第8章

"Noristhatprobable."

"Thenhemayhavethoughtbetterofit."

"Yes,hemayhavethoughtbetterofit;if,indeed,heisnothereallthetime——somewhereinthehollowbehindtheDevil"sDoor.Letusgoandsee;itwillservehimrighttosurprisehim."

"O,he"snotthere."

"Hemaybelyingveryquietbecauseofyou,"shesaidarchly.

"O,no——notbecauseofme!"

"Come,then.Ideclare,dearest,youlaglikeanunwillingschoolboyto-night,andthere"snoresponsivenessinyou!Youarejealousofthatpoorlad,anditisquiteabsurdofyou."

"I"llcome!I"llcome!Saynomore,Harriet!"Andtheycrossedoverthegreen.

Wonderingwhattheywoulddo,theyoungshepherdleftthehut,anddoubledbehindthebeltoffurze,intendingtostandnearthetrilithonunperceived.But,incrossingthefewyardsofopengroundhewasforamomentexposedtoview.

"Ah,Iseehimatlast!"saidtheDuchess.

"Seehim!"saidtheDuke."Where?"

"BytheDevil"sDoor;don"tyounoticeafigurethere?Ah,mypoorlover-cousin,won"tyoucatchitnow?"Andshelaughedhalf-

pityingly."Butwhat"sthematter?"sheasked,turningtoherhusband.

"Itisnothe!"saidtheDukehoarsely."Itcan"tbehe!"

"No,itisnothe.Itistoosmallforhim.Itisaboy."

"Ah,Ithoughtso!Boy,comehere."

Theyouthfulshepherdadvancedwithapprehension.

"Whatareyoudoinghere?"

"Keepingsheep,yourGrace."

"Ah,youknowme!Doyoukeepsheephereeverynight?"

"Offandon,myLordDuke."

"Andwhathaveyouseenhereto-nightorlastnight?"inquiredtheDuchess."Anypersonwaitingorwalkingabout?"

Theboywassilent.

"Hehasseennothing,"interruptedherhusband,hiseyessoforbiddinglyfixedontheboythattheyseemedtoshinelikepointsoffire."Come,letusgo.Theairistookeentostandinlong."

Whentheyweregonetheboyretreatedtothehutandsheep,lessfearfulnowthanatfirst——familiaritywiththesituationhavinggraduallyoverpoweredhisthoughtsoftheburiedman.Buthewasnottobeleftalonelong.WhenanintervalhadelapsedofaboutsufficientlengthforwalkingtoandfromShakeforestTowers,thereappearedfromthatdirectiontheheavyformoftheDuke.Henowcamealone.

Thenobleman,onhispart,seemedtohaveeyesnolesssharpthantheboy"s,forheinstantlyrecognizedthelatteramongtheewes,andcamestraighttowardshim.

"AreyoutheshepherdladIspoketoashorttimeago?"

"Ibe,myLordDuke."

"Nowlistentome.HerGraceaskedyouwhatyouhadseenthislastnightortwouphere,andyoumadenoreply.Inowaskthesamething,andyouneednotbeafraidtoanswer.Haveyouseenanythingstrangethesenightsyouhavebeenwatchinghere?"

"MyLordDuke,Ibeapoorheedlessboy,andwhatIseeIdon"tbearinmind."

"Iaskyouagain,"saidtheDuke,comingnearer,"haveyouseenanythingstrangethesenightsyouhavebeenwatchinghere?"

"O,myLordDuke!Ibebuttheunder-shepherdboy,andmyfatherhewasbutyourhumbleGrace"shedger,andmymotheronlythecinder-

womanintheback-yard!Ifallasleepwhenleftalone,andIseenothingatall!"

TheDukegraspedtheboybytheshoulder,and,directlyimpendingoverhim,stareddownintohisface,"Didyouseeanythingstrangedoneherelastnight,Isay?"

"O,myLordDuke,havemercy,anddon"tstabme!"criedtheshepherd,fallingonhisknees."Ihaveneverseenyouwalkinghere,orridinghere,orlying-in-waitforaman,ordraggingaheavyload!"

"H"m!"saidhisinterrogator,grimly,relaxinghishold."Itiswelltoknowthatyouhaveneverseenthosethings.Now,whichwouldyourather——SEEMEDOTHOSETHINGSNOW,orkeepasecretallyourlife?"

"Keepasecret,myLordDuke!"

"Sureyouareable?"

"O,yourGrace,tryme!"

"Verywell.Andnow,howdoyoulikesheep-keeping?"

"Notatall."Tislonelyworkforthemthatthinkofspirits,andI"mbadlyused."

"Ibelieveyou.Youaretooyoungforit.Imustdosomethingtomakeyoumorecomfortable.Youshallchangethissmock-frockforarealclothjacket,andyourthickbootsforpolishedshoes.Andyoushallbetaughtwhatyouhaveneveryetheardof;andbeputtoschool,andhavebatsandballsfortheholidays,andbemadeamanof.Butyoumustneversayyouhavebeenashepherdboy,andwatchedonthehillsatnight,forshepherdboysarenotlikedingoodcompany.

"Trustme,myLordDuke."

"Theverymomentyouforgetyourself,andspeakofyourshepherddays——thisyear,nextyear,inschool,outofschool,orridinginyourcarriagetwentyyearshence——atthatmomentmyhelpwillbewithdrawn,andsmashdownyoucometoshepherdingforthwith.Youhaveparents,Ithinkyousay?"

"Awidowedmotheronly,myLordDuke."

"I"llprovideforher,andmakeacomfortablewomanofher,untilyouspeakof——what?"

"Ofmyshepherddays,andwhatIsawhere."

"Good.Ifyoudospeakofit?"

"Smashdownshecomestowidowingforthwith!"

"That"swell——verywell.Butit"snotenough.Comehere."Hetooktheboyacrosstothetrilithon,andmadehimkneeldown.

"Now,thiswasonceaholyplace,"resumedtheDuke."Analtarstoodhere,erectedtoavenerablefamilyofgods,whowereknownandtalkedoflongbeforetheGodweknownow.Sothatanoathswornhereisdoublyanoath.Saythisafterme:"Mayallthehostabove——

angelsandarchangels,andprincipalitiesandpowers——punishme;mayIbetormentedwhereverIam——inthehouseorinthegarden,inthefieldsorintheroads,inchurchorinchapel,athomeorabroad,onlandoratsea;mayIbeafflictedineatingandindrinking,ingrowingupandingrowingold,inlivinganddying,inwardlyandoutwardly,andforalways,ifIeverspeakofmylifeasashepherdboy,orofwhatIhaveseendoneonthisMarlburyDown.Sobeit,andsoletitbe.Amenandamen."Nowkissthestone."

Thetremblingboyrepeatedthewords,andkissedthestone,asdesired.

TheDukeledhimoffbythehand.ThatnightthejuniorshepherdsleptinShakeforestTowers,andthenextdayhewassentawayfortuitiontoaremotevillage.Thencehewenttoapreparatoryestablishment,andinduecoursetoapublicschool.

FOURTHNIGHT

Onawintereveningmanyyearssubsequenttotheabove-mentionedoccurrences,theci-devantshepherdsatinawell-furnishedofficeinthenorthwingofShakeforestTowersintheguiseofanordinaryeducatedmanofbusiness.Heappearedatthistimeasapersonofthirty-eightorforty,thoughactuallyhewasseveralyearsyounger.

Awornandrestlessglanceoftheeyenowandthen,whenheliftedhisheadtosearchforsomeletterorpaperwhichhadbeenmislaid,seemedtodenotethathiswasnotamindsothoroughlyateaseashissurroundingsmighthaveledanobservertoexpect.

Hispallor,too,wasremarkableforacountryman.Hewasprofessedlyengagedinwriting,butheshapednotword.Hehadsatthereonlyafewminutes,when,layingdownhispenandpushingbackhischair,herestedahanduneasilyoneachofthechair-armsandlookedonthefloor.

Soonhearoseandlefttheroom.Hiscoursewasalongapassagewhichendedinacentraloctagonalhall;crossingthisheknockedatadoor.Afaint,thoughdeep,voicetoldhimtocomein.Theroomheenteredwasthelibrary,anditwastenantedbyasinglepersononly——hispatrontheDuke.

DuringthislongintervalofyearstheDukehadlostallhisheavinessofbuild.Hewas,indeed,almostaskeleton;hiswhitehairwasthin,andhishandswerenearlytransparent."Oh——Mills?"

hemurmured."Sitdown.Whatisit?"

"Nothingnew,yourGrace.Nobodytospeakofhaswritten,andnobodyhascalled."

"Ah——whatthen?Youlookconcerned."

"Oldtimeshavecometolife,owingtosomethingwakingthem."

"Oldtimesbecursed——whicholdtimesarethey?"

"ThatChristmasweektwenty-twoyearsago,whenthelateDuchess"scousinFrederickimploredhertomeethimonMarlburyDowns.Isawthemeeting——itwasjustsuchanightasthis——andI,asyouknow,sawmore.Shemethimonce,butnotthesecondtime."

"Mills,shallIrecallsomewordstoyou——thewordsofanoathtakenonthathillbyashepherd-boy?"

"Itisunnecessary.Hehasstrenuouslykeptthatoathandpromise.

Sincethatnightnosoundofhisshepherdlifehascrossedhislips——

eventoyourself.Butdoyouwishtohearmore,ordoyounot,yourGrace?"

"Iwishtohearnomore,"saidtheDukesullenly.

"Verywell;letitbeso.Butatimeseemscoming——maybequitenearathand——when,inspiteofmylips,thatepisodewillallowitselftogoundivulgednolonger."

"Iwishtohearnomore!"repeatedtheDuke.

"Youneedbeundernofearoftreacheryfromme,"saidthesteward,somewhatbitterly."Iamamantowhomyouhavebeenkind——nopatroncouldhavebeenkinder.Youhaveclothedandeducatedme;haveinstalledmehere;andIamnotunmindful.Butwhatofit——hasyourGracegainedmuchbymystanchness?Ithinknot.TherewasgreatexcitementaboutCaptainOgbourne"sdisappearance,butIspokenotaword.Andhisbodyhasneverbeenfound.Fortwenty-twoyearsI

havewonderedwhatyoudidwithhim.NowIknow.Acircumstancethatoccurredthisafternoonrecalledthetimetomemostforcibly.

Tomakeitcertaintomyselfthatallwasnotadream,Iwentuptherewithaspade;Isearched,andsawenoughtoknowthatsomethingdecaysthereinaclosedbadger"shole."

"Mills,doyouthinktheDuchessguessed?"

"Sheneverdid,Iamsure,tothedayofherdeath."

"Didyouleaveallasyoufounditonthehill?"

"Idid."

"Whatmadeyouthinkofgoinguptherethisparticularafternoon?"

"WhatyourGracesaysyoudon"twishtobetold."

TheDukewassilent;andthestillnessoftheeveningwassomarkedthattherereachedtheirearsfromtheouterairthesoundofatollingbell.

"Whatisthatbelltollingfor?"askedthenobleman.

"ForwhatIcametotellyouof,yourGrace."

"Youtormentmeitisyourway!"saidtheDukequerulously."Who"sdeadinthevillage?"

"Theoldestman——theoldshepherd."

"Deadatlast——howoldishe?"

"Ninety-four."

"AndIamonlyseventy.Ihavefour-and-twentyyearstothegood!"

"IservedunderthatoldmanwhenIkeptsheeponMarlburyDowns.

Andhewasonthehillthatsecondnight,whenIfirstexchangedwordswithyourGrace.Hewasonthehillallthetime;butIdidnotknowhewasthere——nordidyou."

"Ah!"saidtheDuke,startingup."Goon——Iyieldthepoint——youmaytell!"

"Iheardthisafternoonthathewasatthepointofdeath.Itwasthatwhichsetmethinkingofthatpasttime——andinducedmetosearchonthehillforwhatIhavetoldyou.ComingbackIheardthathewishedtoseetheVicartoconfesstohimasecrethehadkeptformorethantwentyyears——"outofrespecttomyLordtheDuke"——somethingthathehadseencommittedonMarlburyDownswhenreturningtotheflockonaDecembernighttwenty-twoyearsago.I

havethoughtitover.Hehadleftmeinchargethatevening;buthewasinthehabitofcomingbacksuddenly,lestIshouldhavefallenasleep.ThatnightIsawnothingofhim,thoughhehadpromisedtoreturn.Hemusthavereturned,and——foundreasontokeepinhiding.

Itisallplain.ThenextthingisthattheVicarwenttohimtwohoursago.FurtherthanthatIhavenotheard."

"Itisquiteenough.IwillseetheVicaratdaybreakto-morrow."

"Whattodo?"

"Stophistongueforfour-and-twentyyears——tillIamdeadatninety-

four,liketheshepherd."

"YourGrace——whileyouimposesilenceonme,Iwillnotspeak,eventhoughnayneckshouldpaythepenalty.Ipromisedtobeyours,andIamyours.Butisthispersistenceofanyavail?"

"I"llstophistongue,Isay!"criedtheDukewithsomeofhisoldruggedforce."Now,yougohometobed,Mills,andleavemetomanagehim."

Theinterviewended,andthestewardwithdrew.Thenight,ashehadsaid,wasjustsuchanoneasthenightoftwenty-twoyearsbefore,andtheeventsoftheeveningdestroyedinhimallregardfortheseasonasoneofcheerfulnessandgoodwill.Hewentofftohisownhouseonthefurthervergeofthepark,whereheledalonelylife,scarcelycallinganymanfriend.Atelevenhepreparedtoretiretobed——butdidnotretire.Hesatdownandreflected.Twelveo"clockstruck;helookedoutatthecolourlessmoon,and,promptedbyheknewnotwhat,putonhishatandemergedintotheair.HereWilliamMillsstrolledonandon,tillhereachedthetopofMarlburyDowns,aspothehadnotvisitedatthishourofthenightduringthewholescore-and-oddyears.

Heplacedhimself,asnearlyashecouldguess,onthespotwheretheshepherd"shuthadstood.Nolambingwasinprogresstherenow,andtheoldshepherdwhohadusedhimsoroughlyhadceasedfromhislaboursthatveryday.Butthetrilithonstoodupwhiteasever;

and,crossingtheinterveningsward,thestewardfancifullyplacedhismouthagainstthestone.Restlessandself-reproachfulashewas,hecouldnotresistasmileashethoughtoftheterrifyingoathofcompact,sealedbyakissuponthestonesofaPagantemple.Buthehadkepthisword,ratherasapromisethanasaformalvow,withmuchworldlyadvantagetohimself,thoughnotmuchhappiness;tillincreaseofyearshadbredreactionaryfeelingswhichledhimtoreceivethenewsofto-nightwithemotionsakintorelief.

WhileleaningagainsttheDevil"sDoorandthinkingonthesethings,hebecameconsciousthathewasnottheonlyinhabitantofthedown.

Afigureinwhitewasmovingacrosshisfrontwithlong,noiselessstrides.Millsstoodmotionless,andwhentheformdrewquitenearheperceivedittobethatoftheDukehimselfinhisnightshirt——

apparentlywalkinginhissleep.Nottoalarmtheoldman,Millsclungclosetotheshadowofthestone.TheDukewentstraightonintothehollow.Therehekneltdown,andbeganscratchingtheearthwithhishandslikeabadger.Afterafewminuteshearose,sighedheavily,andretracedhisstepsashehadcome.

Fearingthathemightharmhimself,yetunwillingtoarousehim,thestewardfollowednoiselessly.TheDukekeptonhispathunerringly,enteredthepark,andmadeforthehouse,wherehelethimselfinbyawindowthatstoodopen——theoneprobablybywhichhehadcomeout.

Millssoftlyclosedthewindowbehindhispatron,andthenretiredhomewardtoawaittherevelationsofthemorning,deemingitunnecessarytoalarmthehouse.

However,hefeltuneasyduringtheremainderofthenight,nolessonaccountoftheDuke"spersonalconditionthanbecauseofthatwhichwasimminentnextday.EarlyinthemorninghecalledatShakeforestTowers.Theblindsweredown,andtherewassomethingsingularupontheporter"sfacewhenheopenedthedoor.ThestewardinquiredfortheDuke.

Theman"svoicewassubduedashereplied:"Sir,IamsorrytosaythathisGraceisdead!Helefthisroomsometimeinthenight,andwanderedaboutnobodyknowswhere.Onreturningtotheupperfloorhelosthisbalanceandfelldownstairs."

ThestewardtoldthetaleoftheDownbeforetheVicarhadspoken.

MillshadalwaysintendedtodosoafterthedeathoftheDuke.Theconsequencestohimselfheunderwentcheerfully;buthislifewasnotprolonged.Hedied,afarmerattheCape,whenstillsomewhatunderforty-nineyearsofage.

ThesplendidMarlburybreedingflockisasrenownedasever,and,totheeye,seemsthesameineveryparticularthatitwasinearliertimes;buttheanimalswhichcomposeditontheoccasionoftheeventsgatheredfromtheJusticearedividedbymanyovinegenerationsfromitsmembersnow.LambingCornerhaslongsinceceasedtobeusedforlambingpurposes,thoughthenamestilllingersonastheappellationofthespot.Thisabandonmentofsitemaybepartlyowingtotheremovalofthehighfurzebusheswhichlentsuchconvenientshelteratthatdate.Partly,too,itmaybeduetoanothercircumstance.ForitissaidbypresentshepherdsinthatdistrictthatduringthenightsofChristmasweekflittingshapesareseenintheopenspacearoundthetrilithon,togetherwiththegleamofaweapon,andtheshadowofamandraggingaburdenintothehollow.Butofthesethingsthereisnocertaintestimony.

Christmas1881.

ACOMMITTEE-MANOF"THETERROR"

WehadbeentalkingoftheGeorgiangloriesofourold-fashionedwatering-place,whichnow,withitssubstantialrusset-redanddunbrickbuildingsinthestyleoftheyeareighteenhundred,lookslikeonesideofaSohoorBloomsburyStreettransportedtotheshore,anddrawsasmilefromthemoderntouristwhohasnoeyeforsolidityofbuild.Thewriter,quiteayouth,waspresentmerelyasalistener.

Theconversationproceededfromgeneralsubjectstoparticular,untiloldMrs.H——,whosememorywasasperfectateightyasithadeverbeeninherlife,interestedusallbytheobviousfidelitywithwhichsherepeatedastorymanytimesrelatedtoherbyhermotherwhenouragedfriendwasagirl——adomesticdramamuchaffectingthelifeofanacquaintanceofhersaidparent,oneMademoiselleV——,ateacherofFrench.Theincidentsoccurredinthetownduringtheheydayofitsfortunes,atthetimeofourbriefpeacewithFrancein1802-3.

"Iwroteitdownintheshapeofastorysomeyearsago,justaftermymother"sdeath,"saidMrs.H."Itislockedupinmydesktherenow."

"Readit!"saidwe.

"No,"saidshe;"thelightisbad,andIcanrememberitwellenough,wordforword,flourishesandall."Wecouldnotbechoosersinthecircumstances,andshebegan.

"Therearetwoinit,ofcourse,themanandthewoman,anditwasonaneveninginSeptemberthatshefirstgottoknowhim.TherehadnotbeensuchagrandgatheringontheEsplanadealltheseason.HisMajestyKingGeorgetheThirdwaspresent,withalltheprincessesandroyaldukes,whileupwardsofthreehundredofthegeneralnobilityandotherpersonsofdistinctionwerealsointhetownatthetime.CarriagesandotherconveyanceswerearrivingeveryminutefromLondonandelsewhere;andwhenamongtherestashabbystage-

coachcameinbyaby-routealongthecoastfromHavenpool,anddrewupatasecond-ratetavern,itattractedcomparativelylittlenotice.

"Fromthisdustyvehicleamanalighted,lefthissmallquantityofluggagetemporarilyattheoffice,andwalkedalongthestreetasiftolookforlodgings.

"Hewasaboutforty-five——possiblyfifty——andworealongcoatoffadedsuperfinecloth,withaheavycollar,andahunched-upneckcloth.Heseemedtodesireobscurity.

"Butthedisplayappearedpresentlytostrikehim,andheaskedofarustichemetinthestreetwhatwasgoingon;hisaccentbeingthatofonetowhomEnglishpronunciationwasdifficult.

"Thecountrymanlookedathimwithaslightsurprise,andsaid,"KingJargeishereandhisroyalCwort."

"Thestrangerinquirediftheyweregoingtostaylong.

""Don"tknow,Sir.Sameastheyalwaysdo,Isuppose."

""Howlongisthat?"

""TillsometimeinOctober.They"vecomehereeverysummersinceeighty-nine."

"ThestrangermovedonwarddownSt.ThomasStreet,andapproachedthebridgeovertheharbourbackwater,thatthen,asnow,connectedtheoldtownwiththemoremodernportion.Thespotwassweptwiththeraysofalowsun,whichlituptheharbourlengthwise,andshoneunderthebrimoftheman"shatandintohiseyesashelookedwestward.Againsttheradiancefigureswerecrossingintheoppositedirectiontohisown;amongthemthisladyofmymother"slateracquaintance,MademoiselleV.ShewasthedaughterofagoodoldFrenchfamily,andatthatdateapalewoman,twenty-eightorthirtyyearsofage,tallandelegantinfigure,butplainlydressedandwearingthatevening(shesaid)asmallmuslinshawlcrossedoverthebosominthefashionofthetime,andtiedbehind.

"Atsightofhisface,which,assheusedtotellus,wasunusuallydistinctinthepeeringsunlight,shecouldnothelpgivingalittleshriekofhorror,foraterriblereasonconnectedwithherhistory,andafterwalkingafewstepsfurther,shesankdownagainsttheparapetofthebridgeinafaintingfit.

"Inhispreoccupationtheforeigngentlemanhadhardlynoticedher,butherstrangecollapseimmediatelyattractedhisattention.Hequicklycrossedthecarriageway,pickedherup,andcarriedherintothefirstshopadjoiningthebridge,explainingthatshewasaladywhohadbeentakenilloutside.

"Shesoonrevived;but,clearlymuchpuzzled,herhelperperceivedthatshestillhadadreadofhimwhichwassufficienttohinderhercompleterecoveryofself-command.Shespokeinaquickandnervouswaytotheshopkeeper,askinghimtocallacoach.

"Thistheshopkeeperdid,MademoiselleV——andthestrangerremaininginconstrainedsilencewhilehewasgone.Thecoachcameup,andgivingthemantheaddress,sheentereditanddroveaway.

""Whoisthatlady?"saidthenewlyarrivedgentleman.

""She"sofyournation,asIshouldmakeboldtosuppose,"saidtheshopkeeper.AndhetoldtheotherthatshewasMademoiselleV——,governessatGeneralNewbold"s,inthesametown.

""Youhavemanyforeignershere?"thestrangerinquired.

""Yes,thoughmostlyHanoverians.ButsincethepeacetheyarelearningFrenchagooddealingenteelsociety,andFrenchinstructorsareratherindemand."

""Yes,Iteachit,"saidthevisitor."Iamlookingforatutorshipinanacademy."

"TheinformationgivenbytheburgesstotheFrenchmanseemedtoexplaintothelatternothingofhiscountrywoman"sconduct——which,indeed,wasthecase——andhelefttheshop,takinghiscourseagainoverthebridgeandalongthesouthquaytotheOldRoomsInn,whereheengagedabedchamber.

"Thoughtsofthewomanwhohadbetrayedsuchagitationatsightofhimlingerednaturallyenoughwiththenewcomer.Though,asI

stated,notmuchlessthanthirtyyearsofage,MademoiselleV——,oneofhisownnation,andofhighlyrefinedanddelicateappearance,hadkindledasingularinterestinthemiddle-agedgentleman"sbreast,andherlargedarkeyes,astheyhadopenedandshrunkfromhim,exhibitedapatheticbeautytowhichhardlyanymancouldhavebeeninsensible.

"Thenextday,havingwrittensomeletters,hewentoutandmadeknownattheofficeofthetown"Guide"andofthenewspaper,thatateacherofFrenchandcalligraphyhadarrived,leavingacardatthebookseller"stothesameeffect.Hethenwalkedonaimlessly,butatlengthinquiredthewaytoGeneralNewbold"s.Atthedoor,withoutgivinghisname,heaskedtoseeMademoiselleV——,andwasshownintoalittlebackparlour,whereshecametohimwithagazeofsurprise.

""MyGod!Whydoyouintrudehere,Monsieur?"shegaspedinFrenchassoonasshesawhisface.

""Youweretakenillyesterday.Ihelpedyou.YoumighthavebeenrunoverifIhadnotpickedyouup.Itwasanactofsimplehumanitycertainly;butIthoughtImightcometoaskifyouhadrecovered?"

"Shehadturnedaside,andhadscarcelyheardawordofhisspeech.

"Ihateyou,infamousman!"shesaid."Icannotbearyourhelpingme.Goaway!"

""Butyouareastrangertome."

""Iknowyoutoowell!"

""Youhavetheadvantagethen,Mademoiselle.Iamanewcomerhere.

Ineverhaveseenyoubeforetomyknowledge;andIcertainlydonot,couldnot,hateyou."

""AreyounotMonsieurB——?"

"Heflinched."Iam——inParis,"hesaid."ButhereIamMonsieurG.

"

""Thatistrivial.YouarethemanIsayyouare."

""Howdidyouknowmyrealname,Mademoiselle?"

""Isawyouinyearsgoneby,whenyoudidnotseeme.YouwereformerlyMemberoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety,undertheConvention."

"Iwas."

""Youguillotinedmyfather,mybrother,myuncle——allmyfamily,nearly,andbrokemymother"sheart.Theyhaddonenothingbutkeepsilence.Theirsentimentswereonlyguessed.TheirheadlesscorpseswerethrownindiscriminatelyintotheditchoftheMousseauxCemetery,anddestroyedwithlime."

"Henodded.

""Youleftmewithoutafriend,andhereIamnow,aloneinaforeignland."

""Iamsorryforyou,"saidbe."Sorryfortheconsequence,notfortheintent.WhatIdidwasamatterofconscience,and,fromapointofviewindiscerniblebyyou,Ididright.Iprofitednotafarthing.ButIshallnotarguethis.Youhavethesatisfactionofseeingmehereanexilealso,inpoverty,betrayedbycomrades,asfriendlessasyourself."

""Itisnosatisfactiontome,Monsieur."

""Well,thingsdonecannotbealtered.Nowthequestion:areyouquiterecovered?"

""Notfromdislikeanddreadofyou——otherwise,yes."

""Goodmorning,Mademoiselle."

""Goodmorning."

"Theydidnotmeetagaintilloneeveningatthetheatre(whichmymother"sfriendwaswithgreatdifficultyinducedtofrequent,toperfectherselfinEnglishpronunciation,theideasheentertainedatthattimebeingtobecomeateacherofEnglishinherowncountrylateron).Shefoundhimsittingnexttoher,anditmadeherpaleandrestless.

""Youarestillafraidofme?"

""Iam.Ocannotyouunderstand!"

"Hesignifiedtheaffirmative.

""Ifollowtheplaywithdifficulty,"hesaid,presently.

""SodoI——NOW,"saidshe.

"Heregardedherlong,andshewasconsciousofhislook;andwhileshekepthereyesonthestagetheyfilledwithtears.Stillshewouldnotmove,andthetearsranvisiblydownhercheek,thoughtheplaywasamerryone,beingnootherthanMr.Sheridan"scomedyof"TheRivals,"withMr.S.KembleasCaptainAbsolute.Hesawherdistress,andthathermindwaselsewhere;andabruptlyrisingfromhisseatatcandle-snuffingtimeheleftthetheatre.

"Thoughhelivedintheoldtown,andsheinthenew,theyfrequentlysaweachotheratadistance.Oneoftheseoccasionswaswhenshewasonthenorthsideoftheharbour,bytheferry,waitingfortheboattotakeheracross.HewasstandingbyCoveRow,onthequayopposite.Insteadofenteringtheboatwhenitarrivedshesteppedbackfromthequay;butlookingtoseeifheremainedshebeheldhimpointingwithhisfingertotheferry-boat.

""Enter!"hesaid,inavoiceloudenoughtoreachher.

"MademoiselleV——stoodstill.

""Enter!"hesaid,and,asshedidnotmove,herepeatedthewordathirdtime.

"Shehadreallybeengoingtocross,andnowapproachedandsteppeddownintotheboat.Thoughshedidnotraisehereyessheknewthathewaswatchingherover.Atthelandingstepsshesawfromunderthebrimofherhatahandstretcheddown.Thestepsweresteepandslippery.

""No,Monsieur,"shesaid."Unless,indeed,youbelieveinGod,andrepentofyourevilpast!"

""Iamsorryyouweremadetosuffer.ButIonlybelieveinthegodcalledReason,andIdonotrepent.Iwastheinstrumentofanationalprinciple.Yourfriendswerenotsacrificedforanyendsofmine."

"Shethereuponwithheldherhand,andclamberedupunassisted.Hewenton,ascendingtheLook-outHill,anddisappearingoverthebrow.

Herwaywasinthesamedirection,hererrandbeingtobringhomethetwoyounggirlsunderhercharge,whohadgonetothecliffforanairing.Whenshejoinedthematthetopshesawhissolitaryfigureatthefurtheredge,standingmotionlessagainstthesea.Allthewhilethatsheremainedwithherpupilshestoodwithoutturning,asiflookingatthefrigatesintheroadstead,butmoreprobablyinmeditation,unconsciouswherehewas.Inleavingthespotoneofthechildrenthrewawayhalfasponge-biscuitthatshehadbeeneating.

Passingnearithestooped,pickeditupcarefully,andputitinhispocket.

"MademoiselleV——camehomeward,askingherself,"Canhebestarving?"

"Fromthatdayhewasinvisibleforsolongatimethatshethoughthehadgoneawayaltogether.Butoneeveninganotecametoher,andsheopenedittrembling.

""Iamhereill,"itsaid,"and,asyouknow,alone.ThereareoneortwolittlethingsIwantdone,incasemydeathshouldoccur,——andIshouldprefernottoaskthepeoplehere,ifitcouldbeavoided.

Haveyouenoughofthegiftofcharitytocomeandcarryoutmywishesbeforeitistoolate?"

"Nowsoitwasthat,sinceseeinghimpossesshimselfofthebrokencake,shehadinsensiblybeguntofeelsomethingthatwasmorethancuriosity,thoughperhapslessthananxiety,aboutthisfellow-

countrymanofhers;anditwasnotinhernervousandsensitivehearttoresisthisappeal.Shefoundhislodging(towhichhehadremovedfromtheOldRoomsinnforeconomy)tobearoomoverashop,half-

wayupthesteepandnarrowstreetoftheoldtown,towhichthefashionablevisitorsseldompenetrated.Withsomemisgivingsheenteredthehouse,andwasadmittedtothechamberwherehelay.

""Youaretoogood,toogood,"hemurmured.Andpresently,"Youneednotshutthedoor.Youwillfeelsafer,andtheywillnotunderstandwhatwesay."

""Areyouinwant,Monsieur?CanIgiveyou——"

""No,no.ImerelywantyoutodoatriflingthingortwothatI

havenotstrengthenoughtodomyself.NobodyinthetownbutyouknowswhoIreallyam——unlessyouhavetold?"

""IhavenottoldIthoughtyouMIGHThaveactedfromprincipleinthosesaddays,even——"

""Youarekindtoconcedethatmuch.However,tothepresent.IwasabletodestroymyfewpapersbeforeIbecamesoweakButinthedrawerthereyouwillfindsomepiecesoflinenclothing——onlytwoorthree——markedwithinitialsthatmayberecognized.Willyouripthemoutwithapenknife?"

"Shesearchedasbidden,foundthegarments,cutoutthestitchesofthelettering,andreplacedthelinenasbefore.Apromisetopost,intheeventofhisdeath,aletterheputinherhand,completedallthatherequiredofher.

"Hethankedher."Ithinkyouseemsorryforme,"hemurmured."AndIamsurprised.Youaresorry?"

"Sheevadedthequestion."Doyourepentandbelieve?"sheasked.

""No."

"Contrarytoherexpectationsandhisownherecovered,thoughveryslowly;andhermannergrewmoredistantthenceforward,thoughhisinfluenceuponherwasdeeperthansheknew.Weekspassedaway,andthemonthofMayarrived.Onedayatthistimeshemethimwalkingslowlyalongthebeachtothenorthward.

""Youknowthenews?"hesaid.

""YoumeanoftherupturebetweenFranceandEnglandagain?"

""Yes;andthefeelingofantagonismisstrongerthanitwasinthelastwar,owingtoBonaparte"shigh-handedarrestoftheinnocentEnglishwhoweretravellinginourcountryforpleasure.Ifeelthatthewarwillbelongandbitter;andthatmywishtoliveunknowninEnglandwillbefrustrated.Seehere."

"Hetookfromhispocketapieceofthesinglenewspaperwhichcirculatedinthecountyinthosedays,andsheread-

"ThemagistratesactingundertheAlienActhavebeenrequestedtodirectaveryscrutinizingeyetotheAcademiesinourtownsandotherplaces,inwhichFrenchtutorsareemployed,andtoallofthatnationalitywhoprofesstobeteachersinthiscountry.ManyofthemareknowntobeinveterateEnemiesandTraitorstothenationamongwhosepeopletheyhavefoundalivelihoodandahome."

"Hecontinued:"Ihaveobservedsincethedeclarationofwaramarkeddifferenceintheconductoftherougherclassofpeopleheretowardsme.Ifagreatbattleweretooccur——asitsoonwill,nodoubt——feelingwouldgrowtoapitchthatwouldmakeitimpossibleforme,adisguisedmanofnoknownoccupation,tostayhere.Withyou,whosedutiesandantecedentsareknown,itmaybelessdifficult,butstillunpleasant.NowIproposethis.Youhaveprobablyseenhowmydeepsympathywithyouhasquickenedtoawarmfeeling;andwhatIsayis,willyouagreetogivemeatitletoprotectyoubyhonouringmewithyourhand?Iamolderthanyou,itistrue,butashusbandandwifewecanleaveEnglandtogether,andmakethewholeworldourcountry.ThoughIwouldproposeQuebec,inCanada,astheplacewhichoffersthebestpromiseofahome."

""MyGod!Yousurpriseme!"saidshe.

""Butyouacceptmyproposal?"

""No,no!"

""AndyetIthinkyouwill,Mademoiselle,someday!"

""Ithinknot."

""Iwon"tdistressyoufurthernow."

""MuchthanksIamgladtoseeyoulookingbetter,Monsieur;I

meanyouarelookingbetter."

""Ah,yes.Iamimproving.Iwalkinthesuneveryday."

"Andalmosteverydayshesawhim——sometimesnoddingstifflyonly,sometimesexchangingformalcivilities."Youarenotgoneyet,"shesaidononeoftheseoccasions.

""No.AtpresentIdon"tthinkofgoingwithoutyou."

""Butyoufindituncomfortablehere?"

""Somewhat.Sowhenwillyouhavepityonme?"

"Sheshookherheadandwentonherway.Yetshewasalittlemoved.

"Hediditonprinciple,"shewouldmurmur."Hehadnoanimositytowardsthem,andprofitednothing!"

"Shewonderedhowhelived.Itwasevidentthathecouldnotbesopoorasshehadthought;hispretendedpovertymightbetoescapenotice.Shecouldnottell,butsheknewthatshewasdangerouslyinterestedinhim.

"Andhestillmended,tillhisthin,palefacebecamemorefullandfirm.Ashemendedshehadtomeetthatrequestofhis,advancedwithevenstrongerinsistency.

"ThearrivaloftheKingandCourtfortheseasonasusualbroughtmatterstoaclimaxforthesetwolonelyexilesandfellowcountry-

people.TheKing"sawkwardpreferenceforapartofthecoastinsuchdangerousproximitytoFrancemadeitnecessarythatastrictmilitaryvigilanceshouldbeexercisedtoguardtheroyalresidents.

Half-a-dozenfrigateswereeverynightpostedinalineacrossthebay,andtwolinesofsentinels,oneatthewater"sedgeandanotherbehindtheEsplanade,occupiedthewholesea-frontaftereighteverynight.Thewatering-placewasgrowinganinconvenientresidenceevenforMademoiselleV——herself,herfriendshipforthisstrangeFrenchtutorandwriting-masterwhoneverhadanypupilshavingbeenobservedbymanywhoslightlyknewher.TheGeneral"swife,whosedependentshewas,repeatedlywarnedheragainsttheacquaintance;

whiletheHanoverianandothersoldiersoftheForeignLegion,whohaddiscoveredthenationalityofherfriend,weremoreaggressivethantheEnglishmilitarygallantswhomadeittheirbusinesstonoticeher.

"Inthistensestateofaffairsheranswersbecamemoreagitated."O

Heaven,howcanImarryyou!"shewouldsay.

""Youwill;surelyyouwill!"heansweredagain."Idon"tleavewithoutyou.AndIshallsoonbeinterrogatedbeforethemagistratesifIstayhere;probablyimprisoned.Youwillcome?"

"Shefeltherdefencesbreakingdown.Contrarytoallreasonandsenseoffamilyhonourshewas,bysomeabnormalcraving,incliningtoatendernessforhimthatwasfoundedonitsopposite.Sometimesherwarmsentimentsburntlowerthanatothers,andthentheenormityofherconductshoweditselfinmorestaringhues.

"Shortlyafterthishecamewitharesignedlookonhisface."ItisasIexpected,"hesaid."Ihavereceivedahinttogo.Ingoodsooth,IamnoBonapartist——IamnoenemytoEngland;butthepresenceoftheKingmadeitimpossibleforaforeignerwithnovisibleoccupation,andwhomaybeaspy,toremainatlargeinthetown.Theauthoritiesarecivil,butfirm.Theyarenomorethanreasonable.Good.Imustgo.Youmustcomealso."

"Shedidnotspeak.Butshenoddedassent,hereyesdrooping.

"OnherwaybacktothehouseontheEsplanadeshesaidtoherself,"Iamglad,Iamglad!Icouldnotdootherwise.Itisrenderinggoodforevil!"Butsheknewhowshemockedherselfinthis,andthatthemoralprinciplehadnotoperatedonejotinheracceptanceofhim.Intruthshehadnotrealizedtillnowthefullpresenceoftheemotionwhichhadunconsciouslygrownupinherforthislonelyandsevereman,who,inhertradition,wasvengeanceandirreligionpersonified.Heseemedtoabsorbherwholenature,and,absorbing,tocontrolit.

"AdayortwobeforetheonefixedfortheweddingtherechancedtocometoheraletterfromtheonlyacquaintanceofherownsexandcountryshepossessedinEngland,onetowhomshehadsentintelligenceofherapproachingmarriage,withoutmentioningwithwhom.Thisfriend"smisfortuneshadbeensomewhatsimilartoherown,whichfacthadbeenonecauseoftheirintimacy;herfriend"ssister,anunoftheAbbeyofMontmartre,havingperishedonthescaffoldatthehandsofthesameComitedeSalutPublicwhichhadnumberedMademoiselleV——"saffiancedamongitsmembers.Thewriterhadfeltherpositionmuchagainoflate,sincetherenewalofthewar,shesaid;andtheletterwoundupwithafreshdenunciationoftheauthorsoftheirmutualbereavementandsubsequenttroubles.

"Comingjustthen,itscontentsproduceduponMademoiselleV——theeffectofapailofwateruponasomnambulist.Whathadshebeendoinginbetrothingherselftothisman!Wasshenotmakingherselfaparricideaftertheevent?Atthiscrisisinherfeelingsherlovercalled.Hebeheldhertrembling,and,inreplytohisquestion,shetoldhimofherscrupleswithimpulsivecandour.

"Shehadnotintendedtodothis,buthisattitudeoftendercommandcoercedherintofrankness.Thereuponheexhibitedanagitationneverbeforeapparentinhim.Hesaid,"Butallthatispast.YouarethesymbolofCharity,andwearepledgedtoletbygonesbe."

"Hiswordssoothedherforthemoment,butshewassadlysilent,andhewentaway.

"Thatnightshesaw(asshefirmlybelievedtotheendofherlife)adivinelysentvision.Aprocessionofherlostrelatives——father,brother,uncle,cousin——seemedtocrossherchamberbetweenherbedandthewindow,andwhensheendeavouredtotracetheirfeaturessheperceivedthemtobeheadless,andthatshehadrecognizedthembytheirfamiliarclothesonly.Inthemorningshecouldnotshakeofftheeffectsofthisappearanceonhernerves.Allthatdayshesawnothingofherwooer,hebeingoccupiedinmakingarrangementsfortheirdeparture.Itgrewtowardsevening——themarriageeve;but,inspiteofhisre-assuringvisit,hersenseoffamilydutywaxedstrongernowthatshewasleftalone.Yet,sheaskedherself,howcouldshe,aloneandunprotected,goatthiseleventhhourandreasserttoanaffiancedhusbandthatshecouldnotandwouldnotmarryhimwhileadmittingatthesametimethatshelovedhim?Thesituationdismayedher.Shehadrelinquishedherpostasgoverness,andwasstayingtemporarilyinaroomnearthecoach-office,wheresheexpectedhimtocallinthemorningtocarryoutthebusinessoftheirunionanddeparture.

"Wiselyorfoolishly,MademoiselleV——cametoaresolution:thatheronlysafetylayinflight.Hiscontiguityinfluencedhertoosensibly;shecouldnotreason.Sopackingupherfewpossessionsandplacingonthetablethesmallsumsheowed,shewentoutprivately,securedalastavailableseatintheLondoncoach,and,almostbeforeshehadfullyweighedheraction,shewasrollingoutofthetownintheduskoftheSeptemberevening.

"Havingtakenthisstartlingstepshebegantoreflectuponherreasons.HehadbeenoneofthattragicCommitteethesoundofwhosenamewasahorrortothecivilizedworld;yethehadbeenonlyoneofseveralmembers,and,itseemed,notthemostactive.Hehadmarkeddownnamesonprinciple,hadfeltnopersonalenmityagainsthisvictims,andhadenrichedhimselfnotasououtoftheofficehehadheld.Nothingcouldchangethepast.Meanwhilehelovedher,andherheartinclinedtoasmuchofhimasshecoulddetachfromthatpast.Whynot,ashehadsuggested,burymemories,andinaugurateanewerabythisunion?Inotherwords,whynotindulgehertenderness,sinceitsnullificationcoulddonogood.

"Thussheheldself-communioninherseatinthecoach,passingthroughCasterbridge,andShottsford,andontotheWhiteHartatMelchester,atwhichplacethewholefabricofherrecentintentionscrumbleddown.Betterbestaunchhavinggotsofar;letthingstaketheircourse,andmarryboldlythemanwhohadsoimpressedher.Howgreathewas;howsmallwasshe!Andshehadpresumedtojudgehim!

Abandoningherplaceinthecoachwiththeprecipitancythathadcharacterizedhertakingit,shewaitedtillthevehiclehaddrivenoff,somethinginthedepartingshapesoftheoutsidepassengersagainstthestarlitskygivingherastart,assheafterwardsremembered.Presentlythedowncoach,"TheMorningHerald,"enteredthecity,andshehastilyobtainedaplaceonthetop.

""I"llbefirm——I"llbehis——ifitcostmemyimmortalsoul!"shesaid.Andwithtroubledbreathingsshejourneyedbackovertheroadshehadjusttraced.

"Shereachedourroyalwatering-placebythetimethedaybroke,andherfirstaimwastogetbacktothehiredroominwhichherlastfewdayshadbeenspent.WhenthelandladyappearedatthedoorinresponsetoMademoiselleV——"snervoussummons,sheexplainedhersuddendepartureandreturnasbestshecould;andnoobjectionbeingofferedtoherre-engagementoftheroomforonedaylongersheascendedtothechamberandsatdownpanting.Shewasbackoncemore,andherwildtergiversationswereasecretfromhimwhomalonetheyconcerned.

"Asealedletterwasonthemantelpiece."Yes,itisdirectedtoyou,Mademoiselle,"saidthewomanwhohadfollowedher."Butwewerewonderingwhattodowithit.Atownmessengerbroughtitafteryouhadgonelastnight."

"Whenthelandladyhadleft,MademoiselleV——openedtheletterandread-

"MYDEARANDHONOUREDFRIEND——Youhavebeenthroughoutouracquaintanceabsolutelycandidconcerningyourmisgivings.ButI

havebeenreservedconcerningmine.Thatisthedifferencebetweenus.Youprobablyhavenotguessedthateveryqualmyouhavefeltonthesubjectofourmarriagehasbeenparalleledinmyhearttothefull.Thusithappenedthatyourinvoluntaryoutburstofremorseyesterday,thoughmechanicallydeprecatedbymeinyourpresence,wasalastiteminmyowndoubtsonthewisdomofourunion,givingthemaforcethatIcouldnolongerwithstand.Icamehome;and,onreflection,muchasIhonourandadoreyou,Idecidetosetyoufree.

"Asonewhoselifehasbeendevoted,andImaysaysacrificed,tothecauseofLiberty,Icannotallowyourjudgment(probablyapermanentone)tobefetteredbeyondreleasebyafeelingwhichmaybetransientonly.

"ItwouldbenolessthanexcruciatingtoboththatIshouldannouncethisdecisiontoyoubywordofmouth.Ihavethereforetakenthelesspainfulcourseofwriting.BeforeyoureceivethisIshallhaveleftthetownbytheeveningcoachforLondon,onreachingwhichcitymymovementswillberevealedtonone.

"Regardme,Mademoiselle,asdead,andacceptmyrenewedassurancesofrespect,remembrance,andaffection."

"Whenshehadrecoveredfromhershockofsurpriseandgrief,sherememberedthatatthestartingofthecoachoutofMelchesterbeforedawn,theshapeofafigureamongtheoutsidepassengersagainstthestarlitskyhadcausedheramomentarystart,fromitsresemblancetothatofherfriend.Knowingnothingofeachother"sintentions,andscreenedfromeachotherbythedarkness,theyhadleftthetownbythesameconveyance."He,thegreater,persevered;I,thesmaller,returned!"shesaid.