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waists hanging over their toesand in discourses with friends on
the pavement； formulated the course of the improvident； and reduced
the children's prospects to a shadow…like attenuation。 The sons of
these men （who wore breastpins of a sarcastic kind； and smoked
humorous pipes） stared at Cytherea with a stare unmitigated by any
of the respect that had formerly softened it。
Now it is a noticeable fact that we do not much mind what men think
of us； or what humiliating secret they discover of our means；
parentage； or object； provided that each thinks and acts thereupon
in isolation。 It is the exchange of ideas about us that we dread
most； and the possession by a hundred acquaintances； severally
insulated； of the knowledge of our skeleton…closet's whereabouts； is
not so distressing to the nerves as a chat over it by a party of
half…a…dozenexclusive depositaries though these may be。
Perhaps； though Hocbridge watched and whispered； its animus would
have been little more than a trifle to persons in thriving
circumstances。 But unfortunately； poverty； whilst it is new； and
before the skin has had time to thicken； makes people susceptible
inversely to their opportunities for shielding themselves。 In Owen
was found； in place of his father's impressibility； a larger share
of his father's pride； and a squareness of idea which； if coupled
with a little more blindness； would have amounted to positive
prejudice。 To him humanity； so far as he had thought of it at all；
was rather divided into distinct classes than blended from extreme
to extreme。 Hence by a sequence of ideas which might be traced if
it were worth while； he either detested or respected opinion； and
instinctively sought to escape a cold shade that mere sensitiveness
would have endured。 He could have submitted to separation；
sickness； exile； drudgery； hunger and thirst； with stoical
indifference； but superciliousness was too incisive。
After living on for nine months in attempts to make an income as his
father's successor in the professionattempts which were utterly
fruitless by reason of his inexperienceGraye came to a simple and
sweeping resolution。 They would privately leave that part of
England； drop from the sight of acquaintances； gossips； harsh
critics； and bitter creditors of whose misfortune he was not the
cause； and escape the position which galled him by the only road
their great poverty left open to themthat of his obtaining some
employment in a distant place by following his profession as a
humble under…draughtsman。
He thought over his capabilities with the sensations of a soldier
grinding his sword at the opening of a campaign。 What with lack of
employment； owing to the decrease of his late father's practice； and
the absence of direct and uncompromising pressure towards monetary
results from a pupil's labour （which seems to be always the case
when a professional man's pupil is also his son）； Owen's progress in
the art and science of architecture had been very insignificant
indeed。 Though anything but an idle young man； he had hardly
reached the age at which industrious men who lack an external whip
to send them on in the world； are induced by their own common sense
to whip on themselves。 Hence his knowledge of plans； elevations；
sections； and specifications； was not greater at the end of two
years of probation than might easily have been acquired in six
months by a youth of average abilityhimself； for instanceamid a
bustling London practice。
But at any rate he could make himself handy to one of the
professionsome man in a remote townand there fulfil his
indentures。 A tangible inducement lay in this direction of survey。
He had a slight conception of such a mana Mr。 Gradfieldwho was
in practice in Budmouth Regis； a seaport town and watering…place in
the south of England。
After some doubts； Graye ventured to write to this gentleman； asking
the necessary question； shortly alluding to his father's death； and
stating that his term of apprenticeship had only half expired。 He
would be glad to complete his articles at a very low salary for the
whole remaining two years； provided payment could begin at once。
The answer from Mr。 Gradfield stated that he was not in want of a
pupil who would serve the remainder of his time on the terms Mr。
Graye mentioned。 But he would just add one remark。 He chanced to
be in want of some young man in his officefor a short time only；
probably about two monthsto trace drawings； and attend to other
subsidiary work of the kind。 If Mr。 Graye did not object to occupy
such an inferior position as these duties would entail； and to
accept weekly wages which to one with his expectations would be
considered merely nominal； the post would give him an opportunity
for learning a few more details of the profession。
'It is a beginning； and； above all； an abiding…place； away from the
shadow of the cloud which hangs over us hereI will go；' said Owen。
Cytherea's plan for her future； an intensely simple one； owing to
the even greater narrowness of her resources； was already marked
out。 One advantage had accrued to her through her mother's
possession of a fair share of personal property； and perhaps only
one。 She had been carefully educated。 Upon this consideration her
plan was based。 She was to take up her abode in her brother's
lodging at Budmouth； when she would immediately advertise for a
situation as governess； having obtained the consent of a lawyer at
Aldbrickham who was winding up her father's affairs； and who knew
the history of her position； to allow himself to be referred to in
the matter of her past life and respectability。
Early one morning they departed from their native town； leaving
behind them scarcely a trace of their footsteps。
Then the town pitied their want of wisdom in taking such a step。
'Rashness； they would have made a better income in Hocbridge； where
they are known！ There is no doubt that they would。'
But what is Wisdom really？ A steady handling of any means to bring
about any end necessary to happiness。
Yet whether one's end be the usual enda wealthy position in life
or no； the name of wisdom is seldom applied but to the means to that
usual end。
II。 THE EVENTS OF A FORTNIGHT
1。 THE NINTH OF JULY
The day of their departure was one of the most glowing that the
climax of a long series of summer heats could evolve。 The wide
expanse of landscape quivered up and down like the flame of a taper；
as they steamed along through the midst of it。 Placid flocks of
sheep reclining under trees a little way off appeared of a pale blue
colour。 Clover fields were livid with the brightness of the sun
upon their deep red flowers。 All waggons and carts were moved to
the shade by their careful owners； rain…water butts fell to pieces；
well…buckets were lowered inside the covers of the well…hole； to
preserve them from the fate of the butts； and generally； water
seemed scarcer in the country than the beer and cider of the
peasantry who toiled or idled there。
To see persons looking with children's eyes at any ordinary scenery；
is a proof that they possess the charming faculty of drawing new
sensations from an old experiencea healthy sign； rare in these
feverish daysthe mark of an imperishable brightness of nature。
Both brother and sister could do this； Cytherea more noticeably。
They watched the undulating corn…lands； monotonous to all their
companions； the stony and clayey prospect succeeding those； with its
angular and abrupt hills。 Boggy moors came next； now withered and
drythe spots upon which pools usually spread their waters showing
themselves as circles of smooth bare soil； over…run by a net…work of
innumerable little fissures。 Then arose plantations of firs；
abruptly terminating beside meadows cleanly mown； in which high…
hipped； rich…coloured cows； with backs horizontal and straight as
the ridge of a house； stood motionless or lazily fed。 Glimpses of
the sea now interested them； which became more and more frequent
till the train finally drew up beside the platform at Budmouth。
'The whole town is looking out for us；' had been Graye's impression
throughout the day。 He called upon Mr。 Gradfieldthe only man who
had been directly informed of his comingand found that Mr。
Gradfield had forgotten it。
However； arrangements were made with this gentlemana stout；
active； grey…bearded burgher of sixtyby which Owen was to commence
work in his office the following week。
The same day Cytherea drew up and sent off the advertisement
appended：
'A YOUNG LADY is desirous of meeting with an ENGAGEMENT as GOVERNESS
or COMPANION。 She is competent to teach English； French； and Music。
Satisfactory referencesAddress； C。 G。； Post…Office； Budmouth。'
It seemed a more material existence than her own that she saw thus
delineated on the paper。 'That can't be myself； how odd I look！'
she said； and smiled。
2。 JULY THE ELEVENTH
On the Monday subsequent to their arrival in Budmouth； Owen Graye
attended at Mr。 Gradfield's office to enter upon his duties； and his
sister was left in their lodgings alone for the first time。
Despite the sad occurrences of the preceding autumn；