Ifthereeverwasamanwithnostomachforthemarketitwasme。Butthensomeoneroaredout：
\"\'Atseven-eighths，sellRubberConsols！SellfivehundredRubberatseven-eighths！Sellfivehundredatthree-quarters！Atthree-quartersyouhave\'em！
RubberConsols！Sellathou。atthree-quarters！\'
\"Thisthingwentintomybrainlikealivecoal。Istoppedandlookedupatthefellow——andbyGod，itwasoneofthemenI\'vebeentalkingabout——oneofthoseKaffirscoundrels。
IwishIwasbetteratrememberingnames——butIknewhisface。
Thereweresomeoftheothersaroundhim，andtheylaughedatme，andhelaughedatme。Oh，theyhadaheapoffunoutofme——foraminuteortwo。Prettygoodfun，too！Iguessthey\'llrememberitquiteawhile。\"
\"Goon！\"Louisaadjuredhim。Theobviousproximityofthedramaticclimaxdrewherforwardinherchair，andbroughtaglowofexpectationtohereyes。
\"Igotmyselfawayfromthatcrowdsomehow——lthinkI
wasafraidifIstayedI\'dstrangletheonewhowasshoutingonthesteps——andIwenttowardmyoffice。
ButwhenIgottothedoor，Ididn\'thavethecouragetogoin。I\'dfurnisheditbetter，Isuppose，thananyotherofficeinAustinFriars，andIhadakindoffeelingthatthesightofthosecarpets，andoak-tablesanddesks，andbrass-railingsandsoonwouldmakemesick。
Iowedfor\'emall，bearinmind——\"
\"But——Joel，\"thesisterinterposed。\"OnethingIdon\'tunderstand。Howmanypeoplehadappliedforshares？Youhaven\'tmentionedthat。\"
Afleetingsmilelightedupthesaturninegloomofhispresentmood。\"Itwashardlyworthmentioning，\"
heanswered，withbittermirth。\"Betweenfiveandsixthousandsharesweresubscribed，alltold。
Ithinkthewithdrawalsbytelegraphbroughtitdowntopracticallyfivethousand。Weofferedahundredthousand，youknow——Butletmegoonwithmystory。Istoodthere，infrontofourstreet-door，inakindoftrance。
ThewordsofthatJew——\'SellRubberConsolsatthree-
quarters！\'——buzzedinsidemyheadasiftheywouldburstitopen。Iturned——andIhappenedtoseemyBroker——theScotchman，Semple，youknow——comingalongtowardme。
Rightatthatminute，likeaflash，somethingdawnedonme。
Inlessthanasecond，Isawthewholedamnedrottenoutfitturnedupsidedown，withmeontop。Imadeajump，andrantomeetSemple。
\"\'Howmanysharesofourshaveyoubought？\'Iaskedhim，withagriptightonhisarm。
\"Thelittlechapwaslookingmightysick。Hefiguredupinhismind。\'I\'mafraidit\'seightthousandfivehundred，alltold，\'hesaid，inasortofPresbyterianwhimper。
\"\'Well——howwouldthesegentlemengoaboutittodelivertheirgoods——thatis，supposingwegotasettlement？\'
\"Iaskedhimthis，andkeptmyeyeonhisface。
Helookedpuzzledforaminute。Thenheputouthislip。
Thenheshotmeaglanceassharpasarazor，andwelookedintooneanother\'seyes。
\"\'Theywereshoutingthemouttomeatthree-quarters，aminuteago，\'Itoldhim。
\"Hewasontothegamelikelightning。\'Waitformeintheoffice，\'hewhispered。\'We\'llgonaponthis！\'
\"Withthathewasofflikeastreak。Hestoppedrunningjustbeforehegottothecorner，though，andbeganwalkingslowly，saunteringalong，youknow，asifhismindwasonnothingbutsecond-handbooks。
Iwatchedhimoutofsight——andthenIwentback，anduptotheoffices。Thefurnituredidn\'tscaremeabitthistime。Why，Istoppedandfeltofthebrass-railingjustoutsidetheBoardRoom，andIsaidtomyself——\'Pshaw！
Wecouldhaveyouofsolidgold，ifwewantedto。\'\"
Hepausedhere，andregardedhissisterwithwhatshefeltwasintendedtobeasignificantlook。SheshrankfromtheconfessionthatitsmeaningwasGreektoher。
\"Well——andwhatnext？\"sheasked，guardedly。
\"Semplecamebackintwentyminutesorso——andthenextmorninghewasatitagain——andwhatwithhimandhisjobber，byGeorge，onthequiet，theypickedupnearlyeighteenthousandofourshares。Sometheypaidfifteenshillingsfor，sometheygotattwelve-and-sixandeventen。Thatdoesn\'tmatter；it\'sofnomoreimportancethanthecoppersyougivetocrossing-sweepers。
Thethingwastogettheshares——andbyGodwe\'vegotthem！Twenty-sixthousandtwohundredshares，that\'swhatwe\'vegot。Now，doyouseewhatthatmeans？\"
\"Whyyes，\"sheanswered，withafaint-heartedassumptionofconfidence。\"Ofcourse，youknowthepropertyissogoodthatyou\'llmakeaprofitonthesharesyou\'veboughtfarbelowtheirvalue。ButIdon\'tthinkIquitesee——\"
Heinterruptedherwithanoutburstofloudlaughter。
\"Don\'tthinkyouquitesee？\"hegurgledather，withtearsofpleasureinhiseye。\"Why，youdummy，youhaven\'tgotthefaintestglimmerofanotionofwhatit\'sallabout。
Thevalueoftheproperty\'sgotnothingintheworldtodowithit。That\'sneitherherenorthere。Iftherewasn\'tanysuchpropertyinexistence，itwouldbejustthesame。\"
Hehadcompassionuponherblankcountenance，atthis，andexplainedmoregently：\"Why，don\'tyousee，Lou，it\'sthisway。Thisiswhathashappened。We\'vegotwhat\'scalledacorneronthebears。They\'recaughtshort，andwecansqueezethemtoourhearts\'content。
What——youdon\'tunderstandnow？Why，seehere！Thesefellowswho\'vesoldtwenty-sixthousandofourshares——
theyhaven\'tgotthemtosell，andtheycan\'tgetthem。
Thatisthepoint——theycan\'tgetthemforlovenormoney——theymustpaymemyownpriceforthem，orberuinedmen。Themomenttheyrealizethesituation，theywillbeginofferingapremiumforRubberConsols。
Thepriceofaone-poundsharewillbetwopounds，thenfour——six——ten——twenty——thirty——whateverIwanttodriveitto。\"
Louisastaredupathimwithwideopeneyes。Itseemedtoherthatsheunderstoodnow。Itwasveryexciting。
\"Yousee，\"hewenton，takingapprovingnoteofthenewlightofcomprehensioninherglance，\"wedidsomethingthatTuesdayafternoonbesidebuyuptheseshares。
Semplerushedofftohisoffice，andheandhisclerksgotupalotofdummyapplicationsforshares，madeoutinallthedifferentnamestheycouldbesafeinusing，andtheyputtheseintothebankwiththeapplicationmoney——Semplefoundthat——andnextdayhewentandsawtheadvertisingagentandthesolicitorandtheauditors——andgotthemtopoolthesharesthatI\'vepromisedtogivethem。Apool？Thatmeanstheyagreetotransfertheirsharestomeastrustee，andletmedealwiththemasIlike——ofcoursetotheiradvantage。
Inanycase，theirsharesarevendor\'sshares，andcouldn\'tbedealtwithinthistransaction。Soyouseethethingishermeticallysealed。Nobodycangetashareexceptfromme，andatmyprice。Butthesefellowsthathavesoldthem——they\'vegottohavethem，don\'tyousee。
Theyhadtheirlittletemporaryjokewithmeonthestreetthatafternoon——andnowtheymustwalkuptothecaptain\'sofficeandsettle。They\'vegottopaymeatleasthalfamillionpoundsforthatfewminutes\'funoftheirs。
Imaymakeitagooddealmore；Idon\'tknowyet。\"
\"Oh，Joel！\"shegroanedathim，inawedstupefaction。
Hisratherlanguidindecisionastowhetherhalfamillionwasgoingtobeenough，impressedhermorepowerfullythanhadanydetailofhisnarrative。
Inafewcomprehensivesentenceshefinishedupforherwhattherewastotell。\"ThisafternoonmyBoardmettoallottheshares。Theysawtheapplications，amountinginalltooverninetythousandshares。
Ittooktheirbreathaway——theyhadheardthatthingsweregoingquitetheotherwaywithus。TheyweresotickledthattheyaskednoquestionsTheallotmentwentthroughlikeagreasedpig。About5，000shareswenttothosewhohadactuallyappliedforthem，and88，000weresolemnlygiventothedummyapplicants。
Ofcourse，therewasn\'tawhisperaboutthesedummies。
Nobodywinkedsomuchasaneyelash。ButI\'vefoundsincethatoneofthedirectors——thatLordPlowdenI
toldyouabout——wasontothethingallthewhile。
Buthe\'sallright。Everybody\'sallright。Ofcoursethedummies\'sharesstillstandintheirnames——onpaper——
butinrealityI\'vegotthemallinmysafe——inmypocketyoumightsay。Theyarereallymine，youunderstand。
Sonowthere\'snothingforustodobuttoapplytotheStockExchangeforaspecialsettlementdate，andmeanwhileliequietandwatchtheJewsstewintheirownjuice。
Orfryintheirownfat，eh？That\'sbetter。\"
\"But，\"shecommentedslowly，\"yousaytherearenosharestobebought——andyetasIunderstandit，therearethosefivethousandthatweresentouttothepeoplewhoreallyapplied。\"
\"Bravo，Lou！\"heansweredherjovially。\"Youactuallydounderstandthething。You\'veputyourfingerstraightonthepoint。Itistruethatthosesharesareoutagainstus——ormightbeturnedagainstusiftheycouldbeboughtup。Butinreality，theydon\'tcountatall。
Inthefirstplace，yousee，they\'rescatteredaboutamongsmallholders，countryclergymenandoldmaidsonanannuityandsoon——alloverthecountry。Evenifthesepeoplewerealltraced，andhuntedup，supposeitwasworththetroubleandexpense，theywouldn\'tsell。
Thebiggerthepricetheywereoffered，themoremulishtheywouldbeaboutholding。That\'salwaysthewaywiththem。Buteveniftheydidallsell，theirfivethousandwouldbeameredropinthebucket。Therewouldbeovertwentythousandotherstobeaccountedfor。
Thatwouldbequiteenoughformypurposes。Oh，Ifiguredallthatoutverycarefully。Myownfirstnotionwastohavethedummiesapplyforthewholehundredthousand，andevenalittleover。Then，yousee，wemighthaveallottedeverythingtothedummies，andsentbackthemoneyandapplicationsofthegenuineones。ButthatwouldhavebeenratherhardtomanagewiththeBoard。
TheMarkisswouldhavesaidthatthereturnsoughttobemadeprorata——thatis，givingeverybodyapartofwhattheyappliedfor——andthatwouldhavemixedeverythingup。
Andthen，too，ifanybodysuspectedanything，whytheStockExchangeCommitteewouldrefuseusaspecialsettlement——and，ofcourse，withoutthatthewholetransactionismoonshine。
Itwasfartoorisky，andwedidn\'tsendbackapenny。\"
\"It\'sallprettyrisky，Ishouldthink，\"shedeclaredassherose。\"Ishouldthinkyou\'dlieawakemorethanevernow——nowthatyou\'vebuiltyourhopessohighandit\'dbesoawfultohavethemcometonothing。\"
Hesmilinglyshookhishead。\"No，itcannomorefailthanthatgascanfailtoburnwhenyouputalighttoit。
It\'sallabsolute。Myhalf-millionisasrightasifitwerelyingtomycreditintheBankofEngland。
Oh，thatremindsme，\"hewentoninaslightlyalteredtone——\"it\'sdamnedcomical，butI\'vegottoaskyouforalittlemoney。I\'veonlygotaboutsevenpoundsatmybank，andjustattheminuteitwouldgivemeawayfearfullytoletSempleknowIwashardup。
Ofcoursehe\'dletmehaveanythingIwanted——but，youcansee——Idon\'tliketoaskhimjustatthemoment。\"
Shehesitatedvisibly，andscannedhisfacewithawistfulgaze。\"You\'requitesure，Joel？\"——shebegan——
\"andyouhaven\'ttoldme——howlongwillitbebeforeyoucomeintosomeofthismoney？\"
\"Well，\"——heinturnpausedoverhiswords——\"well，IsupposethatbynextweekthingswillbeinsuchshapethatmybankwillseeI\'mgoodforanoverdraft。Ohheavens，yes！there\'llbeahundredwaysoftouchingsomeready。
Butifyou\'vegottwentyorthirtypoundshandyjustnow——I
tellyouwhatI\'lldo，Lou。I\'llgiveyouathreemonthsbill，payingonehundredpoundsforeverysovereignyouletmehavenow。Come，oldlady：youdon\'tgetsuchinteresteveryday，I\'llbet。\"
\"Idon\'twantanyinterestfromyou，Joel，\"
shereplied，simply。\"Ifyou\'resureIcanhaveitbackbeforeChristmas，IthinkIcanmanagethirtypounds。
Itwilldointhemorning，Isuppose？\"
Henoddedanamusedaffirmative。\"Why——youdon\'timagine，doyou，\"hesaid，\"thatallthisgoldistoraindown，andnoneofithityou？Interest？Whyofcourseyou\'llgetinterest——andcapitalthrownin。Whatdidyousuppose？\"
\"Idon\'taskanythingformyself，\"shemadeanswer，withanoteofresolutioninhervoice。\"Ofcourseifyouliketodothingsforthechildren，itwon\'tbemewho\'llstandintheirlight。They\'vebeenspoiledformykindoflifeasitis。\"
\"I\'lldothingsforeverybody，\"heaffirmedroundly。
\"Let\'ssee——howoldisAlfred？\"
\"He\'llbetwentyinMay——andJuliaisfourteenmonthsolderthanheis。\"
\"Gad！\"wasThorpe\'smeditativecomment。\"Howtheyshootup！WhyIwasthinkingshewasalittlegirl。\"\"Sheneverwillbetall，I\'mafraid，\"saidtheliteralmother。
\"Shefavoursherfather\'sfamily。ButAlfredismoreofaThorpe。I\'msorryyoumissedseeingthemlastsummer——butofcoursetheydidn\'tstoplongwithme。
Thiswasnoplaceforthem——andtheyhadagoodmanyinvitationstovisitschoolfellowsandfriendsinthecountry。
Alfredremindsmeverymuchofwhatyouwereathisage：
he\'sgotthesamegoodopinionofhimself，too——andhe\'snotabitfonderofhardwork。\"
\"There\'sonemightybigdifferencebetweenus，though，\"
remarkedThorpe。\"Hewon\'tstartwithhisnosehelddowntothegrindstonebyanoldfatherhardasnails。
He\'llstartlikeagentleman——thenephewofarichman。\"
\"I\'malmostafraidtohavesuchnotionsputinhishead，\"
shereplied，withvisibleapprehension。\"Youmustn\'tencouragehimtobuildtoohighhopes，Joel。It\'sspeculation，youknow——andanythingmighthappentoyou。Andthen——youmaymarry，andhavesonsofyourown。\"
Heliftedhisbrowsswiftly——asifthethoughtwerenewtohismind。Aslowsmilestoleintothelittlewrinklesabouthiseyes。Heopenedhislipsasiftospeak，andthenclosedthemagain。
\"Well，\"hesaidatlast，abruptlystraighteninghimself，andcastinganeyeaboutforhiscoatandhat。
\"I\'llberoundinthemorning——onmywaytotheCity。
Good-byetillthen。\"
CHAPTERIV
INCharingCrossstation，thenextafternoon，Mr。Thorpediscoveredbythebigclockoverheadthathehadarrivedfullytenminutestoosoon。Thisdeviationfromhisdeeply-rootedhabitofcatchingtrainsatthelastpossiblemomentdidnottakehimbysurprise。
Hesmileddryly，audnoddedtotheilluminateddial，asiftheysharedthesecretofsomequaintnovelty。
Thisgettingtothestationaheadoftimewasofapiecewithwhathadbeenhappeningallday——merelyonemoretokenofthegeneralupheavalintheroutineofhislife。
Fromearlymorninghehadbeenacutelyconsciousofthefeelingthathisoldmannersandusagesandmethodsofthought——thethousandfamiliarthingsthatmadeuptheThorpehehadbeen——werebecomingstrangetohim。
Theyfittedhimnolonger；theybegantofallawayfromhim。Now，ashestoodhereonthebustlingplatform，itwasasiftheyhadalldisappeared——beenleftsomewherebehindhimoutsidethestation。Withthetwolargebagswhichtheporterwaslookingafter——bothofaquitedisconcertingfreshnessofaspect——andthenewovercoatandshininghat，heseemedtohimselfanewkindofbeing，embarkeduponavoyageofdiscoveryintheunknown。
Evenhisfacewasnew。Asuddenandirresistibleimpulsehadledhimtothebarber-shopinhishotelattheoutset；hecouldnotwaittillafterbreakfasttohavehisbeardremoved。Theresult，whenhebehelditinthemirror，hadnotbeenaltogetherreassuring。
Theover-long，thin，tawnymoustaschewhichsurvivedtherazorassumedanundueprominence；thejawandchin，revealednowforthefirsttimeinperhapsadozenyears，seemedofasicklycolour，and，insomeinexplicableway，misshapen。Manytimesduringtheday，athisoffice，attherestaurantwherehelunched，atvariousoutfitters\'
shopswhichhehadvisited，hehadpursuedthetaskofgettingreconciledtothisnovelvisageinthelooking-glass。
Thelittlemirrorsinthehansomcabshadhelpedhimmostinthisendeavour。Eachreturnedtohimanimagesodifferentfromalltheothers——somecadaverous，somebloated，buteachwithaspontaneousdistortionofitsown——thatithadbecomepossibleforhimtostrikeanaveragetolerabletohimself，andtobelieveinit。
Hissisterhadrecognizedhimupontheinstant，whenheenteredtheoldbook-shoptogetthemoneypromisedovernight，butintheCityhisownclerkshadnotknownhimatfirst。
Therewasinthisaninspiringimplicationthathehadnotsomuchchangedhisappearanceasrevivedhisyouth。
Theconsciousnessthathewasinrealitystillayoungmanspreadoverhismindafresh，andthistimehefeltthatitwaseffacingallearlierimpressions。Why，whenhethoughtofit，thedelighthehadhadduringthedayinbuyingnewshirtsandhandkerchiefsandembroideredbraces，inlookingoverthevariousstocksofrazors，toiletarticles，studsandsleeve-links，andthelike，andtellingthegratifiedtradesmentogivehimthebestofeverything——thisdelighthadbeendistinctivelyboyish。
Hedoubted，indeed，ifanymereyouthcouldhaverisentotheheightsoftendersatisfactionfromwhichhereflecteduponthecontentsofhisportmanteaus。
Toapprehendtheirfullvalueonemusthavebeenwithoutthemforsuchawearytime！Hehadthiswonderfuladvantage——thathesupplementedthefresh-heartedjoyoftheyouthinnicethings，withtheadultman\'sknowledgeofhowbaldexistencecouldbewithoutthem。Itwasworthhavinglivedallthosefortyobscureandmostlyunpleasantyears，forthisoneprivilegenowofbeingabletoappreciatetotheuttermostthetouchofdouble-silkunderwear。
Itwasanundoubtedpitythattherehadnotbeentimetogotoagoodtailor。Thesuithehadonwasrightenoughforordinarypurposes，andhisevening-clotheswereasgoodasnew，butthethoughtofacostumeforshootingharassedhismind。
Hehadbroughtalongwithhim，forthiseventfulvisit，anoldMexicanoutfitofyellowish-greyclothandleather，muchtheworseforroughwear，butsavedfromthedisreputablebyitssuggestionofpicturesqueexperiencesinastrangeandromanticcountry。Atleastithadseemedtohim，inthemorning，whenhehadpackedit，tobesecureinthissalvation。Uneasydoubtsonthesubjecthadsoonrisen，however，andtheyhadincreasedinvolumeandpoignancyashisconceptionsofawardrobeexpandedinthecourseoftheday\'sinvestigationsandpurchases。
Hehadreachedthepointnowofhopingthatitwouldrainbitterlyonthemorrow。
Itwasdoublyimportanttokeepacloselook-outforLordPlowden，sincehedidnotknowthenameofthestationtheyweretobookfor，andtimewasgettingshort。Hedweltwithsomeannoyanceuponhisoversightinthismatter，ashiswatchfulglancerangedfromoneentrancetoanother。
Hewouldhavelikedtobuytheticketshimself，andhaveeverythinginreadinessonthearrivalofhishost。
Asitwas，hecouldnoteventelltheporterhowhisluggagewastobelabelled，andtherewasnowlessthantwominutes！Hemovedforwardbriskly，withthethoughtofinterceptinghisfriendatthefrontofthestation；
thenhalted，andwentback，upontherecollectionthatwhilehewasgoingoutoneway，Plowdenmightcomeinbytheother。Theseconds，astheypassednow，becameseverallypainfultohisnerves。Theringingofabellsomewherebeyondthebarrierprovokedwithinhimanimpulsetotearfulprofanity。
Thensuddenlyeverythingwasallright。Asmooth-faced，civilly-spokenyoungmancameup，touchedhishat，andasked：
\"Willyoukindlyshowmewhichisyourluggage，sir？\"
Thorpe，evenwhilewonderingwhatbusinessofhisitwas，indicatedtheglaringlynewbags——andthenonlyhalfrepressedacryofpleasureatdiscoveringthatLordPlowdenstoodbesidehim。
\"It\'sallright；mymanwilllookoutforyourthings，\"
saidthelatter，astheyshookhands。\"Wewillgoandgetourplaces。\"
Thefatpolicemanatthegatetouchedhishelmet。
Alean，elderlymaninasortofguard\'suniformhobbledobsequiouslybeforethemdowntheplatform，openedtothemafirst-classcompartmentwithalowbowandadeprecatorywaveofthehand，andthenimpressivelylockedthedooruponthem。\"Theenginewillbetheotherway，myLord，afteryouleaveCannonStreet，\"heremarkedthroughtheopenwindow，withearnestdeference。\"Arethereanyofyourbagsthatyouwantinthecompartmentwithyou？\"
Plowdenhadnoddedtothefirstremark。Heshookhisheadatthesecond。Theelderlymanatthis，withstillanotherbow，flappedoutagreenflagwhichhehadbeenholdingfurledbehindhisback，andextendeditatarm\'slength。Thetrainbeganslowlytomove。
Mr。Thorpereflectedtohimselfthatthepeeragewasbynomeanssoplayed-outaninstitutionassomepeopleimagined。
\"Ho-ho！\"theyoungermansighedayawn，ashetossedhishatintotherackabovehishead。\"Weshallbothbethebetterforsomepureair。Londonquitedoesmeup。
Andyou——you\'vebeenstickingatitmonthsonend，haven\'tyou？Youlookratherfagged——oratalleventsyoudidyesterday。You\'vesmartenedyourselfso——withoutyourbeard——thatIcan\'tsayI\'dnoticeitto-day。
ButItakeiteverysensiblepersonisgladtogetawayfromLondon。\"
\"ExceptforanoddSunday，nowandthen，Ihaven\'tputmynoseoutsideLondonsinceIlandedhere。\"Thorperoseashespoke，todeposithishatalsointherack。
Henotedwithakindofchagrinthathiscompanion\'swasanordinarylowblackbowler。\"Icantellyou，ISHALL
begladofthechange。Iwouldhaveboughtthetickets，\"
hewenton，givingwordsatrandomtothethoughtwhichhefoundfixedonthesurfaceofhismind，\"ifI\'donlyknownwhatourstationwas。\"
Plowdenwavedhishand，andthegestureseemedtodismissthesubject。Hetookacigarcasefromhispocket，andofferedittoThorpe。
\"Itwaslucky，mynotmissingthetrainaltogether，\"
hesaid，astheylightedtheircigars。\"Iwasuplatelastnight——turnedoutlatethismorning，beenlateallday，somehow——couldn\'tcatchupwiththeclockforthelifeofme。
Yourstatementtomelastnight——youknowitratherupsetme。\"
Theothersmiled。\"Well，IguessIknowsomethingaboutthatfeelingmyself。Why，I\'vebeenbuzzingabouttodaylikeahenwithherheadcutoff。Butit\'sfun，though，aintit，eh？Justtohappentoremembereveryonceinawhile，youknow，thatit\'salltrue！Butofcourseitmeansathousandtimesmoretomethanitdoestoyou。\"
Thetrainhadcometoastopinsidethegloomy，domedcavernofCannonStreet。Manymeninsilkhatscrowdedtoandfroontheplatform，andanumberofthemshookthehandleofthelockeddoor。Therewasaneffectofcursesinthesoundoftheirremarkswhichcamethroughtheclosedwindow。
Mr。Thorpecouldnotquiterestraintheimpulsetogrinatthem。
\"Ah，that\'swhereyoumistake，\"saidPlowden，contemplatingthemouthfulofsmokeheslowlyblewforth。
\"Mydearman，youcan\'timagineanybodytowhomitwouldmeanmorethanitdoestome——Ihopenoneofthosefellowshaveakey。They\'reanawfulboreonthistrain。
Ialmostnevergobyit，forthatreason。Ah，thankGodwe\'reoff！——ButasIwassaying，thisthingmakesagreaterdifferencetomethanyoucanthinkof。Icouldn\'tsleeplastnight——Igiveyoumyword——thethingupsetmeso。
Itakeityou——youhaveneverhadmuchmoneybefore；
thatis，youknowfromexperiencewhatpovertyis？\"
Thorpenoddedwitheloquentgravity。
\"Well——butyou\"——theotherbegan，andthenpaused。
\"WhatImeanis，\"heresumed，\"youwerenever，atanyrate，responsibletoanybodybutyourself。Ifyouhadonlyasovereignaday，orasovereignaweek，forthatmatter，youcouldaccommodateyourselftotherequirementsofthesituation。Idon\'tmeanthatyouwouldenjoyitanymorethanIshould——butatleastitwasopentoyoutodoit，withoutattractingmuchattention。
Butwithmeplacedinmyridiculousposition——povertyhasbeenthemostunbearabletortureonecanimagine。
Yousee，thereisnowayinwhichIcanearnapenny。
IhadtoleavetheArmywhenIwastwenty-three——theotherfellowsallhadplentyofmoneytospend，anditwasimpossibleformetodragalongwithatitleandanemptypocket。IdaresaythatIoughttohavestucktoit，becauseitisn\'tnearlysobadnow，buttwelveyearsagoitwastoocruelforanyyoungsterwhohadanyprideabouthim——and，ofcourse，myfatherhavingmaderatheranameintheArmy，thatmadeitsomuchharderforme。
Andafterthat，whatwasthere？Ofcourse，thebarandmedicineandengineeringandthosethingswereoutofthequestion，inthosedaysatleast。TheChurch？——thatwasmoresostill。
Ihadatryatpolitics——butyouneedmoneythereasmuchasanywhereelse——moneyorbigfamilyconnections。
Ivotedinpracticallyeverydivisionforfouryears，andImadetherottenestspeechesyoueverheardofatPrimroseLeaguemeetingsinsmallplaces，andafterallthatthebestthingthewhipscouldoffermewasabilletinIndiaatfourhundredayear，andeventhatyoutookindepreciatedrupees。WhenItriedtotalkaboutsomethingathome，theypracticallylaughedinmyface。
Ihadnoleverageuponthemwhatever。Theydidn\'tcareintheleastwhetherIcameupandvotedorstoppedathome。
Theirmajoritywastentoonejustthesame——yes，twentytoone。Sothatdoorwasshutinmyface。I\'veneverbeeninsidetheHousesince——exceptoncetoshowittoanAmericanladylastsummer——butwhenIdogoagainIratherfancy\"——hestoppedforaninstant，andnoddedhishandsomeheadsignificantly——\"IratherfancyIshallturnupontheotherside。\"
\"I\'maLiberalmyself，inEnglishpolitics，\"interposedThorpe。
Plowdenseemednottoperceivetheconnection。TheyhadleftLondonBridgebehind，andheputhisfeetuponthecushions，andleantbackcomfortably。\"OfcoursetherewastheCity，\"
hewenton，speakingdiagonallyacrosstohiscompanion，betweenleisurelyintervalsofabsorptioninhiscigar。
\"Therehavebeensomedirectors\'fees，nodoubt，andonceortwiceI\'vecomeveryneartowhatpromisedtobeabigthing——butIneverquitepulleditoff。
Really，withoutcapitalwhatcanonedo？——I\'mcurioustoknow——didyoubringmuchreadymoneywithyoutoEngland？\"
\"Betweensixandseventhousandpounds。\"
\"Andifit\'safairquestion——howmuchofithaveyougotleft？\"
Thorpehadsomemomentarydoubtsastowhetherthiswasafairquestion，buthesmotheredthemunderthesmilewithwhichhefeltimpelledtoanswerthetwinkleinPlowden\'seyes。\"Oh，lessthanahundred，\"hesaid，andlaughedaloud。
Plowdenalsolaughed。\"ByGeorge，that\'sfine！\"
hecried。\"It\'ssplendid。There\'sdramainit。
Ifeltitwaslikethat，youknow。Somethingtoldmeitwasyourlastcartridgethatrangthebell。ItwasthatthatmademecometoyouasIdid——andtellyouthatyouwereagreatman，andthatIwantedtoenlistunderyou。
Ah，thatkindofcourageissorare！Whenamanhasit，hecanstandtheworldonitshead。\"\"ButIwasplumbscared，allthewhile，myself，\"Thorpeprotested，genially。
\"Courage？Icouldfeelitrunningoutofmyboots。\"
\"Ah，yes，butthat\'sthegreatthing，\"insistedtheother。
\"Youdidn\'tlookasifyouwerefrightened。Fromallonecouldsee，yournervewassublime。Andnothingelsematters——itwassublime。\"
\"Curious——thatthinghappenedtomeoncebefore，\"
commentedThorpe，withruminatingslowness。\"Itwasoutontheplains，yearsago，andIwasinprettyhardluck，andwasmakingmywayalonefromTucsonnorth，andsomecowboysheldmeup，andweregoingtomakekindlingwoodofme，theybeingundertheimpressionthatIwasahorse-thieftheywerelookingafter。
Therewasfiveorsixminutestherewhenmylifewasn\'tworthalastyear\'sbird\'s-nest——andItellyou，sir，Iwasthescaredestmanthateverdrewthebreathoflife。
Andthensomethinghappenedtobesaidthatputthematterright——theysawIwasthewrongman——andthen——whythentheycouldn\'tbepoliteenoughtome。
Theyhalfemptiedtheirflasksdownmythroat，andtheyrodewithmeallthewaytothenexttown，andtheretheywantedtobuyeverythingliquidintheplaceforme。
ButwhatIwasspeakingof——doyouknow，thosefellowsgotatremendousnotionofmynerve。Itwasn\'tsomuchthattheytoldmeso，buttheytoldothersaboutit。
TheyreallythoughtIwasgametothecore——wheninreality，asItellyou，Iwasinthedeadliestfunkyoueverheardof\"
\"That\'sjustit，\"saidPlowden，\"thepartofyouwhichwasengagedinmakingmentalnotesoftheoccasionthoughtyouwerefrightened；wewillsaythatitwasitselffrightened。
Buttheotherpartofyou，thepartthatwastransactingbusiness，sotospeak——thatwasn\'tintheleastalarmed。
Ifancyallborncommandersarebuiltlikethat。
DidyoueverseeGeneralGrant？\"
Thorpeshookhishead。
\"Whatremindedmeofhim——thereisanaccountinhisMemoirsofhowhefeltwhenhefirstwasgivenacommand，atthebeginningoftheCivilWar。Hewaslookingaboutfortheenemy，whowasknowntobeinthevicinity，andthenearerhegottowherethisenemyprobablywas，themorehegottimidandunnerved，hesays，untilitseemedasifcowardiceweregettingcompletemasteryofhim。
Andthensuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatverylikelytheenemywasjustasafraidofhimashewasoftheenemy，andthatmomenthisbraveryallreturnedtohim。
Hewentinandgavetheothermanaterriblethrashing。
Itdoesn\'tapplytoyourcase，particularly——butIfancythatallreallybravemenhavethoseinnerconvictionsofweakness，evenwhiletheyarebehavinglikelions。
Thosemusthavebeenextraordinarilyinterestingexperiencesofyours——ontheplains。IwishIcouldhaveseensomethingofthatpartofAmericawhenI
wastherelastyear。Unfortunately，itdidn\'tcomemyway。\"
\"IthoughtIrememberedyoursayingyou\'dbeenWest。\"
Plowdensmiled。\"I\'mafraidIdidthinkitwasWestatthetime。ButsincemyreturnI\'vebeenwarnedthatImustn\'tcallChicagoWest。ThatwasasfarasIwent。Ihadsomebusinessthere，orthoughtIhad。
Whenmyfatherdied，thatwasin1884，wefoundamonghispapersalotofbondsofsomecorporationpurportingtobecharteredbytheStateofIllinois。
Oursolicitorswroteseveralletters，buttheycouldfindoutnothingaboutthem，andtherethematterrested。
Finally，lastyear，whenIdecidedtomakethetrip，Irecollectedtheseoldbonds，andtookthemwithme。
Ithoughttheymightatleastpaymyexpenses。Butitwasn\'ttheleastgood。Nobodyknewanythingaboutthem。
ItseemstheyrelatedtosomethingthatwasburnedupintheGreatFire——eitherthat，orhaddisappearedbeforethattime。
ThatfireseemstohaveoperatedliketheDeluge——itcancelledeverythingthathadhappenedpreviously。
Myunhappyfatherhadageniusforthatkindofinvestment。
Ishallhavegreatpleasureinshowingyoutomorrow，averypicturesqueandcomprehensivecollectionofConfederateBonds。Theirfacevalueis，asIrememberit，eightythousanddollars——thatis，sixteenthousandpounds。
Iwouldentertainwithjoyanofferofsixteenshillingsforthelot。Mydearfatherboughtthem——Ishouldnotbesurprisedtolearnthatheboughtthematapremium。
Iftheyevertouchedapremiumforaday，thatiscertainlythedaythathewouldhavehitupontobuy。
Oh，itwastoorare！Tooinspired！Heleftnearlyahundredthousandpounds\'worthofpaper——thatis，onitsface——uponwhichthesolicitorsrealized，Ithinkitwasthirteenhundredpounds。It\'shardtoimaginehowhegotthem——buttherewereactuallybondsamongthemissuedbyKossuth\'sHungarianRepublicin1848。
Well——nowyoucanseethekindofinheritanceIcameinto，andIhaveabrotherandsistermoreorlesstolookafter，too。\"
Thorpehadbeenlisteningtothesedetailswithanalmostexaggeratedexpressionofsympathyuponhisface。
Thevoiceinwhichhespokenowbetrayed，however，acertainnoteofincredulity。
\"Yes，Iseethatwellenough，\"heremarked。\"ButwhatI
don\'tperhapsquiteunderstand——well，thisisit。
Youhavethisplaceofyoursinthecountry，andpreservegameandsoon——butofcourseIseewhatyoumean。
It\'swhatyou\'vebeensaying。Whatanothermanwouldthinkacomfortableliving，ispovertytoamaninyourposition。\"
\"Oh，theplace，\"saidPlowden。\"Itisn\'tmineatall。
Icouldneverhavekeptitup。Itbelongstomymother。
Itwasherfather\'splace；ithasbeenintheirfamilyforhundredsofyears。Herfather，Idaresayyouknow，wasthelastEarlofHever。Thetitlediedwithhim。
Heleftthreedaughters，whoinheritedhisestates，andmymother，beingtheeldest，gottheKentishproperties。
OfcourseHadlowHousewillcometomeeventually，butitishersduringherlifetime。Imayspeakofitasmyplace，butthatismerelyafacondeparler；itisn\'tnecessarytoexplaintoeverybodythatit\'smymother\'s。
It\'smyhome，andthat\'senough。It\'sadearoldplace。
Ican\'ttellyouhowgladIamthatyou\'regoingtoseeit。\"
\"I\'mveryglad，too，\"saidtheother，withunaffectedsincerity。
\"AlltheambitionsIhaveintheworld，\"thenoblemanwenton，sittinguprightnow，andspeakingwithaconfidentialseriousness，\"centreroundHadlow。
ThatisthepartofmethatI\'mkeenabout。ThePlowdensarethingsofyesterday。Mygrandfather，theChancellor，beganinaverysmallway，andwasneveranythingmorethanacleverlawyer，withaloudvoiceandahardheart，andatalentformoney-makingandpolitics。Hegotapeerageandheleftafortune。Myfather，forallhewasasoldier，hadamildvoiceandasoftheart。
Hegaveacertainmilitarydistinctiontothepeerage，butheplayedhell-and-tommywiththefortune。AndthenIcome：Ican\'tbeeitheraChancellororaGeneral，andIhaven\'tapennytoblessmyselfwith。Youcan\'tthinkofamoreidioticboxforamantobein。Butnow——thankstoyou——therecomesthisprospectofanimmensechange。
IfIhavemoneyatmyback——atonceeverythingisdifferentwithme。PeoplewillrememberthenpromptlyenoughthatI
amaHadlow，aswellasaPlowden。Iwillmakethepartywhipsrememberit，too。Itwon\'tbeaSecretary\'sbilletinIndiaatfourhundredayearthatthey\'llofferme，butaGovernorshipatsixthousand——thatis，ifIwishtoleaveEnglandatall。Andwe\'llseewhichsetofwhipsaretohavethehonourofofferingmeanything。
Butallthatisintheair。It\'senough，forthemoment，torealizethatthingshavereallycomemyway。Andaboutthat——aboutthesuccessoftheaffair——Isupposetherecanbenoquestionwhatever？\"
\"Nottheslightest，\"Thorpeassuredhim。\"RubberConsolscangouptoanyfigurewechoosetoname。\"
LordPlowdenprofferedthecigarcaseagain，andoncemorehelpedhimselfafterhehadgivenhiscompanionalight。
Thenhethrewhimselfbackagainstthecushions，withalongsighofcontent。\"I\'mnotgoingtosayanotherwordaboutmyself，\"heannounced，pleasantly。
\"I\'vehadmorethanmylegitimateinnings。Youmustn\'tthinkthatIforgetforamomentthereverseofthemedal。
You\'redoingwonderfulthingsforme。IonlywishitwereclearertomewhatthewonderfulthingsarethatI
candoforyou。\"
\"Oh，that\'llbeallright，\"saidtheother，rathervaguely。
\"Perhapsit\'salittleearlyforyoutohavemappedoutinyourmindjustwhatyouwanttodo，\"Plowdenreflectedaloud。
\"Ofcourseithascomesuddenlyuponyou——justasithasuponme。Therearethingsinplentythatwe\'vedreamedofdoing，whilethepowertodothemwasalongwayoff。
Itdoesn\'tatallfollowthatthesearethethingsweshallproceedtodo，whenthepowerisactuallyinourhands。
Buthaveyouanyplansatall？DoyoufancygoingintoParliament，forexample？\"
\"Yes，\"answeredThorpe，meditatively。\"IthinkIshouldliketogointoParliament。Butthatwouldbesomewayahead。IguessI\'vegotmyplansworkedoutatriflemorethanyouthink。Theymaynotbeverydefinite，asregardsdetails，buttheirmaindirectionIknowwellenough。I\'mgoingtobeanEnglishcountrygentleman。\"
LordPlowdenvisiblywincedalittleatthisannouncement。
Heseemedannoyedattheconsciousnessthathehaddoneso，turningabruptlyfirsttostareoutofthewindow，thenshiftinghispositionontheseat，andatlaststealinganuneasyglancetowardhiscompanion。Apparentlyhistonguewasatalossforanappropriatecomment。
Thorpehadlostnoneoftheseunwillingtokensofembarrassment。
Plowdensawthatatonce，butitrelievedevenmorethanitsurprisedhimtoseealsothatThorpeappearednottomind。Theolderman，indeed，smiledingood-naturedifsomewhatironicalcomprehensionofthedumb-show。
\"Oh，that\'llbeallright，too，\"hesaid，withtheevidentintentionofreassurance。\"Icandoitrightenough，sofarasthebigthingsareconcerned。It\'llbeinthelittlethingsthatI\'llwantsomesteering。\"
\"I\'vealreadytoldyou——youmaycommandmetotheutmostofmypower，\"theotherdeclared。Uponreflection，hewasdisposedtobeashamedofhimself。Hisnervesandfacialmuscleshadbeenguiltyofanunpardonablelapseintosnobbishness——andtowardaman，too，whohadbeencapableofbehaviourmoredistinguishedinitscourtesyandgenerositythananyhehadencounteredinallthe\"uppercircles\"puttogether。Herecalledallatonce，moreover，thatThorpe\'s\"h\'s\"wereperfect——aud，forsomeoccultreason，thiscompletedhisconfusion。
\"Mydearfellow\"——hebeganagain，confrontingwithverbalawkwardnesstheother\'squizzicalsmile——\"don\'tthinkI
doubtanythingaboutyou。Iknowwellenoughthatyoucandoanything——beanything——youlike。\"
Thorpelaughedsoftly。
\"Idon\'tthinkyouknow，though，thatI\'mapublic-
schoolman，\"hesaid。
Plowdenliftedhisbrowsinunfeignedsurprise。
\"No——Ididn\'tknowthat，\"headmitted，frankly。
\"Yes，I\'maPaul\'sPigeon，\"Thorpewenton，\"astheycalledtheminmyday。That\'sgoneoutnow，I\'mtold，sincethey\'vemovedtothebigbuildingsinHammersmith。
Ididverywellatschool，too；cameoutinthefirstfourteen。
Butmyfatherwouldn\'tcarrythethinganyfurther。
HeinsistedonmygoingintotheshopwhenIleftSt。Paul\'sandlearningthebook-business。Hehadpreciselythesamekindofdynasticidea，youknow，thatyoufellowshave。
Hisfatherandhisgrand-fatherhadbeenbooksellers，andhewasgoingtohandonthetraditiontome，andmysonafterme。Thatwashisidea。AndhethoughtthatPaul\'swouldhelpthis——butthatOxfordwouldkillit。
\"Ofcourse，hewasrightthere——buthewaswronginsupposingtherewasabooksellerinme。Ilikedthebookswellenough，mindyou——butdamnthepeoplethatcametobuythem，Icouldn\'tstandit。Youstoodtwohourswatchingtoseethatmendidn\'tputvolumesintheirpockets，andattheendofthattimeyou\'dmadeaprofitofninepence。
Whileyouweredoinguptheparcel，somefellowwalkedoffwithabookwortheighteen-pence。Itwastooslowforme。
Ididn\'thititoffwiththeoldman，either。Wedidn\'tpreciselyquarrel，butIwentoffonmyownhook。
IhungaboutLondonforsomeyears，tryingthisthingandthat。OnceIstartedabook-shopofmyown——butI
didnogoodhere。FinallyIturneditupaltogether，andwenttoAustralia。Thatwasin1882。I\'vebeeninalmosteveryquarteroftheglobesince；I\'veknownwhatitwastobeshipwreckedinamonsoon，andI\'velaindowninadesertnotexpectingtogetupagain，withmybelttightenedtoitslastholeforhunger——butIcan\'trememberthatIeverwishedmyselfbackinmyfather\'sbook-shop。\"
Plowden\'sfineeyessparkledhisappreciationoftheother\'smood。Hewassilentforamoment，thenliftedhisheadasifsomethinghadoccurredtohim。
\"Youwerespeakingoftheplanthatyoushouldsucceedtoyourfather\'sbusiness——andyoursonafteryou——you\'renotmarried，areyou？\"
Thorpeslowlyshookhishead。
\"Ourstationisthenext，\"saidtheyoungerman。
\"It\'sadriveofsomethingundertwomiles。You\'dbetterlightanothercigar。\"Headded，asifuponacasualafterthought：\"Wecanbothofusthinkofmarryingnow。\"
CHAPTERV
FORthenexttwohours，Thorpe\'sthoughtswerealmostwhollyoccupiedwithvariousphasesofthelargesubjectofdomesticservice。Heseemedsuddenlytohavebeentransportedtosomeregionpopulatedexclusivelybyclean-shavenmeninbrownlivery。Oneofthesewasholdingaspiritedhorseoutsidethestation，andwhenLordPlowdenhadtakenthereins，andThorpehadgatheredtherugsabouthiskneesandfeet，thismenialsilentlyassociatedhimselfwiththeyoungmanwhohadaccompaniedthemfromtown，onthebackseatofthetrap。Withthesepeoplesoclosebehindhim，Thorpefeltthatanyintimateconversationwasoutofthequestion。Indeed，talkofanysortwasnotinvited；thebighorseburstforthwithhigh，sprawlingstridesuponacareerthroughthetwilight，oncethemainroadwasreached，whichittaxedallPlowden\'senergiestoregulate。Hekeptupacontinualmurmuringmonologuetotheanimal——\"So——so——quiet，mypet，——so——
so——easy，mybeauty——so——so\"——andhiswristsandglovedhandswerevisiblyunderatremendoustensionofstrain，astheyheldtheirownagainsttherigidarchedneckandmouthofsteel。Thorpekeptagriponthesideofthetrap，andhadonlyamodifiedpleasureinthedrive。
Theroadalongwhichtheyspedseemed，inthegatheringdusk，uncomfortablynarrow，andhespeculatedagooddealastohowfrightenedthetwomutesbehindhimmustbe。
Butsilencewassuchalawoftheirlifethat，thoughhestrainedhisears，hecouldnotsomuchashearthemsighorgasp。
Itseemedbutaveryfewminutesbeforetheyturnedoff，withbutthemostfleetingdiminutionofpace，uponaprivateroad，whichspeedilydevelopedintoanavenueoftrees，quitedarkandapparentlynarrowerthanever。
Downthistheyracedprecipitately，andthen，comingoutallatonceuponanopenspace，swungsmartlyroundthecrescentofagravelroad，andhaltedbeforewhatseemedtobethedoorofagreenhouse。Thorpe，ashestoodupinthetrap，gotanuncertain，generalideaofalow，pale-colouredmansioninthebackground，withlightsshowingbehindcurtainsinseveralwidelyseparatedwindows；
whathehadtakentobeaconservatoryrevealeditselfnowtobeaglassgallery，builtalongthefrontofthecentralportionofthishouse。
Aprofusionofhospitablelights——tallwax-candlesinbracketsamongthevinesagainstthetrellisedwall——
gavetothisoutlyingentrancewhatthestrangerfelttobeadelightfuleffect。Itssmoothtiledfloor，comfortablybestrewnwithrugs，wasonalevelwiththepathoutside。Therewereloweasy-chairshere，andalittlewickertablebearingbooksandalady\'swork-basket。
Furtheron，giantchrysanthemumbloomsweremassedbeneaththeclustersofpaleplumbago-flowersonthetrellis。
Directlyinfront，acrossthedozenfeetofthisglazedvestibule，thebroaddoorwayofthehouseproperstoodopen——withwarmlightsglowingrichlyupondarkwoodsintheluxuriousobscuritywithin。
WhatThorpenotedmostofall，however，wastheservantswhoseemedtoswarmeverywhere。Thetwowhohadalightedfromthetraphadcontrivedsomehowmysteriouslytomultiplythemselvesinthedarkness。Allatoncetherewereanumberofyoungmen——atthehorse\'shead，atthebackandsidesofthetrap，atthefirstdoorway，andthesecond，andbeyond——eachpresentingsuchasmooth-faced，pallid，brown-cladreplicaofalltheothersthatThorpeknewheshouldneverbeabletotellthemapart。
LordPlowdenpausedforamomentunderthecandle-lighttolookathiswatch。\"Wediditinabitovereightminutes，\"
heremarked，withobvioussatisfaction。\"Withfourpeopleandheavyroadsthat\'snotsobad——notsobad。
Butcomeinside。\"
TheymovedforwardthroughthewidedoorwayintoanapartmentthelikeofwhichThorpehadnotseenbefore。
Itwasalarge，squareroom，withabigstaircaseattheend，whichseparatedandwentofftorightandleft，half-wayupitsvisiblecourse。Itsfloorwasofinlaidwoods，oldandunevenfromlonguse，andcarpetedhereandtherebytheskinsoftigersandleopards。
Thereweremanyothersuggestionsofthechaseabouttheroom：ridingboots，whips，spurs，andsomestandsofarchaicweaponscaughttheeyeatvariouspoints；
theheadsoffoxesanddeerpeepedoutontheblackenedpanelsofthewalls，fromamongclustersofhookscrowdedwithcoats，hats，andmackintoshes。Attheright，whereafireglowedandblazedunderahugeopenchimney-place，therewerelowchairsanddivansdrawnuptomarkoffaspacefororderlydomesticoccupation。
Theirregularityofeverythingoutside——thegreattableinthecentreofthehallstrewnwithanincongruouslitterofcaps，books，flasks，newspapers，gloves，tobacco-pouches；
theshoes，slippers，andleggingsscatteredunderthebenchesatthesides——allthisself-renewingdisorderofacarelesshouseholdstruckThorpewithaprofoundsurprise。
ItwaslikenothingsomuchasaMexicanranch——andtofinditintheancestralhomeofanEnglishnobleman，filledtooverflowingwithservants，amazedhim。
Theglancesthathecastabouthim，however，wereimpassiveenough。Hismindwaschargedwiththeceaselessresponsibilityofbeingastonishedatnothing。
Amantookhishat，andhelpedhimoffwithhiscoat。
Anothermovedtowardthestaircasewithhistwobags。
\"IfyouwillfollowPangbourn，\"saidhishost，indicatingthisseconddomestic，\"hewilllookafteryou。
Youwouldliketogoupandchangenow，wouldn\'tyou？
There\'safireinyourroom。\"
Thusdismissed，hewentupthestairsinthewakeofhisportmanteaus，takingtheturningtotheleft，andthenproceedingbyalong，lowpassage，roundmorethanonecorner，towhatheconceivedtobeawingofthehouse。
Theservantusheredhimintoaroom——and，indespiteofhimself，hesighedwithpleasureatthesightofit。
Theprettiestandmostcharmingofroomsitseemedtohimtobe——spaciousandquaintlyramblinginshape，withadelicately-figuredchintzrepeatingthedaintyeffectsofthewallsuponthecurtainsandcarpetandbed-hangingsandchair-covers，andwithabrightfireinthegratethrowingitswarm，cozyglowovereverything。
Helookedatthepicturesonthewalls，atthephotographsandlittleornamentsonthewritingdesk，andthehighpostsandsilkencoverletofthebigbed，and，secureintheavertedfaceoftheservant，smiledrichlytohimself。
Thisservant，kneeling，hadunstrappedandopenedthenewbags。Thorpelookedtoseehimquittheroom，thistaskaccomplished，andwasconsciousofsomethinglikedismayatthediscoverythatheintendedtounpackthemaswell。Pangbournbegangravelytounwraponepaperparcelafteranotherandtoassorttheircontentsinlittleheapsonthesofabesidehim。Hediditdeftly，imperturbably，asifallthegentlemenhehadeverseencarriedtheirbelongingsinpackagesdoneupbytradesmen。
Thorpe\'simpulsetobidhimdesistframeditselfinwordsonthetipofhistongue——buthedidnotutterthesewords。
Aftercirclingidly，handsinpockets，aboutthemanandthebagsforalittletime，heinventedsomethingwhichitseemedbetterforhimtosay。
\"Idon\'tknowwhatyou\'llbeabletomakeofthosethings，\"
heremarked，casually。\"Mymanhasbeenbuyingthemtoday——andIdon\'tknowwhathemayn\'thaveforgotten。
Mywholeoutfitofthatsortofthingwentastrayorwasstolenatsomestationorother——thefirstpartoftheweek——IthinkitmusthavebeenLeeds。\"
\"Yes，sir，\"saidPangbourn，withoutemotion。
\"They\'reverycareless，sir。\"
Hewentonimpassively，shakingouttheblackgarmentsandspreadingthemonthebed，layingoutashirtandtiebesidethem，andarrangingtherazors，strop，andbrushesonthedressing-table。Heseemedtoforeseeeverything——fortherewasnotaninstant\'shesitationintheclock-likeassiduityofhismovements，ashebestowedhandkerchiefs，inonedrawer，socksinanother，hungpyjamasbeforethefire，andsetthepatent-leatherpumpsagainstthefender。
EventheoldMexicanshooting-suitseemedinnowaytodisconcerthim。Hedrewforthitsconstituentelementsaswithapractisedhand；whenhehadhungthemup，sombreroandall，inthewardrobeagainstthewall，theyhadthetrickofmakingthatvenerableoakenreceptaclelookasifithadbeenfashionedexpresslyforthem。
Thorpe\'searlieruneasinessquitelostitselfinhisadmirationforPangbourn\'sresourcefuldexterity。
Thedelightedthoughtthatnowhewouldbeneedingamanlikethisforhimselfcrossedhismind。ConceivablyhemightevengetthisidenticalPangbourn——treasurethoughhewere。
Moneycouldcommandeverythingonthisbroadglobe——andwhynotPangbourn？Hetentativelyfeltofthecoinsinhispocket，asitbecameapparentthattheman\'staskwasnearingcompletion——andthenfrownedathimselfforforgettingthatthesethingswerealwaysreservedfortheendofavisit。
\"Willyoudressnow，sir？\"askedPangbourn。Hissoft，distinctenunciationconveyedthesuggestionofcenturiesoftraining。
\"Eh？\"saidThorpe，findinghimselfforthemomentbehindtheother\'sthought。
\"Shallyourequiremeanyfurther，sir？\"themanreframedthequestion，deferentially。
\"Oh！Oh——no，\"repliedThorpe。\"No——I\'llgetalongallright。\"
Lefttohimself，hebeganhurriedlythetaskofshavinganddressing。Thecandlesoneithersideofthethick，bevelledswingingmirrorpresentedasomewhatembarrassingcontrasttotheelectriclighthewasusedto——butuponsecondthoughthepreferredthisrestrainedaristocraticglimmer。
Hehadcompletedhistoilet，andwasstandingatthebay-window，withhisshoulderholdingbacktheedgeofthecurtain，lookingoutuponthedarkenedlawnandwonderingwhetherheoughttogodownstairsorwaitforsomeonetosummonhim，whenheheardaknockathisdoor。
Beforehecouldanswer，thedooropened，andhemadeoutinthecandle-andfirelightthatitwasLordPlowdenwhohadcomein。Hesteppedforwardtomeethishostwho，cladnowinevening-clothes，wassmokingacigarette。
\"Havetheylookedafteryouallright？\"saidPlowden，nonchalantly。\"Haveacigarettebeforewegodown？Lightitbythecandle。Theyneverwillkeepmatchesinabedroom。\"
Heseatedhimselfinaneasy-chairbeforethefire，ashespoke，andstretchedouthisshiningslipperstowardthegrate。\"IthoughtI\'dtellyoubeforewewentdown\"——hewenton，asThorpe，withanelbowonthemantel，lookeddownathishandsomehead——\"mysisterhasacoupleofladiesvisitingher。OneofthemIthinkyouknow。
DoyourememberonshipboardaMissMadden——anAmerican，youknow——verytallandfine，withbrightredhair——ratherremarkablehairitwas？\"
\"Irememberthelady，\"saidThorpe，uponreflection，\"butwedidn\'tmeet。\"Hecouldnotwhollydivesthistoneofthehintthatinthosedaysitbynomeansfollowedthatbecausehesawladiesitwasopentohimtoknowthem。
LordPlowdensmiledalittle。\"Oh，you\'lllikeher。
She\'sgreatfun——ifshe\'sinthemood。Mymotherandsister——I
hadthemcallonherinLondonlastspring——andtheytookagreatfancytoher。She\'sgotnoendofmoney，youknow——atleastamillionandahalf——dollars，unfortunately。
HerparentswereIrish——herfathermadehispileinthewaggonbusiness，Ibelieve——butshe\'sasAmericanasifthey\'dcrossedoverin——whatwasit，the\'Sunflower\'？——no，the\'Mayflower。\'Marvelouscountryforassimilation，thatAmericais！YourememberwhatItoldyou——it\'sputsuchamarkonyouthatIshouldneverhavedreamtyouwereEnglish。\"
Thorpeobservedhiscompanion，throughabluehazeofsmoke，insilence。Thisinsistenceupontheun-Englishnatureoftheeffectheproducedwasnotaltogethergratefultohisears。
\"Theotherone，\"continuedPlowden，\"isLadyCressage。
You\'llbeinterestedinher——becauseafewyearsagoshewassupposedtobethemostbeautifulwomaninLondon。
Shemarriedashockingbounder——hewouldhavebeenDukeofGlastonbury，though，ifhehadlived——buthewasdrowned，andshewasleftpoorasachurchmouse。
Oh！bytheway！\"hestartedup，withagleamofarousedinterestonhisface——\"itdidn\'tintheleastoccurtome。Why，she\'sadaughterofourGeneralKervick。
HowdidhegetontheBoard，bytheway？Wheredidyoupickhimup？\"
Thorpebenthisbrowsinpuzzledlines。\"Why，youintroducedmetohimyourself，didn\'tyou？\"heasked，slowly。
Plowdenseemedunaffectedlysurprisedatthesuggestion，asheturneditoverinhismind。\"ByGeorge！Ithinkyou\'reright，\"hesaid。\"I\'dquiteforgottenit。
OfcourseIdid。Letmesee——ohyes，Ireconstructitreadilyenoughnow。Pooroldchappie——heneedsallhecanget。Hewasbotheringheraboutmoney——thatwasit，Iremembernow——butwhatanidiotIwastoforgetit。
ButwhatIwassaying——there\'snooneelsebutmymotherandsister，andmybrotherBalder。He\'sayoungster——twentyorthereabouts——andhepurportstobereadingforhisexamsfortheArmy。Iftheyopenedhishead，though，Idoubtifthey\'dfindanythingbutcricketandfootball，unlessitmightbeabitofgolf。Well——that\'stheparty。
Ithoughtyoumightliketohaveanotionoftheminadvance。
Ifyou\'vefinishedyourcigarette\"——hethrewhisownintothegrate，androseashespoke——\"wemayaswellbemovingalong。Bytheway，\"heconcluded，astheywalkedtowardthedoor，\"I\'veanideathatwewon\'tsayanything，justatthemoment，aboutourgreatcoup。Ishouldliketokeepitasalittlesurprise——formymotherandsister，youknow。\"
Sometwohourslater，Thorpefoundtheleisureandtherestoredequanimityneedfulforadispassionatesurveyofhissurroundings。Hehadbecometemporarilydetachedfromthegroupoverbythefireplaceinthebigdrawing-roomandwasforthefirsttimethateveningverymuchathisease。Itwasallmuchsimpler，uponexperiment，thanhehadfeared。Hestoodnowinacorneroftheornateapartment，whitherhehadwanderedinexaminingthepicturesonthewalls，andcontemplatedwithserenitythefivepeoplewhomhehadleftbehindhim。Hewasconsciousoftheconvictionthatwhenherejoinedthem，itwouldbeonanewfootingofassuredequality。
Heknewnowtheexactmeasureofeverything。
TheHon。BalderPlowden——atall，heavily-builtyouth，withenormousshouldersandthick，hardhands，andpalestraw-colouredhairandbrowsandeyelashes——hadamiablysaunteredbesidehim，andwaselucidatingforhisbenefitnow，inslow，haltingundertones，someunfathomablemysteryconnectedwiththevaryingattitudeoftwodistinctbreedsofterrierstowardrats。Acrosstheroom，justwithinreachoftheflickeringruddyfirelightfromthehearth，theAmericanguest，MissMadden，wasseatedatthepiano，playingsomelowandratherdolefulmusic。Thorpebenthishead，andassumedanairofattention，butintruthhelistenedtoneithertheHonourableBaldernorthepiano。
Histhoughtswereconcentratedjealouslyuponhisownpositioninthisnovelsetting。Hesaidtohimselfthatitwasallright。OldLadyPlowdenhadseemedtolikehimfromthestart。Thegenial，ifsomewhatabstracted，motherlinessofherwelcomehadbeen，indeed，hissheetanchorthroughouttheevening。Shehadnotoncefailedtonodherheadandsmileandtwinkleherlittlekindeyesthroughtheirspectaclesathim，wheneverbywordorlookhehadaddressedher。Nordidhisoriginalhalf-suspicion，thatthiswashermannertopeopleingeneral，justifyitselfuponobservation。Shewascivil，evenexcessivelycivil，totheothertwoguests，buttheseladiesdidnotgetthesameeagerandintentsmilethathecouldcommand。
HereasoneditoutthatPlowdenmusthavesaidsomethingpleasanttohismotherabouthim——perhapseventothepointofexplainingthathewastobethearchitectoftheirfortunes——buthedidnotliketoascribeallherhospitablewarmthtothat。Itwasdeartohimtobelievethatshelikedhimonhisownmerits——andhedidbelieveit，ashissoftenedglanceresteduponherwhereshesatalmostfacinghiminherpadded，wickerchair——small，white-haired，rosy-cheeked，herintelligentfaceradiatingakindofalertplaciditywhichsomehowmadehimfeelathome。
Hehadnotbeenasmuchathomewiththeothers。
TheHonourableBalder，ofcourse，didn\'tcount；nobodypaidattentiontohim，andleastofallabusyRubberKing。
HegavenotmuchmoreheedtotheAmerican——thetallyoungwomanwiththeredhairandthemillionandahalfofdollars。Shewasplainlyavisitorlikehimself，notatallidentifiedwiththeinnerlifeofthehousehold。
Hefancied，moreover，thatsheinnowaydesiredtobethusidentified。Sheseemedtocarryherselfwithadeliberatealoofnessunderlyinghersurfaceamiability。
Thenhehadspokenhisfewwordswithher，onceortwice，hehadgotthiseffectofstonyreserveclosebeneathhersmileandsmoothwords。True，thismightmeanonlythatshefeltherselfoutofherelement，justashedid——buttohim，reallyitdidnotmatterwhatshefelt。
Ayearago——why，yes，evenafortnightago——thegoldenrumourofmillionswouldhaveshoneroundherauburnhairinhiseyeslikeahalo。Butallthatwaschanged。
Calculatedinasolidifiedcurrency，herreportedfortuneshranktoamerethreehundredthousandpounds。Itwasarespectablesumforawomantohave，nodoubt，butitdidnothingtoquickenthecoolindifferencewithwhichheconsideredher。
Thetwootheryoungwomenweredifferent。Theywereseatedtogetheronasofa，soplacedasregardedhispointofview，thathesawonlyinparttheshadowedprofilesofthefacestheyturnedtowardthepiano。Althoughitwasnotvisibletohim，thepostureoftheirshoulderstoldhimthattheywerelisteningtothemusiceachholdingtheother\'shand。
Thistacitembracewastypicalinhismindofthewaytheyhungtogether，thesetwoyoungwomen。Ithadbeenforceduponhisperceptionsalltheevening，thatthisfair-haired，beautiful，ratherstatelyLadyCressage，andthesmall，swarthy，round-shouldereddaughterofthehouse，peeringthroughherpince-nezfromunderundulythickblackbrows，formedapartyoftheirown。
Theirpolitenesstowardhimhadbeenasidenticalinallitslittleshadesofdistanceandreservationasiftheyhadbeengovernedfromasinglebrain-centre。Itwouldbeunfairtothemtoassumefromtheirmannerthattheydislikedhim，orwereevenunfavourablyimpressedbyhim。
Thefinesseofthatmannerwasfartoodelicateathingtocallintousesuchroughcharacterizations。Itwasrathertheiractionasaunitwhichpiquedhisinterest。
HethoughthecouldseethattheyuniteduponacommondemeanourtowardtheAmericangirl，althoughofcoursetheyknewhermuchbetterthantheyknewhim。ItwasnotevencleartohimthattherewerenottracesofthiscombinationintheirtonetowardPlowdenandtheHonourableBalder。
Thebondbetweenthemhadtwistedinitstrandsofsocialexclusiveness，andstrandsofsexsympathy。
Hedidnotanalyzeallthiswithmuchclosenessinhisthoughts，buttheimpressionsofitweredistinctenoughtohim。
Heratherenjoyedtheseimpressionsthanotherwise。
Womenhadnotofteninterestedhimconsecutivelytoanylargedegree，eitherindetailorasawhole。
Hehadformulated，amongotherloosegeneralnotionsofthem，however，theideathattheirfailuretostandbyoneanotherwasoneoftheirgravestweaknesses。
Thispropositionrosesuddenlynowinhismind，andclaimedhisattention。Itbecameapparenttohim，allatonce，thathisopinionsaboutwomenwouldbehenceforthinvestedwithanewimportance。Hehadscarcelybeforeinhislifeworneveningdressinadomesticcirclewhichincludedladies——certainlyneverinthepresenceofsuchcertificatedandhall-markedladiesasthese。
Hisfuture，however，wastobefilledwithexperiencesofthisnature。Already，afterthisbriefestofventuresintothenewlife，hefoundfreshconceptionsofthegreatsubjectspringingupinhisthoughts。Inthismatterofwomenstickingtogether，forexample——herebeforehiseyeswasoneoftheprettiestinstancesofitimaginable。
Ashelookedagainatthetwofiguresonthesofa，somarkedlyunlikeinoutwardaspect，yetknittoeachotherinsuchasisterlybond，hefoundthespectaclereallytouching。
LadyCressagehadinclinedherclassicprofileevenmoretowardthepiano。Thorpewasnotstirredatallbythemusic，butthespiritofitasitwasreflecteduponthisbeautifulfacialoutline——sensitive，high-spirited，somewhatsadwithal——appealedtosomethinginhim。
Hemovedforwardcautiously，noiselessly，adozenrestrictedpaces，andhaltedagainatthecornerofatable。
ItwasareliefthattheHonourableBalder，thoughhefollowedalong，respectednowhisobviouswishforsilence。
ButneitherBaldernoranyoneelsecouldguessthatthemusicsaidlessthannothingtohisears——thatitwasthefacethathadbeckonedhimtoadvance。
Covertly，withmomentaryassurancesthatnooneobservedhim，hestudiedthisfaceandmuseduponit。Thewhitecandle-lightontheshiningwallbeyondthreweverythingintoasoft，uniformshadow，thissideofthethreadofdarktracerywhichoutlinedforeheadandnoseandlipsandchin。
Itseemedtohimthattheeyeswereclosed，asinreverie；
hecouldnotbesure。
SoshewouldhavebeenaDuchessifherhusbandhadlived！Hesaidtohimselfthathehadneverseenbefore，orimagined，afacewhichbelongedsoindubitablybeneathatiaraofstrawberryleavesindiamonds。
Theprideandgraceandcomposure，yes，andmelancholy，ofthegreatlady——theywereallthereintheirsupremeexpression。Andyet——why，shewasnogreatladyatall。
ShewasthedaughterofhisoldGeneralKervick——thenecessitousandhaughtily-humbleoldmilitarygentleman，withthegreymoustacheandtheprematurefurcoat，whodidwhathewastoldontheBoardwithoutaquestion，forapitifulthreehundredayear。Yes——shewashisdaughter，andshealsowaspoor。Plowdenhadsaidso。
WhyhadPlowden，bytheway，beensokeenaboutrelievingherfromherfather\'simportunities？Hemusthavehaditverymuchatheart，tohaveinventedtheroundaboutplanofgettingtheoldgentlemanadirectorship。
Butno——therewasnothinginthat。Why，PlowdenhadevenforgottenthatitwashewhosuggestedKervick\'sname。
Itwouldhavebeenhissister，ofcourse，whowasevidentlysuchchumswithLadyCressage，whogavehimthehinttohelptheGeneraltosomethingifhecould。
Andwhenyoucametothinkofit，thesearistocratsandmilitarymenandsoon，hadnoothernotionofmakingmoneysavebydirectorships。Clearly，thatwasthewayofit。
PlowdenhadrememberedKervick\'sname，whenthechancearosetogivetheoldboyalegup，andthenhadcleanforgottenthecircumstance。TheepisoderatherincreasedhislikingforPlowden。
Heglancedbriefly，undertheimpulseofhisthought，towherethepeersat，orrathersprawled，inabiglowchairbeforethefire。Hewassonearlyrecumbentinit，indeed，thattherewasnothingtobeseenofhimbutanelbow，andtwoverytrimlegsextendedtothebrassfender。
Thorpe\'sgazerevertedautomaticallytothefaceofGeneralKervick\'sdaughter。HewonderedifsheknewabouttheCompany，andabouthim，andabouthisabilitytosolidifytoanyextentherfather\'sfinancialposition。
Evenmore，uponreflection，hewonderedwhethershewasveryfondofherfather；wouldshebeextremelygratefultoonewhoshouldrenderhimsecurelycomfortableforlife？MissMaddenrosefromthepianobeforeThorpenotedthatthemusichadceased。Therecamefromtheothersasoftbutferventchorusofexclamations，thesincerityandenthusiasmofwhichmadehimalittleashamed。
Hehadevidentlybeendeaftosomethingthatdeeplymovedtherest。EvenBaldermaderemarkswhichseemedtoberegardedasapposite。
\"WhatISit？\"askedLadyCressage，withobviousfeeling。
\"Idon\'tknowwhenanythinghastouchedmesomuch。\"
\"OldDanishsongsthatIpickeduponthequaiinParisforafrancortwo，\"repliedMissMadden。
\"Iarrangedandharmonizedthem——and，oddlyenough，theresultisratherKeltic，don\'tyouthink？\"
\"WeareallofusKeltsinourwelcometomusic——andmusicians——likethis，\"affirmedLordPlowden，whohadscrambledtohisfeet。
Withsuddenresolution，Thorpemovedforwardandjoinedtheconversation。