°Ëϲµç×ÓÊé > ¾­¹ÜÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament >

µÚ28²¿·Ö

the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-µÚ28²¿·Ö

С˵£º the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



I¡¡am¡¡achinghave¡¡ached¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡this¡¡jade¡¡of¡¡an¡¡Ideal¡¡learnt¡¡the
unconscionable¡¡trick¡¡of¡¡inhabiting¡¡one¡¡image¡¡only¡£'

Upon¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡without¡¡a¡¡bodement¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡folly¡¡to
press¡¡on¡£



3¡£¡¡IV¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡DASH¡¡FOR¡¡THE¡¡LAST¡¡INCARNATION

This¡¡desultory¡¡courtship¡¡of¡¡a¡¡young¡¡girl¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡about
by¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡contrivance¡¡was¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡Somers
and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡family¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Budmouth¡¡Esplanade¡£¡¡¡¡Alfred¡¡Somers£»¡¡once
the¡¡youthful£»¡¡picturesque¡¡as¡¡his¡¡own¡¡paintings£»¡¡was¡¡now¡¡a¡¡middle¡­aged
family¡¡man¡¡with¡¡spectaclesspectacles¡¡worn£»¡¡too£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡single
object¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡through¡¡themand¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡daughters¡¡tailing¡¡off¡¡to
infancy£»¡¡who¡¡at¡¡present¡¡added¡¡appreciably¡¡to¡¡the¡¡income¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bathing¡­
machine¡¡women¡¡established¡¡along¡¡the¡¡sands¡£

Mrs¡£¡¡Somersonce¡¡the¡¡intellectual£»¡¡emancipated¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Pine¡­Avonhad¡¡now
retrograded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡petty¡¡and¡¡timid¡¡mental¡¡position¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡and
grandmother£»¡¡giving¡¡sharp£»¡¡strict¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡current¡¡literature¡¡and
art¡¡that¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡innocent¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡her¡¡long¡¡perspective¡¡of
girls£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡view¡¡of¡¡hiding¡¡every¡¡skull¡¡and¡¡skeleton¡¡of¡¡life¡¡from
their¡¡dear¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡another¡¡illustration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rule¡¡that
succeeding¡¡generations¡¡of¡¡women¡¡are¡¡seldom¡¡marked¡¡by¡¡cumulative
progress£»¡¡their¡¡advance¡¡as¡¡girls¡¡being¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡their¡¡recession¡¡as
matrons£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡move¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡intellectual
development¡¡like¡¡flotsam¡¡in¡¡a¡¡tidal¡¡estuary¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡this¡¡perhaps¡¡not¡¡by
reason¡¡of¡¡their¡¡faults¡¡as¡¡individuals£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡their¡¡misfortune¡¡as
child¡­rearers¡£

The¡¡landscape¡­painter£»¡¡now¡¡an¡¡Academician¡¡like¡¡Pierston¡¡himselfrather
popular¡¡than¡¡distinguishedhad¡¡given¡¡up¡¡that¡¡peculiar¡¡and¡¡personal
taste¡¡in¡¡subjects¡¡which¡¡had¡¡marked¡¡him¡¡in¡¡times¡¡past£»¡¡executing¡¡instead
many¡¡pleasing¡¡aspects¡¡of¡¡nature¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡furnishing¡¡householder
through¡¡the¡¡middling¡¡critic£»¡¡and¡¡really¡¡very¡¡good¡¡of¡¡their¡¡kind¡£¡¡¡¡In
this¡¡way¡¡he¡¡received¡¡many¡¡large¡¡cheques¡¡from¡¡persons¡¡of¡¡wealth¡¡in
England¡¡and¡¡America£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡built¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡sumptuous¡¡studio
and¡¡an¡¡awkward¡¡house¡¡around¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡the¡¡education¡¡of¡¡the
growing¡¡maidens¡£

The¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡Somers's¡¡humble¡¡position¡¡as¡¡jackal¡¡to¡¡this¡¡lion¡¡of¡¡a
family¡¡and¡¡house¡¡and¡¡studio¡¡and¡¡social¡¡reputationSomers£»¡¡to¡¡whom
strange¡¡conceits¡¡and¡¡wild¡¡imaginings¡¡were¡¡departed¡¡joys¡¡never¡¡to
returnled¡¡Pierston£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡painter's¡¡contemporary£»¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡he
ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bygones¡¡likewise£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡put¡¡on¡¡an¡¡air¡¡of
unromantic¡¡bufferism¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡refrained¡¡from¡¡entering¡¡Avice's¡¡peninsula¡¡for
the¡¡whole¡¡fortnight¡¡of¡¡Somers's¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbouring¡¡town£»¡¡although
its¡¡grey¡¡poetical¡¡outline'throned¡¡along¡¡the¡¡sea'greeted¡¡his¡¡eyes
every¡¡morn¡¡and¡¡eve¡¡across¡¡the¡¡roadstead¡£

When¡¡the¡¡painter¡¡and¡¡his¡¡family¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡back¡¡from¡¡their¡¡bathing
holiday£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he£»¡¡too£»¡¡would¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡do
so£»¡¡however£»¡¡without¡¡wishing¡¡at¡¡least¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡Avice¡¡good¡­bye¡¡would¡¡be
unfriendly£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡their¡¡acquaintance¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡evening£»
knowing¡¡this¡¡time¡¡of¡¡day¡¡to¡¡suit¡¡her¡¡best£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡few¡­minutes'
journey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡along¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡connecting¡¡string¡¡of¡¡junction£»¡¡and
arrived¡¡at¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Pierston's¡¡door¡¡just¡¡after¡¡dark¡£

A¡¡light¡¡shone¡¡from¡¡an¡¡upper¡¡chamber¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡asking¡¡for¡¡his¡¡widowed
acquaintance¡¡he¡¡was¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡ill£»¡¡seriously£»¡¡though¡¡not
dangerously¡£¡¡¡¡While¡¡learning¡¡that¡¡her¡¡daughter¡¡was¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡and
further¡¡particulars£»¡¡and¡¡doubting¡¡if¡¡he¡¡should¡¡go¡¡in£»¡¡a¡¡message¡¡was
sent¡¡down¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡him¡¡to¡¡enter¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡had¡¡been¡¡heard£»¡¡and¡¡Mrs¡£
Pierston¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡see¡¡him¡£

He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡with¡¡any¡¡humanity¡¡refuse£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡flashed¡¡across¡¡his
mind¡¡the¡¡recollection¡¡that¡¡Avice¡¡the¡¡youngest¡¡had¡¡never¡¡yet¡¡really¡¡seen
him£»¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡of¡¡him¡¡than¡¡an¡¡outline£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have
appertained¡¡as¡¡easily¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡his¡¡junior¡¡as¡¡to¡¡himself£»
and¡¡a¡¡countenance¡¡so¡¡renovated¡¡by¡¡faint¡¡moonlight¡¡as¡¡fairly¡¡to
correspond¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡with¡¡misgiving£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sculptor
ascended¡¡the¡¡staircase¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡little¡¡upper¡¡sitting¡­room£»¡¡now
arranged¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sick¡­chamber¡£

Mrs¡£¡¡Pierston¡¡reclined¡¡on¡¡a¡¡sofa£»¡¡her¡¡face¡¡emaciated¡¡to¡¡a¡¡surprising
thinness¡¡for¡¡the¡¡comparatively¡¡short¡¡interval¡¡since¡¡her¡¡attack¡£¡¡¡¡'Come
in£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡him£»¡¡holding¡¡out¡¡her¡¡hand¡£
'Don't¡¡let¡¡me¡¡frighten¡¡you¡£'

Avice¡¡was¡¡seated¡¡beside¡¡her£»¡¡reading¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡jumped¡¡up£»¡¡hardly
seeming¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡'O£¡¡¡it's¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pierston£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a
moment£»¡¡adding¡¡quickly£»¡¡with¡¡evident¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡off¡¡her¡¡guard£º¡¡¡¡'I
thought¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pierston¡¡was'

What¡¡she¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡did¡¡not¡¡pass¡¡her¡¡lips£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡remained¡¡a
riddle¡¡for¡¡Jocelyn¡¡until¡¡a¡¡new¡¡departure¡¡in¡¡her¡¡manner¡¡towards¡¡him
showed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡words¡¡'much¡¡younger'¡¡would¡¡have¡¡accurately¡¡ended¡¡the
sentence¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡Pierston¡¡not¡¡now¡¡confronted¡¡her¡¡anew£»¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have
endured¡¡philosophically¡¡her¡¡changed¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡seeing
her¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rooted¡¡feeling¡¡was¡¡revived¡£

Pierston¡¡now¡¡learnt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡that¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡had¡¡been¡¡visited
by¡¡sudden¡¡attacks¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡not¡¡infrequently¡¡of¡¡late¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡They
were¡¡said¡¡to¡¡be¡¡due¡¡to¡¡angina¡¡pectoris£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡paroxysms¡¡having
been¡¡the¡¡most¡¡severe¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡present¡¡moment¡¡out¡¡of¡¡pain£»
though¡¡weak£»¡¡exhausted£»¡¡and¡¡nervous¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡not£»¡¡however£»¡¡converse
about¡¡herself£»¡¡but¡¡took¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡her¡¡daughter's¡¡absence¡¡from¡¡the
room¡¡to¡¡broach¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡most¡¡in¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡£

No¡¡compunctions¡¡had¡¡stirred¡¡her¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡her¡¡visitor¡¡on¡¡the
expediency¡¡of¡¡his¡¡suit¡¡in¡¡view¡¡of¡¡his¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡fever¡¡of¡¡anxiety¡¡lest
after¡¡all¡¡he¡¡should¡¡not¡¡come¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Avice¡¡again¡¡had¡¡been¡¡not¡¡without¡¡an
effect¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡health£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡made¡¡her¡¡more¡¡candid¡¡than¡¡she¡¡had
intended¡¡to¡¡be¡£

'Troubles¡¡and¡¡sickness¡¡raise¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡fears£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pierston£»'¡¡she
said¡£¡¡¡¡'What¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡only¡¡a¡¡wish¡¡for£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡first¡¡named¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡have
hoped¡¡for¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡since£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡so¡¡anxious¡¡thatthat¡¡it
should¡¡come¡¡to¡¡something£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡indeed¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡come¡£'

'My¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡Avice£»¡¡you¡¡mean£»¡¡dear¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Pierston£¿'

'Yesthat's¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡mind£¿¡¡¡¡You¡¡are£¿
Then¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡something¡¡could¡¡be¡¡doneto¡¡make¡¡her¡¡agree¡¡to¡¡itso¡¡as¡¡to
get¡¡it¡¡settled¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡dread¡¡otherwise¡¡what¡¡will¡¡become¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡is¡¡not
a¡¡practical¡¡girl¡¡as¡¡I¡¡wasshe¡¡would¡¡hardly¡¡like¡¡now¡¡to¡¡settle¡¡down¡¡as
an¡¡islander's¡¡wife£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡her¡¡living¡¡here¡¡alone¡¡would¡¡trouble
me¡£'

'Nothing¡¡will¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡you¡¡yet£»¡¡I¡¡hope£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡friend¡£'

'Well£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡risky¡¡complaint£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡attacks£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡come£»¡¡are¡¡so
agonizing¡¡that¡¡to¡¡endure¡¡them¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡all¡¡outside
anxieties£»¡¡folk¡¡say¡£¡¡¡¡Nowdo¡¡you¡¡want¡¡her£»¡¡sir£¿'

'With¡¡all¡¡my¡¡soul£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡doesn't¡¡want¡¡me¡£'

'I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡she¡¡is¡¡so¡¡against¡¡you¡¡as¡¡you¡¡imagine¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡fancy¡¡if¡¡it
were¡¡put¡¡to¡¡her¡¡plainly£»¡¡now¡¡I¡¡am¡¡in¡¡this¡¡state£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡done¡£'

They¡¡lapsed¡¡into¡¡conversation¡¡on¡¡the¡¡early¡¡days¡¡of¡¡their¡¡acquaintance£»
until¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Pierston's¡¡daughter¡¡re¡­entered¡¡the¡¡room¡£

'Avice£»'¡¡said¡¡her¡¡mother£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡had¡¡been¡¡with¡¡them¡¡a¡¡few
minutes¡£¡¡¡¡'About¡¡this¡¡matter¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡talked¡¡over¡¡with¡¡you¡¡so¡¡many
times¡¡since¡¡my¡¡attack¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡is¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pierston£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wishes¡¡to¡¡be¡¡your
husband¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡much¡¡older¡¡than¡¡you£»¡¡but£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡that¡¡you¡¡will
ever¡¡get¡¡a¡¡better¡¡husband¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡£¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡will¡¡you¡¡take¡¡him£»
seeing¡¡the¡¡state¡¡I¡¡am¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡naturally¡¡anxious¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you
settled¡¡before¡¡I¡¡die£¿'

'But¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡die£»¡¡mother£¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡getting¡¡better£¡'

'Just¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present¡¡only¡£¡¡¡¡Come£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man¡¡and¡¡a¡¡clever¡¡man£»
and¡¡a¡¡rich¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you£»¡¡O¡¡so¡¡much£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡his¡¡wife£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡say¡¡no
more¡£'

Avice¡¡looked¡¡appealingly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sculptor£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¡'Does
he¡¡really¡¡wish¡¡me¡¡to£¿'¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡almost¡¡inaudibly£»¡¡turning¡¡as¡¡she¡¡spoke
to¡¡Pierston¡£¡¡¡¡'He¡¡has¡¡never¡¡quite¡¡said¡¡so¡¡to¡¡me¡£'

'My¡¡dear¡¡one£»¡¡how¡¡can¡¡you¡¡doubt¡¡it£¿'¡¡said¡¡Jocelyn¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡I
won't¡¡press¡¡you¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡me¡¡as¡¡a¡¡favour£»¡¡against¡¡your¡¡feelings¡£'

'I¡¡thought¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pierston¡¡was¡¡younger£¡'¡¡she¡¡murmured¡¡to¡¡her¡¡mother¡£

'That¡¡counts¡¡for¡¡little£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡think¡¡how¡¡much¡¡there¡¡is¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other
side¡£¡¡¡¡Think¡¡of¡¡our¡¡position£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡hisa¡¡sculptor£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mansion£»
and¡¡a¡¡studio¡¡full¡¡of¡¡busts¡¡and¡¡statues¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡dusted¡¡in¡¡my¡¡time£»
and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡studies¡¡you¡¡would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡Surely¡¡the
life¡¡would¡¡just¡¡suit¡¡you£¿¡¡¡¡Your¡¡expensive¡¡education¡¡is¡¡wasted¡¡down
here£¡'

Avice¡¡did¡¡not¡¡care¡¡to¡¡argue¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡outwardly¡¡gentle¡¡as¡¡her
grandmother¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡just¡¡a¡¡question¡¡with¡¡her¡¡of¡¡whether
she¡¡must¡¡or¡¡must¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡'Very¡¡wellI¡¡feel¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡agree¡¡to¡¡marry
him£»¡¡since¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡to£»'¡¡she¡¡answered¡¡quietly£»¡¡after¡¡some¡¡thought¡£
'I¡¡see¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡wise¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡it£»¡¡and
that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pierston¡¡really¡¡doeslike¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Soso¡¡that'

Pierston¡¡was¡¡not¡¡backward¡¡at¡¡this¡¡critical¡¡juncture£»¡¡despite¡¡unpleasant
sensations¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡historic¡¡ingredient¡¡in¡¡this¡¡genealogical
passionif¡¡its¡¡continuity¡¡through¡¡three¡¡generations¡¡may¡¡be¡¡so
describedwhich¡¡appealed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡perseverance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡expense¡¡of¡¡his
wisdom¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡daughter's¡¡hand£»¡¡she¡¡took
Pierston's£»¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡Avice's¡¡in¡¡it¡£

No¡¡more¡¡was¡¡said¡¡in¡¡argument£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡determined¡£
Afterwards¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡window¡­panes£»¡¡as¡¡of¡¡fine¡¡sand
thrown£»¡¡and£»¡¡lifting¡¡the¡¡blind£»¡¡Pierston¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡lightship
winked¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bleared¡¡and¡¡indistinct¡¡eye¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡drizzling¡¡rain¡¡had¡¡come¡¡on
with¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡striking¡¡the¡¡window¡¡in¡¡handfuls¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had
intended¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡the¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡station£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡a
drenching¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡waited¡¡and¡¡had¡¡supper£»¡¡and£»¡¡finding¡¡the
weather¡¡no¡¡better£»¡¡accepted¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Pierston's¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡over¡¡the
night¡£

Thus¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡out¡¡that¡¡again¡¡he¡¡lodged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
accustomed¡¡to¡¡live¡¡in¡¡as¡¡a¡¡boy£»¡¡before¡¡his¡¡father¡¡had¡¡made¡¡his¡¡fortune£»
and¡¡before¡¡his¡¡own¡¡name¡¡had¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡boundaries¡¡of¡¡the
isle¡£

He¡¡slept¡¡but¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dawn¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡in
bed¡£¡¡¡¡Why¡¡should¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡live¡¡in¡¡London¡¡or¡¡any¡¡other¡¡fashionable¡¡city
if¡¡this¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡marriage¡¡could¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡out£¿¡¡¡¡Surely£»¡¡with¡¡this¡¡young
wife£»¡¡the¡¡island¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡best¡¡place¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡possible
to¡¡rent¡¡Sylvania¡¡Castle¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡formerly¡¡donebetter¡¡still¡¡to¡¡buy

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨1£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ