FERDINANDLOPEZ。

Itisacertaintyofservicetoamantoknowwhowerehisgrandfathersandwhowerehisgrandmothersifheentertainanambitiontomoveintheuppercirclesofsociety，andalsoofservicetobeabletospeakofthemasofpersonswhowerethemselvessomebodiesintheirtime。Nodoubtweallentertaingreatrespectforthosewhobytheirownenergieshaveraisedthemselvesintheworld。andwhenwehearthatthesonofawasherwomanhasbecomeLordChancellororArchbishopofCanterburywedo，theoreticallyandabstractedly，feelahigherreverenceforsuchself-mademagnatethanforonewhohasbeenasitwerebornintoforensicorecclesiasticalpurple。Butnotthelessmusttheoffspringofthewasherwomanhavehadverymuchtroubleonthesubjectofhisbirth，unlesshehasbeen，whenyoungaswellaswhenold，averygreatmanindeed。Afterthegoalhasbeenabsolutelyreached，andthehonourandthetitlesandthewealthactuallywon，amanmaytalkwithsomehumour，evenwithsomeaffection，ofthematernaltub——butwhilethestruggleisgoingon，withtheconvictionstronguponthestrugglerthathecannotbealtogethersuccessfulunlesshebeesteemedagentleman，nottobeashamed，nottoconcealtheoldfamilycircumstances，notatanyratetobesilent，isdifficult。

Andthedifficultyiscertainlynotlessiffortunatecircumstancesratherthanhardworkandintrinsicmerithaveraisedabovehisnaturalplaceanaspiranttohighsocialposition。Canitbeexpectedthatsuchaonewhendiningwithaduchessshallspeakofhisfather’ssmallshop，orbringintothelightofdayhisgrandfather’scobbler’sawl？Andyetitissodifficulttobealtogethersilent！Itmaynotbenecessaryforanyofustobealwaystalkingofourownparentage。Wemaybegenerallyreticentastoourunclesandaunts，andmaydropevenourbrothersandsistersinourordinaryconversation。Butifamannevermentionshisbelongingsamongthosewithwhomhelives，hebecomesmysterious，andalmostopentosuspicion。Itbeginstobeknownthatnobodyknowsanythingofsuchaman，andevenfriendsbecomeafraid。Itiscertainlyconvenienttobeabletoallude，ifitbebutonceinayear，tosomebloodrelation。

FerdinandLopez，whoinotherrespectshadmuchinhiscircumstancesonwhichtocongratulatehimself，sufferedtroubleinhismindrespectinghisancestorssuchasIhaveendeavouredtodescribe。Hedidnotknowverymuchhimself，butwhatlittlehedidknowhekeptaltogethertohimself。Hehadnofatherormother，nouncle，aunt，brotherorsister，nocousinevenwhomhecouldmentioninacursorywaytohisdearestfriend。Hesufferednodoubt——butwithSpartanconsistencyhesohidhistroublefromtheworldthatnooneknewthathesuffered。Thosewithwhomhelived，andwhospeculatedoftenandwonderedmuchastowhohewasneverdreamedthatthesilentman’sreticencewasaburdentohimself。Atnospecialconjunctureofhislife，atnoperiodwhichcouldbemarkedwiththefingeroftheobserver，didheglaringlyabstainfromanystatementwhichatthemomentmightbenatural。Heneverhesitated，blushed，orpalpablylabouredatconcealment。butthefactremainedthatthoughagreatmanymenandnotafewwomenknewFerdinandLopezverywell，noneofthemknewwhencehehadcome，orwhatwashisfamily。

Hewasaman，however，naturallyreticent，whoneveralludedtohisownaffairsunlessinpursuitofsomeobjectthewaytowhichwasclearbeforehiseyes。Silencethereforeonamatterwhichiscommoninthemouthsofmostmenwaslessdifficulttohimthantoanother，andtheresultlessembarrassing。DearoldJones，whotellshisfriendsattheclubofeverypoundthathelosesorwinsattheraces，whoboastsofMary’sfavoursandmournsoverLucy’scoldnessalmostinpublic，whoissuesbulletinsonthestateofhispurse，hisstomach，hisstable，andhisdebts，couldnotwithanyamountofcarekeepfromusthefactthathisfatherwasanattorney’sclerk，andmadehisfirstmoneybydiscountingsmallbills。Everybodyknowsit，andJones，wholikepopularity，grievesattheunfortunatepublicity。ButJonesisrelievedfromaburdenwhichwouldhavebrokenhispoorshoulders，andwhichevenFerdinandLopez，whoisastrongman，oftenfindsithardtobearwithoutwincing。

ItwasadmittedonallsidesthatFerdinandLopezwasa’gentleman’。Johnsonsaysthatanyotherderivationofthisdifficultwordthanthatwhichcausesittosignify’amanofancestry’iswhimsical。Therearemanywho，indefiningthetermfortheirownuse，stilladheretoJohnson’sdictum——buttheyadheretoitwithcertainunexpressedallowancesforpossibleexceptions。Thechancesareverymuchinfavourofthewell-bornman，butexceptionsmayexist。ItwasnotgenerallybelievedthatFerdinandLopezwaswellborn——buthewasagentleman。

Andthismostpreciousrankwasaccededtohimalthoughhewasemployed，——oratleasthadbeenemployed，——onbusinesswhichdoesnotofitselfgivesuchawarrantofpositionasissupposedtobeaffordedbythebarandthechurch，bythemilitaryservicesandbyphysic。HehadbeenontheStockExchange，andstillinsomemanner，notclearlyunderstoodbyhisfriends，didbusinessintheCity。

AtthetimewithwhichwearenowconcernedFerdinandLopezwasthirty-threeyearsold，andashehadbegunlifeearlyhehadbeenlongbeforetheworld。ItwasknownofhimthathehadbeenatagoodEnglishprivateschool，anditwasreported，onthesolitaryevidenceofoneofwhohadbeenthereashisschoolfellow，thatarumourwascurrentintheschoolthathisschoolbillswerepaidbyanoldgentlemanwhowasnotrelatedtohim。Thence，attheageofseventeen，hehadbeensenttoaGermanuniversity，andattheageoftwenty-onehadappearedinLondon，inastockbroker’soffice，wherehewassoonknownasanaccomplishedlinguist，andasaverycleverfellow，——precocious，notgiventomanypleasures，aptforwork，butconsideredhardlytrustworthybyemployers，notasbeingdishonest，butashavingatasteforbeingamasterratherthanaservant。Indeedhisperiodofservitudewasveryshort。Itwasnotinhisnaturetobeactiveonbehalfofothers。Hewassoonactiveforhimself，andatonetimeitwassupposedthathewasmakingafortune。

Thenitwasknownthathehadlefthisregularbusiness，anditwassupposedthathehadlostallthathehadevermadeorhadeverpossessed。Butnobody，notevenhisownbankers，orhisownlawyer，——noteventheoldwomanwholookedafterhislinen，——

everreallyknewthestateofhisaffairs。

Hewascertainlyahandsomeman，——hisbeautybeingofasortwhichmenareapttodenyandwomentoadmitlavishly。Hewasnearlysixfeettall，verydarkandverythin，withregularwell-

cutfeatures，indicatinglittletothephysiognomistunlessitbethegreatgiftofself-possession。Hishairwascutshort，andheworenobeardbeyondanabsolutelyblackmoustache。Histeethwereperfect，informandinwhiteness，——acharacteristicwhichthoughitmaybeavaluediteminageneralcatalogueofpersonalattraction，doesnotgenerallyrecommendamantotheunconsciousjudgmentofhisacquaintance。Butaboutthemouthandchinofthismantherewasasomethingofasoftness，perhapsintheplayofhislips，perhapsinthedimple，whichinsomedegreelessenedthefeelingofhardnesswhichwasproducedbythesquarebrowandbold，unflinching，combativeeyes。Theywhoknewhimandlikehimwerereconciledbythelowerface。Thegreaternumberwhoknewhimanddidnotlikehim，feltandresented，——eventhoughinninecasesoutoftentheymight，expressnoresentmenteventothemselves，——thepugnacityofhissteadyglance。

Forhewasessentiallyoneofthosemenwhoarealways，intheinnerworkingsoftheirminds，defendingthemselvesandattackingothers。Hecouldnotgiveapennytoawomanatacrossingwithoutalookwhicharguedatfulllengthherinjusticeinmakingherdemand，andhisfreedomfromallliabilitylethimwalkthecrossingasoftenashemight。Hecouldnotseathimselfinarailwaycarriagewithoutalessontohisoppositeneighbourthatinallthemutualaffairsoftravelling，arrangementoffeet，dispositionofbags，andopeningofwindows，itwouldbethatneighbour’sdutytosubmitandhistoexact。Itwas，however，forthespiritratherthanforthethingitselfthathecombatted。Thewomanwiththebroomgotherpenny。Theoppositegentlemanwhenoncebyaglancehehadexpressedsubmissionwasallowedhisownwaywiththelegsandwiththewindow。IwouldnotsaythatFerdinandLopezwaspronetodoill-naturedthings。buthewasimperious，andhehadlearnedtocarryhisempireinhiseye。

Thereadermustsubmittobetoldoneortwofurtherandstillsmallerdetailsrespectingtheman，andthenthemanshallbeallowedtomakehisownway。Nooneofthosearoundhimknewhowmuchcarehetooktodresshimselfwell，orhowcarefulhewasthatnooneshouldknowit。Hisverytailorregardedhimasbeingsimplyextravagantinthenumberofhiscoatsandtrousers，andhisfriendslookeduponhimasoneofthosefortunatebeingstowhosenaturebelongsafacilityofbeingwelldressed，oralmostanimpossibilityofbeingilldressed。Weallknowtheman，——alittlemangenerally，whomovesseldomandsoftly，——wholooksalwaysasthoughhehadjustbeensenthomeinabandbox。

FerdinandLopezwasnotalittleman，andmovedfreelyenough。

butnever，atanymoment，——goingintothecityorcomingoutofit，onhorsebackoronfoot，athomeoverhisbookorafterthemazesofthedance，——washedressedotherwisethanwithperfectcare。Moneyandtimedidit，butfolkthoughtthatitgrewwithhim，asdidhishairandhisnails。Andhealwaysrodeahorsewhichcharmedgoodjudgesofwhataparknagshouldbe——notaprancing，restless，giggling，sideway-going，uselessgarran，butananimalwellmade，wellbitted，withperfectpaces，onwhomariderifitpleasedhimcouldbeasquietasastatueinamonument。ItoftendidpleaseFerdinandLopeztobequietonhorseback。andyethedidnotlooklikeastatue，foritwasacknowledgedthroughallLondonthathewasagoodhorseman。Helivedluxuriouslytoo，——thoughwhetherathiseaseornotnobodyknew，——forhekeptabroughamofhisown，andduringthehuntingseason，hehadtwohorsesdownatLeighton。Therehadoncebeenabeliefabroadthathewasruined，buttheywhointerestthemselvesinsuchmattershadfoundout，——oratanyratebelievedthattheyhadfoundout，——thathepaidhistailorregularly：andnowthereprevailedanopinionthatFerdinandLopezwasamoniedman。

ItwasknowntosomefewthatheoccupiedroomsinaflatatWestminster，——buttoveryfewexactlywheretheroomsweresituate。Amongallhisfriendsnoonewasknowntohaveenteredthem。Inamoderatewayhewasgiventohospitality，——thatistoinfrequentbutwhentheoccasioncame，togracefulhospitality。Someclub，however，ortavernperhaps，inthesummer，someriverbankwouldbechosenasthesceneofthesefestivities。Toafew，——if，assuggested，amidstsummerflowersonthewater’sedgetomenandwomenmixed，——hewouldbeacourtlyandefficienthost。forhehadtheraregiftofdoingsuchthingswell。

Huntingwasover，andtheeastwindwasstillblowing，andagreatportionoftheLondonworldwasoutoftowntakingitsEasterholiday，whenonanunpleasantmorning，FerdinandLopeztravelledintothecitybytheMetropolitanrailwayfromWestminsterBridge。Itwashiscustomtogothitherwhenhedidgo，——notdailylikeamanofbusiness，butaschancemightrequire，likeacapitalistoramanofpleasure，——inhisownbrougham。Butonthisoccasionhewalkeddowntheriverside，andthenwalkedfromtheMansionHouseintoadingylittlecourtcalledLittleTankardYard，neartheBankofEngland，andgoingthroughanarrowdarklongpassagegotintoalittleofficeatthebackofabuilding，inwhichtheresatatadeskagreasygentlemanwithanewhatononesideofhishead，whomightperhapsbeaboutfortyyearsold。Theplacewasverydark，andthemanwasturningovertheleavesofaledger。Astrangertocitywaysmightprobablyhavesaidthathewasidle，buthewasnodoubtfillinghismindwiththateruditionwhichwouldenablehimtoearnhisbread。Ontheothersideofthedesktherewasalittleboycopyingletters。ThesewereMrSextusParker，——

commonlycalledSextyParker，——hisclerk。MrParkerwasagentlemanverywellknownandatthepresentmomentfavourablyesteemedontheStockExchange。’What，Lopez！’saidhe。

’Uncommongladtoseeyou。WhatcanIdoforyou？’

’Justcomeinside，——willyou？’saidLopez。NowwithinMrParker’sverysmallofficetherewasasmalleroffice，inwhichtherewereasafe，asmallricketyPembroketable，twochairs，andanoldwashing-standwithatumbledtowel。Lopezledthewayintothissanctumasthoughheknewtheplacewell，andSextyParkerfollowedhim。

’Beastlyday，isn’tit？’saidSexty。

’Yes，——anastyeastwind。’

’Cuttingoneintwo，withahotsunatthesametime。Oneoughttohybernateatthistimeoftheyear。’

’Thenwhydon’tyouhybernate？’saidLopez。

’Businessistoogood。That’saboutit。Amanhastosticktoitwhenitdoescome。Everybodycan’tdolikeyou——giveupregularwork，andmakeabetterthingofanhournowandanhourthen，justasitpleasesyou。Ishouldn’tdaregoinforthatkindofthing。

’Idon’tsupposeyouoranyoneelseknowwhatIgoinfor，’saidLopez，withalookthatindicatedoffence。

’Nordon’tcare，’saidSexty——’onlyhopeit’ssomethinggood，foryoursake。’SextyParkerhadknownMrLopezwell，nowforsomeyears，andbeinganoverbearingmanhimself，——somewhatevenofabullyifthetruthbespoken，——andbynomeansapttogivewayunlesshardpressed，hadoftentriedhis’hand’onhisfriend，ashehimselfwouldhavesaid。ButIdoubtwhetherhecouldrememberanyinstanceinwhichhecouldcongratulatehimselfonsuccess。Hewastryinghishandagainnow，butdiditwithafalteringvoice，havingcaughtaglanceofhisfriend’seye。

’Idaresaynot，’saidLopez。Thenhecontinuedwithoutchanginghisvoiceorthenatureofhiseye。’I’lltellyouwhatIwantyoutodonow。Iwantyournametothisbillforthreemonths。’

SextyParkeropenedhismouthandhiseyes，andtookthebitofpaperthatwastenderedtohim。Itwasapromissorynotefor750

pounds，which，ifsignedbyhim，wouldattheendofthespecifiedperiodmakehimliableforthatsumwereitnototherwisepaid。HisfriendMrLopezwasindeedapplyingtohimfortheassistanceofhisnameinraisingaloantotheamountofthesumnamed。Thiswasakindoffavourwhichamanshouldaskalmostonhisknees，——andwhich，ifsoasked，MrSextusParkerwouldcertainlyrefuse。AndherewasFerdinandLopezaskingit，who，SextusParkerhadlatterlyregardedasanopulentman，——andaskingitnotatallonhisknees，but，asonemightsay，atthemuzzleofapistol。’Accommodationbill！’saidSexty。’Why，youain’thardup，areyou？’

’I’mnotgoingjustatpresenttotellyoumuchaboutmyaffairs，andyetIexpectyoutodowhatIaskyou。Idon’tsupposeyoudoubtmyabilitytoraise750pounds。’

’Oh，dear，no，’saidSexty，whohadbeenlookedatandwhohadnotbornetheinspectionwell。

’AndIdon’tsupposeyouwouldrefusemeevenifIwerehardup，asyoucallit。’TherehadbeenaffairsbeforebetweenthetwomeninwhichLopezhadprobablybeenthestronger，andthememoryofthem，addedtotheinspectionwhichwasstillgoingon，washeavyuponpoorSexty。

’Oh，dear，no——Iwasn’tthinkingofrefusing，Isupposeafellowmaybealittlesurprisedatsuchathing。’

’Idon’tknowwhyyoushouldbesurprised，assuchthingsareverycommon。Ihappentohavetakenashareinaloanalittlebeyondmyimmediatemeans，andthereforewantafewhundreds。

ThereisnooneIcanaskwithabettergracethanyou。Ifyouain’t——afraidaboutit，justsignit。’

’Oh，Iain’tafraid，’saidSexty，takinghispenandwritinghisnameacrossthebill。Butevenbeforethesignaturewasfinished，whenhiseyewastakenawayfromthefaceofhiscompanionandfixeduponthedisagreeablepieceofpaperbeneathhishand，herepentedofwhathewasdoing。Healmostarrestedhissignaturehalf-way。Hedidhesitate，buthadnotpluckenoughtostophishand。’Itdoesseemtobeanoddtransactionallthesame，’hesaidasheleanedbackinhischair。

’It’sthecommonestthingintheworld，’saidLopezpickingupthebillinaleisurelyway，foldingitandputtingitintohispocket-book。’Haveournamesneverbeentogetheronabitofpaperbefore？’

’Whenwebothhadsomethingtomakebyit。’

’You’venothingtomakeandnothingtolosebythis。Gooddayandmanythanks，——thoughIdon’tthinksomuchoftheaffairasyouseemtodo。’ThenFerdinandLopeztookhisdeparture，andSextyParkerwasleftaloneinbewilderment。

’ByGeorge，——that’squeer，’hesaidtohimself。’Who’dhavethoughtofLopezbeinghardupforafewhundredpounds？Butitmustbeallright。Hewouldn’thavecomeinthatfashion，ifithadn’tbeenallright。Ioughtn’ttohavedoneitthough！Amanoughtnevertodothatkindofthing，——never，——never！’AndMrSextusParkerwasmuchdiscontentedwithhimself，sothatwhenhegothomethateveningtothewifeofhisbosomandhislittlefamilyatPondersEnd，hebynomeansmadehimselfagreeabletothem。Forthatsumof750poundssatuponhisbosomasheatehissupper，andlayuponhischestasheslept，——likeanightmare。

CHAPTER2

EVERETTWHARTON。

OnthatsamedayLopezdinedwithhisfriendEverettWhartonatanewclub，calledtheProgress，ofwhichtheywerebothmembers。

TheProgresswascertainlyanewclub，havingasyetbeenopenhardlymorethanthreeyears。butstillitwasoldenoughtohaveseenmanyofthehopesofitsearlyyouthbecomedimwithageandinaction。FortheProgresshadintendedtodogreatthingsfortheLiberalParty，——orratherforpoliticalliberalityingeneral，——andhadintruthdonelittleornothing。Ithadbeengotupwithconsiderableenthusiasm，andforawhilecertainfierypoliticianshadbelievedthatthroughtheinstrumentalityofthisinstitutionmenofgeniusandspirit，andnaturalpower，butwithoutwealth，——meaningalwaysthemselves，——wouldbesuppliedwithsureseatsinParliamentandaprobablyshareintheGovernment。Butnosuchresultshadbeenachieved。Therehadbeenawantofsomething，——somedeficiencyfeltbutnotyetdefined，——whichhadhithertobeenfatal。Theyoungmensaiditwasbecausenooldstagerwhoknewthewayofpullingthewireswouldcomeforwardandputtheclubinthepropergroove。Theoldmensaiditwasbecausetheyoungmenwerepretentiouspuppies。Itwas，however，nottobedoubtedthatthepartyofProgresshadbecomeslack，andthattheLiberalpoliticiansofthecountry，althoughaspecialnewclubhadbeenopenedforthefurtheranceoftheirviews，werenotatpresentmakingmuchway。

’Whatwewantisorganization，’saidoneoftheleadingyoungmen。Buttheorganizationwasnotasyetforthcoming。

Theclub，nevertheless，wentonitsway，likeotherclubs，andmendinedandsmokedandplayedbilliardsandpretendedtoread。

Somefewenergeticmembersstillhopedthatagooddaywouldcomeinwhichtheirgrandideasmightberealized，——butasregardedthemembersgenerally，theywerecontenttoeatanddrinkandplaybilliards。Itwasafairlygoodclub，——withasprinklingofLiberallordlings，acoupleofdozenofmembersofParliamentwhohadbeenmadetobelievethattheywouldneglecttheirpartydutiesunlesstheypaidtheirmoney，andtheusualassortmentofbarristers，attorneys，citymerchants，andidlemen。Itwasgoodenough，atanyrate，forFerdinandLopez，whowasparticularabouthisdinner，andhadanopinionofhisownaboutwines。Hehadbeenheardtoassertthat，forrealquietcomfort，therewasnotaclubinLondonequaltoit，buthishearerswerenotawarethatinthepastdayshehadbeenblack-balledattheTandtheG。ThesewereaccidentswhichLopezhadagiftofkeepinginthebackground。Hispresentcompanion，EverettWharton，had，aswellhimself，beenanoriginalmember——andWhartonhadbeenoneofthosewhohadhopedtofindintheclubastepping-stonetohighpoliticallife，andwhonowtalkedoftenwithidleenergyoftheneedfororganization。

’Formyself，’saidLopez，’IcanconceivenovainerobjectofambitionthanaseatintheBritishParliament。Whatdoesanymangainbyit？Thefewaresuccessfulworkveryhardforlittlepayandnothanks，——ornearlyequallyhardfornopayandaslittlethanks。Themanywhofailsitidlyforhours，undergoingthewearytaskoflisteningtoplatitudes，andenjoyinreturnthenowabsolutelyvaluelessprivilegeofhavingMPwrittenontheirletters。’

’Somebodymustmakethelawsforthecountry。’

’Idon’tseethenecessity。Ithinkthecountrywoulddouncommonlywellifitweretoknowthatnooldlawwouldbealteredornewlawmadeforthenexttwentyyears。’

’Youwouldn’thaverepealedthecornlaws？’

’Therearenocornlawstorepealnow。’

’Normodifytheincometax？’

’Iwouldmodifynothing。Butatanyrate，whetherlawsaretobealteredortobeleft，itisacomforttomethatIneednotputmyfingerintothatpie。ThereisonebenefitindeedinbeingintheHouse。’

’Youcan’tbearrested。’

’Well——that，asfarasitgoes，andoneother。Itassistsamaningettingaseatasthedirectorofcertaincompanies。

PeoplearestillsuchassesthattheytrustaBoardofDirectorsmadeupofmembersofParliament，andthereforeofcoursemembersaremadewelcome。ButifyouwanttogetintotheHouse，whydon’tyouarrangeitwithyourfather，insteadofwaitingforwhattheclubmaydoforyou？’

’Myfatherwouldn’tpayashillingforsuchapurpose。HewasneverintheHousehimself。’

’Andthereforedespisesit。’

’Alittleofthat，perhaps。Nomaneverworkedharderthanhedid，or，inhisway，moresuccessfully。andhavingseenoneafteranotherofhisjuniorsbecomemembersofParliament，whilehestucktotheattorneys，thereisperhapsalittlejealousyaboutit。’

’FromwhatIseeofthewayyouliveathome，Ishouldthinkyourfatherwoulddoanythingforyou，——withpropermanagement。

Thereisnodoubt，Isuppose，thathecouldaffordit？’

’Myfatherneverinhislifesaidanythingtomeabouthisownmoneyaffairsthoughhesaysagreatdealaboutmine。Nomaneverwascloserthanmyfather。ButIbelievehecouldaffordalmostanything。’

’IwishIhadsuchafather，’saidFerdinandLopez。’IthinkthatIshouldsucceedinascertainingtheextentofhiscapabilities，andinmakingsomeuseofthemtoo。’

Whartonnearlyaskedhisfriend，——almostsummonedcouragetoaskhim，——whetherhisfatherhaddonemuchforhim。Theywereveryintimate。andononesubject，inwhichLopezwasmuchinterested，theirconfidencehadbeenveryclose。Buttheyoungerandweakermanofthetwocouldnotquitebringhimselftothepointofmakinganinquirywhichhethoughtwouldbedisagreeable。Lopezhadneverbefore，inalltheirintercourse，hintedatthepossibilityofhishavingorhavinghadfilialaspirations。Hehadbeenasthoughhehadbeencreatedself-sufficient，independentofmother’smilkorfather’smoney。Nowthequestionmighthavebeenaskedalmostnaturally。Butitwasnotasked。

EverettWhartonwasatroubletohisfather，——butnotanagonizingtrouble，asaresomesons。Hisfaultswerenotofanaturetorobhisfather’scupofallitssweetnessandtobringgreyhairswithsorrowtothegrave。OldWhartonhadneverhadtoaskhimselfwhetherheshouldnow，atlength，lethissonfallintothelowestabysses，orwhetherheshouldyetagainstruggletoputhimonhislegs，againforgivehim，againpayhisdebts，againendeavourtoforgetdishonour，andplaceitalltothescoreofthoughtlessyouth。Haditbeenso，Ithinkthat，ifnotonthefirstorsecondfall，certainlyonthethird，theyoungmanwouldhavegoneintotheabyss，forMrWhartonwasasternman，andcapableofcomingtoaclearconclusiononthingsthatwerenearestandevendearesttohimself。ButEverettWhartonhadsimplyshownhimselftobeinefficienttoearnhisownbread。

Hehadneverdeclinedeventodothis，——buthadsimplybeeninefficient。Hehadnotdeclared，eitherbywordsorbyactions，thatashisfatherwasarichman，andashewasanonlyson，hewouldthereforedonothing。Buthehadtriedhishandthrice，andineachcase，afterbutshorttrial，hadassuredhimfatherandhisfriendsthatthethinghadnotsuitedhim。LeavingOxfordwithoutadegree，——forreadingoftheschoolsdidnotsuithim，——hehadgoneintoabanking-house，bynomeansasamereclerk，butwithanexpressedpropositionfromhisfather，backedbytheassentofapartner，thatheshouldworkhiswayuptowealthandagreatcommercialposition。Butsixmonthstaughthimthatbankingwasan’abomination’，andheatoncewentintoacourseofreadingwithabarrister。Heremainedatthistillhewascalled，——foramanmaybecalledwithverylittlecontinuouswork。Butafterhewascalledthesolitudeofhischamberswastoomuchforhim，andattwenty-fivehefoundthattheStockExchangewasthemartintheworldforsuchtalentsandenergiesashepossessed。Whatwasthenatureofhisfailureduringtheyearthathewentintothecity，wasknowonlytohimselfandhisfather，——unlessFerdinandLopezknewsomethingofitalso。Butatsix-and-twentytheStockExchangewasalsoabandoned。andnow，ateight-and-twenty，EverettWhartonhaddiscoveredthataparliamentarycareerwasthatforwhichnatureandhisspecialgeniushadintendedhim。Hehadprobablysuggestedthistohisfather，andhadmetwithsomecoldrebuff。

EverettWhartonwasagood-looking，manlyfellow，sixfeethigh，withbroadshoulderswithlighthair，wearingalargesilkybushybeard，whichmadehimlookolderthanhisyears，whoneitherbyhisspeechnorbyhisappearancewouldeverbetakenforafool，butwhoshowedbytheveryactionsofhisbodyaswellasbytheplayofhisface，thathelackedfirmnessofpurpose。Hecertainlywasnofool。Hehadreadmuch，andthoughhegenerallyforgotwhatheread，therewereleftwithhimfromhisreadingscertainnebulouslights，begottenbyothermen’sthinking，whichenabledhimtotalkonmostsubjects。Itcannotbesaidofhimthathedidmuchthinkingforhimself——buthethoughtwhathethought。Hebelievedofhimselfthathehadgoneratherdeepintopolitics，andthathewasentitledtocallmanystatesmenassesbecausetheydidnotseethethingswhichhesaw。Hehadthegreatquestionoflabour，andallthatreferstounions，strikes，andlock-outs，quiteathisfingers’ends。HeknewhowtheChurchofEnglandshouldbedisestablishedandrecomposed。

Hewasquiteclearonquestionsoffinance，andsawtoa’t’howprogressshouldbemadetowardscommunism，sothatnoviolenceshoulddisturbthatprogress，andthatinduecourseofcenturiesalldesireforpersonalpropertyshouldbeconqueredandannihilatedbyaphilanthropysogeneralashardlybeaccountedavirtue。Inthemeantimehecouldnevercontrivetopayhistailor’sbillregularlyoutoftheallowanceof400poundsayearwhichhisfathermadehim，andwasalwaysdreamingofthecomfortsofahandsomeincome。

Hewasapopularmancertainly，——verypopularwithwomen，towhomhewasalwayscourteous，andgenerallylikedbymen，towhomhewasgenialandgood-natured。Thoughhewasnothimselfawareofthefact，hewasverydeartohisfather，whoinhisownsilentwayalmostadmiredandcertainlylikedtheopennessandguilelessfreedomofacharacterwhichwasveryoppositetohisown。Thefather，thoughhehadneversaidawordtoflattertheson，didintruthgivehisoffspringcreditforgreatertalentthanhepossessed，and，evenwhenappearingtoscornthem，wouldlistentotheyoungman’sdiatribesalmostwithsatisfaction。

AndEverettwasverydearalsotoasister，whowastheonlyotherlivingmemberofthisbranchoftheWhartonfamily。Muchwillbesaidofherinthesepages，anditishopedthatthereadermaytakeaninterestinherfate。Buthere，inspeakingofthebrother，itmaysufficetosay，thatthesister，whowasendowedwithinfinitelyfinergiftsthanhis，didgivecredittothesomewhatpretentiousclaimsofherlessnoblebrother。

IndeedithadbeenperhapsamisfortunewithEverettWhartonthatsomepeoplehadbelievedinhim，——andafurthermisfortunethatsomeothershadthoughtitworththeirwhiletopretendtobelieveinhim。AmongthelattermightprobablybereckonedthefriendwithwhomhewasnowdiningattheProgress。Amanmayflatteranother，asLopezoccasionallydidflatterWharton，withoutpreconcertedfalsehood。Itsuitsonemantobewellwithanother，andtheonelearnsgraduallyandperhapsunconsciouslythewaytotakeadvantageofthefoiblesoftheother。NowitwasmostmaterialtoLopezthatheshouldstandwellwithallthemembersoftheWhartonfamily，asheaspiredtothehandofthedaughterofthehouse。Ofherregardhealreadythoughthimselfnearlysure。Ofthefather’ssanctiontosuchamarriagehehadreasontobealmostmorethandoubtful。Butthebrotherwashisfriend，——andinsuchcircumstancesamanisalmostjustifiedinflatteringabrother。

’I’lltellyouwhatitis，Lopez，’saidWharton，astheystrolledoutoftheclubtogether，alittleafterteno’clock，’themenofthepresentdaywon’tgivethemselvesthetroubletooccupytheirmindswithmatterswhichhave，orshouldhave，realinterest。

PopeknewallaboutwhenhesaidthatTheproperstudyofmankindisman。Butpeopledon’treadPopenow，oriftheydotheydon’ttakethetroubletounderstandhim。’

’Menaretoobusymakingmoney，mydearfellow。’

’That’sjustit。Money’saverynicething。’

’Verynice，’saidLopez。

’Butthesearchafteritisdebasing。Ifamancouldmakemoneyforfour，orsix，oreveneighthoursaday，andthenwashhismindofthepursuit，asaclerkinanofficewashesthecopiesandledgersoutofhismind，then——’

’Hewouldnevermakemoneyinthatway——andkeepit。’

’Andthereforethewholethingisdebasing。Amanceasestocareforthegreatinterestsoftheworld，oreventobeawareoftheirexistence，whenhiswholesoulisinSpanishbonds。Theywantedtomakeabankerofme，butIfoundthatitwouldkillme。’

’Itwouldkillme，IthinkifIhadtoconfinemyselftoSpanishbonds。’

’YouknowwhatImean。Youatanyrateunderstandme，thoughI

fearyouaretoofargonetoabandontheideaofmakingafortune。’

’Iwouldabandonitto-morrowifIcouldcomeintoafortunereadymade。Amanmustatanyrateeat。’

’Yes，——hemusteat。ButIamnotquitesure，’saidWhartonthoughtfully，’thatheneedthinkaboutwhatheeats。’

’Unlessthebeefissentupwithouthorseradish！’Ithadhappenedthatwhenthetwomensatdowntotheirdinnertheinsufficientquantityofthatvegetablesuppliedbythestewardoftheclubhadbeenallconsumed，andWhartonhadcomplainedofthegrievance。

’Amanhasarighttothatforwhichhehaspaid，’saidWharton，withmocksolemnity，’andifhepassesoverlachesofthatnaturewithoutobservation，hedoesaninjurytohumanityatlarge。I’mnotgoingtobecaughtinatrap，youknow，becauseIlikehorseradishwithmybeef。Well，Ican’tgofartheroutofmyway，asIhaveadealofreadingtodobeforeIcourtmyMorpheus。Ifyou’lltakemyadvice，you’llgostraighttothegovernor。

WhateverEmilymayfeel，Idon’tthinkshe’llsaymuchtoencourageyouunlessyougoaboutitafterthatfashion。Shehasprimnotionsofherown，whichperhapsarenotafterallsomuchamisswhenamanwantstomarryagirl。’

’GodforbidthatIshouldthinkthatanythingaboutyoursisterwasamiss！’

’Idon’tthinkthereismuchmyself。Womenaregenerallysuperficial，——butsomearehonestlysuperficialandsomedishonestly。Emilyatanyrateishonest。’

’Stophalfamoment。’ThentheysaunteredarminarmdownthebroadpavementleadingfromPallMalltotheDukeofYork’scolumn。’IwishIcouldmakeoutyourfathermoreclearly。Heisalwaysciviltome，buthehasacoldwayoflookingatmewhichmakesmethinkIamnotinhisgoodbooks。’

’Heislikethattoeverybody。’

’Ineverseemtogetbeyondtheskinwithhim。Youmusthaveheardhimspeakofmeinmyabsence。’

’Heneversaysverymuchaboutanybody。’

’Butawordwouldletmeknowhowthelandlies。YouknowmewellenoughtobeawarethatIamthelastmantobecuriousastowhatothersthinkofme。IndeedIdonotcareaboutitasmuchasamanshoulddo。Iamutterlyindifferenttotheopinionoftheworldatlarge，andwouldneverobjecttothecompanyofapleasantpersonbecausethepleasantpersonabusedmebehindmyback。WhatIvalueisthepleasantnessoftheman，andnotthelikingordislikingformyself。Butherethedearestaimofmylifeisconcerned，andImightbeguidedeitherthiswayorthat，ortomygreatadvantage，byknowingwhetherIstandwellorillwithhim。’

’YouhavedinedthreetimeswithinthelastthreemonthsinManchesterSquare，andIdon’tknowanyotherman，——certainlynootheryoungman，——whohashadsuchstrongproofofintimacyfrommyfather。’

’Yes，andIknowmyadvantages。ButIhavebeenthereasyourfriend，nothis。’

’Hedoesn’tcaretwopenceaboutmyfriends。IwantedtogiveCharlieSkateadinner，butmyfatherwouldn’thavehimatanyprice。’

’CharlieSkateisoutatelbows，andbetsatbilliards。Iamrespectable，——oratanyrateyourfatherthinksso。Yourfatherismoreanxiousaboutyouthanyouareawareof，andwishestomakehishousepleasanttoyouaslongashecandosotoyouradvantage。Asfarasyouareconcernedheratherapprovesofme，fancyingthatmyturnformakingmoneyisstrongerthanmyturnforspendingit。Nevertheless，helooksuponmeasafriendofyoursratherthanhisown。Thoughhehasgivenmethreedinnersinthreemonths，——andIownthegreatnessofhishospitality，——

Idon’tsupposeheeversaidawordinmyfavour。IwishIknewwhathedoessay。’

’Hesaysheknowsnothingaboutyou。’

’Oh——that’sit，isit？Thenhecanknownoharm。Whennexthesayssoaskhimhowmanyofthemenwhodineathishousehecansayasmuch。Goodnight——Iwon’tkeepyouanylonger。ButI

cantellyouthis——ifbetweenuswecanmanagetohandlehimrightly，youmaygetyourseatinParliamentandImaygetmywife——thatis，ofcourse，ifshewillhaveme。’

Thentheyparted，butLopezremainedinthepathway，walkingupanddownbythesideoftheoldmilitaryclub，thinkingofthings。Hecertainlyknewhisfriend，theyoungerWhartonintimately，appreciatingtheman’sgoodqualities，andbeingfullyawareoftheman’sweakness。ByhisquestionshehadextractedquiteenoughtoassurehimselfthatEmily’sfatherwouldbeadversetohisproposition。Hehadnotfeltmuchdoubtbefore，butnowhewascertain。’Hedoesn’tknowmuchaboutme，’

hesaid，musingtohimself。’Well，no。hedoesn’t——andthereisn’tverymuchthatIcantellhim。Ofcoursehe’swise，——aswisdomgoes。Butthen，wisemendodofoolishthingsatintervals。Thediscreetestofcitybankersaretalkedoutoftheirmoney。themostscrupulousofmatronsaretalkedoutoftheirvirtue。themostexperiencedofstatesmenaretalkedoutoftheirprinciples。Andwhocanreallycalculatechances？Menwholeadforlornhopesgenerallypushthroughwithoutbeingwounded——

andthefifthorsixthheircomestoatitle。’Somuchhesaid，palpably，thoughtohimselfwithhisinnervoice。Then——

impalpably，withnoeveninnervoice，——heaskedhimselfwhatchancehemighthaveofprevailingwiththegirlherself。andhealmostventuredtotellhimselfthatinthatdirection，heneednotdespair。

Inverytruthhelovedthegirlandreverencedher，believinghertobebetterandhigherandnoblerthanotherhumanbeings，——asamandoeswhenheisinlove。andsobelieving，hehadthosedoubtsastohisownsuccesswhichsuchreverenceproduces。

CHAPTER3

MRABELWHARTONQ。C。

Lopezwasnotamantoletgrassgrowunderhisfeetwhenhehadanythingtodo。Whenhewastiredofwalkingbackwardsandforwardsoverthesamebitofpavement，subjectallthewhiletoacoldeastwind，hewenthomeandthoughtofthesamematterwhilehelayinbed。Evenwerehetogetthegirl’sassurancesoflove，withoutherfather’sconsenthemightfindhimselffartherfromhisobjectthanever。MrWhartonwasamanofoldfashions，whowouldthinkhimselfill-usedandhisdaughterill-

used，andwhowouldthinkalsothatageneraloffencewouldhavebeencommittedagainstgoodsocialmanners，ifhisdaughterweretobeaskedforherhandwithouthispreviousconsent。Shouldheabsolutelyrefuse，——whythenthebattle，thoughitwouldbeadesperatebattle，mightperhapsbefoughtwithotherstrategy。

but，givingtothematterhisbestconsideration，Lopezthoughtitexpedienttogoatoncetothefather。Indoingthishewouldhavenosillytremors。Whateverhemightfeelinspeakingtothegirl，hehadsufficientself-confidencetobeabletoaskthefather，ifnotwithassurance，atanyratewithouttrepidation。

Itwas，hethought，probablethatthefather，atthefirstattack，wouldneitheraltogetheraccede，oraltogetherrefuse。

Thedispositionofthemanwasaversetotheprobabilityofanabsolutereplyatthefirstmoment。Theloverimaginedthatitmightbepossibleforhimtotakeadvantageoftheperiodofdoubtwhichwouldbecreated。

MrWhartonwasandhadforagreatmanyyearsbeenabarristerpractisingintheEquityCourts，——orratherinoneEquityCourt，forthroughoutalife’swork，nowextendingtonearlyfiftyyears，hehadhardlyevergoneoutofthesingleVice-

Chancellor’sCourtwhichwasmuchbetterknownbyMrWharton’snamethanbythatofthelesseminentjudgewhonowsatthere。

Hishadbeenaverypeculiar，averytoilsome，butyetprobablyaverysatisfactorylife。Hehadbegunhispracticeearly，andhadworkedinastuffgowntillhewasnearlysixty。Atthattime，hehadamassedalargefortune，mainlyfromhisprofession，butpartlyalsobythecarefuluseofhisownsmallpatrimonyandbyhiswife’smoney。Menknewthathewasrich，butnooneknewtheextentofhiswealth。Whenhesubmittedtotakeasilkgown，hedeclaredamonghisfriendsthathedidsoasasteppreparatorytohisretirement。Thealteredmethodofworkwouldnotsuithimathisage，nor，——ashesaid，——woulditbeprofitable。Hewouldtakehissilk，asahonourforhisdecliningyears，sothathemightbecomeabencherathisInn。Buthehadnowbeenworkingforthelasttwelveorfourteenyearswithhissilkgown，——almostashardasinyoungerdays，andwithpecuniaryresultsalmostasserviceable。andthoughfrommonthtomonthhedeclaredhisintentionoftakingnofreshbriefs，andthoughhedidnowoccasionallyrefusework，stillhewastherewithhismindasclearasever，andwithhisbodyapparentlyaslittleaffectedbyfatigue。

MrWhartonhadnotmarriedtillhewasforty，andhiswifehadnowbeentwoyearsdead。Hehadhadsixchildren，——ofwhombuttwowerenowlefttomakeahouseholdforhisoldage。Hehadbeennearlyfiftyyearswhenhisyoungestdaughterwasborn，andwasthereforenowanoldfatherofayoungchild。Buthewasoneofthosemenwho，asinyouththeyareneververyyoung，soinagearetheyneververyold。Hecouldstillridehiscobintheparkjauntily。anddidsocarefullyeverymorninginhislife，afteranearlycupofteaandbeforehisbreakfast。Andhecouldwalkhomefromhischamberseveryday，andonSundayscouldtotheroundoftheparksonfoot。Twiceaweek，onWednesdaysandSaturdays，hedinedatthatoldlawclub，theEldon，andplayedwhistafterdinnertilltwelveo’clock。Thiswasthegreatdissipationand，Ithink，thechiefcharmofhislife。InthemiddleofAugustheandhisdaughterusuallywentforamonthtoWhartonHallinHertfordshire，theseatofhiscousinSirAluredWharton——andthiswastheonedutyofhislifewhichwasaburdentohim。Buthehadbeenmadetobelievethatitwasessentialtohishealth，andtohiswife’s，andthentohisgirl’s，health，thatheshouldeverysummerleavetownforatime，——andwhereelsewastheretogo？SirAluredwasarelationandagentleman。EmilylikedWhartonHall。Itwastheproperthing。HehatedWhartonHall，butthenhedidnotknowanyplaceoutofLondonthathewouldnothateworse。HehadoncebeeninducedtogouptheRhine。buthadneverrepeatedtheexperimentofforeigntravel。EmilysometimeswentabroadwithhercousinsduringwhichperiodsitwassupposedthattheoldlawyerspentagooddealofhistimeattheEldon。Hewasaspare，thin，stronglymademan，withsparelightbrownhair，hardlyyetgrizzled，withsmallgreywhiskers，cleareyes，bushyeyebrows，withalonguglynose，onwhichyoungbarristershadbeenheardtodeclarethatyoumighthangasmallkettle，andwithconsiderablevehemenceoftalkwhenhewasopposedinargument。For，withallhiswell-knowncoolnessoftemper，MrWhartoncouldbecomeveryhotinanargument，whenthenatureofthecaseinhandrequiredheat。Ononesubjectallwhoknewhimwereagreed。Hewasathoroughlawyer。Manydoubtedhiseloquence，andsomedeclaredthathehadknownwelltheextentofhisownpowersinabstainingfromseekingthehigherhonoursofhisprofession。butnoonedoubtedhislaw。Hehadoncewrittenabook，——onthemortgageofstocksintrade。butthathadbeeninearlylife，andhehadneversincedabbledinliterature。

Hewascertainlyamanofwhommenweregenerallyafraid。Atthewhist-tablenoonewouldventuretoscoldhim。Inthecourtnooneevercontradictedhim。Inhisownhouse，thoughhewasveryquiet，theservantsdreadedtooffendhim，andwereattentivetohisslightestbehests。Whenhecondescendedtoridewithanyacquaintanceinthepark，itwasalwaysacknowledgedthatoldWhartonwastoregulatethepace。HisnamewasAbel，andallhislifehehadbeenknownasableAbe，——asilent，far-seeing，close-fisted，justoldman，who，wasnot，however，byanymeansdeficientinsympathyeitherwiththesufferingsorwiththejoysofhumanity。

ItwasEastertime，andthecourtswerenotsitting，butMrWhartonwasinhischamberasamatterofcourseatteno’clock。

Heknewnorealhomelycomfortselsewhere，——unlessatthewhist-

tableattheEldon。HeateanddrankandsleptinhisownhouseinManchesterSquare，buthecouldhardlybesaidtolivethere。

Itwasnottherethathismindwasawake，andthepowersofthemanwereexercised。Whenhecameupfromthedining-roomtojoinhisdaughterafterdinner，hewouldgethertosinghimasong，andwouldthenseathimselfwithabook。Butheneverreadinhisownhouse，invariablyfallingintoasweetandplacidslumber，fromwhichhewasneverdisturbedtillhisdaughterkissedhimasshewenttobed。Thenhewouldwalkabouttheroomandlookathiswatch，andshuffleuneasilythroughhalfanhour，tillhisconscienceallowedhimtotakehimselftohischamber。

Hewasamanofnopursuitsinhisownhouse。Butfromteninthemorningtilfive，oroftensix，intheevening，hismindwasactiveinsomework。Itwasnotnowalllaw，asitusedtobe。

Inthedraweroftheoldpieceoffurniturewhichstoodjustattherighthandofhisownarm-chairtherewerevariousbookshiddenaway，whichhewassometimesashamedtohaveseenbyhisclients，——poetryandnovels，andevenfairytales。FortherewasnothingMrWhartoncouldnotreadinhischambers，thoughtherewasnothingthathecouldreadinhisownhouse。Hehadalargepleasantroominwhichtosit，lookingoutfromthegroundfloorofStoneBuildingsontothegardensbelongingtotheInn，——andher，inthecentreofthemetropolis，butinperfectquietasfarastheoutsideworldwasconcerned，hehadlivedandstilllivedhislife。

AtaboutnoononthedayfollowingthatonwhichLopezhadmadehissuddenswooponMrParkerandhadthendinedwithEverettWharton，hecalledatStoneBuildings，andwasshownintothelawyer’sroom。HisquickeyeatoncediscoveredthebookwhichMrWhartonhalfhidaway，andsawuponitMrMudie’ssuspiciousticket。BarristerscertainlynevergettheirlawbooksfromMudie，andLopezatonceknewthathishoped-forfather-in-lawhadbeenreadinganovel。Hehadnotsuspectedsuchweakness，butarguedwellfromitforthebusinesshehadinhand。Theremustbeasoftspottobefoundabouttheheartofanoldlawyerwhospenthismorningsinsuchoccupation。’Howdoyoudo，sir？’

saidMrWhartonrisingfromhisseat。’Ihopeyouarewell，sir。’Thoughhehadbeenreadinganovelhistoneandmannerwereverycold。LopezhadneverbeeninStoneBuildingsbefore，andwasnotquitesurethathemightnothavecommittedsomeoffenceincomingthere。’Takeaseat，MrLopez。IsthereanythingIcandoforyouinmyway？’

Therewasagreatdealthatcouldbedone’inhisway’asfather，——buthowwasittobeintroducedandthecasemadeclear？Lopezdidnotknowwhethertheoldmanhadasyeteversuspectedsuchafeelingasthatwhichhenowintendedtodeclare。HehadbeenintimateatthehouseatManchesterSquare，andhadcertainlyingratiatedhimselfverycloselywithacertainMrsRoby，whohadbeenMrWharton’ssisterandconstantcompanion，wholivedinBerkeleyStreet，closeroundthecornerfromManchesterSquare，andspentverymuchofhertimewithEmilyWharton。Theyweretogetherdaily，asthoughMrsRobyhadassumedthepartofasecondmother，andLopezwaswellawarethatMrsRobyknewofhislove。IftherewasarealconfidencebetweenMrsRobyandtheoldman，theoldlawyerknewaboutitalso——butastothatLopezfeltthathewasinthedark。

Thetaskofspeakingtoanoldfatherisnotunpleasantwhentheloverknowsthathehasbeensmiledupon，and，infact，approvedforthelastsixmonths。Heisgoingtobepattedontheback，andmademuchof，andreceivedinthefamily。HeistobetoldthathisMaryorhisAugustahasbeenthebestdaughterintheworld，andwillthereforecertainlybethebestwife，andhehimselfwillprobablyonthatspecialoccasionbespokenofwithunqualifiedpraise，——andallwillbepleasant。Butthesubjectisoneverydifficulttobroachwhennopreviouslighthasbeenthrownonit。FerdinandLopez，however，wasnotthemantostandshiveringonthebrinkwhenaplungewasnecessary，——andthereforehemadehisplunge。’MrWharton，Ihavetakenthelibertytocalluponyou，becauseIwanttospeaktoyouaboutyourdaughter。’

’Aboutmydaughter！’Theoldman’ssurprisewasquitegenuine。

Ofcoursewhenhehadgivenhimselfamomenttothink，heknewwhatmustbethenatureofhisvisitor’scommunication。ButuptothatmomenthehadnevermixedhisdaughterandFerdinandLopezinhisthoughtstogether。Andnow，theideahavingcomeuponhim，helookedattheaspirantwithsevereandunpleasanteyes。Itwasmanifesttotheaspirantthatthefirstflashofthethingwaspainfultothefather。

’Yes，sir。Iknowhowgreatismypresumption。But，yethavingventured，Iwillhardlysaytoentertainanyhope，buttohavecometosuchastatethatIcanonlybyhappybyhoping，Ihavethoughtitbesttocometoyouatonce。’

’Doessheknowanythingofthis？’

’Ofmyvisittoyou？Nothing。’

’Ofyourintentions——ofyoursuitgenerally？AmItounderstandthatthishasanysanctionfromher？’

’Noneatall。’

’Haveyoutoldheranythingofit？’

’Notaword。Icometoaskyouforyourpermissiontoaddressher。’

’Youmeanthatshehasnoknowledgewhateverofyour，yourpreferenceforher。’

’Icannotsaythat。ItishardlypossiblethatIshouldhavelearnedtoloveherasIdowithoutsomeconsciousnessonherpartthatitisso。’

’WhatImeanis，withoutanybeatingaboutthebush，——haveyoubeenmakinglovetoher？’

’Whoistosaywhatmakingloveconsists，MrWharton？’

’Dit，sir，agentlemanknows。Agentlemanknowswhetherhehasbeenplayingonagirl’sfeelings，andagentleman，whenheisaskedasIhaveaskedyou，willatanyratetellthetruth。I

don’twantanydefinitions。Haveyoubeenmakinglovetoher？’

’Ithink，MrWharton，thatIhavebehavedlikeagentleman。andthatyouwillacknowledgeatleastsomuchwhenyoucometoknowexactlywhatIhavedoneandwhatIhavenotdone。Ihaveendeavouredtocommendmyselftoyourdaughter，butIhaveneverspokenawordoflovetoher。’

’DoesEverettknowofallthis？’

’Yes。’

’Andhasheencouragedit？’

’Heknowsofitbecauseheismyintimatefriend。Whoevertheladymighthavebeen，Ishouldhavetoldhim。Heisattachedtome，andwouldnotIthink，onhisownaccount，objecttocallmehisbrother。Ispoketohimyesterdayonthematterveryplainly，andhetoldmethatIoughtcertainlytoseeyoufirst。

Iquiteagreedwithhim，andthereforeIamhere。Therehascertainlybeennothinginhisconducttomakeyouangry，andIdonotthinkthattherehasbeenanythinginmine。’

Therewasadignityofdemeanourandaquietassuredcouragewhichhaditseffectupontheoldlawyer。Hefeltthathecouldnotstormandtalkinambiguouslanguageofwhata’gentleman’

wouldorwouldnotdo。Hemightdisapproveofthismanaltogetherasason-in-law，——andatthepresentmomenthethoughthedid，——butstillthemanwasentitledtoacivilanswer。Howwereloverstoapproachtheladiesoftheirloveinanymannermorerespectfulthanthis？’MrLopez，’hesaid，’youmustforgivemeifIsaythatyouarecomparativelyastrangertous。’

’Thatisanaccidentwhichwouldeasilybecuredifyourwillinthatdirectionwereasgoodasmine。’

’But，perhaps，itisn’t。Onehastobeexplicitinthesematters。Adaughter’shappinessisaveryseriousconsideration——

andsomepeople，amongwhomIconfessthatIamone，considerthatlikepeopleshouldmarrylike。Ishouldwishtoseemydaughtermarry，——notonlyinmyownsphere，neitherhighernorlower，——butwithsomeoneofmyownclass。’

’Ihardlyknow，MrWharton，whetherthatisintendedtoexcludeme。’

’Well，——totellyouthetruthIknownothingaboutyou。Idon’tknowwhoyourfatherwas，——whetherhewasanEnglishman，whetherhewasaChristian，whetherhewasaProtestant，——notevenwhetherhewasagentleman。ThesearequestionswhichIshouldnotdreamofaskingunderanyothercircumstances——wouldbematterswithwhichIshouldhavenopossibleconcern，ifyouweresimplyanacquaintance。Butwhenyoutalktoamanabouthisdaughter——？’

’Iacknowledgefreelyyourrightofinquiry。’

’AndIknownothingofyourmeans——nothingwhatever。I

understandthatyouliveasamanoffortune，butIpresumethatyouearnyourbread。Iknownothingofthewayinwhichyouearnit，nothingofthecertaintyoramountofyourmeans。’

’Thosethingsareofcoursemattersforinquiry。butmayI

presumethatyouhavenoobjectionwhichsatisfactoryanswerstosuchquestionsmaynotremove？’

’IshallneverwillinglygivemydaughtertoanyonewhoisnotthesonofanEnglishgentleman。Itmaybeaprejudice，butthatismyfeeling。’

’MyfatherwascertainlynotanEnglishgentleman。HewasaPortuguese。’Inadmittingthis，andsubjectinghimselfatoncetooneclearly-statedgroundofobjection，——theobjectionbeingonewhich，thoughadmitted，carriedwithitneitherfaultnordisgrace，——Lopezfeltthathehadgotacertainadvantage。HecouldnotgetoverthefactthathewasthesonofaPortugueseparent，butbyadmittingthatopenlyhethoughthemightavoidpresentdiscussiononmatterswhichmight，perhaps，bemoredisagreeable，buttowhichheneednotalludeiftheaccidentofbirthweretobetakenbythefatherassettlingthequestion。

’MymotherwasanEnglishlady，’headded，’butmyfathercertainlywasnotanEnglishman。Ineverhadthecommonhappinessofknowingeitherofthem。IwasanorphanbeforeI

understoodwhatitwastohaveaparent。’

Thiswassaidwithapathos，whichforthemomentstoppedtheexpressionofanyfurtherharshcriticismfromthelawyer。MrWhartoncouldnotinstantlyrepeathisobjectiontoaparentagewhichwasmatterforsuchmelancholyreflections。buthefeltatthesametimethatashehadluckilylandedhimselfonapositiveandundeniablegroundofobjectiontoamatchwhichwasdistastefultohim，itwouldbeunwiseforhimtogotoothermattersinwhichhemightbelesssuccessful。Bydoingso，hewouldseemtoabandonthegroundwhichhehadalreadymadegood。

Hethoughtitprobablethatthemanmighthaveanadequateincome，andyethedidnotwishtowelcomehimasason-in-law。

HethoughtitpossiblethatthePortuguesefathermightbeaPortuguesenobleman，andthereforeonewhomhemightbedriventoadmittohavebeensomesortofgentleman——butyetthismanwhowasnowinhispresenceandwhomhecontinuedtoscanwiththeclosestobservation，wasnotwhathecalledagentleman。Theforeignbloodwasproved，andthatwouldsuffice。AshelookedatLopez，hethoughtthathedetectedJewishsigns，buthewasafraidtomakeanyallusionstoreligion，lestLopezshoulddeclarehisancestorshadbeennotedasChristianssinceStJamesfirstpreachedinthePeninsula。

’IwaseducatedaltogetherinEngland，’continuedLopez，’tillI

wassenttoaGermanuniversityintheideathatthelanguagesoftheContinentarenotgenerallywelllearnedinthiscountry——I

canneverbesufficientlythankfultomyguardianfordoingso。’

’Idaresay——Idaresay。FrenchandGermanareveryuseful。I

haveaprejudiceofmyowninfavourofGreekandLatin。’

’ButIratherfancyIpickedupmoreGreekandLatinatBonnthanIshouldhavegothere，hadIstucktonothingelse。’

’Idaresay——Idaresay。YoumaybeanAdmirableCrichtonforwhatIknow。’

’Ihavenotintendedtomakeanyboast，sir，butsimplytovindicatedthosewhohadthecareofmyeducation。Ifyouhavenoobjectionexceptthatfoundedonmybirth，whichisanaccident——’

’Whenonemanisapeerandanotheraploughman，thatisanaccident。Onedoesn’tfindfaultwiththeploughman，butonedoesn’taskhimtodinner。’

’Butmyaccident，’saidLopezsmiling，’isonewhichyouwouldhardlydiscoverunlessyouweretold。HadIcalledmyselfTalbotyouwouldnotknowbutthatIwasasgoodanEnglishmanasyourself。’

’Amanofcoursemaybetakeninbyfalsehoods，’saidthelawyer。

’Ifyourhavenootherobjectionthanthatraised，IhopeyouwillallowmetovisitinManchesterSquare。’

’Theremaybetenthousandotherobjections，MrLopez，butI

reallythinkthattheoneisenough。OfcourseIknownothingofmydaughter’sfeelings。Ishouldimaginethatthematterisasstrangetoherasitistome。ButIcannotgiveyouanythinglikeencouragement。IfIamevertohaveason-in-law，IshouldwishtohaveanEnglishson-in-law。Idonotevenknowwhatyourprofessionis。’

’Iamengagedinforeignloans。’

’VeryprecariousIshouldthink。Asortofgambling，isn’tit？’

’Itisthebusinessbywhichmanyofthegreatestmercantilehousesinthecityhavebeenmade。’

’Idaresay——Idaresay——andbywhichtheycometoruin。I

havethegreatestrespectintheworldformercantileenterprise，andIhavehadasmuchtodoasmostmenwithmercantilequestions。ButIain’tsurethatIwishtomarrymydaughterintheCity。Ofcourseit’sallprejudice。Iwon’tdenythatongeneralsubjectsIcangiveasmuchlatitudeasanyman。butwhenone’sownheartisattacked——’

’Surelysuchapositionasmine，MrWharton，isnoattack！’

’Inmysenseitis。Whenamanproposestoassaultandinvadetheverykernelofanotherman’sheart，tosharewithhim，andindeedtotakefromhim，theverydearestofhispossessions，tobecomepartandparcelwithhimeitherforinfinitegoodorinfiniteevil，thenamanhasarighttoguardevenhisprejudicesaspreciousbulwarks。’MrWhartonashesaidthiswaswalkingabouttheroomwithhishandsinhistrouserpockets。’I

havealwaysbeenforabsolutetolerationinmattersofreligion，——havealwaysadvocatedtheadmissionofRomanCatholicsandJewsintoParliament，andeventotheBench。InordinarylifeIneverquestionaman’sreligion。ItisnothingtodowithmewhetherhebelievesinMahomet，orhasnobeliefatall。Butwhenamancomestoaskformydaughter——’

’IhavealwaysbelongedtotheChurchofEngland，’saidFerdinandLopez。

’LopezisatanyrateabadnametogotoaProtestantchurchwith，andIdon’twantmydaughtertobearitifIamveryfrankwithyou，asinsuchamattermenoughttounderstandeachother。

PersonallyIhavelikedyouwellenough，andhavebeengladtoseeyouatmyhouse。Everettandyouhaveseemedtobefriends，andIhavehadnoobjectiontomake。Butmarryingintoafamilyisaveryseriousthingindeed。’

’NomanfeelsthatmorestronglythanIdo，MrWharton。’

’Therehadbetterbeanendofit。’

’EventhoughIshouldbehappyenoughtoobtainherfavour？’

’Ican’tthinkthatshecaresaboutyou。Idon’tthinkitforamoment。Yousaythatyouhaven’tspokentoher，andIamsureshe’snotagirltothrowherselfataman’shead。Idon’tapproveit，andithadbetterfalltotheground。Itmustfalltotheground。’

’Iwishyouwouldgivemeareason。’

’BecauseyouarenotEnglish。’

’ButIamEnglish。Myfatherwasaforeigner。’

’Itdoesn’tsuitmyideas。IsupposeImayhavemyownideasaboutmyownfamily，MrLopez？Ifeelperfectlycertainthatmychildwilldonothingtodispleaseme，andthiswoulddispleaseme。Ifweweretotalkforanhour，Icouldsaynothingfurther。’

’IhopethatImaybeabletopresentthingstoyouinanaspectsoaltered，’saidLopezashepreparedtotakehisleave，’astomakeyouchangeyourmind。’

’Possibly——possibly，’saidWharton。’butIdonotthinkitispossible。Goodmorningtoyou，sir。IfIhavesaidanythingthathasseemedtobeunkind，putitdowntomyanxietyasafatherandtonottomyconductasaman。’Thenthedoorwasclosedbehindhisvisitor，andMrWhartonwasleftwalkingupanddownhisroomalone。Hewasbynomeanssatisfiedwithhimself。

Hefeltthathehadbeenrudeandatthesametimenotdecisive。

Hehadnotexplainedtothemanashewouldwishtohavedone，thatitwasmonstrousandoutofthequestionthatadaughteroftheWhartons，oneoftheoldestfamiliesinEngland，shouldbegiventoafriendlessPortuguese，aprobableJew，——aboutwhomnobodyknewnothing。Thenherememberedthatsoonerorlaterhisgirlwouldhaveatleast60，000pounds，afactofwhichnohumanbeingbuthimselfwasaware。Woulditnotbewellthatsomebodyshouldbemadeawareofit，sothathisgirlmighthavethechanceofsuitorspreferabletotheswarthysonofJudah？Hebegantobeafraid，ashethoughtofit，thathewasnotmanaginghismatterswell。HowwoulditbewithhimifheshouldfindthatthegirlwasreallyinlovewiththisswarthysonofJudah？

Hehadneverinquiredabouthisgirl’sheart，thoughtherewasonetowhomhehopedthathisgirl’sheartmightsomedaybegiven。Healmostmadeuphismindtogohomeatonce，soanxiouswashe。ButtheprospectofhavingtospendanentireafternooninManchesterSquarewastomuchforhim，asheremainedinhischambertilltheusualhour。

Lopez，ashereturnedfromLincoln’sInn，westwardtohisclub，was，onthewhole，contentedwiththeinterview。Hehadexpectedopposition。Hehadnotthoughtthecherrywouldfalleasilyintohismouth。Buttheconversationgenerallyhadnottakenthoseturnswhichhethoughtwouldbemostdetrimentaltohim。

CHAPTER4

MRSROBY。

MrWharton，ashewalkedhome，rememberedthatMrsRobywastodineathishousethatevening。Duringtheremainderoftheday，afterthedepartureofLopez，hehadbeenunabletotakehismindfromtheconsiderationofthepropositionmadetohim。Hehadtriedthenovel，andhehadtriedHugginsv。theTrusteesoftheCharityofStAmbox，acaseofundeniableimportanceinwhichhewasengagedonthepartofHuggins，butneitherwassufficientlypowerfultodiverthisthoughts。ThroughoutthemorninghewasimaginingwhathewouldsaytoEmilyaboutthisloverofhers，——

inwhatwayhewouldcommencetheconversation，andhowhewouldexpresshisownopinionshouldhefindthatshewasinanydegreefavourabletotheman。Shouldshealtogetherignoretheman’spretensions，therewouldbenodifficulty。Butifshehesitated，——if，aswascertainlypossible，sheshouldshowanypartialityfortheman，thentherewouldbeaknotwhichwouldrequireduntying。Hithertotheintercoursebetweenthefatheranddaughterhadbeensimpleandpleasant。Hehadgivenhereverythingshehadaskedfor，andshehadobeyedhiminalltheveryfewmattersastowhichhehaddemandedobedience。

Questionsofdiscipline，asfarastherehadbeenanydiscipline，hadgenerallybeenlefttoMrsRoby。MrsRobywastodineatManchesterSquareto-day，andperhapsitwouldbewellthatheshouldhaveafewwordswithMrsRobybeforehespoketohisdaughter。

MrsRobyhadahusband，butMrRobyhadnotbeenaskedtodineintheSquareonthisoccasion。MrsRobydinedintheSquareveryoften，butMrRobyveryseldom，——notprobablyaboveonceayear，onsomespecialoccasion。HeandMrWhartonhadmarriedsisters，buttheywerequiteunlikeincharacter，andhadneverbecomefriends。MrsWhartonhadbeennearlytwentyyearsyoungerthanhersister。andMrRobyayearortwoyoungerthanhiswife。Thetwomenthereforebelongedtodifferentperiodsoflife，MrRobyatthepresenttimebeingafloridyouthofforty。Hehadamoderatefortune，inheritedfromhismother，ofwhichhewassufficientlycareful。buthelovedraces，andreadsportingpapers。hewasaddictedtohuntingandbilliards。heshotpigeons，——and，soMrWhartonhaddeclaredcalumniouslymorethanoncetoanintimatefriend，——hadnotanHinhisvocabulary。

Thepoormandiddropanaspiratenowandagain。butheknewhisdefectandstrovehard，andwithfairaveragesuccess，toovercomeit。ButMrWhartondidnotlovehim，andtheywerenotfriends。PerhapsneitherdidMrsRobylovehimveryardently。

ShewasatanyratealmostalwayswillingtoleaveherownhousetocometotheSquare，andonsuchoccasionsMrRobywasalwayswillingtodineattheNimrod，theclubwhichitdelightedhimtofrequent。

MrWhartononenteringhisownhouse，methissononthestaircase。’Doyoudineathometo-day，Everett？’

’Well，sir，no，sir。Idon’tthinkIdo。IthinkIhalfpromisedtodinewithafellowattheclub。’

’Don’tyouthinkyou’dmakethingsmeetmoreeasilyabouttheendoftheyearifyoudinedoftenerhere，whereyouhavenothingtopay，andlessfrequentlyattheclub，whereyoupayforeverything？’

’ButwhatshouldIsaveyouwouldlose，sir。That’sthewayI

lookatit。’

’ThenIadviseyoutolookatittheotherway，andleavemetotakecareofmyself。Comeinhere，Iwanttospeaktoyou。’

Everettfollowedhisfatherintoadingybackparlour，whichwasfittedupwithbookshelvesandwasgenerallycalledthestudy，butwhichwasgloomyandcomfortlessbecauseitwasseldomused。

’IhavehadyourfriendLopezwithmeatmychambersto-day。I

don’tlikeyourfriendLopez。’

’Iamsorryforthat，sir。’

’HeisamantowhomIshouldwishtohaveagooddealofevidencebeforeIwouldtrusthimtobewhatheseemstobe。I

daresayhe’sclever。’

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