n you always understand his silence as
the speech you would most dislike--veiled. Above all, they resented his
grave politeness. They left him alone, with an angry suspicion that it
was exactly what he wanted them to do; as indeed it was, though he was
painfully conscious of the atmosphere of distrust and ill-will in which
he lived. But he could have found no pleasure in their companionship,
and in fact was only interested in their coats. He was anxious to learn
how shabby a man might become and pass unnoticed in the office; so he
would glance, without turning his head, at the white-faced man's sleeve,
and rejoice to see the same threadbare cuff travelling slowly across a
wide expanse of parchment.

When he wrote to Hammond he said that he was getting on very well. He
could not say that his work was very amusing, but very likely he should
get more used to it in time. He wished to be left alone and to give it a
fair trial. How was Sissy?

Hammond replied that Mrs. Middleton had aged a good deal, but that she
and Sissy were both pretty well, and had got an idea--he could not think
from whom--that Percival had gone in for the law and was going to do
something very amazing indeed. "They are waiting to be surprised,"
Godfrey wrote, "like children on their birthdays. St. Cecilia especially
wouldn't for worlds open her eyes till the right moment comes and you
appear in your glory as lord chancellor or attorney-general, or
something of the kind. I'm afraid she's a little hazy about it all,
though of course she knows that you will be a very great man and that
you will wear a wig. Mrs. Middleton is perhaps a trifle more moderate in
her expectations. I left them to build their castles in the air, since
you had bound me to secrecy, but I wish you would tell them the truth.
Or I would help you, as you know, if I knew how."

Percival answered that Godfrey must not betray him: "I couldn't endure
that Horace and his wife should know of my difficulties; and as to
living on Aunt Harriet--never! And how could I go back to Fordborough,
now that Sissy and I have parted? She would sacrifice herself for
me--poor child!--out of sheer pity. No: here I can live, after a
fashion, and defy the world. And here I will live, and hope to know some
day that Sissy has found her happiness. Till then let her think that I
am prospering."

Godfrey shrugged his shoulders over Percival's note. It was irrational,
no doubt, but Thorne had a right to please