sweetersecretnestleddeeperinmyheartonefulloftendernessandasfullofstrength:ittookthestingoutofHunsden’ssarcasmitkeptmeunbentbyshame,andunstirredbywrath.ButofallthisIcouldsaynothing—nothingdecisiveatleastuncertaintysealedmylips,andduringtheintervalofsilencebywhichaloneIrepliedtoMr.Hunsden,Imadeupmymindtobeforthepresentwhollymisjudgedbyhim,andmisjudgedIwashethoughthehadbeenrathertooharduponme,andthatIwascrushedbytheweightofhisupbraidingssotore-assuremehesaid,doubtlessIshouldmendsomedayIwasonlyatthebeginningoflifeyetandsincehappilyIwasnotquitewithoutsense,everyfalsestepImadewouldbeagoodlesson.
JustthenIturnedmyfacealittletothelighttheapproachoftwilight,andmypositioninthewindow-seat,had,forthelasttenminutes,preventedhimfromstudyingmycountenanceasImoved,however,hecaughtanexpressionwhichhethusinterpreted:—
“Confoundit!Howdoggedlyself-approvingtheladlooks!Ithoughthewasfittodiewithshame,andtherehesitsgrinningsmiles,asgoodastosay,‘Lettheworldwagasitwill,I’vethephilosopher’sstoneinmywaist-coatpocket,andtheelixiroflifeinmycupboardI’mindependentofbothFateandFortune.’”
“Hunsden—youspokeofgrapesIwasthinkingofafruitIlikebetterthanyourX——hot-housegrapes—anuniquefruit,growingwild,whichIhavemarkedasmyown,andhopeonedaytogatherandtaste.Itisofnouseyourofferingmethedraughtofbitterness,orthreateningmewithdeathbythirst:IhavetheanticipationofsweetnessonmypalatethehopeoffreshnessonmylipsIcanrejecttheunsavoury,andenduretheexhausting.”
“Forhowlong?”
“Tillthenextopportunityforeffortandastheprizeofsuccesswillbeatreasureaftermyownheart,I’llbringabull’sstrengthtothestruggle.”
“Badluckcrushesbullsaseasilyasbullacesand,Ibelieve,thefurydogsyou:youwerebornwithawoodenspooninyourmouth,dependonit.”
“IbelieveyouandImeantomakemywoodenspoondotheworkofsomepeople’ssilverladles:graspedfirmly,andhandlednimbly,evenawoodenspoonwillshovelupbroth.”
Hunsdenrose:“Isee,”saidhe“Isupposeyou’reoneofthosewhodevelopbestunwatched,andactbestunaided—workyourownway.Now,I’llgo.”And,withoutanotherword,hewasgoingatthedoorheturned:—
“CrimsworthHallissold,”saidhe.
“Sold!”wasmyecho.
“Yesyouknow,ofcourse,thatyourbrotherfailedthreemonthsago?”
“What!EdwardCrimsworth?”
“Preciselyandhiswifewenthometoherfather’swhenaffairswentawry,histempersympathizedwiththemheusedherillItoldyouhewouldbeatyranttohersomedayastohim—”
“Ay,astohim—whatisbecomeofhim?”
“Nothingextraordinary—don’tbealarmedheputhimselfundertheprotectionofthecourt,compoundedwithhi