第15章
Uxmoorlookedgrave。Vizardaffectedtodoubttheirauthenticity。Hesaid，"Youmaynotknowit，butIamazoologist，andtheseareantediluvianeccentricitiesthathavelongceasedtoembellishtheworldwelivein。Fie!MissGale。Downwithanachronisms。"
MissGalesmiled，andadmittedthatoneortwooftheprodigiesresembledantediluvianmonsters，butsaidoracularlythatnaturewasfondofproducingthesamethingonalargescaleandasmallscale，anditwasquitepossiblethesmalltypeofantediluvianmonstermighthavesurvivedthelarge。
"Thatismostingenious，"saidVizard；"butitdoesnotaccountforthisfellow。Heisnotanantediluvian；heisabarefacedmodern，forheisA
STEAMENGINE。"
Thiscausedalaugh，forthecreaturehadaperpendicularneck，likeafunnel，thatroseoutofabodylikeahorizontalcylinder。
"Atanyrate，"saidMissGale，"thelittlemonsterwasintheworldfirst；soheisnotanimitationofman"swork。"
"Well，"saidVizard，"afterall，wehavehadenoughofthemonstersofthedeep。Nowwecanvarythemonotony，andsaythemonstersoftheshallow。ButIdon"tseehowtheycancauserheumatism。"
"Ineversaidtheydid，"retortedMissGale，sharply:"butthewaterwhichcontainsthemissoftwater。Thereisnolimeinit，andthatisbadforthebonesineveryway。Onlythechildrendrinkitasitis:thewivesboilit，andsodrinksoftwateranddeadreptilesintheirtea。
Themeninstinctivelyavoiditanddrinknothingbutbeer。Thus，forwantofapurediluentwithlimeinsolution，anacidiscreatedinthebloodwhichproducesgoutintherich，andrheumatisminthepoor，thankstotheirmeagerfoodandexposuretotheweather。"
"Poorthings!"saidwomanlyZoe。"Whatistobedone?"
"La!"saidFanny，"throwlimeintotheponds。Thatwillkillthemonsters，andcuretheoldpeople"sbonesintothebargain。"
Thiscompendiousschemestrucktheimagination，butdidnotsatisfythejudgmentoftheassembly。
"Fanny!"saidZoe，reproachfully。
"That_would_bekillingtwobirdswithonestone，"suggestedUxmoor，satirically。
"Thetendermerciesofthewickedarecruel，"explainedVizard，composedly。
Zoereiteratedherquestion，Whatwastobedone?
MissGaleturnedtoherwithasmile。_"We_havegotnothingtodobuttopointouttheseabominations。ThepersontoactistheRussianautocrat，thepaternaldictator，themonarchofallhesurveys，andadvocateofmonarchialinstitutions。Heisthebufferbetweenthepoorandalltheirills，especiallypoison:hemustdigawell。"
EveryeyebeingturnedonVizardtoseehowhetookthis，hesaid，alittlesatirically，"What!doesSciencebidmeboreforwateratthetopofahill?"
"Shedoes_so，"_saidthevirago。"Nowlookhere，goodpeople。"
Andalthoughtheywerenotallgoodpeople，yettheyalldidlookthere，sheshonesowithintelligence，beingnowquiteonhermettle。
"Half-civilizedmanmakesblundersthatboththesavageandthecivilizedavoid。Thesavagebuildshishutbyarunningstream。Thecivilizedmandrawsgoodwatertohisdoor，thoughhemustlaydownpipesfromahighlandlaketoalowlandcity。Itisonlyhalf-civilizedmanthatbuildsavillageonahill，anddrinksworms，andsnakes，andefts，andantediluvianmonstersinlimelesswater。ThenIsay，ifgreatbuthalfcivilizedmonarchswouldconsultScience_before_theybuilttheirserfhuts，Sciencewouldsay，"Don"tyougoandputdownhumanhabitationsfarfrompurewater——theuniversaldiluent，theonlycheapdiluent，andtheonlyliquidwhichdoesnotrequiredigestion，andthereforemustalwaysassist，andneverchemicallyresist，thedigestionofsolids。"Butwhenthemischiefisdone，andthecottagesarebuiltonahillthreemilesfromwater，thenallthatSciencecandoistoshowtheremedy，andtheremedyis——boring。"
"Thentheremedyislikethediscussion，"saidFannyDover，verypertly。
Zoewasamused，butshocked。MissGaleturnedherheadontheoffenderassharpasabird。"Ofcourseitis，to_children，"_saidshe；"andthatiswhyIwishedtoconfineittomatureminds。ItistoyouIspeak，sir。
Areyoursubjectstodrinkpoison，orwillyouboremeawell?——Oh，please!"
"Doyouhearthat?"saidVizard，piteously，toUxmoor。"Threatenedandcajoledinonebreath。Whocanresistthisfatalsex?——MissGale，IwillboreawellonHillstokecommon。Anyideahowdeepwemustgo——totheantipodes，oronlytothecenter?"
"Threehundredandthirtyfeet，orthereabouts。"
"Nomore?Anyideawhatitwillcost?"
"OfcourseIhave。Thewell，thedoublewindlass，theironchain，thetwobuckets，acupolaoverthewell，andtwenty-threekeys——oneforeveryheadofahouseinthehamlet——willcostyouabout315pounds。"
"Why，thisisDetailmadewoman。Howdoyouknowallthis?"
"FromTomWilder。"
"Whoishe?"
"What，don"tyouknow?HeistheeldestsonoftheIslipblacksmith，andamanthatwillmakehismark。HecastseveryThursdaynight。Heistheonlyvillageblacksmithinallthecountywho_casts。_Youknowthat，I
suppose。"
"No，Ihadnotthehonor。"
"Well，heis，then:andIthoughtyouwouldconsent，becauseyouaresogood:andsoIthoughttherecouldbenoharminsoundingTomWilder。Heofferstotakethewholecontract，ifsquire"sagreeable；borethewell；
brickitfiftyyardsdown:hesaysthatoughttobedone，ifsheistohavejustice。"She"isthewell:andhewillalsoconstructthegear；hesaystheremustbetwoironchainsandtwobucketsgoingtogether；sothentheemptybucketdescendingwillhelpthemanorwomanatthewindlasstodrawthefullbucketup。315pounds:oneweek"sincome，yourMajesty。"
"Shehasinspectedourrent-roll，now，"saidVizard，pathetically:"andknowsnothingaboutthematter。"
"Exceptthatitisamereflea-bitetoyoutoborethroughahillforwater。Forallthat，IhopeyouwillleavemetobattleitwithTomWilder。Thenyouwon"tbecheated，foronce。_Youalwaysare，_anditisabominable。Itwouldhavebeenfivehundredifyouhadopenedthebusiness。"
"Iamsurethatistrue，"saidZoe。SheaddedthiswouldpleaseMrs。
Judge:shewasfullofthesuperiorityofIsliptoHillstoke。
"Stopabit，"saidVizard。"MissGalehasnotreportedonIslipyet。"
"No，dear；butshehaslookedintoeverything，forMrs。Judgetoldme。
Youhavebeenintothecottages?"
"Yes。"
"IntoMarks"s?"
"Yes，IhavebeenintoMarks"s。"
Shedidnotseeminclinedtobeverycommunicative；soFanny，outofmischief，said，pertly，"Andwhatdidyouseethere，withyourArguseye?"
"Isaw——threegenerations。"
"Ha!ha!La!didyounow?Andwhatweretheyalldoing?"
"Theywerealllivingtogether，nightandday，inoneroom。"
Thisconveyednoverydistinctideatotheladies；butVizard，forthefirsttime，turnedredatthisrevelationbeforeUxmoor，improverofcottagelife。"Confoundthebrutes!"saidhe。"Why，Ibuiltthemanewroom；alargerone:didn"tyouseeit?"
"Yes。Theystacktheirpotatoesinit。"
"Justlikemypeople，"saidUxmoor。"Thatistheworstofit:theyresisttheirownimprovement。"
"Yes，but，"saidthedoctress，"withmonarchialpowerwecantrampleonthemfortheirgood。OutsideMarks"sdooratthebackthereisamuck-heap，ashecallsit；alltherefuseofthehouseisthrownthere；
itisahorriblemelangeoforganicmatteranddecayingvegetables，ahot-bedoffeverandmalaria。Suffocatedandpoisonedwiththebreathofadozenpersons，theyopenthewindowforfreshair，andinrushestyphoidfromthestrongholditsvictimshavebuilt。Twochildrenwereburiedfromthathouselastyear。Theywerebothkilledbythedomesticarrangementsascertainlyasiftheyhadbeenshotwithadouble-barreledpistol。Theoutsiderosesyouadmiresoareasdelusiveasflattery；
theirsweetnesscoversafoul，unwholesomeden。"
"Marks"scottage!Theshowplaceofthevillage!"ZoeVizardflushedwithindignationattheboldhandoftruthsorudelyappliedtoapleasantandcherishedillusion。
Vizard，morecandidandopentonewtruths，shruggedhisshoulders，andsaid，"WhatcanIdomorethanIhavedone?"
"Oh，itisnotyourfault，"saidthedoctress，graciously。"Itistheirs。
Only，asyouaretheirsuperiorinintelligenceandpower，youmightdosomethingtoputdownindecency，immorality，anddisease。"
"MayIaskwhat?"
"Well，youmightbuildagranaryforthepoorpeople"spotatoes。Noroomcankeepthemdry；butyoubuildyourgranaryuponfourpillars:thenthatislikearoomoveracellar。"
"Well，I"llbuilditso——ifIbuilditatall，"saidVizard，dryly。"Whatnext?"
"Thenyoucouldmakethemstacktheirpotatoesinthegranary，andusethespareroom，andsodividetheirfamilies，andgivemoralityachance。
Themuck-heapyoushoulddisperseatoncewiththestronghandofpower。"
Atthislastproposal，SquireVizard——thetruthmustbetold——deliveredalong，plowman"swhistleattheheadofhisowntable。
"Pheugh!"saidhe；"foraladythatismorethanhalfrepublican，youseemtobetakingverykindlytomonarchialtyranny。"
"Well，now，I"lltellyouthetruth，"saidshe。"Youhaveconvertedme。
Eversinceyoupromisedmethewell，Ihavediscoveredthatthebestformofgovernmentisagood-heartedtyrant。"
"Withafemaleviceroyoverhim，eh?"
"Onlyintheselittledomesticmatters，"saidRhoda，deprecatingly。
"Womenaregoodadvisersinsuchthings。Themalephysicianreliesondrugs。Medicalwomenarewantedtomoderatethatdelusion；topreventdiseasebydomesticvigilance，andcureitbyselectedesculentsandpureair。Thesewillcurefiftyforonethatmedicinecan；besidesdrugskilleversomany:theseneverkilledacreature。Youwillgivemethegranary，won"tyou?Oh，andthere"sablackpondinthecenterofthevillage。YourtenantPickett，whoisafool——begginghispardon——letsallhisliquidmanurerunoutofhisyardintothevillagetillitaccumulatesinapondrightoppositethefivecottagestheycallNewTown，anditsexhalationstainttheair。ThereareasmanyfeversinIslipasinthebackslumsofatown。Youmightfillthepondupwithchalk，andcompelPicketttosinkatankinhisyard，andcoverit；thenanagriculturaltreasurewouldbepreservedforitsproperuse，insteadofbeingpervertedintoasourceofinfection。"
Vizardlistenedcivilly，and，asshestopped，requestedhertogoon。
"Ithinkwehavehadenough，"saidZoe，bitterly。
Rhoda，whowasinlovewithZoe，hungherhead，andsaid，"Yes；Ihavebeenverybold。"
"Fiddlestick!"saidVizard。"Nevermindthosegirls。_You_speakoutlikeaman:astranger"seyealwaysdiscoversthingsthatescapethenatives。
Proceed。"
"No；Iwon"tproceedtillIhaveexplainedtoMissVizard。"
"Youmayspareyourselfthetrouble。MissVizardthoughtIslipwasaparadise。Youhavedispelledtheillusion，andshewillneverforgiveyou。MissDoverwill；becausesheislikeGallio——shecarethfornoneofthesethings。"
"Notapin，"saidFanny，withadmirablefrankness。
"Well，but，"saidRhoda，naively，"Ican"tbearMissVizardtobeangrywithme；Iadmireherso。Pleaseletmeexplain。Islipisnoparadise——quitethereverse；butthefaultsofIsliparenot_your_
faults。Thechildrenareignorant；butyoupayforaschool。Thepeoplearepoorfrominsufficientwages；butyouarenotpaymaster。_Your_
gardeners，_your_hinds，andallyouroutdoorpeoplehaveenough。Yougivethemhouses。Youletcottagesandgardenstotherestathalftheirvalue；andveryoftentheydon"tpaythat，butmakeexcuses；andyouacceptthem，thoughtheyareallstories；fortheycanpayeverybodybutyou，andtheironegoodbargainiswithyou。MissVizardhascarriedabasketallherlifewiththingsfromyourtableforthepoor。"
MissVizardblushedcrimsonatthissuddenrevelation。
"Ifamanorawomanhasservedyourhouselong，there"sapensionforlife。Youareeasy，kind，andcharitable。ItisthefaultsofothersI
askyoutocure，becauseyouhavesuchpower。Now，forinstance，iftheboysatHillstokeareputty-faced，theboysatIsliphavenocalvestotheirlegs。Thatisasuresignofdeterioratingspecies。Thelowertypeofsavagehasnexttonocalf。Thecalfisasignofcivilizationandduenourishment。Thissinglephenomenonwasmyclew，andledmetoothers；
andIhaveexaminedthemothersandthepeopleofallages，andItellyouitisavillageofstarvelings。Hereachildbeginslifeastarveling，andendsashebegan。Thenursingmotherhasnotfoodenoughforone，farlessfortwo。Theman"swagesareinsufficient，andthedietisnotonlyinsufficient，butinjudicious。Theracehasdeclined。
Thereareonlyfivereallybig，strongmen——JoshGrace，WillHudson，DavidWilder，AbsalomGreen，andJackGreenaway；andtheyarealloverfifty——menofanothergeneration。Ihavequestionedthesemenhowtheywerebred，andtheyallsaymilkwascommonwhentheywereboys。Manypoorpeoplekeptacow；squiredoledit；thefarmersgaveitorsolditcheap；butnowadaysitisscarcelytobehad。Now，thatisnotyourfault，butyouarethemanwhocanmendit。Newmilkismeatanddrinkespeciallytoyoungandgrowingpeople。Youhavealargemeadowatthebackofthevillage。Ifyoucouldbepersuadedtostartfourorfivecows，andletsomebodysellthenewmilktothepooratcostprice——say，fivefarthingsthequart。Youmustnotgiveit，ortheywillwatertheirmuckheapswithit。Withthosecowsaloneyouwillgetrid，inthenextgeneration，ofthehalf-grown，slouchingmen，thehollow-eyed，narrow-chested，round-backedwomen，andthecalflessboysoneseesalloverIslip，andrestorethestalwartracethatfilledthelittlevillageunderyoursiresandhaveleftproofsoftheirwholesomefoodonthetombstones:forIhavereadeveryinscription，andfarmorepeoplereachedeighty-fivebetween1750and1800thanbetween1820and1870。Ah，howIenvyyoutobeabletodosuchgreatthingssoeasily!WatertopoisonedHillstokewithonehand；milktostarvedIslipwiththeother。
Thisistobeindeedaking!"
Theenthusiastrosefromthetableinherexcitement，andherfacewastransfigured；shelookedbeautifulforthemoment。
"I"lldoit，"shoutedVizard；"andyouareatrump。"
MissGalesatdown，andthecolorlefthercheekentirely。
FannyDover，whohadaveryquickeyeforpassingevents，criedout，"Ohdear!sheisgoingtofaint_now。"_Thetoneimplied，whataplaguesheis!
ThereuponSevernerushedtoher，andwasgoingtosprinkleherface；butshefaltered，"No!no!aglassofwine。"Hegaveheronewithallthehurryandempressementintheworld。Shefixedhimwithastrangelookasshetookitfromhim:shesippedit；onetearranintoit。Shesaidshehadexcitedherself；butshewasallrightnow。ElasticRhoda!
"Iamverygladofit，"saidVizard。"Youarequitestrongenoughwithoutfainting。ForHeaven"ssake，don"taddwoman"sweaknesstoyourartillery，oryouwillbeirresistible；andIshallhavetodivideVizardCourtamongthevillagers。AtpresentIgetoffcheap，andScienceontheRampage:letmesee——onlyagranary，awell，andsixcows。"
"They"llgiveasmuchmilkastwelvecowswithoutthewell，"saidFanny。
Itwasherdayforwit。
Thistimeshewasrewardedwithagenerallaugh。
Itsubsided，assuchthingswill，andthenVizardsaid，solemnly，"Newideasaresuggestedtomebythischarminginterview；andpermitmetogivethemaform，whichwilldoubtlessbenewtotheseaccomplishedladies:
""Ginthere"saholeina"yourcoats，Iredeyetentit；Achiel"samangyetakin"notes，And，faith，he"llprentit。""
Zoelookedpuzzled，andFannyinquiredwhatlanguagethatwas。
"Verygoodlanguage。"
"Thenperhapsyouwilltranslateitintolanguageonecanunderstand。"
"TheEnglishoftheday，eh?"
"Yes。"
"Youthinkthatwouldimproveit，doyou?Well，then:
"Ifthereisadefectinanyoneofyourhabilimeats，Letmeearnestlyimpressonyoutheexpediencyofrepairingit；Anindividualisamongyouwithsingularpowersofobservation，Whichwillinfalliblyresultinprintingandpublication。"
Zoe，youareanaffectionatesister；takethistooobservantladyintothegarden，poisonherwithrawfruit，andburyherunderapeartree。"
Zoesaidshewouldcarryoutpartoftheprogramme，ifMissGalewouldcome。
Thentheladiesroseandrustledaway，andtherivalswouldhavefollowed，butVizarddetainedthemonthepretenseofconsultingthemaboutthewell；but，whentheladieshadgone，heownedhehaddoneitoutofhishatredtothesex。Hesaidhewassurebothgirlsdislikedhisviragointheirhearts，sohehadcompelledthemtospendanhourtogether，withoutanymantosoftentheirasperity。
Thismaliciousexperimentwastolerablysuccessful。Thethreeladiesstrolledtogether，dismalassoulsinpurgatory。Oneortwolittleattemptsatconversationweremade，butdiedoutforwantofsympathy。
ThenFannytriedpersonalities，thenaturaltopicofthesexingeneral。
"MissGale，whichdoyouadmiremost，LordUxmoororMr。Severne?"
"Fortheirlooks?"
"Oh，ofcourse。"
"Mr。Severne。"
"Youdon"tadmirebeards，then?"
"Thatdepends。Wherethemouthiswellshapedandexpressive，thebeardspoilsit。Whereitiscommonplace，thebeardhidesitsdefect，andgivesamanlycharacter。Asageneralrule，Ithinkthemalebirdlookswellwithhiscrestandfeathers。"
"AndsodoI，"saidFanny，warmly；"andyetIshouldnotlikeMr。Severnetohaveabeard。Don"tyouthinkheisveryhandsome?"
"Heissomethingmore，"saidRhoda。"Heisbeautiful。Ifhewasdressedasawoman，thegentlemenwouldallrunafterhim。IthinkhisisthemostperfectovalfaceIeversaw。"
"Butyoumustnotfallinlovewithhim，"saidFanny。
"Idonotmeanto，"saidRhoda。"Fallinginloveisnotmybusiness:andifitwas，IshouldnotselectMr。Severne。"
"Whynot，pray?"inquiredZoehaughtily。HermannerwassomenacingthatRhodadidnotliketosaytoomuchjustthen。Shefeltherway。"Iamaphysiognomist，"saidshe，"andIdon"tthinkhecanbeverytruthful。Heisoldofhisage，andthereareprematuremarksunderhiseyesthatrevealcraft，andperhapsdissipation。Thesearehardlyvisibleintheroom，buttheyareintheopenair，whenyougetthefulllightofday。
Tobesure，justnowhisfaceismarkedwithcareandanxiety；thatyoungmanhasagooddealonhismind。"
Heretheobserverdiscoveredthateventhiswasagreatdealtoomuch。
Zoewasdispleased，andfeltaffrontedbyherremarks，thoughshedidnotcondescendtonoticethem；soRhodabrokeoffandsaid，"Itisnotfairofyou，MissDover，tosetmegivingmyopinionofpeopleyoumustknowbetterthanIdo。Oh，whatagarden!"Andshewasoffdirectlyonatourofinspection。"Comealong，"saidshe，"andIwilltellyoutheirnamesandproperties。"
Theycouldhardlykeepupwithher，shewassoeager。Thefruitsdidnotinteresther，butonlythesimples。Shewasdownrightlearnedinthese，andfoundasurprisingnumber。Butthefactis，Mr。Lucashadarespectforhispredecessors。Whattheyhadplanted，heseldomuprooted——atleast，healwaysleftaspecimen。MissGaleapprovedhissystemhighly，untilshecametoarowofgreenleaveslikesmallhorseradish，whichwasplantedbythesideofanotherrowthatreallywashorseradish。
"Thisistoobad，evenforIslip，"saidMissGale。"Hereisoneofourdeadliestpoisonsplantedbytheverysideofanesculentherb，whichitresembles。Youdon"thappentohavehiredthedevilforgardeneratanytime，doyou?Justfancy!anycookmightcomeouthereforhorseradish，andgatherthisplant，andlayyoualldeadatyourowntable。ItistheAconitumofmedicine，theMonk"s-hoodorWolf"s-bane"ofourancestors。
Callthegardener，please，andhaveeverybitofitpulledupbytheroots。Noneofyourlivesaresafewhilepoisonsandesculentsareplantedtogetherlikethis。"
AndshewouldnotbudgetillZoedirectedagardenertodigupalltheAconite。Acoupleofthemwenttoworkandsoonuprootedit。Thegardenersthenaskediftheyshouldburnit。
"Notforalltheworld，"saidMissGale。"Makeabundleofitformetotakehome。Itisonlypoisoninthehandsofignoramuses。Itismostsovereignmedicine。Ishallmaketinctures，andcheckmanyasharpillwithit。Givenintime，itcutsdownfeverwonderfully；andwhenyoucheckthefever，youcheckthedisease。"
SoonafterthisMissGalesaidshehadnotcometostop；shewasonherwaytoTaddingtontobuylintandGermanstyptics，andmanythingsusefulindomesticsurgery。"For，"saidshe，"thepeopleatHillstokearerelenting；atleast，theyruntomewiththeircutfingersandblackeyes，thoughtheywon"ttrustmewiththeirsacredrheumatics。Imustalsosupplymyselfwithvermifugestillthewellisdug，andsomitigatepuerileputtinessandinternaltorments。"
Theotherladieswerenotsorrytogetridofanirrelevantzealot，whotalkedneitherlove，nordress，noranythingthatreachesthesoul。
SoZoesaid，"What，goingalready?"andhavingpaidthattaxtopoliteness，returnedtothehousewithalacrity。
ButthedoctresswouldnotgowithoutherWolf"s-bane，Aconiteycleped。
Theirrelevantzealotbeinggone，thetruebusinessofthemindwasresumed；andthatislove-making，ornovelistsgiveusfalsepicturesoflife，andthatisimpossible。
Asthedoctressdrovefromthefrontdoor，LordUxmooremergedfromthelibrary——acoincidencethatmadebothgirlssmile；hehopedMissVizardwasnottootiredtotakeanotherturn。
"Ohno!"saidZoe:"areyou，Fanny?"
Atthefirststeptheytook，Severnecameroundanangleofthebuildingandjoinedthem。Hehadwatchedfromthebalconyofhisbedroom。
Bothmenlookedblackateachother，andmadeuptoZoe。Shefeltuncomfortable，andhardlyknewwhattodo。However，shewouldnotseemtoobserve，andwaspolite，butalittlestiff，toboth。
However，atlast，Severne，havingassertedhisrights，ashethought，gaveway，butnotwithoutasufficientmotive，asmaybegatheredfromhisfirstwordtoFanny。
"Mydearfriend，forHeaven"ssake，whatisthematter?Sheisangrywithmeaboutsomething。Whatisit?hasshetoldyou?"
"Notaword。ButIseesheisinafurywithyou；andreallyitistooridiculous。Youtoldafib；thatisthemightymatter，Idobelieve。No，itisn"t；foryouhavetoldherahundred，nodoubt，andshelikedyouallthebetter；butthistimeyouhavebeennaughtyenoughtobefoundout，andsheisromantic，andthinksherloveroughttobethesouloftruth。"
"Well，andsoheought，"saidNed。
"Heisn"t，then；"andFannyburstoutlaughingsoloudthatZoeturnedroundandenvelopedthembothinonehaughtyglance，astheexaggeratingGaulwouldsay。
"La!therewasalookforyou!"saidFanny，pertly:"asifIcaredforherblackbrows。"
"Ido，though:prayrememberthat。"
"Thentellnomorefibs。Suchafussaboutnothing!Whatisafib?"andsheturnedupherlittlenoseverycontemptuouslyatallsuchtrivialsoulsasmindedalittlemendacity。
Indeed，shedisclaimedtheimportanceofveracitysoimperiouslythatSevernewasbetrayedintosaying，"Well，notmuch，betweenyouandme；
andI"llbeboundIcanexplainit。"
"Explainittome，then。"
"Well，butIdon"tknow——"
"Whichofyourfibsitwas。"
Anothersilverburstoflaughter。ButZoeonlyvouchsafedaslightlycontemptuousmovementofhershoulders。
"Well，no，"saidSeverne，halflaughinghimselfatthesprightlyjade"ssmartness。
"Well，then，thatfriendofyoursthatcalledatluncheon。"
Severneturnedgravedirectly。"Yes，"saidhe。
"Yousaidhewasyourlawyer，andcameaboutalease。"
"Sohedid。"
"AndhisnamewasJackson。
"Soitwas。"
"Thiswon"tdo。Youmustn"tfibto_me!_ItwasPoikilus，aSecretInquiry；andtheyallknowit；nowtellme，withoutafib——ifyoucan——whateverdidyouwantwithPoikilus?"
Severnelookedaghast。Hefalteredout，"Why，howcouldtheyknow?"
"Why，headvertises，stupid!andLordUxmoorandHarringtonhadseenit。
Gentlemen_read_advertisements。Thatisoneoftheirpeculiarities。"
"Ofcourseheadvertises:thatisnotwhatImean。Ididnotdrophiscard，didI?No；IamsureIpocketeditdirectly。Whatmischief-makingvillaintoldthemitwasPoikilus?"
Fannycoloredalittle，butsaid，hastily，"Ah，thatIcouldnottellyou。"
"Thefootman，perhaps?"
"Ishouldnotwonder。"(Whatisafib?)
"Cursehim!"
"Oh，don"tswearattheservants；thatisbadtaste。"
"Notwhenhehasruinedme?"
"Ruinedyou?——nonsense!Makeupsomeotherfib，andexcusethefirst。"
"Ican"t。Idon"tknowwhattodo；andbeforemyrival，too!Thisaccountsfortheairoftriumphhehasworneversince，andherglancesofscornandpity。Sheisanangel，andIhavelosther。"
"Stuffandnonsense!"saidFannyDover。"Beaman，andtellmethetruth。"
"Well，Iwill，"saidhe；"forIamindespair。ItisallthatcursedmoneyatHomburg。Icouldnotclearmyestatewithoutit。Idarenotgoforit。Sheforbademe；andindeedIcan"tbeartoleaveherforanything；soIemployedPoikilustotryandlearnwhetherthatladyhasthemoneystill，andwhethershemeanstorobmeofitornot。"
FannyDoverreflectedamoment，thendeliveredherselfthus:"Youwerewrongtotellafibaboutit。Whatyoumustdonow——brazenitout。Tellheryouloveher，buthavegotyourprideandwillnotcomeintoherfamilyapauper。Defyher，tobesure；weliketobedefiednowandthen，whenwearefondofthefellow。"
"Iwilldoit，"saidhe；"butsheshunsme。Ican"tgetawordwithher。"
Fannysaidshewouldtryandmanagethatforhim；andastherestoftheirtalkmightnotinterestthereader，andcertainlywouldnotedifyhim，Ipassontothefactthatshedid，thatveryafternoon，gointoZoe"sroom，andtellherSevernewasveryunhappy:hehadtoldafib；butitwasnotintendedtodeceiveher，andhewishedtoexplainthewholething。
"Didheexplainittoyou?"askedZoe，rathersharply。
"No；buthesaidenoughtomakemethinkyouareusinghimveryhardly。
Tobesure，youhaveanotherstringtoyourbow。"
"Oh，thatistheinterpretationyouput。"
"Itisthetrueone。Doyouthinkyoucanmake_me_believeyouwouldhaveshiedhimsolongifLordUxmoorhadnotbeeninthehouse?"
Zoebridled，butmadenoreply，andFannywenttoherownroom，laughing。
Zoewasmuchdisturbed。ShesecretlylongedtohearSevernejustifyhimself。Shecouldnotforgivealie，noresteemaliar。Shewasoneofthosewhocouldpardoncertainthingsinawomanshewouldnotforgiveinaman。Underacalmexterior，shehadsufferedanobledistress；butherpridewouldnotlethershowit。Yetnowthathehadappealedtoherforahearing，andFannyknewhehadappealed，shebegantofalter。
StillFannywasnotaltogetherwrong:thepresenceofamanincapableofafalsehood，andthatmandevotedtoher，wasalittledamagingtoSeverne，thoughnotsomuchasMissArtfulthought。
However，thisveryafternoonLordUxmoorhadtoldherhemustleaveVizardCourtto-morrowmorning。
SoZoesaidtoherself，"Ineednotmakeopportunities；afterto-morrowhewillfindplenty。"
Shehadaninstinctivefearhewouldtellmorefalsehoodstocoverthosehehadtold；andthensheshoulddespisehim，andtheywouldbothbemiserable；forshefeltforamomentahorribledreadthatshemightbothloveanddespisethesameperson，ifitwasEdwardSeverne。
Therewereseveralpeopletodinner，and，ashostess，shemanagednottothinktoomuchofeitherofheradmirers。
However，astolenglanceshowedhertheywerebothoutofspirits。
Shefeltsorry。Hernaturewasverypitiful。Sheaskedherselfwasitherfault，anddidnotquiteacquitherself。Perhapssheoughttohavebeenmoreopenanddeclaredhersentiments。Yetwouldthathavebeenmodestinaladywhowasnotformallyengaged?Shewaspuzzled。Shehadnoexperiencetoguideher:onlyherhighbreedingandhervirginalinstincts。
Shewasgladwhenthenightended。
Shecaughtherselfwishingthenextdaywasgonetoo。
WhensheretiredUxmoorwasalreadygone，andSeverneopenedthedoortoher。Hefixedhiseyesonhersoimploringly，itmadeherheartmelt；butsheonlyblushedhigh，andwentawaysadandsilent。
Ashermaidwasundressinghershecaughtsightofaletteronhertable。
"Whatisthat?"saidshe。
"Itisaletter，"saidRosa，verydemurely。
Zoedivinedthatthegirlhadbeenaskedtoputitthere。
Herbosomheaved，butshewouldnotencouragesuchproceedings，norletRosaseehoweagershewastohearthoseveryexcusesshehadevaded。
But，forallthat，Rosaknewshewasgoingtoreadit，forsheonlyhadhergowntakenoffandapeignoirsubstituted，andherhairletdownandbrushedalittle。ThenshedismissedRosa，lockedthedoor，andpouncedontheletter。Itlayonhertablewiththesealuppermost。Sheturneditround。Itwasnotfrom_him:_itwasfromLordUxmoor。
Shesatdownandreadit。
"DEARMISSVIZARD——IhavehadnoopportunitiesoftellingyouallIfeelforyou，withoutattractinganattentionthatmighthavebeenunpleasanttoyou；butIamsureyoumusthaveseenthatIadmiredyouatfirstsight。Thatwasadmirationofyourbeautyandgrace，thougheventhenyoushowedmeagentleheartandasympathythatmademegrateful。But，nowI
havehadtheprivilegeofbeingunderthesameroofwithyou，itisadmirationnolonger——itisdeepandardentlove；andIseethatmyhappinessdependsonyou。Willyouconfide_your_happinesstome?I
don"tknowthatIcouldmakeyouasproudandhappyasIshouldbemyself；butIshouldtryveryhard，outofgratitudeaswellaslove。Wehavealsocertainsentimentsincommon。Thatwouldbeonebondmore。
"ButindeedIfeelIcannotmakemyloveagoodbargaintoyou，foryouarepeerless，anddeserveamuchbetterlotineverywaythanIcanoffer。Icanonlykneeltoyouandsay，"ZoeVizard，ifyourheartisyourowntogive，praybemylover，myqueen，mywife。"
"Yourfaithfulservantanddevotedadmirer，UXMOOR。"
"Poorfellow!"saidZoe，andhereyesfilled。Shesatquitequiet，withtheletteropeninherhand。Shelookedatit，andmurmured，"Apearlisofferedmehere:wealth，title，allthatsomewomensighfor，and——whatI
valueaboveall——anoblenature，atrueheart，andasoulaboveallmeanness。No；Uxmoorwillnevertellafalsehood。He_could_not。"
Shesigheddeeply，andclosedhereyes。Allwasstill。Thelightwasfaint；yetsheclosedhereyes，likeatruewoman，toseethefutureclearer。
Then，inthesoberanddeepcalm，thereseemedtobefaintpeepsofcomingthings:Itappearedatroubledsea，andUxmoor"sstronghandstretchedouttorescueher。Ifshemarriedhim，sheknewtheworst——anhonestmansheesteemed，andhadalmostanaffectionfor，butnolove。
Assomehaveanimpulsetoflingthemselvesfromaheight，shehadonetogiveherselftoUxmoor，quietly，irrevocably，bythreewrittenwordsdispatchedthatnight。
Butitwasonlyanimpulse。Ifshehadwrittenit，shewouldhavetornitup。
Presentlyalightthrillpassedthroughher:sheworeasortofhalf-furtive，guiltylook，andopenedthewindow。
Ay，therehestoodinthemoonlight，waitingtobeheard。
Shedidnotstartnorutteranyexclamation。Somehoworothershealmostknewhewastherebeforesheopenedthewindow。
"Well?"saidshe，withaworldofmeaning。
"Yougrantmeahearingatlast。"
"Ido。Butitisnouse。Youcannotexplainawayafalsehood。"
"Ofcoursenot。IamheretoconfessthatItoldafalsehood。ButitwasnotyouIwishedtodeceive。Iwasgoingtoexplainthewholethingtoyou，andtellyouall；butthereisnogettingawordwithyousincethatlordcame。"
"Hehadnothingtodowithit。Ishouldhavebeenjustasmuchshocked。"
"Butitwouldonlyhavebeenforfiveminutes。Zoe!"
"Well?"
"Justputyourselfinmyplace。Adetective，whooughttohavewrittentomeinreplytomynote，surprisesmewithacall。Iwasashamedthatsuchavisitorshouldenteryourbrother"shousetoseeme。Theresatmyrival——anaristocrat。Iwassurprisedintodisowningtheunwelcomedvisitor，andcallinghimmysolicitor。"
NowifZoehadbeenanOldBaileycounsel，shewouldhavekepthimtothepoint，remindedhimthathisvisitorwasunseen，andfixedavoluntaryfalsehoodonhim；butshewasnotanexperiencedcross-examiner，andperhapsshewasatheartasindignantatthedetectiveasatthefalsehood:soshemissedheradvantage，andsaid，indignantly，"Andwhatbusinesshadyouwithadetective?Youhavingoneatall，andthencallinghimyoursolicitor，makesonethinkallmannerofthings。"
"Ishouldhavetoldyouallaboutitthatafternoon，onlyourintercourseisbrokenofftopleasearival。SupposeIgaveyouarival，andusedyouforhersakeasyouusemeforhis，whatwouldyousay?Thatwouldbeaworseinfidelitythansendingforadetective，woulditnot?"
Zoereplied，haughtily，"Youhavenorighttosayyouhavearival；howdareyou?Besides，"saidshe，alittleruefully，"itisyouwhoareonyourdefense，notme。"
"True；Iforgotthat。Recriminationisnotconvenient，isit?"
"Icanescapeitbyshuttingthewindow，"saidZoe，coldly。
"Oh，don"tdothat。Letmehavetheblissofseeingyou，andIwillsubmittoagooddealofinjusticewithoutamurmur。"
"Thedetective?"saidZoe，sternly。
"Isentforhim，andgavehimhisinstructions，andheisgoneformetoHomburg。"
"Ah!Ithoughtso。Whatfor?"
"Aboutmymoney。Totryandfindoutwhethertheymeantokeepit。"
"Wouldyoureallytakeitiftheywouldgiveityou?"
"OfcourseIwould。"
"Yetyouknowmymindaboutit。"
"Iknowyouforbademetogoforitinperson:andIobeyedyou，didI
not?"
"Yes，youdid——atthetime。"
"Idonow。YouobjecttomygoinginpersontoHomburg。YouknowIwasonceacquaintedwiththatlady，andyoufeelaboutheralittleofwhatI
feelaboutLordUxmoor；aboutatenthpartofwhatIfeel，Isuppose，andwithnotone-tenthsomuchreason。Well，Iknowwhatthepangsofjealousyare:Iwillneverinflictthemonyou，asyouhaveonme。ButI
_will_havemymoney，whetheryoulikeornot。"
Zoelookedamazedatbeingdefied。Itwasnewtoher。Shedrewup，butsaidnothing。
Severnewenton:"AndIwilltellyouwhy:becausewithoutmoneyIcannothaveyou。Mycircumstanceshavelatelyimproved；withmymoneythatliesinHomburgIcannowclearmyfamilyestateofallincumbrance，andcometoyourbrotherforyourhand。Oh，Ishallbeaverybadmatcheventhen，butIshallnotbeapauper，noramanindebt。Ishallbeoneofyourownclass，asIwasborn——asmalllandedgentlemanwithanunencumberedestate。"
"Thatisnotthewaytomyaffection。Idonotcareformoney。"
"Butotherpeopledo。DearZoe，youhaveplentyofprideyourself；youmustletmehavealittle。DeeplyasIloveyou，Icouldnotcometoyourbrotherandsay，"Givemeyoursister，andmaintainusboth。"No，Zoe，I
cannotaskyourhandtillIhaveclearedmyestate；andIcannotclearitwithoutthatmoney。ForonceImustresistyou，andtakemychance。Thereiswealthandatitleofferedyou。Iwon"taskyoutodismissthemandtakeapauper。Ifyoudon"tlikemetotryformyownmoney，giveyourhandtoLordUxmoor；thenIshallrecallmydetective，andletallgo；
forpovertyorwealthwillmatternothingtome:IshallhavelosttheangelIlove:andsheoncelovedme。"
Hefaltered，andthesadcadenceofhisvoicemeltedher。Shebegantocry。Heturnedhisheadawayandcriedtoo。
Therewasasilence。Zoebrokeitfirst。
"Edward，"saidshe，softly。
"Zoe!"
"Youneednotdefyme。Iwouldnothumiliateyouforalltheworld。WillitcomfortyoutoknowthatIhavebeenveryunhappyeversinceyouloweredyourselfso?Iwilltryandacceptyourexplanation。"
Heclaspedhishandswithgratitude。
"Edward，willyougrantmeafavor?"
"Canyouask?"
"Itistohavealittlemoreconfidenceinonewho——Nowyoumustobeymeimplicitly，andperhapswemaybothbehappierto-morrownightthanweareto-night。DirectlyafterbreakfasttakeyourhatandwalktoHillstoke。YoucancallonMissGale，ifyoulike，andsaysomethingcivil。"
"What!goandleaveyoualonewithLordUxmoor?"
"Yes。"
"Ah，Zoe，youknowyourpower。Havealittlemercy。"
"PerhapsImayhaveagreatdeal——ifyouobeyme。"
"I_will_obeyyou。"
"Thengotobedthisminute。"
Shegavehimaheavenlysmile，andclosedthewindow。
Nextmorning，assoonasbreakfastwasover，NedSevernesaid，"AnymessagesforHillstoke?Iamgoingtowalkuptherethismorning。"
"Embracemyviragoforme，"saidVizard。
Severnebeggedtobeexcused。
Hehurriedoff，andLordUxmoorfeltacertainrelief。
TheMasterofArtsaskedhimselfwhathecoulddotopropitiatethefemaleM。D。Hewenttothegardenerandgothimtocutahugebouquet，choiceandfragrant，andhecarrieditallthewaytoHillstoke。MissGalewasathome。Ashewasintroducedrathersuddenly，shestartedandchangedcolor，andsaid，sharply，"Whatdoyouwant?"Neveraskedhimtositdown，rudeThing!
Hestoodhanginghisheadlikeaculprit，andsaid，withwell-feignedtimidity，thathecame，bydesireofMissVizard，toinquirehowshewasgettingon，andtohopethepeoplewerebeginningtoappreciateher。
"Oh!thataltersthecase；anymessengerfromMissVizardiswelcome。Didshesendmethoseflowers，too?Theyarebeautiful。"
"No。Igatheredthemmyself。Ihavealwaysunderstoodladieslovedflowers。"
"Itisonlybyreportyouknowthat，eh?Letmeaddsomethingtoyourinformation:agooddealdependsonthegiver；andyoumayflingtheseoutofthewindow。"Shetossedthemtohim。
TheMasterofArtsgaveahumble，patientsigh，andthrewtheflowersoutofthewindow，whichwasopen。Hethensunkintoachairandhidhisfaceinhishands。
MissGalecolored，andbitherlip。Shedidnotthinkhewouldhavedonethat，anditvexedhereconomicalsoul。Shecastapiercingglanceathim，thenresumedherstudies，andignoredhispresence。
Buthispatienceexhaustedhers。Hesattheretwentyminutes，atleast，inastateofcollapsethatbidfairtolastforever。
Sopresentlyshelookedupandaffectedtostart。"What!areyoutherestill?"saidshe。
"Yes，"saidbe；"youdidnotdismissme；onlymypoorflowers。"
"Well，"saidshe，apologetically，"thetruthis，I"mnotstrongenoughtodismissyoubythesameroad。"
"Itisnotnecessary。Youhaveonlytosay，"Go。""
"Oh，thatwouldberude。Couldnotyougowithoutbeingtoldrightout?"
"No，Icouldnot。MissGale，Ican"taccountforit，butthereissomestrangeattraction。Youhateme，andIfearyou，yetIcouldfollowyouaboutlikeadog。Letmesitherealittlelongerandseeyouwork。"
MissGaleleanedherheaduponherhand，andcontemplatedhimatgreatlength。Finallysheadoptedacat-likecourse。"No，"saidshe，atlast；