CHAPTER I DESCRIPTION OF -- AN INCIDENT When smiled , the corners of mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance of ears , eyes were reduced to chinks , and diverging wrinkles appeared round them , extending upon countenance like the rays in a rudimentary sketch of the rising sun .
Christian name was , and on working days was .
On Sundays was , rather given to postponing , and hampered by best clothes and umbrella : upon the whole , one who felt to occupy morally that vast middle space of Laodicean neutrality which lay between and , -- that is , went to , but yawned privately by the time the con - gegation reached the Nicene creed , - and thought of what there would be for dinner when meant to be listening to the sermon .
Or , to state character as it stood in the scale of public opinion , when and were in tantrums , was considered rather ; when were pleased , was rather ; when were neither , was .
Since lived six times as many working-days as Sundays , 's appearance in old clothes was most peculiarly own -- the mental picture formed by in imagining being always dressed in that way .
wore a low-crowned felt hat , spread out at the base by tight jamming upon the head for security in high winds , and a coat like 's ; lower extremities being encased in ordinary leather leggings and boots emphatically large , affording to each foot a roomy apartment so constructed that might stand in all day long and know nothing of damp -- being .
carried about , by way of watch , - what may be called a small silver clock ; in other words , it was a watch as to shape and intention , and a small clock as to size .
This instrument being several years older than , had the peculiarity of going either too fast or not at all .
The smaller of its hands , too , occasionally slipped round on the pivot , and thus , though the minutes were told with precision , could be quite certain of the hour they belonged to .
The stopping peculiarity of watch remedied by thumps and shakes , and escaped any evil consequences from the other two defects by constant comparisons with and observations of the sun and stars , and by pressing face close to the glass of ' windows , till could discern the hour marked by the green-faced timekeepers within .
It may be mentioned that 's fob being difficult of access , by reason of its somewhat high situation in the waistband of trousers ( which also lay at a remote height under waistcoat ) , the watch was as a necessity pulled out by throwing the body to one side , compressing the mouth and face to a mere mass of ruddy flesh on account of the exertion , and drawing up the watch by its chain , like a bucket from a well .
But , who had seen walking across one of on a certain December morning -- sunny and exceedingly mild -- might have regarded in other aspects than these .
In face one might notice that many of the hues and curves of youth had tarried on to manhood : there even remained in remoter crannies some relics of .
height and breadth would have been sufficient to make presence imposing , had they been exhibited with due consideration .
But there is a way have , rural and urban alike , for which the mind is more responsible than flesh and sinew : it is a way of curtail - ing dimensions by manner of showing .
And from a quiet modesty that would have become a vestal which seemed continually to impress upon that had no great claim on 's room , walked unassumingly and with a faintly perceptible bend , yet distinct from a bowing of the shoulders .
This may be said to be a defect in if depends for valuation more upon appearance than upon capacity to wear well , which did not .
had just reached the time of life at which " young " is ceasing to be the prefix of " man " in speaking of one .
was at the brightest period of masculine growth , for intellect and emotions were clearly separated : had passed the time during which the influence of youth indiscriminately mingles them in the character of impulse , and had not yet arrived at the stage wherein they become united again , in the character of prejudice , by the influence of and .
In short , was twenty-eight , and .
sloped to called .
Through ran .
Casually glancing over the hedge , saw coming down the incline before , walking alongside bearing a whip perpendicularly .
was laden with household goods and window plants , and on the apex of the whole sat .
had not beheld the sight for more than half a minute , when was brought to a standstill just beneath eyes .
" The tailboard of is gone , " said .
" Then heard it fall . "
said , in a soft , though not particularly low voice .
" heard a noise could not account for when were coming up . "
" 'll run back . "
" Do . "
answered .
The sensible horses stood -- perfectly still , and 's steps sank fainter and fainter in the distance .
sat motionless , surrounded by tables and chairs with their legs upwards , backed by an oak settle , and ornamented in front by pots of geraniums , myrtles , and cactuses , together with a caged canary -- all probably from the windows of .
There was also a cat in a willow basket , from the partly-opened lid of which she gazed with half-closed eyes , and affectionately-surveyed the small birds around .
waited for some time idly in place , and the only sound heard in the stillness was the hopping of the canary up-and down the perches of its prison .
Then looked attentively downwards .
It was not at the bird , nor at the cat ; it was at an oblong package tied in paper , and lying between them .
turned head to learn if were coming .
was not yet in sight ; and her-eyes crept back to the package , thoughts seeming to run upon what was inside it .
At length drew the article into lap , and untied the paper covering ; a small swing looking-glass was disclosed , in which proceeded to survey attentively .
parted lips and smiled .
It was a fine morning , and the sun lighted up to a scarlet glow the crimson jacket wore , and painted a soft lustre upon bright face and dark hair .
The myrtles , geraniums , and cactuses packed around were fresh and green , and at such a leafless season they invested the whole concern of horses , waggon , furniture , and with a peculiar vernal charm .
What possessed to indulge in such a performance in the sight of the sparrows , blackbirds , and who were alone its spectators , -- whether the smile began as a factitious one , to test capacity in that art , -- knows ; it ended certainly in a real smile .
blushed at , and seeing reflection blush , blushed the more .
The change from the customary spot and necessary occasion of such an act -- from the dressing hour in to a time of travelling out of doors -- lent to the idle deed a novelty it did not intrinsically possess .
The picture was a delicate one .
's prescriptive infirmity had stalked into the sunlight , which had clothed it in the freshness of an originality .
A cynical inference was irresistible by as regarded the scene , generous though fain would have been .
There was no necessity whatever for looking in the glass .
did not adjust hat , or pat hair , or press a dimple into shape , or do one thing to signify that any such intention had been motive in taking up the glass .
simply observed as a fair product of in the feminine kind , thoughts seeming to glide into far-off though likely dramas in which would play a part -- vistas of probable triumphs -- the smiles being of a phase suggesting that hearts were imagined as lost and won .
Still , this was but conjecture , and the whole series of actions was so idly put forth as to make it rash to assert that intention had any part in them at all .
's steps were heard returning .
put the glass in the paper , and the whole again into its place .
When had passed on , withdrew from point of espial , and descending into , followed to the turnpike-gate some way beyond , where the object of contemplation now halted for the payment of toll .
About twenty steps still remained between and the gate , when heard a dispute .
lt was a difference con - cerning twopence between and .
" is upon the top of the things , and says that 's enough that 've offered ye , , and wo n't pay any more . "
These were 's words .
" Very well ; then ca n't pass . "
said , closing the gate .
looked from to , and fell into a reverie .
There was something in the tone of twopence remarkably insignificant .
Threepence had a definite value as money -- it was an appreciable infringement on a day 's wages , and , as such , a higgling matter ; but twopence -- " Here . "
said , stepping forward and handing twopence to ; " let pass . "
looked up at then ; heard words , and looked down .
's features adhered throughout their form so exactly to the middle line between the beauty of and the ugliness of , as represented in a window of , that not a single lineament could be selected and called worthy either of distinction or notoriety .
seemed to think so too , for carelessly glanced over , and told to drive on .
might have looked thanks to on a minute scale , but did not speak them ; more probably felt none , for in gaining a passage had lost point , and know how take a favour of that kind .
surveyed .
" That 's " said to " But has faults . "
said .
" True , . "
" And the greatest of them is -- well , what it is always . "
" Beating down ?
ay , 't is so . "
" O no . "
" What , then ? "
, perhaps a little piqued by 's indifference , glanced back to where had witnessed performance over the hedge , and said , " Vanity . "