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eye。 I employed the interval of silence in a rapid scrutiny of his
physiognomy。 I had never observed him closely before； and； as my
sight is very short； I had gathered only a vague； general idea of his
appearance； I was surprised now； on examination； to perceive how
small； and even feminine； were his lineaments； his tall figure； long
and dark locks； his voice and general bearing； had impressed me
with the notion of something powerful and massive； not at all：—
my own features were cast in a harsher and squarer mould than
his。 I discerned that there would be contrasts between his inward
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and outward man； contentions； too； for I suspected his soul had
more of will and ambition than his body had of fibre and muscle。
Perhaps； in these incompatibilities of the “physique” with the
“morale；” lay the secret of that fitful gloom； he would but could
not； and the athletic mind scowled scorn on its more fragile
companion。 As to his good looks； I should have liked to have a
woman’s opinion on that subject； it seemed to me that his face
might produce the same effect on a lady that a very piquant and
interesting； though scarcely pretty； female face would on a man。 I
have mentioned his dark locks—they were brushed sideways
above a white and sufficiently expansive forehead； his cheek had a
rather hectic freshness； his features might have done well on
canvas； but indifferently in marble： they were plastic； character
had set a stamp upon each； expression re…cast them at her
pleasure； and strange metamorphoses she wrought； giving him
now the mien of a morose bull； and anon that of an arch and
mischievous girl； more frequently； the two semblances were blent；
and a queer； composite countenance they made。
Starting from his silent fit； he began：—
“William！ what a fool you are to live in those dismal lodgings of
Mrs。 King’s； when you might take rooms here in Grove Street； and
have a garden like me！”
“I should be too far from the mill。”
“What of that？ It would do you good to walk there and back two
or three times a day； besides； are you such a fossil that you never
wish to see a flower or a green leaf？”
“I am no fossil。”
What are you then？ You sit at that desk in Crimsworth’s
counting…house day by day and week by week； scraping with a pen
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The Professor 43
on paper； just like an automaton； you never get up； you never say
you are tired； you never ask for a holiday； you never take change
or relaxation； you give way to no excess of an evening； you neither
keep wild company； nor indulge in strong drink。”
“Do you； Mr。 Hunsden？”
“Don’t think to pose me with short questions； your case and
mine are diametrically different； and it is nonsense attempting to
draw a parallel。 I say； that when a man endures patiently what
ought to be unendurable； he is a fossil。”
“Whence do you acquire the knowledge of my patience？”
“Why； man； do you suppose you are a mystery？ The other night
you seemed surprised at my knowing to what family you belonged；
now you find subject for wonderment in my calling you patient。
What do you think I do with my eyes and ears？ I’ve been in your
counting…house more than once when Crimsworth has treated you
like a dog； called for a book； for instance； and when you gave him
the wrong one； or what he chose to consider the wrong one； flung
it back almost in your face； desired you to shut or open the door as
if you had been his flunkey； to say nothing of your position at the
party about a month ago； where you had neither place nor
partner； but hovered about like a poor； shabby hanger…on； and
how patient you were under each and all of these circumstances！”
“Well； Mr。 Hunsden； what then？”
“I can hardly tell you what then； the conclusion to be drawn as
to your character depends upon the nature of the motives which
guide your conduct； if you are patient because you expect to make
something eventually out of Crimsworth； notwithstanding his
tyranny； or perhaps by means of it； you are what the world calls an
interested and mercenary； but may be a very wise fellow； if you
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The Professor 44
are patient because you think it a duty to meet insult with
submission； you are an essential sap； and in no shape the man for
my money； if you are patient because your nature is phlegmatic；
flat； inexcitable； and that you cannot get up to the pitch of
resistance； why； God made you to be crushed； and lie down by all
means； and lie flat； and let Juggernaut ride well over you。”
Mr。 Hunsden’s eloquence was not； it will be perceived； of the
smooth and oily order。 As he spoke； he pleased me ill。 I seem to
recognize in him one of those characters who； sensitive enough
themselves； are selfishly relentless towards the sensitiveness of
others。 Moreover； though he was neither like Crimsworth nor
Lord Tynedale； yet he was acrid； and； I suspected； overbearing in
his way： there was a tone of despotism in the urgency of the very
reproaches by which； he aimed at goading the oppressed into
rebellion against the oppressor。 Looking at him still more fixedly
than I had yet done； I saw written in his eye and mien a resolution
to arrogate to himself a freedom so unlimited that it might often
trench on the just liberty of his neighbours。 I rapidly ran over
these thoughts； and then I laughed a low and involuntary laugh；
moved thereto by a slight inward revelation of the inconsistency of
man。 It was as I thought： Hunsden had expected me to take with
calm his incorrect and offensive surmises； his bitter and haughty
taunts； and himself was chafed by a laugh； scarce louder than a
whisper。
His brow darkened； his thin nostril dilated a little。
“Yes；” he began； “I told you that you were an aristocrat； and
who but an aristocrat would laugh such a laugh as that； and look
such a look？ A laugh frigidly jeering； a look lazily mutinous；
gentlemanlike irony； patrician resentment。 What a nobleman you
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would have made； William Crimsworth！ You are cut out for one；
pity Fortune has baulked Nature！ Look at the features； figure；
even to the hands—distinction all over—ugly distinction！ Now； if
you’d only an estate and a mansion； and a park； and a title； how
you could play the exclusive； maintain the rights of your class；
train your tenantry in habits of respect to the peerage； oppose at
every step the advancing power of the people； support your rotten
order； and be ready for its sake to wade knee…deep in churls’
blood； as it is； you’ve no power； you can do nothing； you’re
wrecked and stranded on the shores of commerce； forced into
collision with practical men； with whom you cannot cope； for you’ll
never be a tradesman。”
The first part of Hunsden’s speech moved me not at all； or； if it
did； it was only to wonder at the perversion into which prejudice
had twisted his judgment of my character； the concluding
sentence； however； not only moved； but shook me； the blow it gave
was a severe one； because Truth wielded the weapon。 If I smiled
now； it； was only in disdain of myself。
Hunsden saw his advantage； he follow