WhenMr。Townlinsonaccompaniedhisvisitortohercarriagewithdignifiedpolitenesshefeltsomewhatlikeanelderlysolicitorwhohadfoundhimselfdrawnintotheatmosphereofasortofintenselymodernfairytale。Hesawtwoofhisunderclerks，withtheimproprietyofmiddle—classyouth，lookingoutofanofficewindowatthedarkbluebroughamandthetallyounglady，whosebeautybloomedinthesunshine。Hedidnot，onthewhole，wonderat，thoughhedeplored，theconductoftheyoungmen。Butthey，ofcourse，sawonlywhattheycolloquiallydescribedtoeachotherasa\"rippin’handsomegirl。\"Theyknewnothingoftheinterestinginterview。
Hehimselfreturnedtohisprivateroominamusingmoodandthoughtitallover，hisminddwellingonvariousfeaturesoftheinternationalsituation，andmorethanoncehesaidaloud：
\"Mostremarkable。Veryremarkable，indeed。\"
CHAPTERXVIII
THEFIFTEENTHEARLOFMOUNTDUNSTAN
JamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyre——fifteenthEarlofMountDunstan，\"JemSalter，\"ashisneighboursontheWesternrancheshadcalledhim，thered—haired，second—classpassengeroftheMeridiana，satinthegreatlibraryofhisdesolategreathouse，andstaredfixedlythroughtheopenwindowatthelovelylandspreadoutbeforehim。FromthisparticularwindowwastobeseenoneofthegreatestviewsinEngland。
Fromtheuppernurserieshehadlivedinasachildhehadseeniteverydayfrommorninguntilnight，andithadseemedtohisyoungfancytocoveralltheplainsoftheearth。Surelytherestoftheworld，hehadthought，couldbebutsmall——
thoughsomewhereheknewtherewasLondonwheretheQueenlived，andinLondonwereBuckinghamPalaceandSt。JamesPalaceandKensingtonandtheTower，whereheadshadbeenchoppedoff；andtheHorseGuards，wheresplendid，plumedsoldiersrodeforthglittering，withthrillingtrumpetssoundingastheymoved。Theselasthealwaysremembered，becausehehadseenthem，andoncewhenhehadwalkedintheparkwithhisnursetherehadbeenanexcitedstirintheRow，andpeoplehadcrowdedaboutacertaingate，throughwhichanescortedcarriagehadbeendriven，andhehadbeenmadeatoncetotakeoffhishatandstandbareheadeduntilitpassed，becauseitwastheQueen。Somehowfromthatafternoonhedatedthefirstpresentationofcertainvaguelymiserableideas。Inquiriesmadeofhisattendant，whenthecortegehadsweptby，hadelicitedthefactthattheRoyalLadyherselfhadchildren——littleboyswhowereprincesandlittlegirlswhowereprincesses。Whatcuriousandpersistentchildcross—examinationonhisparthaddrawnforththefactthatalmostallthepeoplewhodroveaboutandlookedsohappyandbrilliant，werethefathersormothersoflittleboyslike，yet——insomemysteriousway——unlikehimself？Andinwhatmannerhadhegatheredthathewasdifferentfromthem？Hisnurse，itistrue，wasnotapleasantperson，andhadaninjuredandresentfulbearing。Inlateryearsherealisedthatithadbeenthebearingofanirregularlypaidmenial，whorebelledagainstthefactthatherplacewasnotamongpeoplewhowereofdistinctionandhighrepute，andwhosehouseholdsbestowedacertainsocialstatusupontheirservitors。Shewasatallwomanwithasourfaceandabearingwhichconveyedaglumenduranceofapositionbeneathher。Yes，ithadbeenfromher——Broughhernamewas——thathehadmysteriouslygatheredthathewasnotadesirablecharge，asregardedfromthepointoftheservants’hall——or，infact，fromanyotherpoint。Hispeoplewerenotthepeoplewhosepatronagewassoughtwithanxiouseagerness。
Forsomereasontheirtownhousewasobjectionable，andMountDunstanwaswithoutattractions。Otherbighouseswere，insomemarkedway，different。Thetownhouseheobjectedtohimselfasbeinggloomyandugly，andpossessingonlyabareandbatterednursery，fromwhosewindowsonecouldnotevenobtainasatisfactoryviewoftheMews，whereatleast，therewerehorsesandgroomswhohissedcheerfullywhiletheycurriedandbrushedthem。Hehatedthetownhouseandwas，infact，verygladthathewasscarcelyevertakentoit。People，itseemed，didnotcaretocomeeithertothetownhouseortoMountDunstan。Thatwaswhyhedidnotknowotherlittleboys。Again——forthemysteriousreason——peopledidnotcarethattheirchildrenshouldassociatewithhim。Howdidhediscoverthis？Heneverknewexactly。
Herealised，however，thatwithoutdistinctstatements，heseemedtohavegathereditthroughvariousdisconnectedtalkswithBrough。Shehadnotremainedwithhimlong，having\"betteredherself\"greatlyandgoneawayinglumsatisfaction，butshehadstayedlongenoughtoconveytohimthingswhichbecamepartofhisexistence，andsmoulderedinhislittlesouluntiltheybecamepartofhimself。Theancestorswhohadhewntheirwaythroughtheirenemieswithbattle—
axes，whohadbeenfierceandcruelandunconquerableintheirsavagepride，hadhandeddowntohimaburningandunsubmissivesoul。Atsixyearsold，walkingwithBroughinKensingtonGardens，andseeingotherchildrenplayingunderthecareofnurses，who，helearned，werenotinclinedtomakeadvancestohisattendant，hedraggedBroughawaywithafiercelittlehandandstoodapartwithher，scowlinghaughtily，hisheadintheair，pretendingthathedisdainedallchildishgambols，andwouldhavedeclinedtojoininthem，evenifhehadbeenbesoughttosofarunbend。
Bitternesshadbeenplantedinhimthen，thoughhehadnotunderstood，andthesournessofBroughhadbeenconnectedwithnointelligencewhichmighthavecausedhertosuspecthisfeelings，andnoonehadnoticed，andifanyonehadnoticed，noonewouldhavecaredintheveryleast。
WhenBroughhadgoneawaytoherfarsuperiorplace，andshehadbeensucceededbyonevarietyofobjectionableorincompetentpersonafteranother，hehadstillcontinuedtolearn。Indifferentwayshesilentlycollectedinformation，andallofitwasunpleasant，and，ashegrewolder，ittookforsomeyearsoneform。Lackofresources，whichshouldofrightbelongtopersonsofrank，wastheradicalobjectiontohispeople。Atthetownhousetherewasnomoney，atMountDunstantherewasnomoney。Therehadbeensolittlemoneyeveninhisgrandfather’stimethathisfatherhadinheritedcomparativebeggary。ThefourteenthEarlofMountDunstandidnotcallit\"comparative\"beggary，hecalleditbeggarypureandsimple，andcursedhisprogenitorswithengagingfrankness。Heneverreferredtothefactthatinhispersonableyouthhehadmarriedawifewhosefortune，ifithadnotbeensquandered，mighthaverestoredhisown。Thefortunehadbeensquanderedinthecourseofafewyearsofriotousliving，thewifehaddiedwhenherthirdsonwasborn，whicheventtookplacetenyearsafterthebirthofhersecond，whomshehadlostthroughscarletfever。JamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyreneverheardmuchofher，andbarelyknewofherpastexistencebecauseinthepicturegalleryhehadseenaportraitofatall，thin，fretful—lookingyounglady，withlightringlets，andpearlsroundherneck。Shehadnotattractedhimasachild，andthefactthathegatheredthatshehadbeenhismotherlefthimentirelyunmoved。Shewasnotaloveable—
lookingperson，and，indeed，hadbeenatonceempty—headed，irritable，andworldly。Hewouldprobablyhavebeennolesslonelyifshehadlived。Lonelyhewas。Hisfatherwasengagedinacareermuchtoolivelyandinterestingtohimselftoadmitofhisallowinghimselftobeboredbyanunwantedandentirelysuperfluouschild。Theelderson，whowasLordTenham，hadreachedaprematureanddegeneratematuritybythetimetheyoungeronemadehisbelatedappearance，andregardedhimwithunconcealeddislike。Theworstthingwhichcouldhavebefallentheyoungerboywouldhavebeenintimateassociationwiththisdegenerateyouth。
AsSaltyreleftnurserydaysbehind，helearnedbydegreesthattheobjectiontohimselfandhispeople，whichhadatfirstendeavouredtoexplainitselfasbeingtheresultofanunseemlylackofmoney，combinedwiththatunpleasantfeature，anuglierone——namely，lackofdecentreputation。Angryduns，beggarlinessofincome，scarcityofthenecessariesandluxurieswhichdignityofrankdemanded，theindifferenceandslightsofone’sequals，andtheignoringofone’sexistencebyexaltedpersons，wereallhideousenoughtoLordMountDunstanandhiselderson——buttheywerenotsohideousaswas，tohisyoungerson，thechildish，shamedfrenzyofawakeningtothetruththathewasoneofabadlot——adisgracefullot，fromwhomnothingwasexpectedbutshiftyways，lowvices，andscandals，whichintheendcouldnotevenbekeptoutofthenewspapers。Thedaycame，infact，whentheworstofthesewasseizeduponbythemandfilledtheirsheetswithmatterwhichforawholeseasondecentLondonavoidedreading，andthefastandindecentelementlaughed，derided，orgloatedover。
Thememoryofthefeverofthemonstrousweekswhichhadpassedatthistimewasnotoneitwaswiseforamantorecall。Butitwasnottobeforgotten——thehastymidnightarrivalatMountDunstanoffatherandson，theirhaggard，nervousfaces，theirterrifieddiscussions，andargumentativeragingwhentheywereshutuptogetherbehindlockeddoors，theappearanceoflegaladviserswholookedasanxiousasthemselves，butfailedtoconcealthedisgustwithwhichtheywerebattling，theknowledgethattongueswereclackingalmosthystericallyinthevillage，andthatcuriousfaceshurriedtothewindowswhenevenamenialfromthegreathousepassed，theatmosphereofbelow—stairswhispers，andjoggedelbows，andwinks，andgiggles；thefinaldesperate，excitedpreparationsforflight，whichmightbeignominiouslystoppedatanymomentbytheinterventionofthelaw，thehuddlingawayatnighttime，thehot—throatedfearthattheshameful，self—brandingmovemightbetoolate——theburninghumiliationofknowingtheinevitableresultofpubliccontemptorlaughterwhentheworldnextdayheardthatthefugitiveshadputtheEnglishChannelbetweenthemselvesandtheircountry’slaws。
LordTenhamhaddiedafewyearslateratPortSaid，afterdescendingintoallthehellsofdegeneratedebauch。
Hisfatherhadlivedlonger——longenoughtomakeofhimselfsomethinghorriblynearanimbecile，beforehediedsuddenlyinParis。TheMountDunstanwhosucceededhim，havingspenthischildhoodandboyhoodundertheshadowofthe\"badlot，\"hadthecharacterofbeingabig，surly，unattractiveyoungfellow，whoseeccentricitypresenteditselftothosewhoknewhisstock，asbeingofakindwhichmightdevelopatanytimeintoanyobjectionabletendency。Hisbearingwasnotsuchasallured，andhisfortunewasnotoftheorderwhichplacedamanintheviewoftheworld。Hehadnomoneytoexpend，nohospitalitiestoofferandapparentlynodispositiontoconnecthimselfwithsociety。Hiswild—goosechasetoAmericahad，whenithadbeenconsideredworthwhilediscussingatall，beenregardedasbeingverymuchthekindofthingaMountDunstanmightdowithsomesecretanddisreputableendinview。Noonehadheardtheexacttruth，andnoonewouldhavebeeninclinedtobelieveiftheyhadheardit。ThathehadlivedasplainJemSalter，andlabouredasanyhindmighthavedone，indesperateeffortandmadhope，wouldnothavebeenregardedasafacttobecredited。Hehadgoneaway，hehadsquanderedmoney，hehadreturned，hewasatMountDunstanagain，livingthelifeofanobjectionablerecluse——objectionable，becausetheownerofaplacelikeMountDunstanshouldbeapowerandaninfluenceinthecounty，shouldbecounteduponasadispenserofhospitalities，asasupporterofcharities，asadignitaryofweight。Hewasnoneofthese——livingnooneknewhow，slouchingaboutwithhisgun，ridingorwalkingsullenlyovertheroadsandmarshland。
Justonemanknewhimintimately，andthisonehadbeenfromhisfifteenthyearthesolefriendofhislife。Hehadcome，then——theReverendLewisPenzance——apoorandunhealthyscholar，tobevicaroftheparishofDunstan。Onlyapoorandbook—absorbedmanwouldhaveacceptedtheposition。Whatthismanwantedwasnomorethanquiet，purecountryairtofillfraillungs，aroofoverhishead，andaplacetoporeoverbooksandmanuscripts。Hewasabornmonkandcelibate——inby—gonecenturieshewouldhavelivedpeacefullyinsomemonastery，spendinghisyearsinthereadingandwritingofblackletterandtheilluminatingofmissals。
Atthevicaragehecouldleadanexistencewhichwasalmostthesamething。
AtMountDunstanthereremainedstillthelargeremnantofagreatlibrary。Ahugeroomwhoseneglectedandhalfemptiedshelvescontainedsomestrangethingsandwonderfulones，thoughallwereindisorder，andgivenuptodustandnaturaldilapidation。InevitablytheReverendLewisPenzancehadfoundhiswaythere，inevitablyhehadgainedindifferentlybestowedpermissiontoentertainhimselfbyendeavouringtoreducetoorderandtomakeanattemptatcataloguing。
Inevitably，also，thehourshespentintheplacebecamethechiefsustenanceofhisbeing。
There，oneday，hehadcomeuponanuncouth—lookingboywithdeepeyesandashaggycropofredhair。Theboywasporingoveranoldvolume，andwasplainlynotdisposedtoleaveit。Herose，nottoograciously，andrepliedtotheelderman’sgreeting，andthefriendlyquestionswhichfollowed。
Yes，hewastheyoungestsonofthehouse。Hehadnothingtodo，andhelikedthelibrary。Heoftencamethereandsatandreadthings。Thereweresomequeeroldbooksandalotofstupidones。Thebookhewasreadingnow？Oh，that（withaslightreddeningofhisskinandalittleawkwardnessattheadmission）wasoneofthosehelikedbest。Itwasoneofthequeerones，butinterestingforallthat。Itwasabouttheirownpeople——thegenerationsofMountDunstanswhohadlivedinthecenturiespast。Hesupposedhelikeditbecausetherewerealotofoddstoriesandexcitingthingsinit。
Plentyoffightingandadventure。Therehadbeensomesplendidfellowsamongthem。（Hewasbeginningtoforgethimselfalittlebythistime。）Theywereafraidofnothing。Theywereratherlikesavagesintheearliestdays，butatthattimealltherestoftheworldwassavage。Buttheywerebrave，anditwasoddhowdecenttheywereveryoften。
Whathemeantwas——whathelikedwas，thattheyweremen——
evenwhentheywerebarbarians。Youcouldn’tbeashamedofthem。Thingstheydidthencouldnotbedonenow，becausetheworldwasdifferent，butif——well，thekindofmentheyweremightdoEnglandalotofgoodiftheywerealiveto—day。Theywouldbedifferentthemselves，ofcourse，inoneway——buttheymustbethesamemeninothers。PerhapsMr。Penzance（reddeningagain）understoodwhathemeant。
Heknewhimselfverywell，becausehehadthoughtitallout，hewasalwaysthinkingaboutit，buthewasnogoodatexplaining。
Mr。Penzancewasinterested。Hisoutlookonthepastandthepresenthadalwaysbeenthatofabookworm，butheunderstoodenoughtoseethathehadcomeuponatemperamentnovelenoughtoawakencuriosity。Theapparentlyentirelyneglectedboy，ofatypesingularlyunlikethatofhisfatherandelderbrother，livinghislifevirtuallyaloneinthebigplace，andfindingfoodtohistasteinstoriesofthoseofhisbloodwhosedusthadmingledwiththeearthcenturiesago，providedhimwithanewsubjectforreflection。
Thathadbeenthebeginningofanunusualfriendship。
GraduallyPenzancehadreachedaclearunderstandingofallthebuildingoftheyounglife，ofitsranklinghumiliation，andthequalitiesofmindandbodywhichmadeforrebellion。Itsometimesthrilledhimtoseeinthebigframeandpowerfulmuscles，inthestrongnatureandunconquerablespirit，arevivalofwhathadburnedandstirredthroughliveslivedinadim，almostmythical，past。Therewerelegendsofmenwithbigbodies，fiercefaces，andredhair，whohaddonebigdeeds，andconqueredindarkandbarbarousdays，evenFate’sself，asithadseemed。Nonecouldoverthrowthem，nonecouldstandbeforetheirdeterminationtoattainthatwhichtheychosetoclaim。Studentsofheredityknewthattherewerecuriousinstancesofrevivaloftype。TherehadbeenacertainRedGodwynwhohadruledhispieceofEnglandbeforetheConquerorcame，andwhohaddefiedtheinterloperwithsuchsplendidarroganceandsuperhumanlackoffearthathehadwonintheend，strangelyenough，theadmirationandfriendshipoftheroyalsavagehimself，whosaw，inhis，akindredsavagery，apowertobewellranged，throughlove，ifnotthroughfear，uponhisownside。ThisGodwynhadadeepattractionforhisdescendant，whoknewthewholestoryofhisfiercelife——astoldinoneyellowmanuscriptandanother——byheart。Whymightnotonefancy——Penzancewasdrawnbytheimagining——thisstrongthingreborn，evenastheoffspringofapoorereffetetype。RedGodwynspringingintobeingagain，hadbeenstrongerthanallelse，andhadsweptweaknessbeforehimashehaddoneinotherandfar—offdays。
IntheoldlibraryitfelloutintimethatPenzanceandtheboyspentthegreaterpartoftheirdays。Themanwasabookwormandascholar，youngSaltyrehadapassionforknowledge。Amongtheoldbooksandmanuscriptshegainedasingulareducation。Withoutaguidehecouldnothavegatheredandassimilatedallhedidgatherandassimilate。
Togetherthetworummagedforgottenshelvesandchests，andfoundforgottenthings。Thatwhichhaddrawntheboyfromthefirstalwaysdrewandabsorbedhim——theannalsofhisownpeople。Manyalongwintereveningthepairturnedoverthepagesofvolumesandofparchment，andfollowedwitheagerinterestandcuriositytherecordsofwildlives——storiesofwarriorsandabbotsandbards，offeudallordsatruthlesswarwitheachother，ofbesiegingsandbattlesandcaptivesandtorments。Legendstherewereofsmallkingdomstornasunder，oftheslaughteroftheirkings，themadfightingsoftheirbarons，andthefaithorunfaithoftheirserfs。Hereandtheretheeternalpowerrevealeditselfinsomestoryoflawfulorunlawfullove——fordameordamsel，royallady，abbess，orhigh—bornnun——endingintheweldingoftwolivesorinrapine，violence，anddeath。TherewereannalsofearlyEngland，andofmarauders，monks，andDanes。And，throughallthese，something，somemanorwoman，place，orstrifelinkedbysometiewithMountDunstanblood。Inpastgenerations，itseemedplain，therehadbeencertainofthelinewhohadhadprideintheserecords，andhadsoughtandcollectedthem；thenhadbeenbornotherswhohadnotcared。Sometimestherelationswereinadequate，sometimestheyworeanunauthenticair，butmostofthemseemed，evenafterthepassingofcenturies，humandocuments，andtogetherbuiltamarvellousgreatdramaoflifeandpower，wickednessandpassionanddaringdeeds。
WhentheshamefulscandalburstforthyoungSaltyrewasseenbyneitherhisfathernorhisbrother。Neitherofthemhadanydesiretoseehim；infact，eachdetestedtheideaofconfrontingbyanychancehishot，intoleranteyes。\"TheBrat，\"hisfatherhadcalledhiminhischildhood，\"TheLout，\"
whenhehadgrownbig—limbedandclumsy。BothheandTenhamweresickenough，withoutbeingcalledupontocontemplate\"TheLout，\"whoseopinion，inanycase，theypreferrednottohear。
Saltyre，duringthehideousdays，shuthimselfupinthelibrary。Hedidnotleavethehouse，evenforexercise，untilafterthepairhadfled。Hisexercisehetookinwalkingupanddownfromoneendofthelongroomtoanother。Devilswereletlooseinhim。WhenPenzancecametohim，hesawtheirfuryinhiseyes，andhearditinthesavageryofhislaugh。
Hekickedanancientvolumeoutofhiswayashestrodetoandfro。
\"Therehasbeenplentyofthebloodofthebeastinusinbygonetimes，\"hesaid，\"butitwasnotlikethis。
Savageryinsavagedayshaditsexcuse。Thisisthebeastsunkintothegibbering，degenerateape。\"
Penzancecameandspenthoursofeachdaywithhim。
Partofhisragewastherageofaman，buthewasaboystill，andtheboyishnessofhisbitterlyhurtyouthwasathingtomovetopity。Withyoungblood，andyoungpride，andyoungexpectancyrisingwithinhim，hewasatanhourwhenheshouldhavefelthimselfstandinguponthethresholdoftheworld，gazingoutatthesplendidjoysandpromisesandpowerfuldeedsofit——waitingonlythefitmomenttostepforthandwinhisplace。
\"Butwearedonefor，\"heshoutedonce。\"Wearedonefor。AndIamasmuchdoneforastheyare。Decentpeoplewon’ttouchus。ThatiswherethelastMountDunstanstands。\"AndPenzanceheardinhisvoiceanabsolutebreak。Hestoppedandmarchedtothewindowattheendofthelongroom，andstoodindeadstillness，staringoutatthedown—sweepinglinesofheavyrain。
Theoldermanthoughtmanythings，ashelookedathisbigbackandbody。Hestoodwithhislegsastride，andPenzancenotedthathisrighthandwasclenchedonhiship，asaman’smightbeasheclenchedthehiltofhissword——hisonematewhomightavengehimevenwhen，standingatbay，heknewthattheendhadcome，andhemustfall。
PrimevalForce——thethin—faced，narrow—chested，slightlybaldclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandwasthinking——neverlosesitsway，orfailstosweepapathbeforeit。Thesunrisesandsets，theseasonscomeandgo，PrimevalForceisofthem，andasunchangeable。Muchofitstoodbeforehimembodiedinthisstronglysentientthing。InthiswaytheReverendLewisfoundhisthoughtsleadinghim，andhe——beingmovedtothedepthsofafinesoul——feltthemprofoundlyinteresting，andevensustaining。
Hesatinahigh—backedchair，holdingitsarmswithlongthinhands，andlookingforsometimeatJamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyre。Hesaid，atlast，inasanelevelvoice：
\"LordTenhamisnotthelastMountDunstan。\"
Afterwhichthestillnessremainedunbrokenagainforsomeminutes。Saltyredidnotmoveormakeanyresponse，and，whenhelefthisplaceatthewindow，hetookupabook，andtheyspokeofotherthings。
WhenthefourteenthEarldiedinParis，andhisyoungersonsucceeded，therecameatimewhenthetwocompanionssattogetherinthelibraryagain。Itwastheeveningofalongdayspentindiscouraginghardwork。Inthemorningtheyhadriddensidebysideovertheestate，intheafternoontheyhadsatandporedoveraccounts，leases，maps，plans。Bynightfallbothwerefaggedandneitherinsanguinemood。
MountDunstanhadsatsilentforsometime。Thepairoftensatsilent。Thispausewasendedbytheyoungman’srisingandstandingup，stretchinghislimbs。
\"Itwasaqueerthingyousaidtomeinthisroomafewyearsago，\"hesaid。\"Ithasjustcomebacktome。\"
Singularlyenough——orperhapsnaturallyenough——ithadalsojustarisenagainfromthedepthsofPenzance’ssubconsciousness。
\"Yes，\"heanswered，\"Iremember。To—nightitsuggestspremonition。YourbrotherwasnotthelastMountDunstan。\"
\"InonesenseheneverwasMountDunstanatall，\"
answeredtheotherman。Thenhesuddenlythrewouthisarmsinagesturewhosewholesignificanceitwouldhavebeendifficulttodescribe。Therewasakindofpassioninit。\"I
amthelastMountDunstan，\"heharshlylaughed。\"Moiquivousparle！Thelast。\"
Penzance’seyesrestingonhimtookuponthemselvesthefar—seeinglookofamanwhowatchestheworldoflifewithoutlivinginit。Hepresentlyshookhishead。
\"No，\"hesaid。\"Idon’tseethat。No——notthelast。
Believeme。
Andsingularly，intruth，MountDunstanstoodstillandgazedathimwithoutspeaking。Theeyesofeachrestedintheeyesoftheother。And，ashadhappenedbefore，theyfollowedthesubjectnofurther。Fromthatmomentitdropped。
OnlyPenzancehadknownofhisreasonsforgoingtoAmerica。Eventhefamilysolicitors，gravelyholdinginterviewswithhimandrestrainingexpressionoftheirabsolutedisapprovalofsuchemploymentofhisinadequateresources，knewnomorethanthatthisMountDunstan，insteadofwastinghisbeggarlyincomeatCairo，orMonteCarlo，orinParisasthelastonehaddone，preferstowasteitinnewerplaces。
Theheadofthefirm，whenhebidshimgood—morningandleaveshimalone，merelyshrugshisshouldersandreturnstohisletterwritingwiththecornersofhiselderlymouthhardset。
Penzancesawhimoff——andmethimuponhisreturn。Inthelibrarytheysatandtalkeditover，and，havingdoneso，closedthebookoftheepisode……
Hesatatthetable，hiseyesuponthewide—spreadlovelinessofthelandscape，buthisthoughtelsewhere。Itwanderedovertheyearsalreadylivedthrough，wanderingbackwardseventothedayswhenexistence，openingbeforethechildeyes，wasabafflingandvaguelyunhappything。
WhenthedooropenedandPenzancewasusheredinbyaservant，hisfaceworethelookhisfriendwouldhavebeenrejoicedtoseesweptawaytoreturnnomore。
Thenletustakeouroldaccustomedseatandbeginsomecasualtalk，whichwilldrawhimoutoftheshadows，andmakehimforgetsuchthingsasitisnotgoodtoremember。Thatiswhatwehavedonemanytimesinthepast，andmayfinditwelltodomanyatimeagain。
Hebeginswithtalkofthevillageandthecountry—side。
Villagestoriesareoftenquaint，andstoriesofthecountry—
sidearesometimes——notalways——interesting。TomBenson’swifehaspresentedhimwithtriplets，andthereisgreatexcitementinthevillage，astothestepstobetakentosecurethethreeguineasgivenbytheQueenasarewardforthisfeat。OldBennyBateshasannouncedhisintentionoftakingafifthwifeattheageofninety，andisindignantthatithasbeensuggestedthattheparochialauthoritiesinchargeofthe\"Union，\"inwhichhemustinevitablyshortlytakerefuge，mayinterferewithhisrightsasacitizen。TheReverendLewishasbeentotalkseriouslywithhim，andfindshimatonceirateandobdurate。