\"MissWylie,\"saidErskine,springingup,\"hegavemehiswordthathewouldnotgobythattrainwhenItoldhimMissLindsaywasgoingbyit。HehasbrokenhiswordandseizedtheopportunityIwasmadandcredulousenoughtotellhimof。IfI
hadbeeninyourplace,Brandon,Iwouldhavestrangledhimorthrownhimunderthewheelssoonerthanlethimgo。Hehasshownhimselfinthisasineverythingelse,acheat,aconspirator,amanofcrookedways,shifts,tricks,lyingsophistries,heartlessselfishness,cruelcynicism——\"Hestoppedtocatchhisbreath,andSirCharlesinterposedaremonstrance。
\"Youareexcitingyourselfaboutnothing,Chester。TheyareinaPullman,withhermaidandplentyofpeople;andsheexpresslygavehimleavetogowithher。Heaskedherthequestionflatlybeforemyface,andImustsayIthoughtitastrangethingforhertoconsentto。However,shedidconsent,andofcourseIwasnotinapositiontopreventhimfromgoingtoLondonifhepleased。Don\'tletushaveascene,oldman。Itcan\'tbehelped。\"
\"Iamverysorry,\"saidErskine,hanginghishead。\"Ididnotmeantomakeascene。Ibegyourpardon。\"
Hewentawaytohisroomwithoutanotherword。SirCharlesfollowedandattemptedtoconsolehim,butErskinecaughthishand,andaskedtobelefttohimself。SoSirCharlesreturnedtothedrawing—room,wherehiswife,atalossforonce,hardlyventuredtoremarkthatshehadneverheardofsuchathinginherlife。
Agathakeptsilence。ShehadlongagocomeunconsciouslytotheconclusionthatTrefusisandsheweretheonlymembersofthepartyattheBeecheswhohadmuchcommon—sense,andthismadeherslowtobelievethathecouldbeinthewrongandErskineintherightinanymisunderstandingbetweenthem。Shehadaslovenlywayofsummingupas\"asses\"peoplewhosehabitsofthoughtdifferedfromhers。Ofallvarietiesofman,theminorpoetrealizedherconceptionofthehumanassmostcompletely,andErskine,thoughaverynicefellowindeed,thoroughlygoodandgentlemanly,inheropinion,wasyetaminorpoet,andthereforeapronouncedass。Trefusis,onthecontrary,wasthelastmanofheracquaintancewhomshewouldhavethoughtofasaverynicefelloworavirtuousgentleman;buthewasnotana~s,althoughhewasobstinateinhisSocialisticfads。ShehadindeedsuspectedhimofweaknessalmostasininewithrespecttoGertrude,butthenallmenwereassesintheirdealingswithwomen,andsincehehadtransferredhisweaknesstoherownaccountitnolongerseemedtoneedjustification。Andnow,asherconcernforErskine,whomshepitied,woreoff,shebegantoresentTrefusis\'sjourneywithGertrudeasanattackonherrecentlyacquiredmonopolyofhim。TherewasanairofaristocraticprideaboutGertrudewhichAgathahadformerlyenvied,andwhichshestillfearedTrefusismightmistakeforanindexofdignityandrefinement。Agathadidnotbelievethatherresentmentwasthecommonfeelingcalledjealousy,forshestilldeemedherselfunique,butitgaveherasenseofmeannessthatdidnotimproveherspirits。
Thedinnerwasdull。LadyBrandonspokeinanundertone,asifsomeonelaydeadinthenextroom。Erskinewasdepressedbytheconsciousnessofhavinglosthisheadandactedfoolishlyintheafternoon。SirCharlesdidnotpretendtoignorethesuspensetheywereallinpendingintelligenceofthejourneytoLondon;
heateanddrankandsaidnothing。Agatha,disgustedwithherselfandwithGertrude,andundecidedwhethertobedisgustedwithTrefusisortotrusthimaffectionately,followedtheexampleofherhost。AfterdinnersheaccompaniedhiminaseriesofsongsbySchubert。Thisprovedanaggravationinsteadofarelief。SirCharles,excellingintheexpressionofmelancholy,preferredsongsofthatcharacter;andashismusicalideas,likethoseofmostEnglishmen,werefoundedonwhathehadheardinchurchinhischildhood,hisstylewasoppressivelymonotonous。Agathatookthefirstexcusethatpresenteditselftoleavethepiano。SirCharlesfeltthathisperformancehadbeenafailure,andremarked,afteracoughortwo,thathehadcaughtatouchofcoldreturningfromthestation。Erskinesatonasofawithhisheaddrooping,andhispalmsjoinedandhangingdownwardbetweenhisknees。Agathastoodatthewindow,lookingatthelatesummerafterglow。Janeyawned,andpresentlybrokethesilence。
\"Youlookexactlyasyouusedatschool,Agatha。IcouldalmostfancyusbackagaininNumberSix。\"
Agathashookherhead。
\"DoIeverlooklikethat——likemyself,asIusedtobe？\"
\"Never,\"saidAgathaemphatically,turningandsurveyingthefigureofwhichMissCarpenterhadbeentheunripeantecedent。
\"Butwhy？\"saidJanequerulously。\"Idon\'tseewhyIshouldn\'t。I
amnotsochanged。\"
\"Youhavebecomeanexceedinglyfinewoman,Jane,\"saidAgathagravely,andthen,withoutknowingwhy,turnedherattentivegazeuponSirCharles,whoboreituneasily,andlefttheroom。A
minutelaterhereturnedwithtwobuffenvelopesinhishand。
\"Atelegramforyou,MissWylie,andoneforChester。\"Erskinestartedup,whitewithvaguefears。Agatha\'scolorwent,andcameagainwithincreasedrichnessassheread:
\"Ihavearrivedsafeandridiculouslyhappy。Readathousandthingsbetweenthelines。Iwillwritetomorrow。Goodnight。\"
\"Youmayreadit,\"saidAgatha,handingittoJane。
\"Verypretty,\"saidJane。\"Ashilling\'sworthofattention——exactlytwentywords！Hemaywellcallhimselfaneconomist。\"
SuddenlyacrowinglaughfromErskinecausedthemtoturnandstareathim。\"Whatnonsense！\"hesaid,blushing。\"Whatafellowheis！Idon\'tattachtheslightestimportancetothis。\"
Agathatookacornerofhistelegramandpulleditgently。
\"No,no,\"hesaid,holdingittightly。\"Itistooabsurd。Idon\'tthinkIought——\"
Agathagaveadecisivepull,andreadthemessagealoud。ItwasfromTrefusis,thus:
\"IforgiveyourthoughtssinceBrandon\'sreturn。Writeherto—night,andfollowyourlettertoreceiveanaffirmativeanswerinperson。Ipromisedthatyoumightrelyonme。Shelovesyou。\"
\"Ineverheardofsuchathinginmylife,\"saidJane。\"Never！\"
\"Heiscertainlyamostunaccountableman,\"saidSirCharles。
\"Iamglad,formyownsake,thatheisnotsoblackasheispainted,\"saidAgatha。\"Youmaybelieveeverywordofit,Mr。
Erskine。Besuretodoashetellsyou。Heisquitecertaintoberight。\"
\"Pooh！\"saidErskine,crumplingthetelegramandthrustingitintohispocketasifitwerenotworthasecondthought。
Presentlyheslippedaway,anddidnotreappear。Whentheywereabouttoretire,SirCharlesaskedaservantwherehewas。
\"Inthelibrary,SirCharles;writing。\"
Theylookedsignificantlyatoneanotherandwenttobedwithoutdisturbinghim。
CHAPTERXVIII
WhenGertrudefoundherselfbesideTrefusisinthePullman,shewonderedhowshecametobetravellingwithhimagainstherresolution,ifnotagainstherwill。Inthepresenceoftwowomenscrutinizingherasiftheysuspectedherofbeingtherewithnogoodpurpose,amalepassengeradmiringheralittlefurtheroff,hermaidreadingTrefusis\'snewspapersjustoutofearshot,anuninterestedcountrygentlemanlookingglumlyoutofwindow,acitymanpreoccupiedwiththe\"Economist,\"andapoliteladywhorefrainedfromstaringbutnotfromobserving,shefeltthatshemustnotmakeascene;yetsheknewhehadnotcometheretoholdanordinaryconversation。Herdoubtdidnotlastlong。Hebeganpromptly,andwenttothepointatonce。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthisengagementofmine？\"
Thiswasmorethanshecouldbearcalmly。\"Whatisittome？\"shesaidindignantly。\"Ihavenothingtodowithit。\"
\"Nothing！Youareacoldfriendtomethen。IthoughtyouoneofthesurestIpossessed。\"
Shemovedasifabouttolookathim,butcheckedherself,closedherlips,andfixedhereyesonthevacantseatbeforeher。Thereproachhedeservedwasbeyondherpowerofexpression。
\"Iclingtothatconvictionstill,inspiteofMissLindsay\'sindifferencetomyaffairs。ButIconfessIhardlyknowhowtobringyouintosympathywithmeinthismatter。Inthefirstplace,youhaveneverbeenmarried,Ihave。Inthenext,youaremuchyoungerthanI,inmorerespectsthanthatofyears。Verylikelyhalfyourideasonthesubjectarederivedfromfictionsinwhichhappyresultsaretackedontoconditionsveryill—calculatedtoproducethem——whichinreallifehardlyeverdoproducethem。Ifourfriendshipwereachapterinanovel,whatwouldbetheupshotofit？Why,Ishouldmarryyou,oryoubreakyourheartatmytreachery。\"
Gertrudemovedhereyesasifshehadsomeintentionoftakingtoflight。
\"Butourrelationsbeingthoseofreallife——farsweeter,afterall——Ineverdreamedofmarryingyou,havinggainedandenjoyedyourfriendshipwithoutthateyetobusinesswhichournineteenthcenturykeepsopenevenwhilstitsleeps。You,beingequallydisinterestedinyourregardforme,donotthinkofbreakingyourheart,butyouare,Isuppose,alittlehurtatmyapparentlymeditatingandresolvingonsuchaseriousstepasmarriagewithAgathawithoutconfidingmyintentiontoyou。Andyoupunishmebytellingmethatyouhavenothingtodowithit——
thatitisnothingtoyou。ButInevermeditatedthestep,andsohadnothingtoconcealfromyou。Itwasconceivedandexecutedinlessthanaminute。Althoughmyfirstmarriagewasasillylovematchandafailure,IhavealwaysadmittedtomyselfthatI
shouldmarryagain。Abachelorisamanwhoshirksresponsibilitiesandduties;Iseekthem,andconsideritmyduty,withmymonstroussuperfluityofmeans,nottolettheindividualistsoutbreedme。Still,Iwasinnohurry,havingotherthingstooccupyme,andbeingfondofmybachelorfreedom,anddoubtfulsometimeswhetherIhadanyrighttobringmoreidlersintotheworldfortheworkerstofeed。Thencametheusualdifficultyaboutthelady。Ididnotwantahelpmeet;Icanhelpmyself。NordidIexpecttobeloveddevotedly,fortheracehasnotyetevolvedamanlovableonthoroughacquaintance;evenmyself—loveisneitherthoroughnorconstant。Iwantedagenialpartnerfordomesticbusiness,andAgathastruckmequitesuddenlyasbeingthenearestapproachtowhatIdesiredthatI
waslikelytofindinthemarriagemarket,whereitisextremelyhardtosuitoneself,andwherethelikeliestbargainsareapttobesnappedupbyothersifonehesitatestoolonginthehopeoffindingsomethingbetter。IadmireAgatha\'scourageandcapability,andbelieveIshallbeabletomakeherlikeme,andthattheattachmentsobegunmayturnintoascloseaunionasiseitherhealthyornecessarybetweentwoseparateindividuals。I
maymistakehercharacter,forIdonotknowherasIknowyou,andhavescarcelyenoughfaithinherasyettotellhersuchthingsasIhavetoldyou。Still,thereisaconsolingdashofromanceinthetransaction。Agathahascharm。Doyounotthinkso？\"
Gertrude\'semotionwasgone。Sherepliedwithcoolscorn,\"Veryromanticindeed。Sheisveryfortunate。\"
Trefusishalflaughed,halfsighedwithrelieftofindhersoself—possessed。\"Itsoundslike——andindeedis——theselfishcalculationofadisilludedwidower。Youwouldnotvaluesuchanoffer,orenvytherecipientofit？\"
\"No,\"saidGertrudewithquietcontempt。
\"Yetthereissomecalculationbehindeverysuchoffer。Wemarrytosatisfyourneeds,andthemorereasonableourneedsare,themorelikelyarewetogetthemsatisfied。Iseeyouaredisgustedwithme;Ifearedasmuch。Youarethesortofwomantoadmitnoexcuseformymarriageexceptlove——pureemotionallove,blindfoldingreason。\"
\"Ireallydonotconcernmyself——\"
\"Donotsayso,Gertrude。Iwatcheverystepyoutakewithanxiety;andIdonotbelieveyouareindifferenttotheworthinessofmyconduct。Believeme,loveisanoverratedpassion;itwouldbeirremediablydiscreditedbutthatyoungpeople,andtheromancerswholiveupontheirfollies,haveaperpetualinterestinrehabilitatingit。Norelationinvolvingdivideddutiesandcontinualintercoursebetweentwopeoplecansubsistpermanentlyonlovealone。Yetloveisnottobedespisedwhenitcomesfromafinenature。ThereisamanwholovesyouexactlyasyouthinkIoughttoloveAgatha——andasIdon\'tloveher。\"
Gertrude\'semotionstirredagain,andhercolorrose。\"Youhavenorighttosaythesethingsnow,\"shesaid。
\"WhymayInotpleadthecauseofanother？IspeakofErskine。\"
Hercolorvanished,andhecontinued,\"Iwantyoutomarryhim。
Whenyouaremarriedyouwillunderstandmebetter,andourfriendship,shakenjustnow,willbedeepened;forIdareassureyou,nowthatyoucannolongermisunderstandme,thatnolivingwomanisdearertomethanyou。Somuchfortheinevitableselfishreason。Erskineisapoorman,andinhiscomfortablepoverty——savethemark——liesyoursalvationfromthebasenessofmarryingforwealthandposition;abasenessofwhichwomenofyourclassstandinconstantperil。Theycourtit;youmustshunit。Themanishonorableandlovesyou;heisyoung,healthy,andsuitable。Whatmoredoyouthinktheworldhastoofferyou？\"
\"Muchmore,Ihope。Verymuchmore。\"
\"IfearthatthenamesIgivethingsarenotromanticenough。Heisapoet。Perhapshewouldbeaheroifitwerepossibleforamantobeaherointhisnineteenthcentury,whichwillbeinfamousinhistoryasatimewhenthegreatestadvancesinthepowerofmanovernatureonlyservedtosharpenhisgreedandmakefamineitsavowedminister。Erskineisatleastneitheragamblernoraslave—driveratfirsthand;ifhelivesuponplunderedlaborhecannomorehelphimselfthanI。Donotsaythatyouhopeformuchmore;buttellme,ifyoucan,whatmoreyouhaveanychanceofgetting？Mind,Idonotaskwhatmoreyoudesire;wealldesireunutterablethings。Iaskyouwhatmoreyoucanobtain！\"
\"IhavenotfoundMr。Erskinesuchawonderfulpersonasyouseemtothinkhim。\"
\"Heisonlyaman。Doyouknowanybodymorewonderful？\"
\"Besides,myfamilymightnotapprove。\"
\"Theymostcertainlywillnot。Ifyouwishtopleasethem,youmustsellyourselftosomerichvampireofthefactoriesorgreatlandlord。Ifyougiveyourselfawaytoapoorpoetwholovesyou,theirdisgustwillbeunbounded。Ifawomanwishestohonorherfatherandmothertotheirownsatisfactionnowadaysshemustdishonorherself。\"
\"Idonotunderstandwhyyoushouldbesoanxiousformetomarrysomeoneelse？\"
\"Someoneelse？\"saidTrefusis,puzzled。
\"Idonotmeansomeoneelse,\"saidGertrudehastily,reddening。
\"WhyshouldImarryatall？\"
\"Whydoanyofusmarry？WhydoImarry？Itisafunctioncravingfulfilment。Ifyoudonotmarrybetimesfromchoice,youwillbedriventodosolateronbytheimportunityofyoursuitorsandofyourfamily,andbywearinessofthesuspensethatprecedesadefinitesettlementofoneself。Marrygenerously。Donotthrowyourselfawayorsellyourself;giveyourselfaway。Erskinehasasmuchatstakeasyou;andyetheoffershimselffearlessly。\"
Gertruderaisedherheadproudly。
\"Itistrue,\"continuedTrefusis,observingthegesturewithsomeanger,\"thathethinksmorehighlyofyouthanyoudeserve;butyou,ontheotherhand,thinktoolowlyofhim。Whenyoumarryhimyoumustsavehimfromacrueldisenchantmentbyraisingyourselftothelevelhefanciesyouhaveattained。Thiswillcostyouaneffort,andtheeffortwilldoyougood,whetheritfailorsucceed。Asforhim,hewillfindhisjustlevelinyourestimationifyourthoughtsreachhighenoughtocomprehendhimatthatlevel。\"
Gertrudemovedimpatiently。
\"What！\"hesaidquickly。\"Aremylong—windedsacrificestothegodofreasondistasteful？IbelieveIaminvoluntarilymakingthemsobecauseIamjealousofthefellowafterall。
NeverthelessIamserious;Iwantyoutogetmarried;thoughI
shallalwayshaveasecretgrudgeagainstthemanwhomarriesyou。Agathawillsuspectmeoftreasonifyoudon\'t。Erskinewillbeadisappointedmanifyoudon\'t。Youwillbemoody,wretched,and——andunmarriedifyoudon\'t。\"
Gertrude\'scheeksflushedatthewordjealous,andagainathismentionofAgatha。\"AndifIdo,\"shesaidbitterly,\"whatthen？\"
\"Ifyoudo,Agatha\'smindwillbeatease,Erskinewillbehappy,andyou！Youwillhavesacrificedyourself,andwillhavethehappinesswhichfollowsthatwhenitisworthilydone。\"
\"Itisyouwhohavesacrificedme,\"shesaid,castingawayherreticence,andlookingathimforthefirsttimeduringtheconversation。
\"Iknowit,\"hesaid,leaningtowardsherandhalfwhisperingthewords。\"Isnotrenunciationthebeginningandtheendofwisdom？
Ihavesacrificedyouratherthanprofaneourfriendshipbyaskingyoutosharemywholelifewithme。Youareunfitforthat,andIhavecommittedmyselftoanotherunion,andambeggingyoutofollowmyexample,lestweshouldtemptoneanothertoastepwhichwouldsoonprovetoyouhowtrulyItellyouthatyouareunfit。Ihaveneverallowedyoutoroamthroughallthechambersofmyconsciousness,butIkeepasanctuarythereforyoualone,andwillkeepitinviolateforyoualways。
NotevenAgathashallhavethekey,shemustbecontentwiththeotherrooms——thedrawing—room,theworking—room,thedining—room,andsoforth。Theywouldnotsuityou;youwouldnotlikethefurnitureortheguests;afteratimeyouwouldnotlikethemaster。Willyoubecontentwiththesanctuary？\"Gertrudebitherlip;tearscameintohereyes。Shelookedimploringlyathim。
Hadtheybeenalone,shewouldhavethrownherselfintohisarmsandentreatedhimtodisregardeverythingexcepttheirstrongcleavingtooneanother。
\"Andwillyoukeepacornerofyourheartforme？\"
Sheslowlygavehimapainfullookofacquiescence。\"Willyoubebrave,andsacrificeyourselftothepoormanwholovesyou？Hewillsaveyoufromuselesssolitude,orfromaworldlymarriage——Icannotbeartothinkofeitherasyourfate。\"
\"IdonotcareforMr。Erskine,\"shesaid,hardlyabletocontrolhervoice;\"butIwillmarryhimifyouwishit。\"
\"Idowishitearnestly,Gertrude。\"
\"Then,youhavemypromise,\"shesaid,againwithsomebitterness。
\"Butyouwillnotforgetme？Erskinewillhaveallbutthat——atenderrecollection——nothing。\"
\"CanIdomorethanIhavejustpromised？\"
\"Perhapsso;butIamtooselfishtobeabletoconceiveanythingmoregenerous。Ourrenunciationwillbindustooneanotherasourunioncouldneverhavedone。\"
Theyexchangedalonglook。Thenhetookouthiswatch,andbegantospeakofthelengthoftheirjourney,nownearlyatanend。
WhentheyarrivedinLondonthefirstpersontheyrecognizedontheplatformwasMr。Jansenius。
\"Ah！yougotmytelegram,Isee,\"saidTrefusis。\"Manythanksforcoming。WaitformewhilstIputthisladyintoacab。\"
Whenthecabwasengaged,andGertrude,withhermaid,stowedwithin,hewhisperedtoherhurriedly:
\"Inspiteofall,Ihavealeadenpainhere\"（indicatinghisheart）。\"Youhavebeenbrave,andIhavebeenwise。Donotspeaktome,butrememberthatwearefriendsalwaysanddeeply。\"
Hetouchedherhand,andturnedtothecabman,directinghimwhithertodrive。Gertrudeshrankbackintoacornerofthevehicleasitdeparted。ThenTrefusis,expandinghischestlikeamanjustreleasedfromsomecrampingdrudgery,rejoinedMr。
Jansenius。
\"Theregoesatruewoman,\"hesaid。\"Ihavebeenpersuadinghertotaketheverybeststepopentoher。Ibeganbytalkingsense,likeamanofhonor,andkeptatitforhalfanhour,butshewouldnotlistentome。ThenItalkedromanticnonsenseofthecheapestsortforfiveminutes,andsheconsentedwithtearsinhereyes。Letustakethishansom。Hi！BelsizeAvenue。Yes;yousometimeshavetoanswerawomanaccordingtoherwomanishness,justasyouhavetoanswerafoolaccordingtohisfolly。Haveyouevermadeupyourmind,Jansenius,whetherIamanunusuallyhonestman,oroneoftheworstproductsofthesocialorganizationIspendallmyenergiesinassailing——aninfernalscoundrel,inshort？\"
\"Nowpraydonotbeabsurd,\"saidMr。Jansenius。\"Iwonderatamanofyourabilitybehavingandspeakingasyousometimesdo。\"
\"Ihopealittleinsincerity,whenmeanttoactaschloroform——tosaveawomanfromfeelingawoundtohervanity——isexcusable。
By—the—bye,Imustsendacoupleoftelegramsfromthefirstpost—officewepass。Well,sir,IamgoingtomarryAgatha,asI
sentyouword。TherewasonlyoneothersinglemanandoneothervirgindownatBrandonBeeches,andtheyareasgoodasengaged。
Andso——
\"\'JackshallhaveJill,Noughtshallgoill,Themanshallhavehismareagain;Andallshallbewell。\'\"
APPENDIX
LETTERTOTHEAUTHORFROMMR。SIDNEYTREFUSIS。
MyDearSir:Ifindthatmyfriendsarenotquitesatisfiedwiththeaccountyouhavegivenoftheminyourclevernovelentitled\"AnUnsocialSocialist。\"YoualreadyunderstandthatIconsideritmydutytocommunicatemywholehistory,withoutreserve,towhoevermaydesiretobeguidedorwarnedbymyexperience,andthatIhavenosympathywhateverwiththespiritinwhichoneoftheladiesconcernedrecentlytoldyouthatheraffairswerenobusinessofyoursorofthepeoplewhoreadyourbooks。Whenyouaskedmypermissionsomeyearsagotomakeuseofmystory,IatoncesaidthatyouwouldbeperfectlyjustifiedingivingitthefullestpublicitywhetherIconsentedornot,providedonlythatyouwerecarefulnottofalsifyitforthesakeofartisticeffect。Now,whilstcheerfullyadmittingthatyouhavedoneyourbesttofulfilthatcondition,Icannothelpfeelingthat,inpresentingthefactsintheguiseoffiction,youhave,inspiteofyourself,showntheminafalselight。Actionsdescribedinnovelsarejudgedbyaromanticsystemofmoralsasfictitiousastheactionsthemselves。Thetraditionalpartsofthissystemare,asCervantestriedtoshow,forthechiefpart,barbarousandobsolete;themodernadditionsarelargelyduetothenovelreadersandwritersofourowncentury——mostofthemhalf—educatedwomen,rebelliouslyslavish,superstitious,sentimental,fulloftheintenseegotismfosteredbytheirstruggleforpersonalliberty,and,outsidetheirfamilies,withabsolutelynosocialsentimentexceptlove。Meanwhile,man,havingfoughtandwonhisfightforthispersonalliberty,onlytofindhimselfamoreabjectslavethanbefore,isturningwithloathingfromhisegotist\'sdreamofindependencetothecollectiveinterestsofsociety,withthewelfareofwhichhenowperceiveshisownhappinesstobeinextricablyboundup。Butmaninthisphase（wouldthatallhadreachedit！）hasnotyetleisuretowriteorreadnovels。Innoveldomwomanstillsetsthemoralstandard,andtoherthemales,whoareinfullrevoltagainsttheacceptanceoftheinfatuationofapairofloversasthehighestmanifestationofthesocialinstinct,andagainsttherestrictionoftheaffectionswithinthenarrowcircleofbloodrelationship,andofthepoliticalsympathieswithinfrontiers,aretoherwhatshecallsheartlessbrutes。ThatisexactlywhatIhavebeencalledbyreadersofyournovel;andthat,indeed,isexactlywhatIam,judgedbythefictitiousandfemininestandardofmorality。HencesomecriticshavebeenableplausiblytopretendtotakethebookasasatireonSocialism。Itmay,forwhatIknow,havebeensointendedbyyou。Whetherorno,Iamsorryyoumadeanovelofmystory,fortheeffecthasbeenalmostasifyouhadmisrepresentedmefrombeginningtoend。
Atthesametime,Iacknowledgethatyouhavestatedthefacts,onthewhole,withscrupulousfairness。Youhave,indeed,flatteredmeverystronglybyrepresentingmeasconstantlythinkingofandforotherpeople,whereastherestthinkofthemselvesalone,butontheotherhandyouhavecontradictorilycalledme\"unsocial,\"whichiscertainlythelastadjectiveI
shouldhaveexpectedtofindintheneighborhoodofmyname。I
deny,itistrue,thatwhatisnowcalled\"society\"issocietyinanyrealsense,andmybestwishforitisthatitmaydissolvetoorapidlytomakeitworththewhileofthosewhoare\"notinsociety\"tofacilitateitsdissolutionbyviolentlypoundingitintosmallpieces。Butnoreaderof\"AnUnsocialSocialist\"needstobetoldhow,bytheexerciseofacertainconsideratetact（whichontheoutside,perhaps,seemstheoppositeoftact）,Ihavecontrivedtomaintaingenialtermswithmenandwomenofallclasses,eventhosewhoseopinionsandpoliticalconductseemedtomemostdangerous。
However,Idonothereproposetogofullyintomyownposition,lestIshouldseemtedious,andbeaccused,notforthefirsttime,ofapropensitytolecture——areproachwhichcomesnaturallyenoughfrompersonswhoseconceptionsarenevertoowidetobeexpressedwithinthelimitsofasixpennytelegram。I
shallconfinemyselftocorrectingafewmisapprehensionswhichhave,Iamtold,arisenamongreaderswhofrominveteratehabitcannotbringthepersonsandeventsofanovelintoanyrelationwiththeactualconditionsoflife。
Inthefirstplace,then,IdesiretosaythatMrs。Erskineisnotdeadofabrokenheart。ErskineandIandourwivesareverymuchinandoutatoneanother\'shouses;andIamthereforeinapositiontodeclarethatMrs。Erskine,havingescapedbyhermarriagefromthevilecasteinwhichshewasrelativelypoorandartificiallyunhappyandill—conditioned,isnow,astheprettywifeofanart—critic,relativelyrich,aswellaspleasant,active,andinsoundhealth。Herchieftrouble,asfarasIcanjudge,istheimpossibilityofshakingoffherdistinguishedrelatives,whofurtivelyquittheirabjectsplendortodropinuponherfordinnerandalittlegenuinehumansocietymuchoftenerthanisconvenienttopoorErskine。Shehastakenapatronizingfancytoherfather,theAdmiral,whoacceptshercondescensiongratefullyasagebringsmoreandmorehometohimthefutilityofhissocialposition。Shehasalso,asmighthavebeenexpected,becomeanextremeadvocateofsocialism;andindeed,beinginagreathurryfortheneworderofthings,looksonmeasalukewarmdisciplebecauseIdonotproposetointerferewiththeslowlygrindingmillofEvolution,andeffectthechangebyonetremendousstrokefromtheunitedandawakenedpeople（forsuchshe——vainly,alas！——believestheproletariatalreadytobe。Astomyownmarriage,somehaveaskedsarcasticallywhetherIranawayagainornot;others,whetherithasbeenasuccess。Thesearefoolishquestions。MymarriagehasturnedoutmuchasIexpecteditwould。Ifindthatmywife\'sviewsonthesubjectvarywiththecircumstancesunderwhichtheyareexpressed。
Ihavenowtomakeoneortwocommentsontheimpressionsconveyedbythestyleofyournarrative。Sufficientprominencehasnot,inmyopinion,beengiventotheextraordinarydestinyofmyfather,thetrueheroofanineteenthcenturyromance。I,whohaveseensocietyreluctantlyacceptingworksofgeniusfornothingfrommenofextraordinarygifts,andatthesametimehelplesslypayingmyfathermillions,andsubmittingtomonstrousmortgagesofitsfutureproduction,forafewdirectionsastothemostbusiness—likewayofmanufacturingandsellingcotton,cannotbutwonder,asIpreparemyincome—taxreturns,whethersocietywasmadtosacrificethustohimandtome。Hewasthemanwithpowertobuy,tobuild,tochoose,toendow,tositoncommitteesandadjudicateupondesigns,tomakehisowntermsforplacinganythingonasoundbusinessfooting。Hewashated,envied,sneeredatforhisloworigin,reproachedforhisignorance,yetnothingwouldpayunlesshelikedorpretendedtolikeit。Ilookroundatourbuildings,ourstatues,ourpictures,ournewspapers,ourdomesticinteriors,ourbooks,ourvehicles,ourmorals,ourmanners,ourstatutes,andourreligion,andIseehishandeverywhere,fortheywereallmadeormodifiedtopleasehim。Thosewhichdidnotpleasehimfailedcommercially:hewouldnotbuythem,orsellthem,orcountenancethem;andexceptthroughhim,as\"masteroftheindustrialsituation,\"nothingcouldbebought,orsold,orcountenanced。
Thelandlordcoulddonothingwithhisacresexceptletthemtohim;thecapitalist\'shoardrottedanddwindleduntilitwaslenttohim;theworker\'smusclesandbrainwereimpotentuntilsoldtohim。Whatking\'ssonwouldnotexchangewithme——thesonoftheGreatEmployer——theMerchantPrince？Nowondertheyproposedtoimprisonmefortreasonwhen,byapplyingmyinheritedbusinesstalent,Iputforwardaplanforsecuringhisfullservicestosocietyforafewhundredayear。Butpendingtheadoptionofmyplan,donotdescribehimcontemptuouslyasavulgartradesman。Industrialkingship,theonlyrealkingshipofourcentury,washisbydivinerightofhisturnforbusiness;
andI,hisson,bidyourespectthecrownwhoserevenuesI
inherit。Ifyoudon\'t,myfriend,yourbookwon\'tpay。
Ihear,withsomesurprise,thatthekindnessofmyconducttoHenrietta（myfirstwife,yourecollect）hasbeencalledinquestion;why,Idonotexactlyknow。UndoubtedlyIshouldnothavemarriedher,butitiswasteoftimetocriticisethejudgmentofayoungmaninlove。SinceIdonotapproveoftheusualplanofneglectingandavoidingaspousewithoutceasingtokeepupappearances,IcannotforthelifeofmeseewhatelseI
couldhavedonethanvanishwhenIfoundoutmymistake。Itisbutashort—sightedpolicytowaitforthemendingofmattersthatareboundtogetworse。Thenotionthatherdeathwasmyfaultissheerunreasononthefaceofit;andIneednoexculpationonthatscore;butImustdisclaimthecreditofhavingborneherdeathlikeaphilosopher。Ioughttohavedoneso,butthetruthisthatIwasgreatlyaffectedatthemoment,andtheproofofitisthatIandJansenius（theonlyotherpersonwhocared）behavedinamostunbecomingfashion,asmeninvariablydowhentheyarereallyupset。Perfectproprietyatadeathisseldomachievedexceptbytheundertaker,whohastheadvantageofbeingfreefromemotion。
Yourrigmarole（ifyouwillexcusetheword）aboutthetombstonegivesquiteawrongideaofmyattitudeonthatoccasion。I
stayedawayfromthefuneralforreasonswhichare,Ishouldthink,sufficientlyobviousandnatural,butwhichyousomehowseemtohavemissed。GrantedthatmyfancyforHettywasonlyacloudofillusions,stillIcouldnot,withinafewdaysofhersuddendeath,goincoldbloodtotakepartinagrotesqueandheathenishmummeryoverhercoffin。Ishouldhavebrokenoutandstrangledsomebody。ButoneveryotherpointI——weaklyenough——sacrificedmyownfeelingstothoseofJansenius。Ilethimhavehisfuneral,thoughIobjecttofuneralsandtothepracticeofsepulture。Iconsentedtoamonument,althoughthereis,tome,nomorebitterlyridiculousoutcomeofhumanvanitythantheblocksraisedtotellposteritythatJohnSmith,orJaneJackson,lateofthisparish,wasborn,lived,anddiedworthenoughmoneytopayamasontodistinguishtheirbonesfromthoseoftheunrecordedmillions。TogratifyJanseniusIwaivedthisobjection,andonlyinterferedtosavehimfrombeingfleecedandfooledbyanunnecessaryWestEndmiddleman,who,aslikelyasnot,wouldhaveeventuallyemployedtheverymantowhomIgavethejob。Eventheepitaphwasnotmine。IfIhadhadmywayI
shouldhavewritten:\"HENRIETTAJANSENIUSWASBORNONSUCHA
DATE,MARRIEDAMANNAMEDTREFUSIS,ANDDIEDONSUCHANOTHER
DATE;ANDNOWWHATDOESITMATTERWHETHERSHEDIDORNOT？\"ThewholenotionconveyedinthebookthatIroderough—shodovereverybodyintheaffair,andonlyconsultedmyownfeelings,istheveryreverseofthetruth。
AstothetomfoolerydownatBrandon\'s,whichendedinErskineandmyselfmarryingtheyoungladyvisitorsthere,Icanonlycongratulateyouonthedeterminationwithwhichyouhavestriventomakesomethinglikearomanceoutofsuchverythinmaterial。
IcannotsaythatIrememberitallexactlyasyouhavedescribedit;mywifedeclaresflatlythereisnotawordoftruthinitasfarassheisconcerned,andMrs。Erskinesteadilyrefusestoreadthebook。
OnonepointImustacknowledgethatyouhaveprovedyourselfamasteroftheartoffiction。WhatHettyandIsaidtooneanotherthatdaywhenshecameuponmeintheshrubberyatAltonCollegewasknownonlytoustwo。Shenevertoldittoanyone,andIsoonforgotit。Allduehonor,therefore,totheingenuitywithwhichyouhavefilledthehiatus,andshownthestateofaffairsbetweenusbyadiscourseon\"surplusvalue,\"cribbedfromanimperfectreportofoneofmypubliclectures,andfromthepagesofKarlMarx！IfyouwereaneconomistIshouldcondemnyouforconfusingeconomicwithethicalconsiderations,andforyouruncertaintyastothefunctionwhichmyfathergothisstartbyperforming。Butasyouareonlyanovelist,Icomplimentyouheartilyonyourcleverlittlepasticcio,adding,however,thatasanaccountofwhatactuallypassedbetweenmyselfandHetty,itisthewildestromanceeverpenned。Wickens\'sboywasfarnearerthemark。
Inconclusion,allowmetoexpressmyregretthatyoucanfindnobetteremploymentforyourtalentthanthewritingofnovels。Thefirstliteraryresultofthefoundationofourindustrialsystemupontheprofitsofpiracyandslave—tradingwasShakspere。Itisourmisfortunethatthesordidmiseryandhopelesshorrorofhisviewofman\'sdestinyisstillsoappropriatetoEnglishsocietythatweevento—dayregardhimasnotforanage,butforalltime。Butthepoetryofdespairwillnotoutlivedespairitself。
YournineteenthcenturynovelistsareonlythetailofShakspere。
Don\'ttieyourselftoit:itisfastwrigglingintooblivion。
Iam,dearsir,yourstruly,SIDNEYTREFUSIS。