\"OfcourseIdon’treallythinkaboutwriting，\"hesaid，ashepouredthecoldwaterintothecoffee。\"Evenifmythingseverweredecent，Idon’tthinkthemagazineswouldtakethem，andthemagazinesareone’sonlychance。Ireadsomewhere，too，thatMarieCorelli’sabouttheonlypersonwhomakesathingoutofliterature。I’mcertainitwouldn’tpayme。\"
\"Inevermentionedtheword’pay，’\"saidMr。Pembrokeuneasily。
\"Youmustnotconsidermoney。Thereareidealstoo。\"
\"Ihavenoideals。\"
Rickie！\"sheexclaimed。\"Horribleboy！\"
\"No，Agnes，Ihavenoideals。\"Thenhegotveryred，foritwasaphrasehehadcaughtfromAnsell，andhecouldnotrememberwhatcamenext。
\"Thepersonwhohasnoideals，\"sheexclaimed，\"istobepitied。\"
\"Ithinksotoo，\"saidMr。Pembroke，sippinghiscoffee。\"Lifewithoutanidealwouldbeliketheskywithoutthesun。\"
Rickielookedtowardsthenight，whereintherenowtwinkledinnumerablestars——godsandheroes，virginsandbrides，towhomtheGreekshavegiventheirnames。
\"Lifewithoutanideal——\"repeatedMr。Pembroke，andthenstopped，forhismouthwasfullofcoffeegrounds。ThesameafflictionhadovertakenAgnes。Afteralittlejocoselaughtertheydepartedtotheirlodgings，andRickie，havingseenthemasfarastheporter’slodge，hurried，singingashewent，toAnsell’sroom，burstopenthedoor，andsaid，\"Lookhere！
Whateverdoyoumeanbyit？\"
\"Bywhat？\"Ansellwassittingalonewithapieceofpaperinfrontofhim。Onitwasadiagram——acircleinsideasquare，insidewhichwasagainasquare。
\"Bybeingsorude。You’renogentleman，andItoldherso。\"Heslammedhimontheheadwithasofacushion。\"I’mcertainoneoughttobepolite，eventopeoplewhoaren’tsaved。\"（\"Notsaved\"wasaphrasetheyappliedjustthentothosewhomtheydidnotlikeorintimatelyknow。）\"AndIbelievesheissaved。I
neverknewanyonesoalwaysgood—temperedandkind。She’sbeenkindtomeeversinceIknewher。Iwishyou’dheardhertryingtostopherbrother:you’dhavecertainlycomeround。Notbutwhathewasonlybeingniceaswell。Butsheisreallynice。AndIthoughtshecameintotheroomsobeautifully。Doyouknow——oh，ofcourse，youdespisemusic——butAndersonwasplayingWagner，andhe’djustgottothepartwheretheysing’Rheingold！
’Rheingold！
andthesunstrikesintothewaters，andthemusic，whichuptothenhassooftenbeeninEflat——\"
\"GoesintoDsharp。Ihavenotunderstoodasingleword，partlybecauseyoutalkasifyourmouthwasfullofplums，partlybecauseIdon’tknowwhomyou’retalkingabout。\"
\"MissPembroke——whomyousaw。\"
\"Isawnoone。\"
\"Whocamein？\"
\"Noonecamein。\"
\"You’reanass！\"shriekedRickie。\"Shecamein。Yousawhercomein。Sheandherbrotherhavebeentodinner。\"
\"Youonlythinkso。Theywerenotreallythere。\"
\"ButtheystoptillMonday。\"
\"Youonlythinkthattheyarestopping。\"
\"But——oh，lookhere，shutup！Thegirllikeanempress——\"
\"Isawnoempress，noranygirl，norhaveyouseenthem。\"
\"Ansell，don’trag。\"
\"Elliot，Ineverrag，andyouknowit。Shewasnotreallythere。\"
Therewasamoment’ssilence。ThenRickieexclaimed，\"I’vegotyou。Yousay——orwasitTilliard？——no，YOUsaythatthecow’sthere。Well——therethesepeopleare，then。Gotyou。Yah！\"
\"Diditneverstrikeyouthatphenomenamaybeoftwokinds:ONE，thosewhichhavearealexistence，suchasthecow;TWO，thosewhicharethesubjectiveproductofadiseasedimagination，andwhich，toourdestruction，weinvestwiththesemblanceofreality？Ifthisneverstruckyou，letitstrikeyounow。\"
Rickiespokeagain，butreceivednoanswer。Hepacedalittleupanddownthesombreroam。Thenhesatontheedgeofthetableandwatchedhiscleverfrienddrawwithinthesquareacircle，andwithinthecircleasquare，andinsidethatanothercircle，andinsidethatanothersquare。
\"Whvwillyoudothat？\"
Noanswer。
\"Aretheyreal？\"
\"Theinsideoneis——theoneinthemiddleofeverything，thatthere’sneverroomenoughtodraw。\"
II
AlittlethissideofMadingley，totheleftoftheroad，thereisasecludeddell，pavedwithgrassandplantedwithfir—trees。
Itcouldnothavebeenworthavisittwentyyearsago，forthenitwasonlyascarofchalk，anditisnotworthavisitatthepresentday，forthetreeshavegrowntoothickandchokedit。
ButwhenRickiewasup，itchancedtobethebriefseasonofitsromance，aseasonasbriefforachalk—pitasaman——itsdivineintervalbetweenthebarenessofboyhoodandthestuffinessofage。Rickiehaddiscovereditinhissecondterm，whentheJanuarysnowshadmeltedandleftfiordsandlagoonsofclearestwaterbetweentheinequalitiesofthefloor。TheplacelookedasbigasSwitzerlandorNorway——asindeedforthemomentitwas——
andhecameuponitatatimewhenhislifetoowasbeginningtoexpand。Accordinglythedellbecameforhimakindofchurch——achurchwhereindeedyoucoulddoanythingyouliked，butwhereanythingyoudidwouldbetransfigured。LiketheancientGreeks，hecouldevenlaughathisholyplaceandleaveitnolessholy。
Hechattedgailyaboutit，andaboutthepleasantthoughtswithwhichitinspiredhim;hetookhisfriendsthere;heeventookpeoplewhomhedidnotlike。\"Proculeste，profani！\"exclaimedadelightedaestheteonbeingintroducedtoit。ButthiswasnevertobetheattitudeofRickie。Hedidnotlovethevulgarherd，butheknewthathisownvulgaritywouldbegreaterifheforbadeitingress，andthatitwasnotbypreciositythathewouldattaintotheintimatespiritofthedell。Indeed，ifhehadagreedwiththeaesthete，hewouldpossiblynothaveintroducedhim。Ifthedellwastobearanyinscription，hewouldhavelikedittobe\"ThiswaytoHeaven，\"paintedonasign—postbythehigh—road，andhedidnotrealizetilllateryearsthatthenumberofvisitorswouldnottherebyhavesensiblyincreased。
OntheblessedMondaythatthePembrokesleft，hewalkedoutherewiththreefriends。Itwasadaywhentheskyseemedenormous。
Onecloud，aslargeasacontinent，wasvoyagingnearthesun，whilstothercloudsseemedanchoredtothehorizon，toolazyortoohappytomove。Theskyitselfwasofthepalestblue，palingtowhitewhereitapproachedtheearth;andtheearth，brown，wet，andodorous，wasengagedbeneathitonitsyearlydutyofdecay。Rickiewasopentothecomplexitiesofautumn;hefeltextremelytiny——extremelytinyandextremelyimportant;andperhapsthecombinationisasfairasanythatexists。Hehopedthatallhislifehewouldneverbepeevishorunkind。
\"Elliotisinadangerousstate，\"saidAnsell。Theyhadreachedthedell，andhadstoodforsometimeinsilence，eachleaningagainstatree。Itwastoowettositdown。
\"How’sthat？\"askedRickie，whohadnotknownhewasinanystateatall。HeshutupKeats，whomhethoughthehadbeenreading，andslippedhimbackintohiscoat—pocket。Scarcelyeverwashewithoutabook。
\"He’stryingtolikepeople。\"
\"Thenhe’sdonefor，\"saidWiddrington。\"He’sdead。\"
\"He’stryingtolikeHornblower。\"
Theothersgaveshrillagonizedcries。
\"Hewantstobindthecollegetogether。Hewantstolinkustothebeefyset。\"
\"IdolikeHornblower，\"heprotested。\"Idon’ttry。\"
\"AndHornblowertriestolikeyou。\"
\"Thatpartdoesn’tmatter。\"
\"Buthedoestrytolikeyou。Hetriesnottodespiseyou。Itisaltogetheramostpublic—spiritedaffair。\"
\"Tilliardstartedthem，\"saidWiddrington。\"Tilliardthinksitsuchapitythecollegeshouldbesplitintosets。\"
\"Oh，Tilliard！\"saidAnsell，withmuchirritation。\"Butwhatcanyouexpectfromapersonwho’seternallybeautiful？Theothernightwehadbeendiscussingalongtime，andsuddenlythelightwasturnedon。Everyoneelselookedasight，astheyought。ButtherewasTilliard，sittingneatlyonalittlechair，likeanundersizedgod，withnotacurlcrooked。IshouldsayhewillgetintotheForeignOffice。\"
\"Whyaremostofussougly？\"laughedRickie。
\"It’smerelyasignofoursalvation——merelyanothersignthatthecollegeissplit。\"
\"Thecollegeisn’tsplit，\"criedRickie，whogotexcitedonthissubjectwithunfailingregularity。\"Thecollegeis，andhasbeen，andalwayswillbe，one。Whatyoucallthebeefysetaren’tasetatall。They’rejusttherowingpeople，andnaturallytheychieflyseeeachother;butthey’realwaysnicetomeortoanyone。Ofcourse，theythinkusratherasses，butit’squiteinapleasantway。\"
\"That’smywholeobjection，\"saidAnsell。\"Whatrighthavetheytothinkusassesinapleasantway？Whydon’ttheyhateus？WhatrighthasHornblowertosmackmeonthebackwhenI’vebeenrudetohim？\"
\"Well，whatrighthaveyoutoberudetohim？\"
\"BecauseIhatehim。Youthinkitissosplendidtohatenoone。
Itellyouitisacrime。Youwanttoloveeveryoneequally，andthat’sworsethanimpossibleit’swrong。Whenyoudenouncesets，you’rereallytryingtodestroyfriendship。\"
\"Imaintain，\"saidRickie——itwasaverbheclungto，inthehopethatitwouldlendstabilitytowhatfollowed——\"Imaintainthatonecanlikemanymorepeoplethanonesupposes。\"
\"AndImaintainthatyouhatemanymorepeoplethanyoupretend。\"
\"Ihatenoone，\"heexclaimedwithextraordinaryvehemence，andthedellre—echoedthatithatednoone。
\"Weareobligedtobelieveyou，\"saidWiddrington，smilingalittle\"butwearesorryaboutit。\"
\"Notevenyourfather？\"askedAnsell。
Rickiewassilent。
\"Notevenyourfather？\"
Thecloudaboveextendedagreatpromontoryacrossthesun。Itonlylaythereforamoment，yetthatwasenoughtosummonthelurkingcoldnessfromtheearth。
\"Doeshehatehisfather？\"saidWiddrington，whohadnotknown。
\"Oh，good！\"
\"Buthisfather’sdead。Hewillsayitdoesn’tcount。\"
\"Still，it’ssomething。Doyouhateyours？\"
Anselldidnotreply。Rickiesaid:\"Isay，Iwonderwhetheroneoughttotalklikethis？\"
\"Abouthatingdeadpeople？\"
\"Yes——\"
\"Didyouhateyourmother？\"askedWiddrington。
Rickieturnedcrimson。
\"Idon’tseeHornblower’ssucharotter，\"remarkedtheotherman，whosenamewasJames。
\"James，youarediplomatic，\"saidAnsell。\"Youaretryingtotideoveranawkwardmoment。Youcango。\"
Widdringtonwascrimsontoo。Inhiswishtobesprightlyhehadusedwordswithoutthinkingoftheirmeanings。Suddenlyherealizedthat\"father\"and\"mother\"reallymeantfatherandmother——peoplewhomhehadhimselfathome。Hewasveryuncomfortable，andthoughtRickiehadbeenratherqueer。HetootriedtoreverttoHornblower，butAnsellwouldnotlethim。Thesuncameout，andstruckonthewhiterampartsofthedell。
Rickielookedstraightatit。Thenhesaidabruptly——
\"IthinkIwanttotalk。\"
\"Ithinkyoudo，\"repliedAnsell。
\"Shouldn’tIberatherafoolifIwentthroughCambridgewithouttalking？It’ssaidnevertocomesoeasyagain。Allthepeoplearedeadtoo。Ican’tseewhyIshouldn’ttellyoumostthingsaboutmybirthandparentageandeducation。\"
\"Talkaway。Ifyouboreus，wehavebooks。\"
WiththisinvitationRickiebegantorelatehishistory。Thereaderwhohasnobookwillbeobligedtolistentoit。
Somepeoplespendtheirlivesinasuburb，andnotforanyurgentreason。ThishadbeenthefateofRickie。Hehadopenedhiseyestofilmyheavens，andtakenhisfirstwalkonasphalt。Hehadseencivilizationasarowofsemi—detachedvillas，andsocietyasastateinwhichmendonotknowthemenwholivenextdoor。
Hehadhimselfbecomepartofthegreymonotonythatsurroundsallcities。Therewasnonecessityforthis——itwasonlyratherconvenienttohisfather。
Mr。Elliotwasabarrister。Inappearanceheresembledhisson，beingweaklyandlame，withhollowlittlecheeks，abroadwhitebandofforehead，andstiffimpoverishedhair。Hisvoice，whichhedidnottransmit，wasverysuave，withafinecommandofcynicalintonation。Byalteringiteversolittlehecouldmakepeoplewince，especiallyiftheyweresimpleorpoor。Nordidhetransmithiseyes。Theirpeculiarflatness，asifthesoullookedthroughdirtywindow—panes，theunkindnessofthem，thecowardice，thefearinthem，weretotroubletheworldnolonger。
Hemarriedagirlwhosevoicewasbeautiful。Therewasnocaressinityetallwhohearditweresoothed，asthoughtheworldheldsomeunexpectedblessing。Shecalledtoherdogsonenightoverinvisiblewaters，andhe，atouristuponthebridge，thought\"thatisextraordinarilyadequate。\"Intimehediscoveredthatherfigure，face，andthoughtswereadequatealso，andasshewasnotimpossiblesocially，hemarriedher。\"Ihavetakenaplunge，\"
hetoldhisfamily。Thefamily，hostileatfirst，hadnotawordtosaywhenthewomanwasintroducedtothem;andhissisterdeclaredthattheplungehadbeentakenfromtheoppositebank。
Thingsonlywentrightforalittletime。Thoughbeautifulwithoutandwithin，Mrs。Elliothadnotthegiftofmakingherhomebeautiful;andoneday，whensheboughtacarpetforthedining—roomthatclashed，helaughedgently，saidhe\"reallycouldn’t，\"anddeparted。Departureisperhapstoostrongaword。
InMrs。Elliot’smouthitbecame，\"Myhusbandhastosleepmoreintown。\"Heoftencamedowntoseethem，nearlyalwaysunexpectedly，andoccasionallytheywenttoseehim。\"Father’shouse，\"asRickiecalledit，onlyhadthreerooms，butthesewerefullofbooksandpicturesandflowers;andtheflowers，insteadofbeingsquasheddownintothevasesastheywereinmummy’shouse，rosegracefullyfromframesofleadwhichlaycoiledatthebottom，asdoubtlesstheseaserpenthastolie，coiledatthebottomofthesea。Oncehewaslettoliftaframeout——onlyonce，forhedroppedsomewateronacreton。\"Ithinkhe’sgoingtohavetaste，\"saidMr。Elliotlanguidly。\"Itisquitepossible，\"hiswifereplied。Shehadnottakenoffherhatandgloves，norevenpulledupherveil。Mr。Elliotlaughed，andsoonafterwardsanotherladycamein，andthey——wentaway。
\"Whydoesfatheralwayslaugh？\"askedRickieintheeveningwhenheandhismotherweresittinginthenursery。
\"Itisawayofyourfather’s。\"
\"Whydoeshealwayslaughatme？AmIsofunny？\"Thenafterapause，\"Youhavenosenseofhumour，haveyou，mummy？\"
Mrs。Elliot，whowasraisingathreadofcottontoherlips，helditsuspendedinamazement。
\"Youtoldhimsothisafternoon。ButIhaveseenyoulaugh。\"Henoddedwisely。\"Ihaveseenyoulaugheversooften。Onedayyouwerelaughingalonealldowninthesweetpeas。\"
\"WasI？\"
\"Yes。Wereyoulaughingatme？\"
\"Iwasnotthinkingaboutyou。Cotton，please——areelofNo。50
whitefrommychestofdrawers。Lefthanddrawer。Nowwhichisyourlefthand？\"
\"Thesidemypocketis。\"
\"Andifyouhadnopocket？\"
\"Thesidemybadfootis。\"
\"Imeantyoutosay，’thesidemyheartis，’\"saidMrs。Elliot，holdingupthedusterbetweenthem。\"Mostofus——Imeanallofus——canfeelononesidealittlewatch，thatneverstopsticking。Soevenifyouhadnobadfootyouwouldstillknowwhichistheleft。No。50white，please。No;I’llgetitmyself。\"
Forshehadrememberedthatthedarkpassagefrightenedhim。
Theseweretheoutlines。Rickiefilledtheminwiththeslownessandtheaccuracyofachild。Hewasnevertoldanything，buthediscoveredforhimselfthathisfatherandmotherdidnotloveeachother，andthathismotherwaslovable。HediscoveredthatMr。ElliothaddubbedhimRickiebecausehewasrickety，thathetookpleasureinalludingtohisson’sdeformity，andwassorrythatitwasnotmoreseriousthanhisown。Mr。Elliothadnotonescrapofgenius。Hegatheredthepicturesandthebooksandtheflower—supportsmechanically，notinanyimpulseoflove。Hepassedforaculturedmanbecauseheknewhowtoselect，andhepassedforanunconventionalmanbecausehedidnotselectquitelikeotherpeople。Inrealityheneverdidorsaidorthoughtonesinglethingthathadtheslightestbeautyorvalue。AndintimeRickiediscoveredthisaswell。
Theboygrewupingreatloneliness。Heworshippedhismother，andshewasfondofhim。Butshewasdignifiedandreticent，andpathos，liketattle，wasdisgustingtoher。Shewasafraidofintimacy，incaseitledtoconfidencesandtears，andsoallherlifesheheldhersonatalittledistance。Herkindnessandunselfishnessknewnolimits，butifhetriedtobedramaticandthankher，shetoldhimnottobealittlegoose。Andsotheonlypersonhecametoknowatallwashimself。HewouldplayHalmaagainsthimself。Hewouldconductsolitaryconversations，inwhichonepartofhimaskedandanotherpartanswered。Itwasanexcitinggame，andconcludedwiththeformula:\"Good—bye。
Thankyou。Iamgladtohavemetyou。Ihopebeforelongweshallenjoyanotherchat。\"Andthenperhapshewouldsobforloneliness，forhewouldseerealpeople——realbrothers，realfriends——doinginwarmlifethethingshehadpretended。\"ShallI
everhaveafriend？\"hedemandedattheageoftwelve。\"Idon’tseehow。Theywalktoofast。AndabrotherIshallneverhave。\"
（\"Noloss，\"interruptedWiddrington。
\"ButIshallneverhaveone，andsoIquitewantone，evennow。\"）
WhenhewasthirteenMr。Elliotenteredonhisillness。Theprettyroomsintownwouldnotdoforaninvalid，andsohecamebacktohishome。OneofthefirstconsequenceswasthatRickiewassenttoapublicschool。Mrs。Elliotdidwhatshecould，butshehadnoholdwhateveroverherhusband。
\"Heworriesme，\"hedeclared。\"He’sajokeofwhichIhavegottired。\"
\"Woulditbepossibletosendhimtoaprivatetutor’s？\"
\"No，\"saidMr。Elliot，whohadallthemoney。\"Coddling。\"
\"Iagreethatboysoughttoroughit;butwhenaboyislameandverydelicate，heroughsitsufficientlyifheleaveshome。
Rickiecan’tplaygames。Hedoesn’tmakefriends。Heisn’tbrilliant。Thinkingitover，Ifeelthatasit’slikethis，wecan’teverhopetogivehimtheordinaryeducation。Perhapsyoucouldthinkitovertoo。\"No。
\"Iamsurethatthingsarebestforhimastheyare。Theday—schoolknocksquiteasmanycornersoffhimashecanstand。
Hehatesit，butitisgoodforhim。Apublicschoolwillnotbegoodforhim。Itistoorough。Insteadofgettingmanlyandhard，hewill——\"
\"Myhead，please。\"
Rickiedepartedinastateofbewilderedmisery，whichwasscarcelyevertogrowclearer。
Eachholidayhefoundhisfathermoreirritable，andalittleweaker。Mrs。Elliotwasquicklygrowingold。Shehadtomanagetheservants，tohushtheneighbouringchildren，toanswerthecorrespondence，topaperandre—papertherooms——andallforthesakeofamanwhomshedidnotlike，andwhodidnotconcealhisdislikeforher。OnedayshefoundRickietearful，andsaidrathercrossly，\"Well，whatisitthistime？\"
Hereplied，\"Oh，mummy，I’veseenyourwrinklesyourgreyhair——
I’munhappy。\"
Suddentendernessovercameher，andshecried，\"Mydarling，whatdoesitmatter？Whateverdoesitmatternow？\"
Hehadneverknownhersoemotional。Yetevenbetterdidherememberanotherincident。Hearinghighvoicesfromhisfather’sroom，hewentupstairsinthehopethatthesoundofhistreadmightstopthem。Mrs。Elliotburstopenthedoor，andseeinghim，exclaimed，\"Mydear！Ifyouplease，he’shitme。\"Shetriedtolaughitoff，butafewhourslaterhesawthebruisewhichthestickoftheinvalidhadraiseduponhismother’shand。
Godaloneknowshowfarweareinthegripofourbodies。HealonecanjudgehowfarthecrueltyofMr。Elliotwastheoutcomeofextenuatingcircumstances。ButMrs。Elliotcouldaccuratelyjudgeofitsextent。
Atlasthedied。Rickiewasnowfifteen，andgotoffawholeweek’sschoolforthefuneral。Hismotherwasratherstrange。Shewasmuchhappier，shelookedyounger，andhermourningwasasunobtrusiveasconventionpermitted。Allthishehadexpected。
Butsheseemedtobewatchinghim，andtobeextremelyanxiousforhisopiniononany，subject——moreespeciallyonhisfather。
Why？Atlasthesawthatshewastryingtoestablishconfidencebetweenthem。Butconfidencecannotbeestablishedinamoment。
Theywerebothshy。Thehabitofyearswasuponthem，andtheyalludedtothedeathofMr。Elliotasanirreparableloss。
\"Nowthatyourfatherhasgone，thingswillbeverydifferent。\"
\"Shallwebepoorer，mother？\"No。
\"Oh！\"
\"Butnaturallythingswillbeverydifferent。\"
\"Yes，naturally。\"
\"Forinstance，yourpoorfatherlikedbeingnearLondon，butI
almostthinkwemightmove。Wouldyoulikethat？\"
\"Ofcourse，mummy。\"Helookeddownattheground。Hewasnotaccustomedtobeingconsulted，anditbewilderedhim。
\"Perhapsyoumightlikequiteadifferentlifebetter？\"
Hegiggled。
\"It’salittledifficultforme，\"saidMrs。Elliot，pacingvigorouslyupanddowntheroom，andmoreandmoredidherblackdressseemamockery。\"Insomewaysyououghttobeconsulted:
nearlyallthemoneyislefttoyou，asyoumusthearsometimeorother。Butinotherwaysyou’reonlyaboy。WhatamItodo？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"hereplied，appearingmorehelplessandunhelpfulthanhereallywas。
\"Forinstance，wouldyoulikemetoarrangethingsexactlyasI
like？\"
\"Ohdo！\"heexclaimed，thinkingthisamostbrilliantsuggestion。
\"Theverynicestthingofall。\"Andheadded，inhishalf—pedantic，half—pleasingway，\"Ishallbeaswaxinyourhands，mamma。\"
Shesmiled。\"Verywell，darling。Youshallbe。\"Andshepressedhimlovingly，asthoughshewouldmouldhimintosomethingbeautiful。
Forthenextfewdaysgreatpreparationswereintheair。Shewenttoseehisfather’ssister，thegiftedandvivaciousAuntEmily。Theyweretoliveinthecountry——somewhererightinthecountry，withgrassandtreesuptothedoor，andbirdssingingeverywhere，andatutor。Forhewasnottogobacktoschool。
Unbelievable！Hewasnevertogobacktoschool，andthehead—
masterhadwrittensayingthatheregrettedthestep，butthatpossiblyitwasawiseone。
Itwasrawweather，andMrs。Elliotwatchedoverhimwithceaselesstenderness。Itseemedasifshecouldnotdotoomuchtoshieldhimandtodrawhimnearertoher。
\"Putonyourgreatcoat，dearest，\"shesaidtohim。
\"Idon’tthinkIwantit，\"answeredRickie，rememberingthathewasnowfifteen。
\"Thewindisbitter。Yououghttoputiton。\"
\"Butit’ssoheavy。\"
\"Doputiton，dear。\"
Hewasnotveryoftenirritableorrude，butheanswered，\"Oh，I
shan’tcatchcold。Idowishyouwouldn’tkeeponbothering。\"