doesnot
expect
you
so
soon
.
”
“
My
uncle
is
always
ready
for
me
,
and
a
week
or
two
of
real
rest
there
would
make
you
ready
for
the
further
journey
.
”
Rachel
made
no
opposition
.
She
was
glad
to
have
her
mind
relieved
from
the
waterfalls
,
but
she
had
rather
have
been
quite
alone
with
her
husband
.
She
knew
that
Lord
and
Lady
Keith
had
taken
a
house
at
Littleworthy
,
while
Gowanbrae
was
under
repair
,
and
she
dreaded
the
return
to
the
bewildering
world
,
before
even
the
first
month
was
over
;
but
Alick
made
the
proposal
so
eagerly
that
she
could
not
help
assenting
with
all
the
cordiality
she
could
muster
,
thinking
that
it
must
be
a
wretched
,
disappointing
wedding
tour
for
him
,
and
she
would
at
least
not
prevent
his
being
happy
with
his
uncle
;
as
happy
as
he
could
be
with
a
person
tied
to
him
,
of
whom
all
his
kindred
must
disapprove
,
and
especially
that
paragon
of
an
uncle
,
whom
she
heard
of
like
an
intensification
of
all
that
class
of
clergy
who
had
of
late
been
most
alien
to
her
.
Alick
did
not
press
for
her
real
wishes
,
but
wrote
his
letter
,
and
followed
it
as
fast
as
she
could
bear
to
travel
.
So
when
the
train
,
a
succession
of
ovens
for
living
bodies
disguised
in
dust
,
drew
up
at
the
Littleworthy
Station
,
there
was
a
ready
response
to
the
smart
footman’s
inquiry
,
“
Captain
and
Mrs.
Keith
?
”
This
personage
by
no
means
accorded
with
Rachel’s
preconceived
notions
of
the
Rectory
establishment
,
but
she
next
heard
the
peculiar
clatter
by
which
a
grand
equipage
announces
its
importance
,
and
saw
the
coronetted
blinkers
tossing
on
the
other
side
of
the
railing
.
A
kind
little
note
of
welcome
was
put
into
Rachel’s
hand
as
she
was
seated
in
the
luxurious
open
carriage
,
and
Alick
had
never
felt
better
pleased
with
his
sister
than
when
he
found
his
wife
thus
spared
the
closeness
of
the
cramping
fly
,
or
the
dusty
old
rectory
phaeton
.
Hospitality
is
never
more
welcome
than
at
the
station
,
and
Bessie’s
letter
was
complacently
accepted
.
Rachel
would
,
she
knew
,
be
too
much
tired
to
see
her
on
that
day
,
and
on
the
next
she
much
regretted
having
an
engagement
in
London
,
but
on
the
Sunday
they
would
not
fail
to
meet
,
and
she
begged
that
Rachel
would
send
word
by
the
servant
what
time
Meg
should
be
sent
to
the
Rectory
for
her
to
ride
;
it
would
be
a
kindness
to
exercise
her
,
for
it
was
long
since
she
had
been
used
.
Rachel
could
not
help
colouring
with
pleasure
at
the
notion
of
riding
her
own
Meg
again
,
and
Alick
freely
owned
that
it
was
well
thought
of
.
He
already
had
a
horse
at
his
uncle’s
,
and
was
delighted
to
see
Rachel
at
last
looking
forward
to
something
.
But
as
she
lay
back
in
the
carriage
,
revelling
in
the
fresh
wind
,
she
became
dismayed
at
the
succession
of
cottages
of
gentility
,
with
lawns
and
hedges
of
various
pretensions
.
“
There
must
be
a
terrible
number
of
people
here
!
”
“
This
is
only
Littleworthy
.
”
“
Not
very
little
.
”
“
No
;
I
told
you
it
was
villafied
and
cockneyfied
.
There
,
”
as
the
horses
tried
to
stop
at
a
lodge
leading
to
a
prettily
built
house
,
“
that’s
Timber
End
,
the
crack
place
here
,
where
Bessie
has
always
said
it
was
her
ambition
to
live
.
”
“
How
far
is
it
from
the
Parsonage
?
”
“
Four
miles
.
”
Which
was
a
comfort
to
Rachel
,
not
that
she
wished
to
be
distant
from
Bessie
,
but
the
population
appalled
her
imagination
.
“
Bishopsworthy
is
happily
defended
by
a
Dukery
,
”
explained
Alick
,
as
coming
to
the
end
of
the
villas
they
passed
woods
and
fields
,
a
bit
of
heathy
common
,
and
a
scattering
of
cottages
.
Labourers
going
home
from
work
looked
up
,
and
as
their
eyes
met
Alick’s
there
was
a
mutual
smile
and
touch
of
the
hat
.
He
evidently
felt
himself
coming
home
.
The
trees
of
a
park
were
beginning
to
rise
in
front
,
when
the
carriage
turned
suddenly
down
a
sharp
steep
hill
;
the
right
side
of
the
road
bounded
by
a
park
paling
;
the
left
,
by
cottages
,
reached
by
picturesque
flights
of
brick
stairs
,
then
came
a
garden
wall
,
and
a
halt
.
Alick
called
out
,
“
Thanks
,
”
and
“
we
will
get
out
here
,
”
adding
,
“
They
will
take
in
the
goods
the
back
way
.
I
don’t
like
careering
into
the
churchyard
.
”
Rachel
,
alighting
,
saw
that
the
lane
proceeded
downwards
to
a
river
crossed
by
a
wooden
bridge
,
with
an
expanse
of
meadows
beyond
.
To
her
left
was
a
stable-yard
,
and
below
it
a
white
gate
and
white
railings
enclosing
a
graveyard
,
with
a
very
beautiful
church
standing
behind
a
mushroom
yew-tree
.
The
upper
boundary
of
the
churchyard
was
the
clipped
yew
hedge
of
the
rectory
garden
,
whose
front
entrance
was
through
the
churchyard
.
There
was
a
lovely
cool
tranquillity
of
aspect
as
the
shadows
lay
sleeping
on
the
grass
;
and
Rachel
could
have
stood
and
gazed
,
but
Alick
opened
the
gate
,
and
there
was
a
movement
at
the
seat
that
enclosed
the
gnarled
trunk
of
the
yew
tree
.
A
couple
of
village
lads
touched
their
caps
and
departed
the
opposite
way
,
a
white
setter
dog
bounded
forward
,
and
,
closely
attended
by
a
still
snowier
cat
,
a
gentleman
came
to
meet
them
,
so
fearlessly
treading
the
pathway
between
the
graves
,
and
so
youthful
in
figure
,
that
it
was
only
the
“
Well
,
uncle
,
here
she
is
,
”
and
,
“
Alick
,
my
dear
boy
,
”
that
convinced
her
that
this
was
indeed
Mr.
Clare
.
The
next
moment
he
had
taken
her
hand
,
kissed
her
brow
,
and
spoken
a
few
words
of
fatherly
blessing
,
then
,
while
Alick
exchanged
greetings
with
the
cat
and
dog
,
he
led
her
to
the
arched
yew-tree
entrance
to
his
garden
,
up
two
stone
steps
,
along
a
flagged
path
across
the
narrow
grass-plat
in
front
of
the
old
two-storied
house
,
with
a
tiled
verandah
like
an
eyebrow
to
the
lower
front
windows
.
Instead
of
entering
by
the
door
in
the
centre
,
he
turned
the
corner
of
the
house
,
where
the
eastern
gable
disclosed
a
window
opening
on
a
sloping
lawn
full
of
bright
flower-beds
.
The
room
within
was
lined
with
books
and
stored
with
signs
of
parish
work
,
but
with
a
refined
orderliness
reigning
over
the
various
little
ornaments
,
and
almost
betokening
feminine
habitation
;
and
Alick
exclaimed
with
admiration
of
a
large
bowl
of
fresh
roses
,
beautifully
arranged
.
“
Traces
of
Bessie
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
;
“
she
brought
them
this
morning
,
and
spent
nearly
an
hour
in
arranging
them
and
entertaining
me
with
her
bright
talk
.
I
have
hardly
been
able
to
keep
out
of
the
room
since
,
they
make
it
so
delicious
.
”
“
Do
you
often
see
her
?
”
asked
Alick
.
“
Yes
,
dear
child
,
she
is
most
good-natured
and
attentive
,
and
I
take
it
most
kindly
of
her
,
so
courted
as
she
is
.
”
“
How
do
you
get
on
with
his
lordship
?
”
“
I
don’t
come
much
in
his
way
,
he
has
been
a
good
deal
laid
up
with
sciatica
,
but
he
seems
very
fond
of
her
;
and
it
was
all
her
doing
that
they
have
been
all
this
time
at
Littleworthy
,
instead
of
being
in
town
for
the
season
.
She
thought
it
better
for
him
.
”
“
And
where
is
Mr.
Lifford
?
”
asked
Alick
.
“
Gone
to
M
—
—
till
Saturday
.
”
“
Unable
to
face
the
bride
.
”
“
I
fear
Ranger
is
not
equally
shy
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
,
understanding
a
certain
rustle
and
snort
to
import
that
the
dog
was
pressing
his
chin
hard
upon
Rachel’s
knee
,
while
she
declared
her
content
with
the
handsome
creature’s
black
depth
of
eye
;
and
the
cat
executed
a
promenade
of
tenderness
upon
Alick
.
“
How
are
the
peacocks
,
Alick
?
”
added
Mr.
Clare
;
“
they
,
at
least
,
are
inoffensive
pets
.
I
dreaded
the
shears
without
your
superintendence
,
but
Joe
insisted
that
they
were
getting
lop-sided
.
”
Alick
put
his
head
out
at
the
window
.
“
All
right
,
sir
;
Joe
has
been
a
little
hard
on
the
crest
of
the
left-hand
one
,
but
it
is
recovering
.
”
Whereupon
,
Rachel
discovered
that
the
peacocks
were
creatures
of
yew-tree
,
perched
at
either
end
of
the
garden
fence
.
Mr.
Clare
had
found
them
there
,
and
preserved
them
with
solicitous
fidelity
.
Nothing
could
be
less
like
than
he
was
to
the
grave
,
thin
,
stooping
ascetic
in
a
long
coat
,
that
she
had
expected
.
He
was
a
tall
,
well-made
man
,
of
the
same
youthful
cast
of
figure
as
his
nephew
,
and
a
far
lighter
and
more
springy
step
,
with
features
and
colouring
recalling
those
of
his
niece
,
as
did
the
bright
sunny
playful
sweetness
of
his
manner
;
his
dark
handsome
eyes
only
betraying
their
want
of
sight
by
a
certain
glassy
immobility
that
contrasted
with
the
play
of
the
expressive
mouth
.
It
was
hard
to
guess
why
Bessie
should
have
shunned
such
an
uncle
.
Alick
took
Rachel
to
the
bedroom
above
the
library
,
and
,
like
it
,
with
two
windows
—
one
overlooking
churchyard
,
river
,
and
hay-fields
,
the
other
commanding
,
over
the
peacock
hedge
,
a
view
of
the
playground
,
where
Mr.
Clare
was
seen
surrounded
by
boys
,
appealing
to
him
on
some
disputed
matter
of
cricket
.
There
was
a
wonderful
sense
of
serenity
,
freshness
,
and
fragrance
,
inexpressibly
grateful
to
Rachel’s
wearied
feelings
,
and
far
more
comfortable
than
the
fine
scenery
through
which
she
had
been
carried
,
because
no
effort
to
look
and
admire
was
incumbent
on
her
—
nay
,
not
even
an
effort
to
talk
all
the
evening
.
Mr.
Clare
seemed
to
have
perfectly
imbibed
the
idea
that
rest
was
what
she
wanted
,
and
did
not
try
to
make
small
talk
with
her
,
though
she
sat
listening
with
pleased
interest
to
the
conversation
between
him
and
his
nephew
—
so
home
like
,
so
full
of
perfect
understanding
of
one
another
.
“
Is
there
anything
to
be
read
aloud
?
”
presently
asked
Alick
.
“
You
have
not
by
chance
got
‘Framley
Parsonage
?
’
”
“
I
wish
I
had
.
I
did
pick
up
‘Silas
Marner
,
’
at
a
station
,
thinking
you
might
like
it
,
”
and
he
glanced
at
Rachel
,
who
had
,
he
suspected
,
thought
his
purchase
an
act
of
weakness
.
“
Have
you
met
with
it
?
”
“
I
have
met
with
nothing
of
the
sort
since
you
were
here
last
;
”
then
turning
to
Rachel
,
“
Alick
indulges
me
with
novels
,
for
my
good
curate
had
rather
read
the
catalogue
of
a
sale
any
day
than
meddle
with
one
,
and
I
can’t
set
on
my
pupil
teacher
in
a
book
where
I
don’t
know
what
is
coming
.
”
“
We
will
get
‘Framley
,
’
”
said
Alick
.
“
Bessie
has
it
.
She
read
me
a
very
clever
scene
about
a
weak
young
parson
bent
on
pleasing
himself
;
and
offered
to
lend
me
the
book
,
but
I
thought
it
would
not
edify
Will
Walker
.
But
,
no
doubt
,
you
have
read
it
long
ago
.
”
“
No
,
”
said
Rachel
;
and
something
withheld
her
from
disclaiming
such
empty
employments
.
Indeed
,
she
was
presently
much
interested
in
the
admirable
portraiture
of
“
Silas
Marner
,
”
and
still
more
by
the
keen
,
vivid
enjoyment
,
critical
,
droll
,
and
moralizing
,
displayed
by
a
man
who
heard
works
of
fiction
so
rarely
that
they
were
always
fresh
to
him
,
and
who
looked
on
them
as
studies
of
life
.
His
hands
were
busy
all
the
time
carving
a
boss
for
the
roof
of
one
of
the
side
aisles
of
his
church
—
the
last
step
in
its
gradual
restoration
.
That
night
there
was
no
excitement
of
nerve
,
no
morbid
fancy
to
trouble
Rachel’s
slumbers
;
she
only
awoke
as
the
eight
o’clock
bell
sounded
through
the
open
window
,
and
for
the
first
time
for
months
rose
less
weary
than
she
had
gone
to
rest
.
Week-day
though
it
were
,
the
description
“
sweet
day
,
so
calm
,
so
cool
,
so
bright
,
”
constantly
recurred
to
her
mind
as
she
watched
the
quiet
course
of
occupation
.
Alick
,
after
escorting
his
uncle
to
a
cottage
,
found
her
searching
among
the
stores
in
the
music
stand
.
“
You
unmusical
female
,
”
he
said
,
“
what
is
that
for
?
”
“
Your
uncle
spoke
of
music
last
night
,
and
I
thought
he
would
like
it
.
”
“
I
thought
you
had
no
such
propensity
.
”
“
I
learnt
like
other
people
,
but
it
was
the
only
thing
I
could
not
do
as
well
as
Grace
,
and
I
thought
it
wasted
time
,
and
was
a
young
ladyism
;
but
if
can
recover
music
enough
to
please
him
,
I
should
be
glad
.
”
“
Thank
you
,
”
said
Alick
,
earnestly
.
“
He
is
very
much
pleased
with
your
voice
in
speaking
.
Indeed
,
I
believe
I
first
heard
it
with
his
ears
.
”
“
This
is
a
thorough
lady’s
collection
of
music
,
”
said
Rachel
,
looking
through
it
to
hide
her
blush
of
pleasure
.
“
Altogether
the
house
has
not
a
bachelor
look
.
”
“
Did
you
not
know
that
he
had
been
married
?
It
was
when
he
first
had
the
living
twelve
years
ago
.
She
was
a
very
lovely
young
thing
,
half
Irish
,
and
this
was
the
happiest
place
in
the
world
for
two
years
,
till
her
little
brother
was
sent
home
here
from
school
without
proper
warning
of
a
fever
that
had
begun
there
.
We
all
had
it
,
but
she
and
her
baby
were
the
only
ones
that
did
not
recover
!
There
they
lie
,
under
the
yew-tree
,
where
my
uncle
likes
to
teach
the
children
.
He
was
terribly
struck
down
for
years
,
though
he
went
manfully
to
his
work
,
and
it
has
been
remarkable
how
his
spirits
and
sociability
have
returned
since
he
lost
his
sight
;
indeed
,
he
is
more
consistently
bright
than
ever
he
was
.
”
“
I
never
saw
any
one
like
him
,
”
said
Rachel
.
“
I
have
fallen
in
with
clergy
that
some
call
holy
,
and
with
some
that
others
call
pious
,
but
he
is
not
a
bit
like
either
.
He
is
not
even
grave
,
yet
there
is
a
calming
,
refreshing
sense
of
reverence
towards
him
that
would
be
awe
,
only
it
is
so
happy
.
”
Alick’s
response
was
to
bend
over
her
,
and
kiss
her
brow
.
She
had
never
seen
him
so
much
gratified
.
“
What
a
comfort
your
long
stay
with
him
must
have
been
,
”
she
said
presently
,
“
in
the
beginning
of
his
blindness
!
”
“
I
hope
so
.
It
was
an
ineffable
comfort
to
me
to
come
here
out
of
Littleworthy
croquet
,
and
I
think
cheering
me
did
him
good
.
Rachel
,
you
may
do
and
say
what
you
please
,
”
he
added
,
earnestly
,
“
since
you
have
taken
to
him
.
”
“
I
could
not
help
it
,
”
said
Rachel
,
though
a
slight
embarrassment
came
over
her
at
the
recollection
of
Bessie
,
and
at
the
thought
of
the
narrow
views
on
which
she
expected
to
differ
.
Then
,
as
Alick
continued
to
search
among
the
music
,
she
asked
,
“
Will
he
like
the
piano
to
be
used
?
”
“
Of
all
things
.
Bessie’s
singing
is
his
delight
.
Look
,
could
we
get
this
up
?
”
“
You
don’t
sing
,
Alick
!
I
mean
,
do
you
?
”
“
We
need
not
betray
our
talents
to
worldlings
base
.
”
Rachel
found
her
accompaniment
the
least
satisfactory
part
of
the
affair
,
and
resolved
on
an
hour’s
practice
every
day
in
Mr.
Clare’s
absence
,
a
wholesome
purpose
even
as
regarded
her
health
and
spirits
.
She
had
just
sat
down
to
write
letters
,
feeling
for
the
first
time
as
if
they
would
not
be
a
toil
,
when
Mr.
Clare
looked
in
to
ask
Alick
to
refer
to
a
verse
in
the
Psalms
,
quoting
it
in
Greek
as
well
as
English
,
and
after
the
research
had
been
carried
to
the
Hebrew
,
he
told
Rachel
that
he
was
going
to
write
his
sermon
,
and
repaired
to
the
peacock
path
,
where
he
paced
along
with
Ranger
and
the
cat
,
in
faithful
,
unobtrusive
attendance
.
“
What
,
you
can
read
Hebrew
,
Alick
?
”
“
So
can
you
.
”
“
Enough
to
appreciate
the
disputed
passages
.
When
did
you
study
it
?
”
“
I
learnt
enough
,
when
I
was
laid
up
,
to
look
out
my
uncle’s
texts
for
him
.
”
She
felt
a
little
abashed
by
the
tone
,
but
a
message
called
him
away
,
and
before
his
return
Mr.
Clare
came
back
to
ask
for
a
reference
to
St.
Augustine
.
On
her
offer
of
her
services
,
she
was
thanked
,
and
directed
with
great
precision
to
the
right
volume
of
the
Library
of
the
Fathers
,
but
spying
a
real
St.
Augustine
,
she
could
not
be
satisfied
without
a
flight
at
the
original
.
It
was
not
,
however
,
easy
to
find
the
place
;
she
was
forced
to
account
for
her
delay
by
confessing
her
attempt
,
and
then
to
profit
by
Mr.
Clare’s
directions
,
and
,
after
all
,
her
false
quantities
,
though
most
tenderly
and
apologetically
corrected
,
must
have
been
dreadful
to
the
scholarly
ear
,
for
she
was
obliged
to
get
Alick
to
read
the
passage
over
to
him
before
he
arrived
at
the
sense
,
and
Rachel
felt
her
flight
of
clever
womanhood
had
fallen
short
.
It
was
quite
new
to
her
to
be
living
with
people
who
knew
more
of
,
and
went
deeper
into
,
everything
than
she
did
,
and
her
husband’s
powers
especially
amazed
her
.
The
afternoon
was
chiefly
spent
in
the
hay-field
under
a
willow-tree
;
Mr.
Clare
tried
to
leave
the
young
people
to
themselves
,
but
they
would
not
consent
;
and
,
after
a
good
deal
of
desultory
talk
and
description
of
the
minnows
and
water-spiders
,
in
whom
Mr.
Clare
seemed
to
take
a
deep
interest
,
they
went
on
with
their
book
till
the
horses
came
,
and
Alick
took
Rachel
for
a
ride
in
Earlsworthy
Park
,
a
private
gate
of
which
,
just
opposite
to
the
Rectory
,
was
free
to
its
inhabitants
.
The
Duke
was
an
old
college
friend
of
Mr.
Clare
,
and
though
much
out
of
health
,
and
hardly
ever
able
to
reside
at
the
Park
,
all
its
advantages
were
at
the
Rector’s
service
,
and
they
were
much
appreciated
when
,
on
this
sultry
summer’s
day
,
Rachel
found
shade
and
coolness
in
the
deep
arcades
of
the
beech
woods
,
and
freshness
on
the
upland
lawns
,
as
she
rode
happily
on
the
dear
old
mare
,
by
whom
she
really
thought
herself
fondly
recognised
.
There
was
something
in
the
stillness
of
the
whole
,
even
in
the
absence
of
the
roll
and
plash
of
the
sea
waves
beside
which
she
had
grown
up
,
that
seemed
to
give
her
repose
from
the
hurry
and
throb
of
sensations
and
thoughts
that
had
so
long
preyed
upon
her
;
and
when
the
ride
was
over
she
was
refreshed
,
not
tired
,
and
the
evening
bell
drew
her
to
the
conclusion
most
befitting
a
day
spent
in
that
atmosphere
of
quietude
.
She
felt
grateful
to
her
husband
for
making
no
remark
,
though
the
only
time
she
had
been
within
a
church
since
her
illness
had
been
at
their
wedding
,
he
only
gave
her
his
arm
,
and
said
she
should
sit
in
the
nook
that
used
to
be
his
in
the
time
of
his
lameness
;
and
a
most
sheltered
nook
it
was
,
between
a
pillar
and
the
open
chancel
screen
,
where
no
eyes
could
haunt
her
,
even
if
the
congregation
had
been
more
than
a
Saturday
summer
evening
one
.
She
only
saw
the
pure
,
clear
,
delicately-toned
hues
of
the
east
window
,
and
the
reverent
richness
of
the
chancel
,
and
she
heard
the
blind
pastor’s
deep
musical
voice
,
full
of
that
expressive
power
always
enhanced
by
the
absence
of
a
book
.
He
led
the
Psalms
with
perfect
security
and
a
calm
fervour
that
rendered
the
whole
familiar
service
like
something
new
and
touching
;
the
Lessons
were
read
by
Alick
,
and
Rachel
,
though
under
any
other
circumstances
she
would
have
been
startled
to
see
him
standing
behind
the
Eagle
,
could
not
but
feel
all
appropriate
,
and
went
along
with
each
word
as
he
read
it
in
a
tone
well
worthy
of
his
uncle’s
scholar
.
Whether
few
or
many
were
present
,
Rachel
knew
not
,
thought
not
;
she
was
only
sensible
of
the
fulness
of
calm
joy
that
made
the
Thanksgiving
touch
her
heart
and
fill
her
eyes
with
unbidden
tears
,
that
came
far
more
readily
than
of
old
.
“
Yet
this
can’t
be
all
,
”
she
said
to
herself
,
as
she
wandered
among
the
tall
white
lilies
in
the
twilight
;
“
is
it
a
trance
,
or
am
I
myself
?
I
have
not
unthought
or
unfelt
,
yet
I
seem
falling
into
a
very
sweet
hypocrisy
!
Alick
says
thought
will
come
back
with
strength
.
I
don’t
think
I
wish
it
!
”
The
curate
did
not
return
till
after
she
had
gone
to
bed
,
and
in
the
morning
he
proved
to
be
indeed
a
very
dry
and
serious
middle-aged
man
,
extremely
silent
,
and
so
grave
that
there
was
no
knowing
how
much
to
allow
for
shyness
.
He
looked
much
worn
and
had
a
wearied
voice
,
and
Mr.
Clare
and
Alick
were
contriving
all
they
could
to
give
him
the
rest
which
he
refused
,
Mr.
Clare
insisting
on
taking
all
the
service
that
could
be
performed
without
eyes
,
and
Alick
volunteering
school-work
.
This
Rachel
was
not
yet
able
to
undertake
,
nor
would
Alick
even
let
her
go
to
church
in
the
morning
;
but
the
shady
garden
,
and
the
echoes
of
the
Amens
,
and
sweet
,
clear
tones
of
singing
,
seemed
to
lull
her
on
in
this
same
gentle
,
unthinking
state
of
dreamy
rest
;
and
thence
,
too
,
in
the
after
part
of
the
day
,
she
could
watch
the
rector
,
with
his
Sunday
class
,
on
his
favourite
seat
under
the
yew-tree
,
close
to
the
cross
that
marked
the
resting-place
of
his
wife
and
child
.
She
went
to
church
in
the
evening
,
sheltered
from
curious
eyes
in
her
nook
,
and
there
for
a
moment
she
heard
the
peculiar
brush
and
sweep
of
rich
silk
upon
pavement
,
and
wondered
at
so
sophisticated
a
sound
in
the
little
homely
congregation
,
but
forgot
it
again
in
the
exulting
,
joyous
beauty
of
the
chants
and
hymns
,
led
by
the
rector
himself
,
and
,
oh
,
how
different
from
poor
Mr.
Touchett’s
best
efforts
!
and
forgot
it
still
more
in
the
unfettered
eloquence
of
the
preaching
of
a
man
of
great
natural
power
,
and
entirely
accustomed
to
trust
to
his
own
inward
stores
.
Like
Ermine
Williams
,
she
could
have
said
that
this
preaching
was
the
first
that
won
her
attention
.
It
certainly
was
the
first
that
swept
away
all
her
spirit
of
criticising
,
and
left
her
touched
and
impressed
,
not
judging
.
On
what
north
country
folk
call
the
loosing
of
the
kirk
,
she
,
moving
outwards
after
the
throng
,
found
herself
close
behind
a
gauzy
white
cloak
over
a
lilac
silk
,
that
filled
the
whole
breadth
of
the
central
aisle
,
and
by
the
dark
curl
descending
beneath
the
tiny
white
bonnet
,
as
well
as
by
the
turn
of
the
graceful
head
,
she
knew
her
sister-in-law
,
Lady
Keith
,
of
Gowanbrae
.
In
the
porch
she
was
met
with
outstretched
hands
and
eager
greetings
—
“
At
last
!
Where
did
you
hide
yourself
?
I
had
begun
to
imagine
dire
mischances
.
”
“
Only
in
the
corner
by
the
chancel
.
”
“
Alick’s
old
nook
!
Keeping
up
honeymoon
privileges
!
I
have
kept
your
secret
faithfully
.
No
one
knows
you
are
not
on
the
top
of
Snowdon
,
or
you
would
have
had
all
the
world
to
call
on
you
.
”
“
There
are
always
the
Earlsworthy
woods
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
Or
better
still
,
come
to
Timber
End
.
No
one
penetrates
to
my
morning
room
,
”
laughed
Bessie
.
“
Now
,
Uncle
George
,
”
she
said
,
as
the
rector
appeared
,
“
you
have
had
a
full
allowance
of
them
for
three
days
,
you
must
spare
them
to
me
to-morrow
morning
.
”
“
So
it
is
you
,
my
lady
,
”
he
answered
,
with
a
pleased
smile
;
“
I
heard
a
sort
of
hail-storm
of
dignity
sailing
in
!
How
is
Lord
Keith
?
”
“
Very
stiff
.
I
want
him
to
have
advice
,
but
he
hates
doctors
.
What
is
the
last
Avonmouth
news
?
Is
Ermine
in
good
heart
,
and
the
boys
well
again
?
”
She
was
the
same
Bessie
as
ever
—
full
of
exulting
animation
,
joined
to
a
caressing
manner
that
her
uncle
evidently
delighted
in
;
and
to
Rachel
she
was
most
kind
and
sisterly
,
welcoming
her
so
as
amply
to
please
and
gratify
Alick
.
An
arrangement
was
made
that
Rachel
should
be
sent
for
early
to
spend
the
day
at
Timber
End
,
and
that
Mr.
Clare
and
Alick
should
walk
over
later
.
Then
the
two
pretty
ponies
came
with
her
little
low
carriage
to
the
yew-tree
gate
,
were
felt
and
admired
by
Mr.
Clare
,
and
approved
by
Alick
,
and
she
drove
off
gaily
,
leaving
all
pleased
and
amused
,
but
still
there
was
a
sense
that
the
perfect
serenity
had
been
ruffled
.
“
Rachel
,
”
said
Alick
,
as
they
wandered
in
the
twilight
garden
,
“
I
wonder
if
you
would
be
greatly
disappointed
if
our
travels
ended
here
.
”
“
I
am
only
too
glad
of
the
quiet
.
”
“
Because
Lifford
is
in
great
need
of
thorough
rest
.
He
has
not
been
away
for
more
than
a
year
,
and
now
he
is
getting
quite
knocked
up
.
All
he
does
care
to
do
,
is
to
take
lodgings
near
his
wife’s
asylum
,
poor
man
,
and
see
her
occasionally
:
sad
work
,
but
it
is
rest
,
and
winds
him
up
again
;
and
there
is
no
one
but
myself
to
whom
he
likes
to
leave
my
uncle
.
Strangers
always
do
too
little
or
too
much
;
and
there
is
a
young
man
at
Littleworthy
for
the
long
vacation
who
can
help
on
a
Sunday
.
”
“
Oh
,
pray
let
us
stay
as
long
as
we
can
!
”
“
Giving
up
the
Cretins
?
”
“
It
is
no
sacrifice
.
I
am
thankful
not
to
be
hunted
about
;
and
if
anything
could
make
me
better
pleased
to
be
here
,
it
would
be
feeling
that
I
was
not
hindering
you
.
”
“
Then
I
will
hunt
him
away
for
six
weeks
or
two
months
at
least
.
It
will
be
a
great
relief
to
my
uncle’s
mind
.
”
It
was
so
great
a
relief
that
Mr.
Clare
could
hardly
bring
himself
to
accept
the
sacrifice
of
the
honeymoon
,
and
though
there
could
be
little
doubt
which
way
the
discussion
would
end
,
he
had
not
yielded
when
the
ponies
bore
off
Rachel
on
Monday
morning
.
Timber
End
was
certainly
a
delightful
place
.
Alick
had
railed
it
a
cockney
villa
,
but
it
was
in
good
taste
,
and
very
fair
and
sweet
with
flowers
and
shade
.
Bessie’s
own
rooms
,
where
she
made
Rachel
charmingly
at
home
,
were
wonderful
in
choiceness
and
elegance
,
exciting
Rachel’s
surprise
how
it
could
be
possible
to
be
so
sumptuously
lodged
in
such
a
temporary
abode
,
for
the
house
was
only
hired
for
a
few
months
,
while
Gowanbrae
was
under
repair
.
It
was
within
such
easy
reach
of
London
that
Bessie
had
been
able
from
thence
to
go
through
the
more
needful
season
gaieties
;
and
she
had
thought
it
wise
,
both
for
herself
and
Lord
Keith
,
not
to
enter
on
their
full
course
.
It
sounded
very
moderate
and
prudent
,
and
Rachel
felt
vexed
with
herself
and
Alick
for
recollecting
a
certain
hint
of
his
,
that
Lady
Keith
felt
herself
more
of
a
star
in
her
own
old
neighbourhood
than
she
could
be
in
London
,
and
wisely
abstained
from
a
full
flight
till
she
had
tried
her
wings
.
It
was
much
pleasanter
to
go
along
with
Bessie’s
many
far
better
and
more
affectionate
reasons
for
prudence
,
and
her
minutely
personal
confidences
about
her
habits
,
hopes
,
and
fears
,
given
with
a
strong
sense
of
her
own
importance
and
consideration
,
yet
with
a
warm
sisterly
tone
that
made
them
tokens
of
adoption
,
and
with
an
arch
drollery
that
invested
them
with
a
sort
of
grace
.
The
number
of
engagements
that
she
mentioned
in
town
and
country
did
indeed
seem
inconsistent
with
the
prudence
she
spoke
of
with
regard
to
her
own
health
,
or
with
her
attention
to
that
of
her
husband
;
but
it
appeared
that
all
were
quite
necessary
and
according
to
his
wishes
,
and
the
London
ones
were
usually
for
the
sake
of
trying
to
detach
his
daughter
,
Mrs.
Comyn
Menteith
,
from
the
extravagant
set
among
whom
she
had
fallen
.
Bessie
was
excessively
diverting
in
her
accounts
of
her
relations
with
this
scatter-brained
step-daughter
of
hers
,
and
altogether
showed
in
the
most
flattering
manner
how
much
more
thoroughly
she
felt
herself
belonging
to
her
brother’s
wife
.
If
she
had
ever
been
amazed
or
annoyed
at
Alick’s
choice
,
she
had
long
ago
surmounted
the
feeling
,
or
put
it
out
of
sight
,
and
she
judiciously
managed
to
leap
over
all
that
had
passed
since
the
beginning
of
the
intimacy
that
had
arisen
at
the
station
door
at
Avoncester
.
It
was
very
flattering
,
and
would
have
been
perfectly
delightful
,
if
Rachel
had
not
found
herself
wearying
for
Alick
,
and
wondering
whether
at
the
end
of
seven
months
she
should
be
as
contented
as
Bessie
seemed
,
to
know
her
husband
to
be
in
the
sitting-room
without
one
sight
of
him
.
At
luncheon
,
however
,
when
Lord
Keith
appeared
,
nothing
could
be
prettier
than
his
wife’s
manner
to
him
—
bright
,
sweet
,
and
with
a
touch
of
graceful
deference
,
at
which
he
always
smiled
and
showed
himself
pleased
,
but
Rachel
thought
him
looking
much
older
than
in
the
autumn
—
he
had
little
appetite
,
stooped
a
good
deal
,
and
evidently
moved
with
pain
.
He
would
not
go
out
of
doors
,
and
Bessie
,
after
following
him
to
the
library
,
and
spending
a
quarter
of
an
hour
in
ministering
to
his
comfort
,
took
Rachel
to
sit
by
a
cool
dancing
fountain
in
the
garden
,
and
began
with
some
solicitude
to
consult
her
whether
he
could
be
really
suffering
from
sciatica
,
or
,
as
she
had
lately
begun
to
suspect
,
from
the
effects
of
a
blow
from
the
end
of
a
scaffold-pole
that
had
been
run
against
him
when
taking
her
through
a
crowded
street
.
Rachel
spoke
of
advice
.
“
What
you
,
Rachel
!
you
who
despised
allopathy
!
”
“
I
have
learnt
not
to
despise
advice
.
”
And
Bessie
would
not
trench
on
Rachel’s
experiences
.
“
There’s
some
old
Scotch
doctor
to
whom
his
faith
is
given
,
and
that
I
don’t
half
believe
in
.
If
he
would
see
our
own
Mr.
Harvey
here
it
would
be
quite
another
thing
;
but
it
is
of
no
use
telling
him
that
Alick
would
never
have
had
an
available
knee
but
for
Mr.
Harvey’s
management
.
He
persists
in
leaving
me
to
my
personal
trust
in
him
,
but
for
himself
he
won’t
see
him
at
any
price
!
Have
you
seen
Mr.
Harvey
?
”
“
I
have
seen
no
one
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
forgot
,
you
are
not
arrived
yet
;
but
—
”
“
There’s
some
one
,
”
exclaimed
Rachel
,
nervously
;
and
in
fact
a
young
man
was
sauntering
towards
them
.
Bessie
rose
with
a
sort
of
annoyance
,
and
“
Never
mind
,
my
dear
,
he
is
quite
inoffensive
,
we’ll
soon
get
rid
of
him
.
”
Then
,
as
he
greeted
her
with
“
Good
morning
,
Lady
Keith
,
I
thought
I
should
find
you
here
,
”
she
quickly
replied
.
“
If
you
had
been
proper
behaved
and
gone
to
the
door
,
you
would
have
known
that
I
am
not
at
home
.
”
He
smiled
,
and
came
nearer
.
“
No
,
I
am
not
at
home
,
and
,
what
is
more
,
I
do
not
mean
to
be
.
My
uncle
will
be
here
directly
,
”
she
added
,
in
a
fee-faw-fum
tone
.
“
Then
it
is
not
true
that
your
brother
and
his
bride
are
arrived
?
”
“
True
in
the
same
sense
as
that
I
am
at
home
.
There
she
is
,
you
see
—
only
you
are
not
to
see
her
on
any
account
,
”
as
a
bow
necessarily
passed
between
him
and
Rachel
.
“
Now
mind
you
have
not
been
introduced
to
Mrs.
Keith
,
and
if
you
utter
a
breath
that
will
bring
the
profane
crowd
in
shoals
upon
the
Rectory
,
I
shall
never
forgive
you
.
”
“
Then
I
am
afraid
we
must
not
hope
to
see
you
at
the
bazaar
for
the
idiots
.
”
“
No
,
indeed
,
”
Bessie
answered
,
respecting
Rachel’s
gesture
of
refusal
;
“
no
one
is
to
infringe
her
incog
,
under
penalty
of
never
coming
here
again
.
”
“
You
are
going
?
”
he
added
to
Bessie
;
“
indeed
,
that
was
what
brought
me
here
.
My
sisters
sent
me
to
ask
whether
they
may
shelter
themselves
under
your
matronly
protection
,
for
my
mother
dreads
the
crush
.
”
“
I
suppose
,
as
they
put
my
name
down
,
that
I
must
go
,
but
you
know
I
had
much
rather
give
the
money
outright
.
It
is
a
farce
to
call
a
bazaar
charity
.
”
“
Call
it
what
you
will
,
it
is
one
device
for
a
little
sensation
.
”
Rachel’s
only
sensation
at
that
moment
was
satisfaction
at
the
sudden
appearance
of
Ranger’s
white
head
,
the
sure
harbinger
of
his
master
and
Alick
,
and
she
sprang
up
to
meet
them
in
the
shrubbery
path
—
all
her
morbid
shyness
at
the
sight
of
a
fresh
face
passing
away
when
her
hand
was
within
Alick’s
arm
.
When
they
came
forth
upon
the
lawn
,
Alick’s
brow
darkened
for
a
moment
,
and
there
was
a
formal
exchange
of
greetings
as
the
guest
retreated
.
“
I
am
so
sorry
,
”
began
Bessie
at
once
;
“
I
had
taken
precautions
against
invasion
,
but
he
did
not
go
to
the
front
door
.
I
do
so
hope
Rachel
has
not
been
fluttered
.
”
“
I
thought
he
was
at
Rio
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
He
could
not
stand
the
climate
,
and
was
sent
home
about
a
month
ago
—
a
regular
case
of
bad
shilling
,
I
am
afraid
,
poor
fellow
!
I
am
so
sorry
he
came
to
startle
Rachel
,
but
I
swore
him
over
to
secrecy
.
He
is
not
to
mention
to
any
living
creature
that
she
is
nearer
than
Plinlimmon
till
the
incog
,
is
laid
aside
!
I
know
how
to
stand
up
for
bridal
privileges
,
and
not
to
abuse
the
confidence
placed
in
me
.
”
Any
one
who
was
up
to
the
game
might
have
perceived
that
the
sister
was
trying
to
attribute
all
the
brother’s
tone
of
disapprobation
to
his
anxiety
lest
his
wife
should
have
been
startled
,
while
both
knew
as
well
as
possible
that
there
was
a
deeper
ground
of
annoyance
which
was
implied
in
Alick’s
answer
.
“
He
seems
extremely
tame
about
the
garden
.
”
“
Or
he
would
not
have
fallen
on
Rachel
.
It
was
only
a
chance
;
he
just
brought
over
a
message
about
that
tiresome
bazaar
that
has
been
dinned
into
our
ears
for
the
last
three
months
.
A
bazaar
for
idiots
they
may
well
call
it
!
They
wanted
a
carving
of
yours
,
Uncle
George
!
”
“
I
am
afraid
I
gave
little
Alice
Bertie
one
in
a
weak
moment
,
Bessie
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
,
“
but
I
hardly
durst
show
my
face
to
Lifford
afterwards
.
”
“
After
all
,
it
is
better
than
some
bazaars
,
”
said
Bessie
;
“
it
is
only
for
the
idiot
asylum
,
and
I
could
not
well
refuse
my
name
and
countenance
to
my
old
neighbours
,
though
I
stood
out
against
taking
a
stall
.
Lord
Keith
would
not
have
liked
it
.
”
“
Will
he
be
able
to
go
with
you
?
”
asked
Alick
.
“
Oh
,
no
;
it
would
be
an
intolerable
bore
,
and
his
Scottish
thrift
would
never
stand
the
sight
of
people
making
such
very
bad
bargains
!
No
,
I
am
going
to
take
the
Carleton
girls
in
,
they
are
very
accommodating
,
and
I
can
get
away
whenever
I
please
.
I
am
much
too
forbearing
to
ask
any
of
you
to
go
with
me
,
though
I
believe
Uncle
George
is
pining
to
go
and
see
after
his
carving
.
”
“
No
,
thank
you
;
after
what
I
heard
of
the
last
bazaar
I
made
up
my
mind
that
they
are
no
places
for
an
old
parson
,
nor
for
his
carvings
either
,
so
you
are
quite
welcome
to
fall
on
me
for
my
inconsistency
.
”
“
Not
now
,
when
you
have
a
holiday
from
Mr.
Lifford
,
”
returned
Bessie
.
“
Now
come
and
smell
the
roses
.
”
All
the
rest
of
the
day
Alick
relapsed
into
the
lazy
frivolous
young
officer
with
whom
Rachel
had
first
been
acquainted
.
As
he
was
driving
home
in
the
cool
fresh
summer
night
,
he
began
—
“
I
think
I
must
go
to
this
idiotical
bazaar
!
”
“
You
!
”
exclaimed
Rachel
.
“
Yes
;
I
don’t
think
Bessie
ought
to
go
by
herself
with
all
this
Carleton
crew
.
”
“
You
don’t
wish
me
to
go
,
”
said
Rachel
,
gulping
down
the
effort
.
“
You
!
My
dear
Rachel
,
I
would
not
take
you
for
fifty
pounds
,
nor
could
I
go
myself
without
leaving
you
as
vice
deputy
curate
.
”
“
No
need
for
that
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
,
from
the
seat
behind
;
“
young
people
must
not
talk
secrets
with
a
blind
man’s
ears
behind
them
.
”
“
I
make
no
secret
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
I
could
not
go
without
leaving
my
wife
to
take
care
of
my
uncle
,
or
my
uncle
to
take
care
of
my
wife
.
”
“
And
you
think
you
ought
to
go
?
”
said
Mr.
Clare
.
“
It
is
certainly
better
that
Bessie
should
have
a
gentleman
with
her
in
the
crowd
;
but
you
know
this
is
a
gossiping
neighbourhood
,
and
you
must
be
prepared
for
amazement
at
your
coming
into
public
alone
not
three
weeks
after
your
wedding
.
”
“
I
can’t
help
it
,
she
can’t
go
,
and
I
must
.
”
“
And
you
will
bring
down
all
the
morning
visitors
that
you
talk
of
dreading
.
”
“
We
will
leave
you
to
amuse
them
,
sir
.
Much
better
that
,
”
he
added
between
his
teeth
,
“
than
to
leave
the
very
semblance
of
a
secret
trusted
by
her
to
that
intolerable
puppy
—
”
Rachel
said
no
more
,
but
when
she
was
gone
upstairs
Mr.
Clare
detained
his
nephew
to
say
,
“
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Alick
,
but
you
should
be
quite
sure
that
your
wife
likes
this
proposal
.
”
“
That’s
the
value
of
a
strong-minded
wife
,
sir
,
”
returned
Alick
;
“
she
is
not
given
to
making
a
fuss
about
small
matters
.
”
“
Most
ladies
might
not
think
this
a
small
matter
.
”
“
That
is
because
they
have
no
perspective
in
their
brains
.
Rachel
understands
me
a
great
deal
too
well
to
make
me
explain
what
is
better
unspoken
.
”
“
You
know
what
I
think
,
Alick
,
that
you
are
the
strictest
judge
that
ever
a
merry
girl
had
.
”
“
I
had
rather
you
continued
to
think
so
,
uncle
;
I
should
like
to
think
so
myself
.
Good
night
.
”
Alick
was
right
,
but
whether
or
not
Rachel
entered
into
his
motives
,
she
made
no
objection
to
his
going
to
the
bazaar
with
his
sister
,
being
absolutely
certain
that
he
would
not
have
done
so
if
he
could
have
helped
it
.
Nor
was
her
day
at
all
dreary
;
Mr.
Clare
was
most
kind
and
attentive
to
her
,
without
being
oppressive
,
and
she
knew
she
was
useful
to
him
.
She
was
indeed
so
full
of
admiration
and
reverence
for
him
,
that
once
or
twice
it
crossed
her
whether
she
were
not
belying
another
of
her
principles
by
lapsing
into
Curatocult
,
but
the
idea
passed
away
with
scorn
at
the
notion
of
comparing
Mr.
Clare
with
the
objects
of
such
devotion
.
He
belonged
to
that
generation
which
gave
its
choicest
in
intellectual
,
as
well
as
in
religious
gifts
to
the
ministry
,
when
a
fresh
tide
of
enthusiasm
was
impelling
men
forward
to
build
up
,
instead
of
breaking
down
,
before
disappointment
and
suspicion
had
thinned
the
ranks
,
and
hurled
back
many
a
recruit
,
or
doctrinal
carpings
had
taught
men
to
dread
a
search
into
their
own
tenets
.
He
was
a
highly
cultivated
,
large-minded
man
,
and
the
conversation
between
him
and
his
nephew
was
a
constant
novelty
to
her
,
who
had
always
yearned
after
depth
and
thought
,
and
seldom
met
with
them
.
Still
here
she
was
constantly
feeling
how
shallow
were
her
acquirements
,
how
inaccurate
her
knowledge
,
how
devoid
of
force
and
solidity
her
reasonings
compared
with
what
here
seemed
to
be
old
,
well-beaten
ground
.
Nay
,
the
very
sparkle
of
fun
and
merriment
surprised
and
puzzled
her
;
and
all
the
courtesy
of
the
one
gentleman
,
and
the
affection
of
the
other
,
could
not
prevent
her
sometimes
feeling
herself
the
dullest
and
most
ignorant
person
present
.
And
yet
the
sense
was
never
mortifying
except
when
here
and
there
a
spark
of
the
old
conceit
had
lighted
itself
,
and
lured
her
into
pretensions
where
she
thought
herself
proficient
.
She
was
becoming
more
and
more
helpful
to
Mr.
Clare
,
and
his
gratitude
for
her
services
made
them
most
agreeable
,
nor
did
that
atmosphere
of
peace
and
sincerity
that
reigned
round
the
Rectory
lose
its
charm
.
She
was
really
happy
all
through
the
solitary
Wednesday
,
and
much
more
contented
with
the
results
than
was
Alick
.
“
A
sickening
place
,
”
he
said
,
“
I
am
glad
I
went
.
”
“
How
glad
Bessie
must
have
been
to
have
you
!
”
“
I
believe
she
was
.
She
has
too
much
good
taste
for
much
of
what
went
on
there
.
”
“
I
doubt
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
,
laughing
,
“
if
you
could
have
been
an
agreeable
acquisition
.
”
“
I
don’t
know
.
Bessie
fools
one
into
thinking
oneself
always
doing
her
a
favour
.
Oh
,
Rachel
,
I
am
thankful
you
have
never
taken
to
being
agreeable
.
”
CHAPTER
XXV
.
THE
HUNTSFORD
CROQUET
.
“
Une
femme
egoiste
,
non
seulement
de
coeur
,
mais
d’esprit
,
ne
pent
pas
sortir
d’elle-meme
.
Le
moi
est
indelible
chez
elle
.
Une
veritable
egoiste
ne
sait
meme
pas
etre
fausse
.
”
—
MME
.
E
.
DE
GIRARDIN
.
“
I
am
come
to
prepare
you
,
”
said
Lady
Keith
,
putting
her
arm
into
her
brother’s
,
and
leading
him
into
the
peacock
path
.
“
Mrs.
Huntsford
is
on
her
way
to
call
and
make
a
dead
set
to
get
you
all
to
a
garden
party
.
”
“
Then
we
are
off
to
the
Earlsworthy
Woods
.
”
“
Nay
,
listen
,
Alick
.
I
have
let
you
alone
and
defended
you
for
a
whole
month
,
but
if
you
persist
in
shutting
up
you
wife
,
people
won’t
stand
it
.
”
“
Which
of
us
is
the
Mahometan
?
”
“
You
are
pitied
!
But
you
see
it
was
a
strong
thing
our
appearing
without
our
several
incumbrances
,
and
though
an
old
married
woman
like
me
may
do
as
she
pleases
,
yet
for
a
bridegroom
of
not
three
weeks’
standing
to
resort
to
bazaars
solus
argues
some
weighty
cause
.
”
“
And
argues
rightly
.
”
“
Then
you
are
content
to
be
supposed
to
have
an
unproduceably
eccentric
melancholy
bride
?
”
“
Better
they
should
think
so
than
that
she
should
be
so
.
She
has
been
victimized
enough
already
to
her
mother’s
desire
to
save
appearances
.
”
“
You
do
not
half
believe
me
,
Alick
,
and
this
is
really
a
very
kind
,
thoughtful
arrangement
of
Mrs.
Huntsford’s
.
She
consulted
me
,
saying
there
were
such
odd
stories
about
you
two
that
she
was
most
anxious
that
Rachel
should
appear
and
confute
them
;
and
she
thought
that
an
out-of-door
party
like
this
would
suit
best
,
because
it
would
be
early
,
and
Rachel
could
get
away
if
she
found
it
too
much
for
her
.
”
“
After
being
walked
out
to
satisfy
a
curious
neighbourhood
.
”
“
Now
Alick
,
do
consider
it
.
This
sort
of
thing
could
remind
her
of
nothing
painful
;
Uncle
George
would
enjoy
it
.
”
“
And
fall
over
the
croquet
traps
.
”
“
No
;
if
you
wanted
to
attend
to
him
,
I
could
take
care
of
Rachel
.
”
“
I
cannot
tell
,
Bessie
,
I
believe
it
is
pure
goodnature
on
Mrs.
Huntsford’s
part
,
but
if
we
go
,
it
must
be
from
Rachel’s
spontaneous
movement
.
I
will
not
press
her
on
any
account
.
I
had
rather
the
world
said
she
was
crazy
at
once
than
expose
her
to
the
risk
of
one
of
the
dreadful
nights
that
haunted
us
till
we
came
here
to
perfect
quiet
.
”
“
But
she
is
well
now
.
She
looks
better
and
nicer
than
I
ever
saw
her
.
Really
,
Alick
,
now
her
face
is
softer
,
and
her
eyes
more
veiled
,
and
her
chin
not
cocked
up
,
I
am
quite
proud
of
her
.
Every
one
will
be
struck
with
her
good
looks
.
”
“
Flattery
,
Bessie
,
”
he
said
,
not
ill
pleased
.
“
Yes
,
she
is
much
better
,
and
more
like
herself
;
but
I
dread
all
this
being
overthrown
.
If
she
herself
wishes
to
go
,
it
may
be
a
good
beginning
,
but
she
must
not
be
persuaded
.
”
“
Then
I
must
not
even
tell
her
that
she
won’t
be
required
to
croquet
,
and
that
I’ll
guard
her
from
all
civil
speeches
.
”
“
No
,
for
indeed
,
Bessie
,
on
your
own
account
and
Lord
Keith’s
,
you
should
hardly
spend
a
long
afternoon
from
home
.
”
“
Here’s
the
war
in
the
enemy’s
quarters
!
As
to
fatigue
,
dawdling
about
Mrs.
Huntsford’s
garden
,
is
much
the
same
as
dawdling
about
my
own
,
and
makes
me
far
more
entertaining
.
”
“
I
cannot
help
thinking
,
Bessie
,
that
Lord
Keith
is
more
ill
than
you
suppose
.
I
am
sure
he
is
in
constant
pain
.
”
“
So
I
fear
,
”
said
Bessie
,
gravely
;
“
but
what
can
be
done
?
He
will
see
no
one
but
his
old
surgeon
in
Edinburgh
.
”
“
Then
take
him
there
.
”
“
Take
him
?
You
must
know
what
it
is
to
be
in
the
hands
of
a
clever
woman
before
you
make
such
a
proposal
.
”
“
You
are
a
cleverer
woman
than
my
wife
in
bringing
about
what
you
really
wish
.
”
“
Just
consider
,
Alick
,
our
own
house
is
uninhabitable
,
and
this
one
on
our
hands
—
my
aunt
coming
to
me
in
a
month’s
time
.
You
don’t
ask
me
to
do
what
is
reasonable
.
”
“
I
cannot
tell
,
Bessie
.
You
can
be
the
only
judge
of
what
is
regard
of
the
right
kind
for
your
husband’s
health
or
for
yourself
;
and
see
,
there
is
Mrs.
Huntsford
actually
arrived
,
and
talking
to
my
uncle
.
”
“
One
moment
,
Alick
:
I
am
not
going
to
insult
myself
so
far
as
to
suppose
that
poor
Charlie
Carleton’s
being
at
home
has
anything
to
do
with
your
desire
to
deport
me
,
but
I
want
you
to
know
that
he
did
not
come
home
till
after
we
were
settled
here
.
”
“
I
do
not
wish
to
enter
into
details
,
Bessie
,
”
and
he
crossed
the
lawn
towards
the
window
where
Mr.
Clare
and
Rachel
had
just
received
Mrs.
Huntsford
,
a
goodnatured
joyous-looking
lady
,
a
favourite
with
every
one
.
Her
invitation
was
dexterously
given
to
meet
a
few
friends
at
luncheon
,
and
in
the
garden
,
where
the
guests
would
be
free
to
come
and
go
;
there
might
perhaps
be
a
little
dancing
later
,
she
had
secured
some
good
music
which
would
,
she
knew
,
attract
Mr.
Clare
,
and
she
hoped
he
would
bring
Captain
and
Mrs.
Keith
.
She
knew
Mrs.
Keith
had
not
been
well
,
but
she
promised
her
a
quiet
room
to
rest
in
,
and
she
wanted
to
show
her
a
view
of
the
Devon
coast
done
by
a
notable
artist
in
water-colours
.
Rachel
readily
accepted
—
in
fact
,
this
quiet
month
had
been
so
full
of
restoration
that
she
had
almost
forgotten
her
morbid
shrinking
from
visitors
;
and
Bessie
infused
into
her
praise
and
congratulations
a
hint
that
a
refusal
would
have
been
much
against
Alick’s
reputation
,
so
that
she
resolved
to
keep
up
to
the
mark
,
even
though
he
took
care
that
she
should
know
that
she
might
yet
retract
.
“
You
did
not
wish
me
to
refuse
,
Alick
,
”
said
she
,
struck
by
his
grave
countenance
,
when
she
found
him
lying
on
the
slope
of
the
lawn
shortly
after
,
in
deep
thought
.
“
No
,
not
at
all
,
”
he
replied
;
“
it
is
likely
to
be
a
pleasant
affair
,
and
my
uncle
will
be
delighted
to
have
us
with
him
.
No
,
”
he
added
,
seeing
that
she
still
looked
at
him
inquisitively
,
“
it
is
the
old
story
.
My
sister
!
Poor
little
thing
!
I
always
feel
as
though
I
wore
more
unkind
and
unjust
to
her
than
any
one
else
,
and
yet
we
are
never
together
without
my
feeling
as
if
she
was
deceiving
herself
and
me
;
and
yet
it
is
all
so
fair
and
well
reasoned
that
one
is
always
left
in
the
wrong
.
I
regretted
this
marriage
extremely
at
first
,
and
I
am
not
the
less
disposed
to
regret
it
now
.
”
“
Indeed
!
Every
one
says
how
attentive
she
is
to
him
,
and
how
nicely
they
go
on
together
.
”
“
Pshaw
,
Rachel
!
that
is
just
the
way
.
A
few
words
and
pretty
ways
pass
with
her
and
all
the
world
for
attention
,
when
she
is
wherever
her
fancy
calls
her
,
all
for
his
good
.
It
is
just
the
attention
she
showed
my
uncle
.
And
now
it
is
her
will
and
pleasure
to
queen
it
here
among
her
old
friends
,
and
she
will
not
open
her
eyes
to
see
the
poor
old
man’s
precarious
state
.
”
“
Do
you
think
him
so
very
ill
,
Alick
?
”
“
I
was
shocked
when
I
saw
him
yesterday
.
As
to
sciatica
,
that
is
all
nonsense
;
the
blow
in
his
side
has
done
some
serious
damage
,
and
if
it
is
not
well
looked-to
,
who
knows
what
will
be
the
end
of
it
!
And
then
,
a
gay
young
widow
with
no
control
over
her
—
I
hate
to
think
of
it
.
”
“
Indeed
,
”
said
Rachel
,
“
she
is
so
warm
and
bright
,
and
really
earnest
in
her
kindness
,
that
she
will
be
sure
to
see
her
own
way
right
at
home
.
I
don’t
think
we
can
guess
how
obstinate
Lord
Keith
may
be
in
refusing
to
take
advice
.
”
“
He
cut
me
off
pretty
short
,
”
said
Alick
.
“
I
am
afraid
he
will
see
no
one
here
;
and
,
as
Bessie
says
,
the
move
to
Scotland
would
not
be
easy
just
now
.
As
I
said
,
she
leaves
one
in
the
wrong
,
and
I
don’t
like
the
future
.
But
it
is
of
no
use
to
talk
of
it
;
so
let
us
come
and
see
if
my
uncle
wants
to
go
anywhere
.
”
It
was
Alick’s
fate
never
to
meet
with
sympathy
in
his
feeling
of
his
sister’s
double-mindedness
.
Whether
it
were
that
he
was
mistaken
,
or
that
she
really
had
the
gift
of
sincerity
for
the
moment
in
whatever
she
was
saying
,
the
most
candid
and
transparent
people
in
the
world
—
his
uncle
and
his
wife
—
never
even
succeeded
in
understanding
his
dissatisfaction
with
Bessie’s
doings
,
but
always
received
them
at
her
own
valuation
.
Even
while
he
had
been
looking
forward
,
with
hope
deferred
,
to
her
residence
with
him
as
the
greatest
solace
the
world
could
yet
afford
him
,
Mr.
Clare
had
always
been
convinced
that
her
constant
absence
from
his
Rectory
,
except
when
his
grand
neighbours
were
at
home
,
had
been
unavoidable
,
and
had
always
credited
the
outward
tokens
of
zealous
devotion
to
his
church
and
parish
,
and
to
all
that
was
useful
or
good
elsewhere
.
In
effect
there
was
a
charm
about
her
which
no
one
but
her
brother
ever
resisted
,
and
even
he
held
out
by
an
exertion
that
made
him
often
appear
ungracious
.
However
,
for
the
present
the
uneasiness
was
set
aside
,
in
the
daily
avocations
of
the
Rectory
,
where
Alick
was
always
a
very
different
person
from
what
he
appeared
in
Lady
Temple’s
drawing-room
,
constantly
engaged
as
he
was
by
unobtrusive
watchfulness
over
his
uncle
,
and
active
and
alert
in
this
service
in
a
manner
that
was
a
curious
contrast
to
his
ordinary
sauntering
ways
.
As
to
Rachel
,
the
whole
state
of
existence
was
still
a
happy
dream
.
She
floated
on
from
day
to
day
in
the
tranquil
activity
of
the
Rectory
,
without
daring
to
look
back
on
the
past
or
to
think
out
her
present
frame
of
mind
;
it
was
only
the
languor
and
rest
of
recovery
after
suffering
,
and
her
husband
was
heedfully
watching
her
,
fearing
the
experiment
of
the
croquet
party
,
though
on
many
accounts
feeling
the
necessity
of
its
being
made
.
Ermine’s
hint
,
that
with
Rachel
it
rested
to
prevent
her
unpopularity
from
injuring
her
husband
,
had
not
been
thrown
away
,
and
she
never
manifested
any
shrinking
from
the
party
,
and
even
took
some
interest
in
arraying
herself
for
it
.
“
That
is
what
I
call
well
turned
out
,
”
exclaimed
Alick
,
when
she
came
down
.
“
Describe
her
dress
,
if
you
please
,
”
said
Mr.
Clare
,
“
I
like
to
hear
how
my
nieces
look
.
”
Alick
guided
his
hand
.
“
There
,
stroke
it
down
,
a
long
white
feather
in
a
shady
hat
trimmed
with
dark
green
,
velvet
;
she
is
fresh
and
rosy
,
you
know
,
sir
,
and
looks
well
in
green
,
and
then
,
is
it
Grace’s
taste
,
Rachel
?
for
it
is
