第22章

CHAPTER71

THELADIESATLONGBARNSDOUBT。

ItcameatlasttobedecidedamongthemthatwhenoldMrWhartonreturnedtotown，——andhehadnowbeenatWhartonlongerthanhehadeverbeenknowntoremaintherebefore，——EmilyshouldstillremaininHertfordshire，andthatatsomeperiodnotthenfixedsheshouldgoforamonthtoLongbarns。Therewerevariousreasonswhichinducedhertoconsenttothischangeofplans。Inthefirstplaceshefoundherselftobeinfinitelymorecomfortableinthecountrythaninthetown。Shecouldgooutandmoveaboutandbestirherself，whereasinManchesterSquareshecouldonlysitathome。Herfatherhadassuredherthathethoughtthatitwouldbebetterthatsheshouldbeawayfromthereminiscencesofthehouseintown。AndthenwhenthefirstweekofFebruarywaspastArthurwouldbeupintown，andshewouldbefarawayfromhimatLongbarns，whereasinLondonshewouldbeclosewithinhisreach。Manylittleschemeswerelaidandstrugglesmadebothbyherselfandtheothersbeforeatlasttheirplansweresettled。MrWhartonwastoreturntoLondoninthemiddleofJanuary。ItwasquiteimpossiblethathecouldremainlongerawayeitherfromStoneBuildingsorfromtheEldon，andthenatthesametime，oradayortwofollowing，MrsFletcherwastogobacktoLongbarns。JohnFletcherandhiswifeandchildrenwerealreadygone——andArthuralsohadbeenatLongbarns。ThetwobrothersandEveretthadbeenbackwardsandforwards。EmilywasanxioustoremainatWhartonatanyratetillParliamentshouldhavemet，sothatshemightnotbeathomewithArthurinhisownhouse。Butmatterswouldnotarrangethemselvesexactlyasshewished。ItwasatlastsettledthatsheshouldgotoLongbarnswithMaryWhartonunderthechargeofJohnFletcherinthefirstweekinFebruary。AsarrangementswerealreadyinprogressforthepurchaseofBarntonSpinnies，SirAluredcouldnotpossiblyleavehisownhouse。NottohavewalkedthroughthewoodonthefirstdayitbecamepartoftheWhartonpropertywouldtohimhavebeentreasontotheestate。

Hisexperienceoughttohavetoldhimthattherewasnochanceofalawyerandacollegedealingtogetherwithsuchrapidity。butinthepresentstateofthingshecouldnotbeartoabsenthimself。Ordershadalreadybeengivenforthecuttingdownofcertaintreeswhichcouldnothavebeentouchedhadthereprobatelived，anditwasindispensablethatifatreefellatWhartonheshouldseethefall。ItthuscametopassthattherewasaweekduringwhichEmilywouldbeforcedtoliveundertheroofoftheFletcherstogetherwithArthurFletcher。

TheweekcameandshewasabsolutelyreceivedbyArthuratthedoorofLongbarns。ShehadnotbeenatthehousesinceithadfirstbeenintimatedtotheFletchersthatshewasdisposedtoreceivewithfavourtheaddressesofFerdinandLopez。Assherememberedthisitseemedtohertobeanageagosincethatmanhadinducedhertobelievethatofallthemenshehadevermethewasthenearesttoahero。Sheneverspokeofhimnow，butofcourseherthoughtsofhimwereneverending，——asalsoofherselfinthatshehadallowedherselftobesodeceived。Shewouldrecalltohermindwithbitterinwardsobbingsallthoselessonsofiniquitywhichhehadstriventoteachher，andwhichhadfirstopenedhereyestohistruecharacter——howsedulouslyhehadendeavouredtopersuadeherthatitwasherdutytorobherfatheronhisbehalf，howcontinuallyhehadendeavouredtomakeherthinkthatappearanceintheworldwaseverything，andthat，beingintruthpooradventurers，itbehovedthemtocheattheworldintothinkingthemrichandrespectable。Everyhintthathadbeensogivenhadbeenawoundtoher，andthosewoundswereallnowremembered。Thoughsincehisdeathshehadneverallowedawordtobespokeninherpresenceagainsthim，shecouldnotbuthatehismemory。Howgloriouswasthatothermaninhereyes，ashestoodthereatthedoorwelcominghertoLongbarns，fair-haired，open-eyed，withbronzedbrowandcheek，andsurlythehonestestfacethatalovingwomaneverlovedtogazeon。Duringthevariouslessonsshehadlearnedinhermarriedlife，shehadbecomegraduallybutsurelyawarethatthefaceofthatothermanhadbeendishonest。Shehadlearnedthefalsemeaningofeveryglanceofhiseyes，thesubtletyofhismouth，thecounterfeitmanoeuvresofhisbody，——thedeceitevenofhisdress。Hehadbeenallaliefromheadtofoot，andhehadthrownherloveasideasuselesswhenshealsowouldnotbealiar。Andherewasthisman，——spotlessinherestimation，compoundedofallgoodqualities，whichshecouldnowseeandtakeattheirpropervalue。Shehatedherselfforthesimplicitywithwhichshehadbeencheatedbysoftwordsandafalsedemeanourintosogreatasacrifice。

LifeatLongbarnswasveryquietduringthedayswhichshepassedtherebeforesheleftthem。Shewasfrequentlyalonewithhim，buthe，ifhestilllovedher，didnotspeakofhislove。Heexplaineditallonedaytohismother。’Ifitistobe，’saidtheoldlady，’Idon’tseetheuseofmoredelay。OfcoursethemarriageoughtnottobetillMarchtwelvemonths。Butifitisunderstoodthatitistobe，shemightalterherdressbydegrees，——andalterhermannerofliving。Thesethingsshouldalwaysbedonebydegrees。Ithinkithadbetterbesettled，Arthur，ifitistobesettled。’

’Iamafraid，mother。’

’Dearme！Ididn’tthinkyouwerethemanevertobeafraidofawoman。Whatcanshesaytoyou？’

’Refuseme。’

’Thenyouhadbetterknowatonce。ButIdon’tthinkshe’llbefoolenoughforthat。’

’Perhapsyouhardlyunderstandher，mother。’

MrsFletchershookherheadwithalookofconsiderableannoyance。’Perhapsnot。But，totellyouthetruth，Idon’tlikeyoungwomenwhomIcan’tunderstand。Youngwomenshouldn’tbemysterious。IlikepeopleofwhomIcangiveaprettygoodguesswhatthey’lldo。I’msureInevercouldhaveguessedthatshewouldhavemarriedthatman。’

’Ifyouloveme，mother，donotletthatbementionedbetweenusagain。WhenIsaidthatyoudidnotunderstandher，Ididnotmeanthatshewasmysterious。Ithinkthatbeforehedied，andsincehisdeath，shelearnedofwhatsortthatmanwas。Iwillnotsaythatshehateshismemory，butshehatesherselfforwhatshehasdone。’

’Sosheought，’saidMrsFletcher。

’Shehasnotyetbroughtherselftothinkthatherlifeshouldbeanythingbutonelongperiodofmourning，notforhim，butforherownmistake。YoumaybequitesurethatIaminearnest。ItisnotbecauseIdoubtofmyselfthatIputitoff。ButIfearthatifoncesheassertstomeherresolutiontoremainassheis，shewillfeelherselfboundtokeepherword。’

’Isupposesheisverymuchthesameasotherwomen，afterall，mydear，’saidMrsFletcher，whowasalmostjealousofthepeculiarsuperiorityofsentimentwhichhersonseemedtoattributetothiswoman。

’Circumstances，mother，makepeopledifferent，’hereplied。

’Soyouaregoingwithouthavinganythingfixed，’hiselderbrothersaidtohimthedaybeforehestarted。

’Yes，oldfellow。Itseemstoberatherslack——doesn’tit？’

’Idaresayyouknowbestwhatyou’reabout。Butifyouhavesetyourmindonit-’

’Youmaytakeyouroathonthat。’

’ThenIdon’tseewhyonewordshouldn’tputitallright。Thereneverisanyplacesogoodforthatkindofthingasacountryhouse。’

’Idon’tthinkthatwithheritwillmakemuchdifferencewherethehouseis，orwhatthecircumstances。’

’SheknowswhatyoumeanaswellasIdo。’

’Idaresayshedoes，John。Shemusthaveaverybadideaofmeifshedoesn’t。ButshemayknowwhatImeanandnotmeanthesamethingherself。’

’Howareyoutoknowifyoudon’taskher？’

’YoumaybesurethatIshallaskherassoonasIcanhopethatmydoingsomaygivehermorepleasurethanpain。Remember，I

havehadallthisoutwithherfather。IhavedeterminedthatI

willwaittilltwelvemonthshavepassedsincethatwretchedmanperished。’

Onthatafternoonbeforedinnerhewasalonewithherinthelibrarysomeminutesbeforetheywentuptodressfordinner。’I

shallhardlyseeyouto-morrow，’hesaid，’asImustleavethisathalf-pasteight。Ibreakfastateight。Idon’tsupposeanyonewillbedownexceptmymother。’

’Iamgenerallyasearlyasthat。Iwillcomedownandseeyoustart。’

’Iamsogladthatyouhavebeenhere，Emily。’

’SoamI。Everybodyhasbeensogoodtome。’

’Ithasbeenlikeolddays，——almost。’

’Itwillneverquitebelikeolddaysagain，Ithink。ButIhavebeenverygladtobehere——andatWharton。IsometimesalmostwishthatIwerenevergoingbacktoLondonagain，——onlyforpapa。’

’IlikeLondonmyself。’

’You！Yes，ofcourseyoulikeLondon。Youhaveeverythinginlifebeforeyou。Youhavethingstodo，andmuchtohopefor。

Itisallbeginningforyou，Arthur。’

’Iamfiveyearsolderthanyouare。’

’Whatdoesthatmatter？Itseemstomethatagedoesnotgobyyears。ItislongsinceIhavefeltmyselftobeanoldwoman。

Butyouarequiteyoung。Everybodyisproudofyou，andyououghttobehappy。’

’Idon’tknow，’saidhe，’itishardtosaywhatmakesapersonhappy。’Healmostmadeuphismindtospeaktoherthen。buthehadmadeuphismindbeforetoputitoffstillforalittletime，andhewouldnotallowhimselftobechangedonthespurofthemoment。Hehadthoughtofitmuch，andhehadalmosttaughthimselftothinkthatitwouldbebetterforherselfthatsheshouldnotacceptanotherman’slovesosoon。’Ishallcomeandseeyouintown，’hesaid。

’Youmustcomeandseepapa。ItseemstomethatEverettistobeagreatdealatWharton。Ihadbettergouptodressnow，orIshallbekeepingthemwaiting。’Heputhishandtoher，andwishedhergood-bye，excusinghimselfbysayingthattheyshouldnotbealonetogetherbeforehestarted。

Shesawhimgoonthenextmorning，——andthenshealmostfeltherselftobeabandoned，almostdeserted。Itwasafinecrispwinterday，dryandfresh，andclear，butwiththefroststillontheground。Afterbreakfastshewentouttowalkbyherselfinthelongshrubberypathswhichwentroundthehouse，andheresheremainedforaboveanhour。Shetoldherselfthatshewasverythankfultohimfornothavingspokentoheronasubjectsounfitforherearsaslove。Shestrengthenedherselfinherdeterminationneveragaintolistentoamanwillinglyonthatsubject。Shehadmadeherselfquiteunfittohaveanydealingsofthatnature。Itwasnotthatshecouldnotlove。Ohno！Sheknewwellenoughthatshedidlove，——lovewillallherheart。Ifitwerenotthatsheweresotorntoragsthatshewasnotfittobewornagain，shecouldnowhavethrownherselfintohisarmswithawholeheavenofjoybeforeher。Awoman，shetoldherself，hadnorighttoasecondchanceinlife，afterhavingmadeashipwreckofherselfinthefirst。ButthedangerofbeingseducedfromherjudgementbyArthurFletcherwasallover。Hehadbeennearherforthelastweekandhadnotspokenaword。

Hehadbeeninthesamehousewithherforthelasttendaysandhadbeenwithherasabrothermightbewithhissister。Itwasnotonlyshewhohadseentheproprietyofthis。Healsohadacknowledgedit，andshewas——gratefultohim。Assheendeavouredinhersolitudetoexpresshergratitudeinspokenwordsthetearsrolleddownhercheeks。Shewasglad，shetoldherself，verygladthatitwasso。Howmuchtroubleandpaintobothofthemwouldthusbespared！Andyethertearswerebittertears。Itwasbetterasitwas——andyetonewordoflovewouldhavebeenverysweet。Shealmostthoughtthatshewouldhavelikedtotellhimthatforhissake，forhisdearsake，shewouldrefuse——thatwhichnowwouldneverbeofferedtoher。Shewasquiteclearastotherectitudeofherownjudgement，clearasever。Andyetherheartwasheavywithdisappointment。

ItwastheendofMarchbeforesheleftHertfordshireforLondon，havingspentthegreaterpartofthetimeatLongbarns。Theladiesatthatplaceweremovedbymanydoubtsastowhatwouldbetheendofallthis。MrsFletchertheelderatlastalmosttaughtherselftobelievethattherewouldbenomarriage，andhavinggotbacktothatbelief，wasagainopposedtotheideaofmarriage。AnythingandeverythingthatArthurwantedheoughttohave。Theoldladyfeltnodoubtastothat。Whenconvincedthathedidnotwanttohavethewidow，——thiswomanwhoselifehadhithertobeensounfortunate，——shehadforhissaketakenthewomanagainbythehand，andhadassistedinmakingheroneofthemselves。ButhowmuchbetteritwoulditbethatArthurshouldthinkbetterofit！Itwasthemaddestconstancy，——thisclingingtothewidowofsuchamanasFerdinandLopez！Iftherewereanydoubt，thenshewouldbepreparedtodoallshecouldtopreventthemarriage。Emilyhadbeenforgiven，andthepardonbestowedmustofcoursebecontinued。ButshemightbepardonedwithoutbeingmadeMrsArthurFletcher。WhileEmilywasstillatLongbarnstheoldladyalmosttalkedoverherdaughter-in-lawtothiswayofthinking，——tillJohnFletcherputhisfootuponitaltogether。’Idon’tpretendtosaywhatshemaydo，’hesaid。

Oh，John，’saidhismother，’tohearamanlikeyoutalklikethatisabsurd。She’djumpathimifhelookedatherwithhalfaneye。’

’Whatshemaydo，’hecontinuedsaying，withoutappearingtolistentohismother，’Icannotsay。ButthathewillaskhertobehiswifeisascertainasIstandhere。’

CHAPTER72

’HETHINKSTHATOURDAYSARENUMBERED。’

AllthedetailsofthenewCountySuffrageBillweresettledatMatchingduringtherecessbetweenMrMond，PhineasFinn，andaveryexperiencedmanfromtheTreasury，oneMrPrime，whowassupposedtoknowmoreaboutsuchthingsthananymanliving，andwasconsequentlycalledConstitutionCharlie。Hewasanelderlyman，oversixtyyearsofage，whorememberedtheReformBill，andhadbeenengagedinthedoctoringofconstituencieseversince。

Thebill，ifpassed，wouldbemainlyhisbill，andyettheworldwouldneverhearhisnameconnectedwithit。LetushopethathewascomfortableatMatching，andthathefoundhisconsolationinthesmilesoftheDuchess。DuringthistimetheoldDukewasaway，andeventhePrimeMinisterwasabsentforsomedays。Hewouldfainhavebusiedhimselfaboutthebillhimself，butwashardlyallowedbyhiscolleaguestohaveanyhandinframingit。

ThegreatpointsofthemeasurehadofcoursebeenarrangedintheCabinet，——where，however，MrMonk’sviewshadbeenadoptedalmostwithoutachange。ItmaynotperhapsbetoomuchtoassumethatoneortwomembersoftheCabinetdidnotquiteunderstandthefullscopeofeverysuggestedclause。Theeffectswhichcauseswillproduce，thedangerswhichmaybeexpectedfromthisorthatchange，themannerinwhichthisorthatpropositionwillcomeoutinthewashing，donotstrikeevenCabinetMinistersataglance。Alittlestudyinaman’sowncabinet，afterperhapsreadingafewleadingarticles，andperhapsashortconversationwithanastutefriendortwo，willenableastatesmantobestrongatagiventimefor，orever，ifnecessary，againstameasure，whohaslistenedinsilence，andhasperhapsgivenhispersonalassent，totheoriginalsuggestion。IdoubtwhetherLordDrummond，whenhesatsilentintheCabinet，hadrealizedthosefearswhichweigheduponhimsostronglyafterwards，orhadthenforeseenthattheadoptionofanearlysimilarfranchiseforthecountiesandboroughsmustinevitablyleadtotheAmericansystemofnumericalrepresentation。Butwhentimehadbeengivenhim，andheandSirTimothyBeeswaxhadtalkeditallover，themindofnomanwaseverclearerthanthatofLordDrummond。

ThePrimeMinister，withthediligencewhichbelongedtohim，hadmasteredallthedetailsofMrMonk’sbillbeforeitwasdiscussedintheCabinet，andyethefoundthathisassistancewashardlyneededintheabsolutepreparation。Hadtheyallowedhimhewouldhavedoneitallhimself。Butitwasassumedthathewouldnottroublehimselfwithsuchwork，andheperceivedthathewasnotwanted。Nothingofmomentwassettledwithoutreferencetohim。Herequiredthateverythingshouldbeexplainedasitwenton，downtotheextensionofeveryboroughboundary。butheknewthathewasnotdoingithimself，andthatMrMonkandConstitutionCharliehadtheprizebetweenthem。

NordidhedareaskMrMonkwhatwouldbethefateofthebill。

Todevoteallone’stimeandmindandindustrytoameasurewhichoneknowswillfalltothegroundmustbesad。Workundersuchcircumstancesmustbeverygrievous。Butsuchisoftenthefateofstatesmen。WhetherMrMonklabouredundersuchaconvictionthePrimeMinisterdidnotknow，thoughhesawhisfriendandcolleaguealmostdaily。Intruthnoonedaredtotellhimexactlywhathethought。EventheoldDukehadbecomepartiallyreticent，andtakenhimselfofftohisownwoodsatLongRoyston。

ToPhineasFinnthePrimeMinisterwouldsometimessayaword，butwouldsayeventhattimidly。Onanyabstractquestion，suchasthatwhichhehaddiscussedwhentheyhadbeenwalkingtogether，hecouldtalkfreelyenough。Butonthematteroftheday，thoseaffairswhichwereofinfiniteimportancetohimself，andonwhichonewouldsupposehewouldtakedelightinspeakingtoatrustedcolleague，hecouldnotbringhimselftobeopen。

’Itmustbealongbill，Isuppose？’

’I’mafraidso，Duke。Itwillrun，Ifear，tooverahundredclauses。’

’ItwilltakethebestpartoftheSessiontogetthroughit？’

’IfwecanhavethesecondreadingearlyinMarch，wehopetosendituptoyouinthefirstweekinJune。Thatwillgiveusampletime。’

’Yes——yes。Isupposeso。’ButhedidnotdaretoaskPhineasFinnwhetherhethoughtthattheHouseofCommonswouldassenttothesecondreading。ItwasknownatthistimethatthePrimeMinisterwaspainfullyanxioustothefateoftheMinistry。ItseemedtobebuttheotherdaythateverybodyconnectedwiththeGovernmentwaslivinginfearlestheshouldresign。HisthreatsinthatdirectionhadalwaysbeenmadetohisoldfriendtheDukeofStBungay。butagreatmancannotwhisperhisthoughtswithouthavingthemcarriedintheair。InalltheclubsithadbeendeclaredthatthatwastherockbywhichtheCoalitionwouldprobablybewrecked。Thenewspapershadrepeatedthestory，andthePeople’sBannerhadassuredtheworldthatifitweresotheDukeofOmniumwouldthusdoforhiscountrytheonlygoodservicewhichitwaspossiblethatheshouldrenderit。ThatwasthetimewhenSirOrlandowasmutinousandwhenLopezhaddestroyedhimself。ButnownosuchthreatcamefromtheDuke，andthePeople’sBannerwasalreadyaccusinghimofclingingtopowerwithpertinaciousandunconstitutionaltenacity。HadnotSirOrlandodesertedhim？WasitnotwellknownthatLordDrummondandSirTimothyBeeswaxwereonlyrestrainedfromdoingsobyamistakenloyalty？

Everybodycameuptotown，MrMonkhavinghisbillinhispocket，andtheQueen’sspeechwasread，promisingtheCountySuffrageBill。Theaddresswasvotedwithaveryfewwordsfromeitherside。Thebattlewasnottobefoughtthen。Indeed，thestateofthingswassoabnormalthattherecouldhardlybesaidtobeanysidesintheHouse。Astrangerinthegallery，notknowingtheconditionofaffairs，wouldhavethoughtthatnoministerhadformanyyearscommandedsolargeamajority，asthecrowdofmemberswasalwaysontheGovernmentsideoftheHouse。buttheoppositionwhichMrMonkexpectedwould，heknew，comefromthosewhosataroundhim，behindhim，andevenathisveryelbow。

AboutaweekafterParliamentmetthebillwasreadforthefirsttime，andthesecondreadingwasappointedforanearlydayinMarch。

TheDukehadsuggestedtoMrMonktheexpedienceofsomefurtherdelay，givinghisreasonthenecessityofgettingthroughcertainroutinework，shouldtherejectionofthebillcreatetheconfusionofaresignation。NoonewhoknewtheDukecouldeversuspecthimofgivingafalsereason。ButitseemedthatinthisthePrimeMinisterwasallowinghimselftobeharassedbyfearsofthefuture。MrMonkthoughtthatanydelaywouldbeinjuriousandopentosuspicionafterwhathadbeensaidanddone，andwasurgentinhisarguments。TheDukegaveway，buthedidsoalmostsullenly，signifyinghisacquiescencewithhaughtysilence。’I

amsorry，’saidMrMonk，’todifferfromyourGrace，butmyopinioninthematterissostrongthatIdonotdaretoabstainfromexpressingit。’TheDukebowedagainandsmiled。Hehadintendedthatthesmileshouldbeacquiescent，butithadbeenascoldassteel。Heknewthathewasmisbehaving，butwasnotsufficientlymasterofhisownmannertobegracious。Hetoldhimselfonthespot，——thoughhewasquitewronginsotellinghimself，——thathehadnowmadeanenemyalsoofMrMonk，andthroughMrMonkofPhineasFinn。Andnowhefeltthathehadnofriendleftinwhomhecouldtrust，——fortheoldDukehadbecomecoldandindifferent。TheoldDuke，hethought，wastiredofhisworkandanxioustorest。ItwastheoldDukewhohadbroughthimintothishornet’snest。hadfixeduponhisbacktheunwillingload。hadcompelledhimtoassumetheplacewhichnowtolosewouldbeadisgrace，——andtheoldDukewasnowdesertinghim！

Hewassoreallover，angrywitheveryone，ungraciousevenwithhi