第48章

ItwasjustwhatMelburyhadbeguntosuspect：Fitzpiershadmountedthemarewhichdidnotbelongtohiminmistakeforhisown——anoversighteasilyexplicable，inamaneverunwittinginhorse-flesh，bythedarknessofthespotandthenearsimilarityoftheanimalsinappearance，thoughMelbury’swasreadilyenoughseentobethegrayerhorsebyday。Hehastenedback，anddidwhatseemedbestinthecircumstances——gotuponoldDarling，androderapidlyafterFitzpiers。

Melburyhadjustenteredthewood，andwaswindingalongthecart-

waywhichledthroughit，channelleddeepintheleaf-mouldwithlargerutsthatwereformedbythetimber-wagonsinfetchingthespoiloftheplantations，whenallatoncehedescriedinfront，atapointwheretheroadtookaturningroundalargechestnut-

tree，theformofhisownhorseBlossom，atwhichMelburyquickenedDarling’space，thinkingtocomeupwithFitzpiers。

Nearerviewrevealedthatthehorsehadnorider。AtMelbury’sapproachitgallopedfriskilyawayunderthetreesinahomewarddirection。Thinkingsomethingwaswrong，thetimber-merchantdismountedassoonashereachedthechestnut，andafterfeelingaboutforaminuteortwodiscoveredFitzpierslyingontheground。

“Here——help！”criedthelatterassoonashefeltMelbury’stouch；

“Ihavebeenthrownoff，butthere’snotmuchharmdone，Ithink。”

SinceMelburycouldnotnowverywellreadtheyoungermanthelecturehehadintended，andasfriendlinesswouldbehypocrisy，hisinstinctwastospeaknotasinglewordtohisson-in-law。HeraisedFitzpiersintoasittingposture，andfoundthathewasalittlestunnedandstupefied，but，ashehadsaid，nototherwisehurt。Howthisfallhadcomeaboutwasreadilyconjecturable：

Fitzpiers，imaginingtherewasonlyoldDarlingunderhim，hadbeentakenunawaresbytheyoungerhorse’ssprightliness。

Melburywasatravelleroftheold-fashionedsort；havingjustcomefromShottsford-Forum，hestillhadinhispocketthepilgrim’sflaskofrumwhichhealwayscarriedonjourneysexceedingadozenmiles，thoughheseldomdrankmuchofit。Hepoureditdownthesurgeon’sthroat，withsucheffectthathequicklyrevived。Melburygothimonhislegs；butthequestionwaswhattodowithhim。Hecouldnotwalkmorethanafewsteps，andtheotherhorsehadgoneaway。

WithgreatexertionMelburycontrivedtogethimastrideDarling，mountinghimselfbehind，andholdingFitzpiersroundhiswaistwithonearm。Darlingbeingbroad，straight-backed，andhighinthewithers，waswellabletocarrydouble，atanyrateasfarasHintock，andatagentlepace。

ThemarepacedalongwithfirmandcautioustreadthroughthecopsewhereWinterbornehadworked，andintotheheaviersoilwheretheoaksgrew；pastGreatWilly，thelargestoakinthewood，andthencetowardsNellcombeBottom，intenselydarknowwithovergrowth，andpopularlysupposedtobehauntedbythespiritsofthefratricidesexorcisedfromHintockHouse。

BythistimeFitzpierswasquiterecoveredastophysicalstrength。ButhehadeatennothingsincemakingahastybreakfastinLondonthatmorning，hisanxietyaboutFelicehavinghurriedhimawayfromhomebeforedining；asaconsequence，theoldrumadministeredbyhisfather-in-lawflewtotheyoungman’sheadandloosenedhistongue，withouthiseverhavingrecognizedwhoitwasthathadlenthimakindlyhand。Hebegantospeakindesultorysentences，Melburystillsupportinghim。

“I’vecomeallthewayfromLondonto-day。”saidFitzpiers。“Ah，that’stheplacetomeetyourequals。IliveatHintock——worse，atLittleHintock——andIamquitelostthere。There’snotamanwithintenmilesofHintockwhocancomprehendme。Itellyou，FarmerWhat’s-your-name，thatI’mamanofeducation。Iknowseverallanguages；thepoetsandIarefamiliarfriends；Iusedtoreadmoreinmetaphysicsthananybodywithinfiftymiles；andsinceIgavethatupthere’snobodycanmatchmeinthewholecountyofWessexasascientist。YetIandoomedtolivewithtradespeopleinamiserablelittleholelikeHintock！”

“Indeed！”mutteredMelbury。

Fitzpiers，increasinglyenergizedbythealcohol，hererearedhimselfupsuddenlyfromthebowedposturehehadhithertoheld，thrustinghiss