The Unclassed

e embittered by the prospect of inevitable bankruptcy. He died of an overdose of some opiate, which the anguish of sleeplessness brought him into the habit of taking. Suicide it

a stationer's shop in Colchester. She was taught the business, and assisted her aunt for more than two years, when, growing tired of the life of a country town, she returned to Lo

is cousin's new step; the letter from herself at the end of a week's time greatly relieved him, and he went off as soon as possible to see her. He found her living in the house where she was engaged, apparently with decent people, and moderately contented; more than this could never be said of the girl. Since then, he had seen her at least once every week. Sometimes he visited her at the shop; when the weather was fine, they spent the Sunday afternoon in walking together. Harriet's health seemed to have improved since her return to town. Previously, as in her childhood, she had always been more or less ailing. From both father and mo

fine; Julian planned to take Harriet for a walk in the afternoon, then, after accompanying her home, to proceed to Walcot Square. As was usual on these occasions, he was to meet his cousin at the Holborn end of Gray's Inn Road, and, as also was the rule, Ha

good and her movements graceful; she was nearly as tall as Julian. Her face, however, could not be called attractive; it was hollow and of a sickly hue, even the lips scarcely red. Grey eyes, beneath which were dark circles, looked about with a quick, suspicious glance; the eye-brows made almost a straight line. The

ned to walk westward. She spoke in a dogged way with which Julian was familiar

usin, looking at her anxi

you was so much dirt. I haven't been accustomed to it, and I don

gle been un

u're expected to slave just the same, day af

known her grievances was characteristic of

ing well?" he asked, w

irly splits now, and this sun is

ss to the s

nce; I can't run to get o

silent fo

ntly. "I'm sure it would be a relief to hear from somebod

ember having done so; I'm very sorry. I migh

ing Sunday; it had been a rainy day, and they had only spent a few minutes together in th

end?" the girl inqu

her older than myself; I mad

ircumstances. He knew well the difficu

e each other every

you'll give up

ll see him at night alway

does he

r off; in

t is

going to read together, and so on. I wish you could find some pleasa

them. It's very few people I do suit, or else people don't su

yma

in Kennington?

don't think you kno

t nu

penetrating observation upon his face. He mentioned the number, and sh

ut at nights with him?

likely. Where

d I don't suppose it

Really, it's the first friend I've ever had. I'v

said, with a laugh

t and emotion which succeeded each other in his mind. This last remark d

friend," he said quick

rriet glanced sideways at him in a particularly unp

od-humouredly. "We've been brother and sis

ou've got somebody else to take you up, I know very well I shall see less of yo

letting anything put a stop to our picnics. It will soon be getting warm enough to think of the river, wo

you'd be ashamed t

ibly think so? But you don

and all sorts of things. You don't think much of me, a

er arms with the awkward restlessness whic

aimed, smiling. "Why, I shall have to quarrel

all my bad-temper always just in the same quiet way. I'd far rather you fell out with me. It's

rritable disposition, and never failed to meet such outbreaks with increased warmth and kindness of tone. To-day, Harriet's vagaries seemed to affect him somewhat unusually. He became silent at times, and then tried to la

claimed. "I know I sha'n't put up with it much longer. I

the money to give you

t all?" asked his cousin,

ll be able to have our week at the seaside when the t

ing about it. What time shal

t talking and forget the time.

riet had always a number of ill-natured comments to make on the dress and general appearance of people they passed. Julian smiled

the end of Gray's Inn

with the sour smile. "I know you're in a

do it in abo

her leave-taking, and Julian walk

t was clear that the elder of the friends would have the initiative in most things. Waymark unconsciously displayed something of that egoism which is inseparable from force of character, and to the other thi

yourself this fine day?" Waymark

sin of mine," replied Julian, with the unhe

or f

continued rather quickly. "We lived together always as children, and were only sep

e vivifying principle of human activity. Upon it luxuriate art, letters, science; rob them of its sustenance, and they droop like withering leaves. Money means virtue; the lack of it is vice. The devil loves no lurking-place like an empty purse. Give me a thousand pounds to-morrow, and I become the most virtuous man in England. I satisfy all my instincts freely, openly, with no petty makeshifts and vile hypocrisies. To scorn and revile wealth is the mere resource of splenetic poverty. What cannot be purchased with coin of the realm? First and foremost, freedom. The moneyed man is the sole king; the herds of the penniless are

with the half-mocking smile which always

t seventeen then, and found myself alone in the world. A friend of my father's, also a city man, Woodstock by name, was left my guardian. He wanted me to begin a business career, and, like a fool, I wouldn't hear of it. Mr. Woodstock and I quarrelled; he showed himself worthy of his name, and told me plainly that, if I didn't ch

elessly. He strummed a little with his fin

liation at some future day, when I shall have grown conceited. Nay, I went further. I delivered lectures at working-men's clubs, lectures with violent titles. One, I remember, was called 'The Gospel of Rationalism.' And I was enthusiastic in the cause, with an enthusiasm such as I shall never experience again. Can I imagine myself

, in comparison," said Julian, af

appy. I am what Browning somewhere calls a 'beast with a sp

k something of a pleasure in showing and dwel

n you once find your true work, an

think I've told you everything. Plenty more confessions to come, when time and place shall serv

all likely; rath

held his gaze. Waymark moved on, and he had to follow, but still looked back. The girl had a veil half down upon her face; she was gazing after the two. She moved, and the

and for a time