V

eryoneofwhichshefellandsincewearenotsupposed,onpainofpunishment,todoanythingbutkeepveryuprightonourfeetaswetrudgealongthedustyroadoflife,nodoubtallthoseamiablestumblingswillbeimputedtoherintheendforsin."Thismanwashandedovertoyouquiteniceandkind,"onecanimagineJusticesayinginanawfulvoice"hisintentionstostartwithwerebeyondreproach.Doyounotremember,ontheeveofyourwedding,howhesworewithtearshewouldbegoodtoyou?Look,now,whatyouhavemadeofhim.Youhavepreventedhisbeinggoodtoyoubyyourownexcessivegoodnesstohim.Youhavespentyourtimenourishinghisbadqualities.Thoughhestillswears,heneverdoesitwithtears.Doyounotknowtheenormous,thealmostinsurmountabledifficultythereisinnotbullyingmeekness,innotrespondingtothecringerwithakick?Weakandunteachablewoman,awaywithyou." Certainlyitisagreatresponsibilitytakingamanintoone'slife.ItisalsoanastonishmenttomethatIwritethusindetailofMrs.Dawson,forshehasnothingwhatevertodowiththestory. "Whoisit?"askedMr.Dawsonimmediatelyadding,"SayI'mengaged." "Hegavenoname,sir.Hesayshewishestoseeyouonbusiness." "Business!Idon'tdobusinessatteatime.Sendhimaway." ButFritzing,forheitwas,wouldnotbesentaway.Priscillahadseenthecottageofherdreams,seenitalmostatonceonenteringthevillage,falleninstantlyandveryviolentlyinlovewithitregardlessofwhatitsinsidemightbe,andhadsenthimtobuyit.Shewaswaitingwhileheboughtitintheadjoiningchurchyardsittingonatombstone,andhecouldneitherlethersitthereindefinitelynordare,sogreatwashereagernesstohavethething,gobackwithoutatleastahopeofit.Thereforehewouldnotbesentaway."Yourmaster'sin,"heretorted,whenthemaidsuggestedheshoulddepart,"andImustseehim.Tellhimmybusinessispressing." "Willyougivemeyourcard,sir?"saidthemaid,waveringbeforethisdetermination. Fritzing,ofcourse,hadnocard,sohewrotehisnewnameinpencilonaleafofhisnotebook,addinghistemporaryaddress. "TellMr.Dawson,"hesaid,tearingitoutandgivingittoher,"thatifheissomuchengagedastobeunabletoseemeIshallgodirecttoLadyShuttleworth.Mybusinesswillnotwait." "Showhimin,then,"growledMr.DawsononreceivingthismessageforhefearedLadyShuttlewortheverybitasmuchasMrs.Dawsonfearedhim. Fritzingwasaccordinglyshownintotheroomusedasanoffice,andwasallowedtocoolhimselftherewhileMr.Dawsonfinishedhistea.ThethoughtofhisPrincesswaitingonatombstonethatmustbegrowingcoldereverymoment,forthesunwassetting,madehimatlastsoimpatientthatherangthebell. "Tellyourmaster,"hesaidwhenthemaidappeared,"thatIamnowgoingtoLadyShuttleworth."AndheseizedhishatandwasmakingindignantlyforthedoorwhenMr.Dawsonappeared. Mr.Dawsonwaswipinghismouth."Youseemtobeinagreathurry,"hesaidandglancingattheslipofpaperinhishandadded,"Mr.Newman." "Sir,"saidFritzing,bowingwithafreezingdignity,"Iam." "Well,soamI.Sitdown.WhatcanIdoforyou?Time'smoney,youknow,andI'mabusyman.You'reGerman,ain'tyou?" "Iam,sir.MynameisNeumann.Iamhere—" "Oh,Noyman,isit?IthoughtitwasNewman."Andheglancedagainatthepaper. "Sir,"saidFritzing,withawaveofhishand,"Iamheretobuyacottage,andthesoonerwecometotermsthebetter.Iwillnotwastevaluablemomentsconsideringnicetiesofpronunciation." Mr.Dawsonstared.Thenhesaid,"Buyacottage?" "Buyacottage,sir.IunderstandthatpracticallythewholeofSymfordisthepropertyoftheShuttleworthfamily,andthatyouarethatfamily'saccreditedagent.Ithereforeaddressmyselfinthefirstinstancetoyou.Now,sir,ifyouareunable,eitherthroughdisinclinationordisability,todobusinesswithme,kindlystatethefactatonce,andIwillstraightwayproceedtoLadyShuttleworthherself.Ihavenotimetolose." "I'mblessedifIhaveeither,Mr."—heglancedagainatthepaper—"Newman." "Neumann,sir,"correctedFritzingirritably. "Allright—Noyman.Butwhydon'tyouwriteitthen?You'vewrittenNewmanasplainasadoorpost." "Sir,Iamnotheretoexerciseyouintheproperpronunciationofforeigntongues.Thesematters,ofanimmenseelementarinessImustadd,shouldbeandgenerallyareacquiredbyallpersonsofanyeducationintheirchildhoodatsch