ustIhadjustbeenendeavouringtosubdue.Ilookedathim:ImeasuredhisrobustframeandpowerfulproportionsIsawmyownreflectioninthemirroroverthemantel-pieceIamusedmyselfwithcomparingthetwopictures.InfaceIresembledhim,thoughIwasnotsohandsomemyfeatureswerelessregularIhadadarkereye,andabroaderbrow—informIwasgreatlyinferior—thinner,slighter,notsotall.Asananimal,EdwardexcelledmefarshouldheproveasparamountinmindasinpersonImustbeaslave—forImustexpectfromhimnolion-likegenerositytooneweakerthanhimselfhiscold,avariciouseye,hisstern,forbiddingmannertoldmehewouldnotspare.HadIthenforceofmindtocopewithhim?IdidnotknowIhadneverbeentried.
Mrs.Crimsworth’sentrancedivertedmythoughtsforamoment.Shelookedwell,dressedinwhite,herfaceandherattireshininginmorningandbridalfreshness.Iaddressedherwiththedegreeofeaseherlastnight’scarelessgaietyseemedtowarrant,butsherepliedwithcoolnessandrestraint:herhusbandhadtutoredhershewasnottobetoofamiliarwithhisclerk.
AssoonasbreakfastwasoverMr.Crimsworthintimatedtomethattheywerebringingthegigroundtothedoor,andthatinfiveminutesheshouldexpectmetobereadytogodownwithhimtoX——.Ididnotkeephimwaitingweweresoondashingatarapidratealongtheroad.ThehorsehedrovewasthesameviciousanimalaboutwhichMrs.Crimsworthhadexpressedherfearsthenightbefore.OnceortwiceJackseemeddisposedtoturnrestive,butavigorousanddeterminedapplicationofthewhipfromtheruthlesshandofhismastersooncompelledhimtosubmission,andEdward’sdilatednostrilexpressedhistriumphintheresultofthecontesthescarcelyspoketomeduringthewholeofthebriefdrive,onlyopeninghislipsatintervalstodamnhishorse.
X——wasallstirandbustlewhenweentereditweleftthecleanstreetswherethereweredwelling-housesandshops,churches,andpublicbuildingsweleftallthese,andturneddowntoaregionofmillsandwarehousesthencewepassedthroughtwomassivegatesintoagreatpavedyard,andwewereinBigbenClose,andthemillwasbeforeus,vomitingsootfromitslongchimney,andquiveringthroughitsthickbrickwallswiththecommotionofitsironbowels.Workpeoplewerepassingtoandfroawaggonwasbeingladenwit