half infantile loveliness which smote even grave men with a
desire to clasp her in their arms and kiss her。 This desire had
scattered the desultory intellectual culture of Sir Charles at
first sight。 His imagination invested her with the taste for the
fine arts which ho required from a wife； and he married her in
her first season； only to discover that the amativeness in her
temperament was so little and languid that she made all his
attempts at fondness ridiculous； and robbed the caresses for
which he had longed of all their anticipated ecstasy。
Intellectually she fell still further short of his hopes。 She
looked upon his favorite art of painting as a pastime for amateur
and a branch of the house…furnishing trade for professional
artists。 When he was discussing it among his friends； she would
offer her opinion with a presumption which was the more trying as
she frequently blundered upon a sound conclusion whilst he was
reasoning his way to a hollow one with his utmost subtlety and
seriousness。 On such occasions his disgust did not trouble her in
the least； she triumphed in it。 She had concluded that marriage
was a greater folly； and men greater fools； than she had
supposed； but such beliefs rather lightened her sense of
responsibility than disappointed her； and； as she had plenty of
money； plenty of servants； plenty of visitors； and plenty of
exercise on horseback； of which she was immoderately fond； her
time passed pleasantly enough。 Comfort seemed to her the natural
order of life； trouble always surprised her。 Her husband's
friends； who mistrusted every future hour； and found matter for
bitter reflection in many past ones； were to her only examples of
the power of sedentary habits and excessive reading to make men
tripped and dull。
One fine May morning； as she cantered along the avenue at Brandon
Beeches on a powerful bay horse； the gates at the end opened and
a young man sped through them on a bicycle。 He was of slight
frame； with fine dark eyes and delicate nostrils。 When he
recognized Lady Brandon he waved his cap； and when they met he
sprang from his inanimate steed； at which the bay horse shied。
〃Don't； you silly beast！〃 she cried； whacking the animal with the
butt of her whip。 〃Though it's natural enough； goodness knows！
How d'ye do？ The idea of anyone rich enough to afford a horse
riding on a wheel like that！〃
〃But I am not rich enough to afford a horse；〃 he said；
approaching her to pat the bay； having placed the bicycle against
a tree。 〃Besides； I am afraid of horses； not being accustomed to
them； and I know nothing about feeding them。 My steed needs no
food。 He doesn't bite nor kick。 He never goes lame； nor sickens；
nor dies； nor needs a groom； nor〃
〃That's all bosh；〃 said Lady Brandon impetuously。 〃It stumbles；
and gives you the most awful tosses； and it goes lame by its
treadles and thingamejigs coming off； and it wears out； and is
twice as much trouble to keep clean and scrape the mud off as a
horse； and all sorts of things。 I think the most ridiculous sight
in the world is a man on a bicycle； working away with his feet as
hard as he possibly can； and believing that his horse is carrying
him instead of； as anyone can see； he carrying the horse。 You
needn't tell me that it isn't easier to walk in the ordinary way
than to drag a great dead iron thing along with you。 It's not
good sense。〃
〃Nevertheless I can carry it a hundred miles further in a day
than I can carry myself alone。 Such are the marvels of machinery。
But I know that we cut a very poor figure beside you and that
magnificent creature not that anyone will look at me whilst you
are by to occupy their attention so much more worthily。〃
She darted a glance at him which clouded his vision and made his
heart beat more strongly。 This was an old habit of hers。 She kept
it up from love of fun； having no idea of the effect it produced
on more ardent temperaments than her own。 He continued hastily：
〃Is Sir Charles within doors？〃
〃Oh； it's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of in my life；〃
she exclaimed。 〃A man that lives by himself in a place down by
the Riverside Road like a toy savings bankdon't you know the
things I mean？called Sallust's House； says there is a right of
way through our new pleasure ground。 As if anyone could have any
right there after all the money we have spent fencing it on three
sides； and building up the wall by the road； and levelling； and
planting； and draining； and goodness knows what else！ And now the
man says that all the common people and tramps in the
neighborhood have a right to walk across it because they are too
lazy to go round by the road。 Sir Charles has gone to see the man
about it。 Of course he wouldn't do as I wanted him。〃
〃What was that？〃
〃Write to tell the man to mind his own business； and to say that
the first person we found attempting to trespass on our property
should be given to the police。〃
〃Then I shall find no one at home。 I beg your pardon for calling
it so； but it is the only place like home to me。〃
〃Yes； it is so comfortable since we built the billiard room and
took away those nasty hangings in the hall。 I was ever so long
trying to per〃
She was interrupted by an old laborer； who hobbled up as fast as
his rheumatism would allow him； and began to speak without
further ceremony than snatching off his cap。
〃Th'ave coom to the noo groups； my lady； crowds of 'em。 An' a
parson with 'em； an' a flag！ Sur Chorles he don't know what to
say； an' sooch doin's never was。〃
Lady Brandon turned pale and pulled at her horse as if to back
him out of some danger。 Her visitor； puzzled； asked the old man
what he meant。
〃There's goin' to be a proceyshon through the noo groups；〃 he
replied； 〃an' the master can't stop 'em。 Th'ave throon down the
wall； three yards of it is lyin' on Riverside Road。 An' there's a
parson with 'em； and a flag。 An' him that lives in Sallust's
hoos； he's there； hoddin''em on。〃
〃Thrown down the wall！〃 exclaimed Lady Brandon； scarlet with
indignation and pale with apprehension by turns。 〃What a
disgraceful thing！ Where are the police？ Chester； will you come
with me and see what they are doing？ Sir Charles is no use。 Do
you think there is any danger？〃
〃There's two police；〃 said the old man； 〃an' him that lives at
Sallust's dar'd them stop him。 They're lookin' on。 An' there's a
parson among 'em。 I see him pullin' away at the wall with his own
han's。〃
〃I will go and see the fun；〃 said Chester。
Lady Brandon hesitated。 But her anger and curiosity vanquished
her fears。 She overtook the bicycle； and they went together
through the gates and by the highroad to the scene the old man
had described。 A heap of bricks and mortar lay in the roadway on
each side of a breach in the newly built wall； over which Lady
Brandon； from her eminence on horseback； could see； coming
towards her across the pleasure ground； a column of about thirty
persons。 They marched three abreast in good order and in silence；
the expression of all except a few mirthful faces being that of
devotees fulfilling a rite。 The gravity of the procession was
deepened by the appearance of a clergyman in its ranks； which
were composed of men of the middle class； and a few workmen
carrying a banner inscribed THE SOIL or ENGLAND THE BIRTHRIGHT OF
ALL HER PEOPLE。 There were also four women； upon whom Lady
Brandon looked with intense indignation and contempt。 None of the
men of the neighborhood had dared to join； they stood in the road
whispering； and occasionally venturing to laugh at the jests of a
couple of tramps who had stopped to see the fun； and who cared
nothing for Sir Charles。
He； standing a little way within the field； was remonstrating
angrily with a man of his own class； who stood with his back to
the breach and his hands in the pockets of his snuff…colored
clothes； contemplating the procession with elate satisfaction。
Lady Brandon； at once suspecting that this was the man from
Sallust's House； and encouraged by the loyalty of the crowd； most
of whom made way for her and touched their hats； hit the bay
horse smartly with her whip and rode him； with a clatter of hoofs
and scattering of clods； right at the snuff…colored enemy； who
had to spring hastily aside to avoid her。 There was a roar of
laughter from the roadway； and the man turned sharply on her。 But
he suddenly smiled affably； replaced his hands in his pockets
after raising his hat； and said：
〃How do you do； Miss Carpenter？ I thought you were a charge of
cavalry。〃
〃I am not Miss Carpenter； I am Lady Brandon； and you ought to be
ashamed of yourself； Mr。 Smilash； if it is you that have brought
these disgraceful people here。〃
His eyes as he replied were eloquent with reproach to her for
being no longer Miss Carpenter。 〃I am not Smilash；〃 he said； 〃I
am Sidney Trefusis。 I have just had the pleasure of meeting Sir
Charles for the first time； and we shall be the best friends
possible when I have convinced him that it is hardly fair to
seize on a path belonging to the people and compel them to walk a
mile and a half round his estate instead of four hundred yards
between two portions of it。〃
〃I have already told you； sir；〃 said Sir Charles； 〃that I intend
to open a still shorter path； and to allow all the well…conducted
work…people to pass through twice a day。 This will enable them to
go to their work and return from it； and I will be at the cost of
keeping the path in repair。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Trefusis drily； 〃but why should we trouble you
when we have a path of our own to use fifty times a day if we
choose； without any man barring our way until our conduct happens
to please him？ Besides； your next heir would probably shut the
path up the moment he came into possession。〃
〃Offering them a path is just what makes them impudent；〃 said
Lady Brandon to her husband。 〃Why did you promise them anything？
They would not think it a hardship to walk a mile and a half； or
twenty miles； to a public…house； but when they go to their work
they think it dreadful to have to walk a yard。 Perhaps they would
like us to lend them the wagonette to drive in？〃
〃I have no doubt they would；〃 said Trefusis； beaming at her