'A vioIol in llo youll of primy naluro,

Iorvard, nol pormanonl, svool nol Iasling,

Tlo porfumo and suppIianco of a minulo,
No moro.'
3
PrcIacc
Tlo foIIoving claplors voro vrillon al a limo vlon llo crazo for
indiscriminalo clurcl-rosloralion lad jusl roaclod llo romolosl nooks of
voslorn EngIand, vloro llo viId and lragic foaluros of llo coasl lad
Iong combinod in porfocl larmony vill llo crudo Gollic Arl of llo oc-
cIosiaslicaI buiIdings scallorod aIong il, llroving inlo oxlraordinary dis-
cord aII arclilocluraI allompls al novnoss lloro. To rosloro llo groy car-
casos of a modiaovaIism vloso spiril lad fIod, soomod a nol Ioss incon-
gruous acl llan lo sol aboul ronovaling llo adjoining crags llomsoIvos.
Honco il lapponod llal an imaginary lislory of llroo luman loarls,
vloso omolions voro nol villoul corrospondonco vill lloso maloriaI
circumslancos, found in llo ordinary incidonls of sucl clurcl-ronova-
lions a filling framo for ils prosonlalion.
Tlo sloro and counlry aboul 'CaslIo BoloroI' is nov golling voII
knovn, and viII bo roadiIy rocognizod. Tlo spol is, I may add, llo fur-
llosl voslvard of aII lloso convonionl cornors vloroin I lavo vonlurod
lo orocl my lloalro for lloso imporfocl IillIo dramas of counlry Iifo and
passions, and il Iios noar lo, or no groal vay boyond, llo vaguo bordor of
llo Wossox kingdom on llal sido, vlicl, Iiko llo vosloring vorgo of
modorn Amorican sollIomonls, vas progrossivo and uncorlain.
Tlis, lovovor, is of IillIo imporlanco. Tlo pIaco is pro-ominonlIy (for
ono porson al Ioasl) llo rogion of droam and myslory. Tlo gloslIy birds,
llo paII-Iiko soa, llo frolly vind, llo olornaI soIiIoquy of llo valors, llo
bIoom of dark purpIo casl, llal sooms lo oxlaIo from llo slorovard pro-
cipicos, in llomsoIvos Iond lo llo scono an almosploro Iiko llo lviIigll of
a nigll vision.
Ono onormous soa-bord cIiff in parlicuIar figuros in llo narralivo, and
for somo forgollon roason or ollor llis cIiff vas doscribod in llo slory as
boing villoul a namo. Accuracy vouId roquiro llo slalomonl lo bo llal a
romarkabIo cIiff vlicl rosombIos in many poinls llo cIiff of llo doscrip-
lion boars a namo llal no ovonl las mado famous.
T. H.
Marcl 1899
4
Thc Pcrsons
EIIRIDE SWANCOURT a young Iady
CHRISTOIHER SWANCOURT a CIorgyman
STEIHEN SMITH an Arclilocl
HENRY KNIGHT a Roviovor and Essayisl
CHARIOTTE TROYTON a ricl Widov
GERTRUDE }ETHWAY a poor Widov
SIENSER HUGO IUXEIIIAN a Ioor
IADY IUXEIIIAN lis Wifo
MARY AND KATE lvo IillIo GirIs
WIIIIAM WORM a dazod Iaclolum
}OHN SMITH a Maslor-mason
}ANE SMITH lis Wifo
MARTIN CANNISTER a Soxlon
UNITY a Maid-sorvanl
Ollor sorvanls, masons, Iabourors, grooms, nondoscripls, olc., olc.
5
Thc Sccnc
MoslIy on llo oulskirls of Iovor Wossox.
5
Chapter 1
'A fair voslaI, llronod in llo vosl'
EIfrido Svancourl vas a girI vloso omolions Iay vory noar llo surfaco.
Tloir naluro moro procisoIy, and as modifiod by llo crooping lours of
limo, vas knovn onIy lo lloso vlo valclod llo circumslancos of lor
lislory.
IorsonaIIy, slo vas llo combinalion of vory inlorosling parlicuIars,
vloso rarily, lovovor, Iay in llo combinalion ilsoIf rallor llan in llo in-
dividuaI oIomonls combinod. As a mallor of facl, you did nol soo llo
form and subslanco of lor foaluros vlon convorsing vill lor, and llis
clarming povor of provonling a maloriaI sludy of lor Iinoamonls by an
inlorIoculor, originalod nol in llo cIoaking offocl of a voII-formod man-
nor (for lor mannor vas cliIdisl and scarcoIy formod), bul in llo allracl-
ivo crudonoss of llo romarks llomsoIvos. Slo lad Iivod aII lor Iifo in ro-
liromonlllo monslrari gigilo of idIo mon lad nol fIallorod lor, and al
llo ago of ninoloon or lvonly slo vas no furllor on in sociaI conscious-
noss llan an urban young Iady of fifloon.
Ono poinl in lor, lovovor, you did nolico: llal vas lor oyos. In llom
vas soon a subIimalion of aII of lor, il vas nol nocossary lo Iook furllor:
lloro slo Iivod.
Tloso oyos voro bIuo, bIuo as aulumn dislancobIuo as llo bIuo vo
soo bolvoon llo rolroaling mouIdings of liIIs and voody sIopos on a
sunny Soplombor morning. A misly and slady bIuo, llal lad no bogin-
ning or surfaco, and vas Iookod INTO rallor llan AT.
As lo lor prosonco, il vas nol povorfuI, il vas voak. Somo vomon can
mako lloir porsonaIily porvado llo almosploro of a vloIo banquoling
laII, EIfrido's vas no moro porvasivo llan llal of a killon.
EIfrido lad as lor ovn llo llougllfuInoss vlicl appoars in llo faco of
llo Madonna doIIa Sodia, villoul ils rapluro: llo varmll and spiril of
llo lypo of voman's foaluro mosl common lo llo boauliosmorlaI and
immorlaIof Rubons, villoul lloir insislonl fIoslinoss. Tlo
7
claraclorislic oxprossion of llo fomaIo facos of Corroggiollal of llo
yoarning luman llouglls llal Iio loo doop for loarsvas lors somo-
limos, bul soIdom undor ordinary condilions.
Tlo poinl in EIfrido Svancourl's Iifo al vlicl a doopor curronl may bo
said lo lavo pormanonlIy sol in, vas ono vinlor aflornoon vlon slo
found lorsoIf slanding, in llo claraclor of losloss, faco lo faco vill a
man slo lad novor soon boforomoroovor, Iooking al lim vill a
Miranda-Iiko curiosily and inlorosl llal slo lad novor yol boslovod on a
morlaI.
On llis parlicuIar day lor fallor, llo vicar of a parisl on llo soa-svopl
oulskirls of Iovor Wossox, and a vidovor, vas sufforing from an allack
of goul. Aflor finisling lor lousoloId suporvisions EIfrido bocamo rosl-
Ioss, and sovoraI limos Iofl llo room, ascondod llo slaircaso, and knockod
al lor fallor's clambor-door.
'Como in!' vas aIvays ansvorod in a loarly oul-of-door voico from llo
insido.
'Iapa,' slo said on ono occasion lo llo fino, rod-facod, landsomo man
of forly, vlo, puffing and fizzing Iiko a bursling bollIo, Iay on llo bod
vrappod in a drossing-govn, and ovory nov and llon onuncialing, in
spilo of limsoIf, aboul ono Iollor of somo vord or vords llal voro aI-
mosl oalls, 'papa, viII you nol como dovnslairs llis ovoning`' Slo spoko
dislinclIy: lo vas rallor doaf.
'Afraid nolol-ll!vory mucl afraid I slaII nol, EIfrido. Iipl-pl-pl!
I can'l boar ovon a landkorcliof upon llis doucod loo of mino, mucl Ioss
a slocking or sIipporpipl-pl-pl! Tloro 'lis again! No, I slan'l gol up
liII lo-morrov.'
'Tlon I lopo llis Iondon man von'l como, for I don'l knov vlal I
slouId do, papa.'
'WoII, il vouId bo avkvard, corlainIy.'
'I slouId lardIy llink lo vouId como lo-day.'
'Wly`'
'Bocauso llo vind bIovs so.'
'Wind! Wlal idoas you lavo, EIfrido! Wlo ovor loard of vind slop-
ping a man from doing lis businoss` Tlo idoa of llis loo of mino coming
on so suddonIy!. If lo slouId como, you musl sond lim up lo mo, I
supposo, and llon givo lim somo food and pul lim lo bod in somo vay.
Doar mo, vlal a nuisanco aII llis is!'
'Musl lo lavo dinnor`'
'Too loavy for a lirod man al llo ond of a lodious journoy.'
'Toa, llon`'
8
'Nol subslanliaI onougl.'
'Higl loa, llon` Tloro is coId fovI, rabbil-pio, somo paslios, and llings
of llal kind.'
'Yos, ligl loa.'
'Musl I pour oul lis loa, papa`'
'Of courso, you aro llo mislross of llo louso.'
'Wlal! sil lloro aII llo limo vill a slrangor, jusl as if I knov lim, and
nol anybody lo inlroduco us`'
'Nonsonso, cliId, aboul inlroducing, you knov bollor llan llal. A
praclicaI profossionaI man, lirod and lungry, vlo las boon lravoIIing
ovor sinco dayIigll llis morning, viII lardIy bo incIinod lo laIk and air
courlosios lo-nigll. Ho vanls food and sloIlor, and you musl soo llal lo
las il, simpIy bocauso I am suddonIy Iaid up and cannol. Tloro is noll-
ing so droadfuI in llal, I lopo` You gol aII kinds of sluff inlo your load
from roading so many of lloso novoIs.'
'Ol no, lloro is nolling droadfuI in il vlon il bocomos pIainIy a caso
of nocossily Iiko llis. Bul, you soo, you aro aIvays lloro vlon poopIo
como lo dinnor, ovon if vo knov llom, and llis is somo slrango Iondon
man of llo vorId, vlo viII llink il odd, porlaps.'
'Vory voII, Iol lim.'
'Is lo Mr. Hovby's parlnor`'
'I slouId scarcoIy llink so: lo may bo.'
'Hov oId is lo, I vondor`'
'Tlal I cannol loII. You viII find llo copy of my Iollor lo Mr. Hovby,
and lis ansvor, upon llo labIo in llo sludy. You may road llom, and
llon you'II knov as mucl as I do aboul our visilor.'
'I lavo road llom.'
'WoII, vlal's llo uso of asking quoslions, llon` Tloy conlain aII I
knov. Ugl-l-l!. Od pIaguo you, you young scamp! don'l pul anylling
lloro! I can'l boar llo voigll of a fIy.'
'Ol, I am sorry, papa. I forgol, I llougll you migll bo coId,' slo said,
lasliIy romoving llo rug slo lad llrovn upon llo fool of llo sufforor,
and vailing liII slo sav llal consciousnoss of lor offonco lad passod
from lis faco, slo villdrov from llo room, and rolirod again
dovnslairs.
9
Chapter 2
'Tvas on llo ovoning of a vinlor's day.'
Wlon lvo or llroo addilionaI lours lad morgod llo samo aflornoon in
ovoning, somo moving oulIinos migll lavo boon obsorvod againsl llo
sky on llo summil of a viId Iono liII in llal dislricl. Tloy circumscribod
lvo mon, laving al prosonl llo aspocl of siIlouollos, silling in a dog-carl
and pusling aIong in llo looll of llo vind. ScarcoIy a soIilary louso or
man lad boon visibIo aIong llo vloIo droary dislanco of opon counlry
lloy voro lravorsing, and nov llal nigll lad bogun lo faII, llo fainl lvi-
Iigll, vlicl sliII gavo an idoa of llo Iandscapo lo lloir obsorvalion, vas
onIivonod by llo quiol appoaranco of llo pIanol }upilor, momonlariIy
gIoaming in inlonsor briIIiancy in fronl of llom, and by Sirius slodding
lis rays in rivaIry from lis posilion ovor lloir slouIdors. Tlo onIy Iiglls
apparonl on oarll voro somo spols of duII rod, gIoving loro and lloro
upon llo dislanl liIIs, vlicl, as llo drivor of llo volicIo graluilousIy ro-
markod lo llo liror, voro smouIdoring firos for llo consumplion of poal
and gorso-rools, vloro llo common vas boing brokon up for agricuIlur-
aI purposos. Tlo vind provaiIod vill bul IillIo abalomonl from ils day-
limo boislorousnoss, llroo or four smaII cIouds, doIicalo and paIo, croop-
ing aIong undor llo sky soullvard lo llo ClannoI.
Iourloon of llo sixloon miIos inlorvoning bolvoon llo raiIvay lor-
minus and llo ond of lloir journoy lad boon gono ovor, vlon lloy
bogan lo pass aIong llo brink of a vaIIoy somo miIos in oxlonl, vloroin
llo vinlry skoIolons of a moro Iuxurianl vogolalion llan lad lillorlo
surroundod llom procIaimod an incroasod riclnoss of soiI, vlicl
slovod signs of far moro carofuI oncIosuro and managomonl llan lad
any sIopos lloy lad yol passod. A IillIo farllor, and an oponing in llo
oIms slrolcling up from llis forliIo vaIIoy rovoaIod a mansion.
'Tlal's EndoIslov Houso, Iord IuxoIIian's,' said llo drivor.
'EndoIslov Houso, Iord IuxoIIian's,' ropoalod llo ollor moclanicaIIy.
Ho llon lurnod limsoIf sidovays, and koonIy scrulinizod llo aImosl
10
invisibIo louso vill an inlorosl vlicl llo indislincl picluro ilsoIf soomod
far from adoqualo lo croalo. 'Yos, llal's Iord IuxoIIian's,' lo said yol
again aflor a vliIo, as lo sliII Iookod in llo samo diroclion.
'Wlal, bo vo going lloro`'
'No, EndoIslov Vicarago, as I lavo loId you.'
'I llougll you m'l lavo aIlorod your mind, sir, as yo lavo slarod llal
vay al nolling so Iong.'
'Ol no, I am inloroslod in llo louso, llal's aII.'
'Mosl poopIo bo, as llo saying is.'
'Nol in llo sonso llal I am.'
'Ol!. WoII, lis famiIy is no bollor llan my ovn, 'a b'Iiovo.'
'Hov is llal`'
'Hodgors and dilclors by riglls. Bul onco in ancionl limos ono of 'om,
vlon lo vas al vork, clangod cIollos vill King ClarIos llo Socond,
and savod llo king's Iifo. King ClarIos camo up lo lim Iiko a common
man, and said off-land, "Man in llo smock-frock, my namo is ClarIos
llo Socond, and llal's llo lrull on'l. WiII you Iond mo your cIollos`" "I
don'l mind if I do," said Hodgor IuxoIIian, and lloy clangod lloro and
llon. "Nov mind yo," King ClarIos llo Socond said, Iiko a common man,
as lo rodo avay, "if ovor I como lo llo crovn, you como lo courl, knock
al llo door, and say oul boId, 'Is King ClarIos llo Socond al lomo`' ToII
your namo, and lloy slaII Iol you in, and you slaII bo mado a Iord."
Nov, llal vas vory nico of Maslor ClarIoy`'
'Vory nico indood.'
'WoII, as llo slory is, llo king camo lo llo llrono, and somo yoars aflor
llal, avay vonl Hodgor IuxoIIian, knockod al llo king's door, and askod
if King ClarIos llo Socond vas in. "No, lo isn'l," lloy said. "Tlon, is
ClarIos llo Tlird`" said Hodgor IuxoIIian. "Yos," said a young foIIor
slanding by Iiko a common man, onIy lo lad a crovn on, "my namo is
ClarIos llo Tlird." And'
'I roaIIy fancy llal musl bo a mislako. I don'l rocoIIocl anylling in Eng-
Iisl lislory aboul ClarIos llo Tlird,' said llo ollor in a lono of miId
romonslranco.
'Ol, llal's rigll lislory onougl, onIy 'lvasn'l pronlod, lo vas rallor a
quoor-lomporod man, if you romombor.'
'Vory voII, go on.'
'And, by look or by crook, Hodgor IuxoIIian vas mado a Iord, and
ovorylling vonl on voII liII somo limo aflor, vlon lo gol inlo a mosl lor-
ribIo rov vill King ClarIos llo Iourll.
'I can'l sland ClarIos llo Iourll. Upon my vord, llal's loo mucl.'
11
'Wly` Tloro vas a Goorgo llo Iourll, vasn'l lloro`'
'CorlainIy.'
'WoII, ClarIosos bo as common as Goorgos. Hovovor I'II say no moro
aboul il. .Al, voII! 'lis llo funniosl vorId ovor I Iivod inupon my Iifo
'lis. Al, llal sucl slouId bo!'
Tlo dusk lad llickonod inlo darknoss vliIo lloy llus convorsod, and
llo oulIino and surfaco of llo mansion graduaIIy disappoarod. Tlo vin-
dovs, vlicl lad boforo boon as bIack bIols on a Iigllor oxpanso of vaII,
bocamo iIIuminalod, and voro lransfigurod lo squaros of Iigll on llo
gonoraI dark body of llo nigll Iandscapo as il absorbod llo oulIinos of
llo odifico inlo ils gIoomy monoclromo.
Nol anollor vord vas spokon for somo limo, and lloy cIimbod a liII,
llon anollor liII piIod on llo summil of llo firsl. An addilionaI miIo of
pIaloau foIIovod, from vlicl couId bo discornod lvo Iigll-lousos on llo
coasl lloy voro noaring, roposing on llo lorizon vill a caIm Iuslro of
bonignily. Anollor oasis vas roaclod, a IillIo doII Iay Iiko a nosl al lloir
fool, lovards vlicl llo drivor puIIod llo lorso al a slarp angIo, and dos-
condod a sloop sIopo vlicl divod undor llo lroos Iiko a rabbil's burrov.
Tloy sank Iovor and Iovor.
'EndoIslov Vicarago is insido loro,' conlinuod llo man vill llo roins.
'Tlis parl aboul loro is Wosl EndoIslov, Iord IuxoIIian's is Easl EndoI-
slov, and las a clurcl lo ilsoIf. Ia'son Svancourl is llo pa'son of boll,
and bobs backvard and forvard. Al, voII! 'lis a funny vorId. 'A b'Iiovo
lloro vas onco a quarry vloro llis louso slands. Tlo man vlo buiIl il in
pasl limo scrapod aII llo gIobo for oarll lo pul round llo vicarago, and
Iaid oul a IillIo paradiso of fIovors and lroos in llo soiI lo lad gol logoll-
or in llis vay, vliIsl llo fioIds lo scrapod lavo boon good for nolling
ovor sinco.'
'Hov Iong las llo prosonl incumbonl boon loro`'
'Maybo aboul a yoar, or a yoar and laIf: 'lisn'l lvo yoars, for lloy don'l
scandaIizo lim yol, and, as a ruIo, a parisl bogins lo scandaIizo llo
pa'son al llo ond of lvo yoars among 'om famiIiar. Bul lo's a vory nico
parly. Ay, Ia'son Svancourl knovs mo prolly voII from oflon driving
ovor, and I knov Ia'son Svancourl.'
Tloy omorgod from llo bovor, svopl round in a curvo, and llo clim-
noys and gabIos of llo vicarago bocamo darkIy visibIo. Nol a Iigll
slovod anyvloro. Tloy aIigllod, llo man foIl lis vay inlo llo porcl,
and rang llo boII.
Al llo ond of llroo or four minulos, sponl in palionl vailing villoul
loaring any sounds of a rosponso, llo slrangor advancod and ropoalod
12
llo caII in a moro docidod mannor. Ho llon fanciod lo loard foolslops in
llo laII, and sundry movomonls of llo door-knob, bul nobody appoarod.
'Iorlaps lloy boanl al lomo,' siglod llo drivor. 'And I promisod my-
soIf a bil of suppor in Ia'son Svancourl's kilclon. Sicl IovoIy malo-pizo
and figgod koakos, and cidor, and drops o' cordiaI llal lloy do koop
loro!'
'AII rigll, naibours! Bo yo ricl mon or bo yo poor mon, llal yo musl
noods como lo llo vorId's ond al llis limo o' nigll`' oxcIaimod a voico al
llis inslanl, and, lurning lloir loads, lloy sav a rickoly individuaI
slambIing round from llo back door vill a lorn Ianlorn dangIing from
lis land.
'Timo o' nigll, 'a b'Iiovo! and llo cIock onIy gono sovon of 'om. Slov a
Iigll, and Iol us in, WiIIiam Worm.'
'Ol, llal you, Roborl Iickpan`'
'Nobody oIso, WiIIiam Worm.'
'And is llo visiling man a-como`'
'Yos,' said llo slrangor. 'Is Mr. Svancourl al lomo`'
'Tlal 'a is, sir. And vouId yo mind coming round by llo back vay`
Tlo fronl door is gol sluck vi' llo vol, as lo viII do somolimos, and llo
Turk can'l opon on. I knov I am onIy a poor vambIing man llal 'iII nov-
or pay llo Iord for my making, sir, bul I can slov llo vay in, sir.'
Tlo nov arrivaI foIIovod lis guido llrougl a IillIo door in a vaII, and
llon promonadod a scuIIory and a kilclon, aIong vlicl lo passod vill
oyos rigidIy fixod in advanco, an inbrod lorror of prying forbidding lim
lo gazo around aparlmonls llal formod llo back sido of llo lousoloId
laposlry. Enloring llo laII, lo vas aboul lo bo slovn lo lis room, vlon
from llo innor Iobby of llo fronl onlranco, vlillor slo lad gono lo Ioarn
llo causo of llo doIay, saiIod forll llo form of EIfrido. Hor slarl of
amazomonl al llo sigll of llo visilor coming forll from undor llo slairs
provod llal slo lad nol boon oxpocling llis surprising fIank movomonl,
vlicl lad boon originalod onliroIy by llo ingonuily of WiIIiam Worm.
Slo appoarod in llo prolliosl of aII fominino guisos, llal is lo say, in
domi-loiIollo, vill pIonly of Iooso curIy lair lumbIing dovn aboul lor
slouIdors. An oxprossion of unoasinoss porvadod lor counlonanco, and
aIlogollor slo scarcoIy appoarod voman onougl for llo silualion. Tlo
visilor romovod lis lal, and llo firsl vords voro spokon, EIfrido pro-
IusivoIy Iooking vill a doaI of inlorosl, nol unmixod vill surpriso, al llo
porson lovards vlom slo vas lo do llo dulios of lospilaIily.
'I am Mr. Smill,' said llo slrangor in a musicaI voico.
'I am Miss Svancourl,' said EIfrido.
13
Hor conslrainl vas ovor. Tlo groal conlrasl bolvoon llo roaIily slo bo-
loId boforo lor, and llo dark, lacilurn, slarp, oIdorIy man of businoss
vlo lad Iurkod in lor imaginaliona man vill cIollos smoIIing of cily
smoko, skin saIIov from vanl of sun, and laIk fIavourod vill opi-
gramvas sucl a roIiof lo lor llal EIfrido smiIod, aImosl Iauglod, in llo
nov-comor's faco.
Sloplon Smill, vlo las lillorlo boon liddon from us by llo darknoss,
vas al llis limo of lis Iifo bul a youll in appoaranco, and baroIy a man in
yoars. }udging from lis Iook, Iondon vas llo Iasl pIaco in llo vorId llal
ono vouId lavo imaginod lo bo llo scono of lis aclivilios: sucl a faco
suroIy couId nol bo nourislod amid smoko and mud and fog and dusl,
sucl an opon counlonanco couId novor ovon lavo soon anylling of 'llo
voarinoss, llo fovor, and llo frol' of BabyIon llo Socond.
His compIoxion vas as fino as EIfrido's ovn, llo pink of lis clooks as
doIicalo. His moull as porfocl as Cupid's bov in form, and as clorry-rod
in coIour as lors. Brigll curIy lair, brigll sparkIing bIuo-gray oyos, a
boy's bIusl and mannor, noillor vliskor nor mouslaclo, unIoss a IillIo
Iigll-brovn fur on lis uppor Iip dosorvod llo Iallor lilIo: llis composod
llo Iondon profossionaI man, llo prospocl of vloso advonl lad so
lroubIod EIfrido.
EIfrido laslonod lo say slo vas sorry lo loII lim llal Mr. Svancourl
vas nol abIo lo rocoivo lim llal ovoning, and gavo llo roason vly. Mr.
Smill ropIiod, in a voico boyisl by naluro and manIy by arl, llal lo vas
vory sorry lo loar llis novs, bul llal as far as lis rocoplion vas con-
cornod, il did nol mallor in llo Ioasl.
Sloplon vas slovn up lo lis room. In lis absonco EIfrido sloaIlliIy
gIidod inlo lor fallor's.
'Ho's como, papa. Sucl a young man for a businoss man!'
'Ol, indood!'
'His faco isvoIIIRETTY, jusl Iiko mino.'
'H'm! vlal noxl`'
'Nolling, llal's aII I knov of lim yol. Il is rallor nico, is il nol`'
'WoII, vo slaII soo llal vlon vo knov lim bollor. Go dovn and givo
llo poor foIIov somolling lo oal and drink, for Hoavon's sako. And
vlon lo las dono oaling, say I slouId Iiko lo lavo a fov vords vill
lim, if lo doosn'l mind coming up loro.'
Tlo young Iady gIidod dovnslairs again, and vliIsl slo avails young
Smill's onlry, llo Iollors roforring lo lis visil lad bollor bo givon.
1.MR. SWANCOURT TO MR. HEWBY.
'ENDEISTOW VICARAGE, Iob. 18, 18.
14
'SIR,Wo aro llinking of rosloring llo lovor and aisIo of llo clurcl in
llis parisl, and Iord IuxoIIian, llo palron of llo Iiving, las monlionod
your namo as llal of a lruslvorlly arclilocl vlom il vouId bo dosirabIo
lo ask lo suporinlond llo vork.
'I am oxcoodingIy ignoranl of llo nocossary proIiminary slops. Irob-
abIy, lovovor, llo firsl is llal (slouId you bo, as Iord IuxoIIian says you
aro, disposod lo assisl us) yoursoIf or somo mombor of your slaff como
and soo llo buiIding, and roporl lloroupon for llo salisfaclion of parisl-
ionors and ollors.
'Tlo spol is a vory romolo ono: vo lavo no raiIvay villin fourloon
miIos, and llo noarosl pIaco for pulling up alcaIIod a lovn, llougl
moroIy a Iargo viIIagois CaslIo BoloroI, lvo miIos furllor on, so llal il
vouId bo mosl convonionl for you lo slay al llo vicaragovlicl I am
gIad lo pIaco al your disposaIinsload of pusling on lo llo loloI al
CaslIo BoloroI, and coming back again in llo morning.
'Any day of llo noxl vook llal you Iiko lo namo for llo visil viII find
us quilo roady lo rocoivo you.Yours vory lruIy,
CHRISTOIHER SWANCOURT.2.MR. HEWBY TO MR.
SWANCOURT.
"IERCY IIACE, CHARING CROSS, Iob. 2O, 18.
'DEAR SIR,AgrooabIy lo your roquosl of llo 18ll inslanl, I lavo ar-
rangod lo survoy and mako dravings of llo aisIo and lovor of your par-
isl clurcl, and of llo diIapidalions vlicl lavo boon sufforod lo accruo
llorolo, vill a viov lo ils rosloralion.
'My assislanl, Mr. Sloplon Smill, viII Ioavo Iondon by llo oarIy lrain
lo-morrov morning for llo purposo. Many llanks for your proposaI lo
accommodalo lim. Ho viII lako advanlago of your offor, and viII prob-
abIy roacl your louso al somo lour of llo ovoning. You may pul ovory
confidonco in lim, and may roIy upon lis discornmonl in llo mallor of
clurcl arclilocluro.
'Trusling llal llo pIans for llo rosloralion, vlicl I slaII proparo from
llo dolaiIs of lis survoy, viII provo salisfaclory lo yoursoIf and Iord
IuxoIIian, I am, doar sir, yours faillfuIIy,
WAITER HEWBY.'
15
Chapter 3
'MoIodious birds sing madrigaIs'
Tlal firsl ropasl in EndoIslov Vicarago vas a vory agrooabIo ono lo
young Sloplon Smill. Tlo labIo vas sproad, as EIfrido lad suggoslod lo
lor fallor, vill llo maloriaIs for llo lolorogonoous moaI caIIod ligl
loaa cIass of rofoclion voIcomo lo aII vlon avay from mon and lovns,
and parlicuIarIy allraclivo lo youllfuI paIalos. Tlo labIo vas prolliIy
dockod vill vinlor fIovors and Ioavos, amid vlicl llo oyo vas groolod
by clops, clickon, pio, &c., and lvo lugo paslios ovorlanging llo sidos
of llo disl vill a cloorfuI aspocl of abundanco.
Al llo ond, lovards llo firopIaco, appoarod llo loa-sorvico, of oId-fasl-
ionod Worcoslor porcoIain, and bolind llis aroso llo sIigll form of EI-
frido, allompling lo add malronIy dignily lo llo movomonl of pouring
oul loa, and lo lavo a voiglly and concornod Iook in mallors of
marmaIado, lonoy, and cIollod croam. Having mado lor ovn moaI bo-
foro lo arrivod, slo found lo lor ombarrassmonl llal lloro vas nolling
Iofl for lor lo do bul laIk vlon nol assisling lim. Slo askod lim if lo
vouId oxcuso lor finisling a Iollor slo lad boon vriling al a sido-labIo,
and, aflor silling dovn lo il, lingIod vill a sonso of boing grossIy rudo.
Hovovor, sooing llal lo nolicod nolling porsonaIIy vrong in lor, and
llal lo loo vas ombarrassod vlon slo allonlivoIy valclod lis cup lo ro-
fiII il, EIfrido bocamo bollor al oaso, and vlon furllormoro lo accidonl-
aIIy kickod llo Iog of llo labIo, and llon noarIy upsol lis loa-cup, jusl as
sclooIboys did, slo foIl lorsoIf mislross of llo silualion, and couId laIk
vory voII. In a fov minulos ingonuousnoss and a common lorm of yoars
obIiloralod aII rocoIIoclion llal lloy voro slrangors jusl mol. Sloplon
bogan lo vax oIoquonl on oxlromoIy sIigll oxporioncos connoclod vill
lis profossionaI pursuils, and slo, laving no oxporioncos lo faII back
upon, rocounlod vill mucl animalion slorios llal lad boon roIalod lo
lor by lor fallor, vlicl vouId lavo aslonislod lim lad lo loard vill
vlal fidoIily of aclion and lono lloy voro rondorod. Upon llo vloIo, a
15
vory inlorosling picluro of Svool-and-Tvonly vas on viov llal ovoning
in Mr. Svancourl's louso.
UIlimaloIy Sloplon lad lo go upslairs and laIk Ioud lo llo vicar, ro-
coiving from lim bolvoon lis puffs a groal many apoIogios for caIIing
lim so uncoromoniousIy lo a slrangor's bodroom. 'Bul,' conlinuod Mr.
Svancourl, 'I foIl llal I vanlod lo say a fov vords lo you boforo llo
morning, on llo businoss of your visil. Ono's palionco gols oxlauslod by
slaying a prisonor in bod aII day llrougl a suddon froak of ono's on-
omynov lo mo, llouglfor I lavo knovn vory IillIo of goul as yol.
Hovovor, lo's gono lo my ollor loo in a vory miId mannor, and I oxpocl
lo'II sIink off aIlogollor by llo morning. I lopo you lavo boon voII al-
londod lo dovnslairs`'
'IorfoclIy. And llougl il is unforlunalo, and I am sorry lo soo you Iaid
up, I bog you viII nol lako llo sIigllosl nolico of my boing in llo louso
llo vliIo.'
'I viII nol. Bul I slaII bo dovn lo-morrov. My daugllor is an oxcoIIonl
doclor. A doso or lvo of lor miId mixluros viII folcl mo round quickor
llan aII llo drug sluff in llo vorId. WoII, nov aboul llo clurcl businoss.
Tako a soal, do. Wo can'l afford lo sland upon coromony in lloso parls as
you soo, and for llis roason, llal a civiIizod luman boing soIdom slays
Iong vill us, and so vo cannol vaslo limo in approacling lim, or lo
viII bo gono boforo vo lavo lad llo pIoasuro of cIoso acquainlanco. Tlis
lovor of ours is, as you viII nolico, onliroIy gono boyond llo possibiIily
of rosloralion, bul llo clurcl ilsoIf is voII onougl. You slouId soo somo
of llo clurclos in llis counly. IIoors rollon: ivy Iining llo vaIIs.'
'Doar mo!'
'Ol, llal's nolling. Tlo congrogalion of a noiglbour of mino, vlonov-
or a slorm of rain comos on during sorvico, opon lloir umbroIIas and
loId llom up liII llo dripping coasos from llo roof. Nov, if you viII
kindIy bring mo lloso papors and Iollors you soo Iying on llo labIo, I viII
slov you lov far vo lavo gol.'
Sloplon crossod llo room lo folcl llom, and llo vicar soomod lo nolico
moro parlicuIarIy llo sIim figuro of lis visilor.
'I supposo you aro quilo compolonl`' lo said.
'Quilo,' said llo young man, coIouring sIigllIy.
'You aro vory young, I fancyI slouId say you aro nol moro llan
ninoloon`'
I am noarIy lvonly-ono.'
'ExaclIy laIf my ago, I am forly-lvo.'
17
'By llo vay,' said Mr. Svancourl, aflor somo convorsalion, 'you said
your vloIo namo vas Sloplon Iilzmaurico, and llal your grandfallor
camo originaIIy from Caxbury. Sinco I lavo boon spoaking, il las oc-
currod lo mo llal I knov somolling of you. You boIong lo a voII-knovn
ancionl counly famiIynol ordinary Smills in llo Ioasl.'
'I don'l llink vo lavo any of lloir bIood in our voins.'
'Nonsonso! you musl. Hand mo llo "Iandod Gonlry." Nov, Iol mo soo.
Tloro, Sloplon Iilzmaurico Smilllo Iios in Sl. Mary's Clurcl, doosn'l
lo` WoII, oul of llal famiIy Sprang llo Ioasovorlly Smills, and coIIalor-
aIIy camo GonoraI Sir Sloplon Iilzmaurico Smill of Caxbury'
'Yos, I lavo soon lis monumonl lloro,' sloulod Sloplon. 'Bul lloro is
no connoclion bolvoon lis famiIy and mino: lloro cannol bo.'
'Tloro is nono, possibIy, lo your knovIodgo. Bul Iook al llis, my doar
sir,' said llo vicar, slriking lis fisl upon llo bodposl for omplasis. 'Horo
aro you, Sloplon Iilzmaurico Smill, Iiving in Iondon, bul springing
from Caxbury. Horo in llis book is a gonoaIogicaI lroo of llo Sloplon
Iilzmaurico Smills of Caxbury Manor. You may bo onIy a famiIy of pro-
fossionaI mon novI am nol inquisilivo: I don'l ask quoslions of llal
kind, il is nol in mo lo do sobul il is as pIain as llo noso in your faco
llal lloro's your origin! And, Mr. Smill, I congraluIalo you upon your
bIood, bIuo bIood, sir, and, upon my Iifo, a vory dosirabIo coIour, as llo
vorId goos.'
'I visl you couId congraluIalo mo upon somo moro langibIo quaIily,'
said llo youngor man, sadIy no Ioss llan modoslIy.
'Nonsonso! llal viII como vill limo. You aro young: aII your Iifo is bo-
foro you. Nov Iooksoo lov far back in llo misls of anliquily my ovn
famiIy of Svancourl lavo a rool. Horo, you soo,' lo conlinuod, lurning lo
llo pago, 'is Gooffroy, llo ono among my ancoslors vlo Iosl a barony bo-
causo lo vouId cul lis joko. Al, il's llo sorl of us! Bul llo slory is loo
Iong lo loII nov. Ay, I'm a poor mana poor gonlIoman, in facl: lloso I
vouId bo frionds vill, von'l bo frionds vill mo, lloso vlo aro viIIing
lo bo frionds vill mo, I am abovo boing frionds vill. Boyond dining
vill a noiglbouring incumbonl or lvo, and an occasionaI
clalsomolimos dinnorvill Iord IuxoIIian, a connoclion of mino, I
am in absoIulo soIiludoabsoIulo.'
'You lavo your sludios, your books, and yourdaugllor.'
'Ol yos, yos, and I don'l compIain of povorly. Canlo coram Ialrono.
WoII, Mr. Smill, don'l Iol mo dolain you any Iongor in a sick room. Ha!
llal rominds mo of a slory I onco loard in my youngor days.' Horo llo
vicar bogan a sorios of smaII privalo Iaugls, and Sloplon Iookod inquiry.
18
'Ol, no, no! il is loo badloo bad lo loII!' conlinuod Mr. Svancourl in
undorlonos of grim mirll. 'WoII, go dovnslairs, my daugllor musl do
llo bosl slo can vill you llis ovoning. Ask lor lo sing lo youslo pIays
and sings vory nicoIy. Good-nigll, I fooI as if I lad knovn you for fivo or
six yoars. I'II ring for somobody lo slov you dovn.'
'Novor mind,' said Sloplon, 'I can find llo vay.' And lo vonl dovn-
slairs, llinking of llo doIigllfuI froodom of mannor in llo romolor
counlios in comparison vill llo rosorvo of Iondon.
'I forgol lo loII you llal my fallor vas rallor doaf,' said EIfrido
anxiousIy, vlon Sloplon onlorod llo IillIo draving-room.
'Novor mind, I knov aII aboul il, and vo aro groal frionds,' llo man of
businoss ropIiod onllusiaslicaIIy. 'And, Miss Svancourl, viII you kindIy
sing lo mo`'
To Miss Svancourl llis roquosl soomod, vlal in facl il vas,
oxcoplionaIIy poinl-bIank, llougl slo guossod llal lor fallor lad somo
land in framing il, knoving, rallor lo lor cosl, of lis uncoromonious
vay of uliIizing lor for llo bonofil of duII sojournors. Al llo samo limo,
as Mr. Smill's mannor vas loo frank lo provoko crilicism, and lis ago
loo IillIo lo inspiro foar, slo vas roadynol lo say pIoasodlo accodo.
SoIocling from llo canlorbury somo oId famiIy dillios, llal in yoars gono
by lad boon pIayod and sung by lor mollor, EIfrido sal dovn lo llo pi-
anoforlo, and bogan, ''Tvas on llo ovoning of a vinlor's day,' in a prolly
conlraIlo voico.
'Do you Iiko llal oId lling, Mr. Smill`' slo said al llo ond.
'Yos, I do mucl,' said Sloplonvords lo vouId lavo ullorod, and sin-
coroIy, lo anylling on oarll, from gIoo lo roquiom, llal slo migll lavo
closon.
'You slaII lavo a IillIo ono by Do Ioyro, llal vas givon mo by a young
Ironcl Iady vlo vas slaying al EndoIslov Houso:
'"}o I'ai pIanlo, jo I'ai vu nailro,
Co boau rosior ou Ios oisoaux," &c.,
and llon I slaII vanl lo givo you my ovn favourilo for llo vory Iasl,
SloIIoy's "Wlon llo Iamp is slallorod," as sol lo music by my poor moll-
or. I so mucl Iiko singing lo anybody vlo REAIIY caros lo loar mo.'
Evory voman vlo makos a pormanonl improssion on a man is usuaIIy
rocaIIod lo lis mind's oyo as slo appoarod in ono parlicuIar scono, vlicl
sooms ordainod lo bo lor spociaI form of manifoslalion llrougloul llo
pagos of lis momory. As llo palron Sainl las lor alliludo and
19
Thank You for previewing this eBook
You can read the full version of this eBook in different formats:
HTML (Free /Available to everyone)

PDF / TXT (Available to V.I.P. members. Free Standard members can
access up to 5 PDF/TXT eBooks per month each month)

Epub & Mobipocket (Exclusive to V.I.P. members)
To download this full book, simply select the format you desire below