Thusmusinghelaydowntosleep，feelingdiseasedinbodyandsoul。Itwasnowonderthatthenightwasthemostterriblehehadeverknown。HerevisitedCambridge，andhisnamewasagreyghostoverthedoor。Thenthererecurredthevoiceofagentleshadowywoman，Mrs。Aberdeen，\"Itdoesn’tseemhardlyright。\"
Thosehadbeenherwords，heronlycomplaintagainstthemysteriesofchangeanddeath。Shebowedherheadandlabouredtomakeher\"gentlemen\"comfortable。Shewaslabouringstill。AshelayinbedheaskedGodtogranthimherwisdom;thathemightkeepsorrowwithinduebounds;thathemightabstainfromextremehatredandenvyofStephen。Itwasseldomthatheprayedsodefinitely，orventuredtoobtrudehisprivatewishes。Religionwastohimaservice，amysticcommunionwithgood;notameansofgettingwhathewantedontheearth。Buttonight，throughsuffering，hewashumbled，andbecamelikeMrs。Aberdeen。
Hourafterhourheawaitedsleepandtriedtoendurethefacesthatfrothedinthegloom——hisaunt’s，hisfather’s，and，worstofall，thetriumphantfaceofhisbrother。Oncehestruckatit，andawoke，havinghurthishandonthewall。Thenheprayedhystericallyforpardonandrest。
Yetagaindidheawake，andfromamoremysteriousdream。Heheardhismothercrying。Shewascryingquitedistinctlyinthedarkenedroom。Hewhispered，\"Nevermind，mydarling，nevermind，\"andavoiceechoed，\"Nevermind——comeaway——letthemdieout——letthemdieout。\"Helitacandle，andtheroomwasempty。Then，hurryingtothewindow，hesawabovemeanhousesthefrostygloriesofOrion。
Henceforwardhedeteriorates。Letthosewhocensurehimsuggestwhatheshoulddo。Hehaslosttheworkthatheloved，hisfriends，andhischild。Heremainedconscientiousanddecent，butthespiritualpartofhimproceededtowardsruin。
XXIV
Thecomingmonths，thoughfullofdegradationandanxiety，weretobringhimnothingsoterribleasthatnight。Itwasthecrisisofthisagony。Hewasanoutcastandafailure。Buthewasnotagainforcedtocontemplatethesefactssoclearly。Vardenleftinthemorning，carryingthefatalletterwithhim。Thewholehousewasrelieved。Thegoodangelwaswiththeboysagain，orelse（asHerbertpreferredtothink）theyhadlearntalesson，andweremorehumaneinconsequence。Atallevents，thedisastroustermconcludedquietly。
IntheChristmasholidaysthetwomastersmadeanabortiveattempttovisitItaly，andatEastertherewastalkofacruiseintheAegean。Herbertactuallywent，andenjoyedAthensandDelphi。TheElliotspaidafewvisitstogetherinEngland。TheyreturnedtoSawstonabouttendaysbeforeschoolopened，tofindthatWiddringtonwasagainstoppingwiththeJacksons。
Intercoursewaspainful，forthetwofamilieswerescarcelyonspeakingterms;nordidthetriumphantscaffoldingsofthenewboarding—housemakethingseasier。（Thepartyofprogresshadcarriedtheday。）Widdringtonwasbynaturetouchy，butonthisoccasionherefusedtotakeoffence，andoftendroppedintoseethem。Hismannerwasfriendlybutcritical。Theyagreedhewasanuisance。ThenAgnesleft，veryabruptly，toseeMrs。Failing，andwhileshewasawayRickiehadalittlestealthyintercourse。
Herabsence，convenientasitwas，puzzledhim。Mrs。Silt，halfgoose，halfstormy—petrel，hadrecentlypaidaflyingvisittoCadover，andthencehadflown，withoutaninvitation，toSawston。
Generallyshewasnotawelcomeguest。OnthisoccasionAgneshadwelcomedher，and——soRickiethought——hadmadeherpromisenottotellhimsomethingthatsheknew。Theladieshadtalkedmysteriously。\"Mr。Siltwouldbeonewithyouthere，\"saidMrs。
Silt。Couldtherebeanyconnectionbetweenthetwovisits？
Agnes’sletterstoldhimnothing:theyneverdid。Shewastooclumsyortoocautioustoexpressherselfonpaper。AdrivetoStonehenge;ananthemintheCathedral;AuntEmily’slove。AndwhenhemetheratWaterloohelearntnothing（iftherewasanythingtolearn）fromherface。
\"Howdidyouenjoyyourself？\"
\"Thoroughly。\"
\"Wereyouandshealone？\"
\"Sometimes。Sometimesotherpeople。\"
\"WillUncleTony’sEssaysbepublished？\"
Hereshewasmorecommunicative。Thebookwasatlastinproof。
AuntEmilyhadwrittenacharmingintroduction;butshewassoidle，sheneverfinishedthingsoff。
TheygotintoanomnibusfortheArmyandNavyStores:shewantedtodosomeshoppingbeforegoingdowntoSawston。
\"DidyoureadanyoftheEssays？\"
\"Everyone。Delightful。Couldn’tputthemdown。Nowandthenhespoiltthembystatistics——butyoushouldreadhisdescriptionsofNature。Heagreeswithyou:saysthehillsandtreesarealive！AuntEmilycalledyouhisspiritualheir，whichIthoughtniceofher。Webothsolamentedthatyouhavestoppedwriting。\"
ShequotedfragmentsoftheEssaysastheywentupintheStores’
lift。
\"Whatelsedidyoutalkabout？\"
\"I’vetoldyouallmynews。Nowforyours。Let’shaveteafirst。\"
Theysatdowninthecorridoramidladiesineverystageoffatigue——haggardladies，scarletladies，ladieswithparcelsthattwistedfromeveryfingerlikejointsofmeat。Gentlemenwerescarcer，butallwereofthesub—fashionabletype，towhichRickiehimselfnowbelonged。
\"Ihaven’tdoneanything，\"hesaidfeebly。\"Ate，read，beenrudetotradespeople，talkedtoWiddrington。Herbertarrivedthismorning。HehasbroughtamostbeautifulphotographoftheParthenon。\"
\"Mr。Widdrington？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Whatdidyoutalkabout？\"
Shemighthaveheardeveryword。Itwasonlythefeelingofpleasurethathewishedtoconceal。Evenwhenwelovepeople，wedesiretokeepsomecornersecretfromthem，howeversmall:itisahumanright:itispersonality。Shebegantocross—questionhim，buttheywereinterrupted。Ayoungladyatanadjacenttablesuddenlyroseandcried，\"Yes，itisyou。Ithoughtsofromyourwalk。\"ItwasMaudAnsell。
\"Oh，docomeandjoinus！\"hecried。\"Letmeintroducemywife。\"
Maudbowedquitestiffly，butAgnes，takingitforill—breeding，wasnotoffended。
\"ThenIwillcome！\"shecontinuedinshrill，pleasanttones，adroitlypoisingherteathingsoneitherhand，andtransferringthemtotheElliots’table。\"Whyhaven’tyouevercometous，pray？\"
\"Ithinkyoudidn’taskme！\"
\"Youweren’ttobeasked。\"Shesprawledforwardwithawaggingfinger。Buthereyeshadthehonestyofherbrother’s。\"Don’tyourememberthedayyouleftus？Fathersaid，’Now，Mr。Elliot——’Ordidhecallyou’Elliot’？Howonedoesforget。Anyhow，fathersaidyouweren’ttowaitforaninvitation，andyousaid，’No，Iwon’t。’Oursisafair—sizedhouse，\"——sheturnedsomewhathaughtilytoAgnes，——\"andthesecondspareroom，onaccountofaharpthathangsonthewall，isalwaysreservedforStewart’sfriends。\"
\"HowisMr。Ansell，yourbrother？\"
Maud’sfacefell。\"Hadn’tyouheard？\"shesaidinawe—strucktones。
\"No。\"
\"Hehasn’tgothisfellowship。It’sthesecondtimehe’sfailed。
Thatmeanshewillnevergetone。Hewillneverbeadon，norliveinCambridgeandthat，aswehadhoped。\"
\"Oh，poor，poorfellow！\"saidMrs。Elliotwitharemorsethatwassincere，thoughhercongratulationswouldnothavebeen。\"Iamsoverysorry。\"
ButMaudturnedtoRickie。\"Mr。Elliot，youmightknow。Tellme。
WhatiswrongwithStewart’sphilosophy？Whatoughthetoputin，ortoalter，soastosucceed？\"
Agnes，whoknewbetterthanthis，smiled。
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidRickiesadly。Theywerenoneofthemsoclever，afterall。
\"Hegel，\"shecontinuedvindictively。\"Theysayhe’sreadtoomuchHegel。Buttheynevertellhimwhattoreadinstead。Theirownstuffybooks，Isuppose。Lookhere——no，that’sthe’Windsor。’\"
Afteralittlegropingsheproducedacopyof\"Mind，\"andhandeditroundasifitwasageologicalspecimen。\"Insidethatthere’saparagraphwrittenaboutsomethingStewart’swrittenaboutbefore，andthereitsayshe’sreadtoomuchHegel，anditseemsnowthatthat’sbeenthetroubleallalong。\"Hervoicetrembled。
\"Icallitmostunfair，andthefellowship’sgonetoamanwhohascountedthepetalsonananemone。\"
Rickiehadnoinclinationtosmile。
\"IwishStewarthadtriedOxfordinstead。\"
\"Idon’twishit！\"
\"Yousaythat，\"shecontinuedhotly，\"andthenyounevercometoseehim，thoughyouknewyouwerenottowaitforaninvitation。\"
\"Ifitcomestothat，MissAnsell，\"retortedRickie，inthelaughingtonesthatoneadoptsonsuchoccasions，\"Stewartwon’tcometome，thoughhehashadaninvitation。\"
\"Yes，\"chimedinAgnes，\"weaskMr。Ansellagainandagain，andhewillhavenoneofus。\"
Maudlookedatherwithaflashingeye。\"Mybrotherisaverypeculiarperson，andweladiescan’tunderstandhim。ButIknowonething，andthat’sthathehasareasonallroundforwhathedoes。Lookhere，Imustbegettingon。Waiter！Wai—ai—aiter！
Bill，please。Separately，ofcourse。CalltheArmyandNavycheap！Iknowbetter！\"
\"Howdoesthedraperydepartmentcompare？\"saidAgnessweetly。
Thegirlgaveasharpchokingsound，gatheredupherparcels，andleftthem。Rickiewastoomuchdisgustedwithhiswifetospeak。
\"Appallingperson！\"shegasped。\"Itwasnaughtyofme，butI
couldn’thelpit。Whatadreadfulfateforacleverman！Tofailinlifecompletely，andthentobethrownbackonafamilylikethat！\"
\"MaudisasnobandaPhilistine。But，inhercase，somethingemerges。\"
Sheglancedathim，butproceededinhersuavesttones，\"DoletusmakeonegreatunitedattempttogetMr。AnselltoSawston。\"
\"No。\"
\"Whatachangeablefriendyouare！Whenwewereengagedyouwerealwaystalkingabouthim。\"
\"Wouldyoufinishyourtea，andthenwewillbuythelinoleumforthecubicles。\"
Butshereturnedtothesubjectagain，notonlyonthatdaybutthroughouttheterm。CouldnothingbedoneforpoorMr。Ansell？
Itseemedthatshecouldnotrestuntilallthathehadoncehelddearwashumiliated。Inthisshestrayedoutsidehernature:shewasunpractica1。Andthosewhostrayoutsidetheirnatureinvitedisaster。Rickie，goadedbyher，wrotetohisfriendagain。Theletterwasinallwaysunlikehisoldself。Anselldidnotanswerit。ButhedidwritetoMr。Jackson，withwhomhewasnotacquainted。
\"DearMr。Jackson，——
IunderstandfromWiddringtonthatyouhavealargehouse。I
wouldliketotellyouhowconvenientitwouldbeformetocomeandstopinit。Junesuitsmebest。——
Yourstruly，StewartAnsellTowhichMr。JacksonrepliedthatnotonlyinJunebutduringthewholeyearhishousewasatthedisposalofMr。Ansellandofanyonewhoresembledhim。
ButAgnescontinuedherlife，cheerfullybeatingtime。She，too，knewthathermarriagewasafailure，andinhersparemomentsregrettedit。Shewishedthatherhusbandwashandsomer，moresuccessful，moredictatorial。Butshewouldthink，\"No，no;onemustn’tgrumble。Itcan’tbehelped。\"Ansellwaswronginsup—
posingshemighteverleaveRickie。Spiritualapathypreventedher。Norwouldsheeverbetemptedbyajollierman。Herecriticismwouldwillinglyalteritstone。ForAgnesalsohashertragedy。Shebelongedtothetype——notnecessarilyanelevatedone——thatlovesonceandonceonly。HerloveforGeraldhadnotbeenanoblepassion:noimaginationtransfiguredit。Butsuchasitwas，itsprangtoembracehim，andhecarrieditawaywithhimwhenhedied。Lesamoursguisuivrentsontmoinsinvoluntaires:
byaneffortofthewillshehadwarmedherselfforRickie。
Sheisnotconsciousofhertragedy，andthereforeonlythegodsneedweepatit。Butitisfairtorememberthathithertoshemovesasonefromwhomtheinnerlifehasbeenwithdrawn。
XXV
\"Iamafraid，\"saidAgnes，unfoldingaletterthatshehadreceivedinthemorning，\"thatthingsgofarfromsatisfactorilyatCadover。\"
Thethreewerealoneatsupper。ItwastheJuneofRickie’ssecondyearatSawston。
\"Indeed？\"saidHerbert，whotookafriendlyinterest。\"Inwhatway？
\"DoyourememberustalkingofStephen——StephenWonham，whobyanoddcoincidence——\"
\"Yes。WhowrotelastyeartothatmiserablefailureVarden。I
do。\"
\"Itisabouthim。\"
\"Ididnotlikethetoneofhisletter。\"
Agneshadmadeherfirstmove。Shewaitedforherhusbandtoreplytoit。Buthe，thoughfullofapainfulcuriosity，wouldnotspeak。Shemovedagain。
\"Idon’tthink，Herbert，thatAuntEmily，muchasIlikeher，isthekindofpersontobringayoungmanup。Atalleventstheresultshavebeendisastrousthistime。\"
\"Whathashappened？\"
\"Atangleofthings。\"Sheloweredhervoice。\"Drink。\"
\"Dear！Really！WasMrs。Failingfondofhim？\"
\"Sheusedtobe。ShelethimliveatCadovereversincehewasalittleboy。Naturallythatcannotcontinue。\"
Rickieneverspoke。
\"Andnowhehastakentobeviolentandrude，\"shewenton。
\"Inshort，abeggaronhorseback。Whoishe？Hashegotrelatives？\"
\"Shehasalwaysbeenbothfatherandmothertohim。Nowitmustallcometoanend。Iblameher——andsheblamesherself——fornotbeingsevereenough。Hehasgrownupwithoutfixedprinciples。Hehasalwaysfollowedhisinclinations，andoneknowstheresultofthat\"
Herbertassented。\"TomeMrs。Failing’scourseisperfectlyplain。Shehasacertainresponsibility。Shemustpaytheyouth’spassagetooneofthecolonies，starthimhandsomelyinsomebusiness，andthenbreakoffallcommunications。\"
\"Howfunny！Itisexactlywhatsheisgoingtodo。\"
\"Ishallthenconsiderthatshehasbehavedinathoroughlyhonourablemanner。\"Heheldouthisplateforgooseberries。\"HislettertoVardenwasneitherhelpfulnorsympathetic，and，ifwrittenatall，itoughttohavebeenboth。Iamnotintheleastsurprisedtolearnthathehasturnedoutbadly。Whenyouwritenext，wouldyoutellherhowsorryIam？\"
\"IndeedIwill。Twoyearsago，whenshewasalreadyalittleanxious，shedidsowishyoucouldundertakehim。
\"Icouldnotalteragrownman。\"Butinhishearthethoughthecould，andsmiledathissisteramiably。\"Terrible，isn’tit？\"heremarkedtoRickie。Rickie，whowastryingnottomindanything，assented。Andanonlookerwouldhavesupposedthemadispassionatetrio，whoweresorrybothforMrs。Failingandforthebeggarwhowouldbestrideherhorses’backsnolonger。AnewtopicwasintroducedbythearrivaloftheeveningpostHerberttookupalltheletters，asheoftendid。
\"Jackson？\"heexclaimed。\"Whatdoesthefellowwant？\"Heread，andhistonewasmollified，\"’DearMr。Pembroke，——Couldyou，Mrs。
Elliot，andMr。ElliotcometosupperwithusonSaturdaynext？I
shouldnotmerelybepleased，Ishouldbegrateful。MywifeiswritingformallytoMrs。Elliot’——（Here，Agnes，takeyourletter），——butIventuretowriteaswell，andtoaddmymoreuncouthentreaties。’——Anolive—branch。Itistime！But（ridiculousperson！）doeshethinkthatwecanleavetheHousedesertedandallgooutpleasuringintermtime？——Rickie，aletterforyou。\"
\"Mine’stheformalinvitation，\"saidAgnes。\"Howveryodd！Mr。
Ansellwillbethere。Surelyweaskedhimhere！DidyouknowheknewtheJacksons？\"
\"Thismakesrefusalverydifficult，\"saidHerbert，whowasanxioustoaccept。\"Atallevents，Rickieoughttogo。\"
\"Idonotwanttogo，\"saidRickie，slowlyopeninghisownletter。\"AsAgnessays，Ansellhasrefusedtocometous。I
cannotputmyselfoutforhim。\"
\"Who’syoursfrom？\"shedemanded。
\"Mrs。Silt，\"repliedHerbert，whohadseenthehandwriting。
\"Itrustshedoesnotwanttopayusavisitthisterm，withtheexaminationsimpendingandallthemachineryatfullpressure。
Though，Rickie，youwillhavetoaccepttheJacksons’
invitation。\"
\"Icannotpossiblygo。Ihavebeentoorude;withWiddringtonwealwaysmeethere。I’llstopwiththeboys——\"Hisvoicecaughtsuddenly。HehadopenedMrs。Silt’sletter。
\"TheSiltsarenotill，Ihope？\"
\"No。But，Isay，\"——helookedathiswife，——\"Idothinkthisisgoingtoofar。Really，Agnes。\"
\"Whathashappened？\"
\"Itisgoingtoofar，\"herepeated。Hewasnervinghimselfforanotherbattle。\"Icannotstandthissortofthing。Therearelimits。\"
Helaidtheletterdown。ItwasHerbertwhopickeditup，andread:\"AuntEmilyhasjustwrittentous。Wearesogladthathertroublesareover，inspiteoftheexpense。Itneverdoestoliveapartfromone’sownrelativessomuchasshehasdoneuptonow。
HegoesnextSaturdaytoCanada。Whatyoutoldherabouthimjustturnedthescale。Shehasaskedus——\"
\"No，it’stoomuch，\"heinterrupted。\"WhatItoldher——toldherabouthim——no，Iwillhaveitoutatlast。Agnes！\"
\"Yes？\"saidhiswife，raisinghereyesfromMrs。Jackson’sformalinvitation。
\"It’syou——it’syou。Inevermentionedhimtoher。Why，I’veneverseenherorwrittentohersince。Iaccuseyou。\"
ThenHerbertoverborehim，andhecollapsed。Hewasaskedwhathemeant。Whywashesoexcited？Ofwhatdidheaccusehiswife。
Eachtimehespokemorefeebly，andbeforelongthebrotherandsisterwerelaughingathim。Hefeltbewildered，likeaboywhoknowsthatheisrightbutcannotputhiscasecorrectly。Herepeated，\"I’venevermentionedhimtoher。It’salibel。Neverinmylife。\"Andtheycried，\"MydearRickie，whatanabsurdfuss！\"Thenhisbraincleared。Hiseyefellontheletterthathiswifehadreceivedfromhisaunt，andhereopenedthebattle。
\"Agnes，givemethatletter，ifyouplease。\"
\"Mrs。Jackson’s？\"
\"Myaunt’s。\"
Sheputherhandonit，andlookedathimdoubtfully。Shesawthatshehadfailedtobullyhim。
\"Myaunt’sletter，\"herepeated，risingtohisfeetandbendingoverthetabletowardsher。
\"Why，dear？\"
\"Yes，whyindeed？\"echoedHerbert。HetoohadbulliedRickie，butfromapurermotive:hehadtriedtostampoutadissensionbetweenhusbandandwife。Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadintervened。
\"Theletter。Forthisreason:itwillshowmewhatyouhavedone。
IbelieveyouhaveruinedStephen。youhaveworkedatitfortwoyears。Youhaveputwordsintomymouthto’turnthescale’
againsthim。HegoestoCanada——andalltheworldthinksitisowingtome。AsIsaidbefore——Iadviseyoutostopsmiling——youhavegonealittletoofar。\"
Theywereallontheirfeetnow，standingroundthelittletable。
Agnessaidnothing，butthefingersofherdelicatehandtightenedupontheletter。Whenherhusbandsnatchedatitsheresisted，andwiththeeffectofaharlequinadeeverythingwentonthefloor——lamb，mintsauce，gooseberries，lemonade，whisky。
Atoncetheywereswampedindomesticities。Sherangthebellfortheservant，criesarose，dusterswerebrought，brokencrockery（aweddingpresent）pickedupfromthecarpet;whilehestoodwrathfullyatthewindow，regardingtheobscuredsun’sdecline。
\"IMUSTseeherletter，\"herepeated，whentheagitationwasover。Hewastooangrytobedivertedfromhispurpose。Onlyslightemotionsarethwartedbyaninterludeoffarce。
\"I’vehadenoughofthisquarrelling，\"sheretorted。\"YouknowthattheSiltsareinaccurate。Ithinkyoumighthavegivenmethebenefitofthedoubt。Ifyouwillknow——haveyouforgottenthatrideyoutookwithhim。？\"
\"I——\"hewasagainbewildered。\"TheridewhereIdreamt——\"
\"Theridewhereyouturnedbackbecauseyoucouldnotlistentoadisgracefulpoem？\"
\"Idon’tunderstand。\"
\"ThepoemwasAuntEmily。Hereadittoyouandastraysoldier。
Afterwardsyoutoldme。Yousaid，’Reallyitisshocking，hisingratitude。Sheoughttoknowaboutit’Shedoesknow，andI
shouldbegladofanapology。\"
Hehadsaidsomethingofthesortinafitofirritation。Mrs。
Siltwasright——hehadhelpedtoturnthescale。
\"WhateverIsaid，youknewwhatImeant。YouknewI’dsoonercutmytongueoutthanhaveitusedagainsthim。Eventhen。\"Hesighed。Hadheruinedhisbrother？Acurioustendernesscameoverhim，andpassedwhenherememberedhisowndeadchild。\"Wehaveruinedhim，then。Haveyouanyobjectionto’we’？Wehavedisinheritedhim。\"
\"Idecideagainstyou，\"interposedHerbert。\"Ihavenowheardbothsidesofthisdeplorableaffair。Youaretalkingmostcriminalnonsense。’Disinherit！’Sentimentaltwaddle。It’sbeencleartomefromthefirstthatMrs。FailinghasbeenimposeduponbytheWonhamman，apersonwithnolegalclaimonher，andanyonewhoexposeshimperformsapublicduty——\"
\"——Andgetsmoney。\"
\"Money？\"Hewasalwaysuneasyattheword。\"Whomentionedmoney？\"
\"Justunderstandme，Herbert，andofwhatitisthatIaccusemywife。\"Tearscameintohiseyes。\"ItisnotthatIliketheWonhamman，orthinkthatheisn’tadrunkardandworse。He’stooawfulineveryway。Butheoughttohavemyaunt’smoney，becausehe’slivedallhislifewithher，andishernephewasmuchasI
am。Yousee，myfatherwentwrong。\"Hestopped，amazedathimself。Howeasyithadbeentosay！Hewaswitheringup:thepowertocareaboutthisstupidsecrethaddied。
WhenHerbertunderstood，hisfirstthoughtwasforDunwoodHouse。
\"WhyhaveIneverbeentold？\"washisfirstremark。
\"Wesettledtotellnoone，\"saidAgnes。\"Rickie，inhisanxietytoprovemealiar，hasbrokenhispromise。\"
\"Ioughttohavebeentold，\"saidHerbert，hisangerincreasing。
\"HadIknown，Icouldhaveavertedthisdeplorablescene。\"
\"Letmeconcludeit，\"saidRickie，againcollapsingandleavingthedining—room。HisimpulsewastogostraighttoCadoverandmakeabusiness—likestatementofthepositiontoStephen。Thenthemanwouldbearmed，andperhapsfightthetwowomensuccessfully，Butheresistedtheimpulse。Whyshouldhehelponepowerofevilagainstanother？Letthemgointertwinedtodestruction。Toenrichhisbrotherwouldbeasbadasenrichinghimself。Iftheiraunt’smoneyeverdidcometohim，hewouldrefusetoacceptit。Thatwastheeasiestandmostdignifiedcourse。Hetroubledhimselfnolongerwithjusticeorpity，andthenextdayheaskedhiswife’spardonforhisbehaviour。
Inthedining—roomtheconversationcontinued。Agnes，withoutmuchdifficulty，gainedherbrotherasanally。Sheacknowledgedthatshehadbeenwronginnottellinghim，andhethendeclaredthatshehadbeenrightoneveryotherpoint。Sheslurredalittleovertheincidentofhertreachery，forHerbertwassometimesclearsightedoverdetails，thougheasilymuddledinageneralsurvey。Mrs。Failinghadhadplentyofdirectcausesofcomplaint，andshedweltonthese。Shedealt，too，ontheveryhandsomewayinwhichtheyoungman，\"thoughheknewnothing，hadneveraskedtoknow，\"wasbeingtreatedbyhisaunt。
\"’Handsome’istheword，\"saidHerbert。\"Ihopenotindulgently。
Hedoesnotdeserveindulgence。\"
Andsheknewthathe，likeherself，couldremembermoney，andthatitlentanacknowledgedhalotohercause。
\"Itisnotasavourysubject，\"hecontinued，withsuddenstiffness。\"IunderstandwhyRickieissohysterical。
Myimpulse\"——helaidhishandonhershoulder——\"istoabandonitatonce。ButifIamtobeofanyusetoyou，Imusthearitall。
Therearemomentswhenwemustlookfactsintheface。\"
Shedidnotshrinkfromthesubjectasmuchashethought，asmuchassheherselfcouldhavewished。Twoyearsbefore，ithadfilledherwithaphysicalloathing。Butbynowshehadaccustomedherselftoit。
\"Iamafraid，Bertieboy，thereisnothingelsetobear，Ihavetriedtofindoutagainandagain，butAuntEmilywillnottellme。Isupposeitisnatural。ShewantstoshieldtheElliotname。
Sheonlytoldusinafitoftemper;thenweallagreedtokeepittoourselves;thenRickieagainmismanagedher，andeversinceshehasrefusedtoletusknowanydetails。\"
\"Amostunsatisfactoryposition。\"
\"SoIfeel。\"Shesatdownagainwithasigh。Mrs。Failinghadbeenagreattrialtoherorderlymind。\"Sheisanoddwoman。Sheisalwayslaughing。Sheactuallyfindsitamusingthatweknownomore。\"