"Yes
,
sir
;
—
I
've
come
back
,
like
the
prodigal
son
in
the
parable
.
"
"
The
prodigal
son
was
contrite
.
I
hope
you
are
so
.
"
"
Pretty
well
for
that
,
sir
.
I
'm
sorry
there
has
been
any
quarrel
,
and
all
that
,
you
know
.
"
"
Go
in
,
"
said
the
squire
,
very
angrily
.
"
Go
in
.
To
expect
anything
gracious
from
you
would
be
to
expect
pearls
from
swine
.
Go
in
.
"
George
went
in
,
shrugging
his
shoulders
as
his
eyes
met
his
sister
's
.
It
was
in
this
fashion
that
the
reconciliation
took
place
between
Squire
Vavasor
and
his
heir
.
CHAPTER
XXXIX
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
's
Hospitality
.
As
the
winter
wore
itself
away
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
happy
as
he
was
amidst
the
sports
of
Norfolk
,
and
prosperous
as
he
might
be
with
the
augean
spoils
of
Oileymead
,
fretted
himself
with
an
intense
anxiety
to
bring
to
a
close
that
affair
which
he
had
on
his
hands
with
the
widow
Greenow
.
There
were
two
special
dangers
which
disturbed
him
.
She
would
give
herself
and
all
her
money
to
that
adventurer
,
Bellfield
;
or
else
she
would
spend
her
own
money
so
fast
before
he
got
hold
upon
it
,
that
the
prize
would
be
greatly
damaged
.
"
I
'm
–
–
–
–
if
she
has
n't
been
and
set
up
a
carriage
!
"
he
said
to
himself
one
day
,
as
standing
on
the
pavement
of
Tombland
,
in
Norwich
,
he
saw
Mrs.
Greenow
issue
forth
from
the
Close
in
a
private
brougham
,
accompanied
by
one
of
the
Fairstairs
girls
.
"
She
's
been
and
set
up
her
carriage
as
sure
as
my
name
's
Cheesacre
!
"
Whatever
reason
he
might
have
to
fear
the
former
danger
,
we
may
declare
that
he
had
none
whatever
as
to
the
latter
.
Mrs.
Greenow
knew
what
she
was
doing
with
her
money
as
well
as
any
lady
in
England
.
The
private
carriage
was
only
a
hired
brougham
taken
by
the
month
,
and
as
to
that
boy
in
buttons
whom
she
had
lately
established
,
why
should
she
not
keep
a
young
servant
,
and
call
him
a
page
,
if
it
gave
her
any
comfort
to
do
so
?
If
Mr.
Cheesacre
had
also
known
that
she
had
lent
the
Fairstairs
family
fifty
pounds
to
help
them
through
with
some
difficulty
which
Joe
had
encountered
with
the
Norwich
tradespeople
,
he
would
have
been
beside
himself
with
dismay
.
He
desired
to
obtain
the
prize
unmutilated
,
—
in
all
its
fair
proportions
.
Any
such
clippings
he
regarded
as
robberies
against
himself
.
But
he
feared
Bellfield
more
than
he
feared
the
brougham
.
That
all
is
fair
in
love
and
war
was
no
doubt
,
at
this
period
,
Captain
Bellfield
's
maxim
,
and
we
can
only
trust
that
he
found
in
it
some
consolation
,
or
ease
to
his
conscience
,
in
regard
to
the
monstrous
lies
which
he
told
his
friend
.
In
war
,
no
doubt
,
all
stratagems
are
fair
.
The
one
general
is
quite
justified
in
making
the
other
believe
that
he
is
far
to
the
right
,
when
in
truth
he
is
turning
his
enemy
's
left
flank
.
If
successful
,
he
will
be
put
upon
a
pedestal
for
his
clever
deceit
,
and
crowned
with
laurels
because
of
his
lie
.
If
Bellfield
could
only
be
successful
,
and
achieve
for
himself
the
mastery
over
those
forty
thousand
pounds
,
the
world
would
forgive
him
and
place
,
on
his
brow
also
,
some
not
uncomfortable
crown
.
In
the
mean
time
,
his
stratagems
were
as
deep
and
his
lies
as
profound
as
those
of
any
general
.
It
must
not
be
supposed
that
Cheesacre
ever
believed
him
.
In
the
first
place
,
he
knew
that
Bellfield
was
not
a
man
to
be
believed
in
any
way
.
Had
he
not
been
living
on
lies
for
the
last
ten
years
?
But
then
a
man
may
lie
in
such
a
way
as
to
deceive
,
though
no
one
believe
him
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
was
kept
in
an
agony
of
doubt
while
Captain
Bellfield
occupied
his
lodgings
in
Norwich
.
He
fee
'd
Jeannette
liberally
.
He
even
fee
'd
Charlie
Fairstairs
,
—
Miss
Fairstairs
I
mean
,
—
with
gloves
,
and
chickens
from
Oileymead
,
so
that
he
might
know
whether
that
kite
fluttered
about
his
dovecoat
,
and
of
what
nature
were
the
flutterings
.
He
went
even
further
than
this
,
and
fee
'd
the
Captain
himself
,
—
binding
him
down
not
to
flutter
as
value
given
in
return
for
such
fees
.
He
attempted
even
to
fee
the
widow
,
—
cautioning
her
against
the
fluttering
,
as
he
tendered
to
her
,
on
his
knees
,
a
brooch
as
big
as
a
breast-plate
.
She
waved
aside
the
breast-plate
,
declaring
that
the
mourning
ring
which
contained
poor
Greenow
's
final
grey
lock
of
hair
,
was
the
last
article
from
a
jeweller
's
shop
which
should
ever
find
a
place
about
her
person
.
At
the
same
time
she
declared
that
Captain
Bellfield
was
nothing
to
her
;
Mr.
Cheesacre
need
have
no
fears
in
that
quarter
.
But
then
,
she
added
,
neither
was
he
to
have
any
hope
.
Her
affections
were
all
buried
under
the
cold
sod
.
This
was
harassing
.
Nevertheless
,
though
no
absolute
satisfaction
was
to
be
attained
in
the
wooing
of
Mrs.
Greenow
,
there
was
a
pleasantness
in
the
occupation
which
ought
to
have
reconciled
her
suitors
to
their
destiny
.
With
most
ladies
,
when
a
gentleman
has
been
on
his
knees
before
one
of
them
in
the
morning
,
with
outspoken
protestations
of
love
,
with
clearly
defined
proffers
of
marriage
,
with
a
minute
inventory
of
the
offerer
's
worldly
wealth
,
—
down
even
to
the
"
mahogany-furnitured
"
bed-chambers
,
as
was
the
case
with
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
and
when
all
these
overtures
have
been
peremptorily
declined
,
—
a
gentleman
in
such
a
case
,
I
say
,
would
generally
feel
some
awkwardness
in
sitting
down
to
tea
with
the
lady
at
the
close
of
such
a
performance
.
But
with
Mrs.
Greenow
there
was
no
such
awkwardness
.
After
an
hour
's
work
of
the
nature
above
described
she
would
play
the
hostess
with
a
genial
hospitality
,
that
eased
off
all
the
annoyance
of
disappointment
;
and
then
at
the
end
of
the
evening
,
she
would
accept
a
squeeze
of
the
hand
,
a
good
,
palpable
,
long-protracted
squeeze
,
with
that
sort
of
"
do
n't
;
—
have
done
now
,
"
by
which
Irish
young
ladies
allure
their
lovers
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
on
such
occasions
,
would
leave
the
Close
,
swearing
that
she
should
be
his
on
the
next
market-day
,
—
or
at
any
rate
,
on
the
next
Saturday
.
Then
,
on
the
Monday
,
tidings
would
reach
him
that
Bellfield
had
passed
all
Sunday
afternoon
with
his
lady-love
,
—
Bellfield
,
to
whom
he
had
lent
five
pounds
on
purpose
that
he
might
be
enabled
to
spend
that
very
Sunday
with
some
officers
of
the
Suffolk
volunteers
at
Ipswich
.
And
hearing
this
,
he
would
walk
out
among
those
rich
heaps
,
at
the
back
of
his
farmyard
,
uttering
deep
curses
against
the
falsehood
of
men
and
the
fickleness
of
women
.
Driven
to
despair
,
he
at
last
resolved
to
ask
Bellfield
to
come
to
Oileymead
for
a
month
.
That
drilling
at
Norwich
,
or
the
part
of
it
which
was
supposed
to
be
profitable
,
was
wearing
itself
out
.
Funds
were
low
with
the
Captain
,
—
as
he
did
not
scruple
to
tell
his
friend
Cheesacre
,
and
he
accepted
the
invitation
.
"
I
'll
mount
you
with
the
harriers
,
old
fellow
,
"
Cheesacre
had
said
;
"
and
give
you
a
little
shooting
.
Only
I
wo
n't
have
you
go
out
when
I
'm
not
with
you
.
"
Bellfield
agreed
,
Each
of
them
understood
the
nature
of
the
bargain
;
though
Bellfield
,
I
think
,
had
somewhat
the
clearer
understanding
in
the
matter
.
He
would
not
be
so
near
the
widow
as
he
had
been
at
Norwich
,
but
he
would
not
be
less
near
than
his
kind
host
.
And
his
host
would
no
doubt
watch
him
closely
;
—
but
then
he
also
could
watch
his
host
.
There
was
a
railway
station
not
two
miles
from
Oileymead
,
and
the
journey
thence
into
Norwich
was
one
of
half
an
hour
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
would
doubtless
be
very
jealous
of
such
journeys
,
but
with
all
his
jealousy
he
could
not
prevent
them
.
And
then
,
in
regard
to
this
arrangement
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
paid
the
piper
,
whereas
Captain
Bellfield
paid
nothing
.
Would
it
not
be
sweet
to
him
if
he
could
carry
off
his
friend
's
prize
from
under
the
very
eaves
of
his
friend
's
house
?
And
Mrs.
Greenow
also
understood
the
arrangement
.
"
Going
to
Oileymead
;
are
you
?
"
she
said
when
Captain
Bellfield
came
to
tell
her
of
his
departure
.
Charlie
Fairstairs
was
with
her
,
so
that
the
Captain
could
not
utilize
the
moment
in
any
special
way
.
"
It
's
quite
delightful
,
"
continued
the
widow
,
"
to
see
how
fond
you
two
gentlemen
are
of
each
other
.
"
"
I
think
gentlemen
always
like
to
go
best
to
gentlemen
's
houses
where
there
are
no
ladies
,
"
said
Charlie
Fairstairs
,
whose
career
in
life
had
not
as
yet
been
satisfactory
to
her
.
"
As
for
that
,
"
said
Bellfield
,
"
I
wish
with
all
my
heart
that
dear
old
Cheesy
would
get
a
wife
.
He
wants
a
wife
badly
,
if
ever
a
man
did
,
with
all
that
house
full
of
blankets
and
crockery
.
Why
do
n't
you
set
your
cap
at
him
,
Miss
Fairstairs
?
"
"
What
;
—
at
a
farmer
!
"
said
Charlie
who
was
particularly
anxious
that
her
dear
friend
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
should
not
marry
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
and
who
weakly
thought
to
belittle
him
accordingly
.
"
Give
him
my
kind
love
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
,
thereby
resenting
the
impotent
interference
.
"
And
look
here
,
Captain
Bellfield
,
suppose
you
both
dine
with
me
next
Saturday
.
He
always
comes
in
on
Saturday
,
and
you
might
as
well
come
too
.
"
Captain
Bellfield
declared
that
he
would
only
be
too
happy
.
"
And
Charlie
shall
come
to
set
her
cap
at
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
"
said
the
widow
,
turning
a
soft
and
gracious
eye
on
the
Captain
.
"
I
shall
be
happy
to
come
,
"
—
said
Charlie
,
quite
delighted
;
"
but
not
with
that
object
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
is
very
respectable
,
I
'm
sure
.
"
Charlie
's
mother
had
been
the
daughter
of
a
small
squire
who
had
let
his
land
to
tenants
,
and
she
was
,
therefore
,
justified
by
circumstances
in
looking
down
upon
a
farmer
.
The
matter
was
so
settled
,
—
pending
the
consent
of
Mr.
Cheesacre
;
and
Bellfield
went
out
to
Oileymead
.
He
knew
the
ways
of
the
house
,
and
was
not
surprised
to
find
himself
left
alone
till
after
dusk
;
nor
was
he
much
surprised
when
he
learned
that
he
was
not
put
into
one
of
the
mahogany-furnitured
chambers
,
but
into
a
back
room
looking
over
the
farm-yard
in
which
there
was
no
fire-place
.
The
Captain
had
already
endured
some
of
the
evils
of
poverty
,
and
could
have
put
up
with
this
easily
had
nothing
been
said
about
it
.
As
it
was
,
Cheesacre
brought
the
matter
forward
,
and
apologized
,
and
made
the
thing
difficult
.
"
You
see
,
old
fellow
,
"
he
said
,
"
there
are
the
rooms
,
and
of
course
they
're
empty
.
But
it
's
such
a
bore
hauling
out
all
the
things
and
putting
up
the
curtains
.
You
'll
be
very
snug
where
you
are
.
"
"
I
shall
do
very
well
,
"
said
Bellfield
rather
sulkily
.
"
Of
course
you
'll
do
very
well
.
It
's
the
warmest
room
in
the
house
in
one
way
.
"
He
did
not
say
in
what
way
.
Perhaps
the
near
neighbourhood
of
the
stables
may
have
had
a
warming
effect
.
Bellfield
did
not
like
it
;
but
what
is
a
poor
man
to
do
under
such
circumstances
?
So
he
went
up-stairs
and
washed
his
hands
before
dinner
in
the
room
without
a
fire-place
,
flattering
himself
that
he
would
yet
be
even
with
his
friend
Cheesacre
.
They
dined
together
not
in
the
best
humour
,
and
after
dinner
they
sat
down
to
enjoy
themselves
with
pipes
and
brandy
and
water
.
Bellfield
,
having
a
taste
for
everything
that
was
expensive
,
would
have
preferred
cigars
;
but
his
friend
put
none
upon
the
table
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
though
he
could
spend
his
money
liberally
when
occasion
required
such
spending
,
knew
well
the
value
of
domestic
economy
.
He
was
n't
going
to
put
himself
out
,
as
he
called
it
,
for
Bellfield
!
What
was
good
enough
for
himself
was
good
enough
for
Bellfield
.
"
A
beggar
,
you
know
;
just
a
regular
beggar
!
"
as
he
was
betrayed
into
saying
to
Mrs.
Greenow
on
some
occasion
just
at
this
period
.
"
Poor
fellow
!
He
only
wants
money
to
make
him
almost
perfect
,
"
Mrs.
Greenow
had
answered
;
—
and
Mr.
Cheesacre
had
felt
that
he
had
made
a
mistake
.
Both
the
men
became
talkative
,
if
not
good-humoured
,
under
the
effects
of
the
brandy
and
water
,
and
the
Captain
then
communicated
Mrs.
Greenow
's
invitation
to
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
He
had
had
his
doubts
as
to
the
propriety
of
doing
so
,
—
thinking
that
perhaps
it
might
be
to
his
advantage
to
forget
the
message
.
But
he
reflected
that
he
was
at
any
rate
a
match
for
Cheesacre
when
they
were
present
together
,
and
finally
came
to
the
conclusion
that
the
message
should
be
delivered
.
"
I
had
to
go
and
just
wish
her
goodbye
you
know
,
"
he
said
apologetically
,
as
he
finished
his
little
speech
.
"
I
do
n't
see
that
at
all
,
"
said
Cheesacre
.
"
Why
,
my
dear
fellow
,
how
foolishly
jealous
you
are
.
If
I
were
to
be
downright
uncivil
to
her
,
as
you
would
have
me
be
,
it
would
only
call
attention
to
the
thing
.
"
"
I
'm
not
a
bit
jealous
.
A
man
who
sits
upon
his
own
ground
as
I
do
has
n't
any
occasion
to
be
jealous
.
"
"
I
do
n't
know
what
your
own
ground
has
to
do
with
it
,
—
but
we
'll
let
that
pass
.
"
"
I
think
it
has
a
great
deal
to
do
with
it
.
If
a
man
does
intend
to
marry
he
ought
to
have
things
comfortable
about
him
;
unless
he
wants
to
live
on
his
wife
,
which
I
look
upon
as
about
the
meanest
thing
a
man
can
do
.
By
George
,
I
'd
sooner
break
stones
than
that
.
"
This
was
hard
for
any
captain
to
bear
,
—
even
for
Captain
Bellfield
;
but
he
did
bear
it
,
—
looking
forward
to
revenge
.
"
There
's
no
pleasing
you
,
I
know
,
"
said
he
.
"
But
there
's
the
fact
.
I
went
to
say
goodbye
to
her
,
and
she
asked
me
to
give
you
that
message
.
Shall
we
go
or
not
?
"
Cheesacre
sat
for
some
time
silent
,
blowing
out
huge
clouds
of
smoke
while
he
meditated
a
little
plan
.
"
I
'll
tell
you
what
it
is
,
Bellfield
,
"
he
said
at
last
.
"
She
's
nothing
to
you
,
and
if
you
wo
n't
mind
it
,
I
'll
go
.
Mrs.
Jones
shall
get
you
anything
you
like
for
dinner
,
—
and
,
—
and
—
I
'll
stand
you
a
bottle
of
the
'
34
port
!
"
But
Captain
Bellfield
was
not
going
to
put
up
with
this
.
He
had
not
sold
himself
altogether
to
work
Mr.
Cheesacre
's
will
.
"
No
,
old
fellow
,
"
said
he
;
"
that
cock
wo
n't
fight
.
She
has
asked
me
to
dine
with
her
on
Saturday
,
and
I
mean
to
go
.
I
do
n't
intend
that
she
shall
think
that
I
'm
afraid
of
her
,
—
or
of
you
either
.
"
"
You
do
n't
;
—
do
n't
you
?
"
"
No
,
I
do
n't
,
"
said
the
Captain
stoutly
.
"
I
wish
you
'd
pay
me
some
of
that
money
you
owe
me
,
"
said
Cheesacre
.
"
So
I
will
,
—
when
I
've
married
the
widow
.
Ha
,
—
ha
,
—
ha
.
"
Cheesacre
longed
to
turn
him
out
of
the
house
.
Words
to
bid
him
go
,
were
,
so
to
say
,
upon
his
tongue
.
But
the
man
would
only
have
taken
himself
to
Norwich
,
and
would
have
gone
without
any
embargo
upon
his
suit
;
all
their
treaties
would
then
be
at
an
end
.
"
She
knows
a
trick
worth
two
of
that
,
"
said
Cheesacre
at
last
.
"
I
dare
say
she
does
;
and
if
so
,
why
should
n't
I
go
and
dine
with
her
next
Saturday
?
"
"
I
'll
tell
you
why
,
—
because
you
're
in
my
way
.
The
deuce
is
in
it
if
I
have
n't
made
the
whole
thing
clear
enough
.
I
've
told
you
all
my
plans
because
I
thought
you
were
my
friend
,
and
I
've
paid
you
well
to
help
me
,
too
;
and
yet
it
seems
to
me
you
'd
do
anything
in
your
power
to
throw
me
over
,
—
only
you
ca
n't
.
"
"
What
an
ass
you
are
,
"
said
the
Captain
after
a
pause
;
"
just
you
listen
to
me
.
That
scraggy
young
woman
,
Charlie
Fairstairs
,
is
to
be
there
of
course
.
"
"
How
do
you
know
?
"
"
I
tell
you
that
I
do
know
.
She
was
present
when
the
whole
thing
was
arranged
,
and
I
heard
her
asked
,
and
heard
her
say
that
she
would
come
;
—
and
for
the
matter
of
that
I
heard
her
declare
that
she
would
n't
set
her
cap
at
you
,
because
you
're
a
farmer
.
"
"
Upon
my
word
she
's
kind
.
Upon
my
word
she
is
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
getting
very
angry
and
very
red
.
"
Charlie
Fairstairs
,
indeed
!
I
would
n't
pick
her
out
of
a
gutter
with
a
pair
of
tongs
.
She
ai
n't
good
enough
for
my
bailiff
,
let
alone
me
.
"
"
But
somebody
must
take
her
in
hand
on
Saturday
,
if
you
're
to
do
any
good
,
"
said
the
crafty
Bellfield
.
"
What
the
deuce
does
she
have
that
nasty
creature
there
for
?
"
said
Cheesacre
,
who
thought
it
very
hard
that
everything
should
not
be
arranged
exactly
as
he
would
desire
.
"
She
wants
a
companion
,
of
course
.
You
can
get
rid
of
Charlie
,
you
know
,
when
you
make
her
Mrs.
Cheesacre
.
"
"
Get
rid
of
her
!
You
do
n't
suppose
she
'll
ever
put
her
foot
in
this
house
.
Not
if
I
know
it
.
I
've
detested
that
woman
for
the
last
ten
years
.
"
Cheesacre
could
forgive
no
word
of
slight
respecting
his
social
position
,
and
the
idea
of
Miss
Fairstairs
having
pretended
to
look
down
upon
him
,
galled
him
to
the
quick
.
"
You
'll
have
to
dine
with
her
at
any
rate
,
"
said
Bellfield
,
"
and
I
always
think
that
four
are
better
company
than
three
on
such
occasions
.
"
Mr.
Cheesacre
grunted
an
unwilling
assent
,
and
after
this
it
was
looked
upon
as
an
arranged
thing
that
they
two
should
go
into
Norwich
on
the
Saturday
together
,
and
that
they
should
both
dine
with
the
widow
.
Indeed
,
Mrs.
Greenow
got
two
notes
,
one
from
each
of
them
,
accepting
the
invitation
.
Cheesacre
wrote
in
the
singular
number
,
altogether
ignoring
Captain
Bellfield
,
as
he
might
have
ignored
his
footman
had
he
intended
to
take
one
.
The
captain
condescended
to
use
the
plural
pronoun
.
"
We
shall
be
so
happy
to
come
,
"
said
he
.
"
Dear
old
Cheesy
is
out
of
his
little
wits
with
delight
,
"
he
added
,
"
and
has
already
begun
to
polish
off
the
effects
of
the
farmyard
.
"
"
Effects
of
the
farmyard
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
aloud
,
in
Jeannette
's
hearing
,
when
she
received
the
note
.
"
It
would
be
well
for
Captain
Bellfield
if
he
had
a
few
such
effects
himself
.
"
"
You
can
give
him
enough
,
ma'am
,
"
said
Jeannette
,
"
to
make
him
a
better
man
than
Mr.
Cheesacre
any
day
.
And
for
a
gentleman
—
of
course
I
say
nothing
,
but
if
I
was
a
lady
,
I
know
which
should
be
the
man
for
me
.
"
CHAPTER
XL
.
Mrs.
Greenow
's
Little
Dinner
in
the
Close
.
How
deep
and
cunning
are
the
wiles
of
love
!
When
that
Saturday
morning
arrived
not
a
word
was
said
by
Cheesacre
to
his
rival
as
to
his
plans
for
the
day
.
"
You
'll
take
the
dog-cart
in
?
"
Captain
Bellfield
had
asked
overnight
.
"
I
do
n't
know
what
I
shall
do
as
yet
,
"
replied
he
who
was
master
of
the
house
,
of
the
dog-cart
,
and
,
as
he
fondly
thought
,
of
the
situation
.
But
Bellfield
knew
that
Cheesacre
must
take
the
dog-cart
,
and
was
contented
.
His
friend
would
leave
him
behind
,
if
it
were
possible
,
but
Bellfield
would
take
care
that
it
should
not
be
possible
.
Before
breakfast
Mr.
Cheesacre
surreptitiously
carried
out
into
the
yard
a
bag
containing
all
his
apparatus
for
dressing
,
—
his
marrow
oil
for
his
hair
,
his
shirt
with
the
wondrous
worked
front
upon
an
under-stratum
of
pink
to
give
it
colour
,
his
shiny
boots
,
and
all
the
rest
of
the
paraphernalia
.
When
dining
in
Norwich
on
ordinary
occasions
,
he
simply
washed
his
hands
there
,
trusting
to
the
chambermaid
at
the
inn
to
find
him
a
comb
;
and
now
he
came
down
with
his
bag
surreptitiously
,
and
hid
it
away
in
the
back
of
the
dog-cart
with
secret
,
but
alas
,
not
unobserved
hands
,
hoping
that
Bellfield
would
forget
his
toilet
.
But
when
did
such
a
Captain
ever
forget
his
outward
man
?
Cheesacre
,
as
he
returned
through
the
kitchen
from
the
yard
into
the
front
hall
,
perceived
another
bag
lying
near
the
door
,
apparently
filled
almost
as
well
as
his
own
.
"
What
the
deuce
are
you
going
to
do
with
all
this
luggage
?
"
said
he
,
giving
the
bag
a
kick
.
"
Put
it
where
I
saw
you
putting
yours
when
I
opened
my
window
just
now
,
"
said
Bellfield
.
"
D
–
–
–
–
the
window
,
"
exclaimed
Cheesacre
,
and
then
they
sat
down
to
breakfast
.
"
How
you
do
hack
that
ham
about
,
"
he
said
.
"
If
you
ever
found
hams
yourself
you
'd
be
more
particular
in
cutting
them
.
"
This
was
very
bad
.
Even
Bellfield
could
not
bear
it
with
equanimity
,
and
feeling
unable
to
eat
the
ham
under
such
circumstances
,
made
his
breakfast
with
a
couple
of
fresh
eggs
.
"
If
you
did
n't
mean
to
eat
the
meat
,
why
the
mischief
did
you
cut
it
?
"
said
Cheesacre
.
"
Upon
my
word
,
Cheesacre
,
you
're
too
bad
;
—
upon
my
word
you
are
,
"
said
Bellfield
,
almost
sobbing
.
"
What
's
the
matter
now
?
"
said
the
other
.
"
Who
wants
your
ham
?
"
"
You
do
,
I
suppose
,
or
you
would
n't
cut
it
.
"
"
No
I
do
n't
;
nor
anything
else
either
that
you
've
got
.
It
is
n't
fair
to
ask
a
fellow
into
your
house
,
and
then
say
such
things
to
him
as
that
.
And
it
is
n't
what
I
've
been
accustomed
to
either
;
I
can
tell
you
that
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
"
"
Oh
,
bother
!
"
"
It
's
all
very
well
to
say
bother
,
but
I
choose
to
be
treated
like
a
gentleman
wherever
I
go
.
You
and
I
have
known
each
other
a
long
time
,
and
I
'd
put
up
with
more
from
you
than
from
anyone
else
;
but
—
"
"
Can
you
pay
me
the
money
that
you
owe
me
,
Bellfield
?
"
said
Cheesacre
,
looking
hard
at
him
.
"
No
,
I
ca
n't
,
"
said
Bellfield
;
"
not
immediately
.
"
"
Then
eat
your
breakfast
,
and
hold
your
tongue
.
"
After
that
Captain
Bellfield
did
eat
his
breakfast
,
—
leaving
the
ham
however
untouched
,
and
did
hold
his
tongue
,
vowing
vengeance
in
his
heart
.
But
the
two
men
went
into
Norwich
more
amicably
together
than
they
would
have
done
had
there
been
no
words
between
them
.
Cheesacre
felt
that
he
had
trespassed
a
little
,
and
therefore
offered
the
Captain
a
cigar
as
he
seated
himself
in
the
cart
.
Bellfield
accepted
the
offering
,
and
smoked
the
weed
of
peace
.
"
Now
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
as
he
drove
into
the
Swan
yard
,
"
what
do
you
mean
to
do
with
yourself
all
day
?
"
"
I
shall
go
down
to
the
quarters
,
and
look
the
fellows
up
.
"
"
All
right
.
But
mind
this
,
Bellfield
;
—
it
's
an
understood
thing
,
that
you
're
not
to
be
in
the
Close
before
four
?
"
"
I
wo
n't
be
in
the
Close
before
four
!
"
"
Very
well
.
That
's
understood
.
If
you
deceive
me
,
I
'll
not
drive
you
back
to
Oileymead
to-night
.
"
In
this
instance
Captain
Bellfield
had
no
intention
to
deceive
.
He
did
not
think
it
probable
that
he
could
do
himself
any
good
by
philandering
about
the
widow
early
in
the
day
.
She
would
be
engaged
with
her
dinner
and
with
an
early
toilet
.
Captain
Bellfield
,
moreover
,
had
learned
from
experience
that
the
first
comer
has
not
always
an
advantage
in
ladies
'
society
.
The
mind
of
a
woman
is
greedy
after
novelty
,
and
it
is
upon
the
stranger
,
or
upon
the
most
strange
of
her
slaves
around
her
,
that
she
often
smiles
the
sweetest
.
The
cathedral
clock
,
therefore
,
had
struck
four
before
Captain
Bellfield
rang
Mrs.
Greenow
's
bell
,
and
then
,
when
he
was
shown
into
the
drawing-room
,
he
found
Cheesacre
there
alone
,
redolent
with
the
marrow
oil
,
and
beautiful
with
the
pink
bosom
.
"
Have
n't
you
seen
her
yet
?
"
asked
the
Captain
almost
in
a
whisper
.
"
No
,
"
said
Cheesacre
sulkily
.
"
Nor
yet
Charlie
Fairstairs
?
"
"
I
've
seen
nobody
,
"
said
Cheesacre
.
But
at
this
moment
he
was
compelled
to
swallow
his
anger
,
as
Mrs.
Greenow
,
accompanied
by
her
lady
guest
,
came
into
the
room
.
"
Whoever
would
have
expected
two
gentlemen
to
be
so
punctual
,
"
said
she
,
"
especially
on
market-day
!
"
"
Market-day
makes
no
difference
when
I
come
to
see
you
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
putting
his
best
foot
forward
,
while
Captain
Bellfield
contented
himself
with
saying
something
civil
to
Charlie
.
He
would
bide
his
time
and
ride
a
waiting
race
.
The
widow
was
almost
gorgeous
in
her
weeds
.
I
believe
that
she
had
not
sinned
in
her
dress
against
any
of
those
canons
which
the
semi-ecclesiastical
authorities
on
widowhood
have
laid
down
as
to
the
outward
garments
fitted
for
gentlemen
's
relicts
.
The
materials
were
those
which
are
devoted
to
the
deepest
conjugal
grief
.
As
regarded
every
item
of
the
written
law
her
suttee
worship
was
carried
out
to
the
letter
.
There
was
the
widow
's
cap
,
generally
so
hideous
,
so
well
known
to
the
eyes
of
all
men
,
so
odious
to
womanhood
.
Let
us
hope
that
such
headgear
may
have
some
assuaging
effect
on
the
departed
spirits
of
husbands
.
There
was
the
dress
of
deep
,
clinging
,
melancholy
crape
,
—
of
crape
which
becomes
so
brown
and
so
rusty
,
and
which
makes
the
six
months
'
widow
seem
so
much
more
afflicted
a
creature
than
she
whose
husband
is
just
gone
,
and
whose
crape
is
therefore
new
.
There
were
the
trailing
weepers
,
and
the
widow
's
kerchief
pinned
close
round
her
neck
and
somewhat
tightly
over
her
bosom
.
But
there
was
that
of
genius
about
Mrs.
Greenow
,
that
she
had
turned
every
seeming
disadvantage
to
some
special
profit
,
and
had
so
dressed
herself
that
though
she
had
obeyed
the
law
to
the
letter
,
she
had
thrown
the
spirit
of
it
to
the
winds
.
Her
cap
sat
jauntily
on
her
head
,
and
showed
just
so
much
of
her
rich
brown
hair
as
to
give
her
the
appearance
of
youth
which
she
desired
.
Cheesacre
had
blamed
her
in
his
heart
for
her
private
carriage
,
but
she
spent
more
money
,
I
think
,
on
new
crape
than
she
did
on
her
brougham
.
It
never
became
brown
and
rusty
with
her
,
or
formed
itself
into
old
lumpy
folds
,
or
shaped
itself
round
her
like
a
grave
cloth
.
The
written
law
had
not
interdicted
crinoline
,
and
she
loomed
as
large
with
weeds
,
which
with
her
were
not
sombre
,
as
she
would
do
with
her
silks
when
the
period
of
her
probation
should
be
over
.
Her
weepers
were
bright
with
newness
,
and
she
would
waft
them
aside
from
her
shoulder
with
an
air
which
turned
even
them
into
auxiliaries
.
Her
kerchief
was
fastened
close
round
her
neck
and
close
over
her
bosom
;
but
Jeannette
well
knew
what
she
was
doing
as
she
fastened
it
,
—
and
so
did
Jeannette
's
mistress
.
Mrs.
Greenow
would
still
talk
much
about
her
husband
,
declaring
that
her
loss
was
as
fresh
to
her
wounded
heart
,
as
though
he
,
on
whom
all
her
happiness
had
rested
,
had
left
her
only
yesterday
;
but
yet
she
mistook
her
dates
,
frequently
referring
to
the
melancholy
circumstance
,
as
having
taken
place
fifteen
months
ago
.
In
truth
,
however
,
Mr.
Greenow
had
been
alive
within
the
last
nine
months
,
—
as
everybody
around
her
knew
.
But
if
she
chose
to
forget
the
exact
day
,
why
should
her
friends
or
dependents
remind
her
of
it
?
No
friend
or
dependent
did
remind
her
of
it
,
and
Charlie
Fairstairs
spoke
of
the
fifteen
months
with
bold
confidence
,
—
false-tongued
little
parasite
that
she
was
.
"
Looking
well
,
"
said
the
widow
,
in
answer
to
some
outspoken
compliment
from
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
"
Yes
,
I
'm
well
enough
in
health
,
and
I
suppose
I
ought
to
be
thankful
that
it
is
so
.
But
if
you
had
buried
a
wife
whom
you
had
loved
within
the
last
eighteen
months
,
you
would
have
become
as
indifferent
as
I
am
to
all
that
kind
of
thing
.
"
"
I
never
was
married
yet
,
"
said
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
"
And
therefore
you
know
nothing
about
it
.
Everything
in
the
world
is
gay
and
fresh
to
you
.
If
I
were
you
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
I
would
not
run
the
risk
.
It
is
hardly
worth
a
woman
's
while
,
and
I
suppose
not
a
man
's
.
The
sufferings
are
too
great
!
"
Whereupon
she
pressed
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
.
"
But
I
mean
to
try
all
the
same
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
looking
the
lover
all
over
as
he
gazed
into
the
fair
one
's
face
.
"
I
hope
that
you
may
be
successful
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
and
that
she
may
not
be
torn
away
from
you
early
in
life
.
Is
dinner
ready
,
Jeannette
?
That
's
well
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
will
you
give
your
arm
to
Miss
Fairstairs
?
"
There
was
no
doubt
as
to
Mrs.
Greenow
's
correctness
.
As
Captain
Bellfield
held
,
or
had
held
,
her
Majesty
's
commission
,
he
was
clearly
entitled
to
take
the
mistress
of
the
festival
down
to
dinner
.
But
Cheesacre
would
not
look
at
it
in
this
light
.
He
would
only
remember
that
he
had
paid
for
the
Captain
's
food
for
some
time
past
,
that
the
Captain
had
been
brought
into
Norwich
in
his
gig
,
that
the
Captain
owed
him
money
,
and
ought
,
so
to
say
,
to
be
regarded
as
his
property
on
the
occasion
.
"
I
pay
my
way
,
and
that
ought
to
give
a
man
higher
station
than
being
a
beggarly
captain
,
—
which
I
do
n't
believe
he
is
,
if
all
the
truth
was
known
.
"
It
was
thus
that
he
took
an
occasion
to
express
himself
to
Miss
Fairstairs
on
that
very
evening
.
"
Military
rank
is
always
recognised
,
"
Miss
Fairstairs
had
replied
,
taking
Mr.
Cheesacre
's
remarks
as
a
direct
slight
upon
herself
.
He
had
taken
her
down
to
dinner
,
and
had
then
come
to
her
complaining
that
he
had
been
injured
in
being
called
upon
to
do
so
!
"
If
you
were
a
magistrate
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
you
would
have
rank
;
but
I
believe
you
are
not
.
"
Charlie
Fairstairs
knew
well
what
she
was
about
.
Mr.
Cheesacre
had
striven
much
to
get
his
name
put
upon
the
commission
of
the
peace
,
but
had
failed
.
"
Nasty
,
scraggy
old
cat
,
"
Cheesacre
said
to
himself
,
as
he
turned
away
from
her
.
But
Bellfield
gained
little
by
taking
the
widow
down
.
He
and
Cheesacre
were
placed
at
the
top
and
bottom
of
the
table
,
so
that
they
might
do
the
work
of
carving
;
and
the
ladies
sat
at
the
sides
.
Mrs.
Greenow
's
hospitality
was
very
good
.
The
dinner
was
exactly
what
a
dinner
ought
to
be
for
four
persons
.
There
was
soup
,
fish
,
a
cutlet
,
a
roast
fowl
,
and
some
game
.
Jeannette
waited
at
table
nimbly
,
and
the
thing
could
not
have
been
done
better
.
Mrs.
Greenow
's
appetite
was
not
injured
by
her
grief
,
and
she
so
far
repressed
for
the
time
all
remembrance
of
her
sorrow
as
to
enable
her
to
play
the
kind
hostess
to
perfection
.
Under
her
immediate
eye
Cheesacre
was
forced
into
apparent
cordiality
with
his
friend
Bellfield
,
and
the
Captain
himself
took
the
good
things
which
the
gods
provided
with
thankful
good-humour
.
Nothing
,
however
,
was
done
at
the
dinner-table
.
No
work
got
itself
accomplished
.
The
widow
was
so
accurately
fair
in
the
adjustment
of
her
favours
,
that
even
Jeannette
could
not
perceive
to
which
of
the
two
she
turned
with
the
amplest
smile
.
She
talked
herself
and
made
others
talk
,
till
Cheesacre
became
almost
comfortable
,
in
spite
of
his
jealousy
.
"
And
now
,
"
she
said
,
as
she
got
up
to
leave
the
room
,
when
she
had
taken
her
own
glass
of
wine
,
"
We
will
allow
these
two
gentlemen
just
half
an
hour
,
eh
Charlie
?
and
then
we
shall
expect
them
up-stairs
.
"
"
Ten
minutes
will
be
enough
for
us
here
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
who
was
in
a
hurry
to
utilize
his
time
.
"
Half
an
hour
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
,
not
without
some
little
tone
of
command
in
her
voice
.
Ten
minutes
might
be
enough
for
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
but
ten
minutes
was
not
enough
for
her
.
Bellfield
had
opened
the
door
,
and
it
was
upon
him
that
the
widow
's
eye
glanced
as
she
left
the
room
.
Cheesacre
saw
it
,
and
resolved
to
resent
the
injury
.
"
I
'll
tell
you
what
it
is
,
Bellfield
,
"
he
said
,
as
he
sat
down
moodily
over
the
fire
,
"
I
wo
n't
have
you
coming
here
at
all
,
till
this
matter
is
settled
.
"
"
Till
what
matter
is
settled
?
"
said
Bellfield
,
filling
his
glass
.
"
You
know
what
matter
I
mean
.
"
"
You
take
such
a
deuce
of
a
time
about
it
.
"
"
No
,
I
do
n't
.
I
take
as
little
time
as
anybody
could
.
That
other
fellow
has
only
been
dead
about
nine
months
,
and
I
've
got
the
thing
in
excellent
training
already
.
"
"
And
what
harm
do
I
do
?
"
"
You
disturb
me
,
and
you
disturb
her
.
You
do
it
on
purpose
.
Do
you
suppose
I
ca
n't
see
?
I
'll
tell
you
what
,
now
;
if
you
'll
go
clean
out
of
Norwich
for
a
month
,
I
'll
lend
you
two
hundred
pounds
on
the
day
she
becomes
Mrs.
Cheesacre
.
"
"
And
where
am
I
to
go
to
?
"
"
You
may
stay
at
Oileymead
,
if
you
like
;
—
that
is
,
on
condition
that
you
do
stay
there
.
"
"
And
be
told
that
I
hack
the
ham
because
it
's
not
my
own
.
Shall
I
tell
you
a
piece
of
my
mind
,
Cheesacre
?
"
"
What
do
you
mean
?
"
"
That
woman
has
no
more
idea
of
marrying
you
than
she
has
of
marrying
the
Bishop
.
Wo
n't
you
fill
your
glass
,
old
fellow
?
I
know
where
the
tap
is
if
you
want
another
bottle
.
You
may
as
well
give
it
up
,
and
spend
no
more
money
in
pink
fronts
and
polished
boots
on
her
account
.
You
're
a
podgy
man
,
you
see
,
and
Mrs.
Greenow
does
n't
like
podgy
men
.
"
Cheesacre
sat
looking
at
him
with
his
mouth
open
,
dumb
with
surprise
,
and
almost
paralysed
with
impotent
anger
.
What
had
happened
during
the
last
few
hours
to
change
so
entirely
the
tone
of
his
dependent
captain
?
Could
it
be
that
Bellfield
had
been
there
during
the
morning
,
and
that
she
had
accepted
him
?
"
You
are
very
podgy
,
Cheesacre
,
"
Bellfield
continued
,
"
and
then
you
so
often
smell
of
the
farm-yard
;
and
you
talk
too
much
of
your
money
and
your
property
.
You
'd
have
had
a
better
chance
if
you
had
openly
talked
to
her
of
hers
,
—
as
I
have
done
.
As
it
is
,
you
have
n't
any
chance
at
all
.
"
Bellfield
,
as
he
thus
spoke
to
the
man
opposite
to
him
,
went
on
drinking
his
wine
comfortably
,
and
seemed
to
be
chuckling
with
glee
.
Cheesacre
was
so
astounded
,
so
lost
in
amazement
that
the
creature
whom
he
had
fed
,
—
whom
he
had
bribed
with
money
out
of
his
own
pocket
,
should
thus
turn
against
him
,
that
for
a
while
he
could
not
collect
his
thoughts
or
find
voice
wherewith
to
make
any
answer
.
It
occurred
to
him
immediately
that
Bellfield
was
even
now
,
at
this
very
time
,
staying
at
his
house
,
—
that
he
,
Cheesacre
,
was
expected
to
drive
him
,
Bellfield
,
back
to
Oileymead
,
to
his
own
Oileymead
,
on
this
very
evening
;
and
as
he
thought
of
this
he
almost
fancied
that
he
must
be
in
a
dream
.
He
shook
himself
,
and
looked
again
,
and
there
sat
Bellfield
,
eyeing
him
through
the
bright
colour
of
a
glass
of
port
.
"
Now
I
've
told
you
a
bit
of
my
mind
,
Cheesy
,
my
boy
,
"
continued
Bellfield
,
"
and
you
'll
save
yourself
a
deal
of
trouble
and
annoyance
if
you
'll
believe
what
I
say
.
She
does
n't
mean
to
marry
you
.
It
's
most
probable
that
she
'll
marry
me
;
but
,
at
any
rate
,
she
wo
n't
marry
you
.
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
pay
me
my
money
,
sir
?
"
said
Cheesacre
,
at
last
,
finding
his
readiest
means
of
attack
in
that
quarter
.
"
Yes
,
I
do
.
"
"
But
when
?
"
"
When
I
've
married
Mrs.
Greenow
,
—
and
,
therefore
,
I
expect
your
assistance
in
that
little
scheme
.
Let
us
drink
her
health
.
We
shall
always
be
delighted
to
see
you
at
our
house
,
Cheesy
,
my
boy
,
and
you
shall
be
allowed
to
hack
the
hams
just
as
much
as
you
please
.
"
"
You
shall
be
made
to
pay
for
this
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
gasping
with
anger
;
—
gasping
almost
more
with
dismay
than
he
did
with
anger
.
"
All
right
,
old
fellow
;
I
'll
pay
for
it
,
—
with
the
widow
's
money
.
Come
;
our
half-hour
is
nearly
over
;
shall
we
go
up-stairs
?
"
"
I
'll
expose
you
.
"
"
Do
n't
now
;
—
do
n't
be
ill-natured
.
"
"
Will
you
tell
me
where
you
mean
to
sleep
to-night
,
Captain
Bellfield
?
"
"
If
I
sleep
at
Oileymead
it
will
only
be
on
condition
that
I
have
one
of
the
mahogany-furnitured
bedrooms
.
"
"
You
'll
never
put
your
foot
in
that
house
again
.
You
're
a
rascal
,
sir
.
"
"
Come
,
come
,
Cheesy
,
it
wo
n't
do
for
us
to
quarrel
in
a
lady
's
house
.
It
would
n't
be
the
thing
at
all
.
You
're
not
drinking
your
wine
.
You
might
as
well
take
another
glass
,
and
then
we
'll
go
up-stairs
.
"
"
You
've
left
your
traps
at
Oileymead
,
and
not
one
of
them
you
shall
have
till
you
've
paid
me
every
shilling
you
owe
me
.
I
do
n't
believe
you
've
a
shirt
in
the
world
beyond
what
you
've
got
there
.
"
"
It
's
lucky
I
brought
one
in
to
change
;
was
n't
it
,
Cheesy
?
I
should
n't
have
thought
of
it
only
for
the
hint
you
gave
me
.
I
might
as
well
ring
the
bell
for
Jeannette
to
put
away
the
wine
,
if
you
wo
n't
take
any
more
.
"
Then
he
rang
the
bell
,
and
when
Jeannette
came
he
skipped
lightly
up-stairs
into
the
drawing-room
.
"
Was
he
here
before
to-day
?
"
said
Cheesacre
,
nodding
his
head
at
the
doorway
through
which
Bellfield
had
passed
.
"
Who
?
The
Captain
?
Oh
dear
no.
The
Captain
do
n't
come
here
much
now
;
—
not
to
say
often
,
by
no
means
.
"
"
He
's
a
confounded
rascal
.
"
"
Oh
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
!
"
said
Jeannette
.
"
He
is
;
—
and
I
ai
n't
sure
that
there
ai
n't
others
nearly
as
bad
as
he
is
.
"
"
If
you
mean
me
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
I
do
declare
you
're
a
wronging
me
;
I
do
indeed
.
"
"
What
's
the
meaning
of
his
going
on
in
this
way
?
"
"
I
do
n't
know
nothing
of
his
ways
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
;
but
I
've
been
as
true
to
you
,
sir
;
—
so
I
have
;
—
as
true
as
true
.
"
And
Jeannette
put
her
handkerchief
up
to
her
eyes
.
He
moved
to
the
door
,
and
then
a
thought
occurred
to
him
.
He
put
his
hand
to
his
trousers
pocket
,
and
turning
back
towards
the
girl
,
gave
her
half-a-crown
.
She
curtsied
as
she
took
it
,
and
then
repeated
her
last
words
.
"
Yes
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
—
as
true
as
true
.
"
Mr.
Cheesacre
said
nothing
further
,
but
followed
his
enemy
up
to
the
drawing-room
.
"
What
game
is
up
now
,
I
wonder
,
"
said
Jeannette
to
herself
,
when
she
was
left
alone
.
"
They
two
'll
be
cutting
each
other
's
throatses
before
they
've
done
,
and
then
my
missus
will
take
the
surwiver
.
"
But
she
made
up
her
mind
that
Cheesacre
should
be
the
one
to
have
his
throat
cut
fatally
,
and
that
Bellfield
should
be
the
survivor
.
Cheesacre
,
when
he
reached
the
drawing-room
,
found
Bellfield
sitting
on
the
same
sofa
with
Mrs.
Greenow
looking
at
a
book
of
photographs
which
they
both
of
them
were
handling
together
.
The
outside
rim
of
her
widow
's
frill
on
one
occasion
touched
the
Captain
's
whisker
,
and
as
it
did
so
the
Captain
looked
up
with
a
gratified
expression
of
triumph
.
If
any
gentleman
has
ever
seen
the
same
thing
under
similar
circumstances
,
he
will
understand
that
Cheesacre
must
have
been
annoyed
.
"
Yes
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
,
waving
her
handkerchief
,
of
which
little
but
a
two-inch-deep
border
seemed
to
be
visible
.
Bellfield
knew
at
once
that
it
was
not
the
same
handkerchief
which
she
had
waved
before
they
went
down
to
dinner
.
"
Yes
,
—
there
he
is
.
It
's
so
like
him
.
"
And
then
she
apostrophized
the
carte
de
visite
of
the
departed
one
.
"
Dear
Greenow
;
dear
husband
!
When
my
spirit
is
false
to
thee
,
let
thine
forget
to
visit
me
softly
in
my
dreams
.
Thou
wast
unmatched
among
husbands
.
Whose
tender
kindness
was
ever
equal
to
thine
?
whose
sweet
temper
was
ever
so
constant
?
whose
manly
care
so
all-sufficient
?
"
While
the
words
fell
from
her
lips
her
little
finger
was
touching
Bellfield
's
little
finger
,
as
they
held
the
book
between
them
.
Charlie
Fairstairs
and
Mr.
Cheesacre
were
watching
her
narrowly
,
and
she
knew
that
they
were
watching
her
.
She
was
certainly
a
woman
of
great
genius
and
of
great
courage
.
Bellfield
,
moved
by
the
eloquence
of
her
words
,
looked
with
some
interest
at
the
photograph
.
There
was
represented
there
before
him
,
a
small
,
grey-looking
,
insignificant
old
man
,
with
pig
's
eyes
and
a
toothless
mouth
,
—
one
who
should
never
have
been
compelled
to
submit
himself
to
the
cruelty
of
the
sun
's
portraiture
!
Another
widow
,
even
if
she
had
kept
in
her
book
the
photograph
of
such
a
husband
,
would
have
scrambled
it
over
silently
,
—
would
have
been
ashamed
to
show
it
.
"
Have
you
ever
seen
it
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
?
"
asked
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
It
's
so
like
him
.
"
"
I
saw
it
at
Yarmouth
,
"
said
Cheesacre
,
very
sulkily
.
"
That
you
did
not
,
"
said
the
lady
with
some
dignity
,
and
not
a
little
of
rebuke
in
her
tone
;
"
simply
because
it
never
was
at
Yarmouth
.
A
larger
one
you
may
have
seen
,
which
I
always
keep
,
and
always
shall
keep
,
close
by
my
bedside
.
"
"
Not
if
I
know
it
,
"
said
Captain
Bellfield
to
himself
.
Then
the
widow
punished
Mr.
Cheesacre
for
his
sullenness
by
whispering
a
few
words
to
the
Captain
;
and
Cheesacre
in
his
wrath
turned
to
Charlie
Fairstairs
.
Then
it
was
that
he
spake
out
his
mind
about
the
Captain
's
rank
,
and
was
snubbed
by
Charlie
,
—
as
was
told
a
page
or
two
back
.
After
that
,
coffee
was
brought
to
them
,
and
here
again
Cheesacre
in
his
ill-humour
allowed
the
Captain
to
out-manœuvre
him
.
It
was
the
Captain
who
put
the
sugar
into
the
cups
and
handed
them
round
.
He
even
handed
a
cup
to
his
enemy
.
"
None
for
me
,
Captain
Bellfield
;
many
thanks
for
your
politeness
all
the
same
,
"
said
Mr.
Cheesacre
;
and
Mrs.
Greenow
knew
from
the
tone
of
his
voice
that
there
had
been
a
quarrel
.
Cheesacre
sitting
then
in
his
gloom
,
had
resolved
upon
one
thing
,
—
or
,
I
may
perhaps
say
,
upon
two
things
.
He
had
resolved
that
he
would
not
leave
the
room
that
evening
till
Bellfield
had
left
it
;
and
that
he
would
get
a
final
answer
from
the
widow
,
if
not
that
night
,
—
for
he
thought
it
very
possible
that
they
might
both
be
sent
away
together
,
—
then
early
after
breakfast
on
the
following
morning
.
For
the
present
,
he
had
given
up
any
idea
of
turning
his
time
to
good
account
.
He
was
not
perhaps
a
coward
,
but
he
had
not
that
special
courage
which
enables
a
man
to
fight
well
under
adverse
circumstances
.
He
had
been
cowed
by
the
unexpected
impertinence
of
his
rival
,
—
by
the
insolence
of
a
man
to
whom
he
thought
that
he
had
obtained
the
power
of
being
always
himself
as
insolent
as
he
pleased
.
He
could
not
recover
his
ground
quickly
,
or
carry
himself
before
his
lady
's
eye
as
though
he
was
unconscious
of
the
wound
he
had
received
.
So
he
sat
silent
,
while
Bellfield
was
discoursing
fluently
.
He
sat
in
silence
,
comforting
himself
with
reflections
on
his
own
wealth
,
and
on
the
poverty
of
the
other
,
and
promising
himself
a
rich
harvest
of
revenge
when
the
moment
should
come
in
which
he
might
tell
Mrs.
Greenow
how
absolutely
that
man
was
a
beggar
,
a
swindler
,
and
a
rascal
.
And
he
was
astonished
when
an
opportunity
for
doing
so
came
very
quickly
.
Before
the
neighbouring
clock
had
done
striking
seven
,
Bellfield
rose
from
his
chair
to
go
.
He
first
of
all
spoke
a
word
of
farewell
to
Miss
Fairstairs
;
then
he
turned
to
his
late
host
;
"
Good
night
,
Cheesacre
,
"
he
said
,
in
the
easiest
tone
in
the
world
;
after
that
he
pressed
the
widow
's
hand
and
whispered
his
adieu
.
"
I
thought
you
were
staying
at
Oileymead
?
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
I
came
from
there
this
morning
,
"
said
the
Captain
.
"
But
he
is
n't
going
back
there
,
I
can
tell
you
,
"
said
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
"
Oh
,
indeed
,
"
said
Mrs.
Greenow
;
"
I
hope
there
is
nothing
wrong
.
"
"
All
as
right
as
a
trivet
,
"
said
the
Captain
;
and
then
he
was
off
.
"
I
promised
mamma
that
I
would
be
home
by
seven
,
"
said
Charlie
Fairstairs
,
rising
from
her
chair
.
It
cannot
be
supposed
that
she
had
any
wish
to
oblige
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
and
therefore
this
movement
on
her
part
must
be
regarded
simply
as
done
in
kindness
to
Mrs.
Greenow
.
She
might
be
mistaken
in
supposing
that
Mrs.
Greenow
would
desire
to
be
left
alone
with
Mr.
Cheesacre
;
but
it
was
clear
to
her
that
in
this
way
she
could
give
no
offence
,
whereas
it
was
quite
possible
that
she
might
offend
by
remaining
.
A
little
after
seven
Mr.
Cheesacre
found
himself
alone
with
the
lady
.
"
I
'm
sorry
to
find
,
"
said
she
,
gravely
,
"
that
you
two
have
quarrelled
.
"
"
Mrs.
Greenow
,
"
said
he
,
jumping
up
,
and
becoming
on
a
sudden
full
of
life
,
"
that
man
is
a
downright
swindler
.
"
"
Oh
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
.
"
"
He
is
.
He
'll
tell
you
that
he
was
at
Inkerman
,
but
I
believe
he
was
in
prison
all
the
time
.
"
The
Captain
had
been
arrested
,
I
think
twice
,
and
thus
Mr.
Cheesacre
justified
to
himself
this
assertion
.
"
I
doubt
whether
he
ever
saw
a
shot
fired
,
"
he
continued
.
"
He
's
none
the
worse
for
that
.
"
"
But
he
tells
such
lies
;
and
then
he
has
not
a
penny
in
the
world
.
How
much
do
you
suppose
he
owes
me
,
now
?
"
"
However
much
it
is
,
I
'm
sure
you
are
too
much
of
a
gentleman
to
say
.
"
"
Well
;
—
yes
,
I
am
,
"
said
he
,
trying
to
recover
himself
.
"
But
when
I
asked
him
how
he
intended
to
pay
me
,
what
do
you
think
he
said
?
He
said
he
'd
pay
me
when
he
got
your
money
.
"
"
My
money
!
He
could
n't
have
said
that
!
"
"
But
he
did
,
Mrs.
Greenow
;
I
give
you
my
word
and
honour
.
'
I
'll
pay
you
when
I
get
the
widow
's
money
,
'
he
said
.
"
"
You
gentlemen
must
have
a
nice
way
of
talking
about
me
when
I
am
absent
.
"
"
I
never
said
a
disrespectful
word
about
you
in
my
life
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
—
or
thought
one
.
He
does
;
—
he
says
horrible
things
.
"
"
What
horrible
things
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
?
"
"
Oh
,
I
ca
n't
tell
you
;
—
but
he
does
.
What
can
you
expect
from
such
a
man
as
that
,
who
,
to
my
knowledge
,
wo
n't
have
a
change
of
clothes
to-morrow
,
except
what
he
brought
in
on
his
back
this
morning
.
Where
he
's
to
get
a
bed
to-night
,
I
do
n't
know
,
for
I
doubt
whether
he
's
got
half-a-crown
in
the
world
.
"
"
Poor
Bellfield
!
"
"
Yes
;
he
is
poor
.
"
"
But
how
gracefully
he
carries
his
poverty
.
"
"
I
should
call
it
very
disgraceful
,
Mrs.
Greenow
.
"
To
this
she
made
no
reply
,
and
then
he
thought
that
he
might
begin
his
work
.
"
Mrs.
Greenow
,
—
may
I
say
Arabella
?
"
"
Mr.
Cheesacre
!
"
"
But
may
n't
I
?
Come
,
Mrs.
Greenow
.
You
know
well
enough
by
this
time
what
it
is
I
mean
.
What
's
the
use
of
shilly-shallying
?
"
"
Shilly-shallying
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
!
I
never
heard
such
language
.
If
I
bid
you
good
night
,
now
,
and
tell
you
that
it
is
time
for
you
to
go
home
,
shall
you
call
that
shilly-shallying
?
"
He
had
made
a
mistake
in
his
word
and
repented
it
.
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Mrs.
Greenow
;
I
do
indeed
.
I
did
n't
mean
anything
offensive
.
"
"
Shilly-shallying
,
indeed
!
There
's
very
little
shall
in
it
,
I
can
assure
you
.
"
The
poor
man
was
dreadfully
crestfallen
,
so
much
so
that
the
widow
's
heart
relented
,
and
she
pardoned
him
.
It
was
not
in
her
nature
to
quarrel
with
people
;
—
at
any
rate
,
not
with
her
lovers
.
"
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Mrs.
Greenow
,
"
said
the
culprit
,
humbly
.
"
It
is
granted
,
"
said
the
widow
;
"
but
never
tell
a
lady
again
that
she
is
shilly-shallying
.
And
look
here
,
Mr.
Cheesacre
,
if
it
should
ever
come
to
pass
that
you
are
making
love
to
a
lady
in
earnest
—
"
"
I
could
n't
be
more
in
earnest
,
"
said
he
.
"
That
you
are
making
love
to
a
lady
in
earnest
,
talk
to
her
a
little
more
about
your
passion
and
a
little
less
about
your
purse
.
Now
,
good
night
.
"
"
But
we
are
friends
.
"
"
Oh
yes
;
—
as
good
friends
as
ever
.
"
Cheesacre
,
as
he
drove
himself
home
in
the
dark
,
tried
to
console
himself
by
thinking
of
the
miserable
plight
in
which
Bellfield
would
find
himself
at
Norwich
,
with
no
possessions
but
what
he
had
brought
into
the
town
that
day
in
a
small
bag
.
But
as
he
turned
in
at
his
own
gate
he
met
two
figures
emerging
;
one
of
them
was
laden
with
a
portmanteau
,
and
the
other
with
a
hat
case
.
"
It
's
only
me
,
Cheesy
,
my
boy
,
"
said
Bellfield
.
"
I
've
just
come
down
by
the
rail
to
fetch
my
things
,
and
I
'm
going
back
to
Norwich
by
the
9.20
.
"
If
you
've
stolen
anything
of
mine
I
'll
have
you
prosecuted
,
"
roared
Cheesacre
,
as
he
drove
his
gig
up
to
his
own
door
.
VOLUME
II
.
CHAPTER
XLI
.
A
Noble
Lord
Dies
.
George
Vavasor
remained
about
four
days
beneath
his
grandfather
's
roof
;
but
he
was
not
happy
there
himself
,
nor
did
he
contribute
to
the
happiness
of
any
one
else
.
He
remained
there
in
great
discomfort
so
long
,
being
