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sparkling； and deeper than other wells； and as they trace the
spillings of full pitchers on the heated ground； they snuff the
freshness； and； sighing； cast sad looks towards the Thames； and
think of baths and boats； and saunter on； despondent。
It was in a room in Paper Buildings—a row of goodly
tenements； shaded in front by ancient trees； and looking； at the
back； upon the Temple Gardens—that this； our idler； lounged；
now taking up again the paper he had laid down a hundred times；
now trifling with the fragments of his meal； now pulling forth his
golden toothpick； and glancing leisurely about the room； or out at
window into the trim garden walks； where a few early loiterers
were already pacing to and fro。 Here a pair of lovers met to
quarrel and make up； there a dark…eyed nursery…maid had better
eyes for Templars than her charge； on this hand an ancient
spinster； with her lapdog in a string； regarded both enormities
with scornful sidelong looks； on that a weazen old gentleman；
ogling the nursery…maid； looked with like scorn upon the spinster；
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and wondered she didn’t know she was no longer young。 Apart
from all these； on the river’s margin two or three couple of
business…talkers walked slowly up and down in earnest
conversation； and one young man sat thoughtfully on a bench；
alone。
‘Ned is amazingly patient！’ said Mr Chester； glancing at this
last…named person as he set down his teacup and plied the golden
toothpick； ‘immensely patient！ He was sitting yonder when I
began to dress； and has scarcely changed his posture since。 A most
eccentric dog！’
As he spoke； the figure rose； and came towards him with a
rapid pace。
‘Really； as if he had heard me；’ said the father； resuming his
newspaper with a yawn。 ‘Dear Ned！’
Presently the room…door opened； and the young man entered；
to whom his father gently waved his hand； and smiled。
‘Are you at leisure for a little conversation； sir？’ said Edward。
‘Surely； Ned。 I am always at leisure。 You know my
constitution。—Have you breakfasted？’
‘Three hours ago。’
‘What a very early dog！’ cried his father； contemplating him
from behind the toothpick； with a languid smile。
‘The truth is；’ said Edward； bringing a chair forward； and
seating himself near the table； ‘that I slept but ill last night； and
was glad to rise。 The cause of my uneasiness cannot but be known
to you； sir； and it is upon that I wish to speak。’
‘My dear boy；’ returned his father； ‘confide in me； I beg。 But
you know my constitution—don’t be prosy； Ned。’
‘I will be plain； and brief；’ said Edward。
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‘Don’t say you will； my good fellow；’ returned his father；
crossing his legs； ‘or you certainly will not。 You are going to tell
me’—
‘Plainly this； then；’ said the son； with an air of great concern；
‘that I know where you were last night—from being on the spot；
indeed—and whom you saw； and what your purpose was。’
‘You don’t say so！’ cried his father。 ‘I am delighted to hear it。 It
saves us the worry； and terrible wear and tear of a long
explanation； and is a great relief for both。 At the very house！ Why
didn’t you come up？ I should have been charmed to see you。’
‘I knew that what I had to say would be better said after a
night’s reflection； when both of us were cool；’ returned the son。
‘‘Fore Gad； Ned；’ rejoined the father； ‘I was cool enough last
night。 That detestable Maypole！ By some infernal contrivance of
the builder； it holds the wind； and keeps it fresh。 You remember
the sharp east wind that blew so hard five weeks ago？ I give you
my honour it was rampant in that old house last night； though out
of doors there was a dead calm。 But you were saying’—
‘I was about to say； Heaven knows how seriously and earnestly；
that you have made me wretched； sir。 Will you hear me gravely for
a moment？’
‘My dear Ned；’ said his father； ‘I will hear you with the patience
of an anchorite。 Oblige me with the milk。’
‘I saw Miss Haredale last night；’ Edward resumed； when he had
complied with this request； ‘her uncle； in her presence；
immediately after your interview； and； as of course I know； in
consequence of it； forbade me the house； and； with circumstances
of indignity which are of your creation I am sure； commanded me
to leave it on the instant。’
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‘For his manner of doing so； I give you my honour； Ned； I am
not accountable；’ said his father。 ‘That you must excuse。 He is a
mere boor； a log； a brute； with no address in life。—Positively a fly
in the jug。 The first I have seen this year。’
Edward rose； and paced the room。 His imperturbable parent
sipped his tea。
‘Father；’ said the young man； stopping at length before him； ‘we
must not trifle in this matter。 We must not deceive each other； or
ourselves。 Let me pursue the manly open part I wish to take； and
do not repel me by this unkind indifference。’
‘Whether I am indifferent or no；’ returned the other； ‘I leave
you； my dear boy； to judge。 A ride of twenty…five or thirty miles；
through miry roads—a Maypole dinner—a tête…à…tête with
Haredale； which； vanity apart； was quite a Valentine and Orson
business—a Maypole bed—a Maypole landlord； and a Maypole
retinue of idiots and centaurs；—whether the voluntary endurance
of these things