AFINEOctobermorningsucceededtothefoggyeveningthathadwitnessedmyfirstintroductiontoCrimsworthHall.Iwasearlyupandwalkinginthelargepark-likemeadowsurroundingthehouse.Theautumnsun,risingoverthe——shirehills,disclosedapleasantcountrywoodsbrownandmellowvariedthefieldsfromwhichtheharvesthadbeenlatelycarriedariver,glidingbetweenthewoods,caughtonitssurfacethesomewhatcoldgleamoftheOctobersunandskyatfrequentintervalsalongthebanksoftheriver,tall,cylindricalchimneys,almostlikeslenderroundtowers,indicatedthefactorieswhichthetreeshalfconcealedhereandtheremansions,similartoCrimsworthHall,occupiedagreeablesitesonthehill-sidethecountrywore,onthewhole,acheerful,active,fertilelook.Steam,trade,machineryhadlongbanishedfromitallromanceandseclusion.Atadistanceoffivemiles,avalley,openingbetweenthelowhills,heldinitscupsthegreattownofX——.Adense,permanentvapourbroodedoverthislocality—therelayEdward’s“Concern.”
Iforcedmyeyetoscrutinizethisprospect,Iforcedmymindtodwellonitforatime,andwhenIfoundthatitcommunicatednopleasurableemotiontomyheart—thatitstirredinmenoneofthehopesamanoughttofeel,whenheseeslaidbeforehimthesceneofhislife’scareer—Isaidtomyself,“William,youarearebelagainstcircumstancesyouareafool,andknownotwhatyouwantyouhavechosentradeandyoushallbeatradesman.Look!”Icontinuedmentally—“Lookatthesootysmokeinthathollow,andknowthatthereisyourpost!Thereyoucannotdream,youcannotspeculateandtheorize—thereyoushalloutandwork!”
Thusself-schooled,Ireturnedtothehouse.Mybrotherwasinthebreakfast-room.Imethimcollectedly—Icouldnotmeethimcheerfullyhewasstandingontherug,hisbacktothefire—howmuchdidIreadintheexpressionofhiseyeasmyglanceencounteredhis,whenIadvancedtobidhimgoodmorninghowmuchthatwascontradictorytomynature!Hesaid“Goodmorning”abruptlyandnodded,andthenhesnatched,ratherthantook,anewspaperfromthetable,andbegantoreaditwiththeairofamasterwhoseizesapretexttoescapetheboreofconversingwithanunderling.ItwaswellIhadtakenaresolutiontoendureforatime,orhismannerwouldhavegonefartorenderinsupportablethedisg