下载辰思小说免费APP
ThenGodfreybethoughthimoftheotherdoor，thatwhichledintotheancientrefectory，whichwasnowusedasaschoolroom。Thiswasopen，sohewentinand，beingtiredafterhislongjourney，sathimselfdowninthechairattheendoftheoldoaktable，thatsamechairinwhichIsobelhadkissedhimwhenhewasalittleboy。Helookedabouthimvaguely；theplace，ofcourse，wasmuchthesameasithadbeenforthelastfivehundredyears，but，ashecouldseefromthenamesonthecopybooksthatlayabout，thepupilswhoinhabitedithadchanged。Ofthewholesixnotonewasthesame。
Then，perhapsforthefirsttime，hebegantounderstandhowvariableistheworld，amerepassingshowinwhichnothingremainsthesame，exceptthehousesandthetrees。Eventhesedepart，foracottagewithwhichhehadbeenfamiliarfromhisearliestinfancy，ashecouldseethroughtheopendoor，waspulleddowntomakeroomfor“improvements，“andthegreatoldelm，wheretherooksusedtobuild，hadbeentornupinagale。Onlyitsuglystumpandprojectingrootswereleft。
Sohesatmusingthere，verydepressedatheart，tillatlengthMrs。
Parsonscameanddiscoveredhiminahalf-doze。She，too，wassomewhatchanged，forofasuddenagehadbeguntotakeaholdofher。Herhairwaswhitenow，andherplump，roundfacehadwitheredlikeaspringapple。Still，shegreetedhimwiththeoldaffection，forwhichhefeltgrateful，seeingthatitwasthefirsttouchofkindnesshehadknownsincehesetfootonEnglishground。
“Dearme，MasterGodfrey!“shesaid，“hadn’tIheardthatyouwerecoming，Icouldneverhavebeensurethatitwasyou。Why，you’vegrownintoaregularyounggentlemaninthoseforeignparts，andhandsome，too，thoughIsezit。Whocouldhaveguessedthatyouareyourfather’sson？Why，you’dmaketwoofhim。Butthere，theysaythatyourmotherwasagood-lookingladyandlargebuilt，though，asI
neverseteyesonher，Ican’tsayforsure。Well，youmustbetiredafterallthistravellinginsteamshipsandtrains，socomeintothedining-roomandhavesometea，forIhavegotthekeytothesideboard。“
Hewent，and，passingthroughthehall，lefthisalpenstockintheumbrella-stand。Induecoursetheteawasproduced，thoughforitheseemedtohavelittleappetite。Whilehemadepretencetoeatthethickbreadandbutter，Mrs。Parsonstoldhimthenews，suchasitwas。SirJohnwaslivingintownand“flingingthemoneyabout，soitwassaid，notbutwhathehadgotlotstoflingandplentytocatchit，“sheaddedmeaningly。Hispoor，dearladywasdead，and“happyforheronthewhole。“MissIsobelhad“goneforeign，“having，itwastold，quarrelledwithherfather，andnothinghadbeenheardofhersinceshewent。She，too，hadgrownintoafineyounglady。
ThatwasallhegatheredbeforeMrs。Parsonswasobligedtodeparttoseetoherbusiness——exceptthatshewasexceedinglygladtoseehim。
Godfreywentuptohisbedroom，whichhefoundunprepared，forsomebodyelseseemedtobesleepingthere。Whilehewassurveyingitandwonderingwhothisoccupantmightbe，heheardhisfatherinthehallaskingtheparlour-maidwhichoftheyounggentlemenhadleftthat“ridiculousstick“inthestand。Sherepliedthatshedidnotknow，whereuponthehardvoiceofhisparenttoldhertotakeitaway。
AfterwardsGodfreyfounditthrownintothewood-housetobechoppedupforf
