第61章

’Sheisworthallthecountyherself，’saidI，’andallEnglandputtogether；butshehasnothingworthhalfarickofhayuponher；fortheringIgavehercostonly，’——andhereIstopped，formotherwaslooking，andIneverwouldtellherhowmuchithadcostme；thoughshehadtriedfiftytimestofindout。

’Tush，thering!’TomFagguscried，withacontemptthatmovedme：’Iwouldneverhavestoppedamanforthat。Butthenecklace，yougreatoaf，thenecklaceisworthallyourfarmputtogether，andyourUncleBen’sfortunetothebackofit；ay，andallthetownofDulverton。’

’What，’saidI，’thatcommonglassthing，whichshehashadfromherchildhood!’

’Glassindeed!TheyarethefinestbrilliantseverI

seteyeson；andIhavehandledagoodmany。’

’Surely，’criedmother，nowflushingasredasTom’sowncheekswithexcitement，’youmustbewrong，ortheyoungmistresswouldherselfhaveknownit。’

Iwasgreatlypleasedwithmymother，forcallingLorna’theyoungmistress’；itwasnotdoneforthesakeofherdiamonds，whethertheywereglassornot；butbecauseshefeltasIhaddone，thatTomFaggus，amanofnobirthwhatever，wasspeakingbeyondhismark，incallingaladylikeLornaahelplesschild；aswellasinhisgeneraltone，whichdisplayednodeference。Hemighthavebeenusedtothequality，inthewayofstoppingtheircoaches，orroysteringathotelswiththem；butheneverhadmetahighladybefore，inequality，anduponvirtue；andwebothfeltthatheoughttohaveknownit，andtohavethankedusfortheopportunity，inaword，tohavebehavedagreatdealmorehumblythanhehadeventriedtodo。

’Trustme，’answeredTom，inhisloftiestmanner，whichAnniesaidwas’sonoble，’butwhichseemedtomeratherflashy，’trustme，goodmother，andsimpleJohn，forknowingbrilliants，whenIseethem。Iwouldhavestoppedaneight-horsecoach，withfourcarabinedout-riders，forsuchabootyasthat。Butalas，thosedaysareover；thoseweredaysworthlivingin。Ah，I

nevershallknowthelikeagain。Howfineitwasbymoonlight!’

’MasterFaggus，’beganmymother，withamannerofsomedignity，suchasshecouldsometimesuse，byrightofherintegrity，andthoroughkindnesstoeveryone，’thisisnotthetoneinwhichyouhavehithertospokentomeaboutyourformerpursuitsandlife，Ifearthatthespirits’——buthereshestopped，becausethespiritswereherown，andTomwasourvisitor，——’whatImean，MasterFaggus，isthis：youhavewonmydaughter’sheartsomehow；andyouwonmyconsenttothematterthroughyourhonestsorrow，andmanlyundertakingtoleadadifferentlife，andtouchnopropertybutyourown。Annieismyeldestdaughter，andthechildofamostuprightman。Iloveherbestofallonearth，nexttomyboyJohnhere’——heremothergavemeamightysqueeze，tobesurethatshewouldhavemeatleast——’andIwillnotriskmyAnnie’slifewithamanwhoyearnsforthehighway。’

Havingmadethisverylongspeech(forher)，mothercamehomeuponmyshoulder，andweptsothat(butforheedingher)IwouldhavetakenTombythenose，andthrownhim，andWinnieafterhim，overourfarm-yardgate。ForIamviolentwhenroused；andfreelyherebyacknowledgeit；thoughevenmyenemieswillownthatittakesagreatdealtorouseme。ButIdoconsiderthegriefandtears(whenjustlycaused)ofmydearestfriends，tobeagreatdealtorouseme。

Nothingverylongabides，asthegreatestofallwriters(inwhoseextentIamforeverlostinrapturedwonder，andyetforeverquiteathome，asifhisheartweremine，althoughhisbrainssodifferent)，inawordasMr。WilliamShakespeare，ineveryoneofhisworksinsists，withahumouredmelancholy。AndifmyjourneytoLondonledtonothingelseofadvancement，ittookmeahundredyearsinfrontofwhatImightelsehavebeen，bythemostsimpleaccident。

Twowomenwerescoldingoneanotheracrosstheroad，veryviolently，bothfromupstairwindows；andIinmyhurryforquietlife，andnotknowingwhatmightcomedownuponme，quickenedmystepforthenearestcorner。

Butsuddenlysomethingfellonmyhead；andatfirstI

wasafraidtolook，especiallyasitweighedheavily。

Buthearingnobreakageofware，andonlytheotherscoldlaughingheartily，Iturnedmeaboutandespiedabook，whichonehadcastattheother，hopingtobreakherwindow。SoItookthebook，andtendereditatthedoorofthehousefromwhichithadfallen；butthewatchmancamealongjustthen，andthemanatthedoordeclaredthatitnevercamefromtheirhouse，andbeggedmetosaynomore。ThisIpromisedreadily，neverwishingtomakemischief；andIsaid，’Goodsir，nowtakethebook；Iwillgoontomybusiness。’Butheansweredthathewoulddonosuchthing；forthebookalone，beinghurledsohard，wouldconvicthispeopleofalewdassault；andhebeggedme，ifIwoulddoagoodturn，toputthebookundermycoatandgo。AndsoIdid：inpartatleast。ForIdidnotputthebookundermycoat，butwentalongwithitopenly，lookingforanytochallengeit。Nowthisbo