 Chapter 1 of the Ordeal of Richard Feverell. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Ordeal of Richard Feverell by George Meredith. Chapter 1. Some years ago a book was published under the title of the Pilgrim's Script. It consisted of a selection of original aphorisms by an anonymous gentleman who in this bashful manner gave a bruised heart to the world. He made no pretension to novelty. Our new thoughts have thrilled dead bosoms, he wrote, by which a bowel it may be seen that youth had manifestly gone from him. Since he had ceased to be jealous of the ancients, there was a half sigh floating through his pages for those days of intellectual cox comery when ideas come to us affecting the embraces of virgins and swear to us they are ours alone and no one else have they ever visited and we believe them. For an example of his ideas of the sex he said, I expect that woman will be the last thing civilized by man. Some excitement was produced in the bosoms of ladies by so monstrous a scorn of them. One adventurous person but took herself to the Harrell's College and there ascertained that a griffin between two wheat sheaves which stood on the title page of the book formed the crest of Sir Austin Absworthy, Byrne Federal, baronet of Rainham Abbey in a certain western county, folding Tim's, a man of wealth and honor and a somewhat lamentable history. The outline of the baronet story was by no means new. He had a wife and he had a friend. His marriage was for love. His wife was a beauty. His friend was a sort of poet. His wife had his whole heart and his friend all his confidence. When he selected Denzel's summers from among his college jumps it was not on account of any similarity of disposition between them but from his intense worship of genius which made him overlook the absence of principle in his associate for the sake of such brilliant promise. Denzel had a small patrimony to lead off with and that he dissipated before he left college. Thenceforth he was dependent upon his admirer with whom he lived filling a nominal post of bailiff to the estates and launching forth verse of some satiric and sentimental quality for being inclined device and occasionally and in a quiet way practicing it. He was of course a sentimentalist and a satirist entitled to lash the age and complain of human nature. His earlier poems published under the pseudonym of Diaper Sandow were so pure and bloodless in their love passages and at the same time so biting in their moral tone that his reputation was great among the virtuous who formed the larger portion of the English book buying public. Election seasons called him to valid poetry on behalf of the Tory party. Diaper possessed undoubted fluency but did tittle though Sir Austin was ever expecting much of him. A languishing and experienced woman whose husband in mental and in moral stature is more than the ordinary height above her and who now that her first romantic admiration of his lofty bearing has worn off and her fretful little refinements of taste and sentiment are not instinctively responded to is thrown into no wholesome household collision with a fluent man fluent in prose and rhyme. Lady Feverell when she first entered on her duties at Rainham was jealous of her husband's friend by degree she tolerated him in time he touched his guitar in her chamber and they played Rizio and Mary together for I am not the first to found the name of Mary fatal says a subsequent sentimental alliterative love poem of Diapers such was the outline of the story but the baronette could fill it up he had opened his soul to these two he had been double love to the one and to the other perfect friendship he had bid them be brother and sister whom he loved and live a golden age with him at Rainham in fact he had been prodigal of the excellences of his nature which it is not good to be unlike Timon he became bankrupt and fell upon bitterness the faithless lady was of no particular family an orphaned daughter of an admiral who educated her on his half-pay and her conduct struck but at the man whose name she bore after five years of marriage and 12 a friendship Sir Austin was left to his loneliness with nothing to ease his heart of love upon save a little baby boy in a cradle he forgave the man he put him aside as poor for his wrath the woman he could not forgive she had sinned every way simple in gratitude to a benefactor was a pardonable transgression for he was not one to recount and crush the culprit under the heap of his good deeds but her he had raised to be his equal and he judged her as his equal she had blackened the world's fair aspect for him in the presence of that world so different to him now he preserved his wanted demeanor and made his features a flexible mask Mrs. Doria Foray his widowed sister said that Austin might have retired from his parliamentary career for a time and given up gayities and that kind of thing her opinion founded on observation of him in public and private was that the light thing who had taken flight was but a feather on her brother's feverell heart and his ordinary course of life would be resumed there are times when common men cannot bear the weight of just so much hippiest feverell one of his brothers thought him immensely improved by his misfortune if the loss of such a person could be so designated and seeing that hippies received in consequence three quarters at random and possession of the wing of the abbey she had inhabited it is profitable to know his thoughts if the baronet had given two or three blazing dinners in the great hall he would have deceived people generally as he did his relatives and intimates he was too sick for that fit only for passive acting the nurse made waking in the night beheld a solitary figure darkening a lamp above her little sleeping charge and became so used to the sight as never to wake with a start one night she was strangely aroused by a sound of sobbing the baronet stood beside the cot in his long black cloak and traveling cat his fingers shaded a lamp and reddened against the fitful darkness that ever and a non went leaping up the wall she could hardly believe her senses to see the austere gentleman dead silent dropping tear upon tear before her eyes she lay stone still in a trance of terror and mournfulness mechanically counting the tears as they fell one by one the hidden face the fallen flash of those heavy drops in the light of the lamp he held the upright awful figure agitated at regular intervals like a piece of clockwork by the low murderous catch of his breath it was so piteous to her poor human nature that her heart began wildly palpitating involuntarily the poor girl cried out to him oh sir and fellow weeping sir austen turned the lamp on her pillow and harshly bad her go to sleep striding from the room forthwith he dismissed her with a purse the next day once when he was seven years old the little fellow woke up at night to see a lady bending over him he talked of this the next day but he was treated as a dream until in the course of the day his uncle aljanon was driven home from low-born cricket ground with a broken leg then it was recollected that there was a family ghost and though no member of the family believed in the ghost none would have given up a circumstance that testified to its existence for to possess a ghost as a distinction above titles aljanon fevel lost his leg and ceased to be a gentleman in the guards of the other uncles of young richard cuthbert the sailor perished in a spirited boat expedition against a slaving negro chief up the niger some of the gallant lieutenant's trophies of war decorated the little boy's play shed at reynum and he bequeathed his sword to richard whose hero he was the diplomat is dimbo vivian ended his fluttering's from flower to flower by making an improper marriage as is the fate of many a bow and was struck out of the list of visitors aljanon generally occupied the baronets disused townhouse a wretched being dividing his time between horse and card exercise possessed it was said of the absurd notion that a man who has lost his balance by losing his leg may regain it by sticking to the bottle at least whenever he and his brother hippies got together they never failed to try whether one leg or two stood the bottle best much of a puritan as sir austin was in his habits he was too good a host and too thorough a gentleman to impose them upon his guests the brothers and other relatives might do as they would while they did not disgrace the name and then it was final they must depart to behold his countenance no more aljanon feverell was a simple man who felt subsequent to his misfortune as he had perhaps dimly fancied it before that his career lay in his legs and was now irrevocably cut short he taught the boy boxing and shooting and the arts of fence and superintendent the direction of his animal vigor with the melancholy vivacity the remaining energies of aljanon's mind were devoted to animad versions on swift bowling he preached it over the county struggling through laborious literary compositions addressed to sporting newspapers on the decline of cricket it was aljanon who witnessed and chronicled young richard's first fight which was with young tom blaze of bell thork farm three years the boy's senior hippie's bevel was once thought to be the genius of the family it was his ill luck to have strong appetites in a weak stomach and as one is not altogether fit for the battle of life he was engaged in a perpetual contention with his dinner hippie's forsook his prospects at the bar and in the embraces of dyspepsia compiled his ponders work on the fairy mythology of europe he had little to do with the hope of random beyond what he endured from his juvenile tricks a venerable lady known as great aunt grantley who had money to be queved to the air occupied with hippie's the background of the house and shared her candles with him these two were seldom seen till the dinner hour for which they were all day preparing and probably all night remembering for the 18th century was an admirable trencher man and cast age aside while there was a dish on the table mrs door's foray was the eldest of the three sisters of the baronet a florid affable woman with fine teeth exceedingly fine light wavy hair a norman nose and a reputation for understanding men and that with these practical creatures always means the art of managing them she had married an expectant younger son of a good family who deceased before the fulfillment of his prospects and casting about in her mind the future chances of her little daughter and so child claire she marked down a probability the far site the deep determination the resolute perseverance of her sex where a daughter is to be provided for and a man to be overthrown instigated her to invite herself to reign him where with that daughter she fixed herself the other two federal ladies were the wife of colonel wentworth and the widow of mr justice harley and the only thing remarkable about them was that they were mothers of sons of some distinction austin wentworth's story was of that wretched character which to be comprehended that justice should be dealt in must be told out and openly which no one dares now do for a fault redeemed by him nobly according to his life he was condemned to undergo the world's harsh judgment not for the fault for its atonement married his mother's housemate whispered mrs dooria with a ghastly look and a shutter at young men of republican sentiments which he was reputed to entertain the compensation for injustice says the pilgrim's script is that in that dark or deal we gather the worthiest around us and the bernett's fair friend lady blandish and some few true men and women held austin wentworth high he did not live with his wife and sir austin whose mind was bent on the future of our species reproached him with being barren to posterity while naves were propagating the principal characteristic of the second nephew adrian harley was his sagacity he was essentially the wise youth both in council and in action in action the pilgrim's script observes wisdom goes by majorities adrian had an instinct for the majority and as the world invariably found him enlisted in its ranks his appellation of wise youth was acquiesced in without irony the wise youth then had the world with him but no friends nor did he wish for those troublesome appendages of success he caused himself to be required by people who could serve him feared by such as could injure not that he went out of the way to secure his end or risk the expense of a plot he did the work as easily as he ate his daily bread adrian was an epicurean one whom epicurus would have scourged out of his garden certainly an epicurean of our modern notions to satisfy his appetites without rationally staking his character was the wise youth's problem for life he had no intimates except gibbon and horse and the society of these fine aristocrats of literature helped him to accept humanity as it had been and was a supreme ironic procession with laughter of gods in the background why not laughter of mortals also adrian had his laugh in his comfortable corner he possessed peculiar attributes of a heathen god he was a disposer of men he was polished luxurious and happy at their cost he lived in eminent self-content as one lying on soft cloud lapped in sunshine nor jove nor apollo cast eye upon the maids of earth with cooler fire of selection or pursued them in the covert with more sacred impunity and he enjoyed his reputation for virtue as something additional stolen fruits are said to be sweet undeserved rewards are exquisite the best of it was that adrian made no pretenses he did not solicit the favorable judgment of the world nature and he attempted no other concealment than the ordinary mask men wear and yet the world would proclaim him moral as well as wise and the pleasing converse every way of his disgraced cousin austin in a word adrian harley had mastered his philosophy at the early age of one and twenty many would be glad to say the same at that age twice told they carry in their breasts a burden with which adrians was not loaded mrs doryo was nearly right about his heart a singular mishap at his birth possibly or before it had unceded that organ and shaken it down to his stomach where it was a much lighter may an inspiring weight and encouraged him merely onward thrown there it looked on little that did not arrive to gratify it already that region was a trifle prominent in the person of the wise youth and carried as it were the flag of his philosophical tenants in front of him he was charming after dinner with men or with women delightfully sarcastic perhaps a little too unscrupulous in his moral tone but that his moral reputation belied him and it must be set down to generosity of disposition such was adrian harley another of sir austin's intellectual favorites chosen from mankind to superintend the education of his son at reynum adrian had been destined for the church he did not enter into orders he and the baronet had a conference together one day and from that time adrian became a fixture in the abbey his father died in his promising son's college term bequeathing him nothing but his legal complexion in adrian became sty pendieri officer in his uncle's household a playfellow of richards occasionally and the only comrade of his age that he ever saw was master ripton thompson the son of sir austin solicitor a boy without a character a comrade of some description was necessary for richard was neither to go to school nor to college sir austin considered that the schools were corrupt and maintained that young lads might by parental vigilance be kept pretty secure from the serpent until he sided with him a period that might be deferred he said he had a system of education for his son how it worked we shall see end of chapter one chapter two the ordeal of richard feverell this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org recording by rita butros the ordeal of richard feverell by george meredith chapter two october shone royally on richard's 14th birthday the brown beachwoods and golden birches glowed to a brilliant sun banks of moveless cloud hung about the horizon mounted to the west where slept the wind promise of a great day for anum as it proved to be though not in the manner marked out already archery booths and quickening tents were rising on the lower grounds towards the river with the lads of bursely and low burn in boats and in carts shouting for a day of ale and honor jogged merrily to match themselves anew and pluck at the lining laurel from each other's brows line manly britains the whole park was beginning to be a stir and resound with holiday cries sir austin feverell a thorough good tory was no game preserver and could be popular whenever he chose which sir mails packworth on the other side of the river a fast-handed wig and terror to poachers never could be half the village of low burn was seen trooping through the avenues of the park fiddlers and gypsies clamored at the gates for admission white smocks and slate surmounted by hats of serious brim and now and then a scarlet cloak smacking of the old country dotted the grassy sweeps to the levels and all the time the star of these festivities was receding further and further and eclipsing himself with his reluctant surf ripton who kept asking what they were to do and where they were going and how late it was in the day and suggesting that the lads of low burn would be calling out for them and sir austin requiring their presence without getting any attention paid to his misery or remonstrances for richard had been requested by his father to submit to medical examination like a bore and listening for a soldier and he was in great wrath he was flying as though he would have flown from the shameful thought of what had been asked of him by and by he communicated his sentiments to ripton who said they were those of a girl an offensive remark remembering which richard after they had borrowed a couple of guns at the bail of sparm and ripton had fired badly called his friend a fool feeling that circumstances were making him look wonderfully like one ripton lifted his head and retorted defiantly i'm not this angry contradiction so very uncalled for annoyed richard who was still smarting at the loss of the birds owing to ripton's bad shot and was really the injured party he therefore bestowed the abusive epithet on ripton anew and with increase of emphasis you shan't call me so then whether i am or not says ripton and sucks his lips this was becoming personal richard sent up his browse and stared at his defy an instant he then informed him that he certainly should call him so and would not object to call him so 20 times do it and see returns of ripton rocking on his feet and breathing quick with a gravity of which only boys and other barbarians are capable richard went through the entire number stressing the epithet to increase the defiance and avoid monotony as he progressed while ripton bobbed his head every time innocent as it were to his comrades accuracy and as a record for his profound humiliation the dog they had with them gazed at the extraordinary performance with interrogating wags of the tail 20 times duly and deliberately richard repeated the obnoxious word at the 20th solemn iteration of ripton's capital shortcoming ripton delivered a smart backhander on richard's mouth and squared precipitately perhaps sorry when the deed was done for he was a kind-hearted lad and as richard simply bowed in acknowledgement of the blow he thought he had gone too far he did not know the young gentleman he was dealing with richard was extremely cool shall we fight here he said anywhere you like replied ripton a little more into the wood i think we may be interrupted and richard led the way with a courteous reserve that somewhat chilled ripton's ardor for the contest on the skirts of the wood richard threw off his jacket and waistcoat and quite collected waited for ripton to do the same the latter boy was flushed and restless older and broader but not so tight limbed and well set the gods soul witnesses of their battle bedded dead against him richard had mounted the white cockade of the fevers and there was a look in him that asked for tough work to extinguish his brows slightly lined upward at the temples converging to a knot about the well-set straight nose his full gray eyes open nostrils and planted feet and a gentlemanly air of calm and alertness formed a spirited picture of a young combatant as for ripton he was all abroad and fought in schoolboy style that is he rushed at the foe head foremost and struck like a windmill he was a lumpy boy when he did hit he made himself felt but he was at the mercy of science to see him come dashing in a blinking and puffing and whirling his arms abroad while the felling blow went straight between them you perceived that he was fighting a fight of desperation and knew it for the dreaded alternative glared him in the face that if he yielded he must look like what he had been 20 times columnarously called and he would die rather than yield and swing his windmill till he dropped poor boy he dropped frequently the gallant fellow fought for appearances and down he went the gods favor one of two parties prince turnis was a noble youth but he had not palace at his elbow ripton was a capital boy he had no science he could not prove he was not a fool when one comes to think of it ripton did choose the only possible way and we should all of us have considerable difficulty in proving the negative by any other ripton came on the unerring fist again and again and if it was true as he said in short colloquial gasps that he required as much beating as an egg to be beaten thoroughly a fortunate interruption alone saved our friend from resembling that substance the boys heard summoning voices and beheld mr morton of poor hall and austin wentworth stepping towards them a truce was sounded jackets were caught up guns shouldered and off they trotted in concert through the depths of the wood not stopping till that and half a dozen fields and a large plantation were well behind them when they halted to take breath there was a mutual study of faces riptons was much discolored and looked fiercer with its natural war paint than the boy felt nevertheless he squared up dauntlessly on the new ground and richard whose wrath was appeased could not refrain from asking him whether he had not really had enough never shouts the noble enemy well look here said richard appealing to common sense i'm tired of knocking you down i'll say you're not a fool if you'll give me your hand ripton demuried an instant to consult with honor who bad him catch at his chance he held out his hand there and the boys grasped hands and were fast friends ripton had gained his point and richard decidedly had the best of it so they were on equal ground both could claim a victory which was all the better for their friendship ripton washed his face and comforted his nose at a brook and was now ready to follow his friend wherever he chose to lead they continued to beat about for birds the birds on the ramus states were found singularly cunning and repeatedly eluded the aim of these prime shots so they pushed their expedition into the lands of their neighbors in search of a stupider race happily oblivious of the laws and conditions of trespass unconscious too that they were poaching on the demets of the notorious farmer blaze the free trade farmer under the shield of the papwarts no worshipper of the griffin between two wheat sheaves destined to be much allied with richard's fortunes from beginning to end farmer blaze hated poachers and especially young chaps poaching who did it mostly from impudence he heard the audacious shots popping right and left and going forth to have a glimpse at the intruders and observing their size swore he would teach my gentleman a thing lords or no lords richard had brought down a beautiful cock pheasant and was exalting over it when the farmer's portentious figure burst upon them cracking an avenging horse whip his salute was ironical having good sport gentlemen are you just bagged a splendid bird radiant richard informed him oh farmer blaze gave it a monetary flick of the whip just let me clap eye on it then say please interposed ripton who was not blind to doubtful aspects farmer blaze threw up his chin and grinned grimly please to you sir why my chap it looks as if he didn't much mind what come to your nose i reckon you looks an old poacher you do tell you what is he changed his banter to business that birds mine now you just hand him over and shear off you damn young scoundrels i know ye and he became exceedingly opobrius and muttered contempt of the name of feverell richard opened his eyes if you want to be horse whipped you'll stay where you are continued the farmer giles blaze never stands nonsense then we'll stay quote richard good so be it if you'll have it have it my men as a preparatory measure farmer blaze seized a wing of the bird on which both boys flung themselves desperately and secured it minus the pinion that's your game cried the farmer here's a taste of horse whip for ye i never stands nonsense and switch went the mighty whip well suede the boys tried to close with him he kept his distance and lashed without mercy black blood was made by farmer blaze that day the boys wriggled in spite of themselves it was like a relentless serpent coiling and biting and stinging their young veins to madness probably they felt the disgrace of the contortions they were made to go through more than the pain but the pain was fierce for the farmer laid about from a practiced arm and did not consider that he had done enough till he was well breathed and his ruddy jowl inflamed he paused to receive the remainder of the cock pheasant in his face take your beastly bird cried richard money my lads and interest roared the farmer lashing out again shameful as it was to retreat there was but that course opened to them they decided to surrender the field look you big brute richard shook his gun horse with passion i'd have shot you if i'd been loaded mind if i come across you when i'm loaded you coward i'll fire the unenglish nature of this threat exasperated farmer blaze and he pressed the pursuit in time to bestow a few farewell stripes as they were escaping tight breached into neutral territory at the hedge they parlayed a minute the farmer to inquire if they had had a mortal good tanning and were satisfied for when they wanted a further installment of the same they were to come for it to belthorpe farm and there it was in pickle the boys meantime exploding in menaces and threats of vengeance on which the farmer contemptuously turned his back ripton had already stocked an armful of flints for the enjoyment of a little skirmishing richard however knocked them all out saying no gentlemen don't fling stones leave that to the blaggers just one shy at him pleaded ripton with his eye on farmer blaze's broad mark and his whole mind drunken with a sudden revelation of the advantages of light troops in opposition to heavies no said richard imperatively no stones and marched briskly away ripton followed with a sigh his leader's magnanimity was wholly beyond him a good spanking mark at the farmer would have relieved master ripton it would have done nothing to console richard febrile for the ignominy he had been compelled to submit to ripton was familiar with the rod a monster much dispoiled of his terrors by intimacy birch fever was passed with this boy the horrible sense of shame self-loathing universal hatred impotent vengeance as if the spirit were steeped in abysmal blackness which comes upon a courageous and sensitive youth condemned for the first time to taste this piece of fleshly bitterness and suffer what he feels is a defilement ripton had weathered and forgotten he was seasoned wood and took the world pretty wisely not reckless of castigation as some boys become nor oversensitive as to dishonor as his friend and comrade beside him was richard's blood was poisoned he had the fever on him severely he would not allow stone flinging because it was a habit of his to discount and inset mere gentlemanly considerations has scarce shielded farmer blaze and certain very ungentlemanly schemes were coming to ghastly heads in the tumult of his brain rejected solely from their glaring impracticability even to his young intelligence a sweeping and consummate vengeance for the indignity alone should satisfy him something tremendous must be done and done without delay at one moment he thought of killing all the farmers cattle next of killing him challenging him to single combat with the arms and according to the fashion of gentlemen but the farmer was a coward he would refuse then he richard feverell would stand by the farmer's bedside and rouse him rouse him to fight with powder and ball in his own chamber in the cowardly midnight where he might tremble but dare not refuse lord cried simple ripton while these hopeful plots were raging in his comrade's brain now sparkling for immediate execution and a non lapsing disdainfully dark in their chances of fulfillment how i wish you'd have let me notch him ricky i'm a safe shot i never miss i should feel quite jolly if i'd spanked him once we should have had the beat of him at that game i say and a sharp thought drew ripton's ideas nearer home i wonder whether my nose is as bad as he says where can i see myself to these exclamations richard was deaf and he trudged steadily forward facing but one object after tearing through innumerable hedges leaping fences jumping dykes penetrating brambley copes is and getting dirty ragged and tired ripped in a woke from his dream of farmer blaze and a blue nose to the vivid consciousness of hunger and this grew with the rapidity of light upon him till in the course of another minute he was enduring the extremes of famine and ventured to question his leader whether he was being conducted ranum was out of sight they were a long way down the valley miles from low burn in a country of sour pools yellow brooks rank pastorage desolate heath solitary cows were seen the smoke of a mud cottage a cart piled with peat a donkey grazing at leisure oblivious of an unkind world geese by a horse pond gabbling as in the first loneliness of creation uncooked things that a famishing boy cannot possibly care for and must despise ripton was in despair where are you going to he inquired with a voice of the last time of asking and halted resolutely richard now broke his silence to reply anywhere anywhere ripton took up the moody word but ain't you awfully hungry he gasped vehemently in a way that showed the total emptiness of his stomach no was richards brief response not hungry ripton's amazement lent him increased vehemence why you haven't had anything to eat since breakfast not hungry i declare i am starving i feel such annoying i could eat dry bread and cheese richard sneered not for reasons that would have actuated a similar demonstration of the philosopher come cried ripped in at all events tell us where you're going to stop richard faced about to make a quarrelless retort the injured and hapless visage that met his eye disarmed him the lads knows though not exactly of the dreaded hue was really becoming discolored to a braid him would be cruel richard lifted his head surveyed the position and exclaiming here dropped down on a withered bank leaving ripped into contemplate him as a puzzle whose every new move was a worse perplexity end of chapter two chapter three the ordeal of richard feverell this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org recording by rita butros the ordeal of richard feverell by george meredith chapter three among boys there are laws of honor and chivalrous codes not written or formally taught but intuitively understood by all and invariably acted upon by the loyal and the true the race is not nearly civilized we must remember thus not to follow your leader with so ever he may think proper to lead to back out of an expedition because the end of it frowns dubious and the present fruit of it is discomfort to quit a comrade on the road and return home without him these are tricks which no boy of spirit would be guilty of let him come to any description of mortal grief in consequence better so than have his own conscience denouncing him sneak some boys who behave boldly enough are not troubled by this conscience and the eyes and the lips of their fellows have to supply the deficiency they do it with just as haunting and even more horrible pertenacity than the inner voice and the result if the probation be not very severe and searching is the same the leader can rely on the faithfulness of his host the comrade is sworn to serve master ripped in thompson was naturally loyal the idea of turning off and forsaking his friend never once crossed his mind though his condition was desperate and his friends behavior that of a bedlamite he announced several times impatiently that they would be too late for dinner his friend did not budge dinner seemed nothing to him there he lay plucking grass and patting the old dog's nose as if incapable of conceiving what a thing hunger was ripped and took half a dozen turns up and down and at last flung himself down beside the taciturn boy accepting his fate now the chance that works for certain purposes sent a smart shower from the sinking sun and the wet sent two strangers for shelter in the lane behind the hedge where the boys reclined one was a traveling tinker who lit a pipe and spread a tony umbrella the other was a burly young countryman pipeless and tentless they saluted with a nod and began recounting for each other's benefit the daylong doings of the weather as it had affected their individual experience and followed their prophecies both had anticipated and foretold a bit of rain before night and therefore both welcomed the wet with satisfaction a monotonous between wiles kind of talk they kept droning in harmony with the still hum of the air from the weather theme they fell upon the blessings of tobacco how it was the poor man's friend his company his consolation his comfort his refugee at night his first thought in the morning better than a wife chuckled the tinker no curtain lecturing with a pipe your pipe ain't a shrew that be it the other chimed in your pipe don't make you out with all the cash Saturday evening take one said the tinker in the enthusiasm of the moment handing a grimy short clay speed the plow filled from the tinker's pouch and continued his praises penny a day and there you are primed better than a wife ha ha and you can get rid of it if you want for two and when you want added tinker so you can speed the plow took him up and you don't want for two least ways to other case i means pipe and continued tinker comprehending him perfectly it don't bring repentance after it not know how master it don't and speed the plow cocked his eye it don't eat up half the victuals your pipe don't hear the honest yeoman just stipulated his keen sense of a clincher which the tinker acknowledged and having so to speak sealed up the subject by saying the best thing that could be said the two smoked for some time in silence to the drip and patter of the shower ripped in solace his wretchedness by watching them through the briar hedge he saw the tinker stroking a white cat and appealing to her every now and then as his mrs for an opinion or a confirmation and he thought that a curious sight speed the plow was stretched at full length with his boots in the rain and his head amidst the tinker's pots smoking profoundly contemplative the minutes seem to be taken up alternately by the gray puffs from their mouths it was the tinker who renewed the colquey said he times is bad his companion assented surely but it somehow comes round right resume the tinker why look here where's the good I'm open I see it all come around right and tight now I travels about I've got my beat Cajun calls me to other day to new castle a coals ejaculated speed the plow sonorously coals echoed the tinker you ask what I goes there for may have never you'll mind one sees a mortal life in my trade not for calls it isn't and I don't carry them there neither anyhow I comes back London's my mark says I I'll see a bit of the sea and steps aboard a collier we were as direct as the prophet paul uh who's him the other wish to know read your bible said the tinker we pitched and tossed taint that game at seat is on land I can tell ye I think down we're going say your prayers bob tiles that was a night to be sure but God's above the devil and here I am you see speed the plow lurched round on his elbow and regarded him indifferently do you call that doctrine he being dollies or I shouldn't be scraping my heels with nothing to do and what's worse nothing to eat why look here luxe look and bad luxe the contrary Varmer ball up to other day has his rick burnt down next night his granaries burnt what do he take and go and do he takes and goes and hangs himself and turns us out of his employee God warned above the devil then I think or I can't make out the reckoning the tinker cleared his throat and said it was a bad case and a darned bad case I'll take my oath on it cried speed the plow well look here here's another darned bad case I threshed for Varmer blaze blaze a bell thought before as I goes to farmer ballop Varmer blaze Mrs. Pilkin's he swears our chap steal Pilkin's torrent me steals him what do he take and go and do he takes and turns us off me and another neck and crop to scuffle about and starve for all he cures God warned above the devil then I think not know how as I can see the tinker shook his head and said that was a bad case also and you can't mend it at its speed the plow it's bad and there it be but I'll tell you what master bad wants paying for he nodded and winked mysteriously bad has its wages as well as honest work I'm thinking Varmer ball up I don't know no grudge to farmer blaze I do and I should like to stick a Lucifer in his rick some dry windy night speed the plow screwed up and I villainously he wants hitting in the wind just where the pocket is master do Varmer blaze and he'll cry out oh lord Varmer blaze will you won't get the better of Varmer blaze by no means as it makes out if you don't hit into him just there the tinker sent a rapid succession of white clads from his mouth and said that would be taking the devil's side of a bad case speed the plow observed energetically that if farmer blaze was on the other he should be on that side there was a young gentleman close by who thought with him the hope of reynum had lent a careless half compelled attention to the foregoing dialogue wherein a common laborer and a traveling tinker had propounded and discussed one of the most ancient theories of trans mundane dominion and influence on mundane affairs he now started to his feet and came tearing through the briar hedge calling out for one of them to direct them the nearest road to bursley the tinker was kindling preparations for his tea under the tawny umbrella a loaf was set forth on which rapton's eyes stuck in the hedge fastened ravenously speed the plow volunteered information that bursley was a good three mile from where they stood and a good eight mile from low burn i'll give you half a crown for that loaf my good fellow said richard to the tinker it's a bargain quote the tinker a mrs his cat replied by humping her back at the dog the half crown was tossed down and ripped in who had just succeeded in freeing his limbs from the briar prickly as a hedgehog collared the loaf those young squires be sharp said and no mistake said the tinker to his companion come will to bursley after him and talk it out over a pot of beer speed the plow was nothing low and in a short time they were following the two lads on the road to bursley while a horizontal blaze shot across the autumn and from the western edge of the rain cloud end of chapter three chapter four the ordeal of richard feverell this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by rita butros the ordeal of richard feverell by george meredith chapter four search for the missing boys had been made everywhere over renum and sir austin was in grievous discontent none had seen them save austin wentworth and mr morton the baronet sat construing their account of the flight of the lads when they were hailed and resolved it into an act of rebellion on the part of his son at dinner he drank the young air's health in ominous silence adrian harley stood up in his place to propose the health his speech was a fine piece of rhetoric he warmed in it till after the ciceronic model inanimate objects were personified and richards table napkin and vacant chair were invoked to follow the steps of a peerless father and uphold with his dignity the honor of the feverells austin wentworth whom a soldier's death compelled to take his father's place in support of the toast was tame after such magn eloquence but the reply the thanks which young richard should have delivered in person were not forthcoming adrian's oratory had given but a momentary life to napkin and chair the company of honored friends and aunts and uncles remotest cousins were glad to disperse and seek amusement in music and tea sir austin did his utmost to be hospitable cheerful and requested them to dance if he had desired them to laugh he would have been obeyed and in as hardy a manner how treased said mrs doria foray to low burns curate as that most enamored automaton went through his paces beside her with professional stiffness one who does not suffer can hardly assent the curate answered basking in her beams ah you are good exclaimed the lady look at my claire she will not dance on her cousin's birthday with anyone but him what are we to do to enliven these people alas madam you cannot do for all what you do for one the cure aside and wherever she wandered in discourse drew her back with silken strings to gaze on his enamored soul he was the only gratified stranger present the others had designs on the young air lady atonbury of longford house had brought her highly polished specimen of market wear the lady juliana jay for a first introduction to him thinking he had arrived at an age to estimate and pine for her black eyes and pretty pert mouth the lady juliana had to pair off with a dapper pap worth and her mama was subjected to the gallantries of sir miles who talked land and steam engines to her till she was sick and had to be in pertinent in self-defense lady blandish the delightful widow sat apart with adrian and enjoyed his sarcasms on the company by ten at night the poor show ended and the rooms were dark dark as the prognostics multitudinously hinted by the disappointed and chilled guests concerning the probable future of the hope of renum little claire kissed her mama curtsy to the lingering curate and went to bed like a very good girl immediately the maid had departed little claire deliberately exchanged night attire for that of day she was noted as an obedient child her light was allowed to burn in her room for half an hour to counteract her fears of the dark she took the light and stole on tiptoe to richards room no richard was there she peeped in further and further a trifling agitation of the curtains shot her back through the door and along the passage to her own bed chamber with extreme expedition she was not much alarmed but feeling guilty she was on her guard in a short time she was prowling about the passages again richard had slighted and offended the little lady and was to be asked whether he did not repent such conduct toward his cousin not to be asked whether he had forgotten to receive his birthday kiss from her for if he did not choose to remember that miss claire would never remind him of it and tonight should be his last chance of a reconciliation thus she meditated sitting on a stair and presently heard richard's voice below in the hall shouting for supper master richard has returned old benson the butler told out intelligence to sir austin well said the baronet he complains of being hungry the butler hesitated with a look of solemn disgust let him eat heavy benson hesitated still more as he announced that the boy had called for wine it was an unprecedented thing sir austin's brows were pretending an arch but adrian suggested that he wanted possibly to drink his birthday and claret was conceded the boys were in the vortex of a partridge pie when adrian strolled into them they had now changed characters richard was uproarious he drank a health with every glass his cheeks were flushed and his eyes brilliant ripped and looked very much like a rogue on the tremble of detection but his honest hunger and the partridge pie shielded him a while from adrian's scrutinizing glance adrian saw there was matter for study if it were only on master ripton's betraying nose and sat down to hear and mark good sport gentlemen i trust to hear he began his quiet banter and provoked a loud peel of laughter from richard haha i say rip having good sport gentlemen are ye you remember the farmer your health person we haven't had our sport yet we're going to have some first rate sport oh well we haven't much show of birds we shot for pleasure and we turn them to the proprietors your fond of game person ripped in is a dead shot in what cousin austin calls the kingdom of would have done and might have been up went the birds and cries rip i've forgotten to load oh ho rip some more claret do just leave that nose of yours alone your health ripped in thompson the birds hadn't the decency to wait for him and so person it's their fault and not rips you haven't a dozen brace at your feet what have you been doing at home cousin raidy playing hamlet in the absence of the prince of denmark the day without you my dear boy must be dull you know he speaks can i trust what he says is sincere there's an edge to his smile that cuts much like a sneer sandos poems you know the couplet mr raidy why shouldn't i quote sando you know you like him raidy but if you've missed me i'm sorry rip and i have had a beautiful day we've made new acquaintances we've seen the world i'm the monkey that has seen the world and i'm going to tell you all about it first there's a gentleman who takes a rifle for a fouling piece next there's a farmer who warns everybody gentleman and beggar off his premises next there's a tinker and a plowman who think that god is always fighting with the devil which shall command the kingdoms of the earth the tinkers forgot and the plowmen i'll drink your health ricky said adrian interrupting oh i forgot parson i mean no harm adrian i'm only telling what i've heard no harm my dear boy returned adrian i'm perfectly aware that zoraster is not dead you have been listening to a common drink the fire worshipers if you will here's to zoraster then cried richard i say rippy will drink the fire worshipers tonight won't we a fearful conspiratorial frown that would not have disgraced guido fox was darted back from the plastic features of master ripton richard gave his lungs loud play why what did you say about blazes rippy didn't you say it was fun another hideous and silencing frown was ripton's answer adrian matched the innocent youths and knew that there was talking under the table c thought he this boy has tasted his first scraggie morsel of life today and already he talks like an old stager and has if i mistake not been acting too my respected chief he apostrophized sir austin combustibles are only the more dangerous for compression this boy will be ravenous for earth when he is let loose and very soon make his share of it look as foolish as yonder game pie a prophecy adrian kept to himself uncle aljanon shambled in to see his nephew before the supper was finished and his more genial presence brought out a little of the plot look here uncle said richard would you let a cherlish old brute of a farmer strike you without making him suffer for it i fancy i should return the compliment my lad replied his uncle of course you would so would i and he shall suffer for it the boy looked savage and his uncle patted him down i've boxed his son i'll box him said richard shouting for more wine what boy is it old blaze has been putting you up never mind uncle the boy nodded mysteriously look there adrian read on ripton's face he says never mind and lets it out do we beat today uncle yes boy and we'd beat them any day they bolfair i'd beat them on one leg there's only watkins and feather dean among them worth of farthing we beat cries richard then we'll have some more wine and drink their health's the bell was rung wine ordered presently comes in heavy benson to say supplies are cut off one bottle and no more the captain whistled adrian shrugged the bottle however was procured by adrian subsequently he liked studying intoxicated urchins one subject was at richard's heart about which he was reserved in the midst of his riot too proud to inquire how his father had taken his absence he burned to hear whether he was in disgrace he led to it repeatedly and it was constantly evaded by aljanon and adrian at last when the boy declared a desire to wish his father good night adrian had to tell him that he was to go straight to bed from the supper table young richard's face fell at that and his gaiety foresook him he marched to his room without another word adrian gave sir austin an able version of his son's behavior and adventures dwelling upon this sudden tass eternity when he heard of his father's resolution not to see him the wise youth saw that his chief was modified behind his moveless mask and went to bed and horris leaving sir austin in his study long hours the baronette sat alone the house had not its usual influx of feverels that day austin wentworth was staying at pier hall and had only come over for an hour at midnight the house breathed sleep sir austin put on his cloak and cap and took the lamp to make his rounds he apprehended nothing special but with a mind never at rest he constituted himself the sentinel of renum he passed the chamber where the great aunt grant lee lay who was to swell richard's fortune and so perform her chief business on earth by her door he murmured good creature you sleep with a sense of duty done and paced on reflecting she has not made money a demon of discord and blessed her he had his thoughts at hippies his somnolent door and to them the world might have subscribed a monomaniac at large watching over sane people and slumber thinks adrian harley as he hears sir austin's footfall and truly that was a strange object to see where is the fortress that has not one week gait where the man who is sound at each particular angle i meditates the recumbent cynic more or less mad is not every mother's son favorable circumstances good air good company two or three good rules rigidly adhere to keep the world out of bedlam but let the world fly into a passion and is not bedlam the safest abode for it sir austin ascended the stairs and bent his steps leisurely toward the chamber where his son was lying in the left wing of the abbey at the end of the gallery which led to it he discovered a dim light doubting it an illusion sir austin accelerated his pace this wing had a four-time a bad character notwithstanding what years had done to polish it into fair repute the reynum kitchen stuck to tradition and preserved certain stories of ghosts seen there that effectually blackened it in the susceptible minds of new housemaids and under crooks whose fears would not allow the sinner to wash his sins sir austin had heard of the tales circulated by his domestics underground he cherished his own belief but discouraged theirs and it was treason at reynum to be caught reducing the left wing as the baronette advanced the fact of a light burning was clear to him a slight descent brought him into the passage and he beheld a poor human candle standing outside his son's chamber at the same moment a door closed hastily he entered richards room the boy was absent the bed was unpressed no clothes about nothing to show that he had been there that night sir austin felt vaguely apprehensive has he gone to my room to await me thought the father's heart something like a tear quivered in his arid eyes as he meditated and hoped this might be so his own sleeping room faced that of his son he strode to it with a quick heart it was empty alarm dislodged anger from his jealous heart and dread of evil put a thousand questions to him that were answered in air after pacing up and down his room he determined to go and ask the boy tomson as he called ripped in what was known to him the chamber assigned to master ripped in tomson was at the northern extremity of the passage and overlooked lobern and the valley to the west the bed stood between the window and the door six austin found the door a jar and the interior dark to his surprise the boy tomson's couch as revealed by the rays of his lamp was likewise vacant he was turning back when he fancied he heard the cibolation of a whispering in the room sir austin cloaked the lamp and trod silently toward the window the heads of his son richard and the boy tomson were seen crouched against the glass holding excited converse together sir austin listened but he listened to a language of which he possessed not the key their talk was a fire and of delay of expected agrarian astonishment of a farmer's a huge wrath of violence exercised upon gentlemen and a vengeance talk that the boys jerked out by fits and that came as broken links of a chain impossible to connect but they awake curiosity the baronet condescended to play the spy upon his son over lobern and the valley lay black knight and innumerable stars how jolly i feel exclaimed ripton inspired by claret and then after a luxurious pause i think that fellow has pocketed his guinea and cut his lucky richard allowed a long moment to pass during which the baronet waited anxiously for his voice hardly recognize it when he heard its altered tones if he has i'll go and i'll do it myself you would returned master ripton well i'm hanged i say if you went to school wouldn't you get into rouse perhaps he hasn't found the place where the box was stuck in i think he funks it i almost wish you hadn't done it upon my honore look there what was that that looked like something i say do you think we shall ever be found out master ripton in tone this abrupt interrogation verbs seriously i don't think about it said richard all his faculties bent on signs from lobern well but ripton persisted suppose we are found out if we are i must pay for it sir austin breathed the better for this reply he was beginning to gather a clue to the dialogue his son was engaged in a plot and was more over the leader of the plot he listened for further enlightenment what was the fellow's name inquired ripton his companion answered tom bakewell i'll tell you what continued ripton you let it all clean out to your cousin and uncle at supper how capital claret is with partridge pie what a lot i ate didn't you see me frown the young sensualist was in an ecstasy of gratitude to his late reflection and the slightest word recalled him to it richard answered him yes and felt your kick it doesn't matter radie safe and uncle never blabs well my plan is to keep it close you're never safe if you don't i never drank much claret before ripton was off again won't i now though claret's my wine you know it may come out any day and then we're done for he rather incongruously appended richard only took up the business thread of his friend's rambling chatter and answered you've got nothing to do with it if we are haven't i though i didn't stick in the box but i'm an accomplice that's clear besides added ripton do you think i should leave you to bear it all on your shoulders i ain't that sort of chap rickie i can tell you sir austin thought more highly of the boy thompson still it looked a detestable conspiracy and the altered manner of his son impressed him strangely he was not the boy of yesterday to sir austin it seemed as if a gulf had suddenly opened between them the boy had embarked and was on the waters of life in his own vessel it was as vain to call him back as to attempt to erase what time has written with the judgment blood this child for whom he had prayed nightly in such a fervor and humbleness to god the dangers were about him the temptations thick on him and the devil on board piloting if a day had done so much what would years do were prayers and all the watchfulness he had expended of no avail a sensation of infinite melancholy overcame the poor gentleman a thought that he was fighting with a fate in this beloved boy he was half disposed to arrest the two conspirators on the spot and make them confess and absolve themselves but it seemed to him better to keep an unseen eye over his son sir austin's old system prevailed adrian characterized the system well and saying that sir austin wished to be providence to his son if immeasurable love were perfect wisdom one human being might almost impersonate providence to another alas love divine as it is can do no more than lighten the house it inhabits must take its shape sometimes intensify its narrowness can spiritualize but not expel the old lifelong lodgers above stairs and below sir austin decided to continue quiescent the valley still lay black beneath the large autumnal stars and the exclamations of the boys were becoming fevered and impatient by and by one insisted that he had seen a twinkle the direction he gave was out of their anticipations again the twinkle was announced both boys started to their feet it was a twinkle in the right direction now he's done it cried richard in great heat now you may say old blaze will soon be old blazes rip i hope he's asleep i'm sure he's snoring look there he's a light fast enough he's dry he'll burn i say ripped and re-assumed the serious intonation do you think they'll ever suspect us what if they do we must brunt it of course we will but i say i wish you hadn't given them the scent though i like to look innocent i can't when i know people suspect me lord look there isn't it just beginning to flare up the farmers grounds were indeed gradually standing out in somber shadows i'll fetch my telescope said richard ripton somehow not liking to be left alone caught hold of him now don't go and lose the best of it here i'll throw open the window and we can see the window was flung open and the boys instantly stretched half their bodies out of it ripton appearing to devour the rising flames with his mouth richard with his eyes opaque and statuesque stood the figure of the baronet behind them the wind was low dense masses of smoke hung amid the darting snakes of fire and a red malign light was on the neighboring leafage no figures could be seen apparently the flames had nothing to contend against for they were making terrible strides into the darkness oh shouted richard overcome by excitement if i had my telescope we must have it let me go and fetch it i will the boys struggled together and sir austin stepped back as he did so a cry was heard in the passage he hurried out closed the chamber and came upon little claire lying senseless along the door end of chapter four chapter five the ordeal of richard feverell this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by rita butros the ordeal of richard feverell by george meredith chapter five in the morning that followed this night great gossip was interchanged between reynum and lobern the village told how former blaze of bellthorpe farm had his pick feloniously set fire to his stables had caught fire himself had been all but roasted alive in the attempt to rescue his cattle of which numbers had perished in the flames reynum counterbalanced arson with an authentic ghost seen by miss claire in the left wing of the abbey the ghost of a lady dressed in deep mourning a scar on her forehead and a bloody handkerchief at her breast frightful to behold and no wonder the child was frightened out of her wits and lay in a desperate state awaiting the arrival of the london doctors it was added that the servants had all threatened to leave in a body and that sir austin to appease them had promised to pull down the entire left wing like a gentleman for no decent creature said lobern could consent to live in a haunted house rumor for the nonce had a stronger spice of truth than usual poor little claire lay ill and the calamity that had befallen farmer blaze as regards his rick was not much exaggerated sir austin caused an account of it be given him at breakfast and appeared so scrupulously anxious to hear the exact extent of injury sustained by the farmer that heavy benson went down to inspect the scene mr benson returned and acting under adrian's malicious advice framed a formal report of the catastrophe in which the farmers breaches figured and certain cooling applications to a part of the farmers person sir austin perused it without a smile he took occasion to have it read out before the two boys who listened very demurely as to ordinary newspaper incident only when the report particularized the garments damaged and the unwanted distressing position farmer blaze was reduced to in his bed in decorous fit of sneezing laid hold of master ripped in thompson and richard bit his lip and burst into loud laughter ripped and joining him lost to consequences i trust you feel for this poor man said sir austin to his son somewhat sternly he saw no sign of feeling it was a difficult task for sir austin to keep his old countenance toward the hope of reynum knowing him the accomplice incendiary and believing the deed to have been unprovoked and wanton but he must do so he knew to let the boy have a fair trial against himself be it said moreover that the baronet's possession of his son's secret flattered him it allowed him to act and in a measure to feel like providence enabled him to observe and provide for the movements of creatures in the dark he therefore treated the boy as he commonly did and richard saw no change in his father to make him think he was suspected the youngsters game was not so easy against adrian adrian did not shoot or fish voluntarily he did nothing to work off the destructive nervous fluid or whatever it may be which is in man's nature so that two culprit boys once in his power were not likely to taste the gentle hand of mercy and richard and ripton paid for many a trout and partridge spared at every minute of the day ripped in was thrown into sweats of suspicion that discovery was imminent by some stray remark or message from adrian he was as a fish with the hook in his gills mysteriously caught without having nibbled and dive into what depths he would he was sensible of a summoning force that compelled him perpetually towards the gasping surface which he seemed inevitably approaching when the dinner bell sounded there the talk was all of farmer blaze if it dropped adrian revived it and his caressing way with ripton was just such as a keen sportsman feels towards the creature that had owned his skill and is making its appearance for the world to acknowledge the same sir austin saw the maneuvers and admired adrian's shrewdness but he had to check the young natural lawyer for the effect of so much mass examination upon richard was growing baneful this fish also felt the hook in his gills but this fish was more of a pike and lay in different waters where there were old stumps and black roots to wind about and defy alike strong pulling and delicate handling in other words richard showed symptoms of a disposition to take refuge in lies you know the grounds my dear boy adrian observed to him tell me do you think it easy to get to the rick unperceived i hear they suspect one of the farmers turned off hands i tell you i don't know the grounds richard sullenly replied not adrian counterfeited courteous astonishment i thought mr. thompson said you were over there yesterday ripped in glad to speak the truth hurriedly assured adrian that it was not he had said so not you had good sport gentlemen hadn't you oh yes mumble the wretched victims reddening as they remembered in adrian's slightly drolled rusticity of tone farmer blazes first addressed to them i suppose you were among the fire worshipers last night too persisted adrian in some countries i hear they manage their best sport at night time and beat up for game with torches it must be a fine sight after all the country would be dull if we hadn't a rip here and there to treat us to a little conflagration a rip laughed richard to his friends discussed an alarm at his daring you don't mean this rip do you mr. thompson fire a rick i should have soon suspect you my dear boy you are aware young gentleman that it is rather a serious thing eh in this country you know the landlord has always been the pet of the laws by the way adrian continued as if diverging to another topic you met two gentlemen of the road in your explorations yesterday magians now if i were a magistrate of the county like sir miles pap worth my suspicions would light upon those gentlemen a tinker and a plowman i think you said mr. thompson not well say two plowmen more likely two tinkers said richard oh if you wish to exclude the plowman was he out of employ ripton with adrian's eyes inveterately fixed on him stammered and affirmative the tinker or the plowmen the plow in genious ripton looking about as if to aid himself whenever he was able to speak the truth beheld richard's face blackening at him and swallowed back half the word the plowmen adrian took him up cheerily then we have here a plowman out of employ given a plowmen out of employ and a rick burnt the burning of a rick is an act of vengeance and a plowmen out of employ is a vengeful animal the rick and the plowmen are advancing to a juxtaposition motive being established we have only to prove their proximity at a certain hour and our plowmen voyages beyond seas is it transportation for rick burning inquired ripton aghast adrian spoke solemnly they shave your head you are manacled your diet is sour bread and cheese pairings you work in strings of 20s and 30s arson is branded on your backs in an enormous a theological works are the sole literary recreation of the well-conducted and deserving consider the fate of this poor fellow and what an act of vengeance brings him to do you know his name how should i know his name said richard with an assumption of innocence painful to see sir austin remarked that no doubt it would soon be known and adrian perceived that he was to quiet his line marveling a little at the baronet's blindness to what was so clear he would not tell for that would ruin his influence with richard still he wanted some present credit for his discernment and devotion the boys got away from dinner and after deep consultation agreed upon a course of conduct which was to commiserate with farmer blaze loudly and make themselves look as much like the public as it was possible for two young malefactors to look one of whom already felt adrian's enormous a devouring his back with the fierceness of the promethean eagle and isolating him forever from mankind adrian relished their novel tactics sharply and led them to lengths of lamentation for farmer blaze do what they might the hook was in their gills the farmers whip had reduced them to bodily contortions these were decorous compared with the spiritual writhings they had to perform under adrian's manipulation ripped in was fast becoming a coward and richard a liar when next morning austin wentworth came over from pier hall bringing news that one mr. thomas bakewell yeoman had been arrested on suspicion of the crime of arson and lodged in jail awaiting the magisterial pleasure of sir myles papworth austin's eye rested on richard as he spoke these terrible tidings the hope of reynum returned his look perfectly calm and had moreover the presence of mind not to look at ripped in end of chapter five chapter six the ordeal of richard feverell this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by rita butros the ordeal of richard feverell by george maradeth chapter six as soon as they could escape the boys got together into an obscure corner of the park and there took counsel of their extremity whatever shall we do now asked ripped in of his leader scorpion girt with fire was never in a more terrible prison house than poor ripped in around whom the raging element he had assisted to create seemed to be drawing momently narrower circles his only one chance said richard coming to a dead halt and folding his arms resolutely his comrade inquired with the utmost eagerness what that chance might be richard fixed his eyes on a flint and replied we must rescue that fellow from jail ripped engaged at his leader and fell back with astonishment my dear ricky but how are we to do it richard still perusing his flint replied we must manage to get a file into him and a rope it can be done i tell you i don't care what i pay i don't care what i do he must be got out bother that old blaze exclaimed ripped in taking off his cap to wipe his frenzied forehead and brought down his friends reproof never mind old blaze now talk about letting it out look at you i'm ashamed of you you talk about robin hood and king richard why you haven't an atom of courage why you let it out every second of the day whenever radi begins speaking you start i can see the perspiration rolling down you are you afraid and then you contradict yourself you never keep to one story now follow me we must risk everything to get him out mind that and keep out of adrian's way as much as you can and keep to one story with these sage directions the young leader marched his companion culprit down to inspect the jail where tom bakewell lay groaning over the results of the super mundane conflict and the victim of it that he was in low burn austin wentworth had the reputation of the poor man's friend a title he earned more largely ere he went to the reward god alone can give to that supreme virtue dame bakewell the mother of tom on hearing of her son's arrest had run to comfort him and render him what help she could but this was only size and tears and oh deary me which only perplexed poor tom who bad her leave an unlucky chap to his fate and not make himself a thundering villain where at the dame begged him to take heart and he should have a true comforter and though it's a gentleman that's coming to you tom for he never refuses a poor body said mrs bakewell it's a true christian tom and the lord knows if the sight of him may not be the saving of you for he's light to look on and a sermon to listen to he is tom was not pre-possessed by the prospect of a sermon and looked a sullen dog enough when austin entered his cell he was surprised at the end of half an hour to find himself engaged in man-to-man conversation with a gentleman and a christian when austin rose to go tom begged permission to shake his hand take and tell young master up at the abbey that i ain't the chap to peach he'll know he's a young gentleman as will make any man do as he wants him he's a mortal wild young gentleman and i'm an ass that's where it is but i ain't a black guard tell him that sir this was how it came that austin eyed young richard seriously while he told the news at rainham the boy was shy of austin more than of adrian why he did not know but he made it a hard task for austin to catch him alone and turned sulky that instant austin was not clever like adrian he seldom divined other people's ideas and always went the direct road to his object so instead of beating about and setting the boy on the alert at all points crammed to the muzzle with lies he just said tom bakewell told me to let you know he does not intend to peach on you and left him richard repeated the intelligence to ripton who cried aloud that tom was a brick he shan't suffer for it said richard and pondered on a thicker rope and sharper file but will your cousin tell was ripton's reflection he richard's lip expressed contempt a plowman refuses to peach and you ask if one of our family will ripton stood for the 20th time reproved on this point the boys had examined the outer walls of the jail and arrived at the conclusion that tom's escape might be managed if tom had spirit and the rope and file could be anyway reached to him but to do this somebody must gain admittance to his cell and who was to be taken into their confidence try your cousin ripped and suggested after much debate richard smiling wished to know if he meant adrian no no ripped and hurriedly reassured him austin the same idea was knocking at richard's head let's get the rope and file first said he and to berkeley they went for those implements to defeat the law ripped in procuring the file at one shop and richard the rope at another with such masterly cunning did they lay their measures for the avoidance of every possible chance of detection and better to assure this in a wood outside berkeley richard stripped to his shirt and wound the rope round his body tasting the tortures of anchorites and penitential friars that nothing should be risked to make tom's escape a certainty sir austin saw the marks at night as his son lay asleep through the half-opened folds of his bedgown it was a severe stroke when after all their stratagems and trouble austin wentworth refused the office the boys had zealously designed for him time pressed in a few days poor tom would have to face the redoubtable sir miles and get committed for rumors of overwhelming evidence to convict him were rife about low burn and farmer blaze's wrath was unappeasable again and again young richard begged his cousin not to see him disgraced and to help him in this extremity austin smiled on him my dear ricky said he there are two ways of getting out of a scrape a long way and a short way when you've tried the roundabout method and failed come to me and i'll show you the straight route richard was too entirely bent upon the roundabout method to consider this advice more than empty words and only ground his teeth at austin's unkind refusal he imparted to ripton at the eleventh hour that they must do it themselves to which ripped in heavily assented on the day preceding poor tom's doomed appearance before the magistrate dame bakewell had an interview with austin who went to rein him immediately and sought adrian's counsel upon what was to be done homeric laughter and nothing else could be got out of adrian when he heard of the doings of these desperate boys how they had entered dame bakewell's smallest of retail shops and purchased tea sugar candles and comfits of every description till the shop was clear of customers how they had then hurried her into her little back parlor where richard had torn open his shirt and revealed the coils of rope and ripped and displayed the point of a file from a serpentine recess in his jacket how they had then told the astonished woman that the rope she saw and the file she saw were instruments for the liberation of her son that there existed no other means on earth to save him they the boys having unsuccessfully attempted all how upon that richard had tried with the utmost earnestness to persuade her to disrobe and wind the rope round her own person and ripped in had aired his eloquence to induce her to secrete the file how when she resolutely objected to the rope both boys began backing the file and in an evil hour she feared said dame bakewell she had rewarded the gracious permission given her by surmiles papworth to visit her son by tempting tom to file the law though thanks be to the lord dame bakewell added tom had turned up his nose at the file and so she had told young master richard who swore very bad for a young gentleman boys are like monkeys remarked adrian at the close of his explosions the gravest actors of farcical nonsense that the world possesses may i never be where there are no boys a couple of boys left to themselves will furnish richer fun than any troop of trained comedians no no art arrives at the artlessness of nature in matters of comedy you can't simulate the ape your antics are dull they haven't the charming inconsequence of the natural animal lack at these two think of the shifts they are put to all day long they know i know all about it and yet their serenity of innocence is all but unruffled in my presence you're sorry to think about the end of the business austin so am i i dread the idea of the curtain going down besides it will do ricky a world of good a practical lesson is the best lesson sinks deepest said austin but whether he learns good or evil from it is the question at stake adrian stretched his length at ease this will be his first nibble at experience old times fruit hateful to the palette of youth for which season only half it any nourishment experience you know collages capital simile mournful you call it well all wisdom is mournful tis therefore cause that the wise do love the comic muse their own high food would kill them you shall find great poets rare philosophers night after night on the broad grin before a row of yellow lights and mouthing masks why because all's dark at home the stage is the pastime of great minds that's how it comes that the stage is now down an age of rampant little minds my dear austin how i hate that can't of yours about an age of work you and your mortons and your parson's bronley rank radicals all of you base materialists what does diaper sandals sing of your age of work listen an age of betty tit for tat an age of busy gabel an age that's like a brewer's vat fermenting for the rabble an age that's chased in love but lacks to virtuous abuses whose gentlemen and ladies wax too dainty for their uses an age that drives an iron horse of time and space defiant exulting in a giant's force and trembling at the giant an age of quaker hue and cut by mammon miss begotten see the mad hamlet mouth and strut and mark the kings of cotton from this unrest low early wrecked a future stagger's crazy ophelia of the age's decked with woeful weed and daisy murmuring get your parson bronley to answer that adrian changed the resting place of a leg and smiled the age was an old battlefield between him and austin my parson bronley as you call him has answered it said austin not by hoping his best which would probably leave the age to go mad to your satisfaction but by doing it and he has and will answer your diaper sandal in better verse as he confused him in a better life you don't see sandals depth adrian replied consider that phrase ophelia of the ages is not bronley like a dozen other leading spirits i think that's your term just the metaphysical hamlet to drive her mad she poor maid asks for marriage and smiling babes while my lord lover stands questioning the infinite and rants to the impalpable austin laughed marriage and smiling babes she would have an abundance if bronley legislated wait till you know him he will be over at pear hall shortly and you will see what a man of the age means but now pray consult with me about these boys oh those boys adrian tossed a hand are their boys of the age as well as men not then boys are better than men boys are for all ages what do you think austin they've been studying latudes escape i found the book open in ricky's room on the top of jonathan wild jonathan preserved the secrets of his profession and taught them nothing so they're going to make a latitude of mr tom bakewell he's to be best steel bakewell whether he will or no let them let the wild colt run free we can't help them we can only look on we should spoil the play adrian always made a point of feeding the fretful beast in patients with pleasantries a not congenial diet and austin the most patient of human beings began to lose his self-control you talk as if time belonged to you adrian we have but a few hours left us work first and joke afterwards the boys fate is being decided now so is everybody's my dear austin yawned the epicurean yes but this boy is at present under our guardianship under yours especially not yet not yet adrian interjected languidly no getting into scrapes when i have him the leash young hound the collar young colt i'm perfectly irresponsible at present you may have something different to deal with when you are responsible if you think that i take my young prince as i find him cause a julian or a caracalla a constantine or a nero then if he will play the fiddle to a conflagration he shall play well if he must be a disputatious epistate at any rate he shall understand logic and men and have the habit of saying his prayers then you leave me to act alone said austin rising without a single curb adrian gesticulated an acquiesced withdrawal i'm sure you would not still more certain you cannot do harm and be mindful of my prophetic words whatever's done old blaze will have to be bought off there's the affair settled at once i suppose i must go to the chief tonight and settle it myself we can't see this poor devil condemned though it's nonsense to talk of a boy being the prime instigator austin cast an eye at the complacent langer of the wise youth his cousin and the little that he knew of his fellows told him he might talk forever here and not be comprehended the wise youths two ears were stuffed with his own wisdom one evil only adrian dreaded it was clear the action of the law as he was moving away adrian called out to him stop austin there don't be anxious you invariably take the glum side i've done something never mind what if you go down to belthorpe be civil but not obsequious you remember the tactics of sypio africanus against the punic elephants well don't say a word in nine ear cause i've turned master blaze's elephants if they charge to buy a faint and back to the destruction of his serried ranks you understand not well tis is well only let none say that i sleep if i must see him tonight i go down knowing he has not got us in his power the wise youth yawned and stretched out a hand for any book that might be within his reach austin left him to look about the grounds for richard end of chapter six chapter seven the ordeal of richard feverell this is a libravox recording all libravox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by rita butros the ordeal of richard feverell by george meredith chapter seven a little laurel shaded temple of white marble looked out on the river from a knoll bordering the rain and beachwoods and was dubbed by adrian daphne's bower to this spot richard had retired and there austin found him with his head buried in his hands a picture of desperation whose last shift has been defeated he allowed austin to greet him and sit by him without lifting his head perhaps his eyes were not presentable where's your friend austin began gone was the answer sounding cavernous from behind hair and fingers an explanation presently followed that a summons had come for him in the morning for mr tomson and that mr ripton had departed against his will in fact ripton had protested that he would defy his parent and remain by his friend in the hour of adversity and at the post of danger sir austin signified his opinion that a boy should obey his parent by giving orders to benson for ripton's box to be packed and ready before noon and ripton's alacrity in taking the baronet's view of filial duty was as little feigned as his offer to richard to throw filial duty to the winds he rejoiced that the fates had agreed to remove him from the very hot neighborhood of low burn while he grieved like an honest lad to see his comrade left to face calamity alone the boys parted amicably as they could hardly fail to do when ripton had sworn fealty to the feverals with a warmth that made him declare himself bond and due to appear at any stated hour and at any stated place to fight all the farmers in england on a mandate from the air of the house so you're left alone said austin contemplating the boy's shapely head i'm glad of it we never know what's in us till we stand by ourselves there appear to be no answer forthcoming vanity however replied at last he wasn't much support remember his good points now he's gone ricky oh he was staunch the boy grumbled and a staunch friend is not always to be found now have you tried your own way of rectifying this business ricky i have done everything and failed there was a pause and then the deep tone division tom bakewell's a coward i suppose poor fellow said austin in his kind way he doesn't want to get into a deeper mess i don't think he's a coward he is a coward cried richard do you think if i had a file i would stay in prison i'd be out the first night and he might have had the rope too a rope thick enough for a couple of men his size and weight ripped in an eye and ned markham swung on it for an hour and it didn't give way he's a coward and deserves his fate i've no compassion for a coward nor i much said austin richard had raised his head in the heat of his denunciation of poor tom he would have hidden it had he known the thought in austin's clear eyes while he faced them i never met a coward myself austin continued i have heard of one or two one let an innocent man die for him how base exclaimed the boy yes it was bad austin acquiesced bad richard scorned the poor contempt how i would have spurned him he was a coward i believe he pleaded the feelings of his family and his excuse and tried every means to get the man off i have read also in the confessions of a celebrated philosopher that in his youth he committed some act of pilfering and accused a young servant girl of his own theft who was condemned and dismissed for it pardoning her guilty accuser what a coward shouted richard and he confessed it publicly you may read it yourself he actually wrote it down and printed it you have the book in your father's library would you have done so much richard faltered no he admitted that he never could have told people then who is to call that man a coward said austin he expiated his cowardice as all who give way in moments of weakness and are not cowards must do the coward chooses to think god does not see i shall escape he who is not a coward and has succumbed knows that god has seen all and it is not so hard to task for him to make his heart bear to the world worse i should fancy it to know myself an imposter when men praised me young richard's eyes were wandering on austin's gravely cheerful face a keen intentness suddenly fixed them and he dropped his head so i think you're wrong ricky in calling this poor tom a coward because he refuses to try your means of escape austin resumed a coward hardly objects to dragon his accomplice and where the person involves belongs to a great family it seems to me that for a poor plow lad to volunteer not to do so speaks him anything but a coward richard was dumb altogether to surrender his rope and file was a fearful sacrifice after all the time trepidation and study he had spent on those two saving instruments if he avowed tom's manly behavior richard feverell was in a totally new position whereas by keeping tom a coward richard feverell was the injured one and to seem injured is always a luxury sometimes a necessity whether among boys or men in austin the magian conflict would not have lasted long he had but a blind notion of the fierceness with which it raged in young richard happily for the boy austin was not a preacher a single instance a cant phrase a fatherly manner might have wrecked him by arousing ancient or latent opposition the born preacher we feel instinctively to be our foe he may do some good to the wretches that have been struck down and lie gasping on the battlefield he rouses antagonism in the strong richard's nature left to itself wanted a little more than an indication of the proper track and when he said tell me what i can do austin he had fought the best half of the battle his voice was subdued austin put his hand on the boy's shoulder you must go down to farmer blaze well said richard sullenly divining the deed of penance you'll know what to say to him when you're there the boy bit his lip and frowned ask a favor of that big brute austin i can't just tell him the whole case and that you don't intend to stand by and let the poor fellow suffer without a friend to help him out of his scrape but austin the boy pleaded i shall have to ask him to help off tom bakewell how can i ask him when i hate him austin bad him go and think nothing of the consequences till he got there richard groaned in soul you've no pride austin perhaps not you don't know what it is to ask a favor of a brute you hate richard stuck to that view of the case and stuck to it the faster the more imperatively the urgency of a movement dawned upon him why continued the boy i shall hardly be able to keep my fists off him surely you've punished him enough boy said austin he struck me richard's lip quivered he dare not come at me with his hands he struck me with a whip he'll be telling everybody that he horse whipped me and that i went down and begged his pardon begged his pardon a feverell beg his pardon oh if i had my will the man earns his bread ricky you poached on his grounds he turned you off and you fired his rick and i'll pay him for his loss and i won't do anymore because you won't ask a favor of him no i will not ask a favor of him austin looked at the boy steadily you prefer to receive a favor from poor tom bakewell at austin's enunciation of this obverse view of the matter richard raised his brow dimly a new light broke in upon him favor from tom bakewell the plowman how do you mean austin to save yourself an unpleasantness you permit a country lad to sacrifice himself for you i confess i should not have so much pride pride shouted richard stung by the taunt and set his sight hard at the blue ridges of the hills not knowing for the moment what else to do austin drew a picture of tom in prison and repeated tom's volunteer statement the picture though his intentions were far from designing it so had to richard whose perception of humor was infinitely keener a horrible chaw bacon smack about it visions of a grinning lout open from ear to ear unkempt course splay-footed rose before him and afflicted him with the strangest sensations of disgust and comicality mixed up with pity and remorse a sort of twisted pathos there lay tom hobnail tom a bacon munching reckless beer-swilling animal and yet a man a dear brave human heart not withstanding capable of devotion and unselfishness the boy's better spirit was touched and it kindled his imagination to realize the abject figure of poor claud pole tom and surrounded with a halo of mournful light his soul was alive feelings he had never known streamed in upon him as from an ethereal casement and unwanted tenderness and embracing humor a consciousness of some ineffable glory and irradiation of the features of humanity all this was in the bosom of the boy and through it all the vision of an actual hobnail tom course unkempt open from ear to ear whose presence was a finger of shame to him and an oppression of claud pole yet toward whom he felt just then a loving kindness beyond what he felt for any living creature he laughed at him and wept over him he prized him while he shrank from him it was a genial strife of the angel in him with constituents less divine but the angel was uppermost and led the van extinguished loathing humanized laughter transfigured pride pride that would persistently contemplate the corduroy's of gaping tom and cry to richard in the very tone of adrian's ironic voice behold your benefactor austin sat by the boy unaware of the sublimer tumult he had stirred little of it was perceptible in richard's countenance the lines of his mouth were slightly drawn his eyes hard set into the distance he remained thus many minutes finally he jumped to his legs saying i'll go at once to old blaze and tell him austin grasped his hand and together they issued out of daffney's bower in the direction of low burn end of chapter seven