New Grub Street : A Novel : By George Gissing ... In Three Volumes : Second Edition  VOL. I .  CHAPTER I A MAN OF HIS DAY  As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight ; it was two miles away , but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning .  Jasper , listening before he cracked an egg , remarked with cheerfulness :  ' There 'sa man being hanged in London at this moment .  '  ' Surely it is n't necessary to let us know that , ' said his sister Maud , coldly .  ' And in such a tone , too !  ' protested his sister Dora .  ' Who is it ?  ' inquired Mrs. Milvain , looking at her son with pained forehead .  ' I do n't know .  It happened to catch my eye in the paper yesterday that someone was to be hanged at Newgate this morning .  There 'sa certain satisfaction in reflecting that it is not oneself .  '  ' That 'syour selfish way of looking at things , ' said Maud .  ' Well , ' returned Jasper , ' seeing that the fact came into my head , what better use could I make of it ?  I could curse the brutality of an age that sanctioned such things ; or I could grow doleful over the misery of the poor — fellow .  But those emotions would be as little profitable to others as to myself .  It just happened that I saw the thing in a light of consolation .  Things are bad with me , but not so bad as that .  I might be going out between Jack Ketch and the Chaplain to be hanged ; instead of that , I am eating a really fresh egg , and very excellent buttered toast , with coffee as good as can be reasonably expected in this part of the world .  — ( Do try boiling the milk , mother .  ) — The tone in which I spoke was spontaneous ; being so , it needs no justification .  '  He was a young man of five-and-twenty , well built , though a trifle meagre , and of pale complexion .  He had hair that was very nearly black , and a clean-shaven face , best described , perhaps , as of bureaucratic type .  The clothes he wore were of expensive material , but had seen a good deal of service .  His stand-up collar curled over at the corners , and his necktie was lilac-sprigged .  Of the two sisters , Dora , aged twenty , was the more like him in visage , but she spoke with a gentleness which seemed to indicate a different character .  Maud , who was twenty-two , had bold , handsome features , and very beautiful hair of russet tinge ; hers was not a face that readily smiled .  Their mother had the look and manners of an invalid , though she sat at table in the ordinary way .  All were dressed as ladies , though very simply .  The room , which looked upon a small patch of garden , was furnished with old-fashioned comfort , only one or two objects suggesting the decorative spirit of 1882.  ' A man who comes to be hanged , ' pursued Jasper , impartially , ' has the satisfaction of knowing that he has brought society to its last resource .  He is a man of such fatal importance that nothing will serve against him but the supreme effort of law .  In a way , you know , that is success .  '  ' In a way , ' repeated Maud , scornfully .  ' Suppose we talk of something else , ' suggested Dora , who seemed to fear a conflict between her sister and Jasper .  Almost at the same moment a diversion was afforded by the arrival of the post .  There was a letter for Mrs. Milvain , a letter and newspaper for her son .  Whilst the girls and their mother talked of unimportant news communicated by the one correspondent , Jasper read the missive addressed to himself .  ' This is from Reardon , ' he remarked to the younger girl .  ' Things are going badly with him .  He is just the kind of fellow to end by poisoning or shooting himself .  '  ' But why ?  '  ' Ca n't get anything done ; and begins to be sore troubled on his wife 'saccount .  '  ' Is he ill ?  '  ' Overworked , I suppose .  But it 'sjust what I foresaw .  He is n't the kind of man to keep up literary production as a paying business .  In favourable circumstances he might write a fairly good book once every two or three years .  The failure of his last depressed him , and now he is struggling hopelessly to get another done before the winter season .  Those people will come to grief .  '  ' The enjoyment with which he anticipates it !  ' murmured Maud , looking at her mother .  ' Not at all , ' said Jasper .  ' It 'strue I envied the fellow , because he persuaded a handsome girl to believe in him and share his risks , but I shall be very sorry if he goes to the — to the dogs .  He 'smy one serious friend .  But it irritates me to see a man making such large demands upon fortune .  One must be more modest — as I am .  Because one book had a sort of success he imagined his struggles were over .  He got a hundred pounds for " On Neutral Ground , " and at once counted on a continuance of payments in geometrical proportion .  I hinted to him that he could n't keep it up , and he smiled with tolerance , no doubt thinking " He judges me by himself .  " But I did n't do anything of the kind .  — ( Toast , please , Dora .  ) — I 'ma stronger man than Reardon ; I can keep my eyes open , and wait .  '  ' Is his wife the kind of person to grumble ?  ' asked Mrs. Milvain .  ' Well , yes , I suspect that she is .  The girl was n't content to go into modest rooms — they must furnish a flat .  I rather wonder he did n't start a carriage for her .  Well , his next book brought only another hundred , and now , even if he finishes this one , it 'svery doubtful if he 'llget as much .  " The Optimist " was practically a failure .  '  ' Mr .  Yule may leave them some money , ' said Dora .  ' Yes .  But he may live another ten years , and he would see them both in Marylebone Workhouse before he advanced sixpence , or I 'mmuch mistaken in him .  Her mother has only just enough to live upon ; ca n't possibly help them .  Her brother would n't give or lend twopence halfpenny .  '  ' Has Mr. Reardon no relatives ?  ' asked Maud .  ' I never heard him make mention of a single one .  No , he has done the fatal thing .  A man in his position , if he marry at all , must take either a work-girl or an heiress , and in many ways the work-girl is preferable .  '  ' How can you say that ?  ' asked Dora .  ' You never cease talking about the advantages of money .  '  ' Oh , I do n't mean that for me the work-girl would be preferable ; by no means ; but for a man like Reardon .  He is absurd enough to be conscientious , likes to be called an ' artist , ' and so on .  He might possibly earn a hundred and fifty a year if his mind were at rest , and that would be enough if he had married a decent little dressmaker .  He would n't desire superfluities , and the quality of his work would be its own reward .  As it is , he 'sruined .  '  ' And I repeat , ' said Maud , ' that you enjoy the prospect .  '  ' Nothing of the kind .  If I seem to speak exultantly it 'sonly because my intellect enjoys the clear perception of a fact .  — A little marmalade , Dora ; the home-made , please .  '  ' But this is very sad , Jasper , ' said Mrs. Milvain , in her half-absent way .  ' I suppose they ca n't even go for a holiday ?  '  ' Quite out of the question .  '  ' Not even if you invited them to come here for a week ?  '  ' Now , mother , ' urged Maud , ' that 'simpossible , you know very well .  '  ' I thought we might make an effort , dear .  A holiday might mean everything to him .  '  ' No , no , ' fell from Jasper , thoughtfully .  ' I do n't think you 'dget along very well with Mrs. Reardon ; and then , if her uncle is coming to Mr. Yule 's, you know , that would be awkward .  '  ' I suppose it would ; though those people would only stay a day or two , Miss Harrow said .  '  ' Why ca n't Mr. Yule make them friends , those two lots of people ?  ' asked Dora .  ' You say he 'son good terms with both .  '  ' I suppose he thinks it 'sno business of his .  '  Jasper mused over the letter from his friend .  ' Ten years hence , ' he said , ' if Reardon is still alive , I shall be lending him five-pound notes .  '  A smile of irony rose to Maud 'slips .  Dora laughed .  ' To be sure !  To be sure !  ' exclaimed their brother .  ' You have no faith .  But just understand the difference between a man like Reardon and a man like me .  He is the old type of unpractical artist ; I am the literary man of 1882. He wo n't make concessions , or rather , he ca n't make them ; he ca n't supply the market .  I — well , you may say that at present I do nothing ; but that 'sa great mistake , I am learning my business .  Literature nowadays is a trade .  Putting aside men of genius , who may succeed by mere cosmic force , your successful man of letters is your skilful tradesman .  He thinks first and foremost of the markets ; when one kind of goods begins to go off slackly , he is ready with something new and appetising .  He knows perfectly all the possible sources of income .  Whatever he has to sell he 'llget payment for it from all sorts of various quarters ; none of your unpractical selling for a lump sum to a middleman who will make six distinct profits .  Now , look you : if I had been in Reardon 'splace , I 'dhave made four hundred at least out of " The Optimist " ; I should have gone shrewdly to work with magazines and newspapers and foreign publishers , and — all sorts of people .  Reardon ca n't do that kind of thing , he 'sbehind his age ; he sells a manuscript as if he lived in Sam Johnson 'sGrub Street .  But our Grub Street of to-day is quite a different place : it is supplied with telegraphic communication , it knows what literary fare is in demand in every part of the world , its inhabitants are men of business , however seedy .  '  ' It sounds ignoble , ' said Maud .  ' I have nothing to do with that , my dear girl .  Now , as I tell you , I am slowly , but surely , learning the business .  My line wo n't be novels ; I have failed in that direction , I 'mnot cut out for the work .  It 'sa pity , of course ; there 'sa great deal of money in it .  But I have plenty of scope .  In ten years , I repeat , I shall be making my thousand a year .  '  ' I do n't remember that you stated the exact sum before , ' Maud observed .  ' Let it pass .  And to those who have shall be given .  When I have a decent income of my own , I shall marry a woman with an income somewhat larger , so that casualties may be provided for .  '  Dora exclaimed , laughing :  ' It would amuse me very much if the Reardons got a lot of money at Mr. Yule 'sdeath — and that ca n't be ten years off , I 'msure .  '  ' I do n't see that there 'sany chance of their getting much , ' replied Jasper , meditatively .  ' Mrs .  Reardon is only his niece .  The man 'sbrother and sister will have the first helping , I suppose .  And then , if it comes to the second generation , the literary Yule has a daughter , and by her being invited here I should think she 'sthe favourite niece .  No , no ; depend upon it they wo n't get anything at all .  '  Having finished his breakfast , he leaned back and began to unfold the London paper that had come by post .  ' Had Mr. Reardon any hopes of that kind at the time of his marriage , do you think ?  ' inquired Mrs. Milvain .  ' Reardon ?  Good heavens , no !  Would he were capable of such forethought !  '  In a few minutes Jasper was left alone in the room .  When the servant came to clear the table he strolled slowly away , humming a tune .  The house was pleasantly situated by the roadside in a little village named Finden .  Opposite stood the church , a plain , low , square-towered building .  As it was cattle-market to-day in the town of Wattleborough , droves of beasts and sheep occasionally went by , or the rattle of a grazier 'scart sounded for a moment .  On ordinary days the road saw few vehicles , and pedestrians were rare .  Mrs. Milvain and her daughters had lived here for the last seven years , since the death of the father , who was a veterinary surgeon .  The widow enjoyed an annuity of two hundred and forty pounds , terminable with her life ; the children had nothing of their own .  Maud acted irregularly as a teacher of music ; Dora had an engagement as visiting governess in a Wattle-borough family .  Twice a year , as a rule , Jasper came down from London to spend a fortnight with them ; to-day marked the middle of his autumn visit , and the strained relations between him and his sisters which invariably made the second week rather trying for all in the house had already become noticeable .  In the course of the morning Jasper had half an hour 'sprivate talk with his mother , after which he set off to roam in the sunshine .  Shortly after he had left the house , Maud , her domestic duties dismissed for the time , came into the parlour where Mrs. Milvain was reclining on the sofa .  ' Jasper wants more money , ' said the mother , when Maud had sat in meditation for a few minutes .  ' Of course .  I knew that .  I hope you told him he could n't have it .  '  ' I really did n't know what to say , ' returned Mrs. Milvain , in a feeble tone of worry .  ' Then you must leave the matter to me , that 'sall .  There 'sno money for him , and there 'san end of it .  '  Maud set her features in sullen determination .  There was a brief silence .  ' What 'she to do , Maud ?  '  ' To do ?  How do other people do ?  What do Dora and I do ?  '  ' You do n't earn enough for your support , my dear .  '  ' Oh , well !  ' broke from the girl .  ' Of course if you grudge us our food and lodging — '  ' Do n't be so quick-tempered .  You know very well I am far from grudging you anything , dear .  But I only meant to say that Jasper does earn something , you know .  '  ' It 'sa disgraceful thing that he does n't earn as much as he needs .  We are sacrificed to him , as we always have been .  Why should we be pinching and stinting to keep him in idleness ?  '  ' But you really ca n't call it idleness , Maud .  He is studying his profession .  '  ' Pray call it trade ; he prefers it .  How do I know that he 'sstudying anything ?  What does he mean by " studying " ?  And to hear him speak scornfully of his friend Mr. Reardon , who seems to work hard all through the year !  It 'sdisgusting , mother .  At this rate , he will never earn his own living .  Who has n't seen or heard of such men ?  If we had another hundred a year , I would say nothing .  But we ca n't live on what he leaves us , and I 'mnot going to let you try .  I shall tell Jasper plainly that he 'sgot to work for his own support .  '  Another silence , and a longer one .  Mrs. Milvain furtively wiped a tear from her cheek .  ' It seems very cruel to refuse , ' she said at length , ' when another year may give him the opportunity he 'swaiting for .  '  'Opportunity ?  What does he mean by his opportunity ?  '  ' He says that it always comes , if a man knows how to wait .  '  ' And the people who support him may starve meanwhile !  Now just think a bit , mother .  Suppose anything were to happen to you , what becomes of Dora and me ?  And what becomes of Jasper , too ?  It 'sthe truest kindness to him to compel him to earn a living .  He gets more and more incapable of it .  '  ' You ca n't say that , Maud .  He earns a little more each year .  But for that , I should have my doubts .  he has made thirty pounds already this year , and he only made about twenty-five the whole of last .  We must be fair to him , you know .  I ca n't help feeling that he knows what he 'sabout .  And if he does succeed , he 'llpay us all back .  '  Maud began to gnaw her fingers , a disagreeable habit she had in privacy .  ' Then why does n't he live more economically ?  '  ' I really do n't see how he can live on less than a hundred and fifty a year .  London , you know — '  ' The cheapest place in the world .  '  'Nonsense , Maud !  '  ' But I know what I 'msaying .  I 'veread quite enough about such things .  He might live very well indeed on thirty shillings a week , even buying his clothes out of it .  '  ' But he has told us so often that it 'sno use to him to live like that .  He is obliged to go to places where he must spend a little , or he makes no progress .  '  ' Well , all I can say is , ' exclaimed the girl impatiently , ' it 'svery lucky for him that he 'sgot a mother who willingly sacrifices her daughters to him .  '  ' That 'show you always break out .  You do n't care what unkindness you say !  '  ' It 'sa simple truth .  '  ' Dora never speaks like that .  '  ' Because she 'safraid to be honest .  '  ' No , because she has too much love for her mother .  I ca n't bear to talk to you , Maud .  The older I get , and the weaker I get , the more unfeeling you are to me .  '  Scenes of this kind were no uncommon thing .  The clash of tempers lasted for several minutes , then Maud flung out of the room .  An hour later , at dinner-time , she was rather more caustic in her remarks than usual , but this was the only sign that remained of the stormy mood .  Jasper renewed the breakfast-table conversation .  ' Look here , ' he began , ' why do n't you girls write something ?  I 'mconvinced you could make money if you tried .  There 'sa tremendous sale for religious stories ; why not patch one together ?  I am quite serious .  '  ' Why do n't you do it yourself ?  ' retorted Maud .  ' I ca n't manage stories , as I have told you ; but I think you could .  In your place , I 'dmake a speciality of Sunday-school prize-books ; you know the kind of thing I mean .  They sell like hot cakes .  And there 'sso deuced little enterprise in the business .  If you 'dgive your mind to it , you might make hundreds a year .  '  ' Better say " abandon your mind to it .  " '  ' Why , there you are !  You 'rea sharp enough girl .  You can quote as well as anyone I know .  '  ' And please , why am I to take up an inferior kind of work ?  '  ' Inferior ?  Oh , if you can be a George Eliot , begin at the earliest opportunity .  I merely suggested what seemed practicable .  But I do n't think you have genius , Maud .  People have got that ancient prejudice so firmly rooted in their heads — that one must n't write save at the dictation of the Holy Spirit .  I tell you , writing is a business .  Get together half a dozen fair specimens of the Sunday-school prize ; study them ; discover the essential points of such composition ; hit upon new attractions ; then go to work methodically , so many pages a day .  There 'sno question of the divine afflatus ; that belongs to another sphere of life .  We talk of literature as a trade , not of Homer , Dante , and Shakspeare .  If I could only get that into poor Reardon 'shead .  He thinks me a gross beast , often enough .  What the devil — I mean what on earth is there in typography to make everything it deals with sacred ?  I do n't advocate the propagation of vicious literature ; I speak only of good , coarse , marketable stuff for the world 'svulgar .  You just give it a thought .  Maud ; talk it over with Dora .  '  He resumed presently :  ' I maintain that we people of brains are justified in supplying the mob with the food it likes .  We are not geniuses , and if we sit down in a spirit of long-eared gravity we shall produce only commonplace stuff .  Let us use our wits to earn money , and make the best we can of our lives .  If only I had the skill , I would produce novels out-trashing the trashiest that ever sold fifty thousand copies .  But it needs skill , mind you ; and to deny it is a gross error of the literary pedants .  To please the vulgar you must , one way or another , incarnate the genius of vulgarity .  For my own part , I sha n't be able to address the bulkiest multitude ; my talent does n't lend itself to that form .  I shall write for the upper middle-class of intellect , the people who like to feel that what they are reading has some special cleverness , but who ca n't distinguish between stones and paste .  That 'swhy I 'mso slow in warming to the work .  Every month I feel surer of myself , however .  That last thing of mine in The West End distinctly hit the mark ; it was n't too flashy , it was n't too solid .  I heard fellows speak of it in the train .  '  Mrs. Milvain kept glancing at Maud , with eyes which desired her attention to these utterances .  None the less , half an hour after dinner , Jasper found himself encountered by his sister in the garden , on her face a look which warned him of what was coming .  ' I want you to tell me something , Jasper .  How much longer shall you look to mother for support ?  I mean it literally ; let me have an idea of how much longer it will be .  '  He looked away , and reflected .  ' To leave a margin , ' was his reply , ' let us say twelve months .  '  ' Better say your favourite " ten years " at once .  '  ' No .  I speak by the card .  In twelve months 'time , if not before , I shall begin to pay my debts .  My dear girl , I have the honour to be a tolerably long-headed individual .  I know what I 'mabout .  '  ' And let us suppose mother were to die within half a year ?  '  ' I should make shift to do very well .  '  ' You ?  And please — what of Dora and me ?  '  ' You would write Sunday-school prizes .  '  Maud turned away and left him .  He knocked the dust out of the pipe he had been smoking , and again set off for a stroll along the lanes .  On his countenance was just a trace of solicitude , but for the most part he wore a thoughtful smile .  Now and then he stroked his smoothly-shaven jaws with thumb and fingers .  Occasionally he became observant of wayside details — of the colour of a maple leaf , the shape of a tall thistle , the consistency of a fungus .  At the few people who passed he looked keenly , surveying them from head to foot .  On turning , at the limit of his walk , he found himself almost face to face with two persons , who were coming along in silent companionship ; their appearance interested him .  The one was a man of fifty , grizzled , hard featured , slightly bowed in the shoulders ; he were a grey felt hat with a broad brim , and a decent suit of broad-cloth .  With him was a girl of perhaps two-and-twenty , in a slate-coloured dress with very little ornament , and a yellow straw hat of the shape originally appropriated to males ; her dark hair was cut short , and lay in innumerable crisp curls .  Father and daughter , obviously .  The girl , to a casual eye , was neither pretty nor beautiful , but she had a grave and impressive face , with a complexion of ivory tone ; her walk was gracefully modest , and she seemed to be enjoying the country air .  Jasper mused concerning them .  When he had walked a few yards , he looked back ; at the same moment the unknown man also turned his head .  ' Where the deuce have I seen them — him and the girl too ?  ' Milvain asked himself .  And before he reached home the recollection he sought flashed upon his mind .  ' The Museum Reading-room , of course !  '  CHAPTER II THE HOUSE OF YULE  'I think , ' said Jasper , as he entered the room where his mother and Maud were busy with plain needlework , ' I must have met Alfred Yule and his daughter .  '  ' How did you recognise them ?  ' Mrs. Milvain inquired .  ' I passed an old buffer and a pale-faced girl whom I know by sight at the British Museum .  It was n't near Yule 'shouse , but they were taking a walk .  '  ' They may have come already .  When Miss Harrow was here last , she said " in about a fortnight .  " '  'No mistaking them for people of these parts , even if I had n't remembered their faces .  Both of them are obvious dwellers in the valley of the shadow of books .  '  ' Is Miss Yule such a fright then ?  ' asked Maud .  ' A fright !  Not at all .  A good example of the modern literary girl .  I suppose you have the oddest old-fashioned ideas of such people .  No , I rather liked the look of her .  Simpatica , I should think , as that ass Whelpdale would say .  A very delicate , pure complexion , though morbid ; nice eyes ; figure not spoilt yet .  But of course I may be wrong about their identity .  '  Later in the afternoon Jasper 'sconjecture was rendered a certainty .  Maud had walked to Wattleborough , where she would meet Dora on the latter 'sreturn from her teaching , and Mrs. Milvain sat alone , in a mood of depression ; there was a ring at the door-bell , and the servant admitted Miss Harrow .  This lady acted as housekeeper to Mr. John Yule , a wealthy resident in this neighbourhood ; she was the sister of his deceased wife — a thin , soft-speaking , kindly woman of forty-five .  The greater part of her life she had spent as a governess ; her position now was more agreeable , and the removal of her anxiety about the future had developed qualities of cheerfulness which formerly no one would have suspected her to possess .  The acquaintance between Mrs. Milvain and her was only of twelve months 'standing ; prior to that , Mr. Yule had inhabited a house at the end of Wattleborough remote from Finden .  ' Our London visitors came yesterday , ' she began by saying .  Mrs. Milvain mentioned her son 'sencounter an hour or two ago .  ' No doubt it was they , ' said the visitor .  ' Mrs .  Yule has n't come ; I hardly expected she would , you know .  So very unfortunate when there are difficulties of that kind , is n't it ?  '  She smiled confidentially .  ' The poor girl must feel it , ' said Mrs. Milvain .  ' I 'mafraid she does .  Of course it narrows the circle of her friends at home .  She 'sa sweet girl , and I should so like you to meet her .  Do come and have tea with us to-morrow afternoon , will you ?  Or would it be too much for you just now ?  '  ' Will you let the girls call ?  And then perhaps Miss Yule will be so good as to come and see me ?  '  ' I wonder whether Mr. Milvain would like to meet her father ?  I have thought that perhaps it might be some advantage to him .  Alfred is so closely connected with literary people , you know .  '  ' I feel sure he would be glad , ' replied Mrs. Milvain .  ' But — what of Jasper 'sfriendship with Mrs. Edmund Yule and the Reardons ?  Might n't it be a little awkward ?  '  ' Oh , I do n't think so , unless he himself felt it so .  There would be no need to mention that , I should say .  And , really , it would be so much better if those estrangements came to an end .  John makes no scruple of speaking freely about everyone , and I do n't think Alfred regards Mrs. Edmund with any serious unkindness .  If Mr. Milvain would walk over with the young ladies to-morrow , it would be very pleasant .  '  ' Then I think I may promise that he will .  I 'msure I do n't know where he is at this moment .  We do n't see very much of him , except at meals .  '  ' He wo n't be with you much longer , I suppose ?  '  ' Perhaps a week .  '  Before Miss Harrow 'sdeparture Maud and Dora reached home .  They were curious to see the young lady from the valley of the shadow of books , and gladly accepted the invitation offered them .  They set out on the following afternoon in their brother 'scompany .  It was only a quarter of an hour 'swalk to Mr. Yule 'shabitation , a small house in a large garden .  Jasper was coming hither for the first time ; his sisters now and then visited Miss Harrow , but very rarely saw Mr. Yule himself , who made no secret of the fact that he cared little for female society .  In Wattleborough and the neighbourhood opinions varied greatly as to this gentleman 'scharacter , but women seldom spoke very favourably of him .  Miss Harrow was reticent concerning her brother-in-law ; no one , however , had any reason to believe that she found life under his roof disagreeable .  That she lived with him at all was of course occasionally matter for comment , certain Wattleborough ladies having their doubts regarding the position of a deceased wife 'ssister under such circumstances ; but no one was seriously exercised about the relations between this sober lady of forty-five and a man of sixty-three in broken health .  A word of the family history .  John , Alfred , and Edmund Yule were the sons of a Wattleborough stationer .  Each was well educated , up to the age of seventeen , at the town 'sgrammar school .  The eldest , who was a hot-headed lad , but showed capacities for business , worked at first with his father , endeavouring to add a bookselling department to the trade in stationery ; but the life of home was not much to his taste , and at one- and-twenty he obtained a clerk 'splace in the office of a London newspaper .  Three years after , his father died , and the small patrimony which fell to him he used in making himself practically acquainted with the details of paper manufacture , his aim being to establish himself in partnership with an acquaintance who had started a small paper-mill in Hertfordshire .  His speculation succeeded , and as years went on he became a thriving manufacturer .  His brother Alfred , in the meantime , had drifted from work at a London bookseller 'sinto the modern Grub Street , his adventures in which region will concern us hereafter .  Edmund carried on the Wattleborough business , but with small success .  Between him and his eldest brother existed a good deal of affection , and in the end John offered him a share in his flourishing paper-works ; whereupon Edmund married , deeming himself well established for life .  But John 'stemper was a difficult one ; Edmund and he quarrelled , parted ; and when the younger died , aged about forty , he left but moderate provision for his widow and two children .  Only when he had reached middle age did John marry ; the experiment could not be called successful , and Mrs. Yule died three years later , childless .  At fifty-four John Yule retired from active business ; he came back to the scenes of his early life , and began to take an important part in the municipal affairs of Wattleborough .  He was then a remarkably robust man , fond of out- of-door exercise ; he made it one of his chief efforts to encourage the local Volunteer movement , the cricket and football clubs , public sports of every kind , showing no sympathy whatever with those persons who wished to establish free libraries , lectures , and the like .  At his own expense he built for the Volunteers a handsome drill-shed ; he founded a public gymnasium ; and finally he allowed it to be rumoured that he was going to present the town with a park .  But by presuming too far upon the bodily vigour which prompted these activities , he passed of a sudden into the state of a confirmed invalid .  On an autumn expedition in the Hebrides , he slept one night under the open sky , with the result that he had an all but fatal attack of rheumatic fever .  After that , though the direction of his interests was unchanged , he could no longer set the example to Wattleborough youth of muscular manliness .  The infliction did not improve his temper ; for the next year or two he was constantly at warfare with one or other of his colleagues and friends , ill brooking that the familiar control of various local interests should fall out of his hands .  But before long he appeared to resign himself to his fate , and at present Wattleborough saw little of him .  It seemed likely that he might still found the park which was to bear his name ; but perhaps it would only be done in consequence of directions in his will .  It was believed that he could not live much longer .  With his kinsfolk he held very little communication .  Alfred Yule , a battered man of letters , had visited Wattleborough only twice ( including the present occasion ) since John 'sreturn hither .  Mrs. Edmund Yule , with her daughter — now Mrs. Reardon — had been only once , three years ago .  These two families , as you have heard , were not on terms of amity with each other , owing to difficulties between Mrs. Alfred and Mrs. Edmund ; but John seemed to regard both impartially .  Perhaps the only real warmth of feeling he had ever known was bestowed upon Edmund , and Miss Harrow had remarked that he spoke with somewhat more interest of Edmund 'sdaughter , Amy , than of Alfred 'sdaughter , Marian .  But it was doubtful whether the sudden disappearance from the earth of all his relatives would greatly have troubled him .  He lived a life of curious self-absorption , reading newspapers ( little else ) , and talking with old friends who had stuck to him in spite of his irascibility .  Miss Harrow received her visitors in a small and soberly furnished drawing-room .  She was nervous , probably because of Jasper Milvain , whom she had met but once — last spring — and who on that occasion had struck her as an alarmingly modern young man .  In the shadow of a window-curtain sat a slight , simply-dressed girl , whose short curly hair and thoughtful countenance Jasper again recognised .  When it was his turn to be presented to Miss Yule , he saw that she doubted for an instant whether or not to give her hand ; yet she decided to do so , and there was something very pleasant to him in its warm softness .  She smiled with a slight embarrassment , meeting his look only for a second .  ' I have seen you several times , Miss Yule , ' he said in a friendly way , ' though without knowing your name .  It was under the great dome .  '  She laughed , readily understanding his phrase .  ' I am there very often , ' was her reply .  ' What great dome ?  ' asked Miss Harrow , with surprise .  ' That of the British Museum Reading-room , ' explained Jasper ; ' known to some of us as the valley of the shadow of books .  People who often work there necessarily get to know each other by sight .  In the same way I knew Miss Yule 'sfather when I happened to pass him in the road yesterday .  '  The three girls began to converse together , perforce of trivialities .  Marian Yule spoke in rather slow tones , thoughtfully , gently ; she had linked her fingers , and laid her hands , palms downwards , upon her lap — a nervous action .  Her accent was pure , unpretentious ; and she used none of the fashionable turns of speech which would have suggested the habit of intercourse with distinctly metropolitan society .  ' You must wonder how we exist in this out- of-the-way place , ' remarked Maud .  ' Rather , I envy you , ' Marian answered , with a slight emphasis .  The door opened , and Alfred Yule presented himself .  He was tall , and his head seemed a disproportionate culmination to his meagre body , it was so large and massively featured .  Intellect and uncertainty of temper were equally marked upon his visage ; his brows were knitted in a permanent expression of severity .  He had thin , smooth hair , grizzled whiskers , a shaven chin .  In the multitudinous wrinkles of his face lay a history of laborious and stormy life ; one readily divined in him a struggling and embittered man .  Though he looked older than his years , he had by no means the appearance of being beyond the ripeness of his mental vigour .  ' It pleases me to meet you , Mr. Milvain , ' he said , as he stretched out his bony hand .  ' Your name reminds me of a paper in The Wayside a month or two ago , which you will perhaps allow a veteran to say was not ill done .  '  ' I am grateful to you for noticing it , ' replied Jasper .  There was positively a touch of visible warmth upon his cheek .  The allusion had come so unexpectedly that it caused him keen pleasure .  Mr. Yule seated himself awkwardly , crossed his legs , and began to stroke the back of his left hand , which lay on his knee .  He seemed to have nothing more to say at present , and allowed Miss Harrow and the girls to support conversation .  Jasper listened with a smile for a minute or two , then he addressed the veteran .  ' Have you seen The Study this week , Mr. Yule ?  '  ' Yes .  '  ' Did you notice that it contains a very favourable review of a novel which was tremendously abused in the same columns three weeks ago ?  '  Mr. Yule started , but Jasper could perceive at once that his emotion was not disagreeable .  ' You do n't say so ?  '  ' Yes .  The novel is Miss Hawk 's" On the Boards .  " How will the editor get out of this ?  '  ' H 'm!  Of course Mr. Fadge is not immediately responsible ; but it 'llbe unpleasant for him , decidedly unpleasant , ' He smiled grimly .  ' You hear this , Marian ?  '  ' How is it explained , father ?  '  ' May be accident , of course ; but — well , there 'sno knowing .  I think it very likely this will be the end of Mr. Fadge 'stenure of office .  Rackett , the proprietor , only wants a plausible excuse for making a change .  The paper has been going downhill for the last year ; I know of two publishing houses who have withdrawn their advertising from it , and who never send their books for review .  Everyone foresaw that kind of thing from the day Mr. Fadge became editor .  The tone of his paragraphs has been detestable .  Two reviews of the same novel , eh ?  And diametrically opposed ?  Ha !  ha !  '  Gradually he had passed from quiet appreciation of the joke to undisguised mirth and pleasure .  His utterance of the name 'Mr .  Fadge 'sufficiently intimated that he had some cause of personal discontent with the editor of The Study .  ' The author , ' remarked Milvain , ' ought to make a good thing out of this .  '  ' Will , no doubt .  Ought to write at once to the papers , calling attention to this sample of critical impartiality .  Ha !  ha !  '  He rose and went to the window , where for several minutes he stood gazing at vacancy , the same grim smile still on his face .  Jasper in the meantime amused the ladies ( his sisters had heard him on this subject already ) with a description of the two antagonistic notices .  But he did not trust himself to express so freely as he had done at home his opinion of reviewing in general ; it was more than probable that both Yule and his daughter did a good deal of such work .  ' Suppose we go into the garden , ' suggested Miss Harrow , presently .  ' It seems a shame to sit indoors on such a lovely afternoon .  '  Hitherto there had been no mention of the master of the house .  But Mr. Yule now remarked to Jasper :  ' My brother would he glad if you would come and have a word with him .  He is n't quite well enough to leave his room to-day .  '  So , as the ladies went gardenwards , Jasper followed the man of letters upstairs to a room on the first floor .  Here , in a deep cane chair , which was placed by the open window , sat John Yule .  He was completely dressed , save that instead of coat he wore a dressing-gown .  The facial likeness between him and his brother was very strong , but John 'swould universally have been judged the finer countenance ; illness not withstanding , he had a complexion which contrasted in its pure colour with Alfred 'sparchmenty skin , and there was more finish about his features .  His abundant hair was reddish , his long moustache and trimmed beard a lighter shade of the same hue .  ' So you too are in league with the doctors , ' was his bluff greeting , as he held a hand to the young man and inspected him with a look of slighting good-nature .  ' Well , that certainly is one way of regarding the literary profession , ' admitted Jasper , who had heard enough of John 'sway of thinking to understand the remark .  ' A young fellow with all the world before him , too .  Hang it , Mr. Milvain , is there no less pernicious work you can turn your hand to ?  '  ' I 'mafraid not , Mr. Yule .  After all , you know , you must be held in a measure responsible for my depravity .  '  ' How 'sthat ?  '  ' I understand that you have devoted most of your life to the making of paper .  If that article were not so cheap and so abundant , people would n't have so much temptation to scribble .  '  Alfred Yule uttered a short laugh .  ' I think you are cornered , John .  '  ' I wish , ' answered John , ' that you were both condemned to write on such paper as I chiefly made ; it was a special kind of whitey-brown , used by shopkeepers .  '  He chuckled inwardly , and at the same time reached out for a box of cigarettes on a table near him .  His brother and Jasper each took one as he offered them , and began to smoke .  '  ' You would like to see literary production come entirely to an end ?  ' said Milvain .  ' I should like to see the business of literature abolished .  '  ' There 'sa distinction , of course .  But , on the whole , I should say that even the business serves a good purpose .  '  ' What purpose ?  '  ' It helps to spread civilisation .  '  'Civilisation !  ' exclaimed John , scornfully .  ' What do you mean by civilisation ?  Do you call it civilising men to make them weak , flabby creatures , with ruined eyes and dyspeptic stomachs ?  Who is it that reads most of the stuff that 'spoured out daily by the ton from the printing-press ?  Just the men and women who ought to spend their leisure hours in open-air exercise ; the people who earn their bread by sedentary pursuits , and who need to live as soon as they are free from the desk or the counter , not to moon over small print .  Your Board schools , your popular press , your spread of education !  Machinery for ruining the country , that 'swhat I call it .  '  ' You have done a good deal , I think , to counteract those influences in Wattleborough .  '  ' I hope so ; and if only I had kept the use of my limbs I 'dhave done a good deal more .  I have an idea of offering substantial prizes to men and women engaged in sedentary work who take an oath to abstain from all reading , and keep it for a certain number of years .  There 'sa good deal more need for that than for abstinence from strong liquor .  If I could have had my way I would have revived prize-fighting .  '  His brother laughed with contemptuous impatience .  ' You would doubtless like to see military conscription introduced into England ?  ' said Jasper .  ' Of course I should !  You talk of civilising ; there 'sno such way of civilising the masses of the people as by fixed military service .  Before mental training must come training of the body .  Go about the Continent , and see the effect of military service on loutish peasants and the lowest classes of town population .  Do you know why it is n't even more successful ?  Because the damnable education movement interferes .  If Germany would shut up her schools and universities for the next quarter of a century and go ahead like blazes with military training there 'dbe a nation such as the world has never seen .  After that , they might begin a little book-teaching again — say an hour and a half a day for everyone above nine years old .  Do you suppose , Mr. Milvain , that society is going to be reformed by you people who write for money ?  Why , you are the very first class that will be swept from the face of the earth as soon as the reformation really begins !  '  Alfred puffed at his cigarette .  His thoughts were occupied with Mr. Fadge and The Study .  He was considering whether he could aid in bringing public contempt upon that literary organ and its editor .  Milvain listened to the elder man 'sdiatribe with much amusement .  ' You , now , ' pursued John , ' what do you write about ?  '  ' Nothing in particular .  I make a saleable page or two out of whatever strikes my fancy .  '  ' Exactly !  You do n't even pretend that you 'vegot anything to say .  You live by inducing people to give themselves mental indigestion — and bodily , too , for that matter .  '  ' Do you know , Mr. Yule , that you have suggested a capital idea to me ?  If I were to take up your views , I think it is n't at all unlikely that I might make a good thing of writing against writing .  It should be my literary specialty to rail against literature .  The reading public should pay me for telling them that they ought n't to read .  I must think it over .  '  ' Carlyle has anticipated you , ' threw in Alfred .  ' Yes , but in an antiquated way .  I would base my polemic on the newest philosophy .  '  He developed the idea facetiously , whilst John regarded him as he might have watched a performing monkey .  ' There again !  your new philosophy !  ' exclaimed the invalid .  ' Why , it is n't even wholesome stuff , the kind of reading that most of you force on the public .  Now there 'sthe man who has married one of my nieces — poor lass !  Reardon , his name is .  You know him , I dare say .  Just for curiosity I had a look at one of his books ; it was called " The Optimist .  " Of all the morbid trash I ever saw , that beat everything .  I thought of writing him a letter , advising a couple of antibilious pills before bed-time for a few weeks .  '  Jasper glanced at Alfred Yule , who wore a look of indifference .  ' That man deserves penal servitude , in my opinion , ' pursued John .  ' I 'mnot sure that it is n't my duty to offer him a couple of hundred a year on condition that he writes no more .  '  Milvain , with a clear vision of his friend in London , burst into laughter .  But at that point Alfred rose from his chair .  ' Shall we rejoin the ladies ?  ' he said , with a certain pedantry of phrase and manner which often characterised him .  ' Think over your ways whilst you 'restill young , ' said John as he shook hands with his visitor .  ' Your brother speaks quite seriously , I suppose ?  ' Jasper remarked when he was in the garden with John .  ' I think so .  It 'samusing now and then , but gets rather tiresome when you hear it often .  By-the-by , you are not personally acquainted with Mr. Fadge ?  '  ' I did n't even know his name until you mentioned it .  '  ' The most malicious man in the literary world .  There 'sno uncharitableness in feeling a certain pleasure when he gets into a scrape .  I could tell you incredible stories about him ; but that kind of thing is probably as little to your taste as it is to mine .  '  Miss Harrow and her companions , having caught sight of the pair , came towards them .  Tea was to be brought out into the garden .  ' So you can sit with us and smoke , if you like , ' said Miss Harrow to Alfred .  ' You are never quite at your ease , I think , without a pipe .  '  But the man of letters was too preoccupied for society .  In a few minutes he begged that the ladies would excuse his withdrawing ; he had two or three letters to write before post-time , which was early at Finden .  Jasper , relieved by the veteran 'sdeparture , began at once to make himself very agreeable company .  When he chose to lay aside the topic of his own difficulties and ambitions , he could converse with a spontaneous gaiety which readily won the good-will of listeners .  Naturally he addressed himself very often to Marian Yule , whose attention complimented him .  She said little , and evidently was at no time a free talker , but the smile on her face indicated a mood of quiet enjoyment .  When her eyes wandered , it was to rest on the beauties of the garden , the moving patches of golden sunshine , the forms of gleaming cloud .  Jasper liked to observe her as she turned her head : there seemed to him a particular grace in the movement ; her head and neck were admirably formed , and the short hair drew attention to this .  It was agreed that Miss Harrow and Marian should come on the second day after to have tea with the Milvains .  And when Jasper took leave of Alfred Yule , the latter expressed a wish that they might have a walk together one of these mornings .  CHAPTER III HOLIDAY  Jasper 'sfavourite walk led him to a spot distant perhaps a mile and a half from home .  From a tract of common he turned into a short lane which crossed the Great Western railway , and thence by a stile into certain meadows forming a compact little valley .  One recommendation of this retreat was that it lay sheltered from all winds ; to Jasper a wind was objectionable .  Along the bottom ran a clear , shallow stream , overhung with elder and hawthorn bushes ; and close by the wooden bridge which spanned it was a great ash tree , making shadow for cows and sheep when the sun lay hot upon the open field .  It was rare for anyone to come along this path , save farm labourers morning and evening .  But to-day — the afternoon that followed his visit to John Yule 'shouse — he saw from a distance that his lounging place on the wooden bridge was occupied .  Someone else had discovered the pleasure there was in watching the sun-flecked sparkle of the water as it flowed over the clean sand and stones .  A girl in a yellow-straw hat ; yes , and precisely the person he had hoped , at the first glance , that it might be .  He made no haste as he drew nearer on the descending path .  At length his footstep was heard ; Marian Yule turned her head and clearly recognised him .  She assumed an upright position , letting one of her hands rest upon the rail .  After the exchange of ordinary greetings , Jasper leaned back against the same support and showed himself disposed for talk .  ' When I was here late in the spring , ' he said , ' this ash was only just budding , though everything else seemed in full leaf .  '  ' An ash , is it ?  ' murmured Marian .  ' I did n't know .  I think an oak is the only tree I can distinguish .  Yet , ' she added quickly , ' I knew that the ash was late ; some lines of Tennyson come to my memory .  '  ' Which are those ?  ' 'Delaying , as the tender ash delays To clothe herself , when all the woods are green , somewhere in the " Idylls .  " '  ' I do n't remember ; so I wo n't pretend to — though I should do so as a rule .  '  She looked at him oddly , and seemed about to laugh , yet did not .  ' You have had little experience of the country ?  ' Jasper continued .  ' Very little .  You , I think , have known it from childhood ?  '  ' In a sort of way .  I was born in Wattleborough , and my people have always lived here .  But I am not very rural in temperament .  I have really no friends here ; either they have lost interest in me , or I in them .  What do you think of the girls , my sisters ?  '  The question , though put with perfect simplicity , was embarrassing .  ' They are tolerably intellectual , ' Jasper went on , when he saw that it would be difficult for her to answer .  ' I want to persuade them to try their hands at literary work of some kind or other .  They give lessons , and both hate it .  '  ' Would literary work be less — burdensome ?  ' said Marian , without looking at him .  ' Rather more so , you think ?  '  She hesitated .  ' It depends , of course , on — on several things .  '  ' To be sure , ' Jasper agreed .  ' I do n't think they have any marked faculty for such work ; but as they certainly have n't for teaching , that does n't matter .  It 'sa question of learning a business .  I am going through my apprenticeship , and find it a long affair .  Money would shorten it , and , unfortunately , I have none .  '  ' Yes , ' said Marian , turning her eyes upon the stream , ' money is a help in everything .  '  ' Without it , one spends the best part of one 'slife in toiling for that first foothold which money could at once purchase .  To have money is becoming of more and more importance in a literary career ; principally because to have money is to have friends .  Year by year , such influence grows of more account .  A lucky man will still occasionally succeed by dint of his own honest perseverance , but the chances are dead against anyone who ca n't make private interest with influential people ; his work is simply overwhelmed by that of the men who have better opportunities .  '  ' Do n't you think that , even to-day , really good work will sooner or later be recognised ?  '  ' Later , rather than sooner ; and very likely the man ca n't wait ; he starves in the meantime .  You understand that I am not speaking of genius ; I mean marketable literary work .  The quantity turned out is so great that there 'sno hope for the special attention of the public unless one can afford to advertise hugely .  Take the instance of a successful all-round man of letters ; take Ralph Warbury , whose name you 'llsee in the first magazine you happen to open .  But perhaps he is a friend of yours ?  '  ' Oh , no !  '  ' Well , I was n't going to abuse him .  I was only going to ask : Is there any quality which distinguishes his work from that of twenty struggling writers one could name ?  Of course not .  He 'sa clever , prolific man ; so are they .  But he began with money and friends ; he came from Oxford into the thick of advertised people ; his name was mentioned in print six times a week before he had written a dozen articles .  This kind of thing will become the rule .  Men wo n't succeed in literature that they may get into society , but will get into society that they may succeed in literature .  '  ' Yes , I know it is true , ' said Marian , in a low voice .  ' There 'sa friend of mine who writes novels , ' Jasper pursued .  ' His books are not works of genius , but they are glaringly distinct from the ordinary circulating novel .  Well , after one or two attempts , he made half a success ; that is to say , the publishers brought out a second edition of the book in a few months .  There was his opportunity .  But he could n't use it ; he had no friends , because he had no money .  A book of half that merit if written by a man in the position of Warbury when he started would have established the reputation of a lifetime .  His influential friends would have referred to it in leaders , in magazine articles , in speeches , in sermons .  It would have run through numerous editions , and the author would have had nothing to do but to write another book and demand his price .  But the novel I 'mspeaking of was practically forgotten a year after its appearance ; it was whelmed beneath the flood of next season 'sliterature .  '  Marian urged a hesitating objection .  ' But , under the circumstances , was n't it in the author 'spower to make friends ?  Was money really indispensable ?  '  ' Why , yes — because he chose to marry .  As a bachelor he might possibly have got into the right circles , though his character would in any case have made it difficult for him to curry favour .  But as a married man , without means , the situation was hopeless .  Once married , you must live up to the standard of the society you frequent ; you ca n't be entertained without entertaining in return .  Now if his wife had brought him only a couple of thousand pounds all might have been well .  I should have advised him , in sober seriousness , to live for two years at the rate of a thousand a year .  At the end of that time he would have been earning enough to continue at pretty much the same rate of expenditure .  '  ' Perhaps .  '  ' Well , I ought rather to say that the average man of letters would be able to do that .  As for Reardon — '  He stopped .  The name had escaped him unawares .  ' Reardon ?  ' said Marian , looking up .  ' You are speaking of him ?  '  ' I have betrayed myself , Miss Yule .  '  ' But what does it matter ?  You have only spoken in his favour .  '  ' I feared the name might affect you disagreeably .  '  Marian delayed her reply .  ' It is true , ' she said , ' we are not on friendly terms with my cousin 'sfamily .  I have never met Mr. Reardon .  But I should n't like you to think that the mention of his name is disagreeable to me .  '  ' It made me slightly uncomfortable yesterday — the fact that I am well acquainted with Mrs. Edmund Yule , and that Reardon is my friend .  Yet I did n't see why that should prevent my making your father 'sacquaintance .  '  ' Surely not .  I shall say nothing about it ; I mean , as you uttered the name unintentionally .  '  There was a pause in the dialogue .  They had been speaking almost confidentially , and Marian seemed to become suddenly aware of an oddness in the situation .  She turned towards the uphill path , as if thinking of resuming her walk .  ' You are tired of standing still , ' said Jasper .  ' May I walk back a part of the way with you ?  '  ' Thank you ; I shall be glad .  '  They went on for a few minutes in silence .  ' Have you published anything with your signature , Miss Yule ?  ' Jasper at length inquired .  ' Nothing .  I only help father a little .  '  The silence that again followed was broken this time by Marian .  ' When you chanced to mention Mr. Reardon 'sname , ' she said , with a diffident smile in which lay that suggestion of humour so delightful upon a woman 'sface , ' you were going to say something more about him ?  '  ' Only that — ' he broke off and laughed .  ' Now , how boyish it was , was n't it ?  I remember doing just the same thing once when I came home from school and had an exciting story to tell , with preservation of anonymities .  Of course I blurted out a name in the first minute or two , to my father 'sgreat amusement .  He told me that I had n't the diplomatic character .  I have been trying to acquire it ever since .  '  ' But why ?  '  ' It 'sone of the essentials of success in any kind of public life .  And I mean to succeed , you know .  I feel that I am one of the men who do succeed .  But I beg your pardon ; you asked me a question .  Really , I was only going to say of Reardon what I had said before : that he has n't the tact requisite for acquiring popularity .  '  ' Then I may hope that it is n't his marriage with my cousin which has proved a fatal misfortune ?  '  ' In no case , ' replied Milvain , averting his look , ' would he have used his advantages .  '  ' And now ?  Do you think he has but poor prospects ?  '  ' I wish I could see any chance of his being estimated at his right value .  It 'svery hard to say what is before him .  '  ' I knew my cousin Amy when we were children , ' said Marian , presently .  ' She gave promise of beauty .  '  ' Yes , she is beautiful .  '  ' And — the kind of woman to be of help to such a husband ?  '  ' I hardly know how to answer , Miss Yule , ' said Jasper , looking frankly at her .  ' Perhaps I had better say that it 'sunfortunate they are poor .  '  Marian cast down her eyes .  ' To whom is n't it a misfortune ?  ' pursued her companion .  ' Poverty is the root of all social ills ; its existence accounts even for the ills that arise from wealth .  The poor man is a man labouring in fetters .  I declare there is no word in our language which sounds so hideous to me as " Poverty .  " '  Shortly after this they came to the bridge over the railway line .  Jasper looked at his watch .  ' Will you indulge me in a piece of childishness ?  ' he said .  ' In less than five minutes a London express goes by ; I have often watched it here , and it amuses me .  Would it weary you to wait ?  '  ' I should like to , ' she replied with a laugh .  The line ran along a deep cutting , from either side of which grew hazel bushes and a few larger trees .  Leaning upon the parapet of the bridge , Jasper kept his eye in the westward direction , where the gleaming rails were visible for more than a mile .  Suddenly he raised his finger .  ' You hear ?  '  Marian had just caught the far-off sound of the train .  She looked eagerly , and in a few moments saw it approaching .  The front of the engine blackened nearer and nearer , coming on with dread force and speed .  A blinding rush , and there burst against the bridge a great volley of sunlit steam .  Milvain and his companion ran to the opposite parapet , but already the whole train had emerged , and in a few seconds it had disappeared round a sharp curve .  The leafy branches that grew out over the line swayed violently backwards and forwards in the perturbed air .  ' If I were ten years younger , ' said Jasper , laughing , ' I should say that was jolly !  It enspirits me .  It makes me feel eager to go back and plunge into the fight again .  '  ' Upon me it has just the opposite effect , ' fell from Marian , in very low tones .  ' Oh , do n't say that !  Well , it only means that you have n't had enough holiday yet .  I have been in the country more than a week ; a few days more and I must be off .  How long do you think of staying ?  '  ' Not much more than a week , I think .  '  ' By-the-by , you are coming to have tea with us to-morrow , ' Jasper remarked à propos of nothing .  Then he returned to another subject that was in his thoughts .  ' It was by a train like that that I first went up to London .  Not really the first time ; I mean when I went to live there , seven years ago .  What spirits I was in !  A boy of eighteen going to live independently in London ; think of it !  '  ' You went straight from school ?  '  ' I was for two years at Redmayne College after leaving Wattleborough Grammar School .  Then my father died , and I spent nearly half a year at home .  I was meant to be a teacher , but the prospect of entering a school by no means appealed to me .  A friend of mine was studying in London for some Civil Service exam .  , so I declared that I would go and do the same thing .  '  ' Did you succeed ?  '  ' Not I !  I never worked properly for that kind of thing .  I read voraciously , and got to know London .  I might have gone to the dogs , you know ; but by when I had been in London a year a pretty clear purpose began to form in me .  Strange to think that you were growing up there all the time .  I may have passed you in the street now and then .  '  Marian laughed .  ' And I did at length see you at the British Museum , you know .  '  They turned a corner of the road , and came full upon Marian 'sfather , who was walking in this direction with eyes fixed upon the ground .  ' So here you are !  ' he exclaimed , looking at the girl , and for the moment paying no attention to Jasper .  ' I wondered whether I should meet you .  ' Then , more dryly , ' How do you do , Mr. Milvain ?  '  In a tone of easy indifference Jasper explained how he came to be accompanying Miss Yule .  ' Shall I walk on with you , father ?  ' Marian asked , scrutinising his rugged features .  ' Just as you please ; I do n't know that I should have gone much further .  But we might take another way back .  '  Jasper readily adapted himself to the wish he discerned in Mr. Yule ; at once he offered leave- taking in the most natural way .  Nothing was said on either side about another meeting .  The young man proceeded homewards , but , on arriving , did not at once enter the house .  Behind the garden was a field used for the grazing of horses ; he entered it by the unfastened gate , and strolled idly hither and thither , now and then standing to observe a poor worn-out beast , all skin and bone , which had presumably been sent here in the hope that a little more labour might still be exacted from it if it were suffered to repose for a few weeks .  There were sores upon its back and legs ; it stood in a fixed attitude of despondency , just flicking away troublesome flies with its grizzled tail .  It was tea-time when he went in .  Maud was not at home , and Mrs. Milvain , tormented by a familiar headache , kept her room ; so Jasper and Dora sat down together .  Each had an open book on the table ; throughout the meal they exchanged only a few words .  ' Going to play a little ?  ' Jasper suggested when they had gone into the sitting-room .  ' If you like .  '