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door； and left her alone。 When his glance again fell on the lamps
that were sparsely ranged along the dreary level road； his eyes were
in a state which showed straw…like motes of light radiating from
each flame into the surrounding air。
On the other side of the way Barnet observed a man under an
umbrella； walking parallel with himself。 Presently this man left
the footway； and gradually converged on Barnet's course。 The latter
then saw that it was Charlson； a surgeon of the town； who owed him
money。 Charlson was a man not without ability； yet he did not
prosper。 Sundry circumstances stood in his way as a medical
practitioner： he was needy； he was not a coddle； he gossiped with
men instead of with women； he had married a stranger instead of one
of the town young ladies； and he was given to conversational
buffoonery。 Moreover； his look was quite erroneous。 Those only
proper features in the family doctor； the quiet eye； and the thin
straight passionless lips which never curl in public either for
laughter or for scorn； were not his； he had a full…curved mouth； and
a bold black eye that made timid people nervous。 His companions
were what in old times would have been called boon companionsan
expression which； though of irreproachable root； suggests
fraternization carried to the point of unscrupulousness。 All this
was against him in the little town of his adoption。
Charlson had been in difficulties； and to oblige him Barnet had put
his name to a bill； and； as he had expected； was called upon to meet
it when it fell due。 It had been only a matter of fifty pounds；
which Barnet could well afford to lose； and he bore no ill…will to
the thriftless surgeon on account of it。 But Charlson had a little
too much brazen indifferentism in his composition to be altogether a
desirable acquaintance。
'I hope to be able to make that little bill…business right with you
in the course of three weeks； Mr。 Barnet；' said Charlson with hail…
fellow friendliness。
Barnet replied good…naturedly that there was no hurry。
This particular three weeks had moved on in advance of Charlson's
present with the precision of a shadow for some considerable time。
'I've had a dream；' Charlson continued。 Barnet knew from his tone
that the surgeon was going to begin his characteristic nonsense； and
did not encourage him。 'I've had a dream；' repeated Charlson； who
required no encouragement。 'I dreamed that a gentleman； who has
been very kind to me； married a haughty lady in haste； before he had
quite forgotten a nice little girl he knew before； and that one wet
evening； like the present； as I was walking up the harbour…road； I
saw him come out of that dear little girl's present abode。'
Barnet glanced towards the speaker。 The rays from a neighbouring
lamp struck through the drizzle under Charlson's umbrella； so as
just to illumine his face against the shade behind； and show that
his eye was turned up under the outer corner of its lid； whence it
leered with impish jocoseness as he thrust his tongue into his
cheek。
'Come；' said Barnet gravely； 'we'll have no more of that。'
'No； noof course not；' Charlson hastily answered； seeing that his
humour had carried him too far； as it had done many times before。
He was profuse in his apologies； but Barnet did not reply。 Of one
thing he was certainthat scandal was a plant of quick root； and
that he was bound to obey Lucy's injunction for Lucy's own sake。
CHAPTER III
He did so； to the letter； and though； as the crocus followed the
snowdrop and the daffodil the crocus in Lucy's garden； the harbour…
road was a not unpleasant place to walk in； Barnet's feet never trod
its stones； much less approached her door。 He avoided a saunter
that way as he would have avoided a dangerous dram； and took his
airings a long distance northward； among severely square and brown
ploughed fields； where no other townsman came。 Sometimes he went
round by the lower lanes of the borough； where the rope…walks
stretched in which his family formerly had share； and looked at the
rope…makers walking backwards； overhung by apple…trees and bushes；
and intruded on by cows and calves； as if trade had established
itself there at considerable inconvenience to Nature。
One morning； when the sun was so warm as to raise a steam from the
south…eastern slopes of those flanking hills that looked so lovely
above the old roofs； but made every low…chimneyed house in the town
as smoky as Tophet； Barnet glanced from the windows of the town…
council room for lack of interest in what was proceeding within。
Several members of the corporation were present； but there was not
much business doing； and in a few minutes Downe came leisurely
across to him； saying that he seldom saw Barnet now。
Barnet owned that he was not often present。
Downe looked at the crimson curtain which hung down beside the
panes； reflecting its hot hues into their faces； and then out of the
window。 At that moment there passed along the street a tall
commanding lady； in whom the solicitor recognized Barnet's wife。
Barnet had done the same thing； and turned away。
'It will be all right some day；' said Downe； with cheering sympathy。
'You have heard； then； of her last outbreak？'
Downe depressed his cheerfulness to its very reverse in a moment。
'No； I have not heard of anything serious；' he said； with as long a
face as one naturally round could be turned into at short notice。
'I only hear vague reports of such things。'
'You may think it will be all right；' said Barnet drily。 'But I
have a different opinion 。 。 。 No； Downe； we must look the thing in
the face。 Not poppy nor mandragorahowever； how are your wife and
children？'
Downe said that they were all well； thanks； they were out that
morning somewhere； he was just looking to see if they were walking
that way。 Ah； there they were； just coming down the street； and
Downe pointed to the figures of two children with a nursemaid； and a
lady walking behind them。
'You will come out and speak to her？' he asked。
'Not this morning。 The fact is I don't care to speak to anybody
just now。'
'You are too sensitive； Mr。 Barnet。 At school I remember you used
to get as red as a rose if anybody uttered a word that hurt your
feelings。'
Barnet mused。 'Yes；' he admitted； 'there is a grain of truth in
that。 It is because of that I often try to make peace at home。
Life would be tolerable then at any rate； even if not particularly
bright。'
'I have thought more than once of proposing a little plan to you；'
said Downe with some hesitation。 'I don't know whether it will meet
your views； but take it or leave it； as you choose。 In fact； it was
my wife who suggested it： that she would be very glad to call on
Mrs。 Barnet and get into her confidence。 She seems to think that
Mrs。 Barnet is rather alone in the town； and without advisers。 Her
impression is that your wife will listen to reason。 Emily has a
wonderful way of winning the hearts of people of her own sex。'
'And of the other sex too； I think。 She is a charming woman； and
you were a lucky fellow to find her。'
'Well； perhaps I was；' simpered Downe； trying to wear an aspect of
being the last man in the world to feel pride。 'However； she will
be likely to find out what ruffles Mrs。 Barnet。 Perhaps it is some
misunderstanding； you knowsomething that she is too proud to ask
you to explain； or some little thing in your conduct that irritates
her because she does not fully comprehend you。 The truth is； Emily
would have been more ready to make advances if she had been quite
sure of her fitness for Mrs。 Barnet's society； who has of course
been accustomed to London people of good position； which made Emily
fearful of intruding。'
Barnet expressed his warmest thanks for the well…intentioned
proposition。 There was reason in Mrs。 Downe's fearthat he owned。
'But do let her call；' he said。 'There is no woman in England I
would so soon trust on such an errand。 I am afraid there will not
be any brilliant result； still I shall take it as the kindest and
nicest thing if she will try it； and not be frightened at a
repulse。'
When Barnet and Downe had part