"Thereareseveralobjectionstoit，butI’lltakeitifyou’llalterit，"Mr。Locket’srathercurtnotehadsaid；andtherewasnowasteofwordsinthepostscriptinwhichhehadadded："Ifyou’llcomeinandseeme，I’llshowyouwhatImean。"ThiscommunicationhadreachedJerseyVillasbythefirstpost，andPeterBaronhadscarcelyswallowedhisleatherymuffinbeforehegotintomotiontoobeytheeditorialbehest。Heknewthatsuchprecipitationlookedeager，andhehadnodesiretolookeager——itwasnotinhisinterest；buthowcouldhemaintainagodlikecalm，principledthoughhewasinfavourofit，thefirsttimeoneofthegreatmagazineshadaccepted，evenwithacruelreservation，aspecimenofhisardentyounggenius？

Itwasnottill，likeachildwithasea-shellathisear，hebegantobeawareofthegreatroarofthe"underground，"that，inhisthird-classcarriage，thecrueltyofthereservationpenetrated，withthetasteofacridsmoke，tohisinnersense。Itwasreallydegradingtobeeagerinthefaceofhavingto"alter。"PeterBarontriedtofiguretohimselfatthatmomentthathewasnotflyingtobetraytheextremityofhisneed，buthurryingtofightforsomeofthosepassagesofsuperiorboldnesswhichwereexactlywhattheconductorofthe"PromiscuousReview"wouldbesuretobedownupon。

Hemadebelieve——asiftothegreasyfellow-passengeropposite——thathefeltindignant；buthesawthattothesmallroundeyeofthisstillmoredowntroddenbrotherherepresentedselfishsuccess。Hewouldhavelikedtolingerintheconceptionthathehadbeen"approached"bythePromiscuous；butwhatevermightbethoughtintheofficeofthatperiodicalofsomeofhisflightsoffancy，therewasnowantofvividnessinhisoccasionalsuspicionthathepassedthereforafamiliarbore。TheonlythingthatwasclearlyflatteringwasthefactthatthePromiscuousrarelypublishedfiction。Heshouldthereforebeassociatedwithadeviationfromasolemnhabit，andthatwouldmorethanmakeuptohimforaphraseinoneofMr。

Locket’sinexorableearliernotes，aphrasewhichstillrankled，abouthisshowingnosymptomofthefacultyreallycreative。"Youdon’tseemabletokeepacharactertogether，"thispitilessmonitorhadsomewhereelseremarked。PeterBaron，ashesatinhiscornerwhilethetrainstopped，considered，inthebefoggedgaslight，thebookstallstandardofliteratureandaskedhimselfwhosecharacterhadfallentopiecesnow。Tormentingindeedhadalwaysseemedtohimsuchafateastohavethecreativeheadwithoutthecreativehand。

Itshouldbementioned，however，thatbeforehestartedonhismissiontoMr。LockethisattentionhadbeenbrieflyengagedbyanincidentoccurringatJerseyVillas。Onleavingthehouse（helivedatNo。3，thedoorofwhichstoodopentoasmallfrontgarden），heencounteredtheladywho，aweekbefore，hadtakenpossessionoftheroomsonthegroundfloor，the"parlours"ofMrs。Bundy’sterminology。Hehadheardher，andfromhiswindow，twoorthreetimes，hadevenseenherpassinandout，andthisobservationhadcreatedinhismindavagueprejudiceinherfavour。Suchaprejudice，itwastrue，hadbeensubjectedtoaviolenttest；ithadbeenfairlyapparentthatshehadalightstep，butitwasstilllesstobeoverlookedthatshehadacottagepiano。Shehadfurthermorealittleboyandaverysweetvoice，ofwhichPeterBaronhadcaughttheaccent，notfromhersinging（forsheonlyplayed），butfromhergayadmonitionstoherchild，whomsheoccasionallyallowedtoamusehimself——underrestrictionsverypubliclyenforced——inthetinyblackpatchwhich，asaforecourttoeachhouse，washeld，inthehumblerow，tobeafeature。JerseyVillasstoodinpairs，semi-detached，andMrs。Ryves——suchwasthenameunderwhichthenewlodgerpresentedherself——hadbeenadmittedtothehouseasconfessedlymusical。Mrs。Bundy，theearnestproprietressofNo。3，whoconsideredher"parlours"（theywereadozenfeetsquare），evenmoreattractive，ifpossible，thanthesecondfloorwithwhichBaronhadhadtocontenthimself——Mrs。Bundy，whoreservedthedrawing-roomforacasualdressmakingbusiness，hadthreshedoutthesubjectofthenewlodgerinadvancewithouryoungman，remindinghimthatheraffectionforhisownpersonwasaproofthat，otherthingsbeingequal，shepositivelypreferredtenantswhowereclever。

ThiswasthecasewithMrs。Ryves；shehadsatisfiedMrs。Bundythatshewasnotasimplestrummer。Mrs。BundyadmittedtoPeterBaronthat，forherself，shehadaweaknessforaprettytune，andPetercouldhonestlyreplythathisearwasequallysensitive。Everythingwoulddependonthe"touch"oftheirinmate。Mrs。Ryves’spianowouldblighthisexistenceifherhandshouldproveheavyorherselectionsvulgar；butifsheplayedagreeablethingsandplayedtheminanagreeablewayshewouldrenderhimratheraservicewhilehesmokedthepipeof"form。"Mrs。Bundy，whowantedtoletherrooms，guaranteedonthepartofthestrangerafirst-classtalent，andMrs。

Ryves，whoevidentlyknewthoroughlywhatshewasabout，hadnotfalsifiedthissomewhatrashprediction。Sheneverplayedinthemorning，whichwasBaron’sworking-time，andhefoundhimselflisteningwithpleasureatotherhourstoherdiscreetandmelancholystrains。Hereallyknewlittleaboutmusic，andtheonlycriticismhewouldhavemadeofMrs。Ryves’sconceptionofitwasthatsheseemeddevotedtothedismal。Itwasnot，however，thatthesestrainswerenotpleasanttohim；theyfloatedup，onthecontrary，asasortofconsciousresponsetosomeofhisbroodingsanddoubts。

Harmony，therefore，wouldhavereignedsupremehaditnotbeenforthesingularlybadtasteofNo。4。Mrs。Ryves’spianowasonthefreesideofthehouseandwasregardedbyMrs。Bundyasopentonoobjectionbutthatoftheirowngentleman，whowassoreasonable。Asmuch，however，couldnotbesaidofthegentlemanofNo。4，whohadnotevenMr。Baron’sexcuseofbeing"littery"（hekeptabull-terrierandhadfivehats——thestreetcouldcountthem），andwhom，ifyouhadlistenedtoMrs。Bundy，youwouldhavesupposedtobedividedfromtheobnoxiousinstrumentbywallsandcorridors，obstaclesandintervals，ofmassivestructureandfabulousextent。Thisgentlemanhadtakenupanattitudewhichhadnowpassedintothephaseofcorrespondenceandcompromise；butitwastheopinionoftheimmediateneighbourhoodthathehadnotalegtostandupon，andonwhateversubjectthesentimentofJerseyVillasmighthavebeenvague，itwasnotsoontherightsandthewrongsoflandladies。

Mrs。Ryves’slittleboywasinthegardenasPeterBaronissuedfromthehouse，andhismotherappearedtohavecomeoutforamoment，bareheaded，toseethathewasdoingnoharm。Shewasdiscussingwithhimtheresponsibilitythathemightincurbypassingapieceofstringroundoneoftheironpalingsandpretendinghewasincommandofa"geegee"；butithappenedthatatthesightoftheotherlodgerthechildwasseizedwithafinerperceptionofthedrivable。HerushedatBaronwithaflourishofthebridle，shouting，"Ougeegee！"

inamannerproductiveofsomerefinedembarrassmenttohismother。

Baronmethisadvancebymountinghimonashoulderandfeigningtopranceaninstant，sothatbythetimethisperformancewasover——ittookbutafewseconds——theyoungmanfeltintroducedtoMrs。Ryves。

Hersmilestruckhimascharming，andsuchanimpressionshortensmanysteps。Shesaid，"Oh，thankyou——youmustn’tlethimworryyou"；andthenas，havingputdownthechildandraisedhishat，hewasturningaway，sheadded："It’sverygoodofyounottocomplainofmypiano。"

"Iparticularlyenjoyit——youplaybeautifully，"saidPeterBaron。

"Ihavetoplay，yousee——it’sallIcando。Butthepeoplenextdoordon’tlikeit，thoughmyroom，youknow，isnotagainsttheirwall。ThereforeIthankyouforlettingmetellthemthatyou，inthehouse，don’tfindmeanuisance。"

Shelookedgentleandbrightasshespoke，andastheyoungman’seyesrestedonherthetoleranceforwhichsheexpressedherselfindebtedseemedtohimtheleastindulgenceshemightcountupon。

Butheonlylaughedandsaid"Oh，no，you’renotanuisance！"andfeltmoreandmoreintroduced。

Thelittleboy，whowashandsome，hereuponclamouredforanotherride，andshetookhimupherself，tomoderatehistransports。Shestoodamomentwiththechildinherarms，andheputhisfingersexuberantlyintoherhair，sothatwhileshesmiledatBaronsheslowly，permittinglyshookherheadtogetridofthem。

"IftheyreallymakeafussI’mafraidIshallhavetogo，"shewenton。

"Oh，don’tgo！"Baronbrokeout，withasuddenexpressivenesswhichmadehisvoice，asitfelluponhisear，strikehimasthevoiceofanother。Shegaveavagueexclamationand，noddingslightlybutnotunsociably，passedbackintothehouse。Shehadmadeanimpressionwhichremainedtilltheotherpartytotheconversationreachedtherailway-station，whenitwassupersededbythethoughtofhisprospectivediscussionwithMr。Locket。Thiswasaproofoftheintensityofthatinterest。

TheaftertasteofthelaterconferencewasalsointenseforPeterBaron，whoquittedhiseditorwithhismanuscriptunderhisarm。HehadhadthequestionoutwithMr。Locket，andhewasinaflutterwhichoughttohavebeenasenseoftriumphandwhichindeedatfirsthesucceededinregardinginthislight。Mr。Lockethadhadtoadmitthattherewasanideainhisstory，andthatwasatributewhichBaronwasinapositiontomakethemostof。Buttherewasalsoascenewhichscandalisedtheeditorialconscienceandwhichtheyoungmanhadpromisedtorewrite。TheideathatMr。Lockethadbeensogoodastodisengagedependedforclearnessmainlyonthisscene；soitwaseasytoseehisobjectionwasperverse。ThisinferencewasprobablyapartofthejoyinwhichPeterBaronwalkedashecarriedhomeacontributionitpleasedhimtoclassifyasaccepted。Hewalkedtoworkoffhisexcitementandtothinkinwhatmannerheshouldreconstruct。Hewentsomedistancewithoutsettlingthatpoint，andthen，asitbegantoworryhim，helookedvaguelyintoshop-windowsforsolutionsandhints。Mr。LocketlivedinthedepthsofChelsea，inalittlepanelled，amiablehouse，andBarontookhiswayhomewardalongtheKing’sRoad。Therewasanewamusementforhim，afresherbustle，inaLondonwalkinthemorning；thesewerehoursthathehabituallyspentathistable，intheawkwardattitudeengenderedbythepoorpieceoffurniture，oneofthericketyfeaturesofMrs。Bundy’ssecondfloor，whichhadtoserveashisaltarofliterarysacrifice。Ifbyexceptionhewentoutwhenthedaywasyounghenoticedthatlifeseemedyoungerwithit；therewerelivelierindustriestoprofitbyandshop-girls，oftenrosy，tolookat；adifferentairwasinthestreetsandachaffoftrafficfortheobserverofmannerstocatch。Aboveall，itwasthetimewhenpoorBaronmadehispurchases，whichwerewhollyofthewanderingmind；

hisextravagances，forsomemysteriousreason，wereallmatutinal，andhehadaforeknowledgethatifeverheshouldruinhimselfitwouldbewellbeforenoon。Hefeltlavishthismorning，onthestrengthofwhatthePromiscuouswoulddoforhim；hehadlostsightforthemomentofwhatheshouldhavetodoforthePromiscuous。

Beforetheoldbookshopsandprintshops，thecrowdedpanesofthecuriosity-mongersandthedesirableexhibitionsofmahogany"doneup，"heused，byaninnocentprocess，tocommitluxuriousfollies。

HerefurnishedMrs。Bundywithafreedomthatcosthernothing，andlosthimselfinpicturesofatransfiguredsecondfloor。

OnthisparticularoccasiontheKing’sRoadprovedalmostunprecedentedlyexpensive，andindeedthisoccasiondifferedfrommostothersincontainingthegermofrealdanger。Foronceinawayhehadabadconscience——hefelthimselftemptedtopickhisownpocket。Heneversawacommodiouswriting-table，withelbow-roomanddrawersandafairexpanseofleatherstampedneatlyattheedgewithgilt，withoutbeingfreshlyremindedofMrs。Bundy’sdilapidations。

TherewereseveralsuchtablesintheKing’sRoad——theyseemedindeedparticularlynumeroustoday。PeterBaronglancedatthemallthroughthefrontsoftheshops，buttherewasonethatdetainedhiminsupremecontemplation。Therewasafineassuranceaboutitwhichseemedaguaranteeofmasterpieces；butwhenatlasthewentinand，justtohelphimselfonhisway，askedtheimpossibleprice，thesummentionedbythevolublevendormockedathimevenmorethanhehadfeared。Itwasfartooexpensive，ashehinted，andhewasonthepointofcompletinghiscomedybyapensiveretreatwhentheshopmanbespokehisattentionforanotherarticleofthesamegeneralcharacter，whichhedescribedasremarkablycheapforwhatitwas。

Itwasanoldpiece，fromasaleinthecountry，andithadbeeninstocksometime；butithadgotpushedoutofsightinoneoftheupperrooms——theycontainedsuchawildernessoftreasures——andhappenedtohavebutjustcometolight。Petersufferedhimselftobeconductedintoaninterminableduskyrear，wherehepresentlyfoundhimselfbendingoveroneofthosesquaresubstantialdesksofoldmahogany，raised，withtheaidoffrontlegs，onasortofretreatingpedestalwhichisfittedwithsmalldrawers，contractedconveniencesknownimmemoriallytotheknowingasdavenports。Thisspecimenhadvisiblyseenservice，butithadanold-timesolidityandtoPeterBaronitunexpectedlyappealed。

Hewouldhavesaidinadvancethatsuchanarticlewasexactlywhathedidn’twant，butastheshopmanpushedupachairforhimandhesatdownwithhiselbowsonthegentleslopeofthelarge，firmlid，hefeltthatsuchabasisforliteraturewouldbehalfthebattle。

Heraisedthelidandlookedlovinglyintothedeepinterior；hesatominouslysilentwhilehiscompaniondroppedthestrikingwords：

"Nowthat’sanarticleIpersonallycovet！"Thenwhenthemanmentionedtheridiculousprice（theywereliterallygivingitaway），hereflectedontheeconomyofhavingaliteraryaltaronwhichonecouldreallykindleafire。Adavenportwasacompromise，butwhatwasalllifebutacompromise？Hecouldbeatdownthedealer，andatMrs。Bundy’shehadtowriteonaninsincerecard-table。Afterhehadsatforaminutewithhisnoseinthefriendlydeskhehadaqueerimpressionthatitmighttellhimasecretortwo——oneofthesecretsofform，oneofthesacrificialmysteries——thoughnodoubtitscareerhadbeenliteraryonlyinthesenseofitshelpingsomeoldladytowriteinvitationstodulldinners。Therewasastrange，faintodourinthereceptacle，asiffragrant，hallowedthingshadoncebeenputawaythere。Whenhetookhisheadoutofithesaidtotheshopman："Idon’tmindmeetingyouhalfway。"Hehadbeentoldbyknowingpeoplethatthatwastherightthing。Hefeltrathervulgar，butthedavenportarrivedthateveningatJerseyVillas。

CHAPTERII。

"Idaresayitwillbeallright；heseemsquietnow，"saidthepoorladyofthe"parlours"afewdayslater，inreferencetotheirlitigiousneighbourandtheprecariouspiano。Thetwolodgershadgrownregularlyacquainted，andthepianohadhadmuchtodowithit。

Justasthisinstrumentserved，withthegentlemanatNo。4，asathemefordiscussion，sobetweenPeterBaronandtheladyoftheparloursithadbecomeabasisofpeculiaragreement，atopic，atanyrate，ofconversationfrequentlyrenewed。Mrs。RyveswassoprepossessingthatPeterwassurethateveniftheyhadnothadthepianohewouldhavefoundsomethingelsetothreshoutwithher。

Fortunatelyhowevertheydidhaveit，andhe，atleast，madethemostofit，knowingmorenowabouthisnewfriend，whowhen，widowedandfatigued，sheheldherbeautifulchildinherarms，lookeddimlylikeamodernMadonna。Mrs。Bundy，asaletteroffurnishedlodgings，wascharacterisedingeneralbyafamiliardomesticseverityinrespecttopicturesqueyoungwomen，butshehadthehighestconfidenceinMrs。Ryves。Shewasluminousaboutherbeingalady，andaladywhocouldbringMrs。Bundybacktoagratifiedrecognitionofoneofthosemanifestationsofmindforwhichshehadanindependentesteem。

Shewasprofessional，butJerseyVillascouldbeproudofaprofessionthatdidn’thappentobethewrongone——theyhadseensomethingofthat。Mrs。Ryveshadahundredayear（BaronwonderedhowMrs。Bundyknewthis；hethoughtitunlikelyMrs。Ryveshadtoldher），andfortherestshedependedonherlovelymusic。Baronjudgedthathermusic，eventhoughlovely，wasafraildependence；itwouldhardlyhelptofillaconcert-room，andheaskedhimselfatfirstwhethersheplayedcountry-dancesatchildren’spartiesorgavelessonstoyoungladieswhostudiedabovetheirstation。

Verysoon，indeed，hewassufficientlyenlightened；itallwentfast，forthelittleboyhadbeenalmostasgreatahelpasthepiano。

SidneyhauntedthedoorstepofNo。3hewaseminentlysociable，andhadestablishedindependentrelationswithPeter，afrequentfeatureofwhichwasanadventurousvisit，upstairs，topicturebookscriticisedfornotbeingALLgeegeesandwalkingstickshappilymoreconformable。Theyoungman’swindow，too，lookedoutontheiracquaintance；throughastarchedmuslincurtainitkepthisneighbourbeforehim，madehimalmostmoreawareofhercomingsandgoingsthanhefelthehadarighttobe。Hewascapableofashynessofcuriosityaboutherandofdumblittledelicaciesofconsideration。

Shedidgiveafewlessons；theywereessentiallylocal，andheendedbyknowingmoreorlesswhatshewentoutforandwhatshecameinfrom。Shehadalmostnovisitors，onlyadecentoldladyortwo，and，everyday，poordingyMissTeagle，whowasalsoancientandwhocamehumblyenoughtogovernesstheinfantoftheparlours。PeterBaron’swindowhadalways，tohissense，lookedoutonagooddealoflife，andoneofthethingsithadmostshownhimwasthatthereisnobodysobereftofjoyasnottobeabletocommandfortwopencetheservicesofsomebodylessjoyous。Mrs。Ryveswasastruggler（Baronscarcelylikedtothinkofit），butsheoccupiedapinnacleforMissTeagle，whohadlivedon——andfromanoblenursery——intoaperiodofdiplomasandhumiliation。

Mrs。Ryvessometimeswentout，likeBaronhimself，withmanuscriptsunderherarm，and，stillmorelikeBaron，shealmostalwayscamebackwiththem。Hervainapproachesweretothemusic-sellers；shetriedtocompose——toproducesongsthatwouldmakeahit。A

successfulsongwasanincome，sheconfidedtoPeteroneofthefirsttimeshetookSidney，blaseanddrowsy，backtohismother。Itwasnotononeoftheseoccasions，butoncewhenhehadcomeinonnobetterpretextthanthatofsimplywantingto（shehadafterallvirtuallyinvitedhim），thatshementionedhowonlyonesonginathousandwassuccessfulandthattheterribledifficultywasingettingtherightwords。Thisrightnesswasjustavulgar"fluke"——

therewerelotsofwordsreallycleverthatwereofnouseatall。

Petersaid，laughing，thathesupposedanywordsheshouldtrytoproducewouldbesuretobetooclever；yetonlythreeweeksafterhisfirstencounterwithMrs。Ryveshesatathisdelightfuldavenport（wellawarethathehaddutiesmorepressing），tryingtostringtogetherrhymesidioticenoughtomakehisneighbour’sfortune。Hewassatisfiedofthefinenessofhermusicalgift——ithadthetouchingnote。Thetouchingnotewasinherpersonaswell。

Thedavenportwasdelightful，aftersixmonthsofitstotteringpredecessor，andsuchare-enforcementtotheyoungman’sstylewasnotimpairedbyhissenseofsomethinglawlessinthewayithadbeengained。HehadmadethepurchaseinanticipationofthemoneyheexpectedfromMr。Locket，butMr。Locket’sliberalitywastodependontheingenuityofhiscontributor，whonowfoundhimselfconfrontedwiththeconsequenceofafrivolousoptimism。Thefruitofhislabourpresented，ashestaredatitwithhiselbowsonhisdesk，anaspectuncompromisingandincorruptible。Itseemedtolookupathimreproachfullyandtosay，withitsessentialfinish："Howcouldyoupromiseanythingsobase；howcouldyoupassyourwordtomutilateanddishonourme？"ThealterationsdemandedbyMr。Locketwereimpossible；theconcessionstotheplatitudeofhisconceptionofthepublicmindweredegrading。Thepublicmind！——asifthepublicHADamind，oranyprincipleofperceptionmorediscoverablethanthestareofhuddledsheep！PeterBaronfeltthatitconcernedhimtodetermineifhewereonlynotcleverenoughorifheweresimplynotabjectenoughtorewritehisstory。Hemightintruthhavehadlessprideifhehadhadmoreskill，andmorediscretionifhehadhadmorepractice。Humility，intheprofessionofletters，washalfofpractice，andresignationwashalfofsuccess。PoorPeteractuallyflushedwithpainasherecognisedthatthiswasnotsuccess，theproductionofgelidprosewhichhiseditorcoulddonothingwithontheonesideandhehimselfcoulddonothingwithontheother。Thetruthabouthislucklesstalewasnowthemorebitterfromhishavingmanaged，forsomedays，totasteitassweet。

Ashesatthere，baffledandsombre，bitinghispenandwonderingwhatwasmeantbythe"rewards"ofliterature，hegenerallyendedbytossingawaythecompositiondefloweredbyMr。LocketandtryinghishandatthesortoftwaddlethatMrs。Ryvesmightbeabletosettomusic。Successintheseexperimentswouldn’tbearewardofliterature，butitmightverywellbecomealabouroflove。Theexperimentswouldbepleasantenoughforhimiftheywerepleasantforhisinscrutableneighbour。Thatwasthewayhethoughtofhernow，forhehadlearnedenoughabouther，littlebylittle，toguesshowmuchtherewasstilltolearn。Tospendhismorningsovercheaprhymesforherwascertainlytoshirktheimmediatequestion；buttherewerehourswhenhejudgedthisquestiontobealtogethertooarduous，reflectingthathemightquiteaswellperishbytheswordasbyfamine。Besides，hedidmeetitobliquelywhenheconsideredthatheshouldn’tbeanutterfailureifheweretoproducesomesongstowhichMrs。Ryves’saccompanimentswouldgiveacirculation。

Hehadnotventuredtoshowheranythingyet，butonemorning，atamomentwhenherlittleboywasinhisroom，itseemedtohimthat，byaninspiration，hehadarrivedatthehappymiddlecourse（itwasanartbyitself），betweensoundandsense。Ifthesensewasnotconfuseditwasbecausethesoundwassofamiliar。

Hehadsaidtothechild，towhomhehadsacrificedbarley-sugar（ithadnoattractionforhisownlips，yetinthesedaystherewasalwayssomeofitabout），hehadconfidedtothesmallSidneythatifhewouldwaitalittleheshouldbeintrustedwithsomethingnicetotakedowntohisparent。Sidneyhadabsorbingoccupationand，whilePetercopiedoffthesonginaprettyhand，roamed，gurglingandsticky，abouttheroom。Inthismannerhelurchedlikealittletoperintotherearofthedavenport，whichstoodafewstepsoutfromtherecessofthewindow，and，ashewasfondofbeatingtimetohisintensestjoys，begantobangonthesurfaceofitwithapaper-

knifewhichatthatspothadchancedtofalluponthefloor。AtthemomentSidneycommittedthisviolencehiskindfriendhadhappenedtoraisethelidofthedeskand，withhisheadbeneathit，wasrummagingamongamassofpapersforaproperenvelope。"Isay，I

say，myboy！"heexclaimed，solicitousfortheancientglazeofhismostcherishedpossession。Sidneypausedaninstant；then，whilePeterstillhuntedfortheenvelope，headministeredanother，andthistimeadistinctlydisobedient，rap。Peterhearditfromwithinandwasstruckwithitsoddityofsound——somuchsothat，leavingthechildforamomentunderademoralisingimpressionofimpunity，hewaitedwithquickcuriosityforarepetitionofthestroke。Itcameofcourseimmediately，andthentheyoungman，whohadatthesameinstantfoundhisenvelopeandejaculated"Hallo，thisthinghasafalseback！"jumpedupandsecuredhisvisitor，whomwithhisleftarmheheldinduranceonhiskneewhilewithhisfreehandheaddressedthemissivetoMrs。Ryves。

AsSidneywasfondoferrandshewaseasilygotridof，andafterhehadgoneBaronstoodamomentatthewindowchinkingpenniesandkeysinpocketsandwonderingifthecharmingcomposerwouldthinkhissongasgood，orinotherwordsasbad，ashethoughtit。Hiseyesasheturnedawayfellonthewoodenbackofthedavenport，where，tohisregret，thetracesofSidney’sassaultwerevisibleinthreeorfouruglyscratches。"Confoundthelittlebrute！"heexclaimed，feelingasifanaltarhadbeendesecrated。Hewasreminded，however，oftheobservationthisoutragehadledhimtomake，and，forfurtherassurance，heknockedonthewoodwithhisknuckle。Itsoundedfromthatpositioncommonplaceenough，buthissuspicionwasstronglyconfirmedwhen，againstandingbesidethedesk，heputhisheadbeneaththeliftedlidandgaveearwhilewithanextendedarmhetappedsharplyinthesameplace。Thebackwasdistinctlyhollow；

therewasaspacebetweentheinnerandtheouterpieces（hecouldmeasureit），sowidethathewasafoolnottohavenoticeditbefore。Thedepthofthereceptaclefromfronttorearwassogreatthatitcouldsacrificeacertainquantityofroomwithoutdetection。

Thesacrificecouldofcourseonlybeforapurpose，andthepurposecouldonlybethecreationofasecretcompartment。PeterBaronwasstillboyenoughtobethrilledbytheideaofsuchafeature，themoresoaseveryindicationofithadbeencleverlyconcealed。Thepeopleattheshophadnevernoticedit，elsetheywouldhavecalledhisattentiontoitasanenhancementofvalue。Hislegendaryloreinstructedhimthatwheretherewasahiding-placetherewasalwaysahiddenspring，andhepriedandpressedandfumbledinaneagersearchforthesensitivespot。Thearticlewasreallyawonderofneatconstruction；everythingfittedwithaclosenessthatcompletelysavedappearances。

IttookBaronsomeminutestopursuehisinquiry，duringwhichhereflectedthatthepeopleoftheshopwerenotsuchfoolsafterall。

Theyhadadmittedmoreoverthattheyhadaccidentallyneglectedthisrelicofgentility——ithadbeenoverlookedinthemultiplicityoftheirtreasures。Henowrecalledthatthemanhadwantedtopolishitupbeforesendingithome，andthat，satisfiedforhisownpartwithitshonourableappearanceandaverseingeneraltoshinyfurniture，hehadinhisimpatiencedeclinedtowaitforsuchanoperation，sothattheobjecthadlefttheplaceforJerseyVillas，carryingpresumablyitssecretwithit，twoorthreehoursafterhisvisit。Thissecretitseemedindeedcapableofkeeping；therewasanabsurdityinbeingbaffled，butPetercouldn’tfindthespring。Hethumpedandsounded，helistenedandmeasuredagain；heinspectedeveryjointandcrevice，withtheeffectofbecomingsurerstilloftheexistenceofachamberandofmakinguphismindthathisdavenportwasararity。Notonlywasthereacompartmentbetweenthetwobacks，buttherewasdistinctlysomethingINthecompartment！

Perhapsitwasalostmanuscript——anice，safe，old-fashionedstorythatMr。Locketwouldn’tobjectto。Peterreturnedtothecharge，forithadoccurredtohimthathehadperhapsnotsufficientlyvisitedthesmalldrawers，ofwhich，intwoverticalrows，thereweresixinnumber，ofdifferentsizes，insertedsidewaysintothatportionofthestructurewhichformedpartofthesupportofthedesk。Hetookthemoutagainandexaminedmoreminutelytheconditionoftheirsockets，withthehappyresultofdiscoveringatlast，intheplaceintowhichthethirdontheleft-handrowwasfitted，asmallslidingpanel。Behindthepanelwasaspring，likeaflatbutton，whichyieldedwithaclickwhenhepresseditandwhichinstantlyproducedalooseningofoneofthepiecesoftheshelfformingthehighestpartofthedavenport——piecesadjustedtoeachotherwiththemostdeceptivecloseness。

Thisparticularpieceprovedtobe，initsturn，aslidingpanel，which，whenpushed，revealedtheexistenceofasmallerreceptacle，anarrow，oblongbox，inthefalseback。Itscapacitywaslimited，butifitcouldn’tholdmanythingsitmightholdpreciousones。Baron，inpresenceoftheingenuitywithwhichithadbeendissimulated，immediatelyfeltthat，butfortheoddchanceoflittleSidneyRyves’shavinghammeredontheoutsideatthemomenthehimselfhappenedtohavehisheadinthedesk，hemighthaveremainedforyearswithoutsuspicionofit。Thisapparentlywouldhavebeenaloss，forhehadbeenrightinguessingthatthechamberwasnotempty。Itcontainedobjectswhich，whetherpreciousornot，hadatanyratebeenworthsomebody’shiding。Theseobjectswereacollectionofsmallfiatparcels，oftheshapeofpacketsofletters，wrappedinwhitepaperandneatlysealed。Theseals，mechanicallyfigured，boretheimpressneitherofarmsnorofinitials；thepaperlookedold——ithadturnedfaintlysallow；thepacketsmighthavebeenthereforages。Baroncountedthem——therewerenineinall，ofdifferentsizes；heturnedthemoverandover，feltthemcuriouslyandsnuffedintheirvague，mustysmell，whichaffectedhimwiththemelancholyofsomesmotheredhumanaccent。Thelittlebundleswereneithernamednornumbered——therewasnotawordofwritingonanyofthecovers；buttheyplainlycontainedoldletters，sortedandmatchedaccordingtodatesortoauthorship。Theytoldsomeold，deadstory——theyweretheashesoffiresburnedout。

AsPeterBaronheldhisdiscoveriessuccessivelyinhishandshebecameconsciousofaqueeremotionwhichwasnotaltogetherelationandyetwasstilllesspurepain。Hehadmadeafind，butitsomehowaddedtohisresponsibility；hewasinthepresenceofsomethinginteresting，but（inamannerhecouldn’thavedefined）thiscircumstancesuddenlyconstitutedadanger。Itwastheperceptionofthedanger，forinstance，whichcausedtoremaininabeyanceanyimpulsehemighthavefelttobreakoneoftheseals。Helookedatthemallnarrowly，buthewascarefulnottoloosenthem，andhewondereduncomfortablywhetherthecontentsofthesecretcompartmentwouldbeheldinequitytobethepropertyofthepeopleintheKing’sRoad。Hehadgivenmoneyforthedavenport，buthadhegivenmoneyfortheseburiedpapers？Hepaidbyagrowingconsciousnessthatanamelesschillhadstolenintotheairthepenalty，whichhehadmanyatimepaidbefore，ofbeingmadeofsensitivestuff。Itwasasifanoccasionhadinsidiouslyarisenforasacrifice——asacrificeforthesakeofafinesuperstition，somethinglikehonourorkindnessorjustice，somethingindeedperhapsevenfinerstill——adifficultdecipheringofduty，animpossibletantalisingwisdom。

Standingtherebeforehisambiguoustreasureandlosinghimselfforthemomentinthesenseofadawningcomplication，hewasstartledbyalight，quicktapatthedoorofhissitting-room。Instinctively，beforeanswering，helistenedaninstant——hewasintheattitudeofamisersurprisedwhilecountinghishoard。Thenheanswered"Onemoment，please！"andslippedthelittleheapofpacketsintothebiggestofthedrawersofthedavenport，whichhappenedtobeopen。

Theapertureofthefalsebackwasstillgaping，andhehadnottimetoworkbackthespring。Hehastilylaidabigbookovertheplaceandthenwentandopenedhisdoor。

Itofferedhimasightnonethelessagreeableforbeingunexpected——

thegracefulandagitatedfigureofMrs。Ryves。Heragitationwassovisiblethathethoughtatfirstthatsomethingdreadfulhadhappenedtoherchild——thatshehadrusheduptoaskforhelp，tobeghimtogoforthedoctor。Thenheperceivedthatitwasprobablyconnectedwiththedesperateverseshehadtransmittedtoheraquarterofanhourbefore；forshehadhisopenmanuscriptinonehandandwasnervouslypullingitaboutwiththeother。Shelookedfrightenedandpretty，andif，ininvadingtheprivacyofafellow-lodger，shehadbeenguiltyofadeparturefromrigidcustom，shewasatleastconsciousoftheenormityofthestepandincapableoftreatingitwithlevity。ThelevitywasforPeterBaron，whoendeavoured，however，toclothehisfamiliaritywithrespect，pushingforwardtheseatofhonourandrepeatingthatherejoicedinsuchavisit。Thevisitorcamein，leavingthedoorajar，andafteraminuteduringwhich，tohelpher，hechargedherwiththepurposeoftellinghimthatheoughttobeashamedtosendherdownsuchrubbish，sherecoveredherselfsufficientlytostammeroutthathissongwasexactlywhatshehadbeenlookingforandthatafterreadingitshehadbeenseizedwithanextraordinary，irresistibleimpulse——thatofthankinghimforitinpersonandwithoutdelay。

"Itwastheimpulseofakindnature，"hesaid，"andIcan’ttellyouwhatpleasureyougiveme。"

Shedeclinedtositdown，andevidentlywishedtoappeartohavecomebutforafewseconds。Shelookedconfusedlyattheplaceinwhichshefoundherself，andwhenhereyesmethisowntheystruckhimasanxiousandappealing。Shewasevidentlynotthinkingofhissong，thoughshesaidthreeorfourtimesoverthatitwasbeautiful。

"Well，Ionlywantedyoutoknow，andnowImustgo，"sheadded；butonhishearthrugshelingeredwithsuchanoddhelplessnessthathefeltalmostsorryforher。

"PerhapsIcanimproveitifyoufinditdoesn’tgo，"saidBaron。

"I’msodelightedtodoanythingforyouIcan。"

"Theremaybeawordortwothatmightbechanged，"sheanswered，ratherabsently。"Ishallhavetothinkitover，tolivewithitalittle。ButIlikeit，andthat’sallIwantedtosay。"

"Charmingofyou。I’mnotabitbusy，"saidBaron。

Againshelookedathimwithatroubledintensity，thensuddenlyshedemanded："Isthereanythingthematterwithyou？"

"Thematterwithme？"

"Imeanlikebeingillorworried。Iwonderediftheremightbe；I

hadasuddenfancy；andthat，Ithink，isreallywhyIcameup。"

"Thereisn’t，indeed；I’mallright。Butyoursuddenfanciesareinspirations。"

"It’sabsurd。Youmustexcuseme。Good-by！"saidMrs。Ryves。

"Whatarethewordsyouwantchanged？"Baronasked。

"Idon’twantany——ifyou’reallright。Good-by，"hisvisitorrepeated，fixinghereyesaninstantonanobjectonhisdeskthathadcaughtthem。Hisownglancedinthesamedirectionandhesawthatinhishurrytoshuffleawaythepacketsfoundinthedavenporthehadoverlookedoneofthem，whichlaywithitssealsexposed。Foraninstanthefeltfoundout，asifhehadbeenconcernedinsomethingtobeashamedof，anditwasonlyhisquicksecondthoughtthattoldhimhowlittletheincidentofwhichthepacketwasasequelwasanaffairofMrs。Ryves’s。Herconsciouseyescamebacktohisasiftheyweresoundingthem，andsuddenlythisinstinctofkeepinghisdiscoverytohimselfwassucceededbyareallystartledinferencethat，withtherarestalertness，shehadguessedsomethingandthatherguess（itseemedalmostsupernatural），hadbeenherrealmotive。Somesecretsympathyhadmadehervibrate——hadtouchedherwiththeknowledgethathehadbroughtsomethingtolight。Afteraninstanthesawthatshealsodivinedtheveryreflectionhewasthenmaking，andthisgavehimalivelydesire，agrateful，happydesire，toappeartohavenothingtoconceal。Forherself，itdeterminedherstillmoretoputanendtohermomentaryvisit。Butbeforeshehadpassedtothedoorheexclaimed："Allright？Howcanafellowbeanythingelsewhohasjusthadsuchafind？"

Shepausedatthis，stilllookingearnestandasking："Whathaveyoufound？"

"Someancientfamilypapers，inasecretcompartmentofmywriting-

table。"Andhetookupthepackethehadleftout，holdingitbeforehereyes。"Alotofotherthingslikethat。"

"Whatarethey？"murmuredMrs。Ryves。

"Ihaven’ttheleastidea。They’resealed。"

"Youhaven’tbrokentheseals？"Shehadcomefurtherback。

"Ihaven’thadtime；itonlyhappenedtenminutesago。"

"Iknewit，"saidMrs。Ryves，moregailynow。

"Whatdidyouknow？"

"Thatyouwereinsomepredicament。"

"You’reextraordinary。Ineverheardofanythingsomiraculous；downtwoflightsofstairs。"

"AREyouinaquandary？"thevisitorasked。

"Yes，aboutgivingthemback。"PeterBaronstoodsmilingatherandrappinghispacketonthepalmofhishand。"Whatdoyouadvise？"

Sheherselfsmilednow，withhereyesonthesealedparcel。"Backtowhom？"

"ThemanofwhomIboughtthetable。"

"Ahthen，they’renotfromYOURfamily？"

"Noindeed，thepieceoffurnitureinwhichtheywerehiddenisnotanancestralpossession。Iboughtitatsecondhand——youseeit’sold——theotherdayintheKing’sRoad。Obviouslythemanwhosoldittomesoldmemorethanhemeant；hehadnoidea（fromhisownpointofviewitwasstupidofhim），thattherewasahiddenchamberorthatmysteriousdocumentswereburiedthere。OughtItogoandtellhim？It’sratheranicequestion。"

"Arethepapersofvalue？"Mrs。Ryvesinquired。

"Ihaven’ttheleastidea。ButIcanascertainbybreakingaseal。"

"Don’t！"saidMrs。Ryves，withmuchexpression。Shelookedgraveagain。

"It’srathertantalising——it’sabitofaproblem，"Baronwenton，turninghispacketover。

Mrs。Ryveshesitated。"Willyoushowmewhatyouhaveinyourhand？"

Hegaveherthepacket，andshelookedatitandhelditforaninstanttohernose。"Ithasaqueer，charmingoldfragrance，"hesaid。

"Charming？It’shorrid。"Shehandedhimbackthepacket，sayingagainmoreemphatically"Don’t！"

"Don’tbreakaseal？"

"Don’tgivebackthepapers。"

"Isithonesttokeepthem？"

"Certainly。They’reyoursasmuchasthepeople’softheshop。Theywereinthehiddenchamberwhenthetablecametotheshop，andthepeoplehadeveryopportunitytofindthemout。Theydidn’t——

thereforeletthemtaketheconsequences。"

PeterBaronreflected，divertedbyherintensity。Shewaspale，witheyesalmostardent。"Thetablehadbeenintheplaceforyears。"

"Thatprovesthethingshaven’tbeenmissed。"

"Letmeshowyouhowtheywereconcealed，"herejoined；andheexhibitedtheingeniousrecessandtheworkingofthecuriousspring。

Shewasgreatlyinterested，shegrewexcitedandbecamefamiliar；sheappealedtohimagainnottodoanythingsofoolishastogiveupthepapers，therestofwhich，intheirlittleblank，impenetrablecovers，heplacedinarowbeforeher。"Theymightbetraced——theirhistory，theirownership，"heargued；towhichsherepliedthatthiswasexactlywhyheoughttobequiet。Hedeclaredthatwomenhadnotthesmallestsenseofhonour，andsheretortedthatatanyratetheyhaveotherperceptionsmoredelicatethanthoseofmen。Headmittedthatthepapersmightberubbish，andsheconcededthatnothingwasmoreprobable；yetwhenheofferedtosettlethepointoff-handshecaughthimbythewrist，acknowledgingthat，absurdasitwas，shewasnervous。Finallysheputthewholethingonthegroundofhisjustdoingherafavour。Sheaskedhimtoretainthepapers，tobesilentaboutthem，simplybecauseitwouldpleaseher。Thatwouldbereasonenough。Baron’sacquaintance，hisagreeablerelationswithher，advancedmanystepsinthetreatmentofthisquestion；anelementoffriendlycandourmadeitswayintotheirdiscussionofit。

"Ican’tmakeoutwhyitmatterstoyou，onewayortheother，norwhyyoushouldthinkitworthtalkingabout，"theyoungmanreasoned。

"NeithercanI。It’sjustawhim。"

"Certainly，ifitwillgiveyouanypleasure，I’llsaynothingattheshop。"

"That’scharmingofyou，andI’mverygrateful。Iseenowthatthiswaswhythespiritmovedmetocomeup——tosavethem，"Mrs。Ryveswenton。Sheadded，movingaway，thatnowshehadsavedthemshemustreallygo。

"Tosavethemforwhat，ifImayn’tbreaktheseals？"Baronasked。

"Idon’tknow——forageneroussacrifice。"

"Whyshoulditbegenerous？What’satstake？"Peterdemanded，leaningagainstthedoorpostasshestoodonthelanding。

"Idon’tknowwhat，butIfeelasifsomethingorotherwereinperil。Burnthemup！"sheexclaimedwithshiningeyes。

"Ah，youasktoomuch——I’msocuriousaboutthem！"

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