EachmanbornintotheworldisbornlikeSheltoninthisbook——togoajourney，andforthemostpartheisbornonthehighroad。Atfirsthesitsthereinthedust，withhislittlechubbyhandsreachingatnothing，andhislittlesolemneyesstaringintospace。
Assoonashecantoddle，hemoves，bythequeerinstinctwecalltheloveoflife，straightalongthisroad，lookingneithertotherightnorleft，sopleasedishetowalk。Andheischarmedwitheverything——withtheniceflatroad，allbroadandwhite，withhisownfeet，andwiththeprospecthecanseeoneitherhand。Thesunshines，andhefindstheroadalittlehotanddusty；therainfalls，andhesplashesthroughthemuddypuddles。Itmakesnomatter——allispleasant；hisfatherswentthiswaybeforehim；theymadethisroadforhimtotread，and，whentheybredhim，passedintohisfibretheloveofdoingthingsastheythemselveshaddonethem。Sohewalksonandon，restingcomfortablyatnightsundertheroofsthathavebeenraisedtoshelterhim，bythosewhowentbefore。
Suddenlyoneday，withoutintendingto，henoticesapathoropeninginthehedge，leadingtorightorleft，andhestands，lookingattheundiscovered。Afterthathestopsatalltheopeningsinthehedge；
oneday，withabeatingheart，hetriesone。
Andthisiswherethefunbegins。
Outoftenofhimthattrythenarrowpath，nineofhimcomebacktothebroadroad，and，whentheypassthenextgapinthehedge，theysay:\"No，no，myfriend，Ifoundyoupleasantforawhile，butafterthat-ah!afterthat!Thewaymyfatherswentisgoodenoughforme，anditisobviouslytheproperone；fornineofmecameback，andthatpoorsillytenth——Ireallypityhim!\"
Andwhenhecomestothenextinn，andsnugglesinhiswell-warmed，bed，hethinksofthewildwasteofheatherwherehemighthavehadtospendthenightalonebeneaththestars；nordoesit，Ithink，occurtohimthatthebroadroadhetreadsalldaywasonceatracklessheathitself。
Butthepoorsillytenthisfaringon。Itisawindynightthatheistravellingthroughawindynight，withallthingsnewaround，andnothingtohelphimbuthiscourage。Ninetimesoutoftenthatcouragefails，andhegoesdownintothebog。Hehasseentheundiscovered，and——likeFerrandinthisbook——theundiscoveredhasengulfedhim；hisspirit，tougherthanthespiritoftheninethatburnedbacktosleepininns，wasyetnottoughenough。Thetenthtimehewinsacross，andonthetraceshehasleftothersfollowslowly，cautiously——anewroadisopenedtomankind!Atruesayinggoes:Whateveris，isright!Andifallmenfromtheworld\'sbeginninghadsaidthat，theworldwouldneverhavebegun——atall。
Noteventheprotoplasmicjellycouldhavecommenceditsjourney；。
therewouldhavebeennomotiveforcetomakeitstart。
Andso，thatothersayinghadtobedevisedbeforetheworldcouldsetupbusiness:Whateveris，iswrong!ButsincetheCosmicSpiritfoundthatmattersmovedtoofastifthosethatfelt\"Allthingsthatare，arewrong\"equalledinnumberthosethatfelt\"Allthingsthatare，areright，\"Itsolemnlydevisedpolygamyall，beitsaid，inaspiritualwayofspeaking；andtoeachmalespiritcrowing\"Allthingsthatare，arewrong\"Itdecreedninefemalespiritsclucking\"Allthingsthatare，areright。\"TheCosmicSpirit，whowasverymuchanartist，knewitswork，andhadpreviouslydevisedaqualitycalledcourage，anddivideditinthree，namingthepartsspiritual，moral，physical。Toallthemale-birdspirits，buttonofemalespiritually，notcorporeallyspeaking，Itgavecouragethatwasspiritual；tonearlyall，bothmaleandfemale，Itgavecouragethatwasphysical；toverymanyhen-birdspiritsItgavemoralcouragetoo。But，becauseItknewthatifallthemale-birdspiritswerecomplete，theproportionofmaletofemale——onetoten——wouldbetoogreat，andcauseupheavals，Itsoarrangedthatonlyoneintenmale-
birdspiritsshouldhaveallthreekindsofcourage；sothattheothernine，havingspiritualcourage，butlackingeitherinmoralorinphysical，shouldfailintheirextensionsofthepoultry-run。Andhavingstartedthemupontheselines，itleftthemtogetalongasbesttheymight。
Thus，inthesubdivisionofthepoultry-runthatwecallEngland，theproportionoftheotherstothecompletemale-birdspirit，who，ofcourse，isnotinfrequentlyawoman，isninety-ninetoone；andwitheveryIslandPharisee，whenheorshestartsoutinlife，theinterestingquestionoughttobe，\"AmIthatone？\"Ninetyverysoonfindoutthattheyarenot，and，havingfounditout，lestothersshoulddiscover，theysaytheyare。Nineoftheotherten，blindedbytheirspiritualcourage，arehardertoconvince；butonebyonetheysink，stillproclaimingtheirvirility。ThehundredthPhariseealonesitsouttheplay。
Now，thejourneyofthisyoungmanShelton，whoissurelynotthehundredthPharisee，isbutaraggedefforttopresenttheworkingofthetruth\"Allthingsthatare，arewrong，\"uponthetruth\"Allthingsthatare，areright。\"
TheInstitutionsofthiscountry，liketheInstitutionsofallothercountries，arebuthalf-truths；theyaretheworkingdailyclothingofthenation；nomorethebody\'spermanentdressthanisababy\'sfrock。Slowlybutsurelytheywearout，orareoutgrown；andintheirfashiontheyarealwaysthirtyyearsatleastbehindthefashionsofthosespiritswhoareconcernedwithwhatshalltaketheirplace。Theconditionsthatdictateoureducation，thedistributionofourproperty，ourmarriagelaws，amusements，worship，prisons，andallotherthings，changeimperceptiblyfromhourtohour；themouldscontainingthem，beinginelastic，donotchange，butholdontothepointofbursting，andthenarehastily，oftenclumsily，enlarged。Theninetydesiringpeaceandcomfortfortheirspirit，theninetyofthewell-warmedbeds，willhaveitthatthefashionsneednotchange，thatmoralityisfixed，thatallisorderedandimmutable，thateveryonewillalwaysmarry，play，andworshipinthewaythattheythemselvesaremarrying，playing，worshipping。
Theyhavenospeculation，andtheyhatewithadeephatredthosewhospeculatewiththought。Thisisthefunctiontheyweremadefor。
Theyarethedough，andtheydislikethatyeastystuffoflifewhichcomesandworksaboutinthem。TheYeastyStuff——theotherten——chafedbyallthingsthatare，desirouseverofnewformsandmoulds，hateintheirturnthecomfortableninety。Eachpartyhasinventedfortheotherthehardestnamesthatitcanthinkof:
Philistines，Bourgeois，Mrs。Grundy，Rebels，Anarchists，andNe\'er-do-weels。Sowegoon!Andso，aseachofusisborntogohisjourney，hefindshimselfintimerangedononesideorontheother，andjoinsthechorusesofname-slingers。
Butnowandthen——ah!veryseldom——wefindourselvessonearthatthingwhichhasnobreadth，themiddleline，thatwecanwatchthemboth，andpositivelysmiletoseethefun。
Whenthisbookwaspublishedfirst，manyofitscriticsfoundthatSheltonwastheonlyPharisee，andamostunsatisfactoryyoungman——
andso，nodoubt，heis。Belongingtothecomfortableninety，theyfelt，infact，theneedofslingingnamesatonewhoobviouslywasoftheten。Othersofitscritics，belongingtotheten，wieldedtheirepithetsuponAntonia，andtheserriedranksbehindher，andcalledthemPharisees；asdullasditch-water——andso，Ifear，theyare。
Oneofthegreatestcharmsofauthorshipistheprivilegeitgivestheauthorofstudyingthesecretspringsofmanyunseenpersons，ofanalysinghumannaturethroughthecriticismthathisworkevokes——
criticismwellingoutoftheinstinctivelikingsoraversions，outoftheveryfibreofthehumanbeingwhodeliversit；criticismthatoftenseemstoleapoutagainstthecritic\'swill，startledlikeafawnfromsomedeepbed，ofsympathyorofantipathy。Andso，allauthorslovetobeabused——asanymancansee。
Inthelittlematterofthetitleofthisbook，weareallPharisees，whetheroftheninetyortheten，andwecertainlydoliveuponanIsland。
JOHNGALSWORTHY。
January1，1908
PARTI
THETOWN
CHAPTERI
SOCIETY
Aquiet，well-dressedmannamedShelton，withabrownfaceandashort，fairbeard，stoodbythebookstallatDoverStation。HewasabouttojourneyuptoLondon，andhadplacedhisbaginthecornerofathird-classcarriage。
Afterhislongtravel，theflat-vowelledvoiceofthebookstallclerkofferingthelatestnovelsoundedpleasant——pleasanttheindependentanswersofabeardedguard，andthestodgyfarewellsayingsofamanandwife。Thelimberporterstrundlingtheirbarrows，thegreynessofthestationandthegoodstolidhumourclingingtothepeople，air，andvoices，allbroughttohimthesenseofhome。MeanwhilehewaveredbetweenpurchasingabookcalledMarketHayborough，whichhehadreadandwould，certainlyenjoyasecondtime，andCarlyle\'sFrenchRevolution，whichhehadnotreadandwasdoubtfulofenjoying；hefeltthatheoughttobuythelatter，buthedidnotrelishgivinguptheformer。Whilehehesitatedthus，hiscarriagewasbeginningtofillup；so，quicklybuyingboth，hetookupapositionfromwhichhecoulddefendhisrights。\"Nothing，\"hethought，\"showspeopleupliketravelling。\"
Thecarriagewasalmostfull，and，puttinghisbag，upintherack，hetookhisseat。Atthemomentofstartingyetanotherpassenger，agirlwithapaleface，scrambledin。
\"Iwasafooltogothird，\"thoughtShelton，takinginhisneighboursfrombehindhisjournal。
Theywereseven。Agrizzledrusticsatinthefarcorner；hisemptypipe，bowldownwards，juttedlikeahandlefromhisface，allblearedwiththesmearofnothingnessthatgrowsonthosewhopasstheirlivesinthecurrentofhardfacts。Nexttohim，aruddy，heavy-
shoulderedmanwasdiscussingwithagrey-haired，hatchet-visagedpersontheconditionoftheirgardens；andSheltonwatchedtheireyestillitoccurredtohimhowcuriousalookwasinthem——awatchfulfriendliness，anallieddistrust——andthattheirvoices，cheerful，evenjovial，seemedtobecautiousallthetime。Hisglancestrayedoff，andalmostreboundedfromthesemi-Roman，slightlycross，andwhollyself-complacentfaceofastoutladyinablack-and-whitecostume，whowasreadingtheStrandMagazine，whileherother，sleek，plumphand，freedfromitsblackglove，andornamentedwithathickwatch-bracelet，restedonherlap。Ayounger，bright-cheeked，andself-consciousfemalewassittingnexther，lookingatthepalegirlwhohadjustgotin。
\"There\'ssomethingaboutthatgirl，\"thoughtShelton，\"theydon\'tlike。\"Herbrowneyescertainlylookedfrightened，herclotheswereofaforeigncut。Suddenlyhemettheglanceofanotherpairofeyes；theseeyes，prominentandblue，staredwithasortofsubtlerogueryfromaboveathin，lopsidednose，andwereatonceaverted。
TheygaveSheltontheimpressionthathewasbeingjudged，andmocked，enticed，initiated。Hisowngazedidnotfall；thissanguineface，withitstwo-daygrowthofreddishbeard，longnose，fulllips，andirony，puzzledhim。\"Acynicalface!\"hethought，andthen，\"butsensitive!\"andthen，\"toocynical，\"again。
Theyoungmanwhoowneditsatwithhislegspartedattheknees，hisdustytrouser-endsandbootsslantingbackbeneaththeseat，hisyellowfinger-tipscrispedasifrollingcigarettes。Astrangeairofdetachmentwasaboutthatyouthful，shabbyfigure，andnotascrapofluggagefilledtherackabovehishead。
Thefrightenedgirlwassittingnextthispaganpersonality；itwaspossiblythelackoffashioninhislooksthatcaused，hertoselecthimforherconfidence。
\"Monsieur，\"sheasked，\"doyouspeakFrench？\"
\"Perfectly。\"
\"Thencanyoutellmewheretheytakethetickets？
\"Theyoungmanshookhishead。
\"No，\"saidhe，\"Iamaforeigner。\"
Thegirlsighed。
\"Butwhatisthematter，ma\'moiselle？\"
Thegirldidnotreply，twistingherhandsonanoldbaginherlap。
Silencehadstolenonthecarriage——asilencesuchasstealsonanimalsatthefirstapproachofdanger；alleyeswereturnedtowardsthefiguresoftheforeigners。
\"Yes，\"brokeoutthered-facedman，\"hewasabitsquiffythatevening——oldTom。\"
\"Ah!\"repliedhisneighbour，\"hewouldbe。\"
Somethingseemedtohavedestroyedtheirlookofmutualdistrust。
Theplump，sleekhandoftheladywiththeRomannosecurvedconvulsively；andthismovementcorrespondedtothefeelingagitatingShelton\'sheart。Itwasalmostasifhandandheartfearedtobeaskedforsomething。
\"Monsieur，\"saidthegirl，withatrembleinhervoice，\"Iamveryunhappy；canyoutellmewhattodo？Ihadnomoneyforaticket。\"
Theforeignyouth\'sfaceflickered。
\"Yes？\"hesaid；\"thatmighthappentoanyone，ofcourse。\"
\"Whatwilltheydotome？\"sighedthegirl。
\"Don\'tlosecourage，ma\'moiselle。\"Theyoungmanslidhiseyesfromlefttoright，andrestedthemonShelton。\"AlthoughIdon\'tasyetseeyourwayout。\"
\"Oh，monsieur!\"sighedthegirl，and，thoughitwasclearthatnonebutSheltonunderstoodwhattheyweresaying，therewasachillyfeelinginthecarriage。
\"IwishIcouldassistyou，\"saidtheforeignyouth；\"unfortunately——
\"heshruggedhisshoulders，andagainhiseyesreturnedtoShelton。
Thelatterthrusthishandintohispocket。
\"CanIbeofanyuse？\"heaskedinEnglish。
\"Certainly，sir；youcouldrenderthisyoungladythegreatestpossibleservicebylendingherthemoneyforaticket。\"
Sheltonproducedasovereign，whichtheyoungmantook。Passingit。
tothegirl，hesaid:
\"Athousandthanks——\'voilaunebelleaction\'!\"
ThemisgivingswhichattendoncasualcharitycrowdedupinShelton\'smind；hewasashamedofhavingthemandofnothavingthem，andhestolecovertlooksatthisyoungforeigner，whowasnowtalkingtothegirlinalanguagethathedidnotunderstand。Thoughvagabondinessence，thefellow\'sfaceshowedsubtlespirit，afortitudeandironynotfounduponthefaceofnormalman，andinturningfromittotheotherpassengersSheltonwasconsciousofrevolt，contempt，andquestioning，thathecouldnotdefine。Leaningbackwithhalf-
closedeyes，hetriedtodiagnosethisnewsensation。Hefounditdisconcertingthatthefacesandbehaviourofhisneighbourslackedanythinghecouldgraspandsecretlyabuse。Theycontinuedtoconversewithadmirableandslightlyconsciousphlegm，yetheknew，aswellasifeachonehadwhisperedtohimprivately，thatthisshadyincidenthadshakenthem。Somethingunsettlingtotheirnotionsofpropriety-somethingdangerousanddestructiveofcomplacency——hadoccurred，andthiswasunforgivable。Eachhadadifferentway，humorousorphilosophic，contemptuous，sour，orsly，ofshowingthisresentment。ButbyaflashofinsightSheltonsawthatatthebottomoftheirmindsandofhisownthefeelingwasthesame。Becausehesharedintheirresentmenthewasenragedwiththemandwithhimself。Helookedattheplump，sleekhandofthewomanwiththeRomannose。Theinsulationandcomplacencyofitspaleskin，thepassiverighteousnessaboutitscurve，theprimseparationfromtheothersofthefatlittlefinger，hadacquiredawhollyunaccountableimportance。Itembodiedtheverdictofhisfellow-
passengers，theverdictofSociety；forheknewthat，whetherornorepugnanttothewell-bredmind，eachassemblageofeightpersons，eveninathird-classcarriage，containsthekernelofSociety。
Butbeinginlove，andrecentlyengaged，Sheltonhadarighttobeimmunefromdiscontentofanykind，andherevertedtohismentalimageofthecool，fairface，quickmovements，andthebrilliantsmilethatnowinhisprobationaryexilehauntedhisimagination；hetookouthisfiancee\'slastletter，butthevoiceoftheyoungforeigneraddressinghiminrapidFrenchcausedhimtoputitbackabruptly。
\"Fromwhatshetellsme，sir，\"hesaid，bendingforwardtobeoutofhearingofthegirl，\"hersisanunhappycase。Ishouldhavebeenonlytoogladtohelpher，but，asyousee\"——andhemadeagesturebywhichSheltonobservedthathehadpartedfromhiswaistcoat——\"IamnotRothschild。ShehasbeenabandonedbythemanwhobroughtherovertoDoverunderpromiseofmarriage。Look\"——andbyasubtleflickerofhiseyeshemarkedhowthetwoladieshadedgedawayfromtheFrenchgirl\"theytakegoodcarenottolettheirgarmentstouchher。Theyarevirtuouswomen。Howfineathingisvirtue，sir!andfinertoknowyouhaveit，especiallywhenyouareneverlikelytobetempted。\"
Sheltonwasunabletorepressasmile；andwhenhesmiledhisfacegrewsoft。
\"Haven\'tyouobserved，\"wentontheyouthfulforeigner，\"thatthosewhobytemperamentandcircumstanceareworstfittedtopronouncejudgmentareusuallythefirsttojudge？ThejudgmentsofSocietyarealwayschildish，seeingthatit\'scomposedforthemostpartofindividualswhohaveneversmeltthefire。Andlookatthis:theywhohavemoneyruntoogreatariskofpartingwithitiftheydon\'taccusethepennilessofbeingroguesandimbeciles。\"
Sheltonwasstartled，andnotonlybyanoutburstofphilosophyfromanutterstrangerinpoorclothes，butatthissingularwordingofhisownprivatethoughts。Stiflinghissenseoftheunusualforthequeerattractionthisyoungmaninspired，hesaid:
\"Isupposeyou\'reastrangeroverhere？\"
\"I\'vebeeninEnglandsevenmonths，butnotyetinLondon，\"repliedtheother。\"Icountondoingsomegoodthere——itistime!\"Abitterandpatheticsmileshowedforasecondonhislips。\"Itwon\'tbemyfaultifIfail。YouareEnglish，Sir？\"
Sheltonnodded。
\"Forgivemyasking；yourvoicelackssomethingI\'venearlyalwaysnoticedintheEnglishakindof——\'commentcelas\'appelle\'——
cocksureness，comingfromyournation\'sgreatestquality。\"
\"Andwhatisthat？\"askedSheltonwithasmile。
\"Complacency，\"repliedtheyouthfulforeigner。
\"Complacency!\"repeatedShelton；\"doyoucallthatagreatquality？\"
\"Ishouldrathersay，monsieur，agreatdefectinwhatisalwaysagreatpeople。Youarecertainlythemosthighly-civilisednationontheearth；yousufferalittlefromthefact。IfIwereanEnglishpreachermydesirewouldbetopricktheheartofyourcomplacency。\"
Shelton，leaningback，consideredthisimpertinentsuggestion。
\"Hum!\"hesaidatlast，\"you\'dbeunpopular；Idon\'tknowthatwe\'reanycockierthanothernations。\"
Theyoungforeignermadeasignasthoughconfirmingthisopinion。
\"Ineffect，\"saidhe，\"itisasufficientlywidespreaddisease。Lookatthesepeoplehere\"——andwitharapidglancehepointedtotheinmatesofthecarnage，——\"veryaveragepersons!Whathavetheydonetowarranttheirmakingavirtuousnoseatthosewhodonotwalkastheydo？Thatoldrustic，perhaps，isdifferent——heneverthinksatall——butlookatthosetwooccupiedwiththeirstupiditiesaboutthepriceofhops，theprospectsofpotatoes，whatGeorgeisdoing，athousandthingsallofthatsort——lookattheirfaces；Icomeofthebourgeoisiemyself——havetheyevershownproofofanyqualitythatgivesthemtherighttopatthemselvesupontheback？Nofear!
Outsidepotatoestheyknownothing，andwhattheydonotunderstandtheydreadandtheydespise——therearemillionsofthatbreed。
\'VoilalaSociete\'!Thesolequalitythesepeoplehaveshowntheyhaveiscowardice。IwaseducatedbytheJesuits，\"heconcluded；\"ithasgivenmeawayofthinking。\"
UnderordinarycircumstancesSheltonwouldhavemurmuredinawell-
bredvoice，\"Ah!quiteso，\"andtakenrefugeinthecolumnsoftheDailyTelegraph。Inplaceofthis，forsomereasonthathedidnotunderstand，helookedattheyoungforeigner，andasked，\"Whydoyousayallthistome？\"
Thetramp——forbyhisbootshecouldhardlyhavebeenbetter——
hesitated。
\"Whenyou\'vetravelledlikeme，\"hesaid，asifresolvedtospeakthetruth，\"youacquireaninstinctinchoosingtowhomandhowyouspeak。Itisnecessitythatmakesthelaw；ifyouwanttoliveyoumustlearnallthatsortofthingtomakefaceagainstlife。\"
Shelton，whohimselfpossessedacertainsubtlety，couldnotbutobservethecomplimentarynatureofthesewords。Itwaslikesaying\"I\'mnotafraidofyoumisunderstandingme，andthinkingmearascaljustbecauseIstudyhumannature。\"
\"Butistherenothingtobedoneforthatpoorgirl？\"
Hisnewacquaintanceshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Abrokenjug，\"saidhe；\"——you\'llnevermendher。She\'sgoingtoacousininLondontoseeifshecangethelp；you\'vegivenherthemeansofgettingthere——it\'sallthatyoucando。Oneknowstoowellwhat\'llbecomeofher。\"
Sheltonsaidgravely，\"Oh!that\'shorrible!Couldn\'tshebeinducedtogobackhome？I
shouldbeglad——\"
Theforeignvagrantshookhishead。
\"Monchermonsieur，\"hesaid，\"youevidentlyhavenotyethadoccasiontoknowwhatthe\'family\'islike。\'Thefamily\'doesnotlikedamagedgoods；itwillhavenothingtosaytosonswhosehandshavedippedintothetillordaughtersnolongertobemarried。Whatthedevilwouldtheydowithher？Betterputastoneaboutherneckandletherdrownatonce。AlltheworldisChristian，butChristianandgoodSamaritanarenotquitethesame。\"
Sheltonlookedatthegirl，whowassittingmotionless，withherhandscrossedonherbag，andarevoltagainsttheunfairwaysoflifearosewithinhim。
\"Yes，\"saidtheyoungforeigner，asifreadingallhisthoughts，\"what\'scalledvirtueisnearlyalwaysonlyluck。\"Herolledhiseyesasthoughtosay:\"Ah!La，Conventions？Havethembyallmeans——butdon\'tlooklikepeacocksbecauseyouarepreservingthem；itisbutcowardiceandluck，myfriends——butcowardiceandluck!\"
\"Lookhere，\"saidShelton，\"I\'llgivehermyaddress，andifshewantstogobacktoherfamilyshecanwritetome。\"
\"She\'llnevergoback；shewon\'thavethecourage。\"
Sheltoncaughtthecringingglanceofthegirl\'seyes；inthedroopofherliptherewassomethingsensuous，andtheconvictionthattheyoungman\'swordsweretruecameoverhim。
\"Ihadbetternotgivethemmyprivateaddress，\"hethought，glancingatthefacesopposite；andhewrotedownthefollowing:\"RichardParamorShelton，c/oParamorandHerring，Lincoln\'sInnFields。\"
\"You\'reverygood，sir。MynameisLouisFerrand；noaddressatpresent。I\'llmakeherunderstand；she\'shalfstupefiedjustnow。\"
Sheltonreturnedtotheperusalofhispaper，toodisturbedtoread；
theyoungvagrant\'swordskeptsoundinginhisears。Heraisedhiseyes。TheplumphandoftheladywiththeRomannosestillrestedonherlap；ithadbeenrecasedinitsblackglovewithlargewhitestitching。Herfrowninggazewasfixedonhimsuspiciously，asifhehadoutragedhersenseofdecency。
\"Hedidn\'tgetanythingfromme，\"saidthevoiceofthered-facedman，endingatalkontax-gatherers。Thetrainwhistledloudly，andSheltonrevertedtohispaper。Thistimehecrossedhislegs，determinedtoenjoythelatestmurder；oncemorehefoundhimselflookingatthevagrant\'slong-nosed，mockingface。\"Thatfellow，\"hethought，\"hasseenandfelttentimesasmuchasI，althoughhemustbetenyearsyounger。\"
Heturnedfordistractiontothelandscape，withitsAprilclouds，trimhedgerows，homelycoverts。Butstrangeideaswouldcome，andhewasdiscontentedwithhimself；theconversationhehadhad，thepersonalityofthisyoungforeigner，disturbedhim。Itwasallasthoughhehadmadeastartinsomefreshjourneythroughthefieldsofthought。
CHAPTERII
ANTONIA
FiveyearsbeforethejourneyjustdescribedSheltonhadstoodoneafternoononthebargeofhisoldcollegeattheendofthesummerraces。Hehadbeen\"down\"fromOxfordforsomeyears，buttheseOlympiancontestsstillattractedhim。
Theboatswerepassing，andintheusualrushtothebargesidehisarmcameincontactwithasoftyoungshoulder。Hesawclosetohimayounggirlwithfairhairknottedinaribbon，whosefacewaseagerwithexcitement。Thepointedchin，longneck，thefluffyhair，quickgestures，andthecalmstrenuousnessofhergrey-blueeyes，impressedhimvividly。
\"Oh，wemustbumpthem!\"heheardhersigh。
\"Doyouknowmypeople，Shelton？\"saidavoicebehindhisback；andhewasgrantedatouchfromthegirl\'sshy，impatienthand，thewarmerfingersofaladywithkindlyeyesresemblingahare\'s，thedryhand-claspofagentlemanwithathin，archednose，andaquizzicalbrownface。
\"AreyoutheMr。Sheltonwhousedtoplaythe\'bones\'atEton？\"saidthelady。\"Oh；wesooftenheardofyoufromBernard!Hewasyourfag，wasn\'the？Howdistressin\'itistoseethesepoorboysintheboats!\"
\"Mother，theylikeit!\"criedthegirl。
\"Antoniaoughttoberowing，herself，\"saidherfather，whosenamewasDennant。
Sheltonwentbackwiththemtotheirhotel，walkingbesideAntoniathroughtheChristchurchmeadows，tellingherdetailsofhiscollegelife。Hedinedwiththemthatevening，and，whenheleft，hadafeelinglikethatproducedbyafirstglassofchampagne。
TheDennantslivedatHolmOaks，withinsixmilesofOxford，andtwodayslaterhedroveoverandpaidacall。AmidsttheavocationsofreadingfortheBar，ofcricket，racing，shooting，itbutrequiredawhiffofsomefreshscent——hay，honeysuckle，clover——tobringAntonia\'sfacebeforehim，withitsuncertaincolouranditsfrank，distanteyes。Buttwoyearspassedbeforeheagainsawher。Then，ataninvitationfromBernardDennant，heplayedcricketfortheManorofHolmOaksagainstaneighbouringhouse；intheeveningtherewasdancingohthelawn。Thefairhairwasnowturnedup，buttheeyeswerequiteunchanged。Theirstepswenttogether，andthey。
outlastedeveryothercoupleontheslipperygrass。Thence，perhaps，sprangherrespectforhim；hewaswiry，alittletallerthanherself，andseemedtotalkofthingsthatinterestedher。Hefoundoutshewasseventeen，andshefoundoutthathewastwenty-nine。
ThefollowingtwoyearsSheltonwenttoHolmOakswheneverhewasasked；tohimthiswasaperiodofenchantedgames，ofcub-hunting，theatricals，anddistantsoundsofpractisedmusic，andduringitAntonia\'seyesgrewmorefriendlyandmorecurious，andhisownmoreshy，andschooled，morefurtiveandmoreardent。Thencamehisfather\'sdeath，avoyageroundtheworld，andthatpeculiarhourofmixedsensationswhen，oneMarchmorning，abandoninghissteameratMarseilles，hetooktrainforHyeres。
HefoundheratoneofthoseexclusivehostelriesamongstthepineswherethebestEnglishgo，incommonwithAmericans，Russianprincesses，andJewishfamilies；hewouldnothavebeenshockedtofindherelsewhere，buthewouldhavebeensurprised。Hissunburntfaceandthenewbeard，onwhichhesetsomeundefinedvalue，apologeticallydisplayed，werescannedbythoseblueeyeswithrapidglances，atoncemorefriendlyandlessfriendly。\"Ah!\"theyseemedtosay，\"hereyouare；howgladIam!But——whatnow？\"