第11章

Hekissedheronce，twice，threetimes，andarosetohisfeet，slowlywithdrawinghimselffromhersidetowardsthedoor。Cytherearemainedwithhergazefixedonthefire。Edwardwentoutgrieving，buthopewasnotextinguishedevennow。

Hesmeltthefragranceofacigar，andimmediatelyafterwardssawasmallredstaroffireagainstthedarknessofthehedge。Grayewaspacingupanddownthelane，smokingashewalked。Springrovetoldhimtheresultoftheinterview。

\'Youareagoodfellow，Edward，\'hesaid；\'butIthinkmysisterisright。\'

\'IwishyouwouldbelieveManstonavillain，asIdo，\'saidSpringrove。

\'ItwouldbeabsurdofmetosaythatIlikehimnow——familyfeelingpreventsit，butIcannotinhonestysaydeliberatelythatheisabadman。\'

EdwardcouldkeepthesecretofManston\'scoercionofMissAldclyffeinthematterofthehousesasecretnolonger。HetoldOwenthewholestory。

\'That\'sonething，\'hecontinued，\'butnotall。Whatdoyouthinkofthis——IhavediscoveredthathewenttoBudmouthpost-officeforaletterthedaybeforethefirstadvertisementforhiswifeappearedinthepapers。Onewasthereforhim，anditwasdirectedinhiswife\'shandwriting，asIcanprove。ThiswasnottillafterthemarriagewithCytherea，itistrue，butif(asitseemstoshow)

theadvertisingwasafarce，thereisastrongpresumptionthattherestofthepiecewas。\'

Owenwastooastoundedtospeak。Hedroppedhiscigar，andfixedhiseyesuponhiscompanion。

\'Collusion！\'

\'Yes。\'

\'Withhisfirstwife？\'

\'Yes——withhiswife。Iamfirmlypersuadedofit。\'

\'Whatdidyoudiscover？\'

\'Thathefetchedfromthepost-officeatBudmouthaletterfromherthedayBEFOREthefirstadvertisementappeared。\'

Grayewaslostinalongconsideration。\'Ah！\'hesaid，\'itwouldbedifficulttoproveanythingofthatsortnow。Thewritingcouldnotbeswornto，andifheisguiltytheletterisdestroyed。\'

\'Ihaveothersuspicions——\'

\'Yes——asyousaid\'interruptedOwen，whohadnottillnowbeenabletoformthecomplicatedsetofideasnecessaryforpicturingtheposition。\'Yes，thereisthistoberemembered——Cythereahadbeentakenfromhimbeforethatlettercame——andhisknowledgeofhiswife\'sexistencecouldnothaveoriginatedtillafterthewedding。

Icouldhaveswornhebelievedherdeadthen。Hismannerwasunmistakable。\'

\'Well，Ihaveothersuspicions，\'repeatedEdward；\'andifIonlyhadtheright——ifIwereherhusbandorbrother，heshouldbeconvictedofbigamyyet。\'

\'Thereproofwasnotneeded，\'saidOwen，withalittlebitterness。

\'WhatcanIdo——amanwithneithermoneynorfriends——whilstManstonhasMissAldclyffeandallherfortunetobackhimup？Godonlyknowswhatliesbetweenthemistressandhersteward，butsincethishastranspired——ifitistrue——Icanbelievetheconnectiontobeevenanunworthyone——athingIcertainlyneversomuchasownedtomyselfbefore。\'

3。THEFIFTHOFMARCH

Edward\'sdisclosurehadtheeffectofdirectingOwenGraye\'sthoughtsintoanentirelynewanduncommonchannel。

OntheMondayafterSpringrove\'svisit，OwenhadwalkedtothetopofahillintheneighbourhoodofTolchurch——awildhillthathadnoname，besideabarrendownwhereitneverlookedlikesummer。Intheintensityofhismeditationsontheever-presentsubject，hesatdownonaweather-beatenboundary-stonegazingtowardsthedistantvalleys——seeingonlyManston\'simaginedform。

Hadhisdefencelesssisterbeentrifledwith？thatwasthequestionwhichaffectedhim。HerrefusalofEdwardasahusbandwas，heknew，dictatedsolelybyahumiliatedsenseofinadequacytohiminrepute，andhadnotbeenformedtillsincetheslanderoustaleaccountingforherseclusionhadbeencirculated。Wasitnottrue，asEdwardhadhinted，thathe，herbrother，wasneglectinghisdutytowardsherinallowingManstontothriveunquestioned，whilstshewashidingherheadfornofaultatall？

WasitpossiblethatManstonwassensuousvillainenoughtohavecontemplated，atanymomentbeforethemarriagewithCytherea，thereturnofhisfirstwife，whenheshouldhavegrownwearyofhisnewtoy？Hadhebelievedthat，byaskilfulmanipulationofsuchcircumstancesaschancewouldthrowinhisway，hecouldescapeallsuspicionofhavingknownthatshelived？Onlyonefactwithinhisowndirectknowledgeaffordedtheleastgroundforsuchasupposition。Itwasthat，possessedbyawomanonlyinthehumbleandunprotectedstationofalady\'shiredcompanion，hissister\'sbeautymightscarcelyhavebeensufficienttoinduceaselfishmanlikeManstontomakeherhiswife，unlesshehadforeseenthepossibilityofgettingridofheragain。

\'ButforthatstratagemofManston\'sinrelationtotheSpringroves，\'Owenthought，\'CythiemightnowhavebeenthehappywifeofEdward。True，thatheinfluencedMissAldclyffeonlyrestsonEdward\'ssuspicions，butthegroundsaregood——theprobabilityisstrong。\'

HewentindoorsandquestionedCytherea。

\'Onthenightofthefire，whofirstsaidthatMrs。Manstonwasburnt？\'heasked。

\'Idon\'tknowwhostartedthereport。\'

\'WasitManston？\'

\'Itwascertainlynothe。Alldoubtonthesubjectwasremovedbeforehecametothespot——thatIamcertainof。EverybodyknewthatshedidnotescapeAFTERthehousewasonfire，andthusalloverlookedthefactthatshemighthaveleftbefore——ofcoursethatwouldhaveseemedsuchanimprobablethingforanybodytodo。\'

\'Yes，untiltheporter\'sstoryofherirritationanddoubtastohercoursemadeitnatural。\'

\'Whatsettledthematterattheinquest，\'saidCytherea，\'wasMr。

Manston\'sevidencethatthewatchwashiswife\'s。\'

\'Hewassureofthat，wasn\'the？\'

\'Ibelievehesaidhewascertainofit。\'

\'Itmighthavebeenhers——leftbehindinherperturbation，astheysayitwas——impossibleasthatseemsatfirstsight。Yes——onthewhole，hemighthavebelievedinherdeath。\'

\'Iknowbyseveralproofsthatthen，andatleastforsometimeafter，hehadnootherthoughtthanthatshewasdead。Inowthinkthatbeforetheporter\'sconfessionheknewsomethingabouther——

thoughnotthatshelived。\'

\'Whydoyou？\'

\'Fromwhathesaidtomeontheeveningofthewedding-day，whenI

hadfastenedmyselfintheroomatthehotel，afterEdward\'svisit。

HemusthavesuspectedthatIknewsomething，forhewasirritated，andinapassionofuneasydoubt。Hesaid，“Youdon\'tsupposemyfirstwifeiscometolightagain，madam，surely？”Directlyhehadlettheremarkslipout，heseemedanxioustowithdrawit。\'

\'That\'sodd，\'saidOwen。

\'Ithoughtitveryodd。\'

\'Stillwemustrememberhemightonlyhavehituponthethoughtbyaccident，indoubtastoyourmotive。Yes，thegreatpointtodiscoverremainsthesameasever——didhedoubthisfirstimpressionofherdeathBEFOREhemarriedyou。Ican\'thelpthinkinghedid，althoughhewassoastoundedatournewsthatnight。Edwardswearshedid。\'

\'Itwasperhapsonlyashorttimebefore，\'saidCytherea；\'whenhecouldhardlyrecedefromhavingme。

\'Seasoningjusticewithmercyasusual，Cytherea。\'Tisunfairtoyourselftotalklikethat。IfIcouldonlybringhimtoruinasabigamist——supposinghimtobeone——Ishoulddiehappy。That\'swhatwemustfindoutbyfairmeansorfoul——washeawilfulbigamist？\'

\'Itisnousetrying，Owen。Youwouldhavetoemployasolicitor，andhowcanyoudothat？\'

\'Ican\'tatall——Iknowthatverywell。ButneitherdoIaltogetherwishtoatpresent——alawyermusthaveacase——factstogoupon，thatmeans。Nowtheyarescarceatpresent——asscarceasmoneyiswithus，andtillwehavefoundmoremoneythereisnohurryforalawyer。Perhapsbythetimewehavethefactsweshallhavethemoney。Theonlythingweloseinworkingaloneinthisway，istime——nottheissue：forthefruitthatonemindmaturesinatwelvemonthformsamoreperfectlyorganizedwholethanthatoftwelvemindsinonemonth，especiallyiftheinterestsofthesingleonearevitallyconcerned，andthoseofthetwelveareonlyhired。

Butthereisnotonlymymindavailable——youareashrewdwoman，Cythie，andEdwardisanearnestally。Then，ifwereallygetasurefootingforacriminalprosecution，theCrownwilltakeupthecase。\'

\'Idon\'tmuchcaretopressoninthematter，\'shemurmured。\'Whatgoodcanitdous，Owen，afterall？\'

\'Selfishlyspeaking，itwilldothisgood——thatallthefactsofyourjourneytoSouthamptonwillbecomeknown，andthescandalwilldie。Besides，Manstonwillhavetosuffer——it\'sanactofjusticetoyouandtootherwomen，andtoEdwardSpringrove。\'

HenowthoughtitnecessarytotellheroftherealnatureoftheSpringroves\'obligationtoMissAldclyffe——andtheirnearlycertainknowledgethatManstonwastheprimemoverineffectingtheirembarrassment。Herfaceflushedasshelistened。

\'Andnow，\'hesaid，\'ourfirstundertakingistofindoutwhereMrs。

Manstonlivedduringtheseparation；next，whenthefirstcommunicationspassedbetweenthemafterthefire。\'

\'IfweonlyhadMissAldclyffe\'scountenanceandassistanceasI

usedtohavethem，\'Cythereareturned，\'howstrongweshouldbe！O，whatpowerisitthatheexercisesoverher，swayingherjustashewishes！Shelovesmenow。Mrs。MorrisinherlettersaidthatMissAldclyffeprayedforme——yes，sheheardherprayingforme，andcrying。MissAldclyffedidnotmindanoldfriendlikeMrs。Morrisknowingit，either。Yetinoppositiontothis，noticeherdeadsilenceandinactionthroughoutthisproceeding。\'

\'Itisamystery；butnevermindthatnow，\'saidOwenimpressively。

\'AboutwhereMrs。Manstonhasbeenliving。Wemustgetthispartofitfirst——learntheplaceofherstayintheearlystageoftheirseparation，duringtheperiodofManston\'sarrivalhere，andsoon，forthatwaswhereshewasfirstcommunicatedwithonthesubjectofcomingtoKnapwater，beforethefire；andthataddress，too，washerpointofdeparturewhenshecametoherhusbandbystealthinthenight——youknow——thetimeIvisitedyouintheeveningandwenthomeearlyinthemorning，anditwasfoundthathehadbeenvisitedtoo。

Ah！couldn\'tweinquireofMrs。Leat，whokeepsthepost-officeatCarriford，ifsherememberswheretheletterstoMrs。Manstonweredirected？\'

\'Heneverpostedhisletterstoherintheparish——itwasremarkedatthetime。IwasthinkingifsomethingrelatingtoheraddressmightnotbefoundinthereportoftheinquestintheCasterbridgeChronicleofthedate。Somefactsabouttheinquestweregiveninthepaperstoacertainty。\'

Herbrothercaughteagerlyatthesuggestion。\'WhohasafileoftheChronicles？\'hesaid。

\'Mr。Raunhamusedtofilethem，\'saidCytherea。\'Hewasratherfriendly-disposedtowardsme，too。\'

Owencouldnot，onanyconsideration，escapefromhisattendanceatthechurch-buildingtillSaturdayevening；andthusitbecamenecessary，unlesstheyactuallywastedtime，thatCythereaherselfshouldassist。\'Iactunderyourorders，Owen，\'shesaid。

XVI。THEEVENTSOFONEWEEK

1。MARCHTHESIXTH

Thenextmorningtheopeningmoveofthegamewasmade。Cytherea，undercoverofathickveil，hiredaconveyanceanddrovetowithinamileorsoofCarriford。ItwaswitharenewedsenseofdepressionthatshesawagaintheobjectswhichhadbecomefamiliartohereyeduringhersojournunderMissAldclyffe\'sroof——theoutlineofthehills，themeadowstreams，theoldparktrees。Shehastenedbyalonelypathtotherectory-house，andaskedifMr。

Raunhamwasathome。

Nowtherector，thoughasolitarybachelor，wasasgallantandcourteoustowomankindasanancientIberian；and，moreover，hewasCytherea\'sfriendinparticular，toanextentfargreaterthanshehadeversurmised。Rarelyvisitinghisrelative，MissAldclyffe，exceptonparishmatters，morerarelystillbeingcalleduponbyMissAldclyffe，CythereahadlearntverylittleofhimwhilstshelivedatKnapwater。Therelationshipwasontheimpecuniouspaternalside，andforthisbranchofherfamilytheladyoftheestatehadneverevincedmuchsympathy。Inlookingbackuponourlineofdescentitisaninstinctwithustofeelthatallourvitalitywasdrawnfromthericherpartytoanyunequalmarriageinthechain。

Sincethedeathoftheoldcaptain，therector\'sbearinginKnapwaterHousehadbeenalmostthatofastranger，acircumstancewhichhehimselfwasthelastmanintheworldtoregret。Thispoliteindifferencewassofrigidonbothsidesthattherectordidnotconcernhimselftopreachather，whichwasagreatdealinarector；andshedidnottakethetroubletothinkhissermonspoorstuff，whichinacynicalwomanwasagreatdealmore。

Thoughbarelyfiftyyearsofage，hishairwasaswhiteassnow，contrastingstrangelywiththerednessofhisskin，whichwasasfreshandhealthyasalad\'s。Cytherea\'sbrighteyes，mutelyanddemurelyglancingupathimSundayafterSunday，hadbeenthemeansofdrivingawaymanyofthesaturninehumoursthatcreepintoanemptyheartduringthehoursofasolitarylife；inthiscase，however，tosupplantthem，whenshelefthisparish，bythoseothersofamoreachingnaturewhichaccompanyanover-fullone。Inshort，hehadbeenonthevergeoffeelingtowardsherthatpassiontowhichhisdignifiedself-respectwouldnotgiveitstruename，evenintheprivacyofhisownthought。

Hereceivedherkindly；butshewasnotdisposedtobefrankwithhim。Hesawherwishtobereserved，andwithgenuinegoodtasteandgoodnaturemadenocommentwhateveruponherrequesttobeallowedtoseetheChroniclefortheyearbeforethelast。Heplacedthepapersbeforeheronhisstudytable，withatimidityasgreatasherown，andthenleftherentirelytoherself。

Sheturnedthemovertillshecametothefirstheadingconnectedwiththesubjectofhersearch——\'DisastrousFireandLossofLifeatCarriford。\'

Thesight，anditscalamitousbearinguponherownlife，madehersodizzythatshecould，forawhile，hardlydeciphertheletters。

Stiflingrecollectionbyaneffortshenervedherselftoherwork，andcarefullyreadthecolumn。Theaccountremindedherofnootherfactthanwasrememberedalready。

Sheturnedontothefollowingweek\'sreportoftheinquest。AfteramiserableperusalshecouldfindnomorepertainingtoMrs。

Manston\'saddressthanthis：——

\'ABRAHAMBROWN，ofHoxton，London，atwhosehousethedeceasedwomanhadbeenliving，deposed，\'etc。

NobodyelsefromLondonhadattendedtheinquest。Shearosetodepart，firstsendingamessageofthankstoMr。Raunham，whowasoutofdoorsgardening。

Hestuckhisspadeintotheground，andaccompaniedhertothegate。

\'CanIhelpyouinanything，Cytherea？\'hesaid，usingherChristiannamebyanintuitionthatunpleasantmemoriesmightberevivedifhecalledherMissGrayeafterwishinghergood-byeasMrs。Manstonatthewedding。Cythereasawthemotiveandappreciatedit，neverthelessreplyingevasively——

\'Ionlyguessandfear。\'

Heearnestlylookedatheragain。

\'Promisemethatifyouwantassistance，andyouthinkIcangiveit，youwillcometome。\'

\'Iwill，\'shesaid。

Thegateclosedbetweenthem。

\'Youdon\'twantmetohelpyouinanythingnow，Cytherea？\'herepeated。

Ifhehadspokenwhathefelt，\'Iwantverymuchtohelpyou，Cytherea，andhavebeenwatchingManstononyouraccount，\'shewouldgladlyhaveacceptedhisoffer。Asitwas，shewasperplexed，andraisedhereyestohis，notsofearlesslyasbeforehertrouble，butasmodestly，andwithstillenoughbrightnessinthemtodofearfulexecutionasshesaidoverthegate——

\'No，thankyou。\'

ShereturnedtoTolchurchwearywithherday\'swork。Owen\'sgreetingwasanxious——

\'Well，Cytherea？\'

Shegavehimthewordsfromthereportoftheinquest，pencilledonaslipofpaper。

\'Nowtofindoutthenameofthestreetandnumber，\'Owenremarked。

\'Owen，\'shesaid，\'willyouforgivemeforwhatIamgoingtosay？

Idon\'tthinkIcan——indeedIdon\'tthinkIcan——takeanyfurtherstepstowardsdisentanglingthemystery。Istillthinkitauselesstask，anditdoesnotseemanydutyofminetoberevengeduponMr。

Manstoninanyway。\'Sheaddedmoregravely，\'Itisbeneathmydignityasawomantolabourforthis；Ihavefeltitsoallday。\'

\'Verywell，\'hesaid，somewhatshortly；\'Ishallworkwithoutyouthen。There\'sdignityinjustice。\'Hecaughtsightofherpaletiredface，andthedilatedeyewhichalwaysappearedinherwithweariness。\'Darling，\'hecontinuedwarmly，andkissingher，\'youshallnotworksohardagain——youarewornoutquite。ButyoumustletmedoasIlike。\'

2。MARCHTHETENTH

OnSaturdayeveningGrayehurriedofftoCasterbridge，andcalledatthehouseofthereportertotheChronicle。Thereporterwasathome，andcameouttoGrayeinthepassage。Owenexplainedwhoandwhathewas，andaskedthemanifhewouldobligehimbyturningtohisnotesoftheinquestatCarrifordintheDecemberoftheyearprecedingthelast——justaddingthatafamilyentanglement，ofwhichthereporterprobablyknewsomething，madehimanxioustoascertainsomeadditionaldetailsoftheevent，ifanyexisted。

\'Certainly，\'saidtheother，withouthesitation；\'thoughIamafraidIhaven\'tmuchbeyondwhatweprintedatthetime。Letmesee——myoldnote-booksareinmydrawerattheofficeofthepaper：ifyouwillcomewithmeIcanrefertothemthere。\'Hiswifeandfamilywereatteainsidetheroom，andwiththetimidityofdecentpovertyeverywhereheseemedgladtogetastrangeroutofhisdomesticgroove。

Theycrossedthestreet，enteredtheoffice，andwentthencetoaninnerroom。Here，afterashortsearch，wasfoundthebookrequired。Thepreciseaddress，notgiveninthecondensedreportthatwasprinted，butwrittendownbythereporter，wasasfollows：——

\'ABRAHAMBROWN，LODGING-HOUSEKEEPER，41CHARLESSQUARE，HOXTON。\'

Owencopiedit，andgavethereporterasmallfee。\'Iwanttokeepthisinquiryprivateforthepresent，\'hesaidhesitatingly。\'Youwillperhapsunderstandwhy，andobligeme。\'

Thereporterpromised。\'Newsisshopwithme，\'hesaid，\'andtoescapefromhandlingitismygreatestsocialenjoyment。\'

Itwasevening，andtheouterroomofthepublishing-officewaslightedupwithflaringjetsofgas。Aftermakingtheaboveremark，thereportercameoutfromtheinnerapartmentinGraye\'scompany，answeringanexpressionofobligationfromOwenwiththewordsthatitwasnotrouble。Atthemomentofhisspeech，heclosedbehindhimthedoorbetweenthetworooms，stillholdinghisnote-bookinhishand。

Beforethecounterofthefrontroomstoodatallman，whowasalsospeaking，whentheyemerged。Hesaidtotheyouthinattendance，\'I

willtakemypaperforthisweeknowIamhere，sothatyouneedn\'tpostittome。\'

Thestrangerthenslightlyturnedhishead，sawOwen，andrecognizedhim。OwenpassedoutwithoutrecognizingtheotherasManston。

Manstonthenlookedatthereporter，who，afterwalkingtothedoorwithOwen，hadcomebackagaintolockuphisbooks。Manstondidnotneedtobetoldthattheshabbymarble-coveredbookwhichheheldinhishand，openingendwaysandinterleavedwithblotting-

paper，wasanoldreporting-book。Heraisedhiseyestothereporter\'sface，whoseexperiencehadnotsoschooledhisfeaturesbutthattheybetrayedaconsciousness，toonehalfinitiatedastheotherwas，thathislateproceedinghadbeenconnectedwitheventsinthelifeofthesteward。Manstonsaidnomore，but，takinghisnewspaper，followedOwenfromtheoffice，anddisappearedinthegloomofthestreet。

EdwardSpringrovewasnowinLondonagain，andonthissameevening，beforeleavingCasterbridge，Owenwroteacarefullettertohim，statingthereinallthefactsthathadcometohisknowledge，andbegginghim，ashevaluedCytherea，tomakecautiousinquiries。A

tallmanwasstandingunderthelamp-post，abouthalf-a-dozenyardsabovethepost-office，whenhedroppedtheletterintothebox。

Thatsamenight，too，forareasonconnectedwiththerencounterwithOwenGraye，thestewardentertainedtheideaofrushingoffsuddenlytoLondonbythemail-train，whichleftCasterbridgeatteno\'clock。ButrememberingthatletterspostedafterthehouratwhichOwenhadobtainedhisinformation——whateverthatwas——couldnotbedeliveredinLondontillMondaymorning，hechangedhismindandwenthometoKnapwater。Makingaconfidentialexplanationtohiswife，arrangementsweresetonfootforhisdeparturebythemailonSundaynight。

3。MARCHTHEELEVENTH

Startingforchurchthenextmorningseveralminutesearlierthanwasusualwithhim，thestewardintentionallyloiteredalongtheroadfromthevillagetilloldMr。Springroveovertookhim。Manstonspokeverycivillyofthemorning，andoftheweather，askinghowthefarmer\'sbarometerstood，andwhenitwasprobablethatthewindmightchange。ItwasnotinMr。Springrove\'snature——goingtochurchashewas，too——toreturnanythingbutacivilanswertosuchcivilquestions，howeverhisfeelingsmighthavebeenbiassedbylateevents。Theconversationwascontinuedontermsofgreaterfriendliness。

\'Youmustbefeelingsettledagainbythistime，Mr。Springrove，aftertheroughturn-outyouhadonthatterriblenightinNovember。\'

\'Ay，butIdon\'tknowaboutfeelingsettled，either，Mr。Manston。

Theoldwindowinthechimney-corneroftheoldhouseIshallneverforget。Nowindowinthechimney-cornerwhereIamnow，andIhadbeenusedtoitformorethanfiftyyears。Tedsays\'tisagreatlosstome，andheknowsexactlywhatIfeel。\'

\'Yoursonisagaininagoodsituation，Ibelieve？\'saidManston，imitatingthatinquisitivenessintotheprivateaffairsofthenativeswhichpassesforhighbreedingincountryvillages。

\'Yes，sir。Ihopehe\'llkeepit，ordosomethingelseandsticktoit。\'

\'\'Tistobehopedhe\'llbesteadynow。\'

\'He\'salwaysbeenthat，Iassure\'ee，\'saidtheoldmantartly。

\'Yes——yes——Imeanintellectuallysteady。Intellectualwildoatswillthriveinasoilofthestrictestmorality。\'

\'Intellectualgingerbread！Ted\'ssteadyenough——that\'sallIknowaboutit。\'

\'Ofcourse——ofcourse。Hasherespectablelodgings？Myownexperiencehasshownmethatthat\'sagreatthingtoayoungmanlivingaloneinLondon。\'

\'WarwickStreet，CharingCross——that\'swhereheis。\'

\'Well，tobesure——strange！Averydearfriendofmineusedtoliveatnumberfifty-twointhatverysamestreet。\'

\'Edwardlivesatnumberforty-nine——howverynearbeingthesamehouse！\'saidtheoldfarmer，pleasedinspiteofhimself。

\'Very，\'saidManston。\'Well，Isupposewehadbetterstepalongalittlequicker，Mr。Springrove；theparson\'sbellhasjustbegun。\'

\'Numberforty-nine，\'hemurmured。

4。MARCHTHETWELFTH

EdwardreceivedOwen\'sletterinduetime，butonaccountofhisdailyengagementshecouldnotattendtoanyrequesttilltheclockhadstruckfiveintheafternoon。RushingthenfromhisofficeinWestminster，hecalledahansomandproceededtoHoxton。Afewminuteslaterheknockedatthedoorofnumberforty-one，CharlesSquare，theoldlodgingofMrs。Manston。

Atallmanwhowouldhavelookedextremelyhandsomehadhenotbeenclumsilyandcloselywrappedupingarmentsthatweremuchtooelderlyinstyleforhisyears，stoodatthecornerofthequietsquareatthesameinstant，having，too，alightedfromacab，thathadbeendrivenalongOldStreetinEdward\'srear。HesmiledconfidentlywhenSpringroveknocked。

Nobodycametothedoor。Springroveknockedagain。

Thisbroughtouttwopeople——oneatthedoorhehadbeenknockingupon，theotherfromthenextontheright。

\'IsMr。Brownathome？\'saidSpringrove。

\'No，sir。\'

\'Whenwillhebein？\'

\'Quiteuncertain。\'

\'CanyoutellmewhereImayfindhim？\'

\'No。O，hereheiscoming，sir。That\'sMr。Brown。\'

Edwardlookeddownthepavementinthedirectionpointedoutbythewoman，andsawamanapproaching。Heproceededafewstepstomeethim。

Edwardwasimpatient，andtoacertainextentstillacountryman，whohadnot，afterthemannerofcitymen，subduedthenaturalimpulsetospeakouttherulingthoughtwithoutpreface。Hesaidinaquiettonetothestranger，\'Onewordwithyou——doyourememberaladylodgerofyoursofthenameofMrs。Manston？\'

Mr。BrownhalfclosedhiseyesatSpringrove，somewhatasifhewerelookingintoatelescopeatthewrongend。

\'Ihaveneverletlodgingsinmylife，\'hesaid，afterhissurvey。

\'Didn\'tyouattendaninquestayearandahalfago，atCarriford？\'

\'Neverknewtherewassuchaplaceintheworld，sir；andastolodgings，Ihavetakenacresfirstandlastduringthelastthirtyyears，butIhaveneverletaninch。\'

\'Isupposethereissomemistake，\'Edwardmurmured，andturnedaway。

HeandMr。Brownwerenowoppositethedoornexttotheonehehadknockedat。Thewomanwhowasstillstandingtherehadheardtheinquiryandtheresultofit。

\'IexpectitistheotherMr。Brown，whousedtolivethere，thatyouwant，sir，\'shesaid。\'TheMr。Brownthatwasinquiredfortheotherday？\'

\'Verylikelythatistheman，\'saidEdward，hisinterestreawakening。

\'Hecouldn\'tmakeadooflodging-lettinghere，andatlasthewenttoCornwall，wherehecamefrom，andwherehisbrotherstilllived，whohadoftenaskedhimtocomehomeagain。Buttherewaslittleluckinthechange；forafterLondontheysayhecouldn\'tstandtherainywestwindstheygetthere，andhediedintheDecemberfollowing。Willyoustepintothepassage？\'

\'That\'sunfortunate，\'saidEdward，goingin。\'ButperhapsyourememberaMrs。Manstonlivingnextdoortoyou？\'

\'Oyes，\'saidthelandlady，closingthedoor。\'Theladywhowassupposedtohavemetwithsuchahorriblefate，andwasaliveallthetime。Isawhertheotherday。\'

\'SincethefireatCarriford？\'

\'Yes。HerhusbandcametoaskifMr。Brownwasstilllivinghere——

justasyoumight。Heseemedanxiousaboutit；andthenoneevening，aweekorfortnightafterwards，whenhecameagaintomakefurtherinquiries，shewaswithhim。ButIdidnotspeaktoher——

shestoodback，asifshewereshy。Iwasinterested，however，foroldMr。Brownhadtoldmeallaboutherwhenhecamebackfromtheinquest。\'

\'DidyouknowMrs。Manstonbeforeshecalledtheotherday？\'

\'No。YouseeshewasonlyMr。Brown\'slodgerfortwoorthreeweeks，andIdidn\'tknowshewaslivingtheretillshewasnearuponleavingagain——wedon\'tnoticenext-doorpeoplemuchhereinLondon。

ImuchregrettedIhadnotknownherwhenIheardwhathadhappened。

ItledmeandMr。Browntotalkaboutheragreatdealafterwards。

IlittlethoughtIshouldseeheraliveafterall。\'

\'Andwhendoyousaytheycameheretogether？\'

\'Idon\'texactlyremembertheday——thoughIrememberaverybeautifuldreamIhadthatsamenight——ah，Ishallneverforgetit！

Shoalsoflodgerscomingalongthesquarewithangels\'wingsandbrightgoldensovereignsintheirhandswantingapartmentsatWestEndprices。Theywouldnotgiveanyless；no，notifyou——\'

\'Yes。DidMrs。Manstonleaveanything，suchaspapers，whenshelefttheselodgingsoriginally？\'saidEdward，thoughhisheartsankasheasked。Hefeltthathewasoutwitted。Manstonandhiswifehadbeentherebeforehim，clearingthegroundofalltraces。

\'Ihavealwayssaid“No“hitherto，\'repliedthewoman，\'consideringIcouldsaynomoreifputuponmyoath，asIexpectedtobe。Butspeakinginacommoneverydaywaynowtheoccurrenceispast，I

believeafewthingsofsomekind(thoughIdoubtiftheywerepapers)wereleftinaworkboxshehad，becauseshetalkedaboutittoMr。Brown，andwasratherangryatwhatoccurred——yousee，shehadatemperbyallaccount，andsoIdidn\'tliketoremindtheladyofthisworkboxwhenshecametheotherdaywithherhusband。\'

\'Andabouttheworkbox？\'

\'Well，fromwhatwascasuallydropped，IthinkMrs。Manstonhadafewarticlesoffurnitureshedidn\'twant，andwhenshewasleavingtheywereputinasalejustby。Amongstherthingsweretwoworkboxesverymuchalike。Oneofthesesheintendedtosell，theothershedidn\'t，andMr。Brown，whocollectedthethingstogether，tookthewrongonetothesale。\'

\'Whatwasinit？\'

\'O，nothinginparticular，orofanyvalue——someaccounts，andherusualsewingmaterialsIthink——nothingmore。Shedidn\'ttakemuchtroubletogetitback——shesaidthebillswereworthnothingtoheroranybodyelse，butthatsheshouldhavelikedtokeeptheboxbecauseherhusbandgaveitherwhentheywerefirstmarried，andifhefoundshehadpartedwithit，hewouldbevexed。\'

\'DidMrs。Manston，whenshecalledrecentlywithherhusband，alludetothis，orinquireforit，ordidMr。Manston？\'

\'No——andIratherwonderedatit。Butsheseemedtohaveforgottenit——indeed，shedidn\'tmakeanyinquiryatall，onlystandingbehindhim，listeningtohis；andheprobablyhadneverbeentoldanythingaboutit。\'

\'Whosesalewerethesearticlesofherstakento？\'

\'Whowastheauctioneer？Mr。Halway。Hisplaceisthethirdturningfromtheendofthatstreetyouseethere。Anybodywilltellyoutheshop——hisnameiswrittenup。\'

Edwardwentofftofollowuphiscluewithapromptnesswhichwasdictatedmorebyadoggedwilltodohisutmostthanbyahopeofdoingmuch。Whenhewasoutofsight，thetallandcloakedman，whohadwatchedhim，cameuptothewoman\'sdoor，withanappearanceofbeinginbreathlesshaste。

\'HasagentlemanbeenhereinquiringaboutMrs。Manston？\'

\'Yes；he\'sjustgone。\'

\'Dearme！Iwanthim。\'

\'He\'sgonetoMr。Halway\'s。\'

\'IthinkIcangivehimsomeinformationuponthesubject。Doeshepayprettyliberally？\'

\'Hegavemehalf-a-crown。\'

\'Thatscalewilldo。I\'mapoorman，andwillseewhatmylittlecontributiontohisknowledgewillfetch。But，bytheway，perhapsyoutoldhimallIknow——whereshelivedbeforecomingtolivehere？\'

\'Ididn\'tknowwhereshelivedbeforecominghere。Ono——IonlysaidwhatMr。Brownhadtoldme。Heseemedanice，gentleyoungman，orIshouldn\'thavebeensoopenasIwas。\'

\'IshallnowaboutcatchhimatMr。Halway\'s，\'saidtheman，andwentawayashastilyashehadcome。

Edwardinthemeantimehadreachedtheauction-room。Hefoundsomedifficulty，onaccountoftheinertnessofthosewhoseonlyinducementtoanactionisamerewishfromanother，ingettingtheinformationhestoodinneedof，butitwasatlastaccordedhim。

Theauctioneer\'sbookgavethenameofMrs。Higgins，3CanleyPassage，asthepurchaserofthelotwhichhadincludedMrs。

Manston\'sworkbox。

ThitherEdwardwent，followedbytheman。Fourbellpulls，oneabovetheotherlikewaistcoat-buttons，appearedonthedoor-post。

Edwardseizedthefirsthecameto。

\'Whodidyouwoant？\'saidathinvoicefromsomewhere。

Edwardlookedaboveandaroundhim；nobodywasvisible。

\'Whodidyouwoant？\'saidthethinvoiceagain。

Hefoundnowthatthesoundproceededfrombelowthegratingcoveringthebasementwindow。Hedroppedhisglancethroughthebars，andsawachild\'swhiteface。

\'Whodidyouwoant？\'saidthevoicethethirdtime，withpreciselythesamelanguidinflection。

\'Mrs。Higgins，\'saidEdward。

\'Thirdbellup，\'saidtheface，anddisappeared。

Hepulledthethirdbellfromthebottom，andwasadmittedbyanotherchild，thedaughterofthewomanhewasinsearchof。Hegavethelittlethingsixpence，andaskedforhermamma。Thechildledhimupstairs。

Mrs。Higginswasthewifeofacarpenterwhofromwantofemploymentonewinterhaddecidedtomarry。Afterwardstheybothtooktodrink，andsankintodesperatecircumstances。Afewchairsandatablewerethechiefarticlesoffurnitureinthethird-floorbackroomwhichtheyoccupied。Arollofbaby-linenlayonthefloor；

besideitapap-cloggedspoonandanoverturnedtinpap-cup。

AgainstthewallaDutchclockwasfixedoutoflevel，andtickedwildlyinlongsandshorts，itsentrailshangingdownbeneathitswhitefaceandwiryhands，likethefaecesofaHarpy(\'foedissimaventrisproluvies，uncaequemanus，etpallidasemperora\')。Ababywascryingagainsteverychair-leg，thewholefamilyofsixorsevenbeingsmallenoughtobecoveredbyawashing-tub。Mrs。Higginssathelpless，clothedinadresswhichhadhooksandeyesinplenty，butneveroneoppositetheother，therebyrenderingthedressalmostuselessasascreentothebosom。Noworkboxwasvisibleanywhere。

Itwasadepressingpictureofmarriedlifeamongtheverypoorofacity。Onlyforoneshorthourinthewholetwenty-fourdidhusbandandwifetastegenuinehappiness。Itwasintheevening，when，afterthesaleofsomenecessaryarticleoffurniture，theywereundertheinfluenceofaquarternofgin。

Ofalltheingeniousandcruelsatiresthatfromthebeginningtillnowhavebeenstucklikeknivesintowomankind，surelythereisnotonesolaceratingtothem，andtouswholovethem，asthetriteoldfact，thatthemostwretchedofmencan，inthetwinklingofaneye，findawifereadytobemorewretchedstillforthesakeofhiscompany。

Edwardhastenedtodespatchhiserrand。

Mrs。Higginshadlatelypawnedtheworkboxwithotheruselessarticlesoflumber，shesaid。Edwardboughttheduplicateofher，andwentdownstairstothepawnbroker\'s。

Inthebackdivisionofamustyshop，amidtheheterogeneouscollectionofarticlesandodoursinvariablycrowdingsuchplaces，heproducedhisticket，andwithasenseofsatisfactionoutofallproportiontotheprobableworthofhisacquisition，tooktheboxandcarrieditoffunderhisarm。Heattemptedtoliftthecoverashewalked，butfounditlocked。

ItwasduskwhenSpringrovereachedhislodging。Enteringhissmallsitting-room，thefrontapartmentonthegroundfloor，hestruckalight，andproceededtolearnifanyscrapormarkwithinoruponhispurchaserendereditofmomenttothebusinessinhand。

Breakingopenthecoverwithasmallchisel，andliftingthetray，heglancedeagerlybeneath，andfound——nothing。

Henextdiscoveredthatapocketorportfoliowasformedontheundersideofthecover。Thisheunfastened，andslippinghishandwithin，foundthatitreallycontainedsomesubstance。Firsthepulledoutaboutadozentangledsilkandcottonthreads。Underthemwereashorthouseholdaccount，adrymoss-rosebud，andanoldpairofcarte-de-visitephotographs。OneofthesewasalikenessofMrs。Manston——\'Eunice\'beingwrittenunderitinink——theotherofManstonhimself。

Hesatdowndispirited。Thiswasallthefruitofhistask——notasingleletter，date，oraddressofanykindtohelphim——andwasitlikelytherewouldbe？

However，thinkinghewouldsendthefragments，suchastheywere，toGraye，inordertosatisfyhimthathehaddonehisbestsofar，hescribbledaline，andputallexceptthesilkandcottonintoanenvelope。Lookingathiswatch，hefounditwasthentwentyminutestoseven；byaffixinganextrastamphewouldbeenabledtodespatchthembythatevening\'spost。Hehastilydirectedthepacket，andranwithitatoncetothepost-officeatCharingCross。

Onhisreturnhetookuptheworkboxagaintoexamineitmoreleisurely。Hethenfoundtherewasalsoasmallcavityinthetrayunderthepincushion，whichwasmovablebyabitofribbon。Liftingthisheuncoveredaflattenedsprigofmyrtle，andasmallscrapofcrumpledpaper。Thepapercontainedaverseortwoinaman\'shandwriting。HerecognizeditasManston\'s，havingseennotesandbillsfromhimathisfather\'shouse。Thestanzawasofacomplimentarycharacter，descriptiveoftheladywhowasnowManston\'swife。

\'EUNICE。

\'WhosoforhoursorlengthydaysShallcatchheraspect\'schangefulrays，Thenturnaway，cannonerecallBeyondagalaxyofallInhazyportraiture；

LitbythelightofazureeyesLikesummerdaysbysummerskies：

HersweettransitionsseemtobeAkindofpicturedmelody，Andnotasetcontour。

\'AE。M。\'

Toshake，pull，andransacktheboxtillhehadalmostdestroyeditwasnowhisnaturalaction。Butitcontainedabsolutelynothingmore。

\'Disappointedagain，\'hesaid，flingingdownthebox，thebitofpaper，andthewitheredtwigthathadlainwithit。

Yetvaluelessasthenewacquisitionwas，onsecondthoughtsheconsideredthatitwouldbeworthwhiletomakegoodthestatementinhislatenotetoGraye——thathehadsenteverythingtheboxcontainedexceptthesewing-thread。Thereuponheenclosedtheverseandmyrtle-twiginanotherenvelope，witharemarkthathehadoverlookedtheminhisfirstsearch，andputitonthetableforthenextday\'spost。

Inhishurryandconcentrationuponthematterthatoccupiedhim，Springrove，onenteringhislodgingandobtainingalight，hadnotwaitedtopulldowntheblindorclosetheshutters。Consequentlyallthathehaddonehadbeenvisiblefromthestreet。Butasonanaveragenotonepersonaminutepassedalongthequietpavementatthistimeoftheevening，thediscoveryoftheomissiondidnotmuchconcernhismind。

Buttherealstateofthecasewasthatatallmanhadstoodagainsttheoppositewallandwatchedthewholeofhisproceeding。WhenEdwardcameoutandwenttotheCharingCrosspost-office，themanfollowedhimandsawhimdroptheletterintothebox。ThestrangerdidnotfurthertroublehimselftofollowSpringrovebacktohislodgingagain。

Manstonnowknewthattherehadbeenphotographsofsomekindinhiswife\'sworkbox，andthoughhehadnotbeennearenoughtoseethem，heguessedwhosetheywere。Theleastreflectiontoldhimtowhomtheyhadbeensent。

Hepausedaminuteundertheporticoofthepost-office，lookingatthetwoorthreeomnibusesstoppingandstartinginfrontofhim。

ThenherushedalongtheStrand，throughHolywellStreet，andontoOldBoswellCourt。Kickingasidetheshoeblackswhobegantoimportunehimashepassedunderthecolonnade，heturnedupthenarrowpassagetothepublishing-officeofthePost-OfficeDirectory。HebeggedtobeallowedtoseetheDirectoryofthesouth-westcountiesofEnglandforamoment。

Theshopmanimmediatelyhandeddownthevolumefromashelf，andManstonretiredwithittothewindow-bench。Heturnedtothecounty，andthentotheparishofTolchurch。Attheendofthehistoricalandtopographicaldescriptionofthevillageheread：——

\'Postmistress——Mrs。Hurston。Lettersreceivedat6。3OA。M。byfoot-

postfromAnglebury。\'

Returninghisthanks，hehandedbackthebookandquittedtheoffice，thencepursuinghiswaytoanobscurecoffee-housebytheStrand，wherehenowpartookofalightdinner。Butrestseemedimpossiblewithhim。Someabsorbingintentionkepthisbodycontinuallyonthemove。Hepaidhisbill，tookhisbaginhishand，andwentouttoidleaboutthestreetsandovertherivertillthetimeshouldhavearrivedatwhichthenight-maillefttheWaterlooStation，bywhichtrainheintendedtoreturnhomeward。

Thereexists，asitwere，anouterchambertothemind，inwhich，whenamanisoccupiedcentrallywiththemostmomentousquestionofhislife，casualandtriflingthoughtsarejustallowedtowandersoftlyforaninterval，beforebeingbanishedaltogether。Thus，amidhisconcentrationdidManstonreceiveperceptionsoftheindividualsabouthiminthelivelythoroughfareoftheStrand；tallmenlookinginsignificant；littlemenlookinggreatandprofound；

lostwomenofmiserablereputelookingashappyasthedaysarelong；wives，happybyassumption，lookingcarewornandmiserable。

Eachandallwerealikeinthisonerespect，thattheyfollowedasolitarytrailliketheinwoventhreadswhichformabanner，andallwereequallyunconsciousofthesignificantwholetheycollectivelyshowedforth。

Atteno\'clockheturnedintoLancasterPlace，crossedtheriver，andenteredtherailway-station，wherehetookhisseatinthedownmail-train，whichborehim，andEdwardSpringrove\'slettertoGraye，farawayfromLondon。

XVII。THEEVENTSOFONEDAY

1。MARCHTHETHIRTEENTH。THREETOSIXO\'CLOCKA。M。

TheyenteredAngleburyStationinthedead，stilltimeofearlymorning，theclockoverthebooking-officepointingtotwenty-fiveminutestothree。Manstonlingeredontheplatformandsawthemail-bagsbroughtout，noticing，asapertinentpastime，themanyshabbyblotchesofwaxfrominnumerablesealsthathadbeensetupontheirmouths。Theguardtookthemintoafly，andwasdrivendowntheroadtothepost-office。

Itwasaraw，damp，uncomfortablemorning，though，asyet，littlerainwasfalling。Manstondrankamouthfulfromhisflaskandwalkedatonceawayfromthestation，pursuinghiswaythroughthegloomtillhestoodonthesideofthetownadjoining，atadistancefromthelasthouseinthestreetofabouttwohundredyards。

Thestationroadwasalsotheturnpike-roadintothecountry，thefirstpartofitscoursebeingacrossaheath。Havingsurveyedthehighwayupanddowntomakesureofitsbearing，Manstonmethodicallysethimselftowalkbackwardsandforwardsastone\'sthrowineachdirection。Althoughthespringwastemperate，thetimeofday，andtheconditionofsuspenseinwhichthestewardfoundhimself，causedasensationofchillinesstopervadehisframeinspiteoftheovercoathewore。Thedrizzlingrainincreased，anddropsfromthetreesatthewaysidefellnoisilyuponthehardroadbeneaththem，whichreflectedfromitsglassysurfacethefainthalooflighthangingoverthelampsoftheadjacenttown。

Herehewalkedandlingeredfortwohours，withoutseeingorhearingalivingsoul。Thenheheardthemarket-houseclockstrikefive，andsoonafterwards，quickhardfootstepssmoteuponthepavementofthestreetleadingtowardshim。TheywerethoseofthepostmanfortheTolchurchbeat。Hereachedthebottomofthestreet，gavehisbagsafinalhitch-up，steppedoffthepavement，andstruckoutforthecountrywithabriskshuffle。

Manstonthenturnedhisbackuponthetown，andwalkedslowlyon。

Intwominutesaflickeringlightshoneuponhisform，andthepostmanovertookhim。

Thenew-comerwasashort，stoopingindividualofabovefive-and-

forty，ladenonbothsideswithleatherbagslargeandsmall，andcarryingalittlelanternstrappedtohisbreast，whichcastatinypatchoflightupontheroadahead。

\'Atryenmornenfortravellers！\'thepostmancried，inacheerfulvoice，withoutturninghisheadorslackeninghistrot。

\'Itis，indeed，\'saidManston，steppingoutabreastofhim。\'Youhavealongwalkeveryday。\'

\'Yes——alongwalk——forthoughthedistanceisonlysixteenmilesonthestraight——thatis，eighttothefurthestplaceandeightback，whatwiththeinsandoutstothegentlemen\'shouses，itmakestwo-

and-twentyformylegs。Two-and-twentymilesaday，howmanyayear？Iusedtoreckonit，butIneverdonow。Idon\'tcaretothinko\'mywearandtear，nowitdobegintotelluponme。\'

Thustheconversationwasbegun，andthepostmanproceededtonarratethedifferentstrangeeventsthatmarkedhisexperience。

Manstongrewveryfriendly。

\'Postman，Idon\'tknowwhatyourcustomis，\'hesaid，afterawhile；

\'butbetweenyouandme，IalwayscarryadropofsomethingwarminmypocketwhenIamoutonsuchamorningasthis。Tryit。\'Hehandedthebottleofbrandy。

\'Ifyou\'llexcuseme，please。Ihaven\'ttooknostimmilentsthesefiveyears。\'

\'\'Tisnevertoolatetomend。\'

\'Againsttheregulations，Ibeafraid。\'

\'Who\'llknowit？\'

\'That\'strue——nobodywillknowit。Still，honesty\'sthebestpolicy。\'

\'Ah——itiscertainly。But，thankGod，I\'vebeenabletogetonwithoutityet。You\'llsurelydrinkwithme？\'

\'Really，\'tisa\'mosttooearlyforthatsorto\'thing——however，toobligeafriend，Idon\'tobjecttothefaintestshadderofadrop。\'

Thepostmandrank，andManstondidthesametoaveryslightdegree。

Fiveminuteslater，whentheycametoagate，theflaskwaspulledoutagain。

\'Welldone！\'saidthepostman，beginningtofeelitseffect；\'butguidemysoul，Ibeafraid\'twillhardlydo！\'

\'Notunless\'tiswellfollowed，likeanyotherlineyoutakeup，\'

saidManston。\'Besides，there\'sawayoflikingadropofliquor，andofbeinggood——evenreligious——atthesametime。\'

\'Ay，forsomethimble-and-buttonin-an-outfellers；butIcouldnevergetintotheknacko\'it；notI。\'

\'Well，youneedn\'tbetroubled；itisn\'tnecessaryforthehigherclassofmindtobereligious——theyhavesomuchcommon-sensethattheycanriskplayingwithfire。\'

\'Thathitsmeexactly。\'

\'Infact，amanIknow，whoalwayshadnoothergodbut“Me；“anddevoutlylovedhisneighbour\'swife，saysnowthatbelievingisamistake。\'

\'Well，tobesure！However，believinginGodisamistakemadebyveryfewpeople，afterall。\'

\'Atrueremark。\'

\'NotoneChristianinourparishwouldwalkhalfamileinarainlikethistoknowwhethertheScripturehadconcludedhimundersinorgrace。\'

\'Norinmine。\'

\'Ah，youmaydependuponitthey\'lldoawaywi\'Goddymityaltogetheraforelong，althoughwe\'vehadhimoverussomanyyears。\'

\'There\'snoknowing。\'

\'AndIsupposetheQueen\'illbedoneawaywi\'then。Aprettyconcernthat\'llbe！Nobody\'sheadtoputonyourletters；andthenyourhonestmanwhodopayhispennywillneverbeknownfromyourscampwhodon\'t。O，\'tisanation！\'

\'Warmthecocklesofyourheart，however。Here\'sthebottlewaiting。\'

\'I\'llobligeyou，myfriend。\'

Thedrinkingwasrepeated。Thepostmangrewlivelierashewenton，andatlengthfavouredthestewardwithasong，Manstonhimselfjoininginthechorus。

\'Heflunghismalletagainstthewall，Said，“TheLordmakechurchesandchapelstofall，Andthere\'llbeworkfortradesmenall！”

WhenJoan\'salewasnew，Myboys，WhenJoan\'salewasnew。\'

\'Youunderstand，friend，\'thepostmanadded，\'Iwasoriginallyamasonbytrade：nooffencetoyouifyoubeaparson？\'

\'Noneatall，\'saidManston。

Therainnowcamedownheavily，buttheypursuedtheirpathwithalacrity，theproduceoftheseveralfieldsbetweenwhichthelanewounditswaybeingindicatedbythepeculiarcharacterofthesoundemittedbythefallingdrops。Sometimesasoakinghissproclaimedthattheywerepassingbyapasture，thenapatterwouldshowthattherainfelluponsomelarge-leafedrootcrop，thenapaddlingplashannouncedthenakedarable，thelowsoundofthewindintheirearsrisingandfallingwitheachpacetheytook。

Besidesthesmallprivatebagsofthecountyfamilies，whichwerealllocked，thepostmanborethelargegeneralbudgetfortheremaininginhabitantsalonghisbeat。Ateachvillageorhamlettheycameto，thepostmansearchedforthepacketoflettersdestinedforthatplace，andthrustitintoanordinaryletter-holecutinthedoorofthereceiver\'scottage——thevillagepost-officesbeingmostlykeptbyoldwomenwhohadnotyetrisen，thoughlightsmovinginothercottagewindowsshowedthatsuchpeopleascarters，woodmen，andstablemenhadlongbeenstirring。

Thepostmanhadbythistimebecomemarkedlyunsteady，buthestillcontinuedtobetooconsciousofhisdutiestosufferthestewardtosearchthebag。Manstonwasperplexed，andatlonelypointsintheroadcasthiseyeskeenlyupontheshortbowedfigureofthemantrottingthroughthemudbyhisside，asifhewerehalfinclinedtorunaverygreatriskindeed。

Itfrequentlyhappenedthatthehousesoffarmers，clergymen，etc。，layashortdistanceupordownalaneorpathbranchingfromthedirecttrackofthepostman\'sjourney。Tosavetimeanddistance，atthepointofjunctionofsomeofthesepathswiththemainroad，thegate-postwashollowedouttoformaletter-box，inwhichthepostmandepositedhismissivesinthemorning，lookingintheboxagainintheeveningtocollectthoseplacedthereforthereturnpost。TolchurchVicarageandFarmstead，lyingbackfromthevillagestreet，wereservedonthisprinciple。Thisfactthestewardnowlearntbyconversingwiththepostman，andthediscoveryrelievedManstongreatly，makinghisintentionsmuchclearertohimselfthantheyhadbeenintheearlierstagesofhisjourney。

Theyhadreachedtheoutskirtsofthevillage。Manstoninsistedupontheflaskbeingemptiedbeforetheyproceededfurther。Thiswasdone，andtheyapproachedthechurch，thevicarage，andthefarmhouseinwhichOwenandCythereawereliving。

Thepostmanpaused，fumbledinhisbag，tookoutbythelightofhislanternsomehalf-dozenletters，andtriedtosortthem。Hecouldnotperformthetask。

\'Webecrippleddisciplesab\'lieve，\'hesaid，withasighandastagger。

\'Notdrunk，butmarket-merry，\'saidManstoncheerfully。

\'Welldone！IfIbaintsoweakthatIcan\'tseetheclouds——muchlessletters。Guidemysoul，ifsobeanybodyshouldtelltheQueen\'spostmaster-generalofme！ThewholestorywillhavetogothroughParliamentHouse，andIshallbehigh-treasoned——assafeashouses——andbefined，andwho\'llpayforapoormartel！O，\'tisaworld！\'

\'TrustintheLord——he\'llpay。\'

\'Hepayab\'lieve！whyshouldhewhenhedidn\'tdrinkthedrink？Hepayab\'lieve！D\'yethinktheman\'safool？\'

\'Well，well，Ihadnointentionofhurtingyourfeelings——buthowwasItoknowyouweresosensitive？\'

\'True——youwerenottoknowIwassosensitive。Here\'sacaddlewi\'

theseletters！Guidemysoul，whatwillBillydo！\'

Manstonofferedhisservices。

\'Theyaretobedivided，\'themansaid。

\'How？\'saidManston。

\'These，forthevillage，tobecarriedonintoit：anyforthevicarageorvicaragefarmmustbeleftintheboxofthegate-postjusthere。There\'snoneforthevicarage-housethismornen，butI

sawwhenIstartedtherewasonefortheclerko\'worksatthenewchurch。Thisisit，isn\'tit？\'

Heheldupalargeenvelope，directedinEdwardSpringrove\'shandwriting：——

\'MR。O。GRAYE，CLERKOFWORKS，TOLCHURCH，NEARANGLEBURY。\'

Theletter-boxwasscoopedinanoakgate-postaboutafootsquare。

Therewasnoslitforinsertingtheletters，byreasonoftheopportunitysuchalonelyspotwouldhaveaffordedmischievouspeasant-boysofdoingdamagehadsuchbeenthecase；butatthesidewasasmallirondoor，keptclosebyanironreversiblestraplockedacrossit。Onesideofthisstrapwaspaintedblack，theotherwhite，andwhiteorblackoutwardsimpliedrespectivelythattherewerelettersinside，ornone。

Thepostmanhadtakenthekeyfromhispocketandwasattemptingtoinsertitinthekeyholeofthebox。Hetouchedoneside，theother，above，below，butnevermadeastraighthit。

\'Letmeunlockit，\'saidManston，takingthekeyfromthepostman。

HeopenedtheboxandreachedoutwithhisotherhandforOwen\'sletter。

\'No，no。Ono——no，\'thepostmansaid。\'Asoneof——Majesty\'sservants——care——Majesty\'smails——duty——putletters——ownhands。\'Heslowlyandsolemnlyplacedtheletterinthesmallcavity。

\'Nowlockit，\'hesaid，closingthedoor。

Thestewardplacedthebaracross，withtheblacksideoutwards，signifying\'empty，\'andturnedthekey。

\'You\'veputthewrongsideoutwards！\'saidthepostman。\'\'Tisn\'tempty。\'

\'Anddroppedthekeyinthemud，sothatIcan\'talterit，\'saidthesteward，lettingsomethingfall。

\'Whatanawkwardthing！\'

\'Itisanawkwardthing。\'

Theybothwentsearchinginthemud，whichtheirowntramplinghadreducedtotheconsistencyofpap，thepostmanunstrappinghislittlelanternfromhisbreast，andthrustingitabout，closetotheground，therainstilldrizzlingdown，andthedawnsotardyonaccountoftheheavycloudsthatdaylightseemeddelayedindefinitely。Theraysofthelanternwererenderedindividuallyvisibleuponthethickmist，andseemedalmosttangibleastheypassedoffintoit，afterilluminatingthefacesandkneesofthetwostoopingfiguresdrippingwithwet；thepostman\'scapeandprivatebags，andthesteward\'svalise，glisteningasiftheyhadbeenvarnished。

\'Itfellonthegrass，\'saidthepostman。

\'No；itfellinthemud，\'saidManston。Theysearchedagain。

\'I\'mafraidweshan\'tfinditbythislight，\'saidthestewardatlength，washinghismuddyfingersinthewetgrassofthebank。

\'I\'mafraidweshan\'t，\'saidtheother，standingup。

\'I\'lltellyouwhatwehadbetterdo，\'saidManston。\'Ishallbebackthiswayinanhourorso，andsinceitwasallmyfault，I\'lllookagain，andshallbesuretofinditinthedaylight。AndI\'llhidethekeyhereforyou。\'Hepointedtoaspotbehindthepost。

\'Itwillbetoolatetoturntheindexthen，asthepeoplewillhavebeenhere，sothattheboxhadbetterstayasitis。Theletterwillonlybedelayedaday，andthatwillnotbenoticed；ifitis，youcansayyouplacedtheironthewrongwaywithoutknowingit，andallwillbewell。\'

Thiswasagreedtobythepostmanasthebestthingtobedoneunderthecircumstances，andthepairwenton。Theyhadpassedthevillageandcometoacrossroad，whenthesteward，tellinghiscompanionthattheirpathsnowdiverged，turnedofftothelefttowardsCarriford。

NosoonerwasthepostmanoutofsightandhearingthanManstonstalkedbacktothevicarageletter-boxbykeepinginsideafence，andthusavoidingthevillage；arrivedhere，hetookthekeyfromhispocket，whereithadbeenconcealedallthetime，andabstractedOwen\'sletter。Thisdone，heturnedtowardshome，bythehelpofwhathecarriedinhisvaliseadjustinghimselftohisordinaryappearanceashenearedthequarterinwhichhewasknown。

Anhourandhalf\'ssharpwalkingbroughthimtohisowndoorinKnapwaterPark。