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　　CynthiaandMollyhadbothspokenofthebrotherswithfamiliarregard，implyingconsiderableintimacy；theirflowershadbeenpreferredtohisontheoccasionoftheball；mostpeoplespokewellofthem；andMrPrestonhadananimal’sinstinctivejealousyandcombativenessagainstallpopularyoungmen。Their’position’

　　—poorastheHamleysmightbe—wasfarhigherthanhisowninthecounty；

　　and，moreover，hewasagenttothegreatWhiglord，whosepoliticalinterestswerediametricallyopposedtothoseoftheoldTorysquire。NotthatLordCumnortroubledhimselfmuchabouthispoliticalinterests。HisfamilyhadobtainedpropertyandtitlefromtheWhigsatthetimeoftheHanoveriansuccession；andso，traditionally，hewasaWhig，andhadbelongedinhisyouthtoWhigclubs，wherehehadlostconsiderablesumsofmoneytoWhiggamblers。Allthiswassatisfactoryandconsistentenough。AndifLordHollingfordhadnotbeenreturnedforthecountyontheWhiginterest—

　　ashisfatherhadbeenbeforehim，untilhehadsucceededtothetitle—itisquiteprobableLordCumnorwouldhaveconsideredtheBritishconstitutionindanger，andthepatriotismofhisancestorsungratefullyignored。But，exceptingatelections，hehadnonotionofmakingWhigandToryapartycry。HehadlivedtoomuchinLondon，andwasoftoosociableanature，toexcludeanymanwhojumpedwithhishumour，fromthehospitalityhewasalwaysreadytooffer，betheagreeableacquaintanceWhig，Tory，orRadical。Butinthecountyofwhichhewaslord—lieutenant，theoldpartydistinctionwasstillashibbolethbywhichmenweretestedfortheirfitnessforsocialintercourse，aswellasonthehustings。IfbyanychanceaWhigfoundhimselfataTorydinner—table—orvice—vers&acirc；—thefoodwashardofdigestion，andwineandviandswerecriticizedratherthanenjoyed。Amarriagebetweentheyoungpeopleoftheseparatepartieswasalmostasunheard—ofandprohibitedanallianceasthatofRomeoandJuliet’s。AndofcourseMrPrestonwasnotamaninwhosebreastsuchprejudiceswoulddieaway。Theywereanexcitementtohimforonething，andcalledoutallhistalentforintrigueonbehalfofthepartytowhichhewasallied。Moreover，heconsidereditasloyaltytohisemployerto’scatterhisenemies’byanymeansinhispower。HehadalwayshatedanddespisedtheToriesingeneral；andafterthatinterviewonthemarshycommoninfrontofSilas’scottage，hehatedtheHamleysandRogerespecially，withaverychoiceandparticularhatred。’Thatprig，’ashereafterhealwaysdesignatedRoger—’heshallpayforityet，’hesaidtohimselfbywayofconsolation，afterthefatherandsonhadlefthim。’Whataloutitis！’—watchingtherecedingfigure。’Theoldchaphastwiceasmuchspunk，’

　　asthesquiretuggedathisbridle—reins。’Theoldmarecouldmakeherwaybetterwithoutbeingled，myfinefellow。ButIseethroughyourdodge。

　　You’reafraidofyouroldfatherturningbackandgettingintoanotherrage。Positionindeed！abeggarlysquire—amanwhodidturnoffhismenjustbeforewinter，torotorstarve，forallhecared—it’sjustlikeabrutaloldTory。’And，underthecoverofsympathywiththedismissedlabourers，MrPrestonindulgedhisownprivatepiqueverypleasantly。MrPrestonhadmanycausesforrejoicing：hemighthaveforgottenthisdiscomfiture，ashechosetofeelit，intheremembranceofanincreaseofincome，andinthepopularityheenjoyedinhisnewabode。AllHollingfordcameforwardtodotheearl’snewagenthonour。MrSheepshankshadbeenacrabbed，crustyoldbachelor，frequentinginn—parloursonmarket—days，notunwillingtogivedinnerstothreeorfourchosenfriendsandfamiliars，withwhom，inreturn，hedinedfromtimetotime，andwithwhom，also，hekeptupanamicablerivalryinthematterofwines。Buthe’didnotappreciatefemalesociety，’asMissBrowningelegantlywordedhisunwillingnesstoaccepttheinvitationsoftheHollingfordladies。Hewasunrefinedenoughtospeakoftheseinvitationstohisintimatefriendsaforesaidinthefollowingmanner，’Thoseoldwomen’sworrying，’but，ofcourse，theyneverheardofthis。Littlequarter—of—sheetnotes，withoutanyenvelopes—thatinventionwasunknowninthosedays—butsealedinthecornerswhenfoldedupinsteadofgummedastheyarefastenedatpresent，occasionallypassedbetweenMrSheepshanksandtheMissBrownings，MrsGoodenoughorothers。

　　Inthefirstinstance，theformranasfollows：—’Miss’Browningandhersister，MissPhoebeBrowning，presenttheirrespectfulcomplimentstoMrSheepshanks，andbegtoinformhimthatafewfriendshavekindlyconsentedtofavourthemwiththeircompanyatteaonThursdaynext。MissBrowningandMissPhoebewilltakeitverykindlyifMrSheepshankswilljointheirlittlecircle。’NowforMrsGoodenough：—’MrsGoodenough’srespectstoMrSheepshanks，andhopesheisingoodhealth。

　　ShewouldbeverygladifhewouldfavourherwithhiscompanytoteaonMonday。Mydaughter，inCombermere，hassentmeacoupleofguineafowls，andMrsGoodenoughhopesMrSheepshankswillstayandtakeabitofsupper。’Noneedforthedatesofthedaysofthemonth。Thegoodladieswouldhavethoughtthattheworldwascomingtoanendiftheinvitationhadbeensentoutaweekbeforethepartythereinnamed。Butnotevenguinea—fowlsforsuppercouldtemptMrSheepshanks。Herememberedthemade—wineshehadtastedinformerdaysatHollingfordparties，andshuddered。Bread—and—cheese，withaglassofbitter—beer，oralittlebrandy—and—water，partakenofinhisoldclothes（whichhadwornintoshapesofloosecomfort，andsmeltstronglyoftobacco），helikedbetterthanroastguinea—fowlandbirch—wine，evenwithoutthrowingintothebalancethestiffuneasycoat，andthetightneckclothandtightershoes。Sotheex—agenthadbeenseldom，ifever，seenattheHollingfordtea—parties。Hemighthavehadhisformofrefusalstereotyped，itwassoinvariablythesame。’MrSheepshanks’dutytoMissBrowningandhersister’（toMrsGoodenough，ortoothers，asthecasemightbe）。’Businessofimportancepreventshimfromavailinghimselfoftheirpoliteinvitation；forwhichhebegstoreturnhisbestthanks。’ButnowthatMrPrestonhadsucceeded，andcometoliveinHollingford，thingswerechanged。Heacceptedeverycivilityrightandleft，andwongoldenopinionsaccordingly。

　　Partiesweremadeinhishonour，’justasifhehadbeenabride，’MissPhoebeBrowningsaid；andtoallofthemhewent。’What’sthemanafter？’saidMrSheepshankstohimself，whenheheardofhissuccessor’saffability，andsociability，andamiability，andavarietyofotheragreeable’ilities，’fromthefriendswhomtheoldstewardstillretainedatHollingford。’Preston’snotamantoputhimselfoutfornothing。He’sdeep。He’llbeaftersomethingsoliderthanpopularity。’Thesagaciousoldbachelorwasright。MrPrestonwas’after’somethingmorethanmerepopularity。HewentwhereverhehadachanceofmeetingCynthiaKirkpatrick。ItmightbethatMolly’sspiritsweremoredepressedatthistimethantheywereingeneral；orthatCynthiawasexultant，unawarestoherself，intheamountofattentionandadmirationshewasreceivingfromRogerbyday，fromMrPrestonintheevenings，butthetwogirlsseemedtohavepartedcompanyincheerfulness。Mollywasalwaysgentle，butverygraveandsilent。Cynthia，onthecontrary，wasmerry，fullofprettymockeries，andhardlyeversilent。WhenfirstshecametoHollingford，oneofhergreatcharmshadbeenthatshewassuchagraciouslistener；nowherexcitement，bywhatevercaused，madehertoorestlesstoholdhertongue；yetwhatshesaidwastoopretty，toowitty，nottobeawinningandsparklinginterruption，eagerlywelcomedbythosewhowereunderhersway。MrGibsonwastheonlyonewhoobservedthischange，andreasoneduponit。’Sheisinamentalfeverofsomekind，’thoughthetohimself。’Sheisveryfascinating，butIdon’tquiteunderstandher。’IfMollyhadnotbeensoentirelyloyaltoherfriend，shemighthavethoughtthisconstantbrilliancyalittletiresomewhenbroughtintoevery—daylife；itwasnotthesunshinyrestofaplacidlake，itwasrathertheglitterofthepiecesofabrokenmirror，whichconfusesandbewilders。Cynthiawouldnottalkquietlyaboutanythingnow；subjectsofthoughtorconversationseemedtohavelosttheirrelativevalue。Therewereexceptionstothismoodofhers，whenshesankintodeepfitsofsilence，thatwouldhavebeengloomyhaditnotbeenforthenevervaryingsweetnessofhertemper。IftherewasalittlekindnesstobedonetoeitherMrGibsonorMolly，Cynthiawasjustasreadyasevertodoit；nordidsherefusetodoanythinghermotherwished，howeverfidgetymightbe，thehumourthatpromptedthewish。ButinthislattercaseCynthia’seyeswerenotquickenedbyherheart。Mollywasdejected，sheknewnotwhy。Cynthiahaddriftedalittleapart；

　　thatwasnotit。Herstepmotherhadwhimsicalmoods；andifCynthiadispleasedher，shewouldoppressMollywithsmallkindnessesandpseudo—affection。

　　Orelseeverythingwaswrong，theworldwasoutofjoint，andMollyhadfailedinhermissiontosetitright，andwastobeblamedaccordingly。

　　ButMollywasoftoosteadyadispositiontobemuchmovedbythechangeablenessofanunreasonableperson。Shemightbeannoyed，orirritated，butshewasnotdepressed。Thatwasnotit。Therealcausewascertainlythis。

　　AslongasRogerwasdrawntoCynthia，andsoughtherofhisownaccord，ithadbeenasorepainandbewildermenttoMolly’sheart；butitwasastraightforwardattraction，andonewhichMollyacknowledged，inherhumilityandgreatpowerofloving，tobethemostnaturalthingintheworld。ShewouldlookatCynthia’sbeautyandgrace，andfeelasifnoonecouldresistit。AndwhenshewitnessedallthesmallsignsofhonestdevotionwhichRogerwasatnopainstoconceal，shethought，withasigh，thatsurelynogirlcouldhelprelinquishingherhearttosuchtender，strongkeepingasRoger’scharacterensured。Shewouldhavebeenwillingtocutoffherrighthand，ifneedwere，toforwardhisattachmenttoCynthia；andtheself—sacrificewouldhaveaddedastrangezesttoahappycrisis。ShewasindignantatwhatsheconsideredtobeMrsGibson’sobtusenesstosomuchgoodnessandworth；andwhenshecalledRoger’acountrylout’，oranyotherdepreciativeepithet，Mollywouldpinchherselfinordertokeepsilent。Butafterallthosewerepeacefuldayscomparedtothepresent，whenshe，seeingthewrongsideofthetapestry，afterthewontofthosewhodwellinthesamehousewithaplotter，becameawarethatMrsGibsonhadtotallychangedherbehaviourtoRoger，fromsomecauseunknowntoMolly。Buthewasalwaysexactlythesame；’steadyasoldTime，’asMrsGibsoncalledhim，withherusualoriginality；’arockofstrength，underwhoseveryshadowthereisrest，’asMrsHamleyhadoncespokenofhim。SothecauseofMrsGibson’salteredmannerlaynotinhim。Yetnowhewassureofawelcome，lethimcomeatanyhourhewould。HewasplayfullyreprovedforhavingtakenMrsGibson’swordstooliterally，andfornevercomingbeforelunch。Buthesaidheconsideredherreasonsforsuchwordstobevalid，andshouldrespectthem。Andthiswasdoneoutofhissimplicity，andfromnotingeofmalice。Thenintheirfamilyconversationsathome，MrsGibsonwasconstantlymakingprojectsforthrowingRoger’andCynthiatogether，withsoevidentabetrayalofherwishtobringaboutanengagement，thatMollychafedatthenetspreadsoevidently，andatRoger’sblindnessincomingsowillinglytobeentrapped。Sheforgothispreviouswillingness，hisformerevidencesofmanlyfondnessforthebeautifulCynthia；sheonlysawplotsofwhichhewasthevictim，andCynthiatheconsciousifpassivebait。ShefeltasifshecouldnothaveactedasCynthiadid；no，noteventogainRoger’slove。Cynthiaheardandsawasmuchofthedomesticbackgroundasshedid，andyetshesubmittedtother&ocirc；leassignedtoher！Tobesure，thisr&ocirc；lewouldhavebeenplayedbyherunconsciously；

　　thethingsprescribedwerewhatshewouldnaturallyhavedone；butbecausetheywereprescribed—byimplicationonly，itistrue—Mollywouldhaveresisted；havegoneout，forinstance，whenshewasexpectedtostayathome；orhavelingeredinthegardenwhenalongcountrywalkwasplanned。

　　Atlast—forshecouldnothelplovingCynthia，comewhatwould—shedeterminedtobelievethatCynthiawasentirelyunawareofall；butitwaswithaneffortthatshebroughtherselftobelieveit。Itmaybeallverypleasant’tosportwithAmaryllisintheshade，orwiththetanglesofNe&aelig；ra’shair，’butyoungmenattheoutsetoftheirindependentlifehavemanyothercaresinthisprosaicEnglandtooccupytheirtimeandtheirthoughts。RogerwasFellowofTrinity，tobesure；

　　andfromtheoutsideitcertainlyappearedasifhisposition，aslongashechosetokeepunmarried，wasaveryeasyone。Hiswasnotanature，however，tosinkdownintoingloriousease，evenhadhisfellowshipincomebeenathisdisposal。Helookedforwardtoanactivelife；inwhatdirectionhehadnotyetdetermined。Heknewwhatwerehistalentsandhistastes；

　　anddidnotwishtheformertolieburied，northelatter，whichheregardedasgifts，fittinghimforsomepeculiarwork，tobedisregardedorthwarted。

　　Heratherlikedawaitinganobject，secureinhisownenergytoforcehiswaytoit，whenheoncesawitclearly。Hereservedenoughofmoneyforhisownpersonalneeds，whichweresmall，andforthereadyfurtheranceofanyprojecthemightseefittoundertake；therestofhisincomewasOsborne’s；givenandacceptedinthespiritwhichmadethebondbetweenthesetwobrotherssorarelyperfect。ItwasonlythethoughtofCynthiathatthrewRogeroffhisbalance。Astrongmanineverythingelse，aboutherhewasasachild。Heknewthathecouldnotmarryandretainhisfellowship；

　　hisintentionwastoholdhimselfloosefromanyemploymentorprofessionuntilhehadfoundonetohismind，sotherewasnoimmediateprospect—noprospectformanyyears，indeed，thathewouldbeabletomarry。YethewentonseekingCynthia’ssweetcompany，listeningtothemusicofhervoice，baskinginhersunshine，andfeedinghispassionineverypossibleway，justlikeanunreasoningchild。Heknewthatitwasfolly—andyethedidit；anditwasperhapsthisthatmadehimsosympatheticwithOsborne。

　　RogerrackedhisbrainsaboutOsborne’saffairsmuchmorefrequentlythanOsbornetroubledhimself。Indeed，hehadbecomesoailingandlanguidoflate，thateventhesquiremadeonlyveryfaintobjectionstohisdesireforfrequentchangeofscene，thoughformerlyheusedtogrumblesomuchatthenecessaryexpenditureitinvolved。’Afterall，itdoesnotcostmuch，’thesquiresaidtoRogeroneday。’Choosehowhedoesit，hedoesitcheaply；heusedtocomeandaskmefortwenty，wherenowhedoesitforfive。ButheandI。havelosteachother’slanguage，that’swhatwehave！andmydictionary’（onlyhecalledit’dixonary’）

　　’hasallgotwrongbecauseofthoseconfoundeddebts—whichhewillneverexplaintome，ortalkabout—healwaysholdsmeoffatarm’slengthwhenIbeginuponit—hedoes，Roger—me，hisolddad，aswashisprimestfavouriteofall，whenhewasalittlebitofachap！’ThesquiredweltsomuchuponOsborne’sreservedbehaviourtohimself’

　　thatbroodingoverthisonesubjectperpetuallyhebecamemoremoroseandgloomythaneverinhismannertoOsborne，resentingthewantoftheconfidenceandaffectionthathethusrepelled。SomuchsothatRoger，whodesiredtoavoidbeingmadethereceptacleofhisfather’scomplaintsagainstOsborne—andRoger’spassivelisteningwasthesedativehisfatheralwayssought—hadoftentohaverecoursetothediscussionofthedrainageworksasacounter—irritant。ThesquirehadfeltMrPreston’sspeechaboutthedismissalofhisworkpeopleverykeenly；itfellinwiththereproachesofhisownconscience，though，ashewouldrepeattoRogeroverandoveragain，—

　　’Icouldnothelpit—howcouldI？—Iwasdraineddryofreadymoney—IwishthelandwasdrainedasdryasIam，’saidhe，withatouchofhumourthatcameoutbeforehewasaware，andatwhichhesmiledsadlyenough。’WhatwasItodo，Iaskyou，Roger？IknowIwasinarage—I’vehadadealtomakemeso—andmaybeIdidnotthinkasmuchaboutconsequencesasIshouldha’done，whenIgaveordersfor’emtobesentoff；butI

　　couldnothavedoneotherwiseifI’dha’thoughtforatwelvemonthincoolblood。Consequences！Ihateconsequences；they’vealwaysbeenagainstme；

　　theyhave。I’msotiedupIcan’tcutdownastickmore，andthat’sa\"consequence\"

　　ofhavingthepropertysodeucedlywellsettled；IwishI’dneverhadanyancestors。Ay，laugh，lad！itdoesmegoodtoseetheelaughabit，afterOsborne’slongface，whichalwaysgrowslongeratsighto’me！’’Lookhere，father！’saidRogersuddenly，’I’llmanagesomehowaboutthemoneyfortheworks。Youtrusttome；givemetwomonthstoturnmyselfin，andyoushallhavesomemoney，atanyrate，tobeginwith。’Thesquirelookedathim，andhisfacebrightenedasachild’sdoesatthepromiseofapleasuremadetohimbysomeoneonwhomhecanrely。

　　Hebecamealittlegraver，however，ashesaid，—’Buthowwillyougetit？It’shardenoughwork。’’Nevermind；I’llgetit—ahundredorsoatfirst—Idon’tyetknowhow—butremember，father，I’maSeniorWrangler，anda\"verypromisingyoungwriter，\"asthatreviewcalledme。Oh，youdon’tknowwhatafinefellowyou’vegotforason。Youshouldhavereadthatreviewtoknowallmywonderfulmerits。’’Idid，Roger。IheardGibsonspeakingofit，andImadehimgetitforme。IshouldhaveunderstooditbetteriftheycouldhavecalledtheanimalsbytheirEnglishnames，andnotputsomuchoftheirFrenchjingointoit。’’ButitwasananswertoanarticlebyaFrenchwriter，’pleadedRoger。’I’dha’lethimalone！’saidthesquireearnestly。’Wehadtobeat’em，andwediditatWaterloo；butI’dnotdemeanmyselfbyansweringanyoftheirlies，ifIwasyou。ButIgotthroughthereview，foralltheirLatinandFrench；Idid，andifyoudoubtme，youjustlookattheendofthegreatledger，turnitupsidedown，andyou’llfindI’vecopiedoutallthefinewordstheysaidofyou：\"carefulobserver，\"\"strongnervousEnglish，\"

　　\"risingphilosopher。\"Oh！Icannearlysayitalloffbyheart，formanyatimewhenIamfrabbedbybaddebts，orOsborne’sbills，ormoideredwithaccounts，Iturntheledgerwrongwayup，andsmokeapipeoverit，whileIreadthosepiecesoutofthereviewwhichspeakaboutyou，lad！’

　　chapter32CHAPTERXXXIICOMINGEVENTSRogerhadturnedovermanyplansinhismind，bywhichhethoughtthathecouldobtainsufficientmoneyforthepurposehedesiredtoaccomplish。

　　Hiscarefulgrandfather，whohadbeenamerchantinthecity，hadsotiedupthefewthousandshehadlefttohisdaughter，thatalthough，incaseofherdeathbeforeherhusband’s，thelattermightenjoythelifeinterestthereof，yetincaseofboththeirdeaths，theirsecondsondidnotsucceedtothepropertyuntilhewasfive—and—twenty。andifhediedbeforethatagethemoneythatwouldthenhavebeenhiswenttooneofhiscousinsonthematernalside。Inshort，theoldmerchanthadtakenasmanyprecautionsabouthislegacyasifithadbeenfortens，insteadofunitsofthousands。

　　OfcourseRogermighthaveslippedthroughallthesemeshesbyinsuringhislifeuntilthespecifiedage；andprobablyifhehadconsultedanylawyerthiscoursewouldhavebeensuggestedtohim。Buthedislikedtakinganyoneintohisconfidenceonthesubjectofhisfather’swantofreadymoney。Hehadobtainedacopyofhisgrandfather’swillatDoctors’Commons，andheimaginedthatallthecontingenciesinvolvedinitwouldbepatenttothelightofnatureandcommonsense。Hewasalittlemistakeninthis，butnotthelessresolvedthatmoneyinsomewayhewouldhaveinordertofulfilhispromisetohisfather，andfortheulteriorpurposeofgivingthesquiresomedailyinteresttodistracthisthoughtsfromtheregretsandcaresthatwerealmostweakeninghismind。Itwas’RogerHamley，SeniorWranglerandFellowofTrinity，tothehighestbidder，nomatterwhathonestemployment，’andpresentlyitcamedownto’anybidderatall。’AnotherperplexityanddistressatthistimeweigheduponRoger。Osborne，heirtotheestate，wasgoingtohaveachild。TheHamleypropertywasentailedon’heirsmaleborninlawfulwedlock。’Wasthe’wedlock’lawful？

　　Osborneneverseemedtodoubtthatitwas—neverseemed，infact，tothinktwiceaboutit。Andifhe，thehusband，didnot，howmuchlessdidAim&eacute；e，thetrustfulwife？Yetwhocouldtellhowmuchmiseryanyshadowsofillegalitymightcastintothefuture？OneeveningRoger，sittingbythelanguid，careless，dilettanteOsborne，begantoquestionhimastothedetailsofthemarriage。OsborneknewinstinctivelyatwhatRogerwasaiming。Itwasnotthathedidnotdesireperfectlegalityinjusticetohiswife；itwasthathewassoindisposedatthetimethathehatedtobebothered。

　　ItwassomethingliketherefrainofGray’sScandinavianProphetess：’Leaveme，leavemetorepose。’’Butdotryandtellmehowyoumanagedit。’’Howtiresomeyouare，Roger，’putinOsborne。’Well，IdaresayIam。Goon！’’I’vetoldyouMorrisonmarriedus。YourememberoldMorrisonatTrinity？’’Yes；asgoodandblunder—headedafellowaseverlived。’’Well，he’stakenorders；andtheexaminationforpriest’sordersfatiguedhimsomuchthathegothisfathertogivehimahundredortwoforatourontheContinent。HemeanttogettoRome，becauseheheardthatthereweresuchpleasantwintersthere。SoheturnedupatMetzinAugust。’’Idon’tseewhy。’’Nomoredidhe。Heneverwasgreatingeography，youknow；andsomehowhethoughtthatMetz，pronouncedFrenchfashion，mustbeontheroadtoRome。Someonehadtoldhimsoinfun。However，itwasverywellformethatImetwithhimthereforIwasdeterminedtobemarried，andthatwithoutlossoftime。’’ButAim&eacute；eisaCatholic？’’That’strue！butyouseeIamnot。Youdon’tsupposeIwoulddoheranywrong，Roger？’askedOsborne，sittingupinhislounging—chair，andspeakingratherindignantlytoRoger，hisfacesuddenlyflushingred。’No！I’msureyouwouldnotmeanit；butyouseethere’sachildcoming，andthisestateisentailedon\"heirsmale。\"Now，Iwanttoknowifthemarriageislegalornot？anditseemstomeit’saticklishquestion。’’Oh！’saidOsborne，fallingbackintorepose，’ifthat’sall，Isupposeyou’renextheirmale，andIcantrustyouasIcanmyself。Youknowmymarriageisbon&acirc；fideinintention，andIbelieveittobelegalinfact。WewentovertoStrasbourg；Aim&eacute；epickedupafriend—agoodmiddle—agedFrenchwoman—whoservedhalfasbridesmaid，halfaschaperone，andthenwewentbeforethemayor—pr&eacute；fet—whatdoyoucallthem？IthinkMorrisonratherenjoyedthespree。Isignedallmannerofpapersintheprefecture；Ididnotreadthemover，forfearlestIcouldnotsignthemconscientiously。Itwasthesafestplan。Aim&eacute；ekepttremblingsoIthoughtshewouldfaint，andthenwewentofftothenearestEnglishchaplaincy，Carlsruhe，andthechaplainwasaway，soMorrisoneasilygottheloanofthechapel，andweweremarriedthenextday。’’Butsurelysomeregistrationorcertificatewasnecessary？’’Morrisonsaidhewouldundertakeallthoseforms；andheoughttoknowhisownbusiness。’IknowItippedhimprettywellforthejob。’’Youmustbemarriedagain，’saidRoger，afterapause，’andthatbeforethechildisborn。Haveyougotacertificateofthemarriage？’’IdaresayMorrisonhasgotitsomewhere。ButIbelieveI’mlegallymarriedaccordingtothelawsbothofEnglandandFrance；Ireallydo，oldfellow。

　　I’vegotthepr&eacute；fet’spaperssomewhere。’’Nevermind！youshallbemarriedagaininEngland。Aim&eacute；egoestotheRomanCatholicchapelatPrestham，doesnotshe？’’Yes。SheissogoodIwouldnotdisturbherinherreligionfortheworld。’’Thenyoushallbemarriedboththereandatthechurchoftheparishinwhichshelivesaswell，’saidRoger，decidedly。’It’sagreatdealoftrouble，unnecessarytrouble，andunnecessaryexpense，Ishouldsay，’saidOsborne。’Whycan’tyouleavewellalone？NeitherAim&eacute；enorIareofthesortofstufftoturnscoundrelsanddenythelegalityofourmarriage，andifthechildisaboyandmyfatherdies，andIdie，whyI’m。sureyou’lldohimjustice，assureasIamofmyself，oldfellow！’’ButifIdieintothebargain？MakeahecatombofthepresentHamleysallatonce，whileyouareaboutit。Whosucceedsasheirmale？’Osbornethoughtforamoment。’OneoftheIrishHamleys，Isuppose。Ifancytheyareneedychaps。Perhapsyou’reright。Butwhatneedtohavesuchgloomyforebodings？’’Thelawmakesonehaveforesightinsuchaffairs，’saidRoger。’SoI’llgodowntoAim&eacute；enextweekwhenI’mintown，andI’llmakeallnecessaryarrangementsbeforeyoucome。Ithinkyou’llbehappierifitisalldone。’’IshallbehappierifI’veachanceofseeingthelittlewoman，thatI

　　grantyou。Butwhatistakingyouuptotown？IwishI’dmoneytorunaboutlikeyou，insteadofbeingshutupforeverinthisdulloldhouse。’OsbornewasaptoccasionallytocontrasthispositionwithRoger’sinatoneofcomplaint，forgettingthatbothweretheresultsofcharacter，andalsothatoutofhisincomeRogergaveupsolargeaportionforthemaintenanceofhisbrother’swife。ButifthisungenerousthoughtofOsborne’shadbeensetclearlybeforehisconscience，hewouldhavesmotehisbreastandcried’Meaculpa’withthebestofthem；itwasonlythathewastooindolenttokeepanunassistedconscience。’Ishouldnothavethoughtofgoingup，’saidRoger，reddeningasifhehadbeenaccusedofspendinganother’smoneyinsteadofhisown，’ifI

　　hadnothadtogouponbusiness。LordHollingfordhaswrittenforme；

　　heknowsmygreatwishforemployment，andhasheardofsomethingwhichheconsiderssuitable；there’shisletterifyoucaretoreadit。Butitdoesnottellanythingdefinitely。’OsbornereadtheletterandreturnedittoRoger。Afteramomentortwoofsilencehesaid，—’Whydoyouwantmoney？Arewetakingtoomuchfromyou？It’sagreatshameofme；butwhatcanIdo？Onlysuggestacareerforme，andI’llfollowitto—morrow。’HespokeasifRogerhadbeenreproachinghim。’Mydearfellow，don’tgetthosenotionsintoyourhead！Imustdosomethingformyselfsometimes，andIhavebeenonthelook—out。Besides，Iwantmyfathertogoonwithhisdrainage，itwoulddogoodbothtohishealthandhisspirits。