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subject to claims from a veterinary surgeon fond of mince…pies。 The
third step was to harden herself by telling the fact of the bought
mince…pies to her intimate friend Mrs。 Mole； who had already guessed
it； and who subsequently encouraged herself in buying a mould of
jelly； instead of exerting her own skill； by the reflection that
〃other people〃 did the same sort of thing。 The infection spread；
soon there was a party or clique in Grimworth on the side of 〃buying
at Freely's〃； and many husbands； kept for some time in the dark on
this point； innocently swallowed at two mouthfuls a tart on which
they were paying a profit of a hundred per cent。； and as innocently
encouraged a fatal disingenuousness in the partners of their bosoms
by praising the pastry。 Others； more keen…sighted； winked at the
too frequent presentation on washing…days； and at impromptu suppers；
of superior spiced…beef； which flattered their palates more than the
cold remnants they had formerly been contented with。 Every
housewife who had once 〃bought at Freely's〃 felt a secret joy when
she detected a similar perversion in her neighbour's practice； and
soon only two or three old…fashioned mistresses of families held out
in the protest against the growing demoralization； saying to their
neighbours who came to sup with them； 〃I can't offer you Freely's
beef； or Freely's cheesecakes； everything in our house is home…made；
I'm afraid you'll hardly have any appetite for our plain pastry。〃
The doctor； whose cook was not satisfactory； the curate； who kept no
cook； and the mining agent； who was a great bon vivant； even began
to rely on Freely for the greater part of their dinner； when they
wished to give an entertainment of some brilliancy。 In short； the
business of manufacturing the more fanciful viands was fast passing
out of the hinds of maids and matrons in private families； and was
becoming the work of a special commercial organ。
I am not ignorant that this sort of thing is called the inevitable
course of civilization； division of labour； and so forth； and that
the maids and matrons may be said to have had their hands set free
from cookery to add to the wealth of society in some other way。
Only it happened at Grimworth； which； to be sure； was a low place；
that the maids and matrons could do nothing with their hands at all
better than cooking： not even those who had always made heavy cakes
and leathery pastry。 And so it came to pass； that the progress of
civilization at Grimworth was not otherwise apparent than in the
impoverishment of men； the gossiping idleness of women； and the
heightening prosperity of Mr。 Edward Freely。
The Yellow Coat School was a double source of profit to the
calculating confectioner； for he opened an eating…room for the
superior workmen employed on the new school； and he accommodated the
pupils at the old school by giving great attention to the fancy…
sugar department。 When I think of the sweet…tasted swans and other
ingenious white shapes crunched by the small teeth of that rising
generation； I am glad to remember that a certain amount of
calcareous food has been held good for young creatures whose bones
are not quite formed； for I have observed these delicacies to have
an inorganic flavour which would have recommended them greatly to
that young lady of the Spectator's acquaintance who habitually made
her dessert on the stems of tobacco…pipes。
As for the confectioner himself； he made his way gradually into
Grimworth homes； as his commodities did； in spite of some initial
repugnance。 Somehow or other； his reception as a guest seemed a
thing that required justifying； like the purchasing of his pastry。
In the first place； he was a stranger； and therefore open to
suspicion； secondly； the confectionery business was so entirely new
at Grimworth； that its place in the scale of rank had not been
distinctly ascertained。 There was no doubt about drapers and
grocers； when they came of good old Grimworth families； like Mr。
Luff and Mr。 Prettyman： they visited with the Palfreys； who farmed
their own land； played many a game at whist with the doctor； and
condescended a little towards the timber…merchant； who had lately
taken to the coal…trade also； and had got new furniture； but whether
a confectioner should be admitted to this higher level of
respectability； or should be understood to find his associates among
butchers and bakers； was a new question on which tradition threw no
light。 His being a bachelor was in his favour； and would perhaps
have been enough to turn the scale； even if Mr。 Edward Freely's
other personal pretensions had been of an entirely insignificant
cast。 But so far from this； it very soon appeared that he was a
remarkable young man； who had been in the West Indies； and had seen
many wonders by sea and land； so that he could charm the ears of
Grimworth Desdemonas with stories of strange fishes； especially
sharks； which he had stabbed in the nick of time by bravely plunging
overboard just as the monster was turning on his side to devour the
cook's mate； of terrible fevers which he had undergone in a land
where the wind blows from all quarters at once； of rounds of toast
cut straight from the breadfruit trees； of toes bitten off by land…
crabs； of large honours that had been offered to him as a man who
knew what was what； and was therefore particularly needed in a
tropical climate； and of a Creole heiress who had wept bitterly at
his departure。 Such conversational talents as these； we know； will
overcome disadvantages of complexion； and young Towers； whose cheeks
were of the finest pink； set off by a fringe of dark whisker； was
quite eclipsed by the presence of the sallow Mr。 Freely。 So
exceptional a confectioner elevated the business； and might well
begin to make disengaged hearts flutter a little。
Fathers and mothers were naturally more slow and cautious in their
recognition of the new…comer's merits。
〃He's an amusing fellow；〃 said Mr。 Prettyman； the highly respectable
grocer。 （Mrs。 Prettyman was a Miss Fothergill； and her sister had
married a London mercer。） 〃He's an amusing fellow； and I've no
objection to his making one at the Oyster Club； but he's a bit too
fond of riding the high horse。 He's uncommonly knowing； I'll allow；
but how came he to go to the Indies？ I should like that answered。
It's unnatural in a confectioner。 I'm not fond of people that have
been beyond seas； if they can't give a good account how they
happened to go。 When folks go so far off； it's because they've got
little credit nearer homethat's my opinion。 However； he's got
some good rum； but I don't want to be hand and glove with him； for
all that。〃
It was this kind of dim suspicion which beclouded the view of Mr。
Freely's qualities in the maturer minds of Grimworth through the
early months of his residence there。 But when the confectioner
ceased to be a novelty； the suspicions also ceased to be novel； and