第17章

WhenMr。Townlinsonaccompaniedhisvisitortohercarriagewithdignifiedpolitenesshefeltsomewhatlikeanelderlysolicitorwhohadfoundhimselfdrawnintotheatmosphereofasortofintenselymodernfairytale。Hesawtwoofhisunderclerks，withtheimproprietyofmiddle—classyouth，lookingoutofanofficewindowatthedarkbluebroughamandthetallyounglady，whosebeautybloomedinthesunshine。Hedidnot，onthewhole，wonderat，thoughhedeplored，theconductoftheyoungmen。Butthey，ofcourse，sawonlywhattheycolloquiallydescribedtoeachotherasa"rippin’handsomegirl。"Theyknewnothingoftheinterestinginterview。

Hehimselfreturnedtohisprivateroominamusingmoodandthoughtitallover，hisminddwellingonvariousfeaturesoftheinternationalsituation，andmorethanoncehesaidaloud：

"Mostremarkable。Veryremarkable，indeed。"

CHAPTERXVIII

THEFIFTEENTHEARLOFMOUNTDUNSTAN

JamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyre——fifteenthEarlofMountDunstan，"JemSalter，"ashisneighboursontheWesternrancheshadcalledhim，thered—haired，second—classpassengeroftheMeridiana，satinthegreatlibraryofhisdesolategreathouse，andstaredfixedlythroughtheopenwindowatthelovelylandspreadoutbeforehim。FromthisparticularwindowwastobeseenoneofthegreatestviewsinEngland。

Fromtheuppernurserieshehadlivedinasachildhehadseeniteverydayfrommorninguntilnight，andithadseemedtohisyoungfancytocoveralltheplainsoftheearth。Surelytherestoftheworld，hehadthought，couldbebutsmall——

thoughsomewhereheknewtherewasLondonwheretheQueenlived，andinLondonwereBuckinghamPalaceandSt。JamesPalaceandKensingtonandtheTower，whereheadshadbeenchoppedoff；andtheHorseGuards，wheresplendid，plumedsoldiersrodeforthglittering，withthrillingtrumpetssoundingastheymoved。Theselasthealwaysremembered，becausehehadseenthem，andoncewhenhehadwalkedintheparkwithhisnursetherehadbeenanexcitedstirintheRow，andpeoplehadcrowdedaboutacertaingate，throughwhichanescortedcarriagehadbeendriven，andhehadbeenmadeatoncetotakeoffhishatandstandbareheadeduntilitpassed，becauseitwastheQueen。Somehowfromthatafternoonhedatedthefirstpresentationofcertainvaguelymiserableideas。Inquiriesmadeofhisattendant，whenthecortegehadsweptby，hadelicitedthefactthattheRoyalLadyherselfhadchildren——littleboyswhowereprincesandlittlegirlswhowereprincesses。Whatcuriousandpersistentchildcross—examinationonhisparthaddrawnforththefactthatalmostallthepeoplewhodroveaboutandlookedsohappyandbrilliant，werethefathersormothersoflittleboyslike，yet——insomemysteriousway——unlikehimself？Andinwhatmannerhadhegatheredthathewasdifferentfromthem？Hisnurse，itistrue，wasnotapleasantperson，andhadaninjuredandresentfulbearing。Inlateryearsherealisedthatithadbeenthebearingofanirregularlypaidmenial，whorebelledagainstthefactthatherplacewasnotamongpeoplewhowereofdistinctionandhighrepute，andwhosehouseholdsbestowedacertainsocialstatusupontheirservitors。Shewasatallwomanwithasourfaceandabearingwhichconveyedaglumenduranceofapositionbeneathher。Yes，ithadbeenfromher——Broughhernamewas——thathehadmysteriouslygatheredthathewasnotadesirablecharge，asregardedfromthepointoftheservants’hall——or，infact，fromanyotherpoint。Hispeoplewerenotthepeoplewhosepatronagewassoughtwithanxiouseagerness。

Forsomereasontheirtownhousewasobjectionable，andMountDunstanwaswithoutattractions。Otherbighouseswere，insomemarkedway，different。Thetownhouseheobjectedtohimselfasbeinggloomyandugly，andpossessingonlyabareandbatterednursery，fromwhosewindowsonecouldnotevenobtainasatisfactoryviewoftheMews，whereatleast，therewerehorsesandgroomswhohissedcheerfullywhiletheycurriedandbrushedthem。Hehatedthetownhouseandwas，infact，verygladthathewasscarcelyevertakentoit。People，itseemed，didnotcaretocomeeithertothetownhouseortoMountDunstan。Thatwaswhyhedidnotknowotherlittleboys。Again——forthemysteriousreason——peopledidnotcarethattheirchildrenshouldassociatewithhim。Howdidhediscoverthis？Heneverknewexactly。

Herealised，however，thatwithoutdistinctstatements，heseemedtohavegathereditthroughvariousdisconnectedtalkswithBrough。Shehadnotremainedwithhimlong，having"betteredherself"greatlyandgoneawayinglumsatisfaction，butshehadstayedlongenoughtoconveytohimthingswhichbecamepartofhisexistence，andsmoulderedinhislittlesouluntiltheybecamepartofhimself。Theancestorswhohadhewntheirwaythroughtheirenemieswithbattle—

axes，whohadbeenfierceandcruelandunconquerableintheirsavagepride，hadhandeddowntohimaburningandunsubmissivesoul。Atsixyearsold，walkingwithBroughinKensingtonGardens，andseeingotherchildrenplayingunderthecareofnurses，who，helearned，werenotinclinedtomakeadvancestohisattendant，hedraggedBroughawaywithafiercelittlehandandstoodapartwithher，scowlinghaughtily，hisheadintheair，pretendingthathedisdainedallchildishgambols，andwouldhavedeclinedtojoininthem，evenifhehadbeenbesoughttosofarunbend。

Bitternesshadbeenplantedinhimthen，thoughhehadnotunderstood，andthesournessofBroughhadbeenconnectedwithnointelligencewhichmighthavecausedhertosuspecthisfeelings，andnoonehadnoticed，andifanyonehadnoticed，noonewouldhavecaredintheveryleast。

WhenBroughhadgoneawaytoherfarsuperiorplace，andshehadbeensucceededbyonevarietyofobjectionableorincompetentpersonafteranother，hehadstillcontinuedtolearn。Indifferentwayshesilentlycollectedinformation，andallofitwasunpleasant，and，ashegrewolder，ittookforsomeyearsoneform。Lackofresources，whichshouldofrightbelongtopersonsofrank，wastheradicalobjectiontohispeople。Atthetownhousetherewasnomoney，atMountDunstantherewasnomoney。Therehadbeensolittlemoneyeveninhisgrandfather’stimethathisfatherhadinheritedcomparativebeggary。ThefourteenthEarlofMountDunstandidnotcallit"comparative"beggary，hecalleditbeggarypureandsimple，andcursedhisprogenitorswithengagingfrankness。Heneverreferredtothefactthatinhispersonableyouthhehadmarriedawifewhosefortune，ifithadnotbeensquandered，mighthaverestoredhisown。Thefortunehadbeensquanderedinthecourseofafewyearsofriotousliving，thewifehaddiedwhenherthirdsonwasborn，whicheventtookplacetenyearsafterthebirthofhersecond，whomshehadlostthroughscarletfever。JamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyreneverheardmuchofher，andbarelyknewofherpastexistencebecauseinthepicturegalleryhehadseenaportraitofatall，thin，fretful—lookingyounglady，withlightringlets，andpearlsroundherneck。Shehadnotattractedhimasachild，andthefactthathegatheredthatshehadbeenhismotherlefthimentirelyunmoved。Shewasnotaloveable—

lookingperson，and，indeed，hadbeenatonceempty—headed，irritable，andworldly。Hewouldprobablyhavebeennolesslonelyifshehadlived。Lonelyhewas。Hisfatherwasengagedinacareermuchtoolivelyandinterestingtohimselftoadmitofhisallowinghimselftobeboredbyanunwantedandentirelysuperfluouschild。Theelderson，whowasLordTenham，hadreachedaprematureanddegeneratematuritybythetimetheyoungeronemadehisbelatedappearance，andregardedhimwithunconcealeddislike。Theworstthingwhichcouldhavebefallentheyoungerboywouldhavebeenintimateassociationwiththisdegenerateyouth。

AsSaltyreleftnurserydaysbehind，helearnedbydegreesthattheobjectiontohimselfandhispeople，whichhadatfirstendeavouredtoexplainitselfasbeingtheresultofanunseemlylackofmoney，combinedwiththatunpleasantfeature，anuglierone——namely，lackofdecentreputation。Angryduns，beggarlinessofincome，scarcityofthenecessariesandluxurieswhichdignityofrankdemanded，theindifferenceandslightsofone’sequals，andtheignoringofone’sexistencebyexaltedpersons，wereallhideousenoughtoLordMountDunstanandhiselderson——buttheywerenotsohideousaswas，tohisyoungerson，thechildish，shamedfrenzyofawakeningtothetruththathewasoneofabadlot——adisgracefullot，fromwhomnothingwasexpectedbutshiftyways，lowvices，andscandals，whichintheendcouldnotevenbekeptoutofthenewspapers。Thedaycame，infact，whentheworstofthesewasseizeduponbythemandfilledtheirsheetswithmatterwhichforawholeseasondecentLondonavoidedreading，andthefastandindecentelementlaughed，derided，orgloatedover。

Thememoryofthefeverofthemonstrousweekswhichhadpassedatthistimewasnotoneitwaswiseforamantorecall。Butitwasnottobeforgotten——thehastymidnightarrivalatMountDunstanoffatherandson，theirhaggard，nervousfaces，theirterrifieddiscussions，andargumentativeragingwhentheywereshutuptogetherbehindlockeddoors，theappearanceoflegaladviserswholookedasanxiousasthemselves，butfailedtoconcealthedisgustwithwhichtheywerebattling，theknowledgethattongueswereclackingalmosthystericallyinthevillage，andthatcuriousfaceshurriedtothewindowswhenevenamenialfromthegreathousepassed，theatmosphereofbelow—stairswhispers，andjoggedelbows，andwinks，andgiggles；thefinaldesperate，excitedpreparationsforflight，whichmightbeignominiouslystoppedatanymomentbytheinterventionofthelaw，thehuddlingawayatnighttime，thehot—throatedfearthattheshameful，self—brandingmovemightbetoolate——theburninghumiliationofknowingtheinevitableresultofpubliccontemptorlaughterwhentheworldnextdayheardthatthefugitiveshadputtheEnglishChannelbetweenthemselvesandtheircountry’slaws。

LordTenhamhaddiedafewyearslateratPortSaid，afterdescendingintoallthehellsofdegeneratedebauch。

Hisfatherhadlivedlonger——longenoughtomakeofhimselfsomethinghorriblynearanimbecile，beforehediedsuddenlyinParis。TheMountDunstanwhosucceededhim，havingspenthischildhoodandboyhoodundertheshadowofthe"badlot，"hadthecharacterofbeingabig，surly，unattractiveyoungfellow，whoseeccentricitypresenteditselftothosewhoknewhisstock，asbeingofakindwhichmightdevelopatanytimeintoanyobjectionabletendency。Hisbearingwasnotsuchasallured，andhisfortunewasnotoftheorderwhichplacedamanintheviewoftheworld。Hehadnomoneytoexpend，nohospitalitiestoofferandapparentlynodispositiontoconnecthimselfwithsociety。Hiswild—goosechasetoAmericahad，whenithadbeenconsideredworthwhilediscussingatall，beenregardedasbeingverymuchthekindofthingaMountDunstanmightdowithsomesecretanddisreputableendinview。Noonehadheardtheexacttruth，andnoonewouldhavebeeninclinedtobelieveiftheyhadheardit。ThathehadlivedasplainJemSalter，andlabouredasanyhindmighthavedone，indesperateeffortandmadhope，wouldnothavebeenregardedasafacttobecredited。Hehadgoneaway，hehadsquanderedmoney，hehadreturned，hewasatMountDunstanagain，livingthelifeofanobjectionablerecluse——objectionable，becausetheownerofaplacelikeMountDunstanshouldbeapowerandaninfluenceinthecounty，shouldbecounteduponasadispenserofhospitalities，asasupporterofcharities，asadignitaryofweight。Hewasnoneofthese——livingnooneknewhow，slouchingaboutwithhisgun，ridingorwalkingsullenlyovertheroadsandmarshland。

Justonemanknewhimintimately，andthisonehadbeenfromhisfifteenthyearthesolefriendofhislife。Hehadcome，then——theReverendLewisPenzance——apoorandunhealthyscholar，tobevicaroftheparishofDunstan。Onlyapoorandbook—absorbedmanwouldhaveacceptedtheposition。Whatthismanwantedwasnomorethanquiet，purecountryairtofillfraillungs，aroofoverhishead，andaplacetoporeoverbooksandmanuscripts。Hewasabornmonkandcelibate——inby—gonecenturieshewouldhavelivedpeacefullyinsomemonastery，spendinghisyearsinthereadingandwritingofblackletterandtheilluminatingofmissals。

Atthevicaragehecouldleadanexistencewhichwasalmostthesamething。

AtMountDunstanthereremainedstillthelargeremnantofagreatlibrary。Ahugeroomwhoseneglectedandhalfemptiedshelvescontainedsomestrangethingsandwonderfulones，thoughallwereindisorder，andgivenuptodustandnaturaldilapidation。InevitablytheReverendLewisPenzancehadfoundhiswaythere，inevitablyhehadgainedindifferentlybestowedpermissiontoentertainhimselfbyendeavouringtoreducetoorderandtomakeanattemptatcataloguing。

Inevitably，also，thehourshespentintheplacebecamethechiefsustenanceofhisbeing。

There，oneday，hehadcomeuponanuncouth—lookingboywithdeepeyesandashaggycropofredhair。Theboywasporingoveranoldvolume，andwasplainlynotdisposedtoleaveit。Herose，nottoograciously，andrepliedtotheelderman’sgreeting，andthefriendlyquestionswhichfollowed。

Yes，hewastheyoungestsonofthehouse。Hehadnothingtodo，andhelikedthelibrary。Heoftencamethereandsatandreadthings。Thereweresomequeeroldbooksandalotofstupidones。Thebookhewasreadingnow？Oh，that（withaslightreddeningofhisskinandalittleawkwardnessattheadmission）wasoneofthosehelikedbest。Itwasoneofthequeerones，butinterestingforallthat。Itwasabouttheirownpeople——thegenerationsofMountDunstanswhohadlivedinthecenturiespast。Hesupposedhelikeditbecausetherewerealotofoddstoriesandexcitingthingsinit。

Plentyoffightingandadventure。Therehadbeensomesplendidfellowsamongthem。（Hewasbeginningtoforgethimselfalittlebythistime。）Theywereafraidofnothing。Theywereratherlikesavagesintheearliestdays，butatthattimealltherestoftheworldwassavage。Buttheywerebrave，anditwasoddhowdecenttheywereveryoften。

Whathemeantwas——whathelikedwas，thattheyweremen——

evenwhentheywerebarbarians。Youcouldn’tbeashamedofthem。Thingstheydidthencouldnotbedonenow，becausetheworldwasdifferent，butif——well，thekindofmentheyweremightdoEnglandalotofgoodiftheywerealiveto—day。Theywouldbedifferentthemselves，ofcourse，inoneway——buttheymustbethesamemeninothers。PerhapsMr。Penzance（reddeningagain）understoodwhathemeant。

Heknewhimselfverywell，becausehehadthoughtitallout，hewasalwaysthinkingaboutit，buthewasnogoodatexplaining。

Mr。Penzancewasinterested。Hisoutlookonthepastandthepresenthadalwaysbeenthatofabookworm，butheunderstoodenoughtoseethathehadcomeuponatemperamentnovelenoughtoawakencuriosity。Theapparentlyentirelyneglectedboy，ofatypesingularlyunlikethatofhisfatherandelderbrother，livinghislifevirtuallyaloneinthebigplace，andfindingfoodtohistasteinstoriesofthoseofhisbloodwhosedusthadmingledwiththeearthcenturiesago，providedhimwithanewsubjectforreflection。

Thathadbeenthebeginningofanunusualfriendship。

GraduallyPenzancehadreachedaclearunderstandingofallthebuildingoftheyounglife，ofitsranklinghumiliation，andthequalitiesofmindandbodywhichmadeforrebellion。Itsometimesthrilledhimtoseeinthebigframeandpowerfulmuscles，inthestrongnatureandunconquerablespirit，arevivalofwhathadburnedandstirredthroughliveslivedinadim，almostmythical，past。Therewerelegendsofmenwithbigbodies，fiercefaces，andredhair，whohaddonebigdeeds，andconqueredindarkandbarbarousdays，evenFate’sself，asithadseemed。Nonecouldoverthrowthem，nonecouldstandbeforetheirdeterminationtoattainthatwhichtheychosetoclaim。Studentsofheredityknewthattherewerecuriousinstancesofrevivaloftype。TherehadbeenacertainRedGodwynwhohadruledhispieceofEnglandbeforetheConquerorcame，andwhohaddefiedtheinterloperwithsuchsplendidarroganceandsuperhumanlackoffearthathehadwonintheend，strangelyenough，theadmirationandfriendshipoftheroyalsavagehimself，whosaw，inhis，akindredsavagery，apowertobewellranged，throughlove，ifnotthroughfear，uponhisownside。ThisGodwynhadadeepattractionforhisdescendant，whoknewthewholestoryofhisfiercelife——astoldinoneyellowmanuscriptandanother——byheart。Whymightnotonefancy——Penzancewasdrawnbytheimagining——thisstrongthingreborn，evenastheoffspringofapoorereffetetype。RedGodwynspringingintobeingagain，hadbeenstrongerthanallelse，andhadsweptweaknessbeforehimashehaddoneinotherandfar—offdays。

IntheoldlibraryitfelloutintimethatPenzanceandtheboyspentthegreaterpartoftheirdays。Themanwasabookwormandascholar，youngSaltyrehadapassionforknowledge。Amongtheoldbooksandmanuscriptshegainedasingulareducation。Withoutaguidehecouldnothavegatheredandassimilatedallhedidgatherandassimilate。

Togetherthetworummagedforgottenshelvesandchests，andfoundforgottenthings。Thatwhichhaddrawntheboyfromthefirstalwaysdrewandabsorbedhim——theannalsofhisownpeople。Manyalongwintereveningthepairturnedoverthepagesofvolumesandofparchment，andfollowedwitheagerinterestandcuriositytherecordsofwildlives——storiesofwarriorsandabbotsandbards，offeudallordsatruthlesswarwitheachother，ofbesiegingsandbattlesandcaptivesandtorments。Legendstherewereofsmallkingdomstornasunder，oftheslaughteroftheirkings，themadfightingsoftheirbarons，andthefaithorunfaithoftheirserfs。Hereandtheretheeternalpowerrevealeditselfinsomestoryoflawfulorunlawfullove——fordameordamsel，royallady，abbess，orhigh—bornnun——endingintheweldingoftwolivesorinrapine，violence，anddeath。TherewereannalsofearlyEngland，andofmarauders，monks，andDanes。And，throughallthese，something，somemanorwoman，place，orstrifelinkedbysometiewithMountDunstanblood。Inpastgenerations，itseemedplain，therehadbeencertainofthelinewhohadhadprideintheserecords，andhadsoughtandcollectedthem；thenhadbeenbornotherswhohadnotcared。Sometimestherelationswereinadequate，sometimestheyworeanunauthenticair，butmostofthemseemed，evenafterthepassingofcenturies，humandocuments，andtogetherbuiltamarvellousgreatdramaoflifeandpower，wickednessandpassionanddaringdeeds。

WhentheshamefulscandalburstforthyoungSaltyrewasseenbyneitherhisfathernorhisbrother。Neitherofthemhadanydesiretoseehim；infact，eachdetestedtheideaofconfrontingbyanychancehishot，intoleranteyes。"TheBrat，"hisfatherhadcalledhiminhischildhood，"TheLout，"

whenhehadgrownbig—limbedandclumsy。BothheandTenhamweresickenough，withoutbeingcalledupontocontemplate"TheLout，"whoseopinion，inanycase，theypreferrednottohear。

Saltyre，duringthehideousdays，shuthimselfupinthelibrary。Hedidnotleavethehouse，evenforexercise，untilafterthepairhadfled。Hisexercisehetookinwalkingupanddownfromoneendofthelongroomtoanother。Devilswereletlooseinhim。WhenPenzancecametohim，hesawtheirfuryinhiseyes，andhearditinthesavageryofhislaugh。

Hekickedanancientvolumeoutofhiswayashestrodetoandfro。

"Therehasbeenplentyofthebloodofthebeastinusinbygonetimes，"hesaid，"butitwasnotlikethis。

Savageryinsavagedayshaditsexcuse。Thisisthebeastsunkintothegibbering，degenerateape。"

Penzancecameandspenthoursofeachdaywithhim。

Partofhisragewastherageofaman，buthewasaboystill，andtheboyishnessofhisbitterlyhurtyouthwasathingtomovetopity。Withyoungblood，andyoungpride，andyoungexpectancyrisingwithinhim，hewasatanhourwhenheshouldhavefelthimselfstandinguponthethresholdoftheworld，gazingoutatthesplendidjoysandpromisesandpowerfuldeedsofit——waitingonlythefitmomenttostepforthandwinhisplace。

"Butwearedonefor，"heshoutedonce。"Wearedonefor。AndIamasmuchdoneforastheyare。Decentpeoplewon’ttouchus。ThatiswherethelastMountDunstanstands。"AndPenzanceheardinhisvoiceanabsolutebreak。Hestoppedandmarchedtothewindowattheendofthelongroom，andstoodindeadstillness，staringoutatthedown—sweepinglinesofheavyrain。

Theoldermanthoughtmanythings，ashelookedathisbigbackandbody。Hestoodwithhislegsastride，andPenzancenotedthathisrighthandwasclenchedonhiship，asaman’smightbeasheclenchedthehiltofhissword——hisonematewhomightavengehimevenwhen，standingatbay，heknewthattheendhadcome，andhemustfall。

PrimevalForce——thethin—faced，narrow—chested，slightlybaldclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandwasthinking——neverlosesitsway，orfailstosweepapathbeforeit。Thesunrisesandsets，theseasonscomeandgo，PrimevalForceisofthem，andasunchangeable。Muchofitstoodbeforehimembodiedinthisstronglysentientthing。InthiswaytheReverendLewisfoundhisthoughtsleadinghim，andhe——beingmovedtothedepthsofafinesoul——feltthemprofoundlyinteresting，andevensustaining。

Hesatinahigh—backedchair，holdingitsarmswithlongthinhands，andlookingforsometimeatJamesHubertJohnFergusSaltyre。Hesaid，atlast，inasanelevelvoice：

"LordTenhamisnotthelastMountDunstan。"

Afterwhichthestillnessremainedunbrokenagainforsomeminutes。Saltyredidnotmoveormakeanyresponse，and，whenhelefthisplaceatthewindow，hetookupabook，andtheyspokeofotherthings。

WhenthefourteenthEarldiedinParis，andhisyoungersonsucceeded，therecameatimewhenthetwocompanionssattogetherinthelibraryagain。Itwastheeveningofalongdayspentindiscouraginghardwork。Inthemorningtheyhadriddensidebysideovertheestate，intheafternoontheyhadsatandporedoveraccounts，leases，maps，plans。Bynightfallbothwerefaggedandneitherinsanguinemood。

MountDunstanhadsatsilentforsometime。Thepairoftensatsilent。Thispausewasendedbytheyoungman’srisingandstandingup，stretchinghislimbs。

"Itwasaqueerthingyousaidtomeinthisroomafewyearsago，"hesaid。"Ithasjustcomebacktome。"

Singularlyenough——orperhapsnaturallyenough——ithadalsojustarisenagainfromthedepthsofPenzance’ssubconsciousness。

"Yes，"heanswered，"Iremember。To—nightitsuggestspremonition。YourbrotherwasnotthelastMountDunstan。"

"InonesenseheneverwasMountDunstanatall，"

answeredtheotherman。Thenhesuddenlythrewouthisarmsinagesturewhosewholesignificanceitwouldhavebeendifficulttodescribe。Therewasakindofpassioninit。"I

amthelastMountDunstan，"heharshlylaughed。"Moiquivousparle！Thelast。"

Penzance’seyesrestingonhimtookuponthemselvesthefar—seeinglookofamanwhowatchestheworldoflifewithoutlivinginit。Hepresentlyshookhishead。

"No，"hesaid。"Idon’tseethat。No——notthelast。

Believeme。

Andsingularly，intruth，MountDunstanstoodstillandgazedathimwithoutspeaking。Theeyesofeachrestedintheeyesoftheother。And，ashadhappenedbefore，theyfollowedthesubjectnofurther。Fromthatmomentitdropped。

OnlyPenzancehadknownofhisreasonsforgoingtoAmerica。Eventhefamilysolicitors，gravelyholdinginterviewswithhimandrestrainingexpressionoftheirabsolutedisapprovalofsuchemploymentofhisinadequateresources，knewnomorethanthatthisMountDunstan，insteadofwastinghisbeggarlyincomeatCairo，orMonteCarlo，orinParisasthelastonehaddone，preferstowasteitinnewerplaces。

Theheadofthefirm，whenhebidshimgood—morningandleaveshimalone，merelyshrugshisshouldersandreturnstohisletterwritingwiththecornersofhiselderlymouthhardset。

Penzancesawhimoff——andmethimuponhisreturn。Inthelibrarytheysatandtalkeditover，and，havingdoneso，closedthebookoftheepisode……

Hesatatthetable，hiseyesuponthewide—spreadlovelinessofthelandscape，buthisthoughtelsewhere。Itwanderedovertheyearsalreadylivedthrough，wanderingbackwardseventothedayswhenexistence，openingbeforethechildeyes，wasabafflingandvaguelyunhappything。

WhenthedooropenedandPenzancewasusheredinbyaservant，hisfaceworethelookhisfriendwouldhavebeenrejoicedtoseesweptawaytoreturnnomore。

Thenletustakeouroldaccustomedseatandbeginsomecasualtalk，whichwilldrawhimoutoftheshadows，andmakehimforgetsuchthingsasitisnotgoodtoremember。Thatiswhatwehavedonemanytimesinthepast，andmayfinditwelltodomanyatimeagain。

Hebeginswithtalkofthevillageandthecountry—side。

Villagestoriesareoftenquaint，andstoriesofthecountry—

sidearesometimes——notalways——interesting。TomBenson’swifehaspresentedhimwithtriplets，andthereisgreatexcitementinthevillage，astothestepstobetakentosecurethethreeguineasgivenbytheQueenasarewardforthisfeat。OldBennyBateshasannouncedhisintentionoftakingafifthwifeattheageofninety，andisindignantthatithasbeensuggestedthattheparochialauthoritiesinchargeofthe"Union，"inwhichhemustinevitablyshortlytakerefuge，mayinterferewithhisrightsasacitizen。TheReverendLewishasbeentotalkseriouslywithhim，andfindshimatonceirateandobdurate。