第1章
AnHabitationEnforcedTheRecallGarm——aHostageThePoweroftheDogTheMotherHiveTheBeesandtheFliesWiththeNightMailTheFourAngelsADealinCottonTheNewKnighthoodThePuzzlerThePuzzlerLittleFoxesGallio"sSongTheHouseSurgeonTheRabbi"sSongACTIONSANDREACTIONS
ANHABITATIONENFORCED
Myfriend，ifcausedothwrestthee，Erefollyhathmuchoppressedthee，FarfromacquaintancekesttheeWherecountrymaydigestthee……
ThankGodthatsohathblessedthee，Andsitdown，Robin，andrestthee。
THOMASTUSSER。
Itcamewithoutwarning，attheveryhourhishandwasoutstretchedtocrumpletheHolzandGunsbergCombine。TheNewYorkdoctorscalleditoverwork，andhelayinadarkenedroom，oneanklecrossedabovetheother，tonguepressedintopalate，wonderingwhetherthenextbrain-surgeofpricklyfireswoulddrivehissoulfromallanchorages。Atlasttheygavejudgment。
Withcarehemightintwoyearsreturntothearena，butforthepresenthemustgoacrossthewateranddonoworkwhatever。Heacceptedtheterms。Itwascapitulation；buttheCombinethathadshiveredbeneathhisknifegavehimallthehonoursofwar:
Gunsberghimself，fullofcondolences，cametothesteamerandfilledtheChapins"suiteofcabinswithoverwhelmingflower-works。
"Smilax，"saidGeorgeChapinwhenhesawthem。"Fitzisright。
I"mdead；onlyIdon"tseewhyheleftoutthe"InMemoriam"ontheribbons!"
"Nonsense!"hiswifeanswered，andpouredhimhistincture。
"You"llbebackbeforeyoucanthink。"
Helookedathimselfinthemirror，surprisedthathisfacehadnotbeenbrandedbythehellsofthepastthreemonths。Thenoiseofthedecksworriedhim，andhelaydown，histongueonlyalittlepressedagainsthispalate。
Anhourlaterhesaid:"Sophie，Ifeelsorryabouttakingyouawayfromeverythinglikethis。I——Isupposewe"rethetwoloneliestpeopleonGod"searthto-night。"
SaidSophiehiswife，andkissedhim:"Isn"titsomethingtoyouthatwe"regoingtogether？"
TheydriftedaboutEuropeformonths——sometimesalone，sometimeswithchancemetgipsiesoftheirownland。FromtheNorthCapetotheBlueGrottoatCapritheywandered，becausethenextsteamerheadedthatway，orbecausesomeonehadsetthemontheroad。
ThedoctorshadwarnedSophiethatChapinwasnottotakeinteresteveninothermen"sinterests；butafamiliarsensationatthebackoftheneckafteronehour"skeentalkwithaNauheimedrailwaymagnatesavedheranytrouble。Henearlywept。
"AndI"moverthirty，"hecried。"WithallImeanttodo!"
"Let"scallitahoneymoon，"saidSophie。"D"youknow，inallthesixyearswe"vebeenmarried，you"venevertoldmewhatyoumeanttodowithyourlife？"
"Withmylife？What"stheuse？It"sfinishednow。"SophielookedupquicklyfromtheBayofNaples。"Asfarasmybusinessgoes，I
shallhavetoliveonmyrentslikethatarchitectatSanMoritz。"
"You"llgetbetterifyoudon"tworry；andevenifitrakestime，thereareworsethingsthan——Howmuchhaveyou？"
"Betweenfourandfivemillion。Butitisn"tthemoney。Youknowitisn"t。It"stheprinciple。Howcouldyourespectme？Youneverdid，thefirstyearafterwemarried，tillIwenttoworkliketheothers。Ourtraditionandupbringingareagainstit。Wecan"tacceptthoseideals。"
"Well，IsupposeImarriedyouforsomesortofideal，"sheanswered，andtheyreturnedtotheirforty-thirdhotel。
InEnglandtheymissedthealientonguesofContinentalstreetsthatremindedthemoftheirownpolyglotcities。InEnglandallmenspokeonetongue，speciouslylikeAmericantotheear，butoncross-examinationunintelligible。，"Ah，butyouhavenotseenEngland，"saidaladywithiron-greyhair。TheyhadmetherinVienna，Bayreuth，andFlorence，andweregratefultofindheragainatClaridge"s，forshecommandedsituations，andknewwhereprescriptionsaremostcarefullymadeup。"YououghttotakeaninterestinthehomeofourancestorsasIdo。"
"I"vetriedforaweek，Mrs。Shonts，"saidSophie，"butInevergetanyfurtherthantippingGermanwaiters。"
"Thesemenarenotthetruetype，"Mrs。Shoutswenton。"Iknowwhereyoushouldgo。"
Chapinprickeduphisears，anxioustorunanywherefromthestreetsonwhichquickmen，somethingofhiskidney，didthebusinessdeniedtohim。
"Wehearandweobey，Mrs。Shonts，"saidSophie，feelinghisunrestashedranktheloathedBritishtea。
Mrs。Shontssmiled，andtooktheminhand。Shewrotewidelyandtelegraphedfarontheirbehalftill，armedwithherletterofintroduction，shedrovethemintothatwildernesswhichisreachedfromanash-barrelofastationcalledCharingCross。
TheyweretogotoRockett"s——thefarmofoneCloke，inthesoutherncounties——where，sheassuredthem，theywouldmeetthegenuineEnglandoffolkloreandsong。
Rockettstheyfoundaftersomehours，fourmilesfromastation，and，sofarastheycould，judgeinthebumpydarkness，twiceasmanyfromaroad。Trees，kine，andtheoutlinesofbarnsshowedshadowyaboutthemwhentheyalighted，andMr。andMrs。Cloke，attheopendoorofadeepstone-flooredkitchen，madethemshylywelcome。Theylayinanatticbeneathawavywhitewashedceiling，and，becauseitrained，awoodfirewasmadeinanironbasketonabrickhearth，andtheyfellasleeptothechirpingofmiceandthewhimperofflames。
Whentheywokeitwasafairday，fullofthenoises，ofbirds，thesmellofboxlavender，andfriedbacon，mixedwithanelementalsmelltheyhadnevermetbefore。
"This，"saidSophie，nearlypushingoutthethincasementinanattempttoseeroundthe，corner，"is——whatdidthehack-cabmansaytotherailwayporteraboutmytrunk——"quiteonthetop？""
"No；"alittlebitofallright。"IfeelfartherawayfromanywherethanI"veeverfeltinmylife。Wemustfindoutwherethetelegraphofficeis。"
"Whocares？"saidSophie，wanderingabout，hairbrushinhand，toadmiretheillustratedweeklypicturespastedondoorandcupboard。
Buttherewasnorestforthealiensoultillhehadmadesureofthetelegraphoffice。HeaskedtheClokes"daughter，layingbreakfast，whileSophieplungedherfaceinthelavenderbushoutsidethelowwindow。
"Gotothestilea-topo"theBarnfield，"saidMary，"andlookacrossPardonstothenextspire。It"sdirectlyunder。Youcan"tmissit——notifyoukeeptothefootpath。Mysister"sthetelegraphistthere。Butyou"reinthethree-mileradius，sir。TheboydeliverstelegramsdirectlytothisdoorfromPardonsvillage。"
"Onehastotakeagooddealontrustinthiscountry，"hemurmured。
Sophielookedatthecloseturf，scarredonlywithlastnight"swheels，attworutswhichwoundroundarickyard，andatthecircleofstillorchardaboutthehalf-timberedhouse。
"What"sthematterwithit？"shesaid。"TelegramsdeliveredtotheValeofAvalon，ofcourse，"andshebeckonedinanearnest-eyedhoundofengagingmannersandnoengagements，whoanswered，attimes，tothenameofRambler。Heledthem，afterbreakfast，totherisebehindthehousewherethestilestoodagainsttheskyline，and，"Iwonderwhatweshallfindnow，"saidSophie，franklyprancingwithjoyonthegrass。
Itwasaslopeofgap-hedgedfieldspossessedtotheircentresbyclumpsofbrambles。Gateswerenot，andtherabbit-mined，cattle-rubbedpostsleanedoutandin。Anarrowpathdoubledamongthebushes，scoresofwhitetailstwinkledbeforetheracinghound，andahawkrose，whistlingshrilly。
"Noroads，nonothing!"saidSophie，hershortskirthookedbybriers。"IthoughtallEnglandwasagarden。There"syourspire，George，acrossthevalley。Howcurious!"
Theywalkedtowarditthroughanallabandonedland。Heretheyfoundtheghostofapatchoflucernethathadrefusedtodie:
thereaharshfallowsurrenderedtoyard-highthistles；andhereabreadthoframpantkelkfeigningtobelawfulcrop。Intheungrazedpasturesswathsofdeadstuffcaughttheirfeet，andthegroundbeneathglistenedwithsweat。Atthebottomofthevalleyalittlebrookhadundermineditsfootbridge，andfrothedinthewreckage。Buttherestoodgreatwoodsontheslopesbeyond——old，tall，andbrilliant，likeunfadedtapestriesagainstthewallsofaruinedhouse。
"AllthiswithinahundredmilesofLondon，"hesaid。"Looksasifithadhadnervousprostration，too。"The，footpathturnedtheshoulderofaslope，throughathicketofrankrhododendrons，andcrossedwhathadoncebeenacarriagedrive，whichendedintheshadowoftwogiganticholm-oaks。
"Ahouse!"saidSophie，inawhisper。"AColonialhouse!"
Behindtheblue-greenofthetwintreesroseadark-bluishbrickGeorgianpile，withashell-shapedfan-lightoveritspillareddoor。Thehoundhadgoneoffonhisownfoolishquests。Exceptforsomestiritthebranchesandtheflightoffourstartledmagpies；therewasneitherlifenorsoundaboutthesquarehouse，butitlookedoutofitslongwindowsmostfriendlily。
"Cha-armedtomeetyou，I"msure，"saidSophie，andcurtsiedtotheground。"George，thisishistoryIcanunderstand。Webeganhere。"Shecurtsiedagain。
TheJunesunshinetwinkledonallthelights。Itwasasthoughanoldlady，wiseinthreegenerations"experience，butforthepresentsittingout，benttolistentoherflushedandeagergrandchild。
"Imustlook!"Sophietiptoedtoawindow，andshadedhereyeswithherhand。"Oh，thisroom"shalf-fullofcotton-bales——wool，Isuppose!ButIcanseeabitofthemantelpiece。George，docome!Isn"tthatsomeone？"
Shefellbackbehindherhusband。Thefrontdooropenedslowly，toshowthehound，hisnosewhitewithmilk，inchargeofanancientofdayscladinabluelinenephodcuriouslygatheredonbreastandshoulders。
"Certainly，"saidGeorge，halfaloud。"FatherTimehimself。Thisiswherehelives，Sophie。"
"Wecame，"saidSophieweakly。"Canweseethehouse？I"mafraidthat"sourdog。"
"No，"tisRambler，"saidtheoldman。"He"sbeen，atmyswill-pailagain。StayingatRocketts，beye？Comein。Ah!yourunagate!"
Thehoundbrokefromhim，andhetotteredafterhimdownthedrive。Theyenteredthehall——justsuchahighlighthallassuchahouseshouldown。Aslim-balusteredstaircase，wideandshallowandoncecreamy-white，climbedoutofitunderalongovalwindow。Oneithersidedelicatelymouldeddoorsgaveontowool-lumberedrooms，whosesea-greenmantelpieceswereadornedwithnymphs，scrolls，andCupidsinlowrelief。
"What"sthefirmthatmakesthesethings？"criedSophie，enraptured。"Oh，Iforgot!Thesemustbetheoriginals。Adams，isit？Ineverdreamedofanythinglikethatsteel-cutfender。Doeshemeanustogoeverywhere？"
"He"scatchingthedog，"saidGeorge，lookingout。"Wedon"tcount。"
Theyexploredthefirstorgroundfloor，delightedaschildrenplayingburglars。
"ThisislikeallEngland，"shesaidatlast。"Wonderful，butnoexplanation。You"reexpectedtoknowitbeforehand。Now，let"stryupstairs。"
Thestairsnevercreakedbeneaththeirfeet。Fromthebroadlandingtheyenteredalong，green-panelledroomlightedbythreefull-lengthwindows，whichoverlookedtheforlornwreckofaterracedgarden，andwoodedslopesbeyond。
"Thedrawing-room，ofcourse。"Sophieswamupanddownit。"Thatmantelpiece——OrpheusandEurydice——isthebestofthemall。Isn"titmarvellous？Why，theroomseemsfurnishedwithnothinginit!
How"sthat，George？"
"It"stheproportions。I"venoticedit。"
"IsawaHeppelwhitecouchonce"——Sophielaidherfingertoherflushedcheekandconsidered。"With，twoofthem——oneoneachside——youwouldn"tneedanythingelse。Except——theremustbeoneperfectmirroroverthatmantelpiece。"
"Lookatthatview。It"saframedConstable，"herhusbandcried。
"No；it"saMorland——aparodyofaMorland。Butaboutthatcouch，George。Don"tyouthinkEmpiremightbebetterthanHeppelwhite？
Dullgoldagainstthatpalegreen？It"sapitytheydon"tmakespinetsnowadays。"
"Ibelieveyoucangetthem。Lookatthatoakwoodbehindthepines。"
""Whileyousatandplayedtoccatasstately，attheclavichord，""
Sophiehummed，and，headonone；side，noddedtowheretheperfectmirrorshouldhang:
Thentheyfoundbedroomswithdressing-roomsandpowdering-closets，andstepsleadingupanddown——boxesofrooms，round，square，andoctagonal，withenrichedceilingsandchaseddoor-locks。
"Nowaboutservants。Oh!"Shehaddartedupthelaststairstothechequereddarknessofthetopfloor，whereloosetileslayamongbrokenlaths，andthewallswerescrawledwithnames，sentiments，andhoprecords。"They"vebeenkeepingpigeonshere，"
shecried。
"Andyoucoulddriveabuggythroughtheroofanywhere，"saidGeorge。
"That"swhatIsay，"theoldmancriedbelowthemonthestairs。
"Notadryplaceformypigeonsatall。"
"Butwhywasitallowedtogetlikethis？"saidSophie。
"Tiswithhousenasteeth，"hereplied。"Let"emgotoofar，andthere"snothingtobedone。Timewastheywasmindedtosellher，butnonewouldbuy。Shewastoofarawayalongfromanyplace。
Timewasthey"dha"livedheretheyselves，buttheytookanddied。"
"Here？"Sophiemovedbeneaththelightofaholeintheroof。
"Nah——nonedieshereexcep"fallingoffricksandsuch。InLondontheydied。"Hepluckedalockofwoolfromhisbluesmock。"Theywasnostaple——neithertheElphicksnortheMoones。Shartandbrittleallof"em。Deadtheybeseventeenyear，forI"vebeenherecaretakin"twenty-five。"
"Whodoesallthewoolbelongtodownstairs？"Georgeasked。
"Totheestate。I"llshowyouthebackpartsifyelike。You"refromAmerica，ain"tye？I"vehadasonthereoncemyself。"Theyfollowedhimdownthemainstairway。Hepausedattheturnandsweptonehandtowardthewall。"Plentyroom，hereforyourcoffintocomedown。Sevenfootandthreemenateachendwouldn"tbrishthepaint。IfIdieinmybedthey"ll"avetoup-endmelikeamilk-can。"Tisallluck，dyesee？"
Heledthemonandon，throughamazeofbackkitchens，dairies，larders，andsculleries，thatmeltedalongcoveredwaysintoafarm-house，visiblyolderthanthemainbuilding，whichagainrambledoutamongbarns，byres，pig-pens，stallsandstablestothedeadfieldsbehind。
"Somehow，"saidSophie，sittingexhaustedonanancientwell-curb——"somehowonewouldn"tinsulttheselovelyoldthingsbyfillingthemwithhay。"
Georgelookedatlongstonewallsupholdingreachesofsilvery-oakweather-boarding；buttressesofmixedflintandbricks；outsidestairs，stoneuponarchedstone；curvesofthatchwheregrasssprouted；roundelsofhouse-leekedtiles，andahugepavedyardpopulatedbytwocowsandtherepentantRambler。Hehadnotthoughtofhimselforofthetelegraphofficefortwoandahalfhours。
"Butwhy，"saidSophie，astheywentbackthroughthecraterofstrickenfields，——"whyisoneexpectedtoknoweverythinginEngland？Whydotheynevertell？"
"YoumeanabouttheElphicksandtheMoones？"heanswered。
"Yes——andthelawyersandtheestate。Whoarethey？Iwonderwhetherthosepaintedfloorsinthegreenroomwererealoak。
Don"tyoulikeusexploringthingstogether——betterthanPompeii？"
Georgeturnedoncemoretolookattheview。"Eighthundredacresgowiththehouse——theoldmantoldme。Fivefarmsaltogether。
Rockettsisoneof"em。"
"IlikeMrs。Cloke。Butwhatistheoldhousecalled？"
Georgelaughed。"That"soneofthethingsyou"reexpectedtoknow。Henevertoldme。"
TheClokesweremorecommunicative。ThateveningandthereafterforaweektheygavetheChapinstheofficialhistory，asonegivesittolodgers，ofFriarsPardonthehouseanditsfivefarms。ButSophieaskedsomanyquestions，andGeorgewassohumanlyinterested，that，asconfidenceinthestrangersgrew，theylaunched，withobservedandacquireddetail，intothelivesanddeathsanddoingsoftheElphicksandtheMoonesandtheircollaterals，theHaylingsandtheTorrells。ItwasataletoldseriallybyClokeinthebarn，orhiswifeinthedairy，thelastchaptersreservedforthekitcheno"nightsbythebigfire，whenthetwohadbeenhalfthedayexploringaboutthehouse，whereoldIggulden，ofthebluesmock，cackledandchuckledtoseethem。Themotivesthatswayedthecharacterswerebeyondtheircomprehension；thefatesthatshiftedthemweregodstheyhadnevermet；thesidelightsMrs。Clokethrewonactandincidentweremoreamazingthananythingintherecord。ThereforetheChapinslisteneddelightedly，andblessedMrs。Shonts。
"Butwhy——why——why——didSo-and-sodoso-and-so？"Sophiewoulddemandfromherseatbythepothook；andMrs。Clokewouldanswer，smoothingherknees，"Forthesakeoftheplace。"
"Igiveitup，"saidGeorgeonenightintheirownroom。"Peopledon"tseemtomatterinthiscountrycomparedtotheplacestheylivein。Thewayshetellsit，FriarsPardonwasasortofMoloch。"
"Pooroldthing!"Theyhadbeenwalkingroundthefarmsasusualbeforetea。"Nowondertheylovedit。Thinkofthesacrificestheymadeforit。JaneElphickmarriedtheyoungerTorrelltokeepitinthefamily。Theoctagonalroomwiththemouldedceilingnexttothebigbedroomwashers。Nowwhatdidhetellyouwhilehewasfeedingthepigs？"saidSophie。
"AbouttheTorrellcousinsandtheunclewhodiedinJava。TheylivedatBurntHouse——behindHighPardons，wherethatbrookisallblockedup。"
"No；BurntHouseisunderHighPardonsWood，beforeyoucometoGaleAnstey，"Sophiecorrected。
"Well，oldmanClokesaid——"
Sophiethrewopenthedoorandcalleddownintothekitchen，wheretheClokeswerecoveringthefire"Mrs。Cloke，isn"tBurntHouseunderHighPardons？"
"Yes，mydear，ofcourse，"thesoftvoice。answeredabsently。A
cough。"Ibegyourpardon，Madam。Whatwasityousaid？"
"Nevermind。Ipreferittheotherway，"Sophielaughed，andGeorgere-toldthemissingchapterasshesatonthebed。
"Hereto-dayan"goneto-morrow，"saidClokewarningly。"They"vepaidtheirfirstmonth，butwe"veonlythatMrs。Shonts"sletterforguarantee。"
"Noneshesentnevercheatedusyet。ItslippedoutbeforeI
thought。She"samosthumaneyounglady。They"llbegoingawayinalittle。An"you"vetalkedalottoo，Alfred。"
"Yes，buttheElphicksarealldead。Noonecanbringmyloosetalkinghometome。Butwhydotheystayonandstayonso？"
InduetimeGeorgeandSophieaskedeachotherthatquestion，andputitaside。Theyarguedthattheclimate——apearlyblend，unlikethehotandcoldferocitiesoftheirnativeland——suitedthem，asthethickstillnessofthenightscertainlysuitedGeorge。Hewassavedeventhesightofametalledroad，which，aspresumablyleadingtobusiness，wakesdesireinaman；andthetelegraphofficeatthevillageofFriarsPardon，wheretheysoldpicturepost-cardsandpegtops，wastwowalkingmilesacrossthefieldsandwoods。
Forallthattouchedhispastamonghisfellows，ortheirremembranceofhim，hemighthavebeeninanotherplanet；andSophie，whoselifehadbeenverylargelyspentamonghusbandlesswivesofloftyideals，hadnowishtoleavethispresentofGod。
Theunhurriedmeals，theforeknowledgeofdeliciouslyemptyhourstofollow，thebreadthsofsoftskyunderwhichtheywalkedtogetherandreckonedtimeonlybytheirhungerorthirst；thegoodgrassbeneaththeirfeetthatcheatedthemiles；theirdiscoveries，alwaystogether，amidthefarms——Griffons，Rocketts，BurntHouse，GaleAnstey，andtheHomeFarm，whereIgguldenofthebluesmock-frockwouldwaylaythem，andtheywouldransacktheoldhouseoncemore；thelongwetafternoonswhen，theytuckeduptheirfeetonthebedroom"sdeepwindow-silloveragainsttheapple-trees，andtalkedtogetherasnevertillthenhadtheyfoundtimetotalk——thesethingscontentedhersoul，andherbodythrove。
"Haveyourealized，"sheaskedonemorning，"thatwe"vebeenhereabsolutelyaloneforthelastthirty-fourdays？"
"Haveyoucountedthem？"heasked。
"Didyoulikethem？"shereplied。
"Imusthave。Ididn"tthinkaboutthem。Yes，Ihave。SixmonthsagoIshouldhavefrettedmyselfsick。RememberatCairo？I"veonlyhadtwoorthreebadtimes。AmIgettingbetter，orisitseniledecay？"
"Climate，allclimate。"Sophieswunghernew-boughtEnglishboots，asshesatonthestileoverlookingFriarsPardon，behindtheClokes"sbarn。
"Onemusttakeholdofthingsthough，"hesaid，"ifit"sonlytokeepone"shandin。"Hiseyesdidnotflickernowastheyswepttheemptyfields。"Mustn"tone？"
"LayoutaMorristownlinksoverGaleAnstey。Idaresayyoucouldhireit。"
"No，I"mnotasEnglishasthat——norasMorristown。Clokesaysallthefarmsherecouldbemadetopay。"
"Well，I"mAnastasiainthe"TreasureofFranchard。"I"mcontenttobealiveandpurr。There"snohurry。"
"No。"Hesmiled。"Allthesame，I"mgoingtoseeaftermymail。"
"Youpromisedyouwouldn"thaveany。"
"There"ssomebusinesscomingthroughthat"samusingme。Honest。
Itdoesn"tgetonmynervesatall。"
"Wantasecretary？"
"No，thanks，oldthing!Isn"tthatquiteEnglish？"
"TooEnglish!Goaway。"Butnonethelessinbroaddaylightshereturnedthekiss。"I"mofftoPardons。Ihaven"tbeentothehousefornearlyaweek。"
"How"veyoudecidedtofurnishJaneElphick"sbedroom？"helaughed，forithadcometobeapermanentCastleinSpainbetweenthem。
"BlackChinesefurnitureandyellowsilkbrocade，"sheanswered，andrandownhill。Shescatteredafewcowsatagapwithaflourishofaground-ashthatIgguldenhadcutforheraweekago，andsingingasshepassedundertheholmoaks，soughtthefarm-houseatthebackofFriarsPardon。Theoldmanwasnottobefound，andsheknockedathishalf-openeddoor，forsheneededhimtofillheridleforenoon。Ablue-eyedsheep-dog，anewfriend，andRambler"soldenemy，crawledoutandbesoughthertoenter。
Igguldensatinhischairbythefire，athistle-spudbetweenhisknees，hisheaddrooped。Thoughshehadneverseendeathbefore，herheart，thatmissedabeat，toldherthathewasdead。Shedidnotspeakorcry，butstoodoutsidethedoor，andthedoglickedherhand。Whenhethrewuphisnose，sheheardherselfsaying:
"Don"thowl!Pleasedon"tbegintohowl，Scottie，orIshallrunaway!"
Sheheldhergroundwhiletheshadowsintherickyardmovedtowardnoon；satafterawhileonthestepsbythedoor，herarmsroundthedog"sneck，waitingtillsomeoneshouldcome。ShewatchedthesmokelesschimneysofFriarsPardonslashitsroofswithshadow，andthesmokeofIggulden"slastlightedfiregraduallythinandcease。AgainstherwillshefelltowonderinghowmanyMoones，Elphicks，andTorrellshadbeenswungroundtheturnofthebroadMallstairs。Thensherememberedtheoldman"stalkofbeing"up-endedlikeamilk-can，"andburiedherfaceonScottie"sneck。Atlastahorse"sfeetclinkeduponflags，rustledintheoldgreystrawoftherickyard，andshefoundherselffacingthevicar——afigureshehadseenatchurchdeclaimingimpossibilities(SophiewasaUnitarian)inanunnaturalvoice。
"He"sdead，"shesaid，withoutpreface。
"OldIggulden？Iwascomingforatalkwithhim。"Thevicarpassedinuncovered。"Ah!"sheheardhimsay。"Heart-failure!Howlonghaveyoubeenhere？"
"Sinceaquartertoeleven。"Shelookedatherwatchearnestlyandsawthatherhanddidnotshake。
"I"llsitwithhimnowtillthedoctorcomes。D"youthinkyoucouldtellhim，and——yes，Mrs。Bettsinthecottagewiththewistarianexttheblacksmith"s？I"mafraidthishasbeenratherashocktoyou。"
Sophienodded，andfledtowardthevillage。Herbodyfailedherforamoment；shedroppedbeneathahedge，andlookedbackatthegreathouse。Insomefashionitssilenceandstoliditysteadiedherforhererrand。
Mrs。Betts，small，black-eyed，anddark，wasalmostasunconcernedasFriarsPardon。
"Yiss，yiss，ofcourse。Dearme!Well，Igguldenhehadhadhisdayinmyfather"stime。Muriel，getmemylittlebluebag，please。Yiss，ma"am。Theycomedownlikeellum-branchesinstillweather。Nowarnin"atall。Muriel，mybicycle"sbe"indthefowlhouse。I"lltellDr。Dallas，ma"am。"
Shetrundledoffonherwheellikeabrownbee，whileSophie——heavenaboveandearthbeneathchanged——walkedstifflyhome，tofalloverGeorgeathisletters，inamuddleoflaughterandtears。
"It"sallquitenaturalforthem，"shegasped。"Theycomedownlikeellum-branchesinstillweather。Yiss，ma"am。"No，therewasn"tanythingintheleasthorrible，only——only——Oh，George，thatpoorshinystickofhisbetweenhispoor，thinknees!I
couldn"thaveborneitifScottiehadhowled。Ididn"tknowthevicarwasso——sosensitive。Hesaidhewasafraiditwasra——ratherashock。Mrs。Bettstoldmetogohome，andIwantedtocollapseonherfloor。ButIdidn"tdisgracemyself。I——I
couldn"thavelefthim——couldI？"
"You"resureyou"vetookno"arm？"criedMrs。Cloke，whohadheardthenewsbyfarm-telegraphy，whichisolderbutswifterthanMarconi"s。
"No。I"mperfectlywell，"Sophieprotested。
"Youlaydowntilltea-time。"Mrs。Clokepattedhershoulder。
"THEY"llbeverypleased，thoughshe"as"adnoproperunderstandin"fortwentyyears。"
"They"camebeforetwilight——ablack-beardedmaninmoleskins，andalittlepalsiedoldwoman，whochirrupedlikeawren。
"I"mhisson，"saidthemantoSophie，amongthelavenderbushes。
"We"adadifference——twentyyearback，anddidn"tspeaksince。
ButI"mhissonallthe"same，andwethankyouforthewatching。"
"I"monlygladIhappenedtobethere，"sheanswered，andfromthebottomofherheartshemeantit。
"Weheardhespokealoto"you——onetimean"anothersinceyoucame。Wethankyoukindly，"themanadded。
"AreyouthesonthatwasinAmerica？"sheasked。
"Yes，ma"am。Onmyuncle"sfarm，inConnecticut。Hewaswhattheycallrood-masterthere。"
"WhereaboutsinConnecticut？"askedGeorgeoverhershoulder。
"VeeringHollerwasthename。Iwastheresixyearwithmyuncle。"
"Howsmalltheworldis!"Sophiecried。"Why，allmymother"speoplecomefromVeeringHollow。Theremustbesometherestill——theLashmars。Didyoueverhearofthem？"
"Irememberhearingthatname，seemstome，"heanswered，buthisfacewasblankasthebackofaspade。
Alittlebeforeduskawomaningrey，stridinglikeafoot-soldier，andbearingonherarmalongpole，crashedthroughtheorchardcallingforfood。George，uponwhomtheunannouncedEnglishworkedmysteriously，fledtotheparlour；butMrs。Clokecameforwardbeaming。Sophiecouldnotescape。
"We"veonlyjustheardofit；"saidthestranger，turningonher。
"I"vebeenoutwiththeotter-houndsallday。Itwasasplendidlysportin"thing"
"Didyou——er——kill？"saidSophie。Sheknewfrombooksshecouldnotgofarwronghere。
"Yes，adrybitch——seventeenpounds，"wastheanswer。"A
splendidlysportin"thingofyoutodo。PooroldIggulden——"
"Oh——that!"saidSophie，enlightened。
"IftherehadbeenanypeopleatPardonsitwouldneverhavehappened。He"dhavebeenlookedafter。ButwhatcanyouexpectfromaparcelofLondonsolicitors？"
Mrs。Clokemurmuredsomething。
"No。I"msoakedfromthekneesdown。IfIhangaboutIshallgetchilled。Acupoftea，Mrs。Cloke，andIcaneatoneofyoursandwichesasIgo。"Shewipedherweather-wornfacewithagreenandyellowsilkhandkerchief。
"Yes，mylady!"Mrs。Clokeranandreturnedswiftly。
"OurlandmarcheswithPardonsforamileonthesouth，"sheexplained，wavingthefullcup，"butonehasquiteenoughtodowithone"sownpeoplewithoutpoachin"。Still，ifI"dknown，I"dhavesentDora，ofcourse。Haveyouseenherthisafternoon，Mrs。
Cloke？No？Iwonderwhetherthatgirldidsprainherankle。Thankyou。"ItwasaformidablehunkofbreadandbaconthatMrs。Clokepresented。"AsIwassayin"，Pardonsisascandal!Lettin"peopledielikedogs。Thereoughttobepeopletherewhodotheirduty。
You"vedoneyours，thoughtherewasn"tthefaintestcalluponyou。Goodnight。TellDora，ifshecomes，I"vegoneon。"
Shestrodeaway，munchinghercrust，andSophiereeledbreathlessintotheparlour，toshaketheshakingGeorge。
"Whydidyoukeepcatchingmyeyebehindtheblind？Whydidn"tyoucomeoutanddoyourduty？"
"BecauseIshouldhaveburst。Didyouseethemudonitscheek？"
hesaid。
"Once。Idaren"tlookagain。Whoisshe？"
"God——alocaldeitythen。Anyway，she"sanotherofthethingsyou"reexpectedtoknowbyinstinct。"
Mrs。Cloke，shockedattheirlevity，toldthemthatitwasLadyConant，wifeofSirWalterConant，Baronet，alargelandholderintheneighbourhood；andifnotGod；atleastHisvisibleProvidence。Georgemadehertalkofthatfamilyforanhour。
"Laughter，"saidSophieafterwardintheirownroom，"isthemarkofthesavage。Whycouldn"tyoucontrolyouremotions？It"sallrealtoher。"
"It"sallrealtome。That"smytrouble，"heansweredinanalteredtone。"Anyway，it"srealenoughtomarktimewith。Don"tyouthinkso？"
"Whatd"youmean？"sheaskedquickly，thoughsheknewhisvoice。
"ThatI"mbetter。I"mwellenoughtokick。"
"Whatat？"
"This!"Hewavedhishandroundtheoneroom。"ImusthavesomethingtoplaywithtillI"mfitforworkagain。"
"Ah!"Shesatonthebedandleanedforward，herhandsclasped。
"Iwonderifit"sgoodforyou。"
"We"vebeenbetterherethananywhere，"hewentonslowly。"Onecouldalwayssellitagain。"
Shenoddedgravely，buthereyessparkled。
"Theonlythingthatworriesmeiswhathappenedthismorning。I
wanttoknowhowyoufeelaboutit。Ifit"sonyournervesintheleastwecanhavetheoldfarmatthebackofthehousepulleddown，orperhapsithasspoiledthenotionforyou？"
"Pullitdown？"shecried。"You"venobusinessfaculty。Why，that"swherewecouldlivewhilewe"reputtingthebighouseinorder。It"salmostunderthesameroof。No!Whathappenedthismorningseemedtobemoreofa——ofaleadingthananythingelse。