CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.

etendedtobevexed,thathehadthatdaydrivenavicioushorseinthegig,andhemadelightofherfears.Sometimessheappealedtome. “‘Now,Mr.William,isn’titabsurdinEdwardtotalkso?HesayshewilldriveJack,andnootherhorse,andthebrutehasthrownhimtwicealready. “Shespokewithakindoflisp,notdisagreeable,butchildish.Isoonsawalsothattherewasmorethangirlish—asomewhatinfantineexpressioninherbynomeanssmallfeaturesthislispandexpressionwere,Ihavenodoubt,acharminEdward’seyes,andwouldbesotothoseofmostmen,buttheywerenottomine.Isoughthereye,desiroustoreadtheretheintelligencewhichIcouldnotdiscerninherfaceorhearinherconversationitwasmerry,rathersmallbyturnsIsawvivacity,vanity,coquetry,lookoutthroughitsirid,butIwatchedinvainforaglimpseofsoul.IamnoOrientalwhitenecks,carminelipsandcheeks,clustersofbrightcurls,donotsufficeformewithoutthatPrometheansparkwhichwillliveaftertherosesandliliesarefaded,theburnishedhairgrowngrey.Insunshine,inprosperity,theflowersareverywellbuthowmanywetdaysarethereinlife—Novemberseasonsofdisaster,whenaman’shearthandhomewouldbecoldindeed,withouttheclear,cheeringgleamofintellect. “HavingperusedthefairpageofMrs.Crimsworth’sface,adeep,involuntarysighannouncedmydisappointmentshetookitasahomagetoherbeauty,andEdward,whowasevidentlyproudofhisrichandhandsomeyoungwife,threwonmeaglance—halfridicule,halfire. “Iturnedfromthemboth,andgazingwearilyroundtheroom,Isawtwopicturessetintheoakpanelling—oneoneachsidethemantel-piece.CeasingtotakepartinthebanteringconversationthatflowedonbetweenMr.andMrs.Crimsworth,Ibentmythoughtstotheexaminationofthesepictures.Theywereportraits—aladyandagentleman,bothcostumedinthefashionoftwentyyearsago.Thegentlemanwasintheshade.Icouldnotseehimwell.Theladyhadthebenefitofafullbeamfromthesoftlyshadedlamp.IpresentlyrecognisedherIhadseenthispicturebeforeinchildhooditwasmymotherthatandthecompanionpicturebeingtheonlyheir-loomssavedoutofthesaleofmyfather’sproperty. “Theface,Iremembered,hadpleasedmeasaboy,butthenIdidnotunderstanditnowIknewhowrarethatclassoffaceisintheworld,andIappreciatedkeenlyitsthoughtful,yetgentleexpression.Theseriousgreyeyepossessedformeastrongcharm,asdidcertainlinesinthefeaturesindicativeofmosttrueandtenderfeeling.Iwassorryitwasonlyapicture. “IsoonleftMr.andMrs.Crimsworthtothemselvesaservantconductedmetomybed-roominclosingmychamber-door,Ishutoutallintruders—you,Charles,aswellastherest. “Good-byeforthepresent, “WILLIAMCRIMSWORTH.” TothisletterInevergotananswerbeforemyoldfriendreceivedit,hehadacceptedaGovernmentappointmentinoneofthecolonies,andwasalreadyonhiswaytothesceneofhisofficiallabours.Whathasbecomeofhimsince,Iknownot. TheleisuretimeIhaveatcommand,andwhichIintendedtoemployforhisprivatebenefit,Ishallnowdedicatetothatofthepublicatlarge.Mynarrativeisnotexciting,andaboveall,notmarvellousbutitmayinterestsomeindividuals,who,havingtoiledinthesamevocationasmyself,willfindinmyexperiencefrequentreflectionsoftheirown.Theaboveletterwillserveasanintroduction.Inowproceed.