第3章

Aloneinherchamber，Bettyflungherselfuponherfaceonthebed，andburstintoshakingsobs。Yetshewouldnotadmittoherselfthatherlover\'sconductwasunreasonable；onlythatherrashactofthepreviousweekhadbeenwrong。Noonehadheardherenter，andshewastoowornout，inbodyandmind，tothinkorcareaboutmedicalaid。Inanhourorsoshefeltyetmoreunwell，positivelyill；andnobodycomingtoherattheusualbedtime，shelookedtowardsthedoor。Marksofthelockhavingbeenforcedwerevisible，andthismadehercharyofsummoningaservant。Sheopenedthedoorcautiouslyandsalliedforthdownstairs。

Inthedining-parlour，asitwascalled，thenowsickandsorryBettywasstartledtoseeatthatlatehournothermother，butamansitting，calmlyfinishinghissupper。Therewasnoservantintheroom。Heturned，andsherecognizedherhusband。

\'Where\'smymamma?\'shedemandedwithoutpreface。

\'Gonetoyourfather\'s。Isthat——\'Hestopped，aghast。

\'Yes，sir。Thisspottedobjectisyourwife!I\'vedoneitbecauseIdon\'twantyoutocomenearme!\'

Hewassixteenyearshersenior；oldenoughtobecompassionate。

\'Mypoorchild，youmustgettobeddirectly!Don\'tbeafraidofme——I\'llcarryyouupstairs，andsendforadoctorinstantly。\'

\'Ah，youdon\'tknowwhatIam!\'shecried。\'Ihadaloveronce；butnowhe\'sgone!\'Twasn\'tIwhodesertedhim。Hehasdesertedme；

becauseIamillhewouldn\'tkissme，thoughIwantedhimto!\'

\'Wouldn\'the?Thenhewasaverypoorslack-twistedsortoffellow。

Betty，I\'VEneverkissedyousinceyoustoodbesidemeasmylittlewife，twelveyearsandahalfold!MayIkissyounow?\'

ThoughBettybynomeansdesiredhiskisses，shehadenoughofthespiritofCunigondeinSchiller\'sballadtotesthisdaring。\'Ifyouhavecouragetoventure，yessir!\'saidshe。\'Butyoumaydieforit，mind!\'

Hecameuptoherandimprintedadeliberatekissfulluponhermouth，saying，\'Maymanyothersfollow!\'

Sheshookherhead，andhastilywithdrew，thoughsecretlypleasedathishardihood。Theexcitementhadsupportedherforthefewminutesshehadpassedinhispresence，andshecouldhardlydragherselfbacktoherroom。Herhusbandsummonedtheservants，and，sendingthemtoherassistance，wentoffhimselfforadoctor。

ThenextmorningReynardwaitedattheCourttillhehadlearntfromthemedicalmanthatBetty\'sattackpromisedtobeaverylightone——

or，asitwasexpressed，\'veryfine\'；andintakinghisleavesentupanotetoher:

\'NowImustbeGone。IpromisedyourMotherIwouldnotseeYouyet，andshemaybeanger\'difshefindsmehere。PromisetoseemeasSoonasyouarewell?\'

Hewasofallmenthenlivingoneofthebestabletocopewithsuchanuntimelysituationasthis。Acontriving，sagacious，gentle-

manneredman，aphilosopherwhosawthattheonlyconstantattributeoflifeischange，heheldthat，aslongasshelives，thereisnothingfiniteinthemostimpassionedattitudeawomanmaytakeup。

Intwelvemonthshisgirl-wife\'srecentinfatuationmightbeasdistastefultohermindasitwasnowtohisown。Inafewyearsherveryfleshwouldchange——sosaidthescientific；——herspirit，somuchmoreephemeral，wascapableofchanginginone。Bettywashis，anditbecameamerequestionofmeanshowtoeffectthatchange。

DuringthedayMrs。Dornell，havingclosedherhusband\'seyes，returnedtotheCourt。ShewastrulyrelievedtofindBettythere，eventhoughonabedofsickness。Thediseaseranitscourse，andinduetimeBettybecameconvalescent，withouthavingsuffereddeeplyforherrashness，onelittlespeckbeneathherear，andonebeneathherchin，beingallthemarkssheretained。

TheSquire\'sbodywasnotbroughtbacktoKing\'s-Hintock。Wherehewasborn，andwherehehadlivedbeforeweddinghisSue，therehehadwishedtobeburied。NosoonerhadshelosthimthanMrs。

Dornell，likecertainotherwives，thoughshehadnevershownanygreataffectionforhimwhilehelived，awokesuddenlytohismanyvirtues，andzealouslyembracedhisopinionaboutdelayingBetty\'sunionwithherhusband，whichshehadformerlycombatedstrenuously。

\'Poorman!howrighthewas，andhowwrongwasI!\'EighteenwascertainlythelowestageatwhichMr。Reynardshouldclaimherchild——nay，itwastoolow!Fartoolow!

Sodesirouswassheofhonouringherlamentedhusband\'ssentimentsinthisrespect，thatshewrotetoherson-in-lawsuggestingthat，partlyonaccountofBetty\'ssorrowforherfather\'sloss，andoutofconsiderationforhisknownwishesfordelay，Bettyshouldnotbetakenfromhertillhernineteenthbirthday。

HowevermuchorlittleStephenReynardmighthavebeentoblameinhismarriage，thepatientmannowalmostdeservedtobepitied。

FirstBetty\'sskittishness；nowhermother\'sremorsefulvolte-face:

itwasenoughtoexasperateanybody；andhewrotetothewidowinatonewhichledtoalittlecoolnessbetweenthosehithertofirmfriends。However，knowingthathehadawifenottoclaimbuttowin，andthatyoungPhelipsonhadbeenpackedofftoseabyhisparents，Stephenwascomplaisanttoadegree，returningtoLondon，andholdingquitealooffromBettyandhermother，whoremainedforthepresentinthecountry。IntownhehadamildvisitationofthedistemperhehadtakenfromBetty，andinwritingtoherhetookcarenottodwelluponitsmildness。ItwasnowthatBettybegantopityhimforwhatshehadinflicteduponhimbythekiss，andhercorrespondenceacquiredadistinctflavourofkindnessthenceforward。

Owingtohisrebuffs，ReynardhadgrowntobetrulyinlovewithBettyinhismild，placid，durableway——inthatwaywhichperhaps，uponthewhole，tendsmostgenerallytothewoman\'scomfortundertheinstitutionofmarriage，ifnotparticularlytoherecstasy。

Mrs。Dornell\'sexaggerationofherhusband\'swishfordelayintheirlivingtogetherwasinconvenient，buthewouldnotopenlyinfringeit。HewrotetenderlytoBetty，andsoonannouncedthathehadalittlesurpriseinstoreforher。ThesecretwasthattheKinghadbeengraciouslypleasedtoinformhimprivately，througharelation，thatHisMajestywasabouttoofferhimaBarony。WouldshelikethetitletobeIvell?Moreover，hehadreasonforknowingthatinafewyearsthedignitywouldberaisedtothatofanEarl，forwhichcreationhethoughtthetitleofWessexwouldbeeminentlysuitable，consideringthepositionofmuchoftheirproperty。AsLadyIvell，therefore，andfutureCountessofWessex，heshouldbegleavetoofferherhisheartathirdtime。

Hedidnotadd，ashemighthaveadded，howgreatlytheconsiderationoftheenormousestatesatKing\'s-HintockandelsewherewhichBettywouldinherit，andherchildrenafterher，hadconducedtothisdesirablehonour。

WhethertheimpendingtitleshadreallyanyeffectuponBetty\'sregardforhimIcannotstate，forshewasoneofthoseclosecharacterswhoneverlettheirmindsbeknownuponanything。Thatsuchhonourwasabsolutelyunexpectedbyherfromsuchaquarteris，however，certain；andshecouldnotdenythatStephenhadshownherkindness，forbearance，evenmagnanimity；hadforgivenherforanerrantpassionwhichhemightwithsomereasonhavedenounced，notwithstandinghercruelpositionasachildentrappedintomarriageereabletounderstanditsbearings。

Hermother，inhergriefandremorseforthelovelesslifeshehadledwithherrough，thoughopen-hearted，husband，madenowacreedofhismerestwhim；andcontinuedtoinsistthat，outofrespecttohisknowndesire，herson-in-lawshouldnotresidewithBettytillthegirl\'sfatherhadbeendeadayearatleast，atwhichtimethegirlwouldstillbeundernineteen。LettersmustsufficeforStephentillthen。

\'Itisratherlongforhimtowait，\'Bettyhesitatinglysaidoneday。

\'What!\'saidhermother。\'FromYOU?nottorespectyourdearfather——\'

\'Ofcourseitisquiteproper，\'saidBettyhastily。\'Idon\'tgainsayit。Iwasbutthinkingthat——that——\'

InthelongslowmonthsofthestipulatedintervalhermothertendedandtrainedBettycarefullyforherduties。Fullyawakenowtothemanyvirtuesofherdeardepartedone，she，amongotheractsofpiousdevotiontohismemory，rebuiltthechurchofKing\'s-Hintockvillage，andestablishedvaluablecharitiesinallthevillagesofthatname，asfarastoLittle-Hintock，severalmileseastward。

Insuperintendingtheseworks，particularlythatofthechurch-

building，herdaughterBettywasherconstantcompanion，andtheincidentsoftheirexecutionweredoubtlessnotwithoutasoothingeffectupontheyoungcreature\'sheart。Shehadsprungfromgirltowomanbyasuddenbound，andfewwouldhaverecognizedinthethoughtfulfaceofBettynowthesamepersonwho，theyearbefore，hadseemedtohaveabsolutelynoideawhateverofresponsibility，moralorother。TimepassedthustilltheSquirehadbeennearlyayearinhisvault；andMrs。DornellwasdulyaskedbyletterbythepatientReynardifshewerewillingforhimtocomesoon。HedidnotwishtotakeBettyawayifhermother\'ssenseoflonelinesswouldbetoogreat，butwouldwillinglyliveatKing\'s-Hintockawhilewiththem。

Beforethewidowhadrepliedtothiscommunication，sheonedayhappenedtoobserveBettywalkingonthesouthterraceinthefullsunlight，withouthatormantle，andwasstruckbyherchild\'sfigure。Mrs。Dornellcalledherin，andsaidsuddenly:\'Haveyouseenyourhusbandsincethetimeofyourpoorfather\'sdeath?\'

\'Well——yes，mamma，\'saysBetty，colouring。

\'What——againstmywishesandthoseofyourdearfather!Iamshockedatyourdisobedience!\'

\'Butmyfathersaideighteen，ma\'am，andyoumadeitmuchlonger——\'

\'Why，ofcourse——outofconsiderationforyou!Whenhaveyeseenhim?\'

\'Well，\'stammeredBetty，\'inthecourseofhisletterstomehesaidthatIbelongedtohim，andifnobodyknewthatwemetitwouldmakenodifference。AndthatIneednothurtyourfeelingsbytellingyou。\'

\'Well?\'

\'SoIwenttoCasterbridgethattimeyouwenttoLondonaboutfivemonthsago——\'

\'Andmethimthere?Whendidyoucomeback?\'

\'Dearmamma，itgrewverylate，andhesaiditwassafernottogobacktillnextday，astheroadswerebad；andasyouwereawayfromhome——\'

\'Idon\'twanttohearanymore!Thisisyourrespectforyourfather\'smemory，\'groanedthewidow。\'Whendidyoumeethimagain?\'

\'Oh——notformorethanafortnight。\'

\'Afortnight!Howmanytimeshaveyeseenhimaltogether?\'

\'I\'msure，mamma，I\'venotseenhimaltogetheradozentimes。\'

\'Adozen!Andeighteenandahalfyearsoldbarely!\'

\'Twicewemetbyaccident，\'pleadedBetty。\'OnceatAbbot\'s-Cernel，andanothertimeattheRedLion，Melchester。\'

\'Othoudeceitfulgirl!\'criedMrs。Dornell。\'AnaccidenttookyoutotheRedLionwhilstIwasstayingattheWhiteHart!Iremember——

youcameinattwelveo\'clockatnightandsaidyou\'dbeentoseethecathedralbythelighto\'themoon!\'

\'Myever-honouredmamma，soIhad!IonlywenttotheRedLionwithhimafterwards。\'

\'OhBetty，Betty!Thatmychildshouldhavedeceivedmeeveninmywidoweddays!\'

\'But，mydearestmamma，youmadememarryhim!\'saysBettywithspirit，\'andofcourseI\'vetoobeyhimmorethanyounow!\'

Mrs。Dornellsighed。\'AllIhavetosayis，thatyou\'dbettergetyourhusbandtojoinyouassoonaspossible，\'sheremarked。\'Togoonplayingthemaidenlikethis——I\'mashamedtoseeyou!\'

ShewroteinstantlytoStephenReynard:\'Iwashmyhandsofthewholematterasbetweenyoutwo；thoughIshouldadviseyoutoOPENLYjoineachotherassoonasyoucan——ifyouwishtoavoidscandal。\'

Hecame，thoughnottillthepromisedtitlehadbeengranted，andhecouldcallBettyarchly\'MyLady。\'

Peoplesaidinafteryearsthatsheandherhusbandwereveryhappy。

Howeverthatmaybe，theyhadanumerousfamily；andshebecameinduecoursefirstCountessofWessex，ashehadforetold。

ThelittlewhitefrockinwhichshehadbeenmarriedtohimatthetenderageoftwelvewascarefullypreservedamongtherelicsatKing\'s-HintockCourt，whereitmaystillbeseenbythecurious——ayellowing，pathetictestimonytothesmallcounttakenofthehappinessofaninnocentchildinthesocialstrategyofthosedays，whichmighthaveled，butprovidentiallydidnotlead，togreatunhappiness。

WhentheEarldiedBettywrotehimanepitaph，inwhichshedescribedhimasthebestofhusbands，fathers，andfriends，andcalledherselfhisdisconsolatewidow。

Suchiswoman；orrather(nottogiveoffencebysosweepinganassertion)，suchwasBettyDornell。

ItwasatameetingofoneoftheWessexFieldandAntiquarianClubsthattheforegoingstory，partlytold，partlyreadfromamanuscript，wasmadetododutyfortheregulationpapersondeformedbutterflies，fossilox-horns，prehistoricdung-mixens，andsuchlike，thatusuallyoccupiedthemoreseriousattentionofthemembers。

ThisClubwasofaninclusiveandintersocialcharacter；toadegree，indeed，remarkableforthepartofEnglandinwhichithaditsbeing——dear，delightfulWessex，whosestatuesquedynastiesareevennowonlyjustbeginningtofeeltheshakingofthenewandstrangespiritwithout，likethatwhichenteredthelonelyvalleyofEzekiel\'svisionandmadethedrybonesmove:wherethehonestsquires，tradesmen，parsons，clerks，andpeoplestillpraisetheLordwithonevoiceforHisbestofallpossibleworlds。

Thepresentmeeting，whichwastoextendovertwodays，hadopeneditsproceedingsatthemuseumofthetownwhosebuildingsandenvironsweretobevisitedbythemembers。Lunchhadended，andtheafternoonexcursionhadbeenabouttobeundertaken，whentheraincamedowninanobstinatespatter，whichrevealednosignofcessation。Asthememberswaitedtheygrewchilly，althoughitwasonlyautumn，andafirewaslighted，whichthrewacheerfulshineuponthevarnishedskulls，urns，penates，tesserae，costumes，coatsofmail，weapons，andmissals，animatedthefossilizedichthyosaurusandiguanodon；whilethedeadeyesofthestuffedbirds——thosenever-absentfamiliarsinsuchcollections，thoughmurderedtoextinctionoutofdoors——flashedastheyhadflashedtotherisingsunabovetheneighbouringmoorsonthefatalmorningwhenthetriggerwaspulledwhichendedtheirlittleflight。Itwasthenthatthehistorianproducedhismanuscript，whichhehadprepared，hesaid，withaviewtopublication。Hisdeliveryofthestoryhavingconcludedasaforesaid，thespeakerexpressedhishopethattheconstraintoftheweather，andthepaucityofmorescientificpapers，wouldexcuseanyinappropriatenessinhissubject。

Severalmembersobservedthatastorm-boundclubcouldnotpresumetobeselective，andtheywereallverymuchobligedtohimforsuchacuriouschapterfromthedomestichistoriesofthecounty。

ThePresidentlookedgloomilyfromthewindowatthedescendingrain，andbrokeashortsilencebysayingthatthoughtheClubhadmet，thereseemedlittleprobabilityofitsbeingabletovisittheobjectsofinterestsetdownamongtheagenda。

TheTreasurerobservedthattheyhadatleastaroofovertheirheads；andtheyhadalsoaseconddaybeforethem。

Asentimentalmember，leaningbackinhischair，declaredthathewasinnohurrytogoout，andthatnothingwouldpleasehimsomuchasanothercountystory，withorwithoutmanuscript。

TheColoneladdedthatthesubjectshouldbealady，liketheformer，towhichagentlemanknownastheSparksaid\'Hear，hear!\'

Thoughthesehadspokeninjest，aruraldeanwhowaspresentobservedblandlythattherewasnolackofmaterials。Many，indeed，werethelegendsandtraditionsofgentleandnobledames，renownedintimespastinthatpartofEngland，whoseactionsandpassionswerenow，butformen\'smemories，buriedunderthebriefinscriptiononatomboranentryofdatesinadrypedigree。

Anothermember，anoldsurgeon，asomewhatgrimthoughsociablepersonage，wasquiteofthespeaker\'sopinion，andfeltquitesurethatthememoryofthereverendgentlemanmustaboundwithsuchcurioustalesoffairdames，oftheirlovesandhates，theirjoysandtheirmisfortunes，theirbeautyandtheirfate。

Theparson，atrifleconfused，retortedthattheirfriendthesurgeon，thesonofasurgeon，seemedtohim，asamanwhohadseenmuchandheardmoreduringthelongcourseofhisownandhisfather\'spractice，thememberofallothersmostlikelytobeacquaintedwithsuchlore。

Thebookworm，theColonel，thehistorian，theVice-president，thechurchwarden，thetwocurates，thegentleman-tradesman，thesentimentalmember，thecrimsonmaltster，thequietgentleman，themanoffamily，theSpark，andseveralothers，quiteagreed，andbeggedthathewouldrecallsomethingofthekind。Theoldsurgeonsaidthat，thoughameetingoftheMid-WessexFieldandAntiquarianClubwasthelastplaceatwhichheshouldhaveexpectedtobecalleduponinthisway，hehadnoobjection；andtheparsonsaidhewouldcomenext。Thesurgeonthenreflected，anddecidedtorelatethehistoryofaladynamedBarbara，wholivedtowardstheendofthelastcentury，apologizingforhistaleasbeingperhapsalittletooprofessional。ThecrimsonmaltsterwinkedtotheSparkathearingthenatureoftheapology，andthesurgeonbegan。

DAMETHESECOND:BARBARAOFTHEHOUSEOFGREBE

BytheOldSurgeonItwasapparentlyanidea，ratherthanapassion，thatinspiredLordUplandtowers\'resolvetowinher。Nobodyeverknewwhenheformedit，orwhencehegothisassuranceofsuccessinthefaceofhermanifestdislikeofhim。PossiblynotuntilafterthatfirstimportantactofherlifewhichIshallpresentlymention。Hismaturedandcynicaldoggednessattheageofnineteen，whenimpulsemostlyrulescalculation，wasremarkable，andmighthaveoweditsexistenceasmuchtohissuccessiontotheearldomanditsaccompanyinglocalhonoursinchildhood，astothefamilycharacter；

anelevationwhichjerkedhimintomaturity，sotospeak，withouthishavingknownadolescence。Hehadonlyreachedhistwelfthyearwhenhisfather，thefourthEarl，died，afteracourseoftheBathwaters。

Nevertheless，thefamilycharacterhadagreatdealtodowithit。

Determinationwashereditaryinthebearersofthatescutcheon；

sometimesforgood，sometimesforevil。

Theseatsofthetwofamilieswereabouttenmilesapart，thewaybetweenthemlyingalongthenowold，thennew，turnpike-roadconnectingHavenpoolandWarbornewiththecityofMelchester:aroadwhich，thoughonlyabranchfromwhatwasknownastheGreatWesternHighway，isprobably，evenatpresent，asithasbeenforthelasthundredyears，oneofthefinestexamplesofamacadamizedturnpike-trackthatcanbefoundinEngland。

ThemansionoftheEarl，aswellasthatofhisneighbour，Barbara\'sfather，stoodbackaboutamilefromthehighway，withwhicheachwasconnectedbyanordinarydriveandlodge。ItwasalongthisparticularhighwaythattheyoungEarldroveonacertaineveningatChristmastidesometwentyyearsbeforetheendofthelastcentury，toattendaballatCheneManor，thehomeofBarbara，andherparentsSirJohnandLadyGrebe。SirJohn\'swasabaronetcycreatedafewyearsbeforethebreakingoutoftheCivilWar，andhislandswereevenmoreextensivethanthoseofLordUplandtowershimself；

comprisingthisManorofChene，anotheronthecoastnear，halftheHundredofCockdene，andwell-enclosedlandsinseveralotherparishes，notablyWarborneandthosecontiguous。AtthistimeBarbarawasbarelyseventeen，andtheballisthefirstoccasiononwhichwehaveanytraditionofLordUplandtowersattemptingtenderrelationswithher；itwasearlyenough，Godknows。

Anintimatefriend——oneoftheDrenkhards——issaidtohavedinedwithhimthatday，andLordUplandtowershad，forawonder，communicatedtohisguestthesecretdesignofhisheart。

\'You\'llnevergether——sure；you\'llnevergether!\'thisfriendhadsaidatparting。\'She\'snotdrawntoyourlordshipbylove:andasforthoughtofagoodmatch，why，there\'snomorecalculationinherthaninabird。\'

\'We\'llsee，\'saidLordUplandtowersimpassively。

Henodoubtthoughtofhisfriend\'sforecastashetravelledalongthehighwayinhischariot；butthesculpturalreposeofhisprofileagainstthevanishingdaylightonhisrighthandwouldhaveshownhisfriendthattheEarl\'sequanimitywasundisturbed。HereachedthesolitarywaysidetaverncalledLorntonInn——therendezvousofmanyadaringpoacherforoperationsintheadjoiningforest；andhemighthaveobserved，ifhehadtakenthetrouble，astrangepost-

chaisestandinginthehalting-spacebeforetheinn。Hedulyspedpastit，andhalf-an-hourafterthroughthelittletownofWarborne。

Onward，amilefarther，wasthehouseofhisentertainer。

Atthisdateitwasanimposingedifice——or，rather，congeriesofedifices——asextensiveastheresidenceoftheEarlhimself；thoughfarlessregular。Onewingshowedextremeantiquity，havinghugechimneys，whosesubstructuresprojectedfromtheexternalwallsliketowers；andakitchenofvastdimensions，inwhich(itwassaid)

breakfastshadbeencookedforJohnofGaunt。WhilsthewasyetintheforecourthecouldheartherhythmofFrenchhornsandclarionets，thefavouriteinstrumentsofthosedaysatsuchentertainments。

Enteringthelongparlour，inwhichthedancehadjustbeenopenedbyLadyGrebewithaminuet——itbeingnowseveno\'clock，accordingtothetradition——hewasreceivedwithawelcomebefittinghisrank，andlookedroundforBarbara。Shewasnotdancing，andseemedtobepreoccupied——almost，indeed，asthoughshehadbeenwaitingforhim。

Barbaraatthistimewasagoodandprettygirl，whoneverspokeillofanyone，andhatedotherprettywomentheveryleastpossible。

Shedidnotrefusehimforthecountry-dancewhichfollowed，andsoonafterwashispartnerinasecond。

Theeveningworeon，andthehornsandclarionetstootledmerrily。

Barbaraevincedtowardsherloverneitherdistinctpreferencenoraversion；butoldeyeswouldhaveseenthatsheponderedsomething。

However，aftersuppershepleadedaheadache，anddisappeared。Topassthetimeofherabsence，LordUplandtowerswentintoalittleroomadjoiningthelonggallery，wheresomeelderlyonesweresittingbythefire——forhehadaphlegmaticdislikeofdancingforitsownsake，——and，liftingthewindow-curtains，helookedoutofthewindowintotheparkandwood，darknowasacavern。Someoftheguestsappearedtobeleavingevensosoonasthis，twolightsshowingthemselvesasturningawayfromthedoorandsinkingtonothinginthedistance。

Hishostessputherheadintotheroomtolookforpartnersfortheladies，andLordUplandtowerscameout。LadyGrebeinformedhimthatBarbarahadnotreturnedtotheball-room:shehadgonetobedinsheernecessity。

\'Shehasbeensoexcitedovertheballallday，\'hermothercontinued，\'thatIfearedshewouldbewornoutearly……Butsure，LordUplandtowers，youwon\'tbeleavingyet?\'

Hesaidthatitwasneartwelveo\'clock，andthatsomehadalreadyleft。

\'Iprotestnobodyhasgoneyet，\'saidLadyGrebe。

Tohumourherhestayedtillmidnight，andthensetout。Hehadmadenoprogressinhissuit；buthehadassuredhimselfthatBarbaragavenootherguestthepreference，andnearlyeverybodyintheneighbourhoodwasthere。

\'\'Tisonlyamatteroftime，\'saidthecalmyoungphilosopher。

Thenextmorninghelaytillnearteno\'clock，andhehadonlyjustcomeoutupontheheadofthestaircasewhenheheardhoofsuponthegravelwithout；inafewmomentsthedoorhadbeenopened，andSirJohnGrebemethiminthehall，ashesetfootontheloweststair。

\'Mylord——where\'sBarbara——mydaughter?\'

EventheEarlofUplandtowerscouldnotrepressamazement。\'What\'sthematter，mydearSirJohn，\'sayshe。

Thenewswasstartling，indeed。FromtheBaronet\'sdisjointedexplanationLordUplandtowersgatheredthatafterhisownandtheotherguests\'departureSirJohnandLadyGrebehadgonetorestwithoutseeinganymoreofBarbara；itbeingunderstoodbythemthatshehadretiredtobedwhenshesentwordtosaythatshecouldnotjointhedancersagain。Beforethenshehadtoldhermaidthatshewoulddispensewithherservicesforthisnight；andtherewasevidencetoshowthattheyoungladyhadneverlaindownatall，thebedremainingunpressed。Circumstancesseemedtoprovethatthedeceitfulgirlhadfeignedindispositiontogetanexcuseforleavingtheball-room，andthatshehadleftthehousewithintenminutes，presumablyduringthefirstdanceaftersupper。

\'Isawhergo，\'saidLordUplandtowers。

\'Thedevilyoudid!\'saysSirJohn。

\'Yes。\'Andhementionedtheretreatingcarriage-lights，andhowhewasassuredbyLadyGrebethatnoguesthaddeparted。

\'Surelythatwasit!\'saidthefather。\'Butshe\'snotgonealone，d\'yeknow!\'

\'Ah——whoistheyoungman?\'

\'Icanon\'yguess。Myworstfearismymostlikelyguess。I\'llsaynomore。Ithought——yetIwouldnotbelieve——itpossiblethatyouwasthesinner。Wouldthatyouhadbeen!But\'tist\'other，\'tist\'other，byG-!Imuste\'enup，andafter\'em!\'

\'Whomdoyoususpect?\'

SirJohnwouldnotgiveaname，and，stultifiedratherthanagitated，LordUplandtowersaccompaniedhimbacktoChene。HeagainaskeduponwhomweretheBaronet\'ssuspicionsdirected；andtheimpulsiveSirJohnwasnomatchfortheinsistenceofUplandtowers。

Hesaidatlength，\'Ifear\'tisEdmondWillowes。\'

\'Who\'she?\'

\'AyoungfellowofShottsford-Forum——awidow-woman\'sson，\'theothertoldhim，andexplainedthatWillowes\'sfather，orgrandfather，wasthelastoftheoldglass-paintersinthatplace，where(asyoumayknow)theartlingeredonwhenithaddiedoutineveryotherpartofEngland。

\'ByG-that\'sbad——mightybad!\'saidLordUplandtowers，throwinghimselfbackinthechaiseinfrigiddespair。

Theydespatchedemissariesinalldirections；onebytheMelchesterRoad，anotherbyShottsford-Forum，anothercoastwards。

Butthelovershadaten-hours\'start；anditwasapparentthatsoundjudgmenthadbeenexercisedinchoosingastheirtimeofflighttheparticularnightwhenthemovementsofastrangecarriagewouldnotbenoticed，eitherintheparkorontheneighbouringhighway，owingtothegeneralpressofvehicles。ThechaisewhichhadbeenseenwaitingatLorntonInnwas，nodoubt，theonetheyhadescapedin；andthepairofheadswhichhadplannedsocleverlythusfarhadprobablycontrivedmarriageerenow。

Thefearsofherparentswererealized。AlettersentbyspecialmessengerfromBarbara，ontheeveningofthatday，brieflyinformedthemthatherloverandherselfwereonthewaytoLondon，andbeforethiscommunicationreachedherhometheywouldbeunitedashusbandandwife。ShehadtakenthisextremestepbecauseshelovedherdearEdmondasshecouldlovenootherman，andbecauseshehadseenclosingroundherthedoomofmarriagewithLordUplandtowers，unlesssheputthatthreatenedfateoutofpossibilitybydoingasshehaddone。Shehadwellconsideredthestepbeforehand，andwaspreparedtolivelikeanyothercountry-townsman\'swifeifherfatherrepudiatedherforheraction。

\'D-her!\'saidLordUplandtowers，ashedrovehomewardthatnight。

\'D-herforafool!\'——whichshowsthekindofloveheboreher。

Well；SirJohnhadalreadystartedinpursuitofthemasamatterofduty，drivinglikeawildmantoMelchester，andthencebythedirecthighwaytothecapital。Buthesoonsawthathewasactingtonopurpose；andbyandby，discoveringthatthemarriagehadactuallytakenplace，heforeboreallattemptstounearththemintheCity，andreturnedandsatdownwithhisladytodigesttheeventasbesttheycould。

ToproceedagainstthisWillowesfortheabductionofourheiresswas，possibly，intheirpower；yet，whentheyconsideredthenowunalterablefacts，theyrefrainedfromviolentretribution。Somesixweekspassed，duringwhichtimeBarbara\'sparents，thoughtheykeenlyfeltherloss，heldnocommunicationwiththetruant，eitherforreproachorcondonation。Theycontinuedtothinkofthedisgraceshehadbroughtuponherself；for，thoughtheyoungmanwasanhonestfellow，andthesonofanhonestfather，thelatterhaddiedsoearly，andhiswidowhadhadsuchstrugglestomaintainherself；thatthesonwasveryimperfectlyeducated。Moreover，hisbloodwas，asfarastheyknew，ofnodistinctionwhatever，whilsthers，throughhermother，wascompoundedofthebestjuicesofancientbaronialdistillation，containingtincturesofMaundeville，andMohun，andSyward，andPeverell，andCulliford，andTalbot，andPlantagenet，andYork，andLancaster，andGodknowswhatbesides，whichitwasathousandpitiestothrowaway。

Thefatherandmothersatbythefireplacethatwasspannedbythefour-centredarchbearingthefamilyshieldsonitshaunches，andgroanedaloud——theladymorethanSirJohn。

\'Tothinkthisshouldhavecomeuponusinouroldage!\'saidhe。

\'Speakforyourself!\'shesnappedthroughhersobs。\'Iamonlyone-

and-forty!……Whydidn\'tyeridefasterandovertake\'em!\'

Inthemeantimetheyoungmarriedlovers，caringnomoreabouttheirbloodthanaboutditch-water，wereintenselyhappy——happy，thatis，inthedescendingscalewhich，asweallknow，Heaveninitswisdomhasordainedforsuchrashcases；thatistosay，thefirstweektheywereintheseventhheaven，thesecondinthesixth，thethirdweektemperate，thefourthreflective，andsoon；alover\'sheartafterpossessionbeingcomparabletotheearthinitsgeologicstages，asdescribedtoussometimesbyourworthyPresident；firstahotcoal，thenawarmone，thenacoolingcinder，thenchilly——thesimileshallbepursuednofurther。Thelongandtheshortofitwasthatonedayaletter，sealedwiththeirdaughter\'sownlittleseal，cameintoSirJohnandLadyGrebe\'shands；and，onopeningit，theyfoundittocontainanappealfromtheyoungcoupletoSirJohntoforgivethemforwhattheyhaddone，andtheywouldfallontheirnakedkneesandbemostdutifulchildrenforevermore。

ThenSirJohnandhisladysatdownagainbythefireplacewiththefour-centredarch，andconsulted，andre-readtheletter。SirJohnGrebe，ifthetruthmustbetold，lovedhisdaughter\'shappinessfarmore，poorman，thanhelovedhisnameandlineage；herecalledtohismindallherlittleways，gaveventtoasigh；and，bythistimeacclimatizedtotheideaofthemarriage，saidthatwhatwasdonecouldnotbeundone，andthathesupposedtheymustnotbetooharshwithher。PerhapsBarbaraandherhusbandwereinactualneed；andhowcouldtheylettheironlychildstarve?

Aslightconsolationhadcometotheminanunexpectedmanner。TheyhadbeencrediblyinformedthatanancestorofplebeianWilloweswasoncehonouredwithintermarriagewithascionofthearistocracywhohadgonetothedogs。Inshort，suchisthefoolishnessofdistinguishedparents，andsometimesofothersalso，thattheywrotethatverydaytotheaddressBarbarahadgiventhem，informingherthatshemightreturnhomeandbringherhusbandwithher；theywouldnotobjecttoseehim，wouldnotreproachher，andwouldendeavourtowelcomeboth，andtodiscusswiththemwhatcouldbestbearrangedfortheirfuture。

Inthreeorfourdaysarathershabbypost-chaisedrewupatthedoorofCheneManor-house，atsoundofwhichthetender-heartedbaronetandhiswiferanoutasiftowelcomeaprinceandprincessoftheblood。Theywereoverjoyedtoseetheirspoiltchildreturnsafeandsound——thoughshewasonlyMrs。Willowes，wifeofEdmondWillowesofnowhere。Barbaraburstintopenitentialtears，andbothhusbandandwifewerecontriteenough，aswelltheymightbe，consideringthattheyhadnotaguineatocalltheirown。

Whenthefourhadcalmedthemselves，andnotawordofchidinghadbeenutteredtothepair，theydiscussedthepositionsoberly，youngWillowessittinginthebackgroundwithgreatmodestytillinvitedforwardbyLadyGrebeinnofrigidtone。

\'Howhandsomeheis!\'shesaidtoherself。\'Idon\'twonderatBarbara\'scrazeforhim。\'

Hewas，indeed，oneofthehandsomestmenwhoeversethislipsonamaid\'s。Abluecoat，murreywaistcoat，andbreechesofdrabsetoffafigurethatcouldscarcelybesurpassed。Hehadlargedarkeyes，anxiousnow，astheyglancedfromBarbaratoherparentsandtenderlybackagaintoher；observingwhom，evennowinhertrepidation，onecouldseewhythesangfroidofLordUplandtowershadbeenraisedtomorethanlukewarmness。Herfairyoungface(accordingtothetalehandeddownbyoldwomen)lookedoutfromunderagrayconicalhat，trimmedwithwhiteostrich-feathers，andherlittletoespeepedfromabuffpetticoatwornunderapucegown。

Herfeatureswerenotregular:theywerealmostinfantine，asyoumayseefromminiaturesinpossessionofthefamily，hermouthshowingmuchsensitiveness，andonecouldbesurethatherfaultswouldnotlieonthesideofbadtemperunlessforurgentreasons。

Well，theydiscussedtheirstateasbecamethem，andthedesireoftheyoungcoupletogainthegoodwillofthoseuponwhomtheywereliterallydependentforeverythinginducedthemtoagreetoanytemporizingmeasurethatwasnottooirksome。Therefore，havingbeennearlytwomonthsunited，theydidnotopposeSirJohn\'sproposalthatheshouldfurnishEdmondWilloweswithfundssufficientforhimtotravelayearontheContinentinthecompanyofatutor，theyoungmanundertakingtolendhimselfwiththeutmostdiligencetothetutor\'sinstructions，tillhebecamepolishedoutwardlyandinwardlytothedegreerequiredinthehusbandofsuchaladyasBarbara。Hewastoapplyhimselftothestudyoflanguages，manners，history，society，ruins，andeverythingelsethatcameunderhiseyes，tillheshouldreturntotakehisplacewithoutblushingbyBarbara\'sside。

\'Andbythattime，\'saidworthySirJohn，\'I\'llgetmylittleplaceoutatYewsholtreadyforyouandBarbaratooccupyonyourreturn。

Thehouseissmallandoutoftheway；butitwilldoforayoungcoupleforawhile。\'

\'If\'twerenobiggerthanasummer-houseitwoulddo!\'saysBarbara。

\'If\'twerenobiggerthanasedan-chair!\'saysWillowes。\'Andthemorelonelythebetter。\'

\'Wecanputupwiththeloneliness，\'saidBarbara，withlesszest。

\'Somefriendswillcome，nodoubt。\'

Allthisbeinglaiddown，atravelledtutorwascalledin——amanofmanygiftsandgreatexperience，——andonafinemorningawaytutorandpupilwent。AgreatreasonurgedagainstBarbaraaccompanyingheryouthfulhusbandwasthathisattentionstoherwouldnaturallybesuchastopreventhiszealouslyapplyingeveryhourofhistimetolearningandseeing——anargumentofwiseprescience，andunanswerable。Regulardaysforletter-writingwerefixed，BarbaraandherEdmondexchangedtheirlastkissesatthedoor，andthechaisesweptunderthearchwayintothedrive。

HewrotetoherfromLeHavre，assoonashereachedthatport，whichwasnotforsevendays，onaccountofadversewinds；hewrotefromRouen，andfromParis；describedtoherhissightoftheKingandCourtatVersailles，andthewonderfulmarble-workandmirrorsinthatpalace；wrotenextfromLyons；then，afteracomparativelylonginterval，fromTurin，narratinghisfearfuladventuresincrossingMontCenisonmules，andhowhewasovertakenwithaterrificsnowstorm，whichhadwell-nighbeentheendofhim，andhistutor，andhisguides。ThenhewroteglowinglyofItaly；andBarbaracouldseethedevelopmentofherhusband\'smindreflectedinhislettersmonthbymonth；andshemuchadmiredtheforethoughtofherfatherinsuggestingthiseducationforEdmond。Yetshesighedsometimes——herhusbandbeingnolongerinevidencetofortifyherinherchoiceofhim——andtimidlydreadedwhatmortificationsmightbeinstoreforherbyreasonofthismesalliance。Shewentoutverylittle；forontheoneortwooccasionsonwhichshehadshownherselftoformerfriendsshenoticedadistinctdifferenceintheirmanner，asthoughtheyshouldsay，\'Ah，myhappyswain\'swife；

you\'recaught!\'

Edmond\'sletterswereasaffectionateasever；evenmoreaffectionate，afterawhile，thanhersweretohim。Barbaraobservedthisgrowingcoolnessinherself；andlikeagoodandhonestladywashorrifiedandgrieved，sinceheronlywishwastoactfaithfullyanduprightly。Ittroubledhersomuchthatsheprayedforawarmerheart，andatlastwrotetoherhusbandtobeghim，nowthathewasinthelandofArt，tosendherhisportrait，eversosmall，thatshemightlookatitalldayandeveryday，andneverforamomentforgethisfeatures。

Willoweswasnothingloth，andrepliedthathewoulddomorethanshewished:hehadmadefriendswithasculptorinPisa，whowasmuchinterestedinhimandhishistory；andhehadcommissionedthisartisttomakeabustofhimselfinmarble，whichwhenfinishedhewouldsendher。WhatBarbarahadwantedwassomethingimmediate；

butsheexpressednoobjectiontothedelay；andinhisnextcommunicationEdmundtoldherthatthesculptor，ofhisownchoice，haddecidedtoincreasethebusttoafull-lengthstatue，soanxiouswashetogetaspecimenofhisskillintroducedtothenoticeoftheEnglisharistocracy。Itwasprogressingwell，andrapidly。

Meanwhile，Barbara\'sattentionbegantobeoccupiedathomewithYewsholtLodge，thehousethatherkind-heartedfatherwaspreparingforherresidencewhenherhusbandreturned。Itwasasmallplaceontheplanofalargeone——acottagebuiltintheformofamansion，havingacentralhallwithawoodengalleryrunningroundit，androomsnobiggerthanclosetstofollowthisintroduction。

Itstoodonaslopesosolitary，andsurroundedbytreessodense，thatthebirdswhoinhabitedtheboughssangatstrangehours，asiftheyhardlycoulddistinguishnightfromday。

DuringtheprogressofrepairsatthisbowerBarbarafrequentlyvisitedit。Thoughsosecludedbythedensegrowth，itwasnearthehighroad，andonedaywhilelookingoverthefenceshesawLordUplandtowersridingpast。Hesalutedhercourteously，yetwithmechanicalstiffness，anddidnothalt。Barbarawenthome，andcontinuedtopraythatshemightneverceasetoloveherhusband。

Afterthatshesickened，anddidnotcomeoutofdoorsagainforalongtime。

Theyearofeducationhadextendedtofourteenmonths，andthehousewasinorderforEdmond\'sreturntotakeuphisabodetherewithBarbara，when，insteadoftheaccustomedletterforher，cameonetoSirJohnGrebeinthehandwritingofthesaidtutor，informinghimofaterriblecatastrophethathadoccurredtothematVenice。MrWillowesandhimselfhadattendedthetheatreonenightduringtheCarnivaloftheprecedingweek，towitnesstheItaliancomedy，when，owingtothecarelessnessofoneofthecandle-snuffers，thetheatrehadcaughtfire，andbeenburnttotheground。Fewpersonshadlosttheirlives，owingtothesuperhumanexertionsofsomeoftheaudienceingettingoutthesenselesssufferers；and，amongthemall，hewhohadriskedhisownlifethemostheroicallywasMr。

Willowes。Inre-enteringforthefifthtimetosavehisfellow-

creaturessomefierybeamshadfallenuponhim，andhehadbeengivenupforlost。Hewas，however，bytheblessingofProvidence，recovered，withthelifestillinhim，thoughhewasfearfullyburnt；andbyalmostamiracleheseemedlikelytosurvive，hisconstitutionbeingwondrouslysound。Hewas，ofcourse，unabletowrite，buthewasreceivingtheattentionofseveralskilfulsurgeons。Furtherreportwouldbemadebythenextmailorbyprivatehand。

ThetutorsaidnothingindetailofpoorWillowes\'ssufferings，butassoonasthenewswasbrokentoBarbarasherealizedhowintensetheymusthavebeen，andherimmediateinstinctwastorushtohisside，though，onconsideration，thejourneyseemedimpossibletoher。Herhealthwasbynomeanswhatithadbeen，andtopostacrossEuropeatthatseasonoftheyear，ortotraversetheBayofBiscayinasailing-craft，wasanundertakingthatwouldhardlybejustifiedbytheresult。Butshewasanxioustogotill，onreadingtotheendoftheletter，herhusband\'stutorwasfoundtohintverystronglyagainstsuchastepifitshouldbecontemplated，thisbeingalsotheopinionofthesurgeons。AndthoughWillowes\'scomraderefrainedfromgivinghisreasons，theydisclosedthemselvesplainlyenoughinthesequel。

Thetruthwasthattheworstofthewoundsresultingfromthefirehadoccurredtohisheadandface——thathandsomefacewhichhadwonherheartfromher，——andboththetutorandthesurgeonsknewthatforasensitiveyoungwomantoseehimbeforehiswoundshadhealedwouldcausemoremiserytoherbytheshockthanhappinesstohimbyherministrations。

LadyGrebeblurtedoutwhatSirJohnandBarbarahadthought，buthadhadtoomuchdelicacytoexpress。

\'Sure，\'tismightyhardforyou，poorBarbara，thattheonelittlegifthehadtojustifyyourrashchoiceofhim——hiswonderfulgoodlooks——shouldbetakenawaylikethis，toleave\'eenoexcuseatallforyourconductintheworld\'seyes……Well，Iwishyou\'dmarriedt\'other——thatdoI!\'Andtheladysighed。

\'He\'llsoongetrightagain，\'saidherfathersoothingly。

Suchremarksastheabovewerenotoftenmade；buttheywerefrequentenoughtocauseBarbaraanuneasysenseofself-

stultification。Shedeterminedtohearthemnolonger；andthehouseatYewsholtbeingreadyandfurnished，shewithdrewthitherwithhermaids，whereforthefirsttimeshecouldfeelmistressofahomethatwouldbehersandherhusband\'sexclusively，whenhecame。

AfterlongweeksWilloweshadrecoveredsufficientlytobeabletowritehimself；andslowlyandtenderlyheenlightenedheruponthefullextentofhisinjuries。Itwasamercy，hesaid，thathehadnotlosthissightentirely；buthewasthankfultosaythathestillretainedfullvisioninoneeye，thoughtheotherwasdarkforever。ThesparingmannerinwhichhemetedoutparticularsofhisconditiontoldBarbarahowappallinghadbeenhisexperience。Hewasgratefulforherassurancethatnothingcouldchangeher；butfearedshedidnotfullyrealizethathewassosadlydisfiguredastomakeitdoubtfulifshewouldrecognizehim。However，inspiteofall，hisheartwasastruetoherasiteverhadbeen。

Barbarasawfromhisanxietyhowmuchlaybehind。SherepliedthatshesubmittedtothedecreesofFate，andwouldwelcomehiminanyshapeassoonashecouldcome。Shetoldhimoftheprettyretreatinwhichshehadtakenupherabode，pendingtheirjointoccupationofit，anddidnotrevealhowmuchshehadsighedovertheinformationthatallhisgoodlooksweregone。Stilllessdidshesaythatshefeltacertainstrangenessinawaitinghim，theweekstheyhadlivedtogetherhavingbeensoshortbycomparisonwiththelengthofhisabsence。

SlowlydrewonthetimewhenWillowesfoundhimselfwellenoughtocomehome。HelandedatSouthampton，andpostedthencetowardsYewsholt。BarbaraarrangedtogoouttomeethimasfarasLorntonInn——thespotbetweentheForestandtheChaseatwhichhehadwaitedfornightontheeveningoftheirelopement。Thithershedroveattheappointedhourinalittlepony-chaise，presentedherbyherfatheronherbirthdayforherespecialuseinhernewhouse；

whichvehicleshesentbackonarrivingattheinn，theplanagreeduponbeingthatsheshouldperformthereturnjourneywithherhusbandinhishiredcoach。

Therewasnotmuchaccommodationforaladyatthiswaysidetavern；

but，asitwasafineeveninginearlysummer，shedidnotmind