Produced by Charles Aldarondo  HTML version by Al HainesTHE CROWN OF LIFEbyGeorge GissingCHAPTER IAmid the throng of suburban arrivals volleyed forth from WaterlooStation on a May morning in the year 86 moved a slim darkabsentlooking young man of oneandtwenty whose name was Piers OtwayIn regard to costumeblameless silk hat and dark morning coat withlighter trousersthe City would not have disowned him but he had notthe City countenance The rush for omnibus seats left him unconcernedclear of the railway station he walked at a moderate pace his eyesmostly on the ground he crossed the footbridge to Charing Cross andsteadily made his way into the Haymarket where his progress wasarrested by a picture shopA window hung with engravings mostly after pictures of the day someof them very large and attractive to a passing glance One or twoadmirable landscapes offered solace to the streetwearied imaginationbut upon these Piers Otway did not fix his eye it was drawnirresistibly to the faces and forms of beautiful women set forth withvaried allurement Some great lady of the passing time lounged inexquisite array amid luxurious furniture lightly suggested the faintsmile of her flattered loveliness hovered about the gazer the subtleperfume of her presence touched his nerves the greys of her complexiontransmuted themselves through the current of his blood into lifescarnation whilst he dreamed upon her lips his breath was caught asthough of a sudden she had smiled for him and for him alone Near toher was a maiden of Hellas resting upon a marble seat her eyes benttowards some AEgean isle the translucent robe clung about her perfectbody her breast was warm against the white stone the mazes of herwoven hair shone with unguent The gazer lost himself in memories ofepic and idyll warming through worship to desire Then his lookstrayed to the next engraving a peasant girl consummate in grace andstrength supreme in chaste pride cheek and neck softglowing from thesunny field eyes revealing the heart at one with nature Others therewere women of many worlds only less beautiful but by these three theyoung man was held bound He could not satisfy himself with looking andmusing he could not pluck himself away An old experience he alwayslingered by the print shops of the Haymarket and always went on withtroubled blood with mind rapt above familiar circumstance dreamingpassionately making wild forecast of his fateAt this hour of the morning not many passers had leisure to stand andgaze one however came to a pause beside Piers Otway and viewed theengravings He was a man considerably older not so well dressed butstill on the strength of externals entitled to the style ofgentleman his brown hard felt hat was entirely respectable as werehis tan gloves and his boots but the cutaway coat began to hint atrelease from service and the trousers owed a superficial smartnessmerely to being tightly strapped This man had a not quite agreeableface inasmuch as it was smoothly shaven and exhibited a peculiarmobility it might have denoted him an actor but the actor is wont totwinkle a goodnatured mood which did not appear upon this visage Thecontour was good and spoke intelligence the eyes must once have beencharming It was a face which had lost by the advance of years whichhad hardened where it was soft and seemed likely to grow harder yetfor about the lips as he stood examining these pictures came asuggestion of the vice in blood which tends to cruelty The nostrilsbegan to expand and to tremble a little the eyes seemed to projectthemselves the long throat grew longer Presently he turned a glanceupon the young man standing near to him and in that moment hisexpression entirely alteredWhy he exclaimed PiersThe other gave a start of astonishment and at once smiled recognitionDaniel I hadnt lookedI had no idea They shook hands withgraceful cordiality on the elder mans part with a slightlyembarrassed goodwill on that of the younger Daniel Otway whose agewas about eightandthirty stood in the relation of halfbrotherhoodto Piers a relation suggested by no single trait of their visagesPiers had a dark complexion a face of the square emphatic type andan eye of shy vivacity Daniel with the long smooth curves of hiscountenance and his chestnut hair was in the common sense betterlooking and managed his expression with a skill which concealed thecharacteristics visible a few moments ago he bore himself like a suaveman of the world whereas his brother still betrayed something of theboy in tone and gesture something too of the student accustomed toseclusion Daniels accent had nothing at all in keeping with a shabbycoat that of the younger man was less markedly refined with much moreof individualityYou live in London inquired Daniel reading the others look as ifaffectionatelyNo Out at Ewellin SurreyOh yes I know Ewell ReadingYes for the Civil Service Ive come up to lunch with a man who knowsfatherMr JacksJohn Jacks the MPPiers nodded nervously and the other regarded him with a smile of newinterestBut youre very early Any other engagementsNone said Piers It being so fine a morning he had proposed a longramble about London streets before making for his destination in theWest EndThen you must come to my club returned Daniel I shall be glad of atalk with you very glad my dear boy Why it must be four years sincewe saw each other And by the bye you are just of age I thinkThree days agoTo be sure Heard anything from fatherNoYoure looking verywell Pierstake my arm I understood you were going into businessAltered your mind And how is the dear old manThey walked for a quarter of an hour turning at last into a quietgenteel byway westward of Regent Street and so into a club house ofrespectable appearance Daniel wrote his brothers name and led up tothe smokingroom which they found unoccupiedYou smokeI am very glad to hear it I began far too young and havesuffered Its too early to drinkand perhaps you dont do thateitherReally Vegetarian also perhapsWhy you are the model sonof your father And the regime seems to suit you