第13章

Formyownpart，IfindthatthoughSmithbeaverygoodMinister，thebestperhapstobehadatthetime，whenhebreaksdownJonesdoesnearlyaswell。’

’TherewillbeaJones，then，ifyourSmithdoesbreakdown？’

’NodoubtEnglandwouldn’tcometoanendbecausetheDukeofOmniumshuthimselfupatMatching。ButIlovetheman，and，withsomefewexceptions，amcontentedwiththeparty。Wecan’tdobetter，anditcutsmetotheheartwhenIseehimsuffering，knowinghowmuchIdidmyselftomakehimundertakethework。’

’IshegoingtoGatherumCastle？’

’No——toMatching。Thereissomediscomfortaboutthat。’

’Isuppose，’saidLordCantrip，——speakingalmostinawhisper，althoughtheywereclosetedtogether，——’IsupposetheDuchessisalittletroublesome。’

’She’sthedearestwomanintheworld，’saidtheDukeofStBungay。’IloveheralmostasIdomyowndaughter。Andsheismostzealoustoservehim。’

’Ifancysheoverdoesit。’

’Nodoubt。’

’Andthathesuffersfromperceivingit，’saidLordCantrip。

’Butamanhasn’tarighttosupposethatheshallhavenoannoyances。Thebesthorseintheworldhassomefaults。Hepulls，orheshies，orisslowathisfences，ordoesn’tlikeheavyground。Hehasnotrighttoexpectthathiswifeshallknoweverythinganddoeverythingwithoutamistake。Andthenhehassuchfaultsofhisown！Hisskinissothin。DoyourememberdearoldBrock？Byheavens，——therewasacovering，ahideimpervioustofireorsteel！Hewouldn’thavegoneintotantrumsbecausehiswifeaskedtoomaypeopletothehouse。

Nevertheless，Iwon’tgiveupallhope。’

’Aman’sskinmaybethickened，Isuppose。’

’Nodoubt——asablacksmith’sarm。’

ButtheDukeofStBungay，thoughhedeclaredthathewouldn’tgiveuphope，wasveryuneasyonthematter。’Whydon’tyouletmego？’theotherDukehadsaidtohim。

’What——becausesuchamanasSirOrlandoDroughtthrowsuphisoffice？’

ButintruththeDukeofOmniumhadnotbeeninstigatedtoaskthequestionbytheresignationofSirOrlando。AtthatverymomentthePeople’sBannerhadbeenputoutofsightatthebottomofaheapofothernewspapersbehindthePrimeMinister’schair，andhispresentmiseryhadbeenproducedbyMrQuintusSlide。Tohaveafesteringwoundandtobeabletoshowthewoundtonosurgeon，iswretchednessindeed！’It’snotSirOrlando，butasenseofgeneralfailure，’saidthePrimeMinister。Thenhisoldfriendhadmadeuseofthatargumentoftheever-

recurringmajoritiestoprovethattherehadbeennofailure。

’Thereseemstohavecomealethargyuponthecountry，’saidthepoorvictim。ThentheDukeofStBungayknewthathisfriendhadreadthatperniciousarticleinthePeople’sBanner，fortheDukehadalsoreaditandrememberedthatphraseofa’lethargyonthecountry’，andunderstoodatoncehowthepoisonhadrankled。

ItwasaweekbeforehewouldconsenttoaskanymantofillthevacancymadebySirOrlando。Hewouldnotallowsuggestionstobemadetohimandyetwouldnamenoonehimself。TheoldDuke，indeed，didmakeasuggestion，andanythingcomingfromhimwasofcoursebornewithpatience。BarringtonErle，hethought，woulddofortheAdmiralty。ButthePrimeMinistershookhishead。’Inthefirstplacehewouldrefuse，andthatwouldbeagreatblowtome。’

’Icouldsoundhim，’saidtheoldDuke。ButthePrimeMinisteragainshookhisheadandturnedthesubject。Withallhistimidityhewasbecomingautocraticandpeevishlyimperious。

ThenhewenttoLordCantrip，andwhenLordCantrip，withallthekindnesswhichhecouldthrowintohiswords，statedthereasonswhichinducedhimatpresenttodeclineoffice，hewasagainindespair。AtlastheaskedPhineasFinntomovetotheAdmiralty，and，whenouroldfriendsomewhatreluctantlyobeyed，ofcoursehehadthesamedifficultyinfillingtheofficeFinnhadheld。

Otherchangesandothercomplicationsbecamenecessary，andMrQuintusSlide，whohatedPhineasFinnevenworsethanthepoorDuke，foundamplescopeforhispatrioticindignation。

ThisalltookplaceintheclosingweekoftheSession，fillingourpoorPrimeMinisterwithtroubleanddismay，justwhenotherpeoplewerecomplainingthattherewasnothingtothinkofandnothingtodo。MendonotreallylikeleavingLondonbeforethegrousecallsthem，——thegrouseorratherthefashionofthegrouse。Andsomeladieswereveryangryatbeingseparatedsosoonfromtheirswainsinthecity。Thetradesmentooweredispleased，——sothattherewerevoicestore-echotheabuseofthePeople’sBanner。TheDuchesshaddoneherbesttoprolongtheSessionbyanotherweek，tellingherhusbandoftheevilconsequencesabovesuggested，buthehadthrownwidehisarmsandaskedherwithaffecteddismaywhetherhewastokeepParliamentsittinginorderthatmoreribbonsmightbesold！’Thereisnothingtobedone，’saidtheDukealmostangrily。

’Thenyoushouldmakesomethingtobedone，’saidtheDuchess，mimickinghim。

CHAPTER42

RETRIBUTION。

TheDuchesshadbeenatworkwithherhusbandforthelasttwomonthsinthehopeofrenewingherautumnalfestivities，buthadbeenlamentablyunsuccessful。TheDukehaddeclaredthatthereshouldbenomoreruralcrowds，norepetitionofwhathecalledLondonturnedlooseonhisowngrounds。HecouldnotforgetthenecessitywhichhadbeenimposeduponhimofturningMajorPountneyoutofhishouse，orthechangethathadbeenmadeinhisgardens，orhiswife’sattempttoconquerhimatSilverbridge。’Doyoumean，’shesaid，’thatwearetohavenobody？’HerepliedthathethoughtitwouldbebesttogotoMatching。’AndliveaDarbyandJoanlife？’saidtheDuchess。

’IsaidnothingofDarbyandJoan。WhatevermaybemyfeelingsI

hardlythinkthatyouarefittedforthatkindofthing。

MatchingisnotsobigasGatherum，butitisnotacottage。Ofcourseyoucanaskyourownfriends。’

’Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbymyownfriends。Iendeavouralwaystoaskyours。’

’Idon’tknowthatMajorPountney，andCaptainGunner，andMrLopezwereeveramongthenumberofmyfriends。’

’IsupposeyoumeanLadyRosina？’saidtheDuchess。’IshallbehappytohaveheratMatching，ifyouwishit。’

’IshouldliketoseeLadyRosinaDeCourcyatMatchingverymuch。’

’Andistheretobenobodyelse？I’mafraidIshouldfinditratherdullwhileyoutwowereopeningyourheartstoeachother。’Herehelookedatherangrily。’CanyouthinkofanybodybesidesLadyRosina？’

’IsupposeyouwillwishtohaveMrsFinn。’

’Whatanarrangement！LadyRosinaforyoutoflirtwith，andMrsFinnformetogrumbleto。’

’Thatisanodiousword，’saidthePrimeMinister。

’What——flirting？Idon’tseeanythingbadabouttheword。Thethingisdangerous。Butyouarequiteatlibertyifyoudon’tgobeyondLadyRosina。Ishouldliketoknowwhetheryouwouldwishanybodyelsetocome？’Ofcoursehemadenobecominganswertothisquestion，andofcoursenobecominganswerwasexpected。Heknewthatshewastryingtoprovokehimbecausehewouldnotletherdothisyearasshehaddonelast。Thehouse，hehadnodoubt，wouldbefulltooverflowingwhenhegotthere。Hecouldnothelpthat。ButascomparedwithGatherumCastlethehouseatMatchingwassmall，andhisdomesticauthoritysufficedatanyrateforshuttingupGatherumforthetime。

Idonotknowwhetherattimeshersufferingswerenotasacuteashisown。He，atanyrate，wasPrimeMinister，anditseemedtoherthatshewastobereducedtonothing。Atthebeginningofitallhehad，withunwontedtendernessaskedherforhersympathyinhisundertaking，and，accordingtoherpower，shehadgivenittohimwithherwholeheart。Shehadthoughtthatshehadseenawaybywhichshemightassisthiminhisgreatemployment，andshehadworkedatitlikeaslave。Everydayshetoldherselfthatshedidnot，herself，lovetheCaptainGunnersandMajorPountneys，northeSirOrlandos，nor，indeedtheLadyRosinas。Shehadnotfollowedthebentofherowninclinationwhenshehaddescendedtosheetsandtowels，andbusiedherselftoestablishanarchery-ground。Shehadnotshotanarrowduringthewholeseason，norhadshecaredwhohadwonandwhohadlost。

Ithadnotbeenforherownpersonaldelightthatshehadkeptopenhouseforfortypersonsthroughoutfourmonthsoftheyear，indoingwhichhehadnevertakenanounceoflabouroffhershouldersbyanysinglewordordeed！Ithadallbeendoneforhissake，——thathisreignmightbelongandtriumphant，thattheworldmightsaythathishospitalitywasnobleandfull，thathisnamemightbeinmen’smouths，andthathemightprosperasaBritishMinister。Such，atleast，weretheassertionswhichshemadetoherself，whenshethoughtofherowngrievancesandherowntroubles。Andhowshewasangrywithherhusband。Itwasverywellforhimtoaskforhersympathy，buthehadnonetogiveherinreturn！Hecouldnotpityherfailures，——eventhoughhehadhimselfcausedthem！Ifhehadagrainofintelligenceabouthimhemust，shethought，understandwellenoughhowsoreitmustbeforhertodescendfromherprincelyentertainmentstosolitudeatMatching，andthustoownbeforealltheworldthatshewasbeaten。Thenwhensheaskedhimforadvice，whenshewasreallyanxioustoknowhowfarshemightgoinfillingherhousewithoutoffendinghim，hetoldhertoaskLadyRosinaDeCourcy！Ifhechosetoberidiculoushemight。

ShewouldaskLadyRosinaDeCourcy。InheractiveangershedidwritetoLadyRosinaDeCourcyaformalletter，inwhichshesaidthattheDukehopedtohavethepleasureofherladyship’scompanyatMatchingParkonthe1stAugust。Itwasanabsurdletter，somewhatlong，writtenverymuchintheDuke’sname，withoverwhelmingexpressionsofaffection，instigatedinthewriter’smindpartlybythefunofsuppositionthatsuchamanasherhusbandshouldflirtwithsuchawomanasLadyRosina。Therewassomethingtooofangerinwhatshewrote，sometouchofrevenge。

Shesentoffthisinvitation，andshesentnoother。LadyRosinatookitallingoodpart，andrepliedsayingthatsheshouldhavethegreatestpleasureingoingtoMatching！Shehaddeclaredtoherselfthatshewouldasknonebutthosehehadnamed，andinaccordancewithherresolutionshesentoutnootherwritteninvitation。

HehadalsotoldhertoaskMrsFinn。Nowthishadbecomealmostamatterofcourse。Therehadgrownupfromaccidentalcircumstancessostrongabondbetweenthesetwowomen，thatitwastakenforgrantedbyboththeirhusbandsthattheyshouldbenearlyalwayswithinreachofoneanother。Andthetwohusbandswerealsoonkindly，ifnotaffectionate，termswitheachother。

ThenatureoftheDuke’scharacterwassuchthat，withamostlovingheart，hewashardlycapableofthatopeningoutofhimselftoanotherwhichisnecessaryforpositivefriendship。

Therewasastiffreserveabouthim，ofwhichhewashimselfonlytooconscious，whichalmostprohibitedfriendship。ButhelikedMrFinnbothasamanandamemberofhisparty，andwasalwayssatisfiedtohavehimasaguest。TheDuchess，therefore，hadtakenitforgrantedthatMrsFinnwouldcometoher，——andthatMrFinnwouldcomealsoanytimethathemightbeabletoescapefromIreland。But，whentheinvitationwasverballyconveyed，MrFinnhadgonetotheAdmiralty，andhadalreadymadearrangementsforgoingtosea，asagallantsailorshould。’WearegoingawayintheBlackWatchforacoupleofmonths，’saidMrsFinn。NowtheBlackWatchwasanAdmiraltyyacht。

’Heavensandearth！’ejaculatedtheDuchess。

’Itisalwaysdone。TheFirstLordwouldhavehisepauletsstrippedifhedidn’tgotoseainAugust。’

’Andmustyougowithhim？’

’Ihavepromised。’

’Ithinkitveryunkind，——veryharduponme。OfcourseyouknowthatIshouldwantyou。’

’Butifmyhusbandwantsmetoo？’

’Botheryourhusband！IwishwithallmyheartIhadneverhelpedmakeupthematch。’

’Itwouldhavebeenmadeupallthesame，LadyGlen。’

’YouknowthatIcannotgetonwithoutyou。Andheoughttoknowittoo。Thereisn’tanotherpersonintheworldthatIcanreallysayathingto。’

’Whydon’tyouhaveMrsGrey？’

’She’sgoingtoPersiawithherhusband。Andthensheisnotwickedenough。Shealwayslecturedme，andshedoesitstill。

Whatdoyouthinkisgoingtohappen？’

’Nothingterrible，Ihope，’saidMrsFinn，mindfulofherhusband’snewhonoursattheAdmiralty，andhopingthattheDukemightnothaverepeatedhisthreatofresigning。

’WearegoingtoMatching。’

’SoIsupposed。’

’Andwhomdoyouthinkwearegoingtohave？’

’NotMajorPountney？’

’No——notatmyasking。’

’NotMrLopez？’

’NoryetMrLopez。Guessagain。’

’Isupposetherewillbeadozentoguess。’

’No，’shriekedtheDuchess。’Therewillonlybeone。Ihaveaskedone，——athisspecialdesire，——andasyouwon’tcomeI

shallasknobodyelse。WhenIpressedhimtonameasecondhenamedyou。I’llobeyhimtotheletter。Now，mydear，whodoyouthinkisthechosenone，——theonepersonwhoistosolacetheperturbedspiritofthePrimeMinisterforthethreemonthsoftheautumn。’

’MrWarburton，Ishouldsay。’

’Oh，MrWarburton！NodoubtMrWarburtonwillcomeaspartofhisluggageandpossiblyhalf-a-dozenTreasuryclerks。Hedeclares，however，thatthereisnothingtodo，andthereforeMrWarburton’sstrengthalonemaysufficetohelphimtodoit。

Thereistobeoneunnecessaryguest，——unnecessary，thatis，forofficialpurpose，though，——oh，——somuchneededforhissocialhappiness。Guessonemore。’

’Knowingthespiritofmischiefthatisinyou，——perhapsitisLadyRosina。’

’OfcourseitisLadyRosina，’saidtheDuchess，clappingherhandstogether。’AndIshouldliketoknowwhatyoumeanbyspiritofmischief！Iaskedhim，andhehimselfsaidthatheparticularlywishedtohaveLadyRosinaatMatching。Now，I’mnotajealouswoman，——amI？’

’NotofLadyRosina。’

’Idon’tthinkthey’lldoanyharmtogether，butitisparticular，youknow。However，sheistocome。Andnobodyelseistocome。Ididcountuponyou。’ThenMrsFinncounselledherveryseriouslyastothetasteofsuchajoke，explainingtoherthattheDukehadcertainlynotintendedthatinvitationsshouldbeconfinedtoLadyRosina。ButitwasnotalljokewiththeDuchess。Shehadbeendrivenalmosttodespair，andwasveryangrywithherhusband。Hehadbroughtthethinguponhimself，andmustnowmakethebestofit。Shewouldasknobodyelse。

Shedeclaredthattherewasnobodywhomshecouldaskwithpropriety。Shewastiredofasking。Letheraskwhomshewould，hewasdissatisfied。TheonlytwopeoplehecaredtoseewereLadyRosinaandtheoldDuke。ShehadaskedLadyRosinaforhissake。Lethimaskhisoldfriendhimselfifhepleased。

TheDukeandDuchesswithallthefamilywentdowntogether，andMrWarburtonwentwiththem。TheDuchesshadsaidnotawordmoretoherhusbandabouthisguests，norhadhealludedtothesubject。Buteachwaslabouringunderaconvictionthattheotherwasmisbehaving，andwiththatfeelingitwasimpossiblethatthereshouldbeconfidencebetweenthem。Hebusiedhimselfwithbooksandpapers，——alwaysturningoverthosepilesofnewspaperstoseewhatevilwassaidofhimself，——andspeakingonlynowandagaintohisprivatesecretary。Sheengagedherselfwiththechildrenorpretendedtoreadanovel。Herheartwassorewithinher。Shehadwishedtopunishhim，butintruthshewaspunishingherself。

Onthedayoftheirarrival，thefatherandmother，withLordSilverbridge，theeldestson，whowasfromEton，andtheprivateSecretarydinedtogether。AstheDukesatattable，hebegantothinkhowlongitwassincesuchastateofthingshadhappenedbefore，andhisheartsoftenedtowardsher。Insteadofbeingmadeangrybythestrangenessoftheproceeding，hetookdelightinit，andinthecourseoftheeveningspokeawordtosignifyhissatisfaction。’I’mafraiditwon’tlastlong，’shesaid，’forLadyRosinacomestomorrow。’

’Oh，indeed。’

’Youbidmetoaskheryourself。’

Thenheperceiveditall——howshehadtakenadvantageofhisformeranswertoherandhadacteduponitinaspiritofcontradictorypetulance。Butheresolvedthathewouldforgiveitandendeavourtobringherbacktohim。’Ithoughtwewerebothjoking，’hesaidgood-humouredly。

’Ohno！Ineversuspectedyouofajoke。Atanyratesheiscoming。’

’Shewilldoneitherofusanyharm。AndMrsFinn？’

’Youhavesenthertosea。’

’Shemaybeatsea，——andhetoo。butitiswithoutmysending。

TheFirstLord，Ibelieve，usuallydoesgoacruise。Istherenobodyelse？’

’Nobodyelse，——unlessyouhaveaskedanyone。’

’Notacreature。Well——somuchthebetter。IdaresayLadyRosinawillgetonverywell。’

’Youwillhavetotalktoher，’saidtheDuchess。

’Iwilldomybest。’

LadyRosinacameandnodoubtdidthinkitodd。Butshedidnotsayso，anditreallydidseemtotheDuchessasthoughallhervengeancehadbeenblownawaybythewinds。Andshetoolaughedatthematter，——toherselfandbegantofeellesscrossandlessperverse。TheworlddidnotcometoanendbecausesheandherhusbandwithLadyRosinaandherboyandtheprivateSecretarysatdowntodinnereverydaytogether。Theparishclergymanwiththeneighbouringsquireandhiswifeanddaughterdidcomeoneday，——tothereliefofM。Millepois，whohadbeguntofeelthattheworldhadcollapsed。AndeverydayatacertainhourtheDukeandLadyRosinawalkedtogetherforanhourandahalfinthePark。TheDuchesswouldhaveenjoyedit，insteadofsuffering，couldsheonlyhavehadherfriend，MrsFinn，tohearherjokes。’Now，Plantagenet，’shesaid，’dotellmeonething。

Whatdoesshetalkabout？’

’Thetroublesofherfamilygenerally，Ithink。’

’Thatcan’tlastforever。’

’Shewearscorksolestoherbootsandshethinksagooddealaboutthem。’

’Andyoulistentoher？’

’Whynot？Icantalkaboutcorksolesaswellasanythingelse。

Anythingthatmaydomaterialgoodtotheworldatlarge，oreventoyourselfprivately，isafitsubjectforconversationtorationalpeople。’

’IsupposeIneverwasoneofthem。’

’ButIcantalkuponanything，’continuedtheDuke，’aslongasthetalkertalksingoodfaithanddoesnotsaythingsthatshouldnotbesaid，ordealwithmattersthatareoffensive。I

couldtalkforanhouraboutbankers’accounts，butIshouldnotexpectastrangertoaskmethestateofmyown。ShealmostpersuadedmetosendtoMrSproutofSilverbridgeandgetsomecorksolesofmyown。’

’Don’tdoanythingofthekind，’saidtheDuchesswithanimation——

asthoughshehadsecretknowledgethatcorksoleswerespeciallyfataltothefamilyofthePallisers。

’Whynot，mydear？’

’Hewasamanwhoespecially，aboveallothers，threwmeoveratSilverbridge。’ThenagaintherecameuponhisbrowthatangryfrownwhichduringthelastfewdayshadbeendissipatedbytheinnocenceofLadyRosina’sconversation。’OfcourseIdon’tmeantoaskyoutotakeanyinterestintheboroughagain。Youhavesaidthatyouwouldn’t，andyouarealwaysasgoodasyourword。’

’Ihopeso。’

’ButIcertainlywouldnotemployatradesmanjustatyourelbowwhohasdirectlyopposedwhatwasgenerallyunderstoodinthetowntobeyourinterests。’

’WhatdidMrSproutdo？ThisisthefirstIhaveheardofit。’

’HegotMrDuBoungtostandagainstMrLopez。’

’IamverygladforthesakeoftheboroughthatMrLopezdidnotgetin。’

’SoamI。Butthathasnothingtodowithit。MrSproutknewatanyratewhatmywisheswere，andwentdirectlyagainstthem。’

’Youwerenotentitledtohavewishesinthematter，Glencora。’

’That’sallverywell——butIhad，andheknewit。Asforthefuture，ofcoursethethingisover。Butyouhavedoneeverythingfortheborough。’

’Youmeantheboroughhasdonemuchforme。’

’IknowwhatImeanverywell——andIshalltakeitveryillifashillingoutoftheCastleevergoesintoMrSprout’spocketagain。’

Itisneedlesstotroublethereaderatlengthwiththesermonwhichhepreachedherontheoccasion，——showingtheuttercorruptionwhichmustcomefromthemixingupofpoliticswithtrade，orwiththescornwhichshethrewintothefewwordswithwhichsheinterruptedhimfromtimetotime。’Whetheramanmakesgoodshoes，atareasonableprice，andchargesforthemhonestly，——thatiswhatyouhavetoconsider，’saidtheDukeimpressively。

’I’dratherpaydoubleforbadshoestoamanwhodidnotthwartme。’

’Youshouldnotcondescendtobethwartedinsuchamatter。Youloweryourselfbyadmittingsuchafeeling。’AndyethewrithedhimselfunderthelashesofMrSlide！

’IknowanenemywhenIseehim，’saidtheDuchess，’andaslongasIliveI’lltreatanenemyasanenemy。’

Therewaseversomuchofit，inthecourseofwhichtheDukedeclaredhispurposeofsendingatoncetoMrSproutforeversomanycorksoles，andtheDuchess，——mostimprudently，——declaredherpurposeofruiningMrSprout。TherewassomethinginthisthreatwhichgratedterriblyagainsttheDuke’ssenseofhonour——

thathiswifeshouldthreatentoruinapoortradesman，thatsheshoulddosoinreferencetothepoliticalaffairsoftheboroughwhichheallbutowned，thatsheshoulddosoindeclaredoppositiontohim！Ofcourseheoughttohaveknownthathersinconsistedsimplyinherdeterminationtovexhimatthemoment。

Amoregood-naturedwomandidnotlive——oronelesspronetoruinanyone。ButanyreferencetotheSilverbridgeelectionbroughtbackuponhimtheremembranceofthecruelattackswhichhadbeenmadeuponhim，andrenderedhimforthetimemoody，morose，andwretched。Sotheyagainpartedillfriends，andhardlyspokewhentheymetatdinner。

ThenextmorningtherereachedMatchingaletterwhichgreatlyaddedtohisbitternessofspiritagainsttheworldingeneralandagainstherinparticular。Theletter，thoughmarked’private’，hadbeenopened，aswereallletters，byMrWarburton，buttheprivateSecretarythoughtitnecessarytoshowthelettertothePrimeMinister。He，whenhehadreadit，toldWarburtonthatitdidnotsignify，andmaintainedforhalfanhouranattitudeofquiescence。Thenhewalkedforth，havingtheletterhiddeninhishand，andfindinghiswifealone，gaveithertoread。’Seewhatyouhavebroughtuponme，’hesaid，’byyourinterferenceanddisobedience。’Theletterwasasfollows：

ManchesterSquare，August3，187-

MYLORDDUKE，IconsidermyselfentitledtocomplaintoyourGraceoftheconductwithwhichIamtreatedatthelastelectionatSilverbridge，wherebyIwasledintoveryheavyexpenditurewithouttheleastchanceofbeingreturnedfortheborough。IamawarethatIhadnodirectconversationwithyourGraceonthesubject，andthatyourGracecanpleadthat，asbetweenmanandman，IhadnoauthorityfromyourselfforsupposingthatIshouldreceiveyourGrace’ssupport。ButIwasdistinctlyaskedbytheDuchesstostand，andwasassuredbyherthatifI

didsoIshouldhavealltheassistancethatyourGrace’sinfluencecouldprocureforme——anditwasalsoexplainedtomethatyourGrace’sofficialpositionmadeitinexpedientthatyourGraceonthisspecialoccasionshouldhaveanypersonalconferencewithyourowncandidate。UnderthesecircumstancesIsubmittoyourGracethatIamentitledtocomplainofthehardshipI

havesuffered。

IhadnotbeenlongintheboroughbeforeIfoundthatmypositionwashopeless。InfluentialmeninthetownwhohadbeenrepresentedtomeasbeingaltogetherdevotedtoyourGrace’sinterestsstartedathirdcandidate，——aLiberalasmyself，——andthenaturalconsequencewasthatneitherofussucceeded，thoughmyreturnasyourGrace’scandidatewouldhavebeencertainhadnotthisbeendone。

Thatallthiswaspreconcertedtherecanbenodoubt，but，beforetheminewassprungonme，——immediately，indeed，onmyarrival，ifIrememberrightly，——anapplicationwasmadetomefor500pounds，sothatthemoneymightbeexactedbeforethetruthwasknowntome。

OfcourseIshouldnothavepaidthe500poundshadI

knownthatyourGrace’susualagentsinthetown，——ImaynameMrSproutespecially，——werepreparedtoactagainstme。ButIdidpaythemoney，andIthinkyourGracewillagreewithmethataveryopprobrioustermmightbeappliedwithoutinjusticetothetransaction。

MyLordDuke，Iamapoorman，——ambitiousIwillown，whetherthatbeasinoravirtue，——andwilling，perhapstoincurexpenditurewhichcanhardlybejustifiedinpursuitofcertainpublicobjects。ButIdonotfeelinclinedtositdowntamelyundersuchalossasthis。I

shouldnothavedreamedofinterferingintheelectionatSilverbridgehadnottheDuchessexhortedmetodoso。I

wouldnotevenruntheriskofadoubtfulcontest。ButI

cameforwardatthesuggestionoftheDuchess，backedbythepersonalassurancethattheseatwascertainasbeinginyourGrace’shands。ItwasnodoubtunderstoodthatyourGracewouldnotyourselfinterfere，butitwasequallywellunderstoodthatyourGrace’sinfluencewasforthetimedeputedtotheDuchess。TheDuchessherselfwill，Iamsure，confirmmystatementthatIhadherdistinctauthorityforregardingmyselfasyourGrace’scandidate。

IcanofcoursebringanactionagainstMrWise，thegentlemantowhomIpaidthemoney，butIfeelthatasagentlemanIshouldnotdosowithoutreferencetoyourGrace，ascircumstancesmightpossiblybebroughtoutinevidence，——IwillnotsayprejudicialtoyourGrace，-

butwhichwouldbeunbecoming。Icannot，however，thinkthatyourGracewillbewillingthatapoormanlikemyself，insearchforanentranceintopubliclife，shouldbemulctedtosoheavyanextentinconsequenceofanerroronthepartoftheDuchess。ShouldyourGracebeabletoassistmeinmyviewofgettingintoParliamentforanyotherseatIshallbewillingtoabidebythelossIhaveincurred。Ihardly，however，daretohopeforsuchassistance。InthiscaseIthinkyourgraceoughttoseethatIamreimbursed。

Ihavethehonourtobe，MyLordDuke，YourGrace’sfaithfulServantFERDINANDLOPEZ

TheDukestoodoverherinherownroomupstairs，withhisbacktothefireplaceandhiseyesfixeduponherwhileshewasreadingthisletter。Hegaveherampletime，andshedidnotreaditveryquickly。Muchofitindeedsheperusedtwice，turningveryredinthefaceasshedidso。Shewasthusstudiouspartlybecausetheletterastoundedevenher，andpartlybecauseshewantedtimetoconsiderhowshewouldmeethiswrath。

’Well，’saidhe，’whatdoyousaytothat？’

’Themanisablackguard，——ofcourse。’

’Heisso——thoughIdonotknowthatIwishtohearhimcalledsuchanamebyyourlips。Lethimbewhathemayhewasyourfriend。’

’Hewasmyacquaintance。’

’Hewasthemanwhomyouselectedtobeyourcandidatefortheboroughinoppositiontomywishes，andwhomyoucontinuedtosupportindirectdisobediencetomyorders。’

’Surely，Plantagenet，wehadallthataboutdisobedienceoutbefore。’

’Youcannothavesuchthingsout，——asyoucallit。Evil-doingwillnotburyitselfoutofthewayandbedonewith。Doyoufeelnoshameathavingyournamementionedascoreoftimeswithreprobationasthatmanmentionsit，——atbeingwrittenaboutbysuchamanasthat？’

’DoyouwantmetorollinthegutterbecauseImistookhimforagentleman？’

’Thatwasnotall，——norhalf。Inyoureagernesstoservesuchamiserablecreatureasthisyourforgotmeentreaties，mycommands，myposition！Iexplainedtoyouwhy，I，ofalmen，andyou，ofallwomen，aspartofme，shouldnotdothisthing，andyetyoudidit，mistakingsuchacurforaman！WhatamItodo？

HowamItofreemyselffromtheimpedimentswhichyoumakeforme？MyenemiesIcanovercome，——butIcannotescapethepitfallswhicharemadeformebymyownwife。Icanonlyretireintoprivatelifeandhopetoconsolemyselfwithmychildrenandmybooks。’

Therewasarealityoftragedyabouthimwhichforthemomentovercameher。Shehadnojokeready，nosarcasm，nofemininecounter-grumble。Littleassheagreedwithhimwhenhespokeofthenecessityofretiringintoprivatelifebecauseamanhadwrittentohimsuchaletterasthis，incapableasshewasofunderstandingfullythenatureoftheirritationwhichtormentedhim，stillsheknewthathewassuffering，andacknowledgedtoherselfthatshehadbeenthecauseoftheagony。’Iamsorry，’

sheejaculatedatlast。’WhatmorecanIsay？’

’WhatamItodo？Whatcanbesaidtotheman？Warburtonreadtheletter，andgaveitmeinsilence。Hecouldseetheterribledifficulty。’

’Tearitinpieces，andthenlettherebeanendofit。’

’Idonotfeelsurebutthathehasrightonhisside。Heis，asyousay，certainlyablackguard，orhewouldnotmakesuchaclaim。Heistakingadvantageofthemistakemadebyagood-

naturedwomanthroughherfollyandhervanity。’——ashesaidthistheDuchessgaveanabsurdlittlepout，butluckilyhedidnotseeit，——’andheknowsverywellthatheisdoingso。Butstillhehasashowofjusticeonhisside。Therewas，I

suppose，nochanceforhimatSilverbridgeafterIhadmademyselffullyunderstood。Themoneywasabsolutelywasted。Itwasyourpersuasionandyourcontinuedencouragementthatledhimtospendthemoney。’

’Payitthen。Thelosswillnothurtyou。’

’Ah——ifwecouldbutgetoutofourdifficultybypaying！

SupposethatIdopayit。IbegintothinkthatImustpayit，——

thatafterallIcannotallowsuchapleatoremainunanswered。

Butwhenitispaid——whatthen？DoyouthinksuchapaymentmadebytheQueen’sMinisterwillnotbeknowntoallthenewspapers，andthatIshallescapethechargeofhavingbribedthemantoholdhistongue？’

’Itwillbenobribeifyoupayhimbecauseyouthinkyouought。’

’ButhowshallIexcuseit？Therearethingsdonewhichareholyastheheavens，——whichareclearbeforeGodasthelightofthesun，whichleavenostainontheconscience，andwhichyetthemalignityofmancaninvestwiththeveryblackestofhell！I

shallknowwhyIpaythis500pounds。Becauseshewhoofalltheworldisthenearestanddearesttome，’——shelookedupintohisfacewithamazement，ashestoodstretchinghisarmsoutinenergy，——’hasinherimpetuousfollycommittedagrievousblunder，fromwhichshewouldnotallowherhusbandtosaveher，thissummustbepaidtothewretchedcraven。ButIcannottelltheworldthat。Icannotsayabroadthatthissmallsacrificeofmoneywasthejustestmeansofretrievingtheinjurywhichyouhavedone。’

’Sayitabroad。Sayiteverywhere。’

’No，Glencora。’

’DoyouthinkIwouldhaveyousparemeifitwasmyfault？Andhowwouldithurtme？WillitbenewtoanyonethatIhavedoneafoolishthing？Willthenewspapersdisturbmypeace？I

sometimesthink，Plantagenet，thatIshouldhavebeentheman，myskinissothick。andthatyoushouldhavebeenthewoman，yourissotender。’

’Butitisnotso。’

’Taketheadvantage，nevertheless，ofmytoughness。Sendhimthe500poundswithoutaword，——ormakeWarburtondoso，orMrMoreton。Makenosecretofit。Thenifthepaperstalkaboutit-’

’AquestionmightbeaskedaboutitintheHouse。’

’Orifquestionedinanyway，——saywhatIdid。Telltheexacttruth。Youarealwayssayingthatnothingbuttrutheverserves。

Letthetruthservenow。Ishallnotblench。YoursayingitallintheHouseofLordswon’twoundmehalfsomuchasyourlookingatmeasyoudidnow。’

’DidIwoundyou？GodknowsIwouldnothurtyouwillingly。’

’Nevermind。Goon。IknowyouthinkIhavebroughtitallonmyselfbymyownwickedness。Paythismanthemoney，andthenifanythingissaidaboutit，explainthatitwasmyfault，andsaythatyoupaidthemoneybecauseIhaddonewrong。’

Whenhecameinshehadbeenseatedonasofa，whichsheconstantlyusedherself，andhehadstoodoverher，masterful，imperious，andalmosttyrannical。Shehadfeltthistyranny，buthadresenteditlessthanusual，——orratherhadbeenlessdeterminedinholdingherownagainsthimandassertingherselfashisequal，——becausesheconfessedtoherselfthatshehadinjuredhim。Shehad，shethought，donebutlittle，butthatwhichshehaddonehadproducedthisinjury。Soshehadsatandenduredtheoppressionofhisstandingposture。Butnowhesatdownbyher，veryclosetoher，andputhishanduponhershoulder，——almostroundherwaist。

’Cora，’hesaid，’youdonotquiteunderstandit。’

’Ineverunderstandanything，Ithink，’sheanswered。

’Notinthiscase，——perhapsnever，——whatitisthatahusbandfeelsabouthiswife。DoyouthinkthatIcouldsayawordagainstyou，eventoafriend？’

’Whynot？’

’Ineverdid。Inevercould。IfmyangerwereatthehottestI

wouldnotconfesstoahumanbeingthatyouwerenotperfect，——

excepttoyourself。’

’Oh，thankyou！IfyouweretoscoldmevicariouslyIshouldfeelitless。’

’Donotjokewithmenow，forIamsomuchinearnest。AndifI

couldnotconsentthatyourconductshouldbecalledinquestionevenbyafriend，doyousupposeitpossiblethatIcouldcontriveanescapefromapubliccensurebylayingtheblamepubliclyonyou？’

’Sticktothetruth——that’swhatyoualwayssay。’

’Icertainlyshallsticktothetruth。Amanandhiswifeareone。Forwhatshedoesheisresponsible。’

’Theycouldn’thangyou，youknow，becauseIcommittedamurder。’

’Ishouldbewillingthattheyshoulddoso。No——ifIpaythismoneyIshalltaketheconsequences。Ishallnotdoitinanywayundertherose。ButIwishyouwouldremember——’

’Rememberwhat？IknowIshallneverforgetallthistroubleaboutthatdirtylittletown，whichIneverwillenteragainaslongasIlive。’

’Iwishyouwouldthinkthatinallthatyoudoyouaredealingwithmyfeelings，withmyheartstrings，withmyreputation。Youcannotdivideyourselffromme。nor，forthevalueofitall，wouldIwishthatsuchadivisionwerepossible。YousaythatI

amthin-skinned。’

’Certainlyyouare。Whatpeoplecalladelicateorganization，——

whereasIamroughandthickandmonstrouslycommonplace。’

’Thenshouldyoutoobethin-skinnedformysake。’

’IwishIcouldmakeyouthick-skinnedforyourown。It’stheonlywaytobedecentlycomfortableinsuchacoarse，rough-and-

tumbleworldasthisis。’

’Letusbothdoourbest，’hesaid，nowputtinghisarmroundherandkissingher。’IthinkIshallsendthemanhismoneyatonce。Itisthebestoftwoevils。Andnowletthereneverbeawordmoreaboutitbetweenus。’

Thenheleftherandwentback，——nottothestudyinwhichhewaswont，whenatMatching，toworkwithhisprivatesecretary，——

buttoasmallinnerclosetofhisown，inwhichmanyabittermomentwasspentwhilehethoughtoverthatabortivesystemofdecimalcoinagebywhichhehadoncehopedtomakehimselfoneofthegreatbenefactorsofhisnation，revolvinginhismindthetroubleswhichhiswifebroughtuponhim，andregrettingthegoldeninanityofthecoronetwhichintheveryprimeoflifehadexpelledhimfromtheHouseofCommons。Hereheseatedhimself，andforanhourneitherstirredfromhisseat，nortouchedapen，noropenedabook。HewastryingtocalculateinhismindwhatmightbetheconsequencesofpayingthemoneytoMrLopez。Butwhenthecalculationslippedfromhim，——asitdid，——thenhedemandedofhimselfwhetherstricthigh-mindedjusticedidnotcalluponhimtopaythemoneylettheconsequencesbewhattheymight。Andherehismindwastruertohim，andhewasabletofixhimselftoapurpose，——thoughtheresolutiontowhichhecamewasnot，perhaps，wise。

Whenthehourwasoverhewenttohisdesk，drewachequefor500

poundsinfavourofFerdinandLopez，andthencausedhisSecretarytosenditinthefollowingnote：

Matching，August4，187-

SIR，TheDukeofOmniumhasreadtheletteryouhaveaddressedtohim，datedthe3rdinstant。TheDukeofOmnium，feelingthatyoumayhavebeeninducedtoundertakethelatecontestatSilverbridgebymisrepresentationsmadetoyouatGatherumCastle，directsmetoencloseachequefor500pounds，thatbeingthesumstatedbyyoutohavebeenexpendedincarryingonthecontestatSilverbridge。

Iam，sir，Yourobedientservant，ARTHURWARBURTON

FerdinandLopez，Esq。

CHAPTER43

KAURIGUM。

ThereaderwillnodoubtthinkthatFerdinandLopezmusthavebeenveryhardlydrivenindeedbycircumstancesbeforehewouldhavemadesuchanappealtotheDukeasgiveninthelastchapter。Butitwasnotthewantofmoneyonlythathadbroughtitabout。Itmayberememberedthatthe500poundshadalreadybeenoncerepaidhimbyhisfather-in-law，——thatspecialsumhavingbeengiventohimforthatspecialpurpose。AndLopez，whenhewrotetotheDuke，assuredhimselfthatif，byanymiracle，hislettershouldproducepecuniaryresultsintheshapeofapaymentfromtheDuke，hewouldrefundthemoneysoobtainedtoMrWharton。Butwhenhewrotetheletterhedidnotexpecttogetthemoney，——nor，indeed，didheexpectthataidtowardsanotherseat，towhichhealludedatthecloseoftheletter。HeexpectedprobablynothingbuttovextheDuke，andtodrivetheDukeintocorrespondencewithhim。

ThoughthismanhadlivednearlyallhislifeinEngland，hehadnotquiteacquiredthatknowledgeofthewayinwhichthingsaredonewhichisgeneralamongmenofacertainclass，andsorareamongthosebeneaththem。HehadnotunderstoodthattheDuchess’spromiseofherassistanceatSilverbridgemightbetakenbyhimforwhatitwasworth，andthatheraidmightbeusedasfarasitwent，——but，thatintheeventofitsfailinghim，hewasboundinhonourtotaketheresultwithoutcomplaining，whateverthatresultmightbe。Hefeltthatagrievousinjury，——eventhoughitwereagainstawoman。HejustknewthathecouldnotverywellwritetotheDuchessherself，——

thoughtherewassometimespresenttohismindaplanforattackingherinpublic，andtellingherwhatevilshehaddonehim。HehadhalfresolvedthathewoulddosoinherowngardenatTheHorns——butonthatoccasiontheapparitionofArthurFletcherhaddisturbedhim，andhehadventedhisangerinanotherdirection。ButstillhiswrathagainsttheDukeandDuchessremained，andhewaswonttoindulgeitwithveryviolentlanguageashesatupononeofthechairsinSextyParker’soffice，talkingsomewhatloudlyofhisownposition，ofthethingsthathewoulddo，andoftheinjurydonehim。SextyParkersympathizedwithhimtothefull，——especiallyasthatfirst500pounds，whichhehadreceivedfromMrWharton，hadgoneintoSexty’scoffers。AtthattimeLopezandSextyweretogethercommittedtolargespeculationsintheguanotrade，andSexty’smindwasbynomeanseasyintheearlyperiodsoftheday。Ashewentintotownbyhistrainhewouldthinkofhiswifeandfamilyandoftheterriblethingsthatmighthappentothem。Butyet，uptothisperiod，moneyhadalwaysbeenforthcomingfromLopezwhenabsolutelywanted，andSextywasquitealivetothefactthathewaslivingwithafreedomofexpenditureinhisownhouseholdthathehadneverknownbefore，andthatwithoutapparentdamage。Whenever，therefore，atsomecriticalmoment，amuch-neededsumofmoneywasproducedSextywouldbecomelight-

hearted，triumphant，andverysympathetic。’Well——Ineverheardsuchastory，’hehadsaidwhenLopezwasinsistingonhiswrongs。’That’swhattheDukesandDuchessescallhonouramongthieves！Well，Ferdy，myboy，ifyoustandthatyou’llstandanything。’IntheselatterdaysSextyhadbecomeveryintimatewithhispartner。

’Idon’tmeantostandit，’Lopezhadreplied，andthenonthespothadwrittentheletterwhichhehaddatedfromManchesterSquare。Hehadcertainlycontrivedtomakethatletterasoppressiveaspossible。HehadbeencleverenoughtoputintoitwordswhichweresuretowoundthepoorDukeandtoconfoundtheDuchess。Andhavingwrittenithewasverycarefultokeepthefirstdraft，sothatifoccasioncamehemightuseitagainandpushforvengeancefarther。Buthecertainlyhadnotexpectedsucharesultasitproduced。

WhenhereceivedtheprivateSecretary’sletterwiththemoneyhewassittingoppositehisfather-in-lawatbreakfast，whilehiswifewasmakingthetea。NotmanyofhisletterscametoManchesterSquare。SextyParker’sofficeorhisclubweremoreconvenientaddresses，butinthiscasehehadthoughtthatManchesterSquarewouldhaveabettersoundandappearance。WhenheopenedtheletterthechequeofcourseappearedbearingtheDuke’sownsignature。Hehadseenthatandtheamountbeforehehadreadtheletter，andashesawithiseyetravelledquicklyacrossthetabletohisfather-in-law’sface。MrWhartonmightcertainlyhaveseenthechequeandeventheamount，probablyalsothesignature，withouttheslightestsuspicionastothenatureofthepaymentmade。Asitwas，hewaseatinghistoast，andhadthoughtnothingabouttheletter。Lopez，havingconcealedthecheque，readthefewwordswhichtheprivateSecretaryhadwritten，andthenputthedocumentwithitscontentsintohispocket。’Soyouthink，sir，ofgoingdowntoHertfordshireonthe15th，’hesaidinaverycheeryvoice。Thecheeryvoicewasstillpleasanttotheoldman，buttheyoungwifehadalreadycometodistrustit。Shehadlearned，thoughshewashardlyconscioushowthelessonhadcometoher，thatacertaintoneofcheerinessindicated，ifnotdeceit，atanyrateconcealmentofsomething。Itgratedagainstherspirit，andwhenthistonereachedherearsafrownorlookofsorrowwouldcomecrossherbrow。Andherhusbandalsohadperceivedthatitwasso，andknewatsuchtimesthathewasrebuked。Hewashardlyawarewhatdoings，andespeciallywhatfeelings，wereimputedtohimasfaults，——notunderstandingthelineswhichseparaterightfromwrong，butheknewthathewasoftencondemnedbyhiswife，andhelivedinfearthatheshouldalsobecondemnedbyhiswife’sfather。Haditbeenhiswifeonlyhethoughtthathecouldsoonhavequenchedhercondemnation。Hewouldsoonhavemadehertiredofshowingherdisapproval。Buthehadputhimselfintotheoldman’shouse，wheretheoldmancouldseenotonlyhimbuthistreatmentofhiswife，andtheoldman’sgood-willandgoodopinionwereessentialtohim。Yethecouldnotrestrainoneglanceofangeratherwhenshesawthatlookuponherface。

’IsupposeIshall，’saidthebarrister，’Imustgosomewhere。

Mygoingneednotdisturbyou。’

’Ithinkwehavemadeupourmind，’saidLopez，’totakeacottageatDovercourt。Itisnotaverylivelyplace，noryetfashionable。Butitisveryhealthy，andIcanrunuptotowneasily。Unfortunatelymybusinesswon’tletmebealtogetherawaythisautumn。’

’Iwishmybusinesswouldkeepme，’saidthebarrister。

’IdidnotunderstandthatyouhadmadeupyourmindtogotoDovercourt，’saidEmily。HehadspokentoMrWhartonoftheirjointactioninthematter，andastheplacehadonlyoncebeennamedbyhimtoher，sheresentedwhatseemedtobeafalsehood。

Sheknewthatshewastobetakenorleftasitsuitedhim。Ifhehadsaidboldly，——’We’llgotoDovercourt。That’swhatI’vesettledon。That’swhatwillsuitme，’shewouldhavebeencontented。Shequiteunderstoodthathemeanttohavehisownwayinsuchthings。Butitseemedtoherthathewantedtobeatyrantwithouthavingthecouragefortyranny。

’Ithoughtyouseemedtolikeit，’hesaid。

’Idon’tdislikeitatall。’

’Then，asitsuitsmybusiness，wemightaswellconsideritsettled。’Sosaying，helefttheroomandwentofftothecity。

Theoldmanwasstillsippinghisteaandlingeringoverhisbreakfastinawaythatwasnotusualwithhim。HewasgenerallyanxioustogetawaytoLincoln’sInn，andonmostmorningshadleftthehousebeforehisson-in-law。Emilyofcourseremainedwithhim，sittingsilentinherplaceoppositetotheteapot，meditatingperhapsonherprospectsofhappinessatDovercourt，-

aplaceofwhichshehadneverheardeventhenametwodaysago，andinwhichitwashardlypossiblethatsheshouldfindevenanacquaintance。Informeryearstheseautumnmonths，passedinHertfordshire，hadbeenthedelightofherlife。

MrWhartonalsohadseenthecloudonhisdaughter’sface，andhadunderstoodthenatureofthelittledialogueaboutDovercourt。Andhewasaware，——thattheyoungwife’smannerandtonetoherhusbandwasnotthatofperfectconjugalsympathy。

Hehadalreadysaidtohimselfmorethanoncethatshehadmadeherbedforherself，andmustlieuponit。Shewastheman’swife，andmusttakeherhusbandashewas。Ifshesufferedunderthisman’smodeandmanneroflife，he，asherfather，couldnotassisther，——coulddonothingforher，unlessthemanshouldbecomeabsolutelycruel。Hehadsettledthatwithinhisownmindalready——butyethisheartyearnedtowardsher，andwhenhethoughtthatshewasunhappy，helongedtocomfortherandtellherthatshestillhadafather。Butthetimehadnotcomeasyetinwhichhecouldcomfortherbysympathizingwithheragainstherhusband。Therehadneverfallenfromherlipsasyllableofcomplaint。Whenshehadspokentohimachancewordrespectingherhusband，ithadalwayscarriedwithitsometoneofaffection。Butstillhelongedtosaytohersomethingwhichmighttellherthathisheartwassofttowardsher。’Doyouliketheideaofgoingtothisplace？’hesaid。

’Idon’tatallknowwhatitwillbelike。Ferdinandsaysitwillbecheap。’

’Isthatofsuchavitalconsequence？’

’Ah——yes，Ifearit。’

Thiswasverysadtohim。Lopezhadalreadyhadfromhimaconsiderablesumofmoney，havingnotyetbeenmarriedtwelvemonths，andwasnowlivinginLondonalmostfreeofexpense。

Beforehismarriagehehadalwaysspokenofhimself，andhadcontrivedtobespokenof，asawealthyman，andnowhewasobligedtochoosesomesmallEnglishseasideplacetowhichtoretreat，becausethushemighthavealowrate！Hadtheybeenmarriedaspoorpeopletherewouldhavebeennothingtoregretinthis——therewouldbenothingthatmightbedonewithentiresatisfaction。But，asitwas，ittoldabadtaleforthefuture！

’Doyouunderstandhismoneymatters，Emily？’

’Notatall，papa。’

’Idonotintheleastmeantomakeinquiry。PerhapsIshouldhaveaskedbefore，——butifIdidmakeinquirynowitwouldbeofhim。ButIthinkawifeshouldknow。’

’Iknownothing。’

’Whatishisbusiness？’

’Ihavenoidea。IusedtothinkhewasconnectedwithMrMillsHappertonandwithMessrsHunkyandSons。’

’IshenotconnectedwithHunky’sbusiness？’

’Ithinknot。HehasapartnerofthenameofParker，whois，——

whoisnot，Ithink，quite——quiteagentleman。Ineversawhim。’

’WhatdoeshedowithMrParker？’

’Ibelievetheybuyguano。’

’Ah——that，Ifancy，wasonlyoneaffair。’

’I’mafraidhelostmoney，papa，bythatelectionatSilverbridge。’

’Ipaidthat，’saidMrWhartonsternly。Surelyhewouldhavetoldhiswifethathehadreceivedthatmoneyfromherfamily！

’Didyou？Thatwasverykind。Iamafraid，papa，weareagreatburdentoyou。’

’Ishouldnotmindit，mydear，iftherewereconfidenceandhappiness。Whatmatterwoulditbetomewhetheryouhadyourmoneynoworhereafter，sothatyoumighthaveitinthemannerthatwouldbemostbeneficialtoyou？Iwishhewouldbeopenwithme，andtellmeeverything。’

’ShallIlethimknowthatyousayso？’

Hethoughtforaminuteortwobeforeheansweredher。Perhapsthemanwouldbemoreimpressedifthemessagecametohimthroughhiswife。’Ifyouthinkthathewillnotbeannoyedwithyou，youmaydoso。’

’Idon’tknowwhyheshould，——butifitberight，thatmustbeborne。Iamnotafraidtosayanythingtohim。’

’Thentellhimso。Tellhimthatitwillbebetterthatheshouldletmeknowthewholeconditionofhisaffairs。Godblessyou，dear。’Thenhestoopedoverher，andkissedher，andwenthiswaytoStoneBuildings。

ItwasnotashesatatthebreakfasttablethatFerdinandLopezmadeuphismindtopockettheDuke’smoneyandtosaynothingaboutittoMrWharton。Hehadbeencarefultoconcealthecheque，buthehaddonesowiththefeelingthatthematterwasonetobeconsideredinhisownmindbeforetotookanystep。Asheleftthehouse，alreadyconsideringit，hewasinclinedtothinkthemoneymustbesurrendered。MrWhartonhadverygenerouslypaidhiselectioneeringexpenses，buthadnotdonesosimplywiththeviewofmakinghimapresentofmoney。HewishedtheDukehadtakenhimathisword。InhandingthischequeovertoMrWharton，hewouldbeforcedtotellthestoryofhislettertotheDuke，andwassurethatMrWhartonwouldnotapproveofhishavingwrittensuchaletter。Howcouldanyoneapproveofhishavingappliedforasumofmoneywhichhadalreadybeenpaidtohim？HowcouldsuchaoneasMrWharton，——anold-fashionedEnglishgentleman，——approveofsuchanapplicationbeingmadeunderanycircumstances？MrWhartonwouldveryprobablyinsistonhavingthechequesentbacktotheDuke，——whichwouldbeasorryendtothetriumphasatpresentachieved。AndthemorehethoughtofitthemorehesurehewasthatitwouldbeimprudenttomentiontoMrWhartonhisapplicationtotheDuke。Theoldmenofthepresentdaywere，hesaidtohimself，suchfoolsthattheyunderstoodnothing。Andthenthemoneywasveryconvenienttohim。HewasintentonobtainingSextyParker’sconsenttoalargespeculation，andknewthathecouldnotdosowithoutashowoffunds。Bythetime，therefore，thathehadreachedthecityhehadresolvedthatatanyrateforthepresenthewouldusethemoneyandsaynothingaboutittoMrWharton。Wasitnotspoilgotfromtheenemybyhisowncourageandcleverness？WhenhewaswritinghisacknowledgementforthemoneytoWarburtonhehadtaughthimselftolookuponthesumextractedfromtheDukeasamatterquitedistinctfromthepaymentmadetohimbyhisfather-in-law。

ItwasevidentonthatdaytoSextyParkerthathispartnerwasamanofgreatresources。Thoughthingssometimeslookedverybad，yetmoneyalways’turnedup’。Someoftheirbuyingsandsellingshadansweredprettywell。Somehadbeengreatfailures。Nogreatstrokehadbeenmadeasyet，butthenthegreatstrokewasalwaysbeingexpected。Sexty’sfearsweregreatlyexaggeratedbythefeelingthatthecoffeeandguanowerenotalwaysrealcoffeeandguano。Hispartner，indeed，wasoftheopinionthatinsuchatradeasthistheywerefollowingtherewasnoneedatallofrealcoffeeorrealguano，andexplainedhistheorywithconsiderableeloquence。’IfIbuyatonofcoffeeandkeepitsixweeks，whydoIbuyitandkeepit，andwhydoesthesellersellitinsteadofkeepingit？Thesellersellsitbecausehethinkshecandobestbypartingwithitnowatacertainprice。IbuyitbecauseIthinkIcanmakemoneybykeepingit。

Itisjustthesameasthoughwewerebacktoouropinions。Hebacksthefall。Ibacktherise。Youneedn’thavecoffeeandyouneedn’thaveguanotodothis。Indeedthepossessionofthecoffeeorguanoisonlyaveryclumsyadditiontothetroubleofyourprofession。Imakeitmystudytowatchthemarkets——butIneedn’tbuyeverythingIseeinordertomakemoneybymylabourandintelligence。’SextyParkerbeforehislunchalwaysthoughtthathispartnerwaswrong，butafterthatceremonyhealmostdailybecameaconverttothegreatdoctrine。CoffeeandguanostillhadtobeboughtbecausetheworldwasdullandwouldnotlearnthetricksoftradeastaughtbyFerdinandLopez，——

alsopossiblybecausesomebodymightwantsucharticles，——butourenterprisingherolookedforatimeinwhichnosuchdullburdenshouldbeimposedonhim。

Onthisday，whentheDuke’s500poundswasturnedintothebusiness，Sextyyieldedinalargematterwhichhispartnerhadbeenpressinguponhimforthelastweek。TheyboughtacargoofKaurigum，comingfromNewZealand。LopezhadreasonsforthinkingthatKaurigummusthaveagreatrise。Therewasanimmensedemandforamber，andKaurigummightbeusedasasubstitute，andinsixmonths’timewouldbedoubleitspresentvalue。Thisunfortunatelywasarealcargo。HecouldnotfindanindividualsoenterprisingastoventuretodealinacargoofKaurigumafterhisfashion。Butthenextbestthingwasdone。

Therealcargowasbought，andhisnameandSexty’snamewereonthebillsgivenforthegoods。Onthatdayhereturnedhomeinhighspiritsforhedidbelieveinhisownintelligenceandgoodfortune。

CHAPTER44

MRWHARTONTHINKSOFANEWWILL。

Onthatafternoon，immediatelyonthehusband’sreturntothehouse，hiswifespoketohimasherfatherhaddesired。OnthateveningMrWhartonwasdiningathisclub，andthereforetherewasthewholeeveningbeforethem。butthethingtobedonewasdisagreeable，andthereforeshediditatonce，——rushingintothematteralmostbeforehehadseatedhimselfinthearm-chairwhichhehadappropriatedtohisuseinthedrawing-room。’Papawastalkingaboutouraffairsafteryouleftthismorning，andhethinksthatitwouldbesomuchbetterifyouwouldtellhimaboutthem。’

’Whatmadehimtalkofthattoday？’hesaid，turningatheralmostangrilyandthinkingatonceoftheDuke’scheque。

’Isupposeitisnaturalthatheshouldbeanxiousaboutus，Ferdinand——andthemorenaturalashehasmoneytogiveifhechoosestogiveit。’

’Ihaveaskedhimfornothinglately——though，byGeorge，I

intendtoaskhimandthatveryroundly。Threethousandpoundsisn’tmuchofasumofmoneyforyourfathertohavegivenyou。’

’Andhepaidtheelectionbill——didn’the？’

’Hehasbeencomplainingofthatbehindmyback，——hashe？I

didn’taskhimforit，heofferedit。Iwasn’tsuchafoolastorefuse，butheneedn’tbringthatupasagrievancetoyou。’

’Itwasn’tbroughtupasagrievance。Iwassayingthatyourstandinghadbeenaheavyexpenditure——’

’Whydidyousayso？Whatmadeyoutalkaboutitatall？Whyshouldyoubediscussingmyaffairsbehindmyback？’

’Tomyownfather！AndthattoowhenyouaretellingmeeverydaythatIamtoinducehimtohelpyou。’

’NotbycomplainingthatIampoor。Buthowdiditallbegin？’

Shehadtothinkforamomentbeforeshecouldrecollecthowitdidbegin。’Therehasbeensomething，’hesaid，’whichyouareashamedtotellme。’

’ThereisnothingIamashamedtotellyou。Thereneverhasbeenandneverwillbeanything。’Andshestoodupasshespoke，withopeneyesandextendednostrils。’Whatevermaycome，howeverwretcheditmaybe，Ishallnotbeashamedofmyself。’

’Butofme！’

’Whydoyousayso？Whydoyoutrytomakeunhappinessbetweenus？’

’Youhavebeentalkingof——mypoverty。’

’MyfatheraskedwhyyoushouldgotoDovercourt，——andwhetheritwasbecauseitwouldsaveexpense。’

’Youwanttogosomewhere？’

’Notatall。IamcontentedtostayinLondon。ButIsaidthatI

thoughttheexpensehadagooddealtodowithit。Ofcourseithas。’

’Wheredoyouwanttobetaken？IsupposeDovercourtisnotfashionable。’

’Iwantnothing。’

’Ifyouarethinkingoftravellingabroad，Ican’tsparethetime。Itisn’tanaffairofmoney，andyouhadnobusinesstosayso。IthoughtoftheplacebecauseitisquietandbecauseI

cangetupanddowneasily。IamsorrythatIevercametoliveinthishouse。’

’Whydoyousaythat，Ferdinand？’

’Becauseyouandyourfathermakecabalsbehindmyback。IfthereisanythingIhateitisthatkindofthing。’

’Youareveryunjust，’shesaidtohimsobbing。’Ihavenevercaballed。Ihaveneverdoneanythingagainstyou。Ofcoursepapaoughttoknow。’

’Whyoughthetoknow？Whyisyourfathertohavetherightofinquiryintoallmyaffairs？’

’Becauseyouwanthisassistance。Itisonlynatural。Youalwaystellmetogethimtoassistyou。Hespoketomekindly，sayingthathewouldliketoknowhowthingsare。’

’Thenhewon’tknow。Asforwantinghisassistance，ofcourseI

wantthefortunewhichheoughttogivetoyou。HeisamanoftheworldenoughtoknowthatasIaminbusinesscapitalmustbeusefultome。Ishouldhavethoughtthatyouwouldunderstandasmuchasthatyourself。’

’Idounderstandit，Isuppose。’

’Thenwhydon’tyouactasmyfriendratherthanhis？Whydon’tyoutakemypart？Itseemstomethatyouaremuchmorehisdaughterthanmywife。’

’Thatismostunfair。’

’Ifyouhadanypluckyouwouldmakehimunderstandthatforyoursakeheoughttosaywhathemeanstodo，sothatImighthavetheadvantageofthefortunewhichIsupposehemeanstogiveyousomeday。Ifyouhadtheslightestanxietytohelpmeyoucouldinfluencehim。Insteadofthatyoutalktohimaboutmypoverty。

Idon’twanthimtothinkthatIamapauper。That’snotthewaytogetroundamanlikeyourfather，whoisrichhimselfandwhothinksitadisgraceinothermennottoberichtoo。’

’Ican’ttellhiminthesamebreaththatyouarerichandthatyouwantmoney。’

’Moneyisthemeansbywhichmenmakemoney。Ifhewasconfidentofmybusinesshe’dsellouthiscashquickenough！ItisbecausehehasbeentaughttothinkthatIaminasmallway。

He’llfindhismistakesomeday。’

’Youwon’tspeaktohimthen？’

’Idon’tsaythatatall。IfIfindthatitwillanswermyownpurposeIshallspeaktohim。ButitwouldbeverymucheasiertomeifIcouldgetyoutobecordialinhelpingme。’

Emilybythistimequiteknewwhatsuchcordialitymeant。Hehadbeensofreeinhiswordstoherthattherecouldbenomistake。

Hehadinstructedherto’getround’herfather。Andnowagainhespokeofherinfluenceoverherfather。Althoughherillusionswereallmeltingaway，——oh，soquicklyvanishing，——

stillsheknewthatitwasherdutytobetruetoherhusband，andtobehiswiferatherthanherfather’sdaughter。Butwhatcouldshesayonhisbehalf，knowingnothingofhisaffairs？Shehadnoideawhatwashisbusiness，whatwashisincome，whatamountofmoneysheoughttospendashiswife。Asfarasshecouldsee，——andhercommonsenseinseeingsuchthingswasgood，——hehadnoregularincome，andwasjustifiedinnoexpenditure。

Onherownaccountshewouldaskfornoinformation。Shewastooproudtorequestthatfromhimwhichshouldbegivenwithoutanyrequest。Butinherowndefenceshemusttellhimthatshecouldusenoinfluencewithherfatherassheknewnoneofthecircumstancesbywhichherfatherwouldbeguided。’Icannottellyouinthemanneryoumean，’shesaid，’becauseIknownothingmyself。’

’YouknowthatyoucantrustmetodothebestwithyourmoneyifIcouldgetholdofit，Isuppose？’Shecertainlydidnotknowthis，andheldhertongue。’Youcouldassurehimofthat？’

’Icouldonlytellhimtojudgeforhimself。’

’Whatyoumeanisthatyou’dseemed-dbeforeyouwouldopenyourmouthformetotheoldman！’

Hehadneverswornatherbefore，andnowsheburstoutintoafloodoftears。Itwastoheraterribleoutrage。Idonotknowthatawomanisverymuchtheworsebecauseherhusbandmayforgethimselfonanoccasionto’rapoutanoathather’，ashewouldcallitwhenmakingthebestofhisownsin。Suchanoffenceiscompatiblewithuniformkindnessandmostaffectionateconsideration。Ihaveknownladieswhowouldthinklittleornothingaboutit，——whowouldgonofartherthanthemildestprotest，——’Dorememberwhereyouare！’or’MydearJohn！’——ifnostrangerwerepresent。Butthenawifeshouldbeinitiatedintoitbydegreesandtherearedifferenttonesofbadlanguage，ofwhichbyfarthemostgeneralisthegood-humouredtone。Weallofusknowmenwhoneverdamntheirservantsorinferiors，orstrangers，orwomen，——whoinfactkeepitallfortheirbosomfriends，andifalittledoessometimesflowoverinthefreedomofdomesticlife，thewifeisapttorememberthatsheisthebosomerofherhusband’sfriends，andsotopardonthetransgression。Butherethewordhadbeenutteredwithallitsfoulestviolence，withvirulenceandvulgarity。Itseemedtothevictimtobethesignofaterriblecrisisinherearlymarriedlife，——asthoughthemanwhohadspokentohercouldneveragainloveher，neveragainbekindtoher，neveragainbesweetlygentleandlikealove。Andashespokeithelookedatherasthoughhewouldliketotearherlimbsasunder。Shewasfrightenedaswellashorrifiedandastounded。Shehadnotawordtosaytohim。Shedidnotknowinwhatlanguagetomakehercomplaintofsuchtreatment。Sheburstintotears，andthrowingherselfonthesofa，hidherfaceinherhands。’Youprovokemetobeviolent，’hesaid。Butstillshecouldnotspeaktohim。’Icomeawayfromthecity，tiredwithworkandtroubledwithathousandthings，andyouhavenothadakindwordtosaytome。’Thentherewasapause，duringwhichshestillsobbed。’Ifyourfatherhasanythingtosaytome，lethimsayit。Ishallnotrunaway。Butastogoingtohimofmyownaccordwithastoryaslongasmyarmaboutmyaffairs，Idon’tmeantodoit。’Thenhepausedamomentagain。’Come，oldgirl，cheerup！Don’tpretendtobebroken-heartedbecauseIusedahardword。Thereareworsethingsthanthattobeborneintheworld。’

’I——I——Iwassostartled，Ferdinand。’

’Amancan’talwaysrememberthatheisn’twithanotherman。

Don’tthinkanythingmoreaboutit，butdobearthisinmind，——

that，situatedasweare，yourinfluencewithyourfathermaybethemakingormarringofme。’Andsohelefttheroom。

Shehadsatforthenexttenminutesthinkingofitall。Thewordswhichhehadspokenweresohorriblethatshecouldnotgetthemoutofhermind，——couldnotbringherselftolookuponthemasatrifle。Thedarknessofhiscountenancestilldweltwithher，——andthatabsenceofalltenderness，thatcoarse，un-

maritalandyetmaritalroughness，whichshouldnotatanyratehavecometohimsosoon。Thewholemantoowassodifferentfromwhatshehadthoughthimtobe。Beforetheirmarriagenowordastomoneyhadeverreachedherearsfromhislips。Hehadtalkedtoherofbooks，——andespeciallyofpoetry。ShakespeareandMoliere，DanteandGoethe，hadbeenorhadseemedtobe，deartohim。Andhehadbeenfulloffineideasaboutwomen，andaboutmenintheirintercoursewithwomen。Forhissakeshehadseparatedherselffromallheroldfriends。Forhissakeshehadhurriedintoamarriagealtogetherdistastefultoherfather。

Forhissakeshehadclosedherheartagainsttheotherlover。

Trustingaltogetherinhimshehadventuredtothinkthatshehadknownwhatwasgoodforherbetterthanallthosewhohadbeenhercounsellors，andhadgivenherselftohimutterly。Nowshewasawake，herdreamwasover，andthenaturallanguageofthemanwasstillringinginherears。

Theymettogetheratdinnerandpassedtheeveningwithoutafurtherallusiontothescenewhichhadbeenacted。Hesatwithamagazineinhishand，everynowandthenmakingsomeremarkintendedtobepleasantbutwhichgratedonherearsasbeingfictitious。Shewouldanswerhim，——becauseitwasherdutytodoso，andbecauseshewouldnotcondescendtosulk。butshecouldnotbringherselfeventosaytoherselfthatallshouldbewithherasthoughthathorridwordhadnotbeenspoken。Shesatoverherworktillten，answeringhimwhenhespokeinavoicewhichwasalsofictitious，andthentookherselfofftoherbedthatshemightweepalone。Itwould，sheknew，belatebeforehewouldcometoher。