Chapter 25

           "Loveseekethnotitselftoplease,NorforitselfhathanycareButforanothergivesitseaseAndbuildsaheaveninhell’sdespair........Loveseekethonlyselftoplease,Tobindanothertoitsdelight,Joysinanother’slossofease,Andbuildsahellinheaven’sdespite."—W.BLAKE:SongsofExperience

           FredVincywantedtoarriveatStoneCourtwhenMarycouldnotexpecthim,andwhenhisunclewasnotdown-stairsinthatcaseshemightbesittingaloneinthewainscotedparlor.Helefthishorseintheyardtoavoidmakinganoiseonthegravelinfront,andenteredtheparlorwithoutothernoticethanthenoiseofthedoor-handle.Marywasinherusualcorner,laughingoverMrs.Piozzi’srecollectionsofJohnson,andlookedupwiththefunstillinherface.ItgraduallyfadedasshesawFredapproachherwithoutspeaking,andstandbeforeherwithhiselbowonthemantel-piece,lookingill.Shetoowassilent,onlyraisinghereyestohiminquiringly.

           "Mary,"hebegan,"Iamagood-for-nothingblackguard."

           "Ishouldthinkoneofthoseepithetswoulddoatatime,"saidMary,tryingtosmile,butfeelingalarmed.

           "Iknowyouwillneverthinkwellofmeanymore.Youwillthinkmealiar.Youwillthinkmedishonest.YouwillthinkIdidn’tcareforyou,oryourfatherandmother.Youalwaysdomaketheworstofme,Iknow."

           "IcannotdenythatIshallthinkallthatofyou,Fred,ifyougivemegoodreasons.