi ng at ni ght , get t i ng hi s

i nst r uct i ons; t en mi nut es wi t h hi m bef or e goi ng i nt o act i on woul d

make a har e f i ght .

" Ther e was cover t o wi t hi n one hundr ed and f i f t y yar ds of t he

pl ace; and t her e I , and poor l i t t l e Jones; and t he men, spent t he

ni ght i n a dr y di t ch. An hour bef or e daybr eak we wer e on t he

al er t , and ser ved out r at i ons, and t hen t hey began pl ayi ng t r i cks

on one anot her as i f we wer e out f or a j unket i ng. I sat wi t h my

wat ch i n my hand, f eel i ng queer , and wonder i ng whet her I was a

gr eat er cowar d t han t he r est . Then came a st r eak of l i ght . I put

up my wat ch, f or med t he men; up went a r ocket , my si gnal , and out

i nt o t he open we went at t he doubl e. We hadn' t got over a t hi r d

of t he gr ound when bang went t he f or t guns, and t he gr ape- shot

wer e whi st l i ng about our ear s; so I shout ed ' For war d! ' and away

we went as har d as we coul d go. I was obl i ged t o go ahead, you

see, because ever y man of t hem knew I had beat en Lar r y, t hei r

best r unner , when he had no gun t o car r y; but I di dn' t hal f l i ke

i t , and shoul d have bl essed any hol e or br ambl e whi ch woul d have

sent me over and gi ven t hem t i me t o cat ch me. But t he gr ound was

pr ovoki ngl y l evel ; and so I was at t he f i r st mound and over i t

sever al l engt hs i n f r ont of t he men, and among a l ot of bl ack

f el l ows ser vi ng t he guns. They came at me l i ke wi l d cat s, and how

I got of f i s a myst er y. I par r i ed a cut f r om one f el l ow, and

dodged a second; a t hi r d r ushed at my l ef t si de. I j ust caught

t he f l ash of hi s t ul war , and t hought i t was al l up, when he

j umped i nt o t he ai r , shot t hr ough t he hear t by Ser geant Wi nbur n;

and t he next moment Mast er Lar r y r ushed by me and pl unged hi s

bayonet i nt o my f r i end i n f r ont . I t t ur ned me as si ck as a dog. I

can' t f ancy anyt hi ng mor e di sagr eeabl e t han seei ng t he oper at i on

f or t he f i r st t i me, except bei ng st r uck onesel f . The suppor t i ng

compani es wer e i n i n anot her mi nut e, wi t h t he dear ol d chi ef

hi msel f , who came up and shook hands wi t h me, and sai d I had done

cr edi t t o t he r egi ment . Then I began t o l ook about , and mi ssed

poor l i t t l e Jones. We f ound hi m about t went y yar ds f r om t he pl ace

wi t h t wo gr ape- shot t hr ough hi m, st one dead, and smi l i ng l i ke a

chi l d asl eep. We bur i ed hi m i n t he f or t . I cut of f some of hi s

hai r , and sent i t home t o hi s mot her . Her l ast l et t er was i n hi s

br east pocket , and a l ock of br i ght br own hai r of some one' s. I

sent t hem back, t oo, and hi s swor d.

Page 397 of 443

" Si nce t hen we have been wi t h t he ar my, and had t hr ee or f our

gener al act i ons; about whi ch I can t el l you not hi ng, except t hat

we have l ost about t he t hi r d of t he r egi ment , and have al ways

been t ol d we have won. St eps go f ast enough; my capt ai n di ed of

wounds and dysent er y a week ago; so I have t he company i n

ear nest . How l ong I shal l hol d i t , i s anot her quest i on; f or ,

t hough t her e' s a sl ack, we haven' t done wi t h shar p wor k yet , I

can see.

" How of t en we' ve t al ked, year s ago, of what i t must f eel l i ke

goi ng i nt o bat t l e! Wel l , t he chi ef t hi ng I f el t when t he gr ape

came down pr et t y t hi ck f or t he f i r st t i me, as we wer e advanci ng,

was a sor t of gr i pes i n t he st omach whi ch made me want t o go

f or war d st oopi ng. But I di dn' t gi ve i n t o i t ; t he chi ef was

r i di ng cl ose behi nd us, j oki ng t he youngst er s who wer e ducki ng

t hei r heads, and so cheer y and cool , t hat he made ol d sol di er s of

us at once. What wi t h smoke, and dust , and exci t ement , you know

scar cel y anyt hi ng of what i s goi ng on. The f i nest si ght I have

seen i s t he ar t i l l er y goi ng i nt o act i on. Not hi ng st ops t hose

f el l ows. Pl aces you woul d cr ane at out hunt i ng t hey go r i ght

over , guns, car r i ages, men, and al l , l eavi ng any caval r y we' ve

got out her e wel l behi nd. Do you know what a nul l ah i s? Wel l ,

i t ' s a gr eat gap, l i ke a huge dr y canal , f i f t een or t went y f eet

deep. We wer e hal t ed behi nd one i n t he l ast gr eat f i ght , awai t i ng

t he or der t o advance, when a bat t er y came up at f ul l gal l op. We

al l made sur e t hey must be pul l ed up t he nul l ah. They never

pul l ed br i dl e. ' Leadi ng gun, r i ght t ur n! ' sang out t he subal t er n;

and down t hey went si deways i nt o t he nul l ah. Then, ' Lef t t ur n; '

up t he ot her bank, one gun af t er anot her , t he hor ses scr ambl i ng

l i ke cat s up and down pl aces t hat my men had t o use t hei r hands

t o scr ambl e up, and away on t he ot her si de t o wi t hi n 200 yar ds of

t he enemy; and t hen, r ound l i ke l i ght ni ng, and l ook out i n f r ont .

" Al t oget her , i t ' s si ckeni ng wor k, t hough t her e' s a gr and sor t of

f eel i ng of car r yi ng your l i f e i n your hand. They say t he Sepoy

r egi ment s have behaved shamef ul l y. Ther e i s no si gn of anyt hi ng

l i ke f unk among our f el l ows t hat I have seen. Ser geant Wi nbur n

has di st i ngui shed hi msel f ever ywher e. He i s l i ke my shadow, and I

can see he t r i es t o wat ch over my pr eci ous car case, and get

bet ween me and danger . He woul d be a deal mor e mi ssed i n t he

wor l d t han I . Except you, ol d f r i end, I don' t know who woul d car e

much i f I wer e knocked over t o- mor r ow. Aunt s and cousi ns ar e my

near est r el at i ons. You know I never was a snuf f l er ; but t hi s sor t

of l i f e makes one ser i ous, i f one has any r ever ence at al l i n

one. You' l l be gl ad t o have t hi s l i ne, i f you don' t hear f r om me

agai n. I ' ve of t en t hought i n t he l ast mont h t hat we shal l never

see one anot her agai n i n t hi s wor l d. But , whet her i n t hi s wor l d

or any ot her , you know I am and al ways shal l be,

" Your af f ect i onat e f r i end,

" H. EAST. "

CAMP OF THE SUTLEJ, Januar y.

" DEAR MASTER TOM; - - The capt ai n' s l ast wor ds was, i f anyt hi ng

happened I was t o be sur e t o wr i t e and t el l you. And so I t ake up

my pen, t hough you wi l l know as I am not used t o wr i t i ng, t o t el l

you t he mi sf or t une as has happened t o our r egi ment . Because, i f

you was t o ask any man i n our r egi ment , l et i t be who i t woul d,

he woul d say as t he capt ai n was t he best of f i cer as ever l ed men.

Not but what t her e' s a many of t hem as wi l l go t o t he f r ont as

Page 398 of 443

br ave as l i ons, and don' t val ue shot no mor e t han i f i t was

r ot t en appl es; and men as i s men wi l l go af t er such. But ' t i s t he

capt ai n' s manner s and ways, wi t h a ki nd wor d f or any poor f el l ow

as i s hur t , or si ck and t i r ed, and maki ng no account of hi ssel f ,

and, as you may say, no bounce wi t h hi m; t hat ' s what makes t he

di f f er ence.

" As i t mi ght be l ast Sat ur day, we came upon t he enemy wher e he

was post ed ver y st r ong, wi t h guns al l al ong hi s f r ont , and ser ved

t i l l we got r i ght up t o t hem, t he r unner s bei ng cut down and

bayonet ed when we got r i ght up amongst t hem, and no quar t er

gi ven; and t her e was gr eat banks of ear t h, t oo, t o cl amber over ,

and mor e guns behi nd; so, wi t h t he mar chi ng up i n f r ont and

l osi ng so many of f i cer s and men, our r egi ment was t hat wi l d when

we got amongst t hem, t hat ' t was awf ul t o see, and, i f t her e was

any pr i soner s t aken, i t was mor e by mi st ake t han not .

" Me and t hr ee or f our mor e set t l ed, when t he wor d came t o pr epar e

f or act i on, t o keep wi t h t he capt ai n, because ' t was known t o

ever yone as no odds woul d st op hi m, and he woul d never mi nd

hi ssel f . The dust and smoke and noi se was t hat t hi ck you coul dn' t

see nor hear anyt hi ng af t er our r egi ment was i n act i on; but , so

f ar as I seen, when we was wheel ed i nt o l i ne and got t he wor d t o

advance, t her e was as i t mi ght be as f ar as f r om our ol d cot t age

t o t he Hawk' s Lynch t o go over bef or e we got t o t he guns whi ch

was pl ayi ng i nt o us al l t he way. Our l i ne went up ver y st eady,

onl y wher e men was knocked down; and, when we came t o wi t hi n a

mat t er of si xt y yar ds, t he of f i cer s j umped out and waved t hei r

swor ds, f or ' t was no use t o gi ve wor ds, and t he r anks was br oken

by r eason of t he r unni ng up t o t ake t he guns f r om t he enemy. Me

and t he r est went af t er t he capt ai n; but he, bei ng so l i ght of

f oot , was f i r st by maybe t en yar ds or so, at t he mound, and so up

bef or e we was by hi m. But , t hough t hey was al l r ound hi m l i ke

bees when we got t o hi m, ' t was not t hen as he was hi t . Ther e was

mor e guns f ur t her on, and we and t hey dr ove on al l t oget her ; and,

t hough t hey was beat en, bei ng f i ne t al l men and desper at e, t her e

was many of t hem f i ght i ng har d, and, as you mi ght say, a man

scar cel y knowed how he got hi t . I kept t o t he capt ai n as cl ose as

ever I coul d, but t her e was t i mes when I had t o mi nd mysel f . Just

as we came t o t he l ast gun' s, Lar r y, t hat ' s t he capt ai n' s

ser vant , was t r yi ng by hi ssel f t o t ur n one of t hem r ound, so as

t o f i r e on t he enemy as t hey t ook t he r i ver t o t he back of t hei r

l i nes al l i n a huddl e. So I t ur ned t o l end hi m a hand; and, when

I l ooked r ound next moment , t her e was t he capt ai n a- st agger i ng

l i ke a dr unken man, and he so st r ong and l i ssom up t o t hen, and

never had a scr at ch si nce t he war begun, and t hi s t he l ast mi nut e

of i t pr et t y ni gh, f or t he enemy was al l cut t o pi eces and

dr owned t hat day. I got t o hi m bef or e he f el l , and we l ai d hi m

down gent l y, and di d t he best we coul d f or hi m. But he was

bl eedi ng dr eadf ul wi t h a gr eat gash i n hi s si de, and hi s ar m

br oke, and t wo gunshot wounds. Our sur geon was ki l l ed, and ' t was

hour s bef or e hi s wounds was dr essed, and ' t wi l l be God' s mer cy i f

ever he get s r ound; t hough t hey do say i f t he f ever and dysent er y

keeps of f , and he can get out of t hi s count r y and home, t her e' s

no knowi ng but t hat he may get t he bet t er of i t al l , but not t o

ser ve wi t h t he r egi ment agai n f or year s t o come.

" I hope, Mast er Tom, as I ' ve t ol d you al l t he capt ai n woul d l i ke

as you shoul d know; onl y, bei ng not much used t o wr i t i ng, I hope

you wi l l excuse mi st akes. And, i f so be t hat i t won' t be t oo much

t r oubl i ng of you, and t he capt ai n shoul d go home, and you coul d

wr i t e t o say as t hi ngs was goi ng on at home as bef or e, whi ch t he

capt ai n al ways gave t o me t o r ead when t he mai l come i n, i t woul d

be a gr eat hel p t owar ds keepi ng up a good hear t and i n a f or ei gn

Page 399 of 443

l and, whi ch i s har d at t i mes t o do. Ther e i s some t hi ngs whi ch I

make bol d t o send by a comr ade goi ng home si ck. I don' t know as

t hey wi l l seem much, but I hope as you wi l l accept of t he swor d,

whi ch bel onged t o one of her of f i cer s, and t he r est t o her . Al so,

on account of what was i n t he l ast pi ece as you f or war ded, I send

a l et t er t o go al ong wi t h t he t hi ngs, i f Mi ss Wi nt er , who have

been so ki nd, or you woul d del i ver t he same. To whom I make bol d

t o send my r espect s as wel l as t o your sel f , and hopi ng t hi s wi l l

f i nd you wel l and al l f r i ends.

" Fr om your r espect f ul ,

" HENRY WI NBURN,

" Col our - ser geant . 101st Regi ment . "

" Mar ch.

" My DEAR TOM; - - I begi n t o t hi nk I may see you agai n yet , but i t

has been a near shave. I hope Ser geant Wi nbur n' s l et t er , and t he

r et ur ns, i n whi ch I see I was put down " danger ousl y wounded, "

wi l l not have f r i ght ened you ver y much. The war i s over ; and, i f

I l i ve t o get down t o Cal cut t a you wi l l see me i n t he summer ,

pl ease God. The end was l i ke t he begi nni ng- - goi ng r i ght up t o t he

guns. Our r egi ment i s f r i ght f ul l y cut up; t her e ar e onl y 300 men

l ef t under ar ms- - t he r est dead or i n hospi t al . I am si ck at hear t

at i t , and weak i n body, and can onl y wr i t e a f ew l i nes at a

t i me, but wi l l get on wi t h t hi s as I can, i n t i me f or next mai l .

* * * * *

" Si nce begi nni ng t hi s l et t er I have had anot her r el apse. So, i n

case I shoul d never f i ni sh i t , I wi l l say at once what I most

want t o say. Wi nbur n has saved my l i f e mor e t han once, and i s

besi des one of t he nobl est and br avest f el l ows i n t he wor l d; so I

mean t o pr ovi de f or hi m i n case anyt hi ng shoul d happen t o me. I

have made a wi l l , and appoi nt ed you my execut or , and l ef t hi m a

l egacy. You must buy hi s di schar ge, and get hi m home and mar r i ed

t o t he Engl ebour n beaut y as soon as possi bl e. But what I want you

t o under st and i s, t hat i f t he l egacy i sn' t enough t o do t hi s, and

make al l st r ai ght wi t h her ol d cur mudgeon of a f at her , i t i s my

f i r st wi sh t hat what ever wi l l do i t shoul d be made up t o hi m. He

has been i n hospi t al wi t h a bad f l esh wound, and has l et out t o

me t he whol e of hi s st or y, of whi ch you had onl y gi ven me t he

heads. I f t hat young women does not wai t f or hi m, and book hi m, I

shal l gi ve up al l f ai t h i n pet t i coat s. Now t hat ' s done I f eel

mor e at ease.

" Let me see. I haven' t wr i t t en f or si x weeks and mor e, j ust

bef or e our l ast gr eat f i ght . You' l l know al l about i t f r om t he

paper s l ong bef or e you get t hi s- - a bl oody busi ness; I am l oat h t o

t hi nk of i t . I was knocked over i n t he l ast of t hei r

ent r enchment s, and shoul d t hen and t her e have bl ed t o deat h had

i t not been f or Wi nbur n. He never l ef t me, t hough t he ki l l i ng,

and pl under i ng, and r oyst er i ng af t er war ds was goi ng on al l

ar ound, and st r ong t empt at i on t o a f el l ow when hi s bl ood i s up,

and he sees hi s comr ades at i t , af t er such wor k as we have had.

What ' s mor e he caught my I r i sh f el l ow and made hi m st ay by me

t oo, and bet ween t hem t hey managed t o pr op me up and st op t he

bl eedi ng, t hough i t was t ouch and go. I never t hought t hey woul d

manage i t . You can' t t hi nk what a cur i ous f eel i ng i t i s, t he l i f e

goi ng out of you. I was per f ect l y consci ous, and knew al l t hey

Page 400 of 443

wer e doi ng and sayi ng, and t hought qui t e cl ear l y, t hough i n a

sor t of dr eamy way, about you, and a whol e j umbl e of peopl e and

t hi ngs at home. I t was t he most cur i ous pai nl ess mi xt ur e of dr eam

and l i f e, get t i ng mor e dr eamy ever y mi nut e. I don' t suppose I

coul d have opened my eyes or spoken; at any r at e I had no wi sh t o

do so, and di dn' t t r y. Sever al t i mes t he t hought of deat h came

cl ose t o me; and, whet her i t was t he odd st at e I was i n, or what

el se I don' t know, but t he onl y f eel i ng I had, was one of i nt ense

cur i osi t y. I shoul d t hi nk I must have l ai n t her e, wi t h Wi nbur n

suppor t i ng my head, and moi st eni ng my l i ps wi t h r um- and- wat er ,

f or f our or f i ve hour s, bef or e a doct or coul d be got . He had

managed t o dr i ve Lar r y about t i l l he had f ound, or bor r owed, or

st ol en t he dr i nk, and t hen kept hi m maki ng shor t cr ui ses i n

sear ch of hel p i n t he shape of hospi t al - st af f , ambul ances, or

doct or s, f r om whi ch Mast er Lar r y al ways came back wi t hout t he

sl i ght est success. My bel i ef i s, he empl oyed t hose pr eci ous

mi nut es, when he was f r om under hi s ser geant ' s eye, i n l oot i ng.

At l ast , Wi nbur n got i mpat i ent , and I hear d hi m t el l i ng Lar r y

what he was t o do whi l e he was gone hi msel f t o f i nd a doct or ; and

t hen I was moved as gent l y as i f I had been a si ck gi r l . I hear d

hi m go of f wi t h a l i mp, but di d not know t i l l l ong af t er of hi s

wound.

" Lar r y had made such a wai l i ng and t o- do when t hey f i r st f ound

me, t hat a nat ur al r eact i on now set i n, and he began gent l y and

t ender l y t o r un over i n hi s mi nd what coul d be made out of ' t he

capt i n, ' and what woul d become of hi s t hi ngs. I f ound out t hi s,

par t l y t hr ough hi s habi t of t al ki ng t o hi msel f , and par t l y f r om

t he pr ecaut i on whi ch he t ook of ascer t ai ni ng wher e my wat ch and

pur se wer e, and what el se I had upon me. I t t i ckl ed me i mmensel y

t o hear hi m. Pr esent l y I f ound he was exami ni ng my boot s, whi ch

he pr onounced ' i l i gant ent i r el y, ' and wonder ed whet her he coul d

get t hem on. The ' ser j i nt ' woul d never want t hem. And he t hen

pr oceeded t o asser t , whi l e _he_ act ual l y began unl aci ng t hem,

t hat t he ' capt i n' woul d never have ' _bet hi m_' but f or t he boot s

whi ch ' was wor t h t en f eet i n a f ur l ong t o any man. ' ' Shur e, ' t i s

t oo l at e now; but woul dn' t I l i ke t o r un hi m agi n wi t h bar e

f eet ?' I coul dn' t st and t hat , and j ust opened my eyes a l i t t l e,

and moved my hand, and sai d, ' Done. ' I want ed t o add, ' you

r ascal , ' but t hat was t oo much f or me. Lar r y' s f ace of hor r or ,

whi ch I j ust caught t hr ough my hal f - opened eyes, woul d have made

me r oar , i f I had had st r engt h f or i t . I bel i eve t he r esol ut i on I

made t hat he shoul d never go about i n my boot s hel ped t o pul l me

t hr ough; but , as soon as Wi nbur n came back wi t h t he doct or ,

Mast er Lar r y depar t ed, and I much doubt whet her I shal l ever set

eyes on hi m agai n i n t he f l esh. Not i f he can hel p i t , cer t ai nl y.

The r egi ment , what ' s l ef t of i t , i s away i n t he Punj aub, and he

wi t h i t . Wi nbur n, as I t ol d you, i s har d hi t , but no danger . I

have gr eat hopes t hat he wi l l be i nval i ded. You may depend upon

i t he wi l l escor t me home, i f any i nt er est of mi ne can manage i t ;

and t he dear ol d chi ef i s so ki nd t o me t hat I t hi nk he wi l l

ar r ange i t somehow.

" I must be wonder f ul l y bet t er t o have spun such a yar n. Wr i t i ng

t hose f i r st t en l i nes near l y f i ni shed me, a week ago, and now I

am scar cel y t i r ed af t er al l t hi s scr awl . I f t hat r ascal , Lar r y,

escapes hangi ng anot her year , and comes back home, I wi l l r un hi m

_yet _, and t hr ash hi s head of f .

" Ther e i s somet hi ng mar vel ousl y l i f e- gi vi ng i n t he i dea of

sai l i ng f or ol d Engl and agai n; and I mean t o make a st r ong f i ght

f or seei ng you agai n, ol d boy. God bl ess you. Wr i t e agai n f or t he

chance, di r ect i ng t o my agent s at Cal cut t a as bef or e.

Page 401 of 443

" Ever your hal f - al i ve, but whol e- hear t ed and af f ect i onat e f r i end,

" H. EAST"

CHAPTER XLV

MASTER' S TERM

One mor e l ook i nt o t he ol d col l ege wher e we have spent so much

t i me al r eady, not , I hope, al t oget her unpl easant l y. Our her o i s

up i n t he summer t er m, keepi ng hi s t hr ee weeks' r esi dence, t he

necessar y pr el i mi nar y t o an M. A. degr ee. We f i nd hi m si t t i ng i n

Har dy' s r ooms; t ea i s over , scout s out of col l ege, candl es

l i ght ed, and si l ence r ei gni ng, except when di st ant sounds of

mi r t h come f r om some under gr aduat es' r ooms on t he opposi t e si de

of quad, t hr ough t he open wi ndows.

Har dy i s deep i n t he budget of I ndi an l et t er s, some of whi ch we

have r ead i n t he l ast chapt er ; and Tom r eads t hem over agai n as

hi s f r i end f i ni shes t hem, and t hen car ef ul l y f ol ds t hem up and

put s t hem back i n t hei r pl aces i n a l ar ge pocket - case. Except f or

an occasi onal expl anat or y r emar k, or excl amat i on of i nt er est , no

wor d passes unt i l Har dy f i ni shes t he l ast l et t er . Then he br eaks

out i nt o pr ai ses of t he t wo Har r ys, whi ch gl addens Tom' s hear t as

he f ast ens t he case, and put s i t back i n hi s pocket , sayi ng,

" Yes, you won' t f i nd t wo f i ner f el l ows i n a l ong summer ' s day;

no, nor i n t went y. "

" And you expect t hem home, t hen, i n a week or t wo?"

" Yes, I t hi nk so. Just about t he t i me I shal l be goi ng down. "

" Don' t t al k about goi ng down. You haven' t been her e a week. "

" Just a week. One out of t hr ee. Thr ee weeks wast ed i n keepi ng

one' s Mast er ' s t er m! Why can' t you gi ve a f el l ow hi s degr ee

qui et l y, wi t hout maki ng hi m come and ki ck hi s heel s her e f or

t hr ee weeks?"

" You ungr at ef ul dog! Do you mean t o say you haven' t enj oyed

comi ng back, and si t t i ng i n di gni t y i n t he bachel or s' seat s i n

chapel , and at t he bachel or s' t abl e i n hal l , and t hi nki ng how

much wi ser you ar e t han t he under gr aduat es? Besi des, your ol d

f r i ends want t o see you, and you ought t o want t o see t hem. "

" Wel l , I am ver y gl ad t o see somet hi ng of you agai n, ol d f el l ow.

I don' t f i nd t hat a year ' s absence has made any change i n you.

But who el se i s t her e t hat I car e t o see? My ol d f r i ends ar e

gone, and t he year has made a gr eat gap bet ween me and t he

youngst er s. They l ook on me as a sor t of don. "

" Of cour se t hey do. Why, you ar e a sor t of don. You wi l l be an M.

A. i n a f or t ni ght , and a member of Convocat i on. "

" Ver y l i kel y; but I don' t appr eci at e t he di gni t y. I can t el l you

bei ng up her e now i s anyt hi ng but enj oyabl e. You have never

br oken wi t h t he pl ace. And t hen, you al ways di d you dut y, and

have done t he col l ege cr edi t . You can' t ent er i nt o t he f eel i ngs

of a f el l ow whose connexi on wi t h Oxf or d has been qui t e br oken

of f , and who wast ed t hr ee par t s of hi s t i me her e, when he comes

back t o keep hi s Mast er ' s. "

Page 402 of 443

" Come, come, Tom. You mi ght have r ead mor e cer t ai nl y, wi t h

benef i t t o your sel f and col l ege, and t aken a hi gher degr ee. But ,

af t er al l , di dn' t t he pl ace do you a gr eat deal of good? and you

di dn' t do i t much har m. I don' t l i ke t o see you i n t hi s sor t of

gl oomy st at e; i t i sn' t nat ur al t o you. "

" I t i s becomi ng nat ur al . You haven' t seen much of me dur i ng t he

l ast year , or you woul d have r emar ked i t . And t hen, as I t el l

you, Oxf or d, when one has not hi ng t o do i n i t but t o moon about ,

t hi nki ng over one' s past f ol l i es and si ns, i sn' t cheer f ul . I t

never was a ver y cheer f ul pl ace t o me at t he best of t i mes. "

" Not even at pul l i ng t i mes?"

" Wel l , t he r i ver i s t he par t I l i ke best t o t hi nk of . But even

t he r i ver makes me r at her mel anchol y now. One f eel s one has done

wi t h i t . "

" Why, Tom, I bel i eve your mel anchol y comes f r om t hei r not havi ng

asked you t o pul l i n t he boat . "

" Per haps i t does. Don' t you cal l i t degr adi ng t o be pul l i ng i n

t he t or pi d i n one' s ol d age?"

" Mor t i f i ed vani t y, man! They have a capi t al boat . I wonder how we

shoul d have l i ked t o have been t ur ned out f or some bachel or j ust

because he had pul l ed a good oar i n hi s day?"

" Not at al l . I don' t bl ame t he young ones, and I hope t o do my

dut y i n t he t or pi d. By t he way, t hey ar e an uncommonl y ni ce set

of youngst er s. Much bet t er behaved i n ever y way t han we wer e,

unl ess i t i s t hat t hey put on t hei r best manner s bef or e me. "

" No, I don' t t hi nk t hey do. The f act i s t hey ar e r eal l y f i ne

young f el l ows. "

" So I t hi nk. And I ' l l t el l you what , Jack; si nce we ar e si t t i ng

and t al ki ng our mi nds t o one anot her at l ast , l i ke ol d t i mes,

somebody has made t he most wonder f ul change i n t hi s col l ege. I

r at her t hi nk i t i s seei ng what St . Ambr ose' s i s now, and t hi nki ng

what i t was i n my t i me, and what an uncommon member of soci et y I

shoul d have t ur ned out i f I had had t he l uck t o have been her e

now i nst ead of t hen, t hat makes me down i n t he mout h- - mor e even

t han havi ng t o pul l i n t he t or pi d i nst ead of t he r aci ng boat . "

" You do t hi nk i t i s i mpr oved, t hen?"

" Thi nk! Why i t i s a di f f er ent pl ace al t oget her ; and, as you ar e

t he onl y new t ut or , i t must have been your doi ng. Now I want t o

know your secr et . "

" I ' ve no secr et , except t aki ng a r eal i nt er est i n al l t hat t he

men do, and l i vi ng wi t h t hem as much as I can. You may f ancy i t

i sn' t much of a t r i al t o me t o st eer t he boat down or r un on t he

bank and coach t he cr ew. "

" Ah! I r emember you wer e begi nni ng t hat bef or e I l ef t , i n your

f i r st year . I knew t hat woul d answer . "

" Yes. The f act i s, I f i nd t hat j ust what I l i ke best i s t he ver y

best t hi ng f or t he men. Wi t h ver y f ew except i ons t hey ar e al l

gl ad t o be st i r r ed up, and meet me near l y hal f way i n r eadi ng, and

t hr ee- quar t er s i n ever yt hi ng el se. I bel i eve t hey woul d make me

capt ai n t o- mor r ow. "

Page 403 of 443

" And why don' t you l et t hem?"

" No; t her e' s a t i me f or ever yt hi ng. I go i n i n t he scr at ch f our s

f or t he pewt er s, and- - mor e by t oken- - my cr ew won t hem t wo year s

r unni ng. Look at my t r ophi es, " and he poi nt ed t o t wo pewt er pot s,

engr aved wi t h t he col l ege ar ms, whi ch st ood on hi s si de- boar d.

" Wel l , I dar e say you' r e r i ght . But what does t he pr esi dent say?"

" Oh, he i s a conver t . Di dn' t you see hi m on t he bank when you

t or pi ds made your bump t he ot her ni ght ?"

" No, you don' t mean i t ? Wel l , do you know, a sor t of vi si on of

bl ack t i ght s, and a br oad- br i mmed hat , cr ossed me, but I never

gave i t a second t hought . And so t he pr esi dent comes out t o see

t he St . Ambr ose boat r ow?"

" Sel dom mi sses t wo ni ght s r unni ng. "

" Then, ' car r y me out , and bur y me decent l y' . Have you seen ol d

Tom wal ki ng ar ound Peckwat er l at el y on hi s cl apper , smoki ng a

ci gar wi t h t he Dean of Chr i st Chur ch? Don' t be af r ai d. I am r eady

f or anyt hi ng you l i ke t o t el l me. Dr aw any amount you l i ke on my

f ai t h; I shal l honor t he dr af t af t er t hat . "

" The pr esi dent i sn' t a bad j udge of an oar , when he set s hi s mi nd

t o i t . "

" I sn' t he? But , I say, Jack- - no sel l - - how i n t he wor l d di d i t

happen?"

" I bel i eve i t happened chi ef l y t hr ough hi s t al ks wi t h me. When I

was f i r st made t ut or he sent f or me and t ol d me he had hear d I

encour aged t he young men i n boat i ng, and he must posi t i vel y

f or bi d i t . I di dn' t car e much about st ayi ng up; so I was pr et t y

pl ai n wi t h hi m, and sai d, ' i f I was not al l owed t o t ake t he l i ne

I t hought best i n such mat t er s, I must r esi gn at t he end of t he

t er m. ' He assent ed, but af t er war ds t hought bet t er of i t , and sent

f or me agai n, and we had sever al encount er s. I t ook my gr ound

ver y ci vi l l y but f i r ml y, and he had t o gi ve up one obj ect i on

af t er anot her . I t hi nk t he t ur ni ng poi nt was when he quot ed St .

Paul on me, and sai d I was t eachi ng boys t o wor shi p physi cal

st r engt h, i nst ead of t eachi ng t hem t o keep under t hei r bodi es and

br i ng t hem i nt o subj ect i on. Of cour se I count er ed hi m t her e wi t h

t r emendous ef f ect . The ol d boy t ook i t ver y wel l , onl y sayi ng he

f ear ed i t was no use t o ar gue f ur t her - - i n t hi s mat t er of

boat - r aci ng he had come t o a concl usi on, not wi t hout ser i ous

t hought , many year s bef or e. However , he came r ound qui et l y. And

so he has on ot her poi nt s. I n f act , he i s a wonder f ul l y

open- mi nded man f or hi s age, i f you onl y put t hi ngs t o hi m t he

r i ght way. "

" Has he come r ound about gent l emen- commoner s? I see you have onl y

t wo or t hr ee up. "

" Yes. We haven' t gi ven up t aki ng t hem al t oget her . I hope t hat may

come soon. But I and anot her t ut or t ook t o pl ucki ng t hem

r ut hl essl y at mat r i cul at i on, unl ess t hey wer e qui t e up t o t he

commoner st andar d. The consequence was, a r ow i n common r oom. We

st ood out , and won. Lucki l y, as you know, i t has al ways been

gi ven out her e t hat al l under - gr aduat es, gent l emen- commoner s and

commoner s, have t o pass t he same col l ege exami nat i ons, and t o

at t end t he same cour se of l ect ur es. You know al so what a mer e

Page 404 of 443

sham and pr et ence t he r ul e had become. Wel l , we si mpl y made a

r eal i t y of i t , and i n answer t o al l obj ect or s sai d, ' I s i t our

r ul e or not ? I f i t i s, we ar e bound t o act on i t . I f you want t o

al t er i t , t her e ar e t he r egul ar ways of doi ng so. ' Af t er a l i t t l e

gr umbl i ng t hey l et us have our way, and t he consequence i s, t hat

vel vet i s get t i ng scar ce at St . Ambr ose. "

" What a bl essi ng! What ot her mi r acl es have you been per f or mi ng?"

" The best r ef or m we have car r i ed i s t hr owi ng t he ki t chen and

cel l ar open t o t he under gr aduat es. "

" W- h- e- w! That ' s j ust t he sor t of r ef or m we shoul d have

appr eci at ed. Fancy Dr ysdal e' s l ot wi t h t he key of t he col l ege

cel l ar s, at about t en o' cl ock on a shi ny ni ght . "

" You don' t qui t e under st and t he r ef or m. You r emember , when you

wer e an under gr aduat e you coul dn' t gi ve a di nner i n col l ege, and

you had t o buy your wi ne anywher e?"

" Yes. And awf ul f i r ewat er we used t o get . The gover nor suppl i ed

me, l i ke a wi se man. "

" Wel l , we have pl aced t he col l ege i n t he r el at i on of benevol ent

f at her . Ever y under gr aduat e now can gi ve t wo di nner s a t er m i n

hi s own r ooms, f r om t he ki t chen; or mor e, i f he comes and asks,

and has any r eason t o gi ve. We t ake car e t hat t hey have a good

di nner at a r easonabl e r at e, and t he men ar e del i ght ed wi t h t he

ar r angement . I don' t bel i eve t her e ar e t hr ee men i n t he col l ege

now who have hot el bi l l s. And we l et t hem have al l t hei r wi ne out

of t he col l ege cel l ar s. "

" That ' s what I cal l good common sense. Of cour se i t must answer

i n ever y way. And you f i nd t hey al l come t o you?"

" Al most al l . They can' t get anyt hi ng l i ke t he wi ne we gi ve t hem

at t he pr i ce, and t hey know i t . "

" Do you make t hem pay r eady money?"

" The di nner s and wi ne ar e char ged i n t hei r bat t el bi l l s; so t hey

have t o pay once a t er m, j ust as t hey do f or t hei r or der s at

commons. "

" I t must swel l t hei r bat t el bi l l s awf ul l y. "

" Yes, but bat t el bi l l s al ways come i n at t he begi nni ng of t er m

when t hey ar e f l ush of money. Besi des, t hey al l know t hat bat t el

bi l l s must be pai d. I n a smal l way i t i s t he best t hi ng t hat ever

was done f or St . Ambr ose' s. You see i t cut s so many ways. Keeps

men i n t he col l ege, knocks of f t he most obj ect i onabl e bi l l s at

i nns and past r y- cooks' , keeps t hem f r om bei ng poi soned, makes

t hem pay t hei r bi l l s r egul ar l y, shows t hem t hat we l i ke t hem t o

be abl e t o l i ve l i ke gent l emen- - "

" And l et s you dons know what t hey ar e al l about , and how much

t hey spend i n t he way of ent er t ai ni ng. "

" Yes; and a ver y good t hi ng f or t hem t oo. They know t hat we shal l

not i nt er f er e whi l e t hey behave l i ke gent l emen. "

" Oh, I ' m not obj ect i ng. And was t hi s your doi ng, t oo?"

" No, a j oi nt busi ness. We hat ched i t i n t he common r oom, and t hen

Page 405 of 443

t he bur sar spoke t o t he pr esi dent , who was f ur i ous, and sai d we

wer e gi vi ng t he sanct i on of t he col l ege t o di sgr acef ul l uxur y and

ext r avagance. Lucki l y he had not t he power of st oppi ng us, and

now i s convi nced. "

" The goddess of common sense seems t o have al i ght ed agai n i n t he

quad of St . Ambr ose. You' l l never l eave t he pl ace, Jack, now

you' r e begi nni ng t o get ever yt hi ng your own way. "

" On t he cont r ar y, I don' t mean t o st op up mor e t han anot her year

at t he out si de. I have been t ut or near l y t hr ee year s now; t hat ' s

about l ong enough. "

" Do you t hi nk you' r e r i ght ? You seem t o have hi t on your l i ne i n

l i f e wonder f ul l y. You l i ke t he wor k and t he wor k l i kes you. You

ar e doi ng a heap of good up her e. You' l l be pr esi dent i n a year

or t wo, depend on i t . I shoul d say you had bet t er st i ck t o

Oxf or d. "

" No. I shoul d be of no use i n a year or t wo. We want a const ant

cur r ent of f r esh bl ood her e. "

" I n a gener al way. But you don' t get a man ever y day who can

t hr ow hi msel f i nt o t he men' s pur sui t s, and can get hol d of t hem

i n t he r i ght way. And t hen, af t er al l , when a f el l ow has got such

wor k cut out f or hi m as you have, Oxf or d must be an uncommonl y

pl easant pl ace t o l i ve i n. "

" Pl easant enough i n many ways. But you seem t o have f or got t en how

you used t o r ai l agai nst i t . "

" Yes. Because I never hi t of f t he r i ght ways of t he pl ace. But i f

I had t aken a f i r st and got a f el l owshi p, I shoul d l i ke i t wel l

enough I dar e say. "

" Bei ng a f el l ow, on t he cont r ar y, makes i t wor se. Whi l e one was

an under gr aduat e, one coul d f eel vi r t uous and i ndi gnant at t he

vi ces of Oxf or d, at l east at t hose whi ch one di d not i ndul ge i n,

par t i cul ar l y at t he f l unkeyi sm and money- wor shi p whi ch ar e our

most pr eval ent and di sgr acef ul si ns. But when one i s a f el l ow i t

i s qui t e anot her af f ai r . They become a sor e bur t hen t hen, enough

t o br eak one' s hear t . "

" Why, Jack, we' r e changi ng char act er s t o- ni ght . Fancy your comi ng

out i n t he abusi ve l i ne! Why I never sai d har der t hi ngs of Al ma

Mat er mysel f . However , t her e' s pl ent y of f l unkeyi sm and

money- wor shi p ever ywher e el se. "

" Yes, but i t i s not so hear t - br eaki ng i n ot her pl aces. When one

t hi nks what a gr eat cent r e of l ear ni ng and f ai t h Oxf or d ought t o

be l i ke- - t hat i t s hi ghest educat i onal wor k shoul d j ust be t he

del i ver ance of us al l f r om f l unkeyi sm and money- wor shi p- - and t hen

l ooks at mat t er s her e wi t hout r ose- col or ed spect acl es, i t gi ves

one somet i mes a sor t of chi l l y l eaden despondency, whi ch i s ver y

har d t o st r uggl e agai nst . "

" I am sor r y t o hear you t al k l i ke t hat , Jack, f or one can' t hel p

l ovi ng t he pl ace af t er al l . "

" So I do, God knows. I f I di dn' t I shoul dn' t car e f or i t s

shor t comi ngs. "

" Wel l , t he f l unkeyi sm and money- wor shi p wer e bad enough, but I

don' t t hi nk t hey wer e t he wor st t hi ngs- - at l east not i n my day.

Page 406 of 443

Our negl ect s wer e al most wor se t han our wor shi ps. "

" You mean t he want of al l r ever ence f or par ent s? Wel l , per haps

t hat l i es at t he r oot of t he f al se wor shi ps. They spr i ng up on

t he vacant soi l . "

" And t he want of r ever ence f or women, Jack. The wor st of al l , t o

my mi nd! "

" Per haps you ar e r i ght . But we ar e not at t he bot t om yet . "

" How do you mean?"

" I mean t hat we must wor shi p God bef or e we can r ever ence par ent s

or women, or r oot out f l unkeyi sm and money- wor shi p. "

" Yes. But , af t er al l , can we f ai r l y l ay t hat si n on Oxf or d?

Sur el y, what ever may be gr owi ng up si de by si de wi t h i t , t her e' s

mor e Chr i st i ani t y her e t han al most anywher e el se. "

" Pl ent y of common- r oom Chr i st i ani t y- - bel i ef i n a dead God. Ther e,

I have never sai d i t t o anyone but you, but t hat i s t he sl ough we

have t o get out of . Don' t t hi nk t hat I despai r f or us. We shal l

do i t yet ; but i t wi l l be sor e wor k, st r i ppi ng of f t he

comf or t abl e wi ne- par t y r el i gi on i n whi ch we ar e wr apped up- - wor k

f or our st r ongest and our wi sest . "

" And yet you t hi nk of l eavi ng?"

" Ther e ar e ot her r easons. I wi l l t el l you some day. But now, t o

t ur n t o ot her mat t er s, how have you been get t i ng on t hi s l ast

year ? You wr i t e so sel dom t hat I am al l behi nd- hand. "

" Oh, much t he same as usual . "

" Then you ar e st i l l l i ke one of t hose who went out t o Davi d?"

" No, I ' m not i n debt . "

" But di scont ent ed?"

" Pr et t y much l i ke you t her e, Jack. However , cont ent i s no vi r t ue,

t hat I can see, whi l e t her e' s anyt hi ng t o mend. Who i s goi ng t o

be cont ent ed wi t h game- pr eser vi ng, and cor n- l aws, and gr i ndi ng

t he f aces of t he poor ? Davi d' s camp was a bet t er pl ace t han

Saul ' s, any day. "

Har dy got up, opened a dr awer , and t ook out a bundl e of paper s,

whi ch Tom r ecogni zed as t he _Wessex Fr eeman_. He f el t r at her

uncomf or t abl e, as hi s f r i end seat ed hi msel f agai n, and began

l ooki ng t hem over .

" You see what I have her e, " he sai d.

Tom nodded.

" Wel l , t her e ar e some of t he ar t i cl es I shoul d l i ke t o ask you

about , i f you don' t obj ect . "

" No; go on. "

" Her e i s one, t hen, t o begi n wi t h. I won' t r ead i t al l . Let me

see; her e i s what I was l ooki ng f or , " and he began r eadi ng; " One

woul d t hi nk, t o hear t hese l andl or ds, our r ul er s, t al k, t hat t he

Page 407 of 443

gl or i ous gr een f i el ds, t he deep woods t he ever l ast i ng hi l l s, and

t he r i ver s t hat r un among t hem, wer e made f or t he sol e pur pose of

mi ni st er i ng t o t hei r gr eedy l ust s and mean ambi t i ons; t hat t hey

may r ol l out amongst unr eal i t i es t hei r pi t i f ul mock l i ves, f r om

t hei r si l k and l ace cr adl es t o t hei r spangl ed cof f i ns, st udded

wi t h si l ver knobs, and l yi ng coat s of ar ms, r eapi ng wher e t hey

have not sown, and gat her i ng wher e t hey have not st r ewed, maki ng

t he omer smal l and t he ephah gr eat , t hat t hey may sel l t he r ef use

of t he wheat - - "

" That ' l l do, Jack; but what ' s t he dat e of t hat paper ?"

" Jul y l ast . I s i t your s, t hen?"

" Yes. And I al l ow i t ' s t oo st r ong and one- si ded. I have gi ven up

wr i t i ng al t oget her ; wi l l t hat sat i sf y you? I don' t see my own way

cl ear enough yet . But , f or al l t hat , I ' m not ashamed of what I

wr ot e i n t hat paper . "

" I have not hi ng mor e t o say af t er t hat , except t hat I ' m hear t i l y

gl ad you have gi ven up wr i t i ng f or t he pr esent . "

" But I say, ol d f el l ow, how di d you get t hese paper s, and know

about my ar t i cl es?"

" They wer e sent me. Shal l I bur n t hem now or woul d you l i ke t o

have t hem? We needn' t say anyt hi ng mor e about t hem. "

" Bur n t hem by al l means. I suppose a f r i end sent t hem t o you?"

" I suppose so. " Har dy went on bur ni ng t he paper s i n si l ence; and

as Tom wat ched hi m, a sudden l i ght seemed t o br eak upon hi m.

" I say, Jack, " he sai d pr esent l y, " a l i t t l e bi r d has been

whi sper i ng somet hi ng t o me about t hat f r i end. " Har dy wi nched a

l i t t l e, and r edoubl ed hi s di l i gence i n bur ni ng t he paper s. Tom

l ooked on smi l i ng, and t hi nki ng how t o go on, now t hat he had so

unexpect edl y t ur ned t he t abl es on hi s moni t or , when t he cl ock

st r uck t wel ve.

" Hul l o! " he sai d, get t i ng up; " t i me f or me t o knock out , or ol d

Copas wi l l be i n bed. To go back t o wher e we st ar t ed f r om

t o- ni ght - - as soon as East and Har r y Wi nbur n get back we shal l

have some j ol l y doi ngs at Engl ebour n. Ther e' l l be a weddi ng, I

hope, and you' l l come over and do par son f or us, won' t you?"

" You mean f or Pat t y? Of cour se I wi l l . "

" The l i t t l e bi r d whi sper ed t o me t hat you woul dn' t di sl i ke

vi si t i ng t hat par t of t he ol d count y. Good ni ght , Jack. I wi sh

you success, ol d f el l ow, wi t h al l my hear t , and I hope af t er al l

t hat you may l eave St . Ambr ose' s wi t hi n t he year . "

CHAPTER XLVI

FROM I NDI A TO ENGLEBOURN

I f a knowl edge of cont empor ar y hi st or y must be r eckoned as an

i mpor t ant el ement i n t he ci vi l i zat i on of any peopl e, t hen I am

af r ai d t hat t he good f ol k of Engl ebour n must have been cont ent ,

i n t he days of our st or y, wi t h a ver y l ow pl ace on t he l adder .

How, i ndeed, was knowl edge t o per col at e, so as t o r each down t o

Page 408 of 443

t he f oundat i ons of Engl ebour ni an soci et y- - t he st r at um on whi ch

al l ot her s r est - - t he common agr i cul t ur al l abour er , pr oducer of

cor n and ot her gr ai n, t he car ef ul and st ol i d nur se and guar di an

of yout hf ul oxen, sheep and pi gs, many of t hem f ar bet t er f ed and

housed t han hi s own chi l dr en? Al l - penet r at i ng as she i s, one

cannot hel p wonder i ng t hat she di d not gi ve up Engl ebour n

al t oget her as a hopel ess j ob.

So f ar as wr i t t en per i odi cal i nst r uct i on i s concer ned ( wi t h t he

except i on of t he _Quar t er l y_, whi ch Dr . Wi nt er had t aken i n f r om

i t s commencement , but r ar el y opened) , t he suppl y was l i mi t ed t o

at most hal f a dozen weekl y paper s. A London j our nal , sound i n

Chur ch and St at e pr i nci pl es, most r espect abl e but not ot her wi se

t han heavy, came ever y Sat ur day t o t he r ect or y. The Conser vat i ve

count y paper was t aken i n at t he Red Li on; and Davi d t he

const abl e, and t he bl acksmi t h, cl ubbed t oget her t o pur chase t he

Li ber al paper , by hel p of whi ch t hey managed t o wage unequal war

wi t h t he knot of vi l l age qui dnuncs, who assembl ed al most ni ght l y

at t he bar of t he Tor y beast above r ef er r ed t o- - t hat ki ng of

beast s, r ed i ndeed i n col our but of t he t r uest bl ue i n pol i t i cal

pr i nci pl e. Besi des t hese, per haps t hr ee or f our mor e paper s wer e

t aken by t he f ar mer s. But , scant y as t he f ood was, i t was qui t e

enough f or t he mout hs; i ndeed, when t he paper s once passed out of

t he par l our s, t hey had f or t he most par t per f or med t hei r mi ssi on.

Few of t he f ar m- ser vant s, mal e or f emal e, had cur i osi t y or

schol ar shi p enough t o spel l t hr ough t he dr ear y col umns.

And or al t eachi ng was not much mor e pl ent i f ul , as how was i t

l i kel y t o be? Engl ebour n was si t uat ed on no t r unk r oad, and t he

amount of i nt er cour se bet ween i t and t he r est of t he wor l d was of

t he most l i mi t ed ki nd. The r ect or never l ef t home; t he cur at e at

r ar e i nt er val s. Most of t he f ar mer s went t o mar ket once a week

and di ned at t hei r or di nar y, di scussi ng count y pol i t i cs accor di ng

t o t hei r manner , but br i ngi ng home l i t t l e, except as much f ood

and dr i nk as t hey coul d cl ever l y car r y. The car r i er went t o and

f r om Newbur y once a week; but he was a si l ent man, chi ef l y bent

on col l ect i ng and sel l i ng but t er . The post man, who was deaf , onl y

went as f ar as t he next vi l l age. The waggoner s dr ove t hei r

mast er s' pr oduce t o mar ket f r om t i me t o t i me, and boozed away an

hour or t wo i n t he ki t chen, or t ap, or ski t t l e- al l ey, of some

smal l publ i c- house i n t he near est t own, whi l e t hei r hor ses

r est ed. Wi t h t he above except i ons, pr obabl y not one of t he

vi l l ager s st r ayed t en mi l es f r om home, f r om year ' s end t o year ' s

end. As t o vi si t or s, an occasi onal peddl er or smal l commer ci al

t r avel l er t ur ned up about once a quar t er . A f ew boys and gi r l s,

mor e ent er pr i si ng t han t hei r f el l ows, went out al t oget her i nt o

t he wor l d, of t hei r own accor d, i n t he cour se of t he year ; and an

occasi onal bur l y pl oughboy, or car t er ' s boy, was ent r apped i nt o

t aki ng t he Queen' s shi l l i ng by some subt l e r ecr ui t i ng ser geant .

But f ew of t hese wer e seen agai n, except at l ong i nt er val s. The

year l y vi l l age f east s, har vest homes, or a meet of t he hounds on

Engl ebour n Common, wer e t he most exci t i ng event s whi ch i n an

or di nar y way st i r r ed t he sur f ace of Engl ebour n l i f e; onl y

f ai nt est and most di st ant mur mur s of t he di n and st r i f e of t he

gr eat out er wor l d, of war s, and r umor s of war s, t he f al l of

gover nment s, and t he t hr oes of nat i ons, r eached t hat pr i mi t i ve,

out - of - t he- way l i t t l e vi l l age.

A change was al r eady showi ng i t sel f si nce Mi ss Wi nt er had been

ol d enough t o l ook af t er t he school s. The wat er s wer e begi nni ng

t o st i r ; and by t hi s t i me, no doubt , t he par i sh boast s a r egul ar

book- hawker and r eadi ng- r oom; but at t hat day Engl ebour n was l i ke

one of t hose smal l ponds you may f i nd i n some nook of a

hi l l - si de, t he banks gr own over wi t h under wood, t o whi ch nei t her

Page 409 of 443

man nor beast , scar cel y t he wi nds of heaven, have any access.

When you have f ound such a pond, you may cr eat e a gr eat

exci t ement amongst t he easy- goi ng newt s and f r ogs who i nhabi t i t ,

by t hr owi ng i n a pebbl e. The spl ash i n i t sel f i s a smal l spl ash

enough, and t he waves whi ch ci r cl e away f r om i t ar e ver y t i ny

waves, but t hey move over t he whol e f ace of t he pond, and ar e of

mor e i nt er est t o t he f r ogs t han a nor ' - west er i n t he At l ant i c.

So t he appr oachi ng r et ur n of Har r y Wi nbur n, and t he st or y of hi s

doi ngs at t he war s, and of t he wonder f ul t hi ngs he had sent home,

st i r r ed Engl ebour n t o i t s dept h. I n t hat smal l cor ner of t he

ear t h, t he ser geant was of f ar mor e i mpor t ance t han

gover nor - gener al and commander - i n- chi ef . I n f act , i t was pr obabl y

t he common bel i ef t hat he was somehow t he head of t he whol e

busi ness; and I ndi a, t he war , and al l t hat hung t her eon, wer e

l ooked at and car ed f or onl y as t hey had ser ved t o br i ng hi m out .

So car el ess wer e t he good f ol k about ever yt hi ng i n t he mat t er

except t hei r own her o, and so wonder f ul wer e t he r omances whi ch

soon got abr oad about hi m, t hat Mi ss Wi nt er , t i r ed of expl ai ni ng

agai n and agai n t o t he ol d women wi t hout t he sl i ght est ef f ect on

t he par ochi al f ai t h, bet hought her of havi ng a l ect ur e on t he

subj ect of I ndi a and t he war i n t he par i sh school r oom.

Ful l of t hi s i dea, she wr ot e of f t o Tom, who was t he medi um of

communi cat i on on I ndi an mat t er s, and pr opounded i t t o hi m. The

di f f i cul t y was, t hat Mr . Wal ker , t he cur at e, t he onl y per son

compet ent t o gi ve i t , was goi ng away di r ect l y f or a t hr ee weeks'

hol i day, havi ng ar r anged wi t h t wo nei ghbour i ng cur at es t o t ake

hi s Sunday dut y f or hi m. What was t o be done? Har r y mi ght be back

any day, i t seemed; so t her e was no t i me t o be l ost . Coul d Tom

come hi msel f , and hel p her ?

Tom coul d not , but he wr ot e back t o say t hat hi s f r i end Har dy was

j ust get t i ng away f r om Oxf or d f or t he l ong vacat i on, and woul d

gl adl y t ake Mr . Wal ker ' s dut y f or t he t hr ee weeks, i f Dr . Wi nt er

appr oved, on hi s way home; by whi ch Engl ebour n woul d not be

wi t hout an ef f i ci ent par son on week- days, and she woul d have t he

man of al l ot her s t o hel p her i n ut i l i zi ng t he ser geant ' s hi st or y

f or t he i nst r uct i on of t he bucol i c mi nd. The ar r angement ,

mor eover , woul d be par t i cul ar l y happy, because Har dy had al r eady

pr omi sed t o per f or m t he mar r i age cer emony, whi ch Tom and she had

set t l ed woul d t ake pl ace at t he ear l i est possi bl e moment af t er

t he r et ur n of t he I ndi an her oes.

Dr . Wi nt er was ver y gl ad t o accept t he of f er ; and so, when t hey

par t ed at Oxf or d, Har dy went t o Engl ebour n, wher e we must l eave

hi m f or t he pr esent . Tom went home- - whence, i n a f ew days, he had

t o hur r y down t o Sout hampt on t o meet t he t wo Har r ys. He was much

shocked at f i r st t o see t he st at e of hi s ol d school - f el l ow. East

l ooked haggar d and pal e i n t he f ace, not wi t hst andi ng t he sea

voyage. Hi s cl ot hes hung on hi m as i f t hey had been made f or a

man of t wi ce hi s si ze, and he wal ked wi t h di f f i cul t y by t he hel p

of a l ar ge st i ck. But he had l ost none of hi s i ndomi t abl eness,

l aughed at Tom' s l ong f ace, and decl ar ed t hat he f el t hi msel f

get t i ng bet t er and st r onger ever y day.

" I f you had onl y seen me at Cal cut t a, " he sai d, " you woul d si ng a

di f f er ent song. Eh, Wi nbur n?"

Har r y Wi nbur n was much changed, and had acqui r ed al l t he composed

and sel f - r el i ant l ook whi ch i s so r emar kabl e i n a good

non- commi ssi oned of f i cer . Readi ness t o obey and command was

st amped on ever y l i ne of hi s f ace; but i t r equi r ed al l hi s power s

of sel f - r est r ai nt t o keep wi t hi n bounds hi s del i ght at get t i ng

Page 410 of 443

home agai n. Hi s wound was qui t e heal ed, and hi s heal t h

r e- est abl i shed by t he voyage; and, when Tom saw how wonder f ul l y

hi s manner s and car r i age wer e i mpr oved, and how easi l y hi s

uni f or m sat on hi m, he f el t qui t e sur e t hat al l woul d soon be

r i ght at Engl ebour n, and t hat Kat i e and he woul d be j ust i f i ed i n

t hei r pr opheci es and pr epar at i ons. The i nval i ds had t o r epor t

t hemsel ves i n London, and t hi t her t he t hr ee pr oceeded t oget her .

When t hi s was done, Har r y Wi nbur n was sent of f at once. He

r esi st ed at f i r st , and begged t o be al l owed t o st ay wi t h hi s

capt ai n unt i l t he capt ai n coul d go t o Ber kshi r e hi msel f . But he

was by t hi s t i me t oo much accust omed t o di sci pl i ne not t o obey a

posi t i ve or der , and was comf or t ed by Tom' s assur ance t hat he

woul d not l eave East , and woul d do ever yt hi ng f or hi m whi ch t he

ser geant had been accust omed t o do.

Thr ee days l at er , as East and Tom wer e si t t i ng at br eakf ast , a

shor t not e came f r om Mi ss Wi nt er , t el l i ng of Har r y' s ar r i val - - how

t he bel l s wer e set r i ngi ng t o wel come hi m; how Mr . Har dy had

pr eached t he most wonder f ul ser mon on hi s st or y t he next day;

above al l , how Pat t y had sur r ender ed at di scr et i on, and t he banns

had been cal l ed f or t he f i r st t i me. So t he sooner t hey woul d come

down t he bet t er - - as i t was ver y i mpor t ant t hat no t i me shoul d be

l ost , l est some of t he ol d j eal ousi es and quar r el s shoul d br eak

out agai n. Upon r eadi ng and consi der i ng whi ch l et t er , East

r esol ved t o st ar t f or Engl ebour n at once, and Tom t o accompany

hi m.

Ther e was one per son t o whom Har r y' s r et ur n and appr oachi ng

weddi ng was a subj ect of unmi xed j oy and t r i umph, and t hat was

Davi d t he const abl e. He had al ways been a si ncer e f r i end t o

Har r y, and had st ood up f or hi m when al l t he par i sh

r espect abi l i t i es had t ur ned agai nst hi m, and had pr ophesi ed t hat

he woul d l i ve t o be a cr edi t t o t he pl ace. So now Davi d f el t

hi msel f an i nch hi gher as he saw Har r y wal ki ng about i n hi s

uni f or m wi t h hi s sweet hear t , t he admi r at i on of al l Engl ebour n.

But , besi des al l t he unsel f i sh pl easur e whi ch Davi d enj oyed on

hi s young f r i end' s account , a l i t t l e pi ece of pr i vat e and

per sonal gr at i f i cat i on came t o hi m on hi s own. Ever si nce Har r y' s

cour t shi p had begun, Davi d had f el t hi msel f i n a f al se posi t i on

t owar ds, and had suf f er ed under , ol d Si mon, t he r ect or ' s

gar dener . The necessi t y f or keepi ng t he ol d man i n good humor f or

Har r y' s sake had al ways been pr esent t o t he const abl e' s mi nd; and

f or t he pr i vi l ege of put t i ng i n a good wor d f or hi s f avor i t e now

and t hen, he had al l owed ol d Si mon t o assume an ai r of

super i or i t y over hi m, and t o t r ampl e upon hi m and dogmat i ze t o

hi m, even i n t he mat t er s of f l ower s and bees. Thi s had been t he

mor e gal l i ng t o Davi d on account of ol d Si mon' s i nt ol er ant

Tor yi sm, whi ch t he const abl e' s soul r ebel l ed agai nst , except i n

t he mat t er of Chur ch musi c. On t hi s poi nt t hey agr eed, but even

her e Si mon managed t o be unpl easant . He woul d l ay t he whol e bl ame

of t he changes whi ch had been ef f ect ed upon Davi d, accusi ng hi m

of havi ng gi ven i n wher e t her e was no need. As t her e was not hi ng

but a wal l bet ween t he Rect or y gar den and Davi d' s l i t t l e st r i p of

gr ound, i n whi ch he spent al l hi s l ei sur e t i me unt i l t he shades

of eveni ng summoned hi m t o t he bar of t he Red Li on f or hi s dai l y

pi nt and pi pe, t he t wo wer e const ant l y wi t hi n hear i ng of one

anot her , and Si mon, i n t i mes past , had sel dom negl ect ed an

oppor t uni t y of maki ng hi msel f di sagr eeabl e t o hi s l ong- suf f er i ng

nei ghbour .

But now Davi d was a f r ee man agai n; and he t ook t he ear l i est

occasi on of maki ng t he change i n hi s manner appar ent t o Si mon,

and of get t i ng, as he cal l ed i t , " upsi des" wi t h hi m. One woul d

have t hought , t o l ook at hi m, t hat t he ol d gar dener was as

Page 411 of 443

pachyder mat ous as a r hi nocer os; but somehow he seemed t o f eel

t hat t hi ngs had changed bet ween t hem, and di d not appr eci at e an

i nt er vi ew wi t h Davi d now near l y so much as of ol d. So he f ound

ver y l i t t l e t o do i n t hat par t of t he gar den whi ch abut t ed on t he

const abl e' s pr emi ses. When he coul d not hel p wor ki ng t her e, he

chose t he t i mes at whi ch Davi d was most l i kel y t o be engaged, or

even t ook t he t r oubl e t o ascer t ai n t hat he was not at home.

Ear l y on Mi dsummer day, ol d Si mon r ear ed hi s l adder agai nst t he

boundar y wal l , wi t h a vi ew of " doct or i n' " some of t he f r ui t

t r ees, r el yi ng on a par i sh meet i ng, at whi ch t he const abl e' s

pr esence was r equi r ed. But he had not mor e t han hal f f i ni shed hi s

oper at i ons bef or e Davi d had r et ur ned f r om vest r y, and, cat chi ng

si ght of t he t op of t he l adder and Si mon' s head above t he wal l ,

l ai d asi de al l ot her busi ness, and descended i nt o t he gar den.

Si mon kept on at hi s wor k, onl y r epl yi ng by a j er k of t he head

and one of hi s gr unt s t o hi s nei ghbour ' s sal ut at i on.

Davi d t ook hi s coat of f , and hi s pr uni ng kni f e out , and,

est abl i shi ng hi msel f wi t hi n easy shot of hi s ol d oppr essor ,

opened f i r e at once- -

" Thou' st gi ' en t hy consent , t hen?"

" ' Ti s no odds, consent or none- - her ' s ol d enough t o hev her own

waay. "

" But t hou' st gi ' en t hy consent ?"

" Ees, t hen, i f t hou wi l t hev' t , " sai d Si mon, somewhat sur l i l y;

" wut t hen?"

" So I heer d, " sai d Davi d, i ndul gi ng i n an audi bl e chuckl e.

" What bi st a l aughi n' at ?"

" I be l aughi n' t o t hi nk how f ol ks changes. Do' st mi nd t he har d

t hi ngs as t hou hast j udged and sai d o' Har r y? Not as ever I known

t hy j udgment t o be o' much account , ' cept about r oot s. But t hou

sai dst , t i mes and t i mes, as a woul d come t o t he gal l ows. "

" So a med yet - - so a med yet , " answer ed Si mon. " Not but wut I

wi shes wel l t o un, and bear s no gr udges; but ot her s as hev got

t he l aw ov un medn' t . "

" ' Ti s he as hev got gr udges t o bear . He don' t need none o' t hy

f or gi veness. "

" Pr ' aps a medn' t . But hev ' em got t he l aw ov un, or hevn' t em?"

" Wut do' st mean- - got t he l aw ov un?"

" Thaay war r ant s as wur out agen un, al ong wi ' t he r est as was

t r anspwor t ed auver Far mer Test er ' s j ob. "

" Oh, he' ve got no cal l t o be af ear d o' t haay now. Thou know' st I

hear s how ' t i s l ai d down i n Sessi ons and ' Si zes, wher ' I ' ve a

been t hi s t went y year . "

" Li ke enuf f . Onl y, wut ' s t o hi nder t haay t r yi n' ov un, i f t haay

be a mi nded t o ' t ? That ' s what I want s t o know. "

" ' Ti s wut t he counsel l or s cal l s t he St at ut o' Lament at i ons, " sai d

Page 412 of 443

t he const abl e, pr oudl y.

" Wut ever ' s Lament at i ons got t o do wi ' t ?"

" A gur t deal , I t el l ' ee. What do' st t hou know o' Lament at i ons?"

" Lament at i ons cums af or e Ezeki el i n t he Bi bl e. "

" That ai n' t no ki n t o t he St at ut o' Lament at i ons. But t her ' s

summut l i ke t o' t i n t he Bi bl e, " sai d t he const abl e, st oppi ng hi s

wor k t o consi der a moment . " Do' st mi nd t he year when t he l and wur

al l t o be guv back t o t haay as owned i t f ust , and debt s wur t o be

wi ped out ?"

" Ees, I mi nds summut o' t hat . "

" Wel l , t hi s her e st at ut says, i f so be as a man hev bi n t o t he

war s, and sar ved hi s count r y l i ke; as not hi n' shan' t be r eckoned

agen he, l et al one mur der . Not hi n' can' t do away wi ' mur der . "

" No, nor ought n' t . Hows' mdever , you seems cl ear about t he l aw

on' t . Ther e' s Mi ss a cal l i n' . "

And ol d Si mon' s head di sappear ed as he descended t he l adder t o

answer t he summons of hi s young mi st r ess, not di spl eased at

havi ng hi s f ear s as t o t he saf et y of hi s f ut ur e son- i n- l aw set at

r est by so emi nent a l egal aut hor i t y as t he const abl e.

For t unat el y f or Har r y, t he const abl e' s l aw was not dest i ned t o be

t r i ed. Young Wur l ey was away i n London. Ol d Test er was bedr i dden

wi t h an accumul at i on of di seases br ought on by hi s bad l i f e. Hi s

i l l ness made hi m mor e vi ol ent and t yr anni cal t han ever ; but he

coul d do l i t t l e har m out of hi s own r oom, f or no one ever went t o

see hi m, and t he wr et ched f ar m- ser vant who at t ended hi m was much

t oo f r i ght ened t o t el l hi m anyt hi ng of what was goi ng on i n t he

par i sh. Ther e was no one el se t o r evi ve pr oceedi ngs agai nst

Har r y.

Davi d pot t er ed on at hi s bees and hi s f l ower s t i l l ol d Si mon

r et ur ned, and ascended hi s l adder agai n.

" You be t her ' st i l l , be ' ee?" he sai d, as soon as he saw Davi d.

" Ees. Any news?"

" Ah, news enuf f . He as wur Har r y' s capt ai n and young Mr . Br own be

comi n' down t o- mor r ow, and hev t uk al l t he Red Li on t o

t hei r sel ves. And t haay beant cont ent t o wai t f or banns - - not

t haay- - and so t her ' s t o be a l i cense got f or Sat ur day. ' Tai nt

scar ce decent , t hat ' t ai nt . "

" ' Ti s best t o get dr ough wi ' t , " sai d t he const abl e.

" Then not hi n' l l sar ve ' em but t he chur ch must be hung wi '

f l ower s, and wher ' be t haay t o cum f r om wi t hout st r i ppi n' and

st ar vi n' ov my beds? ' Ti s shamef ul t o see how f ol ks act s wi '

f l ower s now- a- days, a cut t i n' on ' em and put t i n' on ' em about , as

pr odi gal at t hough t haay gr owed o' t hei r sel ves. "

" So ' t i s shamef ul , " sai d Davi d, whose sympat hi es f or f l ower s wer e

al l wi t h Si mon. " I heer s t el l as young Squi r e Wur l ey hevs ' em on

t abl e at di nner - t i me i nst ead o' t he wi t t el s. "

" Do' ee t hough! I cal l s i t r eg' l ar Papi st r y, and so I t el l s Mi ss;

but her onl y l aughs. "

Page 413 of 443

The const abl e shook hi s head sol emnl y as he r epl i ed " Her ' ve been

l ed away wi ' such doi n' s ever sence Mr . Wal ker cum, and t ook t o

or gan- pl ayi n' and chant i n' . "

" And he ai n' t no such gur t t hi ngs i n t he pul pi t , neet her , ai n' t

Mr . Wal ker , " chi med i n Si mon, ( t he t wo had not been so i n har mony

f or year s) . " I r eckon as he ai n' t not hi n' t o speak ov al ongsi de

o' t hi s her e new un as hev t uk hi s pl ace. He' ve a got a good deal

o' move i n un' he hev. "

" Ah, so a hev. A wunner f ul si ght o' t hi ngs a t el l ed us t ' ot her

ni ght , about t he I ndi ans and t he war s. "

" Ah! t al ki ng cums as nat ' r al t o he as but t er mi l k t o a l i t t er i n'

sow. "

" Thou shoul d' st a heer d un, t hough, about t he bat t l es. I can' t

mi nd t he neames on ' em- - l et me see- - "

" I dwun' t val l ey t he neames, " i nt er r upt ed Si mon. " Thaay makes a

deal o' f uss auver t ' t aal , but I dwun' t t ek no account on' t .

Tai n' t l i ke t he owl d war s and f i ght i n' o' t he Fr ench, t hi s her e

f i ght i n' wi ' bl ackamoor s, l et ' em t al k as t haay wool . "

" No mor e ' t ai n' t . But ' t wur a ' mazi n' f i ne t al k as he gi ' n us.

Hev ' ee seed ought ' t wi xt he and young mi ssus?"

" Not hi n' out o' t h' common. I got pl ent y t o do wi t hout l ooki n'

ar t er t he women, and ' t ai n' t no bi sness o' mi ne, nor o' t hi ne

neet her . "

Davi d was pr epar i ng a st out r ej oi nder t o t hi s r ebuke of t he ol d

r et ai ner of t he Wi nt er f ami l y on hi s cur i osi t y, but was summoned

by hi s wi f e t o t he house t o at t end a cust omer ; and by t he t i me he

coul d get out agai n, Si mon had di sappear ed.

The next day East and Tom ar r i ved, and t ook possessi on of t he Red

Li on; and Engl ebour n was soon i n a f er ment of pr epar at i on f or t he

weddi ng. East was not t he man t o do t hi ngs by hal ves; and,

seconded as he was by Mi ss Wi nt er , and Har dy, and Tom, had soon

made ar r angement s f or al l sor t s of mer r ymaki ng. The

school - chi l dr en wer e t o have a whol e hol i day, and, af t er

scat t er i ng f l ower s at chur ch and mar chi ng i n t he br i dal

pr ocessi on, wer e t o be ent er t ai ned i n a t ent pi t ched i n t he home

paddock of t he Rect or y, and t o have an af t er noon of games and

pr i zes, and cake and t ea. The bel l - r i nger s, Har r y' s ol d comr ades,

wer e t o have f i ve shi l l i ngs api ece, and a cr i cket mat ch, and a

di nner af t er war ds at t he second publ i c house, t o whi ch any ot her

of hi s ol d f r i ends whom Har r y chose t o ask, wer e t o be al so

i nvi t ed. The ol d men and women wer e t o be f ed i n t he vi l l age

school - r oom; and East and Tom wer e t o ent er t ai n a sel ect par t y of

t he f ar mer s and t r adesmen, at t he Red Li on; t he t ap of whi ch

host el r y was t o be t hr own open t o al l comer s at t he Capt ai n' s

expense. I t was not wi t hout consi der abl e demur on t he par t of

Mi ss Wi nt er , t hat some of t hese i ndi scr i mi nat e f est i vi t i es wer e

al l owed t o pass. But af t er consul t i ng wi t h Har dy, she r el ent ed,

on condi t i on t hat t he i ssue of beer at t he t wo publ i c - houses

shoul d be put under t he cont r ol of Davi d, t he const abl e, who, on

hi s par t , pr omi sed t hat l aw and or der shoul d be wel l r epr esent ed

and mai nt ai ned on t he occasi on. " Ar t er al l , Mi ss, you sees, ' t i s

onl y f or once i n a waay, " he sai d; " and ' t wi l l make ' em r emember

aal as hev bi n sai d t o ' em about t he I ndi ans, and t he r est on' t . "

So t he Capt ai n and hi s abet t or s, havi ng gai ned t he const abl e as

Page 414 of 443

an al l y, pr evai l ed; and Engl ebour n, much wonder i ng at i t sel f ,

made r eady f or a gener al hol i day.

CHAPTER XLVI I

THE WEDDI NG- DAY

One- mor e- poor - man- un- done

One- mor e- poor - man- un- done

The bel f r y t ower r ocked and r eel ed, as t hat peal r ang out , now

mer r y, now scor nf ul , now pl ai nt i ve, f r om whose nar r ow bel f r y

wi ndows, i nt o t he bosom of t he sof t sout h- west wi nd, whi ch was

pl ayi ng r ound t he ol d gr ey t ower of Engl ebour n chur ch. And t he

wi nd caught t he peal and pl ayed wi t h i t , and bor e i t away over

Rect or y and vi l l age st r eet , and many a homest ead, and gent l y

wavi ng f i el d of r i peni ng cor n, and r i ch past ur e and wat er - meadow,

and t al l whi sper i ng woods of t he Gr ange, and r ol l ed i t agai nst

t he hi l l - si de, and up t he sl ope past t he cl ump of f i r s on t he

Hawk' s Lynch, t i l l i t di ed away on t he wi l d st r et ches of common

beyond.

The r i nger s bent l ust i l y t o t hei r wor k. Ther e had been no such

r i ngi ng i n Engl ebour n si nce t he end of t he gr eat war . Not cont ent

wi t h t he usual peal out of chur ch, t hey came back agai n and agai n

i n t he af t er noon, f ul l of t he good cheer whi ch had been pr ovi ded

f or t hem; and agai n and agai n t he weddi ng peal r ang out f r om t he

bel f r y i n honour of t hei r ol d comr ade- -

One- mor e- poor - man- un- done

One- mor e- poor - man- un- done

Such was t he ungal l ant speech whi ch f or many gener at i ons had been

at t r i but ed t o t he Engl ebour n weddi ng- bel l s; when you had once

caught t he wor ds- - as you woul d be sur e t o do f r om some

wi de- mout hed gr i nni ng boy, l oungi ng over t he chur chyar d r ai l s t o

see t he weddi ng pass- - i t woul d be i mpossi bl e t o per suade your sel f

t hat t hey di d, i n f act , say anyt hi ng el se. Somehow, Har r y Wi nbur n

bor e hi s undoi ng i n t he most her oi c manner , and di d hi s dut y

t hr oughout t he t r yi ng day as a non- commi ssi oned gr oom shoul d. The

onl y par t of t he per f or mance ar r anged by hi s capt ai n whi ch he

f ai r l y r esi st ed, was t he pr oposed depar t ur e of hi msel f and Pat t y

t o t he sol i t ar y post - chai se of Engl ebour n- - a r eal ol d

yel l ow- - wi t h a pai r of hor ses. East , af t er hear i ng t he ser geant ' s

pl eadi ng on t he subj ect of vehi cl es, at l ast al l owed t hem t o

dr i ve of f i n a t ax- car t , t aki ng a smal l boy wi t h t hem behi nd, t o

br i ng i t back.

As f or t he f est i vi t i es, t hey went of f wi t hout hi t ch, as such

af f ai r s wi l l , wher e t he l eader s of t he r evel s have t hei r hear t s

i n t hem. The chi l dr en had al l pl ayed, and r omped, and eat en and

dr unk t hemsel ves i nt o a st at e of t or por by an ear l y hour of t he

eveni ng. The f ar mer s' di nner was a deci ded success. East pr oposed

t he heal t h of t he br i de and br i degr oom, and was f ol l owed by

Far mer Gr ove and t he const abl e. Davi d t ur ned out i n a new bl ue

swal l ow- t ai l ed coat , wi t h met al but t ons, of hi s own f abul ous cut ,

i n honor of t he occasi on. He and t he f ar mer spoke l i ke t he l eader

of t he Gover nment and t he Opposi t i on i n t he House of Commons on

an addr ess t o t he Cr own. Ther e was not a pi n t o choose bet ween

Page 415 of 443

t hei r speeches, and a st r anger hear i ng t hem woul d nat ur al l y have

concl uded t hat Har r y had never been anyt hi ng but t he model boy

and young man of t he par i sh. For t unat el y, t he or at or i cal power s

of Engl ebour n ended her e; and East , and t he maj or i t y of hi s

guest s, adj our ned t o t he gr een, wher e t he cr i cket was i n

pr ogr ess. Each game l ast ed a ver y shor t t i me onl y, as t he yout h

of Engl ebour n wer e not exper t s i n t he nobl e sci ence, and l ost

t hei r wi cket s one af t er anot her so f ast , t hat Tom and Har dy had

t i me t o pl ay out t wo mat ches wi t h t hem, and t hen t o r et i r e on

t hei r l aur el s, whi l e t he af t er noon was yet young.

The ol d f ol ks i n t he vi l l age school - r oom enj oyed t hei r beef and

puddi ng, under t he speci al super i nt endence of Mi ss Wi nt er , and

t hen t oddl ed t o t hei r homes, and sat about i n t he war mest nooks

t hey coul d f i nd, mumbl i ng of ol d t i mes, and t he doi ngs at Dr .

Wi nt er ' s weddi ng.

Davi d devot ed hi msel f t o super i nt endi ng t he i ssue of beer ,

swel l i ng wi t h i mpor t ance, but so f ul l of t he mi l k of human

ki ndness f r om t he gr eat event of t he day, t hat nobody mi nded hi s

l i t t l e ai r s. He di d hi s dut y so sat i sf act or i l y t hat , wi t h t he

except i on of one or t wo r egul ar conf i r med soaker s, who st uck

st eadi l y t o t he t ap of t he Red Li on, and t her e managed

successf ul l y t o f uddl e t hemsel ves, t her e was not hi ng l i ke

dr unkenness. I n shor t , i t was one of t hose r ar e days when

ever yt hi ng goes r i ght , and ever ybody seems t o be i ncl i ned t o gi ve

and t ake, and t o make al l owances f or t hei r nei ghbour s. By degr ees

t he cr i cket f l agged, and most of t he men went of f t o si t over

t hei r pi pes, and f i ni sh t he eveni ng i n t hei r own way. The boys

and gi r l s t ook t o pl ayi ng at " ki ssi ng i n t he r i ng; " and t he

chi l dr en who had not al r eady gone home sat i n gr oups wat chi ng

t hem.

Mi ss Wi nt er had al r eady di sappear ed, and Tom, Har dy and t he

Capt ai n began t o f eel t hat t hey mi ght consi der t hei r par t

f i ni shed. They st r ol l ed t oget her of f t he gr een t owar ds Har dy' s

l odgi ngs, t he " Red Li on" bei ng st i l l i n possessi on of East ' s

guest s.

" Wel l , how do you t hi nk i t al l went of f ?" asked he. " Not hi ng

coul d have been bet t er , " sai d Har dy; " and t hey al l seem so

i ncl i ned t o be r easonabl e t hat I don' t t hi nk we shal l even have a

r oar i ng song al ong t he st r eet t o- ni ght when t he " Red Li on" shut s

up. "

" And you ar e sat i sf i ed, Tom?"

" I shoul d t hi nk so. I have been hopi ng f or t hi s day any t i me t hi s

f our year s, and now i t has come, and gone of f wel l , t oo, t hanks

t o you, Har r y. "

" Thanks t o me? Ver y good; I am open t o any amount of gr at i t ude. "

" I t hi nk you have ever y r eason t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h your second

day' s wor k at Engl ebour n, at any r at e. "

" So I am. I onl y hope i t may t ur n out as wel l as t he f i r st . "

" Oh, t her e' s no doubt about t hat . "

" I don' t know. I r at her bel i eve i n t he r ul e of cont r ar i es. "

" How do you mean?"

Page 416 of 443

" Why, when you i nvei gl ed me over f r om Oxf or d, and we car r i ed of f

t he ser geant f r om t he aut hor i t i es, and def eat ed t he yeomanr y i n

t hat t r emendous t hunder - st or m, I t hought we wer e a coupl e of

i di ot s, and deser ved a week each i n t he l ockup f or our pai ns.

That busi ness t ur ned out wel l . Thi s t i me we have st ar t ed wi t h

f l yi ng col our s and bel l s r i ngi ng, and so- - "

" Thi s busi ness wi l l t ur n out bet t er . Why not ?"

" Then l et us manage a t hi r d day' s wor k i n t hese par t s as soon as

possi bl e. I shoul d l i ke t o get t o t he t hi r d degr ee of compar i son,

and per haps t he super l at i ve wi l l t ur n up t r umps f or me somehow.

Ar e t her e many mor e young women i n t he pl ace as pr et t y as Mr s.

Wi nbur n? Thi s mar r yi ng compl ai nt i s ver y cat chi ng, I f i nd. "

" Ther e' s my cousi n Kat i e, " sai d Tom, l ooki ng st eal t hi l y at Har dy;

" I won' t al l ow t hat t her e' s any f ace i n t he count r y - si de t o mat ch

her s. What do you say, Jack?"

Har dy was conf used by t hi s sudden appeal .

" I haven' t been l ong enough her e t o j udge, " he sai d. " I have

al ways consi der ed Mi ss Wi nt er ver y beaut i f ul . I see i t i s near l y

seven o' cl ock, and I have a cal l or t wo t o make i n t he vi l l age. I

shoul d t hi nk you ought t o get some r est af t er t hi s t i r i ng day,

Capt ai n East ?"

" What ar e you goi ng t o do, Tom?"

" W el l , I was t hi nki ng of j ust t hr owi ng a f l y over t he mi l l t ai l .

Ther e' s such a f i ne head of wat er on. "

" I sn' t i t t oo br i ght ?"

" W el l , per haps i t i s a l i t t l e; mar r yi ng weat her and f i shi ng

weat her don' t agr ee. Onl y what el se i s t her e t o do? But i f you

ar e t i r ed, " he added, l ooki ng at East , " I don' t car e a st r aw

about i t . I shal l st ay wi t h you. "

" Not a bi t of i t . I shal l hobbl e down wi t h you, and l i e on t he

bank and smoke a cher oot . "

" No, you shan' t wal k, at any r at e. I can bor r ow t he const abl e' s

pony, ol d Ni bbl e, t he qui et est beast i n t he wor l d. He' l l st and

f or a week i f we l i ke, whi l e I f i sh and you l i e and l ook on. I ' l l

be of f and br i ng hi m ar ound i n t wo mi nut es. "

" Then we shal l meet f or a cl umsy t ea at ni ne at my l odgi ngs, "

sai d Har dy, as he went of f t o hi s past or al dut i es.

Tom and East , i n due t i me, f ound t hemsel ves by t he si de of t he

st r eam. Ther e was onl y a smal l pi ece of f i shabl e wat er i n

Engl ebour n. The f i ne st r eam, whi ch, a mi l e or so bel ow, i n t he

Gr ange gr ounds, mi ght be cal l ed a r i ver , came i nt o r espect abl e

exi st ence onl y about t wo hundr ed yar ds above Engl ebour n Mi l l .

Her e t wo l i t t l e chal k br ooks met , and f or mer mi l l er s had

j udi ci ousl y deepened t he channel , and dammed t he uni t ed wat er s

back so as t o get a r espect abl e r eser voi r . Above t he j unct i on t he

l i t t l e weedy, br i ght , cr eepi ng br ooks af f or ded good spor t f or

smal l t r uant s gr oppl i ng about wi t h t hei r hands, or bobbi ng wi t h

l ob wor ms under t he hol l ow banks, but wer e not avai l abl e f or t he

sci ent i f i c angl er . The par i sh ended at t he f ence next bel ow t he

mi l l gar den, on t he ot her si de of whi ch t he l and was par t of t he

Gr ange est at e. So t her e was j ust t he pi ece of st i l l wat er above

Page 417 of 443

t he mi l l , and t he one f i el d bel ow i t , over whi ch Tom had l eave.

On or di nar y occasi ons t hi s woul d have been enough, wi t h car ef ul

f i shi ng, t o l ast hi m t i l l dar k; but hi s ner ves wer e pr obabl y

somewhat exci t ed by t he event s of t he day, and East sat near and

kept t al ki ng; so he got over hi s wat er f ast er t han usual . At any

r at e, he had ar r i ved f or t he second t i me at t he envi ous f ence

bef or e t he sun was down. The f i sh wer e wondr ous war y i n t he

mi l l er ' s bi t of wat er - - as mi ght be expect ed, f or t hey l ed a dog

of a l i f e t her e, bet ween t he mi l l er and hi s men and t hei r net s,

and bai t s of al l ki nds al ways set . So Tom t hought hi msel f l ucky

t o get a coupl e of decent f i sh, t he onl y ones t hat wer e movi ng

wi t hi n hi s l i ber t y; but he coul d not hel p l ooki ng wi t h covet ous

eyes on t he f i ne st r et ch of wat er bel ow, al l di mpl i ng wi t h r i ses.

" Why don' t you get over and f i sh bel ow?" sai d East , f r om hi s seat

on t he bank; " don' t mi nd me. I can wat ch you; besi des, l yi ng on

t he t ur f on such an eveni ng i s l uxur y enough by i t sel f . "

" I can' t go. Bot h si des bel ow bel ong t o t hat f el l ow Wur l ey. "

" The ser geant ' s ami abl e l andl or d and pr osecut or ?"

" Yes; and t he yeoman wi t h whom you exchanged shot s on t he

common. "

" Hang i t , Tom, j ust j ump over and cat ch a br ace of hi s t r out .

Look how t hey ar e r i si ng. "

" No, I don' t know. I never was ver y par t i cul ar about poachi ng,

but somehow I shoul dn' t l i ke t o do i t on hi s l and. I don' t l i ke

hi m wel l enough. "

" You' r e r i ght , I bel i eve. But j ust l ook t her e. Ther e' s a whopper

r i si ng not mor e t han t en yar ds bel ow t he r ai l . You mi ght r each

hi m, I t hi nk, wi t hout t r espassi ng, f r om wher e you st and. "

" Shal l I have a shy at hi m?"

" Yes; i t can' t be poachi ng i f you don' t go on hi s gr ounds. "

Tom coul d not r esi st t he t empt at i on, and t hr ew over t he r ai l s,

whi ch cr ossed t he st r eam f r om hedge t o hedge t o mar k t he

boundar i es of t he par i sh, unt i l he got wel l over t he pl ace wher e

t he f i sh was r i si ng.

" Ther e, t hat was at your f l y, " sai d East , hobbl i ng up i n gr eat

exci t ement .

" Al l r i ght , I shal l have hi m di r ect l y. Ther e he i s. Hul l o! Har r y,

I say! Spl ash wi t h your st i ck. Dr i ve t he br ut e back. Bad l uck t o

hi m. Look at t hat ! "

The f i sh, when hooked, had come st r ai ght up st r eam t owar ds hi s

capt or , and not wi t hst andi ng East ' s at t empt s t o f r i ght en hi m back,

he r ushed i n under t he bef or e- ment i oned wal l s, whi ch wer e ador ned

wi t h j agged nai l s, t o make cr ossi ng on t hem unpl easant f or t he

Engl ebour n boys. Agai nst one of t hese Tom' s l i ne sever ed, and t he

wat er s cl osed over t wo beaut eous f l i es, and some si x f eet of

l ovel y t aper gut .

East l aughed l oud and mer r i l y; and Tom, cr est f al l en as he was,

was del i ght ed t o hear t he ol d r i ng comi ng back i nt o hi s f r i end' s

voi ce.

Page 418 of 443

" Har r y, ol d f el l ow, you' r e pi cki ng up al r eady i n t hi s gl or i ous

ai r . "

" Of cour se I am. Two or t hr ee mor e weddi ngs and f i shi ngs wi l l set

me up al t oget her . How coul d you be so gr een as t o t hr ow over

t hose r ai l s? I t ' s a pr oper l esson t o you, Tom, f or poachi ng. "

" Wel l , t hat ' s cool . Di dn' t I t hr ow down st r eam t o pl ease you?"

" You ought t o have r esi st ed t empt at i on. But , I say, what ar e you

at ?"

" Put t i ng on anot her cast , of cour se. "

" Why, you' r e not goi ng on t o Wur l ey' s l and?"

" No; I suppose not . I must t r y t he mi l l t ai l agai n. "

" I t ' s no good. You' ve t r i ed i t over t wi ce, and I ' m get t i ng

bor ed. "

" Wel l , what shal l we do t hen?"

" I ' ve a mi nd t o get up t o t he hi l l t her e t o see t he sun

set - - what ' s i t s name?- - wher e I wai t ed wi t h t he caval r y t hat

ni ght , you know. "

" Oh! t he Hawk' s Lynch. Come al ong, t hen; I ' m your man. "

So Tom put up hi s r od, and caught t he ol d pony, and t he t wo

f r i ends wer e soon on t hei r way t owar ds t he common, t hr ough l anes

at t he back of t he vi l l age.

The wi nd had sunk t o sl eep as t he shadows l engt hened. Ther e was

no sound abr oad except t hat of Ni bbl e' s hoof s on t he t ur f , - - not

even t he hum of i nsect s; f or t he f ew per sever i ng gnat s, who wer e

st i l l danci ng about i n t he sl ant i ng gl i nt s of sunshi ne t hat

st r uck her e and t her e acr oss t he l anes, had l ef t of f hummi ng.

Not hi ng l i vi ng met t hem except an occasi onal st ag- beet l e,

st eer i ng cl umsi l y down t he l ane, and seemi ng l i ke a heavy

coast er , t o have as much t o do as he coul d f ai r l y manage i n

keepi ng cl ear of t hem. They wal ked on i n si l ence f or some t i me,

whi ch was br oken at l ast by East .

" I haven' t had t i me t o t el l you about my f ut ur e pr ospect s. "

" How do you mean? Has anyt hi ng happened?"

" Yes. I got a l et t er t wo days ago f r om New Zeal and, wher e I f i nd

I am a consi der abl e l andowner . A cousi n of mi ne has di ed out

t her e and has l ef t me hi s pr oper t y. "

" W el l , you' r e not goi ng t o l eave Engl and, sur el y?"

" Yes, I am. The doct or s say t he voyage wi l l do me good, and t he

cl i mat e i s j ust t he one t o sui t me. What ' s t he good of my st ayi ng

her e? I shan' t be f i t f or ser vi ce agai n f or year s. I shal l go on

hal f - pay, and become an ent er pr i si ng agr i cul t ur i st at t he

Ant i podes. I have spoken t o t he ser geant , and ar r anged t hat he

and hi s wi f e shal l go wi t h me; so, as soon as I can get hi s

di schar ge, and he has done honeymooni ng, we shal l st ar t . I wi sh

you woul d come wi t h us. "

Tom coul d scar cel y bel i eve hi s ear s; but soon f ound t hat East was

Page 419 of 443

i n ear nest , and had an answer t o al l hi s r emonst r ances. I ndeed,

he had ver y l i t t l e t o say agai nst t he pl an, f or i t j umped wi t h

hi s own humour ; and he coul d not hel p admi t t i ng t hat , under t he

ci r cumst ances, i t was a wi se one, and t hat , wi t h Har r y Wi nbur n

f or hi s head man, East coul dn' t do bet t er t han car r y i t out .

" I knew you woul d soon come ar ound t o i t , " sai d t he Capt ai n;

" what coul d I do dawdl i ng about at home, wi t h j ust enough money

t o keep me and get me i nt o mi schi ef ? Ther e I shal l have a

posi t i on and an obj ect ; and one may be of some use, and make

one' s mar k i n a new count r y. And we' l l get a snug ber t h r eady f or

you by t he t i me you' r e st ar ved out of t he ol d count r y. Engl and

i sn' t t he pl ace f or poor men wi t h any go i n t hem. "

" I bel i eve you' r e r i ght , Har r y, " sai d Tom, mour nf ul l y.

" I know I am. And i n a f ew year s, when we' ve made our f or t unes,

we' l l come back and have a l ook at t he ol d count r y, and per haps

buy up hal f Engl ebour n and l ay our bones i n t he ol d chur ch yar d. "

" And i f we don' t make our f or t unes?"

" Then we' l l st ay out t her e. "

" Wel l , i f I wer e my own mast er I t hi nk I shoul d make one wi t h

you. But I coul d never l eave my f at her and mot her , or - - or - - "

" Oh, I under st and. Of cour se, i f mat t er s go al l r i ght i n t hat

quar t er , I have not hi ng mor e t o say. But , f r om what you have t ol d

me, I t hought you mi ght be gl ad of a r egul ar br eak i n your l i f e,

a new st ar t i n a new wor l d. "

" Ver y l i kel y I may. I shoul d have sai d so mysel f t hi s mor ni ng.

But somehow I f eel t o- ni ght mor e hopef ul t han I have f or year s. "

" Those weddi ng chi mes ar e r unni ng i n your head. "

" Yes; and t hey have l i f t ed a l oad of f my hear t t oo. Four year s

ago I was ver y near doi ng t he gr eat est wr ong a man can do t o t hat

gi r l who was mar r i ed t o- day, and t o t hat f i ne f el l ow her husband,

who was t he f i r st f r i end I ever had. Ever si nce t hen I have been

doi ng my best t o set mat t er s st r ai ght , and have of t en made t hem

cr ookeder . But t o- day t hey ar e al l st r ai ght , t hank God, and I

f eel as i f a chai n wer e br oken f r om of f my neck. Al l has come

r i ght f or t hem, and per haps my own t i me wi l l come bef or e l ong. "

" To be sur e i t wi l l . I must be i nt r oduced t o a cer t ai n young l ady

bef or e we st ar t . I shal l t el l her t hat I don' t mean t o gi ve up

hopes of seei ng her on t he ot her si de of t he wor l d. "

" Wel l , her e we ar e on t he common. What a gl or i ous sunset ! Come,

st i r up, Ni bbl e. We shal l be on t he Lynch j ust i n t i me t o see hi m

di p i f we push on. "

Ni bbl e, t he anci ent pony, f i ndi ng t hat t her e was no hel p f or i t ,

scr ambl ed up t he gr eat er par t of t he ascent successf ul l y. But hi s

wheezi ngs and r oar i ngs dur i ng t he oper at i on exci t ed East ' s pi t y;

so he di smount ed when t hey came t o t he f oot of t he Hawk' s Lynch,

and, t yi ng Ni bbl e' s br i dl e t o a f ur ze- bush- - a most unnecessar y

pr ecaut i on- - set t o wor k t o scal e t he l ast and deepest bi t of t he

ascent wi t h t he hel p of hi s st i ck- - and Tom' s st r ong- ar m.

They paused ever y t en paces or so t o r est and l ook at t he sunset .

The br oad val e bel ow l ay i n pur pl e shadow; t he sof t f l ocks of

Page 420 of 443

l i t t l e cl ouds hi gh up over t hei r heads, and st r et chi ng away t o

t he east er n hor i zon, f l oat ed i n a sea of r osy l i ght ; and t he

st ems of t he Scot ch f i r s st ood out l i ke col umns of r uddy f l ame.

" Why, t hi s beat s I ndi a, " sai d East , put t i ng up hi s hand t o shade

hi s eyes, whi ch wer e f ai r l y dazzl ed by t he bl aze. " What a

cont r ast t o t he l ast t i me I was up her e! Do you r emember t hat

awf ul bl ack- bl ue sky?"

" Don' t I ? Li ke a ni ght - mar e. Hul l o! who' s her e?"

" Why, i f i t i sn' t t he par son and Mi ss Wi nt er , " sai d East ,

smi l i ng.

Tr ue enough, t her e t hey wer e, st andi ng t oget her on t he ver y ver ge

of t he mound, beyond t he f i r s, some t en yar ds i n f r ont of t he

l ast comer s, l ooki ng out i nt o t he sunset .

" I say, Tom, anot her good omen, " whi sper ed East ; " hadn' t we

bet t er beat a r et r eat ?"

Bef or e Tom coul d answer , or make up hi s mi nd what t o do, Har dy

t ur ned hi s head and caught si ght of t hem, and t hen Kat i e t ur ned

t oo, bl ushi ng l i ke t he l i t t l e cl ouds over head. I t was an

embar r assi ng moment . Tom st ammer ed out t hat t hey had come up

qui t e by chance, and t hen set t o wor k, wel l seconded by East , t o

l ook desper at el y unconsci ous, and t o expat i at e on t he beaut i es of

t he vi ew. The l i ght began t o f ade, and t he l i t t l e cl ouds t o

change agai n f r om sof t pi nk t o gr ey, and t he eveni ng st ar shone

out cl ear as t hey t ur ned t o descend t he hi l l , when t he Engl ebour n

cl ock chi med ni ne.

Kat i e at t ached her sel f t o Tom, whi l e Har dy hel ped t he Capt ai n

down t he st eep pi t ch, and on t o t he back of Ni bbl e. They went a

l i t t l e ahead. Tom was l ongi ng t o speak t o hi s cousi n, but coul d

not t el l how t o begi n. At l ast Kat i e br oke t he si l ence;

" I am so vexed t hat t hi s shoul d have happened! "

" Ar e you, dear ? So am not I , " he sai d, pr essi ng her ar m t o hi s

si de.

" But I mean, i t seems so f or war d- - as i f I had met Mr . Har dy her e

on pur pose. What wi l l your f r i end t hi nk of me?"

" He wi l l t hi nk no evi l . "

" But i ndeed, Tom, do t el l hi m, pr ay. I t was qui t e an acci dent .

You know how I and Mar y used t o go up t he Hawk' s Lynch whenever

we coul d, on f i ne eveni ngs. "

" Yes, dear , I know i t wel l . "

" And I t hought of you bot h so much t o- day, t hat I coul dn' t hel p

comi ng up her e. "

" And you f ound Har dy? I don' t wonder . I shoul d come up t o see t he

sun set ever y ni ght , i f I l i ved at Engl ebour n. "

" No. He came up somet i me af t er me. St r ai ght up t he hi l l . I di d

not see hi m t i l l he was qui t e cl ose. I coul d not r un away t hen.

I ndeed, i t was not f i ve mi nut es bef or e you came. "

" Fi ve mi nut es ar e as good as a year somet i mes. "

Page 421 of 443

" And you wi l l t el l your f r i end, Tom, how i t happened?"

" I ndeed I wi l l , Kat i e. May I not t el l hi m somet hi ng mor e?"

He l ooked r ound f or an answer , and t her e was j ust l i ght enough t o

r ead i t i n her eye.

" My debt i s deepeni ng t o t he Hawk' s Lynch, " he sai d, as t hey

wal ked on t hr ough t he t wi l i ght . " Bl essed f i ve mi nut es! What ever

el se t hey may t ake wi t h t hem, t hey wi l l car r y my t hanks f or ever .

Look how cl ear and st eady t he l i ght of t hat st ar i s, j ust over

t he chur ch t ower . I wonder whet her Mar y i s at a gr eat hot di nner .

Shal l you wr i t e t o her soon?"

" Oh, yes. To- ni ght . "

" You may t el l her t hat t her e i s no bet t er Engl i shman wal ki ng t he

ear t h t han my f r i end, John Har dy. Her e we ar e at hi s l odgi ngs.

East and I ar e goi ng t o t ea wi t h hi m. Wi sh t hem good ni ght , and I

wi l l see you home. "

CHAPTER XLVI I I

THE BEGI NNI NG OF THE END

Fr om t he Engl ebour n f est i vi t i es, Tom and East r et ur ned t o London.

The Capt ai n was bent on st ar t i ng f or hi s possessi ons i n t he Sout h

Paci f i c; and, as he r egai ned st r engt h, ener gi zed over al l hi s

pr epar at i ons, and went about i n cabs pur chasi ng agr i cul t ur al

i mpl ement s, somet i mes by t he l i ght of nat ur e, and somet i mes under

t he gui dance of Har r y Wi nbur n. He i nvest ed al so i n somet hi ng of a

l i br ar y, and i n l ar ge quant i t i es of saddl er y. I n shor t , packages

of al l ki nds began t o i ncr ease and mul t i pl y upon hi m. Then t her e

was t he sel ect i ng of a vessel , and al l t he negot i at i ons wi t h t he

shi p' s capt ai n as t o t er ms, and t he busi ness of get t i ng

i nt r oduced t o, and conf er r i ng wi t h, peopl e f r om t he col ony, or

who wer e supposed t o know somet hi ng about i t . Al t oget her , East

had pl ent y of wor k on hi s hands; and t he mor e he had t o do, t he

bet t er and mor e cheer y he became.

Tom, on t he cont r ar y, was r at her l ower t han usual . Hi s

hal f - f or med hopes t hat some good l uck was goi ng t o happen t o hi m

af t er Pat t y' s mar r i age, wer e begi nni ng t o gr ow f ai nt , and t he

cont r ast of hi s f r i end' s def i ni t e pr esent pur pose i n l i f e, wi t h

hi s own uncer t ai nt y, made hi m mor e or l ess mel anchol y i n spi t e of

al l hi s ef f or t s. Hi s f at her had of f er ed hi m a t our abr oad, now

t hat he had f i ni shed wi t h Oxf or d, ur gi ng t hat he seemed t o want a

change t o f r eshen hi m up bef or e buckl i ng t o a pr of essi on, and

t hat he woul d never , i n al l l i kel i hood, have such anot her chance.

But he coul d not make up hi s mi nd t o accept t he of f er . The

at t r act i on t o London was t oo st r ong f or hi m; and, t hough he saw

l i t t l e hope of anyt hi ng happeni ng t o i mpr ove hi s pr ospect s, he

coul d not keep away f r om i t . He spent most of hi s t i me, when not

wi t h East , i n haunt i ng t he nei ghbor hood of Mr . Por t er ' s house i n

Bel gr avi a, and t he pl aces wher e he was l i kel y t o cat ch di st ant

gl i mpses of Mar y, avoi di ng al l chance of act ual meet i ng or

r ecogni t i on, f r om whi ch he shr ank i n hi s pr esent f r ame of mi nd.

The near est appr oach t o t he f l ame whi ch he al l owed hi msel f was a

r enewal of hi s ol d f r i endshi p wi t h Gr ey, who was st i l l wor ki ng on

i n hi s West mi ni st er r ooker y. He had become a gr eat f avor i t e wi t h

Page 422 of 443

Mr s. Por t er , who was al ways t r yi ng t o get hi m t o her house t o

f eed hi m pr oper l y, and was much ast oni shed, and somet i mes al most

pr ovoked, at t he smal l success of her hospi t abl e endeavor s. Gr ey

was so t aken up wi t h hi s own pur sui t s t hat i t di d not occur t o

hi m t o be sur pr i sed t hat he never met Tom at t he house of hi s

r el at i ons. He was i nnocent of al l knowl edge or suspi ci on of t he

r eal st at e of t hi ngs, so t hat Tom coul d t al k t o hi m wi t h per f ect

f r eedom about hi s uncl e' s househol d, pi cki ng up al l such scr aps

of i nf or mat i on as Gr ey possessed wi t hout compr omi si ng hi msel f or

f eel i ng shy.

Thus t he t wo ol d school f el l ows l i ved on t oget her af t er t hei r

r et ur n f r om Engl ebour n, i n a set of chamber s i n t he Templ e, whi ch

one of Tom' s col l ege f r i ends ( who had been begui l ed f r om t he

per usal of St ephen' s Comment ar i es and aspi r at i ons af t er t he

wool sack, by t he of f er of a pl ace on boar d a yacht and a cr ui se

t o Nor way) had f or t unat el y l ent hi m.

We j oi n company wi t h our her o agai n on a f i ne Jul y mor ni ng.

Reader s wi l l begi n t o t hi nk t hat , at any r at e, he i s al ways

bl essed wi t h f i ne weat her , what ever t r oubl es he may have t o

endur e; but , i f we ar e not t o have f i ne weat her i n novel s, when

and wher e ar e we t o have i t ? I t was a f i ne Jul y mor ni ng, t hen,

and t he st r eet s wer e al r eady begi nni ng t o f eel sul t r y as he

wor ked hi s way west war d. Gr ey, who had never gi ven up hopes of

br i ngi ng Tom r ound t o hi s own vi ews, had not negl ect ed t he

oppor t uni t i es whi ch t hi s r esi dence i n t own of f er ed, and had

enl i st ed Tom' s ser vi ces on mor e t han one occasi on. He had f ound

hi m speci al l y usef ul i n i nst r uct i ng t he bi g boys, whom he was

t r yi ng t o br i ng t oget her and ci vi l i ze i n a " Young Men' s Cl ub, " i n

t he r udi ment s of cr i cket on Sat ur day eveni ngs. But on t he mor ni ng

i n quest i on, an al t oget her di f f er ent wor k was on hand.

A l ady l i vi ng some ei ght or ni ne mi l es t o t he nor t h- west of

London, who t ook gr eat i nt er est i n Gr ey' s doi ngs, had asked hi m

t o br i ng t he chi l dr en of hi s ni ght - school down t o spend a day i n

her gr ounds, and t hi s was t he happy occasi on. I t was bef or e t he

days of cheap excur si ons by r ai l , so t hat vans had t o be f ound

f or t he par t y; and Gr ey had di scover ed a benevol ent r emover of

f ur ni t ur e i n Paddi ngt on, who was r eady t o t ake t hem at a

r easonabl e f i gur e. The t wo vans, wi t h awni ngs and cur t ai ns i n t he

hei ght of f ashi on, and hor ses wi t h t assel l ed ear - caps, and

ever yt hi ng handsome about t hem, wer e al r eady dr awn up i n t he

mi dst of a gr oup of exci t ed chi l dr en, and scar cel y l ess exci t ed

mot her s, when Tom ar r i ved. Gr ey was ar r angi ng hi s f or ces, and

l abour i ng t o r educe t he I r i sh chi l dr en, who f or med al most hal f

hi s r agged l i t t l e f l ock, i nt o somet hi ng l i ke or der , bef or e

st ar t i ng. By degr ees t hi s was managed, and Tom was pl aced i n

command of t he r ear van, whi l e Gr ey r eser ved t he l eadi ng one t o

hi msel f . The chi l dr en wer e di vi ded and war ned not t o l ean over

t he si des and f al l out - - a somewhat super f l uous caut i on- - as most

of t hem, t hough unused t o r i di ng i n any l egi t i mat e manner , wer e

pr et t y wel l used t o bal anci ng t hemsel ves behi nd any vehi cl e whi ch

of f er ed as much as a spi ke t o si t on, out of si ght of t he dr i ver .

Then came t he r ush i nt o t he vans. Gr ey and Tom t ook up t hei r

pl aces next t he door s as conduct or s, and t he pr ocessi on l umber ed

of f wi t h gr eat success, and much shout i ng f r om t r ebl e voi ces.

Tom soon f ound t hat he had pl ent y of wor k on hi s hands t o keep

t he peace among hi s f l ock. The I r i sh el ement was i n a st at e of

wi l d ef f er vescence, and he had t o dr af t t hem down t o hi s own end,

l eavi ng t he f or emost car t of t he van t o t he sober er Engl i sh

chi l dr en. He was much st r uck by t he cont r ast of t he whol e set t o

t he Engl ebour n school chi l dr en, whom he had l at el y seen under

Page 423 of 443

somewhat si mi l ar ci r cumst ances. The di f f i cul t y wi t h t hem had been

t o dr aw t hem out , and put anyt hi ng l i ke l i f e i nt o t hem; her e, al l

he had t o do was t o suppr ess t he super abundant l i f e. However , t he

vans hel d on t hei r way, and got saf el y i nt o t he subur bs, and so

at l ast t o an occasi onal hedge, and a suspi ci on of t r ees, and

gr een f i el ds beyond.

I t became mor e and mor e di f f i cul t now t o keep t he boys i n; and

when t hey came t o a hi l l , wher e t he hor ses had t o wal k, he

yi el ded t o t hei r ent r eat i es, and, openi ng t he door , l et t hem out ,

i nsi st i ng onl y t hat t he gi r l s shoul d r emai n seat ed. They

scat t er ed over t he si des of t he r oads, and up t he banks; now

chasi ng pi gs and f owl s up t o t he ver y door s of t hei r owner s; now

gat her i ng t he commonest r oadsi de weeds, and r unni ng up t o show

t hem t o hi m, and ask t hei r names, as i f t hey wer e r ar e t r easur es.

The i gnor ance of most of t he chi l dr en as t o t he commonest count r y

mat t er s ast oni shed hi m. One smal l boy par t i cul ar l y came back t i me

af t er t i me t o ask hi m, wi t h sol emn f ace " Pl ease, si r , i s t hi s t he

count r y?" and when at l ast he al l owed t hat i t was, r ej oi ned,

" Then, pl ease, wher e ar e t he nut s?"

The cl ot hi ng of most of t he I r i sh boys began t o t umbl e t o pi eces

i n an al ar mi ng manner . Gr ey had i nsi st ed on t hei r bei ng made t i dy

f or t he occasi on, but t he t i di ness was of a super f i ci al ki nd. The

hast y st i t chi ng soon began t o gi ve way, and t hey wer e r ushi ng

about wi t h wi l d l ocks; t he st r i ps of what once mi ght have been

net her gar ment s hangi ng about t hei r l egs; t hei r f eet and heads

bar e, t he shoes whi ch t hei r mot her s had bor r owed f or t he st at e

occasi on havi ng been deposi t ed under t he seat of t he van. So,

when t he pr ocessi on ar r i ved at t he t r i m l odge- gat es of t hei r

host ess, and hi s char ge descended and f el l i n on t he beaut i f ul l y

cl i pped t ur f at t he si de of t he dr i ve, Tom f el t some of t he

sensat i ons of Fal st af f when he had t o l ead hi s r agged r egi ment

t hr ough Covent r y st r eet s.

He was soon at hi s ease agai n, and enj oyed t he cl ay t hor oughl y,

and t he dr i ve home; but , as t hey dr ew near t own agai n, a sense of

di scomf or t and shyness came over hi m, and he wi shed t he j our ney

t o West mi nst er wel l over , and hoped t hat t he car man woul d have

t he sense t o go t hr ough t he qui et par t s of t he t own.

He was much di sconcer t ed consequent l y, when t he vans came t o a

sudden st op opposi t e one of t he Par k ent r ances, i n t he Bayswat er

Road. " What i n t he wor l d i s Gr ey about ?" he t hought , as he saw

hi m get out , and al l t he chi l dr en af t er hi m. So he got out

hi msel f , and went f or war d t o get an expl anat i on.

" Oh I have t ol d t he man t hat he need not dr i ve us r ound t o

West mi nst er . He i s cl ose at home her e, and hi s hor ses have had a

har d day; so we can j ust get out and wal k home. "

" What , acr oss t he Par k?" asked Tom.

" Yes, i t wi l l amuse t he chi l dr en, you know. "

" But t hey' r e t i r ed, " per si st ed Tom; " come now, i t ' s al l nonsense

l et t i ng t he f el l ow of f ; he' s bound t o t ake us back. "

" I ' m af r ai d I have pr omi sed hi m, " sai d Gr ey; " besi des, t he

chi l dr en al l t hi nk i t a t r eat . Don' t you al l want t o wal k acr oss

t he Par k?" he went on t ur ni ng t o t hem, and a gener al af f i r mat i ve

chor us was t he answer . So Tom had not hi ng f or i t but t o shr ug hi s

shoul der s, empt y hi s own van, and f ol l ow i nt o t he Par k wi t h hi s

convoy, not i n t he best humor wi t h Gr ey f or havi ng ar r anged t hi s

Page 424 of 443

endi ng t o t hei r excur si on.

They mi ght have got over a t hi r d of t he di st ance bet ween t he

Bayswat er Road and t he Ser pent i ne, when he was awar e of a smal l ,

t hi n voi ce addr essi ng hi m.

" Oh, pl ease won' t you car r y me a bi t ? I ' m so t i r ed, " sai d t he

voi ce. He t ur ned i n some t r epi dat i on t o l ook f or t he speaker , and

f ound her t o be a si ckl y, under gr own l i t t l e gi r l of t en or

t her eabout s, wi t h l ar ge, pl eadi ng, gr ey eyes, ver y shabbi l y

dr essed, and a l i t t l e l ame. He had r emar ked her sever al t i mes i n

t he cour se of t he day, not f or any beaut y or gr ace about her , f or

t he poor chi l d had none, but f or her t r anspar ent conf i dence and

t r ust f ul ness. Af t er di nner , as t hey had been al l si t t i ng on t he

gr ass under t he shade of a gr eat el m t o hear Gr ey r ead a st or y,

and Tom had been si t t i ng a l i t t l e apar t f r om t he r est wi t h hi s

back agai nst t he t r unk, she had come up and sat qui et l y down by

hi m, l eani ng on hi s knee. Then he had seen her go up and t ake t he

hand of t he l ady who had ent er t ai ned t hem, and wal k al ong by her ,

t al ki ng wi t hout t he l east shyness. Soon af t er war ds she had

squeezed i nt o t he swi ng by t he si de of t he beaut i f ul l y - dr essed

l i t t l e daught er of t he same l ady, who, af t er l ooki ng f or a mi nut e

at her shabby l i t t l e si st er wi t h l ar ge r ound eyes, had j umped out

and r un of f t o her mot her , evi dent l y i n a st at e of chi l di sh

bewi l der ment as t o whet her i t was not wi cked f or a chi l d t o wear

such di r t y ol d cl ot hes.

Tom had chuckl ed t o hi msel f as he saw Ci nder el l a set t l i ng her sel f

comf or t abl y i n t he swi ng i n t he pl ace of t he oust ed pr i ncess, and

had t aken a f ancy t o t he chi l d, specul at i ng t o hi msel f as t o how

she coul d have been br ought up, t o be so ut t er l y unconsci ous of

di f f er ences of r ank and dr ess. " She seems r eal l y t o t r eat her

f el l ow- cr eat ur es as i f she had been st udyi ng t he _Sar t or

Resar t us_, " he t hought . " She was cut down t hr ough al l

cl ot hes- phi l osophy wi t hout knowi ng i t . I wonder , i f she had a

chance, whet her she woul d go and si t down i n t he Queen' s l ap?"

He di d not at t he t i me ant i ci pat e t hat she woul d put hi s own

cl ot hes- phi l osophy t o so sever e a t est bef or e t he day was over .

The chi l d had been as mer r y and act i ve as any of t he r est dur i ng

t he ear l i er par t of t he day; but now, as he l ooked down i n answer

t o her r ei t er at ed pl ea, " Won' t you car r y me a bi t ? I ' m so

t i r ed! " , he saw t hat she coul d scar cel y dr ag one f oot af t er

anot her .

What was t o be done? He was al r eady keenl y al i ve t o t he

di scomf or t of wal ki ng acr oss Hyde Par k i n a pr ocessi on of r agged

chi l dr en, wi t h such a f i gur e of f un as Gr ey at t hei r head,

l ooki ng, i n hi s l ong, r ust y, st r ai ght - cut bl ack coat , as i f he

had come f r esh out of Noah' s ar k. He di dn' t car e about i t so much

whi l e t hey wer e on t he t ur f i n t he out - of - t he- way par t s, and

woul d meet nobody but guar ds, and nur se- mai ds, and t r ades- peopl e,

and mechani cs out f or an eveni ng' s st r ol l . But t he Dr i ve and

Rot t en Row l ay bef or e t hem, and must be cr ossed. I t was j ust t he

most cr owded t i me of t he day. He had al most made up hi s mi nd once

or t wi ce t o st op Gr ey and t he pr ocessi on, and pr opose t o si t down

f or hal f - an- hour or so and l et t he chi l dr en pl ay, by whi ch t i me

t he wor l d woul d be goi ng home t o di nner . But t her e was no pl ay

l ef t i n t he chi l dr en; and he had r esi st ed t he t empt at i on,

meani ng, when t hey came t o t he most cr owded par t , t o l ook

unconsci ous, as i f i t wer e by chance t hat he had got i nt o such

company, and had i n f act not hi ng t o do wi t h t hem. But now, i f he

l i st ened t o t he chi l d' s pl ea, and car r i ed her , al l hope of

conceal ment was over . I f he di d not , he f el t t hat t her e woul d be

Page 425 of 443

no gr eat er f l unkey i n t he Par k t hat eveni ng t han Thomas Br own,

t he enl i ght ened r adi cal and phi l osopher , amongst t he young

gent l emen r i der s i n Rot t en Row, or t he powder ed f oot men l oungi ng

behi nd t he gr eat bl ar i ng car r i ages i n t he Dr i ve.

So he l ooked down at t he chi l d once or t wi ce i n a st at e of

puzzl e. A t hi r d t i me she l ooked up wi t h her gr eat eyes, and sai d,

" Oh, pl ease car r y me a bi t ! " and her pi t eous, t i r ed f ace t ur ned

t he scal e. " I f she wer e Lady Mar y or Lady Bl anche, " t hought he,

" I shoul d pi ck her up at once, and be pr oud of t he bur den. Her e

goes! " And he t ook her up i n hi s ar ms, and wal ked on, desper at e

and r eckl ess.

Not wi t hst andi ng al l hi s phi l osophy, he f el t hi s ear s t i ngl i ng and

hi s f ace get t i ng r ed, as t hey appr oached t he dr i ve. I t was

cr owded. They wer e kept st andi ng a mi nut e or t wo at t he cr ossi ng.

He made a desper at e ef f or t t o abst r act hi msel f whol l y f r om t he

vi si bl e wor l d, and r et i r e i n a st at e of ser ene cont empl at i on. But

i t woul d not do; and he was pai nf ul l y consci ous of t he st ar e of

l ack- l ust r e eyes of wel l dr essed men l eani ng over t he r ai l s, and

t he amused l ook of del i cat e l adi es, l oungi ng i n open car r i ages,

and sur veyi ng hi m and Gr ey and t hei r r agged r out t hr ough gl asses.

At l ast t hey scr ambl ed acr oss, and he br eat hed f r eel y f or a

mi nut e, as t hey st r uggl ed al ong t he compar at i vel y qui et pat h

l eadi ng t o Al ber t Gat e, and st opped t o dr i nk at t he f ount ai n.

Then came Rot t en Row, and anot her pause amongst t he l ounger s, and

a pl unge i nt o t he Ri de, wher e he was near l y r un down by t wo men

whom he had known at Oxf or d. They shout ed t o hi m t o get out of

t he way; and he f el t t he hot def i ant bl ood r ushi ng t hr ough hi s

vei ns, as he st r ode acr oss wi t hout heedi ng. They passed on, one

of t hem havi ng t o pul l hi s hor se out of hi s st r i de t o avoi d hi m.

Di d t hey r ecogni ze hi m? He f el t a st r ange mi xt ur e of ut t er

i ndi f f er ence, and l ongi ng t o st r angl e t hem.

The wor st was now over ; besi des, he was get t i ng used t o t he

si t uat i on, and hi s good sense was begi nni ng t o r al l y. So he

mar ched t hr ough Al ber t Gat e, car r yi ng hi s r agged l i t t l e char ge,

who pr at t l ed away t o hi m wi t hout a pause, and sur r ounded by t he

r est of t he chi l dr en, scar cel y car i ng who mi ght see hi m.

They won saf el y t hr ough t he omni buses and car r i ages on t he

Kensi ngt on Road, and so i nt o Bel gr avi a. At l ast he was qui t e at

hi s ease agai n, and began l i st eni ng t o what t he chi l d was sayi ng

t o hi m, and was st r ol l i ng car el essl y al ong, when once mor e at one

of t he cr ossi ngs, he was st ar t l ed by a shout f r om some r i der s.

Ther e was st r aw l ai d down i n t he st r eet , so t hat he had not hear d

t hem as t hey cant er ed r ound t he cor ner , hur r yi ng home t o dr ess

f or di nner ; and t hey wer e al l but upon hi m, and had t o r ei n up

t hei r hor ses shar pl y.

The par t y consi st ed of a l ady and t wo gent l emen, one ol d, t he

ot her young- - t he l at t er dr essed i n t he hei ght of f ashi on, and

wi t h t he super ci l i ous ai r whi ch Tom hat ed f r om hi s soul . The

shout came f r om t he young man, and dr ew Tom' s at t ent i on t o hi m

f i r st . Al l t he devi l r ushed up as he r ecogni zed St . Cl oud. The

l ady' s hor se swer ved agai nst hi s, and began t o r ear . He put hi s

hand on i t s br i dl e, as i f he had a r i ght t o pr ot ect her . Anot her

gl ance t ol d Tom t hat t he l ady was Mar y, and t he ol d gent l eman,

f ussi ng up on hi s st out cob on t he ot her si de of her , Mr . Por t er .

They al l knew hi m i n anot her moment . He st ar ed f r om one t o t he

ot her , was consci ous t hat she t ur ned her hor se' s head shar pl y, so

as t o di sengage t he br i dl e f r om St . Cl oud' s hand, and of hi s

Page 426 of 443

i nsol ent st ar e, and of t he embar r assment of Mr . Por t er , and t hen,

set t i ng hi s f ace st r ai ght bef or e hi m, he passed on i n a

bewi l der ed dr eam, never l ooki ng back t i l l t hey wer e out of si ght .

The dr eam gave way t o bi t t er and wi l d t hought s, upon whi ch i t

wi l l do none of us any good t o dwel l . He put down t he l i t t l e gi r l

out si de t he school s, t ur ni ng abr upt l y f r om t he mot her , a poor

wi dow i n scant , wel l - pr eser ved bl ack cl ot hes who was wai t i ng f or

t he chi l d, and began t hanki ng hi m f or hi s car e of her ; r ef used

Gr ey' s pr essi ng i nvi t at i on t o t ea, and set hi s f ace east war d.

Bi t t er er and mor e wi l d and mor e scor nf ul gr ew hi s t hought s as he

st r ode al ong past t he Abbey, and up Whi t ehal l , and away down t he

St r and, hol di ng on over t he cr ossi ngs wi t hout payi ng t he

sl i ght est heed t o vehi cl e, or hor se, or man. I ncensed coachmen

had t o pul l up wi t h a j er k t o avoi d r unni ng over hi m, and mor e

t han one st ur dy wal ker t ur ned r ound i n i ndi gnat i on at a col l i si on

whi ch t hey f el t had been i nt ended, or at l east whi ch t her e had

been no ef f or t t o avoi d.

As he passed under t he wi ndow of t he Banquet i ng Hal l , and by t he

pl ace i n Char i ng Cr oss wher e t he pi l l or y used t o st and, he

gr owl ed t o hi msel f what a pi t y i t was t hat t he t i mes f or cut t i ng

of f heads and cr oppi ng ear s had gone by. The whol e of t he dense

popul at i on f r om ei t her si de of t he St r and seemed t o have cr owded

out i nt o t hat t hor oughf ar e t o i mpede hi s mar ch and aggr avat e hi m.

The f ur t her east war d he got , t he t hi cker got t he cr owd, and t he

vans, t he omni buses, t he cabs, seemed t o mul t i pl y and get

noi si er . Not an al t oget her pl easant si ght t o a man i n t he most

Chr i st i an f r ame of mi nd i s t he cr owd t hat a f i ne summer eveni ng

f et ches out i nt o t he r oar i ng St r and, as t he sun f et ches out f l i es

on t he wi ndow of a vi l l age gr ocer y. To hi m j ust t hen i t was at

once depr essi ng and pr ovoki ng, and he went shoul der i ng hi s way

t owar ds Templ e Bar as t hor oughl y out of t une as he had been f or

many a l ong day.

As he passed f r om t he nar r owest par t of t he St r and i nt o t he space

r ound St . Cl ement Danes' chur ch, he was st ar t l ed, i n a moment ar y

l ul l of t he upr oar , by t he sound of chi mi ng bel l s. He sl ackened

hi s pace t o l i st en; but a huge van l umber ed by, shaki ng t he

houses on bot h si des, and dr owni ng al l sounds but i t s own r at t l e;

and t hen he f ound hi msel f suddenl y i mmer sed i n a cr owd,

voci f er at i ng and gest i cul at i ng r ound a pol i ceman, who was

conveyi ng a woman t owar ds t he st at i on- house. He shoul der ed

t hr ough i t - - anot her l ul l came, and wi t h i t t he same sl ow, gent l e,

cal m cadence of chi mi ng bel l s. Agai n and agai n he caught i t as he

passed on t o Templ e Bar ; whenever t he r oar subsi ded, t he not es of

t he ol d hymn t une came dr oppi ng down on hi m l i ke bal m f r om t he

ai r . I f t he anci ent benef act or who caused t he bel l s of St .

Cl ement Danes' Chur ch t o be ar r anged t o pl ay t hat chi me so many

t i mes a day i s al l owed t o hover r ound t he st eepl e at such t i mes,

t o wat ch t he ef f ect of hi s benef act i on on post er i t y, he must have

been wel l sat i sf i ed on t hat eveni ng. Tom passed under t he Bar ,

and t ur ned i nt o t he Templ e anot her man, sof t ened agai n, and i n

hi s r i ght mi nd.

" Ther e' s al ways a voi ce sayi ng t he r i ght t hi ng t o you somewher e,

i f you' l l onl y l i st en f or i t , " he t hought . He t ook a f ew t ur ns i n

t he cour t t o cl ear hi s head, and t hen f ound Har r y East r ecl i ni ng

on a sof a, i n f ul l vi ew of t he gar dens and r i ver , sol aci ng

hi msel f wi t h hi s accust omed cher oot .

" Oh, her e you ar e, " he sai d, maki ng r oom on t he sof a; " how di d i t

go of f ?"

" Wel l enough. Wher e have you been?"

Page 427 of 443

" I n t he Ci t y and at t he Docks. I ' ve been al l over our vessel .

She' s a r eal cl i pper . "

" When do you sai l ?"

" Not qui t e cer t ai n. I shoul d say i n a f or t ni ght , t hough. " East

puf f ed away f or a mi nut e, and t hen, as Tom sai d not hi ng, went on.

" I ' m not so sweet on i t as t he t i me dr aws near . Ther e ar e mor e of

my chums t ur ni ng up ever y day f r om I ndi a at t he Rag. And t hi s i s

uncommonl y pl easant , t oo, l i vi ng wi t h you her e i n t he chamber s.

You may pr obabl y t hi nk i t odd, but I don' t hal f l i ke get t i ng r i d

of you. "

" Thanks; but I don' t t hi nk you wi l l get r i d of me. "

" How do you mean?"

" I mean t hat I shal l go wi t h you, i f my peopl e wi l l l et me, and

you wi l l t ake me. "

" W- h- e- w! Anyt hi ng happened?"

" Yes. "

" You' ve seen her ?"

" Yes. "

" Wel l , go on. Don' t keep a f el l ow i n suspense. I shal l be

i nt r oduced, and eat one of t he ol d boy' s good di nner s, af t er al l ,

bef or e I sai l . "

Tom l ooked out of wi ndow, and f ound some di f f i cul t y i n get t i ng

out t he wor ds, " No, i t ' s al l up. "

" You don' t mean i t ?" sai d East , comi ng t o a si t t i ng posi t i on by

Tom' s si de. " But how do you know? Ar e you sur e? What di d she

say?"

" Not hi ng. I haven' t spoken t o her ; but i t ' s al l up. She was

r i di ng wi t h her f at her and t he f el l ow t o whom she' s engaged. I

have hear d i t a dozen t i mes, but never woul d bel i eve i t . "

" But , i s t hat al l ? Ri di ng wi t h her f at her and anot her man! Why,

t her e' s not hi ng i n t hat . "

" Yes, but t her e i s t hough. You shoul d have seen hi s l ook. And

t hey al l knew me wel l enough, but not one of t hem nodded even. "

" Wel l , t her e' s not much i n t hat af t er al l . I t may have been

chance, or you may have f anci ed i t . "

" No, one i sn' t qui t e such a f ool . However , I have no r i ght t o

compl ai n, and I won' t . I coul d bear i t al l wel l enough i f he wer e

not such a col d- hear t ed bl ackguar d. "

" What , t hi s f el l ow she was r i di ng wi t h?"

" Yes. He hasn' t a hear t t he si ze of a pi n' s head. He' l l br eak

her s. He' s a mean br ut e, t oo. She can' t know hi m, t hough he has

been af t er her t hi s year and mor e. They must have f or ced her i nt o

i t . Ah! i t ' s a bi t t er busi ness, " and he put hi s head bet ween hi s

hands, and East hear d t he deep cat ches of hi s l abor i ng br eat h, as

Page 428 of 443

he sat by hi m, f eel i ng deepl y f or hi m, but puzzl ed what t o say.

" She can' t be wor t h so much af t er al l , Tom, " he sai d at l ast , " i f

she woul d have such a f el l ow as t hat . Depend upon i t , she' s not

what you t hought her . "

Tom made no answer ; so t he capt ai n went on pr esent l y, t hi nki ng he

had hi t t he r i ght not e.

" Cheer up, ol d boy. Ther e' s as good f i sh i n t he sea yet as ever

came out of i t . Don' t you r emember t he song- - whose i s i t ?

Lovel ace' s: - -

" ' I f she be not f ai r f or me,

What car e I f or whom she be?' "

Tom st ar t ed up al most f i er cel y, but r ecover ed hi msel f i n a

moment , and t hen l eant hi s head down agai n.

" Don' t t al k about her , Har r y; you don' t know her , " he sai d.

" And don' t want t o know her , Tom, i f she i s goi ng t o t hr ow you

over . Wel l , I shal l l eave you f or an hour or so. Come up t o me

pr esent l y at t he Rag, when you f eel bet t er . "

East st ar t ed f or hi s cl ub, debat i ng wi t hi n hi msel f what he coul d

do f or hi s f r i end- - whet her cal l i ng out t he par t y mi ght n' t do

good.

Tom, l ef t t o hi msel f , br oke down at f i r st sadl y; but , as t he

eveni ng wor e on he began t o r al l y, and sat down and wr ot e a l ong

l et t er t o hi s f at her , maki ng a cl ean br east , and aski ng hi s

per mi ssi on t o go wi t h East .

CHAPTER XLI X

THE END

My Dear Kat i e; - - I know you wi l l be ver y much pai ned when you r ead

t hi s l et t er . You t wo have been my onl y conf i dant es, and you have

al ways kept me up, and encour aged me t o hope t hat al l woul d come

r i ght . And af t er al l t hat happened l ast week, Pat t y' s mar r i age,

and your engagement , - - t he t wo t hi ngs upon ear t h, wi t h one

except i on, t hat I most wi shed f or , - - I qui t e f el t t hat my own t ur n

was comi ng. I can' t t el l why I had such a st r ong f eel i ng about

i t , but somehow al l t he most i mpor t ant changes i n my l i f e f or t he

l ast f our year s have been so i nt er woven wi t h Pat t y and Har r y

Wi nbur n' s hi st or y, t hat , now t hey wer e mar r i ed, I was sur e

somet hi ng woul d happen t o me as soon as I came t o London. And I

was not wr ong. Dear Kat i e, I can har dl y br i ng mysel f t o wr i t e i t .

I t i s al l over . I met her i n t he st r eet t o- day; she was r i di ng

wi t h her f at her and t he man I t ol d you about . They had t o pul l up

not t o r i de over me; so I had a good l ook at her , and t her e can

be no mi st ake about i t . I have of t en t r i ed t o r eason mysel f i nt o

t he bel i ef t hat t he evi l day must come sooner or l at er , and t o

pr epar e mysel f f or i t ; but I mi ght have spar ed mysel f , f or i t

coul d not have been wor se t han i t i s i f I had never ant i ci pat ed

i t . My f ut ur e i s al l a bl ank now. I can' t st ay i n Engl and; so I

have wr i t t en home t o ask t hem t o l et me go t o New Zeal and wi t h

East , and I am sur e t hey wi l l consent , when t hey know al l .

Page 429 of 443

" I shal l wai t i n t own t i l l I get t he answer . Per haps I may be

abl e t o get of f wi t h East i n a f ew weeks. The sooner t he bet t er ;

but , of cour se, I shal l not go wi t hout seei ng you and dear ol d

Jack. You must n' t mi nd me cal l i ng hi m Jack. The onl y t hi ng t hat

i t gi ves me any pl easur e t o t hi nk about i s your engagement . I t i s

so r i ght ; and one want s t o see somet hi ng goi ng r i ght , some one

get t i ng t hei r due, t o keep al i ve one' s bel i ef i n j ust i ce bei ng

done somehow or anot her i n t he wor l d. And I do see i t , and

acknowl edge i t , when I t hi nk over hi s hi st or y and mi ne si nce we

f i r st met . We have bot h got our due; and you have got your s,

Kat i e, f or you have got t he best f el l ow i n Engl and.

" Ah! i f I onl y coul d t hi nk t hat she has got her s! I f I coul d onl y

bel i eve t hat t he man she has chosen i s wor t hy of her ! I wi l l t r y

har d t o t hi nk bet t er of hi m. Ther e must be mor e good i n hi m t hat

I have ever seen, or she woul d never have engaged her sel f t o hi m.

But I can' t bear t o st op her e, and see i t al l goi ng on. The

sooner I am out of Engl and t he bet t er . I send you a par cel wi t h

t hi s; i t cont ai ns her not es, and some ol d f l ower s and ot her

mat t er s whi ch I haven' t t he hear t t o bur n. You wi l l be t he best

j udge what shoul d be done wi t h t hem. I f you see your way t o

managi ng i t , I shoul d l i ke her t o know t hat I had sent t hem al l

t o you, and t hat , what ever may happen t o me her eaf t er , my l ove

f or her has been t he mai nst ay and t he gui di ng- st ar of my l i f e

ever si nce t hat happy t i me when you al l came t o st ay wi t h us i n

my f i r st l ong vacat i on. I t f ound me eat en up wi t h sel f i shness and

concei t , t he puppet of my own l ust s and vani t i es, and has l ef t

me- - wel l never mi nd what i t has l ef t me. At any r at e, i f I have

not gone f r om wor se t o wor se, i t i s al l owi ng t o her ; and she

ought t o know i t . I t cannot be wr ong t o l et her know what good

she has scat t er ed unknowi ngl y about her pat h. May God bl ess and

r ewar d her f or i t , and you, t oo, dear cousi n, f or al l your l ong

l ove and ki ndness t o one who i s ver y unwor t hy of , but ver y

t hankf ul f or t hem.

" Ever your s, af f ect i onat el y,

" T. B. "

The above l et t er , and t hat t o hi s f at her , aski ng f or l eave t o

emi gr at e, havi ng been wr i t t en and sent of f , Tom was l ef t , on t he

af t er noon of t he day f ol l owi ng hi s upset , maki ng manf ul , i f not

ver y successf ul , ef f or t s t o shake of f t he l oad of depr essi on

whi ch wei ghed on hi m, and t o t ur n hi s t hought s r esol ut el y f or war d

t o a new l i f e i n a new count r y. East was away at t he Docks. Ther e

was no one movi ng i n t he Templ e. The men who had busi ness wer e

al l at West mi nst er , or out of si ght and hear i ng i n t he r ecesses

of t hei r chamber s. Those who had none wer e f or t he most par t away

enj oyi ng t hemsel ves, i n one way or anot her amongst t he mi ght y

whi r l of t he mi ght y human sea of London. Ther e was not hi ng l ef t

f or hi m t o do; he had wr i t t en t he onl y t wo l et t er s he had t o

wr i t e, and had onl y t o si t st i l l and wai t f or t he answer s,

ki l l i ng t he meant i me as wel l as he coul d. Readi ng came har d t o

hi m, but i t was t he best t hi ng t o do, per haps; at any r at e he was

t r yi ng i t on, t hough hi s st udi es wer e const ant l y i nt er r upt ed by

l ong f i t s of absence of mi nd, dur i ng whi ch, t hough hi s body

r emai ned i n t he t empl e, he was agai n i n t he wel l - kept gar den of

Bar t on, or i n t he hazel wood under t he l ee of t he Ber kshi r e

hi l l s.

He was r oused out of one of t hese r ever i es, and br ought back t o

ext er nal l i f e and Fi g- t r ee Cour t , by a si ngl e knock at t he out er

door , and a shout of t he newsman' s boy f or t he paper . So he got

up, f ound t he paper , whi ch he had f or got t en t o r ead, and, as he

Page 430 of 443

went t o t he door , cast hi s eye on i t , and saw t hat a gr eat mat ch

was goi ng on at Lor d' s. Thi s gave a new t ur n t o hi s t hought s. He

st ood l ooki ng down st ai r s af t er t he boy, consi der i ng whet her he

shoul d not st ar t at once f or t he mat ch.

He woul d be sur e t o see a l ot of acquai nt ances t her e at any r at e.

But t he i dea of seei ng and havi ng t o t al k t o mer e acquai nt ances

was mor e di st ast ef ul t han hi s pr esent sol i t ude. He was t ur ni ng t o

bur y hi msel f agai n i n hi s hol e, when he saw a whi t e dog wal k

qui et l y up seven or ei ght st ai r s at t he bot t om of t he f l i ght , and

t hen t ur n r ound, and l ook f or some one t o f ol l ow.

" How odd! " t hought Tom, as he wat ched hi m; " as l i ke as t wo peas.

I t can' t be. No. Why, yes i t i s. " And t hen he whi st l ed, and

cal l ed " Jack, " and t he dog l ooked up, and wagged hi s t ai l , as

much as t o say, " Al l r i ght , I ' m comi ng di r ect l y; but I must wai t

f or my mast er . " The next moment Dr ysdal e appear ed at t he bot t om

of t he st ai r s, and l ooki ng up, sai d- -

" Oh! t hat ' s you, i s i t ? I ' m al l r i ght t hen. So you knew t he ol d

dog?"

" I shoul d r at her t hi nk so, " sai d Tom. " I hope I never f or get a

dog or hor se I have once known. "

I n t he shor t mi nut e whi ch Dr ysdal e and Jack t ook t o ar r i ve at hi s

l andi ng, Tom had t i me f or a r ush of ol d col l ege memor i es, i n

whi ch t he gr ave and gay, pl easant and bi t t er , wer e st r angel y

mi ngl ed. The l i ght when he had been f i r st br ought t o hi s senses

about Pat t y came up ver y vi vi dl y bef or e hi m, and t he

commemor at i on days, when he had l ast seen Dr ysdal e. " How

st r ange! " he t hought , " i s my ol d l i f e comi ng back agai n j ust now?

Her e, on t he ver y day af t er i t i s al l over , comes back t he man

wi t h whom I was so i nt i mat e up t o t he day i t began, and have

never seen si nce. What does i t mean?"

Ther e was a l i t t l e t ouch of embar r assment i n t he manner of bot h

of t hem as t hey shook hands at t he t op of t he st ai r s, and t ur ned

i nt o t he chamber s. Tom mot i oned t o Jack t o t ake hi s ol d pl ace at

one end of t he sof a, and began car essi ng hi m t her e, t he dog

showi ng unmi st akabl y, by gest ur e and whi ne, t hat del i ght at

r enewi ng an ol d f r i endshi p f or whi ch hi s r ace ar e so nobl y

di st i ngui shed. Dr ysdal e t hr ew hi msel f down i n an ar m- chai r and

wat ched t hem.

" So you knew t he ol d dog, Br own?" he r epeat ed.

" Knew hi m?- - of cour se I di d. Dear ol d Jack! How wel l he wear s; he

i s scar cel y al t er ed at al l . "

" Ver y l i t t l e; onl y st eadi er . Mor e t han I can say f or hi s mast er .

I ' m ver y gl ad you knew Jack. "

" Come, Dr ysdal e; t ake t he ot her end of t he sof a or i t won' t l ook

l i ke ol d t i mes. Ther e, now I can f ancy mysel f back at St .

Ambr ose' s. "

" By Jove, Br own, you' r e a r eal good f el l ow; I al ways sai d so,

even af t er t hat l ast l et t er . You pi t ched i t r at her st r ong i n t hat

t hough. I was ver y near comi ng back f r om Nor way t o quar r el wi t h

you. "

" Wel l , I was ver y angr y at bei ng l ef t i n t he l ur ch by you and

Bl ake. "

Page 431 of 443

" You got t he coi n al l r i ght , I suppose? You never acknowl edged

i t . "

" Di dn' t I ? Then I ought t o have. Yes, I got i t al l r i ght about

si x mont hs af t er war ds. I ought t o have acknowl edged i t , and I

t hought I had. I ' m sor r y I di dn' t . Now we' r e al l qui t s, and won' t

t al k any mor e about t hat r ascal l y bi l l . "

" I suppose I may l i ght up, " sai d Dr ysdal e, dr oppi ng i nt o hi s ol d

l oungi ng at t i t ude on t he sof a, and pul l i ng out hi s ci gar - case.

" Yes, of cour se. Wi l l you have anyt hi ng?"

" A cool dr i nk woul dn' t be ami ss. "

" They make a ni ce t ankar d wi t h ci der and a l ump of i ce at t he

' Rai nbow' . What do you say t o t hat ?"

" I t sounds t ouchi ng, " sai d Dr ysdal e. So Tom post ed of f t o Fl eet

St r eet t o or der t he l i quor , and came back f ol l owed by a wai t er

wi t h t he t ankar d. Dr ysdal e t ook a l ong pul l and smacked hi s l i ps.

" That ' s a wr i nkl e, " he sai d, handi ng t he t ankar d t o Tom. " I

suppose t he l awyer s t each al l t he publ i cans about her e a t r i ck or

t wo. Why, one can f ancy one' s sel f back i n t he ol d quad, l ooki ng

out on t hi s cour t . I f i t wer en' t such an out l andi sh

out - of - t he- way pl ace, I t hi nk I shoul d t ake some chamber s her e

mysel f . How di d you get her e?"

" Oh, t hey bel ong t o a f r i end of mi ne who i s away. But how di d

_you_ get her e?"

" Why, al ong t he St r and, i n a Hansom. "

" I mean, how di d you know I was her e?"

" Gr ey t ol d me. "

" What ! Gr ey, who was at St . Ambr ose' s wi t h us?"

" Yes. You l ook puzzl ed. "

" I di dn' t t hi nk you knew Gr ey. "

" No mor e I do. But a st out ol d par t y I met l ast ni ght - - your

godf at her , I shoul d t hi nk he i s- - t ol d me wher e he was, and sai d I

shoul d get your addr ess f r om hi m. So I l ooked hi m up t hi s

mor ni ng, i n t hat dog- hol e i n West mi nst er wher e he l i ves. He

di dn' t know Jack f r om Adam. "

" But what i n t he wor l d do you mean by my godf at her ?"

" I had bet t er t el l my st or y f r om t he begi nni ng, I see. Last ni ght

I di d what I don' t of t en do, went out t o a gr eat dr um. Ther e was

an awf ul cr ush, of cour se, and you may guess what t he heat was i n

t hese dog- days, wi t h gas- l i ght s and wax- l i ght s goi ng, and a j am

of peopl e i n ever y cor ner . I was f ool enough t o get i nt o t he

r ooms, so t hat my r et r eat was cut of f ; and I had t o wor k r i ght

t hr ough, and got at l ast i nt o a back r oom, whi ch was not so f ul l .

The wi ndow was i n a r ecess, and t her e was a bal cony out si de,

l ooki ng over a l i t t l e bi t of gar den. I got i nt o t he bal cony,

t al ki ng wi t h a gi r l who was sensi bl e enough t o l i ke t he cool .

Pr esent l y I hear d a voi ce I t hought I knew i nsi de. Then I hear d

Page 432 of 443

St . Ambr ose, and t hen your name. Of cour se I l i st ened; I coul dn' t

hel p mysel f . They wer e j ust i nsi de t he wi ndow, i n t he r ecess, not

f i ve f eet f r om us; so I hear d pr et t y near l y ever wor d. Gi ve us

t he t ankar d; I ' m as dr y as an ash- heap wi t h t al ki ng. "

Tom, scar cel y abl e t o cont r ol hi s i mpat i ence, handed t he t ankar d.

" But who was i t ?- - you haven' t t ol d me, " he sai d, as Dr ysdal e put

i t down at l ast empt y.

" Why, t hat d- - d St . Cl oud. He was gi vi ng you a ni ce char act er , i n

a sor t of sneaki ng depr ecat or y way, as i f he was sor r y f or i t .

Amongst ot her l i t t l e t al es, he sai d you used t o bor r ow money f r om

Jews- - he knew i t f or a cer t ai nt y because he had been asked

hi msel f t o j oi n you and anot her man- - meani ng me, of cour se- - i n

such a t r ansact i on. You r emember how he woul dn' t acknowl edge t he

money I l ent hi m at pl ay, and t he not e he wr ot e me whi ch upset

Bl ake so. I had never f or got t en i t . I knew I shoul d get my chance

some day, and her e i t was. I don' t know what t he gi r l t hought of

me, or how she got out of t he bal cony, but I st epped i nt o t he

r ecess j ust as he had f i ni shed hi s pr eci ous st or y, and l anded

bet ween hi m and a comf or t abl e ol d boy, who was l ooki ng shocked.

He _must _ be your godf at her , or somet hi ng of t he ki nd. I ' l l bet

you a pony you ar e down f or somet hi ng handsome i n hi s wi l l . "

" What was hi s name? Di d you f i nd out ?"

" Yes; Pot t er , or Por t er , or somet hi ng l i ke i t . I ' ve got hi s car d

somewher e. I j ust st ar ed St . Cl oud i n t he f ace, and you may

depend upon i t he wi nched. Then I t ol d t he ol d boy t hat I had

hear d t hei r t al k, and, as I was at St . Ambr ose wi t h you, I shoul d

l i ke t o have f i ve mi nut es wi t h hi m when St . Cl oud had done. He

seemed r at her i n a cor ner bet ween us. However , I kept i n si ght

t i l l St . Cl oud was obl i ged t o dr aw of f ; and, t o cut my st or y

shor t , as t he t ankar d i s empt y, I t hi nk I put you pr et t y st r ai ght

t her e. You sai d we wer e qui t s j ust now; af t er l ast ni ght , per haps

we ar e, f or I t ol d hi m t he t r ut h of t he Benj ami n st or y, and I

t hi nk he i s squar ed. He seems a good sor t of ol d boy. He' s a

r el at i on of your s, eh?"

" Onl y a di st ant connexi on. Di d anyt hi ng mor e happen?"

" Yes; I saw t hat he was f l ur r i ed and di dn' t know qui t e what t o

t hi nk; so I asked hi m t o l et me cal l , and I woul d br i ng hi m some

one el se t o speak t o your char act er . He gave me hi s car d, and I ' m

goi ng t o t ake Bl ake t her e t oday. Then I asked hi m wher e you wer e,

and he di dn' t know, but sai d he t hought Gr ey coul d t el l me. "

" I t i s ver y ki nd of you, Dr ysdal e t o t ake so much t r oubl e. "

" Tr oubl e! I ' d go f r om her e t o Jer i cho t o be even wi t h our f i ne

f r i end. I never f or get a bad t ur n. I met hi m af t er war ds i n t he

cl oak- r oom, and went out of t he door cl ose af t er hi m, t o gi ve hi m

a chance i f he want s t o say anyt hi ng. I onl y wi sh he woul d. But

why do you suppose he i s l yi ng about you?"

" I can' t t el l . I ' ve never spoken t o hi m si nce he l ef t Oxf or d.

Never saw hi m t i l l yest er day, r i di ng wi t h Mr . Por t er . I suppose

t hat r emi nded t hem of me. "

" Wel l , St . Cl oud i s bent on get t i ng r ound hi m f or some r eason or

anot her , you may t ake your oat h of t hat . Now my t i me' s up; I

shal l go and pi ck up Bl ake. I shoul d t hi nk I had bet t er not t ake

Jack t o cal l i n Eat on Squar e, t hough he' d gi ve you a good

char act er i f he coul d speak; woul dn' t you Jack?"

Page 433 of 443

Jack wagged hi s t ai l , and descended f r om t he sof a.

" Does Bl ake l i ve up her e? What i s he doi ng?"

" Bur ni ng t he candl e at bot h ends, and i n t he mi ddl e, as usual .

Yes, he' s l i vi ng near hi s cl ub. He wr i t es pol i t i cal ar t i cl es,

devi l i sh wel l I hear , t oo, and i s r eadi ng f or t he bar ; besi de

whi ch he i s get t i ng i nt o soci et y, and goi ng out whenever he can,

and f r et t i ng hi s soul out t hat he i sn' t pr i me mi ni st er , or

somet hi ng of t he ki nd. He won' t l ast l ong at t he pace he' s

goi ng. "

" I ' m ver y sor r y t o hear i t . But you' l l come her e agai n, Dr ysdal e;

or l et me come and see you? I shal l be ver y anxi ous t o hear what

has happened. "

" Her e' s my past eboar d; I shal l be i n t own f or anot her f or t ni ght .

Dr op i n when you l i ke. "

And so Dr ysdal e and Jack went of f , l eavi ng Tom i n a chaot i c st at e

of mi nd. Al l hi s ol d hopes wer e r oused agai n as he t hought over

Dr ysdal e' s nar r at i ve. He coul d no l onger si t st i l l ; so he r ushed

out , and wal ked up and down t he r i ver - si de wal k, i n t he Templ e

gar dens, wher e a f i ne br eeze bl owi ng, at a pace whi ch ast oni shed

t he gat e- keeper s and t he nur ser y- mai ds and chi l dr en, who wer e

t aki ng t he ai r i n t hat f avor i t e spot . Once or t wi ce he r et ur ned

t o chamber s, and at l ast f ound East r eposi ng af t er hi s excur si on

t o t he Docks.

East ' s qui ck eye saw at once t hat somet hi ng had happened; and he

had ver y soon hear d t he whol e st or y; upon whi ch he del i ber at ed

f or some mi nut es, and r ej oi ced Tom' s hear t by sayi ng: " Ah! al l up

wi t h New Zeal and, I see. I shal l be i nt r oduced af t er al l bef or e

we st ar t . Come al ong; I must st and you a di nner on t he st r engt h

of t he good news, and we' l l dr i nk her heal t h. "

Tom cal l ed t wi ce t hat eveni ng at Dr ysdal e' s l odgi ngs, but he was

out . The next mor ni ng he cal l ed agai n. Dr ysdal e had gone t o

Hampt on Cour t r aces, and had l ef t no message. He l ef t a not e f or

hi m, but got no answer . I t was t r yi ng wor k. Anot her day passed

wi t hout any wor d f r om Dr ysdal e, who seemed never t o be at home;

and no answer t o ei t her of hi s l et t er s. On t he t hi r d mor ni ng he

hear d f r om hi s f at her . I t was j ust t he answer whi ch he had

expect ed- - as ki nd a l et t er as coul d be wr i t t en. Mr . Br own had

suspect ed how mat t er s st ood at one t i me, but had gi ven up t he

i dea i n consequence of Tom' s si l ence; whi ch he r egr et t ed, as

possi bl y t hi ngs mi ght have happened ot her wi se, had he known t he

st at e of t he case. I t was t oo l at e now, however ; and t he l ess

sai d t he bet t er about what mi ght have been. As t o New Zeal and, he

shoul d not oppose Tom' s goi ng, i f , af t er some t i me, he cont i nued

i n hi s pr esent mi nd. I t was ver y nat ur al f or hi m j ust now t o wi sh

t o go. They woul d t al k i t over as soon as Tom came home, whi ch

Mr . Br own begged hi m t o do at once, or , at any r at e, as soon as

he had seen hi s f r i end of f . Home was t he best pl ace f or hi m.

Tom si ghed as he f ol ded i t up; t he hopes of t he l ast t hr ee days

seemed t o be f adi ng away agai n. He spent anot her r est l ess day;

and by ni ght had per suaded hi msel f t hat Dr ysdal e' s mi ssi on had

been a compl et e f ai l ur e, and t hat he di d not wr i t e and kept out

of t he way out of ki ndness f or hi m.

" Why, Tom, ol d f el l ow, you l ook as down i n t he mout h as ever

t o- ni ght , " East sai d, when Tom opened t he door f or hi m about

Page 434 of 443

mi dni ght , on hi s r et ur n f r om hi s cl ub; " cheer up; you may depend

i t ' s al l t o go r i ght . "

" But I haven' t seen Dr ysdal e agai n, and he hasn' t wr i t t en t o

me. "

" Ther e' s not hi ng i n t hat . He was gl ad enough t o do you a good

t ur n, I dar e say, when i t came i n hi s way, but t hat sor t of

f el l ow never can keep anyt hi ng up. He has been t oo much used t o

havi ng hi s own way, and f ol l owi ng hi s own f anci es. Don' t you l ose

hear t because he won' t put hi msel f out f or you. "

" Wel l , Har r y, you ar e t he best f el l ow, i n t he wor l d. You woul d

put a backbone i nt o anyone. "

" Now, we' l l j ust have a qui et cher oot , and t hen t ur n i n; and see

i f you don' t have good news t o- mor r ow. How hot i t i s! The St r and

t o- ni ght i s as hot as t he Punj aub, and t he r eek of i t - - phah! my

t hr oat i s f ul l of i t st i l l . "

East t ook of f hi s coat , and was j ust t hr owi ng i t on a chai r , when

he st opped, and, f eel i ng i n hi s pocket , sai d- -

" Let ' s see, her e' s a not e f or you. The por t er gave i t t o me as I

knocked i n. "

Tom t ook i t car el essl y, but t he next moment was t ear i ng i t open

wi t h t r embl i ng f i nger s. " Fr om my cousi n, " he sai d. East wat ched

hi m r ead, and saw t he bl ood r ush t o hi s f ace, and t he l i ght come

i nt o hi s eyes.

" Good news, Tom, I see. Br avo, ol d boy. You' ve had a l ong f i ght

f or i t , and deser ve t o wi n. "

Tom got up, t ossed t he not e acr oss t he t abl e, and began wal ki ng

up and down t he r oom; hi s hear t was t oo f ul l f or speech.

" May I r ead?" sai d East , l ooki ng up. Tom nodded, and he r ead- -

" DEAR TOM, - - I am comi ng t o t own t o spend a week wi t h t hem i n

Eat on Squar e. Cal l on me t o- mor r ow at t wel ve, or , i f you ar e

engaged t hen, bet ween t hr ee and f i ve. I have no t i me t o add mor e

now, but l ong t o see you.

Your l ovi ng cousi n,

KATI E

" P. S. - - I wi l l gi ve you your par cel back t o- mor r ow, and t hen you

can _bur n_ t he cont ent s your sel f , or do what you l i ke wi t h t hem.

Uncl e bi ds me say he shal l be gl ad i f you wi l l come and di ne

t o- mor r ow, and any ot her day you can spar e whi l e I am her e. "

When he had r ead t he not e, East got up and shook hands hear t i l y

wi t h Tom, and t hen sat down agai n qui et l y t o f i ni sh hi s cher oot ,

wat chi ng wi t h a humor ous l ook hi s f r i end' s mar ch.

" And you t hi nk i t i s r eal l y al l r i ght now?" Tom asked, i n one

f or m or anot her , af t er ever y f ew t ur ns; and East r epl i ed i n

var i ous f or ms of chaf f i ng assur ance t hat t her e coul d not be much

f ur t her quest i on on t he poi nt . At l ast , when he had f i ni shed hi s

cher oot , he got up, and, t aki ng hi s candl e, sai d, " Good ni ght ,

Page 435 of 443

Tom; when t hat r evol ut i on comes, whi ch you' r e al ways pr edi ct i ng,

r emember , i f you' r e not shot or hung, you' l l al ways f i nd a r oost

f or you and your wi f e i n New Zeal and. "

" I don' t f eel so sur e about t he r evol ut i on now, Har r y. "

" Of cour se you don' t . Mi nd, I bar gai n f or t he di nner i n Eat on

Squar e. I al ways t ol d you I shoul d di ne t her e bef or e I st ar t ed. "

The next day Tom f ound t hat he was not engaged at t wel ve o' cl ock,

and was abl e t o appear i n Eat on Squar e. He was shown up i nt o t he

dr awi ng- r oom, and f ound Kat i e al one t her e. The qui et and cool ness

of t he dar kened r oom was most gr at ef ul t o hi m af t er t he gl ar e of

t he st r eet s, as he sat down by her si de.

" But Kat i e, " he sai d, as soon as t he f i r st sal ut at i ons and

congr at ul at i ons had passed, " how di d i t al l happen? I can' t

bel i eve my senses yet . I am af r ai d I may wake up any mi nut e. "

" Wel l , i t was chi ef l y owi ng t o t wo l ucky coi nci dences; t hough no

doubt i t woul d have al l come r i ght i n t i me wi t hout t hem. "

" Our meet i ng t he ot her day i n t he st r eet , I suppose, was one of

t hem?"

" Yes. Comi ng acr oss you so suddenl y, car r yi ng t he l i t t l e gi r l ,

r emi nded Mar y of t he day when she spr ai ned her ankl e, and you

car r i ed her t hr ough Hazel Copse. Ah, you never t ol d me _al l _ of

t hat advent ur e, ei t her of you. "

" Al l t hat was necessar y, Kat i e. "

" Oh! I have par doned you. Uncl e saw t hen t hat she was ver y much

moved at somet hi ng, and guessed wel l enough what i t was. He i s so

ver y ki nd, and so f ond of Mar y, he woul d do anyt hi ng i n t he wor l d

t hat she wi shed. She was qui t e unwel l t hat eveni ng; so he and

aunt had t o go out al one; and t hey met Mr . St . Cl oud at a par t y,

who was sai d t o be engaged t o her . "

" I t wasn' t t r ue, t hen?"

" No, never . He i s a ver y desi gni ng man, t hough I bel i eve he was

r eal l y i n l ove wi t h poor Mar y. At any r at e he has per secut ed her

f or mor e t han a year . And, i t i s ver y wi cked, but I am af r ai d he

spr ead al l t hose r epor t s hi msel f . "

" Of t hei r engagement ? Just l i ke hi m! "

" Uncl e i s so good- nat ur ed, you know; and he t ook advant age of i t ,

and was al ways comi ng her e, and r i di ng wi t h t hem. And he made

Uncl e bel i eve dr eadf ul st or i es about you, whi ch made hi m seem so

unki nd. He was qui t e af r ai d t o have you at t he house. "

" Yes, I saw t hat l ast year ; and t he second coi nci dence?"

" I t happened t hat ver y ni ght . Poor uncl e was ver y much t r oubl ed

what t o do; so, when he met Mr . St . Cl oud, as I t ol d you, he t ook

hi m asi de t o ask hi m agai n about you. Somehow, a gent l eman who

was a f r i end of your s at Oxf or d over hear d what was sai d, and came

f or war d and expl ai ned ever yt hi ng. "

" Yes, he came and t ol d me. "

" Then you know mor e t han I about i t . "

Page 436 of 443

" And you t hi nk Mr . Por t er i s convi nced t hat I am not qui t e such a

scamp af t er al l ?"

" Yes, i ndeed; and t he boys ar e so del i ght ed t hat t hey wi l l see

you agai n. They ar e at home f or t he hol i days, and so gr own. "

" And Mar y?"

" She i s ver y wel l . You wi l l see her bef or e l ong, I dar e say. "

" I s she at home?"

" She i s out r i di ng wi t h uncl e. Now I wi l l go up and get your

par cel , whi ch I had opened at home bef or e I got aunt ' s not e

aski ng me her e. No wonder we coul d never f i nd her boot . "

Kat i e di sappear ed and at t he same t i me Tom t hought he hear d t he

sound of hor ses' f eet . Yes, and t hey had st opped, t oo. I t must be

Mar y and her f at her . He coul d not see because of t he bl i nds and

ot her devi ces f or keepi ng t he r oom cool . But t he next moment

t her e wer e voi ces i n t he hal l bel ow, and t hen a l i ght st ep on t he

car pet ed st ai r , whi ch no ear but hi s coul d have hear d. Hi s hear t

beat wi t h heavy pai nf ul pul sat i ons, and hi s head swam as t he door

opened, and Mar y i n her r i di ng- habi t st ood i n t he r oom.

CHAPTER L

THE POSTSCRI PT

Our cur t ai n must r i se once agai n, and i t shal l be on a f ami l i ar

spot . Once mor e we must pl ace our sel ves on t he Hawk' s Lynch, and

l ook out over t he wel l - known vi ew, and t he happy aut umn f i el ds,

r i pe wi t h t he gol den har vest . Two peopl e ar e appr oachi ng on

hor seback f r om t he Bar t on si de, who have been made one si nce we

l ef t t hem at t he f al l of t he cur t ai n i n t he l ast chapt er . They

r i de l ovi ngl y t oget her , cl ose t o one anot her , and f or get f ul of

t he whol e wor l d, as t hey shoul d do, f or t hey have scar cel y come

t o t he end of t hei r honeymoon.

They ar e i n count r y cost ume- - she i n a l i ght habi t , but wel l cut ,

and si t t i ng on her as wel l as she si t s on her dai nt y gr ey; he i n

shoot i ng- coat and wi de- awake, wi t h hi s f i shi ng basket sl ung over

hi s shoul der . They come st eadi l y up t he hi l l si de, r ousi ng a

yel l ow- hammer her e and t her e f r om t he f ur ze- bushes, and onl y dr aw

bi t when t hey have r eached t he ver y t op of t he knol l . Then t hey

di smount , and Tom pr oduces t wo hal t er s f r om hi s f i shi ng basket ,

and t aki ng of f t he br i dl es, f ast ens t he hor ses up i n t he shade of

t he f i r - t r ees, and l oosens t hei r gi r t hs, whi l e Mar y, af t er

sear chi ng i n t he basket , pul l s out a bag, and pour s out a

pr odi gal f eed of cor n bef or e each of t hem, on t he shor t gr ass.

" What ar e you doi ng, you wast ef ul l i t t l e woman? You shoul d have

put t he bag under neat h. They won' t be abl e t o pi ck up hal f t he

cor n. "

" Never mi nd, dear ; t hen t he bi r ds wi l l get i t . "

" And you have gi ven t hem enough f or t hr ee f eeds. "

" Why di d you put so much i n t he bag? Besi des you know i t i s t he

l ast f eed I shal l gi ve her . Poor dear l i t t l e Gypsy, " she added,

Page 437 of 443

pat t i ng t he neck of her dappl e gr ey; " you have f ound a ki nd

mi st r ess f or her , dear , haven' t you?"

" Yes; I know she wi l l be l i ght l y wor ked and wel l car ed f or , " he

sai d shor t l y, t ur ni ng away, and busyi ng hi msel f wi t h t he basket

agai n.

" But no one wi l l ever l ove you, Gi psy, l i ke your ol d mi st r ess.

Now gi ve me a ki ss, and you shal l have your t r eat , " and she

pul l ed a pi ece of sugar out of t he pocket of her r i di ng habi t ; at

t he si ght of whi ch t he gr ey hel d out her beaut i f ul nose t o be

f ondl ed, and t hen l apped up t he sugar wi t h eager l i ps f r om Mar y' s

hand, and t ur ned t o her cor n.

The young wi f e t r i pped acr oss, and sat down near her husband, who

was l ayi ng out t hei r l uncheon on t he t ur f .

" I t was ver y ki nd of you t hi nk of comi ng her e f or our l ast r i de, "

she sai d. " I r emember how char med I was wi t h t he pl ace t he f i r st

Sunday I ever spent at Engl ebour n, when Kat i e br ought me up her e

di r ect l y af t er br eakf ast , bef or e we went t o t he school . Such a

t i me ago i t seems- - bef or e I ever saw you. And I have never been

her e si nce. But I l ove i t most f or your sake, dear . Now, t el l me

agai n al l t he t i mes you have been her e. "

Tom pr oceeded t o r ecount some of hi s vi si t s t o t he Hawk' s Lynch,

i n whi ch we have accompani ed hi m. Then t hey t al ked on about

Kat i e, and East , and t he Engl ebour n peopl e, past and pr esent , ol d

Bet t y, and Har r y and hi s wi f e i n New Zeal and, and Davi d pat chi ng

coat s and t endi ng bees, and execut i ng t he Queen' s j ust i ce t o t he

best of hi s abi l i t y i n t he vi l l age at t hei r f eet .

" Poor Davi d, I must get over somehow t o see hi m bef or e we l eave

home. He f eel s your uncl e' s deat h, and t he ot her changes i n t he

par i sh, mor e t han anyone. "

" I am so sor r y t he l i vi ng was sol d, " sai d Mar y; " Kat i e and her

husband woul d have made Engl ebour n i nt o a l i t t l e par adi se. "

" I t coul d not be hel ped, dear . I can' t say I ' m sor r y. Ther e woul d

not have been wor k enough f or hi m. He i s bet t er wher e he i s, i n a

gr eat t own- par i sh. "

" But Kat i e di d l ove t he pl ace so, and was so used t o i t ; she had

become qui t e a l i t t l e queen t her e bef or e her mar r i age. See what

we women have t o gi ve up f or you, " she sai d, pl ayf ul l y, t ur ni ng

t o hi m. But a shadow passed over hi s f ace, and he l ooked away

wi t hout answer i ng.

" What makes you so sor r owf ul , dear ? What ar e you t hi nki ng of ?"

" Oh, not hi ng. "

" That i sn' t t r ue. Now, t el l me what i t i s. You have no r i ght , you

know, t o keep anyt hi ng f r om me. "

" I can' t bear t o t hi nk t hat you have had t o sel l Gi psy. You have

never been wi t hout a r i di ng hor se t i l l now. You wi l l mi ss your

r i di ng dr eadf ul l y, I am sur e, dear . "

" I shal l do ver y wel l wi t hout r i di ng. I am so pr oud of l ear ni ng

my l esson f r om you. You wi l l see what a poor man' s wi f e I shal l

make. I have been get t i ng mamma t o l et me do t he house- keepi ng,

and know how a j oi nt shoul d l ook, and al l sor t s of usef ul t hi ngs.

Page 438 of 443

And I have made my own house- l i nen. I shal l soon get t o hat e al l

l uxur i es as much as you do. "

" Now, Mar y, you must n' t r un i nt o ext r emes. I never sai d you ought

t o hat e al l l uxur i es, but t hat al most ever ybody one knows i s a

sl ave t o t hem. "

" Wel l , and I hat e anyt hi ng t hat want s t o make a sl ave of me. "

" You ar e a dear l i t t l e f r ee woman. But now we ar e on t hi s subj ect

agai n, Mar y, I r eal l y want t o speak t o you about keepi ng a l ady' s

mai d. We can qui t e af f or d i t , and you ought t o have one. "

" I shal l do not hi ng of t he sor t . "

" Not t o obl i ge me, Mar y?"

" No, not even t o obl i ge you. Ther e i s somet hi ng t o be sai d f or

dear Gypsy. But , t ake a mai d agai n! t o do not hi ng but t or ment me,

and pr et end t o t ake car e of my cl ot hes, and my hai r ! I never knew

what f r eedom was t i l l I got r i d of poor , f ool i sh, gr umbl i ng

Hi ggi ns. "

" But you may get a ni ce gi r l who wi l l be a comf or t t o you. "

" No, I never wi l l have a woman agai n t o do not hi ng but l ook af t er

me. I t i sn' t f ai r t o t hem. Besi des, dear , you can' t say t hat I

don' t l ook bet t er si nce I have done my own hai r . Di d you ever see

i t l ook br i ght er t han i t does now?"

" Never ; and now her e i s l uncheon al l r eady. " So t hey sat down on

t he ver ge of t he sl ope, and at e t hei r col d chi cken and t ongue,

wi t h t he r el i sh i mpar t ed by yout h, a l ong r i de, and t he br aci ng

ai r .

Mar y was mer r i er and br i ght er t han ever , but i t was an ef f or t

wi t h hi m t o r espond; and soon she began t o not i ce t hi s, and t hen

t her e was a pause, whi ch she br oke at l ast wi t h somet hi ng of an

ef f or t .

" Ther e i s t hat l ook agai n. What makes you l ook so ser i ous, now? I

must know. "

" Was I l ooki ng ser i ous? I beg your par don, dear est ; and I won' t

do so agai n any mor e; " and he smi l ed as he answer ed, but t he

smi l e f aded away bef or e her st eady, l ovi ng gaze, and he t ur ned

sl i ght l y f r om her , and l ooked out over t he val e bel ow.

She wat ched hi m f or a shor t t i me i n si l ence, her own f ai r young

f ace changi ng l i ke a summer sea as t he l i ght cl ouds pass over i t .

Pr esent l y she seemed t o have come t o some deci si on; f or , t aki ng

of f her r i di ng hat , she t hr ew i t , and her whi p and gaunt l et s, on

t he t ur f besi de her , and dr awi ng near er t o hi s si de, l ai d her

hand on hi s. He l ooked at her f ondl y, and, st r oki ng her hai r ,

sai d- -

" Take car e of your compl exi on, Mar y. "

" Oh, i t wi l l t ake car e of i t sel f i n t hi s ai r , dear . Besi des, you

ar e bet ween me and t he sun; and now you _must _ t el l me why you

l ook so ser i ous. I t i s not t he f i r st t i me I have not i ced t hat

l ook. I am your wi f e, you know, and I have a r i ght t o know your

t hought s, and shar e al l your j oy, and al l your sor r ow. I do not

mean t o gi ve up any of my r i ght s whi ch I got by mar r yi ng you. "

Page 439 of 443

" Your r i ght s, dear est ! your poor l i t t l e r i ght s, whi ch you have

gai ned by changi ng name, and pl i ght i ng t r ot h. I t i s t hi nki ng of

t hat - - t hi nki ng of what you have bought , and t he Pr i ce you have

pai d f or i t , whi ch makes me sad at t i mes, even when you ar e

si t t i ng by me, and l ayi ng your hand on my hand, and t he sweet

bur den of your pur e l i f e and bei ng on my soi l ed and baf f l ed

manhood. "

" But i t was my own bar gai n, you know, dear , and I am sat i sf i ed

wi t h my pur chase. I pai d t he pr i ce wi t h my eyes open. "

" Ah, i f I onl y coul d f eel t hat ! "

" But you know t hat i t i s t r ue. "

" No, dear est , t hat i s t he pi nch. I do not know t hat i t i s t r ue. I

of t en f eel t hat i t i s j ust a bi t not t r ue. I t was a one- si ded

bar gai n, i n whi ch one of t he par t i es had eyes open and got al l

t he advant age; and t hat par t y was I . "

" I wi l l not have you so concei t ed, " she sai d, pat t i ng hi s hand

once or t wi ce, and l ooki ng mor e br avel y t han ever up i nt o hi s

eyes. " Why shoul d you t hi nk you wer e so much t he cl ever er of t he

t wo as t o get al l t he good out of our bar gai n? I am not goi ng t o

al l ow t hat you wer e so much t he mor e qui ck- wi t t ed and

cl ear - si ght ed. Women ar e sai d t o be as qui ck- wi t t ed as men.

Per haps i t i s not I who have been out wi t t ed af t er al l . "

" Look at t he cost , Mar y. Thi nk of what you wi l l have t o gi ve up.

You cannot r eckon i t up yet . "

" What ! ar e you goi ng back t o t he r i di ng- hor ses and l ady' s mai d

agai n? I t hought I had convi nced you on t hose poi nt s. "

" They ar e onl y a ver y smal l par t of t he pr i ce. You have l ef t a

home wher e ever ybody l oved you. You knew i t ; you wer e sur e of i t .

You had f el t t hei r l ove ever si nce you coul d r emember anyt hi ng. "

" Yes, dear , and I f eel i t st i l l . They wi l l be al l j ust as f ond of

me at home, t hough I am your wi f e. "

" At home! I t i s no l onger your home. "

" No, I have a home of my own now. A new home, wi t h new l ove t her e

t o l i ve on; and an ol d home, wi t h t he ol d l ove t o t hi nk of . "

" A new home i nst ead of an ol d one, a poor home i nst ead of a r i ch

one- - a home wher e t he cr y of t he sor r ow and suf f er i ng of t he

wor l d wi l l r each you, f or one i n whi ch you had- - "

" I n whi ch I had not you, dear . Ther e now, t hat was my pur chase. I

set my mi nd on havi ng you- - buyi ng you, as t hat i s your wor d. I

have pai d my pr i ce, and got my bar gai n, and- - you know, I was

al ways an oddi t y, and r at her wi l l f ul , am cont ent wi t h i t . "

" Yes, Mar y, you have bought me, and you l i t t l e know, dear est ,

what you have bought . I can scar cel y bear my own sel f i shness at

t i mes when I t hi nk of what your l i f e mi ght have been had I l ef t

you al one, and what i t must be wi t h me. "

" And what mi ght i t have been, dear ?"

" Why, you mi ght have mar r i ed some man wi t h pl ent y of money, who

Page 440 of 443

coul d have gi ven you ever yt hi ng t o whi ch you have been used. "

" I shal l begi n t o t hi nk t hat you bel i eve i n l uxur i es, af t er al l ,

i f you go on maki ng so much of t hem. You must not go on pr eachi ng

one t hi ng and pr act i ci ng anot her . I am a conver t t o your

pr eachi ng, and bel i eve i n t he mi ser y of mul t i pl yi ng ar t i f i ci al

want s. Your wi f e must have none. "

" Yes, but weal t h and posi t i on ar e not t o be despi sed. I f eel

t hat , now t hat i t i s al l done past r ecal l , and I have t o t hi nk of

you. But t he l oss of t hem i s a mer e not hi ng t o what you wi l l have

t o go t hr ough. "

" What do you mean dear ? Of cour se we must expect some t r oubl es,

l i ke ot her peopl e. "

" Why, I mean, Mar y t hat you mi ght , at l east , have mar r i ed a

cont ent ed man, some one who f ound t he wor l d a ver y good wor l d,

and was sat i sf i ed wi t h t hi ngs as t hey ar e, and had l i ght enough

t o st eer hi msel f by; and not a f el l ow l i ke me, f ul l of al l manner

of doubt s and per pl exi t i es, who sees l i t t l e but wr ong i n t he

wor l d about hi m, and mor e i n hi msel f . "

" You t hi nk I shoul d have been mor e comf or t abl e?"

" Yes, mor e comf or t abl e and happi er . What r i ght had I t o br i ng my

wor r i es on you? For I know you can' t l i ve wi t h me, dear est , and

not be bot her ed and annoyed when I am anxi ous and di ssat i sf i ed. "

" But what i f I di d not mar r y you t o be comf or t abl e?"

" My dar l i ng, you never t hought about i t , and I was t oo sel f i sh t o

t hi nk f or you. "

" Ther e now, you see, i t ' s j ust as I sai d. "

" How do you mean?"

" I mean t hat you ar e qui t e wr ong i n t hi nki ng t hat I have been

decei ved. I di d not mar r y you, dear , t o be comf or t abl e, and I di d

t hi nk i t al l over ; ay, over and over agai n. So you ar e not t o r un

away wi t h t he bel i ef t hat you have t aken me i n. "

" I shal l be gl ad enough t o gi ve i t up, dear est , i f you can

convi nce me. "

" Then you wi l l l i st en whi l e I expl ai n?"

" Yes, wi t h al l my ear s and al l my hear t . "

" You r emember t he year we met , when we danced and went nut t i ng

t oget her , a t hought l ess boy and gi r l - - "

" Remember i t ! Have I ever - - "

" You ar e not t o i nt er r upt . Of cour se you r emember i t al l , and ar e

r eady t o t el l me t hat you l oved me t he f i r st moment t hat you saw

me at t he wi ndow i n Hi gh st r eet . Wel l , per haps I shal l not obj ect

t o bei ng t ol d i t at a pr oper t i me, but now I am maki ng my

conf essi ons. I l i ked you t hen, because you wer e Kat i e' s cousi n,

and al most my f i r st par t ner , and wer e never t i r ed of danci ng, and

wer e gener al l y mer r y and pl easant , t hough you somet i mes t ook t o

l ect ur i ng, even i n t hose days. "

Page 441 of 443

" But , Mar y- - "

" You ar e t o be si l ent now and l i st en. I l i ked you t hen. But you

ar e not t o l ook concei t ed and f l at t er your sel f . I t was onl y a

gi r l ' s f ancy. I coul dn' t have mar r i ed you t hen- - gi ven mysel f up

t o you. No, I don' t t hi nk I coul d, even on t he ni ght when f i shed

f or me out of t he wi ndow wi t h t he heat her and hel i ot r ope, t hough

I kept t hem and have t hem st i l l . And t hen came t hat scene down

bel ow, at ol d Si mon' s cot t age, and I t hought I shoul d never wi sh

t o see you agai n. And t hen I came out i n London, and went abr oad.

I scar cel y hear d of you agai n f or a year , f or Kat i e har dl y ever

ment i oned you i n her l et t er s, and t hough I somet i mes wi shed t hat

she woul d, and t hought I shoul d j ust l i ke t o know what you wer e

doi ng, I was t oo pr oud t o ask. Meant i me I went out and enj oyed

mysel f , and had a gr eat many pr et t y t hi ngs sai d t o me- - much

pr et t i er t hi ngs t han you ever sai d- - and made t he acquai nt ance of

pl easant young men, f r i ends of papa and mamma; many of t hem wi t h

good est abl i shment s, t oo. But I shal l not t el l you anyt hi ng mor e

about t hem, or you wi l l be goi ng of f about t he l uxur i es I have

been used t o. Then I began t o hear of you agai n. Kat i e came t o

st ay wi t h us, and I met some of your Oxf or d f r i ends. Poor dear

Kat i e! She was f ul l of you and your wi l d sayi ngs and doi ngs,

hal f - f r i ght ened and hal f - pl eased, but al l t he t i me t he best and

t r uest f r i end you ever had. Some of t he r est wer e not f r i ends at

al l ; and I have hear d many a sneer and unki nd wor d, and st or i es

of your monst r ous speeches and habi t s. Some sai d you wer e mad;

ot her s t hat you l i ked t o be eccent r i c; t hat you coul dn' t bear t o

l i ve wi t h your equal s; t hat you sought t he soci et y of your

i nf er i or s t o be f l at t er ed. I l i st ened, and t hought i t al l over ,

and, bei ng wi l l f ul and eccent r i c mysel f , you know, l i ked mor e and

mor e t o hear about you, and hoped I shoul d see you agai n some

day. I was cur i ous t o j udge f or mysel f whet her you wer e much

changed f or t he bet t er or t he wor se.

" And at l ast came t he day when I saw you agai n, car r yi ng t he poor

l ame chi l d; and, af t er t hat , you know what happened. So her e we

ar e, dear , and you ar e my husband. And you wi l l pl ease never t o

l ook ser i ous agai n, f r om any f ool i sh t hought t hat I have been

t aken i n; t hat I di d not know what I was about when I t ook you,

' f or bet t er or f or wor se, f or r i cher or f or poor er , i n si ckness

and i n heal t h, t i l l deat h us do par t . ' Now, what have you t o say

f or your sel f ?"

" Not hi ng, but a gr eat deal f or you. I see mor e and mor e, my

dar l i ng, what a br ave, gener ous, pi t yi ng angel I have t i ed t o

mysel f . But seei ng t hat makes me despi se mysel f mor e. "

" What ! you ar e goi ng t o dar e t o di sobey me al r eady?"

" I can' t hel p i t dear est . Al l you say shows me mor e and mor e t hat

you have made al l t he sacr i f i ce, and I am t o get al l t he benef i t .

A man l i ke me has no r i ght t o br i ng such a woman as you under hi s

bur den. "

" But you coul dn' t hel p your sel f . I t was because you wer e out of

sor t s wi t h t he wor l d, smar t i ng wi t h t he wr ongs you saw on ever y

si de, st r uggl i ng af t er somet hi ng bet t er and hi gher , and si di ng

and sympat hi zi ng wi t h t he poor and weak, t hat I l oved you. We

shoul d never have been her e, dear , i f you had been a young

gent l eman sat i sf i ed wi t h hi msel f and t he wor l d, and l i kel y t o get

on wel l i n soci et y. "

" Ah, Mar y, i t i s al l ver y wel l f or a man. I t i s a man' s busi ness.

But why i s a woman' s l i f e t o be made wr et ched? Why shoul d you be

Page 442 of 443

dr agged i nt o al l my per pl exi t i es, and doubt s, and dr eams, and

st r uggl es?"

" And why shoul d I not ?"

" Li f e shoul d be al l br i ght and beaut i f ul t o a woman. I t i s ever y

man' s dut y t o shi el d her f r om al l t hat can vex, or pai n, or

soi l . "

" But have women di f f er ent soul s f r om men?"

" God f or bi d! "

" Then ar e we not f i t t o shar e your hi ghest hopes?"

" To shar e our hi ghest hopes! Yes, when we have any. But t he mi r e

and cl ay wher e one st i cks f ast over and over agai n, wi t h no hi gh

hopes or hi gh anyt hi ng el se i n si ght - - a man must be a sel f i sh

br ut e t o br i ng any one he pr et ends t o l ove i nt o al l t hat . "

" Now, Tom, " she sai d al most sol emnl y, " you ar e not t r ue t o

your sel f . Woul d you par t wi t h your own deepest convi ct i ons? Woul d

you, i f you coul d, go back t o t he t i me when you car ed f or and

t hought about none of t hese t hi ngs?"

He t hought a mi nut e, and t hen, pr essi ng her hand, sai d- -

" No, dear est , I woul d not . The consci ousness of t he dar kness i n

one and ar ound one br i ngs t he l ongi ng f or l i ght . And t hen t he

l i ght dawns, t hr ough mi st and f og, per haps, but enough t o pi ck

ones way by. " He st opped a moment , and t hen added, " and shi nes

ever br i ght er unt o t he per f ect day. Yes, I begi n t o know i t . "

" Then, why not put me on your own l evel ? Why not l et me pi ck my

way by your si de? Cannot a woman f eel t he wr ongs t hat ar e goi ng

on i n t he wor l d? Cannot she l ong t o see t hem set r i ght , and pr ay

t hat t hey may be set r i ght ? We ar e not meant t o si t i n f i ne si l ks

and l ook pr et t y, and spend money, any mor e t han you ar e meant t o

make i t , and cr y peace wher e t her e i s no peace. I f a woman cannot

do much her sel f , she can honor and l ove a man who can. "

He t ur ned t o her , and bent over her , and ki ssed her f or ehead, and

ki ssed her l i ps. She l ooked up wi t h spar kl i ng eyes and sai d- -

" Am I not r i ght , dear ?"

" Yes, you ar e r i ght , and I have been f al se t o my cr eed. You have

t aken a l oad of f my hear t , dear est . Hencef or t h t her e shal l be but

one mi nd and one soul bet ween us. You have made me f eel what i t

i s t hat a man want s, what i s t he hel p t hat i s met e f or hi m. "

He l ooked i nt o her eyes and ki ssed her agai n; and t hen r ose up,

f or t her e was somet hi ng wi t hi n hi m l i ke a movi ng of new l i f e,

whi ch l i f t ed hi m, and set hi m on hi s f eet . And he st ood wi t h

ki ndl i ng br ow, gazi ng i nt o t he aut umn ai r , as hi s hear t went

sor r owi ng, but hopef ul l y " sor r owi ng, back t hr ough al l t he

f aul t f ul past . " And she sat on at f i r st , and wat ched hi s f ace,

and nei t her spoke nor moved f or some mi nut es. Then she r ose, t oo,

and st ood by hi s si de: - -

And on her l over ' s ar m she l eant ,

And r ound her wai st she f el t i t f ol d,

And so acr oss t he hi l l s t hey went ,

I n t hat new wor l d whi ch i s t he ol d.

Page 443 of 443

Yes, t hat new wor l d, t hr ough t he gol den gat es of whi ch t hey had

passed t oget her , whi ch i s t he ol d, ol d wor l d, af t er al l , and

not hi ng el se. The same ol d and new wor l d i t was t o our f at her s

and mot her s as i t i s t o us, and shal l be t o our chi l dr en- - a wor l d

cl ear and br i ght , and ever becomi ng cl ear er and br i ght er t o t he

humbl e, and t r ue, and pur e of hear t - - t o ever y man and woman who

wi l l l i ve i n i t as t he chi l dr en of t he Maker and Lor d of i t ,

t hei r Fat her . To t hem, and t o t hem al one, i s t hat wor l d, ol d and

new, gi ven, and al l t hat i s i n i t , f ul l y and f r eel y t o enj oy. Al l

ot her s but t hese ar e occupyi ng wher e t hey have no t i t l e, " t hey

ar e sowi ng much, but br i ngi ng i n l i t t l e; t hey eat , but have not

enough; t hey dr i nk, but ar e not f i l l ed wi t h dr i nk; t hey cl ot he

t hemsel ves, but t her e i s none war m; and he of t hem who ear net h

wages, ear net h wages t o put t hem i nt o a bag wi t h hol es. " But

t hese have t he wor l d and al l t hi ngs f or a r i ght f ul and r i ch

i nher i t ance; f or t hey hol d t hem as dear chi l dr en of Hi m i n whose

hand i t and t hey ar e l yi ng, and no power i n ear t h or hel l shal l

pl uck t hem out of t hei r Fat her ' s hand.

FI NI S