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musttrytoearnyourbetteropinion。
Hamelreadsteadilyfortheremainderofthemorning。Itwaspastoneo’clockwhenherosestifflyfromhisseatamongthesandknollsand，strollingbacktotheTower，openedthedoorandentered。Theclothwaslaidforluncheoninthelittlesitting-room，buttherewerenosignsofHannahCox。Hepassedonintothekitchenandcametoasuddenstandstill。Oncemorethememoryofhisownworkpassedawayfromhim。Oncemorehewasbackagainamongthatqueer，cloudedtangleofstrangesuspicions，ofthrilling，half-formedfears，whichhadassailedhimattimeseversincehisarrivalatSt，David’s。Hestoppedquiteshort。Thewordswhichrosetohislipsdiedaway。Hefeltthebreathless，compellingneedforsilenceandgrewtenseintheefforttomakenosound。
HannahCoxwaskneelingonthestonefloor。Herearwasclosetothecrackofthedoorwhichledintotheboat-house。Herface，halfturnedfromit，wassetinastrange，concentratedpassionoflistening；herlipswereparted，hereyeshalfclosed。ShetooknomorenoticeofHamelorhisarrivalthanifhehadbeensomeuselesspieceoffurniture。Everyfacultyseemedtobeabsorbedinthatoneintenseeffortoflistening。Therewasnoneedofherout-stretchedfinger。Hamelfellinatoncewithamoodsomesmeric。
He，too，listened。Thesmallclockwhichshehadbroughtwithherfromthevillagetickedawayuponthemantelpiece。Thefullseafellwithplacidsoftnessuponthehighbeachoutside。Someslightnoiseofcookingcamefromthestove。Saveforthesethingstherewassilence。Yet，foraspaceoftimewhichHamelcouldneverhavemeasured，theybothlistened。Whenatlastthewomanrosetoherfeet，Hamel，findingwordsatlast，wassurprisedtofindthathisthroatwasdry。
“Whatisit，Mrs。Cox？“heasked。“Whywereyoulisteningthere？“
Herfacewasabsolutelyexpressionless。Shewasbusyingherselfnowwithasmallsaucepan，andherbackwasturnedtowardshim。
“Ispendmylife，sir，“shesaid，“listeningandwaiting。Oneneverknowswhentheendmaycome。“
“Buttheboat-house，“Hamelobjected。“Noonehasbeenintherehismorning，havethey？“
“Whocantell？“sheanswered。“Hecouldgoanywherewhenhechose，orhowhechose-throughthekeyhole，ifhewanted。“
“Butwhylisten？“Hamelpersisted。“Thereisnothingintherenowbutsomeoddsandendsofmachinery。“
Sheturnedfromthefireandlookedathimforamoment。Hereyeswerecolourless，hertoneunemotional。
“Maybe！There’snoharminlistening。“
“Didyouhearanythingwhichmadeyouwanttolisten？“
“Whocantell？“sheanswered。“Awomanwholiveswell-nighalone，asIlive，inaquietplace，hearsthingssooftenthatotherfolknever
