第6章

Willyouhaveaglassofsherry？——no。ThenshallwejoinLadyHonoria？”

Thisspeechquitecrushedthevulgarbutnotill-meaningSaint，andGeoffreywassorryforitamomentafterhehadmadeit。Buthewaswearyandoutoftemper。Whydidhiswifebringsuchpeopletothehouse？Veryshortlyafterwardstheirguesttookhisleave，reflectingthatBinghamwasaconceitedass，andaltogethertoomuchforhim。

“AndIdon’tbelievethathehasgotathousandayear。”hereflectedtohimself，“andthetitleishiswife’s。Isupposethatiswhathemarriedherfor。She’samuchbettersortthanheis，anyway，thoughIdon’tquitemakeherouteither——onecan’tgoveryfarwithher。Butsheisthedaughterofapeerandworthcultivating，butnotwhenBinghamisathome——notifIknowit。”

“WhathaveyousaidtoMr。Dunstantomakehimgoawaysosoon，Geoffrey？”askedhiswife。

“Saidtohim？oh，Idon’tknow。Heofferedtogivemeapairofguns，andItoldhimthatIdidnotacceptpresentsfrommyacquaintances。

Really，Honoria，Idon’twanttointerferewithyourwayoflife，butIdonotunderstandhowyoucanassociatewithsuchpeopleasthisMr。

Dunstan。”

“Associatewithhim！“answeredLadyHonoria。“DoyousupposeIwanttoassociatewithhim？DoyousupposethatIdon’tknowwhatthemanis？

Butbeggarscannotbechoosers;hemaybeacad，buthehasthirtythousandayear，andwesimplycannotaffordtothrowawayanacquaintancewiththirtythousandayear。Itistoobadofyou，Geoffrey。”shewentonwithrisingtemper，“whenyouknowallthatI

mustputupwithinourmiserablepoverty-strickenlife，totakeeveryopportunityofmakingyourselfdisagreeabletothepeopleIthinkitwisetoasktocomeandseeus。HereIreturnfromcomforttothiswretchedplace，andthefirstthingthatyoudoismakeafuss。Mr。

Dunstanhasgotboxesatseveralofthebesttheaters，andheofferedtoletmehaveonewheneverIliked——andnowofcoursethereisanendofit。Itistoobad，Isay！“

“Itisreallycurious，Honoria。”saidherhusband，“toseewhatobligationsyouarereadytoputyourselfunderinsearchofpleasure。

Itisnotdignifiedofyoutoacceptboxesattheatresfromthisgentleman。”

“Nonsense。Thereisnoobligationaboutit。Ifhegaveusabox，ofcoursehewouldmakeapointoflookinginduringtheevening，andthentellinghisfriendsthatitwasLadyHonoriaBinghamhewasspeakingto——thatistheexchange。Iwanttogotothetheatre;hewantstogetintogoodsociety——thereyouhavethethinginanutshell。Itisdoneeveryday。Thefactofthematteris，Geoffrey。”

shewenton，lookingverymuchasthoughshewereabouttoburstintoafloodofangrytears，“asIsaidjustnow，beggarscannotbechoosers——Icannotlivelikethewifeofabanker’sclerk。Imusthave/some/amusement，and/some/comfort，beforeIbecomeanoldwoman。Ifyoudon’tlikeit，whydidyouentrapmeintothiswretchedmarriage，beforeIwasoldenoughtoknowbetter，orwhydoyounotmakeenoughmoneytokeepmeinawaysuitabletomyposition？”

“Wehavearguedthatquestionbefore，Honoria。”saidGeoffrey，keepinghistemperwithdifficulty，“andnowthereisanotherthingIwishtosaytoyou。DoyouknowthatdetestablewomanAnnestoppedformorethanhalfanhouratPaddingtonStationthisevening，flirtingwithaticketcollector，insteadofbringingEffiehomeatonce，asItoldhertodo。Iamveryangryaboutit。Sheisnottobereliedon;weshallhavesomeaccidentwiththechildbeforewehavedone。Cannotyoudischargeherandgetanothernurse？”

“No，Icannot。SheistheonecomfortIhave。WhereamIgoingtofindanotherwomanwhocanmakedresseslikeAnne——shesavesmeahundredayear——Idon’tcareifsheflirtedwithfiftyticketcollectors。I

supposeyougotthisstoryfromEffie;thechildoughttobewhippedfortale-bearing，andIdaresaythatitisnottrue。”

“Effiewillcertainlynotbewhipped。”answeredGeoffreysternly。“I

warnyouthatitwillgoverybadlywithanybodywholaysafingeronher。”

“Oh，verywell，ruinthechild。Goyourownway，Geoffrey！AtanyrateIamnotgoingtostopheretolistentoanymoreabuse。Good-night。”

andshewent。

Geoffreysatdown，andlitacigarette。“Apleasanthome-coming。”hethoughttohimself。“Honoriashallhavemoneyasmuchasshecanspend——ifIkillmyselftogetit，sheshallhaveit。Whatalife，whatalife！IwonderifBeatricewouldtreatherhusbandlikethis——ifshehadone。”

Helaughedaloudattheabsurdityoftheidea，andthenwithagestureofimpatiencethrewhiscigaretteintothefireandwenttohisroomtotryandgetsomesleep，forhewasthoroughlywearied。

CHAPTERXVII

GEOFFREYWINSHISCASE

Beforeteno’clockonthefollowingmorning，havingalreadyspenttwohoursoverhisbrief，thathehadnowthoroughlymastered，Geoffreywasathischambers，whichhehadsomedifficultyinreachingowingtothethickfogthatstillhungoverLondon，andindeedallEngland。

TohissurprisenothinghadbeenheardeitheroftheAttorney-GeneralorofMr。Candleton。Thesolicitorswereindespair;butheconsoledthembysayingthatoneortheotherwassuretoturnupintime，andthatafewwordswouldsufficetoexplaintheadditionallightwhichhadbeenthrownonthecase。Heoccupiedhishalfhour，however，inmakingafewroughnotestoguidehiminthealtogetherimprobableeventofhisbeingcalledontoopen，andthenwentintocourt。Thecasewasfirstonthelist，andtherewereagoodmanycounselengagedontheotherside。Justasthejudgetookhisseat，thesolicitor，withanexpressionofdismay，handedGeoffreyatelegramwhichhadthatmomentarrivedfromMr。Candleton。ItwasdatedfromCalaisonthepreviousnight，andran，“Amunabletocrossonaccountofthickfog。YouhadbettergetsomebodyelseinParsonsandDouse。”

“Andwehaven’tgotanotherbriefprepared。”saidtheagonisedsolicitor。““Whatismore，IcanhearnothingoftheAttorney-General，andhisclerkdoesnotseemtoknowwhereheis。Youmustaskforanadjournment，Mr。Bingham;youcan’tmanagethecasealone。”

“Verywell。”saidGeoffrey，andonthecasebeingcalledheroseandstatedthecircumstancestothecourt。ButtheCourtwascrusty。Ithadgotthefogdownitsthroat，andaltogetherItdidn’tseemtoseeit。Moreovertheotherside，markingitsadvantage，objectedstrongly。

Thewitnesses，broughtatgreatexpense，werethere;hisLordshipwasthere，thejurywasthere;ifthiscasewasnottakentherewasnootherwithwhichtheycouldgoon，&c。，&c。

Thecourttookthesameview，andlecturedGeoffreyseverely。Everycounselinacase，theCourtremembered，whenItwasattheBar，usedtobeabletoopenthatcaseatamoment’snotice，andthoughthingshad，Itimplied，nodoubtdeterioratedtoaconsiderableextentsincethosepalmydays，everycounseloughtstilltobepreparedtodosoonemergency。

Ofcourse，however，ifhe，Geoffrey，toldthecourtthathewasabsolutelyunpreparedtogoonwiththecase，Itwouldhavenooptionbuttograntanadjournment。

“Iamperfectlypreparedtogoonwithit，mylord。”Geoffreyinterposedcalmly。

“Verywell。”saidtheCourtinamollifiedtone，“thengoon！IhavenodoubtthatthelearnedAttorney-Generalwillarrivepresently。”

Then，asisnotunusualinaprobatesuit，followedanargumentastowhoshouldopenit，theplaintifforthedefendant。Geoffreyclaimedthatthisrightclearlylaywithhim，andtheopposingcounselraisednogreatobjection，thinkingthattheywoulddowelltoleavetheopeninginthehandsofaratherinexperiencedman，whowouldverylikelyworkhissidemoreharmthangood。So，somewhattothehorrorofthesolicitors，whothoughtwithlongingoftheeloquenceoftheAttorney-General，andtheunrivalledexperienceandfinesseofMr。

Candleton，Geoffreywascalledupontoopenthecaseforthedefendants，propoundingthefirstwill。

Herosewithoutfearorhesitation，andwithbutoneprayerinhisheart，thatnountimelyAttorney-Generalwouldputinanappearance。

Hehadgothischance，thechanceforwhichmanyablemenhavetowaitlongyears，andheknewit，andmeanttomakethemostofit。

Naturallyabrilliantspeaker，Geoffreywasnot，assomanygoodspeakersare，subjecttofitsofnervousness，andhewas，moreover，thoroughlymasterofhiscase。Infiveminutesjudge，juryandcounselwerealllisteningtohimwithattention;intentheywereabsorbedinthelucidandsuccinctstatementofthefactswhichhewasunfoldingtothem。Hisghosttheorywasatfirstreceivedwithasmile，butpresentlycounselontheothersideceasedtosmile，andbegantolookuneasy。Ifhecouldprovewhathesaid，therewasanendoftheircase。Whenhehadbeenspeakingforaboutfortyminutesoneoftheopposingcounselinterruptedhimwithsomeremark，andatthatmomenthenoticedthattheAttorney-General’sclerkwastalkingtothesolicitorbeneathhim。

“Botherit，heiscoming。”thoughtGeoffrey。

Butno，thesolicitorbendingforwardinformedhimthattheAttorney-

GeneralhadbeenunavoidablydetainedbysomeimportantGovernmentmatter，andhadreturnedhisbrief。

“Well，wemustgetonaswecan。”Geoffreysaid。

“Ifyoucontinuelikethatweshallgetonverywell。”whisperedthesolicitors，andthenGeoffreyknewthathewasdoingwell。

“Yes，Mr。Bingham！“saidhisLordship。

ThenGeoffreywentonwithhisstatement。

Atlunchtimeitwasaquestionwhetheranotherleadershouldbebriefed。Geoffreysaidthatsofarashewasconcernedhecouldgetonalone。Hekneweverypointofthecase，andhehadgotafriendto“takeanote“forhimwhilehewasspeaking。

Aftersomehesitationthesolicitorsdecidednottobrieffreshcounselatthisstageofthecase，buttoleaveitentirelyinhishands。

Itwouldbeuselesstofollowthedetailsofthisremarkablewillsuit，whichlastedtwodays，andattractedmuchattention。Geoffreywonitandwonittriumphantly。Hisaddresstothejuryonthewholecasewaslongrememberedinthecourts，risingasitdidtoaveryhighlevelofforensiceloquence。Fewwhosawiteverforgotthesightofhishandsomefaceandcommandingpresenceashecrushedthecaseofhisopponentslikeaneggshell，andthenwithcalmandoverwhelmingforcedenouncedthewomanwhowithherloverhadconcoctedthecruelplotthatrobbedheruncleoflifeandhercousinsoftheirproperty，tillatthelast，pointingtowardsherwithoutstretchedhand，hebrandedhertothejuryasamurderess。

Fewinthatcrowdedcourthaveforgottenthetragicscenethatfollowed，whenthetremblingwoman，wornoutbythelonganxietyofthetrial，andutterlyunnervedbyheraccuser’sbrilliantinvective，rosefromherseatandcried:

“Wedidit——itistruethatwedidittogetthemoney，butwedidnotmeantofrightenhimtodeath。”andthenfellfaintingtotheground——

orGeoffreyBingham’squietwordsashesatdown:

“Mylordandgentlemenofthejury，Idonotthinkitnecessarytocarrymycaseanyfurther。”

Therewasnoapplause，theoccasionwastoodramaticallysolemn，buttheimpressionmadebothuponthecourtandtheoutsidepublic，towhomsuchasceneispeculiarlyfittedtoappeal，wasdeepandlasting。

Geoffreyhimselfwasunderlittledelusionaboutthematter。Hehadnoconceitinhiscomposition，butneitherhadheanyfalsemodesty。Hemerelyacceptedthesituationasreallypowerfulmendoacceptsuchevents——withthankfulness，butwithoutsurprise。Hehadgothischanceatlast，andlikeanyotherableman，whateverhiswalkoflife，hehadrisentoit。Thatwasall。Mostmengetsuchchancesinsomeshapeorform，andareunabletoavailthemselvesofthem。Geoffreywasoneoftheexceptions;asBeatricehadsaid，hewasborntosucceed。Ashesatdown，heknewthathewasamademan。

Andyetwhilehewalkedhomethatnight，hisearsstillfullofthecongratulationswhichhadrainedinonhimfromeveryquarter，hewasconsciousofacertainpride。HewillhavefeltasGeoffreyfeltthatnight，whoselotithasbeentofightlongandstrenuouslyagainstcircumstancessoadverseastobealmostoverwhelming，knowinginhisheartthathewasborntoleadandnottofollow;andwhoatlast，byonementaleffort，withnofriendlyhandtohelp，andnofriendlyvoicetoguide，hassucceededinburstingaroadthroughthedifficultieswhichhemmedhimin，andhassuddenlyfoundhimself，notabovecompetitionindeed，butstillabletomeetit。Hewillnothavebeentooproudofthatendeavour;itwillhaveseemedbutalittlethingtohim——athingfulloffaultsandimperfections，andfallingfarshortofhisideal。Hewillnotevenhaveattachedagreatimportancetohissuccess，because，ifheisapersonofthiscalibre，hemustrememberhowsmallitis，whenallissaidanddone;thateveninhisdaytherearethosewhocanbeathimonhisownground;andalsothatallworldlysuccess，likethemostperfectflower，yetbearsinittheelementsofdecay。Buthewillhavereflectedwithhumblesatisfactiononthoselongyearsofpatientstrivingwhichhaveatlengthliftedhimtoaneminencewhencehecanclimbonandon，scarcelyencumberedbythejostlingcrowd;tillatlength，wornout，thetimecomesforhimtofall。

SoGeoffreythoughtandfelt。Thethingwastobedone，andhehaddoneit。Honoriashouldhavemoneynow;sheshouldnolongerbeabletotwithimwiththeirpoverty。Yes，andabetterthoughtstill，Beatricewouldbegladtohearofhislittletriumph。

Hereachedhomeratherlate。Honoriawasgoingouttodinnerwithadistinguishedcousin，andwasalreadydressing。Geoffreyhaddeclinedtheinvitation，whichwasashortone，becausehehadnotexpectedtobebackfromchambers。Inthisenthusiasm，however，hewenttohiswife’sroomtotellheroftheevent。

“Well。”shesaid，“whathaveyoubeendoing？Ithinkthatyoumighthavearrangedtocomeoutwithme。Mygoingoutsomuchbymyselfdoesnotlookwell。Oh，Iforgot;ofcourseyouareinthatcase。”

“Yes——thatis，Iwas。Ihavewonthecase。Hereisaveryfairreportofitinthe/St。James’sGazette/ifyoucaretoreadit。”

“Goodheavens，Geoffrey！HowcanyouexpectmetoreadallthatstuffwhenIamdressing？”

“Idon’texpectyouto，Honoria;only，asIsay，Ihavewonthecase，andIshallgetplentyofworknow。”

“Willyou？Iamgladtohearit;perhapsweshallbeabletoescapefromthishorridflatifyoudo。There，Anne！Jevousl’aitoujoursdit，cetterobenemevapasbien。”

“Mais，milady，larobevaparfaitement——“

“Thatisyouropinion。”grumbledLadyHonoria。“Well，itisn’tmine。

Butitwillhavetodo。Good-night，Geoffrey;IdaresaythatyouwillhavegonetobedwhenIgetback。”andshewasgone。

Geoffreypickeduphis/St。James’sGazette/withasigh。Hefelthurt，andknewthathewasafoolforhispains。LadyHonoriawasnotasympatheticperson;itwasnotfairtoexpectitfromher。Stillhefelthurt。HewentupstairsandheardEffieherprayers。

“Wherehasyoubeed，daddy？——totheSmokyTown？”TheTemplewaseuphemisticallyknowntoEffieastheSmokyTown。

“Yes，dear。”

“YougototheSmokyTowntomakebreadandbutter，don’tyou，daddy？”

“Yes，dear，tomakebreadandbutter。”

“Anddidyoumakeany，daddy？”

“Yes，Effie，agooddealto-day。”

“Thenwhereisit？Inyourpocket？”

“No，love，notexactly。Iwonabiglawsuitto-day，andIshallgetagreatmanypenniesforit。”

“Oh。”answeredEffiemeditatively，“Iamgladthatyoudidwin。Youdoliketowin，doesn’tyou，daddy，dear。”

“Yes，love。”

“ThenIwillgiveyouakiss，daddy，becauseyoudidwin。”andshesuitedtheactiontotheword。

Geoffreywentfromthelittleroomwithasoftenedheart。Hedressedandatesomedinner。

ThenhesatdownandwrotealonglettertoBeatrice，tellingherallaboutthetrial，andnotsparingherhisreasonsforadoptingeachparticulartacticandlineofargumentwhichconducedtothegreatresult。

Andthoughhisletterwasfoursheetsinlength，heknewthatBeatricewouldnotbeboredathavingtoreadit。

CHAPTERXVIII

THERISINGSTAR

Asmightbeexpected，thememorablecaseofParsonsandDouseprovedtobetheturningpointinGeoffrey’scareer，whichwasthenceforwardoneofbrilliantandstartlingsuccess。Ontheverynextmorningwhenhereachedhischambersitwastofindthreeheavybriefsawaitinghim，andtheyprovedtobebuttheheraldsofanuninterruptedflowoflucrativebusiness。Ofcourse，hewasnotaQueen’sCounsel，butnowthathisgreatnaturalpowersofadvocacyhadbecomegenerallyknown，solicitorsfrequentlyemployedhimalone，orgavehimanotherjunior，sothathemightbringthosepowerstobearuponjuries。Nowitwas，too，thatGeoffreyreapedthefruitsofthearduouslegalstudieswhichhehadfollowedwithoutcessationfromthetimewhenhefoundhimselfthrownuponhisownresources，andwhichhadmadeasoundlawyerofhimaswellasabrilliantandeffectiveadvocate。Soon，evenwithhisgreatcapacityforwork，hehadasmuchbusinessashecouldattendto。Whenfortunegivesgoodgifts，shegenerallydoessowithalavishhand。

Thusitcametopassthat，aboutthreeweeksafterthetrialofParsonsandDouse，Geoffrey’sunclethesolicitordied，andtohissurpriselefthimtwentythousandpounds，“believing。”hesaidinhiswill，whichwasdatedthreedaysbeforethetestator’sdeath，“thatthissumwillassisthimtorisetotheheadofhisprofession。”

Nowthatithaddawneduponherthatherhusbandreallywasasuccess，Honoria’smannertowardshimmodifiedveryconsiderably。Sheevenbecameamiable，andonceortwicealmostaffectionate。WhenGeoffreytoldherofthetwentythousandpoundsshewasradiant。

“Why，weshallbeabletogobacktoBoltonStreetnow。”shesaid，“andasluckwillhaveit，ouroldhouseistolet。Isawabillinthewindowyesterday。”

“Yes。”hesaid，“youcangobackassoonasyoulike。”

“Andcanwekeepacarriage？”

“No，notyet;Iamdoingwell，butnotwellenoughforthat。Nextyear，ifIlive，youwillbeabletohaveacarriage。Don’tbegintogrumble，Honoria。Ihavegot￡150tospare，andifyoucaretocomeroundtoajeweller’syoucanspenditonwhatyoulike。”

“Oh，youdelightfulperson！“saidhiswife。

Sotheywenttothejeweller’s，andLadyHonoriaboughtornamentstothevalueof￡150，andcarriedthemhomeandhungoverthem，asanotherclassofwomanmighthangoverherfirst-bornchild，admiringthemwithatenderecstasy。Wheneverhehadasumofmoneythathecouldaffordtopartwith，Geoffreywouldtakeherthustoajeweller’soradressmaker’s，andstandbycoldlywhilesheboughtthingstoitsvalue。LadyHonoriawasdelighted。Itneverenteredintohermindthatinasensehewastakingarevengeuponher，andthateveryfreshexhibitionofherrejoicingsoverthegoodthingsthusprovidedaddedtohiscontemptforher。

ThosewerehappydaysforLadyHonoria！Sherejoicedinthisreturnofwealthlikeaschool-boyatthecomingoftheholidays，orahalf-

frozenwandererattherisingofthesun。Shehadbeenmiserableduringallthisnightofpoverty，asmiserableashernatureadmittedof，nowshewashappyagain，assheunderstoodhappiness。Forbred，educated，civilized——whatyouwill——outofthemorehumanpassions，LadyHonoriahadreplacedthembythisidol-worshipofwealth，orratherofwhatwealthbrings。Itgaveherapositivephysicalsatisfaction;herbeauty，whichhadbeguntofade，camebacktoher;

shelookedfiveyearsyounger。AndallthewhileGeoffreywatchedherwithanever-growingscorn。

Onceitbrokeout。TheBoltonStreethousehadbeenfurnished;hegaveherfifteenhundredpoundstodoit，andwithwhatthingstheyownedshemanagedverywellonthat。Theymovedintoit，andHonoriahadsetherselfupwithasufficientsupplyofgranddressesandjewellery，suitabletoherrecoveredposition。Onedayhowever，itoccurredtoherthatEffiewasachildofremarkablebeauty，who，ifproperlydressed，wouldlookveryniceinthedrawing-roomattea-time。Sosheorderedalovelycostumeforher——thisdeponentisnotabletodescribeit，butitconsistedlargelyofvelvetandlace。Geoffreyheardnothingofthisdress，butcominghomeratherearlyoneafternoon——itwasonaSaturday，hefoundthechildbeingshownofftoaroomfullofvisitors，anddressedinastrangeandwonderfulattirewithwhich，notunnaturally，shewasvastlypleased。Hesaidnothingatthetime，butwhenatlengththedroppingfireofcallershadceased，heaskedwhoputEffieintothatdress。

“Idid。”saidLadyHonoria，“andaprettypennyithascost，Icantellyou。ButIcan’thavethechildcomedownsopoorlyclothed，itdoesnotlookwell。”

“Thenshecanstayupstairs。”saidGeoffreyfrowning。

“Whatdoyoumean？”askedhiswife。

“ImeanthatIwillnothaveherdeckedoutinthosefineclothes。

Theyarequiteunsuitabletoherage。Thereisplentyoftimeforhertotaketovanity。”

“Ireallydon’tunderstandyou，Geoffrey。Whyshouldnotthechildbehandsomelydressed？”

“Whynot！Greatheaven，Honoria，doyousupposethatIwanttoseeEffiegrowuplikeyou，toleadalifeofemptypleasure-seekingidleness，andmakeagodofluxury。Ihadratherseeher“——hewasgoingtoadd，“deadfirst。”butcheckedhimselfandsaid——“havetoworkforherliving。Dressyourselfupasmuchasyoulike，butleavethechildalone。”

LadyHonoriawasfurious，butshewasalsoalittlefrightened。Shehadneverheardherhusbandspeakquitelikethisbefore，andtherewassomethingunderneathhiswordsthatshedidnotquiteunderstand。

StilllessdidsheunderstandwhenontheMondayGeoffreysuddenlytoldherthathehadfiftypoundsforhertospendassheliked;thenaccompaniedhertoamantleshop，andstoodpatientlyby，smilingcoldlywhilesheinvesteditinlaceandembroideries。Honoriathoughtthathewasmakingreparationforhissharpwords，andsohewas，buttohimself，andinanothersense。Everytimehegavehermoneyinthisfashion，Geoffreyfeltlikeamanwhohaspaidoffadebtofhonour。

Shehadtauntedhimagainandagainwithherpoverty——thepovertyshesaidthathehadbroughther;foreverytaunthewouldheapuponherallthosethingsinwhichhersouldelighted。Hewouldglutherwithwealthas，inherhourofvictory，QueenTomyrisglutteddeadCyruswiththebloodofmen。

Itwasanoddwayoftakingarevenge，andonethatsuitedLadyHonoriaadmirably;butthoughitsvictimfeltnosting，itgaveGeoffreymuchsecretrelief。Alsohewascurious;hewishedtoseeiftherewasanybottomtosuchawoman’sdesireforluxury，ifitwouldnotbringsatietywithit。ButLadyHonoriawasaverybadsubjectforsuchanexperiment。Shenevershowedtheleastsignofbeingsatiated，eitherwithfinethings，withpleasures，orwithsocialdelights。Theywerehernaturalelement，andhemightassoonhaveexpectedafishtowearyofthewater，oraneagleoftherushingair。

Thewinterworeawayandthespringcame。Oneday，itwasinApril，Geoffrey，whowasamoderateLiberalbypersuasion，casuallyannouncedatdinnerthathewasgoingtostandforParliamentintheUnionistinterest。TherepresentationofoneofthefewMetropolitandivisionswhichhadthenreturnedaHomeRulerhadfallenvacant。AsitchancedheknewtheheadUnionistwhipverywell。Theyhadbeenfriendssincetheywereladsatschooltogether，andthisgentleman，havingheardGeoffreymakeabrilliantspeechincourt，wassuddenlystruckwiththeideathathewastheverymantoleadaforlornhope。

TheupshotofitwasthatGeoffreywasaskedifhewouldstand，andrepliedthathemusthavetwodaystothinkitover。WhathereallywantedthetwodaysforwastoenablehimtowritetoBeatriceandreceiveananswerfromher。Hehadanalmostsuperstitiousfaithinherjudgment，anddidnotliketoactwithoutit。Aftercarefullyweighingtheprosandcons，hisownviewwasthatheshoulddowelltostand。Probablyhewouldbedefeated，anditmightcosthimfivehundredpounds。Ontheotherhanditwouldcertainlymakehisnameknownasapolitician，andhewasnowinafairwaytoearnsolargeanincomethathecouldwellaffordtoriskthemoney。Theonlygreatobjectionwhichhesaw，wasthatifhehappenedtogetin，itmustmeanthathewouldhavetoworkalldayandallnighttoo。Well，hewasstrongandthemoreworkhedidthebetter——itkepthimfromthinking。

InduecourseBeatrice’sanswercame。Herviewcoincidedwithhisown;

sherecommendedhimtotaketheopportunity，andpointedoutthatwithhisgrowinglegalreputationtherewasnoofficeintheStatetowhichhemightnotaspire，whenhehadonceprovedhimselfacapablememberofParliament。Geoffreyreadtheletterthrough;thenimmediatelysatdownandwrotetohisfriendthewhip，acceptingthesuggestionoftheGovernment。

Thenextfortnightwasahardoneforhim，butGeoffreywasasgoodamanontheplatformasincourt，andhehad，moreover，theveryvaluableknackofsuitinghimselftohisaudience。Ashiscanvasswentonitwasgenerallyrecognisedthattheseatwhichhadbeenconsideredhopelesswasnowdoubtful。Agreatamountofpublicinterestwasconcentratedontheelection，bothupontheUnionistandtheSeparatistside，eachclaimingthattheresultofthepollwouldshowtotheiradvantage。TheHomeRulepartystrainedeverynerveagainsthim，beingmostanxioustoshowthatthefreeandindependentelectorsofthissingledivision，andthereforeofthecountryatlarge，heldtheGovernmentpolicyinparticularhorror。Letterswereobtainedfromgreatauthoritiesandfreelyprinted。Irishmembers，freshfromgaol，werebroughtdowntodetailtheirgrievances。Itwasevensuggestedthatoneofthemshouldappearontheplatforminprisongarb——inshort，everyelectioneeringengineknowntopoliticalsciencewasbroughttobeartoforwardthefortunesofeitherside。

AstimewentonLadyHonoria，whohadbeensomewhatindifferentatfirst，grewquiteexcitedabouttheresult。Foronethingshefoundthatthecontestattachedanimportancetoherselfintheeyesofthetrulygreat，whichwasnotwithoutitscharm。Onthedayofthepollshedroveaboutalldayinanopencarriageunderabrightblueparasol，havingEffie(whohadbecomeverybored)byherside，andtwonoblelordsonthefrontseat。Asaconsequencetheresultwasuniversallydeclaredbyacertainsectionofthepresstobeentirelyduetotheeffortsofanunprincipledbuttitledandlovelywoman。Itwasevensaidthat，likeanotherladyofrankinapastgeneration，shekissedabutcherinordertowinhisvote。ButthosewhomadetheremarkdidnotknowLadyHonoria;shewasincapableofkissingabutcher，orindeedanybodyelse。Herinclinationsdidnotlieinthatdirection。

IntheendGeoffreywasreturnedbyamagnificentmajorityoftenvotes，reducedonascrutinytoseven。HetookhisseatintheHouseonthefollowingnightamidstloudUnionistcheering。Inthecourseoftheevening’sdebateaprominentmemberoftheGovernmentmadeallusiontohisreturnasaproofofthetriumphofUnionistprinciples。ThereonaveryleadingmemberoftheSeparatistoppositionretortedthatitwasnothingofthesort，“thatitwasamatterofcommonnotorietythatthehonourablemember’sreturnwasowingtotheunusualandmostuncommonabilitydisplayedbyhiminthecourseofhiscanvass，aidedasitwas，byartfullyappliedandaristocraticfeminineinfluence。”ThiswasadelicateallusiontoHonoriaandherblueparasol。

AsGeoffreyandhiswifeweredrivingbacktoBoltonStreet，afterthedeclarationofthepoll，alittleincidentoccurred。Geoffreytoldthecoachmantostopatthefirsttelegraphofficeand，gettingoutofthecarriage，wiredtoBeatrice，“Inbytenvotes。”

“Whohaveyoubeentelegraphingto，Geoffrey？”askedLadyHonoria。

“ItelegraphedtoMissGranger。”heanswered。

“Ah！Soyoustillkeepupacorrespondencewiththatpupilteachergirl。”

“Yes，Ido。IwishthatIhadafewmoresuchcorrespondents。”

“Indeed。Youareeasytoplease。IthoughtheroneofthemostdisagreeableyoungwomenwhomIevermet。”

“Thenitdoesnotsaymuchforyourtaste，Honoria。”

Hiswifemadenofurtherremark，butshehadherthoughts。Honoriapossessedgoodpoints:amongothersshewasnotajealousperson;shewastoocoldandtooindifferenttobejealous。Butshedidnotliketheideaofanotherwomanobtaininganinfluenceoverherhusband，who，asshenowbegantorecognise，wasoneofthemostbrilliantmenofhisday，andwhomightwellbecomeoneofthemostwealthyandpowerful。Clearlyheexistedfor/her/benefit，notforthatofanyotherwoman。Shewasnofool，andshesawthataconsiderableintimacymustexistbetweenthetwo。OtherwiseGeoffreywouldnothavethoughtoftelegraphingtoBeatriceatsuchamoment。

WithinaweekofhiselectionGeoffreymadeaspeech。Itwasnotalongspeech，norwasituponanyveryimportantissue;butitwasexceedinglygoodofitskind，goodenoughtobereportedverbatimindeed，andthoselisteningtoitrecognisedthattheyhadtodealwithanewmanwhowouldonedaybeaverybigman。ThereisnoplacewhereanablepersonfindshislevelquickerthanintheHouseofCommons，composedasitisforthemostpart，ofmoreorlesswealthyorfranticmediocrities。ButGeoffreywasnotamediocrity，hewasanexceedinglyableandpowerfulman，andthisfacttheHousequicklyrecognised。

ForthenextfewmonthsGeoffreyworkedasmenrarelywork。Alldayhewasathischambersorincourt，andatnighthesatintheHouse，gettinguphisbriefswhenhecould。Buthealwaysdidgetthemup;nosolicitorshadtocomplainthattheinterestsoftheirclientwereneglectedbyhim;alsohestillfoundtimetowritetoBeatrice。Fortheresthewentoutbutlittle，andexceptinthewayofbusinessassociatedwithveryfew。Indeedhegrewmoreandmoresilentandreserved，tillatlasthewonthereputationofbeingcoldandhard。

Notthathewasreallyso。Hethrewhimselfheadandsoulintohisworkwithafixeddeterminationtoreachthetopofthetree。Heknewthatheshouldnotcareverymuchaboutitwhenhegotthere，butheenjoyedthestruggle。

Geoffreywasnotatrulyambitiousman;hewasnomereself-seeker。Heknewthefollyofambitiontoowell，anditsendwasalwaysclearlybeforehiseyes。Heoftenthoughttohimselfthatifhecouldhavechosenhislot，hewouldhaveaskedforacottagewithagoodgarden，fivehundredayear，andsomebodytocarefor。Butperhapshewouldsoonhaveweariedofhiscottage。Heworkedtostiflethought，andtosomeextenthesucceeded。Buthewasatbottomanaffectionate-naturedman，andhecouldnotstiflethelongingforsympathywhichwashissecretweakness，thoughhispridewouldneverallowhimtoshowit。

Whatdidhecareforhistriumphswhenhehadnobodywithwhomtosharethem？Allhecouldshareweretheirfruits，andthesehegaveawayfreelyenough。ItwasbutlittlethatGeoffreyspentuponhisowngratification。Acertainshareofhisgainsheputby，therestwentinexpenses。ThehouseinBoltonStreetwasaverygayplaceinthosedays，butitsmastertookbutlittlepartinitsgaieties。

Andwhatwasthefact？ThelongerheremainedseparatedfromBeatricethemoreintenselydidhelongforhersociety。Itwasofnouse;tryashewould，hecouldnotputthatsweetfacefromhismind;itdrewhimasamagnetdrawsaneedle。Successdidnotbringhimhappiness，exceptinthesensethatitrelievedhimfrommoneycares。

Peopleofcoarsetemperamentonlycanfindrealsatisfactioninworldlytriumphs，andeat，drink，andbemerry，forto-morrowtheydie！MenlikeGeoffreysoonlearnthatthisalsoisvanity。Onthecontrary，ashismindgrewmoreandmoreweariedwiththestrainofwork，melancholytookaneverstrongerholdofit。Hadhegonetoadoctor，hemighthavebeentoldthathisliverwasoutoforder，whichwasverylikelytrue。Butthiswouldnotmendmatters。“Whataworld。”

hemighthavecried，“whataworldtoliveinwhenalltheman’shappinessdependsuponhisliver！“Hecontractedanaccursedhabitoflookingontheblacksideofthings;troublealwayscaughthiseye。

Itwasnowonderfulcase。Menoflargemindareveryrarelyhappymen。

Itisyourlittleanimal-mindedindividualwhocanbehappy。Thuswomen，whoreflectless，areasaclassmuchhappierandmorecontentedthanmen。Butthelarge-mindedmanseestoofar，andguessestoomuchofwhathecannotsee。Helooksforward，andnotesthedustyendofhislaboriousdays;helooksaroundandshuddersattheunceasingmiseryofacoarsestrugglingworld;thesightofthepitifulbeggarbabecravingbreadontotteringfeet，pierceshisheart。Hecannotconsolehimselfwithareflectionthatthechildhadnobusinesstobeborn，orthatifhedenudedhimselfofhislastpoundhewouldnotmateriallyhelptheclasswhichbredit。

Andabovethegarishlightsofearthlyjoysandthedimreekofearthlywretchedness，heseesthesolemnfirmamentthatveilshisrace’sdestiny。Forsuchaman，insuchamood，evenreligionhasterrorsaswellashopes，andwhilethegloomgathersabouthismindthesearewithhimmoreandmore。Whatliesbeyondthatarchingmysterytowhosehorizonhedailydrawsmoreclose——whosedoorsmayevennowbeopeningforhim？Ahundredhandspointoutahundredroadstoknowledge——theyarelosthalfway。Onlythecoldspiritualfirmament，unlitbyanyguidingstars，unbrightenedbythefloodofhumanday，andunshadowedbytheveilsofhumannight，stillbendsabovehisheadinawfulchangelessness，andstillhiswearyfeetdrawclosertotheportalsoftheWest。

Itisverysadandwrong，butitisnotaltogetherhisfault;itisratherafaultoftheage，ofover-education，ofover-strivingtobewise。Cultivatethesearchingspiritanditwillgrowandrendyou。

Thespiritwouldsoar，itwouldsee，butthefleshweighsitdown，andinallfleshthereislittlelight。Yet，attimes，broodingonsomeunnaturalheightofThought，itseyesseemtobeopened，anditcatchesgleamsofterrifyingdaystocome，orperchance，discernsthehopelessgatesofanimmeasurablenight。

Oh，forthatsimplerfaithwhicheverrecedesfartherfromthekenofthecultivated，questioningmind！Therealonecanpeacebefound，andforthefoolishwhodiscardit，settingupman’swisdomatasign，soonthehumanlotwillbeonelongfear。Grownscientificandwearywiththeweightofknowledge，theywillrejecttheirancientGods，andnosmug-facedPositivismwillbringthemconsolation。Science，hereandthereilluminingthegloomofdestinywithitspoorelectriclights，criesoutthattheyareguidingstars。Buttheyarenostars，andtheywillflareaway。Letusprayfordarkness，moredarkness，lest，toourbewilderedsight，theydobutservetoshowthatwhichshallmurderHope。

SothinkGeoffreyandhiskin，andintheirunexpresseddismay，turn，seekingrefugefromtheirphysicalandspiritualloneliness，butforthemostpartfindingnone。Nature，stillstronginthem，pointstothedearfellowshipofwoman，andtheymaketheventuretofindamate，notacompanion。ButasitchancedinGeoffrey’scasehedidfindsuchacompanioninBeatrice，afterhehad，bymarriage，builtupanimpassablewallbetweenthem。

Andyethelongedforhersocietywithanintensitythatalarmedhim。

Hehadherlettersindeed，butwhatareletters！Onetouchofabelovedhandisworthathousandletters。InthemidstofhisgreatsuccessGeoffreywaswretchedatheart，yetitseemedtohimthatifheoncemorecouldhaveBeatriceathisside，thoughonlyasafriend，hewouldfindrestandhappiness。

Whenaman’sheartisthussetuponanobject，hisreasonissoonconvincedofitsinnocence，evenofitsdesirability，andakindlyfatewillgenerallycontrivetogivehimtheopportunityofruinwhichhesoardentlydesires。

CHAPTERXIX

GEOFFREYHASAVISITOR

AndBeatrice——hadshefaredbetterduringtheselongmonths？Alas，notatall。ShehadgoneawayfromtheBryngellyStationonthatautumnmorningoffarewellsickatheart，andsickatheartshehadremained。

Throughallthelongwintermonthssorrowandbitternesshadbeenherportion，andnowinthehappinessofspring，sorrowandbitternesswerewithherstill。Shelovedhim，shelongedforhispresence，anditwasdeniedtoher。Shecouldnotconsoleherselfascansomewomen，nordidherdeeppassionwearaway;onthecontrary，itseemedtogrowandgatherwitheverypassingweek。Neitherdidshewishtoloseit，shelovedtoowellforthat。Itwasbettertobethustormentedbyconscienceandbyhopelessnessthantolosehercauseofpain。

OneconsolationBeatricehadandoneonly:sheknewthatGeoffreydidnotforgether。Hisletterstoldherthis。Theselettersindeedwereeverythingtoher——awomancangetsomuchmorecomfortoutofaletterthanaman。Nexttoreceivingthemshelovedtoanswerthem。

Shewasagoodandevenabrilliantletterwriter，butoftenandoftenshewouldtearupwhatshehadwrittenandbeginagain。TherewasnotmuchnewsinBryngelly;itwasdifficulttomakeherlettersamusing。

Alsothefarcicalnatureofthewholeproceedingseemedtoparalyseher。Itwasridiculous，havingsomuchtosay，tobeabletosaynothing。NotthatBeatricewishedtoinditelove-letters——suchanideahadnevercrossedhermind，butrathertowriteastheyhadtalked。

Yetwhenshetriedtodosotheresultswerenotsatisfactorytoher，thewordslookedstrangeonpaper——shecouldnotsendthem。

InGeoffrey’smeteor-likeadvancetofameandfortuneshetookthekeenestjoyandinterest，farmorethanhedidindeed。Though，likethatofmostotherintelligentcreatures，hersoulturnedwithloathingfromthedrearyfustianofpolitics，shewouldreligiouslysearchtheparliamentarycolumnfrombeginningtoendonthechanceoffindinghisnameorthenoticeofaspeechbyhim。Thelawreportsalsofurnishedherwithahappyhunting-groundinwhichsheoftenfoundhergame。

Buttheyweremiserablemonths。Toriseinthemorning，togothroughtheroundofdailyduty——thinkingofGeoffrey;tocomehomewearied，andfinallytoseekrefugeinsleepanddreamsofhim——thiswasthesumofthem。Thentherewereothertroubles。Tobeginwith，thingshadgonefrombadtoworseattheVicarage。Thetithesscarcelycameinatall，andeverydaytheirpovertypinchedthemcloser。HaditnotbeenforBeatrice’ssalaryitwasdifficulttoseehowthefamilycouldhavecontinuedtoexist。Shegaveitalmostalltoherfathernow，onlykeepingbackaverysmallsumforhernecessaryclothingandsuchsundriesasstampsandwritingpaper。Eventhen，Elizabethgrumbledbitterlyatherextravaganceincontinuingtobuyadailypaper，askingwhatbusinessshehadtospendsixpenceaweekonsuchaneedlessluxury。ButBeatricewouldnotmakeuphermindtodockthepaperwithitsoccasionalmentionofGeoffrey。

Again，OwenDavieswasaperpetualanxietytoher。Hisinfatuationforherselfwasbecomingnotorious;everybodysawitexceptherfather。

Mr。Granger’smindwassooccupiedwithquestionsconnectedwithtithethatfortunatelyforBeatricelittleelsecouldfindanentry。Owendoggedherabout;hewouldwaitwholehoursoutsidetheschoolorbytheVicaragegatemerelytospeakafewwordstoher。Sometimeswhenatlengthsheappearedheseemedtobestruckdumb，hecouldsaynothing，butwouldgazeatherwithhisdulleyesinafashionthatfilledherwithvaguealarm。Heneverventuredtospeaktoherofhisloveindeed，buthelookedit，whichwasalmostasbad。Anotherthingwasthathehadgrownjealous。TheseedwhichElizabethhadplantedinhismindhadbroughtforthabundantly，thoughofcourseBeatricedidnotknowthatthiswashersister’sdoing。

OntheverymorningthatGeoffreywentawayMr。DavieshadmetherasshewaswalkingbackfromthestationandaskedherifMr。Binghamhadgone。Whensherepliedthatthiswasso，shehaddistinctlyheardhimmurmur，“ThankGod！thankGod！“SubsequentlyshediscoveredalsothathebribedtheoldpostmantokeepcountoftheletterswhichshesentandreceivedfromGeoffrey。

ThesethingsfilledBeatricewithalarm，buttherewasworsebehind。

Mr。Daviesbegantosendherpresents，firstsuchthingsasprizepigeonsandfowls，thenjewellery。Thepigeonsandfowlsshecouldnotwellreturnwithoutexcitingremark，butthejewelleryshesentbackbyoneoftheschoolchildren。Firstcameabracelet，thenalocketwithhisphotographinside，andlastly，acasethat，whensheopenedit，whichhercuriosityledhertodo，nearlyblindedherwithlight。

Itwasadiamondnecklace，andshehadneverseensuchdiamondsbefore，butfromtheirsizeandlustresheknewthateachstonemustbeworthhundredsofpounds。Beatriceputitinherpocketandcarriedituntilshemethim，whichshedidinthecourseofthatafternoon。

“Mr。Davies。”shesaidbeforehecouldspeak，andhandinghimthepackage，“thishasbeensenttomebymistake。Willyoukindlytakeitback？”

Hetookit，abashed。

“Mr。Davies。”shewenton，lookinghimfullintheeyes，“Ihopethattherewillbenomoresuchmistakes。PleaseunderstandthatIcannotacceptpresentsfromyou。”

“IfMr。Binghamhadsentit，youwouldhaveacceptedit。”hemutteredsulkily。

Beatriceturnedandflashedsuchalookonhimthathefellbackandlefther。Butitwastrue，andsheknewthatitwastrue。IfGeoffreyhadgivenherasixpencewithaholeinit，shewouldhavevalueditmorethanallthediamondsonearth。Oh！whatapositionwashers。Anditwaswrong，too。Shehadnorighttolovethehusbandofanotherwoman。Butrightorwrongthefactremained:shedidlovehim。

Andtheworstofitwasthat，asshewellknew，soonerorlaterallthisaboutMr。Daviesmustcometotheearsofherfather，andthenwhatwouldhappen？Onethingwascertain。Inhispresentpoverty-

strickenconditionhewouldmoveheavenandearthtobringabouthermarriagetothisrichman。Herfatherneverhadbeenveryscrupulouswheremoneywasconcerned，andthepinchofwantwasnotlikelytomakehimmoreso。

Nor，wemaybesure，didallthisescapethejealouseyeofElizabeth。

Thingslookedblackforher，butshedidnotintendtothrowupthecardsonthataccount。Onlyitwastimetoleadtrumps。Inotherwords，BeatricemustbefatallycompromisedintheeyesofOwenDavies，ifbyanymeansthiscouldbebroughtabout。Sofarthingshadgonewellforherschemes。BeatriceandGeoffreylovedeachother，ofthatElizabethwascertain。Buttheexistenceofthissecret，underhandaffectionwouldavailhernaughtunlessitcouldberipenedintoacts。Everybodyisfreetoindulgeinsecretpredilections，butifoncetheyaregivenwayto，ifonceawoman’scharacteriscompromised，thentheworldavailsitselfofitsopportunitiesanddestroysher。Whatman，thoughtElizabeth，wouldmarryacompromisedwoman？IfBeatricecouldbecompromised，OwenDavieswouldnottakehertowife——thereforethismustbebroughtabout。

Itsoundswickedandunnatural。“Impossiblethatsistershouldsotreatsister。”thereaderofthishistorymaysay，thinkingofherown，andofheraffectionateandrespectablesurroundings。Butitisnotimpossible。Ifyou，whodoubt，willstudythelawreports，andnoworseoccupationcanbewishedtoyou，youwillfindthatsuchthingsarepossible。Humannaturecanrisetostrangeheights，anditcanalsofalltodepthsbeyondyourfathoming。Becauseathingiswithoutparallelinyourownsmallexperienceitinnowayfollowsthatitcannotbe。

Elizabethwasaveryremorselessperson;shewasmore——shewasawomanactuatedbypassionandbygreed:thetwostrongestmotivesknowntothehumanheart。Butwithherrecklessnesssheunitedaconsiderabledegreeofintelligence，orratherofintellect。Hadshebeenasavageshemighthaveremovedhersisterfromherpathbyamoreexpeditiousway;beingwhatshewas，shemerelystrovetoeffectthesameendbyamethodnotpunishablebylaw，inshort，bymurderingherreputation。

Wouldsheberesponsibleifhersisterwentwrong，andwasthusutterlydiscreditedintheeyesofthismanwhowishedtomarryher，andwhomElizabethwishedtomarry？Ofcoursenot;thatwasBeatrice’saffair。Butshecouldgivehereverychanceoffallingintotemptation，andthisitwasherfixeddesigntodo。

Circumstancessoongaveheranopportunity。TheneedofmoneybecameverypressingattheVicarage。Theyhadliterallynolongerthewherewithaltolive。Thetithepayersabsolutelyrefusedtofulfiltheirobligations。Asithappened，Jones，themanwhohadmurderedtheauctioneer，wasneverbroughttotrial。Hediedshortlyafterhisarrestinafitof/deliriumtremens/andnervousprostrationbroughtonbythesuddencessationofasupplyofstimulants，andanexamplewaslost，that，hadhebeendulyhanged，mighthavebeenmadeoftheresultsofdefyingthelaw。Mr。Grangerwasnowtoopoortoinstituteanyfurtherproceedings，which，inthestateofpublicfeelinginWales，mightormightnotsucceed;hecouldonlysubmit，andsubmissionmeantbeggary。Indeedhewasalreadyabeggar。InthisstateofaffairshetookcounselwithElizabeth，pointingoutthattheymusteithergetmoneyorstarve。Nowtheonlypossiblewaytogetmoneywasbyborrowingit，andMr。Granger’ssuggestionwasthatheshouldapplytoOwenDavies，whohadplenty。Indeedhewouldhavedonesolongago，butthatthesquirehadthereputationofbeinganexceedinglyclose-fistedman。

ButthispropositiondidnotatallsuitElizabeth’sbook。HergreatobjecthadbeentoconcealMr。Davies’sdesiresasregardsBeatricefromherfather，andherdailydreadwasthathemightbecomeacquaintedwiththemfromsomeoutsidesource。SheknewverywellthatifherfatherwentuptotheCastletoborrowmoneyitwouldbelent，orrathergiven，freelyenough;butshealsoknewthatthelenderwouldalmostcertainlytaketheopportunity，theveryfavourableopportunity，tounfoldhiswishesasregardstheborrower’sdaughter。

Theonethingwouldnaturallyleadtotheother——thepromiseofherfather’ssupportofOwen’ssuitwouldbetheconsiderationforthemoneyreceived。Howgladlythatsupportwouldbegivenwasalsoobvioustoher，andwithherfatherpushingBeatriceontheonesideandOwenDaviespushingherontheother，howcouldElizabethbesurethatshewouldnotyield？Beatricewouldbetheverypersontobecarriedawaybyanideaofduty。Theirfatherwouldtellherthathehadgotthemoneyonthisundertaking，anditwasquitepossiblethatherpridemightbringhertofulfilabondthusgiven，howeverdistastefulthedeedmightbetoherpersonally。No，herfathermustatallhazardsbepreventedfromseekingassistancefromOwenDavies。

Andyetthemoneymustbehadfromsomewhere，ortheywouldberuined。

Ah，shehadit——GeoffreyBinghamshouldlendthemoney！Hecouldwellafforditnow，andsheshrewdlyguessedthathewouldnotgrudgethecoatoffhisbackifhethoughtthatbygivingithemightdirectlyorindirectlyhelpBeatrice。Herfathermustgouptotowntoseehim，shewouldhavenoletter-writing;oneneverknowshowalettermayberead。HemustseeMr。Bingham，andifpossiblebringhimdowntoBryngelly。InamomenteverydetailoftheplotbecamecleartoElizabeth’smind，andthenshespoke。

“YoumustnotgotoMr。Davies，father。”shesaid;“heisahardman，andwouldonlyrefuseandputyouinafalseposition;youmustgotoMr。Bingham。Listen:heisrichnow，andheisveryfondofyouandofBeatrice。Hewilllendyouahundredpoundsatonce。YoumustgotoLondonbytheearlytrainto-morrow，anddrivestraighttohischambersandseehim。Itwillcosttwopoundstogetthereandback，butthatcannotbehelped;itissaferthanwriting，andIamsurethatyouwillnotgofornothing。Andseehere，father，bringMr。

Binghambackwithyouforafewdaysifyoucan。Itwillbealittlereturnforhiskindness，andIknowthatheisnotwell。Beatricehadaletterfromhiminwhichhesaidthathewassooverworkedthathethoughthemusttakealittlerestsoon。BringhimbackforWhit-

Sunday。”

Mr。Grangerhesitated，demurred，andfinallyyielded。Theweak，querulousoldfarmerclergyman，wornoutwithmanydailycaresandquiteunsupportedbymentalresources，wasbutatoolinElizabeth’sablehands。Hedidnotindeedfeelanyhumiliationattheideaoftryingtoborrowthecash，forhisnaturewasnotfinelystrung，andmoneytroubleshadmadehimcalloustothevergeofunscrupulousness;

buthedidnotliketheideaofajourneytoLondon，wherehehadnotbeenformorethantwentyyears，andtheexpenditurethatitentailed。

StillheactedasElizabethbadehim，eventokeepingtheexpeditionsecretfromBeatrice。Beatrice，ashersisterexplainedtohim，wasproudasLucifer，andmightraiseobjectionsifsheknewthathewasgoingtoLondontoborrowmoneyofMr。Bingham。Thisindeedshewouldcertainlyhavedone。

Onthefollowingafternoon——itwastheFridaybeforeWhit-Sunday，andthelastdayoftheEastersittings——Geoffreysatinhischambers，intheworstpossiblespirits，thoroughlystaleandwornoutwithwork。

Therewasaconsultationgoingon，andhisclient，apig-headedNorfolkfarmer，whowasbentuponproceedingtotrialwithsomeextraordinaryactionfortrespassagainsthisownlandlord，waspresentwithhissolicitor。Geoffreyinafewshort，clearwordshadexplainedtheabsurdityofthewholething，andstronglyadvisedhimtosettle，fortheclienthadinsistedonseeinghim，refusingtobeputoffwithawrittenopinion。Butthefarmerwasnotsatisfied，andthesolicitorwasnowendeavouringtoletthepurelightoflawintothedarknessofhisinjuredsoul。

Geoffreythrewhimselfbackinhischair，pushedthedarkhairfromhisbrow，andpretendedtolisten。Butinaminutehismindwasfaraway。Heavens，howtiredhewas！Well，therewouldberestforafewdays——tillTuesday，whenhehadamatterthatmustbeattendedto——theHousehadrisenandsohadthecourts。Whatshouldhedowithhimself？

Honoriawishedtogoandstaywithherbrother，LordGarsington，and，forawonder，totakeEffiewithher。Hedidnotlikeit，buthesupposedthatheshouldhavetoconsent。Onethingwas，/he/wouldnotgo。HecouldnotendureGarsington，Dunstan，andalltheirset。ShouldherundowntoBryngelly？Thetemptationwasverygreat;thatwouldbehappinessindeed，buthiscommonsenseprevailedagainstit。No，itwasbetterthatheshouldnotgothere。HewouldleaveBryngellyalone。IfBeatricewishedhimtocomeshewouldhavesaidso，andshehadneverevenhintedatsuchathing，andifshehadhedidnotthinkthathewouldhavegone。Buthelackedthehearttogoanywhereelse。

Hewouldstopintown，rest，andreadanovel，forGeoffrey，whenhefoundtime，wasnotabovethisfrivolousoccupation。Possibly，undercertaincircumstances，hemightevenhavebeencapableofwritingone。

Atthatmomenthisclerkentered，andhandedhimaslipofpaperwithsomethingwrittenonit。Heopeneditidlyandread:

“Revd。Mr。Grangertoseeyou。Toldhimyouwereengaged，buthesaidhewouldwait。”

Geoffreystartedviolently，soviolentlythatboththesolicitorandtheobstinatefarmerlookedup。

“TellthegentlemanthatIwillseehiminaminute。”hesaidtotheretreatingclerk，andthen，addressingthefarmer，“Well，sir，IhavesaidallthatIhavetosay。Icannotadviseyoutocontinuethisaction。Indeed，ifyouwishtodoso，youmustreallydirectyoursolicitortoretainsomeothercounsel，asIwillnotbeapartytowhatcanonlymeanawasteofmoney。Goodafternoon。”andherose。

Thefarmerwasconvoyedoutgrumbling。InanothermomentMr。Grangerentered，dressedinasomewhatthreadbaresuitofblack，andhisthinwhitehairhanging，asusual，overhiseyes。Geoffreyglancedathimwithapprehension，andashedidsonoticedthathehadagedgreatlyduringthelastsevenmonths。HadhecometotellhimsomeillnewsofBeatrice——thatshewasill，ordead，orgoingtobemarried？

“Howdoyoudo，Mr。Granger？”hesaid，ashestretchedouthishand，andcontrollinghisvoiceaswellashecould。“Howareyou？Thisisamostunexpectedpleasure。”

“Howdoyoudo，Mr。Bingham？”answeredtheoldman，whileheseatedhimselfnervouslyinachair，placinghishatwithatremblinghanduponthefloorbesidehim。“Yes，thankyou，Iamprettywell，notverygrand——wornoutwithtroubleasthesparksflyupwards。”headded，withavagueautomaticrecollectionofthescripturalquotation。

“IhopethatMissElizabethandBe——thatyourdaughtersarewellalso。”saidGeoffrey，unabletorestrainhisanxiety。

“Yes，yes，thankyou，Mr。Bingham。Elizabethisn’tverygrandeither，complainsofapaininherchest，alittlebiliousperhaps——shealwaysisbiliousinthespring。”

“AndMissBeatrice？”

“Oh，Ithinkshe’swell——veryquiet，youknow，andalittlepale，perhaps;butsheisalwaysquiet——astrangewomanBeatrice，Mr。

Bingham，averystrangewoman，quitebeyondme！Idonotunderstandher，anddon’ttryto。Notlikeotherwomenatall，takesnopleasureinthingsseemingly;curious，withhergoodlooks——verycurious。ButnobodyunderstandsBeatrice。”

Geoffreybreathedasighofrelief。“Andhowaretithesbeingpaid，Mr。Granger？notverygrandly，Ifear。IsawthatscoundrelJonesdiedinprison。”

Mr。Grangerwokeupatonce。Beforehehadbeentalkingalmostatrandom;thesubjectofhisdaughtersdidnotgreatlyinteresthim。

Whatdidinteresthimwasthismoneyquestion。Norwasitverywonderful;thepoornarrow-mindedoldmanhadthoughtaboutmoneytillhecouldscarcelyfindroomforanythingelse，indeednothingelsereallytouchedhimclosely。Hebrokeintoalongstoryofhiswrongs，and，drawingapaperfromhisbreastpocket，withshakingfingerpointedouttoGeoffreyhowthathisclericalincomeforthelastsixmonthshadbeenattherateofonlyfortypoundsayear，uponwhichsumevenaWelshclergymancouldnotconsiderhimselfpassingrich。

Geoffreylistenedandsympathised;thencameapause。

“That’showwe’vebeengettingonatBryngelly，Mr。Bingham。”Mr。

Grangersaidpresently，“starving，prettywellstarving。It’sonlyyouwhohavebeenmakingmoney;we’vebeensittingonthesamedock-leafwhileyouhavebecomeagreatman。IfithadnotbeenforBeatrice’ssalary——she’sbehavedverywellaboutthesalary，hasBeatrice——IamsureIdon’tunderstandhowthepoorgirlclothesherselfonwhatshekeeps;Iknowthatshehadtogowithoutawarmcloakthiswinter，becauseshegotacoughfromit——weshouldhavebeenintheworkhouse，andthat’swhereweshallbeyet。”andherubbedthebackofhiswitheredhandacrosshiseyes。

Geoffreygasped。Beatricewithscarcelyenoughmeanstoclotheherself——Beatriceshiveringandbecomingillfromthewantofacloakwhile/he/livedinluxury！Itmadehimsicktothinkofit。Foramomenthecouldsaynothing。

“Ihavecomehere——I’vecome。”wentontheoldmaninabrokenvoice，brokennotsomuchbyshameathavingtomaketherequestasfromfearlestitshouldberefused，“toaskyouifyoucouldlendmealittlemoney。Idon’tknowwheretoturn，Idon’tindeed，orIwouldnotdoit，Mr。Bingham。Ihavespentmylastpoundtogethere。IfyoucouldlendmeahundredpoundsI’dgiveyounoteofhandforitandtrytopayitbacklittlebylittle;wemighttaketwentypoundsayearfromBeatrice’ssalary——“

“Don’t，please——donottalkofsuchathing！“ejaculatedthehorrifiedGeoffrey。“Wherethedevilismycheque-book？Oh，Iknow，IleftitinBoltonStreet。Here，thiswilldoaswell。”andhetookupadraftnotemadeouttohisorder，and，rapidlysigninghisnameonthebackofit，handedittoMr。Granger。ItwasinpaymentofthefeesinthegreatcaseofParsonsandDouseandsomeothermatters。Mr。Grangertookthedraft，and，holdingitclosetohiseyes，glancedattheamount;itwas￡200。

“ButthisisdoublewhatIaskedfor。”hesaiddoubtfully。“AmItoreturnyou￡100？”

“No，no。”answeredGeoffrey，“Idaresaythatyouhavesomedebtstopay。ThankHeaven，IcangetonverywellandearnmoremoneythanI

want。Notenoughclothing——itisshockingtothinkof！“headded，moretohimselfthantohislistener。

Theoldmanrose，hiseyesfulloftears。“Godblessyou。”hesaid，“Godblessyou。Idonotknowhowtothankyou——Idon’tindeed。”andhecaughtGeoffrey’shandbetweenhistremblingpalmsandpressedit。

“Pleasedonotsayanymore，Mr。Granger;itreallyisonlyamatterofmutualobligation。No，no，Idon’twantanynoteofhand。IfIweretodieitmightbeusedagainstyou。Youcanpaymewheneveritisconvenient。”

“Youaretoogood，Mr。Bingham。”saidtheoldclergyman。“Wherecouldanothermanbefoundwhowouldlendme￡200withoutsecurity？”(whereindeed！)“Bytheway。”headded，“Iforgot;mymindisinsuchawhirl。WillyoucomebackwithmeforafewdaystoBryngelly？Weshallallbesopleasedifyoucan。Docome，Mr。Bingham;youlookasthoughyouwantachange，youdoindeed。”

Geoffreydroppedhishandheavilyonthedesk。ButhalfanhourbeforehehadmadeuphismindnottogotoBryngelly。Andnow——

ThevisionofBeatricerosebeforehiseyes。Beatricewhohadgonecoldallwinterandnevertoldhimonewordoftheirbitingpoverty——

thelongingforthesightofBeatricecameintohisheart，andlikeahurricanesweptthedefencesofhisreasontothelevelground。

Temptationoverwhelmedhim;henolongerstruggledagainstit。Hemustseeher，ifitwasonlytosaygood-bye。

“Thankyou。”hesaidquietly，liftinghisbowedhead。“Yes，Ihavenothingparticulartodoforthenextdayortwo。IthinkthatIwillcome。Whendoyougoback？”

“Well，Ithoughtoftakingthenightmail，butIfeelsotired。I

reallydon’tknow。IthinkIshallgobythenineo’clocktrainto-morrow。”

“Thatwillsuitmeverywell。”saidGeoffrey;“andnowwhatareyougoingtodoto-night？Youhadbettercomeanddineandsleepatmyhouse。Nodressclothes？Oh，nevermind;therearesomepeoplecomingbuttheywon’tcare;aclergymanisalwaysdressed。ComealongandI

willgetthatdraftcashed。Thebankisshut，butIcanmanageit。”

CHAPTERXX

BACKATBRYNGELLY

GeoffreyandMr。GrangerreachedBoltonStreetaboutsixo’clock。Thedrawing-roomwasstillfullofcallers。LadyHonoria’syoungmenmusteredingreatforceinthosedays。TheywereveryinoffensiveyoungmenandGeoffreyhadnoparticularobjectiontothem。Onlyhefounditdifficulttorememberalltheirnames。WhenGeoffreyenteredthedrawing-roomtherewerenofewerthanfiveofthem，tosaynothingoftwostrayladies，allsuperblydressedandsittingmetaphoricallyatHonoria’sveryprettyfeet。Otherwisetheircontributionstothegeneralstoreofamusementdidnotamounttomuch，forherladyshipdidmostofthetalking。

GeoffreyintroducedMr。Granger，whomHonoriacouldnotatfirstremember。Nordidshereceivetheannouncementthathewasgoingtodineandstaythenightwithanyparticularenthusiasm。TheyoungmenmeltedawayatGeoffrey’sadventlikemistsbeforearisingsun。Hegreetedthemcivillyenough，butwithhimtheyhadnothingincommon。

Totellthetruththeywerealittleafraidofhim。Thismanwithhisdarkhandsomefacesealedwiththestampofintellect，hispowerful-

lookingform(illdressed，accordingtotheirstandard)andhisgreatandgrowingreputation，wasapersonwithwhomtheyhadnosympathy，andwho，theyfelt，hadnosympathywiththem。Wetalkasthoughthereisoneheavenandonehellforallofus，butheremustbesomemistake。Animpassablegulfyawnsbetweenthedifferentclassesofmankind。WhathassuchamanasGeoffreytodowiththefeeblemaleandfemalebutterfliesofaLondondrawing-room？Thereisonlyonelinkbetweenthem:theyliveonthesameplanet。

Whenthefineyoungmenandthetwostrayladieshadmeltedaway，GeoffreytookMr。Grangeruptohisroom。ComingdownstairsagainhefoundLadyHonoriawaitingforhiminthestudy。

“Isthatindividualreallygoingtodineandsleephere？”sheasked。

“Certainly，Honoria，andhehasbroughtnodressclothes。”heanswered。

“Really，Geoffrey，itistoobadofyou。”saidtheladywithsomepardonableirritation。“Whydoyoubringpeopletodinnerinthispromiscuousway？Itwillquiteupsetthetable。JustfancyaskinganoldWelshclergymantodine，whohasnottheslightestpretensionstobeingagentleman，whenonehasthePrimeMinisterandaBishopcoming——andaclergymanwithoutdressclothestoo。Whathashecomefor？”

“Hecametoseemeonbusiness，andastothepeoplecomingtodinner，iftheydon’tlikeittheycangrumblewhentheygohome。Bytheway，Honoria，IamgoingdowntoWalesforadayortwoto-morrow。Iwantachange。”

“Indeed！GoingtoseethelovelyBeatrice，Isuppose。Youhadbetterbecareful，Geoffrey。Thatgirlwillgetyouintoamess，andifshedoesthereareplentyofpeoplewhoarereadytomakeanexampleofyou。Youhaveenemiesenough，Icantellyou。Iamnotjealous，itisnotinmyline，butyouaretoointimatewiththatgirl，andyouwillbesorryforitoneday。”