下载辰思小说免费APP
Barnetprivatelythoughtthedesignasufficientlyimposingoneasitstood，evenextravagantlyornate；but，feelingthathehadnorighttocriticize，hesaidgently，’Downe，shouldyounotlivemoreinyourchildren’slivesatthepresenttime，andsoftenthesharpnessofregretforyourownpastbythinkingoftheirfuture？’
’Yes，yes；butwhatcanIdomore？’askedDowne，wrinklinghisforeheadhopelessly。
ItwaswithanxiousslownessthatBarnetproducedhisreply——thesecretobjectofhisvisitto-night。’Didyounotsayonedaythatyououghtbyrightstogetagovernessforthechildren？’
Downeadmittedthathehadsaidso，butthathecouldnotseehiswaytoit。’ThekindofwomanIshouldliketohave，’hesaid，’wouldberatherbeyondmymeans。No；IthinkIshallsendthemtoschoolinthetownwhentheyareoldenoughtogooutalone。’
’Now，Iknowofsomethingbetterthanthat。ThelateLieutenantSavile’sdaughter，Lucy，wantstodosomethingforherselfinthewayofteaching。Shewouldbeinexpensive，andwouldansweryourpurposeaswellasanybodyforsixortwelvemonths。Shewouldprobablycomedailyifyouweretoaskher，andsoyourhousekeepingarrangementswouldnotbemuchaffected。’
’Ithoughtshehadgoneaway，’saidthesolicitor，musing。’Wheredoesshelive？’
Barnettoldhim，andaddedthat，ifDowneshouldthinkofherassuitable，hewoulddowelltocallassoonaspossible，orshemightbeonthewing。’Ifyoudoseeher，’hesaid，’itwouldbeadvisablenottomentionmyname。Sheisratherstiffinherideasofme，anditmightprejudiceheragainstacourseifsheknewthatIrecommendedit。’
Downepromisedtogivethesubjecthisconsideration，andnothingmorewassaidaboutitjustthen。ButwhenBarnetrosetogo，whichwasnottillnearlybedtime，heremindedDowneofthesuggestionandwentupthestreettohisownsolitaryhomewithasenseofsatisfactionathispromisingdiplomacyinacharitablecause。
Thewallsofhisnewhousewerecarriedupnearlytotheirfullheight。Byacuriousthoughnotinfrequentreaction，Barnet’sfeelingsaboutthatunnecessarystructurehadundergoneachange；hetookconsiderableinterestinitsprogressasalong-neglectedthing，hiswifebeforeherdeparturehavinggrownquitewearyofitasahobby。Moreover，itwasanexcellentdistractionforamanintheunhappypositionofhavingtoliveinaprovincialtownwithnothingtodo。Hewasprobablythefirstofhislinewhohadeverpassedadaywithouttoil，andperhapssomethinglikeaninheritedinstinctdisqualifiessuchmenforalifeofpleasantinaction，suchasliesinthepowerofthosewhoseleisureisnotapersonalaccident，butavasthistoricalaccretionwhichhasbecomepartoftheirnatures。
ThusBarnetgotintoawayofspendingmanyofhisleisurehoursonthesiteofthenewbuilding，andhemighthavebeenseenonmostdaysatthistimetryingthetemperofthemortarbypunchingthejointswithhisstick，lookingatthegrainofafloor-board，andmeditatingwhereitgrew，orpicturingunderwhatcircumstancesthelastfirewouldbekindledintheatpresentsootlesschimneys。Onedaywhenthusoccupiedhesawthreechildrenpassbyinthecompanyofafairyoungwoman，whosesuddenappearancecausedhimtoflushperceptibly。
’Ah，sheisthere，’hethought。’That’sablessedthing。’
Castinganinterestedglanceovertherisingbuildingandthebusyworkmen，LucySavileandthelittleDownespassedby；andafterthattimeitbecamearegularthoughalmostunconsciouscustomofBarnettostandinthehalf-completedhouseandlookfromtheungarnishedwindowsatthegovernessasshetrippedtowardsthesea-shorewithher
