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afterwards of opinion that it spoke ill for her not to have felt an
instinctive repugnance to Mr。 Freely。
But he was cautious； and wished to be quite sure of the ground he
trod on。 His views on marriage were not entirely sentimental； but
were as duly mingled with considerations of what would be
advantageous to a man in his position； as if he had had a very large
amount of money spent on his education。 He was not a man to fall in
love in the wrong place； and so； he applied himself quite as much to
conciliate the favour of the parents； as to secure the attachment of
Penny。 Mrs。 Palfrey had not been inaccessible to flattery； and her
husband； being also of mortal mould； would not； it might be hoped；
be proof against rumthat very fine Jamaica rumof which Mr。
Freely expected always to have a supply sent him from Jamaica。 It
was not easy to get Mr。 Palfrey into the parlour behind the shop；
where a mild back…street light fell on the features of the heroic
admiral； but by getting hold of him rather late one evening as he
was about to return home from Grimworth； the aspiring lover
succeeded in persuading him to sup on some collared beef which；
after Mrs。 Palfrey's brawn； he would find the very best of cold
eating。
From that hour Mr。 Freely felt sure of success： being in privacy
with an estimable man old enough to be his father； and being rather
lonely in the world； it was natural he should unbosom himself a
little on subjects which he could not speak of in a mixed circle
especially concerning his expectations from his uncle in Jamaica；
who had no children； and loved his nephew Edward better than any one
else in the world； though he had been so hurt at his leaving
Jamaica； that he had threatened to cut him off with a shilling。
However； he had since written to state his full forgiveness； and
though he was an eccentric old gentleman and could not bear to give
away money during his life； Mr。 Edward Freely could show Mr。 Palfrey
the letter which declared； plainly enough； who would be the
affectionate uncle's heir。 Mr。 Palfrey actually saw the letter； and
could not help admiring the spirit of the nephew who declared that
such brilliant hopes as these made no difference to his conduct； he
should work at his humble business and make his modest fortune at it
all the same。 If the Jamaica estate was to come to himwell and
good。 It was nothing very surprising for one of the Freely family
to have an estate left him； considering the lands that family had
possessed in time gone bynay； still possessed in the
Northumberland branch。 Would not Mr。 Palfrey take another glass of
rum？ and also look at the last year's balance of the accounts？ Mr。
Freely was a man who cared to possess personal virtues； and did not
pique himself on his family； though some men would。
We know how easily the great Leviathan may be led； when once there
is a hook in his nose or a bridle in his jaws。 Mr。 Palfrey was a
large man； but； like Leviathan's； his bulk went against him when
once he had taken a turning。 He was not a mercurial man； who easily
changed his point of view。 Enough。 Before two months were over； he
had given his consent to Mr。 Freely's marriage with his daughter
Penny； and having hit on a formula by which he could justify it；
fenced off all doubts and objections； his own included。 The formula
was this： 〃I'm not a man to put my head up an entry before I know
where it leads。〃
Little Penny was very proud and fluttering； but hardly so happy as
she expected to be in an engagement。 She wondered if young Towers
cared much about it； for he had not been to the house lately； and
her sister and brothers were rather inclined to sneer than to
sympathize。 Grimworth rang with the news。 All men extolled Mr。
Freely's good fortune； while the women； with the tender solicitude
characteristic of the sex； wished the marriage might turn out well。
While affairs were at this triumphant juncture； Mr。 Freely one
morning observed that a stone…carver who had been breakfasting in
the eating…room had left a newspaper behind。 It was the X…shire
Gazette； and X…shire being a county not unknown to Mr。 Freely； he
felt some curiosity to glance over it； and especially over the
advertisements。 A slight flush came over his face as he read。 It
was produced by the following announcement：… 〃If David Faux； son of
Jonathan Faux； late of Gilsbrook； will apply at the office of Mr。
Strutt； attorney； of Rodham； he will hear of something to his
advantage。〃
〃Father's dead！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Freely； involuntarily。 〃Can he have
left me a legacy？〃
CHAPTER III
Perhaps it was a result quite different from your expectations； that
Mr。 David Faux should have returned from the West Indies only a few
years after his arrival there； and have set up in his old business；
like any plain man who has never travelled。 But these cases do
occur in life。 Since； as we know； men change their skies and see
new constellations without changing their souls； it will follow
sometimes that they don't change their business under those novel
circumstances。
Certainly； this result was contrary to David's own expectations。 He
had looked forward； you are aware； to a brilliant career among 〃the
blacks〃； but； either because they had already seen too many white
men； or for some other reason； they did not at once recognize him as
a superior order of human being； besides； there were no princesses
among them。 Nobody in Jamaica was anxious to maintain David for the
mere pleasure of his society； and those hidden merits of a man which
are so well known to himself were as little recognized there as they
notoriously are in the effete society of the Old World。 So that in
the dark hints that David threw out at the Oyster Club about that
life of Sultanic self…indulgence spent by him in the luxurious
Indies； I really think he was doing himself a wrong； I believe he
worked for his bread； and； in fact； took to cooking as； after all；
the only department in which he could offer skilled labour。 He had
formed several ingenious plans by which he meant to circumvent
people of large fortune and small faculty； but then he never met
with exactly the right circumstances。 David's devices for getting
rich without work had apparently no direct relation with the world
outside him； as his confectionery receipts had。 It is possible to
pass a great many bad half pennies and bad half…crowns； but I
believe there has no instance been known of passing a halfpenny or a
half…crown as a sovereign。 A sharper can drive a brisk trade in
this world： it is undeniable that there may be a fine career for
him； if he will dare consequences； but David was too timid to be a
sharper； or venture in any way among the mantraps of the law。 He
dared rob nobody but his mother。 And so he had to fall back on the
genuine value there was in himto be content to pass as a good
halfpenny； or； to speak more accurately； as a good confectioner。
For in spite of some additional reading and observation； there was
nothing else he could make so much money by； nay； he found in
himself even a capability of extending his skill in this direction；
and embracing all forms of cookery； while； in other branches of
human labour； he began to see that it was not possible for him to
shine。 Fate was too strong for him； he had thought to master her
inclination and had fled over the seas to that end； but she caught
him； tied an apron round him； and snatching him from all other
devices； made him devise cakes and patties in a kitchen at
Kingstown。 He was getting submissive to her； since she paid him
with tolerable gains； but fevers and prickly heat； and other evils
incidental to cooks in ardent climates； made him long for his native
land； so he took ship once more； carrying his six years' savings；
and seeing distinctly； this time； what were Fate's intentions as to
his career。 If you question me closely as to whether all the money
with which he set up at Grimworth consisted of pure and simple
earnings； I am obliged to confess that he got a sum or two for
charitably abstaining from mentioning some other people's
misdemeanours。 Altogether； since no prospects were attached to his
family name； and since a new christening seemed a suitable
commencement of a new life； Mr。 David Faux thought it as well to
call himself Mr。 Edward Freely。
But lo！ now； in opposition to all calculable probability； some
benefit appeared to be attached to the name of David Faux。 Should
he neglect it； as beneath the attention of a prosperous tradesman？
It might bring him into contact with his family again； and he felt
no yearnings in that direction： moreover； he had small belief that
the 〃something to his advantage〃 could be anything considerable。 On
the other hand； even a small gain is pleasant； and the promise of it
in this instance was so surprising； that David felt his curiosity