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The Wheels of Chance
A Bicycling Idyll
From a 1896 edition.
ISBN 978-1-775410-59-1
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and
reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press
edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume
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book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss
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of information contained in this book. Do not use while
operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases
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The Principal Character in the Story
The Riding Forth of Mr. Hoopdriver
The Shameful Episode of the Young Lady in Grey
On the Road to Ripley
How Mr. Hoopdriver was Haunted
The Imaginings of Mr. Hoopdriver's Heart
The Dreams of Mr. Hoopdriver
How Mr. Hoopdriver Went to Haslemere
How Mr. Hoopdriver Reached Midhurst
An Interlude
Of the Artificial in Man, and of the Zeitgeist
The Encounter at Midhurst
The Pursuit
At Bognor
The Moonlight Ride
The Surbiton Interlude

The Awakening of Mr. Hoopdriver
The Departure from Chichester
The Unexpected Anecdote of the Lion
The Rescue Expedition
Mr. Hoopdriver, Knight Errant
The Abasement of Mr. Hoopdriver
In the New Forest
At the Rufus Stone
The Envoy


The Principal Character in the
If you (presuming you are of the sex that does such
things)—if you had gone into the Drapery Emporium—
which is really only magnificent for shop—of Messrs.
Antrobus & Co.—a perfectly fictitious "Co.," by the bye
piles of blankets rise up to the rail from which the pink
and blue prints depend, you might have been served by
the central figure of this story that is now beginning. He
would have come forward, bowing and swaying, he
would have extended two hands with largish knuckles
and enormous cuffs over the counter, and he would have
asked you, protruding a pointed chin and without the
slightest anticipation of pleasure in his manner, what he
might have the pleasure of showing you. Under certain

you would observe. unfold.—he would have requested you to take a seat.—huckaback. it would have been chiefly to notice how little he was noticeable. greyish eyes. are cases in point. but under other and happier conditions. but none ill-shaped. He wore the black morning coat. A rosette of pins decorated the lappel of his coat. the black tie. Now if you had noticed anything about him. He was of a pallid complexion. and so proceeded to obtain. lace. gloves. and exhibit his goods for your consideration. cretonne. for instance. linen. dimity. and making a kind of circular sweep. and a skimpy. His features were all small. and the speckled grey nether parts (descending into shadow and mystery below the counter) of his craft. or curtains—he would simply have bowed politely. blankets. were entirely what people used to call cliche. His remarks. baby linen.circumstances—as. and with a drooping expression. formulae 6 . calico. hats. hair of a kind of dirty fairness. Under which happier circumstances you might—if of an observing turn of mind and not too much of a housewife to be inhuman—have given the central figure of this story less cursory attention." and so led you beyond his ken. silks. emphasising the hospitality by leaning over the counter and gripping a chair back in a spasmodic manner. immature moustache under his peaked indeterminate nose. invited you to "step this way.

extracted a little book with a carbon leaf and a tinfoil sheet from a fixture.not organic to the occasion. made you out a little bill in that weak flourishing hand peculiar to drapers. very hard (showing you a parting down the middle of his head meanwhile). have scribbled a still more flourishing J. have stood by you—supposing that you were paying cash —until the central figure of this story reappeared with the change. M. I assure you." "No trouble. as distinguished from anecdote. I say. have neatly refolded the goods he had shown you. does not concern itself with superficial appearances alone. and the puffy little shop-walker would have been bowing you out. with fountains of civilities at work all about you. thing better. He would have danced about behind the counter. "is selling very well" "We are doing a very good article at four three a yard. But real literature. madam. One glance more at him. all over the document. madam." he would say. have asked you if there was nothing more. have put on one side those you selected. 7 . of course. And so the interview would have terminated. and have bawled "Sayn!" Then a puffy little shop-walker would have come into view." "We could show you some. So. but stereotyped ages ago and learnt years since by heart. "This. he would have presented himself to your superficial observation." Such were the simple counters of his intercourse. looked at the bill for a second.

On his left shin there were two bruises. the thing that must be told if the book is to be written. one a leaden yellow graduating here and there into purple. Proceeding up the left leg in a spiral manner. On the internal aspect of the right ankle of this young man you would have observed. an unnatural hardness and redness would have been discovered on the upper aspect of the calf. on the internal aspect of the left ankle a contusion also. It is the duty of the earnest author to tell you what you would not have seen—even at the cost of some blushes. Let us approach the business with dispassionate explicitness. and the thing of the greatest moment to this story. of a blotchy red—tumid and threatening. and indicate the points of interest with the unemotional precision of a lecturer's pointer. was—let us face it bravely—the Remarkable Condition of this Young Man's Legs. ladies and gentlemen. Modern literature is indecorous revelation. Let us assume something of the scientific spirit. And so to our revelation.Literature is revelation. and another. on its external aspect a large yellowish bruise. an extraordinary 8 . the hard. And the thing that you would not have seen about this young man. a contusion and an abrasion. and above the knee and on the inner side. Let us treat this young man's legs as a mere diagram. almost professorial tone of the conscientious realist. obviously of more recent date.

and particularly on the interior aspect of the knee. considered in the light of the distribution of the other abrasions and contusions. But Sherlock Holmes (now happily dead) would have fancied nothing of the kind. of the central figure of our story. Fired by these discoveries.expanse of bruised surface. an investigator might perhaps have pursued his inquiries further. and we have exhibited enough for our purpose. He would have recognised at once that the bruises on the internal aspect of the left leg. say. and even the finger joints. elbows. Now the reader may be inclined to wonder how a respectable young shopman should have got his legs. pointed unmistakably to the violent impact of the Mounting Beginner upon the bicycling saddle. So far we may proceed with our details.-to bruises on the shoulders. and that the ruinous state of the right 9 . He had indeed been bumped and battered at an extraordinary number of points. a kind of closely stippled shading of contused points. Even in literature one must know where to draw the line. or one of those hay-making furies. into such a dreadful condition. One might fancy that he had been sitting with his nether extremities in some complicated machinery. and indeed himself generally. The right leg would be found to be bruised in a marvellous manner all about and under the knee. But enough of realistic description is as good as a feast. a threshingmachine.

and whack!—you are rubbing your shin. The revelation is made. One large bruise on the shin is even more characteristic of the 'prentice cyclist.knee was equally eloquent of the concussions attendant on that person's hasty. of two dark figures and a machine in a dark road. Blisters on the hands are eloquent of the nervous clutch of the wavering rider. until Sherlock is presently explaining. from Roehampton to Putney Hill. well worn on the hind wheel. steer!" a wavering unsteady flight. by the help of the minor injuries. Then 10 . a spasmodic turning of the missile edifice of man and machine. frequently causeless. You try at least to walk your machine in an easy manner.conceived descents. for upon every one of them waits the jest of the unexpected treadle.—and with this vision is the sound of a heel spurning the gravel. to be explicit. a shouting of "Steer. and invariably ill. and a gross weight all on of perhaps three-and-forty pounds.—the road. Two bruises on that place mark a certain want of aptitude in learning. a cushioned tire. a gasping and grunting. Behind the decorous figure of the attentive shopman that I had the honour of showing you at first. such as one might expect in a person unused to muscular exercise. man. rises a vision of a nightly struggle. that the machine ridden is an oldfashioned affair with a fork instead of the diamond frame. And so forth. and a collapse. So out of innocence we ripen.

where the various articles you have selected will presently be packed by the senior porter and sent to you. repairing the displacement of the handle-bar. Returning thence to his particular place. against the counsels of prudence and the restrictions of his means. a draper indeed. sympathetic (but by no means depressed). and drive him against all the conditions of his calling. apprenticed to the same high calling of draper's assistant. The central figure of our story is now going along behind the counter. to the warehouse. 11 . and gripping the corners of the folds in his hands. Thus even in a shop assistant does the warmth of manhood assert itself. and his friend. begins to straighten them punctiliously. And our first examination of the draper reveals beneath his draperies—the man! To which initial fact (among others) we shall come again in the end. with your purchases in his descry dimly through the dusk the central figure of this story sitting by the roadside and rubbing his leg at some new place. Near him is an apprentice. II But enough of these revelations. he lays hands on a folded piece of gingham. to seek the wholesome delights of exertion and danger and pain.

with a paper in his hand. behind are fixtures full of white packages containing. Jerking them back to the present comes the puffy little shop-walker. the last but one of the girl apprentices to the dress-making upstairs. Prints depend from the brass rails above them. "how's that line of g-sez-x ginghams ? " 12 . and Mull. Lino. even as Mr. "Hoopdriver." he says. The assistant is dreaming of the delicious time—only four hours off now —when he will resume the tale of his bruises and abrasions. neither is thinking of the mechanical duties in hand.a ruddy. and his imagination rides cap-a-pie through the chambers of his brain. By twenty-one he too may hope to be a full-blown assistant. The apprentice is nearer the long long thoughts of boyhood. The shopwalker eyes the goods in hand. Hoopdriver. But to tell the truth. who is deliberately unfolding and refolding some patterns of cretonne. as inscriptions testify. red-haired lad in a very short tailless black coat and a very high collar. seeking some knightly quest in honour of that Fair Lady. You might imagine to see them that the two were both intent upon nothing but smoothness of textile and rectitude of fold. Hd Bk. The apprentice becomes extremely active. He inclines rather to street fighting against revolutionaries—because then she could see him from the window.

"They're going fairly well. He is naturally of a sanguine disposition. or else they could never have the faith they show in the beauty. "Any particular time when you want your holidays?" he asks." said Mr. and he will have to wait until September— when the weather is often uncertain. washability. and unfading excellence of the goods they sell you. But the larger checks seem hanging. His face is eloquent of conflicting considerations. Can he learn it in a week? That's the question. terminating the pause. sir. Hoopdriver pulls at his skimpy moustache. The die is cast. sir." "How about this day week?" Hoopdriver becomes rigidly meditative. "No—Don't want them too late. "That'll do me very well. Otherwise Briggs will get next week. Hoopdriver. of course. All drapers have to be.Hoopdriver returns from an imaginary triumph over the uncertainties of dismounting." The shop-walker brings up parallel to the counter. The decision comes at last. gripping the corners of the gingham folds in his hands. The shop-walker makes a note of it and goes on to 13 .

" said Miss Howe. of course. Mr. Mr." the next in the strict scale of precedence of the Drapery Emporium. "I am. pulling at the insufficient moustache. Along the South Coast. Mr. Hoopdriver in alternating spasms anon straightens his gingham and anon becomes meditative." Miss Isaacs clamoured of Bettws-y-Coed." "You're never going to ride that dreadful machine of yours. III At supper that night. "Why. "I?" said Hoopdriver when the question came to him." 14 . holiday talk held undisputed sway." "Well. Pritchard spoke of "Scotland. "And not come any nasty croppers. day after day?" said Miss Howe of the Costume Department. "I'm going for a Cycling Tour.Briggs in the "dresses. Judson displayed a proprietary interest in the Norfolk Broads. Hoopdriver. cycling. with his tongue in the hollow of his decaying wisdom tooth." said Hoopdriver as calmly as possible. Mr. all I hope. is that you'll get fine weather.

He left the supper table early. Briggs of the "dresses." said Mr. but he felt Hoopdriver's inexperience and offered such advice as occurred to him. but his mind was too full of the projected Tour to admit any petty delicacies of dignity. looking hard and threateningly at the junior apprentice. 15 .) "You stow it."And done forget some tinscher of arnica in yer bag. so that he might put in a good hour at the desperate gymnastics up the Roehampton Road before it would be time to come back for locking up. and suddenly adding in a tone of bitter contempt." "I'm getting fairly safe upon it now. At other times Hoopdriver might have further resented the satirical efforts of the apprentice." he told Miss Howe.— " Jampot. was sitting up in bed and trying to smoke in the dark. rubbing arnica into his knee—a new and very big place—and studying a Road Map of the South of England. (He had witnessed one of the lessons at the top of Putney Hill." who shared the room with him." said the junior apprentice in the very high collar. Briggs had never been on a cycle in his life. When the gas was turned off for the night he was sitting on the edge of his bed. Hoopdriver.

Hoopdriver. whatever you do. and if you see a tram. It's one of the worst things you can do to run over a dog. 16 .line. "carry one or two lemons with you. don't tear yourself to death the first day. and then break out with an entirely different set of tips. and hurry off into the next county—and always light up before dark." said Briggs. "Good-night. don't ride on the foot-path. keep your own side of the road. Hoopdriver—you take my word. Hoopdriver. save perhaps for a curse or so at his pipe. You mind just a few little things like that. old man." "Right you are!" said Hoopdriver. You mind those things. Never lose control of the machine. and nothing very much can't happen to you. Never let the machine buckle—there was a man killed only the other day through his wheel buckling—don't scorch. and nothing much can't happen to you—you take my word."Have the machine thoroughly well oiled. and sit upright. "Avoid running over dogs. and there was silence for a space. and always sound the bell on every possible opportunity." He would lapse into silence for a minute." said Briggs." "Good-night. go round the corner at once. save for the succulent respiration of the pipe.

"And clean the chain daily with black-lead.—Something— what was it ? "Never oil the steering." a voice that came from round a fitful glow of light. and pulled the bedclothes over his ears. was saying.Hoopdriver rode off into Dreamland on his machine. 17 . You mind just a few little things like that—" "Lord LOVE us!" said Hoopdriver. It's fatal. and was scarcely there before he was pitched back into the world of sense again.

All the dreary. their intrusion on those exquisite moments. wrappered-up shop. There will be no more rising before breakfast in casual old clothing. you may go where you please. save for one brief glorious fortnight or ten days in the summer time. you grudge eating. have a lappel free of pins. and drinking even. uninteresting routine drops from you suddenly. and be a Man. and wear the colour of your heart. vacant day. 18 . doff your black morning coat. Lord of every hour in the long. your chains fall about your feet. know the exquisite sensations of the First Holiday Morning. shutterdarkened. and all the year round. Hoopdriver * IV. You grudge sleep. call none Sir or Madame. Only those who toil six long days out of the seven. to go dusting and getting ready in a cheerless.The Riding Forth of Mr. no more imperious cries of. All at once you are Lord of yourself.

a deep blue sky with dazzling piles of white cloud here and there. Hoopdriver had breakfasted early by Mrs. for ten blessed days. for you hold your whole fortune in your hands. Thereafter. Halfway up." no more hasty meals. Gunn's complaisance. every night. as though celestial haymakers had been piling the swathes of last night's clouds into cocks for a coming cartage. 19 . lies blacker and blacker across the sunlight. and he would not have changed places with a soul in any one of them for a hundred pounds. The first morning is by far the most glorious. And it was fine. comes a pang. that will not be exorcised —the premonition of the return. a spectre."Forward. full of a promise of glorious days. and weary attendance on fitful old women. and his heart sang within him. Hoopdriver. a dissipated-looking black cat rushed home across flile road and vanished under a gate. and a lark on Putney Heath. The freshness of dew was in the air. of being put in the cage again for another twelve months. He wheeled his machine up Putney Hill. The shadow of going back. dew or the relics of an overnight shower glittered on the leaves and grass. and ten days seems as good as infinity. But on the first morning of the ten the holiday has no past. All the big red-brick houses behind the variegated shrubs and trees had their blinds down still. There were thrushes in the Richmond Road.

glittered blindingly in the rising sunlight. There is only one phrase to describe his course at this stage. 20 . thick in the leg. terminated on the green. an exacting critic might say he did not ride well. The excitement never flagged. after only one unsuccessful attempt. which. The shadows of the trees lay very long and blue across the road. for the present. the morning sunlight was like amber fire. and the bell and the handle-bar and the hubs and lamp. "thin in the foot. Hoopdriver mounted. And at the top of the hill. he had resolved to dismount at the approach of anything else upon wheels.He had on his new brown cycling suit—a handsome Norfolk jacket thing for 30/—and his legs—those martyr legs—were more than consoled by thick chequered stockings. He doubted his steering so much that. albeit a trifle freckled by wear. and with a stately and cautious restraint in his pace. somehow. He did not ride fast. using the whole road and even nibbling at the footpath. he did not ride straight. So far he had never passed or been passed by anything. but as yet the day was young and the road was clear. A neat packet of American cloth behind the saddle contained his change of raiment. and a dignified curvature of path. opulently. began his great Cycling Tour along the Southern Coast." for all they had endured.-but he rode generously. and that is—voluptuous curves.

marvelled at his efforts.At the cross-roads at the top of West Hill. he turned towards Kingston and set himself to scale the little bit of ascent. 21 . An early heathkeeper." said the heathkeeper. The man in the approaching cart stood up to see the ruins better. He tightened the brake. He was still irresolute when he found the machine on the ground. according to his previous determination. standing on the left pedal and waving his right foot in the air. resolved to dismount. He gripped the handles and released the brake. "THAT ain't the way to get off. and a vague feeling in his mind that again Providence had dealt harshly with his shin. the head of a carter rose over the brow. himself kneeling upon it. He was trying to think what he did with his right leg whilst getting off. While he was deciding upon a plan of action. Then—these things take so long in the telling—he found the machine was falling over to the right. gravitation appears to have been busy. and the machine stopped dead. And while he yet struggled. At the sight of him Mr. This happened when he was just level with the heathkeeper. where the cattle trough stands. Hoopdriver. in his velveteen jacket.

The handle was twisted askew again He said something under his breath. The heath-keeper became meditative. Hoopdriver picked up the machine. Mr. ain't yer?" he said presently. Hoopdriver. Just then the screw hammer slipped off the nut. "I know that. Hoopdriver got out his screw hammer and went to the handle." he said. fumbling with the screw. low word. The unusual exertion had made his hands shake frightfully. He unbuckled the wallet behind the saddle. 22 . and twisted his stick in his hands behind his back. He was annoyed. to get out a screw hammer." repeated the heathkeeper. Mr. in a tone of friendly controversy. I suppose. Hoopdriver used a nasty. "If you know it ain't the way to get off—whaddyer do it for?" said the heath-keeper. determined to overlook the new specimen on his shin at any cost. He would have to unscrew the beastly thing. testily.Mr. after a silence." said Mr. "That's my business. "You've broken yer 'andle. "THAT ain't the way to get off.

perceiving more and more clearly the bearing of the matter." he said slowly." said the heathkeeper. Hoopdriver gave the nut a vicious turn and suddenly stood up—he was holding the front wheel between his knees. He was rigid with emotion. The heath-keeper never moved. as Mr." said he." Then with the air of one who has delivered an ultimatum. It was like abusing the Lions in Trafalgar Square. Touchy? Ain't I good enough to speak to you? Been struck wooden all of a sudden?" Mr. with a catch in his voice. "I wish you'd leave off staring at me. But the heathkeeper felt his honour 23 . charitably. he began replacing the screw hammer in the wallet." Mr. "Why don't you ride on a private road of your own if no one ain't to speak to you?" asked the heath-keeper. "You're pretty unsociable. and certainly he stared harder than he did before. The indignation gathered slowly but surely. Hoopdriver stared into the Immensity of the Future. "Very trying. "I wish. "Can't no one make a passin' remark to you. Hoopdriver seized the handles and stood ready to mount as soon as the cart had passed. them bicycles."They're trying things. Possibly he raised his eyebrows.

He missed the treadle once and swore viciously. 'E's off to Windsor. the heathkeeper dropped out of earshot. 'e is. He tried to infuse as much disdain aspossible into his retreating aspect. 'E don't converse with no one under a earl. 'e has to carry some of it in that there bundle there. that's why 'e's stickin' his be'ind out so haughty.-'E—" But Mr." said the keeper as the carter came up broadside to them. He was hopping vigorously along the road. Hoopdriver would have liked to look back at his enemy. 'e's got so much of it. "'E's a bloomin' dook. in a spasmodic attempt to remount. He had to imagine the indignant heath-keeper telling the carter all about it.was at stake. Hoopdriver heard no more. Hoopdriver was up. but he usually twisted round and upset if he tried that. He drove on his sinuous way down the dip by the new mere and up the little rise to the crest of the hill that 24 . 'e is. Pride! Why. In another moment Mr. for fear 'e'd bust if 'e didn't ease hisself a bit. and after one terrific lurch of the machine. to the keeper's immense delight. "Don't you make no remarks to 'IM. "Nar! Nar!" said the heath-keeper. Mr.

with a palpitating brake. down that excellent descent. and so remarkable is the psychology of cycling. possessed him. in a soft undertone. and now riding moderately straight. and the thing is done. Hoopdriver to himself. his feelings towards the heath-keeper were either vindictive or remorseful. went. that he rode all the straighter and easier because the emotions the heathkeeper had aroused relieved his mind of the constant expectation of collapse that had previously unnerved him. sweet. for the life of you. they were nothing of the sort.—vindictive for the aggravation or remorseful for his own injudicious display of ill temper. "'He's a bloomin' Dook—he is!'" said Mr. "'He's a bloomin' Dook!"' He opened his 25 .drops into Kingston Vale. you cannot. doubt. The Glory of the Holidays had resumed its sway with a sudden accession of splendour. A new delight was in his eyes. To ride a bicycle properly is very like a love affair—chiefly it is a matter of faith. morning air. and again. and. a wonderful gratitude. Believe you do it. He reached out his thumb and twanged his bell out of sheer happiness. As a matter of fact. At the crest of the hill he put his feet upon the footrests. A sudden. quite over and above the pleasure of rushing through the keen. as he went soaring down the hill. Now you may perhaps imagine that as he rode on.

Halfway up. with a five-pound note. At any rate as good as a Dook. It was having a decent cut did it. two sovereigns. to be immediately recalled by a violent swoop of the machine towards the cemetery. No more Manchester Department for ten days! Out of Manchester. 26 . a Man. an early milk chariot rattled by him.mouth in a silent laugh. and windows rattled and squeaked up. and pushed up. That must be the buckle of the wallet was rattling on the mud-guard. two dirty men with bundles came hurrying down. Instead was a gentleman. the Hand. Whirroo! Just missed that half-brick! Mischievous brutes there were in the world to put such a thing in the road. His social superiority had been so evident that even a man like that noticed it. rather breathless. at the foot of Kingston Hill. Hoopdriver felt sure they were burglars. had vanished from existence. and the rest would know better. How cheerfully the wheels buzzed! The cemetery was very silent and peaceful. Some blooming 'Arry or other! Ought to prosecute a few of these roughs. and some silver at various convenient points of his person. The draper Hoopdriver. a man of pleasure. Involuntarily at the thought of his funds Hoopdriver's right hand left the handle and sought his breast pocket. and a white dog came out of one of the houses and yelped at him. but the Vale was waking. if not precisely in the peerage. He got off.

Whoop for Freedom and Adventure! Every now and then a house with an expression of sleepy surprise would open its eye as he passed. was he not a bloomin' Dook. in a tumult of soul at his own temerity. at the top that he rode straighter than he did before. rattling against the oil can. He passed. saw the shutters half removed from a draper's shop. with the screw hammer. in dusty old black jackets and with dirty white comforters about their necks. And in Kingston Hoopdriver. with the most exquisite sensations. and to the right of him for a mile or so the weltering Thames flashed and glittered. passed him. The pleasure of riding straight blotted out these first intimations of fatigue. clearing up the planks and boxes and wrappers in the window. without misadventure. a fruiterer's van and a sluggish cartload of bricks. and two yawning youths. A man on horseback appeared. but he noticed.carrying home the swag. It was up Kingston Hill that he first noticed a peculiar feeling. palpably in the sight of common men? Then round the corner to the right—bell banged furiously —and so along the road to Surbiton. behind in the wallet. Hoopdriver. But now. Talk of 27 . a slight tightness at his knees. preparatory to dressing it out. too. Even so had Hoopdriver been on the previous day. Then down the hill into Kingston.

28 . Albeit with a certain cramping sensation about the knees and calves slowly forcing itself upon his attention.your joie de vivre.

Hoopdriver had bought it second-hand from Hare's in Putney. Hoopdriver was not one of your fast young men. and Elare was mildly 29 ." But I have thought at times that his machine may have had something of the blade in its metal. He regarded the feminine sex as something to bow to and smirk at from a safe distance.The Shameful Episode of the Young Lady in Grey * V Now you must understand that Mr. and Hare said it had had several owners. Years of the intimate remoteness of a counter leave their mark upon a man. Mr. he could not have profited more by his mother's instructions. Decidedly it was a machine with a past. Secondhand was scarcely the word for it. If he had been King Lemuel. Few modern young men could have merited less the epithet "Dorg. It was an adventure for him to take one of the Young Ladies of the establishment to church on a Sunday.

puzzled that he should be selling such an antiquity. He
he was absolutely silent about its moral character. It may
glorious youth. It may have been the bicycle of a Really
kind but will witness that the things are unaccountably
prone to pick up bad habits—and keep them.
It is undeniable that it became convulsed with the most
violent emotions directly the Young Lady in Grey
appeared. It began an absolutely unprecedented Wabble
—unprecedented so far as Hoopdriver's experience went.
track like one of Beardsley's feathers. He suddenly
breath a mere remnant.
The Young Lady in Grey was also riding a bicycle. She
was dressed in a beautiful bluish-gray, and the sun
behind her drew her outline in gold and left the rest in
shadow. Hoopdriver was dimly aware that she was
bright eyes. Strange doubts possessed him as to the
nature of her nether costume. He had heard of such
things of course. French, perhaps. Her handles glittered;
a jet of sunlight splashed off her bell blindingly. She was

approaching the high road along an affluent from the
villas of Surbiton. fee roads converged slantingly. She
was travelling at about the same pace as Mr. Hoopdriver.
The appearances pointed to a meeting at the fork of the
Hoopdriver was seized with a horrible conflict of doubts.
By contrast with her he rode disgracefully. Had he not
better get off at once and pretend something was wrong
uncertainty. That last occasion on Putney Heath! On the
slow seemed the abnegation of his manhood. To crawl
after a mere schoolgirl! Besides, she was not riding very
consuming the road in his tendril-like advance, seemed
an incivility—greed. He would leave her such a very
little. His business training made him prone to bow and
step aside. If only one could take one's hands off the
of course. But even that was a little suggestive of a
Meanwhile the roads converged. She was looking at him.
but it looked uncommonly like a faint smile. And the

things were—yes!— RATIONALS! Suddenly an
impulse to bolt from the situation became clamorous.
Mr. Hoopdriver pedalled convulsively, intending to pass
flew up between front wheel and mud-guard. He twisted
round towards her. Had the machine a devil?
At that supreme moment it came across him that he
would have done wiser to dismount. He gave a frantic
over, he pulled the handles straight again and to the left
by an instinctive motion, and shot behind her hind wheel,
missing her by a hair's breadth. The pavement kerb
awaited him. He tried to recover, and found himself
jumped up on the pavement and riding squarely at a neat
wooden paling. He struck this with a terrific impact and
shot forward off his saddle into a clumsy entanglement.
Then he began to tumble over sideways, and completed
the entire figure in a sitting position on the gravel, with
his feet between the fork and the stay of the machine.
The concussion on the gravel shook his entire being. He
remained in that position, wishing that he had broken his
neck, wishing even more heartily that he had never been
indeed! These unwomanly women!

and the Young Lady in Grey stood holding her machine.
She had turned round and come back to him. The warm
bitter draught.
little ruefully. He became painfully aware that large
patches of gravel scarcely improve the appearance of a
Norfolk suit. "I'm very sorry indeed—"
"But it was my steering—"
of superiority. "But you rode so straight coming along
She really was—dashed pretty. Mr. Hoopdriver's feelings
passed the nadir. When he spoke again there was the
faintest flavour of the aristocratic in his voice.

for my ah! blundering—"
"Your finger's bleeding," she said, abruptly.
feeling manly.
"You don't at first. Have you any stickingplaster? If not
—" She balanced her machine against herself. She had a
little side pocket, and she whipped out a small packet of
"Thank you," he said.
first time Hoopdriver did not feel proud of his machine.
He turned and began to pick up the fallen fabric. He
looked over his shoulder, and she was gone, turned his
head over the other shoulder down the road, and she was
blowed!—Talk about Slap Up!" (His aristocratic
refinement rarely adorned his speech in his private

A most delightful and novel human being had flashed
across his horizon and was going out of his life again.
The Holiday madness was in his blood. She looked
hasty ascent. Unsuccessful. Try again. Confound it, will
put his head down. He would overtake her.
The situation was primordial. The Man beneath prevailed
for a moment over the civilised superstructure, the
Draper. He pushed at the pedals with archaic violence.
So Palaeolithic man may have ridden his simple bicycle
of chipped flint in pursuit of his exogamous affinity. She
vanished round the corner. His effort was Titanic. What
should he say when he overtook her? That scarcely
disturbed him at first. How fine she had looked, flushed
with the exertion of riding, breathing a little fast, but
elastic and active! Talk about your ladylike,
homekeeping girls with complexions like cold veal! But
could not lift his cap without risking a repetition of his
previous ignominy. She was a real Young Lady. No

Had he gained on her at all? "Monkey on a gridiron!" yelped a small boy. Anyhow she was not in sight. His breath became audible. The road really was uphill beyond dispute. his pedalling positively ferocious. irritant as acid. A drop of perspiration ran into his eye. His hands were gnarled with 36 . relaxing. He turned the corner and saw a long stretch of road. All his physiology began to cry out at him. Hoopdriver redoubled his efforts. and for a moment his legs felt like wisps of cotton. empty save for a baker's van. (There is no greater contempt in the world than that of shop men for shop girls. and a grey dress vanishing. A certain numbness came and went at his knees. trying it over. "May I ask to whom I am indebted?" he panted to himself. unless it be that of shop girls for shop men. He got off unsteadily. A last tremendous effort brought him to the corner and showed yet another extent of shady roadway. "Oh Lord!" said Hoopdriver.) Phew! This was work. his steering unsteady.mistake about that! None of your blooming shop girls. He was getting winded. His front wheel suddenly shrieked aloud. The road was certainly a bit uphill. That might do. He balanced his machine against the grassy edge of the path and sat down panting. He set his teeth. Lucky he had a card case! A hundred a shilling—while you wait.

Then his eye fell with a sudden approval on the ornamental chequering of his new stockings. He did not even look up when vehicles passed. too! Wonder what she thought of me. His legs had gone leaden.swollen veins and shaking palpably. his breath came viscid." The phrase 'bloomin' Dook' floated into his mind with a certain flavour of comfort. The expression in his eyes faded slowly to abstract meditation. "I'm hardly in training yet." he said." he remarked." he said. but the 'prentices' dormitory is an 37 . "What rot it is! What's the good of thinking such things. "I'm only a blessed draper's assistant. The service of a shop may polish a man's exterior ways." Presently he slapped his side pocket and produced therefrom a brand-new cigarette case and a packet of Vansittart's Red Herring cigarettes. It was perhaps ten minutes before he roused himself. he did not say blessed. and sat smoking and meditating. He lit a cigarette." (To be exact. "I wonder if I shall ever set eyes on her again. And she knew how to ride. He filled the case. "I don't feel as though I'd had a mouthful of breakfast. "She WAS a stunning girl.

"'Gentleman wizzer bicitle. It was going to be a beautiful day. But it was a little different from the elation of his start. Rational dress didn't look a bit unwomanly.'—'bloomin' Dook'—I can't look so very seedy. That healed him a little. "Look at the gentleman wizzer bicitle. He had a persuasion the cult had been maligned. "I WONDER—I should just like to know—" There was something very comforting in the track of HER pneumatic running straight and steady along the road before him." he said to himself.) He stood up and began wheeling his machine towards Esher. of course. His mind came round and dwelt some time on her visible self.indifferent school for either manners or morals. It was just possible. he disdained to be one of your 38 . and the hedges and trees and the open country were all glorious to his towntired eyes. too! Her machine couldn't have cost much under twenty pounds. And rich people. that he might see her once more— coming back." said a nursemaid on the path to a personage in a perambulator. However. No other pneumatic had been along the road that morning. Should he try and say something smart? He speculated what manner of girl she might be. Probably she was one of these here New Women. Anyhow she was a Lady. It must be hers.

fortunehunters. Then his thoughts drove off at a tangent. 39 . He would certainly have to get something to eat at the next public house.

indeed. and asked bitterly for a lemon squash. he mounted his machine again and rode bravely up to the doorway. And he sat down upon the seat in the bar and mopped his face. very red and moist and angry in the face. 40 . But scarcely had he sat down before he got up again and stared out of the doorway. Hoopdriver. looking round suddenly with a piece of cheese in his cheek. which. "Damn!" said he. and as he came under the railway arch and saw the inn in front of him.On the Road to Ripley * VI In the fulness of time. is Burton in its proper company. Then. and as he was eating there came a middleaged man in a drab cycling suit. Mr. Hoopdriver drew near the Marquis of Granby at Esher. Burton and biscuit and cheese he had. "Damned Fool!" "Eigh?" said Mr.

"There's no hurry. sir. None. I came out for exercise. But energy and philosophy —!" Mr. "I thought you spoke to me. Hoopdriver. Because I've reservoirs 41 . than off I go hammer and tongs. Come from Guildford in something under the hour. Here I am. all very well. but said nothing. Have you any objections?" "Oh!—None. and to notice the scenery and to botanise. juicy. sir. Hoopdriver looked as intelligent as he could. sir. A contemplative disposition and a phlegmatic temperament. never notice a flower. Hell. WHY.The man in drab faced him." "To have a contemplative disposition and an energetic temperament. And no sooner do I get on the accursed machine. red. is hell. I never look to right or left. sir?" Mr. I didn't hear what you said.—like a grilled chop. none whatever. gentle exercise. get hot. I tell you. Hoopdriver shook his head. sir. never see a view. "I called myself a Damned Fool. sir. "Because I'm a damned fool." said Mr.

I've no doubt. all pace and fizzle? Why? It makes me furious. and wayside flowers. and now I'm on the fringe of London. WHY should a man rush about like a rocket. philosophical man. Mr. I can assure you. I go scorching along the road. paid for it. I lead a cat and dog life—But what IS the use of talking?—It's all of a piece!" He tossed his head with unspeakable self-disgust. A quiet. It's a most interesting road. Hoopdriver was still wondering what to say when his interlocutor 42 . sir. that you are not goaded to madness by your endogenous sneers. and cursing aloud at myself for doing it. sir. Get me on that machine. And I might have loitered all the morning! Ugh! Thank Heaven. and there's nothing I should enjoy more than watching them. and here I am dancing with rage and swearing like a drunken tinker at a perfect stranger— "But my day's wasted. and one or other of them is always leaking. Get me on anything.and reservoirs of muscular energy. that's what I am—at bottom. And I don't want to go a bit. by the eternal wrangling of an uncomfortable soul and body. I've lost all that country road. and without any further remark strode to the door. pitched the lemon squash into his mouth. and I have to go. birds and trees. dignified. I tell you. But I can't. you have not the irritable temperament. and I have to go.

and when Mr. Hoopdriver reached the doorway. In another moment he flew swiftly out of sight under the railway arch. He pedalled with illsuppressed anger. steering in between a couple of stones. not being under the sway of the human eye. say a foot apart. Hoopdriver paid his reckoning and—being now a little rested about the muscles of the knees—resumed his saddle and rode on in the direction of Ripley. and so lead to much confusion. There was a noise of a foot spurning the gravel.vanished. and will even jerk a loosely fastened hat over the eyes. but complex in its consequences. along an excellent but undulating road. And again. He had already gathered pace. Hoopdriver saw him no more. and his head was going down. which sends a violent concussion all along the spine to the skull. He was pleased to find his command over his machine already sensibly increased. But the back wheel. a thing simple in itself. for instance. VII After this whirlwind Mr. and Mr. He set himself little exercises as he went along and performed them with variable success. there was taking the hand or hands off the handlebar. This 43 . the man in drab was a score of yards Londonward. a deed of little difficulty as far as the front wheel is concerned. There was. is apt to take a vicious jump over the obstacle.

there are flies. and search for. Nothing can be further from the author's ambition than a wanton realism. There are those who consider it ornamental. but Mr. Contemplative flies stroll over it. and trifle absently with its most sensitive surfaces. Until the cyclist can steer with one hand. a needless excrescence. and face it we must. And 44 . cycling is necessarily a constant series of descents. And. Hoopdriver's nose is a plain and salient fact. his face is given over to Beelzebub. but at present it simply led to convulsive balancings and novel and inelegant modes of dismounting. secure. but it is doubtful whether our esteem is dictated so much by a sense of its absolute beauty as by the vitiating effect of a universally prevalent fashion. Hoopdriver desired to do. and would regard a face deprived of its assistance with pity or derision. and use a pocket handkerchief with the other. The human nose is. Until one can ride with one hand. in addition to this inconvenience. The only way to dislodge them is to shake the head forcibly and to writhe one's features violently. In the case of bicycle students.particularly was a feat Mr. This is not only a lengthy and frequently ineffectual method. for several divergent reasons. its inutility is aggravated by its persistent annoyance—it requires constant attention. but one exceedingly terrifying to foot passengers. at its best. as in the young of both sexes.

and Gosling. but his pocket handkerchief might have been in California for any good it was to him while he was in the saddle. without a soul to see. and one mucked about as the desire took one. trying to roll a piece of huckaback—only those who have rolled pieces of huckaback know quite how detestable huckaback is to roll—and the shop would be dusty and. And here was quiet and greenery. no voice to shout. and here was no wailing of "Sayn. you will appreciate now the motive of Mr. "Hoopdriver. sometimes the beginner rides for a space with one eye closed by perspiration. He presently attained sufficient dexterity to slap himself smartly and violently in the face with his right hand. busy. with a chair turned down over the counter and his ears very red. However. Yet you must not think that because Mr. he was unhappy in the slightest degree. 45 . red beast with a yellowish tail. the governor about and snappy. giving him a waggish air foreign to his mood and ill calculated to overawe the impertinent." no folding of remnants. without certainly overturning the machine. In the background of his consciousness was the sense that about this time Briggs would be half-way through his window dressing. the apprentice. a little.again. Hoopdriver's experiments. perhaps. Hoopdriver was a little uncomfortable. forward!" And once he almost ran over something wonderful. low.

that went rushing across the road before him. It was the
first weasel he had ever seen in his cockney life. There
pinewood and oak forest, purple, heathery moorland and
grassy down, lush meadows, where shining rivers wound
their lazy way, villages with square-towered, flint
white, country towns, long downhill stretches, where one
Perhaps he had been dashed a minute by the shameful
episode of the Young Lady in Grey, and perhaps the
his brain from which it could distress him in the
retrospect by suggesting that he looked like a fool; but
for the present that trouble was altogether in abeyance.
chequered stockings were ever before his eyes. (Or,
rather, you could see the stockings by carrying the head a
over this delightful, treacherous machine, growing and
growing! Every half-mile or so his knees reasserted
themselves, and he dismounted and sat awhile by the

It was at a charming little place between Esher and
Cobham, where a bridge crosses a stream, that Mr.
Hoopdriver came across the other cyclist in brown. It is
well to notice the fact here, although the interview was of
the slightest, because it happened that subsequently
Hoopdriver saw a great deal more of this other man in
brown. The other cyclist in brown had a machine of
dazzling newness, and a punctured pneumatic lay across
the sight of him Mr. Hoopdriver pulled himself together,
"The morning and you and the surface be everlastingly
damned!" said the other man in brown as Hoopdriver
receded. Hoopdriver heard the mumble and did not
distinguish the words, and he felt a pleasing sense of
having duly asserted the wide sympathy that binds all
cyclists together, of having behaved himself as becomes
one of the brotherhood of the wheel. The other man in
brown watched his receding aspect. "Greasy proletarian,"
said the other man in brown, feeling a prophetic dislike.

Fortune's way with me. Look at his insteps on the
treadles! Why does Heaven make such men?"
And having lit a cigarette, the other man in brown
returned to the business in hand.
Mr. Hoopdriver worked up the hill towards Cobham to a
brown, and then he dismounted and pushed his machine;
until the proximity of the village and a proper pride
drove him into the saddle again.

Beyond Cobham came a delightful incident, delightful,
that is, in its beginning if a trifle indeterminate in the
retrospect. It was perhaps half-way between Cobham and
Ripley. Mr. Hoopdriver dropped down a little hill,
where, unfenced from the road, fine mossy trees and
bracken lay on either side; and looking up he saw an
open country before him, covered with heather and set
mile away perhaps, a little grey figure by the wayside
waving something white. "Never!" said Mr. Hoopdriver
with his hands tightening on the handles.
He resumed the treadles, staring away before him, jolted

over a stone, wabbled, recovered, and began riding faster
He rode his straightest, and kept his pedals spinning,
albeit a limp numbness had resumed possession of his
"Blow my legs!"
But he kept on and drew nearer and nearer, breathing
hard and gathering flies like a flypaper. In the valley he
was hidden. Then the road began to rise, and the
resistance of the pedals grew. As he crested the hill he
he said. "It's her—right enough. It's the suit's done it,"—
which was truer even than Mr. Hoopdriver thought. But
now she was not waving her handkerchief, she was not
even looking at him. She was wheeling her machine
slowly along the road towards him, and admiring the
pretty wooded hills towards Weybridge. She might have
been unaware of his existence for all the recognition he
For a moment horrible doubts troubled Mr. Hoopdriver.
Had that handkerchief been a dream? Besides which he

coquetry—the handkerchief was indisputable. Should he
was as well she didn't look, because he would certainly
capsize if he lifted his cap. Perhaps that was her
consideration. Even as he hesitated he was upon her. She
must have heard his breathing. He gripped the brake.
heavily and staggering, but erect. She turned her eyes
upon him with admirable surprise.
Mr. Hoopdriver tried to smile pleasantly, hold up his
of the minutiae of self-consciousness, and he was quite
unaware of a tail of damp hair lying across his forehead,
and just clearing his eyes, and of the general disorder of
his coiffure. There was an interrogative pause.
insinuatingly. "I mean" (remembering his emancipation
and abruptly assuming his most aristocratic intonation),
"can I be of any assistance to you?"
The Young Lady in Grey bit her lower lip and said very
and made as if she would proceed.

crestfallen again. It was so unexpected. He tried to grasp
the situation. Was she coquetting? Or had he—?
her machine again.
colour in her cheeks deepening.
you—er, waved something white—" He paused.
She looked at him doubtfully. He HAD seen it! She
decided that he was not an unredeemed rough taking
advantage of a mistake, but an innocent soul meaning
well while seeking happiness. "I DID wave my
brown; and at a distance, you know—"
fashion against his bitter disappointment. "Certainly."
"I'm awfully sorry, you know. Troubling you to

According to the mile-stones. and all that. I felt sure there was no mistake." He hesitated and gripped his handles to mount." "Thank you." 52 ." she said decisively. But the gulf in the conversation widened rapidly and hopelessly. And I really am awfully sorry—" "Don't mention it. "ought to be sorry." he said.dismount." began Mr. "Nothing." said Mr. recurring to his stock of cliches. 'Ssure you." "No trouble. Somehow he could not find it in his heart to tell her that the man was beyond there with a punctured pneumatic. And immediately. Hoopdriver. mechanically and bowing over his saddle as if it was a counter. "Don't mention it. He looked back along the road and tried to think of something else to say." she said warmly." said Mr. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver. "Ripley is about two miles from here. "It's me. you know. "This IS the Ripley road?" "Certainly." Should he say it? Was it an impertinence? Anyhow!—"Not being the other gentleman. thank you. "There's nothing further. "Thank you so much." said Mr. Hoopdriver desperately.

and began (very clumsily) to mount. And 'GENTLEMAN!' What COULD she be thinking of him? But really the Young Lady in Grey had dismissed 53 .He tried a quietly insinuating smile that he knew for a grin even as he smiled it. One had to be so careful what one said to Young Ladies. What rot it was venturing to speak to a girl like that! With her education she was bound to see through him at once. and she seemed to look clear through him and all his presence. thank Heaven for the mounting! He could not see her because it was so dangerous for him to look round. It was unforgivable. He did so with a horrible swerve. He felt an unspeakable idiot. you know!' No point in it. You could tell from her manner she didn't think him a gentleman. as he was only too painfully aware. riding very badly. What was it ? 'Not being the other gentleman. And that last silly remark. How nicely she spoke too! nice clear-cut words! She made him feel what slush his own accent was. One glance. turned his back upon her. and went pedalling off. He always WAS a fool. but he could imagine her indignant and pitiless. was overcome with shame at her expression. felt she disapproved—that she despised him. and he'd gone and treated her just as though she was only a Larky Girl. Nevertheless.

Presently she stopped. "Oh! Why DOESN'T he come?" she said. She had thought no ill of him. Then. dismounted and wheeling his machine. appeared the other man in brown. things that would affect all the rest of her life. coming down the hill among the trees. 54 . and stamped her foot petulantly. She continued slowly walking her machine Londonward.Hoopdriver from her thoughts almost before he had vanished round the corner. His manifest awe and admiration of her had given her not an atom of offence. But for her just now there were weightier things to think about. as if in answer.

and. 55 . Hoopdriver rode swaggering along the Ripley road. torn from this attractive young woman. The bicycle. But the ill-concealed bladery of the machine. the present machinery of Fate. with an unwarrantable sense of comfort. he saw from the window the Young Lady in Grey and the other man in brown. grew heavier and heavier. was against him. entering Ripley. as he cooled down and smoked his Red Herring cigarette while the cold meat was getting ready. that he had seen the last of the Young Lady in Grey. so to speak.How Mr. it came to him. It seemed a choice between stopping at Ripley or dying in the flower of his days. after propping his machine outside the door. Hoopdriver was Haunted * IX As Mr. the deus ex machina. He went into the Unicorn. and continually more unsteady.

his aquiline nose. drove them away— so it seemed to Mr. The maid at the Unicorn is naturally a pleasant girl. his courage being high with meat and mustard. of the distance from London. vivid dislike. Mr. intending to stand.They filled him with apprehension by looking at the house which sheltered him. to the door. Hoopdriver—to the spacious swallow of the Golden Dragon. Mr. his rather bent shoulders. but the sight of his bicycle. and of the excellence of the Ripley road— wandered to the incomparable freshness and brilliance of the Young Lady in Grey. The young lady was riding very slowly. humping its rackety mud-guard and leering at them with its darkened lantern eye. As an incidental consequence of this distraction. with a sudden. propped in a drunk and incapable attitude against the doorway. After he had called for his reckoning he went. even as he conversed with her in that cultivated voice of his—of the weather. Hoopdriver was for a minute greatly inconvenienced by a mouthful of mustard. but she is jaded by the incessant incidence of cyclists. but the other man in brown had a bad puncture and was wheeling his machine. and Hoopdriver's mind. Hoopdriver noted his flaxen moustache. 56 . As he sat at meat he kept turning his head to the window to see what signs there were of that person. but the face of the Golden Dragon displayed no appreciation of the delightful morsel it had swallowed.

He looked up and saw Hoopdriver. Now. Then he glanced momentarily at the Golden Dragon. and. and then scowled darkly. especially on the top of his head. Hoopdriver was rather desirous than not of seeing no more of the Young Lady in Grey. differing essentially from her rich colouring. albeit that person was of a pallid fairness. at times lounge by the wayside. He was taking it to Flambeau's. stared for a minute. he felt he had made a hopeless fool of himself. besides. and altogether his ride to Guildford was exceedingly intermittent. puckered his mouth into a whistle of unconcern.with his legs wide apart and his hands deep in his pockets. But the afternoon was against him. The other man in brown he guessed was her brother. at that time. the repairer's. and the virtue had gone out of his legs to digest his cold meat. and stare boldly across the road. But just then the other man in brown appeared in the gateway of the Golden Dragon yard—it is one of those delightful inns that date from the coaching days—wheeling his punctured machine. intolerably hot. But Hoopdriver remained stoutly in the doorway until the other man in brown had disappeared into Flambeau's. I say. At times he would walk. and proceeded to wheel his machine into the road until a sufficient margin for mounting was secured. and every 57 .

public house. Mr. famous. and it has a delightful castle. and its 58 . Guildford is an altogether charming old town. meant a lemonade and a dash of bitter.—he went out to loiter away the rest of the afternoon. a hell in which the fire dieth not.—the tea he drank noisily out of the saucer.) Until a pennyworth of acrid green apples turned the current that threatened to carry him away. and then he was so much exhausted that he decided to put up there for the night. all set about with geraniums and brass plates commemorating the gentlemen who put them up. at the Yellow Hammer Coffee Tavern. as the scene of Master Tupper's great historical novel of Stephen Langton. And after he had cooled a space and refreshed himself with tea and bread and butter and jam. so he learnt from a Guide Book. Ever and again a cycle. (For that is the experience of all those who go on wheels. with glittering wheels and softly running chains. Each time he descended with less trepidation. and the thirst is not quenched. or a party of cyclists. and on each occasion. that drinking begets thirst. until at last the man who yields becomes a hell unto himself. He did not reach Guildford until nearly four o'clock. in spite of Briggs and a sentiment of economy. would go by. to save his self-respect. even more than thirst begets drinking. Hoopdriver descended and feigned some trouble with his saddle.

from the cage.Guildhall is a Tudor building. fern-beset ruin. and in the afternoon the shops are busy and the people going to and fro make the pavements look bright and prosperous. It was nice to peep in the windows and see the heads of the men and girls in the drapers' shops. At the top. like a fly crawling down a window pane. he looked down over the clustering red roofs of the town and the tower of the church. He visited the castle early in the evening and paid his twopence to ascend the Keep. Hoopdriver. and stared away south over the old bramble-bearing. serving away. Tomorrow he would go riding across that wide valley. The man hadn't even a brake. His pale grey eyes were full of complacency and pleasurable anticipation. whose feeling for gradients was unnaturally exalted). and it brought his heart into his mouth to see a cyclist ride down it. across the Weald. very pleasant to see. and then going to the southern side sat down and lit a Red Herring cigarette. He did not notice any one else had come up the Keep after him until he heard a soft voice behind him saying: 59 . busy as busy. at the waves of blue upland that rose. to the lazy altitudes of Hindhead and Butser. one behind another. The High Street runs down at an angle of seventy degrees to the horizon (so it seemed to Mr.

Hoopdriver saw the other man in brown and the Young Lady in Grey. with a fine air of indifference. isn't it?" said the other man in brown. after a quite perceptible pause. "Isn't it?" said the Young Lady in Grey. here's the view. resumed the Weald." said the other man in brown. "Beautiful old town. Mr. brother George. Hoopdriver perceived clearly that he was in the 60 . "Damn!" said the other man in brown. She turned her smiling profile towards Hoopdriver. Then Mr. "It's a dear old town. MISS BEAUMONT." Something in the accent pointed to a jest in the name. Mr. "Can't get alone anywhere. with their backs towards him. brothers don't call their sisters—" She glanced over her shoulder and saw Hoopdriver."Well. starting as he followed her glance. you know. Hoopdriver. looking round." answered another voice that sounded familiar enough. Another pause began. quite audibly. "Only. and turning his head.

that is. He stopped outside a linen draper's and peered over the goods in the window at the assistants in torment. He'd get up betimes the next day and hurry off to avoid her—them. and decided to retreat. It was about seven o'clock. the peculiarity of a brother calling his sister "Miss Beaumont" did not recur to him. and the fourth time her. at least. in a purely professional spirit. revise his memories as he would. and it was only after the lapse of perhaps a minute that he perceived 61 . It never occurred to Mr. but down at the very bottom of his heart he knew better. Apparently they aimed at the South Coast just as he did. Hoopdriver that Miss Beaumont and her brother might do exactly the same thing. He told himself that he was trying to see how they dressed out the brass lines over their counters. and that evening. And of course he was too big a fat-head to raise his cap to HER! He thought of that at the foot of the Keep. It was just his luck of course that he should stumble at the head of the steps and vanish with indignity. Once more quite unintentionally he stumbled upon these two people. The customers were a secondary consideration. He found it hard to be altogether satisfied about the figure he had cut. This was the third time that he'd seen HIM. He could have spent a whole day happily at that.way. He was much too preoccupied with an analysis of his own share of these encounters.

quite unable to decide upon the course he should take at the next encounter. 62 .that among them was—the Young Lady in Grey! He turned away from the window at once. Hoopdriver's head the curious problem whether he was to be regarded as a nuisance haunting these people. whether he should scowl savagely at the couple or assume an attitude eloquent of apology and propitiation. and saw the other man in brown standing at the edge of the pavement and regarding him with a very curious expression of face. There came into Mr. He abandoned the solution at last in despair. or whether they were to be regarded as a nuisance haunting him.

and poses. his experiences were mere material for a romantic superstructure. and if he had faced it as realistically as such people do in Mr. Or perhaps romancer will describe him better. deliberate and yet quite effectual selfdeceptions. Like I know not how many of those who do the fetching and carrying of life. On the contrary.—his real life was absolutely uninteresting. If some power had given Hoopdriver the 'giftie' Burns invoked. hopes.— a great number of them certainly. Hoopdriver was (in the days of this story) a poet. Gissing's novels.The Imaginings of Mr. Hoopdriver's Heart * X Mr. But that was just what he had the natural wisdom not to do. 'to see oursels as 63 . though he had never written a line of verse. he was always decorating his existence with imaginative tags. he would probably have come by way of drink to suicide in the course of a year.

sharp and resolute rather than clever (cp.) Such an influence as the eloquence of a revivalist preacher would suffice to divert the story into absolutely different channels. a brown-haired young fellow commonly. a man still pure. The appearance of some daintily gloved frockcoated gentleman with buttonhole and eyeglass complete.ithers see us. gallantly attendant in the rear of customers. of sturdy plainness. as the scientific books say). served again to start visions of a simplicity essentially Cromwell-like. walking untainted and brave and helpful through miry ways. This day there had predominated a fine leisurely person immaculately 64 . you must understand. subtly rakish. graceful rather than strong. with a humorous twinkle in the eye and some gallant sinning in the background. You should have seen Mr. His meaning glances! (I dare not give the meaning. make him a white-soured hero. of a strong. with blue eyes and a fair moustache. The stories fluctuated indefinitely. His entire life. but a series of short stories linked only by the general resemblance of their hero.' he would probably have given it away to some one else at the very earliest opportunity. Hoopdriver promenading the brilliant gardens at Earl's Court on an early-closing night.. silent man going righteously through the world. The smoking of a cigarette converted Hoopdriver's hero into something entirely worldly. was not a continuous romance. Invariably this person possessed an iron will.

Hoopdriver. You must not think that there was any TELLING of these stories of this life-long series by Mr. Hoopdriver to his native village. go back and rewrite this section from the beginning. or of a tramcar ride. and saying instead that he was a playwright and acted his own plays. I would. and riding on an unexceptional machine. After all. a mysterious person—quite unostentatious. and the entertainment kept him almost continuously happy. but the entire audience.' the intelligence—"A ten-pound rise all at 65 . I think. Yet even that playwright comparison scarcely expresses all the facts of the case.clothed. in a well-cut holiday suit and natty gloves. the unheard asides of the rival neighbours. but with accidental self-revelation of something over the common. expunging the statements that Hoopdriver was a poet and a romancer. possibly indeed. the delight of the old 'mater. the dreams dreamt behind the counter while trade was slack and mechanical foldings and rollings occupied his muscles. very many of his dreams never got acted at all. the return of Mr. for instance. If it were not for the trouble. most of them. He never dreamt that they were known to a soul. crucial dialogues. even a "bloomin' Dook. He was not only the sole performer. the dreams of a solitary walk for instance." it might be incognito. on the tour of the South Coast. Most of them were little dramatic situations.

You see now how external our view has been. maybe. Many men have never seen their own profiles or the backs of their heads. Self-deception is the anaesthetic of life. between him and utter abasement. to the girl he served a few days ago with sateen. On the road to Guildford and during his encounters with his 66 . as they swathe you about. And so. or a gallant rescue of generalised beauty in distress from truculent insult or ravening dog. Whad d'yer think of that?" or again. mater. You see a tattered lad selling matches in the street. Hoopdriver's mind.once from Antrobus. we have had but the slightest transitory glimpses of the drama within. even. Hoopdriver's imaginings. it is with all of us who go on living. or become but a pleasant titillation. indeed. dainty and witty and tender. of how the things looked in the magic mirror of Mr. the first whispering of love. and you think there is nothing between him and the bleakness of immensity. And all unseen by you a host of heaven. but a few tattered rags and a feeble musculature.sent fatuities swathes him about. So many people do this—and you never suspect it. while God is carving out our beings. They swathe him about so thickly that the pricks of fate scarce penetrate to him. and for the back of your own mind no mirror has been invented. But to return from this general vivisection to Mr.

' but a conscientious and normally stupid schoolmaster perceived the incipient talent and had nipped it in the bud by a series of lessons 67 . but at Guildford. The clerk. however. He searched his mind for a reason for this proceeding and discovered that he was a dynamiter needing privacy. get the key possibly and go over it—the thing would stimulate the clerk's curiosity immensely. In early days Mr. Upon that theory he procured the key. in congenial company. set him upon a charming little comedy. Hoopdriver had. did not understand the allusion. and that started the conception of an artist taking notes. played in his still younger days—to the infinite annoyance of quite a number of respectable excursionists at Hastings. There was the house agent's window. for instance. This proceeding in some occult way led to the purchase of a note-book and pencil. explored the house carefully. and merely pitied him as one who had married young and paired himself to a stronger mind than his own. but that there were OTHERS to consult. That was a little game Mr. He would go in. said darkly that it might suit his special needs. Hoopdriver had been. he burgeoned out more variously.haunting fellow-cyclists the drama had presented chiefly the quiet gentleman to whom we have alluded. make inquires about that thirty-pound house. under more varied stimuli. as his mother proudly boasted. a 'bit of a drawer.

note-book in hand. watched him intently through the interstices of the lace curtains. our principal character figured about quite happily in old corners of Guildford. looking out of the bay window of the Earl of Kent. saw him standing in a corner by a art. and once the other man in brown. so as to be hidden from him. busily sketching the Earl's imposing features. However. At which sight the other man in brown started back from the centre of the window. 68 . and crouching slightly.

how he fell a-yawning. are not to be detailed here." and that electricity was "wonderful. and how he got out his cycling map and studied it intently.Omissions * XI Now the rest of the acts of Mr. how he joined in the talk about flying-machines and the possibilities of electricity. and marking the 69 . how he returned through the yellow-lit streets to the Yellow Hammer Coffee Tavern and supped bravely in the commercial room—a Man among Men. and up to the Hogsback to see the little lamps below and the little stars above come out one after another. "Left 'em" several times with an oracular air. on the great opening day of his holidays. witnessing that fiyingmachines were "dead certain to come. wonderful". how he went and watched the billiard playing and said. Hoopdriver in Guildford. Nor will I enlarge upon his going into the writing-room. How he wandered about the old town in the dusk.— are things that find no mention here.

happy and drowsy. (Alas! that all days must end at last! ) He got his candle in the hall from a friendly waiting-maid. It is dark. only a little child asleep. and passed upward—whither a modest novelist.road from London to Guildford with a fine. but if you could have seen his face. I think you would have perceived. "Our Father 'chartin' heaven. that the man before you was. and said. bright line of the reddest of red ink. and in the diary there is an entry of these things —it is there to this day. sleeping there in the darkness. and I cannot do better than reproduce it here to witness that this book is indeed a true one. and he is hidden. At last he fell a-yawning so much that very reluctantly indeed he set about finishing this great and splendid day. and no lying fable written to while away an hour. and straggling moustache. Yet I may tell you that he knelt down at his bedside." even as he had learnt it by rote from his mother nearly twenty years ago. 70 . dare not follow. we may creep into his bedroom and catch him at his dreams. after all. in spite of that treasured. He is lying upon his left side. In his little cyclist hand-book there is a diary. And anon when his breathing had become deep and regular. with his arm under the pillow. in spite of your memory of the coarse words he had used that day. who writes for the family circle. thin.

you plunge into weltering rivers. to save you from a headlong fall. Hoopdriver's face peaceful in its beauty sleep in the little. After your first day of cycling one dream is inevitable. and round and round they seem to go. A memory of motion lingers in the muscles of your legs. Anon Mr. That was before midnight. you hover in horrible suspense over inhabited towns. Hoopdriver * XII In spite of the drawn blinds and the darkness. vainly seeking for a brake your hand cannot find. you have just seen Mr. plain bedroom at the very top of the Yellow Hammer Coffee Tavern at Guildford. you ride down steeples and staircases and over precipices. and rush helplessly at monstrous obstacles. Hoopdriver found himself riding out 71 . You ride through Dreamland on wonderful dream bicycles that change and grow. As the night progressed he was disturbed by dreams.The Dreams of Mr.

He tried to shout and warn the town to get out of the way. he flung himself sideways to descend. saw the new moon on the window. squashing noise. nearer! it was fearful! and in another moment the houses were cracking like nuts and the blood of the inhabitants squirting this way and that. The streets were black with people running. and the man in drab raging at him. and went to sleep again. falling. The villages went off one after another with a soft.of the darkness of non-existence. Nearer. falling.-what was it?—a juggins. Where the devil was the brake? It must have fallen off. He felt an awful fool. while the other man in brown cursed and swore at him and shouted to stop his career. too. He dared not look round. Right under his wheels he saw the Young Lady in Grey. but his voice was gone as well. and the other man in brown came threatening and 72 . Hoopdriver. pedalling Ezekiel's Wheels across the Weald of Surrey. And the bell? Right in front of him was Guildford. forgetting how high he was. ah!—a Juggernaut. This second dream went back into the first somehow. but he knew she was looking at his back. jolting over the hills and smashing villages in his course. and forthwith he began falling. There was the Putney heath-keeper. wondered a little. a. He did not see the Young Lady in Grey. turned over. He woke up. A feeling of horror came upon Mr.

His face seemed to be luminous. though Mr. and she said that would do very nicely. She smiled quite frankly at him.—rationals. Curious he hadn't noticed it before. and 73 . Hoopdriver was going to serve was the Young Lady in Grey. eight miles being a dress length. and she said. a rational dress length. was full of a sinuous grace he had never noticed before. and his expression was intolerably evil. Hoopdriver perceived that the other man in brown was the shop-walker. And the customer Mr. "MISS BEAUMONT. "What can I have the pleasure?" said Mr. as she leant towards him. and splashed up a spray of suspicion. just as she had done when she had apologised for stopping him. "The Ripley road. and he began measuring off eight miles by means of the yard measure on the counter. He grew uglier and uglier as he approached." So he got out the Ripley road and unrolled it and showed it to her. And her form. Hoopdriver knew it was against the rules. down the shop. differing from most shopwalkers in the fact that he was lit from within as a Chinese lantern might be. and then Mr. Some one began letting off fireworks. He came and looked close into Mr. that is. Hoopdriver's eyes and then receded to an incredible distance. chiefly Catherine wheels. She was in grey as usual.shouting towards him. and kept on looking at him and smiling. For it seemed that the place they were in was a vast shop.—and she had her bicycle leaning against the counter. Hoopdriver at once." he said.

Hoopdriver even at the moment that this was scarcely brotherly behaviour. policemen. people playing billiards in the doorways. and said Mr. the angry man in drab. This dream came to no crisis. besides measuring it off too slowly. For some time they kept dodging in and out of a wayside hotel with two front doors and an inn yard. And as Mr. shopmen. and so out upon the Ripley road. the barmaid at the Unicorn. or else she would not be travelling with him. The other man could not run very fast because he had hold of the Young Lady in Grey. he leapt over the counter forthwith and gave chase.then the other man in brown came up and wanted to interfere. stupid 74 . They ran round the shop and up an iron staircase into the Keep. so that he made the smallest steps conceivable. men with flying-machines. but Mr. It occurred to Mr. Of course it wasn't! The sight of the other man gripping her so familiarly enraged him frightfully. The chase seemed to last an interminable time. the old man in the Keep. and that he WAS her brother. They would not stretch out. headless figures. silly. and all kinds of people. Hoopdriver was a cad. they would keep going round and round as if they were on the treadles of a wheel. Hoopdriver began to measure faster. the other man in brown said the Young Lady in Grey had been there long enough. and he suddenly whipped his arm about her waist and made off with her. Hoopdriver was hampered by the absurd behaviour of his legs. heathkeepers.

and such-like riffraff..cocks and hens encumbered with parcels and umbrellas and waterproofs. wonderful!" at every corner. and said... "Wonderful. 75 . although he sounded his electric bell. kept getting in his way and annoying him. people carrying bedroom candles.

It occurred to him as being in some obscure way strategic.How Mr. that he would leave Guildford not by the obvious Portsmouth road. Hoopdriver's breakfast. In the former case he might loiter as he chose. but by the road running through Shalford. Along this pleasant shady way he felt 76 . He wheeled his machine from the High Street in some perplexity. were ahead of him or even now breakfasting somewhere in Guildford. in the latter he must hurry. Hoopdriver Went to Haslemere * XIII There was some little delay in getting Mr. He did not know whether this young lady. so that after all he was not free to start out of Guildford until just upon the stroke of nine. and possibly take refuge in branch roads. who had seized hold of his imagination so strongly. and her unfriendly and possibly menacing brother.

Before he got to Bramley a specious byway snapped him up.suffficiently secure to resume his exercises in riding with one hand off the handles. but it proved to be a workingman riding to destruction on a very tall ordinary. He came over once or twice. but fell on his foot each time. He entered Godalming on his feet. a mere tumult of road metal. for which he was altogether unable to account. and. upon the Portsmouth again. for the road through that delightful town is beyond dispute the vilest in the world. a way of peaks and precipices. Sometimes he could hear their pneumatics stealing upon him from behind. and perceived that he was improving. after a successful experiment with cider at the Woolpack. Now that he was awake he had forgotten that accentuated "Miss Beaumont that had been quite clear in his dream. And he felt a curious. and looking round saw a long stretch of vacant road. All this time he was acutely aware of the existence of the Young Lady in Grey and her companion in brown. But the curious dream conviction. he pushed on to Milford. Once he saw far ahead of him a glittering wheel. a couple of miles from Godalming. 77 . and in staring over his shoulder. vague uneasiness about that Young Lady in Grey. and dropped him as a terrier drops a walkingstick. ran with him for half a mile or more. as a child in the dark is of Bogies. that the girl was not really the man's sister.

under the Southwestern Railway arch. A finger-post suddenly jumped out at him. but no!—the bicycle would not let him. he did exactly the opposite thing. an ass of itself. Hoopdriver would have slowed up and read the inscription. His expression. The road dropped a little into Milford. for instance. So he went on his way—or to be precise. put down its head and bolted. Hoopdriver to turn in. But disconcerted as he waas. For as yet there was no road wide enough for Mr. Then to have recovered the point of intersection would have meant dismounting. Hoopdriver only thought of the brake when the fingerpost was passed." said a girlish voice. "It's horrible. "it's brutal—cowardly—" And stopped. By that error it came about that he once more came upon his fellow travellers of yesterday. Why. as he shot out from the archway at them. without the slightest preliminary announcement and when they least expected it. he was yet able to 78 . should a man want to be alone with his sister on the top of a tower? At Milford his bicycle made. and this he was on went to Haslemere and Midhurst. so to speak. The road to the right was the Portsmouth road. and the thing shied. coming on them suddenly. and Mr. and Mr. vainly indicating an abrupt turn to the right. may have been something between a grin of recognition and a scowl of annoyance at himself for the unintentional intrusion.would not let itself be forgotten.

he twirled his moustache and smiled faintly. And the girl stood rigid. A mask of surprised recognition fell across this revelation of emotion as she turned her head towards him." "Smirking—" What he called the other man in brown need not trouble us. Hoopdriver. as it flashed upon Hoopdriver. "Rum. her handkerchief clenched in her hand. and the two riders stood face to face. and the pose of the other man in brown vanished too in a momentary astonishment. with the faintest touch of red upon her eyelids. Hoopdriver's sense to be indignant. The bicycles were Iying by the roadside. And then he had passed them. She seemed to Mr. her arms straight by her side. "It's DASHED rum!" "They were having a row. The other man in brown's attitude. "Annoying her!" That any human being should do that! 79 . and was riding on towards Haslemere to make what he could of the swift picture that had photographed itself on his brain.appreciate something of the peculiarity of their mutual attitudes. But that was the impression of a second. and he was conscientiously looking amused." said Mr. and her face was flushed. was a deliberate pose.

I thought perhaps—" 80 . then turned his bicycle round. with a wave of fierce emotion. thanks. "the young lady is crying. looking the other man in brown squarely in the face. he saw that the girl was crying." said the other man in brown shortly." said Mr. and it seemed to Mr. and the other man in brown looked exceedingly disconcerted. and rode back towards them. Hoopdriver." said Mr. "Nothing wrong. I hope?" he said. "No accident?" "Nothing. He hesitated. Mr. Hoopdriver's mind." "But. Hoopdriver's fancy that she was stamping her foot. her eyes were swimming in tears. Hoopdriver descended and stood over his machine. He grasped his brake. "I'll offer 'im a screw 'ammer. Certainly she had been crying. mounted. and stood looking hesitatingly back. descended. gripping his courage firmly lest it should slip away and leave him ridiculous. Then. In another moment they heard him and turned in surprise. "Nothing at all. They still stood by the railway bridge."WHY?" The impulse to interfere leapt suddenly into Mr. with a great effort. Hoopdriver.

"that your curiosity is satisfied?" "Certainly. Mr. "Then we won't detain you." she said. The young lady busied herself with her eye. "It's this speck." "This lady." said Mr. There is a limit to knighterrantry —dragons and false knights are all very well. but flies! Fictitious flies! Whatever the trouble was.The Young Lady in Grey started. "has a gnat in her eye. gave Hoopdriver one swift glance. even fiercely. He knew there was no fly. Hoopdriver— the word is his own—stood flabber-gastered." he said." There was a pause. turned on him abruptly. Hoopdriver. "This speck of dust in my eye. He felt he had made a fool of himself again. The other man in brown made movements indicating commiserating curiosity concerning the alleged fly. but the other man in brown gave him no time. But the ground was suddenly cut from his feet. and covered one eye with her handkerchief. "I hope. explaining." she said. He had all the intuition of the simple-minded. He would have mumbled some sort of apology. "I believe it's out." 81 ." said the other man in brown. it was evidently not his affair.

eastward. A great brown shadow. against the darkened needles of the previous years. and the wide blue hill views and pleasant valleys one saw on either hand from the sandscarred roadway. struggled upon it. and of striking out boldly to the left. or at least giving up the straight way to his fellow-wayfarers. possessed him. where Mr. ignominiously.And. The sun shone. and so he had to ride on by Brook Street up the hill to Haslemere. even the sides of the road itself set about with grey heather scrub and prickly masses of gorse. and pine trees with their year's growth still bright green. for that would be to face his shame again. Hoopdriver turned his machine about. Mr. were fresh and delightful to Mr. He did not dare to stop at any of the inviting 82 . And away to the right the Portsmouth road mocked at him and made off to its fastnesses amid the sunlit green and purple masses of Hindhead. and resumed the road southward. Hoopdriver's eyes But the brightness of the day and the day-old sense of freedom fought an uphill fight against his intolerable vexation at that abominable encounter. and had still to win it when he reached Haslemere. He had conceived the brilliant idea of abandoning Portsmouth. a monstrous hatred of the other man in brown. Grant Allen writes his Hill Top Novels day by day. it was impossible to turn and go back. And when he learnt that he was not on the Portsmouth road.

83 . And there he ate and gossipped condescendingly with an aged labourer. wherein to refresh himself. but turned up a side way and found a little beer-shop. the Good Hope. assuming the while for his own private enjoyment the attributes of a Lost Heir.public-houses in the main street of Haslemere. and afterwards mounted and rode on towards Northchapel. a place which a number of finger-posts conspired to boom. but which some insidious turning prevented him from attaining.

Hoopdriver that. so that his course was largely determined by the windings of the road he traversed. "There's something Juicy wrong with 'em. "Miss Beaumont — brother and sister—and the stoppage to quarrel and weep 84 . This observation was so far justified by Mr." said he—once even aloud. Hoopdriver Reached Midhurst * XIV It was one of my uncle's profoundest remarks that human beings are the only unreasonable creatures. He recapitulated the facts. after spending the morning tortuously avoiding the other man in brown and the Young Lady in Grey. he spent a considerable part of the afternoon in thinking about the Young Lady in Grey. But what it was he could not imagine. and contemplating in an optimistic spirit the possibilities of seeing her again.How Mr. Memory and imagination played round her. Of one general proposition he was absolutely convinced.

gathering wild flowers and wondering why they had no names—for he had never heard of any—dropping them furtively at the 85 . It was a pleasant vision. Hoopdriver danced uncommonly well." and lower. Petworth seemed a possible resting-place. There was no exertion he hated so much as inference. And then to lean over that counter and murmur. too far. in the shop. and she is bowed towards the Manchester counter. Should he ever see her again? Suppose he did— with that other chap not about. "I have not forgotten that morning on the Portsmouth road. or Pullborough. and let his imagination go free.—it was perplexing material for a young man of small experience. and any place over the Downs beyond. a sudden radiance in the doorway. The vision he found pleasantest was an encounter with her. Hoopdriver consulted his map and took counsel and weighed his course of action. posing himself perpetually and loitering. "I never shall forget. Somehow they would drift together. Or again." At Northchapel Mr. and after a time he gave up any attempt to get at the realities of the case. an unexpected encounter at the annual Dancing Class 'Do' at the Putney Assembly Rooms. and so he meandered towards Petworth. seemingly apropos of the goods under discussion. for you must understand that Mr. Midhurst seemed too near. and he would dance with her again and again.

' There were purple vetches in the hedges. honeysuckle. white campions. for fear lest the Young Lady in Grey should come glittering round the corner. stellarias. and in another place white dead nettles. Here and there were little cottages. and dandelions. longing to take off shoes and stockings— those stylish chequered stockings were now all dimmed with dust —and paddle his lean legs in the chuckling cheerful water. and ragged robins. belated brambles—but the dog-roses had already gone. Then he came to a pebbly rivulet that emerged between clumps of sedge loosestrife and forget-me-nots under an arch of trees. there were green and red blackberries. bright scarlet and purple white. One cornfield was glorious with poppies. and there he dismounted. meadowsweet. a touch 86 . and an expanse of some hundred houses or so. and rippled across the road. But instead he sat in a manly attitude. In the lanes the trees met overhead. Iri one of the main roads he steered a perilous passage through a dozen surly dun oxen. and once a broad green and a church. For the flavour of the Young Lady in Grey was present through it all. and picturesque beer-houses with the vivid brewers' boards of blue and scarlet. and generally 'mucking about. smoking a cigarette. and the blue corn-flowers were beginning. clinging bedstraw.sight of a stranger. and the wisps of hay still hung to the straggling hedges. grasses flowering. traveller's-joy. mixing with the flowers and all the delight of it.

emerged. and that has a curious effect upon the emotional colouring of our minds. This new view of it depressed him dreadfully. and something like regret that would not be ignored. and a little shop flourishing 87 . And he who might have helped her had taken his first impulse as decisive—and bolted. He began riding fast to get quit of such selfreproaches. "I'm getting hungry. an undertone of expectation. seeing the trouble afoot. It was only late in the long evening that. and the girl—she was in some serious trouble. and Petworth five! —Thenks. anxiety. and as the dusk was coming on. and up the North Street. he began to repent. He found himself in a tortuous tangle of roads. inquiring of a gamekeeper in Easebourne village. not at Petworth but at Easebourne. The man was a sinister brute." said Mr." He came into Midhurst by the bridge at the watermill. What might not be happening to her now? He thought again of her tears. He was getting hungry. to keep his eye upon it. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver saw in a flash of inspiration. "Midhurst a mile. quite abruptly. having fled these two people. I'll take Midhurst. Surely it was merely his duty. a mile from Midhurst. vividly and decidedly.that made this second day quite different from the first.

was the street. and all kinds of beautiful things made out of wool.cheerfully. the cheerful sign of a teapot. and through it one saw the corner of the vicarage and a pleasant hill crest. sweets. for presently it was to be his bedroom. and the day part of it was decorated with framed Oddfellows' certificates and giltbacked books and portraits. Regular good some of the jokes were. very comfortable it was indeed. propped up against his teapot as he ate. with a visitors' book full of the most humorous and flattering remarks about the little old lady. All shadowy blue between its dark brick houses. bright-eyed little old lady made him welcome. The window was lead framed and diamond paned. and he was presently supping sumptuously on sausages and tea. struck his fancy. and children's toys in the window. Hoopdriver formed a vague idea of drawing " something "—for his judgment on the little old lady was already formed. in verse and prose. in dusky silhouette against the twilight sky." she would say. And after the sausages had ceased to be. and kettle-holders. He pictured the little old lady discovering it afterwards—"My gracious! One of them Punch men. A neat. The room had a curtained recess and a chest of drawers. with a bright yellow window here and there and splashes of 88 . he lit a Red Herring cigarette and went swaggering out into the twilight street. and rhymes that read well—even with your mouth full of sausage. and exhibiting a brilliant array of tobaccos. Mr.

89 .green and red where the chemist's illumination fell across the road.

with a longish nose overhanging his sandy flaxen moustache. dark. The unexpected interruption had stopped the flood of her tears. "Your behaviour. They had watched Hoopdriver out of sight. fair. "makes you conspicuous. Hoopdriver in the dusky Midhurst North Street. his hand on his hip. She stood with face averted. in an attitude that was equally suggestive of defiance and aggression. pale blue eyes. with bright eyes." 90 . He tugged his abundant moustache and regarded her calmly.An Interlude * XV And now let us for a space leave Mr. swift colour under her warm-tinted skin. and a rich. obstinately resolved not to speak first. and a head that struck out above and behind. The man was thirty three or four. Her eyes were all the brighter for the tears that swam in them. He stood with his feet wide apart. and return to the two folks beside the railway bridge between Milford and Haslemere. fine featured." he said at last. She was a girl of eighteen.

But let us look at the facts of the case—if that pleases 91 . and choked." she said. "You unspeakable CAD. her eyes and cheeks glowing. her hands clenched. her eyes alight with anger and contempt. and stood panting. and by an effort maintained his cynical calm. "Reasonable! That means all that is mean and cowardly and sensual in the world. He stroked his moustache. "Let us be reasonable. "Unspeakable cad! My dear girl! Possible I AM an unspeakable cad. Who wouldn't be—for you?" "'Dear girl!' How DARE you speak to me like that? YOU —" "I would do anything—" "OH!" There was a moment's pause. She looked squarely into his face." he said.She turned upon him." "You have always had it so—in your generalising way. and perhaps he flushed a little. stamped her little foot.

"I left my home because it was unendurable." "I've left my home. Jessie. You pretended to be my friend. I forbid you—I forbid you to stand in the way—" "One moment. It was you who said.—"you've eloped. you have eloped with me. I have always thought that my little pupil was at least clear-headed." he said." With an impatient gesture she motioned him to go on. why shouldn't a man and woman be friends? And now you dare—you dare—" "Really. with dignity. But the point better. yes. this pose of yours. this injured innocence —" "I will go back. "Well." 92 . You don't know everything yet. Promised to help me to earn a living by writing. you know. Because that woman—" "Yes. Listen to me for a moment." she corrected." "You came with me.

"Haven't I been listening? And you have only insulted me. Do you think that justifies you?" "That isn't all. to make the game more even. I HAVEN'T a sister! For one object —" "Well?" "To compromise you. It was the fun of the whole thing for you. nevertheless. who scarcely dared hint at anything beyond. invented a sister at Midhurst—I tell you. Then she began half defiantly: "Much I am compromised. That was a new way of putting it." "But you took the hints. And so I suggested to you and joined with you in this expedition of yours. I made up my mind—Well. You played with it—" "You have said all that before. and could not speak to you. For half a minute neither spoke. You knew. MIND! You liked it." She started. And you did not mind. Of course—I have made a fool of myself—" 93 . You KNEW. That I loved you. You who dared only to talk of friendship.

pulling his flaxen moustache and watching the effect. She looked into his eyes speechless. you will have to learn. "I shall ride home. " she said slowly. I gave your name as MRS. "Jessie. in spite of his cynical pose. all this subterfuge. and you know very little of this world. "You started and blushed when the man at breakfast called you Ma'am. You didn't care to notice it. He thought the time had come for an emotional attack. Before you write all those novels we have talked about. But do you think that I have done all this scheming. And that's one point—" He hesitated. but you did not say anything because he was young and nervous—and besides. Less than you think. "MRS." he said. isvillanous."My dear girl. "I know all this is mean. Beaumont. with a sudden change of voice. But you will learn. for any other object—" She did not seem to listen to his words. you are still on the sunny side of eighteen." she said abruptly. You thought it a funny mistake." He looked almost apologetic. the thought of being my wife offended your modesty. 94 . Beaumont. "I am learning fast. at last. But—you see." he repeated.

to live without conventionality—" "My dear girl. You haven't money and you haven't credit." He paused momentarily. "what she could say to you after this." "How CAN I?" "Then you must go back to her. to let this consideration have its proper weight." said he. forgive me. No one would take you in. or—trust to me. 95 . do let us be cynical. Upon my honour. I am a man. to be a free woman." "Yes? And go—" "Go somewhere to earn my living. "Jessie. I could not help myself. I shall leave you now. If you will."To her?" She winced. It's one of two things: go back to your stepmother. I lost my head when I spoke so. "Just think." "Anyhow. I did not mean to say the things I did.

She was pale. Both were extremely uncomfortable and disappointed. half turning from him and pressing her hand to her brow. Shall we call a truce until one?" She hesitated. and I promise you—" "How can I trust you?" "Try me.Forgive me. I can assure you—" She regarded him distrustfully. and tried in vain to think of a way of escape. Jessie. demanded a definition of the truce. through the sunlight and the heather. They mounted. "At any rate. "THINK! Look here. and at last agreed. try as 96 . It is ten o'clock. and rode on in silence." she said. Surely we have been in the shadow of this horrible bridge long enough." "Oh! let me think. Only one tangible thing would keep in her mind. She perceived she was in a scrape. divided between fear and anger. ride on with me now.

Perhaps things looked worse than they were.she would to ignore it. that was some consolation. He. felt thwarted. after all. every day she spent with him was a day gained. At any rate. He felt that this romantic business of seduction was. 97 . That was the quite irrelevant fact that his head was singularly like an albino cocoanut. But this was only the beginning. too. unexpectedly tame.

Man. has deduced a wonderful future for the children of men. where their motives are in session and their acts are considered and passed. bythe-bye. and for hair we gave him a wig. is the man's name. you have heard them talking. he said. and the girl's is Jessie Milton —from the outside. they ride now side by side (but not too close together. and lo! false 98 . shrivelled.Of the Artificial in Man. But first a word concerning wigs and false teeth. and in an uneasy silence) towards Haslemere. Some jester. toothless. and we padded him. and this chapter will concern itself with those curious little council chambers inside their skulls. was nowadays a hairless creature by forty or fifty. and of the Zeitgeist * XVI You have seen these two young people—Bechamel. enlarging upon the increase of bald heads and purblind people.

new. and imperceptible false diaphragms were thrust into the failing ear. hunger. we were coming. too. How far such odd substitution for the body is possible need not concern us now. and a fine. an artificial body of a man. satisfying pugnacity. personal vanity. a healthy. with but a doubtful germ of living flesh lurking somewhere in his recesses. spectacles superseded an inefficient eyelens. and to hand was artificial digestive fluid or bile or pancreatine. and so forth. a little reasonable philoprogenitiveness. and thereafter we read and read for all the time some strenuous. book-writing hypnotists. the thing. This sugar you are eating. Complexions. until. newspaper-writing hypnotists. Rudyard Kipling. he held. Time was when men had simple souls. Did he lose a limb. and a taste for good living. nerve-destroying business permits. artificial one was at his disposal. pulpit and platform hypnotists. has already been accomplished. Pedagogic hypnotists. desires as natural as their eyes. get indigestion. To that. But the devil. so far as the soul is concerned. speaking by the lips of Mr. a decent. they 99 . But now we are taught and disciplined for years and years. he had conjured up a weird thing of shreds and patches. hath it that in the case of one Tomlinson. as the case might be. a simulacrum. at last. were replaceable. are at us all.teeth set in gold. So he went over our anatomies. a little reasonable philanthropy.

and the man has a pretty perverted ambition to be a cynical artistic person of the very calmest description. indeed. a highway's feast of fine. we find. and we vie with one another in an excess of entertainment. from the text-books he has studied. And when we open the heads of these two young people. a congestion of acquired ideas. and down it goes with every symptom of pleasure. her stepmother. not a soul so much as an oversoul. He knows she admires his genius. we find. a phrase you may have heard before. and we yawn and stretch beyond endurance. a zeitgeist. and he met her at that celebrated lady novelist's. This Ibsen. but this Ibsen is deep and delightful." 100 . Both are in the first stage of repentance. confused thinking. and forthwith we reject it with infinite disgust.tell us. as you have probably found for yourself. is ink. they say. The girl is resolute to Live Her Own Life. and here you have them well embarked upon the Adventure. which consists. among other things. He is quite a distinguished art critic in London. Pardon! they interrupt. not a straightforward motive on the surface anywhere. is dull past believing. He knows Passion ought to awaken. He is hoping for the awakening of Passion in her. This black draught of unrequited toil is True Happiness. but he is unaware that she does not admire his head. in setting your teeth hard and saying' "I WILL go on.

their way together with a certain aloofness of manner
that promises ill for the orthodox development of the
Adventure. He perceives he was too precipitate. But he
feels his honour is involved, and meditates the
development of a new attack. And the girl? She is
unawakened. Her motives are bookish, written by a
haphazard syndicate of authors, novelists, and
biographers, on her white inexperience. An artificial
oversoul she is, that may presently break down and
reveal a human being beneath it. She is still in that
schoolgirl phase when a talkative old man is more
seems as fine an ambition as any girl need aspire to.
Bechaniel was to have helped her to attain that in the
most expeditious manner, and here he is beside her,
talking enigmatical phrases about passion, looking at her
with the oddest expression, and once, and that was his
apologised. She still scarcely realises, you see, the scrape
she has got into.


The Encounter at Midhurst
on coincidence when I tell you that next door to Mrs.
Wardor's—that was the name of the bright-eyed, little
old lady with whom Mr. Hoopdriver had stopped—is the
Mr. Hoopdriver reached Midhurst, were 'Mr.' and 'Miss'
Beaumont, our Bechamel and Jessie Milton. Indeed, it
was a highly probable thing; for if one goes through
Guildford, the choice of southward roads is limited; you
may go by Petersfield to Portsmouth, or by Midhurst to
Chichester, in addition to which highways there is
nothing for it but minor roadways to Petworth or
Pulborough, and cross-cuts Brightonward. And coming
to Midhurst from the north, the Angel's entrance lies
yawning to engulf your highly respectable cyclists, while
Mrs. Wardor's genial teapot is equally attractive to those

who weigh their means in little scales. But to people
unfamiliar with the Sussex roads—and such were the
three persons of this story—the convergence did not
appear to be so inevitable.
Bechamel, tightening his chain in the Angel yard after
Hoopdriver walk slowly across the gateway, his head
enhaloed in cigarette smoke, and pass out of sight up the
street. Incontinently a mass of cloudy uneasiness, that
had been partly dispelled during the day, reappeared and
concentrated rapidly into definite suspicion. He put his
screw hammer into his pocket and walked through the
archway into the street, to settle the business forthwith,
for he prided himself on his decision. Hoopdriver was
merely promenading, and they met face to face.
At the sight of his adversary, something between disgust
and laughter seized Mr. Hoopdriver and for a moment
destroyed his animosity. "'Ere we are again!" he said,
laughing insincerely in a sudden outbreak at the
perversity of chance.
The other man in brown stopped short in Mr.
Hoopdriver's way, staring. Then his face assumed an
expression of dangerous civility. "Is it any information to
you," he said, with immense politeness, "when I remark

that you are following us?"
Mr. Hoopdriver, for some occult reason, resisted his
characteristic impulse to apologise. He wanted to annoy.
the other man in brown, and a sentence that had come
into his head in a previous rehearsal cropped up
appropriately. "Since when," said Mr. Hoopdriver,
catching his breath, yet bringing the question out
valiantly, nevertheless,—"since when 'ave you purchased
the county of Sussex?"
"May I point out," said the other man in brown, "that I
be frank—you appear to be following us—with an
"You can always," said Mr. Hoopdriver, "turn round if
you don't like it, and go back the way you came."
"Oh-o!" said the other man in brown. "THAT'S it! I
thought as much."
"Did you?" said Mr. Hoopdriver, quite at sea, but rising
pluckily to the unknown occasion. What was the man
driving at?
"I see," said the other man. "I see. I half suspected—"

His manner changed abruptly to a quality suspiciously
friendly. "Yes- -a word with you. You will, I hope, give
me ten minutes."
Wonderful things were dawning on Mr. Hoopdriver.
reality! He hesitated. Then he thought of an admirable
phrase. "You 'ave some communication—"
"We'll call it a communication," said the other man.
"I can spare you the ten minutes," said Mr. Hoopdriver,
with dignity.
"This way, then," said the other man in brown, and they
walked slowly down the North Street towards the
Grammar School. There was, perhaps, thirty seconds'
silence. The other man stroked his moustache nervously.
Mr. Hoopdriver's dramatic instincts were now fully
awake. He did not quite understand in what role he was
cast, but it was evidently something dark and mysterious.
Doctor Conan Doyle, Victor Hugo, and Alexander
Dumas were well within Mr. Hoopdriver's range of
reading, and he had not read them for nothing.
"I will be perfectly frank with you," said the other man in

"Frankness is always the best course," said Mr.
"Well, then—who the devil set you on this business?"
"Set me ON this business?"
"Don't pretend to be stupid. Who's your employer? Who
engaged you for this job?"
"Well," said Mr. Hoopdriver, confused. "No—I can't
"Quite sure?" The other man in brown glanced
meaningly down at his hand, and Mr. Hoopdriver,
following him mechanically, saw a yellow milled edge
glittering in the twilight. Now your shop assistant is just
that he is acutely sensitive on the point.
Mr. Hoopdriver flushed hotly, and his eyes were angry as
he met those of the other man in brown. "Stow it!" said
Mr. Hoopdriver, stopping and facing the tempter.
"What!" said the other man in brown, surprised. "Eigh?"

but he put it down to the fact that the phrase "men of honour" 107 . I misunderstood you." said the other man in brown. the passion of laughter. Hoopdriver that in Midhurst they do not light the lamps in the summer time. really. Private Inquiry—I did not realise—I really trust you will overlook what was.And so saying he stowed it in his breeches pocket. that came boiling up. Hoopdriver. you know. Men of honour are not so common in the world—in any profession. Detective! Even in the shadow Bechamel saw that a laugh was stifled. There are detectives of an inferior description—watchers. The whole class. "I beg your pardon. Let us walk on. "By Gosh! I'd follow you now—" "My dear sir. after all—you must admit—a natural indiscretion. "D'yer think I'm to be bribed?" said Mr. whose imagination was rapidly expanding the situation. to conceal the furious tumult of exultation. he had to snatch suddenly at his moustache and tug fiercely at it. In your profession—" "What have you got to say against my profession?" "Well." It was lucky for Mr. or the one they were passing had betrayed him. I really beg your pardon. As it was.

" said Mr. Is that all you're after?" said Mr. "He's simply holding out for a fiver. You need not answer if you don't want to. Bechamel respected himself for his diplomatic gifts." He coughed. He tried to catch a remark by throwing out a confidence." "Who's the other?" said Mr. appreciatively. There's no harm done in my telling you what I want to know. "I don't see that it hurts you to tell me who your employer is." "Prompt. keeping the secret he did not know with immense enjoyment. but 108 . calmly. "He'll come round yet. Hoopdriver.amused his interlocutor." said Bechamel. Hoopdriver. Are you employed to watch me—or Miss Milton?" "I'm not the leaky sort. Hoopdriver. "It's no good pumping." "Don't you? I do. Perhaps he'd tell some more. "I take it there are two people concerned in watching this affair. "Now here's the thing I want to put to you—the kernel of the whole business." said Bechamel to himself. Miss Milton! That was her name.

" "And you want to know which it is?" "Yes. his exultation getting the better of him.controlling with enormous internal tension his selfappreciation. Then he made a last effort. "I told you to stow that. Hoopdriver. "I'd give a five-pound note to know just the precise state of affairs. "Who's the other?" was really brilliant. he thought. And added with perfect truth and a magnificent mystery." said Bechamel. "Well—arst 'em!" said Mr." said Mr. "There's my wife and HER stepmother." Bechamel turned impatiently. Hoopdriver. in fact— really existed. "You don't quite understand who you're dealing with. With that the interview terminated. But you will!" He spoke with such conviction that he half believed that that defective office of his in London—Baker Street. Bechamel went back 109 . in a threatening tone." he said. "Arst 'em both. and with a pretty consciousness of repartee.

assumed the disguise of a cyclist. with round eyes and a wondering smile. of course. this mysterious and terrible thing. Hoopdriver. contemplating that establishment and enjoying all the strange sensations of being this wonderful.' Then he tried to understand what it was in particular that 110 . low whistling noises was upon Mr. Here was a new game!—and a real one. keeping these two people 'under observation. and stood for ten minutes. returned. For a space he forgot the tears of the Young Lady in Grey. with mystery even in his paces. picked up the first old crock he came across as a means of pursuit. Mr. perhaps. with occasional murmurs the Angel. XVIII That glee which finds expression in raised eyebrows and long. walked down to where the mill waters glittered in the moonlight. "Private Inquiry" and the like. towards the town. He had. 'No expense was to be spared. "Hang detectives!" It wasn't the kind of thing he had anticipated at all. by a kind of instinct. Hoopdriver.' He walked slowly back from the bridge until he was opposite the Angel. a Sherlock Holmes in fact. and after meditating over the parapet of the bridge for a space. Everything fell into place in his scheme. perturbed. Hoopdriver as a Private Inquiry Agent.

and Mrs. He cleared his throat. "My wife"—"HER stepmother!" Then he remembered her swimming eyes. It required an effort before he could walk into the Angel bar. Bowlong stopping here?" "What. washed away the detective superstructure. He was a detective!—he would find out. Hoopdriver." said Mr.he was observing. and Miss BEAUMONT. Hoopdriver. "A lemonade and bitter. "Sure you've got the name right. A horrible suspicion of the state of affairs came into Mr. else why should he object to being watched? He was married! She was not his sister. But there's a Mr. Surely it had not come to THAT. He began to understand. "There's no married couples stopping here. How was it to be done? He began to submit sketches on approval to himself." "No." said the barmaid. and left him plain Mr. and his proffered half sovereign (damn him!) was up to no good. "Are Mr. a talkative person of ample dimensions." She spelt it for precision. with his confident manner. Abruptly came a wave of anger that surprised him. please. young 111 . This man in brown. Hoopdriver's head. a gentleman and a young lady—on bicycles?" "Fairly young—a married couple.

Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver. but no one of the name of— What was the name you gave?" "Bowlong. I thought p'raps—" And so they conversed at some length. I thought you might be asking for Beaumont— the names being similar. "It's curious the names being so alike." said Mr. Beaumont's here." said the barmaid. Sure that Beaumont ain't the name?" "Certain. there ain't no Bowlong. The 112 . Hoopdriver delighted to find his horrible suspicion disposed of. Were you expecting them on bicycles?" "Yes—they said they MIGHT be in Midhurst tonight. "First off." "Quite. "No." said Mr. "Beaumont there is. taking up a glasscloth and a drying tumbler and beginning to polish the latter." "P'raps they'll come presently. but no Bowlong." said Mr.

so she intimated.' says she." said the barmaid. polished.' says she. Hoopdriver. and Mr. but I want a room with a good view. in a year or two. and in she marched. 'I and my brother. b-dashes. "She'll be a nice little lot to marry. 'I've settled the rooms." "I dessay you do. I can fancy my brother letting me boss the show like that. at which she was coquettishly shocked.' she says. He comes hurrying in after and looks at her. Hoopdriver whispered the badinage natural to the occasion.barmaid having listened awhile at the staircase volunteered some particulars of the young couple upstairs. and shook the drops of water into her little zinc sink. "There'll be no knowing which is which. "And her manner too! She got off her machine and give it 'im to stick up against the kerb. "if the truth was known. if there's one to be got." said the barmaid. 'want to stop here to-night. "She'll be wearing the—well. and took up another that had been draining. My brother doesn't mind what kind of room 'e 'as. I 113 . smiled and shook her head." The barmaid looked down. and 'e says 'damn!' just like that. put down the tumbler. Her modesty was much impressed by the young lady's costume. as the sayin' is." said Mr.

"Not you. Hoopdriver returned to the little room with the lead-framed windows where he had dined. not more than if I'd forgot— Well." said he. stared at the moon rising on the 114 . taking up his change. Gracious no! I shouldn't feel as if I'd anything on me. there! I'm talking. XIX Then Mr." said Mr." said the barmaid. then with his native courtesy smiled. "Fashion is all the go with you ladies—and always was. and wished her good evening. sat down on the box under the window. "No—I ain't one of your fashionable sort." "Nice they'd look on my figger." she said. Hoopdriver. He waited until he caught her eye." This depreciation of the Young Lady in Grey was hardly to Hoopdriver's taste. "I dessay I'm old fashioned. You'll be wearing 'em yourself before a couple of years is out. "Fashion. and walked humming down the bar.can't think what girls is comin' to. raised his cap." She put down the glass abruptly. with a titter. and where the bed was now comfortably made.

He had heard her voice. had the sky to herself. The sky was deep blue. and tried to collect his thoughts. swine was the mildest for him. At first his thoughts were kinetic. Hoopdriver to take a hand in the game. Did she know he was married? Never for a moment did a thought of evil concerning her cross Hoopdriver's mind. some one up the street was learning the violin. of deeds and not relationships. Hoopdriver. "Thin we won't detain yer. with a still luminous afterglow along the hlack edge of the hill. But he would. seen the frank light in her eyes. There was this malefactor. in a strange.-well. and she had been weeping—that sufficed. The rights of the case he hadn't properly grasped. supposed to represent that of 115 . contemptible voice. and his victim. And that smirking. at rare intervals a belated inhabitant hurried home and woke the echoes. unnatural. thenks. HE was married." said Mr. How they whirled at first! It was past ten. and it had fallen on Mr. aloud. and the white moon overhead.shining vicarage roof. save for a couple of yellow stars. He recalled the exceedingly unpleasant incident of the railway bridge. Simple.minded people see questions of morals so much better than superior persons —who have read and thought themselves complex to impotence. and a corncrake kept up a busy churning in the vicarage garden. and most of Midhurst was tucked away in bed.

He's afraid of us detectives—that I'll SWEAR. a duel and two vigorous murders. 116 . His thoughts ceased to be a torrent. And presently with his thirst for revenge glutted by six or seven violent assaults. Wardor should chance to be on the other side of the door within earshot. well and good.Bechamel. So pleasant was such dreaming.—Bechamel staggering headlong from the impact of Mr. She was a plucky one too. Hoopdriver's large. his mind came round to the Young Lady in Grey again. "Oh.' so sweet was his ecstasy.) For a space he meditated chastisements and revenges. to tell the truth. Hoopdriver's peaked face under the moonlight was transfigured. but. that Mr. 'The Soul's Awakening. He compared her colour. Bechamel's five feet nine of height lifted from the ground and quivering under a vigorously applied horsewhip. One might have paired him with that well-known and universally admired triumph. physical impossibilities for the most part. He'd never met anything like her before. Fancy that bolster of a barmaid being dressed in that way! He whuffed a contemptuous laugh. the BEGGAR! I'll be level with him yet. He went over the incident the barmaid at the Angel had described to him. ill supported fist." (If Mrs. smoothed down to a mirror in which she was reflected with infinite clearness and detail.

"Lord!" said he. Would that chap tell her the 'tecks were after them? If so. It is difficult to say how long Mr.her vigour. when for any reason their services are dispensed with. that to-morrow he must be busy. HE knew that. Hoopdriver's pensiveness lasted. because weeping is the custom of all Young Ladies in Business. more accessible. And such weeping as he had seen before had been so much a matter of damp white faces. "I must see that I 117 . Your draper's assistant becomes something of a judge of weeping. with the Young Ladies in Business with whom his lot had been cast. She could weep—and (by Gosh!) she could smile. Then he remembered he was a 'watcher'. her voice. red noses. It would be in character to make notes. At that he thought of the time and found it was half-past eleven. and hair coming out of curl. and he pulled out his little note-book. If possible he must speak to her. he smiled confidentially at the puckered pallor of the moon. more beautiful indeed to him. With that in hand he fell a-thinking again. and reverting to acting abruptly. Even in tears she was beautiful. It seemed a long time before his thoughts of action returned. Just a significant word. for it made her seem softer and weaker. "Your friend—trust me!"—It occurred to him that to-morrow these fugitives might rise early to escape. would she be as anxious to get away as HE was? He must be on the alert.

" He yawned and rose. and he pulled back the little chintz curtains to let the sunlight strike across to the bed. The blind was up. and sat down on his bed to undress. hung his watch within good view of his pillow. 118 . and thence he passed gloriously into the wonderland of dreams.wake. He lay awake for a little while thinking of the wonderful possibilities of the morrow. on a nail that supported a kettle-holder.

and he held out strongly. occupied. in oblique glances at the Angel front.The Pursuit * XX And now to tell of Mr. and he had to reconnoitre the Angel yard in order to satisfy himself. cap-a-pie. but that would have meant abandoning the watch. and he returned relieved to Mrs. the practicable half of the lead-framed window stuck open. The bicycle. By nine horrible fears oppressed him that his quest had escaped him. There he found the ostler (How are the mighty fallen in these decadent days!) brushing down the bicycles of the chase. Wardor wanted him to have his breakfast downstairs in her kitchen. He was expectant by six in the morning. a strategic position in the shop. And about ten they emerged. Wardor's premises. ears alert. Hoopdriver. under protest. vigilant. an eye flickering incessantly in the corner panes. rising with the sun. and rode quietly up the North Street. He watched them until they turned the corner of the post 119 . wonderful. Mrs. active.

and his was a chequered ribbon along the and watched him quietly but firmly for the space of ten minutes or so. There they stopped awhile at the only inn in the place. "Go away. By riding vigorously he kept quite conveniently near them. There was little danger of losing them. and mopped his face and thirsted and smoked a Red Herring cigarette. They did not look round. and on to the Chichester road. A number of chubby innocents returning home from school. So they rode by Cobden's monument and through the prettiest of villages. and he followed gallantly." said he. and they only seemed quietly interested. stopped and formed a line in front of him. He grew hot indeed. and then out into the road and up after them in fine style! They went by the engine-house where the old stocks and the whipping posts are. and they answered indistinct murmurs. So this great chase began. for they made but little hurry. They remained in the inn for some time. until at last the downs rose steeply ahead. for a thin chalky dust lay upon the road. getting down if he chanced to draw closely upon them round a corner. and the track of her tire was milled like a shilling. and his knees were a little stiff to begin with. Hoopdriver took up a position which commanded the inn door. He gave it up at 120 . He asked them all their names then. and Mr. but that was all. and he kept them just within sight.

and the sun at the meridian beat down upon the top of Mr. It was a cloudless day. the chalky road blazed like a magnesium light. pleasant under the palate. a shower bath of sunshine. At last they emerged. Beyond was empty downland perhaps for miles. a huge jet of hot light. of a hot afternoon. He felt a man of substance as he emerged in the blinding sunshine. and so at length they tired of him. It made his head swim. At the inn they gave him biscuits and cheese and a misleading pewter measure of sturdy ale. Hoopdriver at the thought of their possible employment hungered as well as thirsted. but leaden in the legs. and his front wheel began an apparently incurable squeaking. Clearly. but even by the foot of the down the sun was insisting again that his skull was too small for his brains. He felt as a 121 . cool in the throat.last and became passive on his gate. It might take them twenty minutes to mount that. Hoopdriver hesitated. they were lunching. The couple under observation occupied the inn so long that Mr. They rode on to the foot of the down. Hoopdriver's head. and the other man in brown looked back and saw him. He decided to return to the inn and snatch a hasty meal. and dismounting began to push tediously up that long nearly vertical ascent of blinding white road. Mr. The hill had gone steeper.

and every now and then emitted its feeble cry. its copses and cornfields. and half-way up the hill. That was a comforting reflection. The two little black figures had vanished over the forehead of the hill. hung a flock of sheep grazing together." said Mr. far away beyond the Wealden Heights. Overhead an anxious peewit circled against the blue. Hoopdriver. but at the crest a sprawl on the turf beside the road. to find himself sprawling 122 . Mr. Hoopdriver was possessed by unreasonable contentment. Drowsiness coiled insidiously about him. he lit himself a cigarette and lounged more comfortably. to contemplate the Weald from the south. its little villages and townships here and there. a mile perhaps to the right. its ponds and streams like jewelery of diamonds and silver glittering in the sun. Surely the Sussex ale is made of the waters of Lethe. of poppies and pleasant dreams. with its frozen surge of green hills. It not only justified a slow progress up the hill. He awoke with a guilty start. Down below was the little village of Cocking. The North Downs were hidden. Up here the heat was tempered by a pleasant breeze. about three times as heavy as he was wont to feel. "The tracks'll be all right. In a matter of two days he had crossed that spacious from Mars would feel if he were suddenly transferred to this planet.

" said Mr. And then came a terrible thing. north. "I've lost the spoor. in places were the crowded indentations of a recent flock of sheep. "I must scorch till I overtake them. Now and then he had to dismount to examine the surface where the road forked. He sat up. and approached Chichester towards four o'clock. and realised that he had slept. "Yes. And the chase? He jumped to his feet and stooped to pick. up his overturned machine. "Dropped anything?" said an inhabitant at the kerb." and walked upon his way. Hoopdriver. and decided in the privacy of his own mind that he had a wonderful instinct for 'spoor." he said aloud. Hoopdriver. and at last in the throat of the town cobbles and the stony streets branching east. "Lord love us. and south." He mounted and rode as rapidly as the heat and a lingering lassitude permitted. "O Cricky!" said Mr. leaving 123 . west." said Mr.prone on the turf with his cap over one eye. rubbed his eyes. He whipped out his watch and saw that it was past two o'clock. "Trackin'. He enjoyed that rather. His head was still a trifle heavy. Hoopdriver. at a stone cross under the shadow of the cathedral the tracks vanished.' So he came past Goodwood station and Lavant. wheeling his machine back to the chalky road. In places the road became hard. dismounting in dismay and standing agape. fancy that!—But the tracks'll be all right.

there might be such things as clues in the world. What would Sherlock Holmes have done? Perhaps. of the bearing of the other man in brown. and desisted. Hoopdriver aloud. and his wrath and disappointment surged higher. and all his wonderful dreams of some vague. Six casual people hadn't. bringing his fist down beside the teapot. crucial interference collapsed like a castle of cards. albeit the age of miracles was past. of her helplessness. But to look for a clue in this intricate network of cobbled streets. and full of the first gnawings of a monstrous remorse. and hungry. "What CAN I do?" said Mr. after all. tired. to examine every muddy interstice! There was a chance by looking 124 . They had passed out of his world—vanished. Mr. Hoopdriver. and he began to feel the inquiry was conspicuous. He decided to get himself some tea and meat. But what was to be done? Hoopdriver was hot. began asking people if they had seen a Young Lady in Grey on a bicycle. abandoning tracking.the inhabitant marvelling what part of a bicycle a spoor might be. What a fool he had been not to stick to them like a leech! He might have thought! But there!—what WAS the good of that sort of thing now? He thought of her tears. and in the Royal George he meditated over the business in a melancholy frame enough.

But of course they might have ridden straight through and scarcely a soul have marked them. And then came a positivelybrilliant idea. and he started at once to make the circuit of the place. Hoopdriver. crestfallen Hoopdriver it was. 125 . along the road towards Bognor. as you may well imagine. intent.about and inquiry at the various inns. that ever and again split into two. At six o'clock in the evening. Hoopdriver and swung round on his heel at once. and the Red Lion Hotel. and back to the Royal George. In passing. The ostler thought he was confoundedly imperious. "'Ow many ways are there out of Chichester?" said Mr. helter skelter. and close beside it one chequered. If not—they're in the town. considering his machine. for the bicycle they were minding for him. as one who had dropped money. kicking up the dust with his shoes and fretting with disappointed pugnacity. And then suddenly there jumped upon his attention—a broad line ribbed like a shilling." He was then in East Street. "Found!" said Mr. he made inquiries at the Black Swan. It was really equal to Sherlock Holmes—that. I shall find those tracks." If they've made tracks. A thwarted. he was walking downcast. Upon that he began. the Crown. discovering incidentally that Chichester is a walled city.

immensely proud of his wickedness. He found her persistent coolness.At Bognor * XXI That seductive gentleman. her more or less evident contempt for himself. and tried to think that was piquant and enjoyable. Bechamel. and the natural man in himself. exasperating in the highest degree. and really as much in love as an artificial oversoul can be. He put it to himself that she was enough to provoke a saint. but the blisters on his vanity asserted themselves. The fact is. had been working up to a crisis. with Jessie. He had started upon this elopement in a vein of fine romance. It warred with all his ideas of himself and the feminine mind to think that under their flattering circumstances she really could be so vitally deficient. he was. getting down to the natural man in himself for once. 126 . But either she was the profoundest of coquettes or she had not the slightest element of Passion (with a large P) in her composition. under this standing irritation.

and that. was a Palaeolithic creature of simple tastes and violent methods. it seemed. Out of her sight. had been thrown off the scent." ran like a plough through the soil of his thoughts. But things must be brought to an issue forthwith. Albeit. Bechamel had told his wife he was going to Davos to see Carter. at any rate. That accursed detective. Then there was this infernal detective. She was bound to make a fuss. but how she would take this exploit was entirely problematical. and more particularly out of the sight of the other women of her set. perhaps. She was a woman of peculiar moral views. gave a night's respite. it was worth doing if it was to be done. men. "I'll be level with you yet. and he felt it was heroic of him to resolve so. and the noise of pursuit and vengeance was in the air. To that he had fancied she was spite of Oxford and the junior Reviewers' Club. in a little dining-room in 127 . but this was Evil on the High Roads. and she measured marital infidelity largely by its proximity to herself. permissible to those contemptible weaklings. and these fusses invariably took the final form of a tightness of money for Bechamel. The idyll still had the front of the stage. His imagination worked on a kind of matronly Valkyrie. By eight o'clock in the evening. vice of the recognised description was.

Beaumont. He was white and vicious by this time.the Vicuna Hotel. "I will go to the station.ruggle with him. effectually." "They will turn you out of doors. the crisis had come. She was booked as Mrs. flushed and angry in the face and with her heart sinking. He had tricked her this time.42. Save for her refusal to enter their room. and luck had been on his side. But the dinner was grim enough. Bognor. Now in turn she appealed to his better nature and made extravagant statements of her plans to fool him. You're in such a 128 ." "I will appeal to the police—" "You don't know them." "I will tell these hotel people. she had so far kept up the appearances of things before the waiter." she said. faced him again for her last st. and her eccentricity of eating with unwashed hands. "I will go back—" "The last train for anywhere leaves at 7. and his anger quivered through his pose of brilliant wickedness. and Jessie.

Unmarried. and suddenly put her hand to her breast." She stamped her foot. They don't understand unconventionality. "No. "I can go to the clergyman here." 129 ." "You CUR. with the colour gone from her face. He thought she meant to faint." she said. Jessie. down here. And men are really more alike than you think.thoroughly false position now. "You who have never been out alone after dusk? Do you know what the streets of a charming little holiday resort are like—" "I don't care. "I love you. "If I wander about the streets all night—" she said. And anyhow—" "Well?" "How CAN you explain the last two nights to anyone now? The mischief is done." she said." he said." "He's a charming man. but she stood.

There was silence for some moments. You'll only shirk it when the moment comes. At last he spoke in as persuasive a voice as he could summon. after a pause. for she had told the waiter not to draw them." she said. Don't you think of it. The blinds were still up. "Yes—love. Jessie. To find YOU too—conventional!" She looked at him over her shoulder. older. "Take it sensibly. Why should we. what is it?—not the dark arch nor the black flowing river. and turn it all into comedy. man to your woman. and he noticed with a twinge of delight how her little chin came out beneath 130 . You are all that is bright and desirable to me. You are too full of life and hope yet for." "There are ways yet. who have so much in common. "Not for you. He maintained his attitude. I am stronger than you."Love!" said she. quarrel into melodrama? I swear I love you." She turned round abruptly from him and stood looking out across the parade at the shining sea over which the afterglow of day fled before the rising moon.

He paused." he said. "You must be sensible. Jessie—on my honour. 131 . Jessie." she said. I will marry you—" "God forbid. following that hint. "MAN!" she said. "Man to MY woman! Do MEN lie? Would a MAN use his five and thirty years' experience to outwit a girl of seventeen? Man to my woman indeed! That surely is the last insult!" "Your repartee is admirable. at your feet. so promptly that she never learnt he had a wife. "'Tis only a pre-nuptial settlement. Look here. even then.the curve of her cheek. in the flash of her retort. I should say they do. MY career. though—all that and more also when their hearts were set on such a girl as yourself. It occurred to him then for the first time. Come out on the beach now the beach here is splendid. For God's sake drop this shrewishness! Why should you be so—difficult to me? Here am I with MY reputation. that she did not know he was married. The thing's your own doing.

Let me think—" "Think. But you can't save yourself by thinking. It's your cry always." he said. go—go." "I WON'T" she said. She continued to stare out of the window. . . he said." He would have gone up to her and laid his hand upon her. You can't save yourself in any way now. Netted—caught. stamping her foot." he said. without glancing round. And think of you. . If saving it is— this parsimony—" "Oh.and the moon will soon be high. "I have you in my hand. dear. but he did not dare to do that yet. "I HAVE you. But mine. He stood looking at her for a moment." "Very well. well—" "Oh! leave me alone. He made a step towards her. "if you want to. "in 132 . with a strange light in his eyes." she whispered. I will go and smoke a cigar. I will go. my dear girl.". "You are mine. "Well. But do you think I should do all this if I did not care?" "Go.

He stared at her for half a minute. She heard the handle move and the catch click as the door closed behind him. Mr. He told himself that his battle was won. Hoopdriver. was in the world of Romance and Knight-errantry. went to the door. to whom I introduced you some days since. has undergone a wonderful change. dark shadows and glowing orange lamps. XXII And now without in the twilight behold Mr. divinely forgetful of his social 133 . obsequious Hoopdriver. with a superb gesture that was lost upon her. beauty somewhere mysteriously rapt away from him. Ever since he lost that 'spoor' in Chichester. Do you hear—POWER!" She remained impassive. Surely the instinctive abasement of her sex before Strength was upon his side. tangible wrong in a brown suit and an unpleasant face. and then. The nervous. his eye bright! His brain is in a tumult. his cheeks hot. Hoopdriver for the power. The strangeness of new surroundings has been working to strip off the habitual servile from him. Here was moonlight rising over the memory of a red sunset. flouting him. he has been tormented by the most horrible visions of the shameful insults that may be happening.

It was the occasion he sought. Hoopdriver. As Bechamel crossed from the Vicuna towards the esplanade. At the sight of Bechamel. He was far too grimly in earnest to pick up that lost thread and make a play of it now. He was angry and adventurous. rather than gave place to. But he would give Chance no chance against him. forgetting." he asked for. The door of the dining-room was opening before he felt a qualm. his heart jumped. and she was there now alone. an excited activity of mind. And then suddenly he was nearly minded to turn and run for it.position or hers. They were at the Vicuna. It was all about him. and the tension of his angry suspense exploded into. this vivid drama he had fallen into. too. and his features seemed to him to be convulsed. disappointed and exasperated. The man was living. and watched Bechamel recede into the dimness up the esplanade. He did not pose when he alighted at the cof ee tavern even. for the time any of the wretched timidities that had tied him long since behind the counter in his proper place. nor when he made his hasty meal. He went back round the corner. before he got up and walked into the hotel entrance. "A lady cyclist in grey. 134 . and followed boldly on the waiter's heels. sat down on the seat. and it was eluding him. came hurrying round the corner from the Temperance Hotel.

I am a Friend. I'll do anything you like to help you out of the scrape—if you're in one." Instead of which he stood panting and then spoke with sudden familiarity. I don't know what the juice is up. fold his arms and say. Excuse my intruding—if it isn't so. this remarkable speech. Hoopdriver. I believe. She hesitated. and then motioned the waiter to withdraw. Trust me. He had intended to step out into the middle of the room. She stepped a pace forward. She was tumultuously weighing possibilities in her mind. "You are in trouble. controlling his breath with difficulty. with infinite emotion. as she watched him make. "YOU!" she said. "You are a gentleman. and he had scarcely ceased when she had made her resolve.She turned with a start. and looked at him with something between terror and hope in her eyes. Mr. Hoopdriver watched the door shut. What can I do? I would do anything to help you. That's my meaning." she said. hastily. 135 . "Can I—have a few words—with you. alone?" said Mr. guiltily: "Look here." Her brow puckered. but I think there's something wrong.

At once." She took his arm and led him to the window. Through that are our bicycles. "I must leave this hotel at once. "You can just see the gate. I will follow in one minute. Dare you? "Get your bicycle out in the road?" "Both. "Can I trust you?" She did not wait for his assurance. It is still open. and went. Hoopdriver. Come here. Had he been told to go out and kill Bechamel he would have done it."Yes. Hoopdriver. Dare you?" "Which way?" "Go out by the front door and round." "Right!" said Mr. Go down. His head was a 136 . get them out. Mine alone is no good. He had to get those bicycles." said Mr. and I will come down to you.

" said Hoopdriver. "Where is mine? I want to look at the chain. and then laid hands on the man's machine and wheeled it out of the shed into the yard. along the front. sir. "can you get me a screwdriver?" The man simply walked across the shed. How was it to be done? Something behind the gate seemed to flutter. He looked round. There were no bicycles visible. and into the big. Hoopdriver was caught. opened and shut 137 . a short man in a short. Then a man emerged from the dark." said the man. Hoopdriver's intelligence now was a soaring eagle." he said. Hoopdriver moved the lady's machine out of his way to the door." The man led him into an open shed. "That's right. before the pause became marked. He stooped and examined the chain with trembling fingers. "I've been giving your machines a wipe over. and went fumbling for a lantern. "I say. The man must be got rid of anyhow. He made no attempt to turn and run for it. black. and touching his cap. and added. blackshadowed coach yard. shiny jacket. with an inspiration.MaeIstrom now. he swooped on the situation at once. The gate stood open and beyond was the pale road and a clump of trees black in the twilight. recognising the suit. He walked out of the hotel.

" he said again. if you like." said the ostler. "I ain't got none smaller than that. It is the orthodox thing when you wish to avoid recognition. Hoopdriver felt himself a lost man." said Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver had his handkerchief out and sneezed a prompt ATICHEW. "Well?" "This is miles too big." The man lit the lantern. "As small as you have." and incontinently had another inspiration. sir. out of his pocket handkerchief. He took the screwdriver with a tepid "Thanks. "Want a smaller screwdriver?" he said. and came up to the kneeling Hoopdriver with a screwdriver in his hand. "I'll see wot they got in the 'ouse." said 138 . "I say. really.a box. brought it up to Hoopdriver and put it down on the ground. "Won't do. still wallowing in his handkerchief." he said.

" said Hoopdriver. touched her hand in the darkness. In a moment the ostler was in the gateway with a fullthroated "HI! sir! That ain't allowed. He heard the ostler shout behind him. "If you would. and forthwith Hoopdriver rushed the machines towards the gate. The scullery door opened momentarily and sent a beam of warm. took a noiseless step to the lady's machine.the man. It was too late now to do anything but escape. laid trembling hands on its handle and saddle." and Hoopdriver was overtaking the Young Lady in Grey. and prepared for a rush." He passed the thing to her. For some moments the earth seemed alive with shouts of. A dark grey form came fluttering to meet him. "Stop 'em!" and the shadows with ambuscades of police. yellow light up the road. The yellow light of the scullery door suddenly flashed upon the cobbles again. The road swept round. and they were riding out of sight of 139 . And as the man's heavily nailed boots went clattering down the yard. and came into the road. Hoopdriver stood up. ran back. and followed. seized Bechamel's machine. shut again behind the man. "Give me this. He got into the saddle without a blunder. She was up and dim already. "and bring yours." she said.

" she said. Then pushing breathlessly into the bar. they spent some more precious time wondering 'what—EVER' was to be done! in which the two customers returning from outside joined with animation. XXIII The ostler (being a fool) rushed violently down the road vociferating after them. That gave the fugitives five minutes. Then Stephen. stopped to give them the cream of the adventure. who wanted to know what was UP. There were conflicting ideas of telling the police and pursuing the flying couple on a horse. he had to make it clear to the barmaid what the matter was. side by side. and behind dark hedges. came down and lit wonderful lights and started quite a fresh discussion 140 . Then he returned panting to the Vicuna Hotel.the hotel. That made ten minutes. the waiter. and the 'gov'nor' being out. "Brave. She was weeping with excitement as he overtook her. There were also moral remarks and other irrelevant contributions. He looked over his shoulder and about him. and finding a group of men outside the entrance. "brave!" and he ceased to feel like a hunted thief. and saw that they were already out of Bognor—for the Vicuna stands at the very westernmost extremity of the sea front—and riding on a fair wide road. who had shown Hoopdriver up.

switched up by Bechamel. And in the midst of this discussion. went up to the landing. and passed out of the simple question "WHICH?" That turned ten minutes into a quarter of an hour."I'd SWEAR" "Well. muffled by the stair carpet. reached the passage and walked into the dining-room overhead. that's Mr." Their conversation hung comatose in the air. Down the passage to the bedroom. They listened together. "Poor chap!" said the barmaid." said the ostler. miss." said the barmaid. Went out of the diningroom. as his paces. "— anyhow. Stopped again. "It wasn't that one at all. turned. 141 . "She's a wicked woman!" "Sssh!" said Stephen. His feet stopped. making a sudden and awestricken silence. Beaumont. Turned. walked with a resolute air to the foot of the staircase. You conceive the backward pitch of that exceptionally shaped cranium? Incredulous eyes stared into one another's in the bar. appeared Bechamel in the hall beyond the bar.

" Bechamel looked up from a week-old newspaper as." said Stephen. "Beg pardon. "I know how to calm her." He rose with a fine surprise. They heard a chair creak under him." said Stephen." he would say. he was in for an explanation. She was a monomaniac. sir. "Leave me alone with her. "Gone!" he said with a half laugh. wondering suddenly if Jessie had kept some of her threats." said Stephen. Beaumont. "to break the melancholy news to him. Stephen entered. "Well?" said Bechamel. "I'm going up. But he had it ready. 142 . without knocking." "Mrs. "WELL?" "Has gone.After a pause Bechamel went back to the dining-room. If so. Bechamel's face suggested a different expectation. with a diplomatic cough. Interlude of conversational eyebrows.

"Brown clothes?" he said. sir. "And fairish?" "A little like yourself. "— —!" 143 ." Bechamel stood with his eyes round and his knuckle on his hips. sir. with infinite fervour. sir. "An—other Gentlemen! WHO?" "Another gentleman in brown. Stephen. he said—But let us put in blank cartridge—he said. got out the two bicycles." This time Bechamel was really startled. But as yet he seemed merely stunned. watching him with immense enjoyment. On her bicycle. sir. sir." "On her bicycle! Why?" "She went. speculated whether this abandoned husband would weep or curse. The ostler. Then. and went off. sir—about twenty minutes ago."Gone. sir. sir—in the dark. or rush off at once in furious pursuit. Jim Duke—" Bechamel laughed awry. Went into the yard. with Another Gentleman.

" he murmured. and left the room." Well. Bechamel. having in this way satisfied his sense of appearances. "I'll chuck this infernal business! They've gone." said Bechamel. and comported himself as a 144 ." said Bechamel. eigh?" "Yessir. there's a good chap. I'll take that."I might have thought!" He flung himself into the armchair. sir?" "Go on. marvelling. Who cares? And I wish him luck. "Damn you!" Stephen's sympathies changed at once. "Yessir. And bring me some Bourbon as fast as you can." said Bechamel. and then I'll have another look round Bognor before I turn in. fumbling for the door handle." Stephen was too surprised to say anything but "Bourbon. for all the world like a common man. making a memorable saying. "Let 'em GO. let 'em GO. "Damn her.

after all. stranded and sold. the son of many generations of asses. Then abruptly the image of that lithe figure in grey knickerbockers went frisking across his mind again. Bechamel—" when with an abrupt tap and prompt opening of the door. and that little business was over. and swore again. "Of all the accursed fools that were ever spawned. vented the cream of his feelings in a stream of blasphemous indecency. And his only ray of hope was that it seemed more probable. "I. that the girl had escaped through her stepmother. so soon as the waiter's footsteps had passed. and as it were. Whether his wife or HER stepmother had sent the detective. He banged the arms of the chair with his fist." he was chanting. and incontinently sat down again with a concussion that stirred the bar below to its depths. 145 . Stephen entered with the Bourbon.Pagan should. and he reverted to his blasphemies. And he was here. In which case the business might be hushed up yet. SHE had evidently gone off with him. and the evil hour of explanation with his wife indefinitely postponed. an ass. He started up in a gusty frenzy with a vague idea of pursuit.

—the wretched creature has already sufficiently sullied our modest but truthful pages. and how every shadow was anticipation and every noise pursuit! For all that flight Mr. after the fashion of a hero born. and follow this dear fool of a Hoopdriver of ours and his Young Lady in Grey out upon the moonlight road. Hoopdriver had cut him down and ridden on. We leave the wicked Bechamel clothing himself with cursing as with a garment.The Moonlight Ride * XXIV And so the twenty minutes' law passed into an infinity. Hoopdriver was in the world of Romance. How they rode! How their hearts beat together and their breath came fast. Hoopdriver had fought as one to 146 . we leave all Bognor as we have left all Chichester and Midhurst and Haslemere and Guildford and Ripley and Putney. —we leave the eager little group in the bar of the Vicuna Hotel. Had Bechamel arisen in the way with rapiers for a duel. Had a policeman intervened because their lamps were not lit.

at a footfall. It was Rescue. at a turning. The night was a warm white silence save for the subtile 147 . he had seen her sympathetic with that warm light in her face. speaking little. She seemed to be too intent upon escape to give much thought to him. then between hedges. to compare with the soft glamour of the midsummer moon? The road turned northward. as flight passed into mere steady ridin@@ his mind became an enormous appreciation of the position. They scarcely heeded whither they rode at first. but after the first tumult of the adventure. But what light is there lighting a face like hers. then amidst villas again. he had seen her troubled and her eyes bright with tears. in one place dark and heavy under a thick growth of trees. over which they saw broad wan meadows shrouded in a low-lying mist. with the morning sunlight tangled in her hair. They rode. just a rare word now and then. Glory! And she by the side of him! He had seen her face in shadow. pale and intricate and high.whom Agincourt was a reality and drapery a dream. at a roughness in the road. going round through the outskirts of Bognor. some warm and lamplit. being only anxious to get away. turning once westward when the spire of Chichester cathedral rose suddenly near them out of the dewy night. Elopement. some white and sleeping in the moonlight.

is the mother of the silence. There is a magic quality in moonshine. takes something of the youth and strength of Enidymion. the hills beyond are a sea of unsubstantial texture. and sees the dear white goddess shining at him from his Lady's eyes. riding serenely through the spacious blue. The firm substantial daylight things become ghostly and elusive. and their faint. He looked sideways at her as she sat beside him with her ankles gracefully ruling the treadles. the world a visible spirit. dull clod though he be by day. the voices of the filmy route. blinding to the eye. Overhead. It has created the fairies. loses something of its weight and body. This road that was a mere rutted white dust. By the moonlight every man.running of their chains. she who has 148 . and the rest of the night is hidden. Now the road turned westward. and fairyland rises again in our hearts at the sight of it. hot underfoot. and the soft cold light passed caressingly over her hair and touched her brow and cheek. and she was a dark grey outline against the shimmer of the moon. and now they faced northwards. whom the sunlight kills. soul-piercing melodies. it touches all that is sweet and beautiful. and swims up towards heaven. tastes something of Endymion. with the glitter of a crystal grain set starlike in its silver here and there. is now a soft grey silence. the spiritual within us rises out of its darkness.

Hoopdriver's skull. rode our two wanderers side by side through the transfigured and transfiguring night.spiritualised the world. Hoopdriver. Nowhere was the moon shining quite so brightly as in Mr. sotto voce. full tilt upon the sea. sweeping off his cap with an air and bowing courtly. Grey beach to the right of them and to the left. And in silence under her benign influence. and a little white cottage fast asleep inland of a sleeping fishing-boat. They dismounted abruptly. "You are safe." as one who knew. under the benediction of her light." said Mr. "Hullo!" said Mr. Or again "The Left. So it was that in the space of an hour they came abruptly down a little lane. "The Right. Stunted oaks and thorns rose out of the haze of moonlight that was tangled in the hedge on either side." "But WHERE?" 149 . Hoopdriver. "Where are we?" "SAFE. At the turnings of the road he made his decisions with an air of profound promptitude (and quite haphazard). alone save for two attendant steady shining stars." he would say.

holding her machine. She stood dimly there. "It's an ugly name. I would—I would do anything for 150 ." she said. "I am not afraid of you. "Are you tired?" he asked." It seemed to Hoopdriver that he heard her sob."Chichester Harbour. "Do you know. holding his. and he." he said. "But you are right in trusting me. And I do not even know your name!" He was taken with a sudden shame of his homely patronymic." The two black figures in the broken light were silent for a space. could go no nearer to her to see if she sobbed for weeping or for want of breath. "I will do what has to be done. "Do you think they will follow us?" "We have turned and turned again. I am sure you are honest to me. "What are we to do now?" her voice asked." He waved his arm seaward as though it was a goal.

"Do you want to know—how things are with me?" "That man. A stepmother—Idle. No! I could not describe her—" "I am entirely at your service. ." said Hoopdriver. . I was unhappy at home—never mind why. after the assent of his listening silence." she said. But compared with Bechamel!—"We take each other on trust. "And now here I am—" "I will do anything. cramped. This is nothing. and set my brain on fire. And he—" "I know." she went I wanted to come out into the world. unoccupied. Then he came into my life. "You cannot imagine my stepmother. and talked to me of art and literature. She did not care to ask why. to be a human being—not a thing in a hutch. ." She caught at her breath. perhaps." said Hoopdriver. hindered. I will help you with all my 151 . that is enough. "promised to help and protect me. She thought.

"I am going to light these lamps. with a tremble in his voice. She looked at his face in its light. full of a rapture of protective responsibility.power. "I'm thinking. How could she ever have thought 152 ." "That was Chichester we were near?" she asked. But he had no adequate answer. you know." "I have lost an Illusion and found a Knight-errant. You are tired." he said." "Yes?" "We could stop there together—" She took a minute to answer." he meditated. Mr. " what we had best be doing." She spoke of Bechamel as the Illusion." said Hoopdriver. MISS BEAUMONT. Hoopdriver felt flattered. grave and intent. "If. And we can't wander all night—after the day we've had. "you would make ME your brother. He bent down to his own. and struck a match on his shoe.

"It's not such a very wonderful name. Hoopdriver. brother Chris. I will light yours." he repeated slowly. and for a moment they stood face to face." He looked into her eyes." she said. with a sudden wincing of his features. "is Jessie." He snapped his lamp and stood up. and. and his excitement seemed arrested. is it?" she said. She had to speak." she said. Who would be Hoopdriver on a night like this? "But the Christian name?" "Christian name? MY Christian name. Well—Chris. "My name.him common or absurd? "But you must tell me your name—brother. abruptly turned and bent 153 . "If you will hold my machine." he said. after a momentary pause. with a laugh to break the intensity. "Er—Carrington." said Mr. The mute emotion of his face affected her strangely. She came round obediently and took his machine. He opened his mouth and shut it again. "JESSIE.

with splendid readiness. "Quite a misunderstanding." said Mr. She looked down at him. 154 . "So you found your Young Lady at last. Hoopdriver conducted the rest of that night's journey with the same confident dignity as before. and it was chiefly by good luck and the fact that most roads about a town converge thereupon. for it chanced he was one of those of whom Hoopdriver had made inquiries in the afternoon. It was the first time Hoopdriver bad dared the mysteries of a 'first-class' hotel. almost kneeling in front of her." "We've had supper. It was. "My sister had gone to Bognor But I brought her back here." said Hoopdriver. but the Red Hotel still glowed yellow and warm. It seemed at first as though everyone had gone to bed.' But that night he was in the mood to dare anything. and we're tired.down to open the lantern in front of her machine. And the moonlight's simply dee-vine. I've took a fancy to this place. thenks. as I have indicated. that Chichester was at last attained. the hour and season of the full moon." said the ostler of the Red Hotel. XXV Mr. with an unreasonable approbation in her eyes.

— Jessie?" The glory of having her. So gallantly did Mr. and marched off. bedward. Sis. with a fine sense of heroism. "Good-night.Hoopdriver. you will remember." But this was living indeed! he told himself. I'll just 'ave a look at this paper before I turn in. "I suppose you won't take anything. saw the time was halfpast eleven. with a vigil in a little sweetstuff shop next door to the Angel at Midhurst." he said. "and pleasant dreams. even as a sister! and to call her Jessie like that! But he carried it off splendidly. 155 . But to think of all the things that had happened since then! He caught himself in the middle of a yawn. as he felt himself bound to admit. It had begun early. pulled out his watch. Hoopdriver comport himself up to the very edge of the Most Wonderful Day of all.

of low extraction and uncertain accent. indeed. roseate idiot that he is! is in illegal possession of a stolen bicycle. but the course of events at any rate is safe from any fresh developments through their activities for the next eight hours or more.The Surbiton Interlude * XXVI And here. thanks to the glorious institution of sleep. These absurd young people are safely tucked away now. now she fancies she is safe. Hoopdriver of yours. unchaperoned and unabashed. Lynn Linton can tell!—in company with an absolute stranger. if anything. They are both sleeping healthily you will perhaps be astonished to hear. a stolen young lady. and two stolen names. established with them in an hotel that is quite beyond his means. indeed. and immensely proud of himself in a 156 . Here is the girl—what girls are coming to nowadays only Mrs. Then this Mr. a little proud of her own share in these transactions. she is. their heads full of glowing nonsense. comes a break in the narrative again.

—only it is such a crooked way. carefully locked up in the hayloft. done to a cinder long ago. thank Goodness! over). Bechamel (with whom our dealings are. That is a little surprise I have prepared for you. only ten years older than Jessie. To-morrow he will be a Mystery. and she is always careful to dedicate her more daring works to the 'sacred memory of my husband' to show that 157 . She is 'Thomas Plantagenet. "A Soul Untrammelled." and quite an excellent woman in her way. and his own proper bicycle. There are occasions when a moralising novelist can merely wring his hands and leave matters to take their course. let alone that melancholy vestige. it must be explained.' the gifted authoress of that witty and daring book. his American-cloth parcel in a bedroom. where the unhappy stepmother — That stepmother. Hoopdriver ordered. familiar to you no doubt through the medium of illustrated interviews. and they will be looking for his body along the sea front. is quite well known to you. And so far we have never given a glance at the desolate home in Surbiton. Then in Bognor. Her real name is Milton. there is a Coffee Tavern with a steak Mr.somnolent way for these incomparable follies. She is a widow and a charming one. For all Hoopdriver knows or cares he may be locked up the very first thing to-morrow morning for the rape of the cycle. by way of guarantee.

' because the critics advertised her written indecorums in column long 'slates'). I say. and even at times took the sacrament in some esoteric spirit. had severe notions of whom she might meet. therefore. and went on from that to a feast of advanced literature. When the elopement came. she was one of the most respectable women it is possible to imagine. Jessie did. The correct thing. and she let him come to her house to show she was not afraid—she took no account of Jessie. so that at seventeen she was still a clever schoolgirl (as you have seen her) and quite in the background of the little literary circle of unimportant celebrities which 'Thomas Plantagenet' adorned. regardless of expense. you know. is to take hansom cabs. She did the correct thing. round the circle of your 158 . in the matter. but very slowly. dressed correctly. it was a double disappointment to her. She furnished correctly.—considering her literary reputation. Mrs. Considering her literary reputation (she was always speaking of herself as one I martyred for truth. Milton knew Bechamel's reputation of being a dangerous man. Milton not only brought up Jessie carefully. therefore. Mrs. naturally enough. and weep and say you do not know WHAT to do." Which. as you know. went to church. but then bad men are not bad women.there's nothing personal. for she perceived his hand by a kind of instinct. And Jessie she brought up so carefully that she never even let her read "A Soul Untrammelled.

Increasing rivalry and antagonism had sprung up between them. Mrs. those decent 159 . And she not only showed it.—"Thomas Plantagenet is a charming woman. but in the ethical laboratory it shows a different nature. Milton's remorse for their gradual loss of sympathy and her share in the losing of it. until they could engender quite a vivid hatred from a dropped hairpin or the cutting of a book with a sharpened knife. even if they spoke ill of her. You may imagine the comfort she got from her friends. but felt it. She could not have ridden nor wept more had Jessie been her own daughter—she showed the properest spirit. There is very little deliberate wickedness in the world.confidential friends. Mrs. the literary suburbs. was genuine enough. The stupidity of our selfishness gives much the same results indeed. And when the disaster came.—found the steady growth of Jessie into womanhood an unmitigated nuisance and had been willing enough to keep her in the background. Milton. as a successful little authoress and still more successful widow of thirty-two." her reviewers used to write invariably. and how West Kensington and Notting Hill and Hampstead. And Jessie—who had started this intercourse at fourteen with abstract objections to stepmothers—had been active enough in resenting this.

But on Friday evening late came a breathless Man Friend. and then only in the strictest confidence. alert. and were sympathetic.—a declaration of independence. Thursday. and there. helpfully energetic. Her 'Men'—as a charming literary lady she had. hummed with the business. suggestive. taking with her about two pounds seven shillings in money. an assertion of her Ego containing extensive and very annoying quotations from "A Soul Untrammelled. and mounted on a diamond frame safety with Dunlops. who had heard 160 . of course. and a loofah covered saddle. Wednesday that is. For three days. To her Men she was not perhaps so damp as she was to her women friends. nothing was heard of the fugitives. It was known that Jessie. as their ideals of their various dispositions required them to be. save for a brief note to her stepmother.penitentiaries of a once Bohemian calling. Widgery. but in a quiet way she was even more touching. That note was shown to few. and Friday. had ridden forth early in the morning. "Any news of Jessie?" was the pathetic opening of a dozen melancholy but interesting conversations. a correspondent of hers. and a grey touring case packed. an organised corps—were immensely excited." and giving no definite intimation of her plans—knowledge ceased. wearing a patent costume with buttonup skirts. it was said.

"It's impossible to-night. and quite instinctively took and pressed his hand. "And to think of that poor girl—tonight! It's dreadful. and rising with her hand to her heart." "Oh." "A mother's love. He declared he was only sorry his news ended there. don't speak unkindly of her! She has been misled." she said. he had heard from a barmaid a vivid account of a Young Lady in Grey. "I bear her THAT. misguided girl! I must go to her at once. "It is GOOD of you.—and he testified hurriedly that at a place called Midhurst. He had been touring in Sussex. "it's more than she deserves.—his knapsack was still on his back. Milton.of her trouble among the first. But who was the man in brown?"The poor. Descriptions tallied. Should he follow them." She looked into 161 ." she said. in the bar of an hotel called the Angel. for no one admired his photographs of scenery more than Mrs." He spoke with feeling. choking. There are no more trains." "I know you do." she said. and bring her back? He had come to her because he knew of her anxiety." It was really very friendly of him. I looked on my way.

) "But let me help you." And this fair-haired little figure was the woman that people who knew her only from her books. We have no one. Milton." said the man." 162 ." he said with intense emotion." he said. called bold. "Hetty!" She glanced at him. "not now.—So helpless." "Yes. (He was one of those big. and left her features in a warm shadow." "He must marry her." Her resolution seemed magnificent." she said. prurient even! Simply because she was great-hearted— intellectual. She looked such a slight. He was overcome by the unspeakable pathos of her position. fat men who feel deeply. The overflow was imminent. frail thing to be troubled so.the fire that she had lit when he came in. At least let me help you. the warm light fell upon her dark purple dress. "We must follow her. "She has no friends. "Not now. After all—Two women. "Mrs. I must find her first. "I have no one to go with me.

too." she said. and he sat down suddenly in the big armchair. Then the door opened. but Dangle 163 . And we have news of her at last. She turned her back to the fire." It was decidedly an advantage to Widgery. She cycled out of the town. Follow her on. and Mrs. "You. and the girl showed in Dangle. displayed a suspicious alacrity to explain. "For ME."But can you spare time?" she said. "We will save her yet!" She put out her hand and pressed his again. who looked curiously from one to the other. last night." "For you—" "But what can I do? what can WE do?" "Go to Midhurst. There was emotion here. Courage!" he said. She was there on Thursday night. which suited his dimensions admirably. "are one of my good friends. There were alarms and excursions without. "Courage!" he repeated. whose face was flushed. he had heard the armchair creaking. Trace her. Milton. finding it so well received.

and young Phipps. who was a youth of action rather than of words. nor with 164 . too. faultless collars. a callow youth of few words. She did not know what she had done to merit such friends. was accepted for the Midhurst Expedition. Her voice broke a little. and young Phipps." said Dangle. and fervent devotion. we will not concern ourselves with the starting of the Rescue Party. For the present. to the intense disgust of Widgery. all three of them. "So subtle. she moved towards the door. but he felt the more. "We must do what we can for her. therefore. They would scour the country." "She is a wonderful woman. but it was evident she was profoundly touched. honest sleeping. was also enrolled before the evening was out." said Dangle to Widgery. so many faceted. She feels this deeply. introduced to give our wanderers time to refresh themselves by good. "She is sorely troubled." Young Phipps said nothing. In the end he. And yet they say the age of chivalry is dead! But this is only an Interlude. sprang and opened it —proud to be first.determined to show himself a man of resource. so intricate. She appeared to brighten up a little.

nor with the wonderful chequerings that set off the legs of the golfsuited Phipps. and Phipps so conspicuously inferior in everything that he felt it. Mrs. in the afternoon of Saturday. How Widgery was great at questions. and Widgery paid the bill. Dangle. after the manner of your callow youth the whole world over. 165 . You must imagine as you best can the competitive raidings at Midhurst of Widgery. with the healthy Widgery's Norfolk jacket and thick boots. They are after us. and Dangle good at inference. In a little while they will be upon us. and Phipps. Chichester was attained. and sulked with Mrs.Mrs. Milton's simple but becoming grey dress. with the slender Dangle's energetic bearing. Milton stopped at the Angel and was very sad and charming and intelligent. Milton most of the day. But by that time our fugitives— As you shall immediately hear.

up to the ceiling.The Awakening of Mr. Hoopdriver stirred on his pillow. derelict. the bed upheaved. because his night-shirt was at Bognor in an American-cloth packet. I hope I may explain. He yawned a third time. and. opened his eyes. yawned. He held the clothes about him. 166 . He turned the peaked nose that overrides the insufficient moustache. and then became quiet. Hoopdriver * XXVII Mr. You might see it wrinkle as he yawned again. and then two . So matters remained for a space. a pinkish projection over the billow of white. staring unmeaningly. The bedclothes were soft and pleasant. his face staring about the room. his thin neck projecting abruptly from the clothes he held about him. Then a shock of indeterminate brown hair appeared. and first one watery grey eye a-wondering. Very slowly recollection returned to him. and you had him.

He looked at his watch. The pursuit. "It wasn't a dream. after all. the moonlight—Abruptly he threw the clothes back and rose into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. Abruptly his eyebrows rose and his jaw fell. "I sa-a-ay!" said Mr. Hoopdriver. "What a rush it was! Rushed in and off with his girl right under his nose. Hoopdriver. tugging at his insufficient moustache. He was recalling almost everything now. the swift adventure of the inn yard. the hotel. nursing one rosy foot.rubbed his eyes. the tremulous daring of his entry. He became meditative. "Lord!" said Mr. Hoopdriver. Without was the noise of shutters being unfastened and doors unlocked. Half-past six. Suddenly he gave vent to a noiseless laugh. Talk of highway robbery! Talk of brigands Up and off! How juiced SOLD he must be feeling It was a shave too—in the coach yard!" Suddenly he became silent." "I wonder what they charge for these Juiced rooms!" said Mr. Planned it well too. 167 . and the passing of hoofs and wheels in the street. smacked his lips. He surveyed the sumptuous room again.

holding the coins in his left hand and stroking his chin with his right." "Who cares?" said Mr. Mr. Then he thought of the Young Lady in Grey again." he said. presently. and tried to put a more heroic complexion on the business. "I'm hanged if I haven't been and stolen a blessed bicycle. the presence of a pocketbook in the breast pocket. "Five. Perhaps you will understand the whirl he had been in overnight. sixhalf. "That wouldn't matter." he said. but quite natural. the evening before. he plunged into another silent meditation. "It's the bike's the bother. But one sees things clearer in the daylight. and took out the money from the little ticket pocket. "Left. took his Norfolk jacket. But of an early morning. laid it over his knees. and his face supplied the answer. Hoopdriver reached out his hand. He verified. 168 . Everything had seemed exceptionally fine and brilliant. on an empty stomach (as with characteristic coarseness. Hoopdriver. " Fourteen and six-half." With the Norfolk jacket still on his knees.He had never thought of it before. by patting. medical men put it) heroics are of a more difficult growth than by moonlight." said Mr. Hoopdriver. fourteen.

Hoopdriver presents his compliments. Hoopdriver. rested on the sponge bath. Hoopdriver chuckled and lapsed into the silent concoction of a delightfully impudent letter." His eye. That bicycle is a juicy nuisance. anyhow. MY old crock's so blessed shabby. anyhow. Have me run in. I suppose she'll go home to her friends. It complicates things so. "Might send it back by carrier. Juicy nuisance!" He jumped to his feet with a sudden awakening of energy. Having no further use—" Mr. "Might trundle back there in an hour. "Best thing we can do is to set out of here as soon as possible. Thanking him for the loan."No good going back to Bognor. You see. to proceed with his toilet. Then she'd be in just the same old fix. He's sure to be spiteful too. wandering loosely. only worse." But the grave note reasserted itself. "What the juice do they want with cream pans in a bedroom?" said Mr. and exchange them. Then with a certain horror he remembered that the simple necessaries of that 169 . perhaps. of course. of course. J. "Mr. en passant. I'm her Knight-errant.

" and presently. "WHAT a neck! Wonder why I got such a thundering lump there. profit. "Rummy go! profit and loss. my man. and buy a brush and so on. looked at himself steadfastly for some time. and sundries. Then he fell a-meditating on his beauty. Skimpy. An expression of distaste crept over his features. It was a poor result. Chink again! Beard don't show much." he remarked." He ran his hand over his chin. Hoopdriver. when it came to hairbrushing. three-quarter face. stockings. vests. I suppose. his eye still on the glass. one sister with bicycle complete." He sat down on the bed. and whistled silently for a space. "Looking won't alter it. Shoulders narrow. "You're a weedy customer. "Make the best of it.process were at Bognor!"Lord!" he remarked. night-shirt. wot offers? —cheap for tooth and 'air brush. "Sneak out and get a shave. He considered himself. he had to smooth his troubled locks with his hands. anyhow." He put his knuckles on the toilet table and regarded himself with his chin lifted in the air. left and right. "If I'd 170 . and curled his insufficient moustache up with some care. "Good Lord!" he said.

that's no reason why you should stop and be copped.—anyway. I know nothing. You can help the young lady. Why wasn't I made an artist? "Beastly cheap. But he didn't. Hoopdriver! If you ain't a beauty. he had another attempt at his hair preparatory to leaving his room and hurrying on breakfast. if I hadn't been shoved out of a silly school into a silly shop —But there! the old folks didn't know no better. you don't tell yourself any lies about it." "No good. for an early departure. I can't do anything—sketch a bit. my man. and you will—I suppose she'll be going home—And that business of the bicycle's to see to. this suit does look. when it comes to meeting a girl like this—It's 'ARD. Civilisation. Anyhow. is it?" And having got back in this way to a gloomy kind of selfsatisfaction. But there's other things yet. FORWARD. in the sunshine. if I'd been fed reasonable. While breakfast was 171 . eigh? Heir of the ages! I'm nothing. too.been exercised properly. poor old fool! —Still. after all. Lovers ain't your game. The schoolmaster ought to have. "I wonder what Adam'd think of me—as a specimen. Hoopdriver.

disgorging the half-sovereign. 172 ." he murmured.preparing he wandered out into South Street and refurnished himself with the elements of luggage again. "No expense to be spared.

" The girl seemed more beautiful than ever after the night's sleep. 173 ." His anxiety was obvious enough. I want to talk things over with you. her ungauntleted finger-tips pink and cool." she said (quite friendly). But she called him "Chris. y' know. and through Hoopdriver's determination to be quite the gentleman. and he was cowed by a multiplicity of forks. her hair in comely dark waves from her forehead. conversation fraternal but thin. "Very well. The fivepound note was changed for the bill. and when she came down. the waiter overawed him. "Might be disagreeable." They discussed their route over his sixpenny county map for the sake of talking. explained with a humorous smile his legal relationship to the bicycle in the yard.The Departure from Chichester * XXVIII He caused his 'sister' to be called repeatedly. "hurry breakfast. but avoided a decision in the presence of the attendant. and we'll ride out. And how decided she was! Breakfast was a nervous ceremony.

so that a milk cart barely escaped destruction under Mr. you know. too. "Well." "Of course. "You've ridden out of Chichester in a great hurry. I have to think of you. "'Olidays. without gratitude. In the lanes he breathed freer.the waiter and chambermaid got half a crown each and the ostler a florin." said the ostler to himself." said Jessie. and he pulled himself together. sir?" Fight? Or drop it and run? It was a time of bewildering apprehension. That recalled him to a sense of erratic steering. going through the streets of the town." she said. About this machine. just a little bit. A policeman actually stopped and watched them from the opposite kerb. "I had forgotten that." said Hoopdriver. if you don't mind. I 174 . the fact of it is. The public mounting of the bicycles in the street was a moment of trepidation. "Jest a mile or so. I'm worried. and a less formal conversation presently began. But where are we going?" "Jest a turning or two more. Suppose him to come across and ask: "Is that your bicycle. Hoopdriver's chancy wheel.

"Never!" emphatically from Miss Howe. Here he was riding on a splendid machine with a Slap-up girl beside him. She was riding with her eyes straight ahead of her. you know— Not that I should mind on my own account—" They rode with a streaky. 175 . Then he played with Briggs. "Why! It's Mr.' in a shay. Wish he'd told her the truth now—almost. What would they think of it in the Emporium if any of them were to see him? He imagined in detail the astonishment of Miss Isaacs and of Miss Howe." Miss Isaacs would say. What was she going to do? What were they both going to do? His thoughts took a graver colour. Thinking. perhaps. He glanced at her. grey sea coming and going on their left hand.V.should feel more easy. Mr. Hartington—something like that. He had rescued her. A little perplexed. If we was locked up. she seemed. Hoopdriver's mind came round to the future. He noticed how well she rode and that she rode with her lips closed—a thing he could never manage. "Fancy introducing 'em to her—My sister pro tem. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver felt a little less conscience-stricken. Every mile they put between themselves and Chichester Mr. and then tried the 'G. Have to keep off that topic until he could remember. and a little more of the gallant desperado." He was her brother Chris—Chris what?—Confound it! Harringon.

She ought to go home. heartbroken to the meanest intelligence. Then.—probably an uncle or two. He would have to begin discussing the return soon.This was fine. Then should he take her home? He began to rough in a moving sketch of the return." she began." and so depart. and a knightly figure in the background dressed in a handsome Norfolk jacket. "Mr. The stepmother. leaving. There was no traffic along the road.—even these rich people have their troubles. But that was a matter for the future. She began to talk. Mr. still conspicuously new. in spite of that stepmother. George Alexander might assume. "That is your name? I'm very stupid—" 176 .—(bother that name!) and Miss Milton. of course. and he came up beside her (he had fallen behind in his musing). and say. She was the spirited sort. he would pause in the doorway in such an attitude as Mr. manly rescue work he was engaged upon. slowly and dwindlingly: "Be kind to her—BE kind to her. and then. but still—Wonder if she had any money? Wonder what the second-class fare from Havant to London is? Of course he would have to pay that—it was the regular thing. repentant of her indescribable cruelties. Denison. doubtfully. He would conceal his feeling until the very end. would be present. he being a gentleman. Then two women weeping together. The footman would announce. He must insist gravely but firmly upon that.

sitting. where a felled tree lay among the green. we can talk. and looking straight in front of her." 177 . Leastways. expectant. She answered after a little while. "Yes. Hoopdriver." (Nuisance not to be able to say this kind of thing right. without steering wildly. "Here. consider me entirely at your service. I am so awkwardly situated. Don't consider me at all. recovering from a violent wabble. Round a bend in the road they came upon a grassy space between hedge and road. "I can assure you— I want to help you very much. was it? Denison. with her chin in her hand. There she dismounted. "I don't know—I am resolved to Live my Own Life. (Denison. sat down. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver." said Mr."It is." "If I can only help you—you will make me very happy —" There was a pause. and propping her machine against a stone. Denison. Denison." she said.) "You see. What was she saying?) "I wonder how far you are willing to help me?" Confoundedly hard to answer a question like that on the spur of the moment. set with yarrow and meadowsweet. "You may rely—" said Mr. elbow on knee." said Mr.

"Of course. It was wonderful how clear and ready her words were. whirling on a wheel." "Don't YOU want to learn?" she asked. 'What am I here for?' I ask. suddenly caught up. 178 . And little things happen and the days pass. She was too intent upon her own thoughts to notice this insufficiency. Simply to be here at a time—I asked it a week ago. Hoopdriver. everything is hurrying me. "Naturally. I want to learn. people come to tea. of course you'd be very silly. I asked it yesterday. and it terrifies me. Hoopdriver was puzzled. I want time to think." "I want to Live. "If you let them rush you into anything you might repent of." said Mr." Mr. "I find myself in life. but he tried to meet the occasion. He knew he was inadequate. I seem to be like a little speck. and I want to see what life means. but admiring. Everyone is hurrying me. there is a new play to pass the time. My stepmother takes me shopping. and stopped." he began. and I ask it to-day. "I was wondering only this morning. But then one might speak well with a throat and lips like that.

and a bunch of dandelion puff lifted among the meadowsweet and struck and broke into a dozen separate threads against his knee. To do Good." said the Young Lady in Grey." he said in a meditative tone. Hoopdriver. This was an unexpected development. some to perish." Mr. turning. "Things WILL go on. If I could write to her—But then. among the grass: some to germinate. It is horrible. I want to obtain a position as a journalist. There is one person—She was a mistress at my school. I have been told—But I know no one to help me at once. as the breeze fell. I can't go back. "to write Books and alter things. "It IS so. you see. "I want to write. how could I get 179 . Hoopdriver stroked his moustache.or a concert. The wheels of the world go on turning. I want to do a miracle like Joshua and stop the whirl until I have fought it out. catching at his moustache. At home—It's impossible. The faint breath of summer stirred the trees. "EIGH?" said Mr. His eye followed them until they had vanished. They flew on apart. No one that I could go to. or a novel." said the Young Lady in Grey. "I can't go back to Surbiton." he said. and sank. I want to lead a Free Life and Own myself.

Surbiton is so Conventional. In some vague way he inferred from all this that Jessie was trying to escape from an undesirable marriage. 180 ." agreed Mr. to shape my own career.her answer?" "H'mp." said Mr. And if I go back now. She does as she likes herself." said Mr. so to speak. But my stepmother objects so. but was saying these things out of modesty." "It is good of you to say that. He MUST help her. "I can't trouble you much more. Within his skull he was doing some intricate arithmetic with five pounds six and twopence. I am resolved to be Unconventional—at any cost. You have come—you have risked things—" "That don't count. very grave. But we are so hampered. and is strict with me to ease her conscience. to take my place in the world. If I could only burgeon out of all that hinders me! I want to struggle. go back owning myself beaten—" She left the rest to his imagination. I want to be my own mistress. His circle of ideas was so limited. Hoopdriver. "It's double pay to let me do it. Hoopdriver. "I see that. Hoopdriver.

I must make a note on my cuff. six quid. For a day or so. I believe she would be able to help me to an independent life. "Why!—Benson." Mr. I know she would help me. we might continue as we are perhaps. "If I could write to my friend.—well. say.) 181 ." said Mr." She clicked a little silver pencil and wrote the name down. that gives four days. three days." "Mr. Benson—yes it's really very stupid of me. "if you don't mind trusting yourself to a stranger. Hoopdriver seemed lost in abstraction. I could scarcely explain in a telegram. Until you heard. "But what IS your name?" "Name!" said Mr. "In that case."You know. of course. Write. quite like that." Clearly there was only one course open to a gentleman under the circumstances. I could write to her—or telegraph. "You can't go back of course. four ten. I think. Mr. Hoopdriver." (Suppose thirty shillings a day. say four thirties is hun' and twenty. His ears waxed suddenly red and his cheeks flushed. Hoopdriver." he said thoughtfully.—I've forgotten your name again. But I can never remember names.

They decided to ride easily. "wouldn't look the same machine if I got a big. double Elarum instead of that little bell. There was a brief discussion. through Havant. For the previous day had tried them both. "Very well. Secretly he was delighted at her insistence in paying. "That bicycle. perhaps. 182 ." "Why?" "Jest a thought. and thank you. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver's eye fell by chance on the bicycle at his feet. "What was our bill at Chichester?" "Eigh?" said Mr." he remarked." His expression was eloquent. at Fareham or Southampton. then. She carried her point." A pause. and stop. feigning a certain stupidity. Their talk came round to their immediate plans for the day. quite irrelevantly. It's wonderful—it's more than I deserve that you—" She dropped the theme abruptly. Mr. Holding the map extended on his knee."You are very good to me.

you know. Hoopdriver. Then he took his own. then. If Mr." Discovering suddenly that she was standing. admiring her. too. "Because it IS stealing it. But that was the way with everything in Mr." said Mr. Hoopdriver. "I say!"said he. "You're plucky enough—goodness knows." As they were riding on to Havant it occurred to Mr. rising. airily. you know. Hoopdriver's experience. rose and picked up her machine. Hoopdriver in a transitory manner that the interview had been quite other than his expectation." said Mr. and 183 . "I wish. "Didn't MEAN anything."Very well. we could have managed it without stealing that machine. now." "I believe you would. Bechamel troubles you—I will tell the whole world—if need be.—Havant and lunch." said Jessie. if it was enamelled grey?" She looked over her shoulder at his grave face. come to think of it. "How'd this bike look. "Why try and hide it in that way?" "It was jest a passing thought. He paused. somehow." said Hoopdriver." "Nonsense. She took it and wheeled it into the road. And though his Wisdom looked grave within him. he. regarding it.

shouting in his mind to drown all these saner considerations. a toothbrush. Of talking to her familiarly. His old familiar fancyings gave place to anticipations as impalpable and fluctuating and beautiful as the sunset of a summer day. and sold in the excitement of the occasion. recommended highly. an article the shopman introduced to his attention. real. and wonderful time beyond all his imaginings. something else was there too. At Havant he took an opportunity to purchase. and a little bottle of stuff to darken the moustache. of having a golden. at small hairdresser's in the main street.pair of nail scissors. perhaps for other days after that.Caution was chinking coins. being brother of all her slender strength and freshness. 184 . all to-morrow. and an ancient prejudice in favour of Property shook her head. the intoxicating thought of riding beside Her all to-day.

Mr. Then the green height of Portsdown Hill tempted them.The Unexpected Anecdote of the Lion * XXIX They rode on to Cosham and lunched lightly but expensively there. Jessie by some miracle had become a skirted woman in the Cosham inn. the crowded narrows of the harbour. a mile off perhaps . and beyond that a few little fields and then the beginnings of 185 . and leaving their machines in the village they clambered up the slope to the silent red-brick fort that crowned it. the inner line of defence like toy fortifications. and lazily regarded the fortified towns that spread like a map away there. smoked a Red Herring cigarette. Hoopdriver lounged gracefully on the turf. Jessie went out and posted her letter to her school friend. Thence they had a view of Portsmouth and its cluster of sister towns. the Solent and the Isle of Wight like a blue cloud through the hot haze.

' a phrase he seemed to regard 186 . worshipping. You must not take a certain ignorance for foolishness. He took stock of his suit in a more optimistic spirit. Hoopdriver's anxiety receded to some remote corner of his brain and that florid half-voluntary imagination of his shared the stage with the image of Jessie. He began to speculate on the impression he was creating.Landport suburb and the smoky cluster of the multitudinous houses. rather more closely during the last hour or so. was awakening. She had recalled. Mr. She did not look at him directly because he seemed always looking at her. She had begun with a few experiments. having been obtained entirely from books. and her curiosity about the chivalrous. and reviewed. Then he was dashed at the thought of her infinite perfections. Her own troubles had quieted down a little. his actions for the last four and twenty hours. She had been observing him quietly. the curious incident of their first encounter. You must understand that her knowledge of the world was rather less than nothing. but singular gentleman in brown. To the right at the head of the harbour shallows the town of Porchester rose among the trees. too. He did not know French except 'sivver play. She found him hard to explain to herself. with some complacency.

" you know. He called her I Madam' once. He seemed a person of means and leisure. She fancied (so much is there in a change of costume) that she had never met with such a man before. Benson. breaking a silence devoted to landscape. And sketch. you know—skitty kind of a very good light table joke in itself. but not such as books informed her distinguished the lower classes. but a trifle over-respectful and out of fashion." He plucked and began to nibble a blade of grass." Judicious pause." she said. His English was uncertain. but he knew nothing of recent concerts. I DO paint a little. or books. How did he spend his time? He was certainly chivalrous. What COULD he be? "Mr. He rolled over and regarded her. It was really not so much lying as his quick imagination that 187 . theatres. "At your service." "Do you paint? Are you an artist?" "Well. His manners seemed to her good on the whole. "I should hardly call myself a Nartist. and a trifle simpleminded. chin on knuckles.

jest now and then something comes into my head and down it goes. "It's like this." "It's not your profession? "Oh. and all that. Artists were a very heterogeneous class certainly. no. I don't want to make any mystery of it. looking at him thoughtfully. and geniuses had a trick of being a little odd. "I don't do MUCH. He avoided her eye and bit his grass. you know.prompted him to add. to gain time. "Only I can't very well—I leave it to you." said Mr. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver looked into her eyes and saw their quiet unsuspicious regard. He had vague ideas of resuming the detective role. Only there's a kind of reason— nothing much. you know." Should he plunge 188 ." said Hoopdriver. "I have a sort of profession." he said. No —I'm not a regular artist. you know." said Jessie." "No trouble. "I don't make a regular thing of it. anxious now to hedge." "Then you don't practise any regular profession? Mr." "I see. so far as that goes. you know " "I beg your pardon for cross-examining you. you know. "In Papers.

and clutched a new piece of grass." "Good again." "Well—guess. "You come from one of the colonies?" "Dear me!" said Mr. "How did you find out THAT?" (the man was born in a London suburb." she said.) "I guessed. Hoopdriver. smiling." 189 . He lifted his eyebrows as one astonished. Hoopdriver." said Hoopdriver. rolling over again into her elbow." said Mr. "I think I could guess what you are. "You're a CLAIRVOY ant." He bit at the grass. "You were educated up country.boldly and be a barrister? That anyhow was something pretty good. veering round to the new wind. dear Reader. "Which colony was it?" "That I don't know. But she might know about barristry.

" "I never read 'The Story of an African Farm. "South Africa." he said." she said. "I strongly incline to South Africa." said Hoopdriver."You must guess. "South Africa IS right?" she insisted. "anyhow. But it's a wonderful place. "What made me think of South Africa was that novel of Olive Schreiner's. with 190 ." "South Africa's quite a large place. He turned over again and nodded." said Hoopdriver. smiling reassuringly into her eyes.' Gregory Rose is so like you.'" said Hoopdriver. "I must. What's he like?" "You must read the book. "But South Africa is right?" "You're warm. you know—The Story of an African Farm." and the while his imagination was eagerly exploring this new province.

Luckily. "What became of the ostriches?" "We sold 'em off." "On the Karroo—was it called?" "That's the term." "Did you have Blacks and Boers about you?" "Lots. you know. Some of it was freehold though. "We had a little ostrich farm. Besides which it had occurred to him with a kind of shock that he was lying. Do you mind if I have another cigarette? That was when I was quite a little chap. We got along very well in the old days. and its brand-new civilisation jostling the old savagery." said Mr. you know— Just a few hundred of 'em. Hoopdriver. out Johannesburg way. striking a match on his 191 .its mixture of races." said Mr. just at the moment. Were you near Khama?" "He was a long way off from our place. but he stopped and left a little to the girl's imagination. when we parted with the farm. Hoopdriver." He had a diamond mine in his head. that we had this ostrich farm.—But there's no ostriches on that farm now.

" said Hoopdriver. Once or twice." "Fancy seeing a lion! Weren't you frightened?" Mr. and so forth. "But I've seen them. I've never been out of England except to Paris and Mentone and Switzerland. How do ostriches feed?" "Well. I can fancy all the tall ostriches being driven out by a black herd—to graze. They have their fancies." "You must tell me about your farm in South Africa. of course. quite modestly.instep and beginning to feel hot at the new responsibility he had brought upon himself. Hoopdriver was now thoroughly sorry he had 192 . of course." "Did you ever see a lion?" "They weren't very common in our district. you know. There's fruit. of course." said Hoopdriver. And chicken food. and that kind of thing. "How interesting! Do you know. "That's rather various. I suppose. You have to use judgment." "One gets tired of travelling (puff) after a bit. It always stimulates my imagination to think of these places.

" he said. His invention seemed to have gone limp. Well.accepted that offer of South Africa. "It all happened in a minute." she said. neither. you know. properly stuffed. He puffed his cigarette and regarded the Solent languidly as he settled the fate on that lion in his mind.) I just aimed at the end that I thought was the head. though." Mr. then? I did not know—" "Eat them!—often. and I saw something standing up in the moonlight and looking at me. "I was going across the inner paddock where the fatted ostriches were." 193 ." "Did you EAT ostriches. "I scarcely had time. rather—was going across this paddock." "Go on. Hoopdriver was in a hot perspiration now. (Puff. (Puff. I was scared." "Dead?" "AS dead.) And over it went. Very nice they ARE too. And let fly. It was one of the luckiest shots I ever fired. And I wasn't much over nine at the time. we—I. "Luckily I had my father's gun with me. I can tell you.

"don't you think we ought to be getting on?" His face was flushed. They walked down into Cosham again. She talked wonderfully. Hoopdriver. happily—at least until Porchester was reached—but talked instead of Living One's Own Life." said Mr. Hoopdriver drew his watch hastily. Mr. Mr. and went on at a leisurely pace along the northern shore of the big harbour." she remarked. stuck in his memory. his ears bright red. Why HAD he done it? She did not ask for any more South African stories. resumed their machines. evidently with a heightened opinion of him. "To run would have been Death. This horrible. Hoopdriver. this fulsome lie. By the Castle. She ascribed his confusion to modesty." "There's some things you can't run away from." said Mr. He rose with a lion added to the burthens of his conscience. Hoopdriver was no longer happy. Hoopdriver caught several crabs in little 194 ." "I don't think I ever met a lion-killer before."I should have screamed and run away. But Mr. There was a pause. and set Hoopdriver's mind fermenting. "I say. showing it to her. She seemed meditating further questions. and held out his hand to assist her. and how custom hung on people like chains.

shore pools. At Fareham they stopped for a second tea. under such invigorating circumstances as you shall in due course hear. 195 . and left the place towards the hour of sunset.

It was clearly understood by the entire Rescue Party that Mrs. The three gentlemen outdid one another in sympathetic expedients. if I remember rightly. Phipps. they watched her gravely almost tenderly. waiting. Milton. and of that distressed beauty. had no moustache to run any risks with. Widgery.The Rescue Expedition * XXX And now to tell of those energetic chevaliers. so he folded his arms and talked in a brave. Dangle. unhappily. We left them at Midhurst station. bearing-up tone about 196 . as Mrs. the slender Dangle tugged at HIS moustache. brown eyes of his. Milton was bearing up bravely against almost overwhelming grief. and looked his unspeakable feelings at her with those dog-like. so the paragraphs said. in a state of fine emotion. and did what he could with unsympathetic grey ones. indifferent. and Phipps. for the Chichester train. The substantial Widgery tugged at his moustache. 'Thomas Plantagenet.' well known in society.

" "Their trains are always late. just to cheer the poor woman up a little. And even Mrs. "There is nothing to do until we get to Chichester. was manager of a bank and a mighty golfer. and insisted on their being friends together. you must understand. delicate." said Widgery. the heart of a man of the world. Brighton. in spite of a disposition to reciprocal criticism they displayed. feminine ways." "Nothing. and South Coast Railway. and his pride was to be Thomas Plantagenet's intellectual companion. with his fingers along the edge of his collar. Douglas. the big man. "Douglas. tender and true. His name was Douglas-Douglas Widgery. Milton really felt that exalted melancholy to the very bottom of her heart." said Dangle. and his conception of his relations to her never came into his mind without those charming oldlines. Phipps was a medical student still. appreciating but coarsely 197 . was a sub-editor and reviewer. and aside in her ear: "You really ate scarcely anything. Dangle. She was kind to them all in her way." said Phipps. and tried to show it in a dozen little." falling hard upon its heels.the London. you know. and he felt that he laid his heart at her feet. Widgery. Dangle thought Widgery a Philistine. "Nothing. And Phipps.

I'LL inquire. So soon as we get there. "After. and Phipps thought both Dangle and Widgery a couple of Thundering Bounders. and stopped abruptly. while Widgery—" "The museum." said Dangle. "we shan't HANG ABOUT. Very well. Both Dangle and Widgery thought Phipps a bit of a cub. "No. perhaps." said Dangle. "They would have got to Chichester in time for lunch." said Phipps. Phipps must inquire at the chief hotels to see if any one answering to her description has lunched there. I suppose you and Widgery will just hang about—" He saw an expression of pain on Mrs. Milton's gentle face. And after that there's a little thing or two I've thought of myself. in the train. I shall go to the cathedral and make an inquiry or so. "Willingly. 198 . humanity—would talk insincerely to say a clever thing." and Widgery thought Dangle lacked. There are two places in Chichester where tourists might go—the cathedral and a remarkably fine museum. as you put it.the merits of "A Soul Untrammelled." "Oh. And there's no sufficient place in the road." said Widgery.

Milton in a kind of procession to the Red Hotel and established her there with some tea. There aren't any cross-roads to tempt them. rather shortly. By six they returned. For my own part—" 199 . "All of you. at the window." said Widgery." "We shall see at once. "You are so kind to me." "My dear fellow!—It does. and dispersed to their inquiries. "You're quite sure.To begin with they took Mrs. Really it does. without news." said Dangle. "Here comes Phipps. that there isn't any flaw in that inference of yours?" "Quite." said Widgery. Would they turn there? Many more things are inevitable than you fancy. You must allow me to have enough intelligence to think of crossroads. their zeal a little damped. Widgery came back with Dangle. "Of course. "their starting from Midhurst on the Chichester road doesn't absolutely bind them not to change their minds. Phipps was the last to return." They signified that it was nothing. Really you must." said Widgery." she said. Would they turn aside here? No.

She spoke in a low voice. "Why—Have you seen a young lady in a grey bicycling costume?" Dangle caught at his lower lip. "Well." said Phipps. almost a whisper. biting her trembling lip." 200 . "What's that?" he said. entering." said Phipps. and went towards the window. "One fellow had got hold of a queer story of a man in bicycling clothes. in the shadow of the window. who was asking the same question about this time yesterday. "None?" said Dangle. "You'd better infer. "No news." "What question?" said Mrs."Phipps!" said Mrs. "Yesterday! A man asking after her then! What can THAT mean?" "Heaven knows. sitting down wearily." said Phipps. Milton. "Is he hurrying? Does he look—" She rose in her eagerness. "Ah!" said Widgery. Milton.

taking his straw hat from the shade over the stuffed bird on the chiffonier and turning towards the door. "I might have known. "I was a little annoyed at the way he rushed me to do all this business. "How should I know?—in bicycling costume." said Dangle." "But what height?—What complexion?" "Didn't ask. Leaning up against the stable door. "But I'd do a 201 ." he said. I'm sure. "He's an ostler chap in the White Hart. "Ask him yourself. the fellow said." Phipps' mouth opened and shut." said Dangle."What kind of man?" said Dangle. soothingly. "Let me ring for some tea for you.—short." said the lady. Phipps." It suddenly occurred to Phipps that he had lapsed a little from his chivalry. "You're tired. with a red face and a crusty manner. Go and ask him." "Of course. thick-set fellow. Mr." said Phipps." said Phipps. Smells of whiskey. "DIDN'T ASK! Nonsense.

I went right out from here." "Brother!" said Mrs. "I WOULD like a little tea. With her brother.hundred times as much if it would bring you any nearer to her. m'm? yes. and never thought —But never mind. and the door opened. Stopped the night. "Something I've forgotten. "Tea. a cycling lady—" "Stopped here yesterday? Yessir. "Thank God!" 202 ." "You don't mean—" A tap. m'm. but sometimes these Inferences of his—" "Tchak!" said Phipps. suddenly. went to every other hotel in the place. Milton." "I don't want to raise any false hopes. I'll ask when the waiter comes." Pause. "Was a lady in grey. Dangle's a very clever fellow." said Widgery. in a low tone. of course. sir—a young gent. Milton. "But I do NOT believe they even came to Chichester." said Phipps." said the waiter. "One minute. "What is it?" said Mrs.

"Havant! Where's Havant?" said Phipps. and thought." "Dear me!" said Mrs. he was?" "No." 203 . Milton. Not that." "About thirty-five." "Was the man tall?" said Mrs. and showing the finest self-control. and was cross-examined by Widgery on the plans of the young couple." he said. speaking in a curious. "very free with his money. Give the name of Beaumont. sir. Milton. intently. "I seem to remember it somewhere. m'm. and young looking. "His moustache." He proceeded to some rambling particulars. hollow voice. flaxen moustache? and spoke with a drawl?" "Well. "It must have been her YOUNGER brother—must have been. "distinguished looking? with a long." said the waiter. fumbling for her salts. "A young gent. was scarcely long—scrubby more.The waiter glanced at her and understood everything. More like five and twenty. m'm.

"Cannot I do anything?" Dangle was heroic. "for 204 . "What's up?" "What's up with YOU?" said Phipps." said Dangle. feeling that she would be easier under this new surprise if the man were dismissed. Mrs. "A time table. He thought it was a plot to annoy him—that the Young Lady in Grey was mythical. I see?" "Did the man hit you?" asked Widgery. You have some news. "It was in this way. "Hullo!" said dangle. the waiter brought in a tray of tea." said Phipps. who was entering the room. round the corner of the handkerchief." he said." said Widgery. "Nothing—an altercation merely with that drunken ostler of yours. and explained rather sheepishly. promptly. The waiter turned to go."That will do. Judged from your manner. and almost collided with Dangle. thank you. Milton rose and approached Dangle. with a running fire of commentary from Widgery. I've got a piece of raw meat to keep over it. "Only tell me your news. panting excitedly and with a pocket handkerchief held to his right eye. While he was doing so. officiously.

and preparing to mount. and Phipps and Dangle partook in passover form. In view of the fact that beyond Havant the Southampton road has a steep hill continuously on the right-hand side. "Be 205 . Milton. It was Napoleonic. and leaving the piece of meat over his eye. and the sea on the left. and come on by the next train if they had no news. he hit upon a magnificent scheme for heading the young folks off. Widgery and Phipps should alight one each at the intermediate stations of Cosham and Porchester. "It's her!" said Mrs. a wire to the Fareham post office was to explain why. Milton poured two cups. "Hist!" said Dangle. If they did not come on. and more than consoled Dangle for the open derision of the Havant street boys at the handkerchief which still protected his damaged eye. Milton and Dangle came round the corner from the station.Havant." Mrs. The fugitives escaped by a hair's breadth. They caught the train by a hair's breadth. the scheme answered to perfection. So to Havant and inquiries. He and Mrs. an extraordinary appearance which seemed unexpectedly to calm her. They were outside the Golden Anchor at Fareham. gripping the lady's arm. as Mrs. Dangle was puffed up to find that his guess of Havant was right. and would have screamed. Moreover. removing his handkerchief in his excitement. Milton would go to Fareham.

" He left her in a most pathetic attitude. with her hand pressed to her heart. She felt tired and dreadfully ruffled and agitated and dusty. Milton would have fainted. "SAVE HER!" she said. "hurry back here. Meanwhile Dangle." She was whirled back to the railway station and left there. Dog cart in ten minutes. and pursue them. "I will conduct you back to the station. Were there flys at the station?" The young couple mounted and vanished round the corner of the Winchester road. black horse harnessed into a thing called a gig. blistered. "They must not see us. "Ah! A conveyance. glaring under the meat. You will meet Widgery and Phipps and tell them I am in pursuit. "One minute. They will get away else. The meat had gone now. helpful manner commend her to Douglas Widgery. Dangle was. but for a kindly. Mrs. wooden seat in the sun." said Dangle. on a hard. Emerged. Had it not been for the publicity of the!" said Dangle. most energetic and devoted . no doubt. and rushed into the Golden Anchor. his face golden in the evening sun. northwestward 206 . and one saw the cooling puffiness over his eye." said Dangle. was driving (as well as he could) a large.

" said Mrs. though he had started with the noblest intentions. you know. The day had irritated him somehow. Widgery was hardly in the mood to be mollified all at once. Dangle. Milton. smack. too. —huge. a long face. wooden things and very high and the horse. was a refined-looking little man. "He need not prevent ME." said Widgery. is Dangle. His neck was long and slender. smack. Perhaps you know what gigs are. "Rushing off! And I suppose we're to wait here until he comes back! It's likely. barring his swollen eye. He's so egotistical. and hard by the church it shied vigorously at a hooded perambulator. Always wants to mismanage everything himself. "It's no good talking. big." 207 . and be wore a deerstalker cap and was dressed in dark grey. a hard mouth. smack it went along the road. and stopped. Smack. and a whacking trick of pacing. was huge and big and high. with knobby legs. "He's such a spasmodic creature." "He means to help me. and he seemed glad to find an outlet for justifiable indignation. touching his arm. The history of the Rescue Expedition now becomes confused. It appears that Widgery was extremely indignant to find Mrs. and you are tired." he said. Milton left about upon the Fareham platform.towards Winchester. a little reproachfully.

I have seen Dangle drive before. The idea of leaving Dangle behind seemed to him an 208 . Tomorrow Sunday. Mrs. "if only we find her. Winchester a cathedral town. and then he will break his neck. Milton—" "I am in your hands. "They MUST be going to Winchester." he explained. with pathetic littleness."I can go on. feeling his collar." " While I was cooling my heels in Cosham I bought a county map. looking up at him. had stood in a somewhat depressed attitude. road going nowhere else of the slightest importance. during this conversation. and looking from one speaker to the other. "Here. will overtake bicycles in the cool of the evening." she said brightly. It was inevitable." He proceeded with the calm deliberation of a business man to develop a proposal of taking train forthwith to Winchester. Dangle?" "He will simply go on until he has to pass something. Phipps. leaning on his stick. and for the moment he forgot the exasperation of the day. It's scarcely likely a dog-cart. is the road out of Fareham. especially a hired dog-cart." she said. you see." He produced and opened it. Rely upon me. "But Mr.

A monstrous shadow aped him across the cutting. For even as their train ran into the station. thrusting his head out of the window." said Phipps to Mrs. Dangle seemed to jump. Milton. when he saw their eyes meeting. and Phipps. There was a cheerful alacrity about all three at the proposal. In another moment all three were hurrying up the steps. cried. It was the event of a second. hatless. standing up with cut hands 209 . "We might leave a message at the place where he got the dog-cart. who stood fascinated in the doorway. there was a shouting overhead. But they never got beyond Botley. and across the lemon yellows and flushed pinks of the sunset. "There he goes!" and sprang out of the carriage. From Widgery it was hidden. "Better get out. the upper works of a gig. They found Dangle. overhead was the roadway. Mrs. just saw it. and Dangle in transit from front to back. and vanish. a horse like a long-nosed chess knight." he suggested. and after a moment's pause came a heart-rending smash. the guard stood astonished on the platform.excellent one. a mighty rumbling was heard. there whirled a great black mass. Botley station lies in a cutting. hang in the air momentarily. following in alarm. Then two black heads running swiftly. Milton.

but with Dangle. eagerly." "I don't understand. painful look again." "Caught them!" said Widgery. leading. are the only horses I have ever seen at all like it. "Have you found Jessie?" 210 . Even at that distance they could see the expression of conscious pride on the monster's visage. too. with a backward motion of his head. black horse. Dangle!" cried Mrs. and in the distance was a little group of Botley inhabitants holding the big." said Mrs. "Hullo!" said Dangle." he said. Milton. I HAD to. Milton. " Hurt?" asked Phipps. At the very place I expected. not surprised in the slightest. clasping her hands. with that rapt. Bit of a mess I'm in —eigh? But I've caught 'em. I left 'em. The beasts in the Tower of London. on which the men in armour are perched. ugly road ran downhill in a long vista. I may want you. Where are they?" "Up there. "Glad you've come. having his hands brushed by an officious small boy.extended. "Mr. "About a mile up the hill. A broad. we are not concerned now with the horse. It was as wooden-faced a horse as you can imagine. However.

'Return to your friends. Milton. Mrs. They were sitting by the roadside botanising flowers. Dangle?" "Mile and a half or two miles. "Take my arm."I have. "Certainly. All will be forgiven. I had all my work to do to save myself being turned over. suddenly becoming active. I mean." said Phipps." said Mrs. and a damaged knee became evident. Horse shied at the bicycles. Whether they heard—" "TAKE ME TO HER. where shall I wash the gravel out? And have a look at my knee?" "There's the station. we've been looking for you. I wish I could wash the gravel out of my hands somewhere. clatter.' And off I came." said Phipps. turning towards Widgery. you know. I say though—Look at my hands! But I beg your pardon. "Phipps. as it was—so long as I did. I didn't dare turn round." said Widgery. I say. 211 . clatter. It was like this. Milton. I just had time to shout. becoming helpful. I was determined to find them. 'Jessie Milton. Dangle made a step. Came on them suddenly round a corner." He turned to Phipps.' and then that confounded brute bolted. you know. with intensity. I just shouted. "How far is it.

Milton that if Widgery was the man for courtly devotion. "And so's my feyther. in sight." "There's a harse all right. for's leg us broke." "Not a cart even! Evidently. my kingdom for a horse."Where can we get a conveyance?" asked Widgery of two small boys. They looked at one another. timidly." said Widgery. Dangle was infinitely readier of resource." said one of the small boys with a movement of the head. "Perhaps if you 212 . partially averting his face and staring down the road and making a song of it. "Or a cart or— anything?" asked Mrs. but no one can't 'ire'n. "There's not a cab. "I suppose—" she said. not a go-cart." said the larger of the small boys. a horse. "Don't you know where we can hire traps? asked Widgery. What shall we do?" It occurred to Mrs. "John Ooker's gart a cart. "It's a case of a horse. Milton. The two small boys failed to understand.

denying conveyances how the landlord of the Heron was suspicious. Milton. Dangle—" And then all the gilt came off Widgery. He stopped abruptly. and. "Where are the Knights of the Olden Time?" and feeling tired to death and hungry and dusty and out of curl." And went striding into the station and down the steps. and with a kind of ballad refrain running through her head. leaving her in the road under the quiet inspection of the two little boys. a martyr woman." he said. "I'll go and ask Dangle. XXXI It goes to my heart to tell of the end of that day. He answered quite rudely. in short. and now you want me to ask him—" Her beautiful blue eyes were filled with tears. "If you wish it. how the fugitives vanished into Immensity.were to ask Mr. and dimmed the radiant emotions of the 213 . "Confound Dangle! Hasn't he messed us up enough? He must needs drive after them in a trap to tell them we're coming. and the hot summer's day had crumpled the collar of Phipps and stained the skirts of Mrs. how there were no more trains how Botley stared unsympathetically with a palpable disposition to derision. how the next day was Sunday. shortly.

trailing us after her. in fact. held the foreground of the talk. felt the absurdity of the pose of the Wounded Knight. Here was a young woman —young woman do I say? a mere girl!—had chosen to leave a comfortable home in Surbiton. just for a fantastic Idea . and now tired and weather-worn. as a lamb astray. in the cushioned basket-chair. Apparently. and Mrs. they thought. Jessie. and had rushed off. which would have made the whole business tragic. such was our restraint. She sat. too. and abandoned it after the faintest efforts. with sticking-plaster and a black eye. into this detestable village beerhouse on a Saturday night! And she had done it. 214 . but they played like summer lightning on the edge of the conversation. to flick us off at last. Yet withal. the worst. but the outraging of Common Sense. was most to blame. perhaps. but just for a Freak. Recriminations never. And deep in the hearts of all was a galling sense of the ridiculous. not for Love and Passion. that we talked of her still as one much misguided. Milton having eaten. I may mention. mere mud from her wheel. and all the delights of a refined and intellectual circle. which are serious excuses one may recognise even if one must reprobate. Dangle. continued to show the finest feelings on the matter. was not happening.whole party. for nothing. posing hard. mutually jealous. as one who burthened us with anxiety.

and the dim light. and she seemed inclined to state a case against herself in the matter of "A Soul Untrammelled. misapplied." said Widgery. which was open (the night was so tranquil and warm). horsehair things having antimacassars tied to their backs by means of lemon-coloured bows. I try and think that critics are honest." said the lady.for we did not use the lamp—suited her admirably. That first book of mine—I do not go back upon a word of it. "Deliberately misunderstood." said Dangle. I have Developed. After their lights. It was different from those dear old talks at Surbiton." she said. and we sat on incredibly hard. "that I am to blame. an interrogation. She sat facing the window. scrutinising his sticking215 . but it was a little dull while it lasted. "Not deliberately.the only comfortable chair in the room. She talked in a voice that told you she was tired. but it has been misunderstood." "Don't say that." "It has. I was not thinking of critics. "I feel. But she—I mean—" She paused. mind. somehow. "It is possible. trying to look so deeply sympathetic as to be visible in the dark." It was such an evening as might live in a sympathetic memoir.

Only now it is madness to fly in the face of the established order." "And meanwhile you go on banking—" "If I didn't. and that living on invested capital is wrong. has explained that with regard to Socialism. "You HAVE done so." said Widgery." And. Then when the Ideas have been spread abroad—Things will come about. to promulgate Ideas. 216 . "That's different. It is Those Others. some one else would.plaster. It is just Teaching. I want people to THINK as I recommend. at the same time. Only we cannot begin while we are so few. We all know that to earn all you consume is right. They must begin first. I want to Teach new Ideas. you know. not to DO as I recommend." said Dangle." "Precisely." "And I live on Mr. "It is Those Others. new Lessons. Milton's Lotion while I try to gain a footing in Literature." "TRY!" said Phipps. Bernard Shaw. "I write a book and state a case. Only I make it into a story.

General rules don't apply—" 217 . Fancy. Of course Georgina Griffiths in my book lived alone in a flat in Paris and went to life classes and had men visitors. Where every one is so particular. but then she was over twenty-one." said Dangle. "It always seems to me that life is made up of individuals." "Jessica is only seventeen. That child! It is different with a woman."You are so kind to me. And Georgina Griffiths never flaunted her freedom— on a bicycle. "No man would marry a girl like that. "It must be hushed up. of individual cases. In this country. But in this matter. "It alters everything." said Dangle." "Ruin." said Widgery. and girlish for that. in country places. It's dreadful— If it gets about it spells ruin for her." said Phipps. We must weigh each person against his or her circumstances. SLEEPING away from home.

and Widgery was unhappy because he had been so cross to her at the station." "And life is not typical. fat men with dog-like eyes. for he was a neat-minded little man in spite of his energy. Also he was angry with Dangle. Of course my books—" "It's different." said Widgery. and because so far he did not feel that he had scored over Dangle. unintentionally." said Widgery." said Dangle. being souls living very much upon the appearances 218 . altogether different. The whole business—so near a capture—was horribly vexatious. The failing was infectious. with infinite disgust. dispersed on trivial pretences. Phipps sat on his bed for some time examining. Then suddenly. and the gathering having. But not to sleep immediately. Mrs."I often feel the force of that. talked itself weary. Directly Dangle was alone he began. Milton fell a-musing on the mortality of even big. And all four of them. "A novel deals with typical cases. a collar he would have thought incredible for Sunday twenty-four hours before. Phipps yawned. with immense profundity. with equal disgust. as you can easily understand. being himself most surprised and shocked of any in the room. "Those are my rules. to scrutinise his darkling eye.

behaving absurdly? 219 . and Surbiton speculative. had a painful. and a remoter background of London humorous. after all. Were they really.of things. mental middle distance of Botley derisive and suspicious.

Dangle had flared and thundered across the tranquillity of the summer evening. Hoopdriver. Knight Errant * XXXII As Mr. Dangle bad witnessed. Dangle. wind-stars. St. Jessie and 220 .— most curious names.Mr. y'know. John's wort. "The flowers are all different in South Africa.—star-flowers. had hailed Jessie by her name. Mr. Dangle's appearance. Hoopdriver had been learning with great interest that mere roadside flowers had names. Before Mr. the fugitives had been left by him by the side of the road about two miles from Botley. some of them. swaying and gesticulating behind a corybantic black horse. lords and ladies. Then suddenly. had backed towards the hedge for no ostensible reason. and vanished to the accomplishment of the Fate that had been written down for him from the very beginning of things." he was explaining with a happy fluke of his imagination to account for his ignorance. willow herb. bachelor's buttons. heralded by clattering sounds and a gride of wheels.

—and vanished round the corner. this swift and wonderful passing of Dangle was achieved. He began to call to me before the horse shied. "What! someone you know?" "Yes." repeated Jessie. Dangle. He went from side to side of the road. His eyebrows went up spasmodically." said Jessie. Hoopdriver heard this time. "He knew my name." "That was Mr. My 221 . before this tumultuous. "I could see. "Yes—it was Mr." said Jessie. Hoopdriver it was.—worse even than the riding forth of Mr." said Mr. Hoopdriver simultaneously. with a violent start. "I hope he won't get hurt. and Mr. Dangle. and speaking with a certain complacent concern.Hoopdriver had scarcely time to stand up and seize their machines." "Lord!" "He was looking for me." "That was our bicycles did that.

with Mr. He breathed heavily. Mr. eigh? Then he'll come back." Jessie. had wheeled her machine into the road and was mounting. for his ideas were still a little hazy about Bechamel and Mrs. Honesty IS the best policy—often. Hoopdriver in the post of danger—the rear—ever and again looking over his shoulder and swerving dangerously as he did so. Milton. yellow-lit street. 222 . Hoopdriver followed suit. He turned his head this way and that. they began another flight together. he saw.—riding now towards Bishops Waltham. Hoopdriver wished he had returned the bicycle after all. Hoopdriver pointed out the dangers of stopping in such an obvious abiding-place. just as the sun was setting. He's gone down that hill. I'm certain." Mr. Not a trace of Dangle nor any other danger was visible as they rode into the dusky. they found themselves uncaught at Winchester. he thought. And so. and he won't be able to pull up for a bit. Occasionally Jessie had to slacken her pace. Still staring at the corner that had swallowed up Dangle. After nearly an hour's hard riding. Though the bats had been fluttering behind thehedges and the evening star was bright while they were still two miles from Winchester.stepmother has sent him. and hated himself because his mouth fell open. He became active. "After us.

He had surrendered their bicycles to the odd man of the place with infinite easy dignity. Mr. Both of them were now nearly tired out. albeit the moon and all the atmospheric effects were the same. and had 223 . From Winchester. he thought he should revive the effect of that ride out of Bognor. but somehow. a baronet's heir incognito. and so it came about that in the hamlet of Wallenstock they were beguiled to stop and ask for accommodation in an exceptionally prosperouslooking village inn. to particularize.— the level was tedious. And he also heard a remark. and to turn abruptly westward was clearly the way to throw off the chase. In the second before he heard that remark. and slowly after they had cleared the outskirts of Winchester. and even a little hill a burden. of three and a half faces— for the edge of the door cut one down—and an American cloth-covered table with several glasses and a tankard. Hoopdriver caught a glimpse through a door ajar and floating in a reek of smoke. Now. as they passed into the room where their suppers were prepared. They rode in absolute silence. roads branch in every direction. A plausible landlady rose to the occasion. As Hoopdriver saw the moon rising broad and yellow through the twilight. Hoopdriver had been a proud and happy man.and gently but firmly insisted upon replenishing the lamps and riding on towards Salisbury. the emotions were different. Mr.

delightful stuff in Mr. as to its nature.—how judges And stockbrokers and actresses and.bowingly opened the door for Jessie. and seek. you have merely to dress yourself in a really modern cycling costume. "Some'n pretty well orf—judge by the bicycles. 224 . in a low. flaxen-moustached. the adulation of urban crowds. maybe. dear lady. Hoopdriver's head the moment before he heard that remark. in fact. But the remark toppled him headlong. incognito." Then the imaginary spectators would fall a-talking of the fashionableness of bicycling. then?" he imagined people saying. What the precise remark was need not concern us. Then. and about the handsome. I say. "Tell you what it is. impressive tone: "There's such a thinas entertaining barranets unawares-not to mention no higher things—" Such. and they would look one to another. and then. had been the filmy. and how that it was often the fancy of such great folk to shun the big hotels. Should you be curious. they would think of a certain nameless air of distinction about the lady who had stepped across the doorway. "Who's that. It was a casual piece of such satire as Strephon delights in. get one of the feeblest-looking of your men to escort you. the cosy quaintnesses of village life. all the best people rode. blue-eyed Cavalier who had followed her in." one of the village elders would say—just as they do in novels—voicing the thought of all.

It touched Jessie grossly. At a blow. She was 225 . I must add. He had thrown it as a boy throws a stone at a bird. Hoopdriver heard. and now and then laughter. than you will desire. possibly. it shattered all the gorgeous imaginative fabric his mind had been rejoicing in. All that foolish happiness vanished like a dream. He answered her abstractedly. It indicated an entire disbelief in his social standing. though she talked cheerfully. but during the supper they had in the little private dining-room. he was preoccupied. Perhaps the man who said the thing had a gleam of satisfaction at the idea of taking a complacent-looking fool down a peg. More.—at her expense and his. And there was nothing to show for it. implicated Mr. he concluded from her subsequent bearing. Whiffs of indistinct conversation. She did not hear it. Then you will hear quite a lot of the kind of thing Mr. but it is just as possible he did not know at the time that his stray shot had hit. Hoopdriver. to any public house where healthy. And it not only demolished a foolish. happy conceit. but it wounded. next Saturday evening. homely people gather together. came in from the inn parloiir through the pelargoniums in the open window.and ride out. The remark. as there is nothing to show for any spiteful remark that has ever been made. Hoopdriver felt it must all be in the same strain.

tired. then stopped and went back to the hearthrug. He would rate them as a nobleman should: "Call themselves Englishmen. as a fresh burst of laughter came floating in. It really ought to be done. and tweaked his moustache painfully. "Cads!" he said in a scathing undertone. indeed. and insult a woman!" he would say. and stood on the hearthrug before the. threaten to speak to the Lord of the Manor. in his courtly way. opened the door for her and bowed her out. and then went over the heads of his speech again. Then he went back to the room." he said fiercely. "Teach 'em better. she said. promise to let them hear from him again. take the names and addresses perhaps. and so out with consternation in his wake. and round the bend where the barometer hung beneath the stuffed birds. Yet was he not a Knight Errant? Should such men go unreproved. He wouldn't— after all. Mr. Hoopdriver. He coughed. a blistering speech of denunciation to be presently delivered. All through supper he had been composing stinging repartee. He stood listening and fearing some new offence as she went upstairs. What was it? He revived the objectionable remark for his own exasperation. paper fireplace ornament. unchecked. by wandering baronets 226 . and presently went to her room. made three steps towards the door.

a middle-aged. And then in a forbidding tone. There were five men in the room altogether: a fat person. looking very stern and harsh. and entered the room from which the remark had proceeded.incognito? Magnanimity? Look at it in that way? Churls beneath one's notice? No. He opened the door abruptly and stood scowling on them in the doorway." said the fair young man with the white tie. merely a cowardly subterfuge. with a long pipe and a great number of chins. by the bar." remarked the internal sceptic. a young fellow smoking a cutty and displaying crossed legs with gaiters . comfortable man with bright eyes. and a fair young man. "You'll only make a mess of it. in an armchair by the fireplace. He crossed the hall. Hoopdriver. Something within him protested that he was a hot-headed ass even as he went towards the door again. But he only went on the more resolutely. who wore a velveteen jacket. bearded man with a toothless laugh. as one who consented to no liberties. a little. Hoopdriver a good evening very affably. "Good evening. very genteel in a yellowish-brown readymade suit and a white tie." "Very pleasant day we've been 'aving." said Mr. "H'm. 227 . He WOULD after all. who wished Mr.

did not suddenly give out. his breath." said Mr. "How's that?" Mr. and the weather about here is all right. He fixed his eye on the face of the fat man with the chins. and spoke in a low."Very. "I came 228 . impressive voice. eyeing him darkly. Heaven send. Have to begin somehow. "Very. In his heart he was raving at his idiotic folly at thus bearding these lions." said the fair young man with the white tie. and sat down. apparently making a mental inventory of his pearl buttons as he spoke. Hoopdriver." said Mr. Hoopdriver. slowly. "The roads about here are all right.— indisputably they WERE lions. which was already getting a trifle spasmodic. and taking a brown armchair. Let's see—how did that speech begin? "Very pleasant roads about here. he planted it with great deliberation where he faced the fireplace. but what I've come in here to say is—there's some damned unpleasant people— damned unpleasant people!" "Oh!" said the young man with the gaiters.—but he had to go through with it now. Hoopdriver put his hands on his knees and stuck out his elbows with extreme angularity.

"with a lady." said the little man. sharply and went off into an amiable chuckle." said the little man with the beard." said the man with the gaiters. Hoopdriver." "We saw you did." said Mr. "I came." "Very nice lady. Mr. Hoopdriver temporarily lost his thread. Hoopdriver coughed." "I came here. One 'ud think we hadn't eyes. and tried to recover his discourse. Hoopdriver. sir. "Very nice lady indeed. "I don't see there's anything so very extraordinary in that." said the fair young man with the 229 . "We know it by 'art. "You were saying. bless you. here. putting his head on one side to admire a pearl button that had been hiding behind the curvature of his calf." said Mr. and paused to inflate his cheeks. sir—" "We've 'eard that. He glared malignantly at the little man with the beard." Mr. in a curious wheezy elaborating the point. A pause. "with a lady." said the fat man with the chins.

"made a remark as we went by this door. "Steady on! Don't you go a-calling us names. Hoopdriver." ("Who did? said the man with the chins. by fixing him with an expectant regard." "A lady. Hoopdriver to speak. proceeding with his discourse. with all due deference to such gentlemen as ARE gentlemen" (Mr. Hoopdriver. and. and stimulated Mr." "Steady on!" said the old gentleman with many chins. Only some person in this room made a remark that showed he wasn't fit to wipe boots on. please. bright eyes." meditated the gaiter gazer.) "I'm not calling any of you dirty cads. now laughed as though a point had been scored.white tie. Hoopdriver looked round for moral support). and suddenly growing extremely fierce. "I want to know which it was. "Some dirty cad. The man in velveteen." said Mr. "It wasn't I began calling names." "One minute!" said Mr. speaking very politely. "that you came here with a lady. who was looking from one speaker to another with keen. Don't run away with that impression." 230 .

and "My eye!" said the owner of the chins. It is curious how situations run away with us."Meanin'?" said the fair young man in the white tie. Hoopdriver. "if you can. "I am. with emphatic resolution." said Mr. "'Ullo. if with a slight catch in his throat—than which threat of personal violence nothing had been further from his thoughts on entering the room. 231 . in the same tone of impersonal question. He said this because he could think of nothing else to say." said Mr. "That's fair and reasonable. and glared in the young man's face. "Of course. in a tone of mild surprise. I suppose you're prepared to wipe your boots in a liberal way on everybody in the room. if you can't find out which it is." The interest of the meeting seemed transferred to the young man in the white tic. 'You're going to wipe your boots on 'im?" said the fair young man. Hoopdriver." said this young man. "That I'm going to wipe my boots on 'im straight away. reverting to anger. and stuck out his elbows truculently to hide the sinking of his heart. Charlie!" said the little man." said the man in the velveteen jacket.

"when it comes to talking of wiping boots—" "I'm not talking. He would have to go through with it now. Hoopdriver." said the young man in the white tie. Hoopdriver."This gentleman. and arms more angular than ever. he would have to fight someone." said Mr. You can't get out of it. "And don't go a-dragging in your betters. Apparently. Charlie. Would he get a black eye? Would he get very much hurt? Pray goodness it wasn't that sturdy chap in the gaiters! Should he rise and begin? What would she think if he brought a black eye to breakfast to-morrow?"Is this the man?" said Mr. 232 . But this tone of personal aggression on the maker of the remark had somehow got rid of the oppressive feeling of Hoopdriver contra mundum. Hoopdriver. with a business-like calm. they were spectators. It's fair and square." said the young man with the gaiters. the champion lightweight—" "Own up. He looked round at the meeting. looking up for a moment." "Was it this—gent?" began Mr. They were no longer antagonists. "Of course. I'm going to do it.

"It's downright disgusting." said Mr. "Steady on a minute. Hoopdriver. Backing out of it. "Surely we can pass a bit of a joke—" "I'm going to teach you to keep your jokes to yourself. "eat 'im straight orf. "Bray-vo!" said the shepherd of the flock of chins. Hoopdriver. "A lady can't ride a bicycle in a country road." said the little man with the beard. falling back upon his speech." "Steady on!" said the young man in the white tie. or wear a dress a little out of the ordinary."Eat 'im!" said the little man with the beard." said Hoopdriver. "Not a bit. Charlie?" said the young man with the gaiters. "Charlie IS a bit too free with his jokes. but every dirty little greaser must needs go shouting insults 233 . If I did happen to say—" "You did. did you?" said Mr." said Charlie.

—" "I didn't know the young lady would hear what I said." Evidently the man was horribly afraid." "Ginger beer." he retorted indignantly. You've had your fun. in a confidential tone to the velveteen jacket. Bustin' its bottles it is everywhere. if possible." "What's the good of scrapping about in a publichouse?" said Charlie. appealing to the company. " Surely one can speak friendly to one's friends. if the gentleman's so disposed. And I mean to make an example of you. How was I to know the door was open—" Hoopdriver began to suspect that his antagonist was. and his spirits rose again. Don't go telling lies about it." said Charlie. It's no good your saying things like that. Hoopdriver 234 . "A fair fight without interruptions. more seriously alarmed at the prospect of violence than himself. "Of COURSE you knew the door was open. and you meant to have your fun. Sir. "Of COURSE you thought we should hear what you said. Mr. "is regular up this 'ot weather." said the little man with the beard. now. I WOULDN'T mind. These chaps ought to have a thorough lesson.

" "What I say. 235 . "Don't be a bloomin' funk." "I'll BACK 'em up all right." said Mr." said the man in velveteen. trying to get a hearing by banging his chair arms. you got a stone of him." said the gentleman with the excessive chins. I don't mind his sayin' such things 't all. Charlie." said the owner of the chins.' "If the gentleman likes to come Toosday week—" "Rot!" chopped in Hoopdriver. but he ought to be prepared to back 'em up. "If Charlie goes saying things. he ought to back 'em up. with extremely bitter emphasis on 'back. 'ear. "jest wherever you like. is this. Hoopdriver. "Why." "You insulted the gent." said Charlie. "Where you like." said the man in gaiters. "Now.grew truculent. That's what I say." "'Ear. if you got an ounce.

" "It's like this. Charlie." said the man in the velveteen coat. driving it home with great fierceness." said Hoopdriver. Charlie. I only meant the thing joking. Hoopdriver. "You got to do it." said Charlie. got to take in her ladyship's dinner to-morrow night. appealing to everyone except Hoopdriver. I'm very sorry if the gentleman's annoyed—" 236 ."Never put off till to-morrow. How should I look with a black eye? And going round with the carriage with a split lip?" "If you don't want your face sp'iled." said the man in gaiters. "Here's me." said Charlie. "You should have thought of that before. Charlie. "AS one gentleman to another." said Mr. what you can do to-day. "It's no good. "Exactly. why don't you keep your mouth shut?" said the person in gaiters. "Why don't you shut your ugly mouth?" "It's as much as my situation's worth. "There's no occasion to be so thunderin' 'ot about it." protested Charlie.

"Because I ain't. with a horrible sense that his internal monitor was right. rose too. then!" At that.—not of a spindle-legged cuss like him shouted Charlie. Hoopdriver. "Where are we going?" "Don't sit there and be abusive. "If I must." said the man in velveteen. with a sudden change of front and springing to his feet. "He's offered to hit you.Everybody began to speak at once." "All right. then. He shouted some insulting phrase over the tumult. Hoopdriver twirled his moustache. "Only don't think I'm afraid." the man in gaiters was saying to Charlie." thought Hoopdriver. 237 . I'd hit you now. He felt that Charlie's recognition of his gentlemanliness was at any rate a redeeming feature. But it became his pose to ride hard and heavy over the routed fo c." "Change of front. the child of Fate. and if I was him." said Charlie. a little startled. Now. I must. "You're regular abject. Mr. More confusion.

taking the control of the entire affair with the easy readiness of an accomplished practitioner. scornful remonstrance! How the juice had it all happened? Go round the table at him. I suppose. but to hit the man at once. both very breathless and fierce. Hoopdriver was being marched out through the back premises of the inn. Mr. with a table between. it seemed.Things had taken a turn. "Buller's yard." he said. so far as he could see. so far as the intermittent moonlight showed. and now there was nothing for it. stepping between the antagonists." And before he completely realized what was happening. Everyone was standing up." Buller's yard. But before the brawl could achieve itself. He had made a mess of it. and with what was only too palpably a footman! Good Heavens! And this was the dignified. A vulgar fight in a public-house. But inwardly he was a chaos of conflicting 238 . to the first and only fight with fists that was ever to glorify his life. if you please. "Charlie's artful. "If the gentleman DON'T mind." said the man with the gaiters. "We'll do the thing regular and decent. the man in gaiters intervened. was the very place. He and Charlie stood six feet apart. "Not here." said the little man with the beard. Hoopdriver was quietly but eagerly prepared to fight. Outwardly.

business-like way towards some unknown horror at Buller's yard. It was terrible! In front of him was the pallid figure of Charles. and he saw that the man in gaiters held Charles kindly but firmly by the arm. and a pump stood out clear and black." Charles was saying. He distinctly remembered himself walking across from one room to the other. dark figure in a group of larger. regarding their manners. intent upon a scathing remonstrance to these wretched yokels. that he had had the greatest difficulty in following the development of the business. There were sheds in Buller's yard—sheds of mystery that the moonlight could not solve—a smell of cows. 'e 'asn't no blessed dinner to take up to-morrow night like I 'ave. primed with considered eloquence. even an aristocratic figure. Fists! It was astonishing.—a slight. indistinct figures. "getting up a fight just for a thing like that. "It's blasted rot. throwing a clear black shadow on the whitewashed wall. One remark had trod so closely on the heels of another. It was extraordinary how things happened. IS there?" They went into Buller's yard through gates.—marching in a quiet. Then incident had flickered into incident until here he was out in a moonlit lane.—No need to numb my arm.purposes. 'E's got 'is 'olidays. And here it was his face was to 239 .—a dignified. all very well for 'im.

He could prosecute them for assault if they did. dancing toe in hand somewhere behind him. and it was quite momentary. with his face ghastly white under the moon. to stand up here and be pounded. How did one square? So? Suppose one were to turn and run even now. It was the sole gleam of pleasure he experienced during the fight. He felt that his heart was smashed flat. "Gord darm!" said somebody. squaring in front of him. It was a hit of his own devising. He perceived with a leap of exultation that the thing his fist had met was the jawbone of Charles. He caught a blow on the arm and gave ground. Yet afterwards—? Could he ever face her again? He patted his Norfolk jacket and took his ground with his back to the gate. Hoopdriver battered to a pulp. Then he hit with his right and with the violence of despair.—but it chanced to coincide with the regulation hook hit at the head. He had hardly got home upon Charles before he was struck in the chest and whirled backward. him come out—anyhow.—an impromptu. but the way out of it was beyond his imagining. Charles gave a loud and 240 . As Mr. He had the greatest difficulty in keeping his feet. run straight back to the inn and lock himself into his bedroom? They couldn't make. He knew this was the uttermost folly. How did one set about prosecuting for assault? He saw Charles. Charles pressed him.

had fought and. by all the rules of war. He. Charles swept round to the left." the toothless little man with the beard was remarking in an unexpectedly friendly manner. still solemnly squaring. The man in gaiters sprang forward past Mr. and missed." 241 . Hoopdriver. sitting beside the road to Salisbury. Mr. It was annihilation coming—no less. laughter. realized the great and wonderful truth—Charles had fled. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver. Both his fists were whirling. simply had to.fear-compelling cry. "The fact of it is. missing generously. Another blow behind the ear. Hoopdriver." said Mr. Hoopdriver's left ear. Heaven and earth spun furiously round Mr. hit. There were shouts. and with the sound of distant church bells in his cars. Hoopdriver ducked perhaps and certainly gave ground to the right. had won. He seemed to tower over Hoopdriver in the moonlight. Hoopdriver. "That was a pretty cut under the jaw you gave him. and then he became aware of a figure in a light suit shooting violently through an open gate into the night. A blow glanced over Mr. "I had to give the fellow a lesson. and the flanking movement was completed. and Mr. but too late to intercept the fugitive.

"If now and then we didn't give them a lesson. give him an exemplary thrashing.—well." said Jessie. pick out the bravest. 242 . Hoopdriver. flicking off a particle of cigarette ash that had settled on his knee." said Mr." said Mr. I thought only Ouida's guardsmen did things like that." "It was nothing more than my juty—as a gentleman. a lady cyclist in the roads would be an impossibility." "I suppose every woman shrinks from violence." said Mr. Hoopdriver. and. quite modestly."It seems so dreadful that you should have to knock people about." said Jessie. I quail at the idea. "These louts get unbearable. It seems to me-I can't imagine -how one could bring oneself to face a roomful of rough characters. Hoopdriver. "I suppose men ARE braver—in a way—than women. "But to walk straight into the face of danger!" "It's habit.

cast into his company by a kindly fate. and. where Jessie anticipated an answer from her schoolmistress friend. They were in the course of an elaborate doubling movement through Dorsetshire towards Ringwood. At first Jessie had been only an impressionist sketch upon his mind. something feminine. by pretending to be more exceptional. as you know. something emphatically "above " him.The Abasement of Mr. Hoopdriver * XXXIII On Monday morning the two fugitives found themselves breakfasting at the Golden Pheasant in Blandford. above all. had been to live up to her level. and you will understand that Mr. at the outset. better born than 243 . By this time they had been nearly sixty hours together. His chief idea. more wealthy. Hoopdriver's feelings had undergone a considerable intensification and development. active. better educated. and dazzling.

really. "jest a custom." He made one or two essays in the display of unconventionality. End in the Colonies. He suppressed the habits of years and made no proposal to go to church. he perceived that he himself had thought as much from his earliest years. "a man is freer than a woman. His knowledge of the feminine mind was almost entirely derived from the young ladies he had met in business. "It's jest a habit. He had an almost intolerable dread of her thinking him a I bounder. y'know. She was going to Live her Own Life. and in that class (as in military society and among gentlemen's servants) the good old tradition of a brutal social exclusiveness is still religiously preserved." And he made a lot of excellent 244 . there isn't half the Conventionality you find in society in this country. Coupled with a magnificent want of experience was a splendid enthusiasm for abstract views of the most advanced description. and was quite unaware that he impressed her as a narrow-minded person. He discussed church-going in a liberal spirit. in a flash of sexual pride.' Later he began to perceive the distinction of her idiosyncracies.he was. I don't see what good it does you at all. So soon as he grasped the tenor of her views. and her strength of conviction completely carried Hoopdriver away." he said. with emphasis. Hoopdriver was profoundly stirred to similar resolves. and Mr." he remarked. "Of course.

and so forth. a year ago. highly educated. But he showed his gentle breeding by keeping his gloves on all through the Sunday's ride. He cautiously avoided literary topics. seeing that she was presently to be writing books. into the world. jokes he had read in the Globe 'turnovers' on that subject. tpers until something better came along. I may perhaps tell you. Jessie's conscience. except by way of compliment. She had read her Olive Schreiner and George Egerton. all would have been well. It was on Jessie's initiative that they attended service in the old-fashioned gallery of Blandford church. was now suffering the severest twinges. instead of behaving with unspeakable horridness. Miss Mergle had told her at parting to live fearlessly and truly. and had further 245 . and ostentatiously throwing away more than half a cigarette when they passed a church whose congregation was gathering for afternoon service. Now her only hope was that liberal-minded woman. had sent her out. who. Miss Mergle. She knew the thing to do was to have a flat and to go to the British Museum and write leading articles for the daily p. with all the want of perfect comprehension of one who is still emotionally a girl. She perceived clearly that things were not working out quite along the lines she had designed-. If Bechamel (detestable person) had kept his promises.jokes at the chimney-pot hat.

given her a volume of Emerson's Essays and Motley's "Dutch Republic. had he had the faintest idea where the Winter Palace was. Hoopdriver learnt. To return to this life of ridiculous unreality— unconditional capitulation to 'Conventionality' was an exasperating prospect. He would have owned up to the destruction of the Winter Palace indeed. She was a Socialist. Hoopdriver respectfully silent and attentive) and at times inclined to eloquent denunciation of the existing order of things. Yet what else was there to do? You will understand. Jessie's feelings for her stepmother's household at Surbiton amounted to an active detestation. and he gave a vague intimation that he went further. that at times she was moody (and Mr. Jessie had speedily seen through that amiable woman's amiable defences. no less than the horrors of anarchism. and had his assurance amounted to certainty that the Winter Palace was destroyed." to help her through the rapids of adolescence. intending. thereby. The variety of pose necessitated by the corps of 'Men' annoyed her to an altogether unreasonable degree. therefore. He agreed with her cordially that the 246 . There are no graver or more solemn women in the world than these clever girls whose scholastic advancement has retarded their feminine coquetry. In spite of the advanced tone of 'Thomas Plantagenet's' antimarital novel.

Once or twice. It is odd how unhappy some of us are at times. and pulled out a chair for her. and three. when we are at our happiest. no doubt." said Hoopdriver. 247 . He heard two o'clock strike. for no conceivable reason. XXXIV "Good morning. however. Unaccountably he realised he was a contemptible liar. Hoopdriver all through Saturday and Sunday. rubbed his hands together. there were incidents that put him about terribly—even questions that savoured of suspicion. as Jessie came into the breakfast room of the Golden Pheasant on Monday morning. It was Jessie's preoccupation with her own perplexities. that delayed the unveiling of Mr.position of women was intolerable. All through the small hours of Monday he reviewed the tale of his falsehoods. an unwonted wakefulness came upon him. and rubbed his hands again. On Sunday night. the financial problem suddenly rose upon him. bowed. but checked himself on the' verge of the proposition that a girl ought not to expect a fellow to hand down boxes for her when he was getting the 'swap' from a customer. Madam. and when he tried to turn his mind from that. and he smiled.

You must put it down to our colonial roughness. looking the while curiously into his face.She stopped abruptly." "You HAVE some funny habits. "Where HAVE I seen that before?" she said. with a puzzled expression on her face. That habit of bowing as you do." "It's a habit. guiltily. "A bad habit. "And—Madam?" "It's a habit. "No—the attitude. "The chair?" said Hoopdriver. and rubbing your hands. Hoopdriver. brother Chris." said Mr. "Before you sell your diamond shares and go into society. Calling ladies Madam. You don't mind my telling you?" 248 . But I don't think it a good one." "I know. flushing. and looking expectant." said Jessie. as you say. and stand for Parliament—What a fine thing it is to be a man!—you must cure yourself." She came forward and shook hands with him. Out there up country—y'know—the ladies—so rare—we call 'em all Madam.

" "I'm blessed or afflicted with a trick of observation."Not a bit. and there. she turned and asked him for a pin. He felt juiced awkward. kneeling down to the chair." said Jessie. where a piece of binding was loose. "In the centre of Africa—up country. over her shoulder. Jessie's eye wandered to the armchair. I'm grateful. possibly to carry out her theory of an observant disposition. checked his arm and stuck his hand into his pocket. Hoopdriver put his hand to his moustache and then. and. Hoopdriver. "What an odd place to put pins!" exclaimed Jessie. taking it. to use his private formula. thinking this might be another habit. looking at the breakfast table. "I saw a chap in a shop do it once." "You must have a careful disposition." she said. Mr. planted by habit. that is—one learns 249 . Mr. Hoopdriver's hand fluttered instinctively to his lappel. were a couple of stray pins he had impounded." said Mr. "It's 'andy.

instead of sitting down. after a perceptible pause. Where would the draper break out next? He thrust his hands into his coat pockets. Happily she made no remark. "There weren't over many pins in Africa. then took one out again. He felt dreadfully hot and self-conscious. then put his hand under the fold of the napkin and examined the texture. went up to the table and stood against it. being preoccupied with the binding of the chair. value pins. furtively removed the second pin and dropped it behind him gently. Mr. with his finger-tips upon the cloth. and sat down forthwith. "Isn't it?" Conversation was slack. and put the thing down again." said Mr. He suddenly discovered he was standing as if the table was a counter. Then he had a vague impulse to finger his hollow wisdom tooth—happily checked." His face was now in a fine." said Jessie. He took up his rolled serviette looked closely and scrutinisingly at the ring. "Breakfast is late. Hoopdriver. standing up. It fell with a loud 'ping' on the fender. Jessie wanted to know the 250 . He drummed with his hand on the table. red glow. They were keeping breakfast a tremendous time. They don't lie about on the ground there.

whether they're quite clean or not. I know. there's native servants. and—it's a queer thing to talk about—but one has to look at things to see." Mr. Mr. Hoopdriver's face became quite a bright red. 251 . "Look at the cloth like that." "How odd!" said Jessie." he thought. Then silence fell again.distance to Ringwood." he said. don't y'know. It's got to be a habit. very uncomfortable and studying an easy bearing. looked again at the breakfast things and then idly lifted the corner of the tablecloth on the ends of his fingers. and regarded it. I saw you do it yesterday. "WHAT?" said Hoopdriver. He began pulling his moustache nervously. Hoopdriver. privately. "Why do you do that?" said Jessie. dropping the tablecloth convulsively. "I know. you know. It's a queer habit. But out there. "I know. you know. too. "Fifteen three.

"unhappily in this case you guessed wrong. I guessed it. "you guessed it. give himself away. besides. "I suppose I could have told you were a colonial from little things like that." said Jessie." said Hoopdriver. he must sooner or later." said Jessie. sometimes." Why not seize the opportunity for a neat confession. the girl bumped the door open with her tray and brought in the coffee and scrambled eggs. inevitably. What a shabby liar he was! And. at the psychological moment. in a melancholy tone."Isn't it?" mumbled Hoopdriver. and add. "If I were a Sherlock Holmes. didn't I?" "Yes." Did she suspect? Then. "I am rather lucky with my intuitions. But anyhow. Remorse that had been accumulating in his mind for two days surged to the top of his mind. XXXV 252 .

habits—It's plain enough. attitude. "Own up. looking up in surprise over the coffee pot. sat with his cheek on his hand. Not much. Hoopdriver helped the eggs and then. is it? A counter253 . suddenly leant back in his chair. "Do what?" said Jessie. instead of beginning. "Ay'm a deraper. His ears were a bright red. Then in measured accents. and moving his head slowly from side to side." "You're a draper? I thought—" "You thought wrong. and his eyes bright. watching Jessie pour out the coffee." "Own what?" "Miss Milton— I'm a liar." He put his head on one side and regarded her with a frown of tremendous resolution. "I'm a draper's assistant let out for a ten-days holiday. Jest a draper's assistant.Mr. Pins. he announced. He took his coffee cup clumsily. "I'll do it. cleared his throat." he said aloud. But it's bound to come up. She was just beginning her scrambled egg. and thrust his hands deep into his pockets.

Mr. If you don't mind my speaking about myself a bit. Well—I wanted somehow to seem more than I was. I DON'T know. To be just another man's hand. and work—There's no other kind of men stand such hours." he said. I can't go on deceiving you. WHY I told you Benson." "Yes?" 254 . My name's not Benson. Benson—" "That isn't all. it is. in this country now. "for a man." "A draper's assistant isn't a position to be ashamed of. My name's Hoopdriver. Except that I'm a kind of fool. as I am. A drunken bricklayer's a king to it.jumper. and go to church to please customers." she said. and not quite understanding yet what this all meant." "But why are you telling me this now?" "It's important you should know at once. "Yes." "But. To have to wear what clothes you are told. recovering. there's a few things I'd like to tell you.

" Silence. But somehow." "Lies!" And the discovery of diamonds on the ostrich farm. And all the reminiscences of the giraffes—lies too. now."And that about South Africa—and that lion. "I suppose it's snobbishness and all that kind of thing." "Well?" "Lies. "But WHY. I lay awake pretty near all last night thinking about myself. and all that." 255 . "I thought I'd tell you." said Mr. He had eased his conscience." she began. This was a new side altogether to the man. anyhow. I suppose I wanted to impress you. Hoopdriver. She regarded him in infinite perplexity. Lies too. thinking what a got-up imitation of a man I was. "Why did I tell you such things? I don't know. I never rode on no giraffes. Silly sort of chap. I want you to know the truth. as much as anything. I'd be afraid. I expect." He looked at her with a kind of sullen satisfaction. Breakfast untouched.

"It's a little surprising. and you're not—" "All Lies. Then he pulled his right hand from his pocket. 'Ow I came to tell 'em I DON'T know." And then breakfast proceeded in silence. Hoopdriver. vaguely. and ate his scrambled eggs for the most part with the spoon that belonged properly to the marmalade. "Lies from beginning to end. and with the nonchalance of one to whom the bitterness of death is passed. Mr. began to drink his coffee. His eyes 256 ." said Mr." said Hoopdriver."And you haven't any diamond shares. Hoopdriver. completing the confession." began Jessie. "Think it over. "I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart. Jessie ate very little. Hoopdriver was so overcome by contrition and anxiety that he consumed an extraordinarily large breakfast out of pure nervousness. "I never set eyes on Africa in my life. in a sepulchral voice." said Mr." She stared at him blankly. and you are not going into Parliament. and seemed lost in thought.

And somehow —" "Well?" "I think so still. "I don't know what to think. Hoopdriver." "I THOUGHT. do you know? that you were perfectly honest. "that story of the lion—" "Lord!" said Mr." "I don't. once or twice she seemed to be indignant. I thought. She glanced at him through her eyelashes. Once or twice she struggled with laughter." she said at last." "Honest—with all those lies!" "I wonder. Hoopdriver." said the Young Lady in Grey. "I'm fair ashamed of myself." 257 . "Don't remind me of THAT. "I don't know what to make of you—brother Chris.were gloomily downcast." said Mr. But anyhow—I've stopped deceiving you.

"How could I ever doubt it? As if I had never pretended! I see it all now." Abruptly she rose."I thought. But I am sorry. holding the marmalade spoon. He rose. "Of COURSE you are honest. "How you misunderstood me!" she said. "You did it." she said. I FELT." she said." A brilliant inspiration had suddenly obscured her humour. "You don't mind?" "It was noble of you. "if you aren't enough—but there!" "I see it all now. He scarcely understood at first. "you should think me likely to be ashamed of you because you 258 . She sat down suddenly." said Mr. at the expression of his face. He looked at her doubtfully. somehow. And you thought I was too Conventional to take help from one I might think my social inferior." "That was partly it. and took her proffered hand with abject humility." She suddenly broke out in laughter. that the things you said didn't ring quite true. and he sat down too. "because you wanted to help me. and extended her hand across the breakfast things. "Lord. and saw the dancing friendliness in her eyes. Hoopdriver." he broke out." she said.

follow a decent trade."
"I didn't know at first, you see," said Mr. Hoopdriver.
And he submitted meekly to a restoration of his selfrespect. He was as useful a citizen as could be,—it was
And so the breakfast concluded much more happily than
his brightest expectation, and they rode out of ruddy little
Blandford as though no shadow of any sort had come
between them.

As they were sitting by the roadside among the pine trees
half-way up a stretch of hill between Wimborne and
Ringwood, however, Mr. Hoopdriver reopened the
question of his worldly position.
"Ju think," he began abruptly, removing a meditative
cigarette from his mouth, "that a draper's shopman IS a
decent citizen?"
"Why not?"
"When he puts people off with what they don't quite

want, for instance?"
"Need he do that?"
"Salesmanship," said Hoopdriver. "Wouldn't get a crib if
he didn't.—It's no good your arguing. It's not a
particularly honest nor a particularly useful trade; it's not
very high up ; there's no freedom and no leisure—seven
to eight-thirty every day in the week; don't leave much
educated chaps like bank clerks and solicitors' clerks
look down on us. You look respectable outside, and
inside you are packed in dormitories like convicts, fed on
bread and butter and bullied like slaves. You're just
superior enough to feel that you're not superior. Without
capital there's no prospects; one draper in a hundred don't
he daren't put his back up. That's drapery! And you tell
me to be contented. Would YOU be contented if you was
a shop girl?"
She did not answer. She looked at him with distress in
her brown eyes, and he remained gloomily in possession
of the field.
Presently he spoke. "I've been thinking," he said, and

hand. There was a light in her eyes that made the
expression of them tender. Mr. Hoopdriver had not
looked in her face while he had talked. He had regarded
the grass, and pointed his remarks with redknuckled
hands held open and palms upwards. Now they hung
limply over his knees.
"Well?" she said.
"I was thinking it this morning," said Mr. Hoopdriver.
"Of course it's silly." "Well?"
"It's like this. I'm twenty-three, about. I had my
eight years behind.—Is it too late? I wasn't so backward.
genders. I got a kind of grounding."
"And now you mean, should you go on working?"


"Yes," said Mr. Hoopdriver. "That's it. You can't do
much at drapery without capital, you know. But if I
could get really educated. I've thought sometimes. . ."
"Why not? said the Young Lady in Grey.
Mr. Hoopdriver was surprised to see it in that light. "You
think?" he said. "Of course. You are a Man. You are free
—" She warmed. "I wish I were you to have the chance
of that struggle."
"Am I Man ENOUGH?" said Mr. Hoopdriver aloud, but
addressing himself. "There's that eight years," he said to
"You can make it up. What you call educated men—
They're not going on. You can catch them. They are
quite satisfied. Playing golf, and thinking of clever things
to say to women like my stepmother, and dining out.
You're in front of them already in one thing. They think
they know everything. You don't. And they know such
little things."
"Lord!" said Mr. Hoopdriver. "How you encourage a
"If I could only help you," she said, and left an eloquent

hiatus. He became pensive again.
"It's pretty evident you don't think much of a draper," he
said abruptly.
Another interval. "Hundreds of men," she said, "have
come from the very lowest ranks of life. There was
Burns, a ploughman; and Hugh Miller, a stonemason;
and plenty of others. Dodsley was a footman—"
"But drapers! We're too sort of shabby genteel to rise.
Our coats and cuffs might get crumpled—"
"Wasn't there a Clarke who wrote theology? He was a
"There was one started a sewing cotton, the only one I
ever heard tell of."
"Have you ever read 'Hearts Insurgent'?"
"Never," said Mr. Hoopdriver. He did not wait for her
context, but suddenly broke out with an account of his
literary requirements. "The fact is—I've read precious
little. One don't get much of a chance, situated as I am.
We have a library at business, and I've gone through that.

Most Besant I've read, and a lot of Mrs. Braddon's and
Rider Haggard and Marie Corelli—and, well—a Ouida
or so. They're good stories, of course, and first-class
writers, but they didn't seem to have much to do with me.
But there's heaps of books one hears talked about, I
HAVEN'T read."
"Don't you read any other books but novels?"
"Scarcely ever. One gets tired after business, and you
can't get the books. I have been to some extension
lectures, of course, 'Lizabethan Dramatists,' it was, but it
did wood-carving at the same place. But it didn't seem
leading nowhere, and I cut my thumb and chucked it."
He made a depressing spectacle, with his face anxious
and his hands limp. "It makes me sick," he said, "to think
how I've been fooled with. My old schoolmaster ought to
have a juiced HIDING. He's a thief. He pretended to
undertake to make a man of me, and be's stole twentythree years of my life, filled me up with scraps and
sweepings. Here I am! I don't KNOW anything, and I
can't DO anything, and all the learning time is over."
"Is it?" she said ; but he did not seem to hear her. "My o'
people didn't know any better, and went and paid thirty

And it sets me thinking what I really am. promised to teach me the trade. and what I might have been. glancing at her out of the corners of his eyes. The G. but I'm not that make. I wonder what the chaps who sneer and laugh at such as me would be if they'd been fooled about as I've been. a sadder and wiser Hoopdriver indeed than him of the glorious imaginings. It's all very well to bring up Burns and those chaps. Yet I'm not such muck that I might not have been better—with teaching. you'd have nowhere to buy tape and cotton. "It's YOU done this. Stop playing at life." He looked up with a wintry smile. Face it like a man. "You're real." he said." "Ah!" said Hoopdriver. and he never taught me anything but to be a Hand." "How?" "WORK. If every swindler was locked up—well. Suppose it was all different—" "MAKE it different. "And even then—" 265 . At twentythree—it's a long start.V.pounds premium—thirty pounds down to have me made THIS. It's the way they do with draper's apprentices.

"No! It's not much good. I'm beginning too late. that conversation ended." And there. in blankly thoughtful silence. 266 .

happily. a tall clergyman. While they were still lunching. with a heated face. Opposite the hotel. entered the room and sat down at the table next to theirs. and Jessie met with a disappointment. that is to say. fastened behind and rather the worse for the weather. came to nothing.In the New Forest * XXXVII At Ringwood they lunched. but. was a machine shop with a conspicuously second-hand Marlborough Club tandem tricycle displayed in the window. The Chequered Career. There was no letter for her at the post office. Hoopdriver's mind by the proprietor's action in coming across the road and narrowly inspecting their machines. he had a more than usually high collar. and his longtail coat had been replaced by a black jacket of quite 267 . He was in a kind of holiday costume. His action revived a number of disagreeable impressions. The establishment was impressed on Mr. together with the announcement that bicycles and tricycles were on hire within.

"it isn't half a bad. there can be no easier nor pleasanter way of seeing the country. sir. "Charming." "No." explained Mr." said Mr. "I can imagine that. in a ringing tenor. his trouser legs were grey with dust. with a properly oiled machine." said Mr. "A most charming day. He had faded brown shoes on his feet. reddening a little." he said." "Quite so. and he wore a hat of piebald straw in the place of the customary soft felt. "Touring. Hoopdriver.remarkable brevity. He was evidently socially inclined. way of getting about." "For a young and newly married couple. cycling through this delightful country. I should imagine. Hoopdriver. "You are. over a portion of pie. a tandem bicycle must be. Hoopdriver. "Do you ride a tandem?" 268 . I perceive. a delightful bond." said Mr." said the clergyman. Hoopdriver.

authoritative voice. and folding his hands. the clergyman turned to give his orders to the attendant." "Hauling!" said Jessie. "What machine." said Mr. descending suddenly upon Mr. I have just been hauling it hither. Hoopdriver. surprised. attacking the moustache. I regret to say. considered too—how shall I put it? —flippant by my parishioners. "With a shoe lace." he remarked to the room at large. "The motion through the air is indisputably of a very exhilarating description. bread and butter."No—we're separate." 269 . Hoopdriver. And partly carrying it on my back. may I ask?" "I have recently become possessed of a tricycle. Hoopdriver's head. So I have a tricycle. "Indeed!" said Mr. and pie to follow. Hoopdriver. "The gelatine lozenges I must have. for a cup of tea. two gelatine lozenges." With that decision. "I myself am a cyclist. in a firm. remained for some time with his chin thereon." said the clergyman. A bicycle is. staring fixedly at a little picture over Mr. salad. I require them to precipitate the tannin in my tea.

"that my man carefully washed out the bearings with paraffin. Jessie had some trouble with a crumb. Hoopdriver. merely redoubled my exertions." said the clergyman. I found myself about five miles from here with an absolutely immobile machine. Mr. and let the machine dry without oiling it again. Even at the outset the machine ran stiffly as well as noisily. Hoopdriver's face passed through several phases of surprise. Then he saw the explanation. and I." said Mr.The pause was unexpected. trying to seem intelligent. and Jessie glanced at this insane person. The wheels suddenly refused to go round. It is my rule of life to do whatever I find to do with all my might." "'Ot work all round. 270 . "You could scarcely put it more appropriately. Hoopdriver. satisfied with the effect he had created." "Ow!" said Mr. "Had an accident?" "I can hardly call it an accident. being inclined to ascribe this stiffness to my own lassitude. "It appears. The consequence was that they became heated to a considerable temperature and jammed.

For all practical purposes the tricycle was no better than a heavy chair without castors. "Five miles. You may understand. Hoopdriver." agreed Mr. "I am an eupeptic. a natural impatience. and the conversation gave precedence to bread and butter." The clergyman's nutriment appeared in the doorway. I expostulated—playfully. perhaps.—an inversion in which I participated. Finally one of the wheels jammed together. I would all men were likewise. Finally. that the bearings became red hot. energetic sort of person on principle.I believe. that you went over?" said Mr. 271 ." he said. And not brooking my defeat." "Meaning. and I abandoned the unequal contest." "It's the best way. Happily the road was not overlooked. A side wheel it was." said the clergyman. suddenly much amused. I suffered repeatedly. Hoopdriver. "Precisely. indeed. the entire apparatus became rigid. of course. It was a case of hauling or carrying. "Happily. He began at once to eat bread and butter vigorously. so that its stoppage necessitated an inversion of the entire apparatus.

" said Mr." said the clergyman."Gelatine. Hoopdriver. As it was. presently. In the afternoon our two wanderers rode on at an easy pace towards Stoney Cross. Else this infatuated man would certainly have surreptitiously withdrawn the entire sum in order to prolong these journeyings even for a few days. stirring his tea thoughtfully. he was still in a curious emotional state that was certainly not 272 . but his book was locked up in his box at the Antrobus establishment. "You are altogether welcome. the shadow of the end fell across his happiness." "That's a useful sort of thing to know. He had changed the last sovereign at Ringwood. Strangely enough. Hoopdriver was silenced by disagreeable thoughts. There was twenty pounds or more in the post office savings bank in Putney. Conversation languished. The fact had come upon him suddenly. biting generously at two pieces of bread and butter folded together." said the clergyman. in spite of his anxiety and the morning's collapse. Now too late he was reflecting upon his resources. Mr. "precipitates the tannin in one's tea and renders it easy of digestion. the topic of South Africa being in abeyance.

"You are thinking of writing Books?" 273 ." said Jessie. He was forgetting his imaginings and posings. and they dismounted and sat under the shade of a little oak tree. for there the trees clustered thick and tall. trying to be perfectly calm. and this road was sandy. Hoopdriver fumbled clumsily with his cigarettes.misery. so that. About them grew a rich heather with stunted oaks on the edge of a deep ditch along the roadside." he said. "There's a thing I got to tell you. forgetting himself altogether in his growing appreciation of his companion. The most tangible trouble in his mind was the necessity of breaking the matter to her. Mr. however. A long stretch up hill tired them long before Stoney Cross was reached. "Yes?" she said." "I'm very unsettled. "I'd like to jest discuss your plans a bit. looking back. below the steepness of the hill. Near the crest the road looped on itself. y'know. it was grey and barred with shadows. it sloped below them up to the right and then came towards them.

" "That wouldn't hurt YOU. Not being heavy like the drapery. to get anything of that sort to do?" "I don't know at all. "it's very suitable work." "There's heavy brain labour."Or doing journalism. edit most papers nowadays. but—we got very 274 . I believe there are a great many women journalists and sanitary inspectors. you know. "It's a juiced nuisance alluding to these matters." said Hoopdriver." "And keeping yourself independent of your stepmother?" "Yes. "It's like this. you must remember." he said." "How long'd it take now. turning a compliment. and black-andwhite artists. I ought. to communicate with a literary agent. ending a pause." said Mr. I suppose. Hoopdriver. or teaching. or something like that. Women. But I suppose it takes time. George Egerton says." "Of course.

and pointing with his cigarette. and presently the rearmost rider rose on his saddle and hopped off." "Hullo! Here's a tandem bicycle. though he did not look at her." He perceived that Jessie started. and collapsed heavily. hit his boot against the backbone." 'Take some action' was a phrase he had learnt at his last 'swop. of course. Hoopdriver." said Jessie. The foremost rider was a man unused to such machines and apparently undecided how to dismount. "I didn't think of money. falling on his shoulder. "I was counting." said Mr. He wabbled a few yards up the hill with a long tail of machine wabbling behind him. The riders were bowed sternly over their work and made a gallant but unsuccessful attempt to take the rise. leaving his companion to any fate he found proper. Finally. abruptly. 275 . The machine was evidently too highly geared for hill climbing. he made an attempt to jump off as one does off a single bicycle. She looked.little more money. and saw two little figures emerging from among the trees at the foot of the slope.' "Money. on your friend's writing and your being able to take some action to-day.

"I hope he isn't hurt. Hoopdriver stood up. The lank. She no longer regarded the two men who were now tinkering at the machine down below there. Jessie stood staring. They were not in cycling clothes Hoopdriver observed. being assisted. was a slender little man in grey. Even at this distance the flopping flatness of his cap. and the couple presently turned their attention to the machine by the roadside. One wore the grotesque raiment for which the Cockney discovery of the game of golf seems indirectly blamable. and the chequering of his stockings were perceptible. No serious injury seemed to be done to the man." The second rider went to the assistance of the fallen man. "Dear me!" she said. the rear rider. The other.She stood up. Hoopdriver. shaky machine was lifted up and wheeled out of the way. too. the bright brown leather at the top of his calves." said Mr. and then the fallen rider. "Amatoors. got up slowly and stood rubbing his arm. 276 . "How much have you?" she said. and a veil of thought dropped over her eyes.

" "I have half a sovereign." she said. "I never thought of money coming in to stop us like this. Hoopdriver. ridden by a slender woman 277 ." "Money." Pause.." said Mr. counted them with his left index finger. "Is it possible—Surely! Conventionality! May only people of means—Live their own Lives? I never thought . The two men were both busy with their bicycle still." said Jessie. and held them out to her. "Our bill wherever we stop—" The hiatus was more eloquent than many words. "Here's some more cyclists coming. "It's a juiced nuisance.. "Thirteen four half." said Mr.He thrust his right hand into his pocket and produced six coins. "Every penny. Hoopdriver. but now from among the trees emerged the massive bulk of a 'Marlborough Club' tandem." said Jessie.

" said Jessie. "Looks like some sort of excursion. It was evident. peering under her hand. "Surely. riding a tricycle of antiquated pattern with two large wheels in front. and then at a hasty motion from her companion the white signal vanished. quartering elaborately from side to side to ease the ascent. from his heaving shoulders and depressed head. 278 . but his companion stood up and addressed some remark to the tricycle riders. with his stomach resting on the saddle. appeared to wave it for a moment. "It's never —" The tandem tricycle began to ascend the hill. Following close upon this came lank black figure in a piebald straw hat. A still odder thing followed. Then it seemed as if he pointed up hill to where Mr. Then on the heels of this procession came a dogcart driven by a man in a billycock hat and containing a lady in dark green. the lady in grey took out her handkerchief. The man in grey remained bowed over the bicycle. Hoopdriver and his companion stood side by grey and a burly man in ù Norfolk jacket. that the burly gentleman was exerting himself. The clerical person on the tricycle assumed the shape of a note of interrogation." said Hoopdriver.

Then the burly gentleman dismounted. With a curious jerking motion. Then he dropped it and assisted her to mount. repaired. He turned his machine up hill again immediately and began to wheel it." she said. the tricycle he rode twisted round upon itself. from which the lady in green and the driver had now descended. His face made a dot of brilliant colour among the greys and greens at the foot of the hill. "Surely. Hoopdriver. and with a courtly attentiveness assisted the lady in grey to alight. and this joined the tail of the procession. There was some little difference of opinion as to assistance. reading the rest in her face. Hoopdriver. "Those people—I'm almost sure—" "Lord!" said Mr. and he partly dismounted and partly fell off. She was still peering under her hand. The clergyman's efforts were becoming convulsive. The tandem bicycle was now. and he turned to pick up his machine at once." said Jessie. 279 . "Mr. Finally she gave in.Jessie did not answer. she so clearly wished to help push. it seems. its riders walking behind the dogcart. and the burly gentleman began impelling the machine up hill by his own unaided strength.

But our young people did not wait for further developments of the pursuit. leaving the way clear for Jessie. and the ponies kicked up their heels derisively. and some one shouted." she said. and bent her head over her handles in true professional style. and sent them jumping the ditch into the bracken under the trees. At that Mr. Jessie looked back and saw the tandem rising over the crest. Two handkerchiefs waved. and saw ahead of them a number of shaggy little ponies frisking in the roadway. Involuntarily they slackened. at 280 .At the sight of Jessie mounting against the sky line the people coming up the hill suddenly became excited and ended Jessie's doubts at once. over a white bridge. narrowly missed one. They whirled down into the valley. The riders of the tandem bicycle began to run it up hill. riding hard down a steady incline towards Stoney Cross. Hoopdriver lost his temper and charged at them. Hoopdriver. past the other vehicles. In another moment they were out of sight. "They're coming. with its rear rider just tumbling into the saddle. Then the road rose quietly but persistently. Hoopdriver's breath sounded like a saw. Before they had dropped among the trees out of sight of the hill brow. and Mr. "Shoo!" said Mr. The tandem appeared. making frightful exertions. the treadles grew heavy.

At the Rufus Stone. with a little Niagara of perspiration dropping from brow to cheek. while the chase was still climbing. and did not appear against the hot blue sky until they were already near some trees and a good mile away. Then one desperate spurt. were quite as dishevelled as 281 . indeed. His only consolation was to notice that its riders. Hoopdriver. Hoopdriver. and the tandem passed Hoopdriver and drew alongside Jessie. and Jessie slackened her pace. "We're gaining. thank Heaven! a crest and a stretch of up and down road. Hoopdriver felt a mad impulse to collide with this abominable machine as it passed him." said Mr. Downhill nothing can beat a highly geared tandem bicycle. Automatically Mr. and only a feeling of shame prolonged the liquidation of his bankrupt physique. In another moment they heard the swish of the fat pneumatics behind them. Hoopdriver put up his feet. From that point the tandem grained upon them steadily. riding violently. "That hill—" But that was their only gleam of success. The tandem apparently dismounted at the hill. Then. They were both nearly spent. and they found themselves upon a steady downhill stretch among thick pine woods. whose only disadvantage was its pitiless exposure to the afternoon sun. was quite spent.the foot. it was scarcely a hundred yards behind.

The tandem wobbled. and still holding the handles. In this way the tandem riders were carried a good hundred yards or more beyond their quarry. and stood up on the pedals. For a moment the velocity of the thing increased. and then feeling unstable began to pedal again.himself and smothered in sandy white dust. man. Dangle shouted after him. "You only think of yourself. Abruptly Jessie stopped and dismounted. "Hold it!" cried Phipps over his shoulder." said Phipps. going on downhill. slacked up with the brake. with a florid face. turning her machine. as it came down on the front tire. "They have forgotten us. With his left leg still over the saddle. Dangle's right leg floundered in the air as he came off in the road. who was riding behind. "Put out your foot." said Dangle." He put on the brake until the machine stopped almost dead. he looked over his shoulder and began addressing uncomplimentary remarks to Dangle." said Jessie. "Brake. I can't get off if you don't hold it. 282 . Then Phipps realized his possibilities. dropping on to his right foot." said Dangle. and then they saw the dust fly from the brake. and the tandem riders shot panting past them downhill. and let the thing go over sideways.

limp but defiant. following her example. There's the money. Jessie leant her machine against the wall." "One minute. Jessie and her companion mounted and rode quietly back up the hill again. "Don't go doing it again. and went into the hotel entrance. As they dismounted at the hotel entrance."There was a road at the top of the hill—to Lyndhurst. the tandem overtook them." said Dangle. We must give it up. receding involuntarily." said Phipps. "Miss Milton. 283 . "I SAY. HELP a chap. Dangle jumped off. "It's no good. and ran after his colleague. panting and raising a damp cap from his wet and matted hair. and immediately afterwards the dogcart came into view in pursuit." So to the consternation of the tandem riders. I don't see why we should be led captive. But let us go back to that hotel at Rufus Stone." said Dangle." said Hoopdriver. Dangle. I believe. Hoopdriver remained in the hotel entrance.

"She awaits 'er stepmother. "Et your service. sir. sir. Phipps was abashed by his inability to cope with the tandem. Dangle." said Mr." said Mr. Mr. "Miss Milton within?" said Dangle. Hoopdriver." 284 . AND not to be disturved." said Mr.At the Rufus Stone * XXXVIII He folded his arms as Dangle and Phipps returned towards him. but Dangle was inclined to be quarrelsome. Hoopdriver bowed over his folded arms. "You are a scoundrel. which he was now wheeling. Hoopdriver. "Miss Milton?" he said briefly.

returned one and pulled at the insufficient moustache with the other. Miss Mergle caught him in confusion." began Mr. sir? How dare you face me? That poor girl!" "You will permit me to observe. it occurred to him that this attitude was merely vulgarly defiant he withdrew both. Hoopdriver. Then with one of those fatal hesitations of his." said Miss Mergle. and sending him staggering backward into the hall of the hotel. thrust his hands into his breeches pockets." he said. with an air of immense calm. seeing himself. unexpectedly striking him about the midriff with her extended palms. with a splendid drawl. Hoopdriver unfolded his arms slowly. Dangle hesitated. and forthwith. as a romantic villain. in towering indignation. "How dare you resist my passage?" and so swept by him and into the dining-room. "Let me pass said Miss Mergle. and. "She will be here immediately. "Here is her friend. "Ugh." Mr. "Is this the man?" she said to Dangle. for the first time in all this business. wherein Jessie had sought refuge. 285 . Miss Mergle. "How DARE you.Mr.

"I'm not a-going to tell all my secrets to any one who comes at me. "Who are you? That's the question. "How dare you prevent that lady passing?" said Phipps." Mr. fiercely." said Phipps." He and Phipps stood. A waiter in full bloom appeared at the end of the passage. Dangle and Phipps. guardant. sir. Hoopdriver looked obstinate. "Who the juice are you?" shouted Mr. but he made no answer. Hoopdriver thrust his hands into his pockets. "It is men of your stamp. and Heaven alone 286 . sir. What are YOU. Hoopdriver. wandering at large with a young lady under age?" "Don't speak to him." said Hoopdriver.As Mr." said Dangle. Phipps leading. and what are you doing. "Not Likely. legs apart and both looking exceedingly fierce at one another." And added fiercely. "And that I tell you. Hoopdriver struggled for equilibrium with the umbrella-stand. came in upon her heels. "Who are YOU. Mr. roused from their inertia by Miss Mergle's activity. to Dangle's sense. dangerous. sir?" retorted Phipps. "who discredit manhood. and.

" said the long clergyman in the doorway. Then with a concluding "Ugh!" and a gesture of repugnance he passed on into the dining-room from which the voice of Miss Mergle was distinctly audible remarking that the weather was extremely hot even for the time of year. heated but deliberate. and producing a special voice for the occasion from somewhere deep in his neck. tchak." very deliberately as he did so. tchak. he waved it up and down three times. Milton. saying. "Is this the man?" said Widgery very grimly.knows what might not have happened. This expression of extreme disapprobation had a very demoralizing effect upon Hoopdriver. "Don't hurt him!" said Mrs. with clasped hands. a demoralization that was immediately completed by the advent of the massive Widgery. "Petticoated anachronism. "Tchak. apparently still suffering from the antiquated prejudice that demanded a third wheel and a black coat from a clerical rider. "However much wrong he has done her—No violence!" 287 . if the long clergyman had not appeared in the doorway. He looked at Phipps and Hoopdriver for a moment. then extending his hand towards the latter.

"Where is she? What has he done with her?" said Mrs." said Mr. mother." said Widgery. Milton said something about her child. "I'm not going to stand here and be insulted by a lot of strangers. Mr. Hoopdriver. I should think. The embrace vanished into the dining-room. suddenly appearing in the door of the dining-room. and hesitated. leaving Dangle and Phipps with Hoopdriver. with a catching of the breath." "Please don't worry. 288 . at bay before the umbrella stand. Hoopdriver. Milton. "I'm here. Mrs. Widgery moved as if to follow."'Ow many more of you?" said Hoopdriver. "So you needn't think it." said Jessie. and made an emotional charge at Jessie. "You'd better make yourself scarce. and closing the door behind him. "I'm here defending that young lady. Hoopdriver." Her face was white." said Mr. suddenly walking towards the dining-room." "You've done her enough mischief." he said to Mr. Hoopdriver. "I shan't do anything of the kind.

" said Mr. as of men and women in conference. unassaulted. Hoopdriver was seated on a rustic seat. in an attitude of nervous prostration. "There I shall remain. In the garden behind. "I fail to see what status Widgery has. Occasionally something that might have been a girlish sob. Hoopdriver retired." said Dangle. Through the open window of a private sittingroom came a murmur of voices. "I shall go and sit out in the garden. and our sentimental excursion is over. Hoopdriver. with dignity."Clear!" said Phipps. XXXIX So here is the world with us again. and by the driver of a stylish dogcart from Ringwood." "Don't make a row with him." says Dangle. "thrusting himself in there. In the front of the Rufus Stone Hotel conceive a remarkable collection of wheeled instruments." 289 . Mr. watched over by Dangle and Phipps in grave and stately attitudes. And Mr. threateningly. in almost sobbing dignity.

taken the chair and was opening the case against the unfortunate Jessie. with a gloomy magnanimity."He takes too much upon himself. and stopped. within. She was sitting with flushed cheeks and swimming eyes at the end of the table opposite to the clergyman." said Phipps. of course. Mrs. and occasionally made little dabs with her hand at Jessie's 290 . by promptitude and dexterity. to the pitch of tears." "He's so dull and heavy." "Financially it would be a good thing for her. He felt drawn to Phipps now by the common trouble. Milton sat as near to her as possible." said Dangle. She held her handkerchief crumpled up in her extended hand." said Phipps. "They went to the cathedral together in the afternoon. the clergyman had. I regret to have to say that my heroine had been appalled by the visible array of public opinion against her excursion. yesterday and to-day. Meanwhile." said Dangle. "I've been noticing little things. "Financially it wouldn't be half bad. in spite of the man's chequered legs.

The lady in green. and had told him everything forthwith. which touched Widgery very much. Widgery.hand. Jessie's account of her adventures was a chary one and given amidst frequent interruptions. Miss Mergle (B. She was the strong-minded schoolmistress to whom Jessie had written. to indicate forgiveness. A. But public feeling was heavy against Hoopdriver. stood with his legs wide apart in front of the fireplace ornament. and who had immediately precipitated the pursuit upon her. "I can only ascribe this extravagant and regrettable expedition of yours to the wildest misconceptions of your place in the 291 . She surprised herself by skilfully omitting any allusion to the Bechamel episode.). "My dear young lady. sat on the opposite side near the clergyman. At last they had all the facts they would permit. Her narrative was inaccurate and sketchy." said the clergyman. having met him once at a British Association meeting. but happily the others were too anxious to pass opinions to pin her down to particulars. having been foiled in an attempt to conduct the proceedings. She had picked up the clergyman in Ringwood. She completely exonerated Hoopdriver from the charge of being more than an accessory to her escapade. and looked profound and sympathetic. He had immediately constituted himself administrator of the entire business. These advances were not reciprocated.

it seems to me." "But WHY did she go off like this?" said Widgery." said Jessie. and sobbing. Even now. to cherish and protect you—" "If I HAD a mother. "I cannot understand this spirit of unrest that has seized upon the more intelligent portion of the feminine community. and advise you. your present emotion is due not so much to a real and sincere penitence for your disobedience and folly as to a positive annoyance at our most fortunate interference—" "Not that." gulped Jessie. You had a pleasant and of your duties and responsibilities. succumbing to the obvious snare of self-pity. but Mrs." Jessie made an attempt to speak. Milton. "To cherish. in a low tone. And you must needs go out of it all alone into a strange world of unknown dangers-" "I wanted to learn." said Mrs. 292 . protect. a most refined and intelligent lady in the position of your mother. "That's what I want to know. "Not that. Milton said "Hush!" and the ringing tenor of the clergyman rode triumphantly over the meeting.

"A world full of unknown dangers. irrelevantly. "that in 293 . You have been unduly influenced. Milton. Widgery coughed. "Your proper place was surely the natural surroundings that are part of you. very sadly. I must call the New Woman Literature. May you never have anything to UNlearn. with all due respect to distinguished authoress that shall be nameless. "The point is. "What HAS all this to do with me?" asked Jessie." "AH!" from Mrs. it is only too apparent. In that deleterious ingredient of our book boxes—" "I don't altogether agree with you there. Milton. throwing her head back and regarding him firmly through her spectacles. and Mr. on her defence." said Miss Mergle. by a class of literature which." resumed the clergyman. "It isn't fair for all of you to argue at me at once. availing herself of the interruption." submitted Jessie."You wanted to learn." said Mrs.

when you will better understand the harrowing anxiety you have given Mrs. What I want to know is. in charity. "the most elementary principles of decorum—A day will come when you will better understand how entirely subservient your ideas are to the very fundamentals of our present civilisation. "is to go about freely by myself." said the clergyman. Why not here?" "Social conditions are entirely different in books—" "All I want to do. "Here we respect Class Distinctions. "With anybody. "My dear young lady." "With a strange young man. and made her flush by his tone." "They don't do that. We can only put things down at present. to your ignorance—" 294 . socially your inferior. even in America." said Widgery." said Miss Mergle." said Miss Mergle." "It's very unfortunate. why I cannot go away for a holiday if I want to." said Jessie. "Why not?" she said. Girls do so in America. Milton by this inexplicable flight of yours.

But if you will return at once to your home. "it will do you infinite harm. and let us listen to reason." said Mrs. it will cause infinite pain to those who care for you. Most certainly not." "Now do let us stop arguing." "If once this most unfortunate business gets about. this conduct of yours will do you infinite harm. "Precisely. causing it to be understood that you have been with friends for these last few days—" "Tell lies." said the clergyman." said Jessie. Milton. "Certainly not. "There is no such thing as conduct in the absolute. But I understand that is how your absence is understood at present." said Widgery." "But I'VE done nothing wrong."You have to consider the general body of opinion. And not only that." said Jessie. Why should I be responsible for other people's—" "The world has no charity. my dear young lady." said Miss Mergle. if once it is generally known. "For a girl. Never mind how or why. too. and there is no reason—" 295 . "No.

"Surely you won't dictate to your mother!" said Widgery. "A room then. All your Men. I want definite promises now. I want a room of my own." said Mrs." she said. swallowing a sob but with unusual resolution. "If you don't keep your promise—" 296 .Jessie's grip tightened on her handkerchief. I'm not to come down and talk away half my days—" "My dear child. "Very well." said Jessie. Milton. Milton. "anything in reason." said Widgery." "This is most unreasonable." said Mrs." "But will you keep your promise?" said Jessie. "Then I won't go back. My life is being frittered away—" "LET her have her way. what books I need to read. if only to save you." said the clergyman. Teaching—" "Anything. "I won't go back. to be free to go out by myself alone. "to have it as I did before. "My stepmother! I don't want to dictate.

I think." said the clergyman." she said." "There's a train from Lyndhurst at thirteen minutes to six. "No."Then I take it the matter is practically concluded. mother. "That gives us about half an hour or three-quarters here—if a conveyance is obtainable. and saw through the window a depressed head and shoulders over the top of the back of a garden seat." said Jessie. very rudely. Freed of its tannin. Jessie stood up. She moved towards the door." said the clergyman to Miss Mergle. is more refreshing and stimulating. in a confidential bray. if I may offer a suggestion. "While you have tea." 297 . "I must tell Mr. that is." "A gelatine lozenge dropped into the tea cup precipitates the tannin in the form of tannate of gelatine. And now." said Widgery. unfolding a time table. Hoopdriver of our arrangements." "Don't you think I—" began the clergyman. "I don't. it is that we take tea. "And that you very properly submit to return to your proper home. nothing.

" said Jessie." "There's tea. haven't you already—" "You are already breaking the capitulation." said Jessie. he realised all that those days had done for him. so far as she was concerned. Hoopdriver made a sad figure in the sunlight outside. "But he's certainly an astonishingly weak person to let a wrong-headed young girl—" Jessie closed the door into the garden. in the doorway. at the bell. He tried to grasp the bearings of their position. "Every minute. "He's behaved very nobly to me. "Will you want the whole half hour?" said Widgery. this wonderful excursion of his. It was over. Of course." said Widgery. and with the swift blow that separated them. "I've had tea."But." "He may not have behaved badly." said the clergyman. they would take her away to those 298 . Jessie. Meanwhile Mr.

remembering it as if everything had been done of his own initiative. But ought he to have persuaded her then to return to her home? He remembered some intention of the sort. along the riverside road. what could he say? That? But they were sure not to let her talk to him alone. indeed. Would they let him say good-bye to her? How extraordinary it had all been! He recalled the moment when he had first seen her riding. so serene. Suppose they let him say good-bye to her. He began to recapitulate her expressions. She would become an inaccessible young lady again. Nobody was. the light of her eyes. when she came down to him in the morning. brave!" she had called him. he recalled that wonderful night at Bognor. He wasn't good enough to walk in the same road with altitudes of hers. . with the sunlight behind her. And afterwards. it was only now he was 299 . kindly. "Brave. so delightful. the turn of her face . Now these people snatched her away from him as though he was scarcely fit to live in the same world with her. She was so dainty. . He'd never once had a chance of saying what he felt. No more he was! He felt he had presumed upon her worldly ignorance in travelling with her day after day. quiet. her mother would be there as— what was it? Chaperone.

She took his 300 . We have to say good-bye. "Come away from here. "I'm going home with them. After a while she began to talk. He could think of nothing to say. somehow. Then he would pour out his soul to her eloquently. and rose without a word. His meditation was interrupted by the click of a door handle. opened and shut his mouth. Hoopdriver winced. They dealt disjointedly with scenery first. and thrust his hands in his pockets and looked away from her intentionally. . He was dust under her feet . He felt eloquently. Love I he wouldn't presume. It was worship. Hoopdriver walked away from the hotel in silence. as he rose to meet her. She was looking straight before her. Her face was hot and bright. XL At first Jessie Milton and Mr." she said to Hoopdriver. He must have one more chance." Mr. and Jessie appeared in the sunlight under the verandah. . He heard a catching in her breath and glanced at her and saw her ips pressed tight and a tear on her cheek. and then with the means of self-education. and words would come. If only he could have one more chance. somewhere.beginning to realise what he felt.

"It's the end. "The end" ran through his mind. crest beyond crest. Then he gathered his resolution. surprised and abruptly forgetting the recent argument. they stopped." she said. of leafy trees. to him. She seemed. presently. for the fighting mood was over. But even with that it was spiritless. "it comes to good-bye. preoccupied with the memories of her late battle. She looked at her watch—a little ostentatiously. to the exclusion of all speakable thoughts." For half a minute he did not answer. Hoopdriver felt." "Well?" she said. They stared at the billows of forest rolling away beneath them.address at Antrobus's and promised to send him some books. "There is one thing I MUST say. But—" 301 . and came at last to a high and open space overlooking a wide expanse of country. aching talk. "It's the end. fading at last into blue." They went into a hollow and up a gentle wooded slope. "I ask no return." he whispered to himself. breaking the silence. "And so. There. by a common impulse. and that appearance hurt him.

you know. Goodbye. and held out her hand. They stood side by side for a moment. you are my friend. concisely. "No." she said.Then he stopped. Remember. "GOOD-BYE. You are not a very strong man." he said. You will work. and the lines about his weak mouth seemed to strengthen. "But don't forget you are going to work. "I'll work. It would be rot from me—now. with a motion of his head. It's no good. biting her nether lip. Do you mind? Going back alone?" She took ten seconds to think." She looked at him with a startled expression in her eyes. now— you will forgive me—nor do you know all you should. I wasn't going to say anything. He turned." she whispered. He knew she understood what he could not say. with a white face. "I won't say it." she said. brother Chris. looked into her eyes. But what will you be in six years' time?" He stared hard in front of him still. "I won't come back to THEM. Then he said. "No. took 302 .

lifted it to his lips. "I did not know. towards Stoney Cross again. I do not understand.her hand limply. the tears running over her eyelids now. He recovered his balance and went on. turned slowly. "I did not understand. She would have snatched it away. She felt the touch of his lips. Even now—No. He never once looked back. and walked with her hands gripped hard together behind her. A dozen paces away his foot turned in the lip of a rabbit hole." 303 . and then. but his grip tightened to her movement. She stared at his receding figure until it was small and far below her. not looking back. and then he had dropped her fingers and turned from her and was striding down the slope. and he stumbled forward and almost fell. and then with a sudden impulse." she whispered to herself.

(If it is not attained. for the years have still to run. And of what came of it all. But if you see how a mere counter-jumper. your sympathies are invited. must sprawl without our prying. For. and a fool to boot. also. sprawling down there among the bracken. this is no place to tell. my end is attained. of the six years and afterwards. a cad on castors. Hoopdriver. there is no telling it. to her new struggle against Widgery and Mrs. may Heaven forgive us both!) Nor will we follow this adventurous young lady of ours back to her home at Surbiton. Mr. or listening to what chances to his breathing. 304 . Milton combined.The Envoy * XLI So the story ends. as she will presently hear. and if he has to any extent won your sympathies. For her. that devoted man has got his reward. may come to feel the little insufficiencies of life. I think. In truth. dear Reader.

He is a narrow-chested person. and sometimes. Sometimes he whistles noiselessly to himself. red-knuckled fists. my God!" and a gust of passion comes upon him and he rides furiously for a space. "a juiced good try. "Books! What's books?" Once or twice triumphant memories of the earlier incidents nerve his face for a while. You see fitfully a slender figure in a dusty brown suit and heather mixture stockings. and brown shoes not intended to be cycled in. "I DID that. if I'm not to see her. sometimes he speaks aloud. . "I know. and gets such comfort as he can. "I know. flitting Londonward through Hampshire and Berkshire and Surrey. It's over and done." and 305 . It isn't IN me. riding fitfully and for the most part through bye-roads. but getting a few miles to the north-eastward every day. A musing expression sits upon the face of this rider. "Anyhow." he remarks. Oh. Hoopdriver. you observe. with a nose hot and tanned at the bridge with unwonted exposure." he says. he looks irritable and hopeless." he thinks. Then again. . and brown. Day by day he goes on. "I put the kybosh on HIS little game. You ain't man enough. Look at yer silly hands! .-she's going to lend me books. anyhow!" you hear. and that too often for my liking. going economically—for excellent reasons.The rest of this great holiday. Sometimes again his face softens. too—five days there are left of it—is beyond the limits of our design.

"Yes—swapped him off for a couple of sovs. He is back. the early rising. This figure passes through Basingstoke and Bagshot. the dusting. and he vanishes from our ken. glowing with the warmth of an August sunset and with all the 'prentice boys busy shutting up shop. bythe-bye. and pushes his machine through the gates of the Antrobus stable yard. Staines. and the work girls going home. with wonderful memories and still more wonderful desires and ambitions replacing those discrepant dreams. the machine. we part from him." He sighs. and "splendid weather— splendid. and the white 'buses full of late clerks and city folk rumbling home to their dinners." The gate closes upon him with a slam. and the shop folks peeping abroad. And. Hampton. To-morrow. 306 . as the apprentice with the high collar holds them open. At last." you hear. There are words of greeting. It's a juiced good machine. and Richmond. and drudgery. in Putney High Street. you might even call him happy in these phases. has been enamelpainted grey and carries a sonorous gong. begin again—but with a difference. "South Coast. dismounts with a sigh. He turns out of the High Street at the corner.

*** 307 .