Thensomeobjectionstotheplanroseupbeforehim：
theydealtalmostexclusivelywiththesocialnuisancethethingwouldentail。Therewastobeahouse-party，withthatDukeandDuchessinit，ofwhomhiswifetalkedsomuch，anditwouldbeamiserablekindofboretohaveasuffocatedgardenerforceduponthemasaprincipaltopicofconversation。Ofcourse，too，itwouldmoreorlessthrowthewholehouseholdintoconfusion。Anditseffectuponhiswife！——theprogressofhisthoughtswascheckedabruptlybythissuggestion。Avisionoftheshocksuchacatastrophemightinvolvetoher——oratthebest，ofthegrossunpleasantnessshewouldfindinit——flashedoverhismind，andthenyieldedtoasoftening，radiantconsciousnessofhowmuchthismeanttohim。
Itseemedtoeffaceeverythingelseupontheinstant。
Aprofoundlytenderdesireforherhappinesswasincompletepossession。Alreadythenotionofdoinganythingtowoundorgrieveherappearedincredibletohim。
\"Well，Gafferson，\"heheardhimselfsaying，inoneofthemorereservedtonesofhispatriarchalmanner。
Hehadhaltedclosetotheinattentiveman，andstoodlookingdownuponhim。Hisglancewasatoncetolerantandwatchful。
Gaffersonslowlyrosefromhisslouchingposture，surveyedtheotherwhilehisfacultiesinleisurelyfashionworkedouttheproblemofrecognition，audthenraisedhisfingertohiscap-brim。\"Good-evening，sir，\"
hesaid。
Thisgestureofdeferencewaseloquentlyconvincing。
Thorpe，afteraninstant\'salertscrutiny，smileduponhim。
\"Iwasgladtohearthatyouhadcometous，\"hesaidwithbenevolentaffability。\"Weshallexpectgreatthingsofamanofyourreputation。\"
\"It\'llbeafaircomfort，sir，\"theotherreplied，\"tobeinaplacewherewhatonedoesisappreciated。
WhatuseisittosucceedinhybridizingaHippeastrumprocerawithaPancratiumAmancaes，afteroversixhundredattemptsintenyears，andthenspendthreeyearsa-hand-nursingtheseedlings，andthenyourmasterwon\'ttakeenoughinterestinthethingtopayyourfareuptoLondontotheexhibitionwith\'em？That\'swhat\'udbreakanyman\'sheart。\"
\"Quitetrue，\"Thorpeassented，withpatriciankindliness。
\"Youneedfearnothingofthatsorthere，Gafferson。Wegiveyouafreehand。Whateveryouwant，youhaveonlytoletusknow。Andyoucan\'tdothingstoowelltopleaseus。\"
\"Thankyou，sir，\"saidGafferson，andreally，asThorpethoughtaboutit，theinterviewseemedatanend。
Themasterturneduponhisheel，withabrief，obliquenodoverhisshoulder，andmadehiswayoutintotheopenair。Here，ashewalked，hedrewasuccessionoflongconsolatorybreaths。Itwasalmostasifhehademergedfromthelethalpresenceofthefumigatoritself。
Hetookthelargestcigarfromhiscase，lightedit，andsighedsmoke-ladennewreliefashestrolledbacktowardtheterrace。
Butafewminutesbeforehehadbeenstrugglinghelplesslyinthecoilsofanevilnightmare。
Theseterrorsseemedinfinitelyfarbehindhimnow。
Hegaveanindifferentpartingglancebackwardatthem，asonemightoverhisafter-breakfastcigarattheconfusedalarmsofanearlyawakeninghoursbefore。
Therewasnothingworthremembering——onlytheshapelessandfoolishburdenofabaddream。
Theassurancerosewithinhimthathewasnottohaveanymoresuchtrouble。Withasingularclearnessofmentalvisionheperceivedthatthepartofhimwhichbroughtbaddreamshadbeensloughedoff，likeaserpent\'sskin。
TherehadbeentwoThorpes，andoneofthem——theThorpewhohadalwaysbeenwillingtoprofitbyknavery，andatlastinasplendidcoupasamasterthiefhadstolennearlyamillion，andwouldhaveshrunknotatallfromaddingmurdertotherest，toprotectthatplunder——thisviciousThorpehadgoneawayaltogether。Therewasnolongeraplaceforhiminlife；hewouldneverbeseenagainbymortaleye……ThereremainedonlythegoodThorpe，thepleasant，well-intentionedopulentgentleman；
theexcellentcitizen；thebeneficentmaster，towhom，evenGaffersonliketheothers，touchedarespectfulforelock。
ItpassedintheprocessionofhisreverieasakindoftriumphofvirtuethatthegoodThorperetainedthefortunewhichthebadThorpehadstolen。Itwasinallsensesafortunatefact，becausenowitwouldbeputtoworthyuses。
Consideringthathehadbutdimlydriftedaboutheretoforeontheoutskirtsofthealtruisticimpulse，itwassurprisinglyplaintohimnowthatheintendedtobeaphilanthropist。
Evenashementionedthewordtohimself，thepossibilitiessuggestedbyitexpandedinhisthoughts。Hisolddormant，formlesslustforpowerstirredagaininhispulses。
Whatotherphaseofpowercarriedwithitsuchrewards，suchgratitudes，suchhumblesubservienceonallsidesasfarastheeyecouldreach——asthatexercisedbytheintelligentlymunificentphilanthropist？
Intelligence！thatwasthenoteofitall。Manyrichpeopledabbledatthegivingofmoney，buttheydiditsostupidly，insuchaslip-shodfashion，thattheygotnocreditforit。Evenmillionairesmoreorlessinpubliclife，greatnewspaper-owners，greatbrewer-peers，andthelike，menwhoshouldknowhowtodothingswell，gavehugesumsinbulkforpubliccharities，suchasthehousingofthepoor，andyetcontrivedsomehowtoletthekudosthatshouldhavebeentheirsevaporate。Hewouldmakenosuchmistakeasthat。
Itwaseasyenoughtoseewhereintheyerred。
Theygavesuperciliously，handingdowntheiralmsfromatoploftyaltitudeofTorysuperiority，andtheRadicalsdownbelowsniffedorgrowledevenwhiletheygrudginglytookthesegifts——thatwasallnonsense。Thesearistocraticortuft-huntingphilanthropistsweretheveriestduffers。
Theylaidoutmillionsofpoundsinthevainattempttosecurewhatmighteasilybehadformerethousands，iftheywentsensiblytowork。Theirvastbenefactionsyieldedthematthemostbarethanks，ormoreoftennothanksatall，becausetheylackedthewittolayasidecertainlittletrivialbutannoyingpretensions，andwaiveafewemptyprejudices。Theywenton，yearafteryear，tossingtheirfortunesintoasinkofcontemptuousingratitude，wonderingfeeblywhytheywerenotbelovedinreturn。
Itwasbecausetheywerefools。Theycouldnot，ortheywouldnot，understandthepeopletheysoughttomanipulate。
Whatcouldnotamanofrealbrain，ofrealbreadthandenergyandforceofcharacter，doinLondonwithtwohundredthousandpounds？Why，hecouldmakehimselfmasterofthetown！Hecouldbreakintofragmentsthepoliticalascendencyofthesnob，\"semi-detached\"villaclasses，inhalftheParliamentarydivisionstheynowcontrolled。
HecouldreversethepartisancomplexionoftheMetropolitandelegation，andleadtoWestminsterapartyofhisown，asolidphalanxofdisciplinedmen，standingfortheimplacableDemocracyofreawakenedLondon。
Withsuchabacking，hecouldcoerceministriesatwill，andremakethepoliticsofEngland。TheroleofGreatOliverhimselfwasnottoohopelesslybeyondthescopeofsuchavision。
Thorpethrewhiscigar-endaside，andthennotedthatitwasalmostdark。Hestrodeuptotheterracetwostepsatatime，andswungalongitslengthwithavigourandexhilarationofmovementhehadnotknown，itseemedtohim，foryears。Hefelttheexcitementofanewincentivebubblinginhisveins。
\"HerLadyshipisinhersitting-room，sir，\"adomesticrepliedtohisenquiryinthehall。Thetitlearrestedhisattentionfromsomefreshpointofview，andheponderedit，ashemadehiswayalongthecorridor，andknockedatadoor。Atthesoundofavoicehepushedopenthedoor，andwentin。
LadyCressage，lookingup，noted，witharousedinterest，amarkedchangeinhiscarriage。Hestoodaggressivelyerect，hisbigshoulderssquared，andhisheadheldhigh。
Onhismassivefacetherewasthesmile，atoncebuoyantandcontained，ofastrongmansatisfiedwithhimself。
Somethingimpelledhertorise，andtoputacertainwistfulnessofenquiryintoheransweringsmile。
\"Yourheadacheisbetterthen？\"sheaskedhim。
Helookedpuzzledforamoment，thenlaughedlightly。
\"Oh——yes，\"heanswered。Advancing，hecaughthersuddenly，almostvehemently，inhisarms，audcoveredthefacethatwasperforceupturnedwithkisses。Whenshewasreleasedfromthisoverwhelmingembrace，andstoodpantingandflushed，regardinghimwithnarrowed，intenteyes，inwhichmystificationwasmellowedbythegleamofnot-displeasedcuriosity，hepreferredarequestwhichcompletedherbewilderment。
\"Mrs。Thorpe，\"hebegan，withsignificantdeliberation，butsmilingwithhiseyestoshowthetendernessunderlyinghiswords——\"wouldyoumindifwedidn\'tdressfordinnerthisevening，andifwedinedinthelittlebreakfast-room——orhere，forthatmatter——insteadofthebigplace？\"
\"Why，notatall，ifyouwishit，\"sheansweredreadilyenough，butviewinghimstillwithapuzzledglance。
\"I\'mfullofnewideas，\"heexplained，impulsivelyimpatientofthenecessitytoarrangeasequenceamonghisthoughts。
\"Iseegreatthingsahead。It\'sallcometomeinaminute，butIcouldn\'tseeitclearerifI\'dthoughtitoutforayear。PerhapsIwasthinkingofitallthetimeanddidn\'tknowit。Butanyhow，Iseemywaystraightahead。
Youdon\'tknowwhatitmeanstometohavesomethingtodo。
Itmakesanothermanofme，justtothinkaboutit。
Anotherman？——yes，twentymen！It\'sathingthatcanbedone，andbyGod！I\'mgoingtodoit！\"
Shebeheldinhisface，asshescrutinizedit，astormyglowoftheman\'snative，coarse，imperiousvirility，reassertingitselfthroughthemaskoftorporwhichthisvacuousyearhadsuperimposed。Thelargefeaturesweresomehowgrownlargerstill；theydominatedthecountenanceasroughboldheadlandsdominateashore。
Itwasthevisageofaconqueror——ofamangatheringwithinhimself，toexpenduponhisfellows，theappetites，energies，insensibilities，audacitiesofabeastofprey。
Herglanceflutteredalittle，andalmostquailed，beforethefrankbarbarismofpowerinthelookhebentuponher。Thenitcametoherthatsomethingmorewastobereadinthislook；therewasinitareservationofmagnanimity，ofprotection，ofentreatinginvitation，forherspecialself。Hemightteardownwithhisclaws，andpulltopiecesanddevourothers；buthismatehewouldshelteranddefendandlovewithallhisstrength。
Aninvoluntarytremblingthrillranthroughher——andthenshesmiledupathim。
\"Whatisityou\'regoingtodo？\"sheaskedhim，mechanically。
Hermindrovedfarafield。
\"RuleEngland！\"hetoldherwithgravity。
Forthemomentthereseemedtohernothingpositivelyincongruousinthestatement。Tolookathim，asheloomedbeforeher，upliftedbyhisrefreshedandsoaringself-confidence，itappearednoteasytosaywhatwouldbeimpossibletohim。
Shelaughed，afterafleetingpause，withaplainernoteofgood-fellowshipthanhehadeverheardinhervoicebefore。
\"Delightful，\"shesaidgayly。\"ButI\'mnotsurethatIquiteunderstandthe——thepreciseconnectionofmorning-dressanddinnerinasmallroomwiththeproject。\"Henoddedpleasedcomprehensionofthespiritinwhichshetookhim。
\"Justawhim，\"heexplained。\"ThethingsI\'vegotinminddon\'tfitatallwithceremony，andthatbigbarnofaroom，andmenstandingabout。WhatIwantmorethananythingelseisaquietsnuglittleeveningwithyoualone，whereI
cantalktoyouand——andwecanbetogetherbyourselves。
You\'dlikeit，wouldn\'tyou？\"
Shehesitated，andtherewasanovelconfessionofembarrassmentinhermantlingcolouranddown-spreadlashes。
Ithadalwaystohiseyesbeen，fromthemomenthefirstbeheldit，themostbeautifulfaceintheworld——exquisitelymatchlessinitsformanddelicacyoflineandsereneyetsensitivegrace。Buthehadnotseeninitbefore，orguessedthattherecouldcometoit，thiscrowningaddedlovelinessoffeminineconfusion。
\"Youwouldlikeit，wouldn\'tyou？\"herepeatedinalower，morestrenuoustone。
Sheliftedhereyesslowly，andlooked，notintohis，butoverhisshoulder，asinareverie，halfmeditation，halflanguorousdreaming。Sheswayedratherthansteppedtowardhim。
\"Ithink，\"sheanswered，inamusingmurmur，——\"IthinkIshalllike——everything。\"
CHAPTERXXVII
THORPEfoundtheDukeofGlastonburyamuchmoreinterestingpersontowatchandtotalkwith，bothduringthedinnerSaturdayeveningandlater，thanhehadanticipated。
Hewasyoung，andslightofframe，andnotatallimposinginstature，butheborehimselfwithacertainshycourtlinessofcarriagewhichhadadistinctionofitsown。Hisface，withitslittleblackmoustacheandlargedarkeyes，wasfineuponexamination，butinsomeelusivelyforeignway。
Therelingeredaforeignnote，too，inthewayhetalked。
HisspeechwasEnglishenoughtotheear，itwastrue，butitwastheconsideredEnglishofabook，anditsphraseshadadeftnesswhichwashardlynative。Helooked，ifnotasadyoungman，thenoneconsciousalwaysofsufficientreasonsforsadness，butonecame，afteratime，toseethatthemoodbeneathwasnotmelancholy。Ithadevenitssprightlyside，whichshoneoutirregularlyinhisglanceandtalk，fromasobermeanofamiableweariness。
Thorpeknewhisextraordinarystory——thatofapoortutor，earninghislivinginignoranceofthefactthathehadabirthrightofanysort，whohadbeenmiraculouslytranslatedintotheheir，notonlytoanancienttitlebuttovastcollateralwealth。HehadbeenbornandrearedinFrance，anditwastherethattheheraldsofthisstupendouschangeinhisaffairshadfoundhimout。Therewasagooddealmoretothestory，includingnumerousunsavourylegendsaboutpeoplenowmanyyearsdead，anditwasimpossibletoobservetheyoungDukeandnotseemtoperceivesignsthathewasstillnervouslyconsciousoftheselegends。
Thestoryofhiswife——aserene，grey-eyed，rathersilentyoungperson，withapalefaceofsomebeauty，andwithmuchpurityandintellect——wasstrangeenoughtomatch。Shealsohadearnedherownliving，asaprivatesecretaryortype-writinggirl，orsomethingofthesort，andherhusbandhaddeliberatelychosenherafterhehadcomeintohistitle。Onemightstudyherveryclosely，however，andcatchnohintthatthesefactsinanydegreedisconcertedher。
Thorpestudiedheragooddeal，inafurtiveway，withacuriositybornofhisknowledgethattheDukehadpreferredher，whenhemighthavemarriedhiswidowedcousin，whowasnowThorpe\'sownwife。Howhehadcometoknowthis，hecouldneverhavetold。Hehadbreatheditin，somehow，withthegossip-ladenatmosphereofthatoneLondonseasonofhis。Itwaspatentenough，too，thathiswife——hisEdith——hadnotonlylikedthisducalyoungsterverymuch，butstillentertainedtowardhimaconsiderableaffection。
Shehadneverdissembledthisfeeling，anditvisiblyinformedherglanceandmannernow，atherowntable，whensheturnedtospeakwithhim，wherehesatatherrighthand。Thorpehadneverdreamedofthinkingillofhiswife\'sfriendship，evenwhenherindifferencetowhathethoughthadbeenmosttakenforgranted。
Nowthatthiswasallchanged，andtheamazingnewgloryofaloverhadenvelopedhim，hehadadistinctdelightinwatchingthemyriadcharmingphasesofherkindmanner，half-sisterly，half-motherly，towardthegrave-facedyoungman。Itwasallapartofthedeliciouschangewhichthesepastfewdayshadwroughtinher，thiswarmandsupplesoftnessofmien，ofeyeandsmileandvoice。
ButhowtheDuke，ifreallyhehadhadachancetomarryEdith，couldhavetakenthetype-writerinstead，baffledspeculation。
Thorpegavemoreattentiontothisproblem，duringdinner，thanhedidtotheconversationofthetable。
HisexchangeofsporadicremarkswiththeyoungDuchessbesidehimwasindeedanopenlyperfunctoryaffair，whichlefthimabundantleisuretocontemplateherprofileinsilence，whilesheturnedtolistentothegeneraltalk，ofwhichMissMaddenandtheHon。WinifredPlowdenborethechiefburden。Thetalkoftheseladiesinterestedhimbutindifferently，thoughthefrequentlaughtersuggestedthatitwasamusing。HelookedfromhiswifetotheDuchessandbackagain，inever-recurringsurprisethatthecoronethadbeencarriedpastEdith。
AndoncehelookedalongtimeathiswifeandtheDuke，andformulatedthetheorythatshemusthaverefusedhim。
Nodoubtthatwaswhyshebadbeensympatheticallyfondofhimeversince，andwasbeingsonicetohimnow。
Yes——clearlythatwasit。HefeltuponthisthathealsolikedtheDukeverymuch。
ItwasbynomeanssoapparentthattheDukelikedhim。
BothheandhisDuchess，indeed，werescrupulouslyandevendeferentiallypolite，buttherewasapainstakingeffectaboutit，which，seemingly，theylackedtheartaltogethertoconceal。ItseemedtoThorpethattheotherguestsunconsciouslytooktheircuefromthisaugustcouple，andallexposedsomewhattheefforttheircivilitytohiminvolved。Atanothertimethesuspicionofthiswouldhavestunghim。Hehadonlytoglanceacrossthetabletowherehiswifesatnow，anditwasallright。
Whatotherpeoplethoughtofhim——howotherpeoplelikedordislikedhim——wasofnoearthlyimportance。
Wheneverhechosetoexerthimself，hecouldcompelfromthemthebehaviourthathedesired。ItwastheirdullinabilitytoreadcharacterwhichpromptedthemtoregardhimasmerelyarichoutsiderwhohadmarriedEdithCressage。
Heviewedwithacomfortabletolerancethisinfirmityoftheirs。Whenthetimecame，ifhewantedtodoso，hecouldawakenthemtotheirdelusionasbyforkedlightningandtheburstofthunder。
Thewhimcametohim，andexpandedswiftlyintoadetermination，tocontrivesomeintimatetalkforthwithwiththeDuke。
Theyoungmanseemedbothcleverandsensible，andinawayimpressionableaswell。Thorpethoughtthathewouldprobablyhavesomeinterestingthingstosay，butstillmorehethoughtofhimasalikelylistener。
Itwouldbetheeasiertodetachhimfromthecompany，sincetheoccasionwasoneofstudiedinformality。
TheDukedidnotgoaboutinsociety，intheordinarysenseoftheword，andhewouldnothavecometoHighThorpetomeetalargeparty。Hewashereasakinsmanandfriendofhishostessforaquietweek；andthefewotherguestsfittedreadilyenoughintothepictureofafamilygathering。
Thespiritofdomesticityhadindeedsoobviouslydescendeduponthelittlegroupinthedrawing-room，anhourorsoafterdinner，thatThorpefeltitquitethenaturalthingtoputhisarmthroughthatoftheDukeandleadhimofftohispersonalsmoking-room。HeevenpublishedhisintentionbyaudiblybiddingtheHon。BalderPlowdentoremainwiththeladies。
Whenthetwohadseatedthemselvesinsoft，loweasy-chairs，andthehosthadnotedwithpleasurethathisguesthadnoeffeminatequalmsinthematteroflargerichcigars，abriefsilenceensued。
\"Iamveryanxioustogetyourviewsonacertainsubject，\"
Thorpewasinspiredtobegin，bluntlypushingpreliminariesaside。\"Ifamanoffortunewishestodogenuinegoodwithhismoney，hereinEngland，howshouldhebestgoaboutit？\"
TheDukelookedupathisquestioner，withasuddenflashofsurpriseonhisdark，mobileface。Hehesitatedamoment，andsmiledalittle。\"Youaskofmethesumofhumanwisdom，\"hesaid。\"Itisthehardestofallproblems；
noonesolvesit。\"
Thorpenoddedhisbigheadcomprehendingly。\"That\'sallthemorereasonwhyitoughttobesolved，\"hedeclared，withslowemphasis。
Theotherexpressedbylookandtoneanaugmentedconsciousnessoftheunexpected。\"Ididnotknow，\"
heremarkedcautiously，\"thatthiswasamatterinwhichyouwerespeciallyconcerned。Itpleasesmeverymuchtohearit。
Evenifthesolutiondoesnotcome，itiswelltohaveasmanyaspossibleturningtheproblemoverintheirminds。\"
\"Oh，butI\'mgoingtosolveit！\"Thorpetoldhim，withroundconfidence。
TheDukepulledcontemplativelyathiscigarforalittle。
\"Donotthinkmeacynic，\"hebeganatlast。
\"Youareamanofaffairs；youhavemadeyourownway；
youshouldbeevenmorefreefromillusionsthanIam。
Ifyoutellmethatthesegoodthingscanbedone，Iamthelastonetodisputeyou。ButIhaveseennearathandexperimentsofexceptionalimportance，onaverygrandscale，andtheresultdoesnotencourageme。
Icometodoubtindeedifmoneyhasanysuchpowerintheseaffairsaswethinkithas——forthatmatter，ifithasanypoweratall。Theshiftingofmoneycanalwaysdisorganizewhatisgoingonatthemoment——
changeitaboutandalteritinmanyways——butitseffectisonlytemporary。Assoonasthepressureisreleased，thehumanatomsrearrangethemselvesastheywerebefore，andtheoldconditionsreturn。Ithinktheonlyforcewhichreallymakesanypermanentdifferenceischaracter——andyetabouteventhatIamnotsure。ThebestmanIhaveeverknown——andinmanyrespectstheablest——devoteduntoldenergyandlabour，andmuchmoney，too，totheserviceofafewthousandpeopleinSomerset，onlandofhisown，uponatheorywonderfullyelaboratedandworkedout。
PerhapsyouhaveheardofEmanuelTorrandhiscolony，hisSystem？\"
Thorpeshookhishead。
\"Hehadworkedtremendouslyforyearsatit。Hefellillandwentaway——andinadayalltheresultsofhislaboursandoutlaywereflatontheground。Thepropertyisminenow，anditisfarmedandmanagedagainintheordinaryway，andreallythepeoplethereseemalreadytohaveforgottenthattheyhadaprophetamongthem。
Themarvelouscharacteroftheman——youlookinvainforanysignofanimpressthatitleftuponthem。
Inevergothere。Icannotbearthosepeople。IhavesometimesthefeelingthatifitwerefeasibleIshouldliketooppresstheminsomeway——tohurtthem。\"
\"Oh！\'thepeople\'arehogs，rightenough，\"Thorpecommentedgenially，\"buttheyARE\'thepeople，\'andthey\'retheonlytoolswe\'vegottoworkwithtomaketheworldgoround。\"
\"Butifyouleavetheworldalone，\"objectedtheDuke，\"itgoesroundofitself。Andifyoudon\'tleaveitalone，itgoesroundjustthesame，withoutanyreferencewhatevertoyourexertions。Somefewmenarealwaysclevererornoisierormorerestlessthantheothers，andtheiractivityproducescertaindeviationsandpeculiaritiesintheirgeneration。Therecordofthese——generallyaveryfaultyandfoolishrecord——wecallhistory。
Wesayofthesemovementsinthepastthatsomeofthemweregoodandsomewerebad。Oursonsverylikelywilldiffertotallyfromusaboutwhichweregoodandwhichwerebad；
quitepossibly，inturn，theirsonsmayagreewithus。
Idonotseethatitmatters。Wecannottreatanythingasfinal——exceptthattheworldgoesround。Weappearoutofthedarknessatoneedgeofit；wearecarriedacrossandpitchedoffintothedarknessattheotheredgeofit。
Wearecertainaboutnothingelse。\"
\"Exceptthatsomeofushavetopayforourride，andothersdon\'t，\"putinThorpe。ThetoneinwhichhespokemadehismeaningsoclearthathisGracesatup。
\"Ah，youthinkwedonotpay？\"hequeried，hiscountenancebrighteningwiththeanimationofdebate。\"Mydearsir，wepaymorethananyoneelse。Ourfaresaregraduated，justasourdeath-dutiesare。Nodoubttherearesomeidleandstupid，thick-skinnedrichfellows，whoescapetheticket-collector。Butforeachofthemthereareathousandidlepoorfellowswhodothesame。You，forexample，areamanoflargewealth。I，formysins，carryuponmybacktheburdenofaprodigiousfortune。Couldwenotgooutnow，andwalkdowntheroadtoyournearestvillage，andfindinthepub。thereadozenday-labourershappierthanweare？Why——itisSaturdaynight。ThenIwillnotsayadozen，butasmanyasthetapwillhold。Itisnotthebeeralonethatmakesthemhappy。Donotthinkthat。
Itistheabilitytorestuntroubled，thesensethattillMondaytheyhavenomoreresponsibilitythanatree-toad。
DoesthecomingofSundaymakethatdifferencetoyouortome？Whennightcomes，doesitmeantousthatwearetosleepoffintooblivionallwehavedonethatday，andbeginlifeafreshnextmorning？No-o！Wearethetiredpeople；theloadisneverliftedfromourbacks。
Ah，dowenotpayindeed！\"
\"Oh-ho！\"ejaculatedThorpe。Hehadbeenlisteningwithgrowingastonishmenttotheother\'sconfession。
Hewasstillsurprisedashespoke，butanoteofsatisfactionmountedintohisvoiceashewenton。\"Youareunhappy，too！Youareayoungman，inexcellenthealth；
youhavethewifeyouwant；youunderstandgoodtobacco；
youhaveason。Thatisagreatdeal——butmyGod！thinkwhatelseyou\'vegot。You\'retheDukeofGlastonbury——oneoftheoldesttitlesinEngland。You\'reoneoftherichestmeninthecountry——therichestintheoldpeerage，atanyrate，I\'mtold。AndYOU\'REnothappy！\"
Theothersmiled。\"Ah，thetermsandformssurvive，\"
hesaid，withakindofpedagogicaffability，\"afterthesubstancehasdisappeared。Thenobleman，theprince，wasagreatpersoninthetimeswhenhemonopolizedwealth。
Itenabledhimtomonopolizealmosteverythingelsethatwaspleasantorsuperb。Hehadtheartsandthebooksandthemusiciansandthesilksandvelvets，andthebath-tubs——everythingthatmadeexistencegorgeous——alltohimself。Hehadwartoamusehimselfwith，andthesevendeadlysins。Thebarriersaredownnow。
Everythingwhichusedtobeexclusivelythenobleman\'sisnowwithineverybody\'sreach，includingthesins。
Anditisnotonlythatothershavelevelleduptohim；
theyhavelevelledhimdown。Hecannotdressnowmoreexpensivelythanotherpeople。Gamblingusedtoberecognizedasoneofhisnormalrelaxations，butnow，thehigherhisrank，themoresharplyheisscoldedforit。
Naturallyhedoesnotknowwhattodowithhimself。
Asaninstitution，hedescendsfromaperiodwhentheonlyimaginableuseforwealthwastobemagnificentwithit。
Butnowinthisbusinessage，wheretherecognizeduseofwealthistomakemorewealth，heissomuchoutofplacethathehasevenforgottenhowtobemagnificent。
Therearesomeillustratedarticlesinoneofthemagazines，givingphotographsofthegreathistoriccountry-housesofEngland。Youshouldseethepicturesoftheinteriors。
ThefurnitureanddecorationsarepreciselywhataBrixtondressmakerwouldbuy，ifshesuddenlycameintosomemoney。\"
\"Allthesame，\"Thorpestucktohispoint，\"youarenothappy。\"
TheDukefrownedfaintly，asifattheother\'spersistency。
Thenheshruggedhisshouldersandansweredinalightertone。\"Ithardlyamountstothat，Ithink。
Iconfessthattherearealleviationstomylot。
IntheopinionoftheworldIamoneofitsmostfortunatecitizens——anditisnotformetosaythattheworldisaltogetherwrong。Thechiefpointis——Idon\'tknowifyouwillquitefollowme——therearelimitstowhatpositionandfortunecangiveaman。Andsoeasilytheymaydeprivehimofpleasureswhichpoorermenenjoy！Imaybewrong，butitseemsimpossibletomethatanyrichmanwhohasacresofgardensandvineriesandglasscangetupthesameaffectionforitallthatthecottagerwillhaveforhislittleflower-plot，thathetendswithhisownhands。
Oneseemsoutsidetherealitiesoflife——amerespectatorattheshow。\"
\"Ah，butwhynotDOthings？\"Thorpedemandedofhim。
\"Whymerelystand，asyousay，andlookon？\"
Theotherleanthisheadbackagain。\"Praywhatdoyourecommend？\"heaskedalmostlistlessly。
\"Why——politics，forexample。\"
TheDukenodded，withanairofaccordingtothesuggestionacertainrespect。\"UnhappilyIamtoomuchofaforeigner，\"
hecommented。\"IknowEnglishmenandtheiraffairstooimperfectly。Sometime——perhaps。\"
\"Andphilanthropicwork——youdon\'tcareaboutthat，\"
pursuedtheother。
\"Oh——wegonotsofarasthat，\"saidhisGrace，withadeprecatorywaveofthehands。\"Mywifefindsmanyinterestsinit，onlyshewouldnotliketohaveyoucallitphilanthropical。SheisLondon-born，anditisagreatpleasuretohertobeofassistancetopooreryoungwomeninLondon，whohavesolittledoneforthembythecommunity，andcandosolittleforthemselves。
Iammuchlessskepticalaboutthatparticularwork，Imaytellyou，thanaboutphilanthropyingeneral。
Infact，Iamquiteclearthatitisdoinggood。Atleastitisdoingakindness，andthatisapleasantoccupation。
Wearereallynotsoidleasonemightthink。Weworkatitagooddeal，mywifeandI。\"
\"SoamILondon-born，\"Thorperemarked，withacertainirrelevancy。
Afteramoment\'spauseheturnedasharplyenquiringglanceuponhisguest。\"Thisthingthatyou\'redoinginLondon——doesitgiveyouany\'pull\'there？\"\"Pull？\"repeatedtheotherhelplessly。
\"IftherewassomethingyouwantedthepeopleofLondontodo，wouldtheydoitforyoubecauseofwhatyou\'vebeendoingforthem——orfortheirgirls？\"
TheDukelookedpuzzledforamoment。\"Butitisn\'tconceivablethatIshouldwantLondontodoanything——
unlessitmightbetoconsumeitsownsmoke，\"heobserved。
\"Quiteso！\"saidThorpe，risingbulkilytohisfeet，butsignifyingbyagesturethathiscompanionwastoremainseated。Hepuffedathiscigartillitstipgleamedangrilythroughthesmokeabouthim，andmovedafewstepswithhishandsinhispockets。\"ThatiswhatIwantedtogetat。NowI\'mLondon-born，I\'vegotthetowninmyblood。TheThorpeshavebeenbooksellersthereforgenerations。Theoldnameisovertheoldshopstill。IthinkIknowwhatLondonersarelike；
Ioughtto。It\'smybeliefthattheydon\'twantgifts。
They\'lltake\'em，butitisn\'twhattheywant。
They\'reatradingpeople——oneoftheoldestintheworld。
Commercialtraditions，themerchant\'spride——thesearebredintheirbones。Theydon\'twantsomethingfornothing。
Theylikeanhonestbargain——faironbothsides。\'YouhelpmeandI\'llhelpyou。\'Andit\'stheonlywayyoucandoanythingworthdoing。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheDuke，passively。
Thorpehalted，andstillwiththecigarbetweenhisteeth，lookeddownathim。
\"IcangointoLondon，andstudyoutthethingsthataretobedone——thatneedtobedone——anddividetheseintotwoparts，thosethatbelongtoprivateenterpriseandthosethatoughttobedonepublicly。
AndIcansaytoLondoners——notinsomanywords，mindyou，butinawaythesharperoneswillunderstand：\'Here，youfellows。I\'llbegindoingoutofmyownpocketonesetofthesethings，andyouinturnmustputyourselvesatmyback，andstandbyme，andputmeinapositionwhereI
canmaketheGovernmentdothisothersetofthings。\'
Thatwillappealtothem。Apoormancouldn\'tleadthemanydistance，becausehecouldalwaysbekilledbythecrythathewasfillinghispockets。Theywillbelieveinamanwhoseambitionistowinanearldomandfivethousandayearoutofpolitics，buttheywillstonetodeaththemanwhomerelytriestogetafewhundredsayearoutofitforhiswifeandchildren。Andamanlikeyoucan\'tdoanythinginLondon，becausetheycan\'tseethatthere\'sanythingyouwantinreturn——andbesides，intheirhearts，theydon\'tlikeyourclass。Don\'tforgetit！Thisisthecitythatchoppedofftheking\'shead！\"
\"Ah，butthisisalsothecity，\"retortedtheother，withplacidpleasureinhisargument，\"whichdeckeditselfinbannersandribbonstowelcomebackthesonofthatsameking。Andifyouthinkofit，hewasratheraquaintthinginsons，too。\"
\"Itwasthewomendidthat，\"Thorpeaffirmedwithreadiness。
\"Theygettheirownwayonceinawhile，whenthemenaretiredout，andtheyhavetheirlittlespellofnonsenseandmonkey-shines，butitneverlastslong。CharlesII。
doesn\'tmatteratall——buttakemywordforit，hisfathermattersagreatdeal。TherewasaThorpeamongthejudgeswhovotedtobeheadhim。Iamdescendedinastraightlinefromhim。\"
HisGraceshruggedhisslightshouldersagain。
\"Ithappensthatmyancestorshadextremelylargefacilitiesfordoingunpleasantthings，and，Godknows，theydidthem——butIdon\'tquiteseewhatthatgoestoprove，now。\"
\"No，youdon\'tgrasptheidea，\"saidThorpe，resignedly。
Afteramoment\'spausehetookthecigarfromhislips，andstraightenedhimself\"Allthesame，\"hedeclaredroundly，\"Iamgoingtodothetrick。Londonhasbeenwaitingforanorganizer——aleader——forahundredyears。Therightkindofaman，goingtherightwaytowork，canstandLondononitshead，assurelyasIcanburnthiscigar。
AndI\'mgoingtohaveatryatit。\"
\"Itisveryinteresting，\"remarkedtheDuke，withvagueness。
\"But——aretheladieswaitingforus？Andifso，aren\'twekeepingthemupunconscionably？\"
Asifincommentuponhiswords，therewasthesoundofafaintrapatthedoor。Thenitopened，andthroughthedensebluehazeoftheroomtheysawsomeshadowedformssoftlyindistinctsavewherethelightfromtheceilingoutsideshonedownuponagroupofcoiffuredheads。
Anoiseofmingledcoughingandlaughterspecificallycompletedtheintroduction。
\"Oh，I\'m——it\'sunendurableinthere，\"spokethevoiceofthehostess。\"WeWEREcomingintosmokewithyou，\"
shecalledoutthroughthecloud，\"sinceyouwouldn\'tstopwithus。\"
\"Comealong！\"answeredThorpe，cheerily。Hestrodetotheendoftheroomandraisedawindow。Fromthesamecornerheturnedonsomeaddedlights。
Underthismoreeffectiveillumination，theladyofthehouseadvanced，withMissMaddenandtheHon。Winifredclosebehindher。\"Frankhasgonetobed，\"sheexplainedtotheDuke，whohadrisen。Thensheturnedtoherhusbandabright-eyedglance：\"Youdon\'tmind——ourcoming？\"
sheasked。
\"Mind！\"hecalledout，withrobustimpressiveness。
\"Mind！\"Asiftocompletetheexpressionofhismeaning，hethrewhisarmlooselyabouther，whereshestood，andbroughthertohisside。Theyremainedstandingthus，beforethefireplace，aftertheotherswereallseated。
\"Mr。Thorpehasbeenoutliningtomethemostwonderfulplans，\"
saidtheDuke，lookingfromonefacetoanother，withareservedsmile。\"Itseemsthatphilanthropyfailsunlessitiscombinedwithveryadvancedpolitics。Itisanewideatome——buthecertainlystatesitwithvigour。
Doyouunderstandit，Edith？\"
\"Oh，perfectly，\"repliedthewife，smilingly。\"Iamhisfirstconvert。Beholdinmetheoriginaldisciple。\"
\"Theworstofthatis，\"commentedThorpe，withradiantjoviality，\"shewouldsubscribetoanyothernewdoctrineofminejustasreadily。\"Hetightenedthearmencirclingherbyaperceptibletrifle。\"Wouldn\'tyou，sweetheart？\"hedemanded。
Sheseemedinnowiseembarrassedbytheseovertendearments。
Therewasindeedthedimmestsuggestioninherfaceandvoiceofaresponsivemood。\"Really，\"shebegan，withasoftglance，half-deprecation，half-pride，bentupontheothers，andwiththoughtfuldeliberation，——\"reallytheimportantthingisthatheshouldpursuesomeobject——haveinviewsomethingthatheisdeterminedtomaster。Withoutthat，heisnotcontented——notathisbest。Heshouldhavebeenasoldier。Hehasapassionforbattleinhisblood。
Andnowthatheseessomethingheiseagertodo——Iamveryglad。Itmakesitnonethelessacceptablethatgoodistocomefromit。\"
\"Istillmaintain，\"saidMissMadden，interpolatingherwordsthroughthetaskoflightingacigarette，andcontrivingforthemaneffectofdrollerywhichappealedtoThorpemostofall——\"Ishallalwaysinsist，justthesame，thatcrimewashistruevocation。\"
End