Itgrewcolderanddark。Heturnedthecollarofhiscoatuptohisears。HehadvisionsofPiccadilly。Thiswild—goosechaseappearedsuddenlyadangerous，unfathomablebusiness。Lights，fellowship，security！’Neveragain！’hebrooded;’whywon’ttheyletmealone？’
Butitwasnotclearwhetherby’they’hemeanttheconventions，theBoleskeys，hispassions，orthosehauntingmemoriesofRozsi。Ifhehadonlyhadabagwithhim！Whatwashegoingtosay？Whatwashegoingtogetbythis？Hereceivednoanswertothesequestions。Thedarknessitselfwaslessobscurethanhissensations。Fromtimetotimehetookouthiswatch。Ateachvillagethedrivermadeinquiries。Itwaspasttenwhenhestoppedthecarriagewithajerk。
Thestarswerebrightassteel，andbythesideoftheroadareedylakeshowedinthemoonlight。Swithinshivered。Amanonahorsehadhaltedinthecentreoftheroad。\"Driveon！\"calledSwithin，withastolidface。ItturnedouttobeBoleskey，who，onagauntwhitehorse，lookedlikesomewingedcreature。Hestoodwherehecouldbartheprogressofthecarriage，holdingoutapistol。
’Theatricalbeggar！’thoughtSwithin，withanervoussmile。Hemadenosignofrecognition。SlowlyBoleskeybroughthisleanhorseuptothecarriage。Whenhesawwhowaswithinheshowedastonishmentandjoy。
\"You？\"hecried，slappinghishandonhisattenuatedthigh，andleaningovertillhisbeardtouchedSwithin。\"Youhavecome？Youfollowedus？\"
\"Itseemsso，\"Swithingruntedout。
\"Youthrowinyourlotwithus。Isitpossible？You——youareaknight—errantthen！\"
\"GoodGod！\"saidSwithin。Boleskey，flogginghisdejectedsteed，canteredforwardinthemoonlight。Hecameback，bringinganoldcloak，whichheinsistedonwrappingroundSwithin’sshoulders。Hehandedhim，too，acapaciousflask。
\"Howcoldyoulook！\"hesaid。\"Wonderful！Wonderful！youEnglish！\"
HisgratefuleyesneverleftSwithinforamoment。Theyhadcomeuptotheheelsoftheothercarriagenow，butSwithin，hunchedinthecloak，didnottrytoseewhatwasinfrontofhim。TothebottomofhissoulheresentedtheHungarian’sgratitude。Heremarkedatlast，withwastedirony:
\"You’reinahurry，itseems！\"
\"Ifwehadwings，\"Boleskeyanswered，\"wewouldusethem。\"
\"Wings！\"mutteredSwithinthickly;\"legsaregoodenoughforme。\"
X
Arrivedattheinnwheretheyweretopassthenight，Swithinwaited，hopingtogetintothehousewithouta\"scene，\"butwhenatlasthealightedthegirlswereinthedoorway，andMargitgreetedhimwithanadmiringmurmur，inwhich，however，heseemedtodetectirony。
Rozsi，paleandtremulous，withahalf—scaredlook，gavehimherhand，and，quicklywithdrawingit，shrankbehindhersister。WhentheyhadgoneuptotheirroomSwithinsoughtBoleskey。Hisspiritshadrisenremarkably。\"Tellthelandlordtogetussupper，\"hesaid;
\"we’llcrackabottletoourluck。\"Hehurriedonthelandlord’spreparations。Thewindowofthe，roomfacedawood，sonearthathecouldalmosttouchthetrees。Thescentfromthepinesblewinonhim。Heturnedawayfromthatscenteddarkness，andbegantodrawthecorksofwinebottles。ThesoundseemedtoconjureupBoleskey。
Hecamein，splashedallover，smellingslightlyofstables;soonafter，Margitappeared，freshandserene，butRozsididnotcome。
\"Whereisyoursister？\"Swithinsaid。Rozsi，itseemed，wastired。
\"Itwilldohergoodtoeat，\"saidSwithin。AndBoleskey，murmuring，\"Shemustdrinktoourcountry，\"wentouttosummonher，Margitfollowedhim，whileSwithincutupachicken。Theycamebackwithouther。Shehad\"amegrimofthespirit。\"
Swithin’sfacefell。\"Lookhere！\"hesaid，\"I’llgoandtry。Don’twaitforme。\"
\"Yes，\"answeredBoleskey，sinkingmournfullyintoachair;\"try，brother，try—byallmeans，try。\"
Swithinwalkeddownthecorridorwithanodd，sweet，sinkingsensationinhischest;andtappedonRozsi’sdoor。Inaminute，shepeepedforth，withherhairloose，andwonderingeyes。
\"Rozsi，\"hestammered，\"whatmakesyouafraidofme，now？\"
Shestaredathim，butdidnotanswer。
\"Whywon’tyoucome？\"
Stillshedidnotspeak，butsuddenlystretchedouttohimherbarearm。Swithinpressedhisfacetoit。Withashiver，shewhisperedabovehim，\"Iwillcome，\"andgentlyshutthedoor。
Swithinstealthilyretracedhissteps，andpausedaminuteoutsidethesitting—roomtoregainhisself—control。
ThesightofBoleskeywithabottleinhishandsteadiedhim。
\"Sheiscoming，\"hesaid。Andverysoonshedidcome，herthickhairroughlytwistedinaplait。
Swithinsatbetweenthegirls;butdidnottalk，forhewasreallyhungry。Boleskeytoowassilent，plungedingloom;Rozsiwasdumb;
Margitalonechattered。
\"YouwillcometoourFather—town？Weshallhavethingstoshowyou。
Rozsi，whatthingswewillshowhim！\"Rozsi，withalittleappealingmovementofherhands，repeated，\"Whatthingswewillshowyou！\"Sheseemedsuddenlytofindhervoice，andwithglowingcheeks，mouthsfull，andeyesbrightassquirrels’，theychatteredreminiscencesofthe\"dearFather—town，\"of\"dearfriends，\"ofthe\"dearhome。\"
’Apoorplace！’Swithincouldnothelpthinking。Thisenthusiasmseemedtohimcommon;buthewascarefultoassumealookofinterest，feedingontheglancesflashedathimfromRozsi’srestlesseyes。
AsthewinewanedBoleskeygrewmoreandmoregloomy，butnowandthenasortofgleamingflickerpassedoverhisface。Herosetohisfeetatlast。
\"Letusnotforget，\"hesaid，\"thatwegoperhapstoruin，todeath;
inthefaceofallthiswego，becauseourcountryneeds——inthisthereisnocredit，neithertomenortoyou，mydaughters;butforthisnobleEnglishman，whatshallwesay？GivethankstoGodforagreatheart。Hecomes——notforcountry，notforfame，notformoney，buttohelptheweakandtheoppressed。Letusdrink，then，tohim;
letusdrinkagainandagaintoheroicForsyte！\"Inthemidstofthedeadsilence，SwithincaughtthelookofsuppliantmockeryinRozsi’seyes。HeglancedattheHungarian。Washelaughingathim？ButBoleskey，afterdrinkinguphiswine，hadsunkagainintohisseat;
andtheresuddenly，tothesurpriseofall，hebegantosnore。
Margitroseand，bendingoverhimlikeamother，murmured:\"Heistired——itistheride！\"Sheraisedhiminherstrongarms，andleaningonhershoulderBoleskeystaggeredfromtheroom。SwithinandRozsiwereleftalone。Heslidhishandtowardsherhandthatlaysoclose，ontheroughtable—cloth。Itseemedtoawaithistouch。Somethinggavewayinhim，andwordscamewellingup;forthemomentheforgothimself，forgoteverythingbutthathewasnearher。
Herheaddroppedonhisshoulder，hebreathedtheperfumeofherhair。\"Good—night！\"shewhispered，andthewhisperwaslikeakiss;
yetbeforehecouldstophershewasgone。Herfootstepsdiedawayinthepassage，butSwithinsatgazingintentlyatasinglebrightdropofspiltwinequiveringonthetable’sedge。Inthatmomentshe，inherhelplessnessandemotion，wasallinalltohim——hislifenothing;alltherealthings——hisconventions，convictions，training，andhimself——allseemedremote，behindamistofpassionandstrangechivalry。Carefullywithabitofbreadhesoakedupthebrightdrop;andsuddenlyhethought:’Thisistremendous！’Foralongtimehestoodthereinthewindow，closetothedarkpine—trees。
XI
Intheearlymorningheawoke，fullofthediscomfortofthisstrangeplaceandthemedleyofhisdreams。Lying，withhisnosepeepingoverthequilt，hewasvisitedbyahorriblesuspicion。Whenhecouldbearitnolonger，hestartedupinbed。Whatifitwereallaplottogethimtomarryher？Thethoughtwastreacherous，andinspiredinhimafaintdisgust。Still，shemightbeignorantofit！
Butwasshesoinnocent？Whatinnocentgirlwouldhavecometohisroomlikethat？Whatinnocentgirl？Herfather，whopretendedtobecaringonlyforhiscountry？Itwasnotprobablethatanymanwassuchafool;itwasallpartofthegame—aschemingrascal！
Kasteliz，too——histhreats！Theyintendedhimtomarryher！Andthehorridideawasstrengthenedbyhisreverenceformarriage。Itwastheproper，therespectablecondition;hewasgenuinelyafraidofthisothersortofliaison——itwassomehowtooprimitive！Andyetthethoughtofthatmarriagemadehisbloodruncold。Consideringthatshehadalreadyyielded，itwouldbeallthemoremonstrous！
Withthecold，fatalclearnessofthemorninglighthenowforthefirsttimesawhispositioninitsfullbearings。And，likeafishpulledoutofwater，hegaspedatwhatwasdisclosed。Sullenresentmentagainstthisattempttoforcehimsettleddeepintohissoul。
Heseatedhimselfonthebed，holdinghisheadinhishands，solemnlythinkingoutwhatsuchmarriagemeant。Inthefirstplaceitmeantridicule，inthenextplaceridicule，inthelastplaceridicule。
Shewouldeatchickenboneswithherfingers——thosefingershislipsstillburnedtokiss。Shewoulddancewildlywithothermen。Shewouldtalkofher\"dearFather—town，\"andallthetimehereyeswouldlookbeyondhim，somewhereorotherintosomed——dplaceheknewnothingof。Hesprangupandpacedtheroom，andforamomentthoughthewouldgomad。
Theymeanthimtomarryher！Evenshe——shemeanthimtomarryher！
Hertantalisinginscrutability;hersuddenlittletendernesses;herquicklaughter;herswift，burningkisses;eventhemovementsofherhands;hertears——allwereevidenceagainsther。NotoneofthesethingsthatNaturemadeherdocountedonherside，buthowtheyfannedhislonging，hisdesire，anddistress！Hewenttotheglassandtriedtoparthishairwithhisfingers，butbeingratherfine，itfellintolankstreaks。Therewasnocomforttobegotfromit。
Hedrewhismuddybootson。Suddenlyhethought:’IfIcouldseeheralone，Icouldarriveatsomearrangement！’Then，withasenseofstupefaction，hemadethediscoverythatnoarrangementcouldpossiblybemadethatwouldnotbedangerous，evendesperate。Heseizedhishat，and，likearabbitthathasbeenfiredat，boltedfromtheroom。Heploddedalongamongstthedampwoodswithhisheaddown，andresentmentanddismayinhisheart。But，asthesunrose，andtheairgrewsweetwithpinescent，heslowlyregainedasortofequability。Afterall，shehadalreadyyielded;itwasnotasif……！
Andthetrampofhisownfootstepslulledhimintofeelingthatitwouldallcomeright。
’Lookatthethingpractically，’hethought。Thefasterhewalkedthefirmerbecamehisconvictionthathecouldstillseeitthrough。
Hetookouthiswatch——itwaspastseven——hebegantohastenback。
Intheyardoftheinnhisdriverwasharnessingthehorses;Swithinwentuptohim。
\"Whotoldyoutoputthemin？\"heasked。
Thedriveranswered，\"DerHerr。\"
Swithinturnedaway。’Intenminutes，’hethought，’Ishallbeinthatcarriageagain，withthisgoingoninmyhead！DrivingawayfromEngland，fromallI’musedto—drivingto—what？’Couldhefaceit？Couldhefaceallthathehadbeenthroughthatmorning;faceitdayafterday，nightafternight？Lookingup，hesawRozsiatheropenwindowgazingdownathim;neverhadshelookedsweeter，moreroguish。Aninexplicableterrorseizedonhim;heranacrosstheyardandjumpedintohiscarriage。\"ToSalzburg！\"hecried;\"driveon！\"Andrattlingoutoftheyardwithoutalookbehind，heflungasovereignatthehostler。Flyingbackalongtheroadfastereventhanhehadcome，withpaleface，andeyesblankandstaringlikeapug—dog’s，Swithinspokenosingleword;nor，tillhehadreachedthedoorofhislodgings，didhesufferthedrivertodrawrein。
XII
Towardsevening，fivedayslater，Swithin，yellowandtravel—worn，wasferriedinagondolatoDanielli’sHotel。Hisbrother，whowasonthesteps，lookedathimwithanapprehensivecuriosity。
\"Why，it’syou！\"hemumbled。\"Soyou’vegotheresafe？\"
\"Safe？\"growledSwithin。
Jamesreplied，\"Ithoughtyouwouldn’tleaveyourfriends！\"Then，withajerkofsuspicion，\"Youhaven’tbroughtyourfriends？\"
\"Whatfriends？\"growledSwithin。
Jameschangedthesubject。\"Youdon’tlookthething，\"hesaid。
\"Really！\"mutteredSwithin;\"what’sthattoyou？\"
Heappearedatdinnerthatnight，butfellasleepoverhiscoffee。
NeitherTraquairnorJamesaskedhimanyfurtherquestion，nordidtheyalludetoSalzburg;andduringthefourdayswhichconcludedthestayinVeniceSwithinwentaboutwithhisheadup，buthiseyeshalf—closedlikeadazedman。OnlyaftertheyhadtakenshipatGenoadidheshowsignsofanyhealthyinterestinlife，when，findingthatamanonboardwasperpetuallystrumming，helockedthepianoupandpitchedthekeyintothesea。
ThatwinterinLondonhebehavedmuchasusual，butfitsofmorosenesswouldseizeonhim，duringwhichhewasnotpleasanttoapproach。
OneeveningwhenhewaswalkingwithafriendinPiccadilly，agirlcomingfromaside—streetaccostedhiminGerman。Swithin，afterstaringatherinsilenceforsomeseconds，handedherafive—poundnote，tothegreatamazementofhisfriend;norcouldhehimselfhaveexplainedthemeaningofthisfreakofgenerosity。
OfRozsiheneverheardagain……
This，then，wasthesubstanceofwhatherememberedashelayillinbed。Stretchingouthishandhepressedthebell。Hisvaletappeared，crossingtheroomlikeacat;aSwede，whohadbeenwithSwithinmanyyears;alittlemanwithadriedfaceandfiercemoustache，morbidlysharpnerves，andaqueerdevotiontohismaster。
Swithinmadeafeeblegesture。\"Adolf，\"hesaid，\"I’mverybad。\"
\"Yes，sir！\"
\"Whydoyoustandtherelikeacow？\"askedSwithin;\"can’tyouseeI’mverybad？\"
\"Yes，sir！\"Thevalet’sfacetwitchedasthoughitmaskedthedanceofobscureemotions。
\"Ishallfeelbetterafterdinner。Whattimeisit？\"
\"Fiveo’clock。\"
\"Ithoughtitwasmore。Theafternoonsareverylong。\"
\"Yes，sir！\"Swithinsighed，asthoughhehadexpectedtheconsolationofdenial。
\"VerylikelyIshallhaveanap。Bringuphotwaterathalf—pastsixandshavemebeforedinner。\"
Thevaletmovedtowardsthedoor。Swithinraisedhimself。
\"WhatdidMr。Jamessaytoyou？\"
\"Hesaidyououghttohaveanotherdoctor;twodoctors，hesaid，betterthanone。Hesaid，also，hewouldlookinagainonhisway’home。’\"
Swithingrunted，\"Umph！Whatelsedidhesay？\"
\"Hesaidyoudidn’ttakecareofyourself。\"
Swithinglared。
\"Hasanybodyelsebeentoseeme？\"
Thevaletturnedawayhiseyes。\"Mrs。ThomasForsytecamelastMondayfortnight。\"
\"HowlonghaveIbeenill？\"
\"FiveweeksonSaturday。\"
\"DoyouthinkI’mverybad？\"
Adolf’sfacewascoveredsuddenlywithcrow’s—feet。\"Youhavenobusinesstoaskmequestionlikethat！Iamnotpaid，sir，toanswerquestionlikethat。\"
Swithinsaidfaintly:\"You’reapepperyfool！Openabottleofchampagne！\"
Adolftookabottleofchampagne——fromacupboardandheldnipperstoit。HefixedhiseyesonSwithin。\"Thedoctorsaid——\"
\"Openthebottle！\"
\"Itisnot——\"
\"Openthebottle——orIgiveyouwarning。\"
Adolfremovedthecork。Hewipedaglasselaborately，filledit，andboreitscrupulouslytothebedside。Suddenlytwirlinghismoustaches，hewrunghishands，andburstout:\"Itispoison。\"
Swithingrinnedfaintly。\"Youforeignfool！\"hesaid。\"Getout！\"
Thevaletvanished。
’Heforgothimself！’thoughtSwithin。Slowlyheraisedtheglass，slowlyputitback，andsankgaspingonhispillows。Almostatoncehefellasleep。
Hedreamedthathewasathisclub，sittingafterdinnerinthecrowdedsmoking—room，withitsbrightwallsandtrefoilsoflight。
Itwastherethathesateveryevening，patient，solemn，lonely，andsometimesfellasleep，hissquare，paleoldfacenoddingtooneside。
Hedreamedthathewasgazingatthepictureoverthefireplace，ofanoldstatesmanwithahighcollar，supremelyfinishedface，andscepticaleyebrows——thepicture，smooth，andreticentassealing—wax，ofonewhoseemedforeverexhalingthenarrowwisdomoffinaljudgments。Allroundhim，hisfellowmemberswerechattering。Onlyhehimself，theoldsickmember，wassilent。Iffellowsonlyknewwhatitwasliketositbyyourselfandfeelillallthetime！Whattheyweresayinghehadheardahundredtimes。Theyweretalkingofinvestments，ofcigars，horses，actresses，machinery。Whatwasthat？
Aforeignpatentforcleaningboilers？Therewasnosuchthing;
boilerscouldn’tbecleaned，anyfoolknewthat！IfanEnglishmancouldn’tcleanaboiler，noforeignercouldcleanone。Heappealedtotheoldstatesman’seyes。Butforoncethoseeyesseemedhesitating，blurred，wantinginfinality。Theyvanished。IntheirplacewereRozsi’slittledeep—seteyes，withtheirwideandfar—offlook;andashegazedtheyseemedtogrowbrightassteel，andtospeaktohim。Slowlythewholefacegrewtobethere，floatingonthedarkbackgroundofthepicture;itwaspink，aloof，unfathomable，enticing，withitsfluffyhairandquicklips，justashehadlastseenit。\"Areyoulookingforsomething？\"sheseemedtosay:\"I
couldshowyou。\"
\"Ihaveeverythingsafeenough，\"answeredSwithin，andinhissleephegroaned。
Hefeltthetouchoffingersonhisforehead。’I’mdreaming，’hethoughtinhisdream。
Shehadvanished;andfaraway，frombehindthepicture，cameasoundoffootsteps。
Aloud，inhissleep，Swithinmuttered:\"I’vemissedit。\"
Againheheardtherustlingofthoselightfootsteps，andcloseinhisearasound，likeasob。Heawoke;thesobwashisown。Greatdropsofperspirationstoodonhisforehead。’Whatisit？’hethought;’whathaveIlost？’Slowlyhismindtravelledoverhisinvestments;hecouldnotthinkofanysingleonethatwasunsafe。
Whatwasit，then，thathehadlost？Strugglingonhispillows，heclutchedthewine—glass。Hislipstouchedthewine。’Thisisn’tthe\"Heidseck\"！’hethoughtangrily，andbeforetherealityofthatdispleasureallthedimvisionpassedaway。Butashebenttodrink，somethingsnapped，and，withasigh，SwithinForsytediedabovethebubbles……
WhenJamesForsytecameinagainonhiswayhome，thevalet，tremblingtookhishatandstick。
\"How’syourmaster？\"
\"Mymasterisdead，sir！\"
\"Dead！Hecan’tbe！Ilefthimsafeanhourago。
OnthebedSwithin’sbodywasdoubledlikeasack;hishandstillgraspedtheglass。
JamesForsytepaused。\"Swithin！\"hesaid，andwithhishandtohisearhewaitedforananswer;butnonecame，andslowlyintheglassalastbubbleroseandburst。
December1900。
ToMYSISTER
MABELEDITHREYNOLDS
THESILENCE
I
InacaroftheNaplesexpressaminingexpertwasdivingintoabagforpapers。Thestrongsunlightshowedthefinewrinklesonhisbrownfaceandtheshabbinessofhisshort，roughbeard。Anewspapercuttingslippedfromhisfingers;hepickeditup，thinking:’Howthedickensdidthatgetinhere？’Itwasfromacolonialprintofthreeyearsback;andhesatstaring，asifinthatforlornslipofyellowpaperhehadencounteredsomeghostfromhispast。
Thesewerethewordsheread:\"Wehopethatthesetbacktocivilisation，thechecktocommerceanddevelopment，inthispromisingcentreofourcolonymaybebuttemporary;andthatcapitalmayagaincometotherescue。Whereonemanwassuccessful，othersshouldsurelynotfail？Weareconvincedthatitonlyneeds……\"
Andthelastwords:\"Forwhatcanbesadderthantoseetheforestspreadingitslengtheningshadows，likesymbolsofdefeat，overtheuntenanteddwellingsofmen;andwherewasoncethemerrychatterofhumanvoices，topassbyinthesilence……\"
Onanafternoon，thirteenyearsbefore，hehadbeeninthecityofLondon，atoneofthoseemporiumswhereminingexpertsperch，beforefreshflights，likesea—gullsonsomefavouriterock。Aclerksaidtohim:\"Mr。Scorrier，theyareaskingforyoudownstairs——Mr。
HemmingsoftheNewCollieryCompany。\"
Scorriertookupthespeakingtube。\"Isthatyou，Mr。Scorrier？I
hopeyouareverywell，sir，Iam——Hemmings——Iam——comingup。\"
Intwominutesheappeared，ChristopherHemmings，secretaryoftheNewCollieryCompany，knownintheCity—behindhisback——as\"Down—by—
the—starn\"Hemmings。HegraspedScorrier’shand——thegesturewasdeferential，yetdistinguished。Toohandsome，toocapable，tooimportant，hisfigure，thecutofhisiron—greybeard，andhisintrusivelyfineeyes，conveyedacontinualcourteousinvitationtoinspecttheirinfallibilities。Hestood，likeaCity\"Atlas，\"withhislegsapart，hiscoat—tailsgatheredinhishands，awholeglobeoffinancialmattersdeftlybalancedonhisnose。\"Lookatme！\"heseemedtosay。\"It’sheavy，buthoweasilyIcarryit。Notthemantoletitdown，Sir！\"
\"IhopeIseeyouwell，Mr。Scorrier，\"hebegan。\"Ihavecomeroundaboutourmine。Thereisaquestionofafreshfieldbeingopenedup——betweenourselves，notbeforeit’swanted。IfinditdifficulttogetmyBoardtotakeacomprehensiveview。Inshort，thequestionis:Areyoupreparedtogooutforus，andreportonit？Thefeeswillbeallright。\"Hislefteyeclosed。\"Thingshavebeenvery——
er——dicky;wearegoingtochangeoursuperintendent。IhavegotlittlePippin——youknowlittlePippin？\"
Scorriermurmured，withafeelingofvagueresentment:\"Ohyes。He’snotaminingman！\"
Hemmingsreplied:\"Wethinkthathewilldo。\"’Doyou？’thoughtScorrier;’that’sgoodofyou！’
HehadnotaltogethershakenoffaworshiphehadfeltforPippin——
\"King\"Pippinhewasalwayscalled，whentheyhadbeenboysattheCamborneGrammar—school。\"King\"Pippin！theboywiththebrightcolour，verybrighthair，bright，subtle，elusiveeyes，broadshoulders，littlestoopintheneck，andawayofmovingitquicklylikeabird;theboywhowasalwaysatthetopofeverything，andheldhisheadasiflookingforsomethingfurthertobethetopof。
Herememberedhowoneday\"King\"Pippinhadsaidtohiminhissoftway，\"YoungScorrie，I’lldoyoursumsforyou\";andinanswertohisdubious，\"Isthatallright？\"hadreplied，\"Ofcourse——Idon’twantyoutogetbehindthatbeastBlake，he’snotaCornishman\"（thebeastBlakewasanIrishmannotyettwelve）。Heremembered，too，anoccasionwhen\"King\"Pippinwithtwootherboysfoughtsixloutsandgotalicking，andhowPippinsatforhalfanhourafterwards，allbloody，hisheadinhishands，rockingtoandfro，andweepingtearsofmortification;andhowthenextdayhehadsneakedoffbyhimself，and，attackingthesamegang，gotfrightfullymauledasecondtime。
Thinkingofthesethingsheansweredcurtly:\"WhenshallIstart？\"
\"Down—by—the—starn\"Hemmingsrepliedwithasortoffearfulsprightliness:\"There’sagoodfellow！Iwillsendinstructions;sogladtoseeyouwell。\"ConferringonScorrieralook——finetothevergeofvulgarity——hewithdrew。Scorrierremained，seated;heavywithinsignificanceandvagueoppression，asifhehaddrunkatumblerofsweetport。
Aweeklater，incompanywithPippin，hewasonboardaliner。
The\"King\"Pippinofhisschool—dayswasnowamanofforty—four。HeawakenedinScorriertheuncertainwonderwithwhichmenlookbackwardattheiruncomplicatedteens;andstaggeringupanddownthedecksinthelongAtlanticroll，hewouldstealglancesathiscompanion，asifheexpectedtofindoutfromthemsomethingabouthimself。Pippinhadstill\"King\"Pippin’sbright，finehair，anddazzlingstreaksinhisshortbeard;hehadstillabrightcolourandsuavevoice，andwhattherewereofwrinklessuggestedonlysubtletiesofhumourandironicsympathy。Fromthefirst，andapparentlywithoutnegotiation，hehadhisseatatthecaptain’stable，towhichontheseconddayScorriertoofoundhimselftranslated，andhadtosit，asheexpresseditruefully，\"amongthebig—wigs。\"
DuringthevoyageonlyoneincidentimpresseditselfonScorrier’smemory，andthatforadisconcertingreason。Intheforecastleweretheusualcomplementofemigrants。Oneevening，leaningacrosstherailtowatchthem，hefeltatouchonhisarm;and，lookinground，sawPippin’sfaceandbeardquiveringinthelamplight。\"Poorpeople！\"hesaid。TheideaflashedonScorrierthathewaslikesomefinewiresound—recordinginstrument。
’Supposeheweretosnap！’hethought。Impelledtojustifythisfancy，heblurtedout:\"You’reanervouschap。Thewayyoulookatthosepoordevils！\"
Pippinhustledhimalongthedeck。\"Come，come，youtookmeoffmyguard，\"hemurmured，withasly，gentlesmile，\"that’snotfair。\"
HefounditacontinualsourceofwonderthatPippin，athisage，shouldcuthimselfadriftfromtheassociationsandsecurityofLondonlifetobeginanewcareerinanewcountrywithdubiousprospectofsuccess。’Ialwaysheardhewasdoingwellallround，’
hethought;’thinkshe’llbetterhimself，perhaps。He’satrueCornishman。’
Themorningofarrivalatthemineswasgreyandcheerless;acloudofsmoke，beatendownbydrizzle，clungabovetheforest;thewoodenhousesstraggleddismallyintheunkemptsemblanceofastreet，againstabackgroundofendless，silentwoods。Anairofblankdiscouragementbroodedovereverything;cranesjuttedidlyoveremptytrucks;thelongjettyoozedblackslime;minerswithlistlessfacesstoodintherain;dogsfoughtundertheirverylegs。OnthewaytothehoteltheymetnoonebusyorsereneexceptaChineewhowaspolishingadish—cover。
Thelatesuperintendent，acowedman，regaledthematlunchwithhisforebodings;hisattitudetowardthesituationwaslikethefood，whichwasgreasyanduninspiring。Alonetogetheroncemore，thetwonewcomerseyedeachothersadly。