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all adrift。〃
〃Quite so。 We always think our standards best for the whole world。
It's a capital belief for us。 Read the speeches of our public men。
Does n't it strike you as amazing how sure they are of being in the
right？ It's so charming to benefit yourself and others at the same
time； though； when you come to think of it； one man's meat is usually
another's poison。 Look at nature。 But in England we never look at
naturethere's no necessity。 Our national point of view has filled
our pockets； that's all that matters。〃
〃I say； old chap； that's awfully bitter；〃 said Crocker； with a sort
of wondering sadness。
〃It 's enough to make any one bitter the way we Pharisees wax fat；
and at the same time give ourselves the moral airs of a balloon。
I must stick a pin in sometimes； just to hear the gas escape。〃
Shelton was surprised at his own heat； and for some strange reason
thought of Antoniasurely； she was not a Pharisee。
His companion strode along； and Shelton felt sorry for the signs of
trouble on his face。
〃To fill your pockets；〃 said Crocker； 〃is n't the main thing。 One
has just got to do things without thinking of why we do them。〃
〃Do you ever see the other side to any question？〃 asked Shelton。
〃I suppose not。 You always begin to act before you stop thinking；
don't you？〃
Crocker grinned。
〃He's a Pharisee； too；〃 thought Shelton； 〃without a Pharisee's pride。
Queer thing that！〃
After walking some distance； as if thinking deeply； Crocker chuckled
out：
〃You 're not consistent； you ought to be in favour of giving up
India。〃
Shelton smiled uneasily。
〃Why should n't we fill our pockets？ I only object to the humbug
that we talk。〃
The Indian civilian put his hand shyly through his arm。
〃If I thought like you；〃 he said； 〃I could n't stay another day in
India。〃
And to this Shelton made no reply。
The wind had now begun to drop； and something of the morning's magic
was stealing again upon the moor。 They were nearing the outskirt
fields of cultivation。 It was past five when； dropping from the
level of the tors； they came into the sunny vale of Monkland。
〃They say；〃 said Crocker； reading from his guide…book〃they say this
place occupies a position of unique isolation。〃
The two travellers； in tranquil solitude； took their seats under an
old lime…tree on the village green。 The smoke of their pipes； the
sleepy air； the warmth from the baked ground； the constant hum； made
Shelton drowsy。
〃Do you remember；〃 his companion asked； 〃those 'jaws' you used to
have with Busgate and old Halidome in my rooms on Sunday evenings？
How is old Halidome？〃
〃Married；〃 replied Shelton。
Crocker sighed。 〃And are you？〃 he asked。
〃Not yet；〃 said Shelton grimly； 〃I 'mengaged。〃
Crocker took hold of his arm above the elbow； and； squeezing it； he
grunted。 Shelton had not received congratulations that pleased him
more； there was the spice of envy in them。
〃I should like to get married while I 'm home；〃 said the civilian
after a long pause。 His legs were stretched apart； throwing shadows
on the green； his hands deep thrust into his pockets； his head a
little to one side。 An absent…minded smile played round his mouth。
The sun had sunk behind a tor； but the warmth kept rising from the
ground； and the sweet…briar on a cottage bathed them with its spicy
perfume。 From the converging lanes figures passed now and then；
lounged by； staring at the strangers； gossiping amongst themselves；
and vanished into the cottages that headed the incline。 A clock
struck seven； and round the shady lime…tree a chafer or some heavy
insect commenced its booming rushes。 All was marvellously sane and
slumbrous。 The soft air； the drawling voices； the shapes and
murmurs； the rising smell of wood…smoke from fresh…kindled fires
were full of the spirit of security and of home。 The outside world
was far indeed。 Typical of some island nation was this nest of
refugewhere men grew quietly tall； fattened； and without fuss
dropped off their perches； where contentment flourished； as
sunflowers flourished in the sun。
Crocker's cap slipped off； he was nodding； and Shelton looked at him。
》From a manor house in some such village he had issued； to one of a
thousand such homes he would find his way at last； untouched by the
struggles with famines or with plagues； uninfected in his fibre； his
prejudices； and his principles； unchanged by contact with strange
peoples； new conditions； odd feelings； or queer points of view！
The chafer buzzed against his shoulder； gathered flight again； and
boomed away。 Crocker roused himself； and； turning his amiable face；
jogged Shelton's arm。
〃What are you thinking about； Bird？〃 he asked。
CHAPTER XVII
A PARSON
Shelton continued to travel with his college friend； and on Wednesday
night； four days after joining company； they reached the village of
Dowdenhame。 All day long the road had lain through pastureland； with
thick green hedges and heavily feathered elms。 Once or twice they
had broken the monotony by a stretch along the towing…path of a
canal； which； choked with water…lily plants and shining weeds；
brooded sluggishly beside the fields。 Nature； in one of her ironic
moods； had cast a grey and iron…hard cloak over all the country's
bland luxuriance。 From dawn till darkness fell there had been no
movement in the steely distant sky； a cold wind ruffed in the hedge…
tops； and sent shivers through the branches of the elms。 The cattle；
dappled； pied； or bay； or white； continued grazing with an air of
grumbling at their birthright。 In a meadow close to the canal
Shelton saw five magpies； and about five o'clock the rain began； a
steady； coldly…sneering rain； which Crocker； looking at the sky；
declared was going to be over in a minute。 But it was not over in a
minute； they were soon drenched。 Shelton was tired； and it annoyed
him very much that his companion； who was also tired； should grow
more cheerful。 His thoughts kept harping upon Ferrand： 〃This must be
something like what he described to me； tramping on and on when
you're dead…beat； until you can cadge up supper and a bed。〃 And
sulkily he kept on ploughing through the mud with glances at the
exasperating Crocker； who had skinned one heel and was limping
horribly。 It suddenly came home to him that life for three quarters
of the world meant physical exhaustion every day； without a
possibility of alternative； and that as soon as； for some cause
beyond control； they failed thus to exhaust themselves； they were
reduced to beg or starve。 〃And then we； who don't know the meaning
of the word exhaustion； call them 'idle scamps；'〃 he said aloud。
It was past nine and dark when they reached Dowdenhame。 The street
yielded no accommodation； and while debating where to go they passed
the church； with a square tower； and next to it a house which was
certainly the parsonage。
〃Suppose；〃 said Crocker； leaning on his arms upon the gate； 〃we ask
him where to go〃； and； without waiting for Shelton's answer； he rang
the bell。
The door was opened by the parson； a bloodless and clean…shaven man；
whose hollow cheeks and bony hands suggested a perpetual struggle。
Ascetically benevolent were his grey eyes； a pale and ghostly smile
played on the curves of his thin lips。
〃What can I do for you？〃 he asked。 〃Inn？ yes； there's the Blue
Chequers； but I 'm afraid you 'll find it shut。 They 're early
people； I 'm glad to say〃； and his eyes seemed to muse over the
proper fold for these damp sheep。 〃Are you Oxford men； by any
chance？〃 he asked； as if that might throw some light upon the matter。
〃Of Mary's？ Really！ I'm of Paul's myself。 LadymanBillington
Ladyman； you might remember my youngest brother。 I could give you a
room here if you could manage without sheets。 My housekeeper has two
days' holiday； she's foolishly taken the keys。〃
Shelton accepted gladly； feeling that the intonation in the parson's
voice was necessary unto his calling； and that he did not want to
patronise。
〃You 're hungry； I expect； after your tramp。 I'm very much afraid
there 'sernothing in the house but bread； I could boil you water；
hot lemonade is better than nothing。
Conducting them into the kitchen； he made a fire； and put a kettle on
to boil； then； after leaving them to shed their soaking clothes；
returned with ancient； greenish coats； some carpet slippers； and some
blankets。 Wrapped in these； and carrying their glasses； the
travellers followed to the study； where； by doubtful lamp…light； he
seemed； from books upon the table； to have been working at his
sermon。
〃We 're giving you a lot of trouble；〃 said Shelton； 〃it's really very
good of you。〃
〃Not at all；〃 the parson answered； I'm only grieved the house is
empty。〃
It was a truly dismal contrast to the