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him。 Trefusis； enraged； wrote an argumentative letter to the
〃Times；〃 which was not inserted； a sarcastic one to the
trades…union； which did no good； and a fierce one to the
employers； who threatened to take an action for libel。 He had to
content himself with setting the man to work again on
mantelpieces and other decorative stone…work for use in house
property on the Trefusis estate。 In a year or two his liberal
payments enabled the mason to save sufficient to start as an
employer； in which capacity he soon began to grow rich； as he
knew by experience exactly how much his workmen could be forced
to do； and how little they could be forced to take。 Shortly after
this change in his circumstances he became an advocate of thrift；
temperance； and steady industry； and quitted the International
Association； of which he had been an enthusiastic supporter when
dependent on his own skill and taste as a working mason。
During these occurrences Agatha's school…life ended。 Her
resolution to study hard during another term at the college had
been formed； not for the sake of becoming learned； but that she
might become more worthy of Smilash； and when she learned the
truth about him from his own lips； the idea of returning to the
scene of that humiliation became intolerable to her。 She left
under the impression that her heart was broken； for her smarting
vanity； by the law of its own existence； would not perceive that
it was the seat of the injury。 So she bade Miss Wilson adieu； and
the bee on the window pane was heard no more at Alton College。
The intelligence of Henrietta's death shocked her the more
because she could not help being glad that the only other person
who knew of her folly with regard to Smilash （himself excepted）
was now silenced forever。 This seemed to her a terrible discovery
of her own depravity。 Under its influence she became almost
religious； and caused some anxiety about her health to her
mother； who was puzzled by her unwonted seriousness； and； in
particular； by her determination not to speak of the misconduct
of Trefusis； which was now the prevailing topic of conversation
in the family。 She listened in silence to gossiping discussions
of his desertion of his wife； his heartless indifference to her
decease； his violence and bad language by her deathbed； his
parsimony； his malicious opposition to the wishes of the
Janseniuses； his cheap tombstone with the insulting epitaph； his
association with common workmen and low demagogues； his suspected
connection with a secret society for the assassination of the
royal family and blowing up of the army； his atheistic denial； in
a pamphlet addressed to the clergy； of a statement by the
Archbishop of Canterbury that spiritual aid alone could improve
the condition of the poor in the East…end of London； and the
crowning disgrace of his trial for seditious libel at the Old
Bailey； where he was condemned to six months' imprisonment； a
penalty from which he was rescued by the ingenuity of his
counsel； who discovered a flaw in the indictment； and succeeded；
at great cost to Trefusis； in getting the sentence quashed。
Agatha at last got tired of hearing of his misdeeds。 She believed
him to be heartless； selfish； and misguided； but she knew that he
was not the loud； coarse； sensual； and ignorant brawler most of
her mother's gossips supposed him to be。 She even felt； in spite
of herself； an emotion of gratitude to the few who ventured to
defend him。
Preparation for her first season helped her to forget her
misadventure。 She 〃came out〃 in due time； and an extremely dull
season she found it。 So much so； that she sometimes asked herself
whether she should ever be happy again。 At the college there had
been good fellowship； fun； rules； and duties which were a source
of strength when observed and a source of delicious excitement
when violated； freedom from ceremony； toffee making； flights on
the banisters； and appreciative audiences for the soldier in the
chimney。
In society there were silly conversations lasting half a minute；
cool acquaintanceships founded on such half…minutes； general
reciprocity of suspicion； overcrowding； insufficient ventilation；
bad music badly executed； late hours； unwholesome food；
intoxicating liquors； jealous competition in useless expenditure；
husband…hunting； flirting； dancing； theatres； and concerts。 The
last three； which Agatha liked； helped to make the contrast
between Alton and London tolerable to her； but they had their
drawbacks； for good partners at the dances； and good performances
at the spiritless opera and concerts； were disappointingly
scarce。 Flirting she could not endure； she drove men away when
they became tender； seeing in them the falsehood of Smilash
without his wit。 She was considered rude by the younger gentlemen
of her circle。 They discussed her bad manners among themselves；
and agreed to punish her by not asking her to dance。 She thus got
rid； without knowing why； of the attentions she cared for least
（she retained a schoolgirl's cruel contempt for 〃boys〃）； and
enjoyed herself as best she could with such of the older or more
sensible men as were not intolerant of girls。
At best the year was the least happy she had ever spent。 She
repeatedly alarmed her mother by broaching projects of becoming a
hospital nurse； a public singer； or an actress。 These projects
led to some desultory studies。 In order to qualify herself as a
nurse she read a handbook of physiology； which Mrs。 Wylie thought
so improper a subject for a young lady that she went in tears to
beg Mrs。 Jansenius to remonstrate with her unruly girl。 Mrs。
Jansenius； better advised； was of opinion that the more a woman
knew the more wisely she was likely to act； and that Agatha would
soon drop the physiology of her own accord。 This proved true。
Agatha； having finished her book by dint of extensive skipping；
proceeded to study pathology from a volume of clinical lectures。
Finding her own sensations exactly like those described in the
book as symptoms of the direst diseases； she put it by in alarm；
and took up a novel； which was free from the fault she had found
in the lectures； inasmuch as none of the emotions it described in
the least resembled any she had ever experienced。
After a brief interval； she consulted a fashionable teacher of
singing as to whether her voice was strong enough for the
operatic stage。 He recommended her to study with him for six
years； assuring her that at the end of that periodif she
followed his directionsshe should be the greatest singer in the
world。 To this there was； in her mind； the conclusive objection
that in six years she should be an old woman。 So she resolved to
try privately whether she could not get on more quickly by
herself。 Meanwhile； with a view to the drama in case her operatic
scheme should fail； she took lessons in elocution and gymnastics。
Practice in these improved her health and spirits so much that
her previous aspirations seemed too limited。 She tried her hand
at all the arts in succession； but was too discouraged by the
weakness of her first attempts to persevere。 She knew that as a
general rule there are feeble and ridiculous