ByJEROMEK。JEROME
TheneighbourhoodofBloomsburySquaretowardsfouro’clockofaNovemberafternoonisnotsocrowdedastosecuretothestranger，ofappearanceanythingoutofthecommon，immunityfromobservation。
Tibb’sboy，screamingatthetopofhisvoicethat_she_washishoney，stoppedsuddenly，steppedbackwardsontothetoesofavolubleyoungladywheelingaperambulator，andremaineddeaf，apparently，tothesomewhatpersonalremarksofthevolubleyounglady。Notuntilhehadreachedthenextcorner——andthenmoreasasoliloquythanasinformationtothestreet——didTibb’sboyrecoversufficientinterestinhisownaffairstoremarkthat_he_washerbee。Thevolubleyoungladyherself，followingsomehalf—a—dozenyardsbehind，forgotherwrongsincontemplationofthestranger’sback。Therewasthisthatwaspeculiaraboutthestranger’sback：thatinsteadofbeingflatitpresentedadecidedcurve。\"Itain’ta’ump，anditdon’tlooklikekervitcherofthespine，\"observedthevolubleyoungladytoherself。
\"BlimyifIdon’tbelieve’e’staking’ome’iswashinguphisback。\"
Theconstableatthecorner，tryingtoseembusydoingnothing，noticedthestranger’sapproachwithgatheringinterest。\"That’sanoddsortofawalkofyours，youngman，\"thoughttheconstable。\"Youtakecareyoudon’tfalldownandtumbleoveryourself。\"
\"Thoughthewasayoungman，\"murmuredtheconstable，thestrangerhavingpassedhim。\"Hehadayoungfacerightenough。\"
Thedaylightwasfading。Thestranger，findingitimpossibletoreadthenameofthestreetuponthecornerhouse，turnedback。
\"Why，’tisayoungman，\"theconstabletoldhimself；\"amereboy。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidthestranger；\"butwouldyoumindtellingmemywaytoBloomsburySquare。\"
\"ThisisBloomsburySquare，\"explainedtheconstable；\"leastwaysroundthecorneris。Whatnumbermightyoubewanting？\"
Thestrangertookfromtheticketpocketofhistightlybuttonedovercoatapieceofpaper，unfoldeditandreaditout：\"Mrs。
Pennycherry。NumberForty—eight。\"
\"Roundtotheleft，\"instructedhimtheconstable；\"fourthhouse。
Beenrecommendedthere？\"
\"By——byafriend，\"repliedthestranger。\"Thankyouverymuch。\"
\"Ah，\"mutteredtheconstabletohimself；\"guessyouwon’tbecallinghimthatbytheendoftheweek，young——\"
\"Funny，\"addedtheconstable，gazingaftertheretreatingfigureofthestranger。\"Seenplentyoftheothersexaslookedyoungbehindandoldinfront。Thiscovelooksyounginfrontandoldbehind。
Guesshe’lllookoldallroundifhestopslongatmotherPennycherry’s：stingyoldcat。\"
ConstableswhosebeatincludedBloomsburySquarehadtheirreasonsfornotlikingMrs。Pennycherry。Indeeditmighthavebeendifficulttodiscoveranyhumanbeingwithreasonsforlikingthatsharp—featuredlady。Maybethekeepingofsecond—rateboardinghousesintheneighbourhoodofBloomsburydoesnottendtodevelopthevirtuesofgenerosityandamiability。
Meanwhilethestranger，proceedingnponhisway，hadrungthebellofNumberForty—eight。Mrs。Pennycherry，peepingfromtheareaandcatchingaglimpse，abovetherailings，ofahandsomeifsomewhateffeminatemasculineface，hastenedtoreadjustherwidow’scapbeforethelooking—glasswhiledirectingMaryJanetoshowthestranger，shouldheproveaproblematicalboarder，intothedining—room，andtolightthegas。
\"Anddon’tstopgossiping，anddon’tyoutakeituponyourselftoanswerquestions。SayI’llbeupinaminute，\"wereMrs。
Pennycherry’sfurtherinstructions，\"andmindyouhideyourhandsasmuchasyoucan。\"
***
\"Whatareyougrinningat？\"demandedMrs。Pennycherry，acoupleofminuteslater，ofthedingyMaryJane。
\"Wasn’tgrinning，\"explainedthemeekMaryJane，\"wasonlysmilingtomyself。\"
\"Whatat？\"
\"Dunno，\"admittedMaryJane。Butstillshewentonsmiling。
\"What’shelikethen？\"demandedMrs。Pennycherry。
\"’Eain’ttheusualsort，\"wasMaryJane’sopinion。
\"ThankGodforthat，\"ejaculatedMrs。Pennycherrypiously。
\"Says’e’sbeenrecommended，byafriend。\"
\"Bywhom？\"
\"Byafriend。’Edidn’tsaynoname。\"Mrs。Pennycherrypondered。
\"He’snotthefunnysort，ishe？\"
Notthatsortatall。MaryJanewassureofit。
Mrs。Pennycherryascendedthestairsstillpondering。Assheenteredtheroomthestrangerroseandbowed。Nothingcouldhavebeensimplerthanthestranger’sbow，yettherecamewithittoMrs。Pennycherryarushofoldsensationslongforgotten。ForonebriefmomentMrs。
Pennycherrysawherselfanamiablewell—bredlady，widowofasolicitor：avisitorhadcalledtoseeher。Itwasbutamomentaryfancy。ThenextinstantRealityreasserteditself。Mrs。Pennycherry，alodging—housekeeper，existingprecariouslyuponadailyroundofpettymeannesses，waspreparedforcontestwithapossiblenewboarder，whofortunatelylookedaninexperiencedyounggentleman。
\"Someonehasrecommendedmetoyou，\"beganMrs。Pennycherry；\"mayI
askwho？\"
Butthestrangerwavedthequestionasideasimmaterial。
\"Youmightnotremember——him，\"hesmiled。\"HethoughtthatIshoulddowelltopassthefewmonthsIamgiven——thatIhavetobeinLondon，here。Youcantakemein？\"
Mrs。Pennycherrythoughtthatshewouldbeabletotakethestrangerin。
\"Aroomtosleepin，\"explainedthestranger，\"——anyroomwilldo——withfoodanddrinksufficientforaman，isallthatIrequire。\"
\"Forbreakfast，\"beganMrs。Pennycherry，\"Ialwaysgive——\"
\"Whatisrightandproper，Iamconvinced，\"interruptedthestranger。
\"Praydonottroubletogointodetail，Mrs。Pennycherry。WithwhateveritisIshallbecontent。\"
Mrs。Pennycherry，puzzled，shotaquickglanceatthestranger，buthisface，thoughthegentleeyesweresmiling，wasfrankandserious。
\"Atalleventsyouwillseetheroom，\"suggestedMrs。Pennycherry，\"beforewediscussterms。\"
\"Certainly，\"agreedthestranger。\"Iamalittletiredandshallbegladtorestthere。\"
Mrs。Pennycherryledthewayupward；onthelandingofthethirdfloor，pausedamomentundecided，thenopenedthedoorofthebackbedroom。
\"Itisverycomfortable，\"commentedthestranger。
\"Forthisroom，\"statedMrs。Pennycherry，\"togetherwithfullboard，consistingof——\"
\"Ofeverythingneedful。Itgoeswithoutsaying，\"againinterruptedthestrangerwithhisquietgravesmile。
\"Ihavegenerallyasked，\"continuedMrs。Pennycherry，\"fourpoundsaweek。Toyou——\"Mrs。Pennycherry’svoice，unknowntoher，tooktoitselfthenoteofaggressivegenerosity——\"seeingyouhavebeenrecommendedhere，saythreepoundsten。\"
\"Dearlady，\"saidthestranger，\"thatiskindofyou。Asyouhavedivined，Iamnotarichman。IfitbenotimposinguponyouIacceptyourreductionwithgratitude。\"
AgainMrs。Pennycherry，familiarwiththesatiricalmethod，shotasuspiciousglanceuponthestranger，butnotalinewasthere，uponthatsmoothfairface，towhichasneercouldforamomenthaveclung。
Clearlyhewasassimpleashelooked。
\"Gas，ofcourse，extra。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"agreedtheStranger。
\"Coals——\"
\"Weshallnotquarrel，\"forathirdtimethestrangerinterrupted。
\"Youhavebeenveryconsideratetomeasitis。Ifeel，Mrs。
Pennycherry，Icanleavemyselfentirelyinyourhands。\"
Thestrangerappearedanxioustobealone。Mrs。Pennycherry，havingputamatchtothestranger’sfire，turnedtodepart。AndatthispointitwasthatMrs。Pennycherry，theholderhithertoofanunbrokenrecordforsanity，behavedinamannersheherself，fiveminutesearlierinhercareer，wouldhavedeemedimpossible——thatnolivingsoulwhohadeverknownherwouldhavebelieved，evenhadMrs。
Pennycherrygonedownuponherkneesandswornittothem。
\"DidIsaythreepoundten？\"demandedMrs。Pennycherryofthestranger，herhanduponthedoor。Shespokecrossly。Shewasfeelingcross，withthestranger，withherself——particularlywithherself。
\"Youwerekindenoughtoreduceittothatamount，\"repliedthestranger；\"butifuponreflectionyoufindyourselfunable——\"
\"Iwasmakingamistake，\"saidMrs。Pennycherry，\"itshouldhavebeentwopoundten。\"
\"Icannot——Iwillnotacceptsuchsacrifice，\"exclaimedthestranger；
\"thethreepoundtenIcanwellafford。\"
\"Twopoundtenaremyterms，\"snappedMrs。Pennycherry。\"Ifyouarebentonpayingmore，youcangoelsewhere。You’llfindplentytoobligeyou。\"
Hervehemencemusthaveimpressedthestranger。\"Wewillnotcontendfurther，\"hesmiled。\"Iwasmerelyafraidthatinthegoodnessofyourheart——\"
\"Oh，itisn’tasgoodasallthat，\"growledMrs。Pennycherry。
\"Iamnotsosure，\"returnedthestranger。\"Iamsomewhatsuspiciousofyou。Butwilfulwomanmust，Isuppose，haveherway。\"
Thestrangerheldouthishand，andtoMrs。Pennycherry，atthatmoment，itseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworldtotakeitasifithadbeenthehandofanoldfriendandtoendtheinterviewwithapleasantlaugh——thoughlaughingwasanexercisenotoftenindulgedinbyMrs。Pennycherry。
MaryJanewasstandingbythewindow，herhandsfoldedinfrontofher，whenMrs。Pennycherryre—enteredthekitchen。BystandingclosetothewindowonecaughtaglimpseofthetreesinBloomsburySquareandthroughtheirbarebranchesoftheskybeyond。
\"There’snothingmuchtodoforthenexthalfhour，tillCookcomesback。I’llseetothedoorifyou’dlikearunout？\"suggestedMrs。
Pennycherry。
\"Itwouldbenice，\"agreedthegirlsosoonasshehadrecoveredpowerofspeech；\"it’sjustthetimeofdayIlike。\"
\"Don’tbelongerthanthehalfhour，\"addedMrs。Pennycherry。
Forty—eightBloomsburySquare，assembledafterdinnerinthedrawing—room，discussedthestrangerwiththatfreedomandfranknesscharacteristicofForty—eightBloomsburySquare，towardstheabsent。
\"NotwhatIcallasmartyoungman，\"wastheopinionofAugustusLongcord，whowassomethingintheCity。
\"Thpeakingformythelf，\"commentedhispartnerIsidore，\"hav’n’thanyutheforthethmartyoungman。Toomanyofhim，athitith。\"
\"Mustbeprettysmartifhe’sonetoomanyforyou，\"laughedhispartner。
TherewasthistobesaidforthereparteeofForty—eightBloomsburySquare：itwassimpleofconstructionandeasyofcomprehension。
\"Wellitmademefeelgoodjustlookingathim，\"declaredMissKite，thehighlycoloured。\"Itwashisclothes，Isuppose——mademethinkofNoahandtheark——allthatsortofthing。\"
\"Itwouldbeclothesthatwouldmakeyouthink——ifanything，\"drawledthelanguidMissDevine。Shewasatall，handsomegirl，engagedatthemomentinfutileeffortstoreclinewitheleganceandcomfortcombineduponahorsehairsofa。MissKite，byreasonofhavingsecuredtheonlyeasy—chair，wasunpopularthatevening；sothatMissDevine’sremarkreceivedfromtherestofthecompanymoreapprobationthanperhapsitmerited。
\"Isthatintendedtobeclever，dear，oronlyrude？\"MissKiterequestedtobeinformed。
\"Both，\"claimedMissDevine。
\"Myself？Imustconfess，\"shoutedthetallyounglady’sfather，commonlycalledtheColonel，\"Ifoundhimafool。\"
\"Inoticedyouseemedtobegettingonverywelltogether，\"purredhiswife，aplump，smilinglittlelady。
\"Possiblywewere，\"retortedtheColonel。\"Fatehasaccustomedmetothesocietyoffools。\"
\"Isn’titapitytostartquarrellingimmediatelyafterdinner，youtwo，\"suggestedtheirthoughtfuldaughterfromthesofa，\"you’llhavenothinglefttoamuseyoufortherestoftheevening。\"
\"Hedidn’tstrikemeasaconversationalist，\"saidtheladywhowascousintoabaronet；\"buthedidpassthevegetablesbeforehehelpedhimself。Alittlethinglikethatshowsbreeding。\"
\"Orthathedidn’tknowyouandthoughtmaybeyou’dleavehimhalfaspoonful，\"laughedAugustusthewit。
\"WhatIcan’tmakeoutabouthim——\"shoutedtheColonel。
Thestrangerenteredtheroom。
TheColonel，securingtheeveningpaper，retiredintoacorner。ThehighlycolouredKite，reachingdownfromthemantelpieceapaperfan，helditcoylybeforeherface。MissDevinesatuprightonthehorse—hairsofa，andrearrangedherskirts。
\"Knowanything？\"demandedAugustusofthestranger，breakingthesomewhatremarkablesilence。
Thestrangerevidentlydidnotunderstand。ItwasnecessaryforAugustus，thewitty，toadvancefurtherintothatoddsilence。
\"What’sgoingtopullofftheLincolnhandicap？Tellme，andI’llgooutstraightandputmyshirtuponit。\"
\"Ithinkyouwouldactunwisely，\"smiledthestranger；\"Iamnotanauthorityuponthesubject。\"
\"Not！WhytheytoldmeyouwereCaptainSpyofthe_SportingLife_——indisguise。\"
Itwouldhavebeendifficultforajoketofallmoreflat。Nobodylaughed，thoughwhyMr。AugustusLongcordcouldnotunderstand，andmaybenoneofhisaudiencecouldhavetoldhim，foratForty—eightBloomsburySquareMr。AugustusLongcordpassedasahumorist。Thestrangerhimselfappearedunawarethathewasbeingmadefunof。
\"Youhavebeenmisinformed，\"assuredhimthestranger。
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidMr。AugustusLongcord。
\"Itisnothing，\"repliedthestrangerinhissweetlowvoice，andpassedon。
\"Wellwhataboutthistheatre，\"demandedMr。Longcordofhisfriendandpartner；\"doyouwanttogoordon’tyou？\"Mr。Longcordwasfeelingirritable。
\"Goththeticketh——mayathwell，\"thoughtIsidore。
\"Damnstupidpiece，I’mtold。\"
\"Mothtofthemthupid，moreorleth。Pitytowathtetheticketh，\"
arguedIsidore，andthepairwentout。
\"AreyoustayinglonginLondon？\"askedMissKite，raisingherpractisedeyestowardsthestranger。
\"Notlong，\"answeredthestranger。\"AtleastIdonotknow。Itdepends。\"
Anunusualquiethadinvadedthedrawing—roomofForty—eightBloomsburySquare，generallynoisywithstridentvoicesaboutthishour。TheColonelremainedengrossedinhispaper。Mrs。Devinesatwithherplumpwhitehandsfoldedonherlap，whetherasleepornotitwasimpossibletosay。Theladywhowascousintoabaronethadshiftedherchairbeneaththegasolier，hereyesbentonhereverlastingcrochetwork。ThelanguidMissDevinehadcrossedtothepiano，whereshesatfingeringsoftlythetunelesskeys，herbacktothecoldbarely—furnishedroom。
\"Sitdown！\"commandedsaucilyMissKite，indicatingwithherfanthevacantseatbesideher。\"Tellmeaboutyourself。Youinterestme。\"
MissKiteadoptedaprettyauthoritativeairtowardsallyouthful—lookingmembersoftheoppositesex。Itharmonisedwiththepeachcomplexionandthegoldenhair，andfittedheraboutaswell。
\"Iamgladofthat，\"answeredthestranger，takingthechairsuggested。\"Isowishtointerestyou。\"
\"You’reaveryboldboy。\"MissKiteloweredherfan，forthepurposeofglancingarchlyovertheedgeofit，andforthefirsttimeencounteredtheeyesofthestrangerlookingintohers。AndthenitwasthatMissKiteexperiencedpreciselythesamecurioussensationthatanhourorsoagohadtroubledMrs。Pennycherrywhenthestrangerhadfirstbowedtoher。ItseemedtoMissKitethatshewasnolongertheMissKitethat，hadsherisenandlookedintoit，thefly—blownmirroroverthemarblemantelpiecewould，sheknew，havepresentedtoherview；butquiteanotherMissKite——acheerful，bright—eyedladyvergingonmiddleage，yetstillgood—lookinginspiteofherfadedcomplexionandsomewhatthinbrownlocks。MissKitefeltapangofjealousyshootthroughher；thismiddle—agedMissKiteseemed，onthewhole，amoreattractivelady。Therewasawholesomeness，abroadmindednessaboutherthatinstinctivelydrewonetowardsher。
Nothampered，asMissKiteherselfwas，bythenecessityofappearingtobesomewherebetweeneighteenandtwenty—two，thisotherMissKitecouldtalksensibly，evenbrilliantly：onefeltit。Athoroughly\"nice\"womanthisotherMissKite；therealMissKite，thoughenvious，wasboundtoadmitit。MissKitewishedtogoodnessshehadneverseenthewoman。TheglimpseofherhadrenderedMissKitedissatisfiedwithherself。
\"Iamnotaboy，\"explainedthestranger；\"andIhadnointentionofbeingbold。\"
\"Iknow，\"repliedMissKite。\"Itwasasillyremark。Whateverinducedmetomakeit，Ican’tthink。Gettingfoolishinmyoldage，Isuppose。\"
Thestrangerlaughed。\"Surelyyouarenotold。\"
\"I’mthirty—nine，\"snappedoutMissKite。\"Youdon’tcallityoung？\"
\"Ithinkitabeautifulage，\"insistedthestranger；\"youngenoughnottohavelostthejoyofyouth，oldenoughtohavelearntsympathy。\"
\"Oh，Idaresay，\"returnedMissKite，\"anyageyou’dthinkbeautiful。
I’mgoingtobed。\"MissKiterose。Thepaperfanhadsomehowgotitselfbroken。Shethrewthefragmentsintothefire。
\"Itisearlyyet，\"pleadedthestranger，\"Iwaslookingforwardtoatalkwithyou。\"
\"Well，you’llbeabletolookforwardtoit，\"retortedMissKite。
\"Good—night。\"
Thetruthwas，MissKitewasimpatienttohavealookatherselfintheglass，inherownroomwiththedoorshut。ThevisionofthatotherMissKite——theclean—lookingladyofthepalefaceandthebrownhairhadbeensovivid，MissKitewonderedwhethertemporaryforgetfulnessmightnothavefallenuponherwhiledressingfordinnerthatevening。
Thestranger，lefttohisowndevices，strolledtowardsthelootable，seekingsomethingtoread。
\"YouseemtohavefrightenedawayMissKite，\"remarkedtheladywhowascousintoabaronet。
\"Itseemsso，\"admittedthestranger。
\"Mycousin，SirWilliamBosster，\"observedthecrochetinglady，\"whomarriedoldLordEgham’sniece——younevermettheEghams？\"
\"Hitherto，\"repliedthestranger，\"Ihavenothadthatpleasure。\"
\"Acharmingfamily。Cannotunderstand——mycousinSirWilliam，Imean，cannotunderstandmyremaininghere。’MydearEmily’——hesaysthesamethingeverytimeheseesme：’MydearEmily，howcanyouexistamongthesortofpeopleonemeetswithinaboarding—house。’Buttheyamuseme。\"
Asenseofhumour，agreedthestranger，wasalwaysofadvantage。
\"Ourfamilyonmymother’sside，\"continuedSirWilliam’scousininherplacidmonotone，\"wasconnectedwiththeTatton—Joneses，whowhenKingGeorgetheFourth——\"SirWilliam’scousin，needinganotherreelofcotton，glancedup，andmetthestranger’sgaze。
\"I’msureIdon’tknowwhyI’mtellingyouallthis，\"saidSirWilliam’scousininanirritabletone。\"Itcan’tpossiblyinterestyou。\"
\"Everythingconnectedwithyouinterestsme，\"gravelythestrangerassuredher。
\"Itisverykindofyoutosayso，\"sighedSirWilliam’scousin，butwithoutconviction；\"IamafraidsometimesIborepeople。\"
Thepolitestrangerrefrainedfromcontradiction。
\"Yousee，\"continuedthepoorlady，\"Ireallyamofgoodfamily。\"
\"Dearlady，\"saidthestranger，\"yourgentleface，yourgentlevoice，yourgentlebearing，allproclaimit。\"
Shelookedwithoutflinchingintothestranger’seyes，andgraduallyasmilebanishedthereigningdulnessofherfeatures。
\"Howfoolishofme。\"Shespokerathertoherselfthantothestranger。\"Why，ofcourse，people——peoplewhoseopinionisworthtroublingabout——judgeofyoubywhatyouare，notbywhatyougoaboutsayingyouare。\"
Thestrangerremainedsilent。