\"Idonotunderstandthis,\"saidMr。Jansenius,reddeningashetookinthepurportofhisson—in—law\'sletter。\"Iwillnotsubmittoit。Whatdoesitmean,Ruth？\"
\"Idon\'tknow。Sidneyismad,Ithink;andhishoneymoonhasbroughthismadnessout。ButyoumustnotlethimthrowHenriettaonmyhandsagain。\"
\"Mad！Doeshethinkhecanshirkhisresponsibilitytohiswifebecausesheismydaughter？Doeshethink,becausehismother\'sfatherwasabaronet,thathecanputHenriettaasidethemomenthersocietypallsonhim？\"
\"Oh,it\'snothingofthatsort。Heneverthoughtofus。ButI
willmakehimthinkofus,\"saidMr。Jansenius,raisinghisvoiceingreatagitation。\"Heshallanswerforit。\"
JustthenHenriettareturned,andsawherfathermovingexcitedlytoandfro,repeating,\"Heshallanswertomeforthis。Heshallanswerforit。\"
Mrs。Janseniusfrownedatherdaughtertoremainsilent,andsaidsoothingly,\"Don\'tloseyourtemper,John。\"
\"ButIwilllosemytemper。Insolenthound！Damnedscoundrel！\"
\"Heisnot,\"whimperedHenrietta,sittingdownandtakingoutherhandkerchief。
\"Oh,come,come！\"saidMrs。Janseniusperemptorily,\"wehavehadenoughcrying。Letushavenomoreofit。\"
Henriettasprangupinapassion。\"IwillsayanddoasI
please,\"sheexclaimed。\"Iamamarriedwoman,andIwillreceivenoorders。AndIwillhavemyhusbandbackagain,nomatterwhathedoestohidehimself。Papa,won\'tyoumakehimcomebacktome？Iamdying。Promisethatyouwillmakehimcomeback。\"
And,throwingherselfuponherfather\'sbosom,shepostponedfurtherdiscussionbygoingintohysterics,andstartlingthehouseholdbyherscreams。
CHAPTERIII
OneoftheprofessorsatAltonCollegewasaMrs。Miller,anold—fashionedschoolmistresswhodidnotbelieveinMissWilson\'ssystemofgovernmentbymoralforce,andcarrieditoutunderprotest。Thoughnotill—natured,shewasnarrow—mindedenoughtobeinsomedegreecontemptible,andwasconsequentlypronetosuspectothersofdespisingher。ShesuspectedAgathainparticular,andtreatedherwithdisdainfulcurtnessinsuchintercourseastheyhad——itwasfortunatelylittle。Agathawasnothurtbythis,forMrs。Millerwasanunsympatheticwoman,whomadenofriendsamongthegirls,andsatisfiedheraffectionateimpulsesbypettingalargecatnamedGracchus,butgenerallycalledBacchusbyanendearingmodificationoftheharshinitialconsonant。
OneeveningMrs。Miller,seatedwithMissWilsoninthestudy,correctingexaminationpapers,heardinthedistanceacrylikethatofacatindistress。Sherantothedoorandlistened。
Presentlytherearoseaprolongedwail,slurringupthroughtwooctaves,andsubsidingagain。Itwasatruefelinescreech,impossibletolocalize;butitwasinterruptedbyasob,asnarl,afiercespitting,andascuffling,comingunmistakablyfromaroomonthefloorbeneath,inwhich,atthathour,theoldergirlsassembledforstudy。
\"MypoorGracchy！\"exclaimedMrs。Miller,runningdownstairsasfastasshecould。Shefoundtheroomunusuallyquiet。EverygirlwasdeepinstudyexceptMissCarpenter,who,pretendingtopickupafallenbook,waspurplewithsuppressedlaughterandthecongestioncausedbystooping。
\"WhereisMissWard？\"demandedMrs。Miller。
\"MissWardhasgoneforsomeastronomicaldiagramsinwhichweareinterested,\"saidAgatha,lookingupgravely。JustthenMissWard,diagramsinhand,entered。
\"Hasthatcatbeeninhere？\"shesaid,notseeingMrs。Miller,andspeakinginatoneexpressiveofantipathytoGracchus。
Agathastartedanddrewupherankles,asiffearfulofhavingthembitten。Then,lookingapprehensivelyunderthedesk,shereplied,\"Thereisnocathere,MissWard。\"
\"Thereisonesomewhere;Iheardit,\"saidMissWardcarelessly,unrollingherdiagrams,whichshebegantoexplainwithoutfurtherparley。Mrs。Miller,anxiousforherpet,hastenedtoseekitelsewhere。Inthehallshemetoneofthehousemaids。
\"Susan,\"shesaid,\"haveyouseenGracchus？\"
\"He\'sasleeponthehearthruginyourroom,ma\'am。ButIheardhimcryingdownhereamomentago。Ifeelsurethatanothercathasgotin,andthattheyarefighting。\"
Susansmiledcompassionately。\"Lor\'blessyou,ma\'am,\"shesaid,\"thatwasMissWylie。It\'sasortofplay—actingthatshegoesthrough。Thereisthebeeonthewindow—pane,andthesoldierupthechimley,andthecatunderthedresser。Shedoesthemalllikelife。\"
\"Thesoldierinthechimney！\"repeatedMrs。Miller,shocked。
\"Yes,ma\'am。Likeasitwereafollowerthathadhidtherewhenheheardthemistresscoming。\"
Mrs。Miller\'sfacesetdeterminedly。Shereturnedtothestudyandrelatedwhathadjustoccurred,addingsomesarcasticcommentsontheefficacyofmoralforceinmaintainingcollegiatediscipline。MissWilsonlookedgrave;consideredforsometime;
andatlastsaid:\"Imustthinkoverthis。Wouldyoumindleavingitinmyhandsforthepresent？\"
Mrs。Millersaidthatshedidnotcareinwhosehandsitremainedprovidedherownwerewashedofit,andresumedherworkatthepapers。MissWilsonthen,wishingtobealone,wentintotheemptyclassroomattheothersideofthelanding。ShetooktheFaultBookfromitsshelfandsatdownbeforeit。Itsrecordclosedwiththeannouncement,inAgatha\'shandwriting:
\"MissWilsonhascalledmeimpertinent,andhaswrittentomyunclethatIhaverefusedtoobeytherules。Iwasnotimpertinent;andIneverrefusedtoobeytherules。SomuchforMoralForce！\"
MissWilsonrosevigorously,exclaiming:\"Iwillsoonletherknowwhether——\"Shecheckedherself,andlookedroundhastily,superstitiouslyfancyingthatAgathamighthavestolenintotheroomunobserved。Reassuredthatshewasalone,sheexaminedherconscienceastowhethershehaddonewrongincallingAgathaimpertinent,justifyingherselfbythereflectionthatAgathahad,infact,beenimpertinent。YetsherecollectedthatshehadrefusedtoadmitthispleaonarecentoccasionwhenJaneCarpenterhadadvanceditinextenuationofhavingcalledafellow—studentaliar。HadshethenbeenunjusttoJane,orinconsideratetoAgatha？
HercasuistrywasinterruptedbysomeonesoftlywhistlingathemefromtheoverturetoMasaniello,popularatthecollegeintheformofanarrangementforsixpianofortesandtwelvehands。
Therewasonlyonestudentunladylikeandmusicalenoughtowhistle;andMissWilsonwasashamedtofindherselfgrowingnervousattheprospectofanencounterwithAgatha,whoenteredwhistlingsweetly,butwithalugubriouscountenance。Whenshesawinwhosepresenceshestood,shebeggedpardonpolitely,andwasabouttowithdraw,whenMissWilson,summoningallherJudgmentandtact,andhopingthattheywould——contrarytotheircustominemergencies——respondtothesummons,said:
\"Agatha,comehere。Iwanttospeaktoyou。\"
Agathaclosedherlips,drewinalongbreaththroughhernostrils,andmarchedtowithinafewfeetofMissWilson,whereshehaltedwithherhandsclaspedbeforeher。
\"Sitdown。\"
Agathasatdownwithasinglemovement,likeadoll。
\"Idon\'tunderstandthat,Agatha,\"saidMissWilson,pointingtotheentryintheRecordingAngel。\"Whatdoesitmean？\"
\"Iamunfairlytreated,\"saidAgatha,withsignsofagitation。
\"Inwhatway？\"
\"Ineveryway。Iamexpectedtobesomethingmorethanmortal。
Everyoneelseisencouragedtocomplain,andtobeweakandsilly。ButImusthavenofeeling。Imustbealwaysintheright。
Everyoneelsemaybehome—sick,orhuffed,orinlowspirits。I
musthavenonerves,andmustkeepotherslaughingalldaylong。
Everyoneelsemaysulkwhenawordofreproachisaddressedtothem,andmaymaketheprofessorsafraidtofindfaultwiththem。
Ihavetobearwiththeinsultsofteacherswhohavelessself—controlthanI,agirlofseventeen！andmustcoaxthemoutofthedifficultiestheymakeforthemselvesbytheirownilltemper。\"
\"But,Agatha——\"
\"Oh,IknowIamtalkingnonsense,MissWilson;butcanyouexpectmetobealwayssensible——tobeinfallible？\"
\"Yes,Agatha;Idonotthinkitistoomuchtoexpectyoutobealwayssensible;and——\"
\"Thenyouhaveneithersensenorsympathyyourself,\"saidAgatha。
Therewasanawfulpause。Neithercouldhavetoldhowlongitlasted。ThenAgatha,feelingthatshemustdoorsaysomethingdesperate,orelsefly,madeadistractedgestureandranoutoftheroom。
Sherejoinedhercompanionsinthegreathallofthemansion,wheretheywereassembledafterstudyfor\"recreation,\"anoisyprocesswhichalwayssetinspontaneouslywhentheprofessorswithdrew。Sheusuallysatwithhertwofavoriteassociatesonahighwindowseatnearthehearth。Thatplacewasnowoccupiedbyalittlegirlwithflaxenhair,whomAgatha,regardlessofmoralforce,liftedbytheshouldersanddepositedonthefloor。Thenshesatdownandsaid:
\"Oh,suchapieceofnews！\"
MissCarpenteropenedhereyeseagerly。GertrudeLindsayaffectedindifference。
\"Someoneisgoingtobeexpelled,\"saidAgatha。
\"Expelled！Who？\"
\"Youwillknowsoonenough,Jane,\"repliedAgatha,suddenlygrave。\"ItissomeonewhomadeanimpudententryintheRecordingAngel。\"
FearstoleuponJane,andshebecameveryred。\"Agatha,\"shesaid,\"itwasyouwhotoldmewhattowrite。Youknowyoudid,andyoucan\'tdenyit。\"
\"Ican\'tdenyit,can\'tI？IamreadytoswearthatIneverdictatedawordtoyouinmylife。\"
\"Gertrudeknowsyoudid,\"exclaimedJane,appalled,andalmostintears。
\"There,\"saidAgatha,pettingherasifshewereavastbaby。\"Itshallnotbeexpelled,soitshan\'t。HaveyouseentheRecordingAngellately,eitherofyou？\"
\"Notsinceourlastentry,\"saidGertrude。
\"Chips,\"saidAgatha,callingtotheflaxen—hairedchild,\"goupstairstoNo。6,and,ifMissWilsonisn\'tthere,fetchmetheRecordingAngel。\"
Thelittlegirlgrumbledinarticulatelyanddidnotstir。
\"Chips,\"resumedAgatha,\"didyoueverwishthatyouhadneverbeenborn？\"
\"Whydon\'tyougoyourself？\"saidthechildpettishly,butevidentlyalarmed。
\"Because,\"continuedAgatha,ignoringthequestion,\"youshallwishyourselfdeadandburiedundertheblackestflaginthecoalcellarifyoudon\'tbringmethebookbeforeIcountsixteen。
One——two——\"
\"Goatonceanddoasyouaretold,youdisagreeablelittlething,\"saidGertrudesharply。\"Howdareyoubesodisobliging？\"
\"——nine——ten——eleven——\"pursuedAgatha。
Thechildquailed,wentout,andpresentlyreturned,huggingtheRecordingAngelinherarms。
\"Youareagoodlittledarling——whenyourbetterqualitiesarebroughtoutbyajudiciousapplicationofmoralforce,\"saidAgatha,good—humoredly。\"Remindmetosavetheraisinsoutofmypuddingforyouto—morrow。Now,Jane,youshallseetheentryforwhichthebest—heartedgirlinthecollegeistobeexpelled。
Voila！\"
Thetwogirlsreadandwereawestruck;Janeopeninghermouthandgasping,Gertrudeclosinghersandlookingveryserious。
\"DoyoumeantosaythatyouhadthedreadfulcheektolettheLadyAbbessseethat？\"saidJane。
\"Pooh！shewouldhaveforgiventhat。YoushouldhaveheardwhatI
saidtoher！Shefaintedthreetimes。\"
\"That\'sastory,\"saidGertrudegravely。
\"Ibegyourpardon,\"saidAgatha,swiftlygraspingGertrude\'sknee。
\"Nothing,\"criedGertrude,flinchinghysterically。\"Don\'t,Agatha。\"
\"HowmanytimesdidMissWilsonfaint？\"
\"Threetimes。Iwillscream,Agatha;Iwillindeed。\"
\"Threetimes,asyousay。AndIwonderthatagirlbroughtupasyouhavebeen,bymoralforce,shouldbecapableofrepeatingsuchafalsehood。Butwehadanawfulrow,reallyandtruly。Shelosthertemper。Fortunately,Ineverlosemine。\"
\"Well,I\'mbrowed！\"exclaimedJaneincredulously。\"Ilikethat。\"
\"Foragirlofcountyfamily,youareinexcusablyvulgar,Jane。I
don\'tknowwhatIsaid;butshewillneverforgivemeforprofaningherpetbook。IshallbeexpelledascertainlyasIamsittinghere。\"
\"Anddoyoumeantosaythatyouaregoingaway？\"saidJane,falteringasshebegantorealizetheconsequences。
\"Ido。AndwhatistobecomeofyouwhenIamnotheretogetyououtofyourscrapes,orofGertrudewithoutmetocheckherinveteratesnobbishness,ismorethanIcanforesee。\"
\"Iamnotsnobbish,\"saidGertrude,\"althoughIdonotchoosetomakefriendswitheveryone。ButIneverobjectedtoyou,Agatha。\"
\"No;Ishouldliketocatchyouatit。Hallo,Jane！\"（whohadsuddenlyburstintotears）:\"what\'sthematter？Itrustyouarenotpermittingyourselftotakethelibertyofcryingforme。\"
\"Indeed,\"sobbedJaneindignantly,\"IknowthatIamaf——foolformypains。Youhavenoheart。\"
\"Youcertainlyareaf——fool,asyouaptlyexpressit,\"saidAgatha,passingherarmroundJane,anddisregardinganangryattempttoshakeitoff;\"butifIhadanyheartitwouldbetouchedbythisproofofyourattachment。\"
\"Ineversaidyouhadnoheart,\"protestedJane;\"butIhatewhenyouspeaklikeabook。\"
\"YouhatewhenIspeaklikeabook,doyou？Mydear,sillyoldJane！Ishallmissyougreatly。\"
\"Yes,Idaresay,\"saidJane,withtearfulsarcasm。\"Atleastmysnoringwillneverkeepyouawakeagain。\"
\"Youdon\'tsnore,Jane。Wehavebeeninaconspiracytomakeyoubelievethatyoudo,that\'sall。Isn\'titgoodofmetotellyou？\"
Janewasovercomebythisrevelation。Afteralongpause,shesaidwithdeepconviction,\"IalwaysknewthatIdidn\'t。Oh,thewayyoukeptitup！IsolemnlydeclarethatfromthistimeforthIwillbelievenobody。\"
\"Well,andwhatdoyouthinkofitall？\"saidAgatha,transferringherattentiontoGertrude,whowasverygrave。
\"Ithink——Iamnowspeakingseriously,Agatha——Ithinkyouareinthewrong。\"
\"Whydoyouthinkthat,pray？\"demandedAgatha,alittleroused。
\"Youmustbe,orMissWilsonwouldnotbeangrywithyou。Ofcourse,accordingtoyourownaccount,youarealwaysintheright,andeveryoneelseisalwayswrong;butyoushouldn\'thavewrittenthatinthebook。YouknowIspeakasyourfriend。\"
\"Andpraywhatdoesyourwretchedlittlesoulknowofmymotivesandfeelings？\"
\"Itiseasyenoughtounderstandyou,\"retortedGertrude,nettled。\"Self—conceitisnotsouncommonthatoneneedbeatalosstorecognizeit。Andmind,AgathaWylie,\"shecontinued,asifgoadedbysomeunbearablereminiscence,\"ifyouarereallygoing,Idon\'tcarewhetherwepartfriendsornot。Ihavenotforgottenthedaywhenyoucalledmeaspitefulcat。\"
\"Ihaverepented,\"saidAgatha,unmoved。\"OnedayIsatdownandwatchedBacchusseatedonthehearthrug,withhismoonyeyeslookingintospacesothoughtfullyandpatientlythatI
apologizedforcomparingyoutohim。IfIweretocallhimaspitefulcathewouldonlynotbelieveme。\"
\"Becauseheisacat,\"saidJane,withthegigglewhichwasseldomfarbehindhertears。
\"No;butbecauseheisnotspiteful。Gertrudekeepsarecordingangelinsideherlittlehead,anditissofullofotherpeople\'sfaults,writteninlargehandandreadthroughamagnifyingglass,thatthereisnoroomtoenterherown。\"
\"Youareverypoetic,\"saidGertrude;\"butIunderstandwhatyoumean,andshallnotforgetit。\"
\"Youungratefulwretch,\"exclaimedAgatha,turninguponhersosuddenlyandimperiouslythatsheinvoluntarilyshrankaside:
\"howoften,whenyouhavetriedtobeinsolentandfalsewithme,haveInotdrivenawayyourbadangel——byticklingyou？Hadyouafriendinthecollege,excepthalf—a—dozentoadies,untilIcame？
Andnow,becauseIhavesometimes,foryourowngood,shownyouyourfaults,youbearmaliceagainstme,andsaythatyoudon\'tcarewhetherwepartfriendsornot！\"
\"Ididn\'tsayso。\"
\"Oh,Gertrude,youknowyoudid,\"saidJane。
\"YouseemtothinkthatIhavenoconscience,\"saidGertrudequerulously。
\"Iwishyouhadn\'t,\"saidAgatha。\"Lookatme！Ihavenoconscience,andseehowmuchpleasanterIam！\"
\"Youcarefornoonebutyourself,\"saidGertrude。\"Youneverthinkthatotherpeoplehavefeelingstoo。Nooneeverconsidersme。\"
\"Oh,Iliketohearyoutalk,\"criedJaneironically。\"Youareconsideredagreatdealmorethanisgoodforyou;andthemoreyouareconsideredthemoreyouwanttobeconsidered。\"
\"Asif,\"declaimedAgathatheatrically,\"increaseofappetitedidgrowbywhatitfedon。Shakespeare！\"
\"BotherShakespeare,\"saidJane,impetuously,\"——oldfoolthatexpectscreditforsayingthingsthateverybodyknows！Butifyoucomplainofnotbeingconsidered,Gertrude,howwouldyouliketobeme,whomeverybodysetsdownasafool？ButIamnotsuchafoolas——\"
\"Asyoulook,\"interposedAgatha。\"Ihavetoldyousoscoresoftimes,Jane;andIamgladthatyouhaveadoptedmyopinionatlast。Whichwouldyouratherbe,agreaterfoolthany——\"
\"Oh,shutup,\"saidJane,impatiently;\"youhaveaskedmethattwicethisweekalready。\"
Thethreeweresilentforsomesecondsafterthis:Agathameditating,Gertrudemoody,Janevacantandrestless。AtlastAgathasaid:
\"Andareyoutwoalsosmartingunderasenseoftheinconsideratenessandselfishnessoftherestoftheworld——bothmisunderstood——everythingexpectedfromyou,andnoallowancesmadeforyou？\"
\"Idon\'tknowwhatyoumeanbybothofus,\"saidGertrudecoldly。
\"NeitherdoI,\"saidJaneangrily。\"Thatisjustthewaypeopletreatme。Youmaylaugh,Agatha;andshemayturnuphernoseasmuchasshelikes;youknowit\'strue。ButtheideaofGertrudewantingtomakeoutthatsheisn\'tconsideredisnothingbutsentimentality,andvanity,andnonsense。\"
\"Youareexceedinglyrude,MissCarpenter,\"saidGertrude。
\"Mymannersareasgoodasyours,andperhapsbetter,\"retortedJane。\"Myfamilyisasgood,anyhow。\"
\"Children,children,\"saidAgatha,admonitorily,\"donotforgetthatyouareswornfriends。\"
\"Wedidn\'tswear,\"saidJane。\"Weweretohavebeenthreeswornfriends,andGertrudeandIwerewilling,butyouwouldn\'tswear,andsothebargainwascriedoff。\"
\"Justso,\"saidAgatha;\"andtheresultisthatIspendallmytimeinkeepingpeacebetweenyou。Andnow,togobacktooursubject,mayIaskwhetherithaseveroccurredtoyouthatnooneeverconsidersme？\"
\"Isupposeyouthinkthatveryfunny。Youtakegoodcaretomakeyourselfconsidered,\"sneeredJane。
\"YoucannotsaythatIdonotconsideryou,\"saidGertrudereproachfully。
\"NotwhenItickleyou,dear。\"
\"Iconsideryou,andIamnotticklesome,\"saidJanetenderly。
\"Indeed！Letmetry,\"saidAgatha,slippingherarmaboutJane\'samplewaist,andelicitingapiercingcombinationoflaughandscreamfromher。
\"Sh——sh,\"whisperedGertrudequickly。\"Don\'tyouseetheLadyAbbess？\"
MissWilsonhadjustenteredtheroom。Agatha,withoutappearingtobeawareofherpresence,stealthilywithdrewherarm,andsaidaloud:
\"Howcanyoumakesuchanoise,Jane？Youwilldisturbthewholehouse。\"
Janereddenedwithindignation,buthadtoremainsilent,fortheeyesoftheprincipalwereuponher。MissWilsonhadherbonneton。SheannouncedthatshewasgoingtowalktoLyvern,thenearestvillage。Didanyofthesixthformyoungladieswishtoaccompanyher？
Agathajumpedfromherseatatonce,andJanesmotheredalaugh。
\"MissWilsonsaidthesixthform,MissWylie,\"saidMissWard,whohadenteredalso。\"Youarenotinthesixthform。\"
\"No,\"saidAgathasweetly,\"butIwanttogo,ifImay。\"
MissWilsonlookedround。Thesixthformconsistedoffourstudiousyoungladies,whosegoalinlifeforthepresentwasanexaminationbyoneoftheUniversities,or,asthecollegephrasewas,\"theCambridgeLocal。\"Noneofthemresponded。
\"Fifthform,then,\"saidMissWilson。
Jane,Gertrude,andfourothersroseandstoodwithAgatha。
\"Verywell,\"saidMissWilson。\"Donotbelongdressing。\"
Theylefttheroomquietly,anddashedatthestaircasethemomenttheywereoutofsight。Agatha,thoughvoidofemulationfortheCambridgeLocal,alwayscompetedwithardorforthehonorofbeingfirstupordownstairs。
Theysoonreturned,cladforwalking,andleftthecollegeinprocession,twobytwo,JaneandAgathaleading,GertrudeandMissWilsoncominglast。TheroadtoLyvernlaythroughacresofpastureland,formerlyarable,nowabandonedtocattle,whichmademoremoneyforthelandlordthanthemenwhomtheyhaddisplaced。MissWilson\'syoungladies,beinginstructedineconomics,knewthatthisprovedthatthelandwasbeingusedtoproducewhatwasmostwantedfromit;andifalltheadvantagewenttothelandlord,thatwasbutnatural,ashewasthechiefgentlemanintheneighborhood。Stillthearrangementhaditsdisagreeableside;foritinvolvedagreatmanycows,whichmadethemafraidtocrossthefields;agreatmanytramps,whomadethemafraidtowalktheroads;andascarcityofgentlemensubjectsforthemaidenartoffascination。
Theskywascloudy。Agatha,recklessofdustystockings,wadedthroughtheheapsoffallenleaveswiththedelightofachildpaddlinginthesea;Gertrudepickedherstepscarefully,andtheresttrampedalong,chattingsubduedly,occasionallymakingsomescientificorphilosophicalremarkinaloudertone,inorderthatMissWilsonmightoverhearandgivethemduecredit。Saveaherdsman,whoseemedtohavecaughtsomethingofthenatureandexpressionofthebeastshetended,theymetnooneuntiltheyapproachedthevillage,where,onthebrowofanacclivity,masculinehumanityappearedintheshapeoftwocurates:onetall,thin,close—shaven,withabookunderhisarm,andhisneckcranedforward;theothermiddle—sized,robust,upright,andaggressive,withshortblackwhiskers,andanairofprotestagainstsuchnotionsasthataclergymanmaynotmarry,hunt,playcricket,orsharethesportsofhonestlaymen。TheshavenonewasMr。Josephs,hiscompanionMr。Fairholme。ObviousscripturalperversionsofthisbraceofnameshadbeenintroducedbyAgatha。
\"HerecomePharaohandJoseph,\"shesaidtoJane。\"Josephwillblushwhenyoulookathim。Pharaohwon\'tblushuntilhepassesGertrude,soweshalllosethat。\"
\"Josephs,indeed！\"saidJanescornfully。
\"Helovesyou,Jane。Thinpersonslikeafinearmfulofawoman。
Pharaoh,whoisacad,likesbluebloodonthesameprincipleoftheattractionofopposites。ThatiswhyheiscaptivatedbyGertrude\'saristocraticair。\"
\"Ifheonlyknewhowshedespiseshim！\"
\"Heistoovaintosuspectit。Besides,Gertrudedespiseseveryone,evenus。Or,rather,shedoesn\'tdespiseanyoneinparticular,butiscontemptuousbynature,justasyouarestout。\"
\"Me！Ihadratherbestoutthanstuck—up。Oughtwetobow？\"
\"Iwill,certainly。IwanttomakePharoahblush,ifIcan。\"
Thetwoparsonshadbeensimulatinganinterestinthecloudyfirmamentasanexcusefornotlookingatthegirlsuntilcloseathand。JanesentaneyeflashatJosephswithaskillwhichprovedherfavoriteassertionthatshewasnotsostupidaspeoplethought。Heblushedandtookoffhissoft,low—crownedfelthat。Fairholmesalutedverysolemnly,forAgathabowedtohimwithmarkedseriousness。Butwhenhisgravityandhisstiffsilkhatwereattheirhighestpointshedartedamockingsmileathim,andhetooblushed,allthedeeperbecausehewasenragedwithhimselffordoingso。
\"Didyoueverseesuchapairoffools？\"whisperedJane,giggling。
\"Theycannothelptheirsex。Theysaywomenarefools,andsotheyare;butthankHeaventheyarenotquitesobadasmen！I
shouldliketolookbackandseePharaohpassingGertrude;butifhesawmehewouldthinkIwasadmiringhim;andheisconceitedenoughalreadywithoutthat。\"
Thetwocuratesbecameredderandredderastheypassedthecolumnofyoungladies。MissLindsaywouldnotlooktotheirsideoftheroad,andMissWilson\'snodandsmilewerenotquitesincere。Sheneverspoketocurates,andkeptupnomoreintercoursewiththevicarthanshecouldnotavoid。Hesuspectedherofbeinganinfidel,thoughneitherhenoranyothermortalinLyvernhadeverheardawordfromheronthesubjectofherreligiousopinions。Butheknewthat\"moralscience\"wastaughtsecularlyatthecollege;andhefeltthatwheremoralsweremadeadepartmentofsciencethedemandforreligionmustfalloffproportionately。
\"Whatalifetoleadandwhataplacetolivein！\"exclaimedAgatha。\"Wemeettwocreatures,morelikesuitsofblackthanmen;andthatisanincident——astartlingincident——inourexistence！\"
\"Ithinkthey\'reawfulfun,\"saidJane,\"exceptthatJosephshassuchlargeears。\"
Thegirlsnowcametoaplacewheretheroaddippedthroughaplantationofsombresycamoreandhorsechestnuttrees。Astheypasseddownintoit,alittlewindsprangup,thefallenleavesstirred,andthebranchesheavedalong,rustlingsigh。
\"Ihatethisbitofroad,\"saidJane,hurryingon。\"It\'sjustthesortofplacethatpeoplegetrobbedandmurderedin。\"
\"Itisnotsuchabadplacetoshelterinifwegetcaughtintherain,asIexpectweshallbeforewegetback,\"saidAgatha,feelingthefitfulbreezestrikeominouslyonhercheek。\"AnicepickleIshallbeinwiththeselightshoeson！IwishIhadputonmystrongboots。IfitrainsmuchIwillgointotheoldchalet。\"
\"MissWilsonwon\'tletyou。It\'strespassing。\"
\"Whatmatter！Nobodylivesinit,andthegateisoffitshinges。
Ionlywanttostandundertheveranda——nottobreakintothewretchedplace。Besides,thelandlordknowsMissWilson;hewon\'tmind。There\'sadrop。\"
MissCarpenterlookedup,andimmediatelyreceivedaheavyraindropinhereye。
\"Oh！\"shecried。\"It\'spouring。Weshallbedrenched。\"
Agathastopped,andthecolumnbrokeintoagroupabouther。
\"MissWilson,\"shesaid,\"itisgoingtorainintorrents,andJaneandIhaveonlyourshoeson。\"
MissWilsonpausedtoconsiderthesituation。SomeonesuggestedthatiftheyhurriedontheymightreachLyvernbeforetheraincamedown。
\"Morethanamile,\"saidAgathascornfully,\"andtheraincomingdownalready！\"
Someoneelsesuggestedreturningtothecollege。