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movement of indignation that had never been allowed to satisfy
itself。 〃He ran away from home with good reasons in his pocket
years ago： he didn't want to be owned again； I reckon。〃
Mr。 Palfrey left the shop； he felt his own pride too severely
wounded by the sense that he had let himself be fooled； to feel
curiosity for further details。 The most pressing business was to go
home and tell his daughter that Freely was a poor sneak； probably a
rascal； and that her engagement was broken off。
Mr。 Prettyman stayed； with some internal self…gratulation that HE
had never given in to Freely； and that Mr。 Chaloner would see now
what sort of fellow it was that he had put over the heads of older
parishioners。 He considered it due from him （Mr。 Prettyman） that；
for the interests of the parish； he should know all that was to be
known about this 〃interloper。〃 Grimworth would have people coming
from Botany Bay to settle in it； if things went on in this way。
It soon appeared that Jacob could not be made to quit his dear
brother David except by force。 He understood； with a clearness
equal to that of the most intelligent mind； that Jonathan would take
him back to skimmed milk； apple…dumpling； broad beans； and pork。
And he had found a paradise in his brother's shop。 It was a
difficult matter to use force with Jacob； for he wore heavy nailed
boots； and if his pitchfork had been mastered； he would have
resorted without hesitation to kicks。 Nothing short of using guile
to bind him hand and foot would have made all parties safe。
〃Let him stay；〃 said David； with desperate resignation； frightened
above all things at the idea of further disturbances in his shop；
which would make his exposure all the more conspicuous。 〃YOU go
away again； and to…morrow I can； perhaps； get him to go to Gilsbrook
with me。 He'll follow me fast enough； I daresay；〃 he added； with a
half…groan。
〃Very well；〃 said Jonathan； gruffly。 〃I don't see why YOU shouldn't
have some trouble and expense with him as well as the rest of us。
But mind you bring him back safe and soon； else mother'll never
rest。〃
On this arrangement being concluded； Mr。 Prettyman begged Mr。
Jonathan Faux to go and take a snack with him； an invitation which
was quite acceptable； and as honest Jonathan had nothing to be
ashamed of； it is probable that he was very frank in his
communications to the civil draper； who； pursuing the benefit of the
parish； hastened to make all the information he could gather about
Freely common parochial property。 You may imagine that the meeting
of the Club at the Woolpack that evening was unusually lively。
Every member was anxious to prove that he had never liked Freely； as
he called himself。 Faux was his name； was it？ Fox would have been
more suitable。 The majority expressed a desire to see him hooted
out of the town。
Mr。 Freely did not venture over his door…sill that day； for he knew
Jacob would keep at his side； and there was every probability that
they would have a train of juvenile followers。 He sent to engage
the Woolpack gig for an early hour the next morning； but this order
was not kept religiously a secret by the landlord。 Mr。 Freely was
informed that he could not have the gig till seven； and the
Grimworth people were early risers。 Perhaps they were more alert
than usual on this particular morning； for when Jacob； with a bag of
sweets in his hand； was induced to mount the gig with his brother
David； the inhabitants of the market…place were looking out of their
doors and windows； and at the turning of the street there was even a
muster of apprentices and schoolboys； who shouted as they passed in
what Jacob took to be a very merry and friendly way； nodding and
grinning in return。 〃Huzzay； David Faux！ how's your uncle？〃 was
their morning's greeting。 Like other pointed things； it was not
altogether impromptu。
Even this public derision was not so crushing to David as the
horrible thought that though he might succeed now in getting Jacob
home again there would never be any security against his coming
back； like a wasp to the honey…pot。 As long as David lived at
Grimworth； Jacob's return would be hanging over him。 But could he
go on living at Grimworthan object of ridicule； discarded by the
Palfreys； after having revelled in the consciousness that he was an
envied and prosperous confectioner？ David liked to be envied； he
minded less about being loved。
His doubts on this point were soon settled。 The mind of Grimworth
became obstinately set against him and his viands； and the new
school being finished； the eating…room was closed。 If there had
been no other reason； sympathy with the Palfreys； that respectable
family who had lived in the parish time out of mind； would have
determined all well…to…do people to decline Freely's goods。
Besides； he had absconded with his mother's guineas： who knew what
else he had done； in Jamaica or elsewhere； before he came to
Grimworth； worming himself into families under false pretences？
Females shuddered。 Dreadful suspicions gathered round him： his
green eyes； his bow…legs had a criminal aspect。 The rector disliked
the sight of a man who had imposed upon him； and all boys who could
not afford to purchase； hooted 〃David Faux〃 as they passed his shop。
Certainly no man now would pay anything for the 〃goodwill〃 of Mr。
Freely's business； and he would be obliged to quit it without a
peculium so desirable towards defraying the expense of moving。
In a few months the shop in the marketplace was again to let； and
Mr。 David Faux； alias Mr。 Edward Freely； had gonenobody at
Grimworth knew whither。 In this way the demoralization of Grimworth
women was checked。 Young Mrs。 Steene renewed her efforts to make
light mince…pies； and having at last made a batch so excellent that
Mr。 Steene looked at her with complacency as he ate them； and said
they were the best he had ever eaten in his life； she thought less
of bulbuls and renegades ever after。 The secrets of the finer
cookery were revived in the breasts of matronly house…wives； and
daughters were again anxious to be initiated in them。
You will further； I hope； be glad to bear； that some purchases of
drapery made by pretty Penny； in preparation for her marriage with
Mr。 Freely； came in quite as well for her wedding with young Towers
as if they had been made expressly for the latter occasion。 For
Penny's complexion had not altered； and blue always became it best。
Here ends the story of Mr。 David Faux； confectioner； and his brother
Jacob。 And we see in it； I think； an admirable instance of the
unexpected forms in which the great Nemesis hides herself。
（1860）
End