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that the master who had paid me grudged every penny of that
hard…earned pittance—（I had long ceased to regard Mr。
Crimsworth as my brother—he was a hard； grinding master； he
wished to be an inexorable tyrant： that was all）。 Thoughts； not
varied but strong； occupied my mind； two voices spoke within me；
again and again they uttered the same monotonous phrases。 One
said： “William； your life is intolerable。” The other： “What can you
do to alter it？” I walked fast； for it was a cold； frosty night in
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January； as I approached my lodgings； I turned from a general
view of my affairs to the particular speculation as to whether my
fire would be out； looking towards the window of my sitting…room；
I saw no cheering red gleam。
“That slut of a servant has neglected it as usual；” said I； “and I
shall see nothing but pale ashes if I go in； it is a fine starlight
night—I will walk a little farther。”
It was a fine night； and the streets were dry and even clean for
X—； there was a crescent curve of moonlight to be seen by the
parish church tower； and hundreds of stars shone keenly bright in
all quarters of the sky。
Unconsciously I steered my course towards the country； I had
got into Grove…street； and began to feel the pleasure of seeing dim
trees at the extremity； round a suburban house； when a person
leaning over the iron gate of one of the small gardens which front
the neat dwelling…houses in this street； addressed me as I was
hurrying with quick stride past。
“What the deuce is the hurry？ Just so must Lot have left
Sodom； when he expected fire to pour down upon it； out of
burning brass clouds。”
I stopped short； and looked towards the speaker。 I smelt the
fragrance； and saw the red spark of a cigar； the dusk outline of a
man； too； bent towards me over the wicket。
“You see I am meditating in the field at eventide；” continued
this shade。 “God knows it’s cool work！ especially as instead of
Rebecca on a camel’s hump； with bracelets on her arms and a ring
in her nose； Fate sends me only a counting…house clerk； in a grey
tweed wrapper。” The voice was familiar to me—its second
utterance enabled me to seize the speaker’s identity。
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The Professor 39
“Mr。 Hunsden！ good evening。”
“Good evening； indeed！ yes； but you would have passed me
without recognition if I had not been so civil as to speak first。”
“I did not know you。”
“A famous excuse！ You ought to have known me； I knew you；
though you were going ahead like a steam…engine。 Are the police
after you？”
“It wouldn’t be worth their while； I’m not of consequence
enough to attract them。
“Alas； poor shepherd！ Alack and welladay！ What a theme for
regret； and how down in the mouth you must be； judging from the
sound of your voice！ But since you’re not running from the police；
from whom are you running？ the devil？”
“On the contrary； I am going post to him。”
“That is well—you’re just in luck： this is Tuesday evening； there
are scores of market gigs and carts returning to Dinneford to…
night； and he； or some of his； have a seat in all regularly； so； if
you’ll step in and sit half…an…hour in my bachelor’s parlour； you
may catch him as he passes without much trouble。 I think though
you’d better let him alone to…night； he’ll have so many customers
to serve； Tuesday is his busy day in X— and Dinneford； come in at
all events。”
He swung the wicket open as he spoke。
“Do you really wish me to go in？” I asked。
“As you please—I’m alone； your company for an hour or two
would be agreeable to me； but； if you don’t choose to favour me so
far； I’ll not press the point。 I hate to bore any one。”
It suited me to accept the invitation as it suited Hunsden to give
it。 I passed through the gate； and followed him to the front door；
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The Professor 40
which he opened； thence we traversed a passage； and entered his
parlour； the door being shut； he pointed me to as arm…chair by the
hearth； I sat down； and glanced round me。
It was a comfortable room； at once snug and handsome； the
bright grate was filled with a genuine —shire fire； red； clear； and
generous； no penurious South…of…England embers heaped in the
corner of a grate。 On the table a shaded lamp diffused around a
soft； pleasant； and equal light； the furniture was almost luxurious
for a young bachelor； comprising a couch and two very easy
chairs； bookshelves filled the recesses on each side of the
mantelpiece； they were well…furnished； and arranged with perfect
order。 The neatness of the room suited my taste； I hate irregular
and slovenly habits。 From what I saw I concluded that Hunsden’s
ideas on that point corresponded with my own。 While he removed
from the centre…table to the side…board a few pamphlets and
periodicals； I ran my eye along the shelves of the book…case
nearest me。 French and German works predominated； the old
French dramatists； sundry modern authors； Thiers； Villemain；
Paul de Kock； George Sand； Eugène Sue； in German—Goethe；
Schiller； Zschokke； Jean Paul Richter； in English there were
works on Political Economy。 I examined no further； for Mr。
Hunsden himself recalled my attention。
“You shall have something；” said he； “for you ought to feel
disposed for refreshment after walking nobody knows how far on
such a Canadian night as this； but it shall not be brandy…and…
water； and it shall not be a bottle of port； nor ditto of sherry。 I keep
no such poison。 I have Rhein…wein for my own drinking； and you
may choose between that and coffee。”
Here again Hunsden suited me： if there was one generally
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received practice I abhorred more than another； it was the
habitual imbibing of spirits and strong wines。 I had； however； no
fancy for his acid German nectar； but I liked coffee； so I
responded—
“Give me some coffee； Mr。 Hunsden。”
I perceived my answer pleased him； he had doubtless expected
to see a chilling effect produced by his steady announcement that
he would give me neither wine nor spirits； he just shot one
searching glance at my face to ascertain whether my cordiality
was genuine or a mere feint of politeness。 I smiled； because I quite
understood him； and； while I honoured his conscientious firmness；
I was amused at his mistrust； he seemed satisfied； rang the bell；
and ordered coffee； which was presently brought； for himself； a
bunch of grapes and half a pint of something sour sufficed。 My
coffee was excellent； I told him so； and expressed the shuddering
pity with which his anchorite fare inspired me。 He did not answer；
and I scarcely think heard my remark。 At that moment one of
those momentary eclipses I before alluded to had come over his
face； extinguishing his smile； and replacing； by an abstracted and
alienated look； the customarily shrewd； bantering glance of his
eye。 I employed the interval of silence in a rapid scrutiny of his
physiognomy。 I had never observed h