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King。 To this meal； which tasted very savoury after his long
fasting； he did ample justice； and when he had followed it up； or
down； with a variety of loyal and patriotic toasts； he was
conducted to a straw mattress in a loft over the stable； and locked
in there for the night。
The next morning； he found that the obliging care of his martial
friend had decorated his hat with sundry parti…coloured
streamers； which made a very lively appearance； and in company
with that officer； and three other military gentlemen newly
enrolled； who were under a cloud so dense that it only left three
shoes； a boot； and a coat and a half visible among them； repaired
to the riverside。 Here they were joined by a corporal and four
more heroes； of whom two were drunk and daring； and two sober
and penitent； but each of whom； like Joe； had his dusty stick and
bundle。 The party embarked in a passage…boat bound for
Gravesend； whence they were to proceed on foot to Chatham； the
wind was in their favour； and they soon left London behind them；
a mere dark mist—a giant phantom in the air。
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Chapter 32
isfortunes； saith the adage； never come singly。 There is
little doubt that troubles are exceedingly gregarious in
M
their nature； and flying in flocks； are apt to perch
capriciously； crowding on the heads of some poor wights until
there is not an inch of room left on their unlucky crowns； and
taking no more notice of others who offer as good resting…places
for the soles of their feet； than if they had no existence。 It may
have happened that a flight of troubles brooding over London； and
looking out for Joseph Willet； whom they couldn’t find； darted
down haphazard on the first young man that caught their fancy；
and settled on him instead。 However this may be； certain it is that
on the very day of Joe’s departure they swarmed about the ears of
Edward Chester； and did so buzz and flap their wings； and
persecute him； that he was most profoundly wretched。
It was evening； and just eight o’clock； when he and his father；
having wine and dessert set before them； were left to themselves
for the first time that day。 They had dined together； but a third
person had been present during the meal； and until they met at
table they had not seen each other since the previous night。
Edward was reserved and silent。 Mr Chester was more than
usually gay； but not caring； as it seemed； to open a conversation
with one whose humour was so different； he vented the lightness
of his spirit in smiles and sparkling looks； and made no effort to
awaken his attention。 So they remained for some time： the father
lying on a sofa with his accustomed air of graceful negligence； the
son seated opposite to him with downcast eyes； busied； it was
plain； with painful and uneasy thoughts。
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‘My dear Edward；’ said Mr Chester at length； with a most
engaging laugh； ‘do not extend your drowsy influence to the
decanter。 Suffer that to circulate； let your spirits be never so
stagnant。’
Edward begged his pardon； passed it； and relapsed into his
former state。
‘You do wrong not to fill your glass；’ said Mr Chester； holding
up his own before the light。 ‘Wine in moderation—not in excess；
for that makes men ugly—has a thousand pleasant influences。 It
brightens the eye； improves the voice； imparts a new vivacity to
one’s thoughts and conversation： you should try it； Ned。’
‘Ah father！’ cried his son； ‘if—’
‘My good fellow；’ interposed the parent hastily； as he set down
his glass； and raised his eyebrows with a startled and horrified
expression； ‘for Heaven’s sake don’t call me by that obsolete and
ancient name。 Have some regard for delicacy。 Am I grey； or
wrinkled； do I go on crutches； have I lost my teeth； that you adopt
such a mode of address？ Good God； how very coarse！’
‘I was about to speak to you from my heart； sir；’ returned
Edward； ‘in the confidence which should subsist between us； and
you check me in the outset。’
‘Now do； Ned； do not；’ said Mr Chester； raising his delicate hand
imploringly； ‘talk in that monstrous manner。 About to speak from
your heart。 Don’t you know that the heart is an ingenious part of
our formation—the centre of the blood…vessels and all that sort of
thing—which has no more to do with what you say or think； than
your knees have？ How can you be so very vulgar and absurd？
These anatomical allusions should be left to gentlemen of the
medical profession。 They are really not agreeable in society。 You
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quite surprise me； Ned。’
‘Well！ there are no such things to wound； or heal； or have
regard for。 I know your creed； sir； and will say no more；’ returned
his son。
‘There again；’ said Mr Chester； sipping his wine； ‘you are
wrong。 I distinctly say there are such things。 We know there are。
The hearts of animals—of bullocks； sheep； and so forth—are
cooked and devoured； as I am told； by the lower classes； with a
vast deal of relish。 Men are sometimes stabbed to the heart； shot to
the heart； but as to speaking from the heart； or to the heart； or
being warm…hearted； or cold…hearted； or broken…hearted； or being
all heart； or having no heart—pah！ these things are nonsense；
Ned。’
‘No doubt； sir；’ returned his son； seeing that he paused for him
to speak。 ‘No doubt。’
‘There’s Haredale’s niece； your late flame；’ said Mr Chester； as
a careless illustration of his meaning。 ‘No doubt in your mind she
was all heart once。 Now she has none at all。 Yet she is the same
person； Ned； exactly。’
‘She is a changed person； sir；’ cried Edward； reddening； ‘and
changed by vile means； I believe。’
‘You have had a cool dismissal； have you？’ said his father。 ‘Poor
Ned！ I told you last night what would happen。—May I ask you for
the nutcrackers？’
‘She has been tampered with； and most treacherously
deceived；’ cried Edward； rising from his seat。 ‘I never will believe
that the knowledge of my real position； given her by myself； has
worked this change。 I know she is beset and tortured。 But though
our contract is at an end； and broken past all redemption； though I
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charge upon her want of firmness and want of truth； both to
herself and me； I do not now； and never will believe； that any
sordid motive； or her own unbiassed will； has led her to this
course—never！’
‘You make me blush；’ returned his father gaily； ‘for the folly of
your nature； in which—but we never know ourselves—I devoutly
hope there is no reflection of my own。 With regard to the young
lady herself； she has done what is very natural and proper； my
dear fellow； what you yourself proposed； as I learn from Haredale；
and what I predicted—with no great exercise of sagacity—she
would do。 She supposed you to be rich； or at least quite rich
enough； and found you poor。 Marriage is a civil contract； pe