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offering the latest novel sounded pleasantpleasant the independent
answers of a bearded guard； and the stodgy farewell sayings of a man
and wife。 The limber porters trundling their barrows； the greyness
of the station and the good stolid humour clinging to the people；
air； and voices； all brought to him the sense of home。 Meanwhile he
wavered between purchasing a book called Market Hayborough； which he
had read and would ；certainly enjoy a second time； and Carlyle's
French Revolution； which he had not read and was doubtful of
enjoying； he felt that he ought to buy the latter； but he did not
relish giving up the former。 While he hesitated thus； his carriage
was beginning to fill up； so； quickly buying both； he took up a
position from which he could defend his rights。 〃Nothing；〃 he
thought； 〃shows people up like travelling。〃
The carriage was almost full； and； putting his bag； up in the rack；
he took his seat。 At the moment of starting yet another passenger； a
girl with a pale face； scrambled in。
〃I was a fool to go third；〃 thought Shelton； taking in his neighbours
from behind his journal。
They were seven。 A grizzled rustic sat in the far corner； his empty
pipe； bowl downwards； jutted like a handle from his face； all bleared
with the smear of nothingness that grows on those who pass their
lives in the current of hard facts。 Next to him； a ruddy； heavy…
shouldered man was discussing with a grey…haired； hatchet…visaged
person the condition of their gardens； and Shelton watched their eyes
till it occurred to him how curious a look was in thema watchful
friendliness； an allied distrustand that their voices； cheerful；
even jovial； seemed to be cautious all the time。 His glance strayed
off； and almost rebounded from the semi…Roman； slightly cross； and
wholly self…complacent face of a stout lady in a black…and…white
costume； who was reading the Strand Magazine； while her other； sleek；
plump hand； freed from its black glove； and ornamented with a thick
watch…bracelet； rested on her lap。 A younger； bright…cheeked； and
self…conscious female was sitting next her； looking at the pale girl
who had just got in。
〃There's something about that girl；〃 thought Shelton； 〃they don't
like。〃 Her brown eyes certainly looked frightened； her clothes were
of a foreign cut。 Suddenly he met the glance of another pair of
eyes； these eyes； prominent and blue； stared with a sort of subtle
roguery from above a thin； lopsided nose； and were at once averted。
They gave Shelton the impression that he was being judged； and
mocked； enticed； initiated。 His own gaze did not fall； this sanguine
face； with its two…day growth of reddish beard； long nose； full lips；
and irony； puzzled him。 〃A cynical face！〃 he thought； and then； 〃but
sensitive！〃 and then； 〃too cynical；〃 again。
The young man who owned it sat with his legs parted at the knees； his
dusty trouser…ends and boots slanting back beneath the seat； his
yellow finger…tips crisped as if rolling cigarettes。 A strange air
of detachment was about that youthful； shabby figure； and not a scrap
of luggage filled the rack above his head。
The frightened girl was sitting next this pagan personality； it was
possibly the lack of fashion in his looks that caused； her to select
him for her confidence。
〃Monsieur；〃 she asked； 〃do you speak French？〃
〃Perfectly。〃
〃Then can you tell me where they take the tickets？
〃The young man shook his head。
〃No；〃 said he； 〃I am a foreigner。〃
The girl sighed。
〃But what is the matter； ma'moiselle？〃
The girl did not reply； twisting her hands on an old bag in her lap。
Silence had stolen on the carriagea silence such as steals on
animals at the first approach of danger； all eyes were turned towards
the figures of the foreigners。
〃Yes；〃 broke out the red…faced man； 〃he was a bit squiffy that
eveningold Tom。〃
〃Ah！〃 replied his neighbour； 〃he would be。〃
Something seemed to have destroyed their look of mutual distrust。
The plump； sleek hand of the lady with the Roman nose curved
convulsively； and this movement corresponded to the feeling agitating
Shelton's heart。 It was almost as if hand and heart feared to be
asked for something。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the girl； with a tremble in her voice； 〃I am very
unhappy； can you tell me what to do？ I had no money for a ticket。〃
The foreign youth's face flickered。
〃Yes？〃 he said； 〃that might happen to anyone； of course。〃
〃What will they do to me？〃 sighed the girl。
〃Don't lose courage； ma'moiselle。〃 The young man slid his eyes from
left to right； and rested them on Shelton。 〃Although I don't as yet
see your way out。〃
〃Oh； monsieur！〃 sighed the girl； and； though it was clear that none
but Shelton understood what they were saying； there was a chilly
feeling in the carriage。
〃I wish I could assist you；〃 said the foreign youth； 〃unfortunately
〃 he shrugged his shoulders； and again his eyes returned to
Shelton。
The latter thrust his hand into his pocket。
〃Can I be of any use？〃 he asked in English。
〃Certainly； sir； you could render this young lady the greatest
possible service by lending her the money for a ticket。〃
Shelton produced a sovereign； which the young man took。 Passing it。
to the girl； he said：
〃A thousand thanks'voila une belle action'！〃
The misgivings which attend on casual charity crowded up in Shelton's
mind； he was ashamed of having them and of not having them； and he
stole covert looks at this young foreigner； who was now talking to
the girl in a language that he did not understand。 Though vagabond
in essence； the fellow's face showed subtle spirit； a fortitude and
irony not found upon the face of normal man； and in turning from it
to the other passengers Shelton was conscious of revolt； contempt；
and questioning； that he could not define。 Leaning back with half…
closed eyes； he tried to diagnose this new sensation。 He found it
disconcerting that the faces and behaviour of his neighbours lacked
anything he could grasp and secretly abuse。 They continued to
converse with admirable and slightly conscious phlegm； yet he knew；
as well as if each one had whispered to him privately； that this
shady incident had shaken them。 Something unsettling to their
notions of propriety…something dangerous and destructive of
complacencyhad occurred； and this was unforgivable。 Each had a
different way； humorous or philosophic； contemptuous； sour； or sly；
of showing this resentment。 But by a flash of insight Shelton saw
that at the bottom of their minds and of his own the feeling was the
same。 Because he shared in their resentment he was enraged with them
and with himself。 He looked at the plump； sleek hand of the woman
with the Roman nose。 The insulation and complacency of its pale
skin； the passive righteousness about its curve； the prim separation
from the others of the fat little finger； had acquired a wholly
unaccountable importance。 It embodied the verdict of his fellow…
passengers； the verdict of Society； for he knew that； whether or no
repugnant to the well…bred mind； each assemblage of eight persons；
even in a third…class carriage； contains the kernel of Society。
But being in love； and recently engaged； Shelton had a right to be
immune from discontent of any kind； and he reverted to his mental
image of the cool； fair face； quick movements； and the brilliant
smile that now in his probationary exile haunted his imagination； he
took out his fiancee's last letter； but the voice of the young
foreigner addressing him in rapid French caused him to put it back
abruptly。
〃From what she tells me； sir；〃 he said； bending forward to be out of
hearing of the girl； 〃hers is an unhappy case。 I should have been
only too glad to help her； but； as you see〃and he made a gesture by
which Shelton observed that he had parted from his waistcoat〃I am
not Rothschild。 She has been abandoned by the man who brought her
over to Dover under promise of marriage。 Look〃and by a subtle
flicker of his eyes he marked how the two ladies had edged away from
the French girl 〃they take good care not to let their garments touch
her。 They are virtuous women。 How fine a thing is virtue； sir！ and
finer to know you have it； especially when you are never likely to be
tempted。〃
Shelton was unable to repress a smile； and when he smiled his face
grew soft。
〃Haven't you observed；〃 went on the youthful foreigner； 〃that those
who by temperament and circumstance are worst fitted to pronounce
judgment are usually the first to judge？ The judgments of Society
are always childish； seeing that it's composed for the most part of
individuals who have never smelt the fire。 And look at this： they
who have money run too great a risk of parting with it if they don't
accuse the penniless of being rogues and imbeciles。〃
Shelton was startled； a