Thesmellofrainwasintheair。Thecarraisednodust,butboredswiftlyon,searchingouttheroadwithitslamps。OnPutneyBridgeitsmarchwasstayedbyastringofwaggons。LordValleyslookedtorightandleft。Theriverreflectedthethousandlightsofbuildingspiledalonghersides,lampsoftheembankments,lanternsofmooredbarges。ThesinuouspallidbodyofthisgreatCreature,foreverglidingdowntothesea,rousedinhismindnosymbolicimage。Hehadhadtodowithher,yearsback,attheBoardofTrade,andknewherforwhatshewas,extremelydirty,andgettingabominablythinjustwherehewouldhavelikedherplump。Yet,ashelightedacigar,therecametohimaqueerfeeling——asifhewereinthepresenceofawomanhewasfondof。
\"IhopetoGod,\"hethought,\"nothing\'ilcomeofthesescares！\"Thecarglidedonintothelongroad,swarmingwithtraffic,towardsthefashionableheartofLondon。Outsidestationers\'shops,however,thepostersofeveningpaperswereofnoreassuringorder。
\'THEPLOTTHICKENS。\'
\'MOREREVELATIONS。\'
\'GRAVESITUATIONTHREATENED。\'
Andbeforeeachpostercouldbeseenalittleeddyinthestreamofthepassers—by——formedbypersonsglancingatthenews,anddisengagingthemselves,topressonagain。TheEarlofValleyscaughthimselfwonderingwhattheythoughtofit！Whatwaspassingbehindthosepaleroundsoffleshturnedtowardstheposters？
Didtheythinkatall,thesemenandwomeninthestreet？Whatwastheirattitudetowardsthisvaguelythreatenedcataclysm？Faceafterface,stolidandapathetic,expressednothing,noactivedesire,certainlynoenthusiasm,hardlyanydread。Poordevils！Thething,afterall,wasnomorewithintheircontrolthanitwaswithinthepowerofantstostoptheruinationoftheirant—heapbysomepassingboy！Itwasnodoubtquitetrue,thatthepeoplehadneverhadmuchvoiceinthemakingofwar。AndthewordsofaRadicalweekly,whichasanimpartialmanhealwaysforcedhimselftoread,recurredtohim。\"Ignorantofthefacts,hypnotizedbythewords\'Country\'and\'Patriotism\';inthegripofmob—instinctandinbornprejudiceagainsttheforeigner;helplessbyreasonofhispatience,stoicism,goodfaith,andconfidenceinthoseabovehim;helplessbyreasonofhissnobbery,mutualdistrust,carelessnessforthemorrow,andlackofpublicspirit—inthefaceofWarhowimpotentandtobepitiedisthemaninthestreet！\"Thatpaper,thoughclever,alwaysseemedtohimintolerablyhifalutin\'！
ItwasdoubtfulwhetherhewouldgettoAscotthisyear。Andhismindflewforamomenttohispromisingtwo—year—oldCasetta;thendashedalmostviolently,asthoughinshame,totheAdmiraltyandthedoubtwhethertheywerefullyalivetopossibilities。HehimselfoccupiedasofterspotofGovernment,oneofthosealmostnominalofficesnecessarytoqualifyintotheCabinetcertaintriedminds,forwhomnomorestrenuouspostcanforthemomentbefound。FromtheAdmiraltyagainhisthoughtsleapedtohismother—in—law。
Wonderfuloldwoman！Whatastatesmanshewouldhavemade！Tooreactionary！DeuceofastraightlineshehadtakenaboutMrs。LeesNoel！Andwithaconnoisseur\'stwingeofpleasureherecollectedthatlady\'sfaceandfigureseenthatmorningashepassedhercottage。Mysteriousornot,thewomanwascertainlyattractive！
Verygracefulheadwithitsdarkhairwavedbackfromthemiddleovereithertemple——verycharmingfigure,nolumberofanysort！Bouquetabouther！Somestoryorother,nodoubt——noaffairofhis！Alwayssorryforthatsortofwoman！
AregimentofTerritorialsreturningfromamarchstayedtheprogressofhiscar。Heleanedforwardwatchingthemwithmuchthesamecontained,shrewd,criticallookhewouldhavebentonapackofhounds。Allthemistinessandspeculationinhismindwasgonenow。
Goodstampofman,wouldgiveacapitalaccountofthemselves！Theirfaces,flushedbyadayintheopen,weremaskedwithpassivity,or,withahalf—aggressive,half—jocularself—consciousness;theywereclearlynottroubledbyabstractdoubts,oranyvisionsofthehorrorsofwar。
Someoneraisedacheer\'fortheTerriers！\'LordValleyssawroundhimalittleseaofhats,risingandfalling,andheardasound,rathershrillandtentative,swellintohoarse,highclamour,andsuddenlydieout。\"Seemkeenenough！\"hethought。\"Verylittledoesit！
Plentyoffightingspiritinthecountry。\"Andagainathrillofpleasureshotthroughhim。
Then,asthelastsoldierpassed,hiscarslowlyforgeditswaythroughthestragglingcrowd,pressingonbehindtheregiment——menofallages,youths,afewwomen,younggirls,whoturnedtheireyesonhimwithanegligentstareasiftheirlivesweretooremotetopermitthemtotakeinterestinthispassingmanatease。
CHAPTERIV
AtMonkland,thatsamehour,inthelittlewhitewashed\'withdrawing—
room\'ofathatched,whitewashedcottage,twomensattalking,oneoneithersideofthehearth;andinalowchairbetweenthemadark—
eyedwomanleanedback,watching,thetipsofherdelicatethinfingerspressedtogether,orheldouttransparenttowardsthefire。
Alog,droppingnowandthen,turnedupitsglowingunderside;andthefirelightandthelamplightseemedsotohavesoakedintothewhitewallsthatawanwarmthexuded。Silverydunmoths,flutteringinfromthedarkgarden,keptvibrating,likespunshillings,overajade—greenbowlofcrimsonroses;andtherewasascent,aseverinthatoldthatchedcottage,ofwoodsmoke,flowers,andsweetbriar。
Themanontheleftwasperhapsforty,ratherabovemiddleheight,vigorous,active,straight,withblueeyesandasanguinefacethatglowedonsmallprovocation。Hishairwasverybright,almostred,andhisfierymoustacheswhichdescendedtothelevelofhischin,likeDonQuixote\'sseemedbristlingandcharging。
Themanontherightwasnearerthirty,evidentlytall,wiry,andverythin。Hesatrathercrumpled,inhislowarmchair,withhandsclaspedroundaknee;andalittlecrucifiedsmilehauntedthelipsofhisleanface,which,withitsparchmenty,tanned,shavencheeks,anddeep—set,verylivingeyes,hadacertainbeauty。
Thesetwomen,soextravagantlyunlike,lookedateachotherlikeneighbouringdogs,who,havinglongdecidedthattheyarebetterapart,suddenlyfindthattheyhavemetatsomespotwheretheycannotpossiblyhaveafight。Andthewomanwatched;theowner,asitwere,ofone,butwho,fromsheerloveofdogs,hadalwaysstrokedandpattedtheother。
\"So,Mr。Courtier,\"saidtheyoungerman,whosedry,ironicvoice,likehissmile,seemeddefendingthefervidspiritinhiseyes;\"allyousayonlyamounts,yousee,toadefenceoftheso—calledLiberalspirit;and,forgivemycandour,thatspirit,beinganimportationfromtherealmsofphilosophyandart,withersthemomentittouchespracticalaffairs。
Themanwiththeredmoustacheslaughed;thesoundwasqueer——atoncesogenialandsosardonic。
\"Wellput！\"hesaid:\"Andfarbeitfrommetogainsay。Butsincecompromiseistheveryessenceofpolitics,high—priestsofcasteandauthority,likeyou,LordMiltoun,areeverybitasmuchoutofitasanyLiberalprofessor。\"
\"Idon\'tagree！\"
\"Agreeornot,yourpositiontowardspublicaffairsisveryliketheChurch\'sattitudetowardsmarriageanddivorce;asremotefromtherealitiesoflifeastheattitudeofthebelieverinFreeLove,andnotmorelikelytocatchon。Thedeathofyourpointofviewliesinitself——it\'stoodried—upandfarfromthingsevertounderstandthem。Ifyoudon\'tunderstandyoucanneverrule。Youmightjustaswellkeepyourhandsinyourpockets,asgointopoliticswithyournotions！\"
\"Ifearwemustcontinuetoagreetodiffer。\"
\"Well;perhapsIdopayyoutoohighacompliment。Afterall,youareapatrician。\"
\"Youspeakinriddles,Mr。Courtier。\"
Thedark—eyedwomanstirred;herhandsgaveasortofflutter,asthoughindeprecationofacerbity。
Risingatonce,andspeakinginadeferentialvoice,theeldermansaid\"We\'retiringMrs。Noel。Good—night,Audrey,It\'shightimeIwasoff。\"AgainstthedarknessoftheopenFrenchwindow,heturnedroundtofireapartingshot。
\"WhatImeant,LordMiltoun,wasthatyourclassisthedriestandmostpracticalintheState——it\'soddifitdoesn\'tsaveyoufromapoet\'sdreams。Good—night！\"Hepassedoutontothelawn,andvanished。
Theyoungmansatunmoving;theglowofthefirehadcaughthisface,sothataspiritseemedclingingroundhislips,gleamingoutofhiseyes。Suddenlyhesaid:
\"Doyoubelievethat,Mrs。Noel？\"
ForanswerAudreyNoelsmiled,thenroseandwentovertothewindow。
\"Lookatmydeartoad！Itcomeshereeveryevening！\"
Onaflagstoneoftheverandah,inthecentreofthestreamoflamplight,satalittlegoldentoad。AsMiltouncametolook,itwaddledtooneside,andvanished。
\"Howpeacefulyourgardenis！\"hesaid;thentakingherhand,heverygentlyraisedittohislips,andfollowedhisopponentoutintothedarkness。
Trulypeacebroodedoverthatgarden。TheNightseemedlistening——
alllightsout,allheartsatrest。Itwatched,withalittlewhitestarforeverytree,androof,andslumberingtiredflower,asamotherwatcheshersleepingchild,leaningabovehimandcountingwithherloveeveryhairofhishead,andallhistinytremors。
Argumentseemedchild\'sbabbleindeedunderthesmileofNight。Andthefaceofthewoman,leftaloneatherwindow,wasalittlelikethefaceofthiswarm,sweetnight。Itwassensitive,harmonious;
anditsharmonywasnot,asinsomefaces,cold——butseemedtotrembleandglowandflutter,asthoughitwereaspiritwhichhadfounditsplaceofresting。
Inhergarden,——allvelvetygrey,withblackshadowsbeneaththeyew—
trees,thewhiteflowersaloneseemedtobeawake,andtolookatherwistfully。Thetreesstooddarkandstill。Noteventhenightbirdsstirred。Alone,thelittlestreamdowninthebottomraiseditsvoice,privilegedwhendayvoiceswerehushed。
ItwasnotinAudreyNoeltodenyherselftoanyspiritthatwasabroad;torepelwasanartshedidnotpractise。Butthisnight,thoughtheSpiritofPeacehoveredsonear,shedidnotseemtoknowit。Herhandstrembled,hercheekswereburning;herbreastheaved,andsighsflutteredfromherlips,justparted。
CHAPTERV
EustaceCardoc,ViscountMiltoun,hadlivedaverylonelylife,sincehefirstbegantounderstandthepeculiaritiesofexistence。WiththeexceptionofClifton,hisgrandmother\'s\'majordomo,\'hemade,asasmallchild,nointimatefriend。Hisnurses,governesses,tutors,bytheirownconfessiondidnotunderstandhim,findingthathetookhimselfwithunnecessaryseriousness;alittleafraid,too,ofonewhomtheydiscoveredtobecapableofpushingthingstothepointofenduringpaininsilence。MuchofthatearlytimewaspassedatRavensham,forhehadalwaysbeenLadyCasterley\'sfavouritegrandchild。Sherecognizedinhimthepurposefulausteritywhichhadsomehowbeenomittedfromthecompositionofherdaughter。ButonlytoClifton,thenamanoffiftywithagreatgravityandlongblackwhiskers,didEustacerelievehissoul。\"Itellyouthis,Clifton,\"
hewouldsay,sittingonthesideboard,orthearmofthebigchairinClifton\'sroom,orwanderingamongsttheraspberries,\"becauseyouaremyfriend。\"
AndClifton,withhisheadalittleononeside,andasortofwiseconcernathis\'friend\'s\'confidences,whichweresometimesofanembarrassingdescription,wouldanswernowandthen:\"Ofcourse,mylord,\"butmoreoften:\"Ofcourse,mydear。\"
Therewasinthisfriendshipsomethingfineandsuitable,neitherofthese\'friends\'takingorsufferingliberties,andbothbeinginterestedinpigeons,whichtheywouldstandwatchingwitharemarkableattention。
Incourseoftime,followingthetraditionofhisfamily,EustacewenttoHarrow。Hewastherefiveyears——alwaysoneofthoseboysalittleoutatwristsandankles,whomaybeseenslouching,solitary,alongthepavementtotheirownhaunts,ratherdusty,andwithoneshoulderslightlyraisedabovetheother,fromthehabitofcarryingsomethingbeneathonearm。Savedfrombeingthoughta\'smug,\'byhistitle,hislackofanyconspicuousscholasticability,hisobviousindependenceofwhatwasthoughtofhim,andasarcastictongue,whichnoonewaseagertoencounter,heremainedtheuglyducklingwhorefusedtopaddleproperlyinthegreenpondsofPublicSchooltradition。Heplayedgamessobadlythatinsheerself—defencehisfellowspermittedhimtoplaywithoutthem。Of\'fives\'theymadeanexception,forinthisheattainedmuchproficiency,owingtoacertainwindmill—likequalityoflimb。Hewasnotedtoofordaringchemicalexperiments,ofwhichheusuallyhadoneortwobrewing,surreptitiouslyatfirst,andafterwardsbyspecialpermissionofhishouse—master,ontheprinciplethatifaroommustsmell,ithadbettersmellopenly。Hemadefewfriendships,butthesewerelasting。
HisLatinwassopoor,andhisGreekversesovile,thatallhadbeensurprisedwhentowardsthefinishofhiscareerheshowedaveryconsiderablepowerofwritingandspeakinghisownlanguage。Heleftschoolwithoutapang。ButwheninthetrainhesawtheoldHillandtheoldspireonthetopofitfadingawayfromhim,alumproseinhisthroat,heswallowedviolentlytwoorthreetimes,and,thrustinghimselffarbackintothecarriagecorner,appearedtosleep。
AtOxford,hewashappier,butstillcomparativelylonely;remaining,solongascustompermitted,inlodgingsoutsidehisCollege,andclingingthereaftertoremote,panelledroomshighup,overlookingthegardensandaportionofthecitywall。ItwasatOxfordthathefirstdevelopedthatpassionforself—disciplinewhichafterwardsdistinguishedhim。Hetookuprowing;and,thoughthoroughlyunsuitedbynaturetothispastime,securedhimselfaplaceinhisCollege\'torpid。\'Attheendofaracehewasusuallysupportedfromhisstretcherinastateofextremeextenuation,duetohavingpulledthelastquarterofthecourseentirelywithhisspirit。Thesamecravingforself—disciplineguidedhiminthechoiceofSchools;hewentoutin\'Greats,\'forwhich,owingtohisindifferentmasteryofGreekandLatin,hewastheleastfitted。Withenormouslabourhetookaverygooddegree。Hecarriedoffbesides,thehighestdistinctionsoftheUniversityforEnglishEssays。TheordinarycirclesofCollegelifeknewnothingofhim。NotonceinthewholecourseofhisUniversitycareer,washethebetterforwine。He,didnothunt;henevertalkedofwomen,andnonetalkedofwomeninhispresence。Butnowandthenhewasvisitedbythosegustswhichcometotheascetic,whenalllifeseemedsuddenlycaughtupanddevouredbyaflameburningnightandday,andgoingoutmercifully,heknewnotwhy,likeablowncandle。Howeverunsocialinthepropersenseoftheword,hebynomeanslackedcompanyintheseOxforddays。Heknewmany,bothdonsandundergraduates。Hislongstride,anddeterminedabsenceofdirection,hadseverelytriedallthosewhocouldstomachsoslowapastimeaswalkingforthesakeoftalking。
Thecountryknewhim——thoughheneverknewthecountry——fromAbingdontoBablockHythe。Hisnamestoodhigh,too,attheUnion,wherehemadehismarkduringhisfirstterminadebateona\'CensorshipofLiterature\'whichheadvocatedwithgloom,pertinacity,andacertainyouthfulbrilliancethatmightwellhavecarriedtheday,hadnotanIrishmangotupandpointedoutthedangerhangingovertheOldTestament。Tothathehadretorted:\"Better,sir,itshouldrunariskthanhavenorisktorun。\"Fromwhichmomenthewasnotable。
Hestayedupfouryears,andwentdownwithasenseofbewildermentandloss。ThematuredverdictofOxfordonthischildofhers,was\"EustaceMiltoun！Ah！Queerbird！Willmakehismark！\"
Hehadaboutthistimeaninterviewwithhisfatherwhichconfirmedtheimpressioneachhadformedoftheother。IttookplaceinthelibraryatMonklandCourt,onalateNovemberafternoon。
Thelightofeightcandlesinthinsilvercandlesticks,fouroneithersideofthecarvedstonehearth,illuminedthatroom。Theirgentleradiancepenetratedbutalittlewayintothegreatdarkspacelinedwithbooks,panelledandflooredwithblackoak,wheretheacridfragranceofleatheranddriedroseleavesseemedtodrenchthe,verysoulwiththearomaofthepast。Abovethehugefireplace,withlightfallingononesideofhisshavenface,hungaportrait——
painterunknown——ofthatCardinalCaradocwhosufferedforhisfaithinthesixteenthcentury。Ascetic,crucified,withalittlesmileclingingtothelipsanddeep—seteyes,hepresided,abovethebluefishflamesofalogfire。
Fatherandsonfoundsomedifficultyinbeginning。
Eachofthosetwofeltasthoughhewereinthepresenceofsomeoneelse\'sverynearrelation。Theyhad,infact,seenextremelylittleofeachother,andnotseenthatlittlelong。
LordValleysutteredthefirstremark:
\"Well,mydearfellow,whatareyougoingtodonow？Ithinkwecanmakecertainofthisseatdownhere,ifyouliketostand。\"
Miltounhadanswered:\"Thanks,verymuch;Idon\'tthinksoatpresent。\"
ThroughthethinfumeofhiscigarLordValleyswatchedthatlongfiguresunkdeepinthechairopposite。
\"Whynot？\"hesaid。\"Youcan\'tbegintoosoon;unlessyouthinkyououghttogoroundtheworld。\"
\"BeforeIcanbecomeamanofit？\"
LordValleysgavearatherdisconcertedlaugh。
\"There\'snothinginpoliticsyoucan\'tpickupasyougoalong,\"hesaid。\"Howoldareyou？\"
\"Twenty—four。\"
\"Youlookolder。\"Afaintline,asofcontemplation,rosebetweenhiseyes。WasitfancythatalittlesmilewashoveringaboutMiltoun\'slips？
\"I\'vegotafoolishtheory,\"camefromthoselips,\"thatonemustknowtheconditionsfirst。Iwanttogiveatleastfiveyearstothat。\"
LordValleysraisedhiseyebrows。\"Wasteoftime,\"hesaid。\"You\'dknowmoreattheendofit,ifyouwentintotheHouseatonce。Youtakethemattertooseriously。\"
\"Nodoubt。\"
ForfullyaminuteLordValleysmadenoanswer;hefeltalmostruffled。Waitingtillthesensationhadpassed,hesaid:\"Well,mydearfellow,asyouplease。\"
Miltoun\'sapprenticeshiptotheprofessionofpoliticswasservedinaslumsettlement;onhisfather\'sestates;inChambersattheTemple;inexpeditionstoGermany,America,andtheBritishColonies;
inworkatelections;andintwoforlornhopestocaptureaconstituencywhichcouldbetrustednottochangeitsprinciples。Hereadmuch,slowly,butwithconscientioustenacity,poetry,history,andworksonphilosophy,religion,andsocialmatters。
Fiction,andespeciallyforeignfiction,hedidnotcarefor。Withtheutmostdesiretobewideandimpartial,hesuckedinwhatministeredtothewantsofhisnature,rejectingunconsciouslyallthatbyitsunsuitabilityendangeredtheflameofhisprivatespirit。
Whatheread,infact,servedonlytostrengthenthoseprofounderconvictionswhicharosefromhistemperament。Withacontemptofthevulgargewgawsofwealthandrankhecombinedahumblebutintenseandgrowingconvictionofhiscapacityforleadership,ofaspiritualsuperioritytothosewhomhedesiredtobenefit。Therewasnotrace,indeed,ofthecommonPhariseeinMiltoun,hewassimpleanddirect;
buthiseyes,hisgestures,thewholeman,proclaimedthepresenceofsomesecretspringofcertainty,somefundamentalwellintowhichnodisturbingglimmerspenetrated。Hewasnotdevoidofwit,buthewasdevoidofthatkindofwitwhichturnsitseyesinward,andseessomethingofthefunthatliesinbeingwhatyouare。Miltounsawtheworldandallthethingsthereofshapedlikespires——evenwhentheywerecircles。HeseemedtohavenosensethattheUniversewasequallycompoundedofthosetwosymbols,whosepointofreconciliationhadnotyetbeendiscovered。
Suchwashe,then,whentheMemberforhisnativedivisionwasmadeapeer。
Hehadreachedtheageofthirtywithouteverhavingbeeninlove,leadingalifeofalmostsavagepurity,withonesolitarybreakdown。
Womenwereafraidofhim。Andhewasperhapsalittleafraidofwoman。Shewasintheorytoolovelyanddesirable——thehalf—moon。
inasummersky;inpracticetoocloying,ortooharsh。HehadanaffectionforBarbara,hisyoungersister;buttohismother,hisgrandmother,orhiseldersisterAgatha,hehadneverfeltclose。ItwasindeedamusingtoseeLadyValleyswithherfirst—born。Herfinefigure,theblownrosesofherface,hergrey—blueeyeswhichhadaslighttendencytoroll,asthoughamusementjusttouchedwithnaughtinessbubbledbehindthem;werereducedtoaqueer,satiricaldecoruminMiltoun\'spresence。Thoughtsandsayingsvergingontheriskywerecharacteristicofherrobustphysique,ofhersoulwhichcouldaffordtoexpressalmostailthatoccurredtoit。Miltounhadnever,notevenasachild,givenherhisconfidence。Sheborehimnoresentment,beingofthatlarge,generousbuildinbodyandmind,rarely——neverinherclass——associatedwiththecapacityforfeelingaggrievedorloweredinanyestimation,evenitsown。Hewas,andalwayshadbeen,anoddboy,andtherewasanendofit！NothinghadperhapssodisconcertedLadyValleysashiswantofbehaviourinregardtowomen。Shefeltitabnormal,justassherecognizedtheessentialifdulyveilednormalityofherhusbandandyoungerson。
Itwasthisfeelingwhichmadeherrealizealmostmorevividlythanshehadtimefor,inthewhirlofpoliticsandfashion,thedangerofhisfriendshipwiththisladytowhomshealludedsodiscreetlyas\'Anonyma。\'
Purechancehadbeenresponsiblefortheinceptionofthatfriendship。GoingoneDecemberafternoontothefarmhouseofatenant,justkilledbyafallfromhishorse,Miltounhadfoundthewidowinastateofbewilderedgrief,thinlycloakedinthemannerofonewhohadalmostlostthepowertoexpressherfeelings,andquitelostitinpresenceof\'thegentry。\'Havingassuredthepoorsoulthatsheneedhavenofearabouthertenancy,hewasjustleaving,whenhemet,inthestone—flaggedentrance,aladyinafurcapandjacket,carryinginherarmsalittlecryingboy,bleedingfromacutontheforehead。Takinghimfromherandplacinghimonatableintheparlour,Miltounlookedatthislady,andsawthatshewasextremelygrave,andsoft,andcharming。Heinquiredofherwhetherthemothershouldbetold。
Sheshookherhead。
\"Poorthing,notjustnow:let\'swashit,andbinditupfirst。\"
Togetherthereforetheywashedandboundupthecut。Havingfinished,shelookedatMiltoun,andseemedtosay:\"YouwoulddothetellingsomuchbetterthanI\"
He,therefore,toldthemotherandwasrewardedbyalittlesmilefromthegravelady。
>Fromthatmeetinghetookawaytheknowledgeofhername,AudreyLeesNoel,andtheremembranceofaface,whosebeauty,underacapofsquirrel\'sfur,pursuedhim。Somedayslaterpassingbythevillagegreen,hesawherenteringagardengate。Onthisoccasionhehadaskedherwhethershewouldlikehercottagere—thatched;aninspectionoftheroofhadfollowed;hehadstayedtalkingalongtime。Accustomedtowomen——overthebestofwhom,foralltheirgraceandlackofaffectation,high—castelifehadwrappedthemannerwhichseemstotakeallthingsforgranted——therewasapeculiarcharmforMiltouninthissoft,dark—eyedladywhoevidentlylivedquiteoutoftheworld,andhadsopoignant,andshy,aflavour。
Thusfromachanceseedhadblossomedswiftlyoneofthoserarefriendshipsbetweenlonelypeople,whichcaninshorttimefillgreatspacesoftwolives。
Onedaysheaskedhim:\"Youknowaboutme,Isuppose？\"Miltounmadeamotionofhishead,signifyingthathedid。Hisinformanthadbeenthevicar。
\"Yes,Iamtold,herstoryisasadone——adivorce。\"
\"Doyoumeanthatshehasbeendivorced,or————\"
Forthefractionofasecondthevicarperhapshadhesitated。
\"Oh！no——no。Sinnedagainst,Iamsure。Anicewoman,sofarasI
haveseen;thoughI\'mafraidnotoneofmycongregation。\"
Withthis,Miltoun,inwhomchivalryhadalreadybeenawakened,wascontent。Whensheaskedifheknewherstory,hewouldnotfortheworldhavehadherrakeupwhatwaspainful。Whateverthatstory,shecouldnothavebeentoblame。Shehadbegunalreadytobeshapedbyhisownspirit;hadbecomenotahumanbeingasitwas,butanexpressionofhisaspiration……
OnthethirdeveningafterhispassageofarmswithCourtier,hewasagainatherlittlewhitecottageshelteringwithinitshighgardenwalls。Smotheredinroses,andwithablack—brownthatchoverhangingtheold—fashionedleadedpanesoftheupperwindows,ithadanairofhidingfromtheworld。Behind,asthoughonguard,twopinetreesspreadtheirdarkboughsovertheouthouses,andinanysouth—westwindcouldbeheardspeakinggravelyabouttheweather。Talllilacbushesflankedthegarden,andahugelime—treeintheadjoiningfieldsighedandrustled,oronstilldaysletforththedrowsyhumofcountlesssmallduskybeeswhofrequentedthatgreenhostelry。
Hefoundheralteringadress,sittingoveritinherpeculiardelicatefashion——asifallobjectswhatsoever,dresses,flowers,books,music,requiredfromherthesamesympathy。