CHAPTERI
MRS。MERILLIAISCARRIEDTOBED
ThegreattelescopeoftheProphetwascarefullyadjusteduponitslofty，brass—boundstandinthebowwindowofNumberOneThousandBerkeleySquare。ItpointedtowardstheremarkablybrightstarswhichtwinkledintheDecemberskyoverfrostyLondon，thoseguardianstarswhichalwaysseemedtotheProphettowatchwithpeculiarsolicitudeoverthemostrespectableneighbourhoodinwhichheresided。Thepolestarhaditseyeevennowuponthemansionofanadjacentex—
premier，thebeltofOrionwasnotobliviousofabeltedearl’scosyred—brickhomejustopposite，andthehouseofacertainfamousactorandactressclosebyhadbeentakenbytheGreatBearunderitsspecialprotection。
TheProphet’sbutler，Mr。Ferdinand——thatbulkyandveraciousgentleman——threwopenthelatticedwindowsofthedrawing—roomandletthecoldairrushblithelyin。Thenhemadeupthefirecarefully，placedacopyofMr。Malkiel’s/Almanac/，boundindullpinkandsilverbrocadebyMissClorindaDolbrettoftheCromwellRoad，uponasmalltulip—woodtablenearthetelescope，pattedasofacushionaffectionatelyonthehead，glancedaroundwiththemeditativeeyeofthebutlerbornnotmade，andquittedthecomfortableapartmentwithasalaried，butsoft，footstep。
Itwasapleasantchamber，thisdrawing—roomofNumberOneThousand。Itspokerespectfullyofthegenerationsthatwerepastandseemedserenelycertainofacomfortablefuture。Therewasnotoomodernuneasinessaboutit，notrifling，gim—crackfurnitureconstructedtocatchtheeyeandtheanglesofanyoneventuringtoseekreposeuponit，nounmeaningrubbishofornamentsorhecticflummeryofsecond—ratepictures。Abovethehighoakenmantel—piecewasalittlepurebustinmarbleoftheProphetwhenasmallboy。TorightandleftwereprettyminiaturesingoldenframesoftheProphet’sdelightfullynumerousgrandmothers。HeremightbeseenMrs。Prothero，thegreatship—
builder’sfaithfulwife，inbluebrocade，andLadyCamptown，whoreignedatBath，ingreytabinetanddiamondbuckles，whenMissJaneAustenwaswritingherfirstromance；Mrs。SusanBurlington，whoknewLordByron——aremarkablefact——andLadySophiaGreen，whoknewherownmind，afactstillmoreremarkable。Thelast—namedladyworeblackwithaRomannose，andthecombinationwasadmirablyconvincing。HeremightalsobeobservedMrs。Stuefitt，MistressoftheMazurka，andtheLadyJaneFollington，ofwhomGeorgetheSecondhadspokenopenlyintermsofapprobation。Sheaffectedplumcolourandhadeyeslikesloes——thefashionablehueintheneat—foot—and—pretty—ankleperiod。Theflamesofthefiretwinkledbrightlyoverthisbattalionofdeucedfinewomen，whowereall，withoutoneexception，thegrandmothers——invariousdegrees——oftheProphet。Whenspeakingofthem，inthehighestterms，heneverdifferentiatedthembytheadjectivesgreat，orgreat—great。
Theywereallkindandcondescendingenoughtobehisgrandmothers。Foramanofhissensitive，delicateandgratefuldispositionthiswasenough。Hethoughtthemallquiteperfect，andtookthemallundertheprotectionofhissoftandbeamingeyes。
OfMrs。Merillia，thelivegrandmotherwithwhomhehadthegreatfelicitytodwellinBerkeleySquare，heseldomsaidanythinginpublicpraise。Theincenseheofferedathershrinerose，mostsweetlyperfumed，fromhisdailylife。Thehearthofthisagreeableandgrandmotherlychamberwasattractivewithdogs，thesilvercagebesideitwithgreenlove—birds。Uponthefloorwasaheavy，dull—bluecarpetoverwhich——ashasbeenintimated——evenabutlersoheavyasMr。
Ferdinandcouldgosoftly。Thewallsweredressedwithadullbluepaperthatlookedlikevelvet。
Hereandthereuponthemhungapicture：alandscapeofGeorgeMorland，lustilyEnglish，aCotman，aCuyp——cowsintwilight——aReynolds，fadedbutexquisitelygenteel。Alovelylittleharpsichord——meditatingonScarlatti——stoodinoneangle，aharp，tiedwithmostdelicateribandsofivorysatinpowderedwithpimpernels，inanother。Manywaxencandlesshedatenderandunostentatiousradianceabovetheircarefulgrease—
catchers。UponprettytableslayneatbooksbyFannyBurney，BeatriceHarraden，MaryWilkins，andMaxBeerbohm，alsothepoemsofLordByronandofLorddeTabley。Nearthehearthwasasofaonwhichanemperormighthavelaidaneasyheadthatworeacrown，andbeforeeverylowandseductivechairwassetalowandseductivefootstool。
Agrandmother’sclockpronouncedthehourofteninafrailandelegantvoiceasthefinely—carvedoakdoorwasopened，andtheProphetseriouslyenteredthispeacefulroom，carryingacopyofthe/MeditationsofMarcusAurelius/inhishand。
Hewasaneatly—madelittlemanoffashionable，evenofmodish，cut，spare，smartandwhimsical，withaclean—shaved，small—featuredface，large，shiningbrowneyes，abundantandslightly—wavingbrownhair，thatcouldonlybeparted，withthesweetestsorrow，inthecentreofhiswell—shaped，almostphilosophicalhead，andmovementslightandtemperateasthoseofameditativesquirrel。Havingjustdinedhewasnaturallyineveningdress，withabutterflytie，gleamingpumps，andabuttonholeofviolets。Heshutthedoorgently，glancedathisnice—
lookinggrandmothers，and，walkingforwardveryquietlyanddemurely，appliedhiseyetothetelescope，loweringhimselfslightlybyaSandowexercise，whichhehadpractisedbeforehebecameaprophet。Havingremainedinthispositionofastronomicalobservationforsomeminutes，hedeviatedintotheupright，closedthewindow，andtinkledasmallsilverbellthatstoodonthetulip—woodtablebesideMalkiel’s/Almanac/。
Mr。Ferdinandappeared，lookingrespectfullybuoyant。
\"HasMr。Malkielsentanyreplytomyinquiry，Mr。Ferdinand？\"askedtheProphet。
\"Hehasnot，sir，\"repliedMr。Ferdinand，sympathetically。
\"Didtheboymessengersayhedeliveredmynote？\"
\"Hesaidso，sir，onhisBibleoath，sir。\"
\"Anddoyoubelievehim？\"
\"Oh，sir！\"respondedMr。Ferdinand，inashockedvoice，\"surelyaLondonladwouldnotbefoundtotellalie！\"
\"Ihopenot，Mr。Ferdinand。Still——didhelookanervoussortoflad？\"
\"Hewasatriflepale，sir，aboutthegills——butaheartofgold，sir，Ifeelsure。Heworefourmedals，sir。\"
\"Fourmedals！Nevertheless，hemayhavebeenfrightenedtogotoMr。
Malkiel’sdoor。Thatwilldo，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
Mr。FerdinandwasabouttobowandretirewhentheProphet，afteramomentofhesitation，added，——
\"Stay，Mr。Ferdinand。Mrs。MerilliahasgonetotheGaietyTheatreto—night。Iexpectherbackathalf—pasteleven。Shemayneedassistanceonherreturn。\"
\"Assistance，sir！Mrs。Merillia，sir！\"
Mr。Ferdinand’sluminouseyesshonewithamazement。
\"Shemay——Isayshe/may/——havetobecarriedtobed。\"
Mr。Ferdinand’sjawdropped。HegaveatthekneesandwasobligedtoclingtoaChippendalecabinetforsupport。
\"HaveanarmchairreadyinthehallincaseofnecessityandtellGustavustositup。Mrs。Merilliamustnotbedropped。Youunderstand。
Thatwilldo，Mr。Ferdinand。\"
Mr。Ferdinandendeavouredtobow，andultimatelysucceededinretiring。
Whenhistremulousshoulderswerenolongervisible，theProphetopenedMarcusAurelius，and，seatinghimselfinacornerofthebigcouchbythefire，crossedhislegsoneovertheotherandbegantoreadthattimidAncient’sconsolatory，butunconvincing，remarks。Occasionallyhepaused，however，murmureddoubtfully，\"Willshehavetobecarriedtobed？\"shookhisheadmournfullyandthenresumedhisreading。
Whilehethusemployshistime，wemustsayawordortwoabouthim。
Mr。HennesseyVivianwasnowamanofthirty—eight，ofexcellentfortune，offineconnections，andofadmirabledisposition。Hehadbecomeanorphanassoonasitwasinhispowertodoso，havinglosthisfather——CaptainVivianofHerMajesty’sTenthLancers——somemonthsbefore，andhismother——whohadbeenaMerilliaofChippingSudbury——afewminutesafterhisbirth。Intheseunfortunatecircumstances，overwhichhe，poorinfant，hadabsolutelynocontrol——whateverunkindpeoplemightsay！——hedevolveduponhismother’smother，thehandsomeandpopularMrs。Merillia，whoassumedhischargewiththerosyalacritycharacteristicofherinallherundertakings。WithherthelittleHennesseyhadpassedhisinfantineyears，blowinghappybubbles，presidingoverthevoyagesofhisownprivateNoah——fromtheArmyandNavyStores，withtwohundredanimalsofbothsexes！——eatingpappreparedbyMrs。Merillia’sown/chef/，andsleepinginacothungwithsunnysilkthatmighthavecurtainedVenusorhaveshakenaboutAuroraassheroseinthefirstmorningoftheworld。Fromherhehadacquiredthealphabetandmanyaginger—nutanddecorativebonbon。Andfromher，too，hehadsetforth，withtears，inhisnewEtonjacketandbroadwhitecollar，togotoMr。Chapman’spreparatoryschoolforlittleboysatSlough。Hereheremainedforseveralyears，acquiringarespectforthepoetGrayandaloveofSloughpeppermintthatcouldonlyceasewithlife。HeretoohemadefriendswithRobertGreen，sonofLordChurchmore，whowasafterwardstobeacertaininfluenceinhislife。
HisexistenceatSloughwashappy。Indeed，sogreatwashisaffectionfortheplacethathisremovaltoEtoncosthimsufferingscarcelylessacutethanthatwhichpresentlyattendedhisdeparturefromEtontoChristchurch。OverhissensationsonleavingOxfordweprefertodrawaveil，onlysayingthathislastoutlook——asanundergraduate——overherimmemorialtowerswasashazyastheaverageCabinetMinister’soutlookovertheeventsofthedayandthedesiresofthecommunity。
ButifthemoistureoftheProphetdidhimcreditatthatpainfulperiodofhislife，itmustbeallowedthathisbehaviouronbeingformallyintroducedintoLondonSocietyshowednopulingregret，nobackwardlongingsafterechoingcolleges，lostdonsandthescoutsthatarenomore。Hewasquiteathisease，anddisplayednoneofthehigh—
pitchedcontemptofPiccadillythatisoftensoamusinglycharacteristicoftheyounggentlemenaccustomedto\"theHigh。\"
Mrs。Merillia，whohadbeenawidoweversinceshecouldremember，possessedtheleaseofthehouseinBerkeleySquareinwhichtheProphetwasnowsitting。Itwasanexcellentmansion，witheverythingcomfortableaboutit，adukeononeside，aChancelloroftheExchequerontheother，electriclight，severalbathroomsandthegramophone。
TherewasneveranyquestionoftheProphetsettinguphousebyhimself。OnleavingOxfordhejoinedhisamplefortunetoMrs。
Merillia’sasamatterofcourse，andtheysettleddowntogetherwiththegreatestalacrityandhopefulness。NorweretheirpleasantrelationsoncedisturbedduringthefifteenyearsthatelapsedbeforetheProphetappliedhiseyetothetelescopeinthebowwindowandgaveMr。Ferdinandtheinstructionswhichhavejustbeenrecorded。
Thesefifteenyearshadnotgonebywithoutleavingtheirmarkuponourhero。Hehaddoneseveralthingsduringtheirpassage。Forinstance，hehadwrittenaplay，verynearlyproposedtothethirddaughterofaLondonclergymanandtwicebeentotheDerby。Sucheventshad，notunnaturally，hadtheireffectupontheformationofhischaracterandevenupontheexpressionofhisintelligentface。Thewritingoftheplay——and，perhaps，itsrefusalbyalltheactor—managersofthetown——
hadtracedatinylineateachcornerofhismobilemouth。ThethirddaughteroftheLondonclergyman——hissentimentforher——hadtaughthishandtheslightlyepiscopalgesturewhichwassoadmiredattheLambethPalaceGardenPartyinthesummerof1892。Andthegreatracemeetingwasresponsiblefortherathertighttrousersandthegentleman—jockeysmilewhichhewaswonttoassumewhenhesetoutforacanterintheRow。FromallthisitwillbeguessedthatourProphetwasexceedinglyamenabletotheinfluencesthatthrongattheheelsofthehumandestiny。Indeed，hewas。Andsomefewmonthsbeforethisstoryopensitcameaboutthatheencounteredagentlemanwhowas，infact，theprimarycauseofthisstorybeingtrue。Whowasthisgentleman？youwillsay。SirTiglathButt，thegreatastronomer，CorrespondentoftheInstituteofFrance，MemberoftheRoyalCollegeofScience，DemonstratorofAstronomicalPhysics，authorofthepamphlet，\"Star—
Gazers，\"andthebrochure，\"Aninvestigationintothepsychicalconditionofthosewhoseestars，\"C。B。F。R。S。andpopularmemberoftheColleyCibberClubinLongAcre。
TheProphetwasintroducedtoSirTiglathattheColleyCibberClub，andthoughSirTiglath，whowasofafreakishdispositionandmuchaddictedtohisjokedeclinedtospeaktohim，onthegroundthathe（SirTiglath）hadlosthisvoiceandwasunlikelytofinditinconversation，theProphetwasgreatlyimpressedbytheastronomer’senormousbrick—redface，roundbody，turnedlegs，eyeslikemarbles，andcapacityfordrinkingport—wine——somuchso，infactthat，onleavingtheclub，hehastenedtobuyascienceprimeronastronomy，anddevotedhimselfforseveraldaystoaminuteinvestigationoftheMilkyWay。
Asthereisafascinationoftheearth，soisthereafascinationoftheheavens。Alongthedim，empurpledhighwaysthatleadfromstartostar，frommeteoritetocomet，theimaginationtravelswakefullybynight，andtheheartleapsasitdrawsneartothesilverbossesofthemoon。Mrs。Merilliawassoonobligedtopermittheintrusionofagigantictelescopeintoherprettydrawing—room，andfoundherselfexpectedtoconverseatthedinner—tableontheeightmoonsofSaturn，thebeltsofJupiter，theasteroidsofMarsandthephasesofVenus。
Theselastsheatfirstdeclinedtodiscusswithaman，eventhoughhewerehergrandson。ButshewaswonoverbytheProphet’sinnocentpersuasiveness，anddrawnonuntilshespokealmostasreadilyofthemovementsofthestarsasformerlyshehadspokenofthemovementsoftheCourtfromWindsortoLondon，andfromLondontoBalmoral。Intruth，sheexpectedthatHennessey’spassionforthecometswouldceaseashadceasedhispassionfortheclergyman’sdaughter；thathisardourforastronomywoulddieashaddiedhisardourforplay—writing；thathewouldgiveupgoingto/CoronaBorealis/andtotheSouthernFishashehadgivenupgoingtotheDerby。Timeprovedherwrong。AsthedaysflewHennesseybecameincreasinglyimpassioned。HewasmoreoftenatthetelescopethanattheBachelors’，andseemedonthewaytobecomealmostasgibbousastheplanetMars。Evenheslightlyneglectedhissocialduties；andononeterribleoccasionforgotthathewasengagedtodineatCambridgeHousebecausehewasassistingatatransitofMercury。
NowallthisbegantoweighuponthemindofMrs。Merillia，despitetheamazingcheerfulnessofdispositionwhichshehadinheritedfromtwolonglinesofconfirmedoptimists——herancestorsonthepaternalandmaternalsides。Shedidnotknowhowtobrood，but，ifshehad，shemightwellhavebeenledtodoso。Andevenasitwasshehadbeenreducedtosounusualaconditionofdejectionthat，aweekbeforetheeveningwearedescribing，shehadbeenobligedtoorderaboxattheGaietyTheatre，she，who，likealloptimists，habituallyfrequentedthoseplayhouseswhereshecouldbeholdgloomytragedies，awfulmelodramas，orthoseironicpiecescalledfarces，inwhichtheultimatemiseryofwhichhumannatureiscapableisdrawntoitsfarthestpoint。
Inthebeginningofthisnewdejectionofhers，Mrs。Merilliawasnowseatedinastageboxatthe\"Gaiety，\"withanelderlyGeneralofLifeGuards，aMistressoftheRobes，andthegrandfatheroftheCentralAmericanAmbassadorattheCourtofSt。James，andallfourofthemweresmilingataneatlittlelowcomedian，whowassinging，withoutanyvoiceandwiththeutmostprecision，apatheticromanceentitled，\"DeCoonWotGotdeChuck。\"
MeanwhiletheProphetwasengagedforthetwentiethtimeinconsideringwhetherMrs。Merillia，onherreturnfromthisfestival，wouldhavetobecarriedtobedbyhiredmenials。
Why？
Thisbringsustothegreatturningpointinourhero’slife，tothepointwhenfirsthebegantorespectthestrangepowersstirringwithinhim。
UntilheencounteredSirTiglathButtinthedining—roomoftheColleyCibberClubHennesseyhadbeenbutadilettantefellow。Hehadwrittenaplay，butairily，andwithoutthetwentyyearsofarduousandpersistentstudydeclaredbythedramaticcriticstobeabsolutelynecessarybeforeanyintelligentmancanlearnhowtogetabishopon，orachambermaidoff，thestage。Hehadnearlyproposedtoaclergyman’sdaughter，butthoughtlessly，andwithoutanypreviousexaminationintotheclericalismofrectoryfemales，anyfirst—handknowledgeofmothers’meetings，devoidofwhichhemustbeastout—
heartedgentlemanwhowouldrushinwhereevencuratesoftenfeartotread。HehadbeentotheDerby，butwithoutwearingabottle—greenveilorcarryingabetting—book。Infact，hehadnottakenlifeveryseriously，orfullyappreciatedthesolemndutiesitbringstoallwhobearitsyoke。OnlywhentheplumpredhandofSirTiglath——holdingabumperofthirty—fourport——pointedthewaytotheheavens，didHennesseybegin——throughhistelescope——toseethegreatpossibilitiesthatfootitabouttheexistenceofeventhemeanestmanwhoeats，drinksandsuffers。Forthroughhistelescopehesawthathemightbeaprophet。Malkielreadthefutureinthestars。Whynothe？
Heendeavouredtodoso。Hesoughtanintimacywiththebenefic/Jupiter/，andfoundit——perhapsbyasecretkow—towingto/Sagittarius/。Hemadeupopenlyto/CanisMajor/andwasshortlyonwhatmightalmostbeconsideredtermsofaffectionwith/Venus/。Andhewas，moreover，presentlyquitefearlessinthepresenceof/Saturn/，quiteunabashedbeneaththeglitteringeyeof/Mercury/。Then，astheneophytegrowingboldbyfamiliaritywiththecircleofthegreatones，heventuredonhisfirstprophecy，adiscreetandevenhumbleforecastoftheweather。Hepredictedaheavyfallofsnowforacertainevening，andsodistrustedhisownpredictionthatwhentheeveningcame，mildandbenign，hesalliedforthtotheEmpirePalaceofVarieties，andstayedtillnearmidnight，laughingatthesalliesofFrenchclowns，andapplaudingthefrailanticsofcockatoosonmotorbicycles。When，onthestrokeoftwelve，hecameairilyforthwrappedinthelightestofdustcoats，hewasobligedtoendurethegreatestofman’samazements——theknowledgethattherewasawelloftruthwithinhim。LeicesterSquarewasswathedinanivoryfleece，andhewasobligedtogainBerkeleySquareonfoot，treadinggingerlyinpumps，escortedbylinkmenwithflaringgoldentorches，andprecededbytipsybutassiduousruffiansarmedwithshovels，who，withmanyalustyoathandhorridimprecation，clearedathinthreadofpathbetweenthetoweringwallsofsnowthatsparkledfaintlyinthegaslight。
Thisexperiencefiredhim。Heroseupearly，laydownlate，and，quitewithherassent，castthehoroscopeofMrs。Merilliainthesweatofhisbrow。Hecast，wesay，herhoroscopeand，fromacertainconjunctionoftheplanets，hegathered，tohishorror，thatuponthefifteenthdayofthemonthofJanuaryshewouldsufferanaccidentwhileonaneveningjaunt。Wefindhimnow，onthisfifteenthdayofthefirstmonth，awareofhisreveredgrandmother’sintrepidexpeditiontotheGaietyTheatre，waitingherreturntoBerkeleySquarewithmingledfeelingswhichwemightanalyseforpages，butwhichwepreferbaldlytostate。
Helongedtobeprovedindeedaprophet，andhelongedalsotoseehisbelovedrelativereturnfromhersheafofpleasuresinthefreeandunconstraineduseofallhergracefullimbs。Hewas，therefore，tornbyfoesinamentalconflict，andwasinnocasetosipthephilosophichoneyofMarcusAureliusashesatbetweenthetelescopeandthefireinthecomfortabledrawing—roomawaitinghisgrandmother’sreturn。
\"Gustavus，\"saidMr。Ferdinandintheservants’halltotheflushedfootmanwholayuponawhat—not，sippingaglassofaleandreadinganewandunabridgedfarthingeditionofCarlyle’s/FrenchRevolution/，\"Gustavus，Mrs。MerilliahasbeenandgonetotheGaietyTheatreto—night。Weexpectherbackateleven—thirtysharp。Shemayneedassistanceonherreturn，Gustavus。\"
Thefootmanputdownthetumblerwhichhewasintheactofraisingtohispoutedlips。
\"Assistance，Mr。Ferdinand！\"heejaculated。\"Mrs。Merillia，Mr。
Ferdinand！\"
\"Shemay——wesayshe/may/——havetobecarriedtobed，Gustavus。\"
Gustavus’sjawdropped，andthe/FrenchRevolution/flutteredinhisstartledhands。
\"Goodlawks，Mr。Ferdinand！\"heexclaimed（notquotingfromCarlyle）。
\"Haveanarmchairreadyinthehall，Gustavus。Mrs。Merilliamustnotbedropped。Youunderstand？Thatwilldo，Gustavus。\"
AndMr。Ferdinandpassedtotheadjacentsupper—table，tojointheupperhousemaidinadiscussionoftwosubjectsthatwereveryneartotheirhearts，aroundofbeefandatureenofpickledcabbage，whileGustavusgotupfromthewhat—notinabemusedmanner，andproceededtosearchdreamilyforanarmchair。Hecameupononebychanceinthedining—room，andwheeleditoutintothehalljustastheclocksinthehouserangoutthehalf—houraftereleven。
TheProphetabovesprangupfromthecouchbythefire，Mr。Ferdinandbelowclosedhisdiscussionwiththeupperhousemaid，andtheformerrapidlycamedown，thelatterup，stairsastherollofwheelsbrokethroughthesilenceofthesquare。
Gustavus，inanattitudeofbridledcuriosity，wasposedbeneathapolarbearthatheldanelectriclamp。Hishandwaslaiduponthebackofthearmchair，andhisroundhazeleyeswereturnedexpectantlytowardsthehallashistwomastersjoinedhim。
\"Isallready，Mr。Ferdinand？\"saidtheProphet，anxiously。
\"Allisready，sir，\"repliedthebutler。
\"Wheelthechairforward，Gustavus，ifyouplease，\"saidtheProphet。
\"Mrs。Merilliamustnotbedropped。Rememberthat。\"
\"Notbedropped，sir——no。\"
Thechairranforwardonitsamicablecastorsasacarriagewasheardtostopoutside。Mr。Ferdinandflungopentheportal，andtheProphetglidedoutexcitedlyuponthestep。
\"Well？\"hecried，\"well？\"
Afootman，inalongdrabcoatwithredfacings，waspreparingtogetofftheboxofasmartbrougham，butbeforehecouldreachthepavement，acharminghead，coveredwithalacecap，wasthrustoutofthewindow，andamusicalandalmostgirlishvoicecried，——
\"Allnonsense，Hennessey，allrubbish！Saturndon’tknowwhathe’stalkin’about。Look！\"
Thecarriagedoorwasvivaciouslyopenedfromtheinsideandadelightfullittleoldlady，dressedinbrownsilk，withalong，cheerfulpointednose，rosycheeks，andchestnuthair——thatalmostmightn’thavebeenawigincertainlights——preparedtoleapforthwithoutwaitingforthereverentassistancethattheProphet，flankedbyMr。FerdinandandGustavus，wasinwaitingtoafford。
Asshejumped，shebegantocry，\"Notmuchwrongwithme，isthere，Hennessey？\"butbeforethesentencewascompletedshehadcaughtherneatfootinherbrownsilkgown，hadstumbledfromthestepofthecarriagetothepavement，hadtwistedherprettyankle，hadreeledandalmostfallen，hadbeencaughtbytheProphetandMr。Ferdinand，bornetenderlyintothehall，andplacedinthearmchairwhichtheterrifiedGustavus，withalmostenragedardour，droveforwardtoreceiveher。Asshesankdowninit，helpless，Mrs。Merilliaexclaimed，withunabatedvivacity，——
\"It’shappened，Hennessey，it’shappened！Butitwasmyowndoin’andyours。Youshouldn’thaveprophesiedatyourage，andIshouldn’thavejumpedatmine。
\"Dearestgrannie！\"criedtheProphet，onhiskneesbesideher，\"howgrieved，howshockedIam！Isit——isit——\"
\"Sprained，Hennessey？\"
Henodded。MechanicallyMr。Ferdinandnodded。Gustavuslethispowderedheaddrop，too，inimitationofhissuperiors。
\"I’lltellyouinthedrawin’——room。\"
Sheplacedherpretty，mittenedhandsuponthearmsofthechair，andgavealittlewriggle，tryingtogetup。Thenshecriedoutmusically，——
\"No，Imustbecarriedup。Mr。Ferdinand！\"
\"Ma’am！\"