Mr。FailinghadaletterfromStockholm。Itwasneverknownwhatimpulsesentthemthere。\"Iamsorryaboutitall，butitwastheonlyway。\"ThelettercensuredthelawofEngland，\"whichobligesustobehavelikethis，orelseweshouldnevergetmarried。I
shallcomebacktofacethings:shewillnotcomebacktillsheismywife。Hemustbringanactionsoon，orelseweshalltryoneagainsthim。Itseemsallveryunconventional，butitisnotreally。itisonlyadifficultstart。Wearenotlikeyouoryourwife:wewanttobejustordinarypeople，andmakethefarmpay，andnotbenoticedallourlives。\"
Andtheywerecapableoflivingastheywanted。Theclassdifference，whichsointriguedMrs。Failing，meantverylittletothem。Itwasthere，butsowereotherthings。
Theybothcaredforworkandlivingintheopen，andfornotspeakingunlesstheyhadgotsomethingtosay。Theirloveofbeauty，liketheirloveforeachother，wasnotdependentondetail:itgrewnotfromthenervesbutfromthesoul。
\"IbelievealeafofgrassisnolessthanthejourneyworkofthestarsAndthepismireisequallyperfect，andagrainofsand，andtheeggofthewren，Andthetreetoadisachef—d’oeuvreforthehighest，Andtherunningblackberrywouldadorntheparloursofheaven。\"
Theyhadneverreadtheselines，andwouldhavethoughtthemnonsenseiftheyhad。Theydidnotdissect——indeedtheycouldnot。Butshe，atallevents，divinedthatmorethanperfecthealthandperfectweather，morethanpersonallove，hadgonetothemakingofthoseseventeendays。
\"Ordinarypeople！\"criedMrs。Failingonhearingtheletter。Atthattimeshewasyounganddaring。\"Why，they’redivine！They’reforcesofNature！They’reasordinaryasvolcanoes。Weallknewmybrotherwasdisgusting，andwantedhimtobeblowntopieces，butweneverthoughtitwouldhappen。Dolookatthethingbravely，andsay，asIdo，thattheyareguiltlessinthesightofGod。\"
\"Ithinktheyare，\"repliedherhusband。\"Buttheyarenotguiltlessinthesightofman。\"
\"Youconventional！\"sheexclaimedindisgust。
\"Whattheyhavedonemeansmiserynotonlyforthemselvesbutforothers。Foryourbrother，thoughyouwillnotthinkofhim。Forthelittleboy——didyouthinkofhim？Andperhapsforanotherchild，whowillhavethewholeworldagainsthimifitknows。
Theyhavesinnedagainstsociety，andyoudonotdiminishthemiserybyprovingthatsocietyisbadorfoolish。ItisthesaddesttruthIhaveyetperceivedthattheBelovedRepublic\"——
hereshetookupabook——\"ofwhichSwinburnespeaks\"——sheputthebookdown——\"willnotbebroughtaboutbylovealone。Itwillapproachwithnoflourishoftrumpets，andhavenodeclarationofindependence。Self—sacrificeand——worsestill——self—mutilationarethethingsthatsometimeshelpitmost，andthatiswhyweshouldstartforStockholmthisevening。\"Hewaitedforherindignationtosubside，andthencontinued。\"Idon’tknowwhetheritcanbehushedup。Idon’tyetknowwhetheritoughttobehushedup。Butweoughttoprovidetheopportunity。Thereisnoscandalyet。Ifwego，itisjustpossiblethereneverwillbeany。Wemusttalkoverthewholethingand——\"
\"——Andlie！\"interruptedMrs。Failing，whohatedtravel。
\"——Andseehowtoavoidthegreatestunhappiness。\"
Therewastobenoscandal。BythetimetheyarrivedRoberthadbeendrowned。Mrs。Elliotdescribedhowtheyhadgoneswimming，andhow，\"sincehealwayslivedinland，\"thegreatwaveshadtiredhim。Theyhadracedfortheopensea。
\"Whatareyourplans？\"heasked。\"IbringyouamessagefromFrederick。\"
\"Iheardhimcall，\"shecontinued，\"butIthoughthewaslaughing。WhenIturned，itwastoolate。Heputhishandsbehindhisbackandsank。Forhewouldonlyhavedrownedmewithhim。I
shouldhavedonethesame。\"
Mrs。Failingwasthrilled，andkissedher。ButMr。Failingknewthatlifedoesnotcontinueheroicforlong，andhegaveherthemessagefromherhusband:Wouldshecomebacktohim？
Tohisintenseastonishment——atfirsttohisregret——shereplied，\"Iwillthinkaboutit。IfIlovedhimtheveryleastbitI
shouldsayno。IfIhadanythingtodowithmylifeIshouldsayno。ButitissimplyaquestionofbeatingtimetillIdie。
Nothingthatiscomingmatters。Imayaswellsitinhisdrawing—roomanddusthisfurniture，sincehehassuggestedit。\"
AndMr。Elliot，thoughhemadecertainstipulations，waspositivelygladtoseeher。Peoplehadbeguntolaughathim，andtosaythathiswifehadrunaway。Shehadnot。ShehadbeenwithhissisterinSweden。Inahalfmiraculouswaythematterwashushedup。EventheSiltsonlyscented\"somethingstrange。\"WhenStephenwasborn，itwasabroad。WhenhecametoEngland，itwasasthechildofafriendofMr。Failing’s。Mrs。Elliotreturnedunsuspectedtoherhusband。
Butthoughthingscanbehushedup，thereisnosuchthingasbeatingtime;andastheyearspassedsherealizedherterriblemistake。Whenherloversank，eludingherlastembrace，shethought，asAgneswastothinkafterher，thathersoulhadsunkwithhim，andthatneveragainshouldshebecapableofearthlylove。Nothingmattered。Shemightaswellgoandbeusefultoherhusbandandtothelittleboywholookedexactlylikehim，andwho，shethought，wasexactlylikehimindisposition。ThenStephenwasborn，andalteredherlife。Shecouldstilllovepeoplepassionately;shestilldrewstrengthfromtheheroicpast。Yet，tokeeptoherbond，shemustseethissononlyasastranger。Shewasprotectedbetheconventions，andmustpaythemtheirfee。Andacuriousthinghappened。Hersecondchilddrewhertowardsherfirst。ShebegantoloveRickiealso，andtobemorethanusefultohim。Andasherloverevived，sodidhercapacityforsuffering。Life，moreimportant，grewmorebitter。
Shemindedherhusbandmore，notless;andwhenatlasthedied，andshesawagloriousautumn，beautifulwiththevoicesofboyswhoshouldcallhermother，theendcameforheraswell，beforeshecouldrememberthegraveinthealiennorthandthedustthatwouldneverreturntothedearfieldsthathadgivenit。
XXX
Stephen，thesonofthesepeople，hadoneinstinctthattroubledhim。Atnight——especiallyoutofdoors——itseemedratherstrangethathewasalive。Thedrygrassprickedhischeek，thefieldswereinvisibleandmute，andherewashe，throwingstonesatthedarknessorsmokingapipe。Thestonesvanished，thepipewouldburnout。Buthewouldbehereinthemorningwhenthesunrose，andhewouldbathe，andruninthemist。Hewasproudofhisgoodcirculation，andinthemorningitseemedquitenatural。Butatnight，whyshouldtherebethisdifferencebetweenhimandtheacresoflandthatcooledallroundhimuntilthesunreturned？
Whatluckychancehadheatedhimup，andsenthim，warmandlovable，intoapassiveworld？Hehadotherinstincts，butthesegavehimnotrouble。Hesimplygratifiedeachasitoccurred，providedhecoulddosowithoutgraveinjurytohisfellows。Buttheinstincttowonderatthenightwasnottobethusappeased。
AtfirsthehadlivedunderthecareofMr。Failingtheonlypersontowhomhismotherspokefreely，theonlypersonwhohadtreatedherneitherasacriminalnorasapioneer。Intheirrarebutintimateconversationsshehadaskedhimtoeducateherson。
\"IwillteachhimLatin，\"heanswered。\"Therestsuchaboymustremember。\"Latin，atallevents，wasafailure:whocouldattendtoVirgilwhenthesoundofthethresherarose，andyouknewthatthestackwasdecreasingandthatratsrushedmoreplentifullyeachmomenttotheirdoom？ButhewasfondofMr。Failing，andcriedwhenhedied。Mrs。Elliot，apleasantwoman，diedsoonafter。
Therewassomethingfatalintheorderofthesedeaths。Mr。
Failinghadmadenoprovisionfortheboyinhiswill:hiswifehadpromisedtoseetothis。ThencameMr。Elliot’sdeath，and，beforethenewhomewascreated，thesuddendeathofMrs。Elliot。
ShealsoleftStephennomoney:shehadnonetoleave。ChancethrewhimintothepowerofMrs。Failing。\"Letthingsgoonastheyare，\"shethought。\"Iwilltakecareofthisprettylittleboy，andtheuglylittleboycanlivewiththeSilts。Aftermydeath——well，thepaperswillbefoundaftermydeath，andtheycanmeetthen。Iliketheideaoftheirmutualignorance。Itisamusing。\"
Hewasthentwelve。Withafewbriefintervalsofschool，helivedinWiltshireuntilhewasdrivenout。Lifehadtwodistinctsides——thedrawing—roomandtheother。Inthedrawing—roompeopletalkedagooddeal，laughingastheytalked。Beingclever，theydidnotcareforanimals:onemanhadneverseenahedgehog。Intheotherlifepeopletalkedandlaughedseparately，orevendidneither。Onthewhole，inspiteofthewetandgamekeepers，thislifewaspreferable。Heknewwherehewas。Heglancedattheboy，orlaterattheman，andbehavedaccordingly。Therewasnolaw——
thepolicemanwasnegligible。Nothingboundhimbuthisownword，andhegavethatsparingly。
Itisimpossibletoberomanticwhenyouhaveyourheart’sdesire，andsuchaboydisappointedMrs。Failinggreatly。Hisparentshadmetforonebriefembrace，hadfoundonelittleintervalbetweenthepoweroftherulersofthisworldandthepowerofdeath。Hewasthechildofpoetryandofrebellion，andpoetryshouldruninhisveins。Buthelivedtoonearthethingshelovedtoseempoetical。Partedfromthem，hemightyetsatisfyher，andstretchouthishandswithapagan’syearning。Asitwas，heonlyrodeherhorses，andtrespassed，andbathed，andworked，fornoobviousreason，uponherfields。Affectionshedidnotbelievein，andmadenoattempttomouldhim;andhe，forhispart，wasverycontenttohardenuntouchedintoaman。Hisparentshadgivenhimexcellentgifts——health，sturdylimbs，andafacenotugly，——giftsthathishabitsconfirmed。Theyhadalsogivenhimacloudlessspirit——thespiritoftheseventeendaysinwhichhewascreated。Buttheyhadnotgivenhimthespiritoftheirsityearsofwaiting，andloveforonepersonwasnevertobethegreatestthingheknew。
\"Philosophy\"hadpostponedthequarrelbetweenthem。Incuriousabouthispersonalorigin，hehadacertaininterestinoureternalproblems。Theinterestneverbecameapassion:itsprangoutofhisphysicalgrowth，andwassoonmergedinitagain。Or，asheputithimself，\"Imustgetfixedupbeforestarting。\"Hewassoonfixedupasamaterialist。Thenhetoreupthesixpennyreprints，andneveramusedMrs。Failingsomuchagain。
Aboutthetimehefixedhimselfup，hetooktodrink。Heknewofnoreasonagainstit。Theinstinctwasinhim，andithurtnobody。Here，aselsewhere，hismotionsweredecided，andhepassedatoncefromroaringjollitytosilence。Forthosewholiveonthefuddledborderland，whocrawlhomebytherailingsandmaunderrepentanceinthemorning，hehadabitingcontempt。
Amanmusttakehistumbleandhisheadache。Hewas，infact，aslittledisgustingasisconceivable;andhithertohehadnotstrainedhisconstitutionorhiswill。NordidhegetdrunkasoftenasAgnessuggested。Thcrealquarrelgatheredelsewhere。
Presentablepeoplehaverunwildintheiryouth。Butthehourcomeswhentheyturnfromtheirboorishcompanytohigherthings。
ThishournevercameforStephen。Somewhatabullybynature，hekeptwherehispowerswouldtell，andcontinuedtoquarrelandplaywiththemenhehadknownasboys。Heprolongedtheiryouthunduly。\"Theywon’tsettledown，\"saidMr。Wilbrahamtohiswife。
\"They’rewantingthings。It’sthegermofaTradesUnion。Ishallgetridofafewoftheworst。\"ThenStephenrusheduptoMrs。
Failingandworriedher。\"Itwasn’tfair。So—and—sowasagoodsort。Hedidhiswork。Keenaboutit？No。Whyshouldhebe？Whyshouldhebekeenaboutsomebodyelse’sland？Butkeenenough。
Andverykeenonfootball。\"Shelaughed，andsaidawordaboutSo—and—sotoMr。Wilbraham。Mr。Wilbrahamblazedup。\"Howcouldthefarmgoonwithoutdiscipline？HowcouldtherebedisciplineifMr。Stepheninterfered？Mr。Stephenlikedpower。Hespoketothemenlikeoneofthemselves，andpretendeditwasallequality，buthetookcaretocomeouttop。Natural，ofcourse，that，beingagentleman，heshould。Butnotnaturalforagentlemantoloiteralldaywithpoorpeopleandlearntheirwork，andputwrongnotionsintotheirheads，andcarrytheirnewfangledgrievancestoMrs。Failing。Whichpartlyaccountedforthedeficitonthepastyear。\"SherebukedStephen。Thenhelosthistemper，wasrudetoher，andinsultedMr。Wilbraham。
TheworstdaysofMr。Failing’sruleseemedtobereturning。AndStephenhadapracticalexperience，andalsoatasteforbattle，thatherhusbandhadneverpossessed。Hedrewupalistofgrievances，someabsurd，othersfundamental。Nonewspapersinthereading—room，youcouldputaplateundertheThompsons’door，nolevelcricket—pitch，noallotmentsandnotimetoworkinthem，Mrs。Wilbraham’sknife—boyunderpaid。\"Aren’tyoualittleunwise？\"sheaskedcoldly。\"Iammoreboredthanyouthinkoverthefarm。\"Shewaswantingtocorrecttheproofsofthebookandrewritetheprefatorymemoir。InherirritationshewrotetoAgnes。Agnesrepliedsympathetically，andMrs。Failing，cleverasshewas，fellintothepoweroftheyoungerwoman。Theydiscussedhimatfirstasawretchofaboy;thenhegotdrunkandsomehowitseemedmorecriminal。Allthatsheneedednowwasapersonalgrievance，whichAgnescasuallysupplied。Thoughvindictive，shewasdeterminedtotreathimwell，andthoughtwithsatisfactionofourdistantcolonies。Butheburstintoanoddpassion:hewouldsoonerstarvethanleaveEngland。\"Why？\"sheasked。\"Areyouinlove？\"Hepickedupalumpofthechalk—theywerebythearbour——andmadenoanswer。Thevicarmurmured，\"Itisnotlikegoingabroad——GreaterBritain——bloodisthickerthanwater——\"A
lumpofchalkbrokeherdrawing—roomwindowontheSaturday。
ThusStephenleftWiltshire，half—blackguard，half—martyr。Donotbrandhimasasocialist。Hehadnoquarrelwithsociety，noranyparticularbeliefinpeoplebecausetheyarepoor。Heonlyheldthecreedof\"hereamIandthereareyou，\"andthereforeclassdistinctionsweretrivialthingstohim，andlifenodecorousscheme，butapersonalcombatorapersonaltruce。Forthesamereasonancestryalsowastrivial，andamannotthedearerbecausethesamewomanwasmothertothemboth。YetitseemedworthwhiletogotoSawstonwiththenews。Perhapsnothingwouldcomeofit;perhapsfriendlyintercourse，andahomewhilehelookedaround。
Whentheywrongedhimhewalkedquietlyaway。Heneverthoughtofallottingtheblame，nororappealingtoAnsell，whostillsatbroodingintheside—garden。Heonlyknewthateducatedpeoplecouldbehorrible，andthatacleanlivermustneverenterDunwoodHouseagain。Theairseemedstuffy。Hespatinthegutter。Wasityesterdayhehadlainintherifle—buttsoverSalisbury？Slightlyaggrieved，hewonderedwhyhewasnotbacktherenow。\"Ioughttohavewrittenfirst，\"hereflected。\"Hereismymoneygone。Icannotmove。TheElliotshave，asitwere，practicallyrobbedme。\"Thatwastheonlygrudgeheretainedagainstthem。Theirsuspicionsandinsultsweretohimasthecursesofatrampwhomhepassedbythewayside。Theyweredirtypeople，nothissort。Hesummedupthecomplicatedtragedyasa\"takein。\"
WhileRickiewasbeingcarriedupstairs，andwhileAnsell（hadheknownit）wasdashingaboutthestreetsforhim，helayunderarailwayarchtryingtosettlehisplans。Hemustpaybackthefriendswhohadgivenhimshillingsandclothes。HethoughtofFlea，whoseSundayshewasspoiling——poorFlea，whooughttobeinthemnow，shiningbeforehisgirl。\"Idaresayhe’llbeashamedandnotgotoseeher，andthenshe’lltaketheotherman。\"Hewasalsoveryhungry。ThatwormMrs。Elliotwouldbethroughherlunchbynow。Tryinghisbracesroundhim，andtearingupthoseoldwetdocuments，hesteppedforthtomakemoney。Avillainousyoungbrutehelooked:hisclothesweredirty，andhehadlostthespringofthemorning。Touchingthewalls，frowning，talkingtohimselfattimes，hesloucheddisconsolatelynorthwards;nowonderthatsometawdrygirlsscreamedathim，orthatmatronsavertedtheireyesastheyhurriedtoafternoonchurch。Hewanderedfromonesuburbtoanother，tillhewasamongpeoplemorevillainousthanhimself，whoboughthistobaccofromhimandsoldhimfood。Againtheneighbourhood\"wentup，\"andfamilies，insteadofsittingontheirdoorsteps，wouldsitbehindthickmuslincurtains。Againitwould\"godown\"intoamoreavoweddespair。Farintothenighthewandered，untilhecametoasolemnrivermajesticasastreaminhell。ThereinweregatheredthewatersofCentralEngland——thosethatflowoffHindhead，offtheChilterns，offWiltshirenorthofthePlain。Thereintheyweremadeintolerableeretheyreachedthesea。Butthewatershehadknownescaped。TheircourselaysouthwardintotheAvonbyforestsandbeautifulfields，evenswift，evenpure，untiltheymirroredthetowerofChristchurchandgreetedtherampartsoftheIsleofWight。Ofthesehethoughtforamomentashecrossedtheblackriverandenteredtheheartofthemodernworld。
Herehefoundemployment。Hewasnothamperedbygenteeltraditions，and，asitwasnearquarter—day，managedtogettakenonatafurniturewarehouse。HemovedpeoplefromthesuburbstoLondon，fromLondontothesuburbs，fromonesuburbtoanother。
Hiscompanionswerehurriedandquerulous。Inparticular，heloathedtheforeman，apioushumbugwhoallowednoswearing，butindulgedinsomethingfarmoredegraded——theCockneyrepartee。
TheLondonintellect，sopertandshallow，likeastreamthatneverreachestheocean，disgustedhimalmostasmuchastheLondonphysique，whichforallitsdexterityisnotpermanent，andseldomcontinuesintothethirdgeneration。Hisfather，hadheknownit，hadfeltthesame;forbetweenMr。Elliotandtheforemanthegulfwassocial，notspiritual:bothspenttheirlivesintryingtobeclever。AndTonyFailinghadonceputthethingintowords:\"There’snosuchthingasaLondoner。He’sonlyacountrymanontheroadtosterility。\"
Attheendoftendayshehadsavedscarcelyanything。Oncehepassedthebankwhereahundredpoundslayreadyforhim，butitwasstillinconvenientforhimtotakethem。ThendutysenthimtoasuburbnotveryfarfromSawston。Intheeveningamanwhowasdrivingatrapaskedhimtoholdit，andbymistaketippedhimasovereign。Stephencalledafterhim;butthemanhadawomanwithhimandwantedtoshowoff，andthoughhehadmeanttotipashilling，andcouldnotaffordthat，heshoutedbackthathissovereignwasasgoodasanyone’s，andthatifStephendidnotthinksohecoulddovariousthingsandgotovariousplaces。
Ontheactionofthismanmuchdepends。Stephenchangedthesovereignintoapostalorder，andsentitofftothepeopleatCadford。Itdidnotpaythemback，butitpaidthemsomething，andhefeltthathissoulwasfree。
Afewshillingsremainedinhispocket。TheywouldhavepaidhisfaretowardsWiltshire，agoodcounty;butwhatshouldhedothere？Whowouldemployhim？Todaythejourneydidnotseemworthwhile。\"Tomorrow，perhaps，\"hethought，anddeterminedtospendthemoneyonpleasureofanotherkind。Two—pencewentforarideonanelectrictram。Fromthetophesawthesundescend——adiscwithadarkrededge。ThesamesunwasdescendingoverSalisburyintolerablybright。Outofthegoldenhazethespirewouldbepiercing，likeapurpleneedle;thenmistsarosefromtheAvonandtheotherstreams。Lampsflickered，butintheouterpuritythevillageswerealreadyslumbering。SalisburyisonlyaGothicupstartbesidethese。Forgenerationstheyhavecomedowntohertobuyortoworship，andhavefoundinherthereasonablecrisisoftheirlives;butgenerationsbeforeshewasbuilttheywereclingingtothesoil，andrenewingitwithsheepanddogsandmen，whofoundthecrisisoftheirlivesuponStonehenge。ThebloodofthesemenraninStephen;thevigourtheyhadwonforhimwasasyetuntarnished;outonthosedownstheyhadunitedwithroughwomentomakethethinghespokeofas\"himself\";thelastofthemhasrescuedawomanofadifferentkindfromstreetsandhousessuchasthese。Asthesundescendedhegotoffthetramwithasmileofexpectation。Apublic—houselayopposite，andaboyinadirtyuniformwasalreadylightingitsenormouslamp。
Hislipsparted，andhewentin。
Twohourslater，whenRickieandHerbertweregoingtherounds，abrickcamecrashingatthestudywindow。Herbertpeeredintothegarden，andahooliganslippedbyhimintothehouse，wreckedthehall，lurchedupthestairs，fellagainstthebanisters，balancedforamomentonhisspine，andslidover。Herbertcalledforthepolice。Rickie，whowasuponthelanding，caughtthemanbythekneesandsavedhislife。
\"Whatisit？\"criedAgnes，emerging。
\"It’sStephencomeback，\"wastheanswer。\"Hullo，Stephen！\"
XXXI
HitherhadRickiemovedintendays——fromdisgusttopenitence，frompenitencetolongingfromalifeofhorrortoanewlife，inwhichhestillsurprisedhimselfbyunexpectedwords。Hullo，Stephen！Forthesonofhismotherhadcomeback，toforgivehim，asshewouldhavedone，tolivewithhim，asshehadplanned。
\"He’sdrunkthistime，\"saidAgneswearily。Shetoohadaltered:
thescandalwasageingher，andAnsellcametothehousedaily。
\"Hullo，Stephen！\"
ButStephenwasnowinsensible。
\"Stephen，youlivehere——\"
\"Goodgraciousme！\"interposedHerbert。\"Myadviceis，thatweallgotobed。Thelesssaidthebetterwhileournervesareinthisstate。Verywell，Rickie。Ofcourse，Wonhamsleepsthenightifyouwish。\"Theycarriedthedrunkenmassintothespareroom。Amassofscandalitseemedtooneofthem，asymbolofredemptiontotheother。Neitheracknowledgeditaman，whowouldanswerthembackafterafewhours’rest。
\"Ansellthoughthewouldneverforgiveme，\"saidRickie。\"Foroncehe’swrong。\"
\"Cometobednow，Ithink。\"AndasRickielaidhishandonthesleeper’shair，headded，\"Youwon’tdoanythingfoolish，willyou？Youarestillinamorbidstate。Yourpoormother——Pardonme，dearboy;itismyturntospeakout。Youthoughtitwasyourfather，andminded。Itisyourmother。Surelyyououghttomindmore？\"
\"Ihavebeentoofarback，\"saidRickiegently。\"Anselltookmeonajourneythatwasevennewtohim。Wegotbehindrightandwrong，toaplacewhereonlyonethingmatters——thattheBelovedshouldrisefromthedead。\"
\"Butyouwon’tdoanythingrash？\"
\"WhyshouldI？\"
\"RememberpoorAgnes，\"hestammered。\"I——Iamthefirsttoacknowledgethatwemighthavepursuedadifferentpolicy。Butwearecommittedtoitnow。Itmakesnodifferencewhosesonheis。
Imean，heisthesameperson。YouandIandmysisterstandorfalltogether。Itwasouragreementfromthefirst。Ihope——Nomoreofthesedistressingsceneswithher，there’sadearfellow。Iassureyoutheymakemyheartbleed。\"
\"Thingswillquietdownnow。\"
\"Tobednow;Iinsistuponthatmuch。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidRickie，andwhentheywereinthepassage，lockedthedoorfromtheoutside。\"Wewantnomoremuddles，\"heexplained。
Mr。Pembrokewasleftexaminingthehall。ThebustofHermeswasbroken。Sowasthepotofthepalm。HecouldnotgotobedwithoutoncemoresoundingRickie。\"You’lldonothingrash，\"hecalled。
\"Thenotionofhimlivingherewas，ofcourse，apassingimpulse。Wethreehaveadoptedacommonpolicy。\"
\"Now，yougoaway！\"calledavoicethatwasalmostflippant。\"I
neverdidbelongtothatgreatsectwhosedoctrineisthateachoneshouldselect——atleast，I’mnotgoingtobelongtoitanylonger。Goawaytobed。\"
\"Agoodnight’srestiswhatyouneed，\"threatenedHerbert，andretired，nottofindoneforhimself。
ButRickieslept。Theguiltofmonthsandtheremorseofthelasttendayshadalikedeparted。Hehadthoughtthathislifewaspoisoned，andlo！itwaspurified。Hehadcursedhismother，andAnsellhadreplied，\"Youmayberight，butyoustandtooneartosettle。Stepbackwards。Pretendthatithappenedtome。Doyouwantmetocursemymother？Now，stepforwardandseewhetheranythinghaschanged。\"Somethinghadchanged。Hehadjourneyed——
asonrareoccasionsamanmust——tillhestoodbehindrightandwrong。Onthebanksofthegreytorrentoflife，loveistheonlyflower。AlittlewayupthestreamandalittlewaydownhadRickieglanced，andheknewthatshewhomhelovedhadrisenfromthedead，andmightriseagain。\"Comeaway——letthemdieout——letthemdieout。\"Surelythatdreamwasavision！To—nightalsohehurriedtothewindow——toremember，withasmile，thatOrionisnotamongthestarsofJune。
\"Letmedieout。Shewillcontinue，\"hemurmured，andinmakingplansforStephen’shappiness，fellasleep。
NextmorningafterbreakfastheannouncedthathisbrothermustliveatDunwoodHouse。Theywereawedbytheverymoderationofhistone。\"There’snothingelsetobedone。Cadover’shopeless，andaboyofthosetendenciescan’tgodrifting。Thereisalsothequestionofaprofessionforhim，andhisallowance。\"
\"WehavetothankMr。Ansellforthis，\"wasallthatAgnescouldsay;and\"Iforeseedisaster，\"wasthecontributionofHerbert。
\"There’splentyofmoneyabout，\"Rickiecontinued。\"Quiteaman’s—worthtoomuch。Ithasbeenoneofourabsurdities。Don’tlooksosad，Herbert。I’msorryforyoupeople，buthe’ssuretoletusdowneasy。\"ForhisexperienceofdrunkardsandofStephenwassmall。
Hesupposedthathehadcomewithoutmalicetorenewtheofferoftendaysago。
\"ItistheendofDunwoodHouse。\"
Rickienodded，andhopednot。Agnes，whowasnotlookingwell，begantocry。\"Oh，itistoobad，\"shecomplained，\"whenI’vesavedyoufromhimalltheseyears。\"Buthecouldnotpityher，norevensympathizewithherwoundeddelicacy。Thetimeforsuchnonsensewasover。Hewouldtakehisshareoftheblame:itwascanttoassumeitall。
Perhapshewasover—hard。Hedidnotrealizehowlargehissharewas，norhowhisveryvirtuesweretoblameforherdeterioration。
\"IfIhadagirl，I’dkeepherinline，\"isnottheremarkofafoolnorofacad。Rickiehadnotkepthiswifeinline。Hehadshownheralltheworkingsofhissoul，mistakingthisforlove;
andinconsequenceshewastheworsewomanaftertwoyearsofmarriage，andhe，onthismorningoffreedom，washarderuponherthanheneedhavebeen。
Thespareroombellrang。Herberthadapainfulstrugglebetweencuriosityandduty，forthebellforchapelwasringingalso，andhemustgothroughthedrizzletoschool。Hepromisedtocomeupintheinterval，Rickie，whohadrappedhisheadthatSundayontheedgeofthetable，wasstillforbiddentowork。Beforehimaquietmorninglay。Secureofhisvictory，hetooktheportraitoftheirmotherinhishandandwalkedleisurelyupstairs。Thebellcontinuedtoring。
\"Seeabouthisbreakfast，\"hecalledtoAgnes，whoreplied，\"Verywell。\"Thehandleofthespareroomdoorwasmovingslowly。\"I’mcoming，\"hecried。Thehandlewasstill。Heunlockedandentered，hisheartfullofcharity。
Butwithinstoodamanwhoprobablyownedtheworld。
Rickiescarcelyknewhim;lastnighthehadseemedsocolorless，nonegligible。Inafewhourshehadrecapturedmotionandpassionandtheimprintofthesunlightandthewind。Hestood，notconsciouslyheroic，witharmsthatdangledfrombroadstoopingshoulders，andfeetthatplayedwithahassockonthecarpet。Buthishairwasbeautifulagainstthegreysky，andhiseyes，recallingtheskyunclouded，shotpasttheintruderasiftosomeworthiervision。SointentwastheirgazethatRickiehimselfglancedbackwards，onlytoseetheneatpassageandthebanistersatthetopofthestairs。Thenthelipsbeattogethertwice，andoutburstatorrentofamazingwords。
\"Additallup，andletmeknowhowmuch。I’dsoonerhavedied。
Itnevertookmethatwaybefore。Imusthavebrokenpounds’worth。
Ifyou’llnottellthepolice，Ipromiseyoushan’tlose，Mr。
Elliot，Iswear。ButitmaybemonthsbeforeIsendit。
Everythingistobenew。You’venottobeapennyoutofpocket，doyousee？Doletmego，thisonceagain。\"
\"What’sthetrouble？\"askedRickie，asiftheyhadbeenfriendsforyears。\"Mydearman，we’veotherthingstotalkabout。
Graciousme，whatafuss！Ifyou’dsmashedthewholehouseI
wouldn’tmind，solongasyoucameback。\"
\"I’dsoonerhavedied，\"gulpedStephen。
\"Youdidnearly！ItwasIwhocaughtyou。Nevermindyesterday’srag。Whatcanyoumanageforbreakfast？\"
Thefacegrewmoreangryandmorepuzzled。\"Yesterdaywasn’tarag，\"hesaidwithoutfocusinghiseyes。\"Iwasdrunk，butnaturallymeantit。\"
\"Meantwhat？\"
\"Tosmashyou。BadliquordidwhatMrs。Elliotcouldn’t。I’veputmyselfinthewrong。You’vegotme。\"
Itwasapoorbeginning。
\"AsIhavegotyou，\"saidRickie，controllinghimself，\"Iwanttohaveatalkwithyou。Therehasbeenaghastlymistake。\"
ButStephen，withacountryman’spersistency，continuedonhisownline。Hemeanttobecivil，butRickiewentcoldroundthemouth。Forhehadnotevenbeenangrywiththem。Untilhewasdrunk，theyhadbeendirtypeople——nothissort。Thenthetrivialinjuryrecurred，andhehadreeledtosmashthemashepassed。
\"AndIwillpayforeverything，\"washisrefrain，withwhichthesighingofraindropsmingled。\"Youshan’tloseapenny，ifonlyyouletmefree。\"
\"You’llpayformycoffinifyoutalklikethatanylonger！Willyou，one，forgivemyfrightfulbehaviour;two，livewithme？\"Forhisonlyhopewasinacheerfulprecision。
Stephengrewmoreagitated。Hethoughtitwassometrick。
\"IwassayingImadeanunspeakablemistake。Ansellputmeright，butitwastoolatetofindyou。Don’tthinkIgotoffeasily。
Anselldoesn’tspareone。Andyou’vegottoforgiveme，tosharemylife，tosharemymoney。——I’vebroughtyouthisphotograph——I
wantittobethefirstthingyouacceptfromme——youhavethegreaterright——Iknowallthestorynow。Youknowwhoitis？\"
\"Ohyes;butIdon’twanttodragallthatin。\"