half　infantile　loveliness　which　smote　even　grave　men　with　a
  desire　to　clasp　her　in　their　arms　and　kiss　her。　This　desire　had
  scattered　the　desultory　intellectual　culture　of　Sir　Charles　at
  first　sight。　His　imagination　invested　her　with　the　taste　for　the
  fine　arts　which　ho　required　from　a　wife；　and　he　married　her　in
  her　first　season；　only　to　discover　that　the　amativeness　in　her
  temperament　was　so　little　and　languid　that　she　made　all　his
  attempts　at　fondness　ridiculous；　and　robbed　the　caresses　for
  which　he　had　longed　of　all　their　anticipated　ecstasy。
  Intellectually　she　fell　still　further　short　of　his　hopes。　She
  looked　upon　his　favorite　art　of　painting　as　a　pastime　for　amateur
  and　a　branch　of　the　house…furnishing　trade　for　professional
  artists。　When　he　was　discussing　it　among　his　friends；　she　would
  offer　her　opinion　with　a　presumption　which　was　the　more　trying　as
  she　frequently　blundered　upon　a　sound　conclusion　whilst　he　was
  reasoning　his　way　to　a　hollow　one　with　his　utmost　subtlety　and
  seriousness。　On　such　occasions　his　disgust　did　not　trouble　her　in
  the　least；　she　triumphed　in　it。　She　had　concluded　that　marriage
  was　a　greater　folly；　and　men　greater　fools；　than　she　had
  supposed；　but　such　beliefs　rather　lightened　her　sense　of
  responsibility　than　disappointed　her；　and；　as　she　had　plenty　of
  money；　plenty　of　servants；　plenty　of　visitors；　and　plenty　of
  exercise　on　horseback；　of　which　she　was　immoderately　fond；　her
  time　passed　pleasantly　enough。　Comfort　seemed　to　her　the　natural
  order　of　life；　trouble　always　surprised　her。　Her　husband's
  friends；　who　mistrusted　every　future　hour；　and　found　matter　for
  bitter　reflection　in　many　past　ones；　were　to　her　only　examples　of
  the　power　of　sedentary　habits　and　excessive　reading　to　make　men
  tripped　and　dull。
  One　fine　May　morning；　as　she　cantered　along　the　avenue　at　Brandon
  Beeches　on　a　powerful　bay　horse；　the　gates　at　the　end　opened　and
  a　young　man　sped　through　them　on　a　bicycle。　He　was　of　slight
  frame；　with　fine　dark　eyes　and　delicate　nostrils。　When　he
  recognized　Lady　Brandon　he　waved　his　cap；　and　when　they　met　he
  sprang　from　his　inanimate　steed；　at　which　the　bay　horse　shied。
  〃Don't；　you　silly　beast！〃　she　cried；　whacking　the　animal　with　the
  butt　of　her　whip。　〃Though　it's　natural　enough；　goodness　knows！
  How　d'ye　do？　The　idea　of　anyone　rich　enough　to　afford　a　horse
  riding　on　a　wheel　like　that！〃
  〃But　I　am　not　rich　enough　to　afford　a　horse；〃　he　said；
  approaching　her　to　pat　the　bay；　having　placed　the　bicycle　against
  a　tree。　〃Besides；　I　am　afraid　of　horses；　not　being　accustomed　to
  them；　and　I　know　nothing　about　feeding　them。　My　steed　needs　no
  food。　He　doesn't　bite　nor　kick。　He　never　goes　lame；　nor　sickens；
  nor　dies；　nor　needs　a　groom；　nor〃
  〃That's　all　bosh；〃　said　Lady　Brandon　impetuously。　〃It　stumbles；
  and　gives　you　the　most　awful　tosses；　and　it　goes　lame　by　its
  treadles　and　thingamejigs　coming　off；　and　it　wears　out；　and　is
  twice　as　much　trouble　to　keep　clean　and　scrape　the　mud　off　as　a
  horse；　and　all　sorts　of　things。　I　think　the　most　ridiculous　sight
  in　the　world　is　a　man　on　a　bicycle；　working　away　with　his　feet　as
  hard　as　he　possibly　can；　and　believing　that　his　horse　is　carrying
  him　instead　of；　as　anyone　can　see；　he　carrying　the　horse。　You
  needn't　tell　me　that　it　isn't　easier　to　walk　in　the　ordinary　way
  than　to　drag　a　great　dead　iron　thing　along　with　you。　It's　not
  good　sense。〃
  〃Nevertheless　I　can　carry　it　a　hundred　miles　further　in　a　day
  than　I　can　carry　myself　alone。　Such　are　the　marvels　of　machinery。
  But　I　know　that　we　cut　a　very　poor　figure　beside　you　and　that
  magnificent　creature　not　that　anyone　will　look　at　me　whilst　you
  are　by　to　occupy　their　attention　so　much　more　worthily。〃
  She　darted　a　glance　at　him　which　clouded　his　vision　and　made　his
  heart　beat　more　strongly。　This　was　an　old　habit　of　hers。　She　kept
  it　up　from　love　of　fun；　having　no　idea　of　the　effect　it　produced
  on　more　ardent　temperaments　than　her　own。　He　continued　hastily：
  〃Is　Sir　Charles　within　doors？〃
  〃Oh；　it's　the　most　ridiculous　thing　I　ever　heard　of　in　my　life；〃
  she　exclaimed。　〃A　man　that　lives　by　himself　in　a　place　down　by
  the　Riverside　Road　like　a　toy　savings　bankdon't　you　know　the
  things　I　mean？called　Sallust's　House；　says　there　is　a　right　of
  way　through　our　new　pleasure　ground。　As　if　anyone　could　have　any
  right　there　after　all　the　money　we　have　spent　fencing　it　on　three
  sides；　and　building　up　the　wall　by　the　road；　and　levelling；　and
  planting；　and　draining；　and　goodness　knows　what　else！　And　now　the
  man　says　that　all　the　common　people　and　tramps　in　the
  neighborhood　have　a　right　to　walk　across　it　because　they　are　too
  lazy　to　go　round　by　the　road。　Sir　Charles　has　gone　to　see　the　man
  about　it。　Of　course　he　wouldn't　do　as　I　wanted　him。〃
  〃What　was　that？〃
  〃Write　to　tell　the　man　to　mind　his　own　business；　and　to　say　that
  the　first　person　we　found　attempting　to　trespass　on　our　property
  should　be　given　to　the　police。〃
  〃Then　I　shall　find　no　one　at　home。　I　beg　your　pardon　for　calling
  it　so；　but　it　is　the　only　place　like　home　to　me。〃
  〃Yes；　it　is　so　comfortable　since　we　built　the　billiard　room　and
  took　away　those　nasty　hangings　in　the　hall。　I　was　ever　so　long
  trying　to　per〃
  She　was　interrupted　by　an　old　laborer；　who　hobbled　up　as　fast　as
  his　rheumatism　would　allow　him；　and　began　to　speak　without
  further　ceremony　than　snatching　off　his　cap。
  〃Th'ave　coom　to　the　noo　groups；　my　lady；　crowds　of　'em。　An'　a
  parson　with　'em；　an'　a　flag！　Sur　Chorles　he　don't　know　what　to
  say；　an'　sooch　doin's　never　was。〃
  Lady　Brandon　turned　pale　and　pulled　at　her　horse　as　if　to　back
  him　out　of　some　danger。　Her　visitor；　puzzled；　asked　the　old　man
  what　he　meant。
  〃There's　goin'　to　be　a　proceyshon　through　the　noo　groups；〃　he
  replied；　〃an'　the　master　can't　stop　'em。　Th'ave　throon　down　the
  wall；　three　yards　of　it　is　lyin'　on　Riverside　Road。　An'　there's　a
  parson　with　'em；　and　a　flag。　An'　him　that　lives　in　Sallust's
  hoos；　he's　there；　hoddin''em　on。〃
  〃Thrown　down　the　wall！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Brandon；　scarlet　with
  indignation　and　pale　with　apprehension　by　turns。　〃What　a
  disgraceful　thing！　Where　are　the　police？　Chester；　will　you　come
  with　me　and　see　what　they　are　doing？　Sir　Charles　is　no　use。　Do
  you　think　there　is　any　danger？〃
  〃There's　two　police；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃an'　him　that　lives　at
  Sallust's　dar'd　them　stop　him。　They're　lookin'　on。　An'　there's　a
  parson　among　'em。　I　see　him　pullin'　away　at　the　wall　with　his　own
  han's。〃
  〃I　will　go　and　see　the　fun；〃　said　Chester。
  Lady　Brandon　hesitated。　But　her　anger　and　curiosity　vanquished
  her　fears。　She　overtook　the　bicycle；　and　they　went　together
  through　the　gates　and　by　the　highroad　to　the　scene　the　old　man
  had　described。　A　heap　of　bricks　and　mortar　lay　in　the　roadway　on
  each　side　of　a　breach　in　the　newly　built　wall；　over　which　Lady
  Brandon；　from　her　eminence　on　horseback；　could　see；　coming
  towards　her　across　the　pleasure　ground；　a　column　of　about　thirty
  persons。　They　marched　three　abreast　in　good　order　and　in　silence；
  the　expression　of　all　except　a　few　mirthful　faces　being　that　of
  devotees　fulfilling　a　rite。　The　gravity　of　the　procession　was
  deepened　by　the　appearance　of　a　clergyman　in　its　ranks；　which
  were　composed　of　men　of　the　middle　class；　and　a　few　workmen
  carrying　a　banner　inscribed　THE　SOIL　or　ENGLAND　THE　BIRTHRIGHT　OF
  ALL　HER　PEOPLE。　There　were　also　four　women；　upon　whom　Lady
  Brandon　looked　with　intense　indignation　and　contempt。　None　of　the
  men　of　the　neighborhood　had　dared　to　join；　they　stood　in　the　road
  whispering；　and　occasionally　venturing　to　laugh　at　the　jests　of　a
  couple　of　tramps　who　had　stopped　to　see　the　fun；　and　who　cared
  nothing　for　Sir　Charles。
  He；　standing　a　little　way　within　the　field；　was　remonstrating
  angrily　with　a　man　of　his　own　class；　who　stood　with　his　back　to
  the　breach　and　his　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　snuff…colored
  clothes；　contemplating　the　procession　with　elate　satisfaction。
  Lady　Brandon；　at　once　suspecting　that　this　was　the　man　from
  Sallust's　House；　and　encouraged　by　the　loyalty　of　the　crowd；　most
  of　whom　made　way　for　her　and　touched　their　hats；　hit　the　bay
  horse　smartly　with　her　whip　and　rode　him；　with　a　clatter　of　hoofs
  and　scattering　of　clods；　right　at　the　snuff…colored　enemy；　who
  had　to　spring　hastily　aside　to　avoid　her。　There　was　a　roar　of
  laughter　from　the　roadway；　and　the　man　turned　sharply　on　her。　But
  he　suddenly　smiled　affably；　replaced　his　hands　in　his　pockets
  after　raising　his　hat；　and　said：
  〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Carpenter？　I　thought　you　were　a　charge　of
  cavalry。〃
  〃I　am　not　Miss　Carpenter；　I　am　Lady　Brandon；　and　you　ought　to　be
  ashamed　of　yourself；　Mr。　Smilash；　if　it　is　you　that　have　brought
  these　disgraceful　people　here。〃
  His　eyes　as　he　replied　were　eloquent　with　reproach　to　her　for
  being　no　longer　Miss　Carpenter。　〃I　am　not　Smilash；〃　he　said；　〃I
  am　Sidney　Trefusis。　I　have　just　had　the　pleasure　of　meeting　Sir
  Charles　for　the　first　time；　and　we　shall　be　the　best　friends
  possible　when　I　have　convinced　him　that　it　is　hardly　fair　to
  seize　on　a　path　belonging　to　the　people　and　compel　them　to　walk　a
  mile　and　a　half　round　his　estate　instead　of　four　hundred　yards
  between　two　portions　of　it。〃
  〃I　have　already　told