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sugar department。 When I think of the sweet…tasted swans and other
ingenious white shapes crunched by the small teeth of that rising
generation； I am glad to remember that a certain amount of
calcareous food has been held good for young creatures whose bones
are not quite formed； for I have observed these delicacies to have
an inorganic flavour which would have recommended them greatly to
that young lady of the Spectator's acquaintance who habitually made
her dessert on the stems of tobacco…pipes。
As for the confectioner himself； he made his way gradually into
Grimworth homes； as his commodities did； in spite of some initial
repugnance。 Somehow or other； his reception as a guest seemed a
thing that required justifying； like the purchasing of his pastry。
In the first place； he was a stranger； and therefore open to
suspicion； secondly； the confectionery business was so entirely new
at Grimworth； that its place in the scale of rank had not been
distinctly ascertained。 There was no doubt about drapers and
grocers； when they came of good old Grimworth families； like Mr。
Luff and Mr。 Prettyman： they visited with the Palfreys； who farmed
their own land； played many a game at whist with the doctor； and
condescended a little towards the timber…merchant； who had lately
taken to the coal…trade also； and had got new furniture； but whether
a confectioner should be admitted to this higher level of
respectability； or should be understood to find his associates among
butchers and bakers； was a new question on which tradition threw no
light。 His being a bachelor was in his favour； and would perhaps
have been enough to turn the scale； even if Mr。 Edward Freely's
other personal pretensions had been of an entirely insignificant
cast。 But so far from this； it very soon appeared that he was a
remarkable young man； who had been in the West Indies； and had seen
many wonders by sea and land； so that he could charm the ears of
Grimworth Desdemonas with stories of strange fishes； especially
sharks； which he had stabbed in the nick of time by bravely plunging
overboard just as the monster was turning on his side to devour the
cook's mate； of terrible fevers which he had undergone in a land
where the wind blows from all quarters at once； of rounds of toast
cut straight from the breadfruit trees； of toes bitten off by land…
crabs； of large honours that had been offered to him as a man who
knew what was what； and was therefore particularly needed in a
tropical climate； and of a Creole heiress who had wept bitterly at
his departure。 Such conversational talents as these； we know； will
overcome disadvantages of complexion； and young Towers； whose cheeks
were of the finest pink； set off by a fringe of dark whisker； was
quite eclipsed by the presence of the sallow Mr。 Freely。 So
exceptional a confectioner elevated the business； and might well
begin to make disengaged hearts flutter a little。
Fathers and mothers were naturally more slow and cautious in their
recognition of the new…comer's merits。
〃He's an amusing fellow；〃 said Mr。 Prettyman； the highly respectable
grocer。 （Mrs。 Prettyman was a Miss Fothergill； and her sister had
married a London mercer。） 〃He's an amusing fellow； and I've no
objection to his making one at the Oyster Club； but he's a bit too
fond of riding the high horse。 He's uncommonly knowing； I'll allow；
but how came he to go to the Indies？ I should like that answered。
It's unnatural in a confectioner。 I'm not fond of people that have
been beyond seas； if they can't give a good account how they
happened to go。 When folks go so far off； it's because they've got
little credit nearer homethat's my opinion。 However； he's got
some good rum； but I don't want to be hand and glove with him； for
all that。〃
It was this kind of dim suspicion which beclouded the view of Mr。
Freely's qualities in the maturer minds of Grimworth through the
early months of his residence there。 But when the confectioner
ceased to be a novelty； the suspicions also ceased to be novel； and
people got tired of hinting at them； especially as they seemed to be
refuted by his advancing prosperity and importance。 Mr。 Freely was
becoming a person of influence in the parish； he was found useful as
an overseer of the poor； having great firmness in enduring other
people's pain； which firmness； he said； was due to his great
benevolence； he always did what was good for people in the end。 Mr。
Chaloner had even selected him as clergyman's churchwarden； for he
was a very handy man； and much more of Mr。 Chaloner's opinion in
everything about church business than the older parishioners。 Mr。
Freely was a very regular churchman； but at the Oyster Club he was
sometimes a little free in his conversation； more than hinting at a
life of Sultanic self…indulgence which he had passed in the West
Indies； shaking his head now and then and smiling rather bitterly；
as men are wont to do when they intimate that they have become a
little too wise to be instructed about a world which has long been
flat and stale to them。
For some time he was quite general in his attentions to the fair
sex； combining the gallantries of a lady's man with a severity of
criticism on the person and manners of absent belles； which tended
rather to stimulate in the feminine breast the desire to conquer the
approval of so fastidious a judge。 Nothing short of the very best
in the department of female charms and virtues could suffice to
kindle the ardour of Mr。 Edward Freely； who had become familiar with
the most luxuriant and dazzling beauty in the West Indies。 It may
seem incredible that a confectioner should have ideas and
conversation so much resembling those to be met with in a higher
walk of life； but it must be remembered that he had not merely
travelled； he had also bow…legs and a sallow； small…featured visage；
so that nature herself had stamped him for a fastidious connoisseur
of the fair sex。
At last； however； it seemed clear that Cupid had found a sharper
arrow than usual； and that Mr。 Freely's heart was pierced。 It was
the general talk among the young people at Grimworth。 But was it
really love； and not rather ambition？ Miss Fullilove； the timber…
merchant's daughter； was quite sure that if SHE were Miss Penny
Palfrey； she would be cautious； it was not a good sign when men
looked so much above themselves for a wife。 For it was no less a
person than Miss Penelope Palfrey； second daughter of the Mr。
Palfrey who farmed his own land； that had attracted Mr。 Freely's
peculiar regard； and conquered his fastidiousness； and no wonder；
for the Ideal； as exhibited in the finest waxwork； was perhaps never
so closely approached by the Real as in the person of the pretty
Penelope。 Her yellowish flaxen hair did not curl naturally； I
admit； but its bright crisp ringlets were such smooth； perfect
miniature tubes； that you would have longed to pass your little
finger through them； and feel their soft elasticity。 She wore them
in a crop； for in those days； when society was in a healthier state；
young ladies wore crops long after they were twenty； and Penelope
was not yet nineteen。 Like the waxen ideal； she had round blue
eyes； and round nostrils in her little nose； and teeth such as the
ideal would be seen to have； if it ever showed them。 Altogether；
she was a small； round thing； as neat as a pink and white double
daisy； and as guileless； for I hope it does not argue guile in a
pretty damsel of nineteen； to think that she should like to have a
beau and be 〃engaged；〃 when her elder sister had already been in
that position a year and a half。 To be sure； there was young Towers
always coming to the house； but Penny felt convinced he only came to
see her brother； for he never had anything to say to her； and never
offered her his arm； and was as awkward and silent as possible。
It is not unlikely that Mr。 Freely had early been smitten by Penny's
charms； as brought under his observation at church； but he had to
make his way in society a little before he could come into nearer
contact with them； and even after he was well received in Grimworth
families； it was a long while before he could converse with Penny
otherwise than in an incidental meeting at Mr。 Luff's。 It was not
so easy to get invited to Long Meadows； the residence of the
Palfreys； for though Mr。 Palfrey had been losing money of late
years； not being able quite to recover his feet after the terrible
murrain which forced him to borrow； his family were far from
considering themselves on the same level even as the old…established
tradespeople with whom they visited。 The greatest people； even
kings and queens； must visit with somebody； and the equals of the
great are scarce。 They were especially scarce at Grimworth； which；
as I have before observed； was a low parish； mentioned with the most
scornful brevity in gazetteers。 Even the great peopl