Chapter26

philiphadspentthreemonthsinheidelbergwhenonemorningthefrauprofessortoldhimthatanenglishmannamedhaywardwascomingtostayinthehouse,andthesameeveningatsupperhesawanewface.forsomedaysthefamilyhadlivedinastateofexcitement.first,astheresultofheavenknowswhatscheming,bydintofhumbleprayersandveiledthreats,theparentsoftheyoungenglishmantowhomfrauleintheklawasengagedhadinvitedhertovisittheminengland,andshehadsetoffwithanalbumofwatercolourstoshowhowaccomplishedshewasandabundleofletterstoprovehowdeeplytheyoungmanhadcompromisedhimself.aweeklaterfrauleinhedwigwithradiantsmilesannouncedthatthelieutenantofheraffectionswascomingtoheidelbergwithhisfatherandmother.exhaustedbytheimportunityoftheirsonandtouchedbythedowrywhichfrauleinhedwig’sfatheroffered,thelieutenant’sparentshadconsentedtopassthroughheidelbergtomaketheyoungwoman’sacquaintance.theinterviewwassatisfactoryandfrauleinhedwighadthesatisfactionofshowingherloverinthestadtgartentothewholeoffrauprofessorerlin’shousehold.thesilentoldladieswhosatatthetopofthetablenearthefrauprofessorwereinaflutter,andwhenfrauleinhedwigsaidshewastogohomeatoncefortheformalengagementtotakeplace,thefrauprofessor,regardlessofexpense,saidshewouldgiveamaibowle.professorerlinpridedhimselfonhisskillinpreparingthismildintoxicant,andaftersupperthelargebowlofhockandsoda,withscentedherbsfloatinginitandwildstrawberries,wasplacedwithsolemnityontheroundtableinthedrawing-room.frauleinannateasedphilipaboutthedepartureofhislady-love,andhefeltveryuncomfortableandrathermelancholy.frauleinhedwigsangseveralsongs,frauleinannaplayedtheweddingmarch,andtheprofessorsangdiewachtamrhein.amidallthisjollificationphilippaidlittleattentiontothenewarrival.theyhadsatoppositeoneanotheratsupper,butphilipwaschatteringbusilywithfrauleinhedwig,andthestranger,knowingnogerman,hadeatenhisfoodinsilence.philip,observingthatheworeapalebluetie,hadonthataccounttakenasuddendisliketohim.hewasamanoftwenty-six,veryfair,withlong,wavyhairthroughwhichhepassedhishandfrequentlywithacarelessgesture.hiseyeswerelargeandblue,butthebluewasverypale,andtheylookedrathertiredalready.hewasclean-shaven,andhismouth,notwithstandingitsthinlips,waswell-shaped.frauleinannatookaninterestinphysiognomy,andshemadephilipnoticeafterwardshowfinelyshapedwashisskull,andhowweakwasthelowerpartofhisface.thehead,sheremarked,wastheheadofathinker,butthejawlackedcharacter.frauleinanna,foredoomedtoaspinster’slife,withherhighcheek-bonesandlargemisshapennose,laidgreatstressuponcharacter.whiletheytalkedofhimhestoodalittleapartfromtheothers,watchingthenoisypartywithagood-humouredbutfaintlysuperciliousexpression.hewastallandslim.heheldhimselfwithadeliberategrace.weeks,oneoftheamericanstudents,seeinghimalone,wentupandbegantotalktohim.thepairwereoddlycontrasted:theamericanveryneatinhisblackcoatandpepper-and-salttrousers,thinanddried-up,withsomethingofecclesiasticalunctionalreadyinhismanner;andtheenglishmaninhisloosetweedsuit,large-limbedandslowofgesture.

philipdidnotspeaktothenewcomertillnextday.theyfoundthemselvesaloneonthebalconyofthedrawing-roombeforedinner.haywardaddressedhim.

“you’reenglish,aren’tyou?”  “yes.”

“isthefoodalwaysasbaditwaslastnight?”

“it’salwaysaboutthesame.”

“beastly,isn’tit?”

“beastly.”

philiphadfoundnothingwrongwiththefoodatall,andinfacthadeatenitinlargequantitieswithappetiteandenjoyment,buthedidnotwanttoshowhimselfapersonofsolittlediscriminationastothinkadinnergoodwhichanotherthoughtexecrable.

frauleinthekla’svisittoenglandmadeitnecessaryforhersistertodomoreinthehouse,andshecouldnotoftensparethetimeforlongwalks;andfrauleincacilie,withherlongplaitoffairhairandherlittlesnub-nosedface,hadoflateshownacertaindisinclinationforsociety.frauleinhedwigwasgone,andweeks,theamericanwhogenerallyaccompaniedthemontheirrambles,hadsetoutforatourofsouthgermany.philipwasleftagooddealtohimself.haywardsoughthisacquaintance;butphiliphadanunfortunatetrait:fromshynessorfromsomeatavisticinheritanceofthecave-dweller,healwaysdislikedpeopleonfirstacquaintance;anditwasnottillhebecameusedtothemthathegotoverhisfirstimpression.itmadehimdifficultofaccess.hereceivedhayward’sadvancesveryshyly,andwhenhaywardaskedhimonedaytogoforawalkheacceptedonlybecausehecouldnotthinkofacivilexcuse.hemadehisusualapology,angrywithhimselffortheflushingcheekshecouldnotcontrol,andtryingtocarryitoffwithalaugh.

“i’mafraidican’twalkveryfast.”

“goodheavens,idon’twalkforawager.iprefertostroll.don’tyourememberthechapterinmariuswherepatertalksofthegentleexerciseofwalkingasthebestincentivetoconversation?”

philipwasagoodlistener;thoughheoftenthoughtofcleverthingstosay,itwasseldomtillaftertheopportunitytosaythemhadpassed;buthaywardwascommunicative;anyonemoreexperiencedthanphilipmighthavethoughthelikedtohearhimselftalk.hissuperciliousattitudeimpressedphilip.hecouldnothelpadmiring,andyetbeingawedby,amanwhofaintlydespisedsomanythingswhichphiliphadlookeduponasalmostsacred.hecastdownthefetishofexercise,damningwiththecontemptuouswordpot-huntersallthosewhodevotedthemselvestoitsvariousforms;andphilipdidnotrealisethathewasmerelyputtingupinitssteadtheotherfetishofculture.

theywandereduptothecastle,andsatontheterracethatoverlookedthetown.itnestledinthevalleyalongthepleasantneckarwithacomfortablefriendliness.thesmokefromthechimneyshungoverit,apalebluehaze;andthetallroofs,thespiresofthechurches,gaveitapleasantlymedievalair.therewasahomelinessinitwhichwarmedtheheart.haywardtalkedofrichardfeverelandmadamebovary,ofverlaine,dante,andmatthewarnold.inthosedaysfitzgerald’stranslationofomarkhayyamwasknownonlytotheelect,andhaywardrepeatedittophilip.hewasveryfondofrecitingpoetry,hisownandthatofothers,whichhedidinamonotonoussing-song.bythetimetheyreachedhomephilip’sdistrustofhaywardwaschangedtoenthusiasticadmiration.

theymadeapracticeofwalkingtogethereveryafternoon,andphiliplearnedpresentlysomethingofhayward’scircumstances.hewasthesonofacountryjudge,onwhosedeathsometimebeforehehadinheritedthreehundredayear.hisrecordatcharterhousewassobrilliantthatwhenhewenttocambridgethemasteroftrinityhallwentoutofhiswaytoexpresshissatisfactionthathewasgoingtothatcollege.hepreparedhimselfforadistinguishedcareer.hemovedinthemostintellectualcircles:hereadbrowningwithenthusiasmandturneduphiswell-shapednoseattennyson;heknewallthedetailsofshelley’streatmentofharriet;hedabbledinthehistoryofart(onthewallsofhisroomswerereproductionsofpicturesbyg.f.watts,burne-jones,andbotticelli);andhewrotenotwithoutdistinctionversesofapessimisticcharacter.hisfriendstoldoneanotherthathewasamanofexcellentgifts,andhelistenedtothemwillinglywhentheyprophesiedhisfutureeminence.incourseoftimehebecameanauthorityonartandliterature.hecameundertheinfluenceofnewman’sapologia;thepicturesquenessoftheromancatholicfaithappealedtohisestheticsensibility;anditwasonlythefearofhisfather’swrath(aplain,bluntmanofnarrowideas,whoreadmacaulay)whichpreventedhimfrom‘goingover.’whenheonlygotapassdegreehisfriendswereastonished;butheedhisshouldersanddelicatelyinsinuatedthathewasnotthedupeofexaminers.hemadeonefeelthatafirstclasswaseversoslightlyvulgar.hedescribedoneofthevivaswithtoleranthumour;somefellowinanoutrageouscollarwasaskinghimquestionsinlogic;itwasinfinitelytedious,andsuddenlyhenoticedthatheworeelastic-sidedboots:itwasgrotesqueandridiculous;sohewithdrewhismindandthoughtofthegothicbeautyofthechapelatking’s.buthehadspentsomedelightfuldaysatcambridge;hehadgivenbetterdinnersthananyoneheknew;andtheconversationinhisroomshadbeenoftenmemorable.hequotedtophiliptheexquisiteepigram:

“theytoldme,herakleitus,theytoldmeyouweredead.”

andnow,whenherelatedagainthepicturesquelittleanecdoteabouttheexaminerandhisboots,helaughed.

“ofcourseitwasfolly,”hesaid,“butitwasafollyinwhichtherewassomethingfine.”

philip,withalittlethrill,thoughtitmagnificent.

thenhaywardwenttolondontoreadforthebar.hehadcharmingroomsinclement’sinn,withpanelledwalls,andhetriedtomakethemlooklikehisoldroomsatthehall.hehadambitionsthatwerevaguelypolitical,hedescribedhimselfasawhig,andhewasputupforaclubwhichwasofliberalbutgentlemanlyflavour.hisideawastopractiseatthebar(hechosethechancerysideaslessbrutal),andgetaseatforsomepleasantconstituencyassoonasthevariouspromisesmadehimwerecarriedout;meanwhilehewentagreatdealtotheopera,andmadeacquaintancewithasmallnumberofcharmingpeoplewhoadmiredthethingsthatheadmired.hejoinedadining-clubofwhichthemottowas,thewhole,thegood,andthebeautiful.heformedaplatonicfriendshipwithaladysomeyearsolderthanhimself,wholivedinkensingtonsquare;andnearlyeveryafternoonhedrankteawithherbythelightofshadedcandles,andtalkedofgeorgemeredithandwalterpater.itwasnotoriousthatanyfoolcouldpasstheexaminationsofthebarcouncil,andhepursuedhisstudiesinadilatoryfashion.whenhewasploughedforhisfinalhelookeduponitasapersonalaffront.atthesametimetheladyinkensingtonsquaretoldhimthatherhusbandwascominghomefromindiaonleave,andwasaman,thoughworthyineveryway,ofacommonplacemind,whowouldnotunderstandayoungman’sfrequentvisits.haywardfeltthatlifewasfullofugliness,hissoulrevoltedfromthethoughtofaffrontingagainthecynicismofexaminers,andhesawsomethingrathersplendidinkickingawaytheballwhichlayathisfeet.hewasalsoagooddealindebt:itwasdifficulttoliveinlondonlikeagentlemanonthreehundredayear;andhisheartyearnedfortheveniceandflorencewhichjohnruskinhadsomagicallydescribed.hefeltthathewasunsuitedtothevulgarbustleofthebar,forhehaddiscoveredthatitwasnotsufficienttoputyournameonadoortogetbriefs;andmodernpoliticsseemedtolacknobility.hefelthimselfapoet.hedisposedofhisroomsinclement’sinnandwenttoitaly.hehadspentawinterinflorenceandawinterinrome,andnowwaspassinghissecondsummerabroadingermanysothathemightreadgoetheintheoriginal.

haywardhadonegiftwhichwasveryprecious.hehadarealfeelingforliterature,andhecouldimparthisownpassionwithanadmirablefluency.hecouldthrowhimselfintosympathywithawriterandseeallthatwasbestinhim,andthenhecouldtalkabouthimwithunderstanding.philiphadreadagreatdeal,buthehadreadwithoutdiscriminationeverythingthathehappenedtocomeacross,anditwasverygoodforhimnowtomeetsomeonewhocouldguidehistaste.heborrowedbooksfromthesmalllendinglibrarywhichthetownpossessedandbeganreadingallthewonderfulthingsthathaywardspokeof.hedidnotreadalwayswithenjoymentbutinvariablywithperseverance.hewaseagerforself-improvement.hefelthimselfveryignorantandveryhumble.bytheendofaugust,whenweeksreturnedfromsouthgermany,philipwascompletelyunderhayward’sinfluence.haywarddidnotlikeweeks.hedeploredtheamerican’sblackcoatandpepper-and-salttrousers,andspokewithascornfulshrugofhisnewenglandconscience.philiplistenedcomplacentlytotheabuseofamanwhohadgoneoutofhiswaytobekindtohim,butwhenweeksinhisturnmadedisagreeableremarksabouthaywardhelosthistemper.

“yournewfriendlookslikeapoet,”saidweeks,

withathinsmileonhiscareworn,bittermouth.

“heisapoet.”

“didhetellyouso?inamericaweshouldcallhimaprettyfairspecimenofawaster.”

“well,we’renotinamerica,”saidphilipfrigidly.

“howoldishe?twenty-five?andhedoesnothingbutstayinpensionsandwritepoetry.”

“youdon’tknowhim,”saidphiliphotly.

“ohyes,ido:i’vemetahundredandforty-sevenofhim.”

weeks’eyestwinkled,butphilip,whodidnotunderstandamericanhumour,pursedhislipsandlookedsevere.weekstophilipseemedamanofmiddleage,buthewasinpointoffactlittlemorethanthirty.hehadalong,thinbodyandthescholar’sstoop;hisheadwaslargeandugly;hehadpalescantyhairandanearthyskin;histhinmouthandthin,longnose,andthegreatprotuberanceofhisfrontalbones,gavehimanuncouthlook.hewascoldandpreciseinhismanner,abloodlessman,withoutpassion;buthehadacuriousveinoffrivolitywhichdisconcertedtheserious-mindedamongwhomhisinstinctsnaturallythrewhim.hewasstudyingtheologyinheidelberg,buttheothertheologicalstudentsofhisownnationalitylookeduponhimwithsuspicion.hewasveryunorthodox,whichfrightenedthem;andhisfreakishhumourexcitedtheirdisapproval.

“howcanyouhaveknownahundredandforty-sevenofhim?”askedphilipseriously.

“i’vemethiminthelatinquarterinparis,andi’vemethiminpensionsinberlinandmunich.helivesinsmallhotelsinperugiaandassisi.hestandsbythedozenbeforethebotticellisinflorence,andhesitsonallthebenchesofthesistinechapelinrome.initalyhedrinksalittletoomuchwine,andingermanyhedrinksagreatdealtoomuchbeer.healwaysadmirestherightthingwhatevertherightthingis,andoneofthesedayshe’sgoingtowriteagreatwork.thinkof

it,thereareahundredandforty-sevengreatworksreposinginthebosomsofahundredandforty-sevengreatmen,andthetragicthingisthatnotoneofthosehundredandforty-sevengreatworkswilleverbewritten.andyettheworldgoeson.”

weeksspokeseriously,buthisgrayeyestwinkledalittleattheendofhislongspeech,andphilipflushedwhenhesawthattheamericanwasmakingfunofhim.

“youdotalkrot,”hesaidcrossly.