PARTICAMBRIDGE
I
\"Thecowisthere，\"saidAnsell，lightingamatchandholdingitoutoverthecarpet。Noonespoke。Hewaitedtilltheendofthematchfelloff。Thenhesaidagain，\"Sheisthere，thecow。
There，now。\"
\"Youhavenotprovedit，\"saidavoice。
\"Ihaveprovedittomyself。\"
\"Ihaveprovedtomyselfthatsheisn’t，\"saidthevoice。
\"Thecowisnotthere。\"Ansellfrownedandlitanothermatch。
\"She’sthereforme，\"hedeclared。\"Idon’tcarewhethershe’sthereforyouornot。WhetherI’minCambridgeorIcelandordead，thecowwillbethere。\"
Itwasphilosophy。Theywerediscussingtheexistenceofobjects。
Dotheyexistonlywhenthereissomeonetolookatthem？Orhavetheyarealexistenceoftheirown？Itisallveryinteresting，butatthesametimeitisdifficult。Hencethecow。
Sheseemedtomakethingseasier。Shewassofamiliar，sosolid，thatsurelythetruthsthatsheillustratedwouldintimebecomefamiliarandsolidalso。Isthecowthereornot？Thiswasbetterthandecidingbetweenobjectivityandsubjectivity。SoatOxford，justatthesametime，onewasasking，\"Whatdoourroomslooklikeinthevac。？\"
\"Lookhere，Ansell。I’mthere——inthemeadow——thecow’sthere。You’rethere——thecow’sthere。Doyouagreesofar？\"
\"Well？\"
\"Well，ifyougo，thecowstops;butifIgo，thecowgoes。
ThenwhatwillhappenifyoustopandIgo？\"
Severalvoicescriedoutthatthiswasquibbling。
\"Iknowitis，\"saidthespeakerbrightly，andsilencedescendedagain，whiletheytriedhonestlytothinkthematterout。
Rickie，onwhosecarpetthematcheswerebeingdropped，didnotliketojoininthediscussion。Itwastoodifficultforhim。Hecouldnotevenquibble。Ifhespoke，heshouldsimplymakehimselfafool。Hepreferredtolisten，andtowatchthetobacco—smokestealingoutpastthewindow—seatintothetranquilOctoberair。Hecouldseethecourttoo，andthecollegecatteasingthecollegetortoise，andthekitchen—menwithsupper—traysupontheirheads。Hotfoodforone——thatmustbeforthegeographicaldon，whonevercameinforHall;coldfoodforthree，apparentlyathalf—a—crownahead，forsomeonehedidnotknow;hotfood，alacarte——obviouslyfortheladieshauntingthenextstaircase;coldfoodfortwo，attwoshillings——goingtoAnsell’sroomsforhimselfandAnsell，andasitpassedunderthelamphesawthatitwasmeringuesagain。Thenthebedmakersbegantoarrive，chattingtoeachotherpleasantly，andhecouldhearAnsell’sbedmakersay，\"Ohdang！\"whenshefoundshehadtolayAnsell’stablecloth;fortherewasnotabreathstirring。Thegreatelmsweremotionless，andseemedstillinthegloryofmidsummer，forthedarknesshidtheyellowblotchesontheirleaves，andtheiroutlineswerestillroundedagainstthetendersky。ThoseelmswereDryads——soRickiebelievedorpretended，andthelinebetweenthetwoissubtlerthanweadmit。Atalleventstheywereladytrees，andhadforgenerationsfooledthecollegestatutesbytheirresidenceinthehauntsofyouth。
Butwhataboutthecow？Hereturnedtoherwithastart，forthiswouldneverdo。Healsowouldtrytothinkthematterout。Wasshethereornot？Thecow。Thereornot。Hestrainedhiseyesintothenight。
Eitherwayitwasattractive。Ifshewasthere，othercowsweretheretoo。ThedarknessofEuropewasdottedwiththem，andinthefarEasttheirflankswereshiningintherisingsun。Greatherdsofthemstoodbrowsinginpastureswherenomancamenorneedevercome，orplashedknee—deepbythebrinkofimpassablerivers。Andthis，moreover，wastheviewofAnsell。YetTilliard’sviewhadagooddealinit。OnemightdoworsethanfollowTilliard，andsupposethecownottobethereunlessoneselfwastheretoseeher。Acowlessworld，then，stretchedroundhimoneveryside。Yethehadonlytopeepintoafield，and，click！itwouldatoncebecomeradiantwithbovinelife。
Suddenlyherealizedthatthis，again，wouldneverdo。Asusual，hehadmissedthewholepoint，andwasoverlayingphilosophywithgrossandsenselessdetails。Forifthecowwasnotthere，theworldandthefieldswerenotthereeither。
AndwhatwouldAnsellcareaboutsunlitflanksorimpassablestreams？Rickierebukedhisowngrovelingsoul，andturnedhiseyesawayfromthenight，whichhadledhimtosuchabsurdconclusions。
Thefirewasdancing，andtheshadowofAnsell，whostoodcloseuptoit，seemedtodominatethelittleroom。Hewasstilltalking，orratherjerking，andhewasstilllightingmatchesanddroppingtheirendsuponthecarpet。Nowandthenhewouldmakeamotionwithhisfeetasifhewererunningquicklybackwardupstairs，andwouldtreadontheedgeofthefender，sothatthefire—ironswentflyingandthebuttered—bundishescrashedagainsteachotherinthehearth。Theotherphilosopherswerecrouchedinoddshapesonthesofaandtableandchairs，andone，whowasalittlebored，hadcrawledtothepianoandwastimidlytryingthePreludetoRhinegoldwithhiskneeuponthesoftpedal。Theairwasheavywithgoodtobacco—smokeandthepleasantwarmthoftea，andasRickiebecamemoresleepytheeventsofthedayseemedtofloatonebyonebeforehisacquiescenteyes。InthemorninghehadreadTheocritus，whomhebelievedtobethegreatestofGreekpoets;hehadlunchedwithamerrydonandhadtastedZwiebackbiscuits;thenhehadwalkedwithpeopleheliked，andhadwalkedjustlongenough;andnowhisroomwasfullofotherpeoplewhomheliked，andwhentheylefthewouldgoandhavesupperwithAnsell，whomhelikedaswellasanyone。Ayearagohehadknownnoneofthesejoys。Hehadcreptcoldandfriendlessandignorantoutofagreatpublicschool，preparingforasilentandsolitaryjourney，andprayingasahighestfavourthathemightbeleftalone。Cambridgehadnotansweredhisprayer。Shehadtakenandsoothedhim，andwarmedhim，andhadlaughedathimalittle，sayingthathemustnotbesotragicyetawhile，forhisboyhoodhadbeenbutadustycorridorthatledtothespacioushallsofyouth。Inoneyearhehadmademanyfriendsandlearntmuch，andhemightlearnevenmoreifhecouldbutconcentratehisattentiononthatcow。
Thefirehaddieddown，andinthegloomthemanbythepianoventuredtoaskwhatwouldhappenifanobjectivecowhadasubjectivecalf。Ansellgaveanangrysigh，andatthatmomenttherewasataponthedoor。
\"Comein！\"saidRickie。
Thedooropened。Atallyoungwomanstoodframedinthelightthatfellfromthepassage。
\"Ladies！\"whisperedevery—oneingreatagitation。
\"Yes？\"hesaidnervously，limpingtowardsthedoor（hewasratherlame）。\"Yes？Pleasecomein。CanIbeanygood——\"
\"Wickedboy！\"exclaimedtheyounglady，advancingaglovedfingerintotheroom。\"Wicked，wickedboy！\"
Heclaspedhisheadwithhishands。
\"Agnes！Ohhowperfectlyawful！\"
\"Wicked，intolerableboy！\"Sheturnedontheelectriclight。Thephilosopherswererevealedwithunpleasingsuddenness。\"Mygoodness，atea—party！Ohreally，Rickie，youaretoobad！Isayagain:wicked，abominable，intolerableboy！I’llhaveyouhorsewhipped。Ifyouplease\"——sheturnedtothesymposium，whichhadnowrisentoitsfeet\"Ifyouplease，heasksmeandmybrotherfortheweek—end。Weaccept。Atthestation，noRickie。
Wedrivetowherehisoldlodgingswere——TrumperyRoadorsomesuchname——andhe’sleftthem。I’mfurious，andbeforeIcanstopmybrother，he’spaidoffthecabandtherewearestranded。I’vewalked——walkedformiles。PraycanyoutellmewhatistobedonewithRickie？\"
\"Hemustindeedbehorsewhipped，\"saidTilliardpleasantly。Thenhemadeaboltforthedoor。
\"Tilliard——dostop——letmeintroduceMissPembroke——don’tallgo！\"Forhisfriendswereflyingfromhisvisitorlikemistsbeforethesun。\"Oh，Agnes，Iamsosorry;I’venothingtosay。I
simplyforgotyouwerecoming，andeverythingaboutyou。\"
\"Thankyou，thankyou！AndhowsoonwillyouremembertoaskwhereHerbertis？\"
\"Whereishe，then？\"
\"Ishallnottellyou。\"
\"Butdidn’thewalkwithyou？\"
\"Ishallnottell，Rickie。It’spartofyourpunishment。Youarenotreallysorryyet。Ishallpunishyouagainlater。\"
Shewasquiteright。Rickiewasnotasmuchupsetasheoughttohavebeen。Hewassorrythathehadforgotten，andthathehadcausedhisvisitorsinconvenience。Buthedidnotfeelprofoundlydegraded，asayoungmanshouldwhohasacteddiscourteouslytoayounglady。Hadheacteddiscourteouslytohisbedmakerorhisgyp，hewouldhavemindedjustasmuch，whichwasnotpoliteofhim。
\"First，I’llgoandgetfood。Dositdownandrest。Oh，letmeintroduce——\"
Ansellwasnowthesoleremnantofthediscussionparty。Hestillstoodonthehearthrugwithaburntmatchinhishand。MissPembroke’sarrivalhadneverdisturbedhim。
\"LetmeintroduceMr。Ansell——MissPembroke。\"
Therecameanawfulmoment——amomentwhenhealmostregrettedthathehadacleverfriend。Ansellremainedabsolutelymotionless，movingneitherhandnorhead。SuchbehaviourissounknownthatMissPembrokedidnotrealizewhathadhappened，andkeptherownhandstretchedoutlongerthanismaidenly。
\"Comingtosupper？\"askedAnsellinlow，gravetones。
\"Idon’tthinkso，\"saidRickiehelplessly。
Anselldepartedwithoutanotherword。
\"Don’tmindus，\"saidMissPembrokepleasantly。\"Whyshouldn’tyoukeepyourengagementwithyourfriend？Herbert’sfindinglodgings，——that’swhyhe’snothere，——andthey’resuretobeabletogiveussomedinner。Whatjollyroomsyou’vegot！\"
\"Ohno——notabit。Isay，Iamsorry。Iamsorry。Iammostawfullysorry。\"
\"Whatabout？\"
\"Ansell\"Thenheburstforth。\"Ansellisn’tagentleman。Hisfather’sadraper。Hisunclesarefarmers。He’sherebecausehe’ssoclever——justonaccountofhisbrains。Now，sitdown。Heisn’tagentlemanatall。\"Andhehurriedofftoordersomedinner。
\"Whatasnobtheboyisgetting！\"thoughtAgnes，agooddealmollified。Itneverstruckherthatthosecouldbethewordsofaffection——thatRickiewouldneverhavespokenthemaboutapersonwhomhedisliked。NordiditstrikeherthatAnsell’shumblebirthscarcelyexplainedthequalityofhisrudeness。Shewaswillingtofindlifefulloftrivialities。Sixmonthsagoandshemighthaveminded;butnow——shecarednotwhatmenmightdountoher，forshehadherownsplendidlover，whocouldhaveknockedalltheseunhealthyundergraduatesintoacocked—hat。ShedarednottellGeraldawordofwhathadhappened:hemighthavecomeupfromwhereverhewasandhalfkilledAnsell。Andshedeterminednottotellherbrothereither，forhernaturewaskindly，anditpleasedhertopassthingsover。
Shetookoffhergloves，andthenshetookoffherear—ringsandbegantoadmirethem。Theseear—ringswereafreakofhers——heronlyfreak。Shehadalwayswantedsome，andthedayGeraldaskedhertomarryhimshewenttoashopandhadherearspierced。Insomewonderfulwaysheknewthatitwasright。Andhehadgivenhertherings——littlegoldknobs，copied，thejewellertoldthem，fromsomethingprehistoricandhehadkissedthespotsofbloodonherhandkerchief。Herbert，asusual，hadbeenshocked。
\"Ican’thelpit，\"shecried，springingup。\"I’mnotlikeothergirls。\"ShebegantopaceaboutRickie’sroom，forshehatedtokeepquiet。Therewasnothingmuchtoseeinit。Thepictureswerenotattractive，nordidtheyattracther——schoolgroups，Watts’\"SirPercival，\"adogrunningafterarabbit，amanrunningafteramaid，acheapbrownMadonnainacheapgreenframe——inshort，acollectionwhereonemediocritywasgenerallycancelledbyanother。Overthedoortherehungalongphotographofacitywithwaterways，whichAgnes，whohadneverbeentoVenice，tooktobeVenice，butwhichpeoplewhohadbeentoStockholmknewtobeStockholm。Rickie’smother，lookingrathersweet，wasstandingonthemantelpiece。Somemorepictureshadjustarrivedfromtheframersandwereleaningwiththeirfacestothewall，butshedidnotbothertoturnthemround。Onthetableweredirtyteacups，aflatchocolatecake，andOmarKhayyam，withanOswegobiscuitbetweenhispages。Alsoavasefilledwiththecrimsonleavesofautumn。Thismadehersmile。
Thenshesawherhost’sshoes:hehadleftthemlyingonthesofa。Rickiewasslightlydeformed，andsotheshoeswerenotthesamesize，andoneofthemhadathickheeltohelphimtowardsanevenwalk。\"Ugh！\"sheexclaimed，andremovedthemgingerlytothebedroom。Thereshesawothershoesandbootsandpumps，awholerowofthem，alldeformed。\"Ugh！Poorboy！Itistoobad。
Whyshouldn’thebelikeotherpeople？Thishereditarybusinessistooawful。\"Sheshutthedoorwithasigh。ThensherecalledtheperfectformofGerald，hisathleticwalk，thepoiseofhisshoulders，hisarmsstretchedforwardtoreceiveher。Graduallyshewascomforted。
\"Ibegyourpardon，miss，butmightIaskhowmanytolay？\"Itwasthebedmaker，Mrs。Aberdeen。
\"Three，Ithink，\"saidAgnes，smilingpleasantly。\"Mr。Elliot’llbebackinaminute。Hehasgonetoorderdinner。
\"Thankyou，miss。\"
\"Plentyofteacupstowashup！\"
\"Butteacupsiseasywashing，particularlyMr。Elliot’s。\"
\"Whyarehissoeasy？\"
\"Becausenonastycornersinthemtoholdthedirt。Mr。
Anderson——he’sbelow—hascrinklynoctagons，andonewouldn’tbelievethedifference。ItwasIboughttheseforMr。Elliot。Hisonethoughtistosaveonetrouble。Ineverseedsuchathoughtfulgentleman。Theworld，Isay，willbethebetterforhim。\"Shetooktheteacupsintothegyproom，andthenreturnedwiththetablecloth，andadded，\"ifhe’sspared。\"
\"I’mafraidheisn’tstrong，\"saidAgnes。
\"Oh，miss，hisnose！Idon’tknowwhathe’dsayifheknewI
mentionedhisnose，butreallyImustspeaktosomeone，andhehasneitherfathernormother。Hisnose！ItpouredtwicewithbloodintheLong。\"
\"Yes？\"
\"It’sathingthatoughttobeknown。Iassureyou，thatlittleroom！……Andinanycase，Mr。Elliot’sagentlemanthatcanillaffordtoloseit。Luckilyhisfriendswereup;andIalwayssaythey’remorelikebrothersthananythingelse。\"
\"Niceforhim。Hehasnorealbrothers。\"
\"Oh，Mr。Hornblower，heisamerrygentleman，andMr。Tilliardtoo！AndMr。Elliothimselflikeshisrompattimes。Why，it’sthemerrieststaircaseinthebuildings！LastnightthebedmakerfromWsaidtome，’Whatareyoudoingtomygentlemen？Here’sMr。
Ansellcomeback’otwithhiscollarflopping。’Isaid，’Andagoodthing。’Somebedderskeeptheirgentlemenjustso;butsurely，miss，theworldbeingwhatitis，thelongeroneisabletolaughinitthebetter。\"
Bedmakershavetobecomicanddishonest。Itisexpectedofthem。
Inapictureofuniversitylifeitistheironlyfunction。Sowhenwemeetonewhohasthefaceofalady，andfeelingsofwhichaladymightbeproud，wepassherby。
\"Yes？\"saidMissPembroke，andthentheirtalkwasstoppedbythearrivalofherbrother。
\"Itistoobad！\"heexclaimed。\"Itisreallytoobad。\"
\"Now，Bertieboy，Bertieboy！I’llhavenopeevishness。\"
\"Iamnotpeevish，Agnes，butIhaveafullrighttobe。Pray，whydidhenotmeetus？Whydidhenotproviderooms？Andpray，whydidyouleavemetodoallthesettling？AllthelodgingsI
knewarefull，andourbedroomslookintoamews。Icannothelpit。Andthen——lookhere！Itreallyistoobad。\"Hehelduphisfootlikeawoundeddog。Itwasdrippingwithwater。
\"Oho！Thisexplainsthepeevishness。Offwithitatonce。It’llbeanotherofyourcolds。\"
\"IreallythinkIhadbetter。\"Hesatdownbythefireanddaintilyunlacedhisboot。\"Inoticeagreatchangeinuniversitytone。IcanneverrememberswaggeringthreeabreastalongthepavementandcharginginoffensivevisitorsintoagutterwhenI
wasanundergraduate。Oneofthemen，too，woreanEtontie。Buttheothers，Ishouldsay，camefromveryqueerschools，iftheycamefromanyschoolsatall。\"
Mr。Pembrokewasnearlytwentyyearsolderthanhissister，andhadneverbeenashandsome。Buthewasnotatallthepersontoknockintoagutter，forthoughnotinorders，hehadtheairofbeingonthevergeofthem，andhisfeatures，aswellashisclothes，hadtheclericalcut。Inhispresenceconversationbecamepureandcolourlessandfullofunderstatements，and——justasifhewasarealclergyman——neithermennorboyseverforgotthathewasthere。Hehadobservedthis，anditpleasedhimverymuch。HisconsciencepermittedhimtoentertheChurchwheneverhisprofession，whichwasthescholastic，shoulddemandit。
\"Nogutterintheworld’saswetasthis，\"saidAgnes，whohadpeeledoffherbrother’ssock，andwasnowtoastingitattheembersonapairoftongs。
\"SurelyyouknowtherunningwaterbytheedgeoftheTrumpingtonroad？It’sturnedonoccasionallytoclearawaytherefuse——amostprimitiveidea。WhenIwasupwehadajokeaboutit，andcalleditthe’Pem。’\"
\"Howcomplimentary！\"
\"Youfoolishgirl，——notafterme，ofcourse。Wecalleditthe’Pem’becauseitisclosetoPembrokeCollege。Iremember——\"Hesmiledalittle，andtwiddledhistoes。Thenherememberedthebedmaker，andsaid，\"Mysockisnowdry。Mysock，please。\"
\"Yoursockissopping。No，youdon’t！\"Shetwitchedthetongsawayfromhim。Mrs。Aberdeen，withoutspeaking，fetchedapairofRickie’ssocksandapairofRickie’sshoes。
\"Thankyou;ah，thankyou。IamsureMr。Elliotwouldallowit。\"
ThenhesaidinFrenchtohissister，\"HastherebeentheslightestsignofFrederick？\"
\"Now，docallhimRickie，andtalkEnglish。Ifoundhimhere。Hehadforgottenaboutus，andwasverysorry。Nowhe’sgonetogetsomedinner，andIcan’tthinkwhyheisn’tback。\"
Mrs。Aberdeenleftthem。
\"Hewantspullingupsharply。Thereisnothingoriginalinabsent—mindedness。Trueoriginalitylieselsewhere。Really，thelowerclasseshavenonous。HowevercanIwearsuchdeformities？\"Forhehadbeenmadlytryingtocramaright—handfootintoaleft—handshoe。
\"Don’t！\"saidAgneshastily。\"Don’ttouchthepoorfellow’sthings。\"Thesightofthesmart，stubbypatentleathermadeheralmostfeelfaint。ShehadknownRickieformanyyears，butitseemedsodreadfulandsodifferentnowthathewasaman。Itwasherfirstgreatcontactwiththeabnormal，andunknownfibresofherbeingroseinrevoltagainstit。Shefrownedwhensheheardhisuneventreaduponthestairs。
\"Agnes——beforehearrives——yououghtnevertohaveleftmeandgonetohisroomsalone。Amostelementarytransgression。Imaginetheunpleasantnessifyouhadfoundhimwithfriends。IfGerald——\"
Rickiebynowhadgotintoafluster。Atthekitchenshehadlosthishead，andwhenhisturncame——hehadhadtowait——hehadyieldedhisplacetothosebehind，sayingthathedidn’tmatter。
Andhehadwastedmoreprecioustimebuyingbananas，thoughheknewthatthePembrokeswerenotpartialtofruit。Amidmuchtardyandchaotichospitalitythemealgotunderway。Allthespoonsandforkswereanyhow，forMrs。Aberdeen’svirtueswerenotpractical。Thefishseemednevertohavebeenalive，themeathadnokick，andthecorkofthecollegeclaretslidforthsilently，asifashamedofthecontents。Agneswasparticularlypleasant。Butherbrothercouldnotrecoverhimself。Hestillrememberedtheirdesolatearrival，andhecouldfeelthewatersofthePemeatingintohisinstep。
\"Rickie，\"criedthelady，\"areyouawarethatyouhaven’tcongratulatedmeonmyengagement？\"
Rickielaughednervously，andsaid，\"Whyno！NomoreIhave。\"
\"Saysomethingpretty，then。\"
\"Ihopeyou’llbeveryhappy，\"hemumbled。\"ButIdon’tknowanythingaboutmarriage。\"
\"Oh，youawfulboy！Herbert，isn’thejustthesame？ButyoudoknowsomethingaboutGerald，sodon’tbesochillyandcautious。
I’vejustrealized，lookingatthosegroups，thatyoumusthavebeenatschooltogether。Didyoucomemuchacrosshim？\"
\"Verylittle，\"heanswered，andsoundedshy。Hegotuphastily，andbegantomuddlewiththecoffee。
\"Buthewasinthesamehouse。Surelythat’sahousegroup？\"
\"Hewasaprefect。\"Hemadehiscoffeeonthesimplesystem。Onehadabrownpot，intowhichtheboilingstuffwaspoured。Justbeforeservingoneputinadropofcoldwater，andtheideawasthatthegroundsfelltothebottom。
\"Wasn’theakindofathleticmarvel？Couldn’theknockanyboyormasterdown？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Ifhehadwantedto，\"saidMr。Pembroke，whohadnotspokenforsometime。
\"Ifhehadwantedto，\"echoedRickie。\"Idohope，Agnes，you’llbemostawfullyhappy。Idon’tknowanythingaboutthearmy，butIshouldthinkitmustbemostawfullyinteresting。\"
Mr。Pembrokelaughedfaintly。
\"Yes，Rickie。Thearmyisamostinterestingprofession，——theprofessionofWellingtonandMarlboroughandLordRoberts;amostinterestingprofession，asyouobserve。Aprofessionthatmaymeandeath——death，ratherthandishonour。\"
\"That’snice，\"saidRickie，speakingtohimself。\"Anyprofessionmaymeandishonour，butoneisn’tallowedtodieinstead。Thearmy’sdifferent。Ifasoldiermakesamess，it’sthoughtratherdecentofhim，isn’tit，ifheblowsouthisbrains？Intheotherprofessionsitsomehowseemscowardly。\"
\"Iamnotcompetenttopronounce，\"saidMr。Pembroke，whowasnotaccustomedtohavehisschoolroomsatirecommentedon。\"Imerelyknowthatthearmyisthefinestprofessionintheworld。Whichremindsme，Rickie——haveyoubeenthinkingaboutyours？\"
\"No。\"
\"Notatall？\"
\"No。\"
\"Now，Herbert，don’tbotherhim。Haveanothermeringue。\"
\"But，Rickie，mydearboy，you’retwenty。It’stimeyouthought。
TheTriposisthebeginningoflife，nottheend。InlessthantwoyearsyouwillhavegotyourB。A。Whatareyougoingtodowithit？\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"You’reM。A。，aren’tyou？\"askedAgnes;butherbrotherproceeded——
\"Ihaveseensomanypromising，brilliantliveswreckedsimplyonaccountofthis——notsettlingsoonenough。Mydearboy，youmustthink。Consultyourtastesifpossible——butthink。Youhavenotamomenttolose。TheBar，likeyourfather？\"
\"Oh，Iwouldn’tlikethatatall。\"
\"Idon’tmentiontheChurch。\"
\"Oh，Rickie，dobeaclergyman！\"saidMissPembroke。\"You’dbesimplykillinginawide—awake。\"
Helookedathisguestshopelessly。Theirkindnessandcompetenceoverwhelmedhim。\"IwishIcouldtalktothemasItalktomyself，\"hethought。\"I’mnotsuchanasswhenItalktomyself。
Idon’tbelieve，forinstance，thatquiteallIthoughtaboutthecowwasrot。\"Aloudhesaid，\"I’vesometimeswonderedaboutwriting。\"
\"Writing？\"saidMr。Pembroke，withthetoneofonewhogiveseverythingitstrial。\"Well，whataboutwriting？Whatkindofwriting？\"
\"Iratherlike，\"——hesuppressedsomethinginhisthroat，——\"I
ratherliketryingtowritelittlestories。\"
\"Why，Imadesureitwaspoetry！\"saidAgnes。\"You’rejusttheboyforpoetry。\"
\"Ihadnoideayouwrote。Wouldyouletmeseesomething？ThenI
couldjudge。\"
Theauthorshookhishead。\"Idon’tshowittoanyone。Itisn’tanything。Ijusttrybecauseitamusesme。\"
\"Whatisitabout？\"
\"Sillynonsense。\"
\"Areyouevergoingtoshowittoanyone？\"
\"Idon’tthinkso。\"
Mr。Pembrokedidnotreply，firstly，becausethemeringuehewaseatingwas，afterall，Rickie’s;secondly，becauseitwasglueyandstuckhisjawstogether。Agnesobservedthatthewritingwasreallyaverygoodidea:therewasRickie’saunt，——shecouldpushhim。
\"AuntEmilyneverpushesanyone;shesaystheyalwaysreboundandcrushher。\"
\"Ionlyhadthepleasureofseeingyourauntonce。Ishouldhavethoughtheraquiteuncrushableperson。Butshewouldbesuretohelpyou。\"
\"Icouldn’tshowheranything。She’dthinkthemevensillierthantheyare。\"
\"Alwaysrunningyourselfdown！Therespeakstheartist！\"
\"I’mnotmodest，\"hesaidanxiously。\"Ijustknowthey’rebad。\"
Mr。Pembroke’steethwereclearofmeringue，andhecouldrefrainnolonger。\"MydearRickie，yourfatherandmotheraredead，andyouoftensayyouraunttakesnointerestinyou。Thereforeyourlifedependsonyourself。Thinkitovercarefully，butsettle，andhavingoncesettled，stick。Ifyouthinkthatthiswritingispracticable，andthatyoucouldmakeyourlivingbyit——thatyoucould，ifneedsbe，supportawife——thenbyallmeanswrite。Butyoumustwork。Workanddrudge。Beginatthebottomoftheladderandworkupwards。\"
Rickie’sheaddrooped。Anymetaphorsilencedhim。Heneverthoughtofreplyingthatartisnotaladder——withacurate，asitwere，onthefirstrung，arectoronthesecond，andabishop，stillnearerheaven，atthetop。Heneverretortedthattheartistisnotabricklayeratall，butahorseman，whosebusinessitistocatchPegasusatonce，nottopractiseforhimbymountingtamercolts。Thisishard，hot，andgenerallyungracefulwork，butitisnotdrudgery。Fordrudgeryisnotart，andcannotleadtoit。