下载辰思小说免费APP
Timepassed，andthehouseholdontheKnapbecameagainsereneunderthecomposinginfluencesofdailyroutine。Adesultory，verydesultorycorrespondence，draggedonbetweenSallyHallandDarton，who，notquiteknowinghowtotakeherpetulantwordsonthenightofherbrother’sdeath，hadcontinuedpassivethuslong。Helenaandherchildrenremainedatthedairy-house，almostofnecessity，andDartonthereforedeemeditadvisabletostayaway。
Oneday，sevenmonthslateron，whenMr。Dartonwasasusualathisfarm，twentymilesfromHintock，anotereachedhimfromHelena。
Shethankedhimforhiskindofferaboutherchildren，whichhermother-in-lawhaddulycommunicated，andstatedthatshewouldbegladtoacceptitasregardedtheeldest，theboy。Helenahad，intruth，goodneedtodoso，forherunclehadleftherpenniless，andallapplicationtosomerelativesinthenorthhadfailed。Therewas，besides，asshesaid，nogoodschoolnearHintocktowhichshecouldsendthechild。
Onafinesummerdaytheboycame。Hewasaccompaniedhalf-waybySallyandhismother——tothe’WhiteHorse，’atChalkNewton——wherehewashandedovertoDarton’sbailiffinashiningspring-cart，whometthemthere。
Hewasenteredasaday-scholaratapopularschoolatCasterbridge，threeorfourmilesfromDarton’s，havingfirstbeentaughtbyDartontorideaforest-pony，onwhichhecanteredtoandfromtheaforesaidfountofknowledge，and(asDartonhoped)broughtawayapromisingheadfulofthesameateachdiurnalexpedition。ThethoughtfultaciturnityintowhichDartonhadlatterlyfallenwasquitedissipatedbythepresenceofthisboy。
WhentheChristmasholidayscameitwasarrangedthatheshouldspendthemwithhismother。Thejourneywas，forsomereasonorother，performedintwostages，asathiscoming，exceptthatDartoninpersontooktheplaceofthebailiff，andthattheboyandhimselfrodeonhorseback。
Reachingtherenowned’WhiteHorse，’DartoninquiredifMissandyoungMrs。HallweretheretomeetlittlePhilip(astheyhadagreedtobe)。HewasansweredbytheappearanceofHelenaaloneatthedoor。
’AtthelastmomentSallywouldnotcome，’shefaltered。
Thatmeetingpracticallysettledthepointtowardswhichtheselong-
severedpersonswereconverging。Butnothingwasbroachedaboutitforsometimeyet。SallyHallhad，infact，impartedthefirstdecisivemotiontoeventsbyrefusingtoaccompanyHelena。Shesoongavethemasecondmovebywritingthefollowingnote’[Private。]
’DEARCHARLES，——LivingheresolongandintimatelywithHelena，I
havenaturallylearntherhistory，especiallythatofitwhichreferstoyou。Iamsureshewouldacceptyouasahusbandatthepropertime，andIthinkyououghttogivehertheopportunity。YouinquireinanoldnoteifIamsorrythatIshowedtemper(whichitWASN’T)thatnightwhenIheardyoutalkingtoher。No，Charles，I
amnotsorryatallforwhatIsaidthen——Yourssincerely，SALLY
HALL。’
Thussetintrain，thetransferofDarton’sheartbacktoitsoriginalquartersproceededbymerelapseoftime。InthefollowingJuly，DartonwenttohisfriendJaphethtoaskhimatlasttofulfilthebridalofficewhichhadbeeninabeyancesincethepreviousJanuarytwelvemonths。
’Withallmyheart，mano’constancy！’saidDairymanJohnswarmly。
’I’velostmostofmygenteelfaircomplexionhaymakingthishotweather，’tistrue，butI’lldoyourbusinessaswellasthemthatlookbetter
