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with advertisements inviting everybody to buy his specialty； which was a
three…dollar shoe or a dress…suit or something of that kind。 The old
gentleman rested the chromo flat upon his lap and gazed down tenderly
upon it； and became silent and meditative。 Presently Tracy noticed that
he was dripping tears on it。 This touched the young fellow's sympathetic
nature； and at the same time gave him the painful sense of being an
intruder upon a sacred privacy； an observer of emotions which a stranger
ought not to witness。 But his pity rose superior to other
considerations； and compelled him to try to comfort the old mourner with
kindly words and a show of friendly interest。 He said：
〃I am very sorryis it a friend whom〃
〃Ah； more than that； far more than thata relative； the dearest I had on
earth； although I was never permitted to see him。 Yes； it is young Lord
Berkeley； who perished so heroically in the awful conflagration； what is
the matter？〃
〃Oh； nothing； nothing。
It was a little startling to be so suddenly brought face to face； so to
speak； with a person one has heard so much talk about。 Is it a good
likeness？〃
〃Without doubt； yes。 I never saw him； but you can easily see the
resemblance to his father；〃 said Sellers； holding up the chromo and
glancing from it to the chromo misrepresenting the Usurping Earl and back
again with an approving eye。
〃Well； noI am not sure that I make out the likeness。 It is plain that
the Usurping Earl there has a great deal of character and a long face
like a horse's； whereas his heir here is smirky； moon…faced and
characterless。〃
〃We are all that way in the beginningall the line；〃 said Sellers；
undisturbed。 〃We all start as moonfaced fools； then later we tadpole
along into horse…faced marvels of intellect and character。 It is by that
sign and by that fact that I detect the resemblance here and know this
portrait to be genuine and perfect。 Yes； all our family are fools at
first。〃
〃This young man seems to meet the hereditary requirement； certainly。〃
〃Yes； yes； he was a fool； without any doubt。 Examine the face； the shape
of the head； the expression。 It's all fool； fool； fool； straight
through。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Tracy； involuntarily。
〃Thanks？ 〃
〃I mean for explaining it to me。 Go on； please。〃
〃As I was saying； fool is printed all over the face。
〃A body can even read the details。〃
〃What do they say？〃
〃Well； added up； he is a wobbler。〃
〃A which？〃
〃Wobbler。 A person that's always taking a firm stand about something or
otherkind of a Gibraltar stand； he thinks； for unshakable fidelity and
everlastingnessand then； inside of a little while； he begins to wobble；
no more Gibraltar there； no； sir； a mighty ordinary commonplace weakling
wobblingaround on stilts。 That's Lord Berkeley to a dot； you can see
it look at that sheep！ But；why are you blushing like sunset！ Dear
sir； have I unwittingly offended in some way？〃
〃Oh； no indeed； no indeed。 Far from it。 But it always makes me blush to
hear a man revile his own blood。〃 He said to himself； 〃How strangely his
vagrant and unguided fancies have hit upon the truth。 By accident； he
has described me。 I am that contemptible thing。 When I left England I
thought I knew myself； I thought I was a very Frederick the Great for
resolution and staying capacity； whereas in truth I am just a Wobbler；
simply a Wobbler。 Wellafter all； it is at least creditable to have
high ideals and give birth to lofty resolutions； I will allow myself that
comfort。〃 Then he said； aloud； 〃Could this sheep； as you call him； breed
a great and self…sacrificing idea in his head； do you think？ Could he
meditate such a thing； for instance； as the renunciation of the earldom
and its wealth and its glories； and voluntary retirement to the ranks of
the commonalty； there to rise by his own merit or remain forever poor and
obscure？〃
〃Could he？ Why； look at himlook at this simpering self…righteous mug！
There is your answer。 It's the very thing he would think of。 And he
would start in to do it； too。〃
〃And then？〃
〃He'd wobble。〃
〃And back down？〃
〃Every time。〃
〃Is that to happen with all myI mean would that happen to all his high
resolutions？〃
〃Oh certainlycertainly。 It's the Rossmore of it。〃
〃Then this creature was fortunate to die！ Suppose； for argument's sake；
that I was a Rossmore； and〃
〃It can't be done。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because it's not a supposable case。 To be a Rossmore at your age； you'd
have to be a fool； and you're not a fool。 And you'd have to be a
Wobbler； whereas anybody that is an expert in reading character can see
at a glance that when you set your foot down once； it's there to stay；
and earthquake can't wobble it。〃 He added to himself； 〃That's enough to
say to him； but it isn't half strong enough for the facts。 The more
I observe him； now； the more remarkable I find him。 It is the strongest
face I have ever examined。 There is almost superhuman firmness here；
immovable purpose； iron steadfastness of will。 A most extraordinary
young man。〃
He presently said； aloud：
〃Some time I want to ask your advice about a little matter； Mr。 Tracy。
You see； I've got that young lord's remaimsmy goodness； how you jump！〃
〃Oh； it's nothing； pray go on。 You've got his remains？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are you sure they are his； and not somebody else's？〃
〃Oh； perfectly sure。 Samples； I mean。 Not all of him。〃
〃Samples？〃
〃Yes…in baskets。 Some time you will be going home； and if you wouldn't
mind taking them along〃
〃Who？ I？〃
〃Yescertainly。 I don't mean now； but after a while； afterbut look
here； would you like to see them？〃
〃No！ Most certainly not。 I don't want to see them。〃
〃O； very well。 I only thoughthey； where are you going； dear？〃
〃Out to dinner； papa。〃
Tracy was aghast。 The colonel said； in a disappointed voice：
〃Well； I'm sorry。 Sho； I didn't know she was going out； Mr。 Tracy。〃
Gwendolen's face began to take on a sort of apprehensive 'What…have…I…
done expression。'
〃Three old people to one young onewell； it isn't a good team； that's a
fact。〃
Gwendolen's face betrayed a dawning hopefulness and she saidwith a tone
of reluctance which hadn't the hall…mark on it：
〃If you prefer； I will send word to the Thompsons that I〃
〃Oh； is it the Thompsons？ That simplifies itsets everything right。
We can fix it without spoiling your arrangements； my child。 You've got
your heart set on〃
〃But papa； I'd just as soon go there some other〃
〃NoI won't have it。 You are a good hard…working darling child； and
your father is not the man to disappoint you when you〃
〃But papa； I〃
〃Go along； I won't hear a word。 We'll get along； dear。〃
Gwendolen was ready to cry with venation。 But there was nothing to do
but start； which she was about to do when her father hit upon an idea
which filled him with delight because it so deftly covered all the
difficulties of the situation and made things smooth and satisfactory：
〃I've got it； my love； so that you won't be robbed of your holiday and at
the same time we'll be pretty satisfactorily fixed for a good time here。
You send Belle Thompson hereper