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denied to him； and resolved to be content with it as a possession；
since it was as much of her as he could decently maintain。
Wrapped thus in a humorous sadness he passed the afternoon under
notice； and in the evening went home to Faith； who still lived with
him； and showed no sign of ever being likely to do otherwise。 Their
present place and mode of life suited her well。 She revived at
Melchester like an exotic sent home again。 The leafy Close； the
climbing buttresses； the pondering ecclesiastics； the great doors；
the singular keys； the whispered talk； echoes of lonely footsteps；
the sunset shadow of the tall steeple； reaching further into the
town than the good bishop's teaching； and the general complexion of
a spot where morning had the stillness of evening and spring some of
the tones of autumn； formed a proper background to a person
constituted as Faith； who； like Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon's chicken；
possessed in miniature all the antiquity of her progenitors。
After tea Christopher went into the streets； as was frequently his
custom； less to see how the world crept on there than to walk up and
down for nothing at all。 It had been market…day； and remnants of
the rural population that had visited the town still lingered at
corners； their toes hanging over the edge of the pavement； and their
eyes wandering about the street。
The angle which formed the turning…point of Christopher's promenade
was occupied by a jeweller's shop； of a standing which completely
outshone every other shop in that or any trade throughout the town。
Indeed； it was a staple subject of discussion in Melchester how a
shop of such pretensions could find patronage sufficient to support
its existence in a place which； though well populated； was not
fashionable。 It had not long been established there； and was the
enterprise of an incoming man whose whole course of procedure seemed
to be dictated by an intention to astonish the native citizens very
considerably before he had done。 Nearly everything was glass in the
frontage of this fairy mart； and its contents glittered like the
hammochrysos stone。 The panes being of plate…glass； and the shop
having two fronts； a diagonal view could be had through it from one
to the other of the streets to which it formed a corner。
This evening； as on all evenings； a flood of radiance spread from
the window…lamps into the thick autumn air； so that from a distance
that corner appeared as the glistening nucleus of all the light in
the town。 Towards it idle men and women unconsciously bent their
steps； and closed in upon the panes like night…birds upon the
lantern of a lighthouse。
When Christopher reached the spot there stood close to the pavement
a plain close carriage； apparently waiting for some person who was
purchasing inside。 Christopher would hardly have noticed this had
he not also perceived； pressed against the glass of the shop window；
an unusual number of local noses belonging to overgrown working
lads； tosspots； an idiot； the ham…smoker's assistant with his
sleeves rolled up； a scot…and…lot freeholder； three or four
seamstresses； the young woman who brought home the washing； and so
on。 The interest of these gazers in some proceedings within； which
by reason of the gaslight were as public as if carried on in the
open air； was very great。
'Yes； that's what he's a buying o'haw； haw！' said one of the young
men； as the shopman removed from the window a gorgeous blue velvet
tray of wedding…rings； and laid it on the counter。
''Tis what you may come to yerself； sooner or later； God have mercy
upon ye； and as such no scoffing matter；' said an older man。
'Faith； I'd as lief cry as laugh to see a man in that corner。'
'He's a gent getting up in years too。 He must hev been through it a
few times afore； seemingly； to sit down and buy the tools so cool as
that。'
'Well； no。 See what the shyest will do at such times。 You bain't
yerself then； no man living is hisself then。'
'True；' said the ham…smoker's man。 ''Tis a thought to look at that
a chap will take all this trouble to get a woman into his house； and
a twelvemonth after would as soon hear it thunder as hear her sing！'
The policeman standing near was a humane man； through having a young
family he could hardly keep； and he hesitated about telling them to
move on。 Christopher had before this time perceived that the
articles were laid down before an old gentleman who was seated in
the shop； and that the gentleman was none other than he who had been
with Ethelberta in the concert…room。 The discovery was so startling
that； constitutionally indisposed as he was to stand and watch； he
became as glued to the spot as the other idlers。 Finding himself
now for the first time directly confronting the preliminaries of
Ethelberta's marriage to a stranger； he was left with far less
equanimity than he could have supposed possible to the situation。
'So near the time！' he said； and looked hard at Lord Mountclere。
Christopher had now a far better opportunity than before for
observing Ethelberta's betrothed。 Apart from any bias of jealousy；
disappointment； or mortification； he was led to judge that this was
not quite the man to make Ethelberta happy。 He had fancied her
companion to be a man under fifty； he was now visibly sixty or more。
And it was not the sort of sexagenarianism beside which a young
woman's happiness can sometimes contrive to keep itself alive in a
quiet sleepy way。 Suddenly it occurred to him that this was the man
whom he had helped in the carriage accident on the way to Knollsea。
He looked again。
By no means undignified； the face presented that combination of
slyness and jocundity which we are accustomed to imagine of the
canonical jolly…dogs in mediaeval tales。 The gamesome Curate of
Meudon might have supplied some parts of the countenance； cunning
Friar Tuck the remainder。 Nothing but the viscount's constant habit
of going to church every Sunday morning when at his country
residence kept unholiness out of his features； for though he lived
theologically enough on the Sabbath； as it became a man in his
position to do； he was strikingly mundane all the rest of the week；
always preferring the devil to God in his oaths。 And nothing but
antecedent good…humour prevented the short fits of crossness
incident to his passing infirmities from becoming established。 His
look was exceptionally jovial now； and the corners of his mouth
twitched as the telegraph…needles of a hundred little erotic
messages from his heart to his brain。 Anybody could see that he was
a merry man still； who loved good company； warming drinks； nymph…
like shapes； and pretty words； in spite of the disagreeable
suggestions he received from the pupils of his eyes； and the joints
of his lively limbs； that imps of mischief were busy sapping and
mining in those regions； with the view of tumbling him into a
certain cool cellar under the church aisle。
In general； if a lover can find any ground at all for serenity in
the tide of an elderly rival's success； he finds it in the fact
itself of that ancientness。 The other side seems less a rival than
a makeshift。 But Christ