第6章

“Ihavesuspected。”hesaid，——“Ihavehadakindoffeeling——thatshe——Well，come，Doctor，——Idon’tknowthatthere’sanyuseindisguisingthematter，——IhavethoughtElsieVeneerhadratherafancyforsomebodyelse，——Imeanmyself。”

Therewassomethingsobecomingintheblushwithwhichtheyoungmanmadethisconfession，andsomanly，too，inthetonewithwhichhespoke，soremotefromanyshallowvanity，suchasyoungmenwhoareincapableofloveareapttofeel，whensomeloosetendrilofawoman’sfancywhichachancewindhasblownagainstthemtwinesaboutthemforthewantofanythingbetter，thattheoldDoctorlookedathimadmiringly，andcouldnothelpthinkingthatitwasnowonderanyyounggirlshouldbepleasedwithhim。

“Youareamanofnerve，Mr。Langdon？“saidtheDoctor。

“Ithoughtsotillverylately。”hereplied。“Iamnoteasilyfrightened，butIdon’tknowbutImightbebewitchedormagnetized，orwhateveritiswhenoneistiedupandcannotmove。IthinkIcanfindnerveenough，however，ifthereisanyspecialuseyouwanttoputitto。”

“Letmeaskyouonemorequestion，Mr。Langdon。DoyoufindyourselfdisposedtotakeaspecialinterestinElsie，——tofallinlovewithher，inaword？Pardonme，forIdonotaskfromcuriosity，butamuchmoreseriousmotive。”

“Elsieinterestsme。”saidtheyoungman，“interestsmestrangely。

ShehasawildflavorinhercharacterwhichiswhollydifferentfromthatofanyhumancreatureIeversaw。Shehasmarksofgenius，poeticordramatic，——Ihardlyknowwhich。ShereadapassagefromKeats’s’Lamia’theotherday，intheschoolroom，insuchawaythatIdeclaretoyouIthoughtsomeofthegirlswouldfaintorgointofits。MissDarleygotupandlefttheroom，tremblingallover。

Then，Ipityher，sheissolonely。Thegirlsareafraidofher，andsheseemstohaveeitheradislikeorafearofthem。Theyhaveallsortsofpainfulstoriesabouther。Theygiveheranamewhichnohumancreatureoughttobear。Theysayshehidesamarkonherneckbyalwayswearinganecklace。Sheisverygraceful，youknow，andtheywillhaveitthatshecantwistherselfintoallsortsofshapes，ortieherselfinaknot，ifshewantsto。Thereisnotoneofthemthatwilllookherintheeyes。Ipitythepoorgirl；but，Doctor，Idonotloveher。Iwouldriskmylifeforher，ifitwoulddoheranygood，butitwouldbeincoldblood。Ifherhandtouchesmine，itisnotathrillofpassionIfeelrunningthroughme，butaverydifferentemotion。Oh，Doctor！theremustbesomethinginthatcreature’sbloodwhichhaskilledthehumanityinher。Godonlyknowsthecausethathasblightedsuchasoulinsobeautifulabody！

No，Doctor，Idonotlovethegirl。”

“Mr。Langdon。”saidtheDoctor，“youareyoung，andIamold。Letmetalktoyouwithanoldman’sprivilege，asanadviser。Youhavecometothiscountry-townwithoutsuspicion，andyouaremovinginthemidstofperils。TherearethingswhichImustnottellyounow；

butImaywarnyou。Keepyoureyesopenandyourheartshut。If，throughpityingthatgirl，youevercometoloveher，youarelost。

Ifyoudealcarelesslywithher，beware！Thisisnotall。ThereareothereyesonyoubesideElsieVenner’s。Doyougoarmed？“

“Ido！“saidMr。Bernard，——andhe“puthishandsup“intheshapeoffists，insuchawayastoshowthathewasmasterofthenaturalweaponsatanyrate。

TheDoctorcouldnothelpsmiling。Buthisfacefellinaninstant。

“Youmaywantsomethingmorethanthosetoolstoworkwith。Comewithmeintomysanctum。”

TheDoctorledMr。Bernardintoasmallroomopeningoutofthestudy。Itwasaplacesuchasanybodybutamedicalmanwouldshivertoenter。Therewastheusualtallboxwithitsbleached，rattlingtenant；therewerejarsinrowswhere“interestingcases“outlivedthegriefofwidowsandheirsinalcoholicimmortality，——foryour“preparation-jar“isthetrue“monumentumaereperennius；“therewerevarioussemi-possibilitiesofminutedimensionsandunpromisingdevelopments；therewereshininginstrumentsofevilaspect，andgrimplatesonthewalls，andononeshelfbyitself，accursedandapart，coiledinalongcylinderofspirit，ahugecrotalus，rough-scaled，flatheaded，variegatedwithdullbands，oneofwhichpartiallyencircledthenecklikeacollar，——anawfulwretchtolookupon，withmurderwrittenalloverhiminhorridhieroglyphics。Mr。Bernard’slookwasrivetedonthiscreature，——notfascinatedcertainly，foritseyeslookedlikewhitebeads，beingcloudedbytheactionofthespiritsinwhichithadbeenlongkept，——butfixedbysomeindefinitesenseoftherenewalofapreviousimpression；——everybodyknowsthefeeling，withitssuggestionofsomepaststateofexistence。Therewasascrapofpaperonthejar，withsomethingwrittenonit。HewasreachinguptoreaditwhentheDoctortouchedhimlightly。

“Lookhere，Mr。Langdon！“hesaid，withacertainvivacityofmanner，asifwishingtocallawayhisattention，——“thisismyarmory。”

TheDoctorthrewopenthedoorofasmallcabinet，whereweredisposedinartisticpatternsvariousweaponsofoffenceanddefence，——forhewasavirtuosoinhisway，andbythesideoftheimplementsoftheartofhealinghadpleasedhimselfwithdisplayingacollectionofthoseotherinstruments，theuseofwhichrendersthefirstnecessary。

“Seewhichoftheseweaponsyouwouldlikebesttocarryaboutyou。”

saidtheDoctor。

Mr。Bernardlaughed，andlookedattheDoctorasifhehalfdoubtedwhetherhewasinearnest。

“Thislooksdangerousenough。”hesaid，——“forthemanwhocarriesit，atleast。”

HetookdownoneoftheprohibitedSpanishdaggersorkniveswhichatravellermay，occasionallygetholdofandsmuggleoutofthecountry。Thebladewasbroad，trowel-like，butthepointdrawnoutseveralinches，soastolooklikeaskewer。

“Thismustbeajealousbull-fighter’sweapon。”hesaid，andputitbackinitsplace。

Thenhetookdownanancient-lookingbroad-bladeddagger，withacomplexaspectaboutit，asifithadsomekindofmechanismconnectedwithit。

“Takecare！“saidtheDoctor；“thereisatricktothatdagger。”

Hetookitandtouchedaspring。Thedaggersplitsuddenlyintothreeblades，aswhenoneseparatestheforefingerandthering-

fingerfromthemiddleone。Theoutsidebladesweresharpontheirouteredge。Thestabwastobemadewiththedaggershut，thenthespringtouchedandthesplitbladeswithdrawn。

Mr。Bernardreplacedit，saying，thatitwouldhaveservedforside-

armtooldSuwarrow，whotoldhismentoworktheirbayonetsbackandforwardwhentheypinnedaTurk，buttowrigglethemaboutinthewoundwhentheystabbedaFrenchman。

“Here。”saidtheDoctor，“thisisthethingyouwant。”

Hetookdownamuchmoremodernandfamiliarimplement，——asmall，beautifullyfinishedrevolver。

“Iwantyoutocarrythis。”hesaid；“andmorethanthat，Iwantyoutopractisewithitoften，asforamusement，butsothatitmaybeseenandunderstoodthatyouareapttohaveapistolaboutyou。

Pistol-shootingispleasantsportenough，andthereisnoreasonwhyyoushouldnotpractiseitlikeotheryoungfellows。Andnow。”theDoctorsaid，“Ihaveoneother，weapontogiveyou。”

Hetookasmallpieceofparchmentandshookawhitepowderintoitfromoneofhismedicine-jars。Thejarwasmarkedwiththenameofamineralsalt，ofanaturetohavebeenserviceableincaseofsuddenillnessinthetimeoftheBorgias。TheDoctorfoldedtheparchmentcarefully，andmarkedtheLatinnameofthepowderuponit。

“Here。”hesaid，handingittoMr。Bernard，“youseewhatitis，andyouknowwhatserviceitcanrender。Keepthesetwoprotectorsaboutyourpersondayandnight；theywillnotharmyou，andyoumaywantoneortheotherorbothbeforeyouthinkofit。”

Mr。Bernardthoughtitwasveryodd，andnotveryold-gentlemanlike，tobefittinghimoutfortreason，stratagem，andspoils，inthisway。Therewasnoharm，however，incarryingadoctor’spowderinhispocket，orinamusinghimselfwithshootingatamark，ashehadoftendonebefore。Iftheoldgentlemanhadthesefancies，itwasaswelltohumorhim。

SohethankedoldDoctorKittredge，andshookhishandwarmlyashelefthim。

“Thefellow’shanddidnottremble，norhiscolorchange。”theDoctorsaid，ashewatchedhimwalkingaway。“Heisoneoftherightsort。”

CHAPTERXVI

EPISTOLARY。

Mr。LangdontotheProfessor。

MYDEARPROFESSOR，YouwerekindenoughtopromisemethatyouwouldassistmeinanyprofessionalorscientificinvestigationsinwhichImightbecomeengaged。Ihaveoflatebecomedeeplyinterestedinaclassofsubjectswhichpresentpeculiardifficulty，andImustexercisetheprivilegeofquestioningyouonsomepointsuponwhichIdesireinformationIcannototherwiseobtain。Iwouldnottroubleyou，ifI

couldfindanypersonorbookscompetenttoenlightenmeonsomeofthesesingularmatterswhichhavesoexcitedme。Theleadingdoctorhereisashrewd，sensibleman，butnotversedinthecuriositiesofmedicalliterature。

Iproceed，withyourleave，toaskaconsiderablenumberofquestions，——hopingtogetanswerstosomeofthem，atleast。

Isthereanyevidencethathumanbeingscanbeinfectedorwroughtuponbypoisons，orotherwise，sothattheyshallmanifestanyofthepeculiaritiesbelongingtobeingsofalowernature？Cansuchpeculiarities——betransmittedbyinheritance？Isthereanythingtocountenancethestories，longandwidelycurrent，aboutthe“evileye“？orisitamerefancythatsuchapowerbelongstoanyhumanbeing？Haveyouanypersonalexperienceastothepoweroffascinationsaidtobeexercisedbycertainanimals？Whatcanyoumakeofthosecircumstantialstatementswehaveseeninthepapers，ofchildrenformingmysteriousfriendshipswithophidiansofdifferentspecies，sharingtheirfoodwiththem，andseemingtobeundersomesubtileinfluenceexercisedbythosecreatures？Haveyouread，critically，Coleridge’spoemof“Christabel。”andKeats’s“Lamia“？——Ifso，canyouunderstandthem，orfindanyphysiologicalfoundationforthestoryofeither？

ThereisanothersetofquestionsofadifferentnatureIshouldliketoask，butitishardlyfairtoputsomanyonasinglesheet。

Thereisone，however，youmustanswer。Doyouthinktheremaybepredispositions，inheritedoringrafted，butatanyrateconstitutional，whichshalltakeoutcertainapparentlyvoluntarydeterminationsfromthecontrolofthewill，andleavethemasfreefrommoralresponsibilityastheinstinctsoftheloweranimals？Doyounotthinktheremaybeacrimewhichisnotasin？

Pardonme，mydearSir，fortroublingyouwithsuchalistofnotesofinterrogation。Therearesomeverystrangethingsgoingonhereinthisplace，country-townasitis。Country-lifeisapttobedull；butwhenitoncegetsgoing，itbeatsthecityhollow，becauseitgivesitswholemindtowhatitisabout。TheseruralsinnersmaketerribleworkwiththemiddleoftheDecalogue，whentheygetstarted。However，IhopeIshalllivethroughmyyear’sschool-

keepingwithoutcatastrophes，thoughtherearequeerdoingsaboutmewhichpuzzlemeandmightscaresomepeople。Ifanythingshouldhappen，youwillbeoneofthefirsttohearofit，nodoubt。ButI

trustnottohelpouttheeditorsofthe“RocklandWeeklyUniverse“

withanobituaryofthelatelamented，whosignedhimselfinlifeYourfriendandpupil，BERNARDC。LANGDON。

TheProfessortoMr。Langdon。

MYDEARMR。LANGDON，Idonotwonderthatyoufindnoanswerfromyourcountryfriendstothecuriousquestionsyouput。Theybelongtothatmiddleregionbetweenscienceandpoetrywhichsensiblemen，astheyarecalled，areveryshyofmeddlingwith。Somepeoplethinkthattruthandgoldarealwaystobewashedfor；butthewisersortareofopinion，that，unlesstherearesomanygrainstothepeckofsandornonsenserespectively，itdoesnotpaytowashforeither，solongasonecanfindanythingelsetodo。Idon’tdoubtthereissometruthinthephenomenaofanimalmagnetism，forinstance；butwhenyouaskmetocradleforit，Itellyouthatthehystericgirlscheatso，andtheprofessionalsaresuchasetofpickpockets，thatIcandosomethingbetterthanhuntforthegrainsoftruthamongtheirtricksandlies。

DoyourememberwhatIusedtosayinmylectures？——orwereyouasleepjustthen，orcuttingyourinitialsontherail？(YouseeI

canaskquestions，myyoungfriend。)Leverageiseverything，——waswhatIusedtosay；——don’tbegintoprytillyouhavegotthelongarmonyourside。

Topleaseyou，andsatisfyyourdoubtsasfaraspossible，Ihavelookedintotheoldbooks，——intoSchenckiusandTurnerandKenelm。

Digbyandtherest，whereIhavefoundplentyofcuriousstorieswhichyoumusttakeforwhattheyareworth。

YourfirstquestionIcananswerintheaffirmativeuponprettygoodauthority。Mizaldustells，inhis“Memorabilia。”thewell-knownstoryofthegirlfedonpoisons，whowassentbythekingoftheIndiestoAlexandertheGreat。“WhenAristotlesawhereyessparklingandsnappinglikethoseofserpents，hesaid，’Lookoutforyourself，Alexander！thisisadangerouscompanionforyou！’“——andsureenough，theyoungladyprovedtobeaveryunsafepersontoherfriends。CardanusgetsastoryfromAvicenna，ofacertainmanbitbyaserpent，whorecoveredofhisbite，thesnakedyingtherefrom。

Thismanafterwardshadadaughterwhomvenomousserpentscouldnotharm，thoughshehadafatalpoweroverthem。

IsupposeyoumayrememberthestatementsofoldauthorsaboutZycanthropy，thediseaseinwhichmentookonthenatureandaspectofwolves。ActiusandPaulus，bothmenofauthority，describeit。

Altomarisgivesahorridcase；andFinceliusmentionsoneoccurringaslateas1541，thesubjectofwhichwascaptured，stillinsistingthathewasawolf，onlythatthehairofhishidewasturnedin！

Versipelles，itmayberemembered，wastheLatinnameforthese“were-wolves。”

Asforthecaseswhererabidpersonshavebarkedandbitlikedogs，thereareplentyofsuchonrecord。

Moresingular，oratleastmorerare，istheaccountgivenbyAndreasBaccius，ofamanwhowasstruckinthehandbyacock，withhisbeak，andwhodiedonthethirddaythereafter，lookingforalltheworldlikeafighting-cock，tothegreathorrorofthespectators。

Astoimpressionstransmittedataveryearlyperiodofexistence，everyoneknowsthestoryofKingJames’sfearofanakedsword，andthewayitisaccountedfor。SirKenelmDigbysays，——“IrememberwhenhedubbedmeKnight，intheceremonyofputtingthepointofanakedsworduponmyshoulder，hecouldnotenduretolookuponit，butturnedhisfaceanotherway，insomuch，that，inlieuoftouchingmyshoulder，hehadalmostthrustthepointintomyeyes，hadnottheDukeofBuckinghamguidedhishandaright。”Itishe，too，whotellsthestoryofthemulberrymarkupontheneckofacertainladyofhighcondition，which“everyyear，tomulberryseason，didswell，growbig，anditch。”AndGaffarelmentionsthecaseofagirlbornwiththefigureofafishononeofherlimbs，ofwhichthewonderwas，that，whenthegirldideatfish，thismarkputhertosensiblepain。Butthereisnoendtocasesofthiskind，andIcouldgivesomeofrecentdate，ifnecessary，lendingacertainplausibilityatleasttothedoctrineoftransmittedimpressions。

Ineversawadistinctcaseofevileye，thoughIhaveseeneyessobadthattheymightproducestrangeeffectsonverysensitivenatures。Butthebeliefinitundervariousnames，fascination，jettcztura，etc。，issopermanentanduniversal，fromEgypttoItaly，andfromthedaysofSolomontothoseofFerdinandofNaples，thattheremustbesomepeculiarity，tosaytheleast，onwhichtheopinionisbased。Thereisverystrongevidencethatsomesuchpowerisexercisedbycertainoftheloweranimals。Thus，itisstatedongoodauthoritythat“almosteveryanimalbecomespanic-struckatthesightoftherattlesnake，andseemsatoncedeprivedofthepowerofmotion，ortheexerciseofitsusualinstinctofself-preservation。”

Otherserpentsseemtosharethispoweroffascination，astheCobraandtheBuccephalusCapensis。

Somethinkthatitisnothingbutfright；othersattributeittothe“strangepowersthatlieWithinthemagiccircleoftheeye。”——

asChurchillsaid，speakingofGarrick。

Youaskmeaboutthosemysteriousandfrightfulintimaciesbetweenchildrenandserpents，ofwhichsomanyinstanceshavebeenrecorded。

IamsureIcannottellwhattomakeofthem。Ihaveseenseveralsuchaccountsinrecentpapers，buthereisonepublishedintheseventeenthcentury，whichisasstrikingasanyofthemoremodernones：

“Mr。HerbertTonesofMonmouth，whenhewasalittleBoy，wasusedtoeathisMilkinaGardenintheMorning，andwasnosoonerthere，butalargeSnakealwayscame，andeatoutoftheDishwithhim，anddidsoforaconsiderabletime，tilloneMorning，hestrikingtheSnakeontheHead，ithissedathim。UponwhichhetoldhisMotherthattheBaby(forsohecall’dit)cry’dHissathim。HisMotherhaditkill’d，whichoccasionedhimagreatFitofSickness，and’twasthoughtwouldhavedy’d，butdidrecover。”

Therewaslikewiseone“WilliamWrittle，condemnedatMaidstonAssizesforadoublemurder，toldaMinisterthatwaswithhimafterhewascondemned，thathismothertoldhim，thatwhenhewasaChild，therecreptalwaystohimaSnake，wherevershelaidhim。SometimesshewouldconveyhimupStairs，andleavehimneversolittle，sheshouldbesuretofindaSnakeintheCradlewithhim，butneverperceiveditdidhimanyharm。”

Oneofthemoststrikingallegedfactsconnectedwiththemysteriousrelationexistingbetweentheserpentand-thehumanspeciesistheinfluencewhichthepoisonoftheCrotulus，takeninternally，seemedtoproduceoverthemoralfaculties，intheexperimentsinstitutedbyDr。HeringatSurinam。Thereissomethingfrightfulinthedispositionofcertainophidians，asthewhipsnake，whichdartsattheeyesofcattlewithoutanyapparentprovocationorothermotive。

Itisnaturalenoughthattheevilprincipleshouldhavebeenrepresentedintheformofaserpent，butitisstrangetothinkofintroducingitintoahumanbeinglikecow-poxbyvaccination。

YouknowallaboutthePsylli，orancientserpenttamers，Isuppose。

Savarygivesanaccountofthemodernserpent-tamersinhis“LettersonEgypt。”ThesemodernjugglersareinthehabitofmakingthevenomousNajacounterfeitdeath，lyingoutstraightandstiff，changingitintoarod，astheancientmagiciansdidwiththeirserpents，(probablythesameanimal，)inthetimeofMoses。

IamafraidIcannotthrowmuchlighton“Christabel“or“Lamia“byanycriticismIcanoffer。Geraldine，intheformer，seemstobesimplyamalignantwitch-womanwiththeevileye，butwithnoabsoluteophidianrelationship。Lamiaisaserpenttransformedbymagicintoawoman。Theideaofbothismythological，andnotinanysensephysiological。Somewomenunquestionablysuggesttheimageofserpents；menrarelyornever。Ihavebeenstruck，likemanyothers，withtheophidianheadandeyeofthefamousRachel。

Yourquestionaboutinheritedpredispositions，aslimitingthesphereofthewill，and，consequently，ofmoralaccountability，opensaverywiderangeofspeculation。Icangiveyouonlyabriefabstractofmyownopinionsonthisdelicateanddifficultsubject。Crimeandsin，beingthepreservesoftwogreatorganizedinterests，havebeenguardedagainstallreformingpoacherswithasgreatjealousyastheRoyalForests。Itissoeasytohangatroublesomefellow！Itissomuchsimplertoconsignasoultoperdition，orsaymasses，formoney，tosaveit，thantotaketheblameonourselvesforlettingitgrowupinneglectandruntoruinforwantofhumanizinginfluences！

Theyhungpoor，crazyBellinghamforshootingMr。Perceval。TheordinaryofNewgatepreachedtowomenwhoweretoswingatTyburnforapettytheftasiftheywereworsethanotherpeople，——justasthoughhewouldnothavebeenapickpocketorshoplifter，himself，ifhehadbeenborninadenofthievesandbreduptostealorstarve！

TheEnglishlawneverbegantogetholdoftheideathatacrimewasnotnecessarilyasin，tillHadfield，whothoughthewastheSaviourofmankind，wastriedforshootingatGeorgetheThird；——luckyforhimthathedidnothithisMajesty！

Itisverysingularthatwerecognizeallthebodilydefectsthatunfitamanformilitaryservice，andalltheintellectualonesthatlimithisrangeofthought，butalwaystalkathimasifallhismoralpowerswereperfect。Isupposewemustpunishevil-doersasweextirpatevermin；butIdon’tknowthatwehaveanymorerighttojudgethemthanwehavetojudgeratsandmice，whicharejustasgoodascatsandweasels，thoughwethinkitnecessarytotreatthemascriminals。

Thelimitationsofhumanresponsibilityhaveneverbeenproperlystudied，unlessitbebythephrenologists。YouknowfrommylecturesthatIconsiderphrenology，astaught，apseudo-science，andnotabranchofpositiveknowledge；but，forallthat，weoweitanimmensedebt。Ithasmeltedtheworld’sconscienceinitscrucible，andcastitinanewmould，withfeatureslesslikethoseofMolochandmorelikethoseofhumanity。Ifithasfailedtodemonstrateitssystemofspecialcorrespondences，ithasprovedthattherearefixedrelationsbetweenorganizationandmindandcharacter。Ithasbroughtoutthatgreatdoctrineofmoralinsanity，whichhasdonemoretomakemencharitableandsoftenlegalandtheologicalbarbarismthananyonedoctrinethatIcanthinkofsincethemessageofpeaceandgood-willtomen。

Automaticactioninthemoralworld；thereflexmovementwhichseemstobeself-determination，andhasbeenhangedandhowledatassuch(metaphorically)fornobodyknowshowmanycenturies：untilsomebodyshallstudythisasMarshallHallhasstudiedreflexnervousactioninthebodilysystem，Iwouldnotgivemuchformen’sjudgmentsofeachothers’characters。Shutuptherobberandthedefaulter，wemust。ButwhatifyouroldestboyhadbeenstolenfromhiscradleandbredinaNorth-Streetcellar？Whatifyouaredrinkingalittletoomuchwineandsmokingalittletoomuchtobacco，andyoursontakesafteryou，andsoyourpoorgrandson’sbrainbeingalittleinjuredinphysicaltexture，helosesthefinemoralsenseonwhichyouprideyourself，anddoesn’tseethedifferencebetweensigninganotherman’snametoadraftandhisown？

Isupposethestudyofautomaticactioninthemoralworld(youseewhatImeanthroughtheapparentcontradictionofterms)maybeadangerousoneintheviewofmanypeople。Itisliabletoabuse，nodoubt。Peoplearealwaysgladto，getholdofanythingwhichlimitstheirresponsibility。Butrememberthatourmoralestimatescomedowntousfromancestorswhohangedchildrenforstealingfortyshillings’worth，andsenttheirsoulstoperditionforthesinofbeingborn，——whopunishedtheunfortunatefamiliesofsuicides，andintheireagernessforjusticeexecutedoneinnocentpersoneverythreeyears，ontheaverage，asSirJamesMackintoshtellsus。

Idonotknowinwhatshapethepracticalquestionmaypresentitselftoyou；butIwilltellyoumyruleinlife，andIthinkyouwillfinditagoodone。Treatbadmenexactlyasiftheywereinsane。

Theyarein-sane，outofhealth，morally。Reason，whichisfoodtosoundminds，isnottolerated，stilllessassimilated，unlessadministeredwiththegreatestcaution；perhaps，notatall。Avoidcollisionwiththem，sofarasyouhonorablycan；keepyourtemper，ifyoucan，——foroneangrymanisasgoodasanother；restrainthemfromviolence，promptly，completely，andwiththeleastpossibleinjury，justasinthecaseofmaniacs，——andwhenyouhavegotridofthem，orgotthemtiedhandandfootsothattheycandonomischief，sitdownandcontemplatethemcharitably，rememberingthatninetenthsoftheir’perversitycomesfromoutsideinfluences，drunkenancestors，abuseinchildhood，badcompany，fromwhichyouhavehappilybeenpreserved，andforsomeofwhichyou，asamemberofsociety，maybefractionallyresponsible。Ithinkalsothattherearespecialinfluenceswhichworkinthebroodlakeferments，andI

haveasuspicionthatsomeofthosecuriousoldstoriesIcitedmayhavemorerecentparallels。HaveyouevermetwithanycaseswhichadmittedofasolutionlikethatwhichIhavementioned？，Yoursverytruly，__________________________

BernardLangdontoPhilipStaples。

MYDEARPHILIP，——

Ihavebeenforsomemonthsestablishedinthisplace，turningthemaincrankofthemachineryforthemanufactoryofaccomplishmentssuperintendedby，orratherworkedtotheprofitof，acertainMr。

SilasPeckham。Heisapoorwretch，withalittlethinfishybloodinhisbody，leanandflat，long-armedandlarge-handed，thick-

jointedandthin-muscled，——youknowthoseunwholesome，weak-eyed，half-fedcreatures，thatlooknotfittoberoundamonglivefolks，andyetnotquitedeadenoughtobury。Ifyoueverhearofmybeingincourttoanswertoachargeofassaultandbattery，youmayguessthatIhavebeengivinghimathrashingtosettleoffoldscores；forheisatyrant，andhascomeprettynearkillinghisprincipallady-

assistantwithoverworkingherandkeepingheroutofalldecentprivileges。

HelenDarleyisthislady’sname，——twentytwoorthreeyearsold，I

shouldthink，——averysweet，palewoman，——daughteroftheusualcountry-clergyman，——thrownonherownresourcesfromanearlyage，andtherest：acommonstory，butanuncommonperson，——very。Allconscienceandsensibility，Ishouldsay，——acruelworker，——nokindofregardforherself，seemsasfragileandsuppleasayoungwillow-

shoot，buttryherandyoufindshehasthespringinherofasteelcross-bow。IamgladIhappenedtocometothisplace，ifitwereonlyforhersake。Ihavesavedthatgirl’slife；IamassureofitasifIhadpulledheroutofthefireorwater。

OfcourseI’minlovewithher，yousay，——wealwayslovethosewhomwehavebenefited；“savedherlife，——herlovewastherewardofhisdevotion。”etc。，etc。，asinaregularsetnovel。Inlove，Philip？

Well，aboutthat，——IloveHelenDarley——verymuch：thereishardlyanybodyIlovesowell。Whatanoblecreaturesheis！Oneofthosethatjustgorighton，dotheirownworkandeverybodyelse’s，killingthemselvesinchbyinchwithouteverthinkingaboutit，——

singinganddancingattheirtoilwhentheybegin，wornandsaddenedafterawhile，butpressingsteadilyon，totteringbyandby，andcatchingattherailbytheway-sidetohelpthemliftonefootbeforetheother，andatlastfalling，facedown，armsstretchedforwardPhilip，myboy，doyouknowIamthesortofmanthatlockshisdoorsometimesandcrieshisheartoutofhiseyes，——thatcansoblikeawomanandnotbeashamedofit？Icomeoffighting-bloodononeside，youknow；IthinkIcouldbesavageonoccasion。ButIamtender，——moreandmoretenderasIcomeintomyfulnessofmanhood。

Idon’tliketostrikeaman，(laugh，ifyoulike，——IknowIhithardwhenIdostrike，)——butwhatIcan’tstandisthesightofthesepoor，patient，toilingwomen，whoneverfindoutinthislifehowgoodtheyare，andneverknowwhatitistobetoldtheyareangelswhiletheystillwearthepleasingincumbrancesofhumanity。Idon’tknowwhattomakeofthesecases。Tothinkthatawomanisnevertobeawomanagain，whatevershemaycometoasanunsexedangel，——andthatsheshoulddieunloved！Whydoesnotsomebodycomeandcarryoffthisnoblewoman，waitinghereallreadytomakeamanhappy？

Philip，doyouknowthepathosthereisintheeyesofunsoughtwomen，oppressedwiththeburdenofaninnerlifeunshared？IcanseeintothemnowasIcouldnotinthose’earlierdays。Isometimesthinktheirpupilsdilateonpurposetoletmyconsciousnessglidethroughthem；indeed，Idreadthem，Icomesoclosetothenerveofthesoulitselfinthesemomentaryintimacies。YouusedtotellmeI

wasaTurk，——thatmyheartwasfullofpigeon-holes，withaccommodationsinsideforawholeflockofdoves。Idon’tknowbutI

amstillasYoungishaseverinmyways，——Brigham-Youngish，Imean；

atanyrate，T。alwayswanttogivealittlelovetoallthepoorthingsthatcannothaveawholemantothemselves。Iftheywouldonlybecontentedwithalittle！

HerenowaretwogirlsinthisschoolwhereIamteaching。Oneofthem，RosaM。，isnotmorethansixteenyearsold，Ithinktheysay；

butNaturehasforcedherintoatropicalluxurianceofbeauty，asifitwereJulywithher，insteadofMay。Isupposeitisallnaturalenoughthatthisgirlshouldlikeayoungman’sattention，evenifhewereagraveschoolmaster；buttheeloquenceofthisyoungthing’slookisunmistakable，——andyetshedoesnotknowthelanguageitistalking，——theynoneofthemdo；andthereiswhereagoodmanypoorcreaturesofourgood-for-nothingsexaremistaken。Thereisnodangerofmybeingrash，butIthinkthisgirlwillcostsomebodyhislifeyet。Sheisoneofthosewomenmenmakeaquarrelaboutandfighttothedeathfor，——theoldferalinstinct，youknow。

Pray，don’tthinkIamlostinconceit，butthereisanothergirlherewhoIbegintothinklookswithacertainkindnessonme。HernameisElsieV。，andsheistheonlydaughterandheiressofanoldfamilyinthisplace。Sheisaportentousandalmostfearfulcreature。IfIshouldtellyouallIknowandhalfofwhatIfancyabouther，youwouldtellmetogetmylifeinsuredatonce。Yetsheisthemostpainfullyinterestingbeing，——sohandsome！solonely！——

forshehasnofriendsamongthegirls，andsitsapartfromthem，——

withblackhairliketheflowofamountain-brookafterathaw，withalow-browed，scowlingbeautyofface，andsucheyesaswereneverseenbefore，Ireallybelieve，inanyhumancreature。

Philip，Idon’tknowwhattosayaboutthisElsie。ThereissomethingaboutherIhavenotfathomed。IhaveconjectureswhichI

couldnotuttertoanylivingsoul。Idarenotevenhintthepossibilitieswhichhavesuggestedthemselvestome。ThisIwillsay，thatIdotakethemostintenseinterestinthisyoungperson，aninterestmuchmorelikepitythanloveinitscommonsense。IfwhatIguessatistrue，ofallthetragediesofexistenceIeverknewthisisthesaddest，andyetsofullofmeaning！Donotaskmeanyquestions，——IhavesaidmorethanImeanttoalready；butIaminvolvedinstrangedoubtsandperplexities，——indangerstoo，verypossibly，——anditisareliefjusttospeakeversoguardedlyofthemtoanearlyandfaithfulfriend。

Yoursever，BERNARD。

P。S。IrememberyouhadacopyofFortuniusLicetus’“DeMonstris“

amongyouroldbooks。Can’tyoulendittomeforawhile？Iamcurious，anditwillamuseme。

CHAPTERXVII。

OLDSOPHYCALLSONTHEREVERENDDOCTOR。

Thetwomeeting-houseswhichfacedeachotherlikeapairoffighting-cockshadnotflappedtheirwingsorcrowedateachotherforaconsiderabletime。TheReverendMr。Fairweatherhadbeendyspepticandlow-spiritedoflate，andwastoolanguidforcontroversy。TheReverendDoctorHoneywoodhadbeenverybusywithhisbenevolentassociations，andhaddiscoursedchieflyonpracticalmatters，totheneglectofspecialdoctrinalsubjects。Hisseniordeaconventuredtosaytohimthatsomeofhispeoplerequiredtoberemindedofthegreatfundamentaldoctrineoftheworthlessnessofallhumaneffortsandmotives。SomeofthemwerealtogethertoomuchpleasedwiththesuccessoftheTemperanceSocietyandtheAssociationfortheReliefofthePoor。Therewasapestilentheresyabout，concerningthesatisfactiontobederivedfromagoodconscience，asif，anybodyeverdidanythingwhichwasnottobehated，loathed，despised，andcondemned。

Theoldministerlistenedgravely，withaninwardsmile，andtoldhisdeaconthathewouldattendtohissuggestion。Afterthedeaconhadgone，hetumbledoverhismanuscripts，untilatlengthhecameuponhisfirst-rateoldsermonon“HumanNature。”Hehadreadagreatdealofhardtheology，andhadatlastreachedthatcuriousstatewhichissocommoningoodministers，——that，namely，inwhichtheycontrivetoswitchofftheirlogicalfacultiesonthenarrowsidetrackoftheirtechnicaldogmas，whilethegreatfreight-trainoftheirsubstantialhumanqualitieskeepsinthemainhighwayofcommon-sense，inwhichkindlysoulsarealwaysfoundbyallwhoapproachthembytheirhumanside。

TheDoctorreadhissermonwithapleasant，paternalinterest：itwaswellarguedfromhispremises。Hereandtherehedashedhispenthroughaharshexpression。Nowandthenheaddedanexplanationorqualifiedabroadstatement。Buthismindwasonthelogicalside-

track，andhefollowedthechainofreasoningwithoutfairlyperceivingwhereitwouldleadhim，ifhecarrieditintoreallife。

Hewasjusttouchingupthefinalproposition，whenhisgranddaughter，Letty，oncebeforereferredto，cameintotheroomwithhersmilingfaceandlivelymovement。MissLettyorLetitiaForresterwasacity-bredgirlofsomefifteenorsixteenyearsold，whowaspassingthesummerwithhergrandfatherforthesakeofcountryairandquiet。Itwasasensiblearrangement；for，havingthepromiseoffiguringasabellebyandby，andbeingalittlegiventodancing，andhavingavoicewhichdrewaprettydensecirclearoundthepianowhenshesatdowntoplayandsing，itwashardtokeepherfrombeingcarriedintosocietybeforehertime，bythemereforceofmutualattraction。Fortunately，shehadsomequietaswellassomesocialtastes，andwaswillingenoughtopasstwoorthreeofthesummermonthsinthecountry，whereshewasmuchbetterbestowedthanshewouldhavebeenatoneofthosewatering-placeswheresomanyhalf-formedgirlsgetprematurelyhardenedintheviceofself-

consciousness。

MissLettywasaltogethertoowholesome，hearty，andhigh-strungayounggirltobeamodel，accordingtotheflat-chestedandcachecticpatternwhichistheclassicaltypeofcertainexcellentyoungfemales，oftenthesubjectsofbiographicalmemoirs。Buttheoldministerwasproudofhisgranddaughterforallthat。Shewassofulloflife，sograceful，sogenerous，sovivacious，soreadyalwaystodoallshecouldforhimandforeverybody，soperfectlyfrankinheravoweddelightinthepleasureswhichthismiserableworldofferedherintheshapeofnaturalbeauty，ofpoetry，ofmusic，ofcompanionship，ofbooks，ofcheerfulcooperationinthetasksofthoseabouther，thattheReverendDoctorcouldnotfinditinhishearttocondemnherbecauseshewasdeficientinthoseparticulargracesandthatsignalother-worldlinesshehadsometimesnoticedinfeebleyoungpersonssufferingfromvariouschronicdiseaseswhichimpairedtheirvivacityandremovedthemfromtherangeoftemptation。

WhenLetty，therefore，cameboundingintotheoldminister’sstudy，heglancedupfromhismanuscript，and，ashiseyefelluponher，itflashedacrosshimthattherewasnothingsoverymonstrousandunnaturalaboutthespecimenofcongenitalperversionhewaslookingat，withhisfeaturesopeningintotheirpleasantestsunshine。

Technically，accordingtothefifthpropositionofthesermononHumanNature，verybad，nodoubt。Practically，accordingtothefactbeforehim，averyprettypieceoftheCreator’shandiwork，bodyandsoul。WasitnotaconceivablethingthatthedivinegracemightshowitselfindifferentformsinafreshyounggirllikeLetitia，andinthatpoorthinghehadvisitedyesterday，half-grown，half-

colored，inbedforthelastyearwithhip-disease？

Wasittobesupposedthatthishealthyyounggirl，withlifethrobbingalloverher，could，withoutamiracle，begoodaccordingtotheinvalidpatternandformula？

Andyetthereweremysteriesinhumannaturewhichpointedtosometremendousperversionofitstendencies，——tosomeprofound，radicalviceofmoralconstitution，nativeortransmitted，asyouwillhaveit，butpositive，atanyrate，astheleprosy，breakingoutinthebloodofraces，guardthemeversocarefully。DidhenotknowthecaseofayoungladyinRockland，daughterofoneofthefirstfamiliesintheplace，averybeautifulandnoblecreaturetolookat，forwhosebringingupnothinghadbeenspared，——agirlwhohadhadgovernessestoteachheratthehouse，whohadbeenindulgedalmosttookindly，——agirlwhosefatherhadgivenhimself，uptoher，hebeinghimselfapureandhigh-souledman？——andyetthisgirlwasaccusedinwhispersofhavingbeenontheveryvergeofcommittingafatalcrime；shewasanobjectoffeartoallwhoknewthedarkhintswhichhadbeenletfallabouther，andthereweresomethatbelieved——Why，whatwasthisbutaninstanceofthetotalobliquityanddegenerationofthemoralprinciple？andtowhatcoulditbeowing，buttoaninnateorganictendency？

“Busy，grandpapa？“saidLetty，andwithoutwaitingforananswerkissedhischeekwithapairoflipsmadeonpurposeforthatlittlefunction，——fine，butrichlyturnedout，thecornerstuckedinwithafinishofprettydimples，therose-budlipsofgirlhood’sJune。

Theoldgentlemanlookedathisgranddaughter。Natureswelledupfromhisheartinawavethatsentaglowtohischeekandasparkletohiseye。Butitisveryhardtobeinterruptedjustaswearewindingupastringofpropositionswiththegrandconclusionwhichisthestatementinbriefofallthathasgonebefore：ourownstarting-point，intowhichwehavebeentryingtobackourreaderorlistenerasonebacksa，horseintotheshafts。

“Videomeliora，proboque，——Iseethebetter，andapproveit；

deteriorasequor，Ifollowaftertheworse；’tisthatnaturaldisliketowhatisgood，pure，holy，andtrue，thatinrootedselfishness，totallyinsensibletotheclaimsof“——

HeretheworthymanwasinterruptedbyMissLetty。

“Docome，ifyoucan，grandpapa。”saidtheyounggirl；“hereisapooroldblackwomanwantstoseeyousomuch！“

Thegoodministerwasaskind-heartedasifhehadnevergropedinthedustandashesofthosecrueloldabstractionswhichhavekilledoutsomuchoftheworld’slifeandhappiness。“Withtheheartmanbelievethuntorighteousness；“aman’sloveisthemeasureofhisfitnessforgoodorbadcompanyhereorelsewhere。MenaretattooedwiththeirspecialbeliefslikesomanySouth-SeaIslanders；butarealhumanheart，withDivineloveinit，beatswiththesameglowunderall，thepatternsofallearth’sthousandtribes！

TheDoctorsighed，andfoldedthesermon，andlaidtheQuartoCrudenonit。Herosefromhisdesk，and，lookingoncemoreattheyounggirl’sface，forgothislogicalconclusions，andsaidtohimselfthatshewasalittleangel，——whichwasinviolentcontradictiontotheleadingdoctrineofhissermononHumanNature。Andsohefollowedheroutofthestudyintothewideentryoftheold-fashionedcountry-house。

Anoldblackwomansatontheplainoakensettlewhichhumblevisitorswaitingtoseetheministerwerewonttooccupy。Shewasold，buthowolditwouldbeveryhardtoguess。Shemightbeseventy。Shemightbeninety。Onecouldnotswearshewasnotahundred。Blackwomenremainatastationaryage(totheeyesofwhitepeople，atleast)forthirtyyears。TheydonotappeartochangeduringthisperiodanymorethansomanyTrentontrilobites。

Bentup，wrinkled，yellow-eyed，withlongupper-lip，projectingjaws，retreatingchin，stillmeekfeatures，longarms，largeflathandswithuncoloredpalmsandslightlywebbedfingers，itwasimpossiblenottoseeinthisoldcreatureahintofthegradationsbywhichlifeclimbsupthroughthelowernaturestothehighesthumandevelopments。Wecannottellsucholdwomen’sagesbecausewedonotunderstandthephysiognomyofaracesounlikeourown。Nodoubttheyseeagreatdealineachother’sfacesthatwecannot，——changesofcolorandexpressionasrealasourown，blushesandsuddenbetrayalsoffeeling，——justasthesetwocanariesknowwhattheirsinglenotesandshortsentencesandfullsongwiththisorthatvariationmean，thoughitisamysterytousunplumedmortals。

Thisparticularoldblackwomanwasastrikingspecimenofherclass。

Oldasshelooked，hereyewasbrightandknowing。Sheworeared-

and-yellowturban，whichsetoffhercomplexionwell，andhoopsofgoldinherears，andbeadsofgoldaboutherneck，andanoldfuneralringuponherfinger。Shehadthattouchingstillnessaboutherwhichbelongstoanimalsthatwaittobespokentoandthenlookupwithakindofsadhumility。

“Why，Sophy！“saidthegoodminister，“isthisyou？“

Shelookedupwiththestillexpressiononherface。“It’sol’

Sophy。”shesaid。

“Why。”saidtheDoctor，“IdidnotbelieveyoucouldwalksofarasthistosavetheUnion。BringSophyaglassofwine，Letty。Wine’sgoodforoldfolkslikeSophyandme，afterwalkingagoodway，orpreachingagoodwhile。”

Theyounggirlsteppedintotheback-parlor，whereshefoundthegreatpewterflagoninwhichthewinethatwasleftaftereachcommunion-servicewasbroughttotheminister’shouse。Withmuchtoilshemanagedtotipitsoastogetacoupleofglassesfilled。

Theministertastedhis，andmadeoldSophyfinishhers。

“Iwan’toseeyou’n’talkwi’youallalone。”shesaidpresently。

Theministergotupandledthewaytowardshisstudy。“Tobesure。”

hesaid；hehadonlywaitedforhertorestamomentbeforeheaskedherintothelibrary。Theyounggirltookhergentlybythearm，andhelpedherfeeblestepsalongthepassage。Whentheyreachedthestudy，shesmoothedthecushionofarocking-chair，andmadetheoldwomansitdowninit。Thenshetrippedlightlyaway，andleftheralonewiththeminister。

OldSophywasamemberoftheReverendDoctorHoneywood’schurch。

Shehadbeenputthroughthenecessaryconfessionsinatolerablysatisfactorymanner。Tobesure，ashergrandfatherhadbeenacannibalchief，accordingtothecommonstory，and，atanyrate，aterriblewildsavage，andashermotherretainedtothelastsomeoftheprejudicesofherearlyeducation，therewasaheathenflavorinherChristianitywhichhadoftenscandalizedtheelderoftheminister’stwodeacons。But，thegoodministerhadsmoothedmattersover：hadexplainedthatallowancesweretobemadeforthosewhohadbeenlongsittingwithoutthegateofZion，——that，nodoubt，apartofthecursewhichdescendedtothechildrenofHamconsistedin“havingtheunderstandingdarkened。”aswellastheskin，——andsohadbroughthissuspiciousseniordeacontotolerateoldSophyasoneofthecommunionoffellow-sinners——

Poorthings！HowlittleweknowthesimplenotionswithwhichtheserudimentsofsoulsarenourishedbytheDivineGoodness！DidnotMrs。Professorcomehomethisveryblessedmorningwithastoryofoneofheroldblackwomen？

“Andhowdoyoufeelto-day，Mrs。Robinson？“

“Oh，mydear，Ihavethissinginginmyheadallthetime。”(Whatdoctorscalltinnitusaurium。)

“She’sgotacoldinthehead。”saidoldMrs。Rider。

“Oh，no，mydear！WhateverI’mthinkingabout，it’sallthissinging，thismusic。WhenI’mthinkingofthedearRedeemer，itallturnsintothissingingandmusic。Whentheclarkcametoseeme，I

askedhimifhecouldn’tcureme，andhesaid，No，——itwastheHolySpiritinme，singingtome；andallthetimeIhearthisbeautifulmusic，andit’stheHolySpirita-singingtome。”

ThegoodmanwaitedforSophytospeak；butshedidnotopenherlipsasyet。

“Ihopeyouarenottroubledinmindorbody。”hesaidtoheratlength，findingshedidnotspeak。

Thepooroldwomantookoutawhitehandkerchief，andliftedit——toherblackface。Shecouldnotsayawordforhertearsandsobs。

Theministerwouldhaveconsoledher；hewasusedtotears，andcouldinmostcaseswithstandtheircontagionmanfully；butsomethingchokedhisvoicesuddenly，andwhenhecalleduponit，hegotnoanswer，butatremulousmovementofthemuscles，whichwasworsethansilence。

Atlastshespoke。

“Oh，no，no，no！It’smypoorgirl，mydarling，mybeauty，mybaby，that’sgrownuptobeawoman；shewillcometoabadend；shewilldosomethingthatwillmakethemkillherorshutherupallherlife。Or，Doctor，Doctor，saveher，prayforher！Ita’n’therfault。Ita’n’therfault。IftheyknewallthatIknow，theywouldn’blamethatpoorchild。Imusttellyou，Doctor：ifIshoulddie，perhapsnobodyelsewouldtellyou。MassaVeneercan’ttalkaboutit。DoctorKittredgewon’ttalkaboutit。NobodybutoldSophytotellyou，Doctor；andoldSophycan’tdiewithouttellingyou。”

Thekindministersoothedthepooroldsoulwiththosegentle，quietingtoneswhichhadcarriedpeaceandcomforttosomanychambersofsicknessandsorrow，tosomanyheartsoverburdenedbythetrialslaiduponthem。

OldSophybecamequietinafewminutes，andproceededtotellherstory。Shetolditinthelowhalf-whisperwhichisthenaturalvoiceoflipsoppressedwishgriefandfears；withquickglancesaroundtheapartmentfromtimetotime，asifshedreadedlestthedimportraitsonthewallsandthedarkfoliosontheshelvesmightoverhearherwords。

Itwasnotoneofthoseconversationswhichathirdpersoncanreportminutely，unlessbythatmiracleofclairvoyanceknowntothereadersofstoriesmadeoutofauthors’brains。Yetitsmaincharactercanbeimpartedinamuchbrieferspacethantheoldblackwomantooktogiveallitsdetails。

ShewentfarbacktothetimewhenDudleyVennerwasborn，——shebeingthenamiddle-agedwoman。Theheirandhopeofafamilywhichhadbeennarrowingdownasifdoomedtoextinction，hehadbeensurroundedwitheverycareandtrainedbythebesteducationhecouldhaveinNewEngland。Hehadleftcollege，andwasstudyingtheprofessionwhichgentlemenofleisuremostaffect，whenhefellinlovewithayounggirlleftintheworldalmostalone，ashewas。

Theoldwomantoldthestoryofhisyoungloveandhisjoyousbridalwithatendernesswhichhadsomethingmore，even，thanherfamilysympathiestoaccountforit。Hadshenothangingoverherbedapaper-cuttingofaprofile，——jetblack，butnotblackerthanthefaceitrepresented——ofonewhowouldhavebeenherownhusbandinthesmallyearsofthiscentury，ifthevesselinwhichhewenttosea，likeJamieintheballad，hadnotsailedawayandnevercomebacktoland？Hadshenotherbitsoffurniturestowedawaywhichhadbeengotreadyforherownwedding，——tworocking-chairs，onewornwithlonguse，onekeptforhimsolongthatithadgrownasuperstitionwithhernevertositinit，——andmighthenotcomebackyet，afterall？Hadshenotherchestoflinenreadyforherhumblehouse-

keepingwithstoreofserviceablehuckabackandpilesofneatlyfoldedkerchiefs，wherefromthisonethatshowedsowhiteagainstherblackfacewastaken，forthatsheknewhereyeswouldbetrayherin“thepresence“？

Allthefirstpartofthestorytheoldwomantoldtenderly，andyetdwellinguponeveryincidentwithalovingpleasure。Howhappythisyoungcouplehadbeen，whatplansandprojectsofimprovementtheyhadformed，howtheylivedineachother，alwaystogether，soyoungandfreshandbeautifulassherememberedtheminthatoneearlysummerwhentheywalkedarminarmthroughthewildernessofrosesthatranriotinthegarden，——shetoldofthisasloathtoleaveitandcometothewoethatlaybeneath。

Shetoldthewholestory；-shallIrepeatit？Notnow。If，inthecourseofrelatingtheincidentsIhaveundertakentoreport，ittellsitself，perhapsthiswillbebetterthantoruntheriskofproducingapainfulimpressiononsomeofthosesusceptiblereaderswhomitwouldbeill-advisedtodisturborexcite，whentheyratherrequiretobeamusedandsoothed。Inourpicturesoflife，wemustshowtheflowering-outofterriblegrowthswhichhavetheirrootsdeep，deepunderground。Justhowfarweshalllaybaretheunseemlyrootsthemselvesisamatterofdiscretionandtaste，andwhichnoneofusareinfallible。

TheoldwomantoldthewholestoryofElsie，ofherbirth，ofherpeculiaritiesofpersonanddisposition，ofthepassionatefearsandhopeswithwhichherfatherhadwatchedthecourseofherdevelopment。Sherecountedallherstrangeways，fromthehourwhenshefirsttriedtocrawlacrossthecarpet，andherfather’slookassheworkedherwaytowardshim。WiththememoryofJuliet’snurseshetoldthestoryofherteething，andhow，thewomantowhosebreastshehadclungdyingsuddenlyaboutthattime，theyhadtostrugglehardwiththechildbeforeshewouldlearntheaccomplishmentoffeedingwithaspoon。Andsoofherfierceplaysandfiercerdisputeswiththatboywhohadbeenhercompanion，andthewholesceneofthequarrelwhenshestruckhimwiththosesharpwhiteteeth，frighteningher，oldSophy，almosttodeath；for，asshesaid，theboywouldhavedied，ifithadn’tbeenfortheoldDoctor’sgallopingoverasfastashecouldgallopandburningtheplacesrightoutofhisarm。Thencamethestoryofthatotherincident，sufficientlyalludedtoalready，whichhadproducedsuchanecstasyoffrightandleftsuchanightmareofapprehensioninthehousehold。

Andsotheoldwomancamedowntothispresenttime。Thatboysheneverlovednortrustedwasgrowntoadark，dangerous-lookingman，andhewasundertheirroof。HewantedtomarryourpoorElsie，andElsiehatedhim，andsometimesshewouldlookathimoverhershoulderjustassheusedtolookatthatwomanshehated；andshe，oldSophy，couldn’tsleepforthinkingsheshouldhearascreamfromthewhitechambersomenightandfindhiminspasmssuchasthatwomancamesoneardyingwith。AndthentherewassomethingaboutElsieshedidnotknowwhattomakeof：shewouldsitandhangherheadsometimes，andlookasifsheweredreaming；andshebroughthomebookstheysaidayounggentlemanupatthegreatschoollenther；andoncesheheardherwhisperinhersleep，andshetalkedasyounggirlsdotothemselveswhenthey’rethinkingaboutsomebodytheyhavealikingforandthinknobodyknowsit。

Shefinishedherlongstoryatlast。Theministerhadlistenedtoitinperfectsilence。Hesatstillevenwhenshehaddonespeaking，——

still，andlostinthought。Itwasaveryawkwardmatterforhimtohaveahandin。OldSophywashisparishioner，buttheVeneershadapewintheReverendMr。Fairweather’smeeting-house。Itwouldseemthathe，Mr。Fairweather，wasthenaturaladviserofthepartiesmostinterested。Hadhesenseandspiritenoughtodealwithsuchpeople？

Wasthereenoughcapitalofhumanityinhissomewhatlimitednaturetofurnishsympathyandunshrinkingserviceforhisfriendsinanemergency？orwashetoobusywithhisownattacksofspiritualneuralgia，andtoomuchoccupiedwithtakingaccountofstockofhisownthin-bloodedoffences，toforgethimselfandhispersonalinterestsonthesmallscaleandthelarge，andrunariskofhislife，ifneedwere，atanyrategivehimselfupwithoutreservetothedangeroustaskofguidingandcounsellingthesedistressedandimperilledfellow-creatures？

ThegoodministerthoughtthebestthingtodowouldbetocallandtalkoversomeofthesematterswithBrotherFairweather，——forsohewouldcallhimattimes，especiallyifhisseniordeaconwerenotwithinearshot。Havingsettledthispoint，hecomfortedSophywithafewwordsofcounselandapromiseofcomingtoseeherverysoon。

HethencalledhismantoputtheoldwhitehorseintothechaiseanddriveSophybacktothemansion-house。

WhentheDoctorsatdowntohissermonagain，itlookedverydifferentlyfromthewayithadlookedatthemomentheleftit。

Whenhecametothinkofit，hedidnotfeelquitesosurepracticallyaboutthatmatteroftheutternaturalselfishnessofeverybody。TherewasLetty，now，seemedtotakeaveryunselfishinterestinthatoldblackwoman，andindeedinpoorpeoplegenerally；perhapsitwouldnotbetoomuchtosaythatshewasalwaysthinkingofotherpeople。Hethoughthehadseenotheryoungpersonsnaturallyunselfish，thoughtfulforothers；itseemedtobeafamilytraitinsomehehadknown。

ButmostofallhewasexercisedaboutthispoorgirlwhosestorySophyhadbeentelling。Ifwhattheoldwomanbelievedwastrue，——

andithadtoomuchsemblanceofprobability，——whatbecameofhistheoryofingrainedmoralobliquityappliedtosuchacase？IfbythevisitationofGodapersonreceivesanyinjurywhichimpairstheintellectorthemoralperceptions，isitnotmonstroustojudgesuchapersonbyourcommonworkingstandardsofrightandwrong？

Certainly，everybodywillanswer，incaseswherethereisapalpableorganicchangebroughtabout，aswhenablowontheheadproducesinsanity。Fools！Howlongwillitbebeforeweshalllearnthatforeverywoundwhichbetraysitselftothesightbyascar，thereareathousandunseenmutilationsthatcripple，eachofthem，someoneormoreofourhighestfaculties？IfwhatSophytoldandbelievedwastherealtruth，whatprayerscouldbeagonizingenough，whattendernesscouldbedeepenough，forthispoor，lost，blighted，hapless，blamelesschildofmisfortune，struckbysuchadoomasperhapsnolivingcreatureinallthesisterhoodofhumanitysharedwithher？

Theministerthoughtthesemattersoveruntilhismindwasbewilderedwithdoubtsandtossedtoandfroonthatstormydeepofthoughtheavingforeverbeneaththeconflictofwindydogmas。Helaidbyhisoldsermon。Heputbackapileofoldcommentatorswiththeireyesandmouthsandheartsfullofthedustoftheschools。ThenheopenedthebookofGenesisattheeighteenthchapterandreadthatremarkableargumentofAbraham’swithhisMakerinwhichheboldlyappealstofirstprinciples。Hetookashistext，“ShallnottheJudgeofalltheearthdoright？“andbegantowritehissermon，afterwardssofamous，“OntheObligationsofanInfiniteCreatortoaFiniteCreature。”

Itastonishedthegoodpeople，whohadbeenaccustomedsolongtorepeatmechanicallytheirOrientalhyperbolesofself-abasement，toheartheirworthyministermaintainingthatthedignifiedattitudeoftheoldPatriarch，insistingonwhatwasreasonableandfairwithreferencetohisfellow-creatures，wasreallymuchmorerespectfultohisMaker，andagreatdealmanlierandmoretohiscredit，thanifhehadyieldedthewholematter，andpretendedthatmenhadnotrightsaswellasduties。Thesamelogicwhichhadcarriedhimtocertainconclusionswithreferencetohumannature，thissameirresistiblelogiccarriedhimstraightonfromhistextuntilhearrivedatthoseotherresults，whichnotonlyastonishedhispeople，aswassaid，butsurprisedhimself。Hewentsofarindefenceoftherightsofman，thatheputhisfootintoseveralheresies，forwhichmenhadbeenburnedsooften，itwastime，ifeveritcouldbe，toacknowledgethedemonstrationoftheargumentumadignem。Hedidnotbelieveintheresponsibilityofidiots。Hedidnotbelieveanew-

borninfantwasmorallyanswerableforotherpeople’sacts。Hethoughtamanwithacrookedspinewouldneverbecalledtoaccountfornotwalkingerect。Hethoughtifthecrookwasinhisbrain，insteadofhisback，hecouldnotfairlybeblamedforanyconsequenceofthisnaturaldefect，whateverlawyersordivinesmightcallit。Heargued，that，ifapersoninheritedaperfectmind，body，anddisposition，andhadperfectteachingfrominfancy，thatpersoncoulddonothingmorethankeepthemorallawperfectly。ButsupposingthattheCreatorallowsapersontobebornwithanhereditaryoringraftedorganictendency，andthenputsthispersonintothehandsofteachersincompetentorpositivelybad，isnotwhatiscalledsinortransgressionofthelawnecessarilyinvolvedinthepremises？IsnotaCreatorboundtoguardhischildrenagainsttheruinwhichinheritedignorancemightentailonthem？Woulditbefairforaparenttoputintoachild’shandsthetitle-deedstoallitsfuturepossessions，andabunchofmatches？Andarenotmenchildren，nay，babes，intheeyeofOmniscience？——Theministergrewboldinhisquestions。HadnotheasgoodrighttoaskquestionsasAbraham？

ThiswasthedangerousveinofspeculationinwhichtheReverendDoctorHoneywoodfoundhimselfinvolved，asaconsequenceofthesuggestionsforceduponhimbyoldSophy’scommunication。Thetruthwas，thegoodmanhadgotsohumanizedbymixingupwithotherpeopleinvariousbenevolentschemes，that，theverymomenthecouldescapefromhisoldscholasticabstractions，hetookthesideofhumanityinstinctively，justastheFatheroftheFaithfuldid，——allhonorbetothenobleoldPatriarchforinsistingontheworthofanhonestman，andmakingthebesttermshecouldforaveryill-conditionedmetropolis，whichmightpossibly，however，havecontainedtenrighteouspeople，forwhosesakeitshouldbespared！

Theconsequenceofallthiswas，thathewasinasingularandseeminglyself-contradictorystateofmindwhenhetookhishatandcaneandwentforthtocallonhishereticalbrother。TheoldministertookitforgrantedthattheReverendMr。Fairweatherknewtheprivatehistoryofhisparishioner’sfamily。Hedidnotreflectthattherearegriefsmenneverputintowords，——thattherearefearswhichmustnotbespoken，——intimatemattersofconsciousnesswhichmustbecarried，asbulletswhichhavebeendrivendeepintothelivingtissuesaresometimescarried，forawholelifetime，——encystedgriefs，ifwemayborrowthechirurgeon’sterm，nevertobereached，nevertobeseen，nevertobethrownout，buttogointothedustwiththeframethatborethemaboutwithit，duringlongyearsofanguish，knownonlytothesuffererandhisMaker。DudleyVennerhadtalkedwithhisministeraboutthischildofhis。Buthehadtalkedcautiously，feelinghiswayforsympathy，lookingoutforthoseindicationsoftactandjudgmentwhichwouldwarranthiminsomepartialcommunication，atleast，oftheoriginofhisdoubtsandfears，andneverfindingthem。

TherewassomethingabouttheReverendMr。Fairweatherwhichrepressedallattemptsatconfidentialintercourse。Whatthissomethingwas，DudleyVennercouldhardlysay；buthefeltitdistinctly，anditsealedhislips。Henevergotbeyondcertaingeneralitiesconnectedwitheducationandreligiousinstruction。Theministercouldnothelpdiscovering，however，thatthereweredifficultiesconnectedwiththisgirl’smanagement，andheheardenoughoutsideofthefamilytoconvincehimthatshehadmanifestedtendencies，fromanearlyage，atvariancewiththetheoreticalopinionshewasinthehabitofpreaching，andinadimwayofholdingfortruth，astothenaturaldispositionsofthehumanbeing。

Aboutthisterriblefactofcongenitalobliquityhisnewbeliefsbegantoclusterasacentre，andtotakeformasacrystalarounditsnucleus。Still，hemightperhapshavestruggledagainstthem，haditnotbeenforthelittleRomanCatholicchapelhepassedeverySunday，onhiswaytothemeeting-house。Suchacrowdofworshippers，swarmingintothepewslikebees，fillingalltheaisles，runningoveratthedoorlikeberriesheapedtoofullinthemeasure，——somekneelingonthesteps，somestandingonthesidewalk，hatsoff，headsdown，lipsmoving，somelookingondevoutlyfromtheothersideofthestreet！Oh，couldhehavefollowedhisownBridget，maidofallwork，intotheheartofthatsteamingthrong，andbowedhisheadwhilethepriestsintonedtheirLatinprayers！

couldhehavesnuffedupthecloudoffrankincense，andfeltthathewasinthegreatarkwhichholdsthebetterhalfoftheChristianworld，whileallarounditarewretchedcreatures，somestrugglingagainstthewavesinleakyboats，andsomeonill-connectedrafts，andsomewiththeirheadsjustabovewater，thinkingtorideoutthefloodwhichistosweeptheearthcleanofsinners，upontheirownprivate，individuallife-preservers！

SuchwasthepresentstateofmindoftheReverendChauncyFairweather，whenhisclericalbrothercalleduponhimtotalkoverthequestionstowhicholdSophyhadcalledhisattention。

CHAPTERVIII。

THEREVERENDDOCTORCALLSONBROTHERFAIRWEATHER。

Forthelastfewmonths，whileallthesevariousmattersweregoingoninRockland，theReverendChauncyFairweatherhadbeenbusywiththerecordsofancientcouncilsandthewritingsoftheearlyfathers。Themoreheread，themorediscontentedhebecamewiththeplatformuponwhichheandhispeoplewerestanding。Theyandhewereclearlyinaminority，andhisdeepinwardlongingtobewiththemajoritywasgrowingintoanengrossingpassion。Heyearnedespeciallytowardsthegoodoldunquestioning，authoritativeMotherChurch，withherarticlesoffaithwhichtookawaythenecessityforprivatejudgment，withhertraditionalformsandceremonies，andherwholeapparatusofstimulantsandanodynes。

Aboutthistimeheprocuredabreviaryandkeptitinhisdeskundertheloosepapers。HesenttoaCatholicbookstoreandobtainedasmallcrucifixsuspendedfromastringofbeads。Heorderedhisnewcoattobecutverynarrowinthecollarandtobemadesingle-

breasted。HebegananinformalseriesofreligiousconversationswithMissO’Brien，theyoungpersonofIrishextractionalreadyreferredtoasBridget，maidofallwork。Thesenotprovingverysatisfactory，hemanagedtofallinwithFatherMcShane，theCatholicpriestoftheRocklandchurch。

FatherMcShaneencouragedhisnibbleveryscientifically。ItwouldbesuchafinethingtobringoveroneofthoseProtestantheretics，anda“liberal“onetoo！——notthattherewasanyrealdifferencebetweenthem，butitsoundedbetter，tosaythatoneoftheserationalizingfree-and-equalreligionistshadbeenmadeaconvertthananyofthosehalf-wayProtestantswhoweretheslavesofcatechismsinsteadofcouncils，andofcommentatorsinsteadofpopes。

Thesubtlepriestplayedhisdisciplewithhisfinesttackle。Itwashardlynecessary：whenanythingoranybodywishestobecaught，abarehookandacoarselineareallthatisneeded。

Ifamanhasagenuine，sincere，heartywishtogetridofhisliberty，ifheisreallybentuponbecomingaslave，nothingcanstophim。Andthetemptationistosomenaturesaverygreatone。

Libertyisoftenaheavyburdenonaman。Itinvolvesthatnecessityforperpetualchoicewhichisthekindoflabormenhavealwaysdreaded。Incommonlifeweshirkitbyforminghabits，whichtaketheplaceofself-determination。Inpoliticsparty-organizationsavesusthepainsofmuchthinkingbeforedecidinghowtocastourvote。Inreligiousmatterstherearegreatmultitudeswatchingusperpetually，eachpropagandistreadywithhisbundleoffinalities，whichhavingacceptedwemaybeatpeace。Themoreabsolutethesubmissiondemanded，thestrongerthetemptationbecomestothosewhohavebeenlongtossedamongdoubtsandconflicts。

Soitisthatinallthequietbayswhichindenttheshoresofthegreatoceanofthought，ateverysinkingwharf，weseemooredthehulksandtherazeesofenslavedorhalf-enslavedintelligences。

Theyrockpeacefullyaschildrenintheircradlesonthesubduedswellwhichcomesfeeblyinoverthebarattheharbor’smouth，slowlycrustingwithbarnacles，pullingattheirironcablesasiftheyreallywantedtobefree；butbettercontentedtoremainboundastheyare。Forthesenomoretheroundunwalledhorizonoftheopensea，thejoyousbreezealoft，thefurrow，thefoam，thesparkle，thattracktherushingkeel！Theyhaveescapedthedangersofthewave，andliestillhenceforth，evermore。Happiestofsouls，iflethargyisbliss，andpalsythechiefbeatitude！

AmericaowesitspoliticalfreedomtoreligiousProtestantism。Butpoliticalfreedomisreactingonreligiousprescriptionwithstillmightierforce。Wewonder，therefore，whenwefindasoulwhichwasborntoafullsenseofindividualliberty，anunchallengedrightofself-determinationoneverynewallegedtruthofferedtoitsintelligence，voluntarilysurrenderinganyportionofitslibertytoaspiritualdictatorshipwhichalwaysprovestorest，inthelastanalysis，onamajorityvote，nothingmorenorless，commonlyanoldone，passedinthosebarbaroustimeswhenmencursedandmurderedeachotherfordifferencesofopinion，andofcoursewerenotinaconditiontosettlethebeliefsofacomparativelycivilizedcommunity。

Inourdisgust，weareliabletobeintolerant。Weforgetthatweaknessisnotinitselfasin。Weforgetthatevencowardicemaycallforourmostlenientjudgment，ifitspringfrominnateinfirmity，Whoofusdoesnotlookwithgreattendernessontheyoungchieftaininthe“FairMaidofPerth。”whenheconfesseshiswantofcourage？Allofuslovecompanionshipandsympathy；someofusmaylovethemtoomuch。Allofusaremoreorlessimaginativeinourtheology。

Someofusmayfindtheaidofmaterialsymbolsacomfort，ifnotanecessity。Theboldestthinkermayhavehismomentsoflanguoranddiscouragement，whenhefeelsasifhecouldwillinglyexchangefaithswiththeoldbeldamecrossingherselfatthecathedral-door，——

nay，that，ifhecoulddropallcoherentthought，andlieintheflowerymeadowwiththebrown-eyedsolemnlyunthinkingcattle，lookinguptothesky，andalltheirsimpleconsciousnessstainingitselfblue，thendowntothegrass，andlifeturningtoameregreenness，blendedwithconfusedscentsofherbs，——noindividualmind-movementsuchasmenareteasedwith，butthegreatcalmcattle-

senseofalltimeandallplacesthatknowthemilkysmellofherds，——ifhecouldbelikethese，hewouldbecontenttobedrivenhomebythecow-boy，andsharethegrassybanquetofthekingofancientBabylon。Letusbeverygenerous，then，inourjudgmentofthosewholeavethefrontranksofthoughtforthecompanyofthemeeknon-

combatantswhofollowwiththebaggageandprovisions。Age，illness，toomuchwearandtear，ahalf-formedparalysis，maybringanyofustothispass。Butwhilewecanthinkandmaintaintherightsofourownindividualityagainsteveryhumancombination，letusnotforgettocautionallwhoaredisposedtowaverthatthereisacowardicewhichiscriminal，andalongingforrestwhichitisbasenesstoindulge。Godhelphim，overwhosedeadsoulinhislivingbodymustbeutteredthesadsupplication，Requiescatinpace！

AknockattheReverendMr。Fairweather’sstudydoorcalledhiseyesfromthebookonwhichtheywereintent。Helookedup，asifexpectingawelcomeguest。

TheReverendPierrepontHoneywood，D。D。，enteredthestudyoftheReverendChauncyFairweather。Hewasnottheexpectedguest。Mr。

Fairweatherslippedthebookhewasreadingintoahalf-opendrawer，andpushedinthedrawer。Heslidsomethingwhichrattledunderapaperlyingonthetable。Herosewithaslightchangeofcolor，andwelcomed，alittleawkwardly，hisunusualvisitor。

“Good-evening，BrotherFairweather！“saidtheReverendDoctor，inaverycordial，good-humoredway。“IhopeIamnotspoilingoneofthoseeloquentsermonsIneverhaveachancetohear。”