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night； four days after joining company； they reached the village of
Dowdenhame。 All day long the road had lain through pastureland； with
thick green hedges and heavily feathered elms。 Once or twice they
had broken the monotony by a stretch along the towing…path of a
canal； which； choked with water…lily plants and shining weeds；
brooded sluggishly beside the fields。 Nature； in one of her ironic
moods； had cast a grey and iron…hard cloak over all the country's
bland luxuriance。 From dawn till darkness fell there had been no
movement in the steely distant sky； a cold wind ruffed in the hedge…
tops； and sent shivers through the branches of the elms。 The cattle；
dappled； pied； or bay； or white； continued grazing with an air of
grumbling at their birthright。 In a meadow close to the canal
Shelton saw five magpies； and about five o'clock the rain began； a
steady； coldly…sneering rain； which Crocker； looking at the sky；
declared was going to be over in a minute。 But it was not over in a
minute； they were soon drenched。 Shelton was tired； and it annoyed
him very much that his companion； who was also tired； should grow
more cheerful。 His thoughts kept harping upon Ferrand： 〃This must be
something like what he described to me； tramping on and on when
you're dead…beat； until you can cadge up supper and a bed。〃 And
sulkily he kept on ploughing through the mud with glances at the
exasperating Crocker； who had skinned one heel and was limping
horribly。 It suddenly came home to him that life for three quarters
of the world meant physical exhaustion every day； without a
possibility of alternative； and that as soon as； for some cause
beyond control； they failed thus to exhaust themselves； they were
reduced to beg or starve。 〃And then we； who don't know the meaning
of the word exhaustion； call them 'idle scamps；'〃 he said aloud。
It was past nine and dark when they reached Dowdenhame。 The street
yielded no accommodation； and while debating where to go they passed
the church； with a square tower； and next to it a house which was
certainly the parsonage。
〃Suppose；〃 said Crocker； leaning on his arms upon the gate； 〃we ask
him where to go〃； and； without waiting for Shelton's answer； he rang
the bell。
The door was opened by the parson； a bloodless and clean…shaven man；
whose hollow cheeks and bony hands suggested a perpetual struggle。
Ascetically benevolent were his grey eyes； a pale and ghostly smile
played on the curves of his thin lips。
〃What can I do for you？〃 he asked。 〃Inn？ yes； there's the Blue
Chequers； but I 'm afraid you 'll find it shut。 They 're early
people； I 'm glad to say〃； and his eyes seemed to muse over the
proper fold for these damp sheep。 〃Are you Oxford men； by any
chance？〃 he asked； as if that might throw some light upon the matter。
〃Of Mary's？ Really！ I'm of Paul's myself。 LadymanBillington
Ladyman； you might remember my youngest brother。 I could give you a
room here if you could manage without sheets。 My housekeeper has two
days' holiday； she's foolishly taken the keys。〃
Shelton accepted gladly； feeling that the intonation in the parson's
voice was necessary unto his calling； and that he did not want to
patronise。
〃You 're hungry； I expect； after your tramp。 I'm very much afraid
there 'sernothing in the house but bread； I could boil you water；
hot lemonade is better than nothing。
Conducting them into the kitchen； he made a fire； and put a kettle on
to boil； then； after leaving them to shed their soaking clothes；
returned with ancient； greenish coats； some carpet slippers； and some
blankets。 Wrapped in these； and carrying their glasses； the
travellers followed to the study； where； by doubtful lamp…light； he
seemed； from books upon the table； to have been working at his
sermon。
〃We 're giving you a lot of trouble；〃 said Shelton； 〃it's really very
good of you。〃
〃Not at all；〃 the parson answered； I'm only grieved the house is
empty。〃
It was a truly dismal contrast to the fatness of the land they had
been passing through； and the parson's voice issuing from bloodless
lips； although complacent； was pathetic。 It was peculiar； that voice
of his； seeming to indicate an intimate acquaintanceship with what
was fat and fine； to convey contempt for the vulgar need of money；
while all the time his eyesthose watery； ascetic eyesas plain as
speech they said； 〃Oh； to know what it must be like to have a pound
or two to spare just once a year； or so！〃
Everything in the room had been bought for cheapness； no luxuries
were there； and necessaries not enough。 It was bleak and bare； the
ceiling cracked； the wall…paper discoloured； and those booksprim；
shining books； fat…backed； with arms stamped on themglared in the
surrounding barrenness。
〃My predecessor；〃 said the parson； 〃played rather havoc with the
house。 The poor fellow had a dreadful struggle； I was told。 You
can； unfortunately； expect nothing else these days； when livings have
come down so terribly in value！ He was a married manlarge family！〃
Crocker； who had drunk his steaming lemonade； was smiling and already
nodding in his chair； with his black garment buttoned closely round
his throat； his long legs rolled up in a blanket； and stretched
towards the feeble flame of the newly…lighted fire； he had a rather
patchy air。 Shelton； on the other hand； had lost his feeling of
fatigue； the strangeness of the place was stimulating his brain； he
kept stealing glances at the scantiness around； the room； the parson；
the furniture； the very fire； all gave him the feeling caused by
seeing legs that have outgrown their trousers。 But there was
something underlying that leanness of the landscape； something
superior and academic； which defied all sympathy。 It was pure
nervousness which made him say：
〃Ah！ why do they have such families？〃
A faint red mounted to the parson's cheeks； its appearance there was
startling； and Crocker chuckled； as a sleepy man will chuckle who
feels bound to show that he is not asleep。
〃It's very unfortunate；〃 murmured the parson； 〃certainly； in many
cases。〃
Shelton would now have changed the subject； but at this moment the
unhappy Crocker snored。 Being a man of action； he had gone to sleep。
〃It seems to me；〃 said Shelton hurriedly； as he saw the parson's
eyebrows rising at the sound； 〃almost what you might call wrong。〃
〃Dear me； but how can it be wrong？〃
Shelton now felt that he must justify his saying somehow。
〃I don't know；〃 he said； 〃only one hears of such a lot of cases
clergymen's families； I've two uncles of my own； who…〃
A new expression gathered on the parson's face； his mouth had
tightened； and his chin receded slightly。 〃 Why； he 's like a mule！〃
thought Shelton。 His eyes； too； had grown harder； greyer； and more
parroty。 Shelton no longer liked his face。
〃Perhaps you and I；〃 the parson said； 〃would not understand each