CHAPTER XVIII. WHICH THE GENTEEL READER IS RECOMMENDED TO SKIP, LOW PERSONS BEING HERE INTRODUCED.

ntheart.Hehadapleasureinlookingather,ashehadinexaminingrareflowersorinseeingpleasantlandscapes.BoththeladieslikedWilliamitwastheirdelighttolendhimbooks,togivehimplantsandtheypreferredhisconversationfarbeforethatofmanycoarse,hard,pretentiouspeopleimmeasurablyhigherinstation. "Whowasspeaking,William,whenyoucameout?"askedShirley. "Agentlemanyesetadealofstoreon,MissShirley—Mr.Donne." "Youlookknowing,William.HowdidyoufindoutmyregardforMr.Donne?" "Ay,MissShirley,there'sagleglighti'youreensometimeswhichbetraysyou.YoulookraightdownscornfulsometimeswhenMr.Donneisby." "Doyoulikehimyourself,William?" "Me?I'mstalledo't'curates,andsoist'wife.They'venomanners.Theytalktopoorfolkfairasiftheythoughttheywerebeneaththem.They'reallusmagnifyingtheiroffice.Itisapitybuttheirofficecouldmagnifythembutitdoesnoughto't'soart.Ifairhatepride." "Butyouareproudinyourownwayyourself,"interposedCaroline."Youarewhatyoucallhouse-proud:youliketohaveeverythinghandsomeaboutyou.Sometimesyoulookasifyouwerealmosttooproudtotakeyourwages.Whenyouwereoutofwork,youweretooproudtogetanythingoncredit.Butforyourchildren,IbelieveyouwouldratherhavestarvedthangonetotheshopswithoutmoneyandwhenIwantedtogiveyousomething,whatadifficultyIhadinmakingyoutakeit!" "Itispartlytrue,MissCaroline.OnydayI'drathergivethantake,especiallyfromsichasye.Lookatt'differencebetweenus.Ye'realittle,young,slenderlass,andI'magreatstrongmanI'mrathermorenortwiceyourage.Itisnotmypart,then,Ithink,totakfro'ye—tobeunderobligations(astheysay)toye.Andthatdayyecametoourhouse,andcalledmetot'door,andofferedmefiveshillings,whichIdoubtyecouldillspare—forye'venofortin',Iknow—thatdayIwarfairarebel,aradical,aninsurrectionistandyemademeso.Ithoughtitshamefulthat,willingandableasIwastowork,Isuldbei'suchaconditionthatayoungcraturabouttheageo'myowneldestlasssuldthinkitneedfultocomeandoffermeherbito'brass." "Isupposeyouwereangrywithme,William?" "Ialmostwas,inaway.ButIforgaveyevarrysoon.Yemeantwell.Ay,Iamproud,andsoareyebutyourprideandmineist'raightmak—whatwecalli'Yorkshirecleanpride—suchasMr.MaloneandMr.Donneknowsnoughtabout.Theirsismuckypride.Now,IshallteachmylassestobeasproudasMissShirleythere,andmyladstobeasproudasmyselnbutIdareonyo''emtobeliket'curates.I'dlicklittleMichaelifIseedhimshowanysignso'thatfeeling." "Whatisthedifference,William?" "Yeknowt'differenceweelenow,butyewantmetogetagateo'talking.Mr.MaloneandMr.Donneisalmosttooproudtodoaughtfortheirselnwearealmosttooproudtoletanybodydoaughtforus.T'curatescanhardlybidetospeakacivilwordtothemtheythinkbeneaththemwecanhardlybidetotakanuncivilwordfro'themthatthinksthemselnaboonus." "Now,William,behumbleenoughtotellmetrulyhowyouaregettingonintheworld.Areyouwelloff?" "MissShirley,Iamvarrywelloff.SinceIgotintot'gardeningline,wi'Mr.Yorke'shelp,andsinceMr.Hall(anothero't'raightsort)helpedmywifetosetupabitofashop,I'venoughttocomplainof.Myfamilyhasplentytoeatandplentytowear.MypridemakesmefindmeanstohaveanoddpoundnowandthenagainstrainydaysforIthinkI'ddieaforeI'dcometot'parishandmeandmineiscontent.Butt'neighboursispooryet.Iseeagreatdealofdistress." "And,consequently,thereisstilldiscontent,Isuppose?"inquiredMissKeeldar. "Consequently—yesayright—consequently.Incourse,starvingfolkcannotbesatisfiedorsettledfolk.Thecountry'snotinasafecondition—I'llsaysomich!" "Butwhatcanbedone?WhatmorecanIdo,forinstance?" "Do?Yecandonotmich,pooryounglass!Ye'vegi'enyourbrassye'vedonewell.Ifyecouldtransportyourtenant,Mr.Moore,toBotanyBay,ye'dhappendobetter.Folkshatehim." "William,forshame!"exclaimedCarolinewarmly."Iffolksdohatehim,itistotheirdisgrace,nothis.Mr.Moorehimselfhatesnobody.Heonlywantstodohisduty,andmaintainhisrights.Youarewrongtotalkso." "ItalkasIthink.Hehasacold,unfeelingheart,yond'Moore." "But,"interposedShirley,"supposingMoorewasdrivenfromthecountry,andhismillrazedtotheground,wouldpeoplehavemorework?" "They'dhaveless.Iknowthat,andtheyknowthatandthereismanyanhonestladdrivendesperatebythecertaintythatwhichever