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impossible for me to be thus situated and not feel the angel or the
demon of my race at work within me。 I followed my instinct；
opposed a tyrant； and broke a chain。”
Now this speech interested me much； both because it brought
out Hunsden’s character； and because it explained his motives； it
interested me so much that I forgot to reply to it； and sat silent；
pondering over a throng of ideas it had suggested。
“Are you grateful to me？” he asked； presently。
In fact I was grateful； or almost so； and I believe I half liked him
at the moment； notwithstanding his proviso that what he had done
was not out of regard for me。 But human nature is perverse。
Impossible to answer his blunt question in the affirmative； so I
disclaimed all tendency to gratitude； and advised him if he
expected any reward for his championship； to look for it in a better
world； as he was not likely to meet with it here。 In reply he termed
me “a dry…hearted aristocratic scamp；” whereupon I again
charged him with having taken the bread out of my mouth。
“Your bread was dirty； man！” cried Hunsden—“dirty and
unwholesome！ It came through the hands of a tyrant； for I tell you
Crimsworth is a tyrant；—a tyrant to his workpeople； a tyrant to his
clerks； and will some day be a tyrant to his wife。”
“Nonsense！ bread is bread； and a salary is a salary。 I’ve lost
mine； and through your means。”
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“There’s sense in what you say； after all；” rejoined Hunsden。 “I
must say I am rather agreeably surprised to hear you make so
practical an observation as that last。 I had imagined now； from my
previous observation of your character； that the sentimental
delight you would have taken in your newly regained liberty
would； for a while at least； have effaced all ideas of forethought
and prudence。 I think better of you for looking steadily to the
needful。”
“Looking steadily to the needful！ How can I do otherwise？ I
must live； and to live I must have what you call ‘the needful；’
which I can only get by working。 I repeat it； you have taken my
work from me。”
“What do you mean to do？” pursued Hunsden coolly。 “You
have influential relations； I suppose they’ll soon provide you with
another place。”
“Influential relations？ Who？ I should like to know their
names。”
“The Seacombes。”
“Stuff！ I have cut them；”
Hunsden looked at me incredulously。
“I have；” said I； “and that definitively。”
“You must mean they have cut you； William。”
“As you please。 They offered me their patronage on condition of
my entering the Church； I declined both the terms and the
recompence； I withdrew from my cold uncles； and preferred
throwing myself into my elder brother’s arms； from whose
affectionate embrace I am now torn by the cruel intermeddling of
a stranger—of yourself； in short。”
I could not repress a half…smile as I said this； a similar demi…
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manifestation of feeling appeared at the same moment on
Hunsden’s lips。
“Oh； I see！” said he； looking into my eyes； and it was evident he
did see right down into my heart。 Having sat a minute or two with
his chin resting on his hand； diligently occupied in the continued
perusal of my countenance； he went on：…
“Seriously； have you then nothing to expect from the
Seacombes？”
“Yes； rejection and repulsion。 Why do you ask me twice？ How
can hands stained with the ink of a counting…house； soiled with the
grease of a wool…warehouse； ever again be permitted to come into
contact with aristocratic palms？”
“There would be a difficulty； no doubt； still you are such a
complete Seacombe in appearance； feature； language； almost
manner； I wonder they should disown you。”
“They have disowned me； so talk no more about it。”
“Do you regret it； William？”
“No。”
“Why not； lad？”
“Because they are not people with whom I could ever have had
any sympathy。”
“I say you are one of them。”
“That merely proves that you know nothing at all about it； I am
my mother’s son； but not my uncles’ nephew。”
“Still—one of your uncles is a lord； though rather an obscure
and not a very wealthy one； and the other a right honourable： you
should consider worldly interest。”
“Nonsense； Mr。 Hunsden。 You know or may know that even
had I desired to be submissive to my uncles； I could not have
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stooped with a good enough grace ever to have won their favour。 I
should have sacrificed my own comfort and not have gained their
patronage in return。”
“Very likely—so you calculated your wisest plan was to follow
your own devices at once？”
“Exactly。 I must follow my own devices—I must； till the day of
my death； because I can neither comprehend； adopt； nor work out
those of other people。”
Hunsden yawned。 “Well；” said he； “in all this； I see but one
thing clearly…that is； that the whole affair is no business of mine。
“He stretched himself and again yawned。 “I wonder what time it
is；” he went on： “I have an appointment for seven o’clock。”
“Three quarters past six by my watch。”
“Well； then I’ll go。” He got up。 “You’ll not meddle with trade
again？” said he； leaning his elbow on the mantelpiece。
“No； I think not。”
“You would be a fool if you did。 Probably； after all； you’ll think
better of your uncles’ proposal and go into the Church。”
“A singular regeneration must take place in my whole inner
and outer man before I do that。 A good clergyman is one of the
best of men。”
“Indeed！ Do you think so？” interrupted Hunsden； scoffingly。
“I do； and no mistake。 But I have not the peculiar points which
go to make a good clergyman； and rather than adopt a profession
for which I have no vocation； I would endure extremities of
hardship from poverty。”
“You’re a mighty difficult customer to suit。 You won’t be a
tradesman or a parson； you can’t be a lawyer； or a doctor； or a
gentleman； because you’ve no money。 I’d recommend you to
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travel。”
“What！ without money？”
“You must travel in search of money； man。 You can speak
French—with a vile English accent； no doubt—still； you can speak
it。 Go on to the Continent； and see what will turn up for you
there。”
“God knows I should like to go！” exclaimed I with involuntary
ardour。
“Go： what the deuce hinders you？ You may get to Brussels； for
instance； for five or six pounds； if you know how to manage with
economy。”
“Necessity would teach me if I didn’t。”
“Go； then； and let your wits make a way for you when you get
there。 I know Brussels almost as well as I know X—； and I am sure
it would suit such a one as you better than London。”
“But occupation； Mr。 Hunsden！ I must go where occupation is
to be had； and how could I get recommendation； or introduction；
or employment at Brussels？”
“There speaks the organ of caution。 You hate to advance a step
before you know every inch of the way。 You haven’t a sheet of
paper and a pen…and…ink？”
“I hope so；” and I produced writing mat